Belly Shot #2

Momma's gettin' a tummy!

What the?!?

Last night around 4-ish, I was having these weird phantom pregnancy pains and I was like, "Dang it. I have to get up and pee I guess." Which, getting up in the middle of the night to use the WC is getting to be a very regular thing for me now anyway. So, I get up, do my thing, and lay back down. But I'm still feeling these wacko almost like light gas pains. Is this my child kicking me?!? I'm pretty sure it was! Crazy!

So, I thought this picture was appropriate, considering the fact that my child is gonna be a professional soccer player/pro-wrestler due to his/her performance last night. My kid is strong!

14 Weeks

"Your baby is now about 3 1/2 inches long and weighs about 2 ounces. His or her neck is complete, and your baby even has fingerprints. The ears may not be fully developed just yet, but he or she has been absorbing the sound of your voice since day one so that he or she can recognize Mommy the moment after you give birth." Crazy.

Ultrasound #2

We went last week to get a "Nuchal Translucency" test run; which is basically blood work and an ultrasound where the technician measures the back of the baby's neck to check for possible genetic disorders. Well, the upside to all of that is that I got to see my kid! I cannot even describe the feeling of getting to see the baby growing inside you, moving around and doing all the little things babies do. Crazy! Tim was holding my hand and I just got all emotional! We also got to see AND hear our baby's heartbeat, which was just incredible. I don't get to find out the baby's sex until after another few weeks, but this visit was really too cool.

13 Weeks!!!

"Your baby weighs about 1/2 ounce and is between 2.5 and 3 inches in length. The digestive tract continues to develop as tiny villi (hairs) form inside the intestines to help move food, and the pancreas has begun producing insulin. All 20 teeth buds have formed inside your baby's mouth; but, of course, the teeth aren't visible yet. (That would make predicting orthodontist bills way too easy!)"

As far as how "mommy" is feeling, my energy is starting to come back, finally! Seriously, I haven't felt anything like myself these past 3 months. It's been ridiculous. Well, yesterday I got into a nesting mode and began moving all my craft room/office things into the guest room to convert the now empty room into our nursery. I still have a few more things to move, but the bulk of the stuff is moved and I think I even like the guest room better this way! (If you've ever been to our place, you will know how mammoth of a move this was... especially moving all the books!) I should have a relatively empty room soon to start decorating. Pretty exciting stuff.

Survival Guide

Now that I'm past that rotten first trimester, I wanted to write up a bit of a "First Trimester Survival Guide" for new moms (and also just in case I forget for the next time around!!!).

First Trimester Survival Kit:

1) Mint Tea. This above all else soothed those crazy nausea times when nothing else worked. If you don't include anything else in your survival bag, this is a MUST have. I particularly enjoyed the Tazo mint tea called "Refresh." It proved to be mighty refreshing!

2) Quease Ease Lip Balm. I don't even know what is in this stuff, and it may have even been more of a placebo than anything, but this is pretty good stuff. At least it smelled great; and when you're feeling barfy, smells that don't make you yack are helpful ones. It's worth 9 bucks.

3) Wintergreen Pep-O-Mints. I have a lifetime supply in my desk drawer at work. Again, minty fresh helps. And they are even sugar free. Bonus.

4) Sea Bands. This is a form of acupressure and it's medicine free, therefore guilt free. Basically, these are wrist bands that have a little plastic ball that presses on a pressure point in your wrist. But warning: don't wear these along with tight-fitting gloves because you will have permanent intentions where the little ball was! Ouch! Learned this one the hard way...

5) Saltines. Actually, any kind of cracker. I prefer Town House Crackers because of their nice buttery flavor. Very helpful when you don't want to put anything else into your belly.

6) Finally (and probably most helpful of all), a sweet husband who cooks for you when you're feeling icky and gives you shoulder massages when you just want to hide under a rock.

So, those are my top 6 things that I wouldn't want to be without for next time, should we have another little jellybean in the future. (Hopefully!)

Yummy for My Tummy!

Lately, everyone at the library has decided to feed me and Jellybean. (Believe me, I do NOT look like I'm starving or anything!) But it's been really sweet. On Monday at work, my friend Laura brought me something she knows I have been craving... French Fries!!! It was really so sweet of her. They were hot and fresh - so yummy! And today, this really sweet 5 yr. old girl named Alexa brought me some Dunkin Donut holes! Just for me. So sweet. So if I gain a million pounds from the generosity and kindness of others, at least my baby will be well fed.

Happy 2nd Trimester and More Presents!

My big sis just called to wish me happy second trimester, so I figured it's time for another update!

Today officially puts me past that scary and wretched part of pregnancy, where everything is a possible miscarriage and where you feel like everyone knows your little secret (or at least thinks that you're getting really fat)! Well, I happily say goodbye to those 3 months. I want to have something to show for those months and I want to be able to not HAVE to take a nap. I am ready to be over all the morning sickness that no one ever tells you lasts ALL day. I'm ready, oh yes, I am ready. Happy second trimester! I need a cupcake!

Today I went through my closet to pack away all those snug-fitting clothes someplace way out of my sight. (What I've been doing is just throwing the stuff that doesn't fit way back into the abyss that is my closet. You can see how that wouldn't be a good idea for long...) It's been discouraging getting dressed for work in the morning lately. Nothing fits right. I am somewhere in that area of not-quite-maternity clothes but not fitting into my regular stuff either. So what I did today was pull out all of my former pants that I worked so hard to shrink out of last summer. I have to say, pulling them out again was a bit depressing, but at least this time I have a reason to be wearing them.

But speaking of maternity clothes, I went to lunch with my friend Ann who lives in the city. I went home with a really cute maternity sweater and some great "Mimi" maternity pants (not to mention tons of great advice and support!!!). And on Friday, I got this awesome present from my buddy Emily. It's a maternity t-shirt that has leaves all over it and it says "Coming This Fall." How funny! And Saturday we got a package from our friends Chris and Rachel that had a cigar for Tim, so cute slippers for me, and some baby nail clippers for Jellybean! (And how appropriate, too! Rachel has a nail clippers collection and we've given her tons of nail clippers from touristy destinations... how funny that she sent us a pair!)

So basically, it's been a hard trimester to get through, but my friends and family have been so amazingly incredible and so supportive, from phone calls and thoughtful gifts to prayers and shared glee. I am so thankful that you are all part of Jellybean's world! Here's to a healthy (and way more fun) second trimester!

Baby Names

My mom has been giving me a rough time with the baby name game here lately and just sent me an email with some celebrity baby names. Now she thinks our names are sounding better and better. (But I'm not going to post my picked-out names for fear of someone stealing them - intentionally or unintentionally!) If you have favorites or suggestions, they are welcome!

13 Strange Celebrity Baby Names

1.) Pilot Inspektor - Child Of: Jason Lee

2.) Fifi Trixibelle - Child Of: Bob Geldof and Paula Yates

3.) Sage Moonblood - Child Of: Sylvester Stallone

4.) Prince Michael II/Blanket - Child Of: Michael Jackson

5.) Rocket Rodriguez - Child Of: Robert Rodriguez

6.) Audio Science - Child Of: Actress Shannyn Sossamon

7.) Moxie Crimefighter - Child Of: Penn Jillette

8.) Tu Morrow - Child Of: Rob Morrow (from the TV show Numb3rs)

9.) Jermajesty - Child Of: Jermaine Jackson

10.) Moon Unit - Child Of: Frank Zappa

11.) Thin Muffin - Child Of: Frank Zappa

12.) I.P. Freely - Child Of: David Carradine

13.) Zowie Bowie - Child Of: David Bowie

11 Weeks! Boy or Girl?

"Your baby-to-be is about 50 millimeters crown to rump and weighs about 8 grams (about a quarter of an ounce). The liver, intestines, brain and lungs are beginning to function on their own, and the external genitalia are present but difficult to distinguish."

My little Jellybean is 11 weeks old now. Wow. I've had crazy craving galore this past week, too. Mostly involving strawberries, but still. I have about 9 weeks to go until I find out the sex of the baby. Any guesses as to which you think I'll have? Place your bets now...

Here are a few "old wives' tale" theories to aid the guessing process. I could go either way with this list.

It's a boy if:

• You didn't experience morning sickness in early pregnancy
• Your baby's heart rate is less than 140 beats per minute
• You are carrying the extra weight out front
• Your belly looks like a basketball
• Your areolas have darkened considerably
• You are carrying low
• You are craving salty or sour foods
• You are craving protein -- meats and cheese
• Your feet are colder than they were before pregnancy
• The hair on your legs has grown faster during pregnancy
• Your hands are very dry
• Your pillow faces north when you sleep
• Dad-to-be is gaining weight, right along with you
• Pregnancy has you looking better than ever
• Your urine is bright yellow in color
• Your nose is spreading
• You hang your wedding ring over your belly and it moves in circles
• You are having headaches
• You add your age at the time of conception and the number for the month you conceived and the sum is an even number

It's a girl if:

• You had morning sickness early in pregnancy
• Your baby's heart rate is at least 140 beats per minute
• You are carrying the weight in your hips and rear
• Your left breast is larger than your right breast
• Your hair develops red highlights
• You are carrying high
• Your belly looks like a watermelon
• You are craving sweets
• You are craving fruit
• You crave orange juice
• You don't look quite as good as normal during pregnancy
• You are moodier than usual during pregnancy
• Your face breaks out more than usual
• You refuse to eat the heel of a loaf of bread
• Your breasts have really blossomed!
• Your pillow faces south when you sleep
• Your urine is a dull yellow color
• You hang your wedding ring over your belly and it moves from side to side
• You add your age at the time of conception and the number for the month you conceived and the sum is an odd number

Presents!!!

My awesome in-laws just came down for the weekend and they came bearing gifts! They got us all kinds of really neat things that I had never even heard of, so I am stoked. My mother-in-law already has 6 other grands that are 6 and up (in age), so she really knows what is out there. Whereas I walk into a baby superstore and get completely overwhelmed, she knows exactly where to look. I am so impressed with her. Want to hear about some of the cool things she found?!?

1) A baby wipes warmer. Who would have ever thought of such a thing?!? But it makes total sense. If I was a baby, I'd prefer warm wet wipes over cold ones. (It even has a pad inside to keep the wipes fresh and from getting moldy...) SO COOL.

2) A "temporal artery thermometer." This is really neat. Gone are the days when you have to stick a thermometer up baby's butt-hole. I shudder to think that was the most effective temp gage. Yikes. With this one, all you have to do is wipe it across baby's forehead and it takes a very accurate temperature. You can even do it while the kid is asleep!

3) A swaddle-me wrap. I've already been wondering the proper way to "swaddle" and this wrap takes the guessing right out of the equation. It is a velcro blanket ready and waiting to swaddle your child. I guess I'm all set!

She also brought a whole lot of other great things, like baby's first scrapbook stickers, a Peter Rabbit book, a sweet little stuffed lamb, a gorgeous thick white blanket, a cute little unisex sweater sleeper, an itty bitty white ball-cap and white socks and sneakers, and some disposable diaper baggies. I feel like I just had a baby shower! Isn't she great?!?

It was a whole lot of fun going baby shopping with the my hubby and his parents, too. My mom-in-law had great nursery ideas and the whole experience just made everything seem so real!