Its almost time...

Hello friends and folks!
The time is drawing ever near...the little guy is all over the place, still sitting pretty low and upside down already. Occasionally I feel a foot in my ribs but most of the movement is lower abdomen. He is roughly 7 pounds and over twenty inches...ahead of the average size by about two weeks. The doc has expressed zero concern about him coming early but I've been moved up to weekly visits due to some swelling issues from retaining so much water. I'm carrying an extra gallon which accounts for about 7 pounds...not so fun. I have to keep my feet up as often as possible and sitting still when you live in the land of laundry and dishes does not come easy for me. I also get really stiff so its pretty tough to relax. I'd rather be up and moving regardless of how quickly I tire out.

I've found a name I'm absolutely in love with though Douglas is still steadfast with Xander. Im lovin' Landon...it was one of those complete moments of clarity. I heard the name while out and about and it has been haunting me for about two weeks now. So...there's a good chance change is coming...you just never know.

I've had some braxton hicks (fake contractions) but again, the OB says he is incubating for the long haul. My due date is 2/18...the professionals seem to concur that he's going to hang in there at least that long so its looking like a Pisces to add to the clan. Im pretty happy with that...being a Pisces myself I know how utterly fabulous we are. :-)

I just want him to be here! When I'm tempted to moan and groan about the discomfort I imagine how unpleasant it must be for munchkin to be squished in there and my empathy overrides my own physical woes. I've found the perfect birth announcements...complete with bumblebees! Too exciting...Gram is definitely a part of this process.

The nursery is coming along...everything is as organized as it can be until they are able to finish painting and refinishing the ceiling. Baby and I are both packed and ready for the big day. I couldn't decide on a coming home outfit so I just HAD to go buy a new one but thats all you're getting out of me until the birth announcements are mailed so don't try it!

Love and hugs to you all...we're on the home stretch!

Only 7 weeks to go...

And the little peanut is the size of a 36 week old baby! He's just under 6 pounds, 19 1/2 inches long. I think he's going to have the Janda height...he sure has some chubby cheeks! He kicked me through the whole ultrasound and has decided my bladder is his pillow. They confirmed that his feet are what is dancing around in my ribs and he has a round, chunky tummy. So, looks like Doc wasn't joking about me having a big one! He is predicted to be a minimum of 8 1/2 pounds, at least 23 inches long as according to the professionals, he is gaining approximately 1/2 pound and about 1/2 inch every week. Douglas was 6 pounds, 12 ounches and I was 8 pounds, 11 ounces. So much for being somewhere in between!

The ultrasound tech said he looks like the gerber baby...chubby cheeks, round face and bill full pouty lips. He is becoming more and more active everyday and he is already upside down creating quite the achy breaky panic in my naughty bits. Good times, good times...

Update: It's a boy!

Shortly after having my appendix ripped from my body (okay, that was slightly dramatic but it really was a traumatic experience) we found out in October that the peanut is a he. Douglas couldn't be more thrilled and Dad is over the top excited (he bought pee pee tee pees the day he found out we were expecting!)

So it's my boy stirring in there...kicking furiously through out the day as if my bladder has personally done something to offend him. If I didn't know better I'd think I was carrying a Beckham but I won't complain...he's busy, my son...MY son. Ah the wonder of it all.

Dreams of You

When sleep finally finds its way to me
And darkness clouds my view
I patiently wait to drift to that place
Where I'm greeted with dreams of you.

I hear you giggling from afar
See your footprints down the hall,
I smell the powder I've patted you with,
And listen for your call.

But you, my baby, are resting still
Growing big and strong
And I can feel you tickling me
And pray it won't be long

Before you're here and I can feel
What other Mommies do
The realness of life's greatest gift
Creating dreams with you.

Broadway, Baby!

The baby must have heard them...the minute the nurse exclaimed "we have the baby on camera!" the little peanut started a circus worthy display of acrobatics complete with waving arms and bubbles. I proudly exclaimed, "Yep...that one is mine!" all the while waiting for the tight rope and umbrella to appear on the screen.

I cannot explain the joy that so completely consumes me when I see that tiny heart beating...when I get the reassurance all mothers need that my child is safe and sound.

This experience amazes, delights and awes me on a minute to minute basis. The only enhancement I can imagine will top this feeling is finally meeting the bumblebaby.

YAWOD

In the world of merging couples names (we have TomKat, Brangelina, etc.) I am taking it a step further and merging the two things that, as the host body of a seemingly fickle baby, have become very endearing and nickname worthy to me: yogurt and water.

No, I don't mix them...but for whatever reason they are the only two things that I can successfully keep down therefore securing my loyalty to each. I tried to be sneaky...outwit the hormones so to speak but they were wise to this prego's game. I had two slices of toast AND some yogurt, victoriously proclaiming a half hour later, "Ta-da! I have found the cure! I have a vice! I can eat to-" My proclamation was cut off but my body convulsing and the toast angrily making its way out of my stomach. I swear if bread had a face those thick country home slices would have been sticking their tongues out at me, laughing and chucking crust at my sweaty forehead.

So, I have embraced it...my yawod (which for those of you who haven't yet figured out means Yogurt And Water Only Day) because really, who am I to upset the beauty of simplicity? Who am I to complain when yogurt comes in every flavor besides big mac and is incredibly good for the body? Who am I to feel sorry for myself as I bitterly suck down what feels like gallons of water an hour only to pee them out and have to replace them? One can only chalk such nonsensical negativity up to mood swings and sporadic emotional outbursts.

But not this one.

No.

My brain assures me that I am the ONLY pregnant woman who has ever had morning sickness, water retention, frequent urination, minute by minute meltdowns and a love/hate relationship with water and yogurt.

I am the queen of YAWOD.

Strawberry Pie

Strawberries came up in casual conversation...and it was all down hill from there.
After calling Shari's restaurant (my first choice), Perkins, Safeway and Yokes I finally found an Albertsons with a strawberry pie. When I arrived I was so pleased to see that customer service is alive and well and that the cashier had taken me seriously, setting my pie aside in a bag on the customer service counter. I opened the bag with anticipation and slowly deflated as I stared at the drizzled strawberry sauce on what appeared to be very hard and very old whip topping. "This won't do," I muttered to myself, shuffling quickly back to the bakery department in my house slippers praying no one I knew would see me.

I settled on a boston cream cake with large strawberries on the top. Three large slices later I was miserable, rolling around at home unable to get comfortable. To think... I not only drove 20 minutes to get that pie but settled for temporary satisfaction of what has become a permanent craving.