26 Weeks

I'm caving to the pressure of my original due date and going with Wednesdays instead of Fridays as my week markers. So today is 26 weeks, and below is the info from BabyCenter about what's going on in there:

   The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. She may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. She's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of her lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when she's born and takes that first gulp of air. And she's continuing to put on baby fat. She now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. 

Baby:

 Cucumber:

 Yesterday I went to Motherhood and bought a sackful of new maternity clothes. I love post-Christmas sales! I got three new pairs of pants, a dress, and 2 or 3 new tops, all for under $200. Plus a coupon for later and a restaurant gift card or something. So I sort of cleaned up! It's so nice to be wearing things that fit now. My pants were just getting way too tight. I feel stylish and cute again, and, especially with my newly done nails, I feel much better about myself, and that's way more important right now than I had realized.

Which reminds me, I'm finally going to the gym tonight. Brought a packed bag to work and all. No excuses, now.

Happy Halfway Mark (and yesterday post th at I forgot to put up)

Happy Halfway Mark!! (Today)
Hello small creature!  You're halfway done! Congratulations on making it this far! You're starting to move more and more, and you're filling out the maternity clothes I have rather nicely. You're also giving me heartburn pretty much every day, which really isn't fair of you.

I have a coworker who is driving me nuts. I have heard this woman talk about how she never wants to have kids. She has a great relationship with her niece but doesn't want to have kids herself. So, of course, she takes it as her duty to lecture me all about how I should be eating spinach and kale and chard (shit that I wouldn't be eating anyway, except the spinach) and practically gives me dirty looks in the lunch room when I eat chips with my sandwich or something. First of all, she swears she's a health nut, and is trying to impose what amounts to a religion on someone with different beliefs. And second of all, pregnancy isn't for her, but she damn sure knows all about how to do it better than I do. You know how much I hate confrontation -- do I send an email about something like this? Like, Hi there, I know you mean well, but I have been reading the pregnancy books and talking to my doctor, and if anyone is going to give me advice on what to eat, it really ought to be him. 

Poop.

Still marking off the days on my calendar until ultrasound day. Five more to go!!!


Fears and Other Demons -- November 18, 2010
I’m starting to have moments of paranoia. Right now, my biggest fear is that we’ll go to the ultrasound on Wednesday with everyone there all excited to find out what the sex is, and instead, we’ll find out that it’s died. There’s no reason for me to think that, other than the fact that I don’t feel it moving much yet. But I do feel it moving, and every time I do, I’m like, yay, it IS still alive. I’m sure these aren’t uncommon fears, but they still suck. I just want him/her to be okay and healthy and doing his/her thing, regardless of whether it’s Max or Violet.

Speaking of names, I’ve made sure to tell Shawn that, once we do determine who’s in there, that baby is immediately going to become either "Max" or "Violet" to me, so if he isn’t sure about either of those names, now is the time to tell me and start thinking about something else. Because I’m not sure I could change it once I get attached to my Little Bean as one or the other.

I had a good day of healthy eating yesterday, capped by a delicious Mexican dinner. …sigh… I’m getting there, I swear! And Shawn and I both forgot that we’d wanted to workout last night. I was so exhausted that when we got home from dinner I sat on the couch with my laptop on the lap desk to write, and promptly fell asleep to the sounds of Shawn’s SoComm game, or however that’s spelled.

I got some money from dear old Dad to do some more maternity clothes shopping, and Shawn’s mom, Julie, is apparently gifting me with some as well. Thanks!!!! It’s so very appreciated, especially as I’m growing out of things so quickly. Lots of what I got from Nicole and Kim need little things to make them work right – a belt for this super cute dress from Kim, to keep my top half from melding with my belly as they both expand; flats to replace the heels that make up my shoe collection; a good winter coat; and so on.

New Clothes!

Super big thanks to Nicole and Kim for donating two big bags of maternity clothes last night. I have seriously doubled my wardrobe. I wore a combination of both gals to work today -- Kim's khaki's, and Nicole's navy top. My own sparkly flip flops, hehe. Pops is giving me some money to stock up one some other things, like some outwear and a couple more pairs of work pants, and so on.

I had a dream last night that we were at the ultrasound appointment -- me and Shawn, my mom, Shawn's parents -- and we found out it was a boy. Premonition? Or resurfacing of everyone telling me it's going to be a boy? I don't know, and I'm trying desperately not to get my hopes up for one or the other. Also, I came up with a really fun way of breaking the big news to the folks waiting in the waiting room, in my dream, and when I woke up, I was like, huh, that's a really good idea. So now it shall come to pass.

Felt another little kick today, but he/she isn't terribly active yet, and least not that I can feel. Braxton-Hicks contractions from time to time, usually at night or first thing in the morning. Registered for a freakin' adorable bassinet online this afternoon. I'm jealous. I wish my bed was that cute.

Today is my one year anniversary with Shawn. We're celebrating by having a kid. Hehe. But seriously. I guess none of this has felt like a big deal to me because it seems like we've been together for so much longer than that. We both looked at each other last night and thought, really? Only one year? Time has gone in slow-mo for the last year. I suppose Thanksgiving is as good a time as any for all these things to come up. Cause no matter what, I really am happy and thankful for him in my life.

So, sappy moments aside, hope everyone has a wonderful evening, and I shall be back tomorrow with pictures of the belly at 19 weeks. Can't believe I'm encroaching on the halfway mark already. Christ. Slow down in there!!

Belly Love

I can't help but post up this picture from last night. It's probably my favorite so far. You know how some pics of yourself you like, or are just sort of okay, and then there are those few that you just love so much you want to blow up and hang over your mantle? This is one of those. So indulge me.

I definitely had tacos for dinner last night. I don't feel guilty at all, since I haven't indulged in them in weeks. And my weight gain is progressing pretty much right on course. My morning sickness has mostly gone away, although I still feel sort of queasy when I first wake up in the morning. However, it's not usually bad enough to cause the puking any more.

I'm in serious need of new maternity clothes. It's becoming very difficult to dress for work in the morning. I think a trip to Target is in order. I'd like to get some nice sweater dresses to wear with leggings. Or maybe just a belly band so I can keep wearing my old jeans. But even those are getting a bit snug in the booty...hehe.

Speaking of which, I should probably do my pilates tonight. Can't let this weight gain get out of hand!