Growing in every way

This week the Little Man has discovered the joy it brings me (and possibly all women) when a man (big or small) brings them flowers. He officially picked his first “flowers” from our back yard and proudly presented them to me. Of course, they were weeds that have little purple flowers on top, but they immediately went into a vase on our kitchen table. Since then he’s constantly trying to pick flowers to bring me and I love it. This is his first gift that has given of his own free will without any prompting from anyone else. That kid has the biggest heart and it’s amazing to see him growing into a person who understands that other people have feelings and that he can influence them…positively and negatively. We’re also talking a lot about not pointing at people or talking about them. Like I said, positive and negative.

LM’s love of giving me flowers has blossomed so much that last night as he and Dr. F were coming in our front door; he tried to rip out some of the flowers we have planted next to our door. Dr. F quickly stopped him reminding him how hard we all worked to make them look so nice, but our sweet sweet boy started to tear up saying he just wanted to pick flowers to give to me. Our hearts completely melted. Dr. F felt terrible, but I couldn’t blame him for not wanting our new flowers torn out and one never can tell what a 3 yr old’s true intentions are. We all snuggled and Dr. F told LM that they would find other flowers to give to Mommy. All was quickly right with the world as the boys played some basketball and I got dinner together.

Last night was also interesting because after dinner I was completely laid up on the couch with painful contractions 4 minutes apart for almost 2 hours. OH that was fun. It actually might have been “fun” if I wasn’t only 36 weeks and Dr. F didn’t have his exam this weekend. At least it gave me a lot of practice breathing and relaxing…and I didn’t do a single dish and watched American Idol guilt free. It also got me thinking about just how exciting it is that we’ll be meeting SB soon. And SB will soon have a name! And I won’t get the random comments in the elevator at work begging me not to go into labor. Seriously, yesterday some guy who works on another floor just had to check to make sure I wasn’t due any second. It’s a 20 second elevator ride, dude. Calm yourself. My co-workers also demanded that I put my Dr.’s #, my parents’ and Dr. F’s phone numbers up in my cubicle…you know, just in case I go into spontaneous labor and am rendered unable to communicate… of course, most of them haven’t had kids and are totally freaked out about the possibility that I’ll have this kid right here on the floor of my cube. And I kinda go along with it, just because I get a kick out of watching them freak out a little J     

    

Happy Thursday!

Questions

1. LM: "Mommy, when the baby comes out of your belly, will your belly break?" Me: "No, my belly will just get smaller again (I hope!)" LM: "Oh! Good! Then we can snuggle in the daddy chair again!"

2. LM: "Mom, why do I have nipples?" Me: "That's the age old question, kiddo. I have NO idea."

3. what waddles like a penguin, grunts like a weight lifter, and moves slower than molasses in winter? ME.

I was 35 weeks yesterday and between the baby shifting down (oh holy pubic bones) and the amazing (warm) weather, my feet have started to swell and I am having trouble walking. I've even been having a ton of contractions, and they are way stronger than I remember with LM, at least this early. I actually had one that made me nauseous and another one that was so strong, it woke me up in the middle of the night. I know this is all good because that means my body is gearing up and we're getting so anxious to meet Stranger Baby, but I'm hoping (yes, despite the increasing discomfort!) that this doesn't mean SB is planning to make an early appearance... Dr. F has his big nasty exam next weekend, he's got evening lectures the following week, and then my dr. is on vacation the week after that. Basically, the next 3 weeks are a no go, after that, game on.

Happy Friday!!

Ready for my close up!

Yesterday we had our last ultrasound for Stranger Baby. It was amazing! I've never had a 3D ultrasound and wasn't expecting it at all, but suddenly the tech flipped a switch and the most perfect little face appeared! SB's hand is even resting under his/her chin in the Thinker pose.

We also got the great news that the baby looks perfectly healthy, has a full head of hair (no surprise there!), is head down (I already knew that thanks to the copious amount of kicking directly to my ribs) and weighs almost 5lbs already...that last part isn't so fabulous. I mean, its great, but also means we're looking at another 8+ pounder. UGHH.

Dr. F thinks the baby looks like a boy, and I kinda think he's right...but who can really tell? I resisted the (enormous) temptation to find out if the baby is a boy or girl and now there is no way we will know until SB is born. I even read the report just in case I "accidentally" came across the sex, but to no avail. I'm kicking myself. Despite the cute yellow outfits I bought, I really just wish I knew. At least we've settled on our boy and girl names...and even started talking about names for baby #3. Dr. F even initiated this conversation! Let's get this one here first, ok babe?

My camera is also dying a slow and painful death... the lag time is unbelievable between pictures, and that's if it decides to actually take a picture when the shutter is pressed. I really didn't want to spend the money because we're trying so hard to save money...but we can't be a few weeks away from having a new baby with no camera. I read a ton of reviews and ended up going with this baby:

                                         

It got fantastic reviews on image clarity and shutter speed: two things I am really looking for in a camera. What I really wanted was a fancy DSLR camera, but that is no way in the realm of our budget, even a cheap one, so I need a quality point and shoot. I can't wait to get my hot little hands on it! And of course, I had a coupon for $10 off and opted for in-store pick up to avoid the shipping charges. Never pay full price for anything!! :)

Ramblings

Ok, so I have been majorly neglecting my blog lately. I even managed to let February go by completely without a single post. Brilliant. I guess so much has been going on around here that I've not managed to finish one of the 50 million posts I have sitting in my drafts box. Well, it is a quiet day at the office (shhhhh, don't tell!) and I have enjoyed reading everyone else's posts so much...so here goes nothing.

Yesterday my office building opened a gym in our building and it is only $10/mo! and you only pay for the months you use! HOLLAR!! They were supposed to open back in Jan., and I've been stalking them since because this momma needs to move. I used to be a total gym rat back in my single girl days in DC and I miss it like whoa. Obviously, there are more important things going on in my life, but that bit of self-indulgence and me time at the gym... anyway...enough whining. I hit it up yesterday and I felt AMAZING.  I can't push myself too hard or I start having contractions and/or pee my pants (TMI, youre welcome), but the boost in mood alone was worth it. I even slept better than I have in months.

Speaking of sleep and contractions, I'm getting very little of the first and very much of the latter. This happened with Aidan as well, including a 2hr episode of braxton hicks contractions every 10 min when I was 33 weeks along. Yesterday I hit the 32 week mark (and could theoretically deliver in 5 weeks!!!) and this bambino has taken to squirming and jumping and hiccuping right under my ribs. Although, this time my heartburn is much less and my swelling is significantly lower. I am actually still wearing my wedding rings, which is nothing short of a miracle. For any future children, I will demand that I'm only pregnant in the winter! I'm sure having my thyroid levels carefully monitored and regulated by meds isnt hurting either :)

2 weeks ago I also broke down and bought a boy and girl "coming home" outfits. I couldn't contain myself any more and I've started packing my hospital bag. I know I know, I still have some time, but not knowing if this baby is a boy or girl (I've secretly started calling him/her "stranger baby"), I haven't prepared the way I did with Aidan. So I'm doing all of the gender non-specific things I can think of to satisfy my inner planner. I also had to force myself not to buy any extra girl clothes, but they are all so damn cute! And I did make myself buy some yellow and green clothes, but it was not fun. I will never be surprised again, this is miserable despite the fact that Dr. F is loving the surprise. Enjoy it this time, buddy.

This is the back of the girl onesie. Ahhh so cute!

Of course, I also snagged a big brother shirt for the proudest big brother. 

In other pregnancy news, the honeymoon trimester is soooo over. I am trying my best not to waddle and I think keeping up with Aidan has been very instrumental in keeping me mobile. But let me tell you what, I am ready to get some mobility back. I'm thrilled with how my body has handled this pregnancy as far as weight gain  goes (I've also not indulged in quite the number of bagel breakfast sandwiches this time...) and I'm all belly. However, I'm pretty over the massive effort it takes to simply get myself out of bed in the morning. I also really miss being able to really hug Dr. F. I felt this way with Aidan too and it was one of the things I craved the most when I was expecting him...full body contact with my hubby! It sounds silly, but try hugging your man with a beach ball in between you...its like middle school dances at Catholic school where you have to "leave room for the Holy Spirit." 

My cravings have also been pretty mundane. I had the usual insatiable appetite for cheese in my second trimester (namely queso and brie), the need to consume mass quantities of cold milk and felt like pbj sandwiches were delicacies (usually I like them, but this was more like liking them). Lately I've been trying to control myself where chocolate is concerned. I have only a modicum of self-control in the chocolate department and that is being generous.

If you made it this far, I'm impressed :) The flood gates have opened and I'll have to post more soon about Downtown Abbey (Amazing!!), couch dates (Moneyball was so good!) and even a belly shot or two... Happy Friday!