Random Updates IV

Again with the random updates. None of these topics really warrants its own post, but I have much to share! (Scroll down for an appointment update from this morning, if you're interested.)

I.  Birthday

Tuesday was my birthday. I have always been very possessive of July 19... I LOVE birthdays -- mine and others' -- and I didn't want to share that day, even with my precious baby (I should say, I didn't want him to have to share it with me... right...)! So I was relieved when the day came and went with nary a sign of labor. It was a great day, centered mostly around food, which is just how I like it. Brad brought me breakfast in bed, then we braved the crowd and had In-N-Out Burger for lunch (one just opened in Dallas), and we went to our favorite sushi place in Deep Ellum for dinner. In between I worked, Brad and I took a walk, we visited Preston Center and window shopped, and generally just enjoyed spending time together. I got lots of calls, emails, texts, and Facebook messages, which made my whole day really special!

II.  Dream

So far I've been pretty lucky not to have insane pregnancy dreams or nightmares. I've had a small handful, including two dreams where I gave birth to a Treasure Troll. But the dream I had a few days ago takes the cake. First of all, I've had a few totally unreasonable pregnancy fears, like that our baby has really short (toothpick-sized) legs, since I can't feel him kicking in my ribs like I would expect. I also had a fleeting fear that the baby doesn't have ears, since I have never seen ears in his ultrasound videos or pictures and he doesn't really react to loud noises. And finally, I keep thinking, "What if it's not a boy we're having after all -- what if it's a girl?" because I haven't had an ultrasound since our gender reveal at 20 weeks, and they could have gotten it wrong.

That may explain why I dreamed that not only did I have the baby and it was a female, but she also had a full-grown woman's face and a Prince Valiant haircut like Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men. And she was talking to me and apologizing for not being a boy, like we expected. I was HORRIFIED in my dream and ripped out my IV and left the labor & delivery room. It's not like I don't WANT a girl, but we're "prepared" for a boy, so I woke up in a panic.

III.  Vanity

It's hard to look or feel beautiful at 39+ weeks pregnant. A few people have asked why I stopped doing "Bump Chronicles" posts after 35.5 weeks. Part of it, honestly, is that I packed up the camera and all its cords several weeks ago when I packed our hospital bag. But I also feel bad asking Brad to take the pictures (he hates doing that kind of thing -- totally not a historian), and whenever it's convenient (first thing in the morning or last thing at night), my hair is usually messed up and I'm not wearing makeup. I plan to take one on Monday though (due date).

Also, probably due to a combination of HEAT (more on that later) and hormones, I am fighting a vicious battle against acne. It's like the first trimester all over again! I'm washing my face at least three times a day and using copious amounts of benzoil peroxide to keep from being broken out like a 15-year-old when I meet my son. More than you wanted to know? You're welcome.

IV.  Activity Level

Mine and the baby's... I think I'm "over" the nesting thing. There were a couple of weeks there when the urge to tidy, organize and create was virtually uncontrollable, but now I'd rather go for a walk or read or watch a movie than spend an evening organizing and reorganizing the pantry. And that's probably healthy at this point.

The baby continues to move a LOT. One thing I can't figure out is this sort of slow flicking, clicking sensation I feel near his head. The best I can imagine is that he's grasping, like opening and closing his hands. It's SO weird to be able to sense those things. I am sure he's been making those movements for a while now, but I guess he's run out of room to the point that I can feel most everything.

V.  Heat

I mentioned recently that it bothers me when people make disparaging comments under the guise of being funny or wise, like when they tell me I'm never going to sleep again, so enjoy it now. A close runner-up in annoyance is the people who just seem to have such pity for me... strangers at church who will shake my hand, ask when I'm due, then say, "Ohhhh, I bet you're just MISSSSERABLE." Or, "Ohhh honey, to be nine months pregnant in this heat! I would not want to be you right now!" And again, I just think what I always think, which is that being pregnant -- and having a healthy, comfortable pregnancy -- is such a blessing and a privilege. I would not change a thing!
 
That said, I do thank God for air conditioning, as it seems we are having a doozy of a summer! I read this week that Dallas is experiencing its hottest summer since 1980, making it the second-hottest summer in 100 years! We're on our 20th or 21st consecutive day of 100+ degree temperatures, with the highest temperatures reaching 107 (that's actual heat, too -- not heat index). And get this -- my due date, July 25, is historically the HOTTEST day of the year in Dallas! Why do I get the feeling our baby is going to be a little firecracker?

Can't wait to meet him!

Random Updates III

Just a bunch of random stuff today!


I. Timing

Baby is due in two weeks, meaning he can come any old time he wants. I'd like for him to hold out until 39 weeks, minimum, since there's a lot of research showing rapid brain development between weeks 37 and 39. But I have a feeling he'll be coming closer to 40 or 41 weeks, and I'm 100% okay with that. It's funny... Part of me doesn't want to say I think he's coming late because I hate being wrong (haha), and if he's early, Brad "wins" (he's been convinced Baby G will arrive before July 25). But just going off the fact that I haven't had ANY contractions -- not even Braxton Hicks (besides those two around 30 weeks) -- and the baby hadn't dropped at the time of my last appointment, I just can't imagine him coming, you know, tomorrow or anything. I know things can change quickly. Regardless, it's probably better that I tell myself he's coming late so I don't make myself crazy or pin all my hopes on 07/25/11. 

II. Sleep and stuff

There are very few things that irk me about being pregnant, but I have to admit that I do get annoyed with the Negative Nellys. Mostly, I can't stand it when people make disparaging comments under the guise of being funny or wise. For example, if I say something like, "It felt so good to sleep late this morning!" it seems like anyone within earshot will say, "Enjoy it now, because you're not going to sleep again for the next 18 years!" 

I am probably going to jinx myself by saying this, but... I really don't sleep that much anyway. I haven't for most of my adult life. I haven't been fatigued during this pregnancy, I am not a napper (though I'm trying to become one), and most weeknights I get maybe five hours of rest. I wake up every night at least once or twice, pregnant or not (pregnant it's more like five times a night... seriously). And I get by. Granted, I imagine it's different when you are awoken by a crying baby and you have to be conscious enough to attend to his needs. Maybe I have no idea what I'm talking about. :)

III. Visual

Here are pictures of Dr. Norwood and Dr. McCants. This may officially put me in creepy-stalker territory, but these pics were posted on the Women's Health Alliance Facebook page, and I realized that my reading public (hi, Mom!) doesn't know what my prenatal caregivers look like! I, for one, always like a visual. So here you go.

IV. Leisure

I may be getting better at the whole "slowing down" thing. Partly because I'm just bigger and slower, partly because if I overdo it, I feel it in my ankle or something. As I think back to our activities this weekend, I realize it was probably a pretty good pace. We went to a birthday party and had dinner with a friend, got some things done around the house, watched Netflix (The Art of the Steal, SO GOOD), went to church, I spent some time in the kitchen (making mozzarella and bread!)... but I didn't try to run too many errands or clean behind the refrigerator or anything else that might win me the Super Nester award.  We have plans to see some friends this week for dinner, and Brad surprised me with Harry Pottery tickets for Friday! I am glad for the chance to have FUN right now and not feel the pressure of a big to-do list.

More soon, including a final (??), more positive post on the "hardheaded baby" phenomenon!

A Fourth to be Reckoned With

What a wonderful Fourth of July weekend! It started off strong and then fizzled into couch-dwelling by the time Monday rolled around. And to be honest, that was pretty much a perfect pace for me.

That nesting instinct is a powerful force, friends (hence the punny title of this post). As I mentioned recently, I have been going to town on errands and crossing things off my list. In fact, I've been so on top of things that I have run out of preparations to complete, and I found myself searching for projects on Saturday. I decided to wire lamps out of two $5 glass vases (vases from HomeGoods, lamp kit from Home Depot, shades from Target), then I did a little hand-painted, no-sew valance in the guest bathroom to coordinate with our towels and mats and cover up an unsightly metal bar at the top of the wooden blinds.

My lamp project. The other one looks just like this.

This lamp from Crate & Barrel kind of looks like my lamp, but costs $229!

Bathroom valance. I just used hemming tape and craft paint. It actually looks pretty good in person and finishes out the room.

We also bought a baby monitor (it's a good one!) and visited Cabela's, had brunch, went to the Dallas Farmer's Market, and ran a ton of random errands (grocery shopping and the like). I think sometimes I forget my nine-months-pregnant limitations, because on Saturday night Brad and I were getting ready to go for a walk, and I realized my ankle had really been hurting. Sure enough it was all swollen, and not just because of the heat and stuff. I think I tweaked it, or the relaxin hormone made my ligaments temporarily really crazy in one ankle.

So we went to church on Sunday and otherwise were pretty low-key, since I had developed a really attractive little limp. I was REALLY self conscious because I didn't want to be perceived as having a "pregnancy waddle." I baked and just did stuff around the house.

Monday our friends Abby and Zach came over in the morning... SO nice to visit with them. Brad and I were going to make mozzarella, but I didn't realize you needed a gallon of whole milk and I didn't feel like going to the grocery store again. So I made chicken tikka masala out of stuff I already had on hand. Interestingly, that's considered the unofficial national dish of Great Britain, and I made it on the day we celebrate our independence from them. :)

Not a whole lot of baby news in this post. He is moving A TON and really making me excited to meet him in a few weeks!

Fort Worth Staycation

Credit: Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau

I got some good advice a few months ago from a sweet friend, a mother of four who lives with her family in Kyiv, Ukraine. She told me that as she and her husband were awaiting the arrival of their first child, they made a conscious effort to fill up "the love tank," spending lots of quality time together and just being especially loving. Those stores of tenderness and affection carried them through sleepless nights and other challenges that accompany becoming first-time parents, and she encouraged me to be very intentional in my time with Brad so that we can give each other an extra measure of grace and patience when we may not feel like it after Baby G arrives.

That has really stuck with me. Fortunately, Brad has made it very easy to be kind and loving -- he has pretty much been a saint this entire pregnancy -- but I have been consciously trying make these days when our family is "two" count, affirming him, serving him, and doing fun things together, and he's been doing the same in return.

We decided to head to Fort Worth for the weekend to spend more time just having fun and investing in each other and in our marriage. We had a blast! Brad got us a good rate at the Omni on Hotwire, and since they knew this was our "babymoon," they had sparkling grape juice (Martinelli's!) and chocolate covered strawberries waiting for us in our room. We swam, talked to an awesome, older, black couple about civil rights in Dallas in the 1950s and 1960s (the woman had met JFK on the morning he was assassinated!), ate at some very yummy restaurants, walked around Sundance Square, visited the stockyards, peeked in shops, watched movies... We even had a celebrity sighting -- Chef Marcus Samuelsson visited Tim Love's Lonesome Dove while Brad and I were the only diners there! I couldn't believe it.

I loved turning the AC wayyyy down in our hotel room and not worrying about the electricity bill, snacking on macaroons from Central Market, watching HBO, people-watching, and just taking in all that the hotel and our neighbor city had to offer. Not to mention, Brad and I had a great time TOGETHER!

Granola Bars

Psst... In case you don't subscribe via RSS or email, scroll down for a Bump Chronicles/appointment update post. 

Bars, poured and rolled

In the process of cutting

I cut away the rough edges, which were great for snacking on at home

Packaged and ready to go!

(Sorry for the bad quality of the photos. My dinky little point and shoot just isn't cutting it. Hoping for a nicer camera - an entry-level DSLR - before the baby gets here!)


I love snacks... always have. One of the things I have liked best about pregnancy is that you're encouraged to eat small meals and snack frequently. The key is making the most of each snack. If I have an apple and peanut butter in the morning, I'll have a stick of cheese or a boiled egg in the afternoon to balance out the food groups, and then maybe a small cup of nutty granola and fat free milk after dinner.

The challenge is snacking on the go. I can't keep string cheese in my purse all the time, and we tend to finish Kashi bars pretty quickly around here, which adds up if I want to have some handy on a regular basis. So when I saw this recipe for granola bars with a decent dose of protein, I knew I wanted to make them. I already had all of the ingredients on hand, though I made some changes, and will change more the next time I make them.

The recipe, with my tweaks and suggestions:

2 cups old-fashioned oats (I used instant because that's all I had, but steel cut would be better)

1/2 c. flax seed, milled

1/4 c. quinoa (it's not clear in the recipe, but you add this dry)

3/4 c. shelled sunflower seeds (use unsalted, the peanut butter plus added salt is plenty)

1 c. chopped nuts (any kind or combination) (I used almonds)

1 c. shredded coconut (unsweetened is best)

1/2 to 1 tsp. cinnamon (desired amount) (I added the full teaspoon, plus some ground ginger)

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 c. brown sugar or your favorite natural sweetener (I added way less than this - maybe 1/4 a cup)

1/2 c. honey (I used a mixture of honey and agave nectar)

2 tsp. molasses

4 T. butter (I cut this in half - did one tablespoon butter and one generous tablespoon coconut oil)

2 tsp. vanilla

4 T. peanut butter (I used Target brand's natural organic peanut butter - my favorite. I definitely recommend a natural peanut butter, as it has a thinner texture than, say, JIF, and works well in this recipe. Almond butter would be good too.)

1 c. dried, chopped fruit (optional) (I used Target's Archer Farms Superfood mix, with pomegranate, blueberry, cherry and cranberry - didn't chop it)

I also sneaked in: 

A scant 1/4 c. oat bran

2 T. wheat germ

1 T. chia seeds/solba (I would have added more but that's all I had)

1. mix first 8 ingredients together and place on a rimmed baking sheet. toast in a 400 degree oven for 12 minutes. stir and let cool at least 15 minutes. Watch this closely; the coconut around the edge of the pan burned at about 12 minutes, but it wasn't a big deal.

2. bring next 4 ingredients to a simmer, stirring continuously. stir in the vanilla and peanut butter and cool for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. put the toasted ingredients and dried fruit in a large bowl and pour the liquid ingredients over it. mix very well.

4. place parchment or wax paper in the rimmed baking sheet and butter the top side, then place the granola bar mixture in the pan. put another butter sheet of paper, buttered side down, on top of the mixture and press down. roll with a rolling pin to make it very tight, smooth, and even. Don't worry about rolling it into a perfect rectangle. Just get the basic shape, and when it comes time to cut, you can trim off the uneven edges and snack on those separately.

5. let set for 2-3 hours (in the fridge) and cut into desired bar size. makes about 20-24 bars (I cut them the size - area, not thickness - of Kashi bars and it made 32). package in snack size bags or an airtight container (I rolled them individually in plastic wrap since I knew we'd be eating them on the go and I didn't want to use that many snack bags). if not using within next few days, store in freezer (we stored the wrapped bars in the fridge). they keep very well, and thaw quickly. (really yummy frozen, too!) 

I should have taken more pictures during the actual baking/cooking/mixing process, but I didn't think to. I will tell you these were a huge hit. They really sustain you and are tasty, to boot. I calculated the nutrition info of the bars with my changes. See below. And happy snacking! 

 

Last 100 Days!

Somehow my "baby countdown" widget in the right hand column was off a few days and I just noticed it. Kind of like when your watch stops, or something, it just wasn't counting down. Weird! So I thought I still had about 104 days until my due date, but I just realized I am under 100 days! 96, to be exact! I think I'm officially in the third trimester, too.

I had this big idea of doing a "Last 100 Days in Utero" post, kind of like how they measure a president's first 100 days in office. But now that I'm at 96 days, that feels a little anticlimactic. I had planned to finish all of my research papers before I got to 100 days. I still have one to go! Oh well.

My belly has literally doubled in size in the last 48 hours. I am not kidding. Last night was the first night I started to feel uncomfortable around my ribs. And my belly button is getting really shallow all of a sudden. I am glad that the baby is healthy and growing, but I am not ready for this discomfort and whale-ishness! As I was whining to Brad a little bit, he was sympathetic but teasingly reminded me that I have had a dream pregnancy so far, so I really can't complain. He's right!


We completed our "Prepared Childbirth" classes at Baylor and made friends with the instructor. I feel much more informed about what to expect over the course of the next several months, including postpartum. My big prayer is that I avoid a C-section. Brad was able to change a diaper for the first time (on a baby doll), and I brought along one of our cloth diapers so that he can practice with that too. We're planning to do disposables for the first four to six weeks, then switch to bumGenius. I have bought 13, and I'm hoping to at least double that number so I'm not doing laundry every day!

The childbirth classes really affirmed my decision to deliver at Baylor. I initially chose it because it's the closest hospital to our home, and a friend of ours (our awesome and sweet neighbor's older daughter) had her babies there and had wonderful things to say about it. She told us they put little Bible verse cards on your meal trays... little touches that make you feel like you're in good hands. Turns out they also really work with you to ensure your birth is an experience that feels rewarding, and they want to accommodate your vision for the process as much as possible/reasonable. They are also huge proponents of breastfeeding and won't give your baby formula or pacifiers if they know you plan to breastfeed. The baby stays in the room with you, and the same nurse who cares for you cares for your baby (couplet care). Everyone we have encountered there has been nothing short of warm, friendly and incredible! The facilities are very nice and new, too; Brad said he's looking forward to staying at "Hotel Baylor." :)

I also think we might have chosen our pediatrician. She comes extremely highly recommended by some friends of ours. We'll be meeting with her in about a month to get a feel for her and make sure our views align.

So even though the nursery remains empty, progress is being made!

Nursery Progress

The title of this post may be over-promising a bit. There is actually no progress. Still a basically empty room with primed walls, waiting for a makeover.

But I have started buying! And I've nailed down my design concept, more or less.

After debating a nautical theme and an adventurer theme, I've landed on "whimsical adventurer," I think. It's really not going to have a theme, honestly, and it's going to be something that feels like a kid's room without being babyish. Hopefully it will grow with our little lad for a few years. I want it to be a room that I can tolerate and enjoy (not overloaded with muscle cars, dinosaurs, jungle animals, footballs) -- fresh but boyish, bright and cheery but not over-the-top silly.

I have lots of ideas, including thoughts on storing books and toys, a lamp redo, possibly making some paper lanterns and/or pendants, and of course I've been thinking about the art on the walls. But for now, I'll give you a sneak peek of things I have bought or already own that will end up in the room. Before you look at all the fabrics and think "pattern overload," I have plans for simple ivory drapes, an off-white or tan rug, and generally just lots of spots for the eye to rest. So don't worry. :)


WALL COLOR
"Water Mark" by Behr

What can I say about this color... It's exactly what I wanted. And its name is the same as my church's name (Watermark). It was meant to be. Hopefully I'll love it when it's on the walls! I am crazy about the fact that it's a COLOR, but it reads kind of as a neutral. Totally soothing.

FABRICS
I have plans for most of these fabrics, at this point. I own them all. Some will turn into bedding, some will line shelves, at least one will be a book/toy sling... You'll just have to wait and see!

The next three fabrics and the trim are from Hancock.

I bought this hexagon fabric in both cotton and laminated cotton. 

This stripe will run vertically, as I envision it. I'm pulling a lot of the colors for the room from this (grassy yellow, aqua, ecru, bold orange).

I tried to find a swatch of this fabric online and couldn't; it's the same exact fabric/pattern that's on this journal, only it's in fabric form, obviously--not a journal.

This is a trim I will be using on the curtains. It's not as day-glo as it looks here. It's just a fun, vintage-looking pom pom fringe. 

All fabrics below this point are from Tonic Living. Highly recommend the online store's selection.

This one with the kids playing is so precious. It actually looks a lot better in person than it does in this picture.

EXTRAS

 

Knobs for the closet doors. I love them. They are actually already on, so I guess that is one thing I've done in the room. From Anthropologie, of course! 

A bowl that was on sale at Anthro. Figure I can use it to hold pacifiers or something.

 Jelly Cat corduroy lion from Anthro (I had a coupon and a gift card).

This world map served as the jumping off point for the whole room. I had originally bought it for the living room, but the orange was way too bright. It's magnetic and has a nice white frame. Baby G has already been to five countries since he's been incubating, so we'll put magnets over those. From Future Maps Co. online.

 

I have two of these IKEA pails for diaper purposes. Thinking about spray-painting them, but maybe not.

IKEA faux sheep skin for layering over... stuff.

FURNITURE

Jenny Lind crib in white. I bought it off Amazon the other day. A little earlier than I planned, but I noticed it said it takes up to three months to ship (?!?). Oh and don't worry, I didn't get a drop-side crib. It's stationary. I just used this picture because it didn't have bedding on it.

Grainy image of a storage cube. I got two of these after I mistakenly bought a Groupon to Ashley Furniture. Well, buying the Groupon wasn't a mistake, but I thought I could get lamps and -- long story. Anyway, I have two beige storage cubes now. 

This isn't exactly the chair I have... but it is close enough to give you an idea. Also has an ottoman. We might add a rocker (TBD) in addition to this chair. 

Weird picture, but that white shelf behind the lady is what I'm going to be using as a changing table. It's just the right dimensions, and we don't have a place for it anywhere else. I bought it from one of my favorite bloggers in October, intending to use it as a bar cart, but I realized once I got it home that it was not the right size for the space I hoped to put it in. Supposedly it was sold through Horchow and retailed for $500 (I got it for MUCH LESS than that). Probably sacrilegious to use it as a changing table. Oh well.

More updates soon, I hope!

On Sewing

I should be writing a paper, but instead I'm surfing the blogosphere.

This post on Ohdeedoh caught my eye this week: Celebrate the Boy. A group of bloggers noted there are not a whole lot of cute craft ideas or sewing tutorials for boy moms, so they got together and came up with a bunch. My boy's tooth sockets are just now forming in utero, but I'm already thinking about making him this monster tooth pillow.

The thing is, I don't sew. Well, I sort of do. My mom took me under her ever-patient wing when I was younger, teaching me how to sew together squares for quilts, make simple pillow cases, hem, rip seams (I remember getting paid a quarter to rip out a bunch of seams once). I even made sleeping bags for Beanie Babies at the height of the craze and sold them to my friends. But then my mom and I tried to make a dress together, and well, let's just say I thought I knew better than her. I think I'm not much of a pattern follower. A few frustrating hours later, I vowed never to sew again*.

But now I want to. And I have some GREAT equipment. I was recently given a serger and an embroidery machine, and I have a very entry-level sewing machine (though I honestly think it's broken). It seems a shame not to use the great tools I have.

I will be graduating in a little over a month, if I can ever finish the three massive term papers, two oral presentations and four mini papers that stand between me and the end of the semester. Then I'll start decorating the nursery and otherwise nesting in full force. And I'm wondering if I should look for a sewing class. I'd really like to get the fundamentals down before I find myself devoted 100-percent to all things baby. And actually, the serger and embroidery machine were given to me on the condition that I would take a class to learn how to use them. So now that I am facing the prospect of having a free weeknight, I really should live up to my end of the bargain.

*I actually bought and reupholstered an overstuffed armchair when I was in college. A lot of it was hand-sewn, but I did use my mom's machine for the long seams. That was definitely a one-off. I tried to sew a purse when I moved to Dallas, but the fabric I used was too thick and it kept breaking my needles, so I gave up. I love doing projects around my house, and I often think how much I wish I could reupholster stuff myself!  So there are many reasons to learn--baby stuff, house stuff, and just as a creative outlet. Agree? How many of you sew, or wish you could sew?

This Week in Pictures

Yesterday was Brad's and my five-year "meetiversary." Next week we'll celebrate our four-year "engage-iversary." I'm finding myself just filled to the brim with gratitude. God has been so good to us in so many ways, not the least of which is this blessing we're expecting in July.

I just cleared some pictures off my camera, so I thought I'd offer a photo update on our lives over the past week.

Brad priming the red wall in the guest bedroom. No more red! Hooray! This weekend or maybe sometime in April we'll paint the whole room. The beginnings of a nursery!

Brad admiring the registry gun while relaxing in a rocker/glider at Babies 'R' Us. Read about that visit here.

While registering, I asked Brad if he thought we should get a "soft friend" for Baby G. Our choices were a monkey or a giraffe. I held up the giraffe and said, "This is kind of cute," and Brad balked and said, "What is that? A koala?" He had me rolling! How does this giraffe in any way resemble a koala?! I thought Brad needed to seriously brush up on his zoo animals until Brad pointed out the tag...

The brand of this stuffed animal is called Koala Baby. Which led Brad to believe that it was a koala. My man is pretty cute. ;)

Brad proved he is the champion mini-golfer on our date day (read about that here). We weren't keeping score, but he was undoubtedly winning. Here he is illustrating a fancy "between the legs" shot.

Wearing a work dress after spending a couple of days in San Antonio. My bump is getting bumpier! (And I know, what a cliche - barefoot and pregnant. At least I'm not in the kitchen!)

St. Patty's bump. Took this picture today. Baby G is part Irish, since I believe we have some Irish ancestry on my dad's side. Also, I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I was waiting for the awesome "pregnancy hair" everyone raves about to kick in. I think it finally did! I'm noticing it's thicker and growing faster. Hooray!

Brad and I are going to a nice steakhouse tonight, Bob's Steak and Chop House, to celebrate our meetiversary, engage-iversary, and the fact that it's spring break right now, so we actually can enjoy an evening together. Usually, we don't see much of each other during the week because our schedules are so opposite. 

Again, so much to be thankful for!

Random Updates

Picture I posted to Facebook of my bump at 19 weeks. 

 
Just a random update from the past few weeks. 

I've been feeling definite, strong kicks since before 16 weeks. Some days I think Baby G is practicing to become Lord of the Dance in there, and I love it. (Although in the interest of full disclosure, I finally admitted to Brad that the long Riverdance sessions, reassuring though they are, can get a little annoying when I'm trying to concentrate or sleep. But I know deep down I would not want them to stop.)

I kept trying to get Brad to feel the baby move, and there were a couple of times when he thought he could, but I didn't feel anything at the moments he thought he did. But yesterday I was watching my tummy -- YES, I can see the baby moving in there -- and there were like some solar flare baby movements. Really dramatic kicks that you could see CLEARLY just by looking. So I called Brad over, and he felt the baby for sure! Exciting milestone!

I was also having REALLY bad pain at my navel yesterday. It woke me up at 4 a.m. because the pain was so sharp, and it lasted for most of the day. I couldn't lay on my side without feeling really strong stabbing pains at my belly button. It was so bad at one point that I had to stop working and just lay down. I Googled it (frenemy) and learned that pain like that is normal at this stage. It could be just growing pains, or worst case it could be a herniated navel, but since the pain has let up today, I'm going with the former. Probably just the little pup making room.

Finally, I'm waiting for that awesome head of hair everyone talks about during pregnancy! One friend wrote on Facebook, "If God makes us get fuller and thicker during pregnancy, at least he lets our hair do the same!" Early on my hair was falling out a LOT. I've stopped losing hair, but I still feel like I can't do much with it. Might also be because I got a bad haircut in December and I just need to let that grow out. The result has been lots of ponytails and buns, which is meh, but Brad likes it when I have my hair in a ponytail (he requests it for special occasions - cute, no?), so at least there's that.

It's getting hard when I'm out running errands not to want to buy stuff for the nursery. I'm really waiting until we know if it's a boy or girl (click here to see the nursery inspiration boards I came up with), but I went to Hobby Lobby yesterday to get a mirror for our dining room, and MAN, they had awesome baby stuff and other objets marked 80% off! If only they could do that again next week! I've been hard at work clearing out the guest room. I sold an armoire through Craigslist yesterday, donated my mattress and box springs, and disassembled the bed. I'm now just trying to Craigslist a chair and ottoman, but I have NO TAKERS WHATSOEVER. Maybe I just need to slash the price to nothing (it's currently listed at $50). This weekend I hope to Kilz the red wall.

All in all, this baby is being VERY nice to me. I am grateful. I can't wait until Monday when Dr. Norwood's office does the full anatomical scan.  They'll check the brain, heart, spine, amniotic fluid and more. The gender reveal will be fun, but since it's been eight weeks since we last saw the little one, I'm aching for another glimpse!

Boy v. Girl: What the Old Wives Say

Image via Getty Images

It's a close one in the boy v. girl poll (in the right column)! Six to six. Last I checked I think it was 6 for girl, 4 for boy, so perhaps the boy mojo has grown stronger in the last couple of days. Just for fun, I'm going to do a run-down of how I compare to the old wives tales. We'll know for sure on Monday!

Old Wives Tales Comparison 

(Adapted from Smonk You and With Two Cats)

The baby's heartbeat was clocked at over 140 = BOTH (click here and here for heartbeat posts)
According to the Chinese gender chart = Boy
Sleeping on left (boy) or right (girl) side = BOTH (No matter which way I start off sleeping, I end up on my back. No lectures about sleep positions, please.)
Short time to conceive = Girl
I feel no nausea = Boy
I'm not craving citrus = Boy
I am gaining weight = Girl (this seems like a weird question, because at 20 weeks, of course I'm gaining weight)
I'm breaking out a bit = Girl
I'm feeling clumsy = BOTH (I have always felt clumsy, so no change)
No weight gain in my face (I hope) = Boy
I'm craving salty and sour stuff = Boy (I'm not craving anything, but I'd rather have pretzels and cranberry juice than cookies or cake)
I'm not moody = Boy
I'm carrying high (girl) or low (boy) =  Girl (I'm not sure I'm carrying a whole lot of anything right now, but one person told me I'm carrying high)
My hair has become thinner and dull = Girl
Hair on my legs is not growing faster than before = Girl
Feet are not colder than before I was pregnant = Girl
Brad has not been gaining weight = Girl
Craving fruit or meats and cheeses = BOTH (again, no cravings, but I'll eat any of these.)


Grand total:
Girl = 8
Boy = 6
Either = 4

At least two of the girl ones I take issue with (gaining weight and carrying high or low), but nevertheless, it looks like the old wives tales have us paying for a wedding in a couple of decades instead of a rehearsal dinner. Of course, that doesn't take into account parental intuition. Brad would love for it to be a boy to prove those old wives wrong, and I've been saying all along I think it's a boy. We will be OVER THE MOON excited either way. Truly.

I can't believe we'll know for sure in just a few days! Then I will get to start REGISTERING! I already asked Brad if he wanted to stop at a baby store on the way home from our doctor appointment Monday, and I didn't get a lot of enthusiasm. I'll let you know what happens. :)

Boy or Girl?

After today's heartbeat post, I thought I'd see what you think about Baby G's gender. Will the years bring us ballet slippers or football gear? Bills for a wedding or a rehearsal dinner? I added a poll to the right column of the blog. Submit your vote now!