One of Life's Great Mysteries

When you have a cold, you may find that there's nothing you can do to clear your nose so you can breathe through it. However, if you intentionally "plug" your nose so you won't smell something, it suddenly starts to run.

What crazy function is that supposed to serve?

Oxygen tent, please.

Stuffy-head colds are no fun. Stuffy head colds when you're already functioning with a semi-compressed set of lungs is even worse.

I'm getting chapped lips from walking around the office with my mouth hanging open so I can breathe. And then people stop me to ask if I'm OK, so I have to explain, and that restricts my O2 consumption even more. Bah.

Love those pregnancy hormones.

On my morning and afternoon commutes, I like to listen to NPR (National Public Radio.) I'm an addict. I love the commentaries, I appreciate the news, and the quirky stories make me smile. Except.... when I'm having a pregnancy hormone morning. Often, by the time I realize it, it's too late.

For example, this morning. I'm driving along, traffic isn't too bad, I'm running on time, and the radio isn't telling me anything more hideous than normal. I'm doing just fine. Then, a story comes on about the creation of the Charlie Brown Christmas special. I start tearing up, listening to how hard the creators pushed to get the music they believed in, when the network thought that jazz and christmas music couldn't mix. Luckily, I pulled in to a parking spot at work just as the children's choir number started. As it was, it only took me a moment to compose myself before I headed into the building. If I'd actually listened to those kids singing, there's no telling what could have happened.

When the story first started, I had every intention of watching it on TV tonight. Now? Let's just say I'll take the story as fair warning, and watch something safe like CSI.

So Many New Ideas

Wow, a little boy. We're so excited, and there's so much for us to learn! The last time I did any regular diapering of a boy baby was probably when I was in around 8th grade. That was quite a while ago! Mombi has done some more recently than that, but not much.

We've got some of the big decisions out of the way already, such as whether or not we're going to have the kid circumcised and what his name will be. The fact that the kid will have Mombi's last name popped out while I was talking to my maternal grandmother on the phone Thanksgiving. That was an interesting bit of conversation, let me tell you. She's been studiously glazing over the fact that Mombi and I are a couple for several years now. We've known that it would come down to this as far as whether she'll "get it" and acknowledge our relationship or not. We'll see how it goes. So far, all she's said (to my mom, after she got off the phone with me) is something about "so many new ideas to get used to" which could mean just about anything. When it comes down to it, though, babies are babies and kids are kids, and I know our family will get a warm welcome whenever we visit them (9 hours away).

There's still so much to figure out before he arrives, and even more after... It was quite a little mind-opener when Mombi pointed out that we'll have to find a sitter for the next Harry Potter movie!

Lots of Fun with Picture Pages

Well, it's a good thing we're not overly fond of pink. Looks like Mombi and I will soon have a boy in the house!

The sonogram tech actually put an arrow on the second image (removed for his future privacy) to point out the "key feature." I thought that was going a bit far for a public posting, though! Seriously, could it be any more obvious? (The baby's butt is backed up against the left edge of the sonogram image area, and he's "pointing" out into the amniotic fluid.)

Everything Looks Great!

Well, we're back home, exhausted from excitement and lack of sleep, but still in high spirits. The sonogram was awesome, and I had just as much fun watching the faces of my family members as I did watching the monitor. I need a nap now, though. More details later, when I have the energy to scan pics and such.

;)

Anticipation

This is so much worse than the first day of school ever was. Here I am, awake at 1:30AM, with nothing more productive to do than some lower belly prep work. If that doesn't get me back to sleep, I may resort to a trip to wallyworld to buy the VHS tape for the sonogram. Mombi, the night owl, is actually in bed. Go fig.

Ping! Ping!

That's the feeling of Skippy hanging out right beneath the wasteband of my preggo pants, which never stay all the way up, but never quite fall off. I feel like a pregnant skater. Maybe once I finish with them I'll find a young punk to give them to. I'm sure the gratitude will be overwhelming.

Tomorrow is the big day! I don't know which excites Mombi more, the fact that we'll know if we're going to be living with a boy or girl for the next 18+ years, or that she can finally stop calling the kid "skippy." Me, I'm just hoping that everything looks right on the screen!

The Cat has Spoken

Yesterday morning, our cat Basil made her prediction on Skippy's sex. As I was browsing a page of posts on a message board, she casually walked across the laptop. As she did, she precisely highlighted a single word. That word happens to be the first name we picked out for Skippy if Skippy is indeed a "she."

Yes, cats walk on keyboards all the time. but when was the last time you saw one move a mouse to a particular spot, then press down the mouse button while sliding the cursor over a single word, then let go of the mouse button before stepping off the computer? I ask you.

If she's right, she'll be gloating for months.

Things are moving...

...both figuratively and literally!

Mombi and I have both felt Skippy moving, so there's something new to think about, at least. Mainly, it's just a waiting time now until next Wednesday when we will (hopefully) find out if we're having a boy or a girl. It'll be standing-room-only in the sonogram room, since my mom and sister are going to be there for it along with Mombi and me.

I think we've finally got our child's potential names decided, so that's a plus. No decision yet on when we'll tell the world, though, since we may change our minds again in the next five months. I doubt it, but then again I thought we had them decided for sure before I even got pregnant, and they're totally different now than they were then.

So once we know the answer to the girl/boy question, that'll give us a much stronger basis for visualizing and imagining what the future will hold. Until then, there's not much we can do to prepare other than talk to my belly (or dance with it, in Mombi's case) and stay well rested and fed.

Speaking of which, the food dreams continue. Last night I drempt that I was helping to clean up after a huge corporate potluck. (For those of you who know where I work, the one I was dreaming about was not the same as the one we had on Thursday!) Anyway, I got there just as it was time to clean up, and so I was stuffing my pockets and loading my arms with all the remaining food that I could carry, including a bunch of fancy european chocolate that was melted in its wrappers because someone had set it out right next to the coffee maker. That was some of the saddest ferero rocher chocolate I've ever seen. The ones in those triangle packages looked ok, of course, but I'm sure they were mush inside, too.

For some reason there was also an entire bushel basket and a half of blueberries there, but the person in charge wouldn't let me have any of them. Not even a single berry. Ah, well. I'll get some one of these days. Probaby frozen, but that's OK by me. I love blueberries.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Sarah and BB and their beautiful baby boy, Nicholas Leander!

HOLY COW!

OK, just felt the baby for the first time for sure, not just little flutters that could be gas or could be kid. WOW, WOW, WOW. There's a Skippy in there!!!!!

Uneventful Pregnancy

They all say that Uneventful Pregnancy is what you want. Because, of course, "events" in pregnancy are generally bad. I just wish there were some eventful things going on outside the pregnancy so I'd have something to think about other than baby registries, food, and the mystery of "what gave me gas?"

Poem for My Wife, in the Style of Ogden Nash, Composed at 6:00 AM Sunday Morning, on a Full Belly of Hash Browns and Fried Eggs

Oh my love, my lovely wife
Purveyor of things warm, toasty, and nutritious
You fill my belly with the finest stuff of life
For the health not just of me, but of us.

Nothing could be finer than waking from sleep to find
A beautiful woman coming near bearing food and smiles
As I try to adjust my eyes to the light, and my mind
to the fact that I really am so lucky as to have a wife
who knows that I will be wanting hot food at between
2:30 and 4:00AM each morning for the next several months,
and is willing to bring it to me on a tray that by that
time she will have carried miles.

When I am full you find instead that I want water
Or a bottle of sports drink with electrolytes (or at least I oughter.)
Or maybe a huge pile of blankets to burrow in on the couch
While unwinding after work as I try not to whine and grouch.

Thank you for everything a million times over.
Without you I'd be a total mess half the time
and my mornings would not be happy ones with you and
perfectly cooked whatever, but instead I'd be alone
with some pathetic microwaved food and Russell Stover.



(Ogden Nash)

Ways to Waste Money

As usual, a portion of my weekend has been spent browsing the baby sites and registries. I registered for a few things. I also found a few more I will NOT be registering for.

Check this out: Baby DNA Kit For just $30, you too can put some baby spit in a ziplock bag. There, now don't you feel prepared for anything?

Riiiight.

Introducing: Skippy's Game!

We'll be finding out the gender soon, so get in your votes!

Skippy's Guessing Game

(or go to expectnet.com and search for "Skippygame.")

Election Day

Well, it's election day, and after work I'm heading to the polls. On the ballot here in Tennessee is a constitutional ammendment against gay marriage. Second parent adoption laws are currently very ambiguous here, so going to the polls with Mombi and Skippy to vote on this will be a very personal experience.

Please, Tennessee. Think of our family. These bans make no sense.

Bits and Pieces: Random Updates and News

None of this stuff felt (or feels) big enough to get a post of its own. So here, in no particular order, are some recent updates and tidbits for your reading enjoyment:

Had an OB appointment today, everything looks good. No sonogram, but we got to hear Skippy's heartbeat for the first time. It was 153bpm, and sounded like a very soft choo choo train. I have my anatomy sonogram scheduled for the day before Thanksgiving. So on November 23 or 24, look for news on if Skippy is a boy or a girl.

Yes, I did it. I went home an hour early last Thursday and sent Mombi out to rent Sound of Music. She was incredulous, of course, but she played along. It was just what I needed.

Also today, Mombi got her new glasses! Her old ones had a very old prescription and the frames were just about dead. We got her the ultra deluxe lenses and some absolutely adorable frames, and it was so worth it! She's been squinting for years now and dealing with headaches. Her old glasses gave her a fishbowl perspective, and the anti-glare coating was totally worn off. These new ones use a new technology that got rid of the fish bowl sensation, and they fit her perfectly. I'm so happy for her that she can finally see again!

Dreams? Oh yes, many dreams. All of which seem to involve food at some point. Last night it was a spy thriller. I infiltrated their potluck. I didn't get my guy, but I did manage to finish my plate before things got dicey.

So how am I in general? Doing well, I think. I'm feeling weird and achy and twingy, and I definitely show depending on what I wear. Per the nurse a the OB office today, I'm right on track with all of that. The hormone issues seem to have straightened themselves out again. The miserableness seems to have faded for now, as has my BO. I'm back to smelling fresh and clean without any particular effort. On the down side, I'm also back to feeling a bit off, like I'm about to get a cold or something. But I'd much rather deal with that than subject Mombi to the bawling lunatic she had on her hands for a few days there.

Yes, I am. No, I'm not.

My dentist is 19 weeks pregnant, only 3 weeks ahead of me. It was very interesting talking to her about it while getting prepped for a crown yesterday. The poor thing... I can't imagine dealing with constant nausea and morning sickness while working as a dentist! With the smell issues I have, I'd never make it. As far as I know, she only had to dash for the bathroom once while working on me.

Once while it was just the tech and I, the tech asked me if my husband wanted a boy. I responded with the standard "My partner, actually. And yes, she is hoping for a boy." The tech fell all over herself apologizing for her mistake. I quickly reassured her that I, too, assume that any pregnant woman I see is straight. In fact, twice this week I've caught myself using the reasoning of "well, they have kids" as a reason for an assumption that someone is straight. I guess I need to work on that.

Time Goes Backwards

For a few days, I thought I was over the 4 month mark. I had to look at the calendar before I could tell myself otherwise. Then I went for most of this week thinking that I was at 16.5 weeks, not 15.5. Clearly, I'm not blogging enough, or I'd see my own ticker and know better.

Tomorrow I will be 16 weeks. Really.

Also tomorrow morning is my first appointment with my OB. I've finally been released from care with the Center for Reproductive Health, so it's time to time to join the world of "normal prenatal care." I have no idea if they're going to do an ultrasound or not. As long as they confirm that Skippy is doing well, I don't care how they do it. I had dental work done today (prep work for a crown) and although I know they said it wouldn't be a problem since they used special drugs, I still want the confirmation. Ditto with the fact that I was off Prometrium for a few days and then went back on a lower dosage. I feel like things are fine, but then again, I feel so odd most of the time that I don't really know what "fine" is supposed to feel like. I'll let you know tomorrow how it all turns out.

By the way, my sister sent me an e-mail today to mention that Ani Difranco is also pregnant. She's a trimester ahead of me, but it's still wild to think of us as being pregnant at the same time.