Buzz Kill

So, I was talking to my sister last night. I had this brilliant idea of what her baby boy, Connor, should be for Halloween. I told her she should dress him up like a Con-man (since that's what we call him)...a little black paint on his face, skull cap...black clothes. Then, she said that I should paint my belly green with a red dot on the belly button and go as an olive..for Olivia. Baby's first costume and she's not even out of the womb yet! I laughed so hard I cried at the idea. Then, I went to share the fun with John. And he didn't blink...he was like "what is the red dot for?". Wow, way to kill a mood. Good idea, though, sis! I thought it was funny.

Pisces

O is a PISCES. I wanted to write that down so I don't forget....I keep forgetting and googling...now I can just look here.

Interesting traits for Pisces...a fish...maybe she'll be a great swimmer!

The following traits are widely associated with Pisces. (Wikipedia)

(makes me excited)
gentle, good natured / easygoing, likable / kind, compassionate / sympathetic, sensitive, impractical / dreamy, instinctive / intuitive, imaginative / artistically able, versatile, spiritual, escapist, selfless.

(makes me nervous)

gullible / naive / easily led, malleable / impressionable.

Likes
Feeling appreciated, feeling loved, freedom, stability, mystical settings/enchantment, dreaming, having their input valued, being unique (we'll get along swimmingly)
Dislikes
Feeling vulnerable, having no goals to move toward, feeling invalidated, being criticized, illiteracy, noisy scenes and displays, having no sense of structure
Ideal careers
caring for the needy, as in the fields of medicine or veterinary medicine (Kata...you have a mentee), anything related to the sea (swimmer!), acting, psychics or mystics (not on my watch), religion, cooking (fingers crossed), pharmacist

Performance Anxiety

Okay, Sunday night, O was moving around and my family was over. As soon as my sister put her hand to my belly....nuthin'. Last night, she was getting all cirque du soleil up in there and as soon as I put my hand to my belly....nuthin'. It's like she's thinking "Oh shoot, they know I am here..."
Well, at least I am getting the movement. I am beginning to hate the quiet times when I am not sure what is going on. I will take what I can get ;-)

Flu Shots

I hate to get flu shots. It seems if I don't get one, I probably won't get the flu and everything will be fine. If I do get one, I get a bad cold or even a potential fever guaranteed. Well, I took myself to CVS this afternoon to get a flu shot. I am not looking forward to the sore arm and potential side effects. But, after a little harassment from my dad, mom and sister about the importance of getting one while pregnant, I decided to buck up and get it over with. I will, of course, be calling them to complain when any symptoms arise (knock on wood). If you're pregnant and decide to join team flu shot, then make sure you tell them you are prego. Apparently, there's a different flu shot for us. I guess I can see why. I failed to mention this right off the bat...although I am not hiding anything at this point...and when the nurse asked me when my last period was and I told her, May, you could see the wheels turning and the eyes a-widening. I got a minor scolding for not mentioning (the obvious).

Breastfeeding 101

So, I took myself to the hospital today to take their breastfeeding class. Most moms there were due, like, tomorrow, so I felt a little too ahead of the game. Hopefully I will retain all of this stuff, and, hopefully my breasts will NOT look like the ones I saw in the video...eek! The class was offered to husbands too, but I did not see a reason for John to come. I mean, if there is anything he needs to know, I will tell him. I am pretty glad I saved him from the images of that instructional video. I am sure I will not look like a glamazon when the time comes for my breast to engorge (fingers crossed), but I think I could feel the cringes coming from the men. Playboy it was not.
I also started to go online and register. Just things for things that I have heard recommended from friends so far. I am taking my sister and my best friend on the real excursion. Well, I could take John, but I think we need seasoned mothers here for the first go round. John can pick out the crib or something...manly.

ohhhhhhhhhh and ooooooooooooooh!

Now I get it! Apparently it's common for babies to not make too much movement during the day because mommy's moving around lulls them to sleep. So, they are born with totally opposite schedules... FANTASTIC! ;-0

Also, I received this awesome onesie in the mail yesterday from my awesome friends, Beth and Jen. We were visiting Beth in Austin pre-pregnancy and went into this shop that sold this t-shirt. All of us could not stop laughing about the crazy baby eating chicken, so when the onesie arrived in the mail yesterday, I was so excited! I cannot wait to have O wear this! AND it's pink! It's the first pink gift, so, Beth and Jen, you get the prize...most unique and first pink!

Gimme some babies!

O is a Nocturn

I am beginning to realize that Olivia may be a night owl. I don't get too much movement during the day, but as soon as I lay down to sleep, she starts banging on my belly. It's like "Hey, wake up...pay attention to me." I find it amusing, but I hope that she snaps out of it when she's born.

Olivia @ 20 Weeks

I didn't get the invite to the convention

I thought that I was so cool and unique about deciding to spend my babymoon in Vegas. That would be very very foolish of me. I have never seen so many growing bellies in one place in my life. Okay, I'll count the men too ;-) The first full day we had in Vegas, we hopped on a tour bus to the Grand Canyon via the Hoover Dam. I figure I should see the Grand Canyon at some point in my life (along with Vegas) and I checked those two off my list. At our stopover at Hoover Dam, we got out to "take our dam photos, and get our dam souvenirs" (as per our very hilarious bus driver/ tour guide, Denise.) I went in to the gift shop to look at the chotch on display and found mini license plates that had girls and boys names on them. I found one for Olivia and all of a sudden reality hit me and I had to have it. Baby's first chotch. (that's chotchky or tacky knick knacks for those of you who don't have mothers or grandmothers). I felt so close to Olivia at that moment my eyes got teary.
Then we hopped back on the bus for the Grand Canyon. After many photos and staring in wonderment at the vast expanse I realized it was a metaphor for what is about to happen to me as far as staring to a brave new world of parenthood. Deep.







Then, back to Vegas. John and I have dinner at Bouchon at the Venetian. I just had to go since it's a Thomas Keller restaurant and he's supposedly the best chef in America. His famous French Laundry restaurant in San Fran is THE mecca for foodies. It was good and I had WAY too many frites with my steak frites. Anyway, to my point... on our way back to the hotel, we passed some drunk, underage group of girls calling to their friend on the other side of the street. Guess what HER name was? Yes, Olivia. I then had another bonding moment with my baby...I freaked out that she will be a teenager one day. John even pointed out that we may want to rethink the name. Well, our other option was Siena. A lovely name and where John and I got married, but that damn actress/homewrecker kinda ruined that for me.
The next day in Vegas, John went running on the strip and I went to Spa Bellagio for my Prenatal Massage. It was a sad 50 minutes, but definitely a great experience and one that I'd recommend for any pregnant woman. The best part is the contraption you have to lie in. There is a depression for your belly. It is as amusing as you would think it would be. The only downside, besides the paltry 50 minutes was that I could not go in the steam room or Jacuzzis that looked oh so decadent and wonderfully relaxing. So, I took a long relaxing shower instead. Nope, not the same.
So, I AM definitely feeling movement down there. It currently feels like little muscle spasms in my belly. It definitely reminds me of how small Olivia still is because you can't say for sure it's a kick of just gas. Since I am not gassy, I am assuming it's the babe.
This brings me to my other story that John and I were at a tapas restaurant on Saturday night and they were playing Gypsyland (for those of you who were at my wedding, this is the music my dad and I danced to...for those of you not at the wedding, the band is like Gypsy Kings, but better (IMO). Well, the baby definitely was groovin' to the music. It makes me a proud mama to know that Olivia definitely has got some Cuban blood flowing through her veins.
Sunday night we went to see O (Cirque du Soleil). ...but it is definitely something to add to your list of things to do in your lifetime. It was amazing! I went to the bathroom as much as I could before the show. As you may or may not know, there is a pool of water involved and I just had a sinking feeling that my weak bladder would not be able to stand a whole show. Fortunately, I was fine and was able to enjoy the show from beginning to end. If you plan on going to this show, I recommend taking the aforementioned precaution if with child. Also, be warned that as you walk from this spectacular, awesome production into the casino...it really does things to one's brain so don't make any sudden movements or make any major decisions and definitely have some down time before you gamble!
All in all, Vegas was worth every overpriced-$4-cuppa-coffee-loss-of-$$-at-blackjack-ate amazing-food-saw amazing-shows-Grand Canyon and Red rocks babymoon. I realized that Vegas is also a metaphor for being a parent. Your money seems to evaporate, but in the end, if you forget how much you spent, you realize what a wonderful, exciting experience it was.

And let there be pink

It's a girl! Well, the ultrasound tech, Julie is 90-95% sure it's a girl... After much waiting, we went through every possible angle of the baby and she finally told us that there are no boy parts (or they could be ...uh...tucked).
Olivia it is! Now let the frenzy begin to think of a middle name. I am taking suggestions.
I can't wait to have her start a running regime with John and bake with me. She has yet to know the joys of the breadmaker ;-)

More later, when I get to scan the US photos and after I get back from VEGAS...baby.

The BIG day...well, the second BIG day

Today is the day girls and boys, when I find out whether I am having a girl or a boy. It also happens to be my sister's birthday, so happy birthday, Christine! (that's Chrissy to me).
I was hoping to be able to work from home because I am going crazy here at the office with only my coworker's allergies to listen to. I had to come in for a last minute meeting ...boooooooo. At least I will not have to sit here for much longer staring at the computer wondering how best to make the time go by faster.
I told my baby this morning that I was excited to see him/her again and find out what he/she is (I can't wait to stop using this male/female deal.) Didn't get much of a reaction...so I'll have to wait and see.
Last night I went swimming again. Let me just tell you how weird it is to do flip turns knowing there is someone going along for the ride. I laughed with my sister when she was learning to do flip turns while pregnant..that the baby was going "weeeeee" inside her. I hope that's what is happening... I sometimes wonder if the baby feels different when I am swimming...different good. It's funny to be so concerned now about this where I didn't used to be. Hey, I am not complaining...
Not to mention I look horrible in a swim suit now. Yikes. I am not the cute pregnant girl with the little growing beach ball. No, from below my breasts (not growing by much by the way) to my hips, I am just expanding. I guess that comes with being short...there's not much space for everything to go. It just ruins my fantasies about having the cute little beach ball belly (and bigger breasts).
This may be too much information this morning, but please understand the verbal diarrhea is just to make the time go by faster. I think I just killed a whole three minutes. Suhweet.

Waddle Waddle

OMG, I am starting to waddle. I noticed it this weekend, and who knows how long it's been going on.

XOXO
pregnant girl

Also, I think I have felt the baby moving. I can't tell because it seems it shouldn't be moving where I am feeling the movements, but who knows. Either way it's not pronounced enough or consistent enough to know for sure. I have about two more days of not knowing and then I get my ultrasound. I really really hope this time flies. I know it will be a distant memory shortly, but I am not on that end of the rainbow yet.

And I thought I was the one doing the yoga

I got this image sent to me from babycenter.com this morning to show how my baby looks at 19 weeks. My initial thought was "that looks uncomfortable". Then I thought about the yoga I have been doing lately and now I feel a little less flexible than I did yesterday...it also explains why I can't feel the baby moving (you try kickboxing in that position!)

Speaking of yoga, I finally went to an actual PRENATAL yoga class this past Saturday. I was the only one there, so I got a private lesson. I had low expectations about the whole thing because most prenatal anything is geared toward women who have never worked out before and want to start now. I was pleasantly surprised. I got some great stretchy moves for every sore part of my increasingly flaccid body. I don't do much besides yoga lately and my cardiovascular is down to whatever not much is. I am looking forward to starting master swimmers tonight. That will give me some focus and excuse to do more to burn calories. My diet has not changed much..for better and worse than since I was training for a half ironman. I am not "eating for two", but I am eating for an athlete who burns way more calories than I. So far I am on a good track for weight gain, but I feel the proverbial shoe about to drop.

I am still not feeling much, but am taking comfort in the fact that those sharp shooting pains I get when I get up too quickly or laugh to hard are totally normal...my innards stretching to accommodate my growing fetus and all. I still can't wait... a week and one day to the ultrasound.

My husband is running the marathon this Sunday. I can't wait to cheer him on and watch him achieve this amazing accomplishment he's worked so hard for. I am a little nervous about finding a rest stop at the various spectating locations.... But enough about me.

To Pee or not to Pee

I am sure that I am not the first pregnant lady to come up with that beaut.
Please, someone tell me how a 5.5 inch long person can make a sip of water feel like an ocean in my bladder almost immediately?
T minus less than two weeks until my next ultrasound. I really really want time to go faster. There is not much going on "down there" for me to rest assured everything is as it should be. I am anxious to start feeling the reassuring movements of the baby..which, I have about another two weeks. Not fair, man, not fair.