Wednesday, March 28, 2007
So strange . . .
In my Latin class today, Avery was kicking SO hard for about a half hour. I looked down and could see my shirt and belly move from the kicks!!! It was so bizarre, and VERY distracting. I feel like he just had a growth spurt or something. I feel like I really look very pregnant today, like I look bigger than just a day or two ago, and I can feel him move and kick more than ever before. This is probably the strangest thing so far that has happened during my pregnancy: looking down and seeing parts of my belly move on their own.
I feel like so far, this has been a very easy pregnancy. I haven't gotten sick or felt bad at all. So far, it hasn't impacted me much at all, physically.
First trimester: I wasn't nauseous but for some reason, I HAD to have a very cold can of regular Pepsi every single day. This is weird, as I normally prefer Coke to Pepsi, plus I always drink the diet variety. And even though I never threw up or felt really sick, I couldn't stand the thought of cooking food, especially meat (I didn't mind if someone else cooked though). I had about one week of being VERY emotional and had a few hormonal meltdowns, which was much harder on C than on me. I also had a few headaches. That's really it though.
Second semester: I have felt fantastic. My belly is popping out and this is gross but there are stretch marks everywhere on it that to me look like a map of the solar system or something, despite the special stretch mark cream I rub (or have C rub) onto my belly every night. No sickness, no nausea. Earlier this week I had a couple of days of bad swollen ankles. For some reason, that has been more my left ankle than my right one. I went swimming yesterday and tonight, C and I took Ruby for a long walk in the park, and my ankles have felt fine. I think probably I just need to make sure I exercise most days, even if it is just walking.
Now I'm entering the third trimester. I am sure things will get harder physically. I am definitely nervous about the actual process of giving birth, because it will be painful and because then we will have a baby who's not just safely in my uterus, kicking away. He'll be an actual crying, hungry, pooping little being completely dependant on his mamas.
He's kicking a ton right now. He's probably enjoying the sugar buzz from the embarassingly large quantity of girl scout cookies I consumed tonight (the peanut butter and chocolate ones -- tagalongs!).
I feel like so far, this has been a very easy pregnancy. I haven't gotten sick or felt bad at all. So far, it hasn't impacted me much at all, physically.
First trimester: I wasn't nauseous but for some reason, I HAD to have a very cold can of regular Pepsi every single day. This is weird, as I normally prefer Coke to Pepsi, plus I always drink the diet variety. And even though I never threw up or felt really sick, I couldn't stand the thought of cooking food, especially meat (I didn't mind if someone else cooked though). I had about one week of being VERY emotional and had a few hormonal meltdowns, which was much harder on C than on me. I also had a few headaches. That's really it though.
Second semester: I have felt fantastic. My belly is popping out and this is gross but there are stretch marks everywhere on it that to me look like a map of the solar system or something, despite the special stretch mark cream I rub (or have C rub) onto my belly every night. No sickness, no nausea. Earlier this week I had a couple of days of bad swollen ankles. For some reason, that has been more my left ankle than my right one. I went swimming yesterday and tonight, C and I took Ruby for a long walk in the park, and my ankles have felt fine. I think probably I just need to make sure I exercise most days, even if it is just walking.
Now I'm entering the third trimester. I am sure things will get harder physically. I am definitely nervous about the actual process of giving birth, because it will be painful and because then we will have a baby who's not just safely in my uterus, kicking away. He'll be an actual crying, hungry, pooping little being completely dependant on his mamas.
He's kicking a ton right now. He's probably enjoying the sugar buzz from the embarassingly large quantity of girl scout cookies I consumed tonight (the peanut butter and chocolate ones -- tagalongs!).
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
"I like music mommy" "Me too mommy"
there's a little reference from The Music Man for you. We had a really nice weekend in Nashville, shopping, relaxing at our hotel, enjoying a fun wedding, and visiting the Country Music Hall of Fame!
We think that Avery may have flipped over, so that he's head down now. We don't know for sure, of course, but I haven't been feeling the same sorts of sharp kicks that I'd been feeling for a while, and my belly feels different. now it's harder at the bottom and softer at the top. Before, it was the other way around.
Because I had gotten so used to feeling him kick all the time, I got a little worried today when I felt how soft the top of my belly is and realized I hadn't felt him move in a while. I played him some music on the violin and it worked! He started kicking around like crazy! He'll have to at least try out the violin/cello/viola when he's old enough. I feel very strongly about encouraging the music lessons; C values swimming lessons. So he'll be busy enjoying music and water!
By the way, this picture is in our nicely repainted diningroom/office/guestroom that we're turning into the baby's room. I'm also standing by our lovely glider (there's also an ottoman) that we found off of Craig's List and got a great deal on, particularly since my mother-in-law paid for it!
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
babies are expensive!
Lil' Avery is making us a wee bit stressed especially about the financial aspects . . . it was a big day. We met with our lawyer this morning to discuss 2nd parent adoption. It went very well, and once we're finished we'll be very well protected legally. We're doing the adoption, wills, estate planning, and everything that's important. But when she did the rundown of the cost, we got a little nervous. We HAVE to do it, it's really important, and we'll manage somehow. But even just the $300 consultation felt like a lot, and that's nuthin'.
Then we went to interview with a home day care in our neighborhood. I LOVED it. It's a wonderfully cozy place with fantastic adults working there, and the kids seemed so happy. And it's kind of a mix between Montessori education and playtime daycare. Field trips, minimal TV, fantastic kids . . . We have a great reference, so the woman said she'd save us a spot for Avery if we want for September . . . but it is more expensive than we thought. "Only" $250 a week for an infant up to 2 years old. We both know that that is really reasonable, cheap even, for infant care on the upper west side, but it is definitely more than we had anticipated.
Then I signed us up for a childbirth class (a weekend intensive) at the hospital. $275 per couple for the weekend. I also need to sign us up for a breastfeeding class. $50/couple.
It was just a lot to take in for one day. And a lot to think about. Deep breaths. Think about "abundance." We'll be okay. Everything here is more expensive and we just have to accept that.
We're leaving tomorrow for a wedding in Nashville. Our last trip away for probably a very long time. It has to be a relaxing, fun weekend.
Avery keeps kicking away. Kick away the stress Avery!
Then we went to interview with a home day care in our neighborhood. I LOVED it. It's a wonderfully cozy place with fantastic adults working there, and the kids seemed so happy. And it's kind of a mix between Montessori education and playtime daycare. Field trips, minimal TV, fantastic kids . . . We have a great reference, so the woman said she'd save us a spot for Avery if we want for September . . . but it is more expensive than we thought. "Only" $250 a week for an infant up to 2 years old. We both know that that is really reasonable, cheap even, for infant care on the upper west side, but it is definitely more than we had anticipated.
Then I signed us up for a childbirth class (a weekend intensive) at the hospital. $275 per couple for the weekend. I also need to sign us up for a breastfeeding class. $50/couple.
It was just a lot to take in for one day. And a lot to think about. Deep breaths. Think about "abundance." We'll be okay. Everything here is more expensive and we just have to accept that.
We're leaving tomorrow for a wedding in Nashville. Our last trip away for probably a very long time. It has to be a relaxing, fun weekend.
Avery keeps kicking away. Kick away the stress Avery!
Monday, March 05, 2007
23 weeks along . . .
Baby.com says that "Those gentle fetal movements have now turned into karate kicks."
At exactly midnight this morning (and today marks 23 weeks exactly), Avery started kicking so hard that C could easily feel the movements by pressing her hand against my belly. Karate kicks indeed!
Mom is already talking about cello lessons. I think he might like soccer too. cuz this boy can kick!
At exactly midnight this morning (and today marks 23 weeks exactly), Avery started kicking so hard that C could easily feel the movements by pressing her hand against my belly. Karate kicks indeed!
Mom is already talking about cello lessons. I think he might like soccer too. cuz this boy can kick!
