I was "lucky" this pregnancy in that I was down to my lowest weight in a long, long time prior to becoming pregnant, which meant that I had my old "non-maternity" clothes to work my way up through prior to having to start wearing maternity clothes. I call that luck because everyone knows your wardrobe becomes severely limited when you cross over into maternity land. How many clothes can you really justify buying when you know you're going to get like 5-6 months use out of them tops. So, I've been in regular clothes up until now. In fact, a couple pairs of my work pants are still a touch big so I'm anticipating I'll be wearing those normally for a few more weeks.
But the cross over is starting. Other than those 2 pairs of work pants, the rest of my pants have crossed over into the "ponytail holder over the button" trick or the use of a Bella Band to be able to leave them unbuttoned and have them stay up. I'd been milking out a few of my longer non-maternity shirts as well, but over the weekend I put on one of my new maternity shirts (I bought a few in smalls this pregnancy so that I would have some to wear for these middle months) and it was so nice not to have to tug on it all day long that I anticipate many more shirts will be making their way out into daylight soon.
I have found it to be very true that maternity clothes make you look infinitely more pregnant than regular clothes. And that's A-Okay.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
What's in a name?
I am kind of a namer. I belong to a naming message board, I keep name lists (long ones). My name lists have names and popularity rankings (according to the US Social Security rankings). My name lists have meanings. My name lists are sorted by long lists and Top 10 lists and favorite name combos (first name and middle name) and names I would actually use on a real kid.
This entire pregnancy I have avoided talking with Josh about names for two reasons 1) I know we have different taste in names and I remember how hard it was for us to find Heidi's name and 2) I'm terrified that he'll hate all of my names and I'll cry.
The bad thing about not talking names until now is that I've become attached to a couple of names. They are kind of my "top" names and names I think I would really use if it was up to me TODAY to name baby Noodle. Gosh, just giving the fetus a nickname was hard enough.
So tonight, I shared my lists with Josh. For naming purposes I shared the "names I would actually use on a real kid" lists. And, as expected, he massacred them. I denied him veto power at this point hoping that some of the names might "grow" on him. But really, as awesome as it is to have a partner in life, it kind of sucks when I have to defer to someone else for a huge decision like this.
I'm hoping that a name will pop for both of us like it did with Heidi. We stumbled upon her name well-into the pregnancy (around 30 weeks). We both thought on it for one day and the next day I said "I think she's a Heidi" and he said "so do I." And she was. And I still adore her name. That makes it even harder for me to think that maybe I won't love baby Noodle's name as much as I do hers. That maybe I'll have to use a compromise name.
Sigh. Maybe if I feed him lots of alcohol I can get him to agree to my favorites. Off to email him my lists so that he can think about them so more.
This entire pregnancy I have avoided talking with Josh about names for two reasons 1) I know we have different taste in names and I remember how hard it was for us to find Heidi's name and 2) I'm terrified that he'll hate all of my names and I'll cry.
The bad thing about not talking names until now is that I've become attached to a couple of names. They are kind of my "top" names and names I think I would really use if it was up to me TODAY to name baby Noodle. Gosh, just giving the fetus a nickname was hard enough.
So tonight, I shared my lists with Josh. For naming purposes I shared the "names I would actually use on a real kid" lists. And, as expected, he massacred them. I denied him veto power at this point hoping that some of the names might "grow" on him. But really, as awesome as it is to have a partner in life, it kind of sucks when I have to defer to someone else for a huge decision like this.
I'm hoping that a name will pop for both of us like it did with Heidi. We stumbled upon her name well-into the pregnancy (around 30 weeks). We both thought on it for one day and the next day I said "I think she's a Heidi" and he said "so do I." And she was. And I still adore her name. That makes it even harder for me to think that maybe I won't love baby Noodle's name as much as I do hers. That maybe I'll have to use a compromise name.
Sigh. Maybe if I feed him lots of alcohol I can get him to agree to my favorites. Off to email him my lists so that he can think about them so more.
Doctor Appointment Day
I love doctor's appointment days :) I'd go every week if they'd let me just for the reassurance that the doppler brings. I was a little nervous because I hadn't felt Noodle move much over the last couple of days (but s/he is kicking like crazy this very minute!). Nevertheless, I measured where the doctor was pleased (15.5 cms, means nothing to me--I'll be 17 weeks tomorrow). And she easily found the heartbeat and it was 158 beats per minute. Nice and steady. Doctor wanted me to wait until my next appointment (almost 22 weeks) to schedule the ultrasound, but I pouted a little, so she let me schedule it today as long as I waited until after 20 weeks to schedule it. So November 23rd is the BIG day. 23 is my lucky number, so I have a good feeling about it. 4 more weeks until we know if baby Noodle is a boy or girl! So excited!
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Reassurance
In general, I love feeling the baby move. S/he is pretty predictable in movements, usually right after lunch the baby moves and in the evening when I sit down to rest. I just love it. It never gets old.
Of course, the added benefit is the reassurance that I get from feeling the movements. I felt really terrible this morning after cleaning house all day yesterday and this morning. I laid down for a bit and didn't think much of it. Then after eating lunch and sitting down to relax I didn't feel baby and realized I hadn't really felt it all day. A couple of other things worried me as well (that are TMI but worrying anyway).
And so, it is wonderful to lay down on the couch this evening and feel the familiar flutters and be able to relax a little bit knowing that my baby is moving away in there.
Tuesday is the next appointment and hopefully we'll be setting up the "big" ultrasound. So excited to find out if we're getting a baby brother or sister for the HJ :)
Of course, the added benefit is the reassurance that I get from feeling the movements. I felt really terrible this morning after cleaning house all day yesterday and this morning. I laid down for a bit and didn't think much of it. Then after eating lunch and sitting down to relax I didn't feel baby and realized I hadn't really felt it all day. A couple of other things worried me as well (that are TMI but worrying anyway).
And so, it is wonderful to lay down on the couch this evening and feel the familiar flutters and be able to relax a little bit knowing that my baby is moving away in there.
Tuesday is the next appointment and hopefully we'll be setting up the "big" ultrasound. So excited to find out if we're getting a baby brother or sister for the HJ :)
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Love. Flutters.
My absolute favorite thing about being pregnant (and I don't think I'm alone here) is feeling the baby move. It's a reminder that my baby is in there. It's a reassurance that my baby is alive and well. I felt it early with Heidi (especially for a first pregnancy); in fact, both Josh and I felt her move around 16 weeks. So I had been anxiously anticipating when baby Noodle was going to start poking me from the inside. Over the weekend I started feeling a few flutters and thinking..."maybe" and as I have continued to feel them every night, I become more and more certain that baby is in there making his/her presence known.
Last night I was laying on the couch and baby was doing somersaults or something. I could feel tons of movement and I kept putting my hand on the outside of my belly to see if I could feel something from the outside. Of course, Josh noticed me doing it right away and came running over, lifted my shirt, put an ice-cold hand on my belly, leaned really close and started talking to baby, "give Daddy a kick! kick me right where my face is, come on baby, give a kick for daddy." I don't think he felt one, but it still melted my heart.
I think this pregnancy is much more real to both of us because it's not our first (uh, we know there's going to be a baby come April) and because we worked so hard to get here. I remember when it hit me with Heidi's pregnancy, I think it was around 30 weeks in and I just stopped Josh one night and said "I just love her so much already." and he said "so do I." I think I had that same feeling about 5 weeks in this time. I feel like my family is complete.
Happy 16 weeks baby Noodle, we can't wait to meet you!
Last night I was laying on the couch and baby was doing somersaults or something. I could feel tons of movement and I kept putting my hand on the outside of my belly to see if I could feel something from the outside. Of course, Josh noticed me doing it right away and came running over, lifted my shirt, put an ice-cold hand on my belly, leaned really close and started talking to baby, "give Daddy a kick! kick me right where my face is, come on baby, give a kick for daddy." I don't think he felt one, but it still melted my heart.
I think this pregnancy is much more real to both of us because it's not our first (uh, we know there's going to be a baby come April) and because we worked so hard to get here. I remember when it hit me with Heidi's pregnancy, I think it was around 30 weeks in and I just stopped Josh one night and said "I just love her so much already." and he said "so do I." I think I had that same feeling about 5 weeks in this time. I feel like my family is complete.
Happy 16 weeks baby Noodle, we can't wait to meet you!
Monday, October 17, 2011
The impatience
No, not mine. I know that I'm impatient. I don't try to make excuses for it, but I acknowledge that it's a problem.
One that my daughter inherited. For as slow as she moves, the girl has no patience when it comes to something she wants. Like a baby brother or sister. It's become a daily conversation now with her asking if the baby is coming after I'm done with work and how big is the baby and when is the baby coming? I usually show her with my hands how big the baby has to be before it comes out. Today she came up to me in the kitchen, put one hand on each side of my belly and asked "the baby is this big?" Not quite darlin' dear, some of that (*cough* a lot) is just your mama. I thought that describing when the baby would come by using the seasons would help Heidi to understand it (I tell her the baby is coming after winter when the snow melts and it starts getting warm). Perhaps she understands that winter is just really long around here and that's a long time to wait.
We're all impatient for the next month or so when we should be able to find out if it's "little brother" or "little sister."
One that my daughter inherited. For as slow as she moves, the girl has no patience when it comes to something she wants. Like a baby brother or sister. It's become a daily conversation now with her asking if the baby is coming after I'm done with work and how big is the baby and when is the baby coming? I usually show her with my hands how big the baby has to be before it comes out. Today she came up to me in the kitchen, put one hand on each side of my belly and asked "the baby is this big?" Not quite darlin' dear, some of that (*cough* a lot) is just your mama. I thought that describing when the baby would come by using the seasons would help Heidi to understand it (I tell her the baby is coming after winter when the snow melts and it starts getting warm). Perhaps she understands that winter is just really long around here and that's a long time to wait.
We're all impatient for the next month or so when we should be able to find out if it's "little brother" or "little sister."
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Fifteen
15 glorious weeks today.
Sometimes I hear songs on the radio and they are just how I am feeling that very minute. I was driving home today (like a two minute drive from where I was) and the song was..."before I ever knew you...before I ever knew you...I dreamed of you." Of course, in the song, they are referencing a romantic relationship or something, but that's how I feel about my children. Before I knew them I wanted them, I loved them, I dreamed about them and who they would be. I'm feeling so blessed.
I have also felt a couple of twinges in the last couple of days that may or may not be Noodle. Maybe I just want it to be so badly, but I know it will be soon if that wasn't the real thing yet.
Sometimes I hear songs on the radio and they are just how I am feeling that very minute. I was driving home today (like a two minute drive from where I was) and the song was..."before I ever knew you...before I ever knew you...I dreamed of you." Of course, in the song, they are referencing a romantic relationship or something, but that's how I feel about my children. Before I knew them I wanted them, I loved them, I dreamed about them and who they would be. I'm feeling so blessed.
I have also felt a couple of twinges in the last couple of days that may or may not be Noodle. Maybe I just want it to be so badly, but I know it will be soon if that wasn't the real thing yet.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
The best cure for baby fever...
I had my niece over the weekend. She is 4 months old now and sweet as could be. I love her to pieces. I posted some pictures of her on Facebook, which led me to go back and look at all her tiny newborn pictures. Just 4 months ago. I remember so clearly seeing her be born, holding her when she was 1 day old and feeling this ache inside me that I just wished she was mine. Wished that I had a little tiny baby like her to nurture and love and grow. Little did I know at the time that I was only 10 months removed from holding my own baby. How wonderful it will be for the cousins to be so close in age. How happy I am that my baby fever gets to be cured by an actual baby of my own. I cannot wait.
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