Name progress

No spoilers included :)

We've tentatively narrowed the name list to a Top 2. We'll continue looking at other names and see if anything else sticks out and of course I have my favorite of the Top 2 and Josh has his. We both like them both, I think. We'd talked about them yesterday with Heidi to see which one she liked (she liked mine more for the record). Today we were picking on her about calling the baby Broccoli and she said, "it's not Broccoli it's 'namewe'reconsidering'!" So surprised she remembered that name. And I told Josh, no, I did not put her up to that.

I feel much closer to baby boy now that I can imagine him with a name (or two).

Yesterday v. Today

Yesterday I was in dismay because I felt like baby boy might never have a name. Josh gave me his name lists and his names are sooo dated and just not-my-style at all. Luckily, he likes a few off of my name lists (which clearly are superior *wink*).

Today I feel even a little excited thinking we have it narrowed down to three names for baby boy.

Yesterday I was a little excited about shopping for baby boy clothes and selling/purging baby girl clothes.

Today I went through all the baby girl clothes and was so sad I'd never see them on another daughter. And really disheartened by the 1/3 of a tub of boy clothes that I could salvage from what HJ had that was gender neutral.

I'm going to have a son

Our long-awaited ultrasound was Wednesday. I was nervous on many accounts. I was nervous that something would be wrong with baby. I was worried that baby wouldn't show the goods. But he did. Several times. I'm happy to know, but I'll admit I'm a little overwhelmed.

I am one of four girls. I have a daughter. I have very little experience with boy babies. The boy babies in my family were born when I was away in college or lived 5 states away when they were born. I have a lot of experience and a comfort-zone with girls. Most people say boys are easier, but girls are all that I know.

I know there will be a million things I will love about having a son. I get a soft-spot in my center just thinking about him. But it's going to take a little while to sink in.

Oh yeah, and we have to name him too. That could be a challenge.

On anticipation

A) I'm so excited for the ultrasound tomorrow and so so nervous that baby won't share the goods and I'll have to wait even longer. Gah! I'm nervous too that I'll end up being disappointed with the sex. And I'm anxious to hear that baby is healthy.

B) We do share the sex. We shared with Heidi. We loved getting girly things and having everyone know that we were having a daughter.

C) We will not share the name. Not that we know what it is anyway. Not that we really have any idea, actually. But when we do figure that out, we'll keep the secret to just us. We don't do it to drag out the anticipation. And as cool as it was last time, we don't really do it for the big reveal on baby's birth day. We do it because I want to make sure that I use a name that I love without worrying about what other people think. I would hate to tell someone the name and have to interpret their facial expression or hear a "that's...interesting" and make me second-guess a name that I love. Folks seem to be a little more careful with their opinions when they know that it's just the baby's name--it's not up for discussion.

So hopefully you'll all know the sex of the baby within the next couple of days. But baby's name will have to wait until April 4th-ish. Hopefully we have one figured out by then.

The "surprise"

We found out the sex with Heidi Jean (paid $100 extra to find out since she refused to show the goods [or lack thereof] at the medically necessary ultrasound). We are finding out in less than two days with baby Noodle (providing he/she continues the trend of being more cooperative than big sister).

Some people say that finding out the sex takes away the "surprise." Takes away your reason for working so hard during labor. Etc. I just kind of don't get it. The sex of my baby is such a small part of who he or she is and will be. I knew that Heidi was a girl and I loved being able to call her "she" and order name letters for her and calling her by her name and knowing before she was born that she was my little Heidi girl. But I didn't know that she would be born with a head of dark hair. I didn't know what her cry would sound like, how she would sleep, what color her eyes would be, how long her fingers and toes would be. There were still so many surprises. Never once during labor did I think "eh, I already know she's a girl, no rush." I was still dying to see my baby and meet her and hold her in my arms and kiss her and see what a little mixture of Josh and I would be. Not to mention that getting the baby out is the only way to make the pain lessen, so that's kind of a big incentive.

Also, I don't like gender neutral baby clothes. At all.

Workin' in a school...

Funny things happen when you're pregnant and you work in a school. You encounter a lot of people. And a lot of the people are under a certain age where their filters aren't fully developed. I kind of love it.

I work with some boys with behavioral issues. I was meeting with one of them earlier this year (before I was showing obviously) and discussing how we would be working towards a reward at the end of the year--which I then amended to say, well, probably in March because I won't be here for the end of the year. Which of course prompted him to ask why and I revealed that I was going to be having a baby in the beginning of April. The dear boy got this confused, almost embarrassed look on his face. And then asked "are you married?" Yes, I am. I even have another child (also born in wedlock, not that I went that far with my young friend). Feeling flattered I asked "I don't look old enough?" and he confirmed that I did not.

Today was the second funny thing at school. I'm walking towards the gymnasium (which you have to walk through to get to the office) and there is a high school class in there playing hockey. The kids who aren't currently in the game are up on the stage hanging out and spot me coming. It became very clear that one of them said something about me because about 5 heads pivoted over my way in unison. Yes, I was rocking the maternity shirt (and pants!) today. The funnier part was that one of our students is very very pregnant right now and she was in the group. So maybe they were just checking out my stylish maternity clothes with envy. Or maybe they too were wondering if I was married or bringing scandal to the school. Or maybe my hair was sticking up funny. Guess we'll never know.

Twenty Weeks!

Logically, I know it's not really halfway since you are already 4 weeks pregnant the minute you get that positive pregnancy test. Nevertheless, I'm calling it halfway! And. I'm feeling like I'm going to be stretched to the max. Within the last few days I've started to feel that uncomfortableness of I can't sit, can't stand, can't lay without something aching, pulling, or stretching. My good friend at work today said I looked much more pregnant today than last week when she saw me. And then in the same breath asked if I was still wearing my regular pants (sort of, they are ones I was too small for after I lost weight and now I can't button all the buttons). At any rate, I'm growing and baby is growing.

And in 7 days we should know whether we are having a son or a daughter. I cannot wait.

20 weeks to go--give or take!

19 week ramblings.

Heidi has decided we should name the baby Rapunzel. I asked her "what if the baby is a boy" and she adamantly stated "it's a girl!"

We will see in less than 2 weeks! In general I feel like this pregnancy is going quickly, but these last couple of weeks since we've known when the ultrasound is going to be have dragged on. I'm so excited to find out and hoping that baby cooperates so we can (unlike big sister).

I've been researching and pinning pictures of newborn and maternity photography that I like. I know it's kind of a splurge, but this is going to be our last baby (in all likelihood) and I really want to document it and cherish it. My newborn pictures of Heidi are one of my absolute favorite things.

And I've finally moved to at least the hairband trick for all my pants. I haven't resorted to maternity pants. Yet.

18 Weeks.

Things you notice at 18 weeks:

--baby somersaults or kick-boxing or something
--crossing your arms is just different than before
--pants fit way differently in the evening than they did in the morning when you put them on
--waking up laying on your back is unnerving
--even if you go to bed at 8pm and wake up at 6am, you still never feel rested
--you have to add an extra snack in every morning and every afternoon
--panic starts to set in about all the things still to figure out, still to decide, and what life will be like.