Preparation

Last weekend, Ken and I finalized the registry. Now I'm actually glad that I did most of it online because going to the actual store armed with a scanner with floor to ceiling baby items (you know how small they are, right?) was so overwhelming! I only wanted to touch and feel a few things such as the stroller, playmats and swings. We weren't there too long (much to Ken's delight).

The nursery is just being started now. We seem short on time but I think we will be able to finish it within a month. It could also be wishful thinking on my part. All the walls and ceiling must come down. The windows also need replacing and the hardwood floors installed. Ken is doing most of the work himself so the task is time consuming for someone who lacks such a commodity.

Babies, however, are oblivious to all of this business of preparation. They are happily kicking and punching (hopefully not each other) within. I can feel their movements all the time now and even though I don't really know which one is which, it's comforting to know that they are active.

Have we already talked eggplants last time? In the sixth month, that's about the size of these little guys. I can't imagine how much room they now have in there. In an attempt to gain more in utero real estate, they are stretching my stomach and I have the stretch marks to prove it (much to my dismay).

By the way, as an aside, stretch marks are not totally preventable and lasering them afterwards is the only way I've found (other than fading over time) that will totally remove them.

Ladies who've been there, there now or plan to be there:

Stretch marks are part of the pregnancy journey and should you be part of the majority that get them, it isn't as traumatic as you might think it will be. Now, I won't be modeling my bare buddha belly for a portrait either but I'm comfortable in my skin ... even if its a little dinged up.

Measuring Up

Yesterday, I had my weekly doctor's appointment to check on the babies' development and progress. Nothing out of the ordinary (which for this lady is great news). Blood pressure is excellent. Both heartbeats are beating in normal ranges. There is much more movement down below especially after mealtimes and when I want to sleep. I suppose this will start breaking me in to the sleep deprivation that is to come!

They decided to measure me (just for laughs) and no surprise that I am currently measuring the same as a woman with one baby at THIRTY-FIVE weeks! 

That is a THREE and a FIVE (35), folks!

It explains the ligament pain, back aches and puffy feet. I also feel about 35 weeks along but still have a ways to go before I hit that magic number.

For now, I'm appreciating each day, every movement and even every pain as a part of the collective joys of pregnancy. No one can quite explain the experience so I'm blessed to be a part of this "club".

And just so you know, even though I've complained that nine months (about 270 days) seems like a really long time to make a baby, it takes an elephant SIX HUNDRED PLUS days!! That comes out to something like twenty months or almost two years.

Comparatively, I'm quite happy with nine months.

Babymoon

If you're unfamiliar with this term, don't feel bad. I only came across it myself a few years ago while browsing through pregnancy sites.

The term is intended to loosely describe a final hurrah for couples before and/or during pregnancy prior to the birth of the baby to enjoy a final trip together sans baby ... or in our case, kids. The overall general notion of this is that once they enter the picture, its a totally different kind of vacation. Then again, so is this "babymoon".

Most vacations I think of involve tropical locale, beaches, nightlife and most certainly more than a few libations to ease any jetlag and calm the senses.

Babymoon vacations can still involve a tropical locale and beaches but not so much a nightlife and forget the libations. My nightlife consists of a warm shower before putting on PJs and sipping on milk or water while enjoying a late night and much needed snack.

So, there you have it folks. Nothing terribly exotic or exciting about a babymoon because the most exciting part takes about nine months to produce and sometimes the person producing needs a break from all this 24/7 work she goes through.

Ken and I just booked our last getaway (aka Our Babymoon) to The Essex in Vermont. If you've never been and looking, we both highly recommend it! http://www.vtculinaryresort.com/
We're considering it both our babymoon and anniversary rolled into one. Got to multipurpose with double the not so tiny expenses for our new arrivals!

We were there just this past February over Valentine's Day and LOVED it!
It will be something new and old to enjoy the drive during fall season (my favorite season).

We're taking my parents along this time around. Apparently, there is a spectacular golf course up there that everyone except me will be playing on but I certainly won't feel left out. I'll be at the resort spa for several hours. We should all make it back to our rooms around the same time with no harm, no foul...just in time for our dinner reservations.

Yes, at this stage of babymaking, all I'm planning and thinking about is my next meal or snack.

Sad, but true.

Oops!

I realized today that I originally posted that I was 17 weeks pregnant but as I was going over some appointments, I am really 18 weeks and 1 day (today). If anyone did the math with my due date, it would have been blatantly obvious.

You've heard of pregger brains before, right? I think I might be bringing it to a whole new level with my daily antics (sometimes shared and sometimes not). Let's just say that the things I'm willing to admit (oh, like wearing shirts inside out, putting on intimate garments inside out (or twisted - don't ask) and getting dates confused) is child's play to the things I won't own up to publicly.

I'll look back on this next year and laugh about it ... or it will be as others have said ... post pregger brains being a lot more hilarious than pregger brains.

Pray for me, folks.

Building a Registry

Things have been fairly quiet (baby-wise) these days ... ahhh bliss! More movement down below and completely in maternity capris and pants. I haven't told too many folks at work yet but I'm going to let the baby make himself/herself known in his/her own way.

I have started to put together a registry but found it hard when it came to gender specific items. Hopefully that won't be an issue after this Friday! Eke! We're both so excited! Our last ultrasound pictures were at about ten weeks so I expect the ones we see on Friday to be mind blowing. We still don't have a preference for either sex as long as the baby is healthy. Ken flips between saying that the baby is most certainly a boy ... or a girl.

No real strange cravings (yet) ... well, at least I don't think so! Ken might have different opinions about that :)

Back to the registry: Other than the cutesy boy/girl items, I'm also seeking out suggestions for types of bottles, baby products and must haves from my mommy friends. So please keep the ideas coming frequently even if you've sent them before. I've gotten some great ideas and trying to keep a cohesive list of these items (pregger brain doesn't help here!).

I've learned how to ask for help and completely appreciate the great people who have offered their womanly wisdom. Muah! Muah! Thank you!!

Motherhood Saves the Day

And by "motherhood" ... I don't mean the intangible concept of the word that is the cause of heartfelt moments and life giving joy. No, by Motherhood, I mean the very tangible store with very tangible clothes for the not so palpable view of my current self.

I'm sure most pregnant women are gorgeous (I personally know a few) but the antithesis of that is right here, folks. Yes, that's right. I've officially given up figuring out if I can still bear to squeeze into any pants with a button, snap or clasp or if I should yield willingly into the realm of elastic waistbands, "Belly Bandits", "Secret Fit Belly" and "B-Buckles".

For pregnant gals and prior members, these names will probably sound familiar to you. For others, they might as well be cartoon names. For me, I'm somewhere in between.

I dragged myself into a Motherhood store for the first time to find it both overwhelming and annoying at the same time. Overwhelming are the onslaught of all things maternity and annoying are the scant collection of the same things not made for someone under 5'6". Oompa-Loompas come to mind.

Regardless, I sifted through these racks and picked out several items that far exceeded the amount of money I wanted to pay as a first time maternity clothes buyer (wasn't there a discount for first timers?). Most were work appropriate and fall wear in preparation for the months where such clothes would be unavoidable.

I'm happy to be pregnant. I'm less excited to feel awkward in clothes (*junior high flashback!).

We're only focusing on H.A.P.P.Y.

Welcome to my Second Trimester!

I am happy to say that I am officially in my Second Trimester. Sometimes you try not to think about it so you won't jinx anything but making this hurdle does decrease our chances of miscarriage significantly and in a situation like ours, that's really reassuring news.

The Bump Checklist says the baby is now the size of a peach.

Teeth buds and vocal cords have formed as well as eyelids although they are still fused together. Arms and legs move and twitch - Baby can also suck it's thumb too.

We're also just back from our vacation but it just didn't seem anywhere near long enough! I survived an entire week wearing a bathing suit on this burgeoning midsection but was surprised to see I had only gained a few pounds while away ... which I then instantly started losing once we got home (could be the scant cooking I'm doing these days!).

It is becoming apparently obvious that I cannot comfortably wear any of my old pants with buttons or clasps and am in dire need of more elastic waistbands! My next shopping trip will be for a few basics that can be worn to work.

Doctor's appointment is scheduled for this Friday morning and I'm extremely anxious since we might be able to find out the baby's sex that day!!

Clothes ... going, going, MATERNITY!

I'm not sure how others before me have done it but I'm already to the point where I need extra support AND comfort for the girls (yes, those ones attached) as well as pants that won't feel like I'm walking in a vice grip all day. Do those things exist anywhere?

While we were shopping yesterday with the sole intention of finding me some new maternity pants, shirts and most importantly a bathing suit for vacation and beyond ... there were ZERO or sorely lacking maternity sections inside department stores nevermind entire stores devoted to all things maternity!

Where are people buying clothes that free the growing (and sore) baby bump? What happened to all those cute styles I see other like women walking comfortably by in? I jealously eye their comfort and wonder when I'll find my solace in clothes!

I've resorted to my standby ... going online! Here is one situation where money and resources really can buy happiness (at least until the baby is born!).

Sickness ... Over?

Although I woke up feeling tired today - per usual - I am feeling less nauseous overall. I still have dizziness and slight headaches but I'm not complaining.

Tomorrow is Baby Hamilton's 11 week birthday (lol) and according to a cute checklist from The Bump, Baby is about the size of a Lime now or 1.6 inches .25 oz.

I feel slight twinges here and there but from what I read, it isn't actually the baby I'm feeling but my stomach and uterus expanding.

I'll be sure to post some tummy pictures soon (if I dare) because according to Ken and La-La, I definitely have a noticeable "baby bump". Isn't it still too early for all of that?

I'm embracing pregnancy with an open heart but I don't know if I quite feel the same about maternity pants and bras ... you get my meaning?