Baby Names

Sorry - we're still not telling :) I know my mother-in-law is having a hard time with that, but I didn't cave in.

We have a few names narrowed down, but I'm still curious about new possibilities, so I got on the bump board for baby names. All I can say is that in another few years there are going to be a lot of screwed up children because of their names. And I feel sorry for all the teachers that will have to ask for pronunciation and spelling. Coming from a line of teachers in my family, I think they'd be rolling their eyes and saying shame on those parents. Here are a few that really stood out to me (with some commentary from me in the parentheses):

Xander, Aeriella (too close to areola for me), Braxton (maybe she read up on braxton hicks contractions too much), Calliope (guess it's a foreign thing), Harpo (um, Oprah is kinda using that one), Linkin, Thor,
Trayden and Keld (some scifi character)
Then there is the 'y' fascination - Alyx, Felyx, Wyllyam, Jaymes, Jordyn, Bostyn, Paytyn

I say this in hopes that when we do release the name of our lil one that people may remember some that are so bad, that mine will be a blessing. And so far only one name is not 'normal' but it's popular in other countries. Yep - just keep guessing - you'll find out in March :)

Still on target

I passed the glucose test and my 7 month check up looked good, still measuring on target, and the baby's heart beat was good - went up to 160 when she did a big kick. I was hoping to avoid it, but I do have a faint linea nigrea (sp?) - that line going down my stomach. I still remember shopping with my good friend Stacy when she was pregnant and I saw it on her stomach and must have sounded very shocked when I asked what in the world is that?!(pointing to her like she has a defect) She's still friends with me though and now I got my payback :)

For baby stats - she's just over 2 pounds and about 15". She is still very active and Jeff could even see my belly move last night while laying on the couch. He was trying to talk about something and I kept twitching and would look down at my stomach, and he finally saw it. So the whole movement thing is still very distracting.

On Christmas Eve I found out just how miserable I can get from eating too much food. I thought I had paced myself, and I know I could have handled that much food pre-pregnancy, but when I laid down that night I felt it just come up and sit at the base of my throat. I still haven't gotten sick, but I sure wanted to that night. My sister warned me that there will come a time soon when I can't eat a full meal, and after that night, I think I know what kind of misery is in store for me again in the future when I slip up.

And I've now had 2 official days where I could tell my feet/ankles were swollen. It wasn't drastic, but my sock mark left a definite indention. And for our Christmas dinner with Jeff's family I was very relieved to hear my mother-in-law say I was a cute pregnant lady and that I didn't look like I have gained as much weight as I have. Yeah for being tall and spreading it out :)

7 month Photo

Merry Christmas from the 2 of us :)

Storage Furniture Ideas

When work is slow, it can be a hit to the budget. I've been looking up ideas for the nursery. I have an empty wall that I want some kind of bookshelf or storage system on. I thought I'd post some pics of what I found that I like and see if my mommy friends have suggestions. For example, do I need to worry about sharp corner edges on a toy box/bench, is it best for lower book shelves so the kid and reach stuff, how many shelves do I need, etc. The first one I love, and the colors are perfect, the others have small cubes and I wonder if most books would fit in them. Feel free to send me your thoughts :)
And these are from The Company Store Kids.

Latest Nursery Pics

We got the glider chair in, and put up some shelves above the dresser/changing table. (The plants in the window won't stay forever, just there to maybe help the paint smell go away). I only have a few wall decoration pieces, so I'm open to ideas if anyone has any :)



I have been informed that I need a chandelier. I've seen some cute small beaded ones in Franklin, so I may just have to go back. I found these on ebay, but still not perfect. I like the idea of a multi-colored one.

90 Days to go

My ticker at the bottom said I have 90 days to go. That still seems like alot. Maybe my sister just intimidated me last time we talked and she warned here comes the miserable part. Since I have not been miserable so far I have my fingers crossed it wont get too bad. I have noticed the last couple nights it's not as easy to rollover. I'm sure more side effects will pop up but I'm remaining optimistic.
Monday I have the glucose test where I have to chug the orange sugary drink. I've read mixed reviews on that for degrees of grossness. Then Wednesday I have my 7 month check up.

Nursery news - it still stinks. I've never had a paint smell last that long. We moved the dresser out incase it was the polyurethane that was causing it - nope. We've had the Sharper Image Ionizer thing on and left the door open (that goes to the hall). With the door open the smell will calm down, but it's still there. Earlier this week we shut the door and put a bowl of vinegar in there. It was back to worse. Yesterday was warm enough, I had the windows open and we'll go back to leaving the door open. I have not moved the glider chair in there since it's upholstered and I don't want it to absorb the smell. After Christmas I may be taking our paint can to Lowes or another more professional paint store and asking for advice.

Another Gift already

A coworker friend of mine is also a photographer on the side. Yesterday I was asking her about this cool photocard I got and how it was printed on metallic paper and she interrupts me and practically shouts I have a frame for you. I'm thinking ok - no idea what made that pop into your mind right then :) She explained that it was in storage and she didn't need it anymore since her girls are bigger. Today she brought it in. It's beautiful! It's about 18" square and holds 6 - 3.5" square photos, and is trimmed in pink double mats and has a tiny foot and hand print on it. Now I have to wait another 3+ months to fill it up with photos.

I think I'm definitely starting to slow down. I have forced myself to sit down inbetween work that requires alot of bending (like putting up the Christmas tree lights) and I know that saved my back some grief. But lately I'm seeing a difference in how I have to move thanks to this protruding belly. Last week I was at a restaurant, and went to the bathroom and it was disgusting. Now normally, it's not that big a deal, I have long legs and will just squat over the toilet. So I go to do that and realize my tummy is in the way and it's pretty uncomfortable and the pee won't come out fast enough. I made it through, but am not looking forward to more of that in the future! Today I realized I'm getting off a normal toilet slower to avoid pressure on my tummy. I wonder if I'll need to install handle grip bars like my grandma had before long :)

That made me remember - Jeff shared an article with me on how the current toilet configuration is wrong and bad for health. (The Three Fundamental Flaws Of The Modern Toilet. It says that "squatting is the natural position for elimination -it makes the process easier and more complete". It shows a picture that looks like someone sitting on the ground with their knees up to their chest. I saw this and laughed, laughed with a small wince of how much pain that would be if I tried it right now. I'm glad someone invented the toilet! It looks like there is alot more information about poop in this article, but I did not make it much further past that picture before wondering it if the author was just full of too much crap himself.

After typing all that I realized how VERY thankful I am for one thing (of many) in this pregnancy. My toilet has been put to good use - so glad my own personal plumbing is still working. (Sorry, several friends have shared even more info and horror stories that I have not experience yet.)

I wonder how many more conversations in the future will start out normal, only to lead to poop talk. Urghhh - I'll try not to be one of those mommies.

I got a funny email from my sister who found my registry on BRU and was confused since there were just a few items on it. I had planned a trip with a couple friends, but strong storms came in Tuesday night, so we postponed it till tonight. What do you know - we're under a snow advisory tonight. So I'll finish the registry at some point :)

Photos - almost 26 weeks

A few friends have been asking - so here you go. I started off with one shirt this morning but thought the sleeves would be too hot, so I changed - my what a difference a loose shirt makes. And yes, I felt a little funny for taking my own photo, hence the cheesy smile.
(photos are clickable to a larger version)

Spent more $$

This weekend was full of baby related purchases. The glider chair came in - our most expensive purchase so far. I also spent money for what I'm calling my second husband - one who's sole purpose is to cuddle with me. (This one can't push me away after 10 minutes b/c he's too hot :) They have body pillows that are shaped like an elongated C. I think it'll help my back to sleep with a pillow between my legs. Before I'd pull one leg over which was a twisting position on my back, probably not very good. Then I finally broke down and bought a couple new bras. Eeek, I did go up a size, but not yet what I would call porn star boobs (what I've been warned about). I thought I was crazy for going into Kohls on a Saturday in December but, hey the lingerie section was near empty and the sales were worth it.

We bought the crib mattress last night. We walked into BRU, looked at car seats again but they didnt have many choices that would fit in our stroller (we got from a friend), so we went to mattresses, got one and left. I'm still overwhelmed when I go in that store. But relief is about to come. Next week I will be tackling the registry with two of my good friends that are mommies. oh thank goodness. This will be one trip I won't be dreading and maybe I won't feel so intimidated after :)

We had an all hands meeting today and I saw a coworker I hadn't seen for a while, told her I was pregnant... really... yeah 6 months.... really?! you don't look it... thanks... congrats again... bye....
Then I went to eat a cookie. oh yummy! yeah, I'll look it come Christmas time. haha.

She said it better than me

A friend directed me to a new blog to add to my reader. This lady is about my age with a 4 year old (?) daughter and another baby on the way. She's an excellent writer and also posts amazing photographs, many with her dog in it. Lately there have been a few pregnancy posts that crack me up. She's blunt, even more so than me (fair warning for those that want to read her blog). And just in the last few weeks I've discovered what acid reflux (I think) is for the first time in my life. Here is a sentences from her blog yesterday that describes that feeling:

That horrible feeling, the one where the noodles feel like they're sitting at the top of my throat, where my pants are so tight that I can't maneuver into a comfortable position, where I feel like I might hurl if I move my head too quickly, that is what I feel like ALL THE TIME.
Food tastes phenomenal, yes, but during the two hours after a meal I have to assume the fetal position and remain perfectly still.

and another one that summarizes my feelings as well

I cannot relate to women who say that they love this, that they wish they could be pregnant for years, that they have never felt more like a woman. I don't know exactly why, but there are things about this that make me feel totally disenfranchised. I have no control over my body or appetite, and I cannot do anything to improve the way I feel. The nausea is constant, the weight gain already intimidating, and my face is a plate of what I like to call Pregnant Pizza: acne, fever blisters, discolorations, and unruly hair.

So I just had to copy a few statements (written better than I can) to remind people that yes so many pregnant women put on a happy face because they happy about what's to come, but getting there is still hard. I think Heather is having a tougher time than me, but I have shared her sentiment many times :)