Poppy's Place!

We are finally making some progress on the nursery. Baby steps (no pun intended, hehehehe) toward bringing my vision to life. Here is a what the nursery room looked like before:

It functioned as a closet/dumping ground. Ahem, I may have slight hoarding problem. 

Here it is after a fresh coat of (bright white!) paint and some new (neutral!) carpeting:

Now I can start with the fun part....the decorating and DIY projects! First project comeplete: pinwheel mobile! It was fairly easy to make and I quite enjoyed it. Cost me a total of $14, and I have enough supplies left over to make at least one more. Here she is, in all her glory:

28 Down, only 12 to go!

Our poppy seed is 28 weeks strong and has now grown to about the size of a cabbage!

Poppy is also growing in length, coming in around a whopping 15 inches! He or she must really be curled up in a little ball in mama's belly! I looked at the yard stick on my desk, and 15 inches is no joke. How else can (s)he fit in here:

Here's more info on Poppy's growth this week:

She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

This reminds me, I want to try the falshlight trick this evening; rumor has it if you move a flashlight across your belly, baby will move and follow it. Crazy cakes! I'll you know how it works :)

So I had my OB checkup on Tuesday, and everything looked great! The nurse was looking over my chart before she got ready to listen to the baby's heartbeat with the doppler, and she says to me, "So, are you having a girl?" Um, NO! We are waiting to find out. She just smiled and said that was nice. Then we listened to the heartbeat and she said it was in the high 150s, low 160s as usual. WTF?! Was hinting it might be a girl because of the higher heartrate (old wives tale), or did she accidentally reveal something she saw on the chart? Ugh, way to torture me, nurse! So I thought it would be fun to look at the Old Wives Tales regarding gender again, since the first time I did it was 14 weeks ago. I've color coded them, pink for girl, blue for boy (duh!) and green for n/a. Here is where we stand, Old Wives:

Old Wives Tale #4:  Heart Rate
If the baby’s heart rate is above 140 bpm, it is said that the baby will be a girl.  If it is under 140 bpm, then it will be a boy.  
Old Wives Tale #12:  Shape of Belly
If you are carrying high with a big, round belly, you are having a girl.  If you are carrying low with a smaller belly that sticks straight out, it’s a boy.  
Old Wives Tale #13:  Ring Test
Using a string, hang your wedding ring over your pregnant belly.  You are having a girl if the ring swings back and forth  and it’s a boy if it swings in a circle.   
Old Wives Tale #14:  Shape of Mom’s Face
When your face gets fuller and rounder when pregnant, it means you’re going to have a girl.  If your face is long and narrow, it’s a boy.  
I think this is b.s. since women all gain weight differently.  However, that being said, my face has gotten rounder, so all signs point to a girl for this one.
Old Wives Tale #15:  Key Test
This test involves a key.  If you pick up a key at the top (the roundest part), you are going to have a boy.  If you pick up the key at the bottom (smallest part), you are going to have a girl.  If you happen to grab the key in the middle, congrats, it’s twins!  
Old Wives Tale #16:  Mayan Tale
The Mayan tale adds the mothers age at conception and the year of conception.  If the result is a even number then mom is having a girl.  If the result is an odd number then a boy is on the way!  According to this, we are having a girl.
Old Wives Tale #17:  Drano Test
The drano test combines a tablespoon of Drano and urine together.  If the mixture turns green, it’s a girl.  If it turns blue, it’s a boy.  Ummmm, TBA
Old Wives Tale #18:  Acne
If you have acne while pregnant, it’s a girl.  It’s thought that acne during pregnancy is caused by the extra hormones.  
Old Wives Tale #19:  Cravings
People believe that if you are craving salty foods while pregnant, you can count on having a boy.  If you crave sweets, fruit, and orange juice, you are having a little girl.  
Old Wives Tale #20:  Smell of Garlic
If a pregnant woman eats a clove of garlic and the smell does not come out of her pores, it’s a girl.  If the smell seeps out of her pores, it’s a boy. Hahahaha, I am so NOT dealing with heartburn that would ensue with this one!
Old Wives Tale #22:  Skin under Left Eye
The eye test is when a “V” or “branches” appear when you pull down the skin under your left eye.  If you see a “V” or “branches” in the white part, you’re having a girl.  I have a “V”, so one more point for a girl.
Old Wives Tale #26:  Time of Conception
The person that is most aggressive in bed at the time of conception is the opposite of what the baby will be.  In this case, we’ll have a girl. 
Old Wives Tale #27:  Legs
If your legs get really big, you’re having a boy.  If your legs stay in shape and lean, it’s a girl. 
Old Wives Tale #28:  Moodiness and a Little Pecker
If you are really moody, you are having a girl since you have another extra girl hormones in you.  Your pregnancy will make you smile and be more happy if you are having a boy because there’s a little penis inside you.  Not sure how true this is, but it sure does make me laugh!
Old Wives Tale #29:  Bread
If you eat the ends of bread, it’s a boy.  If you eat the middle of the load, it’s a girl.  I’ve never liked the ends of bread and always have eaten from the middle… Another point for a little girl.  
Old Wives Tale #30:  Chinese Gender Chart
The Chinese Gender Chart claims to have an accuracy rate of over 90%.  It is based on how old the mother is at conception and the month that she conceived.  This tale tells me that I’ve having a girl.  
Old Wives Tale #31:  Mom’s Beauty
Basically you are having a girl if your beauty disappears during pregnancy.  It is said that the girl “steals” the mother’s beauty.  If you think that pregnancy has never made you look more beautiful, you might just be having a little boy.  
Old Wives Tale #32:  Dream of Sex of Baby
If you have dreams that you are having a boy, you will have a girl.  If you dream about having a girl, it will be a boy.  Dreams show the opposite of what you are having.  I’ve only had a dream that I was having twins, and there’s only one baby in there, so maybe there’s some truth to this…  or maybe it’s just a coincidence! I've dreamt of having both!
Old Wives Tale #33:  Clumsy vs. Graceful
If the pregnant woman is graceful throughout her pregnancy, she’s having a girl.  If she becomes clumsy, she’s having a boy.  
Old Wives Tale #35:  Side You Most Rest On
If a pregnant woman prefers to lay on her left side, she’s having a boy.  If she prefers resting on her right side, she’s having a girl.  I prefer my right side lately.  Hmm. I'm constantly switching back and forth.
Old Wives Tale #36:  Hands
When the pregnant woman is asked to show her hands, it’s a boy if she keeps her palms down and a girl if she shows her palms up.  
Old Wives Tale #37:  Dad’s Weight Gain
If the dad-to-be gains weight while you are pregnant, it’s a girl.  If he doesn’t gain weight, you’re having a boy.  
Old Wives Tale #39:  Necklace Over Hand
Have someone hold a necklace over your hand.  If the necklace swings back and forth, it’s a boy.  If it moves in a circle, it’s a girl.     
Old Wives Tale #40:  What Do You Think?
71% of the time, the mom-to-be knows what she is having.  I might be falling into the old wives tale trap, or maybe I just want a little girl, but I feel like it is a girl.
Old Wives Tale #41:  Morning Sickness
If you had a smooth pregnancy with no morning sickness, it’s a boy.  If you were sick or felt really nauseous during your pregnancy, count on a girl.  As you know, I have only thrown up once, but I’ve was extremely nauseousfor the first 4 months.  Girl again perhaps. 
Old Wives Tale #42:  Areolae
If your areolae (the part around your nips) have darkened, it’s a boy.  
Old Wives Tale #43:  Protein
When a pregnant woman craves meat and cheese, count on a boy.  
Old Wives Tale #44:  Feet
Are your feet colder now that you are pregnant?  If so, you just might be having a boy.  If your feet have stayed the same before pregnancy and during, you’re having a little girl.  
Old Wives Tale #45:  Hair on Legs
If the hair on your legs has been growing at record speeds, you might be having a boy.  
Old Wives Tale #46:  Hands are Dry
If your hands are constantly dry, it’s a boy.    
Old Wives Tale #47:  Urine
What color is your pee?  If it is bright yellow, you will have a little boy.  If your urine is a dull yellow, plan on a girl.  
Old Wives Tale #48:  Nose
Do you feel like your nose is growing and getting wider?  If so, you might be having a boy.    
Old Wives Tale #49:  Headaches
If you are having headaches, you might be carrying a boy.  I’ve definitely had an increase in headaches, so I wonder… 
Old Wives Tale #51:  Baby Names
It is said that when you can only think of specific names for a boy or a girl, you will have that particularly baby.  

That makes 19 for a GIRL and 10 for BOY. Hmmmmm, maybe that nurse was on to something....

Nest or Rest?

Today I am exactly 27 weeks pregnant....Poppy is due to arrive 3 months from yesterday, which means: HELLO THIRD TRIMESTER!


When I got my energy back in 2nd trimester, everyone said, "Don't worry, you will get really tired again and very uncomfortable once 3rd tri hits". Well damn you, everyone! You were right again! Except now, my mind and body are having a serious battle. You see, my nesting instinct is starting to kick in. I want to cook and bake and clean and organize. No joke, I woke up at 3:30am the other night and couldn't sleep...so naturally, I had to clean and reorganize the freezer. I come home from work and my feet and legs and hands are swollen like my homemade italian sausage. But I have no desire to rest....there is soup to be made! Oh, but my body gets me back for not resting. Revenge comes in the form of braxton hicks contractions. That wonderful sensation of my entire belly tightening like our baby one day will when (s)he has his or her first tantrum. Sorry, uterus, please take a time out. The tightening is accompanied by the feeling that i swallowed a 25 pound brick. Lovely. I can't help but wonder, how do pregnant mommies get through these times? I mean, I only have me and Andy to take care of...I can't imagine feeling this way and also taking care of another little one, or little ones for that matter! 
My other 3rd tri symptom is unquenchable thirst. I can't get enough water. Especially at night. Which leads to the insomnia. Drink, sleep, pee, lay, think, worry, toss, turn, try to find ANY position that does't hurt my aching hips and back. I've been up in the middle of the night every day this week anywhere from 1.5 - 4 hours. 
Aw, this entire post sounds like a bitch-fest :( I'm not complaining, just sharing my experience; and this is my reality. But I love it. I really do. 

I wore this to work for Halloween. I was a baby...having a baby. My students found this to be hilarious. 

On a different note, we are having Poppy's carpet installed in the nursery tomorrow. This means I can finally start to DECORATE! Squeeeeeeeee. I will post progress pics once we get started. So excited to make a comfortable home for my baby. 

6 Months

Thursday marked 26 weeks and Friday exactly 6 months. I have been carrying this little poppy seed inside of me for half a year! Mind boggling when I put in those terms. Here is what Poppy is up to these days:


And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.


Lately I have been thinking about the fact that in about 3 months, I will no longer have this baby inside of me. It has now become such a part of me to house my baby, I can not imagine NOT carrying him or her. It's normal: it's who I am. We are one. And the thought makes me sad...like, really sad. Like, I cry a little sad. I can't help wonder if this is a normal feeling, or if I am crazy cakes. I mean, of course I cannot wait to see and hold and look into the eyes of our baby. But I also will no longer get to feel it wiggle and squirm and turn and kick from the inside. Poppy will no longer get to hear and feel the beat of my heart so intimately. I am hoping that once (s)he is here I won't even think about those things...I will have so many new and exciting experiences to look forward to every single day. But I must say, I love being your safe little home, Poppy. 


"No one will ever know the strength of my love for you.


After all, you're the only one who knows what my heart sounds like from the inside"

Quotes of the day

"You're fat now!" ~ happy, well-meaning, sweet little first grade boy


"How much longer do you have?" "Just 14 weeks!" "Oh, I thought you were going to say 14 days!" ~ guy at work


"You look great! When are you due? Next month, right?" "Um, no. THREE months." ~ lady at work


And my favorite from last week:


"Mrs. Dowhan, Kyle called you fat!"
"Oh, I'm not fat honey, I'm pregnant!"
"He said you don't know what you is. You just fat!"


And at least 4 students a week ask, "Did you have your baby yet?!" 


sigh. 

Dear Poppy

Dear, sweet, Poppy,


You are so loved. As I lay here, feeling your squirm and kick inside me, I am overcome with love for you already. Imagining the first moment I get to see and hold and snuggle and kiss and feed you is overwhelming, I cannot imagine how my heart will burst with love when that time actually arrives. But you know what's really cool? Thinking about the love that will surround you from every direction once you take your first breath on your own. Daddy and I are so very blessed with amazing, wonderful, supportive people in our lives; and now we get to share YOU with them! Your grandparents and aunts and uncles will spoil you with love and attention. Mommy and daddy's friends, old and new, can't wait to meet you and see your precious face. Cousins, great aunts and uncles, neighbors, great grandma...we are so very lucky to be surrouned by such generous, caring people. And to experience all of them through your eyes, Poppy, will truly be a joy. You will laugh with these people, cry with them, learn and grow from them, and develop into your own beautiful personality. Daddy and I so look forward to guiding you in the direction of being the very best you can be. We love you! 

My perfect eggplant

25 weeks today, and Poppy is about the size of an eggplant! 

The third trimester exhaustion everyone describes is beginning to set in, but it is different from the first tri exhaustion. Basically, I feel huge, heavy, swollen and like I got hit by a car at about 3pm every day. This lasts until go to bed. Today I discovered the miracle of the heating pad on my back. Ahhhhh, sweet relief. I have also been doing a prenatal yoga video in the mornig before work and it helps relieve some of the general body aches and pains. 

Poppy is growing bigger and stronger every day...today she gave Nonna a healthy kick! Looks like she knows who is going to spoil her already ; )

25 weeks passed mean only 15 weeks left to go...whoa! We are going to register for the shower this weekend. Woo-hoo! I am rather excited. The nuresery is painted, and the crib should arrive any day. I've collected odds and ends and can't wait to start decorating the nursery. The nesting instinct is starting to hit!
I had an ultrasound in my gallbladder and some bloodwork, and got great news today - no gallstones! The Dr. thinks the pain I've been experiencing is more related to my reflux issues. He wants me to take Zantac for a week and see if it helps. This is a Class B drug. I have mixed feelings about taking it. I have come this far with taking only 2 tylenol and round of antibiotics (for a UTI) my entire pregnancy. I wish I could make it through the next 15 weeks without taking anything else. We'll see. Just relieved it's not the gallbladder. 
Here is another pic of what a 25-week-old baby looks like chillin in the ute:

Sweet, precious baby <3

I kinda miss...

Raw Sushi 



Medium Rare Steak


Lunchmeat (damn you, listeria!)


Standing up without wincing from lower back pain

Sleeping on my tummy

Dirty Martinis with blue cheese olives


Walking up the stairs without getting out of breath

Eating raw cookie dough while I bake


Unlimited seafood consumption (damn you, mercury!)

BUT

You're beyond worth it all, Poppy!

Our very own Cupie Doll

We had an ultrasound today! SO MUCH FUN watching Poppy hang out in the ute, especially now that I can see and feel the kicks and movements in synch. Neato! I always thought I would cry at ultrasounds, but I just end up giggling in pure joy the entire time. Maybe that will happen during Labor and Delivery too.....??? Bahahahaha.
There is absolutely no denying that this is Andy's baby when you look at Poppy's photo shoot from today. That big, bulbous, cupie doll head came straight from Daddy. Here's Poppy, giving us the thumbs up that everything is A-OK in there!

Poppy weighs 1 pound and 11 ounces already...about 2 weeks ahead of average. Uh-oh, taking after Daddy again??? (He was a 10-pounder at birth!). The thought of popping that big round head out frightens me, I must admit. But the cupie resemblance makes me all the more excited to meet my real live doll. Check it out:

Hehehehehehe, still giggly and giddy. Love you, Poppy! (Or should we call you Cupie now?!)

Score!

So I dragged my tired, insomniac arse out of bed this morning and went to my first ever mom-to-mom sale. Yep, that's right, MOM! Me :) hehehehe. Anyway, it was smaller than I expected and kind of seemed like an overpriced garage sale, which irritated me since I am a garage sale afficianado. I was about the leave when I noted the "large items" area of the sale. And there it was. In all of it's vintage glory, a 1950's Thayer high chair. It was refinished and in perfect condition and completely adorbale. SOLD! 
Here it sits in our dining room:

Everytime I walk past it my heart melts <3

23 Weeks

Time is flying. I cannot believe tomorrow is Friday already, and have a feeling that the weeks are going to continue to pass quickly. 

Today Poppy is exactly 23 weeks old! Here is what's happening inside my belly:

Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound, you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.

Watching Poppy squirm is indeed my favorite pastime. I also don't mind sharing the joy with others....want to rub this belly? Go right ahead! Want to feel Poppy dance? Place your hand right here...doesn't bother this mama in the least. I love the love. Bring it on :)

Today, while looking at some of the adroable sleepers and onesies we have acquired for Poppy, I had a total freak-out moment. An "Oh my god, we are really going to have a baby. A real, actual baby who will be living in this house and wearing these clothes. And it will be ours. And it will be soon." Awesome moment of surrealization. Also, looking online and in my baby books, I realize that Poppy is starting to look like an actual baby now. Cool. Amazing. Wonderful. Beautiful. 

We ordered the crib this week...thank you Nonna and Grandpa! We went with the vintage style Jenny Lind. It should arrive in the beginning of November and I can't wait! Also the nuresry is painted (thanks again to Grandpa!) and we're planning to have the carpet installed in the next week or two. Phew, things are finally beginning to come together. Poppy will be sleeping in our room for at least the first few months, so there truly isn't a need to have the nursery complete before (s)he arrives; but I feel such urgency and excitement!

I am currently laying on the couch, drinking water and trying to relax, because I believe I had my first Braxton Hicks contractions today. Totally freaked me out, just like every 'first' this pregnancy has. As scary as not knowing exactly what to expect is, I cherish every moment with Poppy and this journey we are taking together. You've taught me so much, Little One! I love you!

Does this bump make my butt look big?

It's no secret that baby momma got back. I always have, I always will. My whole life I assumed that my booty would continue to grow larger and larger when I got pregnant. What I hadn't taken into account was how my big old baby belly would grow too. And it turns out, the belly helps take the focus OFF of my big old booty. In conclusion, my bump is my new favorite accessory. It actaully makes my butt look smaller! It must be noted, while stating this observation, that I do in fact have distorted body image. This is a term is most commonly used to describe the image seen by women with eating disroders when they look in the mirror - they see a distorted image, a body much larger than it truly is. I, on, the other hand, have always seen a much thinner body than truly exists. I think pregnancy may just be magnifying this distortion, as the bump is such a distraction that everything else looks smaller in comparison. I dunno. All I know is, keep growing Poppy, momma likes her new butt. Look, it appears to be almost as flat at Nonnas!

In other body-related news, Uncle Sale has a new nickname for me: Jodhpurs. You know, the riding pants that flare out at the thighs, like this:

I guess the belly doesn't balance out the hamhocks like it does the booty. Luckily, I love Uncle Sal and think he's funny enough that this makes me laugh out loud every time I think about it. In any case, I don't care if my booty and my jodhpurs grow to this size of Texas, as long as my Poppy is safe, healthy, comfy and growing strong :)

Sweet dreams are made of...

Nipples and shark teeth. I have had several dreams about Poppy over the past few months, and they have all involed breastfeeding. I guess somewhere in my subconscious mind I am anxious about it. So, in last night's dream I was nursing Poppy, and she was a girl. She was quite homely looking, as has been the case in most of my dreams (possibly another underlying fear?). She wasn't latching on properly, so I held her back and looked at her mouth, and she opened it wide. Inside were hundreds of tiny, pointy sharks teeth. Little white teeth completely covering the entire roof of her mouth. It was sooooo creepster!! I woke up immediately. What's up with that?
In a previous dream Poppy was a newborn (ugly) baby girl and I was nursing her and she stopped nursing to ask me if she could have something else to eat. Yeah, she could talk. I asked my mom if I could give her spinach and she yelled at me...how could I BE so stupid! Geez, the kid asked, didn't she?!
In my very first dream about Poppy he was a boy, and we were having an ultrasound. We could see him swimming in blue water, fully clothed in a red shirt and baby jeans, in cartoon form. The ultrasound tech told us he was a boy. And then I woke up.
I don't think Poppy will come out fully clothed, able to speak or with shark teeth (god help us!). But preggy dreamland is pretty darn entertaining :)

22 Weeks!

I'm a little late in posting, but we have reached the 22 week mark! Here is that same survey I completed 8 weeks ago, just for fun:

How far along? 22 weeks. OMG, just realized Poppy is due EXACTLY 4 months from today!
Total weight gain/loss: + 13 pounds (but it's ALLLLLLL belly. ha. i wish).
Sleep: pain in my hips and legs wakes me up many times a night, as well as going potty 1 -2 times. but i usually get right back to sleep so i really can't complain!
Movement: oh yes! this is my favorite form of entertainment these days. feeling poopy kick, twirl, dance...and watching it too! Nonna and Daddy have also been able to feel the kicks! Best. Thing. Ever.
Symptoms: heartburn, cravings, weepy
Symptoms I DON'T have: no more morning sickness!
Food cravings: fresh tomatoes, sweets
Food aversions: um, none. feed me.
Gender: I'll let you know around January 26th
Labor Signs: dear lord, none yet, thank god.
Belly Button in or out? almost flattened out, with a big smiley face at the top thanks to my naval piercing.
What I miss: raw sushi, cold cuts, jumping around like a maniac with my students without turning red, sweaty, and breathless, sleeping on my back
What I am looking forward to: finishing the nursery, registering, MEETING POPPY!

Aaaaaaaand, cue the tears

Just came across this quote and can't stop crying. Thought I'd share.

Making the decision to have a child is momentous.  It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.  ~Elizabeth Stone

Who ARE you, little one?

Since the day we found out about Poppy, I have been completely convinced she is a girl. Until this week. For no particular reason I got a feeling, a gut instinct and intuition...BOY! This baby jumping around inside of me is definitely a boy. For the first time I am starting to think boy, boy, boy. I didn't expect this to happen. I feel more bonded with Poppy now that he is moving, and I wonder if our new connection has given me greater insight? Ah, it's all probably BS, but I must admit I love wondering! Who are you, Poppy? Are you Popparella or Popson? Poppylee or Popster? PoppyAnn or PoppyMAN? Can't wait to meet you and find out!

21 Weeks

Today marks 21 weeks...past the halfway point! Here is what's going on with Poppy this week:

Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot or banana.You may soon feel like she's practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well.

Here is a little visual aid...

Dear Poppy,

I can't believe how much I love you already. Especially now that I can feel you moving around inside of my belly, I am just amazed by it! I want you to know, Poppy, that I promise to do my best to never disappoint you. You see, my whole life Nonna and Grandpa have been there for me when I needed them. They NEVER let me down. Ever. I realize now, as an adult, what a valuable gift that is. Their unconditional love has given me security, self-confidence, and taught me how to love others. That is such a precious gift, and one that I cannot wait to pass on to you! You will lean, as you grow up, that sometimes in life we have to do things that we don't want to do, or don't feel like doing. But, when we have a commitment to someone or something, we have to do it anyway. This is one of the toughest life lessons to learn. But I promise to be a responsible parent and ALWAYS put you first, even if it means making some sacrifices myself. Because I know that the best way to teach you this life lesson is by example.
I have found that the fact that my own parents never disappointed me makes it that much more difficult to accept when others do disappoint me. I think it's worth the trade though. Especially because it has made me aware of how others feel if I disappoint them, and so I do my best to make everyone I love feel special and valued.
Well, this is probably getting a long and wordy for your little fetus brain, but the bottom line, Poppy, is that I love you. And you can always count on me!

Love,
Mommy

Poppy Strong Like Bull!

Today is a super exciting milestone for us...I just saw Poppy kick from the outside! It is the neatest thing ever. I hadn't felt the baby move as much today as I have the past week, so I was feeling a little anxious for some dance party, belly edition action. After a loooooong day I was lying on the couch (finally) relaxing when I began to feel those beautiful familiar flutters. I lifted up my shirt to have a look, because these felt stronger than usual. A few seconds later, boom, there it was. On the left side, just under my belly button, a wave! What a delight. It is so comforting to know that Poppy is growing stronger; strong enough to kick mommy nice and hard. I've been staring at my belly for the past hour, and got to see several more thumps. Yay Poppy!!! Can't wait until Daddy catches a glimpse and can feel you too!

Back to Life

Back to reality. Well, more accurately, back to school. First week with students and wow, am I pooped! I figure it will take me about a month to get used to being on my feet all day. At which point I will have a slew of new pregnancy symptoms, and then it will take me a month to adjust to those and, well, you get the idea. Oh but it's all so worth it for our little Popster!
Today is reason for celebration, because at 20 weeks Poppy is officially Half Baked!!! I was planning to have some Ben & Jerry's to mark the occassion...

But alas, my gallbladder had other plans. I have been having some rather uncomfortable pain in my ribs for a few weeks now. I figured it was normal growing pains. Then I noticed a pattern, and it usually got worse after eating, especially at night. It would hurt so bad that I couldn't even lay on my side. I mentioned it to my mom, and told her it was especially bothersome on the right side. She told me to be careful, because it sounds like the pain she had with her gallbaldder, before she eventually had it removed. Bummer. Went to doc yesterday and sure enough, my gallbaldder hates my guts (no pun intended). His directions? No greasy or fatty foods, and no dairy. No dairy. NO DAIRY???? Does he not realize ice cream is dairy?! My diet has consisted largely of yogurt, cottage cheese, cereal with milk, glasses of delicious cold milk, and string cheese for the past 2 months. This is going to be tough. I am going to completely cut out the grease, but try to cut down on the dairy rather than cut it out completely. We shall see! I definitely don't want to have surgery to have the gallbaldder removed while pregnant.

Also, my belly rash returned. It occured both times after swimming in public pools in a bikini. Luckily I don't think I'll be doing that again any time soon, so hopefully this is last time the itch rears it's ugly head. Stupid sensitive skin.

I have gained 12 pounds (yikes!), and measured at 20 minches (which I guess it normal) and got to hear Poppy's heartbeat. It was 160 bpm again, and still the bestest sound ever. We also scheduled another ultrasound in a month, which is exciting because I had assumed this month's was our last. Can't wait to see baby dance again!

In other news, I am freaking out about our lack of progress on the nursery and our to do list before Poppy arrives. I think now that I'm back to work I am afraid I won't have time to get it all done. Or maybe the nesting instinct is setting in. Anyway, here is the list of to dos:

• Clear out nursery
• Paint nursery
• Order crib and assemble
• Choose carpet and have installed
• Make mobile
• Choose and purchase glider
• Decorate! (thinking of making curtains, crib skirt and pillows myself)
• Register for shower (this one is really big b/c there are SO many choices for every little thing)
• Register for childbirth, newborn and breastfeeding classes
• Do cloth diapering research and start buying them (also, SO MANY different choices!)
• Take hospital tours and pre-register
• Read Bradley Method book
• Start doing kegel exercises
• Clean the house like it's never been cleaned before
• Take a chill pill

Oh, and convince my wonderful husband to help me with all of this. (I love you, honey!) I know it will all get done, but it is overwhelming at times. Why must I be a planner?!

19 Weeks!

Helloooooo, Mango! That's right, Poppy is the size of a delicious tropical fruit this week, round and sweet. At our ultrasound Tuesday we found out baby is about 10 ounces, which is a little more than average. Andy was 10 1/2 pounds at birth. Pray for me, that's all I have to say about that! Here is a mango next to a disgusting manhand and a quarter, if you are a visual learner...

This is also a big week for Poppy's sensory development. (S)he can hear my voice clearer than ever, and is developing a sense of taste. Based on today's menu, this child will love chili cheese fries, Zingerman's Ruebens and coke. Whoops. Excuse me while I go and eat some broccoli (and maybe a little ben & jerry's for good measure). 

Today Poppy got to double float. We're talking amniotic fluid AND the lazy river at Turtle Cove. Ah, nothing like floating in a tube all day long. Super relaxing after a bit of a scare last night. I had some major pain in my belly, almost like I had pulled a muscle. It kept getting worse so I called the Dr., and he said since the pain was up around my belly button it was NOT baby. Phew! I, of course, was crying and blubbering on the phone like an idiot. Probably just growing pains, exasperated by lots of stretching and pushing/pulling that I am not used to while setting up my classroom. I worry about this baby so much while it is safe inside of me, I cannot imagine the terror I will feel when (s)he is exposed to the horrors of the real world. Sheesh! 

Here we are the water park today. Yes, I rocked the Bikini Bump. I am sure some people disapprove, but luckily for me and Poppy, I could care less!

And, I have to share this picture of the Popster's daddy and best friend. They didn't even realize they were making the exact same face! Sickningly adorable:

Oh, what the heck, here's another!

I guess great minds think alike (no pun intended honey, hehehehe). Ciao for now!