26 weeks

And now with pictures!
Hello 3rd trimester! And GOODBYE 2nd tri energy. 14 weeks to go. Yikes. What really put it into perspective for me was when yesterday Justin and I were discussing taking a Dave Ramsey workshop at church that we'd need to sign up for next week, would start Feb. 8 and last 13 weeks. Suddenly I was like "WAIT. We'll have a BABY before that's over! Would it really be worth it to spend the $$$ and have either one or both of us miss a session or two?"
WOW. Just WOW.
We had our first Lamaze class last night. It was pretty good. I love the instructor. She's so funny and REAL about how much birth will hurt (even with an epidural). But she explained that it's only one day and our bodies were made to do it. She said she can't teach us how to make it easier, but she can teach us how to not make it harder than it has to be. The only part I didn't like was the half hour relaxation exercise. I usually LOVE this after a hard yoga work out. But not being able to lie on my back just made me uncomfortable, fidgety, and BORED. Justin and half of the other dads fell asleep. I really hope we don't have to do that every time.
I ordered the monkey costume for Justin. I hope it gets here before our first shower next weekend. I am really having a hard time keeping it to myself and if I tease him and tell him he has a present coming he'll just get mad because he hates being made to wait for a surprise...

Evening update: I just got the first Monkey limb in my rib. THAT was a strange feeling. It wasn't a rib kick, I just hunched over and something (I'm assuming a foot) pushed against my right bottom rib. Wierd!
And I checked Amazon to see if that monkey costume had been shipped and I can't find it in my order history. I can hardley to get home and check my email. Now I'm afraid I didn't place the order correctly and it FOR SURE won't get here on time. ::pout::

Oh happy day!!!

Today has been a good good day. Justin and I both woke up rested and refreshed. And after my waffles I spent the morning sewing.
I opened the door to go to work and there on my porch was my Old Navy package full of maternity clothes. I was in a hurry so I cannot wait to get home tonight to try everything on. And then I checked the mail, and both my Swaddlebees order and some of the used diaper covers I bought on DiaperSwappers.com had come! One of the diaper in my Swaddlebees order is a newborn sized pocket diaper. AND OH MY GAWD! It is SO freakin' TINY and adorable!
On my way to work I stopped off at a fabric store to continue my search for a black and white canopy striped fabric. And wouldn't you know it, they had one! And it was 50% off!
And to top it all off I got to work and my supervisor called me into her office to tell me I was being promoted and getting a 10.2% raise!!!!!!! 10.2%!!! I couldn't believe it. And I looked at my paycheck for tomorrow and my quarterly bonus and holiday pay are all on there so tomorrow my bank account will be a nice fat $300 heavier than I thought it would be! Yippee!

Baby Monkey has been kangaroo boxing all evening. I think my stomach might be bruised tomorrow. Luckily "she" seems to have gotten sleepy. As much as I love that "she's" getting stronger and more active, it sometimes gets uncomfortable.

I also have to blog about Crunchy Clean (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5760585). It's an amazing eco-friendly laundry detergent. And it's CHEAP. There are so many yummy scents. So far my favorites are Baby Bee Clean and Gardenia. I really look forward to doing laundry now because it makes my house smell SO GOOD. So really it totally doubles as an air freshener. I love love love it.

21 weeks

Every Friday I am consistently amazed that another week has gone by and we are one week closer to meeting our little baby. I wonder what he/she will be like, what he/she will look like, and if we will feel different when we are finally parents. I'm not sure I can quite imagine what it will be like, how much our lives are going to change in a matter of moments...
Ok, enough of the sappy stuff and on to what's up this week:
I'm back to feeling fine. No more queasiness in the mornings. I'm thrilled about that. And the monkey is kicking like a maniac. I can feel "her" turning around every now and then. It's quite uncomfortable. And sometimes I feel like there are little limbs poking me in certain spots. Watching the kicks from the outside is endlessly amusing. I can't even describe how silly it looks. One of these day's I'll catch it on video...maybe when it's a bit more pronounced.
As far as cravings go I don't really have anything intense. Food definitely tastes different and I find myself liking things I didn't used to (like green bean casserole) and things that don't really sound all that appetizing (like red grapes dipped in sour cream, I know...But I swear, it's yummy).
The belly is definitely getting out there and I am starting to feel kinda fat, even though I'm really not. I think it's mostly because of my barren wardrobe. I am SO frustrated with maternity clothes! I was in Old Navy today and their sizing SUCKS. Mediums fit in the butt and hips, but are way too tight around my ever expanding belly. So I try a large and it's nice and comfortable in the waistband, but the butt and hips fit like the fat pants picture on a weight loss infomercial. It's ridiculous! I mean seriously? I could fit one of myself in each leg. I wanted to throw them at the dressing room attendant and scream...
Which brings me to the mood swings. I feel like a crazy person. I can't stop myself from getting totally worked up over anything even remotely frustrating. Someone on the nest posted a link to this place in California where you can go and throw breakable stuff at a wall. I NEED a place like that. There is nothing like smashing thing into little bits to release tension. And don't even get me started on work. I shudder to think what my blood pressure must be doing this past week. I really hope this ends soon. I don't like feeling so out of control.
I've been feeling less tired though. I think being off the progesterone is making a difference there. I'm no longer totally incapacitated by anything less than 10 hours of shut eye.
And speaking of sleep, I have a big day tomorrow with my girls (lunch, shopping, and knitting, and then enchiladas and Christmas cookies with Mom and Dad and the Navy kids across the street my Mom's practically adopted) so I'm going to go get some.

Baby monkey and I say: So long, farewell, auf weidersehen, goodbye...(yes, of course my baby knows showtunes already.)

Whooah, we're halfway there...

Yeah, shut up. You know I've been waiting months to use Bon Jovi in my post title.

So yesterday was the halfway point. I can't even believe it.
Still having the morning sickness, and midday sickness if I go to long without eating, eat too much, or drink a bunch of water without food to go with it.
My belly is getting noticeably larger and all the maternity shirts I bought in my normal shirt size are becoming too short. But the next size up is too big in the chest. If my boobs would just cooperate I'd totally be set. But they stubbornly refuse to grow. Stupid boobs.
The Monkey's kicks are becoming much stronger and a lot of them are more like pushes...like when a cat kneads it's paws into you. I can also feel a lot of wiggling and squirming going on in there. It's so STRANGE! "Alien" really gets the imagry right, because it feels like it would look like that if you could see it.
I am pretty sure my hips spread last week. It felt like something was pushing them apart. Not the best thing I've ever experienced. I can't help but wonder if I am just super sensitive to these things or if a lot of other pregnant women feel them too. Because I never hear anyone talking about it. I did start feeling kicks much sooner than most. Maybe I have hyper-sensitive nerve endings. Perhaps that's also why I have a low pain threshold? Lucky me. I'm curious to know if there is any science behind it.
What else...We have our anatomy scan a week from Monday! I'm excited to see the little peanut again and make sure it's growing correctly. And of course, get more pictures to post!

And I guess that's it for now. I'll edit with pictures later tonight and add anything else I think of.

19 weeks!

YAY! Almost halfway!
I'm feeling the monkey move so much more now. "She" seems to be developing a pattern: Kick mommy in the morning, kick mommy at night, kick mommy about 20 minutes after she eats, kick mommy when she doesn't drink enough water, and KICK THE FREAKIN' SH!T out of mommy when she has to pee.
All that coke (and no water) I drank yesterday I believe started some Braxton Hicks contractions. After I downed 2 16oz glasses of water they went away, but geez that was scary. I guess monkey didn't like all the squishing because "she" really went nuts. I could feel "her" flipping around and pressing up against the front side of my uterus. Not painful, but pretty uncomfortable.
And then "she" kicked me in the bladder 3 times in rapid sucession. Which made me run for the bathroom. You've really got to stop that while I'm at work, kiddo...the bathroom is to dang far away.
My last progesterone injection is on Monday. I've been reading all about it being used to prevent PTL and I'm guessing (since she never explained) that's why Dr. Prafke wanted me to stay on it until at least 20 weeks. Dr. Lile says I can stop taking it. But I'm afraid to! I mean if there is even a .01% chance it will prevent PTL I don't mind paying $51/month and a weekly stick in the a$$. I'm going to call Monday and ask if I can just stay on it another month or so and if there are any risks I run by doing that. Argh. I hate being so paranoid. Everything has been fine and "she's" a little kicking monster. Maybe I shouldn't worry...but maybe that's all BECAUSE of the progesterone! ::SIGH:: What to do?
And I will leave you with one final picture, from the front...my new and MUCH needed haircut...well trim. So yeah, it doesn't really look any different, but it feels different and it looks so much healthier.

Monkey kicked Daddy!

I thought Monkey was getting pretty strong. I've been feeling it kick the doppler probe when I'm checking in on it's heartbeat. It was kicking me pretty consistently near my right hip tonight and I wondered if I might be able to feel it if I put my hand there. AND I DID! It felt like a little pulse. I had Justin put his hand there and, sure enough, within a minute he got kicked too! What a special moment. I am just blown away that it came so flippin' early! It's normally around 25 weeks before kicks can be felt from the outside!
Last night I was listening to the heartbeat and it slowed WAY down. Slower than my own heartbeat even! It sped back up about 30 seconds later, but I almost threw up when I heard it slow down like that. Today it was nice and strong. I've heard it's normal for the fetal heart rate to drop or even cease all together for a few seconds...but I'm still calling the doctor first thing tomorrow. Thank GOD I've got a little boxing kangaroo in there giving me some reassurance. I just pray nothing is wrong with it's little heart.

18 weeks!

18 weeks and counting. I really and just so thankful to have made it this far. I'm still nervous as heck that something will go wrong and I still depend on lots of prayer and my handy dandy doppler to get me thru the really rough days. But we certainly have much to be thankful for this year!
The belly is really getting out there. Look how round it looks from the front now! People still don't notice that I'm pregnant though. If it happens to come up when talking to a stranger they always do a double take. What do they just think I'm fat? Seriously people...that's a belly. And not a belly that says I just enjoy a few nightly beers. Sheesh. But at least I'm not getting rude and annoying comments from people like "WOW, are you SURE it's not twins?"
I am still feeling little kicks. Monkey usually has 2 active periods per day on days I work and 1 on days I don't. I notice the strongest kicks at work, when I'm sitting Indian-style in my chair (something I am taking full advantage of while I still can). And then at night while I'm lying on my side with my legs curled up. They totally tickle. I can't get over what a strange sensation it is!
I've been craving sweets lately. Good thing the Greek Festival is this weekend and I have an excuse to indulge! Baklava! MMMMMM.
And since my belly seems to look SO much bigger to me than it does to everyone else...here it is, from my vantage point (notice how there are no feet in this picture):

Lights. Camera. Action!

I am sitting here at work getting kicked from the inside just above my right hip bone! It is such a strange feeling. Like a bag might feel with popping popcorn inside. There's some pressure on that side too. I can't stop giggling. The monkey must be squished by these too tight pants...since it's kick me right in the waist band. LOL. Dance Monkey, DANCE!

I'm also starting to get the compulsion to nest. I actually organized the whole laundry/utility room last night in between loads of laundry. And then I went around and fixed all the towel racks and toilet paper holders that just refuse to stay attached. I'm still feeling the need to organize more, but I'm trying no to over-do it...and lots of what I need to do to accomplish the organization I want required moving objects that exceed my 15 lb limit.

KICK!!!!

I totally just felt a kick (or punch maybe). I'm lying here unable to sleep and I felt it. Just one. But it was unmistakeable. And sharp. Like someone flicked me from the inside about 2 inches below my belly button. SO cool and strange.