registries

I can't tell you how many blog posts I've read about what to register for for baby G.  The overwhelming opinion I have of all of them?  Over excess!  I know this little guy needs stuff, but I'm also trying to keep clutter to a minimum here.  Does my infant need a jungle gym, play table, swing, bouncer, and a bum-load of toys? Probably not.  My guess is he'll do what all babies do and enjoy the non-toy items that are around the house, as well as share the dog toys.  I see some fights over kong wubba in the future.

I'm not saying I'm not going to buy my baby toys.  Obviously I will.  I have my eye set on a couple of blabla dolls and I'm just trying to whittle down a decision to which one I need.  Figaro or Lemonade?  [Let it be known, J doesn't approve of Felix the cat.  Cat hater...]

So Lemonade is my chartreuse color, but Figaro is absolutely adorable in his cardi.  

The stuff that is really throwing me are the bottles, bottle drainers, breast pads, breast milk bags, breast milk storage systems, breast feeding covers, etc. and so forth and you name it.  First of all, I'm not sure how comfortable I am having people picturing my boobs whilst they shop for my little.  Please, actually, don't picture my knockers.  I'll take care of those items myself, thank you.

So we did the basics.  Co-sleeper bassinet, baby tub, wash cloths, towels, Halo sleepers [these are so amazing, I know this from my OB clinicals in nursing school], a diaper bag, and some fitted crib sheets.  I'll ask around to see which bottles are best for breast milk [come on boobs, produce!].  I know already that I want a Medela pump but I was told by a co-worker that my place of work reimburses in full for those, so no point in registering for one.

I'll probably add more to my list as I think of things, but right now 17 items is a good start...  Hopefully shower guests are frugal or believe in going off registry.

what we've been doing

Just a little of what we've been doing since we found out who will be joining us in March.  We've been working late [some of us in particular, not necessarily me.] Eating a lot [again some of us in particular, namely me...] And cuddling rambunctious pit bulls that aren't sure what to do now that it's cold outside.  Should she cuddle under a blanket?  Or run around like a fiend with the dishrag from the sink?  Perhaps a little of both will suffice.

After the great unveiling of the sex of Baby G, we had to go and get him an outfit.  Naturally, it has an elephant.

Some of us prefer to sulk.

Though he's a little freaked out by it, Justin has been feeling the baby kick here and there.  It's so weird, the little guy will be squirming all around but then when Justin puts his hand on my belly he just gets one good kick and that's all.  Stubborn baby.  Also, cute sweats, right?

And finally, it's important to practice before the big day gets here.  Lady was strangely tolerant of this.  She was only done being held after her picture was taken.  Silly Ladydog.

it's a....

BOY!!

Seriously how cute is he? I can't imagine not knowing now. I'm so relieved we found out. I've told everyone I encounter that it's a boy. Even strangers. You know, they appreciate it too...

I can't believe I have to wait 20 more weeks to meet this little guy. He's kicking as I type. Apparently once 9 pm hits it's party time, so that makes me nervous for when he gets here. I also know he likes to rock out at 4 am. My days of sleep are numbered. 

so i've changed my mind...

Remember how I said we were NOT going to find out the sex of the baby?  My resolve on that issue is officially wavering.  By wavering, I mean gone completely.  It's pretty much ancient history.  I don't know what happened.  I was hellbent about not finding out.  I've been hellbent about not finding out since I can remember.

I never realized how badly I would want to find out beforehand until I was laying in bed dealing with my morning sickness and just aching to know who was living in me.  Now that it's moving around in my belly and developing a personality, it's killing me not to know.  I was worried my mom would be disappointed with me for finding out.  But when I told her I didn't think I could wait, she said, "You know Rozanne and I will both have to go on shopping sprees now."

So.  Not as bad as I thought.

I flirted with the idea of finding out the sex and acting like we didn't know.  But Justin said he wouldn't make an effort to keep it a secret because he didn't see the point.  We also talked with our friends about getting it put in an envelope, but Mr. Self-control vetoed that one too stating that he'd rip that sucker open right away.  I probably would hold onto it for weeks trying to save it for a special time but never really knowing when that special time is.  Plus, what's more special than finding out what the baby is when you're looking at it on a screen??

I think a gender reveal would be fun to do, but I don't know how we'd do it since we don't live near any family and a lot of our friends.  Or if we could keep from bursting.  That's the problem.  I'm just bursting to know who it is!  And I'd like to know who it isn't, so I can be sad about that.  Justin thinks this is illogical because the person I'm sad about missing never existed in the first place.  It must be a girl thing though, because I've had some mommy friends agree with me.

For the record, I'd be thrilled with a girl or a boy.  I have a feeling it's a boy and I so hate being wrong, but we'll be jumping out of our boots with whichever it is.

By this time Monday we may just know.  Or maybe I'll change my mind again.

First date.  Just over 4 years after this picture was taken there will be a baby in the mix.  Also that sweater looks ridiculous on me now.

thursday update

It's Thursday already! What a miracle. Except my pregnancy brain, aka "pregnesia" is killing me this week. I forgot to start supper in the crock pot so god knows what we'll be eating before our church class tonight. Whoops. 

And now for the updates:

Baby is kicking up a storm. Partying hard in there. This morning I tried to lay on my belly and the baby said "no way mom!" J still hasn't experienced a good wollop yet. The baby is most active at work and then late at night after he's asleep. Some day soon hopefully. 

The baby has decided that it loves broccoli. Raw broccoli. I brought a bucket of broccoli and carrots to lunch today. I hate raw broccoli and carrots for the record. 

I woke up craving pizza. At 4. But we can't rule out this sour kraut craving yet. That stuff is still rocking my world. 

My dear little brother predicted this babe will come a little early. I won't complain if it does. But that means I need to prepare. 

If I don't get more chocolate milk soon I'm going to become murderous. This is definitely Justin's baby. It's him to a T. Hyper. An early riser. A sucker for chocolate milk. The only thing I seem to have contributed genetically is a sweet tooth[pumpkin chocolate chip cookies?] and a love of sour kraut. 

Oh my gosh I can't wait to meet it!  Also doc says I should call it a he because "it" is so inhuman. He says in Arabic there is no it. There is only he or she. And when you don't know the sex of something it's automatically a he. So I may start calling it a "he" but don't take it to mean anything. We're going to wait until this sucker pops out to find out who it is. 

family pictures

These were taken a few weeks ago when we went to visit Justin's family for the weekend.  I think his mom is hellbent on documenting my pregnancy through photographs.  That's fine with me.  It's fun to have these pictures.

I was 17 weeks here and I feel like you can barely see a bump at all.

Whaddya wanna bet this baby is going to be blonde with squinty eyes?

the lie about pregnancy

I've mentioned it before.  I am absolutely sure that people are lying when they say they "loved being pregnant."  I've gagged.  I've moaned.  I've spent so many hours on the couch, it's a miracle there isn't an ever deepening imprint of my bum.  My face has erupted into volcanic acne.  My hormones have sent me on a whirlwind of emotions.  And finally the capstone to all of this so far you ask?  [Please note, it isn't labor because I haven't had the privilege of experiencing that yet.] Anyways, the capstone is ROUND LIGAMENT PAIN!

As I sat in the most treacherously stressful movie of my life, Gravity, with my husband and several kids from work [this was obviously unplanned, and sitting through a movie with a kid who suffers from tourette's across the aisle is distracting, but I digress] I began to notice towards the end of the feature presentation that I had some pain.  Great.  I was so tensed up that I gave myself contractions. I thought.  As we left the theater the pain got worse.  By the time we were home I announced I was going to bed.  An hour passed and I was writhing in pain, whimpering to my husband.  He is always calm in a situation and said "call the midwife."  So I texted his mom, the OB nurse, who said "It's probably round ligament pain, but call the midwife."

The midwife was utterly nonplussed by my plight.  "Take tylenol.  Take a bath.  Get some sleep.  Call me in the morning if it's worse."  The tylenol was a joke.  I wasn't going to risk a bath for fear of being stuck in the tub.  So I tried the sleeping part.  Holy horrible.  I finally fell asleep at about 4:30 and made it 2 hours.  Then I napped the rest of the day on and off.  My dear, cuddly pit bull knew just where to position herself to aid in my muscle discomfort.

I woke up this morning still in pain so I called the midwife again and they did a urine screen to rule out kidney stones or infection.  Thank goodness it's neither of those things.  They suggested a support girdle, and I shuddered.  Is not "girdle" the ugliest word??  It is.  I'm going to try an exercise ball and ask my yoga instructor for some moves to do at home tomorrow evening to try and start feeling better.

Is this what I get for marrying a giant?  I grow a huge baby that my petite frame can't handle?  Are some people just not cut out for having nice, easy pregnancies?  Or is there some chemical process that happens after labor that makes you forget how much pregnancy sucks and changes your words to Oh I loooved being pregnant. 

Lies.

I'm 19 weeks now.  Ultrasound is a week from today and I can't WAIT to see the little thing in there wiggling around.  We're almost halfway, and I'm counting on the impending holiday season to help speed things along.  I realized last week that I get to make an Easter basket for this baby and had to call my mom to gush about it.  She said "Yay!  You get to make it AND you get to eat all the candy!"  Hadn't even thought of that!  Leave it to my mom to brighten my day with the idea of candy in my future.

Here's the 19 week picture.  Ignore the fact that my shirt is see through.  Justin complained that you couldn't see my belly in last week's picture because of the sweater so I left the sweater off and froze for the 5 seconds it took me to take this.

Also.  Sorry I look like H.  But other than the toilet paper, notice how clean the bathroom is?  Nestinggggggg.

On messages from higher powers.

So last night I had a dream.  It was lovely.  I was in the mall and there was a doughnut kiosk.  So I went up and ordered myself two.  Delicious.  They were beautiful with chocolate glaze and sprinkles [my favorite].

This morning when I woke up I checked my instagram as usual and J's cousin posted a picture of two beautiful doughnuts with sprinkles.  Seriously?  I wanted one!

Later my best sisterfriend texted me that she just bought 3 doughnuts to kickstart her baby weight gaining.  WHAT?  What is this world coming to?

Clearly it meant something.  It meant God was speaking to me.  What was he saying you ask?  He was saying "doughnut, Megan.  You need one.  Or two.  Or several."

And so it came to pass.  On the 11th day of October in the 2013th year Anno Domini, Megan made herself 4 dozen mini doughnuts.  Excessive?  Yes.  Delicious?  You betcha.

Baby kicking my hand.  "Thanks for the doughnuts, Mom!"

Do me a favor and don't count how many are in this picture.  Because then you'll know how many I ate.  And I don't even know how many I ate.

this just in!

All evidence points to the prediction that once this babe is cooked, I'm going to be the size of Jupiter!  Good thing Jupiter is my favorite planet.  [Fun Fact: It is also the largest...]

ALSO!!  When I walked into my boss's office wearing this sweater he asked me if I was wearing a snuggie.  Um, no?  But I may never wear this sweater again.

And yes.  Cleaning my bathroom is on my to-do list, thank you.

Please tell the person who thought it was a good idea to put a ledge under my bathroom window that it wasn't.  It's just a wonderful place to stash random stuff for months.  Months upon months.

And now because I have nothing really real to say.  Here are some crappy iPhone updates.

We found a crib!  We want it in white.  After we decided this was the one, J had reservations that it might be too girly.  Too bad, dude.  I finally made up my mind about this crib business.  I'm not going to change it again.  After that decision we ate Chipotle.  And my life was made.  Amen.

Finally, my mom send me this picture of Simon sunbathing today.  I just think he's the cutest cat with the most amazing whiskers.  I love this little guy.  Sorry Lady, I'm a cat person...