Week 15 - Obama and Thumb

Hello Week 15, hello to the continuation of bizarre dreams and cravings!

This was an eventful week indeed! I barely saw my husband between late night sims and hockey tournaments, but I kept myself busy! Not only did my lovely friends (thanks McWrays) help me out by doing some of the heavy lifting and painting, but I also got to see my folks who brought curtains and grape green into our lives (thanks Nana and Popi!). I have never seen a room painted so quickly. As Chris has mentioned, it is called grape green, and I have also spent a great deal of time sitting in that room and imagining what future months will bring. I typically snap out of it when the dogs realize I'm sitting on the floor and that makes me free game for a facial saliva soaking (their specialty). In future daydreams, I will use the futon. Below is a picture, and while the lighting is not perfect and it was taken on my phone...hopefully you get an idea of the colors and yes fabric #3 from last week was the winner! My future holds making my very first blanket, baby bumpers, and a bed skirt among other things.

I have also become increasingly self-conscious as my belly grows and my pants not only refuse to button, but now the zipper follows suit in the mutiny. My shirts are now starting to feel tighter in the waist area, and my paranoia leads me to believe that others will take a second look when they see me, because they are uncertain as to whether I've just put on a few or perhaps that suspect a baby.

My latest dreams that amuse me include:

• thumb wrestling with Obama in hopes that if I was the victor, I would never again pay taxes. Unbeknownst to me, as soon as the game started I realized his thumb was so big that it would reign down on mine like a sledge hammer on a pin. He laughed somewhat maniacally and asked if I would rather pay taxes...I hesitated.


• I watched the movie Zombieland. That night, I dreamt that the baby was born, and was the world's smallest zombie. While the image brings humor, the idea of nursing said baby brings pure horror to me. Needless to say, Chris didn't make it. He is now among the undead thanks to our blood-thirsty spawn.


• Finally, I had a dream that I went on Oprah, because I had the world's smartest baby, who understood morse code through the womb and would tap on my ribs to tell me what she wanted to eat. Despite my cravings for red meat and grapes, the baby claimed she wanted Chinese food.

Take from those dreams what you will. I dare not psychoanalyze them. In just over a week, I'm New Orleans bound for my lovely sister's bachelorette weekend! I'm ridiculously excited and have a lot of fun things planned. By then, the baby will also be able to hear, so she will be exposed to smooth jazz, Aunt Jenn's giggle-buzz, Nana's apple-tini-induced singing, and Aunt E's, well, Aunt-E's normal voice, because she has the amazing ability to appear sober against all odds...though I'm sure she'll make funny faces. ;)

Fun baby facts:

Baby is over 4 inches long

She now has air sacs in her lungs and she moves amniotic fluid through her nostrils and into her respiratory tract

She is sensitive to light, despite her eyes still being closed. While Chris wants to test this somehow with a flashlight, McGiver hasn't figured out yet how to tell if the baby actually moves away from the beam.

Love you all!

P.S. According to babycenter.com -- she looks something like this

Week 15: Grape Green Zen

I found my new favorite place today. No, it's not that new drive-thru margarita bar next to the Taco Bell down the street. That was my favorite place last week. Today I found my favorite place in a slightly more baby-friendly location that doesn't serve refreshing beverages in to-go cups. This place is what used to be the game room in our house.

But compared to last week, this room is completely different. After a monumental effort from a select group of folks collectively known hereafter as the "Gigantors of Room Decorating," that game room has been redecorated and is now painted in a wonderful "grape green" color.

Saturday night, Scott, Ashley, and Julia took care of moving nearly everything out the room and taking everything off of the walls, in addition to filling in the wall-holes and throwing a layer of white paint up. We owe you huge, Scott and Smashers. You're amazing.

On Sunday, the Parks parents came down to the house and threw a couple of coats of grape green paint on the walls and stitched a window valance. Nana and Papi - thank you! We really appreciate your help.

Today, I put another coat up on the walls. While I was painting, I could start to imagine a crib in one corner and changing table near the window. I could imagine what will inevitably be this house's stinkiest garbage can, set right next to the changing table and the hundreds of adorable stuffed animals that would quite possibly fill up the crib. I could picture little hands and fingers and struggling to change a diaper. I could imagine discussing the philosophical metaphysical ramifications of string theory with Mikio Kaku. That's about the point that I realized I was standing in a small, poorly ventilated room with an open can of paint.

Once I opened a window, I got back to thinking about this room. In less than six months (holy crap) there'd be a BABY in that room. She'd be sleeping (sometimes) peacefully in that room. It seems like everyday, it becomes a little more real.

After what had been an incredibly stressful seven week stretch, I had one of those moments where I was completely overwhelmed with a feeling of peacefulness and serenity. It was grape green tranquility. My new favorite place.

Week 14: Babymoons and Ostriches

As most, if not all of you know, week 14 has been an emotional roller-coaster. Many of you have made a point to remind me not to stress, to take care of myself, and to let that husband of mine pamper me...well, we tried :)

For those ladies out there who are not done with or have not yet begun the baby-making process, I highly recommend what websites such as thebump.com or whattoexpect.com cheesily call a "babymoon." Not at all a honeymoon, but essentially a vacation typically in the second trimester when you can enjoy yourself a little more. Chris and I chose (not that there really is another option) to be economical (see how much nicer that sounds than "cheap") and went to the family lake house with pups in tow. It was a BEAUTIFUL weekend and with the exception of a detour at Wildlife Ranch, completely stress free.

Side note: If any of you get a chance to go to Wildlife Ranch in San Antonio, Texas....take it! AMAZING. Not only a petting zoo with baby goats and pot belly pigs, but it is a drive-thru zoo. All of the animals come right up to you car. Why? Because some smarty-pants at admissions gives you a bag of food! The animals you see include, but are not limited to: Buffalo, Antelope, Rams, Zebras, Donkeys, Deer (But not your regular Buffalo, NY deer), Llamas, peacocks, and the mighty Ostrich. Beware the ostrich. No really, there will be video posted on facebook in the next couple days that will give you good reason to fear and respect the ostrich who will stick his head, and treacherous beak (the beak is the important thing to focus on) into your car....and take food or whatever else he wants. In our case, Chris' nether-regions....Actually that was true for some goats, the pot belly pig, and the ostrich. There have been many questions and speculations, do with that information what you will....

Back to the purpose of the blog.

Week 14 has come and so has a little bump! I have finally caved and bought a bella band which hides my secret (the secret that most pants no longer button). As of yesterday, and continuing today I will be buying maternity clothes! I have decided that they are heaven, and I will never want to leave them.

Secret to maternity clothes #1: Apparently designers save the best and most comfy of fabrics for the pregnant ladies.

Secret #2: Fitting room attendants miraculously become overly friendly and opinionated when you try on maternity clothes.

Secret #3: You want to try them on. Do NOT assume. If you are a small in the real world of clothes, that does not make you a small in the fantasy world of maternity. Apparently I'm an extra small in everything but tank tops. Weird.

Week 14, and the second trimester has been glorious as the smell of certain foods no longer stops me dead in my tracks. Oddly enough, the texture/shape of foods has posed a problem. For example, bananas. While it has been suggested that anything phallic has caused me to become immediately nauseated (don't make that more sick than it sounds, I'm talking about carrots, celery and bananas), I think the texture of some of these are what gets me. Loved bananas. Now hate bananas. Also, the texture of or idea of chicken has stopped me from eating it. Don't fear about the baby not getting enough meat that, this carnivore is now craving red meat (which I never wanted before...). Yes, I had steak twice in one week, do not judge me.

And if you thought the rambling could not become more tangential, I am going to end this segment with another chance to vote! I've been shopping for fabrics for the nursery. Now that I have learned that it is really not worth the $250+ to buy a nursery set of blankets, sheets, etc. I will be making my baby's blanket personally and most likely curtains. Yes, I am domesticated! And again (because it sounds nicer) economical! Okay, frugal.

Thoughts?

Obviously for the pictures with multiple fabrics, you can tell which part is going to be the border, and which will be the main part of the blanket, correct? Hopefully you can. Regardless vote for #1 (aka green and blue) #2 (baby jungle) or #3 (polka dots) and then realize that I am continuing my shopping today and will most likely just add to this list. Sorry.

Fun baby facts:

Baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck her thumb. Thanks to brain impulses, her facial muscles are getting a workout as her tiny features form one expressions. Her kidneys are producing urine, which yes, means I have become the human porta-potty....gross, I know. She can grasp, too, and at the next ultrasound we may even catch her sucking her thumb.

Size: 3-4 inches -- about the size of a lemon -- and she weighs approximately 1 1/2 ounces.

Love you all!

Jules

Week 14 - Heinz 157

Take this to the bank, there are two things that will never get old.

1.) Watching an America’s Funniest Videos montage of men getting hit in their groins with various objects, and

2.) Hearing your baby’s heartbeat.

Julia had another doctor’s appointment today. It was, for the most part, just a basic “Hi, how are you feeling? Good, good, pee in this cup” appointment. But, when our doctor came into the exam room (where I was parked in my normal courtside seat next to a pile of Star and O magazines) she had with her something that reminded me of a Star Trek tricorder. Unfortunately, it was not a real-life piece of nerdly memorabilia. But there was a bright side. It was a portable baby heartbeat detector.

I swear, there’s something wholly incredible about hearing that heartbeat. One hundred and fifty-seven triumphant beats per minute (future career…aerobics instructor?). I’m not an expert, but it sounded strong, healthy, and perfect. Amazing. I’ll never get tired of hearing it. It’s so reassuring to hear, knowing that your child isn’t some sort of zombie or undead monster.

In all seriousness, every day makes it that much more real (hopefully, in 183 days, it will be entirely real). Julia and I are talking strollers and car seats, nurseries and safe cars, houses and career “opportunities”. It’s a lot to think about. But it's days likes these, when your little girl’s heart beats at one hundred and fifty seven beats per minute, that you can only think about one tiny thing. Well, maybe one hundred and fifty seven things.
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One other note. Ya’ll are terrible about commenting on our choice of names. Just for that, we’re naming her Bertha Eugene Mundy. I will punish you by punishing my child.
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LOVE!
Chris

Week 13: I miss drugs....

Hello all!
As I'm sure you can tell by Chris' post, we are getting more and more excited as the days pass. Beginning the second trimester and seeing our little one kick were reassuring milestones. With a little bit of weight off our shoulders, we are now enjoying thinking about names and imagining our little one. Shows that were never of interest, are curiously turned on from time to time. As Chris had mentioned, some are more informative than others. Bringing home the Baby, for example has taught me that breast feeding should be feared and studied before attempting. 16 and Pregnant, on the other hand, has really only taught us not ride a 4-wheeler while 7 months pregnant.... really, that happened.

This past week has been a rough one for me, as my weakened immune system made me more susceptible to the cold of all colds. Fun fact - most drugs are off limits. Good-bye Sudafed, good-bye Nyquil....hello mouth-breathing. I'm sure some of you are more brave than I am and have experienced illness sans meds, but I honestly do not think I have ever faced a cold...cold turkey. It was a maddening experience! I think I probably drank almost a gallon of orange juice, and several bottles of water each day. The little one is worth it.

I'm starting to show, a little bit, I swear! While my bump is barely noticeable to others, the buttons on my pants agree with me and shopping is in my near future. Chris humors me and claims to see a difference. I'm sure in the next couple weeks there will be pictures. We took a snap shot of my belly at about 6 weeks, and I'm sure the 14-15 week picture will be interesting :)

Okay, now for a fun part. I am tempted to deny you all access to our list of names for fear that you will veto some of my favorites, but I would probably be more upset if I named my kiddo something that will make people later say, "Aww, that was mean of her parents..." This list changes on a daily basis, but if you have any to add or strike from the list, please comment or vote for ones you like. Keeping with the suspicion of the female gender, this list is purely girl names, but we're not painting anything pink yet (nor will we ever....). Oh, and this list is not in any order of preference, just random. Also note that some are only still on the list because one of the two parents like it....

Enjoy :)

Brooke
Kaila
Bekah
Michaela
Abrielle
Taylin
Elisa
Evelyn
Deanna
Hanna
Rosabel
Sabrina
Vanessa
Gabriella
Adaline
Clara


Love you all! Happy voting!

Week 13 - Megaphones and a Rhinoceros

This has been a pretty uneventful week.

Well, for us, at least. I’m sure the little one would disagree.

She’s in there, growing toes, fingers, and a complex network of neural pathways. I watched that episode of Full House where Stephanie steals an expensive sweater for DJ.

I do have one confession to make – it’s started. No, not the over-the-top hysterics that come with realizing I’ll be responsible for a tiny, fragile, beautiful life.

I started talking to Julia’s uterus. More specifically, the baby inside that uterus.

I have no idea if she can hear me. I also don’t have the world’s most soothing voice. But it’s fun to talk to her. She’s there, and no matter how awkward it is to use my wife’s belly button as a megaphone, there’s something inherently comforting about having a conversation with my future daughter…even if it is a one-sided conversation. And because it’s so one-sided, she’ll likely be well-versed in the subtleties of NASA’s space shuttle program – I think she’s already got a solid understanding of a how a proton exchange membrane fuel cell works. She’s a smart one.

Next week, we’ve got another check-up scheduled with our doctor. As far as I know, there’s nothing overly special about this one.

One last thought. Now that we’re heading into the second trimester, we started to tell all the folks outside of circle of family and close friends about the pregnancy. All the friends that I’ve told have been completely great (as expected). One thing I’ve noticed, though, is that all the seasoned veterans are more than happy to provide hints, tips, tricks, and secrets on the art of getting ready for a baby. This is both extremely helpful and extremely terrifying. On one hand, any tips I can get are welcome. My experience with babies goes only as far as that Discovery Channel documentary about the rhinoceros giving birth in the African Savannah. And I turned that off when it got icky. On the other hand, there’s a boat load of stuff to know about car seats, strollers, diapers, milk, swaddling, crying, and feeding (among other things) that were definitely not covered in that rhinoceros documentary. It’s amazing how much there is to know, and frightening to realize that what I already know could fit in a thimble.

From what I can tell, the best source for this information is the experience of the people that have gone through it before. With that in mind, feel free to pass on any nuggets of wisdom you may have.

Thanks again to everyone for being so supportive. It’s great to have such awesome enthusiasm for our tiny little girl.