Let the Guessing Games Begin!

It's that elusive mid-way point of incubation. Our big anatomy ultrasound is scheduled for this afternoon and the big reveal of little man vs little lady is nigh upon us. What do you think we will find out this afternoon?

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Baby Cookin' Update - 19

Nineteen Weeks                                           

Size of Baby - A small cantaloupe

Cravings - Starbursts taste so incredible right now! Thanks to my awesome office-mate, Lou Ann, and her obscene Easter stash, I currently have a steady supply of these goodies. Don't worry, I'm doing my best to keep the flow stemmed to somewhat of a reasonable amount. Eggs are also still amazingly good. Almost every morning I make myself a fried egg, cheese, and salt and pepper filled burrito. Oh my word. So good. This morning I added a slightly crispy TofuDog to it. Yum. My mouth is already watering for breakfast tomorrow morning.

What is different this time around - With Ryann I don't think I was ever really worried that she was okay in there. She moved SO much that we never had time to wonder. This time I find myself growing more paranoid in between appointments and always breathe a huge sigh of relief when I hear that little heartbeat thumping along.

Symptoms - I'm feeling much more comfortable these days. I feel like I've finally hit the second trimester ease. However, since I am getting quite large these days, I have started the 10-step-roll-overs in bed and the grunting when tying my shoes. If Jared's around, I just make him do it. I'm definitely more tired than normal. Usually I make a point of waking up at 6am in order to have plenty of time to get ready, eat, and relax before taking off for work at 8am. These days it's all I can do to crawl out of bed at 7:30. I count the mornings that start at 7am as rousing successes. I also usually hit the sack shortly after 8pm each and every night.

Appointments - We have our big mid-way ultrasound this coming Thursday. Have no fears, we will be sharing the news of boy or girl as well as announcing the full name of the little hitchhiker so that everyone can have the privilege of referring to them by an actual name rather than 'it'. So awkward.

At our regular check-up this last week our midwife mentioned that she didn't have any appointments scheduled after us, and 'did we want to pop down to hall and see what we could see on the ultrasound?' Of course we jumped on that. Any extra chances to take a peek in on them we're more than happy to have. She reiterated that she is not an ultrasound tech and doesn't guarantee what she'll see, but we couldn't care less. In the ultrasound we finally realized why this one seems so much calmer than Ryann ever did. Apparently the placenta attached right across the front this time, effectively shielding all the movements with an extra layer. As the baby gets bigger, we'll be sure to feel more and more movement. But for right now, it's just a little to small to be able to kick through the thicker barrier.

                                                              

Jared's minimally successful
'candid' picture.

My equally minimally
successful self-portrait.

My Week

I love unwinding at the end of the day in the
sunshine on our deck with a good book.
My Kindle was my Valentine's present this year.



My latest craving.



Noreen, relaxing with his Sunday morning paper.



And Molly, patrolling the living room.

I love Green Gateau fries. They're so crispety!

The most amazing supper ever and ever! Although I made way too much pasta for just myself.
Pasta with steamed spinach, mixed with creamed avocado, salt, pepper, topped with fresh tomatoes.

Lounging

I feel that this picture fully represents Noreen.
He laid like this for over 2 hours. With his face in my shoe.

Baby Cookin' Update - 16

Sixteen Weeks                                           

Size of Baby - An Avocado

Cravings - Eggs are once again palatable and even delicious. I'm quite happy about this, as an eggy tortilla with a side of fruit holds me over so much better than just a side of fruit. I've also been loving Totino's pizzas topped with whatever I have sitting around - spinach, asparagus, tomatoes, mandarin oranges. And oh my word. Watermelons.

What is different this time around - So much more discomfort. I'm definitely not having a rough pregnancy, by any stretch of the imagination, but I think the combination of this happening during such a traumatic year, being three years older and several pounds heavier, and this being my second pregnancy all combine to make the aches and pains more than they were last time.

Symptoms - I usually have a sore belly by the end of the day. I'm pretty sure this is simply because I have a lazy diaphragm that doesn't even attempt to hold my innards in place. I've also been half ignoring what seems to be a pulled groin muscle. This is rather annoying, since I have not been running or jumping or any other activity which might pull a groin muscle. I'm afraid this may have come from bowling or an early waddle-walk.

Appointments - We have our next appointment two weeks from today. At that appointment we'll setup the date for our big anatomy ultrasound. Yay! I can't wait to find out whether this is a little boy or girl. I must say, as we were heading into this Jared and I kept bouncing back and forth over whether we were hoping for a girl or a boy. On the one hand, having a boy might prove a bit easier emotionally, simply because it would be different. On the other hand, we miss having a little girl. Early on in the pregnancy we didn't talk much about this, but about a month ago we both confessed to hoping for a girl. We want to cuddle a little girlie again. Of course we'll be over the moon for either one. With Ryann we were hoping for a boy and we couldn't have been happier with our girl. So who knows. Of course, the other night my sister dreamed we had a minuscule baby boy. Any premonitions out there?

                                                              

Mid-Morning Smile

One of my favorite things about having my own personal Starbucks barista is seeing what awesome scribble he brings me on my cup. I especially like how my Latino hips are well represented? Hmm . . .



Fortunes

Yesterday I drove up to Omaha with Jared, since he had a rehearsal with Opera Omaha. Usually these rehearsals run from 7pm-10pm or so, which means that there is no way I tag along. These days I usually head for bed shortly after 8pm. But yesterday they had an unusual mid-afternoon rehearsal, so I rode along and kept Jared company in the car.

I envisioned spending my solo three hours at a salon or shopping, but instead spent it curled up in a chair reading. Still pleasant, though completely unnecessary to travel to Omaha to take place.

After Jared got out of rehearsal (early!), I picked him up and we popped into P.F. Chang's for supper. Or as I like to call it, Pfchang! Our waiter gave us three fortune cookies when we finished, one for Jared, one for me, and one for baby. They are seen in this order, top to bottom, below.



Quite apt, don't you think?