Long Awaited update!

Well, it's been at least 6 weeks since I last posted an update. A lot has changed obviously! 26 weeks and 1 day along as it stands. 6 days left of the second trimester and 97 days left in the entire pregnancy. And I have no complaints! God is either tricking me into thinking this pregnancy thing is easy (therefore having my 4 should be a breeze) and has an awful plan to say "HAHA" next time...or people make it sound worse than it is to make it seem wonderful to first timers!

Other than worries about the sheer amount of weight I've gained, nothing is wrong. Ok, so I'm struggling to get comfortable sleeping, but it's not as bad now as it was before. I'm dealing with a few well-placed (and when I say well placed, I mean terribly placed) kicks and jabs into vital organs from B3.

I enjoy seeing him move...and he's oh so very active. It's simply the most wonderful joy so far! No doubting he's in there now!

His nursery is coming together very nicely. A wall painted. A trundle bed placed (mainly for Bonne Maman). A lovely dresser for his scads of clothing. Just have to put up the wall decorations and I'm trying to talk myself out of spending even more cash on wooden wall letters spelling out his name (which, by the way, we've finally agreed upon...but shhhh! it's a secret!).

Here's a picture of his sleeping quarters:

I think it's turning out just lovely...and I think he'll like it when he makes his appearance!

Jeff and I are taking our last plane trip, pre-baby, to California. We'll visit Great Grandma Baxter and then make our way up to the Bay Area, where we'll visit with family and meet B3's youngest older cousin, JR. I'm so excited!

We're three weeks removed from getting to see B3 again on an ultrasound. After receiving news of choroid plexus cysts on B3's brain, the doctors requested we make another appointment. They also insisted that these cysts are very common and that we shouldn't worry about it. Can't say that I haven't worried about it. *Sigh*

Time is really flying by.....soon enough, I'm going to be a Mom. That thought frightens and excites me at the same time!

Until next time!

One of my favorites!!!

B4 is now comparable in size to a cantaloupe! Growing right along here now. 21 weeks along in 30 minutes or so! Incredible. More than half over. WooT! WooT!

Raging hormones. Lack of motivation. Full panel pants. Tripping over my feet. Falling down stairs. Tightening stomach muscles--Braxton Hicks--caused, perhaps, by a UTI. Dry skin to the point of rash. Very sore lower back. Inability to get comfortable.

All in all. Pleasantness with a capital P.

Proud to say my weight gain as evened off. So far in this second trimester, I've gained 2 pounds. Yay!

I've been home all of 4 days this month. Is it a problem when you begin to need vacation from vacation?

I can't wait to get home for Christmas. It's been a minute since I've seen my fam. It'll be a good few weeks.

Mango Tango!

For the second week in a row, B4 formerly known as B3 is the size of a mango. Tomorrow marks a rather gigantic milestone for me, though. Tomorrow will begin my 20th week of pregnancy. That means I'm halfway done. Yay! and Yikes!

B4 is moving like a little champ. (A little less following the glass of wine last night. I'm certain it's a guilt trip!) I've SEEN my stomach move as he kicks. Jeff has felt it! It's wonderful. I find that when I'm sitting down--with my abdomen being squished a bit--he kicks a whole lot. "MAKE ROOM FOR ME!"

Now we're in Vegas watching Charlie Brown's Christmas special. *LOVE* We had a massage and mom had a mani/pedi in the spa here at the Venetian. Wonderful and lovely. We're not so much looking forward to the 4.5 hour flight tomorrow. BUT...it's shorter than the 6.5 hour flight to San Francisco we suffered through on the way. Little B4 enjoys making me uncomfortable!

Oh, B4 enjoyed a DELICIOUS ribeye steak at Tom Colicchio's craftsteak last night. WoW!!!!!!!!

Christmas time is sneaking up on me super fast! How will I find time to get everything done when I'm only going to be home for ONE WEEK in December??????

Oh dear.

B3 is now B4...

Jeff and I found out that our little B3 is now a B4 : Baby BOY Bump Baxter. So now I'm finished with the he/her issue. HE is growing big! I'm fairly certain I've felt him move. I know I've felt the fluttering occasionally, but I'm also certain I've felt a little kick with my hand. Chances are NO....but it's nice to think I did!

I've had a few braxton hicks contractions, I think. My stomach gets very tight and it's a slight cramping that goes away after a few seconds. Another thing I may have imagined...it's my first time, you know!

I've been reading to him a lot. I've read him Beatrix Potter, Dr. Seuss and a few French books by Hugo, Appolinaire and Dumas.

Jeff and I have been spending the holiday weekend mulling over thousands of baby boy names. Needless to say, we've made very little progress. Our list is 60+ names long...all of which one of us is unsure about. Oh boy. :P

Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

B3 is the size of an onion. Or a turnip:

Either way...the size of a pungent, smelly vegetable that many people don't like.

B3, though, is more noticeable. My (eww) uterus has moved up and out...and I can feel it. No hint of any baby arms or legs yet, but I can imagine that, at the rate of growth, it's getting close!

B3 also was with my as I worked my last day at my job. I'm taking the easy way out and giving myself all day to sleep enough and leave off for trips galore.

Jeff and I are on our way out tomorrow afternoon for West Virginia. We're going to the Greenbrier Resort to do some outdoorsy type things galore. Hopefully we'll get some good pictures and some fun experiences! I do know that I'm scheduled for my first prenatal massage....yuuuuuummmmmmmmm!!!! I'm spoiled rotten!

I'm still fighting my craving for boneless buffalo wings. It's a losing battle, but at least I've slowed my weight gain and haven't really gained in the last few weeks. I guess I can breathe a sigh of relief! Phew!

As I sit here, I'm noticing my newest side effect: a very sore lower back. Thanks to the newly protruding uterus (as opposed to just flabbbbbb), it was expected. Uninvited and unpleasant, but expected.

Off to bed. Yes. It's 9PM. But I got up at 4:30 AM.

Got any tortilla chips....

...to go with some guacamole?

B3 is now the size of an avocado! And it's a bit of a hassle lately! Morning sickness and...well, my newly protruding stomach is getting in the way. Thanks to my home fetal doppler, we've been able to listen in to the little heartbeat of our avocado. It's simply wonderful to hear!!

In my many attempts to domesticate myself, I've learned things about myself. Firstly, I'm not good at domesticities. Today, while attempting to cook dinner--delicious artichokes, which we love AND which I've successfully made a few times--I spilled scalding water down my arm and on to my belly. Jeff saved the artichoke and I went to the bedroom and sobbed. Not because of the burn. Not because of the hurt. Not because I almost lost my artichoke to the kitten-fur-filled floor. Just because. Lovely. My husband will either go insane with my emotional roller coaster or he'll never come home from work ever.

Second, I'm just no good at it. Wait...did I say that before? In any case....I put off my laundry for weeks (essentially, my laundry is never done). Dishes stack up to the ceiling before I begrudgingly clean them. And I empty the dishwasher as we eat. Jeff has a lot of patience.

Tomorrow I am making a pot roast. But I have no potatoes. So...technically...I am NOT making a pot roast. Groan. Pork Chops it is.

Monday, I have a dentist appointment to get a filling refilled. It fell out sometime last week and I've had a temporary put in since Tuesday last. O joy!! Another lovely pregnancy side effect.

B3 can hear through the tummy now. I'm signing off and playing a bit of Tim McGraw to serenade Avocado. Ciao!

(Naval) Orange you Glad?

At 15 weeks along, B3 is the size of a naval orange (is there a difference to an orange orange?)...4.5 inches long! Along with these 15 weeks comes my strongest craving:

Boneless Buffalo Wings. Dipped in Ranch. Every day. It's driving me insane. I actually ate boneless wings AND some Chinese food yesterday for dinner. Um...what? Such a strange combination, but I guess that is to be expected.

B3 and I miss Dad, who is in Las Vegas (for "work"). A few more days and he'll be back home.

We had a good "first" halloween. I went dressed as a construction worker. B3 wore an "Under Construction" sign :P. Then we went trick or treating with a gigantic group of kids. Was such fun!

Boy...I'm less and less exciting with each passing post. Oops.