Lily is 3 weeks old already

Time has been flying by! I have been so busy and I love it! I was so bored during my pregnancy and now I am too busy to read my emails. This week my dad came to town to meet his first granddaughter. He arrived on Monday and left on Thursday so it was a hectic week. Fun though. Wednesday night Marge (Ross's Mum) watched Lily while Ross, my Dad, Brandi and I all went out. My first drinks since Halloween went down a little too smoothly. We all got good and drunk. It was so much fun, but Ross and I realized that we are not going to be able to both get that drunk at the same time until Lily gets older. In the middle of the night we each had to take turns holding her while the other one vomited. It was quite a circus act.
With Marge's extra help around the house I have still been able to open my new webstore even! I haven't done as much with it as I would like to, but thank goodness that I have a laptop and wireless internet. I hold Lily with one hand and try to manage web-building with the other. It is a slow process but it is working. Exciting too. I haven't started advertising yet, but I have actually had quite a few sales. Each week my sales have doubled from the week before so if I can keep that up (or at least just keep a weekly increase), it may just pay off afterall.

My two loves!

Isn't this the sweetest thing?

11 days with baby....my boobs hurt!

Breastfeeding sucks! My nipples are so sore that they hurt constantly. Newborns have to eat every 2 to 4 hours and I am beginning to think that is all I do. Thankfully I have this great book that Missy bought for me months and months ago about breastfeeding that has a journal part and a daily chart to keep track of everything. I realized at the hospital that I was going to have to write everything down because I was constantly being asked "how long since she fed?" and I was constantly answering "uh........well......um......I think it was about..." And in order to be able to determine if she is eating enough, you need to keep track of how much she pees and poops. This journal thingy is great too because there is also a chart to keep track of everything I eat. I can't fit into any of my clothes and I am still wearing maternity clothes, so that will turn out to be useful too. At the doctor's office last Wednesday I weighed 158 pounds. Pre-pregnancy I weighed 128........I think I went way overboard on the pregnancy weight gain!
Hopefully Lily and I will get this breastfeeding technique down soon so my boobs won't hurt so much. Everything I read says that if baby "latches on" correctly than it isn't painful and then they go through the steps of a "proper Latch" but obviously we haven't gotten it down right.
Wish us luck!

Experiencing Childbirth

They say that childbirth is a miracle, I cannot think of any better way to describe it. It was definitely the most spiritual experience that I have ever encountered. The cycle of life is the most amazing thing. I cannot explain the joy that I was feeling at the moment that this picture was taken. As I write this Lily is one week old and this is her original due date, and I cry every time I see this picture. I had it very easy because I didn't have to do labor, but I was so scared none the less.
I had to start fasting at midnight Wednesday and we went to the hospital at 9:30AM. They sent us to the family waiting room and left us there with no more information or anything until 12:30PM. At that time a nurse (her name was Lillian!) came and told us that there had been too many births that day and that they would be moving my surgery back to 5PM. I begged her to let me have something to drink because I was SOOOOO thirsty, and she caved and gave me about an ounce of crushed ice (so generous). By this time my Aunt Charlotte, her boyfriend, and my cousin Sandy had arrived so we all went back to my house to kill a few hours. I went to sleep because I was so weak from lack of food or water and they all went out to eat. I got the best sleep that I have had in months because I didn't have to get up to pee every 15 minutes.
At 5 I called the hospital and they said for me to wait a few more minutes to let them find out weather or not they could do the procedure. At this point I am dying of thirst. Finally, when I called back at 6 they said come on in and we'll operate. Off we went.
As we are walking into the hospital I start to panic because unlike earlier that day, I am now wide awake and VERY scared of the operation. They shuffle me around a little because it seems that most of the nurses are unaware that I am supposed to be there. This of course sends me into super-fright because I really want everyone to know exactly what is happening. A c-section may be no big deal to them, but to me, it is a very big deal!
They put me in a gown and after two attempts, put in an IV. This makes my entire arm cold, but completes one of the things that I was scared of. The next thing that I was afraid of comes next....the catheter. Yuck. This pinches a little, but not nearly as bad as I was expecting. Now, more waiting. About 30 minutes later my doctor comes in and says "ok, are you ready?"
By this time I have cried buckets and poor Ross has had to work so hard to reassure me and keep me calm.
Then the hard part. They wheel me into the OR and move me to this very narrow little bed with planks for your arms that stick straight out the sides like a horizontal cross. I have to sit up and curl my back for the epidural. I kept thinking about the fact that I VOLUNTARILY spent three hours letting a tattoo artist put needles in my back so I shouldn't freak about this one. Yes, it hurt. Hurt like hell. And it made me twitch, but about 30 seconds later I started losing feeling in my feet. ahhh relax a little. Within a minute I could no longer move my legs. From here everything moved very quickly. Ross was next to me stroking my head and made me feel so good about everything. I felt like I was going to vomit so he held a pan under my chin. They adjusted my meds and the vomit feeling went away. I then had a hard time breathing and they adjusted something else and that went away.
The only thing I can feel at this time is what feels like people pushing on my stomach in all different areas. I felt this for about 10 minutes or so then I felt this spiritual out of body experience. Literally. I felt Lily coming out of my body! But not physically. I just knew it in my heart. Then I hear the doctor call the time of birth. Then I hear her cry.
I can't explain what I felt here. The best feeling in the world.
I see here over at a table over to the side and they are cleaning her up. They brought her over so I could see her and all I could do was cry. I couldn't move any part of my body and I couldn't hold her, but they put her close enough for her to touch my cheek and I could kiss her. This is the most special moment of my life. Everything else I have ever done is unimportant.
It took another 30 minutes or so for them to sew me up and then they turned off the meds and I began to be able to move my arms and after they moved me to the rolling bed they let me hold my baby. I got to hold her as they wheeled me to recovery and she had her eyes open looking at me the entire time. The rest of the world disappeared.
Once in recovery they took her to the nursery and Ross went too. The drugs knocked me out.

It's a Girl

Thursday, July 13, 2006
8:46 PM
7 lbs 9 oz
17.5 inches

Nesting, Belly Lines, Veins and heartburn

I think Ross is nesting more than I am. I feel like I am set up and ready, as far as the house goes. I have a to-do-before-Thursday list, but it mostly entails things like exchanging duplicate gifts and finishing thank you notes and getting my website orders up to date in order to leave it for a few days. I am not feeling the overwhelming urdge to decorate or clean as I keep reading about. I think Ross is though. He is a VERY neat person anyway, but this past week he has over cleaned and tackled little home projects that we both have been setting asside for months. But of course, his mum is arriving the same day as Lily, so maybe he is also trying to prepare to show off his house to his mum? Either way, he doesn't say much about being excited, but it is easy to see that he is feeling some rush from all of this.

I am dying to know what my belly will look like after the surgery. I keep reading that it still takes awhile to shrink back down and to expect to look about 5 months pregnant when leaving the hospital, but I have gotten so used to this giant entity that hangs out in front of me, that I forgot what that was like. Couple of weird things too. There is this thing called the Linea Niegra (I may be spelling that wrong) that is a dark pigmented line that goes from the belly button to about where your pubic hair starts (not a hairy line, it is your actual skin). Aparently, everyone has this, but it only shows up on pregnant ladies and is supposed to go away after birth. I never got this, but if you look at my belly shot, I DO have one, it is just from my belly button UP! I completely have a backward child! Maybe it is because her father is from the other hemisphere! :)
Another gross thing about my belly. You can see all my viens on the sides. Sure hope that goes away.
Lots of people at this stage of pregnancy experience the baby "dropping" and it is supposed to change the discomforts a little. It is supposed to put more pressure on the bladder, but at the same time releiving the out of breath feeling and the heartburn a little. Well, because Lily is sideways, she can't drop. So, unfortunately, no relief of the heartburn. I would gladly trade off a few more bathroom visists to get rid of some of the flames inside my esophogus!

6-30-2006

Sorry about the delay, I just haven't downloaded my camera lately, this was from June 30th.

This is the way I dress around the house all the time. Poor Ross, he may never find me attractive ever again. This is a tank top that was small, back when I was small! And as you can see, I am wearing it inside out because I am completely unwilling to put out the effort to dress properly.

I'm having a celebrity birth

We just got back from the doctor's office and it is now official. We are having a C-section. They scheduled it for a week from tomorrow. Thursday, July 13th. I am overwhelmed with emotions right now. I am happy that I don't have to go through labor, but I kinda feel like I am cheating. I am nervous about the surgery because I have never had a surgery before. I am frightened that I have to be awake through it too because I am very squeamish about blood and medical stuff. Ross is worried about the money, but I have been broke and in debt for so long that I am used to not having anything in the bank. I am also feeling a rush of nerves because now I no longer have almost 3 weeks to prepare, I have a week! There is so many little loose ends to tie up.
One of the nights that I have to stay in the hospital, Ross is actually going to have to work! His boss took off the whole month of July, which wouldn't be too much of a problem except that his girlfriend who is with him, is also a bartender! AND the other girl that Ross usually works with planned her vacation for the weekend of the 14th so she would make sure to be there to cover for Ross the weekend of the 22nd, but now that the baby is coming a week early, there is no one left to work for Ross. Luckily there is only a conflict on the one night while I am still in the hospital because I think I will really need him more after we come home.
The other conflict is that the 13th is the same day that Marge is getting here from Zimbabwe. She would have been flying for something like 36 hours and arrive to us already having the baby. We are scheduled for surgery at 12:30 and her flight gets in at 4:00. I hope she doesn't mind Brandi picking her up from the airport because I am not letting Ross leave my side!
I don't know if I am really ready to take care of a baby yet! I know I should have been thinking about all this way before now, but I feel like everything just kinda hit me!

Week 37

Baby Shower

WOW did I get a bunch of stuff this weekend at my baby shower! It was great. Brandi, Sam and Veronika put on such a great party for us. Ross didn't get to stay the whole time, because he had to work, but so many people came and shared the afternoon with us. We got TONS of presents....way more than I would have ever expected. We really have some VERY generous friends and family and I really have my work cut out for me writing thank you notes.

I am also so super happy that several of my friends made long journeys to come down. Chris flew down from Atlanta, Nichole from St. Pete and Rikki from Lake City!!! I was really feeling the love this weekend.

Ross and I haven't bought a camera yet, so I am waiting for my friends to send me their copies of the pictures. The ones here are from Rikki. I will post more as soon as people pass them to me.

Hope everyone has a nice and safe independence day celebration. I am going to skip it this year because I really don't want to fight the crowds at the beach and the traffic and the drunks. Zelda and I will probably kick back with a pizza (Ross has to work).

oh, and more exciting stuff. I made a post on Craig's list to try and find a rocking chair and someone is willing to sell me theirs for only $25.00! I have been looking high and low for a rocking chair for months now. All the stores have now-a-days are gliders. I also didn't want to spend a bunch so I have been scouring the yard sales and goodwills. I am thrilled that I finally found one.

Wednesday we find out weather or not we will be scheduling a C-section, so check back!

Doctor's Apointment update

Well, as of this past Wednesday, Lily STILL has NOT moved. The Doctor said that next week we will do yet another ultrasound (yes, that means another $500.00!!!) in order to make a definate plan as to wether or not to do a c-section. If we do a c-section we will have to go ahead and book the O.R. and everything for week 39. So, even though it will be alot more expense, Lily would get to come into our lives one week early. Another positive would be no labor for me! The doctor assured me that even though the healing process is harder, and it would be a few more weeks before I can go running again, it is completly safe and is done so often these days that it really isn't a big deal anymore. Ross is really concerned about the money, but even if we get to do it the old fashion way there is still so much of a chance of a risk or something that could end up costing thousands more anyway. Either way we are screwed, so why bother worrying, right?
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Shower!!!
I am so excited about my baby shower tomorrow. I am so excited to get all my friends from here together with Ross's friends and my friends from Tallahassee!

skinny

My dad sent me this picture of my mom to show me how quickly she got back in shape after having my sister (her first). It is (I assume) to try to encourage me after the baby is born, but realistically, it makes me feel even fatter because I was never that skinny to begin with!

Rockin' bikini though huh?
1973

33 days to go

Still no 3D ultrasound

Well, this week we went back to the doctor for another attempt at the 3D ultrasound. But, our baby is still being stubborn and has not moved around yet. This is a little bad. I can do without the 3D pictures, but now with only 5 weeks to go they are concerned that she won't turn around in time. So many people tell me about how they were breech or their kids were born breech. It is kinda scary because they are just reinforcing to me how often it happens! Well, these days it is more dangerous to try to deliver breech than it is to do a c-section, so if she doesn't turn than they will just schedule me to get cut open.
Advantages- no labor. I would do it just like the stars do. Check in, get the surgery and boom....there is a baby. Less risk of a complication. No cone head for Lily.
Disadvantages- Cost. I remind you all, I do NOT have health insurance! This would be about another six grand. Hormones. The body produces hormones during the labor process that help the body recover back to normal, and help the body start producing milk for breastfeeding. Without the labor process the body struggles to start these processes. Recovery - I'll be trying to learn how to take care of a newborn and learn to breastfeed while recovering from having major surgery. More time until I can run again. I am DYING to run! I want so badly to just run down the street as fast as I can. Having a C-section will mean a few more weeks extra before I can do that. (minor, I know, I just can't help but to think these things....I feel like I am handicapped)
Good news - non-baby related though.
1) The Miami Heat going to the finals in the NBA playoffs has given me the opportunity to work a bunch of extra shifts. I have worked 5 or 6 days a week for almost a month now (remember, I usually only work 2) and when I work extra I get cash (tax-free!)
2) I am officially a business owner! My new online specialty boutique is scheduled to open on July 15th but it is looking like it may open early around the 3rd or 4th instead. I am so excited! I cannot wait!

Pregnancy gives you strange dreams

I have had very strange very vivid dreams throughout this whole pregnancy, but last nights had to have been the strangest.
Last night I had triplets. I had three of the FIVE that I was carrying! I had three of them 7 weeks early and I was trying to describe to my friends that this occurance is common in multiple births. AND the babies were huge. They could talk even! I had them for a day and a half before I remembered that I was supposed to be feeding them. I took one and started to breastfeed and I was talking to my friend at the same time about what I should name them. They were all boys. Except for one of them. One, was a doberman! yes, a dog! (However in my dream no one seemed to think this was strange?) We decided to name one of the boys 'Junior' and I had decided to give the doberman up for adoption on account of me being afraid of him. Then I woke up.

3D Ultrasound

Ross and I went on Wednesday to get a 3D ultrasound. I had heard good and bad things about it. Some people say it is creepy looking, and others say that it is so cool to be able to see so much of your baby before she is even born. However, it didn't really matter much because apparently Lily is already not wanting to cooperate.
First, we get signed in and the receptionist or Medical Assistant, or whatever her job title is, tells me "That will be $350.00 please" Of course I freak because as you know if you have been reading this blog.....I don't have health insurance. My doctors office put me on a payment plan that was supposed to include everything except any unexpected extras if any should arise. We broke up the payments and we made sure to pay them all before I quit working full time. Now, any money that is in the bank is very limited! I asked her about why it wasn't included and if it was really necessary. If it was just going to be for fun, just to see what she would look like....for $350.00, I would have skipped it. She needs a stroller and some diapers more than I need to see what she'll look like before she comes out! Anyway, the chick says that yes it IS necessary and that because I already got the ultrasound that was included in my package, this one is extra. Ok, so I dig out the credit card that I had worked so hard to pay off and paid it.
We go in for the ultra sound and the first thing the ultrasound tech says is..."oh shoot, we are going to have to try this again in a couple of weeks" and I panic because I DEFINITELY can't afford another $350 in two weeks. I ask her if I will have to pay again and explained that I don't have insurance and if it isn't necessary I'd like to skip it. And, she said, "oh no, this is free! The 3D is strictly for fun!" I told her that I had just been charged $350.00 for this "fun, free ultrasound" and she went and straightened it out with the stupid girl at the desk. They gave us a refund....YAY!!!!
but anyway, the reason that we couldn't do the 3D this week was because Lily is turned around backwards and all we could see is her spine. ALSO, at this moment, she is breech. Of course I don't want to hear that! My doctor said not to worry until 3 more weeks. If she doesn't turn around by then....that is when we start worrying. So, I already have a child who doesn't want to be normal! Backwards and upside down!

Countdown

Surprise Shower!!!!!

Today My Aunt Charlotte, and cousins Sandy, Pamela, Alexander and Allison came down from Melborne for a visit. No one here knew it, but they were bringing me a shower! They brought lunch and "little cakes" and TONS of presents. They brought gifts from everyone from the Strong side of the family. We cracked open a bottle of Champagne and a bottle of Sparkling Cider for me and the kids. We had a really nice day and stuffed ourselves silly. I now have SO MANY outfits for Lily. She is going to be the best dressed kid around! I had to include the picture of Brandi and I because she is just so excited that she is so much smaller than me. All of the time growing up, every time she teased me (remember she is the OLDER sister) I would just come back with "well, I'm skinnier than you" and even though I maybe weighed only 3 or 4 pounds less than her, she would get so upset. So now, she loves to call me fat and tell everyone how much skinner than me she is. It is ok, I'm taking it for now, but that is going to be my motivation to get the extra weight off quickly come August.

Kicking

Lily kicks and moves almost constantly now. I can tell she is going to be hyper like Ross because she moves all the time! At first the kicking was always in one general area just under my belly button, now she moves all over the place. Her favorite place to kick is right under my left rib. That one is kinda annoying.
I have been spending loads of time on the computer trying to get my websites to start earning some money, and all that time in a chair really allows me to notice just how much she kicks. Also, all this time in a chair has really made me a lard-butt! I have always had a job that kept me active, and between switching to a desk job and not lifting weights anymore, I have really packed on some extra pounds! I know I am supposed to gain weight, but I have really gone overboard. I have outgrown my maternity clothes even! I don't mind the huge belly, because that is understandable, it is the flabby arms and huge thighs and chunky butt that I have developed that is starting to bother me. I am really going to have my work cut out for me getting my figure back after Lily is born!

Heartburn taking over my life

I have acid reflux so I have dealt with heartburn for a long time, however, I have never had anything remotely close to this! I have been taking Zantac 150 twice a day for a month now and have STILL managed to polish off an industrial size bottle of extra strength Tums. I have to time my day around my Zantac and it still doesn't even always help. I feel like if I open my mouth fire will come out. Tonight I haven't eaten anything because my esophogus hurts so bad. I have already eaten 5 Tums and chugged Malox and I STILL have heartburn!!!! It doesn't matter what I eat either. Today's heartburn has been worse than ever and I haven't eaten anything bad that would usually be the culprit. THIS SUCKS!

Oh and to top it all off.....my beloved fan doesn't work! Does anyone know an electrician in my area that won't rip me off? I have to have someone come fix this stupid thing, I don't want to have to sleep in Lily's room for the next two months!

What a difference!

What I USED to look like, and what I look like now. Tonya hasn't changed a bit!

28 Weeks

My boobs are STILL growing!! I seriously don't know what to do about it! I went shopping the other day and had every worker at Bloomingdales searching through all the bras for the biggest size they could find. and it is still tight. It is so annoying. They hurt and get in the way, and are just plain uncomfortable. The giant boobs are more of a discomfort than the prego belly. This top I am wearing in these pictures is a MATERNITY XL. They say that maternity clothes are supposed to have extra room in the bust, well apparently not enough for this freak of nature! Also, if you will notice in the picture, I no longer have ankles. Earlier this week Ross and I went camping in the Keys and at some point during that trip my ankles disappeared. I now have swollen leg stumps that reach completely to my balloon feet.

87 days to go

To some of you that may sound like it is just around the corner, to me....It sounds like FOREVER! I guess it is because I am now only working 2 days a week and I have no social life, but it seems like the days are ticking by so slowly. There are a few social events coming up in May, and it seems like forever until they get here. I have plenty to do around the house with all of my websites and sewing projects and what not, so I am not bored, I am just having a hard time adjusting to the lack of people in my daily life.
I keep trying to think up things to do, but my bad veins have limited me so much. I can only stand still for about a minute before my leg starts to throb. Not to mention, that they look horrible! I am going to gross you all out and post a picture of them! They are only on one leg, which to me is very strange, but my doctor said that isn't all that odd. She said that my uterus is probably squishing an important vein that feeds that leg. The picture of the one on the inside of my leg, no that is not a bruise, it is a circular cluster of veins.....Strange, but intriguing at the same time. I have been walking for 30 minutes every evening (if anyone wants to join me, Zelda and I would love the company) just to keep from being so lazy. I feel like such a slob sitting down so much.
In that second picture I was trying to show you how my inside-out belly button shows right through my clothes. We have a mirrored wall and I was trying to take the picture that way, but Zelda couldn't stand not having all of my attention long enough to take a good picture!
Oh, and that mirrored wall is a funny thing too. Every now and then when I am around the house I will forget that I am pregnant and that I am so big and walk through that room and scare myself with my reflection. I guess I have gotten used to the way it FEELS to be pregnant, but not used to the way it LOOKS.

WAHOOOO!!!! I got a FAN!!!

I am so happy! For the past 2 nights in a row I have slept with such blissfull sleep because we finally got the fan installed!!! Yah!!! Thanks to our hero Tony who came over and helped Ross install the fan that has been sitting in a box since January! I still wake up hot because I refuse to give up the down comforter, but all I have to do is stick my leg out to the cool beeze and I am comfortable again.
Now, if we could just get the other fan up in my sewing room (converted garage with no A/C......in South Florida!!!!) I will be in heaven.

26 Weeks

I told you I was HUGE!!! I haven't weighed myself lately, but I am sure that I have packed on some serious numbers! My belly has really changed shape too. I used to be huge in one spot, now I am huge all over.
Lily kicks constantly now. I have such a good time just laying on the couch watching my belly jump up and down all by itself. I can already tell that she is going to be alot like Ross.....so full of energy.

I'm HUGE!

I have now begun to outgrow some of my MATERNITY clothes! I am also starting to have some problems. I quit working at the bar because my veins have gotten so bad. Yuck. They are hereditary and my mom had them really bad, so I knew that it was going to happen, just didn't know it would be so painful. At first I was really concerned about the way that they looked, now, I just wish I could spend more than 10 minutes standing without my legs staring to throb. I have put on quite a few pounds and that makes my feet hurt. I have been trying to walk alot to keep up circulation, but then my feet hurt! Double edge sword. I'll get through this for the next three months, I'm just scared that the vein problem will continue after Lily is born. Pray for me that it doesn't.

Decorating

Several people have asked what colors I am decorating Lily's room in. Well, this is a picture of all the fabrics that I have used in the curtains. I call these colors "sherbet colors" but you be the judge. Oh, and YES, I did use ALL of these fabrics together. Her room is very big and the walls are white, so I had an opportunity to be a little loud with the curtains.

24 weeks

Hormones are crazy! I cannot sleep right these days. I know it is the hormones, because Ross is not at all affected, but I wake up in the night sweating! It is so gross. I kick off all the covers and everything, and I am just too hot to sleep. We bought a ceiling fan, but of course we ended up with the most complicated stupid thing on earth and we can't figure out how to install it! The other night I made Ross switch rooms and sleep in Lilly's room on the futon with me because there is a fan in there!
Anyone willing to come over and help us with this stupid fan? or have the number of a handy-man or someone we can hire to install it for us? PLEASE... I really need some sleep!!!

Lillian

My dad sent me this. This is a picture of my Great-Great Grandmother Lillian and her children. This is where we came up with the name for Lilly. She was born in 1863 in England and immigrated with her parents. She became a widow at 36 and lived to be 67. She played organ in the same little church that I was baptised in, and built the family home that my Dad and Aunt's still own today (we lived there for a little while when I was about 4). She died on Christmas Day 1932. Her oldest son (left at the top) is my grandfather's father

23 Weeks

I am 2 pounds away from weighing as much as Ross! I have gained almost 20 pounds. My doctor says that I can gain 35 and still be healthy, so I guess I will be out weighing him soon.
My belly is 40 inches around.
I finally broke down today and bought some maternity clothes. I feel so much better now that I can be comfortable in my clothes. Some of them are actually kinda cute. I should have done this weeks ago.

Changes.... not just my body

Sorry, but I am going to have to have a little rant here. All these pregnancy changes thus far have been pretty novel and exciting, until recently when I am starting to see some negatives. The biggest one is the work issue. I know I shouldn't be stressing because that is really bad for the baby, but it is hard to help. Joe Udell (the GM) won't let me work on the weekend nights anymore, so I am really pissed. Discrimination, I know, but there is nothing that I can do about it. The bar has less than 50 employees so they don't have to abide by the same laws as most employers. I could sue, but that really isn't feasible because the cost of lawyers wouldn't be worth it. I am really pissed because physically, I am perfectly able to do that job. I haven't been in any kind of trouble, missed any shifts or done anything wrong. The only change is the way that I look. And now, I am not allowed to work. I have worked every Friday night since working at O'Malley's and feel that I have built a really strong clientele, and now I am only allowed to work weeknights!
I guess I should have started using my degree years ago instead of remaining in the bar scene! So, ultimately, I guess it is my fault.
Sorry this picture is so bad. As you can see, I took it myself in the mirror and I really should have smiled, but I thought maybe it was time to put a picture of me from the front.

Baby countdown

Thanks Christy Hodge!

For once in my life I am not at all excited about buying new clothes! I really don't like maternity clothes, but I am now getting to the point where I am going to have to buy some. Then....Ross brings home a huge shopping bag full of maternity clothes! Thanks Christy Hodge!
For those out of towners, Christy works at Shenanigans with Ross and recently had a baby girl. Perfect timing!
Have I told you all about my belly button yet?
Well, I was sure that I would have some suprises along the way, but this one is really freaking me out. My belly button is turning inside out! I have always had an innie, but now my belly button is on the verge of becoming and outie! It kinda hurts too. None of the books said anything about this and it is so gross. I am tempted to put a picture up just for the car accident effect. You know, you don't wanna look but you can't help it.

latest Sonigram pics

latest sonigram pictures. I can never tell anything from these pictures, but when you see it being done live, you can see so much. She moves and kicks and it is so cute. The doctor says that she weights 14 ounces. She is almost up to a pint!
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that last week I started to feel her moving around. At first it sort of felt like gas, but it is a little different. Sometimes she moves a bunch and sometimes I don't feel it for hours. I am hoping that is an indicator that she really likes to sleep. I think she is going to be a night owl though, because she never kicks in the morning and almost always starts moving around a bunch after midnight.

Starting to look pregnant

WEEK 20
I am finally starting to look pregnant. I know it sounds weird, but although I am much bigger around the middle, I don't feel nearly as fat! Up until the last few weeks I have felt really fat because I didn't really look pregnant, I just looked bigger. Does that make any sense?
As you can see from the picture, my belly has finally caught up to my boobs!
Of course now that people can see that I am pregnant, I have been encountering a few new things. The biggie..... people rubbing my belly as if a Genie were going to come out or something. People, please don't do this to pregnant women! Spread the word, tell all your friends. Just because it is a baby in there and we all love to touch cute little babies, it is still my stomach for now and that is just plain weird.
Another strange phenomena is people's questions. I love this one..."So who's is it?" I have gotten that one twice this week! I am thinking... if you don't know me well enough to know Ross, or at least know that I am married, what makes you know me well enough to ask me who I have been sleeping with? Kinda strange huh?
Or.... the other strange compulsion is that people tell you about past miscarriages that they have had or their friends have had. Do people really think that a miscarriage is what a 5 month pregnant woman would want to know about? I mean really!!!!!

Whose feet are these?

Week 18

Yesterday, as Ross and I were discussing the tile in our new place, I noticed that I am wearing someone else's feet! I have read about swelling, and how it is likely to happen, but I would have never expected my feet to look so funny. I don't really feel them getting big, and my shoes still fit, but they no longer look like the feet I am used to. and when you push on them you can tell they are swollen.
Also, Lilly has given me achne! Not that I ever had the clearest skin in the world, but I have never had achne like this. Hopefully my having zits now will prevent her from having a tomented teenage achne problem.

February 13 - Week 17

Week 17
It has been almost a month since I included a belly shot and I feel as though my belly has gotten really huge! Although I wonder if it will ever outgrow my boobs! In the last two weeks my belly has expanded an inch and I am down to only one pair of jeans that I can still fit in. And unfortunately the weather isn't playing along with my plan to only wear stretchy shorts and skirts. It is so cold and I have to keep doing laundry over and over because I don't want to buy anything new that I will only be able to wear for a couple of weeks. I am not yet big enough to wear maternity clothes, so I am kinda stuck in an in-between stage.

We're expecting a GIRL!

Sorry I haven't added anything in awhile. Today I finally got internet service at the new house. Also today we found out that our baby is a girl! At this morning's doctor visit the nurses snuck me in for an extra sonogram 3 weeks early just to see if we could determine the sex. I know now why they make these people spend so much time in school because I couldn't tell one way or the other. But apparently, it is pretty obvious to them. These pictures aren't nearly as cool as seeing it in real life. She moves and kicks and opens and closes her mouth. Strange thing that I can't feel it. The picture on the left you can see she looks like skelator, and the picture on the right was just a really cute shot of her feet! I am so excited to see that things are coming along fine. The other sonogram just looked like a pea, now we can tell there really IS a baby inside me. I have been a little worried because I have only gained 7 pounds and one extra inch around my belly. I keep reading that I will be feeling her moving soon too, but I haven't. I feel a lot of peace now after seeing this sonogram.
Oh, and we are definite on the name now.....Lillian Claire
My great great grandma was named Lillian, and we just liked Claire. We'll call her Lilly.
That is of course as long as she really IS a girl. My dad said that all the nurses and doctors were sure that my brother David was a girl too until he came out....SUPRISE!