Sneak Preview

In the middle of the night last night, I got a sneak peak of how it’s going to go down in my house once Baby B arrives in our lives. Our little Brittany, Baylee, has been having some #2 issues. She and Maggey tend to go to bed with me around 9:30pm while Greg and Chase stay up until 11:30 or so. Well, Tuesday night, Baylee woke me up before Greg had come to bed acting very erratically – pacing, panting, etc. I assumed she wanted out of the bedroom for a drink, so I opened the door and let her out. The next day, Greg told me that she needed to go potty and that she was having the afore-mentioned #2 issues. Again, last night, this time after we were both in bed, she woke us up around 1:30 with the same behavior. I asked Greg, “Does she need to go out?” His response was a decisive “no.” Then he put her in the kennel and went right back to sleep.

Falling asleep again was not so easy for me, partly because once I was awake, I went ahead and made my nightly visit to the bathroom, but also because Baylee’s panting and general state of distress continued off and on for another hour. Finally, at 2:30am, I determined that she legitimately did need to go out. So I got up and took her, while Greg slept undisturbed in the bed. Baylee was quite relieved to relieve herself, and yes, she desperately needed to go. Greg is either really talented at faking sleep, was sleeping with his good ear nestled tightly against pillow, or is carefully executing his plan for me to be the one extracting myself from the coziness of the warm bed to care for Baby B in January. In this battle of wills, I predict that I will lose every time. I’m just too darn sympathetic, not to mention protective on my newly steam cleaned carpets!

Baby B: Boy or Girl?

We find out on August 18th....so before then, be sure to see the very bottom of the blog and cast your vote with your opinion of the sex!

We made it!

Baby Bayer and I have officially made it to the 2nd trimester. Yeah! As you will see by this unflattering photo of my 14 week preggo belly, Baby B is making her/himself at home! Or maybe it's just all the wings, BBQ, and chips and salsa that I ate last weekend in the mountains….

The nausea has subsided and I’m hoping the fatigue is the next to follow. I’ve actually been feeling good for the past 10 days and think I’m going to enjoy the 2nd trimester. Other than that, I’ve experienced some new physical oddities. For example, the turkey is now done all the time...No amount of padded bra cup material or layers can conceal the twin protrusions from my breast area. I honestly feel like I've already got two bottles sprouting from my chest. My hair is longer than it’s been in years, my nails need maintenance weekly, and I've been a bit on the forgetful side (see previous post). I’ve also experienced some “growing pains” along my uteran walls and in the supporting round ligament as Baby B settles settles in. From what I've read in "The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy" some really unsexy things may start to happen, so I'll keep my fingers crossed that I maintain my current level of hotness! If I do ever need an ego pick-me-up, I can always go find my admirer back at Discover Mills.

Pregnancy Brain: 3, Courtney: 0

I pulled a new one today. Before I go into details, in my defense, my morning routine was a little bit off because a) I drove Greg into work because his car is in the shop and b) I was talked into (okay, I’ll admit it was 100% my idea) to bring Dunkin’ Donuts to our 9am staff meeting today. So, I remembered breakfast (my stomach couldn’t go 2 hours without anything in it), my gym bag, and even my lunch when we left. About 10 minutes down the road, I’d realized what I’d forgotten….my purse. Now ladies, I know you can relate to what a debacle this is. I had the list of what donuts everyone requested in that purse, as well as my wallet, cell phone, Chapstick, and contingency Maalox and Tylenol, not to mention many other items that I could require at any given point in a week, and often do.

There just wasn’t enough buffer time for me to backtrack and make it to the staff meeting on time and get the donuts. Knowing that there was always the risk that I could get stranded with car trouble and desperately require the use of my cell phone and AAA card, I did the logical thing. I decided in favor of the donuts and against going back for my purse. After all, I had Greg (who luckily had his wallet), a half tank of gas, and nowhere to go after work but the gym and home.

I quickly developed a plan to get some donut/contingency funds from the ATM with Greg’s card, which would cover me for the day. But as luck would have it, SunTrust quickly foiled that plan. They sent Greg a new check card this week and apparently changed his PIN without notification, which we discovered at the ATM trying to withdraw funds. Thus, we were forced to pull away from the cash dispenser empty handed. He gave me the $7 he had in his wallet (thinking that would cover the donuts) and at my request, his VISA, just in case. Well, thank goodness I took the credit card, because inflation is running rampant through Dunkin’ Donuts. A dozen donuts now cost $7.60 with tax, and without the credit card, I would’ve had to surrender one of the chocolate glazed….really the whole purpose for going to Dunkin’ in the first place.

Anyway, don’t ask me to borrow any money today or call me on my cell phone and expect me to answer. Don’t ask for a mint, some Visine, a slip of paper from my purse notebook, or even a pen. As for me, I’m just really glad I didn’t have my purse on the roof of my car when I left. At least I’ve got that going for me.

Smile for the Camera!

Monday, Greg and I met with our fetal specialist for our third ultrasound at 12 ½ weeks. It was the most amazing experience ever! As part of the sequential screen testing process (a screening for Downs and other developmental disorders), the ultrasound tech needed to get a photo to measure the baby’s neck. Instead of showing off for the camera, the baby preferred to stay curled up on the uterine wall (see photo) instead of offering up a profile, which we needed. So, the tech had me cough several times, which made my diaphragm contract, causing the baby to stir. He/she was quite active for several minutes, moving its arms and legs and bouncing around in the womb. We even saw her/him move an arm over its head as if to say, “why are you messing with me, I’m trying to rest!”

After what seemed like 15 or so minutes of baby watching (I was ready for some buttered popcorn), we finally got some cooperation and the tech got the measurement she needed. The Doctor reviewed the pictures and said that everything looks good, and scheduled us for our next ultrasound on August 18. Pending cooperation from out little one, we should be able to find out the sex. Yeah! We can’t wait!!!! Anyone want to take a guess? Greg thinks it’s a boy; I’m leaning towards a girl.

Here’s the clearest photo. Can you see the toes in the left hand side of the picture? The baby has toes! And the best part is, as far as I can tell, the feet resemble normal feet, not Greg’s carni-like apple grabbers.

I do have to confess that I had a total pregnancy brain moment after the doctor. I was in such a rush to get to my appointment on time that I paid absolutely no attention to where I had parked. I arrived at the parking deck to have no idea what floor I’d parked on. I got some exercise finding my vehicle!

Dizziness and Dinner Just Don’t Mix

Lately I’ve been exhausted, so I decided to take it easy this weekend and get plenty of rest in between completing various tasks around the house. But Saturday, I felt pretty good – refreshed after a good night’s sleep. I woke up around 9, had some breakfast, checked email, did 4 loads of laundry, ran errands, grocery shopped, hung some curtain tie backs and two pictures, and even walked 2 miles at the park. And I did all this without a drop of caffeine. Well, if you are thinking to yourself, “Wow, this sounds like a lot for the average mortal to get done in one afternoon, especially without caffeine,” then you’d be completely right.

By the time I got around to fixing dinner – an ambitious enchilada recipe involving homemade salsa verde – I was very tired. But I knew if I could just get dinner in the oven, I’d be home free and could relax the rest of the night. So, I pressed on. I had chopped and diced everything by the time I got to prepping the chicken.

To make life easier, I’d bought a rotisserie chicken and just needed to pull the meat away from the skin and bone. The dogs were extremely interested in my task and were constantly under my feet, waiting for a stray piece of chicken. They are most always rewarded – be it from charity or carelessness. About half way through the chicken prep, I started to feel dizzy. Acknowledging that a chef’s knife and dizziness just don’t mix, I took a break to sip some water and rest before continuing. I pushed the half chicken to the back of the counter and took a seat in the living room. Shortly after I sat down, a thud erupted from the kitchen….and Maggey was no where to be seen. Greg raced in to find that Maggey had pulled the chicken from the counter and, as we say in the south, was fixin’ to eat it. What a naughty, naughty girl! She was punished and the chicken was rescued (no- I don't eat after my dog - the chicken skin protected the breast meat inside).

Clearly, the moral of the story is, pregnant woman and the kitchen just don’t mix. Or maybe it should be not to overextend yourself and cram two days worth of chores into one afternoon..... You decide.

I've still got it

During my lunch hour today, I went by Discover Mills Outlet Mall to shop for some new bras and check out Motherhood Maternity. Yes, I admit the limits of my current bras are being tested, not drastically, but enough to go up a size. I shopped for a while, purchased a few items along with a smoothie, and started making my way out of the mall. While walking out slurping my smoothie, a 20 something dude said hello and then as I walked by him, he took a long look and said “you look hot” (yes, he was of the African American persuasion). The whole exchange really cracked me up! Little did he know – I was wearing elastic waist maternity pants (translation: no back pockets - at least I’m keeping it classy with a thong) and have been gassy and queasy all day. I am also pretty sure I had just burped. Now, that is hot. Greg better watch his back.

If it’s not one thing, it’s another

As I’m approaching the 2nd trimester (only 9 more days!!!) my nausea has started to subside. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve still experienced it, but it’s been much less bothersome. But while that symptom diminishes, others have taken its naughty little place. Take for example, the dreaded hormone induced mood swings. In normal circumstances, I think of myself as a pretty even tempered person. Hopefully, this is not a self misinterpretation, and you all think the same of me – for the most part. Well, Saturday, after being on my feet all day grocery shopping and cooking for Greg’s birthday dinner, my mood reared its ugly head for more than a few minutes, and I was that person that hated the world just for being there. As Natalie would say, I was “foul.” Now I’m sure this won’t be the last mood swing I’ll have, so I’ll go ahead right now and give my husband the kudos he deserves for just letting me be until the moment passed. I guess he did pick up some valuable tips from “The Caveman’s Pregnancy Companion: A Survival Guide for Expectant Fathers.”

Next up on my list: tiredness. The last two weeks, I’ve been so tired after hardly working at the bank all day that I’ve been ready to make some z’s upon arriving home from work. Most days, I’ve been forcing myself to hit the treadmill or ride the stationary bike at the gym in an attempt to get the 30+ minutes of exercise suggested daily. That keeps me alert long enough to drive home without dozing off and make dinner, which I’m certainly not going to miss. Once my nausea started to wane, my appetite came back in full force. Lunch at 10:15 anyone?

Last, but certainly not the least, or the most pleasant: gas. Lately, I’ve had more gas than an Exxon station. If only there was some way to bottle it up for $4 a gallon, I wouldn’t have to fill up twice up a week for $55 a pop. Referring to my commute, I now have a new appreciate for the alone time I spend in the car, as well as my solo time in the shower, the copy room, aisle 8 at Publix, or anywhere else where I can just, well, let ‘er rip. Of course, if one slips when in the company of others, this is a great example of when owning a dog can come in really handy. It’s easy to divert the attention away from yourself, claiming, “oops, that pepperoni I gave Chase must not have agreed with her.” I’m not saying I’ve done that, it just seems like it could be a good idea.

All in all, I’m feeling pretty good and, I never thought I’d say this, have seen the light of the fashion world that promises wide, stretchy, elastic bands. As a seasoned “What Not the Wear” viewer, I thought I’d never willingly go there, but I’m more than ready to follow the light! Viva the stretchy pant!