Happy Halloween!

For many of my readers, as well as for myself, this is our last pre-baby Halloween. While I could've made the most of my buddha belly and gotten all decked out, I instead chose to revel in the opportunity to use the world's best (and most valid) excuse to stay home in my PJ's and watch some Texas football! Mainly? I'm not a huge Halloween fan. I don't like to put together elaborate, uncomfortable and - usually - expensive costumes to head downtown and be groped at. I think it stems from my many childhood fears, including haunted houses, elaborate bloody costumes and scary movies. Just not my holiday.

All of this, however, is going to change next year. Since buying my home a few years back, I've started to actually look forward to Halloween. I like carving pumpkins (despite the terrible smell of their inside contents!), I LOVE candy, and I particularly like making adorably-dressed trick-or-treaters smile by handing over candy (and calories that I'd otherwise be consuming!). There are a few exceptions, however.

*Teenagers - I mean, c'mon. Seriously. You're 15, and in your street clothes with a mask? Get outta here.

*Kids that don't say "Trick or Treat!" and just stand there with their mouths and bags hanging open. Awkward...

*Kids that don't say "Thank you". Call me old-fashioned, but this really bothers me. Yeah, I know I'm not handing out full on Snickers bars or anything, but it's not a toothbrush, either. It wouldn't kill you to say a quick "Thank you".

*Even worse? Kids that complain when you only give them one piece of candy. That really bothers me. What did you expect - five dum dums, three tootsie rolls, a starburst and a Reeses? Get real! Halloween candy is shocking expensive when you get 200+ trick-or-treaters. Be grateful!

I know this makes me sound about twenty years older than I actually am, but I just think that a little bit of manners go a lonnnnnnnnng way, ya know? And what better time to start teaching your little munchkins about being polite than now, right? Maybe it's just me being oversensitive and pregnant :)

On a side note, how funny is this?


Despite my laziness this evening (actually, I'm babysitting for the third straight night), I'm very excited for next year's Halloween. While I realize Baby B won't be able to walk or talk or do any of the actual trick-or-treating, it will still be entertaining to dress her up and take her along for the ride. It'll still be 80 degrees here at this rate, anyhow :)

31 Weeks!

How your baby's growing:

This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

How your life's changing:

Have you noticed the muscles in your uterus tightening now and then? Many women feel these random contractions — called Braxton Hicks contractions — in the second half of pregnancy. Often lasting about 30 seconds, they're irregular, and at this point, they should be infrequent and painless. Frequent contractions, on the other hand — even those that don't hurt — may be a sign of preterm labor. Call your practitioner immediately if you have more than four contractions in an hour or any other signs of preterm labor: an increase in vaginal discharge or a change in the type of discharge (if it becomes watery, mucus-like, or bloody — even if it's pink or just tinged with blood); abdominal pain or menstrual-like cramping; an increase in pressure in the pelvic area; or low back pain, especially if you didn't have it before.

You may have noticed some leaking of colostrum, or "premilk," from your breasts lately. If so, try tucking some nursing pads into your bra to protect your clothes. (And if not, it's certainly nothing to worry about; your breasts are making colostrum all the same, even if you don't see any.) If your current bra is too snug, you might also want to pick up a nursing bra. Choose a nursing bra at least one cup size bigger than you need now. When your milk comes in you'll be grateful for that extra room!

If you're having a boy, you and your partner will want to take some time to think about whether or not to have your baby circumcised. Find out the pros and cons from your doctor, and what the procedure involves.

The All-Important 'What Mom Needs' List.

Lately, especially given my premonition that Baby B will arrive earlier than her actual due date, I've become obsessed with making a list of what I'll need for myself once she's here. I mean, there are books and premade lists and gobs of advice on what you need for baby, but there isn't nearly as much info on hand about what you need for you. That's when I decided to intervene. This list will likely be edited weekly until d-day, but for now, here's what you should be stocking up on:

1. Granny panties (AKA panties with a booty). If you find a way to finnagle the type of heavy-duty maxi pads they'll be sending us home from the hospital with into a thong, let me know. Except you'll be miserably uncomfortable, so on second thought I'll stick with my recently purchased Hanes bikinis, thank you very much.

2. The aforementioned heavy-duty maxi pads. I don't know a damn thing about pads, so take my advice as the blind leading the blind, but I've heard that Depends may be a worthwhile investment for the first couple of days, and then after that you should be able to switch to any sort of overnight, heavy maxi-pad you prefer. Any feedback from moms who've had babies here would be appreciated. Just know that you'll need them, and probably in bulk. Also know that most hospitals will send you home with quite a bit, as well as the little (read: big) mesh undies that you'll spend your recovery in. Yes, I'm sure you're all feeling as squeamish as I am just thinking about this, but ignorance will not be bliss in the post-delivery haze, so better to be prepared than oblivious, yes?

3. Nursing bras, if you plan to nurse. If not, you'll still be engorged, so sub nursing bras for sports bras to ensure you're not pulling a Janet Jackson as you're wheeled (do they still do that?!) out of the hospital!
(*Important note: If you're like me and your bust size hasn't grown by leaps and bounds, a.) I'm sorry, and b.) here's the advice my mother passed on to me: Since you can hardly stock up on nursing bras in an A/B cup and expect them to fit when you leave the hospital, buy a couple of sleep nursing bras (like sports bras, but equipped for nursing and roomier to accomodate burgeoning boobies) for the first few days until your milk comes in, and then, once you have a good idea of what size you'll be, you can purchase more long-term bras. You'll need the sleep ones anyways, unless you can imagine either sleeping in an underwire or bra-less....ha.)

4. Another one for nursing mothers and formula feeders alike - nursing pads. If you don't plan to breastfeed you'll only need about a weeks worth, until your supply dries up. If you do, plan on owning stock in these. From everything I've heard, (and I've been asking so you don't have to!) Lansinoh is the very best, and the Gerber ultra-thin are worthless. Be that as it may, everyone has their preferences, and maybe you'll find it's the other way around :)

5. Some comfy, loose-fitting pants you don't mind sacrificing if need be. You know how the last time you were in Garden Ridge you realized that besides selling amazing home and holiday items they also sold $5 black velour pants and you asked yourself (probably out loud), "What the hell?" Here is a GREAT use for those $5 crappy black pants. Stock up on a few pairs, and you won't end up crying when your favorite Juicy sweatsuit gets any number of gross substances on it! You'll be glad you did. (Note: Walmart, Target, Old Navy, etc. - all great places to find throwaway black pants as well!)

6. An assortment of pain relief methods. Since as individuals we run the gamot with regards to beliefs and sensitivites to pain medications, here's a few suggestions, in order of strength and...chemicality :)(Yes, I know that's not a word!)
*Heating pad
*Cramp Bark (Vitanica or Wise Woman Herbals are the brands recommended to me - apparently the all-natural and super-charged Midol. I've never tried it, but considering most laboring women reach a point where they are more than willing to beg their doctors to pull the baby out through their noses if need be, I'm sure I won't be opposed to a little herbal supplement!)
*Extra-strength Tylenol or like product (though, if breastfeeding, you need to continue to steer clear of Aspirin-containing products)
*You/your husband/significant other's/WHOMEVER's leftover pain killers (think vicodin, percocet, anything you can get your hands on!) from your/their wisdom tooth/gallbladder/appendix/whatever removal. I have a stash of painkillers from random surgeries & broken bones throughout my life, and have been stockpiling them for exactly this occasion (mainly in case of a C-section). Judge if you must, but my periods were killer enough - I can only imagine how I'll feel after the marathon iron man that is childbirth!

7. Tucks pads and/or spray. Episiotomy or not, tear or not, things aren't going to be feeling too fine and dandy down there for a little bit, but your body isn't going to veto certain functions just by your sheer will. All that fluid you're currently retaining? It's going to exit your system, and you're going to want to be prepared! Of equal, if not higher, importance? The peri-spray the hospital gives you to use directly after birth. They're not going to reuse any of that, so feel free to take both the spray and the bottle with you when you're checking home. My hospital went as far as to say, "If it's not nailed down, you can take it with you." WILL. DO.

8. Nursing cream for you breastfeeders out there. I've heard the first few days are the worst, while your nipples adjust to both feeding another life and doing their best impression of Dolly Parton, so come prepared. Know that you probably won't need more than a tube, though, barring any cases of mastitis or serious nursing issues, so don't go buck wild at Babies R Us! (And no, Lansinoh isn't sponsoring this little list of mine, though I'd be happy to receive a check!)

9. If you get the chance to stockpile meals and freeze them prior to birth, more power to you! I'm going to try, but we don't have a heavy-duty freezer, so we won't be able to fit too much in there. I definitely plan to at least make a few casseroles, soups, pasta dishes, etc., though to get us through those first few days/weeks! If you don't have time/energy/whatever, Schwan's is a nice alternative. And some of the delivery guys are pretty dang cute, just FYI.

I'm sure I'm leaving out significant items, and I also realize that these are not very c-section specific (with the exception of percocet!). As much as I would love to blindly hope that all of us who want to avoid a c-section will be able to, the truth is that 1 in 5 women who were planning to deliver vaginally end up with one, and so I think it's important to address those needs/special circumstances as well. Please, please, please feel free to comment on anything you feel I should add/that was surprisingly helpful to you after delivery, and I'll gladly edit the post to include them! Hope this helps!

(Note: Things like hygiene products, your favorite nightgowns, etc, that you might need for the hospital I left off, since those all a.) go without saying, and b.) you're ready for. It's the things I think may get overlooked or that some of us haven't bought in a while that I put on here.)

Attention Old Navy Cardholders!

Today only, the first 50 customers to each store who are Old Navy/Gap/BR cardholders will get an additional 50% off their entire purchase! And with that, I gotta run! Baby B needs something, I'm sure!

Round Ligament Pain?

The past 24 hours have been a bit...stressful. I've been having some pain when I walk, which is only avoidable to a certain extent, and it definitely was bad enough to warrant a call to the doctor's office yesterday. While I suffered from the occasional round ligament pain between 12-24 weeks, I haven't had any issues with it recently, and so the start of sharp, stabbing pain caused me quite a bit of concern. I knew that I wasn't in labor, since it didn't feel consistent with the Braxton-Hicks contractions I've had, but I was worried that something was going wrong, since even walking around the block to take P to a birthday party brought on a sharp sensation right above my pubic bone that was enough to take my breath away.

I put in a call to my doc after much deliberation, and the nurse assured me that the way I had described it, it most likely was the ligaments supporting my uterus stretching once again (RLP), but still - isn't it a bit...excessive? I don't have the type of job or live the type of lifestyle where I can avoid walking very far, and it comes on SO easily. I can hardly get up the stairs in my own home without feeling it, though it's certainly more mild in that case. I'm just feeling a bit bleh about it. I'm also, however, hoping that they're right and that it's nothing more serious, especially given the comment about the swelling in my ankles (which also seems to have gone down thanks to avid water drinking).

I, of course, would alter my lifestyle and go on bedrest or whatever was required of me if Baby B was in danger or distress without a single complaint. At the same time, though, I am hoping and praying everything is fine and nothing like that will become necessary, and am trying to stay off my feet in the meantime as much as possible!

Belated Shower Gifts!

This came in the mail yesterday from my aunt Denae, and we love them! I've seen a lot of babies loving on these dolls, and I'm excited to have one for Baby B. She had those booties/slippers made for Baby B - pretty nifty, huh?

Happy Wednesday!

Good morning, everyone. I decided to take a quick break from blogging for a day and a half there in order to adjust my admittedly crappy attitude. Seeing as how I only have 61 days to go until Baby B gets here, I'm going to try to make the best of them.

First order of business - taking down the post-pregnancy weight loss survey I had thought would be helpful and informative, and instead read like a 'give-up-all-hope-now' diatribe on how your body will not be the same no matter what you do, and I just can't believe that. I know plenty of ambitious mommies that have gained 40+ lbs, and managed to lose them and keep them off without any problems (but with much hard work and determination).

Second, I am extremely happy to announce that today is the day my carpets are being steam cleaned. While I'm sure this indicates how rapidly this child is aging me, and how lame my social life must be right now to be this excited, steam-cleaned carpets qualifies as mommy porn to me. Steam-cleaned carpets, Dyson-vacuumed carpets, you name it. I love those little carpet lines. Yes, I am fully aware how neurotically clean I must be to consider these amongst life's little pleasures. Don't worry - I still like truffles and babies and gorgeous men as well :)

Third, we're now to a point that if Baby B was born today, she would 100% be a-ok. She's a big girl, so we're very comfortable with her ability to survive and thrive outside the womb. I'll keep her warm and toasty until the time comes, but it's nice to have all my first- and second-trimester woes assuaged by the knowledge that I DID IT! I grew a little teensy-tiny baby with the body I previously thought would be incompetent. She's gonna get here, and if I just stop thinking about it for five seconds, it could even feel like she's gonna get here soon-ish!

Happy Wednesday, everyone!!!

64 Days!

The other night while eating with friends for a farewell dinner (the girlfriend is going to Costa Rica until January), we realized that the next time we see her, our baby will be here! Weird. That prompted me to consider in other terms just how long we have left (64 days from today, assuming my induction is on 12/28 and she doesn't arrive earlier/later - a big assumption, I know!):

*2 major holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas)
*1 more haircut/trim
*9 loads of laundry (I'm a one-load-a-week laundry doer)
*9 weekly trips to HEB
*2 home football games at DKR
*1 *possible* 3.5-hour trip to Lake Jackson for Thanksgiving
*6-7 trips to the doctor
*9 lbs (Tentative. This seemed utterly attainable until my appetite went crazy!)
*9 weekends
*1 Big 12 Championship Game! (HOOK EM!)

I'm sure I'll think of many, many more, but these are some highlights for now. That seems like a LOT of doctor appointments still :/!

30 Weeks!

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

How your life's changing:

You may be feeling a little tired these days, especially if you're having trouble sleeping. You might also feel clumsier than normal, which is perfectly understandable. Not only are you heavier, but the concentration of weight in your pregnant belly causes a shift in your center of gravity. Plus, thanks to hormonal changes, your ligaments are more lax, so your joints are looser, which may also contribute to your balance being a bit off. Also, this relaxation of your ligaments can actually cause your feet to spread permanently, so you may have to invest in some new shoes in a bigger size.Remember those mood swings you had earlier in pregnancy? The combination of uncomfortable symptoms and hormonal changes can result in a return of those emotional ups and downs. It's normal to worry about what your labor will be like or whether you'll be a good parent. But if you can't shake the blues or feel increasingly irritable or agitated, talk to your doctor or midwife. You may be among the 1 in 10 expectant women who battle depression during pregnancy. Also let your caregiver know if you're frequently nervous or anxious.

Dresses for Church!

So. Cute.

Freaky Friday.

Today has gone strangely well, considering how much I didn't want to go to work this morning. It's been quite the hilarious day, if I can say so myself.

First off, S has been adorable. She ran around singing, "Let me out, let me out" and then pointing at my belly and saying, "Your baby is saying that," to me. So cute. Then she started in with "Gimme food, gimme food," around lunch time, and "I wanna wear that, I wanna wear that," when we were in Ross picking up some baby dresses for church. Apparently S has supersonic hearing.

Then, while at lunch, I was having a few B/H contractions that were bordering on uncomfortable. Apparently my poker face sucks, since the busboy walking by stopped to ask if I was OK, and after assuring him I was, then added, "Well I've delivered a baby before, just so you know, in case it comes to that." Awesome. I thought it was hilarious. I guess I could see how to a man I might look ready to burst, but I'm not that big! And while I appreciate his offer, I'd gladly sacrifice finishing my lunch in order to give birth in a hospital hooked up to an epidural, "if it came to that".

After lunch (ya know, once I had eaten through half the menu), we went to Toys 'R Us to pick up some birthday gifts for upcoming kiddo's birthday parties. No big production there, except while I was paying the guy behind the register, who was about my age, said, "Whoa. You're pregnant. That must be miserable." He's my favorite person of the week. Thank you, buddy, for not expecting me to lie and say it's great and that I'm glowing and that it's a miracle. You'd be surprised how many people ask you how your pregnancy is going or how you're feeling and fully expect you to lie and gush about how much you love the experience. Right as we were exchanging the requisite "Have a nice day!" post-shopping exchange niceties, he said, quite awkwardly, "Well good luck with that. You know, pregnancy and all." His co-workers just laughed. It was quite adorable.

Now to finish out my workday, head home, put my feet up and ride out the rest of my 20-something weeks and head into my thirty-something weeks! YAY!

Friday Morning Pics.

Holy 30-week belly! I know I'm not 'big' for how far along I am, but compared to my first pics, I feel huge. Check out the difference:

10 weeks -

30 weeks -
Also, forgot to include pics of my recently re-highlighted hair...a VAST improvement :)

Hopefully this Friday will just fly by for us all! I was asked to work 13 hours, and instead of saying a justified, "Oh helllllllllllll no, I'm 30 weeks pregnant! Are you crazy?!", I'm a pushover and said, "Sure, no problem, of course I can take the kids to the carnival by myself after a long day at 30 weeks pregnant!" Damn it.

Baby B's New Stuff.

So I've been bitten by the shopping bug...yet again. I've been taking it easy clothes-wise, especially with all the great things we've been sent by friends/family/people I've babysat for, instead deciding to refocus my energy on putting the finishing touches on her room.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Baby B's new pink-with-white-polka-dot growth chart :) I can't stand to think one day she'll be 5' tall! Hopefully she'll hit at least 5'6" though by the time she's done growing!!

I'm really feeling the polka dots lately, apparently! Also, know that if there is ever anything you feel compelled to buy at Hobby Lobby that's not on sale, wait a week. I got these two items for $2.50 and $4.99, respectively. Awesome. (Side note: It's never, EVER too early to start saving for your wee one's college fund!)
I'm also a big ol' fan of argyle, and this matched her room, and my sentiments, perfectly. To put it in perspective, it's hanging above her bedroom door.
Last, but certainly not least, was not something I bought but rather an exquisite baby shower gift we received from Auntie Christy in NYC - I LOVE it! It's all I can do not to sleep with it at night myself!
Thanks, Christy! We can't wait for you to visit and meet our little one!!!

Who Wants to Play...

...guess the delivery stats? I do! I do!

So since my induction is pending for 12/28, and my due date is either 1/2/10 or 12/31/09 depending which of my docs you ask, let's play guess the delivery stats! Here's my guess:

Day: 12/22/09 (Tuesday)
Time: 3:46PM
Weight: 8lbs, 2oz
Length: 20.5"

Call it wishful thinking :)

What do you all think? Comments welcome and encouraged!!!

30-Week Appointment!

I had my 30-week appointment this morning and all is well. In fact, Baby B must've had a growth spurt (which I'd suspected due to my ravenous appetite and exhaustion), since I'm measuring 3.5cm larger (30.5cm) than I was when I went for my 28-week appointment 13 days ago!!! WOW. I also gained 2.4lbs in those 13 days. Damn it. Up to 17.5-18lbs now...oh well. At least her growth spurt shows for something, and definitely helps back up my argument for the induction :) My blood sugar, blood pressure and all those other important stats continue to look low-to-normal, also, so no worries there. And Baby B is moving and squirming just like she should :)

My doc did nix the running, though, after a jog last night really kicked my a$$. I was in some screaming pain after running only about a mile, so he said no more running or jogging, just perhaps a bit of power walking here and there. Fine by me.

We also took the time to go over my birth plan, which seems to be, by design and nature, an oxymoron. My only plan is to get her out. As quickly as possible. With as little pain as possible. There were some things, though, that I wanted in writing, including my extreme desire for an epidural, and that no one except D be allowed near me or our room from the time I'm in active/stage 2 labor until I've finished nursing for the first time, so I made one anyways. If you're looking for a good guideline to help draft yours, consult here. I expected my doc to be against it, but he was totally, 100% supportive, and even sat through and read it all, saying he liked my attitude. I don't know about y'all, but not that many people "like my attitude" these days, so that was nice of him :)

Other than that, all is well. I'm off red meat and dairy and cutting out a bit of sugar until my next appointment on 11/4, though, because of some issues with my stomach, but I'm not really much of a meat-eater anyhow, so no worries. The cutting back on sugar, however, is another story entirely, but should slow my weight gain some, so can't hurt, right?

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Belly Bandit.

Has anyone used, or is planning to use, the Belly Bandit? Here's a blurb about it:

The Belly Bandit - a high quality postpartum abdominal compression binder designed to help you get your body back to its former fabulousness post childbirth. It is currently one of the best selling post pregnancy tools in the US that has Hollywood celebrity moms such as Nicole Kidman, Halle Berry and Angelina Jolie raving about it.

Unless you are one of the lucky few, don't be surpised if you still look 7-8 months pregnant after giving birth due to uterine swelling and water retention. The Belly Bandit is specially designed to help reduce uncomfortable uterine swelling and aid in decreasing bloating caused by water retention, and give additional support for Mommy's weary legs & back. For breastfeeding moms, the Belly Bandit will help you with your posture during feedings, and may help to reduce the all too common back & shoulder pain associated with breastfeeding.

Stretch marks – urgh! Although everybody knows what can cause them ie: stomach growth and the stretching of skin, we really have never thought about the post period and what may be another factor. The excess skin that is pulled and stretched after birth may continue to cause unsightly markings by “hanging around”. Greater support of this loose skin may actually decrease tension which in turn may decrease stretch marks in the post period.

• Helps Loose Inches Faster
• Doctor Recommended
• Helps Minimize Stretch Marks
• Reduces Discomfort
• Speeds up the Healing Process
• Improves Posture
• Reduces Pressure on Back and Legs
• Helps Minimize Swelling
• Restores Confidence
• Provides Support for Breast Feeding
• Adds Abdominal Support and Comfort After C-section

The Belly Bandit is based upon the centuries-old practice of postpartum belly binding, and has been met with rave reviews from celebrities to talk show hosts to bloggers and beyond.

Anyone I know want to throw in their two cents?

And the winner is...

...the Austin-American Statesman Capitol 10K on Sunday, April 11th, 2010!

Since it's clear I need to start small, but don't want to start as small as a 5K, the 10K distance seems ideal. Not only that, but the Capitol 10K in Austin, Texas is the largest in Texas, and the fifth largest in the nation, making it a great way to get the full experience!

Click here for a link to the 33rd annual Austin-American Statesman Capitol 10K website, including information about the charity it benefits (Meals on Wheels, amongst others).

Click here for a link about training and preparing for a 10K.

Anyone wanna join me?

I've Decided to Become a Cliche.

At least with regards to my post-baby workout plan, that is. With the AIDS walk and Race for the Cure both taking place in the next/past weeks, I've decided that my big fitness goal for 2010 will be to run a marathon. Don't get me wrong - I'm not aspiring to the 26.2 mile marathon that passes through major metropolitan cities. No way, Jose. But I would like to participate in one of these for-charity runs. I've always felt it's a life experience that everyone should have, and I'm proud to finally be adding it to my own little list.




Having resolved to do this and now committed to it in front of God and everyone (ok, actually just my handful of faithful readers), I'm now feeling a bit nervous. This is quite a monumental task for me to undertake. To put it in perspective for you, I decided to take up running on an indoor track while in college, and within a week had stress fractures in both my calves. An indoor track, friends. Not even concrete! To put it simply, my body is a wuss, and my bones and muscles despise exercise in a way even my lazy mind cannot quite understand. This should get interesting!



The first thing D said when I told him was, "So I take it I am going to have to learn how to spend a bit of time alone with the baby, then?" Thanks, honey, for your support. Marathon or not, you'd better pick up the 'spending time alone with baby' skill reaaallllllly quickly if you want me to stay sane!

Texas Fight!

I am happy to report that as of yesterday morning, my week has really started to turn around a bit :) Yesterday I was off, thanks to P's H1N1 infection and their impending trip to Dallas for the weekend, and so I capitalized on the opportunity and made a hair appointment to get my highlights touched up and my hair cut after 14 (yep - FOURTEEN) long weeks without tending to my hair...that's a loooooooong time!

Anyhow, the day began nicely enough, with me sleeping in and catching up on some DVR, and just got better from there. I hit up Galaxy Cafe for lunch with my favorite boyfriends (I think people thought they were a gay couple adopting my unborn child by the looks we were getting, so we played that up a bit!), then made a pit stop at Yogurt Planet for some Cheesecake Nonfat Fro-Yo, and headed off to my hair appointment, where I was pampered and fussed over for three straight hours. While the day could've ended on a high note there, I then met up with my former roommate at Maria Maria for a little Mexican food (my fave!) and from there, we headed off to see Grease at The Long Center. What a fantastic way to start an unexpected three-day weekend!

Not only that, but I am now at 29 weeks, just one week away from the big 3-0 mark I've been looking so forward to, and Texas beat the hell outta OU!!! HOOK EM!

29 Weeks!

How your baby's growing:

Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

How your life's changing:

Your baby's very active now. Your practitioner may ask you to spend some time each day counting kicks and will give you specific instructions on how to do this. Let her know if you ever notice a decrease in activity. You may need a nonstress test or biophysical profile to check on your baby's condition.

Some old friends — heartburn and constipation — may take center stage now. The pregnancy hormone progesterone relaxes smooth muscle tissue throughout your body, including your gastrointestinal tract. This relaxation, coupled with the crowding in your abdomen, slows digestion, which in turn can cause gas and heartburn — especially after a big meal — and contribute to constipation as well.

Your growing uterus may also be contributing to hemorrhoids. These swollen blood vessels in your rectal area are common during pregnancy and usually clear up in the weeks after giving birth. If they're itchy or painful, try soaking in a sitz bath or applying cold compresses medicated with witch hazel to the affected area. Also avoid sitting or standing for long stretches. Talk with your practitioner before using any over-the counter remedies during pregnancy, and let her know if you have any rectal bleeding. To prevent constipation, eat a high-fiber diet, drink plenty of water, and get some regular exercise.

Some women get something called "supine hypotensive syndrome" during pregnancy, where laying flat on your back causes a change in heart rate and blood pressure that makes you feel dizzy until you change position. You might note that you feel lightheaded if you stand up too quickly, too. To avoid "the spins" lie on your side rather than your back, and move slowly as you go from lying down to sitting and then standing.

Meet the Pediatrician.

Sorry I've been bad with the updates, but this week has continued to suck. Wednesday, our dog got out. TWICE. When only I was home both times. And it's probably important to mention that if I had MY way, we wouldn't have said dog, and so my feelings towards him are less than friendly, and the last thing I wanted to do twice on Wednesday was haul his 50-60lb. ass through my neighborhood, while he dug his back paws/claws into anything nearby as to not have to go with me. My neighbors got quite the kick out of that, let me tell you. It probably didn't help that I was screaming at him the whole way about how he better not put me into pre-term labor by making me carry him...

Luckily, however, the day turned around after that, and I had a great meeting with Baby B's prospective pediatrician. Dr. Kibler is fantastic :) At first I wasn't sure what to expect, and was completely unprepared for our meeting (a big shout-out to the What To Expect When You're Expecting Pregnancy Planner for having a whole interview written out for me!), but it went great, and I felt like we really hit it off. I usually opt for male doctors, personally, but wanted a female for Baby B, since she'll likely be seeing her for the next 18 years, and Dr. Kibler was a great fit. She had no problem supporting the alternative vaccination schedule I am interested in (I have a vaccine allergy, so I'm concerned that, though unlikely, Baby B could react also and want to give her certain shots in isolation to make sure we know what causes her to react if she does..), claiming to be a 'team player'. She was just really laidback and made me feel very comfortable, and talked about her own kids (she has a little girl, also, which is a bonus) and breastfeeding and didn't try to rush me out the door. Sold!

It should actually be noted that as soon as she walked into her office and complimented me on "having retained my figure so far into pregnancy", I was sold :)

"You exude girl!"

Today I was told the funniest, and yet most accurate, thing by a stranger. Ok, so she's not really a stranger, she's S's preschool teacher, but my communication with her is limited at best, to the point where I can never remember her name.

Anyhow, S has had a few rough days lately, and so we've had a bit more to chat about at pick-up. Her theory is that she's reacting like any child would with a new 'sibling' on the way, seeing as how I play a similar role to her (and after she asked if Baby B was going to be her sister for the third time in the past month, I tend to agree). Anyhow, today when I went to pick S up, I was chatting with her and mid-sentence she just stopped speaking and said, "Are you having a girl? You just EXUDE girl to me. It's like you are meant to be the mother of a little girl!"

I couldn't agree more :)

B & the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

Just a warning, I'm going to vent and whine and piss and moan about life. Read on if you dare...

T is for Terrible
U is for Unrelenting
E is for Expensive
S is for Shitty
D is for Disastrous
A is for Assanine
Y is for Yelling at everyone in sight (?)

Why the Tuesday anagram? Because it's a nice little way to sidetrack my brain from it's desire to cry like a little girl. You see, I'm having a crappy day, though I know I'm overreacting to what is easily a situation a normal person could just get over.

Most importantly and stressful, LBK (little black kitty) is sick. Like, throwing-up-everything-she-eats-or-drinks sick. So, naturally, still feeling insane guilt from her massive UTI/kidney stones/etc a couple weeks ago, I took her to the vet. She hasn't been able to keep down food in nearly two days, and the poor little thing looks like shit. Not to mention, she's dehydrated, and one of the things she's missing out on besides food and water is her meds. Lovely combo. Anyhow, this morning D took her to the vet, since I wasn't able to. I wouldn't mind spending the $95 for bloodwork that was needed IF it had proven helpful to diagnose her. Instead, we flushed $95 down the toilet to hear, "Hmm..must be trying to rid her system of something." While I'm very relieved to know that she isn't poisoned, which is what it was looking like, I'm irritated by the $155 vet bill. It wouldn't be that bad, but add to it the one from two weeks ago, and we're hitting a nice $350 for LBK's vet care in the past two weeks. Sounds like it's time for pet insurance.

The morning didn't start great either. I didn't sleep well, knowing how sick LBK was, and ended up getting up at 4:45, rather than toss and turn for another hour and a half. The up side I suppose is that tonight's dinner was in the crockpot and the linens LBK threw up all over last night were back on the bed before 6:30AM, but I am TIRED. And the reason I woke up the final time was due to a bit of pain in my abdomen, which has not entirely gone away as of yet. Thanks, stress.

Also, I took S to preschool this morning for a change, and I don't know if it was having her mom not be there to drop her off, or a lack of sleep on her part also, but she immediately started to cry really sad, crocodile tears, and kept saying, "B, don't goooooooooooooo!" Hurts my heart still just thinking about it. And I thought I was immune to this type of stuff...

Also, while I enjoy the rain because I'm too fat and lazy to water my own grass right now, it's raining for the FIFTH. STRAIGHT. TUESDAY. That, of course, is the day I run errands. So I'm soaking wet and look like a drowned rat with a white-girl jew fro. Fantastic. And I'm out of Twilight books to read until the library emails saying Breaking Dawn is ready for pick up. Wah.

The good news is that in four and a half glorious hours, D & I will be home to watch a movie/watch the DVR and eat warm, delicious pot roast. Just four and a half more hours....

A Few Quick Updates...

First off, I PASSED MY GESTATIONAL DIABETES SCREENING! Hallelujah. I'm not even anemic - whew!

Second, when talking to the nurse about my results, I brought up the issue of cord blood donation. Apparently, my doctor charges a $200 collection fee for private storage, and donation isn't even an option because my hospital doesn't participate. Not only that, I was informed that NO Austin-area hospitals participate, and that the closest is in San Antonio. I can't help but think that a.) charging a fee for my desire to save another person's life is ludicrous, and b.) they can't possibly be right about the fact that no Austin-area hospitals participate. I think I shall investigate more. Just a heads up for anyone thinking of doing this - check into your docs fees (most shouldn't have any) and your hospital's policies before filling out 14 pages of paperwork. I'm just sayin... :)

Parents.

This weekend, while at the Texas vs. CU game (another win! HOOK EM!), D and I were talking about some of his co-worker's kids, when he said, "What I am least looking forward to as a parent..."*

HUH? Parent?! No one said anything about being a (gasp!) parent! We're just having a baby is all. One that will call us Mommy & Daddy (or some close approximation of that). That doesn't mean we have to go completely nuts and call ourselves parents!!!! Parents are old. Old, boring, out-of-touch, serious. Generally, not fun. (No, mom, this isn't aimed at you - just everyone's persona of parents!). And to quote the father from Legally Blonde (See! I'm not old enough to be a parent. I can still quote Legally Blonde!), "You, pumpkin, are none of those things." The 'you' here clearly being 'me'.

Ever since he uttered those dreaded words, I've a.) started to understand more of his uncertainty about this little venture we've signed ourselves up for, and b.) been scared shitless to become an old fuddy-duddy parent. I mean, of course I realize that it won't happen immediately. I am 25, I can hold my liquor like no one's business (well, I could prior to THIS. There goes the past five years of building up my tolerance!), I am stylish, I've lived in NYC and picked up a few things from the experience, and just generally like who I am. And while there will always be that 'Debbie Downer' that comments about how their life has changed dramatically since having a baby, I've also seen that that's entirely within your control, and it doesn't have to be that way. If you have a lame social life after your baby, chances are you had a lame social life before them, and it's not a high priority of yours.

It also got me wondering what I'm least excited about. Besides the actual labor and delivery part, which should be every woman's first answer, I'm least excited about having to be friends with other so-called parents. I mean, yes, of course I want to have some mommy friends. I know a girl right now with a 20-month-old who has held up her own identity beautifully despite the addition to her family, and who I aspire to be like as a mommy. I think mommy friends are absolutely, 100% necessary for the new mommy, considering none of my other girlfriends are going to quite "get it", try as they may. And I know that none of my other girlfriends/gayfriends are going to be interested in hearing about my concerns about Baby B's ear infection/shoddy diapers/etc, so mommy friends are crucial. It's just lately, since I've started meeting others who have just had babies, I find them so mind-numbingly boring. They can talk about nothing besides their new baby. A simple "How are you feeling?" inquiry quickly turns into a forty-minute diatribe about the state of their new baby's seedy diapers, or how their baby recently sneezed and had to be rushed to the pediatrician for swine flu testing. THAT is what I'm least excited about. I know that to a certain extent, I will become this person. Everything on my mind, at least initially, will have to do with Baby B. BUT...that will not change my love of Texas football, or Range Rovers, or my interest in who killed whom on Desperate Housewives. That new Jay-Z song? I still plan to know the words. The hot new bar that opened on 4th Street? I may not have been there yet, but you bet I know about it and am planning a trip in the near-ish future. Plus, there is little I enjoy less (and I've been to enough to know for sure) than a child's birthday party, and they inevitably come along with having mommy friends.

Even this is the only place that I am this open and honest about my pregnancy. Sure, my friends and family have heard me bitch about not being a huge fan of the experience, but I'm never going to be one of those women talking to the nosy old busybody in Target about her constipation, or when/how she lost her mucus plug. No way, Jose. I'm not even really the type to welcome the ideas of a lactation consultant, despite their usefulness. Will I allow one to help me? Before I'd allow my mother or someone else. Will I pout the whole time? Probably. I'm just a private person that way.

My point, readers, is this. Despite the temptation to succumb to your new little person and think of nothing else, remember who you are right now. Or better yet, who you were before your mind and body got turned inside out by a teeny-tiny little alien being. It's important. YOU are important, too.

*(the end of that sentence, in case you're curious, was "that people's kids always seem to get them sick." Hmm...after living with me for two years, I'm pretty sure his superhuman immune system can handle some little kid germs.)

Belly Shots: 28w2d!!

Here I am, two days into my third trimester :) Making progress....

Baby B's Bulletin Board!

I am so insanely proud of myself for something that's probably pretty inconsequential. Today, keeping my thoughts and hands busy, I made Baby B's bulletin board for her room :) It was kind of a pain in the butt, to be honest, but I'm very happy with it!

Dreams, or Premonition?

Since the beginning of my pregnancy, I've had dreams about Baby B. Not uncommon by any means, but a bit...creepy. I knew from day one (hour one, even) that Baby B would be a little girl. I always had that "feeling" pregnant woman describe where they just know. It never crossed my mind she'd be a little boy (until after painting her nursery and purchasing all her clothes - though even then it was more pregnancy-induced panic than actual doubt). While I can attribute this mostly to premonition, part of it was the dreams.

About two weeks after finding out I was pregnant, I started to dream of the baby. In every single dream I had, Baby B was a beautiful, snow-white, teensy-tiny little girl. This only served to reinforce what I already knew to be true. What always got to me, though, was that in every dream where she was born (with the exception of one particularly cruel dream where D was the one in labor - wouldn't THAT be awesome!), she came early. And not a few days, or even weeks, early, because let's face it - once you hit full-term at 37 weeks, you are READY. But rather, she came at seven-and-a-half months. I was never certain exactly when, or what day, or even what exact week I was in, but she was always early, born before I hit my eighth month. I tried to block out this part of the dream, seeing as how it could easily be attributed to fear and anxiety, as I was so often concerned about how on Earth I'd be able to manage carrying Baby B to term. But in my 17th week, when they confirmed that she was, in fact, a little girl, my mind felt a little red flag raised. Again, I pushed my worries aside, knowing that most pregnant women fear pre-term labor, and that there was no reason why I should be worried about Baby B.

I continued to push these thoughts aside when at 22 weeks, I started having noticeable Braxton-Hicks contractions. No big deal, I was told, but early to notice them, and that I should "keep an eye on it". They've continued, and gotten more...intense. They're not painful, but they are more regular. I brought it up at my 28-week appointment three days ago, and my extremely laid back doctor seemed slightly caught off guard. He checked me to make sure all was well, which it was, and left me with instructions to call ASAP if they become painful, more regular than the 10-15 a day I have now, or are accompanied by leaking of fluid or blood. While I still feel I could easily overreact and am trying to stay calm, I am caught off guard by their continued intensity as I head now into my seventh month.

I had yet another dream last night. I was having painful contractions, the kind of pain I knew immediately warranted a call to my doctor, and would up in L&D dialated 10cm within the hour. Baby B was born completely healthy, which is all anyone has ever wanted, but also tiny enough to warrant a lengthy NICU stay. I would let this frighten me, but I also dreamt about painting my toenails and taking a trip to NYC, both things I've had on my to-do list lately, so it could very well just be my mind's way of trying to reconcile my fears. So often, dreams are. Either way, I'm feeling quite shaken up this morning. As much as I'm dying to meet Baby B, it's too soon. She's viable, I feel certain, but please, pretty please Baby B, stay in there at least 9 more weeks, ok? Mommy isn't the type to bark orders at you, young lady, but in this instance, it's an order, ya hear?

28 Weeks!

How your baby's growing:

By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

How your life's changing:

You're in the home stretch! The third and final trimester starts this week. If you're like most women, you'll gain about 11 pounds this trimester.

At this point, you'll likely visit your doctor or midwife every two weeks. Then, at 36 weeks, you'll switch to weekly visits. Depending on your risk factors, your practitioner may recommend repeating blood tests for HIV and syphilis now, as well as doing cultures for chlamydia and gonorrhea, to be certain of your status before delivery. Also, if your glucose screening test result was high and you haven't yet had follow-up testing, you'll soon be given the 3-hour glucose tolerance test. And if the blood work done at your first prenatal visit showed that you're Rh negative, you'll get an injection of Rh immunoglobulin to prevent your body from developing antibodies that could attack your baby's blood. (If your baby is Rh positive, you'll receive another shot of Rh immunoglobulin after you give birth.)

Around this time, some women feel an unpleasant "creepy-crawly" sensation in their lower legs and an irresistible urge to move them while trying to relax or sleep. If this sensation is at least temporarily relieved when you move, you may have what's known as restless legs syndrome (RLS). No one knows for sure what causes RLS, but it's relatively common among expectant mothers. Try stretching or massaging your legs, and cut down on caffeine, which can make the symptoms worse. Ask your caregiver if you should try iron supplements, which can sometimes relieve RLS.

Sugar Rush.

You know what you can expect after your glucose tolerance screening? To eat nothing but complete and utter crap all day long.



I have really been doing well, practicing self-restraint and such, but after the 50g of dextrose I ingested at 8:30 yesterday morning, my entire day was practically shot. As you all know, I log what I eat/what nutrients, etc I get at Babyfit.com, and knowing that lying will only end up hurting me in this situation, I am painfully honest about it. Those four jelly bellies I found and ate? Logged. That yogurt pretzel that turned into two cups and about 800 calories? Yep. Better to be honest and know how/where to compensate then, oops, accidentally pull a Kate Hudson and put on 70lbs to have one 7lb child, ya know?

Anyhow, yesterday went a little something like this:

Breakfast: 50g dextrose drink (which I logged as the equivocal orange soda per my calorie conversions - yeah, I 'm a nerd.)
Snack: 2 mini Mr. Goodbars, 2 mini Hershey's Dark, 4 jelly bellies (damn dogsitting! I would never have access to this kind of shit in my own house!)
Lunch: Sonic Chicken Strip Dinner & Diet Sprite
Snack: 1 mini twix, 1 mini M&M's. Stupid Halloween basket left at door for girls.
Dinner: Chicken Enchilada plate from Santa Rita
Dessert: Amy's White Chocolate Ice Cream with Bananas mixed in.

GROSS, B! I am so disappointed with my eating yesterday, but frankly, when you start your day with pure sugar, what else can you expect to have a taste for all day? Anyhow, today I'm being 'good' to balance it out, and drinking tons of water to attempt to flush my system and try to curb these damn carb cravings.

On the upside, at least my glucose tolerance test wasn't following on the heels of a day of eating like THAT!

Cord Blood Banking & Donations.

Cord blood banking and donating has been a hot topic in my mind lately, and I thought that maybe, just maybe, it'd be beneficial for me to try to hash a few things out here, in case others were having similar thoughts about these processes.

I should state right off the bat that I'm fairly certain that I would like to donate Baby B's cord blood, as opposed to banking it. First off, and this is important and something I didn't know until I started my research so pay attention: Cord blood is far more likely to save a sibling of your baby (any future Baby B's) than it is your baby. If you're gunning for a large family, that is quite motivating. If, like me, you're considering calling it quits after your first, banking may not be for you. Second, take time to research the different private cord blood banks. There are a couple that pop up in most magazines/pregnancy propaganda, but take the time to look through others (reputable, of course), and you may be able to save yourself a good amount of money. While there are fees associated with private cord blood banking, they are nominal when compared to the cost of treating A.L.L. (acute lymphocitic leukemia) and the rest of the vast array of diseases cord blood can help to treat. Just something to think about...

With regards to cord blood donation, these are my personal thoughts, and take from my time here on the soap box what you will. This is a personal decision, one that no matter what you decide I respect and understand. For me PERSONALLY, however, I cannot justify having Baby B's cord blood end up in a biohazard bin as opposed to donated to a public bank to save another child's life, which is precisely what happens. IF YOU DO NOT BANK CORD BLOOD PRIVATELY, OR SET UP TO DONATE IT, IT WILL BE TOSSED OUT. Add to that little tidbit my firm belief in karma, and my decision is 99% made.

If you are interested in donating or privately banking cord blood and don't know where to start, here is a great place that I came across while doing my research. I am currently printing out these forms to take with me to my 30-week appointment on 10/21, as YOU MUST HAVE THIS SET UP BY YOUR 34TH WEEK TO QUALIFY. I'm not by any means trying to be pushy - I just read through this stuff several times before catching on to a few of these things, and they were significant points with me.

Just some info for all you mommies-to-be. I may have just watched too many "The More You Know" public service ads as a kid, but I firmly believe that knowledge is power, and so many times opportunities fall by the wayside due to a lack of information. If you're against the use of cord blood, I respect that as well, of course!

28-Week Appt.

Today was an eventful morning. First off, I had my dreaded glucose tolerance test, and to be honest, it wasn't NEARLY as bad as everyone makes it out to be. I mean, I do have a massive sweet tooth, so that may have worked in my favor for the first time ever, but I really wasn't repulsed at all. I wouldn't go as far as to say it was enjoyable either, though, just FYI. It just wasn't worth all the effort and energy I expended dreading it. Now let's just cross our fingers I passed!

I also had an ultrasound this morning to make sure that I wasn't at risk of having any issues with an incompetent cervix due to the procedures I had done in 2007 & 2008, and that went great. No issues foreseen, and no need to check again. He also confirmed yet again she is a girl, mainly because I had to think of something I wanted to see so I could sneak a peek at her :) The only disappointment there is that he didn't measure her, and I wanted to know how much she weighed to really get some hard and fast evidence behind the induction I so badly want ASAP. And by ASAP, I clearly do not mean before mid-to-late December.

On an equally happy note, I leveled off at 15lbs total for my pregnancy so far, and I am DAMN. PROUD. Go me! When I asked my doc about how I was doing, he said "I'd give you a gold star! That's perfect." With twelve weeks to go (hopefully less!), if I gain the norm/goal for pregnant women (1lb/wk), I'll top out under 30lbs, which is ideal. I've been checking a lot of the boards for Aug/Sep 09 to check on those mommies' weight loss, and nearly 100% of women who gained under 30lbs lost it by their 6-week check-up. Or at least the ones that posted, which I could see how that might provide slightly skewed results :) I have the determination of a sniper, however, so I have faith that anything under 30 I can shed by my 6-week check-up. FINGERS. CROSSED. I know that someone is bound to lecture me about my preoccupation with my weight, but spare me. I'm 25. I still have a honeymoon and river-floating trips and things that require me to not be massively ashamed of my body in my future. I am FAR TOO YOUNG to 'not care about my body', although I never think women should "let themselves go". I will be a skinny mama if it kills me.

Another positive? No flu shots in the office! Yay! I get to wait two more weeks, which since I'm pretty certain I had the H1N1 flu a couple weeks back when I was sick (it's extremely widespread in Austin, and very, very mild), I'm not even remotely concerned about the delay. I wouldn't get the H1N1 shot anyhow. It would've been nice to get it over with today, but considering I have to work until 10PM and already have a nice sugar crash to deal with I'm sure, I didn't want to add insult to injury by overloading my body with stressors...so two weeks is no biggie. I already had one needle stick today - that's enough, thanks.

After my appointment, we swung by the hospital and paid off Baby B's delivery and our childbirth classes, which start on 11/5. Not psyched for those, but I'm going more for D to be prepared and make himself useful rather than with the hope of learning something I don't already know about childbirth. I've witnessed more than my fair share of actual births, and took an entire class about pregnancy and fetal development (including the lovely labor and delivery process), but if D doesn't pass out while I'm in the midst of pushing, the $50 will be well worth it. Not to mention, I'm currently scoping out the area surrounding the hospital for all the things that have been forbidden during my pregnancy, including Starbucks (not that it's been forbidden, but I've cut back, and want a full-caf. latte pronto!), Jimmy John's and anything else I can send D on a mission for while I'm stuck in the hospital. I'm not a sushi fan, but I may just become one having not been allowed to eat it.

Anyhow, that's all folks! From here on out, it's appointments every two weeks, and then in eight weeks starts the weekly appointments and cervical checks. Lame. Not looking forward to that! I think that's why pregnancy lasts so damn long. By the time you get to the unpleasant stuff at appointments, you don't care what the doctor does as long as it means the baby is one step closer to hightailing it out of there. I'm already at the point where he could drag her out through my nose, unanesthetized, and I would just welcome the chance to not be pregnant anymore!

28-week belly pics to come Saturday, after the Texas vs. Colorado game :)

The Elephant Picture is Done!!

I've been working on a project for the past few weeks, much to my dismay and frustration (at Kinkos). A friend of mine that I had previously nannied for a few summers back had this gorgeous elephant print hanging up in her little one's (at the time - she's not so little anymore now!) nursery, and as soon as we had decided on the theme for Baby B's nursery, I called her up to see if there would be anyway I could make a copy. I knew that the print was painted by her mother, who tragically died a couple of months before her oldest daughter was born, and it now hung in her younger daughter's nursery, and knowing how much their family meant to me made it all the more special for the print to be included in Baby B's nursery.

Anyhow, she gladly handed over the original and gave me the rundown on what it took for her to put it together for Sid's nursery - enlarging the print to whatever size I wanted, and then choosing a mat and frame and having them made/put together. I opted to spend about half of what it took her to do it, waiting for frame sales at Hobby Lobby and custom framing discounts at Michael's, and had the print blown up to an 18x24 size, which was surprisingly inexpensive, considering it was the biggest contributor to the finished product, and had to be done twice (once for free) thanks to Kinkos original mistake. Anyhow, as of last night, the print is finally home, matted, framed and hung, and I LOVE it. It looks great! I debated for what felt like hours about what color to do the frame, since Baby B's bedding is brown and her furniture is a honey-colored wood, but went with black due to a.) the contour shades in the print, and b.) everything else we have to hang in there is also framed in black, and you know I'm a sucker for matching. Hope you guys like it as much as we do!

Udder Covers.

Shhhh...I have a secret to tell you. And you're going to like it. Right now, at Udder Covers, you can get a FREE nursing cover (a $32.00 value!) for the measly fee of $8.95 shipping and handling. That's right - what would be over $40, you can get for $8. Talk about 80% off! Just enter promo code 'Country' during checkout, and no joke, you'll only be charged s&h, and your nursing cover will arrive in 2-6 days :) Happy Nursing, ladies! Additionally, you can use the code up to twice, but have to pay separate shipping & handling. So you can get not just one, but TWO, for less than $20!

I personally opted for this one:

If this isn't your taste, though, there are many colors and varieties to choose from, some more masculine for those not wanting to doll up their little boys with flowery covers. I'll tell you what I think when I get mine!

(Note: I will mainly just be using this for nursing at home while family, etc is present, so I'm not always forced into Baby B's nursery...being a new mom is isolating enough without having to take cover in your own home!)

Massage & Other Pampering Goodness...

I've decided that since part of my beef with being pregnant is not feeling myself (aka not having control over my figure, etc, despite my best efforts), I am going to spend some time the next couple weeks pampering myself. I've been saving and saving up money, and despite some unforeseen bills, seem to be doing pretty great with that, so it's time to splurge a bit as the third and final trimester commences.

First in the line of pampering was my prenatal massage last night. While I found it hard to relax, spending the last half of the hour thinking, "Oh no, I have to pee!" over and over again, it felt great to just spend an hour laying around in complete peace and quiet and having someone work out the knots in my back from lugging Baby B around all day. The only complaint I have is that rather than a prenatal table with a cradle for your belly, I had to lay on my side. I would've paid at least double what I did for that massage had I been able to do nothing but lay on my stomach for an hour. Wah. Otherwise, though, great experience and well worth it. However, I'm already tense again. It doesn't take much with me. I also went and grabbed some new makeup this morning, so that'll be a welcome change tomorrow morning :)

Next up? Haircut and highlights. I know some women believe you shouldn't get highlights/color of any sort done while pregnant, but to you I say YOU ARE CRAZY. Do you know what my caramel and honey highlights will look like after growing out for NINE months?! I can't even imagine. Nothing's trashier than a woman with terrible roots. Not to mention, my doc said it's 100% a-ok, and that the only concern is that the odor will make mom feel sick, not be detrimental to baby. I can hold my breath for two damn hours if that's what it takes to fix my hair...it's been since July :( Same with a haircut, despite the ravenous growth spurt my hair has had, so despite that it should be looking full and thick and gorgeous, it looks full and thick and totally lame. It just won't do a damn thing. Hence, next Friday morning's all day hair appointment to fix both issues.

Also coming up...mani/pedi time. My nails look FAB - they've always grown well, but well isn't even close to how great they're growing now - so might as well take advantage and let someone pamper them. After ACL and being on my feet in the mud all weekend, my toes are getting in on that as well...I highly prefer a pedicure to a manicure any day anyhow!

For all of you other third-trimesters out there, take time to pamper yourself! We've only got roughly 12 weeks left!!!

ACL Highlights.

Here's a few pictorial highlights from this weekend's ACL Festival:

Phoenix (Friday)


John Legend (Friday)


Them Crooked Vultures (Friday)


Kings of Leon (Friday)


Yeah Yeah Yeahs (Friday)


The Virgins


!!! (Saturday)


Grizzly Bear (Saturday)


(Sadly, I only got photos up until 3:45 Saturday, since I didn't want my expensive camera getting ruined by the rain. I must say, though, that Citizen Cope put on a GREAT show, as did Bon Iver, The Decemberists and DMB.)

The B52's (Sunday)


White Lies (Sunday)


Toadies (Sunday)


Arctic Monkeys (Sunday)


Passion Pit (Sunday)


Ben Harper & The Relentless7 (Sunday)


Girl Talk (Sunday)


Dan Auerbach (Sunday)


Pearl Jam (Sunday)


Favorites? Definitely Passion Pit, White Lies, Girl Talk & Phoenix!

Am I glad I went? Of course. Am I even more glad it's over? Absolutely! Besides weathering just about all the elements (less snow, of course), it's just plain difficult maneuvering a nearly seven-months-pregnant body through a crowd of 65,000+ people a day! I'm already off balance, which the mud/DilloDirt (if you don't know what that is, trust me - don't ask) did nothing to help, and then throw in hoards of people wasted/tripping on just about every imaginable substance, and it's nothing short of a miracle that I managed to stay on my feet all weekend! Would I recommend this to another pregnant woman? Probably. Might as well go now while I'm still childless and only have to carry her on the inside, right? Just be forewarned...it was a LONG weekend!