I'm a woman AND I'm pregnant so I have a bunch of thoughts going through my head right now. A lot of little things happened this weekend so I thought I'd briefly mention them instead of trying to write a bunch of different posts.
Have you heard this song? It is one of my new favorites and I can't listen to it without crying. I have owned Taylor Swift's new CD for awhile, but somehow it wasn't until recently that I really listened to the lyrics. Such a great song for moms!
Friday night Breezy and Suzy came up to Layton to hang out. They missed my baby shower and felt bad, so the sweeties brought us a basket of little gifts, including bath stuff (Hooray! We didn't have any yet!) and some onesies and a couple little toys. Then we played games and watched one of the dumbest movies ever created..."Hot Rod". Matt had been wanting to see it and Suzy owns it, so she brought it with her. Suzy and Matt laughed hysterically at the movie while Breezy and I laughed at Suzy and Matt. All in all it was a fun evening.
Saturday was our first (of two) prenatal classes. The teacher recommended if you still have to work a desk job in your third trimester to sit on a ball instead of in a chair. I gotta say, it is much more comfortable! My hips and back are a lot happier!
After class on Saturday we went to my parent's house and my mom and I decided to go get pedicures. Its been far too long since I had one! They massaged my feet and legs for about ten minutes and it was fabulous! Then, as my toe polish was drying, the lady came over and started painting my fingernails. "For the baby", she kept saying. It was so sweet! She even painted little flowers on a couple of my nails to match my toes.
On Sunday Matt was called to be the secretary in the Elders Quorum presidency. He was extremely surprised by the calling, but I know he'll do a fantastic job. Plus now maybe we can get to know some adults in the ward. Not sure what is going to happen with primary yet. With the baby coming, and without Matt there to help, I have a feeling they might release me too. The primary president hinted at this on Sunday. I think our class is going to be very upset. I hope they know we aren't leaving them by choice!
Matt and I have been searching for months for a changing table to match our nursery furniture. We found some really nice ones, but didn't want to spend $300 for one. I have become a KSL junky, searching every day and on Sunday...our waiting paid off! I looked and someone had posted the perfect changing table! It was the right color, the right style, and the right price. Hooray! We had almost given up and were about ready to buy another one and stain it ourselves to match. Thankfully my parents were willing to drive out to Herriman and pick it up for us in their suburban. We brought it home last night and it is perfect! Thank you mom and dad! And thank you KSL! Disclaimer: Every time I mentioned to people that we were looking for a changing table, they told us we didn't need one. Or they tried to make alternate suggestions. I just have to say that after 10+ years of babysitting for people with no changing table, a separate changing table, or a changing table pad on top of the dresser, I knew exactly what I wanted. I prefer the stand-alone changing table for many reasons. And having two dogs who like to "help" with everything, changing her on the floor every time just isn't an option. Plus its pretty. =)
Today I had my weekly doctor's appointment. Last week Gertrude was head down, in the right position, and I was dilated to a one and a half / 70% effaced (I know, this means nothing). Today I'm dilated to a three (woo-hoo, my mom was dilated to a three for weeks before birth) and 80% effaced. However, the little pill had turned around and is now breech. I know this isn't a big deal yet, but if she hasn't turned back around by next week, Dr. Brown is going to do it manually. Which doesn't sound like much fun. Most babies will turn by themselves by 37 weeks. My doctor's only concern is the more dilated you are, the harder it is for them to turn. So I am not allowed to dilate anymore until after she turns around. How often do you hear women in their last month actually say they want their progress to halt? Well I definitely do! Hang on Gerty, its not time yet!
Last week my mom was looking through the paper and she found a Gertrude Octavia. What do you think? Isn't that the best name ever?? After some prodding, she admitted she found the name in the obituaries. Nice.
I'm finally pregnant! I mean, I know I've been pregnant for over seven months, but people are finally starting to notice. The other day in the grocery store the checker asked me what I was having. I'm still really small though. I know several girls who are due after me that look more pregnant than I am. I work with a girl who is due in June and she is constantly being told how big she is, while I'm being told "You don't look very pregnant. Have you seen Mickaela? Mickaela is huge!" Nice. I'm not sure what's worse. Telling a pregnant woman how big she looks, or telling a pregnant woman that she doesn't look pregnant. It's a toss up. But I have recently decided that I'm okay with my mini-belly. At my last doctor's appointment, my doctor told me I have the perfect body for pregnancy. I have wide hips and a really long torso, so I carry the baby "very well". She said I will never be one of those women who gets huge. My body is just built different. I know I still have several weeks to go, meaning I Will get bigger. But right now I am grateful I'm not huge for many reasons: I can still see my toes, I'm not swollen anywhere but my belly, I can still bend over to tie my shoes, shave my legs, paint my toenails, etc., I can sit on the floor, and I can still sit in a chair with my legs either pulled up to my chest or curled underneath me. As for other updates, I'm still having lots of contractions and my doctor has now banned me from walking. =-( Matt and I used to walk the dogs together every night, but now he is going solo. I miss my walks, but I'd rather keep little Gertrude inside as long as possible. She's not quite done yet.
The nursery is finally starting to look like a nursery! Yay! I love decorating it and getting things organized and put together, its lots of fun! The last few Mondays, which is my day off, I have spent working on the room. We sold my desk, got ride of a bunch of stuff, and moved everything else down to Matt's office or storage. Then, thanks to my mom, I cleaned the carpets and was able to get rid of several "mystery stains" from the previous occupant (a 2-year-old little boy). I then washed all the walls and the chair-rail and base boards. Then I made cute lavender curtains to add some color to the window and tie in our color choices. Then we put up the border. Here are some pictures of the progress. Still plenty to do, but we have gotten the most difficult things out of the way. Now I can't wait to get the furniture put up so I can start putting gifts and things away!
I realize part of human nature is to ask silly questions. We, as human beings, often don't know what to say to each other so we end up saying the first thing that pops out of our mouths, if only to fill the silence. I am not one of those people who needs to talk. I am completely happy sitting in silence unless I feel I have something to say. But that still hasn't stopped me from unintentionally asking silly questions on occasion. So why do we do it?
You all know exactly what I'm talking about. You've probably been a victim to such questions as well as victimized another person at some point. Matt and I have been laughing over a few circumstances lately. Pregnancy seems to be a glowing beacon for silly questions. Some of our favorites are "So are you excited?" Honestly? How could we not be excited?! Matt has said that next time someone asks him this he wants to reply with "No actually, she told me she was still on birth control! I'm really pissed!" Just to see the reaction he gets. Another favorite is "So are you ready?" Really? Is it possible to be ready? I think Heather Harris Bergevin said it best,
"We eagerly anticipated, but also realistically understood the changes about to joyously attack our home. We were as prepared as we could get. But, ready? Never."
That's a quote from "The Mother in Me", that book I told you all about last week. I think she words it so perfectly! Another classic one before finding out the sex of the baby is "So what do you want?" and now its turned into "So is that what you wanted?" Honestly people, what am I supposed to say? I wanted a baby and that's exactly what I'm getting! Matt's favorite response to this one is "No, I wanted a puppy." And of course "Have you thought of names?" Nope. Not at all. Are we supposed to name it? *Sigh* People make me laugh.
We work with a girl who is also pregnant and she just recently found out they're having a boy. Matt asked her "Are you excited?" Then almost immediately he said "I am so sorry! That was such a stupid question!" The three of us laughed over the situation, but it proves we can't help it! Even when Matt and I are bombarded with these questions day after day, we turn around and ask the same questions to someone else! I was very proud of him for catching himself, though. I guess its a start.
I Love watching my belly expand! My whole life (with the exception of one dark summer) I have always had a flat tummy. I'm not just talking skinny; but would look hot in a bikini, put super models to shame, type flat tummy. And now I find myself squealing with delight every morning when I look in the mirror and see the snails-pace expansion going on around my middle.
I Love feeling her move! Every time she kicks, wiggles, and practices somersaults inside my belly I get a big smile on my face. On Thanksgiving we went and saw the new James Bond movie and she was moving for the full two hours. Probably because that is a Very loud movie, but I enjoyed it even with the constant interruptions. She is very strong! I'm surprised at how well I can feel her this early. Matt is excited because I keep saying she has strong soccer legs.
I Love having boobs! I've always been rather lacking in this area, but its nice to feel more "blessed" even if its only for a little while.
I Love having an excuse! I can eat as much as I want, and no one says anything. I can take a nap in the afternoon, and no one says anything. I can cry at silly things, and no one says anything. I can be completely honest and blunt, and no one says anything. They just laugh and say how much they will miss the pregnant me.
I Love how every woman in the world has my back! When I started feeling sick at church, a lady in my ward handed me some crackers and told me to eat. When Matt and I were walking into work on a snowy day a lady I work with looked at Matt and said "Don't you dare let her fall!" I've had more offers for used cribs and other supplies than I can even keep track of.
I Love looking at cute girl outfits and little pink dresses at the store! I can actually look at baby things now and know I will be getting them soon.
I Love showers! I have always enjoyed going to baby showers and this weekend my roommates are throwing me my first one! (Its a joint shower with another roommate who is also pregnant and due in February) It will be very different being on the receiving end this time. I'm excited!
My sister, Julie got married on Friday and it was a very cool day. We were waiting till after the wedding to share our good news to prevent stepping on toes and stealing her thunder. So the moment Julie and Seth drove away from the reception, we made our big announcement to the family. I decided I would share our good news on our blog next so that our "real" friends could find out before we continue spreading the word.
Isn't it funny how life works sometimes? Matt and I try for two years to get pregnant and it finally happens when we stop trying for my surgery. Yes, I got pregnant about three weeks after my surgery. Which is the real reason I have been so sick lately. I started out severely underweight and my body was trying to recover from surgery as well as deal with all the changes that come with pregnancy. Matt and I were worried at first, but with a great doctor and the miracle of drugs, I am feeling much better! We had our first appointment on Thursday where we were able to see our little blob for the first time and hear its tiny heartbeat. Very cool! I am due April 20th which makes me further along than we first thought--which is always good to hear. My doctor said everything looks perfect so far. She actually thought at first that we were having twins because my HCG levels are super super high. But the ultrasound only revealed one baby. Dr. Brown said some women who have such high levels can have complications later in pregnancy or it can simply be that I am just naturally high. Since this is my first pregnancy, there is no way to know yet. So for now we are just keeping an eye on things.
I'm sad to say my twenty-four year streak of only throwing up a handful of times has come to a screeching halt. Now I understand how bulimia works. I've lost five pounds just throwing up this last month. Like I said though, we finally found a nausea medicine that works and I am doing much better. No matter how tired or sick I get I really don't feel like I can complain. I am just so thankful to be pregnant!
Thank you so much to those of you who have showed your love and support as we have struggled! Especially Aubrey, thanks for always being such a good friend and support! I will post pictures as soon as I can but we accidentally left our first ones at the doctor's office.
