Odds and Ends

I have a few random unrelated tidbits to record.  I am really glad I started writing so much of this down.  It is already fun to look back and read the old entries, so I can't imagine how I will feel in a few years!


1.  It is official -- all the weight I lost in the beginning of my pregnancy came from my butt.  And it never came back.  One of the only body parts I liked!! :(  I am still wearing all my pre-pregnancy pants, and they are so saggy in the britches that I can pull them down without unzipping.  And to add insult to injury, I just read in the pregnancy survival guide for dads that my sister got Jeremy "Her butt WILL get flat and saggy.  There is nothing you can do to stop this.  But, by all means, LIE to her and tell her nothing has changed."  So much sadness in those sentences.  


2.  My friend Heather said I was "adorably pregnant" the other day, and I got all misty and told Jeremy what she said and how nice she was.  Jeremy didn't even hesitate, and said, "Well, she's right!  You ARE!"  I have the greatest guy!


3.  Jeremy is indulging me by talking to my stomach every night.  When we go to bed, I lay down and tell him to tell the baby about his day.  He often says cute things like, "Oh yeah, Cleo is the DOG and MoJo is the CAT.  You will learn what those things are later."  


4.  A guy HIT ON ME in Meijer the other day!  At first I thought he was just messing around or something because, come one, I am PREGNANT, but then I realized he was totally serious.  I couldn't help myself.  I laughed right in his face because I immediately imagined his train of thought being something like: "Hmmm.  A baby.  I could work with that.  Yeah, a baby would be okay."  It was too much.


5.  Last weekend Jeremy and I took a miniature road trip and talked the whole way.  Since our conversations are usually baby-related, we were talking about some of my ... quirks ... as a child.  Jeremy said, "You know, if we get a baby with all of your zany behaviors because of Karma, life is going to be pretty difficult!"  I just said, "Well, get used to it."

REAL BABY KICKS!!!

For real this time, guys!!!  Drumroll .... I felt the baby kick last night! And kick and kick and kick.  It was crazy and fun and amazing.


I was at a huge college-wide meeting last night, and I was just sitting there with my hands on my belly (to signal to the strangers at my table that I was pregnant and not just bellylicious -- we had assigned seating so we could meet new people.  Like a cruise ship.  Lame.) when one speaker handed the microphone over to another speaker.  This guy REALLY wanted to make sure we heard him, and he was SHOUTING into the microphone.  He was so loud that I felt the vibrations.  It was unreal.  Then, all of a sudden, I felt a little pop under my hand.  I knew it had to be a little kick, but I waited and thought about it for awhile. What if I had imagined it?  But then, pop pop ... pop ... pop pop pop!  A bunch of little kicks, like my little one was saying SHUT THIS GUY UP!!  WHAT IS WRONG WITH HIM AND WHY CAN'T HE MODULATE THE VOLUME OF HIS VOICE?? I AM TRYING TO RELAX HERE!!  It was amazing.


I kept feeling little kicks, and then as soon as loud guy handed off the mic, they stopped.  I have a sassy little baby that is sensitive to loud noises, just like momma. 

18 Weeks/5 Months!

Today I am 18 weeks, which marks the beginning of the fifth month!  It feels big.

This week the baby is probably about 5 1/2 inches from head to rump.  He or she is also busy flexing his/her arms and legs ... which I have yet to feel.  Today I thought I felt something that resembled the flutter people have described, but it's hard to be sure.  We were at the emergency vet's office with our beloved dog, Cleo, and I was very agitated, when all of a sudden I felt a little something.  I can't be sure if I was imagining it or not, but Jeremy said the baby could tell I was mad and was kicking me to tell me to snap out of it.  This baby is definitely taking after, bossy baby!


If the baby is a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place.  If it is a boy, his genitals will finally be noticeable by ultrasound, even though we will not have our big ultrasound for another two weeks.  


HOWEVER, there is BIG news on the gender front.  Brace yourselves.  Last night, Jeremy said he had decided that it was most important that *I* be happy, and if that meant finding out the gender, he was on board.  I am still a bit confused.  He claims he is sincere, but I think there might be a chance he is using some sort of Jedi mind trick on me and is just trying to get me to change MY mind and want to wait.  Oh well, because it is only SLIGHTLY working.  I feel bad, but have not a SINGLE doubt in my mind that I want, nay NEED, to know the sex of the baby and that knowing will put my mind at ease and allow me to plan the way I would like.  More updates on that as they happen.


As far as me, I am doing well.  I am struggling with insomnia and being unable to breathe or get into a comfortable position in bed, but I knew that was coming and know it will just get worse.  It's no fun, but I know it could be worse.  During the day, I generally feel great.  Unless I go too long without eating.  Jeremy discovered that yesterday on a short road trip we took.  Not pretty.  I will just have to get better about packing food.  


Overall, all is well, I am really excited to be 5 months pregnant, and I can't wait for the ultrasound!!