Week 17

Date/Week: August 4; week 17

Total weight gain/loss: 178 (+3 - or something like that...)

Milestones: We're in our 5th month (according to the Mayo Clinic book)!

Physical Progress: Definitely have a belly - maternity shirts fit but the pants are still a bit too big in the belly area though

Symptoms: not bad - just a little tired 

How do I feel about my body: Not liking the boobs at all - they're too big and get in the way... just waiting for the belly to catch up (then it'll be better, right???)

Food cravings/aversions: buttermilk pancakes and cheerios

Sleep: Up and down. Still having fun trying to stay on my left side

Energy level: Pretty good but the heat and humidity are getting to me...

Exercise: swimming/water aerobics on Saturdays; walking; called a personal trainer friend to help me with the yoga and pilates

Baby Movement: Flutters are a but stronger

Thoughts and Feelings? I've been freaking out about moving to Boston in the Fall and my blood pressure. I hope I feel better about this after the doctor's visit in Boston.

What I am looking forward to: Our Boston appointment in 2 weeks and finding out the gender either in Boston or at our 2nd Tri Anatomy Scan on Aug 31

What am I reading / things I’m learning: I'm having the quad screen bloodtests next week so I've been reading about that. I've also had to learn about the viability date - at this point it is our next major milestone...

Monthly OB visit

Yesterday we had our monthly OB visit. Since we're off to Boston in less than 2 weeks we didn't have an ultrasound but we did get to hear sproglet's heartbeat on the doppler. We're scheduled for our 2nd tri anatomy scan on Aug 31, I have to go in for my quad screen blood test in the next week or so and our next OB visit will be Sept 2. We've pretty much decided not to do the amnio but we're leaving the ultimate decision to further discussion in Boston.

Well, my blood pressure was up again so my meds have been adjusted. The way things are going, I'm going to end up in Boston earlier than I expected. I have been looking at extended stay options and see a few that I like. I was a little down about the possibility of being in Boston earlier at first but I've calmed down about it. Fall is my favorite time of year out there after all. It would just suck not to have Aidan around all the time. I hope things go well so that I'm not out there until Nov or Dec...

Anyhow, I find I'm still living week to week -- milestone to milestone. I'm a bit too nervous to relax. It seems when I do I get cruddy news... granted, none of it had been horribly bad but it had the potential to be bad in the coming weeks. I just keep praying. I want to meet sproglet so badly!

Week 16

Date/Week: July 28; week 16


Total weight gain/loss:

Milestones: We're at 4 months! We enter our 5th month next week (according to the Mayo Clinic book)!

Physical Progress: I look less pregnant than I did last week - sorta...

Symptoms: off again, on again nausea (still); a little tired

How do I feel about my body: I'm happier since I have clothes that fit and look pretty decent (particularly for work)

Food cravings/aversions: watermelon; waffles

Sleep: Pretty good this week - trying to sleep on my left side is kinda tough at times (I'm a right side sleeper)

Energy level: Not as good as last week - need to be more regular with the exercise!

Exercise: swimming/water aerobics on Saturdays; pilates and yoga; walking

Baby Movement: There's a dance class going on in there (not always felt but I'm picking it up on the doppler)

Thoughts and Feelings? Actually have found myself wondering whether we should consider a second - would we do IVF again - where would we go to do it. I had to put those thoughts aside and now I am contemplating daycare options (hoping to find a Montessori-based programme... or a live-out nanny share)

What I am looking forward to: relaxing over the long Cup Match Weekend (July 29 - Aug 1) and our Boston appointment in 2 weeks

What am I reading / things I’m learning: Weight Gain - I am within my ideal range and my doctors are happy with it. I just hope I don't hit the maximum number they expect - that would be mental hell!Still, I know I'll be able to get rid of it at the end so I need to get over the shock of eventually seeing numbers I've never seen before.

Christmas in July

When I used to spend summers in NY as a child I used to look forward to Christmas in July. July 25th - a day where I could watch Christmas cartoons and movies, listen to Christmas songs and see the great toys that 'might be popular' in December. I used to pour over the New York papers and cut out the ads for the toys that I liked and share them with my grandmother. She would usually do her magic behind the scenes because one or two items would end up under the tree on December 25th. Even though my grandparents rarely made it to Bermuda for Christmas, their presence was definitely felt.

Anyhow, yesterday was Christmas in July day and I enjoyed it somewhat. No newspapers to pour over but there was QVC and some online catalogs to give me ideas on what to get for my 3 nieces. I also spent some time on Cartoon Network for a few Christmas cartoons. All was well until I began wondering what this Christmas would be like. Would we even be in Bermuda? Will we have any family with us if we are in the US? If I haven't delivered by then, will we have any decorations? stockings? cassava pie with our turkey dinner? I was down for a little bit because I love our family Christmases (and Easters). I soon got over it as I thought that we'd be awaiting the best present ever and our families will be with us in spirit (and who knows who might come to visit). We'd still find a place for midnight Mass (hopefully we could go) and at least we'll be there together. And I love Boston at Christmas time - actually, I love most places I've visited during that time of year. So we'll have a great Christmas 2010, no matter how it presents itself!

Week 15

Date/Week: July 21; week 15

Total weight gain/loss: 

Milestones: Wearing maternity clothes more than my regular clothes. The suit jacket that I got for work looks amazing!

Physical Progress: OK - I am looking pregnant if I wear a fitted shirt

Symptoms: some round ligament pain; boobs are still growing (damn)

How do I feel about my body: I'm going to have to get used to my stomach, particularly as it continues to grow

Food cravings/aversions: nachos; peanut butter & bacon on toasted english muffins

Sleep: The dreams are crazy!

Energy level: Pretty good - loving the water aerobics

Exercise: swimming/water aerobics on Saturdays; pilates and yoga; walking

Baby Movement: Still light flutters - baby is getting higher up

Thoughts and Feelings? Thinking about the second half of the year and what life will be like 6 months from now. I am a bit more comfortable telling friends but I haven't shared with everyone.

What I am looking forward to: relaxing over the long Cup Match Weekend (July 29 - Aug 1) and I want to do some shopping in Boston next month (I really want a ipad)

What am I reading / things I’m learning: Janet Evanovich - Sizzling Sixteen (needed a break from pregnancy related reading) / I need to go on vacation in Rotorua, NZ sometime in the future... this has nothing to do with the latest Stephanie Plum novel

Week 15

July ICLW

I can't believe we're in July already! This year is more than half over and I am simply stunned. Still, the rest of the summer (yay swimming) and the fall (my favourite) are ahead so I will merrily run into the downside of 2010.

I've been trying to think of how to do the intro this month. Our TTC details are on the side for those of you who want to know how we got to this point. As for me. here's some more info - theme: entertainment:

Favourite TV Show: At the moment, it's a tie between 'Leverage' and 'Doctor Who'

Favourite Movie, Musical: Singing in the Rain

Favourite Movie, Sci-Fi: too many but I love 'Star Trek: Wrath of Khan' and 'Star Wars: A New Hope'

Favourite Stage Musical: A tie between 'Wicked', 'Phantom of the Opera' and 'A Chorus Line'

Favourite Movie Song: There are so many but at the moment it is "You're All The World To Me" from 'Royal Wedding' (whewre Fred Astaire dances on the ceiling

Favourite Song: 'The Way You Look Tonight' sung by Frank Sinatra

Favourite Dance Number, movie: Cyd Charisse Dancing with Gene Kelly in the Broadway section of 'Singing In the Rain'

Favourite Dance Number, stage: 'One' from 'A Chorus Line'

Favourite Dance Style: I love ballet and highland dancing

Favourite Dancer, male: Mikhail Baryshnikov

Favourite Dancer, female:  (tough one) Again, so many but I would say Ann Reinking

Nursery Planning

We layed out the nursery on AutoCad this evening. It was pretty cool. We've had to do some rearranging to our living room in order to move Aidan's grandfather's clavichord out of the room. We've managed to fit the following in the nursery: a dresser with hutch (we've found 2nd hand and will get it when the owners move on Aug 15), a crib (have - 2nd hand), glider & ottoman (have - second hand) and changing table dresser from IKEA (have owned since we moved in). 

Now that this is sorted, we just need to begin to disassemble the guest room. We're going to see if we can sell the two twin beds (used as a king) that are in there and we'll move the bookcase into our bedroom. In addition to the clavichord move, we also need to sort out Aidan's pre-marriage boxes (yeah, they're still sitting under the windows...). I assume we should be able to begin constructing the nursery in September.