Orange

OBGYN VISIT

This morning I woke at 7 AM and showered in our partially finished bathroom. As I was ironing I drank the glucose stuff that I had to consume in 5-8 minutes and hour before my appointment. Then, I puked in my mouth and swallowed it. Gross, but I didn't want to puke all over my clothes. Mentally I tried to tell my body to NOT THROW UP THE GLUCOSE.

My body does not listen because I barely made it to the half bath before projectile vomiting all over the place. I think a little of it actually hit the toilet. The rest hit the walls and the floor. It was like an orange drink exploded in the bathroom.

Needless to say, I couldn't do the glucose test. I have to drink that nasty shit again and do it all over again.

The good news is Biscuit is measuring where she should be and her heartbeat is good. I, on the other hand, am heavier than I have ever been in my life. Not really adjusting to that well. Trying to tell myself that I am healthy and Biscuit is healthy and that is all that matters. Most days, it works. Today isn't one of those days. So, I went shopping and bought new cute maternity clothes. If I am going to get a whole new body to brew this baby, I might as well get a whole new wardrobe and look good while I do it.

BABY BEDDING & FURNITURE

The furniture I ordered two days ago arrived along with the bedding I ordered a month ago. Wonder which one of those businesses I will frequent again? Thankfully, I LOVE the bedding. Isn't it cute? This isn't my nursery...this one looks better than mine likely will, but you get the idea.

Now we'll start getting the nursery officially together. At least I'm guaranteed to do one thing right with regards to parenting. I'll put together a safe and stylish room for my girl.

Case of the missing baby bedding

Last month, September 24 to be exact, I placed an order with B*rlington Coat Factory for my baby bedding and all accessories. I was extremely excited and looking forward to receiving it so I could start putting Biscuit's room together.

Today is October 28 and I have yet to receive my merchandise and to put it mildly I am pissed.

I received notification at the first of the month from both the store and the delivery company that my packages had been shipped. Then they never came. So, I searched the store website for a customer service number and was unsuccessful. The only option was to send an email, which I did, and no one responded. Then I called the local store and was able to get the corporate number and after being shuffled through some people who were lacking in the customer service area, I was able to speak to someone I thought would help. She was going to track my package and call me back. She never did.

Here I am, over a month later with the funds taken from my account and no merchandise to show for it. I could have gone to the damn store and bought the stuff. So, I've followed up today with yet another email and will call again tomorrow. I will continue to call and email until a) my merchandise arrives or b) my money is refunded.

And, I will not be shopping at Burlingt*n Coat Factory anymore.

23 Weeks

Preparing for Biscuit

Yes, we are remodeling our bathroom before the baby comes. Yes, we are crazy.

We hated our bathroom. HATED it. We also figured that if we didn't remodel it now, it wouldn't get done for awhile. Aside from the basement, it's really the last thing we need to do to the house. So, as of today the only thing remaining is the shower. Come next week the old shower will be out and the new one will be in. Then, tile, cabinets, counter, etc.

Once this is done, we will get the baby's room together. That is if I can track down my damn bedding that has yet to make it here but was ordered awhile ago. Baby needs a bed.

Counting babies

Me - Girl
Dawn - Unknown
Amy - Boy
Allison - Boy
Jae - Unknown
Allyson - Unknown

Little round up

• For my birthday, which is later this month, my hubby bought me a J*ep SUV. Said he felt safer with me driving that than my previous vehicle. Leather seats, sun roof, 4X4, all the bells and whistles. What more could a girl ask for?
• Biscuit has been flipping or kicking or punching or doing whatever it is she does in my belly as she grows. It gets stronger by the day.
• Today I registered for the childbirth class. I still need to sign up for the breastfeeding class and the safety class.
• These classes are all voluntary of course, but what can it hurt?
• Watched a video on child birth and, well, I think I need prepared for that.
• Had to buy another part of khaki maternity pants, which I did NOT want to do, because the pair I had got washed with something red and turned pink.
• Sleeping, or lack thereof, is getting a little out of hand. If I am not peeing every hour, literally, I am tossing and turning all over the place.
• I think I am going to have to move to J's room so I can prop up against that wall. That seems to work well.
• I have been practicing high levels of self restraint when it comes to buying new stuff for Biscuit. But, today, I gave in and bought these two little dresses. Aren't they to die for and, they aren't pink.

Pampering

In an effort to tame the beast that is my every churning brain I decided to do a little pampering this weekend. I need to relax and not focus so much on work, getting our house in order or growing a beautiful baby girl.

Yesterday involved hair color and cut. We did a little darker blonde and a little shorter in the back. SP says my hair is shorter in the back then he has ever seen it, not sure about that, but I'll take his word for it. For some reason I am hell bent on not having "mom-hair" or getting in a rut with the same hairstyle for the rest of my life.

Pampering day number 2 involves a facial and 2 complimentary services from the spa up the street. All I can say is there are hot stones involved...I cannot wait. Great hair, great skin and a stone massage...what more could a girl ask for?

Today I feel: Biscuit kicking and moving A LOT.

Reversed parenting

Being the ultra-cool parents we are, we agreed to take J and his friends to a local amusement park for a H*lloween even. We went foolishly telling ourselves it would be date night for us while they behaved like model citizens and didn't require constant supervision.

Ultra-cool? Yes. Smart? Obviously not.

What can one say about 12 year old boys and girls that hasn't already been said? OH MY GOD! For starters they don't shut up. Non-stop talking which is completely comical and totally annoying at the same time. I am sure that I talked a lot at that age but given that I was sort of the moody, introverted kinda girl I am not sure it was as much as these kids talked between the time we picked them up and the time we got to the park.

We realized quickly on that drive that these kids required supervision. Then we realized in the line to buy tickets that their parents didn't send them with enough money and we were not only babysitting we were footing a lot of the overpriced bill.

So we walked with them at the hyper-pace of 3 12 year old boys and 1 12 year old girl. We stood outside the rides as they rode catering to their random whims and rowdy over the top exaggeration of everything.

Then, they met up with others of their kind.

Holy hell. I think I am going to suck at being a mom. The odd little girl who was with us started to bitch and pout about the new arrival of girls. She kept saying she wanted just the original 4 and the others to go away. Then she said she doesn't get any attention when they are around unless she pouts. My mom skills went a little something like this..."don't pout, go enjoy yourself. Have fun." She walked away and not soon after 3 of the other girls were crying.

Now, I am not saying that odd little girl made those other girls cry, because really, they are 12 and they could be crying over just about anything but instinct tells me that odd little girl was a little bit of a problem causer. And I would know.

So, yet another taste of parenthood, just not the kind that I need right now. They didn't require bottles or diapers or proper sleep positioning...they required a whole different set of supplies that I am totally not equipped with. Maybe I will figure it out by the time Biscuit is 12.

21 Weeks

Getting someone to take my picture around here is like pulling teeth. I am sure if one of the animals could take photos they would gladly do so. For now, I am left either cutting off my own head or begging SP and Jake to take the pictures Therefore, they photos aren't really glamorous.

Look at the difference a few weeks makes. There's a baby brewing in that belly and she is coming along quite nicely. I must say that currently I am enjoying being pregnant. Vomiting only happens on the rarest of occasions and I have managed to get my bowels under a little bit of control. I feel Biscuit move pretty regularly and as I mentioned before it's like a little secret we share.

The only drawback is I am really missing exercise...REALLY miss it. With the weather changing and the coming of Fall, I want nothing more than to get on my bike and take a nice mind-clearing ride. But SP and I both agree that's probably not the safest of options. So, I walk and it's way boring. Of course, I get winded walking up a flight of stairs so I am not sure how successful I'd be at a good bike ride.

Still, it's not really easy to not exercise like a crazy person because I actually had to retire a pair of maternity pants this week. It was really depressing. I know Biscuit is a growing girl, but DAMN outgrowing maternity pants...VERY SAD.

Today I feel: like I could consume all the chocolate and peanut butter on the planet along with every piece of Halloween candy made.

Ultra-AMAZING

Today we had our ultrasound and let me tell you Biscuit is a little mover. She was kicking her legs and putting her little hands up by her face. We got to see her yawn and watch her heart beat. It was amazing.

We found a few things out today. Our girl is looking great. All organs look good. Her measurements of limbs were good. She weighs in at a hefty 12 oz. Heart is pumping blood in and out. Spine looks good. Brain development looks good. Everything about our girl was good.

I must admit I got a little teary seeing Biscuit putting her little arms over her face and kicking her little legs. There's a baby in there. This made the vomiting almost worth it...ALMOST.

As for me, I am pretty text book as far as how I am physically adapting to pregnancy. Yes, weight gain sucks and is taking a little getting used to, but I am on track. The doctor said I can continue exercising but damn I get winded a little easier these days and my endurance has decreased. But I keep plugging along. I've given up the bike riding...seems a little risky at this point. Stationary bike is way safer.

The weight gain, body changes have resulted in wardrobe changes. New bras. New underware. New stuff that I really don't want to buy but wearing my old stuff is now impossible. Plus, I am really sorta of hell bent on trying to look like me, only pregnant. Florals and ribbons and shit just aren't me.

Today I feel: GREAT!!! I am brewing a baby. I am a babymaker. Woohoo!

It's a...

GIRL

Our secret

For a little while now I have been able to feel Biscuit move. It started out like someone poking me from the inside or was like popcorn slowly popping inside me. Bizarre and definitely unlike anything I have ever felt before.

I have heard from other women that this was their favorite part of pregnacy, the thing they missed the most. I can understand why. Feeling Biscuit moving during a meeting or while I am driving or out to dinner is like an intimate secret that someone whispered in my ear for only me to hear. It is a moment just between the two of us that no one else knows about. It's just us. Our moment and it is the neatest freaking thing ever.

I do look forward to sharing that with SP and while it won't exactly be the same, it will bring him even more into the fold of this pregnancy. It really is an amazingly personal thing between me and Biscuit and SP and me. Those moments when I say, "The baby just moved." and he reaches his hand out to my stomach moves me in a way that words just don't seem to do justice. It is our time. Our moment.

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We go on Thursday for the ultrasound to find out if Biscuit is a boy or a girl. I can't wait.

I registered this weekend for all things baby and let me tell you that was an exhausting adventure. How many different types of pacifiers can there possibly be? A LOT. Will we totally screw up our baby if we don't warm the wipes before we use them or if we don't get the most outrageously tricked out toys? Who knows. It's likely we'll screw the baby up in some way anyway warm wipes or not.