The Generosity of Others

Hello! It's the husband writing today.

Megan and I are overwhelmed at the generosity of others as we near the birth of our daughter. Megan returned from Chicago on Sunday, and I was amazed at the amount of clothes, books, and necessities that her dear friends and family purchased for our family. I want to thank her Mom Judy and sister Erin for hosting a shower for Megs. I also want to thank Megan's G-Ma, who at 87 continues to knit and spoil grandkids beyond imagination. Thank you G-Ma! Bob and Judy have been so very helpful and generous with many wonderful spoils for Finnley including a beautiful crib that Finnley's cousins used, a pack-n-play, high chair, books, etc. etc. We are blessed. My brother Scott, sister in law Renata, and their boys have also gone above and beyond. Thanks to them, our little girl already has an amazing travel system, absolutely necessary Ohio State Buckeye gear for the upcoming season, and some Juicy Couture baby clothes that will make her the envy of every playpen out there! Finnley will also start out in a gorgeous antique bassinet with a great blanket that Mom and Dad Ritter brought out for us. It is the very bassinet that Finnley's Dad started out in. Thank you all very much for the generosity thus far. It is overwhelming and beyond expectation. We love and appreciate you all.

Of course generosity goes beyond the gifts. I also want to thank Tara, Kelly, Karen and Canella for just being there for Megs. Dear friends who continue to stand by one another as life just happens is one of the greatest gifts of all. Your friendship to Megan means as much to me as it does to her.

Of course we are just beginning. We have another shower here in Jersey at the end of July, with more friends and more fun. I can't wait to spend that day with the East Coast gang.

It has been a long road for Megan and I, but not a unique road by any stretch. In close to 50 days we will be blessed with a little girl and I, as her father, intend to tell her just how lucky she and her Mom and Dad are to have the love and support of family and friends. It is all of you that are helping us get Finnley off to a great start in life and for that, we say thank you and we love you.

Baby Shower and the Gas Station Cake

I'm back!

I successfully managed to fly my falling apart 31 week + pregnant body to and fro Chicago. No major issues. Lots of walking. Lots of stares. Lots of comments. Nothing detrimental. Not all bad!

It was really great to be "home" and see everyone that I haven't seen in a long time and have them at my shower. And, what about the shower? Well, I didn't receive a lot of items from my registries, so my lovely and I will be doing some shopping soon. Do not take this as a complaint, though, please...just as a simple statement...BECAUSE, we did receive a TON of great things, including a lot of clothing for Finnley. She will obviously need clothes, so those will come in handy. And, I will obviously be doing a lot of laundry in the coming weeks. We also received some very loving and thoughtful gifts: my christening blanket, my baby blanket, a baby album, a baby book, a handmade blanket, a handmade christening bonnet, two handmade christening gowns, and sooooo much more. Very special items for a very special little girl.

Oddly enough, I think the most interesting aspect of my party turned out to be the cake. I wanted cake. Basically mentioned that I must have it. My mom said that it would be there. And, well...it was. She commented to me that my sister had suggested that they could go to Super Walmart (the ultimate shopping mecca of the middle of absolutely nowhere) and order the cake. My mom's thoughts? Nope. No thank you. Walmart is NOT good enough for MY little girl and her momentous baby shower. So, my mom's idea? Let's get the cake from the GAS STATION! Everyone knows great cakes are all imagined and brought to life at gas stations, right? Um...uh-huh! I wish I was kidding about this, but I am not. My cake came from the Donut Emporium, which is located inside the BP Amoco gas station in Plano, IL. Oh. My. God! Well, there is a first time for everything...and life is full of experience and experiments. I can add this one to my "done" list.

So, how was the cake? I am not sure that it was better than a Super Walmart cake. I am certain it was no worse. It had cakey qualities. It had filling. It had frosting. It was too sweet, which ALL bakery cakes seem to be. It was...well, cake.

My mom is certain to read this post and shake her head while doing so. She has heard me tell the story of my baby shower cake a hundred times now. Over the course of two short days. But, really, it just had to be in print. Who else will have such a tale to tell of their baby shower cake? And...the story, to me, will never get old.

Thanks for the shower, mom and Erin. And, thanks for my gas station cake.

The fat lady working the baby showerThe fat lady and her nephew PaxonThe fat lady and G-ma

Belly Shot Chronicles - 31 Weeks

Another week down. Another week closer. I love it!

This week I am delighting you with not just a belly shot, but also a "shot from behind". As you are probably aware, every once in awhile I sneak some other form of crappy photo in, and I surely hope you enjoy it! This week you get the pleasure of viewing the tattoo. Fun, right!

Still growing. All is as it all should be.

Note: Almost forgot to mention, but I am flying back "home" to Chicago tomorrow. My mom and sister are hosting my baby shower on Saturday. So, if the blog isn't updated as much as it usually is...that is because I am basking in the heat and humidity of the IL plains. I will return on Sunday.

Labor Basics and the New Philosophy

I willingly, albeit sadly, bow down to my lovely. You were right. You are right. You will always be right. How could I ever doubt you? I mean, really?

Labor Basics class sucked. We don't need no stinkin' labor basics class!

I signed up for both my breastfeeding class and the labor basics class with the hope that they would inform me and better prepare me for those scary and miraculous days yet to come. The breastfeeding class lived up to every expectation I had, and I was not disappointed in the least. The instructor was not a breastfeeding Nazi, but she certainly did shed light on all of the different aspects of feeding baby: the how to's and whys of it all...what can go wrong and why it will and how to fix it...and so much more. She was a consummate professional, and I give her a ton of credit. Job well done. Even the husbands (you know, the ones who actually attended) thought the class was nothing short of excellent.

Moving on to Labor Basics. I forced my husband to go. I did. You don't want to go to the wonderful and awe-inspiring breastfeeding class? Fine! But...you ARE going to Labor Basics, damn it! Well, might as well have just opened up my mouth and started chewing on my foot right then and there instead of being the pressurizing wifey that I was.

Did I mention that the Labor Basics class sucked???

First off, our L&D nurse / instructor apparently is not capable of separating her personal from her professional life. Quite a liability if you ask me. She started off class complaining about a fight (regarding some baseball game or championship) that she had gotten into with her oldest son. This spawned itself into a rant about arguing with children and how miserable children can be...really, we should just wait...but, alas, we will all know soon enough! Ummm...nice way to pump up a class of first time expectant parents. You know, make us feel all warm and fuzzy inside about the journey upon which we are about to embark. I could just feel the heat coming off of my spouse as he was trying to use his mind to cause this woman to spontaneously combust so he would not have to listen to another minute of her. No such luck. He hasn't honed in on that particular power just yet. Damn it!

About 10 minutes into the class (which was just text being read verbatim off of a projected computer screen, which was also text that was taken verbatim from the booklets sitting in front of us, all of which was apparently text taken verbatim from the video that we had to watch at the very end) this nurse / instructor abrubtly stopped and said, "excuse me...I need to take five"...and she rushed out of the room. We just sat there frozen. We thought, maybe she was sick? Or really had to pee? Or, perhaps she had a female emergency? Well, no...those would have all actually been perfectly justifiable reasons for pardoning herself from a class for which we spent $70 and for which we gave up our evenings. Her reason? The thought of what was going on with her son overwhelmed her / got the better of her / caused her to have a mini-meltdown, and she needed a break. Great. Did I mention that she works in L&D at the hospital where we are going to be delivering??? I hope she is NOT my nurse, and if she is, I hope to catch her on a GOOD DAY!!! My god!!!

No point in going on any further about the class. We learned nothing. It really was labor BASICS (thank goodness, though, for the girl with the 12 year old's mentality sitting next to me who I am not even sure if she is aware of how she became pregnant in the first place let alone knows anything about being pregnant or labor and delivery!). So, guaranteed, I know my lovely will NOT be back for round 2 on Wednesday night where epidurals, C-sections, and post-partum depression will be discussed. I am also pretty sure that the wife of lovely will be skipping class as well.

I think I have come to the conclusion that adopting the "just wing it" philosophy from my husband is the best course of action. Why not? Really, he has a point. Professionals will be there every step of the way: directing us to the right floor of the hospital, telling us when I am in active labor, telling us what to do at every stage of labor, telling me when to breathe and push, telling my husband when to be in the way or when to get out of it. No one is going to leave us alone to do this on our own. And, no one can really predict how our labor and delivery will play out. No amount of preparation can prepare you for such an unknown scenario. And, from what EVERY mother out there tells me...absolutely NOTHING can prepare you for the pain that labor and delivery brings with it. It is far worse than anything you are capable of imagining. So, I am done.

Lovely? Are you listening? You win. Let's just be our natural excited adventursome selves sprinkeld with perhaps just a bit of well-balanced naivete'...and let's JUST WING IT!!!

Happy Father-to-be Day!

Today I just want to share with you all, once again, what a special person my husband is. He is a strong, confident, and funny man...a wonderful spouse...and I just know he is going to be an amazing daddy to our little girl. Batman already thinks he is the best daddy in the world, and for good reason. Dogs don't lie about feelings like that. Trust me.

The below tribute to my lovely is taken from the very first post I ever put on this blog. It was something I wrote and framed for him as a gift before we were even married. My feelings haven't changed, and I just want to honor my best friend on this special day. A short time ago we weren't sure that we would ever be lucky enough to "celebrate" holidays like this one, so it is certainly all the sweeter this year with our precious Finnley on the way.


Matt -

Thank you for continually speaking your mind and your heart - it melts me.
Thank you for loving me in a way that I have never experienced before and that I don't think I could ever experience with anyone else.
Thank you for being silly and for being serious.
Thank you for knowing exactly why I smile or giggle, even though I have not said a word.
Thank you for listening to me when I vent.
Thank you for laughing at me and poking fun at me when I pout or complain.
Thank you for having your eyes speak everything that my heart feels.
Thank you for just being in my life and for wanting me in yours.
I love you....

- Megan

A Vomitous String of Thoughts

I have nothing big to say, but lots of little things...so I thought I would just spew them out in bits. Here you go!

A scarily bright and shiny object appeared in the South Jersey sky this morning. I wasn't sure if I should fear this heady foreign blob or embrace it. I decided to just stare out the window and take in how it bounced off of the numerous puddles in the street. It didn't last long. Turns out there was nothing to fear. It disappeared so quickly. I wonder if I will ever see it again.

Little Miss Finnley had the hiccups this morning. At least I think she did. I had gotten up to pee at 5am (4th time since hitting the sheets last night), and when I layed back down, there was this persistent and consistent "thump" in my belly. It felt like a little kick but with not much behind it. And, it happened every 3 seconds or so...in perfect rhythm...and lasted about 5 minutes. During that time she had two very funny episodes of spastic random activity. Interesting.

Outside of the apparent hiccup episode, Miss Finnely also did something else new and interesting. I think her movements are just becoming more constricted but more pronounced. It felt like someone had a rolling pin pushing and moving across my innards on the right hand side of my upper uterus. Then, all of a sudden...SUCKER PUNCH! It really was the strangest sensation. I just hope she is amusing herself in there.

I am again going to play "single" mom at my breastfeeding class this evening. My lovely is so stinkin' proud of himself for NOT going. I must take one for the team, though, and go. I really would like to learn something about my growing milk cache and how it can potentially be put to good use after the baby arrives. Any information will certainly arm me with more than I currently have, so it can't hurt, right?

Some people tell me that I am "nesting" because of the work that I have been doing in Finnley's nursery. Nesting? I don't know if I would call it that. I really would call it my already obsessive-compulsive need to organize EVERYTHING in my life and my house simply spilling over into another room of our dwelling. Things need a place. The open floor is not a good place, in my opinion. So, we now have canvas boxes and bins and storage thingys-galore. Hooray! It was a necessity given my upcoming baby shower in Chicago next weekend. There will now be a GOOD place to put things when I somehow manage to get them home.

Lastly, I am just gearing up for Father's Day weekend. My lovely and I will be in the VIP box at the Jimmy Buffett concert on Saturday night...very fun! My lovely might also be attending the US Open on Saturday morning / afternoon. Too long of a drive for me given that the chance of rain is 50 to 70% the ENTIRE day. I will pass and stay home for that. Who knows what Sunday will bring. Lots to be thankful for this Father's Day, though. I know that much for sure.

So, that is my diatribe for the day.

Belly Shot Chronicles - 30 Weeks!

Holy Crap! I cannot believe that I am 30 weeks. That just feels like another important milestone. It was certainly a big deal moving into the third trimester, but hitting 30 weeks really makes it feel like we are narrowing in on the home stretch. NOT narrowing in is my abundant belly. As you can certainly see...even through the grainy photography. Such is the life of a pregnant chick!

Pregnant Air Travel Haiku

Flying while preggo.
Airline to worry? Hell yeah!!!
Fear is good for them.


I am sure to be a bit nervous, too...but worrying never helped anything did it?? Nah. Or is it that worrying ALWAYS HELPS EVERYTHING?? I always get those things confused! So, I am just going to get on that big old plane a week from this Thursday and fly my semi-firm yet rotund ass back on home to Chicago to see my family and friends. It would be rude for me to miss my own baby shower, wouldn't it? Even if I am going to be flying while 31 weeks-scarily-pregnant? Indeed. It would be rude. Life is all about challenge, experience, and perseverance...right? I am sure to take in all three during my adventure. Get me to that party, bring on the games that everyone loathes, and...most importantly...just be sure to feed the fat lady in the corner some cake!

Note: Below is my mother's response to this particular post. Clarifying? Yes. However, she does fail to realize that at least half of the flight attendants are gay men...and I doubt many have delivered their own baby. With that being said...I am letting her have a voice. Just for today.

#1 The fat lady better not be sitting in the corner. She needs to sit in the middle by all of her friends and gifts.

#2 There will be no games that everyone loathes. There will be no games. Period.

#3 Flight attendants have delivered babies before...or most have. Usually their own.

#4 Not only will there be cake (plenty for the fat lady) but there will be fruit, snacks and wine (but no wine for the fat lady!)

#5 If said fat lady wants to be picked up at the airport, she needs to get the pertinent information to those who would be willing to pick her up. (One of them willing even come to baggage claim and help with the fat lady's suitcase)

Murphy's Law

We have all heard of Murphy's Law. We all know that Murphy is out to screw us on a regular basis. I am one of his favorite "customers". So...I worry.

I worry that my husband has necessary business travel starting on August 11th. Originally this travel was supposed to start on August 17th...GULP! My lovely managed to get that backed up a week, at least. Granted, the travel is not THAT far away...as it will start in Philly, then head to Pittsburgh, and work its way back to South Jersey.

HOWEVER. I am due August 26th. And, being one of Murphy's favorite "customers", it really just sets me up to go into labor anytime beginning on August 11th...or during the remainder of my lovely's road trip. I can just see driving myself while in labor...fending off contractions while trying to steer somewhat within my own lane...all while desperately trying not to get pulled over as a possible DUI suspect...willing myself to the hospital in one piece...and calling my lovely to meet me there as soon as it is humanly possible.

The only things really working in our favor here are the fact that first time moms GENERALLY go into labor later rather than sooner in regards to their due dates. And, first time moms GENERALLY have a long labor.

Murphy could give a crap about first time mom generalities, though...

I already feel him stalking me from a not too distant location just waiting to pounce and make his blasted move. Damn that Murphy and his stinkin' law! I plan to show him up JUST this ONE time! I can resolve that to happen, right??? I guess we will know soon enough!

So, let me know if you see Murphy around. Just so I can be better prepared. By "prepared" I mean I can carry a big stick with me or something...you know...to beat the shit out of him and lay him up just until after my lovely returns home in August. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

"Single" Mom

Today was the first of our big days to come...our hospital maternity tour. I have had this particular event scheduled for at least two months. They (you know, the ever elusive "they") mentioned that the tours fill up very quickly, so I wanted to make sure that we didn't miss out. The first time I scheduled the tour, my husband informed me that we couldn't go on the day I had chosen...that it conflicted with the already scheduled 50th anniversary party for my inlaws. Darn it, but...ok! The inlaws win (as they should)! So, I sheepishly called up the coordinator at the hospital to see if I could switch over to another date. No real big deal. Prior to doing this, though, I ran the next best available date of June 13th past my lovely. He checked his schedule and told me to go ahead and book it...no plans. Done! The coordinator helped me out, and we got it all squared away.

Move forward about one week. My lovely mentions to me that his annual national dealer meeting has been scheduled for the middle of June. When giving specifics...as you might have already guessed...the business trip was to fall over the weekend of June 13th. Uggh! Well, I couldn't change the tour date to August because it might be too late for a tour by then. And, I didn't want to change it to May because that was just too early. The lovely's brilliant suggestion? Go alone. Pretend that I am a single mother. And, go alone. To be certain, I would NOT be the only "single" mom attending the tour. There would be others. He assured me. He was very proud of himself for first weasling his way out of our upcoming breastfeeding class, and now here he was managing to escape the hospital tour as well. (shit-eating grin on his face all the while) FINE!!!

So, what did I do today? I sucked it up, put on my big-girl panties, and I went to the hospital as a "single" mom. And, to ease my worries about being the only one there without a mate...upon entering the waiting room I saw that there were several other people there by themselves, right? NO!!! I was THE only "single" mom there! Where were all of the irresponsible pregnant women who got knocked up without a life partner and had to attend these classes alone...or with a parent or friend instead??? Huh?? Huh?? They must have been hiding today because they certainly weren't in my group!

Don't worry about me, though. I was fine. I kept my chin held way up high over my burgeoning belly, and I walked those hospital floors like I owned the place. Or something like that.

To my husband's credit, I know that he was right in saying that he really and truly did NOT "need" to be there for the parade of preggos. That when I do happen to go into labor AND when he pulls up to the Emergency Room door AND when he marches his plump wife into the hospital AND when he tells whomever will listen that said plump wife is ready to have her baby...SOMEONE will surely point him in the right direction. He don't need no stinkin' tour!!!

So, my lovely...no tour for you. And, your "single" mom wife survived.

Simple note to the lovely, though:
YOU WILL BE GOING TO THE TWO LABOR BASICS CLASSES EVEN IF IT IS THE DEATH OF YOU!!! I SWEAR IT!!! I AM PREGNANT WOMAN!!! HEAR ME ROAR!!!

The Hotel Mirror and the Ugly Truth

I have heard tales about the second trimester being blissful. And then I have heard how all hell breaks loose in the third trimester. Well, I personally cannot vouch for the expected or apparent blissfulness, but I can certainly say "here here" to the "all hell breaking loose" fiasco.

The third trimester is jam-packed full of ugly truths.

Just the other day I managed to follow my husband in a two car caravan to Washington D.C. It really isn't that bad of a drive from where we live. Only about 2.5 hours. Given that Finnley had rearranged herself in her snuggly womb-motel and was causing me extreme discomfort every time I took a step, 2.5 hours of sitting in a car and NOT walking actually sounded appealing to me. I was ecstatic for the break from the pain.

Eventually when we arrived at the (oh my god how totally freakin' luxurious and picturesque of a) hotel, I did have to find my legs again. The legs were never the problem, though, at least in comparison to my new found pains. This new pain radiated from my lower left abdomen, up and through my hip bone, around my side and to the back of my hip bone, and up my side to the back of my rib cage. The pain is somewhat comparable to gas or ovulation pains...but multiplied to the point when every step sort of makes you gasp and grab your side. My pain only passed for brief periods of about 30 seconds at a time. I found myself walking fast at those junctures just to try to cover more ground without pain. Later, in speaking to my nurse, I discovered that new hell I was experiencing was caused by Finnley moving into a position where she was resting on a bundle of nerves attached to my round ligament. In addition, I was probably also having Braxton-Hicks contractions. Well, I wouldn't know a contraction of any kind if it hit me square in the pie-hole...so, I just took her word for it.

So, pain. There is one ugly truth. That new pain goes along with the SPD pain that you are all probably already familiar with from my exacerbated musings on the subject. I won't bore you more with that. Luckily, the new pain decided to take a hiatus today...hopefully because Finnley has readjusted herself into a more favorable (for mommy) position. I do not raise my hands in victory, though...as at any moment, another new pain could be born.

More ugly truths. The hotel mirror. not. my. friend. At our quaint little home in South Jersey, I only have access to mirrors that conveniently expose me mostly to my upper quarters. I can deal with that. I still pretty much look like me from the shoulders up...not too much swelling or puffiness. I generally don't take the time to contort myself into positions where I can catch other angles of my current physique. Stepping out of the shower at the hotel, however, and into the light of the full length mirror right outside the door...now that was a cruel mistake. What the hell is that????? HOW CAN I HAVE A BLUE VARICOSE VEIN THE SIZE OF TEXAS RUNNING RAGGED DOWN THE BACK OF MY LEG??? Why didn't I know about this before??? How will I survive such an unsightly beast living on MY body after the baby comes? Will I ever recover from this travesty? Oh, one can only hope. I have already pleaded my case to my fiscally responsible husband, and I want to have this "thing" taken care of as soon as I can after Finnley arrives...but in his eyes it will all depend on the money factor. No sum can be too large to rid our lives of "this thing", can it??? Really. This. must. go!!!!!

Ugly truth revisited. I have spoken about my literal "pain in the ass" issues previously. I am sure that most would like to skim right over those writings. That is fine. I don't blame you. But, this is my reality. At least somewhere in the midst of every week, I still feel like I have a bag of marbles hanging out of my ass. There. I said it. Disgusted? Too friggin' bad. Sometimes these marbles hurt. Sometimes they are just there. Either way, they suck.

A final truth for the day. I have started producing / secreting colostrum. Not in any mass quantities. Not in a leaky mess. It is simply there waiting to become more of a hinderance in the coming weeks. Now, I know...this hinderance will also allow me to nourish my baby in just a few short months. I get that. Really, I do. Sure, it is a beautiful thing. Agreed. But, couldn't the colustrum come right at the very last days of pregnancy...followed by the milk not coming until the very second the baby is born??? Nawww...that would allow us dignity!

We pregnant folk are not about dignity.

I have resigned to the fact that "WE" are all about ugly truths.

Not often shared...but all too often experienced.

Belly Shot Chronicles - 29 Weeks

Another glorious belly photo on another glorious Wednesday morning! Enjoy! Off to DC with Matt to get a "private" tour of the White House tomorrow. Fun! I am sure Finnley will love it!

Additional update: the lab just called, and I PASSED my one hour glucose test. Yay, me! Sadly, though, it came back that I AM anemic. Stupid me! Not a suprise, really. I am borderline anemic on a regular basis, so pregnancy would easily tip the scales in the negative direction. I am to start on Slow Fe capsules once a day...at a different time than my prenatal is taken. No big deal.

Leg Cramp Haiku

She learned the hard way
"Heels" no good in pregnancy
Leg cramp hell ensues


*and, they weren't even real "heels", per se. damn it! they were just loafers with a big chunky heel. oh well...guess it is flats from here on out to save myself the trouble. and, to clarify, this is not part of the haiku...as that would break all the rules and be the worst haiku EVER. but, I had to elaborate. that is just me!

Poked, Shot, and Poked again!

Today was my "28 week" OB appointment. Although, if we are being technical (which I always am), I am really 28 weeks and 5 days along.

This appointment was a really "fun" one. It started out with me visiting the lab and the friendly neighborhood phlebotomist. I had 3 vials of blood drawn (for a HIV test, an anemia test, and for something else that is so important that I totally forgot what it was). The phlebotomist had me squeezing a squishy baseball, and she told me that I had "great veins and 'workout arms'". Well, I could have just kissed her! She, while drawing my blood, actually started asking ME for weight lifting and workout advice. Imagine that! I was quite happy to oblige, after being fed those wonderful compliments...a pregnant woman's food for everything good!

After getting bandaged up, I was given my orange "glu-cola" to drink for my mandatory one hour glucose test. It tasted like semi-cold, flat, overly-sweetened Fanta orange soda. I mean REALLY HORRENDOUSLY overly-sweetened flat Fanta orange soda. Now, I hate drinking sweet things to begin with, so this was not a good time for me. However, it really wasn't too awful considering the amount of liquid I had to consume probably equated to about 8 ounces. I think it took me less than two minutes to force it down. In my humble opinion, I sucked it up like a champ!

The glu-cola binging was followed by my acutal OB appointment. I continued on my "rounds" of doctors...this is the 3rd OB I have seen, outside of also seeing 2 of the nurse / midwives. Hopefully by doing this rotation I WILL actually recognize the face that delivers me!

Anyway...the nurse took me back and weighed me first. Ummm...I was utterly shocked to find out that I had only gained 1.5 pounds over the last four weeks. WHAT???? There were times that I weighed myself in the most recent weeks that showed that I was up (gulp!) 4 pounds. I figured that today I would be up about 5 or 6, for sure. So, not sure if it was about water retention, or lighter-weight summery clothing, or what...but, whatever!!! I will take it. That puts my weight gain at a grand total of 16.5 pounds for the pregnancy to date. I am measuring (or my uterus is measuring) exactly right on track for this point in the pregnancy, so there are no issues or concerns there. Blood pressure was a wonderul 112 / 66. (Kudos to me. Pat on the back. I rock!) Heartbeat for the baby was great. All is still right with the world.

Lastly, for this portion of my appointment, I had to receive an intramuscular injection of RhoGAM...given my status of being Rh-. It was not a fun shot, and it was a full 3 CCs...so, it did hurt going in. I survived (sniff, sniff) and then afterward managed to completely bleed through my band-aid. Luckily I am wearing all black on the bottom today, so no one else was wise to that fact.

Following the OB face time, I had to sit myself back in the waiting room with my little timer to wait out the rest of my one hour "sentence". I took a book along, so that really wasn't too tough a task. After the "ding", I was able to go back and see my new best friend the phlebotomist. She had to use my other arm to draw one more vial of blood for the glucose test. During that time she asked for more weight lifting advice (how many reps...how many sets...etc.). Quite funny, I must admit. After that, she sent me on my merry way! She told me that they will only call if I failed the test, so no news is good news. Let's hope for no calls from them on Wednesday or Thursday this week!

I am scheduled to go back on July 6th for my 32 week ultrasound and OB appointment. Yay, another ultrasound! And, yay, no needles at that visit!!! At that point in time I will have to start going back every TWO weeks instead of every FOUR. I think I will feel like I am "close" when I get to that next step. Looking forward to it!

"Really Juicy" Couture

We are back from our babymoon on the East Coast and are now awaiting the arrival of my inlaws for the weekend. Maine was beautiful and peaceful...and our time there was probably too short. But, such is life in the fast lane. We managed to squeeze in an afternoon in Manhattan on our way back home to South Jersey. The weather held for us, so that was a pleasant surprise. We spent the day walking around 5th Avenue and Rockefeller Plaza, and we topped the day off by partaking in an amazing dinner at Bobby Flay's new venture: Bar Americain. Ohhhh, I am still swimming with thought over the luscious filet which was followed up by some dreamy toasted almond creme brulee. I give that place 4 stars, thankyouverymuch!

I am most pleased to announce after this trip, however, that, although Matt and I are very close to realizing our dream of becoming parents, our senses of humor and reeling use of sarcasm have not waned one iota. In fact, I fear that they have become worse...I know, is that even possible???

Since we apparently still live in junior high, we couldn't help ourselves from taking the above picture of my "lovely" while at Juicy Couture on 5th Avenue. I mean...when you pose a mannequin like that in plain view...you really are just asking for it, aren't you? Sure, we could have been like all of the other banal people who just walked right on by so that they could eagerly peruse the highly overpriced merchandise on display...but what fun would that be? I think the Juicy mannequin enjoyed herself, and I know we certainly did. We will be giggling about that one for days!

Now, back to South Jersey...and back to reality. Whatever...

Belly Shot Chronicles - 28 Weeks!!

Well, this is it...we are now embarking on the third trimester! Ta-dahhhhh! This week's belly shot is horrendous due to the fact that we are on vacation...it is a self mirror shot (as always)...and I do not have my normal editing tools from Picasa. Oh well. You still get the general idea. The clothed belly shot is of Matt, myself, and Finnley enjoying our getaway to Maine! Aren't we too cute???

The Odd Couple

A glimpse into our first 24 hours of vacation.

The drive

out the door, in the car, on the road by 8:30am

first stop? 9:30am. agenda? pee and get snacks/drinks. Megan gets a 12 oz. V8 fusion drink. Matt gets wasabi peas and a diet Coke.

10am. Megan is already cursing the fact that she drank a 12 oz. ANYTHING. have to pee. Honey????

10:30am. stop to pee. Thanks, honey!

noonish time. Panera bread. Matt gets PB&J and chicken noodle soup. Megan gets a tuna sandwich. Back on the road in no time.

3pm. ALMOST (and I mean within a mile) to our destination! But, we need to stop so Matt can participate in his month-end wrap up conference call because nothing says vacation like a little work!

3:15pm. Matt's part is over. Call on mute. Continue to destination.

Destination - B&B

Meet up with the inlaws. Mother in law says I am not as big as she thought I would be. Father in law says I look pretty pregnant. Guess we will stay!

No more need to track time. We are on vacation.

Sit on deck overlooking river water that rises and falls with the tide twice a day. Call still on mute.

Call ends sometime this century. Matt can talk to his parents without background drivel.

Meet owners of B&B. Meet others staying at B&B. HUNGRYYYYYYYYYYY!!!! (Doesn't anyone notice the starving pregnant woman in the corner with an evil hunger in her eyes? Oh wait, her husband does!!!)

Food

cruise over to Noonan's for lobster.

Megan gets lobster salad. Matt gets TWO 1.25 pound Maine lobster. Who is eating for two??? hmmmm.

Ben and Jerry's is closed. Bastards! So are the other ice cream shops in town. Co-horts of Bastards! Ahhh...little general store is open and sells ice cream!

Megan gets Maine Tracks ice cream. Matt gets his old standby...plain chocolate.

Hunger has been satiated, then beaten with a huge stick, and finally buried somewhere in the proverbial yard of the B&B. ahhhhh!

Rest and Relaxation

Mother in law reads.

Father in law and Matt play gin. Matt beats up on father in law quite handily. My hero!

Megan plays on computer. Addict? Nahhhhh.

Bedtime

Matt and Megan cozy into the queen (where is our huge King size bed like at home?) bed.

Feels like third person in bed with us given pregnancy pillows. Sure husband is amused!

Matt turns on TV. Ghostbusters is on! Fun!

Mandatory channel changing and program searching begins.

Wait, honey...that is "The Little Couple" on TLC. Good show.

Matt grunts. Channel changing resumes.

Nothing is on, so Matt enables the remote to switch between ABC and TLC (wife wins!)

Matt groans. "...we're watching midgets while we are in too small of a bed on our vacation...ridiculous"

Megan laughs. "...this is ridiculous...and, they like to be called 'little people'..."

End of episode. Permission to change to ABC.

Megan realizes this is the Bob Woodruff special about the year 2100. "Honey, nobody likes to watch pessimistic futuristic stupid cartoons while on vacation."

Back to the already in progress next episode of the midgets. Doctor little person is conducting a seminar on medical simulation using a pregnant mannequin in the birthing / after birthing process.

Matt says, "...know what I would like to see? the mannequin pushing the baby out her butt." (cockeyed grin inserted here)

Megan says,"OMG...well, the LAST thing I would want to do is push a baby out my butt. and, not very realistic!"

Matt says, "...well, it would make for a good SIMULATION!"

Megan chokes on laughter, "...ok, so doctors need to be prepared because women could someday possibly be crapping out babies?"

Matt thinks and says, "maybe!"

Yes...this is what WE do on vacation.

Sleep or something like that

1:38am (time in the middle of the night is always important. not sure why, but it IS, damn it!) pregnant chick must uncomfortably roll out of bed to pee AGAIN.

6:22am. We are up. (Really???) Matt goes for run. Megan blogs.

So, this is a day in the life. Scared? Jealous? A little of both? Understandable. But, I do love our life, and I do love my husband for always making me laugh and for being just as weird as me...at home...on vacation...or wherever we are at. A beautiful thing, indeed.

Babymoon - Hiatus upon us

Everyone is well aware that following a wedding the happy couple heads off into paradise to celebrate there union on a honeymoon. Well, in a later stage of that union, that happy couple (who is now expecting their first child) tries to squeeze in a babymoon...or one last trip away prior to their lives being strangely and happily invaded. That time for THIS happy couple is right now!

Matt and I have had some variation of this trip planned for months. Over the course of time, those plans have morphed, shortened, and morphed again. What started out as a week away (with a couple of days spent with the inlaws in Maine...and then a couple of stops in Boston and NYC sans anyone else), has now become a brief trip that still involves meeting with the inlaws in Maine and then having an even more brief "layover" in NYC while on our way home. This layover is for us to take a break and have dinner at Bobby Flay's on our way home. Not too shabby! Hey, I really don't care. I am happy just to get a few days away with my husband. And, I am even happier to get some makeout time with some oh-so-lucsious lobster in Kennebunkport, ME. Ahem...excuse me for just a moment while I wipe the thick and glistening drool that is cascading down my chin.

All better.

Now, this babymoon probably means a hiatus from the blog for most of the week. For shame, right?!? However, the B&B in Maine does have WiFi...so, you never know when a post or pic might pop up. I would like to still try and get my weekly belly shot in on Wednesday, if possible. Life just wouldn't be the same without it, and I would truly hate to disrupt the order of my pregnant universe.