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.

Finnley Piper's 3D Ultrasound

Above photo shows a facial shot of Finnley. Look at that adorable little nose!


Above photo shows Finnley with her eye open...staring right into wombland! One hand is covering part of her face.

Wow...what a crazy experience that was! I know this much after having the 3D ultrasound, the fertility clinic did not screw up the sperm sample when creating our embryo that was to become Finnely. She definitely belongs to us. Even in utero, it is more than apparent.

Now, I am not saying that she "has my eyes and Matt's nose"...or anything like that. Nothing physical is usually that obvious in an ultrasound picture. I am speaking of every other aspect about her, though.

For starters, she is "different" already. She is in the "butt down, head up, legs straight up in the air" breech position. (For those having trouble picturing this, just think of how you would get your whole body to form a "V".) Why be normal and comfortable in the womb with just a normal breech position where your head is up and your feet are down? Better yet, why be the most normal with your head down and your feet up? Nope, not good enough for our little girl! Normal is cheap and mundane!

Secondly, she is as stubborn as a mule (think both mom and dad here). This little girl is not at all shy about kneeing me in the ribs, punching me in the gut, or dancing around my uterus on a frequent and daily basis. For this ultrasound, however, the one time where we would have liked to have had her doing ANY of these things...she just wanted to lay there and bask in her own oddness. Luckily, with a TON of poking, prodding, and coaxing by the ultrasound tech (and me changing positions about 12 times), Finnley did move just enough to let us know that she IS indeed a SHE. As the tech put it, she had all girl parts...which, in the words of this highly qualified person, essentially look like a mini hamburger on the screen. Sounds about right. Finnley also briefly cooperated in moving one of her arms just a smidge, at the very last minute, to capture a couple of decent facial shots.

Lastly, and this is the real marker that this child belongs to my husband: she likes to put her foot in her mouth. Now, at this stage of the game, Matt is known to do this in more of a figurative sense than a literal one. (Although, I might pay to see him try it literally!) Finnley is all about being truly literal, though...and those little squishy baby toes were just way too tempting for her to pass up. She allowed us to witness her jamming that foot into her wide open mouth a couple of times, which is unusually easy when you consider the fact that her feet are already hanging out by her head. So, let's also throw in the fact that she is also all about ease and convenience. A true chip off the old M & M block.

After today, I really cannot wait to meet our little girl in person. I know that I have another three months to go, but just having that glimpse of her today makes me so anxious for that time to fly by. Miss Finnley Piper, you are a treasure already!


Above photo shows Finnley with her foot jammed right into her mouth! Each hand is by a cheek, too. Nice work!


Above photo shows Finnley with her foot jammed into her eye. Also, her mouth is gaping wide open. Again...well done!

A Day of Few Words...

Pain? Better. Perfect? No. Me, happier? Yes. Ahhhhhhh.

Love the smell of man work on a Thursday morning...nothing like getting a nice shiny new attic fan to make a pregnant chick smile!

Tomorrow. 3D ultrasound. Still a girl? Let's hope so.

Belly Shot Chronicles - 27 Weeks...and some respite???

Here are the results of the weekly mirror self shot ritual. What would all of you do without seeing these really horribly crappy photos? I am sure your lives would just not be the same!

And, regarding respite??? Well, it is a possibility! I saw the chiropractor today, and can I please just mention that I LOVE her? Even if what she fed me was all just a bunch of malarky, this doc is the first person who has told me that they can help me...and that alone puts a smile on my slowly fattening face. After doing a bunch of tests and examining me, she said that she will either help enough that this "situation" will get better and go away...OR...she will be able to help enough that I will at least feel much better navigating my way through the remainder of the pregnancy. Ummm, here is my $25 co-pay, and thankyouverymuch!

My SPD condition has made my left leg 1.5 inches "shorter" than my right leg, for the current moment. I always knew I was a little bit off, but being that much off is ridiculous! My present clown status apparently stems from the fact that my pelvis is completely misaligned. Well, I definitely knew that much to be true already. The misalignment is causing "everything" to be out of whack. My ligaments and tendons in my right groin / inner, upper thigh area are in a huge knot and are hard as a rock. The muscles in my lower right back are pretty much the same. So, for now...lots of gentle manipulation and massage at Dr. Wonderful's office...followed by some simple stretches and exercises at home. I can manage that. Oh, to be in less pain...that little dream now seems somewhat palpable.

Advertising and Pregnant Think

Main Entry: ad·ver·tis·ing
Function: noun
Date: 1751
1 : the action of calling something to the attention of the public especially by paid announcements

Ok, so that is the definition of advertising according to Mirriam Webster. Doesn't sound too sinister, right? Advertisements are EVERYWHERE, and there are so many of them blanketing and littering the roadways, TV airwaves, and pages of magazines that most of us are somewhat immune to their potentially warping affects. Yes, most of us. However, "most of us" certainly does not encompass, nor does it apply to, the first time mom to be.

Pregnancy magazines and their sneaky advertisers target us special creatures of emotion and our hormonally driven rationales without any malice at all. We innocently pick up these magazines hoping to "learn" something more about: growing a healthy baby, getting ready for labor, having better sex after the baby, helping our partner, the new dad, adjust and contribute... and a PLETHORA of other truly banal information. In reality we really just skim these articles (or is it just me???), for we have a feeling that we will be able to feel our ways through this childbirth experience and after-experience in a somewhat reasonable fashion with all of the other resources we already have availabe to us.

But, the pretty colors and oh-so-modern looking thingamajiggys meant for the new parents and for their perfect genius baby-to-be that are strategically placed on the other pages in between these ultimately meanigless articles...well, THAT is where we get hooked! We find out about the "must haves" and "parent favorites" that we truly never even knew existed prior to our pregnancy and us peeling back these pages, let alone that we must have them.

Really, how else would we discover that we were potentially missing out on the new "Bugaboo Bee in Red" $530 stroller??? The apparent "necessity for every dad". Necessity, yes, because EVERY dad I know is just dying to show off his "Rolls Royce" of a stroller to his beer chugging buddies during the next gathering for a college football game.

And then there is the "Mama's Belly" bronze bowl. Who could live without the bronze cast of their own pregnant belly? A treasure like that is bound to be a hit at parties and an heirloom to pass down for generations to come. I am sure it is not only art but can also be used for chips or dips, too...right? Extraordinary!

Well, I could continue to sit here and give example after example of the horribly absurd products that are put out there to lure us in. And also make fun of the CRAZY pregnant women who actually succumb to the pressure and are somehow guilted into, or illusioned into, buying one of these riduculous products. Or, I could just simply fess us that I AM one of THOSE crazy pregnant women who has made a couple of these "irrational" (husband think) or potentially very beneficial and useful (pregnant think) purchases after stepping away from said magazines. Come on, just trust me when I say that I am going to look oh-so-good in that very necessary Delivery Gown while I beautifully and gracefully go through my seemingly easy labor and hum my way through my childbirth at the hospital. (can't you just picture it now?) Yep, uh-huh...that's right! Thank goodness for advertising, or I never would have known that I would have been subjected to bleeding all over a dingy, thin, and surely discolored hospital- issue gown that has been worn 400 times before me. Oh...the pure and absoulte horror of the thought!!! Gasp!

Fine, fine, fine...DAMN IT! Ok, honey...I promise...no more pregnancy magazines for me...

Once again, proof in point...I DO have a head

Just to prove that I still do have a head, here is another pic for the week. Not quite to 27 weeks...but only 2 days away. I look a little stoned in the picture, but I assure you I am not. Way too early in the day for that... ; )

By the way, does this fireplace make me look fat??? Just wondering.

From the top...

There truly isn't much that needs to be said about this photo, is there??? Ok, ok...except, perhaps...OH MY GOD! Hey, at least I know that I still do have toes! For now.

About the little joys...

Amidst, and despite, all of my current gripes about pain, discomfort, and difficulties...I still seek to find ways to appreciate the little joys in life.

Joy 1 - being given such a beautiful morning. It was wonderful to sit on the couch in my screened in porch...watching the sunlight and shadows of rustling leaves play off the pages of the book I am reading...all while someone else is cleaning my house...and also while little Finnley is doing some sort of excited dance in my belly

Joy 2 - having such a wonderful husband who sometimes has the sweetest things to say...such as telling his wife that she is a "beautiful pregnant woman" and "just what a pregnant woman should look like"

Joy 3 - living a life where I am actually able to be at home in the first place and not having to juggle work on top of all the current bumps in my silly road

Joy 4 - knowing that in just about 3 months Matt and I will blessed with a tiny miracle that will forever change our lives in ways that we right now cannot even begin to fathom

So, for today, I will make it all about the little joys instead of all about the major complaints. Why not, right?