Holy Cantaloupe! or 20 Weeks!

Today, I am 20 weeks along - officially halfway!  Whee!  Yay!  

Every week, I get a few different e-mails from different pregnancy websites that tell me a bit about what's going on with the baby and the pregnancy with each weekly milestone.  They've been a great resource and a fun read for me.  I love to recite the highlights to Scott on Saturday morning over breakfast.  Usually the e-mails tell us what's developing in our baby (this week - taste buds!), and how I'm probably feeling (hormonal!), and the size of the baby in comparison to food.  We started with a grain of rice, went up to a peanut, then a blueberry, then a grape, olive, apricot, peach, etc.  As we work our way around the produce department, I marvel at how quickly it all happens.  I also often wonder if we're talking about locally grown organic produce here, or that standard grocery store mass produced stuff, because the former is often smaller (and tastier) than the latter.  But I digress... 

I think today's growth statement is one of the most impressive so far.  Baby-girl is now the size of a cantaloupe.  Maybe it's just me, but doesn't that sound rather large?  I mean, a peach was cute, a naval orange was large-ish, but holy shit!  We've graduated to the melons!?  Bah!  I shared this news with Scott with what I'm sure was a horrified look on my face and he calmly replied, "just wait until she's a watermelon."

GAH!

20 weeks (that's right!) 20 weeks and counting...

Wondering...

Do babies dream in utero?  And if they do, just what are they dreaming about?

19 Weeks!

Our little girl is an active one.  She particularly enjoys meal time.  Who doesn't?!  At 19 weeks along and some change, I am definitely excited to make it to that 20-week, we're half-way there, it's all down hill from here milestone.

Except for maybe that "it's all downhill from here" part.  I do realize that we're in this for the long haul.  18+ years long haul.  I have definitely had a few "oh shit" moments this week.  Now that we know she's a girl and we're thinking of baby names (which will not be revealed until she's entered the world - sorry to disappoint!), we have entered into a new reality.  There's no turning back.  This baby is a comin'!

Holy crap.

20 weeks, 4 days and counting...

Dancing Queen

It is seriously like Dance Party USA in my belly right now...

Our Little Girl

If you haven't heard, Scott and I are having a little girl!  At our 18-week ultrasound earlier this week we learned that our baby is growing at the right rate, has two arms, two legs, a well-developed heart, a lovely little spine. . . basically that all the parts appear to be in the right places except no penis.  Because SHE'S A GIRL! 

Both Scott and I were convinced that we were having a boy.  I mean, truly, pretty darn sure.

As the ultrasound technician snapped pictures of our baby, Scott and I marveled at how flexible it was - at one point we saw feet go into or close to the mouth.  Then the doctor came in and asked if we were wanting to find out the sex.  We both cried, "yes!"  The ultrasound tech said, "I already know."  And the doc - very nonchalantly - said, "girl."

"GIRL?!"

"Girl."

There was no doubt or hesitation in their voices.

Scott and I looked at each other with smiling, astonished faces.  Our little girl.  A daughter.

Then, Scott commented that we'll have to pay for a wedding someday and that we need to start saving now.  I laughed so hard.

I know a lot of couples choose not to find out the sex of their baby - and I totally respect that.  That surprise must be incredible.  For me, though, the bond I feel with this little one quadrupled that day.  No longer an "it" but a "she", she's taking on her identity.  She likes to move around a lot between 8:30 and 11:30 at night - a party girl.  She also liked Mom rocking out to Radiohead on the drive home yesterday.  But what girl doesn't like Thom Yourke?

I can't wait to see what else we have in common.

21 weeks, 1 day and counting... 

18 Weeks!

I think this last week was probably one of the best weeks of this pregnancy so far.  Not a lot of fatigue, plenty of energy, not overly hungry, no nausea.  It was a good week.  And now with 18 solid weeks behind us, we enter week 19 and all is well.  So close to half-way.

The baby is about the size of a baked potato - 5-6 inches long.  The baby is also quite the disco dancer.  Especially between the hours of 8.30-11.30 pm.  I'm definitely feeling more movement more often now.  It's very cool.

The big news this week will come on Wednesday.  We hope.  If everyone cooperates, we'll find out the sex of the baby.  I am pretty much beside myself with excitement and hoping for a lack of modesty in our off-spring.

Any predictions?

My guess: boy.  I think that's Scott's, too.

21 weeks, 4 days and counting...

Maternity Leave

Originally uploaded by dooce

I've been thinking a lot about maternity leave lately - starting to mull over all my options and what my "back to work" plan might look like. Of course, it's hard to plan this early because anything could still happen. I could be on bed-rest for that last month. But I'm the kind of person who likes to have a plan, even if it just gets thrown out the window for another plan.

And now, I'm just going to get up on my soap box for a moment.

For a country that is so rooted in "family values", the U.S. really fails its families. The Family Medical Leave Act was a step in the right direction, sure, but we need to go beyond maintaining job security for a portion of our population that decides to start a family (or that experiences a family medical situation beyond their control) than just job security. FMLA only covers a portion of the jobs out there. Small business owners aren't subject to the law. And I can understand why, I do. It's damn expensive to cover an employee's salary and benefits for 12 weeks if they aren't actually working. Hell, it's expensive to let that employee go unpaid for 12 weeks and hold the position for them. I get it, I do. That's capitalism for ya.

But if you look at what other countries are doing for families, the U.S. is really behind. Really behind. Totally bringing up the rear. In fact, if you look at this chart of Maternity Leave in the Americas, we ARE the rear. Behind communist Cuba.

Go Amurrica.

I really do think we can do better, don't you?

I'll be doing a combination plan - what I think a lot of women end up doing.  Even though I work for a State funded institution of higher learning, I don't get paid maternity leave.  It's a huge bummer.  But I do have a lot of sick time and vacation time stock piled.  So, to get my basic 12 weeks, I'll use a little sick time, then for four to six weeks (depending on the type of delivery - C section gets you more), I'll get short-term disability, which pays 60% of my salary.  Then, I go back on sick leave until that's out.  Then, I start ticking down on vacation leave.  That should get us to about mid-February without having to take time off without pay.  But really - 12 weeks?  Is that all?  Really?  I mean it takes nine months to incubate this creature, don't you think we should get the same amount of time with them outside the womb to introduce them to this giant world?

22 weeks and counting...

Rainbow Connection

Something that some of my newer friends might not know about me is that I'm a singer. In fact, once upon a time, I thought I'd make a career out of it. And I was kind of good - I probably could have done something with it if I'd really stuck with it. But then, one day, I realized that I enjoy a steady paycheck and medical benefits and came to terms with letting go of that youthful dream. It sounds sad, doesn't it? It really isn't. You see, for a while there I was singing for all the wrong reasons. To impress others. For my shot at fame. To compete with the other music nerds in college. For members of my family who really loved seeing me up there. Really, I was singing for everyone but me. My heart just wasn't in it. So, when I decided to give it up, I also promised myself that someday I would sing again. It would be on my terms. And only I would know when that moment was right.

I think I've found it.

The past couple of weeks, I've been thinking about the songs I'd like to sing to our baby. I have a little list going in my head. Everything from lullabies to The Ramones. But I've been looking for those one or two special songs. Songs that mean something. That I can look back on when this child is 18 and we can sing it together and go back to some warm, special, and sentimental place.

As I work up my "top five hits" list, the one song that has risen to the top is the Kermit classic, "Rainbow Connection." Honestly, I'd forgotten about the song entirely. It is SUCH a great song! And I was such a Muppets fan growing up. I had Miss Piggy curtains in my bedroom. A friend of mine posted a video of Jason Mraz singing the song on Facebook. That drove me to YouTube to look for other versions, when I found this one:



Maybe it's the hormones, but I was all but sobbing at the end. Can't wait to start singing again - for an audience of one.

22 weeks, 3 days and counting...

17 weeks!

I am officially 17 weeks pregnant. And all is well.

My belly is starting to look less like a beer/chicken wing gut and more like there's a baby in there. Badly in need of new clothes - especially summery stuff - I personally increased Old Navy/GAP corporation's stock last week. How I wish more stores carried maternity lines. Not just a hand full of pieces, but an actual department. Like housewares. With options.

I'm still feeling some baby acrobatics from time to time. Nothing that's very consistent, mind you, but last night my tummy was feeling quite "bubbly" at bed-time. I stayed up late to enjoy the show. It's really the strangest and most wonderful feeling.

Other fun things that are happening: I'm far less coordinated. I've never really been the most graceful of people, (anyone who took a dance class with me in college can attest to this!) but I'm definitely starting to feel a shift in gravity. I keep bumping into stuff, and every day I discover a new bruise with no recollection of how it was obtained. I've been sporting this real beauty on the inside of my knee for about two weeks now and for the life of me, I can't figure out what I did to get it.

I'm also hot. Not, "damn, girl, you look hot." But oh my GOD if I don't stand directly in front of the air conditioner I will surely melt hot. I was worried about this when I learned I'd be pregnant over the summer months. Thank goodness we live in Denver and got away from the East coast humidity. But still, I'm soooo hot. All the time now. It doesn't help that we've had temperatures in the upper 80's and 90's the past few days. I watch the weather forecast and long to sit in a tub of ice. It's strange because I'm usually one of those people who keep a cardigan close by all summer because I freeze in the air conditioning. I'm not so worried about that this year.

Nothing tastes better than fresh fruit and vegetables right now. I'm getting my protein, so don't worry. But the idea of cooking over a hot stove (see paragraph above) sounds hellish, and there's nothing more refreshing that fresh summer produce. My new favorite snack. Well, there's two. The first, frozen blueberries. I stocked up on a big package of fresh berries from Costco and froze them thinking they'd be great for pancakes in the winter or something. Last night while foraging, I pulled a couple out and plucked them in my mouth and found them to be totally delightful. This was, of course, after my other favorite snack, a Skinny Cow ice cream cone. To the fine folks at the Skinny Cow company - I salute you. Delicious low-fat ice cream, in a sugar cone lined with chocolate. And just 150 calories. Genius. I love it. Perhaps a bit too much. I could probably eat five in one sitting.

I've also noticed I have a shorter fuse these days. Especially at work. My patience...not so abundant. But I try to reserve my blow-ups to happen in the privacy of my own home or office where I can mutter profanity at e-mails in peace without disturbing others.

Finally, I'm becoming a bit more forgetful. Scott is a good sport about this. I'm pretty sure that I've been repeating whole conversations. I can usually tell by this one smile he gets while he talks to me when I'm repeating myself. I call it gestational amnesia. My wee little brain just can't handle all these neurons firing at once.

Now, what was I going to do??

22 weeks, 4 days and counting...

Wondering...

Is it really inappropriate to register for a wine club when expecting? Probably so, right?