8 Month Picture

I'm trying to post this picture from Matias' machine cause mine hasnt been set up yet (we got the network cabling issue resolved yesterday!!) & he doesnt have the software that I use to post pictures but blogger claims to have the ability to post pictures from this setting...we'll see! This was taken last Friday at like 7am waiting for the movers to come as I was scrambling around taking pictures of our place all packed up. I had 3 hours of sleep and had just pulled my hair straight back after getting out of the shower so excuse the lovely look I've got going on :) Sorry for the lack of posts but I've got a doozy of one waiting to be written regarding the status of my swollen piggies feet and arthritic ankles!! OH the JOY!! We are heading to Cincy today for Brian's wedding & staying with Nikki & Chris, whom we havent seen since my first bout of morning sickness - still thinking it was a hangover at that point!! I *might* be able to post in between our excursions to High Tea and pedicures!! YAY Girlie Weekends!!

Happy 8 Months Pregnant!!

I had my 8th month appointment this morning and, thankfully, everything is PREFECT!!

Quick rundown of stats:

1) I gained 3 [more] lbs. up to a 21 lb. total weight gain but still well under the “average”.
2) My blood pressure is still low and steady
3) Bebe even kicked the OB Nurse AWAY when she was finding the heartbeat – she literally said “oh, this little one just PUSHED me away”. I said, “He’s shy”. She laughed. Then she commented on how much he does move around.
4) I measured at 32” EXACTLY spot on – you are supposed to measure an inch for every week along you are (I just found that out from my mom this weekend who found it out from her friend…)
5) Doctor noticed my swollen feet before I had to bring it to his attention & I didn’t think I was that bad already.
6) I got the A-OK to sleep more on my back if it stops me from wanting to puke due to my acid reflux when I try and sleep on my side.

And that’s it, folks! Same thing, different week, bigger Mamacita!!

Baby Shower pictures are here - http://ninocentral.com/_WEBAPPS/PhotoAlbums_APP/PhotoAlbums/BabyShowerNC/default.asp

They aren’t in any order and they aren’t labeled because there are 60+ pictures!! Excuse the typical Goofy Faces from Mamacita – I have no idea what happens when I open gifts but I’m going to be eternally thankful that my wedding pictures didn’t turn out like some of these did!

I’ll write a longer post on the shower when I get the chance – ha! Ok but seriously, that is my intention I just don’t know when that will happen considering we move in 3 days!

Baby Pool!!

Ok since I have enough free time on my hands for some reason, here’s a Baby/Birth Pool!! Just write out your guesses in the comments & I’ll collect them into an excel sheet (you couldn’t have guessed that one, could you?) to keep track of all the responses. I’m also going to send this out to people who don’t have the link to the site so that we can see what EVERYONE (!) thinks. You can email your guesses to jennifer.nino(AT)gmail.com (replace the (AT) with a @, please!!) if you’d like.

I wasn’t really thinking of doing this for money, BUT if the demand is there I suppose I could turn my sweet, innocent, Bebe Blog into a gambling site!! Although it might be difficult with us all so scattered…maybe just save the gambling for in-office activities…


Without further ado – here are the Baby/Birth Pool Questions!!

1) Date of birth?
2) Time of birth?
3) Weight?
4) Length?
5) Eye Color?
6) Hair Color?
7) Gender?
8) First Names? (although any family members who already know are EXEMPT from answering this question based on the grounds that I will kick your ass if you tell everyone our names!!!)

Which of these sex prediction methods was true for you?

I carried high (girl) or low (boy) BOY
I carried way out front (boy) or wide (girl) BOY
My morning sickness was worse in early pregnancy (girl) GIRL
My looks improved (boy) or worsened (girl) during pregnancy BOY (or so I’ve been told…)
My partner gained weight with me (boy) or stayed the same (girl) BOY (HA!! 10lbs!!)
The baby's heart rate was fast (girl) or slow (boy) Too Close to Call – 144 is smack dab in the middle AND if you know otherwise, please don’t tell me!!!

Do we need to start a Pool? If I knew how to set one up I would…I think the Office Folks want to do one too…is it strange to start your own Baby Pool?

Things I Think I Know About Our Bebe Already

1) Bebe is shy around others – even Daddy sometimes – Bebe can be zooming around like crazy and my belly can be bumping to the skies but as soon as I call someone over to look or feel Bebe stops moving. And then starts again when the person is gone/isn’t looking. Sometimes this happens to Daddy but then he plays his little “knock-knock” game or “hello Bebe” game and he gets a response. But Auntie Leanne sat for about 20 minutes with her hand on my belly and nothing, she moved away and the Bebe started zooming again. And Bebe doesn’t stop when I put my hand on the belly.
2) This makes Bebe a “Momma’s Bebe” since Bebe is NEVER shy around me!
3) Bebe is a Homebody – movements picked up in speed and strength almost as soon as we got home last night – as if Bebe knew we were home.
4) Bebe likes the Sweets – or maybe Mamacita is just using him as excuse to indulge but Mamacita doesn’t think so since Mamacita usually doesn’t have this Sweet Tooth. Just ask Mamacita’s family.

Southern Bound

I’m leaving in about a ½ hour to catch the train to Cary (NC, for those who don’t know!) for my Baby Shower!!

I’ve got my Super Cute outfit on – the one I’ve been saving for warm weather and Cuteness to come out and damn it all if the pants aren’t LOW RISE. Who makes pregnancy LOW RISE (and I bought them online…so don’t start in on me for not trying them on) pants? My crack is gonna be hanging out all over the Amtrak place. Don’t worry, it’s not the same Cute outfit I have for tomorrow!

We got our first Bebe presents yesterday!! TOO CUTE!! Thanks so much – and don’t worry, I’m sending out a REAL thank you next week – right after I buy some more cause I, uh, already packed up the ones I have. Whoops. Along with my 12x12 scrapbook pages for people to sign at the shower tomorrow. Whoops. I hope my sister has some! I think she does…

I also packed all my little decorative pillows – which, silly me, would have been prefect to take on the train for my back – I’m pretty sure Amtrak doesn’t offer pillows. The airplane pillows TOTALLY saved my back on the flights so I’m not sure what I was thinking except “must pack everything”. Also packed the sonogram pictures BUT I just remembered RIGHT NOW that Grand-mamacita has copies! In case, you know, anyone wants to see Bebe tomorrow!

Heartburn is back with a vengeance. But thankfully it’s containing itself for certain times of day – right around General Hospital watching time & bedtime and 2am & 4am. Don’t fear, I keep a bottle of TUMS on my nightstand and have transferred it to my luggage today.

Matias has been spoiling us on our travels lately – he’s been bringing his laptop, per usual, but now he brings all sorts of downloaded (we’re PIRATES!!) shows that we love to watch – Sopranos, Bill Mahr, No Reservations and Good Eats and we just spend our time watching and trying not to laugh out loud with headphones on. Sometimes that doesn’t happen though & I know we look like crazy fools laughing together on a plane or train…but anyway…I wont have the laptop this time so I might actually have to read something!! I haven’t been reading lately cause I changed to my Spring Purse and it’s smaller and does not hold my hardcover book that I’m reading now (Saving Fish from Drowning, if you are interested) so this will be nice to catch up & I’ve stashed my Pottery Barn catalog to day dream about decorating the Dream House (that we move into next Friday!)!! I managed to read all my magazines on the flights to CA so I have NOTHING mindless to read. Might be a struggle. Might have to buy some trash at 7-11 when I gas up for the drive to Alexandria…

The meeting at the Embassy with the #2 in charge went very well yesterday – I managed to wear a nice outfit that wasn’t 100% maternity wear – seems some of my LOFT sweater sets still fit & since it was rainy yesterday every single woman in DC Metro Area was wearing a sweater set. Even some people at the meeting were more dressed down than I was…

My feet are still swelling, of course, but I’ve been able to take pretty good care of them minus the time spent on the bus in the evening (and yesterday it was 2 hours, stupidstupid bus driver) and while packing. My arthritis reared it’s ugly head last weekend and caused a somewhat major breakdown for me – thankfully it’s been in check this week. My feet are just fugly though. I’ll get pictures of them soon so you can see my Little Piggies for yourself!

And with that lovely image, I’m out of here! I’ve got my snacks and water packed and should have everything I need for a fun, relaxing, train ride and weekend home (my last one before becoming a Mamacita – how’s that for trippy??)!!

Things

Thing #1 – People, mainly men [surprisingly], are telling people to give up their seats when they see me get on the metro. It’s a little weird and makes me feel a little uncomfortable but I take the seat cause usually my feet are swollen and they hurt. It’s strange, we all board the train and someone beside me will just SHOUT “there’s a pregnant lady here who would like to give their seat up for her???” and they are talking about me.

Thing #2 – I don’t feel old enough to be a Mother. I’m 33 tomorrow and I don’t feel like I’m old enough to be doing this – does that sound weird? Sometimes I still feel like I’m in my 20s (not because of my looks but because of the things I like to do) so I forget that I’m “old” and “adult” and “responsible”. PLUS, when your husband is 4 years younger than you it’s easier to fall into that state of mind.

Thing #3 – I will 51 (!) years old when our Bebe graduates from high school. Ok, THAT made me feel old.

Thing #4 – the Bebe moves more often that he is still – or at least it seriously feels that way. I’ve read that sometimes your doctor will make you keep a record of the number of kicks per hour and I’m dreading being given that assignment simply because there are times I’m like “please stop kicking me for just a few minutes” or “I cant remember the last time you weren’t zooming around in there” – seriously bebe moves ALL the TIME. It would be easier to record the times he wasn’t moving.

Thing #5 – We got FRONT row tickets to night 1 Charlottesville!! We might need grandpa to babysit for that one, not quite sure if we want to do front row, even with the high tech headphones on, at that age.

Thing #6 – Since I’m in my 3rd Trimester (how did that happen already?!?!) I will start going to the dr. twice a month now. Last week I had my 7½-month appointment and everything is still going very well! My belly measured at 31”, I gained a whopping 8 lbs., the fetal heartbeat was 144 and my blood pressure is still really good. I’ve only gained 18 lbs. total for 30 weeks so that’s not too bad and still within acceptable ranges but it is a shock to have gained that much in one month!

Thing #7 – I’m due in 8 weeks. HOLY WHAT THE FUCK?!?!

Thing #8 – I have three of my bestest friends and my mom & sister coming to visit about two weeks before I’m due. Thank god. These people kept me sane before my wedding & I’m praying that they can do the same this weekend. Plus, I have 4th row tickets to the Nissan show.

Thing #9 – I don’t have anything Super Cute to wear to our Baby Shower this weekend. And that bums me out. I have a Cute top and pants to wear but not Super Cute. BAH. I have a very important work meeting at the Embassy with the No. 2 Minister on Thursday and I don’t have a maternity suit. I will be able to wear a nice outfit although not a suit. BAH.

Thing #10 – I cannot wait to get into our new pool at our new house and just FLOAT. I want my ankles to be weightless and free. There is nothing that would feel better. Well let’s not get crazy here but also remember Grand-mamacita reads this site too. HEE HEE.

This is Mammcita & Daddy at the Tech Museum in San Jose - You can see Bebe in my belly on the right!! It appears that Matias has a cold heart though! 

We’re baaaaaack!!

When Grand-mamacita asks for an update, you KNOW it’s time to update!

The Babymoon was a fantastic hit – a much needed relax-athon spent with family in Tahoe and Northern California. I even managed to get a little tan on my face! Matias “wanted cancer” so he didn’t use anything (well neither did I but I tan better than my little Latino…) and after wearing goggles all day ended up with a frighteningly funny sunburn. I’ll post pictures later!

It was a little difficult not being able to “do” anything – no skiing, no skating, no snow-shoe – NOTHING! But I do understand that it’s only for these 10 months & that I’m making good decisions but DAMN, am I BORING. Also no hot toddies at the lodge after a hard day of skiing, no hot tub for hours on end (15 minutes then sit on the edge for me!), no wine with dinner, no casino hopping until 7am…yes it’s hard to change your lifestyle but it’s hard to watch other people around you do it (mainly husband and family) and have to sit back and on the sidelines. I know it’s for the greater good, people, but it’s still a shift!! I still have to get used to it Happening to Me sometimes. I wouldn’t rather be doing those things, don’t get me wrong, if I had to choose between making the right decision for my baby and having the Rock Star lifestyle 24/7, I choose doing the right thing for my baby BUT sometimes I will throw a fit like any good recovering Rock Star. And then my husband goes and buys me a sign that says “thou shalt not whine” and I can laugh about it all. Plus, it wasn’t torture to spend my days walking around Tahoe in 60 degree weather with my parents, you know?

I think I did really well walking around San Francisco also – we spent a day there doing the Touristy Thing – cause sadly, that seems that’s all there is left to do in SF these days. And I didn’t get us lost, AT ALL. And I even found all the places we wanted to go WITHOUT A MAP. Plus, I got a cute little onesie with a trolley car on it for the bebe.


I feel like I’m all talked out about our vacation cause I’ve talked to so many people about it outside of writing about it…it sure was more exciting than I’m making it out to be…that’s for sure…

The flight home was really rough on my pregnant body – 5 hours from LAX to BWI, and then almost 3 ½ hours from BWI to home – DON’T ASK! Discovered that my ligament along my pelvic area can become QUITE sore from sitting for 5+ hours.

Also this week has marked the extreme swelling of my feet and OF COURSE my bad ankle is more swollen than my non-bad ankle. Just my luck, right? Now it doesn’t hurt but I cannot wear my regular shoes anymore because then that hurts from the pressure so I get to wear my flip flops to work. HA! Just when I thought I had lost that right at my new job, I still get to wear them!! HA HA! The leg cramps are lasting longer than just in the morning. I was starting to get them right before waking up, during that time when you are moving around in bed a little more than usual but now my legs are cramped basically throughout the entire day. It’s fabulous. It’s not painful, it’s just uncomfortable. What’s been painful is my commute but that’s another story! Just don’t put a 7½ month pregnant lady on a bus and tell her the HEAT WONT TURN OFF for two days, ok? I need to start getting up more during the work day also, but since my feet have been hurting from wearing my shoes, I’m not really motivated to get up and walk around when that causes displeasure also, make sense?

I know, I know, “thou shalt not whine” but F THAT. I packed that up last weekend when we started packing! I’m not complaining or bitching, I’m just saying “damn this is uncomfortable”.

You know what though? It’s also amazing. I’ve got this little one in my womb - a happy, healthy, active little Bebe - and all of these BS side effects of doing this amazing thing is just enough to make you want to scream. And I’m telling you if I even glance side-ways at a Pregnancy Symptom I will get it AND I’m not even a hypochondriac! It just sucks that you have to deal with these annoying things in order to have this experience…but at least my belly button hasn’t popped [yet]. BUT on that note, who the hell knew I had a MOLE INSIDE my BELLY BUTTON?!?!!? Thought I had some major disgusting something or other in my belly button and when I attempted to dislodge it I discovered it was ATTACHED on PURPOSE. The things you discover about your body when you are pregnant. Simply amazing.