Tough Times

Beyond the fact that I was only dilated about 1 cm or a ‘fingertip’ and I’m not sleeping more than 3 hours a night and nothing during the day we have been running into major problems controlling Mystic’s urge to pee on the new carpets and it’s taking its toll on both of us in different ways.

I haven’t been answering the phone since I finally can get some sleep in the mornings when the phone starts ringing when I really just need to rest and focus on getting this Bebe here. I’ve been spending a lot of time watching TV and not feeling very productive, but I don’t have the energy to do too much or get too involved in any new ‘projects’ so I sit here and wait.

There’s been a lot going on at home and I just need some time to process it all and work it all out on my own.

So for a while I’m going to be going Radio Silent BUT I will try and be better with some updates about the Bebe and what’s going on there.

40^th Week Check-In Stats:

1) lost 1 pound – thankful I didn’t gain any

2) blood pressure is really good still 170/26 – my notebook is downstairs so this number could be total gibberish

3) heartbeat around 150

4) cervix ripened but only dilated a ‘fingertip’

5) induction date scheduled for 7.19

Bebe is STILL so active – YAY! Got a pedicure yesterday and my feet have been feeling wonderful and slightly less swollen during the day. It’s totally uncomfortable to sleep on EITHER side now during the night as I get massive acid-reflux and just want to puke. I HAVE TO sleep in a completely UPRIGHT position and that’s TOTALLY not happening. My belly is not happy when I try to get comfortable on my side (forget the acid reflux) and, if for example, I’m lying on my left side, the right side of my belly is so ‘stretched’ that it HURTS – like a pulling sensation so I end up moaning and groaning and just generally being unhappy.

I haven’t lost my mucus plug or had any bloody show or any leakage – but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything where progress is concerned – some people just don’t have any of those three things happen – or at least VISIBLY happen. So…

Please bear with me if it seems as if I’m ignoring you – to an extent I am – but it’s not personal. It is truly me that needs this time to myself. We have our announcement list and phone lists ready and in our packed bags so don’t worry – you’ll be alerted to our departure to the hospital!

Just for right now, I’m going to go on that Radio Silent mode and see how that works for me.

Wrapping it up – if I don’t go into labor manually I will be going in on 7.19 no matter what. So Bebe will be here in less than a week REGARDLESS.

And with that - YAY!!

Cha-cha-chaanges!

Last night our house quickly transformed into Baby Central. We have the pack n play set up, the papasan set up, the car seat installed & the stroller ready to go. Things are looking a little different around here!

I had a horrible nights’ sleep last night though & am SO thankful that I didn’t have to get up with an alarm this morning for work. Around 12:30 I had to get into the shower and just stand there – I had this somewhat overwhelming feeling of ‘unclean’ and just wanted to get in and scrub myself down and I ended up standing in there with my lower back under the spray for about 20 minutes holding onto the [other] towel rack at the end of the stall. Sweet jesus did that ever feel good! Then Matias was nice enough to make me some tea and rub some lotion on my legs and feet – something I haven’t been able to do very comfortably or for great lengths for some time now – so I felt really nice and pampered. I still didn’t end up falling asleep until well after 3am, I think. And getting up to go to the bathroom this morning was more of a Shuffle than a Stumble or Normal Walk – my body is just so stiff and sore and somewhat uncooperative in the mornings these days. My hands are stiff as boards, my ankles are still stiff but not as swollen as during the day & my belly is just so heavy. I suppose this is the “I’m done being pregnant feeling” but it does go away as soon as I climb back into bed, so I’m thankful for that.

Watching the World Cup yesterday (what the hell happened to Zidane??? Seriously, he HEAD BUTTED a dude in the CHEST and sent him flat on his ass…he could have stopped his heart!) I started getting the Feeling that I wasn’t going to be pregnant for much longer – no Contractions or anything just a Sense or Vibe. That Vibe pretty much continued all night – I don’t think I will be much past my due date (I know, I know) & I cannot explain why but I can Sense something Happening, you know? I guess we will see tomorrow at the doctors – I have my regular appointment tomorrow morning. And of course the Full Moon Officially begins tonight at midnight, right? LOL. We are so neurotic sometimes, aren’t we? You tell me/us something once and boom, it’s stuck in my head for all eternity and nothing can persuade me from thinking/believing otherwise and BOO!HISS! to all you nay-sayers! HA! So there! Heh.

(ok so I just went to check who else was out of the Baby Pool running for the Non-Existent Prize AND somehow I managed to save it in my WEDDING FOLDER…)

My manager is OUT -

Susan Iris

10-Jul

4:20AM

Auntie Leanne – it’s not looking too good for you and your 3:23PM guesstimate though either!

Although a speedy labor and delivery would be quite nice, wouldn’t it? But that’s right in the middle of GH & Shayna was letting me know that Sean & Tiffany might be coming back…

Funny how my boss chose David for the name – lol- a lot of people did though – wonder why?

Ok so let’s see what To Do List I can generate today to keep myself busy…

I can…

…finish up my Thank You Cards

…return the Pack N Play mattress sheet & get the changing table sheet like I really need for it

…get plastic tub thingie to wash my Fake Nipples and bottles in (the dishwasher rack is fantastic and so is the drying rack but I need a little somethingsomething to put in the sink to clean my other parts in)

…go to WALMART and get some magazines and snacks for our Hospital Bags

…watch GH

Updated Baby Pool & Mind Dump

Auntie Jean	1-Jul	2:28AM

Rachael ICE	7-Jul	10:30AM

So Rach & Auntie Anonymous are out of the running for the non-existent Baby Pool Prize!

Matias kept pulling me outside the other night and saying "almost a full mooon", "we're nearly there", "just a few more days" and "when that moon is full we'll be having a baby".

This basically started the Calmly Freak Out Stage of my pregnancy. Mostly I just responded with "I have to get a HUMAN out of my vagina soon, dont I?"

To which he would respond "10 cm".

I've ruefully been playing the Amanda Game of Repress Any and All Excitement for an Upcomig Event Until RIGHT BEFORE the Upcoming Event So that You Dont Freak Out for Months Before Hand and now that's all coming back to calmly bite me in the ass cause now the Only Thing Left To Do on My TO DO LIST is To Give BIRTH to a Human out of my Vagina. And y'all know how I like to cross things off my To Do Lists.

But thankfully, it's still Sunday & not Tuesday, July 11th (FULL MOON & now updated with 30% chance of isolated thunder storms), so I will not be giving birth today, thankyouverymuch.

Yesterday, I got more of that End of the Pregnancy Energy Bullshit though.

I cleaned my fake nipples & bottles & Breast Pump (which Matias wanted to make sure it worked...dont ask how he wanted to actually test that out...), and calmy freaked out that I WAS CLEANING NIPPLES & BOTTLES AND A BREAST PUMP AND THEY WERE MINE. I did two more loads of laundry for the Bebe and put his?her Coming Home Outfits in their diaper bag all nice and clean and folded and pink and blue and flowers and airplanes...GAH. I folded all the burp cloths and cloth diapers perfectly knowing full well that it was most definitely that LAST time they would ever look so 100% perfect in their little changing table basket. (must control everything around me since I cannot focus, just yet, on birthing human from my vagina) I dusted the entire house - to which Matias said "about time" and now I'm a widow, raising a baby all alone that I have YET to birth from my vagina. I made a pile of all his cables and cords and shit and resisted the temptation to throw it down the stairs towards the basement but upon just finishing my last sentence about dusting and becoming a widow, I think I WILL throw it down the stairs. It's about time, I think. I started our email Announcement List. I cleaned out a box of Jen's Desk Junk. I emptied my bag from work of stuff that I brought home after cleaning up my desk - DMB calendar that would have been 'finished' when I return & my frame with Monkey & Mystic in it - no pictures of the husband though since he doesnt have one of me at work :) Told Matias to "do something about this floor before I lose my ever-loving mind". Activated my new ATM card for my new bank account. Put my DMB calendar up above my desk (Hi Boyd!)...

As you can see I did a lot of little shit to make my day pass by quicker. And now I'm up looking around the house trying to figure out how to do it all over again cause, y'all it's only Sunday not Tuesday, July 11th (day of full moon AND thunder storms) so I wont be going into labor today.

I suppose I could do more laundry & possibly get my craftroom in order and finish empyting those boxes that somehow got stashed in our bedroom closet and since I dont spend much time staring into the space of our bedroom closet I forget that they are in there...

And tell me, who the hell turned off my FAN LAST NIGHT?!?! The BOOB SWEAT, people. It needs to be contained. Helpful bit of advice - sleep with a wet face cloth in between your boobies. Collects the sweat & keeps you cool.

If there's anything I can do right it's keeping my boobs cool at night. Which is probably what got me into this situation to begin with...

Hi Mom!

Still waiting!

No news :)

I'll get some coffee in me and do a little update though in a bit!

Subject: A Departure & an Arrival

(my email to my co-workers)

I know that may sound like a flight request but this time I’m talking about me & my little 10 month passenger! :)

It’s with really hormonal, mixed emotions that I say today is my last day before my Maternity Leave and that I will be leaving y’all until Jan. 8th – my due date is July 11^th (but we all know how we cannot control these things!) so I tried to stay as long as possible without disrupting our lovely routine & team work.

I’ve been so thankful to work with all of you through this time – I’ve gotten so much support from people I haven’t had the privilege of meeting face-to-face across the US and of course, from my WDC mates & my buddies at HQ in Vancouver!

I will be adding your email to my Announcement List so that y’all can be kept up to date with the Arrival of Bebe Nino – who now has permission to arrive since I am now Officially on Maternity Leave :) Please feel free to email me when ever you’d like (just not about financial codes, how to burn a CD or where the mail key is [top drawer of my desk]…I joke!) at DELETED MY DAMN EMAIL BEFORE I GET SPAMMERS!! & I’ll be more than pleased to show off my Bebe and bore you to death with the details of the most amazing Bebe that has ever to been born!!

Proud Mum, eh?!?

Take care everyone & I will be talking with you soon :)

Cheers

38th & 39th Week Check-ins!

Gonna have to double up these posts as the weeks are flying by quicker than I can get my posting of my stats act together!

38^th Week Check-in

1) slight weight gain

2) 126/84 blood pressure

3) Trace of protein in my urine (not high enough to cause any concern and typical for this late stage

4) Heartbeat in the mid 140s

5) Mamacita measured in at 38” – once AGAIN spot on.

6) No dilation but cervix had softened

So once again, everything and everyone checked in as normal & on target!!

39^th Week Check-in

1) Lost ½ a pound! PHEW – was hoping to not gain anymore!!

2) 122/74 blood pressure – nice that the bottom number came down a bit

3) No protein in my urine

4) Heartbeat 144

5) Mamacita measured at 36” cause BEBE DROPPED!! Must have been that lovely PUNCHING sensation I felt – nothing like ‘lightening’ by the way.

6) Cervix thinned

7) NO dilation AT ALL.

8) Head FULLY down in cervix – so much so that even if they wanted to induce they would not be able to BREAK MY WATER cause the head is so much in the way!

Now we are just waiting for Mamacita to get her act together & start dilating!! GAH!! We are in the final 7 days, folks! I haven’t had any Braxton Hicks or any contractions – I have had some new, strange, sensations but nothing that I would classify as Contractions & nothing that happened more than once in a 24 hour period. So we wait. For me to dilate. Due date still looks around the 11^th but of course that’s merely a guideline…

I created our Phone Lists & Birth Plans to be printed off…phone list is for us to carry around ourselves and plan is to give to the hospital. I finished up my shopping – still have to get some baskets but I’m somewhat slacking on that cause I just don’t think it should be so hard to find what I’m looking for so I’m just going to lay off of that for a bit and then just get what I need when I need it. Ordered my nursing bras – couldn’t find the ones I wanted anywhere – can you tell me why Babies R Us or even Baby Depot don’t sell nursing bras? All they need to do is put them in with all the other feeding/nursery gear and they’d be set…

We have to pack our Hospital Bag(s) & Diaper Bag for Bebe this week still but I have the lists written out for those and the only thing I have to buy for that is some reading material for when my contractions are still far enough apart that I’m not losing my mind…

I have to create an email announcement list & see if Grandmamcita wants to Live Blog from the Waiting Room at the hospital…there is wireless internet access from the rooms so I’ll try and have pictures up ASAP!!

I have 3 more days left at work & the replacement we are, hopefully, hiring is out of town all this week so there will be no on-hands training for her so I really have to get going on writing this Training Manual…whoops…

Thankfully, the temperature is supposed to drop into the pleasant 80s for the rest of the week and not the horrible 90s we’ve been experiencing the past 2-3 days. The heat is going to bring me down, I think, so I’m thankfully that it will only be in the 80s and I can hopefully get some productive work done.

I did 3 loads of 0-3 month and receiving blankets laundry today – I am just so not sure if we have enough & I’m being dead serious. I don’t know how much we need or how much we’ll go through – except “a lot” – so I’m not real confident I actually bought enough. I suppose only time will tell! I got the basket for the bathroom supplies and have all that set up now!! Need to do one more load of burp cloths and plain old white onesies & then I think we are totally done. My nursing chair has shipped, I got my Boppy slip cover, and the last ‘shipment’ to come is the nursing bras. I got some board books that I NEEDED to have in our starter collection & discovered that Julie Andrews writes kids books!! So I got the one called “Bo goes to France” with a fluffy grey cat in front of the Eifel Tower on the cover – couldn’t pass it up really. We even looked through the Spanish language books and just didn’t see one we HAD to have – we being Amanda & I, naturally.

Now, I’m just not sure what to do with the things, like the playmate and papasan chair, do we set those up before the Bebe comes home? It’s not like we’ll be using them RIGHT AWAY but it would probably be good just to have them set up…so who thinks I’m Nesting? HA.

Oh, Grandmamacita – I have a question for you!! Do I need to wash the crib sheets? I have to finish putting that together & not sure if I need to clean anything before I do!!!

I asked Matias to shave my legs and he said no. He claimed he didn’t want to take the chance of cutting me but even after I assured him my ankles/legs were too swollen for him to nick the most nick-able of places he still resisted. So I struggled this afternoon and got it done myself – wasn’t THAT hard, I just held onto the towel bar (why is there a towel bar on the inside of the shower stall anyway?) and tried to keep my leg balanced on the wall and when that stopped working I just bent over and prayed I didn’t topple all the way over or puke on the way back up.

Deadlines & Missed Opportunities

With the Arrival of Bebe Nino pending we’ve started to miss deadlines and opportunities that although not imperative are just kinda cool, in my book.

The first one being that yesterday was Canada Day (HAPPY CANADA DAY!) and also my grandfather’s birthday. Grandmamacita was hoping for contractions and water breaking & I’ll admit, I think it would have been damn cool also! Now that July 4^th is sneaking up on us, I get a little nervous and am practicing crossing my legs for neither of us really, honestly want to have a Little Firecracker. Maybe for a Team USA member but not quite so much for us – the couple out yesterday wearing a Argentine soccer jersey (damn you, you Germans) & a ROOTS Canada shirt…

My actual due date is my parents wedding anniversary – so naturally that sounds like a GREAT idea! And I like being on time – none of this late business – I have a DUE DATE, let’s stick to it, ok? HA! See, in my control freak mind (and YES I KNOW HOW WRONG I AM) this Bebe WILL COME ON THE DUE DATE. There will be no Typical Nino Family LATENESS! (although admittedly, I was 10 days late arriving myself…), there will be no early arrival, THERE IS A DUE DATE – let’s all stick to this plan, ok? PLUS, there are a higher number of babies born on full moons AND days it rains. Hello, July 11^th? FULL MOON. So far, only Partly Cloudy in the TEN DAY FORECAST (cause holy shit, I’m due within the TEN DAY FORECAST!!) but damnit, there’s t-storms for the 4^th AND 5^th…

(/end delusional tendencies)

Can you see how this brain works now?

BUT I did inform Matias that if and when I have to pick an induction date it WILL BE 7.19 – yes because of the DMB RFK show in 2000. THE BEST DAMN SHOW EVER. He didn’t even consider arguing. ALTHOUGH he WOULD prefer a Leo – that would have to be after the 23^rd…and I don’t think they let you go over 10 days from your due date…

(I tend to think Cancer is an exact match for us though - You are emotional, intuitive, sympathetic and moody. You enjoy shopping and visiting with friends. Cancer is sentimental, sensitive, and needs to have a sense of security. Cancer may be interested in politics even if it's only on the local level. You tend to over protect what is yours. Cancer is intensely romantic and has a vivid imagination. Your home and family are very important to you.)

ANYWAY!

So with the passage of Canada Day & my grandfather’s birthday I’m starting to realize that we are on The Other Side of this little adventure…and it’s making me a little sad and of course nervous. I haven’t Freaked the Fuck Out yet but came REALLY close yesterday when Mystic decided to “Christian” the new dining room rug. You know, kiddo, if a new RUG makes you uneasy, I’ve got a lovely surprise waiting for you…

Marathon Shopping Day!

We basically checked everything off our lists!!

I still have to make one more run tomorrow but I’ll do that with Amanda since Matias had hit his Shopping Limit & plus it’s fun to go with a Girlfriend.

Things We Bought Today

1) CAR SEAT & STROLLER!!

2) Papapsan Chair

3) Diaper Pail (we ended up getting a different one than we registered for because it was smaller & cheaper – by about 10” and $15!)

4) Gymini Play Mat

5) Hamper

6) Pack & Play crib sheet

7) Nice white blanket (Matias is thinking of Baptism)

8) (I think I bought out all the) Winnie the Pooh newborn outfits

9) 1 GIRL coming home sleeper

10) 1 BOY coming home sleeper

11) Diapers

12) Baby Butt Cream (as Matias calls it)

13) Baby Einstein – Meet the Orchestra CD (exchanged duplicate Lullabies CD)

14) Disney (instrumental) Lullabies (thankfully Matias is a Disney fan & I wont have to ‘fight’ for viewing or listening to all the music and movie!)

15) 1 cute lion toy (Matias picked it out even though he claims we have “enough toys”)

16) Nursing chair (ordered online from WALMART) – we ended up moving away from the traditional “nursing glider” cause this was nicer looking and more our tastes but it still rocks and swivels and comes with an ottoman – all for under $150 compared to spending at least $150 on the glider than an additional $80 or so for the ottoman!

17) Ordered a Boppy slipcover from Target since I cannot ever find one in stock ANYWHERE! I’m waiting until after we discover what bits & bobs this Bebe has to buy an additional one so that I can go gender specific (and CUTE!)

18) Ordered SALE items from Old Navy – TOO CUTE denim shortalls and these blue cotton track pants – don’t worry, I can Girl those right up! Plus they had a great deal on onesies that I couldn’t pass up since Matias is all about the bebe basically living in onesises and being swaddled 45740% of the time! At least he?she can have CUTE COLORFUL onesies, right?

I THINK that’s it! PHEW. It was a lot of shopping and it started out rough but ended up well. We found a mobile that we like but we wont be needing that until they are in the crib so for now we are just “keeping it on our list”. Same with the highchair – no need to get that right away! Matias is also looking into a more “manly” sling/backpack – he says he’ll use the sling but started looking at the ones that are more “sturdy” (like the Baby Bjorns and the ones Infantino makes) for his own use.

For some reason not a lot of stores carry baskets – they sell them all online but I cannot for the life of me find them in the Baby Sections –strange! So that remains 2 more items on the list! I can already have 3 for the changing table but have discovered that we need at least one for the bathroom stuff & another couple/few for the changing table area – I think I’ll get various sizes for those and see what happens. It’s hard to organize for something you’ve never done before without actually doing it first!

I put all the 0-3 months clothes and blankets in the hamper to start doing the laundry and reorganized the dresser drawers – all the 0-3 and 3-6 clothes will be in one drawer and then the 6-9, 9-12 will go in the bottom drawer. The top drawer right now is bibs, socks, hats & burp cloths – I’m not sure if that will stay like that though. I’m thinking bibs might be best in the kitchen area (or where feeding will take place…), socks might go in a basket with hats & burp cloths might stay with the bibs, but I think it will take some actually USING OF the articles to know exactly where they Belong – for now they’ve looked cute all folded up in the top drawer but with ONE WEEK to go, looking cute is no longer my priority!!

Amanda is coming over today & I have my list ready for Babies R Us and I think we are also hitting Barnes & Noble for I feel my book shelf is lacking! Then I have to hit Bath & Body cause I’m almost out of my stash and have no idea when I will be able to run out and grab some girlie bathroom goodies – plus Matias requested more hand soap and I don’t think you can ever have enough hand soap with a newborn on the way!

I AM so thankful that this weekend is a four day weekend!! I also have to write my Thank You cards from the shower two weekends ago but I’ve been a bit busy so I think it’s alright that they aren’t out yet – plus Matias keeps trying to convince me that in Argentina a phone call is all that is needed – Grandmamcita didn’t raise no fool, I’m not playing that game! PLUS his mother ‘bragged’ about how every single person who got a wedding Thank You card called her to read it to her and gush about how nicely they were written – SO – there’s a precedence here, people! AND we were SO spoiled by all the gifts & goodies that the Bebe got last weekend when we had our Housewarming/DMB BBQ. AND my work threw me a Baby Shower luncheon…so it’s not only Thank You cards for the shower but also just Thank You cards in GENERAL for all the people who have been so generous to Bebe already!

Back to pregnancy talk though – cause I basically just realized that my notepad was on the kitchen table and how I didn’t want to struggle to get up and get it!

Things I Can NO Longer Do and Feel Slightly Retarded Asking Matias to Do For Me

1) pick anything AND everything up off the floor that I drop – I SUPPOSE this is good practice for when the Bebe starts the same game

2) scratch my feet when they itch & tell him “no I cannot see how bad my feet look CAUSE I CANT SEE THEM”

3) I’m SERIOUSLY thinking about having him shave my legs for me – anyone else do this?

4) Pick up the cat food bowls & hand me the canned food from the pantry

5) LAUNCH me out of bed in the mornings

6) PULL me up off the couch at nights

7) Come around my side of the car and give me a hand getting out

8) Pick up all the garbage in the nursery – actually this had a little Evil Intentions attached to it as I seem to be the one In Charge of Preparing the Nursery so anytime I pull tags off or empty bags, I just throw the garbage on the floor then make him come around after me and pick it all up. HEH.

9) At the DMB show I was wrapping my ankles in ACE bandages between songs and I could NOT reach my ankle or even GRAB my ankle to pull it onto my leg SO I had to ask Matias to bend over and hand my foot to me!

Hormonal!

I've always been very emotional over the DMB song So Right for numerous and sundry reasons but the main one being that Matias & I played it right after New Years at our wedding for our guests. It was kind of our "gift" to them - it totally encapsulates how we feel about everyone and that night and each other and our relationship when it was first starting out (this album was just leaked/released)

And they played it at Nissan & the Bebe got to hear it and we danced and sang and maybe made out a little and my heart just about burst cause it was raining. And I'm listening to the show now (waiting for Matias to come home from a soccer game) and I all I could do was sit here with my eyes closed and cry - but for all good reasons! So I'm going to post the lyrics here so everyone can see what I mean.

So Right

Roll uptown to midnight
Then roll on downtown till its light
Because tomorrow we may die
Oh but tonight we’re dancing in the fate light
Don’t you
Rob yourself of what you’re feeling
Don’t rob yourself of all that you could be
Roll hard ‘til midnight
Roll ‘til its light
Come on now

Stay up and make some memories here
With us now
To roll red carpet out with friends
To love and roll on
Our love is so right
I won’t waste a minute here tonight
Our love is so right
And tonight my dance is all about you

To midnight love you
Roll on and run the red lights
Game now is keep it tight
How I love her pretty rock and roll kisses
Come on and stay with me
Roll on and run the red lights
Come this love is so right

Stay up and make some memories here
With us now
To roll the red carpet out with friends
To love and roll on
Our love is so right
I can taste we’re in it here tonight
Our love is so right
And tonight my dance is all about you

I’m going crazy and it’s all cause of you
It’s all cause of you
I’m going under over you
Over you

This time now is so alive
Everybody’s trance dancing tonight
So beautiful and so strange
It was empty till you came

Holy ONE WEEK LEFT!!

Busy times in the Nino Casa!!

I'll try and do a catch up later today on everything that's happened in the past 2 weeks or so BUT a quick round up would include:

Baby Shower in CT
Bebe's First Met's Game (probably only game at Shea Stadium)
DMB Show & Housewarming BBQ
Bebe Stats
Car Seat Update (stay tuned!!)

But I thought I would also post some pictures :)

First, we have the ICES - cute, tiny, fashionable Rach with the littly tyke & husband.
Second, well, we have the Mets game!
Third, my swollen piggies after IKEA the weekend we moved in.

4 Cravings That I Cannot Live Without

(and as much as that sounds like a redundant statement, you wouldn’t want to find out what happens if I TRY and live without these 4 things)


1) Raspberry Sorbet – I PREFER the Haagen-Daaz one, please and thank you.
2) Peanut Butter Cups
3) Peanut Butter Cookies (not one OR the other, I NEED both but not at the same time)
4) ICED mochas (I’ve been able to have up to 16 oz. of coffee a day throughout the whole pregnancy ((don’t hate me, please)) but just recently have I LOVED the iced mocha and it did take me getting over The Sickness to be able to enjoy ANY coffee again)

There are some more things that I REALLY PREFER but I don’t think CRAVING would be an appropriate moniker.

1) Sweet Tea – a nice refreshing alternative to water or soda
2) Fountain Soda and NOT in a can or plastic bottle – makes Mamacita LESS gassy

You know, I really cant think of anything else…everything else is somewhat par for the course as far as Things I Prefer so I would go as far as chalking them up to Pregnancy Cravings…

P.S.

My belly button hasnt popped. YAY.

But Matias' sister's has and guess what? She TAPES IT DOWN. I dont know which makes me squirm more - a popped belly button or TAPING it down.

P.P.S. Bebe went to their FIRST MLB game - one last Mets game before Shea Stadium goes bye-bye.

P.P.P.S. I think I'm on Sports Overload.

37-Week Check in!

Ok, I think we can all collectively FREAK OUT now – I am now only 3 weeks away from my due date.

WHAT?!?!? This has either been the fastest 10 months EVER or I’ve just totally lost track of time altogether.

I’m starting to get a little nervous but so far nothing that I cannot handle just the little things are starting to make me squeak a bit.

So without further ado, here are my stats for this week:

1) I gained 5 pounds. WHOOPS. I’m SO totally hoping this is all water weight and when/if you see my ankles you will probably agree with me. And if you don’t, I’ll just punch you in the face until you do agree with me. GRIN. So I’ve gained a total of 30 lbs. over these 37 weeks. Was hoping to stay under the 30 lb. mark but I suppose we will just see what happens with the water weight over the next couple of weeks…
2) Blood pressure is 122/84 – bottom number went up a bit but still in a really good range
3) Bebe heartbeat is in the “high 140s” HA! Try and apply your voodoo witch doctor logic to that one! This one is keeping everyone guessing! Definitely, OUR kid!
4) Mamacita's Belly is measuring at 37”

Dare I brag that the doctor said this was a “PREFECT PREGNANCY”??!?! I am inclined to agree with that myself – well prefect BEBE not necessarily the perfect PREGNANCY for Mamacita in the ‘let’s not forget who had The Sickness for 16 weeks’ sort of way, but if the Bebe is healthy, I don’t really care. So if you happen to ask me how I’m doing/feeling, etc don’t be surprised if I respond with PERFECT. But I’m sure you knew that already, eh?

We are starting our interviews today for my Mat Leave replacement – not a lot of people took any interest in it because it’s only a 6 month contract position so I hope we can find something out of the slim pickings (but with good resumes) we have.

The 8 hour work days are really killing me and then add in the 1 ½ commute EACH WAY and my day is just way too long AND that doesn’t count everything I do once I get home AND that doesn’t take into consideration how JAM PACKED our weekends have been! Tired. I’m so TIRED. But I’m taking care of myself and doing everything I can to make sure I’m at least SAFE while doing all the things I need to be doing – drinking plenty of fluids, taking breaks when I need them, relaxing when I get even a moment, and treating myself to Peanut Butter Cups (hello, 5 lbs!). I am able to “sneak” out of the office early when my boss is traveling (I could probably do it when she is here but I’d rather not!) and at least get home earlier than normal so that DOES help out a LOT. My patience/tolerance level is dipping back down though – but that definitely has something to do with being tired and grumpy and not liking the people who are annoying me in the first place. HEH.

I’m so excited though for everyone coming into town this weekend for the Freak Family Fest at CASANOVA (and maybe go see a DMB show!) – I cannot wait to see pregnant RACH! And all my girls are in town (Nikki, your cousin really DOES suck) and all Matias’ boys are in town so we are ALL excited to see everyone and just spend some QUALITY FAMILY time together!! Yes, Grandmacita – that includes you too!! We’ll just have to make sure Bill doesn’t drop too many F-Bombs around you this year!

YAY!! SO EXCITED!!!

I’m making an EXTRA HUGE EFFORT to spend as MUCH quality time with the Kids (the monk and mystic have been upgraded from Babies to Kids since we are in fact “getting” a BABY soon…) as possible. I will miss being able to baby them as much as I do & I hope that they know they can go to Daddy for love also – both DO go to Daddy but it will just break my heart if they go lonely instead of seeking out love from him – we’ve made a point of Daddy KNOWING he has to take over some of Mommy’s LOVE DUTIES so…fingers crossed…I have to start having The Talk with them about the Newcomer, I suppose. We ARE getting that close…

I’ve got our Babysitter on Stand By for Mystic’s insulin in case Grandmacita isn’t in town during the time frame Missy Mys needs to get shot up…so I think I’m starting to get everything under control. Maybe. Yeah, I do. I think. HA.

Ok, back to work, I go – I have to get ready for the interview this afternoon!

BUT before I go I’ve got two more things to say!!

LET’S GO CANES!!! CONGRATS TO CAM WARD!!! and GO GET ‘EM ARGENTINA!!

Things That Really Kind of Suck

(written so that you don’t think I’ve gone some kind of delusional and wacko during this pregnancy and am now all rainbows and unicorns)

1) Not being able to wear my wedding rings and feeling like people just think I’m “knocked up” and not married also
2) Not being able to sit cross legged – especially at work – I would love to be able to alternate the way that I sit here at my desk all day long
3) Not being able to smoke – don’t listen to anyone when they say the craving goes away and so does the attitude cause that’s total bullshit
4) I miss our Tavern. We’ve gone twice in the past week or so and each time I just miss going there and relaxing with a drink (or 10) and a smoke (or 10) and singing along to the jukebox
5) Not being able to shave my legs properly. It’s somewhat difficult in the new shower (large shower stall separate from soaking tub) that has no edge for me to prop my foot on and the fact that I cannot really see the entirety of my lower body area
6) (I was going to write that I can only wear one TYPE of shoe & then I realized that “jesus, Jen, they’re FLIP FLOPS that’s all you WEAR anyway” but yeah, I would at least like to make that CHOICE!!)
7) Not knowing if I need to fantasize about little pink, frilly dresses or dark, solid polo shirts with trains and trucks and possible monkeys on them…

36th Week Check in!!

I’m officially FOUR WEEKS AWAY FROM MY DUE DATE!!!!


Here’s a quick run-down of my stats (been watching too much World & Stanley Cup – everything is now a statistic or point…!) from my doctor’s appointment this morning:

Minutes spent waiting in the Waiting Room after my appt. time: 40 – yeah don’t know why either, except that if I had been made to wait much longer I would have missed the last commuter bus out of Manassas…

Blood Pressure: 125/84
Weight Gain: NONE!!
Heartbeat: 155
Belly Measurements: 36 ½” (SPOT.ON. well actually ½” larger than “spot on”)
Bebe Position: head down
Cervix: effaced*

I asked how much I had gained since the last appointment and was somewhat shocked to find that I hadn’t gained anything since I had been on such a steady track of gaining a couple pounds here and there…but that lead the nurse to go over my entire pregnancy history and exclaim how delighted she was with my progress and what a perfectly healthy pregnancy this was! YAY! So I treated myself to a Chicken Mole sammmich with large iced Mocha for lunch finished off with some peanut butter cookies Matias made for me last week. Heh.

I always walk away from these appointments feeling really good about myself, the pregnancy and, of course, the Bebe. I cant really explain it without sounding too damn mushy but it definitely helped lift my mood from yesterday, I can tell you that much. There was a little girl in the waiting room with us & just seeing her made me want to hurry up and be holding this Bebe already!! But on the other hand that totally doesn’t mean that I’m ready to stop being pregnant…if I could just get rid of the swollen feet/ankles, the acid reflux I get while lying on my right side and occasional hard wood floor splashing puke sessions I wouldn’t mind being pregnant at all. Seriously. I didn’t really think I’d hear myself saying that…ever. But I do really like the bonding and the squirming and the zooming around and the conversations we have together and the cats lying on my Belly and purring and having Bebe kick them and have them just stare and wonder how in the world did Mom just kick us with her stomach and Matias talking & singing to Bebe and not having to change the litter box…oh I kid, see I just didn’t want to get too mushy on y’all. And yes, I’ve heard all those flowers and rainbows go away in the last month but I’m there now & it hasn’t hit YET. Come back in two weeks and let’s see where I am! Oh wait, in two weeks I’ll be at the DMB SHOW AT NISSAN!! HA!

* What is effacement?
Effacement is the process by which the cervix prepares for delivery. After the baby has engaged in the pelvis, it gradually drops closer to the cervix; the cervix gradually softens, shortens and becomes thinner. You may hear phrases like "ripens," or "cervical thinning" which refer to effacement.

Childbirth Prep Classes – We Graduated!!

We got our ‘diplomas’ yesterday – but sadly they are only to prove to our insurance companies that we did participate in a prep class and can we please be reimbursed for some of this expense, please and thank you.

Matias & I both learned, I think, what we needed to out of the class – although I would have a liked a little more “what to expect once you get home” kind of instruction but all the labor and delivery information, medications & instrument details was a great, big help to both of us and helped cement our Birth Plan.

I was hoping we might meet some people in class but no one was really very friendly with anyone in the class…somewhat strange…people were totally friendly and more outgoing in our So You’re Getting Married in a Catholic Church classes…but I took some information on the New Mommies Group and made Matias promise to not let me get all New Mommies Status Quo on myself. I’m hoping the pool will be good for that also!!

I’m taking a LOT of naps lately – at least one a day for a good 2-3 hours – usually those types of naps are reserved for Hangover Days, which do not occur anymore, obviously. I’m trying to “listen” to my body more and just STOP what I’m doing and rest even though it means not getting “extra” stuff done – the house/kitchen is still clean, the cats are still alive and happy, the plants aren’t dead – but also the pictures aren’t hung on the walls, none of the rooms are fully “decorated”, and my craft area hasn’t even been touched – BUT I’m attempting to convince myself that those things are NOT the priority at the moment! It’s working, but it’s taken a while. And of course, I’ve noticed that the swelling in my feet has subsided when I DO rest [more] – well thanks, Captain Obvious so I’m happier when it comes to my personal discomfort also…

I just WISH we had a free weekend sometime SOON. And I know I will freak out when this thought actually sinks in but:

WE DON’T HAVE A FREE WEEKEND TO OURSELVES AT ALL BEFORE THE BEBE IS BORN

We are trying to get things done at night after work and it’s getting done and our To Do Lists are smaller (still don’t have car seat, please don’t ask again, until I post a freaking picture of it installed in the car that needs to be cleaned/detailed before putting a newborn Bebe in it) but I just wish we had a FREE WEEKEND where we could both relax together and not have a List of Things To Do Before World Stops Spinning on it’s Axis…

We have our CRIB & CHANGING TABLE now but we haven’t had time or daylight to put it together – I’ve asked that the changing table get done first (we have a cradle) so that I can put together more of the nursery and just wait (not as urgent) on the crib…the last thing I need to do in the nursery is get some window coverings & I already know what I want I just have to get it…Story Of My Life…

AND

I KNOW, I KNOW THINGS WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN. GET USED TO IT. THIS IS LIFE FOR YOU NOW.

So excuse me, if I pour out my 40 oz. from time to time, but I’m finding some of the more recent adjustments a little tough to swallow. Going on Mat. Leave for 6 months means a lot of adjustments in how you run a household and which expenses remain priorities and which ones do not & everyday finances and cutting back on ‘normal’ things to make room in the checkbook for Mamacita & Bebe to be home doing the right thing for our Family…

I’m not resentful of the changes, as I know can tend to happen I’m just a little shocked by how they are making me feel [already] as I am discovering what most consider the loss of their own Independence. I didn’t experience any of that after we got married (I’m sure in part because of us living together for 4 years…) but I am now and it’s mainly centering around me closing my personal bank account and getting registered on Matias’ account – we are no longer keeping separate finances and that’s a HUGE thing for me. I’m not sure that I like what that implies. And I don’t even think I believe what I think it implies to begin with!! I’m just overwhelmed by it all and by it’s suddenness. Trust me, I KNOW it’s for the Greater Good of the Family & I BELIEVE that, but there is still this little part of me (and I know this isn’t absurd either) that wants to hold onto what is mine & also let Matias hold onto what is his…

So, already it’s this strange tug of war between everything changing (for the Best) & anticipation of Bebe’s arrival. Thankfully, Matias understands & I’m not left howling at the wind…

BUT at least my belly button hasnt popped [yet].

God Bless Monkey Toes

(and not of the feline variety)

I just retrieved a dropped grape from under my work desk with my toes (little piggie still worked!) and put it in the garbage can – ALL without having to bend over and attempt to pick something up off the floor!

ALL HAIL MONKEY TOES!!!

Childbirth Classes start today!

We got our Express Childbirth Classes starting today at the hospital – two Sundays from 9:30-4:30!

I’m not quite sure what to expect, except that I know a Lamaze teacher is instructing the class & that I hope they don’t want me to sit on the ground the entire time. My feet will not be able to handle that at all. I think we might pack a camping chair so that if they do expect that I can at least send Matias out to get me a chair.

It’s way too early to be up though on a Sunday. We did a lot of work around the house yesterday (finally!) and I’m just tired, as usual. But it’s time to get up and get moving so here I am! We realized on Friday that yesterday was our last “free” day until Nissan & that we maybe needed to get some more work done before having guests descend upon us. There’s still more work to be done, of course, but at least we made a dent & I got some things crossed off my To Do List (which is the *most* important thing, right?).

I’ll check back in after the class and left y’all know how it went. I hope they don’t show that scary emergency childbirth film I saw when I was in lifeguard training and I SWEAR when her water broke it HIT THE SCREEN in full on 3D fashion. That made an impression, to say the least, on this young girl.

Give Me a B!

I SWEAR I have a little cheerleader in my Belly. Just spelling stuff out, throwing out Bebe arms and legs and elbows and knees and headbutting (just for added effect) ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

Not much room left for this action but good lord...this one is moving...

GO BEBE NINO!!

Where is Christina?!?!

Where did you go sister??

I've missed all your spot-on advice and encouragement :) So I thought I'd call you out!!

Pregnant Jen at Wedding

Here I am in all my Hugeness at Bri's wedding this past weekend in Cincinnati. The reason for the face, yes there is a reason this time, is that Huff (in the background making face also) was going around all night getting behind people in his OWN pictures (this was taken with his own camera) and doing the whole Rock On gesture. But anyway...here I am with Nikki & Anne-Marie (Scotty's girl) with the Boys in the background goofing as usual.

The Preeclampsia Scare of 2006

Tuesday I had my 8 ½ month check in and everything is going really well!! Bebe is healthy and in position. Although I did get a little freaked when I was asked if I have been experiencing any contractions – uh no, not yet, thank you very much! Blood pressure good (120/64), heartbeat good (between 137-140 for those playing at home), and few more pounds and inches gained in the Belly Region.

Then I got home & the headache hit and the queasiness settled in. I decided to stay home from work that day to attempt to make myself feel better and my little nap in the middle of the day seemed to do it. I went into work on Wednesday not feeling well at all. The heat (over 90 degrees) wasn’t helping matters, my ankles and feet were swollen upon waking up and the nausea hadn’t gone away. All day at work, I kept popping TUMS and feeling worse than I had with The Sickness and I struggled through until the end of the day. I fell asleep on the couch watching General Hospital around 10:30 or so and was woken up violently by THROWING UP on the couch (while still lying down) and on the hardwood floors. I attempted to get up quickly, yeah right and make it to a bathroom but didn’t succeed and barely made it to the kitchen sick before heaving all over again. Matias came running upstairs to see what was going on and promptly starting gagging after seeing dinner all over the floors. I started crying cause this was just damn disgusting & started to clean up after myself and lie back down. I thought I had coughed in my sleep while being in the full lying position – something that has proven dangerous during this pregnancy (so is coughing while putting my hair up in a towel with my head upside down but that’s another story) so I thought I was safe to lie back down and recuperate from this session of vomiting. Sadly, I was wrong and as I tried to get back up to run to a bathroom (things don’t happen so quickly with The Belly these days though) I sadly didn’t make it even anywhere near the kitchen sink and vomited something like 6 times into my hands and onto the HARDWOOD floors (splashing is LOVELY!!). And let me tell you, the smell that was emanating from this was not pleasant AT ALL, only making matters worse.

So after cleaning up this lovely mess, I made a visit to Dr. Internet & looked up “vomiting 3^rd trimester” and all the hits brought back the symptoms to preeclampsia.

• A severe or persistent headache

• Vision changes, including double vision, blurriness, seeing spots or flashing lights, light sensitivity, or temporary loss of vision

• Intense pain or tenderness in your upper abdomen

• Nausea or vomiting

Now, granted I didn’t have the vision issues or any swelling in my face (but my ankles and feet were another story) but having most of the symptoms caused me some concern. Especially when you read that the only “cure” for it is DELIVERING THE BABY. If I had it I would be INDUCED since I was far enough along OR put on modified bed rest. I was not ready to be induced like tomorrow, you know? So I went to bed with plans to contact my real life doctor in the morning and get this all straightened out.

Woke up Thursday still not feeling well but I had managed to not vomit again that night. Still had a headache and was queasy though and to ask me if my feet/ankles were swollen is like asking Matias if he likes to eat “meat”…got an 11:30 appointment with my doctor and waited. And stressed. And waited. And stressed. I am not ready to have this Bebe this week. Or probably even next week. We haven’t bought the car seat yet people!!! You cant have a baby without a CAR SEAT! You can see where I’m going with this…

ANYWAY. BEBE IS FINE!! Let’s say that straight out here. Mamacita – not so much. Normal ugly virus OR I “just might feel this way for the rest of the pregnancy”. For once, let’s root for a virus, mmmkay? I think I actually picked up Quinn's kennel cough ;)

The entire time Bebe was moving around and kicking and poking and everything was feeling fine within, it’s just ME who feels like poop. And now, Matias is sick. And he’s complaining of his face feeling bloated. Another symptom for preeclampsia. So I’m home sick again today, no need to get everyone in the office sick & trying to rest to help myself get better.

It’s a scary thing though to not know what’s going on and if something is happening to the Bebe. Thankfully, nothing was wrong with Bebe and everything is still very strong and right on track. Heartbeat still great, blood pressure still the same and Belly still growing!! I just wish it didn’t have to be so damn hot these days. But I am thankful that I don’t have to go through the WHOLE summer pregnant. And I’m very thankful that Bebe is healthy and happy.

Now, here’s to hoping that the next talk of vomit being spewed on the hardwood floors is from the Bebe!! Only 5 ½ more WEEKS, folks.

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.