Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!!

(As my last "singular" Christmas, it really was wonderful...Christmas Eve spent with my fabulous Colorado extended family, very special. And so much to look forward to in 2010!)

I have but one Christmas wish, and that is to bring this little girl safely into the world nine weeks from now. (I hate the fact that I'm all too aware of how much could still go wrong.) But I also have a strong feeling that all will go well--hope I'm right!

A very merry Christmas to you and yours, and best wishes for a New Year filled with dreams come true!

They were right.

Ugh. Having a cold IS harder when you're pregnant. I haven't been sick at ALL since last April-ish, not even a sniffle, so I guess my number was up.

And just in time for Christmas.

I hope this goes away quickly, because it SUCKS. Miserable doesn't even begin to describe it.

With a vengeance

Yikes. I feel like I'm right back in my first trimester...did NOT expect that. The exhaustion is incredible, which I was aware could happen, but it feels just like someone threw a switch as soon as my second trimester ended last weekend. And oh, the hunger! These days I'm just as starving as I was way back in July and August! Baby Girl must be going through another growth spurt (or three). I've read that I'll be gaining a minimum of a pound per week from here on out. Craziness, I tell you! But so exciting, too!

Now if I can only figure out what on earth happened to the crib that was supposed to be delivered last week...actually, they gave me a week's window for delivery, and tomorrow is the tail end of that window. I tracked the crib, and it arrived in Denver on the tenth. Denver is only an hour away, people! *sigh*

I also need to get off my duff and get myself registered for a childbirth class--there are three I'm considering, so I just need to pick one. :)

Wha?

Huh. I just stumbled upon a pregnant mom-to-be's blog which shall remain unnamed...she is six weeks along, and she mentioned that her OB has told her that there is no need for her to take prenatal vitamins, that just a One-a-Day and a healthy diet will suffice. Far be it from me to take away someone's power of choice, but I've read in several sources that the minimum recommended daily requirement of folic acid is 800 to 1000 mcg in order to prevent neural tube defects, especially in those early weeks of pregnancy. I honestly don't know how much folic acid those One-a-Days provide--I suppose it's better than nothing. I also can't help wondering, why wouldn't you take prenatal vitamins if you were pregnant? It's not like they're controversial, or even that they cause truly uncomfortable side effects. I've had no side effects with mine, and I took them for months even before I became pregnant. Heck, mine even include a separate DHA supplement for brain, eye, and spinal column development.

Not tellin' her what to do or anything, but if my OB were to dismiss something as basic (IMO) and non-controversial as prenatal vitamins, I'd be looking for another OB. The more I think about it, the more I find myself concluding that it's downright irresponsible and potentially damaging.

I'm just sayin'.

No words.

What an amazing and surreal experience! I did waffle a bit about whether or not seeing her face on a 3D ultrasound would diminish the surprise of meeting her at her birth, but I'm so glad I went ahead with it! Up till now no one had bothered to mention that I happen to have an anterior placenta, and it did make it a bit challenging to get a full-face view...most of the photos and video are of her profile. But I happen to think it's an adorable profile, and I really do love the pictures!
So, without further ado, I give you:



Yup, I think she's beautiful, and I cannot wait to meet her!

T3 approacheth

Sounds like Terminator 3, right? Yeah, I love that movie, but no. I can't help feeling a tiny bit down that my third trimester starts on Saturday. Happy that I'm that much closer to my girl's birth, but bittersweet that two thirds of my pregnancy are just about over with, never to be seen again. And chances are, this will be my only pregnancy. So everything feels like such a landmark.

Bad, bad day today...if you're a hot water pipe in my house. Yep, completely frozen. As in NO hot water to speak of, unless I've heated it in a big pot on my stove. Which I just did in order to do the dishes...the hot water is cooling as we speak, aiming for closer to a non-scalding temperature. It was like camping out this morning, complete with a sponge bath (!!!), because that's all I could do, and washing my hair in the sink with water that again, I had to heat on the stove. Far from civilized conditions, I tell you. But hey, you do what you gotta do. Which is what I gotta do till I can get those pipes thawed out. We've had some serious below-zero temps in Colorado over the past week, including a snow day yesterday (awesome) and a two-hour delay on both Monday and today (Wednesday). I'm thinking tomorrow will be a regular school schedule, however. So, in the meantime, I have two space heaters going in the kitchen, which is where said frozen pipes reside next to an outside wall, as well as my trusty blowdryer at the ready. I'm really gonna enjoy my next hot shower!! Funny what you take for granted when it isn't there anymore. My house is actually a cottage that was built in 1914, and yes, the pipes probably need to be better insulated (gotta call my landlords, which I've been putting off), but in the pipes' defense, the weather here has been positively *bitter*. As in 14 below overnight, including the windchill factor. Definitely far colder than the usual...very much unexpected. We're expecting a "thaw" of a balmy 28 on Friday, but here's hoping I can get things thawed out by then. Wish me luck.

Okay, two more...

Namely, things and people I can't get enough of:


I LOVE this show. And a bonus: several of my coworkers are addicted as well, so we have very, um, spirited discussions about characters, storylines, and so forth. Extremely entertaining! (both the show AND the conversations...)

And another:



Intervention on A&E. Yes, most of the episodes are hard to watch, but here is my guilty confession: the reason I watch is to reassure myself that yes, when it comes right down to it, I'm doin' okay. Oh, and I *sob* at each and every ending, no matter if it's a happy one or one that just didn't work out. In all honesty, I cry more at the happy endings, especially the ones that involve a happy reunion with the person's family members, which I guess would be, um...all of them. I also watch Hoarders which is on right after Intervention--it typically spurs me to clean at least part of my house while I watch. Again: yeah, I'm doin' okay.

In other news, I attended a two-and-a-half hour class on car seat safety tonight--I feel so naive! I mean, seriously, I can't get over how much I didn't even know I didn't know! It was a *fabulous* (and free!) class put on by my hospital network, and I am SO glad I went despite the horrible weather. I now feel much better equipped to find the best carseat that will not only fit my car but also my (potentially tall) child...I was remarking to my mom recently that I can't get over how MANY choices there are in carseats (as well as all things baby)! Yes, they do all have to pass the same safety guidelines, but clearly, after taking this class, I now know that there are also VAST differences between them. I did not appreciate learning about all the possible ways an infant could be injured or killed in an accident, but it sure underscored the importance of installing a well-made carseat correctly in order to protect one's child as fully as possible. Now I get to go *shopping*... :)

Still looking forward to my 3D ultrasound this Thursday! Yes, I WILL be posting pictures!!!

Oh, Baby!

Ahh...what a great day today was! First I drove the one-and-a-half hours north to Denver to visit this great midwifery birth center, apparently the only freestanding midwifery center in Colorado. (I find that a little hard to believe, but whatev.) It was still an awesome place, and I had a great time at the tour and orientation that my cousin, her husband, and her darling 10-month-old little girl attended with me. My cousin J started off at the birth center last January, when G was born, but because her daughter still hadn't descended sufficiently after x number of hours of pushing, she and her husband crossed the street to the hospital (how convenient), and ended up having a c-section because G was sunny side up. No fault of the birth center, and they don't deal with anything even remotely resembling a birth emergency, so it was off to the hospital they went, where G made her grand entrance.

I was so impressed by this birth center...I wish I could seriously consider having my birth there. But this birth center couldn't be more out of network if they tried, and in all honesty there is no way I could afford it sans insurance coverage. Nor would I want to, when giving birth in my network's hospital is so much less expensive. As great as the birth center is, I just couldn't justify it. The other sticking point is the fact that they only do natural births, no meds allowed, and I kind of have been thinking about an epidural. So there's that, too. But I got so much out of today's orientation anyway! It has three beautiful birthing rooms, and all the tools and accoutrements an expectant mom could possibly want, including birthing tubs, special chairs, even a hammock-like sling for hanging from. Apparently gravity is a laboring mother's best friend, if you get my drift. These rooms were so peaceful and homey, too. I was really glad to find out what's possible, even if I won't be able to take advantage of it. I can, however, choose to take the classes, including childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care. A bit more expensive than the ones down here in my city, but worth considering nonetheless.

After the tour and orientation I headed back down south to my city, but stopped off at this awesome outlet mall on the way back. I hadn't been there in years, and I was excited to check out some of the baby stores there! Wow, did I hit the jackpot! I went to Carter's and The Children's Place, and found some truly amazing deals. Sweet little tops and bottoms for $3 apiece, outfits for less than $6, you name it. I didn't go overboard, but I did find some beautiful clothes for the six to nine months after she's born. But I must admit, it's very strange to be buying clothes for someone whom I haven't even met yet!!!

Once I got back, I stopped by Michael's and Hobby Lobby to look for a few decor items I had in mind for her room (and the rest of the house, of course), which I was happy to find. So tomorrow's plan is to finish painting her room and to hang a few of the things I found. I am also going to put a small Christmas tree in there, with some lovely baby girl-oriented ornaments and such. I love the tradition of giving her one new ornament each year to commemorate some aspect of that particular year.

Oh, and I have decided on one strict rule that has emerged from one of my biggest pet peeves (well, I guess it's several rules rolled into one, really):

• NOTHING with the words "princess" or "diva" is allowed to enter her room or be permitted to grace her little body!!! I absolutely detest this "entitled" garbage!!! It's one thing if she ends up liking and asking for the whole princess thing, but I'll cross that bridge when I get there. I loathe these attitude shirts with these obnoxious sayings on them!!!

• NO words on the butt of her pants, sweatpants, etc. I'm sorry, but clothing should not intentionally be trying to draw anyone's attention to someone's butt with words, sayings, etc. Just my opinion.
  

• Last one, I promise: nothing that smacks of "attitude", such as "whatever" or the like. No texting lingo. No Happy Bunny stuff, either. Gee, can you tell I teach middle school kids??! Yeah, I know. Such a wet blanket I am.
  

So now I'm back home, relaxing and putting away my purchases. The crib is supposed to be delivered anytime after Wednesday, so I need to have all the painting etc. done by then. I'm excited to put it all together!

PS--Twenty seven weeks today! Woo hoo!