Presents for the Bean already!

We had a great visit with Dan, Janet & Rachel this weekend, and they came bearing gifts for the Bean... Grandpa Dan & Grandma Janet gave the Bean the Pooh Bear, and Auntie Rachel brought clothes (of course!). True to form, Auntie Rachel did not disappoint, as you can see by the stylin' 'Elvis' shirt. She also brought a fabulous onesie--it's black with a skull & crossbones on it. (I tried to model it on the Tigger I bought the bean, but it just didn't go with Tigger's stripes. I thought about putting it on Mouse, but though that would be a supremely bad idea....) Rachel also brought a very cool onesie/romper with the Radio Flyer logo on it...it's size 12 months, and to be honest, I started to cry a little bit when I held it up & realized that our little Bean will be wearing his Radio Flyer onesie/romper sooner than I can imagine! Mom & Dad have also given us the sweetest little lamb rattle that is so soft...I just can't wait for the Bean to get here!!!!

I think the Bean is practicing for the circus, though, because he/she has been doing all sorts of somersaults & flips. Last Friday night when Patrick was home, I pressed his hand where I've been feeling most of the movement, and on a couple big ones he could feel it a little....though the Bean is still small enough that it's not so very apparent from the outside what's taking place on the inside! I know that the time is coming when Patrick will have NO problem feeling our little Bean kicking & stretching. We're at 23 weeks (24th week begins month #6), so we're down to about 4 months to go. And yes, that does add up to 10 months. I'm not sure who is perpetuating the "9 month" lie, but preganancy does last 40 weeks...which, if you divide that into months, is TEN, not nine.

We're getting into more classes that the hospital offers (and, just so everyone knows, we ARE using St. Francis Hospital...it's very close, and pretty much a straight shot from the apartment, so if we're still here & I go into labor, Patrick just has to make two turns to get us to the hospital!)--we have a "Safe & Savvy Baby Buys" class that's sponsored by Babies-R-Us, so I'm wondering how much of it is useful information, and how much is just "Hey, you need to buy this, and lookee here! We're selling it on Aisle 4!" But, they do cater a dinner, and it's free, so we figured why not? (Of course, when the guy at the Baby Expo was plugging the class, he said it's either catered by the Italian Market & Grill OR Chick-Fil-A. Now, I like Chick-Fil-A, but seems like an awful big range to me. Did I mention it's free?)

Most of the classes are during the week, so it's great that Patrick found out today that they're bringing him home...at least, they are next Wednesday! He talked to one of the Area Managers who said that they're bringing him back to Greenville, he's paid his dues, and they'll be finding a permanent position for him here. What that position may be, we're not sure (and do we care??? It's home!!!)...it may be his own site, it may be helping out here & there locally until something comes up. I'll be sad to see the reimbursements go, but having my Patrick home with us means more than any old expense report!

I think we're planning a trip to Knoxville around mid-March; we want to go before I get so ungainly that I won't be able to make the trip. I am still feeling great; still stuffy pretty much all the time (it gets worse after 8pm...I'm not sure why. It's kinda funny that I can almost tell what time it is by how stuffed up my nose gets! It makes cool noises at night when I sleep...sometimes I think I freak out the cats.), and I think I used too many different lotions, because I've developed this lovely itchy rash on my belly. It's quite attractive, and even more so after I've rubbed diaper rash ointment all over my belly. But, the ointment seems to help, and the rash is nearly gone (maybe it's good that Patrick wasn't here...). Once it's gone for good, I'm going to try to find ONE lotion & stick with it. "Can you go without lotion?" you may ask. The answer is...NO! Do you know how itchy stretched skin is?!?! Half the time I feel like some rednecked Bubba, absently scratching all the darn time. So no, I can't go without lotion...I'll just need to find a lotion & stick with it. I do like the Bath & Body Works Spearmint & Eucalyptus (also helps with the stuffiness...thanks, Mom!) and I don't think it's any one particular lotion that caused the reaction...I think it was mixing the 4 or 5 of them. Yeah, I know--probably wasn't the wisest thing in the world to do, but hey--when you're itchy, you become desperate!

But, my point was--I'm feeling great now; I'm not going to be running any marathons soon, but still able to lead a pretty much normal existence....as long as there's someone around to tie my shoes (if I stand up straight, I can't see my toes anymore!), and as long as there's a bathroom nearby, I'm happy.

Baby Update

We had our next prenatal visit today; well, it was supposed to be yesterday, but Dr. Hood (the one we've been seeing and really like) had to deliver two babies, and the nurse said she tried to call to let me know that my appointment would have to be cancelled, but just got voicemail....so, we rescheduled for today.

The Bean's heartbeat is 166bpm, which is "perfect," and the nurse was chasing the Bean around the womb with the heartbeat wand thingy (not sure what the actual name for that is; I'm sure Nurse Kala knows) to try to get a heartbeat, so apparently little Beany is quite active!

The most exciting thing is, the nurse confirmed that all those flutters I've been feeling ARE the Bean! In fact, she was pressing down on my belly & could feel some fluttering.

The doc just did some measuring, and I'm really not sure what I measured at. But he said everything looks perfect--although he did mention that I've put on more weight, and he'd like to see me scale back to 3 or 4 lbs for next visit (I was starting to feel like I was on Celebrity Fit Club or something). Oh--for those who want to know, I gained 7 lbs from the last visit. *Sigh* Doesn't he understand that the Bean is HUNGRY???

No pictures this time; we probably won't have another ultrasound for another couple of visits. I thought about trying to put the camera up close to my belly with the shop light to see if that would illuminate anything, but from what I've read, babies in the womb CAN see bright light, and I really don't want to irritate this child before she/he is born. I'll wait until afterwards to do that....

On another note, Patrick & I had an early Valentine's Day celebration at the Westin Poinsett, a very swanky hotel in the heart of downtown. My law firm gets a great rate for their suites, so we went up there & just enjoyed walking around, having each other to ourselves. We did have dinner at Addy's Dutch Cafe (where I got the swedish meatballs, and they were the BEST I've ever had; Patrick had this peanut-y chicken noodley thing that was really good, too...almost a Thai flavor) and then later we both had waffle cones from Marble Slab Creamery (okay, I think I see where the 7 lbs is coming from....).

This coming weekend we'll have Dan, Janet & Rachel as visitors, and we're both looking forward to that. I have a bet going with Patrick that Janet will: 1) touch my belly, and then 2) cry.

I'll let you know if I win the bet.

Fabulous Greenville Photos!

I found this blog while searching for something...I think it was information on Addy's Dutch Cafe, and Denton (one of the contributors to the site) takes some fabulous photos of Greenville.

Y'all know how much we love Greenville, but I thought I'd post the link on my blog so you can wander over & see some of the sights that I get to see on a daily basis.

He's also got two cats, Click & Clack. When I first saw the names, I thought, "Hey, Tom & Ray of Car Talk" and sure 'nuff--he's a fan of Car Talk, too!

Take a peek:
http://livingdowntowningreenvillesc.blogspot.com/

My exciting life

I thought I’d take a quick moment to update everyone on the daily happenings of my life. Because it’s so darn interesting.

That, and so that the epic Cat Poo Adventure isn’t the first thing that greets readers in the morning.

So what’s been going on in my life? Well, I do feel like one big science experiment. Every day I feel a little less graceful, a little more, shall we say, rotund. I’m enjoying this new-found state, and all that it represents, but it is surprising when you have to continue to move your legs farther & father apart to allow you to bend over to tie your shoes.

The other morning, we were driving around (well, Patrick was driving, I was the happy passenger) and Patrick asked me to get something from the back seat. Sure, no problem. I started to turn, and realized that it just wasn’t going to happen. I have lost my ability to twist and turn like I used to. You think it’s not going to happen until your 8 ½ month. You think you’ve got time. After all, the belly is apparent, but it’s not that big.

Yeah, you realize—it is.

I’ve really noticed a difference in the weight of my body, too. I’ve not started the pregnancy waddle yet, but I have noticed some of my joints loosening. It’s a little startling to sit down & hear all sorts of pops & cracks from places that you weren’t sure you had. (I am assured that this is normal…so don’t nobody fret none!)

I also realized that it was very, very naïve of me to think that the pants I bought early on (which were maternity pants) will last clear until the end of my pregnancy. Even if I shove the waistbands down under the belly, I may only get another ½ month out of some of them. Luckily, we’re getting ready to head to Spring (according to General Beauregard Lee on Groundhog Day), and I’ve got some really great dresses that were lent to me by Lorraine, so I think I’ll be okay. But it’s still weird to look at these pants that, just three months ago, I had them on the smallest setting, and now they’re almost to the point where I’m thinking of doing my crazy rubber-band thingy to get another inch out of them.

And, I’m hot. Really, really hot. I used to be somewhat cold-natured. Even when it was 80 outside, we’d have the air on, and sometimes I’d get cold. I wore slippers all the time. Now I feel like it is 120 degrees all the time. Yesterday, the forecast was for a somewhat chilly day, so I wore my cashmere turtleneck (which still fits!!!) and my cashmere socks. I was so hot. Everyone around me was wearing their jackets (I’m not kidding—I think I even saw some gloves come out, too. And this was inside.), and I’m debating whether or not I could get away with partial nudity in the office. It’s really fun at night, because I do like to sleep with a lot of blankets, and the cat likes to try to merge with my head, and Patrick loves to throw his pillows on top of me. I’m thinking tonight that I’ll turn the air on to about 50, and maybe that’ll keep me cool.

I am learning, though. I’ve got a great pair of pants that have a LOT of room to expand (and they are under-belly pants, too, which means longer wear than my “at the belly” pants that I’m rapidly outgrowing), I’ve got a lighter sweater on today, and have socks with no holes in them so I can take off my shoes while at my desk. (Although, at this point, I probably wouldn’t care if my socks had holes or not….it’s just fun trying to get my shoes off without sounding like I’m wrestling a mad weasel.)

The next doctor’s appointment is next Monday (3:15, for those keeping track). I think that’ll be the time that he measures the belly. I think in one of my books it said that from here on out I’ll gain about an inch in the belly each month. I’m wondering if my hands will be able to reach my keyboard.

On another note, Mom & Dad sent me one of the funniest things I've read in awhile--about a man's battle with a deranged squirrel. I don't want to plagiarize, so here's where everyone can go to read about it (trust me, it's well worth it):

http://www.vtwinmama.com/demonic_squirrel_riding_story.htm

Also, this past weekend, Patrick and I were browsing about iFilm.com (much more fun with a high-speed internet connnection, so I apologize to those who are still using dial-up), and found a cat section. And we all love cats, but for some reason, watching cats do stupid things makes me laugh. Really, really laugh. Like wet myself laugh (on one of these I may have pooted a little, too), so you should take a look:

http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2471696

Fun with Pets, Take Two.

Why is it that the cats with the really furry behinds are the ones that are afflicted with explosive kitty diarrhea?

Yes, it has happened again.

Let me paint a picture for you: I get out of the shower, and open up the bathroom door so that Smokey can come in & look at me like I’m supposed to do something. He’s always done this. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do, and I think he’s getting tired of it after 14 years. But I digress. I am hit by a wall of something that smells God-awful horrid. No, it’s worse. And keep in mind, I am well-acquainted with bad smells, what with my trips to the Body Farm.

This. Was. Bad.

I think that maybe one of the cats did a particularly nasty “stinky” in the litter box, so I venture out of the bathroom with the intent to scoop up whatever is making that smell & dispose of it. Quickly.

Oh no, it’s much worse. I see a brown streak in the bedroom. It’s calling me forward. I walk through the bedroom to the foyer, and look in the living room. Oh joy! I see 3 other nasty, messy brown streaks. One has chunks in it. No, really—chunks.

I am stunned into silence. Why has this happened to me? Am I not a good kitty mom? Do I not get the good kitty food, the kind that doesn’t upset their tummies? I rule out that it’s the food rather quickly, because Smokey isn’t sick. How do I know?

He’s not the one with diarrhea clinging to his butt fur. Mouse, however, is one big ball o’poo. So, my first plan of action is to clean her up, thus preventing the spread of further nastiness.

Now, I know why cats scoot across the floor—their heinies itch. You would think that having a nice, warm washcloth clean you up and remove the itchy stuff would be welcome. You would be wrong. Mouse really doesn’t like it when I clean her hind quarters with a washcloth. In fact, I would say that she hates it.

But, I persevered and cleaned her up, and then grabbed my beloved Bissell SpotLifter (again—it’s fabulous and everyone should have one.) and got to work. It took a few passes, but I have successfully removed all tell-tale signs that my cat’s rear end exploded.

This morning I composed a haiku to commemorate the event, and I’ll try to reproduce it here:

Mouse butt exploding
Brown streaks ever expanding
Bissell SpotLifter

I doubt that it’ll with a Pulitzer (do they give those for haiku?), but it made me feel better.

Some of you commented on my last entry about a similar event that this is to prepare me for motherhood, and the messiness that comes with babies. On most points that were brought up, I agree. But here’s one point that I think few can argue with:

Babies don’t have furry bottoms from which it takes an act of God and enormous courage to completely remove all traces of poo.

20 Weeks!

Today marks the beginning of Week # 20....which means we're 1/2 way through the pregnancy!!!

I still haven't felt Bean moving, but from what I understand, the movement can be confused with gas bubbles. So I may be feeling something, it's just not what I think it is. Or it is. Anyway...

I'm posting my 20 week front & side photos...I think I'm getting to the point where people look at me and think "baby" not "putting on her winter weight."

So far, I'm still feeling great; still the stuffy nose, and still a bit tired - which I'm theorizing is based on the stuffy nose...hard to get a really good night's sleep when you're breathing out of one good nostril...and that's if you have the Amazing Steaminator plugged in. Then you have the joy of trying to sleep in the gentle green glow of the Steaminator's light...it's for safety, but I think it's for my annoyance. But I digress--the stuffy nose is really the only side-effect that I've had that's caused me any sort of discomfort, so I'm considering myself really lucky.

I've been told I'm "carrying high," which is funny, since I thought there was only so much room in the body cavity with which to accomodate a growing fetus. However, if the Bean truly is sitting high, that would explain my quick-to-experience-heartburn-edness that I've recently noticed. I think it's because the Bean, sitting so high, has pushed my stomach (and therefore the acids that cause heartburn) up into the middle of my esophagus. I'm not kidding...I know that as you get older, you get heartburn more easily and can't eat all the same kinds of foods without your trusty friends Tums & Rolaids, but if I so much as LOOK at anything remotely spicy (like, say, a cheeseburger plain), I'm chewing Tums like I've had a bowl of 10 alarm chili!!!

Now ask me if that's stopped me from consuming exactly what I want....that's right--it hasn't. I just pop another Tums (after all, they have calcium, and that's good for a growing Bean). But don't y'all worry none...I'm still eating good foods. I have a spinach salad nearly every day (with Italian dressing...yeah, that's good for the heartburn); I drink lots of milk & OJ (again, OJ is great for soothing heartburn; and I'm taking my prenatal vitamins (I do take them at night, so I'm not aware if they cause heartburn or not. I wouldn't be surprised if they did.). I make sure that I am balancing my "fun" foods with good ones....I'm drinking lots of water, and the doctor seems pleased with my progress, so I guess I'm doing okay.

Speaking of, our next doctor visit is February 13--in the afternoon. Even though it's not going to be a "major" visit--i.e., no ultrasounds--I made the appointment in the afternoon. I'm done with the morning people over at the doctor's office!

Patrick may not be able to make it, and we're both a little bummed about it, but there's not much that can be done. IDG wants Patrick to train a site manager in Florence that week, and I think it's a big deal that Patrick is being asked to train a site manager (considering that I think Patrick is still considered a "trainee" himself)--Patrick thinks that it's just because he's a warm body that's available, but I know better. They wouldn't have him train someone to run a site if they didn't think that Patrick was very good at what he's learned so far (and no, I'm not exactly sure what all he's learned) and that he would be a good trainer. Of course, they're right on both counts...he's a bright boy, my Patrick. So, he'll miss this one appointment, but I think the Bean & I will be okay.

He is back in Cleveland today & tomorrow, and will come back to us on Friday. Soon thereafter, we're hoping that he'll be able to move into the non-stock buyer position that should be opening up at the Honeywell plant in Greer (important note: 10 minutes from the apartment).

Keep yer fingers crossed, and enjoy the pictures!