28 Weeks!

We had our 28 week doctor's appointment today...unfortunately I could not take my blood sugar test because, after fasting since midnight last night, my blood sugar was already at 165 (165 what, I don't know, but it was 165) and they won't give you the sugar drink if you're over 110...so I get to come back next week & have my finger pricked, and drink a super-sweet orange drink, and then get my finger pricked again.

But, lest anyone worry, there's a reason that my blood sugar level was so high: I have a sinus infection! Hurrah for me...no wonder I've been so miserable & can't sleep, and when I finally do convince the giant ball o'mucous that's in my head to go to one side or the other (so I can at least have one nostril to breathe out of), I still wheeze & whistle so much that Patrick can't sleep. (In fact, I've been quite generous this past week--I gave him the cold that I had...the one that turned into the sinus infection.) The doc did give me some antibiotics & a cough syrup with codeine & antihistimines...the antibiotic should clear this infection up within three days, and the cough syrup should help clear my head and help me sleep. Yay!! Fun all around.

Back to the baby update: the Bean weighs about 3 pounds now, and looks "perfect" according to the doc. The ultrasound tech was very good, and had us look away while she was checking out the leg portion of the bean, so we didn't see (or not see, as the case may be) certain parts that would indicate whether the Bean is a boy or girl. The Bean cooperated nicely, and gave us the profile that you see here...we're trying to figure out who the Bean resembles more: Patrick or me.

We're very happy that the tape on this one turned out very well--so I'm having 3 DVDs made and will ship two out to the grandparental units as soon as they're done. And keep the volume up on this tape--the ultrasound tech paused over the heart, and you can see and hear the heartbeat!!! The heartbeat was 170, so it's back up to what it was the first time we heard the Bean's heart. The sound still makes me giggle.

Enjoy the pictures--I threw this last one in just so that you can see my big ol' preggo belly. I'm pretty proud of it!! I just can't wait to see and kiss and cuddle and smell and experience this little person that is flopping around inside my tummy!!!

Thank you!!!

Okay, I borrowed this photo from Rachel's blog because Patrick and I, being the smart folks we are, forgot to bring our camera to the shower that Patrick's family had for us last weekend. I'm hoping that more folks will post pics to their blogs, and maybe, just maybe, the folks who don't have digital cameras can send us some pics.

The shower was great, and it was wonderful to see everyone. We did end up with LOTS of stuff...surprisingly, it all fit in the car, and is now safely stored in the apartment (two underbed storage containers, and Patrick's skillful moving of stuff that we had up high, and my moving of stuff down low), PLUS one of the pieces of furniture we have in the apartment is the dresser that I had when I was little, so we've already started putting clothes into that.

I want to thank everyone who was there, and for your generosity to us and the Bean.

I was thrilled that Granny, Janet & Rachel got to feel the Bean jumping around in my tummy; seems like every day the Bean is more & more active--I'm sure there will be no trouble feeling him/her when the Hardins come for a visit in mid-April, and I can't wait for my folks' visit the weekend after so THEY can feel the Bean!

We've continued to put the headphones on my tummy; right now we're listening to Al Green--and so far, the Bean does seem to like Al (and really, who doesn't?).

And, lucky me, I caught a cold this week...I stayed home on Friday, and broke down today and took a Sudafed. It is on the list of approved medications that are safe, but I figure that anything that goes into MY body goes into the Bean's as well, and I just don't like taking a lot of medications...but when you go to bed at 10pm, and are up at 11, 12, 1, 2-3:30 (figured I'd sit up on the couch, maybe that would help), 4, 5, 7-7:30 (took a hot shower), 8...well, you get the idea. So, I'm going on a bit of sleep deprivation (which may explain why I was crying so hard at the end of the movie "Parenthood")...and can somewhat breathe. Sort of. I've been drinking more water than I ever thought was possible (supplemented by herbal tea & orange juice), and generally looking quite pitiful. I may drag myself to the shower in a bit, because some Vietnamese noodles with chicken in it seems like it may go a lot way to making me feel better...

So, I think we're in for a very boring weekend; probably me trying to clear a nostril, any nostril, to be able to breathe, trying to sleep lots & Patrick will probably be surfing the 'net or trying to kill aliens, or Nazis, or whatever's trying to kill him in the X-box game du jour.

So, this is not the most exciting post ever, but I did want to let people know that I'm alive, and to say a very sincere "thank you" to everyone who made the shower possible.

Oh--and I wanted to brag again about the shirt that Patrick made for me.... We've been trying to walk just about every day, weather & health permitting. I came home one day, and Patrick seemed more eager than usual for me to get changed so we could go walking. I walk into the bedroom, and see this shirt hanging up...I think I started to cry a little!!! First, because it's a shirt that I can fit into, and second--he made the design for me. He created the little bean & everything! I just think that it's so sweet, these little things that he does for me. (Plus I really like how you can see the shirt going over my tummy....because yes, I really do look that pregnant!!)

Happy Birthday, Mom!

I don't have very many pictures of Mom, mainly because she's the one taking all the pictures, but I do have this one, from my famous photo cube.

I love this picture of Mom--she's holding me in my christening gown, and she's looking so glamorous, with her blonde hair and her geometric print dress...and she's looking at me with such love and happiness. You just know that I was very loved!

My Mom is amazing--she did, and continues to do, so much for our family. I'm not sure how many of you out there know this, but she decided that she wanted to go back to school, and she worked hard and earned her Master's degree before I got mine...and she started college after I did! I was so proud when Mom got her degree--I think, for me, her MA degree meant more to me than mine did!

She's always been there for me, no matter what. I know that I can talk to her about anything, and I treasure the memories I have of her and I going shopping, getting lunch at Vintage Fare in the Nugget Mall, just talking and bonding. Even now, when we visit, I look forward to our shopping trips. It's a chance for us to get together, by ourselves, and just be together.

It was so hard for me moving to Tennessee, and not being able to see my parents as much as I wanted to. I'm sure it was harder for them (as I'll be finding out very shortly as I become a parent!). I missed my Mom so much!!! I remember I had some really hard times, and I would just call her and cry to her. I know it broke her heart to have her baby so upset, but Mom, I want to let you know that you made it all better. Just talking to you, and knowing that you loved me...it means the world to me.

Every day I look in the mirror, and I see Mom staring back at me. When I hear my voice on an answering machine, I'm struck with how similar it is to Mom's. I love that she and I share the same love for "Ishtar." (Yes, we know it's a bad movie, but telling the truth is a dangerous business.) I love that she and I laugh so hard at certain shows that it's a wonder we don't wet ourselves. I love that she and I can be open and honest with each other, and I always know that she's there to support me and give me all the love and help and encouragement I need.

My Mom did an amazing job, raising me with complete unconditional love and support, and then allowing me to go into the world to seek my own way, to begin my own life, and now--to begin the cycle again.

I look at my growing belly, and envision what our baby will look like, what he/she will grow up to be--all those unknowns that parents-to-be wonder. But the one thing I do know--I know that I hope I'll be just like my Mom. And, I can't wait for this little Bean to get to know his/her Grandma, and will know--as I do--what an amazing woman she is.

Happy Birthday, Mom. I love you!

Baby Overload!

Just how long can two reasonable people spend in Babies-R-Us with a scanner and not go insane? About 2 hours. Give or take.

Yes, we went to Babies-R-Us today, and I think we did a pretty good job. We registered for the stuff we needed (or thought we'd need), and we tried to be somewhat practical. We know that the baby won't be eating any solid food for awhile--so no need for dishes quite yet. We aren't sure if we want to give cloth diapers a try (HappyHeineys has some pretty cute covers & special inserts that seem to be appealing--but apparently available only on-line, though there is a place in Smyrna that Janet says sells them), so we didn't register for diapers (we'll probably pick up some newborns just before the Bean arrives just to be safe, too). We also know that people are going to be giving us TONS of little t-shirts, onesies, cute clothes, etc., so we didn't register for any of that stuff, either. Yes, we did register for some cute baby things--a couple rattles (Rachel, one is on there just for you...you'll know which one it is. And not for you, as in, the rattle would be yours...well, you know what I mean.)

We also didn't feel like we got enough "baby" at Babies-R-Us, so we went to Target, too....not as much stuff on the Target registry, but some stuff.

If you want to see the registries, we're under "Chauntelle & Patrick Hardin" at the Babies-R-Us site (I think this link will work: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/babyregistry/102-1786128-2325706 ), and put in last name "Hardin" and my first name, with "South Carolina" and I should pop up. Or, you can put in our registry #: 52278598.

At the Target registry, we're under "Chauntelle & Daniel Hardin" (http://www.target.com/gp/registry/babyreg.html/601-8507520-4544962?ref=nav_t_spc_3_13/601-8507520-4544962 is their not-very-cut&paste-friendly website address), and on the left of the screen you'll see "Find a Gift Registry"--they just ask for the 1st two letters of the first name, last name & state, and we should pop up. Now, Target makes a suggestion that "Parents who registered for the items in your Gift Registry also registered for..." and this makes it seem like we also registered for all this Classic Pooh bedding, lamps, etc. Well--not that I have anything against Classic Pooh, but we've not signed up for any of that stuff. We don't have a "theme"--keep in mind, we have a small (700 sq. ft.) apartment, and we don't have a nursery, much less space for a whole lot of "stuff."

We did not register for a crib--we're hoping that the Graco Pack-n-Play will serve as a bassinet & changer for a few months. All the reviews we read on it were favorable, and to be honest, we just did not see a bassinet that we liked (and no room for a dresser/changer in the apartment. Yes, I know we won't be in the apartment forever, but I don't want to assume we'll be out by the time the baby comes, and then have all this furniture that we're having to climb over to get into the kitchen). We looked at all the bassinets Babies-R-Us had (Target didn't have any...we were a bit disappointed in that), and we even took them down off the shelves, took them apart, and just weren't happy with them. And, I think that Target.com will even ship the Pack-n-Play directly to us, which is a bonus! Also, if we travel, we can take that with us, and that may help a little if the Bean has a familiar sleeping place go with him/her.

In fact, just about everything we registered for, if we could take it down & play with it, we did. I think the stroller guy thought we were crazy, but we didn't care. We drove the stroller around, folded it up & down, attached the car seat to it (which we didn't think was a possibility--we decided against a "Travel System" and instead opted for a car seat & stroller that Consumer Reports liked as separate entities, and were pleasantly surprised to learn that the ones we picked out worked together)...in fact, if they'd had "tester babies" that we could have popped in to see how the baby would fit into the car seat & stroller, we'd have done that!

We opted against registering for bottles & breast pumps (sorry, Dad...know that it's probably not something you want to think about...). I've got a breastfeeding class given by the hospital coming up in the next couple of months, and figured I'd have a better idea of what I'd want after that. Plus, I don't know if you've been in a Babies-R-Us lately, but there are so many kinds of this stuff...and really, you can't really "try it out" in the store (lordy, I hope you can't....). So I figure I need to get more info & come back to those types of things.

The diaper bag that we saw & liked is at Lands' End--it's the "Do It All" Diaper bag, in black, and here's the link for anyone who wants to take a look: http://www.landsend.com/cd/fp/prod/0,,1_2_678_66249_109422_87869_5:view=-1,00.html?CM_MERCH=PAGE_66249&sid=2452195690127167850

(again, we're very practical, we know--no fuzzy ducks on the outside, no sparklies or sequins. Hey, Patrick is going to have to carry this thing, too, you know!)

And, we figure that there are plenty of moms out there that will see our registry & think, "Oh, they forgot such & such" and so will pick that up for us, and for those types of things, we'd be eternally grateful (since we really don't know what we're doing...we were just having fun with the little electronic scanner thingy.).

Anyway, peruse the registries and be amused at our complete lack of understanding of what babies need....

We're looking at March 18 to visit the folks in Knoxville for our "family trip" (again, the official baby shower will take place in Greenville....I'm sure once it gets closer, Mom will step in with details--right now, my head is swimming with baby acoutrements and the eternal question: "Did we buy the right stuff?"), and we're looking forward to seeing everyone in K'ville!

(And just to remind everyone--whatever is purchased, we're going to have to load it in our car, along with the stuff we brought for the weekend trip, and then unload it, so please keep that in mind. Or, kindly provide a sherpa.)

Happy Birthday Dad! and Baby Update!

Just wanted to take a quick time-out of baby updates to address an issue that should have been addressed on Tuesday, but because of my sense of timing (which does leave something to be desired sometimes!), I’m not posting it until right now (and I tried to post earlier, but Blogger was having some issues):

Happy Birthday, Dad!!!

I can’t tell you how lucky I feel to be your daughter, how happy I am to hear your voice in my head when I’m in a quandary about a decision, how much I enjoy our talks on the phone—even if all we talk about is regular stuff, like what you bought at Home Depot, or what I had for dinner the other night. You have given me so much throughout the years, and continue to give me strength, and wisdom, and how I love you “Just Being a Dad.”

I know I didn’t always listen to you and your advice—I guess I just had to find out for myself why you shouldn’t wear shorts and ride a motorcycle, or why it’s important to always make sure you have gas in the tank. I’m sure some of the lessons I learned on my own were painful for you to watch—and I’m sure that I’ll be experiencing some of that pain and heartache on my own very shortly! I joke that you got smarter as I got older, but I really think it’s me who got smarter, and realized that you have so much experience, and maybe you do know what you’re talking about!

I feel so lucky to be your daughter—and I can’t tell you how excited I am for the Bean to meet his grandpa. Just thinking about seeing you hold the Bean for the first time brings tears to my eyes. I know that the Bean is going to think that you’re the coolest, smartest, greatest, most awesome grandpa in the world—just like I think you’re the coolest, smartest, greatest, most awesome Dad in the world.

I love you, and Happy Birthday!

And, for those who want baby updates—I’ve posted the pics at the bottom…not the best, but I was in a hurry—the batteries in the camera were dying & I had to scavenge some from our remotes (the batteries are back in the remotes, thus saving us from having to actually get up off the couch to change the channels…), but it gives a good idea of how the size of my belly is progressing.

The Bean is getting more & more active (or maybe it’s because the Bean is growing, and I can just feel the movement more). Mom keeps asking if I’ve noticed a schedule…I do notice after I eat there’s more movement, and at night when I’m propped up reading before bedtime I notice a lot of flopping around. Tonight Patrick really got to feel a good solid “thunk”—he’s felt “shuddering” before, but it was kind of hard for him to discern the “shuddering” from what may be normal tummy sounds, but tonight it was definite. And, true to form, I started giggling.

I did pamper myself on Tuesday (I figure I better do it now, as I’m not sure when I’ll be able to do it after the Bean arrives)—I redeemed Patrick’s Christmas gift to me and got a facial at the Spa at West End. It was fabulous—there’s just something about having someone pamper you for an hour with creams, and lotions, and exfoliants, and masks, and wrapping your face with hot towels….and then massage your neck, shoulders, forearms, hands…*Sigh* It was truly wonderful. I think the Bean liked it too; I know that he/she was pretty active there for awhile, and then I felt rhythmic “thunks” and I do know that sometimes babies get hiccups, so maybe that’s what I was feeling. I’m not sure I could justify an hour-long facial once a month (as the Spa suggests), but I think I may be able to talk myself into a mini-facial for 30 minutes every couple of months. Or, maybe getting a mother-daughter manicure/pedicure may be fun, too!