So everyone at the office (my home away from home) is already trying to decide if we're having a boy or a girl. The speculation has been all over the board, mainly based on the old wives tales...some saying I'm even having twins because it seems I'm showing a bit more than I should. I have assured them that I am not having twins...but that bulging belly would be my fat pooch that has nowhere to go but out at this point!

But the old wives tales sure are fun to speculate with! I found a fun list of them, and most are based mainly on foods I'm craving, how I'm carrying (too early to tell) or how my hair looks. There was one, however, that required a little bit of work.

So on Friday afternoon...when things had slowed down a bit at the office, we decided to give the old Ring Test a try.

To do this, you take your wedding band (or someone else's) and tie a piece of thread to it. Then you dangle it over the pregnant woman's palm (or belly). If it swings in circles, it's a girl. Side to side...it's a boy.

When I tried this in my office, it swung side to side quite rapidly. I got excited and went to show the others...

...who promptly made me lie down on the nasty office floor, so they could dangle my ring over my belly.

I tried it first, but clearly I couldn't see what I was doing. So they took over...

Each time they tried it, the ring turned around in circles while going back and forth. So the consensus was that either I really am having twins, and the doc just missed it twice (not likely!)...

Or the old wives tale of the ring test clearly doesn't work...at least not this early.

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Labels: Baby P, Boy or Girl?

I think the number one question I get right now, is "what are you craving?" To be honest, I haven't gotten to the point where I just have to have something. I mean, don't get me wrong, if I see something that looks/sounds appetizing, chances are I'm going to find a way to get it, but I haven't been ravenous yet...that I'm aware of (others may disagree!).

I do prefer salty to sweet (which is highly unusual for me), but I am also loving Jelly Belly jelly beans right now. Buttered Popcorn flavor is my favorite.

The other day, the girls and I went to Jason's Deli for lunch. A favorite between all of us, but for some reason we don't go as much as we should. As I was reading the menu, I realized that I couldn't have lunch/deli meat, unless it's been heated in the microwave on high for at least 40 seconds. The thought of hot lunch meat grosses me out, so I was pining for something different.

Not listed on the menu, but on a small sign when you walk in the door, something caught my eye. When I read the description, I decided I just couldn't pass it up. So I ordered said sandwich (with no meat), and a cup of French Onion soup...because besides Panera, I think Jason's is the best. And I simply must have it whenever I'm there...pregnant or not.

The girls thought I was nuts, but passed my order off as a crazy pregnancy craving, and left it at that. Until it came to the table.

You see, I had ordered an Egg Salad Sandwich on White Bread. Thinking it would be much like my mom's - mayonnaise based with pickles between 2 slices of soft fresh Sunbeam white bread. Mmmm, I can taste it now. I think I'll have her make me some!

OH NO my friends! Jason's Deli's egg salad sandwich is not mayonnaise based, but mustard based. No pickles...but red peppers. And not white bread, but a hoagie.

Feast your eyes on this wonder of a sandwich....or what's left of it after we decided to snap a pic!
I thought it was quite yummy. The others at the table had to hold their gag reflexes (Amanda!). They were amused to say the least. So amused, they had to snap a pic of me actually eating such a marvel of modern food...

Mom's was definitely better...and much less messy. And if your not pregnant and wanting some hard boiled eggs, I'd probably steer clear of this sandwich. But I for one might be having it again next time I visit.

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Labels: Cravings

So on Monday, Owen and I made the recurring - every 4 weeks - trip to the doctor's office. This visit seemed to carry much more significance than the first visit. At the first visit, we were there so the doctor could tell us that we were indeed with child. This visit was to tell us that we were still with said child.

To say I was nervous was the understatement of the century. My nervousness stemmed from this image in my head from our first visit, that I just couldn't shake, and I don't think I'll ever forget...

...You see, as we sat waiting for our turn during the first visit, many people shuffled in and out. Some women alone, just there doing their thing, and some with their significant others there for the same reason we were.

As we sat there for literally hours (my doc was busy bringing babies into the world), one couple caught my eye as their name was called. They had that same nervous, but yet excited look about the possibilities of what would come to them once they went through that door. Obviously younger and new to the process, the boy followed the girl almost reluctantly through the door when her name was called.

As they disappeared, I sat there nervously, knowing that soon I would make the same walk, with my "boy" following closely, yet reluctantly behind, full of the same nervous energy. What I didn't know is that my time for that walk would be further delayed and this couple would soon cross my path in a very different way.

About 30 minutes after they first went through that door, they emerged again. Only this time, that nervous look of the girl had been replaced by a look of profound sadness. As she rushed through the waiting room, tears streamed down her already red, tear stained face. The boy, still following reluctantly, had a look of sadness and fear the likes of which I've not seen before. It was obvious what their trip behind that door told them.

So there we sat, waiting for our turn at the second visit, and this image is rolling through my brain. No matter what distraction tactics I tried, it wouldn't go away. I still think about that couple, and wonder how that experience changed them.

As my name was called, we both jumped up, gathered our belongings - we brought a lot to keep us busy! - and went through that door. We were led into a room, and shortly thereafter, the doctor visited. After a brief visit, she pulled out the sonogram machine and placed it on my belly.
Let me back up - before she put the sonogram on my belly, she warned me that 'it could take a while to find the heartbeat, so don't get scared" - so she put the sonogram on my belly, and immediately we heard our little "thumper!"

An indescribable joy came over me as I looked up at Owen. With tears in my eyes I started my trademark hysterical laughter, forcing the doctor to stop while I composed myself! Once I was composed, she again placed the sonogram on my belly to find "thumper" and the machine calculated the heart rate.

153 beats per minute. I'm told that's fast, and our little "boy" could actually be a girl according to the old wives tale, though she said it's still to early to tell for sure! We will have to wait 8 more weeks for that!

Here's a little about what the little "thumper" is up to this week:

Having grown bigger than a plum, he is now the size of a...PEACH!
He is forming teeth and vocal cords... their non-functional phase! He is approaching normal proportions, with a head now only one third the size of the body. Intestines are in the process of moving from the umbilical cord to baby's tummy. (Much more convenient.)

Fingerprints have formed on his tiny fingertips, his veins and organs are clearly visible through his still-thin skin, and his body is starting to catch up with his head — which makes up just a third of his body size now. Although if our "he" is a "she," she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries.

I'm still feeling great, just a nagging pain in my behind...which the doctor assured me would only get worse! And if I can't stand it, I can go to physical therapy, but other than that, there's not much that can be done about it.

I guess I can deal with a little pain for the joy that will soon follow!

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Labels: Baby P

So I've been pretty MIA lately. But there's good reason, I assure you. If you've been keeping up, in the past few months Owen and I have been very busy. Too busy for me to find time to keep up with blogging. But I promise from now on I'll get better at that. Not that I really have any extra time on my hands, but I'll find it somewhere. Do you think I can buy some at Publix? They should sell that...

In fact I think my time is about to become non-existent. Well, maybe not for another 6 months or so...I may be in the clear until then. We'll see.

I won't keep you in suspense any longer. It seems that I'm growing a little nugget in my belly. That's his nickname around the office anyway (hence the title of today's post). And most of you already knew this little "nugget" of news (no pun intended...well...maybe just a little!).

Ok, if you're still not following, Owen and I are officially expecting a visit from the stork on October 25th. We found out in February and had our first doctor visit on March 16th.

That was the most amazing day for us. Up until that point we had just been talking about being pregnant, but this day really made it real for us. We got to hear the little bitty (incredibly fast) heartbeat and see the little nugget on the ultrasound. It was so surreal. We both cried (but don't tell O I told you that!) I then laughed hysterically and the ultrasound tech had to wait for me to stop laughing so she could continue.

We go back on Monday for our '12 week' visit, although I'll be 13 weeks on Sunday, but who's counting! I won't get another ultrasound (at least not according to my insurance) until the 17 week visit when we find out if it's a boy or a girl. But we may be paying for a few extra just for my sanity. Either that or visiting Virginia College for some free ones!!

I've been feeling great, just extremely tired. Only got sick once after eating Krystal's - but that could've been the food and not the baby. I feel like a cow, as I'm just in the 'fat stage' and don't really look pregnant unless I wear certain shirts. Hopefully I'll "pop" soon and really start looking pregnant.

Here's a little about what the baby is up to this week:

He's the size of a plum - I bought one at the store the other day, and I must say he's a bit smaller than I feel!! Maybe he's an abnormally large plum! Either that or I need to lay off the ice cream! Although he looks like a real baby - legs and arms and everything...even boy or girl parts (though too tiny to see at the moment). All of his internal organs are formed and functioning. Now he just needs to grow!

I keep saying "he" because we think it's a boy...solely based on my sister-in-laws Gender Predictor, which hasn't been wrong yet. But we shall see!!

Mom and I have been swimming everyday after work. Makes me feel "one" with the baby...even though we literally are "one" right now. Plus it's super good full body exercise. Nevermind the ridiculous swim suits and swim caps we sport. That's a sight to behold!

I discovered this morning that I can push on my belly and feel him. That was pretty neat. I was pushing on him this morning because he's decided to get cozy on my sciatic nerve, and sends shooting pains down my left leg. Making it quite difficult to get comfortable. So I was trying to push him out of the way and make him move a bit. I think I made him mad because today I hurt worse than before!!

I laugh and cry at the drop of a hat, and I'd forget my head if it wasn't attached. The other day I was in Publix at the check out and looked down to see the little flyer for March of Dimes. I burst into tears. Then last night I was watching ESPN with O about John Madden's retirement and again burst into tears, and I actually cannot stand hearing him commentate a game. And then there's the hysterical laughter, like when someone told me about Nancy Grace's pregnancy brain, when she asked her husband to buy "that fruit that monkey's eat" - I can totally relate to that. Yesterday I forgot what an "end table" was called - you know..."that wooden thing that holds things at the end of your couch" - that's how I described it.

So it should be an interesting 6 months. Stay tuned for more antics! I promise to keep you updated!

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Labels: Baby P, Munchkins, Nesting Rugrats

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Labels: God is in Control

This isn't the update that I had been preparing after being away for so long, but this is just too gruesome not to share. I know what you're thinking - "I don't want to hear about something gruesome." Well, neither did I, but I somehow got thrust into the situation with little warning. So I'm bringing you down with me. So sorry!

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Labels: Dogs, Tas, Vizsla's