I have always been a very vivid dreamer - most of them are fairly absurd, only sometimes making sense with events of the day. Often, they are very intense with a hopeless, striving feeling throughout (not unlike watching Cloverfield), where I am trying to get to somewhere or someone but am foiled at every turn. I never make it. One of the weirdest recurring dreams I have had since I was very young centers around everyone in the world working inside Cinderella Castle at Disney World, with my mom's office on the very top floor. When my dad and Chip and I finally get up there to visit her, I'm all alone in the room, and I can see my family down on the ground, waiting for me. I have this one 2-3 times a year. Weird.
Well, I would take even the most intense crazy dream I have ever had over the ones I've had since I've been pregnant. The problem with these current dreams are that they are SO real and SO normal that I have trouble differentiating between them and day-to-day life. I have NOT picked up something at the grocery store because I thought I already did, only to remember it was in a dream. I have chosen not to ask someone something because I already know the answer, but then realize it was a dream conversation. It's becoming a downright nuisance.
I have yet to have very many weird baby dreams, except ones about having Baby D sleep in a drawer, so those are still to come! But for now, if I forget to tell you something or start talking to you about a conversation we never had, just let me know it was probably something that happened while I was sleeping. I also apologize ahead of time if I seem annoyed at repeating something that has OBVIOUSLY already happened.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Barefoot and pregnant...
...in the living room. Well, two out of three isn't bad.
We've gotten some requests for pictures of Beth lately, so we thought we'd oblige. Beth has gotten more maternity clothes, and you can see that she's starting to show a little bit. Our little guy weighs just over a pound now, and he's kicking and pushing for his space.
As a guy going through the pregnancy process for the first time, the whole realm of maternity clothes is kinda fascinating. There are all sorts of cool shirts, blouses, and pants available for pregnant women, and many of them are meant to grow with her as the baby grows. It's a little intimidating, but I'll be honest... I think maternity clothes are some of the most adorable ever made. I mean, look at the picture! Isn't she cute?
Now, if I can just get her to stand in the kitchen...
We've gotten some requests for pictures of Beth lately, so we thought we'd oblige. Beth has gotten more maternity clothes, and you can see that she's starting to show a little bit. Our little guy weighs just over a pound now, and he's kicking and pushing for his space.As a guy going through the pregnancy process for the first time, the whole realm of maternity clothes is kinda fascinating. There are all sorts of cool shirts, blouses, and pants available for pregnant women, and many of them are meant to grow with her as the baby grows. It's a little intimidating, but I'll be honest... I think maternity clothes are some of the most adorable ever made. I mean, look at the picture! Isn't she cute?
Now, if I can just get her to stand in the kitchen...
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Baby Brain
Most of you have heard of this common side effect of pregnancy, baby brain. I thought I was experiencing it early on when I was a little scattered my first trimester. HA! That was NOTHING!
Usually I function better when I have a million things to do. I know a lot of people say that flippantly, but I really mean it. If I have one thing to do all day, I am an absolute sloth. If I have 300 things to get done in an hour, they'll all be done in 56 minutes. Baby Brain hit hard last week, which was a pretty busy week, but no more than most. We hosted Third Thursdays, we were working on the Wild Goose website, my family was coming into town, it was Abbey, Nick, and Marcia's Birthday, and I was throwing an Oscar party with friends who were coming in from out of town and staying over. These are all things I LOVE, and I'm not complaining.
But my multi-tasking, organizational, event-oriented self has all but dissolved into nothingness. My usual organized brain will put things in neat categories and compare events in tidy spaces...it was all I could do to remember WHO was coming into town and that I needed to take a shower each morning! Work is the same way; I usually have 5 or 6 tasks going on my computer, spanning from Wild Goose stuff to shop things and design jobs. Now I bounce from one to another like an ADHD kid after drinking a gallon of kool-aid. Not one of them gets done, and it's impossible to even envision the end of tasks. And as far as planning and organizing events or time periods, it's just impossible!
Thank goodness for my amazing husband, who seems to always step in and take over at the perfect time, i.e., just prior to my head exploding.
(As the perfect example of baby brain, this blog post took me 3 days to finally publish!)
Usually I function better when I have a million things to do. I know a lot of people say that flippantly, but I really mean it. If I have one thing to do all day, I am an absolute sloth. If I have 300 things to get done in an hour, they'll all be done in 56 minutes. Baby Brain hit hard last week, which was a pretty busy week, but no more than most. We hosted Third Thursdays, we were working on the Wild Goose website, my family was coming into town, it was Abbey, Nick, and Marcia's Birthday, and I was throwing an Oscar party with friends who were coming in from out of town and staying over. These are all things I LOVE, and I'm not complaining.
But my multi-tasking, organizational, event-oriented self has all but dissolved into nothingness. My usual organized brain will put things in neat categories and compare events in tidy spaces...it was all I could do to remember WHO was coming into town and that I needed to take a shower each morning! Work is the same way; I usually have 5 or 6 tasks going on my computer, spanning from Wild Goose stuff to shop things and design jobs. Now I bounce from one to another like an ADHD kid after drinking a gallon of kool-aid. Not one of them gets done, and it's impossible to even envision the end of tasks. And as far as planning and organizing events or time periods, it's just impossible!
Thank goodness for my amazing husband, who seems to always step in and take over at the perfect time, i.e., just prior to my head exploding.
(As the perfect example of baby brain, this blog post took me 3 days to finally publish!)
Friday, February 22, 2008
Echo-cardiogram-ed!
Nick and I went to Columbus' Nationwide Children's Hospital this morning to get a fetal echo cardiogram. Because of my family's history with heart issues, we decided to go for this optional scan. It was - by far - the best experience we have had in a hospital, ever! We were in and out in an hour, everyone was VERY nice and so helpful, and the facilities were just beautiful! I suggest that hospital architects everywhere take a page from the Children's Hospital Design Handbook! Whoever said mauve and teal green were calming to anyone? Bring on the primary colors, local art-filled walls, and wagons to take you from room to room! What adult wouldn't want that!?!?
The scan itself went really well! It was done by a nurse and was basically a standard ultrasound. The main difference was that it was about 30 minutes long, as opposed to 5-10 minutes for the others we've had. But we're not complaining! We got to watch our little boy kicking and chewing and squirming for that whole time! The nurse took tons of pictures and measurements of the four chambers of the heart and checked the amount/direction of blood flow to and from the heart color-coded in flashing blue and red patches.
And everything looks perfect! The doctor did say that we have to remember that they were looking at a heart the size of a grape and that they were unable to see tiny holes and imperfections. However, the blood flow, chambers, arteries and heart beat all look perfect! Praise God!
Also, it looks like we have a little personality forming, too! Baby D was laying with his head on my right and looking up, in the breech position. At one point, the nurse took the wand off my belly to put more jelly on and went to look again, and he had flipped completely over! She said he must have turned because he was annoyed at her poking him all about. Who knows where he gets that defiant, strong-willed streak?
We did get some pictures out of it - a full-body shot showing his head to the left, his arm above his tummy and his legs to the right.
And a great profile shot showing his little ear, nose, lips and chin. A few people have said that it looks like he has Nick's nose. I'm worried I see flickers of my Pop-Pop's ears, though! 
The scan itself went really well! It was done by a nurse and was basically a standard ultrasound. The main difference was that it was about 30 minutes long, as opposed to 5-10 minutes for the others we've had. But we're not complaining! We got to watch our little boy kicking and chewing and squirming for that whole time! The nurse took tons of pictures and measurements of the four chambers of the heart and checked the amount/direction of blood flow to and from the heart color-coded in flashing blue and red patches.
And everything looks perfect! The doctor did say that we have to remember that they were looking at a heart the size of a grape and that they were unable to see tiny holes and imperfections. However, the blood flow, chambers, arteries and heart beat all look perfect! Praise God!
Also, it looks like we have a little personality forming, too! Baby D was laying with his head on my right and looking up, in the breech position. At one point, the nurse took the wand off my belly to put more jelly on and went to look again, and he had flipped completely over! She said he must have turned because he was annoyed at her poking him all about. Who knows where he gets that defiant, strong-willed streak?
We did get some pictures out of it - a full-body shot showing his head to the left, his arm above his tummy and his legs to the right.
And a great profile shot showing his little ear, nose, lips and chin. A few people have said that it looks like he has Nick's nose. I'm worried I see flickers of my Pop-Pop's ears, though! 
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
He's Alive...ALIVE!!!
I felt Baby D move for the first time last night, and was able to catch it so that Nick could actually feel it too. It was wild! My reaction was "Holy Crap! He's MOVING!" I felt it when I was laying on my back in bed; it felt like a little flutter, kinda like (for the Meyer fam) those skates in the surf in North Carolina. All fluttery and soft.
I thought I would only be able to feel him at night at first, or when I was sitting or laying down, but he was jumping around all day! Maybe we have a little soccer player on our hands! Or, he could be acting out a scene from Hamlet. Whatever. No pressure.
I thought I would only be able to feel him at night at first, or when I was sitting or laying down, but he was jumping around all day! Maybe we have a little soccer player on our hands! Or, he could be acting out a scene from Hamlet. Whatever. No pressure.
Chillin' out, maxin', relaxin' all cool...
There's this little hormone that gets released during pregnancy called Relaxin. Basically, what it does is softens the muscles and ligaments in the body, preparing it for the Incredible Hulk-scale expansions in store for it over the next few months. (I personally think this is the least serious medical term ever created.) I can hear those doctors now,
"What should we call this new-found hormone"
"What does it do?"
"Uh...it relaxes."
"How about relaxin?"
Clearly not Rocket Surgeons.
Well, I have started to experience the "relaxing" effects of this creatively-challenged hormone. As you may have known, I am just now recovering from a monster cold unlike anything I have ever experienced. It lasted for 2 weeks, for one of which I couldn't speak, with a cough that must have woken up the neighborhood. It was wild. Well, during one of these coughing fits, I threw out something in my back, thanks to being all chilled out and relaxed by the pregnancy. No biggie, though, pulled muscle...it was almost healed when I coughed again lightly last night and something popped. Now my entire right side is on fire and I fear laughter, coughing, yawning, breathing, and - worst of all - sneezing. I'm not trying to make more out of this than what it is, though - it's just a pulled muscle created by my loose, relaxed muscles, and it will heal.
(An Aside, if you will. I must point out that, while I might be in a bit of back pain, my brother-in-law, Greg is currently suffering from a herniated disc and on two weeks of couch rest and physical therapy before a possible back surgery. I am absolutely convinced that he is way more pain that I will be throughout my pregnancy and into labor and delivery. So, please, keep him in your prayers his way, and pray that his therapists and doctors will be able to provide him with pain relief and a complete and speedy recovery!)
My adamant protest at my current state centers around the fact that a pregnancy hormone called RELAXIN has me now all tight and wound up and fearing breathing. I think those brilliant doctors need to head back to the drawing boards and come up with a better - and more inventive - name for this hormone.
"What should we call this new-found hormone"
"What does it do?"
"Uh...it relaxes."
"How about relaxin?"
Clearly not Rocket Surgeons.
Well, I have started to experience the "relaxing" effects of this creatively-challenged hormone. As you may have known, I am just now recovering from a monster cold unlike anything I have ever experienced. It lasted for 2 weeks, for one of which I couldn't speak, with a cough that must have woken up the neighborhood. It was wild. Well, during one of these coughing fits, I threw out something in my back, thanks to being all chilled out and relaxed by the pregnancy. No biggie, though, pulled muscle...it was almost healed when I coughed again lightly last night and something popped. Now my entire right side is on fire and I fear laughter, coughing, yawning, breathing, and - worst of all - sneezing. I'm not trying to make more out of this than what it is, though - it's just a pulled muscle created by my loose, relaxed muscles, and it will heal.
(An Aside, if you will. I must point out that, while I might be in a bit of back pain, my brother-in-law, Greg is currently suffering from a herniated disc and on two weeks of couch rest and physical therapy before a possible back surgery. I am absolutely convinced that he is way more pain that I will be throughout my pregnancy and into labor and delivery. So, please, keep him in your prayers his way, and pray that his therapists and doctors will be able to provide him with pain relief and a complete and speedy recovery!)
My adamant protest at my current state centers around the fact that a pregnancy hormone called RELAXIN has me now all tight and wound up and fearing breathing. I think those brilliant doctors need to head back to the drawing boards and come up with a better - and more inventive - name for this hormone.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Tummy Time
I am at the uncomfortable point now where people could look at me and think "Oh, she must be pregnant!" or "Hmmm...someone spent way too many Sundays at the Golden Corral!" (To which, I'm happy to say, I have never even been.) So far, I haven't received any presumptuous comments, but, even so, am I going to be mad if someone comes up and asks if I'm preggers? I am!
It's great fun, too, learning how to walk as my center of gravity changes. Baby D is about 1 pound right now, but with all the other stuff that goes with him, and it being in a centralized location, it throws off all hopes of balance!
As someone who has spent her entire natural life attempting to cover up her pouch belly, the idea that I am now purchasing clothes that are specifically designed to SHOW OFF my growing midsection is a bit hard to swallow. I have to say, however, it's WAY more fun showing it off than covering it up!
It's great fun, too, learning how to walk as my center of gravity changes. Baby D is about 1 pound right now, but with all the other stuff that goes with him, and it being in a centralized location, it throws off all hopes of balance!
As someone who has spent her entire natural life attempting to cover up her pouch belly, the idea that I am now purchasing clothes that are specifically designed to SHOW OFF my growing midsection is a bit hard to swallow. I have to say, however, it's WAY more fun showing it off than covering it up!
Friday, February 15, 2008
The Latest on Baby D!
Yesterday Beth and I got a special Valentine's Day gift by way of the 20-week ultrasound pictures of Baby D. The doctor spent some time checking and highlighting thigh bones, fingers, kidneys, stomach, heart, spine, and head ("Although we can't tell if he's a Republican or Democrat!" he joked).
Baby D was kicking and moving. He wasn't as much of an exhibitionist as he was last time, but the doc confirmed that Baby D is, in fact, a Baby He.
Baby D was kicking and moving. He wasn't as much of an exhibitionist as he was last time, but the doc confirmed that Baby D is, in fact, a Baby He.
We're both at the tail end of colds we picked up last week, especially Beth. Her cold ended with a wicked cough that actually hurt her back. We'd appreciate any thoughts and prayers for healing!
The doc wants us back in a month for another ultrasound, and next week Friday we have an echocardiogram at Children's Hospital. No worries about that - we're just double-checking the baby's heart for the slim chance of any defect. Doesn't hurt to check!
Monday, February 11, 2008
Is He Done Yet?
"When are you due?" I get this question at least a few times a week, and I'm sure the frequency will pick up over the next few months as I start to show even more. I think this is just the most interesting question ever! Not that it's an improper question, or one most people can't easily answer. But it DOES beg an imperfect answer. "Due date" implies that a baby can be under- or over-due, which is odd to me. (Obviously given normal circumstance, and not born dangerously premature.) My kid is not a pasta, and if he decides to come a bit earlier or later than this mysterious "due date," he will not be "aldente," nor will he be overcooked. He will be right on time if he's born within a 30-day period surrounding this "due date." (And, if he knows what's good for him, he will come before his Mama is too miserable! :) Ha!)
This Thursday we have our "big" ultrasound. This is when they bring in the "Cadillac" machine (so named by my doctor) and take tons of measurements and pictures and give us a more "accurate due date" (hilarious).
I'm 20 weeks now, halfway there!
This Thursday we have our "big" ultrasound. This is when they bring in the "Cadillac" machine (so named by my doctor) and take tons of measurements and pictures and give us a more "accurate due date" (hilarious).
I'm 20 weeks now, halfway there!
The revealing picture!
Quick update! This is the picture from our January 31st ultrasound that told us Baby D is a Baby He! We had to wait until after the video reveal, because the doc labeled the picture so clearly for us. Next up: the big 20-week ultrasound this Thursday afternoon!
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
(Not So?) New Finds
As I have stayed pretty clear of baby stuff over the past years, I haven't been keeping up-to-date with what's cool and hip in the baby world. To be honest, it's not that I didn't like baby stuff, it's just that I would break out in hives, chills and a cold sweat when I neared the Target baby aisle. It's getting better, though. Good thing, eh?!
Now that I'm starting to think WAY more about baby stuff, I'm finding some great stuff! I'm sure that everyone has one of these by now, but I just about died when I saw the Weeblock.
Now that I'm starting to think WAY more about baby stuff, I'm finding some great stuff! I'm sure that everyone has one of these by now, but I just about died when I saw the Weeblock.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Beth Goes to the Store
Today Nick and I stopped by a baby furniture store here in Columbus to check out some nursery bits, then we headed to Trader Tots, a children's, teen, and maternity resale shop. It had tons of almost-new clothes and toys, and we spent a good half an hour oooing and ahhing over all the baby-sized shirts and pants. We couldn't believe how inexpensive things were there! We'll definitely be back, although we're not too concerned that our child will be wanting for clothes and toys...
Then we headed to the mall to price other nursery furniture and I finally got up the courage to head into a Motherhood Maternity store, which was my first time in an actual maternity shop. I had heard horror stories of pushy saleswomen, lines of shirts in a rainbow of pastel, and exorbitant prices. I was ready! I was just going to stop in and maybe grab one pair of jeans (only if they were on double clearance), not talk to anyone, and get out of there.
But I had a very different experience. I walked in and was greeted by a friendly saleswoman (who thankfully did NOT do the all-too-familiar glance-down tummy-check), and she asked me if I needed anything. I told her I wanted to look for some jeans. She asked me if I liked the tummy-panel to ride over my tummy, across the middle, or under it. I let her know this was my first time in a maternity clothes store, so I really had no idea.
Then, for the next 30 minutes, she took me under her wing and explained how maternity clothes worked, a few basics everyone usually likes to have, how maternity underwear works (which, despite having asked no fewer than a half-dozen of my friends, still remained a mystery to me), and helped me choose a few things to try on. I didn't feel pressured, or weirded out, or uncomfortable. (Even when she showed me the velcro-strap stuffed baby-bump that automatically adds 3 months onto your belly so you can try clothes on over it...and that's enough to weird ANYONE out!)
So I tried some stuff on, and liked some and didn't like others. She...Joanne...was there the whole time, making sure I had the right fit for my shape and that I was comfortable in everything. But there was still the issue of price, which of course was going to be over and above anything I could ever afford...but wait! Hold on a minute! $24.95 for a pair of jeans? $6.99 for a polo shirt? That's cheaper than Target or Old Navy, my old standbys! (And, as I've found out time and time again, I'm CONVINCED that those stores' clothing is built to self-destruct and fall apart in about 9 months, anyway.)
I left Motherhood Maternity with a few pairs of jeans, underwear, and some polo shirts, none of which were pastel, and all of which will grow with me over the next 4 months, and then into the post-pregnancy as I lose my belly. I was delightfully surprised! Now, I am sure we will run into many times when we balk at the price of kid stuff, but this wasn't one of them. Babies cost money...this one started racking up bills WAY before conception!...but we knew that when we got into this!
(That said, bring on the hand-me-downs!)
Then we headed to the mall to price other nursery furniture and I finally got up the courage to head into a Motherhood Maternity store, which was my first time in an actual maternity shop. I had heard horror stories of pushy saleswomen, lines of shirts in a rainbow of pastel, and exorbitant prices. I was ready! I was just going to stop in and maybe grab one pair of jeans (only if they were on double clearance), not talk to anyone, and get out of there.
But I had a very different experience. I walked in and was greeted by a friendly saleswoman (who thankfully did NOT do the all-too-familiar glance-down tummy-check), and she asked me if I needed anything. I told her I wanted to look for some jeans. She asked me if I liked the tummy-panel to ride over my tummy, across the middle, or under it. I let her know this was my first time in a maternity clothes store, so I really had no idea.
Then, for the next 30 minutes, she took me under her wing and explained how maternity clothes worked, a few basics everyone usually likes to have, how maternity underwear works (which, despite having asked no fewer than a half-dozen of my friends, still remained a mystery to me), and helped me choose a few things to try on. I didn't feel pressured, or weirded out, or uncomfortable. (Even when she showed me the velcro-strap stuffed baby-bump that automatically adds 3 months onto your belly so you can try clothes on over it...and that's enough to weird ANYONE out!)
So I tried some stuff on, and liked some and didn't like others. She...Joanne...was there the whole time, making sure I had the right fit for my shape and that I was comfortable in everything. But there was still the issue of price, which of course was going to be over and above anything I could ever afford...but wait! Hold on a minute! $24.95 for a pair of jeans? $6.99 for a polo shirt? That's cheaper than Target or Old Navy, my old standbys! (And, as I've found out time and time again, I'm CONVINCED that those stores' clothing is built to self-destruct and fall apart in about 9 months, anyway.)
I left Motherhood Maternity with a few pairs of jeans, underwear, and some polo shirts, none of which were pastel, and all of which will grow with me over the next 4 months, and then into the post-pregnancy as I lose my belly. I was delightfully surprised! Now, I am sure we will run into many times when we balk at the price of kid stuff, but this wasn't one of them. Babies cost money...this one started racking up bills WAY before conception!...but we knew that when we got into this!
(That said, bring on the hand-me-downs!)
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