week 20...halfway there!

18 weeks


20 weeks

poke poke, poke poke

I've been feeling what I call "pokes" in my belly since about week 15. But I haven't been 100% sure it's the baby. People say that in the early stages, movements feel like bubbles bursting inside you. I haven't felt any of that, just the poking. So at first I thought maybe it was my muscles stretching or shifting or something. But as I'm getting bigger, the poking hasn't stopped. It isn't that frequent, but I definitely feel it now and then. In talking with other pregnant ladies, they say that's the baby. They felt the taps that later became full blown kicks.

I'm now 95% sure the poking I feel is the baby kicking me. I feel it in different places. Sometimes below my belly button -- on both the left and right sides. Other times (this only started in the last week) I feel it higher, above my belly button. I'm curious to know exactly where my uterus is at this point. It's likely that my uterus has moved upwards since it's now almost the size of a cantaloupe.

Whenever I feel it I tell Brian, "The baby is poking. Poke poke, poke poke." I can't wait until he can feel it too.

sometimes soft, sometimes bitchy.

Thank you pregnancy hormones. This past week there have been noticeable differences in my emotional state of being. The other night I had a mini freak out about having the baby. I went to dinner with a friend (who is a week ahead of me in her pregnancy) and she matter-of-factly stated, "We only have 4 full months left without a child." Holy crap.

I went home and repeated that same line to Brian. A similar reaction. 4 months!! That's not a lot of time. In fact, it'll go by like a flash of lightening. And then the baby will be here and I will be a parent...FOREVER. Not that this is news or anything. I mean, duh. But to really think about it in that way is quite scary! No more sleeping in, no more going out whenever we want, no more selfishness, no more just "married couple"...we'll be a family. And that's wonderful! I'm excited for that, but it's hard to describe the thoughts and feelings you have when your life is about to change so drastically. So, I freaked out. I mean, almost hyperventilating and crying freaking out. Brian was very calm about it all. I cried (which is rare unless I'm pissed off) and then it was over. I somewhat blame the hormones. I never freak out like that.

Then on Saturday, I watched last week's Grey's Anatomy. The episode had a little girl dying and her dad who was fighting with everything he had to figure out a way to stop the inevitable. Check out this video from about 5:16 and you'll see what I mean.



Now that I'm going to be a mom, I could imagine what that would be like. Again, I cried. That was when I knew it was hormones. I NEVER cry at tv shows and movies. The baby is making me soft.

On the flip side, the baby is also making me uber bitchy. The last couple of days, I'm WAY more irritable than usual. Newscasters on tv (this is the killer for me...why are all reporters so damn annoying??), commercials, people at the grocery store...everyone annoys me. There's no real reason for why they annoy me, they just do. I should have a sign on my forehead that warns people to stay away from me unless they want to get their heads bitten off.

Lucky for Brian, he's not annoying me...yet. ;)

i. am. overwhlemed.

Now that we know the sex of the baby, I feel like planning has kicked into high gear. I've registered us for birthing classes at Swedish. They have many classes most of which I'm sure I don't need to take, but the doc recommended the birth preparation and infant cpr at a minimum. The first is about $100, the latter $35. Then I saw a breast feeding class. I hear there are techniques to help the baby latch on well and I've also heard of a lot of people having a hard time with this. So I added that to my list -- $40. Newborn Care includes how to bathe, soothe, swaddle and diaper the baby. That sounds pretty necessary, especially for Brian! $45.

I'm now at a grand total of $220.

My friend Rae told me about the Welcome Baby Package that Swedish offers for $250. It includes all the classes above plus 7 more! Welcome package it is.

We are definitely not taking all the classes offered in the package, but it's a much better deal so I signed up. The crappy thing about the package is that it isn't just purchase it and you're set. You still have to register for each class offered in the package individually. I guess this is a good thing in terms of scheduling since it gives you the flexibility to pick and choose when you take each class. But it sure is a pain in the ass. The schedules aren't even up yet for most of them, so I have to keep checking the website to make sure I don't get waitlisted.

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Then there's the nursery. We're turning our "office" upstairs into the baby room. But that means we have to move everything in that room into the other extra room. Both rooms look like a tornado has hit them and are filled with crap. I need to start clearing out the extra room so that there's space to even move the stuff from the office in there. I think we also need to buy one of those organizer shelf thingys so the room doesn't look like an utter disaster. Kinda like this...but not. I envision one with cubby holes, sort of. Finding the right piece of storage furniture may be a challenge:



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THEN, there's baby stuff! At some point we need to register but I can't register until I know what I want. I have no clue what I need or want. Do you know how many brands of strollers and car seats are out there? Rae was telling me I should get a BOB Revolution stroller so we can go running after our babies are born. I had no idea what BOB was:



Apparently, it's a really good brand for this type of stroller. But will I actually go running with the baby? And even if I get this stroller, don't I need a regular one for everyday use? I do not want to be walking around the mall pushing this running stroller...I'd look like an idiot. And that's only two items! There's the crib, and bottles and boppys and who the heck else knows what else! I think I need to go to a boutique-like baby store and browse a bit. I figure those types of stores have employees who know their stuff. Unlike Babies R Us (the place we'll actually register, I'm sure) where I'd get the 18-year-old stock boy who doesn't know a binky from a booty.

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Oh! I haven't even gotten to baby names! I bought this book of 100,000 baby names. Bad move. Most of these names are weird foreign names in every language imaginable. I'd say only 20,000 are actual names I'd even consider, which means there's only 10,000 BOY names to browse. And then when we find names we like, we realize we either know someone with that name or someone we know has named their kid that particular name. This is the problem with having children after all your friends and relatives. People steal all the good names.

But, I'm soldiering on. I've decided today's the day to start clearing out the extra room. On my way upstairs now...

it's a boy!

Thanks for the balloons and decorations, Seattle fam!
We love you!!

We had our 18 week ultrasound last Thursday. At first I thought I'd want to be surprised but as the weeks went by I decided thinking of two sets of baby names was too much. (Honestly, this is my only motivation for wanting to know the sex). I have enough to think about! As it turns out, my gut feeling was right anyway. It's a boy!!

The ultrasound tech took a TON of pictures of the baby. Measurements of its skull, length from crown to rump, legs, arms, etc. These ultrasounds take a really long time. She explained to us what we were looking at, which was helpful -- the stomach, the heart, the kidney! All little black spots in the baby's mid section. The spine is really apparent as are arm and leg bones. I love seeing the baby on screen. It gives me peace of mind that all is going okay. At the same time, I sometimes still can't believe a baby is growing inside me.

Brian tried to play it off like he wasn't ecstatic it's a boy. I know he would have been happy if it was a girl too, but c'mon, let's be real here. He is so proud of that Y chromosome and I can already see the wheels of baseball training turning in his head.

Some pics at 18 weeks:

i feel poppy.

There's no denying it now. The belly has spoken.

17 weeks is nothing compared to these ladies.

Went to my first prenatal yoga class today. It was at a studio I used to go to but haven't been to in years. There were about 12 people in the class (though usually the instructor said there's about 20) and as they all strolled in and plopped themselves down on their mats, I felt like maybe I started this class too early. All these ladies had REAL pregnant bellies, not the katsu belly I have at the moment. I'm starting to get a little embarrassed being here. Then before starting class, the teacher announces that she wants us all to go around the room and introduce ourselves, say how far along we are, and why we're here (relaxation, pain in certain parts of body, etc). Great. Is my face flushed and turning red yet?

And so it begins. Prego lady #1 is 38 weeks!! My embarrassment is rising to the next level. I'm also a little concerned that this lady will go into labor in the middle of class. But I give her credit! I hope I'm still doing yoga when I'm that far along. Prego lady #2, 36 weeks. Hmmmm. Prego lady #3, 24 weeks...okay, that's a little better. And on and on. Everyone was at least 24 weeks and here's little 'ole me at 17. Oh well, it's not a competition, right?? The teacher comes around to me and I say "I'm only 17 weeks." I couldn't help myself. I felt inferior to the round bellies around me. I don't know what else I said but my spiel was quickly over and they continued around the room.

Class begins and the instructor is really good. Calming voice and she goes through a lot of great poses. It felt like yoga, not just stretching, which is what I'm looking for. If I'm gonna pay $$ to go to these classes it better be more than what I can just do on my own at home!

It's the end of the 1 1/2 hour class and my true test for whether or not a yoga class is worth it is here. At the end of all yoga classes, they have you lie down and relax for a few minutes to let your body feel the effects of the practice and rejuvenate. If I feel tired and relaxed enough to pleasantly doze off as I lie there in shavasana, I've had a good class.

The ruling? I drifted, I was happy, I have found my prenatal yoga class.

16 weeks

Now we're getting somewhere...


13 weeks



16 weeks

side sleeping sucks

Week 16 and "they" say it's time to stop sleeping on your back and switch to your side. Preferably the left side because supposedly circulation to your uterus is best that way.

I've taken to sleeping with a pillow between my knees to make side sleeping more bearable. I find that I don't move too much when I sleep, which I guess is a good thing. At least I'm not rolling onto my back in the middle of the night defeating the purpose of my efforts. On the other hand, I then wake up totally sore -- left side of the face pressed like a pancake, arm and shoulder aching -- cause sleeping on your side all night is not comfortable! So, I've been switching back and forth from the left side to the right so I can actually get a good night's rest. But each time I'm on my right side, I feel guilty. In my head I think, "No, no...the left side is better. You're cutting off circulation to the baby!" and then I have a hard time sleeping.

Last night, I tried a body pillow for the first time. Why have I not been sleeping with this thing all my life? It's just lovely!! Better than a regular old pillow between the knees cause the long pillow can wrap around your back to give you more support. Genius! Unfortunately, it does nothing for the pancake face and achy muscles. Now I know why so many women go to yoga during pregnancy...

Baby's first Hawaii eats

Back from Hawaii and I miss it already. From 75 degrees and mostly sunny to snow on April 1st?? That MUST be an April Fool's joke, right? Stupid snow.

But back to my pregnancy update. It was probably the most relaxing trip home we've ever had. Pregnancy will do that, I guess. It's a good excuse as to why we can't stay out late or jam pack our schedules like we usually do. Plus, it gave us a chance to spend some QT as a couple. I must admit, it was a refreshing change and I loved it! While on Oahu, Brian and I enjoyed a relaxing week and a half of beach time, sleeping (lots of sleeping!), hanging with friends and family, and of course...eating!!!

I'm not really craving much these days (as in "I need to have it now!"), but I do get into one-track mindedness (mindedness?) about certain foods. Like I really want some fried green tomatoes ever since I re-watched the movie Fried Green Tomatoes. I'm trying to plan a trip to Kingfish Cafe as I type this.

In Hawaii, the four things I sought out were chow fun, shave ice, Waldo's salad and pickled apricots. Now, shave ice is a given. I had it twice. Waldo's salad I also had twice because I heart their salad dressing so much. I could eat it every day. All day, every day. As for the chow fun, I wanted good chow fun like the kind Sun's BBQ used to sell back in the day. Oh, how I loved that chow fun on school field trips! But alas, they no longer exist and have taken with them their delicious chow fun recipe. So, a couple of my friends recommended this place at the Waimalu Shopping Center. Eh, it was okay. Not like Sun's. :(

As for the apricots...I was on a hunt! Do you know how hard it is to find these apricots anymore? They used to just sell them at Long's but apparently they're not a hot item these days. I finally found my first batch at a gas station of all places. You should have seen me when I found it. I gasped out loud, I was so happy.

The crazy prego lady that I am, I saw everything I ate as the first time the baby was eating all of these local favorites. So, I took pictures! I know, I'm such a dork. But here's the oh-so-good but oh-so-bad food the baby experienced in the islands...


matsumoto's shave ice


Chow fun


Lum's bento. The pork cutlet was the best.


Waldo's salad!


Pickled apricots...yumm-o!