November 27, 2006

I can't believe Thanksgiving is over already! Just two minutes ago it was fourth of July, it seems, and now we're steaming full speed ahead towards Christmas. Of course that'll be here before you know it, and the dividing line between just occasionally-sort-of-uncomfortable and full out misery will be crossed! I'm feeling a lot of anxiety about the third trimester for many reasons. Seems my boy had a significant growth spurt recently, seeing as I gained 3 pounds in less than a week and a half! This was very surprising to me considering I am eating well, laying off the junk food, and keeping to a regular exercise schedule. I packed on 10 pounds during the first trimester but that wasn't really surprising considering my 4 a.m. granola bars and weekly bag of tostitos and jar of cheesedip. Now though, I eat a broccoli spear and I gain weight like Britney Spears (I swear, that trashy woman ruined pregnancy for the rest of us. Now we have to all fear turning into a wooly mammoth in cutoffs with every bite we take. See attached picture for illustration of my point). 20 pounds so far, and I'm only at 24 weeks. I'm trying not to worry about it too much because obviously it's what my baby needs, but it's not fun watching your feet disappear under a sea of stomach.

I just recently experienced a new pregnancy discomfort (as if nursing a cold with the limited benefits of plain pseudofed and launching into a yeast infection right afterwards weren't uncomfortable enough!) I was sitting at work minding my own business, and suddenly I became very hot and felt like I couldn't get enough air into my lungs. I was breathing hard, as if I had just sprinted around the block, and I was burning up despite the fact I had a fan blasting right on my face. Gayle came in and advised it was probably the baby pressing up high, thereby limiting my lung space, and I needed to sit up straight and wiggle around to get him to move down. Sure enough, as soon as I started moving my chest around I suddenly felt like I was coming up for air after being underwater for 30 seconds. I could breathe again, and the hot flash immediately ended. Thank God for the wisdom of mommies who've been there, done that before. I was afraid I was having a heart attack. Nope, just Anthony hogging up my lung space.

This experience scared me not because I was short of breath, but because I still have so long to go and my boy still has so much growing to do! What's it going to be like in January if I'm getting short of breath now??

All things considered though, I'm still enjoying my pregnancy and bonding with my boy. The kicks are still coming quite often, and the other day I felt a hand or elbow go by. It was more than just the regular flutters-- I had my hand on my abdomen and felt what seemed like a bone rub up against my hand. That was very cool indeed.

This past Saturday we went out to dinner with our friends Anthony and Noelle. Big Anthony, that is. We went to the restaurant owned by our friend Jane's husband, and dinner was fabulous. I've been very easy on Adam as far as drinking in front of me throughout my pregnancy, with the exception of red wine. I LOVE red wine and have asked him to refrain just from that until I can drink it again with him. Saturday though I gave him a free pass because it was a nice Italian restaurant and I knew Anthony would be enjoying a nice glass of Chianti, so I told Adam to endulge too. I let myself have one sip of that wine and oh man, it was scrumptous. I know a lot of women still drink an occasional glass of wine while pregnant, but I just can't bring myself to do that. I read somewhere that the baby passes out from the alcohol long before the mother even gets buzzed, and the mental image of my little boy drunk and passed out in the womb is more than enough to motivate me to put a cork in it, so to speak, until after he's born!

Until later, the Cookie is in the oven!

Chantel

November 17, 2006

UGH sniffle sniffle sneeze sneeze. I've caught my first cold of the season, and it was a bad one! Adam and I are both sick, and I figure we must've gotten it from the plane going to or home from Delaware for the wedding last week. Yesterday I stayed out of work because I felt as bad as I've felt in a long time. Normally, I suck it up and deal when I've been sick with colds, but my new mommy mentality urged me to take care of myself for the sake of my Anthony. How can I take care of him properly if I'm not taking care of myself? So I made some calls, tucked myself back into bed, and layed around most of the day, indulging only in chicken soup and orange juice. I was suffering sans medication for the first day of the cold, but the doctor assured me at my monthly appointment yesterday that sudafed, tylenol, and benadryl are all fine during pregnancy. I took a dose of this and a dose of that, but still felt really guilty about it. I know how freaky benadryl makes me, so I hate the thought that the baby could be getting the same effects.

The wedding last week was wonderful. I was a little concerned about being able to fit into my dress, and I was very concerned about the Delaware weather in November, but both turned out perfectly. On Saturday we had a nice ladies breakfast out with the bride, followed by salon hair appointments. How fun to get an up-do-- I haven't had one of those since my own wedding. Considering how bloated and unattractive I've felt lately, it was very fun to doll up the hair and makeup and slip into a beautiful dress. The wedding was a lot of fun, and we enjoyed spending time with the family. Everyone oohed and aahed over my Anthony bump, of course! Even as a volleyball sized blip on my abdomen, our son is adored.

The intensity and frequency of the kicking is definitely picking up. It's happening often enough now that even Adam has managed to catch a few-- though Anthony still seems to like playing coy with daddy. I can be sitting there having counted half a dozen straight kicks and as soon as Adam comes over, they immediately stop. He's big enough now that I can sometimes see my skin bulging when he's really active, and Adam got to catch one of those last night as well. The doc says I won't see real consistency in the kicking until around week 28, and until then it will be irregular. This has been the best part of the pregnancy thus far... I love the interaction with him, even if it is pretty one-sided at this point!

Thanksgiving is next week. I can't believe another year has flown by. What an intense, crazy year this has been! First and foremost on our minds is remembering the sadness and uncertainty of last year, when we knew our days with Bill were numbered. At the time no one knew there were as few left as it turned out to be. I remember wondering if we'd ever feel truly happy again, and as I think of the life we're bringing into this world, the answer to that is a definite yes. I know Bill is beyond thrilled about his newest grandchild and hopefully, Anthony will have his father and grandfather's uncanny sense of humor (though Adam loves to deny it, they have the same sense of humor!). I have a sneaking suspicion this child is going to love baseball too...

Until next time, the cookie is in the oven!

Chantel

November 9, 2006

I'm afraid I'm one of those pregnant women who fall into the "annoying pregnant lady who actually likes being pregnant" category! I was pondering this yesterday, and I have to say I really like many aspects of this whole gig. First, the bonding time with the baby is incredible. It's so amazing to know that everything I do and everywhere I go, he is with me. Also, I like the attention and how nice everyone is being to me, even strangers. I like being told that my belly is cute and that I'm glowing. I like how people oooh and aahh over me and my baby. It's also pretty cool that I can have a bowl of icecream without guilt, and that taking a nap in the middle of the afternoon is not only fine, but encouraged. When I had my dress altered for my sister-in-law's wedding, I didn't have to feel bad and immediately go on a diet because I couldn't zip it. I love Adam's excitement and how he sings to the baby (I also love the frequent back and feet rubs!)

The excitement and anticipation of our baby's arrival is the best part. Everytime I think about the future, I picture our little Anthony as a part of that. When we talk about something happening next year, I realize that our boy will be with us then, and next year at this time we'll be preparing for his first Christmas.

I've had a relatively easy pregnancy to this point. I had some naseau for a few weeks but nothing too unbearable, and every doctor's appointment to this point has gone smoothly and without concern. I've gained weight but not excessively, and I've still been able to keep up my exercise routine. I'm a little more tired that usual, but nothing that interferes with my day. I've had cravings, but not for bad things.

Up to this point it's hard to believe I ever feared this time in my life. I do have a lot of apprehension about the third trimester and childbirth (I get claustrophic feelings when I imagine myself really big!) but I'll just take it one day a time.

yeah, I suck, I know

Until later, my chip's a-baking!

Chantel