the orange drink

Well, I survived the orange drink.  The big question now is whether I've passed or failed! 

It wasn't *quite* as bad as I thought it would be, but it definitely wasn't pleasant.  I am particularly sensitive when it comes to drinking as part of preparation for a test due to the GI tests I went through during junior high.  Not to mention the fact that I have never been one to chug things willingly!

However, today I urged myself on with the chugging and finished it in *four* minutes- just under the five required.  The worst part was my first chug resulting in only about a sixth of the bottle being gone!!  My motivation certainly wasn't, "If I finish this then I can find out if I'm banned from sweets for three months" but rather, "All in the name of Baby H..." Sort of neat how this little person was "sitting" right there with me and giving me strength! 

Well, I'll be sure to give a final update when I know more about my test results tomorrow.  I have a sinking feeling I'll be one of the fifty percent who fail by chance, not by sincere diabetes...

Whoa, Baby!

In the last couple of weeks, Baby has been increasing movement and strength by leaps and bounds!  The days of popcorn popping and butterflies fluttering are nearly gone, and now when I feel Baby a few things happen: either I see my stomach move! or I feel something powerful that makes me envision a punch, kick, or flip! 

I love feeling all of this and really like having others feel it, too.  When it happens at school I want to share it with all of my friends, but I'm usually too busy to notice it at an opportune time.  Speaking of sharing, I'm surprised by the lack of random "pets" I get on my belly- lol.  I really thought more people would be reaching out, but it's really only Mom and my good friend Kasandra- who's baby boy is part of the reason that made me really want an itty bitty finally, too. :) 

Well, me and the little kicker are going to relax for the rest of the night.  Saturdays have been really hard for me to use productively, unless I have something specific planned, because the work week has been leaving me totally burnt out and exhausted.  School is going well overall, just third trimester exhaustion is definitely making it all seem a bit longer.  I am only hoping this is normal and that I'm not some pathetic bump on a weekend log!

Thanks for reading- more picture updates to come soon. : )

Steve is so high class....

Steve and I have a wedding to attend in April, which naturally means I've been obsessing over what dress I should buy to flatter my features of Baby H!  In an effort to help Steve feel involved- okay, and maybe secretly to get him to buy it for me, too ;) - I sent him an e-mail of links to various options.  His response?  Well, he thinks I should go with this option- see below:

Oh, okay babe, I'll just sport the thousands of dollar dress that is fitted just for me.  Ha!  Men!

I think I'll be going with a slightly more affordable and hopefully still beautiful option.  These are the two I really like... what do you think?  :) 

simple things that I don't know how to do

First things first, a big hooray for Steve making it out of surgery so wonderfully!  We are officially on the road to recovery as I am also on the road to the finish line of the third trimester. 

As for the my post title, there are a few things that I've thought about here and there that leave me completely terrified of caring for a child, more specifically, Baby H!  Here's the current list:

1. What if Baby is sleeping and the dogs need to go out?  (We don't have a fence...)  Am I supposed to just walk out the door with them and leave Baby in here alone?!  This seems horrible.  How will I know if Baby is okay and should I just bring the monitor with me?
2. When Baby is old enough to go to the grocery store with me, and I'm loading the car with groceries from my cart, do I put Baby in the car seat first then return the cart?  Or should I just carry Baby with me as I walk to the cart return then put Baby in the car seat when we're both back at the car?
3. If I'm supposed to put Baby to bed when he or she is still awake to allow him or her to figure out how to fall asleep, when will I know that Baby is tired?  Does crying always mean "I'm tired"?  What if Baby falls asleep in my arms?  
4. Speaking of which, what if Baby falls asleep while nursing?  What are the choking hazards I should be wary of?  
5. How do you know when a baby needs to burp? 
6. I washed a bib in regular detergent.  Does that mean I should rewash it in Dreft?
7. How will I know if a cry during the night is just lungs exercising or a true cry for help?
8. If I use one "all natural" product, does that mean everything I use should be all natural?  

Hmm... the list seems to be expanding, but those are the big ones for now.  Oh, dear.

*cough, cough*

Dear Baby H,

I am totally sick.  I haven't caught any weird viruses since the fall during our first trimester, but unfortunately that streak is over.  I started coughing on Sunday evening, a bit earlier than when I wrote the last post, but it has gotten so much worse.  My voice is half gone, my body is sore most likely from all of the coughing, and my head is all congested. :(

The weird part about being sick while pregnant is that I can't help but wonder what this must feel like for you!  My whole body is writhing with each of my coughs, so I hope your world isn't getting rocked *too* much.  You're still being quite active, though, so you must be toughing it out.  I really hope you don't feel as badly as I do...

Well, I can't see the doctor until this evening- UGH- so I'm going back to bed.  I figure if there's one thing that could help both of us right now it would be resting.  Hang in there with me, Baby H!

<3 Your Mom

Big Day for Baby H and Daddy

Dear Baby H,

This month, you just keep on groovin'!  A couple of days I've noticed you less and that has worried me a bit, but then you come back with pops and bursts in just enough time to reassure me you're there.  I've noticed that sometimes, when I'm particularly busy from my second trimester energy, I won't notice you as much because my body is preoccupied.  I wonder if you get tired when I get tired or when I use a lot of this energy?  Either way, you're moving more overall and today was a big day for you!

This morning I thought I felt you stronger than I have been lately, so I decided to try a little experiment.  I was lying on my back with my upper body propped against the pillows and I put my hand on my lower belly to see if you really did have more force.  Sure enough, I felt you inside and out- just barely, but enough!  Therefore, I told your dad to quick place his hand on my belly, with my hand on top of his, and to wait.  When I felt you, I would tap the area on his hand where he should have felt you.  The second time we did this, he responded with, "Yeah!  I felt it, too!!" ...and then he said, "Ew..." but don't take it personally, Baby H, he's just new to this whole baby-moves-and-does-what-it-wants-when-it-wants thing. ; )

We reveled in this moment together throughout the day and I know it will stand out as one of the most exciting during pregnancy.  I'm not sure what it was that made you stronger, but I'm guessing it's just your impressive rate of growing.  This week you are developing lungs and you're also the length of a corn cob!  I imagine the hands or feet that said hello to us today can't weigh more than a tenth of a pound, which is really just amazing when you think about the way we're able to still feel you.

This week Nonnie will be coming to our monthly check-up and I'm hoping she'll be able to hear your whoosh whooshing heartbeat.  How exciting!!  Feel free to keep practicing the strong kicks/punches because she'd love to say hello in that way, too. : )

We love you and are amazed by you!
<3 Mom

A Baby H Update

Since there are many random things I'd like to mention, I decided to create a more informal entry for these purposes.  Maybe you've heard some of these things from me already, but maybe some will be a surprise- either way, enjoy! : )

• Baby H has progressed from a flutter to a daily serving, sometimes more, of popcorn popping in my belly!  It's really neat because I can almost always pick up on Baby after dinner, but also at times throughout the day!  A couple of times it's even made me jump a little bit. : ) 
• DONUTS... over the past week or so, I've developed an intense craving for donuts!!  Now, I don't know if it's truly a craving or if it's just "I'm going to eat three donuts because I can," but wow they are making Mama and Baby happy!  Especially white cream-filled... mmmm. 
• STEVE TRIED TO PEEK AT OUR 20 WEEK APPOINTMENT.  Come to find out, he's NOT an ultrasound technician, so it left him clueless.  Geesh, what a stinker.
• I've started to make myself sing in the car... and if you know me, this does NOT come naturally.  However, I figure it's an easy way for Baby H to hear more from me. : )  Although, I think Baby H will have a pretty good grasp on my voice since it gets to listen to me teach all day, too!  
• My newest class of seniors started applauding me when I told them I was preggers- lol.
• On another note to our 20 week appointment, I was given an A+++ (yes, triple A plus!) due to my blood levels and baby's development being in all of the optimal ranges. : )  Let's hope Baby H is an overachiever like his/her parents! (Minus the stress related health issues....)
• Still hatin' on ice cream, but now can drink decaf coffee!
• The nausea has kicked up again, but I see it's mostly due to hunger, so at night and early AM.  I've been forcing myself to eat more snacks and that seems to help.  
• We're at Snow Day #7 today, which means I'll officially be working on my due date.  Lord help us.
• Whoaaaaa, we're halfway there!  (Whoaaaaa, livin' on a prayer : ) )