Support

I'd been wondering how I was going to get my room ready for bebe's arrival because I shouldn't really be painting and moving furniture so much these days (plus it totally wears me out). My mom suggested I reach out to my local family, which weirdly never actually occurred to me. My tendency is to either do it myself, or argue with anyone who offers help until/unless I'm desperate. I don't know why - I guess I never want to be an imposition on someone's time. Well, my mom was beyond right to suggest I ask for help. My parents, 3 cousins, sister and brother in law showed up and between the lot, the room is now painted, the furniture moved both out and in, the carseat base has been semi installed, the batteries replaced in 2 smoke detectors,  and the crib has been built. All in a weekend. I feel so incredibly lucky to have such a loving support system and I will always be sure that my boy knows how loved he was before he was even born.

This is the start to my bebe's corner...

Just about 26 weeks along - 14 to go...

These days are going by so quickly now - I have lots to do and very little capacity to focus on my checklist of things to get done. Starting with creating the checklist! Next weekend, we are painting my room to create a lighter color and a corner for my bebe. I've recruited some family to help and I'm so grateful they are able and willing to take the time.

Physically I'm feeling okay, though larger and larger everyday which makes it hard to imagine and scary to think about what I'm going to look like 3 months from now. I think I have the typical ailments - my feet hurt and swell, my hands and arms feel like they're asleep most of the time, and my lower back is starting to ache more often. I've also had to take a second test to determine whether or not I have gestational diabetes. I hope not, but I guess I wouldn't be totally surprised - I have many of the risk factors. But I will know next week and will cross that bridge if I come to it.

The best thing about this time is that my little guy is pretty wiggly - and now that I am getting used to him flipping around and bumping from the inside, it's really fun. I feel like I can kind of connect to and interact with him a little now - which is so cool.

I'm looking forward to creating a sweet and peaceful space for my boy and I think that will help me feel like I'm taking care of a good part of that checklist I still need to write! These are the prints and colors I'll be using in the space and am so excited - because they really are so cute:)

Boy oh Boy!

The last 2 weeks has been pretty fun now that I know my bebe is a boy! At first, I kind of had to wrap my head around it, only because for the first couple of months I thought I was having a girl. Not for any specific reason, but more because many of my friends thought so and I think because I've been immersed in all that is girly about my niece for the last 10 months. But lately more of my family thought boy, and then when we (me, my sister, and mom) watched the ultrasound, within the first few minutes I just knew it was a boy. And, it is! I've already named my little guy, so my family and I are able to address him by name all the time, and it's starting to sink in. Plus, I already have a tub full of adorable boy clothes - due to the generosity of my parents, my sisters, and several friends who can't help but shop! My sister goes back to work for the next 4 months, and will get home just in time for the birth, providing he doesn't arrive early - at all - so we have spent a lot of time together just shopping and talking about what's next. I will miss her very much in the next 4 important months, but we did our best to make the most of this time together.

I have a lot to do to get ready for bebe's arrival, but have a HUGE conference at work to get through first. Plus, I'm having a lot of fun foot and ankle swelling these days, CANKLES I tell you. U G L Y. But after visiting the doctor today, I know there isn't much that I can do beyond what I already am doing, so I try walk slower so I don't pound on my feet, go home right after work so I can put them up and am trying hard to drink 3 liters of water a day. My blood pressure was nice and low today and bebe's heart rate was rockin, so at least I am on track and not doing anything to sabotage the healthy progress. And the sun has finally been out for close to a week straight, so all in all things are okay.

Just looking through to July 25th when this conference will be over and I can start thinking about making a home for my bebe.

It's a...

Boy!!!

19 weeks...

Once again, it's been a while since I last posted - not for lack of enthusiasm so much as my sister and her boyfriend (hopefully to one day to be another brother - in - law) have been here for a few weeks, and have stayed with me for the most part, and my brother came home too. All in all it's been a really busy family-focused June. Which I have loved. I had my first couple of baby showers - first a book shower, which I thought was a brilliant idea, and then a family shower. The part where I have to sit in front of a group of people and be the center of attention was (and still is) really hard for me, so I've had a couple of breakdowns about it, but knowing I'm loved, my bebe is loved and that my friends and family want to come together to celebrate us is pretty priceless. So, I dried those crazy tears and got on to opening those very generous gifts. Including...

Indestructibles (Picture books that are virtually indestructible for babies who chew, tear, drool, crinkle, throw, etc. - which was utterly product tested by my niece who essentially kicked the crap out of this book for the entire weekend of the shower. All I have to do is throw it in the washer, and voila! all is well.Kind of crazy and totally ingenious.) http://www.workman.com/products/9780761158585/

Peg Perego 2010 Skate System (super cool stroller/carseat/bassinet system that my sisters, and their dudes, bought for me from a friend of mine who was selling her gently used one.)

And several more sweet and useful items. I feel really blessed and lucky to have such giving family and friends. 

I am also pretty sure I am now feeling those little flutters which indicate bebe movement, which is pretty cool. It's not really like any other feeling, so I think it's the real deal. And, in two days, I will have another ultrasound that hopefully will give identify the sex of this little peanut, so I can stop calling it a peanut! I'm rather dying to know, but my family and friends are CRAZY dying to know. So, something great to look forward to and more to celebrate!

A little break

I haven't posted for a while because I've been so busy, but my show has finally closed, and after the last couple of stressful months I am really ready for a break. I'm off for a long weekend with friends - eating, (not) drinking, sleeping, playing games and generally laughing our a*ses off. Should be exactly what I need.
Then, my sister and her boyfriend arrive to stay with me for a few weeks, my brother will be in town for 3 weeks in June, and I get my first baby shower in about 2 weeks. It's weird that it's so soon, but much of my family will be in town for my niece's baptism - so it's then or never. I'm so looking forward to time with my fam. I have missed them a lot.

I've read that the baby is now the size of a lemon...

Off to pack.

A new start

Today, for the first time in a while, I'm feeling fairly calm. It's been a really rough few weeks - I've had a lot of opera rehearsals, work has been trying in ways that I really wasn't prepared for, and I think because of the stress, I wound up getting a horrible cold and had to stay home for about 5 days straight. But I'm feeling better at the moment and am grateful.

My parents (whom you will eventually come to understand are the anchors of my soul) have, as usual, been incredibly generous and bought my little peanut a crib. I've been so overwhelmed that I haven't had a chance to open it, but it's been delivered and when I'm ready, it will be ready. On Monday, I will be at 12 weeks, and have always fully planned to start talking about the pregnancy then. Telling folks at work will be a bit delayed due to political reasons, but I did tell the girls at the opera last night that we can start talking about it out loud. I don't want to stand up and make an announcement (that seems like a nightmare) but I'm good with the word starting to spread. I want to be free of the secret!!! I know I may have a lot to explain to some folks, but I'm obviously beyond good with my choice, and if my experience so far is any indication of how most people will respond - it will be great to get the love, support and excitement that I think will come as a result of telling.

I'm ready to feel good, ready to be done with rehearsals since once we start the shows life gets a lot freer, ready to start exercising and eating right, ready to start lots of family events and visits, and just ready to start being the healthy happy pregnant chick I want to be. So, here's to a new start and clarity of purpose! Cheers!