At breakfast...eating oatmeal

Me:So what do you think they call this (motioning to the food) in Ireland?* 

Jon: "Dinner"

* I don't know why, but at this point I am thinking Jon might know the Irish word for oatmeal. This question is the product of a 20th Century Irish Lit class. How Jon would know Gaelic, I don't know, but every question is worth asking, right? Yeah, didn't think so. Regardless, his answer made me laugh!

I don't know why, but it's always a weird moment when you are researching and come across an article or book written by a former professor; it's like, for a second, you feel like you must know someone famous.

Car Conversations

Me: So did you ever want to drive a Hummingbird?

Jon: ----

Me: Um--I mean a HUMMER, oops...hahaha

Jon: Yeah, a Hummer sounds a lot more masculine than a Hummingbird.

Waistline is expanding...yikes

It begins innocently....

And sometimes ends like this:

2 mos and 3 weeks...and politically incorrect

Every Monday marks us one week closer to meeting our baby face to face, so I usually try to blog around this time.

I have still been experiencing nausea, some days are better/worse than others, indigestion, and fatigue. A new symptom that has come up is a feeling of lightheadedness/dizziness. Because of that (and the other pregnancy tagalongs), I have spent a lot of time studying in bed this pregnancy, which has been strangely relaxing. I say that because I am the farthest thing from being a homebody. As a kid and to this day, I love being outside, wherever that is, and dread indoor days. When people ask me what I am going to be doing once the baby is born, I want to respond "I will be home with the baby" but I wrestle with the part about "home"...haha...same with "stay-at-home mom." That one doesn't work for me either. How about "stay-outside mom"??? I have a feeling once the baby and I are adjusted, we're going to be hopping around a lot of places: parks, museums, hot air balloons, j/k. Regardless, most people don't like to hear my response anyway--something about not reaching my potential (*How much of the labor force is really reaching their individual potentials anyway? Are young babies who are unnecessarily put in day cares [which I have observed myself as a student studying early childhood development one summer] and not being nurtured by care providers, but instead left alone for a majority of the time, reaching their potentials?) or cutting myself off from society--the first of which is simply not true, and the second of which I wish were true, but it's also not...haha. I should include that people don't typically say these things, but I am taking a guess at what they are thinking as they are dumbfounded and say nothing, leaving the great and impenetrable political silence between us. Awkward for both parties, by the way.

Anyway, since this was a fun memory I will note it here. Yesterday Jon and I were out studying in Robinson and he excitedly suggested going to shop for maternity clothes with me. It made me so happy and thankful to have a husband eager (possibly more eager than I was, haha) to find maternity clothes. I am blessed beyond reasonable measure! We had so much fun, with me trying on clothes and Jon watching and cheering me on. He bought me a skirt, a dress, some bermuda shorts, and two tank tops, which should all last me until the cold weather. My mother-in-law gifted me with some winter wear too so I feel good to go for the next 6 mos.

Oh, and one funny thing to add, something Jon and I laugh about, but as it is I have a slight food aversion to mushrooms (which I avoid these days), but can eat lots and lots of garlic. And when I say lots and garlic together, I mean that in the most Italian way possible.

Huh?

Best thing I was told as a kid: "You think too much."

Um, okay. Now, if I were really bold, I would have responded, "You don't think enough"; but I was more diplomatic than that--I mean, that is to say, I thought more about it than to say that.

Jon: "Only a ninja can stop a ninja."

Hmm, for Jon's sake and our future daughter's sake, I'm thinking a boy first would be less fragile.

Franciscan colors for a Franciscan baby!

Me, looking at Jon worriedly (my husband who is 6'3" and weighed more than a 10 lb bowling ball at his birth):"Do you really think it's going to fit?"

2 1/2 Months

This isn't a sonogram of our baby, but one that was sent to us to show us the development of a baby at 10 weeks. Week 6 and Week 9 have been the hardest so far. Indigestion is relentless! Food sounds good...but then it's still hard to really eat it and keep it down. When I can remember, I offer up these small sufferings to the Sacred Heart..which is especially meaningful as the feast day approaches May 30th this year.  

2 1/2 Mos Pregnant in 2 Days

As of today, I can add one more symptom to my pregnancy list....that unfortunate sidekick to both morning sickness and drunken nights of rage.

Whoever said pregnancy wasn't like totally crazy?

"I wish I could wear a bunny suit every day--it seems so comfortable."

First Trimester Pregnant Women Must Haves....Top 10 List

10. A pregnant woman in the first trimester must have patience 

9....massages  

8....a body pillow 

7....sparkling water/Perrier for nausea

6....her cravings!

5....clothes with give

4....cold things for dry/yucky mouth (like popsicles) 

3....crackers

2....rest

And the NUMBER ONE:  A pregnant woman must have a good husband who can name your list of "must haves" himself. ;)

9 Weeks

Jon and I went for our second appointment today and were able to hear the baby's heartbeat! Sometimes it can be hard to hear it, but since I am "skinny" and the baby wasn't hiding out or turning his back on us (what a good baby, huh?) we could :) I put skinny in quotations because I have already gained 7 lbs, of course, some of that could have been water weight or breakfast, right??? I speak so freely about the weight gain because I am fascinated by it. I started at 125 and just seeing the scale go up is so WEIRD. Typically during the first trimester, a woman gains around 3-5 lbs (at least this is what I have been told), and I sill have 3 weeks to go before the second trimester. I think I needed the extra fat...haha

Anyway, here is a nice summary of the baby's development that I stole from pregnancy.org:

• Baby has begun movement - While still too small for you to feel, your little one is wriggling, shifting, and dancing already! Makes you almost wish for a window to peek in whenever you want!
• Most joints are formed now - and trust that your little one is practicing bending and flexing.
• Fetus will curve its fingers around an object placed in the palm of its hand - This is amazing to see! At only nine weeks, if you happen to have an ultrasound, you may observe your infant fascinated by everything he or she can lay their fingers on (mainly other fingers, toes, ears and nose!
• Fingerprints are already evident in the skin
• Average size this week -- length 0.9 inch (2.3cm), weight 0.07 ounce (2gm)

We also decided that unless we need an ultrasound done because of a complication that arises, we are going to wait until the birth to know the baby's gender. Jon is 99% sure that he wants to know at 20 weeks, but he reserved 1% for me..hahaha but after discussing it with our midwife, it sounds like the 20 week sonogram is just to observe the baby's anatomy and that even if something were abnormal, there is nothing that could be done to help the baby. So without a clear benefit to the sonogram, it looks like Jon is going to have to wait 4 extra months and cope with his wife always asking him, "So, do you think it's a boy or a girl?" I think I have asked that question beyond asking at this point..;) 

I will also report in this post that I have experienced heartburn and indigestion...which I honestly can't remember the last time I have had these problems (and I don't recall ever having heartburn before). It's uncomfortable for now and just strengthens my desire to keep up the healthy eating habits Jon and I typically have (anomalous pregnancy cravings not included!)

Children are a blessing from God

Okay, my complaints about morning sickness have been silenced; this mother is my new super-hero:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24537885&GT1=43001

PG--for grossness

I was telling Jon today about when I swallowed a penny when I was a kid...

Me: "I hope it's not in circulation still."

hahaha....we both found this too funny

If this post is too risky, you're lucky I am sparing you the first part of the conversation about teeth inlays. 

Got to love...

 

resources like this one:    http://againstlust.blogspot.com/

Especially if you know someone who needs support! I think the fight for marriage is also the fight against pornography and all that pornography "sells," which is not just body images because bodies are beautiful! After all, I give my husband pictures of me and I know he spends hours of his day looking at them and thinking of how wonderful his wife is..hehe.. 

No, what pornography sells is quick pleasure (instead of selfless and shared joy with a real person), sinister power (or a false sense of possession over the objects of your lust), fantasy (that would be shunned if done in the real world--often because of its violence), stress-release (which is problematic when trying to cultivate a real relationship), loneliness, guilt/anxiety (which are God's cues to get out!), feelings of inadequacy, and feelings of disgust for the opposite sex (in this instance, femininity). Clearly, this list can go on forever, just like the benefits of grace can! 

With pornography, you don't have to grow, learn, or give of yourself. You don't have to love and it is really a violence against yourself. 

With a sense of your dignity in a spousal love relationship (whether religious or marital) you come to love yourself in the way that God loves you. 

Out with so-called "pleasure," in with JOY!

It's Early...It's Early....But, hey, we can tell!

Two Months Pregnant

These last two weeks have been rough....morning sickness...hunger....fatigue

I have had some typical cravings I think..but thought it would be fun to list them here so I can remember them one day:

*Chili cheese hot dogs (normally this would never happen!)

*Mint chocolate chip ice cream

*Nachos

*Iceberg lettuce (and salad in general has never tasted so good)

*Steak 

*Lemonade

*Barbecue 

*Coffee cake

I know this list will really bother me later because Jon and I are pretty healthy eaters and normally limit bad foods to one day a week (our "cheat day"). The rest of the week, we are happier to eat healthy foods. Anyway, so I don't get in too much trouble, I have been eating healthy foods too, but when a craving strikes, it's the only thing that sounds edible at the time so I go for it. 

It's funny because I actually need to end this post so I can go eat....I promise it's the truth. I fit into that category of "some pregnant women need to eat every two hours"....yikes. Even today I was practically shaking until Jon brought me some breakfast. Ahh!!