Auntie Gifts

We got a special delivery this weekend from Auntie Kpie and Uncle Scott. Here is what my package had....

Moons, stars and clouds on a soft snuggly blanket. You never can have too many blankets in the house and this one is cute as can be. Warm and fuzzy hats for the little man's head. Which is a very good thing, since his chance of having lots of hair on his head is very slim, genetically speaking!!!

Auntie Kpie is not the only one sending prezzies to Fluff....Auntie Amy and Cousin Ruby have sent some on over as well....

"M" is for.....Monkey, the year Cousin Ruby was born, and for Mikhail (I wonder what year he'll be born in) ...how convenient. This cute little shirt was a gift from Auntie Amy and Cousin Ruby this summer, but Momma has been a slacker about posting pictures. Another Auntie Amy gift...a wonderful toasty fleece blanket with Turtles..cause Momma loves Turtles as much as Daddy loves Moose!!!A big "THANK YOU" to the aunties for such wonderful prezzies....Fluff is lucky to have you both!!

Gearing up for the big 200

I had my monthly 15 second physical on Friday. I currently weigh in at 192lbs. Which means, that by next month I will in all likely hood pass the 200lb mark. While I know that all this weight is Mikhail's fault, there is a psychological something that will go with watching that little weight slide from the 150 to the 200 marker on the scale. Bless Uncle Didi's heart for telling me I don't look like I weigh so much, it does a girl good to hear that...but it's there none the less.

Also at the appointment, I asked my Dr. about bottles. Her response "use whatever you like". She used Avent for her first baby cause she breast feed and the nipples are suppose to be most like nursing (but doesn't every bottle company say that?) The second time around she used the cheap ones from Target and they worked just as well. So basically, it all comes down to finances and preference. She did mention that I should stick with the Silicon Nipples (clear) over the Latex (brown) because they stand up better to sucking, are more sterile and easier to clean, but aside from that, they really are all the same. So, that being said, I"m going to stick with Avent. Mostly because Avent makes milk storage holders that work with the rings and nipples of the bottles. So I can pump right into them, stick em in the fridge and then Daddy, Nana, Auntie or whoever is feeding just has to stick the nipple on, heat and go and there is no trying to pour from the storage bottle to the feeding bottle and all that. We try to keep it as simple as possible.

Body Pillows and Cravings

This last week has been kind of tough. I have been having a really hard time sleeping. I can't find a comfy position and my beloved son finds great joy in doing the Electric Slide all night long. While commiserating with a friend, who is a mom, she told me that she had a similar problem and went out and got a SNOOGLE and it saved her life. Well, I took a look at it and read all the reviews and it sounds very nice, but $50 for a pillow is a bit much for me. So I spent two nights trying to arrange 4 standard pillows to work the same way...not so much. So I hauled myself down to the local Big Lots (by the way I highly recommend this store if you have one. You really can find great deals there. Some stuff it wikid ghetto, but there is some nice stuff too) and got a nice smooshy body pillow for $12. This thing is the BOMB. I can smoosh it into any formation I want. All the books say to sleep on your left side, something about more blood getting to the placenta or something. Well, I have news, when you have gained 15lbs, sleeping on one side all the time tends to cut off circulation to that side and make sleeping not so comfy. So I alternate sides and even.. *GASP* occasionally sleep on my back. All I know is since the pillow, I can get through the night and life is good.

While at Big Lots I also satisfied my first real craving. I mean I have been on some sort of wired friend chicken binge since I got pregnant, but I have yet to have one of those "I MUST HAVE NOW" cravings. Well, I got one. For some reason, I NEEDED to have Lucky Charms. Why Lucky Charms?? When I was a kid it was always more Capn' Crunch or Boo Berry. Not this time, I swore if I didn't get some purple horsehoes and blue diamonds someone, probably Daddy, was going to die. Luckily I was able to kill two birds with one stone as they say and every one lived to tell the tale. But now I need a new box!! ;-)

T.W.I.P 21

Fetal Development:
The rapid growth phase begins to slow down this week. The heart grows stronger this week, and the legs are reaching their relative proportions

Maternal Changes:
Over halfway there, and you're probably showing now. Your uterus is about 1/2 inch above your belly button. The average weight gain is between 10 and 15 pounds at this point. If you're eating ahealthy diet, don't count pounds and calories too strictly. Emotionally, you're probably feeling more stable and comfortable.
Your ankles and feet may be swelling, particularly at the end of the day. Drink lots of water and rest with your feet elevated.

Feeling Blue

I don't know if it's been this crappy ass weather, the lack of sunlight, the shifting of the moon or what....but I have been in the oddest funk the last week or so. Last Monday was great, we had a great anniversary and we got to officially start calling Fluff HE....but it's sort of gone down hill from there. The rest of the week I have been hit with huge bouts of feeling blue. At one point I honestly felt like crawling under my desk at work and balling my eyes out. I know that pregnant woman have wild hormones and all that jazz, but this honestly sucks ass. I have had my share of moodiness, but this is ridiculous. I was curled up in a ball sobbing on Daddy worried that I was going to fuck up my son. I'm sure I will....or at least he'll go through a phase where he thinks I did....all kids do, but for some reason today, I don't know if it was going to the shower or holding our friends son Dylan (who will be a year older than Fluff) or the fact that Fluff is moving around so much more and making his presence known, but I just had a complete and total freak out. And for the record, 10:30 on a Sunday night is not the best time for this, not that there ever is one. Thank GODDESS for Uncle Didi who helped talk me down.

Let's hope these feelings pass....cause I hate being Eeyore.

T.W.I.P. Notes

For Week 20....

Fetal Development:
We're halfway through the pregnancy, and the baby has as much sleep and awake time as a newborn. The scalp hair begins to grow. If your baby is a girl, her uterus is starting to develop.

Maternal Changes:
Your uterus is at your navel now. You may experience some tenderness as your belly button becomes an "outtie" from the uterus pressing on it. The line between your navel (linea nigra) and pubic hair has darkened; it will fade after delivery.
You're probably feeling the baby frequently now as the movements become stronger. If you're having an ultrasound to verify fetal age, it will probably be scheduled around this time. It's a good time to look into childbirth classes.

Hey! You're halfway there already!

The Bottle Quizz

As a Librarian, one of things I do is gather information. I registered for the Avent bottles, and most people seem pleased with them, but some people say they are the work of the devil. I have been talking with people about the different bottles they use and have gotten about 600 different answers. I think the Platex Nursers are cool, but could be very expensive to buy all those drop in liners. So I"m asking you, my faithful readers, what type of baby bottle do you use.....

Fluff is...

Really, Really cute. Check out the big brains and all. The poor tech had to chase s/him all over the place trying to get all the info she needed, but she did get it all. I make cute babies don't I??????

But really, you all really want to know is Fluff a HE or SHE. Well, this is the first picture the ultrasound tech got. Full Moon in Mommy's belly. Guess my kid isn't shy at all!!!!!
So there it is...Fluff is officially a HE. Right now, we are liking the name Mikhail, but who knows what will happen between now and March. We have also started a registry at BabiesRUs, but that is also subject to change.

Week 19

Fetal Development:
Along with the lanugo, vernix caseosa forms on your baby's skin. Vernix is a white cheesy substance that protects your baby's skin from its aquatic environment ~ imagine how your skin would look if you sat in water for nine months! The placenta continues to grow and nourish the baby.

Maternal Changes:
You may be noticing several skin changes. These are hormone-related and will disappear after delivery. You may have the "mask of pregnancy" - blotchy patches on your forehead, cheeks, nose and chin. Itchy skin is also very common. Your skin may be dry and flaky in certain areas and many pregnant women develop rashes, particularly on the stretched skin. You can't prevent stretch marks but lotions or oil can ease the dryness and itching. Drinking lots of water and eating a healthy diet will go a long way in reducing dryness.

Never say Never.....

Me thinks I doth have protest to much!!

I have spent a great deal of time raving against the evil that is BabiesRUs. I'm not a fan of the store, I never have a good experience there and find stuff off a registry is like trying to solve a quantum physics problem. Last night, I had to go to this den of evil to get a shower gift for Johnny and Lisa. Admittedly, it wasn't TOO bad. I had already looked online for what I wanted to I had some idea of what to look for. The woman at the desk was very chatty and helpful and we managed to get everything we were looking for in under 8hrs. So while we were there, Daddy and I decided to stroll around and get ideas for what we wanted. We did see a very nice Crib and changing table/dresser that we both really liked. So then Daddy says "Why don't we just come here and register on Monday after Fluff is revealed". "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" was the anguished cry from inside me. But Mr. Practical reminded me that everything was here in one place, it would be easier for us to remember what we'd registered for and it would be easier for people to go to one place and search. I hate it when he's logical. So despite all my ranting and raving...it looks like the Evil that is BabiesRus has snared another victim.

Does it make me a hypocrite that I"m not standing by my guns and refusing to bend???