Today I feel....

Very, VERY....VERY pregnant.

Baby's First Christmas

Merry Christmas!!!!!

Updates a long time in the making....

Sorry it's been so long since a post, but I switched to the new system and it took a bit to get all kinks worked out. Fortunately, there hasn't been a whole heck of allot going on.

Auntie Megan sent me the cutest idea for shower favors. I was thinking of using the "Moon Shot" picture, what do you all think??!!!

I had my monthly check up and all is well. I'm still hovering JUST UNDER 200lbs at 199. Such a silly thing to be excited about, but I'll take what I can get. I go for my last monthly appointment in January,then it's every two weeks ( I think). I have a shot in the butt (because i"m Rh negative) and tests for diabetes (which involves drinking icky sugar water and having blood drawn) and anemia to look forward too....the joys of pregnancy!!

Fluff is doing well, he has a nice strong heart beat and is kicking up a storm most days. He likes to wait until I"m trying to sleep most nights and if I even try to sleep on my side, he gets very upset and punches me until I roll over. SO, despite all the books that say "DON"T SLEEP ON YOUR BACK"...they can just go to hell cause it's the only way I CAN SLEEP!!

I"ve also started a needle point Christmas stocking for next year. I have never done needle point before, and I have to be honest, so far I'm not liking it all that much. Auntie Amy bought the pattern and decided she didn't like it so much, so I said I would take it because it was cute for a boy. I think my poor cross stitch brain is just having a hard time to doing half a stitch and calling it good. I do need to get working on it cause once Fluff is here, I won't have the time and I want it done.

Daddy and I have had a low key Christmas this year. Not allot of gifts and no tree, mostly because our living room is full of boxes of stuff that we have cleaned out of what will be Fluff's room. We are looking forward to next Christmas when Fluff will be here and though he will only be 9months old, it will be way more fun. I'm sure Nana& Beepa and Babcia and Grampy are already starting to squirrel presents away!!!

Well, that's all I can think to say...if nothing else exciting happens, I won't be back til after Christmas.

Merry Christmas to All...and Happy Yule to Uncle Di.

HOLY MOLY!!

Our good friend Brian stopped by and dropped off some prezzies for Fluff. Brian and his wife Deb have a son Dylan who will be one in March. They graciously offered to give us some of Dylan's old stuff,since it will be the right size and season for Fluff. I was expecting a bag or two of cloths. Boy did I underestimate things..... Yes that is FIVE HUGE BOXES of cloths. All separated and labeled by age. Apparently there is a SIXTH box that we'll get next weekend. If I never get one piece of clothing for the whole first year, Fluff will still have PLENTY.

So a HUGE thank you to Brian, Deb and Dylan...we will take excellent care of everything so we can pass it back when Dylan's brother comes!! ;-)

YEAH SNOW!!!

YEAH SNOW!!!!!

I went out to walk Ellie just now and it's SNOWING OUT!! I know I"m a super dork, but I LOVE SNOW. Driving tomorrow will suck because people around here get amnesia every year and forget how to drive, but I do love it. There is something relaxing and peaceful about sitting in the dark and watching the snow fall. My husband says it's because I don't have to shovel this year, and maybe that's true. Or maybe I'm more excited this year because I'll be able to show Mikhail his first snow, take him for his first sled ride and make his first snowman. So for just a few minuets, don't think about the driving, the shoveling and the slush and just take a step back and enjoy the peace of the first snowfall. (and relax, it probably won't last)

More Best Books

See..it hasn't been more than a few hours and I've already come up with some more books to add to my list...

Henkes, Kevin. Kitten's First Full Moon

Gannji, Joan. Elusive Moose

Beaumont, Karen. Move Over, Rover

Thomas, Patricia. "Stand Back" said the Elephant "I'm going to Sneeze"

Rusackas, Francesca. Daddy All Day Long

O'Connor, Joe. Where Did Daddy's Hair Go?

And here are some classics that everyone should have :

Cannon, Jannell. Stellaluna

Joose, Barbara. Mama, Do You Love Me

Joose, Barbara. Papa, Do You Love Me

Brown, Margaret Wise. Goodnight Moon

McBratney, Sam. Guess How Much I Love You.

Guarino, Deborah. Is Your Mama a Llama?

Cimarusti, Maria. Peek-A-Moo

McCloskey, Robert. Make Way for Ducklings. (or anything else by him)

Boynton, Sandra. Snoozers. (or anything else by her)

Anything by Eric Carle.

Mostly anything with a Caldecott Award or Nomination.

I'm sure I'll come up with some more, but here's a start.

Best Books

I have had several friends ask for suggestions for some good books to recommend to Grandparents and friends as gifts for their kids. Below is a list of some newer books that I think are super cute and great reads.

( I know it goes against my Librarian genes to NOT do these in alphabetical order, but I'm just winging it.)

Lies, Brian. Bats at the Beach

Butler, M. Christina. One Winter's Day

Rawlingson, Julia. Fletcher and the Falling Leaves

Knudsen, Michelle. Library Lion

Edwards, Wallace. The Extinct Files

Yolen, Jane. How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?

Love, Maryann. You are my Miracle

Cronin, Doreen. Diary of a Worm

Cronin, Doreen. Click, Clack, Moo : Cows that Type

Long, Melinda. How I became a Pirate

Henson, Laura. Ten Little Elvi

I'm sure there are many more,but it's start. I"ll post more if I can think of any.

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???

Deal or No Deal

I went to the Outlets with Babcia this weekend and let me tell you, it was icky. It was cold and rainy and not the type of weather one would like to go shopping in. I"m sure if we had stuck it out there would have been some better deals, but in the few places we looked, not so much. Nobody in Conway, NH has maternity cloths. Not JC Penny, not any of the outlets (well , except the Gap but their biggest size was 4) not Wally World, no one. So I was reduced to getting a couple of cute onsies at Carter's and that's it. A very unlikely shopping weekend.

Another little sleep sac for Fluff. It's got Duckies (what is it with me and giraffes and duckies) and is a 0-9month so it should work for a while.


Normally, I'm not a fan of buying "newborn" sizes..cause they don't get used for very long, but these two were cute and something stupid like $2 each, so I figured why not.


Cute little onsie (I know, more green) So that was the sum total of the Maine purchases. We came home early and went to the Kohl's here and grabbed a few more pairs of pants (thank you Babcia) and now it's off to find a Tailor, because I'm short.

Upclose and Personal on Week 18....

Fetal Development:
Our little one is nearly half a pound now and very human looking. Pads are forming on the fingertips and toes, and the eyes are looking forward rather than out the sides of the head. Meconium, the baby's first bowel movement, is accumulating within the bowel. If your baby is a boy, his prostate gland is beginning to develop.
If you notice your belly making jerky movements in sync, don't panic; your baby may have the hiccups!
Maternal Changes:
Feeling dizzy, lightheaded or faint are normal during pregnancy. These symptoms aren't harmful unless they occur frequently or severely. "Postural hypotension" is low blood pressure due to a change in position and happens frequently in pregnancy because your cardiovascular system doesn't react as fast.
Your uterus is just below your belly button now.
If you're having an ultrasound to verify fetal age or for other reasons, your careprovider will probably schedule it between now and 20 weeks. It's often possible to determine your baby's sex at this stage, and you'll be able to tell arms from legs and all sorts of delightful details!

M Cloths and New Friends

We had a very good weekend. We're a little slow in posting because Mommy has been battling cold/allergies and hasn't been feeling up to much of anything.

First off, we are sending a HUGE "Thank You" to Babcia for taking us M cloth shopping. I tried to put it off as long as I could, but Fluffernutter is getting bigger and my pants were just getting uncomfortable. So off to Target and Khol's we went and I got very comfy pants, a cute skirt and some comfy tops.

Also, a "thank you" to Auntie Amy who donated a couple of comfy nightshirts that make sleeping a dream.

While visiting Auntie Amy and Cousin Ruby, Ellie Dog made a new friend. She had the BEST TIME chasing Miss Ruby around the house, eating some "dropped" Cheerios and basically basking in the attention of someone her size. I wish I had my camera with me cause they made a cute pair!

Also this weekend I dragged Daddy to Burlington Coat Factory to starting looking at "stuff" since many people have started asking about a registry. Of all the bedding the building, Daddy's favorite was Noah's Ark. This may change after we find out what Fluff is on the 6th, but for now that looks like our bedding.

Off to THE OUTLETS this weekend, so look for some cute Fluff outfits early next week.