Happy birthday, Lilly!

We had a wonderful time at your party and look forward to many more celebrations with you!

Running

My motivation to keep running is waning by the day. It was 38 degrees this morning, which didn't help get me out the door (but I did). I think I'm losing motivation because it's a little depressing to run. I'm a little more uncomfortable every day. I'm a little slower every day. I feel like I have to pee 3 minutes after I start.

I haven't run a race since the Peachtree, so I think I'll sign up for a few to keep me motivated during the week. I need some new shoes, too, so that will get me excited for about 2 runs. I might get one of these, because sometimes my sides feel sore. Val is eating too much Halloween candy and getting chubby! Please let me know if you've ever used a belly bra or band and whether you liked it.

I really want to keep moving.

23 weeks, 4 days appointment

My BP: 110/70
Val's heart rate: 140s
Weight gain: +5, I think, but I can't remember what is was last time and didn't want to ask.

Val squirmed away from the Doppler every time the doctor tried to find her heart beat. It took a few minutes for Dr. H to get a steady sound. Go, Val! I measured exactly according to my due date. After a brief chat about what happened at the ultrasound, Dr. H went ahead and ordered the gestational diabetes test, since I was so close to 24 weeks, anyway. (They like to do it between 24-28 weeks.) I drank the orange liquid and an hour later, Innocent, the lab tech, drew my blood. You might think Innocent was female, but he was male and very inquisitive. Was I hungry? Why was I tired? Did I take a walk last night? Was I cold? Will I go home and go to sleep?

Anyway, the lab results should be ready in a few days. The orange drink didn't make me gag or vomit or shake or anything, like I've heard will happen. It tasted like flat orange soda with a weird burning, tingly aftertaste.

If I have gestational diabetes, it will be rough getting off the Twix cold turkey.

23 weeks

It's been a quiet weekend. Val and I went to some friends' annual pumpkin carving party last night. I didn't carve, just ate. Sweet LJ is down and out with a terrible cold. I'm bleaching everything he touches, so hopefully I'll stay well.

What I like about being pregnant

• loose, stretchy clothing


• 9 months of no litter box duty. Jackpot!


• how excited people are when they find out I'm pregnant, even people I barely know


• how nice people are when they find out I'm pregnant


• having a built-in excuse for running slowly


• Sweet LJ reading books to my belly


• feeling Val move


• thinking ahead 1 year, 5 years, 10 years...


• daydreaming about what Val will look like

What I miss while being pregnant

• wine


• pockets. Why can't maternity pants have pockets?


• running fast(er than I can now)


• my collection of fall/winter non-maternity skirts


• taking a huge, deep breath


• street drugs*

*just kidding

Pink and Blue Party!

We've been sitting on Val's sex information for 2 weeks (!!!), because we decided to host a pink and blue party to make the big announcement. Guests were asked to wear pink if they thought we were having a girl, and blue if they thought we were having a boy. Here's the breakdown:

Grandpa: pink shirt and blue jeans. He couldn't decide.

Biffy: pink, but also non-committal

Nell: blue

Gail: pink

Coqui: pink and blue

No photos of--
Jan: blue
Bruce: blue
Andrew: blue
Sweet LJ: pink and blue stripes, but only because he didn't have a pink shirt
Me: ivory. I didn't feel like buying pink or blue.

Coqui finally took off one of his bandanas, and Sweet LJ made the big announcement.

It's a girl!

So, readers and friends out there, only Sweet LJ, Anne Wimberly, and Robert guessed correctly.

Jan and Bruce brought Val a sock monkey, which she will love, and guests were treated to bags of pink candy (not easy to find this time of year).

We feel so blessed to have a sweet girl on the way (but we would have felt blessed either way, of course!) This baby is already so loved that I cry just thinking about her sometimes.

Val presented at a conference

Val accompanied me to the Georgia Council of Media Organizations Conference today and gave a few presentations. The presentations were well-received, and I give Val all the credit for staying calm and feeding me several good jokes.

Maybe this experience will help Val with promotion to Assistant Professor.

Val's first photos

20 weeks, 4 days


(above) Profile shot with head on the left, big round belly on the right, and little arm and hand by the face. You can see the heart nicely in this one (the black spot in the chest).


Cute face!

Awww

Sweet LJ felt Val kick (or punch) for the first time Saturday afternoon. Twice! He was very excited, and I think now he believes me that the baby is moving.

21 Weeks and The Big U

We had the big ultrasound recently, and everything looked good: A heart with 4 chambers (the doctor said it was a "beautiful heart"), liver, spine, 2 arms, 2 legs, "perfect nose and mouth" (so said the doctor--no clefts), fingers, toes, and 2 kidneys. Val was pretty still the whole time--just cool, hanging out. I'll post the images as soon as I scan them. It was thrilling getting to watch our amazing baby. And we know whether Val is a boy or a girl, but we're waiting a little longer to make the announcement. I'm not trying to torture you; we have a family party planned and are waiting until then.

There were two issues, but one is sort of a non-issue now. The perinatologist asked me the date of my LMP to confirm my due date, and I got confused and told her 5 days earlier than I told my OB long ago at my first visit. (Why they couldn't just call the OB's office down the hall to verify, I don't know.) Anyway, this threw Dr. F all off, because Val--based on my 5-days-earlier estimate--was measuring HUGE: 97th percentile. I explained I was confused and told them the real date, which put Val back on track and healthy but not huge: 79th percentile. This didn't really appease Dr. F, and she's telling the OB that they need to do the gestational diabetes test at my next appointment, which they weren't planning to do until next month. She's worried about the baby being so big (but Val's not, really, so this is the non-issue).

The other issue is that Val might have a minor kidney problem. This could also be a non-issue, and I'll post more once we find out more. If you are a prayerful type, please send one up for Val.

btw, we're not really naming the baby Valdosta. Someone asked that.

Thanks, Julia and Sara for the fun lunch today.

woot!

How cute is this hat?My library dean gave it to me yesterday. She'd knitted three for a library conference raffle, and I had my choice of blue, orange, or yellow. I wanted them all! I thought about orange but then got scared someone would call my baby Pumpkin Head. Val is going to love this hat, and I will kill anyone who makes a Squash Head reference.

It almost makes me want to learn to knit...or maybe I should say, it almost makes me want to think about learning how to knit. I get sleepy just thinking about knitting. Who can sit still for that long?

In case you're wondering, Coqui did not like wearing the hat.

Val won't pick up any parasites

Not from the kitchen counters, at least. I got new countertops! I know you're shedding a tear of joy with me. So. Happy.

A glimpse of the old countertop and sink. The backsplash already had been torn out, in case you're wondering.

Hooray! Sweet LJ tiled the new backplash.

Naughty cat.

Movement

As I have mentioned twice before, I'm eagerly awaiting feeling Val move. I haven't been very good about reading, talking, or playing music to Val, so today (while at work) I put my iPod earbuds on my belly and turned it up. There was dancing! Some taps and what felt like flips. Val liked:

• David Gray
• Sister Sledge
• Dido

Did not much care for:

• Train
• Ray LaMontagne
• Footloose (I feel that I should explain that this is on my iPod because of the family dance contest, which could be its own blog. And perhaps it should be...)

It was so thrilling. Luckily no one walked in my office and asked why there were wires coming out from under my shirt.

20 weeks

Today marks the halfway point. I still feel great. I'm still running 3-4 days a week and usually cycling 1. I sleep very well, and I'm not nearly as tired as I was. I might have felt baby flutters yesterday, but I'm very unsure. It might have been my belly welcoming the oatmeal.

Our big ultrasound appointment is scheduled, and Sweet LJ hasn't wavered in his belief it's a girl. I don't have any feeling about it at all. I'm very curious and excited and quite nervous about finding out whether everything's ok. We decided to give ourselves a few days to get used to him/her before we tell everyone, but we'll certainly spread the news soon.

So, what do you think? Girl or boy?

No TV Wednesday

Last night in observance of No TV Wednesday*, we went for a walk in a nearby park. Coqui was beside himself to walk somewhere besides our neighborhood. The weather is unbelievably gorgeous right now. The past 2 weeks have made me decide fall is my favorite season. Practice was breaking up for lots of baseball teams and the playground was crowded, and I think both Sweet LJ and I were watching the kids more than usual. (Hopefully, no one thought we were creepy.)

*We watch a lot of tv, so probably a year ago we started No TV Wednesday. Wednesday night=no tv. We cheat sometimes.

My boys. Coqui is shooting lasers at me from his eyes.