Great deals

I'm down to about 3 shirts that fit comfortably and don't ride up and show my belly and/or back, so I went shopping for some maternity tops. (I'm ok on pants for now.) I found out about a children's consignment shop near my house that also consigns maternity clothes. I got 3 shirts for $23, and then I bought 2 more shirts at Target. They're so comfy. And long. I remember Kerri telling me how she wished regular shirts were as long as maternity shirts, and now I know what she means. They're so tall-girl, long-torso friendly.

I bailed on the CT scan

I was supposed to have a CT scan of my lungs because of my breathing problems, but I never made the appointment. I'm not scared they'll find something. I'm scared of the radiation and little Val. Yes, I drink caffeine daily and eat refined sugar and once I ate a very rare steak, but other than that I've been pretty good to Val and this didn't seem like the best idea.

At Thursday's appointment, my doctor wasn't very concerned and understood why I oped out. Plus, I've been breathing a little easier lately--maybe I'm getting used to it, or maybe the worst of smog season is over.

Week 19 appointment

Yesterday I hit 19 weeks, and I also had a regular appointment.

My BP: 104/80

Val's BP: in the 140s

Weight gain: Yes!

I didn't exactly get a lecture about my weight gain, but Dr. G did tell me a cautionary tale about how I will gain the most weight during the 3rd trimester, and she sort of trailed off to let me draw my own conclusions. Then she instructed me to "look, literally, at what you're about to put in your mouth [she mimed holding food in front of her face] and ask yourself, 'do I really need this?'" She also suggested I 1) drink water, or 2) brush my teeth to avoid eating. [yawn.] Thanks, Dr. G, for Basic Avoidance of Overeating 101. I guess I should cut down on the cheese eating.

Otherwise, everything was ok. I measured at 20 weeks, but she probably mistook some fat for uterus.

I could win a cheese-eating contest

Really, the title says it all.

What eating contest could you win?

My husband is the handiest man on the planet

He built us a new shed and tore down the old, nasty metal one (and sold it to a recycling center!) He thinks we'll need lots of extra space for the baby jogger and bike chariot, but I'm wondering whether he'll eventually put in heat and air and turn it into a man cave. In a few weeks I'll plant some shrubs to hide the piers. What's really exciting is that the old shed was nearly touching the house, and this one is way off in the corner of the lot (nearly touching the new neighbors' house. Welcome to the neighborhood!)

Top 5 questions people like to ask pregnant women

1. Are you going to find out the sex?

2. Do you have any food cravings?

3. Have you been sick?

4. Are you excited?

5. Was it planned?

My responses:

1. Yes

2. About a month ago I really wanted some chocolate donuts (the kind that are chocolate all the way through, not iced). Sweet LJ found a donut shop (we were on vacation) and bought me some. The other day I really wanted a glass of milk, but I think I "craved" it because we were out and I didn't feel like going shopping.

3. No

4. Of course. Can you imagine the responses if I told people I wasn't excited?

5. I don't answer this. I just stare at the asker as if to say, "no, really, do you know what you're asking?"

When will Valdosta move?

I haven't felt the tiniest peace sign from Val. I've been told I need to lie quietly. That's hard for me, because if I'm lying down I'm usually asleep and my breathing is so heavy it's difficult to be quiet.

Val will have a buddy down the street

Our neighbor Shawne is pregnant and due March 21. We chatted last night for the first time in awhile, and she's so excited for us to be having neighbor babies. She's already planning our stroller walks together. Wonder who will go first?

Another festival

Even though it's not quite fall, it is fall festival season in ATL. Today Sweet LJ and I rode bikes to Stone Mountain to walk around the Yellow Daisy Festival. I'm not usually one for "arts" and/or "crafts" festivals, but this was a pretty good time. There was the usual really bad art, but there was also very cute baby clothing--mostly darling monogrammed and appliqued dresses. Sweet LJ said a couple of times, "too bad we don't know yet. Too bad." (Too bad we don't know the sex yet. He really wanted to buy a little knitted cap.)

We saw a woman with a tiny baby, and Sweet LJ asked the mom how old the baby was. One week old! And the mom was out, looking really good, with the baby very snug in her BabyBjorn. I was impressed and hope I'll feel that well and not-overwhelmed to get out a week later.

I'm really tired now. I hope Valdosta enjoys the exercise, because some days it really kicks me in the butt.

Happy birthday, Biffy!

Hope you have a great day. Isn't it exciting to think that next year you'll receive another gift from another grandbaby? We love you.

Val went to a book festival

We rode bikes to the Decatur Book Festival on Sunday, and it was bor.ing. Most of the tents weren't open yet (maybe there's a blue law about book festival opening hours), and those that were seemed to be selling one vanity press title each. [yawn] Now that I'm actually looking at the schedule, I see we got there too early.

We had a fun Labor Day weekend of football, eating, running, cycling, and yard work. Oh, and we went to see Tropic Thunder, which I didn't think was the funniest movie ever, like Andrew told me it was. But it was funny. Perhaps the most thrilling part of the weekend was Chick-fil-a's free chicken strips giveaway on Monday. I love you, Truett Cathy!

Week 15 appointment

Today I'm 15 weeks, and I had an appointment yesterday.

BP: 104/70 (I think)

Up 6 pounds (Total. I hadn't gained anything at my 10-week appointment, which means, yes, I've gained 6 pounds in 5 weeks. I blame vacation and the 2 dozen chocolate chip cookies I've eaten since Saturday. Val loves cookies.)

The heartbeat was strong and fast. The results of my echocardiogram and bloodwork all were fine. My doctor is scheduling a CT scan of my lungs, since the shortness of breath continues. I like my doctor, but yesterday she seemed a bit skeptical of my windedness. She asked me questions that made me realize she thinks I'm having panic attacks. I told her I wasn't anxious, heart not racing, etc. Maybe Val is running on a tiny treadmill in there and is hogging the oxygen we're supposed to be sharing.

Today I had to pin my pants

My pants have a button and a hook. I buttoned up ok, but I couldn't hook the hook without that sausage-in-a-casing feeling. I used a safety pin for extra security. I probably should get a bella band, but none of my shirts are long enough to cover it up. So, maybe I should get some maternity shirts. Or, just wear sweats until my maternity pants fit.

I told Sweet LJ I had to pin my pants, and he commented that Val must be getting fat. Sweet, smart LJ for not saying I'm getting fat.

New baby Ian

Today we visited some friends to meet their new baby, Ian. Ian is now six weeks old and tiny--very, very tiny--but I never thought to ask how much he weighs, just marveled at how newborn he looked. Sweet LJ was scared to hold him, I think because he was so little. Ian is very cute and sweet, and he pooped while I held him. (This happens to me a lot. I must give off a bowel-relaxing vibe to babies.) We're very happy for Ian's family. What a wonderful new addition.

Sweet and LJ and I rode bikes to Ian's house, and then we rode to lunch. I kept reminding myself that I'd have to ride home and not to eat too much, but I still ate a little too much. I guess it was about 14 miles in all. These days Sweet LJ rides very slowly with me so I can breathe. My days of kicking his ass on all the hills are over (for now).

Sweet LJ's first gift for his sweet baby

Deep down I knew that marrying a Gator might not be such a good idea.

Pants! Pants! Pants!

I had a mild panic attack one morning last week that I'd wake up one day and none of my work clothes would fit me, and I'd have to wear Sweet LJ's pajama pants to work. So, I went online and ordered 4 pairs of maternity pants.

The pants arrived today, and they're huge (but so comfy). I could probably get away with wearing them now, actually, but they're so baggy in the seat--like I could fit 2 butts in there. They'll probably fit perfectly in about a week at the rate I'm eating cheese and the mini twixes someone left in the office candy dish.

Echo

After my first OB appointment, my doc referred me for an echocardiogram. I've been really winded, nearly all the time, which isn't normal so early. Sweet LJ looked at me next to him on the couch one night and asked if I'd just gotten back from running. Needless to say, running is tricky these days because of the required breathing.

Anyway, I had the echo, and the tech said everything looked fine, but, of course, the cardiologist would *really* have to look at the images. I've never seen my heart, so the echo was pretty cool in that regard. I asked the tech if she'd throw in a free baby ultrasound, but she just laughed. The bonus shot was my liver. When I asked how it looked, she just laughed again. Happy tech! Funny liver!

Maybe I'll breathe easier when smog season is over? In the meantime, I wish my doctor would give me a little oxygen tank for an occasional hit. That would be so amazing.

Getting Started

Well, Melissa told me I should start a baby blog so my fans can keep up. Apparently she doesn't know about my other failed blog attempts including Run to Eat and Painful Misuse (to which I won't even link). I start off strong and then get so bored. Maybe if people read this one and nag me that they really miss reading about my Dreft comparison shopping and hemorrhoids, then I'll do better.

Actually, I'm not suffering from hemorrhoids and I haven't done one bit of baby shopping. I'm never sick, and I'm still running and cycling. People (mothers and pregnant ladies) give me nasty looks when I tell them of my good fortune.

Our baby--Valdosta for the next 6 months, because it's Sweet LJ's hometown and has a good nickname, Val--is due February 20. I'm hoping she'll hold out until early March to be a part of the huge March birthday extravaganza. We don't know for sure it's a "she," but Sweet LJ has convinced me it's a girl.

Nag me if I disappear for awhile!