Heat Wave

Well, Mother Nature needs to take her menopause medication because we could do without the hot flashes.  Seriously, it is like eleventy bajillion degrees outside right now.  I just went and re-potted my tomato plants and I sweat through my Spanx.  I was outside for ten minutes, maybe.  Boo.

In years past, I have been a sucker for the heat.  Seriously.  In my book, it could always be hotter and more humid.  I loved it.  One of my most favorite past times has been sitting on my deck, or lounging by a pool, literally getting as hot and as sweaty as I possibly could.  In the wintertime, I have a space heater and gas fireplace literally running all the time just so I can get as warm as possible.  My, how times have changed...

I left work early on Friday because I couldn't stand the humidity in our office.  I felt like I wanted to strip off all my clothes.  I almost went to Home Depot to see if I could replace my space heater with a space cooler.  Instead, I went to the pool and promptly submerged myself in it and stayed there until my fingers looked like raisins.  Yesterday, I went to the pool with my friend, Lindsey, and my entire mission was how to stay as cool as possible.  I bobbed in the pool, I consumed copious amounts of ice and liquids, and I even dared to bare the belly.  My house could re-freeze the polar ice caps and it's the only place I'm really comfortable.  I'm going to hate to see our electricity bill at the end of the summer.  

I've also swelled up like a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon.  They may have to surgically remove my wedding ring.  I hate to think how my other pregnant girlfriends are feeling - the ones that are six, seven, and eight months pregnant...and I hate to think how I'll be feeling come August.  Actually, by then, I'll probably just be really excited to go and eat my way through the State Fair.  Yum.       

Fifteen Weeks

I've been informed, gentle readers, that I do not post often enough, which makes people worry.  So, therefore, I promise to fill this posting up with lots of information about everything that's been going on since I last updated.  There has been much to tell...but first, here we are at fifteen weeks...



Well, I still don't look pregnant.  However, the picture is somewhat of an optical illusion since I'm wearing Spanx in the picture.  I've got a client function today and I don't want them to know I'm having a baby yet.  I'm afraid they'll stop sending me work.  I would also like to take a minute and thank the inventor of Spanx. 

In other news, it appears that my ass is actually pregnant.  Seriously, look at that thing.  I'm the actual embodiment of a Sir Mix-A-Lot song.  Baby got back.  I'm giving J-Lo and Kim Kardashian a run for their money.  Years ago, an individual once told me that I was the essence of a black man's perfection - I was a white girl with the ass of a sister.  And that's a direct quote.  If that man could see me now.  When I was living in Washington DC, another man also offered to buy me pants, which is unusual but I assume had something to do with dressing the booty up in said pants.  My Uncle Steve loves telling that story.  At least it's still where its supposed to be and not hanging down around my knees.  But enough about that...

This week, the baby will start to hear.  I was reading in my baby book this morning that babies can recognize songs that were sung to them while in utero.  The baby will learn to recognize and be comforted by my voice.  It also means that we must start buying Baby Muzak CDs and playing them to my belly every night before we go to sleep.  I should also considering swearing less.  The baby's backbone is getting stronger, she has eyebrows and eyelashes, and is about five inches long now.  Hard to believe all of that is living underneath that Calvin Klein dress.  I know I've said this before, but anyone who believes that life begins at birth has never been pregnant.  I can actually feel life inside of me.  This baby already has fingernails, hair, eyelashes, and fingerprints.  That being said, I still don't think the government has a right to tell me what to do with my body, but let's forgo a political debate...

I'm also fairly certain that I felt the baby move this week.  Earlier on in pregnancy, it's called "quickening" and I guess it can often be confused with gas or hunger pangs.  However, the other night, we were sitting on the couch, watching The Voice and I felt a series of quick little raps on one side of my lower stomach.  It happened several different times over the course of a half hour.  I tried to get Jeff to feel it, but he couldn't.  Oh well, all in its time.  Maybe it was gas, but I am choosing to believe the baby was objecting to the heinous singing on the television.   

I've also been having terrible dizzy spells.  I called Colonel Sanders on Tuesday because I had been lightheaded for several hours, and it wasn't going away with resting or hydration.  So, we went into urgent care.  My blood pressure was fine, my temperature was normal, and it just turns out I'm pregnant.  There may also be an allergy component which may be making me dizzy, but antihistamines are out of the question.  I felt a little silly being in there for something so benign, but I suppose I'd rather have twenty false alarms as opposed to one serious issue.  I have been feeling a lot better over the past two days and have more energy too, so I'm taking those to be good signs. 

The one question I get, more than any other question, is whether I have any cravings.  I'm having difficulty distinguishing an actual "craving" from a famished feeling.  However, there is nothing like a hungry pregnant woman.  Seriously.  When that hunger hits, you need to satisfy that need at that moment.  Do not pass go, do not collect $200.00.  I was driving home last night at about 6:30 when a hunger pang hit and it became an all consuming desire.  It was all I could do just to make it home and not swing through the Taco Bell drive-thru.  But, when the hunger pang hit last night, it was very specific.  I wanted chili con queso from Rojo Mexican Restaurant.  But, I think I wanted that because it is cheesy and delicious and not because I was craving it, per se.  So, do I have any cravings?  I don't know.  I guess I've wanted Mexican food more than usual, and I really like anything strawberry-banana flavored.  Specifically, saltwater taffy.  But I still don't think that's too weird. 

Finally, Jeff and I are still on the quest for a new house.  We had put an offer in on a short sale out in Minnetonka that fell through.  We're going to look at another house in Eden Prairie tonight.  My old stomping grounds.  It has a pool.  I don't know how I feel about that just yet.  However, it's becoming very apparent that we're going to need to move before this baby comes.  I went to Target last weekend to pick up a gift for a friend's baby shower and I had a minor panic attack while browsing the infant aisles, finally realizing how much "equipment" is needed for a baby.  We literally do not have enough room for the three of us (plus Maverick, of course) in our townhouse.  So, house hunting is now a full time job.  Maybe Grammy and Pop-Pop will let us live with them?   

 

Second Trimester

Well, gentle readers, I know I've been keeping you waiting for an updated picture and news on the baby.  I wanted to wait until today, however, because I've got VERY good news to report.  We had our fourteen week appointment today, and everything is looking great.  I didn't get to see a picture of the baby, unfortunately, but I did get to hear the heart beat (at a rocking 157 bpm), and passed my physical examination with flying colors.  I'm going to do a quad screen in another two weeks or so, which will just check for certain conditions like spina bifida and Down's Syndrome.  But I can officially say that I'm downgraded to just a regular ol' pregnant lady, and it's really a great feeling.  Huge sigh of relief.  

Let's see...what else is going on...I haven't gained ANY weight since I got pregnant, which is somewhat of a miracle, considering the only real food I've wanted over the past three and a half months are cheeseburgers and Taco Bell.  Or waffles and blueberry muffins.  Or half-Coke/half-cherry slushies.  Yum.  All things that are not good for you.  In addition, as you can tell by the picture I've posted below, not only do I now have basketballs strapped to my chest, I've also grown a little belly.  It's more of a food baby, right now, actually.  It grows as I eat.  Seriously.  I'm not lying.  I took this picture after lunch just so I had something to show you all.  So, here we are in all our pregnant glory:

Don't laugh - I took it in the bathroom at the office.  I've also been feeling better.  I'm not getting sick nearly as much, and I do feel as though I've got more energy.  Maybe. 

In other news, Jeff and I have started looking at houses...something to put our growing family in.  Not that I wouldn't mind raising a baby in our townhouse, but I think we're looking for some more room.  Jeff wants to take hockey lessons so he can teach "him" how to skate.  Yes, Jeff thinks it's a boy and I "know" it's a girl.  Dare to guess who will be right? 

I had held my breath until today.  We are officially into our second trimester - one third of the way through our pregnancy and baby and I are doing well.  I haven't really let myself believe it, but it's really going to happen.  I am going to be a mom.  Jeff is going to be a dad.  There will be new grandparents, aunts and uncles to be made...as well as great-grandparents, great-aunts and great-uncles.  We can't wait to meet you baby Storms! 

Twelve Weeks

Posting closer to thirteen weeks than twelve weeks, I suppose.  But, the picture was taken last Thursday, so that counts, I think.  Here we are at twelve weeks, little one:

We are looking good, I think!  We went up to the cabin last week to clean it out and get it ready for summer.  You're going to love it there.  We already have the space where we can put your crib all ready to go.  Can you tell we're all excited for you to get here? 

I will say that this week I am finally feeling better.  I have the puking under control for the most part...I think.  I'm still pretty tired, but I think that's to be expected.  It should ease up in another week or so.  We have our fourteen week appointment with Colonel Sanders next week, and I'm so excited to see how big you've gotten.  According to What to Expect When You're Expecting, you're about the size of a peach, and three inches long.  Unfortunately, you do not weigh as much as a peach. 

And I think that's all!  I could use a nap right now, but I don't think that's in the cards. 

Happy Mother's Day!

It's our first Mother's day together.  Your daddy bought me a pretty dress and brought me breakfast in bed.  It was very nice of him to do that.  We went over to your Grammy Kopperud's house for brunch.  Now, we're sitting at home and I just woke up from a very long nap. 

I wanted to take a moment out of baby and mother-related discussions to make note of a historical event, that will undoubtedly impact the world you're born in to.  It's my hope for you that you'll never know the world the way that we have over the past ten years.  But, you'll learn about this one day.  You see, on September 11, 2001, planes crashed into two buildings in New York, one crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, DC and a fourth crashed in a field in Pennsylvania.  At the end of that day, we discovered that a group of terrorists, led by Osama Bin Laden, was responsible for the attacks.  One day, I'll tell you to ask your Grandpa Kopperud about that day for help with your report about the terrorist attacks. 

In any case, the United States hasn't been able to find Osama Bin Laden, and he successfully avoided capture for almost ten years.  However, on May 1, 2011, our president, Barack Obama, came on the news to tell us that the Navy SEALS had found and killed Osama Bin Laden. 

I want you to understand the historical significance of this day, little one.  To a lot of people, Bin Laden's death represents closure, revenge, and victory.  A part of me feels all of those things.  However, I want you to know that the death of another human being should never be a cause for celebration.  Moreover, your daddy and I both believe that hate breeds hate, and violence only creates more violence.  I don't know what the answer is and I don't want you to think I'm not glad that Osama Bin Laden isn't out in the world any more.  I only know that I want you to be raised in a world where you know nothing but love.

Eleven Weeks

I had a rough morning.  I put on a pair of pants and tank top, only to discover that my clothes don't fit me the way that they once did.  In fact, this morning, they looked terrible, which caused a cascade of tears.  I guess I never really realized how much of my self esteem was tied up in my weight and image.  Even with the way my body is changing, I'm still smaller than I used to be, but I wasn't quite prepared for the change.  This is a good thing, I know.  I'm getting bigger, which means you are, little one, and that's what we want.  And I should prepare myself because it's not like I'm going to get any smaller...

So, here's our picture at eleven weeks:

The picture doesn't really show off what's really going on.  If you looked at me straight on from the side, you could see the tiny little bump that's starting to pop out.  And, I think it's doing me good to see this picture because things aren't as dire as I made them out to be.  Maybe I should have taken a picture in the pants and tank top...ha! 

So, I also read this morning that you're all done "developing" and you've got all your body parts, internal organs, facial features, and fingernails.  It's amazing to me to think that a baby can literally develop all it's life sustaining organs and human parts in just under three months.  Learning about what you're going through, and what you're doing, little one, is just amazing to me.  The book says you're about the size of a plum now, and are weighing in at about a half ounce.  And from now through Thanksgiving, your primary goal is just to grow, and I suppose it's my goal too.  If you need to get bigger, then I'll get bigger along with you. 

Maybe one day, little one, I'll share with you all that your daddy and I went through just to get to this point.  And considering the amount of complaining I've been doing, I don't think it really reflects how grateful I am that the worst truly is over.  Today is Cinco de Mayo.  It was one year ago that I was laying on an operating table while the doctors poked around inside me to figure out what the heck was wrong with me.  The fact that we're sitting here, one year later, and I'm almost through my first trimester of pregnancy is a pretty amazing thing, if you ask me.  I just can't get over what they can do with medicine.  And let's be honest, life is a miracle anyways, so I suppose that we should be glad we had a little luck on our side (in addition to the Clomid, of course). 

Just a little update...

I know I owe an updated belly picture, since I missed ten weeks, but I don't think you're missing anything just yet.  It still just looks like I ate a lot of tacos.  The past week has been pretty tough.  I have been tired, sick, and just all around cranky.  My days are pretty much routine...I wake up, go to the gym (and I can still do that, which I am very proud of), go to work, come home and go to bed.  Repeat.  In fact, as I'm writing this, I am sitting in my Scottie dog pajamas, watching a rerun of NCIS, from the comfort of my own bed.  And yes, it's 5:06 p.m.  

In other news, I ended up losing about five pounds because I haven't been able to keep any food down.  Considering my burgeoning belly and um...other things, I figure I'm actually down about ten pounds.  The doctor decided to put me on Zofran to help with the nausea.  It's already made a difference, and now, I'm starving.  Specifically for delicious things - like blueberry muffins and pancakes.  Yum.  

And one more thing I'm really excited about...Magnum ice cream bars have finally come to the United States.  I used to eat them all the time when I lived abroad, and every time I travel internationally, it's the first thing I look for when I get off the plane.  No joke.  I made a special trip to Lunds last night, and miracle of miracles, there they were.  They weren't as good as I remembered, unfortunately, which makes me think that they're obviously better in Spain.  Therefore, I want to go there.  But, who wants to go to Spain when you can't eat unpasteurized cheese or drink wine?