Sweet Tweets Nursery: Revealed!

Thanks to the hard work of Nana and Papa (my mom and step-dad), my "Sweet Tweets" nursery has come to life! It's my new favorite room in the house - whenever my husband can't find me, he knows just where to look - usually sitting in our comfy glider admiring the room. Nana made everything in the room - wall hanging, bed linens (bumper, bedskirt), curtains and table cloth. I painted the Birdie paintings and a sign for over the baby's bed (to be revealed at a later date - it's her name!). Papa helped paint, install, build - he even finished the faux-wood floor I started to lay in the adjoining bathroom. I'm blessed to have such a wonderful family! Check out the pictures below - now all we need is Baby!

Diagnosis: NOTHING!

So last Saturday I woke up convinced I had a UTI. If you've had one, you know the distinct feeling that only the joys of a UTI can bring to your life. So I call the doctor's office to request a prescription, and the nurse calls me back to let me know that they can't prescribe antibiotics over the phone for pregnant women. AHHHHH! She told me to head over to an Urgent Care if I couldn't wait until my Tuesday appointment. I wasn't thrilled with the idea of going to Urgent Care - I can just imagine the Swine Flu grabbing hold of me as soon as I step through the door. So I took the old fashioned route - good old cranberry juice and water. By Tuesday it hadn't gotten better, but wasn't getting worse, so they tested me. I got the results on Thursday - NADA. There was nothing wrong with me. Ummmm - HELLO? I can tell you right now, there IS something wrong, and when its "down there" you can't ignore it. So I asked what else it could be.. and the nurse says, "Probably just another lovely side effect of pregnancy." NOOOOOOO! So I respond, "So your telling me there is no medicine to help with this?" And she says, "Nope. The baby is probably just pushing down on your bladder." I know this is common, but really? Can't a prego catch a break? My mom suggested some Yoga positions to help shift the baby - so far, no dice. My husband caught me in the "Cat's Cradle" position last night. His reaction? Nothing. He's used to the crazy by now : )

Hold Me Back, Mamas

This morning I was at the perinatologist's office for my weekly ultrasound (everything is good, BTW!). It was super busy and crowded, with lots of women in all stages of pregnancy. I was sitting near the front of the office, so I could overhear some of the conversations as women came to check in. No, I wasn't eavesdropping! But Fit Pregnancy magazine can only provide so much distraction... especially for this mama : ) So one woman dropped off her forms (it was obviously her first time there) and the admin started flipping through them. I guess she noticed the "Baby's Father" section wasn't filled out, so the admin inquired if she had skipped that part accidentally. The woman laughed awkwardly and said, "No. I just haven't had any discussions with my husband about it yet, so I don't want to put him down on the form. I know what his reaction will be...". Hmmmmm... I thought it was strange, but went on reading about daily exercise routines while pregnant - nice.

So about 30 minutes later, I see the woman run out into the hall pale as a ghost, and then a few seconds later follow her Shrek-like husband into the waiting room. He threw himself into a chair and started huffing and puffing. And ladies - this was the icing on the cake - he was wearing white athletic ankle socks with black loafers and dress pants. Umm - seriously?! Then, as if no one else was in the room, the man says, "It is RIDICULOUS that you are pregnant again. How could you let this happen? I told you we were DONE with kids!" All the other pregos in the room looked at each other with wide eyes. Was this guy serious? Had she cheated on him or something? Ohhhhh no. He went on to say this next statement to prove he was truly an idiot - "It's your responsibility to make sure this doesn't happen. You tricked me." WHAT?! The woman had all she could do to keep from crying (she was also reading a copy of Fit Pregnancy - and we know nothing in there is enough to bring you to tears!).

At this point all the other pregos were staring the man down, shaking our heads with disgust, and trying to hold our tongues. If there is one group of people in the world you don't want to mess with, it's the mamas!!

So then he pulls out his laptop computer and begins ferociously typing with his sausage fingers. He must have pulled up some sort of vacation website because the next thing you know he taps his wife's arm, turns the monitor towards her, and says, "Wow. This looks beautiful. But we can't go there because you've gone and gotten pregnant!" And then snaps the screen away from her. It was obvious this was the last straw for one mama who was at the water dispenser... she turned around, looked straight at him and said, "Excuse me, but let me tell you something, sir. I have been listening to your rude remarks for the past 15 minutes - the way you have been berating your wife - and let me tell you this: it takes two to tango, so SHUT THE HELL UP!" Then she goes to walk away, but turns back and says to the wife, "And bless your heart sweetheart. Lord only knows how you put up with him."

HALLELUIA! The man turned red and huffed back into the hall, loafers, white ankle socks and all. His wife followed him into the hall. And then I got called for my appointment. It made me thankful for my loving husband - even if he does snore like a freight train. : )

Channeling Rachel Zoe

I'm driving myself BA-NANAS right now! If you watch/love Rachel Zoe like me, then you totally get the reference. I was having a lazy evening in bed and decided to catch up on the Rachel Zoe episodes I missed. And let me tell you - I can't wait to be able to wear real clothes again!! I am SO over the tent-wear. I can actually count on one hand the number of true maternity clothes I have purchased - two pairs of jeans (Skinny and Boot Cut), two pairs of crop jeans, a denim skirt, a cute grey t-shirt, a denim dress, and two work pants (khaki and black). Ok - so I needed two hands for that. But I've been kicking and screaming my way into maternity clothes for 33+ weeks now. So now, with about 4-ish weeks left to go, I'm planning my return to fashion. Mommy-wear will be more functional-fashion, but Rachel Zoe is helping me think through my next fashion phase. For now, I'll keep rocking my oversized sunglasses, leggings and cute new bangs - oh, and huge round baby belly : ) BANANAS!!!!

Just Call Me Rip Van Winkle

I don't know what it is, but I CAN NOT stay awake more than 4 hours at a time! And then I sleep for three hours, then up for 4, then back down for 3 hours. I feel like a grizzly bear hibernating for winter. I've turned my bedroom into a cave - dark, cozy and comfortable. I must have at least 8 pillow that I use just for myself. My husband starts out the night with 2 pillows, but I usually steal one more for myself during the night : ) I'm going to blame it on the Heparin injections I have to take now. I believe drowsiness is a side effect. But I actually have to plan my day based around my nap schedule. I get up with my husband at 7 a.m. and make breakfast, take care of Lenni LuLu (our puppy), and pick up around the house. He head's off to work around 8:30 a.m., and I take Lenni for a walk. Then I eat breakfast myself, watch the Today Show, and try to do some chores. By 11 a.m., I am exhausted. And not just a little sleepy either - I'm in full on Rip Van Winkle mode and can barely make it up the stairs and fall into my bed. I sleep until around 2-ish. Then I'm back up, walking Lenni again, and usually take on a project to keep me busy until it's time to make dinner. By 6 p.m., I start to get tired again and have to hang out on the couch like a sloth. Daniel gets home around 7, we eat, walk Lenni again, and then it's off to bed for this mama. Phew! I got tired just writing that out : ) Hope my energy returns by the time my baby girl arrives!!!!

One Big Baby!!

Last week I found out some interesting news - they figured out that the ultrasound measurement was read incorrectly while I was in the hospital. My baby girl didn't weigh 4.5 pounds at 30 weeks - she weighed 6.5 lbs!!! So now, at 33 weeks, they say she weighs 8 lbs! No lie! So - if I go to term - my baby girl will weigh in at a whopping 11 pounds. HOLY. SMOKES. Here's hoping she comes a little early. Funny that all along I've called her my "little piggy" : )Can't wait to see her chubby cheeks!

De Ja Vu of the Worse Kind!

You won't believe it, but it happened again! I should have been prepared for it, but it totally caught be by surprise. Remember that fateful day back in June or July when I picked up my wedding photo thank you cards from the Target Photo Center? And the women behind the counter made that mind-numbing comment about the bride- "Is this your sister? She's so pretty!" And then didn't believe me when I tried to tell her it was me? Well - it happened again yesterday.

I've been trying to check everything off my To Do list before the baby comes. One of the big things has been to frame and hang all our wedding and family photos around the house. Last week I did 95% of it - and yesterday I thought I would knock out the big finale piece... a 20"x30" black and white print from our wedding (LOVE IT!). So I waddle into the framing place with my print. The man behind the counter unrolls it and then... he says it... Brace yourself - it's even worse than last time!... "This is beautiful. What a lovely couple. Are you the photographer?" WHAT?!?!?! At least last time I was in the same FAMILY! This time I'm not even related to the the bride! So I say, "Ha! No. It's me and my husband." And then he says, " Oh. Wow. So you've been holding on to this for a while?" I was a little confused, and then I realized what he was saying - I LOOK TO OLD TO BE THE BRIDE IN THIS PICTURE! Smart man finally realized he was batting 1,000 and dropped it. Good decision : )

So here it is - until I give birth and am back to my normal self - my wedding photos are not making public appearances with strangers. My swollen face, sausage fingers, gray hair and blotchy skin just can't take it anymore!

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Over the past two days, a feeling has swept over me... I feel like I have been pregnant FOREVER!! I really do. I'm completely aware that patience is one virtue I run a little short on : ) I'm much more like a hare than a tortise. I like things to happen quickly, and then move on to the next chapter quickly. I've found 40 weeks is not quick. It's like time is moving through quicksand - and SLOOOOOOOWS down the closer I get to my due date. I just want to see my little baby girl. I want to hold her and hug her and kiss her and snuggle with her. I'm ready to move forward with our life with her - like, NOW! : ) But I know it's best for her to stay inside as long as possible to make sure she is healthy and ready for the world. This mama will just have to be patient for the next month or so - I know she will be worth the wait!