Little Heart Beating UPDATE

So I have some bad news for the mamas-to-be out there... direct from my OB. I told her how I was so happy about my new Fetal Heartbeat Monitor, and that I could hear the baby's heart beat all the time. In the frank way only doctor's can get away with, she completely burst my bubble with a few simple words: "You are hearing your own heartbeat. Those don't work until the third trimester"! WHAT?! I bamboozled myself into thinking I was listening to my baby, when really it was just my own heart thumping away. BOO!!

My next big idea? Reading to my baby every night. I read in a magazine that the baby can hear its mama's voice (even in the 2nd trimester), and if you read the same book every night, the book will one day soothe the baby with memories of the womb. I know its a little far-fetched, but I think its a cute idea. I think I'm going to read "If You Give A Pig A Pancake" just because its so cute, and the illustrations are adorable.

Need a Laugh? Kathy Griffin's New Book Foreword

This has nothing to do with being prego, except for the fact that we could all use a good laugh from time to time, right? The hilarious comedienne Kathy Griffin just finished her book -- "Official Book Club Selection". Read her foreword (addressed to Oprah) here: http://perezhilton.com/2009-08-02-your-first-look-49#more-63466

Documenting the Big Swell

Even though I was married back in April, I've been putting off officially changing my last name for one simple reason: I don't want to look swollen, puffy, pimply or fat in my new driver's license picture! I mean, this thing isn't a flash in the pan -- I will have it as my photo ID for the next TEN years of my life! Ok, I know I sound like a complete egomaniac at the moment -- but bear with me here. Flash forward 5 years -- even 2 years. You've lost the baby weight, you're back to looking good and feeling good. SO good in fact that you get I.D.'d at a restaurant when you order your favorite green apple martini. AHHH! The HORROR! No matter how much progress you make post-baby, you'll forever be reminded of the Big Swell that was your life for 40 weeks. And on top of that, in Georgia (where I live) you have to put your WEIGHT on the driver's license!!

So over the last three and a half months since the wedding, I've been "too busy" to make it happen. Every time I got close to biting the bullet and heading down to the DMV, I'd have a bad hair day, sprout a giant pimple, or feel like Shamu. But late last week -- I did it. Deep breaths. I got my new license -- with picture and weight -- and officially, legally changed my last name.

Here's a description (I'll try and scan in a pic soon!)... my hair looks greasy, my face looks a shade of gray/green, my nose is a swollen mess. Basically, my fears were not in vain.

And you're probably now wondering about my weight? Well I'll tell you this... they don't actually weigh you, so how do they know if I put my pre-pregnancy weight, or perhaps even my goal weight POST pregnancy : ) (Please Note Georgia Department of Motor Vehicles: I'm not saying I lied on this legal document, but it could be in the realm of possibilities for someone to do if they so chose)