So that's why!

We had our ultrasound yesterday - I LOVE those things! Getting to watch BabyBrother move around and flip and turn is fantastic! This time, he was actually measuring ahead by 3-5 days. On Aug. 4, he was measuring right on track. Since I know exactly when I ovulated, this doesn't mean my due date is wrong, it means HE'S BIG.

Anyways, whenever I go up the stairs at our house, I am SO out of breath. I thought it was simply because

I'm out of shape

I'm pregnant and carrying 20 extra pounds

stairs suck

BUT apparently someone's little butt is pushing into the right side of my ribcage already. Even the ultrasound tech thought that was a bit high for him to be at only 23 weeks. So, I hope I'm a little bit less out of shape than I thought and baby is just squeezing my lungs.

For those of you that knew me when I was pregnant w/my son, you'll remember me complaining of the terrible pain that was Son's butt making my ribs separate. I thought I was having a heart attack and going to die. Looks like I'm in for more of the same this go round! yay!

Luckily, he's already head down, though that could change, I sure hope it doesn't. AND we re-verified that he is BabyBrother and not BabySister.

23 Weeks...

Today I am 23 weeks. Just last night hubby was being amazed at the naked belly and I reminded him, 17 more weeks of growth, by the way.

By now, I can feel BabyBrother moving quite a bit. The other night he got the hiccups and hiccup-ed for 20 minutes. Of course, this was RIGHT as I laid down to goto sleep, so that was fun. Apparently he liked dinner last night (chicken quesadillas and pasta w/sauce, and a 1/2 a milkshake) because he was rock'n and roll'n at bedtime.

I've picked up a few fall pieces of maternity clothes at Target...and need to go thru what I wore last pregnancy. Though I have to buy a "work" wardrobe, because when I was pregnant last time, I was at a start-up and jeans were OK. Not so much now. Of course, as soon as I start shopping (yesterday) gap.com takes down their site for maintenance. FYI, when I run a company, our website will NOT go down for 2 days during back to school shopping! Not for 2 days for ANY reason...the site should be ready to be uploaded with a minimum of downtime. You don't upload then test it out.

I'm getting hotter too (hotter, not sexier)...this is odd for me, it didn't happen w/the first pregnancy.

And HUNGRY! And TIRED!

Second sonogram today, wish me luck! Also trying to schedule the 4D sonogram for October!

Satellite Radio Comparison...

Ok...hubby ended up w/a new car last week. It's a LONG story, but here's the short version:

Last Tuesday night we tried to put the baby seat into the back of hubby's sedan. Remember that hubby is 6'2". Neither my son or the new baby can sit directly behind hubby. No configuration of the 2 car seats in the other 2 rear seast (middle seat and behind-passenger-seat) worked. Truth: this car would no longer work for our family.

So Wednesday hubby and I take lunch and goto the Toyota dealer near my office to checkout the new Sienna minivan. Hubby is SO not a minivan person, but he was thinking he could take one for the team if we liked it enough...He hated it. Seriously, he was looking rather green and like he was going to vomit the whole time.

I suggested we look at some bigger sedans and we found one he liked and had room for hubby to drive and the sales guy ( 6'1" tall ) to sit BEHIND him. That is a large sedan!

But back to satellite radio - this car came w/Sirius radio, where we have only been an XM radio family. So this weekend, on our trip to visit family in PA, we got to sample Sirius' programming.

So here is the review:

quality of sound --> XM and Sirius are equivalant, I guess. I did not notice a difference.

signal strength -->Sirius dropped out more than the XM Radio did.

Programming --> selection of stations was equivalant.

Commercials? --> XM Radio is commercial free. Sirius is NOT and that is quite annoying.

Talking DJs --> XM Radio only has DJs for the commuting part of the day, and they limit their talking to announcing song requests, and this is not on all stations. Sirius DJs seem to YAP after EVERY SONG, on every station, which is annoying if you're not used to it.

So - if you have a choice (some car makers only offer 1 or the other), get XM!

And we're off!!!

I just got back from the furniture store! I made a decision on the couch fabric - the lady showed me a computer image of the 2 fabrics I like and it was easy to pick - what had been my favorite fabric is really more of a chair fabric, and a bit obnoxious in couch size. Then picked out 2 new leather chairs and ottoman to complement, and VOILA! Furniture ordered!

Now I just need to get my butt to Lowes to order white wood blinds. Then to measure out the entertainment center we like and make sure it is big enough for the spot we've picked, and that the TV fits in it, and we can order that too! Hopefully, we can order the window treatments shortly as well! Man, this is really moving along!!!

Since I'm pretty boring today, go check out these chicks...

Enjanerd --> she's dealing w/an insane vistor!

Girl From Florida --> she's recently discovered she's going to be a Mommy!

The New Mommy Crack

The Container Store.

Enough said.

Technical Difficulties...

BioTurf, the people installing our sprinkler system, cut our phone line yesterday. So no phone or DSL at home. :-(
It's funny - the phone worked until they arrived, then stopped working w/in 30 minutes of arrival, but they don't think they did it. None of our neighbors are having problems either. Just us. Hmmm. Who do YOU think is getting the repair bill?

Firefox lost my history yesterday - so my list of blogs to read is GONE. This is most upsetting. If I haven't stopped by your blog in a while, drop me a line, it's quite possible I can't remember or find the URL. This is the second time in 10 months it's done that and I have no idea why...any of you have a clue?

I'm tired.

ROAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This was a great weekend!!! My best friend from Blacksburg came up w/her 3 year old.

Saturday: we went to Baltimore, MD to goto the Aquarium, joined by my other best friend and HER 3 year old. While it was packed, we saw LOTS of cool stuff! The boys finally saw the PufferFish they were dying to see. Then lunch at Cheesecake Factory, where we thought it might be a bit long for 3 3year olds, they were GREAT!

Sunday: down to DC for the National Natural History Museum - mostly to see the DINOSAURS! A BIG hit, if I do say so myself. Then we got tons o'stuff at the shop (the toy where they bury bones in a mound of rocks/dirt and the kid has to dig it out themselves was a HUGE hit) and books and things, then back onto the Metro for a ride home! Son loved it - and hubby did too, bonus!

I. am. tired. now. So. very. tired.

BONUS: at my last OB appt, the DR gave me another sonogram order! He didn't see my original ones in my file and re-wrote it! Yay! (did I already tell you guys that? Ooops if I did! But I am SO EXCITED TO GET AN EXTRA PEEK!)

No More

anonymous comments - some asshole was spamming me at the rate of like 1 per minute. Sorry.

Hmmmm....

I don't have anything interesting today (shocking, I know).

I have my OB appt, which is always so fun, NOT! I thought when everyone talks about getting proper prenatal care, it was a big deal. Basically, until you are 32 weeks, you go in, maybe pee in a cup, get your fundus measured, check for baby heartrate, and off you go. Maybe a tiny blood donation, depending on where you are in your pregnancy (I had the usual workup + a check for fifths disease since a friend's child had been exposed). I KNOW they can catch bad stuff early, but if you're lucky enough to have an uneventful pregnancy, they are pretty quick and painless. Today we are reviewing the results of my ultrasound from Aug. 4 - measurements of baby + how much fluid he's got, etc.

Oh, and I'm tired today. Don't have anything to eat for lunch, so will have to drive around and scrounge for fast food again. I wish for a regular lunch! But I don't have anyone to go with, and I'm not going to a restaurant alone (yes, I'm a big big baby).

Please wish Jo a speedy labor and birth, TODAY as she's way past due and deserves to meet her little one!!!

Summer Reading

So. When we were at the beach last week, I actually read TWO books! My sister-in-law brought them for me...they were:
Lifeguard


London Bridges

James Patterson books are light and quick reads. Also, the story is usually so good, it makes you not want to put the book down. I enjoyed both books very much, but if I were BUYING the hardcover, I'd like to get more read-time out of them. More like Harry Potter complexity, which take longer to read because of the extra subplots and detail.

But for the beach, the James Patterson ones are great! And always a twist of some sort that I never predict!

Sandwich Meat - the big NO NO

apparently, pregnant women aren't supposed to eat sandwich meat!

foods to avoid

Apparenty sandwich meats and hot dogs have a high listeria bacteria rate...and "they" have deemed them not worth the risk for pregnant women.

I do know that Subway will microwave meat for you, if you ask (I heard this, I don't eat at Subway, I favor Cheeseburgers!).

I do, however, scarf down hotdogs if they are cooked by my hubby or myself, making sure they're heated high enough. No mall or street vendor dogs for me though!

The sandwich meat thing, though, was not around when I was pregnant w/my first son - but I don't remember if I wanted sandwiches or not or if I ate any. This pregnancy, I stick w/ PB&J or grilled cheese or cheese and mayonaise!


What do you others think?

21 Weeks!

So - what am I like at 21 weeks?

Well, in a nutshell, HUGE!

Long story version:

I am very hungry.

I am very tired.

My belly is HUGE and my belly button is already gone, and after a big meal, even STICKS OUT!

I am very tired.

It is very difficult for me to pick up my son anymore.

It is very difficult to carry anything in front of me (like you would carry a laundry basket in front, on your stomach). Side carrying is not comfy either, so I usually ask hubby (who is GREAT about offering before I ask) to do these carrying tasks.

It is not possible to roll over in my sleep - it requires waking to roll - it is very odd to always wake up in the same position you went to sleep in. On that note, I am getting tired of sleeping on my left side (the suggested position for women over 4 months).

I can make the baby move/kick by laying on my left or right side. Also by pressing gently on the left or right side of my belly. Very cool. He also moves a lot when I'm sitting in my desk chair and I lean forward too much (I'm assuming I'm cutting in on his living space).

I am BEAT after walking up a flight of stairs.

I am SO EXCITED about the going to gym w/a personal trainer when this is done so I can whip back into shape. I'm going to ask for the toughest, meanest trainer they have.

I would REALLY LOVE a ham and cheese sandwich right now, and it sucks that I have to wait until the end of DECEMBER to have one. (though I wouldn't trade it for the world!)

I cannot get in and out of my husband's car (it sits too low to the ground and the seats are too bucket-like).

Having to squat for more than 1 second is painful (like to put on my son's shoes).

I'm so excited about new fall maternity clothes! I'm already tired of my summer ones! Apparently, all I bought for summer for work was white and black, which I just noticed today!

I love to hear the baby's heartbeat on my home doppler (I could find the heartbeat starting at 7w4d, but couldn't HEAR it on the doppler until more recently). It is SO AMAZING - I get awed and forget to turn off the doppler right away.

Breasts are still killing me - and are quite large - I'm up one full cup size.

Sense of smell is still quite amazing.

Also addicted to buying the baby new clothes, even though he won't really need much, since he'll be born almost exactly the same time as my first son. I cannot resist, have you seen the new Gymboree stuff? It's like MommyCrack.

Ok...off to get a water refill and find something to eat.

For once...

I have quite a few posts swimming about in my head...

what my son wants to name Baby Brother

how DAMN TIRED I am

how DAMN tired being on vacation makes me

how DAMN tired driving back from vacation made me

how DAMN tired cleaning up after vacation is currently making me

week by week summary, to bring you guys up to speed, we are 21 weeks tomorrow. I've been feeling movement about 2 weeks now, but with reliable movement starting at 20 weeks. Son got to FEEL Baby Brother kicking me yesterday - how cool is that? He was sad when I went to work today, not because he's missing me (yeah, right) but because I was taking Baby Brother with me, and wouldn't Baby Brother miss him? So. damn. cute.

Anyone like a belly shot? I'm going to take one soon and email them out to interested parties (note: this is only for regular commenters and readers, no freaks please). With some of the strange people that visit, I'm not posting one on the actual site.

Did I mention that I'm tired?

I'm back!

We got back from our week vacation in Myrtle Beach, SC yesterday - anybody miss me?

Look for posts tomorrow!

And now we know!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's a...
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BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yay for little boys!!!!!!! My son'll be excited, that was his choice! Also - hubby and I are understandably THRILLED! The baby has all parts accounted for and measured nicely - 2 arms, 2 legs, 10 fingers, 10 toes, beautiful lips and profile! He's got it all, baby!

All organs present and accounted for, also measuring nicely.

Thank goodness for little boys! And I was treated to lots of ultrasound movement to know that even though I don't feel much at this point, he's boppin' around in there pretty good - and the reason I'm so darn big? He's laying SIDEWAYS.

Countdown...

12:30 EST = Sonogram time! Watch this space!

Happy Birthday!

TO ME! Today I am 32! Happy Birthday to me!

And my special plans today are....
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wait for it, it's good....
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taking my son to the dentist!

Ok, yeah, I'm old and I'm a mommy, just because it's my birthday, doesn't change much in my daily life, at least not at this point. Maybe when my kid(s) are older...but I don't care. The fact that I HAVE a son to take the dentist thrills me. The fact that my husband is the best one in the world, and the best daddy as a side bonus, thrills me.

I cannot ask for a better present than to have my family healthy and happy for another year.

(ok, maybe a diamond necklace too, but I don't want to be greedy! ;-)

did someone say handbag?

From busymom

Take the quiz: "What type of designer handbag are you?(pictures)"

Brighton
You're Brighton. You are always in style and very ... bright. You tend to look on the good side of things. Stay that way!

48 hours and counting!

Remember - big sonogram is Thursday @ 12:30 EST! Can't wait! I did the Chinese Gender predictor and it predicted "boy". When I went back and checked it against the dates/age for my current son, it also predicted "boy"...so we'll see - who is right? The old wives tales or the Chinese Gender predictor!

is this rude?

is it rude, in your WORK voicemail to say...

"I'll return your call at my earliest convienence"???

Harry Potter!

I'm only a page or two away from finishing this book!!!! I'd love to give it a good review here, but I'm not spoiling it for anyone! I was so afraid someone somewhere on the internet would spoil it for me, and thank goodness no one did, so I'm not going to spoil it for anyone either....

Leave a comment and email address if you'd like to discuss!!!