Belize

We're off to Belize for a traditional Thanksgiving weekend. Actually, that's not entirely true. We are off to Belize, but it's to enjoy one last vacation before Hoagie arrives. Our swimsuits, SPF lotions and sunglasses are all packed and we'll be sure to share details once we're back. Have a great Thanksgiving weekend!

Hospital Tour....of Terror!

Tonight Ryan and I took the hospital tour where Hoagie is scheduled to be born. The hospital is shiny and new and freshly remodeled, and the tour started off ok, but as soon as we got to the Labor and Delivery floor I immediately StOPPED HaVING FUn. Ryan seemed to enjoy the whole damn thing, but for me it was just one more unpleasant surprise after another. The private L&D rooms were nice enough, with real wood cabinets and windows and doors (I guess that's what all those people were oohing and awwing about, but all I saw were the wires and the sterilized sheets and the "WHAT, not all the rooms have windows? How the hell am I supposed to escape if there are no windows?!?!". I heard people laughing around me and commenting how "nice everything is...ooh, a flatscreen tv, sounds like a party..." WTF? What are all these people thinking? This is a hospital where we are all going to come to have our bodies ripped open and wires and tubes and pokey things protruding from all our orifices. That does NOT sound like a party, it sounds like a medical emergency (WHICH IT IS!). I know Ryan thought he did something wrong during the tour, because as we walked back to the car I could barely manage the energy to spit out my gum, much less laugh at his jokes. Sorry Ry, I do think you're funny, just not when faced with my own mortality.

(Sigh). Hopefullly the hospital-induced panic will wear off by the time I actually have to be admitted there :(

24 Weeks

Tuesday we went to the doctor for our normal checkup.  We got two surprises while we were there, neither of which will stop festering in my already deficient pregnant brain.  First off, the doctor "congratulated" me that I'm definitely going to hit that 35 pound mark.  Probably within the next couple of weeks.  She might as well have said, "Good for you tubbo, now put DOWN THE DONUTS."  



The second surprise stemmed from checking out the fetal development chart, which looked something like this. Ryan and I had been talking on previous visits about how this chart must be larger than life size because there was no way I was ever going to have any baby inside me that was as big as one on the chart. When Ryan asked the doctor if the chart was life size or on a bigger scale, she said that it was life size and my baby was already bigger (gasp shock wince) than the smallest baby pictured (which by the way was waaayy bigger than my head). I guess I have been actively deluding myself and thinking that my baby was going to be petite baby doll size, which she quite apparently is not (seen my stomach lately?). Apparently she is already over a foot long, which is just her length from crown to rump and doesn't even include her long and powerful legs. And her weight? Over a pound and a half. Holy kajesus, batman, this is getting real.

She's Gonna Pop

So we're about 23 1/2 weeks along, which on some days seems like a lot and on other days seems like we're never going to get to the finish line.  Here's a pic of what my belly's looking like nowadays.

Next, prepare yourself, because this is what my belly feels like.  

Now mind you we did not do any trick photography, this is just what the bump looks like head on. AHHH!  As you can see, my belly button is losing the "innie" battle and will soon convert to being an "outie." Sad.

Oh the Stuff!

My Aunt Nancy has graciously volunteered to host a shower for us over Christmas, and seeing as Christmas is only 6 weeks away we decided to get on WITH THE REGISTERING ALREADY!  I've been avoiding even thinking about registering or baby stuff or cute little precious baby shoes (like the ones pictured my friend Layne sent us this week), but that all changed this afternoon when Ryan and I spent two hours at Babies"R"Us.  We raced strollers, benchpressed car seats, pushed all the buttons on the Pack and Play remote controls, and did some serious sitting in the rocker/glider/swiveler chair department.  Ryan made friends in the stroller department with a couple of new moms looking for advice on strollers (like we have any idea what we are talking about).  Then we came home and bit the bullet and registered for a crap-load of STUFF.  At the beginning of the evening I was a bit more sentimental about it all, but after spending hours reading reviews on nipple salve and rectal thermometers the excitement has turned to fear.  

Some of my mania may also be due to the fact that Hoagie's head has been poking me in the side for two days and I can't imagine how she has room to get any bigger.  YHHIKES!

A balance

It might be me, but it seems a popular design solution for a nursery is to throw as much crap in there as possible. Preferably a bunch of stuff that doesn't go together.

We've been thinking/talking about the nursery set up the last week or so and we have some pretty clear cut ideas of what we'd like to do with the room. After looking at other nursery pictures for inspiration, we also know what we do not want in the room. We prefer not to overwhelm the child, nor frighten her before she gets to know us. With that in mind, I have a short list of items you won't see in our nursery.

1. 360 degree murals
2. Massive fabric letters for spelling
3. Glue-gunned accessories
4. Clowns

I'm sure I've just offended everyone who's ever designed a nursery.

Just for fun, what design ideas didn't make your nursery list?

Only 4 more months

Last night I had a dream that I could smell her.  That I was holding her on my chest and I could smell her baby freshness and see her swirl of yellow hair and her crinkled forehead.  I could feel the weight of her on my ribs as I breathed in and out.  It was the closest I've come to actually translating this pregnancy into a final, lovely, nommable baby.  God, I can't wait.

The name game

I'm not sure if this is a classic pregnancy milestone or not, but last night I felt Hoagie's head.  Like through my shirt, next to my belly button, there was suddenly a big, round protruding head.  I told our friend Marvin he could feel it, and when he did she jerked and kicked me in my pelvis.  Which just reaffirms for me that it was in fact her head that we were feeling.  Weird.

Right now we are playing the name game, and though I'm pretty sure we've settled on a first name, we are having ISSUES figuring out and agreeing on a middle name.  Though after last night I wouldn't be surprised if her middle name became Hussein. Or Barack. Or Oprah (I just really like Oprah).  Any name suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

What a weekend!

Whoooaaa, baby girl, you must be exhausted after such a busy weekend (I know I am).  Friday night Ryan and I went to a Halloween party with the gang.  After some last minute costume scrambling, I went as the "B" girl (who faked being attacked by an Obama supporter) and Ryan went as me.  Should I be offended that he wore one of my maternity shirts and actually fit into it?  Hmmm, maybe I'll put the Halloween candy down now.

Today we spent about 8 hours putting down new floors in the dining room and family room.  Silvie loves them (and so do we!).

In baby news, this week saw quite a few packages arrive on our doorstep for Hoagie.  She has officially started her stuffed animal collection now (thanks Grantie and Unkie) and is also the proud new owner of Pee and Poo dolls (thanks Jeff and Cari), among many other cool gifts from perpetualkid.

Also, Hoagie has two new cousins (or second cousins or cousins once removed) named Amelia and Josi.  Hooray for Doyle family babies!  Just fyi, Hoagie will be my grandma Doyle's 14th great grandchild.