The Waiting is the Hardest Part

I remember this blog post title being my status update on Facebook the day we found out BBP was a boy...I had no idea. At just less than one week away from the official due date, I'm looking for some ideas on how to cool my jets. Within the last week, pretty much every phone call I make is answered with "Are you in labor?!?!?" Every time (all four times) I got up to go to the bathroom last night were met with a sleepy MP asking "BBP's not coming yet, is he?" Every weekly meeting I attend at work is prefeced by my collegues wondering (often aloud) if it will be my last. So, if this is the super exciting part, why I am I looking for ways to calm it down? Well, when I actually think rationally about all of this, I realize that I could go into labor tomorrow...but the odds are more than likely I will be late rather than early. Meaning - I have at least another week, and maybe two or three (heaven forbid!), so I am thinking it best that I relax a little bit and just enjoy some quiet time with MP home and gear up for our lives to completely change. The challenge is simply how to accomplish this (or is it just impossible)?!?



In other news, we had a fantastic holiday weekend. MP arrived home on Friday evening, his externship in Nashville concluded, and won't be going anywhere else for awhile. We got to relax at the neighborhood pool, have dinner with some new friends, see some fireworks, eat, cook, read, see a movie - all things that I think may take a backseat with BBP's arrival. It's been fantastic. I will try to get a posting up with some pictures soon, right now, I am too lazy to download them from the camera.


Oh...and it seems my nesting instinct has continued to manifest itself in the kitchen. I think that if I try to make & freeze one more thing, we're going to have to buy another freezer. It's crazy in there. MP is making lots of fun of me, but I know he'll be thanking me come mid-August!

At least we won't starve.

Well, I certainly cannot anticipate the joys (and trials -surely more joys, right!?!) that await the MP and I when BBP comes out to play...but after this past weekend, it's a safe bet we won't be experiencing them while hungry.

I started out with four freeze-able recipes

a whole bunch of ingrediants (promise, I only cooked with the wine)

one super fun Saturday night later, I had this to show:

and thanks to my dear friend WH, I didn't have these to show until Sunday night (but it sure was fun to have the phone call and diversion on Saturday!)

Finally, at the end of all this...not too shabby!

The rest of my weekend was equally uneventful but productive. I got the carseat checked out (and suprisingly had installed it correctly!) on Sunday afternoon and spent the rest of the weekend relaxing, dog walking, pool going, oh, yeah...and eating. LOTS of eating. I am worried BBP may be a big one.

Cannot wait for MP to be back on Friday, hopefully have a nice holiday weekend followed by a birth perhaps!!!

Things I KNOW I will not care about in three weeks

Okay, so I have noticed some things on which I am spending ridiculous amounts of energy or time. When I notice this, I am also immediately realizing they are things I will not do and/or even remotely care about once BBP has joined us on the outside.

#1 - I specifially ordered the dishwasher baskets with orange and green accent colors. Babies R Us sent ones with pink accent colors...the nerve!!

#2 - Please note how neatly folded all BBPs clothing items are in these drawers. If I am still functioning and not so tired I have forgotten how to use the internet, I will have to repost pictures of these drawers when he is three or so weeks old. I guarantee there is NO way they will remain looking like this beyond a few days.

#3 - Why I have a stack of paper* that moves from my desk, to the top of the printer, to the floor several times each week, rather than taking the less than 15 minutes it would take to put it all away!?!?

*said stack is such an embarassment that photo evidence could not be included

I was lamenting over #1 to a friend the other day, and she described a time when she would soak her bibs in OxyClean to get the stains out rather than just letting it go. At some point, she said, she just realized how much time and OxyClean she was using on something that completely did not matter. This makes me laugh, and at the same time, makes me realize this list will not end anytime soon. I am realizing I am going to have to work hard to keep my OCD tendencies in check and realize what's important and what isn't.

Full Term!

Well, folks...today finds us at another important milestone. BBP is 37 weeks, aka full term! From here on out, whenever he decides to come out and play we'll be all good to go (though, let's be honest....he really needs to wait at least two weeks so dad can get home and settled in first).
It is just exciting to know that the most important work in there is done, and he's just ripening up now.

I am still feeling pretty good (note: pretty good does actually mean pretty good). I am definitely moving more slowly, and the days of hour long dog walks have gone the way of temperatures that don't feel like a sauna. It's about all I can do to get their two 15 minute walks in each day. They don't seem to mind either, since the heat zaps them almost as fast as it zaps me. I won't complain when MP is back home and on doggie duty...only 11 more days.

Last weekend went by fast thanks to a special guest....it was great to have Emily here. Unfortunately, a recount of our summer trips together over the past few years shows a very disturbing downward trend. Back in the spring of 2008, it all started with an email from hotels.com about special deals in Cabo. A call to Emily, a couple bottles of white wine on my front porch, some comparison flight shopping on expedia, and a desire to find ourselves with fruity drinks in hand and sand between our toes found us booked and ready to go to the Dominican Republic a couple months later. We had a fantastic time - never left our resort, but made friends with the fruity drink bartenders, read about a years worth of trashy magazines, and came back more rested than ever, with the resolve to do something like that each year.

2009 found me in a thrifty phase, I made the request for domestic travel. We went to Seaside, FL. Still a delightful vactation spot, but one to which we could carpool and also have access to our very own kitchen. Knowing we were not going all inclusive again, I definitely needed to BYO tropical frozen concoction fixin's. We had another great trip and vowed again to keep up our annual tradition.

That Emily, she is a trooper. 2010 found us at the neighborhood pool in The Village at Cherry Hill subdivision in hot and landlocked CoMo. I promise, Em, stick with me and in a year (okay, more likely two) I will be a more worthwhile travel companion again...swear!

Regardless, we know how to have a great time wherever we are! We checked out the one and only wine bar (also a wine store) in downtown CoMo, had dinner at my old standby, Sycamore, ice cream at Sparky's, and also fit in some relaxing time on the couch. All in all, it was a really great weekend. I really appreciated having the company, and getting to do some fun stuff that is about to become a lot more difficult to do!

...not to mention, I needed someone to take a belly pic. MP and I forgot when he was home last weekend, so it'd been nearly three weeks. Not sure I am looking much different, other than the fact that I actually fixed my hair and put on makeup, so I am looking much more presentable than in weeks past...but bellywise? Not so much I don't think. In fact, since my appointment last week, I have actually lost two pounds. I really just can't eat much at once and find myself craving things like salad and watermelon because it is just SO hot outside that I can't eat anything too heavy. Hmm, wonder if I will continue to have that "problem" once BBP comes out to play. I wont lie, it would be nice to one day wear pants that do not have an elastic waistband.

I am looking really forward to more visitors this weekend. My last MP-free and BBP-free weekend in who knows how long will find me hosting Gary and Gill at Chez Pulle. I can't wait to show them around CoMO. For once, I'll be the designated driver, and I won't let anybody forget it...most of the time Gary and I can't go further than walking distance from the house for fear that we won't be able to safely get back again! It's going to be a great time.

Welcome to the Future

Back in 2007 my first close college girlfriend had her first baby. It was an exciting time that we all wanted to celebrate together, but post college life had found us scattered across the country. We knew that it was going to be next to impossible to host, or even attend, a traditional baby shower. So, an idea was born. If we couldn't shower each other in person, then we would send the baby shower to the mommy-to-be. She'd receive shower decorations, a cake, and gifts all at home. Coupled with a telephone conference call on the big day, it was the next best thing to all being together.

Well, let's just say there have been improvements in technology since 2007, and as the last of our group to have a first baby, I was able to reap the benefits this past weekend. Some things remained the same...I received my "Baby Shower in an Envelope"


...and my quite tasty cake (which I'll have you know I am still enjoying as recently as this afternoon) was delivered just before the start of our big event.



...I had plenty of time to get all set up for the main event

But this shower had a new and improved format!!! We got together on a video conference call.

It was such a fun time. I had cake and lemonade and opened really super fun gifts, while my good friends watched me on the computer! We really did enjoy catching up and decided that this would be a fun activity from time to time just to be able to see each other. (Not that we don't clog the internet with about a million emails each week...but seeing each others' smiling faces is irreplaceable ;))

Here's the post Cyber-Shower damage. I can't say enough how lucky I am to have such great friends who find ways to stay close to each other despite the many miles we find between us (well, except for the two of you who both live in Houston...guess there are not so many miles between y'all!).

I think I am going to go have another piece of cake now.

Baby Birds Sure Grow Quickly!

Here are the baby birds from the fern...the biggest one (on the left in the nest) can fly. Good thing BBP won't be ready to leave our nest so quickly! Also, either I don't know how to work our digital camera for close ups/proper exposure or it's obvious I didn't miss my calling as a wildlife photographer.

As an aside, their living conditions don't seem too sanitary to me - with the bird droppings all over the once so beautiful nest. Here's to hoping they'll all get to flying soon, and I can have my fern back...before it bites the dust.

Weekend Warriors (aka Nursery Take 2)

We sure had a busy - and extremely fun (if you don't count my mini hormonal breakdown(s)) - weekend. I have been *trying* to be a trooper since MP went to Nashville in mid-May for his clerkship...but truth be told I was about dying for him to get home when last Friday night finally rolled around! That poor man has been going pretty much non-stop since well before finals, so I hated to hand him the honey-do list right as I hugged him hello...but that sucker was kinda long, and I knew he'd need to get started right away.

We were able to relax and have a late dinner together Friday night, but on Saturday morning, we were up and at 'em. He started on mowing the lawn while I headed to Lowe's to pick up supplies to paint the nursery. While I was there, he called to report a wheel failure on the mower, and a very helpful hardware department worker at Lowe's helped me to find just what we needed to fix that puppy up. Imagine our luck killing two birds with one stone!

I finally got home, and we discovered that helpful man from Lowe's didn't know what the &*^% he was talking about since the nuts/bolts/washers he gave us to reattach our lawn mower wheel were just useless - they didn't fit at all! So much for two birds with one stone. MP finished mowing the lawn on three wheels - a feat I am sure you all wish you'd seen.

Saturday afternoon brought us to our second installment of our midwives group childbirth class. MP may complain about this a little bit...but I know that deep down, he loves starting a 2 hr class with a 30 minute relaxation exercise. He can say what he wants, but his snoring sings a different tune. Saturday night found us at dinner with some friends, which was a really nice time.

Sunday morning, we went to tackle the biggest job of all - Nursery...Take 2. I won't go into the details - but suffice to say, there were a few tears, and maaayyyybe a little well deserved silent treatment, but look at the outcome. Since we're no worse for the wear, I'll go ahead and call it a success. I am just in love with the orange! BBP will be a UT fan straight out of the womb, making his maternal grandfather, Papa, very very happy. I also consider the color choice fitting since we found out he was on the way on Halloween last year. Special note - and sorry to MCMH, but notice no bumper. I am not sure if it's the fear of suffocation that caused me to remove it, or the fact that it had elephants all over it and Papa was sure that would make (brainwash???) BBP into a Republican. We can't take that chance!


Thankfully, Sunday, upon finishing up, we were able to head out for some fun at Les Bourgeouis A-frame for a bit and enjoy the afternoon. The rest of the weekend (all 18 hours of it or so) were chore-free and fun-filled. Grilling out, hiking with the dogs at a new park MP discovered, and just enjoying each other's company before he had to head out again on Monday afternoon. I am not going to lie, there were a few more tears...but we're both certainly excited that it's not long before his next visit home.

Here's a belly pic - post hike on Monday, so I am certainly not looking my best...but you get the idea. 34 weeks down, 6 to go. Pretty unbelievable.

At MP's Request...

Note: I never said they were cute...I just said they were sweet.

Seventh Inning Stretch

So, here's a 32 week belly pic from about a week ago to get us started. I know I have been so fortunate to have a really comfortable pregnancy so far. I think that's just one reason that the past few weeks have found me in a lull. Not to mention, non-pregnancy life has been pretty busy. I am in the midst of a large project at work, for which the end date coincides(-ish) with the beginning of my maternity leave. Additionally, MP had finals for two weeks, which always leads to quiet time in the Pulle household. Upon finishing those finals, MP headed off to Nashville for his summer clerkship for seven weeks...so since he left I have been too busy walking the dogs to write a blog entry. It's been impossible for me to entertain them as well as MP does - with several walks each day, games of chase and catch in the yard, encouraging them to wrestle, etc. I swear - those fleabags are in for a big surprise when BBP arrives, I am afraid. I have somehow managed though, and they do keep me company when I'm a little lonely with MP gone.


They do love to get their dog-fighting on, as evidenced below - and for the record, Riley pretty much kicks Tipper's butt even though Tipper is twice Riley's size.


Now, at 33 weeks, I am feeling like we're getting close, but are still so far away. It's as though I am in this time warp where I still have so much time, and it's way too early to be thinking about things like how the infant car seat installs, whether I have enough diapers, and if all BBP's little clothes are washed. On the other hand, by my midwife's instructions, I have a long list of supplies to have prepared on hand for the birth by 36 weeks and that deadline doesn't seem so far off! So, I spent a little more time this past weekend unpacking some of the gifts we've received, organizing clothes and cloth diapers (the dresser is full!), putting sheets on the crib, washing baby blankets, and making a list of final things we need to complete the nursery. This was actually a really enjoyable task since I love being around BBP's stuff and I really love organizing.


MP and I have decided to paint the nursery this weekend while he is home for Memorial Day. I guess this means I have to settle on a color this week. I recently learned from a friend that yellow walls make a baby fussy, and even if this is an old wives' tale, I think I'll avoid yellow just in case! The room only has one small window, so I would also prefer to go with a warm color - we'll see. I think I see an evening at Lowe's, hanging out in the paint section, in my future this week.

In other news, the Pulle household is very full of life - one of our front porch ferns is host to a little bird nest, with four baby bird eggs in it. I got a picture of them upon discovering the nest while watering the ferns one day, and just yesterday saw that the babies have hatched!! I didn't get a photo of that though, because the momma birdie seemed very nervous with me hanging out by her fern. The little birds were teeny tiny though. So sweet. *Yep, I am a huge dork...but if you are reading this blog, you already know that.

Since I lead such an exciting life these days, I'll definitely try to do a better job of keeping all four of you updated on what I am up to...I know you can't wait.

An Ounce of Prevention

So, MP has a lot of studying to do over the next couple of weeks. Classes end this week, and finals begin next week. I knew this when I signed us up for this class. When I told him we'd be sacrificing an entire Saturday - he was less than thrilled, wondering what on earth he could learn about childbirth, "you're the one doing the hard part" he pointed out. Regardless, I put my pregnant foot down and said we had to go.

We arrived at the hosptial right at 8am, and with our two bed pillows in tow headed into a maze of hallways and elevators. The directions just to get to the classroom were almost more than we could handle. We arrived and along with three other couples embarked on our day long journey. The class covered labor, birth, possible interventions, newborn care and more. After our first break, I was delighted to hear MP admit so far, it was indeed helpful. Seeing laboring women in the video helped both of us in terms of visualizing what to expect. I've seen an episode or two of "A Baby Story" in my day, not to mention being lucky enough to attend several births...so this wasn't all brand new to me. But let me tell you - when you're less than three months away from experiencing it yourself, you see it all with a new pair of eyes!

I had also been concerned that a large portion of the class would feel like it wasn't applicable for us, since we're planning on a home birth, but once class was underway, I was glad to be more knowledgeable about what can happen, and feel more prepared should we end up needing to go to the hospital. Also, when we went on the tour of the labor/delivery and postpartum rooms, we both decided that our own bedroom was where we'd feel a lot more comfortable in the labor and delivery process.

All in all, I have to say that I found the day worthwhile and informative. I didn't leave feeling any more or less frightened about labor. How I am going to care for an infant...all the time...and still take care of myself? Now that I am more than a little nervous about. Lucky for me, I am lining up as many helpers as are willing to come out and visit us. I am still reading as many books as I can get my hands on. I'll be attending yet another six week birthing class series taught by my midwife's practice. And, here's to hoping these ounces of prevention will be worth a pound of cure when I am on my nine millionth contraction, or when BBP is inconsolable, or when I don't know how I can manage another three hour feeding/sleeping cycle.

Getting some spring in my step

Man, was this one long winter or what? Looking back, it feels like the sun didn't come out from December through March. Luckily, my memory is short, and the past several weeks of warm and breezy conditions have all but erased from my mind those dreary days. MP and I have been enjoying dinner most evenings right here...


The past few weeks have been spent hanging ferns, spreading mulch, and filling planters in an effort to make our porch and yard a nice place to spend time. I will, for the remainder of my life, aspire to ferns that grow as beautiful and full as those on Gary & Keith's front porch - so please wish me luck in my fourth year of trying! We've also been working on training the dogs to stay on the porch with us as we sit at the table...apparently, our neighbors with small children don't take too kindly to a Tipper and Riley style greeting.

I have also been taking advantage of the nicer weather by going on several hour-long dog walks each week. I had been running regularly up until shortly after becoming pregnant, but somewhere between moodiness, the weather getting cold, my breath getting short, and my belly growing large I lost the willpower to keep it up. I did manage to maintain a yoga practice through the winter, but ever since the sun's been out, I have just wanted to be outside. I hope to keep up the walks as long as I can, even if I have to divvy them up into two shorter ones each day as the weather heats up and BBP takes up even more room in my ever-growing belly. Speaking of the ever growing belly - see evidence below (...and celebrate with me that we're officially in the third trimester!!! Only 12 more weeks to go.)

MP and I welcomed his parents last weekend for a visit, and Grandma came bearing many gifts. She brought clothes new & old for BBP. I can't wait to dress him in some of the same things his daddy wore as a baby. Especially this hat:

(Special thanks to Peter Rabbit for modeling.)

You may be wondering from the picture, but yep(!) that is a feather in his cap. BBP is going to be one authentic retro hipster. Who needs some vintage online clothing site or store, when we are lucky enough to have parents who saved the originals for us?!?! (Note, Nana did the same, only she just had little girl things of mine to pass along. Perhaps one day BP2 will be the lucky recipient of these fashion relics.)

We had a great time showing Grandma & Grandpa Pulle all around CoMo. They were able to see where MP spends most of his time, check out downtown, visit a couple of our favorite places to eat, experience walking around Rocheport, and finally.... the A-Frame at Les Bourgeois. A fantastic time was had by all...

Not only do we find ourselves in the homeward stretch of pregnancy, but MP is wrapping up his 1L year. We expect the coming weeks to fly by, and have much to do yet in preparation for BBP. But first, MP will finish up classes, finals, and a seven week clerkship in Nashville, while I am going to try to get our freezer stocked, BBP's nursery ready to go, and also plenty of rest in anticipation of that which will be foregone in the months to come.

What I got for Easter...

(...that is in addition to the Cadbury's Creme Eggs that the Easter Bunny has not failed to bring me since my childhood)

A great spring break trip to Nashville with the MP. We arrived for a week's stay and were welcomed by warm and sunny weather. It was a fantastic trip, both of us got to have lots of visits with our friends, we both worked, MP did some studying, we got my house cleaned up and ready to re-rent (and rented...YAY), and the most fun of all...we attended our baby shower.

It was such a great time. I really think I have the best friends a girl could ever want. Here are a few pictures...

So sweet of Margaret to host at her home!

Co-hostesses - best a mother-to-be could want

After opening gifts...

A party isn't a party without a good picture of Gary and me!!

My parents, MP, and I.

It's always sad to leave Nashville, but I think we'll be able to fit in one more visit before BBP arrives. (MP sure will since he'll be working there the first seven weeks of summer, but we're hoping I'll be able to join him for the first couple of them.) We arrived home last night to a bunch more boxes, since MP's extended family decided to shower us as well in honor of our Nashville shower. This baby is going to be set for his first few years at least!

I am still feeling great. I feel so fortunate that I really have no complaints so far in terms of the physical aspects of this pregnancy. (Don't worry, I am sure I will be complaining before it's all said and done. Not to mention, you may notice I said "physical aspects"? I am pretty much an emotional basket case, but that is another story!)

The one thing I will say....I can't lie that watching that number on the scale creep up more and more when I still have 14 weeks left to go is just a little bit scary. In some ways, 14 weeks to go feels like a lifetime, but in others it seems like BBP will make his debut before we know it!

It Takes a Village

So, I am pretty sure that at some point, every friend of mine that has had a pregnancy turned baby blog has this exact same posting, but wow, I mean our friends' and families' generosity is just overwhelming. I am so appreciative of all the support we've gotten, even being so far away from home.


Here's a peek at what used to be a functioning guest room, which became baby goodie deposit zone (knowing it would be the future nursery). We have gotten so so many clothes and cloth diapers from friends, which are piled here on the bed.





I decided the only way I could deal with these was in bins...so I sorted them by size, keeping out only the smallest ones for now. Let me say, my friends have great taste. Baby Boy Pulle is going to be one styling little guy straight out of the womb! All these little clothes got me SO excited. Funny how that can happen.


This was such a large job, my parents came to town to help us out. Okay, not really, but we did need their help. I have heard horror stories from friends how putting together a crib could become an all day endeavor, and lead frighteningly close to divorce. Since neither MP nor I is particularly mechanically inclined (and, fine...I admit it, I am sorely lacking in the patience department) and we would like BBP to have a happy home life with his parents' marriage intact....so, it was time to call on my parents for help.



We'd gotten the crib from a dear friend, and had all the pieces, but no instructions. She'd assured me we'd be able to figure it out, and I'm not going to lie. I doubted her at the time. But, really with all of us there to hold pieces in place as others attached the hardware, and my mom's heretofore underutilized (and unknown by me) knowledge of hospital bed workings, we had that puppy together in no time. Add the bumper and crib skirt, and voila!


Only problems, I guess we're not supposed to use a bumper anymore and instead BBP is to sleep in a cage. Worse than that though, it's probably hard to tell in the picture here, but the sweet baby bedding has little green elephants all over it, to which my dad pointed out that he was glad to see I had gotten Republican bedding! I am sure my friend who handed this down to me didn't think of that when she bought it!! Anyone who knows me well (and why I have to explain this, since anyone reading this blog does know me well, is beyond me), knows that I need to now swap this out for sweet little donkey baby bedding. Somehow, the donkey doesn't have the same effect though...sigh. As long as BBP doesn't get confused - perhaps we can offset this with an Obama bumper sticker or onesie or something.

Mom and Dad had another important job to do... A few weeks ago, I asked them to drop everything one day after work and rush over to see a dresser I'd seen posted on CraigsList in Nashville. I'd been keeping an eye out for the past couple months for something I liked, looking on CL, going to antique stores, etc and hadn't had any luck. Then, I found this one, which a lot of other people also seemed to like, so the woman selling it was ready to get it done. Thankfully, Mom and Dad agreed to rush over, and it was just what I'd been wanting, so they snatched it up...and this past weekend, delivered it to my door (well, further even...to the nursery)! Seriously, isn't that so nice?

So, here it is...just needs one of those changing table pads, and we'll be in business!

So, with the crib and changing table in place, clothes sorted and put away, and a few toys set to the side, the once-a-guest-room was looking more and more like a nursery. The only thing was, I was worried that when the bumper goes, it's going to be pretty bare...so, I got this cute picture at Target to liven up at least a 21" square of wall. I don't have much else to say about it, except I guess the artists at Target didn't want to cheat "Y" out of half a square and figured "Z" isn't that important anyways. I hope BBP learns that there is a 26th letter in the alphabet, rarely used though it may be.

As a thank you for coming and helping, Mom and Dad then took MP and I out to our very favorite CoMo restaurant for dinner on Saturday night. I know, seems kind of backwards? That is just how fantastic parents are. I guess we'll have a chance to pay it forward in about 30 years?

Here's Mom, BBP bump, and I.

...and all three of us (BBP bump is much less obvious from front view).

In all seriousness, we're both so thankful for what all of our friends and family have done to help during this crazy, fun and special time. All the baby and maternity clothes, toys, furniture, diapers, and especially time and love given. We appreciate it more than we could express - all three of us!

Here goes nothin'....

Okay, so that's what I was thinking back on Halloween when I set down my very tasty Boulevard Single Wide IPA to await the results. When the "Not Pregnant" part of the line doesn't even show up...that's when it's time to give your husband the beer bottle, get another pregnancy test out, and say to yourself "Well, here goes nothin'"



For the next few weeks, things seemed pretty normal. I consider myself among the lucky ones - or lucky pregnancy, or whatever - but my first trimester progressed relatively symptom free. (I think MP may say that the "hormonal" symptoms were most certainly present! But, I suffered not a bout of morning sickness.) Here I am at 6 weeks - and apparently post yoga class.

MP and I enjoyed the holdiay season with family and friends, followed by a delightful honeymoon in Playa del Carmen, Mexico in early January (where we managed to take about 3 photos, none of which is blog-worthy). I will say that Mexico sans-margarita is a totally different place ;)

The start of the second trimester brought with it the beginning of anticipation of our 20 week ultrasound. We had chosen to forego some of the early blood testsing for abnormality in favor of just waiting to see what the little booger looked like. Our midwife assured us that this would be a fine approach. We really wanted to avoid the fear of false positive results, and the subsequent further testing required in that event.

As the weeks ticked by, I began to have anxiety filled dreams where I was laying on the ultrasound table, and the technician is saying, "I'm sorry, Christine, but we're just not able to tell the gender." At which point I am completely flipping out, "You don't seem to understand, though...I HAVE to know what I am having!!!!" I guess my subconcious was never concerned about the health - clearly my priorities are all sorts of messed up!

Finally, February 19th arrived. MP and I head over for our 9am appointment, the technician brings us back to the room, dims the lights, and starts to have a look at what's been cooking in there. We get to see a picture of the face - watching our sweet little baby's mouth open and close, she shows us BabyP's spine, feet, heart, arms (see below!), head...all the while, I am saying, "...and what about the other parts?!?!" But, my worst fears are confirmed as the tech says, "See here, between BabyP's legs? That's the umbilical cord blocking our view." She invited me to get up and move around, use the restroom, etc. assuring me that she had plenty more scanning to do afterwards. I returned to my spot on the table, she took several more measurements, and then the lilt of cheerful conversation died down. I was sure she was going to give up at any moment, when she said, "Are you ready to find out?" Of course I was, I was ready weeks ago, certainly when I walked into the clinic that morning! She announced to MP and I that we'd been cooking up a little baby BOY! A BOY! I was so excited. I had gone into the day with an unidentified, genderless baby, and came out with a little baby boy. Talk about the best. feeling. ever.

That growing boy in there was also resulting in something else growing, as evidenced by the 20 week belly photo shown below. Lucky for me, you all can't see the rest of my bottom half growing along with it!

Six days after this photo was taken, I donned my first pair of maternity pants, and immediately wondered where they've been all my life! I am fortunate enough to work at home, where I have been able to dress very comfortably (i.e. yoga pants, daily)...but getting out of the house was becoming more of an issue when none of my pants were fitting very well. Thanks to some very generous friends, I am feeling pretty much set on the clothing front.

So, here we are...21 weeks and 3 days into this 40 week adventure (ha! as if the adventure stops at 40 weeks, right?). Hopefully, I will be able to keep a somewhat regular account of how we're doing on this pregnancy and then parenting thing, and my friends out there across the world can have another diversion from actual work to chuckle at our missteps and celebrate our victories :)