We’re Havin’ a BABY!

Dear baby,

You are only a few weeks (4 and a half or so) away from being born.  You are currently hanging out in my belly, and although it’s been hard having you wreak all sorts of havoc on my body, it’s generally been pretty cool.  Like right now for instance.  You have hiccups.  I can tell from the rhythmic bump feeling I keep getting down around where your head is.  It’s kinda hard to explain how it feels.  Kinda like a tiny drum is being beat steadily.  Kinda like when I get hiccups, only no one can hear it, I can only feel it.

It’s pretty amazing actually. OK, it’s downright adorable. You are adorably cute.  I may be slightly biased, but hey, what are moms for anyway, if not to believe whole-heartedly that the child they’ve never even met is wonderfully adorably no doubt the cutest thing in the world.  Apparently I’m sliding into the “mom” role, no problem.  I may not have a clue how to be a parent, but baby there is one thing that I know I’ll have no trouble with – loving you!

Can’t wait to meet you soon,

Love,

Mom

They say that the third trimester goes the slowest.  Well, whoever “they” are, they’re wrong.  The last month has flown by like nothing else, and I can’t believe there are only 5 weeks & 5 days left until my due date.  I feel like I’m on a speeding locomotive that’s gaining speed and the breaks are busted!  Yikes!

Perhaps it’s because of how much I still feel like I have to do to get ready for this baby. Or more than likely it’s the insane amount of work I have to do in my job before my last day comes around (August 29).  I have an insanely huge project to complete (been in process since January), 2 orientations (3 days long each) for Short-Termers departing for Africa this month, all of my regular tasks and duties (which by themselves are normally enough for 2 people), AND 3 weeks of training Megan, my replacement.  All while Bonnie (my boss) is away for the month of August, and all to fit into 4 weeks. Ha! I’m trying SO hard not to be stressed out (I know, I know, it’s not good for baby, etc. etc.).  Seriously though, I could use a few extra weeks!!!

To top that all off, I am starting to get worried that this baby is going to come early.  Probably just because I so don’t want it to. AND… I’m finding it so hard to concentrate… my mind is all over the place.

*I can do it* *I can do it* *yikes!* *I WILL BE FINE*

Well that’s just weird. A few less than 19 random strangers have stumbled upon my blog and discovered my secret, according to my blog hits counter.  I’ve only told like 3 people about this blog.  It’s currently a SECRET blog.  But apparently not to like 16 other strangers in the world.

Before I delve into the wonders of pants with stretchy material panels at the top, I feel obligated to update you on the crisis of my last post.  I was able to satisfy my sushi craving last week by going to my favorite all-you-can-eat place and having all of the non-raw fish items on the menu.  Dynamite Roll is my favorite (avocado and shrimp tempura with a bit of spicy sauce)… and I ate enough to last me a good while.  Craving crisis averted… for now.

I’ve been wearing maternity clothes for almost a week now.  I got a bunch of amazing deals (don’t ever pay regular price for maternity clothes!!) – for anyone who cares, I will list them here:

- a pair of GAP cords – reg. price 59.98 – got them for 9.98 / a pair of GAP sweatpants – reg. price I think was 39.98 – got them for 9.98 / a pair of GAP jeans – reg. price 79.98 – got them for around 30.00 / a pair of Old Navy khakis – reg. price was 34.99 – got them for 14.99 /2 Old Navy long sleeved shirts – reg. price was around 25.00 – got them for 9.99 / and two long-sleeved tops from Thyme Maternity for 20.00 (reg. price was 35 or 40)

I LOVE sales!

It’s a bit early according to the “norm” apparently, but I was tired of wearing unbuttoned pants to work and being afraid someone would notice!  Also, because I started getting a bit fat… I told the people at my office.  I didn’t want them to think I was eating a few too many cheeseburgers and drinking a heck of a lot of beer.  Just for the record, I don’t drink beer (always thought it was gross) and would never think of consuming any alcohol while I’m pregnant. You can relax now Mom… and yes, I’m taking my folic acid every day.

I think this is probably the only time in a woman’s life where she is super excited about growing an enormous belly, so I’m going to enjoy it for all it’s worth!

Yay for baby bellies! Yay for stretchy pants! Yay for babies!

I’m 7 weeks and one day, and I already miss sushi so much.  I think I’ll go to my favorite place, and just have the non-raw fish ones.  They’re my favorites anyway.  Now to rope someone into taking me…

In other news, I am bloated and getting fat around my waist.  I wonder if people are starting to think I should lay off the chocolate.  Haha!

babybabybabybabybabybabybaby…..

ooooh baby, i’ve got baby on the brain!

I read somewhere that most women will either get huge from the beginning, or they won’t really show until like 6 months.  I’m afraid I will be in the former category.  My pants are already tight, and the ones that ‘barely’ fit before I don’t even bother with right now.  It’s like having a fat day that’s lasted about a month now.

In other news… apparently this is the time that the baby’s heart starts to beat.  I find that quite amazing and beautiful.  To think that little bean’s heart is already beating and yet he/she’s only like the size of a pea!  Wow!

I haven’t had too much in the way of pregnancy “symptoms” (not that pregnancy is an illness or something), except for a stuffy nose (a lesser known one), and being uber-tired.  I mean WIPED!  Like, get 9 hours of sleep and then wake up feeling like a truck ran over you in the night.

Fun.

Still (im)patiently waiting and keeping my lips zipped on my big news.

It’s gonna be a loooooonnng 6 weeks until I can tell the world!

We’re doing the whole “not making the pregnancy public knowledge until around 3 months” thing, and I am BURSTING at the seams (figuratively, not literally… yet).  I’m not very good at holding these things in!!!

This blog is my outlet… it’s totally public, but no one’s going to find it until I link it because it’s lost in the blogosphere of a gazillion other blogs.

So: ATTENTION WORLD: I’m pregnant, and I’m excited!

So I went to the doctor yesterday to get a blood test to confirm everything and get an obstetrician referral.  Everything is so new and unknown.  I’m loving the internet right now – there are so many sites out there with more information than you could possibly imagine on everything related to pregnancy and childbirth.

I’ve also been reading through my handy “100,000+ Baby Names” book.  I started with the boys names, and here’s what I like so far (some more than others, and some I would only use as middle names).

Aidan, Connor, Egan, Elliot, Ethan, Ezekiel, Ezra, Isaac, Jeremiah, Josiah, Karsten, Keagan, Liam, Nathanael, Noah

Some possible combinations may be… Isaac Nathanael Ricci, Aidan Noah Ricci,

… and as you can see I’ve only made it to the “n” names so far.  More from o-z to come, as well as girls’ names, which I find much easier to choose.