Update

• Mike's brother Chris married Jenny on October 27. The wedding was held at Otter Creek. It was decorated beautifully. I wish the weather had been better for them (it started drizzling during the ceremony) but it was still a wonderful time. Mike was the best man and looked handsome as ever. I even danced a little bit!
• October 27 was also the birthday of Missy, Ronda and Susan. Happy Birthday girls!
• I worked two haunted houses for work last Monday and Tuesday evenings. My feet swelled a little bit, but it was so much fun seeing all the kids, especially the babies.
• Mike and I went to Dad and Sue's for our annual trick-or-treat and chili evening on Halloween. Sam wore a pig mask of Dad's and Emie was a punk pirate.
• Last Thursday was our first prenatal class. They reviewed natural births. Mike and I both found the videos of actual births to be a little scary. I look forward to the epidural and c-section discussions next class!
• Mike and I have "decided" on Mia Marie or Ethan Michael for our little Bean. Of course we reserve the right to change our minds once we see the baby. I still think the Bean is a boy, but I think it would be so much fun for Missy and I to have the same sex baby.
• My only craving so far has been for chili and grilled cheese. I can't even count the number of times I've had that combo the last few weeks. Some days it's both my lunch and dinner.
• My asthma has been bad this week. It's causing me to be very tired but not allowing me to get much sleep. I have an inhaler that helps and I will see my allergist tomorrow.
• I'm still trying to decide on paint colors for the house. I'd like to have the first floor painted before Showerpalooza, which will be held here Thanksgiving weekend. I'm so afraid of picking colors that will not coordinate well, or will not give the house a calm, serene appearance. In the past I've chosen colors that I thought I'd like, but once they were on the walls I didn't like them. With our vaulted ceilings we have to pay someone to do the great room, so that's the room that's causing me the most problems.
• Likewise, I am also having trouble deciding on baby furniture. Twice I thought I had it picked, but changed my mind. First I was thinking I'd get an entire set that I loved and that the Bean could potentially use up to his/her teenage years. Then I thought I'd just get something this baby and the next could use, but didn't concern myself with anything beyond that. Now I'm thinking I'll get a crib and changing table with drawers, and not worry about a dresser. Once we have our second baby we'll need to get new furniture for the Bean anyway, so I'll do something more elaborate then.
• I have my OB appointment on Friday and we will do a glucose test. Hopefully I will not projectile vomit the syrup like my poor sister!

Our first baby shower

Missy and I had our first baby shower last Sunday with our high school girls group. It's always fun when we get together, but it was even more fun to leave with little baby gifts! Cheryl made the cake and, although it did not depict a woman in labor as I'd requested, it was adorable and extremely tasty. Kim, our hostess for the day, is also pregnant and is due in 5 weeks, so we had to take pics of the three bellies. Thank you girls for a wonderful afternoon!

Date night

Mike and I had an impromptu "date night" last night. We had a gift card to use, so he called me at work and asked me to meet him for dinner. It was a nasty, rainy night, but it was nice and cozy in the restaurant. We talked and laughed and stuffed ourselves (as usual!).

When we got home, we decided it was time for me to brave a bath. I've been so afraid to take one since I've been pregnant. The books have scared me to death, thinking I'd cook the Bean or something. Our new house has a nice jacuzzi tub that was calling to us, so I caved. Of course I got out the thermometer and made sure the temperature was below 98 degrees, but it was still very nice and relaxing.

Afterward, we watched a movie. The Bean was very active, so I kept my shirt lifted and we watched my stomach bounce up and down as the Bean kicked me. Watching Mike's face as my stomach bounced around was so cute that I laughed out loud each time. At one point, the dogs were getting rowdy and Mike yelled at them to settle down. I guess his voice was loud enough to startle the Bean, because I got a kick! So after that, we played games with our little Bean, intermittently having Mike yell to see if the Bean would kick. As you can tell, we are easily amused!

Lovely Baby Bumps...check it out!

Well, Mike has felt the Bean move several times now. One of the coolest new discoveries is that we can see the baby kicking me from the outside now. I love it!!! I'm trying to really enjoy this time right now, when I feel great and love how I look pregnant. I'm sure it's only a few more weeks until I'm really fat, uncomfortable and those kicks become less cute and more painful. The biggest issue I'm having right now is some minor swelling, but otherwise, life is good!

Missy and I went scrapbooking with Mom last weekend in Richmond. It was wonderful to get some mommy-daughter time in before the babies come. The times I spend with Mom and Missy are very special to me and it was nice to relax, catch up and do something creative and productive at the same time. I'll attach some pictures of Missy's and my bellies. Aren't they adorable??!

It's Real!

Mike finally felt the Bean move! For the past few weeks, every time I've felt it move and Mike's been around, the Bean has stopped before Mike could feel it. Usually it's most active in the late afternoon and during my ride home from work, so there really haven't been many opportunities. But tonight was the night. He only felt it once, but at least he felt it. Kenny is in town and was here too, but the Bean did not do an encore performance. For me it was a very special moment, because he got to share in the miracle of what's going on inside of me.

On a different note, How 'bout those Cats???!!! We were fortunate enough to be at the game on Saturday when UK beat LSU. It was so awesome!!!!! It was so intense and our anxiety was so great that when we finally held them to win the game, we all started jumping up and down screaming. Of course all that movement made me pee a little, so I had to quickly stop! Guess it's time to start doing those kegels!

Appointment Recap

Well, everything is going great! As usual, the little Bean would not sit still, so it took quite awhile to get a reading on the heart rate, but we finally measured it at 135. My uterus measured 21 cm, and it should be one centimeter for each week of pregnancy, so it's exactly where it should be. I've gained a total of 15 pounds so far, and the doc said that's great, so I'm going to postpone my freak-out. She also said women typically have a "growth spurt" right about now, so it's okay to gain a little more at this time.

I had several questions for her, most of which I will not recap here, but one was about the baby's movement. Since I'm not sure how all my organs have shifted and where everything is now located, I told her I'm afraid all the movement I've been feeling is just gas and not the baby. So she informed me that my intestines have shifted up and I'm so large up top because of all my constipation. If I feel movement up high, under my breasts, that is gas. So I showed her all the areas I feel movement, down low and in the center, near my belly button. She just smiled and told me every area I pointed to, all below my belly button, is the Bean. Then I just cried, because I feel A LOT going on below my belly button. It was such a relief and a very special moment for me, because I feel my baby so much more than I even thought.

Baby got back

My butt has grown tremendously over the past week or so. Pants that were very saggy just two weeks ago are now snug. It's causing a bit of a panic on my part, and I've already told Mike we have to go walking tonight. I love my bump, and I get so excited watching it grow. But enough with the butt!

I have my OB appointment tomorrow. Hopefully they won't chastise me too much for all the weight gain since my last visit!