Home Sweet Home

I am home again, finally.  I will try to post in a bit to catch up.  I have some pictures, so I'll upload those too! 

18 weeks

Lots has happened in the last 3 weeks, Little One.  I think you have grown quite a bit, or at least that is what my weekly email and expanding waist line are telling me.  I have definitely "popped" (Pictures to be posted this weekend when I have my camera cord) and my non-stretchy clothes are becoming very uncomfortable.  You're taking up more space :)  But that is a good thing because it means you're growing and that's what we want....we want you to grow into a healthy baby that we'll get to meet in 5 months.  You've also started to cause mommy some discomfort.  I started getting heartburn about 2 weeks ago.  The first time was after a traditional spaghetti dinner.  Since then, it has been at least every other day, sometimes every day.  However, I can't pinpoint what is triggering it...I'll have to ask the doctor if I can take Zantac regularly because that seems to help as does reminding myself that in the end of these 40 (+ or -) weeks I get to meet you!!

In addition, you have kind of put an end to my running, even at a slow pace.  It just doesn't feel comfortable anymore.  I am still trying to get into the gym to lift and have transitioned into walking more.  I am still trying to play tennis, though it has been about a week since I have played.

We have started to get some gifts for you.  So far you have gotten a rocking horse, blanket and a book!  I can't wait to read it to you!!  Your dad and I have talked briefly about your room design, but figure we'll get to that in the next few weeks.  However, your arrival is sneaking up on us!  It is starting to feel very "real".  I have to admit, its kind of scary and at times I feel pretty overwhelmed.  I have a lot of questions running through my head...what kind of mom will I be? will you be a calm baby or one who cries a lot or needs attention? are we really going to be parents?? (the answer is yes, but WOW!)

This past weekend we visited with your grandparents (mommy's mom and dad).  I think you wanted to make sure they saw your impact on mommy's appearance.  Your growth translated in mommy starting to show over the weekend.  It was nice to be able to share that with my family since I am not sure I will see them before you are born.

Also, over the past week or so, I think I have felt you move around in there.  But I wasn't positive until yesterday.  I think you did a flip.  Feeling you move was amazing and what really brings this all into perspective.  (It might also be causing all the overwhelming thoughts!)  I can't wait for your dad to be able to feel it to.  I really want him to be as much a part of this pregnancy as possible.

Until next week, Love you little one!
Mommy

Big Girl Panties

I arrived in Cincinnati for my work meeting yesterday around 5.  Nothing specific was planned for dinner.  I saw this as an opportunity to eat at my favorite restaurant in downtown, Palomino.  However, I was going to have to go into uncharted waters.  I can't remember a time I sat down at a "sit down" upscale restaurant for dinner by myself.  Sure, I've run in somewhere and gotten take out when traveling by myself, but to sit down to an hour plus dinner, I can't remember.  But I was really looking forward to getting to eat at Palomino (we don't have one in ATL that I know of).  So, I pulled on my big girl panties and ate alone.  And let me tell you, it wasn't that bad.... I had a seat overlooking Fountain Square.  I enjoyed the views while eating and read a book when there wasn't food in front of me.  Overall, it was a relaxing experience.  No talking with colleagues about work or life, so constant chatter...just plain ole quiet alone time.  It was kind of nice.  Not something that I would want to do all the time, but at least now I am not afraid of it!

OOT

Most of the house work is done.  And now I'm out of town til next Friday!  I owe a 17 week update and hope to get a picture and something posted this weekend!  I hate being so slow on these, I was doing every other week, and I just missed that.  I want to have something to look back on....

Have a wonderful weekend!!

"home" work continued

"Home" work so far:

Monday - master bedroom clean up
Tuesday - downstairs dust and vacuum, guest room clean up, bathroom cleaning (minus shower)

"Home" work to complete:
Mopping hardwoods - thinking just downstairs, but if I get a lot of energy (doubtful lately) then I'll hit upstairs too.
Upstairs guestroom declutter and vacuum.  Bathroom cleaning
Kitchen counter clean up

And I think that covers the prep for our visitors, a few arriving before I get back from work in OH and KY.  Don't worry - hubby is doing the showers since I like to clean those with chemicals not pregnant woman friendly :)

Most of this during lunch hours - taking advantage of that work from home "perk"  :)

Work from Home Perk?!

I haven't yet decided if this is a perk or not...

I just spent my lunch break dusting, vacuuming and changing sheets in our bedroom.  The downside is no fun lunch break or workout for me.  The upside is it is now done and I don't have to do it later or "after work" if I worked in a traditional office.

What do you think Perk? or NOT?

Date Night - Pizza

Last week, James decided we needed a date night.  So we decided to try a pizza place we had heard (or read) a lot about.  Being that I lived in Italy for nine months and I am pretty sure pizza was a big contributor to my 20 pound weight gain (gelato and pasta probably helped a bit, too), I am pretty particular about pizza, especially when they claim its "Italian".  We went to Antico Pizza.  It's located downtown just west of Georgia Tech.  I had very high expectations.  Heck, even the website ends in dot IT, not dot COM.....Also, they only make so many dough balls a day and the closing time is whenever they run out....We went on a Wednesday and it wasn't that busy.

It's a very low key place.  You order at the counter and grab a drink (not a ton of option, which makes ordering easy) and then take your place in the kitchen.  That's right, they have 4 long butcher type tables in the kitchen area.  About 5 minutes after we sat down, our pizza was ready.  We got a margherita pizza with sausage.  It was pretty good.  The ingredients were authentic (we even noticed they import their mozzarella cheese - we saw them opening a package that had been shipped) and the taste was pretty good.  Good authentic taste from the ovens (which I believe were imported too).  The only complaint I had was the crust around the edges was pretty thick and I don't remember that.  I think that "americanized" it a bit.

Our authentic pizza experience was over in less time than it took to drive there, about 20 minutes.  Overall, the pizza was good and I would go back.  But I wasn't as impressed as I thought I would be.  Maybe I had too high expectations???

Dreams and other baby stuff

I had a dream last night....In it I had a baby boy and called him by the name we have picked....does this mean anything?

More details - he was born early (which I have dreamed the baby was born early twice now, but what is scary is that its been really early - like 4 weeks).  Then all of a sudden the baby was about 6 months old holding his own bottle...weird? or not?

On another baby note, I think I have started to feel it move.  I am not entirely sure, but I think so.....Its mainly been on one side though.  Is that normal?

Also - Moms out there...where did you get your cribs?  I've been looking a bit online (in store shopping to start next month hopefully) but I can't find anything that I like.