WEEK 24: ALL SORTS OF FUN!

Shalom Darlings!

Week 24 and we are getting serious over here!  Just 16 short weeks to go!  It's hard to believe we're cruising in towards our final trimester.  Everything is still going really well, and being pregnant is still pretty enjoyable.  Feeling her kick is so amazing and Zach is finally able to share in her athletics!!

No big update on Busy Bessie.  She's coming up on 12 inches, weighs over a pound, and is still hearing her daddy talk and her furry friend bark.  Next week as she cruises in to month 6 we'll have more updates!

Oh, did you notice that?  Yeah, I called her Bessie.  I decided that I don't give a crap what mean adults say. 

WE GOT A STROLLER AND INFANT SEAT.  It was pretty exciting, but it did take us a while to figure out how the car seat snaps in to the stroller frame. Hahaha.  Zach and I had a good laugh because idiots are able to put their strollers together and have babies all the time - and here we are reading books and pouring over simple mechanics.  We also spent some time reading up on how to give a bath and freaking out about that.  The advantage idiots have over smart people?  They aren't giving it this much thought! 

I am still enjoying a constantly stuffy nose and a chronically sore tail bone section, but other than that, I think I may be getting the hang of this whole pregnancy thing!  Nothing a comfy chair and a few breathe right strips can't cure, right?

Expect some nursery pics coming up soon!  We'll have the room painted this week and hopefully the wall clings will show up! 

WEEK 23: BESS THE BUILDER HAS A SHOWER

Before I get started on the shower, Bess is in the 11 inch range.  My friend King taught me how to address her busy bee nature in Mandarin - xiao mi feng.  It means 'little bee.'  I think I'll stick with this one for Elizabeth's Chinese Name.  Xiao Mi Feng. 

She is moving around all of the time now.  Here's the latest on her status:   Watch what you say -- baby is now able to hear outside noise from down in the womb. Studies show that baby finds gentle music and your own voice most soothing. Nipples are starting to sprout, and that little face is fully formed. And, baby's starting to settle into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- just pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop.

Tonight she practically kicked on cue!  Zach was talking directly at my stomach, saying, "Elizabeth!  Kick!"  AND SHE WOULD.  Told you she's brilliant!

Speaking of kicking, Xiao Mi Feng is a busy bee indeed!  I've added 'Bess the Builder' to Elizabeth's nickname list.  (This kid is going to have an arsenal monikers at her disposal!)  She's taken to positioning herself on my bladder or on to my intestines and then pusing really hard.  I like to call it 'womb construction' because when she gives a good push...well, trust me, she makes more room in there!  I can't believe how 11 inches of limbs can be so strong!!

ANYWAY...The shower...

My family had a shower for us this past weekend.  Everyone was disappointed in the size of my tum-tum, but I contend that I've still got 17 weeks to get huge!  Sheesh! 

The generosity was overwhelming, and while I've already sent out thank you notes, I just have to say 'thank you' again to all of you reading this that were in attendance.  The generosity from our loved ones is truly touching.  With me facing unemployment after Bess' arrival, the outpouring of gifts is more appreciated than you can even realize.  (Also, the cake was delicious, the appetizers phenomenal, and the flowers gorgeous!)

Love to you all!
Em

WEEK 22 - CRYSTAL BALL WEEK

Hi Everybody!

Miss Bess is getting big and strong in my tum tum and she is our little Busy Bee - always on the move!  She's about 10 inches this week and weighs a whole pound! 

Auntie Katie got us a busy bee swaddling blanket, a little lady bug shirt and a guitar shirt already!!  My friend King has given me two Chinese names for Bess - TIAN DOU which means Sweet Pea, or just DOU DOU.  She said it's a very common and good name for children in China.

I've been tasked with the challenge of writing down my predictions, since I am apparently making a lot of them.  It should be fun to look back on this posting March 1 and see how many NostraEmous got right.

Prediction 1:  I will be late.  I am predicting a 10 day late arrival and b-day of 2/27

Prediction 2:  Bess will be between 7lbs 10oz and 8lbs 10oz

Prediction 3:  She will be bald until she's 2 (Zach and I aren't exactly Pantene models)

Prediction 4:  Her eyes will be turquois.  (Zach's eyes are green, and mine are blue.  This is just science, people)

Prediction 5:  I'm going natural.  I am fully mentally prepared for a C-section, but I have a good feeling about this.  (Mom, calm down.  I am allowed to have a good feeling about this)

Prediciton 6:  I will go in to labor while I'm at my desk at work.

Prediction 7:  She will be the smartest and cutest baby ever.  (This one is a simple fact, people)

I'm being kicked, so it must be about time to go lay down!  She likes it when I make more room for her.

Fart,
Me

OH, BOY! IT'S A GIRL!

Of course I cried as Zach squeezed my hand.  See this precious little lady?  She's our little Elizabeth Ann.  (We worked out the confusion - and you can call her Bess if you like!) 

She crossed her legs for us today at our ultrasound and waved her little hands at us. 

Zach sent me flowers at work. Needless to say, I cried some more.

I have no snarky comments for today.  She's precious and wonderful and we're thrilled!!  We're so glad to know who is in there.

WEEK 21: KEEPS GETTIN' BETTAH

Got a few good stories this week, but first...
Check out that bump.  Also, this picture makes the majumbos look way smaller than real life and me skinny overall.  This is a misleading photo, but I really don't care.  It will allow me to pretend that I was skinny a year from now when I'm putting pictures in the book. 

So, story #1...READING IS FUNDAMENTAL or WHY I SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO BUY GROCERIES ANYMORE

Now, I know how to make marinara, and I'm always happier making it myself, but I was feeling lazy and didn't want to take the time when I was just making stuffed shells anyway.  Caveats established, I go down the pasta aisle at the store to select a sauce in a jar.

Have you tried to buy sauce in a jar lately?  There are 42,000 different kinds and they all claim to have fresh basil.  You know that has to be a lie, because in real life, when you chiffonade fresh herbs they don't come out in perfect little squares.  Still, extra basil is far preferable to me than "sausage and cheese" sauce.  For one thing, I don't like sausage - it's made from pork, filled with MSG, and then stuffed in to emptied intestines. For another thing, I don't believe in meat in jars.  There is something bloated and disgusting (re: dead) looking about it that makes me want to not eat it. 

After sifting through the myriad of sauce choices and dry heaving at the prospect of eating shriveled monkey brains, I mean sauce sausage, I find right next to it 'extra sweet basil' and make my choice.

Until I open it when I get home.  "What's that smell?  That doesn't smell right!"  (Super-human smelling strength - see also my trips on the CTA when I get sick from the smell of dirty strangers) So, what do I do when I think it smells funny?  Rather than read the label, I take a taste.  I mean, doesn't that make sense?  When I am trying my hardest to avoid food poisoning, I take a taste of something that smells suspicious. 

I BOUGHT THE SAUSAGE.  I was grabbing for the basil, and somehow managed to get the sausage.

This wouldn't stand out as much of a story until I did the same thing with the toothpaste the other day.  I SWEAR I grabbed the Aquafresh that comes out orange and white.  I SWEAR I did.  It's our favorite kind and I've been buying it for years. 

Opened the box...put it in the medicine cabinet...walked away.  Still nothing tipped me off...

Went to brush my teeth.  The lid on the Aquafresh tube makes it so you can stand it up in the medicine cabinet.  The lid on this toothpaste was a regular lid.  "Huh, that's weird."  Put it on my brush, and it was all white.  "That's strange."  Put it in my mouth and IT TASTED AWFUL.  An apothecary's wet dream, this toothpaste was nothing short of "old school."  Baking soda and salt?  Who knows.  I started making vomity sounds and rinsed and rinsed and rinsed.  Nothing was taking the taste out of my mouth.

Zach asked me what all the commotion was about, and I said, "the toothpaste is terrible."  "Yeah, I meant to ask you about that.  Why did you change brands?"  Arm and Hammer!  ARM AND MOTHER GRUBBIN' HAMMER!?!?  THAT ISN'T WHAT I BOUGHT.

Zach brought home normal toothpaste yesterday.

Story # 2, BURNING BABY RETINAS

Zach has an impressive collection of flashlights.  I am not positive, but I think it's because he's convinced that the end of days is nigh, and when the Apocolypse comes, ComEd will be the first to go.  Always having a flashlight on his person, Zach likes to whip one out and shine them in my eyes on a regular basis.  I've explained a few times that this just serves to give me a migraine, but I think he thinks it's like a fun disco party and, hey, everyone likes a party!

We were hanging out one night, and he was talking to Fozz, and he gets out the flash light, "I'm going to give the baby some light." 

I. Freaked. Out.

"YOU'LL BURN THE BABY'S RETINAS.  YOU CAN'T DO THAT."

He giggled.  Case closed.

Next day, "Just let me give Fozzie some light."

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?  OUR BABY WILL BE BORN BLIND AND SOPHIE IS TOO OLD AND TOO NAUGHTY TO BE A WORTHY SEEING EYE DOG."  (Yeah, geriatric Sophie still finds ways to be naughty on walks.  Besides, she'd just lead Fozzie to the river, and Fozz wouldn't get anywhere all day.)

Fine fine.  Next day rolls around, "So, now I'm going to give Fozzie some light."

"OUR BABY'S RETINAS..."

"Honey, look."  He held up the flashlight to his hand to show me a faint red glow.  "Do you really think by the time it goes through layers of skin and womb this tiny flashlight is really going to burn it's retinas?"

I paused to think.  Honestly?  Yes, I had thought that, and upon seeing the light against his hand, I felt pretty silly; however, to admit that?  Yeah, I don't think so.  Knowing that saying 'my stomach doesn't have hand bones to protect and difuse' I simply said, "well...I just don't wanna."

Yeah, that's airtight reasoning.

Story # 3, THE BABY DANCE

This isn't so much a story as much as it is a really great dance.  I'll have to have Zach film it and we'll put up a video of it later.  It's really great. 

You didn't think I'd be pregnant for 9 months without coming up with a dance, did you?

ANYWAY...
Zach felt Fozzie move for the first time this weekend.  It is really really exciting to be able to finally share some of this pregancy with him.  We're just so excited to get to know our little beast.  We keep thinking about how great it will be when Fozzie squeezes our finger for the first time, or how great it is that baby will know to trust us because baby has been listening to us all of this time.  BABY!! 

More to come on Tuesday when we find out who Fozzie is!!!  Over half way to baby!