tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66208334631533225182024-03-13T03:17:48.412-04:00The Cupcake LifeSophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02141850423646457824noreply@blogger.comBlogger120125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620833463153322518.post-77213447917600440562013-03-11T00:44:00.000-04:002013-05-07T00:58:19.314-04:00Two Months Old: it really is a baby!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuehVJrF4qbSvHe4Bau9Fn4XeFZzzgn87-3oS_g-F9MDjzUqUSXMCQFQVFG3YhsqTuu0pqPkhl2fQT6Q0dPQv0TfsxH3DfgOFeVDJ1JGgzKKsyTLdRyyUPlFVU_WLUaPl0exrpQ_4ZXi1-/s1600/2+months.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuehVJrF4qbSvHe4Bau9Fn4XeFZzzgn87-3oS_g-F9MDjzUqUSXMCQFQVFG3YhsqTuu0pqPkhl2fQT6Q0dPQv0TfsxH3DfgOFeVDJ1JGgzKKsyTLdRyyUPlFVU_WLUaPl0exrpQ_4ZXi1-/s400/2+months.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two-month-old babies are fun because that’s when they
become less leech-like and more humanoid. As I’ve told numerous people, it can
be hard at first when your newborn has two settings: 1) inexplicably pissed off
and 2) neutral. Possibly three
settings, if you count pooping. So when they starting smiling you’re like OH
THANK GOD. Theo started smiling around Valentine’s Day, appropriately enough.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here’s what I liked in month two:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHeYk1VUPt24r5vtESM1fc9oinNoxj0DnJwZdE2QZJwRiFVI6HQwSJr8uE0lshPgWbJV0maC5A0DvqrVBX1JWtZVLms1krohfCiigQiFkqGQYL2cCL5EZgSLDqBw1bDP9qWCBAZHfY2-u/s1600/2months.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHeYk1VUPt24r5vtESM1fc9oinNoxj0DnJwZdE2QZJwRiFVI6HQwSJr8uE0lshPgWbJV0maC5A0DvqrVBX1JWtZVLms1krohfCiigQiFkqGQYL2cCL5EZgSLDqBw1bDP9qWCBAZHfY2-u/s400/2months.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
1. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Boon-Grass-Countertop-Drying-Green/dp/B0032G9E0G/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1367901377&sr=1-1&keywords=grass+drying+rack" target="_blank">Grass drying rack</a>: Perfect for storing the nine
billion bottles and bottle accessories you will have. And I breastfeed! I don't know what formula feeding moms do, lease a new house? Anyways, this thing is adorable, works well,
and I can cram all of our bottle paraphernalia on it. Also you can buy little <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Boon-Grass-Drying-Accessory-Orange/dp/B005PRQC3C/ref=pd_bxgy_ba_img_z" target="_blank">twigs and flowers </a>to expand the storage. I die.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">2. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/PIYO-SCISSORS-Precision-babys-nails/dp/B004DFO57M/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1367901460&sr=1-1&keywords=piyo+piyo+baby+nail+scissors" target="_blank">Piyo Piyo nail scissors</a>: So nobody tells you
that your newborn will have Wolverine-like claws and that one of your motherly
duties will be giving the world’s tiniest, most terrifying manicures. I bought
these scissors because they were cute but turns out they work way better than
baby nail clippers. I tried the baby nail scissors but one time and was like
NOPE, GOING TO CHOP OFF A FINGER. Get these instead.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> <a href="http://www.boppy.com/shop/boppy-nursing-pillow/" target="_blank">
</a></span><!--[endif]--><a href="http://www.boppy.com/shop/boppy-nursing-pillow/" target="_blank">Boppy nursing pillow</a>: I prefer this to the regular
Boppy or My Brest Friend. It wraps around the body and has a flat, firm surface like the
My Brest Friend but is cushion-y on the bottom. Most importantly, THE ENTIRE
THING CAN BE WASHED. I really like the My Brest Friend but putting on the
bizarrely shaped covers takes forever and is really tedious. Also, they named
it MY BREST FRIEND, ugh. Pro tip: ditch the strap that comes attached to the boppy,
it’s useless.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Cradle-Swing-Little-Snugabunny/dp/B0042D69WY/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1367901609&sr=1-1&keywords=snugabunny" target="_blank">Snugabunny swing</a>: Oh swing, how I love you. Sometimes this
is the only thing that will calm him down. He’s really good about sleeping in
the cosleeper now but in early days, he preferred the swing. Just the other
night he was fussing up a storm and fell asleep immediately when I desperately
stuffed him in the swing. Also, now that he’s older he is pretty hypnotized by
the mobile.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->5.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]--><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Disposable-Underpads-Chux-Small/dp/B000FD2AWI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367901742&sr=8-1&keywords=chux" target="_blank">Chux pads</a>: I think I’ve mentioned that babies
poop a lot. And pee a lot. And spit up a lot. I am intimately familiar with
chux pads as a nurse, since that’s what all the hospitals use to protect
surfaces from bodily fluids. One of my more brilliant ideas was to buy chux
pads to use on the changing table. They make disposable “changing pads” but
they are essentially just overpriced chux. These saved us so many clean ups,
especially in the first couple of months when you have a poop machine
masquerading as a baby. Just roll
‘em up and throw them away when they get dirty. Pro tip: also good for new postpartum moms, where everywhere you go looks like a murder scene. I will spare you the details. Chux can be found in most drug
stores, in the incontinence aisle. Parenting is so glamorous. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02141850423646457824noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620833463153322518.post-27387173571825906522013-02-22T01:11:00.000-05:002013-05-07T01:12:06.933-04:006 Weeks Old -- Picture time!Joe's friend Mikaela offered to snap some pictures of Theo as a wee baby (6 weeks). Unfortunately he was feeling very attached to his pacifier that day.<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzlEZ9k7gWa-LzIQ0WwVx__6wFPcwI6WSrDdCd7u3D-4eTSlC-704vM_ZBCBvrFAw-n0qPYlg90w3clDul_QeSdSX4i-2jlGQFvjB1YoHYFhILgioQZ8iYw2_AKy_PNWmq7W1z2ZfjlmhA/s1600/6months1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzlEZ9k7gWa-LzIQ0WwVx__6wFPcwI6WSrDdCd7u3D-4eTSlC-704vM_ZBCBvrFAw-n0qPYlg90w3clDul_QeSdSX4i-2jlGQFvjB1YoHYFhILgioQZ8iYw2_AKy_PNWmq7W1z2ZfjlmhA/s400/6months1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3_8DK0GpFegyYjfuQUDkWrrjeQN2UBgNfAh0PUL3hzCPpAgmShOsnLSPjJtg1eg5Lep4mOXR7d2rONL_tG8l1RymQ9ylDYsOBhqlE_lfXetxYxJlCBg87wkYGlsMYvSfcPo8JcCRQ5eR/s1600/6week6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3_8DK0GpFegyYjfuQUDkWrrjeQN2UBgNfAh0PUL3hzCPpAgmShOsnLSPjJtg1eg5Lep4mOXR7d2rONL_tG8l1RymQ9ylDYsOBhqlE_lfXetxYxJlCBg87wkYGlsMYvSfcPo8JcCRQ5eR/s400/6week6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-Y0DqyDtpySNqvHZycmAdLUJ9NUiTzXWgFuI66OYtgyA16sgUT6O_mT7mtQ1a6QvsMt09ykz1HjTgTN94792nkhVABH-0bdPMhroRNlOilxqpQhxw0v-bVgKp2hPMDEC6H5fm_awuvdY/s1600/6week2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-Y0DqyDtpySNqvHZycmAdLUJ9NUiTzXWgFuI66OYtgyA16sgUT6O_mT7mtQ1a6QvsMt09ykz1HjTgTN94792nkhVABH-0bdPMhroRNlOilxqpQhxw0v-bVgKp2hPMDEC6H5fm_awuvdY/s400/6week2.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnv3vb6U3YSfh1Y93SlkxqPLLTmiwHyW_RDzDwCLgSFHAfuLe1fDF7YSwWXSSyRPl8GT9vzSDOkuhyphenhyphen5u1Cg9tevF0_9Tt2sQ-ztbWO8KYHN1c0-bI6GYkkzHPaVvF3FrnOxdRN3PExJH8/s1600/6week3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnv3vb6U3YSfh1Y93SlkxqPLLTmiwHyW_RDzDwCLgSFHAfuLe1fDF7YSwWXSSyRPl8GT9vzSDOkuhyphenhyphen5u1Cg9tevF0_9Tt2sQ-ztbWO8KYHN1c0-bI6GYkkzHPaVvF3FrnOxdRN3PExJH8/s400/6week3.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8AJ3C8T5NKcbkCn5EKBD6o-41JM256vZSij1rI8ouYermWmrSYRLUue73m3GWxZvsGpWL38nUwQWX3wLV7BuqWiUbnwlck9lJJgnPtIubAtdZgV6kbuk60gXeo663ofGCeAejNL6Bhej/s1600/6week4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8AJ3C8T5NKcbkCn5EKBD6o-41JM256vZSij1rI8ouYermWmrSYRLUue73m3GWxZvsGpWL38nUwQWX3wLV7BuqWiUbnwlck9lJJgnPtIubAtdZgV6kbuk60gXeo663ofGCeAejNL6Bhej/s400/6week4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvo57XyZjrY0DSb5bxJh5HFnCKFUSfwu5OnPFJREPi7my5RDemTwslWITs31fFVqg8NybSP8CyHahnSBdHGP_yL5GlR9aQpdKHhDWvg0UDhj0k_3v6re0FAdBXM9vR0ocBTLPewuFrOJM/s1600/6week5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvo57XyZjrY0DSb5bxJh5HFnCKFUSfwu5OnPFJREPi7my5RDemTwslWITs31fFVqg8NybSP8CyHahnSBdHGP_yL5GlR9aQpdKHhDWvg0UDhj0k_3v6re0FAdBXM9vR0ocBTLPewuFrOJM/s400/6week5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02141850423646457824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620833463153322518.post-4426386182801652012013-02-11T01:36:00.000-05:002013-05-07T00:54:46.027-04:00One month favorites<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPcz5IIEYU7LQh07Yx7v_408JnWCgUJSqOD-5juV3vFX7joulI1KqDiZ1Uum1dS2Jusb58ZB9qjN7n5kOi2leVDtJThI2uOQ85l5kh7D_g4l0zG5O4WgO9-S_ob5fACv9WAwusx3xIHHmX/s1600/one+month.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPcz5IIEYU7LQh07Yx7v_408JnWCgUJSqOD-5juV3vFX7joulI1KqDiZ1Uum1dS2Jusb58ZB9qjN7n5kOi2leVDtJThI2uOQ85l5kh7D_g4l0zG5O4WgO9-S_ob5fACv9WAwusx3xIHHmX/s400/one+month.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst">
<o:p> As per usual, I'm going to pretend that I am not in fact months behind blogging. Here were my thoughts on baby essentials in the first month:</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">1.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Newborn-Rock-Sleeper-Yellow/dp/B00A4B36ME/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1367732593&sr=8-2&keywords=rock+n+play" target="_blank">Rock and play sleeper</a>:</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I received this at my baby shower from Joe’s
stepmom. I’m glad I did, as I balked at the price and didn’t even register for
it. Not because I couldn’t afford it but because I am fundamentally a cheap
person. It took me like a month to buy a bottle of Tabasco sauce to keep at work because every
time I saw it at the grocery store I was like, “Pfft, $5? I don’t really need
it.” And then I would go to work and be like I WOULD KILL FOR HOT SAUCE.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Anyway, the first month my baby was a
perpetually sleeping slug and this was great because it’s like a super portable
bassinet. Theo sleeps great in it and I hear it is especially goods for babies
with reflux. I still think it’s overpriced but it’s been incredibly useful. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">2.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Original-Woombie-Swaddle-Blanket/dp/B003OQTPFS/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1367732645&sr=1-1&keywords=woombie" target="_blank">Woombie</a>: </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">So swaddling is difficult to master but Theo seems calmer and
sleeps better swaddled. Joe is reasonably good at it now but it was much easier
for us to use cheater-swaddling methods like the Halo swaddle sack and this, the
Woombie. Otherwise known as “the banana suit”, “the glow worm” and “the baby
straight jacket”. I prefer the woombie because it’s stupid easy. You just shove
your baby in it and zip it up. It has two zippers on it so you can zip it up
from the bottom in order to change diapers without taking them out of it
completely. Critical for middle of the night diaper changes, when you are holding your breath and trying so very hard to keep your sleeping baby asleep. GENIUS.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">3.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Birdseye-Count-Flatfold-Diapers/dp/B007VBYVVA/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1367732717&sr=1-1&keywords=cloth+diapers" target="_blank">Cloth diapers</a>: </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I think these would make pretty terrible cloth
diapers but they are fantastic burp cloths. They’re bigger, more durable and
more absorbent any other burp clothes I’ve used. They’re not super cute but when your
baby projectile vomits over his car seat, that is not your primary concern.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">4.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">B<a href="http://www.amazon.com/KicKee-Pants-Baby-Boys-Newborn-Elephant/dp/B009F5JLII/ref=sr_1_13?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1367732761&sr=1-13&keywords=kicky+pants" target="_blank">aby gowns</a>:</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">It should be illegal to make any newborn clothes
that have to be pulled over the head. Your baby hates it, you hate it, and
you’re just going to have to change their outfit anyway. Also, you don't have the energy to put on a fancy-pants "real" outfit. Not going to lie, Theo
has been in pajamas 99% of his life thus far. I especially like these gowns by Kicky
Pants, they are super soft and easy to take on and off. Again, critical since your newborn will poop approximately every 72 seconds. And they’re cute so I
don’t feel bad for putting him in them for the millionth time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">5.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-Lanolin-Breastfeeding-Mothers-Grams/dp/B005MI648C/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1367733287&sr=1-1&keywords=lanolin" target="_blank">Lanolin</a>:</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">If
you’re breastfeeding, get a tube of lanolin. I’ve had a fairly easy time breastfeeding but the first couple of weeks are rough. Slather this on for the
first couple of weeks and try to forget the fact that your enormous boobs are coated in
sheep oil. </span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02141850423646457824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620833463153322518.post-42326768933748377702013-02-09T02:46:00.000-05:002013-02-10T02:53:12.728-05:00One Month Old: Adventures in Nursing
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-okGO6W7PQIwINSpY7ilJMwsoA2-i57RA6e7aUiXLXwyDMWDtepIFgRQmuW48k8Vrjk2R_rii1LXZTdL2XGhnHxbQSUxteQleIkpMQDvr5KY25KdJ-TuzWyc9CNNU5tmzsZ0J5Y5ukTs/s1600/theo1month1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-okGO6W7PQIwINSpY7ilJMwsoA2-i57RA6e7aUiXLXwyDMWDtepIFgRQmuW48k8Vrjk2R_rii1LXZTdL2XGhnHxbQSUxteQleIkpMQDvr5KY25KdJ-TuzWyc9CNNU5tmzsZ0J5Y5ukTs/s400/theo1month1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Theo is now a month old, HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? He’s starting
to outgrow his newborn clothes, which makes me very sad. I had to stuff him
into that onesie like a small sausage. Obviously he is not lacking in food. His
three chins speak for themselves. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So! One-month update! I must say, Joe and I totally prepared
for the worst in having a newborn. You hear all these terrible stories about
how you have baby and then suddenly you’re up all night trying to unsuccessfully
soothe a small banshee and then it all ends when you murder your significant
other in the morning. Or something.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Which isn’t to say that it has been easy but Joe and I are
adjusting pretty well. Theo and I have this breastfeeding thing down and I have
fondly nicknamed him “The Hungry Barracuda” for the speed and voracity of his
nursing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Man, future teenaged son, I am really sorry about all this. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We did have a couple rough nights before my milk came where
Theo was like WTF MOM, I’M FREAKIN’ HUNGRY. That was probably my toughest night so far. At one point
during the night I gave him a pacifier, even though the lactation consultant at
my midwife’s office suggested that we wait to introduce one until breastfeeding
was well established, which it clearly was not. However, it helped sooth Theo and my hormones were still at the point were I would burst into tears whenever I looked at him so I didn’t hesitate to keep popping that sucker in. Joe woke up sometime
during this, noticed the pacifier, and sleepily said, “Should he have that? I
thought we were going to wait to give him a pacifier.” And I was running on a
lot less sleep than he was and I shot him a look that I hoped communicated
something along the lines of, OH YEAH? I WILL MURDER YOUR FACE. Because that
are the kind of things your brain says at 3 am with a fussy newborn.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Theo had lost more weight at his first check up than the
pediatrician wanted so we met with a lactation consultant, who suggested I use a supplemental nursing system until my milk came in. The supplemental nursing
system (SNS) works like this: you have a little syringe that you fill with
formula, which drips down a tiny little tube. You breastfeed your baby normally
and while they are attempting to nurse, you sneak the tube into their mouth so
that even if they’re not getting much or any breast milk, they are still
getting some nutrition from the formula. Also this way, you keep up the
breastfeeding habit and avoid giving a bottle. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border: none; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
Pretty clever idea, but
ultimately easier said than done. Luckily we only had to do the SNS for an
evening and one night before my milk came in. We did much better during the day
than we did overnight, where sneakily inserting a tiny clear tube into a
nursing newborn’s mouth-- while sleep deprived-- felt like a mission best
suited for James Bond. A few times we succeeded only in dripping formula all
over his face. But overall we did manage to give him enough supplemental
formula to keep him happy and the next morning I woke up looking like a fembot
so all was good from there.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
What’s that? You don’t remember
what a fembot is because you had better things to do than watch Austin Powers?
Whatever, fancy pants. This is a fembot:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigY9cbFSLKCrxf8xou6SzZcss8f0KisEtZ_eZV8euBhu1kQkVFiKLZdc6nXIeZ644VFM5wE-gL1gkKubGCY_FSDe_5ll6-kefhgnUAKoGfvhF3sWbD6xttXS2SMmsj4t9Pu4liG43Seuj7/s1600/fembot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigY9cbFSLKCrxf8xou6SzZcss8f0KisEtZ_eZV8euBhu1kQkVFiKLZdc6nXIeZ644VFM5wE-gL1gkKubGCY_FSDe_5ll6-kefhgnUAKoGfvhF3sWbD6xttXS2SMmsj4t9Pu4liG43Seuj7/s1600/fembot.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
Theo is a pretty good sleeper
and usually goes right back to sleep after eating in the middle of the night so
I don’t feel too sleep deprived usually. The biggest sign of sleep deprivation
happened the other day when I was in the middle of drinking my morning tea and
realized it was sweeter than usual. Upon further investigation, (as in, looking
in the mug… my detective skills are unparalleled) I realized that I had
forgotten to put a tea bag in. So I was essentially drinking hot sugared
milk-water. Which is kind of delicious, actually. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
Wish me luck in month two! He
slept 6 hours last night, which was ahhhh-mazing. I’m hoping this is a trend. Please
don’t smite me, parenting gods. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8PtIDvsgtjRoX3vyNpgOLkenb-mo72DqjiOcZTTqM75n8cQkhrdK_r_dequ9GbLiqDMHPwH5paIdGSIO172ddBsAvC2nUR8EBf1GzSwNABJ45j6oPOWgpogoix9c7lY02uk2yWgNS-Yd/s1600/theo1month2-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8PtIDvsgtjRoX3vyNpgOLkenb-mo72DqjiOcZTTqM75n8cQkhrdK_r_dequ9GbLiqDMHPwH5paIdGSIO172ddBsAvC2nUR8EBf1GzSwNABJ45j6oPOWgpogoix9c7lY02uk2yWgNS-Yd/s400/theo1month2-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02141850423646457824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620833463153322518.post-55746789367903566602013-01-19T20:00:00.001-05:002013-01-28T19:06:17.391-05:00The Rest of the Pregnancy Journey: Theo has arrived!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I’m not pregnant anymore, which is weird because that
means I HAVE A BABY. LIKE, AN ITTY BITTY HUMAN. AND THEN THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE
IT HOME.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s just run through the last few weeks of my pregnancy,
shall we?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>37 Weeks Pregnant </u></b></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At 37 weeks pregnant my friends and family threw me an
awesome robot themed baby shower where I ate a lot of waffles and received a
lot of awesome presents. It was
Christmas/New Years around this time and my sister was in town as well so I
never got around to taking a belly shot. Here’s a picture of me at my shower
though.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDvx9OTvNbRDWwEOoB494xjjSGiHOa_u-3L9MN2Ur0tEg558AaKyXuoqCXM198hVsNulKnxwaCJczl9rlRHMnYlFNJKqGgadDdGTJCsd714Ljx0282MQSbJANNJfP_eJcWuDBSXKop1-_/s1600/baby+shower.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDvx9OTvNbRDWwEOoB494xjjSGiHOa_u-3L9MN2Ur0tEg558AaKyXuoqCXM198hVsNulKnxwaCJczl9rlRHMnYlFNJKqGgadDdGTJCsd714Ljx0282MQSbJANNJfP_eJcWuDBSXKop1-_/s400/baby+shower.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And here is a festive picture of my sister and me making
flipper hands in front of the Christmas tree. Just… don’t ask.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_y4pkuPb35pvJjuKTSlArnDCw8hgCl_gc3rWDOhWFb30FJeAE8OhR3FiZ-JuszQ2T4q23-e1LSIkeD403KGAhiJoPfQKMh9vmJ0b5GpTch_hdTgIehMU101ZYQYIK1YmqStrUr4LYM-sw/s1600/flippers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_y4pkuPb35pvJjuKTSlArnDCw8hgCl_gc3rWDOhWFb30FJeAE8OhR3FiZ-JuszQ2T4q23-e1LSIkeD403KGAhiJoPfQKMh9vmJ0b5GpTch_hdTgIehMU101ZYQYIK1YmqStrUr4LYM-sw/s400/flippers.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>38 Weeks Pregnant</u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I started feeling kind of off around this time: getting
randomly nauseated again for no apparent reason, etc. I cleaned and organized a
couple things, which is highly unusual for me. I was hoping I would go into
labor before my due date of January 15 and had a sense that I would, though that intuition was based on
absolutely nothing except for maybe the fact that I was tired of being pregnant.
I was fully prepared to go past my due date though, since that’s pretty common
with first time moms.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here’s the last belly shot I took: 38 weeks pregnant. I was
39 weeks pregnant for about a day so I didn’t exactly get around to taking that
picture because I was busy having a baby.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpM4lPb4d-z7b7zEGhximPSAFxSxRYMcQEvO40RhbVFwZnlIsOFyV2a9zi4sibMyknn5qP60Zzw1FoWEJunj6AtHCSXtWnIvC9QdmJF5bjTFZoYO4dyWwu1voPWzUXvmd90CahIw5Z3YXP/s1600/38+weeks.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpM4lPb4d-z7b7zEGhximPSAFxSxRYMcQEvO40RhbVFwZnlIsOFyV2a9zi4sibMyknn5qP60Zzw1FoWEJunj6AtHCSXtWnIvC9QdmJF5bjTFZoYO4dyWwu1voPWzUXvmd90CahIw5Z3YXP/s400/38+weeks.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You should probably stop reading this now if terms like
“mucus plug” and “cervical ripening” make you queasy. As I said when I lost my
mucus plug, (see? It’s beginning
already) pregnancy is full of all sorts of new, exciting, and disgusting bodily
fluids. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>39 Weeks Pregnant -- Birth Story</u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On Tuesday, January 8, I went in for a routine 39-week
midwife appointment. My midwife that day offered to check my cervix for the
first time and I accepted, halfway hoping she would be like, “Oh look, you’re crowning
and in no apparent pain at all!” And I would be all stoic, like, “Oh? You don’t
say. Quite. Let’s have some tea and then have a baby, shall we?” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t know why I’m British in that fantasy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyway instead, I was 1-2 cm dilated and a smidge effaced.
We thought I probably wouldn’t go into labor immediately but probably wouldn’t
be overdue either. Acceptable options, I felt. However, before we left the
midwife joked that all her patients she checked the week before all had their
babies the following weekend so maybe it wouldn’t be so long after all. Har har!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, I blame the midwife with magic labor-inducing hands for what happened
next. I woke up shortly after 3 am that morning to pee and as I attempted to
hurl myself out of bed, I felt a small gush of fluid. I froze. Either my water
had just broken or I had peed myself. Neither were very appealing options at
the time. I decided to ignore the contractions that immediately started because
I was definitely not in labor, right? RIGHT? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I couldn’t fall back asleep.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I got up and started timing the contractions, which were
something like 5-8 minutes apart at the time and lasted about a minute. Around
4 am, I decided to wake Joe. I called the midwives and the soothing Australian
midwife was on call, which was very, you know, soothing. I filled her in and
she listened to me have contractions, which I could no longer talk through. She
thought I was indeed in labor and told me to take a shower and call her back
when my contractions were a little more regular for a little longer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I took a shower while Joe frantically bolted around the
house gathering all of our things. My contractions were getting stronger and
suddenly I couldn’t remember why I wanted to have a natural birth. I started
repeating my upbeat mantra of the morning, “I don’t know if I can do this!”
Joe called the midwife back to let her know that we were heading over to the
birthing center. I entered delusional birthing land around this time and became
very preoccupied with brushing my hair while Joe paced around me, confused by the ease with which I was able to acknowledge the need to leave without actually moving at all. Joe finally
convinced me we had to go and I reluctantly got in the car, though not before
throwing up. Being in delusional birthing land, I wasn’t all that bothered by
it. Nor was I surprised, as I knew many women throw up during labor. Since my
stomach hates me anyway (see: an impressive eight months of morning sickness) I
assumed I would be one of them. Tragically, I was very, very right about this.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Soothing Australian midwife met us at the birthing center
and checked me again, where I was now 3-4 cm dilated and 75% effaced. I was
having baby today, WHAT? And then I threw up again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My sense of time is pretty much completely destroyed at this
point but I do know I spent a lot of time laboring in the shower, which felt
excellent. Or at least more excellent than not being in shower, since it didn’t
stop me from telling Joe and the midwife, “I don’t know if I can do this!”
about every 3 seconds. Soothing Australian midwife kept telling me (soothingly,
naturally) that I was ALREADY doing it. <i>Yes,
</i>I thought, <i>but it SUCKS SO MUCH. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Baby then moved in such a position that caused me to have
back labor instead, which was harder to deal with somehow. Suddenly I would
trade anything to have my crappy regular contractions back. The midwife coached
me through several different positions to help reposition the baby and
eventually something worked and my crappy regular contractions returned instead.
Yay? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By this time it must have been a more reasonable hour in the
morning (Joe interjects: it was 8:00 AM) because another midwife came to take over. She continued to coach me through some different positions to
labor in and I returned to the shower for a fair bit. She checked me a couple
more times and while I was making good progress, my bag of waters was still
somewhat intact and preventing the baby from coming down as quickly as he could.
She asked if she could break my water completely and though I was nervous that
things would get more intense, more importantly I was like HAVE THE BABY
QUICKER? YES PLEASE DO IT NOW THANKS.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Somewhere in there I threw up a couple more times. Thanks
for the encouragement, body. Luckily someone had left behind a lemon-lime
flavored Gatorade at the birthing center because the red Gatorade I had brought
along was less than appealing after I threw up it up multiple times.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I felt the urge to push shortly after she broke my water (Joe interjects: it was 11:30 AM) and
got in the birthing pool for awhile. And then things got a little complicated.
Baby was descending slightly cockeyed (<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">asynclitic), with his head leaning towards his
shoulder. This made pushing really hard for me. I ended up pushing for around
4.5 hours and pretty much exhausted the midwives' bag of birthing tricks, I
think. Which makes it sounds like they were going to pull my baby out of a top
hat, but you get my drift. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Ideally, I wanted to give birth in the birthing pool but the lack of gravity was actually making things harder. I was coached through every strange position
imaginable including one called “the duck walk” which is so ridiculous that
when it was demonstrated in our birthing class, I turned to Joe and said, “We
are so not doing that.” Well, guess who duck walked naked through the birthing center while silently plotting how to kill the midwife who suggested this? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Eventually all the ridiculousness paid off and at 3:52 pm on January 9<sup>th</sup>, Theodore Isaac finally entered the world. All 7
lbs, 19 inches of cone-headed baby was immediately placed on my chest and left
to chill there for a couple hours until they did his newborn examination, which
he passed with flying colors. I knew he would be gifted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40wKt0QNBwtegtr-JK76BMDf41XgHAA-v37TftyMNzBJ9hjyWPa2wyusYIhhGmfGv11u7Q2zepQswGhpzVadl4o8ATkMbEpMPHVerHEi4kfc7bn5I-n7Qe0AMXnrdHQ1G8DsgdHUqwg2i/s1600/photo+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40wKt0QNBwtegtr-JK76BMDf41XgHAA-v37TftyMNzBJ9hjyWPa2wyusYIhhGmfGv11u7Q2zepQswGhpzVadl4o8ATkMbEpMPHVerHEi4kfc7bn5I-n7Qe0AMXnrdHQ1G8DsgdHUqwg2i/s320/photo+(5).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">You will not be seeing the other pictures of me immediately after
giving birth because I look like a train wreck. A happy, sleepy train wreck. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">And yes, jokes aside, I’m really glad I did it naturally.
Honestly it was hardest for me in early labor and then my body must have really
kicked up the endorphin production because it didn’t get much harder to handle
from there. Eventually I stopped saying, “I don’t think I can do this” because,
as the midwives said, I WAS doing it. You surrender to your body and it just
knows what to do, which is pretty incredible. Which isn’t to say I didn’t have
anything to do with it either, because it was hard work, damnit, and I want my
credit too. Obviously pushing for hours was not exactly how I envisioned things
going but it felt so much better than the contractions. I can’t imagine having
an epidural and trying to push like I did. If I were in the hospital under the
same circumstances, I can easily see myself ending up with a caesarean. I’m proud of myself and proud of my
body. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">My little niblet’s head is rounding out nicely and he
breastfeeds like a champ. He also excels at peeing on everything. Like I said, he's gifted. And we love him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitx31PefUWuMDtvItGdEvxON6xb0Vk2Cee19_sQAH-pNRbEF2p3_HOjBC3GcvwSWDST2n-vmCkSkhyphenhyphenK3hL3se5YTVBxQkXESqlc2ktPaCntx6BWhd3OcoVV9kXkdO6r61rWljJ_3qii8iW/s1600/theo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitx31PefUWuMDtvItGdEvxON6xb0Vk2Cee19_sQAH-pNRbEF2p3_HOjBC3GcvwSWDST2n-vmCkSkhyphenhyphenK3hL3se5YTVBxQkXESqlc2ktPaCntx6BWhd3OcoVV9kXkdO6r61rWljJ_3qii8iW/s320/theo2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><br /></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02141850423646457824noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620833463153322518.post-47732928342258668812012-12-22T18:14:00.000-05:002013-01-05T20:52:47.895-05:0036 weeks pregnant: Merry Christmas, baby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOpb_XGA0jroQN0DYENplbPhjKX_XPGc4RcteAEAKFruXD_mURABuVxweHKZHDu1jPhAgAP42ogLrrlWBfXiraVmXSrnO0MYDRa8XmvepK9b4Gm0hymmOy2ZkQpT8gWq8Equ0Ap3snXfj/s1600/36+weeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOpb_XGA0jroQN0DYENplbPhjKX_XPGc4RcteAEAKFruXD_mURABuVxweHKZHDu1jPhAgAP42ogLrrlWBfXiraVmXSrnO0MYDRa8XmvepK9b4Gm0hymmOy2ZkQpT8gWq8Equ0Ap3snXfj/s400/36+weeks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Oh how I love the Christmas season. The tree, the decorations, browsing the holiday section of Target for hours while my Jewish husband quietly weeps in boredom. This year has been especially good because I got to decorate our new house for the first time. And I'm pregnant so when Joe asks if we really need to get stockings to hang I can say YES, which translates to YES and also shall I remind you that I'm busy creating your tiny human heir? And into the cart the stockings go.<br />
<br />
Luckily Joe likes plants-- we've had a wide variety of potted plants all named "Planty" over the years-- so he's enjoyed having a live(ish) tree in our living room this month. Joe also inexplicably likes choosing lightbulbs (cue me weeping quietly from boredom while Joe wanders the lightbulb aisle of Lowe's) so he was able to help pick out the tree lights that best minimized the chances of me setting the house on fire.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8AEHxbEVihc9Ne8j38SerTuOB3LvY6qIL0JJh3_f0uzVFgPepqBBp45LQbvd0FrxCKSpkZrX2hTDkmq_Ahw1AoXAD3aXJ2jmt5iH34aPUlj29W1ivpsNMEQmO88iZP_Z6LsLePxYnCia/s1600/tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8AEHxbEVihc9Ne8j38SerTuOB3LvY6qIL0JJh3_f0uzVFgPepqBBp45LQbvd0FrxCKSpkZrX2hTDkmq_Ahw1AoXAD3aXJ2jmt5iH34aPUlj29W1ivpsNMEQmO88iZP_Z6LsLePxYnCia/s640/tree.jpg" width="417" /></a></div>
<br />
I even tried to make the tree a little more Hannukah friendly by decking it out in blue, white and silver. Perhaps next year we'll strap a menorah to the top. Too much?<br />
<br />
Pregnancy continues to putter along, no big changes there. After squishing around my belly recently, one of the midwives commented that although the baby is indeed lodged way up in my rib cage, he has plenty of room in there. And I was like really? Because sometimes I feel like I'm going to cough up a baby foot.<br />
<br />
In good news, my morning sickness finally eased up sometime last month, though I've been afraid to mention it in case the pregnancy gods say, "Oh right, forgot about that! Here, puke a little more." So just keep that on the down low, okay?<br />
<br />
Happy Holidays, everyone!Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02141850423646457824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620833463153322518.post-48061489000694944282012-12-15T17:27:00.000-05:002013-01-05T20:51:34.602-05:0035 weeks pregnant: The Rib Cage Inn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSWdUhHSdPYyDSoodosiLtrCVWdw451acxuxIk2WYgULwpOHKTt0pA8TInAkov1FNQ8clon3pLY9S21-W_C65q-SEUsKYdjMm0HPPmccsGoVyTntV0-gF1jzX0ZXEELx8zd9MafIcAyloq/s1600/35+weeks.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSWdUhHSdPYyDSoodosiLtrCVWdw451acxuxIk2WYgULwpOHKTt0pA8TInAkov1FNQ8clon3pLY9S21-W_C65q-SEUsKYdjMm0HPPmccsGoVyTntV0-gF1jzX0ZXEELx8zd9MafIcAyloq/s400/35+weeks.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
My favorite pregnancy encounter happened around this time, where a stranger touched my belly and then proceeded to stare at me awkwardly and silently for several seconds. I starred back at her, bewildered. Finally she said, "I'm going to ask you a question." and I thought <i>how nice, because I'm going to punch you in the face</i>.<br />
Her: Are you pregnant?<br />
Me: Um, yes.<br />
Her: I thought so but I couldn't tell if you were just heavy.<br />
<br />
Excuse me, what? How many heavy people are tiny except for their WATERMELON SIZED BELLY? I'm either pregnant or have some sort of deadly medical condition. But wait! It gets better!<br />
<br />
Her: So how far along are you?<br />
Me: About 35 weeks now. Almost 36.<br />
Her: So... about 6 months pregnant?<br />
Me: ....<br />
<br />
Yes, because six times four CLEARLY equals 35. Basic math skills for the win!<br />
<br />
This trumped my former favorite pregnancy moment, when an old lady (who had previously seen me and scolded me for not having gained enough weight, TEETH GNASH) approvingly told me that I was getting "nice and fat". Just what every pregnant lady dreams of hearing!<br />
<br />
Baby continues his comfortable stay in The Rib Cage Inn. He has pretty much been curled up in my right side the entire pregnancy and must be crushing some sort of crucial nerve connected to my right leg, as that leg frequently cramps and turns to jelly when I'm trying to exert myself too much, like say, moving in any sort of way. Joe and I were trying to book it back to the car recently when it was freezing out and I had to slow way down and hobble along instead because my leg was giving out. I'm sure I looked like a pregnant polio victim.<br />
<br />
On the upside, traveling was marginally nicer than usual over Thanksgiving because everybody takes pity on limping pregnant ladies. Except for the TSA agents who continue to preform the most awkward full body pat downs in the history of life. "Is there anywhere sore on your body that I should know about?" (Blank stare while I gesture to my entire pregnant body) "Right, okay. I'm going to be touching your inner thighs now..." Yes, TSA agent, because everyone knows that pregnant ladies always hide their explosives in their inner thighs, magically concealed by maternity leggings. Just wait until you see where I have hidden the unicorn.<br />
<br />Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02141850423646457824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620833463153322518.post-19648737490869838972012-12-08T01:07:00.000-05:002012-12-29T01:11:38.503-05:0034 weeks: a photo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTeWmHCkUmMclxullc1sXd8MH16xCFV48_sf_LosFUiRQBvrpG_Y5Wc8HkvK7OlwWM0XDZtA73eEKlIYoTdxhOKrXUv4en0apmb6wZIsNuODlg1C-8dJpmIi4-o6FZLW-eVkL3CVQlWtp/s1600/IMG_6191-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTeWmHCkUmMclxullc1sXd8MH16xCFV48_sf_LosFUiRQBvrpG_Y5Wc8HkvK7OlwWM0XDZtA73eEKlIYoTdxhOKrXUv4en0apmb6wZIsNuODlg1C-8dJpmIi4-o6FZLW-eVkL3CVQlWtp/s400/IMG_6191-5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Probably the best part of a maternity photo shoot is that someone is constantly yelling at you to stick your belly out as far as possible and it feels like a compliment. I'm pleased with most of the pictures I got out of it, though the photographer was very much into having me mostly naked and draped in bed sheets. And since I want a job in the future, I thought maybe I shouldn't share those with a million strangers. You're welcome, son.Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02141850423646457824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620833463153322518.post-85654663162589103412012-12-01T19:38:00.001-05:002012-12-01T19:38:49.584-05:0033 Weeks: "Do you have a tummy ache?"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQCkDbUP8QL865e7Gc8U5MLUKz2rA6ure5c30KidREPvXE87qnJLtZPqul4mppDay6wB4KqyJ4yXKdN_Dzd70WePw6_t5qqjCMOAWYvIvaoOxDFERPB3oRnzbJN-TLAPDQDGj15EM7-J_m/s1600/33+weeks.png.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQCkDbUP8QL865e7Gc8U5MLUKz2rA6ure5c30KidREPvXE87qnJLtZPqul4mppDay6wB4KqyJ4yXKdN_Dzd70WePw6_t5qqjCMOAWYvIvaoOxDFERPB3oRnzbJN-TLAPDQDGj15EM7-J_m/s400/33+weeks.png.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Behind on everything, as per usual. Joe and I just got back from a little vacation where we visited Joe's friend Brian in Ohio and my pal Katie in Kentucky for a couple weeks. Apparently I suck at taking pictures on vacation so you'll have to imagine my belly for weeks 31 and 32. I assure you that it was very much the same, though possibly slightly smaller since it had not yet been stuffed with vacation food. I'm looking at you, pickle flavored Pringles.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Continue to be pregnant and such. Also, two of my coworkers are also now pregnant so it appears I am slowly infecting everybody with fertility germs. It is nice to have people to commiserate with while I check the fridge for the 10th time to see if anything new has magically appeared. We mostly fantasize about bringing in bean bag chairs so we can arrange a pregnant napping station. And exchange a lot of texts along the lines of, "SO TIRED. HATE EVERYTHING." </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've officially gotten to the awkward stage of pregnancy where moving around is difficult. It is now an athletic feat for me to hoist myself out of the bathtub and bending over is my least favorite activity. I recently was curling my hair with hot rollers and dropped one while I was taking them out of my hair. As I watched it roll under the couch, I seriously considered the option of waiting two months or so to retrieve it. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Baby also seems to have reached an awkward stage where he is running out of places to go. Apparently he has already rearranged all my internal organs and has now decided that he should take up residency in my rib cage. I now rest one of my hands on the top of my belly most times and appear to be a serene pregnant lady. In reality, I am just constantly dislodging little baby feet from my ribs. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">People continue to be overly comfortable approaching me about my pregnancy, including a teenage shop clerk who began quizzing me about my birth plans while I was trying to pick out a Halloween costume. Listen, braces face, your wondering aloud about how much child birth must suck is really not improving my shopping experience. I get a lot of, "Wow! You're so tiny!" and-- most annoying-- "You need to gain more weight!" This comment aggravates me the most, since my weight gain is right on track and my belly is measuring exactly where it should be. I tend to be a perfectionist so when people tell me I need to gain weight I'm like NO DAMNIT, I'M ACING THIS WHOLE WEIGHT GAIN THING. LOOK AT THE WEIGHT GAIN GRAPH I HAVE ON MY IPHONE. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In contrast, my favorite pregnancy comment from a stranger has been from my boss's little girl who saw my pregnant belly and asked me, "Do you have a tummy ache?" Adorable. And also fairly accurate. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now I am working on Christmas-itzing the house and am looking forward to having my first real Christmas tree in our little house. Joe is not so thrilled, something about him being Jewish or something. I'm not sure, the Christmas music was drowning everything else out. </span></div>
Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02141850423646457824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620833463153322518.post-59837631543502208162012-11-07T18:41:00.000-05:002012-12-01T19:49:43.879-05:0030 Weeks Pregnant: Pregnant cat burglar <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkSHZHovE-5XH-pmM4_ZiAijGeQDAQJ1ToTys3kg8hlB4qB0WU1Zv4P0-vTGQO7ahlk4_NYlZsLGAX0_Sue43WrjeYcRIxzZDvC93HFlqRSgsT0pVgtUXocKOunfX62Lg-Ek7bPEhyCRx/s1600/30+weeks.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkSHZHovE-5XH-pmM4_ZiAijGeQDAQJ1ToTys3kg8hlB4qB0WU1Zv4P0-vTGQO7ahlk4_NYlZsLGAX0_Sue43WrjeYcRIxzZDvC93HFlqRSgsT0pVgtUXocKOunfX62Lg-Ek7bPEhyCRx/s400/30+weeks.jpg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm going to pretend that it didn't take me 3 weeks to upload this photo, lalala. As usual, I enjoy the fact that I can chose what day it appears I posted a blog entry so I look a lot less like a slacker.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So! Baby! I've tried to keep active-ish throughout my pregnancy, though obviously it has been harder in recent weeks. I did finally find a prenatal workout that I like since I find most prenatal workouts to be excruciatingly boring. I know people are trying create safe exercises and whatnot but pregnant women are capable of doing much more than sitting in a lotus position while s-l-o-w-l-y stretching, which is what I found in most prenatal routines. Also, there tends to be a lot of wind chimes and Mother Earth talk about how pregnant women are goddesses in these workouts and after about 3 minutes of that I'm ready for a nap.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Joe likes being legitimately active outdoors, in contrast to my preferred method of exercising indoors, ideally while some sort of trashy television is playing in the background to distract me. So it was not surprising when Joe recently dragged me outdoors for a "walk". My version of a walk is putting on a coat and walking around the local lake. Joe's method involves heavy duty outerwear, survival equipment and a trip up a snowy mountain. I was dressed head-to-toe in black, apparently the mountain gear color of choice, and felt like a pregnant cat burglar except, you know, a lot less agile. Joe also gave me some trekking poles to use, which are essentially like ski poles that you use to keep better balance when hiking. So I also looked like I tried to go skiing but then suffered some sort of head injury and only got half of it right. In short, the worst burglar ever. I have photographic proof of this:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdz7eLmlIgq2HMikF3wOrdmohfR4xuzHvL9JjKMV-nPl8MKl5Lp7IKZ9hB8KWfXcldZpyRRR17ckHhuKG_TzDb5Rd75_qNIO71qmJ9gq6sSaQs3HfzdFWt4WppS3c4JYbCmxxHdmFL-PKE/s1600/IMG_1226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdz7eLmlIgq2HMikF3wOrdmohfR4xuzHvL9JjKMV-nPl8MKl5Lp7IKZ9hB8KWfXcldZpyRRR17ckHhuKG_TzDb5Rd75_qNIO71qmJ9gq6sSaQs3HfzdFWt4WppS3c4JYbCmxxHdmFL-PKE/s400/IMG_1226.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Admittedly, the walk was nice and we turned around when we encountered a steep hill that looked particularly treacherous to my pregnant self. The deciding factor to skipping the hill was while we were standing contemplating the hill, I managed to trip over a root. While standing still. Good one, pregnancy balance. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In conclusion, I really, really hope that some day, some person stumbles on my blog after googling the phrase "pregnant car burglar". </span></div>
Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02141850423646457824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620833463153322518.post-5155297289912747062012-10-31T17:48:00.000-04:002012-12-01T17:50:10.369-05:0029 Weeks: Happy Babyween!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm1RAbchEgPfAx19B9IBlE73MuWPHUNcYzgV0D8wSSvopLHkVrUJbQ-ZMo4OcI6vwuHuBRyoIxZVbEj8bAKUWhr3YImjazv7N3qjK1AD8oCneazJjqYn8GRpKoBwm5oNlw6qAFwi6MWnPa/s1600/29+weeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm1RAbchEgPfAx19B9IBlE73MuWPHUNcYzgV0D8wSSvopLHkVrUJbQ-ZMo4OcI6vwuHuBRyoIxZVbEj8bAKUWhr3YImjazv7N3qjK1AD8oCneazJjqYn8GRpKoBwm5oNlw6qAFwi6MWnPa/s400/29+weeks.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
<br />Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02141850423646457824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620833463153322518.post-50571889079924701122012-10-28T20:17:00.001-04:002012-10-28T22:16:44.446-04:0028 Weeks: Pregnancy blog, now with 50% more cats!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kSejcuBzU3vQmUaJFL4ImxNbxcwm-e51IFkHlaTDjoEeP_WHiXYSRAADmtVzdgT444TwdpRk1c1gceAV39aHYrl-3CUH1jyJ5_kySS_H-8rZmQUjWwEcZsf-vjHeMQUDzWr_9mS8o0UP/s1600/28+weeks.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kSejcuBzU3vQmUaJFL4ImxNbxcwm-e51IFkHlaTDjoEeP_WHiXYSRAADmtVzdgT444TwdpRk1c1gceAV39aHYrl-3CUH1jyJ5_kySS_H-8rZmQUjWwEcZsf-vjHeMQUDzWr_9mS8o0UP/s400/28+weeks.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do you like the churro reference? Apparently the people who
come up with the baby size comparisons became really desperate at this point
because every comparison I found was bizarre. It was a toss up between the size of a
Chinese cabbage and the length of a churro. Churro won because A) most people
don’t know what a Chinese cabbage is and B) churros are crazy delicious. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So 28 weeks marks the official beginning of the 3<sup>rd</sup>
trimester, what the what? When did that happen? Still feeling fairly good. By
that I mean I am not yet totally miserable all the time. But don’t worry, I’m
told that is coming.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here are a few of my favorite symptoms recently:</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Baby continues to make a comfortable nest out of
my bladder but I think I’ve mastered the whole peeing 900 times before bed
thing so I don’t have to wake up in the middle of the night. Small victories. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span>But don’t worry! Since I haven’t had to stumble
my way to the bathroom at 3 am recently, the pregnancy gods have decided that
it is only fair that instead I get crippling calf cramps several times a night.
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span>My veins have multiplied and are having parties.
No varicose leg veins that I’ve heard about, just plain ol’ more visible. It
doesn’t help that my skin is approximately the same color and transparency as
white tissue paper. They are especially terrifying after I’ve had a bath or
shower and all the vessels are dilated and extra huge. Then it really ventures
into super villain territory.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nausea doesn’t even deserve mentioning because I’ve gotten
so used to it. I just try not to make any sudden movements in the morning and
sip on my pregnancy tea until I can stomach something bland and carb-y. As long
as that sits well I can eat pretty normally the rest of the day, even crazy
things like APPLES.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In conclusion, here’s an outtake of this week’s pregnancy
portrait, where Daisy made the mistake of wandering too close to me while I was taking pictures. She looks
so betrayed. JUST WAIT UNTIL I BUY THAT SNOWMAN KITTY COSTUME FROM TARGET,
DAISY. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWzT4fAdkLFUeSBIOYsYbS9E8gMQG4Wd44aD0Y4s8jeDds1SNcaLmO19sI1sqPS8vrSQtWkFfkXDw_2zrqf6wcUyHgNggtfFSrARe-dhdyL_Mtozxk8QLCDcPfeQ1BDJN93z8nXgh_1px/s1600/Photo+on+2012-10-25+at+16.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWzT4fAdkLFUeSBIOYsYbS9E8gMQG4Wd44aD0Y4s8jeDds1SNcaLmO19sI1sqPS8vrSQtWkFfkXDw_2zrqf6wcUyHgNggtfFSrARe-dhdyL_Mtozxk8QLCDcPfeQ1BDJN93z8nXgh_1px/s400/Photo+on+2012-10-25+at+16.54.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02141850423646457824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620833463153322518.post-24889048143071928402012-10-19T18:09:00.000-04:002012-10-28T20:39:11.174-04:0027 weeks: Baby Twilight Zone<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hh0K4pMTqZa6MwEhXY59858-WW9oxDVkVN3QD6yAPT0_tbfq1qxlb9jPUuU3bwxqjneQdf8a2nvqsVdVlyFQzJ2nd5WiDXAlHd7DqV2fGcb2TOCkE0ZXGdZdOqNnGnlYoZ0ljTzx6oRc/s1600/27+weeks.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hh0K4pMTqZa6MwEhXY59858-WW9oxDVkVN3QD6yAPT0_tbfq1qxlb9jPUuU3bwxqjneQdf8a2nvqsVdVlyFQzJ2nd5WiDXAlHd7DqV2fGcb2TOCkE0ZXGdZdOqNnGnlYoZ0ljTzx6oRc/s400/27+weeks.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, I’m behind on this blogging thing. Luckily, due to the magic of the internet, I can mark that I posted this week so it appears I have not been slacking. Always looking out for me, dear internet.<br />
<br />
I really have no
good excuse, since Joe has been gone for the past two weeks and when that
happens I mostly sit around and watch an excessive amount of Netflix. And eat a
lot of soup, since that’s the only savory thing I make with confidence. Throw
vegetables in the soup pot! Add random shit until it tastes good! Watch five
more episodes of <i>Supernatural! </i>Repeat
as needed. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So! Pregnancy! The downside to having a visible belly is that I’m now
experiencing the whole strangers-feel-oddly-entitled-to-talk-to-me thing.
Recently this has also expanded to the belly groping. If I know you I
understand, but if I’ve never met you or you filthy hands before please trust that
I don’t want them on me. Since I’m naturally shy and not at all touchy feely
anyway, this has been really weird and I kind of feel like I’ve in an episode
of <i>The Twilight Zone. </i>It fits, no? I
have an alien inside me and suddenly people are drawn to my belly like zombies.
Beginning to think baby has mind control powers. </div>
<!--EndFragment-->Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02141850423646457824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620833463153322518.post-37373008243493371262012-10-15T22:50:00.000-04:002012-10-15T23:11:04.743-04:0026 Weeks: True crime novels > baby books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxoVUsrYdNcV5hQefGMSz6a6b9LBaGfdeCHyFS8rQvIDPkKWYOu3WYGigmcburAtBQuo3OCQtKqGWFqgs0-NWyv3TlX27bAty3lIyU8tQ_QFPzZkha6L_CwOr6pg6avtdkCMJZ4M1JlcW/s1600/26+weeks.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxoVUsrYdNcV5hQefGMSz6a6b9LBaGfdeCHyFS8rQvIDPkKWYOu3WYGigmcburAtBQuo3OCQtKqGWFqgs0-NWyv3TlX27bAty3lIyU8tQ_QFPzZkha6L_CwOr6pg6avtdkCMJZ4M1JlcW/s400/26+weeks.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
10/15/12 – 26 weeks pregnant</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
My big pregnancy announcement this week is the somewhat
mortifying fact that at 6 1/2 months pregnant, I weigh the same as I did at my
heaviest weight in college, so more or less 15 lbs from my starting weight. The
weight I gained in college was not the typical “freshman fifteen” caused by too
much cafeteria pizza. The cafeteria could keep its shitty pizza. Rather, my weight gain can be directly
correlated to when I moved in with Joe and started eating all my meals with
him. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Unfortunately, Joe is a great cook and I liked his cooking
far more than the cafeteria’s. Which, by the way, is not difficult when your friendly college cafeteria sets out boiled shrimp with the heads still on in the salad bar. The best part was, there was a jaunty little sign that accompanied it that proudly announced, "Locally grown!" Right, because Cleveland, Ohio is famous for its locally grown shrimp and that's not at all creepy and disgusting! It's not like your lake once caught on fire or anything. Oh wait...<br />
<br />
Anyway, it turns out that a 5-foot girl shouldn’t eat
college-boy sized portions of risotto and garlic pasta every day. Oh, and when
you go to Hawaii with your boyfriend? You should probably not eat macadamia nut
pancakes every day. Daily fried
cake breakfasts do not go well with your bikini, Sophie.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Luckily, I got my act together pretty quickly and lost that
weight. But I must say it was a lot more fun to be this weight while happily eating
massive helpings of pasta than it is to be this weight and dry heaving when I
see a cracker. I mean, C’MON.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
In other news, I’m trying to make up for my complete lack of
baby gear by reluctantly starting to read <i>What
to Expect the First Year </i>again. I started it, than traded it for <i>Helter Skelter</i>, a grisly 700-page account
of the Manson murders. Why?
BECAUSE I FOUND IT SLIGHTLY LESS TERRIFYING THAN CHAPTER 2 OF <i>WHAT TO EXPECT THE FIRST YEAR. </i>Which
could probably be subtitled, “You should probably just give up now. Also, how
is your anti-depressant supply?”.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
I’m sure my birthing class will be just as soothing, right? </div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<br />Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02141850423646457824noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620833463153322518.post-54020588171939552782012-10-08T16:00:00.000-04:002012-10-10T00:27:57.876-04:0025 weeks: Gestating a fruit salad<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8B9QRIup1AAmF3TlH_abcVk1Z-mIJ7GmAJsNAwimL5YgxSvJt6WX5DCv-pG8BKqmwUNOor2-bC_vCWDXhoP9FQFCKw3fQTOIs4IZNL9YlNVEMJffrI96HeS-opEDcB6tXWe4P1oM95xm9/s1600/25+weeks.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8B9QRIup1AAmF3TlH_abcVk1Z-mIJ7GmAJsNAwimL5YgxSvJt6WX5DCv-pG8BKqmwUNOor2-bC_vCWDXhoP9FQFCKw3fQTOIs4IZNL9YlNVEMJffrI96HeS-opEDcB6tXWe4P1oM95xm9/s400/25+weeks.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past week was a magical week, where my belly ‘popped’ a
lot more and strangers could finally tell that I was pregnant. Possibly due to
the number of times we ate out this week, more than anything else. Regardless,
I’ll take it. At least I feel like I can wear form-fitting shirts again and
look cute and pregnant. Until now, I mostly felt I was diligently working on a
beer belly, which was not exactly confidence inspiring. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Besides belly, nothing new to report on the pregnancy front.
Still nauseated and have to pee about 400% more than usual, but haven’t had any
other new or exciting symptoms like back pain or sciatica. Also, no food
cravings, but pretty excited that it is now pear season because I love pears SO
MUCH. I actually have a problem bringing myself to eat them after I buy them because I don’t
want to “waste” them. It’s a sickness, really.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Given my obsession with fruit, I should probably live
somewhere other than Alaska, since nothing actually grows here except some
gnarly crabapples that are not fit for human consumption. At least, not humans you like very much. I remember visiting
California for the first time in my youth and thinking something along the lines
of, “Whoa whoa, you mean fruit really grows on trees? What kind of sorcery is
this?” And then I continued to suck my thumb, which eventually led my
mom to buy several luxury vehicles for my orthodontist. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And yes, according to my iPhone pregnancy app, baby was the
size of a papaya this week. I think I’ve gestated an entire fruit salad by now. I suppose I'm still working on the melon component. Wince. </div>
<!--EndFragment-->Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02141850423646457824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620833463153322518.post-37136272426265513122012-10-01T01:30:00.000-04:002012-10-02T01:34:07.302-04:0024 weeks pregnant: 6 months down, baby! (See what I did there?)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2T6-NWB883uNDceS2wLP6WeWXE86UkrKUcHdm_BOsY-tLgxJZEm43AB1HAs0DQCZ3sgp9ySSlDldFG9njq-Y48CL_ez2NhLZyS69-syNnrWHThaPYkSulUcCyirWDx32SDHiUYvURGHC/s1600/24+weeks.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2T6-NWB883uNDceS2wLP6WeWXE86UkrKUcHdm_BOsY-tLgxJZEm43AB1HAs0DQCZ3sgp9ySSlDldFG9njq-Y48CL_ez2NhLZyS69-syNnrWHThaPYkSulUcCyirWDx32SDHiUYvURGHC/s400/24+weeks.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Newest pregnancy developments are 1) I can now skip the
prophylactic nausea medication without guaranteeing that I will later throw up.
More nauseated without it, but still, progress! 2) Lately, baby prefers to curl
up in the right lower side of my belly, giving the impression of a right-sided
baby tumor. Alternatively I am carrying a baby cone head. Toss-up, really. 3) My
belly button is beginning to plot its escape, mischievous devil that it is. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Other pregnancy developments include my total lack of preparation
for when the baby actually arrives. I panicked and made Joe paint the nursery, and it is still absolutely empty. At least it looks cool.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXDhKYdIlmsVQWvpWL0FzIPK9XrAUabJx9EsLneeH_hZvmLv9N3hES5t6Rs5rmqRfvfc7gGb3PGvLshX8nz9sPj_MUm4vzCekwKxp0BXZ0Nv09UTPD9JJw38Q7FLlBGQRFfIP1kJ-S4H7/s1600/stripes.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXDhKYdIlmsVQWvpWL0FzIPK9XrAUabJx9EsLneeH_hZvmLv9N3hES5t6Rs5rmqRfvfc7gGb3PGvLshX8nz9sPj_MUm4vzCekwKxp0BXZ0Nv09UTPD9JJw38Q7FLlBGQRFfIP1kJ-S4H7/s400/stripes.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kinda hoping one of those doors opens into a nursery in Narnia. If not, I can just shove a dog bed in the corner, right? Cozy! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of
these days, I may actually buy something off of my baby registry. I HAVE THREE MONTHS, OKAY?</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02141850423646457824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620833463153322518.post-41668303562824084532012-09-24T23:06:00.000-04:002012-09-26T22:08:40.957-04:0023 weeks pregnant: Sophie's Pregnancy Tonic<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9n0LeCDBuWUmoGdtdKtWQnFaPEYgfb3RNlUfNrZtjjMhqVMoKD89qUeteC08p-WrRibXcave8IvJHMPx4cvr-x8GC5G9BM_kBulTIMAVO4PRimvOJHwFpuida_Q2Og5TFZmXiW5WCkQhq/s1600/23+weeks.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9n0LeCDBuWUmoGdtdKtWQnFaPEYgfb3RNlUfNrZtjjMhqVMoKD89qUeteC08p-WrRibXcave8IvJHMPx4cvr-x8GC5G9BM_kBulTIMAVO4PRimvOJHwFpuida_Q2Og5TFZmXiW5WCkQhq/s400/23+weeks.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course when you’re pregnant everybody wants to know what
you’re craving. I’m sure my coworkers are just dying to hear that I’ve been eating
Big Macs and ice cream sundaes, since I generally eat very healthily and they
find this extremely disturbing. But apparently I do live in an alternate universe
where raw green beans and mustard is a perfectly acceptable snack. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Side note: dipping vegetables in mustard is not a pregnancy
thing either; I’ve been doing that for years. I’m just semi-obsessed with
mustard. Totally normal. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The only new craving I’ve had is for tart herbal tea blends,
most of which contain hibiscus flowers. For some reason, this tea is pretty
much the only fluid I can stomach. After I discovered this and drank gallons of
the stuff a day, I decided on a whim that I should probably Google if hibiscus
is safe for consumption during pregnancy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
This is where you scream useless protests at me, much like you would do while watching a horror movie. "NO! STOP! WHY WOULD YOU GO INTO THE HAUNTED BASEMENT ALONE? WHO DOES THAT?"<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Internet consensus: probably not, and also why are you trying
to poison your unborn child? God. Damn. It. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I called my midwives, who assured me that they could care
less if I ate a basket of hibiscus flowers a day. Okay, they may have not said
exactly that, because that would be weird, but they did think it was totally
safe for me to drink my beloved tea.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve since bought enormous quantities of the stuff and have
been drinking that pretty much exclusively. I even started making a juice
cocktail with it that I’ve nicknamed Sophie’s Pregnancy Tonic. So if I can just
travel back to the 1930’s and peddle it as a cure all, I’d be set.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think the lesson here, as it always is, is DON’T GOOGLE
ANYTHING EVER WHEN YOU’RE PREGNANT. Which is of course why I continue to do it
on a daily basis. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not very interesting but that’s my big pregnancy craving. After
I finished off yet another box last week, I announced to Joe that I was
probably going to give birth to a giant hibiscus flower. Strangely I have not
had nightmares about this yet.</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02141850423646457824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620833463153322518.post-80266545622938242082012-09-17T23:52:00.000-04:002012-09-19T00:06:49.102-04:0022 weeks: In which I gestate an eggplant<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
I am so committed to this process that I got up and put on
pants to take my weekly belly picture. That, my friends, is called DEDICATION.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Though that took all my motivation and I can't be bothered to come up with anything else. Here's belly update and survey instead.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6X0QtocJIWG3-8gfemvycUJj9BmdmJKm3UuvCVaakPkEoNjF9Oip4dW2LLGq114VhtkAXS5fHtQTMeaYMlS_p4MDvREgUCifWZVfUEuVABSYKJ9VZZseZshoO5KQW8_HMMaEJRefpc_KY/s1600/Photo+on+2012-09-18+at+18.49+%232.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6X0QtocJIWG3-8gfemvycUJj9BmdmJKm3UuvCVaakPkEoNjF9Oip4dW2LLGq114VhtkAXS5fHtQTMeaYMlS_p4MDvREgUCifWZVfUEuVABSYKJ9VZZseZshoO5KQW8_HMMaEJRefpc_KY/s400/Photo+on+2012-09-18+at+18.49+%232.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 12pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;">How far
along? </span></b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;">22 Weeks</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;">Total weight gain/loss:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;"> something like
12 or 13 lbs</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;">Maternity clothes?</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;"> </span></b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;">A
few things. Definitely growing fond of elastic.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;">Stretch
marks?</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;"> No. Though I have begun to liberally grease my body is
assorted potions in attempts to avoid that.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;">Sleep:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;"> Sleeping well, except for the
whole peeing every 30 seconds thing.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;">Best moment this week:</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;"> </span></b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;">My
birthday was last week so I was generally fawned upon, which I support 100%.
Also Joe finished painting the nursery, though I can’t remember if that was
last week or not. </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;">Miss Anything?</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;"> Sushi, a normal
bladder capacity.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;">Movement:</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;"> </span></b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;">Oh
yes. Peapod enjoys soothing me back to sleep after my midnight bathroom breaks
by slamming repeatedly into my uterus.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;">Food
cravings: </span></b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;">Nothing unusual. Still fond of peanut butter,
fruit, cheese. And unicorn blood. Just seeing if you're paying attention.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;">Anything making you queasy or sick: </span></b><span style="background: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;">Depends.
Things have calmed down A LOT but still am turned off a lot of time by protein,
raw vegetables… Basically anything that is not a refined carbohydrate will turn
me off at one time or another. Coffee and black tea I can’t do at all.</span><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;">Have
you started to show yet:</span></b><b><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;">I mean, this weight has to have collected
SOMEWHERE. There is some definite pudge action happening but that's about it.
Which begs the terrifying question, where am I storing this 12 lbs if not on my
belly? Wait, don't answer that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;">Gender prediction: </span></b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;">Unless my ultrasound
tech was on mind altering drugs, we are sticking with boy.</span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;">Labor Signs: </span></b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;">Nay.
Can I have a surrogate just for the labor bit please?</span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;">Belly Button in or out?</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;"> In.
I bought one of those hilarious pregnancy belly button rings that looks like
its made out of a flexible straw after my co-worker told me a horrific story
about how her pregnancy ripped her belly button piercing nearly completely out
but so far things are looking pretty normal. </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;">Wedding rings on or off?</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;"> </span></b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;">Off,
though only because I developed a weird rash on my ring finger. </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;">Happy or Moody most of the
time: </span></b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;">Generally pretty emotionally stable. Except
when I make pie crust, which always sends me into a </span><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 7.5pt;">murderous</span><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;"> rage.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;">Looking forward to:</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;"> </span></b><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;">Actually
appearing </span><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 7.5pt;">legitimately</span><span style="background: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 8.5pt;"> pregnant. </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02141850423646457824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620833463153322518.post-34766560425053537332012-09-04T00:19:00.000-04:002012-10-03T01:36:23.921-04:0021 Weeks: Pregnancy: Pirate Edition<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
9/4/12 - 21 Weeks Pregnant</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A couple weeks ago, crazy pain in my right eye woke me up at
4 am. I tentatively pawed at that eye and found that my eye was swollen and bizarrely
leaking tears, even with the eye clamped shut. Like I was sleep-sobbing. Out of
one eye? Wait, it gets better. I stumbled to the bathroom and pried out my
contacts and my eye didn’t look too bad. I mean, it was bright red, swollen and
pathetic looking but there were no obvious giant glass shards embedded in my
eye, which is what it felt like.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I grabbed an ice pack from the freezer and fed Daisy early,
who thought this was a neat game where her owner staggered around the house in
the middle of the night with no depth perception. Eventually I was able to fall back asleep for a bit with the ice pack snuggled up against my eye and then had
soothing dreams about my eye pain, including one in which I figured out that my
eye hurt because I had somehow crammed three contact lenses into the one eye.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I really did try going to work but even when I could
tentatively force my eye open for brief, glorious moments of sight, the pain stopped dropped me to my knees about every 30 seconds or so while I went, "ARRRRRRGH." Very much
like movie supervillains do when their plans have been foiled yet again. Generally
this behavior is frowned upon in a nurse so I came to terms that work was
not going to happen. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To make matters more interesting, Joe was out of town, so I
had to drive myself around to be treated later that morning. Luckily, there is
an urgent care center about 30 seconds away from our house and I figured I
could drive myself there without killing anyone. I suppose I could have walked
there, too, but I didn’t really want to stumble along for 20 minutes while
clutching my eye and moaning. People would assume a zombie apocalypse was
starting, and then were would we be?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The doctor pretty quickly diagnosed me with a corneal ulcer,
a nice big open sore on the eye caused by sleeping with my contacts in. Good work,
Sophie. The doctor proceeded to casually mention that as a wartime doc in
Korea, he saw a corneal ulcer much like mine become so infected with <i>Pseudomonas</i> that the lady’s eye melted within a matter of days. He paused. “We
got her a glass eye,” he said thoughtfully, as if this were supposed to comfort
me somehow. After this I was all I’LL DO WHATEVER YOU WANT DOC, JUST DON’T LET
MY EYE MELT. So I left with a prescription for some pain relieving eye drops,
antibiotic eye drops, and a stylish eye patch. YES, PREGNANT WITH AN EYE PATCH. AND
MY EYE IS PROBABLY GOING TO MELT. THIS DAY GETS BETTER AND BETTER.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Driving to and from the pharmacy while wearing an eye patch
was probably one of the more sketchy things I have done but goddamnit, I was
getting my anti-eye melting medications. Pedestrians be damned!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I bummed around the house with my sweet eye patch on for
the rest of the day. Eye injuries are especially lame because you can't go to
work with a leaky useless eye but also can’t really do the usual sick-at-home
things, like read or watch TV. I mean, I squinted in the general direction of
the TV in order to “watch” <i>What’s Eating
Gilbert Grape</i> but that’s about it. Luckily, as a pregnant lady, napping is a
favorite activity of mine, so at least I was well rested.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thankfully, eye injuries tend to heal pretty fast so the eye
patch and mind-searing pain were short-lived. And, so far, my eye has not melted, so that’s awesome. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In other news, I am still pregnant. Baby Peapod moves enough
that Joe can now feel him, and if I watch carefully when baby is active, I can
see my belly pulsate. Very <i>Alien-</i>esque.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ahem. I mean, the beautiful wonders of pregnancy, mother earth and so on. And so forth.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKGM2s2P_pYgO57cjAv3AnTExtv4rJOODE1EatlvYXKEWQ6f-1WGAt6z2hasISJ1LPKqPAJGI4KzZmF3-Z_H_bco-xQDpSGETxoK8own_K4v7fpVgzTl9nU_R61u70WoOmANo6gOovszI9/s1600/21+weeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKGM2s2P_pYgO57cjAv3AnTExtv4rJOODE1EatlvYXKEWQ6f-1WGAt6z2hasISJ1LPKqPAJGI4KzZmF3-Z_H_bco-xQDpSGETxoK8own_K4v7fpVgzTl9nU_R61u70WoOmANo6gOovszI9/s400/21+weeks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02141850423646457824noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620833463153322518.post-60461680202771624202012-08-28T13:27:00.000-04:002012-09-05T13:56:09.973-04:0020 weeks: half way done!
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
8/28/12 20 weeks pregnant</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we learned baby Peapod is a boy a couple weeks ago, Joe
decided that I needed some <a href="http://www.bellybuds.com/" target="_blank">bellyphones</a>. They're little stick on headphones that you can secure to your belly in order to pump music directly into your unsuspecting uterus. Like so:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhso2OzobuSBv9ZFr6lateKzjYxJyWjLT4l9w7o1HdE7_1txMwmUIpe2BPR4VEoYO7EqaKgaOuAwPAcZOnlH9N_qup4MerMkBs07FbsE5RNeDnWy9cVphzWZCKcscUzFHPUKQ36W4LFd-Wd/s1600/bellyphones.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhso2OzobuSBv9ZFr6lateKzjYxJyWjLT4l9w7o1HdE7_1txMwmUIpe2BPR4VEoYO7EqaKgaOuAwPAcZOnlH9N_qup4MerMkBs07FbsE5RNeDnWy9cVphzWZCKcscUzFHPUKQ36W4LFd-Wd/s320/bellyphones.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think the idea is kind of silly and besides, Peapod
is getting plenty of audio stimulation from such cinematic classics as <i>Pretty
Little Liars</i> and <i>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</i>. But it is kind of adorable and it
doesn’t take any effort on my part so I’m game.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Speaking of game, Joe’s playlist for developing young genius
brains has consisted of such master composers as Beethoven and Debussy and for
some reason also includes the Final Fantasy VII soundtrack. Naturally.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve definitely felt the wee one more the last week. I’d
felt some flutters now and then for a couple weeks before but can now feel
actual jabs/kicks/punches. Joe can tell when it’s happening because I jump
about 10 feet in the air every time it happens. I took a couple good hits when
I used the bellyphones the first time and I suppose we will never know if they
were squirms of delight or a desperate attempt to escape from the <i>Waltz de Chocobo.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Joe has also prepped the nursery for my striped wall scheme.
The room is barren and draped in plastic sheets and tape so it basically looks
like a kill room from <i>Dexter</i>. On the
bright side, there’s now a layer of primer covering the former paint color,
which was a hideous blinding blue hue. Since paints have such great names like
Dead Salmon and Tornado Watch, I would dub the former color Makes-Your-Eyes-Bleed-Blue.
Catchy, no?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By the way, how awful is picking out paint colors? It is so
needlessly complicated. I really did not care exactly which paint color to use
and suddenly you are agonizing over 10 identical shades of gray, going “AGH, I JUST DON’T
KNOW. ESKIMO KISSES OR STORMY SKIES?” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In other news, here’s my 20 week bump-date, in which I get
gradually fatter but can still pass for not pregnant. In the words of my boss,
“When are you going to start to show like a normal human being?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhij3vxS2eKqYdJEWElP0V17xA3eqS8PGMeisvzrjcYoawl4_VlGVv1hCEq7kFxUrHfFU2t7PErVHoujKFZhKt7PWmPIaogpF_J97Vv_u4eIQsDwpsB860nP1bvVRodwDzVNiL9_yg2H21Y/s1600/20+weeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhij3vxS2eKqYdJEWElP0V17xA3eqS8PGMeisvzrjcYoawl4_VlGVv1hCEq7kFxUrHfFU2t7PErVHoujKFZhKt7PWmPIaogpF_J97Vv_u4eIQsDwpsB860nP1bvVRodwDzVNiL9_yg2H21Y/s400/20+weeks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Though I cheated and am really 21 weeks in this picture
because I was too lazy to take a picture any other day. I swear you didn’t miss
much in those few days. I am starting to get a bit of a bump but I still think
it appears less like I’m pregnant and more like I’ve decided to pursue a career
in competitive eating.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2 more things about that picture: 1) In case you wondering,
no, I am not wearing pants, hence the sliver of my bare thigh. Avert your children’s
eyes. I was wearing PJ short though, I promise. 2) My glasses are making a rare
appearance because I had a fun adventure last week that led to an urgent care
visit and an eye patch. Stay tuned.</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02141850423646457824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620833463153322518.post-71274201010508347622012-08-23T23:32:00.000-04:002012-08-23T23:33:32.768-04:00How many baby cages will I need?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
8/24/12 -- About 19 weeks pregnant</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwrthcE_Zh5xG6Um1Ht8r4O_QtxCFTE0MpnnijluD_XRRZCHHqfhPI0yoPttpBKjdo2dbBzEESrjWybUDWOnoha6kbqrLo2MJqm0y5NgCHgH8VuYULPa49dFOSCAuJMjXy8VC3DrJR1Dx/s1600/19+weeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwrthcE_Zh5xG6Um1Ht8r4O_QtxCFTE0MpnnijluD_XRRZCHHqfhPI0yoPttpBKjdo2dbBzEESrjWybUDWOnoha6kbqrLo2MJqm0y5NgCHgH8VuYULPa49dFOSCAuJMjXy8VC3DrJR1Dx/s400/19+weeks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At my last midwife appointment, the midwife admitted in her
soothing Australian accent that if my morning sickness had not gone away at
this point, it probably was here to stay. And thank god for the soothing,
soothing accent because it somehow didn’t sound so bad until after I had left
and thought about 20 more weeks of nausea. AND THEN I WANTED TO WRING HER PRETTY AUSTRALIAN NECK. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just kidding, I hope she and her unnaturally calming
presence attend my birth.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Granted, morning sickness has gotten A LOT better since the
beginning but I still have to take nausea medication on a daily basis to
function. There is no doubt in my mind that without it, I would have
hyperemesis gravidium, which is fancy medical talk for pregnant and throwing up all day, every day. So bless you, Doxylamine. You’re my most favorite drug. I
shall name my first-born child after you. No, wait. Just kidding. Is this how Rumpelstiltskin
happened? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In other more endearing news, I had my 18-week ultrasound
last week, where the ultrasound tech looked into the crystal ball that is my
uterus and predicted that baby Peapod is a boy!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For some reason, the ultrasound tech gave me about 3-dozen
very exciting pictures of my placenta, which mostly looks like white noise on a
TV screen. But she did nag a couple cute profile pictures:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUxCA_l6rF3U9JvSLM5c855-8Y2p9o34LxtHkuInxmgoMogZPKBIMrADj6eVulm5y_fNjt_2jzH1G9eeykkDvFsdUgoVwdPFd0wNnQkOGCeXmeH9d4uRzVlwJSaVz-tagn_7DsojFZ0pK/s1600/babyprofile.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUxCA_l6rF3U9JvSLM5c855-8Y2p9o34LxtHkuInxmgoMogZPKBIMrADj6eVulm5y_fNjt_2jzH1G9eeykkDvFsdUgoVwdPFd0wNnQkOGCeXmeH9d4uRzVlwJSaVz-tagn_7DsojFZ0pK/s400/babyprofile.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
... and a picture of monkey-like toes:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9JLVUUltxG5aoLwdxrRDFqvSAP5tIMMv1_fgyfBv94PdvD78-pvrrNelEuf2z3yZb4dh4oHIbY775ew9gr67RyPklSL9MpmkzmdNVb8Vb5je_U4YDZq7YsLBm-0sNj3KeCr3bCi60afC/s1600/foot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9JLVUUltxG5aoLwdxrRDFqvSAP5tIMMv1_fgyfBv94PdvD78-pvrrNelEuf2z3yZb4dh4oHIbY775ew9gr67RyPklSL9MpmkzmdNVb8Vb5je_U4YDZq7YsLBm-0sNj3KeCr3bCi60afC/s400/foot.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I also have a few cool pictures of baby’s spine, where it
appears that I am giving birth to a fillet of herring or something. But I will
spare you these.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So now we can get the business of designing and painting the
nursery. And by “we” I mean “Joe”. Since I have to scrape any idea of pink
walls and sparkly chandeliers, I’ve become unreasonably attached the idea of
horizontal striped walls. Joe pointed out that this would be hard to do all by
his lonesome and we might have to fork over some money for a professional
painter. I had a brief internal battle between my cheap side that reuses
ziplock bags and my irrational pregnant side that panics when she can’t find
ice cream cones and, surprise, the pregnant monster won. WE SHALL HAVE STRIPED
WALLS, DAMNIT. And also ice cream
because I found the ice cream cones. They were under our pile of candy,
naturally.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Or we could forgo a nursery altogether and just attach a baby cage to our window:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEUCFpAxG_Gsze7fsnRZAoK9ErAZL6WwNRv2KIQZ_XlVSzRSAiQ0n7jCzxDn7f2oDjwLa2K0YdmhJ5TK50XgB_ZMJUnCX1vW-7AmahTkz7lIuxlu36ecytD1bwagwhOmbZZ2oo2WomMde/s1600/baby+cage.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEUCFpAxG_Gsze7fsnRZAoK9ErAZL6WwNRv2KIQZ_XlVSzRSAiQ0n7jCzxDn7f2oDjwLa2K0YdmhJ5TK50XgB_ZMJUnCX1vW-7AmahTkz7lIuxlu36ecytD1bwagwhOmbZZ2oo2WomMde/s640/baby+cage.jpeg" width="298" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
See? Don't worry people: THE CRATE CAN BE SCREENED.</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02141850423646457824noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620833463153322518.post-19624435985532435792012-08-07T23:41:00.000-04:002012-08-21T23:44:05.828-04:00The baby rhombus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ah, early pregnancy. Still in an awkward phase in which all my clothes FIT, they just don't fit WELL. It mostly appears that I don't know how to appropriately dress myself. Which is mostly true. I'm sticking to my guns in that I do not have a baby bump yet, as that implies, you know, a BUMP. My belly sticks out a tad further, yes, but is stil mostly flat. No cute curvature. So if anything, that makes it more of a baby rhombus or baby trapezoid. One of those useless shape that no one knows what to do with.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So let's move on to some picture documentation and survey, shall we?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNZg1wHRd3Bhpy2dKLDY4v-fHkQdtG46yhJOl3LEtoImcmtSuFKYRwN62ELsViwgCPIQho6Y2SfI8xvekRvHIz_oIQmuYtU1ENDPWMcCgcoIyL3c3MsH28tnw28kJM3T9fx1_DdL-R1ew/s1600/17+weeks.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNZg1wHRd3Bhpy2dKLDY4v-fHkQdtG46yhJOl3LEtoImcmtSuFKYRwN62ELsViwgCPIQho6Y2SfI8xvekRvHIz_oIQmuYtU1ENDPWMcCgcoIyL3c3MsH28tnw28kJM3T9fx1_DdL-R1ew/s640/17+weeks.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #5b5b5b;">How far along? </span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #5b5b5b;">17
Weeks</span><span style="color: #5b5b5b;"><br />
<b>Total weight gain/loss:</b><span style="background: white;"> around 6 lbs or so</span><br />
<b>Maternity clothes?</b><span style="background: white;"> Bought a few pieces in an excited pregnant frenzy
but still wearing my normal wardrobe.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #5b5b5b;">Stretch marks?</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #5b5b5b;"> Nope</span><span style="color: #5b5b5b;"><br />
<b>Sleep: </b><span style="background: white;">I sleep like a champ. I excel in sleeping. </span><br />
<b>Best moment this week:</b><span style="background: white;"> Ate some candy first thing when I woke up and wanted to die
a little less. My dentist will be pleased. Good thing I started flossing in
preparation for my teeth cleaning next week. I mean, I ALWAYS FLOSS DR. FELDMAN.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #5b5b5b;">Miss Anything?</span></b><span style="color: #5b5b5b;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #5b5b5b;">Not feeling like I need to puke all the time?
Also felt cheated that I couldn’t have a mimosa on mother’s day. Nice joke, Peapod. </span><span style="color: #5b5b5b;"><br />
<b>Movement:</b><span style="background: white;"> Had some uterine cramp-y type things today, wonder if it was
Peapod busting a move. Either that or my stomach has had enough and is trying to escape my body.</span><br />
<b>Food cravings:</b><span style="background: white;"> Safe foods: </span></span>fruit
and fruit juice, peanut butter, toast and most other carbohydrate, cheese,
mashed potatoes....<span style="color: #5b5b5b;"><br />
<b>Anything making you queasy or
sick: </b></span>Anything before noon. Otherwise, most sources of protein,
my favorite black tea, eggs, raw vegetables, greasy anything, smell of coffee
or strong perfume, SHALL I GO ON? Have also not been so keen on oatmeal, cream
of wheat or chamomile tea since I threw those up in the early days.<span style="color: #5b5b5b;"><br />
<b>Have you started to show yet:</b></span><b><span style="color: #5b5b5b;"> </span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #5b5b5b;">I
will stubbornly say no.</span></span><span style="color: #5b5b5b;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
<b>Gender prediction: </b><span style="background-color: white;">Who knows. Had a dream I was having a boy but still
have hope I can buy pink sparkly things.</span><br />
<b>Labor Signs: </b><span style="background-color: white;">Nay</span><br />
<b>Belly Button in or out?</b><span style="background-color: white;"> In</span><br />
<b>Wedding rings on or off?</b><span style="background-color: white;"> On</span><br />
<b>Happy or Moody most of the time: </b><span style="background-color: white;">Happy. Grumpy in the mornings. I am a very efficient worker in the
mornings, sitting very still and quiet at my desk as I distract myself with as
much work as possible.</span><br />
<b>Looking forward to:</b></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Morning sickness going away, feeling baby move,
getting a belly, finding out the gender in a few weeks. Etc etc. </span><span style="font-family: Nobile; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02141850423646457824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620833463153322518.post-59222741451637055002012-07-22T18:40:00.001-04:002012-07-22T18:41:03.070-04:00Bump watch 2012<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
7/22/12 Almost 15 weeks pregnant</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First off, why is it that every time I open Microsoft Word,
there is a “critical update” to install? How is it that each version is just as
crappy as the last? But I digress.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nothing new and exciting to report on the pregnancy front.
Still nauseated most of the time, no bump. Several people have told me that I’m starting to show but
seriously, I’m not. I honestly believe that now that everybody knows I’m
pregnant, people stare at my gut ALL THE TIME and a lady can’t suck it in 24-7.
Plus there’s the whole pregnant = bloated like a beached whale thing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Luckily, I’m a nurse so I already own a maternity wardrobe.
It’s called scrubs. I feel weird when I wear pants that don’t have an elastic
waistband or tops that aren’t four times too big for me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the nausea front, no real change. Still feel I have some
sort of cruel stomach virus that makes you gain weight. I also attribute the
heightened sense of smell to the nausea. It’s not so much that I can smell
better, just that every smell makes me sick. I often think of an episode of
King of the Hill where Bobby is put on a Ritalin-like drug that heightens all
his senses. He sits in the kitchen, starring blankly into space. He sniffs.
“The milk in the fridge is about to go sour.” He announces. He pauses. “And
there it goes…”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Indeed, Bobby, indeed. </div>Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02141850423646457824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620833463153322518.post-296221902306217432012-07-15T22:16:00.002-04:002012-07-22T18:43:27.359-04:00Sometimes I still bake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In other news, I still bake. I've had to cut down since college, since I no longer have our roommate Brian to count on eating everything I make. Recently I made a plum upside down cake in order to use up a bunch of plums we got in our produce box. Joe ate it within 48 hours so pretty successful, I'd say.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pBpt26nVhJzIwXgIZxpnN3jl7qyCNex3q1dAb3qXwDHGdpgqzP5b5Z4VYoOK7LQXDAIR4o8HoxhQqke7KTgZCDsxuyb2tG52FPJT5EVHdGwVrnXuAKbiNNST2GodJ8jRuEb-Q8MVjY4O/s1600/cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pBpt26nVhJzIwXgIZxpnN3jl7qyCNex3q1dAb3qXwDHGdpgqzP5b5Z4VYoOK7LQXDAIR4o8HoxhQqke7KTgZCDsxuyb2tG52FPJT5EVHdGwVrnXuAKbiNNST2GodJ8jRuEb-Q8MVjY4O/s400/cake.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Plum upside down cake</u>, adapted from <a href="http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/plum-upside-down-cake-00000000017219/index.html" target="_blank">Real Simple</a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="recipeIngred" style="margin-bottom: 30px;">
<h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 3px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: normal;">Ingredients</span></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 3px;"><span itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span itemprop="amount">1/2 cup </span><span itemprop="name">(1 stick) plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, plus extra for the pan, at room temperature</span></span></span></li>
<li style="line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 3px;"><span itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span itemprop="amount">4 </span><span itemprop="name">firm, ripe plums, each cut into 8 wedges <i>(This looked measly and I cut them into 16)</i></span></span></span></li>
<li style="line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 3px;"><span itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span itemprop="amount">1/4 cup </span><span itemprop="name">plus 2/3 cup granulated sugar <i>(I cut this down to 1/3 cup and thought it was fine)</i></span></span></span></li>
<li style="line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 3px;"><span itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span itemprop="amount">1 cup </span><span itemprop="name">all-purpose flour</span></span></span></li>
<li style="line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 3px;"><span itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span itemprop="amount">3/4 teaspoon </span><span itemprop="name">baking powder</span></span></span></li>
<li style="line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 3px;"><span itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span itemprop="amount">1/4 teaspoon </span><span itemprop="name">baking soda</span></span></span></li>
<li style="line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 3px;"><span itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span itemprop="amount">1/4 teaspoon </span><span itemprop="name">kosher salt</span></span></span></li>
<li style="line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 3px;"><span itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span itemprop="amount">1 </span><span itemprop="name">large egg</span></span></span></li>
<li style="line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 3px;"><span itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span itemprop="amount">2/3 cup </span><span itemprop="name">sour cream <i>(I used plain nonfat greek yogurt)</i></span></span></span></li>
<li style="line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 3px;"><span itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span itemprop="amount">1 teaspoon </span><span itemprop="name">pure vanilla extract</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="recipeDirections">
<h3 style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 3px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Directions</span></h3>
<ol style="margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 1.75em;">
<li style="line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 3px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Heat oven to 350° F. Butter an 8-inch cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.</span></li>
<li style="line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 3px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the plums and 1/4 cup of the sugar and cook, tossing, until the sugar dissolves and the juices from the plums become syrupy, 3 to 4 minutes. Arrange the plums in the cake pan in slightly overlapping concentric circles, starting from the outside. Spoon any pan juices over the top.</span></li>
<li style="line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 3px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.</span></li>
<li style="line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 3px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">With an electric mixer, beat the remaining 1/2 cup of the butter and 2/3 cup of the sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg, sour cream, and vanilla. Gradually add the flour mixture, mixing just until incorporated.</span></li>
<li style="line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 3px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pour the batter over the plums and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 50 to 55 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 1 hour. Place a large plate over the cake pan and invert the cake onto the plate. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">______________________________________________________________________________</span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 15px;">In conclusion, here's a terrifying fact about Martha Stewart:</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 15px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwv5_14nqyr4YV25vpCC2t2vrg_SuvlM4QfZdMCoxkZkLV-krd3Yu3T5MbZhOotO0AtmfDC5sSNlvT9rUenqxCZEiuaCORNNetTEdjqzErt-hg6tWXimMsfgPOwc6FrX3GpzYNBvfzFaHE/s1600/martha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwv5_14nqyr4YV25vpCC2t2vrg_SuvlM4QfZdMCoxkZkLV-krd3Yu3T5MbZhOotO0AtmfDC5sSNlvT9rUenqxCZEiuaCORNNetTEdjqzErt-hg6tWXimMsfgPOwc6FrX3GpzYNBvfzFaHE/s400/martha.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 15px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 15px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 15px;">Thanks Martha Stewart! Now I know just how to welcome my bambino into the world. </span></span></div>
</div>Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02141850423646457824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620833463153322518.post-89240331847379978882012-07-14T21:25:00.000-04:002012-07-15T21:26:56.302-04:00Stop ruining my life, google.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
7/14/12 – About 13 weeks pregnant</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, I was really hoping that I would magically wake up the
morning of week 13 with no morning sickness but alas, it persists. My midwife
says that hopefully it will ease up between 15-18 weeks so that’s the new light
at the end of the tunnel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the up side, Peapod was looking more humanoid at my 12
week ultrasound. Which means that it looks less like a gummy bear and more like
Skeletor. Progress, people. I gave Joe a high five when I read that the little
peanut should no longer have a tail at this point. Good work, baby. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKCR3yIyviFPX-3Hac0qrUocw17zTtU81Kawn4PTzRCIWPVy9Sx66YiF4vEneNyfDxtyTrArzR3NMQhvLoh1-XeYrfs-NdCJKsv1emVkgwfU3HpJlYxgY5X_0idz1ZqM4qQ4LWeCfnoRfF/s1600/12+week+us.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKCR3yIyviFPX-3Hac0qrUocw17zTtU81Kawn4PTzRCIWPVy9Sx66YiF4vEneNyfDxtyTrArzR3NMQhvLoh1-XeYrfs-NdCJKsv1emVkgwfU3HpJlYxgY5X_0idz1ZqM4qQ4LWeCfnoRfF/s320/12+week+us.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pregnancy is pretty amazing in that I’m pretty sure I’m
still eating at a calorie deficit but have somehow still managed to put on a
couple pounds. Like, where are you getting this extra stuff to store? Are you
converting my bones to fat stores? I was kind of hoping I could avoid that
pesky gaining weight part of pregnancy. Thanks, evolution. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m a pretty little chick and was feeling pretty okay about
my total lack of baby bump until I googled what other women look like this far
along and now I totally have a complex. Some of these women have legit cute
little bumps. And I look like I ate too many cupcakes last night, if that. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZAHRsosTwdNlts9wozJs1lfa8OMA870f0b2rUYhYADhbpgs57sd9bvosKIFoHiqmCLIdknrhxRd_9q3J-kTm4dzS3m7JikhKIGxEn32Ys799n4_FH0q-grRbZb8C8B1GH7Q483W-90vI/s1600/belleh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZAHRsosTwdNlts9wozJs1lfa8OMA870f0b2rUYhYADhbpgs57sd9bvosKIFoHiqmCLIdknrhxRd_9q3J-kTm4dzS3m7JikhKIGxEn32Ys799n4_FH0q-grRbZb8C8B1GH7Q483W-90vI/s320/belleh.jpg" width="269" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So lesson learned. Do not, I repeat, do not, google
anything. You will be totally paranoid about how your pregnancy compares to
others and then you will convince yourself that the cherries you ate half an
hour ago are going to poison you with listeria because you are a fool that
never washes fruit. Also, all the glowing pregnant ladies with cute bumps and
not a lick of nausea will send you into a murderous rage.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So don’t google stuff. Instead you should probably eat some
macaroni and cheese while watching episodes of Jersey Shore. It’s working out for me pretty well.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Everybody has been asking me if I’ve been having cravings yet
and the short answer is no. Every food makes me want to die. There are some
foods that make me want to die less, if you want to call that “cravings”.
Probably worse than food actually is any fluid, which I just can’t stomach. I
read in a pregnancy book the other idea that I should be striving for 12
glasses of water a day and I actually snorted. I consider it a great
accomplishment if I’m able to gag down 32 oz of fluid in my 9 hour work day.
Someone we work with brought in sugar free lemonade from Hot Dog on a Stick and
I was able to drain that sucker pretty good. So I’m all about lemon water and
lemonade right now. Peanut butter and fruit are other faithful standbys. But
really, these are things I was semi-obsessed with before pregnancy so who
knows.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In other news, pregnancy has made me even lamer than my
usual lame self but provides an excellent excuse to take bubble baths before
going to sleep at 8 pm. It also had made me fully appreciate the true beauty that
is Cinnamon Toast Crunch*. But let’s be honest, you don’t have to be knocked up
to realize that. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*This message was not brought to you by Cinnamon Toast
Crunch. However, I will not turn away large sums of money from General Mills if
they wish to offer it to me. Just putting that out there.</div>Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02141850423646457824noreply@blogger.com0