Just a laff

The Belly

Week 18 and feelin' fine! We got our test results back for the maternal serum screening and to quote nurse Barb, "everything is perfect". We're still having our bi-weekly doppler shows. We thought that the sessions would get shorter now that we've become more accustomed with locating the heart beat, but lately we've been finding mine first and then the baby's will kick in and harmonize. We'll hear both together and then we'll get a quick baby beat solo. It is one of the most amazing sounds ever! I haven't been feeling any real baby movement yet. I get a flutter every now and then but nothing really pronounced, like a good kick! Soon, I'm sure.

I was having a bit of a time with the whole pregnant body image thing. When people would say, "wow, you're really starting to show", I'd hear - "jeeze you're getting fat". And if they'd say "you're not really showing yet", I'd hear - "are you sure that you're pregnant?" Perhaps I was experiencing some sort of the-grass-is-always-greener kinda syndrome. Or something similar. Like, if you have curly hair, you want it to be straight. I am a woman after all! And a pregnant one to boot!

Here's an example of the kinda crap I get to hear. At work, we we're all placing an order for lunch. I choose the small chicken noodle. Buddy* next to me says something like, "you better order the small. you're really starting to pack it on". I say, "I must really get you that list of things NOT to say to a pregnant woman**. As a matter of fact, Bill* has it right now. Maybe you can get it from him". Bill would be the guy who growls "prrrreggggo" every time I walk by. Buddy got the hint and a few minutes later he came around to apologize. Whatever. And then there's the waiter at the local pub, "wow, you sure are gaining weight fast!" "Well, I am almost at 18 weeks now." "Really? Didn't you tell me that you were at 12 weeks?" "uh, ya...that was about 6 weeks ago." Duh!

Please don't get me wrong. I'm more than proud of my ever expanding belly. Just ask Jay! I'm dancing around holding my bump and telling him to look at it and talk to it and sing to it and touch it. There's someone growing inside, isn't that just freaky!!!?

I've always thought that photos of pregnant bellies were kinda , well, strange. I will admit to having perused sites where women post their preggo bumps. I HAD to compare. And it looks as though I measure up! But recently I've actually had some requests from people wanting to see what it looks like, so here you go...

18 weeks

* names have been changed to protect the stoopid.

**why do we say pregnant "woman"? is there such a thing as a pregnant man? or are people just afraid that others might think that they're referring to the pregnant cat or dog or cow or sheep? In Spanish there's just one word for it - embarazada. Which, of course, can be easily confused with avergonzado (embarrassed). So it would be an easy mistake for a person learning Spanish to make: "Pablo esta embarazado". Paul is pregnant!? How embarrassing!

Growing Pains

Every now and then I'll get a little "stitch" down in the lower abdominal area. Sometimes on the right side, sometimes on the left. If I get up too quickly, if I laugh, cough, sneeze something in there pulls and it really effen hurts! On Sunday evening it really started to burn, across the entire area. I was fine if I was sitting or standing still, but by Monday I could hardly walk. Great. Luckily we had a doc appointment that morning. "Nothing to worry about", she said. "Growing pains". It seems that there are ligaments that support the uterus. The round ligaments. As the uterus expands in size and weight, the ligaments supporting it stretch, becoming longer and thinner. Ouch! The next day got a little better and now, Wednesday, all is pretty much back to normal. Phew! But as my mother put it, "Eso no es nada!" Translation: "You ain't seen nuthin yet!" Thanks Mom.

Our doc appointment marked the beginning of week 16. She checked all my vitals and had a listen to the baby's heartbeat and let us know that all is good. We were given some prenatal classes info and sent for a Maternal Serum Screening. Yeehaw! More waiting....As before, with the NT Screening, we feel super confident that all will be fine. We're looking forward to week 19 when we go for our next ultrasound. It will be Christmas Eve. If the baby allows us a peek, we will be able to tell if it's a dude or a doll.

Any bets?

Baby Beignets

and they just keep a-comin'....yesterday my über groovy boss took me and some of my favourite ladies out for a celebratory-bun-in-oven lunch. I had never been to George. What a fabulous restaurant. The artichoke soup and duck cannelloni were divine! Not to mention....dessert!

mmmm...chocolate filled baby beignets

These delectable chocolate beignets covered in cinnamon sugar came courtesy of George. Kim had brought me a little prezzie (some Body Shop butter for my belly and yummy lip gloss). I'm thinking that the gift bag triggered the waiter to ask, "Special occasion? Someone's birthday?" "Well kinda. Some time in May." It took everything out of me not to lick that congratulatory chocolate right off that plate! Thanks Michael and Kim and Jodi and Jillian, from me and the bump. xo

Angel of Love

The well wishes, congratulations and prayers just keep coming. And we love and very much appreciate it! My sister-in-law, Lori, gave me a very special gift. It's a small medal of Saint Gerard Majella, Patron Saint of Expectant Mothers. I carry it everywhere I go, it's pinned to the inside of my wallet. It looks something like this:

and on the flip side is Mary holding baby Jesus.

I had never heard of St. Gerard. Guess I'm a lapsed Catholic. Lori, on the other hand, is very committed and keeps us all safe in her prayers. Although Jay and I have been baptized and gone through both communion and confirmation, we did not get married in the Catholic church. What will this mean for Baby Flores-Holz? We've never really talked about it, perhaps we should. For now it's good to know that we have Saint Gerard (and hopefully all of the angels and saints) watching over us. Oh, and Lori Flores too - of course!

Baby's First Track

We rented a doppler. We researched and researched and ran it by our doc. Everyone gave us the thumbs up. The only drawback that we were advise of was that not finding the heartbeat or not knowing what to listen for could cause us stress. We have had no trouble finding the heartbeat. Listening to it is like hearing the growing baby say "¡hola!". The doppler came as a kit, with the gel and an instructional CD all in a pretty velvet bag. I love it. We took it to my parents' place over the weekend for Show & Tell. A moment I will never forget -- lying on my parents' bed, surrounded by loved ones, listening to the newest family member's heart beat away. I don't think we've ever been that quiet! Jay, being the musician/armchair sound technician, set up our mini studio at home in order to lay down baby's first track. You can click play on the recording in the side bar and have a listen for yourself.

thumpedythumpthumpthump!

Everything is Fine

We got our test results back from the nuchal translucency screening and we rocked the report! My doctor's nurse left a message on my cell and I can't stop listening to it! "we got the report back and it is fine...it puts you below a 15yr old, which is basically negative....everything is fine." Yabba dabba doooo!!!

With that news under my ever expanding belt I've been able to start telling some more folks at work and last night I was able to freak out a table of knitters. We had just come from a new knit shop launch and we were cozying up in a booth at a nearby restaurant when the girls pulled out their loot bags and started talking about swapping the balls of yarn they were given. I suggested that they all keep what they had so that they could knit booties for the baby I'll be having in May. For the most part they thought that I was just messing with them, but once they realized that I was more than serious they were full of congrats and support. Phew!

It's getting easier and easier to say it out loud. Fun, even! Here are a few of my favorite ways of spreading the news so far:

• telling my mom, at her birthday party, that we had one more birthday present for her.
• telling Jay's parents that we had a great picture to show them and then presenting them with the shot of the 7 week ultrasound.
• Jodi asking me "what you knittin?" and me responding with "a maternity sweater".
• after declining a glass of wine and refusing the caesar salad made with raw eggs, Jillian asks "whut's up?", I respond "bun in oven."
• telling Kathryn that I need to talk to her about maternity leave.
• telling the knitters to save their yarn for baby booties.

a few memorable reactions:
• my mom bouncing up and down like a little girl while my grandma puts her hands in prayer and gazes up to the heavens in thanks.
• Jay's mom gasping and tearing up at the shot of the ultrasound.
• Bonnie hugging me over and over and over again.
• Kathryn jumping up and down while trying not to make a sound.
• All of the knitters faces as they registered the information.

I must keep adding to these lists. The support and excitement has been amazing. The non-stop hugs and words of encouragement are helping to keep me calm and at ease. Just like nurse Barb said, "Everything is fine."