Sing, Sing a song

So in all of the pregnancy books they recommend that you start singing and talking to your baby. Well, considering how much I flap my gums all day, she certainly hears enough of me talking--but the singing? It didn't come so naturally.

I normally listen to Howard Stern during my daily commute and we don't listen to a whole lot of music at home, so this has required a conscious effort. But when I thought about the stories of my dad singing Stevie Wonder's "Isn't she lovely" to my older sister when she was a baby, my heart melted all over again and it had me wanting to have the same stories to tell my own child.

So we started out (as expected) with a short, but sweet Beatles tune that just happened to pop into my head one day... I've even found myself humming it in the shower!


And then we expanded our horizons (and come to think of it, dark discussion of alcoholism) with a little Lady Gaga:


Dude--I finally got my copy of the Fame Monster, so you can't really blame me for having this stuck in my head, right? This song is aaaahhhmazing, even if it's not really warm and fuzzy appropriate for a baby! ;-)

Okay, so I guess it's time to get back to baby-appropriate tunes. This week I decided to lighten things it up with a little Buble... Sure, it's about romantic love but I know a lot of people who have found a connection with love for their future children. And hello? It's catchy as hell!



Lastly, this is not really a song I sing to Lil, but I kid you not--my baby loves when I play this freaking song. Every time it's on, she starts jumping around like mad. She's going to LOOOOVE it when we go to see Lady Gaga live this summer! :-)



So that's my Mommy Playlist as it stands now, recorded for posterity!

I dreamed a dream

I know that hearing about other people's dreams is about as interesting as reading the fine print on a coupon, so let's suffice it to say that I had two dreams about delivering our baby and they were both odd, but not frightening in any way. In fact, I kept commenting that there was no pain, just pressure.

I realize real birth will not be without pain, but I can't say enough how much I'm actually looking forward to it. I know. If you didn't think I was a total nutter before, you are now convinced! ;-)

We're in week 4/12 of our Bradley Birthing classes and I'm really interested to get past general pregnancy topics and into the labor and delivery portion. I find it fascinating!

In the grand tradition of our family, I'll be going at this process without medication. Clearly, I understand that circumstances can arise that can be game-changers, but I'd like to go into this with a no Plan B mentality. Honestly, I will be pretty much devastated if I can't go through with the plan for some unforseen reason, but I guess I'll just have to cross that bridge if I come to it.

I can't say that I've spent my whole life envisioning myself pushing a stroller, but oddly enough I've always envisioned myself pushing out a baby without medication. The reasons why this is the best choice for me are almost endless, but I'm not huge into preaching to people the "why" behind my decision. To me, saying that this is what I've always wanted should suffice, right?

Anyone else out there completely jazzed about delivery?

23w

How far along? Photo is from 22w6d, today is 23w2d

Stretch marks? None (yet...)

Sleep: Still struggling to become a side sleeper. I usually fall asleep on my side and wake up on my back but I've really been fighting to stay off of my back. I am now using a grand total of 4 pillows--two under my head to combat reflux, on between my legs and one that I either hug or put behind my back. I will probably be adding another very soon for constant back support.

Best moment this week: Feeling/watching/loving her kicking. It's much more consistent, it makes me feel like I'm starting to get to know her a little. She always gives me 3 good kicks right before bed.

Movement: I think I've felt her roll over too. It's interesting that the kicks don't "come out of nowhere" anymore--I can usually feel some pressure from wherever she is and then I know that kicks are soon to follow.

Food cravings: I had too much chocolate this week. I bought a bag from work in May that lasted me the whole month. I think the same bag only lasted me a week this time. No more chocolate purchasing for me! Oh and I'm having a love affair with carrots. Maybe these two cancel each other out? ;-)

Food aversions: None that I can think of.

Labor Signs: None

Belly Button in or out? In, but I think it's gotten a wee bit more shallow.

What I miss: Alcohol. I was at a wedding this weekend and I hate to sound like I need to check myself into Betty Ford, but I just can't get motivated to dance without a drink. I did buy myself some n/a white wine to enjoy on a few summer nights. It's okay--still not quite dry enough for my tastes.

What I am looking forward to: Getting everything ready for a happy, healthy arrival. I'm finally starting to believe that it's really going to happen so nesting has kicked in full-force.

Weekly Wisdom: I don't really have any, but what I do have is an overwhelming urge to slap people for being ungrateful for the blessings they have in their lives and only speak about things in the negative.

And why does everyone only want to mention the awful things about having children and all of those "just you want!" condescending remarks. I'm aware that sometimes you may want to run away or sell off your children--but clearly I've signed up for this (twice) and am looking forward to it. Why urinate in the Cheerios, pray tell?

And if I can go 3 deep on this topic, I'm also confused when people try to complain about pregnancy FOR me. Like they talk about how hot I must be or how I must be so tired, etc. Then I'm like--Nah, I'm fine and they just keep going like they know better. I mean, some people have difficult uncomfortable pregnancies--I get that. But so far, I'm not one of them.

Weekly WTF: So last week DH and I were talking about J.Lo and how she's trying to look all hot and saucy in her skin tight clothes. He made some comment that celebrities should give up the sexpot thing when they become parents because they are someone's mother... And I was like--Wait, are you saying moms can't be sexy? He tried to backpedal, talking about how their bodies change, etc. Backpedal FAIL. I started crying and he was confused. If a celebrity can't be a sexpot, what kind of hope does that give me? We sort of agreed to drop the topic, but it just brought out my fears on having to sacrifice certain parts of my body for a baby. I understand it's part of the tradeoff, but it's not easy.

Nesting madness: Started working on house projects. We have a lot to do in the baby's room, but we're on hold with some electricians. In the meantime, we agreed to tackle a few outside jobs and our porch. The floor of the porch needs to be repainted and some repairs to termite damage we had last year.

DH spent Sunday scraping the paint and I did some spackling, painting of our mailbox, lamp post, and new house numbers, as well as scraping our front steps and side door to prep them for a new coat of paint. DH has forbidden me from painting (*whines* even with no VOC paint and in well ventilated area, even though I've done it before!) so these projects are probably going to take longer than they normally would. I hope he gives in on the paint thing soon--I have a burning desire to wield a roller!

Milestones: This morning I realized that I'm quickly creeping up on 3rd tri--I honestly never thought I'd be here. I tried to believe it, but it never really sunk in. Lately things have been feeling more real.

Mah Belleh

Admit it... You like the klassy work bathroom cameraphone thing, don't you?? ;-)

How far along? 21w 6d
Total weight gain/loss: You know, I hate this question. I think I'm going to end up redoing this whole stupid quiz.
Maternity clothes? Mostly.
Stretch marks? None, thank god. Just started with the Burt's Bees belly balm today, just to be sure.
Sleep: Didn't get enough this week. If I'm not in bed, asleep by 10-10:15, I'm exhausted the next day.
Best moment this week: Feeling outside kicks!
Movement: Wiggle wiggle, my little worm! I'm loving it. (I promise to come back and reread this when I'm begging her to get the fuck out of my ribs.)
Food cravings: Nah. Just random, "I want a Coke!" moments.
Food aversions: None, but drinking lots of water was a struggle this week.
Gender: As far as I know, she's still a girl.
Labor Signs: None, but I just read in my weekly newsletters that Braxton-Hicks could start soon. That seems crazy!
Belly Button in or out? In, but still veering to the right.
What I miss: Not having to drink a million glasses of water a day.
What I am looking forward to: Everything.
Weekly Wisdom: I've got nothing.
Milestones: Being more pregnant than I got to be with Jude. Last Saturday was the 21 week mark, the same point that I delivered Jude.

Did I forget to tell you something?

*points at ultrasound photo in sidebar on the right*

We decided to name Baby X Lillian. It's been our favorite girl name for years now. The middle name is still TBD, but we've never wavered in first name choice for a girl.

So sure, this isn't a terribly exciting update, but I know someone asked what we were going to name her--so here it is! My little Lilybear--or as DH has been lovingly calling her, "my little Tigerlily."

MELTS MY HEART EVERY.SINGLE.TIME, I TELL YOU!!

My little Who down in Whoville

As the weekend approached, I could tell that we were getting closer to feeling outside kicks. I no longer have to be in a perfect sitting position with my pants pressed into my belly to feel motion--sure, it's not as strong when I'm standing, but it's there.

A few times I've felt a little pop and I've wondered to myself if my hand would have been on the outside if I would have felt it--and then on Sunday we were over at my dad's and I could feel tons of rumblings and motion and I had a feeling that outside kicks were soon to follow.

I spent most of the day probably looking like a total weirdo with my hands precariously perched on my lower abdomen, just waiting for the opportune moment. I felt a few rumbles and twitches, but I knew that I was only aware of them because I could feel them on the inside, too.

Then came time for dessert--and I slammed some delicious ice cream and a Coke and WHAM! There she was, in all her glory--making her soccer-loving momma proud. I quickly called DH over to join in the fun and after a minute, there was another kick. He smiled and said he could feel it--then WHAM! She kicked so hard I could feel it through his hand. His eyes lit up in disbelief and we both burst out laughing.

Like I said before, I'm completly and utterly addicted to this. I wish I could chug Coke and ice cream all of the time, but alas I'm being a good little mommy and just waiting for her to keep getting bigger and more obviously active.