[peach - week 13]

Last Friday we went to our first Giants game. Being the good mother that I am, I fed the baby a hot dog, some roasted peanuts, a sugar bomb of an ice tea and several handfuls of cotton candy. Then, like a child, I had a tummy ache. The Giants beat the Astros, whoever they are. I wore my Red Sox hat proudly. One of my favorite parts was post-game when the fans leave and the seagulls swarm the stands. It's a scene straight out of The Birds. Squawking and fighting and birds trying to swallow nacho chips whole.

I am wearing maternity jeans now. They have a wide elastic below the belly panel and no zipper. They pull right up and are still too big–despite Friday's meal. I'm going to eat a few spoonfuls of Nutella and see if they fit better. Here is a photo of me in my new pants. Sucking in my gut for who the hell knows why.

Before you report me to child welfare for malnutrition, I've begun my prenatal yoga classes. I had no idea there were so many pregnant ladies in my neighborhood. It made me feel slightly less isolated in my hipsters-not-mamas-unless-you-count-Hoochie-mamas neighborhood. Plus the classes are at Yoga Tree 10 blocks away and therefore bracketed by a mile walk each way. I like it. I also like snagging some salsa and a burrito from Papalote after class. Speaking of that, I'm pretty sure it's snack time...

[plum - week 12]

Phew! We FINALLY got to tell everyone. What a giant relief. It was so joyful calling the family to share the good news. Mom-mom wants her great grandmother name to be Grand Ma Ma. So classy.

Coincidentally, for Mother's Day weekend we threw the first brunch of the season out on our deck and came clean with our dirty little secret by way of my tiny round belly. For the record, brunch with several Mimosas (last time...) is way better than brunch with only a sip of champagne (this time...). Humph.

Wendy & Paul gave me some swiss-water decaf from Kaua'i Coffee! Oh my, it is fabulous. So velvety. So sweet. I'm purring. I first had their regular roast on our honeymoon. This rich, creamy decaf latte is so nice after months of tea. I cannot thank you enough guys, so thoughtful. Pregnant lady = happy.

Offbeat Mama

After I'm all sugary, sticky and paranoid from reading too much of The Bump, I like to counter it with some realism. I take some time to recenter with the help of Offbeat Mama. It's very creative and balancing.

I first got on board with their down to earth sentiment when I was wedding planning. Reading Offbeat Bride to remind myself that there really aren't any rules. It's quite refreshing. Check it.

Crazy dream #4

4. Can't remember where I was, but I found a toilet. The toilet seat cover was blue patterned rug. And I mean the actual seat, not just the lid that matches the floor rug set. I shudder to think of how filthy the carpeted seat would be. Gag. I was trying to tear pieces of toilet paper as a seat covering before sitting. I could only tear off teeny tiny pieces. So annoying.

Lucky for me (and Mike!), I woke up at this point. Please keep your fingers crossed that my next post doesn't involve questions about removing pee from a bed. Sigh.

Baby's first ABCs

Our good friend Paul wrote a book! It's an adorable ABCs book with fantastic little characters... "A is for Ashley who's always asleep" LOVE LOVE LOVE

Get one for yourself on his site

Is it just me?

Or does this movie look fascinating? Babies

 

Watch the trailer. Really. I like the idea of getting a glimpse outside of the American way of baby raising.

Oh, and Mike wants to get a goat for the baby to have as a pet.

Belly.

It's either starting to pop out. Or I'm bloated. Or just fat from my 12 meals a day diet plan. Stay tuned.

[lime - week 11]

We see the baby even bigger with actual arms legs now. And a big fat head. Ultrasound for Downs Syndrome screening - likelyhood is 1/16,000. We breathe deeply. 
Phew.

Here's the baby's bum. (No, you can't see it's bits yet.)

Here's the baby camped out. 4D ultrasound. Wiggly spindle legs.

We're a day away from the 3 month mark and finally can spill the beans.

Crazy dreams.

I wake up to pee in the night. I'm sure this influences the dreams of Terrible Bathrooms!

1. I'm in a very large public bathroom, in a stadium or high school. The stall walls are very low. There are lots of people in the bathroom too. The walls are pointless as everyone can still see into the stall. No privacy. The toilet is filthy.

2. I'm at a house. I can barely squeeze into the bathroom behind the door and between the sink. There are a couple of stairs that lead down to the toilet below the sink. It's pastel and homey. But the toilet sits in about 2 inches of filthy water. In order to crouch over the toilet I must stand in the water.

3. I'm in a huge loft during a low key party. I can't find the bathroom and no one else can show me. There's a decorative toilet on the floor in the living room. It's not hooked to any plumbing. I check under the lid a dozen times just in case.

I have now commanded myself to quit looking for a bathroom in my dreams. Just wake up and go. I can't handle the frustration. And it's only a matter of time before I FIND one and pee the bed. Right? Yikes.

[prune - week 10]

Second doctor visit. Saw a wiggly little baby moving it's head and arms. Mike says "twitchy like it's mom"

All is well at 10 weeks 6 days.
We still think it's a BOY.

We are getting antsy to tell people. It's getting harder to disguise my belly and my "not feeling like a glass of wine" self. Yeah right, who believes that?

[olive - week 9]

Workload relaxes. Getting re-centered. Taking more naps. Nesting and organizing.

Mike shows his patience. He is a rockstar. So supportive during my moments of faltering confidence, exhaustion and swinging moods.

Thank you my love. Thank you.

[raspberry - week 8]

Sourpuss. Grouch. Sleepyhead. Impatient. Busy. Flustered. Disorganized. Bad skin. Bad hair. Bad mood. Sigh... Not sure if I'm starting to show or I'm just fat. Blah. I feel disgusting. My pants don't zip.

Where is my f#@ing GLOW??

[blueberry - week 7]

With that, we head out of town. I to Massachusetts for friends and folks. He to Toronto for a bit of the same.

Morning (or all day) sickness remains at bay until week 7. Then demands a full belly like a leaky oil tank. I snack like a habit. A handful of goldfish crackers at midnight just to fall asleep. And water. And grapes. And hardboiled eggs. And nuts. And tea.

My friend and ally–coffee–quickly earned enemy status. Along with her, my energetic spark fades.

[sweetpea - week 6]

First official doctor visit. Heartbeat. Just one. Thumpthumpthumpthump 126bpm. like a giddy kitten.
A stack of pamphlets and a blurry blob photo. It's the blob in the dark blob. Really. You try to pick it out then.

[appleseed - week 5]

My hormones are at the helm again. My calm collected self is out-to-lunch.
Damn it. I was enjoying She. So was Mike.
Sigh.

[poppyseed - week 3-4]

We quickly realize we know nothing. I start reading everything on The Bump.com

Online we calculate from February 11, 2010 (my last period).
In a flash we travel from "Could be" to "4.5 weeks"

We are bursting to spill it. Let's call our parents.

What does it say?

Why don't you come up and see for yourself my dear. Grin.
(+     )

Oh. My. God. We're. Pregnant.
Wow. That was fast. First try!

The night before I take the test, I dream the results come up as a smiley face and say it's a boy. Stay tuned.