Update on the Prego

Well here are a few pictures from 23 (almost 24) weeks for those of you who having been asking (Mom!). They hardly do the growing belly justice, but that's okay.

Basically, I'm feeling pretty good overall! If you by chance want more info about how I'm liking pregnancy, you can read my little "best and worst list" below (subject to modification, of course, during the next 16 weeks).

Best things about being pregnant:

1. Feeling the little guy move. How could this not be someone's favorite thing about pregnancy?? I first felt him at a little less than 17 weeks (although it was really soft and would only happen right before bed). Of course his movements have become much more obvious since then and a few weeks ago his kicks were already so strong I started to worry about pushing out a too-big baby. Now, when he has mellow days where I don't feel much I worry like crazy that something is wrong. (See "worrying" under the 'worst' list.) Joe has been able to feel him multiple times, starting at 22 weeks, and we love feeling his body parts pressing up against my skin (although we can't really figure out what they are yet). Basically, I am never going to complain about too much kicking; I love every single reminder that he is in there and doing well.

2. Fast Sundays. Need I say more?

3. Joining "the club." While I was in law school, it was more challening to find things I had in common with other people (making friendships and conversations a little bit harder). Now I am part of the club and can talk forever about pregnancy & babies, which any mom or mom-to-be is eager to do. Finally!

4. How much I love my baby. I was have trouble thinking of anything else postive to say, but then I realized that this is one - seeing all the ways am I already changing my daily way of life, just because I am constantly thinking about my baby. For instance, I am listening to a lot less of my normal music (although not bad, it is usually fast-paced and annoying, I'll admit) and more classical music. I have started reading baby books aloud. I am constantly trying to make sure I am eating the right amount of the right thing (although this is a tough one and I am definitely not perfect at it ... should probably go on the 'worst' list, actually). Also, I feel horrible if I yell or say a bad word because my baby can hear me! Although most of the time I just go on with my daily life and don't really comprehend what is happening to me, there are times when it sinks in just how much I love this little guy and how excited I am to hold him once he gets here.

Now on to .... My least favorite things about being pregnant:

1. Worrying. Like I said, this happens a lot. Joe, being the rationally-minded guy he is, doesn't get it. My mom says the worrying won't be this bad once we get him here. I have my doubts about that, but I hope she is right!

2. Sleeping. I have had trouble with this one for as long as I can remember, and unfortunately being limited to side sleeping and having to get up for several bathroom trips a night isn't helping much! Man I can't wait to sleep on my stomach again (I know, it's a little early to be getting too excited about this).

3. Exercising. I had to learn early on (when I was bleeding) to alter my routine (basically, stop running) but I have been trying to keep doing as many other things as possible without over-doing it. However, I can already feel my body slowly wanting to do less and less. It just takes some getting used to ... and it someday it will be nice to exercise as hard as I want to without having to worry about anyone but myself. :)

4. Unmentionables. There are a few other small complaints I have that aren't exactly blog-appropriate (as well as a couple things on the plus side). Overall, though, I know I am pretty lucky to have had an "easy" pregnancy. Regardless, I am amazed at all the junk we women have to go through to birth our children. Fortunately we are all obsessed with the little person we are doing it for and that makes it all much, much rosier!

And now, three more pieces of news:

1. Stretchy pants. I finally found some maternity jeans and have started wearing them! (Boy was that a challenge.) Joe calls them my 'stretchy pants.' About a month ago when I was wanting to start looking for some, Joe absolutely did NOT believe that pregnant girls actually wore pants with stretchy-fabric waists. He thought the idea was totally laughable and insisted that I should just get a "bigger size" of my normal jeans and all would be well. I had to have several of my close friends assure Joe that yes, normal people wear such articles of clothing, and would be up a creek if they didn't. Boy was that funny!

2. People are noticing. I have had two strangers comment on my pregnant belly so far. First, a lady at the AT&T store who had just had a baby 3 months ago, and second, a Food Lion cashier. It is fun to finally be looking pregnant instead of fat!!

3. I have to go to work on Monday. I've had a couple months off since the bar exam, and now things are finally worked out so that next week I'll be starting to work full time. I'm pretty sure this will help solve my exercise complaint (no more time or energy) and will make the food thing a bit more tricky (Joe you better be ready to help cook because I am not going back to cold cereal!) I'll post more on this later .....

Oh, Baltimore .....

The few of you who used to ride the 'A train of the metro' (sadly the 'A train' driver retired several years ago) will recall the little farewell spiel he used to give at the most popular stops. It was pretty lengthy but part of it went something like this - telling you not to forget your "cellphone, keys, umbrella, chicken bones, chicken boxes, the husband, the wife, and the kids..." (Imagine it with a nice, thick southern accent. He went on and on and was actually pretty entertaining.)

Anyway, the whole chicken bones and chicken boxes part might not make a lot of sense unless you've ever stepped foot into the "World Famous Lexington Market," which is this huge food market next to the metro stop we got off at to go to school (and now, to work). Sounds exciting, right? Wrong! I think we both tried it a couple of times when we were fresh and naive. But after walking right by that place and breathing in the smell of rancid oil, secondhand smoke, and other foul odors for 3 years (over 4 now for Joe) Lexington Market is an establishment we avoid at all costs. (Probably a good thing since it is also the place to get handguns at a potato chip stand, 'loose ones' (single cigarettes), as well as perhaps some percoset or other goodies and services ACORN would call the "performing arts.")

The other day I went downtown for a meeting and saw a guy drop this fresh chicken bone right in front of me. We always joke about how you can't walk more than a few steps through the Lexington Market parking lot without coming across a discarded chicken bone (gross, I know) and so I was inspired to whip out my camara and go detective. The evidence is as follows:

You can understand, right, why although KFC may have been an acceptable tailgating snack every once in a while before we moved to Baltimore, we now won't touch the stuff. Somehow, it just represents the epitome of B-more ghetto-ness. I mean every place sells the stuff, even Wendy's!! Plus the smell - it's everywhere! You see people eating it on street corners, then throwing their bones into the gutter. Even one of Joe's patients asked immediately after receiving his denture: "Can I eat fried chicken with it??"

To sum it up: the day we start to crave fried chicken is the day it is time for our Baltimore chapter to come to a close.

(P.S. Don't be too scared of Baltimore. Some parts are really nice!!!!)

Our favorite little peanut butter cup

Exactly one week ago we had some major excitement around here! Little Reese Miller came into the world and Nate & Lori became parents! She was about 2 weeks early, so it was a bit unexpected and very exciting. Here's a very brief look at how it went down, from the Aunt & Uncle point of view. ;)

Thursday was Lori's birthday. I had made an oreo cheesecake for the occasion and after a busy day downtown, Joe and I were awaiting the call to come on up for cake & presents. When it came, Nate mentioned that Lori had been having contractions all day, but wasn't ready for the hospital yet - so we hurried up to get the party started.

When we got there everyone was helping Lori time her contractions and wondering what the heck 8 minutes apart could mean!! We enjoyed the cake and then I went with Nate & Lori on a walk around the neighborhood to see if she could get things moving. By then it was pretty obvious that Lori & her baby wouldn't be sharing a birthday (thank goodness) but why not have her come on out the next day?? The walk seemed to work. When we got back I went through the book on labor and delivery and reminded Lori of everything that was and would be happening to her, while she laid on the couch in pain. After we left, things really got going so to our surprise we soon had a text message letting us know they were on their way to the hospital!! I couldn't believe that I was just going to go to bed like normal while Lori was going to go have her baby. So crazy!!
Little Reese was born at 6:15 the next morning and things went perfectly (minus all the stuff that pretty much every woman has to go through, like it or not). We couldn't have been happier! That night Joe & I went to the hospital to meet our new niece. She was just as precious as can be! Joe LOVES holding her and of course so do I.

And just for fun, we brought along her first gift of Reeses Pieces and Reeses Peanut Butter Cups (well, they were mostly for the parents, maybe Reese can get a little taste through the milk). I'm sure there will be many, many more of those over the years - so good thing they're delicious!!

And she even kept her eyes open for this last picture - impressive! Way to go Lori and Reese (& Nate). We are so thrilled for you!! Your little cousin will be here in just about 4 months and you can show him the ropes!

My Belly

It's official: at over halfway there, I am now starting to look (& feel) big and preggo. I guess that's what I get for complaining that no one can tell I'm pregnant (that doesn't already know).

So here's me at 20 weeks: I actually wasn't feeling so huge yet. But something happened at 21 weeks (although it might not be that obvious from the pictures). Joe and I looked at my bare belly one night in shock and were like "How the heck did that get there??" He even told me that I looked like a certain very small person we know when they were about to deliver. Nice! I am not offended though - I was thinking the same thing.

I am kind of excited to start hearing all the crazy comments that strangers and others make to pregnant women, even though I'm sure it will get annoying pretty fast. Who knows, maybe I can milk this for some kind of special treatment, somewhere? So far the only advantage has been an extra sample of shrimp at Sam's Club when Joe pointed out, "What about one for the baby?" The lady was pretty excited and probably would have given me as many shrimp as I wanted.

So - what "stranger" will be bold enough to comment first?? Cuz that is not a beer belly, people!!