Boys or men, you sleep the same

Have you noticed that men generally sleep in the same spot every night, whereas women take up the whole bed and move about? Seems the same goes in utero. A woman carrying a girl has a tummy of disproportions. A woman carrying a boy has a nice round stomach like she stuffed a basketball under her shirt like she did when she was 6 years old imitating the pregnant teacher or mother.

My little boy has taken to wedging himself to the very bottom of my tummy, stretching across my bladder (the perfect pillow apparently)! I feel the weight pull down as he curls up in his burrow. Often I can rub his back when he rolls over on his side, pushing his back against my hand.

Watching videos can make one ....cry?

I recently watched a couple of birthing videos. I cried each time!? Not sad or fearful tears...but a range of emotions...its beautiful (and seemingly painful).

One friend asked me if it was because in one of them the partner was there being so supportive. "No, I don't think so," I replied. After all, I have a generous friend who's stepped up and offered to be my partner, I just hope he gives back massages like in the video!

If you'd like to see some amazing videos or just see what the heck made me cry, visit: http://www.babycenter.com/video
I watched the Natural Child Birth video.

In truth, I watched almost them all, although I couldn't bring myself to watch the c-section. No, thanks.

Now, that I think about it, I might have cried watching the cute baby get a bath!? Gee, I'm not emotional? Anyone want to take me to a movie? You bring the Kleenex, I'll buy the popcorn!

Nipple cream

Nipple cream has to be the oddest thing. It feels like a blend of vaseline and honey that doesn't wash off easily. But I have to admit its a nipple-saver in this heat!

On a funny note, I think I made the lady at the drugstore turn a little red when she asked if I needed help and I replied, "Nipple cream." She hurried me over to the baby section and pointed to the obscure spot it was placed in.

The bad and the good side of pregnancy

Bad: I can't tie my shoes. I might need to buy bigger underwear. I have to pee every hour with urgency then again five minutes after peeing. My feet hurt and have grown a size and a half!? There goes all my cute shoes (plus side = shoe shopping! what girl doesn't love that?!)

Good: My boobs look great and fit into the boob cubbies in clothes now! I have a better excuse to wear a dress in the daytime. Yoga still feels great, is easy, and I even have better balance! I crave healthy foods. I crave ice cream and eat it cause I must need it! I get to watch and feel the amazing experience of someone kicking and move about inside of me!

So far I have had...

...A smooth pregnancy where I feel amazing and look great, but am plagued with random moments of emotional upheaval, spawned by the uncertainty of key roles.
I'm past the halfway point and starting to "nest". I need answers, I need child care, I need baby items, I need the nursery to be put together.
I'm thinking "nest" is another word for "need". Much like I need some ice cream right now.

Contact!

Last night he was restless... I could feel with my hand and see with my eyes his kicking, stretching, and punching. But the most amazing moment was when I pushed gently on my tummy and he pushed back, I could feel him with my fingertips!

Need versus cravings

I can't say that I've had any real strange cravings. But what I have had is a NEED for things I used to eat or drink only occasionally:

Orange juice
Milk
Apples
Ice Cream (although my intake of ice cream always increases in the summer)

If I don't have these items available in the house or on a daily basis, I freak out.

These items I can survive, but within a day I need them again:

Bananas
Peanut Butter

At least they are all healthy choices!

Kick, kick!

The kicks are still small, but it's so exciting to feel them throughout the day! When I have a moment to sit down, I can't help but place my hand on my tummy and hope to feel a kick or two to remind me there's a reason my ass and my tummy are getting so big!

Bath time...kicking and splashing!

I finally took a long awaited bath... of course a warm not hot bath. But after five minutes I was draining half the water out to add cold water.

While I lay, gently splashing the cool bath water I could feel someone waking up and moving around. His movements were so hard I could see my belly move. I put my hand on the tummy and waited for each kick. I could feel them on the inside and the outside!

I am almost certain now that the "gas or kick" is actually a kick. Looking back two days ago while the nurse and I were listening to his heartbeat he was active and kept moving in and out of range. Then he made a "surface" kick at the device she was pressing into my belly. She saw it! I felt the same jabs and kicks laying in the tub. It's early to be feeling him on the outside, but I'm not surprised!

Now everyone can have a good reason to put their hands on my belly. But good luck, it's not often his up and about...he's quite the napper!

Can you see?

I'm on my parent's computer and I'm noticing that the pictures look very dark, especially the ultrasound. I can barely make them out. Are you having trouble too? Let me know so I can go in and adjust them.

Gas or kicking?

Laugh if you must but I can finally relate to all those moms wondering: was that gas or the baby? In the beginning I could distinguish, but now as everything inside of me has shifted and squished itself into odd places, I can't seem to tell the difference.