23 Weeks!

How far along? 23 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: No idea!
Sleep: It's definitely still on and off. I think I've finally met up with the dreaded 2nd Tri Insomnia!
Best moment this week: Putting up our Christmas Tree and decorating the house!
Movement: Lots! And Gez finally got to feel the baby moving from the outside, which was a pretty special moment. Last night I even saw my belly moving when the baby gave some especially big kicks!
Gender: Boy!!
Labor Signs: I'm pretty sure I felt my first Braxton Hicks contraction, but that is common at this stage, so not really a labor sign per se.
Belly Button in or out? Still an innie
Food cravings/aversions: This week I've developed a renewed (and unfortunate) appreciation for Snickers Bars.
What I miss: I've got nothing this week. Although I am starting to feel a bit more cumbersome and limited physically- so I'm sure that will begin to prove frustrating
What I am looking forward to: My visit with the midwife next Friday, I think we'll begin discussing a preliminary birth plan.
Weekly Wisdom: As exciting as it is to think about the holidays next year with a baby, I'm trying to take the time to appreciate these last few months as a couple.
Milestones: Our little boy can now hear things going on on the outside!

Today I completed my first real parental act: I booked daycare for my child. This is something that has been weighing on my mind since we first found out that I'm pregnant. You see, I'm a bit of an overplanner, I hate the feeling of not having all of my proverbial ducks in a row. Year-long waiting lists scare me! I couldn't escape the scary image that we would totally fail to be prompt about finding quality care, and our baby would be stuck watching Blues Clues reruns and drinking Pepsi out of his bottle, while his "daycare provider" chain-smoked in the next room. So as soon as we hit the 12 week mark of this pregnancy Gez and I started doing our research. We had a conversation about what type of care we were both comfortable with, and decided that we wanted a center, rather than any type of in-home carers. Now, I'm sure that there are some really really great in-home daycares out there, but for me it just wasn't something I wanted to consider. I personally feel that centers are a bit more regulated, tend to have a stronger educational base, and are better able to provide fun and enriching experiences (field trips, outings , etc). We did have to make some compromises, though. For example, we were really hoping to find a Welsh-Language nursery, but out of the acceptable ones that we found one was wayyy outside the city and the other never returned my calls, which totally turned me off.

But we're so happy with our final choice. Upon our initial visit we were greeted warmly by the staff, the babies seemed to be either playing or sleeping happily. We were pleased with the level of interaction, as well as the quality of the facilities. I was duly impressed when they showed us the food-prep area (I was going to ask to see it anyway, but was pleased that I didn't have to reveal the level of my paranoia), which was clean and sanitary. It's a bright, colorful, cheerful place, and I know that our son will really enjoy it there.

None of this, however, makes it any easier to think about. Although I'm lucky that I'll have 5 months at home with my baby before he starts at the nursery, I don't like thinking about having to leave him. And yes, I know it'll be harder on me than it will be for the little guy- he'll be having tons of fun playing with all of his new buddies, singing songs, and fingerpainting while I have to leave my baby and go to dumb ol' work! I just keep reminding myself how much harder it would be if I wasn't 100% comfortable with the care he was receiving. And anyway, now that it's taken care of, I don't need to think beyond those wonderful first 5 months, for now anyway!

Yesterday I started crying during a Coca-Cola commercial. Not even one of the ones with the polar bear and baby seal. Nope. The one with the big Coca-Cola trucks rolling into the snowy town under the Christmas lights. WTF?

I also cried while watching Elf last weekend. Awesome. Thanks, hormones!

Ooh la la!

Do you like our new look? I've had a bunch of fun this afternoon playing around with new formats and color schemes, and I think this pretty green and blue style works best. I happen to love it, and I hope you do too!

At any rate, we had a pretty fun and lowkey weekend. Poor Gez seems to have contracted a stomach bug, and so was off both Thursday and Friday. He wasn't 100% over the weekend either, but gamely went forth on Saturday for some holiday cheer. We were able to get some Christmas shopping under our belts, had a lovely lunch in our old neighborhood, picked out our Christmas tree, and managed to decorate it once we got home. So all in all, not a bad start to the holiday season. The house is decorated, the shopping is done for all the American relatives (and will hopefully be mailed this week!), all we need to do is write out our Christmas cards and do some baking.

I do love the whole Christmas season, but it's difficult not to feel a little homesick around this time of year. And living in the city, with rain falling for the past month, makes me wistful for the woods and snow, and the Christmas tree in my parents' living room. Anyone who has ever gone for a walk in the Vermont woods while snow is falling knows the particular sort of silence that it holds. I miss that. I am so looking forward to next year when we can share that experience with our little boy. In the meantime though, it's also nice to make new traditions with my husband and family over here. Having already spent a Christmas in Wales (how very Dylan Thomas of me), there are now different things I'm looking forward to, like mince pie and Christmas pudding, the Doctor Who Christmas Special, and of course Christmas morning with my husband and in-laws.

However, when it comes to my side of the family I think everyone is already looking forward to next Christmas, as crazy as it sounds! Not only will we be over with the little one, but it will also be my brother and SIL's year to have Christmas in Vermont, which means that we'll all be under one roof. I think my mother will implode with excitement! All 3 grandchildren together! While our baby will only be about 8 1/2 months, my nephews will be 4 and 2 1/2, so they'll be all excited for Santa. It'll be a family Christmas of Griswold-ian proportions. We're all excited. No joke, my brother was talking about it to the girl cutting his hair the other day...

21 week 4 days

Here it is! The long awaited for bump-pic. Please excuse the frizzy, crazy hair! I'm starting to look a bit more pregnant- although, from my view the change is much more dramatic!

I haven't done one of these surveys in awhile- so here we go:


How far along? 21 weeks 4 days
Total weight gain/loss: No idea!
Sleep: It's touch and go right now. It's getting more and more difficult to get comfortable.
Best moment this week: Thanksgiving- and realizing that next year we'll have our little guy to celebrate with!
Movement: Tons- especially after I eat or drink some juice or (gasp!) a little soda.
Gender: Boy!!
Labor Signs: Nope, thank goodness!
Belly Button in or out? In, but it's gotten the teensy bit shallower, and I'm finding it really interesting. Is that weird?
Food cravings/aversions: Not really- I'm pretty much back to normal as far as what I enjoy eating.
What I miss: Being able to stay awake past 10 pm.
What I am looking forward to: Getting our Christmas tree- painting Little Boy's nursery!
Weekly Wisdom: There's seriously so much crap you can buy for a baby- try to set a budget and stick to it- not always easy!
Milestones: Our little boy now has a crib of his very own! All cute and set up in his room! And his Nana is making him a matching crib skirt and window valance- what more could a guy want?!