camping, childcare, etc.

Last weekend we went camping with PC's parents and his brother's family.  Please tell me... where will we put a baby... much less any baby stuff?!?

Yes, that is a small a/c unit.  We rigged it up on the screened porch end of the tent so that me and baby didn't get too miserably hot.  (I still think we were roughin it compared to the others with RV's complete with water, a/c, and bathrooms!) 
We had a good time.  We tricked my FIL by giving him a pink gift bag. There was a blue onesie inside that had "Team Grandpa" on it.  He has claimed from Day 1 that I was carrying his grandson so we wanted to have a little fun with that.  Really, he would have been happy with another little granddaughter to have wrapped around his finger but this little boy is coming after a long line of girls on PC's side so that's okay too!
In one of the baby conversations on the trip, SIL asked me if I had thought about childcare.  I told her I would like to find someone to keep him in their home or someone to come to our home rather than daycare until he's a little older. MIL told me (later) that her feelings were hurt because we hadn't asked her to keep the baby.  To tell the truth, I never thought about asking a grandparent to change their routine to keeping a baby 40+ hours a week.  Help us? Back-up?  Yes!  PC and I have known since we started TTC that we would be a two parent working home and we would just have to make it work like many other families in the same situation.  We wouldn't leave our child with just anyone and we wouldn't choose a daycare blindly... the grandmothers are going to have to trust us on that!  Whew!  Overwhelmed thinking about all this already!  

Boy oh Boy

120 miles + $40 + one cup of orange juice later

= one active little BOY on the way here :] 

Ecstatic!

Boy or Girl?

Wish we knew!  Arrrghhhh!  I have admiration for those of you who wait and want it to be a surprise!  I don't want to wait any longer but this little one is not about to unlock those legs despite all the pushing and pleading Dr. B6 was doing today!  The cord was wrapped in the middle area too so that further blocked any kind of "money shot."  SO... I called around this afternoon to find a place that does 3D/4D ultrasounds/gender scans and I asked them to work me in asap!  At this point, I'm willing to pay to find out pink or blue.  Any advice out there?  Should I drink a forbidden coke?  What can I do to get this little guy/girl moving around in there?!?  To be continued...

Humpday Hero Award

I am super excited to be today's recipient of the Humpday Hero Award over at The Stork Drop Zone!  I wrote a message to my readers in the post and honestly feel that the true award belongs right back to all of YOU!  Thank you so much to whoever felt I was worthy enough to receive the honor!  I wanted to display the button proudly so I opened my e-mail to ask Carlia how to do it and she had already sent instructions...awesome... a big thank you Carlia for creating the award and keeping the IF sisterhood even more connected:]

First Trimester Recap

Some co-workers were telling me they wrote to their child while they were pregnant, they read and sang to their belly, etc.  I thought about writing in a journal but I knew I would never keep up with it.  I told PC I was already behind in keeping some sort of record of this pregnancy and his response was "Did your mom do that?"  (No)  "Do you think my mom did that?" (No) "Then is it something you really have to do?" (Well, I guess not)  Then, it occurred to my pregnancy brain (save that for another post) that I have recorded my thoughts... a lot of them anyway... right here!!!  However, I have not included a weekly update so I'm going to improvise a little and use the list below for the First Trimester. 

How far along: Weeks 1-13

Symptoms: Some off and on nausea the first few weeks that subsided around week 9 (never threw up!), excessive saliva (very first symptom that has never went away... I went from lemon drops to bubble gum to just dealing with it), sore bbs just for the first couple of weeks, strange and vivid dreams, 1-2 nightly potty trips, tired most in the early afternoon, my least favorite- constipation, overall- just happy to be in this place

Baby Related Purchases:  To baby... love you dearly but you will find out that I'm always looking for bargains.  No worries, grandma has already loaded you up with some of the cutest things and is fussing at me about how her "grandbaby isn't going to have all used stuff."  Nevertheless, we've bought a used-but-in-excellent-condition pack-n-play, swing, monitor, a couple of outfits and a diaper genie.  We're looking and researching about things for you that will be all new such as a crib, furniture and travel system.        

Maternity clothes:  Yes, I can't button regular pants.  I've gained 5 pounds and I can't button over it or under it! 

Sleep: Wake up 1-2x a night to pee... if I can work in a mid-afternoon nap, one of my most favorite places to be is in the hammock chair on the back porch, oh so cozy... PC snapped a pic one afternoon

Best Moment of the Trimester:  Telling others, especially my mom

Strangest Moment:  It's been strange, in a good way, just to think about another little life growing inside of me!

Movement:  Not yet, but I am listening to your sweet heartbeat every day:]  

Cravings:  Salty & sour over sweet, just about everything I ate during the first six weeks I couldn't bear the thought of eating the next six weeks... felt bad for PC because that included his favorite, Mexican food.

Gender:  Have a prediction based on our last ultrasound, but waiting until our next appointment on July 5th to make it official.

Belly Button: In... is it supposed to pop out?  That will be freaky, I must say!

What I miss:  sushi (when a craving strikes) and I could use a little extra dose of energy... hoping that's around the corner 

What I am looking forward to: Second Trimester... finally announcing blue or pink...feeling movement

Weekly (or First Trimester) Wisdom:  Keep crackers or nuts or something in the car when hunger strikes!  Invest in expensive toilet paper for all the extra trips to the bathroom!  Read The Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy.  Enjoy every single sweet second:]  

Milestones: The First Trimester!!! 

Sticky Bun is the size of: somewhere around a lemon and apple... when people ask how big you are, I speak in terms of fruit!!!

And... the end of the first trimester bump...