evolution

On Monday morning I promised myself that I would have a new outlook on my job this week: I'd be less pessimistic, ignore the various annoying people throughout my office and let things roll off my back rather than tick me off. I wasn't going to stress. Now that I'm a few days into my newly evolved outlook on work, I have to admit that people still piss me off on a regular basis. Just let me focus on my work and leave me alone, please... but the whole no-more-stress thing has actually worked. I didn't have a headache on Monday or Tuesday (and I barely had one yesterday) and I'd like to think it's more than just coincidence, no?

Evvvvvvveryone at works knows now. There's no hiding this tummy anymore. The techniques vary: "are you growing?" ... "did you have a big lunch?" ... "do you have something you need to tell me?" ... and this is the point where I usually say, you got me! I'm pregnant. Then, the baby gender/due date/how many weeks/well, when I was pregnant comments ensue. At one meeting a number of people actually declared that everyone needed to spare a seat for the pregnant lady, which was strange. I insisted I was fine and that I could stand - little did I know that meeting would drag on for an hour. The only reason it ended was because a girl actually fainted from standing up so long. For reals. It was that boring.

It's supposed to be 80 degrees tomorrow. If only we were still in Richmond... I'd spend my afternoon on Belle Isle with Luke, my lunch and a good book. Speaking of Richmond, good luck with your giant tattoo today, Taryn!! Feel better!! xoxo

word to the wise

Never steal a pregnant lady's McDonald's french fries (especially four french fries), especially after she drove all the way over to the McDonald's on Wiehle Ave. and sat in the lunch hour drive thru line for what seemed like ages. Not cool.

baby guacamole

First off, the requisite baby update. Now that I'm sixteen weeks along (!), the baby is about the size of an avocado. This week, "watch what you say... tiny bones forming in baby's ears mean the little one can now pick up your voice. Eyebrows, lashes and hair are starting to fill in, and taste buds are forming. And, if you're interested, an ultrasound might be able to determine gender." Only two more weeks to go until the big u/s! Steve and I went into a few baby stores at the mall this afternoon and, although we found a ton of cute stuff, we can't buy anything yet! We can't wait. I also just realized that when all of my fruit/veggie updates have metric measurements? The website I visit must have changed it since I saved them all, so from now on I will try to make sure all of the updates are in inches/ounces rather than centimeters/grams.

We spent most of the day in Richmond yesterday. Jimmy is finishing up Steve's half sleeve and he got about halfway through the tattoo in yesterday's sitting and we'll be back down next month to finish it up. It looks awesome - I sent a somewhat blurry shot to my mobile blog if you're interested. We got to see Taryn and Nate and Lauren (xoxoxo!) yesterday, too. We miss you guys!!! Thanks for keeping Steve company while I got a much needed haircut.

My sickness is gone, my pink eye is gone... back to the daily grind at work. Last but not least - I love you, best friend!!! :)

conjunctivitis

I have pink eye. Disgusting. Not only do I have pink eye, but apparently pregnant ladies can't use the normal eye drops so I am applying a lotion-like substance underneath my eyelid a few times a day... gross. I swear, I am always sick.

My dad leaves for Iraq tomorrow. :(

naval orange!

Time for a baby update! I thought I would include another informative diagram in addition to the fruit this week and also include what my baby newsletter says about our progress... Now that we're fifteen weeks along (hard to believe I'm nearly four months pregnant), "Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces. She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl!" These newsletters alternate between the he/she pronoun so no one get excited yet - three more weeks until we find that out.

Since I know people are keeping tabs on this child by the fruit comparisons, "Continuing the march towards normal proportions, baby's legs now outmeasure the arms. And, finally, all four limbs have functional joints. Make no bones about it, baby's making bones … She’s the size of a naval orange! Your fetus is squirming and wiggling like crazy down in the womb, though you probably still can't feel the movements." When I uploaded the photo to the left, I peeked ahead at all the other fruits/veggies I had saved for the duration of the pregnancy... this baby's going to get really big - really fast!

Steve was the world's best husband yesterday. We had initially planned on going to Buy Buy Baby in Springfield to check out the stroller I want in person (great success - the stroller is awesome). Before we ever made it to the baby store I'd convinced him to drive me to Krispy Kreme in Alexandria and then to make a stop at Robek's for a smoothie on the way back to BBB. The donuts I probably could have done without but the smoothie is another story. When I'm asked "what are you craving?" we've decided that I can't say "nothing, really!" anymore. The answer is simple: McDonald's french fries (warm salty goodness) and fruit. Lots of fruit. I buy a ridiculous amount of fresh fruit... juices that we've never bought before... my blender has never seen so much action as I try to cram as much fruity goodness into a smoothie as possible... It's a pretty healthy craving as long as I watch my sugar intake, but it's pretty bizarre.

I would venture to say we're getting into full baby mode now. Our conversations are sprinkled with "the baby" and "when the baby comes" and, even though we can't pick out the paint color for the nursery yet, we're already planning the chair rails we'll put in. We're talking names in bed at night (don't ask - it's a secret!) and are counting down the days until the ultrasound. It's baby time!

P.S. My bracket's probably not winning much considering I have Kansas beating UCLA in the championship game, but at least the 'Hawks are in it. I wish the game wasn't at 9:21 Monday night - I'll never be able to stay up for that!

38-12???

I'm watching KU play the most amazing game of the season right now... it's insane.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk, GO KU!!

27 days

• Our big ultrasound is April 28th at 11am! Everyone mark your calendars (I know, it's that important) and start counting down the days... I know we are... only 27 more days!
• Being off of work since mid-Thursday makes the return back this morning even more hellacious... yes, that's a word.
• Happy 23rd birthday to my favorite (and only) little brother! Hard to believe he's 23 but then again, I will be 26 this year which is the weirdest thing ever. That's close to 30!
• I ate at Red Hot and Blue twice in one day this weekend (!). Luckily, they had changed shifts by the time I came for dinner. While scarfing down my pulled pork sandwich, we saw a two legged dog that stands on its own. He'd been on Letterman, Leno and Oprah. It happened too fast to take a picture.
• My new love: EZ Pass. I blew through that toll this morning.