Saturday, December 31, 2011
I'm getting bigger!
Remember my last picture at 18 weeks?
(18w0d)
Here I am at 23 weeks, wearing the exact same outfit:
(23w3d)
Can you see the difference? ;)
Friday, December 30, 2011
Should the World of Toys Be Gender-Free?
Should the World of Toys Be Gender-Free?
By PEGGY ORENSTEIN
Berkeley, Calif.NOW that the wrapping paper and the infernal clamshell packaging have been relegated to the curb and the paying off of holiday bills has begun, the toy industry is gearing up — for Christmas 2012. And its early offerings have ignited a new debate over nature, nurture, toys and sex.
Hamleys, which is London’s 251-year-old version of F.A.O. Schwarz, recently dismantled its pink “girls” and blue “boys” sections in favor of a gender-neutral store with red-and-white signage. Rather than floors dedicated to Barbie dolls and action figures, merchandise is now organized by types (Soft Toys) and interests (Outdoor).
That free-to-be gesture was offset by Lego, whose Friends collection, aimed at girls, will hit stores this month with the goal of becoming a holiday must-have by the fall. Set in fictive Heartlake City (and supported by a $40 million marketing campaign), the line features new, pastel-colored, blocks that allow a budding Kardashian, among other things, to build herself a cafe or a beauty salon. Its tasty-sounding “ladyfig” characters are also taller and curvier than the typical Legoland denizen.
So who has it right? Should gender be systematically expunged from playthings? Or is Lego merely being realistic, earnestly meeting girls halfway in an attempt to stoke their interest in engineering?
Among the “10 characteristics for Lego” described in 1963 by a son of the founder was that it was “for girls and for boys,” as Bloomberg Businessweek reported. But the new Friends collection, Lego says, was based on months of anthropological research revealing that — gasp! — the sexes play differently.
While as toddlers they interact similarly with the company’s Duplo blocks, by preschool girls prefer playthings that are pretty, exude “harmony” and allow them to tell a story. They may enjoy building, but they favor role play. So it’s bye-bye Bionicles, hello princesses. In order to be gender-fair, today’s executives insist, they have to be gender-specific.
As any developmental psychologist will tell you, those observations are, to a degree, correct. Toy choice among young children is the Big Kahuna of sex differences, one of the largest across the life span. It transcends not only culture but species: in two separate studies of primates, in 2002 and 2008, researchers found that males gravitated toward stereotypically masculine toys (like cars and balls) while females went ape for dolls. Both sexes, incidentally, appreciated stuffed animals and books.
Human boys and girls not only tend to play differently from one another — with girls typically clustering in pairs or trios, chatting together more than boys and playing more cooperatively — but, when given a choice, usually prefer hanging with their own kind.
Score one for Lego, right? Not so fast. Preschoolers may be the self-appointed chiefs of the gender police, eager to enforce and embrace the most rigid views. Yet, according Lise Eliot, a neuroscientist and the author of “Pink Brain, Blue Brain,” that’s also the age when their brains are most malleable, most open to influence on the abilities and roles that traditionally go with their sex.
Every experience, every interaction, every activity — when they laugh, cry, learn, play — strengthens some neural circuits at the expense of others, and the younger the child the greater the effect. Consider: boys from more egalitarian homes are more nurturing toward babies. Meanwhile, in a study of more than 5,000 3-year-olds, girls with older brothers had stronger spatial skills than both girls and boys with older sisters.
At issue, then, is not nature or nurture but how nurture becomes nature: the environment in which children play and grow can encourage a range of aptitudes or foreclose them. So blithely indulging — let alone exploiting — stereotypically gendered play patterns may have a more negative long-term impact on kids’ potential than parents imagine. And promoting, without forcing, cross-sex friendships as well as a breadth of play styles may be more beneficial. There is even evidence that children who have opposite-sex friendships during their early years have healthier romantic relationships as teenagers.
Traditionally, toys were intended to communicate parental values and expectations, to train children for their future adult roles. Today’s boys and girls will eventually be one another’s professional peers, employers, employees, romantic partners, co-parents. How can they develop skills for such collaborations from toys that increasingly emphasize, reinforce, or even create, gender differences? What do girls learn about who they should be from Lego kits with beauty parlors or the flood of “girl friendly” science kits that run the gamut from “beauty spa lab” to “perfume factory”?
The rebellion against such gender apartheid may have begun. Consider the latest cute-kid video to go viral on YouTube: “Riley on Marketing” shows a little girl in front of a wall of pink packaging, asking, “Why do all the girls have to buy pink stuff and all the boys have to buy different-color stuff?” It has been viewed more than 2.4 million times.
Perhaps, then, Hamleys is on to something, though it will doubtless meet with resistance — even rejection — from both its pint-size customers and multinational vendors. As for me, I’m trying to track down a poster of a 1981 ad for a Lego “universal” building set to give to my daughter. In it, a freckle-faced girl with copper-colored braids, baggy jeans, a T-shirt and sneakers proudly holds out a jumbly, multi-hued Lego creation. Beneath it, a tag line reads, “What it is is beautiful.”
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Why Books Are Better than e-Books for Children
I already told Mike that I don't want any kids books on Kindle, especially early reader books. Glad to hear the research supports my intuition in this area!
Why Books Are Better than e-Books for Children
By KJ DELL’ANTONIADo you read to your children from your iPad or other device, or encourage them to use an e-reader to read to you? Many of us do, at least on occasion — even I, who wrote here some weeks ago that I rarely read on my own iPad anymore because I want my children to see me reading books, recommended an app for creating fun picture books for travel last week. If you have a tablet or e-reader, why not add it to your child’s reading repertory as well?
The answer, according to Lisa Guernsey of the New America Foundation’s Early Education Initiative, is that when we read with a child on an e-reader, we may actually impede our child’s ability to learn. Ms. Guernsey interpreted recent research on childhood literacy for Time magazine, and found that parents interact differently with children over an e-reader than over a physical book. That difference may make children slower to read and comprehend a story.
Children sitting with a parent while an e-reader reads to them understand significantly less of what’s read than those hearing a parent read. Researchers at Temple University, where the study was done, noted that parents reading books aloud regularly asked children questions about the book: “What do you think will happen next?” Parents sitting with the child while a device read to them (like a LeapPad or some iPad apps) didn’t ask these questions, or relate images or incidents in the book to the child’s real life. Instead, their conversation was focused on how to use the device: “Careful! Push here. Hold it this way.”
Ms. Guernsey, observing videos of parents reading to their children from iPads, found a tendency to do the same, even when the device wasn’t doing the reading. Readers with an e-reader were focused on the device, not the story. Children whose parents talk to them about what they’re reading gain reading skills faster, but children reading with parents from digital rather than physical books aren’t getting as much of that kind of interaction.
Does that mean we should never read with or to our children from our various gadgets? Not necessarily. In our house, we find the devices themselves too distracting for regular reading, but I imagine that a child who’s more accustomed to an e-reader wouldn’t be convinced, as mine are, that the book represents a preliminary activity to a rare game of Angry Birds. If I did read from my iPad, I’d look hard at how I talked with my child as we swiped the pages and ask myself whether the tool was changing the conversation. I don’t, so instead, I’m asking myself the usual guilty-parent question, and worrying about whether we read together enough in any medium.
Do you read with a child from any kind of e-reader, or have a child who regularly uses an electronic tool to read? Do you see any ways your child’s reading experience is different when she reads from a physical book as opposed to an e-reader, or when you use books or e-readers together? What’s your call on the e-reader versus the paper book for children?
The answer, according to Lisa Guernsey of the New America Foundation’s Early Education Initiative, is that when we read with a child on an e-reader, we may actually impede our child’s ability to learn. Ms. Guernsey interpreted recent research on childhood literacy for Time magazine, and found that parents interact differently with children over an e-reader than over a physical book. That difference may make children slower to read and comprehend a story.
Children sitting with a parent while an e-reader reads to them understand significantly less of what’s read than those hearing a parent read. Researchers at Temple University, where the study was done, noted that parents reading books aloud regularly asked children questions about the book: “What do you think will happen next?” Parents sitting with the child while a device read to them (like a LeapPad or some iPad apps) didn’t ask these questions, or relate images or incidents in the book to the child’s real life. Instead, their conversation was focused on how to use the device: “Careful! Push here. Hold it this way.”
Ms. Guernsey, observing videos of parents reading to their children from iPads, found a tendency to do the same, even when the device wasn’t doing the reading. Readers with an e-reader were focused on the device, not the story. Children whose parents talk to them about what they’re reading gain reading skills faster, but children reading with parents from digital rather than physical books aren’t getting as much of that kind of interaction.
Does that mean we should never read with or to our children from our various gadgets? Not necessarily. In our house, we find the devices themselves too distracting for regular reading, but I imagine that a child who’s more accustomed to an e-reader wouldn’t be convinced, as mine are, that the book represents a preliminary activity to a rare game of Angry Birds. If I did read from my iPad, I’d look hard at how I talked with my child as we swiped the pages and ask myself whether the tool was changing the conversation. I don’t, so instead, I’m asking myself the usual guilty-parent question, and worrying about whether we read together enough in any medium.
Do you read with a child from any kind of e-reader, or have a child who regularly uses an electronic tool to read? Do you see any ways your child’s reading experience is different when she reads from a physical book as opposed to an e-reader, or when you use books or e-readers together? What’s your call on the e-reader versus the paper book for children?
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
more on names
Thanks for all the wonderful name suggestions we've gotten so far! I can't believe that pretty much every has suggested Sophie/Sophia. That's not going to be her name, but funny have everyone loves that name!
I have to admit that I'm just absolutely fascinated by baby names and naming trends. In fact, I'm such a nerd that I've been following the Baby Name Wizard blog for the past, oh, five years or so - ever since I read the Freakonomics chapter on baby names (see here for a very brief summary, in case you haven't already read the book). BNW is my favorite blog! (Well, that and Cake Wrecks and Post Secrets, but those are each a completely different topic!)
Plus, the BNW website (not just the blog) has some super cool graphs and charts. (Oooh, how I love statistics!) For example, you can see here how Sophie/Sophia has skyrocketed in popularity in the last ~20 years or so. Crazy!
So I'm going to give you all some hints about the name we're leaning toward:
1. It's a family name (first name from one side of our families, middle name from the other - just like how we were both named).
2. It hasn't been in the top 100 names since the 1950's.
3. It's popularity has been stagnant since the 1960's, so hopefully Baby won't be one of 5 with her name in her kindergarten class.
Okay, from now on mum's the word. You'll just have to stay tuned until April to find out what we're calling her. :)
I have to admit that I'm just absolutely fascinated by baby names and naming trends. In fact, I'm such a nerd that I've been following the Baby Name Wizard blog for the past, oh, five years or so - ever since I read the Freakonomics chapter on baby names (see here for a very brief summary, in case you haven't already read the book). BNW is my favorite blog! (Well, that and Cake Wrecks and Post Secrets, but those are each a completely different topic!)
Plus, the BNW website (not just the blog) has some super cool graphs and charts. (Oooh, how I love statistics!) For example, you can see here how Sophie/Sophia has skyrocketed in popularity in the last ~20 years or so. Crazy!
So I'm going to give you all some hints about the name we're leaning toward:
1. It's a family name (first name from one side of our families, middle name from the other - just like how we were both named).
2. It hasn't been in the top 100 names since the 1950's.
3. It's popularity has been stagnant since the 1960's, so hopefully Baby won't be one of 5 with her name in her kindergarten class.
Okay, from now on mum's the word. You'll just have to stay tuned until April to find out what we're calling her. :)
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
updates
I'm at work so have to make this update brief, but wanted to let you all know that we had another medical appointment this morning and everything still looks great! My uterus is right where it should be, and baby's heartbeat (about 140) is right where it should be as well. And my nurse practitioner reassured me that the weird sensations I've been having intermittently for the past week or so are probably actually Baby moving!! I didn't want to get my hopes up and accidentally get excited about gas or indigestion or something, but it seems like I'm actually feeling movement and it's okay to get sentimental about that. :) Hopefully Mike will be able to feel him/her as well in the coming weeks.
Other than that, I've just been taking it easy as I continue to recover from yet another common cold. I'm really getting sick of this whole suppressed immune system business during pregnancy. But I'm now a staunch advocate of the Neti pot - if you get me started, I'll talk your ear off about it!
Happy holidays!
Other than that, I've just been taking it easy as I continue to recover from yet another common cold. I'm really getting sick of this whole suppressed immune system business during pregnancy. But I'm now a staunch advocate of the Neti pot - if you get me started, I'll talk your ear off about it!
Happy holidays!
weeks 22-24: papaya
Apparently growth isn't so rapid anymore, so now we switch to size updates every few weeks...
Monday, December 19, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
week 21: banana
Note:
From weeks 5 to 20, measurements were taken from crown to rump. Now from week 21 on, measurements are taken from head to toe.
From weeks 5 to 20, measurements were taken from crown to rump. Now from week 21 on, measurements are taken from head to toe.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Call for Names!
Now that we know the gender (although we're not sharing it here, because neither grandpa wants to know ahead of time), we're starting to think more seriously about baby names. We have a short list of names we like, but we're also open to suggestions! Serious "bonus points" to anyone who suggests a name we're already considering. But, if nothing else, at least it will be fun to record your suggestions in his/her baby book. (I was always fascinated to think I was almost named Holly!)
So if you have any name suggestions, please email them to me! :)
So if you have any name suggestions, please email them to me! :)
Fox News Anchor Pushes Paid Family Leave
Hmmm...Never thought I'd agree with a news anchor from Fox, but here I do!
Fox News Anchor Pushes Paid Family Leave
By KJ DELLANTONIAMegyn Kelly, a Fox New anchor, is proudly and unabashedly, a working mother. As Pamela Paul wrote in the Sunday’s Styles section, the new generation of women news anchors juggles career and family life “full-throttle in front of millions of viewers,” and Ms. Kelly has become a surprising ambassador for working mothers. When Mike Gallagher, a conservative radio talk show host, mocked her three-month maternity leave, calling it a “racket,” Ms. Fox invited him onto her program and confronted him.
“What a moronic thing to say,” she told him. “The United States is the only country that doesn’t require paid maternity leave.”
That last line isn’t exactly true (the United States is the only remaining industrialized nation that doesn’t require at least some employers to offer a paid maternity leave — Australia introduced paid parental leave this year — but we are in the proud company of Liberia, Papua New Guinea and Swaziland). But as an attitude, and particularly the attitude of a prominent voice in conservative news, Ms. Kelly’s approach to maternity is liberal and practical, as is her inclusion of every woman in her criticism of family leave policy in the United States.
“We’re populating the human race,” she says. “It’s not a vacation. It’s hard, important work.” Who else hopes to hear more prominent parents stepping up to say that?
“What a moronic thing to say,” she told him. “The United States is the only country that doesn’t require paid maternity leave.”
That last line isn’t exactly true (the United States is the only remaining industrialized nation that doesn’t require at least some employers to offer a paid maternity leave — Australia introduced paid parental leave this year — but we are in the proud company of Liberia, Papua New Guinea and Swaziland). But as an attitude, and particularly the attitude of a prominent voice in conservative news, Ms. Kelly’s approach to maternity is liberal and practical, as is her inclusion of every woman in her criticism of family leave policy in the United States.
“We’re populating the human race,” she says. “It’s not a vacation. It’s hard, important work.” Who else hopes to hear more prominent parents stepping up to say that?
Sunday, December 11, 2011
cramming
We got home a couple hours ago from a busy day of various events with family and friends, and I just spent a ridiculous amount of time updating our registries. (Thanks to all who offered feedback about cloth diapers and about baby registry stuff in general!! Much appreciated.) As I was winding down from this activity and couldn't decide what to do next, I realized that the frenzy in my mind was similar to when I was in school and was frantically trying to procrastinate on anything with a deadline. Hmmm....
(Maybe I can "psychologize" myself?)
Then it hit me! All of the sudden we're only about four months away from the biggest change of our lives, and I have no idea how babies work!!! Seriously, I've never even changed a diaper. And I'm such a neophyte that I don't even know what else I don't know!
So how did I use the rest of my evening? By reading ahead in my pregnany month-by-month book? Nope. By reading the stack of books on our coffee table about how to get baby to sleep well? (thanks, Ryan!) Nope. By doing something unrelated but fun, in order to end my weekend well? Definitely (sadly) not.
Instead, I spent more time online by researching the "best" baby books. So we now have a couple baby books on order from Amazon. Oh, and I also signed us up for our prenatal education class: March 10!!!
Once our books arrive, I think I may have to create a study schedule for the next few months, just like I used to do in the old days...
Sleep well, everyone! Hope you all had a good weekend.
(Maybe I can "psychologize" myself?)
Then it hit me! All of the sudden we're only about four months away from the biggest change of our lives, and I have no idea how babies work!!! Seriously, I've never even changed a diaper. And I'm such a neophyte that I don't even know what else I don't know!
So how did I use the rest of my evening? By reading ahead in my pregnany month-by-month book? Nope. By reading the stack of books on our coffee table about how to get baby to sleep well? (thanks, Ryan!) Nope. By doing something unrelated but fun, in order to end my weekend well? Definitely (sadly) not.
Instead, I spent more time online by researching the "best" baby books. So we now have a couple baby books on order from Amazon. Oh, and I also signed us up for our prenatal education class: March 10!!!
Once our books arrive, I think I may have to create a study schedule for the next few months, just like I used to do in the old days...
Sleep well, everyone! Hope you all had a good weekend.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
cloth diapers
Mike and I decided awhile ago that we really want to give cloth diapers a shot. (Before you judge us, let me just tell you that they've come a long way since the 70's!) Our primary reasons are:
1. better for the environment
2. less chance of diaper rash
3. much earlier potty training (avg is 2.5 years with cloth and 3.5 years with disposables)
4. fewer leaks
5. no carcinogens, as in disposables
6. cheaper in the long run (compared to the estimated $1500-2000 for disposables from birth to potty training - see these links for details)
So, having made that first decision, we were then faced with the daunting task of choosing a CD (i.e., cloth diaper) system.
Which turned out to be totally overwhelming.
So, like the good students we are, we did as much research as possible: We asked friends and family for advice. I read a book on the topic. We went to a free class run by the owner of this local, on-line store. I scoured the web for sites like this. And I checked out Peapods, which has the reputation of being the go-to CD store in the Twin Cities area.
And then we just took a giant leap and picked something. Hopefully it was a good choice!
Here's a very brief overview of the options (which I'm primarily typing out in case we need to make any changes to our plan down the road!):
1. Prefolds with Covers.
These are the closest to the old-school diapers of yore.
Pro: cheapest option
Con: may have troubles with fit, depending on how baby is built
Price: prefolds are $20-30 for a dozen, covers are $8-14 each. Total needed: 2-3 dozen prefolds and 6-8 covers (aka ~$180 for 3 dozen)
2. Hybrids / All-in-two diapers (AI2s)
These have a waterproof outside with a liner that snaps into place.
Pro: covers can be reused throughout the day
Con: slightly more expensive than prefolds
Price: 2 covers and 6 inserts = $50 (aka $200 for 2 dozen)
3. Pocket diapers
These have a waterproof outside and you stuff the liner into an interior pocket
Pro: very easy for grandparents, daycare, etc. because (once stuffed) these are basically like disposables
Con: have to be stuffed after laundered, price
Price: about $15-18 per diaper (aka $400 for 2 dozen)
4. All-in-ones (AIOs)
These are just like they sound: everything is already prepped and ready to go, just like a disposable diaper
Pro: Super easy to use, no work required (other than laundering)
Con: slow to dry, price
Price: about $18-20 per diaper (aka $450+ for 2 dozen)
I already listed the general CDing "pros" above, so I might as well list the general CDing "cons," just to be fair:
1. having to do laundry (with special detergent) every 2-3 days
2. most "one-size" CDs don't fit until baby is 7-10#. So you can buy special newborn size CDs (which increases the total price), or you can use disposables for a couple weeks (which compromises your morals) - we decided on the latter (so much for morals!).
3. not all brands fit baby the same way, so you may need some trial and error to find out what works best for you
Overwhelming, isn't it?
So after all that investigation, we decided on AI2s (specifically the Flip system) since we figured they be a good balance between price, convenience, and versatility. But just to be on the safe side, we registered for a few prefolds, pockets, and AIOs as well. Hopefully it's fun to play around with these, and hopefully we made some good choices.
If anyone has any cloth diapering advice for us, please let us know!
1. better for the environment
2. less chance of diaper rash
3. much earlier potty training (avg is 2.5 years with cloth and 3.5 years with disposables)
4. fewer leaks
5. no carcinogens, as in disposables
6. cheaper in the long run (compared to the estimated $1500-2000 for disposables from birth to potty training - see these links for details)
So, having made that first decision, we were then faced with the daunting task of choosing a CD (i.e., cloth diaper) system.
Which turned out to be totally overwhelming.
So, like the good students we are, we did as much research as possible: We asked friends and family for advice. I read a book on the topic. We went to a free class run by the owner of this local, on-line store. I scoured the web for sites like this. And I checked out Peapods, which has the reputation of being the go-to CD store in the Twin Cities area.
And then we just took a giant leap and picked something. Hopefully it was a good choice!
Here's a very brief overview of the options (which I'm primarily typing out in case we need to make any changes to our plan down the road!):
1. Prefolds with Covers.
These are the closest to the old-school diapers of yore.
Pro: cheapest option
Con: may have troubles with fit, depending on how baby is built
Price: prefolds are $20-30 for a dozen, covers are $8-14 each. Total needed: 2-3 dozen prefolds and 6-8 covers (aka ~$180 for 3 dozen)
2. Hybrids / All-in-two diapers (AI2s)
These have a waterproof outside with a liner that snaps into place.
Pro: covers can be reused throughout the day
Con: slightly more expensive than prefolds
Price: 2 covers and 6 inserts = $50 (aka $200 for 2 dozen)
3. Pocket diapers
These have a waterproof outside and you stuff the liner into an interior pocket
Pro: very easy for grandparents, daycare, etc. because (once stuffed) these are basically like disposables
Con: have to be stuffed after laundered, price
Price: about $15-18 per diaper (aka $400 for 2 dozen)
4. All-in-ones (AIOs)
These are just like they sound: everything is already prepped and ready to go, just like a disposable diaper
Pro: Super easy to use, no work required (other than laundering)
Con: slow to dry, price
Price: about $18-20 per diaper (aka $450+ for 2 dozen)
I already listed the general CDing "pros" above, so I might as well list the general CDing "cons," just to be fair:
1. having to do laundry (with special detergent) every 2-3 days
2. most "one-size" CDs don't fit until baby is 7-10#. So you can buy special newborn size CDs (which increases the total price), or you can use disposables for a couple weeks (which compromises your morals) - we decided on the latter (so much for morals!).
3. not all brands fit baby the same way, so you may need some trial and error to find out what works best for you
Overwhelming, isn't it?
So after all that investigation, we decided on AI2s (specifically the Flip system) since we figured they be a good balance between price, convenience, and versatility. But just to be on the safe side, we registered for a few prefolds, pockets, and AIOs as well. Hopefully it's fun to play around with these, and hopefully we made some good choices.
If anyone has any cloth diapering advice for us, please let us know!
Friday, December 9, 2011
Baby looks healthy!!!!!
All parts seem present and accounted for. Brain is symmetrical. No gross evidence of club foot, cleft palate, or major genetic/anatomical abnormalities. Due date is still 4/25/12.
Woohoo!!!
Email me if you want to know the gender! Only caveat is that you can't tell my dad or mike's dad, as they want to be surprised. Oh, and you can't buy baby anything obnoxiously pink or baby blue :)
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
still nervous
I find it really hard to believe that we're done with week 20 tomorrow! Half way - whew! (Although, not really halfway if you think about the fact that you don't know you're pregnant until after 4 weeks. So really, hitting week 22 would be the halfway point of knowing that I'm pregnant.)
Anyway, I still keep waiting for things to really seem real. I'm more open to talking about pregnancy with people (early on I was afraid to say anything for fear of jinxing it), but I still feel like we have all these milestones to pass. First it was getting pregnant. Then staying pregnant past week 8. Then finishing the first trimester. Now it's getting through our big ultrasound on Friday. Then it will be getting past week 25, when my coworker lost her baby. Then getting past week 28-30 when baby will be "viable." Then getting to week ~37 to be full term. Then keeping baby alive after s/he's born. Then all the anxieties about parenting.....
So maybe there is no time when the anxiety goes away? At least I'm thankful that my anxiety has decreased (marginally) since the early days. Although I would feel a lot better if I could feel movement! (My doctor says it looks like I have an anterior placenta, so I may not be able to feel anything until week 22-25. Ugh!) Right now it just feels like I've eaten several very large dinners in a row.
So if you see me, please tell me that I have a cute baby bump, because that will help reassure me. And if you have any spare "good vibes" to send our way for Friday, that would be much appreciated as well!
Anyway, I still keep waiting for things to really seem real. I'm more open to talking about pregnancy with people (early on I was afraid to say anything for fear of jinxing it), but I still feel like we have all these milestones to pass. First it was getting pregnant. Then staying pregnant past week 8. Then finishing the first trimester. Now it's getting through our big ultrasound on Friday. Then it will be getting past week 25, when my coworker lost her baby. Then getting past week 28-30 when baby will be "viable." Then getting to week ~37 to be full term. Then keeping baby alive after s/he's born. Then all the anxieties about parenting.....
So maybe there is no time when the anxiety goes away? At least I'm thankful that my anxiety has decreased (marginally) since the early days. Although I would feel a lot better if I could feel movement! (My doctor says it looks like I have an anterior placenta, so I may not be able to feel anything until week 22-25. Ugh!) Right now it just feels like I've eaten several very large dinners in a row.
So if you see me, please tell me that I have a cute baby bump, because that will help reassure me. And if you have any spare "good vibes" to send our way for Friday, that would be much appreciated as well!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Thank you!
I have some pretty awesome friends and family.
Today I am thankful for:
1. Santa (aka Jack and Marsha), who left an early Christmas present on our back steps last Friday. I finally have something to wear other than the 2 pairs of maternity pants I've had in rotation for the past several weeks! Plus, I have some shirts to wear now that my regular shirts are starting to get too small. (I really did pop!)
2. Megan, who loaned me her entire maternity wardrobe!! Not only are we the same size (long/tall pants and everything!), she is much more stylish than I am, so I have some snazzy outfits to look forward to. :)
3. Dotty, who is hosting a friends' shower for us!
4. Louise, Janice, Anne, Leah, and Ashley, who are hosting a family shower for us!
There are so many other of you that I am thankful for as well! Thank you all!!
Today I am thankful for:
1. Santa (aka Jack and Marsha), who left an early Christmas present on our back steps last Friday. I finally have something to wear other than the 2 pairs of maternity pants I've had in rotation for the past several weeks! Plus, I have some shirts to wear now that my regular shirts are starting to get too small. (I really did pop!)
2. Megan, who loaned me her entire maternity wardrobe!! Not only are we the same size (long/tall pants and everything!), she is much more stylish than I am, so I have some snazzy outfits to look forward to. :)
3. Dotty, who is hosting a friends' shower for us!
4. Louise, Janice, Anne, Leah, and Ashley, who are hosting a family shower for us!
There are so many other of you that I am thankful for as well! Thank you all!!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
clarification
Have you ever seen When Harry Met Sally? (It's only just one of the most brilliant movies of all time!) Anyway, Mike and I have a running joke that, like Sally, I'm "the worst kind." Here's the dialogue I'm referring to, in case you don't know the movie (in which case you should watch it!):
Harry Burns: There are two kinds of women: high maintenance and low maintenance.
Sally Albright: Which one am I?
Harry Burns: You're the worst kind; you're high maintenance but you think you're low maintenance.
Sally Albright: I don't see that.
Harry Burns: You don't see that? Waiter, I'll begin with a house salad, but I don't want the regular dressing. I'll have the balsamic vinegar and oil, but on the side. And then the salmon with the mustard sauce, but I want the mustard sauce on the side. "On the side" is a very big thing for you.
Sally Albright: Well, I just want it the way I want it.
Harry Burns: I know; high maintenance.
(Thank you, IMDB)
So, along those lines, I was complaining to Mike the other day that no one can tell that I'm pregnant. (Which, of course, goes back to my crazy fear of having yet another missed miscarriage. And which is why I was relieved to have my baby bump "medically confirmed" at our last appointment.) To which he responded that people are probably afraid to comment on my body, ever since my last post about body image stuff. He contends that my post about getting comments on my body may have either (a) offended people or (b) scared anyone off from ever saying anything about how I look. If that's the case, I sincerely apologize! I merely meant to observe how odd it is to get comments about my body.
So if you want to tell me now that I look pregnant, I would not only not be upset, I would be veritably thrilled (and relieved!). Yes, I truly am "the worst kind." :)
(18 weeks)
Harry Burns: There are two kinds of women: high maintenance and low maintenance.
Sally Albright: Which one am I?
Harry Burns: You're the worst kind; you're high maintenance but you think you're low maintenance.
Sally Albright: I don't see that.
Harry Burns: You don't see that? Waiter, I'll begin with a house salad, but I don't want the regular dressing. I'll have the balsamic vinegar and oil, but on the side. And then the salmon with the mustard sauce, but I want the mustard sauce on the side. "On the side" is a very big thing for you.
Sally Albright: Well, I just want it the way I want it.
Harry Burns: I know; high maintenance.
(Thank you, IMDB)
So, along those lines, I was complaining to Mike the other day that no one can tell that I'm pregnant. (Which, of course, goes back to my crazy fear of having yet another missed miscarriage. And which is why I was relieved to have my baby bump "medically confirmed" at our last appointment.) To which he responded that people are probably afraid to comment on my body, ever since my last post about body image stuff. He contends that my post about getting comments on my body may have either (a) offended people or (b) scared anyone off from ever saying anything about how I look. If that's the case, I sincerely apologize! I merely meant to observe how odd it is to get comments about my body.
So if you want to tell me now that I look pregnant, I would not only not be upset, I would be veritably thrilled (and relieved!). Yes, I truly am "the worst kind." :)
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Woe is me.
I am officially miserable.
I thought things couldn't get much worse after the awful "morning" sickness I had. But now I've reached a new low.
I had a dull ache in my back (especially on the left side, right below my shoulder blade) for the past few weeks. I'd been employing all my standard home remedies, such as yoga, walking, alternating my purse between my left and right shoulders, and even taking a bath.
(As a brief aside, let me just mention how phenomenally disappointing my bath was. After weeks of being unable to bathe in the first trimester, I finally got the okay to bathe as long as the bath water was less than 100 degrees. Well, it turns out that there is absolutely nothing relaxing about sitting in tepid water. Nor does it relieve any back soreness. It was terrible. Bath fail.)
Anyway, so I tried all my home remedies to no avail. Then last night, as I was laying in bed, the back pain got progressively worse...until I was in tears from the spasms by 1am. Every time I moved, it felt like my shoulder blade was on fire. It was (and still is) brutal.
Luckily I have the world's greatest husband who very gently rubbed my back, convinced me to take some tylenol (the only safe pain reliever during pregnancy), helped me take a steaming hot shower, and arranged my pillows so I could sleep relatively upright and immobilized. I've found that the spasms aren't too bad as long as I don't move - including not taking any deep breaths, not using my arms for anything (only my hands. Hence why I am slowly typing this post on my phone), and not coughing or sneezing (easier said than done for someone who is also fighting off a cold. This whole ordeal is definitely adding insult to injury. Or maybe adding injury to illness?).
Mike convinced me to call the nurse line this morning, and she told me to just continue the acetominophen and to alternate ice packs and heating pads. Luckily my amazing husband came through again and bought me three different types of heating pads the second that Target opened. He also did all the grocery shopping (his absolutely most hated chore) since it's pretty clear that wouldn't be possible for me to do this weekend, and we have a lot to do to get ready for thanksgiving.
So here I am, sitting propped up in bed, feeling sorry for myself, and trying desperately not to move. I am officially more incapacitated than I was after my laparoscopy this summer. I'm hoping that my tylenol and hot/cold regimen will help me feel better soon.
Thank you for the impromptu pity party.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
We Registered!
Yesterday we finished starting our registries! (I say "finished starting" because I'm pretty sure we'll make changes over time! Especially at Target, where the inventory changes fairly frequently.)
You may remember that I started our Amazon registry a couple weeks ago. This one has most of the big essentials (e.g., crib, car seat) as well as some smaller essentials (e.g., bottles, boppy, tub). I think this link will take you to our Amazon registry, if you're curious. :)
Then we also registered in person at Target for all the fun, cheaper stuff (e.g., onesies, sheets, receiving blankets) and a few essentials (e.g., wipes, pacifiers). It was a lot of fun to swipe things with the registry gun again - we hadn't done that for about 9 years, back when we registered for wedding gifts!
One thing that I learned at Target is that Mike and I have very different ideas about what "gender neutral" means. Basically, if you see anything in yellow or green on our registry, you can be sure that I picked it out. If it's blue or has a sports theme, Mike picked it out. :)
Another thing I was surprised by was how quickly I felt overwhelmed in Target. I had done a decent amount of background research to figure out what we probably need vs. what we "need." Yet I still got a bit overwhelmed when confronted by all the baby stuff in the store - it's such a good thing we didn't register at Babies 'R Us! So once I reached my limit, we just ended up registering for about 50 onesies in various sizes. Like Mike said, "I figure they're like cat food bowls - you can never have too many, because no one wants to do dishes/laundry every day." So please don't be appalled by the sheer volume of onesies on the list!
(Here's the link: Target)
Speaking of onesies, we couldn't help but buy a few while we were in the store!
Any ideas who picked out the one on the right vs. the one on the left?
You may remember that I started our Amazon registry a couple weeks ago. This one has most of the big essentials (e.g., crib, car seat) as well as some smaller essentials (e.g., bottles, boppy, tub). I think this link will take you to our Amazon registry, if you're curious. :)
Then we also registered in person at Target for all the fun, cheaper stuff (e.g., onesies, sheets, receiving blankets) and a few essentials (e.g., wipes, pacifiers). It was a lot of fun to swipe things with the registry gun again - we hadn't done that for about 9 years, back when we registered for wedding gifts!
One thing that I learned at Target is that Mike and I have very different ideas about what "gender neutral" means. Basically, if you see anything in yellow or green on our registry, you can be sure that I picked it out. If it's blue or has a sports theme, Mike picked it out. :)
Another thing I was surprised by was how quickly I felt overwhelmed in Target. I had done a decent amount of background research to figure out what we probably need vs. what we "need." Yet I still got a bit overwhelmed when confronted by all the baby stuff in the store - it's such a good thing we didn't register at Babies 'R Us! So once I reached my limit, we just ended up registering for about 50 onesies in various sizes. Like Mike said, "I figure they're like cat food bowls - you can never have too many, because no one wants to do dishes/laundry every day." So please don't be appalled by the sheer volume of onesies on the list!
(Here's the link: Target)
Speaking of onesies, we couldn't help but buy a few while we were in the store!
Any ideas who picked out the one on the right vs. the one on the left?
We also got this guitar-themed 12-month outfit since it includes a onesie as part of the deal. I have an ambitious plan to take a picture each week (for the first year) of our kid in the same onesie. I think it will be pretty cool in the end! So this is the outfit that you'll probably all be sick of seeing in a few months :)
Finally, just because I love statistics, I thought I'd leave you with these numbers. Apparently the average Target registry is distributed as follows (with our numbers in parentheses):
$0-$10 23 (26)
$11-$30 15 (8)
$31-50 23 (0)
$50+ 15 (0)
If we add in our Amazon items (based on the online prices when I printed out the list about a week ago), then our totals are:
$0-$10 23 (26+4=30)
$11-$30 15 (8+11=19)
$31-50 23 (0+3=3)
$50+ 15 (0+6=6)
total: 76 (58)
I merely present these data because (a) I think it's interesting and (b) I hope no one looks at our registries and thinks we're greedy! :)
P.S. If any of you experienced parents have tips for us about essentials vs. non-essentials, please let us know!
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Going the distance for family time
Going the distance for family time
Article by: Star Tribune (here)Updated: November 12, 2011 - 11:21 AM
Rachel Liechty was pregnant when she and husband, David, had an inspired idea for binding the family together after the birth: They would hike the Pacific Crest Trail. More than a year later, the University of Minnesota graduate students -- she is studying natural resources science and management; he is focusing on education -- headed out, with baby Hazel riding in a pack on her mother's back. Now that they're home, the parents have lots to say on the subject (see G1 for details on an upcoming talk). No word from Hazel, though she looks quite content in her fleece and mini hiking boots.
Q You were out with Hazel for six months, beginning when she was 1 year old. How did you plan for that?
David: We had done a long-distance trip before [on the Pacific Northwest Trail], so we basically knew what we had to do. We started planning before Hazel was born, but we weren't going to do it if she wasn't amenable. We took her on a high-altitude trip in Colorado when she was 5 months old, and she did great. We had to figure out whether we could set up a system where Rachel was carrying Hazel and I was carrying the gear.
Rachel: David's pack weighed more than 50 pounds, close to 60 when we had to pack a lot of water.
David: The biggest thing was, we had confidence about bringing Hazel outdoors. People have been living outside with their kids for centuries.
Q So what was in that heavy pack of yours?
David: Beside the usual supplies and clothes, I had diapers, a small pack of wet-wipes, Hazel's rainsuit, the rainfly for her pack and that's about it. You don't need to bring toys. Hazel prefers rocks and leaves any day. We did usually have one book, which got read over and over and over again: Dr. Seuss' "The Foot Book" or Eric Carle's "Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See?" I didn't have to carry "Baby Bear" after a couple months because I would recite it from memory ad nauseam to Hazel when we were hiking.
Q What kinds of reactions did you get from people?
David: People were rooting for us to hike the whole trail, but it wasn't about that. It was about being together as a family and being there for Hazel and seeing her grow. So many parents can't spend that much time with their children.
Rachel: We got a lot of questions, even from experienced hikers, on the trail. People asked, "How do you keep her warm?" Diapers was the number one question.
Q What did you do about diapers because, really, that is kind of a puzzle in this age of disposables.
David: We use cloth diapers called Flips that have a leakproof shell that buttons around a cloth insert. One side of the insert is made out of a moisture-wicking fabric, so they kept Hazel dry for a little while before changing. We packed 10 inserts, and would hand-wash them in a collapsible basin called the Kitchen Sink. We would fill the basin at a water source and wash the diaper inserts with biodegradable soap. After wringing them out, we'd hang them to dry on breaks, but the quintessential shot of our trip would be of me hiking down the trail with two to nine cloth diaper inserts hanging off my backpack. We always carried out Hazel's poop in a sealed waterproof and leakproof -- but most importantly, odor-proof -- sack called OPSAK.
Q What would you do if Hazel got cranky?
David: Hazel really didn't get cranky on the trail, primarily because she just doesn't get cranky that often. Since the day she was born, we wanted to expose her to different environments, but we've always let her dictate our trips. You don't have to drag Hazel kicking and screaming to get outside; she's actually more cranky if she can't be on the trail. On the occasional times that she would get mildly cranky, I would recite books from memory, sing lullabies or do a call and response "loon call." I would do my best -- painfully amateurish -- loon call, and Hazel would respond with something bordering on a happy primal scream.
Q What did you learn about your daughter during those months?
David: I think the great thing about our trip is that we didn't really learn much new about Hazel at all; we just had the opportunity to appreciate what we already knew about her: that she's a beautiful, incredibly happy child who loves being outside with the wind in her face and climbing on (or chewing on) rocks.
Q What surprised you, even with all your trail experience?
David: The biggest surprise we encountered wasn't the snow. We were already surprised with the apocalyptic snowfall the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountains got over the winter, well before the trip started. I'd say the biggest surprise was how mild the 700 miles of Southern California were weather-wise. When you're planning a [Pacific Crest Trail] trek, you always read about the "dreaded" Mojave Desert, where it can reach triple digits and be unbearably hot. Well, our coldest, wettest and windiest days came when we were descending onto the desert floor in Southern California. We actually saw snow falling on the fringe of the Mojave in the middle of May; that was pretty crazy.
Q Now that you're back home, what do you most want people to understand about this trip?
David: You don't need to go 1,500 miles. Take an overnight trip, or even a day trip. We are raising a generation of kids where getting dirty is an inconvenience, being outdoors is a foreign notion. Going backpacking with your kids shouldn't be viewed as this big accomplishment; it should be something you integrate into your life.
Before our trip, there were several people who basically told Rachel and me that our "time for playing is over." They implied that once you have kids, it's time to switch to anonymous provider mode. Well, we believe that it's fundamentally important that you don't stop playing, that you show your kids that you plan on living your life centered around your passions, whatever they be -- but you also center those passions around your child. You can't raise a passionate child without passionate parents.
The three things we focus on are rooted in children's brain development, D.N.A.: disequilibrium, novelty and adventure. Kids are constantly seeking these out and savor opportunities to be in new, challenging situations. We learned that if we keep our lives rich with disequilibrium, novelty and adventure, we're going to do all right as parents -- and we're going to be genuinely happy.
Kerri Westenberg • 612-673-4282
Q Now that you're back home, what do you most want people to understand about this trip?
David: You don't need to go 1,500 miles. Take an overnight trip, or even a day trip. We are raising a generation of kids where getting dirty is an inconvenience, being outdoors is a foreign notion. Going backpacking with your kids shouldn't be viewed as this big accomplishment; it should be something you integrate into your life.
Before our trip, there were several people who basically told Rachel and me that our "time for playing is over." They implied that once you have kids, it's time to switch to anonymous provider mode. Well, we believe that it's fundamentally important that you don't stop playing, that you show your kids that you plan on living your life centered around your passions, whatever they be -- but you also center those passions around your child. You can't raise a passionate child without passionate parents.
The three things we focus on are rooted in children's brain development, D.N.A.: disequilibrium, novelty and adventure. Kids are constantly seeking these out and savor opportunities to be in new, challenging situations. We learned that if we keep our lives rich with disequilibrium, novelty and adventure, we're going to do all right as parents -- and we're going to be genuinely happy.
Kerri Westenberg • 612-673-4282
Baby Sizes, week by week (non-fruit version!)
Don't like the fruit comparisons? Here's a man's funny version of the baby sizes. (Thanks to His Boys Can Swim!)
“Tarzan’s Ultimate Guide To Baby Sizes
Pregnancy Weeks 3-4
If you look very carefully
into the magnifying glass
you’ll see a very, very tiny dot.
Pregnancy Week 5:
“You’re going to shoot your
eye out, kid!” Your baby is
about the size of a BB now.
Pregnancy Week 6:
There’s nothing to worry
about. Your kid won’t be a
nut, it’s just how big he is.
Pregnancy Week 7:
Your baby is about the
size of the power button
on your TV remote.
Pregnancy Week 8:
Got some spare change
buddy? Your baby is now
the size of a shiny quarter.
Pregnancy Week 9:
Losing your marbles? I
feel for you buddy. Your
baby is now the size of one.
Pregnancy Week 10:
Think you’re a handyman?
Your baby is about the size
of the head of a hammer.
Pregnancy Week 11:
Fore! The next time you swing
your golf club, know your baby
is about the size of a golfball.
Pregnancy Week 12:
Sure you’re 10 inches. Your
baby is the size of a small
measuring tape this week.
Pregnancy Week 13:
Need some gas? Your wife has
some. Your baby is now the
size of the gas cap on your car.
Pregnancy Week 14:
Stressed out? I feel you. Now
your baby is the size of a stress
ball. You may need to buy one.
Pregnancy Week 15:
You obviously made it to
home, congrats! Your baby
is the size of a baseball.
Pregnancy Week 16:
Man, you are a STUD!
Your baby is now the size
of a small stud finder.
Pregnancy Week 17:
Goooooooooooooal! This
week, your baby is about
the size of a hockey puck.
Pregnancy Week 18:
Mr. 5 o’clock shadow, your
baby is now about the size
of a small electric shaver.
Pregnancy Week 19:
Why do they call it a softball?
It huts like hell when one hits
you. Your baby is the size of one.
Pregnancy Week 20:
Mmmm… Memories. This
week your baby is now the
size of one nice-sized boob.
Pregnancy Week 21:
Cheers to the father-to-be!
This week your baby is about
as long as a beer bottle.
Pregnancy Week 22-24:
You went long and deep and
scored! Your baby is about the
size of an over-inflated football.
Pregnancy Week 25-28:
13 inch boot? You know what
they say… Your baby is about
this long during these weeks.
Pregnancy Week 29-32:
Your baby is now about 16 inches
long, which is the size of the front
wheel on the original Big Wheel.
Pregnancy Week 33-36:
The next time you look into your
17-inch computer screen, know
that your baby is now that long.
Pregnancy Week 37 to the big day:
Your baby is the size of the electric motor
in the $110,000 2008 Tesla which can
go from 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds. Sweet.
That’s right fellow soon-to-be fathers. By the time your baby is born he or she is the size of the electric motor in the $110,000 2008 Tesla. Don’t think you could be driving one of these? You could have had one… maybe even two.
“Tarzan’s Ultimate Guide To Baby Sizes
Week-By-Week For Soon-To-Be Fathers”
Pregnancy Weeks 3-4
If you look very carefully
into the magnifying glass
you’ll see a very, very tiny dot.
Pregnancy Week 5:
“You’re going to shoot your
eye out, kid!” Your baby is
about the size of a BB now.
Pregnancy Week 6:
There’s nothing to worry
about. Your kid won’t be a
nut, it’s just how big he is.
Pregnancy Week 7:
Your baby is about the
size of the power button
on your TV remote.
Pregnancy Week 8:
Got some spare change
buddy? Your baby is now
the size of a shiny quarter.
Pregnancy Week 9:
Losing your marbles? I
feel for you buddy. Your
baby is now the size of one.
Pregnancy Week 10:
Think you’re a handyman?
Your baby is about the size
of the head of a hammer.
Pregnancy Week 11:
Fore! The next time you swing
your golf club, know your baby
is about the size of a golfball.
Pregnancy Week 12:
Sure you’re 10 inches. Your
baby is the size of a small
measuring tape this week.
Pregnancy Week 13:
Need some gas? Your wife has
some. Your baby is now the
size of the gas cap on your car.
Pregnancy Week 14:
Stressed out? I feel you. Now
your baby is the size of a stress
ball. You may need to buy one.
Pregnancy Week 15:
You obviously made it to
home, congrats! Your baby
is the size of a baseball.
Pregnancy Week 16:
Man, you are a STUD!
Your baby is now the size
of a small stud finder.
Pregnancy Week 17:
Goooooooooooooal! This
week, your baby is about
the size of a hockey puck.
Pregnancy Week 18:
Mr. 5 o’clock shadow, your
baby is now about the size
of a small electric shaver.
Pregnancy Week 19:
Why do they call it a softball?
It huts like hell when one hits
you. Your baby is the size of one.
Pregnancy Week 20:
Mmmm… Memories. This
week your baby is now the
size of one nice-sized boob.
Pregnancy Week 21:
Cheers to the father-to-be!
This week your baby is about
as long as a beer bottle.
Pregnancy Week 22-24:
You went long and deep and
scored! Your baby is about the
size of an over-inflated football.
Pregnancy Week 25-28:
13 inch boot? You know what
they say… Your baby is about
this long during these weeks.
Pregnancy Week 29-32:
Your baby is now about 16 inches
long, which is the size of the front
wheel on the original Big Wheel.
Pregnancy Week 33-36:
The next time you look into your
17-inch computer screen, know
that your baby is now that long.
Pregnancy Week 37 to the big day:
Your baby is the size of the electric motor
in the $110,000 2008 Tesla which can
go from 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds. Sweet.
That’s right fellow soon-to-be fathers. By the time your baby is born he or she is the size of the electric motor in the $110,000 2008 Tesla. Don’t think you could be driving one of these? You could have had one… maybe even two.
another gender prediction test
I started reading a fascinating pregnancy book last night, Do Chocolate Lovers Have Sweeter Babies. Here's the description from Amazon:
Brain Candy for expectant parents!
Pregnancy is an adventure. Lots of books tell you the basics—“the baby is the size of [insert fruit here].” But pregnant science writer Jena Pincott began to wonder just how a baby might tinker with her body—and vice versa—and chased down answers to the questions she wouldn’t ask her doctor, such as:
• Does stress sharpen your baby’s mind—or dull it?
• Can you predict your baby’s temperament?
• Why are babies born in the darker months of the year more likely to grow up to be novelty-loving risk takers?
• Are bossy, dominant women more likely to have boys?
• How can the cells left behind by your baby affect you years later?
This is a different kind of pregnancy book—thoughtful, fun, and filled with information you won’t find anywhere else.
It's super interesting so far. Anyway, in the second chapter the author writes about many of the various influences on sex. One turns out to be parental (especially maternal) personality traits! So of course we took the on-line quiz (here).
Our results?
Out of ten possible categories, your score put you in Category 5.
Of all the women who have taken this test so far, 15% have had scores that put them in Category 5.
Of those women, 65% of them have conceived and given birth to boys, and 35% have conceived and given birth to girls.
So for you we would predict, if you become pregnant within the next 4 - 5 weeks, you would be 35% likely to conceive a girl and 65% likely to conceive a boy.
Brain Candy for expectant parents!
Pregnancy is an adventure. Lots of books tell you the basics—“the baby is the size of [insert fruit here].” But pregnant science writer Jena Pincott began to wonder just how a baby might tinker with her body—and vice versa—and chased down answers to the questions she wouldn’t ask her doctor, such as:
• Does stress sharpen your baby’s mind—or dull it?
• Can you predict your baby’s temperament?
• Why are babies born in the darker months of the year more likely to grow up to be novelty-loving risk takers?
• Are bossy, dominant women more likely to have boys?
• How can the cells left behind by your baby affect you years later?
This is a different kind of pregnancy book—thoughtful, fun, and filled with information you won’t find anywhere else.
It's super interesting so far. Anyway, in the second chapter the author writes about many of the various influences on sex. One turns out to be parental (especially maternal) personality traits! So of course we took the on-line quiz (here).
Our results?
Out of ten possible categories, your score put you in Category 5.
Of all the women who have taken this test so far, 15% have had scores that put them in Category 5.
Of those women, 65% of them have conceived and given birth to boys, and 35% have conceived and given birth to girls.
So for you we would predict, if you become pregnant within the next 4 - 5 weeks, you would be 35% likely to conceive a girl and 65% likely to conceive a boy.
Friday, November 11, 2011
another milestone
We had our 16-week doctor's appointment today. Everything went well! I'm hoping we're on a trend of good doctor's visits now! :) We not only had a healthy heartbeat (low 140's this time - right in the middle of the normal range from 120 to 160) but she also "medically confirmed" my baby bump! So I'm really not just getting a beer belly (or, should I say, a cheese and carbs belly?). Woo-hoo!
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
many updates
I haven't posted many updates recently, so here goes!
1. I'm back to about 95% of normal. It's sooooo nice to have some energy and to enjoy food again!! I'm still not enjoying waking up to use the bathroom every morning around 4:30-5am, but I know I'm probably going to look back on this complaint one day and yearn for that many hours of sleep.
2. We picked a daycare! That seems crazy to me. I can't even imagine having a kid, much less imagine where I'd feel comfortable leaving said kid while I go to work. Also, did you know that daycares fill up the second you get a positive pregnancy test? Note to the wise: don't be like us and wait until you're 13 weeks pregnant to start calling around! But I think it all worked out for us because we now have a spot reserved at a reasonably priced (it's all relative...) place that's only a few blocks from our house (so we don't have to get a second car). Furthermore, they provide all the foods (formula and jarred food for infants, table foods for older kids) as part of the tuition, the foods are all local/organic/homemade (as much as possible), they are 100% okay with cloth diapers, they have a separate (darkened) sleep area for the kids, they try to take the kids outside every day (even the infants!) and they have an indoor play area for cold weather, and they don't charge anything extra for field trips / music lessons / science classes / etc as the kids get older. The only drawback to the deal is that their next opening isn't until November, unless a surprise opening happens sooner. Assuming our little one arrives on time in late April, that gives us about 4 months after my 12-week FMLA to hobble something together. But we'll make it work!
3. We've been collecting more baby things! I think I told you all about the stroller we got, which I am super excited about. We also have gotten a shirt, 2 stuffed penguins and 1 board book. Also, Mike picked up a free exersaucer! (FYI, I already checked to make sure there were no recalls on it, and it looks safe to use!) So pretty soon we're going to have to start truly converting our second bedroom into a nursery, because right now the baby stuff is just piling up! That makes it all seem a little more real.
4. I've moved on to a new phase of anxiety. I mean, I still worry irrationally about having another missed miscarriage, but now I'm specifically worried because I no longer have any "morning" sickness, yet it's too soon to feel any movements. I keep googling things like "when do you first start to feel movement when pregnant" and sadly the answer is always the same: any time between 13 and 25 weeks (earlier for multiple-time moms, later for first-time moms). I'm really not good at waiting. Or at reminding myself that just because I feel fat but not pregnant doesn't mean that I'm not actually pregnant. The way my anxiety now manifests itself is in constant body checking. Pretty much every 5 seconds I feel my stomach to see if it's expanding, but since I'm checking so often, clearly I'm not feeling any differences. Mike has repeatedly tried to reassure me that he can tell that my stomach is growing, but so far that hasn't really sunk in. Which brings me to my next point...
5. I've started getting a few comments on my body, which weirds me out. (And gives me new sympathy for all my patients who hate when others comment on their weight/shape!) So far I've gotten the following:
"Your stomach looks just like mine before I started biking all the time and lost weight!"
"I can totally tell from your face that you're pregnant." (my fat face?)
"No, you don't look pregnant. You just look like you've gained weight. I guess you're in the muffin-top phase."
I can only imagine the comments I'll be getting in the future! :)
6. And finally, I got "outed" at work today. I've started telling a few of my colleagues that I'm pregnant, although I haven't told everyone yet, and I certainly haven't started telling my clients. (I chickened out from announcing it at our monthly staff meeting last week, which is where people usually spread the word.) But on Mondays I co-lead a "yoga and body image" group with one of our yoga instructors. (I think it's the coolest group ever! We do about 45 minutes of yoga, then process the experience for about 45 minutes. Each week we have a different topic, like "grounding" or "the breath," and we always talk about body image each week as well. Super fun.) Anyway, the yoga instructor obviously knows I'm pregnant and she sometimes gives me little modifications to make poses easier/safer. Well, today she forgot that this news is still on the DL, and she announced in class that "this is the pose...or you can do this modification...or, if you're with child (at which time she looked pointedly at me) you can do this modification!" Groan. So I was officially outed and had to explain to everyone during the process section of the group why she had made that comment. I really hadn't wanted to tell anyone until at least next week! I was hoping to get through one more doctor's appointment (scheduled for Friday!) before starting to break the news to people. Oh well. I guess I'm going to have to start being more flexible, right?
So now it's just counting down to Friday's doctor visit. Assuming that all goes well, we're planning to finalize our registries this weekend!
Thanks for all the positive energy you've been sending our way!!!
1. I'm back to about 95% of normal. It's sooooo nice to have some energy and to enjoy food again!! I'm still not enjoying waking up to use the bathroom every morning around 4:30-5am, but I know I'm probably going to look back on this complaint one day and yearn for that many hours of sleep.
2. We picked a daycare! That seems crazy to me. I can't even imagine having a kid, much less imagine where I'd feel comfortable leaving said kid while I go to work. Also, did you know that daycares fill up the second you get a positive pregnancy test? Note to the wise: don't be like us and wait until you're 13 weeks pregnant to start calling around! But I think it all worked out for us because we now have a spot reserved at a reasonably priced (it's all relative...) place that's only a few blocks from our house (so we don't have to get a second car). Furthermore, they provide all the foods (formula and jarred food for infants, table foods for older kids) as part of the tuition, the foods are all local/organic/homemade (as much as possible), they are 100% okay with cloth diapers, they have a separate (darkened) sleep area for the kids, they try to take the kids outside every day (even the infants!) and they have an indoor play area for cold weather, and they don't charge anything extra for field trips / music lessons / science classes / etc as the kids get older. The only drawback to the deal is that their next opening isn't until November, unless a surprise opening happens sooner. Assuming our little one arrives on time in late April, that gives us about 4 months after my 12-week FMLA to hobble something together. But we'll make it work!
3. We've been collecting more baby things! I think I told you all about the stroller we got, which I am super excited about. We also have gotten a shirt, 2 stuffed penguins and 1 board book. Also, Mike picked up a free exersaucer! (FYI, I already checked to make sure there were no recalls on it, and it looks safe to use!) So pretty soon we're going to have to start truly converting our second bedroom into a nursery, because right now the baby stuff is just piling up! That makes it all seem a little more real.
4. I've moved on to a new phase of anxiety. I mean, I still worry irrationally about having another missed miscarriage, but now I'm specifically worried because I no longer have any "morning" sickness, yet it's too soon to feel any movements. I keep googling things like "when do you first start to feel movement when pregnant" and sadly the answer is always the same: any time between 13 and 25 weeks (earlier for multiple-time moms, later for first-time moms). I'm really not good at waiting. Or at reminding myself that just because I feel fat but not pregnant doesn't mean that I'm not actually pregnant. The way my anxiety now manifests itself is in constant body checking. Pretty much every 5 seconds I feel my stomach to see if it's expanding, but since I'm checking so often, clearly I'm not feeling any differences. Mike has repeatedly tried to reassure me that he can tell that my stomach is growing, but so far that hasn't really sunk in. Which brings me to my next point...
5. I've started getting a few comments on my body, which weirds me out. (And gives me new sympathy for all my patients who hate when others comment on their weight/shape!) So far I've gotten the following:
"Your stomach looks just like mine before I started biking all the time and lost weight!"
"I can totally tell from your face that you're pregnant." (my fat face?)
"No, you don't look pregnant. You just look like you've gained weight. I guess you're in the muffin-top phase."
I can only imagine the comments I'll be getting in the future! :)
6. And finally, I got "outed" at work today. I've started telling a few of my colleagues that I'm pregnant, although I haven't told everyone yet, and I certainly haven't started telling my clients. (I chickened out from announcing it at our monthly staff meeting last week, which is where people usually spread the word.) But on Mondays I co-lead a "yoga and body image" group with one of our yoga instructors. (I think it's the coolest group ever! We do about 45 minutes of yoga, then process the experience for about 45 minutes. Each week we have a different topic, like "grounding" or "the breath," and we always talk about body image each week as well. Super fun.) Anyway, the yoga instructor obviously knows I'm pregnant and she sometimes gives me little modifications to make poses easier/safer. Well, today she forgot that this news is still on the DL, and she announced in class that "this is the pose...or you can do this modification...or, if you're with child (at which time she looked pointedly at me) you can do this modification!" Groan. So I was officially outed and had to explain to everyone during the process section of the group why she had made that comment. I really hadn't wanted to tell anyone until at least next week! I was hoping to get through one more doctor's appointment (scheduled for Friday!) before starting to break the news to people. Oh well. I guess I'm going to have to start being more flexible, right?
So now it's just counting down to Friday's doctor visit. Assuming that all goes well, we're planning to finalize our registries this weekend!
Thanks for all the positive energy you've been sending our way!!!
Friday, November 4, 2011
pregnancy brain
I'd heard before that pregnancy can make women more forgetful, but for some reason I assumed that would never happen to me. (I know, I know.) So now that it's happened twice in a row, I'm starting to get worried that I'm cursed with this affliction.
Example 1: I was supposed to be volunteering at the library's book sale last night. I even confirmed it with my friend Marcy after we both showed up to set up for the sale on Tuesday night. But did I show up? Nope. Did it even occur to me that something was on my calendar that I might be missing? Not at all.
Example 2: Mike asked me last night if I could pick up some of the ingredients for cat food after I toured a daycare this afternoon. Of course!, I replied. Generally I wouldn't need a note to remind myself to do one thing the very next day, but apparently the circumstances have altered. Because did I go to the butcher? Nope. Did it even occur to me that I was forgetting something? Not at all.
Sigh.
I really hope this isn't a new trend that will continue, because I really, really value my memory and I'm not a fan of forgetful - especially when having an event on my calendar (see: example 1, above) doesn't even guarantee that I'll now remember it!
Example 1: I was supposed to be volunteering at the library's book sale last night. I even confirmed it with my friend Marcy after we both showed up to set up for the sale on Tuesday night. But did I show up? Nope. Did it even occur to me that something was on my calendar that I might be missing? Not at all.
Example 2: Mike asked me last night if I could pick up some of the ingredients for cat food after I toured a daycare this afternoon. Of course!, I replied. Generally I wouldn't need a note to remind myself to do one thing the very next day, but apparently the circumstances have altered. Because did I go to the butcher? Nope. Did it even occur to me that I was forgetting something? Not at all.
Sigh.
I really hope this isn't a new trend that will continue, because I really, really value my memory and I'm not a fan of forgetful - especially when having an event on my calendar (see: example 1, above) doesn't even guarantee that I'll now remember it!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
P.S. Gender Predictions
I forgot to mention in my last post: We're taking bets on gender!
So far we have:
my mom: "a determined girlbaby"
my dad: "Do you really want to know beforehand?"
Mike: BOY
me: girl?
Any other guesses???
Please leave a comment with your prediction...
So far we have:
my mom: "a determined girlbaby"
my dad: "Do you really want to know beforehand?"
Mike: BOY
me: girl?
Any other guesses???
Please leave a comment with your prediction...
Saturday, October 29, 2011
gender predictions
Mike and I are hotly debating whether we are going to have a boy or a girl. (Needless to say, we are hoping to find out for sure at our 20-week u/s!) In the meantime, I thought we could tally up the predictions from all the old wive's tales, many of which were from this site.
1. Baby's heartrate
Supposedly a heartrate over 140 means girl and under 140 (obviously) means boy. At about 10 weeks, ours was 160.
GIRL
2. Cravings
Supposedly craving sweets=girl and savory=boy. Hmmm, cheese and carbs?
BOY
3. Belly shape
If you are carrying high with a big, round belly, you are having a girl. If you are carrying low with a smaller belly that sticks straight out, it’s a boy.
TOO EARLY TO TELL
4. Ring test
Using a string, hang your wedding ring over your pregnant belly. You are having a girl if the ring swings back and forth and it’s a boy if it swings in a circle. (We couldn't find string so we used dental floss. Hopefully that's close enough!)
BOY
5. Moodiness
If you are really moody, you are having a girl since you have another extra girl hormones in you. Your pregnancy will make you smile and be more happy if you are having a boy because there’s a little penis inside you. (Seriously?!?)
BOY
6. Bread
If you eat the bread loaf ends, it's a boy. (ew, bread butts!!)
GIRL
7. Activity
A very active baby on ultrasound = boy
(according to some. According to others it's just the opposite. Go figure.)
BOY?
8. Nosebleeds
Apparently nosebleeds mean a girl? Crazy that I just came across that, as I just had my first nosebleed in literally decades just last week.
GIRL
9. Chinese Gender Prediction Chart
There are a million different versions of this one online. This one predicts...
GIRL
10. Amount of morning sickness
All day = girl. Little/none = boy.
GIRL
11. Mom's beauty
Apparently girls will suck all of mom's beauty away, whereas women still look beautiful if they're carrying a boy. Since this is completely subjective, I will choose to believe that I'm still just as pretty. :)
BOY (ahem)
12. Grace
Clumsy=girl, graceful=boy. Well, I've already started dropping things (started? maybe continued is a better word).
GIRL
13. Sleep side
If you prefer to lie on your left, it's a boy. Right=girl
BOY
14. Necklace test
Have someone hold a necklace over your hand. If the necklace swings back and forth, it’s a boy. If it moves in a circle, it’s a girl. (Just the opposite of the ring test above.)
BOY
15. Feet
Colder feet during pregnancy = boy. Feet staying the same temperature = girl.
GIRL
And the verdict is....
GIRL=7
BOY=7
TOO EARLY TO TELL=1
Argh!
1. Baby's heartrate
Supposedly a heartrate over 140 means girl and under 140 (obviously) means boy. At about 10 weeks, ours was 160.
GIRL
2. Cravings
Supposedly craving sweets=girl and savory=boy. Hmmm, cheese and carbs?
BOY
3. Belly shape
If you are carrying high with a big, round belly, you are having a girl. If you are carrying low with a smaller belly that sticks straight out, it’s a boy.
TOO EARLY TO TELL
4. Ring test
Using a string, hang your wedding ring over your pregnant belly. You are having a girl if the ring swings back and forth and it’s a boy if it swings in a circle. (We couldn't find string so we used dental floss. Hopefully that's close enough!)
BOY
5. Moodiness
If you are really moody, you are having a girl since you have another extra girl hormones in you. Your pregnancy will make you smile and be more happy if you are having a boy because there’s a little penis inside you. (Seriously?!?)
BOY
6. Bread
If you eat the bread loaf ends, it's a boy. (ew, bread butts!!)
GIRL
7. Activity
A very active baby on ultrasound = boy
(according to some. According to others it's just the opposite. Go figure.)
BOY?
8. Nosebleeds
Apparently nosebleeds mean a girl? Crazy that I just came across that, as I just had my first nosebleed in literally decades just last week.
GIRL
9. Chinese Gender Prediction Chart
There are a million different versions of this one online. This one predicts...
GIRL
10. Amount of morning sickness
All day = girl. Little/none = boy.
GIRL
11. Mom's beauty
Apparently girls will suck all of mom's beauty away, whereas women still look beautiful if they're carrying a boy. Since this is completely subjective, I will choose to believe that I'm still just as pretty. :)
BOY (ahem)
12. Grace
Clumsy=girl, graceful=boy. Well, I've already started dropping things (started? maybe continued is a better word).
GIRL
13. Sleep side
If you prefer to lie on your left, it's a boy. Right=girl
BOY
14. Necklace test
Have someone hold a necklace over your hand. If the necklace swings back and forth, it’s a boy. If it moves in a circle, it’s a girl. (Just the opposite of the ring test above.)
BOY
15. Feet
Colder feet during pregnancy = boy. Feet staying the same temperature = girl.
GIRL
And the verdict is....
GIRL=7
BOY=7
TOO EARLY TO TELL=1
Argh!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
What a day
I found out this morning that my coworker just lost her baby. She was 25 weeks pregnant. I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around this. I mean, I know that a loss can technically occur any time, even at full term, but this just seems so cruel of the universe! It isn't supposed to happen to nice people who have been through everything because all they want is to have a baby! And I'm having a hard time reconciling that I was just starting to relax a bit, and now I feel like I have to keep my guard up again. Life is so unfair sometimes. I'm hoping the autopsy will reveal some reason -- she had all the tests in the world done (amnio, etc.) and everything looked great. It just boggles the mind to imagine how something like this can happen, and why the universe would make it happen. I'm also just trying to remind myself that just because I know about this terrible (and extremely rare!) event, that doesn't mean that anything terrible is likely to happen to me. If you have any to spare, I could certainly use some good vibes/prayers right now, and my coworker could use them even more.
Really? The Claim: Holidays Can Affect When Expectant Mothers Deliver
Maybe we can try to have an Earth Day baby?
THE FACTS
Researchers have long suspected that holidays and culturally meaningful events can play a role in medical outcomes. Some believe that terminally ill patients, for example, can hang on to life for religious events, birthdays and symbolically important occasions, though decades of study of the question have yielded mixed results.
It has been unclear whether a similar holiday-postponement effect could be seen in pregnant women. In a study published this month, however, researchers at the Yale School of Public Health reviewed millions of birth certificates and found a 5.3 percent dip in spontaneous births on Halloween, suggesting that a mother’s mental state may play a role in when she goes into labor. The researchers also noted a 16.9 percent drop in Caesarean births on Halloween, perhaps indicating that many women avoid scheduling the procedure then.
The scientists looked at all births in the United States over an 11-year period that occurred within one week on either side of Halloween, adjusting for variables like day of the week. The 1.8 million births revealed a clear reluctance to start labor around the festival of the dead.
But would a more symbolically positive holiday have the reverse effect?
To find out, the researchers studied 1.7 million births that occurred within a week of Valentine’s Day over the same 11 years. They found a 3.6 percent spike in spontaneous births on Valentine’s and a 12.1 percent rise in Caesareans.
THE BOTTOM LINE
New research suggests that women may be able to control the timing of spontaneous births around certain holidays.
Really? The Claim: Holidays Can Affect When Expectant Mothers Deliver
By ANAHAD O'CONNORChristoph Niemann
THE FACTS
Researchers have long suspected that holidays and culturally meaningful events can play a role in medical outcomes. Some believe that terminally ill patients, for example, can hang on to life for religious events, birthdays and symbolically important occasions, though decades of study of the question have yielded mixed results.
It has been unclear whether a similar holiday-postponement effect could be seen in pregnant women. In a study published this month, however, researchers at the Yale School of Public Health reviewed millions of birth certificates and found a 5.3 percent dip in spontaneous births on Halloween, suggesting that a mother’s mental state may play a role in when she goes into labor. The researchers also noted a 16.9 percent drop in Caesarean births on Halloween, perhaps indicating that many women avoid scheduling the procedure then.
The scientists looked at all births in the United States over an 11-year period that occurred within one week on either side of Halloween, adjusting for variables like day of the week. The 1.8 million births revealed a clear reluctance to start labor around the festival of the dead.
But would a more symbolically positive holiday have the reverse effect?
To find out, the researchers studied 1.7 million births that occurred within a week of Valentine’s Day over the same 11 years. They found a 3.6 percent spike in spontaneous births on Valentine’s and a 12.1 percent rise in Caesareans.
THE BOTTOM LINE
New research suggests that women may be able to control the timing of spontaneous births around certain holidays.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Many firsts!
This has been a weekend of firsts for us!
1. Friday night we ventured into Babies R Us for the first time. Scary! Did you know they make special $7 plastic cups to rinse your baby off in the bath? I can only imagine what other "necessities" are in store for us!
2. Yesterday we got our first baby present for this little one!
Thanks to Emily, Jason, Claire and Ella!
1. Friday night we ventured into Babies R Us for the first time. Scary! Did you know they make special $7 plastic cups to rinse your baby off in the bath? I can only imagine what other "necessities" are in store for us!
2. Yesterday we got our first baby present for this little one!
Thanks to Emily, Jason, Claire and Ella!
3. Last night we also ordered our first baby item: a stroller! It should come in the mail on Wednesday. Exciting!
4. Today I started organizing a registry on Amazon.com! We're thinking we'll do the big stuff there (since it's much cheaper than in stores) and the little stuff at Target. This is starting to feel more and more real...
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
due date statistics
This website is pretty interesting: http://www.dogfish.org/chris/fun/delivery.html
It shows a distribution of when babies are born relative to their due date:
And this show the cumulative rates:
Mike's response to the first graph was, "Wow, a fairly Gaussian distribution!" And to the second was, "Interestingly though, 50% of the babies are delivered by sometime in week 39, not 40."
This is fascinating stuff for us statistics nerds! :)
It shows a distribution of when babies are born relative to their due date:
And this show the cumulative rates:
Mike's response to the first graph was, "Wow, a fairly Gaussian distribution!" And to the second was, "Interestingly though, 50% of the babies are delivered by sometime in week 39, not 40."
This is fascinating stuff for us statistics nerds! :)
Monday, October 17, 2011
Good news!
We had our 12-week appointment today (a little late, since we're actually 12w5d), and we got lots of reassurance that everything is going well. That is, we got our reassurance after we had a terrifying few minutes of my doctor being unable to find the heartbeat with her little doppler machine!!! Thankfully she was immediately able to wheel in her little portable ultrasound machine, and we immediately saw why she was having difficulty with the doppler: our little bean was dancing and flipping like crazy! I think we're going to have our hands full with this little one. :)
So, normally we would only get two ultrasounds (one at 8 weeks and one at 20 weeks), but today we got another "bonus" to make up for the nerve-wracking few minutes of (seemingly) no heartbeat. And the upside was that we got to see our little one dancing, and everything looked perfectly formed according to my doctor. Yay!
I realized today that I've been buying myself little rewards after each milestone appointment. After we got past 8-9 weeks, I bought a journal and some magazines. After we heard the heartbeat last time I bought myself a bellaband. Today I just ordered a copy of Baby Bargains so we can start thinking about registering!
Now that it's slowly starting to sink in that we're actually having a baby, I'm realizing just how much work we have ahead of us: registering, choosing a daycare, deciding on cloth vs. disposable, etc. Whew! So we're just taking it one step at a time (while armed with multiple lists that I've already created!). First up: telling my boss after my annual review tomorrow. Wish me luck!
So, normally we would only get two ultrasounds (one at 8 weeks and one at 20 weeks), but today we got another "bonus" to make up for the nerve-wracking few minutes of (seemingly) no heartbeat. And the upside was that we got to see our little one dancing, and everything looked perfectly formed according to my doctor. Yay!
I realized today that I've been buying myself little rewards after each milestone appointment. After we got past 8-9 weeks, I bought a journal and some magazines. After we heard the heartbeat last time I bought myself a bellaband. Today I just ordered a copy of Baby Bargains so we can start thinking about registering!
Now that it's slowly starting to sink in that we're actually having a baby, I'm realizing just how much work we have ahead of us: registering, choosing a daycare, deciding on cloth vs. disposable, etc. Whew! So we're just taking it one step at a time (while armed with multiple lists that I've already created!). First up: telling my boss after my annual review tomorrow. Wish me luck!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Divine retribution (and two other updates)
(Warning! Grossness alert!)
If there's one thing I hate (other than vomitting), it's burping. It totally grosses me out and, actually, kind of makes me want to puke when I hear other people doing it. Ew, ew, ew.
So what's my number one first trimester symptom (behind all-day nausea and fatigue)?
That's right, it's burping.
(Seriously, pregnancy gods?!?)
It's absolutely disgusting. I make these deep, puke-inducing burp sounds every few minutes. I am soooo gross!!!
I can only hope that this "delightful" symptom passes quickly.
*******
In other news, I finally caved yesterday and bought some sea bands (i.e., acupressure bands for motion sickness and other types of nausea) and sea bands ginger-flavored gum. I don't know if it's a placebo or if it's just that I generally feel better on the weekends (since all I do is rest), but I've been feeling MUCH better for the past 36 hours. Still definitely not 100%, but at least approaching human. Yesterday I even made a pumpkin soup (spiced with lots of fresh ginger) and last night we went out for Vietnamese food -- not a cheesy carb in sight!!!
Let's hope the combo of acupressure and gum (and lemon drops and lemonade) will help get me through work this week...
*******
Finally, just wanted to let you all know that we have our next doctor's appointment tomorrow. If all goes well, I'm planning to tell my boss on Tuesday. Fingers crossed!!!
If there's one thing I hate (other than vomitting), it's burping. It totally grosses me out and, actually, kind of makes me want to puke when I hear other people doing it. Ew, ew, ew.
So what's my number one first trimester symptom (behind all-day nausea and fatigue)?
That's right, it's burping.
(Seriously, pregnancy gods?!?)
It's absolutely disgusting. I make these deep, puke-inducing burp sounds every few minutes. I am soooo gross!!!
I can only hope that this "delightful" symptom passes quickly.
*******
In other news, I finally caved yesterday and bought some sea bands (i.e., acupressure bands for motion sickness and other types of nausea) and sea bands ginger-flavored gum. I don't know if it's a placebo or if it's just that I generally feel better on the weekends (since all I do is rest), but I've been feeling MUCH better for the past 36 hours. Still definitely not 100%, but at least approaching human. Yesterday I even made a pumpkin soup (spiced with lots of fresh ginger) and last night we went out for Vietnamese food -- not a cheesy carb in sight!!!
Let's hope the combo of acupressure and gum (and lemon drops and lemonade) will help get me through work this week...
*******
Finally, just wanted to let you all know that we have our next doctor's appointment tomorrow. If all goes well, I'm planning to tell my boss on Tuesday. Fingers crossed!!!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
week 12: plum
http://pregnant.thebump.com/pregnancy/first-trimester/articles/your-pregnancy-week-12.aspx
Baby's now the size of a plum!As you move into the second trimester, baby shifts into the growth and maturation stage. After weeks in the critical development stage, almost all of her systems are fully formed.
Baby's now the size of a plum!As you move into the second trimester, baby shifts into the growth and maturation stage. After weeks in the critical development stage, almost all of her systems are fully formed.Monday, October 10, 2011
Dangers lurking everywhere
I'm trying to stay away from What to Expect When You're Expecting since it's such a fear-mongering book, but even reading more "neutral" pregnancy books makes doing just about anything absolutely terrifying.
I'm usually pretty laid back about these things, but now I'm deathly afraid of:
-accidentally ingesting too much caffeine
-the apparent dangers of (some) artificial sweeteners and other food processing
-using a cleaning supply (not that I clean that much anyway...) that could damage the baby through its fumes or through its contact with my skin
-not cleaning enough (!) and accidentally getting toxoplasmosis from scattered kitty litter or from the remains of our raw cat food
-not heating my lunch meat enough to kill any possible listeria that might be lingering (I know it needs to be heated to steaming, but for how long? and how can I be sure it was steaming enough?)
-not washing my fruits/veggies enough to get rid of the small chance of listeria (anyone else bothered by the cantaloupe and spinach and sprouts recalls recently? I never would have been, except now that I'm pregnant I've apparently gone crazy.)
-accidentally eating cheese that hasn't been pasteurized (does anyone know if I can eat unpasteurized cheese as long as it's cooked? They had cooked queso at Costco the other day, but I didn't sample it because I didn't know if it was pasteurized, even though it was steaming hot.)
-eating too much fish and getting mercury poisoning (seriously, there are all sorts of rules about how much is okay per day/week/month depending on the type of fish and where it was caught - it's enough to make me avoid fish altogether, except...)
-not eating enough fish so I'm short on omega-3s (because the supplements can only do so much and I apparently need the real thing too)
And now last night I read that wireless signals may disrupt development so I should be careful to keep my cell phone away from my abdomen and we should turn off our wireless router at night?!?
Ugh. I'm ready to go back to blissful ignorance, please.
Addendum
Less than two hours later, and I thought of a few more fears:
- non-stick pans (due to possible links to autism/PDDs)
- heating frozen lunches in their plastic containers (due to concerns about possible endocrine disruption)
I'm usually pretty laid back about these things, but now I'm deathly afraid of:
-accidentally ingesting too much caffeine
-the apparent dangers of (some) artificial sweeteners and other food processing
-using a cleaning supply (not that I clean that much anyway...) that could damage the baby through its fumes or through its contact with my skin
-not cleaning enough (!) and accidentally getting toxoplasmosis from scattered kitty litter or from the remains of our raw cat food
-not heating my lunch meat enough to kill any possible listeria that might be lingering (I know it needs to be heated to steaming, but for how long? and how can I be sure it was steaming enough?)
-not washing my fruits/veggies enough to get rid of the small chance of listeria (anyone else bothered by the cantaloupe and spinach and sprouts recalls recently? I never would have been, except now that I'm pregnant I've apparently gone crazy.)
-accidentally eating cheese that hasn't been pasteurized (does anyone know if I can eat unpasteurized cheese as long as it's cooked? They had cooked queso at Costco the other day, but I didn't sample it because I didn't know if it was pasteurized, even though it was steaming hot.)
-eating too much fish and getting mercury poisoning (seriously, there are all sorts of rules about how much is okay per day/week/month depending on the type of fish and where it was caught - it's enough to make me avoid fish altogether, except...)
-not eating enough fish so I'm short on omega-3s (because the supplements can only do so much and I apparently need the real thing too)
And now last night I read that wireless signals may disrupt development so I should be careful to keep my cell phone away from my abdomen and we should turn off our wireless router at night?!?
Ugh. I'm ready to go back to blissful ignorance, please.
Addendum
Less than two hours later, and I thought of a few more fears:
- non-stick pans (due to possible links to autism/PDDs)
- heating frozen lunches in their plastic containers (due to concerns about possible endocrine disruption)
Friday, October 7, 2011
sick of feeling sick
I'm still in a little bit of a state of disbelief, but I'm starting to believe that my "morning" sickness is not all in my head. My doctor and Mike seem very convinced that I'm not feeling ill because I'm eating crappy, but rather I'm eating crappy because I'm feeling so ill.
For the past ~5 weeks or so I've subsisted almost entirely on:
cheese pizza
mac&cheese
grilled cheese
cheese tortillas
crackers and cheese
Italian dunkers
cheese fries from Outback
Noticing a theme? I'm getting so tired of cheese and carbs, but absolutely nothing else sounds good! I'm really hoping that my prenatal vitamin is making up for the fact that I haven't had a vegetable (unless you count the sauce on my pizza) for weeks. Ugh.
All my pregnancy books tell me that my "morning" sickness should be at its peak about now (week 11) and starting to decrease. I know I'm going to worry once I don't have this symptom any more, but I'm also really looking forward to feeling human again! I'm starting to think that working as an eating disorders psychologist (where my clients all talk about food and puking all day long) is one of the worst possible jobs to have in the first trimester!
Thanks for letting me vent :)
For the past ~5 weeks or so I've subsisted almost entirely on:
cheese pizza
mac&cheese
grilled cheese
cheese tortillas
crackers and cheese
Italian dunkers
cheese fries from Outback
Noticing a theme? I'm getting so tired of cheese and carbs, but absolutely nothing else sounds good! I'm really hoping that my prenatal vitamin is making up for the fact that I haven't had a vegetable (unless you count the sauce on my pizza) for weeks. Ugh.
All my pregnancy books tell me that my "morning" sickness should be at its peak about now (week 11) and starting to decrease. I know I'm going to worry once I don't have this symptom any more, but I'm also really looking forward to feeling human again! I'm starting to think that working as an eating disorders psychologist (where my clients all talk about food and puking all day long) is one of the worst possible jobs to have in the first trimester!
Thanks for letting me vent :)
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
week 11: lime
Baby's now the size of a lime!Your fetus currently enjoys a 1:1 ratio between body and head, and has skin so transparent that blood vessels show right through it. But fingers and toes are no longer webbed, and hair follicles, tooth buds, and nail beds are forming -- setting up a significantly more attractive future.
http://pregnant.thebump.com/pregnancy/first-trimester/articles/your-pregnancy-week-11.aspx
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