It's A Girl!

Jeremy and I had a 3-D ultrasound today. It was really exciting to see our little baby growing inside me. The technician said the baby is 100% girl! Now we need to pick a name that we both love.

Third Trimester

We're 26 1/2 weeks pregnant, which is the third trimester! I think that my belly is getting bigger every week. Pregnancy books estimate that the baby weighs 2 lbs now. If the baby was born today it has chances of survival in a NICU... but lets not count on any deliveries for three more months.
I had a glucose blood test two days ago, it tests for gestational diabetes or something like that. Lab work is pretty boring because they make you drink this orange colored sugar water and then wait for 1 hour to get your blood drawn. I couldn't leave to waiting area or eat and drink anything. It gave me a sugar headache and the baby was kicking like crazy from the sugar rush.
My next prenatal appointment is on tuesday. I'm sure its nothing special, just that same old things...blood pressure, weight check, heartbeat, etc. But I'm taking Jeremy with me this time. So he can finally hear the heartbeat!

Amber's Grad

Last week I drove to Eugene, OR for my niece's college graduation. I spent five days in Oregon visiting with my mom, step-dad, two half-sisters and three nieces. I mostly relaxed with my mom until graduation day on Saturday. This was the first time any of my family has seen me pregnant, they all said that I look good and cute. Both of my half-sisters said that they had quick labors. Lisa said that hers were like 3 hours, and pushed them right out! And they both said to take the drugs. However I want a water birth and I can't have an epidural if I want a water birth. I am not going to say never... we'll just wait until the birth day comes.
After driving home on Sunday I noticed that my ankles are swollen. I guess from siting down for 7 hours. I was like "great!" I going to be one of those moms who get puffy hands and feet. But after laying on my side at night the swelling has gone back down.
Last night I had a dream (that seems too real) that the baby was stretching really hard that it was almost painful. The baby's foot was pushing so hard against my tummy that when I touched my tummy I felt the form of the baby's foot. I could grab the foot and ankle over my skin (the baby was still in my tummy, it wasn't like it was coming out). It was weird because I really thought the dream was real. I was laying in bed thinking if that was possible... then I was like no! Maybe when I'm closer to full term.

Wonderful 9 year Anniversary at the Spa

Jeremy and I celebrated our 9 year anniversary in Reno over the weekend. We stayed the night at the Atlantis Resort and Spa, ate dinner at the buffet and spent 8 hours at the spa. I had no idea that Jeremy had made reservations for the spa. But he sure did surprise me with a prenatal massage while he got a deep tissue massage. It was wonderful! I thought that they would give me some kind of doughnut pillow to lay on (for the belly). But instead they told me lay on my back and then both of my sides. I thought that the 60 minute massage would go by really slow but it actually went by pretty fast.
I was a little discouraged to post a picture of me in a bikini. I was totally confident walking around the pool in a bathing suit over the weekend. But actually seeing a belly picture of me is like, "Ahh... I'm huge!" What are people going to think... "wow she's gained a lot of weight" or "is her belly button still pierced." Oh well, I'm going to embrace motherhood in all its glory. Weight gain, stretchmarks, big breasts and puffy hands and feet will be my mom war wounds.

Clumsy & Prego Brain

I've unfortunately become clumsy this trimester, and I don't think its going to get any better. Last night I was playing fetch with my cat Nina (yes she can fetch her mice), and I bumped into my dinner tray as I was reaching down and spilled soup all of the carpet. And then today I was drinking tea at the computer and I knocked that over too. Sometimes I find bruises and my arms and legs and forget how I got them. Or I find myself walking into walls, or hitting my head on my car door.
Last weekend Jeremy and I were doing yard work. I was pulling grass out of my vegetable garden when I thought I saw a snail without a shell. I asked Jeremy if some snails don't have shells. I said that its like a worm with antennas. He walked over and said "I can't believe you don't know what a slug is!" Of course being raised in Humboldt County I was used to seeing slugs all the time. But now in Sacramento I never see them so I pushed it out of my head completely. I don't think clearly anymore, some would call it a "prego brain"
On a happier note. Tomorrow Jeremy and I are celebrating our 9 year anniversary. After I get off work I am going to met him in Reno where we're going to have dinner and spend the night at the Atlantis Hotel. I'm looking forward to have a nice date with Jeremy before the baby comes.

Pregnancy Cartoons

New paint and baby shoes

We finally painted the nursery! The before is the blue, and the after is the yellow. We left the ceiling color the same original blue. We thought about sponge painting the blue ceiling with clouds.
The blanket is my latest crochet project, its 100% cotton and is going really fast. I'll be done with it by next week at the rate its been going. The shoes I bought at a neighbors yard sell for 50 cents! I couldn't believe that they were so cheap, they retail for $30. I don't care if they are blue and we have a girl (blue is my favorite color).
Tomorrow I'll be 23 weeks pregnant! The baby moves a lot more often now. And its kicks are getting stronger. Jeremy finally felt the baby move, I think that he was surprised because he felt 3 kicks in a row.
Lately I've been craving blueberry pancakes, so I made one for dinner last night. For some reason I like to eat breakfast for dinner. Everyone asks if I've been having weird cravings... To me breakfast for dinner is not weird, but it probably qualifies for one of those odd pregnancy appetites.
My next prenatal appointment on June 9th with a nurse midwife. I've gained 5 lbs in the last three weeks. I don't want to be one of those moms who gain too much weight. The numbers on the scale scare me, but I think that I look fine in the mirror. So I'm trying not to let the weight gain bother me too much. I go on walks every once in a while. But it has been getting too hot for me to be comfortable walking outside.