Banking on it

As you may know, before Chuck went through chemo (close to 5 years ago now), we banked sperm, just in case. It was expensive, but seemed like the thing to do. And as you've probably guessed, his actual sperm ended up working just fine. So, we recently got the storage renewal notice and are debating whether to keep it or not.

Why not keep it - just in case? Well, at $365/year, it's pretty pricey. It's safe to say we're going to have at least one baby. If he were to have a recurrence (which he won't), it would most likely be that we'd have enough going on with one child and a cancer diagnosis - and/or, we'd be past our prime child bearing years by then anyway.

To cancel we have to sign the paperwork in front of a notary. Chuck says we may as well keep it one more year (we're actually a little late with the renewal at this point), but I think he just doesn't want to think about it or find a notary and go through the steps. Maybe this weekend I can talk him into cancelling... unless, do you think we should keep it?? Oy.

Fun & Games

Today Teresa, Daniela, Amelia, Candace and I went to a Babies R Us free event on how to throw a fun shower. We played games, ate snacks, and even won a couple of prizes! At lunch afterwards we kind of discussed what my baby showers will look like, but nothing was solidified. I know we'll have one for work and one at my house, sometime in Feb/March. Candace wants to make a diaper cake, and we'll play a few games... but any suggestions are welcome!

Afterwards, we looked at baby clothes, both at Babies R Us and Gymboree, and I did end up buying a cute little summer dress :) But for the most part I probably won't buy anything else until after the showers.

This last week or two, my tummy's been growing larger at a much faster pace than the last 6 months. Today she was more active than any other day too. She was moving and kicking in a way that both Chuck and I could see and feel on the front and both sides of my tummy; in the morning, and again in the afternoon (who knows what she'll do tonight!).

Now Chuck's working on fixing our under-TV components to be better child-proofed, and will be moving some cords that are tripping hazards. Soon we'll start setting up the little play area where the foosball table used to be... did I tell you I sold the foosball table on Craigslist? Time to exchange big kid toys for little kid toys!

Traveling

I'm just about to week 26 (6-1/2 months), and for the past week or so I've been having Braxton Hicks contractions. It's pretty wierd - I'll just be hanging out, maybe driving, usually at night - and my lower abdomen will tighten and I'll feel pressure pushing down. It's not really painful or super intense, but it's different. Once it starts, it keeps happening pretty regularly for an hour or two.

I'm not scared of going into pre-term labor or anything, but just having strange things happening in my body does make me second think the trip to New Orleans. Blueberry's already done her fair share of traveling in her short life. She's been to Chicago for Lollapolooza (that one technically counts because even though I didn't know I was pregnant yet, her cells were dividing and she was implanting right around that time); Philadelphia for the LIVESTRONG Challenge (at 6-weeks, I wasn't feeling good and didn't like being so far from home); and she flew to Arizona for Thanksgiving (which was fun - I was with Chuck and felt great).

I keep hearing people say they went to New Orleans and came back with a cold, or pneumonia, and I certainly don't want to get sick. I'm at the point now where sleeping is getting uncomfortable, and even with my body pillow propped strategically around me, my arms will fall asleep from side-sleeping, or I'll end up on my back or tummy and wake myself up from discomfort. And trying to keep my bladder happy and stay hydrated (especially at night) is a huge challenge. So, staying home and taking care of myself seems to be the thing to do.

Clothes!

Yesterday I went to Old Navy, and everything in the maternity section was at least 50% off. Not only did they have my sizes, but it's the first time everything actually FIT! I'm big enough now that my "inbetween" things don't fit at all anymore, and real maternity clothes are a necessity. I got 3 full outfits - 3 pairs of pants, and 4 shirts for oh, about $55. Seriously:

Speaking of clothes - this might be a good post to discuss the ever changing bra size extravaganza. Like it or not, I just keep growing. I recently went to this store called Special Addition, which is geared specifically for maternity/nursing. I was told they'd be the one place in Austin to have sizes that would fit. As you know, I used to be a 36C... and now I'm officially up to an F cup. I still had trouble finding a good fit (they don't like using underwires in maternity bras, which makes it difficult), but I did make one purchase and think, er... hope it'll suffice for awhile.

And, as per a request, I'm also including a photo of all the baby clothes that were hanging in the closet photo. I realize that you still can't see all the details, but I think you get the gist. It's a pretty good start!

To My Loyal Readers

I was just informed at work that I have whole fan base who were disappointed that I didn't blog more over the break. WHAT! Loyal readers? You guys need to comment sometimes because I had no idea :) Actually, over the break I had a computer virus that made it hard to do anything online, but now (after a $100 virus removal and a new version of Norton), things are back to normal. So here ya go:

First, Andrew & Julia just found out they're having a boy! So not only will Blueberry will have a cousin the exact same age, but the Wadey name will live on even if we only have daughters. Phew!

In the last couple of weeks baby girl Wadey has been wriggling and kicking around like crazy. I usually feel it most when I'm relaxing on the couch (like now), or laying down for bed. And it's not necessarily just random kicks - she's become responsive to Chuck touching my belly, and he can really feel her too! I told my mom the other day that the strangest thing is how I have no control over her movements - and she laughed hysterically and informed me that I should get used to that, because I'll NEVER have any control over her!

I just signed us up for a comprehensive preparing for childbirth class in February, which is 12 hours long and will go over the phases of labor, baby care basics, etc. February and March will most likely be full of things like that - I'm finding all kinds of classes and events such as: the Seton First Friday Film (you know, popcorn and a movie about what to expect when you bring baby home); free events at Babies R Us about how to diaper and throw fun baby showers; prenatal for partners at Yoga Yoga; infant & child CPR; breastfeeding; you name it and somebody offers it.

It is strange to imagine what life will be like 3 or 4 months from now. The nursery's almost done, which I guess makes it feel more real - but still, I go in there and try to imagine a baby girl in the crib, and I just have no idea what she'll look like or sound like or how dramatically our lives will change. Right now it's still pretty abstract, but when the time comes, we'll be ready.

Happy New Year!

My New Year's resolutions? To stay healthy, keep doing yoga, finish the nursery, and of course - to be a good mom.

We just picked up this crib from a family who posted it on Craigslist. It's a convertible crib, which means it changes into a toddler daybed, and I think it turns into a twin sized bed as well. We already had the bedding ready to go, and I think it looks great!

Here's a pretty good shot of the mostly completed nursery. We still have a shelfy thing to build, and I'll probably need a changing table. But we accomplished everything I was hoping to accomplish over the break.

Tomorrow morning I have an OB appointment before I head back to work. Chuck won't be joining me for this one... I'm just getting a glucosa test to check for diabetes. Shouldn't be too exciting.

Nursery Part 2

The closet is done, and it was hard work! Buying paint and supplies, spackling about a million holes (seriously), taking everything out, taping and painting yellow, white on the sides, and gloss white for the trim. I did all the prep work, touched up the trim in the rest of the room, and painted the shelf and hanger rod, and Chuck did all the in-closet painting and heavy lifting. I have pictures of us painting, and we even took video... but for today, you get the finished product:

Cravings

No, I haven't actually had any weird cravings yet. I think I'm still eating pretty normally... this morning I had leftover spinach quiche for breakfast (yum), then rice, black beans, peppers, salsa and cheese with chips & guacamole for lunch, and for dinner... an Elviswich.

Which Wich just opened down the street from us, and my newest addiction is the Elviswich. It's peanut butter, banana and honey on a toasted wheat baguette. I had one yesterday, and talked Chuck into trying one with me tonight. He liked it!

What Chuck's been craving is a juice recipe that came with our new juicer, consisting of one grapefruit, 1-2 oranges, a carrot, an apple, and either a pear or half a small cantaloup (makes enough for 2 large glasses). It's delicious, and if it was up to him we'd make it every day! Tonight we just had some carrot/ginger juice - pretty good, but it would've made my mom cringe.

No news on the crib or painting situation, but I'm still hoping to have it all worked out by the end of my vacation time. I'll keep you posted!

Progress

We put up the curtains and assembled the glider chair, so one corner of the nursery is done! We also child-proofed a bit; made it so the cords on the shades are all wound up off the floor and the plugs are covered.

Here's a picture. Notice the new diaper bag (thanks mom & dad!) and the beautiful little dress Daniela brought us back from Peru. We also just bought the crib bedding set, which will add more colors to the decor (it's really cute). More pictures to come as we make more progress!

Physical Activity

I woke up this morning, not to an alarm, but to the worst charlie horse of my life. I tried massaging it, but my arm was asleep so I screamed and made Chuck massage it out. My calf is still sore over 12 hours later.

Today was my first day of vacation. Of course Chuck had to work, so I spent way too much of the day sitting on the couch, and I felt my tummy wonking around the whole time! At one point, I lifted up my shirt and realized I could actually see it too!! I went from not being sure I could feel her at all, to feeling and SEEING the kicking all day long. I bet my normal daily life just keeps me so busy and active that she sleeps through it or I just don't notice the movement.

At one point Tater jumped on my lap, put her head on my tummy, and started purring. Blueberry was so responsive to that - it was as though they were snuggling with eachother!

After dinner we went out to take a walk at the new Hill Country Galleria, which ended with a pretty good set of stairs. I was feeling good about those stairs - especially after the brisk walk. But with my increased blood flow and all the other crazy things going on in my body, I swear when we got to the top I thought I might pass out. Of course, walking and prenatal yoga are about the extent of my physical activity these days. Maybe that's enough for now!

22 Weeks

This last week or so, I've felt more movements in my tummy, but I'm still thinking... gas? digestion? hunger? I guess there's at least a 25% chance it's baby wriggling! The only time I thought it was different was earlier this week when I woke up at 3:30am and felt some little boinging/flicking to the left of my belly button. I've heard it should feel like fluttering, and I don't think I've had any of that. But most of the time, the gas bubbles and digestion feelings are lower down and feel closer to the surface.

It's been 6 weeks since my OB first asked me if I'd felt the baby move yet, so I've been wanting to feel it ever since then. Maybe I just don't know what to feel for, or maybe she's just a mellow little girl (or both?).

In other news, we bought yellow paint for the closet, curtain rods, and have the red curtains and yellow & white glider chair on order (to arrive this week). I only work 4 days next week, and then will have 11 days off to fix up the nursery. We're also going to sell the foosball table to make room for a little play area, and stuff like that... maybe do some baby-proofing, take naps, do some juicing, and try out the new camcorder :)

Prenatal Yoga

Today I took my first prenatal class at Yoga Yoga. It was pretty neat getting back into yoga with a whole class full of pregnant women. Three of the ladies in the class were right at 40 weeks or just past, but I'd say the average woman was somewhere between 18-23 weeks (I'm 21 weeks).

Some of you have been asking for pictures of my belly, and the truth is, most clothes I wear (especially now that it's scarf weather) cover it up. So, here I am in yoga wear:

As far as how I'm feeling, I have a lot of energy these days and am feeling great! Well, except for the fact that I've been getting heartburn or indigestion sometimes twice a day. Oh well, I can take it.