Happy Anniversary

This week, Moo and I celebrated 8 years of marriage. We celebrated by going to our favorite restaurant and pigging out on fondue. The funny thing is that there was a couple there that had the same EXACT anniversary date - same date, same year. And even funnier, was that we had the same server.

I am continually thankful that I have Moo in my life. Folks pray for what we have. Songs are written about love like this. Poems are written by those seeking what we have. But I'm lucky enough to have it.

Moo, I love you more and more every day. You've stuck by me through the bad and celebrated with me during the good. You are truly my soulmate and being apart from you is like cutting off my own arm.

You are a fantastic man and you will be a great dad.

I am Weird

I went back to House o babies yesterday for a quick check. I've been experiencing some severe side pain over the last couple of days that's prevented me from sleeping. Turns out it's my old friend, Round Ligament Pain, back for an encore. I saw possibly my favorite midwife yet, Betsy. I'm scheduled to see Betsy again in a couple of weeks for my normal 28 week appt and I really HOPE she's the one who delivers the Spider Monkey.

She was gentle. Understood my jokes and better yet, didn't make me feel like an idiot for scheduling an emergency appointment. She was also able to get the baby's heart beat in one try and didn't cover me in goo like other midwives. Her recommendation was a warm bath followed by a nice massage by daddy and two(!!!) Tylenol PM. Absolutely perfect in my opinion.

Today, I am leaning back in my chair observing my rounded tummy. The Spider Monkey has become a lot stronger in the last few weeks and I can VISIBLY see her movements. Of course, it looks like I've got the hiccups, but I can see the bump move nevertheless.

Tomorrow, Saturday, I'm gonna go see my chiropractor and get a knot jerked in my tail and see if that helps the pain.

It's a ...

Yesterday was my 24 week ultrasound. I got Paperbag Girl again - you know, the one with no personality? - and she worked hard to see everything she needed to see. Once again, our Sea Monkey has been less than cooperative at these sessions and yesterday proved to be more of the same.

The baby continually moved, kicked and punched. Paperbag Girl was getting a little frantic. She'd get a good view, start to measure and then SM moved. She finally got to where she was just snapping pics so she could get the measurements.

It looks like the kid is inheriting my father's absurdly long legs and arms. My dad was 6'6" and had long long legs and arms. He inherited them from his dad - also 6'6". While the gestational age was 24 weeks, 1 day, the arms and legs were measuring in at 26 weeks 6 days - nearly 3 weeks ahead. The kid's noggin is measuring a week ahead - just 25W3D - they aren't really concerned about that.

I had noticed in another ultrasound that the baby's knees looked vaguely like x-rays I've seen of my own wonky knees. I inherited my knees from my dad. We all have knee caps that don't quite fit on our knees the way they should. In my case, it makes my knee pop out of joint at inopportune times (like walking thru the zoo or on vacation). For my dad, it was arthritis. But strangely enough, my paternal grandfather - from whom my dad inherited them - had no problems. I'm sure it has to do with the fact that the man never had an ounce of superfluous flesh on his bones and thus avoided many of the problems that my dad and I have had with our wonky knees.

Getting the little booger to get into a position that would show the sex was difficult as well. The sonographer actually went out and got another sonographer to come in to take a look. After some poking and probing, they finally decided that they were about 70% sure that the baby is ...

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A GIRL!!!

Good grief, I'm having a girl. Of course Moo didn't say "I told you so" or anything. In fact, he just acted satisfied at being correct.

6 month appointment

Had a good appointment at House o'Babies on Monday. This midwife (again, I haven't seen the same one twice cause they want you to see as many as possible before D-Day) found the heartbeat almost immediately.

Then, she started berating me about losing weight. I need to gain weight she said. The baby needs food and since I've lost 20 pounds since my first appointment, it's clear that I'm not eating.

I explained to her that I'm eating well - plenty of fruits and veggies and lean meat and Moo's a diabetic so we eat healthier as a result of that. I also explained that I haven't been nauseous or had any vomiting periods. Additionally, I explained that my mom, who was a plus size gal herself, lost almost 50 pounds without trying when she was pregnant with me and I weighed a little over 7 pounds at birth.

Oh well.

My belly is beginning to pooch out a little bit and the baby is REALLY active. Folks ask me how the baby's doing and I always have the same answer: "wiggling".