11 weeks

Ugh, I don't recall when my stomach officially "popped" last time, although, looking up my old posts, I commented on this very same subject matter at 12 weeks. I also posted that I no longer fit into a pair of plaid pants that I ...sorta outgrew just by being fat this past year. :-/
Two days ago I was in a meeting with my manager (someone who works in a different building than me and that I haven't seen in weeks). She completely interrupted me to ask, "Are you pregnant?" I turned 9 shades of red and blurted out a flat, "Yes."
And then, yesterday, I could just tell (at the end of the day after work), my belly has definitely begun to "pop". That part that used to fold over when I sat or even curved in when I stood up... seems to have puffed out. Hmmmm,...
I'm excited... but I'm also at that pivotal moment of having buyer's remorse (Oh Gawd, I forgot how big I was or how my belly touched the door knob before my hand did or how I could only sleep on my one side for over 3 months or how my legs would go numb OFTEN from the pressure on my spine) and ready to get this show on the road (When can I stop living in denial and bust out the comfy stretchy pants already or when is it safe to have that leisurely glass of wine or when will I stop feeling like shit & get that second trimester upswing).
Two more weeks till I have to take the "hold 32 oz's of water for an hour" test and I will announce the news to the wide, wide world. I just want to get to this sonogram... and I want it to look GOOD.

Craft Project

I had to make this "faux" scrapbook for work last night. It has to look kinda of scrap-bookish so I went out and bought 3 kinds of glitter to go on the cover. Last night I got half my project done and realized very little glitter goes a l-o-n-g way. It looked as if I barely even touched the canisters I had bought. So... I decided to go a little crazy with some projects this AM in an attempt to use some glitter up.
Without even having showered or gotten dressed yet, I pulled out a paper plate and poured Elmer's glue in it. I smooshed Evie's hand down and made a few hand prints which we then covered in glitter for grandma's. I must admit... they looked better than I thought they would. Evie's gotten more practice with this type of thing at pre-school so my shrieking and freak-outs were at a bare minimum.... this egged me on to do more.
I pulled out one of the canvases Rob had bought me when I was going to do wall art for the baby's room (2 years ago...). I squirted pink, brown and lime green paints into measuring cups (works well since they have a handle to hold on to and control the cup when Evie pushes a paint brush all around). I set-up a clean-up station at the kitchen sink and let her go to town...
I did need to push Evie to move around the canvas after she started making mud off to the one side (she painted on glue and then glitter... and then she started putting wet paint on that making the glitter more texture than it was sparkly).
Rob marvelled at my patience.
Let's be frank, so did I.
The end result was pretty cool.
We did have to pull Evie away upset since she wanted to do more projects and I had a mess to clean... but moving her to her craft table with some stampers and large sheets of paper did the trick.
All in all, a pretty successful artsy morning.

Bank visit

We're Wachovia members (colors: green and blue) and Rob frequently visits to deposits checks... I think I walked into a bank once 2 years ago and went through the drive-through once in the last 3 years.
Evie has it down pat and knows to ask for a sucker and yells out what color she wants.
I came home to this. Today: blue.

Carter Mtn: Apple Picking

I haven't been apple picking since high school when we drove up to Wisconsin (I'm from Chicago). It was always cold and cloudy this time of year back home... not here! Carter Mtn was 89˚ and SUNNY!
The orchards that they just opened were Granny Smith and Fugi. I was hoping for some Braeburns for a pie receipe I have... but I am sure we'll figure it out with the 13lbs of apples we succeeded in picking!
We arrived at 11AM (about and hour and a half drive) and stayed till 2PM. We had a fantastic time. Evie didn't whine (as much as usual) and even succeeded in walking most of the time (with a few piggy backs from me and Rob). She ate 2 Granny Smiths and 1 Fugi apple before wrapping up the day with half an apple donut.
All in all... a truly. great. day.


Walking up the dusty path to the main building.


Here we are!



The place is free to park and attend. When the guy handed me apple picking bags he said, "You can eat them out there, why not. Who knows. But we just ask that you pay for your apples when you leave." It was so open, it was great & carefree.

Evie gets a boost or two from dad to reach the high up ones. She got the twist down real quick!




Evie was excited to fill the bags. We had to talk her out of gathering ones off the ground at first... a few soggy ones and she understood.




Evie enjoys a Granny Smith.



Enjoying a few bites together.

Someone offered to take our picture. So glad they did. The views were spectacular and 360˚ around us.

I make Evie stop for a picture with the other side of the mountain behind me. We're en route for the Fugis... the walk turned out to be a little far...

I was surprised she actually got into eating the apples. She hasn't eaten many lately and I thought she'd hate the skins. I was pleasantly wrong... she'd eat off the skin (well, gnaw, really) and be done with it by the time she succeeded in accessing the sweet white fruit inside!


Break time with a Fugi apple.


Evie was a champ at running down hills. Walking up them... not so much.


I can't believe she was hungry for a donut after all those apples. Donuts were great! Its their special "apple donuts" they make...


Evie RAN to this sign and eagerly walked up the ladder yelling, "I'm a callapillar!"

8 weeks 4 days: Photo

Boy, they weren't kidding when they said it happens quicker with the second one...
I've also noticed the urge to pee isn't as bad as it was with Evie (maybe cause your uterus "pops up" faster?
Today I am wearing a safety pin on my pants and wonder if I'll even make it to Halloween before busting out maternity pants. So ridiculous. And to think, I made it till week 16 (I *think*) before I wore maternity pants with Eve.

Update: We went to Carter Mountain to apple pick later this afternoon. I took Evie to a bathroom stall where we took turns. When she saw my safety pin she pointed and asked, "What's that?"
Me, "A safety pin. My pants are tight and its holding them up."
Evie, "Why?"
Me, "Well, ... cause mommy has a baby in her belly."
Laughing this deep giggly/belly laugh, "You don't have aBABY in your BUTT!"
The moms waiting in line must be loving this conversation.
Me, "No! [laughing] Not my butt... my belly!"
Evie, still giggling, "You don't have a BABY in your BELLY!"
Me, "Well, Actually Evie, we gotta have a conversation at some point. C'mon, let's get out of here."

Richmond Folk Festival

I LOVE The Folk Festival. Friday night, Saturday/night and Sunday/night of all free folk music across4-5 stages. Family activities, food, great weather and genuinely friendly people. Its great.
We decided to only go the one day this year since Evie tends to be a handful and I wanted to spend the other 2 days of this 3-day holiday weekend making chex mix, going to the Pumpkin Patch again and going to Carter Mountain for apple picking. This was the most over-the-top "autumn celebration" weekend I've ever planned.

Evie danced over the foot bridge to Brown's Island telling anyone who was listening that she was "going to DANCE!". She even ended up strutting the second half of the bridge. As soon as we made it toward the first tent (playing Polka) she suddenly stopped, clammed up and wanted to be held. Ah, there's the shy public Evie... I thought for just a moment she was gone. We soon gave up and walked to the Celtic/Irish tent where Evie snuggled against me on my lap. We found Uncle Greg 3 songs in and took a walk around the canal. She liked racing down the hills toward the water for Greg to "catch" her. Outgoing Evie was back on!


Evie waits in line with dad for a free balloon.


Evie climbs a rock to hang out with Uncle Greg around the family/craft area.


Dad shares his ice cream with Evie... it was so hot today (near 90˚!)


Evie takes a break to eat some goldfish on a blanket in front of me while we sit in a tent listening to Andes Mountain folk music. She clapped wildly when everyone else did. You can tell she is getting her second wind at this point...


En route back through the festival we stop to take a little tour of where the Confederate Army was defeated over the James River. See that free balloon we had to have? That damned balloon kept bonking people in the face and Evie wouldn't let us control it. I later took it out of her hands and let it go. She wailed. I got stares from a few people who witnessed it... people who looked at me like I was a bad mommy. Evie crying for 5 minutes and then finally listening was well worth the harsh glares. Besides, the last 50 glances I had gotten from people after getting wapped in the face was far worse...
I'm ready to go home... I'm sick of people. ;-)

First sonogram: Photos

First pre-natal visit. I must admit, I was trepidatious (sic) given what we went through in April.
Just this morning... yes, THIS MORNING, I notice a spot... a scant spot, really, of brown when I wiped and thought, "Oh God, here we go again." My heart raced from that moment, &AM, until 10:30AM when the doctor took a look and said everything looked fine. He pointed out the heart, the yolk sac, and the newly forming placenta. Not a dark spot to be found (which were the pools of blood/blood clots last time).
I cried.
A few pictures were taken... not nearly as great as when we had Evie's. She was seen at 9 weeks 2 days so you could really make out everything in the photo. This baby was captured on film at 7 weeks 6 days... funny how absolutely significant 1 week and a handful of days can be when you are newly pregnant.

We called my parents on Skype that evening to share the news. I poked Evie to yell, "I'm going to be a big sister!"
Instead, she mumbled, "I'm going to be a baby sister (or some such)," and I had to explain.
My parents were excited but, like me, reserved. My mother, of course, hopped to immediate frustration in not knowing what the sex is yet. Ah, Linda...

We scanned the baby photos and ordered prints at Target in OH. We snuck in the sonogram photo amoung a handful of Evie taken at the beach and on her first day of school. When Rob's mom got to the sonogram, she said, "What the hell?" and Rob's dad finished the thought, "They must be trying to tell us something."
The due date... is Rob's brother's birthday.

So, my weight is 142lbs (dear God are you kidding me? I know I've let myself go this past year but I was at/around 139 when weighed in April for the second pregnancy. I'm pretty sure my morning sickness is the culprit for this early weight gain... I'm constantly snacking...)
The baby is 7 weeks and 6 days.
The due date is May 19, 2011.

Next sonogram is at 13 weeks... apparently I must drink 32oz of water and somehow manage to not piss myself while I wait for another sonogram that will measure the size of the baby. This test will help determine if abnormalities are present before the tests they normally do at 18 weeks. I, who urinates halfway through a can of coke, am considering Depends undergarments for this magical day knowing full well my competitiveness will not give in to my bladder... and that my tiny bladder will most likely win. I hope they put absorbant towels down for when they push on your stomach with the ultrasound wand.

Pumpkin Patch

King of the hay mountain with Uncle Greg.


Picking out our pumpkins at the patch. Fresh off the vine!


Hayride on daddy's lap.


We did do the maze 2 times. Its a pretty tight squeeze!


Hay ride.

We spent a few hours (with Uncle Greg) at the Pumpkin Patch today. It was chilly and looked like it was going to rain... but the weather held out and we held up. All in all, a very fun afternoon.

You say perch, I say porch

Evie stands on her step stool after getting up from a seated position on the toilet.
She blurts something at me... a command of some sort (they all blend these days).
Me: "Ok, enough already. Get down from your perch."
Evie: "Dat's not a perch."
Me: "Evie, it is. Your standing there... like a bird telling me what to do."
Evie: "No its not (frowning)."
Me: "Evie, when a bird sits on something... a high point of some kind and whistles... you call it a perch. Just, nevermind..."
Evie: "Dat's not a perch. A perch is in front of the house."
[pause]
Me: "That's a porch."
Evie: "Oh. A porch."

Home from Preschool - Energized!

I decided to telework today since my uncless passed away yesterday and, frankly, my manager said no words to me about my loss. Eff it. I'll work where I'm appreciated. Home it is!

Evie's preschool is 8:45AM - noon everyday. BUT, we signed her up to stay until 5PM on both Mondays and Wednesdays. On Tuesdays and Thursdays she can stay for "lunch buddies" from 12PM - 1PM for only $5. On Fridays, she can stay any additional hours until 5PM for only $5 each hour. Got all that?

Today is Friday. Off she went at 8:40AM. Rob decided to pick her up at 2PM (I still have 3 hrs left in my work day) and I was to go to the coffee shop. Listening to this kid talk is so worth my time.... I can't bear to leave util after 3PM.

Evie aims a red guitar at dad... like a pointed gun... and says, "Put a show for me."
What the?
Me: "Evie, What are you even saying?"
She laughs hysterically and completes at least 2 full laps around the house.
Evie: "Here you go, mommy," she takes off her shoes and socks.
Me: "Great, will you put them in your closet Evie?"
Evie: "No, I put them by the door. I need food for my mouth."
Dad: "Are you hungry?"
Evie: "Yeah, I need a snack. Get me goldfish please!" (she starts piling toys from her toy bin onto the couch while talking).
Dad: "Evie, what are you doing? Put your toys in the box."
Evie: "No, Just a few toys. OK? I move just a few toys on the couch." (as if this makes sense).
Dad: "And you can put them away then..."
Evie: "No. No I can not."

This continues for quite awhile. Additional highlights include, "Shhh, mommy! I'm trying to watch me show!" and "Mommy, turn off the music, I can't hear my show." and "Mommy (hands in a pleading gesture... which, based on the succeeding question is the wrong gesture all together), "Why you took my goldfish away?"

I find everything this kid says hilarious since its the sass of a 13-yr-old coupled with the partial grasp of the English language like that of a recent immigrant.