A Blog and A Baby: August 2008

There's an escalating conflict between Russia and Georgia and I'm copying tomatoe salad recipe's from The Washington Post. Yes, this is pretty much where I'm at in the pregnancy…The office is buzzing - Cold War, ships deploying, military involvement, media phone calls, but quick! -someone fix the copy machine cause I need my tomatoe's!!! I can safely safe, I'm a pretty important asset to the Navy. :) And I've got "take care of me, take care of baby, MUST EAT FOOD" on the brain!

This morning has been filled with compliments and funny conversations about my pregnancy, the latest of which I realized Holy Crap I'm 8 MONTHS ON SATURDAY!!!!! The time has been flying by! So far, pregnancy has been really fun and fairly easy so I thought I'd make my Thursday Thirteen one I can write in my journal to remember.

13 Really Fun and Great Things About My Pregnancy So Far!

1. Feeling or seeing her kick. She’s only gotten me good twice, which actually brought me to tears, but every other time it’s the best feeling I’ve ever had. I really can’t believe I’ve got a little girl in there!

2. Decorating the nursery. This is going down in one of the most fun things EVER! The room is gorgeous! It’s exactly what I pictured and filled with beautiful pictures and antiques and books. I can’t wait to see her dressed up in cute little dresses with white tights and bloomers running around playing with her toys!!

3. Talking to strangers about her. I can’t take two steps around the building without someone asking all about the pregnancy and how I’m feeling. It’s really fun talking about her all day and it’s always nice to be paid compliments every now and then.

4. Picking out names. We’ve agreed on Maddison Grace. Maddison means daughter of a mighty warrior and Anna (after my mother) means Grace. I love that name! We’ve even picked out the next few! J I’m pushing for Nancy after my grandma. I love the name Nancy. And if we have a boy, he’ll probably be Benjamin Riley. Zach’s family name is Riley – his grandpa, dad and brother. It’s a naming after combo platter.

5. Celebrating her soon-to-happen birth with our families. We have had such wonderful, wonderful support from our families. From phone calls, to emails, to things passed down in the family, to super thoughtful gifts, we are so blessed!!

6. Telling my kindergarten Catholic religious education class about being pregnant. It was the cutest thing ever I swear. They all were completely amazed and ran over to touch my belly!

7. Being pregnant with a friend. It’s really great that a good friend of mine is only a month more pregnant than I am. We can share our crazy feelings and aches and emotions with each other without feeling silly.

8. Daydreaming about what she’ll look like. So far, it looks like she’s got the Old Man’s nose and cheeks and my Dr. Seuss ‘who’-like chin. I picture her to have blue eyes, cute dark hair and long eyelashes like the Old Man. So pretty!!

9. Spending time with my sister, my mom and my grandma in Florida. My favorite women in the world! I wish I could share every second of my pregnancy with them!

10. Buying a mini-van. Yes, we’re in our mid-20s and we’ve crossed the line, but the van is so great! I was near tears in trading in my favorite car ever, and I still get that way sometimes, but the van is really nice and roomy and drives like a champ. I still laugh at my reflection in window’s though!

11. The fact that I have dodged the nausea. That was my biggest fear ever. I did get horrible migraines for a long time, but I’ll take those over hugging the bowl anytime.

12. That I’m 8 months and still up and moving. I’m incredibly fortunate to still have the energy and ability to do a bunch of stuff still. Including my 12 hour work days after my commute is done. Although lately, that’s slowly fading…

13. Hearing my husband’s jokes. He’s been really funny lately and that’s really refreshing – especially when I have not so good days. We’ve got only a few weeks left and I can’t wait to become parents!!!