Mocking Bird Song...

Baby Peanut is as long as a banana this week! 10 inches, "crown to heel." Boy, Peanut sure is growing FAST.

I found this fun new music--for babies! I can't wait to let our little one listen. It's called Rockabye Baby! and it's all your favorite tunes, but "baby-styled." I've been listening to remakes of AC/DC, Bon Jovi, and Weezer via Pandora today. While I had that station on, the "Mocking Bird Song" came on, and I couldn't help but think of my mom. She used to make up the words to that song when she sang it to me and my brothers. So, mom, this is for you.

Hush, little baby, don't say a word.
Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird
And if that mockingbird won't sing,
Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring

And if that diamond ring turns brass,
Mama's gonna buy you a looking glass

And if that looking glass gets broke,
Mama's gonna buy you a billy goat

And if that billy goat won't pull,
Mama's gonna buy you a cart and bull

And if that cart and bull turn over,
Mama's going to buy you a dog named Rover.

And if that dog named Rover won't bark,
Mama's going to buy you a horse and cart.

And if that horse and cart fall down,
You'll still be the sweetest little baby in town.

BUT--I like Mom's made up words much, much better. :)

Long overdue update...

So....biggest news (besides the belly)--I've been feeling the baby move! It started at week 14, and I didn't believe that it could possibly be little Peanut wiggling around, but since it has become more and more common--I'm sure that was it! Here we are, in week 19, and now it happens where I can feel it about 2 or 3 times a day. I've really got two different feelings going on. One feels like a little fishtail tickling me from the inside, and the other feels like little pops. It's so fun and neat! Here are the weekly growth steps I've missed...

15 weeks - apple

16 weeks -avocado

17 weeks - ugly turnip

18 weeks - bell pepper

19 weeks - heirloom tomato (yum!--don't worry. I don't want to eat the baby. Just the tomato.)

What else is new? Well, my sweet baby-daddy got me a pool!!! That was a feat in itself. I think he came home and saw my tiny little kiddie pool and this was the thought that popped into his head:

Soooo...he had pity on me and we went to Academy and got me (us...) a 12 foot round 30 inch deep pond for me to play in this summer. It was wonderful...and perfect...and then the grass decided it was more important. Two big 'ol blades of grass grew UP THROUGH THE PLASTIC. So, we spent (well...Tony spent) most of last weekend dumping, and refilling the pool after patching the holes and getting some tarps to put under it. "I just can't believe grass grew up in our pool." That was the theme of the weekend. Now, however, it is wonderful and perfect again. :)

Summer has been great so far. I've done quite a bit of laundry and movie watching. I wish that whole "nesting" thing would kick in early, but there's not much hope for that. I need to get in and transform our little office-room into a wonderful baby-land, but we're trying to wait to do anything until after our ultrasound on the 30th. Which, by the way, I have been given the "go ahead" to ask Mom and Mimi to come watch!! New dad is pretty excited, and is pretty great where my family is concerned. I think he loves them almost as much as I do.

Ok--off to more laundry. Who am I kidding. Off to more snuggling with my little hairy black babies (while they can still fit on my lap) and watching reruns. :)

ever-expanding waistline...

Ok...so today I got dressed for work thinking, "I'll just wear my super comfy black dress pants today." PROBLEM. Those super comfy black dress pants will now only zip up 1/2 way--never mind trying to button them. Thank GOD for big tent-like shirts and belly bands. I never thought I would be so big so fast!!! I'm absolutely certain that it isn't all baby, no matter how much better everyone else tries to make me feel. I am aware I should be growing, but had NO IDEA it would happen like this--overnight!

I keep hoping I can stretch my wardrobe (literally) until the end of the school year--only 3 1/2 weeks left. Once I don't have to work, I shouldn't need to worry. I've got plenty of dresses and skirts that can get me through until the next school year starts. I guess I can start wearing those to work too... but I will miss my pants so much! :)

I've still only gained 5-6 pounds (but it feels more like 20-25). Baby Peanut got his/her first presents from students and teachers this week. (Mom took care of the "first presents from anyone" the day I told her the great news--just like everyone would expect she would!!) A sweet work friend brought in a super cute Duckie onesie that has precious ducky feet and flip over hand covers, and an "I love mommy" outfit. A sweet student brought me a stuffed elephant, whose name is also Peanut, for baby's first toy. I just love how sweet and supportive everyone at school has been. The kids just can't wait to find out if it is a boy or girl. They ask me pretty much every day. Hopefully, Doc will fill us in on 5/24-which is our next visit!

BTW--this week, Peanut is the size of a lemon! 3 1/2 inches long, and 1 1/2 ounces! Last week, he/she was a peach or shrimp... Peach sounds much cuter.

12 Week Dr. appointment

Udderly disappointing. She listened to the heartbeat--that was it. We told her we could have done that at home!!!! She said everything looked fine and that she'd do a "sneak peek" to see if she could determine boy/girl at our 16 week visit. I was so frustrated because I had it set in my mind that we'd get to see him/her again yesterday!!! Boo hoo!!

EEk!

Almost three weeks have gone by with no new news! Really, baby is just growing now--so there isn't anything to report.

The doctor's office called last week with my blood test results. I have to admit, after three weeks of waiting it was a little scary to get a phone call. I immediately thought something was wrong. All they told me is that I don't have any scary diseases, and that my Vitamin D levels were a little low. I'm taking Vitamin D now to help with that. I feel a little like a druggie right before bed every night! I'm now up to 5 different pills--all vitamins--every night.

During week 10--baby was the size of a kumquat. I looked EVERYWHERE for one of those things so that I could post a belly picture with it, but had no luck.

During week 11--baby was the size of a fig. I let mom and dad listen to the heartbeat on Easter weekend--it was neat!

During this week (week 12) baby is the size of a lime which "they" measure at about 2 inches. Peanut is sure growing fast! I keep hoping that I am going to feel movement, but I know it is way early. I have my next doctor's appointment tomorrow and hope that our little bean is as wiggly and active as he/she was for the last visit! Maybe I'll drink something sugary before I go just to encourage little Peanut... Some people on the baby message boards and a friend at work said that the doctor might be able to make an educated guess about the gender this time! I would just love that!! :)

9 weeks!

Sooo...baby is 9 weeks along today! According to all (4!) of my books, we've actually got a grape sized little guy or gal on our hands, even though Peanut looks more like a big gummy bear. :)

According to those Chinese Gender Charts, it looks like we might have a boy! I know better than to think it would be that easy to figure out--just look at a chart, and there it is! I mean, it's a 50/50 shot no matter how you look at it, right? We're not worried about boy or girl--I know it sounds cliche, but we definitely just want a healthy little one. Whatever is in there, it definitely made me pass out this afternoon! I can't say it bothers me being sleepy, since it's my favorite hobby anyway!!

Tony has been working on our back door all day long. He accidentally touched a piece on the lower left corner of the door frame, and it pretty much crumbled off in his hands. He had to use all kinds of tools to get it done, and it ended up looking pretty good! He still isn't completely satisfied, so he's still out playing with it.