New Year, New Look

Obviously, this blog is undergoing a major makeover! I've been thinking about a change lately, and it seems all the more appropriate with not only the new year but also this new season of life laid before us. So please pardon my dust as I tweak the layout here and there over the next week or so-thanks!

On how I lost my belly button...

I had never thought too much about my belly button before. It was always just sort of…there.

Until one day it wasn’t.

It started with a slow and sure stretch, until finally, was pushed out of its place! For 24 years I had an “innie” and now, thanks to six & a half month old baby in the oven, I have an “outie.” Without a doubt, the loss of my once averagely inward belly button has rushed a wave of reality upon me like none before-your pregnant! Of course I’d been warned, but somehow just never thought it could happen to me. I must admit that I was not only surprised, but also slightly frightened as my belly button slowly made it’s way inward out. Bulging belly, withering waistbands and misfit moods aside, my new belly button has now and finally awoken me to the reality of baby bearing.

On the lighter side, it is a little interesting and a lot comical at times-my new button and me. Chris and I have harvested many a chuckle while witnessing the evolution from innie to outtie, laughing as we’d see it “pop” from in to out while laying down and sitting up, laying down and sitting up. That being said, I won’t be sorry to see it take a bow and exit the stage once baby arrives…here’s to wishful thinking! I’m imagining it like my past innie is on a nice vacation somewhere in the Hawaiian islands, and once baby boy comes, the outtie will be outed and my beloved button will return to me once again...okay I'm officially carried away now.

Enough about belly buttons already...on to more exciting things like little baby clothes hangers and maternity induced moments of monogramed madness. :-)

Sock Monkey Sucess...sort of, yes.

I’ve always been a big fan of sock monkeys and knew I wanted to make one for baby E on the way. A family member made me a sock monkey when I was a baby and to this day “monkey” remains one of my most treasured stuffed animals(though he’s definitely seen better days, lol). So you can imagine my joy when my mom got me a “build your own sock monkey” kit for Christmas. Very quickly into the “building” process I realized that making a homemade sock monkey is just plain hard! Not quite rocket science hard, but more of a detail oriented, hands on sewing type of hard(you know, the kind that requires patience upon patience). However, I pressed on, determined not to let this project fall into the “best laid plans…” category. In my mind, crafts are always much more exciting, easygoing, and fun. In reality, many turn out slowgoing with unforeseen problems to solve and many mistakes to mask. And of course, the outcome is always much more perfect and glamorous in my head. Not at all sloppy or camera close-up shy, lol. But I suppose that’s half the fun. :-)

I made this sock monkey with much love and many prayers. He is fluffed with care, and I appreciate him all the more knowing he’s not from a store but rather a product of my own hands. He is not perfect. His right arm may or may not be slightly shorter than the left, and I may have mismatched the colors of threads in sewing them on. And I will confess- I did glue on his button eyes. But overall I think he’s alright for my very first sock monkey, and most importantly, I don’t think baby E will mind my whipstiching too much. ;)

25 Weeks and Growing

This morning marked our 25 week appointment and glucose screening. Aside from having to drink the nauseating sugar solution for the glucose test and having my blood drawn(which was traumatic as per usual), everything is looking good and on track. Oh and by the way, the sugar solution most certainly did not taste like flat sunkist! I'm fervantly hoping and praying that we don't hear anything back about the glucose screening, as no news is good news. I can't imagine having to go through the much more intense step two of the glucose testing as step 1 was nightmare enough. I have to keep reminding myself that there are worse things than sugar sticks and needle pricks, and that I am one lucky duck to have made it this far so well.

As an aside, I was rather amused at our doctor this morning. Our practice is comprised of many OB's, so we usually see a differant one each time. Let's just say that this guy was a little loopy sounding and a lot laid back, and seeing him walk through the door on D-day might just make for the perfect Steve Martin movie moment, lol.

Some stats:
Weight Gain-I've finally breached the 120's! Today's weigh in at 122 puts me at 12 total pounds gained so far, and who knows how more to go....
BP-103/68
Baby's heartrate-Steady 150's
Milestones-Lots of kicking and movement. All of a sudden this boy moves ALL the time, and every which way.
Also, it's 2010! When did that happen? April seems so close now!

In developmental news, baby E should weigh just under 2 pounds now and measure anywhere between 13-16 inches long. He is busy growing hair and smoothing out his thin, wrinkly skin with fat. In fact, I think he's just busy growing period. I feel like my belly grows more and more everyday, and can't imagine it has much more room to go. It's amazing what the body can do!