A New Game

In the last few days, our little tax deduction has become bigger and a lot more active, which for me is a lot more exciting.

Alex started a new game - we call it poke-kick. Alex finds kid in my belly and then pokes, kid returns poke with a kick - this fun cycle continues until I am either in pain or say enough. It goes for about 5 pokes and 5 kicks

It's really cool to feel the little one being so active and reacting to outside influences.

Yesterday our favorite handy man was sawing and hammering - just making an absolute racket. Our kiddo was going nuts over the jolting noises. It was so bizarre.

Next to the ultrasound, the movement and kicks are the best part of the pregnancy so far - but in fairness, compared to nausea, swelling, hand cramping, back pain, stomach cramping, itchiness, sweating, moodiness, hunger, non stop night time trips to the bathroom and the forgetfulness - it's easy to say that feeling movement/kicks is one of the best parts.

The Apocalytic House

First there was a flood.

Then there was a fire (thanks to a very bad electrician from a company I won't publicly name - not yet at least).

And there's always famine (I'm now 5 and 1/2 months pregnant)...

Thanks to our great friend and relative Meredith, we were connected to the world's greatest and hardest working handy man named Dan. He's been a life saver and our house has really come a long way in a few short weeks. We think Dan is an all around great guy.

So I say the score is House 2, Us 1 and we'll quickly catch up.

Rails or No Rails

So I thought we picked out a crib this weekend:

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3012853

but apparently we could be going down the wrong path of choosing a crib without rails - everyone we've discussed this crib with (who all have small children) and they have given us the same feedback - "you need rails".

So, I ask, "why the need for rails?"

We think the rails are for ease of use when a person of average or below average height may have challenges reaching over the rails to lay their baby down to sleep.

We are both very tall individuals so other than leverage to put our tax deduction in the crib, why else the need for rails?

I have received 4 phone calls from my mother since showing her the brochure for the crib about why it's the wrong crib (which in reality makes me think more of how right the crib could be).

We thought we were making progress by picking out baby furniture...

Still flooding...

Water is still gushing in but at this point it's draining out as fast as it's coming in so the water level remains constant.

Alex cleaned out the entire basement and thanks to 1800-Got-Junk our basement is now our built in swimming pool.

What's interesting is that there was absolutely nothing of value that we tossed and the majority of the items belonged to my ex-boyfriend of years ago who was a complete jerk.

It was on our to do list to clean out the basement this summer so it was a great accomplishment; unfortunately it wasn't in our house repair plans to redo the basement but it's the life of a homeowner.

Our basement is flooding as I type this...

Due to the massive storms we are without power, running water (due to electric pump and a well system) and the basement is flooding as I type this. We can't solve the basement issues without power so it's a catch 22 at this point.

My dad reminded me at 7am this morning that Alex and I are adults and should start becoming homeowners instead of calling him to come help. It only took one, "but Dad?!?" and he came over with all materials and supplies to help with the flooding once the electricity is back on.

Hopefully the power will return soon so that we can take care of the basement.

We're off to the OB today for our quick montly appointment and to meet another random doctor in the practice.

The Swelling and Stretching has started...

Out of much protest, I had to take off my engagement ring because my fingers have started swelling. Lucky for me that my wedding band fits just slightly bigger so it will stay on for now. My friend Lisa who had a baby 4 months ago warned me that if my fingers swelled up too much then the doctors would just cut off my rings if I were to go to the hospital and couldn't remove them on my own accord. We decided that it would be best to remove rings sooner than later just to be on the safe side.

It only led to a minor meltdown - nothing is changing physically for Alex and everything has started changing for me.

1) My clothes are starting to not fit
2) My bust is significantly bigger (which Alex doesn't understand why I'm complaining about that because he's certainly not)
3) I'm becoming forgetful (this is so annoying)
4) I randomly get the hiccups at least five times a day
5) I had to take out piercings that I've had for over ten years that I will not repierce post kiddo
6) Swelling has started
7) I'm constantly sweating, which I believe is what I would classify people calling the "glow" of pregnancy
8) The latest and so far most painful aspect of pregnancy - I woke up at 1am last night and I felt like my stomach was being ripped apart. Tylenol cured everything but it was just bizarre to be woken out of a sound sleep to such intense pain.

I haven't felt any kicks yet and am really looking forward to it as it should be any day now. At times I can feel the kiddo move but no solid kicks. Alex said it's possible that the kid could be mellow like us. I just want some reassurance that everything is ok.

A belated birthday gift

My sweet husband wanted to add some adventure to my life. I was complaining (whining) how much I wanted to go on roller coaster rides and due to be pregnant it's just not a possibility.

For my birthday, Alex got us a hot air balloon ride around Indianola. A very sweet idea. I wasn't sure how I felt about it and was a bit hesitant. Alex spoke to the owner of the hot air balloon company for a while because he was hesitant to take me up because I was pregnant.

It was really cool, albeit a bit scary to go up in a hot air balloon ride. What I didn't expect is that it would 95 degrees in the balloon and have to stand under propane flames - it was hot and sweaty. After an hour of standing in a very crowded basket and sweating profusely I was ready to be done. I think we sweated off a few pounds last night.

On an entirely different note, my mom started shopping for baby clothes last week. She went to Carter's and bought lots of crib sheets, outfits and blankets. Her best line "Nothing I bought was as neat as the tie dye stuff you bought".

I'm loving that statement.