Hot at 19 Weeks!

Finally, a day off of work! Monday marked the first official day off from work in what seems like forever. Really, it's been since way back in January when I had a day off for the great Martin Luther King Jr's birthday. I know that I shouldn't complain about work in general as my job at Amgen provides me a healthly work/life balance, but I'm tired! Maybe it has to do with the fact that we will be homeless on 20-June if we don't find a new apartment... Or maybe it's because I've started "training" for my first triathlon. No, it's probably because I spend so much energy anticipating the new addition to the family - from stressing out about future baby expenses to rubbing Nicole's feet and back to evaluating the safety of car seats to doing my birth class homework readings - I'm beat!

Luckily, Nicole planned a perfect way for me to blow off all of this steam: a picnic at the Malibu Family Winery! I prepped some of my now famous pulled chicken sandwiches and we headed up the PCH to the winery on the hill. With a bunch of Nicole's classmates from Anderson, we toasted our troops (thinking of you: Cameron and Talia) with fantastic local wine. Nicole did some proper sippy tasting, and I did some drinking. Me and my shorts. You see, a couple hours into the event, my dear friend Tanzeer got all excited and slapped a glass of wine at my crotch. My light grey shorts caught the majority of the wine. I guess it's good practice for all the "baby fluids" that will likely get on my clothes in the future...

Speaking of baby, Nicole is looking hot at 19 weeks! She has really taken charge of her health by running 4+ times a week and tracking her food intake religiously. Her baby weight gain is perfect. I am really proud of her and can't thank her enough for all of the hard work that she's putting in to ensure that our baby will be healthy. Thanks, Nicole - you are amazing!

The Size of a Sweet Potato

Another milestone! 18 weeks, and Peanut is the size of a sweet potato. I'm feeling pretty good. Pleased to report that I went on a nice 4 mile run this morning. And this past Friday, I even got into the pool for the first time in a while. I swam an entire mile. Sadly, I did not swim them all at once like I did back in the Escape from Alcatraz days; but I got in the laps, and that's all that matters!

Nothing else to report, really. I'm counting down the days until I'll be done with classes. And I'm getting excited for our upcoming Babymoon to Cabo, Mexico! (13 and 23 days, respectively.) Somewhere in between finishing up with school and heading out on vacation we'll be moving into a new apartment. Well, that's the plan, anyway. We have not yet found the needed apartment, so fingers crossed that we actually do find one in the very near future... Wish us luck!

Jeremy's Sympathy Pregnancy

Sometimes I think Jeremy is pregnant. In the past month, he has eaten his way through a five pound jar of pickles. And yesterday, I think I saw Jeremy shed a tear -- maybe even two -- after watching a commercial for Pampers diapers. In his defense, the commercial makes me cry, too. But I'm pregnant! I'm supposed to cry at those commercials. I'm their target demographic. And while we're on the topic of commercials that make me cry, the latest Subaru commercial gets me every time. And that one isn't even about babies!

So, since I don't think my belly has grown much in the past week, here's a photo of Jeremy's baby bump. If anything, the bump on his belly has significantly flattened itself out these past few months. He's been pretty great at making sure we both eat healthy meals. And in a demonstration of solidarity, Jeremy has also stopped drinking... mostly. And while we're on the topic of no longer drinking, Jeremy's even gone so far as to unplug our wine fridge. (Seriously?!)

Thanks for being such an amazing husband, Jeremy. I really appreciate all of your support these past 17 weeks - I love you to the stars!

Happy Mother's Day!

I feel so lucky -- and maybe a bit unworthy? -- for having a little Mother's Day celebration today. But my mom and mother-in-law sent me cards, my brother-in-law sent me a really sweet text, and a couple of friends even sent notes wishing me a Happy Mother's Day. So why not enjoy this splendid Sunday in May?

We started the day with a leisurely run to the beach. I regret that I really had to pee about 5 minutes into the run so I dropped trou (as in trousers) and went behind some bushes on my street. I don't think anyone saw... But the rest of the run was pretty good. We had a nice breakfast afterwards, then went to look at some apartments. Sidebar: we have to move in less than a month, but we haven't really found a suitable new place yet. I will worry about it later, though. We had hoped to spend the rest of the afternoon at the beach, but the weather wasn't as nice as had been advertised. So we hung out around the house. I tried to do my homework but ended up taking a nap, and Jeremy did the laundry, went grocery shopping, and cooked dinner. (Thanks, Jeremy! Best presents ever. You are an amazing husband.)

Eggplant with Buttermilk Sauce and Strawberry Sprinkles

Scallops with Pickle-Pepper Accoutrement

Sweet Potato Cakes

It was a great day. I can only imagine how amazing it will be next year when I'm actually a mom!

Pop!

We've made it to Week 16. We had another prenatal check-up this week, and Peanut's heart was again beating strong. I haven't gained any weight since Week 12, which I attribute to all the running I've still been able to do, coupled with my phenomenal diet. (Nearly perfect except for real deal ice cream every now and then!)

Even though, I might not have gained any weight this past month, but my stomach is definitely changing shape. My jeans were getting a bit uncomfortable a couple of weeks ago, so we broke down and did some maternity shopping this past weekend. Since I should have been studying for midterms, I justified a shopping trip by staying "close to home" in Santa Monica. Which means I had two options: Old Navy and Rosie Pope. (Yes, that Rosie Pope from BravoTV's Pregnant in Heels. She has a boutique around the corner from our apartment.) I picked up a few shirts and a pair of jeans at Old Navy, but the selection was really poor. So we ventured into Rosie Pope and had a little too much fun. Happy early Mother's Day to me!!!

And now that my belly has some room to breathe, it has decided to show itself to the world. Pop! I'm definitely starting to look a little bit pregnant. So, although we don't have any pics of Peanut from this month's appointment, we have one of me and my growing belly. Cheers to belly bumps!

Dear Second Trimester

Hello, Second Trimester. For the first 13 weeks of my pregnancy (less the first four when I didn't know I was pregnant) I heard so many great things about you. The Golden Period of Pregnancy! No More Nausea. No More Fatigue. I was so excited to join you!

Today, I'm 15 Weeks pregnant. I've been with you, Second Trimester, for a couple of weeks now. And I must say, I'm a bit disappointed. I'll grant you the No More Nausea. I've rushed to the bathroom only once or twice, and I fully appreciate the respite. But when do you plan on delivering No More Fatigue? I'm still rather exhausted. I've been awake for barely two hours this morning, and I fear I am already about to lie down for a nap. What do you have to say for yourself?

And about this "Starting to Show" bit. When will that happen? Because right now, all I am showing is fat. I mean, I look fat, not pregnant. My husband would like to take photos of my growing stomach each week, but I'm really not up for it, because I just look like I did back in college, when I would stuff myself into some tight black sorority pants and then down a keg of beer. My belly lacks a bump, and instead, it is just a large blob. Furthermore, I not only look fat, but I feel fat. Which is worse. Much morse. And considering I'm pregnant, I was expecting to feel fat; but I honestly thought it would feel entirely different (BETTER) than it actually feels. I've been running and exercising and eating right; and I've only gained about five pounds so far. So why do I feel like a giant blob and not a cute pregnant lady? Please advise. (For Jeremy's sake. He's really getting quite good at the iMovie, and like I said, he really wants to take more photos of my growing stomach.)

Last but not least, I have noticed, Second Trimester, that you have added heartburn to the list of items for me to treasure each day. I'm not sure how you manage to produce heartburn after I merely eat a piece of toast, but well done. I continue to be amazed by your powers.

However, I would be so grateful if you could throw me a couple bones and follow through on delivering some of the highlights about which I have heard so many great things. At the top of my list, No More Fatigue. Seriously, I think I sleep more than my old cat, Puck. And I'll settle for feeling fat if you could perhaps deliver those flutters of movement from the baby in the near future. I know it will be a while before I feel a good strong kick in the ribs, but it would be nice to sense that someone else is growing inside me, and that it's not just me doing all the growing on my own.

Sincerely,
Nic