My Favorite Things

At this half way point I thought I would take a few minutes to commemorate those few items that make pregnancy easier...and dare I say - enjoyable.  

So far, in this pregnancy, I noticed only one true food aversion: cow's milk.  When I bring it too close to my nose, my stomach turns.  Along with alcohol, I haven't had milk the entire pregnancy.  Luckily, I don't seem to have the same reaction to ice cream, yogurt, and most cheeses however.  Almond milk is my preferred milk substitute.  It froths beautifully, can be used in place of cow's milk in most sauces, comes in great flavors and sizes, and tastes great.

After almost 10 years as a pescatarian, I decided to eat land animals again when Jason and I began trying to conceive .  Jason joined me as a carnivore while recovering from a back injury a few months later.  We were hesitant carnivores at first, eating meat only one or two meals weekly and typically limiting our intake to fish and fowl.  Then in May, I decided to try a "raw" diet with my sister-in-law, Sara.  We were having a great time devising recipes, trying new foods, reading about the benefits of raw, and planning raw dinners.  About 2 weeks into our raw experiment I HATED all things vegetable and all things raw.  What?  What was going on?  The foods were delicious and loved and fresh.  Then Jason and I started running out at 9 pm for 5 Guys burgers!  We did this 4 times in one week while I was supposedly on a raw diet.  I was feeling awful and guilty but all I could think about was when I would get my next double cheese burger and pile of hand cut french fries.  The Sunday after eating 5 Guys all week, I took a pregnancy test.  It was positive, I stopped eating raw (duh!), and I also stopped eating 5 Guys (for the most part) - to be replaced with grass fed, hormone free steaks from New Leaf (our local co-op).  OMG, I freaking love steaks.  I want filet, NY strip, London broil, sirloin, rib eye and I like them grilled, broiled, with Bearnaise, with mushroom sauce, in stroganoff, ...well you get the point.  (Adam and Jamie: when you visit after the Geneva comes bring oysters and beer!  If this were a blog about things I miss oysters and beer are numbers 1 and 2.)

So, with all the eating and growing and eating and growing some parts are growing faster than others.  My first order of business was to explore the intimates section at Motherhood and Target looking for a bra that would accommodate my expansion.  Of course at that point boobs were the only thing expanding and the sales people looked at me a bit skeptically - maybe I just felt self conscious and unsure of myself.  Either way I needed help.  Thank goodness for girlfriends (Dorian and Camille, thank you) who pointed me immediately to the Bravado website.  Camille almost laughed at the suggestion that I would find anything at Target.  She promptly threw everything she thought I would need into an envelope and got me started on the path toward breast comfort.  She was right.   *Spoiler Alert*  This may be too much information (but whatever, my blog right?)  At this half way point  I comfortably fit into a maternity 38 F/G.  Ummm...Wow.  Investing in a really good maternity bra and support tank was the best advice I received.  

Continuing the discussion about clothing that rocks, I must include compression hose.  I prefer them without the actual hose part - just the shorts and over belly support band (as seen in the picture below).  These smooth all the lumpy parts and keep the belly secure and stable.  This helps during moments of unexpected jostling such as when I crack up laughing in front of my class and my belly shakes like a bowl full of jelly.  I prefer to laugh with dignity thank you.  Therefore, all moving parts must remain secure.  Yes, I love compression.  If I say, I love my "girdle" this is what I'm talking about.

As you all know, I have the best husband on the planet (Matt and Michael, check your rear view!).  I came home one afternoon and the snoogle was waiting for me.  Oh, how I love my snoogle!!!  Sometimes I let Jason touch it - with his hand only.  I considered trying to cram the snoogle into my suitcase to take on a trip.  It didn't work.  This handy dandy pillow supports all things flopping while encouraging the optimal left side propped sleeping position.  If anyone is wondering what to get Jason for Christmas, the snoogle is a good idea.  He sighs longingly as I nest comfortably.  

Literally as soon as we had a positive pregnancy test Jason began reading, "The Expectant Father: Facts, Tips, and Advice for Dads to Be".  For those of you who know Jason well, it will come as no surprise that pregnancy is just one more life stage requiring management.  Good, I'll just relax and eat - he manages.  Every couple of weeks he reads me a chapter or two describing what's going on with the baby, what is (supposedly) going on with me, and finally an exploration about how he feels about this whole process.  He knows me well enough to filter material from the book that I will scoff at or that will scare me or that will require a credit card.  It's nice.  I get all of the good and none of the bad.  When I come across a topic that requires more information (such as birthing, or brain development, or parenting) I, of course, do my own research but honestly, I don't want to know every little detail of every little symptom I could possibly have.  This is just too much pressure.  I don't care that 90% of women, fetuses, fathers, experience whatever.  I also don't care that my developing fetus is slightly above or below normal.  Thank goodness for this happy little book that Jason trusts which supports his urge to manage and allows me to remain blissfully ignorant of what anyone else is going through.  

Finally, as I'm sure is apparent by now my absolute number one favorite thing to have during pregnancy is my awesome husband.  Quick story: Last week I went to Las Vegas for an academic conference.  I had a wonderful whirlwind trip with my friends and colleagues (especially Amanda and Pina!!).  We drove across the state together, flew across the country, walked all over the city, played black jack, saw naked ladies, dancing fountains, tame lions, and movie screens that stretch for blocks.  It was amazing.  Along the way I picked up some swollen ankles, infected blisters, and sheer exhaustion.  Funny thing about pregnancy I can't tell when I've crossed the line until I am waaaaaayyyyy over it.  Amanda and Pina were great.  They found the airport nurse and brought me medicine, bandages and Starbucks.  By the time I got back across the country and the state, I was a mess.  After not seeing me for 4 days and sending me to sin city alone, Jason came home from work excited and enthusiastic to hear about my trip.  Ha! No.  I took one look at him and burst into tears.  My ankles were the size of my knees and my blisters were enraged.  He calmly put me in bed (with my snoogle of course) elevated my feet and packed bags and bags of ice all over my ankles and feet.  He then kissed me through my snot and tears and calmly told me that he loved that I was his wife and let me sleep for the next 4 hours.  When I woke up he brought me Thai food.  

My absolute favorite thing, and what makes pregnancy enjoyable, is knowing Jason on a new level and teaching myself to trust him not only as a husband but also as a father and a nurturer.  

  

The Many Moves of Geneva

Happy Half Way Day!!!

Today, I am exactly 20 weeks pregnant.  If we go by the 40 week gestation calendar (which for some reason Jason and I debate?) then I am half way through the pregnancy.  Ummm...thank goodness.  Yes, this is hard work and I will be very happy to get back to marathon and triathlon training when this is all over which is much much easier.

We came through our diagnostic testing fairly unscathed and typically developing.  The doctor confirmed his earlier prediction that yes, we are having a girl.  We also got some great new photos.

This first shot is a pretty decent picture of her femur, knee, and then foot on the outside left edge of the view.  The developmental difference between the first and second trimesters is the formation of bone material.  Clearly, she is making bones and her legs seem really long to me.  

This next photograph is also a good picture of bones but gives us much more detail about Geneva's facial features.  If you make the picture big you can see the details of her nose and the shape of her eyebrows, cheeks, and chin.  Also note the long strait spine (yippie!).  That giant blob sitting on top of her is the placenta.  It is in a good position above the baby and not between the baby and the cervix.  Whew!

In order to rule out certain genetic abnormalities the doctor had to get a clear look at Geneva's face.  He was specifically looking for the formation of a nasal bone.  Through most of the visit Geneva had her hands in front of her face.  See below.  Quite a tricep and shoulder muscle huh?

So the radiology tech person used her little wand to move Geneva's hands and arms out of the way.  This was not very comfortable for me and I'm sure Geneva was a bit disgruntled too.  Her reaction is captured in the last picture.  Jason and I think this is hilarious.  She seems to be giving us a certain universal symbol.

Geneva is moving A LOT.  When the house is quiet and Luna barks at the air (there is never anything to bark at really) it surprises Geneva and she startles awake, extending arms and legs in all four directions.  I can also feel her moving legs and arms all around, this feels like she's making bubbles in one or another part of my uterus.  The newest and oddest feeling is when I feel like she is the size of a giant potato, laying in the bottom of my gut and is certainly going to fall out of my lower abdomen at any moment.  I have the urge to hold her in with my hands.  I'm pretty sure she is turning over and what I'm feeling is probably her head moving from one part of the uterus to another.  Usually shifting my position or letting my abdomen hang for a little while settles her back down.

Finally according to the measurements we received on Tuesday, Geneva is currently 12 ounces and rapidly growing, exploring herself and her environment.  She also seems to be interacting with us which has been really fun.

So, the next 6-8 weeks will be a quiet time.  We probably won't see her again until her birthday.  I now understand why people get the 4D images.  I'm going to miss watching her grow.

FSU Child Development Center

I don't know what I expected.  I guess I imagined rows and rows of screaming infants, all wanting to be held, stinking like poo, red faced and ignored behind grey bars in a cavernous hall painted white.  Where do I get these images?  I have seen one too many documentaries about the orphanages in the former Soviet Union and Romania.

Last week we put "Geneva the fetus" (I'll add this to the nickname list - the S is silent) on the wait list to get in to the child development center at FSU.  We are having a baby and I still want to complete my degree and one day get a J.O.B. that pays actual money - well, money that I'm worth.  Luckily we have the option of an extraordinarily cheap and pretty excellent childcare facility.  We just have to get in...

Jason, my mom, and I made an appointment to meet with Jennifer, a 14 year employee of the FSU child development center, in the early afternoon on a Monday for our guided tour.  I asked my mom to come with us because she has seen lots and lots of these types of facilities - both good and bad.  I wanted to make sure we were looking at the right things, sweeping our white glove over the right surfaces if you will.

The childcare facility is located in the middle of Alumni Village.  It's an old, externally run down apartment complex just off campus restricted to FSU students.  From what I hear the residence hall is geared toward students with families.  It looks a little sketchy but I think it's just an old facility.  There are sidewalks and lawns and it's college.

Jennifer began the tour by explaining the security door and the sign in policy.  Jason and I will have a punch code and can come and go as we please.  When we arrive in the morning we sign Geneva in and then hand the caregiver our baby.  Then, apparently I cry.  I think I almost cried standing there considering delivering Geneva to someone else to care for while I work.  Jennifer made some noises about how babies adjust quickly and that it's no big deal and how all her kids went here...I think I heard some stuff she was saying.

This was all before we went to the infant room.  The infant room is a short covered walk up a little hill next to a Japanese pear tree.  There is a patio out front with a giant umbrella mounted on a swing arm.  On beautiful afternoons they bring the babies outside to coo in the sun.  When we entered everything was quiet.  One caregiver was feeding a baby in her lap and there was another child lying quietly on the floor.  We were asked to remove our shoes to look around because the infants crawl all over the rugs.  There are three rooms in the little building: a kitchen, a play room, and a quiet room for sleeping.  Each infant has a little cubby box and hook, a crib, and bed linens.  There are no TVs and Enya was playing softly on the speakers piped throughout.  The sleeping room had eight little wooden cribs lined up neatly.  There was a large glass window so the caregivers could see the sleeping infants but otherwise the room was kept quiet and dark.  The kitchen was big and bright and had two refrigerators in it.  I can come nurse any time I want and can store up to 6 months worth of milk in the infant kitchen.

The ceiling, walls, corners, nooks, toys, heck - the entire facility was clean.  There wasn't a speck of dog hair anywhere, which is more than I can say for my house.  There were very few toys on the floor (easier to clean I assume), the room smelled nice and fresh.  The lights were low and all the caretakers were calm, happy, and seemed to enjoy their jobs judging by how long each had been employed there.  They seemed genuinely delighted to meet us and willing to answer all of our questions.  We left feeling confident in our decision and hopeful that we will get in.

So, while I write in my office on campus, less than a mile away, Geneva will take long stroller rides around Alumni Village with 3 of her closest mates, read stories, sing songs, have tummy time, lounge under the umbrella, sip gourmet milk, and take long cozy naps.

I don't think I'll cry...much.

It's a GIRL!!

We're 90% sure it's a girl.  Two weeks ago we went for a test called the "first screen".  This test is a single tailed hypothesis test that determines whether we are in the 95% of women who are at low risk for delivering a fetus with chromosomal abnormalities, specifically down's syndrome and trisomes 13 and 18.  The test is offered to all women and we could have opted out.  We opted to have the information.  The best news is that we are in the low risk 95%.

As part of the test we were given a second ultrasound.  This is a picture of the baby looking right at us.  You can see the cavities in the skull that hold the eyes, the shape of the head, the large abdomen, a little hand and of course the belly button.

This second picture is of the phallus.  Look where the arrow is pointing.  All fetuses start with a phallus that will eventually form either the penis or the vagina.  If the phallus is in line with the body pointing down toward the foot then the fetus is a girl.  If the phallus is running perpendicular to the body pointing toward the hand then the fetus is a boy.  Our phallus points toward the foot and is therefore most likely a girl.  The doctor will confirm the sex when we return for a second screening in about 3 weeks.  However, the doctor was pretty experienced and seemed VERY sure of his theory.  Yes, we have begun buying fun girl things.

In all, the ultrasound technician gave us 6 photos.  I will only put 3 on the blog for now.  The blurry grey photographs can be redundant and require a shadow reading degree to understand.  

This last photo is pretty cool.  The baby is facing away from us and is curled into a fetal position.  Notice that you can clearly see the spine.  It's the dark line running the length of the body from the gigantic head all the way down to the little butt.  Look how strait it is!  I'm so proud.  

So, if you are still with me, I have a couple more pieces of information.  The first is that the baby is actually a week older than originally thought.  They took some measurements and at the time these pictures were taken.  She is either an abnormally large fetus or she was 14 weeks instead of 13 weeks.  The doctor suspects the latter.  The second item you should know is that we have chosen the name: GENEVA PEPPER STAMM.  If for some reason you are unhappy with the name - tell someone other than Jason or myself.  Write your displeasure on a piece of paper and throw it away.  I say that with all sincerity, love and good humor.  Doing so is in the best interest of a happy family.  We love her name and are very excited to know who she becomes.

Finally, we happily accept all enjoyable and funny nicknames you can concoct.  Jason and I, our family, and our friends offer this hopefully growing list, in the spirit of falling in love with a name and ultimately a child.

Gena (Dad)

GeePers (Mom)

GenaPer (Also Mom)

GiGi (so what? I'm good at this)

GenaStammbina (Grandpa)

Gena in the bottle (Meemaw)

GPeppa (Aunt Dori)

GiniP (Aunt Em)

GPS (Cousin Lex)

G-Clef (Also Lex)

G-Unit (nickname prowess runs in the family!)

Gena Ballerina (My fav contribution from Alexis - even if she isn't a dancer we have at least 13 Halloweens to use this nickname.)

Can you think of more?

Pregnant on a College Campus

I teach a course called Social Problems to sixty 18-22 year olds each morning from 9:30-10:45.  Unlike many other Social Problems courses, my curriculum highlights the process by which we collectively construct social problems.  As a teacher, my primary objective is to find a middle ground between the credulousness and cynicism so popular in this age group.  I remember leaving my social problems class feeling sad, guilty, overwhelmed, and defeated.  These emotions are not typically conducive to learning.

One major element used to study social problems is "framing".  The students must grasp this concept - I feel as though it is very complex and requires reading into or seeing through the evidence, rhetoric, and behavioral patterns within a social movement.  Complex high level stuff.  To teach these concepts I begin with categories.  First we categorize household items like hangers, for example.  The students are asked to come up with a name, a category, a common use for the item, and then other, more creative uses.  This inevitably leads to a pretty funny discussion about how almost everything in the house can be used to kill someone.  For example:

Name: Hanger
Category: Closet organizer
Common Use: hang clothes
Other Possible Uses: pick a car door lock, hang pictures, artwork, poke someone's eye out

When they become comfortable with household items we perform the same exercise on "kinds" of people using stereotypes.  We then get to catchy social problems like the digital divide, road rage, and NCLB.  Finally, I translate all of this categorizing into framing terminology and voila!  They can talk about frames.  Then they prove they can independently write about frames in 4-6 pages.  Not all fun and games my friends.

I know you did not come to this blog to hear about my lesson plans.  This does apply in some minor way to how I think of my new self...of pregnancy...of this at least temporary identity.  The following is what my students came up with when we performed the exercise on people in my current condition:

Name: Pregnant Lady
Category: Disabled
Common (Stereotypical) Understanding: reduced ability, moody, cry a lot, tense, throwing up, unpredictable, scattered, "pregnancy brain"
Other Possible Understandings: productive, beautiful, fun, smart

It's to be expected right?  I get it.  These are the top 35% of this demographic (most of them come from inside the state).  According to the FSU website: "The academic profile of the middle 50 percent of freshmen accepted in 2010 was: 3.5-4.1 academic GPA; 25-29 ACT composite; 1720-1940 SAT total."  Like I said, most of these students are achievers and pregnancy is NOT in their life plan right now.  So, they tell themselves a very understandable and helpful story about pregnancy and motherhood, specifically, that it will ruin their lives and demolish their dreams. 


I am a walking, talking, physical, reminder of what NOT to do.  It's an odd feeling and I can't escape it.  I am a pariah on a college campus.


This week we are talking about medicalization - it's in preparation for the idea that sometimes we medicalize what were once social problems.  We seem to be more comfortable in a blameless environment.  I assigned a reading called PMS and the Biological Flaws of Womanhood.  I think opening statement that class will be, "Continue taking your birth control!"  or rather "Don't do what I just did!"


I do think the creative, energetic, opinionated college students should be a little nervous about pregnancy and motherhood.  I know my "condition" is not relevant specifically to a class on Social Problems, so I do not discuss it in class.  I do however hope I can be an example of the other "common understandings" of the Pregnant Lady.   

First Prenatal Appt.

by Jason

Tara’s GYN is now Our OB-GYN – that was easy.  So, I’m reading The Expectant Father, which I highly recommend so far, and the author describes looking at his wife’s cervix during their first prenatal appt.  Apparently, their doctor asked him if he wanted to see, and his wife encouraged him to do so as it might give him some familiarity and reference to the birth canal, or whatever you call it.  I was not so lucky (sarcasm implied).  As you can tell by Tara’s post, the pelvic exam is way more intimate than my author relays the experience.  I think I’ll stay away from the telescope if you know what I mean – the myriad documentary movies should suffice.

As we were sitting in the waiting room of Azalea Women’s Healthcare, Tara began to complete the Florida Healthy Start Prenatal Screening form.  Florida Healthy Start is one of our clients, and I have many close friends and colleagues who work hard every day to ensure healthy pregnancies in our state.  Seeing Tara take the initial risk assessment gave me a warm fuzzy feeling.  Tara has no risk factors (a score of 0), in case anyone is wondering.

I think the main theme of the first trimester is going to be “PATIENCE”.  Seven more months, are you freaking kidding me?  I’m working on slowing down, being present, and enjoying the experience without being a prenatal Nazi – poor Tara, she has to put up with so much crap like this from me.

One thing I have to get better at is pictures.  I’m not one to document every little moment in life, but I think I should ramp it up from now on.  Get ready for Jason W. Griswald!!!!

Questions, Questions, Questions ...

by Jason

Question #1 “Are you excited?”

Are you psyched, I’m psyched, GET PSYCHED!!!  Of course I’m excited everyone; Tara and I have been talking about this untiringly for the past two years.  My joke used to go, “For people who don’t have kids, we certainly talk about it a lot.”  Those were fun times, as were the last five months – from the time we “pulled the goalie” to the positive identification on Sunday 5/22 at approximately 7:45pm.  Now it’s real – game on!

I’m 38 years old and about to have my first child, and I wish I could transfer my 38 year-old brain into my 25 year-old body for the next twenty years until my kids are in college.  Yes, I said “kids”.  No, Tara is NOT pregnant with twins, but it shouldn’t be a surprise to any of you that we’re already planning the second pregnancy.

Question #2 “Are you scared?”

Not anymore.  Ironically, I used to be quite afraid of pregnancy, childbirth, and infancy.  Those of you who know what I do for a living should understand that; and for the rest of you, let’s just say that I’m exposed to the worst of the worst stories.  But now that it’s a reality for us, all that is just a fading memory.  I look around and I am hyperaware of ALL the parents and kids around me.  Seriously, almost everyone does this at least to a satisfactory level – what do I have to be afraid of?  Well, if there is anything, I’m sure we’ll find out down the road.

I’m also very fortunate to have close friends who are great dads who all love their kids – lost of good examples to follow.  Plus, major props to my father and mother for being stellar examples!   So, no fear right now - I’m currently fearless.  Let’s see how long that lasts, huh.  This is not to say that I’m “winging” it; as if I could EVER do that.  This is typical Jason – pursue Plan A diligently and be ready to make adjustments as new information presents itself.  BTW, Plan A includes a lot of fun too.

Question #3 “Do you want a girl or a boy?”

I want an albino hermaphrodite midget – NOT.  Please stop asking me this, it’s an irrelevant question.  It’s the 21^st century and hopefully Tara and I have the ability to raise our kids in a gender-free environment regardless of sex (egalitarian ideology or blatant futility?)

So in closing my first post I’d like to ask you all for a modicum of creativity, and please ask me an interesting question besides 1, 2, or 3 above.  Thanks for reading and …

… Rock on wit’cha bad self!

Time to rewrite the manual.

By: Mama Stamm

Who knew about this and did not tell me?  I know a few of you have given birth.  Some of you fairly recently.  All future first time moms out there listen up!  On your first obstetrician visit, which your husband is encouraged to attend, you WILL receive a pelvic exam.  Yes, yes you will.  And yes, he will be in the room.  Hopefully busying himself in another universe with a magazine or his hang nail.  Either way, the image is there.  Forever searing his eyeballs.  Your feet in the stirrups, knees out, "closer, come closer" the doctors says.  Yes, ladies - you've all heard those words.  All the horror that just flashed through your collective female brains?  Pay attention to it and tell others.  Tell others!  You should all be ashamed of yourselves!

In your defense (yes, YOU who have been pregnant before!) Prior to the obstetrician's variety show, I read a few books.  Of course I read Ina Mae Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth, Pregnancy Childbirth and the Newborn, The Expectant Father, and Sippy Cups are Not for Chardonnay.  In addition, prior to getting pregnant I read a slew of "Motherhood" books - or books that broadly conceptualize motherhood and parenting such as: The Mommy Myth, Perfect Madness, Halving it All, When Partners become Parents, The Price of Motherhood, Consuming Motherhood and Myths of Motherhood.  I also participate in a feminist book club where we talk ad nauseum about the role of women in culture and read wonderfully enlightening and relevant books such as: Opting Out, A Strange Stirring, Delusions of Gender and Enlightened Sexism.

We could call a few of these "manuals", "guides", "primers", yea "handbooks".  Yes?  None, not a single book mentioned a pelvic exam during the first obstetrician visit where husbands are warmly welcomed.  To the authors of the collective library above: Shame upon your publishing houses!

There is a bright spot in my little horror story which is of course the Stammbino.  Please refer to the very clear and not at all vague and confusing picture for the remainder of this paragraph.  Below is a picture of the 8 week old Stammbino taken on June 20, 2011.  In the left middle of the photo is a dark kidney shaped blob that is the uterus.  In the top right of the uterus is a very young but fully formed embryo - who is apparently white (thank goodness!) and shaped like a circus peanut.  The head is down and you can sort of make out a preformed foot at the top - (very clear right?).  If you have on your reading glasses and have a magnifying glass positioned in front of the screen, please draw your attention to the lower left hand corner of the uterus.  There you will find the yolk sac which will eventually become the placenta which feeds the baby throughout gestation.

In conclusion, I will happily provide detailed reviews of the books above with the warning notes attached.  If you have not yet been pregnant and want to know the disturbing and mortifying ways that an ultrasound can be taken (also in front of your husband), please email me and I will be happy to share.  Yes, we should all be warned about that as well.  The details are not even fit for this semi-graphic venue.  I am accepting apologies and confessions below, just click the "comment" link.

I think I need a shower...      

How to make a baby in 40 weeks

By: Mama Stamm


Step 1.  Eat everything in sight: beginning with 5 Guys hamburgers and handcut french fries.  From there move on to any frozen yogurt available.  Every morning Jason makes me a grilled egg, cheese, and tomato sandwich.  He puts TWO piece of cheese inside and grills it crispy in the pan until the cheese melts down the edges of the bread.  The less than 30 seconds I spend devouring this sandwich is my favorite part of the day.  Typically from there I move on to fruit.  Luckily it's summer time so I have an amazing selection.  My favorites right now are green grapes, nectarines, blueberries, and apples.  Unfortunately I keep buying bananas and letting them rot.  So, we have four loaves of banana bread in the freezer - I call it "nesting" Jason calls it wasteful.  Lately lunch has been spent with friends.  Once I go back to work (next week) I will probably invest heavily in Amy's meals.  I cook dinner most evenings.  We pretty much have the basics for dinner - not nearly as exciting as the egg and cheese sandwich.  The only exception to the eat everything in sight step is vegetables.  Those can be pushed to the edge of the plate, fed to the dogs, and otherwise unceremoniously discarded until further notice.

Step 2. Sleep a lot: and I mean a lot.  Weeks 5-7 I was sleeping 3-4 hours every afternoon and still getting 9-10 hours a night.  Good thing I did that early because I am a bit afraid I will never sleep again.  More recently I am only sleeping about 30 minutes in the afternoon.  I'm still getting 8-9 hours a night but I have to get up to pee at least twice each night which infringes on the good rest.

Step 3. Practice good manners: I try to say excuse me for every belch and fart I expel in front of others - but sometimes I forget.  I also try to mop up my drool with a napkin and cover my mouth while eating.  I am also now apparently prone to forgetfulness and clumsiness.  Don't put anything in my hand you cherish - I may drop it.

Step 4. Energy conservation what?  It's really best to keep the air inside at a chilly 76 degrees even though it is 105 degrees outside.  Honestly, just looking out the window turns my stomach.  I can see the heat shimmering off the pavement and the little grass shoots frying in the afternoon.  No way can I go out there.  Please see step 2.

Step 5. Breathe: Inhale and exhale out of the mouth...sometimes quickly, otherwise known as panting.  Seriously, I walk around my house like this, I ride bikes like this, I swim like this.  It's crazy how difficult it is to get oxygen around here.  Climb the stairs? must stop to breathe at the top.  Stepping out of the car? must pause for a good deep breath before proceeding.  Apparently this is pretty normal even in the first trimester.  The baby needs more oxygen.  The body doesn't take more breaths it just takes deeper breaths making me aware of them.

Step 6. Bore the crap out of your friends and family with all the gory details of early pregnancy symptoms.  In future posts you can look forward to intimate details of the first obstetrician visit, touring the birth center at TMH, putting ourselves on the waitlist at the preschool, parenting classes.  Stay tuned!