This was a big week! I told my colleagues at work and they were all very excited. It's been several years since there was a new baby in our division. Now there are 2 of us expecting at the same time, so people are very happy.
I felt the baby moving. At first I wasn't sure if that's what I was feeling, but the doctor confirmed it! Right now it feels like little bubbles.
The third big thing was that I had the ultrasound. Here is Baby's first picture. It is a face view, but really looks like a skull and part of the spine.
I had my first Cadbury Egg of the season! I'm putting this under pregnancy milestones because last night I REALLY wanted something chocolatey and chewy, like a brownie. Rich, dear man that he is, went and bought me 2 bakery choc-chip cookies. Today when I got home from work, I listlessly looked in a tin that I knew had a few stray pieces of Christmas candy. Lo and behold-the Cadbury Egg fairy had visited! I was sooooo happy! If I had not had that craving for a brownie, Rich wouldn't have been out at the store. This must set a record for my earliest egg of an Easter season.
Rich surprised me with this little Mowgli figurine. We've been calling the baby "Mowgli" from the beginning. I really don't know why! Early this fall, we were simultaneously talking about kitten and baby names, taken from movies. The kitten got "Elsa." Fitting that "The Jungle Book" was released in 1967--the year of my birth!
Rich felt Mowlgi for the first time today! Mowgli's movements are stronger now. Rich thought it was neat but kind of freaky.
Here I am in my first official maternity top. We're having a heat wave (temp in the 70's!) so I needed something short sleeved to wear. I borrowed one of Rich's shirts and off we went to the mall. Luckily, I have other clothes that are big and roomy, so I'm not having to buy a whole wardrobe right now.
This was a funny weekend. Rich was in Berkeley Springs, WV, for a work retreat. He bought this "Hey Diddle Diddle" quilt at a shop there. It's so cute! It matches our planned colors of yellow and blue, with a moon wallpaper border. What a find!
On Sunday, I had my first strange craving. I was dying for macaroni salad! This is weird because usually I HATE anything with mayonaise and I never eat macaroni salad. Sweet Rich went to the store and bought a little deli container for me, which I wolfed down as soon as he came inside.
We started our month of classes tonight, with part 1 of "Baby Care." It was fun! There were about 7 or 8 couples and we all had large plastic dolls to practice with. We learned about holding baby, passing baby to another person, changing diapers, giving baths, and putting on clothes. Rich was very good with his "football hold" but I nearly pulled off the doll's arms trying to get them through the teeny sleeves in the shirt! Memo to self: Dress Mowgli in short-sleeves. Our other classes will be part 2 of Baby Care, then Lactation (oh yeah, Rich is SOO excited for that one--NOT!), then a full weekend of Lamaze.
I got my first "prediction" tonight. One of my students put her hand on my belly and said "I think it's a boy."
Rich and I spent the weekend taking a Lamaze/birth preparation class. It was great! We learned so much. We got to practice breathing techniques and different positions, as well as do a "dry run" of the whole labor process. Our teacher would give us different scenarios and we'd have to think of what we'd do in that situation. The days were long and we were pooped at the end of each session. Several of the couples have due dates right around mine, so maybe we'll see them and their babies in a month or so!
Susan Young hosted a baby shower for me. It was so much fun! There were many Manassas friends there, as well as my friend Rebecca. My aunts Nell and Carol also came. Mom came down from PA and stayed with Rachel & Zac, and Fleurette came from Montreal and stayed with us. Both grandmas had a wonderful time. Mowgli has lots of the necessary gear now!
The evening of the shower, we gathered back at our house for dinner and visiting. A kicking Mowgli became the focus of the entertainment! Look at Uncle Zac's face!
Mom, Dad, Rachel, and I went on a Babies R Us run. The stroller/carseat combo from Mom and Dad would never have fit into my car! Luckily, Mom and Dad had the trusty new minivan on hand!
Rich has been working hard on getting the nursery painted and set up. Today we finished by putting together the crib and arranging the furniture. I use "we" lightly--I mainly sat in a chair and directed! :) The room looks great, if we do say so ourselves. I think we're all ready for the big arrival now!