Summer Heat

Middle of July....heatwave. The air is hot and still and fragrant of the summer flowers. The ground is hot to the soles of barefeet. People seek out indoor places with air conditioning or flock to the beach in search of relief.

Not the most comfortable position to be in while 31 weeks pregnant. A heat wave has hit No. Cal. and we are unable to stay at our house, in beautiful 80 degree weather in SF by the beach, because we are having our kitchen floors redone (and hardwood re-finished in the nursery) Needed to get done before baby girl's arrival. As such, we are displaced from our house and are hanging out in 100 degree heat up here in Petaluma this weekend. I am currently hiding inside, with two fans, and a "Misty Mate" ( a water bottle with a misting tube) which I use to mist myself with water every 15 minutes. My hands and feet and face are swollen from the pregnancy and heat combo. I would like to go swimming but the thought of squeezing into a bathing suit is not too enticing.

The baby is active as ever, kicking and squirming. She seems to respond to our voices with her movements. She keeps me company as I march through these final months. ( 2 months to go!)

Pregnancy tips from the past

One of the things I have been doing lately is trying to get my house in order and ready for the new baby. Call it nesting if you'd like but it is long overdue! In doing this I stumbled upon an old book that my grandmother had for pregnancy and the new baby. It is titled "Better Homes and Gardens Baby Book", copyright 1946. It is very amusing to read over the tips and procedures for the pregnant woman back then. Here are some highlights:

"Daily Regimen for Normal Pregnancy"
-Arise, brush your teeth, care for your breasts, take a short walk.
-Eat breakfast, go to the toilet. Relax, take your time
-Do your housework
-Eat lunch
-Rest for two hours
-Visit with friends or sit in the yard or on the porch, sewing or reading
-Prepare and eat dinner. If tired, rest before washing the dishes
-Retire by 10:30 pm.

It then has a section titled "If You're a Working Woman"
It says "Your condition will become rather readily apparent by the fifth month. If your appearance is important in your work, you'll want to quit, or arrange to work at home after that"
Though it does say that perhaps obvious pregnancy doesnt matter, and that "employers are much less squeamish about this than they used to be"
Well good thing for that!

This one is my favorite:
"Smoking"
"Moderate smoking seems to do no harm-that is, under 8 or 10 cigarettes a day. If you're a heavy smoker, doctors advise that you cut down, but dont try to quit entirely, as this is an added strain"

Hilarious. Shows you how times do change quite a bit.

Third Trimester!

Yes, its true. I am officially in my third trimester starting today. I am very happy to be beginning the last leg of this journey, and I am getting very nervous and excited to have a little baby girl in my arms soon! Everyone can tell I am very pregnant now, with the big basketball I have for a tummy. Strangers give me certain looks, sort of like "Aw how special" crossed with "Aw you poor thing". It does make me feel like being pregnant puts you in a special section of the population. Most people give me the right of way, are more courteous, etc. Its kind of fun.
I have two more months of work left before maternity leave. Still not sure how long Im going to take. Im thinking 5 months. But for now, the work is calling....

Nursery Furniture

We have picked out my crib and glider chair. Very fun. Here is the crib I ordered (note: those are not my crib linens and the finish I chose is a "distressed white" for a little "shabby chic" touch that I think will go quite nicely with the room.

We picked out a sleigh back glider and ottoman in a natural finish with cotton cushions in a pretty pastel stripe. Here is the model and finish and fabric for our chair.

And the best part is that these items were in stock! We will pick them up next week. The nursery is really coming along. Now, if we were just having as much luck with the name situation...

26 week belly

Baby Stuff

I have been shopping alot lately for the baby stuff. And wow, is there alot of stuff you can buy! I am loading up my registries (at Pottery Barn kids and Babies R'US) with pretty much anything I can think of, and I have my experienced sister in law Krissy (two girls aged 4(almost) and 9 mo.) to help me to tell me the things I really need. It is quite fun, but a little overwhelming for me, the non-shopper. But its lots of fun. Then I take Greg down to the store and he falls in love with the Bugaboo Chamelon. The top of the line, celebrity adored, stroller. I have to admit it pushes around alot smoother than the other ones and has about every feature/position you can think of. Greg was especially charmed by the "snow" position. I can just imagine trying to manuever my way around in Tahoe deep in powder with the stroller!

Baby girl is kicking and moving all the time. I got a prenatal heartbeat detector so I can listen to her heart. Pretty cool. I feel very close to her already. (I guess she is pretty close as I carry her around in my abdomen 24-7!)

I have outgrown some of my maternity clothes which is pretty sad. But Krissy just got hers back from a friend so now I have some new wardrobe choices. Belly is getting pretty big and I still have 3 months to go!!!!

25th week

I am halfway through my 25th week now, getting nearer to that 6 month mark. Getting bigger, feeling heavier, and sometimes feeling a little spacey and dumb. I think I've got "Baby Brain".
Having some aches and pains, mostly back and rib pain. A bit early for the rib pain but its probably bc I am so short. Had the 24 week check up on Tuesday, heard the heartbeat (142 b.p.m), had my uterus measured, cervix checked, and was told everything was shipshape. I have gained a total of 16# so far which seems on track.

I went down to SoCal last week, visited with friends in SB and then with my family. Will probably be my last trip down there before the birth as I dont really want to fly anymore. Of course I can until something like the 33rd week but I've been getting dizzy and nervous on planes lately. And since I can't take anything for the anxiety....just better not to fly.

SB was beautiful and so nice to see everyone! Suzanne's baby Aidan is a month old now and was very precious. I asked both her and my friend Sara (who had a baby girl last fall) alot of questions about the labor process and I have to admit, it sounds a little frightening. But there's no going back now!

Im looking forward to a summer of hopefully a bit lessened workload and alot of baby preparation. Greg and I are working on names and like the feminine, a little old fashioned names. The nursery is coming along and we are working on the house, and spending time with our "first child" Luca Bella (our lovable chocolate lab)

Santa Barbara Trip

Me & Aidan (Suzanne's baby boy)

At the Santa Barbara Mission

Into the second half

I am 21 weeks and a day pregnant now. Feels exciting to be on the "other side" of the halfway mark. Just came back from a lovely three day weekend at home in PV. My last Mother's Day as a non-mother! I guess it will be awhile though until my daughter will wake up to prepare me eggs benedict.

I am enjoying being pregnant now. It is fun to shop for maternity stuff but also look at baby stuff! I am getting excited about all the clothes and the nursery, etc. Greg is getting a little worried that everything wont be done in time. But we have four months, and Dan (Greg's Dad) has already been hard at work (Greg too) on fixing up the green room. My belly is getting pretty big. And I've started gaining some weight in other places too. But its all good. I just need to focus on the healthy stuff rather than cookies and candy. I have a few pregnancy aches & pains. Such as frequent back aches. Up and down my spine, a dull aching. Greg has had to give me a lot more back rubs. Nothing wrong with that! Been taking more walks too. The weather in SF has been beautiful.

Me & Rascal

Here is me with my family's new Corgi puppy Rascal. Can you see the family resemblance? If my baby is half as cute as he is I will be happy!

The Pregnant Auditor

19 weeks! almost at that halfway point. It really flies by.

I have been feeling pretty good, lots more energy, better appetite, I seem to be gaining the appropriate amount of weight (roughly 10 pounds thus far). Problem is primarily work. Trying to work only 8 hours a day but not at all successful (averaging 10). Trying to eat better and more consistently and bringing healthy snacks but eating the healthy stuff AND the almond joys that sit on the table in front of me. Trying to relax more but running around at my clients chasing down numbers (never knew we auditors were so active, huh?)

My belly button is starting to make its way outwards. Its kind of cute. I have been told I have that "pregnancy glow" but it might be bc I seem to have much more oily skin lately.

Greg and his dad have starting working on the green room to turn it into the nursery. I am trying to salvage the green toile wallpaper as I love it and want to have the nursery as a "French Countryside" theme. White furniture and different animals in pictures, "Le Vache", "Le Cochon", "Le Canard", etc. I think I may go shopping this Sunday for some nursery ideas. But alas, I may have to work....

Baby Biagini is........

A Girl! I had my ultrasounds today. I am 17 weeks and one day pregnant and have a little girl living inside of me. Greg came with me and this was the first appointment he has been to so it was a little scary for him. She looked darling, flailing her arms around and moving her mouth like she was talking or singing! We got to see her face and heart (and hear the fast heartbeat) and fingers and toes. Very moving. It is a beautiful spring day here and it was a thrilling experience. Now its time to think of names!

17 week ultrasound

Some more views

15th week

I am almost at the end of my 15th week. So I have heard the second trimester is supposed to be the "good trimester" and you feel jubilent and healthy and free of sickness and bounds of energy. This has not been the case! I guess it didnt help getting a small bout of the stomach flu last Friday but I haven't been sicker in a long time. Vomiting in my car, all over myself, while Im driving. Wonderful. Plus with all the serious deadlines Ive had in the last couple of weeks the hours Ive been working arent great on my energy or health.
So I am trying to take a new approach, relax a little more, take more time to do things than I usually do, etc.
I have another ultrasound in two weeks (at 17 weeks). Not sure if I will be able to tell the sex of the baby? It seems not until 20 weeks per most of my sources. But we will see....
I had a dream it was a little boy a few nights ago, but I really dont have much instinct one way or another! It would be nice to know though.
I am getting quite fatter despite my temporary stomach sickness. The scale doesnt seem to budge that much but my belly is protruding further and further. Alot of people at work know now but I havent told any of my clients. And today people have been stealing glances at my belly in all its growing roundness. I am not paranoid, they are!
I think its kind of amusing.
Ok, well back to work!

Maternity Clothes 12 1/2 weeks

Went shopping for some new outfits...

Im trying to look pregnant in my new maternity jeans and peasant top

Showing off my new skirt and my new belly!

Second Trimester

Well today marks my 13th week mark. So I am officially in the second trimester now. According to the books I can say goodbye to feeling ill all the time and hello to newfound energy! We will see.

So far I feel pretty good. Dont know about boundless energy but I feel a little less sick. Not that i ever was very sick, just a general feeling of naseousness that seemed worst at night. I felt like I was constantly recovering from a hangover. Maybe I will be able to eat vegetables again soon. At least I have been eating fruit. I cant seem to get enough! I ate three oranges on Sunday. And I have been eating dried mangoes alot, yum!

I havent been able to completely cut out caffeine, though I am cuttting back. I also am cutting back on my workload, but stuff just doesnt seem to get done. Oh well.

Bought some cute maternity clothes. Though some are still a bit too big (GOOD THING!) But it is nice not to have a tight waistband all the time. I had fun with my aunts shopping and trying on the "3 month pillow". I hope that I am not that big in three months tho, it made me look 8 months pregnant. And it was very lumpy. Not attractive. Basically I feel fat, and I feel other people are noticing. In fact, when I told one of my co-workers she admitted to me that she thought I was looking a little more chubby than I usually did. Whatever I wear, I am just not very happy with the way my waistline looks.

Im happy not to keep it a secret anymore! Now I am dying to know what sex it is....

11th week ultrasound (9 weeks fetal age)

into the 10th week....and a little sick

Here I thought I would pretty much skip over the "morning" sickness. I have been doing pretty well. But I have been getting very queasy now at night and sometimes when I first get up in the morning. My vitamen makes me gag. And today the sick feeling would not go away. So I sit trying to do all this work in my client's conference room and drink Ginger tea (yuk, supposed to help but it is not tasty), and suck on Preggie Pops Drops (now these are yummy).

My clothing is getting very tight. I think I have gained about 5 pounds (from the last several weeks when I have been eating up a storm) and many of my pants don't fit. I am not ready to get maternity clothes yet (determined to hold out until second trimester) but my available wardrobe is dwindling.

And then there is work. Smack in the middle of busy season working 10-12 hours a day. Pretty challenging with the lack of energy thing. And the fact that I am not telling people yet makes it hard as well.