16 Weeks AKA 4 Months

Michelle Moore requested a picture so here I am at 4 months. I took the picture this morning before work on my cell phone. I’m kind of twisted trying to take the picture and show the belly side-on. I think you can see the bottom of my bra in this shot – boom chicka boom!

Baby Connell is the size of an avocado, Mama Connell has a rash on her belly, Papa Connell doesn’t want you to know that he watches Project Runway so keep it under your hats, the artist formerly known as andrea_collins is now andrea_grogan, and Eric is on his way to Newfoundland to charm the pants off everyone in Buchans!

The pregnancy week-by-week book I’ve been reading has “Dad Tips” included in each chapter and they are all as brutal as you think they are. Here is a sample:

• When you’re away from your partner call to check in. Well duh. Owen works nights 3 days a week and I work 9ish – 5 everyday so the majority of our communication is done over the phone. Next!
• Vacuum without being asked. Ha! Owen wouldn’t notice if the dust bunnies crawled into bed with him let alone vacuum without me throwing a tantrum. Onward!
• Rub your partners feet. They may be on to something with this one but after 8+ hours in trouser socks and shoes I don’t want to get near my own feet let alone subject Owen to them!
• When you’re away from your partner without access to a phone, have someone call and check up on her. Right. Any volunteers?
• Give your partner hugs & kisses for no reason. Oh for the love of Pete, if you need a reason to give your partner hugs & kisses, perhaps parenthood isn’t the path you should be on.

I have a obstetrician appointment this coming Monday and I’m hoping that Dr. H. will give me nothing but good news; that I’m fine, the baby’s fine and that the lower back pain I’m experiencing is only because of the way I sit at work – one leg tucked under the other one and completely slouched down in my chair.

What I'm Listening To: I Don't Feel Like Dancing by The Scissor Sisters - I dare anyone to listen to this song without shakin' their groove thing.

Sign #2 Owen's Forgotten I'm Pregnant

...after I told him that I shouldn’t be allowed to go grocery shopping on my own….

"So, you basically spent $60 in the bakery department?"

Pressure, pushing down on me....

You know on medical shows where you hear the doctor say, “it won’t hurt – you just might feel a little pressure.”? I never knew what that meant. What does pressure feel like? Does it change from person to person? Is one woman’s pressure another woman’s PRESSURE?!

Well for the last week, I’ve been feeling pressure in my abdominal/stomach/uterus area. And while it might not be PRESSURE, it’s definitely Pressure. It feels like I have to either pass gas or go pee (putting the “ass” in “class”). The woman that sits 2 cubes away told me today that before she got pregnant (she’s due in November) she never understood why pregnant women go around holding their stomachs. Now she knows why. Pressure. You feel like you’re carrying a heavy rock around (or in my case a heavy softball).

And it gets worse as the day goes on. The only thing that’s giving me relief in the evenings is putting my feet up. And I’m only 15+ weeks. What the hell happens at 30 weeks? You hire someone to carry your stomach around for you?! What do you tip a person like that? Whatever it is, it can’t be enough.

What I’m Listening To: Under Pressure by Queen – Word.

P.S. Many, many thanks for all the comments. There is currently no way for me to track how many people are reading this so leaving comments is really appreciated. Especially when you tell me how great I am. Carry on.

15 Weeks

Baby Connell is the size of a softball, Papa Connell threw his back out and Mama Connell’s eyebrows have reached Brooke Shields circa 1984 levels of thickness.

While visiting Kristy a few weeks back she gave me her theory on whether you are carrying a boy or a girl based on how quickly your hair grows. I can’t remember what she said if the hair on your body was growing at an alarming rate - something about the testosterone. I think it’s if your hair is growing faster than usual you might be having a girl because the testosterone isn’t going towards the growth of a boy. Kristy, if you’re reading this, help a sister out.

I’ve started thinking about how I’d like to decorate Junior’s nursery (it is really early to be having those kinds of thoughts but if work was going anymore slowly, it would be stopped). Owen would like to paint the walls blue – something about the sky. Michelle at work told me not to paint the walls yellow as it could increase the chance that Junior has colic. I personally don’t have a preference and think blue would be cool for a girl Connell or boy Connell. I’ve seen some really nice nursery stuff but as is usually the case, I have very expensive taste – especially in bedding. There is an American company called Banana Fish and their stuff is modern and cool looking so I think I’ll keep my eye on that and see if they have any Canadian distributors. Wow, I used to get this excited about Nine West shoes – not bumper pads and coverlets (I so didn’t know what a coverlet was until Michelle explained it to me yesterday. It’s like a less thick comforter.).

Another exciting development is the current list of baby names Owen and I have on the go. I’ve made a list of Irish boy and girl names for us to choose from. It’s going to be hard to keep it a secret but we’re going to. There is a website (Http://www.babynamesofireland.com/) that gives you girl and boy Irish names with their meanings and English equivalent. When you select “Listen” Frank McCourt of Angela’s Ashes fame pronounces the name and it’s meaning. So, take a look, take a listen. Tell me what you like. Who knows, it might be on our list!

How I’m Feeling: I’m going to stop this “How I’m Feeling” thing and change it to….

What I’m Listening To: Somebody Like You – Keith Urban – The iPod loves country.

Normal

Normal [nawr-muhl]: conforming to the standard or the common type; usual; not abnormal; regular; natural.

Last Friday, I was arriving home after picking up some dinner because Mrs. Connell? – not so much with the cooking on Friday’s – and Owen met me at the door with a kind of worried look on his face. He said that the OBGYN, Dr. H. had left an automated message with my test results. This was very unexpected, as Dr. H had told me that he would only be calling if the test results were not “normal”. The message said I could call an automated service to receive the test results or access the results online using the login information Dr. H provided to me on my first visit.

So dinner (California Sandwiches – chicken with tomato sauce, provolone cheese and mushrooms – if you were wondering) was quickly set aside as I tore around the house trying to find my login information. Owen sat on a chair in the living room with his head in his hands.

I finally found the paper I was looking for and dialled the automated service using the speaker setting on the phone so we could both hear the news delivered by a robot:

“Your pap test result is……normal.”

High five from Owen. Yay vagina!

“Your first trimester test result is…..normal.”

Double high five from Owen. This test was the “Down Syndrome” test. Based on the measurements of the fetus and blood work results the doctor was able to determine if further testing was needed to see if there was a chance that the baby would have Down Syndrome. Because my test was normal no further testing was necessary.

Owen and I hugged and headed down to the basement to eat our sandwiches, watch America’s Funniest Home Videos, (because that's how we roll on Friday nights!) and periodically rub my belly and let the baby know that even though we were both off our rockers, it was normal.

Normal.

God, what a wonderful word.

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14 Weeks

Baby Connell is the size of a lemon and Mama Connell is the size of a house. Papa Connell is looking forward to putting on sympathy weight with a steady diet of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and apple turnovers.

14 weeks down, many more to go. I've officially entered my second trimester and am determined to enjoy the rest of my pregnancy. Looking back, I really didn't enjoy the first 3 months and it was basically my fault. I read too much and worried that things happening to people around me would happen to me. I am trying to go by Owen's advice now which is to firmly believe that everything is going to be fine. No need to worry until there is something to worry about. Basically, I'm going to have to become a whole new person because worrying is like breathing to me! Now that I'm starting to see the doctor on a monthly basis, I'm going to let him do all the worrying. Let him tell me if there is something wrong rather than reading in a book what could possibly go wrong.

I simply cannot wait for Junior to get here. I can't wait to have a new person to share our life with. A new person for Owen to make laugh, a new person to get smothered in all our love.

Cannot.

Wait.

Owen was on vacation this week and enjoyed sleeping at night with the rest of the world. Unfortunatley, his wife snores like a trucker so while he started his nightly sleeps with me in our bed, he continues said sleeps in the bunk bed room. At first I put up a fight when he gets up to leave ("oh, don't go lover - I'll stop") but it can't bother me that much because I wake up the next morning on his side of the bed. I'm going to have to invest in some breath right strips to see if that solves the problem. Any advice?

This Saturday is the Peterson's 25th Wedding Anniversary party and I could not be more excited. It's been years in the making and promises to be a great night. Congratulations Aunt Paula & Uncle Roy!

How I'm Feeling: So much to look forward to!

Music is the Victim

Today is my company's annual golf tournament. Needless to say, I don't golf. Half the office is at said tournament and if it were less busy here I'd be in a coma, so y'all get treated to 2 posts today.

At the end of Season 5 of Queer as Folk, the cast and crew were given an iPod Mini. Owen also received one as thanks for his work that season and due to the fact that I take public transit a hell of a lot more than he does I use the iPod the majority of the time. I listen on the way to work, at work and on the way home from work. Aside from our own music we've uploaded (Ben Harper, U2, Jack Johnson etc.) I've also purchased many songs on iTunes and if you thought my television choices were sad - well, read on, this is just a sample of the songs I've paid for:

• Easy/Sail On - The Commodores: Easy: he knows it sounds funny but girl, he's leaving you tomorrow. He's done all he can to make it. Begged, stole and borrowed. Sail On: He's giving you back your name. He'll be on his way, he won't be back to stay. He's looking for a good time. Aren't we all Lionel? Aren't we all?
• Too Close - Next: This song reminds me of Saturday nights at Sammy's. If nothing was going to make The Duhart comment on this damn blog, the mention of this song just might do it. Choice Lyric - "All the songs you requested, you're dancing like you're naked".
• Sundown - Gordon Lightfoot: I love this song for the way it begins, the acoustic guitar. Someone covered this song and it wasn't even half as awesome. Plus, I think Gordie circa 1977's a hottie. Choice Lyric: "I can see her lyin' back in her satin dress, in a room where you do what you don't confess".
• Dance Hall Days - Wang Chung: I hat a rat tail in the 80's. This song requires no other explanation. Choice Lyric: "Take your baby by the hand, and make her do a high head stand". What the hell does that even mean?
• Talk Dirty to Me - Poisin: This song reminds me of teenage dances in Buchans when I was in 13. Being asked to fast dance and then doing so in two parallel lines. I bet they still play this song in Buchans during teenage dances. Choice lyric - "You know I never, I never ever stay out late. You know that I can hardly wait, just to see you. And I know you cannot wait, wait to see me too".
• Drop It Like It's Hot - Snoop Dogg: I have a little crush on Snoop. He's such a criminal. Choice Lyric: "I got my rolly on my arm and I'm pouring Chandon and I roll the best weed cuz' I got it going on".
• Don't Be Cruel/My Prerogative/Every Little Step - Bobby Brown: Oh man, I had this on tape in the 8th grade. Bobby Brown before Whitney and before crack was whack.
• Whiskey Girl - Toby Keith: I think this song reminds Joanne P. of Andrea. So, it reminds me of Joanne being reminded of Andrea. Choice lyric - "so damn good looking boy it ain't even right"
• Summertime - Kenny Chesney: For all the time spent at the Stampede, I still don't consider myself a fan of country music. But I like this song and I enjoy watching people at the Stampede dressed in bikini tops under denim vests "dance" to it. Choice lyric - "it's a smile, it's a kiss, it's a sip of wine, it's summertime!"
• Building Bridges - Brooks & Dunn: See above. For someone who isn't a country fan I sure pick the countriest of countriest songs to download. Choice lyric - "I'm building bridges, straight to your heart. All of this distance won't keep us apart".
• This Is How We Do It - Montell Jordan: Thursday nights at Loose Change Louie's. If Suz wasn't going to comment she will now. Choice Lyric: "So I reach for my 40 and I turn it up, designated driver take the keys to my truck. Hit the shore cuz I'm faded, honeys in the street say monty yo we made it".
• Doctor My Eyes - Jackson Brown: Remember Chym in the 80's in Kitchener? Before it was FM? So does this song. Choice Lyric - "People go just where they will. I never notice them until I get the feeling that it's later than it seems"
• Do Ya Think I'm Sexy - Rod Stewart: My parents had the Rod Stewart box set. I used to think that they were perverts because of the song "Tonight's the Night" because Rod says the word virgin. I could never figure out if being a virgin was a good thing or a bad thing. That god I got that all figured out. Choice Lyric: "she sits alone waiting for suggestions, he's so nervous, avoiding all her questions. His lips are dry, her heart is gently pounding, don't you just know exactly what their thinking? Oh Rod, you sly fox.
• It's Like That - Run-DMC: Maybe I've been watching too much Run's House becuase I predict this will not be the last Run-DMC song I download. Choice Lyric - "it's like that y'all and that's the way it is"

So, what's your musical guilty pleasure?

Sign #1 Owen's Forgotten I'm Pregnant

"You have to pee again?!"

13 Weeks

Baby Connell is the size of a jumbo shrimp, 3 inches head to rump. Mama Connell is still very tired and can't seem to shake the cold she got last week. Papa Connell is a very happy man becasue he is on vacation next week and is going to do all the things around the house that both Ma & Pa have been neglecting.

My next doctor's appointment is October 2nd and we are scheduled to have another ultrasound on October 17th so more pictures of Junior that can go on our bulletin board and here on the blog.

Tonight I am meeting Kristy & Suzanne for a long overdue ice-tea. It's been so long since I've seen them both that I'm sure we'll spend the first couple minutes just staring at each other. So much has happened to all of us since we last saw each other. It's crazy how life goes sometimes. I used to see these girls weekly to watch 90210. Then people move, get married, have children and suddenly it's been a year(s) since you last saw each other. I'm really looking forward to seeing them and remembering why we were friends in the first place.

How I'm Feeling: Still trying to shake this cold but very, very happy that it's Friday.

I Was Raised on TV

And now, a non-baby post....

A few months ago I talked Owen into trying Rogers Personal Video Recorder (PVR) under the guise of taping shows that he likes that he often misses due to his work schedule - mostly shows on A&E. The PVR allows you to digitally "tape" 2 shows at once - without using an actual video tape. It also allows to you to pause and rewind live television. Rogers was running a promotion to try the PVR out for free for 2 months so I picked one up at lunch 2 months ago and it has changed my television life.

My real interest in the PVR was rooted in the fact that channel 54 was starting to run all original episodes of Beverly Hills 90210. I'm somewhere towards the end of season 3 where Dylan has to choose between Brenda & Kelly (Spoiler: he picks Kelly) Unfortunatley, 90210 is far from my most embarassing PVR'd show. Here is a list of what I am currently taping on a day to day basis. I am well aware that I am going to have to get a life.

1. The View (10am daily) - Rosie's back. Andrea and I have a strange and perhaps unnatural love for Rosie. I hope she kicks Hasselback's ass.
2. Oprah (4pm daily) - It's not that embarassing that I tape Oprah, what's embarassing is that I delete the serious episodes. I only want to watch celebrities and makeovers. Oprah's catching pedophiles? Well good for her, but I'm not watching. Gayle is on with a hard hitting story about finding the country's best hamburger? Sign me up.
3. Mad About You (2:30am daily) - This might be where things take a turn. A common theme of my PVRing is that I fast forward through 80% of the shows I tape. I started recording Mad About You somewhere around the season where they are trying to have a baby. I skip any scenes where Paul is at work or talking to his cousin Ira. Basically any scene where Paul & Jamie aren't talking to each other.
4. Run's House (10pm weekly) - Who's house? Run's house! This is a reality show showing the "real" life of Run of Run-DMC fame complete with his wife Justine and their 5 kids. Apparently Run's now some type of Reverend. Rev-Run. Get it? You can start feeling embarassed to know me now.
5. A Different World (4:30pm daily) - I have very little interest in this show until Denise Huxtable leaves it to have Lenny Kravitz's baby. Again with the fast forwarding.
6. The Facts of Life (7:30pm daily) - How happy am I that the Christian station started running this show? Last nights first episode showcased Molly Ringwald (who'd get tossed soon after the first season) and cameo's from the Different Strokes cast as Mrs. Garrett leaves them to work at Eastland. I can't wait until Jo arrives and Blair gets fat. Yippee!
7. The Office (8-9pm weekly) - Where the hell was I when this show came out? Probably wasting my time in Survivor-ville. The Office is the best show on television. Not only am I not embarrased to PVR it I watch scenes daily on You Tube.

So now I wanna know - what's your guilty TV pleasure?

12 Weeks

Boy oh boy, what a week it's been. I have somehow contracted a viral infection and was off work Tuesday - Thursday. Sick, sick, sickie. According to the baby sites the only thing I could take was Tylenol and frankly, that didn't do squat. I prefer a Neo Citron coma when I'm under the weather. For my effort I have a sore nose and cuts inside my lips from sleeping with my mouth wide open. Better than the alternative which would be not breathing at all.

Yesterday was a HUGE baby day. Owen and I went to the ultrasound and caught our first glimpe of Baby Connell. I was laying on the bed and couldn't see the screen and the ultrasound technician wasn't giving me anything - complete poker face. Good thing Owen could see the screen and answer my many, many questions: "How many do you see?" - answer: 1 "do you see the hearbeat?" - answer: yes "is it moving?" - answer: yes. When she finally got around to showing me the screen, all I could do was burst into tears. Nothing could prepare me for seeing the life inside me. He (we now think it's a boy. There is no scientific reason for that, it's more of a feeling) moved for his mama, gave me a wave and kicked up his legs. Awesome. It was one of the best moments of my life. I've been showing the ultrasound picture off all day today and remember when I said 7 weeks ago that good news rocks? Well it rocks all over again when you get to tell your co-workers the reason you've been looking a little green the past few weeks. Many hugs, many well wishes. Yay!

After the ultrasound I had to get bloodwork done and then it was off to meet Dr. H, my OB-GYN. I'd love to tell you all about him but I had to have a pap smear so my visit is kind of a blur. I know, I know, you're thinking "how is she ever going to have a baby when she passes out from a pap smear?" Answer: If they could give me an epidural before a pap I'd have one weekly. In all seriousness, he seemed like a good doctor and I will be seeing him every month until closer to the due date (now moved up to March 13) and then I'll go weekly. Next ultrasound is October 17 and I hope to have another picture to share.

How I'm Feeling: If I was feeling any better in the 5-0, they'd have to call the po' (ask the bridesmaids).