Christmastime Belly

 My view when sitting down and letting the belly breathe. :)

My sweethearts, Greg & baby girl, in our home all ready for Christmas!  My baby bump profile is in the bottom right corner.  Her 1st pic in front of the tree. ;)

Let's Talk Farts

Nobody told me that being pregnant was like turning into a weighty, old man.

I now fart a lot, and fart like a seasoned pro.  I rumble like a tricked out Harley peeling out of some asphalt, except there's no cool motorcycle... and lot more assssphalt. :(  Nobody wanted to tell me, an unknowing, naïve young thing living my life pre-blessed-parasite, the things about pregnancy that would be discouraging, I've discovered.  Here are some of my observations about pregnancy thus far, and yes I am willing to scare -- I mean share:

• Morning sickness is morning-noon-and-night sickness.  I think they just call it morning sickness because pregnant women are too tired to finish explaining... but I would wake up in the middle of the night seasick as if I was snoozing on a fishing boat.
  
  
• I cannot roll over in bed without a lot of huffing a puffing.
  
  
• I can barely dress myself.  I did not know that one of my daily struggles would be standing on one foot and trying to balance long enough to get my legs in/out of clothing without toppling over.
  
  
• I can hardly wipe myself after using the restroom... no matter what I try.  It's getting more difficult, in fact.  I seriously just had an experience before I sat down to write this where I felt like I was about to dislocate a rib with all the reaching.  Which leads me to wonder... if my stomach is going to grow another 20 cm or so, should I invent some sort of pregnancy butt wiper?  I'm envisioning something resembling a cat scratcher.  Maybe I just need a bidet... which leads me to my next point...
  
  
• Oh, the farting.  About a week ago the uncontrollable, unsuspecting embarrassment bombs began.  I was in Motherhood Maternity.  Thank God, right? Somewhere I can feel understood a.k.a. get away with it.  Brrroooooo.  "Oh my gosh, how did that just happen?  No warning!"  Greg came in like the Knight In Shining Armour that he is and chuckles, "did you just fart?"  Squeeeeak.  As we bought our Christmas tree last night at Home Depot.  "Hopefully the tree lifter guy did not hear that thanks to me timing it with the chainsaw," I think to myself.  Brrrrttrrrttrtrrtrt rttt.  Loud and clear in the office I go.  Where I'll stop?  I do not know!!!! :( Just when I think I'm done farting, I fart again.  I have come to accept I will be heard... but I wonder, does the general population really let pregnant women off the hook for these noise/air disturbances?
  
  
• OW!  My hips -- usually my left hip.  It feels partially dislocated and this is why I waddle.  It's not my weight, really, but the fact that my legs simply do not feel like they hit the ground evenly anymore.  This is likely due to relaxin, which is a hormone that decides it likes to relax all of your joints (not just those in the pelvic area which is quite helpful), so it relaxes joints all over your body -- including your feet, which is why my already huge feet may become even more monstrous.
  
  
• Heartburn.  That is all.
  
• I've learned terms such as "round ligament pain" and I've also learned that all these dang terms mean something (usually) different for every woman.  I'm not sure why, but the definition of round ligament pain never sounded like what I experience.  I asked at my recent appointment what was happening when I feel electric-like shocks on my abs (or where they have moved to).  The first time it happened I felt a physical touch and thought my cat had tapped on my belly, and since I've felt some strong enough to make me gasp, as if someone's whacked me with their hand.  I asked her if these were Braxton Hicks, even though it didn't sound like it.  The nurse told me it's round ligament pain, but Google and Baby Center have never described anything like this for me.  I'm sure I'll find someone who can relate eventually!
  
  
• A constant backache has arrived... specifically while sitting for long periods of time at work or in the car.  Sometimes it's my lower back, often it's my upper.  I find myself grabbing for anything to place behind me for some relief.  Yes, the dog & the cat are safe... for now.
  
  
• I gained 5 pounds in 2 weeks.  Thanks to my bi-monthly appointments due to being high-risk for pre-eclampsia, I know this.
  

...AND I'M ONLY 6 MONTHS (tomorrow)!!  The "barely"s and "hardly"s above will become "cannot"s in no time.  It's just a matter of fact.  My, what a journey being pregnant is like!  I have called it a rollercoaster ride before... one that you want to get off of but will last 10 months instead.  This was when I was in the "morning sickness stage".  I do not feel like that any longer.  It is so much fun in the 2nd trimester, while you're feeling well and starting to feel all the fun sensations of a growing baby.  Kicks, tumbles, hiccups (first felt this morning) and finding out the gender surprise.

As I approach my 3rd trimester, though, I realize being pregnant is more of an identity crisis.  At least for me it is.  I often forget I'm a walking methane balloon.  Sometimes I hop onto the bed only to feel my belly ache in response and remind me I'm pregnant.  Sometimes I try to bend over and pick up something, but my weight reminds me -- you can't do that!  Not so fast!!  Slow going is where it's at for my body.  I'm going to a bar tomorrow night for my friend's birthday, but I'll be reminded that I cannot partake in anything alcoholic.  Strict diet for me!  Oh, and did I think I could get up all by myself?  I need Greg's assistance to get up from the bed/couch/floor/everywhere at an increasing rate.

I rest my case: I am an old man.  Ladies don't fart.  So call me Walter.  Jenelle will hopefully be back next Spring. ;) And please know that I am just poking fun.  Though pregnancy is so much more than I bargained for (I have at times wished for a period cramps instead), I know I am totally blessed to have this opportunity to grow life inside me. :) I have been trying to keep my complaints to a minimum (well, maybe not around Greg), but I thought I'd get this all out on "paper" and have a laugh!  I know my little girl will be worth it... 1,000 times. :)

23 weeks & 6 days

This was the 1st time I felt my baby girl hiccup.  I had to look it up on BabyCenter to verify if I could really be correct.  It was like a heartbeat inside my belly, rhythmic and lasting only about a minute.  It was so cute. :) I now feel her get them at least once a day!

Baby Romero's Gender Reveal Day! (November 5th, 2011)

Two weeks has flown by.  We've known for TWO WHOLE WEEKS now that you're a baby ______! :) We are beyond thrilled.  We went out the very next day and bought you your first outfit.  We've been trying to give you a name that can be/do many things in one: encapsulate how we feel about you, ring love in our ears, drip off the tongue like honey (okay maybe that's a little much)... and most importantly, be able to sum up the most wonderful person in the world.  It's a very hard task, naming a new human!  We bought two name books and spent a long night at Barnes & Noble last week, but aren't there quite yet.  Your Dad and I think we may have it... we may have actually had it a couple months ago... but we're waiting to really know for sure.  Even if we do, we still need to then find its middle name match.  Naming and preparing the house, that's what we've been up to for the past two weeks.  Now, on to your Gender Party pictures!

Our readers will find out the surprise gender reveal color -- pink or blue -- after looking at the pictures of your party below.  To read the blog I wrote the day before, about the days after our anatomy ultrasound leading up to the party, click here!  The back-story really made the Big Day a lot of fun.  We will definitely have a story to tell for the rest of our lives. :)

Pictures of Your Gender Party

Welcome!

Entrance

Your cake was designed by Mom & Dad and made by Jennywenny Cakes!  We think she executed the cake's design & deliciousness even better than we could have imagined! :) 

 I got the simple "rows of hearts" idea from a Pinterest.com picture after searching "heart cake".  I knew that no matter what, boy or girl, you were going to be -- and already are -- our hearts.  We love you so much!

The table was set in the kitchen, all ready for the 1st slice reveal.

Little blue booties... would we use these someday for you?
 

The cake top's detail.

Some treats on the table for some laughs... Baby Ruth candy bars and Sugar Daddy caramel pops.

Daddy helping in the kitchen.  Notice he's reppin' Team Pink. (I was wearing blue.) Here he's cutting up the avocado for the "Cravings Table". ;)

The hutch was set with a digital picture frame with rotating pictures of your life with us so far.  Then we set out framed pictures of Mommy & Daddy together from our home.  Two of our wedding pictures, and our engagement picture on the far right.

Venturing outside, we had the party-theme-matching drink bar & "Cravings Table". :)

 Jenelle's Craving Table, complete with all the things I've been craving while you've been in my belly.  The menu included: oranges (orange juice), Starburst (they had miraculously eased my morning sickness), jalapeno & habanero chips (anything spicy!), Mini Reeses (peanut butter and chocolate, together or separate -- especially peanut butter frozen yogurt!), avocados with Italian dressing (anything with Italian dressing) and strawberries (representing all the fruit that I've been enjoying -- especially cantaloupe!).
 

Detail of the menu cards on the Cravings Table.

Okay, are you ready for the reveal?

Scroll down!

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almost

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Strawberries & pink whipped cream filling?!

We're having a GIRL!!!

We love you Baby Girl Romero!

Bathroom Belly Shot #2

21 weeks & 5 days

Bathroom Belly Shot

21 weeks & 2 days

IT'S A GIRL

A pic my friend Jessie snapped with his phone, minutes after we found out.  20 weeks exactly.