Cave Men

So my mother-in-law Lorri reminded me a few days back that I haven't been keeping up on my postings! Sorry! Things have been busy around here, but rather non-eventful in the pregnancy department. I feel the baby moving around quite a bit now, and next Wednesday Don and I are going in for the ultrasound that will hopefully identify the baby's gender. YEAH! We have been keeping ourselves busy around here with shopping on Craigs list for nursery furniture, packing boxes, and filing tax returns. Craigs list is the best! We bought all of the furniture we will need for our nursery last weekend, and we got screaming deals...especially on the beautiful Made in Canada Ragazzi dresser and hutch set that we bought.

I am definitely starting to show in a big way now. I know my friends are able to tell, but I think I may still be in that, is she or isn't she stage when it comes to strangers...if they even notice at all, which is unlikely.

I am struggling a bit with feeling self-conscious about the weight gain. I shared this with Don early this morning, and at first he said all the usual "nice guy" things one would expect. "Honey you look beautiful, it's natural, yadda, yadda." I wasn't really buying it until he finally just said, "OK, so I wasn't going to tell you this, but when I look at all of your new curves, I feel all manly, and hear grunts in my head like a cave man, 'I did that...grunt, grunt, grunt.' " Needless to say, I was cheered up after that, because Don feels manly to have a pregnant wife, and that makes me happy. You think you know someone, and I have this view of my husband that he is this sensitive, sweet guy--which he is! However, he is also a man, a typical, red-blooded man. I like that side of him too--thank God for men, sensitive and cave alike.

Beethoven

I feel like such a proud parent already! Yesterday the baby was pretty quite all day. I told Don I was concerned that something was wrong because I hadn't felt any movement all day. Don, being the sensible person that he is told me the baby was probably just in a deep sleep all day. Anyway, yesterday evening Don and I trekked to downtown Los Angeles to Disney Concert Hall. I was really looking forward to hearing the Elgar: Cello Concerto, and had been listening to it on my ipod all day in preparation. To my great disappointment we arrived and found out the program had been changed to Beethoven's third piano concerto. Due to my disappointment, I was determined to sit through the performance and sulk. Instead, and to my delight, my sleepy baby was awoken from his or her slumber by the Orchestral Exposition of the piano concerto. I was sitting there with my arms across my belly when I felt the kicks hard enough through my belly to feel them on the backs of my arms. The music must have really excited Baby Speedie because there was tons of activity throughout the whole concerto, and the best part or all was that Don got to feel the baby kick for the very first time that night. Talk about a good memory!

Kicks and Wiggles

So thank you everyone for reading about my migraine complaints. I think a lot of people must have prayed for me after my post because I literally woke up the very next day without a migraine and am going on day two with no migraines! YEAH! Thank you Lord!!!

Big events to tell from the Speedie residence...first order of business is baby news. I am 99 percent sure I can feel the baby moving around in my belly! Thinking back, I have been able to feel the baby since week 15, however I wasn't sure exactly what I was feeling, and the sensations were few and far between at that point, so I chalked it up to the strangest gas I have ever had in my life.

Now though at 17.5 weeks, I am definitely sure I am feeling the baby, and this baby is active!!! The kicking and wiggling feels almost like I have a tiny bowl of Rice Krispies in my belly. It's so faint still at this point that it doesn't feel like a kick, but just the tiniest little pop, pop, pop. I didn't think it was possible to be internally ticklish, I was wrong. The baby's movements totally make me feel ticklish...talk about strange sensations! I am looking forward to the kicks being a little harder so that Don will be able to feel them with his hand. He hasn't tried to yet, but maybe in another week or so.

Second order of business...Don and I are moving! We will be moving Saturday April 3. Papers have yet to be signed, but I am pretty sure it's a go, we just have to connect with the landlord to give her our deposit check. Our new place is so pretty. It's in a neighborhood called the Avenues, and it's just lovely. The home is an early 1900 Spanish style home complete with lots of built in bookshelves and a wood burning fireplace. We are looking forward to having more space! We will actually have a dining room, and a little office. Even the living room is much bigger than the one we have now. The bedrooms are still really small, but we will be able to make due!

On Saturday April 10 we are throwing a big party for our friends here in Redondo Beach. Any Renoites or Canadian folks that would like to come are welcome too! The party is a 3-1 combo party. The plan is to have a little bit of housewarming, a little bit of game night, AND....a little bit of announcing the baby's gender. Any votes for team pink or team blue? We are finding out the sex on March31, but are going to keep it to ourselves until April10. I already had a friend ask me if I would tell her before the party...but I won't, sorry! Don and I decided everyone has to wait, just to make it more of a fun surprise!!!

I read a posting on the internet that the sister of a pregnant woman posted. She was complaining about having to go to this stupid gender revealing party for her sister. She went on and on about how self-centered it was and how her sister needed to realize that people are busy and have lives of their own that don't resolve around her pregnancy. Anyway, my first thought was, "Uh oh, are people going to find me self-centered for throwing this party?" Then I realized what's it to them, it's not like I am twisting anyone's arm. It's really just an excuse to eat a lot, bake two cakes (one pink, one blue) and play games with friends. Anyone that finds me self-centered and finds the party in poor taste, can go do their own thing, eh?! I am glad I don't have that girl for a sister. My sisters are the best...love you girls...Sara, Lauren, and Joy!

Migraines

The second trimester was going amazingly well until last week when I started getting migraines. I have basically had a migraine since Thursday of last week, with a few hours of reprieve here and there from day to day. I can't remember ever experiencing anything like this, but it is making it challenging for me to be as productive as I would like to be. I guess the headaches starting coming on last Sunday, but it wasn't until Thursday that I realized they weren't "normal" headaches. First of all, the headache won't go away. Secondly, I only get the headache on my left side, and the pain goes from my temple down onto my face and the back of my neck. Third, my vision in my left eye has been compromised, and fourth I have started vomiting from the pain. Anyway, I am going to the doctor next week, and in the meantime, any suggestions any of you have that don't include medication would be greatly appreciated. I am still thankful, still joyful, just lagging a bit from discomfort. Thanks for reading!

Sweet Sixteen

This is my sweetheart at sixteen weeks. The more pregnant she looks, the more I see there is to love!

Don