Back from the holiday tour!

22 weeks 6 days

Watch what you say -- baby is now able to hear outside noise from down in the womb. Studies show that baby finds gentle music and your own voice most soothing. Nipples are starting to sprout, and that little face is fully formed. And, baby's starting to settle into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- just pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop.


How far along? 22nd week
Total weight gain/loss: +1lb in the last 2 weeks. +16lb total. Oh don't worry, the holiday food will hit for next week's post. I know those Christmas cookies are on their way somewhere like my thighs.
Stretch marks? Still good to go. Skin is starting to get dry though- thank you new home in the tundra. Lotion is a must every day, but I feel like my skin swallows it within 5 minutes, like I do milk in the morning. And the itchy stomach is starting.
Sleep: To update on the last post, Troy was successful in turning into Bob Villa via You Tube. The man was a genious in getting our boxspring upstairs by cutting it in half and putting it back together. Merry Christmas to us with our queen bed back!
Best moment this week: Well it's been a great week of traveling to see everyone for the holidays. I felt like we were in the movie Four Christmases (and don't I wish I had Reese's body right about now), but all of the traveling was well worth it. First went and spent 5 days with Dad until Christmas Eve. Got to see Mom & fam on Christmas Day (Aunt Paulene's strata is still the best I have ever eaten). And then we finished it off with a trip to Troy's house until today. And in true Jessica form, I returned to my ways of being able to stay up late for the parties :) Just minus the boozin' it up till after hours part...oh I know you all miss that girl. It's a whirlwind to get from place to place, but in the end it's always nice to see everyone for the holidays.
Movement: This has been a very prominent thing the last 2 days. The kicks are starting to make us believe we def have a soccer player following in their all-star parents footsteps. I can see us all on the field now! Last night I had a feeling they were strong enough to see from the outside, and sure enough I watched these little jabs pop up from my shirt. Craziness! I said hi by poking back haha. I showed Troy today and I think he was completely freaked out that something was doing that to my insides haha. He or she is kung fu fighting as I type!
Gender: Dreams lately have been a boy. But then again, sometimes the baby turns into a puppy, and then Patrick Dempsey appears, so I'm not looking too far into it. Oh and then the one night, the doctor messed up and it was 3 girls and 1 boy...no thank you, we don't need a Jon & Kate drama set here.
Labor Signs: The labor of being sober- BORING!!!!!!! Holiday parties are over now, so should be easier. Oh wait, the Superbowl of them all is at our house tomorrow night. Oh fine fetus, sparkling juice it is.

Food Cravings: Wegmans subs last week took care of any cravings for the month. I MUST get their basil sub oil permanently stocked in this house. I would put that stuff on my cereal.
What I miss: My cheekbones and single chin. Holy Rosie O'Donnell face.

What I am looking forward to: Finishing off the baby registry with a trip to look at strollers & swings. Troy actually wants to come too to make sure he's not pushing around a pile of pink polka dots ;)
Weekly Wisdom: Gaining weight doesn't mean the usual bigger stomach, arms, or face. Oh no, it now has to mean bigger calves too. What the hell. My brand new knee-high boots are getting small. Don't tell Troy, he'll kill me.
Milestones: Got a doc! Got a hospital! Got signed up for classes! Got registered! Got fatter! woo hoo!
Baby Brain Moment of the Week: Today I confused the word "limbo" with "lingo". Man I sound so intelligent lately. Thankfully I have Troy by my side to call me out and correct. Thanks for being discrete loving husband.

Weekly Belly Pic: Mom shot this one from her house this week. Note to self: turtlenecks don't embrace the bloated face.

Now for my next new house project...

the nursery!

I have found my inspiration for our nursery. Gender neutral these days = barnyard crib sets which I haven't been in love with, so I was getting frustrated on what to do. Add on the fact that we can't paint the walls here in this rental, and they're yellow..ugh. So I came across a color palette of yellow/dark gray/white that I fell in love with. Sounds odd in words, but look how gorgeous it looks...

I have fallen in love with this design I found, but will need to do some changes like flip the colors since the wall here is already yellow. I was thinking I'll just do the wall mural in the dark gray/white on large canvases so I can actually take them with me the next time we move! And then do the bedding in more of the grays as well. What do you think??

Over half-way done!!!!

20 weeks 2 days

Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion and dead cells), which will fill the first diaper after birth. And, speaking of the diaper situation... baby's genitals are now fully formed!





How far along? 20th week
Total weight gain/loss: +3lb in the last 2 weeks. +15lb total. I'm thinking I'm screwed and this is a repeat of my mother-in-law's 9-10lb babies.
Stretch marks? None so far. Go body go!
Sleep: This is an interesting subject with the move. Since our queen boxpspring did not fit up the stairs in the new house, we've been sleeping on the guest room double bed where there is no room for Snoogle- not cool. But thankfully I have been exhausted enough from the never-ending boxes getting unpacked that I just pass out for 11 hours a night. I do not want to see cardboard for another 12 months. But no fear, Troy found a video on You Tube where a Mexican construction crew wings it by cutting it in half, bringing it up the stairs, and putting it back together. Oh yeah, I have a real Bob Villa on my hands.
Best moment this week: Moving to Hingham. This town is the cutest and the view of the water makes it all better under a stressful moment. And I'm in love with my new grocery store. Hello- a coffee cup holder on the cart after getting coffee from the front of the store- priceless. Liquor, beer, & wine all in one stop- heaven. A scanner to use as you shop and then give to the checkout to ring up all at once and prevent having to put any items on the conveyor- perfection.
Movement: Troy finally felt the baby kick! As usual the baby was having playtime late at night (which better not continue after birth) and Troy was right there on the couch to finally feel it. He/she is really letting their presence be known and I love it.
Gender: I am still thinking girl, but I'm trying to prepare myself for boy too just in case. Maybe it's because we agreed on a girl name a long time ago, but the boy name is a constant battle. Whatever name I love, he dislikes and vice versa. This is coming from a man who likes the names Lujack and Olin...do you see what I'm working with?!
Labor Signs: The labor of moving our stuff from 3300 sq ft to 1800. There is a catastrophe in the Dolly household as there is no where to store Jessica's purses.

Food Cravings: None really. But the Cape Cod Salt & Vinegar chips def made it into my cart this week.
What I miss: Not having to pull my pants up every 2 minutes. The belly keeps pushing the waistband down and exposing parts that havent been in the sun in ages, so I think I'm graduating to the absurd maternity pants that go up to your boobs.

What I am looking forward to: Finding a new doc next week and touring the neighboring hospitals. I know this won't be a fun process since there are like 10 doctors to choose from in just 1 practice, but it will certainly ease some stress in not having to deliver my baby to a random intern that was on duty that night if finding a new doctor wasn't at the top of my to-do list...which is a ridiculous list at the moment including "Buy boots." since I've been parading around in flats with snow or 20 degree temps out.
Weekly Wisdom: Don't count your chicks before they hatch. I had a job lined up here, but before I was able to start, Grainger decided to axe it from the 2010 budget in order to send the salary funds elsewhere. I would have been co-managing 4 major accounts, so they decided to have just the existing guy handle it. Grrrrreat. Appreciate that boys. So instead of wasting my time interviewing with a 6 or 7-month preggers belly that shouts the message "even if you hire me, I'm going to need at least 2 months off right after I start", I'm going to play housewife/stay-at-home mom until I'm ready to leave the baby at daycare. Crack out the apron! I figured now is a good time if any to take a well-deserved break and have fun with the money from selling the business and having a new baby. And I get to travel with Troy until the baby arrives, so you can just call us the gypsy family.
Milestones: Over half way there!!! Everyone always says "It will go by so fast", but honestly I feel like I have been pregnant forever. I think the having to be sober as the Pope doesn't help, but I really hope the second half isn't as long as the first. Especially when that involves me not being able to see my feet at the end.
Baby Brain Moment of the Week: I think it's just Bitchy Brain this week. Poor Troy. He has not won a battle yet as to where a picture is going to get hung. I tell him he has to deal with it as the karma in life for making me fat.

Weekly Belly Pic: Our master bathroom is now the size of my old walk-in closet :( And it seems my ass wants to grow along with my stomach. Stomach only, stomach only!