The Countdown is ON

Okay... it's been on... but one of my clients (whose annual event this year is the day after my due date; and incidentally is one of my biggest projects... good timing, Baby) wanted to add a countdown timer on their website to countdown to the conference. It seems funny to me whenever I see it... 194 days til our due date! I can't tell if that seems soon or really far off. I am honestly at least slightly bummed I'll miss the event; it's in San Diego (which is beautiful in March and such a warm relief from Oregon), plus I've been on this event for over 5 years and have a large role onsite as the speaker contact so most of the Association knows me and says hello, and I get to walk around with a radio and clipboard and make decisions and be all official. Oh well, there's always 2014.

12 weeks. I can't believe we're almost through the first trimester. The most dramatic development this week: reflexes. Baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, toes will curl, eye muscles will clench, and the mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. The intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into the abdominal cavity about now, and kidneys will begin excreting urine into the bladder. Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. Baby's face looks unquestionably human: eyes have moved from the sides to the front of the head, and ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, baby is just over 2 inches long, about the size of a lime, and weighs half an ounce.

In my experience of it, the biggest change recently is how uncomfortable I am at night now because of my hips. They ache in the back, particularly at night. I can't quite find the right stretch to make it feel better. For the last few weeks, I've been trying to teach myself not to sleep on my back, since after this trimester, apparently lying flat on my back can cause my uterus to press into a vein in my back that returns blood from lower body to my heart. Matt bought me a Boppy body pillow; it's C shaped and probably is comfortable once I have a large tummy but right now, it's a bit awkward. I think I figured out a n shape solution that is helping though. I can't tell if my hips hurt from not being able to turn onto my back or if it's mainly because they're expanding. Either way, not comfortable.

Strangely enough, it's been relatively easy to give up alcohol and caffeine. The former is not surprising considering that Matt and I rarely have alcohol at home; I usually only had a beer out with dinner sometimes or a glass of wine at a friend's house. HOWEVER, it's worth noting that apparently I COULD drink if I want to. It's recommended that pregnant women don't drink because it's not fully understood how alcohol affects a fetus, and because officials can't agree on what the recommended amount should be, particularly because fetal alcohol syndrome is so devastating. Still, Matt will barely let me take a sip of his beer at Bend Brewfest; rude! Coffee, though, I thought would be impossible. I was still drinking a little half-caff (which we'd switched to because Matt had been getting headaches) each morning through the first few weeks. The recommendation is under 200 mg a day. Then suddenly one morning, I just didn't want it at all. I just wanted a cold glass of water. Coffee sounded just awful. And it's mostly been that way since. Weird. It only tastes good when it's half milk with chocolate, thus mochas still seem appealing once in awhile.

Everything otherwise, despite my little complaints, has been very easy and mellow compared to some stories I've heard. Some days though, I just feel weird. Or just not good. All weekend I just felt irritable and tired but restless, like I just needed to nap for like 5 hours. Still, we've gotten a lot done recently. Particularly because there is a bad fire somewhere nearby so all weekend there was a think smoke haze in the air. My nose wouldn't stop running.

Last weekend, we took Matt's old garage-sale dressers and re-fab'd them for the baby's room.

Step 1: lots of sanding (thanks to me); Step 2: apply base coat

We thought this blue was a beautiful color and would look nice under cream for either a boy or girl. The little girl across the street though is now convinced we're having a boy since she saw us painting these blue. Umm but I'm a girl and blue is my fav color. Sorry to burst your gender-cliche bubble.

We had some pretty funny conversations about how crackle paint actually works. It's like magic...

Step 3: apply special crackle paint (clear); Step 4: apply top coat and watch it break

 

And with some new hardware, these look amazing!

We also just bought a corner changing table, as recommended by my cousin Erica. Yes, this does put us in the line of fire, but we've heard it's easier and more comfortable to have the bum facing us directly than standing at baby's side.

My mom helped me make some lovely new curtains for the living room and dining room... not baby related. When I originally moved in and had beige carpet and light furniture, we made deep red curtains, which now with dark furniture and floors were much too dark. These make the whole room seem so much more light and airy. And... now I'll be able to see grimy little handprints.

And because I WAY overestimated how much paint we'd need for the dressers, we had plenty to finally re-do the china hutch Matt bought me for a wedding gift last year. It looks amazing! I'm so impressed.

We left the interior dark blue and it really shows off the china.

I know china might be a little silly. We've only used it once, for Thanksgiving last year, so far. But something about receiving it as wedding gifts made me feel so adult. And I've always loved china hutches for some reason. I don't know what it is. We were also given my great grandmother's Old Country Roses china tea set, which I also adore (bottom shelf). I was hoping it was a bit older than it is (1962 is the pattern) but I love that it was passed down to me. And Matt has one plate from his grandparents' collection in there too (the blue & white on the top shelf). It's special.

Note Jack right behind Matt's head; that's Jack's new fav spot

So otherwise Matt's counting down the minutes til football season (seriously, obsessed. I love him). He warned me this last weekend that was our last weekend without football. I desperately wanted to go on a picnic but considering the smoke, we just laid low. Bummer. I have a devious plot though to get him into this recessed shelf project for our guest/baby bathroom one of these weekends. But for Labor Day weekend, I'm dragging him (at least briefly) to my college buddy's wedding, then I'd love to go to State Fair just for the day. We'll see. Obviously, there will also be a lot of football.

Look at the hammock we made them with our legs while trying to watch a movie.