that's what I like about you!

n: Dear little one, I can already tell some things about you:
- You do not like the heat! You get too hot in LA, dizzy when we go on long walks and (I do agree with you when) you throw a bit of a fit in Palm Springs in the 122 degree weather!
-You are a good sleeper like me!
-You like attention in the middle of the night- preferably in the form of food from the fridge.
-You love when I take you to the pool and out swim the other preggie ladies! (Gosh, you are just like your daddy)
-You like yoga, but think it's wierd
-You LOVE hearing your daddy's voice, but especially love when he puts his mouth on the belly and vibrates it! (you must be doing summersaults!)
-Pasta, pasta, pasta- is that all you think about?!
-You love hanging out with your mama.

down under

n: I just got back from being gone all weekend, so j and i were enjoying just hanging out together. He was lying on the floor playing guitar and i thought he looked cute (like always) so i took a picture of him while I stood on our coffee table. He got a great view of my belly from down under and was now very sure at how much it had popped in only a few days. While posing, I asked if he wanted to get directly under me to get the "full effect", to which he replied, "uh, trust me, i got the full effect from here".

The sex talk

j: Usually I'm all for talking about sex.

But when someone asks: "are you gonna find out?" My response is something like: "I don't know, I just heard the heartbeat—let me enjoy that first."

Why is everyone asking? It's not like you really _need_ to know to prepare.
"Is it a girl? Becuase there's a huge sale at barrette world."

I've heard reasons for and against finding out the gender. We've talked to friends—those who have, those who haven't; those with children and those without.

Lumpy said too many things in life are predictable. I agree, but I think theres a more compelling reason to wait.

When we were dating: "when are you getting engaged?"
When we got engaged: "when is the wedding?"
When we got married: "when are you getting pregnant?"
and now that we're pregnant: "When are your due? What's the sex? Have you thought of a name?"

We don't know boy or girl, and I really relish thinking about N and how much she's enjoing this. I really love thinking about our process. I really enjoy just being where we are right now. But I know as soon as we (and everyone else) finds out we won't be able to help but think about you know who post-delivery.

People will start asking about names, and carrying on about what a great _____ he/she will be. I suppose the thing is language is powerful. Pronouns, particularly—and being able to use the correct one removes the mental wall between pre and post pregnancy, and like water flowing downstream, everyone's attention is focused on the future and not the now.

We only have nine months to enjoy pregnancy, but our entire lives to think about what a great ____ he/she is.

I think I'll just be here and enjoy a conversation about someone else's sex for now.

week 13 factoid

n: Woah!
"Intestines initially develop within a large swelling in the umbilical cord outside the fetal body. About this time (week 13) they withdraw into the fetal abdominal cavity".

Preggie pops

n:
"are you showing yet?"
mmmhmmm!

infinitely butter

j: One of the best parts so far has been an increase in appetite. When I ask if she's hungry, the answer is almost always yes—and that is infinitely more fun than no.

Breakfast? Eggs and toast. Yup.
Mid-morining snack? A mango. Uh-huh.
Lunch? Chicken mole burrito. Awright.
Mid-afternoon snack? Carrot juice and an apple. Yessir.
Dinner? Pasta. (I can't believe it, she wants pasta!)
and a late night Frozen Yogurt.

Now thats some good eatin'.

sonogram #1

j:This was one of the highlights of my life. I'm certain this process will give me a few more before we are finished, but seeing the little thing move (jump even!) was spectacular.

Two arms, two legs and an incredible heart beat of 161. We are on our way.

high-activity alert

j: When N feels things a-happenin' I get the High-Activity Alert—as in "Whoa, lots of activity today!" At this point I become very aware that she might spontaneously combust at any moment.

Like Tuesday—we were in LA packing up to go to the airport and N had been saying that she might start puking. (She'll often say it, but rarely do it.) This time she did. I stuck my head in the bathroom and everything was fine. A few minutes later I checked back—she was completely balling! Full on tears. "I'm sad..." she choked out. It broke my heart. I've never seen her in such a state. When I asked why she blurted "I don't know..."

I should have known it—I mean she did warn me.

So that was the start of the latest High-Activity Alert week. Every day since I've gotten the alert—and every day since I've been aware of the reason behind the grumping, crying, or puking. Its now official: our cup runneth over with hormones.

almost there!

n: We are almost at week 12 and that is good news! We get to see our bundino-thanks to sonar and a very full bladder- at the doctors next week (Wed, July 12th). If everything looks a-ok, we get to officially spread the news. It has been very difficult not to say anything for so long!