17 Week Update

17 Weeks already??

I finally feel pregnant -- something about not fitting into my clothes and feeling this little baby kick me all day long makes it seem more real all the sudden (At least being pregnant feels real...still not sure about actually having a baby and being a parent. Yikes.) I am also starting to feel human again, which is a-maz-ing. I forgot what it felt like to feel good....and it is awesome. So long as I take zofran before bed every night, I am pretty much feeling like my old self during the day. I even like eating again!

I also can't believe how large my belly is! Look at that thing! My first thought when I wake up every morning is either "Oh, wow, it's still there!" or "Oh geez, did it get bigger??" In fact, I think my belly button's days are numbered. It's not an "outie" yet, but it is getting mighty shallow.  Let me tell you, though: getting fat is a lot more fun than throwing up!

Other than all that, nothing big is going on around here. Paul has been working a lot, including most Saturdays. He's been traveling a lot, too. He was in Alabama for awhile, got stranded in San Antonio for a weekend, spent a week in New York... and between now and Thanksgiving has trips lined up for San Diego, Colorado Springs, Spokane, and Yuma.

As for me, now that I am feeling good again (yay!), I am going to go back to work. I signed up this week to be a substitute at the school I taught at last year. I have subbed before, and it isn't exactly my favorite job, but I think it is the best option for me right now. This way I can take off days when I need to without any hassle, and I think that it should be better since I already know the students and staff. Plus, no planning or grading! I start next week, so we'll see how it goes.

Anyway, here are the stats for week 17:

How Far Along: 17 weeks

Size of baby: About 5.5 inches, head to bum

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I'm up 7 lbs

Maternity Clothes: Still scared of anything with a full elastic panel, but I am running out of options. Before, I could fake it with my regular shorts, but not so much any more. Any non-maternity piece of clothing with an elastic waist band is my best friend.

Movement:Yes and I love it!!!! At first it was just a subtle fluttery feeling, but I am feeling solid kicks and rolls now. It is the best feeling!! I can't wait for Paul to be able to feel it, too.

Sleep: Still not sleeping through the night. I guess I should get used to it.

What I miss: Fall weather! It has been a few years since I've lived somewhere with cool fall weather and I miss it.

Cravings:I don't tend to have a lot of cravings. In fact, my whole life I have LOVED sweets...and now that I have an excuse to eat them, I don't really care for them. I mostly like crunchy, healthy foods... salad, carrot sticks, cucumbers, pita chips, green pepper slices.

Symptoms: I feel like I can't complain much any more. I'm usually mildly uncomfortable in about a dozen ways at any given point in time, but I feel SO MUCH BETTER than a few weeks ago that I am a pretty happy camper. The nausea is almost entirely gone, which is the greatest feeling. I still sleep a lot, but I can make it through the day without a nap and still be alright. I've got some weird issues going on with my gums, but my dentist is awesome and that is getting better, too.

Best Moment this week: Feeling really solid little baby kicks!

15 week update

How Far Along: 15 weeks

Size of baby: About 4 inches, not including the legs.  Baby is hanging out about two inches under my bellybutton.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 5lbs!! I didn't even think that it was possible to gain weight on an exclusive yogurt diet, but...apparently it is.

Maternity Clothes:I bought three maternity shirts at Target and wear them every day; they are super loose and kind of disguise my awkward belly. I also bought one pair of maternity shorts, but they frighten me, so I just wear my regular shorts unbuttoned.

Gender:????

Movement: I think so...maybe...??? Sometimes when I am laying down, I feel a little funny, tickle-y, fluttery feeling. It usually only lasts a few seconds, so it is hard to be certain. Can't wait for real kicks!

Sleep: Tired all the time but having a terrible time sleeping. I usually wake up 2-3 times a night to pee, eat, or barf (sometimes all three). I have slept through the night exactly four times since my "morning" sickness kicked in at five weeks. They were four of the happiest days of my life. (I've already informed this baby that s/he will be forgiven no matter what...but that it would really speed along the healing process if s/he would just be a really good sleeper after birth). 

What I miss: Feeling good

Cravings: Do Sweet Tarts count? I go through a pack a day. Sucking on them helps with the nausea a lot, especially if I am someplace where I am unable to eat immediately.

Symptoms: Super swollen gums, sore hips/tailbone, fatigue, nausea, bloody noses, etc. etc. At least the headaches and acne are gone.

Best Moment this week: Had a doctor's appointment and heard that little heart beating away in there. Everything looked and sounded good! And I scheduled the big anatomy scan for the second week in October! Things are going fast all of the sudden.

Introducing Baby Fry

Say what?

So who is Baby Fry?

Well, for starters, Baby Fry is the main reason I haven't blogged in months--it is hard to type when your face is in a toilet. But now that our little monkey has decided to give me a little bit of relief (and also my midwife doubled my dosage of Zofran), Paul and I decided we should make some introductions. So here are a few things you should know about Baby Fry:

First and foremost, Baby Fry is a strict vegetarian. Baby Fry is very, very passionate about this. Daddy Fry is not thrilled and has begun a rigorous campaign to change Baby Fry's stance on the issue, but despite his enthusiasm he has met with little success. In all fairness, though, it should be noted that on a several occasions Baby Fry has had some mean cravings for raw steak, but Daddy Fry has been a big party pooper on that front every time.  In this battle of the wills, Baby Fry's secret weapon --projectile vomiting via Mommy Fry-- has given him/her a distinct advantage.

Which leads us to the second thing you need to know about Baby Fry:

Baby Fry has a condition known as Neonatal-Onset Anorexia*. Friends, family, and medical professionals alike have assured us that the condition usually self-corrects at the beginning of the second trimester, but so far Baby Fry has proved that s/he doesn't live a life confined by the expectations of others.

To date, Baby Fry's favorite foods are: yogurt, Rice Chex, lemon sorbet, and plain peanut butter sandwiches dipped in milk (hold the crust). If these sound like foods more suitable for a toddler, you are correct; Baby Fry is just advanced like that. Baby Fry used to like oatmeal, too, but after Mommy Fry vomited that up simultaneously through both her mouth and nose, she enacted her right to a lifetime veto. Baby Fry is very closed minded about trying new foods, and will not hesitate to use the secret weapon (see above) on anyone who tries to change his/her mind.

Baby Fry's birthday is supposed to be on or around the 4th of March, 2013. Currently Baby Fry is at 14 weeks gestation. The sonogram pictures were taken at 11 weeks, so Baby Fry may look either more or less monkey-like at this point in time. Mommy and Baby Fry have their next appointment on September 14th, but their next sonogram isn't scheduled until the beginning of October.

The big question, of course, is whether Baby Fry is voting republican or democrat a boy or girl. Mommy Fry is convinced that Baby Fry is a girl, but doesn't care either way. Daddy Fry doesn't have a prediction, but uses masculine pronouns; Mommy Fry uses feminine ones, thus covering all the bases (they hope).

Check back soon for Mommy Fry's complaints about how awful her 1st trimester was more updates.

Beginning of a bump

*I made that up. Doctors call it "hyperemesis gravidarum," but I'm pretty sure they stole that from a Harry Potter book.

Photo Dump

I have a ton of photos on my phone that don't really belong to any big post, but that I love for various reasons. I am working on a couple of bigger posts, but they aren't ready quite yet. In the meantime, I give you these, which more or less tell the story of what we have been up to lately. Or, more accurately, what I have been up to, since I don't have any pictures of Paul working 16 hours a day (poor guy).

This is the farmer's market near our house. The prices are good and the quality is great.  We love it there, so I don't know why we don't go more often. Oh, right -- it's not air conditioned. 

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We have been making an effort to find more indoor activities for the weekends since it is so hot here. We checked out the Biodome 2 not too long ago.  (Just to be clear, it is called "Biodome 2" because Earth is the original Biodome. If you take the tour, don't ask that question or they will look at you funny because the answer is so obvious.)

 This is inside Biodome2. They have recreated most of the biomes on earth so they can manipulate variables and study climate change and such. It is pretty neat, but not necessarily $20-per-person neat. I say if they really want to make it popular, they need to make an arctic biome- I would totally pay to visit that!

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 This is my little cousin Stevie tying my brother Ryan up while he climbed. We got to spend some time with the family in July, although sadly I don't have a lot of pictures from that time.

 This is Stevie "reading"  to her "baby brother."

 I have definitely missed this view.

 My family is fostering a baby rabbit until it is old enough to be spayed and adopted. The dog and the bunny have to have supervised visits for obvious reasons.

 Love this little bunny, but Paul wouldn't let me take her home.

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 My cousin, who now lives in Phoenix, had a baby a few weeks ago. Her sisters came to visit for the weekend, so I drove up to see everyone. It was such a treat to spend time with all of them!! We all grew up together and don't see each other nearly enough anymore.

This is precious baby Axel. I love this picture because he was just discovering his tongue and playing with it. Around the time of this photo he blew a big raspberry on accident. He spit all over me and startled himself. He is adorable!

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These are my friends' dogs. I got to do some puppy-sitting for them for a little bit, and they kept me on my toes and laughing.

 

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Well, like I said, I have a few big posts in the works, which I will hopefully be able to post in the next week. Stay tuned 'cause they are worth the wait  =)

Wedding cake, duct tape, and a National Park

If you were anywhere near Puyallup in June of '09, you will likely remember the following incident:

The night before our wedding, Paul was drug from his bed in the middle of the night by 5 of his (former?) best friends. In nothing but his boxers, he was bound and gagged with duct taped and thrown into the trunk of a rental car. A couple miles down the road, he was dumped on the side of the road and left to his own devices. Ever resourceful, he fashioned some shoes from the duct tape he managed to yank off and walked home in his skivvies and new shoes, already planning his revenge.

Fast forward three years, and almost all of the original crew has married (one was smart and eloped). At each subsequent wedding, the pranks have escalated to involving alcohol (of course), sub-zero temperatures, snow drifts, and more.

Here's one of the gang getting loaded up the night before he said "I do"

Which brings us to this past weekend, and the marriage of the last remaining amigo. I would be lying if I said we drove to Utah in order to attend a wedding. In fact, we drove to Utah so that Paul could avenge himself on the last of the friends who accosted him three years ago (that would be the one holding the duct tape with the delighted look on his face). Years of friendship notwithstanding, nothing would have kept Paul from that wedding and the opportunity to get revenge.

During the 48 hours we were there, this friend was--predictably--attacked the night before his wedding. Clad much the same as Paul was the night before our wedding, he found himself duct taped to a road sign inside of Zion National Park at around 2am (I hear there are lots of bears there) with nothing but a dull knife. A few hours later, only a little worse for the wear, he made his way home, laughed it off and got ready for his big day, safe in the knowledge that the worse of it was over. Which was why he was probably really surprised when, just a few hours before the wedding, he found himself once again stripped down, duct taped, and thrown in the back of a truck. This time he got luckier, though, and was dumped on the porch of his future in-laws while they were enjoying brunch.

(Note: pictures not suitable for general audiences)

BUT: Everyone followed the "no harm above the neck" rule, and soon enough he and his bride were married in a beautiful ceremony overlooking the forest and canyons at the edge Zion National Park. I didn't get to participate in the horseplay, but I did enjoy cake and dancing so I suppose the trip was worth it for all of us =)

 

Holding up my dress

This stud was the best man. He remembered the ring, made a great speech, and got the groom to the wedding on time, so I am compelled to say that he is a pretty darn good one.

The morning of the wedding, we took a brief trip into Zion National Park. It was CROWDED, but we made the best of it (and plans to go back in the spring).

 

I think tad poles are adorable

There are more trees in this picture than in all of Tucson.

We are thinking we would like to go back to Zion next spring when it is less crowded, and maybe stop at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and see Bryce Canyon as well. Or anywhere else with trees and water, for that matter. In the mean time, it is back to cacti and succulents. Until next time, trees.

Press-KIT

Last week, Paul attended what he dubbed a "crazy, mind voo-doo, hypnosis shooting course" up in Presscott. The course was apparently very effective, despite its less-than-conventional methods, and even if it hadn't been it would have still been a great reason to get out of Tucson. The weekend directly following the course, we had plans to attend a wedding in southern Utah. So rather than have Paul drive four hours south to Tucson, only to get in the car that same day and make the 9-hour trip to Utah, I drove up to Prescott two days before the wedding.

I had nothing to do all day while in Prescott, which wasn't much different than not having anything to do all day in Tucson, except it was 15 degrees cooler. So I made my own fun! (Note: I am not complaining! I LOVE summer break and I don't want anything to do!)

I like Prescott a lot. It feels like home, just like the signs boast. The people are really friendly and kind- every time I sat down to try to read in the park or drink coffee at a cafe, someone would notice I was from out of town and come say hi.They were even nice to me when I said "Press-cot" instead of the (obviously) correct "Press-kit." I would be indignant, but I come from a state where "Sequim" is "squim," "Kalaloch" is "clay-lock," and names like Puyallup, Nisqually, Snohomish, Snoqualmie and Samamish are common (Let's not forget Humptulips, Skamanaia, Pe Ell, Utsalady, Washtucna,Wahkiacus Klickitat, Kittitas,Skookumchuck Quillayute, Pysht, or La Push).

Anyway, like I was saying: I like Prescott, especially because there is water!

My original plan was to go kayaking on my first morning in town, but the water level was too low and the rental company was closed for the season. So instead I found some hiking trails and went around the lake, which was a bit hotter but still fun.

I managed to make a friend at the lake.  I scared him upon our first encounter, so he decided to follow me around and exact his revenge by flying low and swooping over me whenever I was least expecting it.

 

Besides the water and greenery, the town itself is adorable. Dogs are allowed in all the stores, which is kind of fun, there is no traffic, and all of the food was incredible.

All in all, a cute town and a fun getaway! Pics from Utah coming soon...

Home again!

I know this is a few weeks late, but: PAUL IS HOME!!! He has been home for a month now, and it has been wonderful. Totally worth the extra laundry ;-)

Two weeks after his return, we finally took the trip to Jamaica that we planned three years ago (good ol' Uncle Sam forced us to cancel that last one). It was worth the wait! I am definitely a fan of the all inclusive resort, and even more a fan of the Caribbean.

My favorite activity was going scuba diving every morning. I discovered that I actually really, really enjoy scuba. After my San Diego experiences, I wasn't so sure (Have you ever been swimming in water that is 49 degrees??). The Caribbean water was warm enough to bathe in, the coral reefs were huge, and we saw some beautiful sea life. My favorites were the lionfish and the brain coral.

It was also nice to cool off. It was in the mid 80s all week, which was such a nice break from the triple-digit temps we've had here since April. We figure that we are the first people ever to show up to Sandals and turn the temperature in our room up. We keep our house at 80 during the day here, so the 70 that they had the hotel room at felt freezing.

In other news, the school year is finally done for me, so I have been enjoying sleeping in, taking care of things around the house, and cooking meals that take longer than 15 minutes to prepare. After 5 months of eating cereal, baked potatoes, and sushi takeout, it has been nice to have time and a reason to make good meals. Most recently I harvested my little desert "garden", and just in time, too, because it is getting HOT and my plants won't survive much longer. There was too much basil to use fresh, so I tried making homemade pesto. It was fast, easy, and delicious. I tried roasting the tomatoes, too, and Paul seemed to like those a lot; there is no picture of the final product for a reason (ie: a hungry husband)

 

2 c basil, 1/2 c parmesan, 1/2 c olive oil, 1/3 c walnuts, 5 cloves garlic.

We also celebrated our 3 year anniversary last week. The Jamaica trip was the real celebration, but on the big day itself, we had pie and flowers.

All in all, life is starting to settle back into its old pattern, which is the best part of all. The house once again smells like motorcycle exhaust, the fridge is full of food, and I'm growing re-accustomed to fighting over the covers in my sleep (in Arizona, you throw them on to each other instead of taking them off each other). I'm even starting to use Air Force acronyms in my daily speech again, for better or worse. No complaints here.