This weekend, I'm going away...but, it's not as glamorous as it sounds. You see, I'm banished from my house for the weekend, as we've hired a painter to finally get rid of the previous owner's light lavender walls throughout our great room/kitchen, as well as the deep purple accent wall down our stairway, as well as our bedroom, as well as the hallways, as well as the ceilings. That's a lot of paint.
Paint = fumes. Fumes = bad for baby. Something bad for baby happening at the house = Carrie is banished.
I'll be spending my weekend away running errands, starting a registry (yay!), shopping for baby furniture, and babysitting my niece Haedyn -- so all fun things, thankfully. Maybe being banished isn't all that bad?
Well, not bad for me. Because if I'm banished, that means that lucky Stephen is grounded this weekend to be home for the painters. I'm going to owe him after this weekend (note to self - pick up something for Stephen in your errands this weekend).
I can't wait to have the walls/ceilings be fresh, neutral and ready for curtains/pictures/shelves. Then my house will finally feel like my own -- and I can really dig in on the baby's room. :)
Friday, June 27, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
A little soccer player...
Isn't that what people always say? "He's going to be a little soccer player" -- when the mom says the baby kicks strongly in utero? Well, if that's true, my little guy is going to be a kick-boxer. Seriously.
Over the past few weeks, the sweet little flicks turned into more regular and forceful bumps and thumps, but today, I feel like he's just plain messing with me. I was dropping Stephen off at work today and I literally cried out loudly in shock when the baby punched me in the gut. And now, all morning, he's having a good time doing cannon balls, or something that feels like it.
Insane. I have a feeling I'm in for a rough-and-tumble kid...
Over the past few weeks, the sweet little flicks turned into more regular and forceful bumps and thumps, but today, I feel like he's just plain messing with me. I was dropping Stephen off at work today and I literally cried out loudly in shock when the baby punched me in the gut. And now, all morning, he's having a good time doing cannon balls, or something that feels like it.
Insane. I have a feeling I'm in for a rough-and-tumble kid...
Friday, June 20, 2008
Being pregnant is expensive!
Whoa mama. While I'm more than 5 months pregnant, I'm just seeing the first EOBs from my insurance provider on my early visits and lab work. Wow, being pregnant is pricey. I'm adding this to the list of "things I wish someone had told me before I got pregnant" so I could have planned better.
For all those aspiring moms-to-be, take this as a word of advice. PUT AS MUCH AS YOU CAN IN YOUR FSA.
The deal is -- you should really understand your insurance plan well before you get pregnant -- for example, ours covers 90% of lab work after my $175 deductible is satisfied. 90% always sounded like a pretty good deal. A good deal, that is, until my first lab work bill came back and I already have to pay $220, plus the $175 deductible. That's nearly $400 gone from my FSA instantly, and for every test my doctor runs (and has run since then) -- I am responsible for paying 10%.
When the test runs $1.24, not a big deal. When the test costs $179.88, it's a bigger deal. And when your doctor runs 11 different blood tests from one appointment, um...you're in for a surprise.
So take this as a word of advice -- study your insurance plan. Make sure you understand every nook and cranny, and make some wise decisions about contributing to your FSA in preparation for something like pregnancy.
Here's to an expensive 5 months to come. Sigh....
For all those aspiring moms-to-be, take this as a word of advice. PUT AS MUCH AS YOU CAN IN YOUR FSA.
The deal is -- you should really understand your insurance plan well before you get pregnant -- for example, ours covers 90% of lab work after my $175 deductible is satisfied. 90% always sounded like a pretty good deal. A good deal, that is, until my first lab work bill came back and I already have to pay $220, plus the $175 deductible. That's nearly $400 gone from my FSA instantly, and for every test my doctor runs (and has run since then) -- I am responsible for paying 10%.
When the test runs $1.24, not a big deal. When the test costs $179.88, it's a bigger deal. And when your doctor runs 11 different blood tests from one appointment, um...you're in for a surprise.
So take this as a word of advice -- study your insurance plan. Make sure you understand every nook and cranny, and make some wise decisions about contributing to your FSA in preparation for something like pregnancy.
Here's to an expensive 5 months to come. Sigh....
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Boys will be boys...
Now that we know we're having a little man join our household in November, we're starting to get excited about the nursery, names and other fun things -- and our families have started gifting us with little boy onesies, bibs and cutsie stuff. (And bats, balls and mitts - for once the guy can sit up/hold objects indepenently).
I think he knows that we know who he is, b/c now he's much more responsive and active. (That, or he's simply growing bigger and stronger every day!) I prefer to think it's a combination of both. Stephen finally felt the morse code I've been feeling for a few weeks on father's day (smart and sentimental little bean, that kid 'o mine), so I'm excited to be able to share some of the most amazing new feelings with my hubby!
In fact, the crazy little guy feels like he's having a dance party or wrestling match in my belly half the time, which is awesome - but can also be shocking, like someone starting to tickle you with no warning.
If I feel this much already, I'm in for some serious fun once he starts getting hiccups, and getting really big. I can't wait!
I think he knows that we know who he is, b/c now he's much more responsive and active. (That, or he's simply growing bigger and stronger every day!) I prefer to think it's a combination of both. Stephen finally felt the morse code I've been feeling for a few weeks on father's day (smart and sentimental little bean, that kid 'o mine), so I'm excited to be able to share some of the most amazing new feelings with my hubby!
In fact, the crazy little guy feels like he's having a dance party or wrestling match in my belly half the time, which is awesome - but can also be shocking, like someone starting to tickle you with no warning.
If I feel this much already, I'm in for some serious fun once he starts getting hiccups, and getting really big. I can't wait!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
It's a boy!
Our first ultrasound photos confirm...my dad will soon have a little fishing buddy, and my nephews should be pleased to have another boy playmate on the way.
More later...
More later...
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Moving
The simple word "moving" has taken on new meaning in the last few weeks. I literally moved addresses, which was both physically and mentally exhausting, especially when you're carrying a little person inside of you....which, brings about the second meaning -- quite possibly the coolest part of pregnancy -- that baby moves!
It started as a little flick -- and believe me, when you're trying to feel movement, you notice a lot of interesting movements in your tummy. (Most of them not the baby). :)
Then, the flick grew persistent in the same spot -- I'd feel the same flick over and over. Now that I'm 18 weeks, the movement is sometimes a flick, sometimes what I can only guess to be an elbow as the arm moves or flexes across the wall of his/her little bubble, and an occasional tightness/stretching, which might be a full turn or flip, a stretch, or a mini-contraction.
In fact, he/she just tapped me twice in the belly to remind me that it occasionally feels like someone's just trying to remind me in my busy world that he or she is still in there, growing and waiting to come out and visit!
If you're a mom, you know what I mean. If you're planning to be a mom someday, this is the most awesome feeling, so look forward to it!
It started as a little flick -- and believe me, when you're trying to feel movement, you notice a lot of interesting movements in your tummy. (Most of them not the baby). :)
Then, the flick grew persistent in the same spot -- I'd feel the same flick over and over. Now that I'm 18 weeks, the movement is sometimes a flick, sometimes what I can only guess to be an elbow as the arm moves or flexes across the wall of his/her little bubble, and an occasional tightness/stretching, which might be a full turn or flip, a stretch, or a mini-contraction.
In fact, he/she just tapped me twice in the belly to remind me that it occasionally feels like someone's just trying to remind me in my busy world that he or she is still in there, growing and waiting to come out and visit!
If you're a mom, you know what I mean. If you're planning to be a mom someday, this is the most awesome feeling, so look forward to it!
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