Do I know you? (a post by Stephen)

It's funny to me that ever since I announced that we were expecting our first child to my colleagues, I seem to have ceased to exist.

What I mean is that people will see me in the hall and the first words out of their mouths are "How is your wife doing?" Not "Hey, Trammell, how ya been?" Or "Hey Stephen, want to grab lunch?" Or maybe "Stephen, we're promoting you." No, it's "How's your wife doing?" In fact, if my memory serves me correctly, some people who talk to me now haven't said more than a couple words to me in the past.

So actually, maybe my the fact that I don't matter anymore is all a good thing in the end. I'm networking and I don't even know it.

I've done the unthinkable

It's true - I actually bought that prenatal yoga tape...and actually did it yesterday. That's right, people - I exercised. Normally, exercise is the last thing on my priority list -- right after "poke self in the eye with sharp object." But, because my son has decided to grow so darn big and squash some critical nerve endings, it's become mandatory.

At last, I know the stretch of a good yoga session. After about an hour of downward dogs, squats, plank poses, "extending the spine" and deep breathing, according to the tape, my hips and back are looser and should help me be more comfortable. And here's the thing - I'm actually sore today. So, I guess I needed it.

However (and there's always a however in life) I did find myself raising my eyebrows a few times during the DVD. The instructor's "imagine your baby enjoying this stretch," "feel at one with the movement," and other similar comments felt cheesy to me, rather than relaxing.

So, I may be missing the "relaxation" part of the yoga exercise (including the "become one with your baby" meditation exercise at the end of the tape that I skipped), but the stretching sure felt good -- so let's hope I can keep it up and that it helps me waddle a bit less in the coming weeks and months.

A conversation with "buddy"

For anyone who may be wondering, I'm not losing it...and I'm not talking to myself more frequently -- I'm just talking to my son.

At any given moment, you are apt to hear me mumbling to myself -- and I'm actually talking to my little buddy. It's anything from "what's happening in there?" in response to a particularly rowdy series of kicks, twists and pokes to "I'm telling your father" when he's tormenting me by repeatedly stomping on my bladder.

Mostly, I find myself rubbing my belly and trying to comfort him when I feel like maybe all that movement is distress -- telling him "it's ok, just relax and get comfortable," or acknowledging his bumps and thumps with a "thank you" or "I know," especially when his movements are particularly well-timed, as though he's responding to something I'm saying or doing.

I've heard of people who sing to their bellies or write letters to their babies before they are born -- and I'll admit to reading a Dr. Seuss book to my belly a time or two -- ultimately I'm hoping by the time he comes out that we're a little better acquainted.

Bitten

My wife has gently asked about me posting a blog for several months now. I can't quite say what spurred me to write now but I must have been bitten because here I am, drafting a blog post. It has been an awesome 6 months and I know the next 3 will be even better. Granted, I don't have to carry a belly around as temperatures soar into the upper-90's in August. And I can still enjoy a cold frosty one whenever I want. But I think Carrie would agree that we are both looking forward to the rest of the time we have as "expectant parents."

I will have to say that about a month ago or so, one of my friends and I were talking and he said "it really hasn't hit you yet, has it?" And I can't say that it had. In fact, I don't know if the fact that I will be a father will every fully smack me in the face until I am in the delivery room holding the little guy. But I can definitely say that it has sunk in more since that conversation. Knowing that it is a boy, talking about baby furniture and bedding, walking through Babys 'R Us and feeling him kick around in there have really helped make it more real for me. In fact, I tell everyone that my favorite part of my day (aside from seeing my lovely wife...wink, wink) is feeling my little man kick and punch. It is such an amazing moment and it has yet to get old. How cool is it that there is a person in that belly?

I'm going to be a dad and I can't wait.

Sciatica

No, that's not a name under consideration for the baby...nor is it the title of a sci-fi flick I caught over the weekend. It unfortunately is the name of the electric, shooting pain I'm now regularly experiencing up and down my left leg.

Apparently this is common for pregnant women - and man, it's uncomfortable. Imagine walking around a store and suddenly feeling as if someone snuck up behind you and zapped you in the butt with a taser - OW. Yeah, that's exactly what it's like. And, for me, it's also a constant buzz of electricity down my left hip and leg when I'm standing or walking, or laying on my left side.

This means I'm finally giving in and purchasing some prenatal yoga DVDs later today, as many web sites (and friends/family) recommend some good old-fashioned physical therapy to help.

So, if you see me waddling more than usual -- it's the Sciatica...and please wait to giggle until I'm out of sight. :)

I gained what?

Pregnant women are supposed to gain weight. You're growing another human being inside your belly, for Pete's sake. Somehow, during the first half of my pregnancy, I only gained 5 lbs. Yep, only 5 lbs. in 20 weeks of being pregnant.

I was getting a little cocky (I'm going to be a skinny pregnant person, yay!) and at the same time, a little worried -- when are those supposed lbs. going to creep up and hit me?

Well, a trip to the doctor yesterday solidified it -- I gained 10 lbs. in the last 4 weeks alone.

Normally, if a woman gained 10 lbs. in a month, she'd be immediately on a diet or new exercise regimen. I think this may be the only time in my life where I'm actually glad to finally gain that weight.

So, bring on the pounds....in moderation, that is. My doc says I should have another 10-15 lbs. to gain for the rest of my pregnancy, so let's hope this fast-gaining month doesn't become a trend.

What's in a name?

I'm upset. I was thinking of naming our son Sunday....and Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban had to go steal it.

Ok, that's a lie. Actually, Stephen and I haven't even brought up names since we first found out we were pregnant. We get questioned frequently about name selections, and people seem shocked that we're not actively testing names just yet.

Maybe I should get some inspiration from celebrity babies? Here's a thought-starter list:

Eryka Badu named her daughter Puma
Toni Braxton's sons' names are Denim and Diezel
Christie Brinkley's daughter is "Sailor Lee"
Nicholas Cage named his son Kal-el (superman's birth name)
Gwyneth and Chris have Apple and Moses
Jaime Oliver has two daughters, Poppy Honey and Daisy Boo

I'm not sure Stephen and I are down with a Suri, Coco, Shiloh or "Moxie CrimeFighter" (Penn Jillette of Penn & Teller's daughter's name - seriously). But then again, why not be a little adventurous?

Stephen joked long ago about naming our baby "Fallulah" -- I don't know why - it was just jibberish, and low and behold, I just read about some random musician naming his daughter Tallulah. Again, totally serious.

This is one of the hardest decisions we'll ever have to make -- because it's permanent. You have to be conscious of potential nicknames and what the initials spell. To top it off, every name is bound to either make you or your significant other have flash backs about someone who tormented you in 3rd grade, or remind you of a stereotype.

Until the kid is born, he's going to be "buddy" to me -- and while we'll certainly have to give some serious consideration to the issue soon, our lips our sealed until he's here. :) Enjoy the surprise.

The highly-anticipated "R" word

Any guesses? I'm talking about REGISTERING...which is both so much fun and completely overwhelming. (Quick shout out to my sister, Kelly, and my niece, Haedyn, for accompanying me for an afternoon of shooting random baby stuff with a scanner gun last weekend! )

There are so many things you need for a baby -- and so many things you totally do not need, yet somehow find their way onto your registry. And, believe it or not, it feels completely different than registering for your wedding.

When you're a bride-to-be, you are picking things out that you (ok, you and your hubby) like -- things that are your taste, and you'll use. When you're a mom-to-be, you're registering for products you've never used before, much less thought about -- and babies are so darn finicky, how are you supposed to know if he'll like to swing vs. play on a play mat, or whether he'll need a sleep supporter or just lay flat on his back, or whether he'll like the Dr. Brown's bottles better than the Avent bottles. It's impossible!

At least we're started...I still have a lot of switching and adding to do -- but I feel better knowing that it's one more thing that's at least partially checked off the list. Only a zillion more to go before my little buddy arrives. :)