Single Parenting

Matthew has been out of town for the past two weeks.  I've been joking that I'm single parenting*.  He says that by that logic I am always single parenting at this point.

So what have I done to keep myself busy?  Here are a few of the more exciting activities:

• Took Casey to the vet three times (don't worry, she's ok)
• Decorated for Christmas
• Went to see Christmas at Leon's at Mahoney State Park with my grandpa
• Invited three friends over for a holiday baking party
• Ordered Christmas cards and wrote letter (sending soon)
• Walked around the zoo to see all of the cute baby animals
• Several church activities
• Finished a holiday craft project

I also managed to feed myself and keep the house from burning down.  Overall, I'll be happy for Matthew to come home this week!

Casey with her bandages from the IV.

Filled the cart at Walmart to make Christmas sweets!

Baby giraffe wanted to come say hi.

Baby orangutan was probably my favorite...too bad the baby lion cub triplets were sleeping.

 *I realize that actual single parenting would be nothing like this. I can still talk/email/text my husband, not to mention that my child doesn't require a lot of attention right now.

Pregnancy by the Numbers

• Due Date: 5/16/15
• Weeks Gestation: 17
• Number of Fetuses: 1
• Pounds Gained: 6
• Approximate Length of Baby: 5"
• Approximate Weight: 5 oz
• Heart Rate at Last Checkup: 153 BPM
• Hours Slept Each Night: 6-7
• Weird Cravings: 0
• Hormonal Hysteric Breakdowns: 1 or 2
• Waist Measurement at Belly Button: 35.5"
• Kicks Felt: Maybe 1?
• Number of Times People Have Asked Me How I'm Feeling: Countless
• Tummy Pats by People Who Don't Usually Touch Me: 2

Baby's First Trip to Colorado!

Our goal for the drive was to pick out names.  We didn't quite get it decided, but might be slightly closer.

Happy Thanksgiving!

So this is what mornings are like...

I have always been a night owl.  While I'm not as bad as other members of my family who shall remain nameless (hint: the worst one may have blonde hair), I've been known to be a little grumpy upon first waking up and not really wide awake for about an hour.  I figured that would have to change once the baby arrives, but I did not expect it to start changing already.  Instead of the fatigue that is apparently "normal" during early pregnancy, I've found myself waking up earlier and earlier.  I used to doze on weekend mornings, but now I'm completely wide awake with no desire to go back to sleep.  

This weekend, it reached a new level.  Yesterday I got up at 6:30.  Today when I woke up, the clock said 5:12 AM.  Seriously?  I have NEVER been up this early without having to catch a flight (excluding a couple times in college where this time was not early but actually late).  I thought I would surely go back to sleep for another hour or two, but after laying there until 5:45, I figured I may as well get up and start the day.  I read a little, finished a sewing project, prepared Sunday school and my offertory remarks, got ready for church, and still had time to stop at the grocery store and McDonald's before church.  Usually I rush out the door with my hair barely dry and no makeup on in order to get there on time.

I'm sure I will appreciate all of the extra things I'm able to get done at some point, but right now I kind of wish I was still my normal night owl.

Symptoms

Since I'm nearing the end of my first trimester, I thought it would be a good idea to document the symptoms that I'm feeling so far.  So here a list of common symptoms in the first 13 weeks according to What to Expect When You're Expecting.

• Fatigue - rarely
• Frequent Urination - yes, but could be due to diligent increased water consumption
• Nausea - a little from weeks 6-9, but mostly gone now
• Increased sense of smell - yes, what could possibly be the biological reason for this?
• Excess saliva - only when I'm on a conference call, then it's super fun
• Food Aversions - none
• Food Cravings - none
• Headaches - none
• Dizziness - none
• Others that will not be discussed on the Internet - plenty

Overall, I'm feeling great.  Any symptoms that I do have are more reassuring that I am actually pregnant than anything.

And the best symptom so far, the beginning of a bump!

Visual and Audio Confirmation

Last weekend was busy and exciting.  My family was in town, so we spent Friday through Monday hanging out around town.  We went to my first Creighton soccer game, the Wildlife Safari Park, Lake Zorinsky, and worked on a special project.  I forgot to take pictures of any of these events.

Monday was my first doctor appointment.  I was beyond nervous because I know a lot of people that this appointment has not gone well for.  Fortunately, everything was perfect for us!  First we had the ultrasound, and I was surprised and relieved how quickly she was able to find the baby and see its heartbeat.  Then the nurse and doctor spent a lot of time talking to us and I had to have a complete physical again, even though I just had one in June.  I was not expecting this, but since the ultrasound was abdominal I figured it was a fair trade.   They do this so that then I won't have to have it right after I deliver, but can wait 5 months after the baby is born to do another annual exam.  After that, the doctor decided to try to hear the heartbeat.  He didn't really expect to, but luckily he was determined despite how ticklish I was.  He heard it just for a second, but I was so excited that I laughed and he lost it.  Then I calmed down and after some time, he was able to find it again.  It didn't really sound like much to me if I'm honest, but it was encouraging that he seemed happy to hear it.  I'm feeling reassured that everything is fine, but we're still waiting for the right time to tell all the world.

Little thing on the left is the yolk sac; frog like thing on the right is the baby.

...And the World is About to Turn

In an effort to not completely give in to my baby fever, I am going to attempt to write about other aspects of our lives than just the baby.  This post will be somewhat of a combination.

I play the piano for my church about once a month.  Typically the presider selects the hymns, and I am free to choose whatever I like for the prelude, offertory, and postlude.  I try to select songs that go with the theme for the service. Sometimes I throw something in that speaks to how my life is going. I've been thinking for awhile of a way to share the background for why I chose particular songs, so from time to time I may use this as a forum for "Behind the Scenes Pianist".

About a year ago, our church released a new hymnal.  It is amazing.  It has hymns that speak to our theology as a church and I feel it does a wonderful job of mixing standard four part traditional hymns with modern songs that aren't too contemporary to be sung in a congregation setting.  I never used to use hymns for the songs that I chose, but with the new hymnal, I use it pretty frequently just for the instrumental part.

Anyway, last week was my turn to play.  I found some songs to go with the theme for the prelude and offertory, but for the postlude I decided to use "Canticle of the Turning", CCS* 404.  This is an advent song, but I think it's appropriate at other times as well.  I felt the first verse really spoke to my feelings about where my life is right now.

My soul cries out with a joyful shout

That the God of my heart is great, 

And my spirit sings of the wondrous things

That you bring to the ones who wait.

You fixed your sight on your servant's plight,

And my weakness you did not spurn,

So from east to west shall my name be blest.

Could the world be about to turn?

Chorus:

My heart shall sing of the day you bring.

Let the fires of your justice burn.

Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,

And the world is about to turn.

*CCS stands for Community of Christ Sings, the name of the hymnal

9 Days

9 Days.  That's how long I've known that I'm pregnant.  I have to keep reminding myself because it doesn't feel real yet.  I still have the test strip, mainly just because it's the only proof I have right now.  Actually, I should say, I still have one of the four test strips.  Yes, I took four tests - really only three because I didn't read the instructions on one so it was invalid.  I had a really cheap strip that I hadn't used before that I tried first.  I felt the results were inconclusive, so I tried another one.  I still wasn't sure I believed the extremely faint second pink line, so we had to go out and buy a digital test.  I drank a lot of water while we were out getting it.  I didn't hold the first digital test in long enough, so it erred out.  Great use of $5, Ang.  Luckily, there was a second one in the box, so I got that one out and it very quickly flashed "Pregnant".  I was so happy.

Here's the proof, times three.

Matthew had a horrible cold.
He's not actually stoned here.

I called the doctor the next day.  I know there's not much they can do right now, but I kind of thought they still had first time moms come in right away.  Aren't there things I should know?  I guess not, though.  My appointment isn't for another month.

In the meantime, I'm trying not to worry, but it just seems like there are so many things that could go wrong in the next 8 months (and beyond).  I caught Matthew's cold, so I already got over the illusion that I would go the whole time without any medication.  I think I'm mostly better now, though.

So, while I don't really feel any different right now, I'm cruising Pinterest for ideas for the baby room and reading about all of the stuff we have to get.  We're really trying to cut out unnecessary objects around the house, so a baby will be a big test of our commitment to that cause.  I'm looking forward to a couple of weeks when I should start feeling different, rather than have to remind myself constantly that this is finally happening!