I'm Alive!

Shortest post ever. . .I am so sorry that I fell off the face of the world. School started this week, and that means leaving the house by 6:45 am, return home at 7:00 pm, and going to bed at 9:00 pm. I promise to write more this weekend. As for the new Thomas, he/she is making me crave meat! Apparently chicken and beans are not cutting the protein requirements. The new Thomas demands BBQ. And to think that I was a vegetarian two years ago, and now I am acting like a rabid T-Rex.

Bad blog. No cookie.

I have recently heard that some of you are having difficulty leaving comments and voting. If so, please send me an e-mail at annaweigel100@yahoo.com.

My Last Waltz

Today is my last day of summer vacation. Unless you are a teacher, I do not expect any sympathy. However, if you are a teacher, then you know how depressing today is for me. I've got all my supplies loaded into boxes, waiting for the backseat of my car. Even all the new glistening office supplies can't make my heart flutter faster. I haven't really had morning sickness this summer because, if I felt ill, I would just go back to sleep. As of tomorrow, that is no longer an option. I hope I don't throw up in my car. Good bye lazy days. Hello big yellow bus!

Rock the Vote

Please vote in my first-ever blog poll. It's silly, but whatever. We are eager to find out the sex of the new Thomas, and that won't happen for a few more weeks. I found a site on the Internet that for $17 could predict the sex of our baby up to 60% of the time. . .100% guaranteed. HA! Guaranteed for 60% of the time- they are smart to cover their bases. And no, I did not do it. I already own a Magic 8 Ball. It's a fantastic classroom tool. For example, little Timmy asks for a bathroom pass, and I simply shake the 8 Ball, don't actually read it, and say, "Oh, Timmy, chances for a pass aren't looking good today." End of discussion. The kids love it. What did P.T. Barnum say. . .So in summation, please cast your vote. Big Mama is watching.

One more week. . .

Officially one more week to go until we reach the fetal stage. The new Thomas should weigh approximately 7 grams. According to The Pregnancy Countdown Book the new Thomas is about the length of a kumquat. Hey, that's pretty big. The book also states that all the vital organs and external features are almost fully formed. And coolest of all, the kumquat Thomas has eyelashes. I can't wait to see those beautiful blue eyes; thanks Punnet Square!

Visual Update

This must be a genetic trait.

Smooth Sailing!

We had another visit with Dr. Keller, our OB-GYN, this morning. We were in (and out) like flint! Everything, and I mean everything, is looking good. Our ultrasound pictures were fine, blood work passed, and all points in between seem ship shape. She has no concerns regarding the pregnancy at this point, which is still quite early. I fear she thinks I am a nut. I tend to obsess over weird points, but she tolerates and invites our most random questions. I had read somewhere, maybe it was a bit of gossip, that feta cheese is a no-no during pregnancy. Now, Paul's Deli is off-limits at the moment, and that is where you get the best Greek salads in town. Dr. Keller said eating feta in moderation is fine. I will be sending Jesse to Paul's Deli in the very near future to score that tasty salad. The return of Feta is my moment of Zen for the day! Seriously. We go back for our next check-up in four snail-paced weeks.

My Working Man!

Jesse is in the process of remodeling our kitchen. He's already completed our bathrooms, spa quality! Here are some shots of the kitchen in transition.
Goodbye wallpaper. Hello artisan mud and faux birch flooring!
Though Jesse is working hard, I couldn't wait to chase him off the counter. All I could see were smelly feet germs invading my kitchen. What I didn't photograph was the tiff that followed when I went nuts with the bleach wipes.
Liloo is hiding from the shop vac. She is not cool with its presence in the house. However, she is unwilling to wear Pledge wipes attached to her paws. . .dusting while she walks. So we had to compromise.

Our first children, our fur children

These will always be our first children. Rajah is 6 1/2 years old. Liloo is pushing 3 years.

Above: Rajah is relaxing in his patented penguin pose. He looks like he has flippers.

Above: Liloo is hiding in her dog cave during a recent thunderstorm. She's a big time scardy cat.

Above: Rajah's impersonation of Marlon Brando.

Above: Another shot of Liloo in her dog cave. Here, she's coming up for some air, but she's about to see her shadow. That means we have another four weeks of summer storms.

Above: Liloo almost napping on Jesse's legs. She must sleep between us every night. Sometimes I think we got a king size bed to accommodate our dogs.

Only 219 days to go!

The Expanding Universe Explained

I just realized that the new Thomas is not all to blame for my previous post. I have undergone a serious psychological shift. Recently, I discovered that I can use a stove, spices are your friends, and lemon zest can make almost any dish smile. My brain was warmed up to the idea of cooking. This is still a new and slightly scary territory, and all my dishes tend to be a bit left field. But seriously, I am making food that Jesse willingly eats. For years I have been very anti-kitchen. I totally made beer mashed potatoes and olive pancakes in college, and thought they tasted good. Now, I am no foodie nor gourmand, but I do not my way around a mixing bowl. Baby steps. For example, dinner tonight started with an appetizer course of black bean spread, pico de gallo, and fresh guacamole. The main dish was chilled couscous salad. Even scarier, I touched raw chicken two days ago. Emphasis on touch. . .I was repulsed the whole time, but that delicious Stubbs marinade was making me do it. In months past, a brazen move like that would have put me in a padded room. I don't know what happened, but I think I like cooking. Maybe I like cooking because everything tastes good now.

My Ever Expanding Universe

We have our next appointment in one week. I can't wait to find out how much the new Thomas has grown. What is certain is how much I have grown, and grown out of my pants. I have discovered the physical irony of pregnancy. Though I have given up Diet Coke, Starbucks anything, beer, lite beer, fired foods, junk food, and sweet desserts, my gut has not gotten the notice. There is a veritable fat fete going on! There is a visible baby bulge, like a flesh speed bump on the way toward my navel (if you start from my feet). I have not decreased my workouts; the doctor said that's fine. I just wish this steady diet of prison camp food would help slow my westward expansion. Pretty soon I'll have colonists! Then, I'll have to negotiate the provincial tummy laws and the price of tea that I'm not even drinking. Lord Navel will have to amend all the angered stretch marks. (Sorry for the multiple colony references. I've been in Williamsburg too long.)

Fascist Fashions: Blatant Bilking of Moms-to-Be Must Stop!

My friend Erin and I went shopping today. Marshall's was having a pretty big sale, and I am needing larger waist sizes as the weeks pass. To my knowledge, Marshall's does not carry maternity clothing. However, you don't need that section because Juniors clothing has taken a turn for the tents (size wise). That's right, most of the tops in the teens' department could double as maternity clothing. There was a plethora of princess and empire waisted shirts, and most of the shirts hit at the top of my hips. What's going on? Has teen pregnancy risen to the point where it's now influencing fashion? I'm not complaining because I found some really cute stuff. It just seems a bit out of place. Furthermore, I am thankful that the bare midriff trend has gained some weight! I refuse to be pregnant and not stylish! I also refuse to be pregnantly stylish by paying retail costs of cute maternity clothing. I've seen great dresses with price tags around two hundred dollars. Just because my body is growing a new brain doesn't mean that I am losing the original one. Shame on the fashion industry for taking advantage of my teetering self-esteem and spend quick ways. I have to keep my wits about me, and my wallet hidden, when I see funky pregnant fashions. My advice to all hip mothers-to-be, do your clothing hunting in the Juniors department sales racks. Strike a blow for big belly fashion and reclaim those tops in our honor. Next, we must conquer diaper bags! Any suggestions?

Galaxy Diner Rocks!

Today Jesse and I met our friends Jennifer and James at Galaxy Diner, in Carytown. Galaxy Diner holds a sacred place in my heart because their speciality is fried pickles. Divine, dill breaded, crispy coated pickles. Jennifer and James are headed to Scotland in a few weeks. I hope every time they eat a Welsh cuke, they will think of us. To anyone living on the Eastern seaboard: cancel all immediate plans and drive directly to Galaxy Diner. You must order the Sampler Basket; the fried green tomatoes are excellent, too. Actually, everything is tasty. And Jennifer and James: have an amazing trip! I've already made reservations for 5 at Galaxy in May of 2008!

A Deeper Connection

I went to an energy healer today. I can't go into much detail of my session; it's a very personal experience. However, I want to share with you the wonderful conversation I had with the healer regarding the new Thomas. She said several amazing things. First, her school of healing teaches that babies choose their parents; that we are selected vessel in essence. I feel honored to have been chosen. Secondly, she said even prior to the conception, I began to make an energy space for our baby in my body. I was definitely emotionally prepping myself for the role of motherhood. I guess subconsciously I was trying to make my energy feel hospitable to a potential new comer, like putting out a brand new welcome mat that isn't caked in dirt and dog hair. I felt like being excited about having a baby would help us conceive, as does staying awake past 9 o'clock. That also made a big difference; it can be hard competing against Law & Order! Finally, and I find most exciting, is that the healer said the baby has already aligned itself to my energy field. Our chakras have already connected. She said the baby will connect with Jesse's energy following the birth. Upon hearing this, I realized that my mental well-being is equally as important as my physical well-being during this pregnancy. Now, I already knew that stress can have a negative impact on a fetus. However, I didn't realize that my total energy field, all chakras included, had such an impact. I have resolved to really take care of my soul during this journey. I want our baby to meet us knowing how much love we already have for him/ her.

Williamsburg is on fire!!

Now that I operate on the same energy level as a slug, I can no longer tolerate this heat! I doubt any living creature can; our heat index has been around 105 degrees Fahrenheit. It's not that I have any difficulty moving around or that I've gained a ton a weight (it's still too early), but I am too tired to make myself more comfortable. I think when my brother leaves I will modify my wardrobe to include undies and t-shirts, and that's it! Frankly, I have been too hot to take a decent nap. Last night, we ate directly in front of the window ac unit, not two feet away, huddled around the source of cold like campers who seek out campfires in the late fall. I may even revert back to an old college trick my roommate Jessica and I would do on really hot days. We would freeze our bed sheets in the morning and pull them out right at bedtime. As long as you fell asleep before the sheets completely thawed and got wet, you could actually be comfortable. Unbearable heat is the mother of necessity and heat rashes.

The "E" Stands for Embryo

I'd like to introduce you to the new Thomas! We met him/ her around 8:45 this morning. Both of us teary eyed, we actually saw the heart beating. There's not that much to look at. Seriously, the new Thomas is a bit under a centimeter in length. The attendant did two different types of sonograms. This image is from the later, more personal method. Watching your unborn child on a monitor is the most amazing experience. The ultrasound confirmed the due of March 20, 2008.

Sleepless Night

Right now I am a bundle of nerves, a pile of live wires fighting every urge to sleep. Tomorrow morning, 8:30 to be exact, Jesse and I have our first ultrasound appointment. Suddenly, everything seems so real. This sounds silly, and it makes me feel silly to write that because I have been so forward about everything in this blog. I am scared. So far, all of our test results have been fine. But those results are just numbers , nothing tangible. The anxiety I am feeling has less to do with a problem with the baby, and more with learning that pregnancy won't last or that I am not really pregnant. I have fully resinged myself to notion of giving birth. I really want to have this baby, and I am very attached to potential new Thomas that has arrived. I was raised to believe that everything, especially painful and difficult events, happen for a reason. Our job is to not live through the pain, but to learn through the pain. First pregnancies are at a higher risk for miscarriage, especially up until the 10th week. We are nearing the 8th week mark. I know, in my heart of hearts, that if this pregnancy is not carried out to term, there will be a just reason behind it. I am praying to God that I do not have to experience that pain. I never realized I could be so attached, so in love, with a creature I know only in my imagination. Let me amend that, I also know the new Thomas in my soul. I just wish my love was strong enough to protect us on this journey.

R&R Weekend Fun

My brother Clark has been visiting for the past three days, and I am exhausted. I am having a blast because I now have a playmate during the day. I did not teach summer school this year, thought a little R&R was in order. I am glad that I took the time off especially, since we have more time to hangout. Yesterday, we went to the Newport News Disc Golf Course, and I played my best game ever. I shot one under par on the back nine. There must be some serious baby mojo at work. I am not a bad disc golfer, but I am never that good. I feel like Buddha with a good luck belly!
Jesse went tuna fishing today in the Nags Head area. He caught a 52 lb tuna fish! That is a ton of fish. Sadly, every book I've read regarding prenatal diets dissuades against eating tuna. The only fish I like is super fresh grilled tuna. It doesn't get any fresher than this, and I have to pass on it. I am totally bummed out. Once it's frozen, it just doesn't taste the same. Fresh tuna, with it's ruby red goodness, could almost count as a dessert item. The new Thomas owes me a Seafood Dinner in 18 years!

To pee or not to pee (well, that's not an option)

Sorry for the gross title, but I have to vent about something. My urgency to use the restroom has tripled overnight! I wake up several times during the night, making mad dashes over dogs and random pillow piles. I even dream about going to the bathroom. Let me tell you, that is one scary dream. Especially, when you wake up and realize how desperately yo have to go. It too close of a call for my taste. Every sip of water I take, I take begrudgingly. To give you a tiny slice of my new predicament, it is almost 1 pm in Virginia, and I have made 10 trips to the loo today. How am I supposed to teach an entire class without hiring a substitute for fifteen minutes? Zoinks!
Looking at my calendar, Jesse and I are half way through our first trimester. I feel conflicted because I am eager to get this show on the road (meet the new Thomas), but I want to cherish every second we have of the journey. It is hard being patient when you this are excited.

Pregnancy Perks #2

My husband has kicked into protective mode, and I love it. In fact, he is working on a list of questions and concerns for our OB-GYN. . .his own list, separate from mine. Jesse doesn't think it's fair for me to miss out on tuna steaks and feta cheese. He has a series of baby books on his side of the bed. After he tells me goodnight, he'll tell my tummy good night, too. He wants me to be comfortable and healthy. I could not ask for anything more! Earlier tonight we visited our friends who had twin just this past Friday. My heart melted as I watched Jesse hold one of the boys. Jesse looked like a natural. His care is the new perk. Jesse is going to be an amazing father.