~Registering~

So with the aid of a very good and patient friend I braved the strange new world of Babies R' Us. Without her knowledge of all things pertaining to baby, I think the closing staff would have found me huddled in a corner holding onto a new found blankie muttering things like "pack n play" and "strollers" over and over again in complete and utter delirium. As it was I saved from this fate by said good and patient friend and ended the quest with what I thought to be a mild success and a belly full of Red Robin guacamole bacon cheeseburger with a chocolate malt chaser.

I say "mild success" due to the fact that I was having OCD issues with matching sets and having a mental blockage about how in the world can these be the only colors/patterns I can choose from? So after selecting what I thought to be the best representation of said items (so I could remember what 'system' I wanted), and after the food hangover had passed, I sat down at my trusty computer and logged in to one of the best kept secrets (I think) on the planet: http://www.myregistry.com, which I learned about in my prenatal yoga class (which I have to give props to here because I love it so so much: http://www.lotusyogaspace.com/). I heart this site. In a nutshell, you can shop any online (or offline) store in the world and add whatever you see to your registry. This allows you to get register for whatever you want where ever you want, and also allows you to shop around for the best prices on each item. It is fabulous.

So, I had the Babies R' Us registry in one tab (my reference point), the My Registry in a second tab and then a product review guide in a third tab. Not to mention all the other tabs I opened up here and there for comparison price shopping. Happily, after I had finished I was able to add exactly what I wanted and not have to settle for patterns or colors I just didn't find all that appealing. Needless to say when I was done selecting, deleting, and reading, I had a raging headache and was pining for a nice glass (or bottle) of wine, which of course I was not able to indulge in.

On the whole though, I think I might actually be finished, which is a good thing because it is one less thing I need to get done but on the bad side it will give me oodles of time to second guess myself and wonder about this and that as the shower invitations will not go out for at least a month now.

Pink or Blue?

So we were finally indulged by the doctor and on March 12 we found out we are having a little girl! Yay! We are so excited and could not be happier.

We went browsing for furniture yesterday and found some nice things..and they didn't smell funny either which was nice. I do recall going shopping with a very dear friends for furniture for her little one and she noted to me most of the stuff "smelled like chemicals". Turns out she was totally right! Most of the stuff *does* smell 'odd', but then again it is difficult to find something that smells like wood too. So anyways..my point is, the stuff we found smelled like neither..so I was good with that.

Thinking of a pink and brown theme for the room with pink walls (of course!) to boot! Scott is gong to be thrilled to paint that room again..haha..oh well..he won't let me do it so I guess he is the only one left!

~Pampering~

Ahh..so I have just come off a weekend of much needed pampering. Jeff had a business sort of weekend he needed to attend at the "Cranwell resort & Spa" in Lenox Massachusetts and so of course the ladies tagged along.

Friday began with a pedicure and a leisurley stroll through the Outlets. We knew we were coming back on Saturday so this was kind of a preview day. Light kunch back at the Spa and then a plesent afternoon of quiet and reading. And seeing Jeff was required at his company's table for dinner, room service rounded out the day. On saturday we woke and were ready to shop! Although I have to say since the lady I went with is also pregnant and due in June, clothes shopping was not nearly as much fun as it had been in past visits to Lenox. So man things in J.Crew we just sighed wistfully at and moved on. So what's a girl to do? A girl buys an adorable pink canvas purse from Polo..those always fit!

Later that day after a brief stint in my whirlpool tub (I so need one os these in my house!) I went for my first pre-natal massage. It was wonderful..this woman left no muscle wanting. By the time I went to dinner that night with everyone I felt like a bowl of jelly and was useless! But it was so worth it!

I was going to go to my first pre-natal Yoga class monday, however, Jack Frost had other ideas and dumped 12 inches of snow on us that day and the studio was closed. I guess I have to wait anoither week!

~Top 25 Things~

So here is my list of Top 25 Things people may or may not have told you about pregnancy.

1. You will puke so violently that it will come out your nose.
2. You will not be able to sit in a restaurant for more than 10 minutes.
3. You will smell..down there.
4. One minute you are fine, the next you are ravenous but yet only eat 5 bites.
5. Your body will cue you as to what you need; throw beliefs aside and eat at will.
6. If you get sick, you certainly can take an antibiotic and all will be well inutero.
7. Ice cold water is the best beverage ever.
8. You will not gradually get tired; you will crash...hard.
9. You will be wearing maternity clothes sooner than you think; embrace it and be comfortable.
10. Everyone will have an opinion on how to raise the child that is not even born yet.
11. You will need to pee every 10 minutes and then when you finally go, it's a dribble.
12. The smell of your own crap will make you want to puke.
13. Your boobs will get humongous overnight.
14. Throw out all your underwear and start new.
15. You and only you know your body; get advice from your post pregnant friends and your doctor and then do what feels right for you.
16. Say yes when offered free maternity clothes for short-term rental.
17. Hang out with other moms for some on the job training.
18. This is not the time to be squeamish about anything.
19. Your face will either break out like a 14 year old or you'll have the most beautiful skin of your life.
20. You will gain lots of weight.
21. Your husband will see you as the sexiest woman alive.
22. You will fart and belch, putting Fraternity Brothers to shame.
23. People will touch your belly and it's o.k. to tell them not to.
24. No matter how organized and ready you think you are, when the time comes, you probably won't be.
25. When you cough or sneeze, you'll end up peeing your pants.

Uncooperatiive!

Is this an omen of things to come? I hope not. Yesterday we went to the OB/GYN for the initial Downes Syndrome Screening. They do this nowadays by measuring the skin on the back of the baby's neck; thin is good, thick is bad. Amazing they can do this from an ultrasound! Anyways the little peanut just did not want to lay the right way, even after I jostled him/her about several times. We did get some new pictures which Scott has dubbed "Skelator", and I have to say, that is a pretty accurate description right now. So yeah, we have to go back next week and try again.

We could see all the vertebre clear as day, straight as an arrow, plus the fingers and legs; especially after I agitated him/her..man did s/he dance up a storm! The ultrasound tech did mention that she thought the sex could be a ______ due to something she saw on the ultrasound and indicated to us what that was, but she said not to quote her on it becasue in reality it was too soon to tell, however, if she is right it will confirm my belief. So we'll just have to wait and see!

Finally.

Finally..both sets of parents know and now I can tell all my friends. That secret was so hard to keep. I was so anti-social since we came back from our vacation in December because I knew if I physically spoke to any of my friends or saw them out, I'd run my mouth and spill the beans. I know you all understand because most all of you have been there already, and I thank you for still being my friends even though I pretty much ignored most of you for the last 10 weeks.

So we told my parents in California Pizza Kitchen..not exactly when we wanted to do but it was our only choice. My mom was so cute..she hugged the picture, cried some, and then sat there swaying back and forth with this massive grin on her face clapping her hands softly going, "eeeeeeeeee!" Adorable. Then she proceeded to down and entire Maragrita in about 5 minutes. My dad was more subdued but no less excited. He was grinning from ear to ear.

One set down one to go!

OK so change of plans..happily I might add. We went out for Scott's mother's birthday last night, so we got to do the reveal a day early. She was so excited..more so than I imagined. She actually cried. Although I have to say it was pretty funny how it happened.

So we give her her present..framed pics of the ultrasound..she opens the box and is chatting away in her usual blonde oblivious manner.."oh, you got me a frame..how nice! I saw these frames in Pottery Barn..yadda yadda..." The The little brother who is in school for Physical Therapy and knows an ultrasound when he sees one says really quietly, "Hey..isn't that an ultrasound?" meanwhile Scott's mom is still blabbing about the frame, not even aware of what her youngest son just said. Then he pipes up and says, "Mom..don't you see what that is?!"
"Oh..oh..OH! Oh my God...!" She puts it to her chest and cries. It was great.

So then we go out to eat..and his dad joins us..he sits down, gets himself settled and we order our food. Then Scott blurts out, "So, Dad..how would you like to be called 'grandpa'?
"Really?" Big grin. "Wow..hey that's great!"

It was a good night.