Preggo Ramblings

Stephanie lent me a book she had been reading

and it's called the Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy. I've only read several chapters, but it's like it says in the book. There are too many "guides" out there that are so technical ( stuff that I would have known already but that doesn't make it any less intimidating now that I'm ACTUALLY pregnant. ), and very impersonal and present the cold hard facts in a pretty scary manner.

This book on the other hand, is written from collected anecdotes and personal experiences of different women, that doesn't try to hide the truth ( "that pregnancy is alarming, sloppy, charming and sentimental"), but tells you like it is, and offers remedies to the many trials of pregnancy in a comforting and humorous way as well as many practical insights into even the most mundane stuff.

There's a little section in the book about dads-to-be and I constantly remind myself that this is something special shared between David and myself and although I may be feeling seasick all day long, that it is David's journey too. If anything, it should make our bond and love stronger. First time Fathers-to-be are in such unique positions and have so many questions and worries too, and I'm glad we are able to talk and work it out and that we can reassure each other when one or the other voices this or that worry.

My lubby hubby is truly a sweetheart. *melts* This whole fatherhood thing may be freaking him out ( He referred to himself as "dad" the other day and almost died when he realised what he had said) but he is there for me, my solid rock of gibraltar, unconditionally. My hero..

*sigh*

First Prenatal Visit and a Date Change

David says it helps me be a more empathic doctor

when I have to go through what my patients went through with me. That's exactly what happened this afternoon when we arrived at the doctor's office for my first prenatal visit. So far, I had always been the doctor, with men and women getting into all sorts of positions for me to examine them, and i would be examining all kinds of private bits without giving it a second thought.

SO, it was quite the experience when I had to "assume the position" for the OGBYN this afternoon, for her to examine me and do the ultrasound etc. Anyway, it was a relief for me to know that the baby was doing well with a strong heart beat, and was where it was supposed to be, instead of in the tubes or somewhere it was NOT supposed to be.

Also, apparently I had ovulated later than I had thought, and the ultrasound showed that the baby was actually a week behind what we had initially thought. So now I have to go through week 8 all over again. *smiles* David said "Uh oh, an extra week of morning sickness than what we had thought". *sigh* But he was just thrilled and in awe and blown away, especially when we heard the baby's heartbeat for the first time. He was quite the proud papa. :)

Anyway, we present to you the first pictures of our little preciousness at 7 weeks and 6 days

Crown Rump Length measuring 1.55cm,
corresponding to 7w6d

A Strong Heartbeat at 173 bpm

Stephanie's Baby Shower

Just 4 more weeks to go

before Stephanie will be 40 weeks into her pregnancy. It seems not too long ago that we were all rejoicing with her when she announced that she was pregnant. She is just going to make the most sweetest, kindest, lovingest, most amazing mom ever.

She had a baby shower on Sunday, at the home of one of the ladies from church, and was absolutely glowing and looked fantastic. Me? I'm feeling all bloaty and bleh. All in all it was interesting, and here are some pictures from the "do".

"Da Spread"

Holly and Stephanie with "Da Loot"





Awwwwwww look at them footie thingies





Someone even made a diaper cake..

There was a lady there who was helping to host the shower and asked me if I was an international student at one of the local universities.. I very coyly answered, "Well, actually, I'm Stephanie's aunt". hehehehehe...

Several of the women from church that I knew came up to me and whispered excitedly, "You know, I heard a rumor..." and I would shyly confirm that I was pregnant. But seriously, it was Stephanie's day and she was just beautiful. What a lucky baby Max Micah will be.

Random Sightings

Okay, so we ALL know

what's on my mind these days, and that's probably all I'd be prone to talk about.. but that's more for the OTHER blog..

Here, on the other hand, are some "happenings" from the past week...

Spotted at a local estate sale. Had to, HAD to take a pic.
Pretty juvenile, I know. Maybe I need to say "David made me do it". :P





Double Yolk in one of the eggs while making breakfast for David..





It had been raining for the past 4 days or so, and we got like 4 inches all together, and all these mushrooms/toadstools start sprouting up all over the place





David couldn't stand these ones and did a Godzilla on the mushroom city. Check out the still-not-fully-grown size on the sucker, tho, with part of my foot for perspective.

Oooo I won a Gold Medal!

The folks over at Scrapblog.com

have been having these themed challenges over the last month or so, and I had been participating in all the challenges so far but without any luck, so it was a really sweet sweet surprise to find out that I had been chosen as the (co)winner of the challenge, "Scrap Your Favorite Beverage" ! w00t!

Read all about it here and here

Ta Da!

Spilling the Beans

My Eggo is Preggo

I'm not kidding.

The main reason why I haven't been blogging over here that consistently, is because I've been blogging HERE almost every day.

And in that vein, I am now officially declaring to the world ( since we've already informed both sides of our families coz it would have been kinda ridiculous to blog about it before my parents or david's dad even knew ) that David and I are expecting.

Who would have known the level of worry one succumbs to when one gets knocked up.. for the first time...

This week, Jnr will be the size of a blueberry

coz he/she turned 7 weeks yesterday.

Last week, Jnr was the size of a lady bug, and a before that a grain of rice etc etc.

I KNOW!!!

And yes, I am categorized under ELDERLY PRIMIGRAVIDA!

which means this announcement is made cautiously, coz we're not out of the woods yet at this point. But this is such a big part of me right now, and a huge "adventure in the US of A", so please pray for me and david and this little blueberry of ours and we will keep you informed.

And no belly shot requests, people. *grin*

Saturday Excursion

We used to go on these excursions

on Saturdays, with David's dad, mostly to towns and events close by. But for some reason, we hadn't been doing that for a while. So,when I read in the papers that there was going to be a Peach and Melon Festival at De Leon ( about 1 1/2 hours from Abilene ), I thought I'd make a pitch to the boys for a short excursion over there.

Looking Down Main Street






Stalls and Curios






There was a Classic Car Show a block away




Pony Ride, anyone?

Another 3 months

till the weather starts to be less unforgiving
right now there's just too few tolerable hours of daylight to do much outdoors. And it's been so dry. The lawn is dying in patches - David has had to do all kinds of watering to try and combat that. All these 100F or more days are really taking their toll. On us, on our plants, on just about everything. Although it doesn't get this hot in Malaysia, the humidity is just terrible over there. But what's sad is, I can't remember if it was worse for me back there or over here. I suspect that if I was in the shade, I'd much rather be here.

What's with this blog post out of left field on some random subject? Well, there's a lot that's been going on, but at the same time it seems like nothing has happened. I really should go out with my camera and take pictures of the yard, the kittens that have adopted us ( yeah, MORE cats ), even the dying grass. BUT one thing for sure, in the months to come I should have much more to blog about, even if it's just because the weather has eased up some, and we can finally feel somewhat HUMAN again.

Bleh.