This and that

We made it back to PA after a fabulous trip to Texas for Christmas. We pulled in around midnight-thirty this morning after a long, long drive. Stas and I both acquired an array of flu like symptoms and are hoping to sleep them off over the long weekend.

We were welcomed back this morning with several inches of snow that kept accumulating until about mid-morning. The roads were awful, but luckily empty.

We went to the doctor this morning. Everything looks/sounds/measures as it should. I passed my glucose test for gestational diabetes, but am a little low on iron. Go figure, since I don't eat meat and eating well has been pretty low on the priority list as we try to manage the craziness of the holidays and travel. [Note: I absolutely believe that you can get sufficient iron in your diet without meat, but a diet consisting mainly of PB&J won't really get you there!] I gained 9 pounds since my last visit, but I was wearing my galoshes, which weigh about 4 pounds. So really, I only packed on 5 pounds in the last four weeks. This brings the overall pregnancy total to 14 pounds. I'm sure in the coming 13-ish weeks I will be quickly adding to that!

The general consensus at work has been that my belly has gotten huge over the last week since I've been out. Maybe it's those extra five pounds.

Today my loving husband cleaned the snow off my car, came with me to the doctor appt (despite having to wear a mask b/c of the flu-like symptoms), and drove me to work, to ensure that I got there safely and so I could rest on way there. Since then he's even gone to the bank and braved Wal-Mart for our much needed groceries.

Tonight we will be ringing in the new year with enough delicious food to feed about ten people and by watching The Irony of Fate, as is our tradition and the tradition of many in the Russian-speaking countries of the world!

Happy new year!

25 weeks

Last week we took some photos. I wanted documentation for belly growth. Stas wanted to show off the new fish tank. This was our compromise:

I feel like we've definitely taken a turn in the pregnancy. I can now easily sleep 10-12 hours at night (unfortunately this is only doable over weekends) and am prone to falling asleep on the couch if it's after dark, which is really the only time that I'm actually home so this happens a lot. I also get sort of wiped out easily. I guess that's what happens when you do next to no cardiovascular activity for four months straight. Thank you sedentary job, freezing weather, no daylight, and insufficient motivation. I better pick it up if I'm going to make it through labor.

I am also feeling the little guy move around a lot, which is always a thrill. I can now feel him infringing on my space when I bend over and move in certain ways. Oh boy, I still have a while to go! I know this will just get worse, so I'm trying to take it all in stride and be amazed by it instead of uncomfortable. I'm starting to get a little bit of lower back pain, too. And occasionally when I catch a reflection of myself in the TV or microwave or even a mirror I'm usually shocked to see myself so obviously pregnant. I guess the reality of it all is still sinking in. But don't you worry, I still have the heartburn as a near constant reminder. I can't go anywhere without my Tums! I keep them in my purse, at my bedside, in the kitchen, and at my desk at work. I've also added Zantac to the mix, which is the only way I can not be woken up by heartburn during the night. Yea for modern medicine!

Thanks to winter, I still haven't had any weird stranger run-ins. I guess as long as my coats still zip/button, while I'm out and about, no one really can tell that I'm pregnant, which is fine with me. I would probably freak if a stranger tried to touch my belly. The only times that I've had the random pregnancy chit-chat was while returning maternity clothes. And so far no horror birth stories. I guess I'm either just really lucky or will get blasted with it as D-day gets closer.

All in all I've been really lucky with this pregnancy and am grateful to experience this miracle. I go in on Tuesday for my glucose screening and another Rhogam shot (typical 28 week blood work). Then when we get back from Christmas in Texas I'll be going to the doc every two weeks! I can't believe the third trimester is right around the corner!

Airplane training

In anticipation for our upcoming trip, we've been working on Buster's airplane training. His first time on an airplane in August he was pretty good, but we are still hoping for an improvement. This training involves sitting in his travel bag (with it zipped up) and being quiet for a few hours. Sounds slightly like torture, but he mostly just sleeps/observes. He's been doing really well with it and this morning he even ventured in there on his own! Hallelujah! While he only stayed for about five minutes, I'm just glad that he voluntarily went inside. He even stayed still long enough for photo documentation of the event!

Here's our proof:

Disclaimer: I never in my life thought I would be the type of person to travel with their pets. But, well, here we are. I can't stand the idea of boarding him, and for longer trips over holidays I just feel like it's too big of a favor to leave him with out trusty Buster-sitter. So far we've only spent $17 on his carrying bag that we got on clearance at the pet store, and escaped any sort of pet fee from the airlines (knock on wood). So that doesn't make us too crazy, does it?

Have you checked Wikipedia today?

Guess what today's featured article is.....?

It's the PA State Capitol! I just wanted to give it a little shout out, because I drive by it every day to and from work.

Back before the economy went down the drain, they would light it up when it was dark with really pretty lights. It always made the commute a little more bearable.

But even in daylight, it's still a really pretty building.

Snow Day

So unless you live under a rock or an equally remote place, then you've probably heard about the crazy snow we've been receiving our here in the Mid-Atlantic reason. They (the weather powers that be) were making doomsday-like predictions. My response was to be simultaneously skeptic and horrified as a winter wonderland is not really in my comfort zone.

All Friday night, I kept checking the snow status (this is easy to do with a pregnant bladder; it makes for frequent updates). And slowly, but surely this was a steady accumulation gathering, until we reached this:

Stas and I donned our winter weather gear to take Buster out and get the blood flowing.

Buster loves the snow. He probably doesn't remember much from his first go around with snow last winter, as he was so young, but he so excited whenever anything new and different comes around. He bounds around in it like a fawn and loves to sniff, dig, and burrow his way to exploration of what lies beneath.

When he's not outside, he spends most of this time watching from the window or the balcony, which has conveniently accumulated a nice pile of snow for him to borrow in.

All in all, the snow wasn't so bad. We had enough food to sustain us, we never lost power, and church was cancelled so more blogging for your enjoyment! I'm just glad that it will be all clear by when we are flying to Texas or else I might very easily become a Scrooge.

To see all the fun photos, go here.

Merry Swiftmas

I heard this song on the way home from work today followed by an interview with the singer/writer. He said something about "if you can't get famous on your own, just write a song about a famous person." I like chill people who write funny songs that simultaneously celebrate good girls (aka Taylor Swift) and mock crazy celebs (aka L. Lohan & B. Spears). Especially funny since he use to be in Avril's band. Anyway, it's just fun and catchy, so enjoy!

Grace is not my middle name

Today we had our first major snow. By the time I was leaving for work it had been raining for a little bit, but the snow what still in tact. So as I ventured out to my car I fell.

What!?!?

Yes, I fell onto my knees in the wet slush in my nice work clothes. May I also add that I was carrying my purse, laptop bag, umbrella, book, and two letters that I needed to put in the mailbox. Oh yeah, and my unborn child! So maybe my balance was a little off. So what do I do in such a sorry state? Burst out crying, because why the heck not!?!? Stas comes down from our apartment appropriately concern, but very confused about how I managed to fall forward onto my knees, and not on my butt. Let me provide a better visual (maybe it's from Bambi, but I think it's a pretty common image):

Imagine a young, hoofed animal that walks out onto a recently frozen lake
to experience walking on ice for the first time. No matter how slow and
cautious he is, he just can't get any traction; then there is some slipping
and sliding and eventually he ends up sprawled on his belly spinning in
circles.

While I don't have hooves and I wasn't flat on my belly, I feel like this is a pretty good account of how it all went down.

Stas helped me up, asked me if I was alright, took all the stuff I was carrying, and escorted me safely to my car. He then dropped off the letters in the mailbox and proceeded to clean all of the snow off of my car while I sat inside of it and waited for the heater get going. My hero! Did I mention that he also had a final to get to this morning. I guess he must really love me or something!

All the while Buster is running around like a crazy loon enjoying the first major snow of the season!