20 weeks: growing and kicking

Well, I can't hide it anymore. My belly has grown quite a bit in the past week. No matter what I wear, it's obvious: I'm fat. I mean, I'm pregnant. For your average onlooker, it might be hard to tell if I'm pregnant or just sporting a girly beer belly. In either case, people are checking it out.

News from inside the belly: the dance parties begin five minutes after every mealtime and just when everything mysteriously gets quiet and dark at around 11pm.

The photo is from our swank room in Las Vegas. Jeff was doing business and winning money at the casino, while I was busy spending the money. I found a few things for the baby's room there. It can be difficult to shop for the little person, not knowing if it will be socialized to like or avoid pink. Anyway, I still found some things.

Next week we will know whether or not the baby will be allowed pink... so get your votes in below and stay tuned.

-Theresa

19 weeks: another craving

Here is the latest picture of the growing belly. It must have grown an inch tonight because I had a big dinner of buffalo tenders. I was so happy to find these at a cute local restaurant. They are the closest thing to the 'Godzilla Tails' I've been craving from Shogun Restaurant in phoenix. This is another geographically impossible dish for me to eat. I started craving them in my first trimester when no other meal sounded appetizing to me. Jeff called Shogun in an attempt to have them shipped to me somehow. They didn't return his call. This experience shattered his belief that any red tape could be cut when he frantically referenced his hormone stricken pregnant wife. Oh well, we found an acceptable substitute.

Yes, I've become very food obsessed.

19 weeks: a 4 bagel kind of day

Jeff and I just came home from NYC, home of our favorite bagel shop, Tal. I was only able to get one of those bagels, leaving me with a hunger which, now that we are back in Chicago, I cannot satisfy. So what did I do? I went to Einstein Bagels for lunch and had a bagel with peanut butter. I took some bagels home, hoping to eat them throughout the next week, but I ended up eating 3 more before the day was through. No matter how many I eat, they still don't stack up to Tal's. After losing weight during the first trimester, weight gain this trimester is looking inevitable.

Otherwise, NY was fun. We visited with a friend of mine from college, Caro, and her husband Adam. Caro took me on what seemed like a 20 mile walking tour of her little village outside the city, my muscles are still aching! It was fun catching up with her and meeting the little human she made, Hudson. He's almost a year old and more adorable than a bushel full of puppies.

Also, I went around the fabric stores in the fashion district looking for material for curtains in the baby's room. No luck.

18 weeks: father's day

Hey, everyone. Jeff here.
For those keeping score, Theresa hasn't gained any inches on her waist this week, despite her healthy appetite. She's also devouring articles and books on parenting and babies. She's been very careful with her nutrition and exercise. She's going to be a great mother.

In other news, I've noticed a pattern. Whenever I tell someone that we're expecting, I get one of two answers:
Women respond with: "That's wonderful! Congratulations!"
Men say: "Congratulations! Your life as you know it is over." That last part is usually delivered with a rueful little shake of the head. Then it's followed with gratuitous, horror-filled tales of sleep deprivation, vomit, poop, and a complete and overwhelming inability to ever go out to dinner again. Strangely enough, these tales are often conveyed with glee. Misery loves company, I guess.

But, let me tell you, this whole father thing is working out well so far. This weekend I received my first ever father's day gift! A hammock. Thanks, Randy and Tania!
Man, everyone should have a hammock. Soothing, rocking, comforting, sleep-inducing; it's like a cradle for adults. If everyone had a hammock, there would be less war in the world.

I also got a barbeque from my unborn baby. Score! Now I can cook my meat foodstuffs outdoors and get that good fire and charcoal smell all over them just how I like. A hammock and a barbeque. I am the suburban dad of the 1950's. We should have done this father thing sooner! Thanks, baby.

Happy father's day, everyone. Especially to my dad, Peter.
-Jeff

PS:
Anyone reading this can reply to these posts by hitting "comments." We're still in the market for baby name suggestions!
We hope to know the baby's gender on July 7.

18 weeks: first movements

Late last night I had to wake a sound asleep Jeff because I finally felt the movement of a little human inside of me (a little creepy). Rousing Jeff from sleep does not usually elicit such a positive response, but he put his hand on my stomach and was as excited as I was to feel the little bugger for the first time.

What seemed to be a single dance step inside of me turned into what I can only describe as a full reenactment of Saturday Night Fever. He/she danced around for over two hours, keeping me awake. I guess this is the first of more than a couple of nights we'll spend without an optimum amount of sleep.

17 weeks: something's cooking!

Hey, everyone. Jeff here. Thanks for coming.
Like Theresa said, this blog was set up so our friends and family can witness the shocking, startling transformation of a beautiful young woman into a beautiful young woman and a baby. It's beginning already.

Hey, Theresa. You're looking mighty cute there in that belly shirt. More beautiful than ever. Love you, baby.

-Jeff

PS:
Anyone reading this can reply to these posts by hitting "comments."
The first thing we want to hear from you is baby name suggestions.
What have you got? We don't know the gender... yet.

13 weeks: our first glimpse

Jeff recently saw a pregnancy blog of a friend of ours, and was inspired to start one for us. Family and friends will now be able to share in our thoughts as my belly grows.

I am finally getting over my debilitating morning sickness, thanks to an over the counter antihistamine that I take daily. Seems strange, but who cares! It works! Nine weeks of rejecting meals is quite enough. Now I am able to get excited about this new life growing inside of me.

Here is our first glimpse of the little guy/girl from our 13 week sonogram!

-Theresa