Don't Read if You Can't Tolerate Mushiness...

I'm feeling really sappy a lot of the time these days. I'm pretty much a huge cheeseball and Nick and I tease back and forth as he rolls his eyes and pretends to not be into it, while I overact with the romantics and cartoonishly fawn over him.

But in all seriousness, I'm so happy lately about he and I, and the way our lives have come together and the things we've achieved as a couple, and as a new family.

I don't think I could be more in love with him now that he and I are starting a family together and we're having our own child together.

Sometimes it still blows my mind that I ended up with him; for several years I considered him "the one that got away", and I was more than happy to pick up with him again when we reconnected in 2007. Who would've thought we still wanted all those crazy things we talked about as high school kids, like marriage?

April 2002.

Who'da thought these kids would be welcoming a son, 

10 years from the moment of this photograph?

Who knew first loves could have actually gotten it right the first time?

As I stopped to proofread this entry so far, with my hands feeling Gavin kicking away, I'm just happy. I'm so thankful Nick and I found each other through so many almost-miss circumstances all those years ago, I'm so glad all my other relationships weren't right for me, I'm so glad we just started hanging out a little bit near the end of 2007 and decided we wanted to try this out again.

And though I don't know the exact occasion that lead to our Gavin nugget being created, I'm really happy it did and that Nick is the person it happened with. It makes me all the more glad I was smart and sensible as a teenager, and never had any other pregnancy before this one to taint how incredible this time in my life is.

Ok, I know. I'm super cheesy and a total fag. I can't help it. A friend who is also pregnant right now asked me early on if I'd had all the mega-sappy feelings yet, and I totally see what she was getting at now. I mean, I've always felt super lovey and affectionate towards Nick, it's just incredible how a child multiplies it by 1000. I love that shit head<3

24 weeks.

"People always say that pregnant women have a glow, and I say it's because you're sweating to death."

- Jessica Simpson

YES. I never need to wear a jacket, even on the chillier days. I always have the car windows down a bit even when Nick is freezing. I am a goddamn sauna.

Just Gotta Say....

Thank baby jesus for maternity bras!

I've been wearing one of the new ones I picked up today for all of an hour and the difference is ahhh-mazing! I may never go back to a normal bra again!

Not that I really could, since my new bra size has reached some letters and numbers like I've never seen before. le sigh. This kid better eat up once he's birthed so these things can regain some post-partum normalcy. Or he's grounded.

23 Weeks.

So, a few things going on with the baby-growing lately.

At my last OB appointment, Gavin kept up with his typical uncooperativeness. He was moving around so much, it took awhile to hear his heartbeat clearly with the doppler. She even tried pressing on my belly (at the top of my uterus) to limit his space. haha. It actually worked! In the end, she only got a range of 152-158, which is good. 

His kicks are also getting a lot more vigorous and complex, which I love. He's gone from the early days of soft, single nudges to full-on acrobatics. I'll often feel kicks near the back or bottom of my uterus and front at the same time. Like he's kicking and pushing outward in all directions. And today for the first time it felt like he kicked an organ! I had to pee really bad, so my bladder was probably just pushing into his space more than normal, but it definitely felt like he was kicking it, signaling me to get up and go pee already. Sorry Gavin, I didn't wanna leave my meatball sub! Nom!

Speaking of eating, I learned how much weight I've gained thus far in pregnancy. Essentially, I was shocked. I didn't feel like I'd gained that much! But I guess that's a good thing, cause if I can gain this certain number and I only see a difference in my boobs and belly, I think that's a good sign for the rest of my body. or something. If I gained up to the recommended amount (something like 35 pounds), I think I would still resemble my pre-pregnancy self. Except my belly. That definitely will be different. God dammit.

Oh, also very exciting: We have the baby shower invitations! My mom and I sat for like an hour designing and finding the right wording we wanted and I think they turned out amazing. 

With baby shower planning officially underway, I'll say now that I'm registered at Target and Babies R Us. If you know me, you know what name to search for.

Note on the registries: Yes, my mom and I got scan-happy when we made them. We realized it was better to over-do it than under-do it. We made sure as much as possible to skip the frivolous stuff as well. (Who the fuck needs a baby wipe warmer?) Also, yeah we put in there some of the more expensive items. I've had some family indicate they wanted to buy us a big ticket item for the baby, so I had to pick things I liked. SO there!

Anyway, if you feel so inclined, have at it! Help me acquire things for the caretaking of my little nugget!