Ambergontrail – Trying to get through life without dying of dysentery

I am sooooo sorry it took me this long to get this up, especially now that I’m 28 weeks (today). The picture was taken last Thursday, though!

How far along? 27 weeks 5 days in picture
Total weight gain/loss: We’ll see on the 4th!
Maternity clothes? Aye captain
Stretch marks? Like a roadmap
Sleep: I wake up a lot but fall back to sleep easy!
Best moment this week: We felt her tush poking out beside my belly button. It seems to be her favorite spot now.
Movement: Constantly
Food cravings: Cold oranges, chocolate malts
Gender: Hopefully still a lady, we’ll make sure tomorrow.
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button in or out? Innie, but getting smaller
What I miss: Not having to take naps constantly
What I am looking forward to: Putting together her dresser we just bought.
Weekly Wisdom/ Snide Comments: Nothing right now
Milestones: Third tri, baby!!

Now, the pics.

Belly, toothpaste, bad hair

And now, uncovered.

Same as before, just with more skin!

Last month, Paul and I took our friends to the Dodger game. I am lucky that our company has season tickets that used to be directly on the Dodger dugout (now they’re the first row behind the fancy “we serve you” seats”). This makes it super easy to get on camera AND we get a great view of Alyssa Milano, Larry King and various other celebrities who attend.

Since she’s a Dodger Blue fan for life (check out her fan gear here!), Alyssa is at every game we go to. She’s super nice and always has a smile and a wave for fans, even though I know she must get tired of people constantly haranguing her.

Anyway, months before the game I asked Brian (he works with Paul) if they were interested in going to a game with us (despite his Bo Sox fanaticism), since they’re great seats and always a  great game. He said to check with his girlfriend Kelly Ann about scheduling and we agreed on July 26th. Little to Kelly Ann’s knowledge, Brian had plans.

They were going back east over the summer break to visit and see their families, and while he was there, Brian was asking Kelly Ann’s parents for permission to marry her as well as attaining the heirloom ring from his mom (it was his great-grandmother’s!). Brian knew a guy who was a camera man at Dodger Stadium, where they do the “Kiss Cam” (we all know about the kiss cam). He arranged with Paul a Dodger Kiss Cam proposal. He then told Paul not to tell me!!! He thought I wouldn’t be able to keep quiet, being a woman who is married, and apparently hormonal (yeah, I know, wtf? You DO realize these are MY company tickets, right?).

So, Paul told him that he HAD to tell me, it’s a husband’s duty (as he SHOULD learn, ha ha) to not keep secrets from his wife, and seriously I could keep a secret! Months out, Brian had the ring and was ready. Nervous but ready. The week before the game, he calls Paul in a panic. The ring box the ring came in is HUGE, he said. Is there any way Amber could hold it for him in a purse or something? Paul said sure, as I usually carry a gigantic bag anyway.

The plan was this: we’d show up to their place, get a tour from Kelly Ann, during which Brian would place the hearse-sized ring box in  my bag that I would leave out on the stool. Then we would leave for the game, and watch batting practice. During the fourth inning, they would do the Kiss Cam, and then it would happen.

When we arrived, we were in luck- there was a celebrity baseball game going on before the actual Dodger game! So we got to see Rob Lowe, Kevin, Roy and Meredith from “The Office”, Larry King, Tom Green, and a bunch of other people I can’t remember. We got a wave from Kevin! Sadly, that WAS exciting. The guys went to get food and Kelly Ann and I stayed there waving to celebrities and camera men. When the guys came back, Kelly Ann said, “Wouldn’t it be cool if we were on the Kiss Cam??” Brian shot me a panicky look, thinking I spilled the beans. Nope, not THIS girl. I then asked her what she thinks they do when they zoom in on a couple they think are dating, when are in fact, brother and sister or cousins. That got Brian off my back for a bit.

At one point, the Black Eye Peas song “I’ve got a feeling” or “Tonight’s going to be a good night” whatever it’s called came on and Kelly Ann and I both grudgingly admitted to liking the song. I was so thinking in my head, “Tonight IS going to be a good night!!”  Still, didn’t say it! When Brian and Kelly Ann went to get more beers (he’s a nervous drinker, I think), Paul told me that at some point we would have to switch places so B could be in the end seat, since that’s what the camera man was looking for (so you’re saying he would confuse Paul and I,  a pregnant woman and a man wearing a shiny wedding band, with them? hehe), then Paul would pass him the ring from my bag to B’s hand. Somehow. Magically.

We had switched seats while they were gone, with the excuse that Paul couldn’t hear as well from that side. So, the scene was set. When the time came to pass along the gigantic ring box, Kelly Ann was turned around facing me, when Paul was right there trying to pass it off.  So I distracted her by pointing out a man in a cut-off yellow tank top, joking it was his “Fancy Baseball Game Attire”. The deed was done.

The Kiss Cam music began to play and the camera man pulled in front of the couple next to Paul- not Kelly Ann and Brian. Kelly Ann got soo excited! “We’re going to be on KISS CAM!!” A woman started walking down towards us with a cardboard sign in her hand, but since we were so used to kids standing down there trying to get autographs she didn’t think a thing of it. I took my camera out of my bag and aimed at her when the camera man moseyed over to them. “Noooo! Take a picture of the jumbotron!!” Damnit! She’s ruining my plan to capture the moment! So the camera is rolling, she’s looking at them up on screen, moving in for a kiss… Brian gets down on one knee, ring box in hand. Kelly Ann jokingly shoves him away, then a split second later puts her hands to her face. The girl with the cardboard sign holds it up, “SHE SAID YES!!”

Picture Courtesy of Alyssa Milano

Kelly Ann can’t believe it. She hugs him, he hugs her, Alyssa Milano in front of us took a picture of them- the above picture. And tweeted it instantly, as seen here. We all celebrate.

After a bit of the hullabaloo has died down, Alyssa comes over to congratulate them, and let them know they were just “tweeted” and that people from all over are congratulating them. B and Kelly Ann had no idea what she was talking about, so I went to her Twitter page and showed them the pic along with the congrats. You guys should read the comments, some of them are hilarious. A boy who caught a ball gives it to them as a congratulations, bringing already very drunk and emotional Brian to tears. They have the kid sign and date the ball for them. SUPER cute.

Kelly Ann turned to me, “You knew about this all along??” I said, “Sure have!” Brian thanked me a few weeks ago, because he never could have done it without me, and told me how great it was. I was so glad to help a couple in love!

Funny tidbit: Brian proposed wearing Boston Red Sox knee socks. Her dad is a Yankee fan through and through. Proposing at a Dodger Game, wearing Bo. Sox socks to a woman whose father is a diehard Yankees fan? Priceless.

Also: Alyssa Milano is super cool.

From that first positive pregnancy test you wonder about when the baby is going to start moving, when you can finally stop counting down to the doctor’s appointments for news that all is doing well. Then, you feel those flutters, or twitches and you hold your breath, wondering if that could be the baby you feel.

Weeks later you know for sure it’s the baby. A few weeks after that, you really feel her… and it’s slightly creepy. Sure, every time she gives you a thump you think, “Ah, hello to you too!” I still tuck my hand into my pants to feel it, especially now that it’s obvious from the outside.

The funny thing is, when I’m trying to fall asleep, and I’m curled on my side, I feel her moving. She’s moving my innards around or something and it feels ODD. It’s like things are being squished over here and over there. She doesn’t like when I’m on my right side, that’s when she puts up a fuss and does a little tub-thump to show me just how much she dislikes it. So, I flip back over to my left side and all is well. As I lay there, trying to ease myself into sleep (which is hard, considering how badly I need to nap when I get home, and therefore DO), that’s when I really think about what’s happening. There is a baby inside me, moving around, squished up against my bladder (constantly) and pressed up against my stomach. How is it possible that I’m growing a human inside a human? I’m like those nesting dolls, only one doll is nestled inside another.

Then, on Saturday, something new happened. Paul and I were laying in bed watching an infomercial when I noticed my belly had a slight dome to the left of my belly button. I pressed it and noticed it was hard. I pressed the area to the right of my belly button and found that it was soft and squishy. What was I feeling? It was her BUTT. Well, either that or her head. Either way, I FELT A BODY PART. Paul felt it too! We sat there, alternating who got to rub the tiny tush, and watched as it moved and kicked me.

Now THAT, wasn’t creepy, that was a miracle.

How far along? 26 weeks 3 days
Total weight gain/loss: As of 24w6d I gained 4.5 pounds so far this pregnancy.
Maternity clothes? Si senor
Stretch marks? I’m full of new ones constantly.
Sleep: Okay, not great
Best moment this week: Casey got to say goodbye to the belly.
Movement: All the time, right now, in fact!
Food cravings: Kraft Macaroni and Cheese (blue box) and cold navel oranges
Gender: She’s all lady
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button in or out? Innie, but getting smaller
What I miss: Putting on shoes
What I am looking forward to: Our 4D ultrasound on the 31st!
Weekly Wisdom/ Snide Comments: “How many are in there?”
Milestones: I can’t actually think of anything right now.

Pics!!

Forgive me for the very dirty mirror and fluff covered shirt. The mirror is clean until I need to take pictures- then it becomes a mess!

Bellylicious

Now, the paleness that is my belly. Love it.

All black was not a good idea

Casey just came in to say goodbye. I never really thought I’d be old enough to watch her go off to college, but it just goes to show life goes on, whether or not you’re willing to let go.

Maybe a part of me is so sad to see her go because that means I’ll have to grow up, and accept the fact that I’m almost thirty, and a mother to be. I did all I could with her/for her and now it’s time for her to find her own way.

I am so proud of her, I really am. She worked SO hard to get into college (early admission!) that I know she’s going to work hard her whole life, no matter what obstacles come her way. I also know she’s a great young woman, as evidenced by the fact that she came into the office just to say goodbye, and to rub my belly one last time before the baby is born.

Oh my god, can that possibly be true? I’m due November 22, and she’s coming home for Thanksgiving on the 25th. There is a chance, a small one, yes, that the next time she sees me I won’t be pregnant anymore, that I’ll be a MOTHER. Casey told me she would come see me and the baby first thing upon her arrival back home.

It was when she and my boss started talking about the baby that I almost started crying. I already hate goodbyes, heck, I cried when we dropped my Dad off at the airport for a trip to Sydney. I cry when HE dropped US off for our trip to Kauai. I HATE them. So knowing that one thing I hate- saying goodbye- will be coupled with another thing I hate- CHANGE- I couldn’t stand it. I had to change the subject before I started crying.

When she mentioned how fast it all is going, I wanted to tell her to stop- be six years old again! Let’s make some play-doh and go for a walk in the park. I’ll buy you ice cream and let you braid my hair if you’ll just stop growing up. It’s starting to feel too close to home, people getting older and moving on, the baby just beating away at my insides. Pretty soon it’ll be me saying goodbye to my daughter, and that scares the hell out of me.

I have known my boss since I was twelve. I am now almost thirty (yiiiikes) and my boss’ daughter is going off to college in three days.

Let me tell you about my boss’ daughter- Casey. I’ve known Casey since she was two. She was the first child I baby-sat for (yes, at a mere 12 years of age), along with her newborn brother. She was the first baby I bathed, the first child I pushed down the block for a walk… she was like a little sister and daughter in one.

Any money I made from 12-18 was from them. I spent at least three days a week with them, picked them up from school, made them dinner… we baked her first Christmas cookies together. She was my Casey-girl. Now she’s a Casey Woman, which doesn’t have as good a ring to it.

When I left my job at Jamba Juice, waaay back in 1999, the first people I called for a job was Casey’s parents. Amazingly, there was an opening in this tiny 5 person company, and I filled it. It was the best job in the world, as I got to see Casey and her brother every week, during the summers it was every day. We’d walk to the park together, to McDonalds so she could get a McFrosty or whatever those soft-serve blends were. She’d eat my mushy fries and I’d take her crispy ones. We’d hold hands as we crossed the street and marvel at the crazy ass squirrels who were perched so threateningly on the branches chittering down at us. She’d sit at my desk typing “letters” on the typewriter, one time even trying to type a letter to the Santa Monica Parks people to complain about them changing the playground toys from wooden to plastic.

I love her brother as well, don’t get me wrong, he’s the first diaper I ever changed, and the boy I literally watched grow taller than me. Still, my love for Casey is different- as it should be. Even though she’s growing up now, has a boyfriend and a car, she’ll still stop by the office to say hi, or call me for advice for something, the sweetheart has even given me rides home from work. She’s one of the smartest, hardest working and beautiful girls I’ve ever had the luck to know. I suppose it would be presumptuous of me to assume I had any part in that, but I’d like to think she’ll remember our years together fondly.

Now that I prepare to bring home my very own little girl, I can’t stop thinking about how quickly the past 16 years have gone by. One second I was picking her up from preschool and making Teddy Graham sundaes and playing “Putt-Putt saves the Zoo” on the computer- tucking her in at night while reading “Bread and Jam for Frances” for a third time that week; next second she’s rubbing my belly and telling me how she can’t wait to see the baby when she comes home from college for Thanksgiving.

I was in her life, I was part of it all. She was at my wedding, and will hold my daughter when she’s born. Life really does come full circle, doesn’t it?

Right now I’m feeling a lot like The Giving Tree, only she was never a taker.

- When they say you may have discharge, they mean sometimes your underwear will literally stick to you, and you’ll be absolutely repulsed by your own self. Panty liners help salvage what’s left of your underpants, but you really had hoped to not have to use any of that female reproductive paraphernalia during the respite you thought was pregnancy , didn’t you?

- Your sex drive may be nonexistent. Or it may be stronger than P.P. (Pre-preg, remember?) In my case it is the former. It’s not that I don’t feel attractive, or that I don’t TRY to want it. At this point, I’m wondering how we ever conceived to begin with, and worry that Piper will be an only child. We both attempt a “Whaddya say?” to which the other replies, “What? Yeaaaah, no.” To be honest, in the first tri I was so scared of “Knocking something loose” than I didn’t even bother. Now that she’s moving so much more, and you can actually feel the movements from outside, I’m totally okay with waiting until the 4th tri- post-pregnancy.

- Now that I’m at 26 weeks (14 more to go?!?!?!), I’m worrying about random horrible things happening- umbilical cord strangulation, catching Swine Flu (ironic it would be, as I’m a vegetarian), getting some other random disease (Fifth’s disease, Parvo). This is why you should STAY AWAY FROM ALL POSTS ON THE BUMP AND BABY CENTER regarding people who had their babies pass at the exact same time in their pregnancy you are. Seriously, you are NOT doing yourself a service here, ladies.

- My belly has a mind of its own. When standing behind people in lines, my belly touches them without my knowledge. It’s weird! Paul says I am constantly hitting him with it. I guess it’s because I have no real “feeling” of the belly, so I can’t tell if it’s touching something/someone. I tell him I can’t STEER it, okay??

- Registering is hard work. It sounds fun, right? Like, picking out and scanning things you want? Well, couple that with a husband who knows nothing about baby gear, a hot day, and too many options and you have yourself a registry breakdown. Paul, who is the most patient person in the history of the world, got fed up and we cut our day short. I came home and added a ton more stuff to our registry, and we went back another day to choose a stroller we liked. Honestly, it was way worse than I thought it was- we fought for a few hours that day about it. It’s not fun, it’s not like when you were registering for your wedding, and it is EXTREMELY stressful. It sounds easier to knock it out in one swoop, but I think smaller amounts of registering was so much easier on us, and our relationship.

- Heartburn sucks ass. I have become a person who carries Tums in her purse. FYI: The Smoothies versions are the best, by far. Less chalky and tastes more like a strange little vitamin. Don’t bother with the Rolaids chews- yeah, it’s a fun concept, but after awhile the taste is gross but you’re STILL CHEWING.

- It’s okay to think your pregnant body is sexier than your non-pregnant body. I do. It’s also okay if you can’t wait to NOT be pregnant. Honestly, at this point, I wish I could be pregnant forever- I LOVE IT. Still, I understand that I’m lucky- my only complaints are sciatica, heartburn and itchy belly. Others have it WAY WORSE.

- Be prepared for people to think you’re too large when you’re XX far along. I think women forget how big they got, and assume you were larger than they were at that point in their own pregnancy. Men? Well, they have no idea what the hell they’re talking about. Sure, we love them, they’re great husbands and friends and family, but the “Are you sure there is JUST one in there?” gets old FAST. They don’t know how large we can get, and I bet it shocks them to see it.

- When you’re trying to tie your shoes, DON’T HOLD YOUR BREATH. I didn’t even know I was doing it, but got so winded and lightheaded I had to climb up on the bed with my shoes finally on (that was a big part of the fatigue) but untied. Paul had to come in and tie them for me. Unfortunately, he tied them too tight and my toes lost feeling, but overall, the job was done.

- Sometimes I eat an ice cream sandwich as a dessert appetizer to be followed by an ice cream cone meal. I won’t lie, I love ice cream.

- From first tri I mention this again: Names. Now that you know the sex, you most likely have names in mind. We’ve had our name for years. When people ask us about her name, we proudly tell them. We’ve gotten the following responses: “Oh my gosh! That’s adorable!”, “That’s not a very hispanic name” (from the brother in law who is HISPANIC and named his son PARKER), “Is that a family name?” that had been preceded by an awkward silence (we get this one a lot- what, because it’s not Madison or Aiden, it has to be a FAMILY name because it’s not the top five or something I made up?), and my personal favorite: “Well, that’s nice, but  how about…?” Because we don’t already have a name picked out? You think it’s so crappy that you want to spare our unborn child the agony of a name that isn’t your choice? On Sunday, the first thing our nephew said to me (While eyeballing the belly), “Why are you naming your baby Piper?” I wanted to say, “Why are you redheaded? Why is your name Parker? Why do you wear shoes?” Then I realized he’s eight and was probably put up to this by his dad. To clarify, in case my replies sounded extra cruel- he didn’t say it as a question, it was more like you’d say, “Why are you eating that maggot?”

- Prepare to be outside and see kids do things you hope your kid doesn’t do. Paul and I play a game called, “I hope our kids don’t…” usually followed by something like, “Talk back to us in public” or, “Pick their nose while talking to someone”. Maybe even mixed up with a nice “Grab his/her junk while asking us if they could have part of our cookie”. Of course, kids are kids, and do whatever they please, so we know this is really a useless game. Most of the time it’s, “Please don’t let our kid be the fat kid like I was” or “Please don’t let our kid be the one who gets picked on.”

- Buying crap. It’s a disease. Wherever we go, I pick up something. A onesie, some socks, a little hat… someone help me.

- Always have extra rolls of toilet paper IN the bathroom. I have gone through half a pack of Mega rolls. Unfortunately, I always seem to run out in my 2am pee break. Who wants to have to turn on the light to go get more t.p?

- Your underwear will be gigantic. Over the belly, under the belly, no matter. All that matters is that it stretches and can be mistaken for a t-shirt while going through the laundry basket. Yes, that has happened to me a LOT. I have one pair that looks like a freaking leotard, it’s so huge and high-tummied. They aren’t even made for maternity! I’m now at a size 9- which according to the Froot of the Loom packaging, is a XXL. No joke. One more number up and I’ll have to buy my underwear somewhere else.

- Sitting down. I am no longer able to keep my legs together (and you thought that’s how I got into this predicament, didn’t you? *har har*) when I sit. No, the belly keeps them far apart, perhaps I have one of those O.G. Low hanging bellies? I dunno, but it’s riding low, baby. This causes me to sit down with my legs splayed open. It’s not sexy.

So far that’s all I have. Please join me next trimester for hemorrhoids, unsightly veins, and mucous plugs. Pregnancy is a beautiful thing.

How far along? 25 weeks 5 days (as of the picture)
Total weight gain/loss: As of 24w6d I gained 4.5 pounds so far this pregnancy.
Maternity clothes? You betcha
Stretch marks? Oh yes, new ones sprouting up all over my sad, itchy belly.
Sleep: Differs per night.
Best moment this week: She kicked Paul in the face.
Movement: Constantly
Food cravings: Really good french fries
Gender: Ladylike
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button in or out? Still in, thankfully
What I miss: Sleeping on my back
What I am looking forward to: Our next ultrasound
Weekly Wisdom/ Snide Comments: Get the room painted while you’re still able to do it!
Milestones: We are finally past the non-viable stage of my pregnancy. Meaning, should PJ be born now (knock on wood that she stays for at least 12 more weeks!), she’d definitely be in the NICU and have many complications, but the odds are good for survival.

Now, pics.

25w5d

Lovely Maternity Shirt

Shirt off:

Uncovered goodness

I promise I’ll have more pics from THIS week, this actually week.

I know, I know, still no pictures of me from last week. I’ve been EXHAUSTED. We have painted the room, minus the trim, although we do have the paint for that. Too much crouching and sitting on the floor painting has given me some major aches and pains.

We had the primer all set Friday night, and woke bright and early Saturday morning- not by choice. No, we were awakened by the family of raccoons that inhabit the tree next to the nursery. Seriously, at 6am, it appears they were getting ready to transition from their nighttime home (the tree) to their daytime home (the storm drain at the end of our street), and making as much noise as possible while climbing down the tree and the fence. I woke up, said to Paul, “Is that Bandit and Coony?” Yep, it was those raccoons again. So I got up and looked out the window. One of the raccoons had made his way down the top of the fence and was now looking directly at me. I was kind of shocked, but also slightly entertained. From the bed Paul asked what they were doing, and I told him it appeared they were leaving. Then I sniffed (allergies, you know) and the raccoon HISSED at me! The nerve! Of course this prompted Paul to get out of bed to defend my honor. We stayed up for an extra hour hissing at the raccoon from our room and the baby’s room. It was pretty entertaining, all the hissing that went back and forth between the five of us (three raccoons and two humans), especially when Paul tried to make himself “look big” with his arms up like a bear. See? This is why I love my husband more than anything.

We have registered at Target and Babies R’ Us. A lot of stuff is duplicated on each registry- I go through and pick what I like, then see something I like better, but get too tired to go back and delete the one I like less. It’s a horrible cycle, folks.

Paul and I went to Target yesterday, since we needed toilet paper (peeing forty thousand times a day will really diminish your t.p. supply), toothpaste, and jumbo bikini underwear for me. While we were there we found some cute little outfits- I nearly died fifteen times. Paul gave in and let me pick out something for her, so we got this:

HOW CUTE IS THIS??

Since it was so cute, and Paul picked it out, we also got this:

The green one, it says "Mommy's Sweetie"

So we didn’t really get THAT much done, although I must say, painting was a LOT OF WORK!!

On Sunday we baby-sat our nephews and their two friends. Whooooeeee, four boys are a bunch of excitement and hyperactivity! Not only that, but we were at my brother in law’s house that has like, five stories: the very top that has just a bedroom and a bathroom with a staircase down to another bedroom, a staircase from that floor down to ANOTHER bedroom, another staircasedown to the floor with the kitchen/dining room (which has four steps down into the family room/door to the patio and stairs down to the yard), THEN there is the den/basement that has another bathroom and a door to the yard. So, in all, I was up and down 7 sets of stairs the whole day. The good thing is, there was a bathroom pretty much everywhere I looked, so that was enjoyable.

Holy crapping crap. In a mere hundred days, our baby will most likely NOT be here yet (first borns go later, correct?), but she will be fully cooked and ready to party- let the poop blow outs begin!

A hundred days. Yes, I have yet to post my belly pic for this week (took the pic last night then slept for a million years, Rip Van Winkle-like), but I have it! I really see no difference, but according to the random strangers, I appear like I could “go at anytime”. Thanks, folks.

Today, my dear, darling husband picked up the paint for the baby’s room. We are choosing to use Dutch Boy paint, because they have a new kind with Arm & Hammer baking soda in the paint! It’s called “Refresh“.  It’s got 0 VOC (stinky chemicals),water based,  is scrubbable, mildew resistant, and has a limited lifetime warranty (really, limited? I’d like to know just what cancels this warranty). The color is called “Bay Sky”, and it’s a turquoise color, which we will compliment with a chocolate brown trim at the baseboards and around the closet and doors. Our floors are tile- a grey/beige color, and the crib is antique white.

While we’re excited about having the room done, it also means we have to set up the room- clean the books out of the bookshelf, put the boxes in the closet (only to be pulled out again), lay the drop cloths. I’m tired just thinking about it.

Hopefully I’ll have some pics of the room when it’s on its way to being done!

100 days!!