Mrs. Powell

Well, it's the last day of 2011, so I thought I'd get another post in. Things have definitely been staying busy in our household.

Fifteen weeks

First things first, I made the (huge) decision to change my last name in order to have the same last name as Craig and Booger. I know for a lot of newlywed women, changing one's name is an exciting step--a sort of rite of passage. The difference for me is the fact that a large number of the women in my family never changed their last name once married. I can imagine if you've grown up where changing one's name is the norm (i.e. most households) then it would be a very easy decision to make. Instead, I've grown up in a family where it's not necessary to change one's name in order to show that you've taken such a big step in life. I never said I wouldn't change my name, but I always made it clear that doing so would need to be a decision that I made, not a decision pushed on me by others. Unfortunately, during our years of marriage, I've had to deal with a number of people (directly and indirectly) questioning why I didn't change my last name. My reasons are simple, but people still seemed puzzled about why I couldn't just change my name, as if I was over-thinking something that's so incredibly personal. One of my favorite quotes, because it seemed to capture what some people thought, is Turk from Scrubs when his soon-to-be wife asks if he'd mind if she kept her last name: "Sure. We'll just have one of those modern marriages where the husband and wife don't really love each other." One thing I've always wondered, though, is how I would feel about not having the same last name as my child(ren). Craig is a different story. Sure, he's my husband, but in the six years before we were married, we never had the same last name anyway. I asked a number of name-keeping women how they felt about not sharing the same last name as their children. I soon discovered that how they felt really doesn't affect me. I'd been asking that question, so I already knew that it was an issue for me. Soooo, to sum up this long explanation, I went down to the social security office last Friday in order to change my last name. Craig was happy with my decision, but beforehand, he tried not to say too much about it--he wanted it to be my decision, not something I was doing because he wanted it. Being a Powell is taking some adjusting, but I've got plenty of years to get used to it. I'm a bit sad about no longer being a Gray-Lobe (and the lone female Gray-Lobe, at that), but Geoff and Sarah's baby girl will do a wonderful job in that role come April. Also, my name will be much easier for students to remember once I start teaching again (hyphenated names confuse them so much, as does being called "Ms." rather than "Miss" or "Mrs"). In all, I'm now a Powell and quite happy about it.

Baby (Girl) Gray-Lobe on the left, Baby Powell on the right

Now on to Booger news. We had our most recent appointment two days ago, and it went really well. I originally chose the hospital where we'll be having Booger because they offer so many wonderful programs. One such program is called Centering, where you have your appointments in a group setting with moms (and dads) whose babies are due in the same month. With my new job, I didn't think I would have time for Centering anymore, but at the last minute I changed my mind and decided I would just use PTO in order to make time for it. Anyway, two days ago was the first meeting for June parents. Our group is led by one of the midwives (not the one we're seeing, but coincidentally the one Geoff and Sarah are seeing) and a nurse. There will be a total of seven moms, but two couldn't make it the other day. Craig was able to come along since he wasn't working, and two other women had their husbands there. Craig probably won't be able to make it to all of them, but it was nice having him at the first one. In this first one, we each took turns with the nurse and midwife. We have our own charts, so Craig was monitoring my weight, blood pressure, and baby's heart rate, all of which look great. He wrote my name at the top of the page, and started to write my old last name--it's taking some adjusting for both of us! It doesn't matter that we just heard Booger's heartbeat at the ultrasound last month--it was still so amazing hearing it again the other day. I swear, it'll be four months from now, and I'll still be giggling every time I hear Booger's heartbeat. After we got through those basics, we all got to know each other and then discussed our feelings about different topics, such as exercise, weight gain, eating healthy, and stress management. It was great hearing about what other women (and men) are going through. In all, it was a great first Centering class!

Fake pregnancies

Afterwards, we were able to pick up some more maternity gear for me because I'm already running out of pre-pregnancy clothes that fit. Absolutely none of my pants fit anymore. People keep telling me to use my Bella Band or to try the rubber band trick, but the problem isn't just my stomach--I can't even get my pants past my thighs anymore!

Yup, there's a baby in there.

One of the biggest pieces of news that I nearly forgot to write about is the fact that I think I felt Booger move two weeks ago! Craig was home from work but had to go back to work in a few hours, so he decided to pull an all-nighter. I stayed up with him but went back to bed as soon as he left. In the time between his shifts, we watched TV, played video games, and ate breakfast (at about four in the morning). After eating, I was lying on the couch and noticed that my stomach was growling. I quickly realized it wasn't a normal "growling" feeling and that that didn't make sense because I'd just eaten. It felt a little like a fish--it was just a quick, sudden movement. I haven't noticed anything like it since then, but I wonder if maybe Booger was extra excitable at that moment since my schedule that day was so different from usual. I'm now in the weeks where movement should be more likely, so hopefully I'll feel Booger again soon!

Sixteen weeks

In other news, our Christmas weekend was nice but not ideal. Craig worked twelve-hour shifts on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. At least we got to see each other in the evenings. Because he's off this weekend, we're taking advantage of Booger not being here quite yet and going dancing downtown in Vermillion. Some friends will be with us, and I'm obviously automatically the designated driver this year. Beforehand, we'll try to enjoy this freakishly warm weather with a trip to the dog park. It should be a nice last day of 2011. I hope everyone has a happy and safe night tonight!

Booger's parents clean up nicely

First Ultrasound

Okay, I'm way overdo for my second post, and I swear I'll start writing regularly eventually. Maybe.

Twelve weeks

Plenty has happened since the last time I wrote, but of course, most of it can't be seen. By that I mean that Booger is growing in leaps and bounds. The last time I wrote, Booger was probably about 1.5 inches. Now, Booger has probably doubled in size! The most exciting thing for us is the fact that we had our first ultrasound last week. At that point, Booger was 2.46 inches. I think it's cute that he or she wasn't even 2.5 inches, which is the average, because he or she will probably be short like us. While it's too soon to tell, I got a kick out of our baby being "short."

Baby Booger!

The ultrasound itself was amazing. We brought our moms, which was really nice. Before the ultrasound began, Craig's mom said to the woman, "You're about to see the most beautiful baby in the world." She might be slightly biased. Both Craig and I were expecting the woman to have to search for a minute before finding Booger, but as soon as she put the wand on my belly, we could see Booger on the big screen mounted on the wall. It was incredible! I was so in shock that I teared up and burst out laughing at the same time. I kept apologizing to the woman because my stomach kept moving, but it was just such a surreal experience. It was almost as if I hadn't fully believed there was a person growing inside me until I saw little him or her kicking and waving. I couldn't believe how much detail we could see at just 13 weeks. Booger's profile was especially impressive (and I joked that he or she clearly has my nose). While Booger wasn't super active, he or she did do a couple of big kicks and punches, which gained plenty of "oohs" and "aahs" from those of us spying on his or her activities. Towards the end, Booger put his or her hands up over his or her face as if to say, "Okay, that's enough. No more pictures." Craig's not much of a crier, but every time I looked over at him, he had a huge smile on his face. All in all, it was a wonderful experience.

Booger's arm!

Not a whole lot has been going on other than the ultrasound. Of course Thanksgiving has come and gone. Unfortunately Craig had to work during the holiday and missed out on family time, but we made a nice little feast the Sunday prior so that he wouldn't miss out. We kept talking about how crazy it is that next Thanksgiving there will be a little baby enjoying the festivities with us.

Attempting to pose with our Thanksgiving meal

In other news, I got a full-time job at a customer care center! While it's not necessarily my dream job, it pays well, offers good hours, and I won't have to spend a lot of time on my feet. I'm currently in my first week of training, and so far, it's been quite an adjustment for me. Before this, I was only working on Tuesdays and Thursdays, plus various days of substitute teaching. Basically, I was able to be a lazy bum. I could sleep in, eat whenever I wanted, and stay in my pajamas all day. Once I have my actual shift, I won't have to start until ten in the morning. During the six weeks of training, though, I have to be there at 8:30. I realize that that is not very early at all, but this pregnant woman has been very spoiled. Plus, yesterday we took a little trip to Omaha, which meant leaving Yankton at 6:30 in the morning. I felt sick and had a terrible headache, and I didn't feel better until I finally drank some coffee in the afternoon. I've done so well avoiding caffeine for the most part, but as can be seen, I didn't really have much of a need for it in the past. It looks like that might have to change a bit with this new job. I don't mean to sound like I'm complaining. The job itself actually seems like something I will enjoy (I like to talk, and I'll be on a phone all day), and I really like the people in my training class.

Thirteen weeks

The last thing I'll write about tonight is the fact that I have grown. I understand that this is to be expected, but so far, it's been such a strange experience for me. I'm sure every pregnant woman experiences this. Basically, I like to think that I'm very in tune with my body. Not much has changed since I was about 14 years old. While I've always joked about my size, I love my body and have been comfortable in it for years. For the first time in ten years, things are changing quite a bit. First of all, there's the weight gain. I've gained about eleven pounds since learning that I'm pregnant. Honestly, I'm not concerned with numbers (although I've approached and surpassed digits that I've never encountered before!). Instead, it's the fact that I can physically see my body changing. I'm expanding in places I was convinced were going to forever remain the same size. To speak bluntly, I broke a bra. Seriously. I had a pretty good idea of my measurements due to years of fittings for costumes, so I compared those numbers with my new measurements. I've grown an average of three or four inches in each measurement! My understanding is that there's still quite a bit more growing for me to do, but soon I'll actually start looking pregnant. For now, my body is changing without really looking pregnant. It's a really crazy feeling to witness and experience my body growing at such a fast rate. Then I think about how fast Booger is growing, and my growth doesn't seem very impressive at all.

Lava Baby says "No more pictures"

Well, I think that's it for tonight. I should have been in bed a while ago, but I'm glad I'm finally getting another post up!

Welcome!

Well, given the title of this blog, I suppose there's no beating around the bush...I'M PREGNANT! There. I said it. I've decided to write a blog as a way to keep family and friends updated on what's happening in our lives baby-wise. Also, I figure I've kept blogs about major trips in my life so that I can document my experiences, so why not blog about this amazing event? It will be wonderful to go back and read this, and perhaps Baby Powell will want to read it someday, too!

Yep, that's my urine

Anyone who knows Craig and me even just the slightest bit knows that this is something we've wanted for a while (i.e. since we were teenagers, but well, we had this idea that maybe, just maybe, that wasn't quite the right time). We're now 25 and 24, respectively, which, to us, seems like prime baby time. There are obviously some slight stressors (Hey world, where's that full-time job I've been searching for?), but they pale in comparison to how overjoyed we feel about this addition to our family!

Right after learning that we're going to be parents

We found out we were expecting on Friday, September 29. I had so many big plans for how I would tell Craig that he would soon be a dad, but when push came to shove, I just ran into the bedroom, shook him awake, and held the positive test in his face. The poor guy struggled between trying to wake up and being completely ecstatic. In the end, we hugged each other tightly, and Craig said he could feel my heart pounding like crazy against his chest. It was a very happy day.

Four weeks

The first thing we had to figure out was where we're going to have this baby. Here's the deal--we live across the street from a hospital. I'm not exaggerating. I look out my window, and I see the hospital. That seems like a pregnant woman's dream, right? Not quite. The problem lies in the fact that they don't have midwives at this hospital. Ever since watching The Business of Being Born about a year ago, I've been interested in giving birth with a midwife rather than an obstetrician. I've done further research since then, and I'm currently reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. All of these things further cement the fact that a midwife is for me. I know it's not for everyone, but it's definitely the right choice for me. That choice, however, means that we will be having this baby at a hospital that's an hour and a half from home. The travel time is not ideal, but I believe it will be worth it (unless, of course, I end up giving birth on the side of the road--but hey, our baby will be newsworthy!). Anyway, we found a midwife that we really, really like, and I'm excited about the programs they provide.

We also struggled with when we would tell our families. We told a few very close friends within the first few days, but we were worried about telling too many people (and our families are BIG) and then potentially having something go wrong. We seriously contemplated waiting to tell our families until Thanksgiving, but in the end, we were both bursting to share this happy news with our loved ones. On Tuesday, October 4th, after meeting our midwife for the first time, we told our immediate family members, and it was honestly one of the most joy-filled days of my life. It was so wonderful sharing this happy news with the people we love most. It makes me unbelievably happy to know that this baby is already loved by so many people!

Six weeks

At the very beginning, when we first found out, I was a little cocky. "I feel great," "I can't even tell that I'm pregnant," and "I almost wish I'd get sick so I'd truly believe that I'm pregnant" were all statements that left my lips. I truly believed that I was a member of that 3% of women who experience no negative symptoms. How very wrong I was. About a week after telling our families, I made a delicious curry-dijon pork tenderloin with a fruit chutney. And yes, it really was delicious. I'll toot my own horn if it's the truth. Anyway, I ate one serving, and then, since my only symptom thus far was ravenous hunger, I filled my plate with a second serving. Big mistake. I immediately didn't feel so great and decided to head to bed so as to feel better. The next day was even worse. I couldn't even enter the kitchen because the smell of curry was just lingering there. That was just the beginning. As it turns out, morning sickness does not need to involve vomit. I had always thought that it must, so I was a bit in denial at first. It didn't take me long to figure out what was up, though, and I learned to walk on a tightrope of being neither hungry nor full. Either one could lead to disaster. I also learned why it's called morning sickness--morning is when you've gone the longest without eating, and this near-starvation leads to nausea. Fun, fun stuff. My nausea only lasted for about two or three weeks, and I'm very thankful for that. I began taking my prenatal vitamin at night, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't just a coincidence that I began feeling better at that time. I just wish I'd thought of that connection sooner!

We had our first real appointment on Halloween, which just so happened to be the ten year anniversary of when we first started dating. I could not imagine a better way to spend that day with Craig. The downside was that he worked an overnight before that and was pretty exhausted at our appointment. He was a trooper, though. I would have been happier if we could have heard the baby's heartbeat, but unfortunately he or she was playing hard to get! Our midwife assured us that there was nothing to worry about. There's a 50/50 chance of hearing the heartbeat at eight weeks. It would have been nice, but we'll have an ultrasound at our next appointment, at which point we'll be able to hear and see the baby!

Eight weeks

At the moment, our tentative due date is June 6, 2012. I think we'll have something a bit more concrete after our ultrasound, but we at least have an idea of when he or she will be here. Whenever I hear a due date, my reaction is "Okay, well, that's the day the baby WON'T be born." I mean, really? What are the odds of having your baby the day you're due? Maybe they're higher than I think, but I'm really not expecting our baby on the day it's due. Craig was born a month early, and I was almost a week early, so part of me thinks this baby will be early, too. Unless the baby is born very early, June will continue to be a very important month for our family. Craig's birthday is mid-June, our wedding anniversary is the end of June, and now little Booger could be born in early June. May would be cute, too, because all of our birthday months would be in a row! It doesn't matter to me when the baby's born, as long as he or she is healthy.

What I'll look like before you know it.

I should mention that this poor child already has Booger as a nickname. I believe it started when we were talking about the size of the baby a few weeks ago. I joked that Craig has boogers that are bigger than that, and unfortunately for Baby Powell, the nickname stuck. We plan on learning the baby's gender, and Craig has assured me that Booger will remain as a nickname if the baby is a boy. According to him, Booger will become Sweet Pea if the baby turns out to be a girl. Don't worry, neither of these names will have any place on the baby's birth certificate!

Ten weeks

This is apparently a great time to have a baby. I know a number of people who are pregnant right now, and it makes me excited to think of potential playmates for Booger. Most notably, my brother Geoffrey and his girlfriend, Sarah, are expecting their second child, a girl, due in April. I love the thought of these cousins being so close in age!

Well, I think that's enough writing for now. It's only 9:15 at night, but this mama is ready for bed. To be perfectly honest, I could have gone to bed at seven. On top of that, I already took a nap today. It appears that I'm now experiencing some of that pregnancy fatigue. I'll take this over nausea any day!