Before we head off to our family gatherings...

7 months and counting

Today marks 7 months! Time is really flying-- the 1st trimester seemed to drag on by; the 2nd trimester welcomed a return to my old energy and now I start trimester #3.

We had a second ultrasound last week and the baby is doing great. I like to think the baby was posing this time because the pictures we have show his hands near his face. There was an image on the screen that showed his hand under his chin in that "Senior picture" sort of way, but unfortunately. we didn't get a picture of that. I'll post what I have soon.

Another thing I learned at this ultrasound-- the baby appears to have big feet. You know what that means-- wink,wink. ;) I mentioned that to Paul and he said, "You're not supposed to talk about your son's penis like that!"

All I can say is that I'm glad that Paul has a way of finding good eBay deals on Oakley shoes. We're gonna need it.

I'm planning on enjoying the holidays because come January, it's full steam ahead with getting that nursery ready. (The room hasn't changed since we first moved into the house and that was more than two years ago!)

"T.M.I" at the tea and tour

Last week, Paul and I went to a free "tea and tour" at the hospital where we plan to have the baby. There were about six couples total. We got to see the maternity area and one of the suites so we could get an idea to what to expect. The birthing center has 13 suites, a waiting area with an aquarium, computer monitors so that nurses can check on patients at a glance. It was dimly lit and, surprisingly, very "cozy" and quiet for a hospital.

The suite itself has a mechanical bed so you can adjust it with a remote. The lucky father-to-be gets a chair that is supposed to convert to a twin bed, but really, it doesn't look very comfortable. There is a HUGE light that is stored in the ceiling that the doctor can bring down if she needs additional light-- it looked very much like the Millenium Falcon in Star Wars and I'm sure it will give the baby a nice suntan. There is a smallish tv and a VCR to watch movies that you can bring. The bathroom has a jet tub, which, I imagine could feel nice while you're in labor. I did take mental note to bring comfy socks and slippers for the cold, linoleum floor.

It's interesting to hear what people ask at these tours. They can reveal alot about the person asking. For example, one of the pregnant moms asked if they could bring their laptop and their gaming system-- and could the gaming system be hooked up to the tv in the suite. (I don't want to assume it's for hubby's sake. Maybe it's an alternative to the epidural?) Another couple asked of the hospital had birthing chairs. (The hospital doesn't.) The pregnant one of the couple shared with the group that she would probably need one because she has a varicose vein on, um, a certain part of her private area. (I'm sparing you the actual detail. But it rhymes with "baby-uh")

I know we're all pregnant and we're probably experencing a whole array of bodily functions, but really-- we did NOT need to hear about that!

kodak moments

Finally got a chance to upload some more recent pictures. I like to call this album, "Having a life while you're pregnant." You will also see our baby's first pictures (at 20 weeks). Look for more soon!

our first box of huggies diapers

Paul and I went to Costco yesterday and bought our first box of Huggies disposable diapers (with Gigglastic waistband!).

There was some question as to whether we got the right size, but from what we hear from friends with babies, we're gonna use 'em and it's time to start stockpiling our inventory.

I think I was a Pampers baby, but I say whatever holds the stuff in (and is on sale) is fine with me!

we've graduated from fruit to common household objects

Ah, remember the days when the baby was the size of a grape?

Well, at 25 weeks, the baby, according to Babyfit.com, is....

..."about the size of a household telephone."

What kind of phone? A sleek modern kind that cordless? A fat old one with a rotary dial? What? What?

A couple of weeks prior, the baby was "the size of a Nerf football" and "about the size of a Barbie doll."

I can only imagine what's coming next. If I see "about the size of a the car you drive," I'm in big trouble.

Ten fingers, ten toes, and one.... well, you know.

20 weeks - foot
Originally uploaded by mrsmcj.

This is a picture of Baby Boy McJannet's right foot at 20 weeks.(Yes, if you haven't already heard, it's a boy!) Hard to believe that was a month ago, but I've been too busy to post pictures. There are two pretty clear pictures of his profile which I will post on our website later.

So far, so good. The baby is active on a fairly regular schedule. Paul and I met our friend Shari (and her 4-month-old daughter)at Babies R Us over the Veteran's Day weekend where she helped steer us towards the baby stuff we really need. (Babies R Us is a so huge- how can something so small need so much stuff?!) Paul got to shoot the scanner gun at bottles, diapers, car seats, strollers, you name it. We were there for an additional hour after Shari left, making it a grand total of 2 1/2 hours spent at the store! That pretty much wiped me out for the day. I'm considering it training for when baby arrives.

I'm going to be such a good father.

Paul and his Oakley Medusa
Originally uploaded by mrsmcj.

This is:

a) The Predator, Oakley style

b) An Oakley Hair Rejuvenator

c) The latest in diaper changing technology (We are having a boy after all.)

d) Paul's latest Oakley acquisition, the Medusa.

your baby is the size of a lima bean

When we found out we were pregnant, I started visiting ParentCenter.com and signed up for their weekly emails. In each email, they detail how big the baby is and what kind of changes your body may be going through. (So far, they've been pretty accurate!) What cracks me up is that they use food to help you visualize your baby:

• 7 weeks: Your baby is the size of a raspberry.
• 8 weeks: Your baby is the size of a kidney bean.
• 9 weeks: Your baby is the size of a grape.
• 10 weeks: Your baby is the size of a kumquat.

Clearly, they are subliminally telling pregnant women to eat their fruits and veggies. When does the baby become the size of a hot fudge sundae, I'd like to know!

When we had our first ultrasound at 7 weeks to determine the "age" of the baby, it looked nothing like a raspberry. It was more like a round dot in a bigger dot. Paul and I christened the dot "Skittles." Like our baby, Skittles is made by the same company that makes M&M's. McJannet& McJannet... I know, how deep is that? ;)

the first trimester: the gag order has been lifted

I think the hardest part of the 1st trimester was not being able to tell anyone about it (except for immediate family, of course.) Even my doctor cautioned us about making our pregnancy public. So, now that I am well into my 2nd trimester, I'm going to gross you out with all the dirty details...

Just kidding! There are just some things better left unsaid. You mothers out there know what I'm talking about. (And your significant others, too, I'm sure.)

So here is a quick rundown of the 1st trimester as I can best remember it:

1. Morning sickness was at a minimum. I was really lucky. I did develop a wierd gag reflex every time I brushed my teeth in the morning. Every morning for 2.5 months. And for those nauseous moments, Preggy Pops were the bomb.
   
2. Since I couldn't commiserate with anyone, my mission was to get any pregnancy book I could get my hands on. I think I have at least six books, ranging from "The Baby Center's Guide to Pregnancy" to "The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy" to "Pregnancy Sucks." I even got Paul a book, "My Boys Can Swim! The Official Guy's Guide to Pregnancy" Of course, his book is more on the lighter side and 1/4 the number of pages than any of my books. I think Paul was relieved when I finally bought books from Costco that were best sellers and had nothing to do with nausea and epidurals.
3. I developed a superhuman sense of smell. I could smell cigarette smoke 2 blocks away. We don't have "Taco Night" for dinner at home anymore because the seasonings make me ill.
   
4. For the first three weeks after I found out, I made it a mission to continue my three-times-a-week workouts and yoga classes. I did pretty good until I suddenly couldn't keep my eyes open around the end of the work day. I had to leave at 4 p.m. in order to have enough energy to drive home for a nap. I think I took 1-2 hour naps every day for two months. And, I could still take on a night's sleep. There were some nights where I'd wake up and have a hard time getting back to sleep, but those days are long gone. I haven't been to the gym in months. I find doing a laundry and carrying it up two flights of stairs is good exercise. I still do yoga at work once a week; my one saving grace.
   

I'm sure there are other things I'm forgetting. Paul will probably chime in soon with. "Hey you forgot..." I'm sure his viewpoint will make for some interesting posts on our blog.

(tap, tap) hello? hello? testing... testing... 1..2..3..

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