Priceless Peeing Possibilities

I am under the impression that stretch marks are hereditary, therefore they are impossible to prevent. However, that is not going to stop me from desperately trying everything in my power to stop stretch marks in their tracks!! I already have stretch marks from a growth spurt in high school on my boobs and tiny ones on my thighs. I was using bath and body works body butter because I needed something quick and I was at the mall. That was back when I was extremely sick from morning (all-day) sickness and I wasn't thinking clearly about what I was putting into my body. That is very unlike me. You know what I mean if you know me well. So after I ran out of body butter, a friend bought me burt's bees mama bee belly balm which is loaded with fantastic moisturizers like olive oil, bees wax, pumpkin seed oil and soy bean oil. It doesn't have any parabens or icky stuff like that. I liked it so much I bought 2 more of them. But I then read that the secret to helping stretch marks (not eliminating) is vitamin E. So I bought burt's bee mama bee nourishing body oil. It has almond oil, lemon peel oil, rosemary, soy bean oil, canola oil and vitamin E. I started putting the body oil on as layer 1 and then the belly balm as layer 2 at night. And then after a shower in the mornings I am going to use just the oil. The belly balm is too thick to walk around during the day in. So that's my skin ritual. I'll let you know how it works out.




My wish came true that I wanted Tom to feel Lauren kick. Last night we were sitting on the couch and she was bopping around in there and I said "I wish you could feel her from the outside". I said "you can try it but I don't think it's strong enough yet" so Tom put his hand on my belly and waited. It was like she knew his hand was there. She was like POW! And the look on Tom's face was priceless. She kicked 2 more times for him after that. He seemed so proud. I'm glad he was the first person that felt her (besides me or course). It was pretty amazing. For the rest of the night she kicked around like the tiny little soccer player/dancer I hope she becomes, although it's up to her. She can be whatever she wants to be....as long as I can afford it. :-)



Today I was hit with a revelation. Because of my sciatica I stopped walking for exercise, but my trips to the bathroom have been increasing every week so do I really need to walk for exercise? At 1230 I made a mental note that I have walked back and forth to the bathroom 7 times already and it's not a short walk. And that silly book "what to expect when you're expecting" promised me that I would have relief in the second trimester from the bathroom. Is 7 times to the bathroom in 6 hours really considered relief? All you mama's out there might be thinking "this is only the beginning, Jen" but I am tired of walking!!! If only I could trade my office chair for a toilet.... Hmm that's an interesting idea. Sure I'd have to be pantless all day but think of the priceless peeing possibilities!!!

Honestly,
Jen

Baby Registry

I went to Target last night and started my registry. I tried to be very conscience of the organic and BPA free options. I researched like crazy before going to Target as to what I will need on this registry. I made a list of all the items that experienced mom blogs gave me. There was some stuff I never thought of like a thermometer, knit hats and nail clippers. But i pretty much knew about everything else i would need. I just needed to organize it in my mind and that i needed help with. I didn't want to walk into the store and be overwhelmed and feel like i was forgetting things. I picked a few basic clothing necessities in sizes 0-3 and 3-6 just in case Little Lauren decides to come out as Big Lauren. Just pajamas, gowns, onsies, socks, booties and mittens. I'll wait till she's born to stock up on baby clothes and try to live off of hand me downs and used clothing at first. But I'm sure people will buy me some new outfits at the shower whether I register for them or not. I also found a travel mini pack-n-play thingy for $45 on clearance so I had to buy that immediately. I think I will use it as a bassinet beside my bed. Tom and I also picked out a pink paint color for her room. He's going to wait till spring to start painting. We also went to Joanne fabrics and returned the pink striped fabric we bought to make curtains the day we found out we were having a girl. We didn't buy enough and it's now discontinued. So instead I bought a bunch of different girly fabric including cupcake patterns and I will make her a quilt with the sewing machine I got for Christmas. I can't wait to get back into practice with this sewing machine so I can start quilting!! I picked pink cupcakes as her room theme. I won't go overboard (i hope) but i love the cuteness of a cupcake. Its so girly and pink and soft and sweet. I can't wait to start decorating.

So...... Lauren has been wiggling and jiggling around in my belly and i can definitely feel it every day now. She's like the jello commercial "wigglin jigglin spree!!" Her kicks are so soft and delicate at this point. I don't feel them unless i am sitting still and they don't last very long. She just does a quick dance and then i assume (in my mind) that it's enough to tire her out and she falls asleep. I can't wait until I feel her more regularly and with more strength. I want Tom to be able to feel his little daughter in my belly. I can't feel it from the outside yet. I can't wait for that moment to see the look on his face when he feels the first kick. I don't have a moment where i felt a first kick because I was never sure whether or not it was really a kick. So for that, I am jealous.

Well I have a big day of peeing and burping ahead of me. I better get crackin!!
(PS I've already peed 6 times and it's not even 10 am!)

Honestly Pregnant,
Jen