25 weeks

How Far Along? 25-ish weeks
Picture? 

 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Back down to pre-pregnancy weight... even after Thanksgiving... I'm going to work on eating more.
Size of baby:  Spaghetti Squash
Maternity Clothes: Yup.
Gender: Pink!
Movement: She may be a gymnast.
Sleep: Multiple wake ups every night. Not to pee, but because I am too hot.
What I miss: Coffee, sushi and beer/wine
Cravings: This week's big craving has been pound cake and a subway sub
Anything Making You Queasy or Sick? Meat cooking... still. And dog food. I gag every morning when I fill the dog bowl. Yuck.
Belly Button In or Out: In
Happy or Moody Most of the Time? Most of the time
Stretch Marks? Only the old ones
Other Symptoms: That foot pain and crazy insulin resistance
Have You Started to Show Yet? If I wear certain clothes
Best Moment of the Week? Baby goodies in the mail
Looking Forward To: Muppet movie matinee tomorrow and a Mediterranean dinner with friends.

A Prayer for my Daughter by Tina Fey

“First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches. May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the Beauty. When the Crystal Meth is offered, may she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half And stick with Beer. Guide her, protect her when crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock ‘N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age. Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance. Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes And not have to wear high heels. What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You, because if I knew, I’d be doing it, Youdammit. May she play the Drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers. Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen.Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, For childhood is short – a Tiger Flower blooming Magenta for one day – And adulthood is long and dry-humping in cars will wait. O Lord, break the Internet forever, that she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers And the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed. And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister, Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, For I will not have that Shit. I will not have it. And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back. “My mother did this for me once,” she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. “My mother did this for me.” And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental Note to call me. And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes. Amen.” -Tina Fey 

24 weeks

How Far Along? 24-ish weeks VIABILITY WEEK! If SF was born now, she'd have a chance of survival (even if it is a teeny tiny one).
Picture? I'll post pictures from Thanksgiving later for this week's picture
Total Weight Gain/Loss: Doc says 3
Size of baby:  Ear of corn.... yuck
Maternity Clothes: Yup.
Gender: Pink!
Movement: love it.
Sleep: Rough at night, but so so nice from 5-9 in the morning. :)
What I miss: Pants that fit. I'm tired of having to constantly pull my maternity pants up and the next size down is way too small. I need maternity pants with belt loops.
Cravings: Thanksgiving
Anything Making You Queasy or Sick? Meat cooking... still. And dog food. I gag every morning when I fill the dog bowl. Yuck.
Belly Button In or Out: In
Happy or Moody Most of the Time? Sassafras
Stretch Marks? Only the old ones
Other Symptoms: Foot pain that the doctor says may very well be heel spurs. :(
Have You Started to Show Yet? If I wear certain clothes
Best Moment of the Week? San Francisco kicking the doctor's Doppler at our appointment. Not one, not twice, but 4 times. Direct kick. HI-ya!
Looking Forward To: Thanksgiving and seeing my adorable little niece who isn't so little anymore.

Inspiring

At our church recently, we've been trying to make a difference. Whether it's meals for the hungry or shoe boxes to make a child across the world's Christmas, we've been doing whatever we can.

Here's what our pastor said about this on his blog:

The people of Good Shepherd are pretty good with goals.

Last year, for example, we wanted to raise $150,000 for the International Justice Mission and its ministry of freedom from sexual slavery. The people of the church gave $207,000.
Then on October 30, we hoped to pack 150,000 meals with Stop Hunger Now and its mission of famine relief in Uganda. The people of the church instead packed 193,000.

So yesterday, we hoped to receive 1,000 shoe boxes filled with Christmas gifts and gospel literature for use by our friends at Operation Christmas Child.

Instead, we received 1,200. And counting. If you'd like to be part of what God is doing, you can bring a box by Good Shepherd by 5:00 p.m. Monday.

 

GSUMC, you rock. :)

I'm so ready for Christmas!

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Both! But I do drink Hot Chocolate year round...

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? When I was younger, Santa  just left them unwrapped. I'm not sure what Santa will do with San Francisco.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? I love white lights. They look so clean and crisp.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? We considered it last year, but couldn't find any.

5. When do you put your decorations up? My family's rule was no Christmas until Thanksgiving was over.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Almost anything made for our family reunion/Christmas party on the 23rd.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Stockings! I loved getting a stocking (and I still do!). 

 

And our family tradition of trying to be the first one to say "Christmas Gift" to someone on Christmas morning. Apparently the first one to say it, got an extra gift. (I think it goes back to the days of slavery.)

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? Truth? What truth? Are you talking about that silly rumor about his existence? Baloney!

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? No. That'd be wrong. My family tried it one year and it's just wrong!

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Ummm... Tree up, tree skirt, lights on, Any garland (or tinsel... yuck.), then ornaments. Balls usually go one first, evenly, with the larger towards the bottom. then ornaments, with the favorites at more of an eye level. Angel on very last.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?  Eh. It's so novel to me that it can be exciting for, like, 5 minutes then I realize how cold it is. Brr!

12. Can you ice skate? No.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? I know this will sound lame, but being around my family has always been the best gift to me.

14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Family and the 23rd party. And sausage balls!

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Dirt. And my grandmother's Cherry Pie.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Eating The Varsity on the 24th and "Christmas Gift"-ing people Christmas morning

17. What tops your tree? An angel, I think...

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? I love to giving the perfect gift to someone. Receiving (any time, not just Christmas) just makes me feel awkward,

19. Candy Canes: Yuck or Yum? Yum!

20. Favorite Christmas show? Pretty much any Christmas movie. I think I've seen them all.

21. Saddest Christmas Song? White Christmas. It reminds me of my Grandfather who died a couple of years ago. He loved Christmas as much as I do. It's makes me happy to hear it, but sad that he's gone.

22. What is your favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night

 

If you fill this out, please let me know in the comments (with a link!).

23 weeks

How Far Along? 23-ish weeks (Sorry that these keep being pushed back more and more!)
Picture? Not yet this week and I'm already in PJs. Perhaps I'll update this with a picture later.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: After this weekend, it was 2 gained. Dang vacation food!
Size of baby:  One site said Papaya; another said eggplant
Maternity Clothes: Yup.
Gender: Sasha Fierce (Jolie, I thought you'd like that. ;) lol) is a female.
Movement: Happening and I still think it's weird sometimes.
Sleep: Sleep is like my friend Megin: I love it so dearly, but I don't get to see it often enough.
What I miss: Non swollen feet
Cravings: I love food.
Anything Making You Queasy or Sick? Meat cooking... still. And dog food. I gag every morning when I fill the dog bowl. Yuck.
Belly Button In or Out: In
Happy or Moody Most of the Time? Moody and happy
Stretch Marks? Only the old ones
Other Symptoms: Feet swelling.
Have You Started to Show Yet? I doubt it, but our dog sitter friend said I was.
Best Moment of the Week? SF's fetal echocardiogram coming back all fine and dandy :)
Looking Forward To: Thanksgiving.

Ace!

Marcel, part two!

The scene at 2:30 made me laugh so hard!

!!!