+ Childbirth and Baby Care Classes +
Well, I feel productive today, Ceili. I registered Daddy and I for classes at the hospital where we'll deliver. (Note to persons not currently residing in my uterus: If you watch the baby shows, anytime they show a Phoenix hospital, I've noticed it's my hospital every single time) I've been waiting for them to post the new schedules for 2003, and they finally did today! We'll start 4 childbirth classes on January 9th (OMG that's soon), 1 baby care class on February 10th, and a little OB orientation class on February 1st. That way, it'll be close enough to your birth that I won't forget everything, but not so close that if you come early I won't have finished yet. Yay!

+ Finally! +
I've been keeping my eyes out for an ultrasound picture that looked like you did when we saw you last. Most babies' ultrasounds show them sitting peacefully in the mommy's tummy, not doing headstands with their legs bent like you were. This is almost exactly what you looked like when we saw you. That's why we got such a good look at your legs, fee, girlie parts, bladder, heart, etc., but no good shots of your face.

Somehow, I don't think you've stayed that way. Sure, you might be like that right now, I have no idea. But you move SO much, I doubt you stay in any one position more than an hour at a time. You were practically taking my breath away last night you were moving so much. Daddy didn't want to try to feel you; I think he's afraid of being disappointed again. He may not be able to come to the next appointment, either, but it's probably going to be a quickie appointment. I think the nurse is probably just going to take my temps, blood pressure, your heart rate, etc. That's next Wednesday. Yay!

Today is 22 weeks. Dig it. Less than 5 weeks to the third trimester. Holy cow, is that right? Wow.

+ More +
BTW, the post below is probably TMI for anyone not accustomed to reading baby blogs. :-) If you embarass easily by girlie medicine and body parts, don't read the post immediately below this one.

If you haven't filled in your guess for the baby stats, what are you waiting for? There's a consensus so far (by complete coincidence!) that this girl will live up to her Irish name and be born on St. Patty's Day. What do YOU think?

Also, found out another girl here who used to be on my team is pregnant and due about 4 weeks after me. Looks like I started a trend! Fortunately, I'm first. I was thinking how much it would suck to be the last one, waiting and waiting and watching all the other mommies-to-be deliver and go on leave. Fortunately, hopefully, I'll beat them all to the punch!

+ Terrific Tuesday +
Well, it's a normal Tuesday, but I'm trying! You are a very active little girl, you know that? Last night you made me giggle you were so active. Then this morning, while I was watching the news before I got ready for work, I felt you kick my arm which was draped across my tummy. You kicked it hard too! I haven't had daddy try to feel you in a couple of days because I always feel guilty when he can't feel you. But I think it's about time to try again. Maybe tonight when we lie down for sleep he might have the patience to wait for you to kick him.

So, I haven't really updated on my symptoms lately, but I suppose since I'm doing this journal for posterity's sake I ought to do that. My feet haven't swollen that much since Saturday, but I'm being really careful, putting my feet up at home and getting up frequently at work. I have heartburn, and a lot of it! It started coming back a couple of weeks ago, and now I pretty much get it every single afternoon/evening. It's worse when I've had too much soda, so I'm trying to avoid it again. My face looks like a 15-year-old greaseball's! I don't think I've ever had this many pimples. It's very annoying. I'm buying the best cleansers and medicines I can find and it's only keeping it at bay, not improving anything. Ugh. Makeup is my friend (and my family and friends know I don't usually wear makeup much at all!). I'm doing much better energy-wise, and let's just say the 2nd trimester has brought back the desire for a love life I thought was gone forever. Let's see... What else? Back hurts pretty frequently. I'm getting better at sleeping. I brought in a flat, firm pillow to put under my right leg when I sleep on my side, and managed to sleep almost the whole night that way last night. Finally I think I might have solved the sleeping problem (without buying a $90 pillow). Belly's big, but no stretch marks or itching yet. I already had a couple on my hips, and they're more obvious now, but nothing on my belly. My breasts are still growing, after I thought they'd stopped. I bought a bigger (number and letter) bra last week, but it is still too small. That means I'm up 2 sizes! Yikes! Getting up is getting harder, and I can't use my stomach muscles to help either. I usually have to push myself out of whatever I'm sitting in (including the car). I'm still urinating frequently, but maybe a little less than before. There are some associated unpleasant things in that area, but I'll spare everyone those details, save to say that I checked into it and it's completely normal. My nails are growing like weeds, and my hair is finally getting thicker. It's also much redder, which everyone is starting to notice. I have no idea how, or why, but I don't really care. I LOVE my hair when it gets really auburn. Joe's dad's hair (and Joe's, really), is a kind of barely-red dark blonde, and my mother and I both have barely-auburn dark brown hair, so there's always a chance for a red-head. Joe and I would both be in heaven if that happened! HA!

Anyway, I know this is long, but I wanted to share what's going on at this stage, almost at 22 weeks. That's still so trippy to me. We're going to be parents. Wow.