Oh Christmas tree, oh christmas tree...

We've returned from Thanksgiving, where we had a great time and jumped head-on into Christmas! We came back on Saturday so that we had Sunday to get our first Christmas tree! I was so excited to get our first real tree. Now that the basement is finished we finally have room for a real tree. We'll post pictures of our lovely tree soon.
This week we are in the 15th week and quickly approaching our next ultrasound. We are looking forward to January 5th when we find out what we are having, a boy or a girl, but in the mean time I'm biding my time by coveting other people's wine (oh, I miss wine so very much) and clenching my teeth through round ligament pain. I had no idea such a sharp, intense pain could be related to our sweet little baby.
For all those of you unfamiliar with round ligament pain, its a stabbing pain that runs from your ovaries downwards in such an intensity that you double over. Its usually quick, but a ridiculously painful surprise. Its labeled in the 'baby literature' with a handful of colorful terms, such as 'lightning crotch'- (which I might add, seems fairly accurate). Apparently this is caused by your uterus growing and stretching to make room for the baby, which is now the size of an orange. On random occasions, when I am doing the most boring things like reading a book, folding laundry and then, BAM! I am doubling over because our little baby has decided to remind me that he or she has complete control over my uterus and I am at his(or her) complete mercy.
This week I'll continue on with the baby pains, and look forward to our next appt on Thursday. Its hard to believe that next week we'll be at 4 months (and no, I still haven't gained any weight). Hopefully we'll get to hear our little guy (or gal's) heartbeat and see a wave or too if we are lucky :)

Giving Thanks

On Tuesday we'll be taking the proverbial 'over the river and through the woods' trip to grandma's house for Thanksgiving. Well, now that I think about it, its quite literal for us. Over the river (Mississippi) and through the woods (all of western Wisconsin) to grandma's (well-soon to be grandma at least) lands us in Milwaukee.

We enjoy the trip every year because its one of the few times that all of the family members on Drew's mom's side (Montgomery) pile in one house for merry making. These happenings usually fall around holidays (namely Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas) and provide us with loads of calories, a few boxes of Franzia (oh, how I'll miss the Koolaid this year) renewed card-playing skills (Ever heard of Sheepshead?- me either until I married into this family), and the many comings and goings of family events. We love seeing everyone and being reminded of the strength and love that flourishes in our family. We also love the turkey and of course, Aunt Jan's special crunchy potatoes (sorry Jan, had to put that in there for you!)
So, this year as we reflect on what we are thankful for, I find myself with a never-ending list. If Thanksgiving were like the academy awards, they'd be playing the 'wrap it up and get off the stage' music for me for a whole month. Even then I'm not sure I'd get through everything and everyone. This year we've been especially blessed. So, drum-roll please, here is our abridged version:
We're exceptionally thankful for the tiny life we will be bringing into this world in May. We know so many couples who find themselves unable to have children and it breaks our hearts to see people so deserving not be able to share in the miracle of birth. I'm particularly thankful that the little squirt inside me is no longer making me feel incredibly sick and tired. Having an appetite again is fantastic. Especially before thanksgiving. I would have been so sad to not be able to eat all the delicious dishes. We're also particularly thankful for the blessings that have been bestowed upon our family and friends. One of Drew's cousins, Shanel, is currently winning her battle with Hodgkins Lymphoma, an invasive cancer. We are so happy to see her on the road to recovery and truly believe that all the prayers paid off :) We've also been able to share in a handful of successful adoptions, new babies, and engagements, and sadly, we've been thankful for the time we've had with those we've lost this past year. We're also thankful that we've been able to share so many wonderful memories with friends and family, thanks to all those who traveled to Minnesota to see us, and thanks to friends and family for great holidays, like Traverse City, Hong Kong and China, and Family Girls weekend in good ol' Bay County. Drew and I are exceptionally thankful for each other, as this year was one of change for us. From finishing our basement, to finishing my doctorate we've added a tremendous amount of strength to our relationship, and I know we will both be grateful for it when the baby arrives.
Its nearly Turkey Day, and while this post isn't so much about the baby and more about being thankful, we'd like to remind each one of you (we know you are out there reading this)one more time to enjoy the holiday and share your gratitude with those you love, because its not all that often that we actually participate in a day of thanks, let alone celebrate it.

Too Much Information. Read on if you Dare.

Well, today started off okay. And by started off I mean the first 15 minutes or so. I've found recently, jumping right in the shower as soon as I roll out of bed isn't always the best idea, as lately I feel as though my legs won't hold me up. I write this off to a few factors 1) my interrupted love for sleep, 2)my difficult-to-get-moving-morning-sleepiness and 3) being pregnant. So together, these fun factors make me feel as though I need to just sit down, to which I often respond my leaning in the corner of the shower, balancing precariously somewhere between half awake and relief. So today, as usual, my morning routine stayed nearly the same, except for one small adjustment- along my route to the corner of the shower I realized I was going to be sick, and not the 'oh, I have a sore throat I better drink some tea' type of sick. About two seconds after I reasoned about what I should do (as in get out of the shower and worship the porcelain throne)I'm still standing in the shower, at which point I determined it was far too late for going anywhere. So there I lean in the corner of the shower. I slowly slither down to the edge of our baby blue 1969 bathtub and find myself throwing up into the tub rather than out of it thinking, well, at least I can take another shower afterward, all the while day dreaming of a new bathroom with one of those nice tiled benches that you can sit on, you know, the ones designed for aesthetics and shaving your legs. Here this: somewhere out there someone could make a fortune by marketing 'shower upgrades' of this sort to pregnant women. I promise it would be a success.

Soon after, I called in sick to work, because in all honesty, I have no idea if this is the flu (to which I respond- boo, hiss) or if its baby related. If this is the baby, then its the first time I've experienced such violent cookie-tossing, and it makes me wonder if I should rescind all my thoughts about the second trimester....
So here I am blogging away on my sofa, because in all reality, I have nothing better to do (such a huge lie on my part, I have loads of work to do. Just call me queen procrastination).
And, my friends, all this blogging under a cozy blanket on my sofa, got me thinking about those days that we are home sick, actually enjoying our get well respite. I wander back to college memories of three or four movies, I giant glass of fruit punch gatorade, some soup to sooth my freezing cold bones and the most comfy quilt. A sense of panic sets in. Those days are nearly over. When this baby arrives I will be able to do no such thing. Babies require care regardless of how sick you are. Oh no. No more quiet, soothing sick days. So, I've decided to make use of my last days of 'sick freedom', have gathered up my laptop, comfy blankets and dressed in layers of sweatpants and sweatshirts to retreat to our basement, where I find DVDs, access to a drink and soup and a little corner of comfort. I'm prepared to say goodbye to days like today, but not until I savor my one last chance. Here's to being sick while single. Drink a Gatorade on me.

Countdown to Baby

Here's our ticker to countdown our time until Baby Hollman arrives!

Second Trimester = Heaven.

Its officially the second trimester. 1/3 of our time is over, 2/3rds to go until we meet this new little guy (or girl). Our ObGyn has continuously told us that the second trimester would be better, things would improve and I would feel, and I quote, "better than I have in my entire life". I'm here to tell you, that after just a few days into the second trimester, these pipe dreams are coming true.
Now, me, with my critical-examine-the-research-show-me-the-hard-data eye had no intentions of conceding to such suggestions. I mean seriously, how can this little baby moving around in there have such a change of heart? Where before he or she was intent on making me feel like my stomach was on a never-ending roller coaster and squelching even the tiniest bit of energy that I could gather up just to finish some research agendas, is now giving me a break. There must be some connecting piece- like the baby is thinking, "hey mom, way to grin and bear my first test of endurance. Now lets rest up for the next one, because I'm planning something huge, exhausting and maybe even a little painful!" But, its true. Things are on the up and up. I'm feeling tons better, and since I've only spent a hot second here in the second trimester I'm hoping it is only going to get better and maybe by the end of february I'll be shouting from the rooftops how the last three months were the 'best of my life' (although, somehow, I'm doubting it, because after all I do have an exceptionally critical eye....).
The newest guy on the scene is my new, and rather annoying friend heartburn. Apparently, there are many a wives tale out there that make blanket statements about heartburn. Here are a few I've heard:

• Clearly, its a boy. Only boys give you hearburn.
• You're kiddo is going to have a ton of hair. That hair is causing all the heartburn (at which point I presented with the not so friendly visual of a little baby hairball lodged in my esophogus- possible? No. Still a weird visual? Yes.)
• You'll be overdue. Who on earth would tell you this? Yet, its made its way to me? As if indirectly, they are saying, go ahead and plan for 11 months because you didn't make the cut for the regular 10 months of pregnancy.
• and my favorite. Your baby will be a good swimmer. Gathered from the notion, that people who believe this, believe your baby is doing summersaults in that little placenta and all the waves and commotion are in turn causing heartburn. How you ask? Don't ask me.... But, I'll be sure to take our baby swimming right after birth to see if this one holds up. ha ha. Just kidding ( I don't want anyone to think we have any intentions of plopping our kid in a pool at two days of age).

So, thats the story of heartburn. I'll add on when I hear more exciting old wives tales. But word to the wise, I'm fairly sure that there are no hard and fast data to support any claims provided here.

On another topic, lots of people are requesting of us the 'profile belly pictures'. We think its nice that you want to share in me getting bigger and bigger (as I simultaneaously become more and more reluctant to me getting bigger and bigger). We haven't put any photos up yet, because you can't tell I'm pregnant by looking at me. I don't have a belly yet and in fact, I'm still losing weight. Now, for all of you who are out there getting alarmed that I am not eating right, or doing all of those things that allow you to add on the extra pounds, not to worry. I am indeed doing all the right things. The problem is (was) that during the first few weeks of our pregnancy I ran a marathon, which I trained for for 10 months. I was fairly fit. My calves were especially fit. I had lots of nice lean muscle. Then I met my dear friend nausea. He hit me like a ton of brick and I pretty much quit working out. So, all of my nice lean muscle melted into gross fat, and as we all know, muscle weighs more than fat, so here I am still losing the muscle. As soon as it actually looks like I'm pregnant we'll start sharing photos. Currently, the votes are falling around the fifth month, which would be in January. So maybe check then. I'm sure all the Christmas sweets will only help the cause of making me look like a little whale. And, I do mean a whale because our ObGyn suggests I gain 30-40 pounds. I about fell off the table when she told me this. I quickly began reciting research I had read saying 20 pounds is more than enough. She wasn't having it. She kept referring to nonsense about my 'body-type' and 'height', blah blah blah. All I heard was 40 pounds. How the heck am I going to lose 30 more pounds when the baby is born? What are those 30 pounds needed for? Good lord. Someone pass the oreos. I suppose I have to start somewhere.

When is our due date again????

Another doctors visit, another day. We went to another monthly visit with our ObGyn and learned a few more facts about our little baby to be, and to top off the day, determined we are yet again not where we thought we were in the pregnancy. The new due date is May 31st, which is what we heard before, but our progress is a bit different than what we thought. This Sunday we'll be 11 weeks, so a bit off what we thought before, but okay with us nonetheless as we continue to approach the end of the first trimester, which has proven to be a bit overwhelming with the suprise symptoms of pregnancy. So, in celebration of the end of the first trimester we decided to let the papparazzi loose and share our first photo of the baby. So, here he, or she, is, in all her huge head glory. Those are the little tiny hands that waved to us next to the giant head and there are two little legs too. In a few weeks we'll have another ultrasound photo to share with a bit more definition and baby-like features.

Baby 'Bama O' Baby McCain?

Its election day, and I'm tired of the election. Tired of politics and simply wondering, who will our baby have as his or her first president McCain or Obama? We'll find out in a few short hours. Quick and painless. Even though I hate all the political hoop-la, right now I wish pregnancy had a lot more common with the election process. For example.

• Quick, quick, quick. None of this anxious awaiting for nine months, you put in your vote, you get a result the same day. Maybe 9 hours. not 9 months. It feels like this will take FOREVER.
• You get a vote. I would vote for "healthy" to win out over all other options. I'd like to have confidence that my vote is a determining factor, unfortunately, with the pregnancy we just hope and pray that the baby will be happy and healthy.
• Pre-arranged decorations. In election its elephant or donkey. Nursery decor decided. Cute elephants or barnyard theme. Has anyone spent time looking at the world of nursery bedding. How on earth are we ever going to chose? If I looked at one for everyday of the pregnancy I wouldn't get through even a quarter of them.
• You can ignore the campaign, turn off the commercials, tune out the solicitations. In the pregancy we have no such choice. Friends and family share their ideas, suggestions for names, disgust for your ideas with names, thoughts about diapers, suggestions for if you should find out the sex, demands that you don't find out the sex, and many more opinions. Because these people love us and feel incredibly comfortable with us they are usually sure to use their most convincing tactics to force these on us, regardless of how much we love or dislike their thoughts. We love that people are so interested, but its particularly interesting to hear points of view that are a bit different from ours. We smile and continue to aknowledge their amazing influences. We still love you though and get a good laugh out of it.
• There are no election side effects! Has anyone every thrown up because they had to get to the polls or just because they saw a political comercial (okay, so maybe thats not so far fetched)? In all seriousness, the side-effects, symptoms, or whatever you want to call these 'issues' during pregancy (read torcherous nausea) we could all go without. As an example, I am currently battling a case of pregnancy brain. I didn't believe in this before becoming pregnant. I have an elephant's memory and usually can recall ridiculous memories from childhood, random instances from interactions with people and on occassion names of people I've only met once. All of this was true, right up until about 2 weeks ago. Today when I went to the poll to vote, I left my phone there and then after leaving to go home, sitting down, checking my email and thinking all was well, my neighbor comes over to let me know that they still have my liscense at the voting station. I completely forgot to pick up my liscense?!? How do you forget that? You need it to drive? and, to top it off, I had no idea that this happened. My brain is fleeting.

In all seriousness, we're thankful for every aspect of the pregnancy, and can't wait for the baby. Regardless of who the new president is, we hope that by the time our baby arrives, or nation is moving in a new, positive, direction.