I'm Moving (blogs, that is)! 04/14/2010
Effective immediately, I'll be blogging over at a new address. You can find more Bell updates at: http://babybellmakesthree.wordpress.com If you have technical difficulties, shoot me an email. :) Add Comment Baby Names 04/14/2010
It's inevitable when you are pregnant that people ask you what names you are thinking about. Since we don't know the gender yet we haven't been asked too much about this subject, but in preparation for the upcoming questions, I thought I would write about what we're NOT going to name the baby. Alexander Graham is a pretty safe bet. Any variation...Alexander, or just Graham, either one would result in possible elementary school name calling (although did you know Alexander Graham Bell had dyslexia? I have books that can help with that). Patti is one you can cross off the list (even though there is a "La" in front of Bell, I still would picture a very large black woman with a big hat-holla inauguration day-instead of our little baby girl). Liberty (kind of goes without saying, although we could call her our freedom baby). Anything rhyming, such as Danielle, Terrell (with the emphasis on -ell, not Terr, Brad's relative was Terrell with an emphasis on Terr-), Michelle, etc. Bonnie: Besides not liking this name (no offense, any Bonnies out there), I can't help but think of Bonne Bell Lipsmacker chapstick in Dr. Pepper flavor. Girls will understand. Peyton: no explanation needed. 16 Weeks 04/07/2010
Yesterday I had my 16 week check up with Dr. Barta. Nothing too new and exciting to report, although things are happening left and right inside my body. :) I've had some random weird pains just north of my hips, which my doctor said is called the Round Ligament. It's very common for pregnant woman to have a muscle spasm here as the ligament stretches to accommodate the widening pelvis and shifting inside. It's a short, sharp pain that feels a bit like a light calf cramp-but doesn't last anywhere near as long as a calf cramp. Women typically only feel it on one side, which for me is the left side. It doesn't happen very often and I really can't complain much about it. I've gained 4 pounds total, which is just fine and on track. Dr. Barta estimates that I'll gain 20-25 overall due to my weight gain so far and my height. I am okay with that number...the higher the number, the harder the extra weight is to drop, but she said 25 pounds usually is easy weight to lose. We heard the heartbeat yesterday as well, and Baby Bell is normal at 150 bpm. According to an old wives tale a faster heart rate means we're having a girl. But this is about as accurate as all the other old wives tales, so we're not putting much faith into it. Our next appointment is May 10, and that is when we'll find out the gender. Here are the stats: how far along? 16 weeks, 2 days fruit/baby size comparison: Baby is the size of an avocado maternity clothes? We went shopping this weekend and got some new (and more stylish) Gap maternity jeans. feeling better? Much better. Lots of energy during the day, although still falling asleep early at night. sleep? Much better unless I eat something that gives me heartburn. food cravings? McDonalds Cheeseburgers (still) and pizza-but I can't really attribute the pizza to pregnancy. :) belly button: in or out? definitely in. weird body changes? See above what i miss: Coffee. Being able to walk up stairs without getting out of breath. what i'm looking forward to: the gender reveal, and lunch (I'm hungry). milestones? almost to the half way point! Babies are the new Black. 03/22/2010
Apparently it is very popular to either be pregnant or just had a baby. People.com has dedicated a whole website to babies. Katherine Heigl just adopted a baby, the rumors are swirling that TomKat are expecting again (maybe you should stop wearing those billowy shirts, Katie), and apparently Lindsey Vonn is putting babies "on the backburner" (oh good, I was wondering when she might address that). I'm pretty amazed by celebritybabies.people.com. Want to buy the shirt that Nahla Aubry Berry was wearing? They can tell you. Wondering what it will be like when you go out on tour with your new baby? People.com will tell you. They even have a due date calendar where you can click on the months of the year and see who is due when. That's dedication, people. You can also see which celebrities are pregnant RIGHT NOW. Like Amy Adams. And Amanda Peet. Valerie from 90210. Paula Patton (who???). It must be a slow baby time since they also show Scott Stapp's wife (he's the lead singer of Creed) and Aonika Laurent (the wife of the actor in that horrible movie that I own about the white girl and black guy that dance together...ugggg, forgetting the name). So anyway, head on over to people.com to check all info regarding celebrity babies. In the mean time, here's a quick update on how I'm feeling. how far along? 14 weeks, 2 days fruit/baby size comparison: Baby is the size of a lemon, and can squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb maternity clothes? oh yeah. Although I'm fitting into a few pairs of fat pants as well. I bought a belly band thingy at Target so I can wear more of regular pants, but it takes some getting used to. feeling better? yes and no...the nausea is nowhere near as bad, but this weekend I had some incredible heartburn. sleep? getting better and better. sleeping through the night when Gracie does. :)food cravings? McDonalds Cheeseburgers. belly button: in or out? definitely in. weird body changes? A couple of people have commented on my starting to show-whereas I think I just look fat. :) what i miss: still miss caffeine. with the weather getting nice out, I'm missing wine at the end of a long day. what i'm looking forward to: Dancing with the Stars tonight! (not baby related, but I'm still looking forward to it). milestones? 1st trimester is over! Countdown to the gender reveal! Dear Gisele. 03/15/2010
 (photo courtesy of US Weekly.com/Vogue Magazine) Dear Gisele, First of all, congratulations on the birth of your son Benjamin. I'm sure your labor and delivery was very zen and peaceful in your Boston penthouse. Thank you for the intimate details you provided in THIS article. I have a very clear image of how it all went down now. Give Tom my best and pass along my praise in putting his foot down when it came to naming your son. I get the whole River idea, and it's loose translation from your father's name, but I think Tom had the right idea in sticking with Benjamin. All around a better choice. It's fantastic that you only gained 30 pounds and was at kung fu class two weeks before you gave birth. I'm interested-how did you execute the flying kicks? Were you breaking any boards with your head? Seems a bit extreme, even for a supermodel. But impressive, nonetheless. I particularly enjoyed your comment: "I think a lot of people get pregnant and decide they can turn into garbage disposals." While true in many cases, it was a bit hard to swallow that comment, to be honest. Yes, I have been frequenting McDonalds more now than I ever did pre-pregnancy. Their cheeseburgers are pretty enjoyable right now. Yes, I have been craving carbs more than ever. Did you not have cravings? Because I find it very hard to deny my cravings-to the point of getting a bit testy and impatient. No sweets? No carbs? Apparently, since you bounced back post-pregancy faster than the girls on 16 and Pregnant (it's on MTV. Very enlightening...I recommend you watch it). So in closing, many congratulations to you and Tom. Make sure you take care of that baby so Tom can rest come football season. My Patriots need another ring. All the Best, Laurie Goodbye, First Trimester! 03/11/2010
I'm in the middle of my 12th week, getting ready to say "see you later" to the first trimester. I have to admit, I'm pretty excited. Since switching my prenatal vitamin last week, the nausea has decreased significantly. There are times where I still feel slightly sick, but for the most part I am feeling great! I'm back to more normal eating habits in that I don't have to eat every two hours-and I actually feel full again. I do crave protein, though-I could eat meat every meal and be happy (but still no chicken). I'm still exhausted most of the time. Last night I think I was asleep on Brad's shoulder by 8:30. Thank god for DVR or else I would never make it through Real Housewives of NYC (or the OC reunion...which was a bit disappointing-maybe part 2 tonight will be better). But I digress... This week the baby is the size of a plum (Moving forward I'm going to refer to the baby as a he-not because I know anything, but because it's just easier that way). He can open and close his mouth, wiggle his fingers, and can hear. Guess we better start laying off the curse words. :) This week I'm also going to start with some statistics that I'll update as we progress. I've noticed this on some other pregnancy blogs and I like it-so don't think I'm creative on this one. In exciting baby news, I found out my coworker's wife is expecting, and her due date is just a day off from mine! Big congratulations to them. Also expecting is my physical therapist's wife, who is 9 weeks along with baby number 2. So here are the stats-no pictures yet because I'm not showing, just feeling fat. :) how far along? 12 weeks, 5 days fruit/baby size comparison: Baby is the size of a plum maternity clothes?a couple pairs of pants right now-but we're going shopping this weekend. feeling? better-less nausea, still exhausted, easily full sleep?touch and go. I definitely wake up during the night-but then I have a random night where I sleep all night-like last night. I love those nights.food cravings? strawberries. And I'm starting to crave sweets a bit. Cheeseburgers. belly button: in or out? definitely in. weird body changes? I'm starting to grow a second chin. :) I haven't gained a ton of weight yet, but its definitely shifting. what i miss: caffeine. I really miss my coffee. what i'm looking forward to: 20 weeks-finding out the gender!! milestones? 1st trimester almost over! Everything's bigger in Texas. 03/04/2010
Tomorrow morning I'm headed to San Antonio for a tradeshow. Yes, it totally sucks that it's over a weekend, but really, this is a pretty easy show when it comes down to it. Only two and half days, show doesn't open until 9 in the morning, closes at 4...and it's slow. Notoriously slow. Which means I don't have to be in the booth that much. We have the aforementioned reception on Saturday night and that's about all she wrote about this one. Although if I didn't have to go to San Antonio, I could partake in some fun mountain activity with my sister and brother-in-law, which would be pretty nice. Instead Brad will ski with them for the day and I'll be sitting in a convention center instead of sitting by a fireplace in a lodge reading a book while they are up on the mountain. It might be better, actually, that I'm not there since I would be super jealous of the skiing going on. I've never been much of a lodge girl. I want the action. So anyway, I'm off to the land of George Bush(es), yellow roses, Republicans and illegal border crossing. :) It's a short trip, I'll be back Monday night. Then I'm not on the road again until April! I've been pretty lucky in the travel department this spring. Oh right-this weekend is my birthday! I keep forgetting about that. :) I suppose my coworkers and I will celebrate, them over bottles of wine and me over virgin pina coladas. I'm turning the big 3-1...woo hoo! I never really mind the 1, 2, 3 or 4 birthdays (like 31, 32 etc). It's the multiples of 5 that bother me. So I'm good for another 4 years. Parenting Compatability and the Zodiac... 03/02/2010
I found a website today where you can enter each parent's zodiac sign and see if they will be compatible parents. According to this website, Brad and I are an "excellent blend." Now, before you read it, know that I've never considered myself a true Pisces. I'm not all sensitive, feely, and earth loving. I'm pretty blunt, I say what I think, and I speak up. But I do recycle. :)  I definitely think this is pretty accurate when it comes to Brad. Hello, a concern for safety and security? Check. :) Now, I know I have no difficulty in showing emotion. But I don't think I'm a softie! And I really don't have a problem saying no. :) But let's look at the bright side-according to the stars, we will be a "remarkably effective parenting team." Duh. :) Perils of the Job. 03/01/2010
I just spent half an hour picking the menu for a reception I'm holding in San Antonio next week. Normally, a menu takes me 5-10 minutes. I can look through, find some good proteins, vegetarian options and a sweet ending and be done with it. That doesn't happen when you're pregnant. First of all, I want to be able to eat what I pick (since I know I'll be hungry). So that means no soft cheese items (sorry, brie filled strawberries). Also no raw fish (I typically don't go there anyway). I happen to be hungry right now and headed to the kitchen shortly for my morning snack, so I should've done the menu after, but oh well. There were a lot of delicious options. I picked some varying items, noticing that cheese was playing a big role in my final menu. Cheese and shrimp quesadillas...cheese empanadas... But then I got to the desserts. The Grand Hyatt in San Antonio offers a cupcake display with a toppings bar. JACKPOT! I added that to the list faster than you can say chocolate frosting. De-lish. I actually find myself looking forward to this reception just for the cupcakes. Record Setting. 03/01/2010
Nope, I'm not talking about any Olympic records or amazing come-from-behind efforts to win the gold. Stop the presses, because last night I stayed awake until almost 10:00 pm (it was about 9:50 or so)! I have been so exhausted that for the past 6 weeks I have barely been making it to 9:00 pm, usually more like 8:30 or so. Some nights I just give up and go to bed, and other nights I drive Brad crazy by sleeping on the couch until he wakes me up to move to bed. I don't know what was going on to give me the extended energy, but I made it through the new episode of LA Ink AND the Real Housewives of Orange County before drifting off. This is a pretty big feat for me right now. :) Tonight we're planning on tempting fate and heading over to Dave and Buster's to play some pool (I informed Brad that he was not taking advantage of a cheaper bar bill and a built in designated driver, so we made a plan). Regarding the nausea, well, it hasn't disappeared as I had hoped (every morning I wake up hoping it might be gone). Last night I had a grilled cheese and broccoli with cheese sauce for dinner while Brad had tacos. It's pretty hit and miss with me right now. Oh, and I ate an entire carton of strawberries while Brad was out on a run with Gracie. The whole thing. I couldn't stop-they tasted so good. It could've been worse-it could've been a pint of ice cream. Well, time to eat my morning grapefruit (thanks Nana!) which usually provides me with about half an hour of no nausea. TGIF for real this week, well, every week now-I live for the weekends when I can relax, live in elasticized pants and eat as often as I want. :) | About Me:
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