Sensory Overload

This weekend Nick was finally able to feel baby Mostek move. I think we were both pretty excited to finally be at the point where we can share that feeling in some way. According to the weekly status of baby development, Baby has recently developed the capacity to taste, see and hear. I'm sure none of these senses are really refined, but he can react to each of these things in his own way.

Taste: I've been interested in his reactions to food for a couple weeks now. I think at first I was convinced he really liked the foods I'm eating because he always becomes really active. Now I'm finding that he moves for pretty much any and all food at all times. So I'm less convinced he actually likes what I eat and more convinced that he's STARVING most times and is just grateful there's food coming in. It's not that I'm not eating, but rather the precious space in my belly is transitioning to a residential space with no room for storage. Want more food? Move over, Baby. :)

Sight: We decided to test this sense by holding a flashlight to my belly to see if Baby Mostek would react. I read that they can see light and will often react and turn away from "bright" lights. He definitely moved as we shone the flashlight to different areas on my belly! That was pure entertainment. Nick was fascinated a while and then convinced we were just pestering our poor son. Somehow I didn't mind so much. Is it because I enjoy tormenting our child? Yes. But in my defense, Baby Mostek dishes up his own torment now and then, so I think it's fair.

During our little light experiment we also saw a visible kick in my belly. I hadn't seen that before! Well now it was on. So I poked the same spot we saw the kick and he responded in the same spot. Ha! Now I'm certain he's enjoying our reindeer games.

Sound: After a trip to the bookstore for a baby names book (progress!), Nick and I went to dinner and a movie. Yep, enjoying it while we can. We saw Bourne Legacy in our favorite theater and had a really great time. For those less familiar with the Bourne movies, they are huge 'splosion-filled testosterone fests. I enjoyed the movie, and it seemed Baby Mostek did too. When the movie would get loud with car chases and things blowing up everywhere, he started flipping and kicking. He was less active during the "plot" scenes and probably fell asleep.

I try to talk to him a bit more when it's just the two of us and things are quiet. I've found I have very few profound things to say on my commute to and from work, so he probably won't be any wiser for it. Well, unless he's a fantastic driver. In that case, I take full credit.

21 Weeks

21 weeks

Just over halfway there...yay! I am happy to say that progress has been made, though somehow it's not the same progress as what people really want to know. No names, no colors chosen yet. Nick and I seem to be getting better at finding completely hilarious names rather than serious ones. I'd post our hilarious choices, but I've found it's not a good idea to list names you find hilarious. That could either be someone else's favorite name, or some beloved relative...so don't ask. But let me tell you, without knowing background on the names, we find some names hilarious.

We have made progress on the nursery, but no colors or specifics have been chosen yet. I have scored a few hand-me-downs for some key items, and I'm finding there's a lot of people wanting to get rid of baby stuff. Let me just say, for the record, I welcome secondhand items of all kinds. I have no style, and my poor child can wear silly mismatched clothes. If you had it, used it, liked it, and are trying to get rid of it: yes, I'm interested.

Last weekend we cleared out the baby's room and adjusted closet space for the big move. We also did a preliminary registry/shopping excursion to familiarize with what baby stuff is out there. After my head exploded, I started to organize which types of things we actually need and which ones were secondary. Wowsers...there is a lot of stuff out there!

We've also started looking at daycare options. It feels crazy early to start looking, but I definitely don't want that to be a stress later. We have a couple places we like so far, so I'm hopeful our options will be great and we can choose a place sometime soon.

I'm feeling him move more and more each day, though Nick still hasn't been able to feel it yet. It's pretty special to feel him flip while I'm sitting in a meeting at work or working at my computer. Supposedly he's able to taste the food I'm eating now, and so far I think he approves.

We're headed home in a couple weeks and I can't wait. It'll be a jam-packed trip, but we get to catch up with a lot of family and a lot of friends. And meet my nephew! Side bonus: ISU football game. On that note, courtesy of Grampa and Gramma Lamos, "Go Cyclones!"

(Thanks, Mom & Dad!)

My child has a wiener

That’s right: Baby Mostek is officially a “him.” I’m fully aware that someday my son might go back and read these posts about his early development and be completely embarassed that his mother actually wrote “wiener.”

Well, I have some comforting news: his daddy wrote it first. This happens to be the finely worded first text sent after we found out that he is, indeed, a “him.”

He’s moving all over the place and was really active for the full ultrasound. We had no problems finding out the gender: apparently he’s quite the exhibitionist (as evidenced in the photos below).

All news about baby was good news, and he’s developing right on schedule. As for me, we found out that currently I have placenta previa. That means the placenta is growing above the cervix. Right now, the doctors don’t seem concerned because there’s enough space and time for the placenta to move. I have another appointment and ultrasound in 6 weeks to monitor whether or not it moves. If it does not, we might be looking at bedrest (double yuck). For now, I’m feeling good and don’t have any causes for concern.

May I present: our son.

Fluttering and Fires

Fluttering: Last night I believe I felt the first confirmed flutter. I've been trying to notice any baby movements right before I fall asleep at night, and I think I was able to separate digestion feeling from baby movement. Pretty cool. It's a little sad that I can't share it with Nick just yet, but hopefully soon. Now I've noticed it a few times here and there throughout the day (especially when I type furiously at my desk while sporting terrible posture). Baby apparently needs some space--sit up, Lady! :)

Fires: All right, no need for panic. All is well in the Mostek household, but since the news has reached the Midwest, I figured I should probably address it. There was a large fire in the Chevron Refinery in Richmond (about 10 miles South of Nick and me). It was pretty scary at the time--Nick saw it while driving home and we immediately started watching the news for more info. They ordered a "shelter in place" for Richmond and the town directly north of Richmond, which just means stay home, close all doors and windows and block the crevices to outside air.

The warning was not for Pinole (our town) but we could see the smoke out our window. Not surprisingly, Nick had a softball game that evening, but the game was south of the fire and out of the danger zone. We discussed which would be better/worse for me--to stay in, or get south of the smoke. We chose to get south and recheck the status of the air quality before heading home after the game. While driving to the game, we could see the smoke cloud, though it didn't appear to be moving north at all--it was moving east. Luckily, the game was fine and by the time we headed home, the air and smoke had cleared significantly. I couldn't ever smell smoke near our house, so I think we ended up quite lucky.

The Cat Whisperer

Honestly, I have no idea if animals can "sense" a pregnancy or not. I believe they can sense change, but whether or not they have any more understanding than that is still a mystery to me. Nevertheless, I have heard of this phenomenon and I wondered if our two cats would notice anything.

Background info: Both cats are lap cats, but one tends to favor me and the other tends to favor Nick. And she's fairly adamant about her preference. She'll settle for my lap if Nick isn't available, but it's usually begrudgingly. We haven't started decorating or moving furniture or anything, so I'm not sure a lot of change is really apparent.

For the past couple weeks, I seem to have become the cat whisperer.  Maybe it's my larger (and probably more comfortable) self. Both cats want to be on my belly. Generally they don't even get along! They are willing to actually touch each other as long as they both have belly space.

May I present: the human cat tree. The one on my lap is Nick's cat. They're not touching in this photo, but sometimes they even share breathing space. I can't explain it. For now I just find it funny.