Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Preggers Post - Week 18

It's official.... we're having a boy! 

Yesterday Mr. Smith and I went for our Anatomy Ultrasound, thinking we had a little girl in there.  When the ultrasound technician (sweetheart, by the way, because she totally put up with our off-the-wall questions), asked what we thought it was, we both said, "Girl.  Everyone's telling us it's a girl."  To which she said, "Well everyone's wrong.  It's a boy!" 

I seriously thought Mr. Smith was going to kiss her.  I haven't seen him that happy in Lord knows how long. 

We are very, VERY, excited at Little Boy Smith cookin' away in there.  The ultrasound showed that everything looked normal - Little Man was in there, kickin' away and swimming around (special thanks to my lunchtime Mountain Dew), with not a care in the world. 

Which leads me to my next development - Anterior Placenta.  Apparently I haven't felt Little Man doing his jive in there because I have one of these.  Which Mr. Smith immediately Googled upon leaving.  Here's what WhattoExpect.com says:

It means your baby is taking a backseat to the placenta. The term "anterior placenta" refers to the location of the placenta within your uterus. Most of the time, a fertilized egg will situate itself in the posterior uterus — the part closest to your spine, which is where the placenta eventually develops, too. Sometimes, though, the egg implants on the opposite side of the uterus, closest to your abdomen. When the placenta develops, it grows on the front (or anterior) side of your uterus, with the baby behind it.


Does the location of your placenta make any difference? Not to your baby, who doesn't care which side of the uterus he or she is lying on, and it certainly makes no difference to him or her where the placenta lies. And what about to you — or your practitioner? You might be less able to feel your baby's early kicks and punches because the placenta will serve as a cushion between your baby and your tummy..... These situations will resolve if the placenta moves into a more posterior position later on (as anterior placentas commonly do). But the good news here is that, despite those slight inconveniencies, an anterior placenta in and of itself poses no risk to your health.



I read that last line several times.  Worst case scenario:  C-section.  I'm cool with whatever.  Just get Little Man out safely.
 
Which leads me to our appointment with our super-cool ob, Dr. Hoover.  She answered a couple of my questions - thankfully - that had been plaguing me since our last visit, when I saw about 4 med students get on the elevator with us.  This is how it went down:
 
"Um, Dr. Hoover, on D-Day, will there be, like,  12-year-old med students in the room with me, at the most anguishing/embarrassing moment at my life, pointing and staring?  Because I know UAB is a learning facility, and I, um, just wanted a heads up if so."  (Mr. Smith is dying right now, by the way, in his chair.)
 
"Mrs. Smith, absolutely not." 
 
Sweet.
 
"Mrs. Smith, have you thought about a birth plan yet?"
 
"Yes.  My plan is not to be a martyr.  I don't want to be a hero, here, Dr. Hoover.  You just shoot me up with whatever pain medicine you have and get him out safely." 
 
"Perfect!  You're the perfect, most wonderful pregnant lady patient ever!" (This line may have not happened quite like that....)
 
 
Later last night, we held a little Gender Revelation Party at our home, with our family. 
 
Before the Great Unveiling, we had everyone vote on what they thought Baby Smith was. 
 
 Team Boy:  Mitchell, Grandma Nancy, Dad

Team Girl: Whit, Melanie, Mom, Sister, MiL, FiL 

Proud Parents-to-Be
(Yes, that's a double chin.  Apparently all my weight gain has gone to my face.  Whatev.  I'm trying to rock it.)

It's a BOY!!! 

To Do Now:
Take back all my girl stuff. 
Stock up on boy stuff! 
Order my boy crib bedding.
Select a name (Mr. Smith is very picky!)

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Easy Holiday Dishes

With holiday parties looming in the near future, I love to make these quick and easy crowd pleasers!

Sausage Balls

You'll Need:
Hot Sausage
Bisquick
Sharp Cheddar Cheese


Put uncooked sausage, whole package of cheddar, and about 2 cups of Bisquick in a bowl.  Mix together - I say use your hands.  It's much easier. 

Form batter into balls and place on greased cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees 15-20 minutes, until sausage is browned.


Rotel Dip
Grab your crock pot!  This recipe makes an entire crock pot full. 

You'll Need:
Sausage (1-2 packs)
2 large packages of Velveeta
4 cans Rotel

Brown and drain sausage.
While your sausage is cooking, cut Velveeta into cubes and place in crock pot.
Drain Rotel and place in crock pot. 
Mix in cooked sausage. 

Should be ready in about 30 minutes on High setting.  Keep on Low or Warm for remainder of party.  Serve with Chips! 

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

My Thanksgiving Pants... I mean Maternity Pants!

An Ode to Maternity "Thanksgiving" Pants...


Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Preggers Post: Week 17

Baby Smith
Grows to the size of a turnip this week.  Well, that's not very cute is it?  I've read it is the size of your open hand, but I have small hands, so who knows.  Baby Smith also starts accumulating body fat this week, which should be very easy given that it's Thanksgiving week and I've been stuffing my face.  It's a good time to be pregnant.  (And a good time to be wearing maternity clothes.)

Baby Smith also can hear everything now - in fact, loud noises may startle him/her. 
So... shhhh..... no need to yell at the tummy.

Momma Smith
Is ready to find out if it's a boy or girl!!!  I can't wait.  Less than one week to go. 

According to one Chinese Calendar, it's a girl.  According to another one, it's a boy. 
Then, that gender test where you hold a charm over your stomach and see which way it moves?  Girl.  Three times in a row.  I think most of our family and friends are split 50/50 on what it is! 

Still having the morning toothbrushing issues.  Still not making it through an entire night's sleep with the bathroom trips.  Also, sleeping is starting to be a tad uncomfortable.  Just like I can't get settled comfortably, ya know?  Oh, you don't.  Right.  Fingers crossed Santa brings me one of those super cool pregnancy pillows for Christmas! 

In Other News
I ordered our Nursery Furniture yesterday!  I just could not, COULD NOT, bring myself to order that expensive set we picked out a couple of weekends ago.  My frugal fierceness just would not let me pull the trigger.  I searched and searched and searched. 

Know what I found?  That JC Penney's is having a Baby Sale right now, which includes their nursery furniture.  With $500 off, free shipping to the store, and cash back through ebates.... how could a girl refuse such an offer?  I came in well under my first estimated budgeted amount.  (Insert blissful sigh here.)

I also wandered into Babies 'R Us last Friday on my lunch break to pick up some things for Momma Pilsch's baby shower.  Um - hello Carter's Clearance!  I thought it was the smart thing to do to pick up several items in both the boy and girl sections.  I mean, I can always take it back, right?  They were 40-70% off, people.  Work with me.

I tried to get a range in sizes, from Newborn up to 6 months.  Wish you could have seen me calculating the weather 3-6 months from May in the aisle!  I'm sure the people there thought I was loopy.  What?  You do too.  Well, I might be. 

Boy Stuff

Abby was super excited about the boy stuff.  She thinks Baby Smith is a boy. 
Please ignore the demonic look in her eye.  I swear she loves us.

Girl Stuff

Cooper thinks it's a Girl. 
Or he was just confused why I wasn't taking pictures of him for once. 

Monday, November 22, 2010

Whew...

.... what a weekend! After a chilled out Friday night with some pizza and TV, we hit the ground running Saturday morning. I headed to Tuscaloosa bright and early for Mrs. Pilsch's baby shower for Baby Girl Pilsch, and got to spend some funny and enlightening moments with these ladies.  (Mental Note:  learn what several of those items were that were opened.)  Mr. Smith spent the day getting a haircut and sighting his gun.  Did I spell that correctly?  He going hunting this week, so he eagerly spent the day preparing for this adventure. 

Momma Pilsch looks fantastic (blonde in the middle of the picture)... did I mention she has twin boys who are about 17 months old?  I got a chance to visit for a while after the shower at her home, and I was more than a bit exhausted watching those two kiddo's run around.


Later that evening in Birmingham...
Mr. Smith and I attended Miss Cecelia Brown's, now Mrs. CeCe Freeman, wedding reception at the Vestavia Country Club.  We missed the ceremony - no judging!  We were running late!  But we got there in time for some great food and fun times with the Bride and Groom and sorority sisters, such as Mrs. Searson, who is still bronzed and beautiful from her recent honeymoon.


We heart the Searson's!  Just ignore the fact that we look like ghosts compared to Malibu Barbie and Ken here. 


Sorority Sister time!  The bride looked gorgeous!!! 


Sunday was spent in Cullman with my family.  We took Cooper with us and he had a ball running around and playing on the Farm.  He got to meet horses for the first time, and there was even some swimming in the pond (which later led to a bath once we returned home).  We got the chance to spend time with not only my parents, but brother and his charming girlfriend at their church's annual Thanksgiving dinner and worship.  Let's just say the maternity wear is working out quite nicely these days with all the eating!  I'm loving it!


Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Preggers Post: Week 16

Good morning everyone!  Hope wherever you are you are staying nice and dry!  It's been raining here for a couple of days now, and it starts to play with your mood after a while.  :)

We're on Week 16 people!  What's so funny is that before you enter into this whole Pregnancy World, when you ask someone who is expecting how far along they are and they tell you their "Week", I'd give a blank stare.  Now that we're fully inundated with it, I get it.  Every week something really cool happens with Baby's development.  But, for everyone else's sake, I'm 4 months now.  (Insert excited squeal here.)

Baby Smith
This week, Baby Smith grows to the size of an avocado.  Also, the ear bones are in place this week, meaning Baby Smith can hear me talk, sing in the car, sing in the shower, sing while cooking, etc. Which leads me to stronger facial expressions by Baby Smith this week, that are probably along the lines of grimacing at the sound of my singing voice.  :)

Also, Baby Smith's backbone is stronger, letting him/her work on straightening its head.  Eyebrows and eyelashes are also in place this week.  

Momma Smith
Have had some serious food cravings over the past week.  Ranging from Sister's Buffalo Chicken Dip (which I made last night), to Mexican food, to Krystal's hamburgers.  Who knew? 

Still missing a full night's sleep, as I am still visiting the bathroom twice a night.  Also am getting pretty sick (literally and figuratively) of getting sick with the morning teeth brushing.  Gross. 

Started this last night, as a precaution.  I'll give a full review, say May 2011. 


Thinking I'm on the last week of fitting into current work pants; however, cannot wear maternity pants.  Suggestions? 

In Other News
Mr. Smith and I went nursery furniture shopping on Saturday and picked out a set we really liked!  The set I had originally picked out had already been sold, but Mr. Smith managed to find another one at the Showroom.  Only double what I had originally budgeted.  Did I mention he has expensive taste?  Only the best for Baby Smith, per Daddy Smith. 

I've also picked out my crib bedding, one for a girl and one for a boy.  I may or may not have already ordered the girl crib bedding, as it was on Sale with the Target Baby Sale.  It's the only one I've liked, okay people?  If Baby Smith is a boy, I'll just take it back. 

Speaking of Gender Revelation... we find out in less than 2 weeks!  Are you as excited as I am? 

We visited another "early learning center" last week.  Our goal is to still have one selected by year's end, so fingers crossed. 
(Note: if you are in college and wanting to make lots of money with your future career path, open an "early learning center," call it something prestigious, and watch the moola roll in.)