My son is a godforsaken riot. This weekend we showered together, and asI was drying and he was just splashing around, he pooped in the shower. I related the story to someone as a funny. So yesterday, Su-sue is telling me funny stories, and he went "hahaha I pooped in the shower". Oh.My.God. I died.

We also dyed eggs last night. I got quite good at blowing them out and made some delicious smelling quiches. Frozen for Easter. I'm so trying to plan to keep craziness to a minimum.

Had the big real first doctors appointment on Friday. That was . . . okay. No attempt to hear the hb as I wasn't even 10 weeks yet. I just love my practice and my midwives. After I dressed we still sat down and had a chat. She read the report about Nino's birth, and we went over some of that. Not in a bad way, but just to recall and be a bit more aware this time.

Hubby came home on Friday and wanted to go away. We decided that it wasn't practical to go away, but we were going to be "on vacation" for the weekend. We ate every meal out (even breakfast!), did everything together (even groceries!) and did silly stuff like went to the beach. The seals were awesome. Nino loved them, the stick he found, and getting his socks, shoes, and cuffs soaked. We rented Napoleon Dynamite (thumbs up) and saw Million Dollar Baby (thumb wavering, meh). It was his birthday, so we went to his parents to celebrate with his brothers and all. Nino loved singing happy birthday *twice* and helping blow out candles *twice*. Lots of his saliva on the frosting, but everyone was a good sport about it.

Another good weekend. Not much going on. We're slowly telling more and more people (BIL Pete and his wife yesterday). Also, we're now officially committed to hosting Easter. That actually should be quite fun. I like having holidays so we don't have to trek around to see everyone.

Got a ton of snow on Saturday. I wasn't able to go to Rachel's party, but we did stay in and bake and stuff. I don't mind being snowed in. And fun with the boy.

Yesterday was a sick day. I'm glad I now have sick and not sick days, as opposed to the badness throughout of a bit ago.

My sense of smell is returning. Good, in that it brings taste with it. Mmm, funnybones. I just fear that the onion bagel I smelled at noon in the elevator is the one I brought in at 8 am and everyone has been smelling it since. In denial, I say no.

I'm also sad because A is losing her baby. She's as far along as I am, and we met on a ttc after miscarriage board. We got pregnant the second time together and her daughter is just 6 days younger than Nino. We were due within 3 days again this time. She's paid her dues. This shouldn't happen.

I have a cold. I could feel it was coming last night. Overnight it got bad. I'm not happy. I've had about a gallon of tea today. It makes me feel better for the 3 minutes immediately afterward.

I hope this is it. I don't want it to get worse before it gets better.

I think our boy will be Massimo, called Max. Vanni and Max? Nino and Max? Maxo? ;o)

Girl . . . this is going to be tough. I don't think daddy wants to even talk about it until we know we need to find a pink name. My new fave is Carolina.

Sooo happy!!

I'm back! Everything was fine, other than the fact that everything took *forever*. Lucky the office is slow or my secret would be out. Bean is measuring 7w6d, which according to O date is spot on (I'm 8w2d LMP, but I know I o'ed around d17). Heartrate of 147, and yes, there's only one. ;o)

I'm thinking boy, as G's first heart rate was 150. But who knows right? I'm just on cloud nine.

I just loved seeing that little blob with the flicker. It was at the hospital, so it wasn't set up for me to see like in the ob's office. So I'm trying to read the tech/hubby's faces. All of a sudden hubby smiles and goes "is that a *baby*?!?" and the tech just grinned and said "yup!"

They gave us a pic.

I've worked myself into a tizzy. This morning I've been having these weird shooting pains, it feels like my cervix. Well then I went to the ladies' and found a tiny spot. TMI ahead, but I couldn't tell which part it was coming from. So I called the midwife, and they want me in for an ultrasound right away. I have been begging and now the time's here and I can't stop thinking worst-case. I have no reason to think anything's wrong, and know that this pain and possible spotting are probably attributable to last night's "marital relations", but I also have this weird fear of ultrasounds, as that's when we found out the first pregnancy wasn't right.

I'm also mostly symptomless. I don't know if I feel less nauseated or if I'm just getting used to the baseline crappiness feeling.

I'm not sure I'm going to sleep tonight.

Good weekend all around. Went to the rainforest cafe on friday, which Nino just adored. Met Meme for some shopping, and she got me a great outfit to wear to B's wedding, as well as just loads of all purpose clothing. Saturday went to Al's birthday event, as hubby was mixing concrete and making our house into a dust bowl. Yesterday headed to bridal shower 18000 miles away. It was fine. Big vats of scrambled eggs and mass produced danishes, but my belly actually did okay.

Even though it's a pita to move Nino mid day Mondays, he loves having a playdate every Monday morning, and I love seeing him in the middle of the day. Having lunch with him was a glorious break today.

Also, things are going on. I don't feel movement per se, but I feel lots of activity down there. Like things are stretching and rearranging. And my husband told me things look different. My fat is getting squished up high, above my belly button. Fortunately no weight gain yet. Small victories.

I.ate.a.sandwich.for.lunch.

I'm beyond thrilled. It was delicious, nutritious, and best part - still on the ins.

The woman who does our paychecks announced her pregnancy to me today. She's due exactly a month before me. It was all I could do not to scream "ME TOO". ;o)

I'm so hormonal. I guess. A girl I was "friendly" with in high school (heck, we went to preschool together) died last week in a horrible skiing accident. Her family has set up a really lovely site with photos, service info, and a guest book. I read all 8 pages of the guest book and now I can't hold it together. It just shouldn't happen. Parents shouldn't have to have funerals for their kids. This beautiful woman was at the prime of her life. Married, successful, happy.

Not to mention my stomach is still mad at me. I ate this morning but every time I stand up, turn around, climb into the van, I need a little prayer.

Hilary's new diet plan. I should write a book.

8 am: Eat breakfast. Bagel or cereal, or something otherwise deemed "mild".

9 am: Think that *today* will be the day that you keep it down.

9:15 am: Lose breakfast

11 am: Eat about 14 mini-pretzels, say little prayer after each one.

12:30-2:00: Drink can of soda. Take sweet time.

3:00-4:30 pm: Drink second can of soda. Be careful.

6 pm: Eat something mild like 6 tbsp of mashed potatoes or bowl of cereal.

3 am: Wake with weird stomach noises and eat one square graham cracker. Another prayer is necessary.

Repeat for 12-14 weeks.

Well, today's better. I think maybe I had a bug, or just a really horrible day. Still some puke today, but not the death-warmed-over of yesterday. I can handle if it's like this for 5-7 weeks. Not that I wouldn't *love* it to end sooner.

Not to mention that we got a foot of snow, and the new van isn't 4wd. It's not horrible in the snow, but I fear the parking space I jammed myself into. I have to leave early so hopefully I can enlist help if need be.

Wonder how I tell if I have a bug or just morning sickness? I feel awful. Worse than ever. I can't keep anything down, I can't stomach anything. I have the chills. I want to go home. I can't concentrate on work. Yeck.

Hold me.

So I had my first appointment. Just with the nurse. Asked me all about my pregnancies, my health, my family's health, my husband (no really, he doesn't hit me). Took a lot of blood. And that stupid diabetes drink. I think it's because I'm fat they give it to me early. I also begged for an ultrasound. I didn't get one, but she wrote it down. I'm begging at my next appointment. I'll beg every chance I get until I see my bean.

Now I feel gross. That orange soda stuff is gross.

I thought I'd found the solution this morning. While packing Nino's bag, apple juice looked amazing to me. I was practically salivating. So I got myself a large apple juice and egg sandwich. The egg tasted good (yay!) but the juice was like pedialyte - too sweet, too syrupy.

I was so close.

Bleh.

This child better be making himself nice and comfy in there. I've got 34 more weeks and you've already changed my life. I'm sick like I never was with Nino. Not to mention that this morning I had some spotting and cramping, so I called the nurse line. "That's normal" they tell me. I'm going to beg for an ultrasound tomorrow. It's my iniitial appointment, with the first blood draws, free vitamins, all that.

Why do I do this to myself?

I lurk on the pp October 2005 board sometime, but don't post there, as they have about a million members. This week, about a thousand of them are posting their "goodbye" posts. It makes me so sad, gives me doubts. Do I feel sick enough? Why aren't my boobs sore? Why are all these people *so* pregnant and I just feel premenstrual?

Remind me not to hang out there. Besides, I have a nice zit to prove the hormones are a-raging.

It's starting to sink in a little. Friday morning I'm pretty sure I woke Whitney up to tell her. I wanted a ticker, dammit!! ;o)

Then my parents were en route to GA for the weekend and I decided it'd be mean for W to know and be with Barb and not be able to chat about it. So I told mom. Very excited, but cautious of course. December 2001 we had an early miscarriage. I don't want a repeat, thanks very much.

I'm feeling okay. Very stretchy and crampy. A bit nauseated, not too bad. I have my first appointment next Wednesday the 23rd. I'm going to angle for an ultrasound. I want to be reassured.

Hubby told me this was the best valentines gift I could give him. Asked Nino if he wanted a baby boy or baby girl, and he said "a baby girl will clean up my mess". Nice. Wonder where he gets this?

Oh and I'm no longer allowed to change the kitty litter. Small victory! ;o)

Additionally, we're bidding on a 2002 Eurovan on ebay. Orlando, Fl. We're a bit crazy.

Holy cow.

I had lunch with niece Anna today. I ran into her and her mom in the parking lot, leaving school, and we did impromptu lunch. It was nice.

And the contractor came over this morning to talk about finishing the living room. That happens, Nino gets his bedroom back, and the interior of the house is done. I can't wait.

And I'm all hyped up about making training pants. It's sad. I'm going nuts buying scraps on ebay.

My $5 into the super bowl pool paid off. Hooray. I'm $75 (well, net $70) richer today.

Had a fun weekend. It was nice enough to go outside a few times, so we did. Hubby had an employee quit which had us in a swell mood for a few days. Ugh.

This weekend is Kate's going-away party. Sad reason to get together, but I'll be glad to see the gang again. It was almost a year ago I went there for the first time.