My Boys

Just a quick aside about the show My Boys...How can you not love a show set in Chicago whose running gag line in the last episode was, "And he's not even drunk..."?  It's like a slice of our lives on the small screen.

More sniffles

I am self-banning from all Hallmark stores, too...The music cards, for the love of God, the music cards!!!

Another No-No...

I got a little choked up during the national anthem at the Cubs game last night.  Apparently blatant patriotism is enough to set off the water works as well!  (Don't tell my Dad that I got teary-eyed at a Cubs game!)

A Little Madness...

So I did a little searching online for cute baby gear...Two hours later I had tears in my eyes from laughing.  There is such an array of stuff to tempt my credit card!  I could've spent $200 on onesies alone.  The rock tees are adorable, but the movie quotes are even better.  My personal favorite: "Nobody puts Baby in the corner!" although Little Miss Sunshine and Little Miss Giggles ran a close second.  I put some links on the side of my blog, for those of you interested in browsing for yourself...just hide your wallet before you start!

Lucky Baby

I've been getting loads of update emails lately in response to the blog, and it struck me yesterday just how lucky my little girl is going to be.  She has so many wonderful people who love her already.  And there are some truly amazing people in that group.  She will never grow up isolated or ignorant of the world around her.   Solar energy efficiency research, financing women's industry in the Middle East, water conservation in Ethiopia, LED/Pedal energy technology in Nepal, education reform here in Chicago, living or traveling through Belize, Costa Rica, Venice, India, New Zealand, Germany, Israel, and more are just a few of the cool things the "aunties" and "uncles" are up to.  Oh, the bedtime stories they could tell!  I wonder what her place will be in our global society...

Balancing Act

With everything stretching and shifting, I find myself needing to take time to make sure I am paying attention to the changing needs of my body and keeping everything balanced.  I have found two things that have been invaluable, baby yoga and my chiropractor.  My mom bought me a prenatal yoga video.  I have been trying to do it twice a week, and now that school is out, I am going to aim for more than that.  I come home and my sides and tummy are sore or stretched.  My feet and calves are tired.  My hamstrings are tight, and my shoulders/upper back are tense.  I do baby yoga for 40 minutes and I am a new woman.  Everything is loose and back where it is supposed to be.  I am relaxed and happy (and usually ready for a nap...)  I never felt much benefit from doing yoga when I wasn't pregnant because it is hard for me to relax in most of the poses.  With these modified poses, I can finally do a downward facing dog and still breathe!  It's great!  The other thing that is keeping me in balance are my visits to my chiropractor. Dr. Sean Manning runs Well Adjusted World in Oak Park.  I started seeing him almost 2 years ago based on the recommendation of a good friend for some back pain, and he has done wonders for my migraines, sinus infections, and acid reflux.  The added bonus is that his specialties are pregnant women and pediatric chiropractic!  He checks my hips and tail bone, to make sure I'm not twisting anything out of whack.  He also helps release tension and balance the ligaments that hold the baby stable inside.  I love going to see him, because he is very gentle.  It's not a competition to see how many times he can make your back crack (unlike some other chiropractors I've seen).  Often times, he just applies light consistent pressure and I feel everything release.  If anyone needs a good chiropractor, check out his website: www.welladjustedworld.com !  

First Father's Day

Today J.R. & I went out for breakfast at Yolk, with my parents, my brother & his wife, & my grandmother.  We had a good time, even though it was a bit loud and hard to have conversations.  The food was great, as always.  Both J.R. and my dad enjoyed their presents of books to share with the baby.  After breakfast, J.R. and I went to the Sox game.  All in all, not a bad first Father's Day.

Hormonal Mess!

I know everyone says that when you're pregnant your hormones get wacky, and you sort of lose control over your emotional responses.  In fact, one book called it "progesterone poisoning".  I hadn't really noticed a whole lot of difference until lately.  I thought I'd include a few of those changes for your amusement.

Change #1:  Lack of Patience

As a third grade teacher, I have to have a lot of this in ready supply.  The last two weeks of school were mighty challenging.  I was fine with the kids, but I didn't have anything left over for dealing with the adults in my life.  Normally, I can let things slide, and I don't let people get under my skin.  I have become the witch of the third grade team.  Heaven help you if you piss me off or are even mildly annoying, because I really can't let things go.  And I can see the train wreck in front of me, but I can't seem to do anything about it.  I think I may have frightened a few co-workers with my angry venting rants and the steam pouring out of my ears.  Boy, I hope this passes soon!

Change #2: Water Works

I have lost control of my tear ducts.  I am composing a list of things that I am no longer allowed to do while pregnant.

1. Go shopping for Father/daughter picture books at Borders.  I bought a bunch for J.R. and my dad, and I nearly started bawling in the middle of Billy Crystal's "I Already Know I Love You".  The title says it all, sniff...

2. Watch movies involving relationships.  Yes, I know this is a big category, but if you had see me two weeks ago you would not question the broad scope of the restriction.  I went to go see Sex and the City with some friends.  I loved the series, and was anxious to catch up with my favorite characters.  I expected to tear up a little bit at special moments.  I did not expect to start crying 45 minutes into the 2 hour 15 minute movie, and find myself unable to stop. I went through 6 napkins and a wad of toilet paper, and I still had to leave before the end of the film to get more napkins because I was literally dripping from every pore on my face. 

3. Follow the political election coverage.  On the way home from the Sex and the City flood, I was listening to Barack Obama's speech after the final primary results were in.  He thanked his wife and daughters, and then his grandmother for making him the man he is today.   After a few hard swallows and some fierce blinking, I managed to keep the gates closed so I could see the road, but it was a close call.

4. Listen to any country music.  I have flipped through the dial several times in the last few weeks and occasionally settle on the country station.  I swear, each and every time there has been a song about weddings, or little boys watching their daddies to learn what to do, or padonkadonks, and I get teary eyed over each one!  (Okay, maybe not the last one...)  I have to change to channel quickly or risk breaking down in my car and scaring my fellow drivers.  

5. Read romance novels.  This is a tough one for me.  As many of you know, this particular genre is a favorite of mine for stress relief.  I love a fun story with a happy ending to help me forget/ignore whatever is stressing me, if only for a little while.  But the situation has become dire.  I am in the process of bankrupting my poor husband who is only trying to keep me in Kleenex!  He comes home and finds me red and puffy, and immediately goes into panic mode thinking that something must be wrong.  When I start blubbering about dukes and earls, he retreats to the Wii in the basement...

6. Watch my favorite shows on t.v.  As you know, the summer season of shows is gradually gearing up and I am discovering that I can no longer watch some of my favorites.  The most recent casualty is Army Wives.  I recorded the season premier, so I could watch it later.  I made the mistake of watching it at 8:00 am.  A soaking wet 45 minutes later, I stumbled into the bathroom to try and douse my face with enough cold water so that I could open my eyes again.  I polished off nearly half a box of tissues in that one sitting.  I have no idea what is going to happen in tonight's episode, but I am going to give poor J.R. a break from having to deal with my tears by watching it with my good friend Christie.  She claims to have also cried her way through the first episode, and her husband hides away too!  Perfect!  I just hope I don't have to stop watching My Boys, The Closer, and CSI...I'm glad American Idol ended when it did!  I may not have made it through to the finale...

So, today was my first official day off school.  I ask you, is there any better way to spend a day than napping with pooches on the couch?  Gizmo has found a new favorite perch.  She climbs up on top of the belly and curls up into a little ball.  Very sweet, but a little painful when she decides to jump down in a flying leap to chase Wicket.  Tomorrow I go back to the grindstone, but today was my first lazy day of summer.  If Lil' Mo likes naps as much as her mommy does, this will be a cake walk! (Just kidding...no whammy, no whammy...)

Our other children

My dear husband pointed out that it is a good thing that our pups can't read, or they might be pissed that they didn't get mentioned in earlier posts.  Our two darlings are also doing well, although the heat is starting to get to them with their shaggy coats.  Here's a recent picture to help illustrate their cuteness. 

Ultrasound Pictures

We have some pictures from the ultrasound.  Mostly profiles, and the all important boy or girl slide.  Two lines means a girl, three would be a boy.  It's pretty clear!

Five Months and Counting

Hello all,

I am starting this blog as a place to share all of the fun changes happening in our small family right now.  Pretty soon we will have a little Moore to post about.  I am not good at the email updates, so I figure if you're interested you can check in here.  Here's the quick update of the last 5 months.  

2-14-08 Happy Valentine's Day: We found out that we were finally pregnant.

2/08-4/08 First Trimester: Lots of nausea and extreme tiredness.  Boy am I glad that's done!

4/08-6/08 Part of Second Trimester: Feeling fine, if a little stretched.  Almost back to full energy.

5/27/08 5 Month ultrasound: It's a girl!  And she looks healthy and very active!  The tech had to keep repositioning the wand because she kept flipping around.

6/3/08 My students have been very excited about the whole thing.  They threw me an end of the year picnic/baby shower and all of the kids gave me their advice on being a good parent. Most of them said love the baby, spend time to show you care, be patient, and have fun. My favorite though I am including below:

Top Five Things to Know About Babies

1. Don't underestimate them!  The hair pulling is vicious!

2. If they start crying/screaming, bob and rock.

3. Touch their hair, it's so soft.

4. Play with their hands and feet, they're so little!

5. Don't be mean, do be firm, and don't spoil them.

I think that pretty much covers it!

The kids have started lists of names for the baby.  I have somewhere near 500 to consider now! 

6/6/08 Movement! I felt the baby move for the first time for sure.  I don't know what everyone is talking about with the fluttering butterflies.  I got punched in the stomach!  I was bending over cleaning tables at lunch, and apparently she doesn't like being squished.  It has mellowed into more pushes and twists, but I am finally sure of what I am feeling.  I've been walking around with a huge goofy grin on my face every time she starts flipping around.  

6/9/08 Today was the last day of school and I got hugs and the baby got rubs and kisses.  It was super cute.

SO that's the last few months in a nutshell.  I will keep posting as we get more news.