CNotes

Cailin

Origin: Gaelic for lass or girl, now often seen as Colleen.

Sugar & spice and everything nice, that's what little girls are made of. Really? What's wrong with snails & puppy dog tails for girls?

Now that we know we're having a girl, it's amazing how quickly gender roles are being assigned to her.  Like, that she must be sweet, wear pink, needs a kitchen & a playhouse and will love princesses.  All of that is fine, but I hope she'll be a strong, smart, independent thinker who can take down the boys in the neighborhood, if need be. And, all with good manners.  And, I hope the Hub & I have enough discipline to let her be the best Hanna Marie she can be with our guidance, and not project what we think she should or should not become based on our skills, talents & preferences.

We've already started discussing activities.  She will definitely be exposed to soccer & ballet. Two activities she can start early. Soccer because the Hub played, is good team activity and we like it.  Ballet because I took 12+ years of dance and loved it.  And, it will help her with coordination and muscle control early. If she hates them both, we'll move on to something else. 

I do not want Disney to infiltrate our lives. (My mother will happy to read that, although I'm more of a fan of the Evil Empire than she is.)  I don't want to be ruled by princesses.  What's so great about these princesses?  They're all waiting around for Prince Charming to rush in and make everything better. (although I understand the Princess & the Frog may have a different message, haven't seen it yet) 

I'm hoping that Hanna Marie will kick some ass all on her own and not wait around for a boy. (Don't get me wrong, I love boys. I married one.) Some princess stuff is all well & good.  But, we'll have dinosaur, science s and sports, too. 

And whether this child was a boy or a girl, they were going to spend quality time in the kitchen.  I loved my play kitchen & Easy Bake Oven. The Hub will get to enjoy more than his fair share of Easy Bake Oven delights.  Cooking is fun and should not be gender specific. 

I am now aware of just how diligent we will have to be to not allow Hanna Marie's gender to assign her specific roles.  I still wonder if we'll have a female president in my lifetime, but Hanna Marie will be raised to believe that she can become anything and everything she wants & is capable of becoming. (I hope. That's our plan.)

Clothing

Today is my first day in all maternity wear. I have to say, it feels a little different, but comfortable.

At 19 weeks, it's time.  Many tops, skirts & dresses still fit well because of the cut & design, but the weekly appearance of a denim skirt in my uniform rotation ended last week. I put on my tried & true and realized that was probably the last week for that one.

So, to Target I went.  Found this, along with some great t's in great colors, and all at great prices. Mom sent me a couple more t's & a sweater for later this fall.  I haven't ventured into the maternity mall stores or cute boutiques around town, but I suppose that's coming.

I know I need a nice dress - for evening and parties. I can think of 3 wearings off the top of my head, a wedding in August, a banquet in Vegas in October and a couples shower that will likely be in October. The problem? All the dresses seem to be black. I know I'm going to look like the Hindenburg and would prefer some color.  So, I'll look long & hard for that dress. I have a few weeks before I need it anyway. 

Other than that, jeans will be the usual nightmare. And, I'll need a pair.  But, check out this top ... may have to chat with the Hub about a splurge.  It's really cute. And orange.  But, more than I would normally spend on a regular top. I love orange (yes, my Gator friends, I've always loved orange, just not with blue.)

And, thankfully, a friend is going to let me go shopping in her maternity closet this weekend. I can't tell you or her just exactly how thankful I am.

Still haven't bought a thing for Miss Hanna Marie. I'm a little afraid that if I start, I won't be able to stop. Girl stuff is SO, SO cute. I can wait. Really.

Chica - a little one

It's official - the Hub & I are having a girl. We found out yesterday.

Initially, I could have gone either way on finding out. So, I told the Hub, you can decide. If you want to know, I'm good with that. And, if you want to wait, I can wait. His response? "Are you crazy?" This conversation was weeks ago.

Funny thing. Once we scheduled the appointment, I started to look forward to July 15. And, then this week creeped by. So slowly. Finally, it was 1P on July 15. It was time. I was so excited. And, I really didn't care which way it was going to be, I just wanted to be sure tadpole (the Hub's name for the baby) showed off and had a good pic. Let me tell you, I wasn't getting up off that table until we knew.

And, you can't call me on the not caring either way. I really didn't care. I love little boys & little girls. And, I realized I was going to be just a wee bit disappointed in all the excitement when I knew what we weren't having. 

So, the tech asked before we got started, "Do you want to know?" We said "Yes!"

Then, we got started and she asked again, "Do you want to know?" And in response to our yes, she said, "It's a girl!" We said "Really?" And, then she drew an arrow on the screen and labeled the pic "Girl Parts." For good measure we have another labeled Girl Parts pic.  The nude baby pics have already begun. We now have embarrassment fodder for she's 13. Awesome.

For those of you who have been down this road before ... this is Miss Priss (MP) on her back in profile view. (If you're not good a rorschach charts, the head is on the right, with the face up) We're 18 weeks along. She weighs 9 ounces, is 17.2 centimeters long and is about the size of a bell pepper. She's measuring with a due date of December 12, which is one day earlier.  And, she was running yesterday. We watched her.  Hopefully she'll be fast, like her Daddy.

Mom reminded that my due date was December 12. And, I showed up November 25 because my Aunt Joan informed my mother that the baby would arrive while she was visiting at Thanksgiving. I learned early to listen to Auntie Joan and arrived the day before Thanksgiving like a good girl.  So, Auntie Joan may have to speak to MP by telephone, because I'd like her to come a couple of weeks early. Just 2. November 30 would be great. Yes, I'll be 40, but I won't be in the hospital over Thanksgiving and my 40th birthday.

The Hub & I are overwhelmed by the outpouring of love for this munchkin, and for us.  Our friends & family seem to have great faith that we will be good parents ... I hope we can live up to it.

I'll write about varied topics, still, but I think you'll see a lot of this pregnancy chronicled here, too.

Cloth or Disposable

Ok, so much to post about this pregnancy biz.  I'll catch you up on the backstory later.  We're 18 weeks into Baby Woody watch and tomorrow is the BIG DAY.  Yep - fancy ultrasound to find out if it's Baby Woody or Baby Woodette/Woodina (we haven't found a good Wood-ish name for a girl. Fortunately Baby Woody works for last name, too.)

Although the Hub calls the baby "Tadpole." I've sort of come around to this - not really my fave, but he really likes it and I apparently don't have a good alternative.  And, one of his colleagues refers to him as "Taddy's Daddy" which I think is pretty funny.

There is an overwhelming amount of STUFF associated with this baby biz.  Jeez.  Fortunately, I have a friend who had a baby last year and she's the lucky one who agreed to go shopping with me for the "stuff."  Thanks, Whitney. I really, really appreciate you.

Here's a list of what's complete:

• Daycare - whew. (have heard from too many peeps that can be a nightmare)
• Hospital -preadmit paperwork is done.

Here's what's in process:

• Maternity Leave -paperwork, paperwork, paperwork. Think I have the calendar laid out (that will be adjusted based on actual due date) - but the FMLA, short-term disability app, etc all need to be finished.

What's completely not done:

• Nursery - theme is settled (and has been for more than 10 yrs) but furniture, cleaned out room? Not done at all.
• Stuff - see big thanks to Whitney above.  So much to choose from, I'm guessing so much of it not necessary.

Questions and advice for you mommies out there:

• Cloth or disposable diapers - let me know what you think.
• Strollers & Carseats - advice appreciated
• Anyone looking to unload bassinet, other baby stuff that hasn't been recalled (looks like we're definitely buying a new crib, which I hadn't intended)
• What do I need to ask?

I'll probably chronicle this adventure a little more. I'm still amazed, but have started to love this little creature, which is the size of a bell pepper, more & more every day.