Settled

I’m feeling much better since Alan’s been home. Baby Bean is too. She started kicking as we were driving home talking. She was quiet for the next couple days, but she’s been kicking up a storm since Saturday. I even saw my belly bounce when I was reading in bed the other night, because she kicked a few times really high up. Very strange to see that.

We had a very quiet holiday. We had dinner at the Souza’s on Wednesday night, which was fun. Alan and Kelby got schooled on MW3 by Tyler, the new first sergeant’s 14-year-old son. Unlike Norbeck, Woodward is married and has two kids, only the younger of which still lives with mom and dad. Thursday we were invited to Sgt. Schulz’s house, but declined. After a month apart we just wanted to hang out. We didn’t even do anything dramatic for dinner and Alan played MW3 all day. I did make pumpkin bread though, which was very tasty. Friday, not being insane, we very sensibly stayed home most of the day. We went to Starbucks and Bed, Bath & Beyond and then home. I was surprised that it was pretty civilized over at the shopping center, but definitely more crowded than usual. All I got was a tart pan and I didn’t even have to wait in line.

Saturday Dan and Katie brought Claire over for pizza. Claire was so funny. She started looking for the cats the second she came in the door. She didn’t even wait for Katie to take her coat off. I was very pleased with the way the pizza came out too. We tried a new sauce with plenty of garlic and I added some oregano and crushed red pepper and played with my cheese ratios. It came out pretty tasty. I did also find Karma and lure her out for Claire, who was very excited. She pulled and tugged and Karma was very good and tolerant. She only hissed when Claire started looming over her and Claire was good enough to back off until Karma was ready to come out again. I think she’ll do well once her own baby is here, especially since a newborn won’t be chasing her for quite a while. By then she’ll be used to her.

I have to say, I’m pretty over the whole pregnancy thing. I’m just so uncomfortable most of the time and I’m starting to get to the point where I can’t move very well. It sucks. But we’re moving out of the second trimester and into the final stretch. Only about 14 weeks left now. I can’t wait, even if the next 14 will probably be harder and more uncomfortable than the last 26. I’ve finally had to move into more maternity shirts and sweaters, because even the stuff I had that was on the larger side isn’t long enough to stretch over my belly so well anymore. Still wearing my regular jeans though. I’ll probably stick with those because I can’t even face the thought of trying to find jeans that fit, look good, and are long enough. Maybe if I’m feeling particularly ambitious I’ll make myself a couple pairs of tighter-fitting black pants with maternity panels at the top, though lycra isn’t always easy to find in the winter. We shall see.

I am enjoying how much more active the baby is. She’s starting to react to things that are going on around me. She kicks when I have hot chocolate at home, but not when I get the Starbucks version. Alan says it’s a form of protest against crappy hot chocolate. She also kicks when certain kinds of music come on the radio. She likes good bass lines like Sublime and 311. She also likes pop-punk and male singers. She’ll kick if I sing along to Jack Johnson, but not Adele or Katie Perry. Funny little girl.

Fortunately, with Alan home again, I’m settling back into my routines. I feel happy and content again. My big plans for the day include cleaning the bathroom and washing my hair. Epic, I know.

~Liz