It's Official !

Beto took me ring shopping on Saturday. I had done some homework on the web and had decided on what type of ring I wanted, or rather the type of ring I didn't want. I didn't want the traditional solitaire, just not my taste. I've always been more of a band kind of girl. The simplicity appeals to me, it doesn't have to stick a half inch off my finger for it to pack a punch.

We went to the mall, already shock enough, cuz Beto hates to shop. We wanted to take a look at Whitehall and see what kind of deals they had going on in their bankruptcy sale. We hit Samuel's on the way there and got a nice education of diamonds and what we should be looking for, I think Beto enjoyed that more, but none of their rings caught me. We then went to Whitehall, they were in fact having some great sales, but their rings didn't look "right" to me, kinda poorly made, cheap'ish looking. I found one in the style I was after but the diamonds were cloudy and it was just OK. And just OK won't do.

Then we proceeded to Kay's. I felt attacked as soon as we walked in, forced to sit, forced to tell the sales lady why we were here, what are we looking for, when are we getting married. So many personal questions just so I can look at your rings, back off sister. She asked me what kind of ring I was looking for. I was searching through the one case she forced us to sit at and I saw it. I'm looking for something....like that. And pointed to it. She took it out and I put it on. (Cue the music) Less than 30 minutes later, the search was over, we found it. I was scared to admit that it was the one because we had only gone to one mall, 3 stores, tried on 4 other rings! This was supposed to take all day, with multiple mall trips, consuming several grande decaf skinny vanilla lattes. So I had a moment of panic, do we leave and keep looking knowing we can come back? What if it sells? What if we waste all day and not find a better one? I couldn't, didn't want to take it off. I told the lady, I don't want to give it back to you. Besides it fit me perfectly, I could take it home right then and there. I am super picky and indecisive, terrible combination I know, so I'm sure Beto thought we would be there forever. But when you know, you know. It was the one and we were done.

Routine Appointment

Went to the Dr. yesterday, this time was with the OB/GYN, Dr. Burrs. She's a very friendly, easy to understand, personable kind of person. I like her. The visit was quick though, mostly just questions, am I OK ? , any concerns ? , blah-de-blah. I'm feeling fine, same-o fatique, back ache, hungry all the time. We did get to hear the heart again, that was cool. That was it, see ya next month on your next visit.
My Dr. is in Fremont and I had to go to a co-workers house in Hayward after for a get together. Fremont to Hayward on 880 at 5pm is never a pretty picture but yesterday it was horrendous. A big rig had overturned on 880 at 238 in San Leandro, albeit on the other side of the freeway but it was blocking the lanes both ways. Luckily, I heard this before I got on freeway, so I decided to take Mission Blvd. I heard on the radio that the backup was from San Leandro, all the way back to Mowry!! Ugh! What a freakin' nightmare on a Friday at 5pm. So Mission moved along OK until I got to about Whipple. Then that stopped too. So I inched my way up to Industrial and took every back road I ever learned from my Dad and got there in almost exactly an hour. It was only 18 miles, but I thought I made pretty good time considering. It's weird and cool that I haven't been back in Hayward for any long length of time and I still know every street, side street and back road. You could put me anywhere in Hayward and I could get out.

Give me my PAJAMAS!!

I'm feeling grumpy today, I want to be at home in my 'jammies!!
All I ever want anymore is to be in my pajamas. If they'd let me wear them to work, I would. Beto and I went to Target a few weeks back and he bought me the best PJ's ever! They are Sock Monkeys which is cool enough on their own, but they are FOOTIE pajamas. Since all I ever want to do is sleep anymore, I have practically lived in them since we brought them home.















I have to admit, they do get a bit toasty at times, like when Beto throws all the blankets on me at night and Tess decides that my legs are the most comfortable place to sleep. Much like last night, I got up in the middle of the night to pee, which is a nightly occurrance for me now, I was sweating from neck to toe. I had to peel them off.
But I LOVE them and he bought them a little big so when I expand, they will still fit :)

Last but not least....

I finally told my Dad on Saturday. He was the last person to know, sorry Pops! We gave him a copy of the ultrasound (previous post) and he is also sure it's a boy and asked me if I was going to name it Robert. I had to remind him that he already has a child named after him, remember your first born?, yeah that's the one. So, no, not Robert.

OK, so let's talk about names. Beto actually picked a boy name early on that has stuck so far...Maximus (Max). I really like the short, very guy, kinda names-Max, Sam, Tom. Maximus is the winner so far.
The girl names have been harder to come by. Beto likes Lexy, which I have vetoed. Not Alexis, which is worse, but Lexy, not short for anything. I like Madison (Maddie), he has not vetoed that one yet. I did think of a very cool girl name which Beto didn't like, but I think he just didn't get it, Aja. Yes, from Steely Dan. I like it. I will take suggestions, but don't be offended if they get shot down.

How am I feeling? Overall, OK. Still a bit tired, which according to the books says I should start feeling more like myself now that I've begun the 2nd trimester. This is supposed to be the easiest 3 months. Still waiting for my energy to kick in. Today, specifically, I'm feeling overly emotional, I was listening to Dancin' Queen by Abba on the way to work, usually a very uplifting, fun kinda song. But I thought how I would like this one played at my wedding (yes, we are getting married, eventually) and it made me teary. Go figure, Dancin' Queen makes me cry. What an emotional retard. I am also experiencing some major constipation, which isn't painful, exactly, but definitely uncomfortable. It's the hormones slowing down my already irritable digestion system. And I can't take anything for it! Just water and fiber pills, which make me bloated. I guess it's better than nausea and vomiting, I should count my lucky stars :)

A look inside....

Yesterday we had our genetic screening test for Down Syndrome, which includes an ultrasound.

There's a fluid sack on the back of the fetus' neck that is an indicator of Down Syndrome. The ultrasound is used to measure the size of this fluid sack. For low risk you want it measure 1.5mm -3mm. Ours measured 1.3mm, well below the cut line, which in this case is good. There is an 85% chance that it does NOT have Down Syndrome. They also took blood which once that info comes back is coupled with the measurements, ups the likelihood to 94%. The counselor explained that because it is a screening vs. a diagnostic test, we do not get a yes/no answer but a likelihood. We have the highest assurance available that this screening can offer that we are in the clear. Because of the positive result, we are opting to not have the Amniocentesis diagnostic. This test is more invasive and not required.

So that's the technical crap, now the ultrasound images. So there were 3 things that we were going to learn from the ultrasound:

1. the down syndrome measurement

2. if the original due date is accurate based on the size

3. the number of fetus' inside

Beto was with me in the dimly lit, overly warm ultrasound room. The technician lady who had a very thick German accent clicked away on her keyboard, taking measurements and pictures of the fetus. Beto got to look straight at the computer screen, but because I'm lying down I had to look backward into a mirror. For the first time, I was excited. Oh my heck, there's a real baby in there. It has arms and fingers and toes! And it was moving all over the place. It is 5.5cm or approx. 2 1/4 inches for the metrically challenged. Sooo little, but it already has body parts!

The 3 questions were answered:

1. Down Syndrome unlikely due to measurement

2. due date of 5/19/2009 is accurate

3. one fetus, no multiples

So, Beto tells me after that he wanted it to be twins!!!!!! Is he crazy?

Maternity Section

I finally broke down and shopped in the Maternity section of Target last night. I bought 2 pairs of nice and roomy maternity pants. My regular khakis were getting snug, so I HAD to. They're a bit big now but there's plenty of room to grow into them.

See the expansive stretch waistband?
I know, way too sexy for the workplace :)