A few missteps

Hey everybody! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Mike, Ella, and I are spending our holiday vacation in Alabama with Mike's mom, dad, brother and his family. Ella has certainly had a great holiday so far. She has gotten lots of clothes, blankets, bibs, and toys and can't wait to start wearing and playing with everything.

She is getting bigger everyday and by Thursday I will be 28 weeks pregnant, which means hello third trimester. She is about 2 1/2 pounds now and 15 inches long. I can feel her moving around and Michael has finally started feeling her move, too.

Now, at this point, you are all probably wondering about the title of this blog post. Well, I have to be honest with you guys. Pregnancy has caused me to lose a little balance in my life. Yesterday, while on a lovely country walk, I fell down. I mean I really fell down. I skinned my hands, knees, and right shoulder and found myself crying on the side of the road. Once I picked myself up, I realized my ego was more bruised than anything else. So, no worries. Ella is fine besides being a little annoyed with her clumsy mother. Other than that, everything is good.

Well, I'd like to say I'll write again soon, but let's be honest. It's me. It'll probably be a while. See you all then!

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Hey blogosphere, Jeni here writing from pregnancy land. I am now just over 25 weeks which means I'm in my sixth month. Ella weighs about a pound and a 1/2 and is about 9 or so inches long, crown to rump. I'm feeling her move all the time now, but it still just feels like little flutters more than actual body parts moving around. I'm sure it will become annoying later on, but right now it is the coolest feeling ever. I still don't have too many symptoms, but as I am writing this, I did just notice that my ankles are pretty swollen. I guess it is good to be pregnant in the winter because you can wear boots and pants and hide your problem areas as much as possible. Good planning on my part. I still have crazy leg cramps at night, but as far as I know, there's nothing you can do about that.

And just so everyone knows, we have registered at Babies R Us. It was pretty fun to pick out all the cool gadgets. Plus, I let Michael use the gun, so he was happy. Word of advice for you future moms out there, bring a mother with you. Registering for baby stuff is not like registering for your wedding. When there are about twenty different monitors to choose from, you need a little guidance. We forgot to do that, but we figured it out. So, feel free to start buying us presents! Talk to you later!

Baby's first Thanksgiving

Well, Ella got to experience her first Thanksgiving this past week and let me tell you, she really enjoyed herself. Turkey flavored amniotic fluid is the best. Also, I know my entire family was really jealous that they weren't wearing maternity pants that day. I think that I am going to hold onto at least one pair and call them my "Thanksgiving pants."

So, I am 23 and 1/2 weeks pregnant which means I have just entered my sixth month and the little one weighs about a pound or so and is about 8 to 9 inches, crown to rump. My uterus is about the size of a soccer ball which explains why I have to pee every five seconds. So far, everything has been great. My belly has finally popped and there is no way I can put my regular pants on, but as I said, maternity clothes are so awesome, I couldn't care less. I can feel her do some little fluttery movements, but I haven't yet felt a really solid kick. I think it will be a few more weeks for that.

So far, pregnancy has been awesome, and I can only hope it stays that way. I figure that if I keep doing my Jillian Michaels' Wii workout game for as long as possible, then things will continue to go smoothly. Well, that's all from pregnancy land!

What's in a name?

Sorry I haven't written in a while. I had some technical difficulties, but I figured it all out. So, if you haven't already heard, our babies name is going to be: Gabriella Marguerite Bonaldo. In case you didn't know, she's Italian. Who could have guessed that I would end up having such an Italian baby? Oh well, people at the supermarket will probably think I'm babysitting, but I'll know she's mine. I keep imagining her coming out with Michael's hair, skin, and face, right down to the beard! No matter what, she will be super cute. I also wanted to mention that we are not going to be calling her Gabby. Her nickname will be Ella, so start practicing that now, okay? Ella Bonaldo, Ella Bonaldo, Ella Bonaldo. It sounds pretty good, don't you think?

Well, anyway, I haven't felt her move yet, but I am starting to have a little more of a belly. I'm still waiting for the big belly pop, but considering that I am 20 weeks, it should be happening any day now. I'll keep you all posted on the status of my expanding waistline. Wow, does that sound like a woman's worst nightmare, or what?

That's all from pregnancy land!

The big reveal!

So, if you haven't already heard, I am having a.... (cue drum roll)...girl! While I was trying to be open-minded about the whole thing, in my heart of hearts what I really wanted was a girl and so did Mike so we were so happy when the technician gave us the good news. It was a pretty cool experience overall. We got to see her brain, heart, kidneys, bladder, etc. or at least we got to look at a blurry blob while the technician told us what we were seeing. I think that learning how to read an ultrasound is truly an art form. I didn't understand half the things I was looking at, but I did get to see her cute little head and hands, and at one point she was facing my back so we got to see her little butt and legs and even her tiny feet. It is hard to believe that she already has so many parts when she is only about six inches long (crown to rump). She is a very tiny, perfectly formed little girl and now I just can't wait to meet her! It is also amazing that she is moving around so much, and yet I haven't felt any of it yet. That is the next milestone and should be coming any day now.

Now, I know you skeptics out there are going to remind me that identifying the sex of a baby via ultrasound is not one hundred percent accurate, but I did have both the technician and the doctor offer their opinions, so at least two people who know what they are talking about said it is a girl. So, I feel confident (and also weird) in saying, I have a daughter, but I won't start monogramming everything yet.

Thanks for your patience. See you later.

Counting Down

So, I'm counting down to Friday, "G" day let's call it, as in gender day. Of course, the purpose of my 18 week ultrasound is not really to find out the gender. The real purpose is to check the brain, and lungs, and all the other body parts to make sure everything is alright, but all I can think is: boy or girl? boy or girl? boy or girl?! People keep asking me if I have that "feeling" about what it might be, but I really don't. To be honest, I kind of want a little girl, but of course I will be happy regardless. I just keep imagining my own little Isabel to dress up.

Anyway, I'll find out in a few days. I'm not much of a secret keeper, so I'll definitely let you all know, but I'd rather have the fun of telling you in person or over the phone, rather then here. Eventually, for those of you I don't see or talk to very often, I will certainly post the results here, if for no other reason than so I don't have to use both pronouns anymore.

That's all from pregnancy land! Talk to you later!

About the town (continued)

When you are skinny, anything that sticks out is your baby, but when you aren't you start wondering, "is that my baby, or my lunch?" I am just over sixteen weeks right now, so I should be really, really showing within the next couple of weeks. And on October 23rd, we will have the ultrasound that should be able to tell us what we are having. So, let the countdown begin. Start betting now.

That's all for now. I will do my best to blog again soon (for fear of the repercussions.)

About the town

Well, I've been getting some hostile text messages lately, and a few near threats because of my lack of blog posts. Although I have a stack of papers to grade, I think it's best if I take a moment to blog, for fear of what might happen if I don't.

So we went to a wedding last night and I decided to bring the baby along. It was incredibly well-behaved and danced the night away along with me. You can't really tell in this picture, but I am starting to show a tiny bit. Unfortunately, it is harder to tell if you aren't a skinny mini. (Continued on next post).

What dreams may come

I suppose that one benefit of not sleeping very well is that you get to remember more of your dreams. Last night I had my first pregnancy dream. I dreamt that I already had the baby, but that I gave birth now, at 15 weeks. My baby was fine. Actually, my baby wasn't much of a baby because in my dream she looked exactly like my two-year-old niece, Izzy, but that's beside the point. Anyway, what was funny about it was that I was so sad that I wasn't able to experience the whole nine months of pregnancy. I had missed out on having a giant belly, and feeling the baby kick, and all that fun stuff, and I was really bummed about it. It reminded me that this is actually a really fun, exciting journey to be embarking on, and I'm glad you're all along for the ride.

To sleep or not to sleep

I guess I spoke too soon when I said that my pregnancy has been really easy so far. I finally have an issue. It has to do with sleeping. See, the problem is that I am a stomach sleeper. Well, I'm sort of a half stomach, half side sleeper, I guess. You know the position you'd be in if you just dove to bump a volleyball, with one leg straight and one leg bent? I know a few of you "theesians" will know what I mean. Anyway, now that I am in my second trimester I'm not supposed to sleep on my stomach or my back, which only leaves the dreaded side. To make matters worse, I'm supposed to sleep on my left side! How particular can you get. Maybe some weirdos think that is a comfortable way to sleep, but I don't. I must be doing something wrong, because I wake up with acheing hips every morning, and believe me, my hips ain't boney. So, can someone please tell me how to sleep comfortably when pregnant? I await your responses.

Movin' and Groovin'

So I went to the doctor's the other day. She tried to hear the heartbeat with the microphone thingy, but couldn't, so I got to have a quickie ultrasound. It was great because I haven't seen the baby since I was 8 weeks, and it is a lot bigger now. Also, it was dancing all around and really looked like a real baby, well a very small, very fuzzy baby, but a baby nonetheless.

PS- I had to get a flu shot. I had never had one before, and you know what a needlephobe I am, but it was no big deal. I'll probably have to go back later for the swine flu (sorry, H1N1) shot, but I'm tough, I can handle it.

Enjoy my second trimester!

A New Chapter Begins...

So I am almost done with my second trimester. Hooray! By the end of this week, I will be 14 weeks pregnant which brings me into the 2nd tri, also known as the only really good tri. However, I should be honest and say that my pregnancy has been pretty easy so far: no puking, no giant sore boobs, no ice cream and pickles. I'm still wearing my regular clothes and going to the gym. Besides not getting my period, I haven't really had any symptoms besides being tired. I am starting to understand the show "I Didn't Know I was Pregnant" a little better. Hopefully things will stay this way into March, but we'll see. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow and I'm going to ask about getting a flu shot. I've never had one before, but I think I am supposed to. Plus, I might have to have the swine flu shot, too! Really great news for a needlephobe. Oh well, the things you do for your kids.

Did you know?

Here's a fun fact: amniotic fluid is mostly urine. That's right. My little baby is swimming around in its own pee! Which is kind of funny considering how much so many babies hate taking baths. You'd think any kind of bath would be better than being up to your eyeballs in your own bodily functions. But what do I know. I'm not a baby.

Anyway, I'm creeping in on week 13. Right now my baby is somewhere in between a plum and a peach and my uterus is getting close to the size of a small melon. Sounds delicious, I know. The good news is that week 13 is the last week of the first trimester. Can you believe it? By this time next week, I'll be a second trimesterer! I can't wait!

Hello...is this thing on?

So, I spent my afternoon with a microphone pressed against my lower stomach. And once I got over the fact that a man was squishing, poking, and prodding my least favorite body part, it was actually pretty awesome. Why, you ask? Because I got to hear my baby's first words! It went a little something like this, "whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh." My midwife, Ron, said the baby sounded smart, and I had to agree.

Okay, so maybe she wasn't talking per say, but she did make a noise- a cute, fast, oceany little swooshy sound, otherwise known as her heartbeat. And as far as we could tell, everything is going swimmingly down there (no pun intended- okay, maybe a little intended).

By know I'm sure you've noticed that I've been using the pronoun "she." This, of course, is just a writing choice used to eliminate the repetition of "the baby" or the bulkiness of "he or she" and does not reflect any knowledge not yet divulged. However, I did read that girls' heartbeats are often faster than 140 beats per minute, while boys' are usually slower. Unfortunately, Ron didn't count the beats, so we're still totally in the dark. I think it will be two months before we get to know that.

Don't worry blogosphere, you'll be the first to know!

Making contact

So you all know that I am not very technological, but I have to say that this whole blog thing has been great. I love all the messages people leave me. I'm talking to people I haven't seen in ages! Even my cousin Nancy who lives in Germany left me a message! Thanks to Mike for posting my blog link on his Facebook. I guess Facebook is good for some things. Although, some people were a little annoyed that they found out I was pregnant by looking at Mike's profile picture (sorry!)

Anyway, I just want to thank everybody for their warm wishes and excitement. It seems like you guys are really into it, which is good because it's really all I want to talk about. Just don't get so excited that you try to touch my belly this early in the game. As Kristy would say, "that's my McDonald's your touching."

But feel free to give me plenty of hugs!

Bring baby to work day

Well, I'm back at work, which is why you haven't seen too many posts lately. I know, I know. The first rule of having a blog is to update regularly or people will get bored. I'll try to be better, but remember how I kept saying I was tired? Yeah, well that was when I was on summer vacation, sleeping ten hours a night, and lounging around. Now that I have to get up at 5:45 again and spend my days teaching (or trying to teach) fourteen year olds, I have actually learned what tired is. Last night, I was so tired, I didn't even want to finish dinner. Now, if you know anything about Jeni Bonaldo, then you will understand how tired I must have been.

Anyway, enough complaining. So I went to the doctor again. I met with the midwife, Ron, and we talked about nutrition and exercise and all that stuff I already know about. He said that he doesn't really want me to gain too much weight (maybe ten pounds or so), so I'm going to do my best to stick to that. I haven't gained any yet, so I'm off to a good start. He had me lie down on the table and tried to listen to the heartbeat with a microphone thingy, but it was too early. I have to go back at the end of next week when I'll be twelve weeks so we can hear it then.

Well, that's all for now. I'm going to try to drag myself to the gym, after I have a snack of course.

Baby's first vacation

Hey everybody. Mike and I are visiting Diana and Ben in Annapolis for the weekend. The baby has enjoyed swimming, eating, and watching the thunderstorms from the back porch. She is very, very hungry all the time and still loves to sleep a lot. Mike is loving the fact that I have become totally lazy, sleeping nine hours a night, but of course, that will all change when I head back into the real world next week. I am nine weeks and two days pregnant and still haven't thrown up, so keep your fingers crossed!

Tonight we are having sushi for dinner, so I am feeling really bummed. No raw fish for the preggo girl. I ordered like such a sushi loser (California roll, steamed dumplings, tempura shrimp roll). I always make fun of people who order like that. I will be spending the evening drooling over Mike, Ben, and Diana's glistening orange chunks of salmon, deep pink tuna, and silvery halibut...(long sigh). Oh well, my problems could be worse right? I am sitting by the water in Annapolis, feeling the breeze on my face, and contemplating take out. So I think things are going pretty well. Talk to you later!

world, meet baby bonaldo

Before you get all excited, this is just two pictures of one image, not two babies. This is the first image of baby bonaldo who, as you can see, is totally gorgeous and super smart. Check out the size of its head! That is one serious brain stem. I like to look at the picture upside down like this because when I turn it right side up, it looks like a monkey skull, and that is all I can see. This way, it looks like a cute little bundled up baby.

So they did an internal ultrasound which really wasn't as awful as it sounds. It was way less uncomfortable than a pap smear, but just as gooey. The technician looked all around at my uterus and ovaries and everything looks good. (Note to future moms, make sure you pee before an internal ultrasound. When I say she moved that wand all around, I mean all around.) We even got to see the tiny heart beating. It's too early to hear it, but we got to see it beating away at lightning speed, 172 beats per minute!

Well that's the news from Pregnancy Land today! Talk to you later!

Almost pregnant

Okay, so I'm realizing that I probably should have started this blog a few weeks ago because I already have so much to say. Mike keeps looking over my shoulder and suggesting that maybe I could do some editing, but I think most of you are sitting at work right now happy to have a little distraction and saying to yourselves, "Oh, I wonder what Jeni wrote on her blog today!" Maybe that's just my ego, but to be honest, pregnancy is a great time to be a little egotistical. I highly recommend it.

Anyway, let me talk to you about pregnancy tests for a minute. If there is one thing I've learned from this whole experience it is this: buy the expensive one! On July 14th, the day before I was supposed to get my period, I took a test and it was negative. I spent the rest of the day moping around my house, declaring to my entire family that I was barren and that Mike and I may as well just get on the next flight to Cambodia or wherever and just do it like the celebrities. My mother suggested that perhaps I was being a little dramatic and that maybe I should retest before booking my flight and calling the orphanages. I reluctantly agreed.

The next day, I took two more tests and luckily there were two pink lines. Unfortuantely, one was really, really light. "What the hell does that mean?" I screamed allowed, cursing the gods, and my mother replied, "I guess you're almost pregnant."

Finally, I went to CVS and bought the digital test. No pink lines to confuse me, just a digital read out that would announce "pregnant" or "not pregnant." It cost twenty dollars, but it was worth it. I went to my cousin Kristy's house and peed on my fourth stick in two days. While I played with my godson, Jacob, Kristy peeked in and saw the unmistakable word "pregnant" looking back at her. Kristy, therefore, will always have the distinction of truly being the first person to know that I was pregnant.

Bottom line: Buy the good test the first time.

Once upon a time...

Once upon a time, a beautiful girl named Jeni and a handsome boy named Mike met at the fruit stand...
Okay, maybe we don't need to go that far back. Let's do some fast forwarding, to say around June 18th, 2009. This is the day when my pregnancy actually began, the first day of my last period. What? How can your pregnancy start when you have your period, you say. Well, let me give you all a little pregnancy education.

Because it is so difficult to pinpoint the actual day you conceived (especially when you are trying to get pregnant and doing it non-stop), the first day of your pregnancy actually begins on the first day of your last period and lasts for 40 weeks. So, that means that the first day of my pregnancy was June 18th and my due date is March 25th. Conception takes place when you ovulate, so I probably conceived around July 1st or 2nd, 14 days after my period began. This means that while I am 8 and 1/2 weeks pregnant, my baby is really only 6 weeks old.

Okay class? Do you all feel like pregnancy scholars now? Good.

Well, it's official!

So, in case you didn't already know, I'm pregnant! First, I'll take you through the highlights, then I'll go back to the moment where this story all began, for those of you who are interested in all the juicy details.

As of today, I am 8 weeks and 4 days pregnant, which means my baby has a brain, and a heartbeat, and even little tiny elbows, even though it is only about the size of a kidney bean! My uterus is about the size of a grapefruit, and yes, there will be a lot of comparisons to food over the next nine months. Speaking of food, I'm not throwing up yet, but I am pretty nauseous, most of the time. But, as far as I've heard from other people, it could be a lot worse. Besides the nausea, I am just really, really tired all the time, but I'll go into more detail about that later.

So, basically, I'm knocked up and loving it!