Week 17

The Baby: Is about the size of a turnip, whatever that means.

Weight gain: Um. I don't know, actually. I haven't weighed myself since my appointment a week and a half ago. I don't think I'll bother.

I’m Feeling: Pretty good, but really out of shape. I don't know if I can legitimately blame this on the pregnancy, or if I am in fact just out of shape. I've started exercising again, though, and I hope (pray? beg?) that the snow will FINALLY be gone for good next week and Clare and I can start getting out for walks every day. But boy, do I get out of breath carrying Clare up the stairs. In my defense, though, she does weigh nearly 30 pounds.

Cravings/Aversions: Still need that Reuben. And yes, Willikat, I would SO be up for a lunch date at Cecil's!! (Which, I might add, is only a few miles from our new house! Reubens every day! Okay, maybe not.)

What I'm enjoying:  Seeing friends! Also, although I was just complaining about how stressed I am about the move, I am having fun looking at furniture and planning where to put things in our new house. I am also very excited for this weekend, when my parents are coming to visit and my mom, sister and I are having a girls' night out. Nails, drinks at Moscow on the Hill, and dinner at Heartland are all part of the plan. Obviously, I am not drinking at Moscow on the Hill. Those lucky ladies have a designated driver. Hopefully they say something funny that I can tease them about later.

What I'm worrying about: Two weeks ago I was worrying about the baby, and whether or not it is okay. Well, I had an appointment last week and everything was fine. The heartbeat was strong. I had the Quad screen done, which came back negative for any problems. This week? I am still worrying about the baby. Bah.

Also, we have the inspection of our house today. I hope nothing too terrible shows up. Then we'll be back at square one, and I don't think I can handle that.  (I should really probably stop calling it our house, since we don't actually close until May 28. It is not our house yet.)

Movement: I think I felt something? Maybe?

Clare: Clare has some anxiety about babies. She completely lost it when she saw me holding a friend's baby. She has taken to crawling around the house saying "baby, baby." When she sees other babies being held, she insists that I hold her like a baby and rock her. It almost seems like she is trying to show me that she is still my baby. I am taking a break from mentioning anything about the new baby to her. After all, we still have weeks, nay months, until the little one arrives. Plenty of time for her to get used to the idea, if she ever does.

In Limbo

It has been a strange few weeks. We moved, but I don't really feel like I live here yet. I miss going to work three days a week, miss having a routine, miss my old life in many ways. Clare is adjusting, too. And teething. This is a bad combination. It makes her clingy. It makes her crabby. This makes me crabby.

I know this is all temporary. I will adjust to my new life, and once we move into our house I will have my own home. My routine. I hope.

And yes, we found a house. House hunting was stressful. Making an offer on the house was stressful. Thinking about moving is stressful. Moving into a neighborhood where we know no one is stressful.

The combination of all of this missing and stressing has left me feeling very out of sorts.

On the bright side, I've just finished a weekend filled with fun social engagements. A get-together at my friend Cindi's. A birthday party for Clare's 3-year-old second cousin. Dinner out with the girls. Brunch with my sister and brother-in-law, followed by a trip to the Como Park Conservatory. Dinner out with my mother-in-law and some of her friends.

So really, why I am complaining? Who cares if I don't meet anyone in my new neighborhood? It's not like this is a place filled with strangers - there are many familiar faces and dear friends to see.

But yet. I feel strange.

And now, since I hate to end on a sour note, a video of Clare singing "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes."

Week 15

Well, here I am at 15 weeks. As I mentioned last time, this pregnancy as been so different in the sense that I am paying so much less attention to it. And I have been BAD about doing things like taking my prenatal vitamin. I am hoping now that we are back in Minnesota, and I have a little more time on my hands, I will be able to focus a bit more on this baby.

The Baby: Is about the size of an apple. A smallish apple.

Weight gain: I've gained about 3 pounds, give or take.

I’m Feeling: I feel fine, physically. I am showing big time, and I hope people can tell I am pregnant and don't think I have a huge beer gut. I've had a few people I know ask me if I am pregnant, which I think is rather gutsy of them.

Cravings/Aversions: I would kill for a Reuben sandwich. I have been craving one for weeks. The aversions are basically gone. My appetite is good, but I am not as ravenous as I was during the first trimester.

What I'm enjoying:  Having a bit of down time after the craziness of the move. I am excited to start seeing friends again, too. Since we've only been here for a few days I haven't seen anyone yet.

What I'm worrying about: Okay, at the risk of sounding crazy, I will tell you this. I have been super paranoid that something is wrong with the baby. I have no basis for this. I look pregnant. My body is changing in other pregnancy-related ways. But. I can't feel the baby move yet. I just keep thinking something bad has happened to it. Maybe it is just the stress of the move? Luckily, I have an appointment with my new doctor on Monday. (Actually, she is a Certified Nurse Midwife, not an OB.)

Movement: Still too early for this, but hopefully next week?

Clare:  The move has caused her some anxiety. She has been very clingy. She loves seeing her grandparents, but always wants to know where Mommy is. She hasn't been sleeping well, either. I haven't heard her at night, but she is very tired during the day. She has her own crib here, but I think she is just adjusting to the new place, too.

22 Months (and a few days)

Our last photo shoot in Clare's first home. Sniff.

Well. This post is a few days late because of this whole moving thing that happened. Is happening. What have you. Most of our stuff is in storage. We are settled at Ben's parents's house. Now we need to find our own house. No biggie.

Anyway, Clare! Clare is 22 months old. She does not want to cooperate with these photos anymore.

She spent her last day at daycare last Thursday. There were many tears shed when we left. Not by Clare -  she didn't understand why we weren't leaving immediately, like we normally do. She did happily give hugs to all of the teachers, and all of the other little girls in her class. (The boys were too busy running around and being crazy to care about hugs.) Those little girls hugging each other was possibly the cutest thing I have ever seen.

Clare's vocabulary continues to grow, and she loves to narrate, well, everything. "Sit. Book. Milk." Yes, okay. She also likes to inform me whether or not things are on or off or hot or cold. She is starting to put together two-word sentences. "One more" is a particular favorite right now.  She also says "Robby bubbles." My brother is her hero ever since he blew bubbles (her most favorite thing in the world) with her on Easter. She is learning more names, and can correctly identify family friend Ruth and Aunt "Kakie" in pictures and in person. In fact, when my phone rings Clare yells "Kakie!" She is usually right. She can also correctly describe things as blue or purple.

Her other favorite hobby is cleaning. I do not intend to discourage this. In fact, she'll sit in her high chair for an hour after a meal, as long as I keep up a steady supply of dirty dishes for her to "wash." It is also important to her that things are put back where they are supposed to be, doors are shut, and cabinets are closed. She did not get this fastidiousness from me. Just saying.

She likes to point out objects that are Clare's, Mommy's, Daddy's, Jo's, Baba's, etc. Her memory is definitely improving - today I told her we were going upstairs to look for her shoes, and she told me they were actually in her room. (Okay, she yelled "Room!") She was right.

I think Clare is doing okay with the whole moving thing. She has gotten lots of quality time with all four of her grandparents. Her crib and her Clare chair are here. And of course, most importantly, all three of us are together again.

Please do not disrupt my cleaning.

Decorating Easter eggs with Grandma Jo.

The bubble hero and Aunt Andri.

Finding out what is happening in Kim Kardashian's life.

In her Easter dress, complete with strawberry stain.