Week ten.

Double digits, baby!

Shrimp:

• Will officially be a fetus by the end of the week.
• Is about the size of a AA battery- take that, baby sizes compared to fruit in all the books.
• If shrimp can just get through the end of this week without developing congenital conditions, we will be mostly in the clear. C'mon little buddy.
• Has a heartbeat that can now be heard by Doppler... something we may be hearing on Tuesday (first prenatal appt). 

Laura:

• Is attempting a neti pot revival. As weird as it is, seems much better than sneezing fits and antihistamines. Purchased a fancy schmancy ceramic pot to inspire more frequent usage.
• Is super grossed out by chemicals. Trying essential oils, castile soap, and other non-offensive cleaning products around the house.
• Is hoarding food at work like a squirrel. Instead of lunch, she eats about a dozen snacks.
• Misses pooping. Can't decide if she's showing or if it's a gas baby.
• Has even more pregnancy and baby books, both borrowed and gifted.
• Is trying to feel amenable to people patting her belly once the pregnancy is more public. Right now it feels like her reaction will either be a) an icy glare, b) a quick backup to get away from prying hands, or c) swatting away the offending appendage. Please take a number and wait for the baby to come out of my body. 

Andrew:

• Has a few sections to read in the new books...
• Is becoming adjusted to the idea of potentially losing his second bedroom office.
• Made a beautiful dinner of tilapia, sauteed kale and onions, and squash this week. Laura will be looking for more soon.

My very favorite neti pot video.

Is there a light at the end of this terrible foodless tunnel?

Personal best- two home cooked dinners in a row! Andrew made lemon pepper tilapia, acorn squash and sauteed kale last night (bonus, we watched Scott Pilgrim vs. the world). I made white bean chicken soup with rosemary tonight. Let me tentatively welcome back healthy, normal, homemade food into our lives...

Excellent suggestion.

Week nine.

Shrimp:

• Is about the size of a grape- all baby sizes seem to be fruit WHY- or perhaps an olive, the kind marinated in herbs and stuffed with a garlic clove.
• Is not actually marinating in herbs and stuffed with a garlic clove.
• Has fingers and toes and a mouth. Let thumb sucking commence.
• A gender decision has been made that we won't get to know about for another few weeks.
• Has received the first gift (see below). 

Laura:

• Is super tired of being tired. 
• Wears sleeveless tops and burrows under fleece blankets in the same day.
• Found gummi prenatals PRAISE THE LORD. They are delicious and do not act as a throat stopper.
• Still wants a personal chef to provide tapas every hour or two.

Andrew:

• Says he has nothing to report. I will have to work on this.
• Helped Laura recognize, after a weekend away, that the apartment did not actually smell like old cheese on their return.

Education.

I now possess borrowed copies of a number of books about pregnancy, babies, and so forth. After skimming through a few of them, I must say that it appears pregnancy and birth will be just as uncomfortable, stressful, and painful as I had expected. I figure if I set the bar low then the little perks throughout the pregnancy and resulting human being will seem all the better, hooray!

Also irritated that the books that tell me that I will be nauseated and full of food aversions for three months are the SAME books that chide me for eating empty calories and tell me I must make every bite count. Stupid book, or, perhaps, stupid body. Why, when nutrition matters so much, would your body have evolved to reject anything with nutritional content?

I am looking for a chef, position available immediately. Interested parties may apply via email or phone. Must be able to sneak healthy ingredients into food I want to eat, and also cook for Andrew's diet.

Eight weeks.

Things to know:

• Shrimp is approximately the size of a gummi bear. But not squishy- this thing is all joints at the moment, fingers, elbows, knees and so forth. 
• Almost not a tadpole anymore- the tail will be nearly gone by this week. 
• I've tried watching those time lapse videos of baby development. A bit creepy. Maybe I'll try again in a few weeks.  Note to self: do not watch Alien movies anytime soon.
• Andrew and I have been a disaster this week- he's got Crohn's stuff going on, and I've been so tired and icky feeling. Yesterday I took a half day and we both kind of gave up for the day. 
• Have since decided that the allotted 12 oz. coffee is incredibly important- I took my dose this morning with cream and sugar and felt super. Fat and sugar are so kind to me these days, cutting acidity and letting me consume calories in a more dense manner. 
• Starting to plan next year's programs. Sneakily making sure there is a relative void of activity in May. Excited to start interviews for my assistant position next week- my unwitting substitute during fmla... hehehehe.

Week seven.

Halfway through week seven, hooray! Things worth noting:

• The shrimp will be a whooping half inch by the end of this week.
• Cerebral hemispheres of the braaaaaains are now developed (that's for you, Yoders and Bakers).
• The appendix is also there now- how useful.
• Instead of feeling hungry and full, I feel nauseated and un-nauseated.
• Bad smells this weekend- ripe chicken necks (we went crabbing), mayonnaise, the parking lot at the ice cream place, sunscreen, grilled chicken, barbecue sauce. Reoccurring, queasy smelly memories of a caramelized onion dip Dongah and I made.