Ultrasound This Morning

Kim and I would like you all to meet our daughter to be, Pearl Allison Bowman (85% sure it's a girl).

Mommy Is My Little Obedient Housewife (Yeah Right!!!)

Last night Kim and I decided that she would quit her job because of the heat at her work, and the fact that I am bringing home more bread anyway. She is now a happy little housewife, barefoot and pregnant even. So in honor of this special occasion in our little family unit I have decided to share this Circa 1955 "Housekeeping Monthly: Good Wife's Guide". I don't expect Kim to really follow this though, that would be very misogynistic of me. However, it is so very funny to read this stuff...

*The Good Wife's Guide*

*Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready, on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal (especially his favourite dish) is part of the warm welcome needed.

*Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you’ll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people

*Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.

*Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.

*Gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper, etc and run a dustcloth over the tables.

*Over the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and will give you a lift too. After all, catering to his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.

*Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children’s hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair and, if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part. Minimise all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet.

*Be happy to see him.

*Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.

*Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first – remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.

*Make the evening his. Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner, or other places of entertainment without you. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax.

*Your goal: Try to make sure your home is a place of peace, order and tranquility where your husband can renew his body and spirit.

*Don’t greet him with complaints and problems.

*Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or have him lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.

*Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.

*Don’t ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.

*A good wife always knows her place.

I didn't highlite the lines in the picture, that's how I found it on a Google Image search...

Fetal development in pregnancy week 27

Your not-so-tiny-anymore swimmer (2 pounds and about 14.5 inches long!) is slowly rotating in preparation to “head out.” Obviously, this doesn’t happen overnight, but when you start to feel an unfamiliar pressure on your cervix, you’ll know you’ve got a fully flipped baby locked and loaded for the countdown to their birthday! Even now, at the beginning of the third trimester, their little lungs are already capable of breathing air, while the pulmonary vascular system can provide sufficient gas exchange, and the central nervous system can generally regulate rhythmic breathing as well as their basal body temperature. For what it’s worth, at this point in a healthy pregnancy a premature child (with intensive care) could easily win on the show: “Survivor: The Early Years.”

I love new clothes!

My fashion sense took a nose dive when my belly started growing. I took to wearing my soft, old camouflage shorts almost 24/7. Damn, I was starting to feel down from my lack of things to wear. Then came a lovely pink shirt from Susan, proudly stating "Beauty, Brains & Belly"! Next a beautiful turquoise, oh so soft top from Aunt Bobbie! Thank you so much for the inspiration ladies, I needed a kick in the butt!

I needed something that fit to wear with those snazzy tops, so off I went in search of a pair of pants or skirt. Found an adorable jean skirt, and 3 tank tops as well. I feel like a new woman!

Bean is squirming and kicking like mad. I'm so excited about the ultrasound on Wednesday. Please Dexter or Pearl, cooperate with us! The thought of seeing this little one again makes me smile. I can't imagine what I'll feel when we finally meet face to face.

I can't wait to see Clay holding his child. That beautiful sight will be ingrained in my memory for life.

Fetal development in pregnancy week 26

At long last, your little swimmer can see the womb! Your miracle’s little eyelids have finally separated (they were fused closed previously) and they’re probably having their first moments of sight as you read this (or maybe it already happened while you were brushing your teeth or watching Oprah or something). In addition to seeing their little studio in your belly, they’ve recently acquired the ability to say “yes” and “no” in rudimentary sign language as they can now move their head back and forth. This is also the time where your little super star’s head hair is starting to grow! A cute little cowlick or two may be springing into position right now, getting ready for years of cute-but-stubborn bed-head. Also, their toenails have grown in and you little raisin continues to slowly pile up fat beneath their still-loose skin. Most importantly, brain tissue and neurons are all developing at a rapid pace, increasing their (genius-level?) brain activity and will continue to function at accelerated levels for the first seven to eight years of childhood!

First Father's Day

Technically today was my first Father's day, and I spent the entire day relaxing. Kim and I rented a couple of movies and went to the store earlier. She wore a shirt she just in the mail from my Aunt Bobby, it showed off her baby belly so nice I had to snap a photo. For the first time anywhere, Pregnant photo of Kimberly:

The Drama Continues

I really hate seeing Kim so sad and hurt that she can't control her tears. I feel helpless because I don't know how to protect her and sheild her from this drama. I will try to explain here the best I can without revealing all the parties involved in the situation. Shortly after we discovered the wonderful news that Kim is pregnant we started telling family and some friends. It was a very wonderful/scary/intense/beutiful time for Kim and I, so naturally we wanted to share our joy with our families. Of course we don't NEED the approval and support from those closest to our hearts, but it DOES help and feel good to have them there for us. Anyway, a month went by without any communication from certain members of Kim's family. During that time in my talks with Kim she had said that "she wished (family member) would call her" and that "she missed (family member) very much" Finally kim received an email with all sorts of excuses as to why the silence occured, basically blaming the lack of communication on things that Kim did or didn't do. I was, of course, quite upset and so was Kim. I really don't think it's a bad thing to be upset when someone does or says something to hurt my lover/friend/partner. I sent (family member) an email that tried to convey mine and Kim's feelings about the email she received and the lack of communication before the email. I thought it was a well written non-threatening email that did a very good job letting (family member) know how much Kim and I were hurt by the situation. I received an email in response basically telling me that I don't need to protect Kim from (family member), and it finished off by calling me a pompous a**hole. First of all I WILL protect Kim from anyone that hurts her feelings I don't care who you are, and second if sharing my feelings makes me an a**hole, so be it!!! Since then (family member) will call Nana Betty and ask about how Kim is doing, but never Kim directly. So there still is really no communication between Kim and her (family member), which is sad and hurtfull. Now that I have the back story out of the way we can fast forward to today. As many of you know, Kim and I are getting married in less than a month. We just found out that Kim's (family member) will not be attending the wedding. As I was leaving for work today I was backing out of the driveway watching the tears run down Kim's face. I have to tell you, it made my heart break to see my Lover/partner/friend hurting so bad. I just think that Kim's (family member) is just being mean, it seems like (family member) is punishing Kim because (family member & family member's partner) don't like me very much. Of course I also feel bad because, due to (family member)'s dislike of me, I think it's somehow my fault that Kim is getting treated this way by (family member). However, I really have not been given a chance by (family member & family member's partner), they have disliked me from the begining. At least that is how it feels to me, and without any communication from (family member) I am continuing to beleive that even if it's true or not. I am writing this here in hopes that Kim and I can move on from this and not let it get to us as much as it does. We have a very good support system in place, my Mom and Dad and Kim's Mom have been nothing but supportive and helpful. Also, vicariously through me, Kim has the support of the rest of my family and extended family as well. They love Kim simply because they love me and I love Kim, that is enough for them...


In other news: On the 26th we have another go at finding out if we are going to have a Dexter Clayton or a Pearl Allison. Also, we have decided that we are going to Amsterdam for our honeymoon, be jealous!!!

Fetal development in pregnancy week 25

Your tiny grower’s physical proportions are evening out at this point and most of their remaining development will largely be weight gain and lots and lots of nervous system development. The good news is: if your child is born premature now they’ll be more likely to survive without too much trauma as their lungs began to produce “surfactant” last week, which means their tiny respiratory system is getting stronger with each passing day. Yes, now’s a good time for a minor sigh of relief and a quick pat on the back—all that hard work and conscientious living is really getting your child prepared for a healthy delivery. Keep up the fabulous work mama! This week they’ll be scootching slowly out of the old breech position and start rotating (already!) into a better position for exit during their birth. Their head and feet are slowly rotating so that the head is pointed down towards the birth canal. Time is short (or really long, depending on who you ask)—just (still!) 14 weeks left before you can go back to being a single-resident human.

I Just Want To Share This...

Kim and I belong to an online community called "IAM". It's part of a larger site called BMEzine.com. As a matter of fact that is where Kim and I met each other, with Kim boldly stating: "good god, you are beautiful". Our love has continued to grow and blossom into what it is now, with no signs of subsiding. Anyway, the other day I looked onto her IAM page and she had written this little ditty:

"It's amazing to me how life can change so quickly. I remember not too long ago I was a lonely and sad girl. I met Clay and how things have changed. I have never felt more alive, loved, IN love, safe, and excited about the future. Clay pulls me out of the shell I've lived in for so many years, gets me to think outside of my box, pops the bubble in which I enclosed myself. He makes me laugh, feel sexy, and tortures me in ways I love.

Thank you Clay for being the man you are. Thank you for loving me as the person I am, for not asking me to change anything about myself. Thank you for giving us the gift of our unborn child. You mean everything to me, I love you baby."

Every time I read that I get misty, I cried for a while when I first read it. It's not so much what it says, which is beautiful, but the fact that she shows it everyday in her actions. It's one thing to say "I love you" but it's completely different showing it while you say it. I have never felt this way about somebody, it makes my heart smile, and makes me weep with joy when I think about how much I love and am loved by Kimberly...

Damn sugar!

For most of my pregnancy I haven't had much of a sweet tooth at all. In itself that isn't a big deal, but I'm a girl who normally would love to live on cookies, cakes, chocolate and donuts for eternity. Months have gone by and I'd eat a half a candy bar, a cookie here and there, that's about it. Well, my sweet tooth is back with a vengeance! Today I baked 8 Nestle Tollhouse chocolate chip cookies, put them on a plate, grabbed a glass of milk and proceeded to scarf them all down. I think I gave the baby a sugar rush!

I've got a doctor's appointment on Monday morning and I'm scared at the thought of being weighed. I know the weight is from the baby, but for someone who has always struggled with her weight it's still mortifying! All of my new weight is in my belly. My arms, face, legs and such look the same to me. Am I just kidding myself? I'll try and relax about it, but the thought of just getting bigger scares me. On the other hand I love my Buddha Belly knowing that Bean is in there...kooky girl I know.

Fetal development in pregnancy week 24

This is another big week for your smaller-than-life magic growing baby! Just take a look at the checklist for this week: 1) ears—done; 2) fingernails—done; 3) (if you have a boy) testicles—taking their 3-4 day trip from the abdominal wall to the scrotum; and 4) lungs walls—secreting “surfactant”. What’s that? Well, surfactant is sort of what it sounds like: a surface-activated fat whose main purpose is to assist the air sacs (their little lungs) during inflation (as in: filling with air, not getting more expensive). Just in case you’re curious, your submerged baby is still breathing in amniotic fluid, preparing and rehearsing the lungs an oxygen-filled life outside the womb. By the end of this week, your child is around 2 lbs and 14 inches long—perhaps a little more plump, but isn't anywhere near their full baby-fatted cute-self. Most of the cutesy “filling out” is coming up in that long awaited (and slightly dreaded?) third trimester. Woo-hoo! Get ready!

More Painting Today

I painted the sun today, and Kim painted the outside of the dresser. The sun needs a third coat, yes that's 3. I am not suprised that it needs that much, it's a light color going over that darker blue. The dresser just needs it's drawers painted and new pulls that we looked at today when we were at home depot getting the paint. We also picked out the colors for the drawers that we'll get next tuesday.

Oh Joy! Things do happen in multiples of 3!

Yesterday was quite the day for new experiences. I came home from work to find my ankles swollen, "cankles" indeed. At least Clay found them cute, I was mortified. That discovery came after the button on my favorite shorts popped off in the bathroom at work. I heard this little plink sound, looked down, and there it was. Spinning on it's side after being given it's freedom from my belly. Later after laughing with Clay about those two funny moments I noticed my nipples were very sore. We then found a tiny amount of nipple leakage. All I could think was we have couple more months girls, don't go all crazy on me now! Wow, what a day for my body!

In other news, the baby's room is looking divine! I love watching Clay nest and have such a good time making a cozy place for Bean. He talks about me glowing, but he shines when he's talking about the baby or is hard at work making improvements in the room. He is going to be (and already is) a wonderful Daddy. Let's face it, he's just an incredible man all around. I thank my lucky stars every night for bringing us together.