The Life and Times of Both Sprogs 1 and 2: April 2006

Just Plain Tired

I'm not the only one who gets tired easily. I guess this Sprog Daddy really knows how to be sympathetic, notice not he still clutches his cell phone and crashes with his shoes on. Even the dog is sympathetic and tries to fall asleep on the couch.

A Chinese Name

After a month of trying I got a hold of my dad a few weeks ago. We chatted about marriage, family and I asked him to help me think of a Chinese name for our Sprog. He told me to think about what I wanted for the child and come up with a wish/desire/hope.

Everyone in my family has a Chinese name and an American name. Sometimes it's a bad translation, other times the Chinese name is tucked in between the American ones. I am not sure what route we will go yet.

My name Ying, means "one who is never in want." My parents wanted me to have everything and more and so named me so. I love that name and don't go by it now but all my relatives know it. Sprog Daddy was very insistent about the Sprog having a Chinese part in his/her name. This surprised me a bit and I asked him to think about what my dad said.

Here are his first few thoughts:

1. If it is a boy, "The one who does not brake on turns" or "The one who drives only Ferraris."

2. If it is a girl, she will be the "sister of the one who does not brake on turns and the sister of the one who only drives Ferraris."

I guess it will be up to me to think of something a bit more meaningful.

Week 12 and Time to Let the Cat Out of the Bag

Here is a little side view/profile of the Sprog at 12 weeks.

After a very long doctor's appointment today, this was one of the better ultrasound images to come out of the visit. The main reason for today's visit was to screen for Down's Syndrome and Edward's Syndrome via ultrasound and the nuchal translucency test. (In short, it measures the gap in a fold behind the fetus' neck, the smaller the gap, the less the chances of Down's.) The ultrasound does not give a definitive answer but helps couple decide if they want to go ahead with amniocentesis which gives accurate answers to chromosomal abnormalities but is much more risky and invasive.

I was deemed healthy and have gained 1 kilo since my last 7 week appointment. (That's 2.2 pounds.) Not bad the doctor said, the nausea and the vomiting have helped me not to gain too much and he was pleased with that. I dread what will happen when the nausea and vomiting go away. Stretch marks here I come!

Belly Shot at 3 Months

Sprog Daddy has been on my case about my belly, so when he went down for his after lunch nap yesterday, I decided to snap a photo of his growing belly too. Despite having run 2 full marathons, 4 half marathons and having had done quite a bit of training in between, Sprog Daddy falls of the running bandwagon quite easily. Plus this cannot be my belly, it's too hairy.

New Pregnancy Symptom

They call it the mask of pregnancy, or scientifically, melasma/chlosma. I call it plain annoying. The skin on my upper lip has gotten a bit darker. No I do not need to wax my lip and no I do not have a mustache but it looks as if I need to and looks as if I do. Now that Spring is here I am slathering on the sunscreen and trying to stay out of the sun as to prevent it from getting worse. Even Sprog Daddy has made some comments about it.

Oh well, I'll just have to deal with it, as I am sure it is one of the many more changes this Sprog Mamma will be going through.

Our First Baby Gift

We got a cute baby Ramones t-shirt in the mail from Sprog Daddy's friend Adriana in London. It is just adorable and uni-sex too.

Car Sickness and More

Like my mom, I get car sick easily. This of course has been made worse by the constant nausea I feel. After a few "episodes/incidents" I have become quite prepared.

I now keep plastic bags in the car, along with lots of napkins, wet wipes (in case I miss the bag), mint gum and a bottle of water. The fact that Sprog Daddy used to race cars and motorcycles. He's been TRYING to slow down but it has not helped.

Here were are in Rome this past weekend.

Belly Shot #1

The belly at 8 weeks. From all the accounts that I have read in books and the like, I am not supposed to be "showing" at all. There is no doubt in my mind that this "bump" is a result of the following:

1. Bloating caused by slower bowels.
2. Bloating caused by retained water and increased blood supply to the area.
3. Severe fat retention from last winter and a failed South Beach Diet.

The Sprog Comes to Life

This is a photo I forgot to put up when I first started the blog. We took the pregnancy test before we went to London, two days after my birthday.

Iron Stomach Turns Sissy

I used to have an iron stomach. I could stomach the spiciest foods, including day old Pizza Hut, jalepeno pizza, yummy but nowadays the list of what I can eat is slowly narrowing.

Here is a short list of the new things I can't seem to handle:

1. My old favorite, English Breakfast Tea with honey and milk

2. Pesto

3. Fresh garlic

4. Sweet breads, as in pastries

5. Meats, only in tiny, tiny portions

6. Carbonated drinks, including carbonated water

On the up side, I can still eat:

1. Gelato

2. Yogurt

3. Most veggies

4. I am going to try some squid tonight

5. Japanese rice crackers with seaweed

6. Mayonnaise with tuna fish and chopped capers

7. Marinated olives

At least I don't have a syndrome called pica, women with this syndrome crave some crazy things like: clay, dirt, laundry soap and other non-food items. I still count my lucky stars.

Latest Pregnancy Symptoms

1. Nausea (double check)

2. Vomiting (check)

3. Nose bleeds from both nostrils (check)

4. Feeling bloated (check)

5. Crying, even during really bad movies (double check)

*** Still waiting for the bleeding gums, lush hair and healthy glow though.

Some Bedtime Reading

Sprog Daddy has been doing his homework.

Technicolor Dreams

As the literature correctly states, pregnant woman dream a lot and their dreams happen to be particularly vivid. I bought the Sprog Papa a book called "What to Expect While Your Wife is Expanding" and it explained in detail how to stay awake and alert while your pregnant wife is trying to recount all her dreams from the night before. Last night had a heart stopping one:

I agreed to babysit a girlfiends' baby, he was about a year old. I was also on my way to pick up kids at school, I think I was still a nanny in the dream. Having a few minutes extra, I decided to stop into Taco Bell for a 7-Layer burrito. (It was at the Mall and there was no drive-thru.) For some reason the older lady behind the counter did not know what I was talking about and I had to describe the burrito to her. This took too much time and I told her I was in a hurry. It was a mild overcast spring day but I wanted to get back to the car, the baby and the dog. I leave the Taco Bell without my burrito and run back to the car.

When I get there the back right passenger door is open and the car feels cool, like the air conditioner had been turned on for a while. "Maybe the car got too hot and someone turn the AC on." I thought. But the baby was gone. In his carseat was Zavier, snug as a bug in a rug. I immediately survey the parking lot. Oh no! I thought someone kidnapped the baby. How as I going to explain this to my friend? I started to panic. My car door and the ignition had been opened and turned on by what looked like a master key (it was still in the ignition and I saved it for fingerprints). I immediately search the car for clues and find a note taped to the brake pedal. It says to call a number to get the child back, a "don't leave your kid in the car" watchdog group took the baby out since they had no idea how long I was going to be gone for. I breathed a sign of relief as I know I am going to get the child back but I crumple into a heap on the floor of the parking lot and cry my eyes out as I should have never done such a thing in the first place.

I woke up sobbing lightly and trying to catch my breath.

2 Months and Counting

I, The Sprog Mamma, am currently two months along. We have not told many people at all, just my immediate family, his immediate family, and a few folks who I see almost daily. One person commented, "You're looking a bit bloated lately." In a flash I told her, a good friend in Torino, even though we wanted to wait until after the third month to tell non-family members.

Today I woke up feeling fine but for the past two weeks, I can say without embarrassment, I have been feeling miserable. Basically like there's been a lead weight at the bottom of my stomach. Lots of nausea, lots of trips to the restroom, lots of late night acid-reducing milk-drinking and lots of "honey, you shouldn't be showing yet." The night the hubby ran to the fridge a scant hour after having a full dinner claiming he was "starving", I knew we were both going to gain a lot of weight with this pregnancy.