Made for TV....

This is the stuff they should put on TV so teenagers don't want to get pregnant:

You're up at 1:00 am to go to the bathroom (for the third time) and you can't fall back asleep because you have terrible heartburn, and because the medicine that you were on for nausea (and from which you are trying to currently ween yourself) was part sleeping pills, so now you can't seem to sleep without them. As you lay tossing and turning, so frustrated because you can't sleep yet again your otherwise darling husband turns over and says to you, "What is the deal? Are you trying to keep me up too? Count to 100 or something." You inform him that you have already counted to 4 trillion, and finally decide to get out of bed. It's now 2:00am. Why is he so sweet when he's awake and so cranky when he's asleep? You hear yourself think this. You remember you acted similarly to him a week ago. You feel guilty for thinking he was anything but perfect. You check a little work email; only get more frustrated. You turn that off. You walk out to your balcony. It's a nice night. You wonder what 8 people are doing at the sub shop across the street at 2am on a Tuesday (Wednesday?). As you turn to go back inside, the darkened now guest room, soon nursery catches your eye and you realize this is only the beginning of your sleepless nights. Then you get mad at yourself for not being able to sleep when you are supposed to be taking advantage of the availability of sleep. You listen to the person upstairs walking around. What are they doing up? Are they always up at this time? It's now 2:30am. Do they always walk so loudly? Perhaps I should go say hi? What am I thinking about? I don't even know their name. You look around. House is pretty clean. I wonder if anything is on tv? Will that just keep me awake more? Maybe I'll paint my toenails. Nah, knowing me I'd finally fall asleep right before they were totally dry and ruin them and my couch. You wonder what your mom would say to do? She would say to say some Hail Mary's until you fell asleep. You've tired that but the "hour of our death" part always gives you nightmares. I'll probably get tired right at 6am when it's time to get up.

What now?

Yes friends, this is my pathetic life.

Quick Update....

Just a fly by post today....

We had a doctor's appointment yesterday and everything looks great! I gained weight this time, which was good because I had lost the last time. I got the okay to go back to a little more activity, and immediately went swimming last night! I'm feeling better, eating a little more, and growing. All good things.

We heard the baby's heartbeat again. It is one of my favorite sounds in the whole world. It was strong and steady and it didn't take my doctor anytime to find it this time. The heartbeat sounds a little like galloping horses. I know that I am getting a little tummy, and we have the crib and we're researching day cares, and all of this is really happening, but to actually hear the heartbeat makes it seem more "real" than anything! It is so crazy that something is living in there!!!

I'm 4 months on Thursday, so I'll try to remember to post another belly shot. There is definitely a belly there now. Although it probably isn't clear to a stranger if I just have a gut or if there is a baby in there. :)

I can't believe time is going so quickly already!

My new favorite hobby....

Baby Shopping. Especially for clothes. The only caveat is that it really is more "looking" at the baby clothes. Since we aren't finding out if it is a boy or a girl, the majority is really just oohhing and ahhhing over the tiny little dresses and outfits. Everything is cute when it is itsy bitsy.

Yesterday I was in Janie and Jack, and I spotted this little number. I mean, how cute is that? I practically want the baby to be a girl, just so she can wear that to my brother's wedding in June!

I am also in love with the towels with the hoods. I am an especially big sucker for the ones where the hood is an animal. Can you just picture a little guy all bundled up in these cute towels?

Our baby now officially has a place to sleep. After lots of looking and looking and deciding, we bought a crib. I love it. Jas loves that it was on sale. I also love that it is one more thing off my list that it is one more thing off my list of things to do. God Bless Pottery Barn Kids.

I better start saving my pennies for a baby clothes budget once the baby is born. There are just darling things out there. And all so little and precious! Until then.... hopefully he/she looks good in yellow and green. :)

Turning a corner?

I was all excited to report that I had gone 4 1/2 days without getting sick and that, just as the books promised, I was turning a corner in the 14th week.

Until this morning.

However, I am hopeful. I am getting back my energy little by little, despite staying up late with Phelps Phever! (Side Note: That kid is a machine. I am totally and completely infatuated with him and the way he swims. It is so inspiring!! Jason asked me the other night who I loved more; him or Michael Phelps. I had to admit- that's a closer race than Phelps has ever seen. :))

I am starting to feel more like my old self. It's happening slowly, but surely. And I'll take it! My appetite is coming back a little bit more now, and in the last few days I am able to keep down most things. A meal is so much more satisfying when it is still there two hours later. :)

Other milestones of late include: completing an entire shower without a break to sit down, stomaching a nasty smell and still holding down lunch and the actual desire to straighten up. This weekends plans: laundry and organizing the growing mail pile. Good times.

On my walk to the train the other day I caught my reflection in a shop window and thought, "That girl looks just like me except she is clearly pregnant." Then I realized I might have to come out of denial and wear my maternity clothes soon. That girl was me. My mom and I went shopping for maternity clothes recently, and they are actually very comfy! Everything is so soft, and actually I'll admit, cute.

We don't have our next doctor's appointment until the end of August. Hopefully the second trimester will continue to be better than the first. Stay tuned. And Go Phelps!

So many friends for baby already!

It seems like there are so many babies on the way!!! That just means lots of friends for the baby already! There are two of the babies friends that should be born just weeks apart from Baby Patterson's arrival.

My sister-in-law, Holly, is expecting her second just a few weeks before I am due! When we called to tell she and Brandon our news, they shared their exciting news too! So much fun and excitement on the Patterson side! Two babies means double the fun (or double the trouble, depending on how you look at it) :) Here is Holly with Brady, our nephew, at a little birthday party for Brady held by our in-laws in July. Isn't he adorable?! That was the night that they told everyone else about baby number two! The holidays will be so fun!

This past weekend we found out that our friends Meg and Rob are expecting baby number two! Here they are with their one year old, Madeline. Madeline and their dog, Maple made the big announcement. We were all so excited!! Meg is due just a few weeks after I am due. Another friend for Baby Patterson!

It is so fun for me to share my pregnancy and find out about the little ones that will inevitably grow up with our baby. We can't wait to meet all of these little people!!!

12 1/2 Week Belly

Well, time is flying by. Tomorrow is the start of my 13th week and I guess that means the end of my first trimester. Bring on the energy. Bring on the settled stomach. Please. Everyone says that should come by the end of the 14th week. Hallelujah!

Although I am not gaining weight very quickly due to the extent of my "morning" sickness, the baby is growing well. I will have to make up for those pounds in the second trimester, and with the return of my appetite and the addition of cravings, I'm not anticipating that being a problem. :) Here is a belly pic taken at about 12 1/2 weeks.

The biggest news for the baby at 12 1/2 weeks was that it survived it's first tornado! We had a crazy storm here a few nights ago that left 200,000 people without power ,(luckily we were not one of them), and sent us seeking shelter after the sirens went off and the emergency broadcast system warned that the tornado would be in our neighborhood in 10 minutes! Since we live in a condo, and don't have a basement, we go to the bathroom where there are inside walls and no windows. Our neighbors were over and we had to laugh at ourselves-the bathroom is not exactly the most conventional place to congregate with your neighbors. But, we brought in some grapes, and beers, (iced tea for me), and we had a tornado party! 4 adults and 1 dog in the master bath- sounds like a party to me! I quickly grabbed a stack of some reading materials, including my "What to Expect When You're Expecting" book. Although, what to expect when you're expecting in a tornado?- it's not in the book! :)

One thing is for sure, pregnancy is a journey!

Baby Patterson FAQ...

There are a lot of questions when you have a baby. We are asked a lot of questions, and we have a lot of questions. There seems to be a few questions that I am asked consistently, so I decided to do a Baby Patterson FAQ!

1. Q: When are you due?
A: February 12th

2. Q: Are you going to find out whether you are having a boy or a girl?
A: No. Although I am a complete control freak and a total planner, I love a great surprise! And we decided that this is one of the last true surprises in life. We'll do a neutral nursery, and I promise it will still be cute. :) And I'll just have to wait to splurge on pink or blue until after the baby's arrival! This is very unlike me, and it's going to be hard, but it is one thing that I can't control... and that's kind of nice for a change.

3. Q: Are the future grandparents so excited?
A: Everyone is beyond excited. It is the first grandchild for my parents and my mom literally started shopping the day after we told them the news.

4. Q: How are you feeling?
A: If you're reading this blog, my guess is that you already know the answer to that one. :)

5. Q: Where will you deliver?
A: My doctor is at Evanston Northwestern Hospital, so I will deliver there. It is a fantastic hospital, and I completely trust my doctor, so I'm not worried in the least. It is about 20 minutes north of our house.

6. Q: Have you begun thinking about names?
A: Of course! When I was 15! :) Now that it is "for real", as they say, Jason and I are running through the names we like together. We each veto the names we absolutely cannot stand, and make a mental list of the names that we kinda sorta agree on. As we get closer we will choose our favorites and after the baby is born we will decide together for sure. And then we'll let you all know. So no, we won't tell you ahead of time. Not even you, mom. Sorry. :) Just think how much better that will make the surprise! :)

7. Q: Do you think you will try to deliver naturally or have an epidural?
A: I have a pretty low pain tolerance. Bring on the drugs, baby! My friend, Dana, is a
Nurse Anesthetists, and she did research in her program at Northwestern (in which she graduated #1 in her class!) that you can have an epidural at only 1 centimeter dilated. I probably won't be there then, but as soon as I am, you better believe I am asking for those drugs. Can you just see me now?.... "My friend Dana said...." I'm sure they'll love me. :)

8. Q: Are you hoping for a boy or a girl?
A: I honestly don't care one bit. Most of all, I want the baby to be healthy! And I'll take whatever it is that God wants me to have!

9. Q: Do you have a feeling about the gender one way or the other?
A: None what so ever.

10. Q: Are you nervous?
A: Very. I feel an overwhelming sense of responsibility to raise a kind, appreciative, well mannered, well adjusted member of our family and of society in general. I want to be the kind of mother that makes herself available to listen to her children so they fell like they can come to me with whatever it is they need. And I want to have a little fun, too. Jason has that part of fatherhood in the bag. He has all the one liners and the energy to get down on the floor and rough house. I am already telling him that he'll be the fun parent, and I'll be the one that the children grow to resent. :) Hopefully that's only half true.