Fun 30th Birthday

Well, it has been quite the week for me. I am having a BOY (still cannot believe that one), I turned 30 (just more wrinkles and cellulite) and tomorrow is a little birthday celebration! Baby Boy has been very active and we are starting to be able to feel him moving around in there making his presence known (he is our child after all). When we want him to move around he doesn't and when I need him to be still (e.g. on a conference call for a closing), he decides to be all active. Already strong willed!

I am getting bigger by the day and the baby bump is out and proud. My feet do swell now if I am not careful and my ring is getting tighter (I plan to take it off soon so we don't have to cut if off, although that might be a good ploy to finally get the wedding bands I never purchased....). People are so nice to me and help me with carrying things to my car, let me sit, etc. That is really fun! Still no cravings but I cannot eat as much as I thought I would be able to without getting super full (unless its a cheeseburger and fries, my birthday lunch, thanks Danielle!). I am also glad its almost Spring so we can go for walks, and then the pool will be open so I can float which just sounds like a dream. I have already purchased some maternity swimsuits which are so big that they are hilarious. (I am pretty sure I will be that big which is totally scary!)

BABY AZER IS A....(spolier alert)

BOY!!!!! We are thrilled and I made the sonogram technician check everything three or four times (I am not sure how they can see this stuff with accuracy) so here is the photo with an arrow that has the "proof." Adrian was overjoyed (probably because he also won the bet we made just prior to walking in the room) and I was in shock for a little while because I was almost certain it was a girl (so much for intuition). After we get our little boy settled we will have to provide him with a cute little sister! (Everything else is looking normal except for a kidney issue that they hope clears up on its own but is not super serious (at least that is what they say to you, who knows?) and being that I am super-paranoid we asked a million questions, and will go back in 6 weeks for another sonogram to check up on his kidneys.)

Funny story (and I probably should have known it was a boy by this alone) but on Thursday I was starving for a PayDay candy bar. I went to the little mini-market downstairs at my office and no PayDay's. Then I spied some Oreo's, which are my all time favorite, and then I saw an Almond Joy that I could not resist either (hey, almonds are good for you). But I decided that I might want something salty and bought a small tin of Pringles too and as I was cashing out Junior Mints called my name. I brought all of this back up to my office with the best of intentions. I started with the Oreo's (only 3 in the package) and that did not do it. Then I thought I would just have a half of the Almond Joy (first one tasted so good that I thought I should try the second out too). Then I needed salty Pringles (ate the whole can, only 25 crisps). But I had to have sweet again so a handful of Junior Mints later, I was feeling nauseous. I swear that I have never eaten that much junk food in one sitting in my entire life. I could not even eat dinner Thursday night I was so ill from the candy. But maybe junk food craving should have been my clue that I am going to have a baby boy.

So look out ladies, it appears there is another Junior Adrian on the loose. (Jenny, I may need to borrow the onesie I gave you "Lock Up Your Daughters!")

Anticipation

Well, Carly Simon sang about it and I feel like I am living it. I am just wondering who little Baby Azer is and whether to call it "him" or "her." I feel like a 7 year old waiting on Santa to come and bring me my first bicycle, but this will of course be a totally different ride. Adrian is convinced that it is a boy and I am equally convinced that it will be a girl. I don't think either of us will be disappointed but I do think that if Baby Azer is a girl, Adrian will have to think long and hard about karma. (If we have a girl, I almost feel like I should call his old girlfriends and let them know that he is now paying for all of those past transgressions.) I have not had any dreams yet about the sex of the baby but I think its because I am too busy dreaming about other weird events involving childhood friends I have not spoken to or seen in years (so weird, I know, Roland will be happy to know I dreamed all about floating the river and making hamburgers the other day but we were adults pretending to be kids and others joined us but it was people from our church youth group...so weird.) We have a baby girl name picked out but nothing on a boy yet, so I am glad that we will have to make some decisions soon. I am dying to pick out clothes, decorate, and personalize (and monogram, you know how Southerners love to monogram like its our family crest or something) everything for Baby Azer. (Adrian is also excited for tomorrow but its a toss-up between knowing the sex and getting our tax refund, I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt and say he is more excited for the sonogram but.....)

Its funny how so many others around us end up being pregnant as well, sharing this experience with them, and comparing notes. I was afraid that I would be the only one pregnant but it appears everyone loves Thanksgiving as much as I do as well. I am still shocked that Wags is going to be able to hold out until the baby is born to find out, I am just way too excited and could not handle that kind of surprise. I am a planner; I need a plan, back-up plan, worst case scenario, best case scenario, etc. (Thank God for technology, I would not have made it a few decades past.)

I will be sure to post the newest pictures of Baby Azer and reveal our surprise tomorrow (or Saturday depending on how long Amanda can hold out).

Its just about time

I am dying with anticipation to know what the sex of Baby Azer is so I can set out to name this baby and start buying fun, gender appropriate baby stuff. I am starting to look more pregnant instead of fat (thank goodness) but there is no going back to my pre-pregnancy clothes unless they are tents that stretch. I have taken Amanda's sage advice (though she doesn't have kids yet, a nephew counts) and bought the stretch mark cream to slather on so I avoid looking like OctoMom. I am getting excited to turn 30 and have a birthday party. We also have weddings and other baby showers to look forward to so all in all I am just really happy it is Spring! (Some love Fall, I love Spring and this dates back to UVA. We had Spring Break followed by philanthropy events that marked Spring and included Chili Cookoff, Crawfish, LAX tournament, Xanadu, Foxfields, and Last Day of School Party followed by Beach Week, then a fun "internship" or travel...those were the days!

I will update the blog with new photos and the big announcement on Friday or Saturday and let everyone know the news! (Now if Baby Azer will just cooperate with the sonogram and not be shy.)

Fun Weekend Trip in Atlanta

Adrian and I just had a quick semi-business trip to Atlanta. Although the weather was miserable, it was a great time to catch up with friends and family. I got to see my cousin Kelley and her adorable daughter Maya, who was so entertaining, her husband Eric and spend time with them. Then we got to visit with some of Adrian's college friends, Dave and Mike, see Mike's new mansion (that is a seriously amazing house and makes a good case for living in Atlanta) and eat fun food. Its always fun to see the Lee brothers and its always entertaining to hear the college stories about Adrian from Emory. I laughed until my sides hurt more from laughing than from round ligament pain.

Sunday brought even more fun and I got to spend time with Sarah-Nell, Leilani and little William. I love seeing my sorority sisters (say what you want but everyone knows that I only buy top-quality/premium and these girls are platinum, Gucci, LV, Prada and Burberry all wrapped up into one awesome group) and every time I see them I miss our Yellow House with all 12 of us living there in that chaos. Little William is growing and has the most beautiful eyelashes! Leilani never changes and looks the same as she did on Bid Day in 1997! We also got to see Jason Zitofsky another of Adrian's college buddies, who is always a delight and should bring Michelle next time too.

It is always so fun to see friends and swap old stories, hear new ones and create some too. I love getting pregnancy tips and support from everyone. I am sure I will need more Momma tips later on.

I got such a fun call from my friend Anita today and she brightened my whole day! It is so nice to hear from friends and know they care. I miss everyone and love to hear from you and know that it really does make my day! (I love visits too but I know that is a tough one.) Anita has some of the best pregnancy wardrobe to share and I am excited to have some new tops to wear and I sure my office mates would appreciate that as well. (Pregnancy has made me give up trying to be Oscar ready and focus on being comfortable.)

Update on Asthma

So far things are getting a little better. My attacks have dramatically decreased, which is a blessing but I am still having problems when triggers are around. I fear this will only get worse when the baby is bigger and sitting on top of my lungs. So far almost everyone is supportive, which I greatly appreciate because this is very stressful for me. I know I may be asking for a lot but I hope that you understand its the baby's health that I am putting first. I really appreciate all the emails, FB notes and calls wishing me well (seriously, they were bright stars on days where I was feeling down!). It has really been nice to confirm that I am blessed with such caring friends and family.

We are headed to Atlanta this weekend on a work trip. Adrian is joining me to visit his college buddies and I can finally visit his old stomping grounds. My next set of to-do's (in no particular order) are to (1) begin a registry, (2) plan the nursery and (3) get a final Adrian and Brooke trip on the books.

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

It has been an exciting week in the world of Baby Azer.  

THE GOOD

We went for a check up and Baby Azer is just having a ball in there, heart beat all strong and such.  Mommy is not faring so well.  We had a different doctor this visit (Dr. McKander--LOVE HER!!) and she lectured me about my asthma and refused to let me come back until I went to see a pulmonologist, as in that day, no exceptions.  Clearly I agreed because I know my asthma has been worse but I just have written it off until now.  Dr. McKander was afraid that I may have pneumonia (I have been coughing like I smoke a pack a day for 20 years) and that the oxygen flow was impeded.  (You just know that the guys I work with love a pregnant lady.  I am always having to go to appointments at inconvenient times to them and I think it totally annoys them, which they try to hide.)  March 27th is the day of reckoning....we find out if Baby Azer is a girl or a boy!

THE BAD

The pulmonologist (Dr. Gross, very nice lady who fit me in and kept reminding me that she was doing me a favor seeing me at 4pm on a Friday, and I thought, jeez I wish my day ended at 4pm on Fridays, usually it is just starting with some client emergency.  "Yes, I am grateful."  I repeated this about 10 times.)  then proceeds to have me in tears about how I am already a bad and irresponsible Mommy (her exact words were that I was behaving "carelessly and irresponsibly with respect to my asthma" I was just floored).  I was crying and I felt so bad, it just made it worse.  Turns out I have a fairly severe case of bronchitis (whew, not pneumonia) and my asthma is out of control (as in, totally out of control).  I got a full one hour lecture about how I am being selfish and hurting the baby, making it pre-disposed for all of these issues, hurting myself, etc, etc.  It was certainly a wake up call.  I am now going to be on a host of medications to get everything back in order so we have a successful incubation and delivery.  (To be honest, I was pretty scared and did not know exactly how bad it was, I mean it always feels like I breathe through coffee stirrers but I am completely aware of it now.)  I have to promise to come visit her every 2 weeks until I improve significantly (they will really love this at work).  

THE UGLY

So as a result of my poor lung function, I can no longer be around anyone who smokes (its a zero tolerance rule, no homes, no people, no restaurants, you get the idea), no pets (period, not in a house that has them, etc), and we have to have our house deep cleaned for dust, etc.  None of this is really news to me, I have always known it but made exceptions for the people I love, and now that I am incubating Baby Azer, I have to put that first.  I am so sorry if I decline your invitation or suggest an alternative meeting spot, please understand that it is not you its my asthma.  Adrian is pretty bummed that his cigar smoking has to go on hiatus but I think he will trade that for a good nights sleep where I don't wake him up coughing or choking.  (On that note, he is being a much better caretaker than my previous post and says that while he refutes the notion that he must be a butler to me, he is being a good husband....okay, I agree, you are a good husband and caretaker/sick nurse.  But ALWAYS Valet honey, always.)

Everyone pray that my asthma improves and that Baby Azer does not suffer from my asthma irresponsibility.  Also pray that everyone I love gives up smoking permanently (yes, this is not just a rule during pregnancy, it will be a rule with a baby as well) and that our friends with pets understand.