"Nesting" and the awesome weekends in Seoul

As some (most) of you may know,  I have been 'nesting' in Seoul at Yongsan Army Garrison since I hit 38 weeks.  The reason for this is because our AF base at Osan, though it has a hospital, does not have a labor and delivery ward.  Yongsan is right in the heart of Seoul, and is only about an hour from Osan when there is no traffic.  The problem is that traffic here is ridiculous, and, as Brian can attest to, it's VERY easy for the 1 hour commute to be 2-3 hours at least.  Because of this, the medical group thinks it makes sense to have you stay on base at Yongsan, close to the hospital, as it gets close to your delivery date.  I suppose this avoids costly ambulance rides and babies born in cars! 

At first, I scoffed this idea and called it "pregnancy purgatory," not wanting to leave our comfy apartment to sit and wait in an unfamiliar place for the baby to be born.  Now that I'm here (and even though baby boy is overdue) I'm glad to be here.  There are 3 "nest" buildings on base, each one has 3-6 rooms and each room has a private bathroom.  The buildings each have a shared, large communal kitchen area.  It's somewhere in between a dorm room and a hotel room... no frills (i.e. no internet or tv), but completely free of charge and less than a block from the hospital.  Spouses and kids can stay with you (Brian comes up every weekend) and there are a multitude of restaurants and shops on base to stave off boredom/hunger.  Plus, as I mentioned, it's right in Seoul, which is an incredible city!!! If all of the nest buildings are full, you get to stay at the Dragon Hill, which is the very nice, resort-type hotel here on base.  Sadly, I wasn't so lucky.  That being said, my 'nest' building was recently completely revamped, only has 3 rooms (mine has a ginormous walk-in shower with phenomenal water pressure), and in the 2 weeks I've been here, I have only seen one of the other rooms taken for a few days.  Moral of the story: It's not like the crazy preggo reality show I had originally envisioned.  Good for my sanity, bad for the novel I saw myself writing when this is all over!  :)


Here's my little nest from the outside:  

And here's my cozy little room:

 It's certainly not the Ritz, but it's very peaceful and relaxing and only a short walk to doctors appointments and the metro station.  The weather has been very hot and humid, so I havent gone exploring in the city as much as I'd like to  during the week.  That being said, the weekends have been awesome.  Brian and I have been all over the city and have found some great new favorite spots!


Awesome Weekends in Seoul:



Brian at the Korean National Museum:  This place is mere steps from the Yongsan gate and was a good place to kill an hour or two... it's not nearly as interesting as the War Memorial Museum, but it was still fun to walk around, plus, admission was free... and it's air conditioned!

Me (and 39 week bump) at the Bosingak bellfry in Jongno:

 

 Jongno Tower in Seoul-- such unique architecture:

The bathroom at the top of Jongno tower--  amazing view of the city!

Brian and the awesome self-serve wine pouring at Mi Casa:

Someone was super-excited to find (after much searching) a Shabu-Shabu restaurant !

 

Brian, enjoying delicious shabu-shabu for the first time in 3+ years!  It was well worth the search to find this place!!!!

Suffice it to say that weekends have been the highlight of my time here "nesting."
 

Due Date +2 days

How the Pregnancy is going so far:

How far along: Due date + 2 days

How big is baby: Watermelon sized.  I’m guessing around 9 lbs.  

Pregnancy weight gain:   37 lbs total.  More than I expected, but supposedly not ridiculous.

Sleep:  Getting up 3-4 times per night to use the bathroom and stretch my hips.  Even though they say sleeping on the left side is the best, I have to alternate because whichever side I’m on will result in a very painful hip after a couple of hours of sleep. 
Maternity Clothes:  Starting to get small!  Anything with a waist band (shorts, jeans, etc) dig into me and are less than comfy when sitting down, so sundresses have been my staple.

Best moment of the week: 

Brian here in Seoul for the weekend: Out to delicious brunches, exploring the Korean National Museum, finding an incredible Spanish restaurant for dinner, and renting a movie.  Fantastic weekend!

Funny moment of the week:  Going to the pool this week and having 3 little girls come up and want to touch my belly and feel the baby kick.  It was pretty cute!

Stressors this week: Wondering when baby will want to show up!  Hoping to avoid getting induced, so lots of walking and spicy food for me!

Food cravings: Milkshakes, salads, pasta and fish

Food aversions: Fried food… with all the restaurants here on base at Yongsan, there is a good variety of food, but a distinct lack of veggies and non-fried stuff.

Favorite Recipes/Meals this week: Since I’ve had to eat out every meal for the last 2 weeks, I’ve had some pretty fantastic meals for sure—especially when I’ve been off-base.  The best dinner was easily last night, when Brian and I went to Mi Casa in Itaewan.  We shared Salmorejo (cold tomato based soup with egg and prosciutto), calamari, ensaladilla rusa (potato salad with tuna, shrimp, boiled veggies and mayo) and mixed paella.  VERY impressed with their paella.  SO yummy and well presented too… Should have taken pictures!

 Symptoms:  Heartburn is constant.  I ended up getting a prescription about a month ago from the MD here, because TUMS were not cutting it, and it was causing me to cut back on drinking water.  Since then, as long as I take the medicine, I can pretty much eat and drink like a normal person again!

Movement: He’s still a “shark” around bedtime or after meals, but I think he’s run out of room to squirm as much as the past weeks.

Gender: 3 ultrasounds in a row say ‘boy’ so we’re going with that.

What I’m looking forward to: Meeting this baby!  Any day now would be ideal. 

What I miss from pre-pregnancy: Looking forward to a cold Guinness and sleeping on my back.

Next appt: Tomorrow afternoon… no idea what the doctor will say, but since I’m over my due date, I think he’ll probably have some sort of evacuation plan for the gummy bear for the following week. 

40 Things I've learned in 40 weeks

 So yes- I haven't blogged in... well... months!  In June, we've moved to Korea, and have had an incredible start to our adventure here.  Suddenly, the end of this pregnancy has snuck up on me... today is my due date!!!  As it doesn't seem like the little guy (or big little guy, as I think he's pretty sizable!) will be coming out to play at the moment, I thought I'd take a few minutes to look back on stuff I've learned through this crazy baby-growing process!

 Things I’ve learned in 40 weeks of growing my son:

1.              If I never see another ‘TUMS’ again, it’ll be too soon.

2.              I can have the grandest intentions for making super-healthy meals every day, however, if the motivation to go out and buy/cook said meals isn’t there, I no longer feel guilty about occasionally ordering take-out.

3.              German doctors are much more calm and relaxed than American Army ones. 

4.              German doctors are not great at predicting the sex of the baby at 16 weeks.

5.              3-D ultrasounds are totally weird and creepy… until it’s your kid.  Then they are amazingly awesome.

6.              Belly kicks, flips and pokes are a totally indescribable feeling.

7.              Rib kicks, and bladder jabs are describable; they are not comfortable.

8.              Compression socks are a lifesaver on overseas airplane journeys.

9.              Uncomfyness/soreness during the last few weeks of being pregnant is nowhere near as bad as the pain and discomfort of my 1^st eight weeks of pregnancy.

10.           I am thankful every day to the preggo gods for sparing me from both morning sickness and stretch marks.

11.           Watching the numbers on the scale go up each monthly appointment was surprisingly more reassuring than scary.

12.           That being said, I never want to see the current scale number again… unless I am pregnant again.

13.           I’ll always remember where I was when Brian got to feel the baby kick for the 1^st time.  :)

14.           Any fears about childbirth seem to pale in comparison to fears about parenting.

15.           I feel less self-conscious in a 2-piece bathing suit now, than I did 37 pounds ago.

16.           I am thankful every day that Brian will be here (not deployed or TDY) when the baby is born.

17.           For as much as I gripe about technology, the fact that the grandparents will get to experience their 1^st grandchild’s first few months via Skype is an incredible thing.

18.           Some mornings I wake up and forget that I’m pregnant…. Then I try and roll over.

19.           Being severely pregnant in the heat of the summer isn’t really bad —I’d much prefer wearing these sundresses than heavy pants and layers.

20.           Having friends in the same stages of pregnancy with you is fantastically reassuring.

21.           Splurging on more and more books to read to your baby is never a bad investment.

22.           If people were as kind and considerate to everyone as they are to visibly pregnant people, the world would be a much happier place.

23.           I always liked the idea of having twins…. Now that I’m pregnant with just one, I cannot even begin to fathom having multiples.

24.           I cannot wait to see Brian as a daddy. 

25.           I could waste hours reading message boards on The Bump… it’s nice to see other people with the same questions and concerns… and the totally psycho ones make me feel much more normal.

26.           I’ve forgotten what it’s like to sleep through the night without getting up to use the bathroom or stretch my sore hips… I really can’t imagine falling asleep and not waking up again until the morning.

27.           Sometimes the heartburn is worth it to satisfy the spicy food fix; most often it’s not.

28.           Being pregnant certainly isn’t awful, but I don’t think I’d say that it’s particularly enjoyable either.

29.           When discomfort becomes routine, you tend to forget about it rather than harp on it.

30.           Maternity clothes come in two categories: Frumpy and boring or incredibly cute and ridiculously expensive.

31.           Long, non-maternity shirts and tanks can be worn pretty much the whole pregnancy.  At 40 weeks I still have two H&M short sleeve shirts that fit over the huge bump just fine.

32.           I do not miss scooping the cat litter.

33.           Through the kindness and generosity of our AF friends, friends from home, and family, I am convinced our little guy is already the most spoiled (and will be the best-dressed) baby on the planet.

34.           Coming up with the ‘perfect’ name is not easy! 

35.           I love playing “guess which baby part that is” with Brian when the baby decides to be a shark and swim everywhere at bedtime.

36.           The pregnancy ‘glow’ doesn’t happen for some people… I just got the pregnancy badly broken out skin instead.

37.           The closer I get to going into labor, (and the larger I hear the baby is measuring) the less inclined I am to having a med-free childbirth… and I’m okay with that.

38.           That being said, I REALLY hope this baby comes out on his own terms and I don’t have to be induced.

39.           My daydreams used to take me to exotic locales and 5 star restaurants… now I picture little league games and trips to the beach (perhaps still at exotic locales).

40.           It’s pretty amazing to have so much love and concern for someone you’ve never met. 

Belly Comparison... beginning to end

Here it is.... the crazy belly comparison from the time I found out I was expecting until just a few days before my due date.  Here's hoping I can get some semblance of that pre-baby shape back once the little guy is here!

36 Week Bump

Here's the ever-growing belly at 36 weeks!  Baby Morrissey seems to like Korea so far... especially the abundance of delicious Thai food and multitude of places to go for walks!

Baby boy in 3D

Here's the 3D ultrasound shot around 31 weeks; just before we left Germany.... baby boy Morrissey actually almost looks like a real baby! 

29 Week photo

Here's the bump at 29 weeks... not long before we left Germany:

28 Week Update

How the Pregnancy is going so far:

How far along: 28 weeks + a few days

How big is baby: Around the size of an eggplant!

Pregnancy weight gain:   Visiting the states did a number on me thanks to Chipotle, everything in Alabama being deep fried, and the home cooking from the fam in the northeast.  I'm up around 20 lbs now, but thankfully still feeling great!

Sleep:  According to Brian, I'm a "flopper."  I have a tough time getting comfortable before I fall asleep and thus 'flop' around for a while.  I've also started snoring apparently.  None of this I notice, but I pity my light-sleeping husband these days!
Maternity Clothes: After some great shopping while back in the states, I think I'm pretty much set for the summer.  My bff spoiled me with a couple of adorable dresses and tops from a boutique in Chicago, and those are my favorite (read: most comfy) right now.

Best moment of the week:  There are a few:

1. Returning to Germany and seeing Nellie-cat and our friends here at Spang!
2. Another great OB appointment confirming that baby Morrissey is growing just as he should... and that's he's still a boy!
3. Attending my last spouses coffee here.  It was a wonderful farewell from the ladies and it was also my worst moment of the week because I really don't want to leave yet!
4. Selling my car.  Without even advertising it to the public, we found someone who wants to purchase Civvy.  The transaction wont go through for another week and a half, but it's one less thing we need to worry about!

Funny moment of the week:  Getting a RhoGam shot at my OB appointment because I'm RH neg and Brian is RH positive... Brian misheard the MD and thought they were going to give me a Rogaine shot (aka the hair growth stuff)! 

Stressors this week: Preparing for the move.  We've gotten a good amount done in the last couple of days, but there is just so much more sorting to do!

Food cravings : Ice cream, spinach and corn (not combined, thank goodness)

Food aversions: None.  I'm back to wanting to eat everything in the grocery store.

Favorite Recipes/Meals this week: We're trying to clean out the pantry, so meals are getting creative!  Last night was asparagus risotto with shrimp and cauliflower.

 Symptoms:  The heartburn pretty much disappeared when I was stateside, but now it's coming back.  Sore upper back and ankles occasionally, but nothing too bad.  My skin is finally clearing up as well -thank goodness!  Oh, and my belly button is definitely a full "outtie" now.

Movement: All the time!  He's forever practicing his basketball dribbling with my innards.  :)  I'm just waiting for that scene in Alien where a hand pops out!

Gender: It's a boy!!!  They are "certain" this time! 

What I’m looking forward to: Having the move behind me.  I am very sad to be leaving Germany and our wonderful friends and house here, but simultaneously very ready to get settled into our new home before baby boy makes his debut!

What I miss from pre-pregnancy: Doing handstands, sharing a great bottle of wine, using our espresso machine.

Next appt: A couple of days before we leave to go to Korea (in just over 2 weeks).  It will be my last appt in Germany.  Boooo!

Forget the pink... it's a BOY!

First, let me apologize for the several week hiatus.   To say it's been a busy and crazy last few weeks is an understatement!  Between traveling back to the states to see Brian and the family, and getting ready to say a final 'Tschuss' to Germany,  I've been quite preoccupied.  Please bear with me as I try to recollect some of the big events from the last month or so!  Without a doubt, the biggest surprise I received came at my 22wk OB appointment...

I had the appointment just before flying back to the states, to make sure that everything was hunky-dory before getting on a 7 hour flight.  They did my glucose screening early that morning (everything was normal) and I had a 4 hour wait before my 'regular' appointment was scheduled.  Thankfully, they were not too busy, and were able to fit me in for the regular check-up right away, as opposed to having to return to the hospital in 4 hours.  The doctor who was able to see me was not my regular OB, but another very nice German fellow, who also spoke English incredibly well.

I may have mentioned this before, but one of my very favorite things with the care here in Germany, is that you get an ultrasound at every monthly appointment.  This time, the new doctor asked if I'd like to know the sex of the baby.  I told him that a month prior, I had an appointment and Brian and I were told that it was a girl... but that he was more than welcome to go back and check!  Boy am I glad he did!  After a few seconds of moving the ultrasound wand around my belly, he pauses... looks at me... looks back at the screen... and says (in a heavy accent):  "That is definitely NOT a girl!!!"

I looked at the screen and it did not take me long to realize he was right! He said that the crazy gummy bear was probably moving too much during the last appointment to get a clear shot.  I was shocked!  I think I even asked him if there were two babies in there (one boy and one girl)!  He reassured me that there was just one baby, and that we were, without a doubt, going to be parents to a son.

I asked for a print of the picture on the screen (clearly highlighting "the goods") so I could show it to Brian when I got to the states.  I now wish someone, anyone, had been at that appointment with me... the look on my face must have been priceless!  We had spent the past 5 weeks with the mindset that it was a girl.... granted I hadn't bought that many purple outfits and bows, but with the Spring Bazaar on base the week prior, I definitely walked away with a fair amount of stuff that will now be re-gifted to friends or saved for a future baby girl Morrissey.  I'm all about gender neutral stuff for sure, and he can wear whatever he wants, but I'm not going to willingly dress him in a dirndl this Oktoberfest instead of lederhosen!  :)

So that was a huge surprise... it's a boy!  I called Brian at around 5am in the states to tell him the news.... he was obviously shocked as well.  Now that we've had several weeks to let the news sink in (and another ultrasound at 27 weeks to confirm), we're finally adjusted to the idea that it's a boy!  We would be thrilled either way, for sure... so there was no disappointment when we found out--- just lots of surprise!   We've had a great time the last few weeks adjusting the items on our registry and telling family and friends.  The time until he arrives is flying by... it's hard to believe that in a little over two months, our son will be here!

Birthing an Ewok?

So there's an old wives tale out there that claims the more heartburn a pregnant woman has, the more hair her baby will have.  Apparently some sources actually believe this to be true, as there was a small-scale Johns Hopkins University study conducted in 2007 that found women who reported having frequent heartburn to have birthed babies with above-average amounts of hair.  Most medical professionals still believe it's just a myth, and I kind of hope they are right... at the rate I'm going, our baby will look a lot less like this:

And a lot more like this:

I'm crossing my fingers for a happy medium.... a nice head of hair, but not an Ewok.

21 Week Bump Update

21 Week Bump Update:

This photo was taken on Easter at my wonderful friend Annie's house... I was closer to 20 weeks than 21 here.

How the Pregnancy is going so far:

How far along: 21 weeks today (Saturday)

How big is baby: She's about as long as a banana!  Crazy!

Pregnancy weight gain:   Somewhere around 12 lbs so far.  Haven't stepped on the scale in a few days, nor do I care to today.

Sleep: Having a hard time getting to bed at a decent hour, but once I'm asleep it's fantastic.  Still waking up on my back a few times a night and forcing myself to roll onto one side or the other. If I wake up to use the bathroom, I have no trouble falling back to sleep unless it's already light out... Then I'm up.

 Maternity Clothes: Inherited a nice supply of maternity stuff from recently preggo friends out here.  Most of it is still a bit big, but a few things (like the shirt in the photo) fit great!  I can still fit into all of my longer length pre-pregnancy shirts, and a few pairs of pants that don't have a zipper and/or button (see photo again).  Unless they have an elastic waist, I have outgrown all of my shorts... with a trip to Alabama to see Brian in my very near future, I will have to do some shopping ASAP.  Me thinks sundresses will be a staple this summer!

Best moment of the week:  There are a few:

1.  Easter at my lovely friend Annie's house was wonderful.  The food was amazing and the company was phenomenal, as always.  I am going to miss my Spangdahlem family a ton when I'm back in the states, and I dont want to even think about the upcoming move! 
2. Looking forward to the trip home - I'll be heading back to the states in three days for the 1st time in about 15 months.  Can't wait to spend a week with the family in MA and a few weeks with Brian in AL! 
3.  My awesome best friend.  Kelly, the love-of-my-life-in-the-form-of-a-girl,  just booked a flight from Chicago to visit Brian and I in Alabama.  The last time I saw her was 6 months ago when she (and her Brian) came to Germany for a visit.  I feel SO lucky to have a bff who will find a way to see me, wherever I am!
4. Checking major moving stuff off the to-do list.  Brian's car is now being shipped to Korea, a few more essential baby items have been purchased (and a huge array of awesome baby-girl items and bathtub were donated to us by a wonderful friend here!), and I'm pretty much packed for the upcoming trip!
   

Stressors this week: Getting everything done before leaving for the states.  The to-do list is never-ending because of the upcoming move.  Setting up moving stuff with Brian gone requires me to have several different powers of attorney and lots of associated paperwork... I still have lots to do on Monday (between two Doctor's appointments), but I'm confident it will all work out a-ok!  Also, I'm a little anxious about dropping Nellie off to be a "castle cat" for 5 weeks.  My fantastic friend Michelle, who will be watching her, is absolutely awesome, and Nellie likes her a lot... I just know how upset our fur-baby is when she's outside of her typical environment and I hope the change of scenery isn't too stressful for her. 

Food cravings : The major avocado craving I've had for the past 2-3 weeks seems to have subsided.  This week I can't seem to get enough corn on the cob (the frozen ones-- I cannot wait for fresh sweet summer corn!).  Also, filling my water bottle with 3 parts sparkling water to 1 part pomegranate juice has been nice and refreshing. Oh, and my splurge has been chocolate soy milk... I've definitely gone through more than a gallon this week! 

Food aversions: Nothing major, except that the post-dinner heartburn has stepped up a notch this week for sure.  I've been eating a much more bland (ie boring) diet in lieu of popping tums every hour.

Favorite Recipes/Meals this week: Nothing too exciting on account of the heartburn. Last night was tilapia, spinach and corn on the cob.  A few nights earlier I made a (faux) crab and muenster sandwich and sweet potato fries.

 Symptoms:  Sore shoulders and upper back the past 3 days.  I've tried changing up my sleeping positions but it hasnt helped much.  I may need to bribe Brian for a back rub when I see him!  Other symptoms: the aforementioned heartburn, mid-day fatigue, and occasionally bleeding gums.  On the whole, I still feel good... just bigger!

Movement: Ninja baby is definitely getting more active!  She was having a dance party yesterday as I had the apple-tv on while I packed.  Her favorite music so far (as determined by the frequency of her karate chops): The Flaming Lips, Jimmy Eat World, and U2.

Gender: They tell us she's a girl!

What I’m looking forward to: Going to the states!!!  Can't wait to see everyone.  I miss the family so much, and I miss my husband terribly... these past few weeks have gone by so very slowly!  I also am REALLY looking forward to warm weather and sunshine!!! It's been hovering around 50 degrees (F) here the past two weeks and I am ready to up that temperature by about 20 degrees!

What I miss from pre-pregnancy: Fitting into all my clothing.  Sleeping through the night.  Coffee that isn't icky decaf.  Clear skin. 

Next appt: I have two on Monday  - my glucose test (to rule out gestational diabetes) and a regular appt/ultrasound.  Looking forward to seeing what the gummy bear looks like this time!

A place for her to sleep

 

One thing that's become apparent since becoming pregnant has been the difficulty in obtaining a variety of baby products from America while being stationed overseas.  In the years past, we've run into occasional APO shipping difficulties, but it was seldom for products that were truly needed.  For example, our wine rack cubes couldn't be shipped here directly from the manufacturer so we sent them to Brian's folks and they, in turn, sent them to us... same with a few other items that we definitely wanted to have, but weren't essential.  It was an occasional frustration, but never that big of an issue.

Now that our family is expanding, it's a different story.  Baby Morrissey will need a place to sleep.. and a stroller, and  a car seat, etc.  Thankfully, some websites are far better than others and will ship things to APO addresses without much hassle.  If it takes 8-10 weeks to arrive, so be it... I'm just thankful it can get here.  We had wonderful luck recently when we ordered and received our stroller and car seat within two weeks!  I was pretty amazed- usually it takes longer than that for a simple letter to get here! 

Unfortunately, the one instance where this is not the case is with cribs.  There are virtually no baby stores or websites in the states that will ship a crib here (or to Korea for that matter).  The large base BX "mall" at Ramstein, which is an hour away, carries a few cribs, but the ones that they currently have in stock are very poorly rated by both consumer reports and Baby Bargains (a phenomenal resource book for all things baby gear related).  They also can order a few different (and higher rated) cribs, but they take 4-6 MONTHS to come in.  Not only will we we living in Korea by then, but the baby will have been born!  Our next option was to check the local German baby stores.  The Germans actually have some awesome (and adorable) baby furniture, but the crib dimensions are not the same as the states, so when we leave here and discover we need a replacement crib liner, or sheets, etc. we would need to order it from Europe and have it sent to wherever we are.  This is an option, but not a very economical one seeing as the products here are already quite expensive with the dollar/euro conversion rate, even before shipping. 

Since there is no BabiesRUs for us to duck into out here, we had one last hope...

 

Thankfully, the one chain that there is no shortage of out here is Ikea.  Now keep in mind that their stuff is no frills, and you have to assemble every last piece yourself, but we certainly weren't looking for a $700 sleigh crib, and Brian likes a good construction project so this seemed like a viable option.  Thankfully, it was!  We found a cute, highly rated crib that will look great in our nursery and will also convert to a toddler bed when the munchkin is toddling.  I promise I'll post a picture of it, along with some of our other nursery purchases in an upcoming post!  Until then, it is just a big relief to me that we found somewhere for our gummy girl to sleep.  

1/2 Way There!

This week, just before Easter,  marked the 1/2 way point of the pregnancy!  20 weeks down, 20 more to go.  Honestly, the past two months have been so easy, that the nastiness of the first few weeks almost seems like a distant blur... almost.  The time is going by incredibly fast now, and with a trip back to the states to see family, and the upcoming move on the horizon, I doubt it will slow down enough for me to catch my breath.  Speaking of catching my breath, I miss being able to do that in general.  I'm not winded after climbing a couple of flights of stairs or anything, but I'm just more tired and lethargic overall, and the dreary weather here hasn't helped.  Mid-day naps that I might have scoffed at in the past are now becoming a staple.  

Here are some other things I miss from the days before the gummy bear took up residence behind my belly button:

Sushi.  Yes,  I know I can still have a California roll or a cucumber roll, but I want full up raw fish on a little pad of rice... or an oyster on the half-shell, or smoked salmon on a bagel.   The funny thing is that none of these were a regular part of my diet pre-pregnancy, because, let's face it, fresh fish isn't exactly what Germany is known for.  So maybe it's just a sub-conscious psychological wanting-what-I-can't-have type of thing.  All I know, is that come September, we'll have found the best sushi spot in Seoul guaranteed.

Spicy Food.   Okay, so this one isn't off limits to me from a medical perspective, but it might as well be.  I still tempt fate and indulge in the occasional spicy curry or pad thai, but the heartburn that follows is miserable.  I see this as being a bit of an issue when we get to Korea, land of mouth-burning kimchi.

 Surfing.   This one was just added to the list.  Brian is in AL for work, and one of our good friends who is currently deployed has been awesome enough to let Bri use his house in Florida for the weekend.  On Saturday, Brian went surfing.  It hit me that when I'm down there in a couple of weeks, this won't be on my to-do list.  I can't even lay on my stomach and read anymore.  Grrrrrr.

 Handstands.  Kind of goes along with the surfing thing.  Not safe.  It's really too bad.... how cool would a big preggo belly handstand shot be?  Maybe that's just me.

Wine.  Or a Guinness.  Is an explanation really necessary?  

My mind.  Specifically my memory.  Now granted, those who know me well can attest to the fact that I'm always a bit scatterbrained, and, as Brian often says, my "rememberer" is broken.  Top that with this recently acquired head in the clouds pregnancy brain, and it's a recipe for disaster.  Last week I locked my keys in the car while taking it to be repaired, I went grocery shopping and came home with lots of stuff, but absolutely nothing for dinner, and I had to email myself a to-do list for the week, because I think I inadvertently threw the original away. 

The good news is that all of these complaints are minor, and (hopefully) quite temporary!  :) 

Learning to Embrace the Color Pink

When we announced to the facebook world that we were expecting, we both posted pictures of mini-vans.  Brian's call sign is VAN, so we enjoyed seeing which of our friends would figure out the pun.  About a month later, I changed my photo to a purple mini-van.  Yup-- the mini-Morrissey is going to be a girl!

I was a bit of a tom-boy growing up.  Next to the dresses in my closet were the bike shorts I wore to climb to the highest limb of the tree in our front yard.  Amongst the dolls and My Little Pony collection was an admirable set of He-Man action figures.... You get the point. Anyway, these were the thoughts that ran through my cranium the 1st time I went browsing through the racks of baby stuff after learning that the gummy bear was a girl.  Then consumer reality hit.  Everything was a sea of cotton candy PINK.  Even here in Germany!  Ugh.  I really don't care for that color.  Neither does Brian.  

The more I think about it, the more I realize that maybe it's not the color itself... maybe it's the negative connotation that it stirs up in my mind; tiaras and princesses and a holier-than-thou sense of entitlement.  Maybe it's the gender stereotyping in general-- will wearing something frilly and pink perpetuate the idea that she's 'delicate' and cant dig in the mud with the boys?  Honestly, probably not.  If she's anything like her parents, by the time she's old enough, there will be grass stains and dirt on whatever color she's wearing.  In the meantime, she's just going to be a baby... squishy, needy and not yet able to express her preferences.  So, my new resolution: I won't pass up a perfectly adorable outfit, just because it's the shade of bubble gum.  We will, instead, try to have a big variety, teach our daughter that she can wear whichever colors she wants, and that she can grow up to be whomever she wants to be.   Even if it's a girly-girl... god help us.

Kick vs. Digestion

Somewhere around week 16 or so, people started asking if I'd felt the baby kick yet.  At that time, I hadn't, and I didn't know what to expect when it did happen.  I started paying close attention to everything I felt in anticipation of those first little movements.  About a week later, I started playing a game I liked to call "Kick or Digestion?"  I truly couldn't decipher a fetus ninja move vs. gas bubbles.  So I decided that if my stomach made a gurgling noise directly after I felt something, it was likely digestion... If there were no sounds and it happened a few times in the same area, it might just be a kick! Over the next couple of weeks, the motions became much more definitive, and now, at just over 20 weeks there's no mistaking what they are.  Nice work, ninja baby!  They are even strong enough to be felt from the outside now.   Such a cool feeling! I can't wait to see Brian (who is back in the states for work) in just a few short weeks and have him experience force of little blackbelt Morrissey!

On Deciding to Procreate

 “Having a baby is like getting a tattoo on your face. You really need to be certain it's what you want before you commit.”
― Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love


The idea that we'll be parents in a few short months is pretty mind-boggling to me.  We knew, early in our relationship, that we'd like to have children some day, but not immediately.  We wanted to have ample time to grow our relationship as a married couple first.  Having these past three years, seeing the world, and getting to know each other that much better has been perfect.  I can honestly say that my relationship with Brian is stronger than it ever has been.  Alas, had I not heard my biological clock ticking louder after turning 32, I would have happily/selfishly kept my husband all to myself for another couple of years! 

The decision to have kids is not one we took lightly, but rather, something we had been considering for quite a long time.  It definitely stemmed more from the train of thought of; "We're ready and looking forward to imparting 61 collective years of knowledge and experiences on the next generation" as opposed to "Aww, what a cute baby, I want one of those!" (Although, since becoming pregnant, I don't deny that the latter has crossed my mind!) 

I see the shows that glorify teen pregnancy and hear the words "baby fever" and cringe... a lot.  I wondered for a while if we were making the right decision.  Do we really want to expose another person to all of the problems in the world?  Aside from the biggest issues like war and poverty (and reality tv),  I can't help but agonize over bringing a child into our AF dictated, nomadic lifestyle.  Then again, how could we deny someone the beauty and amazing experiences that are out there, especially those that come from living in different areas around the globe?  Do these experiences justify the need to take a long-haul flight to see the closest family member?  Currently, as it's just Brian and myself, I'd say 'absolutely,' however, I think that question will be increasingly harder to answer when the baby is here.  

What I do know, is that the wonderfulness of the world far trumps the bad... I just hope we have the ability to teach our child to see it that way.  I also see my friends who have struggled for years with infertility, pregnancy losses and health issues and wonder how we got so very lucky.  Odd as it is to say, I feel privileged to be bringing a new life into the world.  Now don't get me wrong... that's not to say that pregnancy is fun.  No, truth be told, it's frightening, annoying, and fairly miserable.  I hear the end result is worth it though; I guess we'll see in a few months!

1st trimester Belly

Not too exciting, I know... My pudgy baby belly didn't really show up until around 18 weeks.

Week 13: Tschuss to the 1st Trimester!

At 13 weeks we had another OB appointment.  This was my 4th one (prior to this were the ER visit at 5 weeks and follow-up appts at 7 and 9 weeks).  Brian was actually able to make it along with me this time!  Up until that point, because of work, he had only been with me to the ER that very 1st time, so I was excited for him to see an ultrasound showing the little growing gummy bear!  At this point, all of the nasty symptoms I'd been having were gone, and I felt really good! 

The weekend before the appointment we headed to Rome, one of our favorite cities, for a mini-getaway, and it was a wonderful time!  While in Rome, we got the news that we would be moving back to South Korea in June.... talk about an exciting week!!! 

Because this was the end of the 1st trimester and the probability of miscarrying was drastically decreased, we decided that if all went well at this 13 week appointment, we would tell all of our friends and extended family that we were expecting!  Up until this point it was just our immediate families, my best friend, and a couple of close friends at Spangdahlem who knew.  Needless to say, it was an exciting, albeit nerve-wracking, time!

Thankfully, it was a great doctors visit.  Everything was progressing as it should, and we had the thumbs up to tell the world that we will be parents in August!  :)

We also got to take home this ultrasound picture of the little gummy bear!  We decided that it was either dramatically sighing, or perhaps saluting!