Geek Habitat

So, my 24 week pregnancy newsletter which I received this morning shared the delightful trivia that my uterus is now the size of a soccer ball! That’s freaky, but fitting since Sprout’s been having solo soccer matches in there these days! This week, she has had the hiccups, kicked me awake twice (last night), and yesterday evening, she finally kicked at just the right moment so Justin got to feel her with his hand on my belly! She gave a good solid kick/jab, too, just to be sure he knew she was there! Sprout, meet your Dad!

Justin and I are very grateful to my parents for purchasing Sprout’s crib, crib mattress and mattress pad. We found the perfect crib for us yesterday afternoon — the price is reasonable for what you’re getting; the reviews in terms of sturdiness and ease of assembly are good; and the best part is it’s a 4-in-1 unit so it morphs from CRIB -> TODDLER BED -> DAYBED -> FULL-SIZE/TWIN BED, so we could conceivably be using this until Sprout’s in high school! (Even if she wanted a new “grown up bed” someday, the crib could stay converted as a DAYBED and that could either be in her room or elsewhere in the house.)

A fun thread about what moms have learned since the birth of their child(ren).

Highlights:

• Things you never thought you’d say get said almost daily (”Stop licking the floor,” being one!)
• Pepper in root beer does not taste good. (Remind me to thank him for that again.)
• Do NOT give army men to you children and then fall asleep. The little guns hurt when shoved up your nose!!!
• Any word not to be said by a 2 yr. old can be heard when the child is upstairs & you are downstairs. (I swear she has super sonic ears) and it will be repeated.

RichC, you scooped me (on the Shuttle updates!)

I admit it. I was in bed last night, about to drift off to sleep, when I remembered “Ack! The Shuttle launch!” Justin had caught a news update before he wandered to bed, and in my near-sleep haze I did at least catch him say, “The launch was scrubbed… weather. When I woke up this morning, I wasn’t even sure that brief conversation was a memory or a dream — guess I was wiped out yesterday!

As of today’s OB checkup, I’ve gained a total of 19 pounds since I became pregnant. So far, no alarm bells or evil eyes from the Dr., so she must think I’m tracking along just fine. Still, it’s enough to cause some internal alarm bells since my weight will equal Justin’s if I track along at this pace throughout the rest of the pregnancy!

My blood pressure was better this visit, though only because I did some deep breathing exercises during my morning rush hour drive to the appointment. Something about driving your first new car in 14 years, even if she is now 8 months old, seems to do that to me!

Space Shuttle Discovery is set to take orbit again Thursday night (10:35 PM CST) with the launch of STS-116. The usual caveats — “if weather and systems cooperate” — apply.

Added Later: For updates, read NASA’s Launch Blog.