Getting fatter!

Oh the joys of second trimester.  This has been a fun month - I finally LOOK pregnant, I'm feeling Cammie kicking and squirming every day, however I'm not big enough yet to be uncomfortable.  Despite the minor backaches when I'm sitting for too long, it has been a very smooth ride lately.  My appetite is much-improved, and even though I look big in the pictures below, I'm ironically back to my pre-pregnancy weight.  Don't ask me how.  Books and doctors say gain 1-2 lbs each week during the second trimester.  I apparently would rather gain 7 lbs in one day, then lose 3 lbs, then gain 5 lbs, then lose 5 lbs, then sit at that weight for three weeks.   My only complaint is the emotional rollercoasters.  I've sat in my car crying myself home from work more than normal lately...and if you know anything about my job, "normal" is at least once a week! 

                                                        almost 5 months pregnant

This month has been busy getting as we prepare for Cameron's arrival.  We ordered new windows for our house, removed the furniture from the "library" (now dubbed "the nursery"), created a baby registry (scariest experience EVER!), and I obsessively show Mike every cute baby dress I see at Target/Costco/website/on other babies.  I've decided I'm going to dress Cammie in dresses every day, and then pray she doesn't turn out to be a girly-girl.  We'll see.  I'm determined to have a daughter that can dig up worms, ask thousands of scientific questions, field grounders at the ball park, and solve algorithms all while in an adorable little dress.  We are, however, definitely going to get her a onesie that says "Level 1 Human".  We have to embrace our love of RPGs just a little every now and then!

Mike and I are already planning our strategies to ward off future boyfriends.  I learned some scary techniques from the best - my dad.  So far, we've come up with: never call them by their name (only refer to them as "your 'friend'"), stare at them as if you don't know why they're at your home, insult their weak handshake, and when it doubt, start carrying a gun.  Both Thad and Adam were deathly afraid of my dad after a combination of these! 

Thanks to everyone for listening to my incessant and obsessive baby/pregnancy talk lately.  And a huge thank you to my neighbor Christy and sister Molly for being my mentors!  I clearly have NO IDEA what the hell I'm doing, so all the advice at least puts my mind at ease that I won't COMPLETELY screw up Cammie.  =p

It's a girl!!!!

Mike and I were so excited to discover that I am carrying a baby girl.  We can officially call her "Cameron Nicole Varga" now!  During the ultrasound we got to see all of her measurements and adorable little body parts.  The ultrasound technician reassured me that her head was a normal size (if you've seen the size of Mike's head, you'd understand my concern and fear of labor!!). 

Mike instantly starting worrying about her teenage years.  He declared an early curfew and no dating until she's 30.  There's no doubt that Cameron will be daddy's little girl. 

view of her face - cute button nose and crazy alien eyes

her little feetsies

Pregnancy is going well.  Second trimester is amazing, although my belly doubles in size every day.  I've felt little tickles and flutters that I *think* are baby movements, although they could very well be stomach gurgles. 

Next steps are creating a baby registry and getting the nursery ready.  I also need to buy some fat-man clothes because my pants are no longer fitting! 

19 weeks



Second Trimester

Well, I'm several weeks into my 2nd trimester and loving it!  I hardly ever get morning sickness, my energy is slowly starting to increase, and I'm only weeks away from being able to feel my first few kicks.   I've read up that our baby can already hear sounds around us (poor thing, having to listen to my endless songs about Nietzsche and Kierky!) and can start to taste some of the things I'm tasting (never too early to introduce your kids to Cadbury Cream Eggs!). 

Mike has been INCREDIBLY supportive.  He's the proudest dad!  He's been taking on way more chores around the house and even gives me daily massages.  Creating this child together has really brought on a new kind of love and respect for each other - I couldn't be any luckier to have him in my life.

In a month we'll get to find out the baby's sex.  Mike is hoping for a boy.  I have this intuitive feeling it may be a girl, but if you know anything about me and intuition, it's probably a boy.  We will, of course, be happy with just a healthy baby.  We've already started to explore some names.  Girl - Cameren Nicole or Cameren Emerie.  Boy - Bradley Stephan or Andrew Thomas.  I dare you to give Mike some suggestions with baby names.  There's a 99% chance he'll shoot down whatever you say! 

Below are a few pictures of me getting fatter.  Just though the world would like to see that. 

                                                       ^^ First trimester (about 8 weeks)

                                                      ^^15 weeks along and starting to round out

Our first ultrasound - and no, it's not twins!

Today Mike and I went in for our first OB-GYN appt.   As I got poked and prodded, Mike got to sit back and look at cute baby pictures.  Attached is the first picture of our little "Fetey" (his/her new nickname after he/she graduated from being called "Emby").  We were both expecting to see a blob, or even relive Rachel's experience on Friends where she breaks down, crying "I don't see it!"  Instead, we were surprised to see kicking legs, waving fingers, and a full facial profile of our adorable creation. 

At this point I'm 12 weeks along.  The morning sickness is finally starting to ease up, and I'm really looking forward to finishing off my MISERABLE first trimester.  Name a pregnancy symptom and I've experienced it.  But, I've finally increased my diet to more balanced meals rather than just pretzels, pickles, and Cup O'Noodles.  I'm phasing out of the salty period and I'm finally enjoying a sweet treat once in a blue moon.  I still have yet to gain any weight (I lost 10 lbs in the past few months from such bad nausea/poor appetite), but I'm sure I'll make up for in the 2nd trimester.  Also, I want to start exercising again, so if you're in the mood for walking, swimming, yoga, etc. please give me a call (I'm not so great at the self-motivation thing). 

A huge thank you so far to all our friends and family who've been there to smile with us and get excited with us.  My brother's driven me to doctor's appts, my mom's there to listen to all my symptoms and remind me about the light at the end of the tunnel, and Laura Ellis buys me soup and calls me often sounding even more excited than I am (hehe!).  You guys are all awesome and we can't wait to introduce you to our little booger on July 23rd (give or take 6 days, according to our doctor)!!