Soccer Balls

So, pretty much ever since about 13 weeks, I've felt the need to explain to people while I'm showing "so" much "already." That need to explain seemed to quadruple yesterday when the old lady at church asked me, after finding out I still had 3 1/2 more months to go, if I was expecting twins. 

"Um...nope.....just one....." I said, and then added stupidly, "I'm just a hearty eater!" while swinging my arm in front of me hick-style. Yeah. Good one.

Sometimes I say it's because I'm having a boy and they tend to sit out front while girls spread out wide. Or I'll say, "Sorry that's actually not the baby you're seeing. That's the 12 malted milk balls I just ate." 

But I think my mom just gave me the best explanation. She's been reading one of those week-by-week books so she can follow along with my pregnancy from 2100 miles away, and today I got a text from her that said, 

"Your uterus is the size of a soccer ball and the average weight gain for 25 weeks is 16-22 pounds. No wonder you're showing so much!"

Ah yes, that's what I should have said to the old lady yesterday, "Nope, not twins. It's just that my uterus is the size of a freaking soccer ball. No need to worry, missy."

via

Trust me, people, I am probably a lot more aware of how big I am than you are. I've already got the "turtle on its back" syndrome to deal with every time I try to get out of bed. But, the wonderful thing of it all, is that it's actually quite beautiful, this big belly of mine. The highway of blue veins weaving across my taut skin, the roundness rising from my hip bones. I kinda like it --

but more than that,

I love what it means. 

Baby Stuff (What else?)

Item of Business Number One

I'm 23 weeks today ---

And because *someone* said I need to stop posting cute pregnant pictures and take a just-rolled-out-of-bed-no-make-up-or-hair-done picture instead.....

I did just that.
I'm still so tired that I don't even want to smile.
Ah, Adam. What a lucky man. pshhh.... 


Is that better? :)

How far along? 23 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 18 pounds

Maternity clothes? I don't have too many maternity clothes, actually. So I'm making do with what I have, sporting the Belly Band, and wearing sweats. 

Stretch marks? No, I don't have stretch "marks," but I've been having stretch "pains" - If I sit down and slouch for too long, I feel my stomach just pulling on itself, and it feels so heavy and tight.

Sleep: I've been trying not to sleep quite as much as I did during the first trimester (which was like, 11 hours a night), so now I make sure I am out of bed before 8:30. Some mornings that is harder than other days.

Best moment this week: Adam felt Baby Boy move. It was about 6 in the morning, and we were snuggling before he had to get up and get ready for work. I said, "Give me your hand." And I put it on my belly and Baby shifted just then. Adam gave a Surprised "Huh!" So cool.

Miss Anything? I was looking at a pair of undies I used to fit in, but have since put into the bottom drawer until they fit again. They looked soooo small to me. If ever I get back to my pre-pregnancy weight, I will never again call myself fat or big.

Movement: Yes! And I'm starting to know when to predict it, too. Afternoons, from noon to three are busy times, usually.

Food cravings: Milk and cereal.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not more than normal.

Have you started to show yet:  Yes. It's so fun.

Gender: BOY BOY BOY

Labor Signs: Nope.

Belly Button in or out? It's still at that halfway-in-between point, but what has happened, is this: Because my belly is stretching out, the top lip of my belly button kind of ridges out, which makes it look like my belly button is outie, though it's definitely not. I want to tell people that who point it out, but they just wouldn't understand. So I just go along with it.

Wedding rings on or off? On. 

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy

Looking forward to: My next ultrasound to see how much he's grown. Starting birthing classes. Switching to a midwife! 

Item of Business Number Two


I've been eyeing this old shirt of Adam's for awhile now. I love the stripes, but it doesn't fit him anymore, and it looked pretty nasty on me.

So, I decided to fix it up. I took out the collar, shorted (what?) cut the sleeves, and added side-ruching (because a maternity shirt isn't maternity without the ruche, right?)

I used this tutorial to guide me, and here's how it turned out:

And then I got my pretty pregnant picture, after all :)

I love my new shirt!

Item of Business Number Three


I made a baby registry.

I wasn't going to. In fact, I was kind of against baby registries for awhile. But then my Dad said he wanted to buy me something for the baby, and that I should let him know. I didn't want to just say, "Here, get me this. The most expensive item we need." So I thought I would just send him a few links to different things I needed, all in different price ranges, so he could choose what he wanted to get me. And then I thought "Well if my daddy-o wants to get Baby something, maybe other members of my family do, too? Or friends? Who knows who wants to get The Cutest Baby That Will Ever Be Born something?"

So I concluded a baby registry would be the most organized, simple, and non-confrontational way of doing things. Plus, it was fun. Tons and tons of work, though, too. I researched EVERYTHING - to the core and more - and it took me three days to finish.

Plus, if no one gets me anything, I'll still be happy. Because then I know exactly what I need to get baby, and it will be easy-peezy.

You want to see it, don't you? Ok I'll let you.
I didn't add many clothes because I know I have some hand-me-down stuffs coming soon, and I will decide from there what more I need.
Anywho, check it out. Just because baby stuff is cute.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/registry.html?ie=UTF8&type=baby&id=3VML8F3EXZJUD

Clickety-click!

Just Dance

The other day Ke$ha's song Tik Tok came on.

And, like normal when this song plays, I couldn't help but bust out a move.

Kaleo looked at me like I was crazy.

But I knew I would dance with my son when he was here, and he would love it. And when he's big enough, he'll do his own dancing with me.

Then today I was reading up on being "23 Weeks!" and it said,


"Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With [his] sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance."

Your baby can feel you dance.

My baby can feel me dance.

I don't know why, but those words just seemed so much bigger to me than the surface meaning.

It's not just me feeling him moving around anymore.

Like I re-realized (as I am continuously doing) how my every day, every single actions affect him, and will only continue to do so from here on out.

It's an incredibly scary, but also very happy thing. And right now it just makes me want to get up and....

2011: Year in Review

No one likes these posts, but everyone must do one in order to happily segue into the next year. Mine's a little late, but I've been thinking about it for quite a few weeks now. It's always a good chance to reflect on the things that have changed and how far we came in just 365 short days. Here's what the Harrisons have done since last January:

January
We were living with Dad Harrison on the Big Island. Adam was working construction and I was reading a book every 3 days, taking lots of pictures, and volunteering at an animal shelter.

February
We were traveling gypsies, and went to live with my sister-in-law. Adam helped them re-do their backyard, I played with the kids, and Noelani grew a baby boy. Adam turned 25.

March
I turned 21.

We went from Salt Lake City to Minnesota in this beast:

And then we moved, officially, to Maryland.

April


I spent the month in Europe. I missed Adam, and he missed me. He started his first "real" job.

May


We got ourselves a puppy.

June


I started my new job as a nanny to two boys, 2 1/2 and 1 1/2. One of the most intense jobs I've ever had.

July


We said good-bye to our nephew. We flew out to California and loved being with family. Once Jonathan reached Heaven, he high-fived our son and said, "Don't worry, I got this covered." Jonathan convinced us that it was our time to start having kids.

August 
I got pregnant.

September


We celebrated our two-year anniversary, and lovely morning sickness gave me a pretty darn good excuse to quit my job.

October


I spent the majority of the month lounging on the couch, eating Saltine crackers and rotting my teeth with Sprite. We took a weekend trip to New York City.

November 


I wrote 50 thousands words of a novel for Nanowrimo. My mom flew out for a week. Heather joined us for Thanksgiving dinner.

December


Robyn visited for 5 days. We found out we're having a boy. We visited PA, Niagra Falls, and Palmyra.

December of Craziness

The Holidays were so fun. We were busy and it was grand.

(If you are friends with me on Facebook, you may have already seen some of these photos. But if you stick with me you'll get the narrated version straight from me!)

December 17-22: My bestie from high school, Robyn, visited. We had a trio reunion with Heather. I sure love my best friends.

Then Robyn and I walked TEN MILES one day touring all of DC. We saw Lincoln, Washington, WW II, Library of Congress, US Supreme Court, the Capitol, the Archives, Arlington Cemetery, and the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial. ALL IN ONE DAY. My poor pregnant body barely made it, but Robby was patient with me :)

It's a good thing she kept me so busy, because the next day was my ultrasound and we found out we're having a boy (less "found out," and more "our suspicions were confirmed").

Then the following day we went BACK to DC and hit up Jefferson Memorial, Holocaust Museum, History Museum, and Georgetown for Georgetown Cupcakes (HEAVEN!!!)

December 23: Dad, Sheri, and my brother flew out to Baltimore
December 24: Heavily medicate our dog, and the six of us are off on a 5  hour drive to Pennsylvania!
December 24-27: In Ulysses, PA with our great Aunt and Uncle, Nan and Claude.

Kaleo LOVED it there. He would just run around with his tongue stuck to the ground, lapping up the snow everywhere he went. He would sleep in front of the door so he could go outside anytime it was opened. He was definitely meant for a country life, this dog, and hopefully one day we can give it to him (even if it is when he is old and gray).

December 28-30: In Niagra Falls, Canada

Preggo Meggo! 21 weeks.

December 31: Palmyra, New York. One last night with Nan and Claude

Hill Cumorah

Smith Family Farm

I'm always on this side of Adam!

Sacred Grove.

On the way back to Nan and Claude's we made a detour at Watkins Glen State Park - so glad we did. It was gorgeous!

January 1: On our way back home!

It's been a busy last 6 weeks - Which has really made my pregnancy go by fast. I don't have quite as much to keep me busy the next four months, but here's my countdown list:
-Jan 10: Dad's birthday
-Feb 14: Valentine's
-Feb 22: Adam's 26th birthday
-March 6: My birthday!
-April 8: Easter
-April 25: Mom's birthday
-May 3-10: Possible due dates

Happy First Birthday, Kaleo!

Kaleo turned 1 on December 11th.

He's turning out to be a mighty fine dog.

We had our share of disappointments and battles with him,

and continue to do so, 

but we love him, and also have joy in our successes with him.

I taught Kaleo to sit, lay down, stay, and wait;

Adam taught him to shake (both paws), fetch, and roll-over

(the "cooler" tricks) -

though neither of us can get him to come to us if he doesn't want to.

And as much as I hate to admit it,

I'm pretty sure he loves Adam more

(and Adam knows it).

Our little guy at 5 months.

A graduate at 7 months!

One year!

We celebrated with this fancy-shmancy hat, a giant candy-cane-shaped bone, and this here photo.

What a lucky dog.

I love my boys :)