So...when it comes to pregnancy, I am a baby!

You hear of women who love being pregnant, who say that they never felt so good in all their lives as when they were pregnant. In case you are wondering, I am NOT one of those women. With that said, as Stephanie reminds me and I try to remind myself everyday, I am keeping my eye on the prize. With every little baby movement (I feel them a couple of times a day. I haven't had caffeine since last Tuesday...), with every glance into the "baby room", with every notice of my blossoming belly, I do feel renewed excitement for our little one. However, to make this an honest recording of the pregnancy, I will list my grievances lately:

1. I am SO tired! I WISH I could nap everyday. I used to easily be able to get up at 5:15, walk the dogs two miles, make lunches, get ready for work, leave the house for work at 7, work from 7:30 to 4:30 (maybe do yoga at lunch), come home at 5, make dinner, walk the dogs two miles after dinner, relax or do housework for an hour, and go to bed by 9. Now the dogs are lucky to get two walks a day. Usually one is about a mile and a half and the other is the full two miles. I definitely nap on the weekends, and it takes me a full day to clean the house the way I like it. Actually, it has been common for me, about once a week, to come home from work and go to sleep at 5:30....and sleep through the night except for the usual wake-ups (see below).
   
2. Heartburn....need I say more. It sucks and it seems ever present.
   
3. Spider veins....and I am worried about varicose veins. I hate wearing pantyhose, but I will!
   
4. Waking up several times during the night....due to hunger, bathroom trips, and being uncomfortable.
   
5. Back aches. I am confused about how someone feels when she gains 30 lbs, when my back hurts now and I've only gained three. Hopefully the yoga will help.
   
6. Aching legs after standing for a while. I love to bake around this time of year, but I think I am going to have to sit down while stirring!
   
7. Lower abdominal pressure. I feel like the baby is getting noticeably bigger all the time, and pushing my abdomen down and out to accommodate. Perhaps this is true.
   
8. Clothes that don't fit. My pre-pregnancy clothes are too tight, and my maternity clothes (especially the pants) are too loose.
   

Okay, all you experienced moms, you can laugh now! I am a baby! And you are all thinking, just wait until the baby comes! You will not have time to worry about yourself. Well, that may be true, but for now, I have discovered that I am not as tough as I thought I was.

And speaking of dogs, and to let you know that the strands of popcorn and cranberries on our artificial Christmas tree are real, here is a picture (note the muddy paw prints leading up to the tree) of what I came home to today. Yes, Ringo ate the popcorn, but decidedly disliked the cranberries:



Heidi, here is a pic of where we moved the piano. Ringo was in the middle of a yawn; this was the eighth picture in a row trying to get a good stance from him.