If you have lemons, make lemon desserts!

Lemon's seem to be my food of choice lately. I've made lemon tarts, lemon cupcakes, pasta with shrimp and a lemon sauce. My clue that my taste buds are off is when Ryan had some of the pasta and said it was very "acidic." Oops...because I kept adding more lemon to it; more than what the recipe indicated.
Avocados are a great source of protein and good fats! My lunch for the past three days has been freshly sliced avocados on top of reduced fat wheat thins with a hint of fat free Laughing Cow cheese. Sometimes I had some fresh basil to top it off. YUMMY!
It's getting harder and harder to get up from sitting or laying down positions. I'm learning to get out bed by rolling to my side, then putting my legs on the floor. I can't just pop up, using my abs anymore. For one, there's not much room to just sit up since my belly is in the way. Secondly, the abs are working too hard to pull up all that weight!
I can tell when I over-do-it. Yesterday I de-weeded the flower beds, watered them, folded laundry, ironed for an hour, ran errands, unloaded dish washer, and cooked dinner. After a day of all those chores, my back felt like it had needles and the baby felt like he dropped (just like he did when I took that 45 minute walk).
I did purchase my first maternity swimsuit. It took 10 swimsuits to find the right one that didn't hurt my stomach. Some of them sit in the wrong spot on my tummy and they hurt! I did lay out yesterday for about 20 minutes and I am now burnt to a crisp. Either I'm really pale or I burn easily with pregnancy. I think it might be both. Don't worry, I had my stomach covered and a magazine blocking the heat to my belly.
Our first baby shower was this past Sunday (May 18th, 2008). This was the one given and attended by family. We got our stroller, swing, bouncer, boppy, baby shoes, clothes, and books. I personally gave Ryan a gift for the baby. It was a set of camo overalls, camo onesie, and a camo bib! By Sunday night, Ryan had all the items put together and we had everything hung up on hangers! We haven't talked about Connor's "coming home outfit" yet.
I almost forgot, I passed the glucose test! I officially do not have gestational diabetes, nor have I had any signs of pre-eclampsia. I'm thankful I passed the glucose test because that means I can still have my chocolate!
All is healthy with me and the baby. Ryan and I are so excited. I have to be careful not to get my hopes up that he'll come early. But, I really want him to be here now. Last night we watched "The Happiest Baby on the Block" instructional dvd. It taught us how to calm a crying baby. We are expert parents now that we watched it.
I've also been reading the Natural Child Birth Book: The Bradley Method. Our child birth and breast feeding classes start in under 2 weeks! It makes me stress out about all the things we need to get done at home, including putting a new roof on our house due to recent hail storms.
I just spoke to my employer about me coming back to work 2 days a week after the baby is born (Wednesday's and Friday's). I did confirm that I would not be back before 8 weeks. Some people come back to work at 6 weeks, but that just seems too soon for me. I can be gone up to 4 months, but I don't plan on taking that long. I hope it works out for me to work 2 days a week. I want to be able to bring home some money, but nothing is set in stone for child care with family, Ryan or friends.
Time to go to pre-natal yoga! My next doctor appointment is June 3rd.

Braxton-Hicks

Yesterday Chief and I went on a 45 minute "puppy walk." During the entire walk, my uterus was like a rock. It stayed contracted, making it very uncomfortable to walk. Mr. Baby also dropped really low during the walk. It took a few hours of laying down, in bed that night, for the baby to move back up. Although the 45 minute contraction did go away once I got home and sat down. I have "hardening of the uterus" every now and then, but it goes away after a few seconds. Apparently, those are Braxton-Hicks contractions that I'm experiencing. I just thought it was his head sitting in a low spot and pushing on my uterus, but what do I know? I'm new to this.
I called my doctor to ask them about the 45 minute contraction and the baby dropping during that time. They told me to lay off the walks until I go in next week for my appointment. I'll mention it to the doctor and see what he says. Everything else seems normal though!
I read online that now is the time to start researching pediatricians. Thank goodness for that pregnancy time-line online because I would've never have thought to line up a pediatrician before the baby. I think I found one, based on friend referrals, location, he's a DO, and he does practice at St. John Hospital. Now I just need to "sign" Connor up on his patient list!
Food aversions are back along with being really tired! I am back on the vegetarian band wagon. Well, not really, but meat just doesn't sound good. I am also very tired now. I would like to take a nap every afternoon, but I can't. I never was this tired in the first trimester. This new tiredness may be due to the fact that my social schedule is hoppin' these days. Between bunco, yoga, fire auxiliary, wedding showers, graduations, wedding rehearsals, bachelorette parties, baby showers and holidays, I'm booked! But, it does make time fly! 3rd trimester, here I am!