bikin'

Yesterday I rode my bike for the first time in forever. It was actually cool enough to go outside for a little while. My tolerance for heat has gone way down during this pregnancy. If I could get an A.C. installed on my bike, I'd ride it more often. It felt so good. I really hate cars. Dan and I are quite opposite on that front. The baby enjoyed the ride, she (this is just my way of not saying 'it', we don't really know yet) was kicking like crazy. It felt really weird on the bike. I think I need a cruiser if I'm gona ride much more cause my belly is gona get in the way. Things where definetely a bit cramped feeling.
On another note, we're getting closer and closer to getting our house. We close August 19th and I'm very excited. We went and looked at paint swatches yesterday. I don't think I'm allowed to paint though. Even if I was, Dan's probably not gona have it. He doesn't even like me pumping gas. I did hear a disturbing fact that unborn babies these days are floating around in our bodies in an average of 278 different chemicals, some of them being things like gasoline and mercury. When I looked into it further, I learned that having an organic lifestyle can cut that down alot, but living in the city isn't the best thing. Yucky. It's a good thing she's got that "cheesy varnish" to protect her.
One funny thing I read was that vegans tend to be less fertile because, supposedly, high plant based diets lengthen the menses process and shorten the ovulation process. Well, I think Dan and I proved that one wrong pretty quick!
I promise we'll get a funny belly picture on here soon. It's just a matter of getting Dan to do it, cause i'm new to this blog stuff.
We find out the sex on Wednesday. We'll post the ultrasound pictures and let everyone know.
Later,
Christy

this is just weird

This is from a daily 'What to expect' email that I get.

Week 19: Greasy Kid Stuff
Six inches long this week and about eight ounces in weight, your baby is the size of a large mango.
Your little action figure is able to choreograph Matrix-like moves by now. Arms and legs are finally in proportion, neurons are now connected between the brain and muscles, and cartilage throughout the body is turning to bone. All these upgrades combine to give your baby more control over limb movements. Which explains all that kicking, stretching, and bodysurfing (or rather bellysurfing) you've possibly started feeling by now.

Something else going on this week: Your baby is getting a cheesy varnish. Say what? Yup — a protective substance called vernix caseosa (vernix is the Latin word for varnish; caseosa is cheese) now covers your baby's skin. It's greasy and white and is made up of lanugo (that downy hair), oil from your baby's glands, and dead skin cells. This waxy "cheese" may not sound too appetizing or attractive, but it's there for good reason: Vernix protects your baby's sensitive skin from the surrounding amniotic fluid. Without it, your baby would look very wrinkled at birth (sort of what you'd look like if you soaked in a bath for nine months). Some babies — especially those born early — will still be covered with vernix at the delivery, so you might get a look at your baby's first anti-wrinkle cream.

jazzercizin'

For the first time this morning, I felt the little bugger move. Now she won't stop. Dan even felt her. It's a crazy cool feeling, there's nothing else like it. I think she was telling me to get my lazy ass out of bed and get her some breakfast. I better obey before she eats a hole through my stomach or something.
momma

Travellin'

Well, me and the baby are about to embark upon a journey to the far reaches of Arkansas. I have to start getting my visiting out of the way before I can visit no more. Flying in the last 3 trimester can actually induce labor. weird. i'm not flying this time, but driving the 12 hours with my brother and nephew. I am hoping that all that sitting doesn't bring on the pregnancy rhoids I have yet to experience, but am certain I will get. I'm expecting to throw up at least once, due to the Ozark mountain's curvy roads, but i've gotten fairly used to that. I am looking forward to having an excuse to eat tons of taco bell. Hmmmm, TACO BELL!!!
In other news, my niece Grace has come up with the name Kera, that Dan and I both like. She thinks it could be a boy's or girl's name, but I'm thinking only for a girl. I'm sure we'll go through many other possibilities, but this is actually the first one that Dan and I have agreed upon. Mine are too hippy and his are too 'lord of the rings.'
I gotta go. My bro is here.
See everyone when I get back.

heart beat

Well, I heard the heart beat yesterday and it sounds good, fast as shit. In 4 weeks, we get to see what the big-headed little bugger looks like when they shoot my ever-growing belly with sound waves. It's bigger than my fist now and growing like crazy. Hopefully it won't be as big as big ole 10 pound Dan was when he was born. yikes.
So, now the question is what is the last name gona be? Dan is Harrison, I am Hawkins, but we both want the same name as our child. Dan says we all change our last names to Zig. As cool as that would be, I don't want to make my poor child the last one in the school line everytime. Suggestions are welcome.
Momma