So, Nora told me where she got the lever thing. Apparently Tinkerbell has (? makes?) a lever in the direct-to-DVD Tinkerbell movie we own. Ah, okay. Now I know where she got the idea, but I'm still honestly impressed with her understanding of the concept.

Randomness: I went to the dentist today. I have two small cavities (boo) but the dentist recommended I wait until after the baby to get them filled. I went ahead and scheduled the appointment because if I didn't do it now, I would forget. SO, this means I have something on my calendar that's "after the baby." Whoa. I even had to send a calendar invite to Jason because I'll need for him to keep the baby while I have my appointment. That's so weird.

I think I've been having some ligament pains, and today I got a weird stitch in my side. It hurts and it won't go away. I think I'm finally starting to "feel" a little pregnant. Woohoo?

I've noticed that Nora's expressing herself in a more sophisticated way sometimes. When we're talking her answers are slower, more thoughtful. I can sometimes see the wheels turning in her head. One night last week, she woke up a couple of hours after bedtime with a slight temperature. She got in my bed with me and we read a few more stories and just talked about things for a little bit, until she was feeling better. We were talking about fruit--which types of fruits grow on trees, which ones grow on vines, that kind of thing. I asked her how blueberries grew and she knitted her forehead a little bit and said sleepily, "Umm... I think they grow on vines or something?" Wrong answer (I reminded her about the time we went blueberry picking with friends a while back), but in the past she would have shouted out an answer, right or wrong, without thinking about it first.

Couple of funny/interesting things she's done lately:

• She got a Cinderella Barbie for her birthday. She was playing with it and chattering about her glass slippers, when she realized that Cinderella's (painted-on) shoes were blue. She said, "Hey, how come her glass slippers are blue?" I said, "Umm, maybe they're blue glass?" "Or maybe her feet are just blue," Nora decided.
• She took two plastic Easter eggs and figured out a way to launch one out of the other. She called this her "lever." I observed that it was, in a crude sense, a lever. I don't know where she got this or if I'm understanding her correctly, but it's kind of cool.

I feel like I should have a third thing, but I can't think of anything right now! I did want to write this down now before I forgot it, though.

Updating in little spurts as I think of things. I wanted to mention that I have been feeling the baby move! I had been feeling "flutters" for a while, the kind of thing that could be baby or it could be gas, but in the past week or so it's been very distinctly baby. I'm not feeling specific kicks yet, but what I'm feeling can't be compared to gas anymore. It's kind of like a washing machine in there. A washing machine on the gentle cycle. This is particularly exciting to me because my placenta was in the front last time and I didn't feel a whole lot of of movement.

Pregnancy is obviously the most exciting thing that has happened to me in a while, because I don't feel motivated to update about much of anything else.

I don't know what I was thinking when I said I didn't know what to do with myself while Nora was in preschool. Turns out, there's a lot to be done. After about three years of having Nora with me 24/7, it's like I just remembered that most things in life are easier to do without a baby/toddler hanging around. So now I find myself running errands, scheduling appointments, and scrambling to get things done around the house while she's at school. And 4 hours a day suddenly doesn't seem like such a long time. Eek!

I'm really going to bummed at the end of the pregnancy when I'm going to the doctor twice a week. That's two preschool mornings that will be eaten up by doctor's appointments., because somehow appointments always seem to take longer than they should.

Quick update

I had my "diabetes appointment" today. The treatment protocol seems to be very similar to my last practice's, which is good because I know what to expect. I just got my testing materials tonight and we'll see how my sugars are behaving. My numbers after a very carby dinner were fine, but it's the fasting blood sugar that's always been a challenge for me. I'm just going to have to wait and see.

I didn't really care for the doctor. He was professional and I think he gave good info, I just didn't care for his bedside manner. Normally I could get over that, but because the management is pretty intensive (I'll see this doctor as much or more as my regular OB) I would be working with him pretty closely. I'm considering trying to switch to my former perinatologist again. This may be a pain because certain peri groups like to work with certain OBs, but if I decide to do it I hope I can make it happen.

I did have an ultrasound today; thanks to a generous friend, Jason was able to be there! He was planning to be there, but Nora's preschool was canceled this morning because of the flooding in Atlanta (which, thankfully, has not directly affected us). If Nora had come with us to the appointment, she would not have been allowed back, but my friend Lindsay offered to watch her for a couple of hours while we went to the appointment, so that worked out well. Everything they saw looked great. It's really amazing what great detail they're able to view via ultrasound. The only thing they didn't see was one arm--the baby was lying on it. Also, the legs were closed so we didn't get to confirm the sex, although they did have a guess. I'll have more ultrasounds as part of my diabetes management, so we'll make an announcement when we know the sex with more certainty.

It's 12 am on Saturday. That means that I am officially 17 weeks pregnant! For whatever reason, I really like that number. It's no longer "just a little bit pregnant" (ha ha, I know), it's not quite halfway there, but it's a nice, substantial number, in my mind at least.

Other baby news. I have gestational diabetes again, boo. I've talked about that at length in other entries, so I'm sure you can guess how I feel about it. To recap, I feel displeased but resolved to accept it. I'm trying to schedule an appointment with a group to manage the diabetes, but they're not so good at returning phone calls. I'm also trying to schedule an anatomy scan with the Perinatal Diagnostic Center at Emory, but somehow the only person capable of making appointments in the office is out of town this week. I'm not kidding. One way or another, we will schedule this scan for sometime in the next three weeks or so. That's when we find out if we're having a boy or a girl, and of course more importantly they will check and make sure everything seems to be okay physically with the baby.

Good news: I think I'm found a doula. A doula is a birth attendant, not a doctor or midwife, but a professional labor support person to help guide the woman through childbirth. I was not very open to the idea of having a doula for Nora's birth, but knowing what I know now I'm downright enthusiastic about it. I'm involved in the local birth community here in Atlanta, which means that many of my friends are passionate, intelligent activists. I've learned a lot over the past couple of years, plus I have seen dozens of friends go through pregnancy and birth, something I had a lot less experience with 3-4 years ago. I have a friend who is a doula and we have talked briefly about me hiring her for my birth. In the next week or two, we'll get together and discuss it further, and if everything goes well, I will hire her. I'm feeling great about that!

One last thing about my pregnancy. I cried during an "Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires" commercial. It was the one with scenes from Bambi. This must be a pregnancy symptom, right?

The first week of preschool was exciting for all of us! Predictably, Nora loves it and didn't have any problem adjusting. The first day, she was so excited about some blocks that she barely stopped to say goodbye to me. She loves everything about it: her teachers, the other students, playing outside, and even the little symbol (hers is a flower) where she hangs her lunchbox every day. I don't exactly know what to do with myself during the day, but I have cleaned parts of my house that haven't been truly clean in... a while... I am also scheduling various appointments while she's in school.

I'm not sure what to think about her ballet class. I signed her up for a class at the Y as opposed to one as a studio because I thought it might be more laid-back for a child her age. I didn't want anything rigid. This class isn't exactly rigid, but Nora is still having trouble paying attention, especially when the teacher is going over drier aspects of ballet, like positions, in the last 15 minutes or so. I'm not sure exactly what is going on. It's possible she's tired since she usually naps that time of day, her attention span might just run out towards the end of class, or maybe ballet just isn't what she expected it to be. Or maybe that's just Nora, being 3. Yesterday I was watching through the window and the three other little girls were, for the most part, listening and following directions, and Nora was rolling around on the floor and doing her own thing. I saw the teacher gently try to draw her in (over and over and over) and it was almost painful to watch. After class she told me she had been in "time out," which didn't really seem to concern her, I guess because she had no interest in following the class, anyway. So I guess this is what you get when you put a 3 year old in a "class." In October she'll start gymnastics. Maybe that will suit her more. It's a lot of jumping around and acrobatics, which she seems to love! At this point in her life she just wants to do it all, and I am determined to let her try anything she's interested in within reason and affordability.

She's been asking about the baby a little bit more recently. This morning when she woke up she said, concerned, "Will the new baby sleep with Baby Lucy and Baby Jenna?" (her dolls) I said no, those were her dolls, and she could share them if she wanted to, but she didn't have to, and Baby Lucy and Baby Jenna could still sleep with Nora if that's what she wanted. Later she was talking about how babies cry a lot, and it turned out that she thought that babies cried because they were in pain. So we've been trying to explain to her that babies can't talk, so crying is the only way they have to communicate. It doesn't always mean they're hurting. Then this afternoon she asked if we had any diapers in the house. I said no, since she stopped wearing one to bed a while back. (They're actually put up for now. but since they're all cloth they're technically still here.) She got very concerned and said, "But what will the baby wear? The baby won't know how to pee pee or poo poo on the potty." I assured her that we would get some before the baby came. She seems to ask about the baby in spurts. Sometimes days will go by and she won't mention it. She talks a lot about being a "big girl" these days, but sometimes she wants to be reassured that she's still our baby. I do think she's a little bit anxious about a new baby coming, but of course it's still a long way off. She is excited about being a sister, though, and I think she will be a great one.

Tomorrow we have a fun birthday party to attend. I'm not sure what the rest of the weekend holds. Probably grocery shopping, some lawn mowing, and some bathroom cleaning. The excitement never ends, ya'll.

I have a feeling I am going to update this blog in embarrassing spurts, like how in this last week I've made quite a few posts. Then I'm going to abandon it for months on end.

Today was the preschool "meet and greet" that I mentioned before. We got up this morning, got dressed, had breakfast, and headed over to the preschool. We got there right on time and Nora was the first one in the classroom. I introduced her to her teachers, but she was much more interested in what the room had to offer. "Look, there's a kitchen!" she said, and within two minutes she had pulled out every last dish and was making "oatmeal" and "coffee," with sugar. As the other kids began to arrive, she started serving them, to the extent they were interested in being served, at least. I met some of the other moms and kids, but as the classroom got more and more full, I took a step back and sat on the edge of the classroom and just observed the chaos. Some of the kids were more reserved than others. I wished that Nora would talk to me a little bit about what was going on and show me what she was doing, but she was way too busy to slow down. Too much stuff to see!

Both of the teachers and a couple of the moms mentioned how outgoing she was. They were surprised she hadn't been in preschool before. I was like, "Yeah, she's really outgoing." It mystifies Jason and I because we're not that way, but it also amuses and touches us to see her sweet spirit. I've also observed a little bit of bossiness with Nora. I remember one day at church all the little kids were playing, and Nora announced, "Let's play Ring-Around-the-Rosie!" The other kids went on with what they were doing for a second, then Nora instructed, "Everybody get in a circle and hold hands." To my surprise, they all did! Other moments of bossiness have been more... hmm... teaching moments, I guess, when she has taken it a little too far and we have to talk about being polite and considerate. But in her personality I see some leadership qualities, which are fun and interesting to observe in a three year old.

My friend Kim posted in her blog the other day about her daughter's first few days of kindergarten. She mentioned how weird it was to have her daughter away for seven hours a day, where she as a mom couldn't see what she was doing or hang out with her. I'm totally feeling that! It's only four hours for us, three days a week, but still, this is something new. Nora has been my little shadow for three years now. We're together almost constantly--enough that I still get a little shiver of freedom when I go to the grocery store or the mall all by myself, which doesn't happen very often. I'm used to being right there with her for all of her experiences and her little adventures, and now she's going to be having some of them without me! It's just another way she's growing up, a little bit at a time. I have to admit, when I think about it too much it's a little bit harder to accept than I thought it would be, this "getting older" thing. Her, not me. ;) Now I get it!

Preschool: The Deets

I'm going to be lazy and post this from an email I wrote to Dara earlier. It says pretty much everything I want to say here, so why type it twice?

It was great! Brooke (babysitter) met us at the park so that Jason and I could both go to the meeting. Nora will get to go see everything on Friday. There was a part at the beginning where they introduced all the teachers and gave general announcements about drop-off, etc. Then we went in our classroom and the teacher told us more about the details about our class. I know one of the other moms already from ICAN. She was really sweet and sat next to us at the big meeting. I know someone else who has a child in the other 3 year old class, too, so I'll see her around but not in our class.

They have expanded the school 40% since last year, so we had seen a classroom like this before but not the exact one Nora would be in. They have a kitchen area, a "soft" area they call it (dolls and playsilks and other soft things) and an area with implements like puzzles, etc. for them to manipulate. The classroom seems tiny to me, but I bet it will be perfect for a group of 3 year olds. I am used to life on a larger scale! They make their own snacks as a group every day. For the fall it will be brown rice on Tues, applesauce on Weds (bring your own apple), and they will make bread on Thurs. Everyone is assigned something to bring for "communal snack supplies" and we are to bring two jars of organic jelly. We were also asked to sign up to do laundry for a month--it's a once-a-week thing, you take the cloth napkins home and wash them. I don't mind laundry and it's a 4 day "weekend" so I am sure it will be fine. I did sign up for Oct because I wanted it before the holidays and before the baby. They are really into "community" at this school so this is one way our family will contribute to the community of the classroom. Also, since they are a green school they use cloth napkins, have little glasses, plates and bowls for snack, etc.

The whole place is so cool! They have a nature table which they add to daily and change out every week (and seasonally, of course)--that is something Nora is especially interested in recently so I bet she will be excited. They're outside an hour a day, unless it rains. They will be learning to sew and all kinds of cool stuff. I think it sounds SO fun--I hope Nora agrees! I don't know what 3 year old Blair would think. :) I actually think Nora would enjoy almost any preschool, though, because she is so outgoing and loves activity so much.

I will add that I had my glucose test, it kind of sucked, and I don't know my results yet. I have taken a 3 hour GTT before, but it's been 5 or 6 years ago. I had to fast for 13 hours, the drink made me immediately ill (but not enough to ruin the test, thank goodness), and I felt sick on and off for the rest of the day. I totally understand why some low risk women elect not to take it--I do think that for me, though, it's important to know the results. We are conservative and do not take all of the prenatal tests offered, but we will have an anatomy ultrasound around 20 weeks, and if I do have gestational diabetes we will work with a specialist to decide if and when any extra testing is warranted.

As I mentioned, tomorrow is the parents' night for Nora's preschool. Friday she gets to go and check out the classroom, and Tuesday she starts school! This seems like such a long time coming. It's definitely been a long time since the cold Saturday morning in January when Jason got up early to stand in line, and the weeks afterward when we worried because we had been wait-listed for our first choice. Nora is more than half a year older now! That's a lot for a three year old. Public school and many other preschools started a month ago, but next week it's Nora's turn!

Tomorrow morning is my glucose test. Blah. My friend Dara asked me if I was nervous. I'm not nervous, just, I don't know. Annoyed? I want to get it over with. I'm not very confident about passing, so it seems futile. And if I pass this time, I'll just have to do it again later. Right now I'm fasting for tomorrow morning's test. I can't have anything by mouth. Not even water! It's going to be a long 12 hours until the test starts. They even told me to bring my toothbrush because I'm not supposed to brush my teeth in the morning. Yuck. I'm also feeling slightly hassled, because I have to get up extra early to bring Nora to the drop-off daycare where I take her for my appointments. I'm glad to have a place to take her, not so glad it's in Tucker. Starting next week, of course, I'll schedule as many of my appointments as possible while she's in school.

I'm excited about the weather getting cold. I don't know when it's going to happen for real, but they're selling Pumpkin Spice lattes at Starbucks, so it's got to be sooner or later! I'm thinking about how my baby will be coming when it's cold. It's still a long way away, but it's coming.