In honor of Westford's upcoming Apple Blossom Parade...

Hi everyone! I deliberately held off on this week's update about our apple-sized friend until our prenatal appointment last night, so I could give you the latest news. The Rookie's hearbeat was in the 150s last night, which the midwife said that some believe means it's a girl ("old wives tale" that boys have slower heart rates, more like the 120s or 130s). I'm feeling good, though I haven't had a 2nd trimester surge of energy yet-- the midwife's theory on that is that it's the tradeoff for no real nausea early on, which I'll take. I wake up 2-3 times per night and, at times, have a hard time going back to sleep. I'm wearing maternity pants to work for the first time today-- but that is as much a function of having only 2 other pairs of pants (regular) that fit me comfortably but were both in a smelly pile of laundry this am. These pants are sure comfy-- one of dozens of items I picked up from Lea and Stacey last Saturday (THANKS GALS!). Other things learned this week (mostly from the midwife):- I've gained about 8 pounds and they think that's a good amount at this point (so okay that above the 5 mentioned below). She thinks I should prob gain 25-30 but isn't too stressed.- exercise is great as long as I don't get dizzy, which I don't. But, I'm thinking this Saturday= possibly my last frisbee game of the year. I worry about collisions with big tough guys like Chris! :)- blood pressure is fine (started off with low blood pressure, thanks Mom!, but something to watch while pregnant)- they do water births at the birth center. Actually, yesterday they did a "lobby birth"... a woman with her 3rd baby that was moving so fast they didnt get her into a room! We missed that though.- they do not induce (until 42 weeks) but will start giving preg women evening primrose, and then do regular monitoring past the due date (more details I won't include). And have other suggestions to get the process going that I'm sure some of you have heard but I won't share in this email... - our next appointment is May 21, right before Kate and Bub turn 30 that Sunday. After that we'll have a few appointments three weeks apart, and then I'll join a birth group that will meet every two weeks in a combo of exam and support/learning group with others due in October. We'll do bellycasting! :)- My uterus is officially shifting out of just within the pelvic bones to kind of on top of my abdomen. While it doesn't stick out too much, you can certainly feel that something is different. - we have to decide what testing to get done going forward... we'll do an ultrasound, probably in early June, but other decisions to make. - The Rookie likes that the Red Sox won in the bottom of the ninth last night with Mom, Bub and Joe in attendance in Fenway while Chris and I were out celebrating our BAPiversary. Okay, I don't know for sure that the Rookie liked this news, but if we follow the plan laid out in detail from Aunt Dottie, he/she will! - today, the Rookie got it's first chance to be on TV. Well, not really, but I did film a short interview for Al Jazeera's Arabic language evening news on poverty and the U.S. elections. We're famous! That's the news here. Hope everyone out there is doing well and know that we (big and apple-sized) love you lots! xoxoxo merrie