Ever since we found out we were having a girl, everyone has been asking us about her name. Scratch that. Actually, from the moment people found out we were expecting the questions came first of when the baby was due (followed promptly with “Oh…a Christmas baby.” Can you hear their disappointment? Yeah me too, and they can all suck it.) then of whether we had any names picked out. And, of course, we do.

Simeon and I had talked about baby names long before we even started trying to get pregnant. Isn’t that something that all married couples discuss? And while occasionally we would change our minds or we would stumble across a name and add it to the list of potentials, we were pretty set on the finalists.

If we were having a boy (which we know can never be completely ruled out until I have that squirming little bundle in my arms) we were planning to name him Alexander, Zander for short. We hadn’t decided on a middle name and thankfully we don’t have to worry about that…for now.

As for a girl, we have not changed our minds in years. Her name will be Ana Diann. Ana, (AHN-ah, not Anna) which means gracious, has always been “my little girl’s name.” For no other reason than I simply love it. Diann, which means divine, was Simeon’s late mothers name. We thought it only appropriate to name our first daughter after her. Luckily, the two names not only sound good together, but with our last name as well. So in answer to your questions, our daughter’s name will be Ana Diann Bateman.

Oh but I totally reserve the right to change my mind at any point, clear up until we sign the birth certificate. So there. 😛

Well, it is official. My little girl is totally kicking me. The other day Simeon and I were driving home from Petco (we like to make sure we actually have enough food for our dogs or they would eat us out of house and home) when I suddenly felt something…strange. I held my breath for a moment to, I dunno, freeze all my own movements as much as humanly possible. Then I felt it again. I looked over to Simeon and said, “I think I just felt the baby kick.” Simeon instantly went into full alert. “Really? Are you sure? What did it feel like?” And I have to say that it was nothing like I was expecting. All the baby books say things like “fluttering” or “bubbles” and this was nothing like fluttering or bubbles. The best way I could describe it is like when you are walking down stairs and you miss a step. The way your stomach kinda jumps and you feel all weird. It was a lot like that only all concentrated in one spot. But now that I know what I am looking for (feeling for?) I have noticed her kicking me a lot lately. Especially after I eat or am trying to fall asleep. I have to say it has been a wonderfully reassuring little blessing. A gentle reminder that my little girl is in fact “alive a kickin’.”

Another new pregnancy experience happened to me just last night: my first leg cramp. It woke me from a dead sleep and I bolted straight up in bed. I grabbed my leg and started rubbing it while I flexed my foot and rolled my ankle. Then just as it started to subside, it cramped up again. So I started the whole massaging/stretching process over until it went away. Then just for good measure I got up to go to the bathroom and “walk it off” as much as I could. I was still a little stiff this morning, but ok none-the-less. And from all I have read, it is only going to get worse from here on out. Fun times ahead, my friends, fun times.

The final thing happening this week is that Simeon and I finally accepted that our little girl will in fact want out of the womb some day and we should probably educate ourselves about what that is going to entail. So I signed us up for our Childbirth Preparation class at the hospital. Since Simeon travels a lot in the fall and with all the holidays near the end of the year, we were fairly limited as far as which class we could take. Thankfully I managed to get into the class we really wanted (I checked dates/times ages ago), but just barely. They typically allow 12 couples in a class and once I signed up there were only two slots left. Whew. Apparently I am not the only person who is anal about planning everything in advance. So there ya go. I am gonna learn how to birth me some babies. Heh.

Editor’s Note: Now before you all go saying how disappointing or horrible your own classes were, I just want to say Simeon and I are really excited about ours. While I have read a lot of books, websites, pamphlets, and just about anything else I can get my hands on, Simeon hasn’t. So I really think this will be the best thing to teach him all he needs to know. (Plus you never know, I may learn a thing or two in the class.)

I think, I think, I just felt the baby move for the first time. I am standing by to make sure it is not just a case of gas bubbles. We had a follow-up ultrasound today and I think the technician must have really moved things around down there. Either that or my daughter enjoys Ben & Jerry’s as much as her mama.

I have found comfort and ease that I had forgot was possible. And it comes in the form of a pillow.

At first I was reluctant to buy myself a Snoogle. After all it did sport a hefty price tag for just a pillow. Plus there were the reviews that claimed it made sleeping worse because you couldn’t change positions very easily. There was also the fact that it looked like it was smothering the lady in the demonstration photos. Boy, am I glad I got over all those issues.

Simeon being the lovely, generous man that he is, insisted that I have the Snoogle and bought me one for my birthday. Since birthday presents don’t count toward the selfish quotient, I was more than happy to give it a try. I figured we could buy one at Babies R Us and if it didn’t help me sleep or I felt like I was wrestling a python, I would simply zip it back into its plastic package and return it. No problem.

Once we got the Snoogle home, I opened the package and had Simeon help me to follow their “recommended uses” to make sure I was using it correctly. It was a little intimidating at first, I must admit. But once I curled up in the heavenly comfort the Snoogle provided, I knew I made the right decision.

For you skeptics out there, I know you are thinking, “Hello! It is a pillow! Just use the ones you have around the house.” and my response to you is, “Been there. Tried that. Didn’t work.” I tried using regular pillows (I have a million around my house in all shapes and sizes, just like you, I am sure) and every time I woke up I would find the pillow at the foot of the bed, or on the floor, or somewhere far away from where it was actually suppose to be. Try as I might, I could not keep myself sleeping on my side supported by any number of added pillows. Well the Snoogle has solved this problem for me once and for all. Since it wraps entirely around me, it can’t get away. And more importantly, it stays exactly where I positioned it when I get into bed.

As for the concern of not being able to change positions, my pregnant bladder gets me up ever couple of hours anyway, so I just use this time to switch sides. If I happen to get uncomfortable and not need to go potty (sure, like that happens very often!) I simply leave the pillow where it is, roll myself over and use the pillow for the opposite support. For example, if I started with the support on my back, I roll over and have it on my stomach. Simple as that.

The smothering issue is moot. Not only am I totally and completely supported (which my chiropractor is very happy to know) but the Snoogle actually takes up far less room than any combinations of regular pillows. This makes my husband (who already thinks this pregnant lady is taking up more than her share of our king size bed) very happy. And God knows a pregnant lady needs a happy husband!

I just wanted to wish my friend Chelle a quick congratulations. In case you weren’t following along, she is three weeks behind me in her pregnancy. Today she just found out she and her husband are expecting a little girl! My mind is filled with images of our daughters wearing matching tutus in dance class and playing dress up in all our old clothes. Oh this is just going to be SO much fun I can hardly wait! Congratulations, sweetie!!

It has been a few days since Simeon and I found out we are having a girl and the realization has finally started to sink in. Sure, we knew we were pregnant and this kid was gonna wanna come out eventually, but I think getting to see her on the ultrasound, kicking her adorable feet and hiding behind her hands, just made it more real. In fact, this morning Sim informed me he wanted one of these. To which I replied I am workin’ on it.

But now it just seems like we really need to get our butts in gear. We have things to do! Things to buy! Registries to create! Decisions to be made! And it is just so exhausting all I want to do is crawl back into bed and take a nap. But somehow I woke up this morning and it is AUGUST. When did this happen? It was just a few days ago that we announced that we were having a baby and now here it is past the half way mark. Before you know it, it will be Thanksgiving and I will only have a matter of days until I have a living, breathing thing to take care of. Me! All by myself! (Well, not really, but if I list out the wonderful support system I have then I just sound pathetic for being overwhelmed when I have no reason to be anyway.)

Ok. Don’t mind me. Temporary pregnancy related meltdown. Carry on with your day. I am off on vacation next week in which I plan to read several baby books, make numerous lists, and attempt to gain control of this situation. Or I may just get some much needed sleep and lay under a shade tree reading some mindless chick-lit. Either way, I am taking a vacation. But if you happen to see me and I am twitching over in the corner, maybe just bring me some ice cream and I am sure I will be ok.