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.

Well, technically 18 weeks and 4 days, but whose counting, right?

Yesterday Simeon and I had an appointment with my OB. We started the appointment with the obligatory weighing-of-the-pregnant-woman and the peeing in a cup. Both of which I just love. (Could you hear that sarcasm? If not, you need to listen a little more closely.) However, the dreaded doctor’s office scale–the scale that so many women come to loathe–has actually come to be my friend. In fact, yesterday it informed me that I have not gained a single pound. Nothing. Zero. Zip. Zilch. I actually had to check twice because I didn’t believe it myself. But it’s true. No weight gain so far. And to be perfectly honest, I don’t know how it’s physically possible (as I can no longer fit in any of my normal clothes), but they assure me it’s true. I even asked my doctor when I should worry that I haven’t gained any weight and she actually laughed at me. Apparently I don’t have to worry about that just yet.

The peeing in a cup was fairly uneventful. As I can pee at any given moment with my new “pregnant bladder” I don’t have to worry about having to go on command. I do, however, worry about the amount I can pee. Usually it’s about a tablespoon. I swear. So that little cup can be quite intimidating when I can’t even fill it to the first line. But alas, I have always provided enough for them to run the necessary tests, so I figure I am good to go.

Then came the actual fun part: listening to the baby’s heartbeat. My doctor was having a little trouble getting the gel out of the bottle, so she shook it and of course it took that moment to loosen up and squirt not only across my tummy but also down my leg. Then I was laughing so hard my doctor had trouble finding the heartbeat under my bouncing belly. Finally she found it and I made sure to ask what the beats per minute were (I was in trouble with my sister for not asking last time) and she informed me it was in the 130s. So take from that what
you
will.

Then my doctor handed Sim and I the magical little slip of paper to go and schedule our ultrasound. THE ultrasound. This was the entire reason I was looking forward to this appointment. So we walked up to the scheduling desk only to be informed that she needed to check someone’s schedule before setting my appointment and of course that person wasn’t in, so she would call me later. At this point, I couldn’t really argue, but I was still crestfallen. No ultrasound scheduled. *Sigh* So freakin’ lame.

Ah well, at least my baby has a good heartbeat. And I haven’t gained any weight. I got those things going for me, right?

**Updated: I just got off the phone with my doctor’s office (I finally had to call them myself!) and have my ultrasound appointment scheduled! My appointment is set for Monday July 31st. That’s right, on my birthday! What a happy birthday present for me!

I just now reached that point in my pregnancy where the All-You-Can-Eat buffet is no longer wasted on me. Food (finally!) tastes good again and I can’t seem to get enough. Watch out!

There is nothing, NOTHING, more terrifying than a pregnant lady taking a shower and opening her eyes after washing her face to see the shower floor splattered with blood.

There is also nothing more relieving than while searching for the source of the blood catching a glimpse of her face in the mirror and realizing it was just a bloody nose.

God Lord was that scary! But what a way to really wake yourself up in the morning, eh?