hrm...

So, it's been about 10 days, and I figured time for an update. Saw the doctor on Dad's birthday, and the baby's doing fine. I was 28 weeks, and he measured 29 cm... just a little bigger than normal. Right now I'm just hoping he's not so big I HAVE to have a c-section. That would be miserable... to be trapped up here for 3 weeks.... I'd pull all my hair out!

He's just now getting to the point that you can feel him from outside. Chris felt him roll over for the first time the other night, and after I fell asleep, they stayed up and played "tag" for close to an hour! The pillow fights have begun, and I think we'll either be buying some new, non-flat ones soon, or I'll be out on the couch until Feb. I'll get a couple pillows arranged behind my back and under my belly, and then Chris will steal one from my back, forcing me to start all over again. It's getting old REALLY fast.

It's wierd how I keep running into girls about my age who are also pregnant... first the one girl at Rick's (I still don't know her name, but next time I'll ask her) and now Vanessa Zambrano from St. Johns! I haven't seen her in 5 years, if not longer, and she's about 9 weeks right now. I think it's God's way of telling me that I'm not alone... I was praying for some people I could relate to, and here they are!

Thanksgiving was really nice, I thought. Dawn and Dana pretty much ignored us, but then, that's typical for them. Patrick couldn't get enough of my belly, but I'm glad he got to see it before it disappears (HA!). The bellyrubs have begun, but so far they're all from family and don't bother me. What would really freak me out is if some stranger thought they had the right to rub my belly just because it's there. Spencers has a new maternity section with sayings such as, "Touch the belly, lose a hand" and "I'm fat because I'm pregnant.... what's your excuse?" Unfortunately, they don't make them in my size, so I don't get to be sarcastic.

I'm starting to look forward to Christmas... I guess Chris is off for Orthodox Christmas (Jan 7) so we might be going to church after all. I told him that it really depends on my work schedule. If I'm working the day after, I'm not going. I can't be up all night, sleep for 2 hours, and still be functional the next day.... I just don't work that way.

It's funny how people don't listen, even when they specifically ask you something. Dad asked me when we went out for "drinks" what I need from him now, as my dad. I told him the one thing I need now is to know that he doesn't want the family to fall apart... I need to know that the family matters to him. He said then that it does, but he's not putting his money where his mouth is. I just don't get how he can NOT see what a difference it makes when he actually does his work. It befuddles me, it really does.

I realized that it's not Grandpa I have a problem with, it's Grandma, so we're sticking with Philip as a middle name. I also found a daily Bible study that I've been keeping up with for 3 days now. I know it's going to get harder after the baby's born, but that's why I'm making it a habit NOW.
Speaking of habits... I was thinking about it today, and I haven't smoked at all in the past 6 months, haven't done any drugs since April, and haven't had a drink since before that! I know, I never should've done any of that in the first place, but I'm celebrating my victory anyway.

Now that I know how hard it is to quit smoking, I have alot more respect for AT. Before, I used to wonder why she couldn't just quit already. It's not that easy. I quit pretty much cold turkey as soon as I found out about the baby, and it was really hard for the first couple weeks. I would be walking to work, NOT smoking my first cigarette of the day, and boy-oh-boy did I want one! It helped to know that I didn't have any left, and for a while I had to leave my bank card and my cash at home so I wouldn't buy any more. Now, though, I can go for a couple weeks without even wanting a cigarette. So, I give AT huge props for making a real effort!!

Ugh... there goes my "break". Time to go finish cleaning the house... or at least some of it.