18 weeks
Today marks my 18th week of pregnancy, and the look on my face has a little to do with the way I'm feeling, although it's more about the fact that Jon was trying to get me to smile. Nothing to me is more obnoxious, except maybe someone calling me sweetheart or darling with a Boston accent. That look is a warning, it's me going dude, if you would like this kid to grow up and know its father you had better shut it. I will smile when I am damn good and ready, thank you very much, just take the photo before things turn ugly and I start using your middle name.
The past couple of weeks have physically been a breeze, but emotionally I'm a bit of a wreck. I think it has very little to do with pregnancy and everything to do with the weather. It's a seasonal dip I struggle with every year at about this time when I crave warm weather, sun, and late afternoons on the porch but am living day after day of cloudy skies, snow, and 4:30 PM sunsets. This is probably the hardest thing about living in Utah, and I know there are far colder places than Salt Lake City, but when I stopped to pinpoint exactly what was making me so sad I realized it was just a matter of not seeing blue sky in fourteen days. And the constant act of bending over to towel off the dogs so they don't drag snow into the house. Nothing tragic, no, but it was enough to make me start yelling obscenities at a carton of orange juice because I couldn't get the safety cap off.
There's not much I can really do to combat this other than get out in the sun on days when that is possible and continue my exercise routine. Yes, I've heard about those lamps people use to treat themselves for seasonal affective disorder, and while I do think I am sensitive to light, I'm willing to bet that my case has more to do with actual sun and warmth and the smell of fragrant, blooming plants in the air. Which is why we've planned a trip to Southern California for the last week of February. Which is why we should move to Southern California in February, except for all those other mitigating factors like "house" and "family" that routinely tell my winter mood to suck it.
In other news, I have an ultrasound scheduled for Friday morning, and our plan is to find out the sex of the baby. We have been referring to it as Stretch, although Leta thinks that's horrifying. I asked her to suggest a name then, and what do you know, she's now calling it Princess Aurora. I told her we couldn't name the baby that if it's a boy because, you know, middle school, and she said, not a problem! No worries! If it's a boy we'll just call him Prince Aurora.
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Heather talks about public tantrums (from kids) on today's Momversation.
- Bedtime, Leta lingering defiantly in the hallway. Jon: "If you want fart stories, you better get in bed RIGHT NOW."
- RIP Louis Mortimer Armstrong: http://bit.ly/1R4tv6
- Hugs and kisses to you, too! RT: @Monkey_Tree: @dooce he probably committed suicide because he was tired of LISTENING TO YOU WHINE.
303. Anonymous said:
Feeling bad...so open the comments and let everyone worship you. Seriously, you could smile.
This'll make you happy.
http://blogs.webmd.com/healthy-pregnancy/2006/02/rethinking-prozac-and-p...
dumb ungrateful unsmiling twit.
304. The Daily Minder said:
There is also this on winter depression:
http://thedailymind.com/happiness/6-ways-to-beat-depression-during-the-w...
305. bitching beauty said:
hey there--as pissed as you may look, you still look beautiful. i just wanted to say that my blog (which is very, very pathetic and sorry-assed compared to your all-powerful blog machine) has given you an award. i, myself, was given the award and was supposed to pass it on to 10 blogs I enjoy reading--dooce was the first to come to mind. you probably won't give a shit about the award (unlike me--I went all out and celebrated when I got it)... but i hope at least it makes you smile (either because it's really retarded or because there's something nice knowing that little people out there like you...we like you--we really like you).
306. marty said:
mercy; its cathartic to read your comments; its only cold for a short time. remember that cold weather kills the bugs. just slows them down here in south carolina. and 52 can feel extremely cold also. and just fleeting sun. hoping for a hearty healthy babe for you. smile, its a great time to be preggers.
307. Jackie said:
Heather, I have been faithfully reading your blog for about a year now without commenting on a single post. I don't know what compelled me to comment on this one, but I have to say...I think you're lovely. Truly. Please don't ever stop writing this blog, it has done more than you will ever know.
308. d3 voiceworks said:
it's sunny, warm, and full of blue skies in slc today! Hope you got out a bit. i'm on my way, with fozzie the dog.
how about 'little head'? that's what the 5 y.o. wants to name luther (only our womb name).
cheer up. i've got hemorrhoids from all this extra weight on my ass. ugh.
and it's a ridiculous word to spell.
309. Rachael said:
Best. Pregnancy. Photo. EVER.
LMAO!
310. croatia said:
You look great, but please take some smiley pics :)
311. Wendy said:
Blech. My favorite part of moving away from northwestern New Mexico - getting away from the cold, dark, snowy darkness. It seriously affected my brain and moods.
312. M said:
i know exactly how you feel about winter blahs and i'm not even pregnant. and i live on the coast. it's just january. but i'm sure the pregnancy has something to do with it in your case ;)
too funny about prince(ss) aurora!
M
http://scienceandstilettos.blogspot.com/
313. Kandi said:
Hi, Your so beautiful. Then again, I think all pregnant woman are divine! It is so cool to have two of my fav's pregnant at the same time and the same time along. T gave you a mention on her blog, something about you have an apple and she is carrying a melon. lol. Please don't punish us nice commenters (your very own suck ups!) by closing comments and go ahead and make fun of the haters if you want like you used to. Your awesome and your baby is going to know he/she made you miserable, pictures or not cause I am sure you will let stretch know. hehe.
314. BOSSY said:
When Bossy was pregnant with her second baby (during a bleak February), she went camping for a week in Florida at a campground that went from manicured lawn tent site to white palm-tree sand to The Gulf of Mexico.
Bossy pronounced she wasn't leaving until the calendar said April -- and she didn't. She slept in a one-person tent with her 6-year-old son for a month of fresh avocados and citrus!
315. Kathleen said:
I give my husband that exact same look! Must be universal.
Come visit SF - we're in the midst of really weird summer weather kind of week.
316. Joolieblue said:
Just from the pictures, I'm guessing this is a Princess Aurora you are growing. Just saying.
317. Spattie said:
My older sister thought it would be an excellent idea to name my Spatula. Boy or girl, didn't matter. (She was three.)
My parents thought it was hilarious, and now I have a large collection of spatulas.
318. Spattie said:
My older sister thought it would be an excellent idea to name my Spatula. Boy or girl, didn't matter. (She was three.)
My parents thought it was hilarious, and now I have a large collection of spatulas.
319. Spattie said:
Double posts are awesome!
320. Kate said:
Hey, not everyone from Boston sounds like Leo in The Depaaahted or Amy Adams in Gone Baby Gone. Just sayin'.
Also, I have to disagree with the theory on boy vs. girl. I had the exact same pregnancy twice and I have a girl and a boy. But I am all for finding out the sex, picking a name and mentally preparing for the little man or gal. Rock on Heather, you look great.
321. Beth said:
Try to look a little happier, Heather. Afterall, you can afford a $78 diaper bag (in your daily style section from a couple of days ago) in this economy when others are wondering if they will still have their jobs next week or be able to pay their winter utility bills.
322. Anonymous said:
I figured out why you aren't smiling. You're NOT the valedictorian of pregnant bellies :P I've seen beer bellies bigger!
323. Giovanna Diaries said:
What do you have against Boston accents? Don't worry, I take no offense. I'm originally from New York.
Anyways, first thing I thought when I saw that pix was, boy she's not having a good day. Winter blues suck! I get them all the time.
But I do know a good cure: A trip to Aruba.
If only I wasn't petrified to fly.
324. andie said:
Maybe you should let Leta have her way if it's a girl. Friends of mine recently had a baby and named her Aurora. They call her Rory. So cute!
325. chanel said:
how in the hell? @ 320 comments? But anyways, you look like you're having so much fun!! (lol) At least your hair looks good.
326. Kelly said:
I'm Tasmanian, and I suffered from the same thing when I lived there. And Tasmania doesn't even get snow or minus temperatures.
So, I moved to Queensland, Australia (state where the 'best job in the world') is currently going. It's sub tropical, blue skies and invariably gorgeous.
And... then I went on anti-depressants, which I'm still on.
The weather makes a difference, definitely, but it may not be enough of a difference to throw in the towel and move elsewhere.
Regular holidays are the key! Come to Queensland, it's summer here and lovely. Just bring the prozac.
327. Terri said:
The big question is not if you'll find out, the BIG QUESTION IS: Will you share the information after you find out????
328. Heide said:
I had a bad winter last winter with SAD. This year, I bought a full-spectrum light bulb at the hardware store for around $15 and stuck it in my desk lamp in early December. (I think people otherwise use them for "indoor monoculture.") I can't say for sure that's what's made the difference, but so far this year I'm feeling much less grim about the whole world.
Good luck. Hope you have the chance to enjoy the pregnancy a little bit.
329. heyjoe said:
I thought boobs were supposed to get larger when you're pregnent?
I Kid! Of course I do! sheesh.
330. jamie said:
Heather you look great with your flat tummy and glowing skin. I am 19 weeks (20 on Saturday) and I honestly look like I could have this baby any day now. It's funny (maybe slightly creepy) but I have my ultrasound Thursday! I'm sorry that the weather has gotten you down - I totally know how you feel though. I live in Alberta Canada and it just finished snowing. I don't think I've seen the sun for almost as long as you. Oh well I guess it could be worse. We could live in Alaska and then we'd never see the sun, ever! I love how you've been calling your baby Stretch...we've been calling ours Blob, only because I had an ultrasound at 10 weeks and that's exactly what he/she looked like. I have a feeling I may give my child a complex when he/she's older as I really like the nickname...Blob...perhaps it would make a good middle name even?! Hmm probably not. Anyway I hope everything goes well with your ultrasound on Friday. I'm excited to hear if you're having a boy or girl. :) Cheers!
331. Shan said:
I feel you about the weather. It's -40 degrees outside right now... And I looked it up in the Celsius to Fahrenheit converter and apparently -40 is -40 no matter what system you're on. AAAHH! I had ice crystals in my hair when I got where I was going. It was a 12 minute walk. ICE CRYSTALS!! And my eyelashes were sticking together... But the sky was blue and the sun was shining at least!
332. Julie said:
I know how you feel (minus the "growing a human being part"). I have lived in the Midwest all of my life so I am no stranger to winter. My husband and I visited my mother in Florida over X-Mas (she just moved there a little over a year ago) and I didn't realize how much of my depression could be attributed to seasonal nonsense. I felt great when we were down South. Great enough that five days there made me realize "Hey there is no way I can live in Minneapolis for the rest of my life like I have been saying I could."
333. Jen L. said:
Delurking to say you look GREAT! I was already sporting a sexy "spare tire" by my 18th week! Can't wait to hear if it's a Prince or Princess.
334. Katina said:
What's up with all the little girls liking Princess Aurora over all other princesses? My friend's 2.5 year old is absolutely enamored.
335. RzDrms said:
i'll concede and admit it wasn't space invaders (r.i.p., ™) but rather galaxian ™ on schuck's rockin' old collar (r.i.p., ™). however, i'll say that these pants of yours are in the same genre and equally as cool, and i'll shoot asteroids in your name any ol' day in commemoration of said space invaders! i am old; whatever, congrats on your pregnancy, p.s., AFHV's contained footage tonight of a boy VERY UNHAPPY that his parents where having a girl; totally reminded me of miss leta unhappy of the possibly brewing boyage in your belly right about now.
336. Tammy said:
Maybe you shouldn't find out the sex and give yourself a surprise to look forward to. I'd talk to your doc about how you feel - you sound depressed. I'm just saying.
Northern California has a lot to offer - check it out:
http://thebutterflymind.com/ramblings_0071_homesweethome.htm
http://www.thebutterflymind.com
337. Mary said:
Umm....how do you look so amazing and THIN?
I would look like an exploding whale at 18 weeks. I just know it.
338. KathyMarie said:
I'm so amused that Leta calls Stretch "Princess Aurora," because when my mom was pregnant with my youngest sister, my middle sister and I lobbied pretty hard to call the new addition "Aurora" because we loved the hell out of that Disney movie.
My mom kind of liked the name before we told her it was Sleeping Beauty's name.
339. KathyMarie said:
I'm so amused that Leta calls Stretch "Princess Aurora," because when my mom was pregnant with my youngest sister, my middle sister and I lobbied pretty hard to call the new addition "Aurora" because we loved the hell out of that Disney movie.
My mom kind of liked the name before we told her it was Sleeping Beauty's name.
340. Overmatter said:
Hey, at least Bostonians know how to pronounce "crayon."
341. karen said:
With all your comments, you probably won't even read this but you could not have better summed up how I feel. Im 12 weeks pregnant and also have a 2 year old.. we live in Seattle and I am going crazy with the rain, clouds and short days. Yesterday was great and today I was pissy and an emotional wreck. Im in definite need of some sun, and REAL sun!
So its nice to read how you feel, even though its nice to feel how you feel :) Enjoy the sun breaks when they come, I try to.
342. Bunny Myers said:
Heather,
First of all, you are welcome in Santa Cruz,CA anytime. We have two kids, a dog, and are always open to company that includes dogs and kids. Get your a** out here and enjoy the sun already! It was 74 here today and we had an awesome beach bbq, complete with dogs on the beach and kids playing frisbee. You should be here!
For anyone telling dooce to "quit yer bitchen" or have her stop complaining about the weather--seriously? Go F Yourselves. Find yourself another website to read that doesn't offend you. What do you think people write personal blogs for, your entertainment? Yes, this is her "job", but this this is also a way to express yourself freely; find support and community in a way the "real" world might not be able to provide. Heather is not here for a preggo "kick in the ass." Jiminey Christmas, get a life! She's a pregnant woman for god's sake, and is here to share her life and all its intricaies (sp?) with us. Pregnancy CAN suck ass-- and hating because you can't get pregnant or have a different view of her town is ludicrous.
Anyway, Heather, we have an empty house here, use it anytime. I've sent my personal info to your email address. You'll love the dog-friendly beaches and weather.
Lots of love and Light,
Bunny
343. fidget said:
When expecting #3, #1 was in an obnoxious Blue's Clues is god phase and told everyone that the baby was going to be named Steve.
They believed her.
We got several baby gifts addressed to Steve. I'm not a fan of the name Steve, like at all. The look on my face was striking similar to yours.
344. Ray said:
18 weeks and looking great! =o)
Sorry to hear about the weather bumming you out, but a lot of people tend to get depressed this time of year. We just all have to hold out until Spring (well those of us who have four seasons anyhow). Great that you're taking a vacation to California during the cold weather. I wish I could do the same. Hope you have fun. And I don't think Leta's choice of, "Prince Aurora" would work unless your son was the Prince of England. Only then would he be able to get away with it. Hehe! =P And I'm no psychic but I think you're going to have a "BOY!" Now we just have to wait and see.
Take, care.
345. Kristin said:
ha! Not as good as Sparkle Pony, no joke! I'm 19 weeks and had to say thanks. I actually talked about your little bit of advice aboout peeing. I swear it's saved my life, who knew you couldn't all the way pee.
Serious I'd much rather have a princess aurora then a sparkle pony. ahh the joys!
346. bleublue said:
Oh, love that Leta has a name for the baby...such a frilly one, at that. When my eldest daughter (then 4 years-old) found out that baby #2 was a girl, she piped in excitedly with, "I know! We can name her Labia! That'd be a good girl name." I felt bad rejecting such a heartfelt suggestion, but I didn't think it would work---not even as a middle name.
BTW, I work in SLC at a hospital. Hope to see you around baby time...but not in some creepy stalker way, I promise.
347. Kitty said:
Wow...I am always amused by people who think they can tell other people how to feel. I hate winter also...it IS depressing! I live in England, and during the winter here the sun doesn't rise until almost eight and it sets again around 3:30 in the afternoon. I have tried one of those light boxes, and I'm sure it did me some good somehow, but it doesn't make up for the seemingly never-ending darkness and severe cabin fever I am experiencing. I WANNA RIDE MY BIKE,DAMMIT! In other words...I'm right there with you girl!
Also, I think Aurora is a pretty name for a girl.Maybe you should reconsider Prince...the "artist formally known as" is not using it anymore. :)
348. abo gato said:
When I was pregnant and we found out I was going to have a boy, my husband picked up his daughter from her mom's to bring her over. She was about 3 1/2 at the time. He told her we were having a boy, so that soon she would have a brother.....he asked her what she thought would be a good name for a brother. She thought very seriously, as only kids that age can do, and pronounced that his name should be "Tree Climber".....we all laughed, but somehow that stuck as his nickname. Now, she's 22, he's soon to be 18 and all of us still call him Tree. Of course, his being 6'2" now doesn't hurt anything. All of his school friends call him by his real name, Paul, but he will forever be Tree to me.
349. Obama said:
Get out in the Sun and walk, whenever the weather permits.
350. Melissa said:
Are you able to take Vitamin D? I've heard it can help since we don't see sun for months...stupid winter. I totally understand how you feel with the weather. I am in NW Indiana where the high today is -2F and I don't remember what day it didn't snow or when I last saw sun for more than a brief minute in a cloud break.
351. Terri said:
Are you hoping for a Girl or a Boy?
I was as small as you are with my first, she was 7lbs 14 ounces and no one knew I was pregnant.
I never used Pregnancy as an excuse to get fat because losing it after is really hard.
Congrats to you and yours!
352. bev said:
Meh. I haven't read all the comments, but you know...depending upon the middle school, Prince Aurora might not be the most unique name.
My favorite 6th grader at my kids' school is a guy named Diamond. He's smart, cool, funny and no one seems to notice his name. Probably because around here, it's hardly unique.
353. Kelly said:
Dude, what belly? You were all worried earlier that you were popping out and showing and theres NO BELLY THERE at 18 weeks. You suck.
354. that girl said:
I think it's all in the eye of the beholder..In the south a snowy day creates this exciting, palpable buzz. Everything stops..everyone feels it. It's wonderful.
355. Miz Booshay said:
Your tummy is my goal weight tummy.
It is very sad.
I'm glad you are feeling better.
We are having scary temps here in Wisconsin.
Hawaii sounds mighty fine about now.
Have you been to Hawaii.
It even smells good in Hawaii.
Can't wait to here about the baby's gender!
356. Miz Booshay said:
Oh. Good Lord.
Please excuse the 'here' for 'hear'.
And the forgotten question mark.
I'm not really a moron.
I just play one in the comments.
357. Anonymous said:
We knew a little girl who, when her mom was pregnant, declared that she would name a girl Rosebud Pink and a boy Stoplight.
358. Momo Fali said:
My stomach looks like that after I've eaten a burrito.
359. Cory said:
Have you read "Operating Instructions" by Anne Lamott? Too hysterical! All about a life with a new baby and the accompanying insanity.
360. Claire said:
Ah, swearing at orange juice. One of my favourite pastimes.
I remember trying to convince my parents to name my then unborn sister "Robin", because of the huge crush I had on the fox Robin Hood in Disney's version.