We have (dun, dun, duuuuhhhhnnnnn) . . . a NAME.

Yesterday at least 5 people asked me if we had decided on a name.  This morning, over the great technology of instant messaging, we came to a final decision:

Alexandra Eden Slife

For those who like to know the meanings behind names (I am one), Alexandra means "defender of mankind."  And Eden means "pleasure, delight. The biblical paradise home to Adam and Eve."

We chose Eden as a middle name to play on a feminine form of Edward, after my grandfather.

I really think this little one will truly fit that name.  Good for being cute, girlie, sporty, or sophisticated.  And I don't know anyone with that name, so she's original to us. :)

So that's that.  The wondering and contemplating is over.   I can now start thinking of her as a person, rather than a fetus.  This is progress.

6 months, 1 week (28 weeks)

 According to my mom, I begin "exploding" now.  As you can see, I've definitely rounded out over the past 4 weeks.

 But from the side, I still feel like I'm not that large.  It's funny how different perspectives of my stomach look.  It's definitely difficult to reach my toes now, at least without squatting like an aborigine.

Another day, another exciting development

Just when I was giving thanks to God for the last month being clear of queasiness, I have been struck down again.  Yep.  I think God must either be a vengeful god, is punishing me for something, or I'm just simply an unlucky soul.  Thankfully, I felt good while in England this past weekend when I got to see Jacob.  But now, I'm back to feeling queasy and hungry, yet no amount of food will get rid of either sensation.

In addition to this, (and this is another glorious side effect of pregnancy that NO ONE ever tells you about - probably because if they did, less people would be inclined to get pregnant) I have developed a lovely varicose vein (I think - this is me self-diagnosing) in my nether-region.  It is painful with pressure, which means the only source of moderate intensity exercise I could tolerate for more than 30 minutes (stationary bike) can no longer be tolerated.  So now I have pain with walking AND biking.  This is disheartening.  I was hoping to make it through pregnancy without spending money on a gym (especially after seeing how much it costs to join a gym here in Sanford), but it looks like water exercise may be my last and only option to getting a good workout in.  So, now, in the last few months I will have to sport a swimming suit and get my ass to the pool.   Let's hope my body cooperates and allows me to tolerate that, at least.  The good news is that the vein will most likely disappear after birth. The bad news is that it will likely get worse over the following months, and will likely occur earlier and get worse with subsequent pregnancies.  Oh joy!!!!!!!  I DO have to admit, the body is amazing at dealing with the tremendous task of growing a human being.  I just hope that the effort I put in to stay healthy is rewarded.  If not - then I will most likely just get fat next time. (ok - no I wouldn't do that, but it's tempting to think about.)

On a more positive note, the baby is very active and seems to be doing well.  My cats enjoy incubating me (i.e. laying on my stomach) - but that may be just because they are spoiled and love attention. Hahaha.  I hope they adjust well to the new arrival.

Ah the joy

So, for the past month I've thought I had a simple pulled groin muscle, but there was no obvious mechanism of injury and rest/ice never seemed to help it.  Recently, the same pain that started on the left has now migrated to include my right groin as well.  Again, no inciting incident.  I started to do some reading and found that I may be dealing with Pubic Symphisis Dysfunction which is a result of the hormone Relaxin causing my ligaments to, well, relax around my pelvic joints in prep for delivery.  Unfortunately, this preparation is coming way too early for its purpose, making it painful for me to walk (forget jogging), do lunges, and even roll over in bed.  Apparently there are pelvic corsets that women can wear to decrease the pain by compressing the joints back to their original position and prevent slippage.  When I return to the doc's on Wednesday, I'll be sure to mention this stuff to see if it is, in fact, the problem.  For now, I just have to work through the pain 'cause there ain't NO WAY I'm going to stop exercising (especially with my appetite revving up again).

Just to add to my anxiety...

I received a not-so-inspiring email from my mom today telling me that when she was pregnant with both my brother and me she had slow gain until the 7th month and then she "exploded".  How is this news that I could possibly want to hear?  If heredity has anything to do with how my body will react to pregnancy, this only makes me want to be pregnant LESS.  Thanks, mother dearest. Personally, I think she's secretly hoping I end up fat and covered in deep, purple stretch marks from my neck to my knees.  I already feel gross and disgusting enough as it is.  To me, pregnancy is not "cute".  I do not think "baby bumps" are adorable.  I think it looks weird and unnatural.  So, the bigger they are, the more grossed out I am.  Sorry, pregnant people.  I have nothing against being pregnant or pregnancy- except the way it wreaks havoc on the woman's body.  I sometimes wish I were a man.  They have it so damn easy.

Turkey Thermometer

So - I have what I can only describe as a "flatty" belly button. That is, it neither sticks out or goes in.  So, when I found out I was pregnant, I was certain that it would pop right out within the first trimester.  Luckily, that didn't happen, but the inevitable has just about arrived.  My button is flirting with becoming more pronounced, like a turkey thermometer that pops up when the turkey is fully cooked....only I won't be fully cooked for another three months.  This sexy new change comes JUST IN TIME for my reunion with Jacob in England.  I wonder if he'll be as turned on by it as me....

24 week pic

As you can all see, my ass is still larger than my belly. I guess that's the way it always is though.  I'm feeling pretty pleased with the progression, overall.  Not very apparent that I am pregnant if I wear a sweatshirt.  I'm sort of dreading the public gawking that is to certainly come.  We've all done it - you see a pregnant chick and stare at her womb, wondering how far along she is, or whatever.  It's not that I'm ashamed or anything of being pregnant, but I am resisting my identity including "mother" for some reason.  I'm much more comfortable just being Rachel, the amazing, sexy, smart, funny, student, wife, sister, daughter, aunt, granddaughter, and niece.  ;)   Don't worry, family, I'll get used to adding "mother" to that list at some point, probably when reality smacks me in the face when I come home from the hospital. 

Another doctor visit last week had me at 158.5 pounds...only 2.5 pounds since last time. That's pretty good. :)  I got a flu shot and the OK to travel to England for Thanksgiving.  I finally got in with a different doctor's office and they are a MILLION times more organized and modern than the last place.  The doctor spoke to me like an educated person, citing evidence to me and everything.  I will have to deliver in Pinehurst, though, which is about 40 minutes away from Sanford.  But the facilities are MUCH BETTER and I have a lot more faith in their abilities to get everything right.  It is the same hospital I did my first clinical affiliation with, so I'm comfortable with the change.

My next doctor's appointment is Nov 21 and I believe that is the one where I have to do the glucose screening test for gestational diabetes.  I'm not too worried about that, but maybe I should - I do eat a lot of sugar. :) (thanks to lots of leftover candy from Halloween and cool evenings requiring hot chocolate)

As far as naming is concerned, we're still unsure.  When Jacob was home last we kicked around some names and I think we've gotten a good start.  I would personally like to have Eden be incorporated into the name someway.  I don't know if we'll ever have a boy, and I wanted to pay homage to my grandfather, Ed, on my dad's side, so Eden is a great feminine form of Ed.  Plus it has the bonus connotation of being the birthplace of the first family, and she will be the beginning of our family.  So, we'll see how that all turns out.  We may wait until we can look at her to finally decide for sure. 

Other than that, things are going pretty well.  Now and then I still feel nauseous or have issues with digestion, but my energy is pretty good (until evening) and I've been doing some tougher workouts without negative effects.  I'm definitely looking forward to being able to sleep on my stomach and back again...I feel like I'm going to get pressure sores on my hips from sleeping on my sides so much.

Ok - enough for now.  Thanks for checking in, everyone. :)