November 1 (21w6d): I got the final results of the amnio back today and all is well - the baby looks perfectly healthy! I am so relieved. The nurse asked if I wanted to know the sex and I was strong and said no but it's been hard knowing that the answer is in my file! But Michael is so adamant it be a surprise I guess I can give in on this one. So no, we still don't know what it is despite having the amnio!

November 7 (22w5d): Birthday dinner with the girls tonight - how I wanted a glass of wine! But I was good. We went to Oleana, dinner was good and great conversation as always, but desert was superb! I'd never had Baked Alaska before - yum!

November 8 (22w6d): Well today is my birthday, the last one before I am a mom, very weird to think about that! But it's been a great birthday - Michael took me out for a nice casual dinner at a local sushi place tonight and he had hid cards all around the house for me and got me the most beautiful pair of earrings for my birthday. It was an extra special gift since I had my two favorite pairs (both irreplaceable) within a few weeks of each other. And then I got some surprises in the mail form my grandparents and my parents and Michael's parents so that was very nice.

November 10 (23w1d): My last ESL class was today. It's a great class and after the final exam all the students had brought food from their cultures so we had quite a feast! Then they surprised me with some gifts - chocolates, a baby blanket, a stuffed Peter Rabbit a bib and a plaque. It was so sweet! I was exhausted after the party though - it's a good thing Michael is such a good husband and he came into town and got me :-) Though then I treated him to lunch at Panera so I guess it works out!

November 11 (23w2d): Had a very relaxing morning reading the paper and eating cinnamon rolls with Michael. Can't think of a better way to spend the morning - I am sure relaxing mornings like this will be few and far between once the baby arrives. Then in the afternoon I went shopping with another mom-to-be that I had met through one of my various internet groups. That was fun to have someone to baby shop with!

November 12 (23w3d): Dinner with Carrie tonight - she was very sweet and treated me to a fabulous birthday dinner at Zuzu a great new Middle Eastern restaurant in Central square. So good! And she gave me the cutest Belly Basics T-Shirt, for my ever expanding belly!

November 13 (23w4d): Michael felt the baby kick this morning! Finally! The baby is much more active these days and the kicks are definitely getting stronger, feels very strange. But I'm glad he was able to feel it kick, I was feeling bad that I was the only one. And of course I am getting progressively bigger....

November 16 (24w0d): Ordered more stuff for the nursery today, a rocking chair pad that matches the bedding and some curtains. My Mom has offered me her rocking chair that she used with me and my brothers which will be great. So I just got the pads to make it more comfy. Then a friend of mine found the curtains I have been searching the Internet high and low for. They are white sheers with multi-colored stars sewn on. Perfect :-) Click here to see the nursery stuff.

Then tonight I went to dinner with Deb, Erik and Chris while Michael was at a work dinner, though he met up with us later. We had quite a laugh trying to come up with a boy's name - why is this so ridiculously hard?

November 17 (24w1d): Michael and I went out to Gargoyle's tonight to celebrate our birthdays. Dinner was very good and the company was even better. We really had a great time. Even though I fell asleep halfway through the movie we rented. This is why we don't go to the movies! I am just too tired :-( But I feel like all of a sudden I have gotten huge! There is no mistaking I am pregnant now. You can even tell through my huge swing coat - now that is impressive. Or scary.

November 22 (24w6d): We drove home to Williamsport this morning for Thanksgiving dinner with my family. We got a very early start and didn't hit much traffic, but the car ride was a bit uncomfortable. I've been having a lot of achy type pains and just stopping for extra rest stops is a real pain. I think we stopped 3 times in Pennsylvania alone! But we made it and in good time too, got there around 1 p.m. in time for a light lunch and to help a little before we ate dinner around 4.

My grandmother makes the best turkey and stuffing ever and this year was no exception! Yum! So much work which I very much appreciate! After dinner it's time for my grandfather to open his presents for his 80th birthday. I think he really had a great time and loved all of his gifts. It was great that Michael and I got to be there, and my Uncle Bern and Yolanda made the trip from Ohio as well. All we were missing was Bobby and Melissa! Hopefully next year. Then we had cake and pie for all of the November birthdays in our family.

Poor Michael, I am so crabby. My back has started to hurt all of a sudden, especially on the right side. Lots of stretching pains in my belly too. I guess its all normal, and considering how much weight I have gained it's not surprising my back is starting to rebel!

November 23 (25w0d): Did some Black Friday shopping today. What a mess! We hit Wal-Mart and they were out of the FP Safe Embrace car seat. They were discontinued and Wal-Mart had bought the remaining inventory. I was hoping to find one and get a good deal, but word is that they are all sold out and now you can only get them at inflated prices on Ebay. *sigh*

Anyway, did lots of shopping till my feet hurt. Didn't actually buy any Christmas presents, but the baby got some very cute outfits and I got two new pillows to prop my legs up with at night and to take to our birthing classes. So exciting! And my parents bought Mike some pajamas for his birthday and a new maternity shirt for me!

After resting some we went to DiSalvo's for dinner - a very nice treat out!

The baby is kicking harder than ever now. Mike can really feel it and tonight for the first time I actually *saw* the baby move. It is the freakiest thing to see my stomach sort of jump. Freaky, but still very cool.

November 24 (25w1d): Taking it easy today. The weather is awful. I went down to the mall to meet my mom for lunch and then we just did a little shopping. In the afternoon we went to the attic and got a bunch of my and my brother's old toys and books out which my mom said we can have for the baby. She's also giving us the rocker she used with us and the little white rocker that was mine when I was a child. Very cool. Then we ate leftover turkey and stuffing for dinner (yum!) and rented Legally Blonde at night. A very restful day!

November 25 (25w2d): Driving back to Boston. We must have stopped at least 5-6 times on this trip. Traffic wasn't too bad until we got to Connecticut area, and we took some alternate routes before we finally got on the MA turnpike. Quite a mess. Achy baby bones and constant bathroom stops made this a very unfun trip coming home! My feet and hands are starting to swell as well which I'm a little worried about.

November 26 (25w3d): Worst headache today, I had hoped these were behind me in the pregnancy. After work I just went home and crawled in bed. Blech.

November 27 (25w4d): Headache is gone thankfully. Feeling good, which is good since we're going out to dinner tonight for Mike's birthday with some friends. Pho Pasteur, followed by Herrels ice cream in the company of good friends - what can be better than that? Once again we tried to find a name if the baby is a boy. Failed miserably but it was quite amusing. The top choices seemed to be James Tiberius (as in Kirk), Chewbabca, Grimace and Atilla. Hmmmm......

November 28 (25w5d): Today is Michael's birthday - last one before he is a dad. Pretty exciting! He's at home because of his company's one week closure and getting lots of projects done around the house - they are never ending. Poor guy, since his parents are arriving tonight I made him clean the house. Nothing like a nagging pregnant wife on your birthday! But he did a great job and the house was spotless when his parents arrived that night. We had a great visit and then went to Punjab for some amazing Indian food. They are here through Monday so we're celebrating Michael's birthday all weekend long which will be fun.

The baby is so active it's almost too much. The kicking is so reassuring, but so strange at the same time. The baby is definitely growing because the kicks are now well above my belly button where before they were always below. I think the baby runs either its leg or hand across the top of my uterus - it is the weirdest feeling, almost to the point of being painful. I swear he/she is scratching me!

Had my 25 week doctor's appointment today. All continues to be well. My blood pressure is 108/70, a little higher than before but not too bad. Baby's heartbeat sounds great and my belly is measuring right on for 25 weeks. The only bad part is my weight. I have gained about 25 pounds. Good grief! I really have no idea where it's going. Nothing seems to be growing except the belly. But considering the baby weighs about 1.5 pounds at this point, I'm a little worried. The doctor said that the swelling is normal at this stage and to try to limit my sodium, but that I should consider taking my wedding and engagement rings off. I'll be so sad! Next appointment is on New Year's eve in the morning and I have my glucose/gestational diabetes screen then. I hope it's negative. But at least I'll get all my holiday sweets in before hand!

Speaking of New Years, I had ordered a dressy blouse to wear on New Years and I got it in the mail the other day. I had ordered a small, but they sent a medium by mistake which turned out to be a good thing. The medium fits well with some expansion room. I tried it on and showed Mike and he said "Are you sure that will still fit you by New Years?" Thanks sweetie. Though he does tell me I'm beautiful, even though it is generally followed by a "you're huge!" comment :-)