Watermelon, Shirt Strings, and Diaper Bags

How come no one told me that watermelon causes heartburn? Watermelon of all things! I ate, yes you can believe it, a entire cheeseburger and fries for lunch yesterday and didn't suffer from it at all! Tonight for my healthy snack I eat watermelon and now I am suffering from heartburn- go figure! Eating Tums is just about as gross to me as taking vitamins so I may choose to suffer through this tonight!

Does anyone know who invented the maternity shirt? Why on earth do they all have to be cut from a tent pattern and then made to look form fitting by attaching that ridiculous string to the back? If that doesn't scream "I'm pregnant" I don't know what does! Yes I know I am pregnant so it shouldn't matter that the string screams that out but the shirts are so darn ugly! My mother would say I am acting vain by complaing like this but there has to be someone else out there who agrees with me! I am not trying to be vain about this. I guess I could shop at Mimi Maternity and pay $50 for a shirt without a string but honestly why can they make nice stringless shirts and the less expensive stores can't?

Ok, why is it so difficult for me to choose a diaper bag? I know my mother wants to reach through the phone and choke me sometimes! I have been looking for a diaper bag for months already! I hate carrying a purse so you can imagine the stress I am having over having to carry a bigger bag that requires so many items to be in it! I don't consider myself the trendy type so all of those super expensive bags that are really cute seem ridiculous to me. However, I don't like the bags that look like diaper bags from 1988 either. No Winnie the Pooh for me. I look at a bag online and then I find a store who carries it so I can check it out in person. I am so worried about making a bad choice! Who the heck cares? It's a dumb diaper bag! So I run down my list of questions... 1. Does it fall off my shoulder easily? 2. Does it have enough pockets? 3. Is it stylish and is the fabric nice? 4. Will Milan be caught carrying it? 5. Will it stay closed once it is stuffed with baby things? 6. Are those side pockets even big enough to carry the bottle that is suppose to fit in it?
By the way, what do people even realistically carry in these bags anyway? Do Moms upgrade to even bigger bags when they have two kids?

This is why God made pregnancy last 9 months. We need time to find shirts without strings and diaper bags that suit us perfectly.

The Next Michael Phelps?

Week 22- Yah! I am finally starting to look pregnant. Jack likes to put his head on my hip to tell me he wants to be pet on the head. He was doing that right before Milan took this picture but of course he wouldn't pose when it came time! He is so tall it looks like he is trying to "talk" to the baby. I can't wait to see what he thinks when this baby is actually here in the house. I can picture him licking the baby's toes while he is swinging or sitting in his bouncy chair. Too cute!

If you noticed I wrote HE that is because there is no longer anyone left who hasn't inquired about the gender of this little Peach! Yes, it is a boy and yes I was right all along! Mother's intuition I'm sure of that. His name will be Ilija Martin Hayden. We will call him Eli. It was very important to us that he was given a Serbian name so his full name will be Ilija. Milan has two uncles who were named Eli so it is also a family name for him. Eli's middle name Martin is after my very special Uncle who I spent my entire childhood with.

I don't know about any of you but Milan and I have been quite "into" the Olympics this year. Michael Phelps has to be part fish. When I think of my Little Peach swimming around inside my tummy I always describe it to Milan as if the baby is a little fish. It's just what I picture in my mind. First of all, how on earth can this baby be "under water" for 9 months without coming up for air? Secondly, I feel like I am walking around as a human fish bowl now that I can feel his every move. If I concentrate on what he is doing I could get seasick from all the swishing back and forth in there. It wasn't until this week that I could completely identify and track his movements. I do believe that watching (and listening- did you know babies can hear everything now?) the Olympics has inspired my little son to practice his swimming abilities. One night we were watching Phelps win yet another gold medal and my Little Peach kicked me so hard it made the remote control, which was resting on my belly, lift up and then back down again! I'm pretty certain he was using the side of my stomach as a wall for kicking off and making his turn to the other side of the pool just as Phelps does.

I honestly don't know which is better- seeing the ultrasound or feeling the baby move so much. I used to see pregnant woman and wonder why on earth they are always touching their bellies or resting their hands on their bellies. I just figured it was because it was a good resting spot now that their tummy was so large! I know from first hand experience now that it is just something pregnant mamas do naturally. Most of the time I don't realize I am resting my hands there or I am actually rubbing it until I have been doing it for a few minutes. It makes me laugh every time he moves around. You would think I'd be used to it or even tired of it but I'm not! I absolutely love it! I think he really enjoys yoga because he was kicking me during class as if he was marching along in a band. I had to stop what I was doing because it was just so darn funny!

I told Milan tonight that I LOVE being pregnant. Now ask me that again in November or December and we'll see what I say then. But for now, I am enjoying the second trimester. A while back I wrote that the doctor called this the showing and glowing stage. I'm not too sure if I feel like I am glowing but I am definitely showing, feeling great, eating with joy, and smiling often. Life is good...

Week 20- THE BIG DAY!

Here's our little Peach at 20 weeks! You can stop looking so closely the baby's gender can't be told by the angle of this picture! Our little peach was pretty cooperative so we were able to get the pictures needed to show that all the organs are formed properly. The baby's arms and legs were moving like crazy the whole time! It is totally amazing to me that this baby only weighs 13 ounces and has all the working parts of a living human. I wish this picture was as clear as the actual screen because you could really make out the face, heart, and spine. I laid on the table in complete awe of what I was seeing. I know a lot of woman say they cry during the ultrasound but it was different for me. I wouldn't call it shock. It was more like complete utter amazement knowing that I am growing a baby inside of me.

Are you asking yourself whether this baby is a prince or a princess? Will Milan be learning how to braid hair or will Jen be learning the rules of all the sports this baby will play? Will it be butterflies or baseballs adorning the walls of the nursery...

If you know me at all you know that I am not one for surprises. I feel sorry for Milan because he can't plan anything without me being in on it. So, I of course have known since day 1 that I wanted to know whether it was a boy or girl. I can't say I wanted to know because I couldn't wait to put the nursery together because if you know me I am not much into decorating! I can't really say why I wanted to know so badly but I did so needless to say I have been secretly counting down the days to week 20. Milan on the other hand was hard to predict. One day he'd say he wanted to know. A couple days later he'd say he didn't want to know. All the way up until the moment the ultrasound started he was still saying he didn't know if he wanted to find out. As the ultrasound lady is nearing what she called the "butt shot" he shouts out, "Ok, I want to know!" It was so cute watching him fret over this decision. I honestly thought we'd be ushering him out of the room so I could view this "butt shot" on my own. Can you imagine life around our house with me knowing and him wondering? After the ultrasound we sat together looking at the pictures while we waited to see the doctor. Milan told me his plan was to keep it a secret from everyone else. We agreed we'd each tell one person who wasn't a family member so they wouldn't be able to get the news back to everyone at home. Let me just say that this pact of ours worked for a total of one hour! So Kuma Nicole if you are reading this... you were right! Keeping a secret didn't work.

I have decided that I will not be sharing the baby's gender on my blog (well at least not at this point). There are still a few out there who say they can wait until December to hear the news. I have a feeling they'll crumble just as the others have already so in that case I will eventually write about it. If you are curious and want to know just send me an email and I'd be glad to share the wonderful news. Quite honestly a healthy baby is the number one thing and knowing the gender is just plain fun. So far the health of our little Peach is perfect so we feel ecstatic about it all.

Baby Shower Time!

Baby Shower #1
The month of July has been a busy one. Milan and I went home to Chicago for 10 days to visit our family and friends. We haven't been home since Christmas and we always look forward to the trip. It took us 11 hours to drive there from Georgia. Most people gasp when you tell them that but in all honesty it is a really nice drive! No offense to people who live in Indiana but that is the least scenic part of the drive and it takes the longest! Northern Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky are very pretty and make the drive easy. We packed a cooler full of healthy mom-to-be treats, gave Jack some meds for car sickness and we were off. I am pretty sure the thoughts of pizza and Italian beef sandwiches guided us along the way. Neither one of us could wait to get "home" and eat.

This picture was taken on July 20th at "The Little Peach's" shower. Milan's mom, Ljubi, threw us a beautiful shower at the Serbian Hall (where our wedding reception was). The theme was based on orange and brown as a tribute to the Peach! How cute! If you look closely at my belly you can sort of tell there is a baby in there. Milan and I posed for a picture before he was off to golf. It is unbelievable how many gifts we received and the generosity people showed us. We feel so blessed to be a part of such a wonderful family.

The rest of our time at home was spent visiting family and friends. We were on the go from sun up to sun down every day. When we are in Georgia living our day to day lives we try not to dwell on our homesickness but it hits ya' hard when you go "home" and realize how much you are missing. The kids are all growing so quickly! Milan's brother Adam made me feel better when he said that even though 7 months have passed since we were all together it feels like yesterday the minute he sees us. It is so true. Time may pass but relationships don't change and knowing that makes living so far away not quite as bad. It is our hope to make the time between our visits shorter once the Little Peach arrives.

So here we are back in Georgia again. I did not take one nap the whole time we were home so needless to say I have been sleeping a lot this week. It has been raining, yes raining, down here in Georgia- can you believe it! Maybe our grass will be green by September. It is HOT and HUMID here and just about as bad as you can imagine when you walk outside. Needless to say, I stay indoors. I have a nice surprise belly shot coming soon so check back. I also go to the doctor on Monday so I can't wait to post the latest ultrasound! It will be 20 weeks already. Time flies when you are feeling better!

The Bump

Here's the proof! There really is a little peach in there. Look at the bump! I told you I swallowed a grapefruit. :)

As week 14 comes to an end I am finding fewer and fewer items in the closet that fit. So much for those cute capris from last summer. It is an odd feeling putting on clothes that won't button and then I remind myself there is a baby in there and suddenly the fact that all I can fit in is stretchy work out clothes doesn't seem to matter at all.

I am counting down the weeks until this baby starts to make itself known by kicking! "They" say to expect that to happen anytime around 16-18 weeks. I can't wait!

Oh and how come no one warned me about heartburn striking at any time whether I have just eaten or not?! It's brutal! Thank goodness for Tums- they are what should be called Life Savers! :)

Atlantic Ocean on Tybee Island, Georgia



The Little Peach visits the ocean for the first time.

Me, Ljubi, & Bobby Deen at Paula Deen's Restaurant in Savannah.

14 Weeks- Goodbye Morning Sickness, right?

14 weeks! I made it! I am officially out of my first trimester. I went to bed Sunday night thinking Monday was going to be the first day of no more sickness. That's what "they" (whoever they are) say, right? WRONG. I haven't felt this bad in two weeks. Now what is going on with that? I should know better than to think I would be that lucky! Ha. According to my weekly updates my baby can now pee (nice huh), suck it's thumb, and make facial expressions. I bet my little peach was making faces today (laughing of course) knowing that momma is sick again. :)

We visited the doctor last week for our monthly check up. She said I lost two pounds. How can that be? I feel like I swallowed a grapefruit and it is lodged in my pelvis. But none the less my sickness didn't help add any pounds to me. She said she wasn't concerned because my appetite will be ready to go during this trimester. I can't wait for that to happen! According to the doctor the "pickles and ice cream" stage is behind me and I am now entering the "showing and glowing" stage. I'll let you know when I start glowing!

This has been a very busy month of June. My dad came to visit us three weekends ago. Then my mom, Dave, Uncle Mike, and Aunt Linda drove here last weekend (crazy people)! And this past weekend the Hayden's came for a visit. I can't believe it has been 6 months since we last saw our parents. Time flies. I have a feeling that things will change after this little peach joins the world. It was a lot of fun having company. It gets very lonely down here with no family and friends to visit. What are we going to do next weekend when we are all by ourselves again?

While the Hayden's were in town we took a drive to Savannah. What a wonderful day it was. I don't know how many of you are familiar with Paula Deen from the Food Network but her restaurant is in Savannah so of course we had to go there. If you know about Paula you will know she has two sons who are also on Food Network. It just so happened that her son Bobby was in the gift shop that day hanging out signing cookbooks and taking pictures with people. So here we are with Bobby Deen! What a sweet guy. After that we took a ride to Tybee Island so the little peach could go to the beach for the first time. I am keeping a journal of all the things we do while the peach is growing so the beach is now on the list. That's why I am patting my tummy in the picture above. :)

Check back soon for the next belly shot......