Bad Mommy (baby update)

I've been feeling like a bad mommy for not posting much here, our version of a baby book. Jason is just a better writer than I am, so I've let him handle the posting. However, there are some things that he just can't express, like the crazy things that are going on with my body.

To update you all, I am in my 28th week of pregnancy (28 weeks and 2 days, to be exact). I have now graduated to biweekly midwife appointments, which is wonderful for a worrier like me - more chances for my questions to be answered. I absolutely love the Vanderbilt Nurse Midwives practice. I get lots of personal attention and more control over the birthing process, while still having access to immediate emergency care and painkillers. In case you're like my dad and think I'm seeing some hippie voodoo practitioner, here is more info on certified nurse midwives.

My pregnancy, so far, has been delightfully uneventful. The hardest part has been getting enough protein in my diet. I am a long-time vegetarian, so this has always been an issue for me, especially since I love junk food so much, and I'm not a very adventurous eater. Now, the difficulty is my lack of an appetite. It's just my luck that when I should be losing weight (pre-pregnancy), I had a voracious appetite, but can't seem to make myself eat when I need to be gaining. Mavis, my midwife, isn't worried, though. The baby is actually measuring a little big for her gestational age (30 cm fundal height) and she says my weight gain is right on track for someone who was overweight pre-pregnancy. I still worry, though, about the amount of protein I'm eating. I'm doing my best, drinking High-Protein Boost and Ensure at least once a day and picking out high protein snacks like cottage cheese. My little sister keeps promising to bring me homemade smoothies, but hasn't followed through, yet.

The coolest thing lately has been all the movement going on in my belly. People were right when they said you can't describe how it feels when the baby moves. It's just so amazing. My mom finally got to feel her kick yesterday, and Jason has felt her quite a few times, now. Sleeping well has been increasingly difficult. I didn't sleep well pre-pregnancy, anyway, so getting comfortable with my expanding belly is nearly impossible. Jason gets so irritated that it takes me so long to get settled, I imagine that he will banish me to the bed in the baby's room soon.

More updates to come, I promise. In the meantime, please give me, in the comments section, any tips on preparing pets for a new baby. I think Ruby will be fine, but the cats might be a different story.