/\dates

Yesterday was D-Day...pictures. I woke up late, couldn't do a thing with my hair (typical), and arrived at the shoot late (also typical), but JENY ISBELL (photographer shout-out, you can pay me later for that, Jeny. Wink, wink.) is so talented I think she miraculously managed to eek out some pretty great pictures. She did some really cool, creative stuff, which I loved. And she kept me relaxed, which is also a miracle, since I turn into a robot the second a camera is pointed my way.
Let's see...anything else interesting...I took the sugar test Thursday, which was absolutely horrible. I flat out refused to go back if I failed the first one. Thank God I passed it, but they found out that I'm anemic, which explains why I'm so pale and tired all the time.
I'm actually naturally very pale, but I like having something on which to blame my glow-in-the-dark skin.
The fix for anemia is an iron supplement. Side effects include nausea, constipation, and diarrhea. What fun!
Speaking of side effects, let me digress for a second. I know you've all seen those commercials or magazine ads for medications. I get so cracked up at the end of the commercials when they start listing the side effects-it'll be a medication for, say, depression or blood pressure or something, and the announcer very calmly states that one of the side effects could include some sort of fatal infection. Or spontaneous combustion when near an open flame. Or farts that measure on the Richter scale. Or something equally bizarre.
I made the last two up, but why on earth would you take it?
Back to the point-iron supplements. I wasn't too worried about anything until I read that anemic women are twice as likely to deliver prematurely, and three times more likely to have a baby with low birth weight. And the kicker-women who are anemic can't have an epidural during labor. Eek! I think it's great that some people can handle natural childbirth, but last time I checked, you don't get a prize, not even a medal, for going without pain relief, so, uh, sign me up for the epidural.
I'm starting the iron TODAY.
In other news, we're getting close to finishing Camilla's nursery. I bought a bunch of stuff this week, and I think we are painting within the next week or two...her nursery is going to be so cute...very shabby chic and funky and girly. Giovanni usually trusts my decorating style, but he seems sort of iffy about her nursery...he keeps saying he has to see it first, before he decides if he likes the idea (his decorating style is very "matchy" which I hate with a deep burning passion). It's anything but matchy, so he may not like it as much as I do. I'll post pictures when we finish...
Camilla is getting bigger, and has sort of gotten off of her vampire schedule-she sleeps for most of the night and is up all day, so I can sleep now, which is nice. She loves to curl up on the lower right side of my stomach, which makes me look lopsided. She isn't much of a kicker-she squirms around and pushes on me almost constantly, but doesn't kick all that much. She's pretty calm. And, bonus, she stays away from my ribs! I was so terrified that she would be one of those babies that stayed up in my ribs kicking, but she seems content to lay reeeeeally low. Which makes me look like I have a beer gut, and makes me have to pee constantly, but I don't mind. I'm still not very big...I don't think so anyway. Some people (who shall remain nameless) think I'm HUGE and don't mind telling me, but I think it's the clothes I wear.
Still no weight gain, which I am insanely proud of. I've actually lost around 15 pounds, so when I have Camilla I'll be lighter than I was before I got pregnant. Sweet!
I'm staying fairly active, which I'm hoping will make my labor easier. I'm walking and doing prenatal yoga. I started getting Braxton-Hicks contractions a week or so ago...not fun.
Giovanni is still liking his job...he got a raise a few weeks ago. :) He is really excited about Camilla coming...he's gone to every doctor's appointment with me except for one. He's been really supportive and sweet and takes such good care of me.
I think that's it for the updates!
Until next time...may the force be with you!