Q&A with Mommy-to-be

Things have been hectic around the Saunders household for the last couple of weeks with work and different events on the weekends. But Mommy-to-be has taken a few minutes to answer a some questions on how the pregnancy is going.




1. How many weeks are you right now? 

Well, let's see. According to the original due date of Jan. 1st, I'm entering week 22 this Thursday. According to the size of baby Saunders, (per the last ultrasound) I will be starting week 23.  I am going with 23:-)

2. What size is Baby Saunders?

I love this question. I have been tracking the babycenter.com website since my fourth week and now the spinning baby on the side of this blog helps others track it as well.  I have traveled through the fruit family starting as a grape and on and on...and now we have abandoned the fruit family until one day when I hit the obvious watermelon.  According to one site, baby Saunders is now the size of a bag of Oreo cookies; almost a foot long, and weighing in at 13 ounces.  Well, of course I read that and had to have some oreo cookies. You can't mention food around me these days, all of a sudden it will become my mission to get to the store to buy whatever it is and eat it.

3. What has been the hardest thing to give up during pregnancy?

Well it's a good thing I never had any bad habits or this question might be tough. (Hee Hee) Definitely smoking. Although, it wasn't even a fraction of what i thought it would be. In other words, this little miracle was way too precious a thing to waste on that bad habit and it was only hard for a few weeks. Well worth it. 

4. How have you been feeling over the last couple of months?

Physically, it's hard to describe. So many changes taking place and so many things that have thrown a curve ball in my every day activities. Like... Getting dressed (thank God Jeff supports my shopping habit, and doesn't mind coming with me to pick out new stuff!  I have gotten a whole lot of cute things, but being pregnant is not cheap) Mentally, I am elated but am starting to feel like I'm behind the eight ball. We still have a lot of time but I am starting to get overwhelmed as the list of things to do gets longer, so we need to start getting baby stuff! Emotionally, I feel incredible; So connected to this new life inside me and to my husband who helped create him.  

5. Are you still active with Dance Trance?   YES  

    Tell the viewers how dance is going?

Oh boy. Range of motion. No such thing.  My hips used to operate as a separate entity. In dance, it's called isolations. You can separate body parts to emphasize movement and really make things look good.  I chuckle.  My DT girls chuckle. The only isolation these days is my entire torso from my legs.  Hip circles have turned into whole body rolls.  Like a buoy in rough waters, I move clockwise and counter as best I can and enjoy laughing at myself in the mirror. I have had to trade in my hip hop pants for "draw strings please"...but I'll keep dancing as long as my body allows me to.  Not to mention, how could I ever survive without my DT family.  Our director Sandi just had a beautiful baby boy 6 weeks ago (blog listed) and she has now re-entered the dancing scene. It's nice to have her back so I'll be sticking it out as long as I can. Let's face it. Gaining lbs. is necessary, but exercise is even more necessary.

6. Have you come up with a name for Baby Saunders? 

If yes, how did you come up with the name?

We're getting close. We have a couple in mind, mainly one that really sticks out but I don't think I'm going to publish that one just yet.  For the record, Rawlings was never an option and will never be. :-)  

7. Before you found out the sex, what was your gut telling you?

Boy.  I'm not gonna lie, the more people started talking about girls I thought of more girl names and started to doubt my original gut feeling, but I think I always knew.  After the dust settled, and the concept that "holy crap, we're going to have a baby" finally sunk into my head, I wanted a boy... because my hubbie wanted a boy so badly.  He basically gave himself this gift but I figure I am providing it with pretty good lodging for 40 weeks so it's essentially my gift to him. I couldn't give a better gift.  So for that, I am proud. (I guess that one goes with question #4 above. I feel proud.)

8. What kind of emotions came over you after finding out it was a boy?

I cried. I thought "YAY Jeff!"  Blue Stuff!  Sports theme!  Another Saunders boy!  And a cousin that's 2.5 years younger than their twin cousins Carter and Peyton. Won't they have so much fun together. 

9. Have you picked a theme for the nursery?

Is there any doubt? Sports.  And I can't believe Pottery barn doesn't have that theme for infants. Perhaps I'll write them a letter.  

10. What kind of interesting cravings have you had since being pregnant?

Please see Oreo reference above.  I don't crave things until someone talks about them, or until I hear about a particular dish or sandwich or pizza place, or until I see a menu or a french fry or a bag of popcorn. So put all of that together and I crave everything.

11. Have you felt the baby kick?

Yes! And for those that have not or may not ever experience that one (guys) it starts as a little grumbling feeling, and then within a few weeks turns into a full-fledged "someone let me out of here, they are keeping me against my will."  It's a crazy feeling, but It's awesome.  I just sit and smile when he kicks me, or punches me, or whatever it is he's doing in there.  Perhaps he's practicing his swing or maybe dancing to the beat of the latest DT hit.  As the weeks pass and my breathing gets more labored and the punches become more aggressive, I may  not be smiling anymore so I'm enjoying it for now. 

12. If you could give any advice to a first time pregnant person what would it be?

Wait. I am a first time pregnant person. Anyone got any advice for me?   There is one thing, pray for friends like my friend Sandi who has loaned me oodles of adorable maternity clothes and DO NOT wait until there is nothing in your closet that fits (husbands, you will thank me for this one)  It is not a good feeling, and someone will feel the wrath of this little outburst. 2 mornings in one week, Jeff stood at the sink shaving, watching me melt down in my closet over "WHAT AM I GOING TO WEAR TO WORK!" If you get to stay home and wear sweats, more power to ya. Not in my line of work, so clothes are important. We went shopping that weekend. God bless my husband.  Oh, here's some advice for the first time pregnant person's babys' daddies out there .... roll with the hormones. As my co-worker and dear friend Jack Nothstine said to me, "Holly, tell Jeff that you won't be crazy forever. He'll get his wife back someday." I laughed when he said that and said to myself "no, I'll be fine. I'm not that hormonal."   At that point my hormones had really not been an issue.  It was week 10.  By week 14 or so? Let's just say,  Please don't do anything to tick your wife off or hurt her feelings. You will not win in these situations. 

13. Have you picked out a hospital where you are going to deliver your baby?

St. Mary's. Some of my closest friends have had their babies there, so that makes me more familiar with that hospital than any other in Richmond.  And Mr. Jeff Saunders came into the world 34 years ago in that hospital.  Mr. Baby Saunders shall follow in his footsteps.

14. Are you going to work after you have the baby?

Yep!  I will hit the 9 year mark with Aerotek around Thanksgiving....(Oh yeah, quitting smoking was hard but I miss turkey too. No sandwich meat. Who made that rule?)  I haven't figured out the childcare thing as of yet, but we'll get it straight and I'll head back to work after a few months off with my little man.

15. What kind of support have you had through your pregnancy?

What support haven't I had?  I have already referenced Jeff's support, but this should surprise no one. He makes me breakfast every day to ensure I and the baby stay well fed, he has attempted to minimize the stress in my life (although it has been a tough year for that) and listens to me gripe and moan. yep! He's a keeper. He just bought me a Boppy Pregnancy pillow cuz sleeping just ain't as easy as it used to be. It was a great purchase.  Thanks honey.  

My mom offers advice, and love, and excitement and a little fear (cuz she's a mom) but I know she's ecstatic about this grand baby and for the changes taking place in our lives.  I know she offers up a lot of prayers for us among a whole lot of other people.  Thanks people.   My friends and all my co-workers are amazing of course; always asking me how I'm doing and how I'm feeling... and I know that so many of them love this baby already and they haven't even met him yet.   If there is one thing I know, there will be no shortage of hugs and kisses for this child.  My sister-in-law who started stocking us up with books from the beginning, and who has been there to answer lots of questions..... there are so many more to come but we all feel like she's the expert now with 3 little ones at home.  What a resource!  Thanks Kara!  My brother Will.  I can only guess that he is as excited about this baby as I was about his twins and his daughter Meredith.  The Saunders and the Rochelles.  Talk about families that are full of love, support and excitement! I wish we could see them more, but I have a feeling that baby Saunders will be pretty popular.   I already mentioned my DT family, but they're worth mentioning again.  We dance and we laugh. Does it get any better?   Oh! I really, really like my doctor, and she's rather important. I trust her, and in a few months she will be at the top of the "most important people" list.  I am blessed, very blessed.