Bree needs a haircut, pedicure, & exercise!!

So, Michael came in on Wednesday looking all well-coifed from our favorite hairstylist Aubrey. I have to admit, in the 5+ years we have lived in Tucson, Aubrey is still the best hairstylist we have come across (we have been using her off-and-on for 4 years). She has moved locations now 3 times and now is back in the Tucson Mall working at the JC Penney Salon. Not as close to us as some of the salons we have been to, but she is very good and her prices are reasonable. So, from Bree's jealousy at Michael's new "do," Bree decided to call the salon and make an appointment today. Pregnancy pro: due to an increase in certain pregnancy hormones, hair and nails grow like weeds!! I haven't had a haircut in over 4 months (my bangs are down to my mouth). I have to manicure my nails myself every few days b/c they are growing so fast. I am starting to have problems bending at the waist now, since my belly is starting to get "harder" around my belly button (due to my uterus/placenta/baby moving up), so I can no longer give myself pedicures either- as a treat, my girlfriend Meagan and I are going to Chantilly for tea, and then to get pedicures at Gadabout on Wednesday! Woo hoo! Pregnancy con: the hair grows in funny places now- there is a fine, downy coating of teeny blond hairs on my tummy! Where did that come from??

Michael is going tubing at the Salt River tomorrow with my brother Adam, his fiance Brandi, and our friends Leon and Elaine. Please take a quick minute to wish them both safety and a good time on their trip. And remind them to drink lots of water and slather on tons of sunscreen since temperatures are reaching well over 110 degrees in that area every day- even with monsoon season.

I received doctor approval to do some light exercising! I am thrilled. I haven't been able to exercise at all since I was about 5 weeks pregnant b/c the fatigue, dizziness, constant nausea, and twin pregnancy were not allowing me to exercise. After over 3 months of little activity, it has been such a relief to me and Michael that these symptoms have finally abated enough that the practitioner gave me the go ahead for certain stretches, prenatal yoga, walking, and non-rigorous machine exercises. I am approved for up to 30 minutes a day (sooner if I become dizzy, nauseous, or dehydrated, of course). I still have nausea, but it has subsided to about 2-3 hours a day now, which is sooo much better than it was.

On a fun "planning ahead" note: Bree has been checking on Prenatal Classes & Tours given at the hospital (they have a minimal cost) and Community Prenatal Workshops (free). Some of these classes look really interesting and informative: "Preparing for the Birth Experience," "Baby Care Basics," "Pump & Go Breastfeeding Workshops," "Parent CPR," "Registry Workshops," and "Buckle Up and Boogie Car Seat Safety Workshops." As first time parents, we have been reading and asking questions about these topics, but we feel it would be a great experience to attend a classroom setting so we can be hands-on and possibly make new parent friends in the process! We must register for these classes soon (they fill up fast with parents who have due dates similar to ours), even though we may not be attending some of them for another few months. I would also like to attend the 20th Annual Tucson Baby Fair on August 1, to get some good info on baby care, AZ laws concerning travel with children, and baby products.

Tomorrow begins my 5th month of pregnancy! Can you believe it!!?? Technically, I will be 18 weeks pregnant tomorrow (in gestational terms, doctors consider weeks 18-22 the 5th month of pregnancy). And in 10 days we have the Anatomy Scan of our little one! We are both psyched and anxious about this ultrasound with our Specialist b/c 1) we will know, with over 95% accuracy, what the gender of our baby is (we want that) and 2) the practitioner may find certain measurements to be abnormal (we do not want that). The last scan the Specialist did came out very well and the ultrasound tech even ventured a guess as to what she thought the baby's gender was (but the gender scan has only a 70% accuracy rate at 13 weeks, so we were skeptical). Speaking of, we will be hosting a fun "Guess the Sex" contest via e-mail after this appointment- complete with a prize- so please feel free to participate. We are looking forward to it and already have plans on what the contest will be if the baby is a boy, or if the baby is a girl. FYI: we recently polled our friends and family and, based on Old Wives' Tales, Chinese Calendars, or gut feelings, the guesses are 10 votes for girl, 6 for boy. What is your guess so far? E-mail us and let us know.

Update: Bree got her haircut with Aubrey and Bree is very happy with the results (as usual). Michael called to tell Bree that he was test driving vehicles after he got off work and thinks he may have found the family vehicle for us: a red 2008 Dodge Caliber 5-door Hatchback. The dealer let him bring it home to show me and to let me test drive it. It is nice and if we can talk the dealer down in price, as well as get a decent trade-in on my car, we may have a family vehicle soon. Fingers crossed.