So, what's with the freakin' gag reflex?

I've discovered that I suddenly have a gag reflex like nothing I've ever had before and it sucks. What is THAT about? Because nausea and indegestion and peeing all night and bad headaches aren't enough - I now gag at the slightest thing. I used to be gag-free, let me tell you. Never gagged at the dentist, could handle the goriest visions television could offer, etc. Now - man, anything and there I go.

Last night a scene from CSI New York got me going. This morning I could barely finish brushing my teeth. I gagged the whole way through the process and then nearly choked to death on my Listerine because I gagged while trying to gargle. Then, I get to work and the mere smell of butter on a co-workers baked sweet potato gets me going (lucky me, half the office is on this freakin' high protein diet so all I smell are baked sweet potatoes and boiled egg whites - ugh). I'm afraid to go grocery shopping because for some reason just looking at a carton of cottage cheese had me gagging for so long I think my fellow shoppers were beginning to stare. Mariska the bulemic, walking through the grocery store. Fantastic.

Okay, that's enough on that. I'm going to go try to gag down some tea now....

Do You Hear What I Hear?

I just returned from my most recent doctors appointment and heard my baby's heart beat for the very first time. I'm still in awe. The doctor was running the doppler all over and hearing nothing (let me tell you it felt like forever, but I'm sure it was less than a minute) when finally he found it. I just got the biggest smile on my face and asked, "is that it?" "Yep," he replied. It sounded SO fast compared to the heartbeat we're all used to hearing from ourselves or one another. He said although it will slow... a baby's resting heart rate can be around 140 (ours are around 60). It was wild.

I still don't know what to say. I'm amazed at this little life growing inside me with it's own little heart beat and, by now, fingers and toes and little arms that bend at the elbows. All this and I'm only 11 weeks along. I'm so amazed at life. I'm so thrilled and terrified and overjoyed and freaked out by it all. My husband called it "creepy" or "freaky" (can't remember) that we're hearing this little heartbeat come out of my tummy. What a ride this is.

I just came back from California and x-mas with my family and I'm just enjoying this whole experience. Enjoying the highs and lows, enjoying the fun little gifts we and the baby (already) have received... all this excitement over a new little life. It's all so amazing. People do this every day and yet we all get so excited and giddy about another little life and addition to our (rather large) family.

Next visit we might be able to learn the sex of the baby (it's in about 4 weeks). I can't wait. I want to know now!