Cletus has an appetite ... that's fo sho

During her first trimester, Mommy's diet centered primarily around pale-beige or pastel colored foods. Saltine crackers, instant oatmeal, yogurt, eggs, and english muffins made her top 10 ten list for weeks. Plain entrees (gasp -- lots of sandwiches) dosed out in small quantities, were her friend.

Now that we are knee deep into our second trimester, Mommy Smong is back to being her normal "spicy-exotic-food-lovin" self. Last week we had Korean food (spicy kim chee-tofu soup and BBQ rib eye) four times in 3 days. Today we are all about Indian samosas and Mexican chile rellenos.

I think Cletus will have his Mommy's cuisine taste buds ... but only time will tell ...

Here is my new favorite food blog: The Tasty Island
Here is a link to the restaurant that my chefy friend Terrina is interning at Chez TJ

Happy Saturday ...

"Proud to be an American"

September 1st is Labor Day ... it's also 2 days away from Cletus' due date.

As I was making notes in my calendar this morning, I chuckled to myself ... "Gee wouldn't it be funny if I went into labor on Labor Day?? It would be kinda fun if the baby was born on a national holiday ... Dad was born on Flag day ... wouldn't it be so fun ... blah blah blah."

Rob chimed in to say that he highly doubts that I will be "chuckling" and/or reveling in the fact that I will be laboring on a national holiday ... but somehow I think it would be funny if I went into labor on a day when the whole country takes a break and honors those who "labor".

--- Latest update on Cletus ---

Mommy Smong saw Dr. Clawson again this morning. The doctor confirmed that all is well and that she is happy to see that we have come this far (over halfway) into the pregnancy without any issues. Mommy asked Dr. Clawson how long the baby would continue his teddy bear grip like "hug" on her bladder and Dr. Clawson sadly advised that it's a possibility that the two will remain friends for the duration of the pregnancy. Sigh ... at least I'm no longer nauseous and my appetite is back : )

Latest update on Cletus our Fetus

Aloha everyone ... here is a side profile view of Cleet the Feet at 5 months. As you can hopefully see from the picture, our little one has taken to sucking his thumb ... and his fist : )

The picture is a bit grainy but if you look closely you can see his nose (the pointy thing on the right) and the fist that he is actively chomping on.

At this stage, Cletus is very active, healthy and on target for his height and weight class. Baby Smong comes in at just under 13 ounces, 3 ounces shy of a pound love : )

Today's ultrasound tech confirmed what Mommy Smong has suspected all along ... Cletus is all boy : )

Cleet's little wee-wee and his scrotal sac were completely visable during the ultrasound so we are confident that we'll be shopping for baby boy blue, not Hello Kitty pink.

Hope you enjoy the pics ... more to come in 1 month : )

Cletus is on the move !!!

Mommy Smong started to feel Cleet's little feet move on Friday of this past week. She thinks that she might have felt him earlier in the month but who knows ... that could have been gas : ) As Aunty Jenni has taken to telling her friends ... "Chrissi is sooooo gassy lately??" Thanks for sharing the news with your friends Jen ... (yes it's normal ... yes they stink ... no it's not stopping anytime soon : )

Anyhow, back to Cleet's little feet ... Mommy Smong is fairly certain that the pushy "waves" that she's been feeling since Friday are all Cletus. If you make a fist and rub your knuckles against the lower part of your belly (under the belly button) that's what Cletus' dance moves feel like.

Cletus is pretty much dormant during the day ... lucky Daddy won himself a daytime napper and a night-time attention hog. Daddy's home !!! Pay attention to me ... pay attention to me !!! Hee hee ... lucky Daddy : )

Oops ... I must correct myself. The baby just moved (and it's only 10:23 am). I wonder if the baby can telepathically understand the words I'm thinking and typing. Perhaps Daddy will get super lucky and Baby Smong will be an attention hog all day long. Hmmm ... I wonder who he gets that from : )

Happy Monday ... Love, Mommy

How Mommy Smong is feeling these days ...

1) Imagine that this is my baby.

2) Now imagine that he is sitting literally on top of my bladder ... sigh

It's always nice when you can hang out with friends ... don't you just love the little guy in the middle : )