Happy New Year

Well, I experienced yet another joy of pregnancy Sunday morning. I was in that state just before waking, very cozy and extremely comfortable (a rare occurrence these days). I was dreaming a weird pregnancy dream. (Actually, I was trying to reconcile the Clark Kent of Smallville with the Clark Kent of the Superman movies. Is it me, or are they just completely disregarding any real Superman story? Granted, I never read the comic books, but come on. So, I was writing an episode in my head that would somehow make it believable that the two characters were the same person. It was pretty good, if I do say so myself.)
Anyway, I stretched languorously, extending my arms and legs, pointing my toes, enjoying the cool air as my right leg poked out from beneath the sheet. And was greeted by the most excruciating wake-up I've ever had. I don't know if it was worse than my hip or not ... it didn't make me cry, at least. My right calf muscle cramped like never before. "AAAAAHH! Joe! AAAAHHH! Joe! AAAAAAAHHHH! JOE!" It took three tries to wake him up.
"Rub my calf! Rub my calf! Rub my calf!"
It took probably about 5 minutes (it felt like a half hour) of Joe rubbing my calf and flexing my foot (I couldn't move my foot on my own at all), before the muscle relaxed a little. It's still sore. The dogs, meanwhile, did their best to protect me from whatever was attacking me. Seamus jumped up and lay next to my head while I screamed and Pearl stood at my feet. After things calmed down a little, Seamus moved down to lie at my feet, while Pearl decided the safest place for her was on my chest. It took some convincing, but she finally settled at the curve of the C I made while I lay on my side.
These cramps, too, are common. On the upside, I got to practice some relaxation breathing, or at least my version of it. Yippee.
Okay, positive thoughts, positive thoughts. The Donger is plugging right along. Officially, he should weigh between 12 and 14 ounces and be about 10 1/2 inches long, head to toe (at 20 weeks, they start measuring head to toe, rather than crown to rump). I'd guess he's at least that. At times, I can feel him kick/punch almost simultaneously on both sides of my belly, which is a little disconcerting, considering we found out over Christmas that there are a couple of sets of twins on Joe's mom's side. I think I'd be bigger at this point if that were the case, though. I guess we'll know for sure when I get my ultrasound next week. I've been able to feel him from the outside a couple times, but every time Joe tries, he stops moving. Stubborn already, I suppose. Here's Sam at 21 weeks.
Joe started on the nursery this weekend, painting and building shelves. As soon as I get the photos developed, I'll scan them (thanks Mom and Dad!) and put them up here. It's early to get started, but February's going to be busy with my little brother's wedding and some work stuff, so we wanted to take care of what we can ahead of time. I'd like to have most of it done by mid-March so that the dogs and cats can get used to having the baby stuff around and staying out of/being careful in that room, before we add the variable of the small squeaking thing.
Belly button update: I can no longer call it an inie, but it's not an outie yet either, nor is it flat. It's sort of a mutant half-bulge. I was wrong in my last post—the pregnancy books, do, in fact, discuss "navel discomforts." It's normal, as a woman passes her 20th week, which is exactly when my popped up (no pun intended ... really). Supposedly it'll pass. It is feeling a little better, most of the time, so I'm going to have to trust them on this one. I'll keep you all posted.