I was just forwarded this Health threat from computer use report at the BBC News. Basically, long periods of inactivity not only clots your gut with fat, but could facilitate blood clotting elsewhere. Good thing I just joined a gym a couple days ago. I guess the next step is to actually go.

I just posted the heartbeat. It is up top there in the menu. It is in MP3 format. If you click on it and nothing happens, try right clicking and downloading to your desktop. Then try double-clicking it and see if something opens it.

"Will you find out the gender?"
It's the first question I get after announcing "the news". A few months ago I was adamant that I did not want to know the gender. The old fashioned way seemed so quaint, so romantic, so the way it was meant to be. I have this vision of having the baby and the Dr. announcing, "Congratulations, it's a ---!" Plus, our moms didn't know what gender we would be, and they lived through it. Their friends were even able to buy them gender-neutral shower gifts!
But then I discovered something very, very sad. It has shaken my core beliefs. The discovery is this: gender-neutral clothes are NO WHERE near as cute as gender-obvious clothes. There are dresses, pink overalls and onesies with hearts on them, on the one hand, and denim outfits with trains or tracters or dogs on them on the other. These items blow away a pale yellow onesie with NO design on it (except maybe a "mommy loves me," which is cute, don't get me wrong). I want trains and/or hearts! Anyway, I am not normally driven by materialism, but, well... yes I am.
Plus, Jerry and I feel so impatient. Can we really wait 5 1/2 months? We've talked almost exclusively about girl names so far (for some reason), but what if it's a boy? I need to know. I can't wait.
The date of discovery is February 26.

Prego Update
As Jerry announced below, my tummy popped (I suppose you could compare it to a Snapple bottle, if you must). One week I just looked a little chubby, and now I look pregnant. I keep staring at it. Every mirror I pass by, I have to look... I just can't believe how ROUND it is.
Well, the experts were right. The second trimester rules. I have the same energy that I had before I was pregnant. I sleep only 8 hours a night now, and no naps! (I feel like such a big girl!) Naesea is also gone now and weird smells are less bothersome...
My only symptoms now are obsession with baby, obsession with baby items, obsession with the perfect crib sheet set (I don't care what all the experienced moms say about how unnecessary it is!), and a consistent desire to eat almost all the time.
I don't have the crazy moodiness that everyone says pregnant women get. Aside from the occassional tear during a very, very touching Wal Mart commercial, I'm pretty cool. Right, Jerry?

We were able to hear the heartbeat!
Yesterday I went in for my monthly appointment and after having the OB/GYN dump goopey stuff all over my skin, she put a cold thing called a doppler on my tummy. It took about 5 minutes to find the heartbeat. She said the baby must have been laying in a weird position (or perhaps doing summersaults). Eventually we heard the weird ocean-like sound (doesn't really sound like a heartbeat) and it was wonderful. It was strong and constant, and fast. Jerry couldn't be there (darn job), but I recorded it for him and we listened to it a few times last night.
Everything else checked out normal... my blood pressure is low, my weight is normal, and contrary to my firm belief that I am too big for how far along I am (15 weeks), the doc confirmed I am NOT showing too early (I'll have to tell that to the peeps that keep asking if I am having twins).
Also, I gave them some of my blood to have them run what's called a triple-marker test. It checks for the likelihood of birth defects. I am thinking positive. If we don't hear anything within 3 days, that's supposed to be a good sign (since when did HMOs stop calling people to tell them everything is NORMAL?)

It's de je vu all over again
Support for Bush skidding
Seattle P-I

Plot to kill Gov. Locke
From the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. The informant told the FBI that Brailey was a member of the Jural Society, a loosely organized group whose members do not believe in or support state or federal government.

The society periodically holds its own elections for state office, and in October 1998 it elected Brailey governor of Washington, the complaint said.

"Brailey hates Governor Locke because he believes (Brailey) is the only true governor of this state," FBI special agent James Keesling wrote in the complaint. "Brailey also hates Governor Locke because of his ethnicity."

So they don't believe in government, yet they hold elections and this guy believes he's the governor.
Do you get the feeling your life is not nearly as exciting as other peoples?

And the Pulitzer goes to...
Bob Price for The Lords of Bakersfield!! This is a piece written by Andrea's big brother for the Bakersfield Californian, and it is filled with murder, sex, deceit, greed, and corruption. A piece that could easliy be described as a hard-boiled-gritty-noir story, but provides even more titilation because it is all real.

He's channeled the spirit of Jim Thompson. Good stuff.

Andrea's belly popped like a Snapple cap this week!! Pictures coming soon!

Plumb Design Visual Thesaurus
This more artsy than utility, but I love the design.

Looks like the site that runs the Comments script I was using is no longer in service. I'll need to find an alternative. Sorry. I don't think I'll be able to port any of the comments over. I stink. :-|

New Links page has been added. Andrea will be posting her share shortly.

Pregnancy Update
Ok, here's my pregnancy update (for those who were wondering) -- Everyone says the 2nd trimester (14 weeks) marks the beginning of comfort and the end of unpleasant things like nausea and aversion to smells such as toothpaste. I am 3 days away from the 2nd trimester and hoping these experts are right! Here's my rant on how I've been feeling: I miss my coffee, I have occasional "morning" nausea, I am starving every 45 minutes with a hunger like no other, my clothes don't fit (I'm between sizes... maternity is too big and regular clothes way too tight), and what is up with everything stinking? The smell of chicken, fish, eggs, toothpaste and shampoo all turn my stomach. I also have not been able to find the mysterious rotten onion that has been stinking up the apartment, but Jerry insists it doesn't exist. I will find it!
But it's all worth it! All the symptoms exist for a very good reason, and we get to meet that reason in approximately 189 days.

I guess getting a house on the Eastside is still pretty pretty tough. The Seattle Times: Camping for a house

We're Preggers!!!!
I just sent out an email announcing this site to friends and family. Hi!

What's your favorite baby name? Click on the Comment button below and give us a list, and who knows... you may end up naming the most beautiful baby ever created.

A little sneaky-peek! 12 weeks and growing.

Still trying to get this thing going. We will be posting updates on how Andrea is feeling, what smells she hates, what food makes her sick and how many crackers she has eaten that day. We will be posting pictures and goodies all along the way. I am very excited about this pregnancy and I can't wait to meet our baby!

Stockdill Family History Society
Well, this explains the crappy teeth.

I'll be a mom in 7 1/4 months.

My name is Andrea and I am new to the blogging thing, so I have nothing to say at this time. I'm a little shy. More later.