My fingernails tend to grow pretty long as a rule, because I attend to them so infrequently. Ever since that terrible fungal infection in my fingernails in college taught me that I’m allergic to fingernail polish, I don’t even wear that stuff. I just let them grow and trim/file them down only when necessary.
When pregnant, hormones make fingernails and toenails grow super-extra fast, assumably because these same hormones encourage similar development within the fetus. As a result, my fingernails are ridiculously long right now. I could clip them, but all that filing to smooth them out would be soooooo tedious. But…it’s getting harder to type and open the back sliding glass door because of these long finger-end appendages. Never mind that I don’t want to inadvertently poke the little guy when he decides to emerge and join us in outside-of-uterus-land. I guess I have to suck it up and give myself a manicure. Boring.
In other news, cows like to face magnetic north. Who knew? Certainly not cattle ranchers or dairy farmers, according to the article. My favorite quote from the story:
Experts conceded that the research almost certainly has no practical applications.
I’d like to add to that statement the word yet. Do we lack in creativity so much as to not come up with a practical use for this amazing bovine talent? In the very least, say you’re out in the boonies and lost and for some reason can’t use the sun for directional guidance. All you have to do is find a bunch of cows and look at which direction 2/3′s are facing. So simple. Surely there are other practical applications. Surely.
Alicia, I doubt you will remember me or my husband Mark, but we lived in Cary for a basically a year (Dec 2004 to Jan 2006) and met you on a few occassions with racing. Anyway, Mark came across your blog and posts a good while back and I’ve checked in on your pregnancy a few times because I’m 39 weeks now with our first child.
I’m impressed you are still riding outside. I stopped riding outside a few months back because we now live in north Texas (Wichita Falls to be exact–home of the Hotter N Hell Hundred bike ride which was this past weekend) and it’s hotter than stink here and always very very windy which just made me nervous.
Anyway, I think your blog or post may have also been how I found out about the James Clapp book which has been my pregnancy bible. Thanks!!! I ran until week 35 and had to stop because thats when the baby dropped significantly and running caused excrutiating lower abdominal pain with any abdominal or hip flexion activity for about 24 hours after running. Now I’m doing the elliptical mostly. I’m anxious to return to running after the baby arrives and also to be able to push myself some physically.
From your recent posts it looks like you are doing very well. Congrats and the nursery looks awesome! You can add professional artist to your resume!! Someone gave us a huge octopus stuffed animal which would look great in your nursery. Check out http://www.babystyle.com and search under plush toys.
Good luck with your final days/weeks of pregnancy!
Katy Roberts
Did you know that you see one cow every single day. Whether it’s real or a picture you will see a cow tomorrow on something, somewhere.
I have actually heard that cow thing before! Crazy.
ha! I love the comment about getting a manicure… “BORING!” … My thoughts EXACTLY.
On your latest blog – with your mother sitting here next to me – is that you answered your own question regarding your dream. I feel that Remy has a lot to teach you and us all!
FYI – I was also very large in the later stages of my pregnancies and was late. Is this what you want to hear? Remy will appear when he is ready.
Love Bev