It was a rough day for the two of us.

I now know what it must feel like to go through menopause. We had our little gift exchange at the office, and I was absolutely sweating the whole time. I was wearing a 3/4 length sleeve button-up shirt and some khakis. I had a jacket, too, but when we headed out for our office party, I didn't want to wear it because the freezing cold air felt so freaking good.

Next time, though, I tell you, I will wear my jacket for the SOLE purpose of avoiding EVERY single person I come into contact with asking me "Abby, aren't you freezing?" NO!! I'm sweating like a pig, now leave me alone!

So we headed off for our tour of the World of Coke. I was psyched because caffeine is ok for the baby- it's commonly known now that 2 cups of stuff with caffeine per day is alright, so I was able to participate in the tasting room (to make up for the whole open bar thing I got to miss out on). In fact, I had asked the midwife at my last appointment how I would know if the baby is in distress. She said the only way to know is if he stops moving, and if I can't get him to move by loading myself with caffeine.

Anyway, they have this 4-D thing, and evidently the seats move, too. I figured, oh, it'll move forward and backward once or twice or something. Oh no, the thing simulated like some buggy on a cobblestone path. All I could do was look down and watch my stomach bounce up and down like Jell-O, thinking, "oh my gosh, can Shaken Baby Syndrome happen in the womb?" There were about three parts where I just wanted it to stop.

For 10 minutes after I got out of there, probably every single person I know in the company came up to me and was like, "is your baby still alive?" I was getting concerned myself - so off to the tasting room to load up on some reassurance. I got him to come back to life, but he wasn't kicking very strong. After lunch I had some coffee, too, and by then I was feeling much better knowing that at least he is alive. That is half the battle. I suppose the whole brain damage thing is yet to be seen.

OK, so it wasn't THAT bad. I mean, it felt bad, and I am of course going to worry about it excessively, but everyone assured me that my baby is fine and that it wasn't bad enough to hurt his well-insulated self.

I ordered my filet at Ruth's Chris medium-well. Of course it came out medium-rare, but luckily the plates are so hot that I was able to cut it up and cook it to where there was hardly any pink in it. I was sitting next to the head of the organization, so I didn't want to not eat it, and I didn't want to send it back.

I went out with my friends this evening and spent the evening continuing to sweat without relief. Finally at Starbuck's, once I had cooled down for a couple minutes, I decided to get a hot cocoa thinking I was avoiding anymore caffeine. You know, somehow I don't think it was lacking in caffeine, especially since it was the Godiva variety. Any doubts that my baby is still alive and kicking have gone by the wayside by now.

Now, I am sitting here in shorts and a camisole savoring any cold air that comes my way. I don't even care that I am seven days beyond my weekly leg-shaving. I'll take the pricklies over the heat any day. I am SO GLAD it is not summertime. I don't know how anyone survives.

Tonight I will apologize to my baby profusely for inflicting head trauma upon him and for feeding him excessive amounts of caffeine today. I am sure that he will be ok on all fronts, and I certainly don't give him caffeine very often...just on the rare occasion I crave a Coke. How did we ever survive our moms' pregnancies back when they didn't know any better?

2 1/2 weeks till he is full term. I am so excited. Then all the old wives' tales will come out as I try to induce labor. I'm sure it'll be like Valentine's Day before he decides it's time...