28 weeks

28 weeks and things are going well. Here are some random changes brought on by pregnancy:

* My eye prescription changed (for the better, after a steady decline for 22 years)

* My shoe size has gone up 1/2 size (I'm now a 6, which means more shoe selection; however this also means none of my shoes fit, and my puppy has now officially eaten ALL of my sandals)

* I now like rye bread. A lot.

* It's hard to get off a couch.

* When I do get off a couch it feels like I've been kicked in the crotch.

But the biggest change of all (besides having a person inside me) is that I'm no longer a night owl. After sundown is when I always had the most energy, and mornings were a continuous battle to feel alive and productive. But now, for the first time I ever remember, I feel more awake in the mornings than at night. Once I open my eyes it's usually hard to fall  back asleep. And though I'm still not going to bed until 11 or 12 or a bit later I notice that I start getting really tired and grumpy around 9ish, and much more achy and complainy. (I'm guessing my husband has noticed this too.)  I think I might have to push up my bedtime even earlier!  And I think I'll actually be able to fall asleep - weird!

I'm taking advantage of earlier mornings on the weekends and going to a few yard sales. This weekend I got a nice reclining glider/ottoman, a pink dresser, diaper genie, bouncer and lots of assorted clothes/towels/blankets for so cheap!  And now I feel like I can start getting the nursery area together which is fun & making me realize how soon our household is going to go from two to three people. I can't wait!

We had our third Hypnobabies class today and I can honestly say I'm feeling really confident and excited about birth. I feel like we're getting some great tools to use, and I feel really informed about my options and expectations. So happy we made this choice!

Here's this week's belly pic. I'm feeling about the same as last week, but my belly has been super itchy the past couple days so I think it's another growth spurt.  It's starting to get impossible to bend over without the awkward pregnancy squat - she just gets too smooshed and it hurts and physics gets all up in my way. She is a good 2 1/4 lbs. or so and just about 15 inches. She is still really active off and on throughout the day. Lots of times she kicks the computer or book when it's on top of me. I'm starting to feel different parts of her - what I think is her back curled up against my side, or a knee/elbow being dragged. I haven't seen distinguishable body parts through my tummy - still waiting for that craziness!  

Again excuse the tiredness, fake smile, and developing mullet. One day I'll pull it together!

two favorite things...

toddlers & billy collins' poetry!

it sounds to me from his delivery that he didn't just memorize random words, he understands meaning and phrases. i think this is the most adorable video...

Baby girl is a real person

And there's proof!

27 weeks - third trimester!

Baby girl is 14 1/2 inches long and just over 2 pounds. This past weekend she was the most active I've felt yet. Gabe's parents were in town and we saw some bluegrass & watched a musical puppet show and she moved around for both of those. She also is quite busy during our childbirth classes, and in the morning, and night, and after I eat or drink water. Or when I sit or lie down. It's a frequent reminder that there is a real person in there, and one who is due to arrive in just a few months!

We did a 3-d ultrasound on Friday which was another huge reminder that here is a person. We saw her smiling face! We could count her toes! All this before she's even here. I had reservations about the whole thing, because it wasn't medically necessary. But it was just 15 minutes and was an incredible experience. Right from the start she was smiling and making faces, and then she curled up with the cord and hid for a bit. Later she scratched her little face and stretched out her legs. The tech commented that she has long legs (that's definitely not from me) and she looked pensive (that sounds more like me).  Everyone says she looks like her mama, but I haven't seen Gabe's baby pictures so it's hard for me to tell. 

I'm feeling definitely large at this point. I understand why they say carrying a baby. I get tired and achy more easily. I've  given up my stubborn refusal to put on my underwear or pants any way but standing up. I don't just pop out of bed, it is a process. You can see the outline of my bellybutton through my shirts.

My attention has shifted from a focus on pregnancy to preparing for her arrival. This means lots of cleaning, buying things, spending some quality time with my husband just-us, reading some books about babies and having some mild freak-outs about how unprepared we might just be. 

We went for a walk yesterday and bumped into our neighbor two doors down. Turns out she has a 2 yr old and is now pregnant, due in January. The neighbor across from her is due the same day as her (and has a baby as well I think). Across the street is a tiny little baby I haven't met yet. There are only seven houses on our street so I feel really lucky that there are two other pregnant ladies and a few babies around.

We had our second childbirth class yesterday and it went really well. We had to be in hypnosis while still being active (opening eyes, talking). During this time you are given the suggestion that you direct your own 'anesthesia' in the mid-part of your body, including arms. Whatever sensations happen will only be interpreted as pressure, not discomfort. At some point Gabe rubbed my arm a few times and I just felt light pressure. After everything was over in the car I asked him what he did and he gave me a nasty pinch and turned my skin - OW! (It felt like what we called indian burn back in school.)  I had felt nothing before! How exciting that this stuff works!

I must have felt pretty good about it because I had a dream about birthing last night. For some reason I was by myself. I wasn't worried because I felt her moving down but there was no pain at all. I just kept going with the flow and at some point remembered to call the midwife. By the time she had gotten there I had labored too long and the baby had ended up in my thigh somehow, and she had to push the baby back into my uterus so I could push her out :)   Bizarre!

27 weeks, early a.m. picture. Seriously glad we're gonna end up taking maternity photos because I look just awful in every one of these pictures.

26 weeks

This is my last week of the second trimester! She is now anywhere from 1.7 to 2 pounds, and is 14 inches in length. The most amazing thing that happened this week is she opened her eyes! She blinks and sees. The combination of this, plus we're 98% sure of her name now, has turned her into a real person. We love her so much and can't wait to meet her!

We may get a Baby Cantor sneak peek this week with a 3-d ultrasound; if so, I'll post some pictures. I've been feeling bigger and it takes some maneuvering to do things I took for granted before: get out of bed, bend over to get something, shave my legs, etc. Friday night I woke up at 3 a.m. due to a combination of having to pee all the time, leg cramps, backache, bloody nose... and finally just said screw it and got up. I went to some yard sales EARLY (7 a.m.) and got some good deals on baby stuff - I may have to do that again soon. 

Today Gabe and I attended our first childbirth class!  We're doing Hypnobabies and so far I'm feeling really excited. I love all the 'homework', all the potential benefits and it's nice to be around other pregnant couples. Three out of four of us are expecting girls - the fourth couple is having a surprise. I'm sure I'll be writing more about the class in weeks to come.

Here's my 26 week belly pic. And yes I know I need a haircut. I'm nearing accidental-mullet phase.

who...

eats a post-lunch entire box of mozzarella sticks & then craves wicked bad a donut, which she has not had in at least a year....

Me. And I'm still gonna have room for dinner - a nice summery chicken w/ lemon sauce & fingerling potato and green bean salad with shallot-dijon vinaigrette).   Maybe some roasted tomatoes too.

I just realized I've never tried to make a donut at home - has anyone else? Doughnut. That was the one word I ever got wrong on a spelling test I believe. Sixth grade. You think I would let that part of my brain be occupied by something else, already.

25 week stats

Baby girl is 13 1/2 inches long and 1 1/2 pounds. My uterus is the size of a volleyball now. I didn't realize my belly would also expand on the side. For example, if I stand with my hands above my hips I can feel her move there. Often you can feel her on both sides at once. She's a little wiggle worm. What I wouldn't give to be able to see what's going on in there sometimes!

25 weeks!

I skipped a week, oops. 24 weeks is a big milestone, too - the week of viability. That means the baby has a better than half chance of surviving outside the womb. But so far she's staying put and that's a great thing.

I had a prenatal appt. last week and all is well beside the list of usual symptoms. I was quite proud of myself for being able to gain 15 lbs. and the midwife nodded slowly, scrunched up her mouth and said 'we'd really like you to gain 15 more, at least. ideally more.' At a pound a week it doesn't seem too hard, but that is like gaining a third of my original body weight. It's hard to imagine.

Speaking of weight, just a week ago I was surprised I'd gained 15 because I had always thought that would feel like a lot of extra weight. But besides my belly and slightly bigger boobs and butt I didn't feel that much larger.

Until yesterday. We went to Target and I saw some maternity clearance items. I went in the fitting room to try them on and at some point happened to glance in the three way mirror. OH MY GOD. I could see where each of those 15 pounds has landed. Most of them have taken residence in my new chunky thighs. To be clear, I've never had body image issues..it's just that I always maxed out at 100 lbs. no matter what I did so that was my idea of my body. Now here was this brand new body that somehow emerged right in front of my eyes without my knowledge. It was like double vision. 

A bit disoriented (and slightly horrified) I met my husband outside who immediately commented that I looked beautiful without me saying a thing. I asked if he'd happened to see my thighs lately, oh my god. He just laughs when I say it's incomprehensible how much bigger I am now. 'You're pregnant, silly!'

Due to weight, or joints, or who knows, I've definitely started with a slight waddle already. And I've napped today for the third day in a row. And I am hungry ALL. THE. TIME. I feel like a machine that just eats and sleeps. But I suppose all that is a sign of the impending third trimester, another thing I'm having trouble believing. She'll actually be here in a few months!

Baby girl seems to be doing great. This morning I felt her squirm around and I rolled over onto my other side. I had my hand on my belly and I clearly felt her hand or foot move across my palm. So cool!  Her movements keep getting stronger, and more and more it feels like a body in there not just random thumps.

Here's this week's belly picture. I had just gotten up from a nap so don't mind the frumpiness.

Home

Despite everyone's admonitions to take it easy during this move, easy was not taken.  At least I've gotten some exercise. The move took four days. Packing took a good week beforehand (I packed ALL boxes and bags)... and now unpacking begins. I've moved about 20 times I think and I love the feeling of saying good-bye and starting fresh somewhere else. I love deciding how to arrange my kitchen. I love trying to figure out which windowsills the cats will like best. I still love all those things, but this move was more difficult. I couldn't relax in a tornado of mess, so just went and went all day. I got a nice break when my sister and brother-in-law visited Saturday, when the guys did some heavy lifting the gals ate Locopops.

They brought their cute doggie Oscar and he and Conan were BFFs until a nasty incident involving an imaginary treat. SCARY how a dog can just snap over possessions. He is so good with people and dogs at the dog park, but this was the first time another dog has been in his space. So we have a training goal with him so that his mama doesn't get traumatized again.

I need to update tomorrow for 24 weeks and post a (big) belly pic. For now I'm going to relax in my half-made home. It's lovely here, and we may just stay put longer than a year. But no promises. Gabe and I both have the same peculiar dilemma of wanting to nest and wanting to travel, both in equal proportions, simultaneously. Everywhere is home; nowhere is home. But we're each others' home. I've had this song playing through my head for the past week: