Early Labor

I have been having consistent contractions since 3:30 this morning. They started out at 7 minutes apart and 30 second duration and have progressed to 5:45 minutes apart and 45 second duration. It's a waiting game, but Baby P may very well be a New Year's baby!!

Here we go

Yesterday morning I had this lovely early labor sign. After speaking with my doctor to make sure I didn't need to do anything but watch for my water to break or for real contractions to start, she told me to throw my due date out the window and she would see me soon. Talk about anxious! Nothing happened yesterday, and I had a bit more show this morning, so it's just a waiting game. No one can pinpoint when things will start to happen for real, but it is getting close. I am kind of in shock I am having all these signs so early, but I guess he'll come when he wants to come!

36 weeks

From Babycenter:
Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. He now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. He's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered his body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected his skin during his nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of his first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely he's in a head-down position. But if he isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating him from the outside of your belly.

Update!

I officially lost my plug last night! Things are moving right along!

36 weeks appointment

What an eventful doctor's visit! My blood pressure was 110/80 (it has been 110/70 the last 6 weeks or so) and I gained 3 lbs, putting me at 29 lbs total so far. Feeling good about that - especially since I didn't exactly watch what I ate for Christmas.

Had my Strep B test and had to sign a delivery consent form. Baby P's heart beat sounded great and she confirmed he is head down. She did an internal exam and HOLY COW I am 70% effaced and 1 cm dilated! I couldn't believe it! Babystopper is gone and must have slipped by me without noticing. Doctor advised me to do lots of walking to help the dilation. She didn't give me any indication as to station (where the baby's head is) or to my fundal height, but said all looked great. I go back on Tuesday, where I'll be curious to see if we've made any further progress!

One month!

We are only a month away from my due date! I can't believe it! Things are going well and I am looking forward to my appointment tomorrow. My hips are still very sore and painful, and I have trouble walking around if I sit or lie down for too long. Baby P's movements are constant and strong, and overall I feel okay. Having plenty of Braxton Hicks contractions, but nothing consistent or too painful. It's just a waiting game at this point!

New family member..not Baby P!

Sadly, we had to put one of our two dogs down last week. Our dog Fred was paralyzed and his quality of life was deteriorating. After we put him down, the house quickly settled into a funk. I'd been looking for another 1-3 year old rescue dachshund for the family, but couldn't find one anywhere. I finally gave up and got a puppy - an 8 week old dachshund/terrier mix. She is simply adorable and amazing. We've had her since yesterday and she hasn't had a single accident in the house. Hopefully she gets acclimated before Baby P comes. I know we are crazy to have a new puppy with a new baby on the way, but we are so much happier than we were a few days ago.


Her name is Lilly.

As far as the pregnancy goes, I can sum it up in one phrase: HOLY PELVIC PAIN!! My pelvis and hips pop every time I move, they constantly throb, and I feel like I'm bruised. It's very, very painful and isn't letting up. Otherwise things are still about the same. Sometimes the baby stretches out his knee and his foot ends up high up in my ribcage and it makes it difficult to move or sit. I keep pushing his little foot down but he is pretty stubborn. Trying to enjoy these last few weeks while counting down the days until he decides to appear. I can't believe we are only a few weeks away.

35 Weeks

From Babycenter:
Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

Feeling Pretty Good

Amazingly enough, most of my painful & uncomfortable symptoms have subsided the last few days. I still have very sharp pains down there when he moves around and my hips are very, very tight, but otherwise I am relatively comfortable. This is my last week without a doctor's appointment, so I have to wait until the 27th to see if any progress is going on. Thankful for being as comfortable as possible as long as possible, but getting anxious to meet our little man!

34 weeks

From Babycenter.com:
How your baby's growing:
Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. His fat layers — which will help regulate his body temperature once he's born — are filling her out, making him rounder. His skin is also smoother than ever. His central nervous system is maturing and his lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

34 week appointment

Appointment today went well. Gained 2 lbs in 2 weeks (yay) and my blood pressure was 110/70. Baby's heart beat was great. Talked to the doctor about my symptoms (back pain, sharp pains down below when I stand, contractions and cramping) and she told me they are all normal but means things are progressing. She wants to do an internal check at my next appointment and then have me come in weekly after that. I can't believe we are already at the weekly appointments!

Maternity Pictures

They came out amazing!

Some of the maternity pics:

33 weeks!

From Babycenter:
How your baby's growing:
This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

Afternoon laugh

I'm still not feeling great - but find that as long as I stay off my feet the Braxton Hicks and back pain subside a bit, so I'm trying to take it easy. Luckily, if I change position or lie down the contractions stop a bit, so I know it's nothing to be concerned about at this point. I did find this video of Christina Applegate though and I almost peed my pants. I thought it was hilarious so I had to share, especially since I'm not up to much today:

Prenatal Pole Dancing

Ouch

Today has been a rough day. My hips still feel like they are being pulled apart, and my back hurts after standing for just a moment. I keep having random BH contractions, but nothing regular. I get waves of nausea and overall just feel crappy. When I stand up I get so much pressure down there it hurts and takes my breath away. Baby P has definitely dropped at least a bit - I no longer have his feet in my ribs, but my stomach still shows me carrying pretty high. Hopefully this will ease up as I'm not sure it is best to want things to progress at 33 weeks. We'll just ride this out and see where it goes.

It's been a little while since I've posted! Time is just flying by. Things are going well in the world of Baby P. He is getting more active (and strong..ouch!) by the day. If he gets into certain positions, he really, really hurts me when he moves, but otherwise it is just fine.

I didn't get much sleep last night because I felt like my hips were being ripped apart, making almost any position nearly impossible. It was a long evening. Whatever it was has subsided by this morning though, so all appears to be well. The baby reacts pretty instantly to loud sounds or touches if he is awake and that always puts a smile on my face.

We are picking up our maternity pictures on Thursday afternoon. I am so excited! I can't wait to see how they turned out.

Today is a bit odd. I am feeling kind of out of it. I was only able to do 15 of my normal 50 squats, as I felt a lot of pressure when I was doing them. I also can't get enough water today, am out of breath all the time, and standing for just a minute or two makes my back hurt a lot. Just plain uncomfortable.

32 weeks!

From Babycenter:
By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, he'll gain a third to half of his birth weight during the next 7 weeks as he fattens up for survival outside the womb. He now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). His skin is becoming soft and smooth as he plumps up in preparation for birth.

So Hot

I've been having the WORST hot flashes for the past month. They tend to last at least half an hour and I am the crazy pregnant lady who is sitting in a bra and shorts with the windows open in 40 degree weather sweating like a pig. It is HORRIBLE. I will never have a summer baby if only for this reason. It truly is out of control. One of these days, I'd also like to not have heartburn. In case anyone is taking requests out there.

Baby P is starting to get so big his movements are more painful than playful lately. That makes me kind of sad. We are getting so anxious to meet him that these last 8 weeks are going to take forever. I am so thankful for a textbook, easy pregnancy and I hate to think that I am starting to want it to be over. I will miss having him move around inside of me once he is here, but the desire to have him here with us is overwhelming any remaining bliss I have about the pregnancy.

We have picked a pediatrician and all I need to do is call them to ensure they are taking new patients. The process was easier than I thought. Luckily, the practice is on call at the hospital we are delivering at, so his actual doctor will get to do his in-hospital check up which I am satisfied with. It's not the only reason I picked this place, but it is a nice benefit.

As excited as I am that this is my last week of my MBA program and I graduate on the 15th after 2 1/2 long years of going to school at night while working, I am sad I won't have much on my plate except waiting for Baby P to come. I'm afraid that will really slow things down to not have much to distract myself. But if the last 32 weeks have flown by like they have, I'm sure these last 8 will as well, school or no school.

32 Week Appointment Recap

Real quick appointment today. Blood pressure was 110/60 and I gained 2 lbs for a total of 25 lbs so far. Heart rate looked good and he was measuring right at 32 weeks for the fundal height. Back in 2 weeks!

Thankful

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with some family in town. It's amazing to think that next Thanksgiving Baby P will be joining us in his highchair nibbling on turkey. It blows my mind.

We had our maternity pictures done today and I am so excited to see how they came out. It was a great experience. I can't wait to share the pictures with everyone. We will have her do our newborn pictures as well.

I have an OB appointment tomorrow. I'm very curious to see how the baby is measuring. Last appointment he was measuring a little over a week ahead. Everyone feels he will make his appearance early, much closer to my original due date of January 15th instead of my actual due date of January 26th. I tend to feel the same way. We'll have to see - he's in charge!

I washed all of his newborn and 3 month clothing yesterday and that made things feel very real. Outside of some diapers, wipes, and a diaper bag - we are all ready for Baby P to be here. We're in the home stretch!

31 weeks

From Babycenter:
How your baby's growing:
This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

Test Results

I passed my 3 hour glucose test!! I am so relieved!!!

30 weeks!

From Babycenter:
Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and he weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him, but that volume will decrease as he gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. His eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after he's born, he'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When he does open them, he'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means he can only make out objects a few inches from his face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

Glucose Test

The 3 hour glucose test today really knocked me out. I had a hard time keeping myself from throwing up for the first two hours of the test. I am exhausted and feeling really off. I find out the results on Monday. I've mostly been napping this afternoon and am trying to get the energy up to prepare for my absolute last presentation as a MBA student which I give this evening on pregnancy discrimination. Looking forward to feeling more normal as I go into the weekend. I'll get a 30 week bump watch picture up tomorrow.

Sunny Orlando

Orlando is treating us well and everyone is happy and content. I started my glucose test diet yesterday and I am already sick of carbs and sugar. It's really rather extreme. It also keeps the baby going 24/7, so sleep is at a premium at the moment. He got his first bit of hiccups the other day which amused me to no end. I also found a tiny, tiny little stretch mark right where his big ol' head is.

For the last month or so, I've been feeling fine but slowing down and feeling tired and sluggish at night. Now, I feel that way all the time. My hands and feet continue to swell even just lying down and I have trouble getting comfortable and moving around. We have 10 more weeks to go until my due date, but I am very much looking forward to this little guy being here and not kicking my rib cage quite so much.

Glucose test is on Thursday morning, so by lunchtime I should know whether or not I have gestational diabetes and what the course of action is from here on out if that is the case. Looking forward to getting this done and over with and moving on. I can't believe I am already on my 2 week appointments. It's all feeling pretty surreal that a beautiful baby boy is coming to join us in just a few weeks.

Baby P in 3D

We went back for our 3D appointment today and ended up with some great shots of the little man.





Click here for more pictures!

We also have a DVD of the whole session. Once I break that up and put it up on YouTube, I'll post it. Here's some 4D videos from the ultrasound place.

Videos:

Nursery Pictures

I think we are about done! I didn't take pictures of the new shelves that we put in - mostly because a bunch of junk is stuffed up there right now and it doesn't look very nice! Thank you to everyone who gifted us items for the nursery. It really feels like home now.

Starting to slow down

My heartburn is acting up again, horribly. Nothing I seem to do will get it under control. I've actually thrown it up a few times which is pretty gross. I also go through periods where I am super hot. It's 40 degrees out right now and I have the air conditioner blasting and I'm sitting in shorts and a tank top. These hot spells last for a few hours at a time.

Baby P's kicks, knees, punches, and elbows are getting so strong they take my breath away sometimes. He always reacts whenever the husband starts talking. It's the cutest thing. Nothing gets him moving like lying on my side next to the husband while he is telling a story. It melts my heart the little one loves to hear his daddy's voice. He also is obsessed with music. Every time I put any sort of music on he starts squirming around.

I've been keeping up with my walks - about 2 miles at a time a few times a week. I am getting horribly slow and sluggish though. It's amazing to feel my body slow down. I also run out of breath very quickly as my lungs are getting squished. I found this really cool link that shows how much everything gets squished together as baby gets bigger. Still stretch mark free (knocks on wood) and still able to do my squats and lunges.

We are heading to Orlando for a work conference for the husband. We'll be gone from Sunday until Wednesday. I start my glucose test diet on Monday. I am looking forward to getting that done and over with. Hopefully it will make me never want sugar again haha.

I've got our newborn pictures set up and am working on getting a few maternity pictures done. Hopefully it will all work out. Looking forward to seeing the munchkin on Saturday for real this time.

29 weeks

From Babycenter:
Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day. With this rapid growth, it's no surprise that your baby's nutritional needs reach their peak during this trimester.

Appointment Recap

Today I had a regular OB appointment as well as my glucose test. I have gained 6 lbs since last visit which is right where I should be - a total gain of 23 lbs total so far. My blood pressure was good at 110/70 for the second month in a row. Baby's heart rate is great and he is measuring a week ahead! Doctor guessed he gained about a pound since last month.

The glucose test is a screening test for gestational diabetes. Basically I have to drink a really sugary drink (it tasted like flat orange soda), sit for an hour and have my blood drawn. It measures how quickly my body processes a large amount of sugar. My doctor "passes" anyone who has a reading of 134 or less. Mine came in at 145. Blah.

Basically that means I have to go to the diagnostic gestational diabetes test, which is a three hour test. They put me on a high sugar, high carb diet for 72 hours, and then I fast for 12 hours before the exam. They drawn my blood, have me drink a stronger drink, and then I get my blood drawn every hour for 3 hours for a total of 4 blood draws. If I fail two of the three blood draws (the fasting blood draw doesn't count - it's a control), they diagnose me with gestational diabetes.

My doctor isn't very worried, since my number was on the low end of failing and she said it takes a lot of people longer to process a large sugar shock, but it is still something to keep in the back of my mind. Most women fail the one hour and pass the three hour, so I'm not horribly worried. It's going to be a long morning though!

If I did get diagnosed with gestational diabetes, it's nothing bad, nothing preventable, or anything like that. It just means that Baby P can grow large and they need to keep an eye on him. Depending on the degree of gestational diabetes I have, if I have it at all, they would put me on a special diet and monitor Baby P's size more carefully. All symptoms disappear after the baby is born and there is no adverse impact to the baby except he can grow larger than a normal baby his size. He may need to be delivered earlier or via c-section if that is the case.

So we'll have to see! I scheduled my 3 hour test for the 18th, and then go for my last 4 week appointment on the 29th. The doctor had me schedule all of my two week appointments, so I scheduled through the end of the year. I can't believe we already are on the 2 week appointments! I need to find a pediatrician next, and we need to decide 100% if we are doing cord blood banking. We are already pre-registered at the hospital and I am working on a birth plan and getting together a list of stuff to pack for the hospital. I am still convinced Baby P will be a January baby...we are in the home stretch!

Coming Home!

Here are the outfits we picked out for when Baby P leaves the hospital and comes home with us.

If he fits into the newborn size:



If he's a bit too big for the newborn size:



I've been doing a bunch of reading and finding very conflicting stories as to whether or not a baby can wear onesies until his belly button heals. I am not in good shape as far as newborn and 0-3 month size t-shirts go, so I am very curious. I think I'll ask my doctor one of these upcoming visits.

Just for fun

It is the oddest feeling in the world to lean forward and feel a foot in your ribcage.

Just for fun, I've added a poll to the sidebar so people can vote on Baby P's weight. I've gotten a few opinions so far, and frankly, they scare me!

Preston is obsessed with me lying on my side. Every single time I lie down, he starts going crazy. As long as he hasn't flipped back to breech, I am getting a lot of elbows lately. If I poke along my ribcage, I'll get a foot or a knee. It keeps me entertained. I spend as much time lying on my side with my hand on my belly as humanly possible lately.

I can't believe we are just shy of 80 days away! I'm still feeling relatively good overall. My hands and my feet are still swelling, my appetite goes from ravenous to non-existent, and I feel like I am always moving in slow motion. Lately as the baby takes over my entire torso, I have bouts where I feel like I can't catch my breath because I can't expand my lungs. All totally normal, but still odd. I still get queasy at the smell of eggs, and I can't get enough hamburgers.

I am very much looking forward to school being done in the next few weeks. I should be 32, almost 33 weeks when I am completely finished. It should be just in time. I couldn't do it much longer without being completely miserable. Not working has really been a blessing. I've been keeping my eyes out for opportunities, but we'll see what ends up happening.

I cannot wait until we are totally done with the nursery. We still have to hang Preston's letters above his changing table and my mom is sending me down the hamper and light and I think everything will be complete. I love just walking into that room. We hung some pictures up last weekend and it really looks like a nursery now. I picked out a second outfit for him to wear home from the hospital if he is too big for the newborn size. I'll have to take pictures of both outfits.

Glucose test on Monday, blech! I also get measured to see how far along I am progressing. Last time I was right on schedule, so we'll see. Too bad there isn't an ultrasound scheduled! I'll have to actually be patient this time and wait until the 13th.

Oh, and I haven't seen my feet in at least a week.

28 weeks

From Babycenter.com
How your baby's growing:
By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of his head to his heels. He can blink his eyes, which now sport lashes. With his eyesight developing, he may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. He's also developing billions of neurons in his brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

Impatient

Okay, so I never confessed to being the most patient person in the world. I got up this morning and decided I wanted to see Preston TODAY, and not 2 weeks from today. I called my ultrasound place, and they said they could squeeze me in at 3:30. It was amazing to see him again. He wasn't cooperating in the least, so I only have two 3d pictures and one 2d picture, but they are so nice at the ultrasound place, I get to go back on November 13th (my original appt) for free. At that point they will do the full DVD and CD of images. I am so excited I get to see him twice!

The best news of the day? He is head down! No more breech baby! I am so happy about that! He also is still a boy (thank goodness!) and his heart rate was a perfectly normal 142. He spent the entire time with his head buried in my placenta playing with his cord. He still has his hands up by his face too which is adorable. Only 2 more weeks until we see him again!!




Yes, it does appear he is flipping us off

Zofran

Last night turned out to be rather interesting. I went to my first class and got out at 6. I felt really sluggish, tired, and slow which isn't uncommon for me lately, especially when I am at school. I decided to not go to my evening class that started at 7:15 - so I drove home and curled up on the couch. My hands and feet were turning purple and were super swollen and my lower back started having horrible, sharp pains so I started to pace around the house trying to get everything to relax. I began having trouble catching my breath, and then I threw up. I wasn't throwing up a lot, maybe a few tablespoons, but I threw up twice in 20 minutes.

I decided to call the on-call line for my doctor's office. I hadn't eaten since one that afternoon (I had a huge lunch), so the doctor thought it might be a bug. She put me on a liquid only diet for 12 hours and called in Zofran, a prego safe anti-nausea medicine for me to pick up. She said if things didn't get any better by noon today that I needed to come in. She thought I sounded dehydrated and that is what was causing the swelling in my hands, feet, belly (causing the shortness of breath) and my back ache. I was able to sleep through the night with the Zofran in my system and feel much better this morning - albeit I have some heartburn. I haven't taken any Zofran today. I have no idea what that was all about, but I'm glad everything is okay and I am so thankful to have responsive doctors who don't think every pregnant girl is a hypochondriac.

Preston was still moving all around during the entire thing which made me feel so much better. I woke up this morning and he very nicely kicked my ribcage to say good morning. Glad to have that episode over, whatever it was, and I am glad I listened to my body and wasn't downtown in the middle of class when I started getting ill.

27 weeks

From Babycenter:
How your baby's growing:
This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with his legs extended. He's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing his eyes, and perhaps even sucking his fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While his lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if he were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother him, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

Starting to come together

With not working, I've had a lot of time to sit and stare at the nursery lately. I just placed a big order on Amazon, which gives us everything that we need for the baby except for diapers, wipes, and a diaper bag. All I need for me is nursing bras/tanks/pads, etc. but everything I read says to wait on most of it until my milk comes in. Until then, I am waiting for Amazon to deliver all the goodies I purchased, including the following adorable pictures that match his bedding.



I bought the giraffe, monkey, and lion. I haven't decided whether or not they will need to be framed, but I will hang them above his crib. My mom and my aunt also picked up a monkey hamper, lamp, and night light which will go perfectly. I bought the changing table pad and a few covers for it. I keep reading the covers are pretty useless since the pad itself is waterproof and easier to keep clean than the covers, but they were too cute to pass up a package.



I also picked up a diaper wipe case for the diaper bag, some diaper pail refills, and the book The Happiest Baby on the Block. I keep hearing such great reviews for the book, I had to pick it up.

I am anxiously awaiting the last few items that we purchased to get the nursery put together. The husband and I spent the weekend buying, painting, and installing shelves in the room, which is making a huge difference. We have one more shelf to install and then I will post pictures. We also found a place to hang Preston's letters, and we will get that up soon as well.

I've been looking on Etsy for cute prints of lions, monkeys, elephants, and tigers to frame and put on one of the shelves. It looks like one shelf will be used for storage and the other I am hoping to have as decorative. I haven't found exactly what I am looking for yet, but hopefully it will pop up soon.

In the meantime, I am working on finishing up my final projects for school. I have three term papers that I've been chipping away at. I really want to have them all wrapped up by Thanksgiving so in case Preston decides to show up early it doesn't affect my school at all. It's an arbitrary deadline, but still one I would like to keep.

I think I have settled into not working and have been spending most of my time working on school, the house, and Preston's room. I do make sure that every time I feel him move that I stop and enjoy it. He loves when I lie on my side and gets very active in that position, so I make sure to do it a few times a day. I've been playing a lot of music in the house lately, so hopefully he is entertained in there.

I also set up his swing yesterday which is adorable. It has its new home in our living room and is a constant reminder of the new guest coming to our home. It's been horribly warm and humid here (75 degrees at 8 am?!), so I've adopted the elliptical machine lately for some exercise. I have slowed down for sure, but 20 or 30 minutes at an easy pace with a high grade seems to get the blood flowing for me.

I am so grateful for the stress free, textbook pregnancy I have had so far. It's been an amazing experience so far. I can't believe that we are just about at the 90 day mark until my due date. It sometimes escapes me what a life-changing process this is. I feel very blessed to be able to have the family, friends, and support system that my husband and I have and to be able to share this amazing time with everyone.

The rings are off

The swelling in my hands has gotten pretty constant. Out of fear for my wedding rings, I had to take them off. I'm too scared of having them cut off! I have another, plain wedding band that is a larger size than my wedding rings so I am wearing that. At least I don't look like an unmarried floozy.

26 weeks

From Babycenter
How your baby's growing:
The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.

99 days!

So today we hit double digits until the due date - only 99 days left! We are getting more and more excited for Preston to make his debut every day. We went to a childbirth class at the hospital I will deliver at and it was informative. I'm feeling good about everything and trying to be realistic about the outcome. I want to be prepared for either scenario (c-section or regular delivery), so nothing catches me off guard or surprises me.

I've been having some crazy fatigue the last few days and the swelling continues. The little guy is so active, he actually knocked a notepad off of my lap with a kick today. He spent a little while using my ribcage as a jungle gym (in my head at least) which was mighty uncomfortable. He is active almost all day now, but thankfully lets me sleep throughout the night.

It is slightly calming that at 26 weeks, if something were to happen and Preston was delivered at that age, he has an 80-90% survival rate. That really sets my mind at ease. He is also almost 2 lbs and his hearing is advanced - I'm not sure if it is coincidence or not, but he does kick after a loud noise lately. It is so amazing.

I have my glucose test in a few weeks (yuck!) but am already counting down to the week after when we go for our 3d/4d appointment. It may be the last time we see the little guy until he is delivered, so I am very much looking forward to that. It will have been over 2 months since we have seen him on an ultrasound by the time that appointment comes around, so I am getting antsy. I am so curious to see what he looks like in there!

25 weeks

From Babycenter:
Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. His weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but he's beginning to exchange his long, lean look for some baby fat. As he does, his wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and he'll start to look more and more like a newborn. He's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

Holy swelling!

I'm not sure how well this comes through in the picture, but this was my hand last night:



I've started taking daily walks around the neighborhood. They seem to be helping the backpain, so that is all the incentive I need to keep going.

Drive - Thru Appointment

Had a quick check-up today with my doctor. Weight is doing well (total gain of 17 lbs so far) and blood pressure is 110/70. Preston's heart beat was nice and strong and the doctor felt him kicking around during the exam. My fundal height is perfect for my gestation, and all is well. After about a 20 minute discussion with her, I decided to get my flu shot.

If I pay attention to my stomach now, I can see it twitch when Preston kicks. It's pretty cool. I can't see any arms or legs or anything poking yet, but my stomach definitely reacts when he moves. It's super cool to sit and watch. I wish I had a way to record video to share it with everyone.

Next appointment is November 8th for my one hour glucose test to check for gestational diabetes.

I've been having some hardcore swelling in both my hands and feet, as well as constant tailbone and back pain. The doctor says they are nothing to worry about, but it's weird not being able to curl my toes sometimes. I also am getting tired much sooner. Errands tire me out and cleaning takes forever lately. I'm just getting used to my new limits, which I know will keep changing as I get further along.

The bright side

One of the fringe benefits of not working is being able to feel absolutely every movement our little one makes. It's simply amazing just to pause, put my hand on my belly and feel him kick or punch back at me. It sounds silly, but I am feeling closer to him than I think I've felt before. Four months seems like an eternity before he is here.

I am trying out another yoga studio next week. I enjoyed the one I went to, but the classes were all at night. I'm not really a fan of being home alone by myself all day and then just as the husband comes home, I'm out the door for class. So I found a school that is actually less expensive that has mid-morning classes twice per week. I am looking forward to that.

We get to go on a little road trip this weekend to visit a friend of mine in Charleston and then take a client out on Saturday night in North Carolina. It is our first road trip since I've been pregnant, so it should be interesting. I'm looking forward to some time out of Atlanta and some time out of the house. It should be a good weekend.

24 weeks

From Babycenter
How your baby's growing:
Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

Yoga and Crafts

I went to my first prenatal yoga class yesterday, and I absolutely loved it. There were three other girls there who weren't very talkative, but the poses were amazing and I left feeling absolutely refreshed and regenerated. Preston really enjoyed some of the poses and was horribly active for hours after the class. I go back on Tuesday and can't wait!

Preston is moving all over the place. One minute I'll feel him down by my hip and the next he is up in my ribcage. It's amazing how much he is wiggling around! Hopefully he isn't breech anymore *fingers crossed*

I also spent some of my free time painting wooden letters for Preston's room. It was a fun little project. I can't wait to see them up on the wall. Sadly, I can't think of anything else to do the nursery until we get closer, so there's no more opportunity to distract myself by playing around in there. It's coming together though!

Here's a picture with the letters paired up with his bedding. The second picture is much truer to the actual color:

How 24 hours can change things

I was laid off from my job on Wednesday at 6 months pregnant. One of the things I enjoyed most about my job was working for people I truly considered friends - ones I spent time with socially as well as professionally. It's hard not to take it personally when you are betrayed like that. All and all, it will work out for the best. I had out-grown my work there, and Preston was the only thing keeping me there through the rest of the year. I'm able to collect a good amount through unemployment and was given a decent severance. And that is the end of that chapter in my life.

After I was laid off, totally unexpectedly, I had to go take a midterm exam in a class I can't stand with a brand new professor who has no idea what he was doing. I was totally shot. I did really poorly on the exam and will be spending the rest of the semester making up for it.

Then, on my way home at 9:30, some woman hit my car. Luckily everyone was okay, but my car isn't driveable right now. The whole front right corner of my car is caved in from my headlamp to my tire. I got myself into a rental through my insurance company, and am adjusting to my new wheels.

It's been a very long two days, especially as I adjust from working full time and going to school full time to staying at home full time without the opportunity to look for a job. I'm planning to be back in the workforce next spring, after Preston comes and I can spend time with him his first few months. Emotionally, I'm shot from all the sudden changes. But everyone and everything is okay, and each day will get a little easier.

It's also helped me realize how important both of the men in my life are. My husband honestly is my rock. He's been there for me emotionally every step of the way. Feeling little Preston kick and punch his way around my stomach at just the right moment when I am trying to catch my breath or wipe away a tear just melts my heart. Through all of these random events, I really feel like a part of a true family unit, and that our family is getting stronger every day.

Once I get over the changes to my life and my routine, I am looking forward to enjoying every last minute remaining of this pregnancy. My husband signed up me up for prenatal yoga at a studio down the road twice a week for my mind and my body. I'm really looking forward to it. I'm trying to get out to take walks and spend time talking to and playing with the baby. Once all the emotion is gone, I am looking forward to this new chapter in my life, where Preston continues to grow and change, and makes his grand entrance into the world surrounded by a mom and dad who have honestly counted down every moment until his arrival.

Just Sayin'

This time last year I was putting the final touches on my first 5k run. This year, my feet are swollen and I can't see my toes anymore.

23 Weeks

From Babycenter:
How your baby's growing:
Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With his sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that he's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see him squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing him for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze him when he hears them outside the womb.

Here it comes

I've finally gotten over the weird headaches and fatigue I had last week after a nice restful weekend at home. I am a third of the way through my midterms, and I'm starting to feel the stress piling up. I go through these phases where I feel like I have everything under control, and then all of a sudden I feel completely swamped. My feet and hands are swelling constantly, especially after 6 hours of classes. I've upped my water intake to try and combat the swelling, but without much luck so far.

I'm going to get my hair done tomorrow and in total pregnant form, have decided on a new haircut based off the model in the latest issue of Fit Pregnancy magazine. I'm excited about it. I work from home tomorrow, so it will be nice to break up the day with a hair appointment.

I've been finding a lot of enjoyment in just sitting in silence feeling the muchkin kick and move around. Every chance I get to lie on my side and pay attention to nothing but my belly is just amazing. I love feeling him move and kick around. It's by far the most enjoyable experience of this pregnancy to date. I wish I could tell which way he is situated, but I am afraid he is still breech given the location of the kicks and punches. I've been doing some reading on c-section births just to prepare myself, but he has plenty of time to turn, so we'll keep our fingers crossed.

Sick

After successfully defeating the head cold I got while I was in NY (mind you, it took me a solid week to get over it), I am dealing with border-line migranes and overall horrible fatigue the last two days. I went into work yesterday and was out the door by 9:30 curled up in bed. After class last night and some awful attempts at sleep, I woke up feeling awful again today and took the day off. With work and school going on, I am nervous to over-extend myself and get myself really sick or do something to stress or hurt the baby. I have a ton of PTO days at the office, and although I feel bad about not being there, I feel good about my decision to take care of myself.

I only have 9 more weeks left of school, and surviving that while keeping up with work is the most important thing to me for the next 9 weeks. Sometimes one of them has to give. This week, it was 2 days worth of work. Here's hoping I can make it through work tomorrow and have a restful, relaxing weekend to straighten out whatever is going on with my body and my mind.

In other news, I found a great website called BabyFit, which provides meal plans based on my gestation, weight, expected weight gain, and fitness level. It's been a great refresher for me to view these meal plans and track my calories and nutrients again. I've only gained 12 lbs in 22 weeks, but I want to make sure my little man is getting all the good stuff he needs and comes out begging for spinach instead of chocolate cake. Now that I feel like I have this pregnancy thing under control, the focus is on health and fitness for sure. Too bad I still can't go near eggs. I am still enjoying my two pregnancy DVDs (one strength and one yoga) but I've been laying low this week since I've been feeling awful. It's all coming together.

22 Weeks

From Babycenter:
At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

St. James Consignment Sale

Wow! Our office is closed today to give everyone a break from the event we held last weekend (that I missed..yippee!), so I decided to take advantage and stop at St. James, the church down the street from us. They've been advertising a Kid's Consignment Sale for the last month or so. All I can say is wow!

For $60, I purchased:
-Graco car seat base for Zach's car
-Moby sling wrap with instructional DVD
-Infant/toddler sling bath
-18 bibs (10 'baby's first holiday' and 8 regular ones)
-2 fitted crib sheets
-Musical mobile
-10 washcloths
-2 outfits
-A sleeper gown
-2 pairs of pants
-A velcro swaddling blanket
-10 hats

I am amazed! I honestly already want to go back! The baby's room is filling up fast.

Bibs:


Clothes:


Hats:


Mobile:

Doctor's Appointment

So I had my monthly doctor's appointment this morning - fresh off a long trip to New York. I had a wonderful time at the shower and at Karen's wedding and will do a nice long post about both when I get Karen's pictures and the items from the shower arrive here in Atlanta.

We had our final ultrasound with our doctor today, and I am happy to report that Preston is still very much a boy. The tech spent a lot of time measuring each organ and ensuring it was functioning properly. I can't believe my little boy can't even fit in the ultrasound screen anymore! Preston is weighing in at 14 ounces and a had a heartbeat of 131 bpm. Based on his weight and all of his measurements, the doctor changed my due date to January 26th from January 15th. This means I am 21 weeks pregnant again! Haha.

Preston and I got a clean bill of health as my blood pressure was great (100/70) and I've gained a total of 12lbs in 21 weeks. I'm happy with that, but now that I am pretty much back to eating normally again (aside from eggs..) will be tracking my food again.

The doctor did say the placenta is lying on the front, which may muffle his kicks and movement. My eyes widened when she said that, since this little guy is getting strong. Thank goodness the placenta is there to soften the blow! I apparently have a kickboxer on my hands.

Preston was clowning around as usual during the ultrasound. He still is breach (and by the way only has 15 weeks to move or that means c-section for Mommy!) and is obsessed with putting his feet over his head and sucking on his hand.

I'm not real happy with the pictures that we got today - the little man just wasn't very photogenic today. These are all profile shots, showing the little guy with his mouth open and in one picture, with his hand coming up to his mouth. I will be scheduling our 3D imaging appointment soon, which will probably be our last glance at the munchkin until sometime in January!