For the good of the baby….
16 Aug 2011 1 Comment
in Uncategorized Tags: 3rd trimester, Me, pregnancy
This was my breakfast yesterday…before my blood draw to check for gestational diabetes. It was a hard job, but it was my responsibility to do my best. With Scott’s encouragement of “you’d better pour the rest of that syrup on that pancake”, I was successful. I should have the results back tomorrow.
The rest of my check up was fine, except that my blood pressure was high again. So, I’m on an increased protein diet (100 grams a day!), extra hydration and lots of taking it easy and I go back on Thursday for them to recheck me. I’m hoping that it was just that I was a tad anxious about the glucose test (not that I could do anything about it one way or the other…I just want everything to be fine and to be free of the concern of it, you know?) and that by Thursday my blood pressure numbers will be back to an acceptable range.
Other than that pesky BP, my urine checked out fine, weight gain was good, and the baby’s heartbeat sounds perfect. Also, I noticed this past week that I started feeling what I am pretty sure are baby hiccups! I can feel them really low down by my pelvic bone, so I was *hoping* that meant the baby was now head down. (he’s been pretty much transverse as far as they can tell at each appointment so far.) The midwife agreed that she thought he was in the head down position while she did all the palpating of my belly, so that’s good! I know that he will probably change his alignment a time or two again between now and delivery, but at least I now know he knows HOW to get into the right position when the time comes.
28w4d
27 and (bonus!) 28 weeks!
14 Aug 2011 3 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: 2nd trimester, 3rd trimester, Family Fun, Me, pregnancy, Working Out
Since I was out of town last week when I would normally post the weekly update, you get both weeks 27 and 28 rolled into one this time. You’re welcome.
Here we go!
What’s going on this week (27):
This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She’s sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby’s brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she 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 her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.
What’s going on this week (28):
By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She’s also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.
My Update:
Due Date: November 4, 2011 – as of today, 82 days to go! (Wow. That sounds…short.) Also, we’ve now entered the 3rd trimester!
Weight Gain: +15 lbs from pre-preg weight.
Symptoms: My belly really has made some impressive leaps and bounds in the last few weeks. It shocks me when I catch a side glimpse of myself in the mirror…but I still love the way I look! With the bigger size, comes a more noticeable ‘waddle,’ as they call it. My feet are turning out as I walk and my goodness, it just feels so much better that way!
Cravings/Aversions: Lisa and Meredith were right – the ice chewing/crunching is seriously addictive. That’s what I want all the time. A cold drink with crushed ice for constant chewing. I know it’s bad for my teeth, and outside of pregnancy I don’t usually do it, so I’m not beating myself up for it for these few months, when it makes me so happy right now!
Sleep: Not bad…I’m waking up about 2 times a night to pee, on average, which is annoying, but I was expecting it, so it’s bearable. Plus, I am really lucky to have the ability to fall right back asleep with almost no effort, so it doesn’t seem to disrupt me too much, overall. However, the maneuvering from one side to the other in bed is getting to be more and more challenging as the belly gets bigger and bigger. It involves some heavy breathing and usually a pause in the midst of all the shifting to sort of catch my breath, before settling back down. That part I could do without, if we’re being completely honest. And, seriously, I would really, really love to sleep on my stomach. Sometimes in the middle of the night, while I’m doing my flopping around from right to left and back again, I glare at Scott for a minute, when he is peacefully sacked out flat on his stomach.
I am loving: My last ‘baby-free’ trip to see my parents was great! Mom and I did lots of shopping, and we all did lots of eating. And even squeezed in a short beach day. The flights were nice and easy, and I met another pregnant girl in the Houston airport during my layover and we walked and talked together for a bit. All in all, a good success.
I miss: Mom and Dad. The beach. Sleeping on my stomach. I think that about covers it.
Movement: Excellent! The trip to Jacksonville seemed to be the trigger time for more constant and active movement. He seems to go to town with the kicking the most when I lay down in bed at night, or when Scott and I settle in to watch a movie or TV.
Nursery progress: No change since the last update, what with me being out of town and all. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks, I’ll get the nail holes in the walls spackled and covered and we can move on from there.
Exercise: Since I am home now when Scott gets home from work each day, we’ve gone out walking around the neighborhood some of the evenings, which I love…last night we went a bit farther than normal, and I think it might have been too much. I took a couple of sit-down breaks during the walk when I felt like I needed too, but after we were back home my hips and back were aching, and it felt like a little sciatica might have been kicking in. I feel better today, if just a little tired, so I think it’s just a matter of getting used to how this extra weight feels on my body and keeping on exercising so I can build up my strength.
Looking forward to: Oddly enough, my GTT (glucose tolerance test) on Monday morning. Most OB/GYNs have pregnant ladies come into the office, drink this super sugary glucose drink concoction and then wait for a hour and draw their blood to check for gestational diabetes. My midwives, however, are the most awesome people ever, and they disagree with this method, as it can tend to give inaccurate results, and feel that a much more realistic testing method is to have me eat a big breakfast of (and she listed all this stuff specifically, so you’d better believe I was taking very careful notes since I am a rule-follower): pancakes (with syrup!), a glass of juice, eggs, potatoes of some sort, toast and a breakfast meat (sausage/bacon, etc). Um…YES, PLEASE! Then 2 hours from the time I finish eating, I have my appointment for them to draw my blood to see how my body handles all those sugars. As you can well imagine, Scott was very put-off by the fact that he would just have to go in late to work that day in order to go out and have a huge breakfast with me. It’s for my health! And the baby’s heath! For science! Pregnancy is hard on the dudes, I tell ya. 🙂
Belly Shot:
OK – two weeks worth of belly, just for you guys!
27 weeks
I don't know why I look so smug.
28 weeks
Nursery progress to date
03 Aug 2011 2 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: Gearing Up!, pregnancy
Well, as far as putting together the nursery, there isn’t much actual progress, but I’ve got lots of pieces that will eventually come together in there, and so I’m going to document those for you today. Because who loves baby stuff? WE DO!
In all our infinite wisdom, years ago, we painted the baby’s room a nice bright yellow – that room used to house all of our workout equipment, and yellow seemed like a nice energizing color to workout in, so we went with it. (It turns out we liked that color so much we also painted the laundry room the same shade. And then when we moved the gym downstairs during a fit of rearranging the house, we used the exact same color all over again. So yes, we have 3 rooms in our house that are this color. We like it, OK?)
I believe it is called ‘Chilled Lemonade’ by Behr, and it is the backdrop for most of these pictures, and shows up pretty true to life, I think.
So, to start with, an overview of what I like to refer to in my head as the ‘small loot.’ As opposed to the ‘big loot,’ which is the furniture and stuff.
Clothes, blankets, diapers, carriers, diaper bags, etc...
Crib mattress and changing pad. Necessary, but kind of boring.
My Ikea lamp has a home on this black shelf. Along with baby’s first and second piggy banks, a piece of wall art still in the mailing envelope and some random screws…to the changing pad, I think?
Then came the special delivery from Oklahoma with with all sorts of ‘big loot.’
It has storage! And a removable Moses basket!
And the cradle that my Dad made about 20 years ago when Meredith was born. Still in pieces, but that sucker ain’t light, so we’re going to wait a while to put it together since we’ll likely need to keep moving it around until it’s time for it to move to its final home downstairs.
Once it's on the stand, it can rock or be locked into place.
And for more big loot, the recently acquired crib (un-assembled, but you get the idea) , glider and ottoman! Scott actually put together the glider in about 5 minutes after we opened all the boxes, so I wasted no time testing it out. It glides, or can be locked into place and it even reclines! All it needs is a cup holder. (Just kidding Scott – I do not need a cup holder on the glider. A side table will do just fine, instead.)
So comfy and cushy!
(Side note to my mom – those are the black pants you bought me!)
And last, just for some Awwws…tiny baby clothes hanging in the closet! (I think I will paint the clothing rod white, so just imagine it that way for now.)
These are just the clothes that were ALREADY on hangers - not everything, by a long shot.
So, there you have it – that’s pretty much the extent of what we’ve got going on so far. The glider is temporarily living in our bedroom, just so it’s out of the way, and the crib pieces are hanging out in the hallway, but soon and very soon it will all find its way to a very cute room for a soon to be arriving baby boy!
26w5d
Sisters! And a whole heap of pictures.
01 Aug 2011 4 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: 2nd trimester, Family Fun, Me
Last week/weekend, Scott and I had a female invasion (until Josh arrived, that is)! Lisa and Ada arrived on Wednesday and Ali and Grace showed up that same night a little later on. I am so, so glad that my sisters and I get along so well as adults. We truly love to hang out together, so an occasion to get together is always something to look forward to.
We hit it off!
This trip included a lot of firsts for Ada, who was only 11 weeks old at the time. First plane rides, first swim, first wedding, and first bath in a bucket. She is such a happy, adorable baby and won us all over!
She loved it!
Lisa, Ada, Ali, Grace and I did lots of shopping and even got in a pool trip while Ada slept at home with Scott on duty. It was SO SO hot here during the visit (as it is every day all summer!) so the pool was such a nice escape.
Ali brought us a bunch of goodies for the baby and I’ll include those pictures on my next nursery update post, but included was a bassinet for us to have for when the baby arrives, and it worked out perfectly since Ada used it the whole time for sleeping and napping. I think she might have been sad to leave it behind when she left.
Grace and I had the fun adventure of working together to clean up a blowout diaper while we were in a restaurant, and I was so impressed with how adept she is…I think she’s gotten a lot of baby practice with her nephew Tripp. By the time I got Ada’s outfit unbuttoned, Grace already had the wipes and a fresh diaper out of the bag and ready to hand to me. I think she’ll make a killing in a few years bringing in the babysitting cash!
Josh arrived Friday night, and on Saturday morning early Ali and Grace had to leave, so not much overlap time there, but Saturday night we had a wedding to go to, and, you know? It’s true what they say about everything taking longer with a baby. Who knew?! But, we all made it to the wedding, and everyone was dressed well, so it was a success.
Don’t you love how color coordinated Lisa and Josh are? And Lisa made Ada’s dress!
This was practice for Scott and I.
After all the activity on Saturday, we were able to relax for a bit on Sunday and got in some gaming time in Scott’s recently revamped home arcade. We had a bunch of games going at once and apparently, while possibly seizure-inducing, the lights and sounds of all those games at once is also a fantastic baby-sleep inducer. But, before she fell asleep, Ada worked on her high-score on Pac-Man a bit.
Lisa also worked on her scores:
And then…Monday morning Lisa and Josh headed down into Austin to do some visiting and it was back to work, as usual, for Scott and I. And we were sad. BUT! They are all coming back soon! And even more of them! In September! That’s only weeks away! I’m counting down. 🙂
26w2d
26 weeks!
31 Jul 2011 5 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: 2nd trimester, pregnancy
What’s going on this week:
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.
My Update:
Due Date: November 4, 2011 – 98 days to go! (Double digits!!)
Weight Gain: +12 lbs (from pre-preg weight).
Symptoms: I’m having great hair lately…it’s not falling out constantly like normal and is nice and shiny. It’s been nice to not have to constantly pluck it off my clothes all day long.
Cravings/Aversions: Still nothing…I don’t think I’m going to develop any dramatic aversions or anything this pregnancy. No change here.
Sleep: Still good! I just want more and more.
I am loving: That we get to go pick up the crib and glider and ottoman! Thankfully they didn’t take long at all to come in, so soon, they will be in the room. Now, as to when we will actually put them together, I have no idea.
I miss: All my visitors. And especially Ada. It was so nice having such a sweet and cuddly baby in the house.
Movement: Good! Even the midwife got her hand kicked during my appt this week!
Nursery progress: I took some pictures of the piles of stuff that are currently in there, and the bassinet and cradle, but I’ll post those in a different post.
Exercise: I went to yoga this week, and we did a lot of relaxation, which was just what I needed given how hectic and stressful the week had been after dealing with all our visitors leaving and trying to get work as caught up and settled as possible before I started working from home.
Looking forward to: Getting the baby furniture and starting to work from home next week. Yessssss!
Belly Shot:
Busy Bee
27 Jul 2011 3 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: 2nd trimester, Family Fun, Gearing Up!, Me, pregnancy
Work has been so, so busy lately, and what with family visiting and my packed social calendar (heh.), I just have not had the extra time to post anything other than the standard weekly update progress reports, and I know that can get kind of old after a while, with nothing else to break it up in between. SO! Here I am to announce that today marks the official ‘100 days left’ portion of this pregnancy. After today, we’ll be in double-digit territory!
We have baby furniture on order, two (2!) baby showers in the works (how lucky are we, I ask you?), and the other day I went through the accumulated clothes that this baby already owns…and let’s just say, he won’t be going around naked, that’s for sure. Everyone is very excited about this baby’s arrival, and I can’t help but feel so amazed that someone who is not even here yet, can have such a huge impact on so many people.
I mentioned before that my friend Kristi is throwing us a local shower here in Austin, and now also the ladies in Scott’s family have also offered to throw a shower in Houston for all the Houston family/friends! The Austin shower will be on Sept 24th, and the Houston shower will be on Sept 3rd. I sort of feel like I should start to see if I know anyone in Dallas and San Antonio that also needs to throw a shower, so that my tour of major cities of Texas will be complete. 🙂 Honestly, though, I am so excited for these get togethers with all my family and friends. I don’t get to see everyone nearly enough, and if you offer me the chance to get to hang out and visit with them all, AND you serve me cake and punch, it’s pretty much the best thing I can think of.
I’ve got another post brewing for sometime in the next several days…sort of a recap of the visit Scott and I just had with some of my family, and there should be pictures included. I know everyone loves pictures! Also, I’ll include my most recent midwife appt update. (Spoiler: it went fine).
But for now…back to work!
25w5d
25 weeks!
22 Jul 2011 1 Comment
in Uncategorized Tags: 2nd trimester, pregnancy
What’s going on this week:
Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn’t much more than an average rutabaga, but she’s beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she’ll start to look more and more like a newborn. She’s also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you’d now be able to discern its color and texture.
My Update:
Due Date: November 4, 2011 – 105 days to go!
Weight Gain: +11 lbs (from pre-preg weight).
Symptoms: Nothing new this week. Magnesium supplement has helped the leg cramps, so I’m back to sleeping great!
Cravings/Aversions: Still nothing…I don’t think I’m going to develop any dramatic aversions or anything this pregnancy.
Sleep: Still good!
I am loving: Fun visiting with sisters, and nieces! Lisa, Ada, Ali and Grace are all here and yesterday we shopped and shopped. Today we’re slated for some pool time! Josh arrives tonight so the fun continues!
I miss: Winter? Less than 100 degree days?
Movement: The movement continues…it’s starting to be more and more noticeable where the baby is in my belly. He seems to like hanging out on my right side, so it’s staying a little lopsided depending on where he is at the moment. It’s neat to be able to push on the belly and actually feel something in there!
Nursery progress: No real change, except that now there is a bassinet and cradle and in-bed sleeper in there (courtesy of Ali and Meredith) and lots more baby clothes (courtesy of Lisa and Mom.) The cradle is one that my Dad made back when Meredith was born, and we are passing it through the family as babies are born. It’s getting some good use.
Exercise: Nothing. It was a really long busy week at work and I missed both Pilates and Yoga. Only a couple more weeks till I’m down to part time and working from home, so these last weeks in the office are going go stay really hectic while I’m doing training and trying to clear up any old loose ends. (This is my exact same update from last week and it still applies, so I’m leaving it here.)
Looking forward to: Swimming today and the wedding on Saturday. And then my next midwife appointment on Tuesday. (I think this is the last ‘monthly’ appointment and after this one I start going every 2 weeks. EEEk!
Belly Shot: (I can really notice some growth in the last couple of weeks. getting bigger!)
24 weeks!
16 Jul 2011 2 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: 2nd trimester, pregnancy
What’s going on this week:
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.
My Update:
Due Date: November 4, 2011 – 112 days to go!
Weight Gain: +11 lbs (from pre-preg weight).
Symptoms: Nighttime leg cramps have begun. I could do without those. Thankfully I had a heads up from Lisa to take a magnesium supplement if I started having them, and so I tried it last night, and taadaa! No cramps.
Cravings/Aversions: Nothing I can think of. Just food, food, food.
Sleep: The 2 nights of leg cramps sucked, but we’re back to normal now, I think. Zzzzzzzzz.
I am loving: LISA AND ADA GET HERE IN 2 DAYS! (If you don’t count the weekend or the day they get here.) So, that would be Wednesday for those of you not well versed in our visit-countdown methods.
I miss: I just sat here for a bit and tried to think of something, but really, I’ve got nothing. I’m leading a pretty charmed life and I’ve got no complaints.
Movement: The trend I notice is that I get some good baby-moving action once I sit down after being up and moving around for a while. I can pretty much sit down and within a few minutes, the movements start. Oh, and I have noticed that I have felt him moving around about 3 or 4 times now while I’ve been standing up.
Nursery progress: About the same this week as last. The closet is now almost cleared out, though. It won’t be long now till there are some little clothes hanging up in there!
Exercise: Nothing. It was a really long busy week at work and I missed both Pilates and Yoga. Only a couple more weeks till I’m down to part time and working from home, so these last weeks in the office are going go stay really hectic while I’m doing training and trying to clear up any old loose ends.
Diet: OK. This is kind of a boring subject so I’m trying to think of something else more interesting to replace it….I’ll keep you posted.
Looking forward to: Baby cheeks to kiss! Going to the pool! Shopping with Lisa!
Belly Shot: I know we missed last week’s belly shot, but trust me, it wasn’t that great a picture of me. So for week 23 I’ve posted instead a picture of the new shirt that Scott got me as a surprise. (Also, not a great picture of me, but just focus on the cute shirt.)
Here’s week 24! It was SO hot outside..maybe around 100, or upper nineties for sure.
I feel like I look awfully big for 24 weeks, but whatever. I'm growing an athlete in there!
23 weeks!
09 Jul 2011 1 Comment
in Uncategorized Tags: 2nd trimester, pregnancy
What’s going on this week:
Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she’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 her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby’s increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her 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 her when she hears them outside the womb.
My Update:
Due Date: November 4, 2011 – 119 days to go!
Weight Gain: +10 lbs (from pre-preg weight).
Symptoms: Apparently I’m snoring more!
Cravings/Aversions: Ice cream always sounds good. If you ever are in an emergency situation and need to know what the current DQ Blizzard of the Month is, just ask me. I stay on top of these things.
Sleep: For me: fine. For Scott: could be better (see above re: snoring).
I am loving: The increased and stronger movements!
I miss: Not absolutely having to take a bottle of water with me everywhere I go. I mean, it’s probably a good habit to form, especially since I’m ALWAYS thirsty, but it’s just one more thing to remember on my way out the door.
Movement: Yes! Getting stronger and more frequent. I can regularly see my belly move from the outside now and it cracks me up every time. So surreal!
Nursery progress: The room is almost empty! There are a couple of things still in it that will need to stay in there for a bit longer, but it’s very close to me being able to start moving stuff into. (Which I need to do in the next week or so, since I need to clear my piles out of the guest room for our upcoming visitors!)
Exercise: I feel like I’ve done a lot of errand-running lately, and aside from yoga and pilates, that’s about it. I went to the mall today and 2 hours of forcing myself to walk slowly (so hard!) while shopping were all I could handle. I had to take a break and sit down before heading out to the car. (I admittedly was wearing bad shoes..no support..so I’m sure that contributed to the aching back.)
Diet: Eh. Could be better; could be worse.
Looking forward to: Getting to start setting stuff up in the baby’s room. Which means digging through all the bags and piles of stuff I already have accumulated, and oohing and aahing over it all again.
Belly Shot: (tomorrow)
Baby Shower Info
06 Jul 2011 4 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: Me, pregnancy
A quick note to mention that my wonderful friend Kristi has offered to throw me a baby shower, and I couldn’t be more excited! The date has been set for September 24th, so hopefully it’s enough advance notice for everyone to plan if they can make it.
Invitations will be sent out…this is just a heads up on the date so you can mark it on your calendars/phones/email/foreheads! It’s an occasion for punch!
22w5d
