37 Weeks

Today I'm full term, which sounds so beautiful. It means that if she's born now she'll do really well. Her lungs still have a bit of development left and she needs to put on more baby fat, so hopefully I have at least another week or two.

Only part of me thinks that, because I'm READY TO GO!! I'm nesting like crazy- cleaning, baking, organizing, and gardening until I almost keel over. I spend that time on the couch with the last blanket I'm knitting for her. I need to finish it before she arrives or likely I won't finish it at all.

Today at the doctor, I'm now a full centimeter dilated and she can feel the baby's head on my cervix. The exam is painful which scared me- if I can't handle that how on earth will I handle labor? I shared my fears with my doctor and she was nicely reassuring. She had her first baby about a year ago so I know she can give pretty first hand advice. She said the adrenaline during labor and 'the zone' you get in make a big difference. Not to mention the prize at the end!

I'm putting on a happy face!! Until next week, back to the waiting game. . . .

Monterey Weekend

It's a beautiful, crisp, sunny day with the flavor of autumn in the air. I can't tell you how lovely it is to have light streaming through the windows and no heat!

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This weekend we meandered down to Monterey on Highway 1, along the coast from Half Moon Bay, stopping in Santa Cruz for lunch at Erik's Deli.

Monterey is a special place to us; we became engaged there in March 2006. Saturday afternoon was spent at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. We both love the aquarium and its temporary and permanent exhibits. The jellyfish exhibits are always a favorite, we can stare at these amazing creatures for a long time.

A special exhibit of seahorses was pretty amazing too- these are babies.

These may look like sea plants but no- they are seahorses too!

I also got to experience an extra treat- visiting every single bathroom in the aquarium. Awesome.

Saturday night we had a nice dinner at The Whaling Station off Cannery Row. The meal was excellent. (save for the spill I nearly took on the way in the restaurant. I went down on one knee and Ray caught me, though about 20 people saw and it was quite embarassing) We shared some gnocchi and Dutch apple pie, with prime rib for him and wild salmon for me.

Our hotel room was quite lovely, but I slept badly in the strange bed with an inferior pillow and the room was too warm for me. The next morning we went to breakfast at First Awakenings, where we've eaten on every trip we've taken to Monterey.

Sleepy-eyed me, enjoying my decaf coffee.

I am nuts about the pancakes at First Awakenings. They make amazing apple cinnamon oatmeal ones from scratch, with nice chunks of apple. Ray likes their raspberry granola cakes. But they are HUGE and I forgot this so I ordered too many! Two to eat and one to go, I would have been better off ordering one to eat and one to go. As it was I ended up taking almost two whole pancakes to go.

I brought the rest home and froze a good portion. They will be a nice and easy treat to pull out in the coming months.

We drove home shortly after, in time for the really heavy rain that we'd avoided thus far. We spent the rest of the day laying around, watching football and knitting.

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Check-Up

So happy it's Friday! It's chilly and rainy but I'm enjoying the cozy gloominess. I also did a new workout this morning which made working through it more enjoyable; exercise can get boring so it helps me to do a new routine every now and then.

After a quick shower and assembly of a breakfast-in-the-car (two pieces of whole wheat toast with peanut butter, banana on one slice and strawberry jam on the other), I headed to my 36-week appointment. Ray met me there since I'd be having an ultrasound.

All good reports from Dr R.; I am so blessed and thankful to have all positives right now! She performed the test for Group B Strep and will have the results next week. The vaginal and rectal swab were a little painful but short-lived, as was the exam of my cervix. I'm almost 1 centimeter dilated which is really good. While it isn't necessarily an indicator of impending labor, it is a good indicator that I won't go past my due date. My uterus is measuring about 34 weeks; I was worried when she said that but she followed up immediately that at this stage it's not so exact, that it's give or take two weeks so it's a fine measurement.

Next she performed the ultrasound, taking measurements of the head, abdomen and legs. Our baby is in the ideal position- head down with her back facing the front. That little head is indeed down in my pelvis (pressing right on my bladder) with her back in the upper right quadrant of my belly, and her feet on the left, almost a C shape. She is resting very close to my cervix.

With the measurements taken, the machine gives an estimate of the baby's weight- 5 lbs 3 oz, give or take 15%. Dr. R. believes our baby is smaller than this amount, which shows how different each baby can be from the numbers in books. Right now all of my pregnancy emails and books say the baby should be upwards of 6 lbs; not the case! Our little girl will likely be about 6 lbs at birth or slightly smaller.

She gave us information on who to contact before going to the hospital, as well as postpartum care instructions. I'll be getting my pertussis booster shot after delivery in the hospital which is excellently convenient. My next appointment is this coming Wednesday when I'll be full term. The countdown begins!!

36 Weeks

Or 9 months. So shouldn't I be due by now? It's such a mean trick that pregnancy is actually ten months long.

I've had a few practice contractions this week, as well as more sharp pains inside my vagina. Two other end-of-pregnancy symptoms I've had are a stringy discharge and loose stools. These are all indications of impending labor. . . or not. Don't you love the specificity in that? Argh.

I'm definitely getting antsy; since I'm not working, everything is ready for the baby, and have limited energy, I have too much time on my hands. I'm trying to split up household chores every day and I'm knitting one more blanket. Catching up on tv shows while knitting is quite a pleasant way to pass the time. Ray and I have a mini getaway to Monterey planned this weekend so I'm looking forward to that. It's forecast to rain the whole time but hopefully we won't get too damp. :)

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I'm breaking my no-(real)-dessert-during-the-week rule today. In honor of the 9 month mark, I purchased three small cupcakes for us to share after dinner tonight: red velvet, carrot (the one I was craving!), and vegan chocolate.

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This morning I tried to get her movement on video. It's tough to capture since it's quite random and doesn't translate well on film, but she moved about 12 seconds in on the top/left side of my tummy.

Craving Alert: Cereal

When I look back on this pregnancy, the major bona fide craving that I've had will definitely be cereal. I've desired certain foods for a meal, but cereal is the one food that I've had to have repeatedly that's out of the ordinary for me.

I've never been a big cereal eater. When I was little, I didn't like how you had to eat it quick before it became soggy, and I never drank the leftover milk which got me in trouble since it was wasteful. It also does not fill me up so it's a real waste for breakfast. Today I like a little now and then, no more than grabbing a handful from one of Ray's boxes and eating it dry.

A few weeks ago I started having a bit of Ray's cereals dry or with soy milk added. I quickly graduated to buying my own boxes and wanting some almost every day. I had to, like everything else we have different taste in cereal! He favors the cereals from our childhood like Corn Pops, Lucky Charms, and Blueberry Morning. High in sugar and nothing much useful. Which might explain why that small handful of mine was so yummy :) For myself, I've been buying Kashi Go Lean Crunch, Special K, and Honey Bunches of Oats. Not all super duper healthy but lighter on calories and sugar (by a bit in some cases) and fortified with vitamins. And most importantly, delish to me!

This is Special K Vanilla Almond, and an unusually big bowl of it. Normally I make a small one with soy milk added; I'll even just have some in a little ramekin if I've already had most of lunch and just want to satisfy the craving. This week I've had Honey Bunches of Oats, a new apple cinnamon flavor which I LOVE. I'm at the bottom of the box, it's time to buy a new one. This one and the banana flavor are delish and say 'limited edition' on the box, hopefully they keep it around. For at least 3 weeks.

35 weeks

35 down, 5 to go.

No doctor's appointment this week; yesterday I was running around like a mad person with lots of small errands and some work on our house. We had three-prong outlets installed all over the house (it's an old building and only the kitchen and bathroom had been updated) and two dimmers- one in the baby's room and one in the hallway.

Our Little Chickpea

Main change continues to be putting on baby fat and practicing blinking, sucking, yawning, and rolling. Lots and lots of rolling and pushing.

Me

We had another heat wave this week (hopefully the last one!) so I've been very uncomfortable. When it's really hot I just feel like a huge incubator, not in my own body. Starting today the temperature will be dropping, by the weekend we should have high 60s. Can't wait. I've had some sharp stabbing pains inside the vagina over the past few days, I looked this up and could be my cervix dilating. Doesn't mean I'm going into labor any time soon, but my body could be getting ready. No practice Braxton-Hicks contractions yet.

Mini Nursery Tour

The room is 98% finished now and it's beautiful. Just a few small things left, but here's a quick video tour. My iPhone only lets me email very short videos so I wasn't able to give an extensive tour, but you can see everything.
I know I'll appreciate seeing it in its immaculate state a few months down the road.

If you look sharp, you'll see a small canvas face down on the bookshelf. It's a sweet little painting with her name on it but since it's still a secret I laid it down for you. Sorry :-)

BABIES

Babies has just been released and I got a chance to see it this week when Netflix sent it to me. My mom and I watched it together amidst lunch at my house. I really enjoyed it. The film follows four babies from around the world from birth to one year, with a quick jump to three years at the very end. There is no dialogue. You hear parents' voices now and then, quietly in the background, but it's hardly noticeable as you watch the babies- and their siblings- interact with their world.

It's fascinating to see how babies are raised around the world. Bayar from Mongolia is left on his own for hours at a time- sometimes tied by a string to a bedpost to keep him from wandering off, other times crawling across the hills around his hut in the countryside. In Namibia, Ponijao eats dirt, bugs, grabs at his brother's private parts, and his mother doesn't bat an eye. Mari in Tokyo has all the latest toys and travels in a high-end MacLaren stroller. Hattie travels in a bike buggie around San Francisco with her parents. All four children harass the docile and complacent pets in their households. Even the parents' behavior is interesting. Bayar's mom hops on a motorcycle to get home just after giving birth. Ponijao poops on his mother's knee as an infant; she rubs the stool away with a corn husk and feeds two kids from her poor dangling breasts. (Why many African tribes never thought of an apparatus to offer breast support is beyond me. I'm not talking modesty, I'm talking comfort! But that's another story.) Mari's mother takes her to Mommy and Me classes while Dad lets her play with CDs on the floor while he works.

Besides the entertainment value of watching these babies in their environment, I was very aware of the lesson to be learned here, for myself and other young mothers living in the US. Everywhere I turn, there are products and equipment for raising a baby, much of it touted as essential for raising a happy, healthy, and safe baby. But all of this junk is not necessary. It is up to us to decide what we want to use and do, it is not up to our relatives and the retail stores.

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Last night Ray and I attended an "Infant Care" class, 3 hours taught by a 20-year pediatric nurse practitioner. She talked about taking baby home, breastfeeding, formula feeding, bathing, diapering, identifying and treating run-of-the-mill baby ailments. At the beginning she went over a list of the minimum baby essentials, prefacing that you don't need all the gizmos that are on the market. I loved that she said this. I don't want every piece of kid paraphenalia out there- we have a small house! Starting out giving the firstborn everything sets a bad standard for their life and the life of their siblings IMHO. Not to mention tripping over all the stuff as I try to make my way through the day with no sleep.

The teacher gave a lot of advice and instruction, and I intend to heed much of it and ignore some of it too.

Thirty-Four

I am big. And slow.

Here we go, I am feeling the slothy and slow, the tired and achy. As my doctor said this morning, it won't last long and these last 6 weeks will go fast. And despite it I feel so lucky, it could be much worse.


Baby:

Honeydew and pineapple are the comparative fruits right now. Sheesh! She's also capable of remembering sounds and songs she hears. Packing on more baby fat and urinating up to a pint a day- lovely.

Our Little Chickpea:

She's moving around so much now. Not many little pokes, lots of all-over movement and shifting. Throughout the day something hard and flat will poke out of my upper-left belly: it's her little bottom! She gets the hiccups two or three times a day which is pretty funny. It's a rhythmic popping sensation. Ray has felt it at night before bed a few times, no other movement is as easy to define.

Me:

Still measuring right on with no stretch marks (yay!), my workouts since I posted on Saturday have been a little more sluggish. I'm feeling tired and weary about 70% of the time and good for the rest which isn't too shabby. The shirt I'm wearing today is not maternity, but I do have to tug it down from time to time so my tummy doesn't hang out the bottom. I flat out refuse to buy any more maternity clothes. I'd much rather buy something new postpartum around the holidays. :-)

Nursery:

Her little room is nearly complete. Our hospital bags are in there along with the stroller frame and carseat; as soon as my glider arrives (which I hope is very soon!) I will post pictures.

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My next doctor's appointment at 36 weeks will be much more interesting. My thyroid levels will be checked one more time, and I'll also be tested for Group B strep, a bacteria that can live in the vagina. If it's positive I'll get some antibiotics to protect Baby during delivery. I'll also have an ultrasound and pelvic exam to see exactly how she's oriented, her weight, and whether I've started dilating which means if my cervix has begun opening.

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Exercise All the Way Through- A Video

I'd like to share a little more about exercise during my pregnancy.
*Note: Everyone is different- many women have doctor's orders to restrict or cease exercise while pregnant, and I have no medical restrictions. This is my own story.

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When I was still in the first trimester, I researched everything. Probably creating a good amount of anxiety as well as gaining knowledge. One of my biggest focuses was on how to be careful during while pregnant yet maintain as much of my regular routine as possible. I searched websites and forums for information from experts and testimony from other women. Sometimes the info conflicted- some claim to keep your heart rate below 140 beats per minute, others say that's an antiquated notion and that the 'talk test' is the way to go. Length of time, extend of exertion, activity, and impact- I found tidbits on each of these, but nothing concrete. This makes sense in a way because every woman is different and so is every doctor. But despite all this research, I was disatisfied with the information.

The first months I scaled back a ton, way more than necessary in hindsight but I was terrified of causing injury to the fetus. I didn't have a heart rate monitor prior to pregnancy, but I purchased one early on and use it every day. Initially I set my heart rate limits between 120 and 140 to be safe.

By 13 weeks I felt a bit liberated and comfortable pumping it back up a bit. I decided to trust my body and my interpretation of how it felt. If I felt out of breath or over-exerted, I'd ease up. I have decreased the impact gradually; today I don't do jumps anymore. I'll bounce when I can :-) with one foot always on the ground. Weights have decreased: I still use 1, 3, 5, 7, and occasionally 8 lb, but I haven't touched the 10s and 15s for months.

As my belly grew in months 4, 5, and 6, my lungs and diaphragm had less room so my heart rate jumped more quickly. Now Baby has dropped down into my pelvis, my lungs have more room and it's easier to breathe again and control my heart rate. I've modified soo many movements- push-ups, ab work, even stretches. And I never used to drink water while exercising but I do now. I keep a cup of water close by and take gulps of it when the need strikes.

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Today I'm still working out every morning. Every single morning, there is no reason for me to skip a day while I'm feeling good, and the rest of my day can be fairly sedentary so it's important to get the movement in. I always wear the heart rate monitor to both watch my exertion AND to track how many calories I burn. I shoot for 60 minutes and tend to burn between 350 and 400 calories, with an average heart rate around 136. The max I've set for the past 3 months has been 150 beats per minute- this feels comfortable to me, higher than that and I might fail the talk test. I do a variety of exercises- kickboxing, step, low-impact aerobics, interval training, all in my living room. I still shy away from yoga. I know it's good for pregnant women but it has never satisfied me as a workout, so I keep yoga to my ending stretches for now, while I can still move more vigorously.

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This morning Ray took some video of me working out. I think it's hysterical when I catch a glimpse of this in the mirror.
I wanted to show you what I would have liked to have seen months ago. I'm 8 1/2 months pregnant and still very active- the big belly shouldn't stop you! I'm staying in as good shape as possible; pregnancy is not a time to go to seed! Maintaining an exercise program will help ease and even avoid lots of late pregnancy discomforts, as well as help out during labor and delivery. And of course bounce back faster postpartum, and who doesn't want that?

Today I did 45 minutes of a step routine, followed by 15 minutes of kickboxing and stretches. Max heart-rate 156 beats per minute, average 136, 387 calories. Of course I'm doing the beginner modifications in each case which is more than enough for a satisfactory workout right now. I try to incorporate weights when I can; in the video I'm holding 1 lb weights to utilize my arms more efficiently.
*When my heart rate jumps, my monitor starts beeping at me to take it down; when this happens I just take out the arm moves for a bit which you can see.

It's short and sweet but I hope you find this helpful if not entertaining!

33 weeks

This girl is hungry so I'll make this quick so I can go make lunch!

33 weeks today.
I do love Wednesdays because this is the day I move on to the next week in the countdown. :-)

Baby's movements are starting to change; she still punches from time to time but more often I can feel her whole body rolling against my outside. I'll feel pressure on my side- usually below my belly button- like something is pushing me from the inside and I know it's her stretching her arms.

I don't seem to look much bigger this week, but I'm carrying lower- Baby has definitely dropped down into my pelvis according to the midwife I saw this morning.

I made an appointment because I thought I had a UTI- yuck. I don't seem too though which is great news, and I did get to hear her heartbeat as part of the bargain and be measured and weighed. I'm now at 135 pounds, still on track but lordy that's heavy! (Although funny- I'm waiting to give my urine sample and reading a BMI chart and I'm still well within a healthy weight for my height, despite carrying around another human. That's reassuring.)

Anyway, back to my visit. My doctor wasn't available so I saw the midwife on staff, who I've seen before and really like. She'd be my primary care were it not for certain circumstances to do with our struggle to get pregnant a year ago. I wish I got to choose who would deliver our baby should my doctor not be available, because I'd choose the midwife. She's really nice, we chatted for a little while before discussing the excessive need to urinate that I've been experiencing the past two days. As in, I go to the bathroom and 3 minutes later need to go again. That can be a symptom of a UTI, so I went in to be safe. But my urine sample looked normal (not quite acidic enough, she asked me to get some cranberry juice to help with that); very likely my excessive problem is due to the fact that Baby has her head directly on my bladder and I'm just not able to empty it every time because she is in the way.

This picture is for me. See Sarah, you still have toned decent looking arms!! The past three days have been HOT- as in record high temps in the Bay Area, high 90s in San Mateo which means I have been struggling to be remotely comfortable, as well as being a little swollen all over. So on top of being really uncomfortable I was feeling pretty ooogly. That combination also equals cranky, and Ray has been very patient with me too, such a good husband. It's going to be cooler today in the low 80s, and clearly the yucky swollen has gone away with the heat. Thank goodness.

Ok- FOOD TIME NOW.

No More Advice

Dear all,

I love you. Really I do. You, friends and acquaintances closely connected or loosely associated, are good people who mean well. I know your words come from a good place. You want to share your experiences and offer pearls of wisdom to us who haven't had our babies yet.

But however well-meaning, your advice is condescending and not helpful. Your few weeks or months as parents do not make you experts, do not make you the authority on what's going to happen when this baby shows up and how our lives will change.

Please stop telling us that our lives will change- (Oh my god you mean the around-the-clock care and raising of another human being who is completely depending on us will affect our daily routine? Why did no one tell us this?!) DUH we know that. And you actually sound pretty stupid saying it.

Please stop asking us what we are planning for delivery, if I'm going to nurse, and what kind of carseat we've picked and then telling us if we chose right or wrong. It is none of your business, and the fact that you are my age and have a matter of months under your belt doesn't make you a trustworthy source in my book.

We tried to conceive this little girl for quite a while before it happened, and I have wanted to be a mommy for much longer. Even before I was pregnant I read and researched different aspects of pregnancy and parenthood, so hungry was I for knowledge and information. All the research in the world doesn't make up for my lack of hands-on mom experience, but please don't talk to me like I'm clueless and need your little pearls of wisdom to make it through the first months of motherhood.

I know you mean well, but it's quite enough thank you. Something tells me that with some things, I know more going into this than you did, so stop telling me what's going to happen. Every baby, every parent, every scenario is different, and though we started trying first and giving birth last we will make our way. I grow tired of smiling and nodding in response to your pompous and invasive advice.

Thanks, ~S

Party in San Francisco

On Saturday night Ray and I went into San Francisco to celebrate the 30th birthday of a friend of ours. First there was dinner with another couple and friend beforehand. We had a delicious meal at Perbacco, and I feasted on baby beets, housemade papardelle, white corn with wild mushrooms, and burnt caramel gelato. Great food with great company.

The birthday party was held at a boutique hotel near Union Square, and it had an 80s prom theme. I freaked at first- um, where do you find an 80s prom outfit for someone 8 months pregnant?!- but I did alright with a black dress and leggings (which you couldn't see), lace fingerless gloves, rubber bracelets and earrings. Ray found a yellow jacket a la Saved by the Bell at Goodwill.

It was WARM in the city that night- pretty unusual. My face was a little damp throughout the evening and of course no drinking for me, but I still danced nearly the whole time. Ray likes to dance too, I'm so lucky that he does. We stayed for 2 hours which I was very happy with- seeing as the party began at my usual bedtime.

This picture is called 'Big Boobs McGee'- because this is sooo not normal. :-P

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Baby is punching me, reminder that I need to head for Palo Alto- I'm picking up the crib mattress we ordered from Pottery Barn Kids at noon. Gotta go!

8 Months

32 weeks. Boo ya!

Aka 8 months, which sounds so much closer to the end!

It really is a dirty trick how they teach you that pregnancy lasts 9 months, when in reality it's really 10. 36 weeks = 9 months, but you've got another 4 weeks left to go- that 9th month is a full month before you're done. Grrrr. No fair.

Our Chickpea:

Continues to be a little mover and shaker. Occasionally she pokes me in the side and it hurts; I just poke back and say "stop that!" I can tell that she's starting to run out of room, as her kicks and punches are feeling different- 'bigger' if that makes sense.

Me:

Not much new to report this week besides feeling more fatigued. I've have more back pain, but we went out and got me an exercise ball which will help a lot. Many people have these already but we didn't. I can use it three-fold: when exercise (great for ab work when pregnant), sitting on like a chair (huge help with the back pain), and I'll be bringing it to the hospital to use in labor. Sitting on it helps to open the hips and also relieve back labor.

31 Weeks

I sat in on my mom's mystery book club yesterday morning so I wasn't around to take pictures. Here we are at 31 weeks, one day late:



My butt looks massive, but it's not quite that big; there's a pile of laundry behind me on the floor. It's that day, I was sorting right before pictures.

See? The delicate wash. Not my bottom. And because I'm sure my mom is appalled that I've posted pictures in my bra on the internet (it's a big pregnancy bra, hardly revealing or flattering):

I love this top. It's backwards in the mirror (try taking a full-length picture of yourself without one) but it says "Glam Moms Rock."

I got it on Etsy from this great shop called Glam Mom NY.

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Our Little Chickpea:

Her reproductive system continues to develop this week: clitoris is fully formed and prominent because her labia are still small and do not cover it. Oh my. Her lungs are much more developed though not fully mature. That won't happen for another 8 weeks. Her brain is much more developed too. From my reading, the major activity for the rest of pregnancy seems to be continued maturing of the lungs and brain, and packing on the pounds.

I'm fairly certain she's smaller than the weight given in the books, but that still means a good 3-5 pounds more to go before birth. Those weight numbers are estimates, and there's a wide range that a baby can weigh at birth. I'm still gaining weight at the right pace and my uterus measured at exactly 30 weeks last week. According to my doctor, this is a pretty accurate sign that my baby is also the appropriate size and weight for her. I'm expecting her to be a smallish baby- Ray and I were both small at birth as well as now- I'm 5'3" on a good day and he's 5'6". The men in my family are tall for the most part but I'd be shocked if our chickpea was anything but petite, especially at birth. Our childbirth class instructor told us that a baby of 7 pounds of less is good-sized and average; heavier than that might be called a 'big baby.' If I had to make a prediction, I'd say she'll be between 6 lbs 6 ounces and 7 lbs. Unless she arrives early, then she'll be smaller.

Me:

Disclaimer: I am never complaining here. I have some discomforts but they are all manageable, and I know I could have it much worse. I am very lucky and could deal with a lot more. This is always just what's going on. Sleeping is becoming more difficult, although even when I am awake I feel like I'm in a half-sleep half-wake state for the most part. I can tell when she is poking me in an uncomfortable spot and changing my position usually takes care of it. The major change I've noticed in the past week is increased back pain- by about 4:00pm my back can really hurt and it's hard to stretch or sit in a way that makes it feel better. Ray is sweet and always rubs it if I ask, but I don't too often because I don't want to be too needy. What I'd give for a 30 minute back massage every afternoon! One item I'm going to invest in this week is an exercise ball, the big kind you can sit on. We don't have one, but they are really excellent for eliviating back pain, stretching, and also during labor.

Nursery:

Is looking so very pretty, but it's still not ready. I ended up applying the decal all by myself which I'm super proud of. It's gorgeous and is clearly the focal point in the room. The bookshelf is constructed but not yet anchored to the wall; we'll wait until we're sure of its placement when the glider arrives, which could be anywhere from 2-6 weeks from now.

My mother- and sister-in-law through me a baby shower on Sunday and we received lots of gifts, clothes for the most part. She has a pretty sweet wardrobe, only a few long-sleeve onesies are lacking at this point. I've hung and tucked everything away without washing, which I'll do closer to my due date. I also received my baby carrier, a navy Ergobaby organic carrier as well as the infant insert. Ray thinks I'll be carrying her around everywhere in it, and I think he might be right!

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One last picture to share. I just think this is hilarious- this is what I see when I'm standing and look down:

Cannot see my legs and feet at all. That's my flip-flop poking out on the right but I'm actually looking forward a wee bit to have it in view.

Little Women

I watched classics when I was little, more than current cartoons. The version of Little Women from 1949 was one of my favorites, and I will have it ready (on Blu-Ray!) for my little girl.

Starring Elizabeth Taylor, June Allyson, Janet Leigh, Margaret O'Brien, Mary Astor, and Peter Lawford. This version took a few liberties with the story, the most notable being the reverse of ages in Beth and Amy. Beth is a year older than Amy, but in this film Beth is portrayed as the youngest.

One of my favorite scenes occurs after the Lawrence party above- the girls are all in bed talking, and Amy is eating the most yummy looking petit fours- which she eventually shares with Beth before affixing the clothespin to her nose. How she managed to remain still all night to keep the clothespin on is something I used to wonder about.

June Allyson as Jo is the perfect image for me. She has a masculinity about her but is also beautiful and very intriguing. Her relationship with Laurie isn't as intimate as in the book but his attraction is very believable in Allyson.

My favorite sister was always Meg because I thought Janet Leigh was really beautiful. Her hair, her voice, her clothes were all lovely to me. A fascination for hoop skirts and Civil War-era fashion was born from watching Little Women. And as the lone girl in a family of boys, a story about four sisters was enchanting.

30 Weeks

10....weeks....to go!!

I've been waiting to hit this milestone since I made it past the first trimester. Something about hitting the thirties, plus in 7 days I'll be counting down the weeks in single digits.

Our Little Chickpea:

She weighs between 2.5 and 3 pounds. She's packing on the pounds now in sweet baby fat, and her brain is growing, getting more and more of that wrinkly brain texture. Continuing to move more and with greater force throughout the day, all the moms I know say I will miss that feeling when she's born. I can see why- that feeling will go back to being indigestion and gas :). It is kind of like that, only better.

She has a great little heartbeat, strong at 150 beats per minute. My doctor felt pretty sure from a belly exam that she's facing head down. Good girl, stay that way please!

Me:

I've gained 25 pounds now, still on track to gain 35 pounds total which I'm very happy with. At least it's still staying in the belly region. Everyone who says it's all there isn't comparing the size of my thighs and ass to the way they were before! :-) Still have good blood pressure, and my uterus is measuring at exactly 30 weeks.

My right leg has a bit of the restless leg syndrome going on at night- when I lay on my right side it has a hard time settling down, twitching periodically and feeling a little asleep. It's not a problem on the left.

Nursery:

I've decided not to post a picture again until it's ready. Right now it's a little messy with the gifts we've received, and I don't need to remember it that way. :) This morning I ordered blinds for the two windows (same as the ones we have elsewhere in the house). The decal we picked out to go above the crib FINALLY arrived; it's going to be a big project putting it up and we don't have time until next weekend. We attempted to pick up our bookshelf at Ikea last weekend but they were oversold :( but I monitored its status online and it was back in stock today so I picked that up too (with a little help- thank you nice guys at Ikea!) The glider is ordered, should be here in 2-6 weeks. The only major nursery thing we have left is to select and purchase a rug, but I'm waiting on that until I have more of these items are in place.

No Hero

I'm 30 weeks today, but I'll save the picture posting for tomorrow.

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We attended the first session of our childbirth class last night and it was great- very informative and also enjoyable (our teacher is a woman I've taken prenatal fitness from and she's funny and kooky). It did spark some thoughts in me that may be a bit of a rant, but I'd like to share it with you.

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"You don't need to be a hero and deliver without drugs" is a statement I've heard a few times including last night, in reference to someone who says they would like to try and deliver without the help of an epidural.

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I don't think this woman last night really thought about the implications of that statement. I wasn't angry, but I did find it offensive. It implies that women who choose "natural childbirth" (without drugs) are doing it for stupid, superficial reasons. It suggests they have not put any thought or research into their decision, or that they are stupid and silly for not taking advantage of the convenience and comfort drugs provide.

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I am choosing to have a natural birth if at all possible. I don't have a birth plan, more like birth preferences; I know that if I arrive in labor and circumstances aren't ideal, I do still have options. But natural birth is the right choice for me- women have been giving birth since the beginning of time, several women in my life that I respect have had natural births, and I'm good at tolerating pain with concentration and practice. This is my choice, what is right for me. I am aware that an epidural is a relatively safe way to relieve labor pain, and I am delivering at a fantastic hospital where meds would be properly administered for minimum risk.

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I don't make judgments about women who want epidurals. I think an epidural is right for some people. As safe as they are they do have potential side effects and risks that come with them. No doubt these women have weighed these risks and decided it is still best for them. I don't think them cowardly or lazy for wanting one, so I don't really appreciate their judgment on those wanting to go without one.

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I have put a lot of thought into my decision to try and give birth without drugs. But in this technology obssessed society where anything easier is better, I seem to be in the minority. I don't judge you, so please don't judge me. I'm not trying to be a hero, and I also don't "want a medal" (another one I've heard). I'm making the best decision for me and my baby. It's the last gift I can give her before she leaves my body and starts living on her own, and if I can bring her into the world naturally and without medical intervention, then that is what I will do.

29 Weeks

Not much to say today that wasn't said yesterday. Bump doesn't look bigger but feels heavier, and the rising scale doesn't lie.

Here- check out that killer linea nigra. It lines up pretty perfectly with the top of my uterus, about an inch and a half above my finger. No stretch marks yet, just this pretty line.

Feelings on the Third Trimester

I've just entered the last third of this rollercoaster and this is what I've noticed so far:

• I'm feeling the extra weight on my body. More specifically, I'm feeling HER weight and the weight of my uterus on my abs and back.
• My heart rate goes higher with much less effort during exercise. I have less lung capacity but my heart and lungs are well-trained and efficient. Also, lifting my knees is getting harder because, well, my belly is in the way!
• Trips to the bathroom are RIDICULOUS. I often loath being out of the house simply for the inconvenience of being away from a bathroom which is the most annoying thing ever.
• Prolactin levels are increasing which may cause leakage of colostrum (the nutrient-rich substance that comes in before milk) from the breasts. I haven't had any leakage but a bit of dry crustiness- kind of like boogers. Sexy.
• Also from the prolactin, I'm feeling more sleepy throughout the day again.
• I'm having some crazy dreams that I'm remembering more. In particular this week dreaming of Ray and I not being together anymore, he actually being with another woman who is having fertility treatments done (!!); another night I had some weird dreams about my mom. My subconscious is feeling insecure?!
• The past two nights as well, I've been a bit uncomfortable laying on my left side which is the preferred side for circulation. This is odd, I'm going to call my doctor's office about that and report back.