Long time no see!

Ok, so I haven't updated in over a month. Oops :/

I've had some very serious struggles with Post Partum Depression & Anxiety which had me in a black hole for several long weeks. I've started to come out of the depression and am hopeful that things will keep getting brighter.

On a positive note, Liam is doing very well. I've recently had to switch him from breast milk to formula which I was very unhappy with originally (I'm on medication which would pass through to the milk) but he's doing so well, gaining a ton of weight, hitting all of the developmental milestones so far, that I really cannot complain.

Liam has been sleeping so much better over the past few days than ever before. He has been doing 5-6 hour stretches and then another 4-5 hour stretch after that. He's also "gooing" a ton which is really fun. He was in the 85th percentile for weight at his 2 month check-up (13.1 lbs) and we think he's probably close to 14lbs at this point - he's wearing all 3-6 month clothes at this point!

Motherhood has been harder than I ever could have imagined, and while I had an inkling that I could have PPD, I never realized how bad it could be. It makes me fearful to have another child, even though I loved being pregnant so very much. B is ready to have another one immediately and keeps joking about Irish twins. Fortunately, I don't plan to get pregnant in the next month, so that is not going to be a reality! I'm starting to experience more of the rewarding elements of being a mom. It's very fun to interact with Liam, and I can't wait until he talks more and enjoys playing a bit more.

I'll do my best at trying to update a little more often!



Liam will be 11 weeks old on Monday

5 weeks (almost)

I'm typing this with a massively sized baby sprawled out on my lap, while he enjoys his pacifier. It truly seems like a rare feat to have him content and quiet and just enjoying the world around him. It always seems like he needs something, from food, to a diaper, to a tummy massage to work out the gas, or a burp mid-way through a nap. Sometimes I forget to enjoy my little guy as I'm too busy trying to figure out what he needs!

I'm still beyond sleep deprived. Having a baby brings sleep deprivation to a level I could have never imagined. Yes it's well worth it, but I truly had no clue what I was in for. I was always the type of person to lay down, sleep, and wake up 8 hours later well rested. Some days I have no idea if I've even slept for 3 hours. The last couple of days, I've not been fall down tired so hopefully I'm adjusting. My mother-in-law has been here for the last 2 weeks and I have absolutely no clue what I'd do without her. Not having my own mom around (she passed away when I was 14) has left me grief-stricken, but my mother-in-law literally came in and saved the day. I have no idea how to cope when she leaves after Thanksgiving, but fortunately for me, she is returning before Christmas hopefully for an extended stay once again. My plan is to go back to work part time in January and I feel so much better knowing that Liam would be taken care of by her rather than someone I don't know.

Right now, I'm reading the Sleep Lady book to try and learn how to sleep train an infant. During weeks 4-8, I've learned it's important to make sure that babies only nap for a maximum of 3 hours during the day, in a well lit environment (to distinguish night from day) and then have a night time ritual. Babies should remain awake from 8-10pm, have a bath in there, and then a final meal around 10, and then be put down to sleep. Tonight is night 1 of this approach. He's still awake at 9:30 - so far so good. He has some good 3 hour stretches but last night was rough. He went down around 10:30, then was awake at 12:15, 2:45 and 5:30. I know it could be worse, but this felt really impossible!

Ok, now he's starting to get fussy again! At least I found some time to update....

Liam is 5 weeks (minus a day)

Starting to get the hang of things... sort of.

Well, we survived the first 3 weeks. Barely, I think. Well, at least it seemed impossible for me. Some days I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but I'll admit that I've had some exceptionally difficult days throughout Liam's first 3 weeks of life.

Breastfeeding has never been easy. He's a very lazy nurser and I have had an oversupply of milk, so I've been weaning down with the pumping. My doctor would like me to wean off completely, due to persistent mastitis which I've had for a week now. I even had to get an ultrasound yesterday to make sure that I didn't have an abscess (fortunately, I don't). I've seen a lactation consultant, and I've been to my doctor's office twice in the past week, and I'm on 2 different antibiotics. I guess this makes up for my problem-free pregnancy! So, I'm taking the breastfeeding/pumping one day at a time. I have to get the mastitis under control or nothing is going to work. I've been giving him exclusively breast milk for 3 weeks now, and have never supplemented with formula. We may introduce formula this week and see how that goes. I am hopeful that it may allow Liam to sleep longer at night, provided that it doesn't upset his tummy. He wakes about every 3 hours at night for food. He has had a 4 or 5 hour stretch here and there but I think that was last week.

My mother-in-law is here, which is mostly due to my lack of confidence in being on my own with the baby. I often feel like I just don't know how to soothe him or what he wants. Fortunately, she'll be here for another few weeks, which might make this process a little bit easier on me. I just keep taking things one day at a time, and often one hour at a time.

On the positive side, I've lost all of my pregnancy weight (as of a few days ago!)



Liam is 3 weeks, and 1 day old

Almost 2 weeks in...

Wow, this Mommy stuff is HARD. I sincerely had no idea. Being pregnant was simple for me about 90% of the time, and it never occurred to me how dark these early weeks might be for me. No one really warned me or prepared me.

I had such a great time bonding with Liam in the hospital, and even though recovery was very challenging the first few days, things were relatively easy in the hospital. For the first 4 or 5 days after coming home, I was crying ALL the time and I was seriously sleep deprived. I didn't bond with Liam the way I did in the hospital. I also questioned myself repeatedly - "What did I get myself into?" "Why did I think I could do this?" I felt as needy towards B as Liam is! I wanted constant affection/reassurance (something that I've never needed/wanted). I found myself in a really dark place more often than not. I even questioned whether I had Post Partum Depression. I was having a hard time distinguishing hormonal imbalance/baby blues with something more severe. Each day seems to get easier, and the more sleep I get, the more I can handle what the day has in store for me.

Recovery wise, nearly 2 weeks out, I'm feeling pretty good. I can easily go up and down the stairs, bend over and pick things up, and I've been off of all pain meds for about a week.

I'm so grateful that B took 3 weeks off from work to be at home. He's been a lifesaver, and the best Daddy I could have ever imagined. I knew he'd be good, but I'm not sure I realized how good. I feel like I have miles to go before I'm at his level, but I am striving for it. It still takes me 5-6 diaper wipes to get through a changing!

That's all for now :)

Liam is 13 days old

Liam is here! Birth story!

And boy was I wrong in my original weight estimate ;)

My little man was born on Monday, Oct 12th at 2:09pm weighing in at 8lbs8oz. I have no idea how we produced such a large child, but we are madly in love with our creation.

I did end up with the c-section as scheduled. Ironically, when I was hooked up to the fetal monitors on the morning of the surgery, I was having regular contractions at 3 minutes apart! I started to second guess things, and my OB even said, if I had wanted, she would have broken my water and I could try and labor. However, he had still not dropped, and she didn't have any more confidence that I wouldn't end up with an emergency (or near emergency c/s) anyway.

My surgery was scheduled for noon and they were running behind. Two separate nurses tried for my IV FOUR times. They blew 2 of my veins right beside each other, which was not pleasant to say the very least, a third in my right hand, and then another in the same arm. I had had enough. I broke down in tears. I was doing so well up until that point, I had very little anxiety - my main concern was my ravenous hunger. They called in a nurse anesthetist who easily got it on the first try, no pain at all, and it was done. I was really frustrated by that point because no one has ever had trouble with my veins, and here I was feeling like a pin cushion. Next, my doctor comes in again and says there is still a hold up, but hopefully within the hour we'll be ready to go. She also then explains that the anesthesiologist that day is going to be doing my meds differently than she thought. Instead of a spinal and then Duramorph (a long lasting morphine shot), I was going to get an epidural which would be left in for about 24 hours. All the docs seemed to think the first option was the latest and greatest, but of course the anesthesiologist on my surgery was old school (he was in his 70's). I was also warned that his bedside manner was bad and that he doesn't talk much. Excellent. For whatever reason, I actually didn't get upset by this, or the big change in the meds.

Around 1:15, we all made the walk to the OR. When I arrived, I actually thought this was some kind of prep room for the epi and that I would be transferred. I swear the OR was the size of my walk-in closet and no bigger. It was like something out of the 1950's... I got seated on the table, while DH was waiting outside. I was to curve my back. It was at this time, the anesthesiologist with his awesome bedside manner, walked in, mumbled his name to me, said that there's a chance this wouldn't work and I'd need to be put under, and that it could also take several tries. Good afternoon to you too, buddy. Then, the nice nurse anesthetist from earlier said that my heart rate was at 150 (no kidding). Then I got the numbing shot which didn't hurt at all, and old-school dude rooted around in my spine. I have no idea how many tries it took (it could have only been 1, but it also could have been 10) but it definitely took a few minutes longer than I thought. Then there was some sort of electrical shock up my side which jolted me and he reprimanded me to sit still. That ticked me off because there was no warning, and it was literally like an electrical shock throughout my entire left side.

I laid down on the table, and they prepped me for surgery, continually asking me if I was starting to feel numb (not particularly). Eventually, the drape went up, and B was brought in. Then they tested me with the calipers and asked if I could feel it. I said yes and that it was sharp. I started to get concerned, but then a few minutes later I realized they were cutting me and I definitely could not feel pain. I could feel all the tugging and then pushing and pulling, which I have to admit was pretty cool. As weird as it sounds, I was glad to have the epi and not the spinal because it was kind of nice feeling my baby being taken out of me, as opposed to having no feeling of it whatsoever. The surgery seemed to go by very quickly, but DH said it was actually a lot longer than I thought it was. Either way, I felt totally comfortable throughout the surgery and I had no side effects during the part where they take the baby out. I didn't have any shakes or nausea. I was told I'd feel a lot of pressure when they were going to take him out, but it wasn't bad at all. When my OB went to take him out, his head came out and he cried immediately, and she said, gently, in her sweet British accent "Not yet..." It was cute. Then he was all the way out and was screaming so they didn't get to suction him until after he had swallowed a bunch of amniotic fluid.

They brought him around the curtain for B and I to see and it was the most amazing, yet strangest experience I've ever felt. This baby belonged to me, but yet I didn't recognize him; however, I loved him immediately and intensely. This was when things started to get a little rough. All of a sudden, I started to have chest pains, and I actually thought I might be having a heart attack. It was difficult to breathe, and the pain was so intense. It was taking away from my experience of watching my new baby, and I was frustrated. I was told they were giving me meds but they didn't work, so they ended up giving me Versed (sp.?) which has amnesiac properties. It made me immediately drowsy. I was so scared that I was gripping B's hand, to the point where he was staying with me at first instead of going with Liam to the nursery. I didn't intend for that to happen, but I was so out of it, I didn't even realize he was still there. At some point, I was completely out, and he did go to the nursery. I woke up in the recovery room, which was the same room I had started in. I don't remember how much time lapsed but it seemed nearly immediate that B and my baby boy came in together.

Then, the process of what I'd like to call Uterus Crushing ensued. Every 15 minutes for a couple of hours, a nurse came in and pressed so hard on my stomach, I thought I was going to pass out. They all said it was for my best interest, and I believed it, but it was really torturous. It did work though, because by the end of the night, my uterus was under my belly button, and most of the big clots had already been passed.

I was transferred to the post-partum unit when my pain was under control (which was probably an 8 or so for a while). The first night was really rough, I'm not going to sugar coat it. I was confined to my bed due to the epi, the catheter and the IV. I couldn't eat food, and was on a liquid diet which didn't curb my ravenous hunger. The pain meds maybe took the edge off, but I was so confused as to why I had this epidural which didn't seem to take my pain away, but made my right leg completely numb, which was annoying. They also put leg compressors on me, which compressed my legs every 45 seconds or so (like a blood pressure cuff) and I wasn't a fan of those either.

I slept for maybe 30 minutes the entire night. I fed Liam the best I could - I had a lot of colostrum but I couldn't get him to latch well (which ended up being my fault, as I was doing it wrong). I was so hot... I could have sworn my room was 90* but B was wearing a fleece and practically shivering. The next day, I was sleep deprived but excited to be able to get out of bed and start the recovery. About noon the next day, my epi was removed, the catheter was taken out, and I was able to get out of bed. It was like learning to walk again. The first few steps were torturous and I felt like my stomach was splitting in two. I never thought I'd feel better. I was told I could get my IV out after I peed twice, so I drank about 8 glasses of water and peed. I was at least glad to not be attached to anything anymore. As the day wore on, and we had way too many visitors, I was feeling crappy. I also got behind on the pain meds. I went to bed and hoped for the best. I got a little more sleep than the previous night and felt a little better when I woke up. We had fewer guests and I really focused on learning to breast feed, having several visits with the lactation consultant, who was very helpful. By the evening time, my milk had come in (just over 48hrs which I thought was really fast).

The next day, which is when I was scheduled to go home, I was feeling pretty good, but I was emotionally not ready to go home. Before going into the hospital (having never spent the night in the hospital before) I was planning for the minimum stay. I would have never predicted that I'd actually ask for the full time my insurance allowed. I'm grateful that I did. I was so well taken care of at the hospital, my room was amazing (it was twice the size of the OR I was in!), the food was good, and it was all I could ask for after the birth of my baby.

I came home 3 days ago, back to reality and virtually pain free for the most part. I weaned off the Percoset 2 days ago, and I'm so glad I did. The constipation was ten times worse than the incision pain. They kept offering me a prescription or Colace in the hospital and I really should have taken them up on their offer about 3 days after Liam was born.

Liam is now a week old, and I'm easily able to move about through the house. I am so much more mobile than I anticipated, just a week out. One of my favorite parts of coming home was getting on the scale, and seeing that I've lost about 20 of my 30 pregnancy pounds.

I couldn't be more enamored with my new baby and this week was worth it a million times over. I may be a candidate for VBAC next time around (though very unlikely) but I would do this over again (not for a while though!) in a second.

There's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Here are some photos!

By day 2, Liam was handling his own pacifier. This boy is STRONG. The 2nd pic is of his first bath.

1 week post partum:













Liam is 1 week old

40 weeks - last pregnancy update!

Wow. I've made it. I am at full term with my pregnancy and everything has gone according to plan (so far). I can only hope and pray that things continue to be so great. I feel like the luckiest person alive. I also truly feel like I could be pregnant for the rest of my life. Ok maybe not THIS pregnant, but around 6/7 months was pretty fantastic. By next week, my belly will be deflating and I won't feel all those amazing kicks, rolls, turns, tickles, rib punches, hiccups. This was my first full term pregnancy and I will never, ever forget how incredible it was.

Here is the last update from babycenter:
It's hard to say for sure how big your baby will be, but the average newborn weighs about 7 1/2 pounds (a small pumpkin) and is about 20 inches long. The biggest part of your baby's body is his head, but his still-pliable skull will give it the flexibility necessary to squeeze through the birth canal. Many parents are surprised by how long and sharp their newborn's nails are from the get-go. Clipping them right away (ask a nurse for help) can prevent your baby from scratching his face.

How far along? 40 weeks. Wow.
Total weight gain: 30.5lbs. Yay. I actually thought I was going to gain more, but I am so happy I met my goal :) I wonder how long it will take me to lose.
Maternity clothes? I wore some non-maternity shirts the last couple of days, just for fun. It's nice that they can fit.
Stretch marks? I have them on my butt, and some extremely light ones around my belly button, but because they're so new, I think they will fade quickly. Wishful thinking, I suppose. The lotions seemed to actually help.
Sleep: I slept from midnight - 7:30am this morning. I think that's pretty good. I can't imagine that I'll sleep much at all tonight.

Best moment this week: Realizing how much my life is going to change. I am responsible for another person.
Movement: Still lots of great moving around. I am going to miss this more than I can put into words.
Food cravings: Yep, made it through the entire pregnancy without any weird cravings.
Gender: Baby boy Liam
Labor Signs: None whatsoever. Liam is perfectly content with where he is, and if he wasn't getting an eviction notice tomorrow, I bet he'd stay for another 2 weeks if he could.

Belly Button in or out? It's totally gone. I wonder what it will look like in a couple of months. Never did pop though.
What I miss: Well, just for this week, I miss feeling calm and worry free.

What I am looking forward to: Meeting my son.
Milestone: I have made it full term with an uncomplicated pregnancy. I feel so fortunate, blessed and lucky. Having suffered a loss in the past, that experience makes this one even more special, as I prayed for this little guy to thrive, for me to be able to carry him to term, and here I am.

Ok, here's my very last belly pic. All my good stuff is packed, so please excuse the fact that I am wearing B's pajamas which make me look about a thousand times bigger than I am ;) And just for comparison, I'll put it next to my 4 week photo too.


40w

Second growth ultrasound

So, it went exactly as predicted. My giant child is still giant. His estimated weight is now 8lbs9oz. 3 weeks ago he was at 7lb1oz, and babies are expected to grow 1oz a day, so I figured 21oz on top of his weight last time would put him at a little under what he's actually at... so he's growing fiercely! He's approaching macrosomic weight (which is considered 8lb13oz) and that is just crazy. I seriously thought I was having a 7 pounder. Guess I should put that out of my mind. Will his newborn clothes even fit!?

So everything remains the same. If he hasn't engaged by Friday, I think the writing is on the wall...

39w3d

39 weeks (and a day)

I have tons of mixed emotions. On one hand, I'm relishing in being pregnant in the final days, but on the other hand, I can't wait to be physically capable of doing things again. The sad part is, I have a feeling that it will be an exceptionally long time until I feel like myself. I also may never look like myself again either. I've never been super vain or anything, but this seems to bother me right now way more than I'd like it to. I guess I will have to re-create my self-image, post-partum. This should be interesting.

I have one more doctor's appointment on Friday. Unfortunately, my doctor is not in the office this week, so I'll see one of the other docs, whom I've basically been seeing throughout the pregnancy. I'll ask her to feel for Liam's head and if it *still* isn't engaged, I guess that'll be the answer. If it is, I'll ask for a growth ultrasound (fortunately, the tech is in the office on Fridays) and if he has grown consistently in 3+ weeks, he should be about 8.5lbs and still measuring in a very high percentile, not consistent with me to give birth the regular way (with my small bone structure). If things have changed (he's engaged, smaller than predicted, etc.) I may ask to be induced Sunday evening or early Monday morning and be given the opportunity to labor for a set number of hours and see how things go. If he doesn't progress or seems to be in distress, then we can head for a c-section. This seems like the rational way to proceed, in my opinion. I imagine I could change my mind 27 times before the end of the week, but right now, that's how I'm leaning.

One of the last updates:
Your baby's waiting to greet the world! He continues to build a layer of fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it's likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, a mini watermelon. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) The outer layers of his skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.

How far along? 39 weeks
Total weight gain: 30lbs - I'm pleased with this!
Maternity clothes? Oh yeah
Stretch marks? There are some trying to form around my belly button, so I have $30 worth of Bio-Oil, La Mer and cocoa/shea butter to try and combat them... we shall see. It just feels wrong to have made it so far, and only now do I have these battle scars on my belly. The ones on my butt are bad enough but no one really needs to see them. Smack dab in the middle of my stomach? COME ON. I have to hope that they'd fade away in a few months (with religious application of miracle oils and lotions, ha) but who knows. I am trying to be cool with this, really I am.
Sleep: I seem to wake up like clockwork at either 5 or 6am, wide awake, for whatever reason. I spend about 30 minutes awake, get up to pee, then go to sleep again. I actually feel like I am sleeping solidly for 5-6 hours before waking up though, which is nice. Although, when I wake up, my thoughts usually start to race/anxiety sets in, which is frustrating.

Best moment this week: Telling people that I am due next weekend and seeing the shocked look on their faces!
Movement: Lots of rolls, and strong movements mixed in with subtle ones as well.
Food cravings: Junk food. Ok, not really a craving, but I have been indulging in some things I would not normally indulge in. Let's take Saturday for instance. At the Farmer's Market, I split a Ham & Swiss crepe with B, and then we shared a chocolate croissant (as well as several pears/apples). In the late afternoon, we stopped at Wendy's where I had a Spicy Chicken sandwich, some fries, and a few spoonfuls of chili. I then came home and had 2 chocolate chip cookies which I had baked a couple of nights ago. For "dinner" we had milkshakes and a bowl of popcorn while we watched a movie.That may not sound *that* bad, but it's a far cry from my usual food intake ;)
Gender: boy
Labor Signs: None really. Not expecting to either.

Belly Button in or out? So I was wrong. It's not going to pop.
What I miss: Feeling normal.

What I am looking forward to: In one week (or less, but I doubt it) I will meet little Liam. Unbelievable.
Milestone: I've been ridiculously fortunate/blessed this pregnancy and I can only hope that extends until after my little chicken is here.




















39w1d

Having a baby this month... and uninvited stretch marks.

Liam will be born this month! Yeah, that's weird to say.

Speaking of weird...

Some of you may know that I have an irrational fear of stretch marks (even though I have some on my butt from this pregnancy). I know they are war wounds, but I am SO pale that they're so obvious on my white skin. I see the beginnings of them wanting to form in a circle around my belly button. I cannot believe I have gotten this far without any on my stomach and now they're coming. So I did some research, found that La Mer products are likely the best out there and just paid 12.99 for ONE OUNCE on eBay. Yes, ONE OUNCE. I, apparently, am desperate. I am terrified that in my home stretch of being pregnant, these suckers are going to just pop out everywhere. In the meantime, before my ONE OUNCE arrives, I will be religiously applying my cocoa/shea butter lotion 2-3x/day. I used to apply it only once, but I need to ramp that up obviously. And possibly double my water intake, even though I drink nearly a gallon of water a day as it is.

I have officially approached insanity.

38w4d

I know Liam's birthday

I haven't mentioned this on here yet, because I thought maybe something would change, but it really hasn't. I have a few factors working against me for a regular childbirth, and it looks as though a c-section is the right choice, as hard as it is to succumb to.

1) Liam's size. Right now he's projected at 8lbs, and if I went to full term or a week later (which is when they induce you at my practice) he'd probably be well over 9lbs, making it nearly impossible for him to fit.

2) Liam's position. His head is nowhere near my pelvis - my doctor was easily able to move his head from side to side, and she said that he'll likely be this way until he's born. The position is technically called transverse (and is written on my chart that way), which is odd, because transverse, by definition, would mean his head was on one side and his feet on the other. Either way, wrong position for labor.

3) My family history. And, this is the most important one, which is frustrating considering my mom isn't even alive for me to ask specific questions, so I have to take my father's word for it, and hope he remembers everything accurately. My mom was in labor for an entire day before she was deemed failure to progress and I was an emergency c-section. Her pelvis was not big enough to accommodate 7lbs of me. And, I'm actually a smaller person bone-wise (by a little) than my mother was. This does not bode well for me whatsoever (says my doc).

So, needless to say, a c-section is in the works. I have to wait until I am full term as my doctor is out of town all next week. That is sort of frustrating because of course I am afraid of going into labor and having an on-call doc perform a c-section in the middle of the night. That would be horrible. If it has to happen that way, so be it, but I'd feel much more comfortable with my own doctor whom I've known for years. And, in reality, I could schedule it any time next week with one of the other 2 docs in the practice, but I am not going to. Neither of them were willing to tell it to me straight, and I simply don't feel as comfortable with either of them cutting me open as I do with my own doc.

That's the story. In less than 2 weeks, he'll be here for sure.

38w3d

38 weeks

I can't believe how close I am getting to the end.

At my weekly doctor's appointment this week, they drew my blood for a fasting glucose, based on the baby's size, and just to rule out GD just in case I was one of the few who slipped through the cracks. I got the results the next day and my fasting level was 75 or 76 (normal range is 70-99) so I am totally fine there, and do not have GD (which I really didn't think I had). I just have a big baby boy I suppose!

Only a couple more of these updates to go!
Your baby has really plumped up. He weighs about 6.8 pounds and he's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). He has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold his hand for the first time! His organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb. Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? If he's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If he's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time he's 9 months old.

How far along? 38 weeks
Total weight gain: 29lbs - I guess I will end up close to my 30lb goal, which I am happy with.
Maternity clothes? Some of my maternity shirts don't cover the bottom of my belly, which is kind of funny. My stomach is straight out, so I am not surprised by this, but it's just funny to look at.
Stretch marks? Still crossing my fingers every day that they stay where they're at, and don't start creeping around to my belly.
Sleep: A few good nights this week, and I don't actually feel sleepy most of the time. However, sleeping is probably the most uncomfortable thing to do at this point, rivaled with actually getting out of the bed in the morning. Although, I still am sleeping through the night in terms of having to pee. This is quite rare, I'm sure.

Best moment this week: Having an appointment with my regular OB (who was my doc for a few years before I was pregnant) who laid things out on the table for me (more on that in a few days).
Movement: Still regular movements, though I've really been trying to pay attention to this more than I have in the past, because I know that as he runs out of room, his movements change a bit.
Food cravings: Yesterday, I really wanted Thai food. Badly. Maybe this was a craving. Although, honestly, this happened to me all the time when not pregnant. I just really like Thai food :)
Gender: boy
Labor Signs: I might have had a contraction on Friday night. It started on my left side of my back and radiated toward the front. It could have been anything else, too. Nothing else has happened since then.

Belly Button in or out? Not popped.
What I miss: Being able to walk normally.

What I am looking forward to: Meeting my son. I am actually starting to get really excited/anxious as the end is so close.
Milestone: I'm so grateful to have made it this far, and know that he'd probably (HOPEFULLY) be healthy if born right now. It's such a miracle, and I am grateful every single day for this.




















38w

37 weeks (Full term - ahh!)

This is what I got from Baby Center this morning:

Congratulations! Your baby is full-term! This means that if your baby arrives now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away. He weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long.

So, my little guy is probably a pound more than that, and longer than 19 inches. I am dying to see what he looks like. I can most certainly wait a few more weeks, though I am actually starting to get uncomfortable. It's hit or miss with my feet. Some days they are swollen, and some days they look fine. I am trying to get a daily foot massage, which really helps.

I'm trying to relax though this week has been a bit hectic. I had a friend staying at my house all weekend, and a few of us went to a very late show (midnight) on Friday night and I didn't get home until near 3. I had a seat the whole time, but I was a bit uncomfortable. The show was amazing though, and I'm really glad I went. I took a 20 min cat nap earlier in the day and that really helped. I also made a big Rosh Hashana dinner that night, so there was definitely a lot going on. I relaxed during the day yesterday until my friend's birthday dinner at one of my favorite restaurants that night. Today has been laundry and relaxing.

I have a doctor's appointment on Thursday, and hopefully I will get some answers then. I'm doing a fasting glucose test that morning too, just to make absolute sure that everything is ok with that. I know I passed the GD test, but it only screens like 85% of people with GD or something. I mean, I am thinking it is too late to do anything if I were to be in the 3% of the population who actually has GD. Again, not really concerned but so curious as to why this little guy is so big! I'm in the home stretch now and things are becoming increasingly more real - especially when I have friends who were due around my time who already have their babies!

Here's hopefully one of my last weekly surveys:

How far along? 37 weeks
Total weight gain: 28lbs (I'm glad it's the same number as last week!)
Maternity clothes? I wore an outfit last night that was entirely non maternity. It was fun :)
Stretch marks? My butt is not a pretty sight, but some how, some way, there are none on my stomach.
Sleep: Pretty bad overall :(

Best moment this week: Receiving an honorary pregnant lady award for going to a midnight show on Friday night and staying out until 3am :P AND,having an awesome time.
Movement: Still a lot, which is nice. Last night before bed, Liam was poking his knee or elbow through my skin so hard that my stomach looked like a tent. It was so wild.
Food cravings: I've gotten through the whole pregnancy without cravings or aversions. Amazing.
Gender: boy
Labor Signs: I *thought* I was having contractions on my left side yesterday. They felt like ovulation pains, but I think I was mistaken. I think it was a trapped gas bubble that just bothered me every few minutes.

Belly Button in or out? I guess it isn't going to "pop." I'm not disappointed but I really thought it would.
What I miss: Sleeping comfortably.

What I am looking forward to: A whole week of nothing to do! Maternity leave is fabulous.
Milestone: Full term. This is really incredible. He can be born at any time (especially as he's in the 90th percentile for size!!!!!) and be fine.




















37w

I'm not changing my ticker again

Wow, what a day.

We arrived at 10:30 for my doctor's appointment (which ended up being the longest doctor's appointment in the history of appointments) as B and I didn't leave the office until close to 1:30, but that's a whole seperate issue...

Anyway. After waiting in the waiting room for over a half an hour, we got called back and I peed in a cup, had my weight and BP checked. Weight gain was at 28lbs (which I thought was good because I had all my clothes on) and my BP was 120/70, so still great. B and I then went back to the exam room and proceeded to wait for a whole hour. I can't actually believe how long we waited. But, he took the day off, and we were just chatting/hanging out, so it wasn't that bad. If I were by myself, I probably would have been really annoyed. The doc comes in (I hadn't seen her since I was 9 weeks!) and I actually really like her a lot (she and my primary OB are really great) and spent some time answering questions, palpating my stomach, and then sent us back to the waiting room to wait for the rescheduled ultrasound (which was supposed to be at 11:15). We got back for our ultrasound at 1 where we were in for some real shockers. Liam is measuring in the 90th percentile for size. He's measuring over 37 weeks (and 38 weeks in some areas) and is estimated to be 7lb1oz at this point. The weight estimate can be off by a pound in either direction, but I think I might be looking at an 8 or 9lb baby when he comes! GOOD LORD. Either way, he's physically at full term at this point, and while I'm still not ready (mentally) to deliver him, it seems like he'd be totally fine if he were born tomorrow.

I'm just still in shock that he measured so big. Wow. At least he is doing really well. And, I think I am too for being at least a week ahead of where I'm at ;)

36w3d (maybe?)

1st day of "Maternity Leave"

Ok, so I put that in quotes because I figure if I work for myself, maternity leave is really kind of silly. If I don't work, I don't get paid. It's not terribly exciting that I have this time off. I'd actually prefer to be working still, but if I do go into labor before my due date, I can't leave my clients high and dry. Nonetheless, I am not working until 2010 and that is wild. I cleaned out my office yesterday, and I will be in pursuit of new office space in the coming year. For now, my attention is the baby, and preparing for his arrival.

I have a list of things I need to complete and then I'll feel a bit more secure.

1) Freezer meals. I just placed an order with Omaha Steaks and Let's Dish and they'll arrive in the next week or two. I'm also planning to cook a few staples this weekend (Pasta Bolognese, Corn Chowder, Chili, Ziti, Casseroles). I'd like to not have to worry about food much for the first month after Liam's arrival. That will be nice.

2) Nursery. This is 90% complete and I am beyond pleased. We just have a few aesthetics such as shades/blinds, as well as the wall letters I ordered from Etsy, and any other wall decor I want to put up. Everything is assembled and put in the right place.

3) Washing clothes. I had to re-wash mostly everything after my mother-in-law washed all the clothes with fabric softener (a big no-no!) and I am mostly done with this, but still have a few odds and ends.

4) Pack hospital bag. I have my list complete, but I actually have to pack it. The idea of this makes me nervous so I am going to wait until some time next week to actually do this. If anyone is curious, here's what is on my list:

Me
- Purse
- Birth plan
- Bathrobe
- Pillow
- Boppy
- Towel (in case of water breaking/leaking)
- Pajamas
- Socks
- Flip flops
- Nipple shield
- Lanolin cream
- Cell phone & charger
- Camera & charger
- laptop & DVD's (Friends and movies)
- Magazines/books
- Pads
- loose fitting underwear
- Nursing bra & nursing pads
- lounge pants & comfortable tops (something to wear home)
- Toothbrush/paste
- moisturizer/face wash
- Belly Bars/protein drinks
- hard candies (jolly ranchers)
- deodorant
- Shampoo
- brush
- hair ties
Liam
- going home outfit
- Mittens & socks
- Blanket & receiving blanket
- Baby book (for footprint)
- 10-12 newborn sized diapers

5) Finances in order. We're going to pay off a major credit card in the coming week and it's going to be great. We paid off our AmEx this morning (the APR was exceeding 10%) and it was blissful.

6) Wills. Not excited about this, but it's necessary.

7) Clean out fridge. I am waiting until that real "nesting" urge kicks in and then I will remove all the stuff in there, wipe and sanitize, put it back in. If I am really feeling a strong urge, I'll tackle the oven too. Probably not.

I think that's all I can think of off the top of my head. Luckily, none of those are too daunting.
I have my 36 week appointment tomorrow and an ultrasound to measure growth as well as the baby's position (head down unless he has somehow turned in the past day). Will report back after that!

36w2d

36 weeks

This week has been interesting. Filled with good days and bad days but mostly I'm ok. The other day, the weather was terrible (overcast, rainy) and I felt like crap. My joints hurts, I ached and I really felt like I couldn't get out of bed. It was rough. The next day I was completely fine. Sleep has been so hit or miss, and it's frustrating. I wake up at some point on my back no matter what I do. This leaves me feeling sore and achy. I am trying my best to sleep on my side and I'll probably have to bust out the snoogle again tonight and see how that goes.

I still feel like there's so much to do (car seat installation, hospital bag packing, finishing up the nursery) and there really is only a finite amount of time left for this. I'm trying not to stress. I only have 2 more days of work and then I don't work again until 2010. This is a wild concept!

I'm annoyed with my weight gain. I was really hoping to finish the pregnancy with 30lbs but I know it's going to be 35. I seem to be gaining 1.5-2 a week even though nothing about my diet has changed at all. My right foot is still a bit swollen regardless of how much I elevate it/drink tons of water, etc. I guess if these are the worst problems I have, I'm doing ok :)

In other news, it looks like Liam's middle name will be Henry. I love the name combination but this is B's middle name as well as my sister in law's son's middle name. Being Jewish, this fundamentally goes against what I believe in, but I guess like everything else, you have to make sacrifices. Liam is named for my mom (Linda) and Henry will be for B's dad/grandfather, even though he keeps telling people that Henry is named for him. I guess this is the problem I have. If B didn't have Henry as his middle name as well as my nephew, this would be no big deal. Ugh. I feel so stuck with this.

Anyway, speaking of Liam, here is what is going on with him:

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.

How far along? 36 weeks
Total weight gain: 28lbs (I'm going to surpass my goal of 30lbs :( )
Maternity clothes? Yes
Stretch marks? Still crossing my fingers for none on my stomach... worried about the weeks to come.
Sleep: 50/50

Best moment this week: Sleeping through the night once without waking up to switch sides. I guess I should be fortunate that I haven't woken up to pee since about 9 weeks...
Movement: Nothing has changed in this department
Food cravings: None
Gender: boy
Labor Signs: None!

Belly Button in or out? I guess I was wrong about it popping at this point. The husband thinks it isn't going to happen at all.
What I miss: Normal sleeping

What I am looking forward to: 48 hours from now when I am officially on "Maternity Leave" though when you own your own business, it isn't is glamorous as it sounds ;)
Milestone: 1 week from full term

ok, technically, this pic was taken several days before 36 weeks, but it looks ok, in my opinion, so I am going to use it :)



















36w

35 weeks (+1 day - sorry!)

I'm less than 35 and 35! 35 weeks (and 1 day), with 34 days left to go. Wow. The time is kind of flying by. I'm starting to reach the point of being very uncomfortable sometimes. I imagine in a week or two I might actually be something that resembles miserable, but I am hoping not. I just feel very large and I have trouble standing for any length of time. I also simply cannot walk around without my two hands supporting my hips/lower back. I must look hilarious. Or very pregnant. I am starting to get the "OMG when are you due?" comments from strangers. That's always fun. Not.

I've managed to not freak out (much) when my wedding ring sometimes doesn't fit in the morning. I can still get my engagement ring on without a problem, but the wedding ring is a half size smaller. By the afternoon, I can wear both typically. For the record, my wedding ring is a size 3 1/2. And, I'm not totally freaking out when I think it looks like my feet are just a tiny bit bigger than they were before. Actually, it's just my right foot, which is a little odd.

It's all worth it though... I am beyond thrilled to meet Liam. I can't wait to see what color eyes he has, what color hair he has (if he has any!) and what he looks like... what is personality will be like. It's really incredible. And, just a little while longer!!

We had our last hurrah yesterday as a family of two, and threw a BBQ for 20 of our friends. Two of our friends brought their kids (one was 21 months and the other was 5 weeks). It was so fun to be around little boys!

Today we finished off our registry ($400 worth - ouch) and now we finally have just about everything we need for when Liam arrives. We just need to install the carseat/bases and get them inspected. I ordered some super cute wooden wall letters from Etsy and they should be here in a few weeks. We'll put them above the crib, and then I'll feel like the nursery is more complete. Even though we plan to have Liam in the pack n' play next to our bed for the first couple of months, it'll be good to know that his room is ready for him!

Baby Center update: 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). 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.

How far along? 35 weeks
Total weight gain: 26lbs
Maternity clothes? Yes, but still proud that I can wear non-mat things too :)
Stretch marks? Butt - yes, stomach - no.
Sleep: Still having good nights and bad nights.
Best moment this week: Realizing that I am going to have a baby next month (OR SOONER!)
Movement: Still pretty regular
Food cravings: None
Gender: boy
Labor Signs: None, but sometimes it does feel like he's sitting low, but it is probably just my muscles stretching out.
Belly Button in or out? hasn't quite popped
What I miss: My waist

What I am looking forward to: 9 days from now when I don't have to worry about work for quite some time.
Milestone: 35 & 35!




















35w1d

Segment on miscarriage from the Today Show

Definitely worth watching....

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891#32655563

sigh.


34w3d

34 weeks

I'm starting to get into that "OMG how are we going to get everything done?" mode. We have somewhere between 3-7 weeks to get this all together. I have faith that everything will get done, but it's starting to become super real that in the next month or so, there's going to be another person living in my house :)

I'm still doing pretty well, even though I feel utterly huge at this point. I keep wondering how much bigger my stomach can get! I'm happy with my weight gain, but I just can't imagine that my stomach is ever going to look normal again :/

This is one of my favorite updates so far: Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. His fat layers — which he'll need to regulate his body temperature once he's born — are filling him 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.

Not that I've really been worried about pre-term labor, but it sounds like he'd be totally fine, which makes me happy. I was born on my due date, so I'll assume I'm having an October baby, which is fine with me!

How far along? 34 weeks
Total weight gain: 24.5lbs
Maternity clothes? Yes
Stretch marks? Butt - yes, stomach - no.
Sleep: Some nights are better than others, but I'm actually not too tired for the most part.
Best moment this week: Setting my end date for work. 2 weeks! Wow.
Movement: Even though he's a little cramped in there, he seems to be moving just fine.
Food cravings: None
Gender: boy
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button in or out? it's *technically* out but it hasn't "popped" yet.
What I miss: not getting out of breath after walking around the block with the dogs

What I am looking forward to: Nesting
Milestone: It seems like 34 weeks is a viable/acceptable age for a baby to be born without problems.




















34w

33 weeks

82.5% there! Holy crap :)

I am feeling so unprepared and I am dying for this nesting instinct to kick in. I have done NOTHING baby-wise this weekend. B and I did a whole bunch of things this weekend together, which has been quite nice. We went out and had Indian food on Friday night, and then yesterday we went to the movies and saw The Time Traveler's Wife, which was excellent. Not as good as the book (when is that the case!?) but very good. Then we went to Cosi and shared a mini-pizza and hot chocolate as it was pouring outside, came home and watched another movie and went to bed. It was a wonderful day. Today I've just been relaxing around the house, and we're having 3 friends over for dinner later so I'm simmering my infamous bolognese.

I've really got to get cracking on the baby stuff! I'm going to organize some things this week for sure, and get the nursery more in order. I have a month left of work, and then I am really going to get a lot done. I can't believe I'll just not be working in 4 short weeks. Not that I've been doing my job forever, but 5 years is a while, and I adore what I do, so it's hard to imagine that I won't be doing it every day. But, it's all worth it!! :)

Wanted to give a shoutout to my friend Tara who wasn't able to make it to my shower, but gave me some unbelievably wonderful gifts - diapers, clothes, socks, lotions/shampoos, toys, stuffed animals, bibs, etc.














This is what Liam is up to this week: 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. These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

What a big boy! I have a feeling he might even be a little bigger than that... I have an ultrasound in 2 weeks, so I guess I will find out then though I know that can be off by a pound or so. If he's born full term, my guess is that he'll be close to 8lbs. Maybe 7lbs13oz. That's my official guess :) B continues to say all the time that he's coming early... maybe he'll be a September baby afterall. Just as long as he's not an August baby!!!

How far along? 33 weeks
Total weight gain: 23lbs
Maternity clothes? Yes
Stretch marks? Too many on the left side of my butt to count, but still none on my tummy.
Sleep: Not too bad this week. I still haven't gotten up in the middle of the night to pee!
Best moment this week: Spending some quality time with the husband, as there won't be too much of that left as a family of two :/
Movement: All the time. The rib kicks are hard to handle.
Food cravings: I enjoyed a full day of junk food yesterday, but nothing was really a craving...
Gender: little guy
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button in or out? it's a millimeter out
What I miss: Being able to bend over and pick things up

What I am looking forward to: Getting the nursery organized
Milestone: I'm still grateful for each week which passes successfully. I'm in no rush for Liam to arrive at this point!




















33w

Maternity photos preview ;)

Taken by the talented Jesse Cohen
www.jessecohen.com
artdc.com

32 weeks

Woohoo! It's been a pretty good week. Today I had maternity photos shot at a national park (Great Falls) by my dear friend, an amazing photographer. Can't wait until he sends me the shots! For now you'll have to settle for my iPhone 32 week belly, but I guess there are worse things in life...

I'm happy to have made it to 32 weeks. I'm anxious to get to 37 but 32 is a great milestone. Little Liam would likely do very well if he were born now, though I am convinced he is perfectly content where he is. My bump is still pretty high so I'm not too concerned with him being a preemie.

Here's what's going on with my little chicken:

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.

This is where I will stop comparing my baby to fruits and vegetables. I think everyone gets the sense of his size at this point :)

How far along? 32 weeks
Total weight gain: 22lbs
Maternity clothes? 9 times out of 10
Stretch marks? Still using my cocoa/shea butter lotion and hoping for the best
Sleep: Past few days have been crappy. I think my size is starting to get to me!
Best moment this week: Getting the whistle blown at me today for taking maternity photos at Great Falls national park, on some rocks overlooking the falls. As my friend the photographer pointed out, why did the security guy think it was a good idea to blow a whistle at a pregnant lady who could have gotten scared and went tumbling to her death? He was about 5 feet from me. He could have whispered to me and I would have heard him...
Movement: Sometimes even painful ones (foot in the ribs? not sure)
Food cravings: I think I am going to miss out on this experience this pregnancy
Gender: He still has a penis
Labor Signs: Nothing, and grateful for it.
Belly Button in or out? It's teetering
What I miss: Being able to go out with my friends to a bar/restaurant without having to worry about if there's smoke or not.

What I am looking forward to: The nesting phase. Hasn't kicked in yet.
Milestone: 32 weeks was my last big achievement. Next is full term (37 weeks).




















32w

One year

One year ago today is the day I found out I was pregnant the first time. It was not exactly something I was expecting. I had quit my position with the group practice I belonged to only about 5 or 6 hours prior, and was planning to start my own practice a few weeks later. I was very focused on my career, having just gotten my counseling license 5 days before I found out I was pregnant. The timing was really bad. Nonetheless, I wrapped my mind around the idea of being a mommy and jumped into the planning and preparation. Just 6 short weeks to the day I found out I was pregnant, that pregnancy would be over. I still think about that from time to time - what if I had a 4 month old? Would the baby be a boy or a girl? What would he/she look like?

Miscarriage is so common, but it's still profoundly sad when it happens to you. I consider myself a survivor and a success story, and I cannot wait until my little Liam becomes an outside baby in just a couple months. I know that he wouldn't be here if I hadn't had the miscarriage, and I feel beyond blessed to have this growing baby inside of me.

On another note, I had my first bi-weekly doctor's appointment today. All is well. BP is good, heartrate is good, and I'm measuring 31cm which is right on time for where I should be. I gained 2lbs since my last appointment so I am up 22lbs total (all the dessert I had last night probably helped!) and still hoping to keep my total gain around 30. I think I can do this, provided I don't go too overdue.

31w4d

31 weeks (+1 day)

Sorry for the late update. This is my first opportunity to sit down and type. It's been a whirlwind of a weekend. On Friday, my oldest and dearest friend arrived from Philadelphia and we went on a dinner cruise on the Potomac that night with B and my mother-in-law and 2 dear friends. It was a wonderful time.















Yesterday was my wonderful baby shower. I cannot say enough good things about it. We have super generous friends and family. We still have quite a bit to purchase off our registry but we certainly received many things to get us started.





















Here's what my little guy is up to this week:
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.

How far along? 31 weeks
Total weight gain: 20.5lbs
Maternity clothes? Mostly
Stretch marks? Nothing on my belly
Sleep: Very good this past week. Sleeping on my sides more.
Best moment this week: Seeing all of my wonderful friends at the baby shower
Movement: All day long
Food cravings: Nope
Gender: BOY
Labor Signs: Just a lot of Braxton Hicks but nothing major
Belly Button in or out? It's threatening to pop but not yet
What I miss: My skinny jeans

What I am looking forward to: Finishing the nursery and organizing all of the gifts/clothes we received.
Milestone: I feel like I'm in the home stretch at this point even though I could easily have another 2.5 months.




















31w1d

3D photos

Well, after 3 sessions, we managed to get some decent shots of our little Liam chicken :) It was fun having these 3 ultrasounds! I know we're really not going to get a good look at him like that until he's born. We have a 2d ultrasound around 35 weeks to check his positioning but it's not quite the same as being able to distinguish his little features :) Soon enough he'll be here, and all of this won't matter, but it really felt special to bond with him in this capacity! I really felt like I was with him, watching him in his natural habitat!




















30w5d

30 weeks!!!

Wow, I'm 75% finished with pregnancy. And, in all candor, it has not been difficult. I am certain that the difficult weeks lie ahead, but for the most part, it has really been a breeze, and mostly enjoyable. The little chicken moves around ALL the time, sometimes I can't get him to stop! It's such a neat feeling, one that I can imagine I will miss greatly when not pregnant. I am starting to see why Michelle Duggar has done this 18 times (19?). Ok not really.

I've had a few frustrating moments this week, namely when I got called "huge" by a girl who was 13 weeks behind me (and just as big as I am now, but that's ok). Also, I went to my cousin's Bris for her new son, and while everyone there commented on how tiny I was, or how good I looked, or how well I was carrying, my uncle told me that I couldn't possibly get any bigger and that I looked like I was going to pop any day now. In all fairness, he told his own daughter how fat she was throughout her pregnancy, so I guess I should be grateful that he wasn't that harsh to me, but some people just have no tact.

At the airport parking lot today, the cashier looked into our car and said "You're having a boy, right?" It's amazing to me how many people have guessed correctly that it's a boy. Not one person has ever asked me if I was having a girl. I hope to find out what I look like carrying a girl, because clearly, this isn't it!

I had my last monthly OB appointment this week. Everything was normal. Measuring on time, BP was good (120/70), heartrate normal, etc. I start going every 2 weeks beginning with a week from Thursday. I can't believe it. Soon enough it'll be every week. Am I ready for this!?

We're going for the 3rd attempt at a 3d/4d ultrasound on Thursday. The little stinker was totally stubborn at our 2nd attempt, and for most of the time, he had both hands, feet, and umbilical cord strategically placed right in front of his face. If it doesn't work this week, we're just going to have to wait until his birthday to find out what he looks like! I'm starting to get a little jealous of all the ladies who have really clear pictures of their kids, and can easily compare their newborn photos to the ultrasound photos. Oh well.

Here's what's going on with the little man this week:
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 his 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.)

How far along? 30 weeks
Total weight gain: 20lbs
Maternity clothes? Mostly
Stretch marks? Nothing on my belly yet. Fingers crossed.
Sleep: Still haven't woken up to pee. Very tired some days even when I seem to sleep pretty well.
Best moment this week: Realizing how lucky I am to have gotten this far in pregnancy without a single complication. I know anything is possible at this point, but I am very grateful.
Movement: All.the.time.
Food cravings: Nope
Gender: BOY
Labor Signs: None. He's still head down (I can always tell, because of the hiccups!)
Belly Button in or out? It's ever so slightly raised up at the top part, but not "popped" yet.
What I miss: Not being thoroughly exhausted on a regular basis.

What I am looking forward to: My baby shower in 1 week!!
Milestone: Making it to the "30's" weeks.




















30w

29 weeks

Do I really only have 8-11 weeks to go? Unreal. The first trimester moved like pond water, but so far, I feel like the third is flying. I'm afraid I won't get everything done in time! We still need to put together the dresser/changing table in the nursery, put stuff in the walls, and purchase a ton of general items.

Yesterday, we tried to go for a 3d/4d ultrasound. Liam would NOT cooperate :( We tried desperately for 20 minutes to try to get him to move so we could get a shot of his face, but no such luck. The tech explained that he was so far head down, that she couldn't catch the light a certain way. It's funny because just the night before he was transverse (lying across my stomach) and he literally moved into what is technically the correct position the morning of the ultrasound. I can always tell where he is because of his hiccuping. He hiccups at least once a day, but usually 2-3 times. Luckily, we get to back in on Tuesday night and try again. I hope he cooperates!

I am finding that I am just as tired as I was in the 1st trimester :( I can really use an afternoon nap, and when I don't get it, I feel like a zombie by about 4 or 5pm. I'm typically sleeping through the night (have yet to get up to pee since about 10 weeks!) unless I wake up to switch positions. I think I may have to bring out the Snoogle again because I'm having a bit of a hard time getting comfortable.

Here's what's going on this week:
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.

How far along? 29 weeks
Total weight gain: 19lbs
Maternity clothes? Mostly
Stretch marks? Nothing new, still only a couple on my butt on the left side.
Sleep: Ok. Feeling really tired, but typically still sleeping through the night with the exception of waking up to change positions
Best moment this week: Having the entire family see my belly move.
Movement: Constantly. Especially jabs, rolls, and of course, hiccups
Food cravings: Nada
Gender: BOY
Labor Signs: None. He's head down, very low, but nothing other than Braxton Hicks on occasion.
Belly Button in or out? The top part is threatening to pop, but it hasn't happened yet.
What I miss: Being able to jet ski.

What I am looking forward to: Hopefully getting a real glimpse of Liam on Tuesday.
Milestone: 72.5% there! Wow!




















29w

Glucose screening drama

I did the 1-hour Glucose Screening Challenge on Wednesday. I actually thought it was not that bad, and the drink tasted like a very sweet, flat orange soda. I sat for an hour (technically 54 minutes) and had my blood drawn and went home. I was under the impression that I had to be under 140 to pass, so when I was told I got 138, I thought I was in the clear. Then I was informed by my doctor's office that I needed to be under 135 so of course I was right in this weird area. I was not happy. I was told I needed to do the 3-hour test which involves 4-5 blood draws, fasting before hand, and basically sitting in the waiting room all morning. There was a woman there at my 1-hour who said that she was miserable and that she hoped I didn't have to do the 3-hour. I was not too happy about this, and downright frustrated that my doctor's office had a lower cutoff than normal.

After doing some more research online, I found that the screening challenge was supposed to be a 50g glucola drink. I had 100g. I was about fed up at this point and thought my doctor's office was pretty much setting me up for failure so they could make more money off of me, so I was going to give them a piece of my mind! I got on the phone with a nurse and explained that I thought it was extremely unfair to have me drink twice the normal amount, take my blood before the full hour was up AND not accept my score of 138 with those 2 factors. She then informed me that I was supposed to only drink 50g and that the lab screwed up my test!! In fact, in the 3 hour test, they have you drink 100g and they want your numbers to be under 180 after the first hour!! So, clearly, mine was way below 180. She said I was off the hook. YAY!

So, it looks like I do not have gestational diabetes (duh) and I can go back to eating my donuts, cakes and cookies (just kidding!!!)

28w5d

28 weeks

Ahh.... just returning from our Babymoon. What an amazing weekend. We went to a beautiful Bed & Breakfast: FiveGables - we got in on Friday, settled in, then had a tasty crab feast at TheCrabClaw. We were able to sit by the water, and enjoy large shrimp and king crabs.


After dinner, we stopped by this Ice Cream Parlor for a couple of cones:





On Saturday, we had a wonderful breakfast and then headed out for a sailing adventure on the oldest working Skipjack, the Rebecca T. Ruark, on the Chesapeake Bay: http://www.skipjack.org/
We had the entire ship to ourselves, besides for the Captain. It was absolutely incredible. B and I got to steer the entire time, and he actually put all the sails up, and took them down himself. I was rather impressed!

In the evening we went to dinner at Sherwood's Landing which is inside of The Inn at Perry's Cabin. It was a beautiful upscale restaurant within walking distance of our B&B. We had a wonderful meal of crab spring rolls, corn chowder, steak, salmon and a molten chocolate cake for dessert!




After dinner, we took my 28 week photo (which I will debut below) and just watched the ships off in the distance. This morning, we had another wonderful breakfast, and headed for home. I was super sad to have the trip behind us. This evening, my nephew and mother-in-law have arrived for a few weeks. It's nice to have them here :)

So, here is what is going on with my active little chicken this week:

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 open and close his eyes, which now sport lashes. This movement is more of a reflexive blink than a deliberate opening and closing, but it won't be long before he's batting those beauties at you.

How far along? 28 weeks
Total weight gain: 18 lbs. ? (hard to say, since I just weighed myself at night with clothes on) but I definitely ate well on the Babymoon!
Maternity clothes? Still wear some non-maternity shirts and a skirt or two, but mostly yes.
Stretch marks? none on my stomach or sides so far. Fingers crossed.
Sleep: Still good. Have yet to wake up to pee. Fingers crossed on this one too.
Best moment this week: Having a BLAST on our Babymoon!
Movement: ALL the time - hiccups occur just about every morning at the same time, too.
Food cravings: Still nothing.
Gender: BOY
Labor Signs: None. The baby is still really high up, too. The longer he cooks the better!
Belly Button in or out? No poppage yet.
What I miss: Being able to see downward...

What I am looking forward to: Baby shower in 3 weeks
Milestone: 28 weeks is a big milestone for Liam. The next one for me is 32, then 35, 37, etc.















28w