Two Weeks To Go

We got our maternity photos today and I uploaded them to Flickr, so go take a look. They were taken just shy of 37 weeks.

My doctor's appointment this week was uneventful. No dilation. No weight gain. Still measuring on track. Busy baby. The doctor said he thinks I'll have this baby right around the due date. That's two weeks from tomorrow. Two weeks!

Tonight, I am going to a breastfeeding class at the hospital and tomorrow is an infant CPR class. Wednesday is my last day of work before going on leave, and by then I'm sure I'll be tired. I'm looking forward to having some time to relax before the baby gets here.

Three Weeks To Go

I took a new photograph on Friday that I planned to post here, then Friday evening pushed power on our camera and it won't turn on. We've been having problems with it, which we're hoping are a quick and cheap fix, but we might be in the market for a new camera. And soon! With the baby coming, now is not the time to be camera-less.

We did get maternity photographs taken this weekend. A coworker has a photography business on the side, so she took a few shots of Adam and me yesterday. Hopefully, I'll have those by the end of the week and will post them when I do.

We have found our pediatrician, which I'm so excited about. He is wonderful and warm and answered lots and lots of our questions. With him, we can follow a modified vaccination schedule (a la Dr. Sears), something that was a deal maker/breaker for us. And his office is right next to the hospital where I'm delivering, which is less than five minutes from our house.

I had an appointment on Friday and I'm now in the one appointment a week routine. Everything still looks good, but I haven't started dilating yet.

We installed the car seat this weekend, and I have my hospital bagged "packed" (piled on the dining room table).

I also finally bought a baby carrier this weekend, the Moby Wrap. I opted for a wrap instead of a sling because I figured it would offer better back support, though it's a lot of fabric. I love the idea of wearing the baby, especially when trying to do chores or going to the store. Hopefully, the baby will like being worn too (I've heard that some babies just aren't into it).

If you haven't submitted a guess in our baby pool, what are you waiting for? Click here and let us know what you think.

Five Weeks To Go

[ 34w6d ]

Five weeks left and this little chicken will be ready to hatch!

Adam and I finished both sessions of our natural childbirth class, which was really helpful for us to make a plan for how we'd like to see this baby born. The other day, Adam asked me if I think I can really do this. I told him it's not just me doing it, it's us together, and I'm going to rely on him plenty to help me along. So, I'm making him a list of things to say and do that I think will encourage me.

I also wrote a birth plan that my doctor signed and it is now at Labor and Delivery. It's nothing fancy, just that I want to be mobile, drink clear fluids, not be asked if I want medication, and that the baby will stay with us after the birth. Hopefully, everything will go as planned, though I realize this may not be possible, depending on what happens.

I had a doctor's appointment on Friday. I'm still measuring exactly on track and the baby is still head down.

Sunday brought my first nesting fit. I pulled everything out of the bathroom cupboards to make room for little baby things, then put it all back together. Afterward, I was really tired and sore. I still have a lot to do. Hopefully, I'll get the urge again this weekend.

I also set up an online baby pool. Click here and make your guess about the arrival of Baby C!

33 Weeks on the Dot

[ 32w6d ]

My due date is seven weeks from today. My last day of work before "maternity leave" is five weeks from tomorrow. The weeks are flyin' by!

Friday, I had a doctor's appointment. He said I was measuring right on target, and we had a long talk about natural childbirth and epidurals. His perspective is, why go through all that pain if you don't have to, but he's okay with me trying the natural childbirth route. Honestly, it left me a little uneasy.

Then Adam and I went to the childbirth class on Saturday afternoon, and I was reassured. I found out all sorts of things I can put in my birth plan to help me labor, like a rocking chair or a birth ball. As long as my doctor and I agree on the birth plan (which he said he would as long as it wasn't too off the wall), Labor and Delivery will accommodate.

The woman who taught the class was great, and I was the annoying student with all the questions. But I left feeling like this hospital is a good choice for us to have our child. Adam and I also signed up for a natural childbirth class with the same teacher, which starts on Sunday.

Saturday, we also set up all the baby stuff in the baby's room (it's not perfect, but the "nursery" is still going to be a bit of a catch-all room). I was happy to see everything put together and to play with the jogging stroller. Now, we just need to get a sling/wrap and install the carseat, and we're pretty much set.

Next Friday is my next appointment. We'll also be meeting with a pediatrician that day -- and hoping he agrees with our philosophies, particularly on breastfeeding and vaccinations.

Sweep the Leg, Baby

[31w4d]

This week, I definitely hit a new phase in the pregnancy. In combination with the baby's punch/jab/ninja routine, it has started pushing out against my stomach, sometime sweeping its body along my insides. It usually catches me off guard and often it tickles. It's strange that putting my hand where the baby is moving, I can feel whatever is pushing out. Then, I usually start feeling around -- where it's hard, it's baby and where it's not, it's just fluid. I like touching it, though, since it's about as close as I can get to actually touching it before it comes out.

I also have been really tired, which I expected since everything I've been told or read has said the third trimester can be as tiring as the first. Sleeping is just flat out annoying with all the flipping back and forth all night and pillow readjusting. Thankfully, it's only for another couple of weeks.

I went back to the gym this week for the first time in a month. My body felt so good afterward, so I'm planning on returning as frequently as I can.

Back to the doc on Friday and birthing class on Saturday. I'm really looking forward to both.

30 Weeks

[30w2d]

Okay. Don't look directly at the double chin in this picture. I swear my face doesn't really look like that -- it's just that I'm turned and looking down. This is what happens when I take a self-portrait instead of waiting for a time Adam is around. But look at that belly! It's funny to me that in the day to day it doesn't seem to change a whole lot, but some weeks it grows a bunch.

Today was another doctor's appointment. Adam went with me, though we didn't have too many questions. It's good for both of us to hear the heartbeat (my favorite part) and chat with the doctor. Dr. Ives said I'm healthy and everything looks good. My fundal height is right on track and my weight gain is a little high, but he's not worried. So far, I've gained 28 pounds, but he said since I was thin to begin with, I can stand a bit of extra cushioning. Also, he reminded us that we need to find a pediatrician soon.

While I was eating lunch today, the baby was quite literally partying in my belly and Adam could see it moving from across the room. I guess it still has a decent amount of wiggle room in there, even though it now weighs about three pounds. Still, there's two and a half months to go and a lot of growing left to do. Also, it's head down right now, and we're hoping it stays that way.

I often find myself wondering if it's a boy or a girl. Honestly, I have no clue and haven't had any feelings one way or the other. I had a dream two nights ago that it was a girl, but that could just be my subconscious playing tricks on me. I also wonder a lot about who this kid is, what his/her personality will be like. It's strange to be so close to someone, know virtually nothing about them, and still care so much for them. Then again, this whole process is weird. But we'll meet this little goober soon enough.

29 Weeks

[29w]

Between being out of town for a week and then being exhaustingly sick for the past five days, I haven't had a chance to update here. But here it is -- sickly me and my belly at 29 weeks. If you look closely at the closeup, you can see my belly button poking out. It hasn't turned inside out yet, but a lot of what used to be the inside has become part of my belly or a small protrusion. I guess it's cute.

Sleeping has become somewhat of a challenge. My hips hurt a lot during the night, requiring a lot of flipping from one side to the other and a ton of pillows. Thankfully, none of my bedmates seem to mind much, but I can't wait to be able to sleep on my back and stomach again.

I had a nice trip to Rochester and was blessed with many a baby gift -- outfits, board books, bath stuff, and (especially) blankets. We have most of the essentials, I think, and some spending money to buy what we still need (like a breast pump and a diaper bag). And we have our cloth diapers, which I am still so excited about.

My next doctor's appointment is next Friday, then I start seeing him every other week. Also, Adam and I are signed up to take a birthing class at the end of the month, and I'll be going to a breastfeeding class and infant CPR in early April.

Only 11 short weeks to go!