Christmas 2007 and baby updates

As Christmas Day 2007 becomes another day in the record books, I wanted to take a minute to pause, thank everyone for my great gifts, share with everyone the cool stuff I got, and to reflect on the past year.

So first, thank you to everyone who gave me something. :-) Plainly said, but it gets the point across. I got some really great gifts this year, and I would like to thank everyone for them.

Which brings me to the sharing part: Thank you to Mom and Dad C. for the clementines, the coffee, the Starbucks gift card, and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix DVD.

Thank you to Jen for the Olive Garden gift card! I know you gave us some other things, but I can't remember them now... sorry!

Thank you to Mike and Kim for the Ugly Betty Season 1 DVD set and the Kohl's gift card! I used the gift card to get some new sneakers!

Thank you to Aunt Donna for the coupon book and the statue of the snowman and the puppy!

Thank you to Mom and Dad S. for the clothes, the socks, the slippers, the necklace, and the earrings. Especially - thank you for the AAA membership! That's awesome! I'm so excited about that!

Thank you to Katie and Bobby for the bath gift set and anything else that I can't think of right now!

Thank you Grammy for the gift card that we don't know where it's to yet :-)

Thank you Bonnie and Mark for the Smitty's gift card - we haven't been to the movies in ages!

Thank you Aunt Pat for the gift card we can use anywhere!

Thank you Henry for the Best Buy gift card!

Thank you Jason for the baby monitor and the noise projector thing! That's really cool!

And especially thank you to my awesome husband, for all of the really cool gift cards - La Festa, Flatbreads, Olive Garden and Starbucks! I can't wait to be able to continue our date nights after the baby comes!

I'm going to feel horrible if I've forgotten anyone. I feel pretty terrible that I can't even remember everything that I got, but I'm going to blame that on "pregnancy brain."

This past year has been a very interesting one. I know some of you have been following my year since I found out I am pregnant in May. I've had, as in any year, some ups and downs, but fortunately, this year has been mostly full of ups. I had some great experiences substitute teaching, teaching summer school and learning the ins and outs of working at a non-profit. Finding out that my body was housing a new little human was an amazing discovery, since we didn't really think that it would happen without a lot more effort. In fact, I think even my doctor was surprised! I had an appointment set up for the very next week to start trying the next course of action after what we had done... turns out we didn't need it! And not to mention just getting another year with my wonderful husband has been very special. We have a fantastic relationship, and I am really looking forward to being able to learn to be a parents with him. His word to describe the impending birth of our baby is that he is "emotionless" about it. I don't think it's a bad thing - at least not right now. It means that he's not nervous, he's not worked up about it, or anything, and I think that's a good thing. He is excited about being a dad, don't get me wrong, I think he's just nervous about the energy it's going to require to be a parent. I think he'll be fine :-)

Now, speaking of the baby - Let look at this weeks baby info!

My Baby
Your baby's hanging out, enjoying his last few weeks of snuggly comfort in your womb. His brain -- in charge of complicated jobs like regulating breathing, digestion, and circulation -- is functioning better every day. But as your baby relaxes in there, you're probably doing anything but! Many moms-to-be may find themselves in full-on nesting mode right now. Cleaning and straightening is a great way to stay busy during the end-of-pregnancy waiting game, but make sure you don't overdo it -- hello, you're nine months pregnant! (More on that in My Life.)

My Body
C-sections account for nearly 30 percent of all births these days, but most of these are not preplanned. Your doctor may schedule one in advance if you're expecting multiples, if your baby is positioned poorly (breech) for vaginal delivery, if you have placenta previa (where your placenta is lying low in your uterus and may block the baby's way out), or if you have a medical condition, such as high blood pressure, that increases the risk of complications during labor. But many women who don't think they'll need a c-section end up requiring one because their labor stalls (this accounts for a third of all c-sections, according to the Mayo Clinic) or the baby shows signs of distress.
When you think about what labor and delivery might be like, odds are you're not exactly fantasizing about having a c-section. (It is major surgery, after all.) So you may feel upset or disappointed if your doctor recommends one -- or seriously freaked if you're suddenly whisked into the operating room after hours of labor. While it's completely normal and valid to have these feelings, remember that what matters most isn't how you deliver your baby, but that he arrives healthy. But it might help to discuss all those burning what-ifs with your doctor now, so you're at least a little prepared and know at what point or under what circumstances she'd consider performing one. The more informed you are, the easier your mind will rest.

My Life
Are you a cleaning machine these days? Nesting instinct is a real, scientifically proven drive that many other animals (like dogs) engage in too. Go with those feelings, but be smart about 'em. Avoid carrying really heavy things and, naturally, steer clear of harsh cleansers and paint. And don't stay up until all hours (pregnant women have been known to get up to tackle the garage at 3 a.m.) or exhaust yourself making sure the house is neat, cozy, spotless, and top-to-bottom disinfected. Your baby won't be able to see more than about 6 inches in front of him for several weeks after he's born -- he's not going to know or care if there are a couple of dirty dishes in the sink or whether you've taken a toothbrush to the grout in the bathroom. Save up some of that energy -- you're gonna need it for labor!

Ravelry, Work and other misc. things.

Wahoo! I'm finally on Ravelry, which is a website for knitters and crocheters! It's a really cool website that will let me track all of my projects, my yarns, etc., as well as find new patterns and whatnot. I'm so excited! I've started posting projects on there, but it's going to take me a while to sort it all out. I'm having some issues with the photos thing, so hopefully I can get someone to help me with that soon.

I am working today because of the snow day yesterday. My office at the shelter was closed due to the weather, which is a good thing because I heard the roads were kind of bad. I'm looking forward to being off of work completely until next Thursday. I am officially done subbing now, except for maybe occationally going in for the librarian at Johns school. But I'm looking forward to the down time until the baby comes.

I'm really excited about Christmas this year - I think it will be fun, and I'm excited to have everyone over for the day that day. It will be a good time!

"Congratulations! You're at the point where we just sit around and wait for you to go into labor!"

My Baby
Woohoo! It's time to break out the bubbly! (The sparkling cider variety, of course.) By the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term -- which means she could really arrive any day now. Exciting, sure. Terrifying? Yeah, that too. But no matter how freaked you might be, you're way better off knowing as much as you can about D-day. So here's the deal. No one knows exactly what sets off the big event, but somehow your body knows when your baby's fully cooked and starts releasing chemicals (called prostaglandins) that thin, soften, and dilate your cervix. When produced in large amounts, these prostaglandins will trigger your uterus to start contracting, or making involuntary muscle movements to push your baby down and out. (At some point, your water will break, too, but this is more like a side effect of labor than an actual trigger.)
But contractions alone don't necessarily mean your baby's on the move just yet. They'll get stronger, longer, and more regular before you're actually ready to start delivering. And this early-stage labor can last hours or even days. So sit tight, be patient, and keep a watch handy. Once contractions start occurring about five minutes apart for at least an hour, it's probably time to grab your hospital bag and head out -- you're officially in active labor! (More on that in My Body.)

My Body
Labor has three stages -- when you get to the hospital you'll likely be in active labor, the second phase of the first stage, where your cervix dilates from 3 or 4 centimeters to 7. Now, contractions will come fast and furious -- lasting up to a minute each or even a bit longer -- and yes, they huuuurt. You'll feel this intense pain radiating through your stomach, lower back, and upper thighs. This is like nothing you've ever felt before -- and each woman copes with it differently. Now's the time when pain-relieving epidurals are usually administered, so don't be afraid to ask for one. Many women who hope or plan to go the drug-free route change their mind midstream, so if you have a change of heart, go for it! It's totally normal to experience a huge range of emotions (intense focus, restlessness, irritability, to name a few) and physical symptoms (like nausea or exhaustion) during this labor stage, but it won't last forever -- most likely a few hours.
Eventually you'll progress to the transition phase, the end of the first stage. Here, your cervix finishes dilating to 10 centimeters, and contractions will strike much, much more frequently -- they'll probably feel nonstop. This is the toughest phase, especially without meds. (They're not usually given this late in the game, but some types may still be available.) Soon you'll be ready for those big final pushes -- the official start of stage two. Your baby's head will appear (crown) near the opening of your vagina, though it might still take as long as a half-hour to 40 minutes to finish delivering her. Once the head's out, your doctor will tell you to take a pause from pushing so she can make sure your baby's breathing okay and check the position of the umbilical cord. Before long, your baby will be out of your womb and ready to say hello!
You may think you're completely done at this point, but a few more things need to happen first. As soon as your baby comes out, the umbilical cord will be cut -- severing your baby from the placenta. You may ask to cradle her right away, then she'll be weighed and examined by a doctor or nurse. While all this is going on, you'll be wrapping up that third and final labor stage -- delivering the placenta. And once it's out, you're all done. Congrats, and welcome to mommyhood! Talk about a day you'll never, ever, ever forget.

My Life
If you've haven't already packed your bag for the hospital, now's the time. Just don't be tempted to bring the entire nest with you. After all, you're going to a hospital, not a hotel! Unless you'll be delivering an hour away, your partner or a family member can always swing by and grab anything you've forgotten. You might want to do an initial pack, then sift through your stuff a few hours later to edit out any nonessentials. Another option: Pack one bag with everything you'll need during and just after labor, and another with less-pressing items, like the baby's going-home outfit, diapers, and your check-out wardrobe (plan on the maternity clothes you were wearing at five or six months along). Leave it by the front door and have it picked up later.

Oh boy... We've hit the "Any Day Now" stage! I'm SOOOOOO excited, and I cannot wait to have this baby! Although, I think partly it's that I can't wait to not be pregnant anymore :-) Hey, it's true! Any of you who have been pregnant know that feeling, I'm sure. And look - I DON'T want to hear any more negative stories of labor, or going two weeks past due date, etc. I just don't want to! Everyone's pregnancies are different, and mine is just going to happen the way it happens. So please, please, PLEASE don't think I want to hear about your daughter who was in labor for 45 hours (seriously, someone told me their daughter was in labor for 45 hours). It's not that I don't care, it's just that I don't want to be stressed out about it. I am really not very nervous about giving birth, because I know that I have no control over how it goes, and there's not much I can do about it anyway.

Okay, on a lighter note, last night was the Memorial Middle School concert (where John teaches). John and his co-teacher, Amanda, got RAVE reviews from the parents and the principal was incredibly impressed. I have to say, it was probably one of their best concerts in a long time, which made me very proud of John. I'm proud of him a lot, but it's especially on nights like that. I'm hoping to get a little video up online of it, but I think the video is too long, so I may not be able to.

I may not be able to post again until sometime after Christmas, so I hope everyone has a great one! I had a snow day from work today, so I'll be going in tomorrow instead. Saturday will be spent getting ready for the day, Saturday night we're going to a family event, Sunday we're having the RK people over for a party, and then BOOM! Christmas Eve! Wishing everyone all the best!

Miscellaneous Update

Yes, it's not time for my weekly update on where I'm at in my pregnancy, though I can tell you I had a doctors appointment this morning, and his words of wisdom were: "Well, you're pretty much at the point where we see you every week, and we sit around and wait for you to go into labor." The only thing that would change that is if there was a sudden spike in my blood pressure or something else that was concerning. So I guess that's a good thing. I am hoping labor comes sooner rather than later, for lots of reasons:

1. I'm totally ready to meet this little baby!
2. I am really looking forward to sharing this major life event with my amazing husband.
3. I'm equally as ready to not be pregnant!
4. I'm anxious to be able to work out again.

I took Kane to get his picture taken with Santa on Saturday, which was cool. He was really nervous about it though! Here's the photo of him:

I wish his eyes didn't come out so yellow. I tried to fix them in my photo editing software, but it didn't work. Oh well. He was a good boy :-)

We're really looking forward to Christmas this year! We're hosting both sides of the family on Christmas Day for dinner. It worked out wonderfully last year, despite the crowded house. It was great not having to travel, and I really enjoy entertaining, so it will be fun. I have a few last gifts to wrap, and John still has a few to pick up, but he'll be doing that tomorrow, since he is taking the day off. I will be finishing up cleaing today, and I have some last little things to bake for other people, but over all, we're pretty much ready! Now I just have to make sure the house doesn't become messy between now and then, since we both have a tendency to leave stuff laying around everywhere.

Into week 36 we go...

My Baby
The layer of fat your baby has rapidly been putting on has now rounded out his face. His sucking muscles, which are quite powerful, have also finished developing now, and are ready for their first real feeding -- your baby's going to be hungry soon after he arrives. Speaking of eating, nearly all experts agree that breast milk is the best possible food for babies -- even the companies that make infant formula don't argue this fact. Easily digestible, breast milk provides the perfect balance of protein, sugar, fat, and vitamins that babies need to grow healthy and strong. And plenty of research points to its immune-system -- and even IQ-boosting -- benefits. But having said all that, it's equally important to remember that plenty of healthy, brilliant people (presidents, Nobel Prize winners, Fortune 500 CEOs) have been raised on formula by plenty of loving, caring moms. Don't beat yourself up if you aren't able to breastfeed -- or if you simply choose not to. If you plan to try breastfeeding, it's a good idea to get the number of a recommended lactation consultant now, in case you have problems getting the hang of it initially.

My Body
Here, yet another reason to be in awe of that extremely hardworking bod of yours: You've actually been capable of producing milk since about your sixth month of pregnancy. You may have even noticed droplets of a cloudy fluid, called colostrum, on your nipples. Also known as early milk, this fluid contains antibodies that help fight infection and build resistance to many common illness during your baby's first days on the outside. So even if you don't plan on breastfeeding for the long haul, you might want to consider nursing just for a couple of days so your baby can take advantage of this nutritional head start.
The production of true breast milk is triggered by the release of the hormone prolactin right after birth -- and it usually takes three to five days to arrive. When it does, many women will find that their breasts suddenly become huge (and we mean huge!), rock-hard, and really sore -- a condition called engorgement. It might last for several days, but nursing or pumping, massaging the girls in a hot shower, or applying ice packs can help. And as your baby continues to nurse, your body will adjust milk production according to how much he's actually eating, which should also provide some relief.

My Life
You might be wondering...if breastfeeding is sooooo beneficial, why doesn't every mom do it? Well, for starters, it's harder than it looks -- and it can be pretty awkward, too. Breastfeeding is unlike anything you've ever done before, and there's no way of knowing how easily you and your baby will get the hang of it. It can feel weird to have milk coming out of your breasts, and especially in the beginning, nursing is a true balancing act (figuring out how to hold baby, use the Boppy, unhook your nursing bra, etc.) Some women have a hard time producing enough milk, and some infants (especially preemies) have trouble latching on properly, for example. And it's also a big time commitment: Newborns generally need to eat every two to three hours 'round the clock, and it can be extremely exhausting to have your boobs at the ready on that kind of schedule. Then there's the whole breastfeeding in public issue -- if you're nursing exclusively, you've gotta be comfortable with it. (No wonder more than 70 percent of new moms start out breastfeeding their newborns, but only about half nurse their 3-month-old babies, according to recent research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.) So if you're able to breastfeed, that's great! Health benefits aside, it's a very sweet way to relate to your new baby, and it's different from any kind of relationship you've ever had. But if you can't or choose not to, remember that love -- not free-flowing breast milk -- is what makes you your baby's best possible mom.

And here we go, into month number 9! We're in the homestretch, and I can hardly wait to see our new little family member! It's so exciting!

There really isn't much else to report from here... John is wrapping up his holiday concert season this coming week, which is good. The last thing he's got is his school's concert on the 19th, and that will be a good show anyway. I'm looking forward to getting up there to see it!

We will be hosting Christmas at our house this year, which is also exciting, and I am looking forward to that as well. It's nice to not have to travel, and to have people come to us. John will be singing at the Christmas Eve mass the night before, but that is at 4 in the afternoon, so we'll still be home nice and early. The 23rd we're hosting a Christmas party for some friends, which will also be fun, but it will make for a busy weekend, with the 22nd being a party for one of my uncles in Hanover. So, party the 22nd, party the 23rd, Christmas Eve the 24th, Christmas the 25th. And people wonder why I'm taking the week before my due date off? I just need to recover from the holidays!!!

Week 35!!!

My Baby
Your baby's nearly here! Now that she's basically done with her development, your baby's main job right now is simply to continue plumping up. (Most weigh at least 5 pounds by now!) She's gaining weight all over now, especially in her shoulders and adorable little face. (Those cheeks!) As a result, you may feel a tingling or numbness near your hips, triggered by her extra poundage pressing on your nerves down there. She's generally kicking less often now (there's only so much room for her to maneuver), but if you feel more of those wiggles in the upper part of your ribcage, that's a good thing: It means she's turned the right way (head-down) for delivery. Nearly 97 percent of babies have adopted this position by 35 weeks; the rest remain in what's known as breech position -- when their butt or feet are in place to come out first. If your baby's among this minority, it does increase your odds of needing a c-section, but there's a good chance your healthcare provider can correct the problem by turning her around manually by applying pressure to your belly. Called an external version, this process has about a 65 percent success rate.

My Body
During one of your upcoming doctor visits, you'll get tested for Group B strep (GBS), a type of bacteria that's normally found in the digestive tracks of more than 30 percent of women. Having it doesn't affect your health at all -- and there's nothing you can do to prevent it -- but it can harm your baby if it's spread to her during delivery. If you do test positive for the bug, there's no need to worry, because there's a very easy and effective treatment. During labor you'll receive antibiotics, which significantly slash your baby's risk of getting sick (to less than one in 4,000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

My Life
You've probably been wondering how will you know when it's actually, really, truly time? Braxton Hicks contractions can so mimic the real thing that they might make you want to bolt for the maternity ward. But unlike regular contractions, Braxton Hicks occur at sporadic intervals and don't become more painful over time. So sit tight for a while and see how you feel. One tip-off that it's time to call your doctor and grab your hospital bag: When you feel light twinges or cramps every 20 minutes or so that, after a few hours, start to strike about 10 minutes apart and are growing much more intense. Another signal is a painless gush or trickle of fluid -- it means your water broke (actually your amniotic sac rupturing). Even if you don't start having contractions immediately, your baby will need to be delivered in the next 24 hours to reduce the chance of infection. So check in with your doctor -- and congrats, Mom!

We finished our child birthing classes last night, which is good! It was a great class, actually. John couldn't be there because of a rehearsal, and only one other couple came, so we got to sit around and chat a lot more than we had before. It was good! I feel like I got the most out of that one class, more than any other!

I'm so excited about having the baby, I just can hardly wait! I can't believe how fast it's going to come up! I have only 8 days left at work before being out on maternity leave (remember, that's only 4 week, since I work 2 days a week). The baby is in a head down position, which I can't remember if I mentioned yesterday. That's a good thing, because that means the baby really won't be flipping around, and is in the right position for a normal vaginal birth. So far, things are looking good!

Week 34 Ultrasound

Today I had my 34 week ultrasound! John wasn't able to come because he had a snow day on Wednesday, and couldn't afford to miss any more rehearsal time with the kids. My mom came over last night and came to the ultrasound with me, which was good.

Over all, the ultrasound went well - the baby is weighing in at about 5 pounds, 9 ounces. The doctor didn't change my due date at all, but when the sonographer took the measurements, the baby was measuring a week or two later than what I'm told I am. I kind of feel like the doctor should have changed the due date, but oh well - it's not my call. The baby was very uncooperative with the pictures, so all we were able to get was a very bad one of the face, and some of the hands and one of a foot. But the heartbeat was 139, which is good, and everything else looked fine too. The thing that was the most amusing about the whole thing was when we discovered we could see the baby's hair on the ultrasound!!! That was wild! It will be interesting to see what color it is!

Anyway, I will update with the week 35 info tomorrow. Without further ado, I give you ultrasound photos!

Week 34!!! Oh yeah, and some other stuff...

My Baby
Your baby's preparing for his arrival in just a few short weeks! This week, the protective vernix (that white, waxy coating that's keeping his skin safe) begins to thicken, ensuring his birthday suit stays smooth and well-moisturized during D-day. Your baby will likely arrive covered in the stuff, especially in the folds under his arms, behind his ears, and in the groin area. But it'll all be washed off very shortly after birth -- during his first-ever bath. (So adorable!) By now, your baby weighs around 5 pounds and may be as long as 20 inches, head to toe.

My Body
You may feel like you've been seeing your doctor more than you see your best friend these days. You're likely visiting twice a month now, and starting in the next two weeks, she'll probably want to see you weekly until your baby's born. At these visits, your doc will keep tabs on the baby's growth and vitals. She'll monitor your cervix to see how much you've dilated -- a sign that labor's approaching.
And speaking of labor, does your belly feel a bit lighter these days? Called dropping, lightening, or engagement, it's common around this time, as your baby settles lower into your pelvis to get ready for her big move outta there. Another labor signal to watch for is extra-thick vaginal discharge that's pink or even a bit blood-tinged. It's the start of -- excuse the yuck factor here -- your mucus plug dropping. The mucus plug is a ball of tissue that's been blocking your cervix during pregnancy to keep your uterus safe from germs. Losing your plug doesn't mean that labor's starting ASAP, though. Many women lose their plugs up to two weeks before labor officially begins.

My Life
Been pondering how you'd like your baby to enter the world? Granted, you can't totally control what will happen during labor, but you're bound to have preferences about some things, like relieving pain, who'll keep you company, and what'll make labor easier on you (a designated coach or having your iPod handy, for example). This is why birth plans were invented: So that you, your partner, and your doctor will all be on the same page when it comes to how you'd like things to go -- in a very ideal world, of course. Some women are comfortable enough with a thorough talk with their doctors and partners; others might feel more at ease by putting it all down on paper. If you do draft a birth plan, be sure to keep it short and to-the-point -- one page or less. Doctors and nurses might glaze over if they're handed your version of War and Peace.

I finally got that cyst taken care of yesterday. I'm sure no one wants the gory details, but lets just say that I feel MUCH better after being seen by the doctor. I ache slightly from the actual proceedure, but nothing that some Tylenol can't make better. I haven't had to dip into the Percocet I was given from the ER doctor, which makes me happy. I've had to take more Tylenol than I'd like, but at least I know that's safe for me and the baby.

I'm SO excited about the shower this weekend! It should be so much fun, and I am so excited to see the people who come! I've been slowly finding out who will be there, but I don't know everyone that's coming (my mom has been trying to keep it as much of a surprise as possible). John and I are going to be kicked out of the house for a few hours on Sunday morning (we're staying over Saturday night), so we're trying to figure out what to do that morning. We'll probably go to church, if we can, because it's the first day of Advent. We're also going to get our Christmas tree that day, so we've got a few things planned. That's about as far as we've gotten though!

I'm going to go shopping at Babies 'R' Us tomorrow because they'll be having a sale, and we still have all those gift cards to use up! There are some things from our registry that we won't get (I figure by now, if people haven't bought something off the registry, they probably won't), and there are some things that I didn't even think of (like, crib sheets and Pack 'n' Play sheets) that we'll need. I'm thinking about going to the Christmas Tree Shop tomorrow too, since John and I need to start gearing up for the RK Christmas Party on the 23rd.

Back pain update

Okay, so Sunday, I finally called the on call doctor for my OB's office because of the random lump I found on my tailbone, and the pain it was causing. I was in so much pain I couldn't sit, lay down, stand up, nothing. I was hoping they would diagnose it as a cyst and they would lance it. The OB decided that I should go to the ER so that it could be checked out and probably lanced. So, John (my awesome, wonderful husband) brought me to the ER, where we spent the better part of two hours just waiting - almost an hour of that was just in the waiting room alone, but you all know how it is in ERs. The doctor came in and looked at the cyst (which is exactly what it turned out to be - a pilonidal cyst), and decided that it was too early for it to be able to be lanced, so he decided to treat it with a course of antibiotics. I haven't noticed anything getting better about it yet, and I'm getting annoyed, but I digress. I was given a 2 week medical note to be out of work, my guess is because sitting for too long can actually make it worse (based on what I found out online).

I started physical therapy for my actual back pain (not cyst related) today, and starting tomorrow I get to try a course of aqua-therapy. That's alright with me, I like the idea of getting to play in a pool for an hour. Of course, if I have to have the cyst opened at all, that will change all of that.

Anyway, that's the update for there... I'm looking forward to my baby shower on Sunday! It will be a lot of fun! Oh, and some sad news too - a good friend of the family passed away on Thanksgiving, which was very sad. For those of you that knew Pat H. (from Hancock), she died on Thursday, and her funeral will be this Saturday at 2pm at the church in town.

Thanksgiving and Black Friday

First off, I am just going to share that John and I had a great Thanksgiving at his parents house! It was nice to see his brother, sister and his brothers girlfriends, and spend some time with all of them, so it was fun. We haven't seen them in a long time.

Black Friday was an adventure. I ended up getting up to go shopping at 4am at Kohls. I did pretty well, just about finishing up my Christmas shopping yesterday. That was nice. And surprisingly, despite the crown, I had a good time going out by myself - I think I would have been stressed had I gone shopping with anyone.

After braving Kohls, I went to Starbucks for a pick-me-up of a peppermint white chocolate mocha and a breakfast sandwich. Then I headded to Target, which opened at 6am. That was definitely a mad house! Apparently, they were selling Guitar Hero 3 with 2 guitars for $85, so the electronics section was PACKED. I wasn't even trying to get TO electronics, I was just trying to get by it and I couldn't! I finally was able to find what I was looking for, got two more Christmas gifts, as well as some stuff for decorating the house. We wanted some icicle lights to hang on the front of the house this year. Though, I realized after I got home that we don't have an extension cord for those, so I am going to have to pick one up today before we go. I am banking on getting some snow before Christmas to cover the extension cords running through my front yard right now to the rest of the Christmas lights :-)

After I got home, I discovered that I was having some really bad back pain, which was not fun. It was so bad, it pretty much had me in tears. The only doctor that was available was my OB, so in I went - hooked up to the monitor again, only to find out (as I thought) that the baby is fine and I wasn't in labor. So he is going to send me to physical therapy on Tuesday to see how that goes. He's diagnosed it as sacro-iliac pain. But, I've also discovered what I suspect to be a sebaceous cyst on my tailbone, which I'm sure isn't helping the back pain at all, because the pressure causes a lot of pain too. So I'm going to have to wait until Monday to call my primary care doctor (since my OB doesn't seem to have the time to answer questions), and see what can be done about that. I hope that will help with some of the pain, because now, it's even painful when I sleep, and the last thing I need is to be getting a poor nights sleep on top of the poor sleep I get as it is now! John was so great yesterday helping me out - he was just wonderful. He was concerned about me and kept would come up to check on me, bring me water, he drove me to the doctors, got the phone for me... I have the best husband in the world!

Thanksgiving Update, as well as baby stuff!

My Baby
Got a night owl in there? Your baby continues to develop regular sleep-wake cycles now. So you might notice, for example, that she's very calm during your commute to work but kicks up a storm as you tune in to Jon Stewart each night. When your baby slumbers, she'll close her eyes (they're pretty sensitive to light these days) and she may even start to dream in a few weeks' time! But when your baby's up and at 'em, be prepared for some powerful kicks. You might be feeling them in a new place now -- your ribcage (just below your breasts). And wow, can they be sharp sometimes! But on the bright side, these movements are probably a sign that your baby's head-down, perfectly poised for her big birthday entrance. If she's not facing south just yet, don't worry -- your baby still has a few weeks to turn around. (If she doesn't, and remains in what's called a breech position, your doc can try to steer her the right way or else you might need a c-section to make sure she's delivered safe and sound.)
My Body
Sure, you'll have plenty of sleepless nights after the baby's born, but how are you slumbering now? Many moms-to-be have trouble snagging adequate snooze time, especially in the last trimester. (It's no wonder, considering that your burgeoning belly is triggering a host of sleep-squelching side effects, including heartburn, leg cramps, and frequent bathroom breaks.) But believe it or not, it's possible to get a decent night's rest. Earlier in the day, pencil in a standing neighborhood stroll, since research shows that regular exercise can help you sleep more soundly. Big belly the problem? Buy a body pillow to snuggle up to for extra support when you're side-sleeping. If heartburn's your big sleep stealer, try eating dinner an hour earlier. And it sounds obvious, but you'll cut down on those six-times-a-night bathroom runs if you nix the water guzzling for at least an hour or two before you hit the hay.

My Life
This weekend, it's time to pimp your ride, transforming it into the Infant-mobile. Most hospitals won't let you bring baby home without a car seat properly installed. And take it from us: It can be surprisingly easy to mess up. So do it now, while you still have plenty of uninterrupted time to read the instruction manual. And don't be afraid to ask for help; most newbies could use it. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, up to 80 percent of car seats are not placed correctly. Some hospitals offer training; other great resources include your local police or fire station. Install your base and then have an expert double-check to make sure your chariot passes muster.

Yesterday I had a check up, and things seems to be going well. The baby's heart rate is around 152 right now, which is good. I have an ultrasound in 2 weeks now. I guess Dr. Mirabello is concerned that the baby is getting too big now! At my last ultrasound it said the baby was small for it's gestational age, but now he's afraid the baby is too big, so they want to do an ultrasound to see just how big the baby is, since you can't get much of an accurate measurement without one.

I can't believe that the holiday season is upon us! Today is Thanksgiving, which is very exciting. John and I are going to his parents house this year, which will be nice. I've been DYING for stuffing for the last few weeks, so I can't wait to finally get to have some! The other day at church, we were asked that if we could change our lives so that things were different in one year, what would you change? I thought about it for a minute, and the only thing I could really think of was that I wanted to have my baby instead of being pregnant. And then I realized that if that was the only thing I would change, then I must be doing pretty darn well. So I have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, especially my husband, my house, my pets, my friends and family and the healthy little baby that is going to be making an appearance for the first time sometime within the next 8-ish weeks!

So, wishing you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving!

This past weekend...

This past weekend was great! Saturday, my dad's side of the family threw a family party/baby shower for John & I, as well as my cousins PJ & Gail who are expecting their third baby. Mostly, we got Babies 'R' Us gift cards, and that's great! We were able to afford to buy a travel system stroller/carseat we wanted, so we bought it last night! I'm really excited about it, that will be great, and the help to afford it was awesome. You can check out the stroller we chose here.
I'll be putting some photos up online soon of the showers, but I'm kind of holding out until all the showers are done.

Sunday, some of our friends threw us a really nice baby shower, that I know probably took a lot of time to plan. We got some wonderful gifts from them and we are very grateful! We have such great friends to do something like that. Some of the things we got are just going to be nice to have, whereas some of the things are things we really needed - like a Boppy pillow and a mini diaper bag. One of them gave us a gift card to Target too, which I KNOW will get used. In fact, I plan to use it this morning on something that is on our registry, so that will be great! Then, we have one friend that gave me a gift certificate to an actual spa that is good for any service. Of course, there is a dollar amount, it's not good for anything, but a dollar amount towards any service I want. I'm pretty sure I've got what I want all picked out already :-) He also just gave us some cash to put towards something for the baby. Thank you again to all of you guys.

We are lucky enough to have another shower being thrown for us on December 2nd, which will be great! I'm hoping for more Target gift cards, since that is where we do more of our shopping, but mostly that's just because it's much closer to our house than the closest Babies 'R' Us.

John and I also went and splurged on some new video games this weekend! It was fun - we got Baldurs Gate Dark Alliance and started a two person campaign last night. I think I'm really going to enjoy the game, so far I've really liked it! We played for about 2 hours yesterday, and we'll probably play a lot more during our down time this week, so that will be fun. It's nice to have a game that we both can play together, not just one at a time!

I hope everyone else had a great weekend too! I will check in again probably on Wednesday after my check up!

Into month 8, the birth care unit tour, and work related stuff

My Baby

Sure, 37 weeks is the magic number -- that's when your baby is officially deemed full-term, even though pregnancy may go to 40 weeks or beyond! But this week is also an important one for early arrivals, since almost all babies born at this stage or later survive and go on to have very healthy, normal lives. By this time all of his major organs are fully functioning except the lungs, which need just a bit more time to mature completely. This week your baby will also start to shed that downy hair (lanugo) that's covered his body for the past few months. He'll lose most of this fuzzy coating by the time he's born, but you may spot some errant hairs on his back or shoulders.

At around 4 pounds, your baby's taking up a lot of space in your uterus now -- so much so that it's getting a bit crowded for kicking. So don't be alarmed if you don't feel him moving quite as much, though it's a good idea to count your baby's movements occasionally to make sure all's well in there (it's best if you can do this while you lie on your left side for a while). If you feel anything fewer than 10 kicks, rolls, flutters, etc., in two hours, call your doctor to double-check that everything's A-OK.

My Body
While a teeny part of you might be thinking "Get this kid outta here ASAP!" we bet the rest is sincerely hoping he'll stay in there a while longer. As your due date approaches, it's a good idea to learn the signs of early labor, just in case. These include your water breaking (which could result in a gush of fluid or just a trickle), some not-too-painful tightening of the uterus, period-like cramps, vaginal bleeding, increased pressure in the pelvic area, and diarrhea. With the exception of your water clearly breaking, don't worry too much if you experience one of these symptoms, since they don't always result in premature labor. But do tell your doctor right away, to be on the safe side.

My Life
Hey all you working mamas -- it's time to start thinking about when you want to start maternity leave! Some women opt to work right up until their due dates, which gives them more time to be home with their babies toward the end of their leave. Others prefer to wrap up a week or two early, so they can relax and finish any last-minute baby prep. But here's another great option we love, especially if you have a long commute: Propose working from home a day or two during the last few weeks prior to taking off. It will help you ease into your leave without eating into your actual sanctioned time off. Oh, and one more thing: Don't forget to factor in any remaining vacation or sick days when you sit down with the calendar to hammer out your exit strategy; many companies will let you count them toward your time off.

I can't believe I'm 7 months pregnant and into the 8th month now! People have been telling me all along about how fast pregnancy goes. They sure weren't kidding! I know I've said that before, but it really never ceases to amaze me just how fast this all happens!

Yesterday we had another child birthing class. After finding out about the change in class schedule (we were supposed to have a class next Wed., but they cancelled it and moved it back to the following week, and the last class is now the first week of December), we got to take a tour of the birth center, which was nice. We were able to get an idea for rooms I'd like to be in, as well as where our parents should go when I go into labor. That makes things nice and takes some of the stress away.

For those of you who are wondering, Frisbie's visiting hours are from 8am to 8pm, but the birth care unit is a little more flexible with things like that. That doesn't mean it will be okay to show up at 8pm, but if you came later in the day, you'd be allowed to stay a little longer too.

I have to go into work today, and for some reason, I'm kind of dreading it! I feel a little weird today, and I don't know what's causing it. I'm not sure if it's pregnancy related stuff or not. There are some issues that have come up with some of the residents that I know I'll have to deal with today, and I don't really want to. Also, I got an e-mail from my boss yesterday asking if I'd gotten any work done on this one thing we need to provide some numbers for, and I told her I couldn't because I didn't know what numbers I was supposed to be using, and I know nothing about the program, so I don't know what numbers I am looking for!

Anyway, I don't want to get into a rant about it anymore. It's something I am just going to have to go and face and deal with and then come home and be done with it until Monday. Just keep telling myself, I only have 14 or 15 more days there until my maternity leave! (Remember - I work only 2 days a week!)

Kane and the Leaf Blower

The Big List

Okay, so after going through my other blog, and deciding to pull it down, I needed to see what posts needed to be transferred into this one, before deleting my other one. In the process of doing that, I came across my "Big List." Some of you might know about my big list from when I started it, and wanted to accomplish the things on it before my 26th birthday. Well, as is often the case, life had other plans, so my list needed to be revamped. This is the newly revised one. The updates are this:
Italicized items are ones that I had to put on hold due to being pregnant.
Bold items that are ones that are complete.
Anything in a normal font means that it still has to be completed.

My Big List
1. Take up yoga again
2. Meet my 10% goal, plus 6 pounds.
3. Join a gym or yoga studio and go!
4. Take ballroom/latin/swing dance lessons
5. Start writing in my prayer journal more
6. Finish Final Fantasy VIII, IX and X
7. Walk more
8. Watch less TV
9. Read: The Cloister Trials, Quarter Life Crisis, The Color Purple, Random Passage, Knitting Under the Influence, Friday Night Knitting Club, Wicked, and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
10. Talk to Stephanie and Josh once a month.
11. Get some nice professional pictures of John and I
12. Get to 2 more Mike Previti concerts!!!
13. Paint my living room, bedroom, stairway and BABY’S room.
14. Purchase a 5 or 6 foot tall book case for the computer room.
15. Learn to read knitting patterns
16. Knit a blanket
17. Find a new job/return to school for a career I want to pursue
18. Do yoga 4 times a week, at least.
19. Finish the scrapbook for my dad.
20. Train for, and successfully complete a 5K road race
21. Complete knitting 3 more christmas presents and a baby hat/sweater set
22. Get through labor and delivery safely, and with lots of pictures of the new baby!

I think that about covers it for now. You'd think I'd have more things up there about family stuff or the baby, but really, I don't want to set myself up for failure. I don't want to put up anything that says "Learn to be a perfect mom" or whatever, because I have already come to terms with the fact that I won't be, and that just has to be okay. As long as I am "good enough," that will have to suffice.

And now, week 31!!!

My Baby
It's time for another growth spurt! (You've been hearing that a lot lately, huh?) For the next eight weeks, your baby's gaining more weight than height -- and she's pushing nearly 4 pounds now! (FYI, the bigger your baby grows, the harder it will be to get an accurate size update via ultrasound. But be assured that she's fattening up and getting nice and ready for life on the outside.) This week also boasts some exciting reproductive developments. Having a boy? His testicles are now moving from their current location near his kidneys down to his scrotum. And if you've got a girl in there, her clitoris has now fully formed.

My Body
Your hardworking body may feel like it's putting in overtime these days, making some less-than-subtle preparations for your upcoming labor. For one thing, you may now notice more hip and lower-back pain. What gives? Pregnancy hormones are relaxing the ligaments and tendons throughout your pelvic area, so the bones can spread to make room for delivery. Your expanding uterus may also be putting some pressure on the sciatic nerves that run from your lower back down through your legs, triggering chronic tingling or numbness down your butt and thighs -- a condition called sciatica. But it's usually not serious, it won't affect the baby, and it will likely become less intense as she shifts around in there.

My Life
If you're planning to go back to work -- either full- or part-time -- then it's never too soon to start thinking about your baby-watching options. You've got three basic choices here: An in-home nanny, au pair, or relative; a daycare center; or family daycare (in someone else's home). There are pros and cons to each, and you may already have leanings one way or another. Aside from the obvious considerations (your budget, what's available), there are a host of other things you and your partner should consider. Do you feel strongly that your baby be cared for in your own home? Would you prefer a center that's closer to your work or home? In-demand daycare facilities may have a waiting list, so go for a tour and sign up now. Going the nanny route? Finding someone you love and trust can take time. Give friends and coworkers a heads-up that you're looking so they can pass along names. You'll probably start the interviewing process a few weeks after baby's born, depending on how soon you plan to hit the working world again. And if you're interested in hiring a baby nurse (to help you adjust to those exhausting and sometimes overwhelming few days and weeks after you bring baby home), now's the time to start seeking recommendations too.

Well, today I go back to the doctors, but just for a regular check up. I'm not sure if she'll check to see that the the infection is gone, but I would suspect that she would. I'll probably ask her about it. Otherwise, I'm not expecting this to be an eventful check up, which is probably a good thing. It doesn't seem like anything abnormal is going on after what happened last week.

I don't think there is much else going on now... We have 4 more child birthing classes this month, and then they will be done, so that will be good. I hope the nurse that does the next 4 classes is more energetic than the nurse that did the first two, because she practically had John and I asleep! Granted, we were watching videos and making fun of them the whole time. That made it fun for us!

Oh, and on the baby shower front - when it rains, it pours, huh? I now have found out that we're having 3 showers! :-) One of our friends sent me an e-mail the other day and said that she and the people in her house want to throw us a shower, but they needed some dates. So I guess we're looking at Nov. 18th for that one. That's so exciting! Thanks guys!

Latest News

So, some good things have come about lately, which is, in and of itself, good!

It was not good that I was home sick from work on Thursday and Friday, but my fever has finally broken and it will be back to life as normal (whatever THAT means!) on Monday. Not looking forward to going back to work, but then, who does? I like my job just fine, for the most part... it's just the going to work thing. If I could do it from home, I totally would.

So, good thing #1) My fever broke. Yay!

Good thing #2) My new computer is still working, so that must mean that all the problems are fixed now. Yay!

Good thing #3) I got a new cell phone yesterday. It's a pink Moterola RAZR with Vcast and everything, so I've had fun playing around with that. My cell phone number is still the same, I was just due for an upgrade, so that was good. Also, I was able to get John added on, with his very own cell phone, to my plan. So now John has a cell phone too, and I think we should all call him on it all the time. If you want the number, e-mail me :-)

Good thing #4) I learned the other day that my mom and mother in law are throwing me a baby shower. It's going to be December 2nd. That's really all I know, but I am happy to know that one is happening. I didn't think it would be like my family to forget to do something as big as that, it almost feels like a shower is a rite of passage. It's funny that talking about when your baby shower is going to be is almost as important as your due date and the sex of the baby you're having. Generally the questions come in this order: "Oh! You're pregnant? When are you due? Do you know if you're having a boy or a girl? Have you had your baby shower yet?" It's very bizarre, this whole world of being pregnant. I'll be glad to just be a mom when it's all over. But at least now I have an answer to give people when they ask me when the shower is. So, I guess invites are going out this week so people have time to RSVP and whatever. Since the shower is at my parents house, there are some people that I am just inviting via word of mouth, because I didn't think they'd want to drive that far. If you didn't get an invite, don't take it personally. I just assumed you wouldn't want to make the drive.

Anyway, that's all the news from here. I think I'm going to go rake some leaves before having to shower and drive to Concord this morning. I am dreading doing it, but if I can do the front lawn by myself, I might be able to persuade John to do a lot of the back another day...

Baby, Computers and Doctors, Oh My!

My Baby
This week, your baby has come to his senses -- literally! He can now taste, touch, hear, smell, and see everything going on around him. If you tap on your belly, for instance, he may kick or poke back at the same spot you touched. So neat -- you can play with your baby well before he's born! When he kicks, try rubbing your tummy and talking softly or singing -- you might just find that it calms him down.
Right now, your baby continues to practice breathing by moving his diaphragm in a rhythmic pattern. Of course, it's amniotic fluid (not air) that's flowing in and out of his lungs, but it's good practice for the real thing. Gaining about a half-pound every week for the next seven weeks, your baby's continuing to bulk up as layers of protective fat appear under his soft skin -- creating that adorably plump, cherubic look.

My Body
Can't stop scratching your belly? It's totally normal for your skin to be a bit dry and itchy these days -- just look at how much it's stretched! Speaking of which, you may also start seeing more of those pinkish-purplish-reddish streaks, called stretch marks, on your breasts, tummy, thighs, butt, and even upper arms. More than half of moms-to-be get them, usually in the sixth and seventh months of pregnancy. And no matter what the fancy product pushers may have you believe, there's really nothing you can do to prevent them. These marks occur when the normally taut elastic fibers in your skin weaken -- yet another result of pregnancy hormone changes. Many experts believe that your genes have the biggest influence on whether you'll get them and how visible they'll be. But the good news is that they will fade significantly over time, though they won't disappear completely. There are some prescription creams and in-office laser treatments that may help lighten them, but you're best off waiting until you're at least a few months postpartum (or until you're done nursing, if you want to try certain prescription creams) to weigh these options with a dermatologist.

My Life
Does it seem like your ever-rounding tummy is like a magnet for unsolicited comments and advice? Some of it is probably downright laughable -- and that's really the best way to handle the neighbor who asks if you're planning on circumcising your little boy (and clearly has strong opinions on the subject) or the stranger who wrongly warns you against having sex ("It will make you go into early labor"). Just laugh it off and try not to let the comments worry or sway you. Your opinion and your doctor's are the only ones that matter; simply deem the rest amusing distractions. But what can hit a major nerve -- especially now that you're thinking more and more about D-day -- are the labor horror stories moms feel compelled to share with you. (Not that you asked to hear them!) So the next time someone starts sounding off on a scary story that you don't want to listen to, simply stop them by asking "Why are you telling me this?" Remember that each labor truly is unique and the odds that yours will be as dramatic as the tales you've heard is teeny tiny.

Okay, definitely the home strech now - only 10 weeks until D-Day (but hopefully a few less!) and I am getting antsy! I know 10 weeks will fly by, but I am DYING to know what my little baby looks like! I told John that this afternoon, and his answer was, "It probably looks like a baby!" Boy, I'm sure glad I told him!

Had a small scare today though. If you're a boy, or you don't want to hear gross details of pregnancy, I suggest you stop reading now. If you're okay with it, I'll continue: I had been noticing a discharge the past two days that, frankly, didn't look like anything! It was just, kind of, there! Didn't look like anything, didn't smell like anything... So I immediately think "Uh-oh. Amniotic fluid!" This morning I called the doctors office (from the school I was subbing at - that's a WHOLE different blog post) and they wanted to get me in right away. I tell them I can be there by 9:30, and off I go. At this point, I'm really worried and nervous. But I make it to the doctors, and they hook me up to a fetal monitor. Not an internal one, but an external one, to make sure the baby's heart is still beating the way it should, and to be sure I'm not having contractions. After 45 minutes of that (and a few naps in there), the doctor comes in, and does an actual exam. His findings? "Well, I don't see anything..." Of course not! Murphys Law would dictate that because I was at the doctors, everything would look normal. Which it did, for the most part. The doctor was able to determine that I do have a bacterial infection though, which could cause "premature rupture of the membranes." For anyone who's never been pregnant, that is the official term for "water breaking too early." So he gave me a prescription and sent me on my merry way. 2 hours in the doctors office, and I ended up with a prescription and a headache to show for it. I guess I'm glad that it wasn't anything more serious. Not I guess, I mean, I am glad that it wasn't anything more serious, but I was so worked up about the whole thing!

Lastly, and totally not baby related, we got my new computer up and running... again. John had to send back a few things that managed to get shorted out when the last one died. Then we determined that the monitor that we had picked out (which was actually a 20 inch LG LCD TV) didn't work well as a monitor, because the text was too blurry. So we went and picked out a Samsung LCD TV instead (I was adamant on wanting a TV). It's a 23 inch, a little bigger, but it's much nicer! The whole computer is working well now, and I am very excited to get to use my purple back-lit keyboard now!

A little behind - FROM LUNA'S KNITS

Okay, I know this blog is so far behind it's really not even funny. Sometimes I wonder if it's worth it to maintain this one, since I don't really update it much at all, but then I decide I like having it to just talk about knitting stuff, so I will keep it for a while longer.

Lets see, what's new...Not much, I guess. I finally made it to Yarn Basket to pick up the Reynolds Rapture yarn I need for the Irish Hiking Scarf I am making as a gift for Christmas. That will be a good job finished. I am almost done with a couple other scarves that will be gifts, and I have 2 others that are already finished. The ones that are done were originally for me, but then I was going to sell them in a craft fair, but decided against it when I realized I wouldn't have time to finish one for everyone for Christmas gifts.

Baby stuff - still pregnant! Baby is still due in January, and things are going pretty well there. I had one minor problem come up this morning, but I have made it to the doctors, and was given a prescription, which should do the trick.That's about all the news from here now. I will try to update with photos of completed gifts in a few weeks!

A week into the last trimester, and...

My Baby
Can you believe you're already a week into your last trimester? Sooo exciting. By this week, all of your baby's bones have fully developed, although they haven't finished hardening so they're still soft and flexible. For many weeks now, she's been listening to the sound of your voice and your partner's -- and anyone else who's regularly in belly range. Chatting up your baby is a great way to help her ID your voice, of course, but did you know it could also make her smarter? Research suggests that babies whose parents gabbed away throughout pregnancy recognize and turn toward those familiar voices immediately after birth. And some evidence suggests that talking to your baby may boost her verbal skills later in life. Speaking of boosts, your baby is getting stronger by the minute. This week, her pushes, kicks, and rolls will likely occur more frequently -- and forcefully. So don't be surprised if you feel a karate chop or two!

My Body
Most parents-to-be -- especially if they're first-timers -- attend childbirth classes during the third trimester. You may want to, too, Many moms say the classes helped them feel more relaxed, confident, and prepared for labor. It's also a fantastic way to meet other expectant parents and make contacts for future baby play dates, especially during the early months when you're home from work.
These classes are offered at most hospitals and birthing centers, and your doctor or midwife can also recommend good ones in your area (if you haven't signed up already). Look for an experienced and personable instructor with solid references, a small class size, and a varied program -- one that includes lectures, tours of the birthing facility, and videos of different types of birth experiences. All of these things (particularly the video, as much as the thought of it might freak you out) can help take the mystery out of childbirth and show you that the results -- those beautiful babies! -- are well worth the, um, labor.

So here we go - week 29!! It's going so fast! That's all anyone tells you when you first tell them you're pregnant: "Enjoy this time! It goes by so fast!" (Well, that and "Get your sleep now while you still can, because you won't once the baby comes!") And it really has gone fast, but it's not always fun and pleasant. Going to sleep at night has become a daily battle for me. Not because I'm super hugely pregnant, but because I get restless at night before bed. I've found a cold shower helps this, because then all I want to do is snuggle down under the blankets. I have one person in particular (who shall remain nameless) whom I can't even complain about discomforts to, because all they want to say is to just think about the end result (or whatever it is that they say). I just want to say "Well, duh! I know where this is going!! But thinking about that isn't going to make me feel better! My back hurts now!"

Anyway, moving on... I had my one hour glucose test yesterday. I should be getting the results of that sometime today. If it comes back elevated, I'll have to go back in for a 3 hour test. These tests are to check for gestational diabetes, which wouldn't shock me in the least if I had it. Actually, I think I'd be more suprised to find out I didn't. I only say this, because I have so many of the risk factors for it. But I won't complain if it comes back that I don't!

That's about it for now. I have to work today, which I'm not really looking forward to, but oh well. Need to be able to afford diapers somehow! :-) Speaking of - am I totally crazy for already starting to pack for the hospital at 29 weeks?

Pics and baby shower info.

So, I realized after posting wedding pics yesterday, that you really can't tell how pregnant I look, so I snapped a few more this morning after getting ready for work. Without further ado...

I am in my 28th week right now, which means that there are only 12 more weeks until my due date! I can't believe how fast this whole pregnancy has gone, and at the same time, I'm ready for it to be over so I can meet my new little family member!

Also, again, I've had a few questions come up about a shower. From what I understand, it is "traditionally" a female friend or the father-to-be's family that throws a baby shower for the expectant parents. With that in mind, I don't know anything about any baby showers that anyone may or may not be throwing for me, aside from the one that my dads family is doing jointly with a shower for a cousin who is also expecting a baby. I am not throwing my own shower. I don't want to appear to be asking for gifts, because that isn't the case. If you have questions about having a shower, my guess would be to direct it to my mom, since she would be the only person I can think of that would coordinate one. Don't get me wrong - would I like one? Absolutely. Am I going to throw one just so I can have one? No. That said, if anyone out there IS planning to throw a shower, please tell me when it is, because my weekends book up really fast this time of year. Also, if I DON'T have one, but you still want to get us something, we have registries at Target and Babies 'R' Us.

I apologize for sounding cranky or irritated in this post, because I'm really not. I think I'm just starting to get on edge because I can't give people an answer when they ask me a question. All I can say is that one hasn't been planned, and I don't think it's right to throw one for myself. No one would expect a bride to throw her own bridal shower, right?

Some photos from the weekend

This weekend I had the pleasure of going to a friends wedding, and getting to catch up with some good friends from college that I don't spend nearly enough time socializing with. Of course, the fact that we are now spattered all over the country probably doesn't help that... most of us are still in NH, but some of us (who shall remain nameless... Kerry and Dave) moved to California.
Anyway, I wanted to get some photos I took from the reception up into my blog, both so that I could share them with my friends, and so that I could let you all see and decide how pregnant I look :-)

You can see all the photos from the wedding here

The home stretch! And in other news...

My Baby
This is it -- the home stretch! You've now officially entered the third and final trimester. But here's the biggie development news this week: After being sealed shut for many months, your baby's eyes will begin to open and close this week. Even if you could peek at the color of his peepers now though, they might not stay that color, as baby's eyes can change up until he's 6 months to a year old (especially if your little guy is born with baby blues).
He's also probably banging around like mad in there -- except when he's sleeping. Yep, your baby is snoozing on a regular schedule, but in very short spurts (only about 20 to 30 minutes at a time). Right now he weighs roughly 2.5 pounds and measures a little over 15 inches from head to toe (your baby's now big enough to get a better measurement this way, and he'll be stretching out fully when he's born in just a few weeks, so we've switched from crown-to-rump to whole-body length). Your doctor will track your baby's growth during checkups by gently pressing on your belly to feel where the top of your uterus is, also known as fundal height.

My Body
Speaking of your uterus, it's grown impressively large. Normally it weighs about 2 ounces and holds less than half an ounce of fluid; now, it's expanded to house your baby, the placenta, and an entire quart of amniotic fluid. In fact, most of the side effects of late pregnancy are related to this uterine expansion -- including back pain, swelling in your feet and ankles, varicose veins, heartburn, hemorrhoids, itchy skin, and heartburn. But the good news is that many of these symptoms will go away as soon as the uterus starts shrinking after delivery.

My Life
For months, the most important medical authority in your life has been your ob-gyn or midwife, but that's about to change. It's time to pick the perfect pediatrician. If it seems way too early, know that your baby will be examined by a doc within minutes of being born -- and his first office visit will usually be just a few days later. To find the right one, start with the obvious: recommendations from friends with kids. These moms and dads will have an opinion, and they'll be more than happy to share it, trust us. Once you've got a hot tip, make sure the practice accepts your insurance, then schedule a consultation (some docs charge, as insurance won't always reimburse for a visit when there's no baby present). You want to get a sense of personality -- do you feel comfortable? -- and find out how easy it typically is to snag an appointment. Ask if there are any special arrangements for newborns. Do they make an effort to see the young ones first so that your teeny baby doesn't have to linger in the waiting room with all the runny-nosed big kids? Do they routinely run on schedule, or are long-ish waits frequent? Is there a private area where you could nurse if you do end up waiting a long time?

Oh my goodness!!! This is it! Last three months! I can't believe it! Only 12 more weeks!!!! It's going to FLY by, and I'm SO excited! I have a confession - during my second trimester, I wasn't to sure about this whole "having a baby" thing. I didn't know if I really was ready for this. But that feeling is totally gone, and I'm SO excited! I'm nervous, but surprisingly relaxed about the whole thing! I just keep telling myself that things will happen when they happen, I have no control over any of the physical pregnancy, aside from what I eat and when I sleep. I've already written a birth plan, so I don't have to stress about that, and now I just need to find out if our current doctor will serve as a pediatrician, or if we need to find someone else.

In other news, John built me a new computer last week, which was great, until it died on Saturday. It was weird, because the computer wasn't even on! Saturday morning, I just got up and it wouldn't even turn on. We discovered the power supply and the motherboard had been fried. Along with that, the mouse, the keyboard and our scanner. Fortunately, it didn't fry my monitor or the printer. We ended up getting a new all in one printer/scanner/fax/copier for the house, which works great so far, so I'll be selling my old printer on ebay. Hopefully it will actually sell!

Anyway, I best get going. I need to get in the shower and try to figure out what to wear to work...

Website update - FROM LUNA'S KNITS

For the first time in a while, I finally took the time to update my website: http://luna.radiantknights.com

It is all info about my knitting and photos of current projects that will be available for sale. I'm a little bummed because I won't be able to do a craft fair that I was hoping to do this year, but there's always next November. I just don't have enough merchandise to sell, and I need to be focusing on what to make for Christmas gifts this year.

I finished an adorable baby hat the other day, and got it all blocked out. I need to get a photo of it soon, but I am happy with it. I have enough yarn to make a second one, so I will probably make another to add to my sale inventory. I need to start focusing on the things I'm making for Christmas.The hat that I made was using Blue Sky Organic Cotton and a Blue Sky pattern. It is really soft, and very cute! I'm looking forward to making another one!

Pregnancy update, and a new computer!

My Baby
It's the last week of your second trimester, and you know what that means: Just a few short months until your baby's really here! This week your baby will grow half an inch (she's now about 9.5 inches from crown to rump). She currently weighs a little over 2 pounds -- and is set to gain almost a half-pound each week for the next 10 weeks. (Yep, that means you'll continue to gain weight, too. In fact, pregnant women pack on more pounds in the third trimester than in any other). At birth, the average full-term baby tips the scales at 7.5 pounds and measures between 18 and 22 inches, although many completely healthy babies fall outside of this range. And here's another fun factoid: Although your baby has started to recognize your voice, it's hard for her to hear it clearly because her ears are covered with that gooey, protective coating of vernix. Between that and the amniotic fluid, your baby's eavesdropping ability is akin to how well you hear under water.

My Body
By now, you're putting on about a pound each week, although this does vary, so don't be alarmed if your scale-tipping differs from week to week. Your uterus has now expanded all the way up to the lower part of your ribcage, so you're probably rocking that adorable all-belly look. In fact, the only thing shrinking right now may be your libido -- so it's totally A-OK if your cravings for french fries trump your desire to do the deed. Many preggo women report that their libidos are all over the map throughout these nine months. But especially now, a growing belly may translate to feeling more tired and achy, so sex may become less and less desirable as your pregnancy drags on. But other women report a big can't-get-enough surge in their third trimester -- so if you're one of 'em, more power to you!

My Life
Are you usually one of those shy, don't-rock-the-boat types? A lot of women find that being pregnant makes them more assertive than usual -- and better equipped to set boundaries at home, at work, or anywhere. The awareness that you're responsible for another little person is often motivation enough to speak up or say no when necessary -- asking a friend (or a stranger) to stamp out her cigarette when she's lighting up nearby, for example. Pregnancy also has a way of making you hyper-attuned to your instincts. So that tiny voice in the back of your head telling you "I need a seat on this overcrowded bus -- stat!" is suddenly toting a megaphone, which helps you really go with your gut and do what's best for you and your baby. And the more you can get in the habit of setting limits now, the happier and less frazzled you'll be once you're no longer a party of two.

Week 27 and all is well! At least thus far anyway! I can't believe that I start the third trimester next week!!!

John built my new computer last night, which is really cool! This is my first blog post on my new computer, and it's running great! The biggest hassle is getting everything reinstalled. Also, I need to go on my laptop and pull off my favorite websites so I can put them back up on this computer. I am going to work on a lot of that stuff today. Also, hopefully tonight, we'll reformat my laptop, and then we can decide what to do with it. I am debating possibly seeing if I can use it as a work computer. I am wondering if I do if I can take it as some sort of deduction on our taxes, or something, I don't know. At least then I'll have a fully functioning running computer at work!

Anyway, off to get some other stuff done. I've been working on stuff for an hour or so already, and not even close to being done. I need to move my mouse next because I don't have room on my keyboard tray for both.

Week 26... only 14 weeks to go!

My Baby
What a gorgeous baby you have! This week, some of his most notable developments are cosmetic: His eyebrows and eyelashes are thick and lush now, and the hair on his head has grown longer and denser. By this time, all the parts of your baby's eyes are in place, and he's getting ready to open them in just a couple of weeks! Your baby's lungs continue to grow stronger, readying him for life outside the womb -- although it's about 10 more weeks until they'll be fully mature. To support his growing body, your baby's spine is becoming stronger and more flexible. It's about the same length as the palm of your hand, but it contains a whopping 150 joints and some 1,000 ligaments.

My Life
By now, you've probably gained around 15 pounds -- and possibly even more, depending on your pre-pregnancy weight. And we know what you're thinking: So what's the deal? Will I really ever get my old body back after the baby's born? And the answer is, well, sort of. First of all, a bunch of your weight comes off soon after delivery -- the weight of the baby, obviously, but also a lot of water weight/swelling, boosted blood volume, your placenta, etc. In fact, according to one recent study from the University of Texas at Austin, new moms hold on to just seven to 15 pounds of their total preggo weight gain at six weeks postpartum (which means that if you continued to shed a half-pound to a pound a week or so, you'd be back to your pre-pregnancy weight in about six months).
But even if you manage to drop every last pound, some parts of your body may still look a little different. Your breasts may be a bit less perky, for instance -- but hey, a sexy new push-up bra can take care of that. Or your stomach probably won't quite return to its pre-pregnancy pancake -- okay, short-stack -- flat state. But honestly, as sensitive to these possible differences as you may be now, take heart -- you're liable to care a lot less about any minor imperfections once your baby arrives. As one Parents.com reader put it, "After watching my body gestate, deliver, and nurse a baby, I felt like it deserved an Academy Award! I may not look exactly the same as I did before, but I finally love what I see in the mirror." And if it makes you feel any better, just know that every other new mom out there is experiencing the same exact changes. Even though Us Weekly-cover-worthy Hollywood moms may lose their baby weight in a crazy short amount of time, we're betting many still have to contend with stretch marks and such.

I can't believe it's already week 26! I'm so excited! Thus far, I've really enjoyed being pregnant, for the most part. I could do without the back aches and the leg cramps, but overall, it's really kind of a neat experience, especially when I can feel the baby moving around inside. Of course, I'm not to the point of being "really pregnant" and the baby doesn't hurt me when he or she does gymnastics before bed.

Anyway, that's all for now... Still looking for suggestions for my Halloween costume!

Maternity Halloween Costumes

Oh my goodness. Who would have thought having to come up with a Halloween costume when you're pregnant would be so difficult? Originally I didn't think I was going to dress up, but now I think I may. I have a few ideas, most of which have come from various websites, but I don't know if I'm going to do any of them yet. So, I am currently taking suggestions for Halloween costumes. Send me an e-mail or post a comment so that I can get some ideas!

Week 25!!!

My Baby
As your baby grows, she'll take up extra space in your uterus, which means you'll feel her kicks, pokes, and rolls even more now. This week, your baby weighs in at around 1.5 pounds and measures about 9 inches in length from crown to rump. Wow! Although she's still skinny and her skin rather wrinkly, it will all smooth out as she develops a healthy layer of body fat beneath it. Her hands are fully developed at this point, complete with mini fingernails and fingerprints, and are probably keeping busy touching and grabbing her face, feet, and the umbilical cord.

My Body
Get ready to kiss your petite little belly goodbye soon! As your uterus continues to expand upward -- the top is nearly midway between your breasts and belly button now -- your middle will grow longer and wider. Makes sense; your baby's going to be pushing the 2-pound mark in no time at all, and you've gotta make room for her in there.
Speaking of changes to your uterus, one of the things your doctor examined during your mid-pregnancy ultrasound was the position of the placenta. If yours was either partly or completely blocking the opening to your cervix -- which is fairly common -- you'll be monitored more closely in the coming months. According to the University of Pennsylvania Pregnancy Health Center, 90 percent of such cases resolve before delivery because as your uterus continues growing, the placenta will naturally shift upward, away from the opening of your cervix. If this doesn't happen by the end of the third trimester (a condition known as placenta previa), your doctor may recommend that you have a c-section. In the meantime, you might have some extra ultrasounds to monitor the position of your placenta.

My Life
Remember how you used to throw (or at least attend) long, lavish dinner parties? In a few short months, an uninterrupted night of adults-only conversation is going to become a bit of a luxury. So sneak in a party before baby arrives. Break out the fancy plates and table linens from your wedding registry, light candles and pour some vino in your good crystal glasses (with Pellegrino or sparkling cider in yours, natch). It's a great way to spend a long, lovely evening chatting up and reconnecting with your best pals, since you've likely been busy or distracted lately.

So, who's up for a dinner party? I can't believe I've hit week 25 already! My due date (I think I said this yesterday) was bumped up a day yesterday to 1/16 intead of 1/17, so I get into week 25 a day earlier than I thought. I'm excited! The earlier the better. If they want to bump me up to Christmas, I'd be okay with that! But I would like to get together with people soon, though I do better when people come over to my place. I love to entertain, so if anyone wants to come over, feel free!

Anyway, that's about all the news from here right now! I'm at work, so I should keep this short, but it's pretty quiet today - no one is here, so that's a good thing!