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!

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...

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.