37 Weeks - A Winter Melon / Watermelon

November 27, 2014

Photo Thoughts: That belly is looking very round! Also, winter melon?  I'm taking that to mean mini watermelon.  In the 3rd photo, I am proudly displaying the practice baby from our Infant CPR class that we got to take home.

How I'm Feeling: I'm starting to get anxious about my quickly approaching due date. I know that around this time, a lot of pregnant women start to feel like they can't wait to NOT be pregnant anymore... but I am feeling very much the opposite. I find myself wishing for more time- not because I really want to be pregnant for an extra long time, but more just because I feel SO not ready.  Rather than looking up old wives tales to start labor, I am looking them up so that I can AVOID doing those things.  Does that make me crazy?

Baby: Technically I am full term now, meaning that all of baby's crucial functions are developed and from here on out he's just getting bigger and stronger!

Symptoms: That same lower back/hip pain is still pretty bad. Basic movements like walking, climbing stairs, and turning over in bed can send shooting pain through my lower back. This makes me very limp-y by the end of the day.  Also, if I'm on my feel a lot in the evening (cooking dinner, etc.), my belly starts to feel very heavy, and sometimes gets very tight and crampy. These are most likely Braxton Hicks contractions, because the sensation stops as soon as I lay down on my side.  

Weight: + 0.0 - Holding steady at +27.0 pounds total. I've definitely hit a weight gain plateau, which supposedly is somewhat normal at this point.  Let's see how long this lasts... especially with all the Thanksgiving indulgences.   

Diet/Cravings/Aversions: SO excited to have an EXTRA excuse to indulge at Thanksgiving this year! I made an apple pie just for David and I, but I haven't decided yet if I will share the leftovers.  I also started the effort to stock up our freezer with pre-made meals, so I made a double batch of The Pioneer Woman's Chicken Spaghetti.  

I met a friend for breakfast the day before Thanksgiving.  Cookies and orange juice count as breakfast, right? Don't worry, I had eggs, too. 

What I'm Missing: At our Thanksgiving dinner, I was really wishing that I could have a glass of wine with David. Soon enough...

Sleep: I'm still sleeping really well.  It just takes me a while to get comfortable when I first get in bed, since turning over aggravates my back so much.  But once I'm comfortable, I'm out for the night (mostly)!

Exercise: Pre-Natal Pilates/Barre and a couple home workout videos thrown in if/when I'm feeling motivated. 

Movement: Lots! I can tell he's getting cramped though.  I get lots of kicks way up high, but I've also experienced a few instances of "lightning crotch" where it feels like his little hands must be karate chopping a nerve down there.  Ouch!

Highlights of the Week:

-OB Appointment: I'm still at 1cm, 50% effaced, and -2 position. I was a bit relieved actually at my lack of progress since last week, since I'm hoping he won't be early!  David came with me to this appointment, since he hadn't met the new doctor since I switched.  It was fun to have company during the long wait in the exam room!

-Over the weekend, David and I had our Childbirth Class.  It was Friday evening and then all day Saturday and Sunday.  I didn't really know what to expect, but I think we both ended up being pleasantly surprised with the class.  The instructor was great, and the other couples in the class were really friendly, too.  It was nice to learn about the stages of labor, what to expect, relaxation techniques, ways to cope with pain, etc.  They had us practice several laboring positions, etc., which I at first thought was kind of silly, but it was actually really good to get an idea of what I think I might like/not like to do to help with pain during labor. And plus, they made the husbands do things like massage our backs with tennis balls, etc.  It was a LONG weekend though, and I'm glad that we checked that off the list!

Crazy how all of your insides shift around to accommodate that baby! 

-Since we are procrastinators, we also had our Infant CPR class this week.  This was just an evening class, and we ended up having the same instructor as our Childbirth Class. Each couple got their very own blow up baby to practice on (and take home). It's pretty scary to think about ever actually having to use these skills, but it's good to have the knowledge.  

-TODAY (my 37 week mark, not the day this posts, obviously) is actually Thanksgiving day! You can read more about our Thanksgiving HERE.  A quick recap: we had a very quiet and relaxing Thanksgiving for two. It was SO nice to stay in our pajamas most of the day and not have to be anywhere.   

Baby H - A Sneak Preview

I've been wanting to put together a post with all the photos from the ultrasounds we have had.  Now that we most likely won't have anymore sneak peeks at our little guy before he arrives, I figured it would be a good time to look back on how far baby has come.  Also, I try to refrain from posting photos of my uterus on Facebook and Instagram (OK, except for maybe one time), since I don't like to assume that people want to see these sometimes creepy photos, so I figured my blog would be a good place to share and have a little fun watching my little guy grow.

8 Weeks

This was at my very first OB appointment.  It was basically just to confirm that, "yep, there's a baby in there." He was nothing more than a little jelly bean back then.

11 Weeks

At this ultrasound, they were taking lots of measurements for various tests that they run.  I remember thinking how amazing it was that in just 3-4 weeks, he had changed so much.  That blob that we had seen just 4 weeks prior now was much more human-looking (although sometimes alien-looking, too). David and I were both surprised to see how much he was moving around in there, especially since I couldn't feel ANY of it!  This was also the first time that we got to hear his heartbeat!

Looking like a Teddy Graham

David loves these freaky alien ones. 

20 Weeks

This was the much-anticipated "anatomy scan" where they check and measure the development of all the body parts.  And of course, we also got to find out the sex of what we now know is our little man! This was such a fun ultrasound, and they spent a LOT of time showing us every little body part. BUT, part of the reason it took so long was because baby boy was very uncooperative.  Every place that the tech would try to get a view of, he would use his arm to cover up or make a shadow so we couldn't see, or he would turn the other way and hide.  They had to have me get up several times and walk around, use the bathroom, roll over to my side, etc. in attempts to get him to cooperate.  We both agreed that he must get that tendency to be difficult from his dad.  But in the end, we DID get to see everything, and we were SO excited to find out that a boy was on the way!

Alien/Skeleton Baby, again, David's favorite for some reason. 

That's his nose and his mouth (check out those lips!) with a shadow he is making from his arm over his eyes.

Legs, feet, and arms... notice him shaking his fist at us in defiance in the last photo

It's a BOY! I promise, this will be the last time I post a picture of my kid's anatomy on the internets. 

36 Weeks (Bonus!)

We thought that we wouldn't get anymore ultrasounds past 20 weeks, but because of a study that I have agreed to participate in throughout my pregnancy and after, they wanted to do another one to get some images and measurements for their study.  I was SO excited- it felt like forever since we had seen the baby!  I thought that we would just get a few little peaks, but we ended up getting to see a ton, PLUS, the tech told us that she just got a new machine with the 3D/4D features and she wanted to play around with it.  So we got that perk, too!  The thing that stood out to me this time, was he looked very crowded in there because he was definitely chunking up- chubby cheeks and everything.  He was asleep almost the entire time, so once again the tech had a hard time getting him to move and let us see him.  He had his arms and hands up by his face while he slept, which is what he was doing at the last ultrasound too.  Now I'm curious to know if he will sleep with his little arms and hands up by his face once he arrives, too!

An obstructed profile

More hiding.

2 D toes and 3 D toes

That face! Definitely looking like David... 

And we even caught a blurry smile. This photo is a little creepy- she was using some editing effect that makes the skin look like candle wax, but I had to share the little smile we got to see. 

And a final comparison for good measure...

See you SOON, little man!

36 Weeks - A Honeydew

November 20, 2014

Photo Thoughts: A big event this week was my Houston Baby Shower, so this photo with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law/ shower co-host is featured in this week's collage.  

How I'm Feeling: Feeling good!  It was a busy, but fun week!  I can't believe we are just one month out now...

Baby/Bump: I can't believe that baby is most likely in the 5 pound range!  This week his circulatory system is most likely ready to go, and his skin is getting less and less wrinkly.  

The bump is definitely feeling heavier.  If I lean forward while sitting, I can definitely feel his feet/legs or whatever is up at the top getting in my way.  

Symptoms: OK, I know I'm a broken record here, but this back pain is getting worse and worse.  It did get a little bit better last week, so I thought maybe I had just pulled a muscle or something, but it came back even worse this week.  By the end of the day, I am basically limping around.  It's strange though, because it doesn't bother me when I workout or do any Pilate's stretches.  When it does hurt is when I'm doing just basic movements- like walking. When I transfer my weight to my right leg, I get shooting pain from my lower back to my butt... so that makes walking, climbing stairs, putting on pants, etc. really fun.  My doctor said that since the shooting pain isn't going down my leg that it's most likely not my sciatic nerve.  She thinks baby is probably just resting his head on some other nerve down in that general area.  Ouch!  Other than that, I still have some shortness of breath and nausea if I lay down on my back.  

Weight: + 0;  +27.0 total.  

What I'm Anticipating: I'm looking forward to our Childbirth and Infant CPR classes next week.  

Sleep: I'm so thankful to still be sleeping so well at this point- with only one wake up per night... I'm definitely pushing my bladder to the max.  

Exercise: Pre-natal Pilates/Barre and the occasional Zumba class or home workout video.  

Movement: Lots!  I can definitely tell he is getting more crowded in there though.  The movements are less roll-y/stretch-y and more jab-y. I can also tell he is getting a lot stronger, because those jabs are getting a lot more painful.

Milestones: One month (or so) to go! I am starting weekly appointments from here on out.  Between these weekly appointments and the classes we have coming up, I am going to feel like I basically live at the hospital.  

Highlights of the Week:  So many fun things this week!

-Houston Baby Shower: My friends Kim and Lori and my sister-in-law, Renee co-hosted a fall-themed baby shower.  They did a great job, and it was so fun to celebrate with friends, family, and co-workers.  This baby shower brought together a lot of different groups of people, so it was fun to introduce people and see people from different parts of my life together.  

My hostesses!

Some of the adorable Fall decor

Some of my favorite gifts were: Baby Air Jordan's from my sister-in-law's fiance and THE most beautiful quilt made by the group of girls that I met in Australia. They are all spread across the world now (Canada, US, Indonesia, Australia), and yet they somehow managed to coordinate this. It is so beautiful, and it will always be such a special gift for both me and Baby H to enjoy. I'm so lucky to have these girls as friends!  

-David's 32nd Birthday: David isn't much of a birthday guy, so as usual, he requested to just keep the day low-key. It was a work day for both of us, so that evening I just made chicken pot pie for dinner and his favorite cookies for dessert.  Like most men, David is very difficult to shop for, but I was pretty proud of my gift selections this year.  I got him some cute race car baby outfits (forgot to take a picture), a bottle of his favorite whiskey, and the mini version of his beloved IKEA chair, so he and his son can relax in style together.  For a guy who rarely shows much excitement, I'd say he was pretty excited and surprised... he especially loved the chair!

Chicken Pot Pie ready to go into the oven

 

-36 Week Appointment and Ultrasound: The 36 week OB appointment marks the beginning of the dreaded internal exams.  It's as unpleasant as it sounds.  BUT, after the torture was over, I found out that I was 1cm dilated, 50% effaced, and at the -2 position.  Technically those aren't really predictors of when baby will come, but it's good information and it feels good to know that my body is making SOME minor progress in the right direction.  ALSO at this appointment (which David came along for), we got a bonus ultrasound due to a study that I have agreed to participate in during my pregnancy and through labor and delivery.  It was SO fun to see our little guy, especially since we hadn't seen him since 20 weeks.  And we even got some 3D/4D views of him!  He looks SO big and baby-like.  And he most definitely has his dad's nose and lips.  He was sleeping pretty much the whole time, and the tech really had to struggle to get him to move his arms from covering his face.  This happened at the 20 week ultrasound, too.  So I'm interested to see if he will sleep with his hands up near his face once he is here, too.  Oh, and we even got to see the cutest little grin!

35 Weeks - A Coconut/ Cantaloupe

November 13, 2014

Photo Thoughts: No idea where one would find a coconut in mid-November, so I figured a cantaloupe was close enough in size/weight.  Also, taking photos at night (and without makeup) makes for very un-flattering face shadows.  In the last photo, I'm holding all of the baby reading materials that I'm acquiring from doctors, classes, etc... it's overwhelming.  

Baby: Little guy is almost done growing as far as length goes. Now he's mostly just packing on weight. I love me a chubby baby, but I hope he doesn't get too carried away with the weight gain in there.  

Symptoms: I'm still having back pain just about every night. I've also noticed that almost anytime I lay flat on my back (and sometimes even when I'm propped up a little bit), I start to get nauseous and a little dizzy.  From what I read, that's a result of all the weight in my belly pressing down on some arteries.  Luckily, pretty much as soon as I sit up or flip to my side, the sensation goes away.  

Weight: +0.  Maintaining the same weight as last week/balancing out that three pound weight gain last week from all the Halloween candy ;-) 

What I'm Anticipating: My sister-in-law, Renee just arrived in Houston tonight for my Houston baby shower that she is co-hosting this weekend. I am so excited for the baby shower and to spend some time with Renee who I haven't seen since January.  

Diet/Cravings/Aversions: Now that it's cooling down, I am loving warm drinks like hot chocolate and chair lattes. 

Sleep: I'm so glad that I am still sleeping so well... as long as I stay off my back.  

Exercise: Pre-natal pilates/barre and the occasional Zumba class or home workout video. 

Movement: Still lots of movement. He moves A LOT at night, and another active period for him seems to be after lunch time.  I've been feeling a lot of jabs/pressure on my bladder this week, so I am REALLY hoping this doesn't mean that he has flipped around in there...

Boy or Girl: Baby boy!

Milestones: 35 weeks down, 35 days to go! 

Highlights of the Week:

-This was actually two weeks ago, but I forgot to mention it.  David and I went to a Basic Baby Care class.  It was only an hour long (which I know David appreciated), and it was actually really informative. Just a couple days after that class, I went to a breastfeeding class at the hospital.  This was also a good class, with a TON of information... pretty overwhelming actually.  I was a little bit disappointed with the instructor of the class though.  She seemed to have an underlying attitude that "oh, this should be easy, it's natural, if you're in pain or it's not working, it's because you are doing something wrong."  I mean she never outright said those things, but I just got that feeling... she was kind of dismissive when it came to questions about having problems with feeding, etc.  Luckily I've heard from enough people that it is VERY common for women to struggle with breastfeeding, and that does NOT mean that you are doing something wrong.  Had I not heard these things from other people, I would have been really intimidated by the message this lady was giving.  

-We took our hospital tour this weekend!  The hospital is only about 3 years old, and it is such a beautiful facility! The tour was very informative, and we got to see all the different areas where we will spend time.  It was a little overwhelming and surreal though. I definitely started tearing up a little bit when we were in the labor and delivery room.  I just can't even imagine what it will be like when it's my turn in there.

Most Entertaining Question of the Week: "Any day now, huh?" This was from the same annoying contractor who sometimes comes into the office at work.  Just about every time I see him, he manages to make some strange and annoying comment. 

Thanksgiving For Two (Three)

I think I will always remember Thanksgiving 2014 as one of my favorite Thanksgivings.  It didn't pan out exactly like we thought it would, but it ended up being just perfect.  

We had originally (albeit tentatively) planned to spend Thanksgiving in Austin with David's family.  My OB had said it was probably OK for me to travel there by car, but the general rule of thumb is that it's best to not go more than an hour away from your hospital when you are within 30 days of your due date.  We went back and forth about what to do, but we finally decided (perhaps in a bit of an anti-social move) to stay in Houston.  Once we made the decision, it was a huge relief. I was a little sad about our first Thanksgiving back in the US feeling a bit lonely, but I know we made the right decision.  

Some yummy pumkin bread I made the night before Thanksgiving

Thursday and Friday were David's first days off since moving back from Australia, so I know he especially was looking forward to a long weekend without any big obligations, road trips, etc. I ordered a pre-made turkey breast, stuffing, gravy, and some dinner rolls from Central Market (Texas' version of Whole foods), and then I made a few sides and my favorite apple pie.  It felt like such a cheat, but it was SO nice to just wait in a (not too long) line and pick up most of what we would need for dinner.  Plus, with just the two of us, we didn't need mass amounts of everything.  

Waiting in this line was a much better alternative to making my own turkey. Totally worth it!

I spent the morning and afternoon doing some cooking, watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, and just relaxing.  It was a beautiful day, and I even convinced David to take a little walk around the neighborhood with me.  One of the best parts of the day was that I didn't ever change out of my pajamas, put on makeup, or even take a shower- oops.  Dinner was great and so nice and low key.  We missed family and friends, but I think we also really appreciated spending the holiday together as a couple, since this will be our last kid-free holiday in a long time!  

Baking pies and babies. Also, please notice how my belly rests perfectly on the kitchen counter.

I even broke out the fancy china!

The spread

I swallowed the turkey!

Dessert time. The best time. 

On Friday I deep cleaned the nursery and then we got the new rug I ordered laid out.  I also did a little Black Friday shopping... from the comfort of my couch.  

Baby officially has the cleanest (and shiniest!) room in the house. 

Saturday was officially deemed "Baby Day."  We started the day off by having maternity photos taken. We really lucked out with a  beautiful day, and it was fun to spend time together documenting our soon-to-be family of three.  I'm still waiting on photos, otherwise, I would share some here.  After photos, we took a little break and then started in on checking tons of things off our baby list... things that really probably should have been done a while ago.  Whatever, we work well under pressure.  Here's what we accomplished: crib assembly, stroller assembly (so excited for my BOB!), co-sleeper/bassinet assembly, car seat is ready to go, and play yard/bassinet assembly (this will be our downstairs baby sleep/diaper station so we aren't constantly climbing stairs).  We were both exhausted by the end of the day, but it felt really good to finally get those things done!  

Can't believe a tiny human will be sleeping (hopefully) next to me so soon!

 

I will always have great memories of this Thanksgiving weekend as our last as just a family of two. I can't even wrap my mind around the fact that we will have a nearly one year old this time next year.