Baby Shower Pictures

This is a little late, but my future brother in law (Yes - Sara and Dave got engaged a couple weeks ago!) finally sent me the photos he took at my baby shower. Here are a few snippets:

mmm...cornbread...

Mom & I. I am 33 weeks prego here. 

Sara, Me, and Caitlin.
Caitlin is pregnant too! She is due in July, with....A BOY!!!! They just revealed the sex a few days ago.
Yaaaaaaaaaay a friend for Baby J (now she must move back here asap)!!!

Probably the prettiest cake I've ever seen. Thank you Caitlin, Sara, & Cafe Canole!

36 Weeks

We left the bed in the room. Figured it would be nice to have the option of sleeping in here sometimes if the baby wants company. My brother gave us a sweet bassinet which we put in our room, and the crib is in the baby's room. We plan on using the bassinet first for sure.

Pretty sure Otto thinks we have made him his very own room.

 I love how restful and calm the baby's room looks. It is really coming along. And thank goodness, cause we are really getting close to D-Day now!

Good news? I went back to the doctor yesterday and they did an ultrasound. We learned that while it's still too early to re-check his growth, they did confirm that my amniotic fluid looks great, the heartbeat is great, and the fact that he is moving a lot is great. So the doctor said while he is going to keep an eye on me and the baby's growth just to be on the safe side in a week or so, everything looks good right now. He made a point of saying a few times that the baby is still in the normal range for weight and size. So I am basically taking this as meaning no news is good news.

 And the not so great news? Baby boy is breech, still (they discovered that last week, but I think I forgot to put that in my last blog post). Soooooo, we got scheduled for a C-section on March 11th. EEK. That is exactly three weeks from today.

Sheeeesh that is crazy. Even though I have been obviously preparing for the birth of my baby for the last nine months, just hearing that there's an actual date on his arrival (assuming he continues to be stubborn and stays breech) has some sort of shock to it. Like, "you will become a mother on this day," instead of "sometime in March you will have your baby," because everyone knows how unpredictable labor can be, especially a first one. I was just assuming it would be one big surprise.

So March 11th, we might be having a baby. I am SOOOOO excited, but really scared of having surgery too. I know there are hundreds of C-sections done daily, but still, it is scary. The idea of getting cut open and awake laying there...ugh. I don't really want to think about it. But then again, the idea of having a vaginal birth that could go on and on for hours, maybe even days, is also scary. At least the surgery is quick! For some god-awful reason we watched one on YouTube the other day and it literally only took a few minutes. The stitching up part is the longest part of the surgery actually.

Cody and I have been busy around the house getting ready for the baby's arrival. Just kind of organizing, trying out our new baby gear, and wrapping up some projects around the house that have needed to be done forever. Babies are good motivators to get shit done! I am happy to report that the broken towel bar in the bathroom is finally replaced, and the ancient electrical outlets in the main rooms of our house have been replaced with new ones that actually fit our plugs. Yay Cody! It is cute to see him nesting right along with me in his own way, and the never ending lists I give him are not getting scoffed at. Like I have said so many times before, he is a good sport.

Gotham needs him. 

 For Valentines Day he even went above and beyond what I expected (pretty much nothing) and picked up the most adorable present for me. Well, actually it's technically for the baby, but since that's all we can think about right now and the baby is inside of me....it was a gift for me. He got Baby J a little outfit and this adorable Batman bib, which we promptly tried out on Mack. He looks so proud.

Oddly enough, I also got Cody a Batman outfit for the baby, along with a shirt that is adult-sized for him. Apparently though, people at work are starting to refer to Cody as "Batman," so I should probably lay off buying him anymore stuff like that before things really start to get out of hand.

Do you ever know someone who has a lot of the same stuff in their house? Like, I have an aunt who used to have an entire kitchen themed around watermelons. I'm not kidding, watermelon stuff was EVERYWHERE. I think that theme was probably made a little too noticeable because of all the watermelon stuff people kept giving her once they realized she had an appreciation for watermelons and folk art. Or who knows...maybe no one gave her that stuff, and she is just one nutty watermelon hugger. Anyway, my point is - we don't want Cody to be that guy.

I had to get this in two sizes because it was just. that. cute.

Pretty much every time I go shopping in a place that's not the grocery store, I end up buying more adorable baby clothes. I just can't stop. Today at TJ Maxx I found a fuzzy sweatsuit-jammie-outfit- thing on clearance for ten bucks and had to buy it, even though it was a three month old size. It will obviously be too big for him right away. I just figured, winter temperatures can drag on around here til May, and we can always put him in clothes that are too big here and there. And what the hell, it was only ten bucks!

The baby's teeny tiny clothes in his teeny tiny closet. We had a diaper raffle at the baby shower. I  now understand why the extreme couponers feel the way they do about their stockpiles. 

 

AW.
This needed to be photographed, because you know it's not going to stay looking like this for long once he is here! 

35 Weeks & Ick

So I came down with some weird GI issues recently...so not fun. Without getting into to many gross details, basically whatever is in my system has been causing me to run to the bathroom about three times per day, and I'm worried it's starting to make me dehydrated. It's been going on since last Monday, so I finally called my doctor's office a couple of days ago, and they suggested I come in for a checkup.

Once I got there they took my blood pressure (normal) and then measured my belly, which was as usual smaller than where it should be. The entire time I've been measuring in the normal range but about a week behind where I am "supposed" to be in the pregnancy. This time it was a few weeks behind though, which concerned them. So they hooked me up to a fetal monitor to check the baby and left me in the exam room to press a button every time I felt the baby kick. Which in my opinion, was often. I guess the test came back okay because they doctor came back in and looked at the results after and didn't seem concerned at all. She ordered an ultrasound for fetal growth though, and a gallbladder check because of my symptoms. The baby's heartbeat was a little elevated, probably due to slight dehydration she said.

At first, even though I was nervous about what they were looking for I also was a tiny bit excited over the chance to see our little guy on-screen again, but that was very short-lived. The ultrasound was super clinical and very blurry. Nothing like the fancy 4D one we got last time, or even as showy as the basic one we got at 20 weeks.

The ultrasound showed what I was fearing for awhile now, and that is that the baby is pretty small. He is now only in the 22nd percentile for size at his gestational age according to the sonogram. Five pounds, and one ounce. They told me not to worry about it, but of course I am super stressed. I am trying to stay positive but it's so hard not to just imagine the worst outcome from whatever his teeny size may mean. Does it mean he is sick in there? Not getting enough nutrients/fluids from me? Does he have something wrong with him? Is it possible that everything could have presented normally up until now and his growth, or lack thereof, is finally starting to show an abnormality? Is everything going to be okay?

That is what's going on in my head right now. I didn't have the guts to ask all those questions at my appointment, for whatever reason...maybe I feel superficial and shallow thinking such blunt things out loud. And maybe the doctors just don't know what to say, so they'll try to sugarcoat an answer for me and hope that I just accept it and calm the hell down. I don't know what to think. I did ask the sonographer if she thought it were abnormal that the baby's head was measuring at 37 weeks, and his body to be at 33 weeks though, and she said it's something they see all the time, and not to worry. The measurements can be very unpredictable at this stage of pregnancy and that there is a huge range of "normal." She said he looks like he is still doing pretty good in there, and that he's probably just a little peanut of a baby.

It also showed that he is in the frank breech position, which means his butt is down. Which is the opposite of what we want. The birthing class nurse showed me an exercise to try and get him to turn so I will be on my hands and knees a lot at home from now on.

So basically they are going to keep checking me every week now, which would have happened anyway starting next week, only I'll have an ultrasound too. If his size drops lower in the percentile ranges, to 10% or less, then they will take me out of work. And according to a nurse I spoke with last night at our birthing class, possibly induce me earlier than my due date. She said they are probably concerned with IUGR, or intrauterine growth restriction. Which sounds just awful. Basically babies that have that can't get the nutrients they need from their mother. I asked her if I should be trying to eat differently (like getting more protein/fat/anything she suggested) and she said no, because it has to do with the placenta, and there's nothing I can do about it if I have it. I really hope that's not what it is. Hopefully the tests will reveal some bug or something that can easily be treated with antibiotics and go away, putting us back on track for the next month.  

They really didn't give me an answer about the GI issues...just told me to drink lots and try to rest and stay calm. Ugh, I so wish it were that simple for me. I hate not being able to do anything about any of this. The next month is going to be rough for me if things don't seem to get better. I just want more than anything to have a healthy baby. March can't come soon enough...

34 Weeks

Mack isn't loving the new industrial baby gate situation we have at the house.

Just 6 weeks to go and we will be parents! Woohooo!!! 

Annnnnd, Holy Crap. It's happening.

As week 34 of my pregnancy comes to a close, I am feeling pretty good. I feel like there is a badge of accomplishment earned as each day ticks by. Right now, if the baby were to be born, he apparently would be just fine and would most likely have no real health problems/premie issues. Obviously though, we want him to stay in there a cook for at least another month. He needs to get fatter and more developed. Can't say I'd be too upset if he came a week early though...I like the idea of being kind of surprised and not waiting around for him to make his way out. But just not yet.

We had our baby shower last weekend. That was awesome. It was an adorable party, with a very appropriate "Baby It's Cold Outside" theme, seeing as how it was bitter cold last weekend. It was a great time seeing everyone and we got A TON of baby stuff and lots of baby tips and tricks from all the silly games my sister and friends came up with for the guests to play. I wish some of the guests  took photos, but I don't think anyone really did. My sister's boyfriend Dave was there shooting with his fancy camera for about an hour, so there are photos somewhere, I just don't know exactly when he'll get them to me. I will post them when I get them for sure.

So last week was spent mainly organizing, cleaning, and laundering adorable baby outfits. We have almost completed the nursery and it's coming along nicely. I have tomorrow, Tuesday, and Wednesday off this week so I'm hoping it will be done in the next few days. Pictures to come soon!

Cody & Oscar practicing baby-wearing.




 

32 Weeks

32 Weeks

Well.
All I have to say is, one of the most weird feelings ever has to be the feeling of being extremely full, while at the same time starving.

And that is all.

31 Weeks

31 Weeks

             Holy Crap - two months from now is my due date! 

                       That's so exciting to say. I can't wait!

Hello Baby

We had another sonogram on Tuesday - 3D! This should be our last one as long as nothing crazy happens between now and March 15th. Our little guy is so cute! From what we could see, he has a cute button nose and big chunky lips, and...scarily thin cheekbones, and an ear growing out of his chin. Haha, just kidding. It's the umbilical cord (it better be). Those 3D ultrasounds are so cool but so weird at the same time. Our doctor thinks he looks like Cody more than me, but he also says they usually aren't totally accurate. We shall see.

The sonographer and our doctor both said our baby is pretty much perfect. His heartbeat is great, and he literally was tumbling through the doppler check. He is estimated at 3 pounds and 12 ounces, which puts him in the 45th percentile for his weight at this age. They said that is all healthy and appropriate, thank goodness. People keep saying to me that he's going to be a small baby, which worries me a little. The doctors aren't worried so that is reassuring. I don't want a huge baby but I also even more so don't want a teeny baby. A good 7.5 to 8 pounder sounds perfect to me.

So this just in - I have officially had it with people's comments. Maybe I need to grow a little thicker skin here, but really, what gives? I've come to realize that women just naturally compare themselves to other women. Typically though, these comparisons tend to happen quickly, quietly, and just float through one part of our brain, then leave without ever being voiced.

However, I think for some reason during pregnancy it all just comes out like word vomit. It's like a free pass some women take to make comments on another person's body and health, and it's mean!. Part of me honestly thinks that some women just really want to see you get obscenely fat too. I'm not kidding. Strangers especially. I was in line at Dunkin the other day and the barista started commenting snark all over the place about how she was double my size at 31 weeks. I was like..."um, where is my chai and why are you talking to me..."

It's as if I'm disappointing them by not being a bloated whale yet at this stage of the pregnancy. I should in fact be swollen and tired-looking and my baby is obviously going to be dangerously underweight if I'm not. Okay, so maybe I'm exaggerating a little, no one has really come out and said that. But it's implied, ohhhh it is.

I may be reading a little too far into it but it just seems super rude to comment on someone's body and their developing HUMAN (unless of course they are being asked for an opinion). So as I said in an earlier post...if you are one of the people who has said nothing but positive things to me like "Aw, you look great!"...and "he's going to be so cute and perfect!" thank you, it means a lot. I seriously can't wait to not be looked at up and down by people anymore in public. So I am sensitive. I really hope our guy ends up without that strong trait of mine. It's just a tough one to deal with all the time. I hope he is sensitive to others but not sensitive of himself. How bout that?

I just was looking for a picture in the mess of photos we have all over the house, and stumbled across one of Cody's old photo albums that his Nana put together for him. I've seen it before but not in a few years. So I got to see Cody as a baby...how cute. Actually it was a collection of pictures from his whole life, starting from his baby days til about age 25 I'm guessing. It was cool to see him change over the years from a goofy little chunker babe to toothy kid with a dyed blonde rat-tail. Then into an awkward jean shorts-wearing middle schooler, before entering into a mysteriously dark-looking, long-haired teenager (um, why did I not notice him then? So my type. Wait...it is weird to think about how good looking my husband was as a teenager?! OMG, what is happening).

And of course the last pictures showing the Cody I know now pretty much: clean cut, handsome, with that all around "nice guy" look to him (that never really changed in any of the pictures). I hope our little guy is just as cute and sweet as his daddy is. And he surely will be lucky if he gets his sense of humor. Here are a couple of the pics. I left out the awkward teenage ones for Cody's sake.

Awww, Baby Cody

Post Holidays & 30 Weeks!

Cody changed out of his usual black tee shirt for this special photo of us at 28.5 weeks along. Fancy!

Sara being Sara. And yes. this was the week of Christmas. Not even a little snow til after New Years.

A rare quiet moment from my Mackie Dean.

29.5 weeks here. PJ pants are the highlight of my wardrobe nowadays.

Let the 10 week countdown begin folks! Wow - we are finally here. I remember thinking this whole baby thing is going to get crazy real once we start counting down from 10 weeks. As people start purchasing stuff off our shower registry it really hits home. We soon will be parents! Aghhhh! I'm still hoping that the time goes by not TOO fast, but also that it doesn't drag. So...just go by normally time, okay?

So the last time I wrote I was crazy busy and the hustle and bustle of the holidays were upon us. They were great but as usual, pretty tiring. More so this year too because of the state I'm in. We had our usual absurd amounts of family Christmas parties to attend (four altogether this year, not counting the party we threw two weeks before Christmas - whew). Tiring yes, but it's always nice to see everyone. This year seemed to be more relaxed than others. Not a whole lot of attention put on gifts and lots of food, warmth, and laughter. The way it should be every year in my opinion.

It really felt like one of the best Christmases we've had in a long time. Also my sister and her boyfriend Dave stayed with us for a whole week, and they left just before New Years Eve. It was nice to have the company and helpers in the kitchen but I'm now glad to just have my quiet house back. Cody took down the tree the other day, which was kind of a bummer but oh well. At least I didn't have to do it, right?

Dave is an amazing photographer, and he was nice enough to take some shots for us while they were here.

Christmas Eve at Aunt Linda's

Christmas Day/Night at Dad's



So being almost fully pregnant sure is weird. I for whatever reason had this idea in mind that I'd feel good enough to work up until I went into labor, pretty much. Silly me. Lately at work almost every day I have some...issue going on. Even though I'm drinking TONS of water and resting a lot at home I seem to be getting Braxton Hicks contractions quite often. And they freak me out.

Thank goodness my workplace is understanding of pregnant people. I have a break scheduled pretty much every three hours, so it's not so bad, but some days I just really, really don't wanna be on my feet at all, let alone massaging multiple people back to back. I am still hoping to work as long as possible, but for now my goal is to work til the end of February. Who knows just how big I'll get but it's starting to get really difficult to stand normally while massaging guests. While I'm working on them face down, a lot of the time my baby bump literally bumps into their head while I'm massing their backs. And when I have them turn over I have to move pretty far out of their way so they don't accidentally bump into my belly with their arms. Kind of hard to explain, but if you get massages or give them you must know what I mean.  

Also sleeping has started to get difficult. My ever-growing belly seems to be pulling on my hips even while I'm lying in bed on my side. Which wakes me up with dull, aching hips. Which then of course causes me to turn over to the other side, then perhaps again, and then refluff the pillows, until I get comfortable finally. But by then usually I have to get up to pee for the hundreth time. Seriously - I think I have to pee every 20 minutes! Beh.

Oh, and carpal tunnel has gotten the best of me I think. Almost every night at least once I wake up and one or both of my hands is asleep. It's even started  happening at work here and there, which is a scary thing to happen to me. Every LMT's worst workplace nightmare - injuring their wrist or hands or getting carpal tunnel. I read that it's common to get during pregnancy due to the extra fluid compressing the nerve, but again, for some reason I just assumed I'd get lucky and it would pass me by. Hmph...why the hell do I think I'm so invincible? Luckily I work part time. If I were really pushing myself at work it'd probably be much worse.

More changes:

My belly button has become puffy, weird, and "flap"-like. I don't really know how to explain it other than that. Really hoping it goes back to normal after the baby comes. Cody makes fun of it just about everyday.

Little baby kicks have turned into big baby kicks, and sometimes they are square in the crotch (or is it the birth canal?). Or bladder. Or other unidentified organs...OUCH. I really haven't gotten used to that feeling yet and am a teensy bit scared of how much more painful they'll get in the next ten weeks. And sometimes he starts thrashing around in there, which is seriously awesome and at the same time weirdly alien-like more than ever.

Also - rib pain. Ugh. I don't know if it's the baby stretching out in there or if it's my ribs expanding, but JesusMaryandJoseph is it uncomfortable. Feels like a little pinching, dull pain stemming from the sides of my body and kind of makes me feel sick.

Insatiable cravings for chocolate? This I am questioning because I'm not a real big fan of chocolate normally. It's so weird. But now I just can't seem to get enough. Brownies, hot chocolate, peppermint patties (Sara and I FINALLY perfected our recipe this Christmas. The secret is using real peppermint essential oil instead of peppermint baking extract), just to name a few. Oh, and I recently discovered too that hot chocolate is really just a vessel for whipped cream. Other big cravings have been fresh pineapple and oranges and lasagna.

Me, wondering where the nesting phase went? I was on a roll there for awhile. Now it just seems awful to think about cleaning or organizing anything. I've been having Cody do laundry for me just so I don't have to walk up and down the basement stairs. Maybe after our baby shower it will kick back into high gear. We will surely have a lot of stuff to get in order. Cody did set up the crib over the weekend, so that's done. Thanks again for the crib Mindy!!!