24 Weeks

Still going well! Despite the occasional - albeit, increasingly regular - heartburn and swelling of the feet, I feel great! I feel very "full" most days, so I'm sure baby is taking up more space in there.

I also feel more "blubbery". I know that's not a beautiful word to describe pregnant tummy, but that's how my mid section feels lately. I guess there's a little too much fat there or something. I'm sure it will all tighten up soon, with growth of baby. It's still the most beautiful shape my body has ever taken:) I'm also wondering if it's normal for my tummy to feel so low...and it feels low! When I'm sitting, it's in my lap, and when I'm standing, I feel like it needs to be lifted. (lack of stomach muscle, perhaps?) I don't know.

**Lots of folks say girls sit low, boys high... Guess we'll see**

I thought I'd share a series of impromptu pictures, that are different than our usual side profiles.

**I Heart Baby**

Inadvertently making a "heart" with my hands here. :)









**Woman Eats Too Many DingDongs**

I just look a little bloated from the front.

*Disclaimer: I've never had a dingdong in my life; but I do appreciate a good slice of cheesecake:)





**The Sexy One**

Hey, you can still see my hip bone! Oops, a little boob too.










I had thought I didn't have the "linea nigra" yet, but it appears I do have a light line below the naval. I wonder if that's all the darker it will get. I'm sure my body is going to go through a lot of changes very soon, not the least of which being those wonderful stretch marks (none yet!). Everything that happens to my body, in my mind, is worth it. I am growing a person after all:)

NAMES!

Michael and I have come up with a list of names we really like!

If it's a boy:
(it will have papa's middle name. Andrew has been the middle name for a few generations now)

William (we would not use the nicknames Willie or Bill)
Samuel (or, just Sam)
Gaius

If it's a girl:

Anna
Emilia
Helena (emphasis on the first syllable)

Middle names for girls (we) like (I say we, but Mike doesn't seem to have an opinion yet):

Christine
Josephine
Caroline

How strange...didn't realize, until just now, that the middle names all end in "ine". I realized the first names all end in "a", but...ha.

**feel free to comment on names, but please keep it positive; we don't need to know that someone you really don't like has one of these names. Thanks in advance**

23 Weeks

Happy Memorial Day! Hope everyone is enjoying some down time, whether productive or leisurely.

Michael and I have been very productive this weekend! Since he took Friday off, we've had 4 days to get our gardens going. And, boy, what a job! My husband has really amazed me with his abilities, his ingenuity and his dedication. Read all about what we're doing at my other blog.

Meanwhile, in the baby-growing category: We're at 23 weeks, and doing well. Other than some frustration in my inability to find/wear shoes that don't make my feet puff up, and some continued sleep discomfort, I feel great!! Baby is continuing to move about quite a bit. Though, I was a little concerned yesterday morning, because there seemed to be a lull in activity (from early the day before, until later morning), but I think it was just that I hadn't been sitting and relaxing, just waiting to feel movement, nearly as much as I had been. (since we've been so busy outside, and in, I've been up and moving more, and baby is definitely less mobile then)

I picked up a $5 crib (found through Craigslist) on Saturday, for which I just had to drive to Forest Lake. The finish isn't in great shape, and it may be a little bit of a project if I choose to repaint it, but as it is it's kind of "shabby chic", which could be cute in the baby's room.

Our neighbors gave us a stroller. It's quaint and light and folds up small (to fit in our wee car), so it's perfect. So kind and generous, our neighbors.

I woke up this morning at about 3:30 and couldn't get back to sleep, so I got up and started making lists. Now, I've always been a list maker, but wow - I have SO MUCH I want to get done before the babe comes. And, we'll be canning and freezing food regularly soon (started this weekend with some local rhubarb, asparagus, spinach and green onions)...

So, for now, back to work!

(P.S. Can't wait to get babe's room put together and post some pictures. We just need a few more things, like a rocking chair, a small chest of drawers and a table for next to the rocker; and then, of course, to put it all together)

(P.P.S. Did I look bigger last week? I had a feeling I was bit bloated, so I may have. Also, I just had to post the picture below: it's what I think I'd look like if I'd started out skinnier. I'm sucking my tummy in and sort of letting baby tummy drop down. So different!

22 Week Update

Goodness, what a difference from last Sunday! Considering we always get the picture in the morning, when I'm least bloated, this, I suppose, is pretty accurate. Slightly bloated perhaps, but I'm definitely starting to feel bigger. I can certainly see where yoga is going to fit in, soon, to help with the abdominal breathing...starting to find at certain times of the day, I have a hard time breathing deeply.

Hormones are raging, it seems. Not crying all the time (never did get to that stage), but very short-wired. Poor papa. Michael is, of course, taking it in stride. About the worst thing he can do, when I'm being a spazz, is tell me "It's OK. You're pregnant". That just makes me boil, because that seems to be the excuse for everything. But, that's just him showing that he knows this isn't "me", and reminding me (as well as himself, I'm sure) that I'm not in control of myself because of the hormonal swings. He deserves a medal.

Having some trouble sleeping due to hip tenderness..OK, pain. This has been an issue for a while, but it has me up several times a night to adjust. Switching from one side to the other doesn't really help when the side you're switching to is still sore from sleeping on it just a couple hours prior. I think one of those horrid eggcrate mattress pads is in my future. I hear it helps, and my chiropractor suggested it, so it's worth a try. If it's this bad now...

Baby is moving like crazy! If you read the last post, you know that papa is feeling it now, and that's a wonderful thing. I would be more than happy to let any of you feel baby if you're around when he/she is active. If you've never felt this before, you'll be blown away. Gosh, I can just imagine the feeling of actual "kicks" - though, I hear it can be quite painful, so we'll take this pleasant little fluttering (which feels like dancing upright on my bladder when really strong) and relish in it as much as we can.

Oh, and we found our first baby room item yesterday! A changing table. Not exactly my first choice, and we'll end up painting it, but it's sturdy and clean, and it was FREE! We went driving around Lake Harriet yesterday to get to Linden Hills CO-OP, and these folks had a bunch of leftover garage sale stuff sitting out labeled free. (I think it will be worth a weekly trip through this well-to-do neighborhood to see what is no longer "good enough" to these folks, but far from trash!)

**note to Anita: I think I remember you saying you had a changing table as well. I won't do anything to this table until I see yours. Plus, if yours comes home with us, this one would work just as well as a bar cart or something:) Hope to get to Brainerd very soon!!

A couple pictures, finally!

We still don't have the printer hooked up, so I haven't scanned the ultra sound pictures to the computer. But, I wanted to share a couple of the best pictures, so I took a picture of them. I think, even with that method, these are pretty good images.

Baby Hord was quite active during the procedure, but the tech was awesome and got a lot of really good pictures. She said it seemed baby was trying to suck its thumb, since it had hand to face over and over. So cute! (Hand-to-face is now pantomime for Baby Hord)

Oh!!! And, Michael felt the baby for the first time last night! Much anticipated by both of us, it was a pretty incredible moment. Then, later in the evening, he was quick to respond to my whole-body-twitch (common reaction of mine when baby is really goin' to town in there), and he felt it again, a few times in a row. It's just the most amazing thing ever. :)



I went garage sale-ing today and scored a lot of onesies and a few blankets. I love the gratification of buying baby stuff - you get a lot of stuff for cheap. I believe all the onesies were a quarter each - that's nothing! I'm really going to like this baby shopping business!

21 Weeks

21 weeks now, and tummy is definitely protruding! I noticed, just Thursday I think it was, how hard the sides of my abdomen are. And itchy, of course, so the skin is starting to stretch. I can see the inside of my belly button, which is foreign to me since there's always been just enough chub there to make it a deep one.

Some days baby is really, really active. Yesterday, I was convinced that if Michael had had his hand on a particular spot, he would have felt something, it was so strong! And, I woke up in the middle of the night to shift, put my hand on my belly and was pretty certain I could feel the little one from the outside. I could be imagining things, but I have a feeling it won't be long before proud papa is feeling babe move. He's waiting for it like children wait for their birthdays. :)

I just have to say, I have to be one of the luckiest women alive, in that my husband is having this baby with me. By that, I mean he's involved, he's excited, he's anxious, he's reading books and, most importantly, he's enthusiastic about our Bradley classes and the exercises involved. He helps me do my relaxation and strengthening exercises, especially when I just don't feel like it. He's concerned about keeping me stretched, limber and relaxed, always paying attention to my needs. He's definitely anticipating being able to feel his little one, and he's started talking to my tummy in the hopes that baby will start to recognize his voice. I almost feel guilty having someone so wonderful to share this experience with. I am truly blessed.

I apologize for not having the ultra sound pictures up yet. My dear husband has the computer set up now, but the printer/scanner is not yet hooked up, so I can't get the images onto the computer. As soon as I can, I will post. I'm still amazed, every time I look at those pictures, that I'm looking at a real, live, little human being, growing right there in my belly. I'm just in awe. Since our phone was just hooked up on Wednesday, and the doctor probably tried to call with results but couldn't get through, I called Fairview on Thursday to check in. According to a nurse, everything checks out good (...exhale). We'll get official results by mail.

The prenatal checkup was quick and easy. Blood pressure checked out good, baby's heart rate is normal (still at about 150), and I'm measuring normally from the outside of the belly. I have gained more weight than I'd like, but the midwife says I (baby) did have a huge growth spurt in the 4 weeks since she last saw me. I'm thinking, too, that with the packing and moving and getting settled, I consumed a lot of calories by eating on the go and eating out for most meals. So glad to be back into some normalcy, and I wouldn't be surprised if my weight is down this week simply because last week's meals were nutritous, whole foods - prepared by me - and packed full of protein. I feel lighter today than I did last Monday. I'm not too worried about it.

I was a little concerned about some swelling I was experiencing in my feet last week. My midwife suggested a B vitamin supplement, and I've been religious about that, as well as taking in plenty of fluids, and resting as much as I'm on my feet. All of these things seem to be helping, since I've not had too much of a problem in several days. It really is a delicate balance, for me anyway, to be sure and not stand or walk for extended periods of time and to take in the right amount of nutrients and fluids. But, I think I've got it down now. Plus, like I said above, withe the move came a lot of less than ideal eating, so I'm sure that had a lot to do with my body being out of balance.

Otherwise, nothing new to report, other than the fact that I'm just amazed at how at peace I feel about everything. At this point, I feel really strong and confident about the labor/delivery process, and I'm really enjoying this part of my pregnancy. Looking pregnant and feeling baby move, and an overall sense of anticipation to see this little person, is a wonderful feeling. Of course, there's lots to do yet, and if I allow myself to, I'll stress about it. But, I have to not allow myself to, partially because I have to keep Michael from over-stressing. It's dificult, when there's so much involved, to just take it one step at a time. But I have to remind him that we do have some time, we will get it done. And, to just breathe. (guess I have to play the coach sometimes)

Half Way There!!

I can't believe we're half way through! Things have gone very well, and I can only hope they continue to do so. Michael and I had the ultra sound yesterday, and I'll post on that later. (We don't have internet yet at the new place, so I'm at a coffee shop right now, and realized I forgot to grab the pictures)

For now, just an updated bump picture.

Crazy Busy

Hey all!

For anyone following and wondering where I've been, I'm busy getting us moved and settled into the house.

It's been a lot of work - moving usually is. I've been careful not to push myself too hard - just barely. I'm amazed how much more my body could tolerate before. Moving was always tiring, but wow! One thing I hate to do, though, is play the "I'm pregnant so I can't do that" card. Michael was good to force me (as much as anyone can) to take breaks and relax when time allowed. He really picked up the pace at the end there, when he needed to, in the moving process.

Now that we're moved, my next task is putting all the stuff away. And stuff there is! Good grief. For people who don't buy "stuff" on a regular basis, it seems we have a lot more now than we did moving the last time. But, as daunting as this task is, it's not nearly as physically taxing as moving. I just keep asking myself "where do I start?!". But, with stuff like this, it's not where..it's just doing it. I just have to start, and get the momentum going.

We have our prenatal appointment on Monday, and we'll have an ultrasound done. I'm anxious to see that everything is okay with baby. I'm still feeling little Hord move, especially when I finally sit and relax for a while. I just worry that he/she isn't developing normally...of course. There's always something to worry about, right?

I'll let everyone know how that appointment goes, and that we do in fact have a baby with all toes and fingers. And, no, we're still not going to find out the gender. That is, if the ultrasound tech can avoid it. You never know, we may have a very proud little boy in there, awaiting the opportunity to "show it off". ;) Looks like we have a lot of votes for girl on the poll. It's getting harder and harder to not know, but I'm pretty adamant about not knowing and wanting it to be a surprise.

Oh! I had my first somewhat "freak out" moment last night. I was reading ahead in the What to Expect book, and read that in the sixth month, the uterus reaches the size of a basketball. (!) Now, I've always known that I would eventually have a big tummy..I will, after all, be carrying around a person within my body cavity. But, the whole basketball reference really threw me for a loop! And, in the sixth month? That means big, big belly - at least the size of a basketball, if not bigger - for at least two months. Oi.

We'll get an updated picture this weekend (20 weeks! Halfway there!). I don't think my tummy is any bigger than the last picture (18 weeks), but I may just be getting used to it. I remember looking at the 18 week compared to the 15, and being amazed at the difference...I really didn't feel that much bigger. I guess it's a good thing baby grows so gradually. I'm hoping it's gradual enough that by the time it's a basketball, I'll be thinking "Oh, this is a basketball? It doesn't feel that big". Fingers crossed. And toes.