And, 37 weeks....

Eeshk! I have no idea where that word came from, but I've been saying it a lot over the past few months. That word, whatever it means, pretty much sums up how I'm feeling lately, just by the sound of it. Between the size of this belly inhibiting me (bending over to put shoes on, not to mention clipping the toenails - eeshk!), and the fact that growing baby is making it more difficult to breathe (and putting lots of pressure on the bladder/urethra/vagina - eeshk!), along with the never ending list of things to do (freezing and canning food for the Winter, finding a pediatritian, finishing the deep cleaning, finishing JB's room - EESHK!)....

Well, the to do list doesn't seem to end (on the contrary, it seems to grow), but thank goodness for this cooler weather!! I feel a bit more energized since Saturday, when it cooled off significantly (especially overnight), so I feel confident this week will be the week to plow through that list (with plenty of breaks, of course; don't worry, I'm well aware of my limits).

One "downer" this week: my test for Group B Strep came back positive. Apparently it's not uncommon for a pregnant woman to be carrying this bacteria, and it's a common enough bacteria in women in general that if all women were tested on a regular basis throughout their lives, each one of us would test positive at some point or another. It's just a bacteria that lives in either the gut, the rectum or the vagina, and there is no known cause. It's not an STD or anything preventable. It's just there. And I'm currently a carrier. Which means there's a slim chance I could pass it to baby during delivery. If that happens, there's a slim chance baby could become infected and get sick. Slim chances or not, it's recommended that an IV of antibiotics be administered during labor. I'm looking into it, however, and plan to have a lengthy discussion with my midwife this week. The hope, of course, is to not be "hooked up" and medicated during delivery. But, if it turns out our research leads us to err on the side of caution, that's what will have to be done. So be it.

Oh, and did I mention I'm a duplex? ;-) Look at that tummy!! Anyone else with me on the early arrival bet? If I had to guess, I would say this baby is easily full term, in terms of size. And, oh boy, is he/she going to have an appetite! I hope my breasts can keep up!!

Jellybean's room is so, so close to done!! Just a couple more things to do/get and I'll have pictures posted here. If I can brag about anything, it's that the room, along with all of the "stuff" for welcoming baby home, has been accomplished on the cheap. It hasn't always been easy, and it may not be "ideal", but it's getting done, and done inexpensively. That makes me feel good. Plus, doing it this way, as opposed to running out and shopping like crazy at all the "baby stores", has made the room more unique and personal. I'm very happy about the fact that I had a vision and I followed through, especially when it came to sewing. Being an amateur sewer (at best) I think things turned out pretty well.

Speaking of which...I should be off. Should get things done while the fingers work and I can still make out that I have ankles.

Doin' The Happy Mama Dance!

Prenatal visit went superbly today! And, oh what a relief. I tend to worry myself (if you know me, you're not surprised). I got it into my head that - certainly - my blood pressure was high, because I was getting exhausted more easily and feeling rushes to my heart, and the swelling in my feet has become pretty regular. Then, I got to thinking, "That's it, I'll go in and they'll tell me my BP is high and there's protein in my urine, and diagnose me preeclamptic". Alas, once again, worry over nothing...



*Urine: good

*Blood pressure: within normal

*Pricked finger for one last hemoglobin test: no worries there

*Group B Strep: still out, fingers crossed (wouldn't be a big deal; just don't want to deal with it come delivery time)

*Fetal heart rate (normal is 120-160): 150-160

*Fetal growth: good

*Baby's head is down (hoorah!!...now stay that way, Jellybean)

Now we're scheduled to have a prenatal visit every week...and there's only 3 more visits scheduled before the "due date"! I feel confident everything will continue to go well.

The Name Game

So it's settled...to a point.

If JB is a boy:

William Andrew Hord

If JB is a girl:

Charlotte _________ Hord

Middle name possibilities for Charlotte:

Caroline
Christine
Olivia
Anne

Any suggestions or opinions? All are welcome!

Mama Meditation - Week 36

From The Tao of Motherhood:

Surrender

Truth is in paradox:

Surrender and you get
everything. Bend and be strong.

When you reach your limit and
are exhausted, new energy rises
in you. When you release
others, they come to you.
The wise know this: Let go
in order to preserve.

Be empty and fulfilled.

36 Weeks...

...and feeling very, very, very pregnant! Especially the last few days, with Jellybean riding higher (backside is farther above my naval, getting bigger for sure, and being pressed out against my abdomen constantly). I think we've got a very strong little person in there! If it's not my abdomen (feels bruised most days), it's my bladder - the pressure on which is getting to be almost constant. Walking, just a mere block or two, is getting to be a challenge. (I won't even mention how hilarious it is to watch me get my socks and shoes on) And I just feel so big, the skin so tight. Oi.

(BTW: I look bigger in last week's post, but I think I feel bigger this week because baby is longer, reaching up closer to my rib cage; I'm positive we've had a growth spurt this week...but I may have said that last week...)

I guess this is where the end of pregnancy starts to really get exhausting, and where most women start to just want the baby here already. I certainly do. Besides the impatience to just meet him/her, I'm just really tired. All the time. Getting up to pee every two hours in the night - and I made it a point to notice, last night, that I do in fact wake up completely every time - makes mid days feel like midnights used to.

Next prenatal is Wednesday, and I'm really looking forward to it. I'm a little nervous about my blood pressure, with all the swelling. It's just altogether too easy these days to get puffy, and it's usually normal in pregnancy - unless accompanied by high blood pressure. I just want to know it's ok. Then, we should be having prenatal visits, I believe, every week until delivery. Everything else has been so good to this point, I'll just feel better having the BP check and the UA every week.

Just think: JB could be here in as little as 2 weeks...and we could be as far out as 6. Michael and I have a little bet going. I say early - nothing specific, just early; he says Sept. 22nd. If you've read The Hobbit, you know that that's Bilbo's birthday, and that's Michael's reasoning. He has referred to JB as Little Baggins from time to time, almost since the beginning. And, if you've seen me lately I could almost pass as a hobbit myself, between the huge club feet and super-wavy hair. I'm just a little too tall...

Anyway. Nothing else to report, except that we're pretty close to ready for all of this to happen. The house is getting in order (have just a few things to finish in JB's room), we're canning and freezing in hopes to have stuff to eat this Winter (though, we need to start freezing some actual meals, soups, etc.), and there isn't too much we need in terms of baby gear. I've had to loosen up on my to-do list, as I'm physically just not able to do much in any one given day, but that's ok. Nothing is too pressing - just wanted it done so that I wouldn't have to think about it later. But, I'm sure I won't be thinking about too much else once our little one is here. We may have a last minute, housewarming/co-ed shower if we can pull it together and JB isn't too early. Will keep everyone posted.

Oh, and I have the BEST husband ever. EVER. I don't care what any of you think, your husband doesn't hold a candle to this guy. ;-)

We are registered

We are now registered at Target (a whopping 3-item list!) and at Twins Cities Green. There are a couple of large ticket items at Target (car seat and breast pump), so we're hoping some folks can find a way to go in on gifts together. And, like with our wedding, we'd love it if as many people as possible can make purchases online and have it shipped to us, and avoid the wrapping paper. It may be easier to do that, anyway, with friends and family not being right here in Minneapolis, especially for Twin Cities Green (we can pick up at the store, so that saves you shipping costs as well!).

Once again, please don't feel obligated to gift! And, if you deviate from the registries, we ask that new items be organic and fair trade where possible. Of course, we'd love it if anyone feels so inclined to pick up items second hand, to go ahead and do so (we trust you'll see that it is relatively clean, from a smoke-free home, etc.). As mentioned in a previous post, the gift of time is a wonderful one too. Oh, and frozen meals (don't forget desserts!).

Thanks, everybody!!

Weekly Mama Meditation

(Oops, I forgot this on Sunday)

From The Tao of Motherhood

Love

Parenting is at times confusing.
There will be moments when you
truly do not know. Should you
exert your authority or step back?
Should you give advice or remain
silent? Should you offer help or
allow a mistake to be made?

When you cannot see what is
happening, relax and look gently
with your inner eye. The harder
you try to take hold of a situation,
the more difficult it becomes.


Let go. Trust in the Way
which follows its own flow.

Allow the Great to live in you
and work through you
for your child's greater good.

Return to the core: a relationship
of love is more worthwhile than
a philosophical position. When
doubt arises, give way only
to love.

It's a biggun'!

35 weeks, and this baby is already fully grown, I'm convinced of it! Can I really get bigger?? If Jellybean waits until our "due date", that's yet another 5 weeks away. At a 1/2 pound a week, I'll be a duplex! (I'm sure veteran preggos everywhere would hear this and nod along, remembering how they thought the same thing). Including a second picture this time, this one at a different angle, so you can see just how bulbous this tummy is. With Michael being born at 9 lbs. and myself at 9 1/2, we're not expecting a small baby at the end of this, for sure.

Seriously, though, we cannot wait to meet Jellybean! I, at least, feel as if I know this little person already. As if all the moving around has given me some insight into his/her personality. Still, though, I just want to see and hold this little monkey...TODAY. Oi, it's going to be a long few weeks.

Puffy feet and ankles, and carpal tunnel syndrome..still the name of the game here. Otherwise, I'm just exhausted. Doesn't take doing much at all, and I just crash. And so much yet to do around the house...

JB's room is getting closer to done. I forgot how much work it is to do this stenciling technique I had done once before. The fingers really don't allow me to do much at one time, so it's taking a while. Mike's mom came to visit this weekend, and brought with her some wonderful family pieces to add to the room (or, somewhere; that room isn't very big...then again, this house isn't, so we'll have to get creative): a beautiful wooden cradle, a child's rocker and a vintage red wagon-car-thingy. Pretty cool.

I hit a garage sale this week, and made out like a bandit. A co sleeper crib has been on the list for a while now, and we just weren't finding one for less than $80 (used). We got one for $60! I also scored a "moses basket" which lies between us in bed for babe to sleep in, along with a boppy pillow, a Maya Wrap baby sling, a few more blankets and a ton more newborn onesies.

Names! We have settled on a boy's name, at least: William Andrew. Williams abound on both sides of our family, but it's particularly special because Michael's grandfather was William. (nicknames NOT to include Bill or Billy; possibly Will or Liam) Girl's names, on the other hand, are proving to be more difficult to narrow down. In fact, I added another one to the mix just the other day, and it's really starting to grow on both of us: Charlotte. We're fairly certain that regardless of the first name, the middle will be Caroline (in homage to my recently-passed Grandma).

Next prenatal is a week from this coming Wednesday. Fingers are crossed that pee and blood are free and clear!

Until the next post, take care and thanks for checking in!

The Baby Belly Has A Face

...and boobs, and arms, and...

Yes, there is a whole person attached to that big belly:)

I had been thinking, a few weeks ago, that perhaps I should post a picture of me - as consisting of more than just a baby belly. When a friend suggested I do just that, I figured it was time. See, the purpose of the pictures is to show the growth of the belly and therefor the baby, and you don't need to see my tired face and raggedy hair in my Sunday morning posts. If I had started doing that early on, you would have felt sorry for me, thinking that this pregnancy was really taking its toll and that perhaps I shouldn't have done this to myself. My husband is the only one who gets to see me like that, because he thinks I'm beautiful even then, bless his heart.

Alas, here's a picture of the pregnant mama, as a whole person:


Note: the thighs have been cut off and left obscure for good reason. When I gain weight, I gain it there. And you can believe that the majority of my pregnancy gain (almost 30 lbs so far!) is in those thighs!

A Sneak Peek

Jellybean's room is very nearly complete. Though, like I've said before, I have many more things I'd like to do, but I may have to stop myself. Even without doing those things, I'm pretty happy with how things are turning out.

As you can see in the picture, we still need an actual changing pad to make this cool old dresser into a changing table (registered for at Target; see post to come). There is visual space to the left above it, as it's awaiting Papa's origami butterfly mobile. (I promise a better picture once complete; this dresser is really charming).

And, of course, here's the crib I referred to, while painting it, as my Everest. It was not easy, and it took a lot more time than I thought it would, but it's finished. And I love it! So much better than the white. As you can see, there is a mattress, but no bedding yet. We are registered for a pad and sheets, but I'm going to try my hand at sewing up some bumper pads and a skirt.

That's all you get for now!

34 Weeks!!

Goodness...34 weeks we've been incubating. Kind of hard to believe it's been that long. We've now got anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks left, and I'm putting my money on sooner, rather than later, for delivery. Not just because I want so badly to meet this little Jellybean...I'm calling it Mama's Intuition. However soon or late, though, it will be the right time - on Jellybean's schedule. Which is what we'll be living by from now on, I suppose, won't we? ;-)

As far as how this very pregnant lady is feeling these days..pretty much the same as the last month or so. Really, really good with a few exceptions. Those few exceptions, having everything to do with fluid retention, are definitely getting amplified, but I'm learning to live with them. I guess it's true what they say: anything is tolerable, as long as it's temporary, and everything is temporary. Like my chiropractor and midwives keep telling me: "It will all go away once you deliver". Right. And I'll look like a million bucks again. ;-)

I'm starting to realize how much I'm going to miss being pregnant. It's such an amazing bond I feel, having this little one right there all the time, that it's sure to be a somewhat difficult transition once The Bean is out here with us. I know motherhood is going to bring all kinds of wonderful bonding opportunities, and that I'll be so in love with this little angel that I'll forget about it before I know it. I'm just going to cherish this time as much as I can while it's still here.

I want to start posting, weekly, a passage from this wonderful book I picked up back in the first trimester, The Tao of Motherhood. I'm going to open the book randomly and share with you what it says. Here's this week's, and thanks for reading my blog as always!!

Feminine

Mother is the feminine principle.
She represents the yin, the anima,
the receptive, the earth.
Though she must at times take
the role of the masculine principle,
it is the feminine which gives
her power and from which
she draws her strength.

She teaches her daughters to
respect their feminine nature.
She teaches her sons to respect
their feminine side and thus
all women.

The truly feminine mother
never cringes or defers.
Her strength is unshakable,
like the earth upon which we
walk but which can topple us
with a single deep breath.

33 Weeks

Not too much to report this week, which is fine by me - my fingertips are killing me. Humidity certainly feels high today. My feet are also quite sore - so full and tight. Ugh. Pretty much makes any activity absolutely no fun.

Aside from my incessant complaining, things really are going swimmingly. Jellybean is certainly getting in as much activity as possible before there is little room to do so!

Our friends Anita and Jed are coming to visit next weekend, so I'm that much more motivated to get things done around here. Especially Jellybean's room.

Here we go, the 34th week!

(Tired. So very tired...)