37 weeks

Post written Monday, December 23rd...  Posted today because I forgot to add the pictures and post yesterday!

Whew, what a week.

I have finally (mostly) recovered from the epic flu that tried to wipe me out completely.  When I wrote my last post, I thought I was starting to recover, but I was wrong.  Thursday around lunchtime I started shaking uncontrollably and couldn't warm up.  Eventually I did, with the help of many blankets and two heating pads, and then the fever was back with a vengence.  Erik was working from home that day and finally had had enough, he called our family practice and got me an appointment within the hour.  I tested positive for Flu A and had the start of an ear infection as a bonus surprise.  Since it was too late for Tamiflu, they basically said just keep doing what I was doing (tylenol, fluids, rest, etc.) and keep them updated on my symptoms.  I had actually been offered Tamiflu on Monday from the Midwife when I called them about my symptoms...  But I declined as I was unsure of the safety of the medication.  It is considered Pregnancy Category C, meaning there is not enough research on pregnant women to know if there are harmful effects or not.  I also did not get the flu shot this year (same as years past) and I stand by that decision, even after the hellish week I had being so sick.  Knowing what I know now, I might have given a little more consideration to the Tamiflu...  But we do what sits well with our soul at the time of making a decision, and it didn't feel like the right thing at that time.  What I did realize though, is that I will be passing on antibodies to the baby in my breastmilk, so it is likely he will receive natural immunity to this years flu from me.  Somehow thinking of that as a possibility sort of makes this all worth it...

The next day was Friday, and we had our weekly check-up with the Midwife.  Because I was still so sick, I was seen in one of the back rooms that can be accessed without going through the birthing center, and risking spreading my germs to the other pregnant mamas and babies in the waiting room.  It was no surprise to me when I learned that I had lost a pound from the week prior, as my appetite had been non-existent for nearly a week and I was only eating small meals because I knew I had to.  What I didn't expect, was for baby to measure smaller than the week prior when they measured my belly.   At this appointment, I was 37 weeks and 2 days, and only measured 33.5cm, down from 34 the prior week.  This means I was measuring about 3 1/2 weeks behind the average measurements for my gestation.  This was a bit concerning to the midwife and she recommended we schedule a growth ultrasound ASAP to be sure that the baby was growing appropriately and that there was enough amniotic fluid surrounding him as well.  Since it was so late in the day when we were seen on Friday, we were left to worry all weekend about this information, until we were able to have the ultrasound today.

After Friday's apppointment, I called my Mom to fill her in.  She didn't seem the least bit worried, and actually said the doctors told her the same thing when she was pregnant with me.  They told her I was small, and that my head was only in the 5th percentile.  Well, as you can see I turned out okay and now my head it huge, ha!  So that was a bit reassuring.  As it turns out, we really didn't have anything to worry about.  The ultrasound today was perfect, everything measured completely within normal limits, and they even said he "passed the test with flying colors."  They estimated his current weight at 6.5 lbs and he is considered in the 20th percentile for growth.  Quite honestly, 6.5lbs sounds like it's right on track to me for being almost 38 weeks, but they still consider him on the smaller side.  The ultrasound tech was impressed with how much "practice breathing" that baby was doing during the scan, you could see his little diaphragm really working, which was pretty neat.  He turned on the 4D imaging so we could see his face, but our little guy had other ideas and had a hand completely blocking it!  Ha!  All we saw was a distorted image of his nose and a tiny part of his mouth.  I am glad we didn't get to see him too clearly, I have really been looking forward to the first look we get at him when he is born and going into the ultrasound I was a little dissapointed that our surprise might be ruined a little.  Not to worry though, our little guy fixed that problem by throwing up a high five at just the right time.  See, he is already smart!

And finally, a couple 37 week photos...

37 weeks + 6 days

At 37 weeks baby B is the size of a bunch of Swiss Chard, weighing in at 6.5 lbs (and this week I know I am right!) and measuring a bit over 19 inches in length.  He is considered "early term" this week, but it's still considered safe enough to head to the birthing center should I go into labor at this point.  "Full term" is now considered 39 weeks, and I am pretty confident that he is going to stay put until at least that time.  

37 weeks + 6 days

I don't think I need to write my usual blurb about how I am feeling, obviously I have been feeling pretty darn awful from this crazy flu!  However pregnancy-wise I still feel fantastic and I am so glad to have returned to my happy, healthy (mostly), round-bellied self.  The braxton-hicks contractions have really picked up in the last two days.  Today they were very frequent, sometimes 6-10 per hour.  They never follow any pattern though and seem to stop if I change what I am doing, so I know it's just my uterus doing it's thing to get prepped for the big day.  They have grown much stronger now, and during a few I have really been aware of when they start and stop, whereas before I only noticed mid-contraction that they were occurring.  Still not painful, but definitely stronger.  Also on Friday at the Midwife appointment my 36 week test results came back, and I was negative for everything - including group B strep!  I was so relieved...  I have refused so much stuff already I didn't want to have to fight them about unnecessary antibiotics too.  Fortunately I can cross that minor worry off the list  :)

Today my parents and sister are arriving from Tennessee and I am so excited for them to be here.  They had to postpone their trip a little to make sure I would be recovered enough for them to visit, and thankfully, I am.  Feeling happy, blessed, and very much looking forward to another great Christmas surrounded by loved ones!

Homemade co-sleeper

I am so excited to finally share a project that I mentioned weeks ago on the blog...  Erik and I designed, built, painted, and assembled our very own co-sleeper for baby B!  In case you are not familiar with what a co-sleeper is, it is a small bed designed to attach to the parents bed so their baby can safely sleep next to them for the first few months, without having to actually be in their bed.  There are numerous benefits to co-sleeping with your baby, including reduced SIDS rate, better infant thermoregulation, ease of breastfeeding, better sleep for baby and parents, and long term emotional health.  I was interested in the co-sleeper simply because I couldn't stand the idea of him being in another room by himself so early on, or even in a separate bed in our room.  Neither of us felt comfortable having him in the bed between us (and our bed is too small for that anyway) so a side-car style sleeper ended up being the perfect solution.

I had seen similar plans online on how to build a homemade co-sleeper, but none of them were exactly what I wanted.  I thought it would be useful for it to have a shelf below the space where the baby sleeps and none of the plans I saw offered that option.  Here I can keep extra sheets for the sleeper mattress, diapers for late night changes, and a change of clothes or two.  I am so happy with how it turned out and I can't wait to use it when our little guy arrives!

While it did turn out to be exactly what I wanted, I can't say that this was the most cost-effective solution...  We could have bought a used Arms Reach co-sleeper on Craigslist for much, much less...  However I was set on doing this one my way, building it ourselves using natural wood, non-toxic paint and organic bedding.

Materials list:

Raw wood purchased at Lowes.  We had them make the large cuts at the store and made some smaller ones at home, including rounding the corners of the side walls.
Paint was also from Lowes, zero VOC by Valspar - I think the color is called "Tranquility".  (It was leftover from my desk project that I shared a couple of months ago!)
Mattress:  Naturepedic Organic Cotton Bassinet Mattress  (We built the sleeper to fit the dimensions of this mattress, and luckily when it was all assembled and we slid in the mattress, it fit very snugly with no gaps on any side.  Success!)
Mattress pad:  American Baby Organic Waterproof Pad  (I have realized that this pad makes the mattress a little too soft so I will wait until he is a little older to use it in the co-sleeper.  The mattress itself is waterproof in case of accidents.)
Natural color sheet:  American Baby Organic Cotton Bassinet Sheet

I didn't take any photos before I sanded and painted the wood, but here it is sitting on our back deck waiting to be assembled:

I made a drawing beforehand of the idea I had in my head, and Erik helped me make the measurements according to our mattress and bed height.  He laughed at my drawing but I have to say, it was a helpful "blueprint" to have as we worked!

Erik assembling the pieces

The legs are just regular table legs from Lowes which I painted white, and they came with screws already built-in to the end.  This made it super easy to attach them to the co-sleeper using the metal plates seen above.

The co-sleeper attaches to the bed by sliding the long, flat "arms" between the box spring and mattress.  These arms keep the co-sleeper from falling backwards and the weight of the mattress is more than enough to hold it in place.  The two legs in the back are what supports the weight of the sleeper, and trust me this thing is pretty heavy!

Erik with the finished project (upside down) right before we installed it.

Erik had a great idea to countersink all of the screw heads and cover them with wood hole covers which I painted to match the rest of the sleeper.  This way the entire unit can be taken apart if needed for easy storage or for moving (not that we plan on doing that anytime soon!!)  The hole covers also hide the screw heads making for a more finished appearance.

In my sewing kick that I was on a few weeks back, I also made a few sheets to fit the sleeper mattress.  I made one and it was so quick and easy I whipped up a few more with leftover fabric from other projects I was working on.  I used this tutorial, which is written for a standard crib size sheet, and just adjusted the size to fit the smaller bassinet mattress.  I have a feeling I will be changing the sleeper sheets pretty often so it will be good to have so many on hand.

Dinosaur (rawr!), Farm Animal (kinda girly but oh so cute), and Whale sheets

I hope you enjoyed our latest project!  I can't say that we have any other big projects to reveal before the little one arrives.  We are quite ready for him at this point, which is a good thing.  Today marks the start of my 37th week and I am now considered "early term" and could safely head to the birthing center for the birth.  I don't feel like he has any plans to show up in the very near future, but it's comforting to know that if he decides to make an early appearance we have the perfect little bed for him to sleep in when we get home  :)

36 weeks

Today is actually the start of week 37, so I am officially super late in writing my weekly update.  However, I think I have a valid excuse for my tardiness...  This past weekend I was hit with the worst case of the flu that I can remember having in all my adult years.  It started Saturday evening with a mild cough and by Sunday had progressed to the full blown flu, complete with fever, chills, body aches, congestion, sore throat and a cough that has made my chest feel so raw that breathing and talking felt like hard work.  Monday morning Erik asked me if I wanted him to stay home from work and I said no, but by 10am I was feeling worse than ever with a fever of 101.2 - after a dose of tylenol.  He was as worried as I was (mostly about the baby since fevers can be pretty dangerous for pregnant women) and I was so grateful he left work to spend the rest of the day taking care of me at home.  I was in communication with one of the midwifes a couple of times on Monday and she told me some safe medications that I could take for symptom relief.  For someone who is hesitant to take a single tylenol even when I wasn't pregnant, and even more cautious about medications during pregnancy, I have sure made up for my lack thereof in these past few days.  It has taken the max amount of tylenol dosed round the clock to keep my temp below 100 degrees, and a decongestant/expectorant to make breathing possible.  Ugh...

Today I finally feel like I might have reached a turning point.  I was actually able to eat a full meal this morning (at the kitchen table no less) and finally feel well enough to sit up on the couch and type on my laptop.  I might even attempt to go outside for a few minutes later today to enjoy the sunshine, and it will be my first time setting foot outside the house in four days.  Party. time.  The timing of the flu is never good but it just so happens that this week I had a whole bunch of stuff scheduled - our maternity photo session, a meet & greet with the pediatrician we hope to use for baby B, our weekly birthing class, a breastfeeding class, a vet appointment for Lucy, dinner with friends, and my last week of working my normal schedule.  Needless to say, we have had to cancel every single thing.  But, I would rather have gotten sick now instead of the week that baby B arrives, or worse yet - after he is born.  So I guess that's the silver lining?

I am so thankful Erik has been here to take such great care of me this week.  He ended up taking a sick day both Monday and Tuesday, and his awesome bosses have allowed him to work from home today and possibly the rest of the week so he could be here with me (and also avoid potentially bringing the flu into his office - the week before Christmas.  No one wants that!)

So sadly since I was so sick I didn't get to take any bump photos this week.  This is the first week I have missed since I started taking them at week 10!  So let's just pretend there are some photos of me here - freshly showered with my hair done up, make-up on, a cute maternity outfit and a slightly bigger belly...  And I will spare you the real image of my current state - sitting on the couch wearing flannel pajama pants and Erik's old t-shirt with unwashed hair and a stuffy, red nose.  You are welcome  ;)

On to the weekly update!  At 36 weeks baby B is about the size of a head of romaine lettuce, weighing almost 6 pounds and measuring more than 18 1/2 inches long.  He is now shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered his body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that has covered and protected his skin during his nine-month amniotic bath. He swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, that will form the contents of his first bowel movement.

Last Friday I had my 36 week midwife appointment.  Surprisingly I had only gained a little over a pound since my previous visit, over 2 weeks prior.  This brings my total weight gain to right around 20 lbs.  I measured in at 34 weeks which the midwife said was perfectly fine and even admitted that their measurements can be quite subjective and there is nothing to worry about.  The heartbeat sounded great as usual, and during the examination I asked if she had to make a guess, what did she think he would weigh right now.  She felt around and said she would estimate around 6 lbs and then said "oh I don't think he will get too much bigger than 8 lbs."  I was quite shocked at that - I kind of figured that he would be on the smaller side at birth, maybe 6 or 7 lbs at the most.  She said he could be bigger than I think and that some women just "hide it well."  I guess it will depend largely on when he decides to make his appearance.  We will have to wait and see!

While at the appointment I mentioned to the midwife that I think the baby had "dropped" (meaning dropped down lower in my pelvis in preparation for birth) and during the exam she agreed.  She said she could feel his head way down in my pelvis, almost on my pelvic bone!  I knew this had happened early last week as I had a pretty significant increase in the amount of bathroom trips I was taking (day and night) and I also felt pretty much no discomfort in my upper abdomen/lower ribs area.  If I wasn't dealing with being so sick I think I would be feeling pretty awesome these days.  I am looking forward to feeling back to normal, and really enjoying these last few weeks of pregnancy.  I still feel a little sad that it's about to end... Although so excited to meet this little guy at the same time  :)

There is another post I am working on that I plan to put up later today... I am finally able to share the project I mentioned weeks and weeks ago.  It's finally done, installed, and photographed.  And I have to say - it's about time!  Stay tuned...

"and then she said what?!"

I started writing this post a few months ago when I was around 20 weeks or so pregnant.  I had been receiving a lot of interesting commentary on the bump and pregnancy in general and thought it would be interesting to document these unusual encounters.  I saved the post as a draft thinking I would have more to add as time went on, but fortunately I can't really think of anything else...  Here are a few things I wouldn't recommend ever saying to a pregnant lady (unless you are trying to help fuel a future blog post of hers, haha...)

1.)  "So was this pregnancy planned or was it an accident?"  Unless you are in my immediate family (and even then I am not sure how I would feel about answering this question) don't ever, ever, ever ask me (or any pregnant lady) this question.  I have been asked it twice now, and both times by people that are more acquaintances than friends.  If the Mom chooses to offer the info that her baby is a "surprise", then fine.  But I think most women would want to keep that between them and the baby's father and maybe close friends and family.  So please, don't be the person that asks this, no matter how badly you want to know that answer...

2.)  (At 19 weeks with a barely-there bump)  "Wow you are getting SOO big!!"  I came into work one day after my coworkers had not seen me for a few days, and my belly had just started to pop out.  Still though, it was quite small - I had probably only gained 7 lbs or so at the time.  She looked at me and yelled out across the unit that I was getting "SOOOO BIG!"  Thanks.  That's exactly what I want to hear.  People are so eager to comment on the growing belly, and frankly women (especially us pregnant ladies who are already concerned with not wanting to gain too much too soon) don't always want to hear those things.  There are nice ways to acknowledge the popped-out belly, and that usually involves a compliment to the mother in some way.  Also as a side note - we know we are getting bigger.  That kinda comes with the whole having a baby thing.

3.) "Do you need to make a boo boo?" This one might take the cake so far.  I was probably around 18 or 19 weeks along with a very small belly bump when this happened.  A nurse from another unit brought over a patient that I was assuming care of.  In front of the patient (who was wide awake and completely aware of our conversation) she asked me loudly if I needed to "make a boo boo."  My first reaction was "boo boo?  I am not hurt anywhere..."  I looked at her confused and after repeating her question she finally said "poop!  do you need to poop?"  My confusion quickly turned to embarrassment and annoyance that she would even say this to me, let alone in front of a patient.  Yikes!  Please don't ever compare a small pregnancy bump to the need to have a bowel movement.  Innapropriate!
Update 3 months later:  This same nurse has recently started waxing poetic about the "cuteness" of the bump now whenever she sees me, so I guess she is back in my good graces.  However, I don't think I will ever forget about her "boo boo" question, and frankly whenever I see her that memory comes flooding back pretty quickly...

4.)  Recently while at work, a nurse from the OR came through our department, and upon hearing that I was pregnant also stated that she was as well, and struck up a little conversation with me.  She had asked if I was going to give birth at the hospital in which we work at, and I told her that our plan was the nearby Birthing Center.  She looked confused for just a second, then her eyes grew wide and she said "you really want a natural childbirth?!"  I said yes, that is what I have always wanted and hoped for.  She looked at me like I had suddenly grown two heads and said that she was definitely getting an epidural, and that her husband was an anesthesiologist and "didn't want to hear hear scream during labor".  Thinking about that now, it makes me kind of sad for her that her husband might even jokingly say that to her, but still, her reaction was quite rude.  I would never want to make someone feel that their choice to have a medicated hospital birth was the wrong one, we all need to make our own decisions based on what feels right for us, and most importantly support one another as fellow Mothers-to-be.  I would hope others would do the same for me, or at the very least - just smile and nod if you don't agree with what I am planning to do.  Just for fun I should have told her I am considering a placenta smoothie post-delivery, that would have really made her head spin!


So, since I know those were all things you were planning to say to your pregnant friends next time you see them (sorry to burst that bubble), what should you replace those comments with?  Anything positive that makes her feel awesome.  I have a few coworkers in particular that have only told me how cute I look and how sweet the bump is.  I will never, ever get sick of hearing that.  Even if the Mom isn't feeling like she is looking great, someone else telling her she does will make her feel better, I am sure of that.  I read somewhere that a good rule of thumb is if you wouldn't say it to a non-pregnant person, don't say it to one who is.  Example:  someone who is not pregnant wouldn't want to hear that they are getting "so big", well neither does one with baby on board.  But everyone enjoys hearing that they look great, adorable, glowing, etc.

As far as the whole "hands on the bump" thing, in the beginning I hated it.  Like made-me-want-to-swat-their-hand-away hate it.  I would have been just as comfortable if they reached across and grabbed my left boob.  Seriously.  But... as the baby grew into a nice plump bump, I started to actually get used to it and now I actually like it!  I actually have a coworker who kisses the bump when I see her, and I think that is so sweet.  Just to be safe, I think it's best to just ask the Mom if she minds having her belly touched.  Most people probably don't mind, but to us few who had to warm up to it, it's nice to have a little warning before that hand comes swooping in...

I certainly don't consider myself an expert on what to say to other people, trust me - I have put my foot in my mouth so many times I am surprised it's not permanently stuck there.  I guess I just felt the need to spread the word that some of these things are better left unspoken (and that us mama's-to-be are sensitive creatures with some crazy hormones on board and we all just need a little extra love!)  At the very least, I hope this gave you a little chuckle.  I know at the time of these unsolicited comments I certainly wasn't laughing, but looking back today I find most of it pretty darn funny  ;)

35 weeks

This past weekend my friends from work gave Erik and I a sweet luncheon to welcome baby B.  Since the traditional "baby shower" is not really my thing, my friends did a great job at putting together the perfect little gathering of friends and coworkers to celebrate the upcoming arrival of our little boy.  It was held at one of our favorite sushi restaurants, and my friends even surprised us with a super delicious vegan chocolate cake!  It was so sweet and wonderful and we had a great time.  Several of my coworkers couldn't make it to the luncheon but they all chipped in and bought us a very generous Amazon gift card, we were quite surprised when we opened it up!  We feel so blessed, loved, and thankful.  Erik was initially a little resistant to attend what he thought was going to be a more traditional "baby shower," but as soon as we left he said to me in the car "I am so glad I came.  You just tell those friends of yours that anytime they want to stop by and visit you and the baby at home they should whenever they want to.  Every single one of them!"  Haha!  He is too cute...

Today is December 10th, and we are now less than a month from the "official due date."  During the entire pregnancy, whenever asked when I am due, my response has always been "mid January", even though the calculated due date is really the 8th.  I did this for two reasons...  #1 - I know that first babies often arrive late and recently learned in our birthing class that an average spontaneous pregnancy lasts 41 weeks + 1 day, making my updated due date January 16th.  Reason #2 - I don't want people calling/texting/asking me on January 9th - "are you still pregnant?!  why isn't he here yet?!"  This will annoy me to no end.  The reason I am sharing this information on the blog is that I don't think any of you readers are going to be the type to do this to me.  And also, I don't think very many people actually read my blog, ha!  So there you go.  ;)

35 weeks + 3 days

At 35 weeks baby B is about the size of a honeydew melon, measuring in at over 18 inches in length and weighing around 5 pounds, maybe even a little more!  His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

35 weeks + 3 days

I feel like this belly has really become all baby now.  I can almost always poke around and easily feel one of his body parts through my skin.  Most often its a foot or other small round body part up near the top of my belly, but sometimes there will be a large "lump" palpable near my navel, and I am quite sure it's his tiny tushie sticking out!  A few times he has contorted himself into a position that is nearly impossible to determine, Erik and I try to make our best guess but most of the time we have no clue.  It's a lot of fun to watch him wiggle around and try and figure out what position he might be in.  The braxton-hicks contractions have really picked up recently.  Some days I have them back to back but they always stop if I sit down and rest, and I have not yet been worried at all that I am having more than just normal "practice contractions".  They are never painful, and I can't really pinpoint the beginning or end of the contraction, it's more of an awareness that my belly has hardened and then the feeling gradually fades.

Tomorrow I start week 36, and this sounds kind of negative but I sort of feel like I am waiting for that dreaded "end of pregnancy" feeling where women say they just want it to be over.  Strangely enough, I can't imagine feeling like that.  I get a little sad thinking about not being able to feel those kicks and movements anymore, and dare I say (and this has seemed to get me in trouble before) but the last few days I have been feeling awesome.  Sleep has been great, which I give some credit to our new foam mattress, and my energy levels have been steady.  Last week I overdid it a little and didn't allow myself much resting time, and I became quite fatigued by the end of the week and actually started to feel like I was getting sick.  Fortunately, the feeling quickly passed and last Friday on my day off I was given strict orders by Erik that morning to do only three things that day.  First, I was to watch the Price is Right (ha!)  Second, I was to shop online for my annual Smartwool socks order that he always places for me at Christmastime, and third - I was instructed to sit and relax!  I love when he gives me that kind of "to do" list...

My pregnancy app on the ipod says my countdown is now 4 weeks and 1 day (although I know it's probably more like 5 weeks) but still, it feels like the homestretch now!  I was already feeling quite ready, but thanks to the generous gifts from my friends and recent order to Amazon, I can say we are feeling more prepared than ever.  Thank you to everyone who came this past weekend, it was a really special day for all (three) of us!

A letter to Lucy

Dear Lucy,

Three years ago today we met you for the very first time, and brought you home to live with us.  The search for our new family member had started weeks prior to meeting you, at the local animal shelters.  We knew we wanted to find a dog who really, really needed a good home and family to love them.  I remember crying and crying as we walked down the rows of kennels, looking in to the sad eyes of the homeless dogs who were awaiting adoption.  It was so hard to see all those sweet and innocent faces and know we could only choose one to bring home.  We met with several sweet dogs during our visits, but knew we hadn't yet found "the one" for us.  We started looking on websites for dogs in need of a home, and came across your photo on one of the shelters web pages.  Both your Dad and I agreed we definitely needed to meet you, you were so cute!  At the time, you were living with a foster Mom and some other dogs due to "not doing well" in the shelter environment.  I remember driving over to meet you.  We pulled into the foster Mom's driveway, and there you were staring at us through the glass front door.  I remember that moment vividly.  Some may say this sounds silly, but it was at that instant I knew you were coming home with us. 

I fell in love with you the instant I saw you.  It took you a little bit to warm up to us, you didn't want to play and cuddle immediately and did a good job of keeping up your guard.  You were easily persuaded with some yummy treats though, but strangely you didn't want to eat them.  You took every treat and tried to hide it in the dog bed, or couch, or pile of blankets on the floor.  Your foster mom said you did that a lot, that you were trying to hide the treats from the other dogs who were living with her!  (As a side note, after you settled in with us you stopped hiding the treats when you discovered that no other dogs were going to try and take them away from you.)  We decided to take you on a walk around her neighborhood and try to get to know you a little better.  Both your Dad and I agreed that we loved you immediately and that we wanted to give you the best home that we possibly could.  We had to make the adoption official back at the shelter, and met you and your foster Mom there to fill out the paperwork.  It broke my heart to watch her say goodbye to you, she kissed you on the head and walked out the door with tears in her eyes saying this was the only bad thing about fostering dogs, that it was so hard to say goodbye.  I sent her a nice Christmas card that year with our family photo so she could see how you were doing and also thank her for taking great care of you while you were "between homes."

  
After the adoption we put you through a rather stressful afternoon!  We had to stop by the vet clinic on the way home for a check-up and final round of shots.  They said you looked great, despite having being brought into the shelter weeks earlier covered in fur mats and being clearly not well taken care of.  You weighed 28 lbs and they estimated your age to be around 10 months.  After the vets office we had to stop by the pet store as we had nothing at home for a dog!  We spoiled you with a new collar, leash, bed, toys, and treats.  You didn't seem too interested at that point in picking anything out for yourself, you had started to become a bit nervous after such a hectic day.  We bought everything we could think of that a new dog needs, and headed home to introduce you to the other family members... The cats!

You had lived with cats at the foster mom's house, but our cats had never been around a dog before.  You really did great with the kitties, but it took them a good couple of weeks to warm up to you.  Today, I would call us one big happy family but you guys certainly don't ever go as far as cuddle sessions together, that's for sure!  I remember the first few nights home with you.  We had brand new carpet upstairs in the bedrooms, and not being sure about your potty training status decided to play it safe and keep you off of them when we could not supervise you at night.  We decided it would be best to put you in the laundry room, which had puppy-safe linoleum flooring, with your bed, toys, and water bowl during the nighttime hours.  Well, let's just say you had a different idea of where you wanted to spend the night!  You yelped and cried and barked as soon as you were put in there alone (and I don't blame you - who wants to be alone in the laundry room all night?!)  I remember one night very clearly, standing there in our PJ's, your dad and I looking at each other clueless as to what to do with you.  It was very late at night and you wouldn't stop crying and barking no matter what we did.  We were actually concerned that the neighbors might hear you!  I remember putting peanut butter (which we quickly learned was one of your favorite things) inside a rubber kong toy to try and keep you occupied so you would hopefully settle down and sleep a bit.  Nothing really worked though and we struggled through several nights of loud puppy yelps, using ear plugs to help us sleep.

 
Finally we gave up and decided to trust you, it seemed as though you were house trained and figured taking the chance of ending up with pee on the carpet would be worth being able to sleep at night if it kept you quiet to be with us upstairs.  Silly us, from the very first night we let you upstairs you did nothing except sleep on the floor near the foot of the bed.  You just wanted to be with your "pack" and were trying to tell us this the whole time.  Sorry it took us so long to get that message!
 

Through the last few years we have watched you grow from a puppy we barely knew into a sweet, loving, and loyal little dog.  You are there to greet us with kisses and a wagging tail every single time we walk through the door.  You know that chasing the squirrels and deer are not really allowed but still do it anyway.  You eat cat food every chance you get, but we can't ever get mad at you for it since it's our fault if it becomes accessible to you!  You do this adorable thing at night where you whimper in your sleep, and there have been nights where your dad and I wake up only to say simultaneously "wake up Lucy".  You love to play in shallow water and could spend an afternoon splashing in a creek, but if the grass is wet after a rain you absolutely hate to walk in it.  Why is that?  We were told when we adopted you that you are a mix of Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever (say that three times fast) and a Sheltie.  We don't know for sure what breed you are, but what we do know is that we love you with all of our hearts and are so happy you are here with us. 

Even though next month our lives are all about to change drastically with the arrival of a new (human) family member, you should know that you are as much a part of this family as you always have been, and we will always consider you our "first" baby.

Love,

Mom

34 weeks

As I sit here and think about Thanksgiving being now behind us, and a new month upon us, I have to yet again marvel at how fast time is flying.  It's officially December and when someone asks when I am due, I can now reply "next month".  The trip this weekend to visit Erik's family in D.C. has always been so far in the future to me, and now it's over and we are home... and for quite some time I might add.  We have no more trips planned until after the little one is born, and it's so strange to think that all future trips will involve so much more than just packing up the car with our small travel bags and hitting the road.  We had a great time on our trip to D.C., and had a very nice Thanksgiving with the family, complete with a yummy field roast and side dishes containing two of my recent pregnancy cravings - sweet potatoes and brussels sprouts, yum!  I know those are probably pretty uncommon cravings but I am going through a phase where I could seriously eat them every day...

I started week 34 on the day of our trip and that morning I had a midwife appointment at the birthing center.  The midwife with which we had our appointment was one that I had not yet met (I mentioned before that they work on rotating on-call shifts so I won't be sure who will deliver the baby until I actually go into labor), and she was my absolute favorite.  Her name is Emily and I so hope she is the one to be there when this little guy decides to make his appearance.  She was super nice and very thorough, asking me a lot of questions and offering a lot of information about what to expect in the coming weeks.  I learned that I have gained over 2 lbs in less than 2 weeks (surprise!) bringing my total gain to around 19 lbs.  My belly measured at 33 weeks, only 1 cm larger than my last visit.  I am learning that this whole system of measuring from the pubic bone to the top of the uterus is a somewhat subjective number, no two midwives are going to make the same measurement every single time.  Anyway, Emily said everything is looking completely normal and I should expect to gain at least a pound a week from here on out.  After my next visit at 36 weeks, I will start having weekly appointments until the big day.

34 weeks + 4 days

At 34 weeks, baby B is about the size of a cantaloupe, weighing in at about 4 3/4 pounds and measuring almost 18 inches long.  His layers of fat, which will regulate his body temperature when born, are continuing to increase, making his skin smoother than ever.  His central nervous system is maturing and the lungs are continuing to mature as well.

34 weeks + 4 days

One of the first things I felt when I woke up on the morning that began the 34th week, was a very strong kick directly to my left lowest rib.  It was as if baby was trying to say "good morning mama, let me show you how strong and big my legs have grown!"  I expected a lot more kicks like that but so far he has spared my ribs and has gone back to kicking the softer parts of my body, mainly in the front of my belly.  Fortunately it didn't really hurt, just surprised me, but I imagine repeated kicks to my ribs of that intensity would probably start to become pretty painful!  I felt great all weekend during our trip, and still do, but I am starting to notice more how big this little guy is getting.  Today Erik and I took a walk and I had quite a few braxton-hicks contractions.  I need to remember to drink more water as I think those contractions, while normal, are caused by not being as hydrated as I should be, especially during exercise.  In the last week or so, I have gotten this feeling that my body is starting to prepare for this little guy to make his entrance into the world.  I am getting some strange sensations of things shifting around, not just contractions but something more that is hard to explain.  My breasts feel like they are starting to grow again, and I honestly haven't noticed that since early in the first trimester.  I thought they would be huge by now but luckily for me they are pretty close to my normal size.  I will technically be full term in 3 weeks and know that I likely have another 6 or 7 weeks to go, but it still makes sense that my body is making preparations already for the big day.

I wish I had taken more photos on our trip, but I left my camera in it's bag the entire time...  I have only a few phone pictures that we took on Thanksgiving...

my weird, bearded, husband.  thankfully Mo-vember is officially over and I fully expect his razor to make a return appearance in our bathroom any day now.  I miss my clean-shaven hubby!

Erik and his brother Scott - always (unintentionally) matching in their plaid shirts!

Thanksgiving 2013  :)

33 weeks

I have had this nagging feeling all day that I was suppose to be doing something relatively important today, and I can't seem to remember what it is... pregnancy brain has returned!  So I spent the morning sewing more baby stuff for my friends who are also expecting, and now here I sit writing my weekly post (a couple of days earlier than usual I might add!)  This weekend was mostly spent working on more house projects, although yesterday I spent the morning yard sale-ing which I haven't really been doing much of for the last few months.  I scored a few household items but also picked up some great baby things as well.  I am most excited about the whale bathtub I found yesterday at the consignment store.  It was only $8 and is normally $22 new so I feel like I scored a pretty good deal.  I feel a little relieved every time I can cross something off the "baby shopping list".  One step closer to being ready!

33 weeks + 4 days

At 33 weeks, baby B is about the size of a pineapple (wait didn't that happen a couple of weeks ago?  I guess he is a bigger pineapple now!) weighing in at around 4 pounds and measures about 17 inches from head to toe.  He is rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal.  These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.  He is keeping his eyes open while awake and also starting to coordinate breathing with sucking and swallowing.

While I was researching the information above, I came across a website about babies born prematurely, with pictures that coordinate to the weeks gestation they were at birth.  I couldn't help but look through the 33 weekers, and while they are very small and attached to many tubes and monitors, they still look miniature versions of normal newborns.  It's hard to imagine that our little guy looks like these babies at this point.  So thankful that we have made it even this far and that he seems to be doing so well.  His strong kicks these days are enough to shake my whole body and make my belly dance in the cutest way...

33 weeks + 4 days

I jinxed myself last week when I said sleeping was going well and my back pain had resolved.  A day after I wrote that post, I had a three night run of insomnia and my sciatica came back!  Fortunately last night I somehow slept nearly nine solid hours and my back is again on the mend.  I know the difficulty sleeping is pregnancy related, but I truly believe the back pain is just my injury flaring up like is has been doing on and off for the past two years.  I expect these things to come and go now as I go through the last couple months of pregnancy.  One day at a time, and today I feel pretty great so there you have it  :)

This week we will be headed to D.C. to visit Erik's family for Thanksgiving.  This will be our very last trip until baby B decides to make his appearance.  We will be staying close to home after this knowing that in just a few short weeks it could be "any day now".  However, we learned on the first night of our birthing class that the old school thought of "40 weeks gestation" is no longer thought to be the case, in an average spontaneous (non-induced) pregnancy, most babies arrive at 41 weeks and one day.  That knowledge coupled with the fact that first babies often come later than earlier, has me planning on being pregnant for at least an extra 8-10 days past the due date.  I am really hoping to avoid any sort of induction or labor augmentation, so I will seriously go to 42 weeks (to the minute!) before I allow for any medical intervention.  Let's hope it doesn't come to that... 

I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving and spend some fun time with your families.  And for my shameless veganism plug - do yourself (and the turkeys) a favor and try a Field Roast this year.  I promise you won't be disappointed!

2nd trimester essentials

As a follow-up to my 1st trimester essentials post, I figured I would share (and document for my own future reference) some things I found helpful as I navigated the second trimester of pregnancy.

 

Earth Mama Angle Baby: Natural Stretch Oil & Body Butter

 
Starting at week 10, I have applied this oil to my belly religiously every single night before bed.  I absolutely love the smell and it really does a great job of moisturizing without being too oily.  I liked it so much I decided to try the body butter, and while I wouldn't say it's anything close to the viscosity of other body butters I have tried (it's more of a lotion) I still really like it.  I use this in the morning and it has been especially helpful for the itchy skin that started mid-way though the 2nd trimester.  I choose these products because they are completely natural, certified zero toxin, vegan and cruelty free.  So far they have worked against stretch marks as I don't have a single one, but I am getting to the point where my skin is really starting to stretch so we will see what happens at we get closer to the end!  I will report back.

 

Belly Band

obviously not me...

I picked up my belly band gently used at a yard sale for something close to $1.  It was money well spent I tell ya!  This thing worked great as I started to outgrow my pre-pregnancy clothes but was not quite ready for maternity wear.  I thought for sure it would be hard to keep in place or that my pants would eventually start to slide down being unbuttoned, but I found that not to be the case at all.  It gave me an extra few weeks out of all my jeans and shorts, but eventually I outgrew the band and was ready for...

Maternity Clothes

Silly thing to add to this list?  Maybe so.  But I am here to tell you that it's not hard to put together a decent maternity wardrobe for very little cost, if you know where to look.  Baby/maternity consignment stores, thrift stores, yard sales, and even the sale racks at Target & Old Navy have been my primary shopping locations for my "new" wardrobe.  I couldn't see spending a fortune on new clothes I would only wear for a few months, quite honestly I hate paying full price for non-maternity clothes that I plan to wear for a long time!  For work, I picked up some plain black maternity shirts and these awesome scrub pants.  Highly recommended if you wear scrubs to work.  They are so comfortable you just might want to wear them at home too... 

Favorite Water Bottle

I admit it, I am a terrible water drinker.  I almost never get thirsty and so it's very easy for me to forget to drink.  Carrying a water bottle with me wherever I go has helped me be better at getting in my daily fluid requirements.  I happen to love this water bottle by Lifefactory.  I know you have seen them around.  It's made of glass so it's BPA free, and you don't have any weird plastic water bottle taste with this.  Plus it's cute with the silicone sleeve and pretty much screams "drink me!"

DHA Supplement

So, technically I didn't start taking this until the very beginning of the 3rd trimester.  But I wish I would have started it earlier, so I am putting it on this list.  Around the beginning of the 3rd trimester is when the baby's brain really starts to go crazy making it's neurological connections and all that, and DHA is important for that brain development.  Since we follow a plant-based diet and don't consume any fish products, there is not much opportunity for us to eat foods that naturally contain DHA.  Fish and fish oil contains DHA because they have a diet high in algae, which is very high in DHA.  (As a side note, cows milk contains so much calcium because they eat leafy greens all day long, which are a great source of calcium.  You can cut out the "middle man", and save an animal, by going straight to the source - leafy greens for your calcium and algae for your DHA!)  After a lot of research, I decided upon this supplement which is made from algae, completely vegan, and carrageenan free.  In case you haven't heard, carrageenan is a food additive that is on the list of potential carcinogens.  A lot (and let me tell you A LOT) of pills and products contain this additive.  Until more is known about it, we have decided to avoid food that contain it.  As far as this DHA supplement, it is in liquid form so it has a bit of a "fishy" taste if you take it plain.  Funny enough though, I learned it's actually fish that smell like algae, not the other way around.  Mixed in a little OJ, the "algae" taste is masked and it goes down quite easily. 


So those are the things I found to be most helpful as I went through the 2nd trimester.  There are a few things I have started to use recently as I started the 3rd trimester, so plan to see one last "pregnancy essentials" post, hopefully before our little guy arrives! 

32 weeks

Sometime recently I started looking at a new week of pregnancy as something of a countdown, instead of focusing on counting up. It was exciting to reach 20 weeks - halfway there, and 30 weeks brought a 90% chance of survival if he were to come so early. All milestones I was excited to get to, given the high anxiety I felt at the beginning of the pregnancy. But this week isn't 32 weeks to me, it sounds a lot more like "8-10 weeks to go!" Not because I am not enjoying the pregnancy, but rather because I really very much am. In fact, I have for quite some time already been looking forward to baby #2, and feel a little sadness when I think about not being pregnant anymore.  I have come to realize lately that these are the final weeks that Erik and I have as just the two of us. Last weekend during our weekly Whole Foods trip, I commented that we only have about eight or so more shopping trips as a family of two, and soon with us we will be toting a little B. I have been focusing on really enjoying these times together, just the two of us, even if we are just doing something simple like buying groceries. I know that soon we will look back on these days, probably with some difficulty remembering what they were really like, and likely reminiscing about simpler times when a simple trip didn't involve a car seat, diaper bag, and a stroller. All that being said, my recent switch to a countdown is also because I am getting super excited to meet our baby. I spend a lot of time wondering what he will be like, who he will look like, and how life will be when he is finally here.  

32 weeks + 4 days

At 32 weeks, baby B is the size of a large Jicama, measuring in around 16.5" long and weighing about 3.5 pounds.  He now has toenails, fingernails, and hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz).  His skin is becoming soft and smooth as he plumps up in preparation for birth.
 

32 weeks + 4 days

 
At our midwife appointment last Friday we learned that our little guy is hanging-out head down. Sweet! And she predicted that he will stay that way from this point forward.  I had figured he was positioned as such, because recently all the kicking I have felt has been at the top of my belly, between my naval and ribs.  I asked her about the "tickling" sensations down low in my belly and she said I was feeling his little hands and arms wiggling around.  I can't stop thinking about how cute that is!  When she measured my uterus I measured exactly at 32 weeks, so his growth is right on track.  I only gained a little over a pound since my last visit over two weeks ago, bringing my total gain to right around 16 lbs.  We listened to the heartbeat as usual, and she said he was behaving perfectly, with an increase in rate during activity, and then slowing a bit at rest. 
 
I will knock on wood as I type this, because I have been feeling absolutely great in recent days.  So normal that sometimes the only reminders that I am pregnant are when I stand up from a squatting position (my legs feel a little weak with this extra weight), or during mealtimes when I try and eat a "normal" sized meal - I get full so fast.  My back has been almost entirely pain-free, and I have even become accustomed to the whole sleeping routine where I wake up every time I roll over as I fall back asleep instantly most of the time.  I am continuing to exercise daily with walking and floor stretches/exercises.  I really believe all the squatting and "cat/cow" exercises I have been doing as recommended by our birthing instructor is what has caused little B to turn head down.  Maybe he would have by now anyway, but I like to think they played a part.
 
This is the last time I am going to mention that "baby project" I have been writing about for weeks now, until I am actually able to share what it is.  It has progressed to the point of being assembled and is now sitting on our (covered) back deck.  I will give you a hint - this project will be living in our bedroom eventually, and since we are in the process of rearranging our sleeping situation we are unable to install it.  I can't wait to share it!  Erik and I designed and built the whole thing from scratch so it's a project that is quite special to both of us. 

We are looking forward to one last getaway next week, spending a few days with Erik's family up in D.C. for Thanksgiving.  I will be 34 weeks with only 6 to go until the DD.  Let the countdown continue!

31 weeks

Another week, another weekend, and just like that it's time for a new weekly update!  This past Friday Erik and I treated ourselves to a little date night, dinner at one of our favorite Indian restaurants, and then went to see the UNC vs. Oakland University basketball game.  This was our first sporting event we have been to since we moved to NC; clearly we are not big sports fans, but it was a great game to start with as OU is Erik's alma mater.  He scored free tickets from work, and the seats were great.  It was a lot of fun, and also pretty funny because I was cheering for the Tar Heels and Erik was sitting next to me, wearing his OU t-shirt, clapping and yelling loudly for the Grizzlies. His excitement began to diminish and his claps got quieter as UNC ran up the score, but he expected this. Might I add, the Oakland University had all of 25 fans in the whole stadium so we received some interesting looks from all the UNC fans sitting nearby, haha.  The rest of the weekend was a whirlwind of house projects for Erik and crafting time for me.  I turned our dining room into a little sewing factory, and whipped up a whole bunch of cute baby stuff, primarily for friends who are expecting soon.  I did make our little guy a few cute things which I will eventually share here on the blog.

31 weeks + 4 days

 At 31 weeks, baby B is around the size of a pineapple, measuring around 16" or so in length and weighing in at about 3 pounds.  All of his senses are developed and in working order and the irises in his eyes are now reactive to light.  He continues to add more body fat every week, and will at least double his current weight before birth.
 

31 weeks + 4 days

Fortunately the sciatica I was experiencing last week has pretty much resolved.  I still have occasional tightness and a little nerve pain in my back but nothing like it was.  I have been diligent about doing my stretching exercises every day and I believe that is helping.  No other new symptoms to report, so being that my back is not bothering me so much I actually feel pretty great!  The baby has grown so much that my belly has now grown to the level of my rib cage, which I notice mostly when sitting down, and now the only direction to grow from here is outward or sideways.  This has created a few uncomfortable evenings if I find myself feeling particularly full, as it feels that my lungs are being squished.  The alternative is not eating before bed, which usually results in me waking up at 4 or 5am absolutely starving and tempted to go to the kitchen for a snack.  So I guess that's my new symptom of the week.  If I eat more than a medium sized meal I feel stuffed, and if I don't eat frequently I am starving.  It's like my body wants more food but there is just not enough room for it!

Even with all of the projects we finished over the weekend, we still haven't completed the "baby project" I mentioned weeks ago.  Seriously though, it's almost done and I am anxious to put it together and share the finished product sometime in the next week! 

30 weeks

Since my 30th week fell on the same week as Halloween, I decided to wear my "costume" for the weekly photos.  I made the pumpkin shirt to wear to work on Halloween, and I have to say it was a success.  Even strangers in the hallways smiled or laughed when they saw it.  The shirt was super easy to make. All I did was cut out a pumpkin face (free hand - no need for perfection here) out of black felt, and used a running stitch to sew it to an orange maternity shirt.  I stayed up late on Halloween eve to finish it, and was glad I did!

30 weeks + 4 days

30 weeks + 4 days

Are you sick of me writing about how fast this pregnancy is going yet?  Well I will change my tone then, just a little..  I think about being 30 weeks already, and it's weird to think we are already 3/4 of the way through the pregnancy..  Then I think about 10-12 more to go, and that sounds like a long time before we get to meet this little guy.  I am ready now!  Well, almost ready.  We still have a few little projects I would like to get done before he arrives, but the big things are set and ready to go.  The nursery is pretty much done.  Crib is set up with the new mattress and the linens are washed.  His clothes are also washed and hung in the closet, organized by size and type.  We have a car seat, just waiting to be installed.  I have the boppy, the bumbo chair, wraps and slings for babywearing, and even a wipe warmer plugged in and ready to be filled.  Over-prepared first-time parents?  Yes, I think we qualify as such!

30 weeks + 4 days

At 30 weeks, baby B is about the size of a head of cabbage, measuring around 15.7 inches and weighing in at almost 3 pounds.  A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him, but that volume will shrink as he gets bigger and takes up more room in the uterus. The eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after he's born, he will have 20/400 vision — which means he can only make out objects a few inches from his face.  Good thing, I probably will look a bit frightful right after delivery and I don't want to scare the little guy  ;)

I am feeling...  Well, to be honest quite uncomfortable at the present moment.  Sciatica finally found me. Curses!  Last night my back, in the area of my old injury, started to flare up, and this time the pain strongly radiated down my buttock and leg.  This morning it was so bad I had a hard time getting up and had to have Erik help me put my pants and socks on.  I had a good cry (mostly because I was looking forward to a very productive day) then composed myself and took a tylenol, used a heating pad, and stretched and exercised the area for a good long while this morning.  I am feeling better, and was able to be semi-productive throughout the day, but I am not without pain.  I am hopeful that this is just an isolated flare-up and will resolve in a few days as it has in times past.

As for the project I discussed in my last post, needless to say we didn't quite get it finished this weekend.  If after two entire house renovations in the last three years I haven't learned that projects always seem to take longer than planned, well, I don't think I am ever going to learn!  We have it about half-way completed though, and I am really excited to share it on the blog.  By next weekend, I should be able to.  For now, I am signing off to go put up my feet, lay on the heating pad, and get this back feeling better!

Happy Halloween from the B's and our little pumpkin baby!