4 months

Hello from the second trimester.  Or, maybe I was in the second trimester when I wrote the last pregnancy post?  Does the second trimester start at 13 or 14 weeks??  I feel like with Arlo I knew every little thing that was happening as it happened.  I knew which week he was growing fingernails, when he could hear our voices, and what size fruit he was every week.  This time I am like "how many weeks am I now??"  Are we closer to a kiwi or an apple this week?  I feel so lost.  Largely this is due to the roughness of the pregnancy so far - morning sickness, fatigue, having the never ending flu.  I just don't have the energy to remember all the little details.  I have a new phone app this time around that I check from time to time, and it tells me the size of the baby in things other than food which is pretty fun - one week the baby was the size of a lego man, one week it was a troll doll.  This week it is a chipmunk, ha.  So cute.  Anyway, sorry second kid.  You might not get a baby book either.

After I wrote my last update, I had my first visit at the birthing center.  I was exactly 15 weeks at the appointment.  It went really well, especially considering it was with the one midwife I didn't really jive with last time around.  She was great though, and spent a lot of time going over my history, and with everything that happened post-partum last time around, there was a lot to talk about.  So much in fact, that we didn't even have time to do the physical exam or lab work that she had planned on doing.  I did get to hear the heartbeat though, and she said everything looked and sounded great from that perspective.  Baby was kicking so much there was almost more movement noise coming from the doppler than heartbeat sounds!  She asked if I had felt any movement yet and I told her I thought so, and actually had been feeling something for the previous couple of weeks.  I had convinced myself that it was too early to feel anything, but she said it wasn't and that she was pretty sure I was actually feeling the baby already.  I paid really close attention that afternoon following my appointment, and was then completely convinced I was feeling tiny kicks.  They have quickly grown into pretty big kicks, and the baby is already very active in there.  By 16 weeks I could feel movement outside my belly too.  Poor Erik though, every time he puts his hand on it, the baby immediately stops moving.  Arlo did the exact same thing though, sneaky little fetuses....  At the appointment I weighed in at my exact pre-pregnancy weight, which was surprising because by 10 weeks I had already gained around 2 lbs.  I must have lost more weight being sick than I thought, but I have certainly gained it all back (and then some) since then.  This baby is not only active but also hungry, and has a big sweet tooth!

I took a few photos last weekend, and was 16.5 weeks here.  Today I am 17.5.  Sorry 2.0, you are also getting the short end of the stick photo-wise.  Every week with Arlo we used our fancy camera and took several shots in our backyard against our fence.  All this kiddo is getting is iPhone photos in our bathroom.  We don't love you any less though, I promise!

One day soon I am going to put on some makeup, pants that aren't leggings, and care about how my hair looks when I take these photos.  And maybe even move to a location that isn't my bathroom, ha.  I am still not feeling 100% though - residual cough from the flu, congestion in the morning, periodic waves of nausea, and fatigue that is intermittent but sneaks up out of nowhere.  And speaking of clothing, I am haven't tried them on in a couple of weeks but I am pretty certain that I have outgrown my regular jeans now.  Leggings and pants with a more forgiving waist (like in these photos) still fit well.  Non-maternity shirts technically still fit but are starting to look weird.  Like short or something, and I look fat instead of pregnant.  So earlier this week I hauled out my maternity clothing tub and sorted through it for a few better fitting shirts.  I am in that weird in-between phase where non-maternity clothes are getting too small and maternity wear looks too big.  But I'm not worried, this belly has really started to pop, even more so now than in these photos, so my maternity wardrobe should be in full rotation by my next post.  I am actually really looking forward to maternity pants - do you know how comfortable they are?!  Why don't all jeans have a super stretchy elastic waistband?!

Our anatomy scan is in three weeks so my next update will likely follow that.  And if you are sick of baby bump pics, not to worry, the next few posts I have planned are not at all pregnancy related and will include some life updates and an Easter post after next weekend.

And last but not least, a pic of me and my little guy from earlier this week on St. Patricks day.  I worked that day but we both wore our green and no one could pinch us!  I told Arlo to "wink for Grandma" (she always asks him for a wink when we face time) and I ended up loving this photo even more than the others where his eyes were open...

3 months

these pregnancy posts were kept private until we were ready to announce the happy news to friends and family.  this post originally written on 3/1/16.  


So, my last pregnancy post was written just over a month ago, and I have a whole bunch of updates since then.  The nausea finally started easing up a bit around week 11, but the fatigue still persisted.  Nearly two weeks ago, the morning of 13 weeks - I woke up at 4am with what I thought was either the stomach flu or food poisoning.  Erik had to stay home that day and take care of both Arlo and I, and I remained in bed for the entire day.  The following day the GI symptoms were gone, but I was left feeling completely drained, dehydrated, and starting to feel like I was getting a bad cold.  I continued to feel that way all weekend, until Monday when I finally took Arlo to the sitters and myself to the doctors.  My own personal diagnosis was stomach flu followed immediately by bronchitis, but her diagnosis (which I now completely agree with) was the flu.  Ugh!  Why is it that every time I get pregnant I get the worst case of the flu (plus complications)?!?!  She initially didn't want to prescribe me anything but I literally begged (that morning I had a three hour coughing fit that made me vomit twice and incontinent of pee - yea I really just said that) so finally she called the birthing center to see what they would approve.  They were okay with me taking the prescription cough syrup with codeine and even though I am usually anti-medication I was pretty desperate for relief.  So I thought I was through the worst of it at that point, but no.  The next day I started getting fevers, body aches, dizzy spells, headaches and came down with a very painful sinus infection.  Erik took Arlo to the babysitters everyday because there was absolutely no way I could care for him, I could barely care for myself.  I hardly ate anything and even though I know I was forcing fluids I know I was still dehydrated.  Erik offered on two different days to take me to the ER but I declined, and really, there is nothing they would have been able to do for me anyway.  So this all lasted for literally ten days until yesterday when I finally started to feel half human again.  I actually put on clothes and set foot outside the house for the first time since the day I went to the doctors.  And even though I am still coughing a lot and pretty easily tired by day to day activities, I am feeling so much better than last week.  Man, the flu absolutely sucks.  So bad.  Even worse when you are preggo because the medication options are so limited and your immune system is lower than usual leaving you extra susceptible to secondary infections. 

I have no idea what pregnancy symptoms I have been having these past two weeks.  I am more tired than usual throughout the day but I blame that largely on the flu.  I think from a pregnancy standpoint I am feeling pretty good.  I am still waiting for my belly to really pop out, when I was sick I would look in the mirror and not even look 1% pregnant.  But the past few days I have been literally eating until I feel stuffed and drinking like a fish, and when I snapped a few pictures of my belly this morning I actually think it looks like something is there. 

I still haven't washed my hair since before I got sick (but have big plans to do so tonight, woo hoo), am wearing zero makeup, and our bathroom mirror is a splattered mess but this was the best I could do.  I am two days shy of 15 weeks here.

In other news, after I wrote my last update we met with the home birth midwife I had been so hopeful to work with.  I was completely sure I was going to love her and that a home birth was going to be somehow even more relaxed and laid back than our experience at the birthing center.  I was surprised to find out this was not the case.  The midwife was nice, and did spend a good amount of time with us at our first meeting, but I left her office feeling confused and conflicted.  She not only required me to meet with her every four weeks until week 28 (I think?) and then more frequently the rest of the pregnancy, but she also required me to meet with a group of doctors at a hospital that I wouldn't even be transferred to in an emergency because it's a good 45 minutes from our house.  I would have to meet with them a total of four times, which would be an extra expense with our new (crappy) insurance.  On top of that, because of my post-partum mood issues last time around, she required me to seek mental health treatment before the baby was born - again, an additional expense.  And I know anyone I saw would recommend anti-depressants in the third trimester to try and "prevent" PPD/PPA but that is not something I am willing to do.  As such, I would need to go to a different location to have blood work drawn, and yet another to have any ultrasounds that I need.  So when I thought about all the different places I needed to go and things I had to do it suddenly felt overwhelmingly complicated.  As well, there was no way to know until after the birth how much (or how little) that our insurance company would cover for a home birth.

I then thought back to our experience at the birthing center - smooth, relaxed, never pressured, and simple, and decided that I wanted to go back.  Everything that I need can be done at the birthing center, except the ultrasound which can actually be done at a hospital that is close to our house.  The appointments are far less frequent if you have already had a successful birth there before, and I will only need to go every six weeks in the first two trimesters.  I know insurance will cover it, and can do all of my prenatal appointments in the morning on one of my work days, while I am already in the area.  The one and only downside, is that when I go into labor it is around a 45 minute drive to get there, and that is with no traffic.  If it is morning or evening rush hour - it could easily be closer to a two hour drive.  When I was in labor with Arlo, the 12 minute drive to the birthing center was one of the worst parts of the entire experience, although I do think I hit transition on the way.  But still, I wish not for our kid to be born rolling down the highway so we will be planning to head to the birthing center, or someplace a lot closer than our house, when early labor starts.  As soon as I told the home birth midwife that we wouldn't be continuing care with her and made my first appointment with the birthing center, I felt a huge wave of relief.  And while I am just a little sad that we won't be having a home birth this time around, I know it my heart that this is the right thing for us and that I would have been deeply questioning my decision had we proceeded with the home birth plan.

My first appointment was scheduled for last week but with the flu and everything I had to reschedule it for later this week.  We heard the heartbeat via doppler at 10 weeks when we met with the first midwife, but it will certainly be a relief to hear it again.  I spent a lot of time worrying about the baby when I was sick and I took more medicine than I really wanted to.  I am sure everything is probably okay in there but I am looking forward to that reassurance at the appointment!

We will be scheduling the anatomy scan ultrasound around 18-20 weeks, so my next update will probably come after that.  We shared the happy news with family and close friends in the last couple of weeks, but will wait until after the ultrasound to post anything on social media.  But, if all is well after the appointment later this week I will probably release all these pregnancy posts I have been writing  :D

Cheers to the second trimester, saying good-bye to that evil flu, and all the good things that are coming soon.  Until next time!

plus one.

This post will be kept hidden until we have decided to share the big news with everyone.  I want to document things as they are happening like I have done with our previous pregnancies so I don't have to struggle to remember things that happened months ago!  

Post originally written on 12-12-15.


Some big news today...  I am pregnant!  As I write this I can't believe that I am.  I don't know what made me take a test this morning, it shouldn't even register positive for several more days.  But there it was this morning, a loud and clear blue plus sign on that little white stick.  I didn't tell Erik right away.  I don't know how I kept it a secret all through breakfast, but I wanted to tell him in a sweet way that would make it special for all of us.  A couple of months ago, when we were starting to talk seriously about trying for 2.0, I found the perfect shirt at Target on super clearance for like $2 to help me make the announcement to Erik.  I was hopeful that it would still fit Arlo by the time I was pregnant, and luckily, it fit just right.  So this morning after breakfast, I took Arlo upstairs to get him ready for the day, pulled out the shirt from the back of his closet where I had been hiding it, and brought him downstairs in it.  Erik was in the other room, so Arlo and I sat in the playroom and waited for him to come in.  It didn't take him long to notice it, and he read it really slowly out loud.  "Number one, best... what does that last word say?  Bro?  What are you trying to say with that shirt??"  I asked him what he thought I was trying to say, and he responded "Pregnant?!  Are you really pregnant??"  It took a few seconds for it to sink in that I wasn't kidding, and then he got really excited and came to sit next to me on the floor.  We talked about the due date (late August), whether or not we will find out the gender (he wants to, I don't), and then immediately Erik proclaimed "woah, we need to get you a new car sooner than later!" and I kid you not, within ten minutes of hearing the news he was sitting at his computer shopping for a new (not brand new, just bigger) car.  And that my folks, is my husband, ha!

I know the pregnancy is still very early (I am barely three weeks) so I think we are both trying not to get overly excited in light of what happened the first time around.  But still, chances are better than not that things will go as planned and we are really looking forward to adding another family member.  And I am really happy about the timing and the fact that we will be having a warm weather baby.  I was hoping to have our next kiddo born in late summer or early fall so I am pretty excited about the due date.

When Erik and I started talking about adding another family member, it was sometime last spring.  We thought that we would probably start to feel ready at the end of the summer, and that is when we would start trying for 2.0.  However, August arrived and I was in no way feeling ready to be pregnant or even think about another baby.  Erik was still getting used to his new job, we had just moved into our new house in a new city, and still hadn't sold our old house.  I had a bit of a hard time adjusting to all the new changes in life, and was not feeling ready to bring on any additional stress.  As well, I had the realization that I really needed Arlo to be a little older before another kid entered the picture.  I decided it would all probably be a lot easier if he was potty trained, moved out of the nursery and sleeping in a big boy bed in his new room, and closer to three years old in age.  So, we decided to put it off for a few more months.  Eventually we settled in to all the big life changes, our house started feeling a lot more like home, and I started to feel ready for 2.0.  Well, things happened pretty quickly and I guess that's why I am still somewhat shocked that I am sitting here today writhing this post!

Soooo....  I know that it's going to be a while before we get an actual confirmation that this pregnancy is progressing normally, and for that reason we are still debating on when to spill the beans.  We will be visiting my family in two weeks for Christmas, and Erik's family is coming to our house the week after for Arlo's birthday, so it would be great to tell them all in person.  But at the same time we really don't want to get everyone all excited before we know for sure that things are going as they should.

Somehow during my pregnancy with Arlo I wrote a pregnancy update every week.  How?!  I guess I didn't have a toddler to look after, that's how!  Well, this time around my goal is to check in every month or so.  I really did love documenting Arlo's growth in my belly and hopefully this pregnancy will go just as smoothly as his did.  So, there are a lot more things I want to write about but for today I am just going to try and soak it all in and enjoy the day with my boys.

11 days old

For anyone who has been following my blog through the pregnancy, you will recognize the fence in these photos as the same spot I stood to take almost all of the maternity pictures.  I was hoping to take these when Arlo was 8 days old, which would have been my due date, but as I am learning that with a newborn you rarely get to do things according to your own timeline.  These were taken when Arlo was 11 days old.  He is already starting to outgrow the onesie he is wearing!

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!

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...

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!

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!

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!

29 weeks

Due to a very busy weekend and week so far, I am just now getting to my 29 week update, even though today marks the start of the 30th week. This past weekend Erik and I took a wonderful trip to quite possibly my very favorite place, the Blue Ridge Mountains. We spent most of our time in Asheville, but stayed up a little north of the city in Weaverville. Erik found a pet-friendly house to rent so we were able to bring the Munchkin with us.  Highlights of the trip included a visit to The Tobacco Barn (a huge antique warehouse), delicious dinners at our favorite restaurants, Plant and The Laughing Seed, shopping in downtown Asheville, and taking long walks in the morning with Lucy - soaking in the amazing mountain views and fresh air. Quite possibly the best part of our trip was stumbling across a great band playing downtown on Saturday afternoon, the Crow Quill Night Owls. They were so entertaining we watched them until we had to leave for dinner. They play music from the 20's, 30's, and 40s, along with original tunes, and a couple of them were playing homemade instruments. So much fun!  On Sunday we took the long way home, driving north along the Blue Ridge Parkway to enjoy the fall color and lovely views. Before we got off the parkway to head home, we made sure to stop at an orchard near Spruce Pine and hand-picked a big bag of apples to take with us. It was a blast and even Lucy had fun there, running around and sniffing at the fallen apples. This trip was exactly what we needed and will be the last as a family of two before this new little guy decides to make his appearance!
 
The 29 week photos were taken on the property of the house we rented for our stay.  There were a few great backgrounds nearby - a scenic mountain view, a 100 year old church, and an old barn.  The photos in front of the barn turned out to be my favorite, and quite a nice change from the wooden fence in our backyard.
 

29 weeks + 3 days

 
At 29 weeks the baby is the size of a butternut squash, weighing around 2.5 lbs and measuring in at a little over 15 inches from head to toe.  His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain.  Every week I continue to feel more and more activity from this little guy.  Last night in bed he gave me such a hard kick I actually jumped from surprise.  Fortunately none of his movements have ever been painful in any way, but he sure has some strong legs (just like his father.  Another cat 1 cyclist in the making?)  ;)

 

29 weeks + 3 days

 
I have felt a few more Braxton Hicks contractions since last week, almost always during exercise.  These days my exercise routine consists pretty much of a 30-45 minute daily walk with Lucy and some stretching or very light yoga poses.  The hills around our house provide a pretty good workout, even if I am only walking at a medium pace.  I get out of breath much easier now than I used to, so I try not to push myself too hard.  Sleeping has been an issue on and off.  I guess this is to be expected in the 3rd trimester, and even on less sleep than usual I still feel pretty normal throughout the day so it's not been too much of an issue.

I had an appointment at the birthing center yesterday morning, and that went very well.  I only gained 1 lb since my last appointment 2 1/2 weeks ago, bringing my total weight gain to around 15 lbs.  The baby measured in at 29.5 cm which this midwife said is perfectly fine.  At this point we would expect 30 cm give or take a little, so if nothing else he is a touch on the smaller side. 

Probably one of the most exciting things of this past week (besides our trip) was starting our birthing classes.  I mentioned last week that we are taking a 12 week Bradly series, and I am SO happy we are.  Since the series actually extends past my due date in January, the instructor has offered to let us take the last two classes out of order and join into one of her already in-progress class series which will allow us to take all of the classes (hopefully) before our little guy arrives.  The topics of the last two classes are breastfeeding and newborn care, so she said they could be taken at any time.  We took our first class on Monday, and learned about newborn care.  During the class, we took turns diapering, changing, and swaddling a "doll" baby.  It sounds silly, and of course will be much different on a live baby, but the instructor had some great tips and tricks for us newbie parents.  It turned out to be a lot of fun and quite humorous at times!  The highlight of the class was watching Erik take his turn swaddling the doll.  He walked up there and wrapped up the most perfect burrito swaddle with such confidence you would think he did it everyday.  I could have cried it was so adorable...  I know he is going to be such an amazing Dad, and I can't wait to see him in action when the baby gets here.  It gives me the warm and fuzzies just thinking about it.

Our second class (but really the first class of our series) was last night, and was just as great as the previous night's class.  It was an intro to the Bradley method and covered everything we can expect to get out of this series.  We learned some relaxation techniques, talked about exercise during pregnancy, and nutrition requirements among many other things.  I can't say enough great stuff about this instructor, she is truly a blessing and quite possibly the perfect person to take a birthing class from.  She is extremely knowledgeable, confident, and so approachable at the same time.  I feel so lucky to have found these classes as this is turning out to be a wonderful learning opportunity for both of us.   

We have a baby-related project on the schedule for this weekend, and if we are able to finish it by next week I plan to write a post about it.  I have been looking forward to working on it for months now, and it's getting to the point now where we need to get it done soon.  Watch for that post hopefully coming up next!

And finally, a few more photos from our trip this weekend...

Apple pickin' (even though it looks like a red potato!)

This lasted about 2 minutes, then Erik was put in charge of the apple picking tool!

Sweet baby Lucy enjoying the sunshine

28 weeks

28 weeks...  and the beginning of a new (and final) trimester.  This week started out with the search for a birthing class that we will ideally have completed by 36 weeks.  As I called around inquiring about various classes and speaking with several different instructors, I realized that this is something I should have registered for weeks ago, as most classes were nearly full.  Fortunately, I found what I hope to be quite possibly the perfect class for us with a woman who sounds like an amazing instructor.  Not only is it being taught nearby at our birthing center with a new series just about to start, but she had just one space left in the class when we registered.  There are so many different types of classes out there to take, and we decided on a 12 week series that teaches the Bradley Method, otherwise known as "husband coached childbirth."

Initially, I wasn't focused on taking this type of series, as I didn't know how comfortable Erik would be with not only taking a class that required such a time commitment, but also having so much responsibility placed on him during labor as my "birth coach."  We have been planning on hiring a doula who would come to our house once labor began, who would be there to provide extra support especially during the first part of labor while we were at home.  However, after talking with the instructor, she said that couples become so comfortable with the knowledge they receive in her class series, that they often change their minds about the necessity of a doula.  We will see how we feel as we get closer to the due date, but as of now we are still on the fence about whether or not we will really need one.  Our class starts in just over a week and we are both really looking forward to it. 

If you want to read more about the Bradley Method, this page has some great information.  The instructor teaching our class told me that 96% of her students go on to have a natural, unmedicated, intervention-free childbirth.  The Bradley Method is quite well known for its success in helping women achieve the natural birth that they desire, and the average "success rate" is around 86% nationally.  That being said, I know that this information doesn't guarantee anything, and that first time births are often long, exhausting, and usually "harder" than subsequent births.  So perhaps the statistics would be a little different if they were only looking at women experiencing their first childbirth.  But still, I am pretty impressed with those odds and I have no doubt we will learn a lot and come out of the class with as much preparation as we possibly can for something that is rather tricky to prepare for, with all of the unknowns that can play into each individual labor.

Yesterday Erik and I took a class on cloth diapering that was held at the birthing center.  They offer two free classes per month (the other one is on baby wearing and I will take that one next month), and we were both really happy that we attended.  We decided early on that we will cloth diaper our kiddos - the health, environmental, and economical benefits are too great to not do it.  Google will provide you with a vast amount of information if you search for "cloth diaper benefits" so I don't need to list them all here.  The class was great for helping us learn about the different kinds of diapers, how to care for them, and also gave us the opportunity to check out in person just about every kind of cloth diaper system available.  I couldn't wait to get home and shop on amazon for the kind we decided upon.  Who knew someone could get so excited about diapers?! 

28 weeks + 3 days

At 28 weeks, baby B is the size of an eggplant, weighing approximately 2 1/4 pounds and measuring in around 10 inches from crown to rump and 15 inches head to heel.  He continues to add more fat every week, and will gain around 1/2 pound or so each week from here on out.  His eyes, complete with eyelashes, are likely open by now, and he can see bright light shining through my belly.

28 weeks + 3 days

I wore this shirt yesterday when Erik and I went out to grocery shop and ran some other errands, and if my hand isn't resting below the bump, the shirt sticks out in a way that makes me look quite pregnant!  Strangers have gone from asking me "are you expecting?" to "so is it a boy or girl?!" or "congrats, when are you due?"  I have to admit, I am rather enjoying all this attention  :) 

As far as new symptoms go, I have been feeling this weird "stretching" very low in my belly for the past couple of weeks.  It happens when I stand up after sitting down for a while, and feels like the baby has turned himself transverse and is laying as low as he possibly can.  It resolves within a minute or so and then I feel normal again.  Last Thursday, Lucy and I were on the way out the door for our morning walk, and I felt the low stretching feeling start.  Only this time, it came all the way up over my belly and it seemed like my stomach was very hard, despite trying to relax it.  I am pretty sure it was a Braxton Hicks contraction, which I have read can start around this point in the pregnancy.  It didn't hurt, but sure was an interesting sensation!  It's the only one I have felt since then, but if it was a BH contraction I am sure there are a lot more coming my way...  I am still loving every kick I feel, and my favorite thing is to pull up my shirt when he really starts moving around and watch my belly move.  He continues to be the most active when I am laying in bed, but so far he hasn't woken me up with his nighttime exercise routine.

According to thebump.com, at this point my breasts already have colostrum which is the first milk that will feed the baby until my milk really comes in a few days after birth.  It's weird though, during the 1st trimester I felt like I couldn't get out and buy new larger bras fast enough, but during the 2nd trimester I don't think they have grown a bit.  I am certainly not complaining, I know they will probably double in size once he is born!

Despite my best efforts to keep the calender free from commitments and obligations as we start the 3rd trimester, we have a busy couple of weeks coming up.  Next weekend we will be in Asheville for our last getaway as a family of two, and the following week I have my next appointment with the midwife and our birthing class starts.  Fortunately this weekend was a nice relaxing one, allowing me plenty of time for nesting and crafting.  More about that in my upcoming post!