20-Week Photo Shoot (Round 2)

Round 2 and 3 weeks late...

The 20-week anatomy scan was decidedly less eventful this time around, given that we already knew the baby's sex and had ruled out several major genetic issues thanks to early screening. 

It's still cool nonetheless, and was mostly taking pictures and counting all the body parts. 

profile with hand by face

the bottoms of itty bitty feet

18 Weeks (Round 2)

18 weeks with C

How Far Along: You guessed it...18 weeks. 

This is solidly in to the second trimester, aka the feel-good portion of the program. Over the past two days I have cleaned out all C's toys, finished switching my closet, washed windows, and started on the new big-boy bedroom, so...energy level is better than at the beginning. Also, BA thinks I'm crazy. 

Total Weight Gain: I don't know exact numbers as of today, but I didn't gain anything the first trimester and am expecting a rapid and shaming increase soon.

Size of Baby: a pickle or a croissant. Today's app update said that baby's weight will increase SIX-FOLD over the next month. Buckle up, people. And bathroom scale. 

Maternity Clothes: Yes indeedy. Didn't waste any time dragging my feet this time around. 

Stretch Marks: so far, so good. 

Gender: it's a boy baby

Movement: Yes! While I was able to feel definite movement earlier this time around, it still was not consistent at that point. Baby is just not big enough. Now it is getting more noticeable and more consistent, which I find reassuring. It is too early to see or feel it from the outside, though. 

Sleep: It's ok. I wake up a lot, but am usually able to fall back asleep quickly. Crazy leg seems to have started earlier this time, though.

What I miss: Once again, brushing my teeth without gagging. 

Cravings: None, really. Sweets haven't been calling my name so far. 

Other crazy symptoms: I wouldn't call it crazy, but I've definitely had an increase in round ligament pain and just the general sense of stretching over the last week. 

Best Moment this week: Honestly, some me-time to do all those housekeeping things (and get my car cleaned--HALLELUJAH) this week while I was on break all by myself. 

2 Weeks

Obviously I won't be doing weekly posts forever (and nobody would want to read that), but at this point a week makes a big difference so I figure I'll go weekly until switching to monthly in a bit.

Week two was a significant improvement over week one. Part of that was just gaining more confidence, I think. Going to the doctor 3 days in a row for heel pricks was terrible, for example, but now we're pretty seasoned at the doctor-visit routine. Looking on the bright side.

It also helps that we made some definite progress in the nighttime arena. The pediatrician made a few suggestions for helping make the bassinet a more appealing place to sleep, and so far they've been pretty successful (I can go through the tricks in more detail if anyone is interested...). So we get some decent stretches of sleep at night now--waking up every 3 hours to feed except for the last round, which can stretch to 4 hours. The only challenge is that we're not really up and moving until 9 or 10am, which doesn't work if we have to be somewhere or want to get stuff done. I think we'll gradually be able to move earlier. For now, I'll take it.

Firsts

Sunday family dinner at the big house

Breakup: with Stumpy, the umbilical cord stump

Projectile poop (estimated 4-foot distance. Off the changing table and into a basket of clean laundry. Picture available upon request. I'm not even mad. I'm impressed).

Stroller adventure around the neighborhood (trip to Frothy Monkey after about an hour of me and BA trying to figure out how the GD carseat snaps into the MF stroller...engineering degree and marriage counseling recommended)

                 

lunch out with Jules at Taqueria del Sol

dinner out with Grace Ann (and surprise guest appearances by Catherine, Miss Nancy, and Maggie Howell) at 12S Taproom. Concurrent with first adventure in Moby Wrap

Mom's first beer. There wasn't a second. Tolerance is a tricky bugger...gotta get back in form.

brunch out with Kate and Andy at blvd [living in a walkable neighborhood is a huge help...we can get out of the house and get some fresh air and feel sort of like real people, but can be home in 5 minutes if things go sideways]

And a special welcome to CW's friend Oliver, the final installment in the February Babies Club. Wishing mom a speedy recovery and looking forward to playdates soon. And the delayed celebration of National Margarita Day--his mom craved margaritas all throughout pregnancy so it's a date!

Stats

last weigh-in: 7lbs 15oz
diapers: size 1 (that was fast)

"two-week" checkup is tomorrow, so we'll see what they say then.

We're doing ok, making it through, and having a pretty good time! He's just pretty darn sweet.

(40 Weeks)

Today was the official due date, so I thought I'd do one last post for that. While it was more than a little stressful that he arrived prior to the due date, I'm glad we've already got almost 2 weeks under our collective belt.


How Far Along: Today was the EDD--40 weeks. This is, at best, an inexact science. As such, he's got 11 days on the outside. 

Total Weight Gain: GAIN SCHMAIN. I haven't hopped on the scale in a few days, but last time I checked I was down about 24 lbs from my weight at delivery. I suspect that the pounds get harder to lose--the first 20 are basically a freebie what with baby, placenta, and fluid--but I'll take it. I don't know what's "typical," but I'll share my experience. I had hoped to start going on walks around now as I feel pretty good physically but it has gotten too cold to really take him out for the time being. But the weather here is a fickle beast, so I am pretty confident that some nicer days aren't too far away. 

Size of Baby: Baby is the size of a jackfruit, a watermelon, or an actual 8-pound human baby.

Maternity Clothes: Yes, still. Mostly leggings and jeans. I'm still wearing the v-neck Mossimo Target tees (non-maternity) that I wore all the way through pregnancy. They work well on this side of the deal as well. The general look has been characterized as "homeless yoga instructor."

I could probably wear non-maternity leggings or larger-than-pre-preg-size Lulu, but no need to push things yet. I would say I left the hospital looking about 6 months pregnant and now look maybe 14-15 weeks pregnant? With clothes on, that is. The belly situation is weird and I'll leave it at that. 

Stretch Marks: Never got any. On the belly, at least. I know I largely have my mother to thank for that, but all future pregnant friends will be receiving this as a gift from me:

Gender: It's a boy. No surprise there. 

Movement: N/A? But I miss that part a little bit. 

Sleep: 
Him: Really good, I think. He's napping in his swing now. Sleeps well and pretty much anywhere during the day, but we are still working toward the goal of having him sleep in the bassinet between feedings at night. We tried this for serious last night and it went...ok. I didn't get less sleep than doing it the other way, and BA got more. The pediatrician suggested a couple tricks so we'll just see what works and know that it won't be magically resolved in a day. I'm going to try to keep him more active for some stretches during the day--looking at stuff, etc.--to hopefully help switch his day/night cycle. Because it's totally backwards at this point. Which is normal. 

Me: see above, I suppose. 

It isn't perfect, but I know a lot of people have it a lot worse. 

Cravings: I don't have any cravings or aversions, but appetite has been weird. I was STARVING during labor, probably because we had rushed through dinner before going in and, once there, I was only allowed a clear liquid diet. I never want to see Hi-C orange Jello again. But after birth, I have struggled to get a normal appetite back. I'm usually hungry for dinner--probably because people keep bringing awesome food--but during the day just have to eat because I know I'm supposed to. Generally the desserts that people have brought, because why not?

Other crazy symptoms: Trouble regulating body temperature; night sweats. General soreness and whole-body achiness a couple days in, but that has largely gone away. Spontaneous displays of emotion. Recovery-wise, I think I'm doing well, but that definitely adds another dimension to trying to take care of a newborn. I would say I feel like I turned a corner in that department about two days ago, which was a welcome change. 

Best Moment this week: They're all best moments...he really is a sweet and easygoing baby. Feeding is going well, the jaundice is resolving, and his weight gain is on track. Watching BA with his little buddy is also particularly sweet and entertaining. 

These hockey games aren't gonna watch themselves...

One Week

Well, technically he was still many hours from arrival this time last week, but it's close enough for me. [Ok, so I wrote this in advance but then it took me 2 days to put in the photos. So it goes.] Here we are...all still alive, which is my definition of a raging success. People always talk about how they're terrified to bring home a newborn, but I had no idea how many horrors would lurk around every corner. The mind can invent some truly awful situations, especially in the dark while alone. Fortunately, after a few days, this faded to a manageable anxiety that is within normal limits. I would think.

Overall, we are all still doing well. He is on a fairly predictable pattern (I wouldn't call it a schedule) of eating every 2 hours and sleeping in between. Eating is going really well, for which I am very thankful. Knock on wood. I know that many people really, really struggle with that piece, and I admire their determination. Even though it has been relatively complication-free for us, it's still pretty challenging. And stressful. C has had some jaundice since birth, and eating well is really the only way for him to clear it out (via poops that we now discuss casually and frequently as if that is a totally normal thing to suddenly be discussing). Just in case worrying about sustaining your child's life is not enough, adding in the threat of "irreversible brain damage" (I suggest some addition professional development to that nurse) is pretty motivating. Thankfully, as of yesterday, his bilirubin levels have stabilized and we are just monitoring for now. We are all hoping we're finished with daily doctor visits and heel pricks.

Between feedings--day and night--he really just sleeps. This is pretty easy, except that he does not want to be put down at night. So the bassinet in our bedroom remains empty. BA and I just tag team throughout the night, sleeping in shifts between his feedings. The on-duty party is generally downstairs in the living room, where most of our supplies are. Plus, one can watch tv to stay awake. This is not a long-term solution, but it is ok for now. During the day, he'll usually sleep in the vibrating seat of the Pack N Play, and I have a couple ideas for how we can reconfigure some things to address nighttime that we'll get to if needed. The adrenaline definitely starts to wear off after a week and not sleeping gets harder, but we're still making it through.

Firsts:
Everything's a first in your first week of actually, you know, being alive on the outside, but here are some milestones in addition to getting born.

People C met and loved:

Jules

Miller

Sara

Lil Mary

not pictured: Berna, Kate & Andy, Catherine, Pete & Jules L, Grace Ann, the dogs, Janette

FaceTime: with the Upstate grandparents (ain't technology grand??)

mail: Valentine from his favorite great aunt

holiday: Mardi Gras, Valentine's day

car ride:

Stats:

- weight:
at birth: 8lbs 3oz.
2/13: 7lbs 8 oz
2/14 and 2/15: 7lbs 11 oz
The amount he lost after birth was within normal limits and he's gaining well now.

- length at birth: 21 3/4"

Likes: rootin' & tootin'

Dislikes: diaper changes. Until the fresh one hits that little bottom, and then everything is instantly ok; bilirubin heel pricks; the bassinet

Despite the craziness, we're having a good time just getting to know him. It's all so new, but it also feels like I already knew him.

Thank you to everyone for the visits, meals, calls, texts, and general cheerleading. It would be impossible (and a lot less fun) to do this without your love and support. Cheers to you.

a hospital ice bucket

37 Weeks

We did it. We cooked a whole baby. Nice work, everybody.

High fives all around.

Oh my God, weren't the 90s amazing? Did we even know it then? 

We had a lovely getaway last weekend, during which I ate enough to rival an entire professional football team, enjoyed a massage during which the power went out, learned a lot about nice bourbons except how they taste, and saw some puppies (!). Oh, and baby obliged by staying put. So it was a win all around. 

Other than that, life has consisted of trying to get the house ready--a slow and uphill battle that I always seem to be losing--checking in with friends, and going to the doctor. 

I had the 37-week appointment this morning, and things continue to look pretty good. I'll spare the details of getting checked (a new joy particular to the appointments in the final weeks) and just say that things are moving along but there's no reason to think we're going to drop out a baby in the immediate future. All of this was pronounced totally normal for 37 weeks, and is fine with me. So good ol' Dr. W is content to let me go one more week, check again then, and go from there. 

Baby C measured very much on track and is head (way) down--the sonographer said, "his head is basically down between your knees"--so she couldn't get a face picture. It doesn't feel like his head is between my knees, so I suppose I'm grateful for that and maybe still have a bit before the full-on waddle. 

We also have a new size estimate from the growth scan (probably the last one). Again, they're notoriously inaccurate, but I can say that it's unlikely Katie and John will win the pool with their vote of 6lbs, 14oz. Everyone else has guessed in the 8-lb range so is probably safe. Except for my husband, who entered a guess of 9lbs, 2 oz (realllly???).

After that, I panicked that we don't have enough clothes in the right sizes. Newborn clothes say they go up to either 7 or 8 pounds, depending on the brand. But even to my untrained eyeball, different items look like they vary widely in their interpretation of how big a 7-lb baby is, so it's extra confusing. I had a vision of going to put on his "going home" ensemble and it being all wrong and getting some serious side-eye from the nurses. So a quick trip to Baby Gap should have us covered with a few more items for the baby bag, no matter what size he emerges. I will teach him early that we always pack options. 

36 Weeks

...and counting. But not yet at the final countdown. Let's make it to 37 before we start that.

We are puffy and tired. But both appointments this week (NST on Monday; ultrasound on Thursday) went well. Baby performed very well at the NST and "passed with flying colors" on the ultrasound. I think at this point that mainly just means he's keeping up the practice breathing. No pictures from that one, though. His hands were back in front of his face--but he did wave.

We also took Newborn Care 101 on Wednesday night...definitely an experience to share. BA changed a diaper (granted, on a baby doll) and was the best swaddler in the room. I'm very proud. We saw lots of pictures of gross poops, baby acne, and lanugo and are thus totally certified to take care of a helpless newborn. It's not terrifying in the least.

The nursery is coming along in whatever a small, slow version of "leaps and bounds" would be. Steps and hops? It would be serviceable if he had to come home tomorrow (please no) but needs a little more organizing. Part of this organizing is moving things down to the living room, which I'm guessing will be our home base during most of the daytime hours. So we now have the swing and soon, the Pack N Play downstairs...thereby completing my transformation into the person whose house is taken over by baby shit that I swore I'd never be. Once that stuff is moved out of the nursery, it's just a matter of finishing touches: hanging pictures, mirrors, and curtains. Oh, and ordering said curtains...but they're on backorder until late Feb so whatever. I will post pics when the room is as close to finished as it's likely to get.

This weekend is our last getaway (still within driving distance of the hospital, no worries), to which I am very much looking forward. I can't do much in the way of activities (horseback riding? no?), but will have a massage and eat everything they have to offer, which is sounding pretty good. I will also have pictures of that upon our return.

Other than that, nothing else to report...I just spend my days slowly doing things around the house--the thing they don't tell you about nesting is that, while it is a real thing, you're pretty physically limited once it actually hits--and continuing to cook this baby.

Finally, I would like to give a shoutout to baby Jack, who is scheduled to arrive in our nation's capital on Monday morning. We are very much looking forward to meeting you and I urge you to please consider this your very stern warning to give your mother a very easy time. I would hate to have to give you The Look at this tender age. Sending all our love from the Nashville contingent (don't worry, we have a party on the books for Monday night--if we can't be with you all, we'll at least be together here!). xoxo

This is for Hayden and Tom (and you can laugh at us later when you are all accomplished and everything is a breeze): Five Things I Forgot About Having A Newborn

35 Weeks and The Best Photo Shoot Yet

Another week down. The third trimester is like the first trimester in many ways, one of which is that every week that passes feels like a major accomplishment. The next time I go for a checkup with my doctor, I will be 37 weeks (full term), so I'll feel a lot better then. Even if the BP starts to shoot up or they see troublesome labs, it would be a no-brainer to deliver after that point.

Monday, I had a non-stress test involving a slight kerfuffle in which baby had lots of good-looking heart rate accelerations, but also a big decel (they think he kicked his cord). They ordered a followup ultrasound, which--after a very long tenure in the waiting room--revealed everything was all good. This morning was a checkup with the OB and an ultrasound (biophysical profile) afterwards. Both went very well and were definitely good points on this whole roller coaster of recent appointments.

Blood pressure was fine this morning; she is still watching but is not alarmed or considering any treatment or course of action. Negative result for protein in the (now-standard) pee sample, so all's good in the 'hood. She said there is no way to predict which people with "watchable" BP readings progress further into problems and which remain ok, so they just keep watching. And a little bit of an elevated BP isn't abnormal this late in pregnancy...I mean, that's a lot of extra blood being pumped around...so it's just a thing.

Ultrasound was fabulous--the sonographer really took her time to look around and get some good pictures for me. The funny thing is that she did my previous ultrasound on Monday (after the NST) and I didn't really like her...she was brisk and a little rough and there was another guy in there shadowing her who was kind of annoying. But today was totally different. Maybe she didn't like the shadow guy either. I've done this enough at this point to know she really went above and beyond, so I intend to commend her on the little comment cards they leave out at the front desk. I'm glad I got her on a better day, because it was a great experience. She said he was "going to town on his practice breathing" --no buzzer today!--and heart rate was perfect. She said he looked so good and she could just look all day. Obviously, that was great to hear and goes a long way in reassuring me. And everyone.

AND he was pretty cooperative for some photos. We got some nice 2D face and profile shots, and I mentioned that we didn't have a bunch of great pics because he's usually not cooperative. She said his position looked good today so she would flip to the 3D and see what she could get. About half an hour later, I left with, like, a 3-foot long strip of photos. We were just laughing and looking at stuff and I think it was a nice fun break for both of us. I know they look at babies all day, so I kind of feel like she wasn't just being polite when she said such nice things. Or maybe I'm wrong, but it was a good appointment on a day when I felt like I really needed a good appointment.

3D images ahead...fair warning. These got too much glare on them in my scanner and look better in person, but I think you can get the general idea??

Good shot of hand underneath chin

Chubby cheeks and little lips

And a little smile.

Same photo but as iPhone pic, so with a little less glare: 

The end. Have a smiley day. 

34 Weeks

Here we are...mile 24.5.

I am doing away with the usual question format this time around, mostly because I am tired of answering the same questions. So I thought I'd just do a little update.

Last Monday I went to the doctor's office for a non-stress test. During this test, they put 2 sensors on the belly: one to monitor baby's heart rate, and one to monitor any contractions (I'm not having any). They are looking for baby's heart rate to increase 15 beats above baseline for 15 seconds on at least 2 occasions in a 20-minute period. So I just sat there for 20 minutes and watched the monitors, which was pretty nice. After that, they took a blood pressure and it was pretty close to normal. Baby also passed the heart rate test, so they feel like he's fine and comfy in there. A gold star appointment over all.

I went back on Thursday for an ultrasound, which was a bit more of a haphazard experience. The ultrasound looked good; baby scored high again. No face pics at all this time around, though we did get a picture of a foot and some toes. That would have been thrilling at the beginning of this process, but now I'm like "no face? Not interested. Move along." Because baby is bigger at this point, ultrasound is useful for them to look at particular parts for measuring but not very interesting for me to look at--you can't see the whole baby at once or much of the head or anything that helps you orient to what you're looking at. He was practice breathing a little, but then he would stop (supposedly he was sleeping). The sonographer wanted to see him do it for longer, so she woke him up with a little buzzer, after which he got really mad and did plenty of the breathing accompanied by some angry hiccups.

After this appointment, the BP was a little high (no idea why), but my usual doc was not there to consult so they had to make a follow-up plan on the fly. Lots of waiting around ensued (schedule morning appointments whenever possible). I was sent down to the lab for a blood draw, which was lovely as always. The next day, a nurse called and said the results from the blood tests were "very reassuring" and there were no signs of pre-eclampsia "yet"...thanks for that. But it was nice of them to call, though I'd already had nurse Sara look at the labs once they posted them in my online file and she said it looked good. So really I think the overall feeling right now is that I continue to be fine, but I feel like it's a roller coaster in terms of what the BP is on any given day and they are watching so closely that it feels like a LOT of testing. I'm not tired of being pregnant quite yet, but I am getting tired of being this patient. I just keep reminding myself that, one way or another, it will be over in a couple of weeks and it's not really that big a deal since baby is fine.

One fun thing from the most recent ultrasound: the sonographer got kind of a backlit (?) view of his head, and said that he doesn't have a full head of hair but does have some little peach fuzz. We'll have to wait and see what color it is...I am kind of freaked out by babies that come out with a whole baby toupee on anyway, so peach fuzz is fine with me. I just kind of hope he's not bald for as long as I was...

Speaking of hair--thought I'd throw in a positive perk at this point...while I may look and feel like a manatee, at least I am a manatee with awesome hair (except when it's raining). It is thick and generally cooperative, and it's a very strange experience to not be shedding. No hair in the shower. None in the brush. No random hairs on my arm or pillow or bathroom floor or car dash or whatever (you curly-haired girls know what I mean). I will be very sad to lose it all after baby is born.

I also had a nice coffee sesh with two other ladies who are due at the same time as I am (literally--one is Feb 20 and the other is Feb 21), so it was nice to chat with people who are in the trenches as well. Some of our experiences are the same, and some are really different, so it's nice to get a little perspective. I also had a wonderful baby shower on Saturday hosted by cruise director Grace Ann, Buff & Mary and their mom, Kate, Catherine, Katie (via satellite), and Bernzo. A lovely time was had by all and it was truly perfection to look at. I'll do a whole post with pics once I get them from the photographer (i.e., Sara).

I think those are the main points to hit for this week...hopefully I can get through the next round of doctor appointments without being ping-ponged around too much. I hope your week is fabulous and that you are surviving the January blahs.

xo

33 Weeks

How Far Along: 33 down. About 7 to go (ideally not a ton more or less).

Size of Baby: Estimated 4 pounds, 9 oz per the ultrasound this morning. More details to come on that scan in the next post. 

Maternity Clothes: Entire wardrobe (and I use that term loosely) is maternity, with the exception of my Mossimo brand t-shirts from Target. They are still long enough and I think I'll wear them after baby too, so they've been a top purchase for sure. I know I have 2 gray ones, a black, and a tan. At least. 

Also, a tip: should you ever find yourself pregnant, do most of your maternity shopping on the front end and just get whatever you want to last you through. This especially applies to pants. I decided that I needed one more pair of non-jean pants to get me through February, so found myself in Pea in the Pod yesterday trying on pants. This is what I learned.

1. Whoever designed those dressing rooms should be publicly shamed and then banished. The lighting is horrible, the rooms are small, and the mirrors are fat mirrors. As if you want to look any bigger. Imagine your worst bathing-suit-trying-on experience and multiply it by, oh, 6000. It's not so much that I feel like everything is fat, but you really see how large the situation is. The proportions are all wrong. They keep a fake belly in all the rooms so if you are not very pregnant you can simulate how clothing will fit when you are larger...the one in my stall was allegedly the "7 month" belly and I put that thing to shame.

2. Trying on pants in above-mentioned dressing room is uncomfortable at best. I had a stack of about 4-5 pairs. After slowly working my way through the first two pairs and not liking the way anything looked (think: sausage casings), I was sweating and not feeling very nice. I abandoned the rest of the pile and left without buying anything. Basically what I'm trying to say here is that you can't really even physically try on clothes at the end, so either take them home to try on and return or just buy (in store or online) and cross your fingers. Or make do with what you've got. There's no shopping late in the game.

Movement: Still good, which continues to be reassuring. His movements are slower, though.

Sleep: Not blissful for anyone in the bed, let's be honest. I have trouble falling asleep either due to crazy leg (definitely the medical term) or the baby moving around so much it keeps me up. I don't have an enormous problem with the middle-of-the-night bathroom trips, but I can't lie in any one position for too long without my hips starting to hurt. So I have to roll over often, which is somewhat akin to wrestling with a crocodile. 

What I miss: My shoes. 

I wouldn't say that I'm quite ready for Baby C to be here, or at the point where I am like GET THIS BABY OUT (yet), but I am beginning to think forward to a time when I am no longer pregnant. Like when I can go to the mall and think about maybe being able to wear some of the cute things I see--even if not in my pre-pregnancy size--or to have a glass of wine, or be able to walk around and bend over. Just regular things that now seem totally beyond the realm of comprehension. In fact, it's almost impossible for me to believe or remember that there was a time that I was not actually pregnant. 

But for right now, he needs to stay in there a little while longer, and I am more than ok with that. In fact, my biggest fear remains that he will come way early, so I definitely don't want any of that juju. 

Cravings: None, really, but I have got to get the eating back on track. Or at least mitigate the damage until delivery.

Other crazy symptoms: Some heartburn flaring up again...could be due to poor holiday diet, or maybe this baby will have a little bit of hair. 

Best Moment this week: Fun times with the family, immediate and extended: a low-key New Year celebration, dad's bday, general hanging out. 

To do this month: Pack the hospital bags. Install the car seat. These are real things...yikes.

32 Weeks

How Far Along: 32 weeks, which is about 8 months for those of you playing along at home.

Generally, I have found this to be kind of an anxiety-inducing limbo point--I'm close, but not THAT close (despite the kind words of the security guy at the Titans game who said I was "about to pop"). It's getting close enough that we need to do a lot of stuff...the January to-do list includes packing the bags and putting the car seat in the car. On the other hand, they still terrify you about preterm labor and, while baby would likely be fine if born now--though probably guaranteed a NICU stay--37 weeks ("term") is still 5 weeks away. It's close enough to be real but not close enough to be ready so it's all a little scary. So is thinking about how much bigger everything has to get before go time. I want him to stay in, but it seems truly impossible for him to put on like 4 or 5 more pounds.

Total Weight Gain: After this week, approximately 1000 pounds. I'm told I'm gaining a pound a week at this point, which is alarming.

Size of Baby: This is getting stupider and stupider. The baby is the size of a large jicama (too specific) or a squash (too vague). 

He is about 3.5-4 pounds and has fingernails and real hair (or peach fuzz). He can use all his senses now--looking around, listening to people, tasting fluid (ew), etc. 

I asked the doctor if she could tell how the baby was positioned, and she said she could but that it didn't matter at this point. He's definitely still flipping all around, so I guess she has a point.

Maternity Clothes: Not stretchy pants? Not interested. The bigger issue continues to be footwear, however. It's generally too cold for cute flats, and most of my boots don't fit. While this is not terrible, it does seem like it dictates entire "outfits" so is more limiting than one might think.

Movement: Seems good. He moves pretty frequently and when he is supposed to (after I eat, when I lie down). Sometimes it's a little much but I'm still reminding myself that it's all a good thing.

Sleep: Hit or miss. When I'm sleeping well, it inevitably means snoring. So then I get the Snore Warning from the other side of the bed, which wakes me up. It's a vicious cycle. 

What I miss: General mobility and a normal level of activity. 

Cravings: I still like my toast. We got a box of clementines, which I'm pretty in to. We had doughnuts on Christmas Eve, which was very exciting.

Other crazy symptoms: Braxton Hicks have ramped way up in the past few days--probably due to all the Christmas activity and requisite moving around of things. I don't think they're a problem--they are not painful or regular--but I could do without them, really.

Best Moment this week: We all had a lovely Christmas and even saw some snow (which did not stick). Santa was good to everyone, including the baby and the beasts, and we all enjoyed our last Christmas without little ones. Next year will be an adventure. 

30 & 31 Weeks

How Far Along: 31 weeks of being a human Crockpot. You're getting a combo post this week because I could not get it together enough to post one last week.

Total Weight Gain: Total unknown, but rate is slowing. Most gain now will (I hope) be actual baby, as his job now is to just get bigger. I also have less room for my actual stomach, so have just been grazing rather than eating everything that's not nailed down.

Size of Baby: About 3.5 lbs and the size of a pineapple, which is tropically delicious.

Maternity Clothes: Oh yes. If it stays this cold, my next task will be a search for a maternity coat. 

Movement: Still plenty, which is reassuring. I know he will run out of room at some point and the movement will slow down, so I'm just happy he's still flipping around. Even if he really packs a punch sometimes.

Sleep: I can only fall asleep quickly if I am painfully exhausted, which has happened a few times in the past 2 weeks (what with all the holiday merrymaking). This does not seem like a great tradeoff. Let's just say I apologize daily to BA and am pretty glad I do not have to be up and at a real job where I have to function. 

What I miss: Sleep? Being able to do things for more than a short stretch before I have to take a break.

Cravings: If I could subsist only on cinnamon raisin toast, I'd be happy.

Other crazy symptoms: Had some really attractive swelling and some Braxton-Hicks contractions over a busy couple weekends (baby showers, holiday parties, Titans Monday night game). Some rest and compression socks have gotten things back under control for now (though my baseline swell factor is still higher than a normal person's, I think). I can still wear my engagement ring but have taken off the  wedding band, which must be a little smaller. 

If you are swelly, buy these (from a local company):

Swiftwick Aspire Twelve compression socks

I am now ready to go run with the hipsters in East Nasty

They also have normal socks for regular folks

Best Moment this week: Well, the world didn't end, so that's a plus. Very much looking forward to Miller's birthday celebration and a Very Merry Smithmas tonight--always a fun time. We hosted another successful holiday party last weekend, which was a festive (if stupid on my part) endeavor. Thanks to all our fun friends for coming and reveling with us. My mom also hosted her annual Christmas Tea, which is always a fun way to see everyone at this time of year. I would also like to thank Jules and Sara for coming over to help get the nursery serviceable before our party, in case people wanted to take a peek (which they did). Also, the fabulously comfy glider arrived. So it's coming along decently well, even though it's not finished. I did mini laundry and put some clothes away and it's generally taking shape. Pics will be posted when it's reasonably close to finished.

29 Weeks

How Far Along: 29 weeks, y'all.

Total Weight Gain: I see skinny people at the grocery store and want to bop them on their skinny heads. 

Size of Baby: Acorn squash or something. 2-3 lbs, but will triple in weight between now and D-Day. 

He is putting on fat and entering an "active phase" (truth). I am putting on fat and entering a non-active phase. Weird.

Maternity Clothes: Sad trombone moment of the week: putting on a maternity top that was TOO SMALL. I have never worn it--I guess I waited too long. Then the Terrible Awful happened: my cute, flat TB boots--which I bought specifically because they were flat and intended to wear them throughout the pregnancy--no longer zip up my fat/swollen legs. Helpfully, only the heeled ones still zip up, and it has been too warm for the Uggs. A serious footwear dilemma. 

One blog I read recommended Tieks flats. Does anyone know anything about them?

Movement: I do not think I was correct about him turning over (or he flipped back), because he was definitely back in the disobedient position around Sunday. Sunday/Monday had lots of movement, so he's up to something in there. 

Sleep: I'm pretty tired. This seems unfair, as everybody seems set on terrifying people about the sleepless times that await after baby arrives. And to those people who say "just wait 'til the baby comes!" or "it's good practice!" I flick you in the forehead, because I'm pretty sure I don't need practice not sleeping. 

What I miss: Putting cute clothes on my list to Santa.

Cravings: Still have a salt aversion.

Other crazy symptoms: I puked for the first time. That's right, at 29 weeks. I woke up really hungry and had a huge bowl of cereal, and I think there just wasn't enough room for it. Lesson learned. 

Best Moment this week: I am enjoying decking the halls, starting to piddle around the nursery, and am also looking forward to my first shower tomorrow! Getting out the Christmas ornaments reminded me of the ornament shower I had before we got married (a really great thing to do, if any of you are brides), and it's fun symmetry to be having a baby shower pretty much exactly five years later. It's even hosted by some of the same lovely friends of my mom's. So that's fun to think about. 

27 Weeks

Sorry for the delay--I've been having trouble with Blogger. Not much to report, anyway. 

How Far Along: 27 weeks with child. Some sources say the third trimester begins now, while others say it is 28 or 29 weeks. I am confused, so...that's all I know.

Size of Baby: head of cauliflower, rutabaga...same ol', same ol'. All we know for sure is that he's over 2 lbs already.

Maternity Clothes: Same as before, but some of the smaller (shorter) tank tops are getting too short. 

Movement: Plenty to go around. I think his head is still up top and his feet are way down. He moves sideways sometimes, but seems to return to that position. He better flip soon, or we're going to have a talk. 

Sleep: Some nights are better than others, but it's still generally fine. 

What I miss: I'm starting to feel a little limited (physically), which you can probably imagine is not going over well. 

Cravings: A turkey sandwich (with the leftover Thanksgiving turkey. But someone ATE IT ALL).

Other crazy symptoms: My hands and feet fall asleep much more easily. Thankfully, not all at once. I always think of baby Miller, who used to say "my foot is sparkly!" when it would happen to her. My feet are more likely to fall asleep when I am sitting at the computer, sometimes crosslegged. My hands fall asleep while I'm sleeping, which leads to lots of weird dead-arm wakeups. 

Best Moment this week: Lots of great times...just a good week with a lot of gratitude. 

26 Weeks

If you missed yesterday's post (free stuff!), be sure to check it out. **If you are having trouble with your comment, or it is not showing up, let me know.**

How Far Along: 26 weeks of weird-bellybutton glory. Under 100 days to go...

Size of Baby: Baby is about 1.6 to 2 lbs and 14 inches long. This is the size of a head of lettuce or an English hothouse cucumber (really? REALLY?!?). 

is this better or worse than a picture of an eggplant?

Baby is continuing to put on fat. Eyes are forming (I am going to pretend they've been there all along, because that creeps me way out). 

Maternity Clothes: Same as it ever was. Still liking my regular-but-long tees and my fave leggings. Uggs are looking like the footwear of the future. Does anyone know if they make, like, all-gel shoes? Maybe with some clouds?

Movement: Frequent and emphatic. I can tell he's getting bigger because I'll feel near simultaneous movement in points that are pretty far from one another. Also, some part of him (a kicky part) is way down low, which is new and strange territory.

Sleep: I am fully aware that I'm going to jinx myself, but this week has been really good. I have been sleeping soundly and well. Minimal restless legs or insomnia. Reports from the other side of the bed indicate the snoring situation is under control. For now. 

What I miss: Not having to plan a thoughtful and precise approach to how I'm going to put on a given pair of shoes. Being able to say words without messing them all up. 

Cravings: None. Fortunately for the grocery bill and the bathroom scale, I think the phase of nonstop eating has abated. For now. 

Other crazy symptoms: Hip pain. But overall, I've felt really good this week after a tough round last week, so I'm happy for that. There's still heartburn, but I'm much better at managing it now and it's not bothersome. Unless someone is bothered by the fact that I carry Tums everywhere. 

Best Moment this week: I don't know if there was a high moment, but overall it has been a great week. I feel good, physically and emotionally. Looking forward to the holidays, some upcoming baby showers, and general good times. 

25 Weeks

How Far Along: 25 weeks

Total Weight Gain: Thought I'd be ready to discuss this point in more depth this week, but not quite. I will, though.

Size of Baby: Like a rutabaga or something totally pointless. 

Baby is beginning to have a primitive memory and is putting on fat and hair. Basically, he and I have a lot in common right now. 

Maternity Clothes: The same--pants and some dresses. My fave are the Ingrid & Isabel leggings. I foresee a new challenge with outerwear coming soon...

Movement: Same as it ever was. The posse of witnesses (kick feelers) continues to grow, including friends and colleagues. 

Sleep: Travel sleep was dicey (I cried into regular lame pillows out of longing for the body pillow) (not really). Now that we're home for a stretch, mostly pretty good. 

What I miss: Not having heartburn. Or reflux. Is there a difference? Basically, not having a burning sensation in my chest. Man, this came out of nowhere. There is a stash of Tums in most rooms in the house, as well as my purse. Jules suggested "just drinking Maalox" so I'll put that on the ol' grocery list. 

Cravings: None, really. 

Other crazy symptoms: Not a great week, physically. It just kind of felt tougher. I also think I was more worn out from our travels and adventures than I had realized. The main weird new thing is burning lungs (or so it feels). I googled "pregnancy lungs burning" and it turns out this is probably reflux--it just feels different because everything is all in new locations now. So we stocked up on some Tums and will see how that goes. Also, quite the stuffy nose. This is called "rhinitis of pregnancy" and really just means "stuffy nose but also you are pregnant so can't take anything." Nasal sprays (e.g., Afrin) are allowed, but the rebound issue with that means I only want to use it in dire straits--feeling like a pregnant drug addict who can only think about the next hit of Afrin is kind of bad. On the non-drug front, a neti pot works surprisingly well. 

BA would also like to report that a humidifier and an extra pillow seems to have the snoring under control. I would like to report that I am grateful to all the ladies who have assured me I'm not the only one with this symptom. Also sometimes he snores too so there. 

Best Moment this week: Totally lame and boring, but being home and wrangling things back into some semblance of order after a marathon of house neglect (dissertation, two trips). Made some progress on the nursery. I'm starting to feel like things are getting a little more under control, and am excited about the holidays (the "real holidays," as BA put it--right after the last trick-or-treater left) around the corner. 

24 Weeks

How Far Along: About 6 months down, friends. 

Total Weight Gain: Ehh...I'll talk about this next time. 

Size of Baby: Baby is about the size of a cantaloupe, which I do not even like. He is about the weight of a "lengthy paperback novel" (according to one source) or "a Harry Potter book" (according to a way better source).

my favorite one

Baby's hair is changing to the color it will be at birth, and his lungs are developing more and preparing for breathing. Skin is more opaque, and new capillaries are making it a healthy pink color. 

Maternity Clothes: Yup. Pants and some dresses. All shirts are still ok, but will need to be sure to stick to the longer non-maternity ones pretty soon. 

Movement: Indeed. BA has now felt the Boom, and we can sometimes see movement from the outside. Kicks are getting strong enough that some of them definitely give me pause. The other day he was very busy but also waaay over on my left side, and I felt lopsided all day.

Sleep: All in all, pretty good. 

What I miss: Not having sore feet and ankles. Being able to bend over without thinking too much about it. I'm still perfectly mobile, but sometimes when I drop something on the floor it's pretty tempting to leave it there. 

Cravings: Cereal with vanilla yogurt, bananas.

Other crazy symptoms: Leg cramps. Nosebleeds. Definitely some swollen feet, but it makes a big difference if I just elevate them for a bit at the end of the day. So far, I have felt pretty good, but I'm starting to get a glimpse of some of the experiences that are coming down the pipeline. 

Best Moment this week: Posting from this office isn't so terrible...

We're down in Florida with two other couples...our last little vacay before we go on travel lockdown. The weather has been lovely and it has been a nice, relaxing time. Pretty much just like Spring Break. 

23 Weeks

How Far Along: Twenty-three weeks, folks. Some babies born this early have survived (with significant medical intervention), though we obviously want him to stay in and cook until it's time. 

Total Weight Gain: I will see what the scale says at the doctor's office tomorrow. 

Size of Baby: Averages start to vary a lot, here...

(that's a grapefruit)

At this point, pictures of actual babies are kind of more helpful to me than food sizes, so here's this:

So, as babies go, still very small. However, as far as things to have taking up residence among your organs go, pretty sizable. In the next four weeks, he'll double in size and weight. I am hoping I do not also double in weight. His face is fully formed, but needs some fat to fill it out.

Maternity Clothes: Unchanged. Pants and some dresses. Long non-maternity shirts are still fine. 

Movement: Getting pretty emphatic. I wouldn't call it uncomfortable, generally, but he packs enough of a punch now that there are definitely some that get my attention. Especially the 11pm dance party (of one), which makes falling asleep challenging...

I also think he's starting to respond to our voices (or maybe just noise...I won't flatter myself), because if it has been quiet for a bit and then we start talking, he'll start to wiggle. 

Sleep: Generally ok to good. This is what everyone has started to ask about lately, so I assume it won't be so good for long. 

What I miss: Nothing specific, but everything. It's not that I want to have tons of booze or coffee or sliced turkey or to move all the furniture or what have you, but it's been about six months of being frequently reminded (sometimes nicely; sometimes not, and sometimes with conflicting information) that I'm not able or allowed to do lots of things, and that gets old sometimes. It goes without saying that we all want our babies to develop safely--but advising against everything just because there's "not enough information" makes that list grow pretty fast. I talked to a poor girl last week who is 13 weeks pregnant and had read she was not allowed to have pedicures. Now, I'm sure there are shades of grey here...but internet message boards are not your doctor. All I'm saying is that do's and don'ts can be really overwhelming in this age of ever-present information, and given that we all want to do the best we can, you have to make a conscious effort to not be paralyzed by guilt or indecision. So, to be precise, I suppose what I miss right now is the ability to do whatever I want (within reason and the law, of course) without worrying about it. 

Cravings: None, really. I had a brief and random craving for a root beer float yesterday, but that passed as quickly as it popped up. 

Other crazy symptoms: Feeling a little puffy. I can still wear my rings, but my feet swell easily. They're puffy when I wake up, and hurt by the end of the day. I've cut back on sugar (Halloween candy...I miss you...and also, sadly, orange Gatorade) and that might have helped a bit. 

Another first: I woke BA up with my snoring the other night. He, in turn, woke ME up and told me to move onto my back, but I'm not supposed to sleep on my back at this point. So I was just really confused. I'm chalking that one up to post-defense exhaustion and hoping it doesn't become a regular occurrence. Because yikes. 

Best Moment this week: Dinner at a lovely restaurant with my family on Monday night after a successful dissertation defense. Thanks to the responsible parties for organizing that, and for doing dinner on a Monday (probably not high on everyone's list). But it was fun and special and I'm glad we got to do it.