Back from the hospital...

But no baby yet! I went to my midwife appointment on Friday morning at 11:00 and my BP was absolutely through the roof...146/102 (taken three times, all about the same). Leslie wanted to induce immediately since we had been seeing this trend over the last few weeks, and she transferred my care to a doctor in the practice. I went home, got our bags, and headed back to L&D. Checked in at 2:00, got a saline lock (worst experience EVER--it's still sore!), got hooked up to the monitors, and watched the nurses cart in all the induction stuff (the plan was to use a Foley catheter). The monitored me for about 45 minutes, and my BP just kept getting lower, and lower, and lower...by the end, it was almost normal! In addition, I was having contractions about every 5 minutes, 60 seconds long.

The doctor came in, and said she had reviewed my chart. She didn't want to induce because the likelihood of a cesarean was so high and because my BP had stabilized. She decided to keep me in the hospital on bedrest, though, and redid a 24-hour urine collection and labs. Everything came back relatively normal (the protein in my urine was elevated, but not above the "magic number" of 300), so she discharged me this morning. It was the most boring 3 days of my life! I am on modified bed rest now, so I have a feeling the next week or two is going to just creep by. She encouraged us to get labor moving by whatever means possible--as if we hadn't been doing that already!

Anyway, my care was transferred BACK to the midwives, and I have an appointment on Tuesday morning. I have to be honest--I really liked the doctor that worked with me, and I'm now a little skeptical of my primary midwife. I understand that my BP WAS dangerously high, and I think she was right to want to induce. However, she wanted to induce using cytotec! She actually told me to tell the doctor to use cytotec, but I was thrilled that she wanted to use the Foley catheter instead. The rest of my appointments are scheduled with the other midwife in the practice, who I think I like better anyway. It's weird how my opinion has totally shifted over the past few days. I thought I liked Leslie way better, but now I'm on the Nicole bandwagon!

I'm still having regular contractions, but they don't hurt at all. I can just feel a little cramp and then rising in my uterus. Last time they checked, they were about 8 minutes apart, 60-90 seconds long. I guess I'll know when it's the "real thing"--I hope that happens soon!

Nope, nothin' yet. I keep getting contractions in the evening, but they fizzle out by morning. I'm wondering what the little counter to the left will say once I surpass my due date...hmm...-1 days left?

In other news, I am officially addicted to baby carriers. I started out my collection with a few cheap things I picked up second hand, and now my "nice" carriers outnumber my "cheap" carriers. I have a Moby-style wrap (thanks to Rebecca and Michael!), a ring sling that I bought second-hand from Once Upon a Child, a NICE Kozy Carrier Mei Tai, a Beco Butterfly (most practical, especially for daddy), and a Storch Leo wrap (undoubtedly the "nicest"). I think it's kind of become like some women with shoes or handbags--this is my newest shopping addiction! I'll have to post pictures of me and Ella using each one after she's born :-) Tory, I've been trying to convince Chris that I need a "formal" dupioni silk ring sling for your wedding, but he's not buyin' it (literally and figuratively)!!!

Nothing yet

Still nothing but cramps! Still keeping our fingers crossed!

Today's Acupuncture

Well, I had my acupuncture treatment today, but I don't think I'm in labor yet. I had a couple of strong contractions while I was on the table and a couple more during dinner, and then they tapered off for a while. :-( As I'm typing this, though, I feel really crampy, and I feel lots of pressure down there. I'm going to try to get some sleep, and hopefully Ella wakes me up at about 6am! :-)

Maternity Photos!

Chris finally took maternity pictures for me! I kind of wanted to use a professional photographer (mostly for the experience), but I'm glad Chris did it instead--take a look!

Is she coming soon?

Since the midwife suggested we try to get Ella out as soon as possible, I scheduled an acupuncture "induction" for next Wednesday, the 15th. Remee, the acupuncturist, told me I needed to bring someone with me to drive, "just in case"!!! Now, I'm not getting my hopes up that it will even work the first time--acupuncture is most effective when used within one week of the due date--but her insistence that I bring someone along to drive has made me quite anxious! I've been reading studies on acupuncture induction, and it really is quite effective. Cross your fingers that it works and we're holding a little one before our next midwife appointment (next Friday, the 17th)!

So....very...tired...

Why, oh why, am I so tired? I've been sleeping rather well lately, but my day goes something like this: wake up, check my discussion boards online, eat breakfast, feel extremely sleepy, get unmotivated to do anything, spend the entire day watching TV or online, still sleepy at bedtime even though I've done nothing...repeat!

I have this lovely schedule that I made for cleaning the house, but I'm already behind this week. I need to get off my butt and do something!

We got the "all clear"

I realize that most of you weren't even aware we were having problems (I didn't want to worry everyone), but I wanted to let you know that we're okay! I had been dealing with high blood pressure for a couple of weeks, and then last week there was a small amount of protein in my urine and I had gained 4 pounds in a week. The worst case scenario was preeclampsia, a very serious problem that can only be resolved by delivering the baby as quickly as possible. The midwife had me do blood tests and collect my urine for 24 hours (ew!) to make sure it wasn't preeclampsia. I, of course, freaked out when induction became a possibility and bawled in her office. I wouldn't mind meeting Ella early, but my care would be transferred to one of the doctors if I were induced! I really want to deliver with the midwives--I've been looking forward to the experience for almost 9 months. Anyway, we had our appointment today, and everything was fine! There was an acceptable amount of protein in my urine, and the blood work was all normal. My blood pressure is still high, though, so she really wants me to go into spontaneous labor as soon as possible. She suggested some herbs and supplements (evening primrose oil and red raspberry leaf tea) along with lots of sex and acupuncture. Hopefully we'll be meeting our little girl a little earlier than her due date!

Funny story...

My friend, Michele, told me I should write the story of yesterday's adventure in my blog, so here goes...

Yesterday started out really relaxing--I got my hair cut first thing in the morning, and then I went grocery shopping at Whole Foods. I was tired after walking around the store, but nothing severe. I went home, put away the groceries, and lay on the couch for about an hour before leaving for our childbirth class. Chris and I went to the class, which lasted about 2 hours, and then decided to stop by Target to pick up an exercise ball for use during labor. We also ended up getting loads of snacks to pack in the hospital bag, but that's completely beside the point :-) After Target, we were both STARVING, so we decided to eat at this Thai joint in the West End. It was good, and as we left I noticed a Hancock Fabric store in the same shopping center. This was truly the beginning of the end!

I thought we could stop for just a minute to look at fabric, but no...I ended up walking all around the store full of excitement and ended up completely wearing myself out! I had to head on out to the truck while Chris checked out (poor Chris, having to check out with an arm full of fabric and thread). I relaxed for a while and then realized that I REALLY had to pee (surprise, surprise). I didn't want to walk ALL the way back into Hancock, so I waited for Chris and decided I would go at Home Depot when we stopped. We drove about 10 minutes to Home Depot (torture), and because we had the truck, had to park FAR away. As an added bonus, the bathroom at Home Depot is all the way at the back of the store. Not a big deal for those of you who are not 8 1/2 months pregnant, but a HUGE deal for me! I walked as quickly as I could to the restroom, did what I needed to do, and started walking back out to the front of the store. I started getting those darn pinching sensations in my crotch, which seriously stop me in my tracks. I had to stop every couple of seconds, pretend to look at something, and then walk a few more steps. The real excitement began when I got out to the parking lot!

Again, I had to stop every few seconds, but there was no merchandise to pretend to study. There was another couple getting into their car, and they just kept staring at me...I know they were thinking, "Oh, jeez! This lady's going to give birth in the parking lot!" I finally got to the truck, and I climbed inside (literally, I have to CLIMB into the truck). I left the door open for circulation (since the windows don't open), reclined the seat ALL the way back, and propped my feet up on the dashboard. Of course, my legs are spread apart to make room for my massive belly, so I now realize it probably looked to passers-by that I was about to give birth. Chris started walking back the truck after making his purchases, saw me there, and began RUNNING at full speed! He got there and just kept asking over and over again if I was okay...even HE thought I was about to push Ella out!

We finally came home and I crashed into the bed and had the best sleep ever. It was the first day I have ever felt "disabled" as a pregnant woman, and I realized that I usually forget that pregnant women are quite a bit more restricted than those who are not...and I now wish that every parking lot had "Expectant Mother" spaces!

Ella is full term today!

Today marks 37 weeks of pregnancy! Ella could come today and would be *perfectly* healthy! :-) In celebration, Michael and Rebecca came to visit, and Rebecca did a belly cast:

Applying many, many strips of plaster


Rebecca got a little too touchy

Beckett modeling the finished product

We will sand it and paint it later (once it is completely dry)...I think it's so cool! Chris thought it was a little weird, and I think he was relieved that Rebecca wanted to do it with me. She was really perfectionist about the whole process, and it turned out beautifully!

At my last appointment, Leslie (the midwife) checked my cervix. I am 1 cm. dilated and 50% effaced! I know it doesn't mean that labor is imminent or anything, but it's nice to know that my body is doing something to prepare for the birth. At least I know there's a point to all the painful pinches in my crotch region--ouch!

Hopefully Ella will stay put for at least another week so that we can attend the baby shower. Hope to see you all there!

And here's one more picture of Beckett because he's so freakin' cute:

Necklace Finished!

Remember when I mentioned the bead swap coordinated by on online discussion group? Well, I finally got moving and made the necklace! AND I recently discovered that I will actually have TWO birthing necklaces--we are making one at my baby shower/mother's blessing as well! Maybe I'll make that one into a bracelet since there will be fewer beads...

Without further ado, here is a picture of my first foray into jewelry making:

I don't think you can tell on this picture, but I used some fancy-schmancy techniques for making the links, and I even made my own clasp! I wasn't consistent, though--some links I made really elaborate and some are really simple. And I had to wrap wire around a couple of the beads because it wouldn't fit through the holes. All in all, I LOVE it, and I'm excited about having it with me during labor!

I just wanted to assure everyone that I'm fine and haven't disappeared off the face of the earth :) I haven't taken any pictures lately and probably won't for a while--my face is covered in poison ivy! It's all over my forehead, my eyelid, my cheek, my neck, and both arms. Ick! To make matters worse, I ran out of makeup, so I can't even cover it up.

Things are going really well. I've had some bad heartburn/reflux, but it's getting better. I went to my acupuncturist, and that helped quite a bit. I have also been taking papaya enzymes in the evening, and I SWEAR they work better than Tums!

I don't feel like I have any other big news...maybe that's because I'm so used to being pregnant and the novelty has worn off ;) I bought a new bag from T.J. Maxx to use as the hospital bag, and it's really cute! I have already packed all of Ella's supplies--a going-home outfit, two sleepers, and receiving blankets. I will also add some cloth diapers to take along once my shower is over (I need to acquire some newborn-sized dipes). I made a super-detailed list of things to pack for Chris and me, so I'll get started on packing those things soon.

I feel like Ella's room will never be settled. Every time I think things are in order, I realize that it just won't work and rearrange the furniture. Then my dear friend Rebecca gives me a pile of baby stuff that I don't know where to put, so it sits in a pile in the middle of the nursery (thanks, Rebecca! :-) ) I would LOVE to paint the nursery as well, but Chris won't let me do it myself, and he's been too busy working on the fence and barn to help inside. I know he just wants to get things ready for Sierra as quickly as possible, and that we don't actually NEED to nursery to be ready any time soon. We have the essentials, and Ella won't really care what color the walls are! In addition, it's probably going to be many, many months (years?) before she even uses the nursery. The co-sleeper is set up next to the bed, and that's the only thing that really has to be ready when she comes home. *sigh* I'm still overwhelmed!

I also want to have people over to the house for a sort-of housewarming party. The house is as ready as it is going to be, but our weekends have been sooooo hectic! I don't want people to feel obligated to come to the housewarming AND to the baby shower (although the shower will be in a much more convenient location), but I'm proud of our new home and want people to see it! :)

Am I hitting the third-trimester whiny stage?

Wow! Time flies...

I can't believe I haven't even looked at this blog in a couple of weeks. I've been busy at home trying to get things ready for Ella (and for us!), and I feel like I've been driving nonstop. I know things will slow down soon, but it seems like time is flying by at an astonishing pace! I almost had a heart attack when I looked at the ticker and realized it says I only have 8 weeks and 3 days until my EDD. That's less than two months! Ack!

Anyway, here are a couple of pictures I took today. I guess I'm going to have to do these myself since Chris doesn't seem interested anymore. I used the tripod, so hopefully they're okay! Ignore the drastic difference in skin color between my tummy and my arms/face...my tummy has OBVIOUSLY not seen sun in a long time!

31 weeks & 4 days

Ella is BIG now! I can feel her head moving around in my pelvis, and her movements are slowing down. Now they're bigger movements (and weirder feeling!), but they aren't coming constantly like they were.

I think I need to get on the elliptical more...there's extra weight there that definitely isn't Ella...

I'm huge.

So I know today isn't the normal day for me to post belly pictures, but I was bored and amazed by how BIG I feel today. Please ignore the tight yoga pants--I know they're not attractive, but they're comfy!

And here is what I see when I try to look at my feet (yes, the view does usually include Suki):

I feel enormous, and I know I'm only going to get bigger in the next couple of months!

Furniture

I didn't make any great effort to make these even decent pictures, but I wanted to show you Ella's furniture!

Here's the crib we got from a warehouse clearance sale for a GREAT deal:

It even converts to a toddler bed, a daybed, and a full-size bed!

Here's the bookshelf from Target:

And here is what I am most proud of, the "changing table" (really a short dresser) that I got for $20 from a junk store. I primed it, painted it, and put new handles on it today. I wish I had taken before and after pictures! Here it is:

Ella's room is still a disaster, but we're getting closer to arranging it!

Eek!

That number on the ticker is scary! Only 11 more weeks until my due date!!! And anything after 37 weeks is considered "term", so it could be as short as 8 weeks! I am actually very ready to see her and be with her; I just can't believe it's coming up so quickly. We got the crib assembled this weekend, we ordered the mattress (which reminds me--I need to take it off the registry), I bought a short chest-of-drawers to use as a changing table (I'm taking a break from painting it right now), and Chris assembled her bookshelf. I don't think we'll get to actually painting her room before she arrives, but I figure she won't come out demanding a perfectly decorated nursery--especially since she won't be sleeping in it for several, several months!

We got a truckload full of free T-posts and electric tape to use for the horse fencing, so Chris has been out working on that all day. The tape was all bundled up in knotted masses, so he's been trying to get it spooled and organized. He may even start setting posts today! I just get to supervise this time, and that's just fine with me :-) When we set up the fence in Powhatan, I worked like crazy all day and thought I was going to pass out. I can't wait to get Sierra out here and settled, too!

One more post for today

I made a couple of recycled pre-fold diapers last night. Nothing fancy, but I think they're kind of cute. If they don't work out as diapers (I doubt they'll be absorbent enough), they'll at least make great burp cloths! I used two of my old t-shirts for the back part that would be visible if worn, and the inside is made of Chris' old undershirts (you can see the inside in the middle pic). I altered the one with the dog and the cat a little bit--I left a slot open so I could add an insert to make it more absorbent.

I can't wait to make more REAL cloth diapers! I want to order some fabric from online and get sewing. I got a pattern that makes all sorts of diapers and covers, and I'm really anxious to start. I'm going to wait, though, until after my showers so I can see what other people bless me with.

Finally...pictures!

Here I am today at 28 weeks, 5 days. It's not on my regular schedule, but I really wanted to put up pics!

We went to the midwife today and got lots of good news: I don't have gestational diabetes and I am not anemic! So *THERE* to those who think you can't be vegan and have a healthy pregnancy! :-P I should probably knock on wood--this show ain't quite over yet! With every day that passes, though, I get more and more excited to meet our little Ella. Leslie confirmed that she is head down today, and I suspect that's her position most of the time. I think she's ready to meet us too!

Leslie gave me two recommendations today--drink Red Raspberry Leaf tea twice a day to help tone my uterus and get it ready for labor, and have sex at least once a week (!) to help my cervix "ripen". Now that's some advice I'm sure Chris is excited to follow! :-)

In other (less awkward) news, here's what we saw outside our window the other day:

I can't believe how much both Chris and I love our new home. Yes, there are some problems (including stinky well water!), but we both feel so safe and so comfortable here. Chris said the other day that he feels more at home here than he ever felt at the old house--and that's saying A LOT for him! He loved that house, but now he says he doesn't even miss it! We both look forward to coming home, and I don't feel isolated like so many people feared I would. The little town of Montpelier is a short 10-minute drive away, and it has everything I need. There is a grocery store, an organic store, a general store, a bank, a farm store, a couple of restaurants, and a nail place. My good friend Gigi lives about 4 minutes away, and I actually "dropped in" at her house today. She gave me about 10 pounds of apples from her trees! I am truly loving my life here in good ol' Bumpass!

Am I greedy?

I set up another registry for Ella...maybe it's her that's greedy! Check out the link to the left for Abby's Lane. I registered for cloth diapers, diaper covers, and accessories. I also registered for BabyLegs, which are the cutest darned things if you've never seen them. Here's what they look like:

They come in a ton of different patterns, and I registered for quite a few. I actually didn't even finish looking at the patterns because there were so many! Their real purpose is to keep the baby's legs covered when being held or in a stroller (when the gap appears between the pants/skirt and socks). Honestly, I just think they're cute!

Only one house now...

The other house closed, and now we are the proud owners of only one house! :-) We are loving it here, and the setting is just so beautiful. No, there are no pictures. Because we are SOOOO far out, we had to get an air card for the computer to serve as a modem. That pretty much means that our internet connection works like a cell phone (the service is actually through Verizon wireless). Unfortunately, that means that we can only upload/download a limited amount of data each month. I'm not sure how much a few pictures would use up, but I don't really want to chance going over this early in the cycle! I will post another belly picture as soon as we have a clean place to take it, and then I will see where we stand for further uploads right before our cell plan cycles. If we still have plenty of space left, I'll upload pictures of the house!

In Ella news, she is becoming even more active than usual! She used to only move around when I would rest (sitting, lying down, etc.), but now she'll give me a swift kick while I'm walking around trying to get things done. If I lean over a counter that's at belly-height, she'll kick in protest! She still likes to get REALLY active when I lie down at night, so I have to lie down about 30 minutes before I actually want to get to sleep.

I am going for the gestational diabetes screening next week, which I'm not completely thrilled about. I think it's kind of weird that they measure how well your body deals with sugar by asking you to consume something very quickly that is way sweeter than anything you would normally eat. Well, duh! My body probably isn't going to handle it well! I will probably get a headache or feel nauseated. Actually, about 25% of women who take the test "fail" it. Out of those, only a tiny percentage actually has gestational diabetes. If you "fail" the test, you have to return for a 3-hour long test which requires you to fast beforehand. Ugh! No fun! I kind of wanted to opt out of it, but I think Chris really wanted me to take it since I have a bit of a sweet tooth and my sister had GD. I just don't want to fail it!

Wish me luck!

We closed on the house!

Well, it's done! We officially own two houses...but hopefully only for a few days. The new owners close on our current house early next week (I think Monday). I'll post pictures this evening if we go out and visit the new house!

Picture Update!

Well, you would think that I would be nice and tan from a week at the beach, but it's just not the case. I'm still as pale as can be, especially on my large pasty tummy! In other news, it appears that my belly has officially won in the race against my boobs :) I'm about 3 weeks behind in posting pictures, but things have been hectic. That's my excuse.

Week 26 aaaaaaaaaaaaaa Week 23

As you can see, I've done quite a bit of growing in the past three weeks! I am also convinced that she will become a Kung Fu master since she does nothing but kick the crap out of me ALL the time! My belly button is slowly disappearing, and I can feel a little knot on the top edge. I think it's going to pop out eventually, but it might still be a while. It's weird!

I'm incredibly anxious about all the changes that are about to take place. Here's our schedule for the week:

Monday: Walk-through on new house
Tuesday: Close on new house
Wednesday: Carpet cleaning and PODS delivery at new house
Thursday: Dinner with friends (no house stuff!)
Friday: MOVE!

I don't think I could have been teaching summer school at a worse time! I am trying to figure out storage solutions since we won't have an attic or a basement OR a shed, and I'm getting very frustrated! I also want to make sure that the house is very well organized (not to mention upacked) BEFORE Ella is born so that I am not frustrated and looking for hidden things while trying to deal with a crying newborn. Anybody up for helping me unpack and organize? :)

Shopping Bonanza!

Well, Chris has always said that I spend more money in the summer because I'm not working or at school, and he's definitely right! I've gone on a little shopping spree, and I need to stop! :) I bought a set of cloth diapers from bumGenius:

I got 2 of each pink, blue, yellow, and green. I also bought microfiber inserts to make them more absorbent. I also bought cute girly inserts from a WAHM (Work-at-Home-Mom) on eBay, and two more cutesy diapers from WAHMs on eBay. I am also buying some very basic cloth diapers that will require covers to keep them from leaking. I also bought a used Baby Bjorn from a local person off CraigsList. I think that's it for the moment, but there's so much more I want!

I added a registry/wish list section to the left of these entries that I will try to keep up to date. I know that I don't want to be too materialistic with Ella, mostly because I don't want a bunch of stuff junking up the house! I think the whole "15 weeks and 4 days Left" thing is starting to make me anxious, though. I feel like I need to get things ready, but I can't do that right now since we haven't moved. So...instead of cleaning, organizing, painting, and assembling, I'm buying! Please stop me before I exhaust our checking account! :)

Babywearing

I get an extra entry if I post this link here:

Win the Essential Babywearing Stash from Along for the Ride (one Beco Butterfly, one Hotsling baby pouch, one BabyHawk Mei Tai, one Zolowear Ring Sling, and one Gypsy Mama Wrap)

I'm really looking forward to wearing Ella!

And another extra entry for cloth diapers:

Win a Bum Genius 3.0 Starter Kit from Nature's Child - Wholesome Goods for Mothers and Babies

Adventures in Bead Land

I am so excited because I finished attaching the messages to my beads for a bead swap today. I am a member in a due date club with Mothering.com/discussions, and several (about 40) of us are participating in a bead swap. We each buy 40 of the same kind of beads, write a message/blessing to send along with it, attach it, and mail it to a coordinator. The coordinator sorts the beads so that each person receives 40 different beads from the others and then mails them back out to us. Once we receive our package of beads and messages, we string together a piece of jewelry (necklace, bracelet, etc.) to keep with us during labor. It's supposed to help up focus on positive energy and support us through the birthing process. It's such a neat idea, and I can't wait to make my necklace! I bought beads made of unakite (the state stone of VA) that look like little donuts. They are a lovely green and pink color, and they just make me feel good when I look at them and hold them :-) I looked up the "meaning" of the stone, and it is supposed to help with emotional stability and increase self-awareness. I don't really believe in that stuff, but it's still a nice thought. I'll have to post a picture of my necklace when it's finished!

Week 23

Well, the belly (and Ella) is definitely growing! Take a look:

Week 21 aaaaaaaaaaa Week 23

I got offered a position at the front of the bathroom line when traveling yesterday, so I guess it must be obvious to most people now. Chris said I'm starting to get the "pregnant-woman walk," too!

In more exciting news, I am starting to be able to tell where Ella is hangin' out in my uterus. I'm actually pretty sure I felt her head today! It's a little creepy, but definitely cool. She's also making me pee about 100 times a day. It feels like she literally steps on my bladder and dances around! Maybe she'll be a ballerina :)

Out of town

I'm out of town visiting my family right now, but I wanted to give a quick update. Here goes:

1) Leg cramps SUCK. I woke up with charlie horses in both my legs, and they've been sore for two days now (despite stretching, yoga, and hot showers).

2) Ella likes to kick her daddy! Whenever he puts his head on my belly and talks, she kicks his head :) This morning I was snuggled up next to him and she kicked his butt. It's cute! She's actually been going crazy today with movement. I think she bruised my uterus!

3) I'm eating A LOT. I ate four stuffed squash/zucchini tonight for supper, and I could easily eat more. I think Ella is going through a growth spurt, because my belly is growing EVERY DAY. You will be surprised when you see this Sunday's pictures!

4) I am obviously growing a lot because I got my first random stranger pregnancy comment. The cashier at the grocery store said, "You look like you'll be having a little one soon!" Cool!

That's it for now. I'll update on Sunday with pictures when we return.

It's a....

GIRL! Just like we thought! Here are a few pictures to quench your curiosity:

This is her whole body and head from the back.

She is apparently sitting on the ultrasound here, and you can supposedly see her private parts!

She already LOVES to play peek-a-boo!

And here is her darling Skeletor face.

If you're like me and Chris, it's a little difficult to tell what's what, but I think we get the idea :) She covered her face with her hands the whole time, and they were trying really hard to get a measurement from her nose to her mouth. I guess that was to see if she had a cleft palate..I don't really know! They finally got it, though, after jabbing my abdomen to make her move. The perinatologist said that everything looked and measured normally, and she weighs 15 ounces! Almost a whole pound!!!

Chris is really excited, although now he's stressed at the prospect of having a daughter. I think he's worried that he'll have to be "proper" all the time. :)

So now, we can finally start referring to little Freedlet as Ella Gray.

Less than 24 hours away...

Just wanted to remind everyone that tomorrow is the big day when we (hopefully) find out if this little kickboxer is a boy or a girl! He/she has really been going crazy in there today, and I've even seen movement through my shirt! Maybe he/she is as excited as we are and is looking forward to the big day! :) Then again, maybe it was all the sugar in the three root beers I drank today...

Cute Shoes!

I don't know why I was so concerned about it already, but I've been looking at little soft-soled shoes for babies. It seems like they are ALL made of leather! However, I found a really great company that makes ONLY vegan baby footwear... IsaBooties. And they are so cute! Expensive, yes, but so are all the other soft-soled shoes made of leather. I'm excited!

Oops!

Nevermind! I'm in a better mood now :)

I need a pool!

I finally discovered the perfect exercise for a pregnant woman--swimming! It is SO cool because I have become incredibly buoyant! I've always floated pretty well because, well, I have a high percentage of body fat, but now it's amazing! Most things that require physical exertion become painful after a short time, but I felt like I could have continued swimming for hours today. I went to Michele's house to visit Sierra today and took my new preggo bathing suit along with me. I'm so glad I did! I had the best time floating around and swimming laps. I even jumped off the diving board several times! Now to convince Chris that we need an in-ground swimming pool at the new house...

Over halfway there!

I can't believe that I'm 21 weeks pregnant today. Time really is flying by! Here is a picture from tonight compared side-by-side with the picture from 2 weeks ago. Am I much bigger?

Week 19 aaaaaaaaaaaaa Week 21

I feel HUGE! Also, are you diggin' the new maternity jeans? I could show you how they really fit, but it's a little embarrassing. I have the beige stretchy part folded down several times. It actually goes all the way up my belly right below my boobs! Hot, right?!? :-)

I guess I haven't been posting lately for two reasons: 1) I am so busy with all the changes going on with the house and the end of the school year! We've been de-cluttering, organizing, and cleaning like crazy. 2) I've been feeling really well lately. I had horrible, horrible issues with allergies, but that's over now and I'm feeling great! I think I already sort of have the pregnant lady waddle (even though I'm not really big enough to "waddle", per se).

I'm so excited that school is over, but I do have to go back tomorrow to finish updating cumulative files. I decided to teach half of summer school for a little extra money (I'm thinking I can maybe buy the glider I want if I can convince Chris), but that won't start until mid-July. No, Tor, it won't interfere with the beach! :-) I will teach July 9-10, then July 21-31. It's cool because it's only 4 hours a day, 4 days a week. It should be pretty fun--kids generally enjoy summer school.

I'm sure I will be updating more frequently now that school is out. I'm a little worried about getting bored, but I figure I can catch up on my blogging and online pregnancy discussion boards. I got out of the computer habit when we had the hardwood floors refinished and we stayed with friends, but I know I'll become an addict once again.

Awake again...

I wish I could sleep, but I just...can't. It's about 5:30, and I've been up for about 2 1/2 hours now. I've looked at all my regular sites and can't think of anything else to do now. I can't breathe (congested), and I keep coughing (which wakes Suki up). Now that I'm awake, I'm REALLY awake. Work should be fun!

In other news, this looks like a cool event. Too bad I'm not a stay-at-home mom yet...I would totally drive to DC for it! I do think that many vaccines are important, but I really don't like the way they are manufactured and administered. Chris and I are still thinking about how to handle vaccininations once little Freedlet is born...I hope more options are available soon!

Week 19

Here I am in all my pregnant glory!!! :-) I actually think I look a little smaller than last week, but maybe it's the pants. Or maybe I was bloated last week...who knows!

Week 19

I think I started having Braxton-Hicks contractions yesterday. I got some pretty bad cramps in my lower uterine area, and they got more severe this afternoon (I actually left work a little early). I called my midwife's office, and she suggested resting, taking Tylenol, and applying a warm compress. That seemed to help, but I still get a little stabbing pain every once in a while. They said there was no need to worry unless I started bleeding, and I definitely don't have any of that! I think I just overworked myself this weekend with trying to get the house ready for sale. I lifted WAY too much stuff and probably got a little dehydrated. I promise to be better in the future! ;) I should also add that Freedlet is still moving around quite a bit, and I even saw him/her move my belly from the outside tonight! Weird!

Ultrasound (lack of) News

I called the perinatologist's office today and decided to keep the June 20 appointment for the ultrasound. It turns out that they are just booked really far in advance! I asked about an earlier appointment, and the receptionist told me that the next available one was June 27!! Eek! I guess my students will just have to live without knowing :(

Can't Sleep!

I'm so anxious lately about all the changes that I sometimes find it difficult to sleep. Tonight is one of those nights! I thought I would let you guys know that I've started a very basic registry on Amazon.com--click here. There's not a lot on there yet, but expect it to expand soon! I'm sure it will get HUGE after the ultrasound and my first week off school :) There are a few different types of wraps/slings that I am interested in, and Amazon is NOT the best place to find them. I put them on the wishlist, though, so you would be able to search for them online. Most of them have independent websites that you can order from. My favorites are the Moby wrap, the Mei Tai, and the Gypsy Mama Bali Baby Breeze. There are also other items on there that are just guidelines--like the kimono onesies. They are SO expensive on Amazon, but I bet you can find them at places like Babies R Us much cheaper. Also--I realize I've only put expensive things on here so far...I promise I'll register for the small stuff later at Babies R Us. Just FYI! :)

I'll try to sleep now, but I doubt it will happen~good night!

Quick Post

Sorry I haven't been updating, guys! As you know, we've been super busy lately...looking at and buying a house has been pretty stressful and time consuming! Not to mention trying to get our current house ready for the market--it's crazy! Anyway, I just wanted to let everyone know that all is well despite being a little stressed. I feel great, and I'm actually not sick! Hooray! Here are a couple of pictures from the last couple of weeks:

Week 17 aaaaaaaaaaa Week 18

As you can see, I am getting rather massive! :) I've had quite a few people tell me lately that I am looking "really pregnant." I'm not sure whether to be happy about that or not! I'm so excited that you can see that the baby and my uterus are growing just fine, but it's a little depressing to see my waistline grow day by day.

We have our anatomical ultrasound scheduled for June 20, and we should find out the sex then (as long as Freedlet cooperates!). I am actually going to call tomorrow to see if we can get it moved up just a bit so I can tell my kiddos at school! They are so excited!

Today's Appointment

We had the 16 week appointment with the midwife today, and everything still seems normal. The heart rate is in the 150s (still hinting at a girl!) and my weight gain is good, so the midwife seemed pleased. We talked with her about an earlier ultrasound, but she really dissuaded us. She said that ultrasounds done before 19 weeks or so can be difficult to read and may cause unnecessary worry. The ultrasound tech could "maybe" see something unsettling, but there'd be nothing we could do for a couple of weeks until we could get another ultrasound. I was okay with that, because I generally believe there is too much unnecessary worry and intervention done in pregnancy. We also opted out of the AFP-tetra screening for the same reasons. I can't find the statistics now, but I have read that a pretty large percentage of women get a positive/abnormal test result, but only 1-2% of those women actually have babies with genetic abnormalities. The midwife said it depended on whether or not having a positive result would affect any of our decisions--which it wouldn't. We wouldn't have an amnio, we wouldn't terminate, so there's really no point for us. I can see why people who are high risk or who have a family history would opt for it, but it's just really not for us!

Anyway, we are off to dinner now, so I'll write more and post pictures later!

Update!

The crown molding is DONE and it looks great! Chris had some huge difficulties in the beginning, but it looks so beautiful now. It's really amazing what caulk can do :)

Can't you tell how proud he is??? Everything in that room obviously needs to be painted (it hasn't been touched since we moved in), but the crown molding looks so pretty!

Tomorrow is when I am officially 16 weeks, but I felt like updating today anyway. We have an appointment with the midwife scheduled for Thursday, and I am so excited to hear the heartbeat again! I think I am also going to ask for an ultrasound. We weren't planning on getting one until 20 weeks, but we should be able to tell the gender now. I think it will help Chris feel more involved; he will be able to paint the nursery, buy some clothes, etc.

He started trying to hang the crown molding today, and it's not going so well. The brad nailer we bought doesn't hold long enough nails, so we're going to have to hammer in 2-inch nails by hand! The pieces of molding we bought are also kind of warped (I think that's normal), but it's frustrating Chris because it's difficult to get them to lie flat against the wall and ceiling. Of course, we didn't have any finishing nails on hand, so Chris had to go back out for a THIRD time to buy some. I have a feeling he won't be in the greatest mood when he returns.

We got the carpets cleaned today, and they look amazing!!! We didn't realize how disgusting our living room carpet truly was. When we moved the crates and took up the pad we had laid, there was a clear (but nasty) line of dirt surrounding the pristine area that was protected. What is REALLY nasty is that it must have been pretty much all urine. Suki just LOVES to pee in her crate, and I guess she splashed it around. Yuck! The carpet guy looked at it and said he'd do his best, but it didn't sound too promising. When he finished, though, we were amazed! If we hadn't known about the urine/dirt ring, we wouldn't have noticed it. It looks totally normal...whew!

My legs are FINALLY starting to feel normal again! I was so sore on Wednesday and Thursday that it was affecting my walking. Chris really made fun of me and kept calling me an old woman. I seriously looked like it, too--I was hunched over and walked very, very slowly.

We went shopping at Lowe's today and bought crown molding and chair rail for the nursery! Chris is going to get started on it tomorrow evening, but it will probably take a couple of weekends to complete. Especially since neither of us have any experience putting up molding...

I also think I'm going to start shopping for a few maternity clothes. My normal clothes sort of fit, but they are really not that comfortable. My jeans still work just fine because I always buy them bigger than necessary, but my work pants are unbearable! I'm thinking of just buying 2 pairs of pants--one black and one khaki so that I can wear most of the shirts in my closet. I could also do with buying a couple of shirts...in case you haven't noticed in the pictures, my bewbies are getting HUGE! My shirts that were already a tad low-cut are now downright inappropriate! And my conservative shirts are looking a little provocative as well. I definitely do NOT want to spend much money on maternity clothing, but I think I need a few basics.

I also think I need more sleep...Suki has been waking us up early, peeing on the floor regularly, and being generally annoying. She's really cutting into my sleep time, and it's driving me crazy! Anyone want a dog?

Minutia

I have plenty of little boring things to blog about today. First, have I mentioned how my hormones are out of control? I've started crying over everything, and Chris and I have been arguing nonstop. We went and looked at baby furniture last weekend, and I cried when we looked at a crib. I could just imagine our little Freedlet lying asleep in it, and I literally broke down in tears. I think Chris was confused and a little scared--someone needs to talk him through my hormonal craziness! Tonight we argued BADLY about the idea of me using sunless tanner before going to the beach. Most of you know that I am blindingly white, and Chris makes fun of me constantly for it, especially when we are at the beach. I was talking to him about getting a spray-on tan for the beach in July so my huge belly doesn't cause anyone blindness, and he freaked out about the possibility of chemicals seeping into my skin! He said some hurtful things, and I threw my cell phone at him--oops! In any case, we talked it through (with the help of Rebecca, our proxy therapist), and we discovered that Chris feels like he isn't involved enough in the pregnancy and I feel like I don't want to share my private, little, secret pregnant life with anyone just yet. I feel like everyone will be involved when I really start showing, and the control's all mine for now. *sigh* I really need to be more relaxed and give Chris some control and decision-making abilities.

In more positive news, I am definitely feeling the baby move now! I thought I felt it starting around 12 weeks, but I was pretty sure I was crazy and imagining things since I was so early. I read that most women don't feel movement until about 16-22 weeks. I talked to my midwife about it, and she said it could be movement (since our baby is so "eager") or it could be gas :) I dismissed it as the latter until a few days later when I felt it again! I have been consistently feeling this pulling sensation in my uterine area/lower abdomen every few days, and I can really feel it when I'm lying very still or in the tub (I think the warm water stimulates Freedlet). This morning, though, I felt it BIG TIME! I was driving to work, and I always wear my seatbelt very low across my abdomen. I very distinctly felt pressure against the seatbelt and tiny flutters of movement! Exciting, huh?

I also went to my second prenatal yoga class yesterday afternoon...oy!! I am SO very sore today. As in it hurts terribly to walk up and down stairs. When I walk down stairs, I feel like I am going to topple over. When I walk up stairs, I feel like I am climbing a mountain. Any way you look at it, I am seriously uncomfortable. I guess that's what I get for being completely inactive during my first trimester.

And finally...I saved the best for last...a picture! Chris took my picture tonight, so it is technically 15 weeks and 3 days. I'll try to stay on a strict weekly schedule, but I usually forget on Sunday nights.

14 Weeks aaaaaaaaaaaa 15 Weeks

Whaddya think? Any change from last week? I feel bigger, but I don't know if I actually look any bigger.

Thanks for reading, and I'll talk to you all soon!