35 Weeks

It's Sunday again! Baby is still putting on the pounds, but my belly didn't grow quite as much this past week.

Yesterday was an exciting day for us. Our friends threw us a big Baby Bash at a local park. We had been looking forward to this day for the past month or so, with hopes that we would make it this far. Although the weather tried to blow in a couple of rain showers, we had a great turnout and definitely had fun. The party was a "Penn State Tailgate" theme, complete with Blue & White streamers, a PSU cake, several games of cornhole, and the typical beverages / foods you'd find at a football game! I had my own personal "throne" (lounge chair) so I could continue to follow doctor's orders:)

I'll post some Baby Bash photos in a separate post soon, but had to at least insert the picture of our Baby Pool. Most friends were kind, with only a few predictions of an overdue baby and long labor. Everyone seemed to agree that Baby will be less than 8 pounds - and I'm okay with that!!

If all goes as planned, I should only have one more week of bed rest. YAHOO!!!!!!!

Alysia

Baby Belly Slideshow

I thought it would be fun to put together a slideshow of Baby's growth (i.e. my belly) since the beginning of the pregnancy! I'll add each new week's picture to the end of the show as the pregnancy nears its end.

So, check out the slideshow often! It's linked on the top right corner of the blog.

Some of my thoughts while putting together the show:

1. Wow, the first picture at Week 6 is inspiring. Wonder how long it will take to shrink back?

2. My belly "popped" around Week 25. Before that, I just filled out.

3. I didn't start growing OUT until my uterus had fully reached my ribs.

4. Baby's growth is incredible from Week 32-34. Wow!

5. How big will Baby get?

* I don't know why, but sometimes you must stop the show and then restart for it to fully run its course.

Alysia

34 Weeks - our next Milestone (!!!!)

It's Sunday - Yippee! We've made it to 34 weeks and Baby is growing like crazy. Here's how big Baby is getting:

We've reached our second milestone since our pre-term labor troubles began in March. It's a big deal to reach Week 34!

Babies born at 34 weeks usually have well-developed lungs, and their average size of 5 pounds (2,250 grams) and 12.6 inches (32 cm) from crown to rump allows them to survive outside the womb without extensive medical intervention.

We are starting to get very anxious to meet this little creature that moves around in my belly constantly. I never imagined Baby would be so interactive before entering the world. Baby really likes to play - here are some of its favorite games:

• Bounce the Food Tray: Mommy eats all of her meals on the couch. She uses a lap board to hold her plate. I really love to make the lap board move!! I can find the top edge of the tray so fast. My goal is to kick the edge of the tray off and on during the meal until Mommy is forced to take a break. I do this every time she eats!
• Whack a Daddy: Over the past month, Daddy has enjoyed feeling my little knees and feet push Mommy's tummy out. Daddy thinks he's smart and tries to antagonize me with nudges to make me active. I usually wait until he thinks I'm asleep and then give him a big wallop! I wish I could see his reaction - Mommy says his eyes get really big!

Alysia

Will Practice Make Perfect?

You know the old saying, right? While most women might have started to experience some infrequent contractions at this point in pregnancy, goodness knows I've become a pro....

During my weekly appointment this morning, I informed my doctor that this past week has been much worse in terms of the number of contractions sustained. A typical day in my life this week involves 2-3 hour intervals, several times a day, with contractions 2-5 minutes apart. Fun stuff. Our doctor has had three children in recent past, and communicates her sympathy when I tell her this. She wishes there was something she could do for me, but alas, some people just have a "twitchy" uterus:)

I never imagined that I would begin to personify my uterus. But, it has taken on many names in the past several months: "twitchy", "irritable", "cranky", and Mike and my favorite, "mean". All very true descriptions, but I choose to believe the following theory:

• My uterus feels the need to be adequately prepared. It will not be content to come in last place, just getting the job done. It strives for gold, wants to be the center of attention, and will continue to practice until it achieves perfection. No amount of hydration will calm it down - in fact, it feeds its strength. If I do not feel like I have done 1000 situps in the morning, then it does not believe it has done its best. Practice makes perfect.
  

And so I hope the adage rings true. May labor be easy and efficient because of my uterus's quest for greatness.

Alysia

33 Weeks

Yet another week has passed. We weren't sure we'd ever make it this far when all of the drama began, so we feel very fortunate! Baby is REALLY growing now and so my tummy follows along for the ride:)

Our doctors feel that I'll be able to begin walking around and enjoying life after our 35-week appointment - just under 3 weeks from now. Three weeks doesn't sound so bad after having already spent 7 weeks laying down. But, the closer we get, the longer the days seem to drag on.... If ever there were a way to fast-forward time, I'd certainly appreciate it right now.

Mike is going to help me pack our hospital bag later today. It's something that's been bothering me, and I'll feel better being prepared. In some ways, I've wondered if we'll jinx ourselves by being ready...... but if the Baby does decide to arrive early, I'd so much rather have that bag packed!!!!

Alysia

Late For Class

We officially joined the ranks of "bad parents" today, since we were late for our first birthing class. We were 30 minutes late actually, though it wasn't completely our fault because they switched the starting time just last week. I think that we were also the only couple not to bring a pillow for the floor exercises - some people had 2 or 3 pillows, but Alysia just had my knee! So, basically, we were completely unprepared.

We considered the start of these classes to be another milestone, so we decided to celebrate in a small way tonight by going to the Great Lakes Ice Cream Company for the first time this year. For those of you who don't know what that is, it's a small mom & pop ice cream shop in town that's open from May through September.

On another good note, the nursery is very close to completion. The detailed white stripes are all that's remaining to finish, plus some minor touching-up.

Well, that's all that's new here. Until next time....

- Mike

The Numbers Game

I thought we'd have fun with numbers today.........

31 - Number of trips to the restroom yesterday. I would consider this a typical average for me for the past month or so. They say it gets worse when the baby "drops", so I can't wait for that. Perhaps I'll just set myself up with food and a cot in the bathroom:)

4 - Maximum consecutive hours slept in the past ~6 weeks. This tidbit is of course related to the one above, but is also influenced by Baby's constant activity and hiccups, as well as the need to take my medication at 2:30AM each night.

0 - Number of pimples I'm hoping to have one day on my face! The whole "pregnancy glow" has not been something I've experienced. In fact, I don't think I've had clear skin since we journeyed down the fertility path 2+ years ago:)

7 - Number of daycare facilities Mike will visit this month. He's already been to 4, so only a few left to check out before we make our big decision.
- Little ones who have visited me in the past month. Taylor, Isa, Caden, Owen, Penelope, Sophia, and Madelyn. Baby is going to be born into a wonderful world of playmates!

Alysia

32 Weeks!

Sunday has come again - YIPPEE! Here are the 32 week belly shots:

I am certain almost every day that my belly button will "pop", but it is being stubborn. Portions of it are above the surface, especially after I eat or when Baby does one of its dances in the middle of my tummy. It's amazing to me how soft the skin is at the very center of your belly button........ I suppose it never sees the light of day though, so why wouldn't it be?

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there! For Mother's Day this year, my wish was that our Little One would still be safe and sound in my tummy, so I'm very pleased with my first holiday. Mike bought me the cutest little bib that says "I Love Mommy". He even modeled it in the kitchen since, really, he's the one who loves Mommy today.

Our doctor's appointment last Thursday was great. The contractions I continue to have are still not causing any progress. Bed rest continues, but we feel more comfortable every week and are so happy to have made it to 32 weeks!

Alysia

Story Time

I found this cartoon that describes the past month and a half of my life pretty well (minus the thermometer, child, and bottle of wine) and had to share:

I've been on bed rest for 6 weeks...... can you believe it? Did anyone think I could stay put for so long? It has certainly been a major change from my normal constant level of activity, but I've always been one for a challenge, ya know?

The one good thing about bed rest is that Baby and I have had plenty of time to bond. Every day, we have "Story Time". Like it or not, Baby listens to the plot of whatever book I happen to be in the midst of. At this point, our little one's first word could be "murder" based on the mystery novel of 2 weeks ago, "affair" based on the romantic comedy from last week, or "slavery" based on the Pullitzer Prize of this week. Just wait until you meet our little genious!!

Alysia

Week 31

It makes me so happy to reach Sunday now each week and post new pictures. We've made it to Week 31 and here's how Baby is growing:

It's my favorite time of the year at the house - Spring! I asked Mike to take some pictures of the beauty around the yard since I can't enjoy it as much as I'd like. Last year, we were bummed when a hard freeze ruined our magnolia blooms after they had just appeared. Not this year - look how gorgeous!

Our tulips arrived this past week and here is a picture of just a few. We have many more this year, thanks to Mike's planting frenzy last October. For those of you who haven't heard the story..... I decided I wanted more spring bulbs last year and ordered a bunch in bulk from a website (~400). This would have typically been a combined weekend effort for us, but based on the bulb delivery timing and impending frost, the bulbs needed planting while I was on restriction, hoping our Little One would implant! Oops:) Have I mentioned lately how much I love my husband?



Alysia