Week 28 & the beginning of the 3rd trimester!

I've been told now by multiple people that I'm 'hiding it well' and that I don't look pregnant from the rear view. I don't know as though I've ever enjoyed a shot of my rear view, so I don't even want Clay to take that photo...so, second best - I took one from the front for viewing pleasure. My hips may have gotten a little wider, but overall I'm pretty comfortable with my burgeoning belly. I've gained 17 pounds as of yesterday and Miss Luci is measuring long & high...meaning she's all stretched out and up in the way of my stomach. Over the last few days I've discovered a new sensation up just between my chest & belly that is a sort of numbing burn...it happens only when I am on my left side, but it is fairly uncomfortable. Dr. Johnson tells me it is my stomach being squished & that the pain will only subside when Luci decides to drop a bit. So I've been sleeping more on my right side, which seems to work fairly well when I'm trying to fall asleep, and then when I wake up to shift positions I must fall asleep again before the pain starts up. Hopefully that continues to work until she decides to drop.

Clay & I are enjoying a weekend at home together, as our travel plans to S. Carolina fell through last minute due to our Godson's battle with rota virus. Dr. Johnson recommended we not go...so we didn't. We are bummed but hopeful that the Atkins family can come visit us soon in TX. Despite the change of plans I was still in vacation mode so I decided to take a few days off anyway & just enjoy my husband and the weather. We had a lovely breakfast at IHOP this morning followed by a trip to the DMV to get the long dreaded TX drivers licenses that are now 330 days overdue...it was a successful trip & we should be receiving them in the mail in 2-4 weeks. I think it is a bit strange they have to mail them to you - we just have a goofy little piece of paper for now. Good thing I have a passport to prove I'm me if need be!

Good news to start the week...

Just heard from Dr. Johnson's office and I'm very relieved to report that my blood work came back normal and I do not have gestational diabetes. While the 3 hour glucose tolerance test certainly wasn't fun, I actually felt better throughout it than I did during the 1 hour test. Time flew by as Amanda & I chatted & read trashy celebrity magazines for the first 2 1/2 hours, and then Clay arrived in time to keep me company for the last hour or so. Once we were home he made me lunch and we just enjoyed some downtime on the sofa for the afternoon.

We also had a great weekend...on Friday night we had dinner with Jamie & Amanda & baby Clara (who is 17 months...not so much a baby), who seems to have suddenly discovered that Clay is fun too! Watching him put diapers on baby dolls & teddy bears and read books to Clara (as she insisted that he be the one to read them to her) filled me with warm fuzzies. We borrowed Clara for a few hours on Saturday morning and the baby doll diaper changing continued, along with more reading & a visit to the park. We watched her walk around the house, noting to ourselves what items need to go on the 'remove to kiddo proof our house' list. After the park visit she was a bit sleepy & put her head down on Clay's shoulder during the short walk home...it was one of the sweetest moments ever and it gave me a little boost of confidence that we just might be able to pull this parenting thing off after all...

3 hour glucose tolerance test

Well tomorrow I get to go in for the big dog of the gestational diabetes screening exams. I failed the first 1 hour version I took a week ago today, so now tomorrow I get to go in for 4 blood draws in 3 hours complete with twice the amount of syrupy orange glucose drink to choke down. I was pretty miserable after the first exam...Clay had to institute 'freeze out' in the car on the way home. Freeze out is the game we play when I get nauseous in the car - which is more of a regular occurrence than either of us would like for it to be. We turn the AC on full blast as cold as possible & he takes away any sweater I have until I am uncomfortable and cold...but no longer nauseous. I think it is an old trick he picked up along the way in a cockpit somewhere...it has proven quite helpful in the last 6 months.

Luckily my good friend Amanda has volunteered escort me tomorrow morning since Clay won't be home until the ordeal is about over. And she's bringing a jacket in case we have to go sit in the car & play freeze out. If I throw up I have to start the whole thing over again on another day...so keep your fingers crossed for me.

Worst case scenario I have gestational diabetes & get to go see a dietitian and be on a strict diet for the remaining 3 months, only to give birth to Luci the toddler instead of Luci the baby (Dr. Brooke's words...). I'm hopeful that it will be all right and I'll pass the big dog test...but just in case it isn't I treated Luci to Mc Donald's today for lunch with what may have been her last Filet O Fish for years to come...

Week 26

So I really didn't know I was this big. I changed clothes because I thought what I was wearing was making me huge (obviously)...and then I still looked huge. And now I'm just sort of in shock....Clay kept telling me how beautiful I looked...he must have known what my reaction was going to be once I got a look at them...

Photos from Chicago

Yes...I am in the SAME pink shirt again! I promise to wear something different when Clay takes my 26 weeks photo tomorrow. That is right...our 15 day stint apart hopefully comes to an end tomorrow...I can't wait! He'll either be home by 11:30AM OR 11:30PM...keep your fingers for the AM!

Chicago

I'm home from what was likely my last trip to Chicago before Luci's arrival. I left Monday morning & spent the afternoon with Holly & her 3 month old baby Noelle. It was great to finally meet baby Noelle & also served as a bit of sneak peak of what is in store for us. She is adorable & still very small! Her eating, playing, and sleeping schedule was like clockwork. My favorite was playtime...I may have even witnessed her first giggle! Holly is a very loving, capable mom & I'm sure she will continue to be another great source of information for me in the coming months.

Tuesday I went to work (which makes it sound easy...it was actually quite a task - I've lost my Chicago pedestrian commuting skills) where I did much more chatting & catching up than working! I hardly got anything done because every time I saw someone I was drawn into a 30 minute conversation! Many of my co-workers were able to go out to lunch at My Thai (my favorite Chicago lunch eatery) and it was great to catch up. My friend & co-worker Anita gave baby Luci a beautiful little blue & white linen dress with an adorable blue & gingham diaper cover!

Tuesday night was the second mini baby shower for Luci! My great friends Liz & Jaime hosted a fantastic mini shower complete with Dags pizza (my favorite Chicago pizza) and cheesecake! The girls enjoyed champagne & the ever thoughtful Liz had a wonderful sparkling lemonade on hand for me. Luci again brought home many beautiful baby things including a few books - Little Pea - who wants to eat spinach but has to eat his candy first ;) and Goodnight Chicago - like Goodnight Moon, but Goodnight Chicago with lots of great Chicago sights. She also brought home lovingly hand-made goodies from my economist-by-day, crafty designer-by-night friend (known as Cajankow) including knitted baby booties, a shirt with two kittens on it who resemble our very own Milo & Tallulah, pants to match and a very pretty burp cloth. Luci also received a wonderful green & brown blanket with the softest material known to man on the other side, a fuzzy bunny outfit & matching bib, and her first bottles. She also will be receiving the Sweet Pea boppy and a Pack & Play soon in the mail! Some big, can't deny a baby is coming gear! Thanks for sending those to my house ladies...they would have been tough to get on the airplane! More motivation to get going on the nursery...the rocker is now overflowing with her belongings! And not to forget about Mom & Dad...we received a Chicago landmarks plate and a book of Chicago stories, along with a drying rack for Luci's bottles! If they ever get the opportunity to share baby war stories I'm quite certain Clay will want to get the scoop from Scott (Noelle's dad) on the 'system' he's developed for Noelle's feeding things. I believe the drying rack is required at some point in the process...

Wednesday morning I tried to work very quickly to make up for all of my chatting on Tuesday. I'm much more productive at home (despite the occasional blog break). I left on a 2pm flight and was home by 6:30pm. I'm a pretty anxious flier (and yes, I married a pilot) and the flight home was about as turbulent as I can handle without becoming panicky. Luci was very active during take-off & then periodically on & off throughout the flight. I was trying to decide if she was excited active like her dad, or nervous active like her mom but I couldn't tell. Clay falls asleep whenever he's not actually flying the plane, so maybe she was like me? But I hold my breath & don't move, so that makes me think she's like her Dad. I guess we'll find out in due time!

I feel very blessed to have had such a wonderful trip seeing all of my friends but I'm also very glad to be home in my little cocoon with the stinkpeas Milo & Tallulah. They were excited I was home so they could go outside & play again. Now as soon as Clay gets home my little world will be complete again. I've gotten many requests for an updated belly photo...as soon as Clay is home on Tuesday we'll get right on that ;)

The Start of the Nursery

We've officially started on the nursery. Clay moved the guest bed into the other bedroom before he left so that I could keep myself busy putting the crib together & decorating. I put the crib together over the last couple of nights and it was pretty easy. It seems very sturdy & I'm really happy with it! Unfortunately the dresser that matches (and the crib itself) has been discontinued...which explains why it was such a steal. I think after much looking I've finally found a dresser that will match though, and should be the perfect size. I'm giving myself a few more weeks of browsing for gently used items before ordering it, hoping to find something cheaper and with a bit of character! The lighting is bit goofy in the photos, but the rocker & rocking ottoman is a very earthy sage. I thought it would have more brown in it, but I'm still really pleased. On the ottoman you can see some of Luci's growing wardrobe! This weekend I'll be shopping for a crib mattress & picking out some fabric to make a crib skirt & curtains.

Photos as promised....

A group photo at Tommy Bahama's in our little Market Street...my new suburban downtown! back row, left to right: Erin Mills, Tennille Harms front row, left to right: Chris Bormann, Me, Erica Boos (thanks for the photos), & Jenny Tank...the organizer of the shower! Baby Luci & her parents again say thanks....

If this had sound, you'd hear our wonderful rendition of Happy Birthday in celebration of Jen's 30th! Not sure if she is signing to herself or if she's laughing at us...probably laughing!

Clay left yesterday for a few weeks of deployment with the Naval Reserves. I couldn't stop the tears & have a very hard time keeping it in perspective. Clay is very good at reminding me that we have a lot to be thankful for. MANY servicemen & women are gone for MUCH longer than a few weeks, and in much more dangerous situations. I am trying very hard to keep this in mind...although then I just end up crying for them & their families! One thing that never fails to bring a smile though is something Clay said on the way to the airport...that the next time he goes on a deployment like this there will be a baby Luci in the backseat along for the ride to the airport!

Luci kicked her dad!

Well last night Luci finally decided to kick for her dad. We were on the sofa watching TV after our walk & dinner and she started to get pretty active, mostly in one spot. As I often do these days, I said to Clay, "Give me your hand." Sure enough just a minute or so later she packed a pretty good little punch...I immediately looked over to Clay to see that his whole face had jumped up...that is the only way I can describe it. His eye brows were raised, his eyes were wide open, he had a giant grin, sat up a little straighter and said, "Wow, I felt that, was that her?"

This morning was our 24 weeks appointment. Clay was home and able to go along to meet Dr. Johnson. He described her as kind, concerned, and in control; I am really pleased we found her. She did a quick ultrasound & said that Luci was moving a lot & her spine looked beautiful. I've gained 10lbs total so far, which I'm pretty happy with. Lucky for me Clay will also be home for the next appointment in 3 weeks - which will be the glucose screening for gestational diabetes. It's hard to believe I'm getting so close to the third trimester! Sometimes it seems as though time has flown by, and other times it is hard to believe we have another 16 weeks to go!

Grateful

So the fabulous NHHS girls weekend has come & gone. Approximately 12 bottles of wines, a bottle of margarita mix, a few Mike's Hard Lemonade's, lasagna, several Thai dishes, 2 batches of puppy chow, and 1/2 of a birthday cake (Happy 30th Jen!) with ice cream, among other goodies were had. I still have a fridge full of beer & 4 bags of potato chips...but not a drop of red wine remains ;). And while needless to say the alcohol was consumed by the non pregnant 5 of us, I am very proud to be able to report that I stayed up each night chatting. I might have been the first that suggested it was bedtime, but everybody followed my lead.

It was super fun - and the perfect way to see everyone & catch up. Jen planned a little shower for me at Tommy Bahama's over lunch on Saturday (I'll post a photo when I get one). Luci was blessed with several seriously adorable little outfits, a monkey that giggles, some cloth diapers to spit up on, a gift card to buy some goodies, and she'll be pretty in pink with her new 'bundle me' to keep warm & cozy. After that we hung out in the yard enjoying the Houston weather (yep...I've been told to enjoy it while it lasts), and then were in our pj pants by dinner time. We stayed up talking at the dinner table until 2am about everything under the sun. Sometimes I think it is amazing that 6 of us can get together once every few years & have it be like no time has passed. Then I remember that we all come from the same place, grew up together & have years of shared experiences. And then I think it is amazing that we can go out & still make new friendships that are equally as strong with people we've only known for a few years or an even shorter time. I feel very blessed to have such great friends - both old & new, close by & far away. It seems no matter where life takes me my stock of great friends just seems to grow...and for that I am so grateful.

Lots of Movement

Both Luci and I have been pretty active over this last week. Luci is letting her presence be known more frequently now...to the point where this morning I'm not so patiently waiting for her to wake up & kick me...it is very re-assuring and lets me know all is well in there. If we could time it correctly I think Clay could feel her kick now...unfortunately their awake time schedules don't seem to match up very well! I feel her before I get up in the morning (that time period after the alarm goes off but before getting up), then again in the late afternoon hours, and then again after dinner. Her schedule has really been pretty consistent. Sometimes the morning hours differ...sometimes I don't feel her until a few hours after breakfast, but I almost always feel her at night.

I have been doing lots of moving myself with the Y's pre-natal program. Yoga was great - and a little bit tough. I think it is a good thing I started now...if I was any bigger & had to ease into it I'm not sure I could. I also am not very 'internally focused' these days....which is required to do yoga well. I tried REALLY hard to focus on my breathing & postures, but my mind kept wandering...checking out all the other moms-to-be...wondering how far along they are, or thinking, oh, that's a cute maternity workout tank, I wonder where she got that? I need to work on that if I'm going to attempt this Bradley Method business.

Water aerobics is proving to be a much better workout than I had ever imagined. Who knew you could cross country ski, downhill ski, skate, run, jog, grapevine, do the rocking horse and hop in the water? And the toughest movement...swimming! HA! We swam two laps last night & I was totally beat! We also use water weights...my arms & shoulders are actually sore! The best part is the ab workout I get in the water. Just trying to keep myself up right & move to these different positions requires a lot of core strength...which I'm sure will come in handy when it is time to push!

And she's up :). Good morning Luci.

Week 21

Well we are finally over half way there (and yes, Gap Maternity was having a sale on t-shirts this color the day I went shopping...who am I to pass up hot pink for $4.99). Click on the photo for a nice larger than life look at the belly. I'm feeling pretty well these days - Clay informed me that his book said the fifth month was the easiest & I'd have to say I agree. I'm accustomed to the usual aches & pains by now, and aside from a dull back ache there haven't been many new ones. I've cut back on my walking given the advice of both my official doctor & my sister doctor due to the persistent back ache (I pretty much make sure they are in agreement on all issues...thanks Brookie Nae). Apparently as my belly grows my center of gravity shifts - making it harder for me to maintain good posture & a pain free back. So I walk shorter distances & really concentrate on my form...which means we are walking much more slowly too. So far it has really helped though because my back feels much better. To supplement this reduced walking Clay & I joined the local YMCA. It really is the nicest gym I've ever belonged too...and I've belonged to quite a few. It offers a climbing wall & the usual weights & cardio machines for Clay, and a pre-natal program "Fit for Two" that started yesterday with an orientation meeting for me. Luci will also enjoy the free childcare & play time, as well as a huge kiddie pool once she's old enough. The family programming offered is really outstanding. "Fit for Two" starts tonight with water aerobics, followed by yoga on Thursdays, and a discussion & more water aerobics on Saturday. There are maybe 12 women, and 6 of them are due in July like I am. The woman who sat next to me is due the day before I am, and we'll be giving birth at the same hospital. It is nice to meet some other moms-to-be and compare our belly sizes. Relatively speaking, I'm not so big after all!

Clay is doing well & working hard...his nesting instinct seems to be quite different than mine as he's working lots & saving our pennies. He's also been doing lots of pruning & scrubbing of our sidewalks (mold & SE TX go hand & hand)...getting the house ready for Luci. Once my NHHS girls weekend (I'm so excited to see everyone!) is over we'll really get going on the nursery. Luci has been blessed with several sweet baby girl items (mostly from our favorite new friend Amanda...who HAND CRAFTED a sweet sweet baby blanket for Luci this weekend) and it is about time she gets her own space.

The Bradley Method

Well this morning I signed us up for our child birth preparation class. Not a class for the typical Lamaze, but for The Bradley Method. After some research, talking with friends and Dr. Brooke, it seems that there are one of two ways to go:
1. The Lamaze/Doctor directed method, where you learn pain distraction techniques and about the med's you can receive to alleviate pain.
2. The Bradley Method, where you learn how to completely relax in order to reduce and work through the pain...and drugs are still an option, but they (The Bradley folks) like to think one of last resort.

It is no secret that I hate pain...I don't even like to be slightly uncomfortable. I prefer temps between 72 - 74 degrees. I am incredibly irritable when I'm hungry or thirsty & can't satisfy these 'needs' immediately. I am a beast when I don't feel well or get too tired. I often proclaim I am dying & burst into tears. Clay laughed the first time I did this (because I was ridiculous)...but luckily by the time all day pregnancy sickness hit he had learned that at that moment I honestly felt as though I might be dying and laughing did not help. Overall he was very supportive through the all day sickness...expect for the time I burst into tears because I wanted a burrito but knew I couldn't eat it because it would make me throw up. He couldn't relate to that one I guess...he just doesn't enjoy Mexican food the way I do ;).

So really my motivation is to minimize the overall pain of labor & the healing process. I'm trying to be as informed as I can in deciding how to accomplish this. Much of what I've read says a natural childbirth leads to a speedy recovery and less pain in total. So we've decided to become very informed. I'm not ruling an epidural in or out at this point. I just want to be well informed should we be blessed with a labor & delivery process that goes so smoothly that we have these options.

The Bradley Method is also called 'Husband Coached Childbirth'...and Clay is up for the challenge. Now we just need for him to be home instead of on a 737 when baby Luci (yep, that's her name) decides to join us out here. For now we are just hoping that Grandma Pierse will continue to be right, and that it'll work out :)

7 ounces

I got call yesterday from Dr. Johnson (our OB-GYN) confirming that all of the ultrasound results look great. She weighs 7 ounces already! I'm also feeling her move more & more...she did a few kicks for me last night before I fell asleep. I'm off to the doctor again on Thursday for my 20 weeks appointment.

Over the weekend I made the second big nursery purchase - a comfy rocker in "basil." Now we have a crib & in 8 weeks we'll have a rocker. Then after my big NHHS (New Hampton High School) girls weekend in March we'll get to moving furniture around & putting the nursery together. Until then the two guest bedrooms need to continue functioning as such!

It's a GIRL!!!

I think we were both too excited to sleep last night...I tossed & turned, while Clay decided to get up & play Warcraft on the computer until 2am. Starting at 8am I was supposed to drink 32 oz of water & not go to the bathroom until after the ultrasound was complete at 10am. For those of you who know me well...that was a tall order. By 9am I was miserable and by 9:10am (our appt was supposed to start at 9am) I was just plain mad. I gave in & went to 'release' a bit...waiting till 9:20a and then released more. Then about 9:30am Clay said something funny and off I ran again to the bathroom. We finally got in for the ultrasound about 9:35am. The technician was doing her thing for about 20 minutes and then decided my bladder was too full & might be squishing the baby! So the torture finally ended and I was able to empty my bladder. Another 20 minutes of looking around and she announced we should turn away if we didn't want to know the gender right then. After the ultrasound was over, the tech told us all looked well and that 'it' was measuring to the day of the due date of 7/18. Then she wrote on a piece of paper (per our request) "IT'S A GIRL" and sent us on our way. A few short minutes later we were headed out for brunch & the big reveal. When we opened the card & saw the ultrasound photo it took us a few seconds to see her note...and then I started to cry at The Egg & I. Long story short - we feel so very blessed that all appears well with Babygirl Pea....

Milestones

I think I have felt Babypea move a few times now! I was watching evening TV on the sofa last week (after my 3 mile walk - so that makes it a little bit more okay...right?) and felt what I first attributed to gas in my lower abdomen. Then I thought, wait...that kind of felt like butterfly wings lightly brushing up against me! I wonder if that was Babypea! I've read the first movements feel like butterfly wings, angel wings, or a light tapping. Since that first flutter, I've felt just a few more taps - which leads me to believe I'm feeling Babypea move now! I told Clay I feel sort of guilty that I am getting all of this time with Babypea before he does, and that I wish we could take turns carrying our children. He told me not to worry...that he was just fine with how it all works as is.

The second milestone happened just yesterday. I was out shopping with my friend Amanda, and a woman working in the store said, "I see a tummy!" It was the first time I've had someone say something to me assuming I am pregnant. And I wasn't even wearing the obvious pregnant shirt that I am in the photo I posted earlier...I was just wearing a T-shirt!

The Start of Week 17

I'm starting to look pregnant now! We find out the gender of Babypea on Valentine's Day...stay tuned for the update!

GO BEARS!!!