Cristina's Baby Blog

10 months

2012-02-02T12:21:00.000-08:00

This past month has been fun as I've watched Krew gain more confidence in his abilities and learn new skills. Krew has mastered his army crawl and he moves super fast. He has been spending more time playing on his knees, so now he has started to crawl. I think he does it without thinking and then drops to his belly when he realizes what he's doing. He goes onto his knees so he can pull himself up to stand, which means that it takes him no time to stand. He is pretty stable now and he has balance even when holding on with just one hand. We've been teaching him to get down from standing (rather than just by falling), so now he does that. Sometimes. When he remembers. One of the side effects of learning to teach him to get down is that he is able to bend at the waist to pick things up while he is still standing. Krew still hasn't mastered how to get into the sitting position from his army crawl, but he'll figure it out. He's so close already, so I'm thinking it won't take long.

Another thing that Krew has learned? How to not nap. I don't understand this part, since most babies still have 2 naps a day for a few more months. However, Krew has decided that maybe 1 nap a day is fine. There are definitely perks to having Krew only nap once per day, the obvious being that he sleeps longer at night. He will still wake up once between midnight and 2 a.m., but will stay sleeping until 7 or 8. I've also noticed that if he has 2 naps that he will only sleep until 8, whereas if he has 1 nap that he will sleep in until around 9. I think the little stinker actually forces himself to stay awake and sometimes if you don't get him at the right time, he'll get his 2nd wind and keep on going!

Krew has definitely shown himself to be a determined (read: stubborn) little boy. He is also incredibly impatient. When he wants something, he wants it now. Even if it's something that he didn't even know he wanted yet. I usually put him in his high chair before I feed him and once he realizes that I'm getting his food ready, he demands it put in his mouth ASAP. Never mind the fact that he probably didn't even notice he was hungry yet. Also, if you take something away from him, he howls because he wants it. And if you remove him from something he shouldn't play with, he will go immediately back to it unless the door is shut on him. Even bath time has become more challenging since he insists on trying to climb out of the tub.

Oh, Kevin and I have also figured out that the mark that he sometimes has on his left cheek is actually the side effect of Krew scratching there. I've even witnessed it first hand. He doesn't scratch himself deep enough to draw blood or break the skin, but just enough to roughen it up and irritate the skin. The mark would usually clear up for a few days and then come back, so I think that we must have cut his nails short enough for his skin to heal before his nails were long enough to scratch again.

Overall, I'm really proud of Krew's progress and I can't wait to see what he learns this month!

9 months

2012-01-11T23:02:00.000-08:00

I stopped keeping track of how old Krew was in weeks, so now I have no idea and we'll just go with 9 months.

This past month has been a real explosion of activity for Krew. I was worried that he was going to be 1 before he started sitting since he refused to sit independently or even roll on a regular basis. And then one day it all clicked into place for him.

It started with his babbling: he was starting to make sounds that could be mistaken for real words! And then he finally said mama. The next week he was choosing to stay upright. Later that week he started doing the Army crawl. He went from nothing to mobile in less than 2 weeks. It was insane! Now he says dad (although it sounds more like "mub") and he chases the cats. Literally. Link needs to stop being such a wimp.

He also went from possibly 4 teeth for Christmas to having 8. I took a few pictures the other day and I couldn't help but notice how much his face has changed.

We were originally going to headband him, since his head shape was twisted and we wanted to correct it. Ideally, you would have the consultation around 5-6 months and so then the headbanding is started when the kid is younger. And if we had done that, we would have gone on with the headbanding. However, when we had our consultation, the doctors noticed that the difference was only 8 mm. This size difference, had it only affected the back, would have been negligible. However, since it altered his ear position (really only visible from the top) and seemed to have affected his cheek, we wanted it fixed. We leared in that visit that there was no guarantee to having those areas fixed. The cheek was a direct result of the torticollis. So once his torticollis was under control and he aged a little more the cheek would normalize. Oh. And his ears? Well, they might go back into their normal position once his head filled out properly. Might. On top of that, Kevin's ears don't line up either.

Once I realized that his fixable areas really weren't that fixable with the helmet, I decided that we would just let nature take its course. His head has changed shape drastically in the past few months, to the point where you might notice that it's different, but not really know why. The doctors also said that kids that show rapid improvement will continue to improve rapidly. Headbanding would just speed up and go beyond what nature would do on its own.

If you check out the pictures below (finally!), you'll see that in a matter of 3 months that he's really grown up!

6 months

First Halloween! 7 months

7 months

First Christmas - 8 months (just before he started sitting independently)

9 months

29 weeks

2011-10-24T16:11:00.000-07:00

Or at least I think he's at 29 weeks. Regardless, he's in the 6 month bracket and he's taking up way more of my time than he did before. I've been meaning to write this post for a couple weeks but I have less energy. He doesn't sleep as much as he did, but apparently that's normal since 2 other moms from my dance studio with babies his age have been missing out on sleep too. Misery loves company, right?

He got his shots on October 3rd, the day after he hit 6 months. He really shot up the charts in length and weight from his 4 month shots! He's now about 20 lbs and 28 inches long. Dr. Fredeen said that he was about the size of an 8-9 month old. He passed the 97th percentile in length and he's in the 85-97 percentile for weight. However, he's still in the 50-85 percentile for his height to length ratio. He did well getting his shots, but seemed more out of it than usual for the week following his shots. He was warmer and seemed more dozy. We had also started him on solids a couple weeks prior and he wasn't interested in eating food (but was still taking a bottle at least). It took him about a week to get back to normal and he's 100% improved now. Except for his stuffy nose.

Somewhere along the road he became nasally congested (is that a word?) so we've been using a saline spray to clear him out. It was pretty bad at first and he still hates the spray but he calms down a lot quicker now. I think he just doesn't like objects stuffed up his nose. To be honest, I think he picked it up from the health clinic (ironic) because they gave him a toy to play with and it immediately went into his mouth. I doubt they sanitize their toys between kids and I honestly didn't think anything of it at the time. Neither Kevin nor I have been sick, so unless Kevin brought something home from work, he got it from the clinic.

Speaking of the health clinic, when a baby goes in for their 6 month shots the parent is given a questionnaire to fill out on the baby's development. Which is fine, unless the baby isn't as far along as the baby "should" be. That part really pissed me off and I think it has to do entirely with the way the nurse worded what she said. For those of you that have already heard this rant, feel free to skip over it. Krew scored normal for a few things, borderline in problem solving, and below average for fine motor skills. The fine motor skills tests how well a baby can grab things using their fingers versus their whole hand. When you are doing the questionnaire, you are supposed to test all of these things on your baby before answering (unless you know for a fact that they can already do the task). However, I didn't have anything small (the size of a cheerio) with me so I just marked down "Not Yet" on the tasks. When it came time to discuss his score, the nurse asked if I had tried any of these things and I said no. When asked why, I said that he wasn't eating cheerios yet (for the questions that actually involved cheerios) and also that I didn't have anything that I wanted him to choke on. She then suggested that he see an infant development specialist and that's when I got angry. It's very possible that I took it the wrong way, but I said that it wasn't necessary since he had just turned 6 months, was 3 weeks early, and had torticollis (which has set him back for things like sitting). She did admit that the questionnaire was for kids between the ages of 6-8 months, but if I wanted she could refer him to a specialist. There's nothing wrong with him! She started out the interview by saying that all kids develop at different points, but now she wants him to see a specialist?!? I denied, again, and she had me take home an 8 month questionnaire with essentially the same questions. I'm supposed to call her when he hits 8 months and tell her how he scored. Even in the 3 weeks since his shots his development has changed drastically. At the time of his shots he wasn't putting his feet in his mouth and now he does it every time his toes are exposed. He has started sitting a little more independently. He isn't quite picking things up with his thumb and forefinger yet, but soon.

Other fun facts?

Krew gained another tooth about a month ago, and one of his top ones are on the way! I wasn't able to see the other side properly but I may have seen some white. He also LOOOOVES his jolly jumper and has really good form while jumping. He eats so well and loves sweet potatoes mixed with apples/pears (so good). He also loves squash, but isn't a fan of turkey, lol. I can't blame him though, it smells nasty. I've actually taken to making his baby food, something that I never was really sure I would do. In fact, I was never sure I liked sweet potato or squash until I tried his and now it's something I plan on eating regularly.

Krew sleeps less during the day and will typically have 1 hour naps when he does go down. I'm finding it easier to interact with him and he's such a little stinker. He purposefully does things to make me laugh and so we laugh A LOT together.

Isis is totally in love with him and comes within reaching distance so he can pet her. Even on the couple times when he's grabbed her fur she hasn't hissed or ran away. Link likes to sit and watch him (it's mutual) but won't come within arm's reach yet. Smart cat.

Krew is still unpredictable with people. He loves people who smile at him and talk to him, but he shuts right up when they're talking to me. However, I had a cashier chat him up and he was loving it until she went to touch his face, then apparently he froze and looked panicked. I missed that part and the cashier told me (maybe in case he started screeching?).

He reaches for everything now, his favourites being the remote and my cell phone. If he's on my lap at my computer he will also reach for the keyboard. Luckily I have a large wrist thingie so he can touch that without touching the keys.

He makes a lot more noise now, and sometimes it sounds like he's saying "hi" or "hey." There have even been a couple "mom" noises in there and last night his squawk sounded like a "what?" He hasn't been making the traditional ba, ga, ka noises as indicated on his questionnaire but I'm sure that won't be too far off.

I think Krew is a content baby. And by content, I mean unmotivated to move. Despite being able to roll over and even sit, he has NO motivation to actually do any of these things on his own. I'd be worried, except I'm kind of that way so I can see where he's coming from, lol.

I'm not sure what else to say at the moment. I had planned on this being a quick note (so I could stop feeling guilty) but it ended up being longer than originally anticipated. (PS sorry for any typos!) Unfortunately, I also did it on my lap top so I can't upload any pictures, but if you're on my facebook, you've probably seen then already anyway.

First Tooth! (AKA 3 Weeks of Teething Hell)

2011-08-31T10:13:00.000-07:00

Krew has his first tooth!

Getting that tooth, however, proved to be nearly more than I could bear. His teething started with extra drooling and fist chewing, which was cute even if it did soak through his bib to his shirt underneath. He started waking up more often at night, to the point where he was getting up nearly every 2 hours. He was fussier during the day. When he was napping he would sleep for shorter periods of time and have fewer naps.

Because of his age, he lacks the coordination required to use a teething ring (that can be chilled), and he has only just figured out how to get the links in his mouth without hitting his eye on the way. Actually, when he chews on his links, he reminds me of this:

To help him (us) cope with his teething, we've been using a combination of Orajel (or Anbesol) and gripe water. We also had heard about how amber bracelets help with teething and so I went out and bought one. The amber in the bracelet (supposedly) helps with pain relief and calms the baby. While he has improved since we bought it, it's hard to say if it was the bracelet itself or just his tooth making an arrival that has calmed him. Regardless, we have not removed it!

The only bad thing about Krew's tooth arriving is that it came alone. Meaning that the other one will soon be turning him into a crank again.

19 weeks

2011-08-12T00:44:00.000-07:00

Or rather, 2 days shy of 19 weeks.

Unfortunately, no pictures this post, but I figure that if I always wait until I have pictures then that means that I have to take the pictures, then upload them...and then you get a post 1 month later!

Krew had his 4 month shots this past Monday on the 8th, and it was kind of funny. Well, not the crying that came out of him receiving the shots, but rather the stink eye he gave the nurse. Seriously. He had the pouty lip going on and he was watching her with this pissed off expression that was pointed directly at her. Sometimes I'm really surprised by the sheer amount of expressions he can produce. And then I'm glad that they aren't aimed at me.

The after effects of Krew's shots sucked. The next day he was warm to the touch, and it definitely didn't help that our summer decided to return, so his room (and the house) was warm. On top of that, he's definitely teething, so it was pretty much the best day ever. His next set of shots will be in the beginning of October, and it will only be a single shot, so that shouldn't be too bad.

I loooove having Krew measured though. I'm always amazed by how much he's grown in such a short period of time! So, here are his measurements:

Weight = 17 lbs 2.5 oz (2 mos = 12 lbs 10 oz; birth = 8 lbs 5 oz)
Length = 26.25 inches (2 mos = 22.5 inches; birth = 21 inches)
Head Circumference = 42.5 cm (2 mos = 39.2 cm; birth = 34 cm)

According to the chart, his length is in the 85-95th percentile, his weight is in the 50-85th percentile, his head circumference is in the 50-85th percentile, and his length-to-weight ratio is right at 50%. That means that he's tall (long?) for his age, but otherwise he is average to slightly-bigger-than-average. However, the length-to-weight ratio shows that he is the right size (not over- or underweight). Apparently, "they" are starting to track babies to see if a baby that is "overweight" stays overweight as they grow. Oh, and these measurements aren't corrected for his age; otherwise, I think he'd be in the next size bracket, and he's big enough already. As it is I'm already putting aside onesies that are in the 6 month range because they are too small. If he doesn't stop growing he's going to be in toddler sizes before he starts walking.

So, Krew has been tripping me out lately. Well, mostly today. So, I was talking to him and the great thing about talking to babies is that you don't have to make sense. Or make sentences. I just say hi to him and he thinks I'm the greatest conversationalist ever. And you can tell that he thinks that because he smiles this really wide smile and his face lights up. Either that or he's just humouring me. Anyway, so I was saying hi to him and then I looked away. And heard a sound that was pretty much bang on to what I had just said, intonation included. That was pretty creepy. And then later I was saying "hello-allo-allo-allo-allo" (really fast). Like I said, the conversation doesn't have to actually make sense. And it kind of sounded like he said hello back.

Obviously, he didn't because he's only 4 months old and they don't start "talking" till much later. And those sounds are super easy to mimic, so even if he did mimic me it wasn't like he was consciously saying hi back. Nonetheless, he kind of creeped me the fuck out. It's bad enough that sometimes I hear the tenants talking through the baby monitor at night (not actual words, but the murmur of voices), but now he's making more noises that sound like talking? Babies are creepy.

Other than that? I just discovered today that he likes sparkly jewelry and that he likes to watch So You Think You Can Dance Canada. Which would sound impressive until you remembered who his mom was. Seriously though, I would be talking to him and he would be making eye contact and smiling...until he got distracted by my necklace. And just to prove it, I moved it back and forth and he tracked it with his eyes. And with SYTYCDC he was lying on the floor playing on his mat, but once the show started he wiggled himself around and arched his head back so he could watch. Until the commercials came on. He also loves Glee! I was driving back from the in-laws' place on the weekend with Kevin, my teenage niece, and Krew when my niece mentioned she had a Glee song stuck in her head. Krew was being fussy, so I figured I'd play the music and it would distract him, so I did. And he stopped fussing immediately. And didn't fuss for the rest of the way back (we were probably 45 mins out of town still). My niece said that he was smiling the entire time, and that just proved my theory that Krew DID like the Glee music when I was pregnant!

Anyway, this is a really long post, especially when you consider the fact that I haven't even included any pictures. Oh well, next time!

17.5 weeks

2011-08-02T16:06:00.000-07:00

I'm a horrible blogger!

Krew is now 4 calendar months (but 17.5 weeks). Yeah, the discrepancy between a calendar month and a lunar month is super annoying.

I took Krew in to the clinic for his 4ish month checkup. As of last Wednesday (July 27) he weighed 16 pounds 2 oz (birth weight 8 lbs 5 oz) and was 25 inches long (birth length 21 inches). So that means that he has nearly doubled his birth weight and that he has grown 4 inches in 4 months! He is still wearing a size 6 month sleeper, but some of the smaller ones are nearly too small for his big feet and long torso.

The physiotherapist (Jaclyn) has been super awesome with him. She has been showing me neck stretches and exercises to help him strengthen his left neck muscle. And best of it, it has been working! He now moves his head to the left side more easily and he also sits more centered instead of to the right. We still need to work on keeping his left ear away from his left shoulder, as well as helping him roll to his left side. Since working with Jaclyn, Krew has stopped rolling over, but considering the fact that he was only rolling over because he was so lopsided during tummy time this is a good thing. He kicks with his legs more often and he nearly "swims" on his tummy. That boy wants to motor!

So, remember the cute cooing noises Krew would make (posted on my last entry)? Well, he still makes a version of that noise. Except now the noise is much higher pitched and resembles that of a shriek:

He's a pretty funny kid too, and I think he knows it. He recognizes words like "bottle" and "bath" and maybe even "walk" and gets super excited. He starts kicking his legs and his eyes open really wide.

I think he might be teething. His fist chewing and drooling would indicate a yes, but looking in his mouth I don't see inflamed gums. In the below picture he actually looks like he has teeth visible through his gums though, so maybe? (Click picture below to enlarge.)

Mmm. Fist.

He loves the feel of a fleece blanket, so he always pulls it up to (and sometimes over) his face when he is in his crib, car seat, or chair. Mix the soggy fist with a fleece blanket and he always has lint between his fingers and clutched in his little hands. He also loves to chew/suck on his bibs, but I think sometimes the bib just happened to be between his fist and his mouth at the time.

He's just a happy kid, just look at this face!

He's also super strong. When he is lying down I grab his fists and he will stiffen his shoulders and neck so he can be pulled into the sitting position. Unfortunately, we used to play a game with him where he would push back with his feet and he would fall back onto a pillow, so now he keeps doing that and won't stay sitting upright, lol. He also likes to sit in a sprawl, just like most males, and prefers to be reclining versus sitting upright. Jaclyn lent us a Bumbo chair to help him improve his sitting and keeping his body in midline, but he just sits back (instead of forward) and leans to one side.

His sleeping habits are both better and worse than they were. When he goes to sleep in the evening (usually between 7:30 and 9) he is out for the night. But! There are times now where I have to get up in the middle of the night because he is crying for his soother. And by crying, I mean shrieking. So, getting up for the soother is easier than getting up to feed him, but it still isn't sleeping all the way through the night. He still wakes up at either 4:30 or 5:30 a.m. for feeding, but he will go back to sleep again after, so that's good. There are times when he seems to sleep all day and other times when he just will not sleep at all. We use a music and motion soother (below) that plays music, both with or without lights and motion to help put him to sleep. If that doesn't work, we use a mobile. For some reason the mobile will calm him down better, but maybe that's because we don't use it all the time?

Best investment ever.

Krew is still easygoing, he still goes with the flow, but he does seem to be getting a little leery of new faces. He warms up to the new person fairly quickly, but will still look for me or Kevin to make sure we're around. He smiles easily and has a laugh that sounds more like a wheeze, but it's hilarious. Unfortunately I can't seem to make him laugh when I have my camera out!

Oh, I also gave him a hair cut a couple days ago.

Loooong hair.

Side view.

After.

Much shorter now!

12 weeks

2011-06-27T14:56:00.000-07:00

I really need to update more often. >_<

We have booked an appointment for Krew to see a physiotherapist, so hopefully we'll get that flat head dilemma figured out.

Krew has started talking up a storm! Well..."talking." He coos like pigeon and reminds me of the bird from Labyrinth:

Here's the video (sorry, it's a minute long):

And because I'm the best mom ever, here's a video of Krew crying (because it's super pitiful and slightly hilarious. Oh, and he was just complaining, he wasn't devasted about anything). Just look at that pout in between cries:

Krew can now roll over too! Technically he has been able to roll over for a while now, but only once, then he would be done for the day. Today, however, I set him up for tummy time and he rolled over three times in a row!!! So I had to capture it on video. And this is the video of the 3rd time:

For the most part, Krew is still a good sleeper. If he has a chill day he sleeps until 6:30 a.m. However, if he had an exciting day he wakes up at 4:30 a.m. If he has 2 exciting days in a row, he wakes up at 3 a.m. Like last night. I thought I had him all sorted out in terms of naps, but apparently I don't since he isn't just conking off like he used to. Gah!

He slept like a champ all of last week and so I was convinced he had a growth spurt. Now that he seems to have outgrown nearly all of his 3 month sleepers, I think I was right. Also, I just put him in a 3-6 month old onesie, and I don't think it fits him quite as loosely as it did before. He's getting so big!

8 weeks

2011-05-28T09:05:00.000-07:00

Krew's Measurements:
Head circumference: 41 cm (at birth, 34 cm)
Length: 59 cm (at birth, 53 cm)
Weight: 11 lbs 14 oz (at 4 weeks, 9 lbs 12 oz; at birth, 8 lbs 5 oz)

As you can see, he's been growing. A LOT. His eyes most definitely track moving objects now, though sometimes it seems laggy, and his most favourite object to stare at (besides me) are bright lights, either natural or artificial.

Krew dropped the midnight feeding a couple weeks ago and just recently dropped the 3 a.m. feeding as well. So this means that he lets me sleep until 4:30 or 5 a.m.! It's amazing how wide awake I feel when I go in to feed him. He also will sleep again after that feeding and wake up again around 7:30, but then wants to be up at that point. I hope this amazing change stays. It really messes with my system to wake up between 2 and 4 a.m. and then I just end up super cranky.

Krew also rolled over for the first/only time last week! I'm pretty sure it was accidental, but he did it in the little office cradle we have. Unfortunately, we both missed it, but Kevin did catch the movement out of the corner of his eye. The video below shows him attempting it (immediately after rolling over) but then he started to get frustrated.

In this next video you can see him smiling, as well as see how he focuses when he hears music.

The other day he was being super fussy, which was incredibly stressful for both me and him. He wouldn't eat more than an ounce at a time and then would screech horribly when I would try to feed him more. He finally settled down in the late afternoon and I was then able to feed him a full bottle. Just yesterday I noticed he did it again, but with a specific bottle. I poured his milk into a different bottle (one that I knew he liked) and he finished it. That means his issues were with his bottle and not him. While I'm happy that it's an issue that is fixable, I feel like a jerk for not catching on earlier since the bottle that Krew had finished was a different style from the ones he wouldn't drink out of.

When I was in the doctor's office, I asked her about my legs since they are still incredibly swollen, but also had developed rash-like markings near my ankles. She said they were broken blood vessels and that a woman's body is supposed to go back to normal after having a baby, not develop issues like swollen feet/ankles/legs. She said that I have good circulation in my feet, but I'm going to be getting some blood work done to rule out potential issues, with my thyroid for example. In the mean time I've (finally!) picked up some compression socks that should help keep the discomfort of the swelling to a minimum.

Good times.

7 weeks

2011-05-18T12:44:00.000-07:00

Krew is growing so fast! At his 4 week appointment, he weighed in at 9 lbs 12 oz (up from his 8 lbs 5 oz birth weight). He has maxed out the length of his 3 month old sleepers and the shoulders have started to pull when he straightens his legs out. To give you an idea of how long he is, when he's standing up straight I can't put him against my chest or he'll bump the underside of my chin. His feet are the same size as the feet in the sleepers too. There is still some room in the tummy area, but I imagine that'll follow soon now that he has a double chin!

He is definitely smiling now and he also has a grin that lights up his face. He has learned to scrunch his eyes when he grins too and he always greets me with that particular grin in the mornings when I feed him. He has found his voice too (and not just to demand service). He sqwawks when he wants us to talk to him, and it is more of an "ah" noise that, because it rises in inflection at the end, sounds like he's asking a question.

Smiles

Grin

He has started grasping voluntarily now (and not just when you put your finger in his hand), but I keep forgetting to tie back my hair. Luckily he hasn't started pulling yet. He hasn't quite figured out that his hands are attached to his arms so he gets angry when his own arm shoves his soother/bottle out of his mouth. He also has sharp baby nails that Kevin has dubbed "kitten claws." My description is a little more accurate: vampire claws. Those things hurt and Krew currently has a few scratches on his face from them.

He isn't a fan of tummy time and I can't really blame him since I think he's doing it the hard way. When he's on his belly he leans to one side so the opposite leg is lifted. If he didn't lean he would have the balance from both legs and both arms.

He definitely likes music. Whether it's the lame ABC sounds coming from his lounge rocker or actual songs, he stops to listen (at least briefly). He's started to actually focus on objects, instead of just staring off in the distance. He's a total moth too, lol. He loves to stare at light and will actually turn his head to follow it. So maybe he's more of a sunflower.

Speaking of his head...it's totally flatter on his right side behind his ear. It's his favourite side to sleep on and he's gotten used to it so now we have to train him to use both sides equally or he'll have an awkward shaped head when he's older. When he's in his lounge chair we place a folded receiving blanket behind his right shoulder to prevent him from sleeping on his right side. So far it seems to work, but when he's upset it just makes him even angrier.

Which brings me to his personality. Krew can be very mercurial when it comes to his emotions. Like I mentioned earlier, he gets upset easily, but he can calm down quite fast if you fix the problem sooner rather than later. The longer he's upset, the harder it is to calm him down, it's as simple as that. He also doesn't like to nap in a separate room, so he'll usually fall asleep in his lounge chair. Luckily he's still okay with his crib at night.

Blue Eyes

Fascinated with himself

Krew has beautiful blue eyes; they're dark with a lighter middle. I hope he keeps that shade, especially since they are similar in colour to Kevin's. He does, however, have MY hair colour! And yes, I'm totally smug about it! It's hard to photograph, but his hair is starting to come in blonde. His hair also looks like a dark auburn in darker light, and if you get it under direct sunlight, it looks golden. My hair colour is one of the few things I wanted to pass on, so I really hope he keeps it! (You can sort of see his hair colour in the above picture.)

3 Weeks

2011-04-21T22:49:00.000-07:00

I started writing new posts at least twice, but my motivation quickly fizzled on both, so they've been abandoned. There's really not a lot to say either, but here are my answers for the questions that I've heard from several people.

Yes, he's a good sleeper (for now), and yes, I've been sleeping well (for the most part). "Sleeping well" and "newborn" don't really belong in the same sentence, but Kevin's been a huge help on the weekends, so that's when I'm able to get a few extra hours of sleep. During the week I head back to bed after feeding him; and I keep going back to bed until I'm feeling somewhat rested. At the moment he's going through a growth spurt, so he's eating like mad but waking up every 1.5 to 2 hours to eat. Meaning? I haven't been sleeping as well as I'd like. Luckily it's the long weekend, so Kevin is able to take over for me tomorrow morning so I can score a few more hours.

I've been really fortunate to have the energy to go back to dance so quickly. This past Tuesday I re-joined my jazz class, and I also plan to sign up for hip hop again (same day). That means that I'll be out of the house for around 3 hours, which is great for me (personally/emotionally/socially), but it also means that Kevin and Krew will be able to bond without me there (super important).

I'm learning the difference between when Krew is fussy and when he's hungry; I'm starting to get it right more regularly, but his screeching usually lets me know when I've got it wrong.

He's starting to smile. I know that at this point it's more gas-related than anything else, but I'll take what I can get.

His eyes, at this stage, are most definitely blue. A very deep blue that reminds me of Kevin's eyes. As much as I would have liked (preferred) green, I'm ok with him having his daddy's eyes. His hair, however, is more reminiscent of my colour. It's a very deep brown that has a reddish tinge when seen in direct sunlight; in fact, if I could have ever dyed my hair red, that's the shade I would have chosen.

Personality-wise at this point, he's pretty chill. He only gets fussy if he wants to eat or be changed. He likes to be held at night and will have a fit if he's put down before he's ready. He doesn't demand to be held into the wee hours of the morning, so I don't mind this is nightly ritual. Usually he just gets plunked down onto someone's chest while they're on the computer, so it isn't a hardship to cuddle.

The cats are still wary of him but have started getting closer. Link will howl right along with Krew when Krew is displeased (so. much. fun. /eyeroll) and Isis has started nudging Krew's hand while I'm feeding him. Both Isis and Link have been caught sleeping in Krew's office cradle, although neither will go into his crib or his living room cradle (this one moves though, so that might be why).

My due date is tomorrow. I'm so glad that I've had this time with my boy and didn't have to go all the way to Easter in order to meet him. Not to mention how freakin' huge I would've been if I had gone to term.

3 weeks down. So far, so good.

Some Pictures

2011-04-09T23:13:00.000-07:00

These pictures were taken at the hospital, and Kevin has more recent ones on his phone, so I'll have to snag them some time. My camera has a tendency to destroy USB ports when it's uploading pictures (don't ask me why) so hopefully I can figure it out so I can upload more in the future.

I never did master the swaddle.

Kevin showing me how it's done (...and Krew totally looks like an alien...).

A little one-on-one with daddy.

Love at First Sight?

2011-04-08T00:22:00.000-07:00

I did not fall instantly in love with my son the second I set eyes on him.

Krew was, for all intents and purposes, a stranger to me, and I was uncomfortable handling him despite having carried him for his whole life. The night he was born I was shaky from labour and could not hold him for more than a few minutes. Kevin, however, demonstrated his paternal nature from the start: He learned how to diaper, feed, and handle Krew while I was being sewn up. He also stepped up that first night by getting up to feed Krew at a time when I felt incapable of even picking him up without help.

Watching Kevin with our son made my heart ache; especially considering how ambivalent I was feeling at the time. When the next feeding rolled around, I gave it a try. The sleep had restored some of my energy, and my IV was disconnected so I didn't have to worry about tangled tubes. Picking him up for the first time scared me. He was trusting me to care for him and take care of his needs, regardless of whether or not I was physically or emotionally able. His vulnerability and faith terrified me, but it was also encouraging.

He taught me to love him with each interaction, and he continues to do so still. The way he watches me while I feed him makes me feel like he knows who I am and that it's ok if it took me entirely too long to get his bottle ready. Or that he wanted his diaper changed or that he just wanted to cuddle for a while. I know he recognizes my voice already, and I feel incredibly priviledged to know how to soothe him when he is outraged. He makes me feel like everything is going to be all right when he burrows his head into my neck or falls asleep on my chest.

I did not fall instantly in love with my son the second I set eyes on him, but the love that I feel for him now is more fierce than I had ever expected for only having known him for a few days. I guess I just had to get to know him first.

Krew Thomas Anthony Broderick

2011-04-06T21:05:00.000-07:00

WARNING: This is going to be a long post, and maybe a little TMI.

The Build-Up:
I had it all planned out: The perfect April Fools Day prank. I was going to post a picture of myself in the hospital (from when Kevin injured his ankle and we spent hours in the hospital waiting for an x-ray) and update my Facebook status to "Cristina is hanging out in the hospital." Instead, I was on the receiving end of that joke.

Around midnight on March 31st (the beginning of that day, not the end), I noticed some sort of fluid on my underwear. Having had my membranes swept a couple days earlier, I got a little excited, but decided to just keep an eye on it (and put on a pad, just in case). Around 3 a.m. I got up to go to the bathroom and when I laid back down again, felt a trickle. I mentioned it to Kevin, so we decided that we would go to the maternity ward in the morning. After we got up, we grabbed the bags (which were finally packed), fiddled around with the carseat, and off we went!

By the time we made it to the hospital, I started to have second thoughts about whether or not my water had broken, but decided that it couldn't hurt to get it checked out. While walking to the maternity ward, I felt more water. And more again. By the time we got there, I felt like I was gushing. I was immediately sent to the Assessment Room where I was hooked up to a fetal monitor (which is also used to monitor contractions) and it was noted that my contractions were 5 minutes apart! However, since the contractions were merely uncomfortable, I was sent home and told to come back later that night, or earlier if the contractions strengthened.

I ended up coming back later that evening and I was hooked up to an IV pole with a bag of oxytocin to help induce labour. With my membranes ruptured, there was now a chance of infection so it was necessary to get this show on the road. At 2 a.m. on April 1st, I had maxed out my dosage of oxytocin and it was decided that they would try again in the morning. Around 7 a.m., I was hooked back up again, with the same luck. Out of sympathy, the nurses sent me home for a few hours in the evening of April 1st to hang out before my next round of antibiotics. When I came back, I was reattached to my new best friend and around 7:30 a.m. on April 2nd, I started my third round of oxytocin.

[Side note: After the second dose of oxytocin Dr. Cosio consulted with the OB specialist to determine the next step, and he recommended another try of oxytocin. By this point I was incredibly bored and was convinced that another round was just a waste of everyone's time. Plus I wanted to meet my baby.]

A friend of mine stopped by to say hi while I was wasting time and had suggested (or demanded, really) that we go for a walk around the ward. Kevin had stepped out for a while, but as we were walking we ran into him and stopped to chat. At that point I had felt a hard kick or jolt in my abdomen, but I didn't think anything of it until my contractions started picking up after the second round of walking. We went back to the room and I informed my nurse that I was finally starting to feel something. When it got to the point that I could no longer speak during the contractions, my friend left and the nurse started to get excited.

Labour & Delivery:
Labour was...interesting. I hadn't given it much thought the entire time I was in the hospital because I was convinced that it wasn't going to happen. However, once it started, I just wanted to find a way to deal with the pain. And that way involved doing a plie while standing with my elbows on the bed. I would breathe in and bend my knees, then exhale to a stand. I found the repetition soothing, but it gradually became unbearable and I felt like crying. At which point I remembered the gas!

The gas is awesome, by the way: It makes you feel drunk. Once I started the gas, I immediately felt a little light-headed and needed to lie down in order to not fall over. (I don't remember how far dilated I was when I started the gas, but the entire time I was being induced, I was only ever 2 cms dilated and my cervix had moved posterior.)

The contractions started becoming even more unbearable, and my body would lean to the right (on to my side) during the worst part. The nurse told me that if I felt like pushing, to just blow out so it would vibrate my lips; I told the nurse that I thought that they just got a kick out of watching the women doing it. I tried really hard not to push, and told my body to "stop pushing" whenever I started (the nurse who happened to have her hand on my stomach at the time apologized, so I had to let her know I was talking to myself). By this point I asked the nurse what the next step of pain relief was and how I could get it. She told me it was morphine, but that I was too late by that point.

Pushing hurt, but not pushing was even worse. Apparently I was pushing for 2 hours, but it doesn't seem like it took that long (my arms disagree). I found that when it came to pushing, my body completely took over. The doctor wanted 3 long consecutive pushes but I found that I had to give 3 long ones and 1 or 2 short ones in order to stop pushing. If I didn't max it out, my body would start shaking and I couldn't relax between contractions.

I tried various pushing positions, but I honestly think the most effective one was sitting on the toilet. I never thought I would have ended up straddling that thing while in labour, but there I was. And the cool pipes felt amazing on my forehead. Once the "ring of fire" (crowning?) stage was hit, I was back on the bed where I got to hear things like, "I can see the head," "look at all that hair," and "his hand is by his neck." I guess he got impatient too and decided to claw his own way out. Unfortunately, because his arm had crossed in front of his chest, it caused his shoulders to come out at the same time (instead of one at a time) and I tore. Twice. I didn't feel it though, which is nice.

Birth & Clean-Up:
He was born at 7:20 p.m. on April 2, 2011.

The first thing I asked when he came out was "Is he still a boy?" I think they laughed at me. Actually, I think they laughed at me the entire time since my coping technique was to crack jokes instead of cry or scream. When they held my little boy up for me to see, the only thing I could think of was, "So that's what you look like." They cleaned him up and rested him on my chest for a moment so I could see him. He was fussing, so Kevin started talking to him, and he immediately stopped crying. They took him, and Kevin, to the scale so they could weigh and measure him. He weighed 8 lbs 5 oz and was 21 inches long.

I was exhausted and needed stitches. The thought of having another needle nearly drove me to tears, but luckily I couldn't feel it. The pressure from being sutured hurt and I felt shaky. After I was put back together, Kevin and I were able to enjoy our little boy for the first time as a family. I did hold him, though my arms were so tired that I couldn't hold him for long. We called our parents to inform them of our son's arrival. I took a long, hot, and much needed shower and we were moved to the postpartum rooms.

Krew:
We named our son Krew Thomas Anthony Broderick.

Krew is entirely made up though totally ripped from the band Motley Crue. We were originally going to spell it Krue or Kru, but I decided that people unfamiliar with the name would have difficulty pronouncing it or they may make quick judgments based on his name alone, so we changed it to Krew. Oh, and we spelled it with a "K" because Kevin wanted a name that started with a K.

Thomas is my dad's name, while Anthony is Kevin's dad.

Life as a Family:
Life in the hospital was pretty easy, though entirely boring. All we had to do was hang out with the baby and relax. We didn't have to cook, clean, or do anything except entertain visitors and keep ourselves occupied. I was discharged on Monday morning and was incredibly happy to go home.

Life at home is a lot harder than life in the hospital. First of all, our home wasn't quite ready for the baby yet and the nursery was a mess. And second of all, I didn't expect to be so hyperaware of the baby. At the hospital he was either more settled at night or the room was so big that it dampened his noises. Sleeping in the same room as him is exhausting. He slept in his crib that night and I was standing by it more often than not. We have since moved one of our cradles to the side of my bed so I can soothe him without needing to leave my bed.

Am I sleep deprived? Oh yeah. However, I also have way more energy when I am able to get a couple hours of sleep in a row. I am learning that his noises aren't always a cry of pain/hunger/need, but are sometimes just a cry in the night. I am learning to be a faster diaper changer or else I have to feel the full wrath of Krew. I've also learned that if I cover his torso then I can get away with taking longer.

My Blog Future:
So, right now I have the best of intentions to keep this blog going. I want to use it as a place to log Krew's milestones and gush about his first smile. I want to update it with pictures. From the beginning I've used this blog as a diary of sorts, a place where I can look back and remember my experiences, good or bad. I also know that I'm going to be extremely busy in the future (and have been the past couple days) so that it may be erratic or die off completely.

I would still like to update once a week, but it may be more. Or less. I invite you to remind me to update, since there are times when I decide that too much time has gone by to update everything and give up. This blog post should have been broken into 3 posts, to be honest.

I should also shut up now because this post has gone on long enough and I haven't added pictures yet.

Krew just after he was born

Blogger is being an asshole and won't let me upload any more pictures. So, I'll just upload some in a new post in the future. :)

Week #37 & Doctor Appointment #13

2011-03-31T11:16:00.000-07:00

Doctor Appointment:
I ended up seeing Dr. Fredeen today, instead of Dr. Cosio as I had originally assumed. I found out that the kid's back was on my left side, while his little feet were on my right; although, I did already know that. My uterus is still around the same size, so it's hard to say whether or not the baby has dropped just from that. The kid's heartrate is the same as last week as well: 150 bpm.

When asked if I had been informed about doing a membrane sweep, I said yes - and that I would like it done. So, the first one was done on Tuesday! The doctor was fairly surprised to discover that I was already 50% effaced (meaning my cervix had thinned out 50%) and that I was already slightly dilated. I don't know how much, though. I should have asked for a number. He also said that my uterus was as anterior as it was going to be. In his opinion, he doubts that I'll go past my due date. While babies are notorious for picking and choosing their own delivery dates, he was leaning more towards on time, which is what I had been thinking too. Needless to say, I was ecstatic after hearing that bit of news. :)

My Opinion:
I still need to:

~~Wash K's stuff~~.
Wash bedding for spare bed in nursery.
~~Pack a bag for K, myself, and Kevin~~.
~~Make sure the car seat fits.~~
~~Pre-register at hospital.~~
Finish the nursery: ~~put up blinds, curtains~~, and storage hangers.
Organize K's drawers and closet.
Other stuff that I haven't thought of yet.

I put my nesting to good use over this past weekend and did some serious damage to my coursework - I even managed to write my midterm, so now I only have half of my program left. The midterm showed me that while my notes are good, they aren't as organized as I would like them to be, so I may have to do some rearranging.

I finally made it to Walmart to search for some compression socks; however, I didn't find them. Instead, I found some knee-high tights that are supposed to do the same thing. They're ok, but I still have to wear shoes. With laced-up laces to prevent the fluids from pooling in my feet. Lame.
I find that I've been waking 2-3 times during the night to go to the bathroom, which sucks, but I know that it isn't as often as some women (haha). I also find that everytime the kid kicks or moves especially hard that I'm wondering if it was a contraction. I've read/heard that I'll "know" that it's a contraction when I feel one; however, until that time comes, I'm going to be curious.

It's really odd to think of my due date in terms of being in X number of days or weeks now, instead of months. And even odder to add, "but it may be sooner."

I'm fairly certain that I've been having Braxton Hicks contractions off and on since Monday. What do they feel like? Well, you know how your stomach muscles feel after doing situps or sucking in your stomach or throwing up? Sort of fatigued, but you don't notice it until later that night? That's how they feel. I don't feel the actual contraction itself, but I feel the aftereffects - the muscles that are tired from working. I feel like the kid has been super active lately too, which is weird since I thought they were supposed to slow down more once I got this far, but I guess he's the exception.

Development:
This week the kid should weigh around 2.859 kg (6.3 lbs) and be about 48.6 cm (19.13 inches) long. My uterus should now be about 16-17 cm above my belly button and 37 cm above my pubic bone. And my weight gain should be about 25-35 lbs (yeah, right).

This week he's building up his strength and should even turn turn towards the light when he's exposed to one. His bones aren't completely ossified yet, which is good for flexibility during labour, and his growth should actually start to slow down now.

I can't wait for this to be over.

Week #36 (9 months) and Doctor Appointment #12

2011-03-25T11:09:00.000-07:00

Doctor Appointment:
I had another doctor's appointment this week, and will continue to have one every week now until I deliver. I saw Dr. Cosio again and we discussed my swollen feet. She stressed that the only time they really worry about swollen feet are when it is accompanied by swollen hands/face and protein in the urine sample; however, I didn't have those problems, so they are just inconvenient. She did mention that there are special compression socks at Walmart that can help alleviate the swelling, and to also put my feet up more often. The socks act like a sort of tensor bandage: the constant pressure on my feet/legs help prevent the fluids from pooling in my feet. Since I get extremely uncomfortable with my feet up, I may have to just go with the socks.

A swab was done to check for Group B strep - I'll know later whether I have it. When checking baby's stats, I'm still the right size, and his heart rate was 150 bpm.

Doctor Cosio also mentioned that I have the option to have a membrane sweep done weekly starting at Week 38. A membrane sweep is a literal sweep of the cervix with the physician's finger to separate the uterus from the cervix. Research indicates that having a membrane sweep done will help the body produce prostaglandins, a hormone that will help induce labour, and this method is far easier on the body than having the hormones injected into the body 10 days post-due date. I'm definitely going to go for it. Possible complications could include rupturing the membranes, but so far the doctor is on a winning streak.

My Opinion:
I still need to:

~~Wash K's stuff~~.
Clean/organize his room (even more so).
Pack a bag for K, myself, and ~~Kevin~~.
Make sure the car seat fits.
~~Pre-register at hospital.~~
Finish the nursery: put up blinds, curtains, and storage hangers.
Other stuff that I haven't thought of yet.

Kevin is now under house arrest: He has been told that he must have his cell phone on at all times and that he is not to leave town.

I've been feeling restless lately, but it usually occurs late at night rather than the middle of the day. I have a difficult time sitting still, even at the computer. I feel like I need to be doing something that involves my hands, and I don't even have the patience for reading (which is tragic). I'm trying to squeeze in last-minute plans with friends before the baby arrives, but even those plans are starting to make me feel panicky, since the end is within sight. The baby still hasn't dropped, but that doesn't necessarily mean that he won't shift into position overnight. Having the bags nearly packed has helped to alleviate some stress, but at the same time, not really. I'm excited and freaked out at the same time, but that probably has more to do with not knowing the EXACT moment of his birth ahead of time than anything else. I don't like surprises when it comes to important events in my life, and this one is a biggie.

I've been sick with a cold this past week (blah), but nothing serious more serious than a slight cough and congestion. I woke up one morning with a sore throat, but I almost think I just fell asleep with my mouth open and it dried out. I've been really tired this past week too, which I know is a symptom of the flu, but a lack of headaches and fever have made me decide it's just pregnancy fatigue.

My ribs on the left side have been crazy sore lately, and both of my hips have been causing me grief. It is incredibly uncomfortable for me to lie in bed, and it doesn't matter whether I'm on my side or back. And when it comes to rolling over to get out of bed (or into a more comfortable position) it hurts so much that I want to cry sometimes. Ok, the round ligament pain combined with the shooting pain of baby on my bladder makes me want to cry. (Whine, whine, whine.)

Oh! If you're interested, check out the new tab I added: "Maternity Photos"! I selected a few of my favourites from the ones that Kathryn took, so I hope you enjoy them!

Development:
The kid should now be around 2.622 kg (or 5.78 lbs) as well as be around 47.4 cm (or 18.66 inches). He must be getting crowded by now, especially considering the way he squirms (which is all the time - unless I have company).

So, I just googled what it feels like when the baby drops, and I almost think he has. My belly doesn't look any different and I don't walk like I have a watermelon between my legs (I think), but the shooting pains could be indicative of him dropping. My heartburn has all but disappeared and I can breathe again at night, so all of the discomfort is now in my lower back and hips. Hm. If he hasn't dropped, my uterus should be around 14 cm above my belly button, and 36 cm above my pubic symphysis (if he has dropped, it happened after my doctor's appointment since she didn't say anything after measuring).

Apparently my weight gain is supposed to be between 25-30 lbs, but I've totally blown that and it is pissing me off. I have gained nearly 40 lbs and though I've been told by so many people that I look really good for having gained that much (hell, I think I look good too), I'm worried about trying to lose the weight post-pregnancy. Even if 20 lbs were lost automatically after delivering, I still have another 20 to lose! Plus, I still have another month to go, so I'm worried that I'm going to top out at 50-60 lbs by the time the baby is born.

Good news! Apparently my body will become a super energy converter and I may actually lose some weight in the process! I know it won't be that much, but if I stop gaining, I'll be happy. So, what is my boy doing with all my energy? He's gaining weight and may even develop dimples on his elbows and knees.

Apparently swelling and fluid retention are supposed to increase at this point. Geez. I put a bucket under my desk so then I can prop up my feet while I'm doing my coursework, but I just did that yesterday, so don't know yet whether or not it'll be effective.

Week #35

2011-03-18T11:04:00.000-07:00

My Opinion:
I still need to:

~~Wash K's stuff~~.
Clean/organize his room (even more so).
Pack a bag for K, myself, and Kevin.
Make sure the car seat fits.
Pre-register at hospital.
Other stuff that I haven't thought of yet.

Next week I hit Week #36 - also known as Month #9 - and I imagine that's when the real waiting game begins.

I'm still working on my coursework. Although I've fallen a little behind on my personal timeline, I'm still a couple months ahead of the scheduled timeline, so I'm ok. I also just found out that I am (for sure) getting maternity leave, so now I can take it easy if I have/need to.

I think the nesting part finally kicked in. Or at least the part where I feel like I have to keep busy (like laundry at 8 pm on a Sunday night) and rearrange everything (the cupboard under my kitchen sink). Speaking of reorganization, my sister-in-law was lovely enough to give me a bunch of baby clothes, and, as a result, I realized that I needed more space. So, to compensate for all of the extra items, Kevin and I picked up 2 more fabric drawers for the 9 cubicle storage unit, and a 6 shelf garment organizer for the closet. We also picked up a pop-up hamper for dirty laundry, and I imagine that it is going to be used a great many times.

Garment organizer (left), Hamper (right)

My sleep patterns have been erratic lately: Tuesday and Wednesday nights involved me waking every 2 hours (on the dot), which left me extremely tired but unable to nap later in the day. Thursday night, however, I changed my sleeping position after waking once or twice, and then I slept solid for the rest of the night. Sleeping on my side would cause me to wake regularly, whereas sleeping on my back allowed me to sleep soundly.

Speaking of sleeping on my side: I was lying in bed last night and the kid totally stretched and I ended up with an elbow on my down-facing side and a foot on my up-facing side. He moved before Kevin could feel it, but it was like I had a pyramid-shaped implant sticking out my side! Actually, if you feel the tip of your elbow (with your arm bent), that's about the right size, and that's how hard it was too! The side that I was lying on just made it feel like I was laying on something hard, like a golf ball.

My feet aren't as swollen, again, but I think now it is actually exercise related. If I sit all the time, my feet swell. But, if I get out at least a little bit to do something that involves more than just walking from my computer room to kitchen then the swelling isn't as bad. My feet still are a little swollen, but not as badly (or as comically).

Development:
By now the baby should weigh around 2.383 kg (5.25 lbs) and be around 46.2 cm (or 18.19 inches) long. For those of you following along closely, it seems like the baby's length jumped a LOT (like 5 inches) this past week. The truth is that I didn't double-check the cm to inch conversions on the website and it turns out that they were wrong. So, the inches this week is correct and he really is that long. And I don't feel like going back and finding where the numbers went wrong, so I'll just leave it as is, lol.

Since the baby hasn't dropped yet, my uterus should sit about 15 cm above my belly button and about 35 cm above my pubic symphysis. My weight gain at this point should be around 23.8-28.6 lbs, but I definitely blew that and weigh in around 33 lbs.

This week his fatty deposits continue to develop and his arms and legs will start getting chubbier. If he were born this week, he would lose weight faster than a full term baby since his digestive tract wouldn't be fully developed enough to be self-sufficient.

Week #34, Maternity Photo Shoot & Doctor Appointment #11

2011-03-11T11:42:00.000-08:00

Maternity Shoot:
My good friend Kathryn came over Sunday afternoon to take some pictures of my belly and me, since I'm sort of attached. We were also lucky enough to ~~bribe~~ talk Kevin into getting his picture taken as well. I'm really not much of a camera person, and despite having googled maternity photos, I had no idea what to do or how to position myself, especially considering how many maternity pictures lean towards the sensuality and intimacy of pregnancy (and that just isn't me).

Luckily, Kathryn came to my house with no preset notions, just vague ideas. So what did we do? Kevin and I did a few of the couple poses, both sitting and standing, and we incorporated a couple of props into the picture: a red heart-shaped pillow as well as foam blocks. We used the blocks to spell out "boy," "baby K," and his name. [As an aside, I don't know why I'm so reluctant to post his name on here; several of my friends and family members know his intended name, so it isn't like it is a huge secret, but I find it difficult to reveal it. Superstition, maybe? Or worry that someone will use it first?]

After Kevin left, I changed and the poses became dance oriented; more specifically, ballet. There was some jazz thrown in there, but ballet is a lot easier for me at this point, lol. We tried some different poses with props stolen from the kid's room: a toque ("Dude"), a bib ("I'm the Captain!"), and a onesie. We also did way more playing around with the blocks, spelling out everything from "boy" to his due date to his first and last names! It was so much fun! Even my cats swarmed me at one point while I was lying down!

I think having a trusted friend behind the camera allowed me to relax and laugh, so I think that when I finally see the pictures I'll have the results I want, not just some awkward poses and forced smiles.

Doctor Appointment:
On Wednesday I had my doctor's appointment with Dr. Cosio (who is amazing, btw). Do you ever remember someone as looking completely opposite of what they actually do? I had envisioned Dr. Cosio as an older woman who was graying or who had started dyeing her hair blonde (to cover the gray). Instead, she was probably in her 30s with brown hair and very slight blonde streaks. I hadn't seen Dr. Cosio for several months (not since my 9th week, to be exact) so it's an understandable mistake, but I used to have an amazing memory of what people look like. I guess that's gone now too, lol.

It was a standard checkup, and I learned that my belly size is bang-on for how far along I am! This is fantastic since I've always been curious about how big my belly is. The kid's heartrate was 145 bpm, which is about what it was last week, and he's still head down. My blood pressure is good, which means my insanely high heart rate (still 95!) is normal. The doctor did suggest that I watch my blood sugar intake for the last while of my pregnancy, since I was borderline for gestational diabetes. I do honestly want to follow her advice, but I have horrible eating habits, meaning my good intentions will fly out the window at my next meal. I also don't want to have a monstrous baby, so really that should be my motivation for cutting down the sugar.

My next appointment (March 22nd - one month from my due date!) will include a cervical swab checking for Group B streptococcus. This is quite a common infection and usually doesn't affect the mother; however, during the birthing process it is possible for this bacteria to pass onto the baby, which has the potential to cause neurological damage due to the baby's lowered immune system. If I do have this bacteria, I will be given IV antibiotics every 4 hours during labour that will cross the placenta to boost baby's immune system.

After my next appointment I will be seeing the doctor every week until the kid arrives. So close now!

My Opinion:
My feet are swollen again. I'm now convinced that it's weather-related, and that my feet act like a barometer of sorts. Unfortunately I haven't figured out what causes them to swell since it just sort of randomly happens. Maybe spending too much time on my feet over a couple days causes them to balloon? And, oddly enough, it's my left foot that is the most swollen. I guess I'm lucky that it isn't both. I almost think I have stretch marks on the bottom of my feet too - plus on my navel between the holes where my piercing sat for 10 years.

Sleep has been...weird. There have been a few days where I sleep but don't feel rested, and other days where staying in bed helps me feel more awake the next day, but it takes me a while to fall asleep that night. And then there was Tuesday night, where I barely slept but woke up feeling fine. I still sleep mainly on my back, but I have been able to sleep for an hour or two on my side later in the night.

Also, I've been cleaning in my dreams. Is this some sort of subconscious nesting that has finally taken root? I've been baking like crazy (compared to before - so maybe once or twice a week) and figured that was my form of nesting, but I guess cleaning isn't far behind, lol.

Development:
He's getting big! The kid should weigh in around 2.146 kg (or 4.73 lbs) and should be around 45 cm (or 13.38 inches) long by now. My uterus should be about 14 cm above my belly button and 34 cm above my pubic symphysis (and I'm assuming it is).

He's now developing his own immune system to help him out once he's born, and his little fingernails are now reaching the ends of his fingers. They may even need to be trimmed a few days after birth. When he's born his eyes will appear blue, but they should (I'm hoping!) darken after he's a couple weeks old.

Oh, wtf? Apparently my amniotic fluid level has peaked, so from now on the baby will be taking over and I "will really start to feel every movement that [my] baby may make." I'm so screwed since it already feels like I feel every movement. As a result my skin will be stretched to the maximum, and this stretching will also cause my skin to feel itchy (yes) so it's best to stay moisturized.

In case you were curious, no, he hasn't dropped yet. I have mixed feelings about when he drops: on one hand I'll get to breathe again, but, on the other hand, the pressure on my bladder will get worse.

Misc:
Oh, hey! I just added a "Comments" section to my Belly Pics page, so feel free to leave one if you are so inclined.

I'm also going to have to start raiding Kevin's drawers for t-shirts, since mine are no longer long enough. The maternity wear shirts are fine, but just my normal ones? Nope. This kind of sucks since I don't want to go out and buy new clothes to only wear them for the next month or two - good thing Kevin is so much bigger than me.

Also, Kevin and I bought a 5 pack of onesies (or diaper shirts, if you will) from Costco last night - they are so cute! They have little racecars on them and they vary from solids to stripes (and sometimes the racecars make the stripes). Yeah, I still get giddy seeing baby clothes, lol.

Week #33, Doctor Appointment #10 & Hospital Tour

2011-03-04T10:44:00.000-08:00

Hospital Tour:
We (finally) did the hospital tour on Wednesday. I figured that if we put it off much longer that we would run the risk of not knowing where to go when it was time for the baby to be born. There is a virtual tour available for the UHNBC for those curious-minded individuals, and for those interested in checking it out in person, the tour is every first and third Wednesday of the month from 1 pm to 2 pm.

The tour group was small (2 other couples, plus they brought one child each) so we weren't having to peer over shoulders to see what was going on. We weren't able to see any of the Assessment Rooms (they were full!) but we got a quick glimpse into one of the postpartum rooms. Most of the tour was conducted inside the Labour & Delivery Room, which was huge and equipped with extra supplies, labour accessories (exercise ball and labour bar), plus a private ensuite. There was an extra bed, a fetal heart rate monitor, baby bassinet, baby warmer, an IV pole, plus a personal supply of nitrous oxide (laughing gas). Apparently IVs are only necessary when the mother arrives on the dehydrated side, so I'm going to make sure I stay hydrated to avoid one.

It was definitely reassuring to know where to go when I eventually go into labour, and all of the different options available for labouring. Some of the info will be filed away for later use and some discarded entirely, but options are options and it is nice to know I have some.

Doctor Appointment:
I went into my doctor's appointment on Thursday feeling a little anxious. On Wednesday night I noticed that I had been spotting; however, since the baby is super active I wasn't terribly worried. But I did get a little excited thinking that maybe it was my mucus plug; but if that was the case I'd probably have to be a little more careful since that is what keeps bacteria, etc out of the uterus. Turns out I have a bladder infection (which is where the blood came from), so I'm on antibiotics for a week. The upside is that now my bladder won't be sensitive to touch anymore. There really is no downside, actually. A quick dipstick test of my urine sample tested positive for blood and bacteria, and my cervix was swabbed (just in case), so my next doctor's appointment is next week (with Dr. Cosio) to discuss my lab results, as well as do another checkup. My antibiotics are also only for a week, so if needed I could have my prescription refilled at that time. (Amoxicillin 500 mg t.i.d. x7 days - haha!)

Also, the baby's head is down! Or at least it was when the doctor checked him out. His heart rate was about 142 bpm, which is lower than it has been in the past, but the older the baby gets, the slower the heart rate becomes. My heartrate, on the other hand, was at 95. NINETY-FIVE. My normal resting heartrate used to be around 72 bpm and so I'm over 20 bpm higher than I was before I got pregnant. Insane!

My Opinion:
The maternity shots were postponed last weekend due to snow; we hope to do them soon.

There's been a lot of kicking of my right ribs lately and a lot of movement in my lower abdomen. It feels weird - sort of ticklish but like digestion at the same time. I think my belly is getting wider too - before it was sort of egg-shaped (narrow end sticking out) but now it seems to be filling in more. I've been having some trouble walking due to the hip pain, but this probably has a lot to do with the fact that I sit for hours on end working on my program. Although my feet and lower back would ache if I spent more time standing, so I'm really at that stage where I can't win either way.

Development:
This week the kid weighs in at 1.918 kg (or 4.23 lbs) and is around 43.7 cm (or 17.20 inches) long - although my kid is probably way taller than that by now, lol. My uterus is now around 13 cm above my belly button and 33 cm above my pubic symphysis, with my weight gain between 22 and 28 lbs (I'm at 30 lbs -- oops!).

He's also going to be putting that thumb to good use as he practices his sucking, and he will continue to put on weight to fill out those fat deposits. Also, his skin should be changing colour now from red to pink as a result of the aforementioned fat deposits.

Misc:
My mom was in town last week and bought some things for my baby: a crib pad, a crib sheet, a nasal aspirator (never would have thought of that one on my own), and a little outfit.

Kevin and I keep talking about how we need to get that bag packed, but haven't been able to pull it off quite yet. I want to pick up some travel-sized toiletries and then I don't need to worry about forgetting mine at home when the time comes. We also need to pick out a coming home outfit, especially since most of his clothes right now are around the 3 month old range, and maybe some brand new newborn diapers. We have size 1's, but then she showed us the ones in the hospital...and they're way smaller. Maybe just a small pack, just in case he does end up bigger.

I should probably also start washing some of his things, like receiving blankets, so that those are ready to go when he's born too. The other things, like larger clothes, can even wait if I don't get around to them before he's born.

Week #32 - 8 months

2011-02-25T09:50:00.000-08:00

My Opinion:
Heh. I had that written down as IMHO (In My Honest Opinion) and then realized it looked like "I'M a HO" so I changed it.

I have solved the swollen feet fiasco! My office desk is situated so that the vent blows hot air onto my feet - which is great when I'm cold; however, with my pulse running at 90 bpm or higher my feet are never truly cold, and this caused them to swell. Like crazy. The past few days I've been working on my course stuff out in the living room and the swelling has disappeared. It's awesome!

My lower back and right hip have been causing me grief and I haven't figured out how to get around that yet. I've even tried sleeping on my side, but only after falling asleep on my back first - otherwise the heartburn kills me. Regardless of which position I fall asleep in, if I wake during the night my back feels stiff and cramped. My hips ache when I use my legs to help me roll over, so I'm assuming it'll either get worse or I'll find a way to make it bearable.

I've been feeling super tired lately, yet when I go to bed I have a difficult time falling asleep. If I find myself wide awake at 5 in the morning, I usually get up to go to the bathroom (might as well) but then when I lie down again, the kid has woken up and goes nuts. I've also been shuttling Kevin to work this week so it could be that my body is just complaining.

Development:
This week the kid is 1.702 kg (or 3.75 lbs) and is 42.4 cm (or 16.7 inches) long. My uterus should also be about 12 cm above my belly button and 32 cm above my pubic symphysis. I have currently gained around 26.5 lbs, but I was told (complimented?) earlier this week by Kevin's boss: he told me that I finally looked pregnant. I told him that I figured I'd have to at some point, and this seemed like a good time, lol.

This week my boy will be able to register on all 5 of his senses, he'll open his eyes in bright light and close them in dark (like a budgie!), and his toe nails should now be fully formed.

They go on to talk about how I must have felt Braxton Hicks contractions by now - but other than calling them spasms (or a tightening of the belly) that I may or may not have felt since I was 6 weeks along, I have no idea wtf they're talking about. Maybe if I'd been pregnant or given birth once before I'd know, but this is entirely useless information as far as I'm concerned. I do however notice when he kicks me in the ribs or has hiccups (or are those Braxton Hicks?).

Misc:
Time to figure out what to pack for the hospital! And what I want to do for a birth plan; thankfully I finally found a useful link for that aspect. Kevin and I (mainly my idea) decided to nix the prenatal classes since all the reviews I've heard have been negative. A couple of people have mentiond that they'd learned one useful thing, but I figure if all you can learn is 1 useful thing out of a 6 week program (slated at 1 hour each), then that's not a good enough reason to go. Especially when that person can just tell me that one useful thing, lol.

I have heard positive things about the delivery staff though, and if (hah!) I'm in pain I doubt I'll remember any of that information anyway, so I might as well be coached through it without hearing about the gory details. I somehow managed to make it all the way through high school without seeing the delivery videos, so I'll skip them now when they're a little more relevant. Besides, the internet contains heaps of information, and I'm a smart kid, so it isn't like I'm going in blind. I'm even debating creating a birth plan since even those carefully laid plans can be easily tossed aside.

Oh! I'm getting my maternity pictures taken tomorrow afternoon! Yay!

Week #31 & Doctor Appointment #9

2011-02-18T15:28:00.000-08:00

My Opinion:
I am so ready for this to be over now. I'm uncomfortable more often than not, and I feel like an invalid. While it is nice to have Kevin fetch things for me from the basement or to carry 98% of the groceries in from the car, I do feel a little silly when he asks if I need help getting into and out of the car. Although, to be honest, I will probably need the help soon.

My feet are still incredibly swollen and my back (in between my shoulder blades and a little lower) has started to ache. My ribs have joined in as well, either out of sympathy or group protest. When I walk I sway like I'm in a canoe and when I sit I have to lean to the left since the kid has decided he likes the right side. On a good note, he doesn't kick as much as he used to; however, when he does move it is more painful. Why have I never heard about how it hurts when the baby kicks? For some reason I naively believed that I would be insulated from his movements. Wrong.

I recently added another pillow to my side of the bed (bringing me up to 4) so I can sleep higher at night. I have also discovered that if I stop eating a couple hours before bed then I don't get heartburn as badly. Score! Despite the fact that I've been sleeping well (read: not getting up at night to pee), I've still been tired during the day.

By the way, you must check out this link! It illustrates the internal changes while a woman pregnant, and, if you're curious like me, it shows where her organs go (hint: it's up) while the baby is cohabiting.

Doctor's Appointment:
I went to see Dr. Brenckmann today, and found out that I'm NEGATIVE for gestational diabetes! Woo! My numbers were on the high end of the normal range, but still below the cutoff mark, so I'm good. The kid also decided to cooperate with the doctor and allow her to measure his heart rate, although she isn't sure whether he's head down yet. I have another appointment in 2 weeks...at which point I'll only have 7 weeks left. Meaning less than 2 months. Eeep!

Development:
The kid is now around 1.502 kg (or 3.3 lbs) and is around 41.1 cm (16.2 inches) in length. My uterus is now 11 cm above my belly button and 31 cm above my pubic symphysis with my weight gain between 21 and 27 lbs (I'm at 26 lbs).

If I went into labour today, my baby would be able to breathe (very important), listen, see, remember and learn. His weight gain will slow down this week too, as his little body will start to put more energy into developing his internal organs. Also his skeleton is starting to harden like crazy, so calcium is very important right now (I'm all over that).

Misc.:
As you can see, I've changed the format of my Q&A section. I figured since my mood, cravings, and nursery never really changed that I would stop writing about them, unless something interesting happened. In which case it'll get added somewhere.

I did, however, receive the Nestle baby diaper bag package today! It's a one-shouldered diaper bag that includes the following: change mat, 150 mL Nuk Orthodontic (BPA-free) bottle, 340 g Nestle Good Start Iron-Fortified Formula, Baby's First Formula Feeding Kit (which includes 8x89 mL Nestle Good Start Omega 3 & 6 Ready-to-Feed bottles and bonus nipple), as well as a pamphlet on breastfeeding. It also included a pack of single-serving instant coffee, but I don't drink coffee, so it doesn't count.

PS - Blogger photo uploader is being an ass, so I wasn't able to include a picture of the package or of my sexy feet. Maybe later.

Week #30

2011-02-11T11:53:00.000-08:00

Hello, week 30. I just realized that I have a maximum of 12 weeks left. 10 till my due date, and an extra 2 in case he refuses to leave, at which point he will be forcefully evicted. I just hope he decides to show up earlier than that so I don't have to have to be induced or have a C-section.

I've been talking with a friend of mine lately about doing some maternity shots, which I am super excited about! We've been chatting about doing some dance poses, and since she took dance with me last year she will be able to make sure that I'm standing properly in the picture, lol.

I have decided that I can't wait till he's born; however, this sentiment comes from the knowledge that his birth will mean that I have my body (read: bladder) all to myself again. And for this, I cannot wait. I haven't been able to sleep on my stomach since probably month 3 or slightly earlier, since the pressure on my uterus was uncomfortable. He's also very fidgety, so if he's born he can flail all he wants and I don't have to know about it! I'll also be able to breathe properly again, which I'm very excited about. And tie my shoes. I've loosely laced my shoes so then I can just slip them on and off, but I hate loose shoes. The heartburn can just go diaf too.

On Thursday I went back to the lab for my confirmation testing of gestational diabetes. This involved having blood drawn (for a control, I assume), drinking another, more potent, sugary drink, waiting an hour before drawing blood, and then waiting another hour before drawing blood again. I hate needles, so this was not a good time for me. Actually, that's not true; I had just decided after the second needle that this wasn't so bad and that I must be getting better. And then needle 3 came along, and it seemed, imo, that the nurse look longer to finish drawing blood for #2, so I suggested a different arm. However, my left arm sucks and there really isn't a vein in the crook of my elbow, so the woman took it from the outside of my crease, towards my elbow. I thought that this was a novel idea and why had no one ever done this before?! And when she drew blood, I understood why: it hurts like hell.

The kid is now around 1.32 kg (or just under 3 lbs) and is around 40 cm (15.71 inches) from crown to heel. Good news: there's only 10 weeks left. Bad news: he, the placenta and my uterus are all going to keep growing until he makes his grand entrance.

By now my little guy should be able to produce his own red blood cells, instead of by tissue groups called "blood islands." His brain is developing convolutions (ridges) which increases the surface area to hold more brain cells. His nerve cell transmission will speed up with the help due to myelin (fatty substance that coats the outside of the nerve cells), and his lanugo will be nearly gone by now. His hair (if any) should be in now, as well as his wee toenails.

How am I feeling? I was feeling incredibly tired at the beginning of the week. I also felt sick. That's passed though, so I'm feeling better and more motivated now.

What am I craving this week? Not too much.

Mood swings? No, not really. I only get those if something happens all the time and it just builds up until melt-down.

Any baby purchases? No.

What about the nursery? Same.

Doctor's appointment next week!

Doctor Appointment #8

2011-02-04T18:20:00.000-08:00

From now on I'll be seeing my doctor every other week until week #36, at which point I will go every week until the baby is born. At least I think it's week 36 - I just tried double checking and gave up after 2 sites.

The doctor's appointment went well: I saw Dr. Brenckmann again. I've probably seen her the most frequently, and I really like her, so this is working out well for me. When it came time to check his heart rate, the kid just would not comply! Plus she got kicked for her efforts, lol. By the time she was able to find his heart, he wouldn't sit still and rolled twice on her. She decided that based on what she was able to hear it sounded good, and he was obviously doing well if he was moving that much.

I tested borderline for gestational diabetes - meaning I have to do a more comprehensive test soon. So while I didn't test positive...I didn't test negative either. This means that after a 10 hour fast I'll have to drink another sugary drink (which will be twice as potent) and then wait 2 hours before they draw blood. Goody, more needles.

If I do test positive, it's possible to control the diabetes with proper diet; but it also means that the likelihood of acquiring diabetes when I'm older skyrockets. (Note: having gestational diabetes does not give you diabetes later, but the strain of pregnancy brings it out, just like old age. Gestational diabetes is actually a glimpse into the future of your diabetic health.) Gestational diabetes, for those who don't know, means that my body is unable to produce enough insulin to keep up with high sugar levels, and the side effects on my child could be large birth weight, low blood sugar, and/or jaundice. Fortunately, if I do get it, it should disappear after giving birth (unless it rears its ugly head again in the future as Type II diabetes).

Week #29

2011-02-04T09:50:00.000-08:00

Did you see that I finally posted new belly pictures? If you want to see how big I've gotten recently, go have a look.

Pregnancy is weird. And creepy. It's the only time in your life that you willingly allow a parasite to live inside yourself, and you also allow it to reach maturation and burst from your body.

I can now feel Baby K roll around in my stomach with my hand. A couple nights ago I had my hand resting on my stomach feeling his kicks (which I've gotten used to) when all of a sudden the bulge under my hand flattened. He'd moved. He did it a few times after that, but I was so creeped out that I couldn't rest my hand on my stomach anymore.

The little stinker is also active enough that it is getting harder to fall asleep at night. I just keep telling myself that it's a sign of strength and that this is a good thing. Although I guess it is good practice for the sleepless nights that are coming up. He's been giving me hella heartburn at night, and sometimes even being propped up doesn't help. And then there's my feet. I've never been a foot person, but I used to think my feet were proportionate - they were longish and slender. Now they're fat and swollen. Especially my left one. My ankles have disappeared into the wonderful world of my calves, so now I fully understand the meaning of "cankles." I've only put on a little bit of weight in my face, but I expect that part to catch up soon. I just keep telling myself that after a couple months I'll stop getting bigger and then I can focus on losing the weight. Until he's born I'm going to keep gaining weight since he still needs to gain another 5+ lbs, so I just need to suck it up until then.

The kid now weighs in at 1.153 kg (approximately 2.54 lbs) and measures 38.6 cm (15.2 inches). My uterus should now sit about 7.5-10 cm above my belly button and 29 cm above my pubic symphysis. By this time my weight gain should be around 18-27 lbs (I weigh in at 20 lbs). Considering how much I've already gained, I'm going to assume that I'll put on a total of 30 lbs. I just hope I'm not over by too much.

My baby's lungs are now developed enough that he would be able to breathe air, and his brain is advanced enough to control rhythmic breathing on its own, should he be impatient enough to make an appearance. In fact, with each passing day his chances of surviving increase dramatically, so I'll keep him inside for a little while longer. With each passing week a baby's weight gain increases rapidly, so the longer he stays indoors, the bigger he'll be. On a side note: boys weigh more than girls (I'm doomed), and the baby's weight gain increases with each birth (although I'm sure there are exceptions). I've already figured out that Kevin weighed just over 8 lbs (I think it was 8 lbs 0.5 oz), and my brothers never weighed that much, so I'm reallyreallyreally hoping this kid won't weigh more than 8 lbs. I get that everyone's body is equipped to birth babies of that size, but I just don't want to lug around that much weight! I already feel winded as it is.

Oh! My baby is also learning the difference between light and dark (meaning: when it's dark it's party time!), sound, taste, and even his skin is becoming more sensitive. His eyes are even capable of moving in their sockets so he's going to practice ogling.

How am I feeling? Some nights this kid keeps me awake, but other times I can sleep right through, so it just depends. Although I've been off my schedule this week so that's probably why I feel all messed up. Sometimes at night I feel like I can't breathe properly, so I have to deal with that on top of the heartburn. Good times.

By the way, if you ever want a good laugh, watch a pregnant woman attempt to tie her shoe laces. I would think it was funnier if it wasn't me that I was laughing at.

What am I craving this week? Food doesn't interest me as much this week. I mean, I still eat and snack, but it seems like I would go longer between meals if it weren't for my boredom snacking while I do my coursework. Food that normally appeals to me just seems blah when I think about it. I think I eat more out of habit that desire right now, which is probably not a bad thing since I'm still eating.

Mood swings? Meh, it happens.

Any baby purchases? No.

What about the nursery? No changes, but I'm starting to think about washing all the clothes/blankets/etc that I have just so then they're ready to go. I'll probably wait on those for another month yet.

I've now finished coursework that wasn't due until April 10th! My midterm was originally slated for May 22nd, with my personal goal to have it finished by March 14th. I'm now aiming to have my midterm finished by the beginning of March. Earlier, if possible, but I won't push myself too hard. My grades are really high and I have huge goals of being hired by Accentus right after I'm finished my course. They love CanScribe grads and I'm hoping that the sooner I finish, the sooner I can start working (part time, of course). As an Independent Contractor I'll be able to work from my home and set my own hours, and after the baby goes to school (or later, if we decide to have another) I want to work in a hospital setting. I think this is the most post-school goal-oriented I've ever been, to be honest!

Doctor's appointment later today! Hopefully I'll find out that I'm diabetes free.

Week #28 - 7 months

2011-01-28T08:55:00.000-08:00

7 months. Is it just me or is time slipping away faster now?

I finally did my glucose tolerance test on Monday and it wasn't as bad as I'd originally feared. I did drink a sugary orange drink - but it was very reminiscent of the orange pop that McDonald's used to serve. The drink did get nastier by the end, but it was still tolerable. I got pretty jittery after I drank it and later that afternoon I had a major sugar crash. The woman who drew my blood after the allotted 1 hour wait was pleasant and she's my favourite (she makes it not hurt). I haven't heard back about my results, but I am going to see my doctor next week, so hopefully I'll know then. Gestational diabetes only affects 2-7% of pregnancies, and rapid weight gain at this stage of pregnancy would be indicative of a positive result. However, I'm still growing at the same rate, so I'm hoping I'm ok.

Baby K now weighs in at just over 1000 grams (or 2.22 lbs) and is now 37.6 cm (14.80 inches). 11 weeks ago my kid only weighed in at 100 grams, so he now weighs 10 times what he weighed then. My uterus is now about 8 cm above my belly button and 28 cm above my pubic symphysis. At this stage my weight gain should be between 16 and 22 lbs (I'm at 19 lbs).

Baby K's brain has started to develop the characteristic grooves and indentations that are found in mature brains. His eyelashes and eyebrows are present, and his hair should now be growing longer. His eyes are now unfusing and should open sometime this week. He'll be able to see light and dark, but not objects. His fat deposits are growing, so he's starting to look chubbier. By now his little body should be made up of 2-3% fat. His muscle tone is improving and it is not uncommon for a baby's movements to wake the mother. So far I haven't woken up because of his movements; however, for several weeks I've had a harder time falling asleep at night because he's kicking.

How am I feeling? I have started waking up a little more frequently at night, so there are times when I feel like I didn't sleep well. However, I feel like I'm getting my body on to a schedule so then I can sleep deeper at night since I'm actually tired. If I am super tired I just stay in bed longer that morning. Also, realizing I have 3 months left (give or take) didn't send me into the panic that it normally does. I'm starting to become more excited about his arrival, but I still have my anxiety issues surrounding the change.

What am I craving this week? To be quite honest, I feel as though my appetite has changed and that food tastes differently - but not necessarily for the better. I find I notice texture more now than before and that I can taste the salt in everything. It isn't appetizing.

Mood swings? I've been really irritated with Facebook lately - and the passive-agressive bitchiness that seems to be going on. I just wish I could get rid of the whole thing and not have to deal with those who annoy me. So, I've taken liberties to "hide" people instead. Now my Facebook feed is only from those who don't piss me off.

Any baby purchases? No.

What about the nursery? No change.

Week #27

2011-01-21T11:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the 3rd Trimester! (Also known as the most uncomfortable phase of your entire pregnancy.)

Lately I've been feeling nauseous at night and so, in an attempt to make myself more comfortable, I have been propping myself up with pillows. It seems to be working so far. Even lying on my side makes me feel sick, so I am assuming that getting my head up higher than the rest of my body is the way to alleviate the nausea. The kid's kicks/turns/happy hour are getting harder - but not as hard as I had originally assumed they would be. Soon he'll run out of space to wind up and his kicks will either become less frequent or less hard. Either one works for me.

I've decided that it's a lot harder to ignore the baby while he's kicking than I had originally thought. Especially while sitting. Just last night I was forced to get up and walk around a little just to ease the kicking - and it probably put the kid to sleep. Since I've been working for hours on end with my course, it means that I've been sitting for long periods of time as well. I don't know if he gets bored or cramped or what since he's taken to kicking me to the point where I have to get up. And he always stops when Kevin tries to feel him move. Crazy, hey? I swear he knows the difference between my hand and his dad's. Kevin put his ear to my belly last night and said that it sounded like running water - so, it may have been the heart beat or the amniotic fluid he heard.

Baby K now weighs in at a whopping 875 grams (just under 2 lbs) and measures 36.6 cm from head to heel (about 14.41 inches). My uterus is now about 7 cm above my belly button and 27 cm above my pubic bone.

It is around 27 or 28 weeks that the baby's eyelids unfuse and he will start to develop his sense of sight. His brain is still developing and his week special attention is paid to his forebrain, as well as the parts of the brain that deals with auditory and visual information.

If I end up developing gestational diabetes (I still haven't done that test yet...), it is right about now that I'll start to rapidly gain weight.

How am I feeling? Tired. Since I felt really sick a couple nights in a row, it really messed with my sleep; however, I think I may have that figured out now so it should (hopefully) improve. I know that today I definitely feel better than I did yesterday.

What am I craving this week? Pizza and Cadbury Creme eggs. Not necessarily at the same time though. I guess I'm craving just junk food in general.

Mood swings? I have no idea. I have been getting a workout lately (from shovelling) and I really do think exercise improves my mood, so I think I've been ok. You should see my arms now: they're excellent!

Any baby purchases? Nope.

What about the nursery? Still the same, although Isis has taken to sleeping on the bed every day. I think the baby is going to have a roommate!

I really haven't been feeling motivated to do much of anything lately, except work on my program. My cross-stitch has progressed a little, but I feel like I really can't be bothered to do anything else. Including fixing my computer or using Kevin's computer to upload pictures. One of these days, maybe. Apparently my "nesting" is supposed to kick in next week or so for the following month, so hopefully I'll manage to find the motivation to get things done.

Week #26 & Doctor Appointment #7

2011-01-14T09:08:00.000-08:00

I didn't think the Doctor's appointment I had last week warranted its own post and then proceeded to not update last week's post to include it. Sooo, here it is: baby is healthy and growing. He kept moving away from the doctor's fetal heart rate monitor when she tried listening to his heart - which he also did to the ultrasound tech, so at least he's consistent. I didn't ask for his heart rate, so I don't know what it is, but I peeked at the blood pressure monitor when I was having mine done, and I was at 90 beats per minute. Normally I'm at 72 (or lower). Wow! It explains why I'm sweltering at night and why this cold weather isn't bothering me (perk!) for once. And whenever someone mentions the "pregnancy glow" I just tell them it's all that blood going to my face and that I'm actually sweating. It has nothing to do with joy and happiness, lol. I also have my paperwork to get tested for gestational diabetes. *Fingers crossed for negative*

How's this for panic-inducing: I have 3.5 months left till my due date. Three and a half MONTHS before my life changes forever. I'm so not ready for this. I have less than 100 days before my baby is due, and, really, he could show up anytime now. I think I'm going to go hyperventilate now....

When he kicks, you can now see it from the outside, so one of these days I'm going to record the movement and upload it. Monday night I was resting my arm on my belly and doing my cross-stitch, so the stinker went and kicked my arm. Apparently he doesn't like his space being invaded - how ironic.

I am officially in maternity clothes now. I wear the jeans with the band and the long flowy shirts. I still have a couple of my normal shirts that I can wear, but my belly is starting to poke out of the bottom (so attractive, I know) so I've decided to just go with the maternity stuff. Oh, and my belly is lopsided. Honestly. I don't know if it does that normally or if it's just me (I have scoliosis and so my ribs and shoulder blade on one side stick out more than they do on the other - maybe that's why my belly looks like it does?). Also? I think my belly is adorable! It's just so cute and getting round - and it makes my butt/thighs/everything look tiny in comparison!! How's that for a perk?!

I've also finally started doing my Medical Transcription course! At first I was bored to tears with the hardware, software and technical computer aspect of it (especially considering I already spent 3 days doing the same thing, only to have to repeat again in more detail), but now I'm into the medical terminology aspect of it and, while overwhelming at times, I'm really loving it. If I finish the medical word building module by tomorrow (which I probably will) I'll be 5 weeks ahead of schedule. I'm trying to do as much of it as I can so then I'll have some wiggle room if I need to slow down or take a couple days off here and there (and not just when the baby is born).

By now my baby weighs about 760 grams (or 1.7 lbs) and is 35.6 cm long (or 14 inches). My uterus should now be about 6 cm above my belly button and 26 cm above my pubic bone and I should have gained between 16 and 22 lbs (I'm at 16 lbs).

So, while I'm sure the baby has developed some semblance of a sleeping pattern, I haven't figured it out. I do pay attention when he's kicking, but I don't mark it down times or anything. He likes moving when I'm being still, but other than thant, I have no idea. According to the website, back pain, leg cramps and pelvic pressure should be increasing...but...I haven't really been feeling that; although it could be because I sit on my butt all day. I do, however, feel winded when I walk too fast and if I've been sitting for a while and then walk it feels like the baby needs some time to readjust before it's comfortable for me.

How am I feeling? My sleeping patterns are still off-kilter, but I find that my schooling has put some of my early mornings to good use; however, it is nice to have the option to sleep in much later (like yesterday) if I need it. I also had the absolute worst case of heart burn last night: it felt like something was trying to claw its way out of my chest through my sternum! The only reason why I think it was heart burn was because I took some tums and it seemed to help; but because of my scoliosis, my ribcage and sternum aren't connected very well (instead of a hard connection, it's soft) so any pressure on my back or shoulders causes chest pain. It's very possible that it was a combination of both things that caused the pain.

What am I craving this week? Chocolate. This may not seem like such big news, but I'm craving it worse than the usual "chocolate would be lovely right about now" craving. It's a good thing we have so much kicking about the house still, although I did bake a pan of brownies last night. I read on one of my email newsletters (from babycenter.ca) that by now my baby has developed a sweet tooth, so I'm just going to go ahead and blame him for this.

Mood swings? I still find somethings hysterically funny, as much as one week later but I do feel like, in some instances, my easy-going nature has been replaced by something a little more sensitive. Especially with the due date looming so much closer and with my schooling taking up so much of my time. I think about how busy I am now and how it'll get just that much busier after he's born: and it's overwhelming. I've tried explaining it to Kevin, but his response is just: "you'll do fine." Which I'm sure I will, but it's hard to think about how I'll manage in a few months when I feel so busy already.

Any baby purchases? No and there probably won't be any for a while yet!

What about the nursery? Same condition as before, but with my schooling my cross-stitch has been taking backseat so I haven't been working on it as much as I was.

Next week I'll officially be in my Third Trimester! Only 14-ish more weeks left! .... ....

Oh, and PS, my computer isn't reading my USB plugs anymore, so I'm not sure when I'll update my pictures again. I could just go on Kevin's computer, upload from my camera and onto here, but we'll see if that actually happens.

Week #25

2011-01-07T09:38:00.000-08:00

Mystery solved: my doctor's appointment was apparently scheduled on the 29th instead of the 28th (although my appointment card said otherwise), so it has now been rescheduled for this afternoon.

I never thought I'd say this, but I think I'm finally starting to enjoy this whole pregnancy thing. I mean, getting up once or twice a night does suck, but I'm definitely in the honeymoon stage right now. I'm sure that'll change once I get into the third trimester (which, incidentally, is in about 2 weeks) when I start getting to be too big to do anything and have to get up multiple times during the night every night. And when I can't see my toes.

I've been feeling really good about myself in terms of my body image as well. I've seen several friends recently who I haven't seen in a while and they all think I look great. One even said that I looked like I had just finished a huge dinner and then promptly compared her belly to mine (she isn't pregnant). I had never spent much time around pregnant women, so I really didn't know what the belly felt like, but, despite its appearance, it is firm to the touch. More like rock-hard abs, only much, much rounder.

The kid kicks all the time now and has (finally) stopped kicking my bladder. I even felt movement one time on the upper right side, then a harder movement on the lower left - so I think I was punched and then kicked. It was a weird sensation. It still feels like a muscle spasm, only now you can definitely feel it from the outside. After I get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, I can feel him moving a lot more when I lay down, so I think I've woken him up at that point. I think Kevin has actually transitioned into the daddy mind-state sooner than I've switched to mommy-mode; I asked him if he thought it was weird that he was going to be a dad in only a few months and he said no. I know that I am still adjusting!

This week my boy weighs in at 660 grams (1.5 lbs) and is 34.6 cm (13.6 inches) long. My uterus is 25 cm from the pubic syphysis to the top and is roughly the size of a small soccer ball. Really? Blood vessels are starting to form under his skin and his skin is turning pinkish.

Some common ailments during pregnancy in this stage are itchy skin and swelling/bloating. The itchy skin is caused by the stretching of the uterus and stomach and can be alleviated through lotions and creams. The swelling and bloating (and subsequent "cankles") can be helped by staying hydrated, eating foods that act as natural diuretics and by putting your feet up (and begging for a foot rub). I've started getting paranoid that my ankles are being slowly swallowed by my calves and actually asked Kevin for his opinion the other night - he said they look fine.

How am I feeling? I'm getting used to being larger and even rolling out of bed, so it isn't as big of an adjustment anymore. I sleep on my side 80% of the night now (with a pillow tucked under my belly) because when I lie on my back the kid takes that as a cue to move. Or maybe I just feel it more. Plus, when I sleep on my side with the pillow it takes me back to when I was a teenager (or younger) and used to sleep curled up with my pillow squished into the wall. I go back and forth between feeling exhausted or energized each day, but I think I'm even getting used to that aspect.

What am I craving this week? I eat waffles every morning (no, I don't make them from scratch...), but I've found that during the past couple weeks I want more, immediately after finishing them. For some reason they just taste extra amazing now. I still love my mandarin oranges too.

Mood swings? Not really. I say that because, while I don't necessarily feel like I'm being pissy, I recognize that my comments sound like I am. In some ways I almost feel a little uninhibited when I talk - especially with Kevin - but I don't know if he thinks I'm being bitchy or not. I should ask. I still find that when I find something funny, I think it's funny for a long time after.

Any baby purchases? Not yet - still need to order the play yard for the kid though.

What about the nursery? I feel like the nursery is starting to take on a nautical theme - which I'm totally ok with. But not with motorized boats - more like the sailing ships of old. For example, Kevin has this fantastic model boat that we have in the nursery and I'm working on a birth announcement cross-stitch piece. And, now that I have the pictures side-by-side, I realize they're practically identical. That's fantastic!! I think the stars we have in place will suit the new theme just fine (for navigational purposes, of course) and I still want the motorized solar system and Twilight Turtle, but I think the combined theme will add more fun to the room.

Week #24 - 6 Months

2010-12-31T14:04:00.000-08:00

I was supposed to have a checkup this week, but due to the office being locked (and, I'm assuming, closed for the holidays) I was unable to see a doctor. Weird. I guess I'll have to call them after the holidays and reschedule.

Only 4 months left!!

My excitement level has been increasing with each passing week - and each kick. The little guy has been having a jolly time just cruising around in my belly and has been making his presence felt more each day. He still won't kick on demand, but his repetitive motions (while I'm lying down) has enabled Kevin to interact with him a little more. And he loves Glee music! I wasn't sure initially because on Christmas Eve I was singing along with a Karaoke CD with my niece and he started kicking up a storm. Then after returning home, I bought some albums on iTunes and he kicks whenever I listen to it. How fun is that?!

I've been feeling great this week! I even went for a crazy long walk with a friend on Tuesday night; granted, by the end of it I was nearly limping, but otherwise it was fantastic to get out and do something! I also had an amazing lunch date with two of my favourite ladies; everyone has been so crazy-busy with work and Christmas, so it was lovely to catch up. And by the way, I'm incredibly jealous that everyone seems to be joining a gym, but it would be useless for me to even bother (except for walking on the treadmill). Due to the fact that I need gym buddies to bother going, this would have been perfect for me! I'm looking on the bright side: after baby is born, if everyone is still going, they'll be in a routine which will make it even easier for me to go regularly. Yay!

I also think that I'm going to start posting pictures of my growing belly every week. If I remember.

Baby K now measures 30 cm (11.81 inches) in length - the length of a standard ruler - and weighs in at 600 grams (or 1.32 lbs). He is also considered "viable" at this stage; meaning, he would survive - with help - if he were to be born now. My uterus now sits 5.1 cm (or 2 inches) above my belly button. My baby's face and body are starting to fatten, so that now he looks like a newborn - albeit a tiny one - with most of his weight gain being in his muscles, developing organs and bone mass.

Due to changing hormones, the blood vessels in the nasal passages can swell causing more frequent nasal stuffiness or even nosebleeds. Luckily, I've only been stuck with a slightly runny nose; however, it is winter, so I don't really notice. But, if I were suffering more, a good way to cope would be to have a humidifier in the bedroom or to use nasal decongestants.

How am I feeling? Great! My lower back does get sore when I'm sitting for too long, but I almost think I'm getting used to it now. I've been sleeping better this week too (and getting up less at night) so I'm just peachy! Except for last night; last night I was up almost every 2-3 hours.

What am I craving this week? Peaches! Not all the time, but enough that I went and opened (and then consumed half of) a can of peaches. I still eat my mandarin oranges and I still like my spicier foods. Oh, but when we were buying ice cream, I wanted something with strawberries in it, not just a strawberry flavour, so that was a picky choice. It's a good thing Kevin is such a good sport about my pickiness, lol.

Mood swings? YES. I had a mini-meltdown over Christmas, which, in hindsight, wouldn't have been that dramatic if I wasn't pregnant. I still would've been super pissed off, but I wouldn't have broken down like I had. On the flip side, when I find something funny it's a full on laugh that doesn't stop. Maybe it wouldn't have been that funny if I wasn't pregnant, but if I have to be super emotional at least I get the perks of a really good laugh. It was totally at Kevin's expense, but I think he was just so pleased that I was laughing so hard that he went along with it. He was probably laughing at me laughing so hard.

Any baby purchases? No, but we received a Diaper Genie from Kevin's brother (and his family), so that was super awesome! We also received a couple other smaller items from my mom, and some cash from my brother (and family) for the baby. With the cash and some gift certificates, we plan on buying a play yard that has an included bassinet (not pictured) and change table.

I think this play yard is fantastic! It has everything we were looking for, plus the colours look like they would match either the nursery or stroller combo. And! If you look closely, the mobile has a moon and stars! Just perfect! We plan on setting this up in the nursery and I'm going to stay in there until he's outgrown the crib and hopefully has a more established sleeping pattern. Initially I wanted him in our room, but I don't want to disturb Kevin since he'll have to work and need his sleep. On the other hand, I didn't want Kevin's alarm clock to wake the baby if I had just put him down!

What about the nursery? We still haven't put up the curtains/blinds yet, but that will be a quick job so we aren't feeling rushed about it. Now that the painting/set up is finished, it is such a huge relief and the incoming baby is becoming more real. I still get giddy when we walk past his room and I've starting imagining what he'll look like and who he'll take after in personality. Having spent Christmas with 3 of my nieces and then Boxing Day with the other 2, all of who have such different personalities, it is really exciting to think about.

Oh, so I have this theory about pregnancy. I believe that forgetting things (all the time) is a side affect of not sleeping enough, but I do truly believe that being pregnant makes you "stupid". Combined with the kicking and "momnesia", all you can think about is your growing baby. On top of that is an increased dependence on your partner (if you are fortunate enough to have one) as the growing belly makes it more difficult to perform easy tasks, such as tying your shoes. When you think about it, there is no evolutionary advantage to a pregnant woman being so vulnerable; nor for the newborn to be so helpless. All other creatures lack this aspect during gestation, and most newborns are capable of moving independently within hours of being born. Therefore, it is my belief that the woman's dependency draws her and her partner together during pregnancy to create a stronger family unit leading up to the baby's birth. The baby's vulnerability then leads the mother and father to take care of the baby which forges a close bond between all involved.

What do you think? Yea/Nay?

Week #23

2010-12-22T14:15:00.000-08:00

Due to the fact that I can no longer sit straight up from a lying position, I have been forced to roll out of bed the past couple weeks. Roll. Ditto that for going to bed too. And if I happen to be sitting on the floor, I have to maneuver myself onto my knees to stand up. I feel like a damn turtle. I've also been forced out of my favourite t-shirts: the bottom keeps riding up exposing my underbelly, so I've been wearing longer ones. I'm still hoping to avoid the maternity shirts for a while longer.

The kid has been kicking up a storm lately - and Kevin was finally able to feel him! It's my understanding that this kicking is going to become more frequent and much, much stronger until he no longer has enough room to pull back so far to wallop my insides. So far he spends most of his time kicking my lower abdomen (the underside of my belly) on the right side, which makes me wonder how he's positioned in there: is he lying on his back or tummy? Is he vertical or horizontal? Curled in a ball or arms and legs splayed? I've never given it much thought until this week.

This week my little guy is around 28 cm (11.4 inches) long and weighs in at 501 grams (or 1.1 lbs), with my uterus sitting about 3 cm above my bellybutton and 23 cm above my pubic symphysis. My total weight gain should be about 12-15 lbs, and I ring in at around 10 lbs (compared to my pre-pregnancy weight).

The boy's body will start getting plumper and more wrinkled now, with his lanugo hair (if any) will start to darken. His eyelids and eyebrows have finished forming and he will double in weight over the next month. With the hardening of his inner ear bones (anvil, hammer and stirrup) his hearing is now functional; however, that doesn't mean he will be able to understand (or interpret) what he hears, since his brain may be too immature at this point. His organs that develop hormones are developing nicely, particularly insulin production from his pancreas.

Some pains that I may be experiencing right now are round ligament pain (which has decreased dramatically recently) or sciatic nerve pain. Protein is really important during the second and third trimesters, so I should aim to get about 75 grams of protein per day. I should also watch my sodium levels to prevent water retention; foods to avoid include pickles, chips and salted nuts. I'm so screwed.

How am I feeling? I've been hard pressed to find a comfortable sleeping position at night, despite a pillow under my belly. Also, the baby's kicks have been making it harder to sleep, as well as the multi-night visits to the bathroom. Surprisingly, I still feel rather chipper during the day.

What am I craving this week? Still mandarin oranges. In fact, Kevin and I plan on bringing a box of them to my in-laws this weekends so I can snack without feeling guilty about eating all their food!

Mood swings? No, but I've been sososooo excited about the nursery being finished!

Any baby purchases? No, but that is mainly because I have no idea what I still need.

What about the nursery? DONE! Or at least I'm finished setting up what I already have (except for the drapes). However, the astronomy theme sort of flopped. I still plan on getting the Twilight Turtle and the Solar System mobile thingie, but I'm not sure if pictures of space anomalies will make their way on his walls - unless I find some already done up. Kevin & I have donated some of our things to the nursery, so it definitely isn't strictly astronomy anymore - but it is oh so cute.

(Left: nursery from hall; right: crib, complete with trundle storage drawer)

(Nine cubicle storage unit that currently holds his odds and ends)

(Left: nursery as seen from the left side of the room; right: close up of sign hanging beside crib)

(Left: close up of stars on closet door; right: my old twin bed that will come in handy when I have to pull all-nighters!)

(Left: twin bed with storage cubicle at foot and glow-in-the-dark stars; right: close up of stars)

(Play mat that sits in front of crib)

Finally, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! <3

Week #22

2010-12-17T14:31:00.000-08:00

I'm feeling heaps better this week, mainly due to the progress I've made in the nursery (read below for details!) and since the weather cooperated by being warm, I was able to do some painting with an open window. I've been trying to eat better this past week (and succeeding most of the time); considering how active the kid is, I try to keep in mind that I don't need to make him MORE hyper by feeding him so much sugar. It is difficult to keep him in mind when I eat, but I think I'm making some progress. It's also hard to ignore something that kicks so often.

My little guy is now 27.8 cm (or 11 inches) in length from crown to heel and weighs about 430 grams (15.17 oz) - so he's roughly the size of a Barbie.

My uterus is now 2 cm above my waist line and about 22 cm above my pubic symphysis (pubic bone) this week. Although, to be honest, I don't really know if that's where mine is at the moment.

My baby's brain is rapidly developing this week and that will continue until he's 5 years old. It is now possible to wake him up via external stimuli (like loud noises or my movement) while he sleeps, and even though his eyes are still fused shut, he'll still make blinking motions. Since we know that he's male, his testes will hopefully descend all the way into his scrotum. His other internal organs are becoming more specialized now: for example, his liver. Bilirubin is produced when blood cells are broken down; in an adult liver, the liver functions to help break down bilirubin. However, since blood cells have a shorter lifespan in a fetus, their liver actually helps to produce bilirubin. His bilirubin will then be passed to me, via the placenta, which will then be broken down by my liver. If he were to be born with a high bilirubin count, he would have a yellowish tinge to his skin - jaundice - and would be treated with phototherapy.

Although dizziness is not uncommon during pregnancy, due to the strain placed on the body, if it happens frequently, a doctor should be notified. Increased fluid intake is extremely important - and not just to replace the amniotic fluid. Fluids help to process nutrients, develop new cells, maintain blood volume and to regulate the internal body temperature. Since calorie needs increase, it stands to reason that fluid volumes would need to increase too. Drinking water also helps to relieve headaches, uterine cramping and bladder infections. FYI.

How am I feeling? Great! I've managed to get some things done in the nursery so I feel better about that part. I find that I'm tired, since I get up once or twice a night to use the bathroom; however, I find it hard to fall back asleep when I am awake. It can be difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position at times too. The Little Stinker's kicks are stronger and a little more frequent, but not enough for Kevin to feel them - I think I just happen to be in the right place at the right time. I also think he's been camping out under my ribs on the right side. You know that feeling when you sit crooked (as in, lean to one side for too long) and it feels like you've been leaning on your ribs? I've been feeling that a lot lately.

Any weird cravings? I should just change this to "what am I craving this week?" since that is more appropriate to me. This week I've been addicted to mandarin oranges; I loved the because they are sweet and juicy at the same time, and they make a perfect mid-day/late-evening snack.

Mood swings? Just the usual sensitivity. Kevin & I have been getting along really well lately, and I find that when things are peachy between us, I'm in the best mood. We've been talking more and depite our desks being back-to-back, I feel like we are still hanging out, not just hanging in the same room together. I've been doing more to keep me busy, like working on the nursery or getting outside a little more often, and I think that's been helping my mood immensely.

Any baby purchases? I found the coolest night light at Home Depot for $6 (pictured below)! Isn't that adorable?! It fits with the astronomy theme and is also ECO Options Certified. I also finally bought the paint for the nursery.

What about the nursery? On the weekend, Kevin & I finally cracked down and moved our office into our spare room. Moving the office was an ordeal, since the new office wasn't wired for telephone or internet, so that had to be done first, followed by moving all the furniture out of the new office to make room for our office furniture. After discovering that the nursery would be big enough to hold my twin bed (for me on late nights), it is currently waiting to be placed in the room after it has been painted. The nursery itself has painted walls - to be followed by trim and doors.

Before ---------------------------------> After

We have some black-out panel drapes (from Sears), which, coupled with the curtain rod we have chosen, should look super cute. The design on the curtain rod was initially what set my heart on a fantasy themed nursery for a girl; however, I think this design should also go nicely with our astronomy theme.

In case you haven't noticed, I am loving the fact that I can just paste pictures from websites into my blog! Sooo much easier than taking pictures myself, plus there's an artistic quality that I just can't quite capture in my own photos.

I'd like to take a moment to say "thanks" to my lovely tenants for the Christmas gifts for the baby. We received a beautiful bear dressed up like Indiana Jones (sans hat), an adorable black toque with the word "Dude" stitched on it, some white socks, tablets that turn into wipes when added to water (!!), as well as some Rockin' Green laundry detergent for the baby's stuff. The gifts are awesome and so are you!

Week #21

2010-12-10T08:57:00.000-08:00

Physically, I feel great this week and emotionally I've accepted that my life is going to change and I've embraced the little boy who will make his mark on our lives whether we like it or not. In hindsight, it feels like the past 5 months have flown by and now that the half way mark has passed, I've gone into panic mode about his imminent arrival. We haven't set up the nursery, or even cleared out the room we're going to use for the nursery; the walls aren't painted; the crib, while it has arrived, is not set up. I have not taken any baby classes, I have not taken a tour of the hospital and I have not written a birth plan. In short, this kid is coming in less than 5 months and I'm. Not. Ready!

In all honesty, it's a good thing that the gestation period is 10 months - otherwise the baby would arrive before the parents have fully adjusted to the idea of becoming parents. At my 20 week doctor appointment, Dr. Fredeen had asked me if I had signed up for prenatal classes. And all I could think of was why would I have? I still have 5 months to go. Oh, shit. I only have 5 months left! Or less: my sister-in-law gave birth 3 weeks early with her first, so it is a distinct possibility.

I'm the kind of person who likes to be prepared. For trips, flights and hotels booked on the day our vacation has been given the green light, transportation to/from airport taken care of and maybe even have some sights mapped out. When going into unfamiliar territory, I like to be in control and to even have a backup plan, just in case. And this, my friend, is why I'm freaking out: unless a planned C-section is in order, the baby will show up regardless of my wants, wishes or outright demands. After his arrival, he will sleep and eat and poop when it damn well pleases him, not me, and the only thing I can do is go with the flow.

**********************************************************************************

Baby K is now measured from crown to heel, so he's a whopping 26.7 cm (or 10.5 inches) and he weighs in at 360 grams (12.7 oz). Originally I had thought that the baby was going through a growth spurt at this point in the pregnancy, but the growth comes from finally including the legs in the measurement. My uterus should now be 1 cm above my waist line, thus heralding the death of my waist. I should now be visibly pregnant to everyone, including strangers, so now everyone can stop whispering about how fat I've gotten.

Baby K has taken to swallowing his amniotic fluid to exercise his digestive system, which helps improve the condition of his digestive system after birth. This week his stubby little legs will become more proportionate to his body (which is still stubby compared to when he becomes mobile). His heart is growing stronger and it should now be possible to hear the heart beat through a stethoscope.

It is important to stay hydrated now, to replace the amniotic fluid that is being taken up by the baby.

How am I feeling? Really great this week! I feel less tired and my joints hurt less. I've been getting more tummy action lately so that can be distracting, but every kick makes me think of my baby - even though sometimes I want to tell him to knock it off! Especially when it's 2 a.m. and he kicks my bladder. It feels like a jolt of electricity, by the way. I do feel like I'm losing the strength in my legs, since I can no longer hold a lunge in dance. Actually, I have to sit out of most of the warmup and strength exercises now since my belly gets in the way.

Any weird cravings? Weird cravings, no; but lately I've been a nonstop eating machine and it feels like I can't help but stuff my face until I feel ready to burst. This is bothering me because I have an immense fear of gaining 40+ lbs and thought I was doing really well in the first half of my pregnancy. Sometimes I can even feel full, but I'll still want to snack on junk food. I guess finding healthier snack food options are in order.

Mood swings? I had a couple yesterday: one was a pity party which started out with me thinking about how my life changed so quickly right after I found out I was pregnant, which turned into "I haven't accomplished anything" as of yet. The second one...I'm still not too sure what brought that one on. Well, I do, and it all worked out, but I was still really upset about it for quite a while last night.

Any baby purchases? No.

What about the nursery? Well, the crib has arrived, so that's a relief, but I'm starting to really feel anxious about the nursery not being cleared out yet, so that might end up a priority. If it weren't for the fact that most of the items in this room were too large to haul out by myself, I would totally do it.

Oh, and PS, I've decided Baby K is a misnomer: The Little Stinker is a more suitable nickname.

Week #20

2010-12-03T14:17:00.000-08:00

Bon Jovi said it best when he sang:

"We've got to hold on, to what we've got
It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not
We've got eachother and that's a lot
For love - we'll give it a shot

Woahh, we're half way there
Woahh, livin' on a prayer
Take my hand and we'll make it - I swear
Woahh, livin' on a prayer!"

The past couple weeks have been really eventful: we've been preparing for the arrival of Baby K, who, incidentally, is a boy, and I had my 20 week doctor's appointment. We cleared space in the closet of our future nursery, our stroller/car seat combo is assembled and we've been talking about clearing out our spare room so we can move our office in there. After that is finished, we can paint the nursery and set everything up for our little guy.

He's also been cruising around a lot more lately - last night I felt a jolt in my lower abdomen that could only have come from him. I had assumed, incorrectly, that I wasn't feeling much movement because he was more laid back; apparently, he just wasn't using both feet simultaneously when he was kicking.

This week, Baby K's crown to rump measurements are 16 cm (~6.5 inches) and he weighs about 300 grams (10.6 oz). My uterus should be in line with my belly button this week and will grow about 1 cm per week! If this size increase doesn't happen, there is a possibility of intrauterine-growth restrictions, which could be caused by: smoking & drinking, low weight gain, pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure), infections, anemia and/or a history of previous growth-restricted babies. Diagnosing this problem is difficult since the baby's growth is only measured during the doctor's visit; however, treatment may include bed rest, eating properly, stopping smoking/drinking and induced birth (if the baby is far enough along to survive outside the womb).

Baby K's skin is now growing in two layers: the epidermis and the dermis, and vernix is still being produced (vernix is a slimy layer to protect the skin and provide insulation). Actually, the vernix may even been seen at birth! As his bones continue to ossify, his movements will become stronger and more noticeable.

Fun fact: this week the placenta weighs more than the baby!

How am I feeling? Less tired, but my back still gets really sore. I've been feeling really good when I dance (but I can't do body rolls anymore!) and since it's warmed up, I've even been walking more. I gained another 3 lbs, bringing my total weight gain (from week 12) up to 10 lbs.

Any weird cravings? I noticed the other day that salty foods (like chips) don't appeal to me. There have been times too when the smell of something didn't appeal all that much, but eating the food was fine. I was out walking the other day with a friend and started craving Cadbury Creme Eggs. So, when I was out shopping yesterday at Shoppers, I figured that I'd finally be able to indulge that craving; however, I nearly had a panic attack/melt down when I couldn't find them right away! I had searched the first till area then the rest of the snacky aisles before deciding that maybe I couldn't have them after all, only to find them at the next till station. Whew! Disaster averted!

Mood swings? I think I've been ok this week - but I've also gotten out more often.

Any baby purchases? No, but I returned an outfit since it was meant for a girl and got a boy one instead.

What about the nursery? Our crib is due to arrive anytime now, so when we got the call from Sears that a gift parcel had arrived, we thought it was the crib. Imagine our surprise when the clerk returned with a small plastic bag! Joan had thoughtfully arranged to have crib sheets sent along with the crib, so now we have 2 of them! On the plus side, Kevin is all over the Twilight Turtle idea (as shown at the bottom of this post) and we're going to get a motorized solar system for the ceiling of the nursery (seen below)!

How cool is that?! And yeah, it is meant for older kids, but he just won't get the remote till he's older, lol. The remote causes the planets to rotate around the sun, so it will act as a mobile. I really like the idea of this toy since it is something that he can grow into, and it includes a guided tour CD, so it is an educational toy as well. Plus, Kevin and I both enjoy astronomy, so it is something that will encourage questions as Baby K grows up. We've also finally decided on a feel for the kid's nursery: I want it to be either like sitting under the stars or like walking in space. To achieve this, we are going to download and print pictures off of the NASA website of either constellations, planets, nebulae or other space wonders. We want to keep it consistent and we aren't too interested in the cutesy aspect of an outer space theme like aliens, astronauts or rocket ships. Essentially, not this:

I'm hoping that a rich wall colour combined with the jewel-toned bedding and vibrant space photos will create a beautiful contrast with the white furniture and black curtains. I scanned the colour card since taking a picture of it didn't bring out the colour properly:

The colour is called "Taking the Plunge" and it is the second colour from the top on the C-I-L Clean & Playful card. If you've ever seen my living room, you know that I love colour with depth, so it took a lot of talking on Kevin's part to convince me to not go as dark. Originally I had a much deeper colour in mind, but the room that we've chosen for our baby doesn't get as much light, so the room would always seem really dark. While a dark room is perfect for sleeping, it won't go over as well for playtime, so I chose a colour that would seem bright in the sunshine, but still dark enough to allow for a darker sleep area in the middle of summer.

Doctor Appointment #6

2010-12-02T15:52:00.000-08:00

I really like the doctors that I've been seeing for my prenatal visits, have I ever mentioned that? Dr. Fredeen is such a cool guy and he also happens to play basketball in the same rec league as Kevin. I feel like when my doctors are meeting with me that they genuinely care about how things are going with me and the baby, and that they aren't rushing through my appointment. And if I bring up a concern, no matter how abstract, they take the time to listen and talk to me about it.

Above all, they make me feel important and safe. So if you live in the area and need a baby doctor, I highly recommend him. Dr. Cosio and Dr. Breckman (who share the office with him) are absolutely wonderful too. And! I found a "Rate Your M.D." link that has nothing but wonderful things to say about Dr. Fredeen, so if you can't take my word for it, have a read. :)

I had a normal appointment today: Dr. Fredeen asked how things were going and I mentioned the hip pain. He suggested that it was round ligament pain and I said that I had thought as much. On the plus side, he said that it shouldn't be bothering me as much the further along in the pregnancy that I got, which was good to hear! And once I thought about it, I did realize that it takes more for it to bother me - I thought it was just because I was getting out more often, but I guess it's just my body adjusting. He measured the baby's heart rate, and though it was higher than last time (at 160 bpm), it was still in the normal range. I mentioned that during the ultrasound the heart rate was at 150, so I hope that the boy was moving around a lot at that point and that it isn't anything bad. I imagine that I would hear back about the results of my ultrasound (whether good or bad) within a few days.

My next appointment is December 28th and I'll be nearly 24 weeks at that point. I'm going to do the glucose screening test which will determine whether or not I'm at risk for gestational diabetes.

Ultrasound #2

2010-11-30T17:55:00.000-08:00

I'm so pleased to announce that Baby K is male! This morning I psyched myself up by telling myself I was having a boy so then that way I could get used to the idea. In my head I was having a girl. I could put her in dance, put faery decals on the wall and have my little princess. Until she became a teenager. I wasn't really looking forward to that part. However, now that I know that I'm having a boy, I can think of the joys (and challenges) of having a male. Having grown up with 2 brothers, I think I'll be better equipped to raise a boy than a girl. I'm assuming I'm having a mini-Kevin and he said that he loved running around a lot as a child, so I guess there's my exercise! I love the idea of Kevin playing sports with his son and the dad-son bond that they'll develop. Now I've got 2 main men in my life. :)

During the ultrasound, he was kicking and squirming all over the place, which made me laugh, which made the technician's job more difficult. She literally had to chase him all over my uterus trying to take pictures!! He has the perfect baby profile (which I forgot to purchase....smrt), 2 arms, 2 legs and 2 eyes. His internal organs were pointed out to us as well: his kidneys, bladder, stomach, brain and heart. His spine and femur were clearly visible, as were the bones in his little hands and feet. I was so amazed. His heart rate was measured at 150 bpm, putting that old wives' tale to rest. Granted, he was moving around so much that I think Kevin is now worried we'll have a hyper baby, lol. The technician said that all that kicking in utero was good for strengthening muscles so he's definitely healthy!

Our nursery will still be the same colour that we've picked out (a light bluey-green), but instead of the whimsical theme I had thought of for a girl, we're going to go with an astronomy theme: so stars, planets, etc. Maybe even a mobile of the same theme. We have glow-in-the-dark stars, plus 3 reflective mirrors in the shape of stars, so we don't need to start completely from scratch.

PS - I just found the coolest toy online: Twilight Turtle. It projects constellations on the walls and ceiling!

Week #19

2010-11-26T18:13:00.000-08:00

I've been noticing that the baby moves most when I'm just relaxing, whether it's in bed or on the couch. I was asked the other day in jazz whether or not the baby moves during dance and the answer is no. Feeling Baby K move is less of a fluttery sensation and more of a full-stomach-gurgle feeling...under my ribs. One morning I felt an irregular spastic motion in my side and had Kevin feel it - we're not sure whether it was the baby or not, and that, so far, has been the only time we could feel it from the outside. However, it was nice to share that moment with him.

Baby K is around 15 cm (~6 inches) and weighs 240 grams (8.5 oz). The baby will gain weight 15 times from now till birth. If Baby K is female, she will already be forming egg cells in her ovaries! Over the next few days, a creamy protective layer of cells made up of dead skin cells, oils and lanugo will form, called vernix caseosa. This layer will protect the baby's developing glands and sensory cells. Fat deposits will form around the baby's neck, chest and crotch to act as insulation to keep my baby warm.

Apparently the baby is sleeping as much now as a newborn, which is AWESOME since it seems like the baby is always asleep! Even a favourite sleeping position (chin tucked in or head back) has been established. Other new developments are formation of the eyebrows, fine scalp hair and, if Baby K is female, the rest of her uterus will develop.

And on to me! My uterus will be about a 1/2 inch below my belly button (but seems higher) and my weight gain will be between 8-14 lbs (I'm at 6 lbs since week 12). However, only 7 oz of this is the baby! Apparently, most of my weight gain will be over the next 3 months, averaging about 1 lb per week (so 12 lbs over the next 3 months). They go on to say that some weeks will be a higher weight gain that will even out a lower weight gain - which explains my inconsistent weight gain. Exercise will have to be a little lighter now, since the baby's demands are putting pressure on my heart, lungs and kidneys. While feeling dizzy is common (due to hypotension - low blood pressure) it is still important to tell the doctor about it.

How am I feeling? Sore. I danced last night, plus shovelled the driveway during the day, then proceeded to lie on my side on a futon that has no give to it. So, after 2 hours of that, I couldn't walk. Seriously. I hobbled with Kevin providing some support (the rest of the support came from walls and door jams). After moving around a little, I was able to put weight on my right side again without falling over. My back gets sore easily, but dancing warms up and loosens my muscles so I feel pretty good until I sit down for a while.

Any weird food cravings? No, but we bought Honey Nut Cheerios and I've been eating that almost every night since we bought it. It probably isn't that healthy but better than chips! Plus I end up drinking milk, which is good for the calcium.

Moodswings? I'm ok as long as I feel heard and appreciated. I get upset if I'm asked to do something when I feel sore and it isn't understood that I'm really not up to it; like in an "I can barely walk" sore. I think he's becoming more understanding (I hope!).

Any baby purchases? Nope.

What about the nursery? We moved the stuff from the closet of the future nursery (currently acting as a pantry and recycle area) into the closet of the current spare room. We added shelves and just reorganized everything. The closet in the spare room is also much bigger, so it was easier to make it work. I then moved the baby's stuff into the other closet which cleared up the spare room (which is where it was stored). At some point in the near future we'll have to move the bed and boxes out of the spare room and move the items from the future office into the spare room. Then we'll be good to paint the nursery! When we moved in, we just placed items in a convenient spot, and never moved it, so it'll be nice to reorganize everything.

Ultrasound on Tuesday!!! <3

Week #18

2010-11-19T16:25:00.000-08:00

There is definitely some movement going on! Before I could only feel movement if I were lying on my back, but now I feel it while I'm sitting up as well. Occasionally, it will even feel like my stomach is (lightly) flicked from the inside! I'm finding that my belly is getting in the way now. It's still small enough that I just reposition myself to do what I need to do (like tie my shoes) but I find that I have to rethink how I do it. I'm having a really hard time accepting my body growing and I have to continually remind myself that I'm supposed to get larger. I started keeping a log of my weight gain at 12.5 weeks and this week I'm exactly 4 lbs heavier (and 1 lb lighter than last week); since I was nowhere near petite when I found out I was pregnant, I really only need to gain 15-25 lbs (instead of 20-30 for average sized women).

This week Baby K measures in at 14.2 cm (5.6 inches) and 190 grams (6.7 oz). The baby's finger- and toeprints are starting to form, signalling my baby's individuality. Meconium (early fecal matter) is starting to accumulate in the baby's bowels, and it is made up from dead cells, digestive secretions, amniotic fluid and all that jazz. In the middle of this week the baby's eyes will (finally) be facing forward and the ears will be in their final position as well.

At this point, my uterus is about the size of a cantaloupe, with the top being just below my belly button. My website has figured that by now I've gained about 10-13 lbs, but like I said, I'm at 4 lbs. And by the end of the week, my heart will start working 40% harder than before! Oh, back pain is mentioned: I just figured it was due to my being lazy (which probably doesn't help!), so it's nice to know that I should expect more of it. Some tips to keep back pain at a minimum are to watch your weight gain (check), exercise regularly (check), sleep on your left side (...), use heat pads on sore spots (nope), and talk to doctor about pain medication (nope). Due to the energy demands placed on my body, these last 2 trimesters are going to require me eating a bunch of carbs, which is awesome since that's what I eat!

How am I feeling? I have a sore/achy back, which feels like I slept wrong - which is entirely possible - but it could be normal, judging by what I just read on sore backs during pregnancy. I'm uncomfortable sitting and a little grotesque since the bottom of my belly can rest of my thighs when I am sitting up straight (or leaning forward). I went to 3 out of 4 dance classes and made sure to take it easy stretching in jazz, so my inner adductor (muscle possibly identified by Judy!) isn't as sore as it was last week. I was also told by my ballet teacher to stop doing crunches!! Apparently, as the belly gets in the way, the abdominal muscles (?) will actually split in the center to create a shorter path along the sides of the abdomen. Once the belly is gone, a chasm is left and it can take a while to re-knit itself. Instead, she suggested some breathing exercises to work the core and will actually help during labour! Unfortunately, I suck at describing thing, but it is essentially deep breaths and while exhaling you tighten your abs at the same time. Make sense?? I've also been getting acid reflux, and there have been times when I've felt nauseous, so at night I make sure to prop myself up higher by adding an extra pillow under my shoulders.

Any weird food cravings? No, but I was craving cherries the other day and unfortunately they're out of season now. :(

Mood swings? I still get teary seeing emotional things on tv and totally lost it watching The Doctors the other day! But, it was an episode on babies born to drug-addicted moms, so I probably would've cried (just not as much) even if I weren't pregnant. I'm still emotional when Kevin's being a dick, but that is legitimate, not just hormones.

Any baby purchases? No, seems like we've slowed down. However, once we find out the baby's sex (1.5 weeks!) we'll probably pick out more stuff that is suited to gender.

What about the nursery? We bought some glow-in-the-dark star stickers while at West Edmonton Mall, but that's it.

Week #17

2010-11-11T14:27:00.000-08:00

I am nearly 100% sure that I can feel the baby move, but it usually only happens at night when I'm trying to get comfortable to sleep. It feels like my heart is racing when it happens, so I don't know if the baby's movements are speeding my heart (is that possible?!) or if my racing heart is making me think that I'm feeling the baby move. Another good visual is a muscle spasm: you know that twitch when a muscle is spasming out of control? It's like that, but on the inside. Kevin isn't able to feel it yet, but I googled time frames and it is usually between 20-30 weeks that someone else can feel movement. Some have felt it as early as 17-19 weeks, so I'm hoping he'll be able to feel it sooner rather than later.

We don't really have a nickname for our baby (e.g., spud, peanut, viper, etc) but whether our baby is a boy or a girl, the name is going to start with "K" so I may just start referring to it as Baby K instead of just baby or it.

This week Baby K is 13 cm from crown to rump and about 140 grams (nearly 5 oz), which is double what it was 2 weeks ago. My uterus is about 2 inches below my belly button and is definitely visible. I'm still not in maternity clothes, but my jeans are snugger and it's just more comfortable to wear stretchy pants. I did try on a maternity shirt on Sunday, but it made me look twice as big as I am, so I'm going to put that away until my belly is bigger. Plus, air was blowing up my shirt and making my belly cold (which it usually is, btw). I haven't gained the 5-10 lbs that my website has hypothesized, but I've definitely gained at least 3 lbs (I weighed myself a couple days ago - and I've been tracking my weight and measurements out of curiousity).

Baby K keeps looking more and more human and its weight will increase 6 fold over the next several month. Fat deposits (AKA adipose tissue) will become more evident, which is great since fat tissue helps aid metabolism and heat production.

One of the major symptoms of this stage in my pregnancy is fatigue - but it should improve over the next few weeks. Thank goodness. Moderate exercise should help, but due to sore joints I've missed my classes this week and will probably only do drop-in dance, starting December. That's going to suck, but it'll be cheaper since I'm usually missing one class per week anyway.

How am I feeling? Mainly tired, but this past week I've also been feeling sore. My right hip socket (along the bikini line) has been feeling tender, so I googled it and it is most likely round ligament pain. And my lower abdomen has been a little sore too, but that's normal as well. Between the two ailments I feel uncomfortable sitting for too long and walking can be painful. Twisting side-to-side is definitely out of the question. All in all, I feel like an invalid and am so thankful that I'm not working right now.

Any weird food cravings? No, but I wouldn't mind going to Than Vu or out for butter chicken. :-)

Mood swings? If I had written this last night, I could've said "no". But, I think the problem is that I'm home all day and don't get out as much as I used to. Plus, I didn't dance at all this week, so I didn't get my talking fix in then, which led to me feeling super isolated and alone. And fighting with Kevin about it. So, to solve this problem, I need to get out more or at least do more at home (not just watching tv!).

Any baby purchases? ... no? But we're going to West Edmonton mall tomorrow so that may change.

What about the nursery? No change. My mother-in-law offered to buy us a crib with an attached change table (instead of the one posted last week) but we declined. We weren't going to buy a change table anyway and most people just use their floor (with a change mat, of course) out of fear of the baby falling off. One of these days we'll have to get that nursery started though - preferably before I'm 8 months along.

Week #16

2010-11-05T13:53:00.000-07:00

This week the baby is 11.6 cm (4.5 inches) and weighs in at 100 grams (3.53 oz)! That was a 30 gram weight increase! I think I felt the baby move! But I've been so psyched up for it that it might be my overeager imagination. I was telling Kevin that I thought it would be hilarious if someone blew a raspberry on a pregnant woman's belly and got kicked in the mouth for it. He didn't think it was so funny. Maybe my sense of humour has changed?

By now the baby's head is covered with lanugo, and has fully formed fingernails. So now it's catch up time for the toenails! And from now on the body is growing faster, so that the head will start to look more proportionate to the rest of its body. The head and neck muscles are growing stronger now so the head is now held more erect.

The website then goes on to talk about Alpha protein being measured. However, unless this is a specially ordered test or only done in the States, I have no idea where I'm at in terms of this protein. Since I know the monthly urinalysis looks at proteins, it is possible that my checkup yesterday would involve this test. The Alpha protein test is done between 16 and 18 weeks and an accurate test involves knowing the exact gestational age and weight. Elevated levels of Alpha protein could mean that there's something wrong with the baby: spinabifida, anecephaly or Down's Syndrome. If high levels of protein are found, a careful ultrasound will look for signs of the abnormalities.

This week my uterus weighs in at 3.73 kg (8.75 oz) and is 3 inches below my belly button. One of the perks is supposed to be less pressure on my bladder, which may be why I haven't woken up at 4:30 am the past couple nights. Oh, something to look forward to: leaking. This is not colostrum, but rather a buildup of fluids. This pregnancy thing just keeps getting better and better! Another perk: nasal congestion. Last week they mentioned a perpetually runny nose and this week it's congestion. They did mention headaches as a symptom, and I had a hell of a time with headaches last week, so maybe that's why??

And finally, if I were an older mother (35 years or older) I would be scheduled for an amniocentosis any week now. For this, they suck out amniotic fluid and examine it for signs of genetic abnormalities (such as chromosomal problems, fetal sex complications, skeletal diseases, fetal infections, hematologic diseases, and inborn metabolism complications).

How am I feeling? Tired, more often than not.

Any weird food cravings? Not really. Maybe going back to spicy food!

Mood swings? Still yes! But I like to think that I'm getting a little better and more open about why I'm upset so then my husband can understand. Poor guy.

Any baby purchases? I think we managed to restrain ourselves this week, but my mom called the other day and said she bought tons and tons of stuff! I'd feel guilty, but there are so many pregnant women right now (my sister-in-law is due a week or 2 after me) so it isn't like my mom is spending all of her hard-earned money on just my baby.

What about the nursery? My mother-in-law just offered to buy us a transitional crib the other night! I was not expecting that at all and I feel a little overwhelmed by her generosity. The crib is pictured below and we were thinking of getting it in white. It is a 4-in-one, so it changes from a crib into a toddler bed, then a day bed and finally into a double. Crazy, hey?!

Oh and PS, I'm going to post another belly picture, but under the "Belly Pictures" tab. I would have uploaded one already, but my camera battery was dead, so definitely later! Originally I was only going to do one picture a month, but already my belly has gotten larger (noticeably, to me at least) and so maybe I'll update every 2 weeks. :)

** Update: 16 week photo is now up **

Doctor Appointment #5 & Fetal Heart Rate #2

2010-11-04T12:09:00.000-07:00

Today was just a routine checkup and Q&A with the doctor. I had a medical student in today, and she seemed pretty nervous (but trying to hide it) so I ended up feeling even more comfortable chatting with her. The doctor I had today was Dr. Breckman and she was really nice too. Under her supervision, she had Anamaria (the student) feel for my uterus. And I was able to learn how they do it! She said that she feels along the pelvis until she reaches a "ridge" or "drop off" and that's how she knows. Cool, hey? And apparently my uterus is 18 inches from pubic bone to top.

We did another fetal heart rate today and baby must've been sleeping since the heart rate was 144 bpm. However, it is my understanding that the larger the baby, the slower the heart rate, so it makes sense. And over 140 bpm is considered a girl, lol.

My ultrasound is scheduled for November 30th (yay!) and my next doctor's appointment won't be until December 2nd, which is the same week. And at that point I'll be 20 weeks (or 5 months).

Week #15

2010-11-01T13:41:00.000-07:00

There are times when I'm really glad I started this blog. Like now, for instance. I would have already lost count of how far along I was were it not for my weekly updates. So, 15 weeks down, 25 more to go! It feels like I'm already so close to half-way...until I realize that those extra 5 weeks are equivalent to one month and one week. And then I start to wonder how I'll ever make it to the end. I've never been the most patient person, and being pregnant truly does affect everything I do. I always assumed that it was something that I could toss into the back of my mind until I was further along, but this kid really doesn't let me! First, it was nausea; now my stomach is gradually expanding and making it uncomfortable to sleep at night or to even sit upright. And finally, it'll be the monstrous belly with the kicking to keep me occupied.

My baby has grown another 1.4 cm to top it off at 10.1 cm long and it now weighs in around 70 grams and is approximately the size of a softball.

I keep commenting on how fast the baby is growing, and the highest rates of growth will occur over the next few weeks; more specifically, weeks 20 and 25. As my uterus starts to thin, I'll be able to feel the baby flutter about! Actually, it should happen any day now, but most first-time moms aren't able to distinguish the difference between baby movements and stomach rumbles until it happens more frequently.

My baby's skin is thin and is covered with lanugo, which is fine hair, and, interestingly enough, the baby's hair development pattern will be determined this week. After birth, the baby's hair will grow at a rate of 13 mm (1/2 inch) per month. The eyes are still moving, and though the ears are already placed, they will start to grow externally now and nearly look normal. The bones are getting harder and harder and would even be visible if I had an x-ray.

My uterus is about 3-4 inches below my belly button and sleep is going to only become more difficult from now on. A pillow is recommended for between my knees (and I use it to prop up my belly too since all of the weight slides when I'm on my side) to alleviate round ligament pain. Sleeping on the left side is preferred since the weight of the baby and uterus can put pressure on the inferior vena caver, which takes blood from the lower body to the heart. And I guess I need to start eating an extra 300 calories a day, which shouldn't be too hard since we have tons of Halloween candy left, lol. ;)

How am I feeling? Still exhausted. Weekends are usually better, but I find that I usually wake up when my husband gets up for work and have a difficult time falling back asleep. However, since I'm still super tired, I try anyway and wake up really late. And still feel tired. One day over the weekend I started putting the pillow under my belly and slept really well that night, so at least I'm a little more comfortable now.

Any weird food cravings? Hmmm. I haven't satisfied this one yet, but lately I've been wanting chocolate covered almonds.

Mood swings? Yes. And I imagine I'll have them for the rest of the pregnancy. I find that little things irritate me and if not dealt with quickly, it gets bottled up and I have a meltdown. I also find that things are bothering me that shouldn't and it really freaks me out that I'm mis-interpreting what people are saying. I've always thought of myself as having a lower estrogen count (this is my theory, it may be wrong) and so I've never really had PMS. I'd get more irritable during the leadup to my period, but the rest of the time I was usually laid back. Now, my estrogen and progesterone levels are high due to pregnancy (and, if I'm carrying a girl, I imagine they're higher still) so it's really messing with my head. I'm trying to not let things bother me, and if they do bother me, to say something or to find out if what I interpreted is right. It's really stressful for me.

Any baby purchases? We went to this super awesome toy store and found an inflatable booster seat that will definitely be well used when we visit or go on trips. This handy gadget is compact and straps to any chair so it's perfect for situations where we can't bring our home high chair (or whatever we use). The only thing is that it doesn't have a tray, but considering how small it is compared to the rest of them, it's ok. Maybe we'll just bring our own placemat to prevent too much spillage to the host's table.

What about the nursery? My mom had a used cradle at her house that she kindly gave to us. We plan on leaving this in the living room for naps.

It really hit me the other day that I'm going to be a mom. And not in a glowy kind of way. In a this-is-for-the-rest-of-your-life commitment kind of way. And it terrified me that I'll be losing some of my freedom. I also found a hot topic that can be just as controversial as talking about religion! And it really set me off that I'm already facing this kind of pressure when I'm not even 4 months along. It's a personal decision and no one else's business. My husband finally relented but not after a huge fight and some tears (mine). He still disagrees, but has finally ceded to "we'll see what happens when the baby is born." And it isn't as though I disagree wholly with his side, I just refuse to be trapped by it, especially if there are uncontrollable situations. Plus, as a science major, I don't understand how it is such a miracle cure-for-all and how it can prevent adult health problems. So, with the suggestion of my husband, I'm going to research it.

Week #14

2010-10-22T13:48:00.000-07:00

So that's my belly at 14 weeks. I wasn't sure if it was noticeable yet, but 2 of my good friends commented on it last night, so I thought I'd start posting a picture every month or so. This way ~I~ have a record of my growing belly and anyone with a dying need to watch my belly grow can do so. I'm also hoping to photoshop a little, either with a side-by-side comparison, or something similar so then it's more obvious how much I've grown compared to the last picture.

This week my baby is 8.7 cm (crown to rump) and weighs around 43 g (1.5 oz)!! I am always amazed at how quickly this thing is growing! Originally only growing millimeters per week, this kid has gained a centimeter and doubled its weight in 7 days! (Since I'm a nerd and love Excel, I created a graph on how quickly its growing. View it here.) With that size, that puts the kid about the size of my fist! (And for whatever reason, Blogger won't let me upload that picture. Technology failure trumps all. Again.)

The ears are now in their proper position, but the eyes are still travelling. And all I can picture are halibut with their goofy eyes. A juvenile halibut has eyes on either side of its head, like a normal fish, but as it matures, its eyes move to the same side as the body flattens.

The baby's hands are still developing, with the baby starting to learn how to use them, and its mouth is in various stages of development. The roof of the mouth is finished, and sucking muscles are developing. The salivary glands will not only be completed this week, but they will also be functional! Sucking, swallowing and breathing motions will also be present at the end of the week, now that the esophagus, larynx are present.

Fun fact: hemorrhoids often plague pregnant women and usually get worse later in the pregnancy. Just one more symptom to make this a joyous time. One cause of hemorrhoids is constipation, so eating properly, exercising and drinking tons of water will help keep a body regular and hemorrhoid-free.

How am I feeling? This week I've been feeling really, really good. Like, back-to-my-old-self good. And I'm loving it.

Any weird food cravings? I bought some strawberries the other day, and they're like the best thing ever right now. And, unfortunately, it seems like my love of cheese has come to an end. At least on its own. I've already switched from medium to mild cheddar and it seems like even eating mild is too much. If I eat it on something or in something it's ok, but just a slice of cheese? Yuck.

Mood swings? I had a bad bout of them last weekend, but for the most part I'm ok. I still get teary over something sweet and I think I'm more likely to be offended than before, but (so far) I'm not a raging psychotic.

Any baby purchases? Only for the nursery!

What about the nursery? I bought the 9 cubicle shelving unit that I mentioned last week (and there's a picture on that post too) and even bought the 4 fabric drawers in brown and turquoise that is pictured. We've narrowed down the colours that we want for the nursery, but still haven't completely decided yet.

And that's it for this week!

Week #13

2010-10-15T13:52:00.000-07:00

Wow, this kid is growing insanely fast! This week it gained 2 cm in length to total 7.4 cm and nearly doubled its weight (again!) to 23 grams (nearly 1 ounce). Now the baby is the size of a peach.

At this stage the baby's head is still roughly half its body length, but should start slowing its growth so that by the 21st week its head should only be 1/3 the total length. Good news! My baby's face is starting to look human! The eyes are moving closer together and the ears are moving to their proper place on the side of the head. If needed, it would be possible to determine its sex by now and its intestines are finally in the body - instead of the umbilical cord. And my baby will start to urinate inside the womb. Yay?

At this point the website goes on to say that I need bigger clothes but I'm actually still wearing my normal ones - even my jeans. The belt, to be honest, is uncomfortable when I sit, but since I want my pants to stay up I still wear it. Stretch marks: the physical evidence of a growing body and the bane of every woman's existence. There is no "cure" for stretch marks and you really can't prevent them, unless you've got amazing genetics. Creams, lotions and oils don't actually help, but if it makes you feel better to use them, by all means go ahead! It has been mentioned that these things help alleviate itchiness, so there is a perk to their useage. But, aside from slowly gaining the weight, stretch marks are inevitable. And we'll see if I'm still objective about this after I get some. Another thing to watch for are bladder infections, which are common during pregnancy. Due to the growing baby inside, it is best to talk to a doctor about it rather than treating yourself with over the counter medication. I've mentioned in the past that my boobs are huge now (for me). Pre-pregnancy, the average breast weighs 7 oz and during can weigh between 14-28 oz. That means they can double, or triple, in weight!

Since excessive caffeine during pregnancy has been associated with low birth weight and smaller head sizes in babies, doctors have come up with the magical number of 200 mg maximum daily intake. Broken down, it looks like this:

Coffee, 5 oz = 60-140 mg
Tea, 5 oz = 30-65 mg
Baking chocolate, 1 oz = 25 mg
Chocolate candy, 1 oz = 6 mg
Pop, 12 oz = 35-55 mg
Pain relief tablets, standard dose = 40 mg
Allergy and cold remedies, standard dose = 25 mg

Unfortunately, there is such high variability that it doesn't tell you what is in the low end (decaf?) and the high end (medium roast?). Luckily for me, and my baby, I don't drink coffee and even pop rarely appears in my diet (now). Chocolate, on the other hand, does, so it's just as well that I don't drink pop often, otherwise that would cut into my chocolate intake.

How am I feeling? Lately I've been alternating between not being able to sleep at night and exhaustion. I've been having more headaches this past week than I did in the past, plus heartburn has been making itself comfortable. I'm technically feeling better because nausea isn't as big of an issue, but I'm still not feeling like myself.

Any weird food cravings? This isn't really weird, but I've been eating a lot of peanut butter this week. I've also been all about the sandwiches, but that could be because they're easy to make and don't require cooking.

Mood swings? YES. Even after I wrote the last blog, my first major mood swing hit. I was reading a book, which was quite funny, so I was laughing really hard, like tears were rolling down my cheeks, and then it switched to sobbing. I've been finding this odd and annoying. Even my laughing isn't restrained! I'm almost laughing TOO hard for what the situation warrants! And it makes my belly hurt.

Any baby purchases? I went to Zellers the other day and they had some value pack stuff on for $10! So I got a 10 pack of bibs, 6 pack of receiving blankets and 30 pack of wash cloths. Plus my mom came up yesterday and brought me some stuff for the baby: socks, onesies, sleepers, and diapers. And then we went to the mall and she told me to pick out 2 outfits: 1 for a girl and 1 for a boy and she did the same. I have the receipt so when I find out the baby's sex I can return the ones for the wrong sex.

What about the nursery? I have a vision of what I want the nursery to look like, colour-wise. I want the walls teal, white furniture and jewel-toned bedding/decorations/etc. I mentioned this to my mom and I think she's offered to make the bedding since I want just solid colours: emerald green, navy blue, dark brown, even white. For a boy, more tones in blues, but for a girl, plum purple and rich pinks. I dunno if that'll happen since you can't actually buy that stuff for babies, but for now that's my vision.

I also plan on using the above cubicle system for the baby's clothing until they're older, at which point they'll get a real dresser and use the cubicle for toys. The fabric drawers come in a variety of colours and I'm planning (hoping?) to get a white organizer.

Whew! Long post!

Oh! One last thing: my husband's coworker's wife has offered me the use of the clothes that she and her sister-in-law collected while pregnant! How cool is that? I've only ever met the guy once and have never met his wife, so I find this generosity to be a little overwhelming!

Cristina's Book Blog: The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy

2010-10-13T17:58:00.000-07:00

Cristina's Book Blog: The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy: "It's been a while since I've blogged about a book and I feel a little guilty. One, it isn't like I have stopped reading - quite the opposit..."

Week #12

2010-10-08T12:36:00.000-07:00

12 weeks down, 28 to go!

This is the time that most women finally come out of the pregnancy closet and annouce to everyone that they're expecting. Having kept this a secret for several weeks now, it feels funny to just email someone up and say, "by the way, I'm 12 weeks pregnant"; but to leave most friends and family in the dark is not very nice either. Sure, they could hear from other friends, but maybe the other friends assume that they knew too or they don't have someone to tell them. So, I'm going to post this blog link on my Facebook profile.

Now on to the baby!

The baby is now 5.4 cm and 14 grams (nearly 1/2 an ounce). I was lucky enough to hear the heart rate yesterday (with a doppler - the recording is on the previous post), but if the baby is sitting funny - e.g. placenta lying across its tummy - it won't be possible. The baby's skeleton is hardening into bone now, with the fingers and toes separating and growing nails. Hair is even starting to grow on the body. The digestive system is developing nicely and the baby's pituitary gland has started producing hormones. By the end of this week, my uterus will be too big for my pelvis and I should be able to feel it above my pubic bone (AKA pubic symphysis). I'm really hoping this will be the end of morning sickness; 6 weeks was enough, thank you very much. A pigment change that I may or may not experience is the linea nigra, which is a dark line from the navel downwards.

How am I feeling? Today? Pretty good. Yesterday I had the worst case of morning sickness that I've ever had and I just felt gross all day. I find that when I'm moving around, I get really warm and my face will even turn red - and it's especially bad when I dance. I felt super lazy all week so I only went to one class out of 4 (bad!) so I'm hoping next week I'll be more motivated to go.

Any weird food cravings? No, I'm really hoping that I never get any weird ones either. Since we're creeping up on Halloween, I've been having sugar cravings, but I'm almost thinking my morning sickness yesterday was caused by eating too much sugar the night before. Lesson learned.

Mood swings? Nope.

Any body changes? My belly is bigger. I'm thinking of buying a tape measure just to mark on the tape how big I was and where in the pregnancy I was at the time. Then that way when I look back, I can see how huge I actually was!

Any baby purchases? We bought a couple small items (a bib and wash cloths) the other day but since we don't know the sex yet it makes it difficult to really buy anything. Most items are more obviously masculine or feminine with the unisex stuff looking kind of boring in comparison.

What about the nursery? I went and bought some reflective stars the other day, which I think will look really cute in there, but again, without knowing the sex it makes it difficult to decorate. Not that anything has been moved or anything.

Next Doctor's Appointment: November 4
Ultrasound Appointment: November 30

Doctor Appointment #4 & Fetal Heart Rate #1

2010-10-07T15:57:00.000-07:00

I heard the heart beat today. *loves!* According to Dr. Fredeen, the average speed was 155 beats per minute and he even said that he could hear the baby moving around. Also, according to this website, I'm having a girl based on the heart rate! LOL! Anyone want to change their guesses for the baby pool? ;) I'm getting my 18 week ultrasound done on November 30 (which would actually put me at nearly 20 weeks. /lame) but we've requested gender identification. Actually, having it done a little later might mean that it'll be easier to tell - unless the kid squirms a lot, lol.

I nearly had to do another round of blood testing, since the lab didn't send the clinic my results. I would have been really upset if I had to go back, considering how much it hurt last time. Luckily, the receptionist was able to find it all. The results of the blood work were that everything was normal; I'm HIV negative (no real doubt, but it's always nice to know for sure!) and I'm producing tons of rubella antigens, which is good since I was vaccinated against them when I was younger.

(Oh, and PS - I asked the Dr how fast the heart rate is, but it was very faint in the video, so that's what the 155 is when he answers).

All around, excellent day, except for the horrible bout of morning sickness this morning. :(

Week #11

2010-10-01T11:25:00.000-07:00

I'm sooo excited! If I'm lucky, first trimester annoyances (fatigue, morning sickness - all that fun stuff) should go away around the 12th week. If I'm not lucky...well, we'll just hope for the best.

By the end of this week, baby will be 4.1 cm in length and weigh 7 grams! And the baby will be around the size of a large lime. Ho-lee. I did not think it was that big already! Explains the bulge though....

Over the next 3 weeks, the baby will double in length and its external genitalia will become distinguishable. This week the iris will develop and over the next couple days the eyelids will meet and fuse closed (which is only temporary). My baby now has a head that is half its length - so...2ish cm? - and its brain is the same structure that it will have at birth. The reflexes are developing and apparently if its face is touched, it will open its mouth. Honestly? That sounds adorable! Some nearly completed organs include the pancreas, gall bladder and thyroid, with the small intestines moving from the stomach into the umbilical cord. This week carbs are my friend! Which is good since that's what I've been eating: bagels, bread and pasta.

How am I feeling? Actually, pretty good! I still get tired during the day and still feel a little nauseous at night, but for the most part, this is the best I've felt in a long time. It could also be due to the fact that I'm not working and can therefore gets heaps of sleep.

Any weird food cravings? No, still the usual stuff. I've found that staying at home has really limited the cravings since I can't smell anything cooking. Case in point: last night I went for a walk with a friend and I smelled jam (she could too - it wasn't just me!) and I wanted a scone with jam on it. So I'm really thinking that smell plays a huge role in the cravings of a pregnant woman. Another culprit? The imagination.

Mood swings? Nope! Like I said, I've been feeling really good lately, so if anything I've been a little bored, but my cats keep me occupied. I swear they're training me to be a mom already....

Any body changes? Bigger belly! Last week I just thought it was bigger and this week I know that it is. Under clothes it could look like just fat, but when I look at my stomach I know that its my baby who caused it. And seriously? If the kid is the size of a lime its no wonder! It's funny though, I always assumed that women didn't start showing until later in their pregnancy - but it must just be that they don't start looking pregnant until later. Before then it just looks like a big tummy. :-S

Any baby purchases? I've already mentioned the stroller, but shortly after I found out I was pregnant, I went and bought some receiving blankets - it's my understanding that I'll need them in abundance so gradually buying them isn't such a hardship. My mom has also given me a soft yellow-green blanket as well. And the other day my mom called and said that Extra Foods was having a huge sale on diapers, so she bought me some! I hadn't even started to think about diapers yet! I'm starting to think that I'll get a huge shipment of clothes, diapers and blankets when this kid is born, lol!

What about the nursery? Our nursery will be where our office is, for those of you who know our house. Before I even became pregnant, we installed new windows and Kevin had bought new blinds and drapes for the room. Well, he bought them for our room too, but bought extra for the nursery. We (I) plan on painting it teal with fantasy-themed decor. I want the silhouette of a castle on the wall, with maybe some figurines or decals to match. I found some fantastic patterns the other day for cross-stitch, but since they're so time-consuming, I hope it'll get done before the baby makes an appearance. "Or turns 18." <--- So says Kim. As of yet, we haven't bought paint and haven't moved anything around, but I still have 29 weeks to go. That's plenty of time...right?

Oh! Next Dr's appointment is on the 7th and we'll get to hear the heartbeat! I'm hoping that I'll remember to bring a camera or use my phone to capture the moment and if possible, I'm going to upload it on here. :)

Week #10

2010-09-25T19:59:00.000-07:00

I spotted again Wednesday night, but because it stopped that night I didn't call the doctor's office this time. I'll mention it at my next prenatal appointment though.

By the end of this week, my baby will be 3.1 cm long and 4 grams and will have graduated from embryo to fetus. Its head will be double the size of its body, so think of Brain:

only with a rounder head. The body will also start to straighten out as it grows. Fingernails, toe nails and hair follicles will start to develop and grow, and the baby's eyelids now completely cover its eyes (or very nearly). The tongue will be fully formed in the middle of the week. Weight gain should be steady (I know I have lost weight lately, due to stress). Interesting pregnancy symptom: melasma, AKA pregnancy mask. Usually found in women with darker skin, it is a skin discolouration due to the progesterone to estrogen levels found in the body.

How am I feeling? Exhausted. All the time. I'm feeling nauseous at night more often than not, which I suppose is a good thing.

Any weird cravings? Nothing too crazy, but once I get it in my head, I like to satisfy that craving. For example, a few days ago I craved chocolate covered strawberries, so I hit up DQ for a chocolate covered strawberry waffle bowl. It was awesome!

Mood swings? Not really. I nearly cried a few times the other day. I was at the Cafe and one of my (ex?) staff members pulled all the staff out and announced that I was leaving. And one of the others said that he thought I was a really good boss. It's my understanding that mood swings hit harder after the first trimester.

Any body changes? I've lost the war against my belt, having to buckle it one hole looser than before. Which is funny because I know I've lost weight since becoming pregnant! But, that might be in my legs (which look awesome, btw) and not in my tummy area.

We bought a stroller today! Our first big purchase for our baby, its a blue and grey stroller & infant car seat in one. We got it from Sears and it was on sale ($120 off!). Considering how most of the combo stroller/car seats were over $200, and we bought this one for $250, we figured we were getting a deal!

Ultrasound #1

2010-09-21T16:21:00.000-07:00

For today, the baby is ok. We saw the heart beating and the little arm buds move. We also saw it kicking its stumpy legs. If you use your imagination, the big blob on the right is its head...and its staring right at you!

The radiologist is going to study the pictures that the ultrasound tech took to figure out why I was bleeding, But right now, everything is fine.

It was incredible to see the little thing moving already! According to the tech, I'm actually 9 weeks and 1 day (not 4), but already it moves! Amazing! Despite what the picture shows, it is only 2.5 cm long from crown to rump. And I'm in love already. This has really hit me, well us, that there's a living being inside of me. I think Kevin was a little more distanced from the baby because he hasn't been feeling the sickness or the changes like I have. But he got to see his baby today too and I'm so glad he was able to experience it.

After all the stress and the frustration, I had hoped but did not expect to see the heart beat. I honestly did not expect to feel as emotional as I did when I saw it moving its little body. I guess I should get used to that feeling, since I'll be a mom in less than 7 months. :)

Week #9 + 4 days

2010-09-21T11:06:00.000-07:00

So, I did blood tests on both Friday and Monday, with a follow-up Dr's appointment this morning to see what was going on. And? They don't know. My results were up slightly higher on Monday than Friday, but still lower than average (while still being in the normal range).

The Doctor (Dr. Cosio) then decided to feel my uterus - but it turns out that it tilts backwards, so she was unable to feel it to see if it was the normal size for how far along I am.

Out of hope, we tried to find the fetal heartbeat, but were unable - which is common for under 12 weeks pregnant since the uterus sits behind the pelvis until then.

Dr. Cosio managed to pull some strings so I could get an ultrasound this afternoon - at 1:30 pm - so I guess we'll know more definitely then. In the meanwhile, I'm going to have to pretty much drown myself so that I'll be hydrated enough (while not going to the bathroom) to see the baby - and hopefully its heartbeat.

Last night I was asked to step down as manager, which I did willingly since I was going to step down anyway. He said that he could see how stressed I was and when I explained that I was pregnant, he said that I definitely shouldn't be so stressed. I'll be paid out till the end of the month, regardless of how much I work, plus I have a ton of vacation pay coming my way. In the meanwhile, I'll try to relax and find another job. On the plus side, I'm completely freed up to go to my Dr's appointments as needed, especially the ultrasound this afternoon! And if we find no sound where there should be a heartbeat, I'm going to need a few days to recover.

I'll just re-iterate that Dr. Cosio is optimistic because my levels did go up, so I'm hoping for the best, while preparing for the worst.

Week #9 & Doctor Appointment #3

2010-09-18T21:41:00.000-07:00

So, I know I'm a day late posting this, but I had a really good reason. Having said that, I'll go over the reason after I'm done talking about the development.

This week the baby has doubled in weight from 1 gram to 2 grams and has grown to 2.3 cm (about the size of a medium green olive). The flippers look like arms now, complete with long fingers that nearly touch over the waist. The legs and toes are still developing and the neck is more erect. External ears are developed and the eyelids are almost finished forming. The baby has even started moving around now! Another bonus? It even looks more human than last week.

My uterus is about the size of a grapefruit, which explains why I can't sit forward as well as I used to. And my weight gain should be increasing. I already think I have a little bump, but that could just be mainly me, lol. As it is, my waist line will be going up along with the numbers on the scale.

Vitamin C is very important and aids in tissue development, iron absorption and may prevent pre-eclampsia (with eclampsia being seizures and convulsions). In other words, vitamin C is good, but only as long as you don't exceed the 85 mg daily dosage.

How am I feeling? Right now? Better than yesterday. However, work has been so stressful for me lately, and between dancing and work I barely have time to eat. I'm exhausted more often than not (I even fell asleep twice on a 3 hour car ride!) and I find it uncomfortable to sit upright or even leaning forward.

Any weird cravings? I'd say cookies, but that isn't weird for me! I find that I get very spontaneous cravings and I nearly obsess about it until it is satisfied. Luckily for me, I'm able to get it myself since I'm usually out and about. And if not that day, then the next.

Mood swings? Still weepy, but that could be caused by stress too.

Any body changes? I do feel like I have a little bump, since it is firmer than it was a couple weeks ago (unfortunately!). However, I do think that it's my own ponch forced outwards by my growing uterus.

Now on to the news. On Thursday night before I went to bed I noticed blood on my underwear - and immediately burst into tears. I did read in my Mother of All Pregnancy Books book that bleeding, coupled with cramping, could be a symptom of miscarriage. Which is why I freaked out. However, it did also say that it could just be bleeding, so the next morning I called the clinic and made an appointment for that morning. I was fortunate that Kevin was also able to take some time off and support me through this. I called in sick and let my friend know (who also knew I was pregnant) that I wasn't going to be coming in that morning.

At the clinic the doctor did a cervical exam and noted that the blood was coming from my cervix; however, the cervix, while slightly open, wasn't completely open, which is another sign of miscarriage. Her suggestion was to move on to the next step, which was tracking the pregnancy hormone Bhcg through blood work. If I was still pregnant, the hormone should double daily. Since it was Friday, we did the blood work then and will do it again on Monday, with the results discussed on Tuesday.

I am optimistic though; I was only ever spotting, I didn't pass any tissues and the bleeding has since stopped. Plus, the cramping never occurred, so I'm hoping that it was just first trimester bleeding.

This was definitely the scariest moment of my entire pregnancy and made me realize how much I wanted the baby to survive. There have been times when I didn't think I could handle it and that maybe it would be best to miscarry so we could have more time for this or that, but now I'm convinced that I want this baby. I've also decided to step down as manager of my Cafe - even though I took the job so I could have the baby! I think I need to put myself first and a pay cut with 1/4 the stress is so worth it. I've already told the previous manager that I'm ready and she's fine with stepping up now instead of April. I just need to tell my own boss!

Even since I found out I was pregnant I've been ready to move on and I'm convinced that the stress that I've been under for the past month and a half has not been beneficial to my growing baby. I need time for myself, and I especially need time to relax! I plan to find another job and work part-time, which would free me up for online schooling.

I also want to thank my fabulous friends for being so supportive! You're awesome!

Week #8 & Doctor Appointment #2

2010-09-10T18:23:00.000-07:00

My baby looks like Barney. W. T. H.?

By the end of this week my baby will be around 1.6 cm and weigh around 1 gram. By now my baby has eyelid folds, nerve cells and will just start to develop the retina. The nose is starting to poke out and both the internal and external parts of the ears are growing. And the arms have elbows!

How am I feeling? It depends on the day, but severe morning sickness seems to make an appearance about every other day, it seems. I'm not sure if it helps to eat a lot at night, but that happened last night and I've felt fine all day. I've also been under a lot of stress lately, so I don't know if that made it worse. For example, yesterday I didn't sleep well, plus I had to do the baking shift; maybe I would've been fine with one or the other, but both?

Any weird cravings? Greasy food, like nachos and burgers. Mmmm. And still the spicy food. Apparently the healthy food cravings only lasted a couple weeks. However, due to my lack of time to eat properly, it could be simply my body needing food fast and not caring how it gets it.

Mood swings? Still the same as before.

Any body changes? Still the same: bigger breasts, bigger uterus.

Oh and I had my second doctor's appointment today: so I had a breast exam, pap test and thyroid exam. Everything checked out fine, but I guess I'll know if there's anything unusual next week. Apparently, at 12 weeks we'll be able to hear the heartbeat, so we're aiming for that in the next visit!! :D

Blood Work

2010-09-07T17:52:00.000-07:00

I hate needles. With a passion.

I went in today to get some bloodwork done - the standard stuff. And I was already anxious about it, so when the nurse told me that she needed to do both arms, it figured. It really did. She looked at the vein in the right arm and said she should've started with that arm, but it hurt! I could feel it the entire time and I guess I should be glad I didn't hyperventilate. So, now I have two sore arms and they'll probably bruise, that's how awesome it felt.

How often do I have to get this done?

Doctor's appointment on Friday for the physical. What an awesome week.

Week #7

2010-09-03T21:50:00.000-07:00

Oh, look! My baby looks more like a salamander than a hairless rat!

Ho-lee! During this week my baby will nearly triple in size from 4-5 mm to 11-13 mm and will weigh as much as an eyelash! The armbuds are visible but haven't yet developed in to arm and hand sections. An ultrasound will make it possible to hear the beating heart, which has already developed in to right and left chambers. Lung and brain development are moving along, and certain internal organs are bulging in to the umbilical cord. This week its important to increase my calcium uptake to 1200 mg daily; however, coffee, tea, salt, protein and unleavened bread can interfere with the calcium.

How am I feeling? Well, I learned that morning sickness can be alleviated by eating. Imagine that! It still feels nasty, though I've been fortunate enough to not throw up.

Any weird cravings? I really like spicy food right now. I still don't care for the looks (or smells!) of some food, but I think my eating habits are getting back to normal.

Mood swings? I had a really stressful week at work last week and this week started out ok. I'm still highly likely to get teary-eyed at sweet moments, but this week seems ok.

Any body changes? Here's a funny one: while I'm still not too sure of my baseline for my body, my breasts have grown 2-3 inches! I still think I've lost a little weight and am definitely going to end up more toned once I start dancing.

In case you wonder where I get my info about my week-to-week pregnancy changes, click here!

Week #6

2010-08-27T21:14:00.000-07:00

Did you see the widgit I added to the sidebar?! How cool is that?! Now you can see what my baby looks like as it grows!

So, I'm in Week 6 now, which means quite a lot in terms of brain development and the circulatory system of my baby. The heart will start beating this week and the baby's tongue, nasal pits and "flippers" (future arms)will even start to develop! To help brain development, it's recommended that I make sure Omega 3 and folic acid are in my diet. Oh, and my baby is between 2-4 mm from head to bum.

How am I feeling? Well, morning sickness hit with a vengence today. I felt like death and, in all honesty, if the fate of the world rested on me popping out babies, we'd be screwed. I'm sure it'll get better, but right now I feel like I can barely eat - ever! - and I'm still near the beginning. Since morning sickness is apparently supposed to last from week 6 to 12, I've got 6 weeks to go. Yay?

Any weird cravings? I dislike sweet foods now; the thought of eating chocolate grosses me out. I've tried eating cereal in the mornings and dairy disagrees with me. I had a pop the other day (7 Up) and it tasted like club soda. I find I really like mild cheese, fruits (specifically apples!) and veggies. So, really, the food that I should be eating. I've never been fond of apples, but I find them satisfying and easy to eat at work.

Mood swings? Oh yes. I cry easily now. If it's sweet, I'll cry. In moments of annoyance I'll feel frustrated and it'll make me cry.

That's all I can think of to say for right now. I actually think I've lost a little weight (due to my distaste for most foods now) and my breasts are sore all the time. I think I'll need to wear a sports bra to bed! My libido (not that you care) is nil and I feel bad for Kevin because of it!! Well, hopefully it'll come back in the next trimester!

Doctor Appointment #1

2010-08-26T16:39:00.000-07:00

I had my first doctor's appointment today - Aug 26, 2010 - and it was just a medical background check, question period. And I can't remember the guy's name. And I think he said he was just filling in, so I'm assuming that I'll be seeing someone the next time?? If not, I'll find out his name!

I received a huge stack of booklets, pamphlets, etc:
*Baby's Best Chance: Parent's Handbook of Pregnancy and Baby Care (BC Goverment)
*Prenatal Genetic Screening pamphlet (Provincial Health Services Authority)
*Your Baby's Journey: Prince George's guide to services and information from pregnancy to parenting (Northern Health Authority)
*forms for blood work
*Parents Canada magazine
*Prenatal registry

Wow. So, we talked about health history, both mine and my family's, as well as drink/drug/smoking usages. Since I don't do any of those, I think we're good to go. We did discuss prenatal genetic testing - which would test to see if my baby could have trisomy 25, down syndrome or spinabifida - but usually those tests are more relevant if the mother's age is over 35. Since those tests are invasive, they're only helpful if the baby is at risk of a genetic defect. And if you plan on doing anything about it (abortion, adoption, etc). If you're just curious, it would definitely not be recommended.

I have another appointment scheduled for September 10th and I should definitely have my blood taken by then, so we'll do a physical exam as well as discuss results from that!

Welcome!

2010-08-26T16:27:00.000-07:00

I'm pregnant!

I've been asked a few times, by different people, how I'm feeling, how things are going, etc, so I thought I'd blog about it! I dislike keeping things to myself and Facebook is definitely off-limits (for right now), so I thought I'd create a site where I could update and tell everyone all at once! I'm also incredibly lazy that way, so this works well for me.

At this moment I'm unsure how often I'll be updating, especially since right now my baby is still such a wee thing, but since this whole baby development thing is so fascinating, I'm thinking that I'll update every week - Fridays - since that's how my week works. It'll consist mainly of how big baby is and what will be going on that week; but if I have a doctor's appointment or something special happens I'll update more often.

Some background info:

Kevin and I have been actively trying to concieve since St. Patrick's Day (so, March 17, 2010) and we found out about the pregnancy on August 15, 2010. I took 2 pregnancy tests and both came back positive. (In case you were wondering why I took two...I bought the first one at the Dollarama. I figured that I'd pay the $1.25 now and if it was positive, I'd pay the $10 later. As it turned out, Janet had a spare test that she gave to me.)

My last period was July 16, 2010 and my due date is approximately April 23, 2011. So that means that tomorrow I'm officially 6 weeks pregnant! (And for those of you keeping track of my due date, Janet has already called dibs on May 2 and Liz has May 3. We're starting the baby pool early!)

Feel free to comment, ask questions, etc!