Wow; progress this week!

We got a giggle or two or three starting on Thursday. It's kind of a squeal of happiness, but I'm counting it as a giggle! It was so neat--the first time he giggled, we were dancing to "It Takes Two" by Rob Base...one of Mommy's favorite songs!

Today, A rolled from his belly to his back! He's getting great at holding up his head too.

Such an exciting week!

This kid looks like...Marc?

I was told yesterday by people who know us both that this kid looks just like his dad. At least in this picture, I think A looks just like me! It's so funny how these things go. I told M the other day that it will all come down to whose nose he gets. So far, it's looking a bit like my nose, but we'll see if he gets his dad's nose or not.

Two nights ago, we had the worst sleep since bringing A home from the hospital (err, at least, A and I did...his dad didn't even know he woke up--he had gotten up super early the day before to get in to work early). He only slept for 2 three hour stretches (9-12, 12-4), then was up every hour after that. I'm not sure if the change in weather is affecting him, if he's gong through a growth spurt and needs to eat more, or if it's something else altogether. He was back to VERY normal this morning, so I guess it has passed.

A day in the life of A's mom

A's feeding schedule was a little off last night, so he went to bed later than we've been putting him down the past few days. He ate at 8, again at 9 (to put him to sleep) and was asleep in his crib by 9.

He must have had a bad dream because he woke around 10:45. M went in to calm him down, and then A slept until 4am. He woke again for a feeding around 6:30, and woke up at 7:45 or 8.

I decided that I was sleepy and hit the snooze button a few times after it went off at 7am. I ended up getting out of bed at 7:30. I went downstairs and pumped my very engorged boobs... I got almost 5 oz from the side he hadn't used most recently. As I was pumping, A started to wake.

I went in and changed him, said good morning, and sang to him while I changed his clothes. We then went in the bathroom for Mommy's shower. A loves to sit in his bouncy seat while I do so--I think the exhaust fan in the bathroom is comforting to him, as is the running water. I usually sing to him and tell him what we're going to do for the day.

By the time I was dressed and dry, A was getting sleepy. His new swing is amazing--he must be so comfy in it because he's happy hanging out in there even when he is awake.

While he napped, I made my grocery list and planned out our dinners for the week. I also made my lunch. As it cooked, he woke again. I put him in his Bumbo seat, which he also likes as long as he is wide awake, and ate my lunch. I heard the TELLTALE SOUNDS of poop. When I was finished my lunch, I picked him up and began to feed him... forgetting about those TELL TALE SOUNDS!! As I curled my right arm around him, I felt something STICKY... sure enough, he had pooped out his diaper, through his onesie (although there wasn't much actually on it!), and through his pants. Ugh. I had to figure out how to burp him without getting crap on the Boppy pillow all while thinking how I was going to get these nasty clothes off of him without having to give him a bath. I managed, though, using about 50 wipes.

And we were off to the grocery store. Alex fell asleep in the car, and as usual, woke as I was heading to the checkout lane. He always screams in the checkout lane.

Home, Jeeves!! As we pulled out of the grocery store, he was asleep again. I pulled in the garage, took him in and started to unload. With the first trip in, he was yelling again. **SIGH** I got everything in the house, threw the refrigerator stuff in there still in bags, and tended to my screaming child.

At some point in the afternoon, we read Green Eggs and Ham upstairs. Around that time, I changed A and accidentally wiped poop from his diaper on his onesie... Outfit #3 made its appearance!

Eventually, it was naptime again. This swing is definitely my salvation, since I cannot get this child to take a nap for longer than 15 minutes in his crib.

I mopped most of the floors downstairs using a real mop rather than the Swiffer Wet Jet. Ewww, dirty mop water. Guess the Swiffer WetJet isn't doing its job well enough. I also vacuumed the family room carpets. YAY--all my chores for the day were done and then some. At some point, we went upstairs for some downtime--A hung out in his Bouncy seat and I read my book.

As the last of the floors was drying, M came home from work. Soon after, A woke up smiling. we chatted for awhile, then I went to make dinner. Midway through, A wanted to eat, so M finished cooking.

A schedule

I never thought I'd figure out his schedule, but I definitely have. Whenever he cries and we are out, women say "Oh, he must be hungry." I think in my head, "your kids are probably obese... a crying baby is not necessarily a hungry baby!" Of course I have far too much couth (HA HA HA!!!) to say such a thing out loud, and just smile and nod.

When he fusses, he's usually tired. We were out at the mall today, and I fed him and about twenty minutes later, he started fussing. Clearly, the poor kid was tired, even though his eyes were wide open. By the time we walked to the car, his eyes were drooping and he was sound asleep by the time we left the parking deck.

There's a theory that one can learn a baby's cries to tell what he needs. I felt that I knew my Godson's hungry cry pretty well, but have been pretty much unable to figure out A's. But I guess there's something to be said for instinct, and I DEFINITELY know his tired and cranky yell.

Mid-October

I cannot believe how time has flew. My boy is almost 3 months old!! I'm supposed to go back to work in a few short months! Christmas is right around the corner!!

***GAH!!!***

So, after the initial "He slept ALL night!," A is back to his schedule. We have, however, changed his bedtime to an earlier time, after noticing he was very fussy and hungry around 8:30. It was just easier to feed him and put him to bed then rather than waiting another hour. At first, he was waking at 1:30, which was sort of strange but made sense because that was the 5 hour after bedtime mark, but now he's back to waking around 3-3:30.

He's getting fantastic head control. He can pick it up and hold it up for a while when he's laying on his tummy. Here's a picture of him in his Bumbo, which doesn't have head support:
This device is great, because it's helping him build trunk strength plus his head isn't against anything...hopefully this will help combat his bald/flat spot.

I'm starting to get my booty (literally) back into shape. I go to the gym on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday for an abs course, and the booty is a big part of the routine. The Bosu ball is my new best friend. I'm starting to see the outside of the ole six pack coming back. Yeehaw! The skin on the tummy is still pretty jiggly, but underneath is starting to be really hard again. I'm hoping that as the skin becomes firm again, the stretch marks will go away too, but who knows.

A seems to have discovered the TV this week, and will look at the screen in fascination. I got him a rattle because all his toys were too thick for him to hold. This one is great because it has a stuffed lion on top in addition to various textures. He seems to like holding it and shaking it, although I'm not sure if he realizes he's the one making all the noise yet.

I had him on his side in his crib this afternoon, and he rolled onto his back. I'm not sure if that's something significant or not, but based on his eating pattern yesterday, I think he might be going through a growth spurt.

So, we keep chugging away.

Sleeping through the night

A has been "sleeping through the night" since Labor Day... that is, if you define sleeping through the night as the baby experts do--5-6 hours.

Last night, however, my incredible boy slept from around 9:30pm-5:30am! WAHOO! This could be because his little tummy was overloaded with milk; he normally has a feeding before bed, but he was due for a feeding at 8:30. I fed him at 8:30 and then again around 9:30.

Hey, I guess it doesn't matter if he slept all night and isn't a little pudge!

This is my favorite picture from this week. I submitted it to Gap's casting call, so I HAD to put him in his one piece of Gap Baby clothing!

The cutest caterpillar EVER

This is A's Halloween costume! I can't believe he's so agreeable in it; doesn't he look soo big in the headshot?

Unpredictable!

The baby was on such a regular sleep pattern for such a long time, that it's tough right now! I suppose the changing seasons has something to do with it. He was sleeping from 9:30ish-3:30, then waking every two hours after taht until 8ish. Yesterday, he woke for a feeding at 1:30, 5:30, and woke for good at 7. Today, he slept from 9:45-3:30, woke at 7, and went back down!

A will be in a study!

Actually, we're signed up for two studies. The first is about physiology and emotion. The women are going to be here today. Unfortunately, because A had his shots yesterday, his schedule is thrown off and he didn't wake when he normally does. Luckily, their office is right in New Brunswick, so they will come back when he starts stirring and it will only be about 10 minutes.

The other study is being done through Rutgers and it will look at memory. I think that will begin when he is 3 months old.

So exciting!

2 month appointment!

A is now 24-1/4" tall, and weighs 12lbs 6 oz!!!! He's such a big boy and is right on track.

He had some shots today--DTaP and Comex (I'm not remembering what she said well, and I don't know where I put the folder with the schedule of shots). He cried...wailed, actually, but that was also partially due to our long wait to see the doctor--he was overdue for a feeding! He now has a Tweety Bird Band-aid on each leg. Jen would be so proud!

A's fussiness continues... the doctor says it's colic, but.... well, everything I've read about colic says that it's defined as crying nonstop basically (and they give a certain amount of hours for so many days a week), and he doesn't do that. He's just uncomfortable and gassy. Ehh, either way, it'll go away eventually to be sure.

We have a date for Baptism... now we just have to ask his Godparents if they'll do it and find him an outfit. Sadly, he is too big to fit in either mine or my mother's gowns (is that grammatically correct? I think so, but it seems weird...).

A is making more and more friends, as am I. It gets us out of the house and doing stuff besides looking at the four walls of the house... and I feel less obligated to clean every single day. We've been to the Jackson Outlets, the Point Pleasant Boardwalk, and malls all across Central NJ.

Wow, this boy is growing so fast!

I can't believe the difference only one month makes.

8 weeks later.

I figured I'll keep this thing going, just for my own fun and for Grammi's fun too (HI MOM!). Alex is now 8 weeks old. He smiles for women (even strangers!), but only sometimes for Daddy. He's doing great at holding up his head and has started kicking like a madman. I can't wait for him to get head control just a little bit better to put him in the Jumperoo.

Today, A both LOVED and HATED his mommy. He loves me because he slept like it was his job... that's right, he was "workin' 9 to 5, what a way to make a livin'". At two months, this is really impressive, especially for a breast fed baby! He woke again for a feeding at 7 (which is when I get up to pump, shower, eat, etc), and threw up all over (including up Mommy's nose!). He went to sleep for an hour--just enough time for me to pump and get my hair wet in the shower)--before waking up hungry again. Poor kid! But after eating again at 8, he's sleeping (for now).

Poor, Sweet Mitten

41 week belly

Who knew... I COULD in fact get bigger!

Non Stress Test

The good news is that Feisty is moving around and has a good heartrate. I'm having contractions, probably one every ten minutes or so.

Today's internal--fingertip dilated and about 50% effaced... so sort of backward movement from Monday's internal.

**Sigh**

So on Monday, I'm scheduled for another internal, but that might change so we can get a "Biophysical profile," which will be an ultrasound to see if everything is going ok in there. And that's when we'll talk about inducing.

I guess this kid isn't coming out without medical assistance.

Baby Pool Info

To guess in our baby pool--gender, size, date of birth--go to expectnet.com and enter game name Baby_S_07!

Try this link: BabyPool

We've got progress!!

After waiting for an hour to just get in a room (!!!), the doctor said that I am about 80% effaced and 1-2 cm. Baby's position is -2 (I've never heard of this before, so I'm not really sure what it means...)

If still pregnant, in 3-4 days, I will have a "non stress test."

Come on Baby!

Tried methods of eviction, and a story

So far:
1. Spicy food
2. Walking the mall

A story:

When we sat down at dinner last night, I went straight to the bathroom. M told me that a woman at the next table said (now, our tables were less than a foot apart!):

"When I was pregnant, we had to cover our bellies. These girls today just let their bellies hang out all over the place." (or something along those lines.)

A. I guess she didn't get the notice that I don't care.
B. It's not like I think I'm Rachel Greene or something... NOTHING FITS!!

WTF. I got really poed about it too. Of course he told me after they left, probably knowing that I have this problem of not having a filter on my mouth that has gotten 100x worse in the last few months of pregnancy.

40 weeks!!

It's July 21st... the estimated date of delivery, based on baby's size at ultrasound. July 24 is the EDD based on last menstrual period. Any day now...

39 week appointment

Had an internal today... again, he spoke of membrane stripping when Marc asked how to move things along... He is getting impatient, but the doctor said, "She's only 39 weeks, nothing to be concerned about."

The internal--baby's head is still high, but my cervix is on the softer side... he didn't mention anything about dilation.

39 week belly

Watch out, 3 foot tallers... you'll poke your eye out.

Marc commented that it looks like I've dropped... so did some random waitress at the diner we ate lunch at yesterday....

Holy Crap--single digits

9 days left. Hummana Hummana Hummana....

At my last dr's appointment (Tuesday), the doctor mentioned that he could strip my membranes. Apparently, this would have involved sticking his hand in and removing the membranes that attach the amniotic sac to the uterus. This process may or may not bring on labor within 48 hours and is certainly uncomfortable. I said, um... no thanks.... I think I'll be ok without it.

They will induce at 41 weeks.

He doesn't think I will have any problems delivering and doesn't foresee a C section... keeping our fingers crossed on that one.

13 days left!!

37 week appointment

My weight hasn't changed in a week--hooray!! Blood pressure is still 110/60. He didn't tell me baby's h/r, but said it is good.

This doctor hasn't seen me in a long while, so when he felt my belly he said, "big baby!" When I asked HOW big we're talking, he said, "Oh, I don't know... maybe 7 pounds? But remember, you're very small so it just SEEMS bigger." Ok..... he reassured me that there's nothing to worry about, though.

My first internal--to be sure, not the most pleasant thing in the whole wide world, but I suppose it could have been worse as well. The doctor's response was "Nope, you're not ready yet," to which I replied "Hooray!"

37 week belly pic and some baby room pictures

A woman said to me (actually called across the parking lot, but I guess she was talking to or about me) "Oh there's a little boy in there!!" today. People are so strange when it comes to pregnant women!
Here's our crib:

Close up of the bedding:

Other side of the bedding and the mobile:

36 week pics

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!

35 week appointment

On to weekly appointments! I have my next four scheduled, which will bring me right on up to the due date.

Baby is head down and pretty ready to go. She said they don't do ultrasounds to determine baby's size at this point, but we're measuring right on target for 35 weeks, so he/she is probably about 5 pounds at this point.

My weight dropped by two pounds since my last appointment (not sure how accurate that is...) and my hands are exceptionally swollen. I wake up in the middle of the night with pins and needles in them, as well as when I drive or read in bed. She said it's normal old water retention (which also explains the sausages at the end of my hands) and should go away after the baby is born. she said that since my blood pressure is good and there's no protein in my urine, this is not a sign that I have pre-eclampsia.

Heartrate was in the 130s, and I also had the "Group B Strep Test."

35 weeks

Wow. I can't believe that little ticker over there says only 33 days left... 5 short weeks to put my feet up and get some rest.... 5 short weeks to get the baby's room in order as well as the rest of the house!

The school year is FINALLY ending, so hopefully I will be able to do all that VERY soon!!

Today, we spent most of the day in child care class at the hospital, and yesterday was all day child birth class. I finally learned how to swaddle!! Of course, we also received a magazine that showed us how to do that too, so I guess no need for the course!





For the VERY brave, here are the only bare belly pictures this pregnancy: http://tinyurl.com/2aoax4
http://tinyurl.com/2yxbaq

34 weeks

No, the OB has not said anything about baby's size. I don't know why, but assume that next week when I have an internal exam, I will get some clue as to that. M and I were about the same size at birth, so hopefully Feisty will be about the same and not in the 10 lb range like recent babies we know!!

33 week appointment

Everything is still looking good. Once again, the doctor didn't comment on my weight, although I know she's not happy with my overall weight gain (geez, lady, I'm still within the "normal" weight gain.) Blood pressure is good, and baby's heart rate is 145 ish.

Now, it says a lot when an OBSTETRICIAN'S eyes get really large and she says to you, "Wow, your baby moves a lot!"

Big keeps getting bigger

Slideshow of belly growth

Wow, I used to be so skinny. It's amazing what fun things you can find on the internet!!

32 week belly and butt

For posterity, here is a shot of not only my belly, but also my behind. (which, although my behind is bigger, I still don't look all that pregnant from the back! It's hot, I've been working around the house, and my hair is growing out---hence, I look like poop.

32 weeks

It's looming... as of tomorrow, I will officially be 8 months. YIKES! I had an appointment this morning, and the doctor was very happy with my weight gain over the past three weeks--only 3 pounds! She said my overall gain is a little much (YEAH RIGHT), but that it's good for now. Heartrate was 145-150... I go again in 2 weeks, on the same day as some baby related class at the hospital.

I'll take some belly pics at some point today or tomorrow.

Acid reflux

Mmmmm, a reason to have ice cream every night! Yesterday before lunch, I noticed this weird feeling in what I would imagine is my esophagus... it sort of felt like I when I haven't chewed my food properly. It went away, but then I felt it later again. Everything I've read points to acid reflux rather than heartburn. But, I guess that wive's tale holds true for another pregnancy, since we've already seen that this baby's got a bit of hair.

Other than that, I continue to feel great--my only real complaint in my tailbone, which hurts like the dickens. I sit on a bed pillow all day, which helps, but sitting for long periods makes it really hurt.

I can feel my hormones are raging, which is weird. My brain says "Why are you flying off the handle, self? There's no reason for it" yet so it happens anyway.

M actually said he likes having a pregnant lady around because I don't take $hit. We were at KFC and they had a big sign "If we don't offer you a drink, it's free." So, the woman told us our total, I said I wanted a drink, and then when she put it in as a charge, I said, "Isn't that FREE???" I'm such a witch.

30 week big ole belly

Pardon my looking like poop. Bambino felt like doing the twist last night, so I guess it affected my sleep. Not bothering with makeup anymore probably is a factor too.

Ps--this is the exact same shirt I wore in the 22.5 week shot (March 22) and clearly is no longer long enough.

It's tough to say...

Who exactly does this baby look like? After seeing my baby picture, I thought for sure he/she looks like me. Then seeing M's, I think the nose is all his as a baby. But then I looked at Rachelle's baby pictures side by side with Bambino's and gosh darnit if he/she doesn't look like her.

The funny thing is that none of us have that pout in our baby pictures. But we all know that pouting is all Mommy!!

I hope to take belly pictures today for the 30 week enormousness.

Daddy's pic

28.5 weeks

.
I had a doctor's appointment today. My next appointment is in 3 weeks, then 2 weeks after that... wow---almost at the 30 week mark. She didn't say anything about my weight, although the last time we saw this particular doctor, she seemed pretty serious that I not gain more than X lbs (which is about where I am now). My blood pressure is very good, she said, and Bambino's heart rate was about 140... this kid's heart goes up and down like nobody's business.

So here's the real belly picture, despite my feeling more like the picture in the post below. I think this top makes me look a little bit smaller in the picture...maybe I'll get another 5 of them and wear one every day... God, this haircut just keeps getting worse and worse!

Latest belly pic

3D Ultrasound

At today's ultrasound, we found out the baby has some hair! It's short and spiky, but it's there.
The baby wasn't being cooperative, as is the norm, but I found out that the thing poking in my right side is his/her butt and the thing on my left side is his/her knee. His/head is down near my right hip.

So, here are the pictures we got... many of them are crap, but some of them are pretty good. A link to all the pictures: share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AcOWThi3cNmJJ

And here are the best ones we got:
that junk in front of the face is umbilical cord.You can see his/her eyes are open in this one:



And for fun, here I am in my first few days. We're still waiting on a baby picture of Daddy (they're still at the apartment):

Upcoming events

Today I should be taking my glucose test to determine if I have gestational diabetes. I'm not super concerned since there doesn't seem to be any family history, but I have been eating a bunch of not so great stuff...

After less than a week, the third trimester has already proved to be different than the second. I cannot watch any tv show that is longer than half an hour because I just fall asleep on the couch (and having a kitty purring behind my knees doesn't help that at all either!). I think I need a feedbag because I am on a constant "need to feed" basis. Luckily, we hit the farmer's market the other day so we have plenty of fruits and veggies for snacking.

And of course, the bell bell. Strangers move out of the way of this thing coming. In fact, they are thinking of giving my belly its own zip code. But seriously, people have commented that they often thought of Alien while pregnant, and I have finally hit that stage. Something just rolls across my belly every once in awhile and it's pretty strange to watch.

26.5 weeks

Please excuse my dumb, vacant expression. I was having a really hard time getting myself in the camera frame.

Picture updates

I've been so busy this week, I don't have any belly pictures for you. Heck, I don't even know where the camera is right now!! After a week away from work, I was told that I'm really starting to get big. I still don't think that's true, but I'm definitely bigger than when I was last at work!

Anyway, here are the ultrasound pictures from the fetal EKG test on April 4.
"Babykins" was facing my back for most of the ultrasound. The tech had a hard time getting anything but spine.
The second round, the doctor said Baby was "kissing" his/her knees... all curled up in a ball.The doctor told me at the very beginning that she calls stubborn babies stinkers, and she decided to write it as a memento of the feisty one. You can't see it here, but as this shot was taken, Baby was sticking out his/her tongue.

This one is just too cool. Baby was yawning, and you can see his/her chin, mouth, and nose here.

25 weeks...

I had an appointment on Wednesday. The fetal EKG was done and I got some great pictures of my stubborn, "little stinker." (The doctor's words, not mine!) He/she was facing my back for most of the time, giving the tech a tough time seeing his/her heart. Every time I have an ultrasound, I'm told that my child moves a lot. Huh, I hadn't noticed!!

Anyway, I left the pictures at work, so I'll try to upload them after the 16th.... if our computer is hooked up at the new house yet, that is!

23 weeks.

I think he/she has moved from a dancer to a gymnast.

The other day, I was told that I look huge, both by a coworker and the lady at the nail salon. I wonder if the coworker was just trying to be a bitch... I have to say I think I look pretty small, although I've moved to looking like I swallowed a beach ball!

So here are the pics. It's a beautiful day, so I'm wearing the only maternity shorts in the house and pulling on my shirt

I have a dancing fool in my belly.

I must say I'm surprised my belly isn't blurry. Baby Feisty, as Mom has taken to calling him/her, was kicking like crazy when I took the picture.

You can sort of see my new haircut and highlights here.

The exposure is funky because of the dark shirt--it was hard to see my belly unless I lightened things up.

And the black and blue? Well, that's because I needed a top that was tighter than my work attire.