32 weeks - Infant Massage Class & Memorial Day Weekend!

Howdy everyone!

32 weeks!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend! I love this holiday - always a great time to enjoy spring. James and I hosted a BBQ get-together last night, with amazing burgers and wonderful company! Even several of our neighbors came over, we had quite a crowd.

This evening, James and I went to an Infant Massage class at the hospital. There were about 4 pregnant couples, and we all practiced on fake dolls. It was a little cheesy, but we learned some good techniques! There are sooo many positive effects from practicing infant massage. It promotes bonding with mom & dad, helps the infant to feel safe and loved when touched, and can help with gas/constipation problems. Our teacher talked about how we can start massage the day our baby is born, and continue as long as our growing child enjoys it. A full baby massage (arms & hands, legs & feet, chest, back, and head & face) takes about 30 minutes. If the baby enjoys baths, afterwards is a great time for a relaxing massage. We learned a special massage if the baby is fussy with gas or constipation, which is a great tool to have when the occasion arises!

On Thursday, I had another appointment with my doctor (at this point, we have appointments every other week!), and things continue to look really good! She was supportive of my desire to have a natural birth, but said that it's policy to induce labor (using the drug Pitocin) if the pregnancy extends beyond 42 weeks. That gives me until August 6th... hopefully Zoie isn't that late!

In other news, we get to have another ultrasound at 36 weeks! Since Zoie measured a little on the small side at the last ultrasound (which put her into the 33rd percentile, a bit below average), my doctor said it's routine to take her measurements again at 36 weeks. My doctor did mention that since I'm not even in the average 50th percentile, it's normal for my baby to be a little smaller.

Here's our girl at 32 weeks of development:


How far along are you? 32 weeks along today - only 8 more weeks to go! Only 56 days!
 
How big is Baby? Baby girl is now about 3.75lb, and measures about 16.7 inches long! She might be a little shorter though. She feels HUGE in my belly!

Weight Gain? After our delicious BBQ yesterday (and a 1/2lb cheddar-stuffed burger...) my weight this morning was 148.6! That means my weight gain is about 17 pounds. Whew.

Gender? Our little Zoie Elizabeth is a girl!

Maternity Clothes? All the time! And I'm finally ready for summer... I found maternity shorts! I ordered a zillion shorts from OldNavy.com, and there were two winners among the bunch (mailed the rest back). Now if only my spider-veins would go away, I would enjoy wearing them just a teenie bit more...

Sleep? Sleep has continued to be pretty good! My hips get sore from sleeping on my side, but the pillow-between-the-knees trick relieves most of the pressure. I can't wait to sleep on my back again!

Movement? Lots of movement! My doctor said right now through 36 weeks is when Zoie will be the most active during the pregnancy. I'm so curious as to what she's doing when she's flailing around in my belly - the sensations can be very weird!

Food Cravings? I was craving a really good hamburger last week, and yesterday I got my fix! James makes the most amazing burgers with sharp cheddar stuffed inside. SO GOOD! Other than that, fruit has continued to be delicious. Mangoes, strawberries, grapes, lemonade... can't get enough!

Labor Signs? Nothing that I noticed this week.

Belly Button in or out? The out-poking seems to have plateaued a bit. Hopefully it stays this way!

What I miss? Definitely missing my old body a little more. As my belly grows bigger, my abdominal muscles pull apart (my doctor said it's called diastatis). Sitting up, shifting around, and changing positions are all much more difficult! I'm starting to wonder how I'll ever push out a baby if my abs feel so weak. Perhaps I should try more ab exercises, but it's so discouraging when it feels like your muscles simply don't work.

Best moment(s) of the week? So many awesome things this week! James' sister had her baby boy on Wednesday, and he's the cutest! We can't wait to meet him. This weekend was wonderful, because James had Friday and Monday off. Friday night, we saw The Great Gatsby! Highly recommend it, we both really enjoyed it. We spent Saturday in Kansas City, doing a little shopping and exploring. I swear, the whole city smells like smoked meat! Monday, we had several of James' coworkers and our neighbors over for a good ol' American BBQ party.

What I am looking forward to? Tomorrow James has his Daddy Basics class at the hospital (we're taking a lot of baby-prep classes if you haven't noticed! Haha), so I'm looking forward to hearing about it! This weekend, we get to see some Army friends and their new baby girl as they road-trip to Colorado. Wow, next week will begin JUNE. In June, we can say (with fingers crossed) that we're having a baby next month!

Cheers,

Martha

31 weeks - Breastfeeding class & Update on Zoie's room!

Hey everyone!

31 weeks!

Another week has gone by, and it's been HOT here in Kansas. In the 90's! Luckily, the past few days we've had a break from the heat by enjoying some rain, thunderstorms, and tornado warnings. We even slept in our basement one night when we were under tornado watch! Thankfully, the storm passed, and all is well. At least we got a fantastic lightening show! We don't get cloud-to-cloud lightening much in the Northwest, so for me it was a real treat!

On Saturday morning, James and I went to another class at the hospital: Breastfeeding Basics! I was a little skeptical since it was 3 hours long, but it was awesome! Even James enjoyed it. I mean, the whole concept is pretty fascinating. The science behind how milk is made and released, the hormones involved, and the way a woman's body creates exactly the right type of milk for her baby blows my mind! Did you know that during the hot summer months, a woman's milk will contain a higher water content to make up for the baby's perspiration?

Our teacher also gave us some good information regarding breast milk storage and bottle-feeding. I definitely plan on pumping and storing some milk to let James feed Zoie with a bottle, and to give myself a flexible schedule when friends and family take care of her. Guidelines for safe milk storage? Fresh milk can last 4-6 hours at room temperature, 3-8 days in the refrigerator, or about 6-12 months in the freezer (if kept super cold). Once your baby has started to drink from a bottle, she up to 2 hours to finish or the milk needs to be thrown away. If you're pumping a little bit at a time over several hours (the "leftovers" after feedings), you can combine these portions as long as you cool them separately in the fridge before mixing. Our teacher did warn us about pumping too much though (especially pumping out a daily "feeding" in addition to what the baby eats), because we can trick our brains into overproducing milk. There's a fine balance between collecting some extra and becoming a milk factory!

I'm excited to use our Comotomo Natural Feel bottles with Zoie! We've been calling them boobie bottles. I hope she likes them!

In other news, we've been making some good progress on Zoie's room! Walls are painted, curtains are hung, and details are starting to fall into place! Stay tuned, I'll add pictures tomorrow when I can take some daylight photos.

--- New photos! ---

Zoie's Room!

Thonet style Bentwood rocking chair

Play area next to Zoie's bed

Cloth diapers & inserts on right, wipes & some disposables on the left

 Large bin for cloth diaper laundry, small bin for wipes & liners

This little girl will be well-dressed :)

Bassinet co-sleeper for the early months - it fits into bed with us!

Maya wrap, diaper bag, and Boba 3G carrier

Photos of me & James

We're going to add an acrylic mirror (17 times more resistant to shattering than glass!) above her cube shelving unit so she can play with her reflection once she can pull herself up. We also need to add a little more artwork and photos to her walls, and perhaps a mobile above the rocking chair. Maybe cute alphabet cards lining the walls along the ceiling? Also, James' mom picked up one of these pink IKEA lamps for us during her visit in Maryland - it's going to look so cute on Zoie's dresser! One of our last nursery items to purchase is a Foscam video monitor. It's a surveillance camera with night-vision, 2-way audio, and pan/tilt control. Best of all, we can set up secure remote viewing via the internet! Babycam on my iPhone? Yes please! James could even see Zoie while he's at work if she's playing/sleeping in her room. Also, it's about half the price (even 1/3 the price!) of many baby video monitors.

Our little girl is growing fast, only 9 more weeks until we get to meet her! Here's her latest development at 31 weeks.



How far along are you? 31 weeks! Almost exactly 2 months until her due date!
 
How big is Baby? Zoie should be a little over 16 inches long, and weigh about 3.3lb (she feels heavier every day!). I can't imagine her being a whole 8lb by the end of the next two months...

Weight Gain? Morning weight today was 146.8lb, which was my exact weight last Tuesday! Weird...

Gender? GIRL!

Maternity Clothes? All the time, except a few regular tops. My workout clothes still fit decently. I just ordered a ton of maternity shorts (hopefully some fit, and I'll mail back the rest!), because I just realized not a SINGLE store in my city sells maternity clothes!

Sleep? Sleep has gotten a lot better this week! We got our air conditioning fixed on Friday (apparently we had a burned out wire in our AC unit), which has made life so much better. Also, the itchy rash that has plagued me the past 4 weeks has been disappearing! I hardly itch at all now. I can't pinpoint the solution, but I started using Neosporin colloidal oatmeal cream about a week ago. It actually soothed the itching sensation, and probably gave my skin enough time to heal! I'm SO HAPPY to not have itchy skin anymore!

Movement? She still moves all the time! It amazes me how high in my abdomen she kicks. Sometimes it tickles, sometimes it actually kind of hurts. She gets the hiccups pretty regularly!

Food Cravings? I've been craving a really really good hamburger. I've already had two this last week, but they weren't good enough! No seasoning, not juicy... not satisfying! I need James to make me one of his famous cheese-stuffed burgers. Mmmm....

Labor Signs? I'm almost positive I felt a Braxton-Hicks contraction on Friday as I was driving home! I felt my abdomen muscles tighten and cramp for about 30-45 seconds, and then the feeling disappeared. It didn't hurt, but it felt weird.

Belly Button in or out? It's poking out a little more, and a little more... Nothing extreme yet, thankfully!

What I miss? We're headed to Kansas City this weekend... I sure wish I could have some beer with my BBQ and a cocktail at a jazz club!

Best moment(s) of the week? I've enjoyed going on long walks every morning before it gets too hot during the day - just me, my puppy, and my audiobook! This sunny weather has been gorgeous. We've gotten together with a few friends, went to the farmers market, tried a new restaurant, and got some work done around the house. It's been a nice relaxing week.

What I am looking forward to? Tomorrow our new baby nephew makes his way into this world! I'm so excited for my sister-in-law! We wish her all the best :) Also, this weekend is Memorial Day weekend! James and I are going to drive over to Kansas City and do a little exploring.


Cheers,

Martha

30 weeks - Back to Kansas, good to be home.

Thirty weeks!!! No longer in the twenty-somethings... THIRTY!

30 weeks!

There are only 70 days until Zoie's due date! We're growing more and more excited about actually having a baby to hold in our arms. It was fun to come home on Wednesday night and hang up a dozen new outfits (all in varying sizes, it's perfect!) that our friends and family gave us on my trip. We also had a couple gifts arrive at our house, including our Baby Jogger City Mini stroller!! We got it in blue and gray, and we love it! We're so blessed by generous family.

The world of baby products is mind-boggling. It's something you don't really think about until you start prepping for your own baby to arrive, and then you suddenly have a million decisions to make regarding convenience, safety, budget, and personal taste. To anyone out there who hasn't discovered Amazon's universal baby registry, it's a very helpful tool for keeping track of the gear you need!

We're at the final stages of having all the essential baby supplies for Zoie! It feels good to be prepared well in advance. Dresser, rocking chair, bassinet, floor-bed (instead of a crib), baby tub & towels, cloth diapers & wipes & diaper pail, changing pad, breast-pump & bottles, diaper bag, baby slings/carriers, high chair, stroller, and a car seat on the way! Many more things, but those are the bulk of the items. Whew. Babies are expensive.

Our next task is to finish the nursery. I need to sew some curtains (and decide on fabric/color), find a cute lamp (we'll use a low-light bulb for nighttime diaper changes), and get some artwork and photos up on the walls. Perhaps an area rug as well? I'm convinced that adorable area rugs don't exist in baby-soft material. They're all stiff and scratchy!

Here's our girl at 30 weeks development:



How far along are you? 30 weeks! Only 8 more weeks until she's considered "full term", and 10 more weeks until we want her to arrive!
 
How big is Baby? Our Zoie is about 15.7 inches long, and weighs almost 3lb. Can you believe she's swimming in about a pint and a half of amniotic fluid? No wonder my belly feels huge!

Weight Gain? My mid-morning weight was 146.8 pounds - I've officially gained about 15 pounds. According to most sources, healthy normal women should gain about 25-35lb during pregnancy. If I continue to gain about 1 pound per week (1/2 of that pound will be Zoie's growing body!), I'll be right at 25lb for total weight gain. My diet has been high in meat, dairy, and vegetables (I sometimes try to limit my chocolate and treats!), so hopefully I'm growing Zoie the best I can. My exercise at this point is mostly long walks (sometimes jogs - the belly isn't impeding my comfort too much yet) and staying active with my puppy, working on house/lawn projects, cleaning, etc... and sometimes pregnancy workout videos!

Gender? Baby girl :)

Maternity Clothes? Yep, all the time. I'm on the hunt for cute comfortable maternity shorts! For shorts, I much prefer a demi-panel (the soft waistband that hugs below your belly) instead of the kind that stretches over your belly (way too hot!).

Sleep? I think it has begun... restless nights are starting to become normal. Between my itchy rash, only being able to sleep on my right side (Zoie almost always sits on my left side, so she tickles my ribs if I squash her by laying on my left!), and the rising temperature in our house (I don't think our air conditioner works very well...), sleep is not going well!

Movement? My gosh, she's a crazy active little girl. More often than not, she's shifting limbs around (which tickles and almost takes my breath away!) instead of just kicking. She has also been hiccuping more often, which is actually helpful to figure out her body positioning.

Food Cravings? Chocolate has been favorite in the past week. I even made brownies from scratch, they're so good!

Labor Signs? Nope, nothing yet.

Belly Button in or out? Definitely poking out a bit, maybe like 1cm. If my button gets too out-of-belly, I'm going to strap it down with some tape or a band-aid!

What I miss? I miss not having itchy skin. Especially now that it's getting hot outside. I've been trying every cream and remedy! They offer some relief, but if this is PUPPPs, this rash won't go away until after Zoie is born.

Best moment(s) of the week? Lots of awesome moments! My favorite was stepping off the plane on Wednesday and seeing James waiting for me (literally - it's that small of an airport!). Coming home to a clean house and a fresh bouquet of flowers was pretty awesome too! We also spent a wonderful Saturday with James' parents to celebrate Mother's Day - saw the new Iron Man 3 and went out to dinner at Harry's (one of the nicest/best restaurants in town!). James even got me a little present for my first almost-Mother's Day :)

What I am looking forward to? Well, I'm going to "Military Spouse Appreciation" Bingo on Friday night! (Hehe, how cheesy does that sound?) And on Saturday morning, James and I are going to a breastfeeding class at the hospital (okay, he's not exactly looking forward to it...). It's 3 hours long, so hopefully it's worthwhile. Also, next week, my sister-in-law in Maryland is going to have a baby! We're SO excited to see pictures and Skype with our new baby nephew! I can't wait to hold our babies together, they'll be cousins only two months apart!


Cheers,

Martha

29 weeks - Bumpin' out!

Hi everyone!

29 weeks!

These past two weeks have been busy for Zoie. It feels like she has doubled in size! Even my parents and friends are surprised at my size difference during my 2 week trip here in the Northwest. Some of the regular clothes I had packed in my suitcase no longer cover my tummy, so I'm glad I packed every maternity item I own.

Zoie's movement seems to be getting more and more intense! She's putting pressure on my bladder, which gives me constant mini-sensations of having to pee while she's squirming around. If I give into the sensation, my trip to the restroom is disappointingly unproductive. Since her movement is so strong, it's been fun letting her kick the hands of my friends and family! I can only imagine how full of life she's going to be once she's born.

This week, Zoie is putting more fat onto her little body. Her muscles and lungs are continuing to develop, and her hearing has improved greatly! She definitely responds to noisy situations - like the movie we saw last night at our local theater, she was squirming and shifting around the whole time! Her bones are also hardening, so it's important for me to get enough calcium. Here in third trimester, her bones are taking in about 250 milligrams of calcium each day! Luckily, I love drinking milk :) Go ahead Zoie, I have plenty of calcium for the two of us!

Here's our little girl's development at 29 weeks:



How far along are you? 29 weeks - wow, only 77 days until her due date!
 
How big is Baby? Zoie should be just over 15 inches long, and weighs about 2.5lb - about the size of a butternut squash!

Weight Gain? My morning weight was 146. Every week I'm gaining something! Weight gain = 14.5 pounds.

Gender? GIRL!

Maternity Clothes? Yep, mostly all maternity clothes (a few regular shirts still work) - I need to find some maternity shorts and skirts quick! It's going to be hot soon. I could use my BeBand with my regular shorts (and I probably will) but it's not as convenient or comfy.

Sleep? Sleep has still been pretty good. Sometimes I wake up and start to itch my rash (belly, back, legs, arms...), and it's hard to stop itching and fall asleep again!

Movement? Still tons of movement! I can tell she's getting bigger, she's kicking higher and higher in my abdomen and low by my hips. She stuck a foot (I think) into my ribs when I was slouching the other day, it definitely made me sit up straight for a while!

Food Cravings? Mango has been especially delicious. I've rediscovered how amazing the flavor is! Anyone try the new Tootsie Pop flavor wild mango berry? It's incredible. I wish I could buy a huge bag of JUST that flavor!

Labor Signs? Nothing in this last week. It makes me wonder, was that really a Braxton-Hicks contraction I felt two weeks ago?

Belly Button in or out? It has been noted that my slowly-protruding belly button can be felt when people touch the belly! Who knows how far it'll go...

What I miss? I miss not having to be careful about lifting heavy things. This dang hernia! I would be happy to sling a heavy carry-on over my shoulder when I travel home to Kansas, but anything over 25lb could worsen the tear.

Best moment(s) of the week? Spending the weekend in Vancouver BC with some of my best college buddies was so much fun! We had beautiful weather, explored the city and enjoyed some amazing food, and supported our friends running the half-marathon on Sunday. I had missed my friends so much!

What I am looking forward to? Seeing my husband and puppy back home in Kansas! It's been a wonderful, refreshing, much-needed trip to visit my friends and family, but it'll be very nice to be back in my home with my hubby :)

Cheers,

Martha

28 weeks - Feeling quite pregnant...

Hey all!

28 weeks!

I think this week is the turning point. I finally look pregnant all the time! The belly has shape-shifted into more of a bump, instead of an awkward pooch. It's especially bump-like when I'm sitting down, making a great place to rest my cup or mug. Welcome to third-trimester :)

Third trimester has arrived with a growing list of awkward pregnancy symptoms. In the last two weeks, I've developed an itchy bumpy rash all over my belly, thighs, and backside (I'll ask my doctor, but I'm pretty sure I have PUPPPS). It's pretty annoying, but it's nothing serious and it should go away after Zoie is born.

However, I'm still extremely thankful that I completely skipped morning sickness! My grandma told me recently that she didn't experience morning sickness with any of her 4 babies, and my mother didn't experience any morning sickness with her three. Hooray for good genes!

Another awkward symptom is early lactation... It's really time to buy some nursing pads. I had an embarrassing moment yesterday at the coffee shop - thank goodness I was wearing a black shirt!

Lastly, I've been dealing with a hernia. I woke up a few weeks ago with an olive-sized lump on my groin (omg, do I have cancer?), and my doctor said I have a hernia! Simply a bit of muscle that is stretched and torn, which allows part of my intestines to poke through. Pretty weird, huh? Apparently it's not uncommon during pregnancy. It doesn't hurt, but sometimes it feels a little sensitive. The worst part is that I'm not supposed to lift anything over 25lb... easier said than done! Well actually, the worst part is that I'll need a small surgical procedure to repair the hernia after Zoie is born. Boooo...

Anyways, my trip here in the Northwest has been wonderful. I've been fortunate to visit lots of cool places, see tons of my friends, and enjoy time with my parents. Not to mention, we've been spoiled with sunshine! This weekend I'm headed up to Vancouver BC with some of my best buds from college, I can't wait!

At 28 weeks of development, Zoie might look like this:



How far along are you? 28 weeks (thus begins my third trimester!)
 
How big is Baby? Little Zoie is growing SO fast. From now until 35 weeks, she'll be gaining almost 1 ounce per day (28 grams). Today she should be right about 2 and 1/4 pounds. She's about 14.8 inches long, though I'm guessing she's a bit shorter.

Weight Gain? I weigh about 145. These are numbers I've never seen before! This is weird! (But not weird at the same time...) Weight gain = 13.5 pounds

Gender? We're having a girl!

Maternity Clothes? I've definitely switched to mostly all maternity clothes. Except coats, sweatshirts, sweats... My regular clothes just aren't long enough! Even if they stretch over the belly, my regular shirts proudly display my waistband.

Sleep? It's not quite the same without my hubby... but sleeping in my old bed in my high school bedroom is kinda fun. I'm still sleeping pretty well throughout the night.

Movement? Lots of movement! My friends and parents have all been able to feel her move, it's so fun! It's becoming easier to press my hand into my abdomen and feel actual limbs move, which is a pretty weird sensation. Just the other night, I felt her hiccuping for the first time! Funny little rhythmic jumps in my belly.

Food Cravings? Still enjoying all food, but the best food (beverage) all week? Masala Chai during dinner at my favorite Indian restaurant - with unlimited refills! I think I drank several pints of the sweet spicy creamy goodness.

Labor Signs? Nope, nothing this week. I saw the TINIEST baby the other day, whose mama said she was born more than 4 weeks early! Poor baby! I feel inclined to remind Zoie to STAY IN THERE!!!

Belly Button in or out? Not terribly different from last week, but it's continuing to look strange. It looks like a tiny nose poking out of my belly.

What I miss? I miss my husband! And my puppy. It's a little sad being away for 16 days while he's back at home - I sooo wish he could be here enjoying the Northwest with me.

Best moment(s) of the week? I had a great time at my baby shower on Sunday! My girls here organized a little get-together to celebrate Zoie, and afterwards we went to a Mariners game (which we won - yay!).

What I am looking forward to? It's been such a fun week with my friends and family. Tulip fields, glass art exhibit, Seattle Center, farmers market, shopping, restaurants, Mariners game... we've done so much! I'm looking forward to another busy & exciting week before I return to Kansas.

Cheers,

Martha

27 weeks - Hello Seattle!

27 weeks!

I’ve arrived in the great Northwest, and it feels so good to be back! Green trees, crisp mountains, beautiful beaches... it's wonderful. Sunny blue skies are a treat, since it was snowing in Kansas when I left this morning! 

Next week will begin our third trimester in pregnancy. Zoie will be here (hopefully!) 3 months from today! Only three short months to finish prepping for our baby to arrive. Wow.

James and I finished painting the nursery this weekend, and it's really coming together! The walls are now a pretty aqua blue color. Once I sew some curtains (coral and white), I'll post some photos of the room.

In other baby news, I passed my Glucose Screening Test! Thankfully, my body rocks at processing sugar. It's kind of a funny test that involves 12 hours of fasting, a tall cup of syrupy fruit punch, and 3 blood draws. I celebrated not having gestational diabetes by going home and enjoying carbs :)

This week was also our second class at the hospital - Infant CPR! It was actually kind of lame, and it focused more on common-sense first aid for children. However, I will not forget - if an infant has no pulse and isn't breathing, perform 30 chest compressions (using two fingers) and 2 breaths! At least having this bit of emergency training makes me feel more prepared to be a mom. I still feel like I should have a license or something to be a parent - there's so much to learn!

Here's an update on Zoie's 27th week development:

How far along are you? 27 weeks today. These weeks are suddenly flying by!
 
How big is Baby? Zoie should be close to 2lb, similar to a head of cauliflower. She’s about 14.5 inches long from head to heel (though I think she spends most of her time scrunched up in a ball).

Weight Gain? My current weight is about 143, so that’s 11.5 pounds gained over the last 27 weeks. Sometimes I make James pick me up just to reassure me I’m not an elephant yet…

Gender? Zoie Elizabeth is a GIRL!

Maternity Clothes? I’ve packed all my maternity items for my trip to Seattle! It’s hard to predict my body change for the next two weeks, so I want to make sure I have lots of comfy clothes. Of course, I’ll enjoy some shopping while I’m here…

Sleep? Sleep is ok, but getting a little more tricky. I’m definitely experiencing more pregnancy symptoms. My head gets congested every single night when I lay down, which turns me into an awkward mouth-breather if Kleenex isn’t doing the trick. Also, sometimes I wake up with mild leg cramps! These just happened in the last week or two.

Movement? Her movement is so funny! Sometimes it tickles (i.e., the spot right above my hip, usually if I’m lying on my side). She’s getting so big that I can feel her entire body move when my hand is on my belly. She has periods of crazy activity and periods of sleep, but I can’t figure out if she has a schedule.

Food Cravings? Milk, dairy, cheese, and anything creamy.

Labor Signs? I think I might have had a Braxton Hicks contraction! I’m not really sure. It was on the plane, so I was a little cramped anyways. I felt my lower back muscles tense up for a few moments, and then release.

Belly Button in or out? It’s continuing to look strange as it stretches and pushes outward. I had an in-betweenie belly button anyways, so it might pop out more than those lucky women with true innie belly buttons!

What I miss? I do miss my old body. I don’t mind my new shape, but pregnancy does strange things! I have random skin rashes and dry patches, just discovered some spider veins yesterday, and my legs are a bit swollen around my knees. It’s painful if I sit back on my heels from kneeling, because the skin/muscle around my knees feel pinched! It’s SO weird.

Best moment(s) of the week? Today! It was SOO good to see my parents and some of my best friends. We all have much more catching up to do over the next two weeks!

What I am looking forward to? Spending time with my parents and my friends! I can’t wait to walk around Seattle, hit up Pike Place Market and my favorite shopping areas, visit the blooming tulip fields, go to a Mariners Game, watch a dance performance, eat at my favorite pizzeria, and visit the first Spring farmers market.

 Cheers,

Martha

26 weeks - Childbirth class and ultrasound!

Hello everyone!

26 weeks!

James and I had a couple of exciting events this week - another ultrasound and our first baby-prep class at the hospital! We've also had a lot of fun going to an orchestra performance and enjoying a fancy Casino Royale themed fundraiser party.

It was wonderful to see baby Zoie last night. My new clinic didn't have any measurements from my Alabama ultrasound, so they wanted to do their own anatomy scan (oh, darn!). Her anatomy looks perfect again, and we could see so much more detail in her body. Her heart, stomach, kidneys, bones... it's amazing to see everything in a baby less than 2 pounds. She wasn't as active this time, but instead cozily curled into ball trying to suck her fingers. We even saw her little mouth open and close, and she stuck her tongue out!

The ultrasound technician said her weight was on track, but her measurements are a little small for 26 weeks. It's possible her due date could be a week later. Who knows though, maybe she's just a smaller baby? Or she'll hit her growth spurt later? (I'm hoping for smaller baby come July!)

On Saturday, James and I went to the hospital to take our Childbirth Education class. It was 4 hours, and concluded with another tour of the Birth & Women's Center. We actually learned quite a bit from the class, the best of which included massage and breathing/relaxation techniques. I could've fallen asleep when James practiced his newly-learned hand massage...

The class also confirmed my desire to have a drug-free birth. Our instructor (also a nurse) personally had natural childbirths, and really talked up the advantages of not being tied to the bed during labor. We practiced different ways to use the exercise ball (or birthing ball, as they call it!) to relieve pain as you're progressing through labor. Sitting, swaying, hanging over the ball on the bed... there are all sorts of positions! The bed itself can incline into a sitting position, and has a bar you can hang onto to put yourself into a squat position. Not to mention easing contractions in the hot tub! I love the freedom and choices, all of which will be available to me as long as I don't take drugs...

Here's a few photos of our little Zo Bo!

Zoie's little face and hand by her head.

She's got some muscle on those baby legs!

And here's her estimated development at 26 weeks:




How far along are you? 26 weeks today (I'm sticking with my original due date!)
 
How big is Baby? She was measured at 1 pound 11oz yesterday! BabyCenter.com suggests 1.68 pounds, so she's exactly on track with weight.

Weight Gain? My weight today is 142.6 - about 11 pounds so far.

Gender? GIRL!

Maternity Clothes? A few more regular shirts ended up in the 130 box this week. They just don't look cute anymore on my bigger middle! Loving my maternity jeans and more generous tops.

Sleep? I don't think I've gone a single night without having to pee at like 3am. I try to move softly so I don't wake up Zoie, because her kicking gets really distracting from sleep! It seems that she sleeps during the night until I wake up in the morning to take Brownie outside (if it's my turn, haha), and when I crawl back into bed to snuggle with James, Zoie begins her morning aerobics!

Movement? She still moves all the time! We learned yesterday that the placenta is attached at the top of my uterus, so that might explain why most of the movement I feel is down lower in my abdomen.

Food Cravings? Dairy has been especially delicious, but still loving all food!

Labor Signs? Nothing yet. I wonder when I'll feel my first Braxton-Hicks contraction?

Belly Button in or out? I finally took out my belly button piercing, because my stretching skin was starting to make it feel sensitive. The inner part of my belly button is starting to peek out! A few more weeks and it might actually protrude... Oh boy.

What I miss? I miss being able to rely on clothes. We got all dressed up for the James Bond themed fundraiser on Saturday night, and the dress I had planned to wear did NOT look flattering. So I ended up wearing this blingin' gold sequin dress I bought for last Halloween (it was a size too big, so now it fit my belly perfectly!). To my surprise, I got like 5 compliments on my "beautiful dress" - it was $20 from Ross!

Best moment(s) of the week? The Childbirth Education class and Casino Royale night were my favorites. I love meeting new people and feeling more involved with my community!

What I am looking forward to? One week from today I'll be in the Northwest! YESS! That also gives me more incentive to finish some current house projects (painting, sewing curtains, building shelves...) before I leave. I'm also looking forward to taking an Infant CPR class with James this Thursday evening!

Cheers,

Martha