Big Fat Positive

What a surprise!



(a year ago). Yes, one year ago today we got a positive test. I had been feeling different for a couple of days, and John was running out to get something and I said, hey get a pregnancy test too. He just causually said Ok, we had taken a lot of pregnancy tests over the past year. He came home, and I quickly used it (I really had to go!) and it almost immediately said "pregnant." I called "John...." And he knew immediately. I didn't believe it and took another one right away, and then we got more and I took another one the next day. I was pregnant! And here we are a year later, and our baby is 4 months old! We've come a long way!

We went for a walk today for the first time...it's been so cold. I finally decided he was old enough and the day was reasonably warm (45) so we went all bundled up!



He fell asleep pretty quickly.


And yesterday was Jack's first Ash Wednesday!

38 weeks

The baby is now as long as a leek, about 19 1/2 inches and weighs about 7 lbs. Our midwife told us the baby was about 7 lbs yesterday too, just from feeling my belly. I'm also positive for Group B strep, a fairly common, but harmless infection with no symptoms. Harmless to me, but not the baby, so I have to have IV antibiotics during labor. That stinks. But, lots of women have it, and it's no big deal I guess. I'm 3-4 cm dilated and 80% effaced. So I'm still making progress, but haven't felt any contractions.

We had chinese for lunch today at work, and my fortune was interesting....it said "A pleasant surprise is coming to you tonight." Hmmmm...

30 years old.

Ok so that was a little ridiculous. But, John was taping it using our new Kodak Zi6, a little tiny video camera for taping baby stuff! We practiced by taping my mom, Aunt Karen, Uncle Doug, Alex and Jillian singing happy birthday. No one should ever be video taped while being sung to, you just look silly!

That was Sunday, we all went to lunch for my birthday. My actual birthday, today, was TERRIBLE! I have developed pregnancy induced carpal tunnel, and it was in full force today. My hands have been numb, and my wrists hurting all day. I was very uncomfortable most of the work day, and I'm just ready to quit! All kinds of crappy things happened today, but I'll spare you all the details...it was just the worst birthday ever. Fitting for 30, I guess.

We are having the kitchen painted tomorrow though, hopefully that will make everything seem better!

37 weeks

I'm full term today!



The baby is as long as swiss chard, about 19 inches, head to heel. I know, swiss chard doesn't seem big enough to come after the melons, but whatever! The baby weighs about 6 1/2 lbs. Being full term means that the baby is fully developed, lungs and all, and can be born at any time!

At my 36 week appointment, my midwife did an internal exam, and I'm already 3 cm dilated and 70% effaced. That is good news, because it means my body is getting ready, but it does NOT mean I will have the baby soon. I could, but I could also stay 3 cm dilated for 3 more weeks, easy. So, no one is to assume I'm going to have the baby early! I probably won't have any more internal exams until labor starts, either. Speaking of labor, I haven't had any contractions at all, so I think I'm safe right now.

We've done all the baby laundry, we've put together the pack n play, swing, bouncer, and we are going to Babies R Us to make some final purchases this weekend. The nursery is closer to being finished, we just need a cushion for our rocker, that Nana is making for us. We also need to get the car seat installed, asap.

Scary stuff!

Almost forgot to mention that I'm sick, again. I have had a cold every 10 weeks, since I was 17 weeks pregnant. That sucks. This one is much more mild than the other 2 though, which is VERY good. I need to get over it soon, because I don't want to be sick when I go into labor, nor when I have a newborn to take care of!

36 weeks

Name that fruit...



Did you guess crenshaw melon? I hate it when I have no idea what the fruit/vegetable is! But I guess a crenshaw melon is a LARGE melon. It weighs about 6 lbs, just like the baby at 36 weeks! The baby is safe to be born in the Alternative Birthing Center today, which is fantastic! No more labor and delivery worries, unless something happens during labor. Now I just have to hope the baby is born before 42 weeks ;). I think the baby has dropped into my pelvis at least a little bit, because I have virtually no heartburn anymore. I don't notice anything physically different about my belly, though. My feet, on the other hand are very different. Swollen...they are crazy looking! Not much is happening with the baby at this point, he/she's just gaining weight, about 1 ounce a day.

Here's a picture of me at 35 weeks.



Here's our last Tiger game of the season...which they won. Me and my seat cushion. Only me and the 80 year old men bring seat cushions. But, it works GREAT!!



Happy 5th birthday to Jillian!



And Jillian hugging the baby.



John and I were just thinking how much happiness this baby is going to bring so many people, and it's just amazing to us how loved Baby Murray is already!

35 weeks

They baby is now the size of a honeydew melon, about 5 1/4 lbs, and about 18 inches long. No wonder I'm so uncomfortable! Most of the baby's physical development is complete, the next few weeks he/she'll be putting on weight.

I can't believe there are only 5 weeks left! We just ordered our diapers, now we have to start washing everything! It's getting scary! I will have to take a new picture soon, it seems like I got a lot bigger just the other day!

34 weeks

At 34 weeks, the baby is about the size of a cantaloupe, between 4 3/4 and 5 lbs. The baby's fat layers — which will help regulate body temperature once he/she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. The baby's skin is also smoother than ever. The central nervous system is maturing and the lungs are continuing to mature as well. Babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies. That's kind of scary that I really could have my baby at any time. I'm counting on at least 2 more weeks though!

6 weeks left....and with the possibilty of 2 weeks left, we have 2 diapers. Looks like I need to place an order!

John and I took a last minute trip to Palm Springs, California this week. We decided on Thursday night we were going and left Sunday morning, and came back Wednesday night. John was there on business and I went just for fun. We are really glad we went, it was a nice vacation before the baby comes! Palm Springs is in the middle of the desert, so it was hot hot hot! But, dry, so it was very comfortable! I pretty much just laid around the pool while John was busy. We met up with my cousin Katie on Tuesday and it was great to see her! I took most of my pictures on my underwater camera, and it's film, so I don't have those to post.

We saw windmills everywhere in the desert on our drive from the airport to the hotel.


Here is our view from our hotel room!


Here are some photos of the pools at the resort and views from the pool area.








And here's my belly.

33 weeks

Wow, time is flying. I'll be full term in 4 weeks. I can have my baby at the alternative birthing center safely in 3 weeks. Ok, lets not think about that anymore.



And the baby is as large as a pineapple, about 4 lbs.

The baby is rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in the skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

My book says I might start "nesting" soon. Yeah, right. I wish. I do keep waiting for this crazy desire to clean to happen, but it doesn't. It also says I should make food and freeze it for when the baby comes. Seriously? I can barely cook for myself right now, much less cook for myself a few months down the road.

I'm having bad pain that I think is my sciatic nerve. It's different every day, some days I can barely walk (that makes work really difficult) and other days I don't feel it at all.

I got my diaper bag, and I just love it! I never thought I'd be excited about a diaper bag. But, I have always loved purses, and this will be my purse for the next couple of years.




I'm dressed up in that photo, because we were on our way to our debt free dinner celebration! Yes, John and I are free of credit card debt. We thought it might never happen, and thankfully it did happen now, because with a baby, it may have never happened. We have a great respect for credit cards now, and we will NEVER fall into that trap again.

We babysat Marcel for a short time the other night, and lets just say we aren't ready for a baby that walks yet. Thank goodness they just lay there at first. Walking babies are stressful!

32 weeks and 4 years

Thursday was a big day this week. I'm 32 weeks pregnant, and John and I had our 4 year anniversary. We spent our anniversary at work, and a 3 hour hypnobirthing class. Fun! John did come take me out to lunch though.



That is a jicama...and that is the size of the baby this week. I had no idea what a jicama was, but I guess it's like a Mexican potato. A big potato, because the baby is supposed to weigh about 3.75 lbs.

The baby is taking up a lot of space in my uterus. I'm supposed to be gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to the baby. In fact, the baby gain a third to half of it's birth weight during the next 7 weeks as it fattens up for survival outside the womb. He/she now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). The skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

I'm pretty miserable a lot of the time now. I'm uncomfortable in nearly any position, except standing and that makes me tired. The baby's bottom (I think) really hits me in the ribs, a LOT, and it drives me crazy. I can't eat as much anymore, because my stomach is so crowded, but it doesn't mean I'm not hungry. Work is rough. Putting socks and shoes on is rough. Forget about bending over. I make this noise sometimes if I bend over to pick something up, and John comes running, just to find out all I was doing was bending.

My brother in law Greg turned 30 on Monday, and I don't really like that, because it's means I'm almost 30 too. Although, having a baby makes 30 not seem as bad as it once did.

I forgot to add this last week...here's me at 31 weeks.

31 weeks and shower pictures

I know, I know, late again. I'm just so tired at night!

Only 9 weeks to go! That is incredible!



This week, the baby measures over 16 inches long and weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He/she can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his/her skin.

This is what the baby looks like around 31 weeks.



We met with a doctor this week, instead of our midwife, just because that is how they do things, and he thought everything looked great! The big news is that he could feel the baby, and he could tell where all the parts were, and our baby is head down, just like it should be! He was a little concerned about my weight gain that week, but I have no explanation, I'm not eating differently or anything.

Here's some pictures from the shower.

Tables and place settings. The napkins are folded like diapers and the my mom made the baby shoe favors filled with runts.





Here's the gift table, my mom made the banner that says "Welcome Baby Murray"





The food! Tea sandwiches, scones, fruit, cupcakes!







Working on the crafts...Rachel organized a quilt, and everyone made a square that she will put together. People drew a vegetable if they think it's a boy and a fruit if they think it's a girl. Then we decorated onesies with fabric paint and stamps.





Here are some of the finished onesies, I made the one that says "Daddy's little Tiger"




Me and Jill, she's due in the middle of December.



Jillian helping me open gifts.


Me and my sister in laws....and Marcel!

30 weeks

Sorry for the late post, Thursdays are rough right now because we have our 3 hour hypnobirthing class on Thursdays. Friday I was just exhausted from a long week at work, and came home and fell asleep.

So, at 30 weeks, the baby is the weight of a cabbage, about 3 pounds.



The baby is about 15.7 inches long now. His/her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after he/she's born, it's eyes will stay closed for a good part of the day. When he/she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means the baby can only make out objects a few inches from his/her face.

We had our baby shower, and it was great!! Thanks to my mom and everyone that helped out! We had a lot of fun, and got a lot of really nice gifts! I will post pictures later, my camera battery died, so I need to get my mom's pictures.

I had a little scare after the shower. Sunday night, I realized I hadn't felt the baby move at all. Monday morning, I didn't feel the baby move. We called our midwife and they told us to come in. I had to leave work early, and it was really scary! Of course, once we got there, the stinker started moving like crazy. So, everything was fine.

I also experienced some crazy bad right hip pain this week. I could barely walk, stand or sit! Thank goodness that didn't last more than one evening.

My cousin Katie is moving to LA this week, and we are having a little going away breakfast tomorrow morning. We will really miss Katie, but hopefully not too long after baby Murray is born, she will be back for a visit!

29 weeks

The baby is now the weight of a butternut squash, about 2 1/2 lbs and about 15 inches long. I'd think it would weigh more than that, seeing that I've gained 26 lbs!

The nursery has been an ongoing project....the painting is just about done. Big thanks to my mother in law Kathy, my father in law John, my mom, Christine and our friend Matt for all their help painting. Especially Kathy, who has been here all week it seems like!

Here's a before photo. Yes, that is high gloss, fake knotty pine paneling. It is VERY ugly. And VERY difficult to paint.



Here are some in progress painting photos:





I will post more as it starts looking like a nursery!

We had our first hypnobirthing class tonight and we really enjoyed it! It was 3 hours, but they flew by! We have 4 more classes.

Sara asked about the cloth diaper class we had a while back. It was good, we were there a long time...it was a lot I already knew from researching online, but it was nice to actually see and feel them in person. We are definitely using cloth, for many reasons:

It's better for the environment, even with the energy used to wash the diapers, the energy and water needed to make disposables is way more. Disposable diapers take 500 years to decompose. Even the so-called enviromentally friendly diapers, like G-diaper liners that get thrown away, are in a trash bag that does not allow decomposition. For them to decompose faster, they must be exposed to air. Also, human waste should NOT be thrown into the trash. It even states that on disposable diaper packaging. The poop should be dumped in the toilet. Human waste should not be in landfills, as it will contaminate the water supply. Gross. So, if I have to scrape poop anyway, why not use cloth?

Cloth diapers are cheaper. This was our main motivation. Disposables are expensive.

Cloth is way better for the baby. Disposables are full of chemicals. FULL. They took a toxic chemcial out of tampons because of toxic shock syndrome, but it is still used in disposable diapers. I don't want my baby sitting in chemicals constantly. And, would you rather wear cotton underwear, or plastic? They have got to be more comfortable in cloth.

And, last, fluffy butts in cloth diapers are so darn cute!

My shower is Sunday and I just can't believe it! Time is going sooo fast! October 30 will be here before we know it.