37 Weeks and Counting

Today I was reminded by a coworker that I need to take another side-view picture of my belly. I've been slacking! Used to be so good at documenting the inflation process... Oh well! Here I am at 37 weeks. My coworker took this picture in the lobby of the building I work in. Face is a little white from the flash, but the non-flash picture turned out blurry. Whadaya do? I guess this is the best my posterity can hope for at this point.

Also, that I went to the doctor this morning. Next week I'll go again--it's WEEKLY now! Still everything is normal. AND I found out that Claire is facing DOWN, which is a good sign, of course. AND I found out that the epidural guys are REALLY good at the hospital I'm delivering...the one who's least experienced has been doing it for 10 years, and one of the "experts" can actually get an epidural up and running in less time than it takes to knock someone out with the happy gas! That's pretty good! AND my doctor said that she's only seen 1 side effect--a spinal headache, that is supposed to occur in like 1 in 500 people--but based on her experience it's like 1 in 1,000.

Ok, and now I have to say that...you know, people keep telling me that I look "so good" pregnant, etc. and I say "yeah yeah" becuase I feel like a whale or a cow or anything huge like that. BUT today at the doctor's office, it was sad----I think I was the ONLY ONE wearing makeup among the girls who were in the waiting room. I was also the only one dressed fairly normal...they were all wearing sweat pants or baggy jeans...basically, "frump-wear." SO, it made me feel a little better, and now I know why people keep saying that I look "good" becuase apparently a lot of women, especially at my stage, have kinda given up... One thing I'm just plain LUCKY with is the fact that I haven't swelled up all over...I can still wear these, my favorite boots: (and was wearing them today--yes, the only one there wearing heels at the doctor's office)

But, hey, I'm wearing them for good reason. These black capris I wore today are for SUMMER. BUT, in the winter, to make them work, you can wear boots with them and they look fine. All in order to make sure I save money on maternity clothes, meaning, wearing the same 4 bottoms with different tops throughout the week. Jordan, honey, you should be proud of all the money I'm saving you :)

Third Trimester Class - Part 2

Jordan and I went to the second half of our "Third Trimester Class" on Saturday, and since I learned SO many new things, I just need to share :) (sorry if I scare you, Ariel...I'll try not to this time...we didn't watch any "gross" videos, so that was good!)

Things I learned:

-The white stuff all over the baby when she comes out, making her look like an alien, is actually this creamy water-resistant barrier so that the baby's skin is protected from the gross amniotic fluid (which is mostly pee that she...well, pees and then drinks right up!) while she's inside of you.

-It's better to tear than have an episiotomy (where they cut you in advance! OUCH. But I totally already knew this one..thanks Mom :)

-I told the teacher that people should bring their own "stuff" into the hospital, since they charge like $25 for each Tylenol they give you. It was funny bc she kinda agreed, but at the same time, she had to say that that is not allowed, and you'd have to "sneak" them in...

-Breastfeeding. All I can say is "good luck" to myself. Apparently, in the beginning you're supposed to do it about 10 times a DAY! And the milk will come in a "supply and demand" basis...so if you want a lot of milk, you have to breast feed a lot, is what she said. Well, since we didn't watch a "gross video" this time, we did have to endure a lot of "breast" pictures...

-There are all of these "holds" for breastfeeding. The cross your body hold, or whatever it's called, the football hold (that's the main one I remember, just because you don't really think of foodball when you're thinking about breastfeeding, right? Maybe guys would, and that's why girls do the job because they are less distracted by sports)

-The whole breastfeeding thing is scary. Painful. Time-consuming. But apparently, a "joy" all at the same time.

-I'm going to need to pump some milk in the beginning when I have tons, so that I can freeze it, and Jordan can do some middle-of-the-night feedings. (the teacher said this is for my sanity, and husband can pull some weight here) BUT, you're not supposed to introduce the bottle until 2-weeks later (and NOT later than that, or the baby won't take it) since the baby needs to get used to breastfeeding naturally, since it is a bit harder than taking a bottle.

-We toured the hospital. Not necessarily a 5-star resort or anything, but there were flat screens in the rooms, at least! Jordan is hoping for one with a jacuzzi so HE can use it. WHATever.

-Postpartum depression...well, let's just hope I'm good.

-They have "carseat patroll" at the hospital. If a mother wants to go home, and doesn't have a carseat in the car for the baby, she totally can't. That seems NORMAL, but it's funny bc they have people go down and check to make sure, inspect the seat, etc.

-You wear a diaper at the hospital...in the first 24 hours. Yeah. And some really pretty "granny panties" too. It's going to be good times!!

The Third Trimester Class

It's that time... Jordan and I went to our first (of 2) "3rd Trimester Class" this morning. VERY informative. And scary. And gross.

Some Things I learned: (just some or this would be very long)

-The baby needs to be upside down and facing toward your back for best results at delivery. If not, they try to turn her bef0rehand, and that can cause BRUISING!

-The baby turns a few times before getting "out"--so if you see your doctor twisting the baby's head after its come out (like if you want to have a mirror there and actually SEE the delivery--not sure I want to, let's be honest) don't FREAK. The body has twisted too. He's not taking your baby's head off.

-Delivery is...well...GUH-ROSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!! I was totally grossed out. (but I heard from Becca that Phil almost puked so I'm not THAT bad :)) And the baby comes out totally white, until they bathe her and she gets some oxygen in her lungs...then there's that pink complexion everyone talks about. But first, yeah, she looks like an alien. But that's okay...she'll be MY alien! (And, since Jordan's mom once told me that Jordan was "the ugliest baby" she'd ever seen, (she had the forceps though) I have hope that if she's UGLY, she may be HOT one day...like Jordan :)

-They must get...well...very NOT-vain women to do these baby delivery videos. Some of them were totally naked!! I was like, "you couldn't at least keep your shirt on??" I wonder how much they PAY them to expose themselves to the whole world. Although, my sister-in-law, Ann-Marie, wisely said that, well, you couldn't care LESS at that point, you're so miserable, AND maybe the camera crew was like, "hey, can we film you," and she was so out of it she didn't care haha...

-I feel much better about the epidural. (Especially after seeing the gross video where the ladies do it the NATURAL way). Firstly, they numb the area with a tiny needle before they jab that humungo one into your spine. I was worried about that. Secondly, the nurse said that nobody gets paralized. (pheww) Thirdly, the most you can have as far as side effects are a spinal headache (if the anestesiologist screws up and hits your spinal tissue--2 in ever 400 epidurals), or tenderness for the rest of your life--ok maybe not that long, but for a little while, in the spot the needle goes in. Apparently at IMC, the hospital I'm delivering at, 90% get epidurals, and 5% would've if they could've--they are the ones that were too late, or the "stop and drop" people that are like fully dialated once they get to the hospital!

-Of the 5% that don't get epidurals, a few of them have "porcelain babies" because they feel like they need to go to the bathroom right when they get to the hospital, haha... the teacher told all of the husbands in the class "DON'T LET HER GO TO THE BATHROOM." Isn't that hilarious?? I can't imagine having my baby in a toilet...

-I really need to milk Jordan for more "pregnancy massages." This is my time. This is my opportunity. I can get massages out of him if I really complain about the aches and pains of pregnancy. I need to remember to ask him more... the teacher showed the guys how to do the best massages in class. That was my favorite part :)

Anyway...informative, gross, and cool all at the same time. Can't wait til next week where we learn about breast feeding...ughhhhh.....I hear that's PAINFUL!!!!!

Uh Oh, It's Happening!!

Yes. I always have my camera on me to capture these important moments :) And yes, I realize I totally look HUGE in this picture, but oh well, I'm pregnant...

My coworker, Dana, told me that when she was pregnant, she would always brush up against things with her tummy, making a constant dirt mark, food stain, etc. on her belly! I figured I wasn't big enough yet for this to happen, but I guess I am!!

I brushed up against printer toner, and...yes, I also, if you look closely, (click on the picture and you'll see it) you can see to the left of it part of the peach I ate earlier today--hope I can get these stains out. Good thing for OxyClean Spray!! (that's the BEST pre-spot I've used btw!)

Oh, and the line underneath the spot...yeah, my garments are belly shirts now...I have to get some tall kinds, because I hear you have to be REALLY BIG to appreciate the maternity variety, and I don't think I'm big enough. Yeah, I purposefully had to wear this shirt that has the rouching up the sides today because then you can't tell so much that I have a belly shirt underneath. Ha!

Birth Order of Children

MATERNITY CLOTHES
1st baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN confirms your pregnancy.

2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.

3rd baby: Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes.

PREPARING FOR BIRTH
Ist baby: You practice your breathing religiously

2nd baby: You don't bother because you remember that last time, breathing didn't do a thing.

3rd baby: You ask for an epidural in your in your eighth month.

THE ONESIES
1st baby: You pre-wash newborn's clothes, color-coordinate them and fold them neatly in the baby's little bureau.

2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard only the ones with the darkest stains.

3rd baby: Boys can wear pink, can't they?

WORRIES
1st baby: At the first sign of distress--a whimper, a frown--you pick up the baby

2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten to wake your firstborn.

3rd baby: You teach your three-year-old how to rewind the mechanical swing.

PACIFIER
1st baby: If the pacifier falls on the floor, you put it away until you can go home and wash and boil it.

2nd baby: When the pacifier falls on the floor, you squirt it off with some juice from the baby's bottle.

3rd baby: You wipe it off on your shirt (if that!) and pop it back in.

DIAPERING
1st baby: You change your baby's diapers every hour, whether they need it or not.

2nd baby: You change their diaper every two to three hours, if needed.

3rd baby: You try to change their diaper before others start to complain about the smell or you see it sagging totheir knees.

ACTIVITIES
1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing, Baby Zoo, Baby Movies an d Baby Story Hour.

2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.

3rd baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaners.

GOING OUT
1st baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call home five times.

2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a number where you can be reached.

3rd baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees blood.

AT HOME
1st baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.

2nd baby: You spend a bit of everyday watching to be sure your older child isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.

3rd baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children

SWALLOWING COINS (a favorite)
1st child: When first child swallows a coin, you rush the child to the hospital and demand x-rays

2nd child: When second child swallows a coin, you carefully watch for the coin to pass.

3rd child: When third child swallows a coin you deduct it from his allowance!

Pregnancy Belly--22 Weeks

I don't know how people document their belly growth weekly...I really don't see that much of a difference in just one week, so I do it, kinda..monthly. Here I am, photo courtesy of my buddy Josh Barnes (the manager of Downeast Home in Draper where I work for like 8 hours a week!) in front of this really weird piece of furniture we just got in...

Again, the object of the photo was to not show any double-chin-age... It's sad nowadays, I mean, my hair looks awful in this picture, but as long as I don't have a double-chin, I'm totally okay with it. That is when you know things are bad!

Anyway, getting fat is fun!! I think I need to eat lunch now... (but don't worry, I brought TOTALLY healthy stuff today)

She's in THERE!!

So I just have to announce that yesterday, I was just sitting at my desk at work, minding my own business, and all of a sudden, I feel two teeny little "flutters" "kicks" or whatever you want to call them, just beneath and to the left of my belly button!! My doctor said that even if it seems like "gas bubbles," it wouldn't be if it's below the belly button--it's the baby, because the "bowels are pushed UP." I also felt a few little flutters that night as I went to bed!! YAY!!!

Now, I know I'll be like "STOP IT!" after a while, once she really starts kicking, but hey, it's exciting NOW!

Pros & Cons to being Pregnant

Just for history's sake, I'm going to write down what I like and dislike about pregnancy. And to "save the best for last" I'm going to put the pros at the end :)

Cons:

-Nausea, vomiting, you name it

-Bloating

-Heartburn

-Having to eat all the time

-Food aversions

-Getting fat (and I'm not just talking about the basketball...)

-Headaches, and not being able to take Ibuprophen

-Having to buy new clothes and not fitting in anything w/out an elastic waist

-Waking up in the middle of the night every hour to pee

-Picking out names with your husband

-Feeling tired/worn out all the time

-Having no energy to do...anything...really...

Pros:

-Having a baby :) of course!! Just the fact that I can GET pregnant is a miracle, and I feel very blessed.

-After you eat a big meal, you don't have to suck in your stomach...in fact, you don't have to suck in your stomach EVER...that's the best.

-The great excuse: "eating for two"--ok I'm not totally overdoing it, but I don't feel quite as guilty about my eating habits as I usually do :)

-Planning the baby's room, crib, etc.

-Picking out names yourself

-Having the excuse to buy new clothes

-Everyone is happy for you and can't wait either

-Baby showers--never had one before, but I'm sure it's fun!

-Seeing the awesome little ultrasound!! Hearing and seeing the heart beat.

-And the ULTIMATE best part: my husband is cleaning out his office :) YAY!!!!--OK fine, this isn't the BEST part (#1 was) but it's still really great... :)

The "It's a Girl!!" Cupcakes

So, my husband just got a snazzy new camera (a cool digital SLR for a screamin' deal) so I had him do a "photo-op" of the cupcakes I made for my coworkers! The cupcakes weren't even THAT cute! But the pictures make them look much cuter, I think :) Oh, and he did have a LOT of fun playing with PhotoShop as well--he loves editing pictures.

They are strawberry with cream cheese frosting--yes, store bought. My from-scratch frosting doesn't quite stack up to Betty Crocker's whipped cream cheese, yummm....

IT'S A GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YAY!!!! I totally wanted a GIRL!!!! So, Friday we went to the ultrasound--I invited, of course, Jordan :) but also invited my mother and father in law, Lenore and Dan, to come and see! The room went dark and the ultrasound tech sat at the above "space age" ultrasound machine--the keyboard glowed white in the dark, it was cool, so I HAD to take a picture! It was great, although, if I were the ultrasound tech, after all the anatomy measuring was done, I'd say...like "drumroll time"...so are you ready to find out if it's a boy or a girl??? It was not like that. I mean, she asked us early on if we wanted to know and of course, since I've been practically unable to focus on ANYTHING else for the past month, I said YES (are you crazy??)... but then when it came time, it was just so "routine..." all the sudden she's like...ok well these three lines mean that it's a girl...totally nonchalant. It was interesting. We were all TOTALLY happy. I wanted a girl--not that I wouldn't have wanted a boy either--a healthy baby is just fine too :) I also have to say that Jordan told me the car later that he kept telling me it was a boy before this, mainly because he likes to get a rise out of me (of course! his main goal in LIFE!) but also so that if it were a boy, he'd be ok with the idea, because he really actually did want a girl TOO!
And she doesn't have a cleft pallet, spinabifita, and whatever else they checked for. They couldn't check for clubbed feet because, well, she was sitting on them. And for a while they couldn't see her face because her face was facing my back, instead of my chest, so that made it hard. Fortunately, she moved! And now, I have these cute pictures. I have to say, they're pretty easy to see--although it was funny--when the ultrasound tech was doing her thing, we were all like "HOW did you get KIDNEY from THAT??" I guess training is a good thing... (ps. I asked the tech if she's ever been wrong about the baby's gender...and she said she didn't know because it's not like people come back and tell her that she was wrong you know? BUT she was VERY SURE, as was the other doctor that came in, that it's a girl!)

Ah, and lest I leave this important piece of information out--the tech said that everyone says they "all look the same" in the womb, at least via the ultrasound, but she said that's not true. She remarked that our little girl looks "very cute" :) So, we're hoping for a CUTE one, or I'm sending her BACK! JUST KIDDING... (this one below is the heartbeat...) Oh, and they gave me a DVD of the whole thing, so pictures are just the beginning...

The prego belly...getting bigger! 17 weeks

So, next week I get to find out if it's a boy or a girl!!!! Here's how "pregnant" I am now:

Jordan's sympathy-pregnant belly

Ok, this is just hilarious--Jordan is VERY GOOD at making his belly appear...well...pregnant :) All of that at like a buck 50. Maybe don't tell him I just posted that...sorry honey ;)

BEFORE:


AFTER:

The Baby Bump...or am I just bloated?

I guess it must be a little of both. Now, for posterity's sake, and my own "looking back" enjoyment, I will tell you about how I'm feeling lately... yuck. That can describe it...You name the symptom, I've had it--to varying degrees. There was a while (fortunately, it's getting better, so this isn't as often) where I would come home from work, and just lay down on the couch ALL EVENING. It was pathetic, and my house was a disaster. (goes to show I'M the one who does the cleaning--sorry honey..hopefully he won't read this entry, but I'm just trying to be truthful) I was craving citrus and salt (but when do I NOT crave salt, may I ask??) because that kept the nausea at bay a little... or maybe citrus and salt just sounded good at the time.













Jordan actually did clean the house a couple of times during those weeks, for which I am truly grateful, even if he doesn't believe me! Now, there haven't been crazy moments like "honey, I know it's 2am, but I need some...pickles and ice cream" or anything like that, but some foods just seem to appeal to me more than others, to be honest. Who knows, maybe later on in my pregant life, I will crave something crazy like olives on cheesecake (makes me want to GAG right now!!! I heard a lady who craved this on babycenter.com. GROSS).

I've only tossed my cookies once, when I didn't eat enough and took my vitamins anyway--BAD idea. I haven't started working out yet, because just being awake and doing something other than lounging on the couch is work out enough for me these days--I know, pathetic! I've also taken two full days in the past few months and SLEPT through the whole of them...I've never done that before. This baby-making is hard work, I guess!

Some foods that always sound good:

*smoothies
*fruit--any kinds, but mostly peaches and oranges
*toast
*crackers & cheese
*yogurt
*potatoes
*steak or pork chops
*Italian: lasagna, pizza, stuffed ravioli

Tonight is a ward dutch oven cook out, and Jordan's doing his dad's chicken and potatoes thing, and that sounds pretty good to me right about now!

Anyway, that sums up my first trimester. It was hard to get a picture in which I don't have a double chin--yeah, it's pathetic--being fat is NO FUN!! This picture was taken by my coworker, Amber. She's great, and helped me kinda get a good picture, even though I had to not smile so I wouldn't have a fat face...

First Doctor's Appointment! 10 Weeks!

So, I had my first doctor's appointment and it was AWESOME!! I didn't know my doctor, but she was great. Her name is Natalie Loewen, and she's just really nice and really smart, of course!

Had I known they would have done an ultrasound, I would have had Jordan come too! But oh well. I have pictures...even though they're a little harder to make out than what I saw on the screen.



So, what the baby REALLY looks like is this:

I also got to hear the little, fast, heartbeat...and to be honest, as the doctor was trying to FIND the baby, I had this sinking feeling that maybe there wasn't even a baby IN THERE! So, I was relieved to actually see that I'm not just a crazy sick person, and that there is a reason why I feel puky all the time! Yay... glad to know there is a baby in there! So, even though you can't make it out too well, it looks like a little kidney bean laying on it's back with the head on the left side, and the feet on the right.


I was also relieved to know that I've only gained like 5 lbs... seriously, I feel like I've gained 50 lbs. so that was good! Guess most of it is air (that's what the doctor said).

Anyway, that's all...next post you'll get to see my stomach, that just won't suck in anymore...

The Good News

Well, if it were up to Jordan, I wouldn't announce this for at least another 6 months, but we have made a compromise (after I did whatever the heck I wanted..which he wasn't too happy about, but...) and I think I'm okay to tell now. Especially now that I have taken 3 tests... (two of which are included as mementos in this post)

I'm 8 weeks pregnant. It has been great to get pregnant, but now I just feel tired and sick all the time. I also can't seem to suck in my stomach anymore, because I'm so full of water and air, I think, and I'm pretty sure I'm getting fat--at least I think, since I can see myself growing an extra chin, but I won't get on the scale) I heard that feeling pukey all the time will pass in a few weeks though. I hope so! Jordan also won't discuss names for a while...since he didn't want to until I'm 8 months along, we have compromised, and we can discuss at 4 months along. I already have a spreadsheet with girl and boy names I like, hehe :)

I definitely feel very blessed to have gotten pregnant so easily. We have really only been trying since December. I have friends and family members that have not been able to get pregnant after trying for years. So, I am very grateful. Jordan and I are very excited...at this point, I think the due date is in the beginning of January--however, I'm hoping that the baby comes early, since I could really use the tax break!