Kim

Baby, You are Hitting on Some Nerves!

Oh sweet babe, you have definitely hit your stride with your growth!  Welcome to 34 weeks!

We are approximately 6 weeks away from the babe's arrival, which is absolutely insane, and I can definitely tell that this babe is growing like crazy.  Each morning when I wake up, I feel a little bit bigger than the night before.  Also, as a result of this growth spurt, he has started pressing on some nerves in my hips.  For a while it was mostly my right hip, and it would come and go.  Since this past weekend though, it has been my left lower back/hip...and is pretty much constant.  It is not very comfortable when I walk or sleep, but I'm making it.  The right hip still comes and goes too, so if you see me walking really funny, that is why.  I feel like such an old lady!  Some nights I sleep pretty well, but other nights I bet I wake up no less than 10 times.  And not all of those times are to use the loo...most of them are just because something is aching.  It's alright though...as I said before, I've made it pretty far before having to deal with these types of things, so I am still trying hard not to complain too much :)

Here's proof of the growth!
34 weeks!
According to the weekly email, he is about 18 inches long now.  He is squirming all the time and I definitely can tell when he is stretching out.  My entire stomach moves like silly putty.  It is pretty amusing.  I still love feeling him move around.  I honestly don't think I'd mind one bit if he moved all the time.  The countdown is on though.  I go to the doctor next week, and I think I will start going every week after that.  I am definitely getting to the point where I am ready to just meet this little guy!  I know that having him here will be challenging and bring new worries and woes, but I am ready for that next step.  Let's do this, already!  I also am aware that while I say that and fully mean it right now, I am really going to be saying that in another month or so when things are really uncomfortable. What a journey this is!

Christmas has come and gone, and we continue to be blessed beyond measure.  We had a fantastic time with both of our families and received so many sweet and thoughtful gifts.  The babe had a great Christmas, himself.  I think we really do have pretty much everything we need now.  There are a few odds and ends that I am going to get using gift cards we received, but if he came tomorrow, I think we'd be ok.  (That is not an actual invitation to come tomorrow though, sweet babe, regardless of what I might say, I know you need a little more cooking.)

I have no idea what we're going to do for New Years this weekend.  It will be sort of amazing if I actually stay awake until midnight, but I'm certainly going to try.  It is New Years after all!  Also, because of the holiday, I have Monday off of work.  I'm hoping to get some more things done in the nursery.  I am almost done decorating, but there are just a couple of things I need to complete.  Hopefully, I'll do that this weekend.  Not to mention that I need to take down my Christmas decorations this weekend too.  That is always so sad, but it must be done. This year, I am actually ready to take them down...time to start preparing for the next big event...the babe's arrival!

Oh, and one last piece of (not at all) exciting news...the day after Christmas our washing machine decided to die.  Yes, it just quit halfway through the cycle - full of water, of course.  Granted, it was an old machine - we actually inherited it when we bought our house - but it had been doing so well. I am glad it went ahead and did this now though instead of in February.  Matt is off of work this week, so we picked out a new washer and he went and bought it Tuesday.  It was delivered and installed today. 

We're now the proud owners of a washer that is high efficiency/energy efficient.  Supposedly, it will save us LOADS of money on our water and electricity bill...lol.  We'll see.  Regardless, as long as it cleans our clothes, I will be happy.  And of course, we had just bought new laundry detergent, including that fancy baby detergent that costs half an arm and leg, and now we can't use it because we have to use the HE stuff.  Luckily, we have lots of friends who are also having babies right now, so at least I can pass it along and know it will not go to waste.  I'm actually kind of excited to wash a load of laundry tonight, just to see how it does.  It is sort of ridiculous to be excited about laundry, isn't it?  I doubt the feeling will last.

I can't believe that 2011 is almost over.  Matt and I were talking last night about all the excitement that 2012 promises to bring.  2011 has been a great year, but I have a sneaking suspicion that 2012 might just top it!  Here's to the new year!
Kim

Merry Christmas!

It is hard to believe that Christmas is this week!  It has been 60 degrees here for most of December this year and doesn't quite feel like Christmas outside.  Regardless, the holiday is almost here.  Crazy.  This past weekend I was determined to get all of my Christmas shopping done on Saturday.  I was not going to quit until I had everything I needed.  I shopped from 11:30am to almost 5:30pm and let me tell you, I was EXHAUSTED, but I did get it all done.  By Saturday evening I was feeling like maybe I had overdone it just a little bit.  Needless to say, I went to bed early.  It is nice to not have to worry about shopping at all this week though.  Our office is closed Friday, so I am really glad for the short week.  We'll head to my sister's on Saturday for Christmas Eve and be with the Richardsons on Christmas Day, so it should be a great weekend.  We are lucky that we get to see both of our families. 

Oh, here's our Christmas card from this year, now that most everyone should have received their's in the mail...

And the back...

We had to do something to commemorate the coming of the babe (and make sure Fisher got some attention).  I got the idea for the front online...and Photoshop allows you to work a lot of magic with pictures!

Tuesday, I was officially 33 weeks!  I went to the doctor Monday and things are still looking great.  It was one of those appointments where you spend more time waiting on the doctor than you do actually seeing her, but I guess that is a good thing because it means nothing is wrong.  The babe's heartbeat is 144, which is great, and he was still squirming away from the doppler each time they'd find his heartbeat, like he seems to always do.  I have noticed my hands starting to swell just a little bit this week while I am sitting at my desk, but I've found if I increase the amount of water I'm drinking that usually helps.  My blood pressure was still really good, so they said there's nothing to worry about.  It's just part of being 33 weeks pregnant.  The babe should be over 4 pounds now and about the size of a pineapple.  He is still moving around a lot, and I can definitely tell I am getting bigger by the day!  I have had two people at work tell me that I am definitely "looking pregnant" now. Haha.  I'm trying hard to take it all in good stride and stay focused on end goal...a healthy, strong babe, but it is hard sometimes.  And I am thankful that I am just now (at 33 weeks), getting to the point where I feel so pregnant.  It happens much earlier for some.  I really can't complain, so I will try hard not to. 

I've gotten some more work done in the nursery.  I've hung the mobile and put some pictures on the walls (pictures to come a little later).  Also, we did get the bookcase from Matt's house.  It needs a fresh coat of paint, but it really does look great in the room.  Things are starting to come together.  We received an early Christmas present in the mail yesterday - our stroller!  I love it and can't wait to see the babe riding around in it.  It has an infant carseat adapter that we'll use when the babe first gets here, but this picture is just of the stroller.  Matt snapped it as we were taking it out of the box.  His Facebook caption was something along the lines of, "Nesting - a green stroller in the green room."  :)
It's light and easy to maneuver and fold, and it got a lot of great reviews, both online and from friends, so here's hoping that it works as well in reality!

Alright, here's the 33 week picture.  And no, I don't actually wear the same outfit every night, I've just started putting it on for the pictures because I think it makes the growth all the more evident.  Also, did I mention I ate a basketball for breakfast?  :)
P.S. I usually take these pictures on Monday or Tuesday, but I didn't get around to taking this one until Friday...so technically, I am about 33.5 weeks in it!

We are getting so excited to meet this little guy.  Approximately 7 weeks to go!
Kim

32 Weeks!

Oh my.  32 weeks.  Do you realize that means we have only roughly 8 to go?! 

We finally ordered our rocking chair this past weekend.  I've been going back and forth and around and around as to which one I wanted, but I kept coming back to the same one, so I decided it was time to just get it!  It was sort of a wake-up call when they told me that it will probably take 8 weeks to come in, and I realized that that is precisely when the babe is due to arrive!  Time is moving along quickly!  I'm excited about our chair though.  We got something neutral that could fit in the nursery, but also will fit in our den.  Everyone keeps telling me that I am actually going to want it in the den, so at the moment, that is our plan for it.  I figure if we put it there and I find myself wishing it was in the nursery, I'll just move it.  Also, it frees up some space in the nursery, so now I am feeling definite about a bookshelf.  Matt's mom has one in Matt's old room at their house that I'd really like to use if it fits.  I just need to go by and check it out.  Even though I've seen it a thousand times, I've never really paid attention to the size of it.  Hopefully, it will work.

As for the babe himself, he is still growing.  This morning is the first morning I woke up and actually felt really pregnant.  I'm still sleeping ok, but my hips are starting to ache in the middle of the night.  I am trying hard to lay on my left side because that is what they recommend for the best blood-flow for the babe and myself, but naturally, I like laying on my right side...and with the added weight of the babe, I think trying to lay on one side all night is making things a little achey. I did finally put an extra pillow between my legs and that seemed to help, so here's hoping that keeps working.  All-in-all though, I know I can't complain.  I've made it pretty far without any major discomforts. 

The babe is still wiggling around.  I know things are tight in there for him, and most of his movements are still wave-like instead of hard punches, but most of them can been seen from outside my stomach now and they are firm waves, far from the flutters I felt early on.  It is a bit like there is a small alien inside of me :)  I don't mind one bit though.  Even right now as I type this, he is wiggling...my stomach looks lopsided - he must have his behind or legs or something curled up on my left side.  He goes back and forth though. Sometimes he's on the left and sometimes on the right.  Occasionally, he'll be pressed right up against the outside and you can feel something really hard through my stomach. I always assume it is one of his little (big!) feet or maybe his bottom.  Who knows, though?  And a few times I have felt his limbs in my right rib.  He usually moves pretty quickly though.  I guess that isn't too comfortable for him either!  Also, he's started getting the hiccups.  People always talk about that, but I never knew what to expect it to feel like.  I'm pretty certain that is what I'm feeling though because occasionally there are these rhythmic little thumps that go on for a few minutes and then stop.  I'd say he gets the hiccups at least once a day.  It's pretty funny to feel them and to imagine him in there all cozy, hiccuping. 

Being at 32 weeks is a bit of an awkward time because it feels so close - like I need to get everything ready RIGHT NOW.  But also, technically, we're still two months out, so I have time...and need to save some things to keep me occupied during that time.  I don't know.  I'm trying to do a little each night without overdoing it.  But let's be honest, I know myself and I'll probably have most of it done sooner rather than later. That's just the way I work - I start to get extra anxious if I don't have things done a little early.  :)

According to the weekly email, the babe is looking a lot more like an actual baby now, with toenails, fingernails, and hair.  Also, he's started to gain weight and put some meat on those tiny bones.  He should be just under 4 pounds and over 16.7 inches long.  I'm supposedly gaining about a pound a week now and the babe is gaining about half of that, so he's really going to grow, grow, grow in these next two months.  So crazy to think about!

Here are two 32 weeks pictures.  Fisher really wanted to be a part of what I was doing so I had to add the second one.  I thought it was too cute.  So, what do you think?  Definitely bigger, right?

32 weeks!


She always wants to be a part of everything!

Also, Christmas is less than two weeks away.  Can't wait to show your our Christmas card picture, but I'm still waiting on them to come in so I don't want to spoil the surprise just yet!
Kim

Shower the people you love with love...

...and let them shower you, too!  This past weekend was my shower here in town!  December has been a big month around here - very busy with a lot of fun things going on.  My good friends, Emily, Allison, Caroline (who is also my awesome sis-in-law) and Sarah hosted this shower at the Kyle House.  It was another great afternoon of love and friends.  We really are surrounded by so much love, and it amazing to see it all!  The house was beautiful, and the girls definitely spared no details.  We ate delicious food, played some fun games and celebrated the babe.  Henry got a lot more presents, including some pretty amazing handmade gifts that we will certainly cherish.  He also got a lot of things that he needs, and it was so fun to go home and start sorting though it all.  I have some work ahead of me as I figure out where to put everything and how I want to organize his room.  It is amazing how much space such tiny things can take up!  I've got some ideas floating around in my head, and I think I just need to start executing them.  It's about time, right?
With the beautiful table and cake

Sis, Cathy and Barbara enjoying themselves.

Lots of gifts!

They thought of so many sweet details!

Me & Natalie

The spectacular hostesses!

Playing a game.

Opening presents

Having so much fun!

A very sweet handmade blanket
Can't wait to see the babe bouncing in this fun toy!

Almost the whole crew - see, Henry, you are so very blessed already!

All the opened gifts!
Kim

A picture is worth a thousand words...

I finally have some pictures from the shower at my sister's house.  SUCH a fun time!
Awesome diaper cake that Aunt ReRe made!

With Catherine, Elisa and Carolyn!

Playing a game - Carolyn estimated the size of my belly almost exactly!

ReRe and Cous


With Cous and Sis and the pretty table.

Even Maggie and Ashley made it!

So much good food.

Sis, Maddie, Audrey, Mom and Me - Henry, there are going to be a lot of important women in your life!
Kim

You are getting verrrry sleeeeeppppy...

It was a bit crazy today when I opened my weekly email about the babe's development and saw the "weeks to go" number in the single digits.  "9 weeks to go."  Wowzers.  Technically, tomorrow is two months exactly from my official due date of February 7.  Now, I know the liklihood of him coming on that day is slim, but still...pretty crazy stuff.  According to the email, the babe is now over 16 inches long and weighs over 3lbs.  I went to the doctor yesterday and everything looked good.  His heartbeat is great - even though he kept squirming away from the doppler each time she'd find it!  But we got to hear it loud and clear, and it is exactly in the normal range, so that is exactly what we want.  I am still measuring small from the outside, but honestly, I think that is just the way it is going to be.  The doctor wasn't worried because the ultrasound was so good a few weeks ago, but she did say that I'd probably get another ultrasound in a few weeks just to be sure again.  I honestly have no worries about it.  I feel him squirming all the time, his heart rate is great, and in that last ultrasound he was actually measuring a little bigger than normal.  I think I'm just going to measure small.  Chalk it up to my size and all the ballet and pilates in my past. 

This weekend was my first baby shower.  It was at my sister's house and could not have been more perfect!  I don't have many pictures yet because I was too busy enjoying everything to take them with my own camera, but I am hoping to get some from my sister and aunt and will post them when I do.  It was such a fun afternoon though.  Just like with my wedding, my absolute favorite part of these things is having so many people I love, from so many different parts of my life, all together at one time.  It is just so fun and amazing.  And the babe got LOTS of stuff.  It is pretty incredible to think about how loved he already is.  He is one blessed little boy.  Another really neat thing that they did was instead of everyone bringing a card, my sister asked that they bring a children's book instead.  How fun is it that Henry now has his very own beginnings of a sweet library with some very special books, all inscribed with messages from people who love him?!  It is awesome.  I cannot wait to read all of the books to him. It is also amazing to walk by the nursery now and see things in his room besides some empty furniture.  It makes it all the more real that there really is a little person on the way to meet us in just a few short months!

This coming weekend is my shower here in town.  I know it is going to be awesome and overwhelming all over again.  I cannot wait.  I just cannot say enough how blessed we truly are.  One thing I have been feeling these past few weeks is an overwhelming feeling of gratitude and thankfulness for God's faithfulness and all that He has given us.  There are so many things that have fallen into place in this last month and so many people who love us and the little babe so dearly that it is hard for me to even fathom it when I really think about it.  I am getting so excited to meet this little babe and have him here with us.  He has no idea what he is in for, and I can't wait until we get to show him!

On a random/funny note...check out these pictures:

Sorry it's blurry...I had to take it with my phone.

Great get-up, right?
Each year, our church holds a special Christmas service called the Love Feast.  It began as a traditional Moravian service and somewhere along the history of time, the Methodists adapted it.  It is a really pretty service of carols and candlelight and during the service you are served buns and coffee.  This year, Matt and I signed up to help serve.  Part of serving involves wearing the very stylish garb you see here.  I felt like a pregnant pilgrim...haha!  But we had a great time, and all the other servers (there were 12 of us, I think) are dressed the same way.  Don't we look great, though?

Anyways, as for the title of this post...the fatigue has definitely returned.  It is different from the first trimester exhaustion in a way that is hard to explain, but is definitely there.  By 10pm every night I am falling asleep on the couch, and if I don't go to bed by 11pm (so that I get about 8 hours of sleep), I am DEAD the next day.  The day of my shower we got up early to drive to my sister's house and by the time we returned that evening, I seriously felt like I had run a marathon.  I was asleep on the couch by 8:30pm.  It is kind of ridiculous.  But I know I should enjoy my sleep now while I can get it, so I am.  Otherwise, I really feel great. I have noticed that I am starting to get "winded" a little more easily, but it is nothing severe.  And the babe's movements are still comforting and not painful.  He definitely wiggles a lot, but I love it.  Aside from the copious trips to the loo, I haven't had any trouble sleeping yet either.  So again, no complaints.  Let's just hope the next two months are as smooth. 

Here's to 31 weeks!

31 weeks!  9 more to go (approximately...)!

Kim

10 Weeks to Go!

Holy moly - it sounds crazy when I put it like that, doesn't it?  10 weeks to go?!  In some ways that seems like so long, and yet it also seems so close.  Sounds colloquial, but it's the truth.  Each week brings more and more anticipation for the babe's arrival.  I am not ready for him to come quite yet (he's got some more "cooking" to do in there), but I am so ready to meet him and find out who he is and what he's going to be like.  We finally got our dresser for the nursery, so now it is starting to look more like an actual room rather than just an empty space with a crib in it.  No decorations yet, but as soon as I get the bedding, I will begin the accessorizing process.  The dresser looks great and was worth all the hassle it took to get it.  Here's a photo I took with my phone.  The wall color is off in this one, but you can get the general idea of the furniture at least...
The dresser is going to double as our changing table too.  It is nice and big and sturdy, so I think that is going to work well.  The only other major piece of furniture left to get is our rocking chair.  I'm on the lookout, but I know we have some time, so I am trying not to rush.  Some good friends of ours who just had their first babe last March suggested that I save some things to do in the last month to keep me busy.  I know it is good advice, but I can't make any promises.  What if he comes early or something?  I need to make sure everything is ready, right?  :)  I promise I will do my best to save some things though.  I know come mid-January, I will be glad I did. 

In other non-nursery news, I have my first baby shower this weekend!  It is at my sister's house, and I am so excited.  There will be many family members and good friends there, and I can't wait to see everyone!  I know it is going to be a great time.  Plus, of course it will be fun to get some things for the babe!  Also, in an effort to help my nieces give up their pacis, my sister has been telling them that they have to give them to baby Henry so that he can use them since they are "big girls" now.  Well, this weekend is supposed to be the momentous gift-giving, so we'll see how that goes.  I think she got them a box to put them in and everything.  I know we will all make a big deal about it, let's just hope they're feeling generous!  You never know with 2.5 year olds. 

Also, it is hard to believe, but Thanksgiving has come and gone.  We had a great weekend at Bald Head with Matt's family. The weather could not have been any prettier, and we had a delicious Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings.  You can bet that as soon as we got home, I got out the Christmas decorations and our tree is up and looks beautiful!  Christmas decorations just make the house feel so warm and cheerful.  I love them, and I love having them up as long as possible.  I might start listening to Christmas music in July, but I am pretty firm in my belief that the house shouldn't be decorated until after Thanksgiving.  Once that passes though...game on!  I've started my Christmas shopping as well - but have only accomplished a little bit of it.  Technically, tomorrow is the first day of December, but with all the things we have going on this month, I just know Christmas will be here before we know it.  I am trying to stay ahead of the curve. 

Isn't she lovely? Oh, and apparently I took this photo before I put the tree skirt on...don't worry, she's not so naked in real life!
As for the babe, he is definitely still growing.  Some days he is super active and other days he's not.  I always feel him some during the day, but his dance parties definitely come in spurts.  And he's moved on from kickboxing to doing the wave and lots of swim moves.  Instead of little jabs, it now feels like he is moonwalking across my insides.  Still nothing painful - his movements are just much more fluid and pronounced.  I know the more he grows, the less room he'll have in there.  And I still love feeling him move.  That is by far my favorite part of pregnancy.  It so reassuring to feel him and encouraging to know that he is getting stronger with each passing day. 

And here's this week's obligatory belly shot.  Matt and I both agreed that my stomach has gotten more "pointy" in this 30th week.  What do you think?

Kim

Taking a Shower...

One more thing I forgot to add last night that definitely deserves mention on the ol' blog...

Over dinner the other night, my sister, aunt and uncle were talking about my upcoming baby shower that they are hosting at my sister's house.  My sweet neice, Audrey, piped in and said, "Kimmie's baby is coming to take a shower at my house!"

How funny is that?!  I love the literal interpretations of 2.5-year-olds!
Kim

Nursery Progress

Just one short note about the nursery - we are making progress!  We have a crib that is put together and a crib mattress in the crib.  The dresser should be in any time in the next week, and this past weekend my dad came and painted!  It looks so great.  I can't wait to get the bedding and see how it all looks together.  I took this picture with my phone so it isn't great, but the color is an aqua blue color.  It is bright, but Matt even said he likes it, so I know it is not too bright. :) Thanks, dad for all the help.  It was so awesome to come home to a painted room!

Currently, the crib is just sitting in the middle of the room. 
I haven't decided which wall it will go on yet.  So pretty though, right?
Kim

We See You!

Today we got to see our babe again!  It was so fun, and I am so glad that we got that opportunity.  The reason we got to have another ultrasound was because I was measuring a little small from the outside.  Well, it turns out our babe is actually a little bigger than normal!  He is in the 63rd percentile for his weight/size at this point, which the doctor said is perfect.  He's just above average, but not so big that we should be worried (or think about moving my due date).  He is currently head down, but he's scrunched up, laying almost in an L-shape, with his legs over under my right ribs.  I believe it, because that is where I have felt most all of his kicks lately.  He had both of his hands up by his head and his feet kept moving as she was moving the ultrasound wand over them.  Maybe he is ticklish? :)  Oh and speaking of those feet - they are big!  Wonder if that means he's going to be tall?  He definitely has the genes for it. And his head is a bit bigger than average - which is no surprise to us either!  Matt doesn't exactly have a little head and that is something we have joked about all along.  I'm sure he'll grow into it, just like his daddy, but it was funny to hear her say that.  Because he was so scrunched up the sonograms are kind of hard to make out, but here are two of the pictures.  In the first you are looking at his face on the right - he still looks slightly alien-ish (but super cute, of course).  The second is a picture of one of his big feet!  Go Heels!


Everything looks perfect, which is exactly what we wanted to hear.  It is just so amazing to see him. Matt and I both agreed that this was the best appointment so far. 

They also estimate that he weighs about 3 pounds now.  I'm 29 weeks (well, tomorrow, technically), so we are into the third trimester and moving along. Things are getting more and more exciting with each passing week.  He will be here before we know it!


29 weeks!

Kim

3rd Trimester

It is hard to believe it, but we have made it to 28 weeks and the start of the third trimester!  According to my weekly email, the babe is probably 2 1/4 pounds and measures almost 15 inches.  Also, he can blink his eyes and might be able to sense light that filters in through the womb.  Pretty crazy stuff.  But very, very cool.  Time is starting to move much more quickly now.  Honestly, I felt like most of the second trimester crawled by.   It seems like forever ago that we started the second trimester and started telling everyone that we were pregnant.  Also, it took me until at least halfway into the second trimester to really look pregnant.  Now there is definitely no hiding it, which is kinda fun because people notice and I get to be "proud" to be pregnant.  Not that I wasn't before...it's just that when no one can really tell, it isn't as much fun.  Time is already moving faster.  I have a feeling that November and December are going to fly by and then January is going to drag, but we shall see.  I literally have something going on every weekend between now and mid-December (including 2 baby showers!), so that is a lot of fun, and a lot of things to look forward to.  Christmas is going to be here before we know it.

We're starting to make some real progress on the nursery - sort of.  Dad is coming to paint it this weekend, and we have the crib (we just haven't put it together yet.)  The dresser (which is a whole different story itself because it arrived broken, then our second online order got cancelled and now we are waiting and hoping that the third works out - all signs point to yes so far) should come in the 7-14 days.  I know I want a rocker and of course we need to get the bedding and such, but I am going to wait to get the crib and dresser up to see how much space is left for anything else furniture-wise (I am thinking maybe a bookshelf of some sort if space allows).  It is all very exciting and very real.  I am getting to the point now where I am just ready to meet the babe!  I know he needs to "cook" a little longer and definitely don't want him to actually come yet, but Matt and I talk all the time wondering who he is going to be.  He is still moving around a lot, and I still love feeling all his movements in there.  Needless to say, this week has been a much better week than last week. 

We're still going to our birth classes.  We actually only have one more.  Next week we get to tour the hospital, which is something I am really looking forward to.  It will be nice to know where we'll be.  Classes haven't been too bad.  We really have learned a lot.  The videos have been interesting...I think they all were filmed in 1990...those babies are probably in their 20s now...but they haven't been too bad.  I was expecting a lot worse, honestly.  And we've learned a lot about the signs of labor and what to expect and methods to deal with the contractions and the ways they generally do things at our hospital - so all-in-all I'd say it has been time well spent.

Anyways, I think the babe has had a growth spurt this week.  Oh, and my belly button has definitely popped out.  I sort of miss my "innie."  Haha. 

Here's to the third trimester!!
Kim

Oh, What a Week this Was

Oh, what a week this was.  No worries, nothing bad really happened, but it has been a week of emotional ups and downs, and I am glad it is coming to a close!  I started out the week on Monday with a doctor's appointment.  This was a check-up and then I had to do the glucose screening test.  The check-up went well - the babe's heartbeat is good and everything looked fine.  The doctor did note that I am measuring a little bit small, but she said that with my size, and this being my first pregnancy, and with the fact that I had such strong ab muscles to begin with (oh yeah!), my insides just probably aren't expanding as quickly.  Nothing to worry about - so I wasn't worried.  She did schedule an ultrasound for my November 21st appointment just to make sure, but she kept reassuring me that I really shouldn't be worried.  I am a small person and it isn't out of the ordinary for people my size to measure a little small.  Great, no problem.  Mostly, I am just excited that we get to see the babe again in just over a week!  Matt will come with me for that appointment, so it will be really fun.  Plus, we get to confirm that the babe is really a boy.  Even though there was no doubt the first time, it will be nice to see him again and make sure!


Now, on to the glucose screening.  For this test you drink a big cup of really sweet, syrupy orange soda (or at least that is the flavor mine was).  Then you wait an hour and they prick your finger and test your blood sugar. At my doctor's you have to have a blood sugar of 134 or lower to pass.  If you fail, you have to come back for a 3-hour, more comprehensive, version of the test.  It is checking to see if you've developed gestational diabetes, something that some women develop around this time in their pregnancy.  Now, really, if you have gestational diabetes, it isn't a huge deal - you meet with a dietitian, learn to manage your diet and have to check your blood sugar regularly, basically just like if you have regular diabetes.  And usually, it goes away once you deliver.  However, of course nobody wants to have gestational diabetes. 


So on with the test.  I'm feeling fine - not really that worried.  I mean, I am healthy and my weight is good and one of the problems you have if you have gestational diabetes is an overly large baby. Well, I had just been told that I am actually measuring small, so surely there was no way I'd fail, right?  Mmmhmm. One hour later - BAM - blood sugar of 177.  FAIL.  In case you weren't aware, I generally don't do well with failure.  I know it is a fault of mine and that some things are simply out of your control (like this test), but still, that was not what I wanted to see at all.  Then you combine that fact with pregnancy hormones...oh boy...I actually started to tear up right there with the nurse who pricked my finger.  I knew it didn't mean much at this point except that I had to come back for the three-hour, but wow, did I feel like a failure.  Even though it is totally irrational, all I kept thinking was how badly I had failed our babe at that appointment - he was too small, my blood sugar was too high...etc. etc. Oh, I was not in a happy place when I left there. 


My poor sweet husband was great in trying to console me over the phone and deserves a medal for having to deal with me that morning, but even after talking to him, I sat in the parking lot and cried for probably 30 minutes.  I needed to go get some lunch before going back to work, but I literally felt paralyzed - I knew I needed to eat (the babe was too small - he needed nutrients!), but I was also now scared to eat (what is going to keep my blood sugar from going sky high?).  I sat and I sat.  I drove to one restaurant, pulled into the drive thru, and then pulled out again without ordering and sat in their parking lot and cried a little bit more.  I was just so upset.  I do not want to do anything to harm our babe, and I knew that I would do whatever I needed to to deal with gestational diabetes if I had it, but right then I just needed to be upset over it.  I had failed.  This pregnancy has gone so smoothly, and now suddenly here was this hiccup (which I recognize, in the grand scheme of things, is hardly even worth noting, but it is all relative - and inflated by hormones).  After another phone call to Matt, I finally decided on something to eat, got myself together and made it to work. 


Again, I really couldn't ask for a better partner and side-kick in all of this - later that afternoon these arrived at my office, with the sweetest card from my husband (in fact, the card is still sitting on my desk at work, just as a reminder of what it's all about).  I think they might be the prettiest flowers I have ever received.  Even today, four days later, they are still just as beautiful.
Anyways, my 3-hour test was scheduled for Thursday (today), and because this is a more comprehensive test, you actually can't eat anything 12 hours before the test.  Also, after talking with some friends who had been through this a few months before, they suggested I try to stay away from lots of sugar/carbs over the next few days just to ensure that I didn't start out with an extra high blood sugar before I had to drink the sugar solution.  So that's what I did.  And it was a long three days. 


Today arrived and my appointment was first thing in the morning at 8am.  I was much better prepared to fail this time.  Of course, I was still hoping for a good outcome (because a lot of women who fail the one-hour test go on to pass the three-hour one), but I had convinced myself not to be so upset if I failed this one too.  In the end it is better to know what we're dealing with so that the babe can get here safely and be healthy.  And I knew that.  I knew that I would deal with the outcome if it was bad, learn how to manage it and we'd make it through the next three months just fine.  But let's be honest, Thanksgiving and Christmas would be a lot more fun if I didn't have to watch what I was eating all the time!


So they take your "fasting" blood sugar first thing.  Mine was 69 - which is low, but I hadn't eaten anything since the night before, so that isn't abnormal.  Then you drink an even bigger cup of the super sweet orange soda concoction and wait an hour.  I was calm. I was collected during that hour.  I was feeling pretty good.  One hour passes, she pricks my finger, tests my blood sugar - BAM - it had skyrocketed to 217.  Dang it.  I don't remember what the threshold was to pass that test, but I can assure you I failed it.  The good thing with the long test is that you are tested 2 more times, so all was not lost yet.  I was disappointed and figured that meant I probably had gestational diabetes, but I did not get upset.  I texted both Matt and my sister to let them know that things weren't looking good, and both were so loving and encouraging. I said a little prayer and hoped for the best at the 2 hour mark. 


Well lo and behold, two hours rolled around and there was my blood sugar at a nice 144!  That is actually the threshold it had to reach by the third test, so that was awesome.  I was really not prepared to see anything good pop up and it was such a great surprise.  The nurse told me that it was a good sign, and we'd still have to see how the third one did, but I might not have to worry after all.  Another hour later and my blood sugar had dropped back to 70, almost to the point of my fasting blood sugar from early in the morning.  This was such great news - I PASSED!  The doctor said that because of my small size, it is likely that the sugar solution shocked my system at first (hence the super high first number), but then once my body got going, it took care of it just fine (hence, the much, much better numbers in the 2nd and 3rd hours).  I was released to go and enjoy whatever I wished, and now I do not have to worry about this anymore in this pregnancy!  What a fantastic feeling.  You can bet that I went out and enjoyed a great lunch.  I was starving at that point! 


Anyways, I know I overreacted on Monday, and if I had failed the test again today and been diagnosed with gestational diabetes we certainly would have dealt with it and done whatever needed to be done to keep the babe safe and healthy, but it is really nice not to have to worry about it anymore.  Oh, and I had to get my rhogam shot today too (because of my blood type) - that really wasn't that bad, but they give it to you in your bottom.  I honestly don't remember the last time I received a shot there!


Whew, so glad all that is over.  Looking forward to seeing our babe on the 21st at our ultrasound.  And in the meantime, here's a picture at 27 weeks.  Hard to believe that the third trimester starts Tuesday!!

We are growing!

Kim

First Class

So after experiencing our first childbirth class Tuesday night I can say (a bit anti-climatically) that it wasn't really that bad.  In fact, we are glad we signed up now.  I am well aware that some of the stranger moments are still likely to come, but it's nice to have one class under your belt.  The lady who is teaching the class is relatively normal, all things considered, and there are only 6 couples in the class, so it is big enough to not feel singled out, but not so large that you get lost in the crowd.  We just went over the basics last night - the stages of labor, how to know when you're in labor - those sorts of things.  I felt like I learned a lot and I wasn't scared off :)  Not that there's any turning back now! 

The only really awkward/comical part was when, after explaining the benefits of kegel exercises for both men and women, she had the entire class close their eyes and do 3 rounds of kegels together.  Matt's quote of the night to me was, "Well, I've never done kegel exercises with a group of people before."  Oh my. Me either. 

But like I said, we both left feeling really glad that we were taking the class.  And now we only have 3 classes left - the last of which includes a tour of the hospital, which I am anxious to see since I've never set foot in the hospital here before (not complaining about that!).  Good stuff. 

Things are continuing to move along.  I am still feeling good, although I get really tired by the evenings now.  It isn't quite as bad as the first trimester, but usually I come home from work feeling like I could take a long nap, and by 10pm, I am falling asleep.  It's not like I'm doing much at work all day except sitting at my desk and working on my computer!  But I know that I am also growing a babe, and just have to remind myself that that is the reason I feel so tired.  Otherwise, things are good.  This is actually our last weekend without plans for a while, so I know time is really going to start to fly.  I think we've decided on a crib so now I just need to find a dresser to match and order it all.  I really don't know how it is already November.  I'm not even sure October happened!

Here's our 26 week picture.  I can definitely tell he's changing almost daily.  I know that some of it has to do with what position he is in, but I could have sworn that my belly grew over the course of the day today!  Just one more week in the second trimester.  Crazy!

26 weeks!  Yipee!
Kim

We are Registered

This weekend we ventured out to tackle the big adventure that is registering.  I remember when we registered for our wedding that it was a little overwhelming but fun, and this was no different.  I mean, the really big difference (and part that added a little more pressure) is that now you are registering for things for a sweet babe whom you've never met and for whose life you will be responsible the next 18+ years.  Safety, practicality, etc. are all very important this time around.  Dishes, I can handle dishes...but strollers and car seats...entirely new territory for us! 

I had prepared a pretty thorough list in advanced based on suggestions from some of the best mamas I know, so I felt like we at least had a game plan going in. And boy was I glad we did.  Even with all the research and prep we had done, it still got overwhelming staring at 20 different kinds of pacifiers or strollers and wondering which one was going to suit our sweet babe!  But we managed, and I am really excited about the things on our list.  Most of our big stuff is at Babies R Us, and then we also registered at Target.

Next up on the to-do list is to purchase the crib and dresser for the nursery.  It is crazy to think that we are roughly 3 months away from meeting our little babe!  Oh, and our childbirth classes start tomorrow night.  I'll let you know how that goes.  Yipee!
Kim

25 Weeks!

Here we are at 25 weeks - and only 15 to go!  That is a bit scary to say aloud, but very exciting.  According to my weekly emails, the babe is now about 13 1/2 inches long and weighs about a pound and a half.  He might already have hair by now, and if we could see it, we could tell it's color and texture.  Pretty amazing.  It's been a good week. I went to the doctor on Monday for a regular appointment.  All was well.  His heartbeat was strong, but he kept wiggling away from the doppler every time she found it so we only got to hear it in short spurts.  Apparently, we already have an active little man on our hands!  I have to go back in two weeks for my glucose screening and my Rh shot (since my blood type is negative).  Also, Matt and I start our childbirth classes next Tuesday.  Yipee!  Except not really.  I know it is necessary and going to be interesting and I do want to take them, but I am a little bit nervous about all that we are going to see/learn about.  Should make for some good stories though, right? 

By far, my favorite part of being pregnant so far is feeling the babe moving around.  I just love feeling him in there.  Some days he moves around a whole lot and other days he is less mobile, but I do feel him every day now and it is great.

(As I am typing this, I am watching my stomach jump around - the little babe is up and at 'em this morning, getting in some good calisthenics.)  :) :) :)

We celebrated my 28th birthday this past weekend at the state fair and with a delicious dinner at PF Changs.  It was such a beautiful day and fun time and the perfect little getaway.  Fisher had a great time hanging out with Colonel and her grandparents and was so exhausted when we got home that she slept in later than she ever has on Sunday morning! 

This goat was cracking us up - he really thought he was king of the mountain!

Every year Matt has to take a picture with Curious George!

Obligatory self-portrait

Matt participated in the turkey shoot (no, you don't actually shoot at turkeys), and missed winning by less than 2mm...seriously. 

Also, this weekend we celebrated the birth of one of Matt's oldest friend's son and an announcement from another set of our good friends that they are expecting a babe in April!  Babies all around.  It is definitely that season of life, and it is fun to be in the middle of it with everyone.  

I know that with the holidays just around the corner, the next 15 weeks are really going to fly.  There is a lot to accomplish between now and then.  I am hoping we can start the registering process this weekend, and I am really itching to make some purchases for the nursery - furniture and bedding and such.  I think it is time to get rolling.  I know all of it will get done and I am not worried, just excited to move forward!

Anyways, here's this week shot of the babe.  Look at him grow!
Kim

What NOT to Say to a Pregnant Lady

I've always heard stories about crazy things random people say to you when you're pregnant.  I've also heard several funny stories from friends about strangers offering advice or trying to touch your belly.  Thankfully, I've not had any of the latter types of experiences...yet.  I am sure they are coming.  However, there are two things in particular that I find people really want to ask me/tell me about now that I am pregnant.  And quite honestly, I am not interested in talking about either one.

(Disclaimer: If you are reading this blog, these comments are not directed at you...you are among my closest family and friends and therefore I feel comfortable discussing these things with you and don't mind one single bit if you ask. It is the general acquaintances and co-workers who ask me/tell me about this constantly that really annoy me.) 

First, everyone wants to ask me about how much weight I'm gaining (again, let me reiterate - not directed to anyone reading this blog - you may ask me all you want and I will happily share).  You would never ask a non-pregnant lady how much weight she had gained, would you?!  So why is it suddenly ok to ask me now that I am pregnant?  I mean people who don't even know what month my birthday is are now interested in how much weight I've gained.  I know it is partly because I am a relatively small girl to begin with and I think they are interested to see how this is all going to go...and that is fine.  I am interested in that too...but we can talk about that without having to go into the specifics, can't we?   I am fairly confident and try very hard not to worry too much over things like my weight.  It is weird now that I am pregnant, to see my body changing before my eyes, mostly out of my control, but it is also totally natural and pretty amazing that it can do all this and grow a human being!  So yes, I am gaining weight...if I weren't I would be worried because that would mean that the babe is not growing...but, dear general acquaintance to whom I usually only talk about the weather and college sports, please stop asking me for the specific number of pounds, and then making a wide-eyed face when I tell you the number!  Even the most confident girls in the world do not appreciate that.

Second, for whatever reason, people now feel the need to share with me their friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend's birth/miscarriage horror stories.  I feel deeply for these people who have had these tragedies in their lives, but I do not know them (and often times, the storyteller doesn't seem to know them directly either), and quite honestly, now is not the time that I want to hear about the terrible misfortunes that have befallen them.  I am a great worrier all on my own and do not need any fuel for my imagination.  Each day, I have to remind myself that this is all out of my hands and that God is in control and forming and developing our sweet babe in His own image.  Bring on the happy stories, but please leave the scary ones out for now.  After our healthy, beautiful babe is born, perhaps we can chat about it.  But why do I need to hear your worst-case-scenario story while I am in the midst of all of this?  Plus, my hormones are all-kinds of crazy these days, so even a story that wouldn't affect me before can really throw me for a loop some days.  Ask my dear husband...he's seen the fruits of this phenomenon. 

So onward we go in this journey.  I am sure that I will have more stories to share with you by the time this is all over.  And really, I am grateful that strangers have yet to chime in with their stories and advice.  That would be way more awkward that any of this. But please, next time you're hanging out with a pregnant lady, try to avoid these topics.  There are so many fun conversations to be had right now, surely you can find something else to chat about!
Kim

It's Weird

So I'm not going to lie, it is weird for me to see pictures of myself pregnant.  I don't mean the weekly picture I post here, I mean just regular pictures, like the ones we took this weekend at the football game in Chapel Hill.  Clearly, I can see that the babe is growing and therefore I am expanding and my body is changing each week, but it is still weird to see "normal" pictures and realize that that is me!  Point in case:

In front of the Old Well with Dad and Sissy!
I love this picture from Saturday with my dad and sister.  It is just funny to look at it and realize that I have this bump!  I feel relatively normal right now, but then I look down and see this growing bump, and sometimes it catches me off guard.  I can't explain it.  It's just...weird.  But I don't mind one bit. I am glad that the babe is growing and gaining weight.  That is the goal of all of this!
Kim

23 Weeks!

It is hard to believe we are at 23 weeks!  According to my weekly email, the babe is about 11 inches long now (!) and weighs just over a pound.  That is crazy!  It also said that he can feel me dancing and moving around now.  That is too funny to think about.  I hope he's not knocking around in there too much:)  I can still feel him kicking and moving about, but I wouldn't describe him as overly active.  And the kicks are still relatively light.  You can see my stomach move from the outside now when he really gets going, which is bizarre, but I love every kick I can feel.  Here's this week's picture(s).  They say that by the end of this month, he'll double in weight.  That is some serious growth!


Also, please note the new outfit.  I had to do a little shopping last night.  I couldn't stand it any longer. 
The picture doesn't do it justice, but it's the cutest "maternity" outfit to date, no doubt. 
 (Except it actually isn't a maternity dress at all.)
I am still feeling really good these days.  I do get tired earlier, and I just started noticing that I get winded a little easier, but for the most part, no real discomforts.  The babe has been making me extra-thirsty lately, but I'm trying to drink lots of water and stay well-hydrated.  Sometimes I forget to drink anything all day while I am at work.  No worries, though, I am making a conscious effort to fix this.  I just have to think about it more.  

We're headed to Chapel Hill this weekend for the game.  It should be a perfect weekend for football, and we're meeting my Sis, Andrew and Dad there, so I am really excited.  Good times all around.  There's a lot to look forward to over the next few weekends.  I think time might really start to fly and get away from us if we're not careful!
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