31 week update - Whew, I'm not late!!

Hello my dear friends!  I'm still in week 31 (nearing the end of it, but still in it!) so therefore I am not technically late yet!  This may be lengthy, or it may roll to the next post.  Anyway, lots to catch up on.

Last week, I had a business trip to Las Vegas with Mom for 3 days.  It was nice to get away for a bit.  Mom had developed a cold so whereas we usually split a room, she got her own.  Upon getting there, the hotel talked us into a 2 bedroom suite instead so we wouldn't be across the hotel from each other, but also wouldn't be in the same room sharing germs.  And in the end, the suite was less than the 2 rooms would have been, plus we had 2 (yes 2!) jacuzzi tubs!  So this is how I spent an hour or so one evening...

Not gonna bore you with work stuff that happened in Vegas but a few fun tidbits.  We had a night with a James Bond theme.  My Mom L*O*V*E*S James Bond movies, especially when they had Sean Connery in them.  Well, guess who greeted us at the party that night?

Yup, Sean Connery himself.  Well, not THE Sean Connery, we were in Vegas after all.  But it really made Mom's day.  He looked really good...had the walk down, the talk down and everything.  J's response was that he didn't look like "that" in the movies...that's how he looks now.  But whatever!

Next Las Vegas fun.  I was talking to J one night and I had him on speaker phone on the cell which was sitting on my belly.  Baby Girl Reese must have known it was her papa, because more than a couple times during the conversation she was kicking up a storm.  They really can hear you and know you in utero!

And the last thing I got from Vegas...these bad boys....

Yes, the day after we flew to Vegas and the day after we flew home, I swelled up like crazy!  My ankles looked like they had both been broken they were so swollen!  Thankfully it subsided, but man-o-man, it was not happy!

So that's enough about our trip.  We dipped under the double-digit countdown on Sunday.  That's right folks, we only have 9 weeks to go.  Are we ready?  Hell no!  I ordered vinyl stickers for the nursery last weekend and am hoping they get here soon so the nursery can be finished.  I went through all the baby gifts on Sunday and put it all away, and some will go back because we just have too much and need some pricey items still.  But now the nursery doesn't look like Babies R Us exploded all over it!  We really are blessed to have so many great people care so much about us.  I've even had a couple clients and associate planners bring in presents unannounced.  So awesome!

So here's the 31 week update and I'll talk about the doc visit and our 2nd child birth class tomorrow. As always, my comments are in red.

Week 31 of Pregnancy
As your baby's senses increase, his mommy's breathing room decreases.

Your Baby in Week 31 of Pregnancy
Weighing in at three-plus pounds and measuring 18 inches long, your baby is quickly approaching his birth length — though he's got to pack on another three to five pounds before D-day. Also developing at an impressive clip: your baby's brain connections (he's got to make trillions of them!). He's now processing information, tracking light, and perceiving signals from all five senses. He's also putting in longer stretches of sleep, which is why you're probably noticing more defined patterns of wakefulness (and movement) and rest (when he’s pretty still). Baby Reese definitely moves more in the evening, and early morning hours.  Seems as if I am sleeping too much, she does somersaults to say, "Get up Mom!"

Your Body in Week 31 of Pregnancy
Chances are your diaphragm is feeling a little cramped these days. Okay, a lot cramped. That's because your uterus is pushing up against it (and all the other organs in there), crowding your lungs and making it more difficult for them to expand fully. The result: Your body is spare on air and will be until your baby drops near the end of pregnancy in preparation for birth. But don’t worry: Your baby is as happy as a clam because he’s getting his oxygen from the placenta. I feel like I am breathing heavy many times, and according to J, night is the worst.  Besides being congested, it is just hard to breathe.  He told me the other night not to be offended if I woke up one morning and he was sleeping in the guest bedroom!!! At least one of us is sleeping better, but I'll get to that.

Week 31 Pregnancy Tip: How a Baby Responds to Sex
Parental lovemaking and orgasm can have an interesting effect on babies in the womb, as you may have noticed. Some babies are very quiet after their parents have sex (rocked to sleep by the rhythmic movement, perhaps) while others become frisky themselves (hey, where's the party?). Both responses are completely normal and in no way indicate that your baby is aware of the goings-on…just that he is having fun going along for the ride. So keep on enjoying your sex life — and your orgasms — as much as you like. And for as long as you can (which, with your practitioner's approval and a few advanced Twister-type moves, can be right up until delivery day). After all, pretty soon making love with a baby in the house won't be quite so easy or convenient.  Seeing as both my parents and my grandmother read this blog, I'm not gonna touch this subject!

Week 31 Pregnancy Symptoms
More frequent urination: Your uterus puts more pressure on your bladder in the third trimester, giving it less room to store urine. Cut down on the bathroom trips by double voiding: Pee, then when you’re done, pee again. That’ll make sure you’ve emptied your bladder completely.  I'm considering setting up a computer in our bathroom at home and at the office if that tells you anything!  Have literally walked out and walked right back in!  Oh well, all worth it right?!

Occasional headaches: If tension is twisting your head up in knots, try spending a few minutes in a dark, quiet room. If you’re at work, close your eyes and put your feet up for 15 minutes. Have had a few of these (sadly) but nothing like the first few months.  Let's hope that continues.

Varicose veins: Your growing uterus is also putting pressure on your blood vessels, which along with pregnancy hormones and increased blood volume creates the perfect set-up for varicose veins. Take a walk (or even better, several) during the day, or make sure to get in some other form of low-key, circulation-boosting exercise. Still, thankfully none.  Knock-on wood!  I try to keep my feet up as much as possible.

Possible nasal congestion: As if a swollen belly, feet, and fingers weren’t enough, now you may be contending with swollen nasal passages, making for one stuffy feeling. You’ll get relief when you deliver, but until then saline sprays or nasal strips can help clear up the stuffiness. (Antihistamines and nasal sprays are usually off-limits, but check in with your practitioner for other recommendations). I mentioned this earlier.  You betcha!  I have a lot of congestion at night and in fact, one of my staff asked me if I was getting sick the other day because I was sniffling and blowing my nose so much.  At least J can go sleep in the guest bedroom, there's nothing I can do to get away from my own nose!

Lower abdominal achiness: Blame that growing belly of yours again for those growing pains around your middle. The best thing to do? Yep, you know the drill: Get off your feet for a while. I have had some cramping lately, but no blood.  Doc says it is just how Reese is sitting and putting pressure in me. 

Backaches: That burgeoning belly can also do a number on your back as it curves to accommodate the load. If you haven’t already, now is the time to incorporate some prenatal yoga into your exercise routine — the stretches will relax your back (and your mind!). Minor.  I do stretch a bit and try to sit up straighter more.

Increasing clumsiness: Your shifting posture (not to mention your increasing girth) and lack of concentration (see below) may make you clumsier these days. Take it easy when you’re climbing into the shower or tub and roll up any area rugs that could trip you up at home.  Yes, yes and yes.  I haven't fallen, but I am definitely feeling a bit clumsy these days.

Forgetfulness: Welcome to mommy (to-be) brain — a condition that’s a result of shrinking brain-cell volume in the third trimester (don’t worry — your brain cells go back to normal a few months after delivery). Don’t stress out about your foggy memory (stress just makes it worse). Write things down (or program them into your smart phone) and delegate responsibility (if possible). I don't think much more than the past 7 months, but who knows!

Difficulty sleeping: This is another common third-trimester woe, caused by a constellation of other conditions, such as leg cramps, heartburn, frequent urination, and plain old anxiety (with a dash of pregnancy hormones). If tension keeps you tossing and turning all night, talk it out with friends (or other WTE members) or your partner during the day.  And here we are again.  Yes, this is getting more difficult.  I used to be able to turn over in my sleep, but now thanks to all the pillows and this ever-growing belly, it's much harder to do that in my sleep.  But I'm making it work.  


Alright folks, to be continued tomorrow...

30 week update and last week's Doctor appointment

Hello dear ones!  It has come to my attention that I haven't blogged about our ultrasound appointment and doctor appointment that were a week ago today yet.  So better get that done before we move on to the 30 week update.

Last Tuesday, J and I were at the ultrasound place at 8:30 am, in anticipation of our 8:45 am appointment.  We were led in very quickly and by now we pretty much know the drill.  The technician started looking around and soon enough there was a beautiful little profile of our baby girl.  The tech did a lot of poking and prodding.  Remember the reason for this ultrasound was to check on the cyst in the non-thinking part of Baby Girl's brain and see how it was progressing or disappearing, etc. Unfortunately it is still there and we need to wait for the doc to see if it has increased in size or shrunk.  They measured Reese's arms and legs again, verified she is still a she, looked at her heart again, and deemed her healthy at 3 lbs right now.

Here's a couple of the photos they sent us home with.

 You can see little feet and even a little hand on the left.

 And here the technician said it looks like she is saluting, but to me it looks like she has her hand draped over her face and is being dramatic ("Oh enough with the camera already!").

So then we headed over to Dr. OB's office (just around the corner) for our now bi-weekly visits with her.  Again, in pretty quick and upon getting into the room were told that Dr. OB had a woman just go into labor so our appointment would be very short, if at all.  Thankfully, Dr. OB rushed in, listened to the heartbeat, measured me, commented on my weight (I'm up 25 lbs total) and said to try not to eat processed food because she thinks I'm retaining water, answered the few questions I had deemed really important to ask (1. What vaccines does J need when we go see his doc on the 17th? and 2. What about the cyst now?) I think I heard her say we might do another ultrasound in a few weeks to check on the cyst again, but then she was out the door.  And before we could even get out of the office, another patient had gone into labor so she was heading to the hospital right quick to deliver not one but TWO babies!  I was just glad we got seen and were deemed mostly all good.  Next appointment is on Valentine's Day!

Childbirth class starts tonight and I'm a little worried because this is the part I haven't been wanting to hear about, but we gotta face it if we ever want to actually meet our lil Reese's cup!  

So here's my 30 week updated, and not that late at all!  Again, my responses are in red.

Week 30 of Pregnancy 

Your baby's brain is getting smarter by the minute, but for Mom, the only thing that smarts right now may be heartburn pain. Thankfully, I haven't had any heartburn since the time it sent me running for the doc. Whew!

Your Baby in Week 30 of Pregnancy

Your belly’s increasing size is a definite clue that your baby is getting bigger every day, weighing in at over three pounds now (he’ll be packing on the weight at a rate of half a pound per week for the next seven weeks). Also growing daily is his brain, which is actually starting to look like the real thing with those characteristic grooves and wrinkles. And now that your little genius can regulate his own body temperature and turn up the heat, he'll start shedding lanugo, the downy body hair that's been keeping him warm up until now. My belly is definitely having a growth spurt lately!  I feel bigger every day!

Your Body in Week 30 of Pregnancy
These days you may feel as if you've got a flamethrower in your chest. Heartburn is one of the most common (and annoying) pregnancy ailments and here's why: The same pregnancy hormones that cause your body's pelvic muscles to relax so you can deliver your baby also relax the ring of muscle that separates the esophagus from the stomach. The upshot? Food and digestive juices can head upstream from your tummy into your chest and throat — hence, the infernal inferno. Your expanding uterus, now exerting pressure on your stomach, only fuels the fire. Thankfully (knock-on-wood) nothing since the "incident".

Week 30 Pregnancy Tip: Cord Blood Banking
The big day is coming, so here's a big question: What is cord blood, and should you consider banking or donating your baby's? First, a definition: Cord blood is what remains in the umbilical cord and placenta following birth. So why is this blood so important? Because cord blood contains stem cells that can be used to treat certain diseases, such as cancers. This safe and painless procedure is performed just after the baby is born (all it takes is about five minutes). More and more parents are saving their baby's cord blood, either for donation to a public facility so the cells can be used by others in need, or for private storage so it's available should the need arise within their own family. Whichever you choose (and it's okay if you choose not to at all), you should talk to your practitioner about it now so all the necessary prep work can be done.Truly on my mind but banking for us is so expensive!  Am still wavering...any advice or thoughts on this subject are welcome.

Week 30 Pregnancy Symptoms
Stronger fetal activity: You can expect to feel your baby moving every day — sometimes with a punch or a kick (your itty-bitty boxer is getting stronger!), other times with a wiggle or a stretch. You can also expect more activity after you’ve had a snack or meal and (sadly!) when you’re lying down.  Reese is definitely a mover and a shaker.  I feel like she likes to stand on my pelvic bone a lot!  Maybe I'm creating a dancer in my belly!
Flatulence: As your uterus expands it puts pressure on your rectum, which can weaken muscle control and lead to uncontrollable passing of gas. Drink plenty of water to avoid constipation (which aggravates the condition).
Bloating: Your expanding uterus (that third-trimester culprit) is pressing into the stomach and intestines, making that bloated feeling worse this week (and for the next several weeks). Eat smaller (and more frequent) meals to avoid overloading your digestive system. Workin' on it.
Constipation: Even if you managed to conquer constipation earlier in your pregnancy, you may have to contend with a return to more-sluggish bowels (thank your ever-expanding uterus, which is putting pressure on your bowels). Remember that fluids and fiber are your friends, as are probiotics (you can find them in yogurts). I am considering setting up a computer in the bathroom with how much I am in there, so currently, this isn't a problem.
Occasional faintness or dizziness: It’s a common pregnancy symptom, but mention it to your practitioner (especially if you do faint). You can stop a dizzy spell by lying down and elevating your feet as soon as you feel light-headed.  I have had low blood pressure for years, so have occasionally fainted.  However right now this isn't a problem.  Let's hope I can say that for the next 10 weeks!
Bleeding gums: Thanks to pregnancy hormones, your gums could be swollen, inflamed, and even bleeding. Although bleeding gums are common (and will probably go away after delivery), take extra-good care of your teeth and gums right now: Brush and floss twice a day. A little here and a little there.  At the dentist appointment last week, she said I was super sensitive but I think she was a little pokey with her instruments!  Either way, I am being very good to my gums and teeth right now.
Stretch marks: As your skin stretches to accommodate your growing belly and body, you (and 90 percent of the pregnant set) are probably starting to see the pink or red streaks known as stretch marks. There’s no miracle cure for stretch marks, so don’t blow the bucks on expensive creams that promise to make them disappear. (Creams will soothe your itchy belly, though.) So far, so good...no marks.  I lotion every morning and night with special stuff...let's hope it stays that way.
Mild swelling of ankles and feet: About 75 percent of pregnant women suffer from puffy ankles and feet. Besides wearing comfy shoes, you can relieve your swollen tootsies by taking breaks and putting your feet up. (You deserve it!) Oh yes this is happening!  I wore shoes the other night and when I got home my feet had a lovely red line around where the shoes hit.  I keep looking for flats that are cute and comfy but am coming up short.  Mama K and MBM's sister have promised me some of their shoes that are stretched.
Fatigue: Your second trimester get-up-and-go may have upped and left now. Your growing baby is putting more demands on your body, and insomnia may be leaving you pooped during the day. Now’s the time to ask for help (a skill that will come in handy after childbirth), especially doing something strenuous.Yup, yup and yup!  Sleeping is getting harder by the day.  


Well, there you have it folks.  We are 7.5 months pregnant if you can believe it...I surely can't!  Have a wonderful day!

Shower Correction

Hello Bleeps...again. 

It was brought to my attention that I forgot a game at the shower that was fun.  While I was opening the mountain of gifts, all the attendees had a different bingo card with various gifts I might recieve listed on it.  Then, when I would open a present and announce what it was, a few people would get to cross that present off their card.  Whoever got 5 in a row diagonally, horizontally, or vertically first won.  Actually I think Mama K had presents for first and second place.  Busted Kate actually won this game!  But even after she won, everyone still played to keep it interesting and be able to yell out "BINGO!"

And Busted Kate also reminded me of something else Mama K and I worked up.  As kind of a hint for Baby Girl's name, she had bowls of Reese's Pieces laying out.  Nobody said anything, but when Busted Kate commented on yesterday's post, she said, "I just 'pieced' it together this morning, the Reese's pieces you were serving at the shower...duh!  So cute!!"  She may have been the only one to pick up on it.  I wonder if anyone else caught it...

Okay....that's all I needed to correct...I think! Have a lovely day folks.

Baby Shower numero dos!

Holy Schmoly Batman...did we have a party yesterday! 

Oh sorry...hello Bleeps!  Yesterday was my 2nd shower thrown by Mama K and it was spectacular!  Truly amazing.  Here's a few quick pics...

 This is the sign in table where guests signed my pregnancy scrapbook that I've been working on, wrote their name and address on an envelope (so I don't have to for thank yous!) and guessed the circumference of my waist (what waist?!).

 Homemade diaper cake made by Mama K, that was later used in a game.

The table where everyone made onesies for Baby Girl.

How can I summarize what happened yesterday?  I went to Mama's K's Dad's house where the party was to be.  It was all decorated already and I was not the first to arrive.  BFF from Phx was there, as well as her Mom, and another college friend who drove down from Phoenix.  And then the floodgates opened and more and more people started to show.  

Since the party was at 2 pm, Mama K had done a make-it-yourself nacho bar (because I love nachos!) and it was so yummy!!!  So everyone ate, signed everything, made onesies and finally it was time for a few games and presents.  The first game was the outcome of guessing my waist measurement.  I don't think I'll ever let that be done in a room full of people, but it was okay yesterday.  And Melslaw was the big winner guessing 46"!  Holy cow!  The next came came the diaper cake.  It was shown around the room for about 5 minutes and then it left and everyone had 3 minutes to write down as many items as they could remember seeing on it.  There were 17 kinds of items on the cake, including the diapers, and 2 people got 16 right - MBM and Super-Mom.  So the tie-breaker question was "Nikus was born on a special day in her parents' lives, what was it?"  Both knew the correct answer, but Super-Mom was quicker to get her hand up and answer.  (BTW - the answer was that I was born on their anniversary.)

The last game was a word scramble to reveal Baby Girl's name.  There were quite a few people who knew the name already, so they were excluded.  The ladies split into teams of 3 or 4 and were given baggies of letters and a sheet with lines for the answers.  They had to figure out the name from that and it went rather quickly and people really liked the name.  Now, will I share it with you Bleeps?  Sure...why not...the rest of the world knows!

(I've always liked the name Reese and Reese Witherspoon is one of my favorite actresses and I believe a good role model.  Josephine was Jason's grandmother's name and coincidentally my Grandfather's middle name, so pays homage to both sides of the family.  If you don't like it, don't tell me because that is what we are naming her!)

Before I move on to presents, here's a few of the onesies that were decorated.  

 This is on the booty.

The one that is my favorite is the one that says "Sorry Ladies, my Dad is taken!" courtesy of Super-Mom.

Then it was time for presents and while I'd love to show pictures of everything we got....here is a pic of the nursery after all the presents were put in there...

 I have some work to do apparently!

So here's just a few....

These are swimsuits!  OMG...are they not ridiculously cute?!  She will be the diva of the pool for sure!

 Here we have (left to right) a blanket made by Melslaw, a blanket made by Schelle, a Christmas stocking made by Super-Mom, a sheep that is a stuffed animal/pillow/blanket and a lady bug that displays the stars on the ceiling of Reese's room.

This was made by Meg's sister-in-law who does this as a business (www.blockpartyboutique.com). Obviously, she knew the name ahead of time.  

And those were only SOME of what we got!  Awesome!  I came home very tired, feeling very loved and so appreciative of all the people who came to the shower.  And now there are a BUNCH of thank you's to write out.

I guess that's all about the shower.  I'm off to pay some bills before it is time for the SuperBowl party.  Have a wonderful week folks, I know I will! 

And thanks again (I think I'll be thanking you all forever) to everyone who came to the shower, sent gifts for me because they couldn't come, and who has just been any kind of support at all through this process.  It has been appreciated and noted!