Halfway there

I'm 20wks 4 days pregnant today. It feels like I'm carting around a melon, which apparently I am. I'm almost 21 weeks so officially more than halfway to my due date. Not counting the fact that I fully expect to set some kind of overdue record. Don't ask me why.

We had our midwives appointment on Wednesday. I had my blood drawn and got the email from our midwife today saying that my results were good, everything is wonderfully normal. I'm not anemic or anything, all my levels are right where they should be. She also felt my fundus (top o' the uterus) and it's also right where it should be at 20 weeks, so baby is growing right on target. She said that we would begin measuring it at my next appointment (for anyone who doesn't know, they measure from the top of the pubic bone to the top of the uterus and it usually corresponds in cm with about how many weeks along you are...its just a way of measuring growth basically). We tried to listed for the heartbeat with the fetoscope (click that link if you want to see what one looks like), but it was still hard to pick up. I feel baby moving ALL the time (pretty sure she is going to wind up in Cirque Du Soleil one day) and its normal for it to take awhile to hear the heartbeat with the fetoscope, so it's no biggie. Jay was a little dissapointed though, he really wants to hear it.

It's crazy to think that after my appointment in June (which will be the week after I get back from Calli), I'll have to start seeing them every other week because I'll be in my third trimester already. Crap. I have a LOT to do before then...my days of being nicely mobile and somewhat comfortable are coming to a rapid close.

I've also started yoga and it ROCKS!!! Now I just need to figure out how to get myself to a chiropractor!

Turbo baby

That's what I've taken to calling the baby this week. All of a sudden it's like s/he had somehow found little fetal boxing gloves or something. Those little flutters aren't so little anymore...in fact, I'd say they aren't even flutters at all anymore. I'm feeling very distinct kicks and punches. Jay felt the baby move for the first time on Thursday night and has been able to feel it every day since. He has finally decided I'm not faking this pregnancy just to get foot rubs.

I leave you with a cute picture of Elijah at school

In which I fantasize

I can't believe it's April 19th already! This month is seriously flying by. I keep thinking June is going to be here before I know it. This pregnancy is about halfway over already!

The family is good, we all (well Jay, Elijah, me and Ant...and our neighbors beagle, Molly - who we are dog sitting) went fishing at the reservoir on Sunday. It was very impromptu, but it was beautiful out (wish I had pictures!!!) and we had fun. I actually got a little sunburnt, and the red of the burn looks like a candy cane stripe against my typically pasty-white skin. Guess it's sunblock time!

We made reservations to camp on the Santiam River in July. I will be 8 months pregnant. Gretchen laughed at me (more like sneered) when I told her. It seemed like a good idea at the time....

Pregnancy-wise I am feeling pretty good. I feel loads better with this pregnancy then I did during my second trimester with Elijah. Hope the trend continues! The only thing I'm really dealing with right now is that my right hip feels waaay out of alignment. It's really painful when I get up and down from the couch and sometimes I feel it walking. There isn't much I can do about that at the moment, I can't afford to see the chiropractor right now. In my dream world, I would wake up to breakfast in bed, then head over for some prenatal yoga. After that, I'd go to the chiropractor and get an adjustment, stop somewhere for a leisurely lunch, and go for a full hour prenatal massage. After that, I'd go home for a nap of course. Now THATS the life. It's called La La Land, and I'm a huge fan.

Waddling and Rambling.

I am 18 weeks and 2 days preggo today. The second trimester feels like its flying. I'm feeling pretty good the majority of the time... comparatively speaking of course. I feel a little heartburn from time to time but it's mild. My bones are starting to feel really...I don't know, creaky lately. I really wish I could invest in some chiropractic and massage, but I just can't right now. I know for sure my hips are out of alignment, which causes me to walk with the pregnant waddle way earlier than I should.

I wanted to update the blog with a new name poll (it's on the right side of blog). We've found a few more names we like, but nothing is concrete until the baby is born. We are still adding to it also.

I'm going to be buying my first cloth diapers this week. I'm going to try to get a couple here and there as I go. My plan is to start with the newborn diapers, so I am going to get about 8-10 of these to start with. Aren't they adorable?! After I have a small newborn stash going, I'm going to start adding the other diapers. I'm going to invest in mostly one-size diapers I think, since there is no way of knowing how big this baby might be. Elijah was 9lbs 11oz.

I think the fact that I am actually going to be having a real BABY is starting to sink in. I have a couple of baby items now, and pulled out a couple of Elijah's old baby blankets. Having those things sitting around makes it seem much more real. I'm excited to meet this little person :)

I thought this was cute! It's amazing how something the size of an onion can make me feel like pregzilla and have to pee every 5 minutes.

Pregotron is on the loose

17 weeks and 3 days preggo today. I feel H.U.G.E. And NOT in the right places. I've gained about 4 lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight but I honestly feel like Jabba the Hut. Is it possible to carry pregnancy weight in your arms, thighs, and neck? I seriously cannot wait for some sunny days so I can start walking.

I had my prenatal appointment with last week. I meant to blog about it sooner but I've had a horrible, no-good, very bad WEEK (more on that later) and was distracted. The appointment went great though, the midwives stayed for almost 2 hours and we talked about everything under the sun. Including my irrational fear of not going into labor. I know it doesn't work that way, and If I were talking to one of MY clients, I'm sure I would know just what to say to make myself feel better. There is something about being the one actually pregnant though, where all your knowledge and experience seems to go right out the window and you just feel more vulnerable and like you are the first person in the history of the universe to experience it. Hows that for a run-on sentence.

Anyway, she had some insightful things to say and is bringing me some books to read. She is going to bring me some kids books about birth and getting a new sibling too, so I can read them to Elijah. We should be able to hear the heartbeat with the fetoscope at my next appointment (I'll be 5 months! Halfway done!) in April. I'm not going to be using the doppler (same reason as the no ultrasound thing), so you have to wait a little longer to be able to hear it with the fetoscope, which is basically a glorified stethoscope.

I've had a super stressful week at work getting ready for an annual file review/site inspection. I have to get through today and tomorrow and then I'll be all done and can breathe again.

I have nothing witty to say to wrap up this post, I'm fresh out of wit sorry.

I am 15 weeks and 1 day pregnant today. My baby doesn't look like a lizard creature from one of Jay's video games anymore! Yay. The movement I've been feeling for the past few weeks is getting stronger too. It's still easy to miss because I'm still pretty early to be feeling any movement at all. I've been feeling definite tickles/flutters down low for the past two weeks or so, but it's starting to feel like she's rolling around in there. Kinda like someone took a butter churn to my uterus. It's crazy to be feeling it so early, I didn't really start feeling Elijah move until about 22 weeks or so.

I can't believe that I'm almost 4 months already. I have my next midwife's appointment on the 1st. At that appointment she will be taking blood for my prenatal blood panel as well as an extra vial to run my RH antibody screen at my request. I'll probably have to do that a few times throughout this pregnancy since I will be declining the rhogam shot. I'm not comfortable with it since it's made from parts of blood, not to mention the usual preservatives and nastiness that is in vaccines. My blood is RH- and Jay is RH+, so there is a decent chance that this baby could be positive as well. As long as the pregnancy and birth go smoothly (no major accidents etc) than all should be well. If for some reason my blood mixes with baby's during delivery, there is a chance my body could recognize the RH factor in the baby's blood as a foreign agent and could create antibodies against it. It won't hurt the baby, but if that happens then we would likely make sure that this was our last child, as it could be a danger to future pregnancies. There is a vaccine normally given automatically to pregnant women who are RH- to prevent the creation of these antibodies. I'm declining it for the reasons I mentioned.

We're still looking at baby names, but so far haven't really found any new contenders.

I've been taking walks when the weather is nice, and I'm going to try to find some kind of prenatal fitness DVD and maybe a prenatal yoga DVD as well. I cannot wait for spring to come full force. When it's nice out, its SOOO nice. It makes me want the warmer weather to stick around rather than coming in spurts so I can spend all my time in flip flops and flowy skirts. I also can't wait for summer because of all the fresh produce!!! Watermelon, nectarines, freshly picked strawberries still warm from the sun (and the obviously obligatory strawberry shortcake, DUH!), my mouth is watering just thinking about it. I'm also excited for BBQs with corn on the cob and spending insane amounts of time at Silver Falls where they have the little swimming hole. Is it summer yet? *sigh* I never thought I would want summer while being pregnant but I'm actually really looking forward to it. I think I'll take it over having to don nasty frumpy maternity sweaters and struggling to put on boots. We'll see if I still feel that way in August.

Elijah news: Elijah has lost his first top tooth and it is SO.adorable. He looks obnoxious and grimy (he is on spring break and therefore outside all day and that = dirty) just like a 6 year old boy should. We also got him his first new bike yesterday. I still don't have a camera but I will borrow Mom's or Nana's and take some pics to post in the next few days.

Cannot wait to see everyone in June!!! It's getting close!