week 28 and feelin GR8!

We had our 28 week doctor's appointment today and all is tip top. Baby's heartbeat is a-rockin, my blood pressure is right on and my ever expanding girth is exceptionally spacious. I had to drink some funky carbonated cocktail so they could prick me for a glucose tolerance blood test that screens for gestational diabetes. Having had to fast since the night before, i was extremely parched and had no problems chugging it all down. I'll have the results in the next few days. The test is routine for all preggos, I'm not too concerned.

Since Baby's hearing is well established by this point and studies indicate that the unborn prefer classical music, we're thinking of piping in some Pink Floyd through headphones....

That's classic, right? I actually enjoy classical music. I find it very soothing. Jay on the other hand finds it unnerving. Perhaps all of those Looney Tunes episodes he watched during his childhood have taken a toll on his rock n' roll brain. So to give Baby a broad range of options, we'll feed her a tasty eclectic mix of all things music. From Salsa to Sondheim; Elvis to Easy Way Out; Bach to the Beatles -- Baby will be bouncing in the womb!

Shhhh the baby can here you...

Why is telling pregnant women gory horror labour/birth/breastfeeding stories a national pastime? I am so sick and freakin tired of hearing about everybody's sister, mother, grandmother, aunt's c-section, episiotomy back labour, bleeding nipples, etc!! The next time it happens, I'm just gonna put my fingers in my ears and sing la la la la la la la until they walk away. During the first few months I would just smile and nod and shake my head. Now, many months later I'll blame it on the hormones and just say, "Only positive birth stories, please. The baby is listening". Some will stop and laugh, yet others will continue, assuring me that theirs was a special case and that it will be different for me. Yes, of course it will be different for me. I'm not you. I'm not them. I'm me. Through all of that crap I've only heard one positive story (and I think she was lying). She told me that for each of her three daughters, she only laboured for one hour. Is that even possible? Regardless, it was a nice change from all of the other nasty tales. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy hearing the odd birth story every now and then. Some days I'm really curious, some days not so much. And of course I realize that sometimes complications can't be helped. Fine. But why is it that people need to share such negative information? Could it be that they feel robbed that they weren't given the chance to experience a wonderful labour/birth? Do they feel that they failed somehow because once they got to the hospital their labour could not progress? Or maybe they get some sort of sicko pleasure out of watching pregnant woman squirm? Weren't women built to do this? We wouldn't all be here otherwise right? Yes, it's scary, yes it's painful, bla bla bla. I just don't want to hear it anymore....

So I've stopped listening. I will educate myself as much as possible, whether it be through my doula, my yoga teacher, my books, my positive-thinking supportive friends, my own intuition. I realize that things don't always go as planned, but I can keep an open mind, I can indulge in positive thoughts and wishes, I can empty my mind of expectations and fill it with empowering possibilities.

And I can always throw on a pair of headphones and maybe one of these t-shirts:

Snoogle Me!

I have a new best friend. It's soft and cuddly and takes such good care of me. I am oh-so glad that we got together. I believe that everyone should have one - pregnant or not!

The Snoogle Total Body Pillow! Seriously, one of the greatest inventions of all time! They even have smaller sizes for kids. How awesome is that!? I feel like I'm being cradled all night long. Or depending on the position, continuously spooned. And when breakfast-in-bed comes a-knockin', I can just double it up and prop myself up against it. Be sure to click on the additional positions so you can get a good overall feel for the cozy Snoogle experience.

On the prego-health front, we had a doc appointment on Monday. As always, I was concerned about my weight and swelling ankles. But doc says that all is great. I'm gaining weight at a very normal rate, my blood pressure is perfect, my ankles could be worse and the baby's heartbeat is a-rockin away! Only 102 days to go!

24 weeks - Make My Day

Only 107 days to go! And boy oh boy is this belly ever expanding. I've just started my seventh month, what the heck will it look like by the 9th!?!? Remember this cute little bump.....

16 weeks

well, it's turned into this gorgeous lump-o-baby! I've been giving it a daily slathering of belly butter and so far -- not a stretch mark in sight. My vanity is most grateful...

24 weeks

I remember thinking to myself, "how do women do it!? how can they carry all of that weight!?". And the answer is -- you get used to it! It's awkward and uncomfortable but manageable. I absolutely love it! And so does Jay. He'll come home from work and go straight for the belly. I have to remind him every now and then, "yo, babe, I'm up here!"

On another note, I've been "awareded"! Thanks Joyce!

Now I'm supposed to “Give the award to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about blogland. Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on. Beware you may get the award several times.”

My Make My Day Ten:

• Easy Way Out
• It's the Hormones
• Not An Artist
• My Sensitive Girl Hole
• I'm Not Bad...
• Purl This
• Unplumbedshallows...
• And She Knits Too
• My So-called Anonymous Life
• KoKopalooza

Baby Kicks and Aqua Bellies

Jay's been waiting and waiting and waiting to feel the baby kick. He'll sit next to me on the couch with his hand on my belly, like he's waiting for a sign. He'll sing and talk and try to coax a kick, but nothing. Until this morning! Papa Jay felt his first kick! He claims that it was a flying backwards scissor kick that made contact with his palm. A move she learned in the cervix, back when she was semen first class. I have a feeling that it was just a poke. And Jay has a vivid imagination. I'm so glad that Jay is finally able to share in the fascinating world of the moving-growing-inside-the-belly-baby. Kicks, pokes, tumbles and all!



On the exercise front -- I took an aqua bellies class last night and it was quite the experience! Most of the time I thought I was gonna drown! I learned quickly to stay as close as possible to the shallow end, but with 14 preggos jumping up and down, creating waves and currents against my 5 feet nada frame I thought I might get pulled under at any moment. I kept one eye on the instructor and the other on the lifeguard at all times! Maybe next time (if there is a next time) I should strap on some sort of floating device to keep me from going under. Don't get me wrong, the class was excellent. And I'm so glad that I gave it a try. We used flutter boards to work our butts and noodles for our abs and these Styrofoam weight things to work our upper bodies - a very thorough workout. But it just wasn't for me. I like floating around and relaxing in the water or cooling off at the beach on a hot day, but I'm no mermaid. I'll embrace my granola side and stick with the yoga. A true A-blood type-Taurus, I need my head relaxing in the clouds and my feet firmly planted on the ground.

Workin' It!

Week 23 - Workin it! The bump just keeps expanding like some sorta crazy human water balloon! Except that it's not jiggly. It's hard and taut and oh-so-strange. I thought that tummy rubs from others would drive me nuts, but I'm actually not minding it so much. As long as they don't try to lift my shirt. Yes, someone tried. I threatened to grab her breasts if she tried it again. Sheesh! But I understand, it really is such a curious and fascinating "thing" I can see why people just want to reach out and touch and rub and talk to it. Jay will just grab it and start singing to it and Katie-Oh insists on speaking to the bump in an Irish accent, just to be sure that the baby will know that it's her when they finally do meet.

The body's expansion has me worried about weight gain. Although our doc has reassured me that I'm gaining at a very normal rate, being 5 feet nada has me a bit concerned. The yoga has been great and yesterday I braved the gym where I hit the elliptical and then the pool. Very nice. And tonight I will give this one another go....



Prenatal Fitness Fix with Erin O’Brien is great. She starts off the DVD with her side profile and a Hitchcock imitation. Ah the belly jokes! She's 7 months pregnant so it's amazing to watch her go. She's so energetic and motivational and conscientious. She stops for water breaks, constantly reminds you to breathe and even takes a pee break half way through. too hilarious! There's also a partner workout section where her husband acts as the nautilus machine for weight training. Jay and I have yet to go there.

I feel that, not only am I carrying around another little human that I am completely responsible for (thanks to Jay for all of the delicious and healthy meals) but I'm also training for a marathon aka LABOUR (!!). I intend on being fully prepared!

A Special Note

Jay and I received the most wonderful note today....

from Cousin Ben

We must admit, our nephew Ben was not thrilled with the prospect of us having a girl. Ben had guessed Boy and was pretty adamant about it. But we have recently learned that regardless of the baby's lack of testosterone he is still glad that there will be a brand new cousin for him to play with. Thanks Ben, we're glad too!