Quarter Pounder

Actually, make that quarter of a hundred pounder. Doctors recommend pregnancy weight gain of 25-35 pounds, and I have hit the low mark! Since I was just four weeks out of surgery when I got pregnant, I was about five pounds under weight, so I have been given the go ahead to gain up to 40 pounds. I am hoping to level between the 30-35 pound mark, but we will see what this body does! I am still craving sweets way more than ever before, and my workouts are dwindling to nothing. At this point, I am not supposed to get my heart rate above 140. At the gym on Saturday, I did a moderate workout on the elliptical and my heart rate was at 160. I think I am going to be confined to walking at this point, which really stinks since there are few days of outdoor walks left this fall!

Thank you, thank you, thank you

I truly cannot thank everyone enough for making Columbus Day weekend in Boston a true weekend to cherish and remember. Even as I made the fifteen minute walk from baggage claim to my car dragging a 50 pound bag and a diaper bag full, I had a smile on my face. From meeting my new "niece," to hanging with my nephews, to visiting with friends and family, to spending the afternoon on the ocean in October, it was truly a special weekend. Thank you to everyone who helped make my shower so touching; if this baby has even half of the love that his mommy does, he will be a very lucky little boy indeed. I appreciate so much the fact that so many people took the time to celebrate with me and especially that so many people traveled so far to do so.

Pregnancy is Exhausting

Extreme Makeover Home Edition!

The house has gotten quite a make over in the past few weeks. We have a new roof over part of the house, a newly fixed ceiling and painted downstairs bathroom that we can finally use after three years, and a lot of rooms with new fuctions. This summer, Steve and I transformed the "changing room" (which housed our dressers and my closet) into the nursery. This weekend, we moved the guest room from the second to third floor. We will turn the now vacant room on the second floor into a playroom and the third floor is slowly becoming a grandparent suite! The move was no easy task as the box spring would not make the tight turn onto the third floor. So, instead of spending hundreds on a box spring that can be assembled at home, we got instructions off of the Internet for cutting a box spring and then putting it back together. Luckily, it worked perfectly, and the bed is now set up on the third floor. We are planning a full suite up there, complete with a full bath, a tv and sitting area and a table and chairs. We are hoping to have lots of visitors in the year and a half after the baby comes and want them to be comfortable and have some privacy. We also thought they might appreciate not sharing a wall with the baby's room!

Between Two Milestones

This past week marked the official beginning to the third trimester! This coming week I will hit 28 weeks, which is the marker for when all babies should be able to survive out of the womb (although with a lot of medical assistance) as their lungs are well enough developed to breath. Because the baby is able to survive outside of mommy, my ob visits are now every other week until 36 weeks, when they will become weekly visits!

Registries

Some people have been asking Steve where we are registered, and he pointed them to the blog for the answer. So, I figured I better post it!

babiesrus (online and in store)
amazon.com
landofnod.com

Slowly but Surely...

The nursery is coming along. When I was in Boston in August I had my one and only pregnancy anxiety dream. In the dream, I was going into labor, and Steve and I were not prepared! We didn't have a car seat or a crib or anything! Thanks to Nana Ann and Jim's help with our crib and Costco's amazing deal on our dresser and changer, we are getting closer and closer to ready. Unfortunately, at this point if the baby came he would be sleeping on bed springs, as we don't have a mattress or bedding yet. Good thing we still have three months (and 8 days) to go!

What a Difference a Few Weeks Makes

Follow my bump progression at 10 day intervals: 22.5 weeks; 24 weeks; 25.5 weeks

A spine a daddy (who is going to be a spine surgeon) could be proud of

The anatomy ultrasound was one of the most exciting moments of the pregnancy. We got to see every part of this baby boy from each bone, to his bladder to his boy parts. Unfortunately, we were unable to get a good view of his spine, as he takes after mommy's stubbornness. The anatomy ultrasound checks to make sure that everything is where it should be and growing in proportion (with the bonus of finding out the baby's gender). Most importantly, especially for daddy, is the spine measurement that is obtained during this ultrasound to rule out (along with a blood test) spina bifida. In order to get the measurement, the baby has to be face down in mommy's uterus so that the spine is exposed with room around it. Despite twisting every which way on the bed (including having it tipped so my head was way down), emptying my bladder twice to make more room for him, and dancing about the room try to shake him into a turn, he wouldn't budge. So, we had a wait another few weeks before breathing easily. On Saturday, September 10, at 22.5 weeks, we were able to return for another ultrasound. Luckily, the little man was face down at the start of the ultrasound. He was also head down for the first time in my pregnancy. Here's hoping he doesn't return to that breach position! Thankfully, baby's spine is formed and straight and all looks good! Oh, and he also has my ski-jump nose :-) Check out that profile!

Twenty Pounds: Now and Then

Skinny Bim was not ALWAYs skinny. Flashback to Australia 2002. I weighed then what I do now, twenty pounds heavier than my pre-pregnancy starting weight. Then, the beer calories pakcefd a heavy punch all over. This time around, the weight distribution has been a bit more flattering and for a better cause. After dedicated weight gain to my thighs and butt in the first half of the 2nd trimester, I have been gaining all belly since September began.

Ready to be a big brother

These kitties really have no idea what they are in for. But for now, they are very excited (and oblivious) about all things baby. Patrick doesn't skip a beat when climbing on mommy's lap; he just gets perched up a little higher these days. Every moment I spend in the nursery, Patrick and Nikki join me and are very curious about all of the new additions to the house. Patrick was especially interested in this new bed that mommy got for him!