33 WEEKS: WE ARE READY FOR THIS SH*T!

Dudes.  7 weeks to go.  The mind...she is blown.

BIRTHING CLASS.
First and foremost - WHO SIGNS THOSE RELEASE FORMS TO ALLOW CAMERAS UP IN THEIR N'YAH AS THEY GIVE BIRTH - AND IF YOU KNOW YOU'RE HAVING YOUR BUSINESS FILMED, MAYBE GO AHEAD AND DO SOME TRIMMING DOWN THERE IN ANTICIPATION!!

This was actually a pretty positive experience.  It solidified in my mind that I want no part of an epidural (unless for some reason I have to have a C-Section) and it made us both feel really confident and ready for this to happen.  They taught us how to breathe, how Zach can help me, and what exactly is happening at which stage of the game.  I am so glad we took it, and Zach was really thankful to learn a little more about what's going on in there and what will be happening when she decides she's ready to come meet us.  It was at the hospital we're delivering at, so it was especially great to get information directly from them.

BNut is measuring in around 17.2 inches (in theory) and her brain is developing even more and her skin is turning pink.  She's just fattening up to face the outside world.  (Don't tell Hansel and Grettel - they know this which that likes fattened children)  Evidently, this is also a time in her life where she has to pummel my organs approx. every 1.5 hours.  It's pretty great.  I'm not sure when she's sleeping, but it isn't when I sleep or when I'm awake.

She also has this new trick of pushing on my bladder pretty much constantly.  I know transverse isn't the way we want to be at this stage in the game, but it sure made it easier to to breathe and not run to the bathroom every 5 minutes.

Attached is my latest profile.  This is from 31 weeks, so it's already 2 weeks old, but you get a pretty good idea of how we're doing.

Well, she's kicking my belly button again and rolling her head back and forth - time to sign off and hit the ladies room...again...

WEEK 32: MERRY BESS-MAS

UPDATE: Never made it back to Neb for Christmas.  Won't be back until May as I am officially grounded from traveling now.  Sigh.

Oh, Hi All!

Well, here it is - the last trip we'll take before we have a car seat to snap in and out of - before we have to stop at rest areas to change diapers - before we finally snap and decide that VW Beetle has GOT. TO. GO.

We're headed off to Nebraska for Christmas and bringing back with us the crib and mattress and any stray family members that live in Chicago that did not plan for how they'd get home.  I'm looking forward to seeing everyone, but with only 8 weeks (57 days) to go, I'm not looking forward to sitting for 7 hours straight.  You would think I'd like sitting on my bum for so long, but Bess has other plans.  There isn't one position she and I can agree on these days.  "Oh, did you want to lay on your side mom?  I was thinking the other side.  Did you want to sit down on the sofa?  That's cool, I'll just push on your bladder again so you have to get up."

By they way - Turd Furgeson in there punched me so hard the other day that I FELT KNUCKLES!  1.  it's pretty cool to feel your baby's hand for the first time, but 2. kiddo!  that's some hard punching!

I also think she's moved to a new position.  Before I was all across-ways and her little head was definitely on my left side, but I think she's in a more up and down position because my abdomen is now shaped totally differently and there is a definite change where the movement happens now (mostly under my belly button - which feels as tingly and icky as it sounds - and on my bladder - which also feels as icky as it sounds)

I can't believe this little lady will be with us next Christmas!  She'll have a stocking.  She'll be able to smile for a picture, and we'll be able to hold her and hang out with her and to quote Jean Shepherd, all will be right with the world.

Month 8, feelin' great.

Merry Christmas,
Emily

WEEK 31: FALL DOWN GO BOOM

Hi All,   (and by 'all' I mean those of you that are strangely still reading this.)

Sorry for the delay, but technically the roll-over is on Wednesdays, so I'm not THAT late. 

We only have 9 weeks to go, and next week I'll be making my last trip until after Bess is up for travel.  I am looking forward to our big trip - I know it's hectic and commercialized and we have to run everywhere, but I still love Christmas inspite of itself.  It's kind of my jam.  We were actually able to get presents for people this year, too! 

As some of you may know, I have been afraid of falling on the bus or train since I started this journey.  I have been diligently holding on to as many things as I can while on the bus (because 'yeild your seat to a pregnant person' is a myth.  which is actually fine - I'm capable of standing, I just don't want fall down!) and I was geting so close to the end of the pregnancy without falling. 

And may I just say, me going 31 weeks without falling down is a pretty impressive feat, even when I'm not pregant!

At any rate, Wednesday night I was on the bus headed to the train.  Most busses have poles to hold on to, but this bus was an older style with just handles on the seat backs.  Driver hits the breaks, and I hit the floor.  Right on my butt.  It didn't even hurt, I was just pretty embarrassed.  Of course, after I fell, some guy (who helped break my fall because he was sitting in the seat I was holding on to) raised a fuss.  "She's pregaant!  Someone should give her a seat!" 

Not him, but someone should...

Anyway, Bess is getting bigger and stronger everyday!  She's punching and kicking so hard these days that it takes my breath away sometimes!  (naughty baby!)

I promise to get week 32 up tomorrow so I can get us back on the Sunday rotation.

Cookie baking time!
-Em

WEEK 30: SERIOUSLY? ONLY TEN TO GO?

Gang.  I'm freaking out a little.  We only have 10 weeks left.   Our crib is in a box in my mom's shed in Nebraska.  The mattress to it is on a farm - a farm that belongs to people notorious for burning found upholstered items.  The room is in dissarray and we are in need of a few key items still. 

Ten weeks.

What happened to the time?  How did it get to be week 30?  I mean, I want her to come out - I really do - I'm just scared.  I'm having nightmares of these horrible things happening to her because I'm incompetent.  I have so many things left to get ready.

On the list of pretty great things, we got ourselves a copy of Pat the Bunny!  Some friends of ours got us some books - Pat the Bunny, Goodnight, Moon and The Little Engine that Could.  Yeah - naturally I've already read them and patted the bunny about a million times.  They also got us a cookbook for how to make our own babyfood and what toddlers like to eat as they get older.  It's pretty great, because I don't know what a 9 month old can and cannot eat - and here it is spelled out in the book for me!!  One less worry for this neurotic mommy!

Bess is kicking away like crazy in there.  She's really making herself at home - a lopsided home, but a home nonetheless.

...And considering how nervous I'm starting to get, she can get as comfortable as she needs to be!