Ready for the Tropics!!

Little B3 is not so little anymore. The size of a deliciously, juicy Pineapple. At this size, he loves to kick my ribs WHILE punching my bladder and wriggling and writhing around at any time of day. I am beginning to imagine him just ripping open my stomach to say "hey." Awesome image, huh?

Along with his ginormous size, he's brought along some friends. Sore back, heartburn and insomnia. It's a lovely trio of symptoms. I feel badly complaining since trimesters uno and dos were simply easy-going, carefree and simple. But I'm about done. He's wearing out his welcome!

Doctor visits haven't been terribly pleasant. Another ultrasound showed that his brain cysts disappeared, but it also showed signs of craniosynostosis, like his Uncle Patrick had. Basically, his head shaped showed signs that his coronal suture had prematurely fused. Yet another ultrasound gave us no answers. I've decided not to worry about it until after he is born. There's not a darn thing they can do for them before he's delivered anyway.

Because his head is appearing large (and possibly inflexible), there's a chance he won't fit naturally---which changes my plan for a completely natural birth, possibly. I may have to settle for a cesarean section. Not the end of the world, but not ideal. Life goes on.

As it stands, I have 45 days left. That's a month and a half. But who's counting?

Deliciously Autumn-ish

Little B3 is now the size of a butternut squash. He doesn't feel so little anymore! The third trimester hasn't been my favorite. The heartburn is killing me. Waking up sick to my stomach because of it. I have noticed, however, that I am getting some sleep....broken as it may be. Not a lot of time spent in REM.

All-day-Long fatigue has revisited me. I spend all day fighting the urge to sit on the couch and do absolutely nothing!

Anxiety setting in as well. Still am trying to figure out a lot of things. Birthing classes haven't done much to ease my fears of childbirth.

This week, I have an ultrasound to see if the cysts on B3's brain went away. Fingers are crossed. Doctors aren't worried. I successfully passed the 1-hour glucose test a week ago. That's a relief! I was really worried. Jeff and I signed up for an Infant First Aid, CPR and AED certification course. We're hoping to never have to use those skills.

I've applied for school. The Masters of Arts in Teaching program at USC...hopefully I'll have a job teaching Elementary school in September 2012! Fingers crossed!

Think that's it...until B3's a new fruit or veggie, CIAO!

Long Awaited update!

Well, it's been at least 6 weeks since I last posted an update. A lot has changed obviously! 26 weeks and 1 day along as it stands. 6 days left of the second trimester and 97 days left in the entire pregnancy. And I have no complaints! God is either tricking me into thinking this pregnancy thing is easy (therefore having my 4 should be a breeze) and has an awful plan to say "HAHA" next time...or people make it sound worse than it is to make it seem wonderful to first timers!

Other than worries about the sheer amount of weight I've gained, nothing is wrong. Ok, so I'm struggling to get comfortable sleeping, but it's not as bad now as it was before. I'm dealing with a few well-placed (and when I say well placed, I mean terribly placed) kicks and jabs into vital organs from B3.

I enjoy seeing him move...and he's oh so very active. It's simply the most wonderful joy so far! No doubting he's in there now!

His nursery is coming together very nicely. A wall painted. A trundle bed placed (mainly for Bonne Maman). A lovely dresser for his scads of clothing. Just have to put up the wall decorations and I'm trying to talk myself out of spending even more cash on wooden wall letters spelling out his name (which, by the way, we've finally agreed upon...but shhhh! it's a secret!).

Here's a picture of his sleeping quarters:

I think it's turning out just lovely...and I think he'll like it when he makes his appearance!

Jeff and I are taking our last plane trip, pre-baby, to California. We'll visit Great Grandma Baxter and then make our way up to the Bay Area, where we'll visit with family and meet B3's youngest older cousin, JR. I'm so excited!

We're three weeks removed from getting to see B3 again on an ultrasound. After receiving news of choroid plexus cysts on B3's brain, the doctors requested we make another appointment. They also insisted that these cysts are very common and that we shouldn't worry about it. Can't say that I haven't worried about it. *Sigh*

Time is really flying by.....soon enough, I'm going to be a Mom. That thought frightens and excites me at the same time!

Until next time!

One of my favorites!!!

B4 is now comparable in size to a cantaloupe! Growing right along here now. 21 weeks along in 30 minutes or so! Incredible. More than half over. WooT! WooT!

Raging hormones. Lack of motivation. Full panel pants. Tripping over my feet. Falling down stairs. Tightening stomach muscles--Braxton Hicks--caused, perhaps, by a UTI. Dry skin to the point of rash. Very sore lower back. Inability to get comfortable.

All in all. Pleasantness with a capital P.

Proud to say my weight gain as evened off. So far in this second trimester, I've gained 2 pounds. Yay!

I've been home all of 4 days this month. Is it a problem when you begin to need vacation from vacation?

I can't wait to get home for Christmas. It's been a minute since I've seen my fam. It'll be a good few weeks.

Mango Tango!

For the second week in a row, B4 formerly known as B3 is the size of a mango. Tomorrow marks a rather gigantic milestone for me, though. Tomorrow will begin my 20th week of pregnancy. That means I'm halfway done. Yay! and Yikes!

B4 is moving like a little champ. (A little less following the glass of wine last night. I'm certain it's a guilt trip!) I've SEEN my stomach move as he kicks. Jeff has felt it! It's wonderful. I find that when I'm sitting down--with my abdomen being squished a bit--he kicks a whole lot. "MAKE ROOM FOR ME!"

Now we're in Vegas watching Charlie Brown's Christmas special. *LOVE* We had a massage and mom had a mani/pedi in the spa here at the Venetian. Wonderful and lovely. We're not so much looking forward to the 4.5 hour flight tomorrow. BUT...it's shorter than the 6.5 hour flight to San Francisco we suffered through on the way. Little B4 enjoys making me uncomfortable!

Oh, B4 enjoyed a DELICIOUS ribeye steak at Tom Colicchio's craftsteak last night. WoW!!!!!!!!

Christmas time is sneaking up on me super fast! How will I find time to get everything done when I'm only going to be home for ONE WEEK in December??????

Oh dear.

B3 is now B4...

Jeff and I found out that our little B3 is now a B4 : Baby BOY Bump Baxter. So now I'm finished with the he/her issue. HE is growing big! I'm fairly certain I've felt him move. I know I've felt the fluttering occasionally, but I'm also certain I've felt a little kick with my hand. Chances are NO....but it's nice to think I did!

I've had a few braxton hicks contractions, I think. My stomach gets very tight and it's a slight cramping that goes away after a few seconds. Another thing I may have imagined...it's my first time, you know!

I've been reading to him a lot. I've read him Beatrix Potter, Dr. Seuss and a few French books by Hugo, Appolinaire and Dumas.

Jeff and I have been spending the holiday weekend mulling over thousands of baby boy names. Needless to say, we've made very little progress. Our list is 60+ names long...all of which one of us is unsure about. Oh boy. :P

Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

B3 is the size of an onion. Or a turnip:

Either way...the size of a pungent, smelly vegetable that many people don't like.

B3, though, is more noticeable. My (eww) uterus has moved up and out...and I can feel it. No hint of any baby arms or legs yet, but I can imagine that, at the rate of growth, it's getting close!

B3 also was with my as I worked my last day at my job. I'm taking the easy way out and giving myself all day to sleep enough and leave off for trips galore.

Jeff and I are on our way out tomorrow afternoon for West Virginia. We're going to the Greenbrier Resort to do some outdoorsy type things galore. Hopefully we'll get some good pictures and some fun experiences! I do know that I'm scheduled for my first prenatal massage....yuuuuuummmmmmmmm!!!! I'm spoiled rotten!

I'm still fighting my craving for boneless buffalo wings. It's a losing battle, but at least I've slowed my weight gain and haven't really gained in the last few weeks. I guess I can breathe a sigh of relief! Phew!

As I sit here, I'm noticing my newest side effect: a very sore lower back. Thanks to the newly protruding uterus (as opposed to just flabbbbbb), it was expected. Uninvited and unpleasant, but expected.

Off to bed. Yes. It's 9PM. But I got up at 4:30 AM.