Fast Forward - Week 36

I had a doctor appointment on Friday and they officially have my due date as January 1 - true to the generic title of this blog. But I like January 7th better and really its nobody's decision but the baby's when it wants to come out. Anywho, that means I now visit the doctor every week. I have met all the doctors - 1 of the 8 I don't like at all, I have 1 favorite, and the rest are really nice and smart.
The doctor said everything looks good and the head is down. I had a day with almost no movement (scary) but the baby got the message we don't like that and has been squirming around ever since. It doesn't keep me up at night, although I have not been sleeping well lately. Hopefully this means its on the sleep at night schedule.
I have a feeling the next 24 days are going to fly by with getting ready for Christmas and finishing the final preparations for baby. This time of year is always fun, but this year is extra exciting!

Thankful

I have so much to be thankful for this year - I am thankful for every day I get to spend with the man of my dreams, my wonderful friends and family, the miracle growing inside, Chad and I both have jobs, I am gaining an awesome brother and sister in law,and I live in a country where you don't have to pay to use the bathroom! Hooray!! (that could get expensive for a pregnant lady)

My loved ones have been treating this pregnant woman VERY well. Concerned about my comfort during the last month of hugeness, my mom and sister got me these comfy pajamas (socks & slippers too!). Thanks Mom and Annie!

My husband made me the tastiest turkey vegetable soup from scratch - I call it comfort in a bowl. I savored every spoonful, the baby liked it too:) Thanks hun - I am so lucky to have such a talented personal chef!

34 weeks on Thanksgiving!

Oh my gosh - could this be right?!? The baby weighs around 5 lbs! He/she better save some room for turkey, pie, and oyster stew! The baby has cute, chubby fat and is regulating its own body temp. My body temp has been very warm during this pregnancy. Its a battle in the car - I'm constantly asking Chad to turn down the heat -Very uncharacteristic for me. I can't even button my coat anymore! The latest challenges: laying down, getting up, and putting shoes on. 150 was the magic number at the doctors today - I almost weigh 150 and the baby's heart rate was in the 150s.

I wasn't kidding when I said how much I like breakfast food. This is one of the 4 blueberry pancakes I had for dinner!

33 Weeks

Baby West is around 4 lbs - the size of a pineapple! He or she gets really excited when hearing his/her dad's voice. His/Her most distinctive features - butt (thanks mom!) and head (thanks dad!). Sometimes I think the baby's head is going to rip through my skin! Its hard to believe it might still double in weight - where will it all go!?
Last night we saw Where the Wild Things Are in the theater and the baby was moving a lot during the loud parts and music. I think we will introduce the book first :)
I have thought of some foods I have really liked during pregnancy. I don't know if I would call them cravings because I haven't gone out to get anything in the middle of the night, but here are some of my favorite things:

-toast with butter or jelly. Actually any breakfast food - pancakes, waffles, eggs, french toast

-soup

-applesauce

-peanuts/peanut butter, PB&J, PB and chocolate on bananas, peanuts & raisins/craisins

-this hot lunch we had in grade school with this mystery chicken or turkey in a gravy sauce that was poured over rice or instant mashed potatoes - I know, random. I don't know where to satisfy this weird craving!

Lazy Days

I don't think I have ever been so lazy in my life. It feels so good. I have been more chilled out in the past 8 months, not feeling like I have to be doing something productive every second of the day. My workout at the YMCA is now down to just stretching. Evenings are walking Valentine and doing dishes, or making dinner. Then I sometimes blog, snuggle with my puppy, veg on the couch, and go to bed at 10:00 sharp! Weekends are delighfully un-eventful - sleeping in, going for walks, watching movies. I am enjoying this now because things will be a lot different in about 50 days.
Today I am loathing being at work. All I can think about is vacation and not working. Approx 30 more work days - I think I can handle that ;)

Favorite pregnancy products

I have made it 8 months with no stretch marks, which probably has nothing to do with this St. Ives lotion, but I still lather it on every day. I couldn't stand the smell of Palmers Coco Butter, so I chose St. Ives based on the smell and vitamin E.

My maternity wardrobe consists of 2 pairs of dress pants, 1 pair of jeans, and about 10 dresses. I was shopping with my sister this summer and looking at all the cute maxi dresses and thinking dresses would be really comfortable for a pregnant belly. But what was I going to wear in the winter? My sister had the brilliant idea of still wearing dresses- just with tights and boots for the colder weather. My under armor is so comfortable - leggings and a tank top. Throw a dress on top with a sweater and flat boots and you are all set to go!
My leotard

I look like a pregnant ballerina




















My friend Jenny sent me this really yummy tea. Thanks Jen - you are so thoughtful!

I have not had much trouble sleeping on my side. I have always been a stomach sleeper, so hugging this body pillow really helps. Rolling over is getting more difficult each day.

Week 31

9 weeks left - that should get the shock reaction out of a few people! Yes, only 9....looking to 9 fun weeks of Thanksgiving, first snow, Christmas - it is probably 9 of the best weeks in the year! I love the atmosphere of the holidays downtown...Christmas shopping, white lights, Hollidazzle parade.

The baby is now around 3 lbs and 16 inches - no wonder I am feeling so much squirming! I just had some lentil soup for lunch and he/she really liked that! The babe is going through a big growth spurt gaining lots of fat. So for the health of my child I feel obligated to eat lots of icecream - banana cream pie blizzards and just about any flavor of Haagen Dazs.

I may have felt 2 Braxton-Hicks contractions. Not sure, but the past 2 nights I have had a 30 second cramping pain. Also the linea negra is making an apprearance down the middle of my belly.

Belly Button Bullseye

My belly button has not "popped" yet, but its getting there. It is certainly not the deep inny I once had. It is now the pinnacle of my stretching protruding belly, which can make it a little tender. Especially when I get an elbow or a little fist anywhere in the vicinity. But I can't complain, I love the movement.

I attended another baby class at Abbott the other night. This is the first thing I saw on the power point when I walked in. Nice. The class wasn't that great, but the teacher was hilarious - she reminded me of Rachel Ray. Not that I think Rachel Ray is really funny, but the hard edge accent made the topic more interesting. Breastfeeding is not a hard sell and I'm optomistic about it. Just overwhelmed at the time I will need to be available (ALL the time) and fearing not being able to ever leave the house. Ask me in April how I feel about pumping ;)

30 weeks

The baby is doing new tricks to get my attention - like kicking in new places! So far, most the kicks have been on my sides just under my ribs. I love relaxing, laying down, watching protruding bumps move around. Sometimes a flurry of kicks will make my belly shake! I think the rhythmic small movements I feel are hiccups. All very cute. Kicking further down is not so cute or comfortable! So the baby has 10 weeks to flip from head up to head down. Mom and Dad have 10 weeks to: paint 2 bedrooms, hallway, bathroom, rip out all carpet on first floor, refinish wood floors, buy a couch, assemble the crib, do the holiday thing, and whatever else is on the long list of getting ready for baby!


Last weekend we learned about childbirth for 6 hours straight! Chad was the best father - actively participating as a volunteer to demonstrate "pushing". As you can imagine he made the whole room crack up. I hope I can smile as I remember his attempt at pushing when I am going through that stage in a couple months!

I passed!

Well, I passed the glucose test. And then I passed out!
I went in at 8:00am to chug the "orange drink". I didn't think it was that bad. Then I saw the doctor - talked about H1N1 and a little about early signs of labor. She said the heartbeat is good and no cervix activity, so now we're on to bi-weekly visits.
So I am waiting in the lobby and feel really tired and hot. I get called back for the blood test-no big deal-I dont have a problem with needles. But I start to feel light headed and sweaty. I tell the nurse I feel like I'm going to pass out, so I put my head down, took deep breaths and she brought me an ice pack. I felt like I was sleeping hard for a long time, so I dont know how long I was out. Thankfully I was sitting in the lab chair the whole time. She brought me a juice box and I felt much better, but have been exhausted all day.

Here is some 28 week belly - still looks pretty low...is it a boy???

Startle kick?

Some of the loud noises that produce a kick: the postage machine at work, clanking of doing dishes in our tiny sink, 6:00 am alarm clock. Baby can tell the difference between light and dark and also responds to dad's voice. 85 days to go!!!

I had the baby dream...

I don't think I have had a dream about the baby until last night. I don't remember it exactly, but I was going on a trip or going somewhere on a plane. The baby's foot was emerging from my belly button then going back in! Then the whole baby came out of my belly button and it was very tiny and I put it back in my belly - WEIRD! What's your interpretation of that!?!

My drive to work was dark, cold, and rainy this morning. When I got downtown I saw the most unusual rainbow! The sky to the east was pink and the sky to the west was black and right down the center was a colorful, vertical rainbow. It looked like it was coming out of the Foshay Tower up into the sky. It was so beautiful against the skyline in the morning dawn.

I had my first experience with a stranger rubbing my belly this morning. I was standing by my desk and a customer felt the need to rub (not just touch). It could have been because the UofM "M" is really big right on my belly and I think it makes it look extra big and irresistable to touch! She predicted a boy - if that is valid for anything. I didn't think I would mind and I guess I really didn't care, but it was a little strange.

Sunday Night Party

OK, it must be the football because Sunday nights are the babys weekly kick fest. Last night was even harder and more frequent than last week! Its fun and exciting because Chad can really feel the baby move now too.
This weekend I cleaned the attic and closets upstairs so I can start moving stuff up there in the transition from "office" to "baby room". I also made a pumkin pie to satisfy a little craving I was having :) Who says pumpkin pie is only for Thanksgiving?!

Active weekend for all 3

Sorry I don't have a belly pic yet, but I do have a kicker! I don't know if it was all the football watching or all the delicious food I ate this weekend, but a certain someone has been kicking up a storm! The normal activity is usually around 10 pm, almost immediately after I lay down in bed. Saturday night the kicks were much stronger and I could actually distinctly feel 2 feet. Today Baby West has been up and about since 5 am! I love feeling this movement and watching my belly jerk around.
We had a WONDERFUL weekend with so many great people! Friday we had double date night on a budget with our friends Tammy and Kevin - proof that fun doesn't need to be expensive. We went out for pizza then saw a movie outdoors at the UofM - right next to my old dorm! Saturday we went to Eloise's 1st birthday. She was such a happy birthday girl and loved all the festivities - another gorgeous day with a great bunch of friends. Sunday we went to church and breakfast with Uncle Dan and Auntie Belle. I really enjoy spending one on one time with family because family events can get so big you don't really get to talk to people. I am so lucky to have the sweetest god parents! We watched a little football before heading of to Joel & Jessica's wedding at Lake Nokomis. It was a beautiful, intimate ceremony in the park followed by dinner and bowling at Elsie's. We are so happy that Joel & Jessica found each other - they make such a great couple!
It is almost 8:30am and the baby is still wiggling around in there! I better start baby-proofing the house because we've got an active one on our hands!

Status Update

If I was on facebook, or had a facebook, or a wall or whatever I would "update my status" to: My arm hurts. Then all the world would know that my arm hurts and we would have a great relationship. I wasn't sure what you call the part of facebook where you write a sentence about what you are currently doing so I tried to find it on wikipedia. I think its called a status update. I learned a few other randoms about the social media: it was started as a site to post pictures and rate and vote on who is "hotter", its banned in china - what if I have a friend in China? how will we ever be friends???, at first it was only available to ivy league schools. So you will not find me on facebook, but it is my goal for my child to have a page by the time he or she is 2 weeks old :)
Anywho, the reason my arm hurts is because I got a flu shot today. I never remember flu shots hurting this much, but delicate is not the word to describe the nurse who administered the shot. I had my monthly appointment which consisted of: waiting 40 minutes for the doctor, finding out my blood type is B+ (beee positive), hearing the hearbeat (still amazing), and the doctor asking if I had ever had an eating disorder (after I asked why I am not showing much for 6 months). No, I do not have never "held back" on food. I love food and love being pregnant and eat all the time and buy more than 1 tub of icecream at a time. I also went to the farmers market on nicollet mall today and got tons of produce for $15: honey, cilantro, onions, mangoes, grapes, strawberries, and squash.
24 weeks today! - I'll try to remember to take a belly pic when I get home.

A Day in the Life...

Today I woke up at 6:20am. I could feel the baby waking up about 6:40am as I was putting on my makeup. I had breakfast at work - oatmeal, calcium fortified orange juice, and hot chocolate. All those beverages resulted in me making several trips to the restroom! We do not have a bathroom in our office, so its a good chance to get some exercise walking to the bathroom so much! I actually enjoy these frequent walks because I can feel the baby most when I really gotta go! I was starving again by lunch so I had pasta, a big salad, and cherry crisp. I also try to drink a lot of water. Now I am so full! After I have yogurt for a snack and salmon for dinner I should have met all my nutrition requirements for the day. Its a big job keeping this growing babe healthy!

The Secret is Finally Out!

We decided to keep our little bundle of joy a secret for the traditional 3 months to make sure everything was safe and sound. But man, it was a LONG 14 weeks! We promised each other we would not tell a soul until our parents were informed. We were so excited to share the good news - we were counting down the days!
We were able to gather up almost all the Hancock side to meet in Milwaukee for a Brewer game. We got our tailgate on in the parking lot and everyone was gathered around when I asked Annie if it would be OK to invite one more person to her wedding next July. Being the sweetheart she is she replied yes, never suspecting I was referring to a baby. So I had to drop another hint -"this person will need a high chair". One by one the Hancocks processed what they just heard and there were tears of joy. The rest of the evening was a blast - the game was really fun and the Brewers even won!

We didn't celebrate Father's Day with Dad West, so we thought that would be the perfect excuse to get together to share our news. We had the West side over for pizza (from Grandpa Tony's - very appropriate). We had fun talking at dinner, but the whole time Chad and I couldn't wait to tell them! After the BEST dessert I ever had (brownie with ice cream and raspberries - a pregnant woman's dream) we gave Dennis his "Fathers" day card. He first noticed the ultrasound picture of our tadpole, but didn't make the connection. Then he read "we really mean Happy Grandfathers Day!" He looked directly at me - "You're pregnant?!!!" They were shocked and happy! Its so fun making your parents grandparents!

May 19th

We had our first ultrasound today! Chad and I both work downtown, so we were able to walk a few blocks over to the clinic on our lunch break. The technology was amazing and we were able to see our little tadpole and its heartbeat! They said based on its size and the forming of the head we were almost 7 weeks along - which puts my due date at January 7, 2010 (possible New Years Baby!) I have been feeling pretty good - really tired but I cannot complain. I stopped running, but still try to work out and walk at least 1 mile a day. Current cravings: strawberry anything, chicken noodle soup (NOT canned), burgers, sub sandwiches (I can't have deli meat), and of course other yummy things that all people love like ice cream and onion rings - so dont really think that counts as a craving!

May1

Chad was startled from his deep sleep early Friday morning. His wife literally jumped on him and shoved a positive pregnancy test in his face-We were so estatic! I felt that overwhelming giddy happiness and excitement I felt after Chad proposed - nothing could wipe the huge smile from my face. Lets just say it was hard to concentrate on anything the rest of the day. We had the test confirmed at the clinic that afternoon. It must have been obvious we wanted this baby because the nurse seemed liked she felt privledged to give us the good news. What a happy, exciting time in our lives but we decided to keep it a secret until at least the 12th week. It was a challenge, as I was going home the next weekend for Mothers Day!