Hospital update.

Nope, still no baby. We checked into L&D at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. It's now about 2:30 a.m. on Thursday and this munchkin is still hanging tight in my belly. I've had a pretty rough 32 hours here at the hospital. Lots of strong contractions through 2 doses of Cervadil, but still only 1 cm dilated as of about 11:00 p.m. tonight. Pitocin was started at midnight and is already given me some pretty serious contractions. I'm not sure how long they'll run the Pitocin, but I'm hoping we'll be parents by lunchtime! Please send your thoughts and prayers to Room 12!

Merry Christmas, baby.

Baby Reeder,

Well, we celebrated Christmas today and you were certainly present, just not in the way we thought you'd be. You're still safely tucked away in Mommy's belly, about as comfy as ever. You've been kneeing Mommy a lot lately, an indication that you're just about out of room in there. But that hasn't motivated you to get movin'; you've stayed put in a little curled up ball. If we didn't have your birthday scheduled for next week, we'd worry you might stay in there forever!

You were at the forefront of our minds all day today (not like you aren't every day, but it was especially overwhelming today.) We both rubbed Mommy's belly a lot today and pushed back on your little knee as it poked out of my right side. You got so many Christmas gifts from your grandparents, aunts & uncles, and cousins. They are all so excited to meet you and get to know you. Mommy & Daddy have a few gifts for you as well, and we'll leave them all under the tree until you come home with us.

Mommy and Daddy can't wait for you to become our tiny roommate. We are thrilled to know we'll be ringing in the new year with you next week. We love you more than you'll ever know, a love that we promise will grow more and more each and every day. Merry Christmas, sweetheart. See you soon!

Love,
Mommy & Daddy :)

Baby Reeder on Christmas Day at 40w2d

D-Day.

Well, we've hit our due date. The little baby on the countdown over on the right side of the blog is going to fall off the page soon. I'm not quite as sad as I expected today; it's bittersweet. While I'd love to have my precious baby to snuggle with, I'm finally at peace with the idea of giving her one more week in there. It's just me and her right now; after she comes out, I have to share her with the world. So I'm going to try really hard to savor these last few days :)

How far along?: 40 weeks, 0 days.
Total weight gain/loss: +2 this week, +25.5 overall.
How big is baby?: Big. No real way to know for sure, but since she's coming a week late, I'd imagine she'll be over 8 lbs (hopefully not over 9...gulp.)
Maternity clothes?: Ditto last week.
Sleep: Inconsistent.
Movement: Maybe a little slower and less frequent.
Labor signs: Still nada. But here's what the husband and I were discussing the other day: we're all rookies - me, the baby, and the uterus. None of us know what the heck we're supposed to do. How is my little one supposed to know it's time to come out now? How's my ute supposed to know it's supposed to start spazzing out on me? I mean, we're not exactly experienced here.
Food Cravings: I can't wait for Christmas day. Egg souffle for breakfast & Honeybaked ham for dinner. Brilliance.
Gender: Almost time to find out :)
Belly button in or out?: Flat-ish.
What I miss: Nothing really.
What I am looking forward to: Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Best moment this week: Being given a light at the end of this long tunnel.
Weekly Wisdom: Pregnancy is great for your bowling game. We celebrated the big day today with a couple games of bowling. Why not try to bowl this kid out, you know? Anyway, bowled the best 2 games of my life. This bowling ball under my shirt provided the perfect amount of balance, apparently.
Milestones: Due date day! It's so hard to believe that this day is here. Even harder to believe the baby isn't. They really should give women a 2-week window instead of one specific day. If they had said I was due "between Dec 16-30", it'd be a heck of a lot easier to wait one more week!

Eviction Notice.

Tenant Name: Baby Reeder
Address: Mommy's Belly
Date of Eviction: December 29th

7 day notice for EVICTION. Tenant will have 7 days in which he can either gather his belongings and promptly vacate the premises, or wait until the final day. After which, he will be physically removed from the property.

Reasons for eviction: Breech of contract and destruction of property. Minimal expansions, within reasonable limits, were discussed. These limits have been exceeded, especially to the front of the home. Remodeling and gutting of the home was never approved, nor was changing the initial layout and base structure. And due to property damage, there are now leaks in both the upper AND lower levels of the home. On top of which, the landlord has received numerous complaints about nightly disturbances. After 7 days from this day that he doesn’t comply with the notice, immediate and forceful removal will result.

That's right, there is an end in sight now! We went to the doctor this morning, expecting to hear the same old story we've heard the last 4 weeks. Sure enough, Baby Reeder has still not entertained the idea of exiting. No reason to believe he will be coming anytime soon. While I was fully prepared to cry and beg for her to induce me next week, I didn't have to. The doctor told us they don't want me going more than 1 week overdue because the risks of the baby staying inside become greater than the risks involved with induction. So, we are being admitted to L&D at 6 p.m. next Tuesday (one week from today!) to get things started. Assuming he doesn't come before then and all goes well with the induction, Baby Reeder will have a December 30th birthday :)

9 plus.

I'm officially over nine months pregnant. This is crap. Pregnancy is technically 9 mos. + 1 week, so I'm well into that lovely little +1 week. And on Wednesday, I'll enter the 2nd one. Meaning, if this kiddo decides to stay put until the end of the month (when I check myself into Labor & Delivery with or without the consent of my OB and use xmas cookies to bribe the nice nurses to hook me up to Pitocin), I'll be 9.5 months pregnant. Nine AND A HALF. I didn't sign on for that.

I'm also officially over being pregnant. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure I'm going to forget all about this in about 9 months or so and decide it's time to start again (once I see how ridiculously fantastic our child is). But right now? Yeah, I'm done. Let me tell ya what fun I'm having being uber-pregnant.

- About 3 things fit me that aren't sweats or tshirts.
- Pregnancy insomnia is the devil. And the severe lack of sleep has caught up to me today (hence the crankiness.)
- I've been congested for 2 weeks, which no amount of Claritin D seems to be able to fix.
- I get the most awful pitying looks from people now, especially when my answer to their nosy "when are you due?" is "Wednesday."
- This just in: 1st trimester morning sickness has returned. Serious nausea the last 2 days.
- I'm taking tissues to the doctor with me tomorrow because I already know I will burst into tears the minute she tells me I'm still not progressing.
- Unless you are the OB and you've just done a medical exam on me that indicates it might actually be true, hearing "It could be any day now!" only pisses me off. I'm starting to resent the optimism more than the pity.

Ah, pregnancy. As a whole, you've been a peach. This week, you're the pits. (That was such a horrible pun, I apologize. Actually, I don't, because I'm just too cranky to care.)

Baby Acrobatics

I finally caught this munchkin doing his gymnastics routine on video (this is my view of things, in case you couldn't figure that out). This freaks out his Daddy, which Mommy loves :)



p.s. Sound not required.
p.p.s. Notice the time? Yeah, pregnancy insomnia is the best.

So close, yet so far away.

How far along?: 39 weeks, 0 days.
Total weight gain/loss: +2 this week, +23.5 overall.
How big is baby?: Over 7 lbs and 20 inches long, apparently the size of a small watermelon. Awesome.
Maternity clothes?: Too small.
Sleep: I've determined the couch is just as "comfortable" (again, I use this term loosely) for me as my bed. Good news for the husband, as I wake him up constantly.
Movement: It's a circus in there, I swear.
Labor signs: Not a damn one. The doctor today: "I'm pretty sure this will be an after-Christmas baby." Um, thanks. Apparently this child hasn't even entertained the idea of coming out. And the first person that says to me "Oh, you've just made such a nice warm home for her in there, that's why she doesn't want to come out yet" is going to get slapped.
Food Cravings: I have no appetite.
Gender: We'll find out soon...maybe...
Belly button in or out?: Not totally out, but it pokes out of my shirts a little bit.
What I miss: Orange juice. Haven't had it in months.
What I am looking forward to: Contractions.
Best moment this week: Retiring.
Weekly Wisdom: I love my baby's daddy. That is all.
Milestones: There have been a couple days I haven't cried this week. Trust me, that's huge.

And I'm up....

It's pushing 4 a.m. and here I am. I think I've slept maybe 20 minutes of the last 4 hours. Everyone else is asleep, Baby Reeder included, but not mama. I've moved to the couch because my poor husband doesn't deserve to be woken up every 5 minutes by my shifting or attempts to breathe. I've had an exhausting last 4 days; so much so that you'd expect me to crash & burn right about now. Apparently my inability to turn off my brain is enough to overcome said exhaustion.

Ok, scratch that. Baby Reeder's now awake. Sorry, kiddo, but Mommy needed to eat those 2 chocolate cookies just now. Hope the sugar wasn't the culprit. And I'm still starving, so there may be more to come.

I think I'm in for a long rest of the night (morning? not sure what to call it at this point...) sigh.

I'm retired.

That's really all I have to say.

Oh yeah, and this:

:)

Almost there...

How far along?: 38 weeks, 0 days.
Total weight gain/loss: +0.5 this week, +21.5 overall. I think I might stay under that 25-35 lb range "they" recommend. I might just have to reward myself with something sweet :)
How big is baby?: 6 2/3 lbs and over 19.5 inches long.
Maternity clothes?: Real pants are replaced by sweatpants as much as possible now.
Sleep: So happy to say not bad. It's hit & miss, of course, but I've had quite a few good nights lately. Still only 1 bathroom break a night, probably because she's still too high to be squishing my bladder much.
Movement: She's a crazy child. Must take after her mother. Still dancing around like a madwoman.
Labor signs: I *think* she's dropped a tiny bit. Just a little. Lots of pressure down south and a little less trouble breathing. Still nothing to brag about, as I think she's warm and cozy and wants to stay in here until February. We'll find out tomorrow if I'm right at the doctor.
Food Cravings: Nothing in particular this week. But I've been plowing through gallons of milk, so this kiddo should have some strong bones.
Gender: It's a girl. I promise. Call it mother's intuition if you will. Time to start preparing yourself for this, husband. (p.s. this is one time when I will be more than happy to be wrong...)
Belly button in or out?: The top half is starting to pop out a tiny bit - so strange...
What I miss: As I near the end of all this and realize that I'll soon get to enjoy all the things I've "missed" this pregnancy, I've decided to reflect on what I'll miss about being pregnant: feeling her wiggle around, guilt-free eating, being told I look great (even if it's followed by "for being so pregnant"), elastic-waisted jeans, genuine surprise when I receive a swift little kick, resting my hand on my belly...
What I am looking forward to: Baby! Baby! Baby!
Best moment this week: Preparing my notes for my Exit Interview at work, as Friday is MY LAST DAY! It's about time I get to speak my mind about this place. I'll be going out with guns blazin' (though in a very professional way, I promise.)
Weekly Wisdom: Pregnant bellies are the best insulators. Man, am I hot. It's going to be 20ish degrees outside by the end of the day, and what did I wear to work? A tank top.
Milestones: Last week of work! In fact, as I write this (at work, haha), I have 11 hours left for the week. I'll be a retiree as of lunch time on Friday!

Jingle belly.

Baby Reeder at 37w4d

Oh, the belly. It's big, folks. And it aches. It's grown a little bit in the last few weeks, don't you think? These comparison photos just FASCINATE me. Each week, the husband takes them and I just stare at the little screen on my camera with my jaw hanging down. That's really me? Yowza. So anyway, here you go: Week 28 on the left, Week 37 on the right.

Seriously?!

Remember that discussion we had on tact? That was nothing. This wins.

"Did I pick the 19th as your due date? Where are you going to be on the 19th? (You might not want to reveal that info to me because I might google info on how to induce labor.)"

- In an email from a coworker, in reference to his Baby Reeder Split-the-Pot guess

You can't make this stuff up, folks. Creeper alert.

Full-term.

We're full-term, friends. This kiddo is fully cooked and just needs to work her way south when she wants to meet us :)

How far along?: 37 weeks, 0 days.
Total weight gain/loss: +1.5 this week, +21 overall.
How big is baby?: 6 1/3 lbs and over 19 inches long.
Maternity clothes?: It'll be weird to start shopping in the normal person section as opposed to the maternity section again. I can’t wait.
Sleep: Oddly enough, the bathroom breaks are down to only 1 a night. It's the aching back/belly/hips/etc. that wake me up every hour or so. I'm down to only being able to "comfortably" (I use this term loosely) sleep in one position....my poor left hip....
Movement: Party in my ribs, 24/7. The doctor goes "Oh yeah, that baby's right up in your rib cage, huh?" Um, duh.
Labor signs: Still not a thing, other than BH's. Absolutely no cervical progress at today’s OB appt, which is not at all surprising considering she's so darn high right now. I swear this kid is moving up rather than dropping. Typical.
Food Cravings: There's a piece of a Jersey Mikes club sub in my fridge that's calling my name.
Gender: C'mon, little one, let me give you a name already!
Belly button in or out?: Flat.
What I miss: Emotional stability.
What I am looking forward to: Christmas. Preferably with my baby in my arms and not in this big belly.
Best moment this week: Getting to spend some serious quality time with Baby Reeder’s daddy over the long Thanksgiving break.
Weekly Wisdom: There is definitely such a thing as “doing too much.” It often leads to pain, discomfort, occasional tears, and Tylenol PM.
Milestones: Full-term. Holy cow. It’s so surreal to make it to December. Any time now, baby, any time.

8 days.

I put in my "official" notice today that 12/11 is, in fact, going to be my last day of work.

8 days. I have 8 work days left (well, pretty much 7 as this day is about over). Then I get to peace out of this joint forever. And let me tell ya, it's about 2 years overdue. Can you tell that people are really ticking me off today? Ugh. The only consolation I have is that I get to start telling people I'm leaving and pawn them off on others, starting today. Now to figure out how to wipe this giant grin off my face while I do it...

My favorite place.

In honor of this food-filled Thanksgiving weekend (mmmm pie), feast your eyes on few pics of our finished nursery. Please note that Baby Reeder has a teeny tiny Christmas tree on his bookshelf; no room should be left Christmas-less :) The photos over the crib are of the husband and I as babies, with a spot in the middle for Baby Reeder when our family is complete. The collage over the dresser includes pics of Mommy & Daddy, both sets of Grandparents, an ultrasound photo, and a belly shot (the baby's first home!)

Now that my lovely rocking chair is in place, I can just sit in there and enjoy the peacefulness that will soon be overcome by an adorable screaming baby. Can. Not. Wait. :)

Under a month!

How far along?: 36 weeks, 0 days.

Total weight gain/loss: First, let me say that this is unexplainable to me as I a) no longer have an appetite and b) have a very squished, tiny stomach (not the belly, we're talking the organ itself.) That being said, +3.5 this week, +19.5 overall. Doctor isn't worried, so I'll let it remain a conundrum.

How big is baby?: Almost 6 lbs and 18.5 inches long.
Maternity clothes?: I heart sweatpants.

Sleep: Blows.
Movement: Less frequent but still forceful. Hiccups 3-4 times a day that usual make the whole belly jump rhythmically (and then the munchkin thrashes about b/c she HATES the hiccups).

Labor signs: Nada. Had yet another doctor's appt today. Nothing too new to report (heartbeat at 135 bpm, still head down, slightly elevated blood pressure for me, but otherwise we're both A-ok!) Had my first internal check. Um, ouch. No progress, though, so looks like we're in this for the long haul (I didn't expect to have progress; it's more than likely that I'll go overdue since this is my first, just wishful thinking!!)

Food Cravings: So up and down these days. I still love sugar, I'm just not as hungry anymore.

Gender: Strangers' favorite question this week: "Do you know what you're having?" I'm always so tempted to say "A baby" but instead I just politely shake my head.
Belly button in or out?: Weirdly flat.

What I miss: Sleeping comfortably. Sleeping past 7 a.m. on days when I don't even have to get up. Hell, just sleep.
What I am looking forward to: Pie. Lots of pie. I dare anyone to glance in my direction as I eat all day tomorrow. God Bless the Pilgrims.
Best moment this week: Checking so many things off the list this week! Baby's car seat installed in my car? Check. Inspected by the fire dept? Check. Christmas decorations up? Check (thanks to Grandma!) Nursery finished? Check. I repeat, the nursery is FINISHED!!! (Pics to come soon!)

Weekly Wisdom: When you're 8+ mos. pregnant and the hostess asks you "Table or booth?", always pick table! Just barely fit in the Original Pancake House booth this weekend. Napkin had to sit on top of the belly to catch food because my lap couldn't be seen (which I didn't do, by the way, because I looked like an idiot. So instead I just got pancake syrup on my shirt. Eh, it happens.)

Milestones: Less than a month to go. Weekly OB appts from now on!

Phone call.

Just had this phone conversation at work:

Me: (picks up) "This is Sarah."
My boss: "Don't go. Stay."
Me: laughter
My boss: "We need you. Just come back. Or I'll move to Cincinnati and my family will watch your baby so you can keep working. OK, that's all. Bye."
Me: more laughter

Sorry Charlie (this is not his actual name; his name wouldn't rhyme as nicely...), but this girl is down to a handful of days before she gets to check off "homemaker" as her occupation on forms/surveys :)

35/35.

How far along?: 35 weeks, 0 days.

Total weight gain/loss: +0 this week, +16 overall.

How big is baby?: Adding about a 1/2 lb. a week from now on, so she should be around 5 1/4 lbs. She's just about to her birth length, so this growth is much slower. Just over 18 inches long this week.
Maternity clothes?: Shirts are too short (yes, maternity shirts) and pants are too tight (again, maternity). Awesome.

Sleep: Takes serious effort to roll over to the other side, then I have about 1 minute before that hip starts burning in pain and I want to flip again. Only I can't, because I don't have enough energy built back up from the last roll. So I just lay there, miserably hoping I fall asleep. Then thoughts of my baby creep into my head while I lay there, which don't help in the falling-asleep department, trust me.
Movement: Daddy watched (in horror) from the other couch while she forcefully moved about last night. Apparently being able to see my belly move from across the room is slightly terrifying.

Labor signs: Baby has run out of room. It hurts to even think about standing up. Strangers now stare at me with looks of pity on their faces. And this once emotionless woman now cries for no reason whatsoever (this still baffles me). All of this adds up to: I'm ready.

Food Cravings: My appetite is pretty much gone. Eating has become a chore again like in the 1st trimester. Oh, and the acid reflux doesn't help.

Gender: The baby LOVED seeing a Broadway musical this week (danced along to the music the whole time), much more so than attending a UD bball game. For this fact alone, I hope it's a girl....
Belly button in or out?: No longer a crater, now just flat.
What I miss: Walking up a flight of stairs and not being winded.
What I am looking forward to: Christmas decorating started today and I can't wait until it's all finished :)
Best moment this week: So many little moments this week reminded me how much I adore my husband. I would never have made it through this pregnancy without him. My little one is so very blessed to have him for her daddy.
Weekly Wisdom: Doing too much will induce crazy hip separation pain. Apparently just watching my mom put up my Christmas trees (she wouldn't let me help) is now classified as "doing too much" because, man oh man, am I in pain tonight!

Milestones: 35 weeks down and 35 days to go! What a fantastic coincidence and a lovely indication that the end is near! This also means you only have 37 days to get your Christmas shopping done...

Face-up?

I know I've had many theories about the position of my munchkin inside this belly over the last few months. And I probably have no idea what I'm talking about. However, I've got a new one.

I think this child is sunny-side up, a.k.a. in the posterior position. I say this because I no longer have a large, hard lump (Baby Reeder's bottom) resting uncomfortably under my Girls. Instead, I keep getting jabbed by what must either be feet or knees. These little knots quickly move out of the way when I push back (which I do often - sorry, little one.)

Evidently, this is not a favorable position and can make things much more difficult come D-Day. So let's hope I'm wrong this time. Or that Baby Reeder does an about-face before next week's appt, when my doc can provide confirmation either way.

Tact.

Tact [takt]
–noun
1. Acute sensitivity to what is proper and appropriate in dealing with others, including the ability to speak or act without offending.
2. Something all humans seems to lose when they are within 10 yards of a pregnant woman.

I swear this pregnant belly must have magical powers. It induces incredibly inappropriate comments from just about everyone, often in inappropriate situations (like on an elevator- talking on an elevator is never okay, especially at work.) My favorites recently:

a. "WOW, you look REALLY pregnant today." - Coworker
b. "Will you be offended if I call you a Weeble? 'Cause you're wobbling down the hall." - Coworker
c. "Have they checked your cervix yet? Any progress?" - Coworker
d. "You look like you're about to drop a bomb on us soon." - Random old man (And this was at 28 weeks.)

My responses:
a. "Um, thanks? Wait until you see me tomorrow."
b. "Yes." And then I glared at him.
c. "Haven't checked yet." And then I gave her a how-the-hell-is-that-any-of-your-business? look.
d. Awkward smile, but only because he was old and cute.

People, please learn to control your word vomit, because my level of tactfulness with my responses will only decrease as my due date approaches. Thanks.

Hide & Seek.

Baby Reeder at 33w4d

Happy Veteran's Day! Thanks to this holiday, the husband was off work today and able to join me for my 34-week doctor's appt. It was just routine, but we saw a different OB in the practice just for fun. She's a bit more relaxed than my normal doctor, so she's more open to helping things along earlier if Baby Reeder decides to be stubborn in a few weeks and not come out. We found out my usual doctor will be gone for 3 weeks over Christmas (!!), so I guess it's good we meet some new ones anyway.

Baby Reeder was playing hide & seek with the nurse today. He wanted no part of letting us hear his heartbeat. In fact, we could hear him kicking the wand of the doppler as she tried. After what felt like forever (but was probably 2-3 minutes max - it was super uncomfy for me...), she finally gave up and waited for the doctor to do it. Alas, his heartbeat was easily found and beating steadily in the 140's when the doctor tried. Everything else is great, as usual!

How far along?: 34 weeks, 0 days.

Total weight gain/loss: +1 this week, +16 overall.

How big is baby?: 4 3/4 lbs and 18 in. long. And I feel every last bit of that.

Maternity clothes?: No longer very comfortable, getting smaller and tighter.

Sleep: Sad, just sad. Two words: hip pain.

Movement: I was gearing up to write that the movement has really decreased this week, but today this child is going crazy. Lots of head butting of my pelvis and kicking of my ribs.

Labor signs: Increasing BH. He is still head down and I believe still slowly dropping.

Food cravings: Nothing new here, just sugar.

Gender: I guess I still think girl, Daddy still hopes boy.
Belly button in or out?: Flat.

What I miss: I have 2: being able to grocery shop solo and singing along to music in the car (This is tragic for me, with it being Christmas music time. I just can’t breathe enough while singing. So sad.)

What I am looking forward to: Putting up my Christmas decorations. Baby Reeder need to know how seriously we take this holiday when we bring him home from the hospital!

Best moment this week: Looking through a bunch of the husband's baby pictures from his granny. He was an adorably chubby baby and I pray that our child looks exactly like him. So darn precious. :)

Weekly Wisdom: Husbands are invaluable when it comes to grocery shopping, a lesson learned when trying to do it without one.

Milestones: I cannot even begin to explain how delightfully weird it is to think that we're going to have a baby come home with us soon. It definitely hasn't sunk in, but as Thanksgiving approaches, I'm realizing slowly that we're down to a matter of weeks here. Mind-blowing, for sure. (Is the "holy crap, we're going to have a real live baby soon" panic a milestone? I think so.)

No one told me...

...that my pelvic bone/hips would start separating at 33 weeks, much earlier than the books predict. And that it would hurt like nothing I've ever felt before in this pregnancy. And that it would make climbing the stairs seem like climbing Mt. Everest. And that it would be brought on by a medium-intensity walk, something I'm supposed to be doing. And that, when I explained the pain to my mother, she'd say "Oh yeah, that hurts like hell. Sorry, honey, there's nothing you can do about it." And that, while it only lasted a few days, it would scare me into not wanting to walk again for the rest of the pregnancy, fearing it will start again.

...that this belly would grow an inch a week towards the end. 42 inches this week. For real.

...that the baby dropping does not always mean you get a reprieve in the breathing department. Because, let me tell ya, this child is making her way south but my breathing is actually getting worse.

...that I would unexpectedly lose all control of my emotions. And that it might just happen when I meet the husband for dinner. And that the waiter will have to ask him if you're okay because you had to run to the restroom with tears streaming down your face. For no reason whatsoever. None.

...that I would actually utter the words "Oh, it's only 5:30? I was hoping it was 6:30 so I could get out of this bed." Yeah, that's 5:30 a.m., my friends. Gross.

...that despite all of the physical ailments, I would still love carrying this child. And that catching my profile in a mirror or window would still make me smile well into the last few weeks. And that I would be excited for weekends to end and Mondays to come because that means the days are flying by and my baby will be here before we know it :)

Resting away...

Well, this is my first official day off on my new part-time schedule, and I must say, it's been nice. Slept in until 9 (Tylenol PM-induced, though). Stayed in my PJ's until about 2. Trying to rest as much as possible. Things are getting harder and harder to do and I feel myself tiring out so much faster now. I feel like I need to "stock up" on rest when I can. Oddly enough, I find that I don't eat as much/enough when I'm at home vs. at work, so as soon as I'm done here, it's back downstairs to curl up with some spiced tea and a snack. It's a dirty job, but somebody's gotta do it :)

How far along?: 33 weeks, 0 days.
Total weight gain/loss: +1 this week, +15 overall. Measuring 41 inches around the big ol' belly.
How big is baby?: Over 4 lbs and at least 17 inches long. If he's going to be as long as his daddy was, he's got some serious stretching to do!
Maternity clothes?: Feel like I wear the same things over and over again, but I can't bring myself to buy anything new for what will hopefully be just a few more weeks, you know?
Sleep: Depends on whether or not I've taken Tylenol PM. With it, not bad. Without it (which is 90% of the time), ugh.
Movement: Usually intense, sometimes surprising, occasionally painful, always comforting :)
Labor signs: BH still. Otherwise, no other early labor signs.
Food cravings: Halloween did not help the sugar cravings, though I've managed to muster up a little more self-control than last week.
Gender: Doesn't matter, I'm already so in love.
Belly button in or out?: Flat.
What I miss: The husband. He's working some long hours these days...
What I am looking forward to: Getting to spend days at home with my little one, both of us in our jammies until 2 :)
Best moment this week: Getting all of Baby Reeder's shower gifts put away. Almost all the big stuff is put together and everything else has been organized in the nursery. This teeny little baby has an awful lot of stuff already! Thanks for the help, Grandma!
Weekly Wisdom: A load of baby laundry takes twice as long to fold as a load of regular clothes.
Milestones: Lots more pressure/pain in my hips and pelvic area. Maybe baby is dropping?? Fingers crossed :)

Next month.

"When are you due?"

"Oh, you know, NEXT MONTH!"

Hello, November, lovely to see you :)

Boy or Girl?

I've decided to run through the various gender predictors to see what the main guess is for Baby Reeder. We'll have to wait until he/she pops out to determine the validity of these, but until then...

According to the following Old Wives Tales, I'm having a:

Carrying high instead of low = GIRL
Carrying it all in front (no one can tell I'm pregnant from the back) = BOY
Craving sweet rather than salty snacks = GIRL
Lots of fetal movement = BOY (a sexist OWT about women being placid and complacent....)
Heartbeat is higher than 140 bpm = GIRL
Baby dreams I've had have been about boys = BOY
Dad-to-be has not gained weight along with Mom = GIRL
Didn't actually get sick with my morning sickness (for the most part) = BOY
Sum of mother's age at conception (24) + number of the month of conception (April = 4) is even = BOY (an ancient Chinese thing)
Headaches during pregnancy = BOY
The child my mother had after me was a boy = BOY
I do not eat the heel of a loaf of bread = GIRL (the lamest of them all)
Everyone tells me I look better than ever now (I promise I'm not making this up, I get it all the time now, which is so lovely to hear) = BOY (apparently girls take away their mother's beauty, ha!)

Conclusion from all of this? Who the heck knows. All of these add up to a 61% likelihood that the munchkin is a BOY. This will delight the husband - and just about everyone else. So far, the guesses on the Baby Reeder Split-the-Pot Pool are 63% boy, 37% girl. Either way, I can't wait to meet him/her!!

64 days :)

I will absolutely be holding my child in my arms in no more than 64 days! How thrilling is that?! My doctor assured me this morning that Baby Reeder will indeed be born in 2009. I asked about induction and she told me she typically will let a woman go as many as 10 days over her due date. When I explained my anxiety over giving birth in the new year (with scary 2010 insurance rates), she promised we'd get this little tyke out before then. Hooray!!

64 days. That's not a lot of time, and that's the maximum # of days. We still have so much to do! Finish the nursery, put away all the baby stuff still littering the living room, pack the hospital bag, tour the hospital, have the car seat inspected.... I feel unprepared, the husband feels over-prepared, and odds are we are somewhere in the middle. Time to get our butts in gear!

Our appt went just as perfectly as usual this morning. Baby's heartbeat is 155 bpm. She measured my belly for the first time and evidently our growth is perfect, so she isn't concerned about the baby's size at this point. Everything still looks great on paper for both of us! And actually, despite some back pain, I'm feeling really good this week, too.

How far along?: 32 weeks, 0 days.
Total weight gain/loss: +1.5 this week, +14 overall.
How big is baby?: 3.75 lbs and 16.75 inches long. The baby should double his weight in the next 7 weeks.
Maternity clothes?: Full-time.
Sleep: Never enough.
Movement: As the nurse was trying to get the baby's heartbeat this morning, he kept squirming away from the doppler, so much so that we both started laughing. Clearly, we were invading his personal space :)
Labor signs: A few more BH. Speaking of labor, the OB confirmed that Baby Reeder is head-down again. For some reason the phrase "locked and loaded" won't leave my head.
Food cravings: Oh sugar, how I love thee. This week has been filled with brownies, buckeyes, and caramels. Mmmmm.
Gender: It has one, we just don't know what it is.
Belly button in or out?: Strange.
What I miss: Comfortably bending over to pick things up.
What I am looking forward to: Wednesdays. This is my last working Wednesday at F+W (ever!), plus my next 3 doctor's appts are scheduled on Wednesdays. It's like a mid-week treat.
Best moment this week: On my way to work today, I saw a car with antlers attached to the windows and a red nose on the front bumper. It's the most wonderful time of the year :)
Weekly Wisdom: (Somehow this question got deleted the last few weeks. It's back, so soak in my wisdom.) Slip-on shoes are ESSENTIAL in pregnancy. Tying your shoes at 7+ months pregnant is so very, very difficult.
Milestones: The start of bi-weekly doctor's visits. To quote my OB, "We're getting closer!"

It's official!

As of Monday, I will be a part-time employee!

I've been waiting to blog about this until it was a done deal, mostly because I didn't want to jinx anything. I've been stressed out about my crappy insurance (and stress = bad for baby). Switching from FT to PT is the only way for me to ensure that I will be covered by the husband's insurance when Baby Reeder chooses to pop out. We will save a lot of money this way if the babe comes out early, as my current insurance blows. When I told HR that the reason I was requesting this switch was to "lose my benefits", they looked at me like I should be immediately admitted to a psych ward. Apparently, this was a first for them. But, nonetheless, it was approved!!

What does PT entail, you ask? It means I'll work 29 hrs over 4 days each week, with Wednesdays being my days off. Most of my OB appts have been scheduled on Wednesdays, so this will allow me to choose better appt times now that I start going bi-weekly (and soon, weekly!) I have a feeling I'm really going to appreciate these mid-week breaks, too. So, if I am able to work through Dec 11 as planned, I only have 27 work days left before I "retire" :)

Speaking of retiring, have I mentioned yet how blessed I am to have a husband that both understands and supports my desire to be a stay-at-home mom? I know it's not for everyone, but it's always been really important to me. I was blessed with one myself and I must say, the benefits are irreplaceable. We waited to have kids until we knew we could afford this arrangement - another blessing that came sooner than I had expected. Things might be tight for a while, but I truly believe our children will thrive because of it.

I had 4 distinct dreams as a child (that I can remember):
1. Marry a handsome man.
2. Have babies.
3. Stay home to raise those babies.
4. Own a vehicle with a bathroom so we never have to stop on road trips.

I'm thrilled to say that 3 of those 4 dreams are just weeks away from having come true (the RV dream might have to wait until retirement...) Soooo very blessed :)

Unfit mother, part 2.

I've done it again. I've managed to get the "You're Going To Be a Terrible Mother" badge again. This time, at my work baby shower. Ugh. I was asked by a new dad in our dept if we had done any birthing classes or planned to. We're not. The husband and I have decided it's unnecessary because no 2 birthing experiences are alike and very few go according to any "birth plan". When I responded with a simple "no", the earth stopped spinning on its axis - well, in the eyes of my favorite co-worker at least.

Her: You're not doing any at all?
Me: Nope.
Her: Don't you want to be prepared for labor?
Me: I have a sister and a mom that have told me everything I need to know. Plus, you can't plan things anyway when it comes to labor. What will happen will happen, regardless of how many breathing techniques I've learned.
Her: Well, I still use those breathing techniques now, 31 years later. It doesn't hurt to be well-informed.

I think I'm going to invite her to stay with me the first few weeks after Baby Reeder is born to help out. You know, since she CLEARLY knows what it's like to give birth and raise a baby in 2009. Breathing techniques? I prefer drugs, thanks. And feel free to flame me for that one, too. I'll keep my badge all shined up for our next encounter.

T-minus 5 days until I tell them I'm never coming back once this baby makes his exit, and I'll do my very best not to grin like an idiot or yell out "Suckers!" while I do it.

Oh my...

Notice a difference? We started taking weekly belly shots (headless, so it doesn't matter how crappy I look.) After taking this week's photo and looking back a few weeks, I think Baby Reeder and I have hit a major growth spurt. Good lord.

On the left is 28 weeks. On the right is 31 weeks. We're talking 3 weeks, people. And, just for fun, below that is my 9 week photo (please excuse my dirty mirror.) I'm wearing the same shirt in this one as the 31w pic. What a difference 5 months makes, huh? :)

Totally TMI.

DISCLAIMER: The following is going to delve into TMI territory. Consider this your warning, boys (and any childless females that'd like to continue to believe that pregnancy is all sunshine & rainbows - although, you'd have to be a new blog reader to still feel that way....) Stop reading now. Don't scroll down. I mean it. And if you don't heed this advice, you can't say I didn't warn you.





Sitting on the couch in my PJ's last night, things started to...um...leak. Now, there's been some slight leakage in the past, but nothing that has left a quarter-sized wet spot on my (husband's, lol) tshirt. It has begun. Looks like my days of sleeping braless are over for the next year or so.

Ironically, I was accused of stuffing my bra in 7th grade by some mean boys (I was an early bloomer.) Now, I will actually be stuffing my bra - with breast pads. Ah, pregnancy.

You're waddling.

So we get home last night after dinner and, as I'm walking into the house, I look at the husband. He has wide eyes and this strange look on his face as he watches me.

Me: What's the look for?
Him: You're waddling. (boyish grin on his face)
Me: I'm 7 months pregnant. What do you expect?
Him: I guess this is just the first time I've seen it.
Me: (no words, just continued to waddle inside after a quick eye roll and shake of the head...)

How far along?: 31 weeks, 0 days.
Total weight gain/loss: +0.5 this week, +12.5 overall.
How big is baby?: 3.5 lbs and over 16 inches long. Getting fatter every day :)
Maternity clothes?: Sweatpants are becoming my at-home norm. I'd imagine they'll soon become my out-of-home norm as well.
Sleep: Afternoon naps are in order.
Movement: More intense than ever this week. I can't tell you how many times I've looked down at my belly and said "please stop, you're hurting Mommy."
Labor signs: A few BH.
Food cravings: Baked goods of all types. I cannot get enough. Trying very hard to fight the urge to make brownies, as the husband's been really good about eating healthy lately.
Gender: No idea.
Belly button in or out?: Getting flatter.
What I miss: Breathing normally. Apparently the struggle to breathe will let up some once the baby starts dropping, so I've been pushing her down all week (fully knowing this will not help.)
What I am looking forward to: Doctor's appt next week.
Best moment this week: Dancing with the husband at the wedding reception, though the baby belly did get in the way a bit :)
Milestones: 2 months to go!

Ready...

I'm ready for my baby to come. No, I'm not issuing an eviction notice or anything, as it's still too early for my little one to survive without some intervention. And of course I want her to be healthy and happy and come home with me as soon as she is born. But I'm ready to meet her. And hold her. And be a mom.

I'm sick today, and tired and uber-uncomfortable like always. But that's not even the reason. I just want my baby, that's all. I catch myself wishing I'll deliver early almost every day. Not now-early, but maybe 37 or 38 weeks. Because that's much shorter than the 9 weeks I have left; it's only 6-7. It's a completely selfish thought and I hope it doesn't come true. My precious child deserves the full 40-weeks to incubate and I'm going to give it to her, if she'll let me. But I'm getting impatient. I guess I need to start finding some time-fillers....

Ouch.

Things hurt. There are baby body parts jabbing into my bones all over the place today. Baby Reeder is also currently engaged in some sort of in-utero Jazzercise class, as there is a ridiculous amount of intense moving and shaking going on in there. If there were a webcam on me at my desk, you'd see lots of wincing and hear groaning coupled with very labored breathing.

Last night was a horrible sleeping night (more so than usual) so I'm sure this little one is just reacting to that. I hate having to ask my dear husband to roll over (to stop the snoring), but was awake so much that the poor man got the "hey babe, will you roll on your side?" multiple times. Coincidentally, my constant rolling around kept jarring the baby awake, just adding to the difficulty to get back to sleep. I signed up for a 20-minute massage at work today, so here's hoping that relaxes these aching muscles.

2 more months. 2 more months. You are sooo worth this, so just bear with me as I try to figure out how to keep us both comfortable for the next 2 months. And let's try not to wake up Daddy as much, okay?

Grown-up week.

We've had a very grown-up week in the Reeder house. Over the weekend, we passed the 2-year anniversary of the day we bought our house (and we still have empty, furniture-less rooms...) Plus, said house has been inundated with baby stuff, a sign that we're coming up on being handed the greatest responsibility of our lives.

Then yesterday was a majorly grown-up day. Daddy sold his car, which was quite a sacrifice for him. He is selflessly giving up his fun car for a more family-friendly version (make and model TBD.) Car seats just don't fit well in the back of a 2-door! After unleashing the car, we signed away our unborn child, i.e. we had our wills drawn up. I repeat, wills. If that doesn't scream "grown-the-hell-up", I don't know what does. Baby Reeder now has assigned guardians if something were to happen to us. It's a terrifying thing to think about, especially since he's not even here yet, but very necessary to have. We are now, dare I say it, adults.

How far along?: 30 weeks, 0 days.
Total weight gain/loss: +2 this week, +12 overall.
How big is baby?: Almost 3 lbs. and 15.5 inches long. He's swimming in a pint & a half of amniotic fluid now!
Maternity clothes?: Already growing out of some - yikes!
Sleep: My least favorite time of day :(
Movement: The munchkin is pressing into my hip bone now, which is pleasant. At least my transverse baby's butt is no longer pushing into my lungs - bonus!
Labor signs: Braxton Hicks on occasion, my sign that I need to slow down.
Food cravings: Village Tavern chicken fingers and fries. Thanks for putting this idea in my head, family.
Gender: It's a boy week.
Belly button in or out?: Weird.
What I miss: Good sleep.
What I am looking forward to: Wedding weekend in Canton, for many reasons. It's the last and shortest of my road trips for this pregnancy. Plus I get to wear my comfy dress = no waistband squeezing my belly + sleevelessness heaven (Can you tell I am overwhelmingly hot right now? We're talking "could this be a Swine Flu fever?" hot.) Perhaps we'll take a "family" photo since the husband will be in a tux ;)
Best moment this week: My baby shower! LOVED it!
Milestones: Remember my "25% down, 75% to go" post? Yeah, reverse that! Hitting the 30's feels pretty major league to me. Single digit weeks-to-go from here on out!

Baby shower #2!

Our home has been invaded by baby stuff. We are talking baby overload. Everywhere you look, baby stuff. And so it begins.... (insert huge smile here.)

Where did all this glorious stuff come from? My baby shower on Saturday! My lovely sister and bestest good friend hosted a fantastic shower for me at Grandma V's house. Everything was picturesque. Brunch was beyond yummy, the decorations were adorable, and there was a killer pile of gifts waiting for me. I did have some helpers with the gift-opening, as the shower was sprinkled with lots of tiny girls that were eager to help.

My registry was just about wiped clean. This baby will be well-fed, well-entertained, and smell like heaven :) We got our stroller/car seat system, bouncer, swing, exersaucer, bassinet, and monitor, plus tons of diapers, toys, and all the other baby necessities. Not to mention I now have the most precious, to-die-for hospital outfits for Baby Reeder, 1 boy and 1 girl, just in case. I feel so incredibly blessed to have such generous women in my life.

Thanks again for a fantastic time, girls. You went above and beyond to make the whole experience very special for Baby Reeder and I! Love you!

Smiling.

I woke up not feeling so great this morning. Before he left for work, I asked the husband for a big hug, as I often do when I need a pick-me-up. Mid-embrace, Baby Reeder kicked me pretty hard, hard enough that he also kicked his daddy. It was as if he was saying "Have a good day, Dad!" Instant smile from mama. Definitely the pick-me-up I needed.

You're already melting my heart, little one.

Happy mama :)

I'm a happy mama today. I've felt pretty good this week compared to the 2 previous weeks. My back still has its moments, but has really improved. And breathing is still very hard at times. But I haven't had the same "how will I survive 2 1/2 more months of this?" panic attacks this week! Hooray!

How far along?: 29 weeks, 0 days.
Total weight gain/loss: -1 this week, +10 overall. sigh. Don't worry, I stopped at Servatii's for double chocolate muffins this morning to console myself. I love how we call them "muffins" to justify eating giant cupcakes for breakfast :)
How big is baby?: Approximately 2 1/2 lbs. and 15 inches long. Bones are really growing this week, so I'm going to do my part by chugging some milk and eating ice cream to supply extra calcium to get the job done!
Maternity clothes?: Comfy wintery maternity shirts were purchased and I'm in love. Also I've started wearing some of the husband's t-shirts (the ones too small for him to wear), as mine are just about done.
Sleep: Oh, the discomfort! You know the feeling after you haven't worked out in a long time or you do something strenuous that uses muscles you don't often use and then you wake up really sore the next day? Yeah, I feel that way every morning. I think I'm going to try Tylenol PM this weekend.
Movement: Rib kicks. Lots and lots of rib kicks. And rolling so intense it startles me. As does the shaking (as if the baby is shivering or something.)
Labor signs: Braxton Hicks contractions every now and then. Never more than 4 an hour though, which is the benchmark for calling the doctor.
Food cravings: Cereal, specifically Cheerios. Not so much a craving, but it's the only thing that always sounds good. I'm around a bowl a day now.
Gender: Preparing for either :)
Belly button in or out?: I don't think it will ever come out, but it may reach the surface.
What I miss: Long jeans. Maternity jeans are just too short for my preference.
What I am looking forward to: My baby shower this weekend! The girls have all sorts of surprises cookin'. I can't wait :)
Best moment this week: Securing a pediatrician for my little lady (and future children!)
Milestones: Baby Reeder is officially transverse. No joke this time (all those other times I said she was, I didn't know what I was talking about.) Hiccups have moved from way down south to my right side, so clearly there's a head over there. Craziness!

Objects in picture...

...are much smaller than they appear in real life. Or at least they feel like it.

Baby Reeder at 28w5d

Happenings.

No big events in the Reeder household lately, so I thought I'd just catch y'all up on some of the latest in Baby Reeder happenings:

- We have a pediatrician! As of last Friday, we are "in the books" at Montgomery Pediatrics. Yes, this was my doctor's office when I was a child...go figure. Since I'm so familiar with the office, procedures, and even our doctor (though different from my own as a child), we get to forego the awkward meet n' greet as well!

- We've finally revisited the nursery this week, after a several-weeks-long decorating hiatus. A lovely ceiling light was installed over the weekend (that I'm quite thrilled about!!) Window valances are underway, thanks to Grandma. Also, I'm finally giving serious thought to what we will put on all those blank blue walls. Baby Reeder needs to be visually stimulated by something, right?

- I'm pretty sure Baby Reeder has hooked his foot around my ribs and is now hanging monkey-bar style. He's positioned so high that I swear he'll never "drop". I rarely feel movement below my belly button anymore, except for hiccups (no longer adorable, btw) and the occasion jabs to my bladder. And, I must admit, I've started pushing back when he gets so high that I can't breathe.

- I've started doing kick counts every so often, mostly when I haven't felt him bustin' a move in a while. They say to give him 1 hour to move 10 times. My child knocks this out in 10 minutes or less. Already an overachiever like both his parents :)

- I am so delighted that it's October because we're that much closer to meeting this little one. I cannot wait, honestly. It's seriously all I ever think about. I'm especially excited to see his sweet little face and figure out his personality. Despite all of the aches and pains, this pregnancy has been the greatest gift I've ever been given. I'm going to (try to) cherish it while it lasts, but I can't help but be excited for Christmas!

28 weeks.

I'm exhausted. Had my RhoGAM shot this morning - didn't go so well. I got up at 6 to make it to the hospital at 7, in hopes that I'd have enough time to get it done before my 7:50 OB appt next door. Wrong. I wasn't feeling good to begin with - I could feel the nerves working themselves up, but hoped it was more because I just can't breathe well anymore. Go up to L&D, they check my temp and BP, all the while I'm doing fine. She gives me the injection (which was in the hip, by the way - awkward...) Then she tells me she wants to wait 10 minutes and check my temp/BP again to make sure I didn't react to the shot.

About 9 min and 30 sec later, I start to feel it coming. "It" being my classic hyperventilation symptoms I've grown to know so well - clamminess, trouble breathing, sweating profusely, muffled hearing, blurry vision, immediately very pale. The nurse came in right as it was starting and could tell I wasn't doing well (perhaps because I was sweating through my shirt and colorless). My BP had dropped, but luckily picked back up after a few minutes. I'm fine, but it completely drained me of energy (of which I had little to begin with due to a restless night). I'm not sure what brings this on, but I attribute it to nerves and low blood sugar (apparently a bowl of Cheerios wasn't enough today.)

I ended up being 20 minutes late to my appt (probably also a contributing factor to my nerves,) but they were sympathetic! The appt was great, as usual. Baby Reeder's heartbeat is still at 140 bpm and everything "feels" good to the doc. They had me up 6 lbs for the month, versus my 4 lb at-home assessment (I weigh myself at the same time every day wearing exactly the same thing), so I attribute the extra 2 to heavier winter clothing :) She's not worried that my resting heart rate is now around 100 bpm - it was sure worrying the crap out of me! I go back in 4 weeks, at which time I'll start bi-weekly appts (hooray!)

How far along?: 28 weeks, 0 days.
Total weight gain/loss: +0.5 this week, +11 overall.
How big is baby?: Approximately 2 1/4 lbs. and 14.8 inches long.
Maternity clothes?: Officially have to retire all summer things (why hello, autumn!) so I need to go get a few more comfy wintery maternity shirts.
Sleep: Ditto last week. Still touch and go, the back is improving overall but not when it comes time for bed. Gravity causes my heavy belly to ache when I lay down, but positions that provide relief (far on my side so it actually rests on a pillow) end up hurting the back and irritating the baby.
Movement: Dance party in my tummy these days. I feel EVERY little movement this kid makes. I believe we are now transverse, but the OB says the baby switches positions up to 20 times a day, so I'm sure he won't stay this way.
Labor signs: Pretty confident these are Braxton Hicks contractions I'm feeling every so often.
Food cravings: Sugar.
Gender: Getting really excited to find out!
Belly button in or out?: Definitely surfacing, though it has a ways to go.
What I miss: My heels. I bought supportive old lady shoes yesterday. Sacrificing fashion for my child for the first of what I'm sure will be many times.
What I am looking forward to: December 23rd :)
Best moment this week: Love this - So I bought a supportive bra this weekend to help alleviate some back pain (very tight and slightly painful is apparently a good thing.) After a long day wearing the new bra, I couldn't take the pressure anymore, so off it came when I got home. When the husband got home, there it sat right next to me on the floor. The look of confusion on his face was priceless. :)
Weekly Wisdom: "Supportive" does indeed mean ugly 99% of the time.
Milestones: I'm starting to be able to distinguish body parts when the baby presses against my belly. Weird!

Ribs.

No, I'm not talking about the delicious BBQ-sauce-covered, Montgomery Inn kind. I'm talking about the ones that Baby Reeder keeps round-house kicking with wild abandon. Ouch. As if it weren't hard enough to breath already...

Also lung-constricting is the fact that I'm carrying Jackie Chan pretty high, as evidenced by the fact that my belly and my Girls now touch. I told the husband last night that it felt like they were resting on my belly, to which he replied "That's because they are..." while making a scared-looking face (scared of the body changes or scared I'd slap him for commenting on it? I'm not sure.) I guess it was bound to happen at some point. And I'm pretty sure I'd rather be carrying high than having to literally carry a low-lying belly around.

I know I sound like a whiner, but it's been a very rough 7 days. On the bright side, the back is (I think) on the road to recovery plus I'm going to make it through a full day at work! Speaking of work, only about 2 months to go (and I'm having "The Talk" with my boss next week!!)