Day 199 (67 to go...): Where's the beef?

I've been told that I haven't been posting enough pictures of the belly - so this blog will have some more - enjoy!

The past couple weeks have been really busy, I'm really not sure where to even start. As the title of this blog suggests my cravings have changed quite a bit over the last weeks. My need and longing for fruit has now been replaced with my want for that satisfying hamburger or steak! Yum - yum! I went in for the glucose screening test and luckily all results came back fine. We have one more monthly doctors appointment and then we're down to the every two weeks and so on to our weekly visits. Beyond those visits we have the classes that start this June, rooms to finish (we're almost there... kinda) and just trying to get everything figured out. I have three more weeks of work before I call it quits, which brings me to a lot of mixed emotions. On one hand I cannot wait to get away from this place that causes me so much frustration, but on the other I'm really gonna miss those kids and not to mention feeling like I'm making a monitary contribution to our household.
Which is especially hard to adjust to when you are constantly spending money on things that are needed.

OH! That reminds me I've decided to write a list of things that should never be said to a pregnant woman (as I have recieved through my dismay) - I'm sure as I go through these last 9 weeks I'll have more to add. First I will tell you why I am doing this. For whatever reason people feel the need to tell you the most unnecssary things when you are pregnant. For example, today we went to Babies-R-Us, at the register the sales woman and I got into a discussion about how far along I was. It turned into a schpeel about how my feet and hands have been swollen, in which she told me and David about how her daughter had that too and she got pre eclampsia, to which the mother had to go to the hospital in case she needed to make a life altering decision. That is why this list is necessary not because any one of you have said anything to hurt my feelings - I'm just venting!:
1. Never tell any horror story of someone you knew who was pregnant and went through things such as preterm labor, pre eclampsia or any other life threatening predicament - it does NOT make the pregnant woman feel good or reassured in any way.
2. Try to avoid saying things like, "Are you sure you're not furthur along?" or any other comments about the weight and/or size of the pregnant lady - that is of her concern and her doctors and all it tells the woman is that you think she's fatter than she should be. This also goes for comments relating to the possiblity that she might be having twins - which always leads to the discussion about someone's friend who's neice thought she was only having one baby but had two - until you have a medical degree in gynocology leave the speculations to the doctors. Okay I'm done venting for now! =0)

David has been particularly wonderful throughout this whole thing. Yesterday he sat through our second estimate for an air conditioner and though we thought we could hold off, he made that huge purchase so that I won't be to miserable as I wade through the summer exhausted and too overheated. He's also been wonderful to my poor swollen feet, as he offers to set up my pedicure spa machine he got me for my birthday and rub them when they just become unbearable. Really he is so wonderful!
And as you can see here Stitch is being wonderful as well - he has lovingly learned that he is not allowed to bounce around and jump around me. He has also adjusted to the fact that I do not have the energy to play with him as much as before. Though our nap times together changed from non-existant to almost daily now, which he seems to really enjoy. It is especially funny to watch him when he places his head on my tummy and the baby starts kicking - I wonder how much he knows about what's going on.

In our little mans world things are becoming more and more cramped. Which means his movements are all the much stronger - which I LOVE! I actually got to feel him hiccuping yesterday which was so neat. Most of the developemental aspects of his life focus on his survival out of the womb. His brain is becoming stronger and stronger so that he may process things correctly when he arrives. And while his weight is begining to slow down from now until birth he is still gaining the weight that he needs. =0)

Well this has been a long blog entry so now I must go - please keep us all in your prayers and thoughts. We miss you so much!

Day 186 (80 to go...): Mom to the rescue!

Last night David and I found ourselves staring in amazement at just how strong our little man has become. With every kick our buglet delivered, was a rise in my stomach and a feeling of pure excitement. Perhaps one of the best parts was when I felt the nub of what I thought to be a foot, move slowly across my stomach, with my hand. Then better yet, watching David as his hands got to feel the same thing and the look in his eyes while he felt him move - it was priceless.

With the excitement of all that goes on daily, everything is starting to become more and more real. We picked up our crib and dresser/changing table this weekend and I can't wait to move it into the room and start the nursery. Though before any of that can happen, other rooms are being taken care of. We are finishing up our downstairs office (and by we I actually mean David with the little bit of Teresa help), as that old wall paper had to go and a basil colored paint went up! Next will be my office, as it will transform it's red walls into blue for our guest bedroom. Then of course our current guest room will become our little man's nursery - I can't wait! Of course, David has been fantastic with all of it, letting me change my mind countless times and never even giving the apperance of any annoyance - I'm lucky! He's even taken on the task of giving some of the rooms new trim and re-doing the nursery window! Besides the rooms there are the classes we are taking for the little guy's arrival coming up and the doctor's visits. After my return home from ABQ I had some intense leg pain that they ended up ultrasounding to check for blood clots - their test results came back normal and I'm trying to rest my feet more. Then during my routine blood draw they found increased glucose levels and low iron levels. While it's pretty common it means I'm taking an iron supplement now and have to go in for a 3 hour glucose test to rule out gestational diabetes - please keep us in your prayers! =0)

With all that is going on I have to say I feel so blessed to have my mom's comforting voice at the other end of that phone line to reassure me. It's especially helpful as things are getting closer and closer. There are those days (as I'm sure every new mom experiences) where I find that we really still have sooo many things we need to get and as my mind focuses on that it becomes very overwhelming. What happens if I forget to buy bottles, or those other necessities? How many crib sheets do we need? What am I forgetting- I know there's a whole list of things!? Is it normal that I can't picture him in my mind? I don't know how she does it, but with every question asked, she has an answer that makes it okay. Really with anything I bring to her she manages to make it doable - perhaps it's the power of the mom - whatever it is, I hope I develop it! I feel truly blessed to have her and can't wait for that time I'll get to spend with her this summer, where I'm sure she'll work to silence more of my fears. =0)

Each day that passes on our little guy continues to get stronger and stronger. His skin is still becoming smoother as more fat is deposited underneath it's surface. His brain can direct rhythmic breathing and control body temperature. His eyes are completely formed and eyelashes are present on his eyelids. It's neat to know that every day he spends inside this growing stomach of mine he is working to become a strong baby that can thrive in the outside world. Knowing this makes me more and more anxious to find out what he looks like as we eagerly await his arrival.

Please keep us in your prayers and thoughts! =0)

Day 173- (93 to go...): My tummy the punching bag

*******************************************
Picture has Christina, Natalie, Mom and Me (please ignore the swollen ankles and feet)
*******************************************

You know it hit us this morning as we were lying in bed talking. David found a concert that he really wanted to go to in October and I told him to go ahead and jump on it before tickets sale out. What was funny is what came next. "Do you want to come too," he asked. "No not really, plus if I went then we'd need to get a babysitter on a Thursday night and I'm not a huge fan of this guy," I replied. The priceless look of shock on his face was what was so hilarious. "Oh my gosh," he said, "We're going to need a babysitter!?!" So needless to say, things are starting to sink in.

Besides the shock of what is becoming closer and closer is the fun we are getting to have. I got to go home for a little vacation with my friend Natalie. Thank you to all of those who helped us have such a great time! During that visit my mom threw me a lovely baby shower and it was so nice to see all those friendly faces that I miss so much! Thank you all for the great gifts - we are bound to have one stylish baby! It was especially wonderful to get that one on one mommy time and get to share this experience with her. It makes me even more anxious knowing that we get both mom and dad when they come out for a whole month in August- can't wait! =0)

A lot has changed in his little world in the past few weeks. He now has a strong grip, one that actually is more powerful than it will be after birth. His fingernails, toenails, eyelashes and eyebrows have all begun to form. Even more amazing, his nostrils have begun to open up, his lung sacs are developing and his lungs are now capable of breathing air! It's all so amazing! While we can read about all the changes in his world, it is even more exciting feeling them. His movements are much strong and much more all over the place - it's fun because now it is possible for others to feel his great little kicks! Night time has become even more interesting. The lapses of insomnia have now been accompanied by our little one drumming inside my tummy at two in the morning. Oh how he loves practicing his boxing skills at two in the morning...! But perhaps the greatest part is when I roll over I can feel him so softly snuggling into whatever side I am lying on. Like he too is taking a rest and cuddling up inside me, I love it!

Thank you again for following us on our journey, please keep us all in your prayers and thoughts! =0)