bigger

I'm starting to understand what people are talking about as far as being uncomfortable during the third trimester. I have started having lower abdominal cramping and tightening (maybe Braxton-Hicks contractions) after walking for a little bit. None when I'm sitting comfortably, and I feel better after resting. I think it's due to the size of my belly. I ordered a maternity support belt and can't wait until it arrives. I really hope it helps. Also, I'm increasingly uncomfortable at night. I have a whole set up with the maternity wedge and body pillow, and when I wake up uncomfortable, I switch it to the other side and roll over. This is several times a night. Plus sometimes I wake up with reflux or feeling too hot. However, I know that my getting bigger is so that the baby can get bigger, and that's good for him. So big, huge belly, here I come!

weekend

Over the weekend, Doug helped Nate and Angie move into their new house. They now have five bedrooms! And a backyard! Since I can't lift, I didn't help, but I did bring by a pizza last night. This weekend we also installed the car seat base into my car. I put it in the seat behind me. There is alot of room because I always have the seat scooted all the way forward. I'm planning on getting one of those baby in view mirrors. Not sure how well it would work in the seat I have it in vs. the other side. I can see both rear seat headrests in the rearview mirror, so it seems like it would just be about getting the second mirror at the right angle.

31 weeks

9 weeks to go! As you can see, I have started wearing my rings around my neck. A couple of days ago my hands swelled and I wasn't able to get the wedding band off during the day. It came off that night, but I want to avoid getting into a situation where it can't come off and possibly needs to get cut off.

ob visit

I had my OB visit for the month today. Next month I will have two visits per month, and then weekly visits in June. Everything is going well. No problems! It was convenient getting to my appointment since I'm working on the university campus. I just waddled on over to the clinic.

We have been having some wacky Colorado weather recently. It snowed this past weekend. Today and yesterday it has been in the high 70's- low 80's and sunny. I went for a swim after work, and it was very relaxing. It is so nice to be buoyant and feel weightless. I had the pool all to myself. Plus, it wasn't as cold as I thought it would be- they are heating it.

ft collins

It warmed up so I went up to Fort Collins last night. Today was beautiful and sunny, and we went to a reservoir with Joe and Katie.

30 weeks

Still snowing! Jack is alternately at the window watching the snow, tearing up the blinds, or sleeping in the armchair. 30 weeks yesterday. In 10 weeks we will have a baby who will be with us for the rest of our lives. I want him to get big and strong and deliver at term. I'm on my own this weekend. Doug is in Fort Collins with Joe and Katie. I was supposed to drive up today, but I'm not going to drive in this snow.

snow

We're having a spring snowstorm today. Just two days ago it was sunny and 70 degrees, and the apartment people started filling up the pool. I started my research rotation yesterday. I'll be in the lab for the next two months. I could leave any time in June, but I'm planning to work up to one week before my due date. I'll see how comfortable or uncomfortable I am as I go. I haven't actually done anything yet, other than help pack pipets into containers for sterilization. I've watched some people do things. The lab is a completely different world than the hospital. They do have a project that I will be helping with starting next week.

breastfeeding class

Last night I went to a breastfeeding class at the hospital. I couldn't get Doug to go with me to this one. It was the same instructor as for our other class. I played with the baby dolls again and learned the cross cradle and football holds. The instructor recommends Medela products, so I've changed the registry from the Avent to the Medela manual pump. I shouldn't have to pump that often, as I'll be staying at home with the baby.

baby bedding

Here are pictures of the baby bedding. You can see the different combinations of the gingham and blue and yellow solid sheets. It's simple, but I like it. I haven't washed them yet, but the sheets seem to be good quality with elastic all of the way around. I also had my first experience wrestling the crib mattress. I'm glad we got the foam one rather than one with coils because it's light!

bbh!

seattle!

29 weeks

Woke up early this morning and couldn't get back to sleep. This is despite the ranitidine (which has helped) and a new wedge pillow. My sleep isn't what it was. However, I thought I would share that I noticed the baby hiccuping while I was lying awake. Just little rhythmic twitches. He did it for a while and then stopped. We are heading out to Seattle today for Toshi's wedding.

wedding

Doug and I will be heading to Seattle this weekend for Jessica and Toshi's wedding. They are getting married on the waterfront, for a truly Seattle experience. This will be the last trip we take before the baby arrives. My OB has told me not to fly after 30 weeks. I will be 29 weeks this Friday. We are going to have to miss Amy's wedding in Ann Arbor next weekend.

getting bigger

28 weeks. I got a haircut today. I have gotten the crib bedding figured out- I found a dark blue gingham crib sheet, skirt, and blanket on babybedding.com that I liked. Will do that with the little builder accessories.

28 weeks

28 weeks today, marking the start of the third trimester! I have been thinking more about the bumper pad issue. Thirty years ago, when we were babies, everybody used bumper pads. I'm not sure if I personally had bumper pads, but that was just what people did. And we turned out fine. However, there is the suffocation risk- if a baby gets his face up in the bumper and can't get off of it. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against using bumper pads, citing 27 suffocation or strangulation deaths and 25 injuries attributed to bumper pads from 1985- 2005. There is a very small but real risk. So, I think we will avoid the bumper pads despite how cute they are. For the last hour so, I have been on babybedding.com mixing and matching different fabric patterns for custom sheets and a crib skirt.

newborn parenting class

Doug and I went to the newborn parenting class tonight. There was a powerpoint and then hands-on diapering, swaddling, and burping of baby dolls. It was useful. Now I can tell what the front and back of the diaper are. The whole group was made up of first time parents, and there were some dumb questions asked, like "why do babies need to get burped? Why can't they burp on their own?" and "do babies need to wear socks all the time?" Doug suffered through it with me and he diapered the doll like a pro.

The instructor was very clear that crib bumper pads are not recommended. I'm kind of torn because that is the cutest part of the bedding set! That and the quilt, and if we can't use either, then why get the set? I'm going to look around again at bedding options. Particularly with the little builder set, the bumper pad is what ties it all together. I like the plaids and the bright earthy colors.

Also, our car seat arrived today!