32 Week Bump Pic

Today marks 33 weeks, but I'm going to stick with tradition and post things a week behind. Here is the series of bump pics topped off with the latest at 32 weeks...

8 weeks-

12 weeks-

16 weeks-

20 weeks-

24 weeks-

28 weeks-

32 weeks- Complete with glamorous hair and actual makeup on. I was getting ready to go out. Can you tell? :)

Well, it's really looking out there now. At my 33 week doctor appointment yesterday the doc said he/she probably weighs like 4 pounds and is still head down in sticking the the correct position. Everything sounded great with the heartbeat and after my next appointment in two weeks, I'll start having to go EVERY week. Holy cow! I'm really in the home stretch!

A New Camera!

First off, I am seriously backlogged on blog posts. I owe you guys the 32 week bump pic from last week, shower pics from this weekend, and finished nursery photos. I will try to get several posts in a row to get caught up to date.

The first tid-bit of excitement is that I finally purchased a DSLR camera. We went with the Pentax KX...

It also came in white, which I actually think is pretty cool, but I figured that since you have it next to your face constantly looking through the view finder, it would just end up with makeup all over it, so I went with the traditional black. I am actually picking it up today. Hopefully I can get at least a grasp of the minimum operating procedures relatively quickly. Creve Coeur Camera offers camera specific classes which I will definitely want to take, but this camera just "came out" in the last month or so, so the first camera specific class isn't until January. I figure I might be to busy to attend the first one, so hopefully I can figure out the basics on my own and then take the class when things get a little more under control with the baby.

Bottom line is.. hopefully my blog photos will become better and more consistent. :)

A Moment of Vanity... Followed By One of Insanity

First the vanity...

I want... NO... I NEED a mystic tan. Obviously, I am not going to get one. The whole immersing yourself in a vapor of dyes and chemicals thing doesn't sound like the best idea for a pregnant person. I would rather not have my baby pop out with the skin tone of Paris Hilton or Ernie from Sesame Street.

All of this however, doesn't stop me from wanting one. In the past I have been an avid mystic tanner and really liked to go when I needed a little mood booster. Oh well. I suppose I'll be my sallow, pasty self for at least two more months. (And probably more so.. I have a feeling that after this baby comes vanity might be the last thing on my mind.)

And now the insanity...

I bought this over the weekend at Anthropologie...

In case you are wondering, it is not a maternity item and unlike some jackets and outerwear, it looks totally ridiculous with a pregnant belly. The ruffles just stick straight out on either side of the belly and it just looks like a fat girl tried to cram herself into a skinny coat a la Chris Farley...

I had seen it months ago in black and really really wanted it. I resisted however, partly because I still had quite a ways to go in the pregnancy and my husband would have shot me if I came home with another black jacket. (I have half a dozen or so.) So that brings us to this weekend when I wandered into Anthro and saw that they just got it in the "peacock" color. Somehow I was magically transported to the checkout line and came home with it. I legitimized my purchase by saying...

A) I can consider it one of my Christmas presents.

B) I was actually going to start looking for cute but comfortable jackets and cardigans because I think they will be good items for post-birth. I can pair them with a nursing tank top to have easy access to the milk troughs and still look put together.

Of course I will be watching the website to make sure that it doesn't go on sale between now and then. Anthro seems to have things go out of stock in my size before ever hitting the sale rack, but we'll see. So that's my insanity from the weekend... I spent way too much moolah on something that I won't be able to wear for a minimum of 2-3 months. Brilliant.

Another Baby Class Update

Well, I got a message from the hospital this morning. The woman apologized profusely for the mistake and in retribution is offering a class called "Happiest Baby On The Block" free of charge. I wasn't planning on taking that class because I already have the DVD, but I might take it anyways if it's a freebie. If we choose not to go we still get the materials (book and dvd) for free. Looking back I probably got overly irritated at the mistake. Oh well. At least I know that there will be someone there to teach the class next week. :)

Baby Class Update

So, as I said in my post yesterday... the first of our four week child birth classes started last night.

Or was supposed to start...

So we get to the correct building, and as it said in my class "confirmation" letter, there was a sign telling us which conference room to go to. Inside the room six other couples were already waiting.

There was no instructor or anything so 15 minutes after class was supposed to start one of the couples went up to the maternity floor to see what was going on. Another couple called the number on our letter and spoke with a hospital administrator.

Basically, all they told us was that they paged the nurse who was supposed to teach the class but "couldn't find her." So, after 45 minutes, the 12 of us just got up and left. I was seriously pissed. They could have at least sent someone down to apologize for their mistake. They do these classes all the time, so I am confused at how something like this could have happened. I am hoping to get a call by noon today explaining the situation. If not, I will call them. I would like to know if I should drive the 30 minutes out there next week and if they are just going to crunch the "curriculum" into three weeks or if we are supposed to go another week in December. (One of the girls in the class is due before then, so I hope not.)

Anyways, our first baby class was a total fail. Hopefully when I deliver my baby there I don;t call looking for him or her only to find out that they "can't find him/her."

Baby Classes

We start our child birthing classes tonight. I am a little nervous for some reason. That's probably stupid but I guess it's the old fear of the unknown. I guess I had better get used to that! Starting these classes does make me realize how close we are to the end though. On Friday I'll have exactly two months to go!

I had another doctor appointment today. I went two weeks ago so now that I'm going every two weeks it is another sign that I'm on the home stretch! At this appointment they could finally tell just from feeling around (no ultrasound) that the baby was head down. I was pretty positive of that just based on where I was getting kicks. I was pretty sure all the moving around I was feeling around either side of my belly button were knees and apparently I was right. :) The doctor said there is still time for the baby to do some flips, but hopefully it just stays right where it is in that head down position.

One last baby thing.... I find it hilarious how people comment on how you look. (Size wise.) I went to the Galleria today and half of the people commenting couldn't believe that I am due in January because I look "so tiny." The other half thought I was ready to pop any minute and couldn't believe that I have two months to go. (Which I think is a little ridiculous because I really don't feel that large.) According to the doctor, I'm right on track in terms of uterus expansion so I just laugh to myself when people feel the need to say things. Oh the numerous joys of pregnancy!

More Showers = Loot!

I'm really kicking myself here, but I didn't take a single shower pic using my camera on Saturday night. (the couples shower) I do have some pics from the Friday night shower though! Both showers were beautiful. We are so lucky to have so many nice and generous friends! Both were cocktail/ appetizer style evening showers which was a fun change from the other two luncheon style showers I'm having.

Here are a couple pics... I wasn't posing for these lovelies so sorry I'm not looking at the camera. (Speaking of which... After seeing these I am convinced that I need a DSLR of some kind. This blurry red eye crap has got to go...)

A cute play mat from Pottery Barn...

Me being ridiculous and demonstrating the bath head rinsing cup. (Very simple idea, but I think they are cool-- have you seen them before?)

A baby book...

I'm not going to bore you with the list of all the loot from the weekend but we did get several large items... The stroller, car seat, high chair and umbrella stroller. Th basement is sure filling up! Hopefully someone will send me some pics from Saturday night too!

Friday Randoms

It's Friday again which means more random bullet points on the blog. Here it goes!

• I have not one but TWO showers this weekend. Tonight I'm having a small cocktail party style one with my closest girlfriends. Tomorrow evening we are having a couples shower. It was hard to fit everything in with the busy Fall schedule, but I'm glad it worked out. After these two I have one large luncheon style one left to go. At first I thought four showers was a bit excessive. Then I realized how much crap you need for a baby. Now I am just appreciative that we have so many generous friends! :)

• I'm getting a little worried about December. We have gotten a slew of invites and save the dates for holiday parties in December. Even in a normal year it is a pretty exhausting month. That coupled with the fact that I'll be nine months pregnant seems a little daunting. I'm going to have to remind myself to relax and take it easy.

• Speaking of the holidays... I think I need to start shopping. I'd rather have it done sooner rather than later. I figure I might as well start while I have the energy.

• Another thing holiday related... I've been wondering how much decorating I should do for Christmas. Decorating wouldn't be an issue, it's more the removal of the decor that I'm thinking about. Am I really going to want to take ornaments off a tree a week before giving birth? Not to mention the possibility of the baby coming early. I LOVE Christmas and wouldn't want to give up a tree altogether, so I'm thinking of getting one and just doing lights and cheapo silver balls that are easy to take down or could even be thrown away. T can be in charge of the tree removal, of course. (We get a live one.) We'll have to see how it goes for the rest of the decor stuff.

• There is a 350 pound man walking by my house right now on the way to the park singing opera at the top of his lungs. He does this almost every day. I always know it's about nine o'clock when I hear him. In case you were wondering.... he is not a good singer. He certainly makes me laugh though.

• I'm excited that it's grapefruit season again. Pomegranates and grapefruit... two of the few produce related pleasures of the Fall/ Winter season.

• I'm trying to dream up more randomness to avoid my next task of the day... Cleaning bathrooms.

Gah.. better get to it and get it over with. Have a good weekend!

Halloween Fun

Thought I'd post a quick pic of our Halloween costumes for this year. This party was actually the week before Halloween. On Halloween itself we just avoided the trick or treaters and went out to dinner. Is that mean? We don't get many around here and the ones we do get.... well... I just don't feel comfortable opening the door. Half the time they are teenagers without costumes. Now that is scary.

So here we are... a fortune telling gypsy and a hoosier. My mother had the gypsy costume from years ago and T came up with his hoosier the day of the party after a quick trip to Walmart. He called me all proud saying that he found "jorts" on the clearance rack for $5. He also thought it was important to stress that the cargo pockets had velcro closures. I guess he thought that really added to the "hoos factor." These were definitely last minute outfits.

I almost didn't want to post the pic because looking at T with his fake teeth and mullet really grosses me out. My line of the night was when he asked me to tell his fortune in my crystal ball. (A round vase turned upside down...) I said... "I am looking into the future and see that if you continue to dress like this there will be no more children in your future...." Yep... that costume was a definite turn off.

The party was quite fun. I'd post more photos from the night, but I don't post photos of other people without their permission. (Even if they are in costume.) :) Can't wait til next year when I have a 10 month old to dress up!

More Bump Pics! - 28 Weeks

Wow. I'm really behind on uploading these. (Once again.) These are the 28 week bump pics even though I am currently standing at 30 weeks. The pictures were taken at 28.5 weeks, but just sat on my memory card for a while.

The progression...

8 Weeks:

12 Weeks:

16 Weeks:

20 Weeks:

24 Weeks:

28 Weeks:

Wowsa! I'm enormo! Hard to believe that I have 10 weeks to go. It's just such an amazing thing to see. I am very glad that I still have the energy level that I do. Hopefully that sticks around. I have noticed a few changes in my daily activities though...

-Three days a week I do a 3.5 mile walk in the morning. This walk keeps getting longer time-wise because if I start to walk too fast the baby starts to really bear down on my bladder giving me an incredible urge to pee. I had to slow it down a bit so I wasn't having to get back to the house every 15 minutes. Doing the elliptical at the gym is way easier in that regard, so I do that two days a week. As the weather turns colder I'm sure I'll have to stop my outdoor walks and switch to more gym, but I'm enjoying the Fall weather while I can!

-I've stuck with my usual (non-pre-natal) yoga class throughout the pregnancy. I just listen to my body and have done some research on any moves that I don't feel comfortable doing or have read are not so good for the baby. (Handstands, for example... I don't need the baby getting confused on which way is down...) As this bump gets bigger I have to make more and more adjustments. I swear I go to that class and half of the time I am just doing my own thing while the rest of the class carries on. I do really enjoy going and think that it has been very beneficial in making me feel as good as I have throughout this process.

*A side note to the above-- I feel like I sound like exercise junkie since I do one or two of the above 5 days a week. This is totally not the case. Remember that I'm not working right now and therefore think it's important to have a decent level of activity throughout the day. If I was still working 9 hours a day there is no way in hell I'd have the energy to keep up this level of activity. Congrats to the people that DO do it all though.

So.. here I stand at 30 weeks. I just hopped on the scale (I don't do that too often any more-- it's scary!) It says that I have gained exactly 20 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight. The doc told me that I should gain 30 pounds total, so that leaves 10 pounds to go for the next 10 weeks. Hmm... Hard to imagine where 10 more pounds is going to go. All baby, I hope?!