Monday, June 29, 2009

Another week closer...

Today marks week 33 and we are another week closer to meeting Charlie! There is still so much to do, but unfortunately since summer break has hit, I have lost all sense of urgency and so not much is getting accomplished...

Some good things...

-Doctor visits are going well. I go every other week now and everything is looking great. I hope she has us get one more ultrasound before I deliver because I would really like to see Charlie again soon.

-Summer is awesome because I get to see my nephews so much. I love those two and it is hard to imagine that I will love our Charlie even more. I am so thankful that my sisters-in-law let me borrow their boys for baby time so much. They just melt my heart.

-My classroom was the first to be cleaned this year so I have the rest of the summer to set it up and prepare it for the substitute next year.

-Next week Tony and I are planning one last little get away before Charlie arrives. We'll be going to Toronto to celebrate our third anniversary (July 8th) and tour the town. If I go early our little guy will be part Canadian!

Some not so good things...

-In two words... Maternity Leave... This is such a PITA! I am not eligible for the FMLA 12 week leave because my school is not recognizing my spring internship hours. I am therefore ineligible for the benefit because the amount of hours I worked within the last year does not add up to 1250. My district will give me my medical benefits for 6 or 8 weeks depending on the type of delivery I have, but I must return to work after that time unless I choose to take the semester off. If I choose to take the semester off, I would have to pay for my medical benefits which is $1200/month making this choice nearly impossible.
Lost yet?
Yeah...
Me too...
So I consulted with a lawyer who informed me that that all of this legitimate practice and I am of course devastated at the thought of leaving my 1.5 month old at day care when I return to work... I have no clue how this is going to play out and I am so stressed about all of it... Technicalities are fucking bullshit...

Anyways... Now that you are all caught up in my life in general... Here is some information on Charlie at 33 weeks!

Starting at about week 26, your baby has slept and awoken at regular intervals. He closes his eyes when he sleeps, and he'll even dream during the last month before birth. No one knows what babies dream about in the womb, but they show reactions ranging from frowns and smiles to crying and kicking. Asleep or awake, you may feel the kicks in a new place around now--in your rib cage, just below your breasts--as he moves into the head-down position where he'll probably stay until birth.
Speaking of sleep, rest may be elusive by this point. Insomnia is common during the last trimester, and what sleep you do get will be interrupted by frequent trips to the bathroom. Hemorrhoids, heartburn, reflux (which feels like your food is coming up again), lower back pain, and swollen feet are among the commonest complaints. Many women find that it helps to eat small, frequent meals instead of large ones; use extra pillows to support belly and back; and sleep alone if your partner's tossing and turning (or snoring) wakes you up just as you're drifting off.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Ikea Meatballs

I must have Ikea meatballs ASAP...

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Happy Father's Day Tony!

Tony,
We love you so much and we know that you are going to be the best daddy ever. We hope you had fun today at the cook out and the pool party and we are so excited that next year you'll have your son to snuggle on this day.
Love,
Mommy & Charlie

Monday, June 15, 2009

A letter from the hormonal pregnant ladies...

I didn't write this, but on some very hormonal days these could be my words...

To whom it may concern:

I hope you find these guidelines helpful in your interactions with pregnant women as failing to follow them may result in serious physical harm. If you are thinking, surely she doesn't mean me- then you should probably read this twice.

1) The appropriate response to a couple telling you they are having a baby is 'Congratulations!' with enthusiasm. Any other response makes you an ass.

2) Through the wonders of science, we now know that babies are made ONLY by the mother and father- not grandparents. Unless the baby is in your uterus or you are the man that helped put it there, you may not ever use the phrase 'my baby'.

3) On the same note, unless you made the baby as defined in 2, the pregnancy, birth and raising of the child are not about you. You do not have input. No one wants to hear your opinion unless they ask for it. The same goes for the name of the baby.

4) The body of a pregnant woman should be treated the same as any other body. You would not randomly touch someone's stomach if they were not pregnant, nor would you inquire into the condition of their uterus, cervix or how they plan to use their breasts. Pregnancy does not remove all traces of privacy from a woman.

5) Likewise, no woman wants to hear comments on her weight- ever. A pregnant woman does not find it flattering that you think she is about is pop, must be having twins, looks swollen or has gained weight in her face. Telling her she looks too small only makes her worry that she is somehow starving her baby. Making such comments invite her to critique your physical appearance, and you may not act offended. The only acceptable comment on appearance is 'You look fabulous!'.

6) By the time we are 20-30 years old, most of us have picked up on the fact that the summer is hot. We are hot every summer when we are not pregnant. We don't need you to point out that we will be miserably hot before the baby comes.

7) There is a reason that tickets to L&D are not yet sold on Ticketmaster. Childbirth is actually not a public event. It may sound crazy, but some women really do not relish the idea of their mother, MIL or a host of other family members seeing their bare butt and genitals. Also, some people simply feel like the birth of their child is a private and emotional moment to be shared only by the parents. Like everything else in life, unless you receive an invitation, you are NOT invited. This includes doctor appointments, ultrasounds, labor, delivery, the hospital and the parents home. You do not decide if you will be there for the birth or if you will move in with the new parents to 'help out'. If your assistance is desired, rest assured that you will be asked for it.

8) If you are asked to help after the birth, this means you should clean up the house, help with cooking meals, and generally stay out of the way. Holding the baby more than the parents, interfering with breastfeeding and sleeping schedules and making a woman who is still leaking fluid from multiple locations lift a finger in housework is not helping.

9) The only people entitled to time with the baby are the parents. Whether they choose to have you at the hospital for the birth or ask for you to wait three weeks to visit, appreciate that you are being given the privilege of seeing their child. Complaining or showing disappointment only encourages the parents to include you less.

I hope this helps- it sure makes us feel better.

Signed, All Pregnant Women

31 Weeks...

Almost all of the baby's systems have developed except the lungs... He is about 3.5 pound and 15 inches tall. Our baby is getting chubby and starting to uses all of his senses. I am 7 months pregnant and it doesn't even feel real yet. In two months Tony and I are likely to be parents. The nursery is pretty much ready, but I am not even close to being prepared to be a parent.

My current check list includes:
Finish Shower Thank You Notes (I still have one more shower)
Complete the Will
Get more Life Insurance
Interview the Pediatrician
Complete Pre-Admission Hospital Paperwork
Attend Parenting Classes
Figure out Maternity Leave (Long story for another day)
Enjoy One Last Kid-Free Vacation with Tony
Hang with BFF's
Organize Lesson Plans for my Maternity Leave
Deep Clean/ Spruce up House
Finish my Master's Degree
Have a baby

I have a lot to do, but honestly, I am impatient and want time to hurry so I can meet Charlie. Also, I would really like to sleep on my tummy again. I sleep for shit on my hips... Hurry August!

Monday, June 8, 2009

Up and At Em...

First:
Today I am up way too early for this to be the first day of summer break... My day will consist of getting my bimonthly massage and then visiting my parents. Then I need to come home clean the bathroom, make dinner and organize the nursery so I can be ready for my work shower tomorrow.

Second:
I also am breaking into the 30's today. 30 weeks pregnant today! Woot! See below for the development progress.

Third:
Yesterday I had the first of three showers. It was huge and we got so many things that we really needed like the car seat, highchair, pack and play and bouncer plus a lot of little perks like books, rattles and stuffed animals. My mom hosted this shower an there were almost 65 people there, so the day was exhausting to say the least. It was such and awesome day and I will post pictures as soon as I get my hands on some! The best part of the shower is that Tony was there with me and that was really nice to have him share the attention with me plus he is just so pumped up to meet Charlie and I think this just multiplied it by 50 for him. In ten weeks we will have our baby and we both are having a hard time wrapping our head around this.

Finally:
Charlie is growing!
Here is what americanpregnancy.org says about the growth:

Your baby has now grown to be about 15.15 inches long and weighs about 3 pounds. Your baby’s eyes are becoming more mature, and now he/she can tell the difference between light and dark. Babies at 30 weeks can even follow a light source with his/her eyes. Once your baby is born, he/she will spend a great deal of time with their eyes closed. This is completely normal. Newborns only have the ability to focus on objects a few inches from their faces. While “normal” adult vision is 20/20, a newborn’s vision is 20/400.

By this week, your baby's senses are developed to the point where she can taste, touch, see, and hear what's going on around her. She'll also react to stimuli--for instance, if you poke your belly, she may kick or hit back at the spot you've touched. It's exciting to interact with your baby even before she's born. Try rubbing your belly and talking gently to her when she kicks--you may find that you're already able to calm her down.

Monday, June 1, 2009

29 Weeks

I am officially 29 weeks pregnant today!

I know I repeat this often, but I can't believe how blessed we are.


This is a very big week... First, Friday is the last day of school! Then, Sunday is my family shower and Tuesday afternoon is my work shower. As for my to do list... I still need to find a pediatrician and complete pre-admission hospital paperwork. I also need to find daycare for the fall and I need to up our life insurance and create a will of some sort. Another great thing about this week is that I finally finished my master's classes. Now I just need to get on my thesis project...

Anyway...

A little about Charlie this week...

For the past six weeks or so, your baby has been listening to your voice (along with the voices of your partner, older children, and anyone else who's been talking to your belly). Speaking to your baby is not only a key part of prenatal bonding, but may also form the basis of language development. Babies who have been spoken to in utero recognize and turn to familiar voices immediately after birth. There may also be links between prenatal stimulation and the development of speech and IQ.

I guess it is a good thing that Tony and I have been reading to him lately.

I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow and will update if there is any news.