33 Weeks: Putting A Face To A Name

I have a feeling all my posts from now on are going to take on the same tone of nervous excitement. Peanut is going to be here soon, whether Jeff and I are ready or not. Granted, we feel ready, and I think if she showed up tomorrow we'd be alright. But that doesn't mean she should.

Do you hear me little one? You stay in there and keep growing for as long as you need to, okay?

At 33 weeks, little Peanut is growing like a weed. Or at least it sure feels like she is. She moves almost constantly, which means I regularly have the pleasure of feeling little feet in my ribs and little fists in my side. Sometimes it feels like shes somersaulting, and it takes my breath away for a second. No matter how long she's been growing in my belly, I don't think I'll ever get totally used to some of the strange sensations that happen when you're sharing your body with another person, even if that other person is very, very little. I'm glad she's moving around though, I'd prefer that to a lazy baby. At least I know she's active!

I had an additional ultrasound yesterday to check on Peanut's size and growth. Normally the last ultrasound of a low-risk pregnancy is the "anatomy" scan at around 20 weeks, but because my doctor was concerned about preeclampsia, she wanted to look again and make sure Peanut is a normal size and all is well. Here are a couple shots from the scan yesterday:

Peanut's face from the front. She's so cute, right?

Side profile shot.

I realize ultrasounds are, for the most part, ugly and unclear photos. Frankly sometimes I'm shocked at how much the ultrasound techs can decipher from what looks like static to me. It was a little eerie to see her this far into the pregnancy. Even at 21 weeks, she didn't appear too much like a baby. She had all the main features, but they're so much more developed now that she looks like a little person. Not so much in these pictures, they don't really do her justice. I'm convinced she'll be a doll though.

And if she's not, just lie to me and tell me she is, mm'kay?

Most importantly, after all the measurements were taken and averaged, the ultrasound tech told me Peanut is measuring at about 33 weeks and 5 days, so about 5 days "big." I'll have to see what the doctor says about this when I go again next week, but it definitely rules out the small baby doc was worried about. I'm thinking this might ease her fears about preeclampsia and she may reevaluate her idea that baby girl will need to come early.

I can't say I'm surprised she's a little big (and I'm pretty sure this isn't terribly uncommon), because I still feel like a whale. Sometimes I look down and I'm amazed at just how big my belly has gotten. Wasn't it just yesterday I was wondering if strangers could tell that I'm pregnant? No doubt these days, haha.

(Random side note: to this point, I have still managed to avoid any uninvited belly rubs. At this point, I'm considering myself the champ of whatever facial expression it is that says "Do NOT touch my belly.")

Here's the 33-week bump pic:

 Thankfully the ultrasound tech also confirmed that Peanut is still a girl! Thank goodness.

I would've been in so much trouble if she were now a boy, somehow. I've got enough pink to outfit ten little girls for a lifetime, haha.

My iPhone app says shes the side of a cauliflower, but I myself have never seen an 18" cauliflower, so I doubt that's a good size reference. I think for the most part she probably just looks like a small baby. A VERY CUTE small baby. =)

We also start our "childbirth classes" tonight, and I'm interested to see how that goes. With so much information out there so readily available, I'm not sure there's too much they can teach us that we don't already know, but it'll be good to tour the birthing center, hear about some recommended techniques for labor and delivery, and maybe meet some other people in the same boat as us. Perhaps I'll write another update about that tomorrow, but only if it's terribly exciting.

I visit the doctor again on Tuesday for my 34-week checkup, and I'm sure we'll discuss Peanut's size and doc's thoughts about the preeclampsia. This will be the first doctor appointment I go to without Jeff, which makes me a little sad. By some miracle, he's been able to attend every single appointment we've had, and I think he's really liked being able to participate in the whole process. But since he just started training, he wasn't able to go with me to the ultrasound yesterday, and will probably miss all of our doctor appointments from now on. I suppose as long as he's there for the last one that's all that really matters.

I think that's about it as far as updates from this past week. I'll check back in soon with more updates!

32 Weeks: 8 Months Down, 8 Weeks to Go

Oy! This is definitely going faster than I'd previously thought.

Could be because we've been relatively busy the last week (camping! yay!) but also because the reality is setting in that there just isn't that much time before Peanut arrives. I was telling Jeff just today that there are all these things I want to do this summer now that we're back in Oregon, but I'm starting to realize our baby-less weekends are limited in number, and the second half of our summer in Southern Oregon is basically shot with a newborn. So much to do, so little time!

Perhaps my eagerness to do some of these things is contributing to my fabulous attitude (yes, I said it, I had a fabulous attitude) about things like going camping 31 weeks pregnant. Not a lot of women would sleep on an air mattress in a tent in the woods when they're as pregnant as I am, but I am so excited to be back in Oregon and be able to do these things I've grown up loving to do, that I really can't complain. Here are a couple photos from our camping adventure this past weekend at Lake of the Woods, courtesy of Jeff:

We had SPLENDID weather the whole time, which is pretty unusual when camping in Oregon, especially this early.

(Yes, June is "early" in Oregon for summertime activities. The water is still waaaaaaayyyy too cold to swim in, and it still gets pretty cold at night. Late July/early August is the ideal time for outdoor activities.)

We're hoping to get in at least one more camping trip before Peanut comes, if we can find the time. And if we feel inclined, and think we can make it work, we may try to take her once after she's born. That's a big MAYBE though (I can hear my mom laughing at my naive intentions...)

In other news, as of yesterday, we're officially 32 weeks pregnant, or eight months, by my math. That means we've got eight weeks left.

Eight. Weeks.

That's 56 days. IF she makes it to her due date.

Wowzer. It's coming faster and faster. Here's the 32-week pic:

I feel freakin' HUGE and I know I don't have it quite as bad as those smaller girls with smaller torsos (yes, Tiff, that's you).

I don't expect my shape to change too much more, but I'm sure the bump will get a bit bigger. At roughly 17", Peanut is just about at her birth length, but still has another few pounds to pack on. Hopefully not the additional 4.5 my mom is predicting. I don't want a heifer for a baby, for obvious reasons.

This Sunday will be Jeff's last Father's Day before he's a "real" father (his words, not mine) and I think he's excited. He'll be the best Dad, and I'm excited for our Peanut girl to have such a great Daddy.

Not much else in terms of updating, I'm scheduled for my ultrasound next Wednesday at the 33-week mark, so I may have some more accurate measurements of our little nugget after that. Right now, it's pretty much just averaging what all my different books and phone apps tell me in terms of her stats. It'll be nice to know for sure. I'll try and post a pic of the ultrasound too if they give me one. Just seven weeks before her due date, I imagine she'll look pretty baby-ish. We shall see.

That's probably about it for today, if I think of anything else exciting to share with you, I'll come back with another post!

Happy Thursday!

31 Weeks!

It's Friday, and today is a big day for a couple of reasons.

First, time to post the 31-week bump photo! Jeff and I were looking back last night at my 28-week photo and noting that I'm quite a bit bigger just four weeks later. I expect this rate of growth to continue, as Peanut packs on her last few pounds (I'm told about half a pound of fat each week) and stretches out her last few inches.

Here's this week's photo:

Another reason today is a big day is that it's June 6th. Peanut is due August 6th. That means we're basically just two months away now from meeting our daughter. It feels like it's coming up so quick (how will we ever be ready?) but at the same time, I'm excited to meet her and see what this little girl is all about.

Her nearly-constant movements in my belly make me think she's a spunky little thing, but she could just be annoyed that she's running out of room. How big the world will be when she's finally here! I bet she'll want to be back in her warm quiet space. Hopefully lots of cuddles can remedy that.

We visited the doctor again for our "30 week" check up which was actually more like the "32 week" check up. We won't see her again until 34 weeks, and then again at 36, when we'll start going weekly for the last month.

So far, Jeff has been able to accompany me to every single appointment we've had, which has been great. He's been engaged and has been able to participate in the whole process. I'm not sure that will continue once he starts his new training, but I'm glad he's been along for the ride so far. These days appointments are just measuring the size of my belly ("like a textbook" according to my doctor), and checking the protein in my urine (over-share!). She didn't seem as concerned this time around about the preeclampsia, so I'm hoping I'll be able to avoid that. I have a habit of fixing my health issues rather quickly, so I wouldn't be surprised if I'm able to stave it off.

I can't remember if I've mentioned this already or not, but we also have an ultrasound scheduled for week 33 to make sure Peanut is the right size. With the doc's concerns about preeclampsia, she wants to make sure that baby is measuring to size (or larger is also possible...oy) and that she's not small due to potential preeclampsia. I'm sure she'll measure up just fine, like I said, she's been textbook so far. But I am excited to see her little face again and get an even better idea of what she looks like.

Finally, today is also a big day because it's ENJJPT Class 14-06's Drop/Assignment Night. I have a few good friends in 14-06, and they were our "changeover" class in ENJJPT, meaning they followed Jeff's class through the program and took over each flight room as Jeff's class moved on to the next phase. I am especially excited for my adorable friend Tiffany, who at almost 38 weeks pregnant is powering through this nerve-wracking and emotional time like a champ. We've been hoping her baby girl holds out until at least after Drop Night, and it looks like that's going to happen, barring any "events" this evening during the program (yes, I'm knocking on wood right now). She's going to have quite the exciting next few weeks, with Drop Night and Graduation, and likely a new baby in between the two. So excited for her.

Jeff and I are headed off on another adventure today, camping this weekend at Lake of the Woods. He's been eager to go camping ever since...okay, he's always eager to go camping, so we're making the trip while he's still got time before training starts (and before Peanut arrives). Lake of the Woods isn't terribly far, maybe an hour or so; it's nice that something so beautiful is basically right in our own back yard. Unfortunately, I won't have WiFi to Skype in for drop night, so I'll have to settle for text messages and phone calls. It'll be nice to spend some time away though, and hopefully catch a couple...fish for Jeff, rays for me. :)

Time to get the car packed up and get on our way! Have a great weekend everyone!

What A Difference 20 Weeks Makes...

Check it out! Here's a side-by-side view of my 10-week and 30-week bump photos. What a difference 20 weeks makes, huh? Little girl sure has grown big!

 

Should be able to post our 31-week photo later this week also!

After a great long weekend at home in Corvallis, we're back in Klamath Falls and ready for our "30 week" check up with our new doctor tomorrow. I'm interested to see what she has to say, and if her thoughts on my health and Peanut's arrival have changed any.

This is just a quick check-in post, but I must congratulate my friend Jill on the birth of her baby boy this morning. I am absolutely over the moon for her, and if anyone was ever put on this earth to be a mother, it's Jill. I can't wait to meet the little guy and hope he and Peanut can be great friends one day.

Or at least those awkward friends where your parents kind of force you into it because THEY are great friends and you only see that person like three times your whole life but your parents still think it's just swell without realizing you don't quite get on with this perfect stranger like they do with his/her parents.

I hope they can at least be those friends.

Time to watch the Beavs beat UC Irvine to win their Regional and advance to Supers!!

Nighty night!