funny onesies

if you are sensitive - READ ON WITH A SENSE OF HUMOR





these are funny. not sure i would have my kid wear them. but these made me laugh.

to get an idea...

some days i feel like this. maybe a bit bigger belly. ha ha. i was going to post the pic of danny devito in batman when he played the penguin - but that was too scary for me to look up. but the penguins have the waddle, they can't see their feet, they can't move very fast and their shape is very similar to mine at the moment :)

people keep asking me if i'm scared or if i'm ready. i don't think i'll ever feel that i'm fully ready, but i am ready to meet our baby and be able to hold her. i'm so excited for this new big change and adventure of the unknown :) and of course i'm scared - who isn't scared about bringing a child into this world - i'm scared about being a horrible parent, not knowing what to do, if she's not healthy, etc. there are so many emotions and thoughts all the time. but more good than bad. and mike and i need to find a different word other than excited.

pregnancy brain

there isn't that much scientific proof or articles about the 'pregnancy brain' - i will have to check out some sites and research more during my sleepless 4am-ness nights. but lack of sleep, changes in your life, excitement, distractions, lots of things combined can probably be the causes to my absentmindedness.

i find myself being the annoying person during a movie asking what happened, what's going on, who said what (luckily we haven't been to any movies i have to really think too hard). i say stupid things and then realize it later. i get directions on a project at work and don't write it all down - then i have to go back and ask again. i go out the door with all these errands to do, but forget stuff and have to go back. lots of stuff like that happens. it's like pregnancy ADD. PAD - pregnancy attention disorder.

from an article:

Many mothers-to-be call these occasional slips of memory "mommy brain" or "pregnancy amnesia." Even very organized and efficient women say they are distracted and find it harder to maintain their focus and concentration during pregnancy.

In fact, according to a report published in The Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 82 percent of the women surveyed reported some type of absentmindedness or inability to concentrate during pregnancy. Of those women, 68 percent reported general changes in recall or memory, 54 percent had problems concentrating or paying attention, and 52 percent experienced absentmindedness.

What causes absentmindedness during pregnancy?

There is much debate on the topic, but many experts believe changing hormone levels are to blame. Hormones have a powerful influence on our bodies -- including the brain -- and pregnancy is a time of dramatic hormonal changes. In a process that is not completely understood, these hormonal shifts seem to cause diminished memory and changes in thinking. Many women find that they are similarly affected at other times when hormones are fluctuating: before their monthly periods and during menopause.

According to one study described in New Scientist, in 1997 researchers recorded a number of changes in the brain that may explain the alterations in memory function. One small study looked at images of the brains of healthy pregnant woman and detected a temporary slight shrinkage in the overall size of the brain during the latter stages of pregnancy as well as an increase in the size of the pituitary gland. However, scientists said more research was necessary before memory loss could be attributed to these observed conditions.

Other experts, according to the Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, have suggested that pregnancy brain haze may be worsened by iron deficiency and stress, but these theories have not been proven.

Whatever the cause, forgetfulness is likely to worsen as a pregnancy progresses (thus the term "last-trimester fog"). Along with the hormonal changes you experience, you may be preoccupied with the prospect of childbirth and of caring for a new baby. Worries about difficult labor, your personal finances, the baby's health, and how you will handle motherhood may be more pronounced, adding to the distraction. Sleep is often erratic during pregnancy, and you may become even more forgetful if you are tired during the day.

so i guess i'm going to get really absentminded as we get closer. :) so please be patient.

pics

remind me when people come over that we need to get a picture of mike and i together. we just keep forgetting.

our poor baby has had hiccups a lot lately in the past few days. it feels funny. i've read it doesn't bother her, but when i have hiccups they bother me - so i'm sure it's not that fun cramped in small space with hiccups.

8 mos

getting closer to counting down the weeks. here's a pic in the nursery - chubby cheeks and growing belly :)

this is a pic in the nursery with the new glider (thanks bubbe) and cute curtains. i've been rocking at night listening to music in dimmed lights. more for me than the baby, but who knows - maybe it will help her brain develop like some people think. i'll try anything. it's pretty comfy and soothing - so why not.

32 wks

How your baby's growing: By now, your baby probably weighs almost 4 pounds and is almost 17 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. She has tiny toenails now, and her fingernails have grown in, too. Some babies have a head of hair already; others have only peach fuzz.


YOUR BABY THIS WEEK
...Week 32

Within two months (or less) the big day will arrive, and baby is just as excited as you are—something you can probably feel from the increasing activity in your tummy!

Your Baby: At almost 4 pounds (2 kg) in weight and 19 inches (48 cm) in length, your baby is nearly filling up your entire uterus. Most of the time her head will be facing upward, but there’s still enough room to somersault now and then. In her spare time, baby is getting ready for her first loving look at Mom, as she practices opening and closing her eyes. Baby's skin is also becoming less wrinkled, as layers of fat continue to plump out the body.

mike wants to take a pic this weekend. so i'll probably have some to post.

hope everyone has a great memorial day weekend.

60 yr old gives birth

oldest woman in US to give birth. and to twins. here's more.

that is just amazing. if she can do it - anyone can i guess. but i can't imagine being a lot older - pregnancy just messes with your body and you hit a certain age and your bones are already weird - then to add to it pregnancy...geez. i give her props. it is just sad that she won't be able to see her grandkids probably, but maybe this will make her want to live longer. who knows.

coworkers

you don't realize how quiet you are throughout the day until you change up your work environment. i have been pretty spoiled this past month by working from home. and now i am downtown for the next month or so - or until i feel uncomfortable - working with the p&g team. it is nice to be back and have people to talk to. poor mike was probably going nuts. when he'd walk in the door i would just talk non-stop. there are 6 other pregnant women. one woman is having twins and she is due 10 days before we are. she's not huge at all.

so i get to hear stories and realize i'm pretty normal and lucky. it's funny people didn't realize i was pregnant before, but there is no hiding from my belly now. plus it was cooler out and i had sweaters on all the time.

i walk into the big honchos office and he was like - whoa - you're pregnant - i didn't know that. you were just here a month or so ago. i laughed. he was so seriously shocked. yea i'm pregnant and i was pregnant last time i was here i said. he was like how were you 6 mos pregnant and i didn't notice. it was funny. i got my own little cube, big screen, new mouse and a place to put my feet up. not bad. but it's not home on my couch in my pjs.

but i'm so close to mike we can meet for lunches if we want and tonight i'm going to go see his new office. he moved up some floors. scary - i think he's like on the 70th something floor - he looks down on the prudential building. scary. he can see the storms roll in. his building is the third tallest in chicago. i don't think i'd like working that high.

waddling

i always thought pregnant women waddled because they were getting so big. i guess i was wrong.

this site says i'm 32 wks pregnant. thought i'd share what they had to say about waddling to clarify some misconceptions :)

You are now 32 weeks pregnant!

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOU

Are you beginning to waddle? The pregnancy hormone, relaxin, is responsible for the softening hip joints that cause you to move differently. Your graceful gait is not helped by your large uterus, which can throw off your posture and cause you to have a swayback appearance. And if you'd like to sidestep back pain, it's important to heed Mother's advice: Stand up straight!

(not sure i would ever say my walk was graceful - ha ha, but i definitely feel more awkward than usual :) )

By now, you may long for a good night's rest, and finding a comfortable position may have become an ongoing challenge. If you feel like sleeping on your back -- or even on your belly -- go right ahead. Pregnant women should sleep in whatever position they find the most comfortable! (The exception to this rule is if you are in a high-risk pregnancy. Discuss your concerns with your care provider.)

good stuff to know. there is so much advice out there online and from anyone even strangers - you just have to pick and choose what you want to do or believe :)

glider continued

we got the four bolts yesterday. took longer to get the four bolts and directions than the 85 lbs glider. but it was worth it. it is super comfy and is a great addition to the nursery.

my working from home is over for at least a month. should be interesting. it has been really really nice to work from home. eat when i'm hungry, put my feet up, hang out in my pjs, get all our packages and appointments out of the way...but now i am working on a project involving teams and will have to go into the office til maybe july. but it's work. and that's good.

getting some response from our baby shower invites. it will be nice to get friends and family together.

31 wks

time is flying. i can't believe i have been pregnant for 31 wks. i'm sure it will start slowing down soon as time nears to her due date of 40 wks.

How your baby's growing: This week, your baby measures about 16 inches long. She weighs a little over 3 pounds and is headed for a growth spurt. She can turn her head from side to side, and she's beginning to accumulate a layer of fat underneath her skin in preparation for life as a newborn. As a result, her arms, legs, and body are filling out.

and she is moving a lot more than she has in the past. maybe she has growing pains or is running out of room quickly.

car seat recalls

Product Recall

By The Associated Press
Published May 10, 2007, 4:18 PM CDT

_ About 450,000 Evenflo Embrace combination car seat-carriers for infants, manufactured by Evenflo Company Inc., because when used as a carrier the handle can release unexpectedly and rotate the seat forward, posing a fall hazard. The company has received 679 reports of handles that releasted and 160 reports of injuries. These included a skull fracture and two concussions along with cuts, scrapes and bruises.

glider

so i spoke too soon about our quick delivery of the glider. we opened it up to put the few pieces together and they forgot to send us a manual and 4 bolts. so we haven't had a chance to try it out yet. but it looks comfy. we got the curtains up. i was going to take a pic with everything put together and organized. we still need little things like the crib sheets, changing pad cover, diapers, diaper champ so the room doesn't stink...stuff like that. but we got most of the big stuff out of the way. it's been fun starting to get presents for our baby girl. i have yet to buy any clothes - that has been the hardest thing because they are so darn cute. but that's mostly what people buy - so i'm holding off.

if you are pregnant do you celebrate mother's day? never thought about it til now. mike mentioned taking me out to dinner. aww. :)

30 wks (7 til full term)

so you can have your baby at 37 wks, but average first time moms have their babies around 40-41 wks. i'm measuring at about 32 wks. but i'm going by my 'calculated' due date. so we'll see what happens. pretty exciting adventure.

How your baby's growing: Your baby's a bit more than 15 1/2 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds. A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and fills out your uterus. Her eyes open and close, she's able to distinguish between light and dark, and she can even follow a light source back and forth. Once she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have a visual acuity of only 20/400 — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. ("Normal" vision in adults is 20/20.)

Week 30: Heartburn

Only ten more weeks to go! And what an interesting ten weeks it'll be.

The light is visible at the end of the tunnel! Your oversized self and amazing growing baby have finally reached the single digits (in terms of weeks till birth)! The fine lanugo hair that has been growing all over their little monkey-like body is going to start falling off this week in preparation for the big day. But don’t be shocked if they’re hairier than you’d anticipated, some babies keep their lanugo until after birth. Still, it’s not any cause to be concerned as it will fall off eventually. No surprises here: your little porker is getting even cuter with increasingly pudgy arms and legs this week thanks to the ever-growing layers of subcutaneous fat. In terms of numbers, they’ll be weighing in at around 3 pounds 12 ounces (or more!) and are nearly 16 inches long.

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOU

You may be noticing some swelling of your ankles and legs. Between 40 and 75 percent of pregnant women will develop mild edema. It's most common in late pregnancy, particularly on hot days, or if you've been on your feet a lot. While mild swelling is normal, it's important to call your practitioner if your hands or face begin to swell, if swelling lasts more than 24 hours or if it's accompanied by a rapid weight gain or a rise in your blood pressure -- possible signs of preeclampsia. Your doctor or midwife will check your blood pressure, note the degree of swelling present and will probably decide to run a quick test to see if there is protein in your urine. Preeclampsia affects approximately 5 to 10 percent of pregnant women. Some studies indicate that proper nutrition can reduce your chances of developing this condition.

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOUR BABY

Your baby weighs three pounds and measures 14 inches from head to toe. Your baby's eyes may now be wide open. He or she may even have hair!

more on the nursery

so we went to a bunch of places and everyone said they couldn't get us our glider in less that 7 wks. and we really wanted to get it earlier. we decided to brave it and order the glider online because they gave us 2-4 wks and we could work with that time frame more. 10 days later - we received the glider. whoohoo. we'll put it together tonight and see how it looks. i put together the ottoman, but the other box is 54 lbs and i won't try putting it together. i've learned that the hard way. i'm not as invincible as i thought.

last night we put up the curtains. we'll post pics soon. the room has been coming together nicely. very exciting. is this my 'nesting' phase?! i haven't scrubbed the whole house yet. been fighting the urge. i think that's probably the nesting phase.

baby shower invites have gone out. my cousin will be semi-hosting the couples' shower at our place on father's day. something low key and casual. didn't want a big fuss. our friend pam has offered to help out lots too. thanks guys.

today i did take a few breaks and knitted a little hat. so cute.

2nd day of class

went well. we got a tour of the hospital area where we would deliver and go after the baby is born. it's not as big as i thought it would be. and there isn't much room for guests. they are really hard core about security. so that's good i guess. we will have to have visitors at our house. there is more room :)

the instructor was great. we had a lot of fun. we came home exhausted and took a nap. then we put the crib together. thanks grandma for a great crib. we love it.

we decided to go ahead and use the bumper. it's just so cute. and a newborn can't move much. when she gets older we can remove it easily. :)

the room is coming together slowly. it's very exciting.

one girl in our class ended up delivering last night at 1am. she was saying she was uncomfortable, but it was kind of early. she had an easy labor. luckkeee. i keep hearing stories either 30 hours of miserable labor or like 2-6 hours of quick and easy labor. i'll settle for in between, but what we care for most is a healthy happy baby. :)

childbirth class

today was our first main day of childbirth class. met some nice parents-to-be and we have a great instructor. most of the info i have read, but it is reassuring to hear and see stuff. the breathing/relaxing techniques will be useful - and the epidural :) i had registered for a sound relaxation machine from target for the baby to listen to - there is a heartbeat and i have heard good things about it, but then in the class the instructor mentioned that relaxing noises help you relax during labor. i love dual uses for things :) and it's not expensive. she also said we could bring in music - so i found some fairly cheap portable speakers for my ipod. now i just have to figure out what music we'd want to listen to. i have thought about all this stuff, but it is good to know i can actually bring in stuff and do my own thing and not be crazy. i love that each room has a birthing ball. i love my ball :) so it will be something familiar and comfortable to sit on.

anyways - it was fun to hear dads-to-be with their questions. i am so glad mike has been exposed to newborns and babies more than some of these guys. we had to answer the question about what we wanted to get out of the class. one father said he just wants to learn how to not kill his baby. another said he wants to learn to say the right things during labor.

tomorrow we will probably go over the 5 S's and get a tour. it will be nice to be able to know where we are going to go. i'm pretty visual so it will give me some peace of mind.

so a good constructive day for education and then later tomorrow we can put together the crib. the glider already shipped - they told us 4-8 weeks so we wanted it in enough time. but it looks like we will have it in a few weeks.

oh yea. i had read about the placenta, but seeing it on the video is so different. i guess i have prepared myself as much as i possibly can, but how much can you prepare for the unexpected and everyone is different. but i really hadn't thought much about the placenta. but at least we get the baby first.

the baby is really moving. it's been fun to watch my belly jiggle knowing it's the baby. much more fun than watching it jiggle knowing i'm just getting bigger. :)

notes from the underbelly

speaking of boys - on the show this week they had all this girl stuff and were told they were having a girl...and then had a boy. ha ha. two instances. one real. interesting. well we originally thought we were having a boy. i think we'll be happy with any healthy baby. :) just thought it was funny. it's 2:40 am and i'm up again at odd hours. catching up on some shows.