WWRW: Vol 5

Linking up again with Jessica of Housewifespice

   Currently I'm reading The Blue Jay's Dance by Louise Erdrich a memoir of sorts about pregnancy (mostly her last) and mothering during those first weeks and months.  The book covers a year and includes many observations about the world outside the window of the cabin where she writes in rural New Hampshire.  I'd read some of her fiction before but this is the first work of non-fiction of her's I read, her easy going yet thought provoking style holds true even in the new genre.  It reads almost like a series of short essays which I appreciate as it makes it easier for me to pick it up to enjoy even if I only have five minutes but can be disconcerting at times. Overall a wonderful somewhat poetic remembrance of pregnancy and baby-mothering.

Top of Liam's request list currently is Tons of Trucks by Sue Flies and Betsy Snyder a nicely put-together book about trucks ~ all kinds with just the right balance between words on the page and flaps to lift or textures to feel to make it an enjoyable read together experience.

Please head over Housewifespice for more WWRW

Pregnant Pause: 39 weeks, tales from the sofa

Quick update: All seems to be well and providing that the NST is reactive (aka reassuring) tomorrow I believe we will be cleared to see if labor starts on its own during the week ~ if not see what a little help brings next week.

I am fine and managing to ride the emotional roller coaster of wondering and worrying about the future well (I think). My favorite toddler offers several opportunities a day to smile and laugh, and the squirms and kicks from within give me hope that all is well if not perfect in his/her watery home. I also appreciate all the good thoughts and prayers from friends and family. After Mass yesterday a priest I like and have worked with for several years blessed C. and me.

So my hope is that the testing all looks fine tomorrow and then my plan is to relax and best I can enjoy this last week of parenting one child on the outside and holding within me another.

Pregnant Pause: 38 weeks, tales from the sofa

So ~ so far, so good. Monitoring at the hospital went well this morning and while I won't know if I've gained any weight till my midwife appointment tomorrow, my husband and others have said that the bump is looking bigger. Judging by kicks and squirms Cashew is still enjoying her/him watery home.

Overall doing well, making the adjustment to eating more and doing less. My favorite toddler has been wonderfully understanding that mommy now plays blocks lying down and does not at all seem to mind the occasional ice cream runs in the afternoon. Seriously she continues to nap well which allows me to rest in the afternoon and C. has been able to get home a bit earlier in the evening. The weekend brought the great pleasure and blessing of a visit from grandma.

Now that I'm full-term I'm sure that we will discuss at the appointment tomorrow striking the right balance of keeping the baby where he/she is since being inside does not require expending energy maintaining temperature or eating and not pushing past when the placenta is really no longer doing its job. Still having the occasional Braxton Hicks contraction but nothing strong or organized.

So far ~ so good! Looking forward to September and discovering who is joining our family and when our personal 'labor day' is going to be.

Pregnant Pause: 37 weeks

When I was pregnant with Lisbeth since we chose to wait for birth day to find out if it was a boy or girl joining our family we called the baby Peanut and continuing the tradition we have been calling this baby Cashew. Well it turns out that Cashew is a bit of a peanut! The ultrasound today showed that while the placenta and fluid level looks fine that baby is on the small side ~ 10 th percentile (granted an ultrasound estimate).

So the plan is starting today to do weekly NSTs (monitoring the baby's heartbeat without the stress of contractions) and while no official bedrest trying to rest & eat in the hopes of helping the baby get a bit bigger before his or her birthday.

Overall grateful for all the kicks and squirms despite the related increase in heartburn and while obviously a challenge with an active toddler to keep up with, there are definitely tougher recommendations to follow than eat well and rest. Bring on the ice cream!

Pregnant Pause: 30 weeks

Amazingly according to the calendar I am now 30 weeks with less than 70 days to baby debut according the countdown in the side-bar. Personally I'm guessing slightly more as Lisbeth decided (with a bit of nudging) to come ten days after my due date; so odds are good that I will again see another due date come and go ~ thought perhaps not by ten days again.

Movements are becoming more vigorous with Cashew making use of all the space available and no longer quite so focused on my bladder and hips though they continue as the favorite kick points. We have also been able to begin playing the "Guess with body part?" game as different small and large knobs make their way across and up & down my abdomen.

Consistent temperatures in the nineties inching towards the hundred mark has allowed me to fully appreciate pregnancy in the summer. Luckily an air conditioned house and plenty of lemonade and ice cream has helped me maintain my perspective and keep the Braxton Hicks contractions to a minimum.

Beginning to make inroads in preparing for baby's arrival; stored newborn clothes bins have been retrieved if not sorted and newborn size diapers have been bought. Midwife visits scheduled for July and most of August. We continue to read 'new baby' books at bedtime though I have my doubts that Lisbeth will fully understand the concept until a certain new person comes to live in our house.

The view from thirty weeks.

Pregnant Pause: 26 weeks

Given that I'm within a couple of days of being six months along, and according to some calendars am now in my third trimester I thought it was a good time to pause, reflect and update.

First an aside ~ years ago I was taught the 1st trimester is till 13wks, 2nd include weeks 13-27, and third weeks 27-40 ~ so that is how I count, but you are of course welcome to follow any calendar you would like :-)

Am grateful to still being feeling well, though after several days of intense heat am beginning to grasp what being pregnant through the summer is going to be like. I foresee lots of lemonade, AC and as much water time I can manage. Am usually up once a night but otherwise still sleeping okay though will soon be grabbing the extra pillow to support the growing belly.

At my midwife appointment I enjoyed the lovely experience of my 1 hour glucose test which I profoundly hope I 'pass'; I didn't last time with E. and because I did not have gestational diabetes by the end of the 3 hours test my blood sugar was so low I was feeling really rotten (tip: bring something to eat as soon as the test is over!!). Otherwise everything looked and sounded good, yay!

No definite names yet but short lists for both ~ no strong leaning either, BTW!

And thats the view from 26 weeks

Pregnant Pause: 20 weeks

Yikes! Twenty weeks, how did that happen? It is a little startling to find myself at the halfway point of this pregnancy. Don't get me wrong I am very grateful for a smooth gestations that does not have me counting the days, yet it means milestones sneak up on me.

Continue to feel good with a baby bump which is beginning to become more and more evident depending on what I'm wearing ~ which is more and more an interesting mix of my 'fat' clothes and maternity stuff. Bumps and nudges are now daily occurrences, with the next milestone being when it can be felt from the outside. Several people have asked me what Elisabeth thinks of the coming baby, at this point she has no idea but I'm thinking that as my lap disappears and kicks can be felt she may start to wonder what is happening. C. has suggested that we get some "new big sister" books. Any suggestions??

The ultrasound this week went well, with Cashew growing well and all of the anatomy appearing normal. Much to the frustration of some family and friends the baby did not 'flash' us so exactly what flavor he or she is remains a mystery. I'm grateful that for a little while longer I get to imagine another little girl is joining our family or maybe a baby boy. Fun possibilities to imagine and wonder about.