39 Weeks

Yes, I've been crying.

 Surprise!  Yes, 2 posts in one day and a belly pic on an odd numbered week.

Looking at 40 weeks last go round I'd say it's just about the same size.  My weight gain is about the same, +26, down a pound from last week.  I figured since this is likely to be the last ever week this belly exists, I needed to document.  There will not be a 40 week installment.

I am having a c-section on Thursday.  I've let go of all thoughts on having a vaginal delivery.  I wanted this baby to come when he's ready.  Charlie and I talked about how clinical delivering Freddie became, and how quickly he was swept off and kept in a warm box behind a glass with his Dada on the other side.  I longed for a quick hospital stay and an easy recovery.  Well, this week I don't care about any of that.  I want my baby, I want my body, and I want my life back, and if a section is going to do it, so be it.  Judge away people, but don't tell me about it.
 
This pregnancy feels like it's been twice as long as with Freddie.  I've been thinking that at 39 weeks with Freddie I was still working,  putting in five-six miles each day at the park, and at 40+ weeks I stuffed myself into a tutu and flitted around the city half nekkid.  Here I am at 39 weeks and I haven't exercised in weeks.  I use Freddie's stool to plop my behind on to fetch things from the bottom cabinet because I can't bend over.  Taking a shower winds me.  My knees ache, my hands hurt, and I look like hell.

I'm still sick and beginning to become a little concerned about it.  I rebounded some midweek, but today's been pretty bad with my fever back on the rise.  I may call Dr. H tomorrow and ask for a z-pack although I'm not convinced it would help, but at this point I just want something to make me feel better.

There's a list of cleaning and organizing and prepping sitting on the counter and it will never get done.  The most important item not yet scratched off is "spend time as a family, preferably away from the home."  Sadly, that's not happening either and I'm depressed about it.  I do not feel up to doing anything.  I'm not giving Freddie the attention I want him to have before I am gone for several days only to return with the force that's going to rock his world.  I didn't make a cake for Father's Day.  There were no cards or gifts.  Charlie's birthday is Tuesday and it will most likely be a repeat of today, and that just doesn't feel good.

Freddie is changing before my eyes and I'm unable to document it.  I'm not taking pictures.  I'm not blogging.  I'm not remembering how he was yesterday or last week.  Go ahead and say it...it's the beginning of a new era in Mommyhood.  The "I can't keep up" and "There's not enough of me to do everything" phase has begun.  Damn it.

My level of homesickness and desire for familiarity has been turned way up.  I want to deliver PD where I delivered Freddie, the hospital I passed almost daily, where I was a patient for 20 years.  I'm sure we're getting adequate care here, and I've done multiple google searches on Dr. H, and can't find any pending malpractice suits or horrifying stories about him in chat rooms.  Surely the guy knows what he's doing but I think I've seen him 12 times maybe, if even that?

Side note:  I suppose it's worth mentioning I've been having dreams in which my old ob-gyn, Dr. M, has been making appearances wearing only a sarong.  I pass him on the street, he's sitting at the table next to us, he's talking on the phone...in only a sarong.  What's that all about?!?  The guy's bald and middle aged but he seems totally comfortable in that sarong.  I'm filing these dreams under "homesick" and "longs for familiarity"  although not sure what the sarong has to do with either of those because it ain't familiar.

I want a shrimp poboy in the hospital.  I want my family to visit.  I want to come home to our house, our dogs, and have our neighbors craning their necks over the fence to see him.  I hope Tummy Brother forgives me for the State of New York birth certificate.

Also weighing heavy on my mind is my complete ambivalence about having a second child right now.  Please don't misunderstand; Tummy Brother is very much wanted.  We want to grow our family and I'm sure he's just the guy to do that.  But I want my life back.  I want to feel normal.  I want enjoy my time with Freddie.  I want to do fun things on the weekends.  I'm not reflecting on this body carrying its last baby, or trying to enjoy those last few kicks from within.  I am ready to carry on.

And that, folks, is a ride on the crazy train.  It's been a while, hasn't it?  Stay tuned.  Something tells me this is only the beginning.

38 Weeks

 

 

Was I bigger last time?  I sure was cuter.  Looking pretty rough at 38 weeks.  And not really caring either.

Other than being 38 weeks pregnant and swelled up, I am sick.  Freddie was sick all week and my temperature was up and down.  Friday night it really amped up and I am sicker than I've been in a long time.  I'm a teacher, I don't get sick.  I hate being sick. 

Nothing happened this weekend as I had planned.  No cleaning. No family of 3 time. No hair dying.  Tonight Freddie even asked, "Hard day, Mama?" as he came in to kiss me good night after his bath. 

My fingers, hands, arms are still swelling when I lie down and my feet have joined the fun. My feet have always been of the stumpy variety but by the time 5pm rolls around they look like they're going to pop. 

I've been thinking it is just wrong to ride the subway to the hospital to deliver, but taking the tram and then walking the 15-20 blocks doesn't seem like a good idea either.  And looking at the traffic on the 59th Street Bridge, taking a car would take much too long.  I suppose the tram and then a cab on 2nd Ave is the best plan.  Wondering how all of that will work out.

Doctor on Tuesday.  Wondering if I'll need to do pre-op at the hospital this week as well. 

36 weeks (and 1 day)

Compared to last time around I think it's pretty much equally sized, and reading posts from my pregnancy with Freddie, apparently I was feeling pretty rough, but I honestly don't remember it being this difficult.  I mean that smile in the 36 weeks post in 2009 looks pretty genuine.  Today's smile?  Not so much.

A little of what's going on:

• When I lie down my limbs go numb.  My arms and hands are affected more than my legs.  It is very painful upon waking up, and although it does get better as I move them around, I never fully regain complete strength in my hands.  I have difficulty lifting things and opening bottles and jars.  My grasp is generally weak.
• If it weren't for the painful hands thing I would very much like to lie down 24 hours a day.  Doing anything makes me winded and light headed.  
• I'm not exercising, and that upsets me.  Exercise does a lot for my positive mental attitude.  I just cannot seem to make it happen.  If it is going to happen at all it needs to be as soon as I wake up.  By the time I get everything set for Freddie and I to leave the house in the morning I am ready rest again.
• As much as I try to remind myself how much I'll miss feeling a baby move inside my belly, I wish this kid would quit kicking.  I swear he doesn't sleep.  I know Freddie didn't move this much.  I thought by this point in the game he'd be wedged in there so tight there'd be no movement.  He's constantly causing bulges in my belly, often on both sides at the same time.  
• Charlie's really great.  I know he is gritting his teeth and smiling as I whine, and he looks so cute doing it.  Just the other day he smiled, and raised his eyebrows, as he read over my list of things to do before the baby arrives.  
• Charlie got out my bag to be packed for the hospital.  I am having a hard time remembering what really needs to be in it.
• I did get a nightshirt to wear in the hospital.  I wanted one last time but stayed in my hospital gown the entire stay.  Man, I wish I would have put on something else and a little lip gloss.  Someone change my clothes for me this go round.  Or remind me that my roommate can see my rear end when I walk to the bathroom in the hospital gown.
• Yes, you read that correctly.  I will be having a ROOMMATE in the hospital.  Private postpartum rooms are not standard in New York City.  While they are available for an extra fee, I could have a 3 day spa trip for half the price.
• Where is all of this stuff going to go?  I am slowly purging and reorganizing, but not having any storage space is really a drag.  We looked into renting a storage closet in the basement, but $1000 yearly for a tiny closet?  Ugh.

32 Weeks

Oh my, I'm big.  I do get some comfort in reading that I felt big last time around, although I think I'm a little on the heftier side this pregnancy.  I am definitely feeling more tired.  Getting dressed and then getting Freddie dressed requires a break before we can leave the house.  Lots of things require a break midway through...unloading the dishwasher, folding clothes, climbing a flight of stairs.

Freddie and I are headed to NOLA on Tuesday and I'm actually a little concerned I won't be able to do most of what I would like because everything feels physically challenging these days.

Part Deux is moving lots and lots.  Sometimes he moves so drastically it's a bit painful.  Freddie is taking great care of the baby, raising my shirt so he can listen to stories or see the television or get cozy cuddles.  I will miss that when PD is on the outside, but please, please, please let Freddie not think there is still a baby in there once PD is here. 

I see Dr. H tomorrow.  Nothing pressing to discuss, just a last check in before heading out of town for 3 weeks.

30 Weeks (and 1 day)

A day late. 

Sick toddler. 

Breathing heavy. 

Getting light headed.

Fat fluid filled fingers. 

Skipping treadmill time for naps. 

Hot flashes. 

Insomnia. 

Bigger this time around. 

Gaining weight at warp speed.

I think I'm pleasant. 

Charlie might disagree.

28 Weeks

Hello, Third Trimester!

PD is moving around so much more than I remember Freddie moving in utero.  Perhaps he did and, sadly, it is just that easy to forget.  We're at that stage where I can lie down and watch the waves move across my belly has he wiggles about.

This weekend I managed to get my last box of baby supplies shipped from NOLA unpacked and situated, so now's there more room in the hall to stack the rest of the boxes which will arrive in May.  I went through a big box of onesies and "gender neutral" clothes I had shipped before we knew PD was a he.  Everything seems so tiny and it was as though Freddie was just wearing them.

I'll be in NOLA for most of May so I plan on trying to get everything all set before leaving because I know those final few weeks in June will fly by.  I don't feel like there's much to do though.  I'll wash the crib bedding, set up the cosleeper, and maybe do one final reorganization of the closet.  I honestly don't know where we'll put everything but we'll figure it out.

I finally ordered the stroller.  I'm pretty excited about it and will post pictures as soon as it arrives.  It was a big investment but being that is my mode of transportation in the city, it was necessary.

The only other thing going on as we enter the third trimester is my indecision about whether or not I should attempt a VBAC.  I had felt 99.9% certain that I just wanted a repeat section, but lately I've been worried about what the few weeks after we come home will look like and having a potentially shorter recovery time may be absolutely necessary.

Delivering vaginally didn't exactly go as planned last time.  My water broke in the early morning and I still wasn't having contractions by late morning.  Pitocin didn't get me anywhere and I only progressed to about 5 cm.  After spiking a fever 24 hours after my water had broken I was wheeled off to have a section.  BUT...I did have an early epidural and it was my first delivery, and I've read that combination, coupled with pitocin, can yield a higher rate of cesareans.

However, I don't want to go through 24 hours of labor again only to end up having a cesarean and being exponentially exhausted.  There's something nice about planning, having a date and time of arrival, now that I have Freddie's care to plan for.  But the flip side it I don't want to "induce" labor in any way.  I want him to cook as long as needed.

I'm hoping Dr. H has some guidance when I see him tomorrow.  As well as a little third trimester pep talk!

26 Weeks (and 1 day)

Sorry, forgot yesterday. My mind is quite scattered and I have a hard time remembering a lot of stuff lately.

Lots of movement these days.  He's pushing on all sides and seems to be hanging out on the left hand side of my belly.  Wonder if that's a foot or a hand or a head I'm always feeling up there.

Feeling tired....really, really tired.  I don't even know why I say it anymore.  It's written all over my face.  My back has been feeling better although I feel it when I've had a busy day.  Charlie has been picking up lots of household responsibilites in the evening and on the weekends and the extra rest for me really makes a difference.

I'm not exercising as much as I did last time around.  I am managing to get on the treadmill about 4 times a week.  Not as much time second time around, and with the fatigue being increased this time, napping often wins out over the treadmill.  

Nesting is kicking in and I am trying to figure out where everything is going to go.  Freddie's closet is getting an overhaul in organization.

Freddie kisses the belly often.  He brings it stickers and shows it books.  He loves his "wittle brover"...for now anyway.  Fingers crossed this tenderness continues once the real deal is on the scene.

Oh, and still no names. 

24 Weeks

16 more weeks has been what I've been saying all day.  Seems like right around the corner to me, but Charlie's thinking it's an eternity.  I haven't been feeling too hot, and I haven't been keeping it to myself.  I'm mostly just tired, but I've been having some contractions along with the usual pregnancy aches and pains.

Freddie's been talking about his brother a lot and that makes me smile, and this babe moves nonstop so I've been trying to stop for a few moments here and there to enjoy that. 

16 more weeks...have I said that already???

22 weeks (and one day)

Sorry, forgot to take a picture yesterday!

I am weary from traveling solo with the belly and the boy, and goodness it shows.  Feeling fine, just tired and I get winded so easily, especially when squatting down to help Freddie with something, such as examining the toilet paper stuck to the wheels of the stroller in the public bathroom in the airport. 

The baby supplies I fished out of storage and shipped from NOLA have arrived and are just sitting in boxes in the foyer.  Not sure what to do with it all.  I am needing some time to sit and sort and organize.  Now that I know he's a boy I can go ahead and ship the clothes in storage as well.  Not a clue as to where it will all go.  Perhaps another dresser is needed in the boys' room.  (Love saying "the boys' room", by the way.)

Not feeling the need for anything for this baby, which I suppose is a good thing.  I do need to figure out which double stroller we'll get and what we'll do with our current strollers.

I am feeling the need for maternity shirts, however.  My belly has begun to peek out the bottom of my t-shirts.  I shipped up a box of maternity clothes I used last time around, but no t-shirts since most of those had more than their share of wear and were tossed.  I am also on the hunt for some summer time "formal" wear for Charlie's commencement when I am 34+ weeks pregnant if anyone has anything to lend or any suggestions of something flattering and inexpensive. 

Eating and growing... and craving more sleep.  18 weeks to go.  Feeling a little excited as I type that.

20 weeks

Half way through!

Have I mentioned how I'm just plain tired?  I mean I could sleep every afternoon through the night beginning about 3.00pm which coincides with about the time Freddie *wakes* from his nap.  Sigh.

I'm white and pasty too, but that doesn't have much to do with pregnancy. 

Only about 12 hours remain in the poll on the right, so vote on PD's sex.  I'll be posting late morning after the anatomy scan!

18 Weeks

I am feeling PD move a lot!  I've been feeling movements since about 15 weeks which I love.  It may be the only thing about pregnancy that I love, actually.  Charlie can feel him/her too.  I am so thankful for this reassurance that s/he is alive and kicking in there, and s/he's definitely kicking.  Part wild boar perhaps because it seems I am hungry all the time as well.  This is really an active baby or maybe I am just getting to experience it more since my placenta was anterior with Freddie making it difficult to feel early movement or slighter motions.

I'm feeling fine, just tired.  Tired in the morning.  Tired in afternoon.  Tired in the evening.  Just a way of life I imagine.

It's getting to the point where sleeping on my belly, my preferred sleep position, is uncomfortable but since I'm so tired I haven't been having much trouble falling asleep on my side or back.  Staying asleep is a different story though.

18 down, 22 to go.  And only a few more weeks before we can start calling PD by name.  Anatomy scan is set for Monday, February 7th at 8am.

16 weeks

Here's 16 weeks with Freddie.

Wondering if it's more like 18 weeks or 20 weeks.  I am missing my blonde hair though.  Not sure Chalrie 's skills can keep up with highlights.

This week I've been shopping around for new bras...it's time.  I've also been poking around looking for a dress to wear to Charlie's May graduation when I'll be 34 weeks.  Yikes!

I'm also trying to figure out what I need and what I can live without from the mound of Freddie's baby gear in storage.  There is really very limited space around here and there are a few new items I'm thinking we'll need.

14 Weeks (and 1 day)

Sorry, a day late.  Travelling through the blizzard weather yesterday meant that I was in no condition for a belly shot when we arrived home last night. 

I look tired, you say?  I am.  Really, really, really tired.  It's about the only symptom I have and it is pretty extreme, even more so than when I was pregnant with Freddie.  Perhaps because I have Freddie outside of the womb to chase around?  I tend to want to crash around 3pm which coincides with when Freddie is getting up from his nap.  Sometimes I try to lie down for a bit when Freddie naps but that stint in the middle of the day is also when I grocery shop, pay bills, organize toys, wash dishes, do laundry, prep dinner, clean the bathrooms, and occasionally sit on the couch.

I weighed this morning and the numbers are still holding.  I imagine some holiday weight gain will show up next week, but for now this is a 14 week belly looking like 20 weeks.  I am in maternity pants but for now my sweaters seem to be working.  I sure hope I can get passed the cold weather without needing any winter maternity wear. 

12 Weeks (and 1 day)

The Belly Shots return and I no longer have to feel guilty about wearing maternity underwear!  Don't worry, I wasn't feeling *that* guilty.

As with Freddie, things felt a little touch and go in the beginning of this pregnancy.  You can read a few posts written in the moment that I just published today.  But things are progressing and Part Deux seems to be in it for the duration.

Belly never got really back to pre-Freddie state, but I am pretty sure it was flatter than the current state.  I am thinking this 12 week belly looks a lot like 16 weeks last go round.  The angle is a bit different so it's hard to tell.  By the way, I love having belly pictures.  Freddie loves looking at them and we have been using them a lot the last few weeks to talk about the baby in Mama's belly.

The doorman asked if I was expecting last week.  Sigh.  I decided to throw in the towel and gave in to wearing maternity jeans this week.   

Estimated Due Date: June 26, 2011!

40 Weeks

Well, dear boy, you've got about 19 hours left to make it here on your due date. One more day before Dr. M takes off for a week and a half. If you keep this up I'm going to have to get another pedicure. I'm getting tired of shaving the legs everyday, and the bag we're taking to the hospital is growing each day because I keep stuffing in outfits for each of us.

So enough already, show yourself!


Charlie is amazed that FCS is inside. Hello, have you looked at this belly? There's got to be a *huge* kid in there. It is amazing to think he's been growing inside me for 40 weeks.

Later this afternoon I'm going for monitoring. Perhaps he will tap out his arrival date when the monitors are on.


After feeling so terribly Monday and Tuesday, I've felt better, with the exception of my digestive tract. My body would rather run on empty, but I am trying to get in those last fatty, guilt free meals. Which, by the way, must be why my weight continues to creep up a pound or so each week.

I'm pretty worried about my ability to handle no sleep in the coming weeks. I don't function when I am not sleeping. Charlie should be able to handle me, especially since the guy thinks my emotional rants have been par for the course thus far. It will be interesting to say the least.

We're ready, Freddie. We promise.

38 Weeks

Here we are. There will only be one more photo in this series. Ok, I hope there will be only one more photo in this series and I do hope the belly is a mere bulge (yes, I know that's wishful thinking) and FCS is in my arms.


At 38 weeks we have reached the point where when I sit the boobs rest on the belly and the belly rests on the lap. It is something else.


I would very much like to live in the one pair of fleece pants that still comfortably fit for the next two weeks. Getting dressed is quite the chore lately. Tired of the same clothes, especially since they aren't even fitting now.

I've been having lots of contractions and cramping, some waking me up at night and many cause a wince and deep breath. All that and no "progress" evident in the cervix department. The wincing did prompt me to get that bag for the hospital all packed.

I've been pretty emotional lately. Crabby too. I thanked Charlie the other day for being patient and do you know what he said to me..... "No big deal. You're actually like this pretty much all of the time, even when you're not pregnant." I'm difficult. I'm emotional. What can I say. I'm just happy Charlie knows how to deal with me.

Still no decisions about the birth date and induction. With the due date being 2 weeks away I figure the boy may have a plan of his own and we won't need any other. I do have lots of questions for my appointment on Tuesday,

This week we went to the Hornets' game. During the "flex cam" segment at a time out, the camera man was tickled at the idea of featuring me, enormously bulging belly, on the screen flexing my mashed potato "muscles." And my husband couldn't contain his laughter in the chair next to me. Of course I've been getting emails and texts asking if that was indeed me, red faced and swollen, on the screen above the court. Sigh. Maybe by the playoffs he'll be back to show me svelte (wink), flexing, and holding III.

In 2 weeks we'll be parents. Our son will be here. I had my doubts this day would ever come. Charlie was certain we'd never ever be in this position. But here we are. Here we are.

36 Weeks

Check out this boomba belly...

Pictures taken in the nursery!

It is amazing.

And it reflects light!


I cannot get over it.


The happenings at 36 weeks:

• My hospital bag is packed. Well, just about packed.
• And the nursery is just about done...no change from last week. We'll hang pictures tonight and we're waiting for the rocker.
• Everything seems to be "just about" done around here, and something tells me that is just going to be the new state of things on Bordeaux.
• I am not just about ready for labor, however. I have been thinking about it quite a bit and think I need to go in prepared to have a little chat with Dr. M about what to expect when I see him on Tuesday, even though I've read a lot...too much maybe?
• 36 weeks means not being able to get into bed without assistance, walking a mile takes at least 20 minutes, and nightly dreams include images of the boy as a cyclops.
  
• We're talking about the boy quite a bit these days. Perhaps the only thing we talk about more is when we'll get iphones!
• Car seats are going in tomorrow.
• Charlie continues to be so very helpful, putting up with the whining, taking care of the house, and just generally being better than his usual wonderful self.
• I got another "You've definitely dropped" comment the other day. Fingers crossed that his boy is punctual.
• Not many belly pictures left in this series...can you believe it?!?
  

34 Weeks

We are now in a period of "wait". We have no travel plans, no events, nothing between now and Um Babay's arrival. We are just waiting for him.


And watching the belly grow.


And it seems to grow bigger hour by hour before our very eyes.


The boy will be here soon, so make sure you click on the yellow box on the right and enter the FCS stats baby pool. I know who's reading and hasn't put in their guess, so get to it!

Other things going on at 34 weeks:

• We're pulling together a room, slowly bust surely for him. I have done two loads of laundry with blankets and onesies, both new and of the hand me down variety. (Thank you for everything!) I am now trying to figure out how to organize all of these tiny things...by size, by season...and how can you really tell what's in the dresser drawer when everything is so small?
• Today a few people told me the belly seems to have dropped. Maybe he really has shifted head down.
  
• I knew I had a great husband, but this week he's proven himself to be better than I ever knew. He's been very helpful around the house, doing his regular duties without nagging asking. And he's picked up many of the things I usually do, even though I know he doesn't find those things to be a priority (i.e a tidy, organized home) but he knows I rest easier when certain things are done. What a guy.
• Charlie has been busy reading instructions and manuals, putting together strollers, moving baby furniture, and readying the gear for use. Again, what a guy.
• We don't want a baby shower. We really don't. It's not that we don't appreciate the thought and sentiment, it's just not something we are comfortable with. We know you love us and want to show us, and believe me, we are feeling it. We look forward to everyone meeting FCS and celebrating his arrival. Plan on coming over in April for crawfish, beer, and baby passing. Or come over before and gaze at the belly before he arrives and help me get this mess of baby clothes organized.
  
• I am having some sciatica issues. It's already quite the pathetic sight to be waddling around the park and be passed by the elderly men, some with bellies bigger than mine, and now I am really left in their dust as I drag my numb right leg along. Earlier in the week Dr. M offered to line up some physical therapy and wants me to keep tabs on it for fear it'll get worse before it gets better. 6 more weeks. 6 more weeks. That's what I have been telling myself.

6 more weeks!

32 Weeks

Well, I think it says something that I originally titled this post "34 weeks" and then had to quickly edit it. Oh, I wish we were marking the 34th week today.


I am feeling enormous, and it ain't just the belly. Everything is feeling tight and I am just generally uncomfortable. I am ready to have my body back. And I am beginning to wonder about the body I'll be getting back. Looking at spring ski jackets earlier in the week, I held up my previous size and couldn't imagine myself fitting into it. Couldn't bring myself to buy anything.

We have been splitting time between Denver and Vail the past week and I haven't had a lick of exercise, which certainly doesn't help. My breathing is a bit labored and the contractions are frequent and painful.


As for my tenant, he's doing just fine. He's back into the swing of things with his all night dance parties. I'm also wondering if he's switched positions as I am feeling less pressure on my ribs. I can definitely feel him on the left side, but I'm not sure which bulge is which body part. I hope Dr. M can provide a little guidance in that when I see him in a few weeks.

I am thinking about him quite a bit and wondering what he'll look like. A few dreams have had him as a cyclops which doesn't scare me as much as Charlie's teasing that he'll come out the size of Paul Bunyan, with whiskers and wanting to suck on a gallon milk jug with a nipple. (Charlie LOVES the Paul Bunyan stories.)


At the next doctor's appointment there will be 6 weeks remaining until "d-day" so I have been keeping a list of questions for him...delivery options especially if he's breech, work schedule, pediatrician recommendations. I have also made a list of "must have" items to order because the boy could decide to make his appearance sooner than later.

We are in the home stretch. Um Ba-bay's arrival is in sight.

30 weeks

I feel bigger than the last belly photo, but not sure how much I've grown. Everything is feeling tight these days, and I think I am retaining some fluid.


Do I look tired? I feel beat, pretty much all the time these days. I don't want to get out of bed in the morning and in the evenings I would like to just lie on the couch and be in bed by 7pm.

Um Ba-bay is due to make an appearance in 10 weeks, but I think he'll be a week or more late. A thought that doesn't exactly excite me, but if that's what he needs, then that's what he gets. But it pretty much guarantees I will be trying to incorporate the belly in a Mardi Gras costume. Charlie has promised if that is the case, he'll decorate the wheelbarrow and push me out to the parades. I know, now you are all hoping for his late arrival to get to see that sight!

I am getting in a walk each day, although it is hard to motivate myself when I am tired and it's cold out. But the walk does make me feel better, especially as I watch the numbers on the scale increase each day. Surely he's packing on the pounds in there and the cake and cookies for breakfast aren't going straight to my thighs.

Wondering each day if he'll turn. He's been sitting in this position for a while. I pretty much think he is still in the frank breech position (bottom down) because I am getting the movement and kicks up high as well as the pressure, presumably from the head, on the ribs in very much the same location. I've been having to stand frequently during the day and bend and twist and coach him away from the ribs so I am able to focus on something other than the discomfort!

I've been doing lots of counting and tallying in the past 3 years of trying to grow our family. It is still unbelievable to think that now we are counting down the last 10 weeks of pregnancy. Only 10 more weeks.