The Resting Games

Week 34! We meet again. I've said it about 6 times this week, "Something is definitely different this time around."

I don't know if it's baby girl's personality, her gender (we ladies ARE feisty), the second pregnancy aspect, or the fact that I'm three years older (practically 30, GASP!) but this is a tougher pregnancy for sure. I now have a pregnancy belt that I wear some days or nights because my legs and back just won't hold me up. I'm  also needing to lay down most nights after dinner because she's so uncomfortable in there and laying down is the only way to stop the violent flips she's doing. 2028 Olympic gymnastic team here we come!

At the 34 week appointment, she's measuring 36 centimeters but we're right on with weight gain, blood pressure and size. I mentioned the violent flipping and pain from this week and was told as long as it goes away when I lay down, no worries. Just normal hormonal/physical changes going on. Muscles relaxing, hips shifting, you know, super exciting things like that! Some days, though, I wish she were just here and I was recovering already. 

It's not to say that I'm not excited about these last weeks, because I am. But man am I tired! I think mostly I feel worse about being a good mom to Jack. My hormones are definitely all over the place so I probably seem bipolar to him but I just can't run after him the way I used to. And I think he's noticing the difference. Perhaps the shrieking is cluing him in? Or the fact that mommy disappears for most of the evening and he comes in to say goodnight to me now, not the other way around. Talk about weird.

Something I've found this week to possibly make up some of the ground I feel I'm losing with him are toddler busy bags (or toddler activity bags). If you have children, or will have children, I swear to God you need to take a look at these! I've spent about $30 so far on various materials to start creating different bags and I've rarely seen Jack so excited about something for so long. "A game?! For me?!"

The first one I saw was done by a friend who had it at one of our regular Olive Garden dinners. Jack sat in the lobby (in one place!) for almost 15 minutes playing this Pom-Pom game. It was nothing but craft pompoms and a box with a hole in it. You take the pompoms out and the kid puts them back in the box one at a time through the hole. A monkey could do it and a toddler will be amazed by it! We now have that game, a similar version using a Pringles can and pipe cleaners, a lacing card game and a clothespin activity.

Hanging up the laundry!

Using the lacing cards

I'm working on more lacing cards (Daddy's the artist in our house so we're dependent on him to make us patterns) and up next is a pasta beading activity bag. I'm pretty excited to dye pasta sometime this week because, of course, it wouldn't be a cool toddler game without some color!

Who knew I was a closet crafty person? Well, I guess it started when Danielle and I made those sweet Christmas gifts followed by the freezer meal extravaganza! Apparently if you surround yourself with crafty people it rubs off! Thanks!

Anyway, the long story made short is that Jack and I have been able to bond through these little activities. They give him something to do that I can either help with or sit and watch him do to give myself time to rest. He gets to be creative and "be a good boy" which is something he's very proud of!

We just finished up a Parent-Tot swim class trying to achieve the same purpose. Even though Mommy couldn't swim every night, Daddy stepped up to the challenge and took over on the nights that my back or legs couldn't take it. (Baby Girl favors the right side, directly over my sciatic nerve which often makes my leg tingly or outright numb. Nice, huh?) But Jack LOVED swimming with either of us and it gave us time to just be HIS parent for a while. I'll need to remember things like this in the future when she gets all the attention.He's one cool little dude and he needs a mommy too!

SNOW DAY!

Every kid's dream and every parent's nightmare - the snow day. However, as fun as they can be, we were unfortunate enough to have one on a day that we already had no school. The educator part of me says, "GREAT! We didn't miss a day of instruction time!" The 10-year-old part of me says, "No fair!" You win some, you lose some...

But the larger lesson here is: What do you do with a 2 1/2 year old when you can't leave the house? You may laugh at me, but this is a serious question! I am the errand running queen! I visited work almost daily while on my first maternity leave because I was so bored! Sure we can go out and play in the snow, but you can only do that for so long before Mommy starts to freeze. Jack doesn't understand what frostbite is, so trying to reason him back into the house was a fight I was NOT looking forward to. 

Luckily, however, Daddy got to stay home too! Being unable to leave our neighborhood in the 12 inches of snow at 7AM this morning made it possible for him to call in. This also meant that I could go back to sleep until Baby Girl allowed me to wake up and function normally. I guess I needed that rest, huh? 

Back to the original question though. Here's a breakdown:

• Dora the Explorer
• Playing kitchen
• Building stuff in the basement when Daddy's not watching (this involves Jack going into the construction zone and moving things around)
• Go, Diego, Go
• Lunchtime! 
• Dinosaur Train
• Making Valentine's Day cards
• Playing Thomas the Train
• Arthur, no, Big Bird, no the Mickey DVD! (this exchange encourages Jack to open the DVD player - this is against the rules - and become banned from the TV/DVD area)
• Go outside and play in the snow! As planned, Jack refused to come inside until bribed with a combination of hot chocolate and a warm bath
• After his bath he got TV privileges back and passed out in front of an episode of Dora 

So how does Baby Girl fit into all of this? Well, we learned a few things today about her as well. She sleeps a lot on snow days. With my feet up for most of the time and no errands possible, we got a LOT of resting accomplished. Also, while suiting up for playing in the snow, we realized that snow pants should come in a maternity size option. I'm guessing that skiing isn't recommended for pregnant people (or at least super inexperienced ones like me) but having too-small pants could have caused an issue, luckily they stayed up! I just put on a tight sweatshirt over the top. Finally, we learned that having Daddy around is the best thing ever. Several times lately she's gotten all wound up in there only to calm down when Daddy starts talking or cuddling with us. She's already earning suck up points from the womb. I am doomed!

All in all, it was a good day despite the 17 inches and counting of snow we received. Hope everyone else was as warm and safe as we were!

The Supposed Home Stretch

Here's how it goes: At 30 weeks in and 10 weeks to go, you somehow feel like tomorrow could be the day. But it's not true. And let's be honest, thank goodness it's not true because we have a LOT to do before she's here. Then there's the work situation where I have just enough paid time off to cover my maternity leave, and that's with me begging the midwives to allow me to return to school in time to do grades. Might as well get paid to do the work that I'll be doing anyway, right? 

It's funny how with the second one I have just as many concerns as the first time. The first time (as my mother so subtly put it) you have no idea in hell about what you're getting into. It's all nursery prep and baby registries. This time, I know what's coming. I know that along with that beautiful little baby girl is a hefty side of worries. Health, bills, raising a non-psychopath... You know, the normal things parents worry about. Then there's the first kid - how will Jack react to her taking attention away from him. He's entered the selfish toddler stage and I can only hope we're talking about and planning for the changes enough to help him cope. Otherwise I can continue to worry about turning him into a psychopath as well.

Baby girl herself is doing just fine - at least according to her. She has her daily exercise sessions (about 4-5 times in an average day) and seems to have taken up permanent residence on my right side. She's big enough now that she can hit bladder and ribs at the same time! Isn't that precious? I swear she's dropped just a hair, but again, that could just be a growth spurt making her seem lower. When I had my 30 week appointment (I'm going every two weeks now) they said she's even head down! One coworker thinks she'll take after me in the fact that I'm (just a little) impatient and always ready for the next challenge. Hold your horses, kiddo. We've still got some developing to do. Plus you don't have a bed yet. That's on the list for mommy to do... 

I need to send a shout out to the people who get me through every day (other than my amazing husband, son, and extremely patient mother who fields most of my "Is that normal?" questions). My coworkers. Daily they tell me how good I look (even when I don't feel it), that I'm doing amazing work (even when I don't feel it) and that I'll be a great mommy of two (go ahead and insert that familiar phrase here, too!) I'm sure most of them get bored of hearing about my pregnancy issues, but they allow me to tell my stories and get the worries out. They help me be a better teacher, which allows me to be a better mom. I now go home with focused goals and tasks which allow me to finish my work quicker than in the past and spend more time resting and being with my boys. I even felt comfortable scheduling Jack and I for swim class starting next week. Twice a week now we'll go play together in the water and I don't have to worry about getting my work done! Thanks ladies! Lyn Knoll Dragons are on FIRE!

THIRD TRIMESTER!!

So here we are - 28 weeks! Officially into the 3rd trimester. I had my newest glucose test today and while not doing as well as the three hour one in November, I PASSED! Woo Hoo!! It's a good thing, too, because I was going to fight them over taking more tests. This saves us all some heartache... :o)

Here's the belly this week!

Looking' good right? She's moving a mile a minute in there. Too bad you can't see that part. Even as I write this she's hitting at least three sides of the belly at any given moment. Give it a rest girl! She's measuring 28.5cm which is right on target, so now extra ultrasounds at this point either. We had a great doctor's appointment today and go back again in two weeks! 

Work on her room is at a standstill until the basement room is completed.
Mitch started installing wall framing today so progress is being made! We've decided that more progress happens when I'm NOT in the room, so I'll be staying out of the way for a while.
 Once it's time for drywall I'll help with more decision-making. Until then, the current guest room (her future room) is being turned into quite the mess with boxes of clothes and such, but it's okay. It's organized, right? :o)

Morning Calesthenics!

Ha! You're probably thinking that I get up every morning and do some stretches or short workout. And you'd be wrong! The exercise person in this relationship is definitely Baby Girl. (Though I've stuck to my nutrition goal of cutting out pop. Woot!) 

Over the last two weeks we've really gotten down to a schedule. Wake up, eat breakfast, and then Mommy rests while Jack runs around and plays. It's at this point that little one likes to start her routine. Even when the schedule is slightly altered (for example being in church Sunday morning), 10:30 - 11:00 seems to be her time to move. 

What's most interesting to me is the differences between babies. Jack was moving in there, but no one could tell, not even Daddy could feel him. Princess here, on the other hand, can move my entire belly left and right so that it's visible to the naked eye. Makes me feel somewhat like Bella from Twilight towards the end... I might get my wish, finally, to see a little foot or hand print in the belly one of these days. I always thought it would be cool, but now I'm thinking that it just might freak me out... At least I have daily confirmation that she's in there and doing well, right? 

While at home the last week, though, I've been a busy little beaver. Some might call it nesting, but I don't kid myself. I'm three months away and know we've got a ways to go. Nesting, my butt! However, I've been collecting clothes and stopping at thrift stores (and soon friends houses, right Holly?) :o) getting together a wardrobe for baby girl. It's now all washed and sorted - in my neat freak way - in the spare room: 

 

Jack loved this process and I'm learning that he may just be a great big brother, with only hints of jealousy. He LOVES shopping for clothes for baby and loves to help me in whatever I'm doing. We're thinking of getting him a little baby doll of his own so he can practice holding it, putting it to sleep, etc. That's my shopping list for the month of January - baby doll furniture and supplies. I figure even once she's here, he can care for his doll while I care for her and he's not left out, right? Anyone have experience with this? Please tell me I'm on the right track. 

Anyway... just over 12 weeks to go and the clock is ticking! Next doctor's appointment is in 1.5 weeks so we'll see how she's doing (and get this crappy glucose test out of the way!)

24 Weeks or 28 Weeks?

So, one of two things is going on. Either I'm (A) eating so much with the new hunger I've been feeling that I've gained too much weight, or (B) this is one huge baby. I went to my 24 week appointment today and was told I was measuring like a 28 week pregnancy. Um? What? Is that okay? Apparently they're not fazed by this, but if I'm continuing to measure big I'll have to go for another ultrasound at 30 weeks. Just what I wanted right? To pay the copay for ANOTHER ultrasound. Now that I know she's okay I'm so over seeing her on the screen, I guess!

The offending liquid itself!

Another lovely tidbit of news was that while I thought I was past the glucose tests - NOPE! The three hour ordeal I went through 6 weeks ago doesn't count for the entire pregnancy. So I'm currently housing a nasty bottle of sugar water in my fridge for the next four weeks until I "get to" chug it and get blood drawn. The midwife looked a little nervous that I was going to scream, but I held it together under the circumstances. I can't be mad at her for being the bearer of bad news. But a big fat giant UGH!


Once again though, she's growing well and sounding just fine in there! Definitely a thing to be happy for. We'll see the doctor again after New Years so until then have a happy holiday season!