baby kicks

Earlier this week I established what baby kicks felt like. I was lying down and felt little pops in my abdomen. Mike put his hand over my belly and he could feel them too. What's funny is that whenever Mike puts his head close to my belly and talks to Baxter, Baxter kicks exactly wherever Mike's mouth is. It's weird to feel all this movement in me and know that it's a little person causing it -- all the rolls, swooshes, flutters, and pops. Sometimes I space out when he starts moving because I'm so amazed and absorbed by the movements.

Now that I'm more noticeably pregnant, I've been getting all sorts of questions and unsolicited advice from people -- family, patients, co-workers, friends...you name it. People have pretty strong opinions about certain topics, like the use of medication during labor, breast vs. bottle, and circumcision. I've also been hearing everyone's birth stories and some sound downright scary. I am now afraid of pitocin and epidurals. Maybe they should just put me under general anesthesia and intubate me for a scheduled cesarian. I have a co-worker who had a home birth and endured 66 hours of labor and tore four ways. Let me repeat that: She labored for sixty-six hours and tore four ways. I have a feeling she wouldn't have done it any other way and I respect her for that. She also is a gDiaper user, which I think is cool. She gave me a short list of books to read to help prepare me for the experience. (Childbirth Without Fear by Grantley Dick-Read and Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May, for anyone who's interested.) I'm also looking forward to the childbirth preparation and newborn preparation classes that the hospital is hosting to learn more about what to expect, and how to bathe an infant without drowning them or snapping their wobbly necks off (two fears of mine).

I found a free podcast on iTunes (Pea in the Podcast) that has chats about pertinent things surrounding the week of pregnancy you're in. They also have other podcast topics, such as breastfeeding, labor options, VBAC, baby gear, and various topics on balancing work, life, and being a mom. Most of the podcasts average 18-25 minutes. I like to listen to them while I do chores around the house. It's almost like having a pregnant friend to trade stories with, except it's a one-way conversation.

Other symptoms I've been having lately are achy joints. I feel like I have arthritis in the joints of my hands and it's especially worse in the morning. It's so bad that I can't even close my hand sometimes, not because they're super swollen, but because the joints hurt. My tailbone has been hurting when I sit, and my hips need popping more often than usual as well. My already big and wide feet have gotten bigger and wider (I'm now a 9.5). And, to make Mike's life even more enjoyable, the smelly gas and constipation have made a comeback.

Cravings I've been having lately include sweet tea from McDonalds (or what Mike calls mugicha), milk (still), and fruit. I wonder if I should start drinking V8 because I can't stomach many vegetables. I read that the baby can taste whatever I'm eating through the amniotic fluid, so I should start eating what I want the baby to like to eat. Trouble is, the things the baby should probably eat are things that I should probably eat (namely veggies) that I have never really had the taste for. The only vegetable dish I like is pinakbet, an Ilocano dish that's full of okra, squash, eggplant, onion, bits of pork, and bagoong. This sounds like a great meal in terms of nutrition, except that I like it all cooked to death. Maybe I'll force myself to eat raw vegetables for the baby's sake. Maybe. :)

Obligatory Mike Post

I painted the laundry room.  The end.

the nursery and more!

We spent the past couple weeks getting more things in the nursery done for Baxter, and it's starting to come together nicely!  We painted an accent wall a light orange color, put the crib and dresser together, and found a neat lamp and shag rug for the room.  We'd like to paint some neat graphic on one of the walls but haven't decided on what yet.  We still have to hang up some pictures and decide what other things we'd like in the room, like maybe some hooks or a rocker/glider.  It's quickly become my favorite room in the house.  I like to stop in at least once a day and imagine taking care of our little baby there.  I put some of his clothes and diapers in the dresser this evening and it hit me that this tiny person will be here in less than four months!  We're both so, so excited.

We also signed up for registries at Target and Baby's R Us.  We weren't really pleased with the selection of stuff at Target, so the Amazon.com and probably the Baby's R Us registries will be our main ones.  We liked the free gift bags we got at both places though.  :)  We don't really know what we need for the baby aside from a crib, stroller, car seat, and diapers, so any suggestions would help.  

On the pregnancy front, I am currently in my 23rd week.  My old pants no longer zip up anymore, so the bella band has become obsolete.  I have officially graduated to maternity pants.  I feel like I'm pushing the limit with the elastic on my scrub pants for work too, and my co-workers point out that I need new tops every time I come in.  I've resorted to wearing a tee-shirt underneath an unbuttoned scrub top, but it gets so hot I'm afraid I might have to start wearing just a tee-shirt and fanny pack (!!) for all my supplies.  

Today was another ultrasound day at Dr. Read's office, and we were both surprised that he did a 4D ultrasound of Baxter's face!  I think he looks like Mike -- it looks like he has his nose, mouth, and chin.  It also looks like he has a lot of hair.  I wouldn't be surprised knowing that both Billie and I had Don King hair when we were born.  Dr. Read said that Baxter was growing normally and decreased my chances for Downs Syndrome to "low".  He said that Baxter is currently 1 lbs, 4 oz. and was in the 46th percentile for size, so a bit on the smaller side, but I'll take that over a 12-lbs baby (what Mike was at birth).