Baby Update #8

We are now 18 days from Bump's due date. I'm feeling good, sleeping is uncomfortable, but otherwise no issues. I'm getting more and more excited to meet our daughter and more and more prepared for birth. 

I uploaded some pics and will briefly explain them all, even though the captions are pretty self-explanatory.  

We don't really have a decked-out "nursery" because Bump doesn't need one yet. My mom is working on the jungle babies material to create the nursery, but she also made a beautiful pink layette for my bassinet. Bump will sleep in this for a few months and then transfer to the crib. The layette has a blanket that my mom finished with little pink embroidered hearts. It has lace edges and a dark pink sheet, it is so cute. We also put a dresser in the closet and it is filling with blankets and onesies and tiny socks. One day, about 6 months ago, Tim brought home a little pink corduroy overall outfit for Bump. It has an embroidered squirrel coming out of the pocket and so I wanted to show you that. For Christmas, my dad and mom gave me a rocking chair, now it is almost time to use it and it has our Boppy and the lion rug we bought in the nursery. 

Sometimes I forget to talk about them, but we honestly have four demi-children already. Mac and Lucy are the cats and they don't need too much; but our dogs, Sima and Roscoe are with us throughout the day. I used to take them running, but now they go to the meadow with us to get their energy out.  Roscoe lays in our lap and I run errands with them in the car. They are basically our children, except they don't develop past the age of 2 and they don't throw tantrums or talk back. Recently, Sima has been troubled by her paw and we think a foxtail got up in it. We have been keeping a poultice on it and under the sock her foot is all wrapped up. She's been pretty good about it, but when we take the bandage off she just licks and licks in her paw. Hopefully it clears up soon. They are best buddies and I don't know that my life would be as  happy (though it would be so much easier) if I didn't have them. I also included some pictures Tim took out in the meadow- they are 37 week photos. 

So, now it's just a waiting game until the baby comes. I was walking the other day and was thinking about my concerns and I think God brought up the fact that the one thing on my mind that casts a shadow over everything is not having my credential cleared. So, I am going back to diligently working on my classes. I have two to finish and then I will truly be free with no rain clouds to darken my mental days. Of course, I don't really want to do these classes, but it doesn't make sense to not complete them. You can pray that I continue to work on them with energy and efficiency.

Love, Lauren 

Baby Update # 7

Weeks 36-40 (or 41 & 42+) make up the 9th month!

I am 9 months pregnant. A fetus is considered full-term at 37 weeks.

Bump! could be here next week, in two weeks, in three weeks, in four weeks, in five weeks or six weeks plus. I think she will debut on June 2nd, but only God knows. She'll give the the hormonal signal and then my body will respond with more hormones that will lead to labor.

We are now meeting with Anne Sommers, our midwife, once a week. We have our birth kit here with most of the medical amenities, like gloves, pads, herbs, heating pads, etc. Anne will have emergency devices if necessary. This does not include an epidural people. She will have a doppler and some infant resuscitation stuff and a small dose of pitocin in case of postnatal hemorrhage for me. In the last 20 years she has delivered, she has performed 2 episiotomies. We are excited about home birth, and looking forward to giving Bump! the best start that we can idealize. 

Unless there are problems, we'll be delivering in the warmth of our home with comforts and luxuries abounding. I'll labor anywhere I want, with no IVs or forced pee efforts or fetal monitoring. There will be flowers and candles and cozy, familiar linens, a jacuzzi for labor, and no annoying car ride to the hospital. Anne will arrive after labor is progressing and monitor the baby. Anne and her team are here for the baby. Tim is here for me, and Sharon will be here for Tim. Tim is my coach and we have almost finished our classes under the Bradley method. He is taking me through some mental relaxation when he is home and we practice different laboring positions together. I hope he is able to "catch" our baby, I think that's what he intends to do. My mom will be here to take over when Tim needs a rest, a nap or some food. She'll also assist him by getting anything he needs as a gopher. I don't think she'll dress up in the costume, but I know she'll be very very helpful. It will be an interesting experience together since I've heard pregnant women are sometimes not themselves as they go through labor and transition. Please cover this birth in prayers as we prepare to become parents, no small feat for those of you out there with kids! I would like prayer that no matter what is going on physically, I can remain mentally alert and under God's submission. Even pregnancy is no excuse for sin and treating my coach or asst. coach in a way that does not honor God might seem justifiable during this trying and difficult time. I pray that baby grows as much as she needs. I only increased 1cm of growth over the last two weeks, so let's pray she stays in there and gets as big as she needs to be. Pray that I'll use this time wisely. I was thinking about the fact that she could come in like 10 days and my mind started to panic at all I haven't done. I don't need to go crazy, but if we are going to birth at home, it needs to be clean. I can't have dog and cat fur everywhere and the "guest" bathroom is now where we'll bathe her. Both showers need a good scrubbing for health measures, and then there's those credential classes. I have to get them done by September, but I want to be done before she comes. Of course, if she comes in 14 days...gulp. So, pray that I don't dawdle or delay, but use this time God gave me for today (I couldn't resist). We'll keep you updated =) 

Love, Lauren 

All About Baby lately- Update #6

Proud Mama:

@ 33 weeks

I have two more days at work, and then I am home free. (I should get paid for my material)

Seriously though, this week 33 pic will give all of you preggo ladies out there some hope: yes, you will grow to the size of a small narwhale, don't fret. I can't believe that I will continue to grow for 7 more weeks- how is that even possible? I'm ready to be done at work, my sciatic is starting to flare up and my nerves are a little on-edge with the sophomores. Thank God that He blessed me with a great job that gives sick days and pregnancy disability. I am very joyful and thankful! Many people are surprised that I am choosing to leave a tenured position at a good school teaching Advanced English 10 and Photojournalism, but I just don't think they understand what a wonderful opportunity in advancement I am taking. We have so much to be grateful to God for, only He has allowed our family the benefit of a full-time mother for our baby, and a full-time wife for Tim. I will never regret "sacrificing" my career for the sake of my family. 

While I have 7 weeks to go, my friend Erin Thomas decided to shortcut her pregnancy and gave birth to her baby boy on Tuesday! Baby boy decided to arrive a few weeks early and is now doing well. We are praying for continued strengthening and recovery for baby and Mom. You can see her (rather, Dave's) post here.

In other baby news, we decided to baby-sit a friend's 10 month old on Tuesday. I figured it would be good practice for being pregnant with baby #2. Kelsey is a generally happy and smiley and "easy" baby. She has a great temperament and was no trouble to watch. We took Kelsey on a walk, we didn't really have any blankets, so we wrapped her in a towel. It looked like I was pushing an E-wok.

We went down to the park and she watched the pups play. 

She wasn't too keen on them, but kinda warmed to them as the night went on. While Tim made dinner, I read her a book. We changed her, tried to feed her and Tim got her opinion on the safe we should buy from Costco as he held her on his lap. Tim is great with kids, and I really have to thank Kim and the Starrs in some way for having kids on which Tim could practice. I, on the other hand, am so scared now! While Tim is making up songs, talking all goofy and generally enthralling Kelsey, I am wracking my brain to entertain her. I asked her if she's read MacBeth, or what she thought about the symbolism in the Lord of the Flies. She was not amused by me. I just kinda bounced her and said, "Hi, baby" again and again. Tim made her very happy, I just bored her. Now I have no idea what I'm going to do with our baby, and what will I do when Tim is at work and I have to be silly? I'm not silly, I'm serious. I'm seriously serious about the severity of my insecurity! I hope when Bump! comes, I'll have more to say than just, "Hi baby"...

Love, Lauren

Baby Bump! Update # 5

Does anyone else thing that Blogger is crappy? If you use a better

host, let me know. I have been trying to post

an update for about a month now,

but it won't upload my photos. (oh and my post is all weirdly spaced because Blogger was allowing it to go off the page...) Anyways.

Even this update is late, for I am closer to

33 weeks (Monday, 4/6).

The pregnancy is going great. Bump!'s head is

down, though she has not dropped. I am feeling good;

I am visiting my chiro for any sciatic issues.

I am also exercising by walking 3 miles about 4

times a week and doing all those pelvic rocks,

squats and tailor sitting.

We are almost done with our Bradley classes

and my first shower is April 9th! I am very excited

at all this anticipation and building toward D-day.

I thought we had a name picked, but now I am second-guessing

it and Tim won't commit to a name- he says it's rude

to tell people, "Yes, we have a name, but we're

not telling YOU", when he says this he makes

his eyes bug out and points to emphasize the exclusion factor.

I go back to work for one more week on Monday.

I have also finished grading my last essays

(well, I will finish sometime today).

I will NOT miss those things.

A warning to all wanna-be teachers

out there: don't choose English.

We have actually done many excursions

that I have not yet posted about,

but those will come when Blogger stops being crappy.

For now, enjoy!

Me, Tim & Bump! @ 31 weeks

Love, Lauren

Baby Update # 4

This morning at around 5 am, I awoke to a rhythmic "bomp" on my right side. It lasted 5 minutes or so and I could not figure out what it was she was doing, as I groggily stood in the bathroom, I realized Bump had hiccups. Very cute.

@ 27 weeks

3rd trimester here we come =)  

Love, Lauren

Baby Update # 3

I finally got a chance to gather some preggo pictures of my expanding bump. We are at 23weeks and 2 days (yes, into the 6th month already!!) We've also been perusing Social Security Administration's list of the top 500 baby names for 2007 --can you believe Destiny and Neveah (Heaven backwards) made the list, but not Renee?--we've got some ideas, but would love to hear yours. Tim, my mom and my brother Jared have all felt the baby kick and move about. She is very active! Hope you enjoy:

@ 12 weeks

@ 16 weeks

@20 weeks

@ 23 weeks + 2days

Something that is very strange about me is that I love to shop for bathing suits. I don't have a fabulous figure or anything really to show off to anyone but Tim, but for some reason, I love bathing suits. I think it is because I have spent so much of my life at lakes Havasu, Mead and Powell. If I'm going to a baby shower, I try and buy a swimsuit to give. So, I figured that the first thing I would buy for my own daughter (that sounds weird) is a bathing suit all her own. She'll be born right in time for summer, and she'll need a river outfit of her own.

Front                                                       

Back (tu-tu cute)

Love, Lauren

Baby Update #2

Love, Lauren
Here's a little baby update for everyone who has been tracking the pregnancy and is curious to find out what's going on.

 

1. How do you feel? Everyone asks me this! Thanks for your concern; I still feel great, even better now that I'm almost 7 weeks through the second trimester and I have regained some of that lost energy. I'm increasing weight-wise and will probably have a net of 7-8 lbs. gain over the last 20 weeks. I'm definitely showing and seem to be rounding out a little more every day. I am half-way through the pregnancy on Monday, Jan. 5th!!!

2. Do you know what the gender is yet? Yes! We went into New Life sonogram center on Wednesday and decided to just get a peek through the regular 2D system, but when the technician told us that we had a good amount of fluid, we decided to switch to the 3D version. The technician put the device on my stomach and said, "Well, I can tell you right away what you are having". You can look at the pics to find out. Baby was moving all around and squirming every which way for the picture show and Tim commented that our baby is active, just like me.

3. Have you felt the baby move? Yes, I've been feeling the baby move for about 4 weeks now. At first it was the characteristic fluttering, but it's been kicks and I even tried to feel the movement on the outside one night, and I could. Right before Christmas I sat still for my mom to try and feel, and she was able to feel the light kicks too. Tim tries, but our baby is rebellious- even in utero.

4. How is Tim doing? He's really excited about knowing what we're having. He's reading The Husband Coached Birth by Dr. Bradley and is having to work harder than ever before around the house as he has asked me to not do any heavy lifting. He's watching how I sleep in order to help me labor restfully and he's dong a great job convincing me that I am really beautiful, and he loves the fun of having a baby.

5. Can I rub your belly now? Now that my stomach is hardening with growing uterus, I'm more than likely okay with buddah rubs but please just ask first.

6. PS. A shout-out to all my other friends who are now pregnant- Erica & Emily- hope you enjoy the ride =)