Past Premie

Today marks the day that we are officially past “pre-mature.” If JT is born this week, he is considered “pre-term.” His lungs are fully formed and waiting to breathe real air. The only thing happening now is gaining fat and immunity.

These pictures are actually from week 36, but we had so many other pictures last week I decided to save it for this week. It could be my last one… or we could have another one at week 40! (To compare with week 32, click here.) Then I decided it would be funny to see all the pictures together at once. I’m at the point where I don’t remember what my stomach used to look like… so the “little movie” below is the product of my time spent avoiding making dinner.

Since stopping work last Friday, I have felt so good. I have had more opportunities to rest when I need to, and to exercise when I can. I’ve been sleeping better at night from the exercise, and then I feel better during the day. No complaints here. We’ll see how I feel in three more weeks. 🙂

My Moby Wrap finally came in the mail. It’s a great way to carry around a child, from newborn to toddler. It wraps several different ways and is really comfortable. The directions said to try it out with a stuffed animal to get the hang of it. My belly kind of got in the way, but I got the idea anyway. Jim thought it was funny enough to take a picture.

Maternity Pictures and Shopping!




This week was pretty busy. On Thursday, Jim and I spent the whole day together doing baby-prep. We started our day by taking maternity pictures. (Check out the cool copyright logo across them that I can’t get rid of legally…)

Then we went to Babies R Us and Target and bought most of the things we still needed. We actually ended up going to three Targets. It turns out the one in Redmond is the only store in the greater Puget Sound area to actually have the dresser in stock. We are still waiting for our car seat to come in at Babies R Us, but then we really will have everything.

We also had a check-up. Our appointments are every week until my due date now. Everything looks just fine. I told my midwife that JT had been doing somersaults lately and that I couldn’t tell where his head was anymore. She felt around and thought it was still down, but grabbed the ultrasound machine to double check. Sure enough, he’s where he is supposed to be. Thank goodness!

Today I had a ninety-minute maternity massage, my mother’s day present from Jim. It was wonderful. I think it’s the most relaxed I have been in a very long time. What a way to welcome summer!

Friday the 13th

What a lucky day for me! My department at work threw me a surprise baby shower. Friday afternoon, they all sneaked around decorating and bringing in cupcakes and gifts, lied to me about several things, and then got me to walk into our lounge to “help” someone so they could laugh at my reaction. It was so much fun! Even the men stuck around for games. 🙂

This week, Jim and I went to a breastfeeding class at the Women’s Center in Bellevue. Some of the information we had already recevied, but some of it was new. We even practiced different feeding holds with dolls and pillows.

One More

This Sunday, I had my last baby shower at Grandma Hall’s house in Seaside, hosted by Aunt Julie. Aunt Julie hosted my bridal shower for Jim’s mom’s family seven years ago; the picture on the left is from June 2001, and the picture on the right is from this weekend. It was a Harley-themed shower and soooo much fun.

I started water aerobics again this month. It is wonderful. I sleep so much better those nights! We got a tour of the childbirth center at our hospital on Tuesday with our childbirth class. It was reassuring for everyone to know where to go and what everything would look like. I also had a check-up with my midwife, who measured my belly and declared everything right on schedule. We went over our birth plan at the appointment, too. This week my goal is to put everything from the shower away, finish my thank you notes, and get some sleep!

Baby Shower Blitz

This weekend was busy! I had a family baby shower on Saturday with my mom’s side, and another one on Sunday with friends. In between, my mom, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and I managed to get in some girl time: watching Juno and getting pedicures. I will be busy writing thank you notes this week for all of the thoughtful, useful, adorable presents we received. It’s starting to get exciting!



Harley Bike

Our friends Adam and Sarah gave us a fun surprise: a Harley bike for JT! Jim could hardly wait to get home and put it together. Jim said as soon as JT can sit up, we’ll put his Harley do-rag on (a gift from Brian and Jen) and put him on his bike to take a picture. 🙂We have check-ups every other week now, and last Thursday’s check-up was pretty standard. Jim and I have been busy reading up on labor and delivery, preparing our birth plan, and making plans for “the big day.” Since it’s probably only six to ten weeks away, it feels like it’s getting closer very quickly.

After the baby showers in the next two weeks, we’ll have a better idea of what we need to buy. I have been picking up small things that aren’t on our registry. This week, I got a few more things for JT’s room… a wall clock, big letters to spell his name (only two letters – not very hard to spell!), a shelf, and a clothes hamper. Not very exciting, but little steps are good.

It’s that time again; can you believe it? Another four weeks have gone by. Here are week 32’s belly pics. To compare with week 28, click here.

Childbirth Classes

This week, Jim and I started our childbirth and newborn preparation classes through Overlake. There are about 10 couples in the class. The class covers things from labor and delivery through infant care. We didn’t learn a whole lot of new things the very first week, but the instructor is nice and the relaxation exercise we did at the end of class was truly very relaxing. We will go every Tuesday until the end of June.

This weekend, I went with my parents to Medford, Oregon for my cousin’s wedding (Jim stayed home to work). It was a long drive and a beautiful wedding! The picture is of my dad and me outside the church.

JT has had the hiccups a few more times lately. He did great on the car ride! 🙂

75% Done

It’s finally here: week 30. That is three-quarters of the way to the final estimated due date. We’re in countdown mode more than ever before! This was an exciting week. We got to see JT again. The picture here is his profile and you can see his hand up around his mouth. The technician said he was “munching on his hand.” He is healthy and active and everything looks completely normal. (So active, in fact, that he kept knocking the ultrasound device off course. The technician was laughing out loud!)

Vital stats:

  • He now weighs about 3.5 pounds and measures a full week ahead of schedule. That doesn’t change my due date… it just means he’s growing like a weed.

  • He is in “head-down” position. That could change, but grows increasingly unlikely as he gets bigger and can’t move. So that’s great.

  • Heart rate is normal (140-150 range).

We also had a check-up and have started our birth plan. Basically, it’s a document that articulates our wishes for a “best-case” labor and delivery. I am committed to get as natural of a child birth as I can, so we’ll start there and see what happens. Until the end of June, we have check-ups every other week. My tummy size is normal, and I only gained a pound this month. Since I’ve been eating more lately, I figure it must all be going straight to JT!

Jim and I also visited JT’s future pediatrician, Dr. Hildebrand. The office is in Issaquah and the staff seemed very friendly. I really like that they answer the phone – in person – in less than a few rings. Our friend Asher goes to the doctor there, and he likes it. 🙂

One Project Done

This weekend, I finished JT’s quilt. I also decided to make a matching pillow and valance, and I finished those too. I took the pillow, quilt, and valance off our registry because I like the ones I made better… and they were a lot less expensive to make, plus they are more personal. You can see what it looks like in the picture at right. (Click on the picture for a larger version if you’re interested in details. You can’t really see the new paint color, though. For a better picture of the paint, click here.) The best part of making the quilt was stitching “Handmade by Mom” in one corner!

Tuesday was “Bring a Friend Night” at water aerobics, so Jim came with me, of course. It was so much more fun with him there! Other than the time he soaked me with his water noodle, everything went great. 🙂 I can’t wait to start going to class again in June.

This week I gained an inch on my waist but not any weight. JT’s movements are getting much more pronounced, and sometimes painful. I love feeling him move and know that each stretch and poke means a healthy baby… I just hope I can still eat and breathe in another few weeks!

Healthy and Safe

This week marks the time when JT is fully formed and proportioned. From now until he is born, his organs will become stronger and his body will add fat. I’m not sure how he will fit as he continues to gain weight in the next 12 weeks or so! Yesterday some pointed part of his body (elbow? knee?) came poking out of my skin and moved a few inches before resting back inside. It was fun, but so weird at the same time.

I got my blood test results back; I am not anemic, nor do I have gestational diabetes. 🙂

On Wednesday, I went to a Car Safe Kids class. Yes, there is actually a 2.5-hour class on car seats. I was amazed how much I learned about appropriately fitting the car seat to the child (instead of the other way around). I also learned a little more about the differences between car seats and what to look for.

Here are our 28-week pics: check out that basketball belly! If you’d like to compare with 24 weeks, click here.