30 Weeks!

It is amazing to me that we are 10 weeks away from holding our baby boy.  This pregnancy has been so fast, I find myself savoring every moment.  I sit on the couch with the fan blowing on me, watching him kick and move around.  He will press against me, and I'll press back and we make a game of it.

I'm on vacation this whole week and I had hoped to spend it sleeping and hydrating.  But last night, our boy kept me up.  He kicks and rocks, and moves, and squirms and it was impossible to get any sleep.  I imagine this is what motherhood is going to feel like.  As he gets bigger, there's less room in there, and his kicks feel extra forceful.  Sometimes they really hurt.

Some other new developments are trips to the bathroom every thirty minutes.  I thought I was going to survive this pregnancy without having to wake up in the night.  Wrong.  As of last week, I'm up twice every night.  In the three minutes I'm up, I try to imagine myself staying awake to feed and rock a baby and I wonder if I'm going to be able to do it.

I've also been incredibly emotional.  Most people who know me find this a little humorous.  I don't cry.  I've never been a crier.  I think I've cried maybe... twice in the last five years?  And one was when I dropped a butter dish on my toe.  These days, it takes the a little bit of heat combined with the right commercial or the wrong comment from Jason, and I'm on a downward spiral that I can't get out of until I sob for a half hour.  Today I had the most nonsensical moment of my life.  I was watching Real Housewives, eating raspberries and bacon, and just sobbing for no reason.  I knew it was absurd as it was happening, but I just couldn't stop it.  I feel so ridiculous sometimes. 

Yesterday, Jason and I toured the hospital with our Centering group.  We asked lots of questions and got lots of answers.  I learned about the epidural and what to expect and when to expect it.  We got to see two different types of birthing balls, tubs to labor in, bars to hold on to, sheets to pull on.  Jason even got some tips on the right and wrong things to say to a laboring woman.  We got to see contraction and baby heartbeat monitors, the nursery, and the post-delivery rooms.  We drove around the emergency room and practiced where we would drop off and park.  It was so informative and incredibly overwhelming.  We're having a baby!  That still hasn't sunk in.

Beverly, guarding the baby belly

Bev's face just cracks me up in this picture. 

So--on the to-do list for the next coming weeks is:

• Research preparing the dogs for baby
• Paint that dang diaper changing table
• Make a list of everything that needs to go in the labor bag
• Put the labor bag together
• Buy a birthing outfit (I didn't even know that was a thing)
• Take a baby basics class
• Cope with this horrendous heat (omg)
• Make Jason take an infant CPR & First Aid class
• Buy and install the car seat
• Find the perfect middle name
• Go on a last "just us" date

And that's what's going on over here!


Her stats:

Weeks Pregnant: 30

Baby size: GMO sized cabbage

Fundal height:  30 cm

Baby's heart rate: 140 on average

Weeks to go: 10 (!)

Cravings:  Bacon, berries (all kinds), cherries, cream cheese, chocolate milk, water all the time

Food aversions: Apple juice.  Way too sweet.

Feeling:  Hot.  So hot.  All the time.  God help me.  Is it fall yet?

Missing most: Sleeping without having to get up to pee.  Being able to paint my own toes.

Loving most:  Sleep in general.  Energy.

All of this baby gear makes me feel: Nesty.

My birth plan includes:  lots of drugs.

Most excited about: The epidural.

Most worried about: The epidural.  Episiotomies.

His stats:

Patience level: Moderate.
Cravings: Lamie-os (our name for the Walmart brand Oreos)
Food aversions: Greens

Loving most: Air conditioning.
Missing most: Simpler times.

My pregnant wife is: the best!
Her worst symptom: Wearing my aftershave.
Feeling: Fretful.

All of this baby gear makes me feel: Poor.

I think being a good father means: Being a hero.

My birth plan is to: Drink bourbon. 
Most excited about: The kid.
Most worried about: My sanity.