36 week doctor appointment – another great visit

Doctor said we look on track…. Which is good to hear, but I would have welcomed a “looks like we’re going to deliver early” report as well. With the DC heat starting up it’s getting hard to carry these 30 extra pounds around J

Baby D also reacted quickly to the doctor’s poke which he said is a great sign of a healthy baby – passed that test!

Doctor also said we’re on track for a 7 ½ pound baby still, which is great news because Tunila’s are known for big bundles of joy!

We go back to the doctor next week.

The nursery is ready… just waiting for baby!!

Back to School...

Everyone jokes that you have to pass a test to get your driving license but anyone can have a baby. Well we’re taking just about every class there is… first we had childbirth prep, which was great – answered a lot of questions, gave us a better idea of what to expect and let us take a tour of where we’ll be delivering. We both decided we do not want a dula – personal birth coach – to sit with us. We didn’t like how they were all up in the moms face and made the dad take a back seat… awkward. They had a lot of literature and handouts – and a few life size posters depicting dilation/effacement – um yeah, basically a soda bottle to a mayo bottle – WOW!

We also had out baptism prep class… it went well. We enjoyed the tutorial (what it means to baptize your child) and what to expect the day of… the priest said it wouldn’t be a problem to have the class in CA which is great because we’ll be flying home in December and want to do it then at my home church.

Two more classes to go… breastfeeding 101 and baby basics. Not expecting anything too ground breaking, just a little more confidence as we head in to mommy- and daddy-hood!

Laker baby... game one - we win!

I'm watching my favorite NBA team - the Lakers - with my daddy and mommy. It's game one of the series and we won! I like Bryant and Gasol, they are grrr-eat! I'm excited for game two, which will be in LA. My uncle may be at the game - maybe he'll get me some swag. :)

Had my eye on (hint, hint unc) -->

Odom and I have the same hairstyle.. he copied me.

Auntee Lori already got me sippy cups and a bottle so I can show my LA pride!

Up 30 pounds with less than 5 weeks to go!!

Everything is going great… sleeping with the belly is getting creative. With about half a dozen pillows and a fan I can just about get through the night (assuming I’m up 2-3 times for a bathroom break).

But really, I can’t complain – we’re blessed to have a happy and healthy (on track) baby and very pregnant momma… we’re so excited to meet our new addition! Can’t wait till the big day!

Taking the pups to the dog park today – figure we better spoil them as much as possible before baby D arrives and steals all the attention J

No sleep for momma...

I've heard all the jokes - "oh that baby will show you a whole new level of tired when he comes in to the world"... "there is nothing like a 3AM feeding, every night"... - but I'm already loosing sleep and baby D still has 6 weeks until his arrival! There was absolutely NO good way to lay last night... tossing and turning... stuffing pillows, removing pillows.... ugh. I must be an absolute joy to share a bed with (poor Mike). As annoying as it is for me, at least I can toss and turn, Mike just has to lay there and hope I stop shaking the bed...Between my legs feeling like they weigh 100lbs each and my belly all up in the way it's a chore just to get comfortable. Then the sweating starts - awesome. I already feel like the porn star I wish I was (only 30 lbs heavier) but now I'm also sweating like a pig...

No one said it'd be sexy... third trimester is it's own beast - that's for sure!

34 weeks this Thursday, back to the doctor for a well check up

Baby and momma (and daddy) are doing great... there were some grumbles this weekend because I was feeling especially "achy" and sleeping is a chore, what with trying to get comfortable and the heat factor (me and my little oven are about 10 degrees warmer than Mike at all times - but he's a trooper and we opened a window so I could get some relief - of course that meant Mike was bundled up in a sweatshirt, hoodie and all just to keep from freezing)...

This is going to get a bit graphic... so you're warned. All those faint of heart (or anyone that's yet to experience a pregnancy) may not want to keep reading.... this blog is intended to be used as a running journal and keepsake documenting our time before D's arrival *and* my first pregnancy. While the Jenny McCarthy book, Belly Laughs, did a great job confirming all the not cute pregnancy stuff is normal - burnt pancakes on top and blockage in the first trimester - it didn't mention anything about the swelling/bruising feeling downstairs. Walking, sitting, standing anything - when the pressure of baby's weight is right on my pelvis it's like he's pounding away in there. UGH! And the doctor... "completely normal, nothing you can do or not do to avoid it." Sweet. The girls in my prenatal swim class were talking about it too - few of us even got mirrors out, ready to see everything black and blue... but alas, all the trauma must be on the inside because it looks normal as ever. Strange... see baby boy, you're already tricking momma!

according to the experts... we're 33 weeks - what's baby doing?

Your baby weighs about 4.4 pounds at this point. The crown-to-rump length of your baby is approximately 12 inches and the total length is around 19.4 inches. Measuring from the top of your uterus to your bellybutton is 5.2 inches. Total weight gain at this point of pregnancy is usually 22 to 28 pounds. With the exception of crying, your baby is capable of doing everything that a newborn baby will do. Your baby is restricted now inside of the uterus, but still can kick and move. Your baby sleeps alot of the time, just as newborn babies do. Your baby's eyes move in the manner of REM sleep and researchers believe that babies can dream vividly in utero. When your baby is awake, she is listening, feeling and learning. There are billions of neurons in the brain that make trillions of connections. Your baby will probably have settled into the birth position by now and your caregiver can most likely tell which way your baby is presenting. If your baby were to be born now, the lungs would probably be strong enough to function properly, but your baby may still need extra care from specially trained doctors and nurses. During these last few weeks of pregnancy, most women experience an increased urge to urinate. The uterus puts alot of pressure on the bladder and can send you to the restroom frequently. Your uterus has actually grown 500 times throughout your pregnancy! Red blood cell production catches up with the production of plasma and physiological anemia may begin to fade at this time. Your baby's eyes open during alert times and close during sleep. The eye color is usually blue, regardless of the permanent color as pigmentation is not fully developed. The final formation of eye pigmentation requires exposure to light and usually happens a few weeks after birth.