31-Week Update

Good morning lil' one,

We were 31 weeks yesterday.  I can't believe it! The entire miracle of pregnancy continues to amaze me.  At 31 weeks, here's what's going on with us...

Herm:

• You are about 3.5 pounds.
• You enjoy yawning and sucking your thumb.
• You also enjoy kicking me in the bladder and standing on my cervix (or at least that is what it feels like).
• You get the hiccups, which daddy and I both felt last night. (Sorry about that half a glass of coke.)
• You are constantly wiggling throughout the night. 
• You favor my right side and have for quite some time. 
• I think you dislike loud noises.

Mommy:

• Counting down the weeks until I can hold you in my arms, which is approximately 9 weeks. (EEEK!)
• A little congested in the mornings and I continue to have daily bloody noses.  
• Extremely relieved that I do not have gestational diabetes and have only gained 1 pound in the past two weeks. 
• When I had bronchitis I coughed so hard that I either dislocated or cracked a rib. This is uncomfortable, especially for sleeping.
• My hips hurt and I think this is partially due to sleeping on my sides left side all night due to the sore rib(s).
• I love when I can feel you move and I try to guess what body part is pushing out on my belly.  
• I think I felt your spine...or at least your little bottom.
• My belly button has almost popped. 
• Continues to crave meat, fruit and chocolate milk.
• Heartburn is present every now and then.  Apparently, the story is that if the mom has heartburn the baby comes out with a full head of hair.  We'll see how that goes considering the lack of hair in your gene pool.  
• Has been busy trying to figure out maternity leave, finishing your nursery and just overall enjoying the last weeks of pregnancy. 

Daddy:

• Likes to talk to you through my belly button.  Apparently that is the two-way radio for you boys.
• Daddy's voice immediately calms you when you are active.
• He's been hard at work finishing up your room.  
• Is already planning how we are going to take you on your first camping trip...you will probably be about 6-8 weeks old.
• Gets a cute little smile and twinkle in his eye when he talks about you.
• Notices other little boys with their daddy's, doesn't say a word, then looks at me and grins from ear to ear.  He's so excited for your arrival.
• Talks about you playing with your cousins, especially the lil' bean that is about 12 weeks younger than you.
• Is excited to take you to Vandal games.
• Won't talk about it much, but I think is a little nervous for your delivery.  Your daddy gets weak in the knees at the sight of blood or anyone in pain.
• Loves you so much.

Other updates...we're fairly certain we have a name for you.  It's a name we both like and continue to go back to it.  It's very traditional.  We may even have a couple of back-ups...just in case the name doesn't fit you when you arrive.

I love you little one and continue to pray for you daily.

Love,

Mommy

30 Weeks and 5 Days

Good morning lil' Herm.  


It's been a couple of weeks, but there really hasn't been any new news to share.  I'm through with the bronchitis and rattling your living space from the horrendous coughing, but I do believe I have either cracked or dislocated a rib.  It's uncomfortable, but manageable.  It's beginning to be a little more difficult to sleep at night as my hips really hurt, I can only lay on one side (due to pain in the ribs), and the constant getting-up-to-pee is only preparing me for when I will soon be waking up and caring for you throughout the night.  To be holding you in my arms and rocking you back to sleep is only a few short weeks away and something I am so looking forward to. 


Daddy and I went into the doctor today and everything looks fantastic.  I do not have gestational diabetes, which I have been a little worried about beings that my severe sweet tooth has returned.  My blood pressure is phenomenal 108/60, there are no traces of protein in my urine, I am not anemic, my weight is right on track, your heat beat was around 160 and you are continuing to grow just perfectly.  What a relief it is to hear consistent great news from the doctor.  


Nursery Update:
Your room is almost ready with a few remainder touch ups to be made to the wainscoting, your closet and additional little purchases.  I found a rug at IKEA that I like and I need to go pick it up...big surprise, it's Vandal colors (black with silver and gold circles).  


Name Update:
We think we have a name for you and this week your Daddy and I are doing our best to refer to you using this name and not "Herm".  It's been a little difficult to break away from the "Herm".  I dreamt about this particular name and we both seem to like it.  It's very traditional and neither Irish nor Scottish, which is what we originally wanted.  Nonetheless, we'll test it out this week and see how it goes.  We continue to have a rotating top-5 list, but this name consistently comes around again and again.  


I continue to love your little movements, especially in the evenings just before I fall asleep.    Whenever I feel you move it's a little-extra-continued-reassurance that you are okay.  You seem to listen carefully to your daddy's voice and instantly calm down when he places his hand on my stomach.  The next few weeks are full of doctor appointments and a couple ultrasounds...it's been a while since we have been able to see you on the screen.  I'm very much looking forward to the next couple of weeks. 


Love you little one.
Mommy

Sick and Pregnant

Good morning little one,

The past few days have been challenging because I have been sick with some sort of bronchial-cold-like-sickness.  I can't even begin to imagine what you feel or hear as I'm coughing my lungs up and rattling your living quarters.  You are a little trooper.

It's official.  We've made it to the third trimester.  We are 27 weeks (almost 28) and I can't hardly believe it.  You have very little time left "cookin", as your daddy says, and I feel pretty lucky with how easy it's been "cookin" you.  I can only hope that when you enter the world you will be just as easy to take care of.

As I was feeling you move this morning I was thinking about how this spring will be the first in quite a few years where we are not saddened by the loss of a baby, but rather rejoicing over you.  In my eyes, you truly are a miracle for us.

Twenty seven and half weeks...what's going on with you?  There are not a lot of changes this week.

• You are about 15 inches long.
• You weigh about 2 pounds.
• Your eyelids which have been fused closed for the past 11-12 weeks can now open and close

Your mommy...

• Delighted to be in the third trimester.
• I am feeling more round ligament pain, which is slightly uncomfortable, but completely bearable.
• Every now and then an uncomfortable kick is felt in the bladder, side, and other areas which feels like you are trying to escape.  
• I'm hungry!  All the time!  Although I eat about 5 bites and I feel full.
• I'm experiencing less heartburn, but I've changed my diet slightly to help reduce this.
• My sweet tooth has returned.  Oh. My. Goodness.  My sweet tooth is out of control.  
• My lower back is beginning to hurt more and if I sit for too long it's difficult to stand up.
• Has been having weird dreams.
• Enjoys the kicks and all your movements tremendously.

We have many things we need to do to get ready for your entrance into the world.  We've got some time, but before we know it, you will be here.  

Hang on tight as I continue to rattle your living quarters for the next couple of days as I try to kick this cold.  

Love you,

Mommy

26 Weeks

Hello little one...

As of yesterday you are 26 weeks, which means I have approximately 14 weeks until you are in my arms.  I can't believe it!  

What's going on with you:

• You are about 2 pounds.  For only being 2 pounds you sure do pack a mean punch/kick.  
• You are about 13 1/2 inches long.
• You are hiccuping, although I haven't felt it yet.
• All five of your senses are fully developed. 
• You should be growing hair, but considering your daddy and I were both bald until about 2 years old, the cue-ball look might be in your future.
• Your mommy can now see you move from the outside.  Love it!

What's going on with your mommy:

• I am in the last and final week of the 2nd trimester.
• My uterus is about the size of a soccer ball.  
• I have been experiencing minor uterine contractions, especially in the evenings.  
• I've also been experiencing minor back and side pain due to uncomfortable sleeping positions.  I'm a stomach sleeper and the whole side sleeping is not my cup of tea.
• I'm right on track according to weight, gaining 20 pounds.  I still weigh less than Chad and I'm really hoping I don't break 200.  
• In the past week, I started experiencing heart-burn.  Ouch!  I suppose I should cut back on the tomatoes, lemons, satsumas and other acidic foods.
• I still want to eat beef...no chicken or fish for this mama.
• I love how I feel...very healthy.

All is right in your little world, "Herm".  Keep snug and keep kicking.  

Love,

Mommy

A Name?

Good morning, little one.

As I sit here and dream of holding you in my arms in a few months, I'm pondering what will be your name.  Every morning your daddy reads names from the newspaper, which quickly get vetoed because they are usually names of convicts or athletes with bizarre names.  He also shares names from the many books that he is reading at a given time and every now and then a name may sound intriguing, but nothing has seemed to jump out at us.  We listen very attentively to everything around us in hopes of hearing a name that we will like.  I fear that "Herm" is going to be on your birth certificate.

We want a name for you that is not trendy, era related or way off the charts unusual.  We want a name that is easy to say and spell, nothing weird.  We've been looking at Irish and Scottish names (I know, there are some unusual spellings) since your last name is MacDonald, but again, have yet to find something that really stands out to us.

This last Sunday on the way to church, your daddy started saying names aloud, but what I didn't realize was he was reading street signs.  Finally when he said, "Bothell", I caught on to what he was doing...he's a funny one, your daddy.

An article was posted on Facebook the other day about names that have been banned in countries around the world.  Here's the article...http://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/blogs/yahoo-lifestyles/10-illegal-baby-names-194006397-3.html  I promise you that we won't be naming you any of these names.  What were people thinking?

When we do have a name for you, something other than "Herm", I assure you it will be perfect.  We've also decided that when we have a name for you, we won't be sharing it with anyone until after you are here.  I've heard too many stories in the past few weeks of how a name has been picked, shared and then at the last minute or after the baby has been born, the name changed.  Therefore, we won't be sharing a name until you are here.

You will have a name...something other than "Herm"...it's just a matter of when and what it will be.

Keep kicking little one.  I love it.

Love,
Mommy

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to my sweet, baby boy.  We love you, "Herm" (and we need to figure out a name for you).

Love,

Mommy

Gia Mae

Dear Herm,

There is one little girl in particular that is so enamored by you and she hasn't even met you yet.  Her name is Gia.   Gia Mae.  She's the cutest and sassiest thing you will ever meet, but she will also steal your heart.  Her bright blue eyes and innocent little smile are adorable.  She is 3, almost 4.  Every time I see her she wants to know how you are doing, if you are growing and if she can feel you move.  She has yet to feel you move and I can hardly wait for the day she does.  She's picked a name out for you..."Dorin".  We won't name you this, I promise.

Tonight I was laying on the floor and without saying a word Gia laid down beside me, rested her ear on my stomach and carefully placed the palm of her hand face down on you.  She whispered to you, "I love you, Dorin."  Of course, it took everything in me to hold back the tears.

Sleep snug little one.

Love,
Mommy

Gia Mae adores you and I can't wait for her to meet you.