Hormones

Hey little guy,

I should apologize for the craziness and stress that I may have caused you this morning.  It's down right unreal the hormonal changes that occur as your mommy continues to keep you warm and cozy.

Today is not a good day. There have been a handful of days, but today, well, it trumps them all.

I woke up not feeling very well and every little thing (good and bad...it didn't matter) escalated from there.  The tears and crazy emotions I can't explain, but they are there and out in full force today.  I got to school and just couldn't stop crying and decided to come home to hibernate...away from everyone...for their own sake.

The curtains are open and the sun is shining through...this is helping...a little bit.  But, again, I apologize for the stress that I may be causing you (and daddy for that matter).  We'll get through this and all will be okay.

Thanks to Danielle, Molls and Kaely for talking and getting me (and you) through this emotional day...that I can't explain.

I love you little one...more than you can even imagine.
Mommy.

Sleep...Or Lack There Of

Hey little guy,

Last night was rough and I hear it only gets tougher from here on out.  We are five weeks and five days out from your due date.  Who's counting?  Right now that seems like a lot of time, but I think that's just due to the way I feel today.  My stomach is a little topsy-turvy (the cereal this morning you nor I agreed with), my hips and lower back hurt, and the lack of sleep is not helping.  I remind myself constantly that when the not-so-good-feelings are present that in the long run everything that we've gone through will be completely worth it.

We had a doctor's appointment today and it was only a non-stress test.  You were calm as can be...I didn't have my daily dose of chocolate milk this morning so they ended up giving me a really sweet dose of apple juice.  With most of the non-stress tests you are calm and I can only hope that you remain this way when you enter the world.  However, your little heart beat and reaction to stress is excellent.  All looks good.

We have a busy weekend ahead of us.
I love you,
Mommy

Because You Are Loved

Hey little guy.

I just wanted to share with you how it amazes me daily that you are so incredibly loved.  Today, my fifth graders threw a surprise baby shower that coincided with their Valentine's Day party.  I loved seeing the excitement on their faces as I carefully opened presents and unwrapped gifts from them.  They were adorable.  They can't wait to meet you, nor can I hardly wait to introduce you to them.

I think it is going to be a tough transition for your mommy...

Happy Valentine's Day.
Love,
Mommy

Almost Week 34!

Hey lil' guy...

Goodness.  The last time I paid any attention to your blog was almost four weeks ago.  I think I have enjoyed being pregnant in the moment rather than keeping up with the blog.

Four weeks has flown by and a lot has changed.  We will be 34 weeks on Wednesday, so here's an early update and a recap of the past few weeks...

You:

• You have grown from about 11 ounces and 16 inches long to about 4.5 pounds and 18 inches long.
• You prefer rolling to poking me...this is due to lack of room in your cozy condo.
• You kick the bed when I lay on my left side.
• Hiccups are a daily occurrence.  
• Have the fifth graders wondering how you pee, poop and fart from inside.
• You always respond to your daddy's voice.
• Continue to receive many gifts from friends and family.  You are spoiled.

Mommy:

• Continues to crave beef and fruit.
• Has picked up a significant fondness for vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup.  This may or may not have been my dinner for a couple nights in a row.
• Has learned to stay hydrated or leg cramps are midnight wake-up calls...for both mommy and daddy.  
• Gets up to pee about every two hours throughout the night.
• Lower back pain has increased.
• Wants to crawl to bed every night around 7:00.
• Loves sharing with the fifth graders what is happening with you.  
• Is excited about your name.  
• Stressed about trying to find a replacement teacher for when I leave my students

Daddy:

• Has worked very hard on your room. 
• Continues to talk to you through mommy's belly button.  Who knew that was a two-way radio?  
• Let's your mommy rest against his back in the middle of the night when she's uncomfortable and can't sleep.
• Has recently become more concerned about his "pregnancy weight"...the bowls of vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup have been good to us.
• Helps mommy tie her shoes every morning...and take them off in the evenings.  You have a very, very, very loving, patient and supportive daddy.
• Told me today that he is getting more excited for your arrival...as he was grinning from ear to ear.

Here are a couple sneak peaks of your room...

Wainscoting with chair rail and the framed chalk board strip.

Yes, you will be our lil' Vandal.

Your clothes...newborn to 6 months.  

Your second closet door (you have three) 

with your clothes for when you are 6-9 months.

I can't wait for the final touches to your room...and of course, I can't wait for you to get here.

I love you,

Mommy

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