39 Weeks

*click pic to view the fullness of the belly*

Hi. 39 weeks. Jamaal and I can hardly believe it. Any day now, our son will come along. He seems to be excited too, kicking and sprawling around in my belly a lot. He has no more room to do this, bur he does it anyway. I'm pretty uncomfortable, but I try and soak it in and know that I won't be pregnant much longer. I had a great pregnancy, and will miss it, but am looking forward to having our son here in our arms. I will also be happy to:

• Lay on my back - can't lay on my back while pregnant as it can restrict the blood flow to baby.
• Eat sushi
• Lay on my stomach (once I've recovered from childbirth)
• Not have to pee every 10 minutes
• Go to regular yoga and keep my body nice and flexible
• Have a glass of champagne
• Fit clothes normally
• Get new shoes (I think my shoe size has permanently changed)
• Hold my son or any other child without a huge belly obstructing my lap
• Sleep without pain through the night

Yay! Baby Noel is on his way. Thank you for all of your support through this blog, and we hope the next blog will be his birth story!

Home Stretch

37 weeks, 5 days!

I am now at home, waiting for our little boy to make his grand entrance. He has *dropped* into position, which means he has moved down lower into my pelvis. This makes it harder for me to drive, stand up and sit up from laying down. If something falls to the ground, oh well! I ain't pickin it up! He is still frisky and he seems pretty comfortable nestled in my belly. (haha, he just kicked as I finished this sentence!). The pic is of our baby carrier. We stare at it every day, trying to imagine him in it. We' can't wait!!

Grape Kool Aid Part II - 9 Months!!!

*click pic to view*

Here we are, 9 months, in the grape Kool Aid dress. He could come any day now! I was able to resume my yoga practice this weekend, after not going for 4 weeks (baby showers, childbirth classes). It was SO GOOD to be back in class. I plan on attending until I go into labor. The carseat is ready, clothes washed, bassinet ready to go, and the hospital bag is being packed up. We will definitely update you when he arrives...stay tuned!

35 Weeks

*Click on pics to view*

Here we are- Jamaal and me with my big belly! We had a great week. Last weekend, we finished our Childbirth Prep class, where Jamaal and I beat our classmates in "Baby Jeopardy" and took home a huge diaper cake prize. The class was really informative, we feel relatively prepared for what will happen and what we will see in the hospital. It's been a less stressful week- We've almost got the house in order and ready for his arrival. I am looking forward to these last few weeks of work. I'm packing up my office because while I am out, our office is moving to a facility in Union City. It's hard to imagine being off of work for 3 months, but it will be exciting to come back to work in a newer, safer building. Baby Noel is still kicking strong and rolling aroung, he gets the hiccups about 3 times a day and it's fun to have people feel my belly when he has them. They really get a kick out of it!

Getting There...

*click on pic to view belly*

Here we are. Baby Noel is big, I feel like he has almost filled up my whole belly! We've been slowing down a lot. I tire so easily now! It's been stressful because there is so much to do to prepare for his arrival. Jamaal is the BEST, he has been there every single step of the way and is taking excellent care of us. Our house now looks like there's a baby coming. We are so blessed to have been showered with gifts and hand-me-downs from friends with little boys. I love the time I've had to spend with him in my belly, feeling him kick, roll, hiccup and move around. I know it'll be over before we know it and he'll be in our arms...can't wait!

33 weeks

Here we are, at work. I am slowly moving further and further away from my desk, because Baby Noel is growing further and further out. He is running out of room in here, constantly reminding me by stretching or pushing his way around, which can make things very uncomfortable for me. I love it though...I am cherishing this time I have with him. It's been so amazing to carry him with me all the time- before we know it, he'll be here and grow up faster than we can imagine! Can't wait to meet you, son!

31 Weeks

This picture was taken right before Baby Noel and I headed out for a few laps in the pool. The ligament in my knee is still bothering me, so the pool is the best way for me to stay active. There were two other pregnant women that arrived at the same time as me. We had a good time chatting, they were both due within the next 2 weeks!

Jamaal and I got quite a show last night, watching Baby Noel hit the hydrolics in my belly and made it bounce up and down and all around! He is getting crowded in there and I think he's trying to bust out. We have been busy creating space in the house for all of the baby's stuff. I doubt we will ever have enough space...from what I've heard from other parents, the baby's stuff takes over the whole house. We're doing our best. Scotch is still showing us his "helpfulness". :o)

Our Helper

Scotch is so helpful, offering to put together furniture for us!

*click on the pic to view*

29 Weeks, Natural Childbirth, and Medial Collateral Ligament

Baby Boy Noel is doing great! He is very at home in my belly. I enjoy watching my belly contort into weird shapes and shift, and it usually includes a strong kick that makes it look like popcorn is popping inside. He now wakes me up with his antics at night, but his activity is only #3 on the list of things that wake/keep me up at night.

I had arthroscopic surgery on my left knee 3 years ago, the result of a snowboarding incident. Up until a few weeks ago, my knee was 100% and I had no issues with it. Within the past few weeks, it has started aching. It hurts when I apply weight to it. Must be the 25 extra pounds I'm carrying around! I visited my doctor and she told me that I had a ligament strain in my knee. Ice and elevation it is! Hopefully it won't hurt me until delivery, it's so not cute to be pregnant and limping.

Jamaal and I attended a Natural Childbirth class yesterday. It was very informative. We learned relaxation techniques, breathing and massage, all to manage the pain of labor. I'd love to be able to deliver naturally, but I also will not rule out asking for drugs should the need arise.

Baby and I are enjoying a week off from work. We'll be hanging around the house and Goodwilling stuff to clear space for him. This should be interesting, since I'm supposed to be staying off my knee. :)

Have a good week!

7 months!

Here is Baby Noel. He says HI!

I'm 28 weeks - 7 months - along. It's so crazy to know that in a few months, our son will be here in our arms. It's been so nice taking care of him inside my belly...it will be a whole different ball game once he is born!

There was concern that I may have gestational diabetes, so I was sent in for a 3 hour glucose test. At the lab, they did a fasting test of my blood sugar, then I drank this orange-ish soda-like drink called Glucola. It's not as horrible as everyone told me it would be. It tasted like overly sweetened low-quality orange soda. I downed the 10 oz bottle within 5 minutes (per the instructions) and began the 1 hour wait. For the next 3 hours, my blood was drawn on the hour. I entertained myself by reading and people watching in the hospital lab. I got the results over the weekend and I do not have gestational diabetes! Yay, but I will still be watching my sugar/carb intake going forward. I'm also slightly anemic, which might explain the fatigue I have been feeling. It's common for women in their late 2nd/3rd trimesters, so I will need to eat more red meat and iron rich foods...maybe pick up a supplement in addition to the pre-natal vitamin I'm taking.

Sleep is overrated. I'm starting to not miss it. I wake up several times a night and am familiar with all the new products that are being sold on late-night infomercials!