Grape Kool Aid Part II - 9 Months!!!

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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

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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...

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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!

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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!

We Heart the Bay!

Week 27- we're in the third trimester! I have begun slowing down my activities. I'm always sleepy- I am experiencing consistent sleep deprivation, caused by frequent trips to the bathroom, hip pain, and Baby Noel having his own playtime schedule. It's a preview of what's to come- no sleep at all!

This pic was taken today. I wanted to get some fresh air, so Jamaal and I hopped the ferry from Oakland to San Francisco and came right back. It was a beautiful day- it's nice to get out and appreciate the Bay in all its beauty. It also was a nice mellow activity for a Sunday afternoon.

I'm still enjoying yoga on Saturday mornings. It really helps me get centered and stretch out my body. Baby likes it too- he likes to bounce around when I'm doing inverted moves, or when we're in shavasana (the relaxation pose at the end). I hope to continue yoga after I give birth, it feels so good!!

"Blossoming"

I'm "blossoming", as I was told by someone in my office today. There's also a guy in the office who constantly (like every time he sees me) insists I'm about to "Pop", and have been since I was like 4 months along. My yoga teacher caught a view of me in class on Saturday, and asked me "How many weeks are you again?" People pass me and stare at my belly, as if it's going to jump out at them. OK, I get it, I'm getting bigger every day, and people aren't holding their tongues when it comes to my belly growing.

I can tell when Baby Noel is going through a growth spurt. I feel the ligaments in my pelvic area stretching, and my ab muscles feels like they are being pulled around the sides of my body. Nice huh? And of course, after the phase I see that my belly has grown noticeably. I find that walking and moving around helps loosen things up.

Baby Noel's movements can now be felt and seen on the outside. I spent lots of time this weekend staring at my belly, watching it twitch and roll. It's really entertaining and still amazing to feel him moving around. It never gets old!

I'm off to Aqua Aerobics. It's been warm in Oakland and I'm looking forward to floating in the water while getting some excercise.