Passing time in the last month

A lazy Sunday at home, here is our combined nursery/ bedroom set up. Luckily we like the theories of co-sleeping with the baby, because that's what we have room for right now! We're doing a "side car" crib arrangement. In the the Dr. Spock days, co-sleeping was discouraged but it's much more common and encouraged now, It's much easier and restful too. I'm putting a link on this post about co-sleeping information. Pretty soon Doug won't just be serenading Wally. Click for co-sleeping information

Gifts from Grandma Lynette

Baby blanket, and sweater gear with tractor embellishments.

8 Months

33 weeks out of 40! No swelling yet, no heartburn, not much to complain about other than lack of sleep. I'm diving into my 3rd bottle of stretch mark lotion and so far so good. I'm hoping this is my Karma trade off for the myomectomy/c-section scars. I expected a total abstract art mess on my belly by now, but nothing had appeared. I'm trying to be creative making what I have for clothing work for this last little bit (lucky for me I wear a shop apron all day, so if a shirt is a tad breezy, no one knows.

Week 32 appointment

The little guy has turned head down now, not dropped down into the pelvis yet. Though, he is riding more comfortably for me now. 2 weeks ago my ribs ached like crazy, now I'm sleeping just a tad better.

Since 2 weeks ago I've gained 3 pounds (30 total right now) and if I gained a pound per week from here on out I'll be at around where she wanted me from the very beginning. So, no hassle about my weight...now my fundal height is ahead of schedule:

Fundal height, or McDonald's rule, is a measure of the size of the uterus used to assess fetal growth and development during pregnancy. It is measured from the top of the mother's uterus to the top of the mother's pubic bone in centimeters.

In 2 weeks she will check again and if it is even more ahead of the curve she may want to do an an ultrasound to check in. I found this on my go-to pregnancy website:

Measuring large for dates means your fundal height is more than 2 centimeters larger than expected for your stage of pregnancy, based on your due date. Your practitioner will probably schedule an ultrasound to find out why. Among the possible explanations are:

Your due date is off. (The ultrasound can help your practitioner figure out a more accurate due date.)
You have looser abdominal muscles than most women, perhaps as a result of earlier pregnancies.
You have uterine fibroids.
You're carrying twins or more.
You have too much amniotic fluid.
Your baby is positioned high above your pelvis, which might be the case with a breech baby or if you have placenta previa.
You have a bigger-than-normal baby because of gestational diabetes – a condition known as macrosomia. You may need to be tested to rule it out.

Or you might simply be carrying a big, perfectly healthy baby.

Most of these don't apply. I feel like I just have an efficient oven and won't need the last couple weeks of baking. Doug is less in favor of that.

I also asked about these spells of feeling really woozy and faint. I hadn't had one in a month until this morning at breakfast. I have pretty low blood pressure in general and since it's not accompanied by a headache, nausea, or pain, it's not a red flag for any problems. It could be a touch of hypoglycemia, so snack and keep my sugars up, don't get up too fast, etc.

Doug installs the car seat

The instruction manual makes it look like the most complicated thing...then there is the chapter in the car manual on installing the seat properly, too much information. It turned out not to be that hard, they just give you a lot of versions of doing it and a lot of safety warnings! It was one of my requests before Doug leaves for WI..just in case. I haven't had any Braxton-hicks contractions or any red flags so I suspect nothing out of the ordinary will happen while he's away. I have my 32 week appointment the day he leaves. We also have our names down to the 2 finalists which we will pick on the big day (also a request to have ready before he leaves!) I just saw a classmate is naming their in utero baby "Kale." I know in WI we stick to meat and potatoes, so maybe they don't know it's a leafy green....also good reason to tell everyone when there is no time to critique!

This week we felt what we believe to be a case of hiccups while watching The Walking Dead. I also felt a foot specifically poke out from my mountain of belly in the middle of the night. I'm still tossing and turning, but have been a bit better off this week. It's as though he's moved in a better position, my ribs are less achy and my breathing is feeling better. True "lightening" happens 4-5 weeks before the due date according to my sources, maybe this is a mini-lightening.

My boss has my replacement lined up and wants to start him in April, so my last full time day is April 19th! It feels weird and uncomfortable to "slack off" the last little bit. My boss (and father of 3) insists that I should "chill out" before the baby comes, rest and not push myself. Not really my style, but after working on a tuba today, he's right. It's getting difficult to do the non-desk work. Getting up and down off the floor today with the beast of a tuba was uncomfortable and comical. In 5 more weeks I'll be more on board for not wrestling instruments.

If any surprises do occur next week, I'm lucky that while at work, my doctor is an elevator ride away, the hospital is 2 miles away and if I'm home Mary will get my call!

The groundhog better be right...

Out in the city last night with Doug, I realize this coat is at it's limitation, it is practically a crop top now. It was warm enough to not trudge around in my long winter coat, and I noticed I got a lot more seat offers on the subway in this sympathy coat!

Gift box from Auntie Karen

We're all set for the Brolin reunion in Newport, OR this year...we are ready for all things crab! I'd like to highlight the onesie embroidered with "Captain Adorable." Check out Curious George in the back, what a great surprise!!

Partially packed

These pink Craftsman tool boxes are on Clearance at Sears (half the price of red or black). I got it 2 weeks ago to start separating my personal tools and gear from the store-owned tools so my precious tools don't get taken or misplaced by anyone while I'm gone. I pack it up every evening....just in case. I could throw together a bag of stuff for the hospital in about 10 minutes, but my tools, no one's touching!

P.S. We got a new camera at Costco last week, time to retire our 10 yr old one to make way for some nicer baby pictures..here's just a fun effect it has.

Jenny at Seven Months!

Here is a new photo of Jenny. We are trying to get a decent picture at least every month, so here is month seven! Yesterday morning we had an epic string of doctor's appointments. We left the house at 6:45 am to go to Stamford Hospital for them to do a blood draw and then to inject her with a shot of Rhogam. This is the drug that will keep her body from producing antibodies to positive type blood. If the baby has positive blood, like mine, then there could be problems if we were to have another baby. I don't really understand all the details... Anyway, we had to wait for an hour for some reason between those two things, and then we had an hour to kill before we saw the ObGyn, so we went to Starbucks, then had our second appointment with Dr. Zino. According to her, everything about the pregnancy is going "perfectly" except for that Jenny is gaining weight too fast and will go over our target of 35 lbs. by the time the baby is delivered. We're both a bit amazed that the doctor told Jenny to "back off on the carbs" because we don't feel she's overeating at all. We've been eating pretty healthy, so I guess we'll just keep doing that and hope for the best.

I think that's all for now, but keep checking back! - Doug

It's all the same right?

So, after consultation with my cousin, Sarah, I decided to risk buying a breast pump second hand. I've read up on the types and brands and how long they last, etc...also absorbed the shock of how much they can cost! Anyhow, they are all over Ebay, many only slightly used or still in packaging. I heard one warning about them being only durable enough to be intended to make it through 1 baby, but Sarah used her sister's, spanning about 11 yrs between 4 cousins and this one pump...the brand I got. Tonight was my first testing and sterilizing session of all things bottle/ nursing related. The good news is, it was a good buy. It's in fine shape and I saved a bunch of money. The pamphlet doesn't have assembly/ cleaning instructions, just product accessories and pats on the back for breast-feeding. I eventually found a handy youtube video showing me exactly what I needed to know, but really when it comes down to it, the foreign-looking assembly is just like cleaning and assembling the old Surge brand Milkers. In fact the pamphlet from Surge was much more informative:)

[caption id="attachment_1717" align="aligncenter" width="300"] It comes self-contained in this sleek tote bag..tremendously quieter than the old parlor milking system[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1724" align="alignnone" width="300"] Very informative[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1727" align="alignright" width="300"] Brewing bottles and things[/caption]

The new car seat

Gifted from grandma and grandpa Detrick, here is our new Graco Snugride 30. We're thinking about getting the swing adapter for it. The car set hook right into the swing frame. It's small and plain which we like, if you haven't looked at baby swings in the last 10 years...my god, they play music and vibrate, massage and are gaudy as all get out! Now we just have to figure out how to install it correctly. Uncle Carl put in baby Natalie's, so he tells us, and the nurses re-did his creative installation. they won't even let you leave the hospital unless it's properly installed. However, I've always been curious about what NYC parents do, so this is pulled from Yellow Cab FAQs:

• What are the rules regarding child safety seats and seatbelts in taxicabs?

Drivers of yellow medallion taxicabs and for-hire vehicles and their passengers, are exempt from laws regarding car seats and seatbelts. Keep in mind, the TLC encourages everyone in the vehicle to buckle their seatbelts while riding in a cab. There are no Taxi and Limousine Commission rules regarding this, as it is a State exemption. Passengers with children are encouraged to bring their own car seats, which the drivers must allow passengers to install.
*NOTE - Children under the age of seven are permitted to sit on an adult's lap.

Month 6

Today was my 6 month appointment, not much to report. I'm bumped to every 3 weeks for appointments for this last trimester. Baby's heartbeat is consistent at 145, blood pressure good, belly size 1cm bigger than average, 22.5 lbs of total added gravity. I'm scheduled for the glucose screening for gestational diabetes and the shot of Rhogam for being RH neg. at 28 weeks. Baby is moving regularly and I can tell already that he's a night owl, Doug finally saw him shifting around and was quite surprised. I'm trying all sorts of sleeping positions with wedging pillows here and there, but I'm definitely weighed down.

Happy New Year, Mommy paid off her student loans!!

January 1st, 2013: Just used my Christmas bonus to pay off the small remainder on my 12 years of repayment on my student loans...

January 2nd, 2013: 18 years and 4 months to start saving up tuition for Baby Detrick's college education. High school graduation: class of '31. Wow.

The first boy warning from my boss...

Doug and I went out to my work holiday dinner out this last week. My boss has 2 boys and a girl, 7 and younger and has been really excited for us. In the middle of dinner he warned us about boys and fire...not from his own kids, but from the things he did. He told us stories about the time he poured gas on the side of the house and stood with the garden hose running to see what would happen. He told us about the time he and his friends started a fire in the woods and ran home to have his mom call the fire department when it got out of control! Then another co-worker piped up about getting kicked out of summer camp for playing with fire...every guy had done something horrifying with their friends. I looked at Doug...I won't rat him out on the worst story, but playing after school with a group of boys he had a one especially pyro buddy and they did small experiments together. But then one day when he didn't hang out with them they told him about what he missed: filling a super soaker water gun with gas and lighting the stream trying to make a flame shooter, which of course was a melted plastic fire bomb. Oh God I can hardly wait.

16 pounds of baby bump vs. 18 pounds of Christmas turkey

Next week we will be half way through our 9 months! Merry Christmas.

It's a Boy!

Baby's newest photo shoot.

Study Hall

Five months until the final and we've barely dented the assigned reading! Delivery, baby care, vaccines, nursing 10,000 baby names....it's a lot to study. Of course some topics are really working ahead, but I'm up for extra credit. Once the baby is here we'll just have to wing it like everyone else before us, but we'll try to be good students while we have the time. We're anxiously awaiting our 4 month appointment this week. We should be getting scheduled for the ultrasound that will reveal the sex by the end of the month or so according to my timeline. My previous dreams say girl, my friend "who has a sense" says boy, my boss says girl for no apparent reason. We started talking names a while ago, but were very stumped with boy names, if we wait to pick up the topic again after we know boy or girl, at least we have half the work:) I've been feeling fine, aside from feeling a bit off on train rides home at night, not sure why. As soon as I'm outside in the cold I feel better. I'm still sneezing daily with no explanation other than some women sneeze a lot during pregnancy. We're awaiting the first flutters of movement we're told to expect soon. We'll keep you posted!

Doug's first nursery purchase

Here it is, our nice thrift store find...one thing off the list, finally! There is a sizable list of to-dos, but I've been consulting with my experienced mamas to whittle away at the daunting list. There are many things that are pushed as must-haves, but really aren't. We haven't stepped into a baby store yet. We trying to not activate the overwhelmed sensations quite yet....I think we can hit it after the new year!

Week 15

Here we are, a tiny bit ahead of the curve in the belly dept. I was weighed at this month's appointment...twice to double check that I really gained that much since 4 weeks ago! But really what happened was that I have to keep the tank at a 1/4 tank or less in case of a major sneeze, but I'm under pressure to leave a sample at every appointment. I drank a whole water bottle before my last appointment and it seemed to up me about 2 extra pounds.

Even a week later I'm not quite up to my number according to my home scale. Nonetheless, I am a tiny bit above average in my baby weight. For 6 months prior, Dr. Zino insisted that I gain weight before we tried. I tried everything, eating a bit more, taking ensure at work, even talked to someone about nutrition and finding the healthiest high calorie foods. And of course in the Nehls family, there was the period of time welcoming me and my imaginary tape worm home for holidays. I tried ride the bus more, cutting out some burned calories, but I've always had a metabolism in overdrive.

Fast forward to now, and the switch is flipped! I'm eating healthily, but certainly "not for two." My body is hoarding everything in case of famine in New Rochelle, I guess. My internet baby guide told me yesterday that at 15 weeks I've probably gained 5 pounds by now. I knocked that of of the park a while ago.... Of course the Dr. says not to worry, I'm making up for lost time since I was "underweight" at the start. Still, the scale has given me some shock and awe.

I'm feeling fine, falling alseep earlier than I'd like, but I'm pretty restless at night, so I give myself a head start. I'm sneezing a lot but I can't find any explanation other than I've read some women sneeze a lot during pregnancy with no theories as to why. It's at home, at work, anywhere really. I'm about to start my first baby project, I found a second hand mobile, spins, plays music, but has super cheeseball pastel teddybears. I'm cutting them all off and making little farm animals instead. Doug has agreed to my farm theme :)

Hermetically sealed cat

Wally is enjoying the recent changes around the house starting with relaxing in the bag in which our fluffy new mattress pad came in. He also approves of the fluffy new bedding, with a record breaking napping streak this last weekend. If I could turn the bed into a cloud I'd be happy as a clam, I just have not been sleeping well since developing my wombmate...I know, just wait... I keep adding layers of cushion and Doug wants to know if he should place a pea in the bottom. I'm within a week or so of not being able to sleep on my stomach, and that's going to be a sad day. My 10 pounds is creating a focal point out front. That's one reason I insisted on doing our room swap sooner rather than later. If I'm going to be doing more work at home this summer I needed to set up some space (which we don't have much of) so we decided to share a work room which requires more space than the bedroom. We'll be using the smaller room as the first year family bedroom. ( In case you haven't heard, Dr. Spock is out and so is letting the baby gain independence by crying it out in the other room...crib attached to mom's side of the bed is the current advice and baby in your bed is considered even more preferable. Did too many "cry it out babies" wind up in therapy attributed to dark nights alone in the crib? ) So, we'll just have us, the crib and changing table. The big room is everything else. I'm happy tho be out of that room, the little one is much warmer and painted pink!