Week 25

Date/Week: September 29; week 25 (12 weeks (84 days) to C/S)

Total weight gain/loss: Will find out nest week...

Milestones: I've finished cooking and freezing the food for the post-natal period. I have also prepared the cloth diapers and have washed and put away the baby clothing. Finally, I've attending the first set of childbirth classes that we were signed up for.

Physical Progress: My belly continues to fill out somewhat. Not much else that I see that has changed since last week.

Symptoms: leg and feet cramps; soreness in the pelvic area and round ligament pain; upset stomach; heartburn; 

How do I feel about my body: Another good week. I'm enjoying some of my fall/winter turtlenecks with jeans - I feel that I look better than in the maternity shorts.

Food cravings/aversions: artisan italian bread; pound cake

Sleep: The dreams have not been helpful - I feel so unrested when I get up. I really need a few naps...

Energy level: I've had spurts and I definitely overdo it at times. i usually suffer at night because I am not sleeping that well.

Exercise: prenatal yoga; aqua aerobics; walking

Baby Movement: He is moving so much. I had my belly pressed against a table last night and he kept kicking at the table. He is all over the place when I am sitting in meetings - I feel sorry for both of us when he runs out of room in there...

Thoughts and Feelings? Still working towards milestones 2 and 3. I am pretty sure I will make milestone 2 and I am planning to do most things in October (maternal photos, shower and finishing the nursery). Currently, I have not planned anything in November. I'm just a little unsure as to whether planning stuff in November would be tempting fate...

What I am looking forward to: Spa day for the week 28 milestone; finishing up the nursery; doing the maternity shots (need to book a date)

What am I reading / things I’m learning: Still reading 'The Baby Book' and planning to read the LLL book next.

Breastfeeding... Part 1

The breastfeeding journey is going to be interesting. I have now been to two sessions - one was a LLL meeting and the other was a session led by a nurse who is also a lactation consultant. Much of the information is consistent and I will do well to read the new version of the LLL book in the coming weeks (trying to get through the Dr. Sears book at the moment). The difference between the two meetings so far have been moreso related to structure of the feedings - scheduling feedings vs. feeding when requested. It is definitely going to take some reading and questioning ladies at the next LLL meeting to see what their personal experiences were like.

It also become apparent that with me delivering pre-term, my relationship with a breast pump will begin early. I've been told that the baby will be fed what I express and then when we go home I will be able to transition into breastfeeding. If they have to use a bottle in the hospital, I will have to work with my post-partum doula to transition him and it may be a little frustrating but not impossible. It was really good to get this information. I have purchased a hands-free pumping bra, nipple cream and gel soothie pads and ordered some washable breast pads but still need to go through the breast pump box to see what else I need.

The next LLL meeting is Oct 9 and it is about bringing baby home. I need to make sure I have done some reading and put together my questions by then.

Sept Milestone Reward!!!

I had my treat for making the September milestone (sure - I may have a second treat at the spa next week as well...). There was a cancellation with the psychic so I got a message asking if I wanted the appointment - so I went! Interestingly enough, I remember when I was 15 or 16, the mom of a close friend of mine told me about seeing a psychic before she had her first and I thought it would be fascinating to do if in a similar situation. Who would have thought that I would get the opportunity 20 years later!

The reading used tarot cards and was very comfortable. She recorded the session and emailed it to me afterwards. I would be lying if I said it wasn't fascinating. Listening to the session a few minutes ago, I didn't even say very much. Her comments give me a lot to analyse about myself, which is why I think I was interesting in doing this in the first place - to see whether someone's insight into me inspires me to look deeper at myself. In any case, I am thinking.

Here are the major points:

1. Once I complete the doctorate, I will go down the law path because it has always been an interest. 

2. I love to investigate and I am more intelligent than I let on. I inspire others but I doubt myself. My confidence has been a problem in recent years. I want to make a difference in my community and I genuinely care.

3.I have been a bum magnet in past relationships and tried to rescue these guys. I have gotten free of that cycle. In my present relationship he is my best friend but I have to trust and love more completely. She also described my 'mate' in amazing detail.

4. She discussed our family - first a boy and then a girl. She said we lost a son a few years ago but the son we're expecting is strong and is intent on getting here. He will have an old soul. Our daughter will love the stage.

5. I will find maternity leave difficult because I will be eager to get back to work. When I do get back to work it will begin a time of growth, energy, studying, positivity, confidence and happiness. In the future, there are books that I will write.

6. Overall, I will do much.

Home Alone... version 2

Aidan flew out last night. We made the most of our anniversary - we got up early to have a little more time together, went out to the Hog Penny for lunch, exchanged gifts (I received a ruby and diamond pendant on a white gold chain to match my earrings from years ago; he received a battery powered weed wacker - we were both happy!) and I received a surprise bouquet of flowers (he ordered them when he found out he was supposed to fly out on Tuesday - they're beautiful). We stopped by my parent's house on the way to the airport for him to put on his travelling uniform and got him checked in and through the gate. I then headed home as it was too late to go to yoga.


I didn't do much last night. I received the last lot of clothes from eBay - mostly 3-6 months. I now have way too much stuff so I will probably do a second weed through as I wash things. I washed the cloth diapers 2 more times last night and dried them. I also tried to upload the week 24 pictures but the SD card reader that I have doesn't work with the larger storage levels - I'll decide whether to purchase a new one today. I also started making the chicken stock that I'll use to make chicken noodle soup tonight (ground chickent, bone-in chicken breasts, bay leaves, and onion, carrot and celery stalk and 5 quarts of chicken broth...). The cats and dogs were good last night and I crated the dogs around 10pm and headed to bed.

Tonight I think I'll finish the soup white I watch Xanadu. I'm also washing the 3-6 month stash of clothing tonight (way, way too much stuff!!!) and may start wrapping the Christmas presents for Aidan. I've decided to push the spa day out to Oct 2 or 3 since I found out yesterday that the 2 classes (breastfeeding & post-partum) will be this Saturday and then on Monday. Sure, I could still do Saturday afternoon but I'd prefer to spend the entire day vegetating.

Week 24

Date/Week: September 22; week 24 (13 weeks (91 days) to C/S)


Total weight gain/loss: 188 (18 lbs in 24 weeks - my doctor is happy; me, not so much. Plus, Aidan and I are now the same weight)

Milestones: Milestone #1!!!!! We're 6 months and are viable (not that I want to have to experience that in any way at the moment...); It's also our 4th anniversary today and this is the best anniversary present ever!!! And we've survived our first hurricane as a married couple - and thankfully have electricity again.

Physical Progress: I am a human furnace. When the electricity was out and we had no A/C, I suffered like I've never suffered before... I kept begging Aidan to open a window - which resulted in way too many remedial physics lessons on wind directions and how hurricanes work. I basically slept semi-nude (not totally due to the need for the ever present pantiliner...) and that was hell - I definitely need support for the new boobage. I am so happy we got power back in less than 24 hours - I would have been a monster if I had to make it through another night like that!

Symptoms: leg and feet cramps; soreness in the pelvic area; a little back pain; can't take a deep breath anymore (thank goodness for belly breathing; a bit constipated due to iron supplements; heartburn

How do I feel about my body: Feeling pretty compact this week. I've purchased 2 nursing bras that actually minimise my bust a bit so it has done wonders with dealing with that aspect of my new shape. My belly button is starting to move outward - but only partially thanks to the scar from where they inserted the camera for the laprascopic surgery last December. It's kind of weird looking but it's fine.

Food cravings/aversions: Lasagna... then buffalo wings... followed by an upset stomach...

Sleep: I'm up maybe every two hours to go to the loo. If I'm stupid, I take my iphone with me and then I can't get back to sleep for a while. If I don't I have been drifting off into insane dreamland until the next urge hits.

Energy level: I am walking much slower than I usually do. A walk that used to take me 5 minutes takes 15. I am signed up for a breast cancer walk on Oct 3 but probably won't do it because it would take so long.... plus I am now getting winded easier since I can't get a deep breath anymore.

Exercise: Warm-up at dance class; prenatal yoga; aqua aerobics; walking

Baby Movement: He likes to move late morning/early afternoon. He is up for a while when I get up and before I go to sleep but I have the BabyPlus system and he seems to settle down when I take it off for a while. He's kicking more. Aidan had his ear on my belly and was saying "hello" and got kicked in the head - that was priceless!

Thoughts and Feelings? I'm a little irritated with the insurance company. They told me the 'plan' last Thursday. Apparently if I am having any complications relating to my kidneys at the time that the decision is made to fly me out, I will be sent to different hospital (connected to the children's hospital by an underground tunnel) and the children's hospital will send over a neonatal team for the baby. I can then be transferred back to the children's hospital when I am ok. It all is a little complicated to me - just let me be at one hospital! In any case, the chances of that happening are slim since my kidneys are actually doing quite well at the moment. They have given me the contact details for the coordinator there if I have questions. But for the moment, I am still here and thanking God for each day that I am home. Sure, I realise I would probably have better care overseas in the longrun but I do not know when I would be allowed to come home - and that stresses me out a bit. In any case, my blood pressure has been better and I just wish I could figure out how to get better readings when at the doctor's office.

What I am looking forward to: Aidan is back home in a week. I also need to plan a spa day to celebrate making it to week 24 - and I might do the same for week 28 because there is another spa that I'd like to sample...

What am I reading / things I’m learning: Getting through the LLL stuff slowly. I'll have to admit, it's freaking me out a bit since so many people I know stopped breastfeeding early on. Also started reading 'The Baby Book' but I'm not far enough in to get nervous about anything in that yet.

And There He Goes... Oh, and Happy ICLW

Hurricane Igor is now a memory. We were so blessed that it wasn't as bad as it was predicted to be. It decreased in intensity just as it approached us. The winds were still around for a very long time though but thankfully the damage wasn't too bad. Lots of tree damage and beach erosion but nothing major. We lost electricity around lunchtime on Sunday but thankfully it was back on yesterday morning. My parents got theirs back around 2am this morning and Aidan's parents are still out.

So now we're back to life post-Igor. I am hopeful that we do not see another hurricane come this way (Lisa... I'm talking to you...). Aidan flies out to the UL tonight so I'm the single mom of 4 furbabies for a week (he'll hopefully update the family blog with his experiences). Then, we're into October and some major milestones to take on relative to sproglet... So yeah, I have a busy few days ahead of sproglet prep.

Some pictures:
http://bernews.com/2010/09/looking-back-at-igor-in-pictures/

http://www.royalgazette.com/rg/photoAlbum.jsp?sectionId=125


I totally forgot about ICLW!!!! I can thank Igor for that too... sorry! I'll be visiting your blogs soon!!!

This and That...

I survived another OB appointment. My BP was up in the office again. Thank God I take it twice daily at home - I swear he would have shipped me out asap. Still, my weight is right on track and so is sproglet's growth so I didn't get the 'I'd feel more comfortable if you were overseas' lecture. I don't have to go back for another 3 weeks so I'm on Island at least until October 5th!!! Don't get me wrong, I love my OB but the stress of the last few appointments have gotten me down.

I did speak to my insurance case worker today though (I have to be prepared for anything). They have a good plan for me if I do have to go to Halifax and I was also given the coordinator's number out there for additional questions. The only thing they can't tel me is how long it may take between the birth and us coming home (it depends on the health of both of us). In any case, I feel better about the plan but I'm still not that hot on the prospect of ending up in Halifax. But if it gets me to 36 weeks, so be it!

I think I've chosen the photographer I'd like to do my maternity shots and the newborn shots. She is reasonably priced and offers a package for both - I would have to pay extra for prints and low res digital pics though. Still, it's way cheaper than my engagement pics and that photographer was going to charge me the same amount! So hopefully, I can book for the end October since I'll be 7 months as of the 20th and in the 3rd trimester. As or the newborn shots... we'll see when we'll be able to do them...

I've started washing my stash of newborn to 3 month clothes. I got some amazing deals on eBay and have a stash of 3-6 month and 6-12 (with some 18) month clothes as well. I think I'll deal with the newborn - 3 months first since I need to pack the hospital bag, then do some cloth diapers and sheets/changing pad covers and then move on to the other age ranges and corresponding size diapers for storage (I know I'll also have to wash them again later but at least they'll be prepped. We may put up the crib this weekend (project to keep our minds off of Hurricane Igor while we're in the midst of it) but it requires Aidan to sort out his stuff in the room first (still not done...).

Other than that, just doing some hurricane prep. We have date night tonight so I'll relax a bit. Aidan may be flying our next Wednesday and would come back the following Wednesday so I may get to see him on the morning of our anniversary at least. He'll miss the childbirth class on what to do when you come home from the hospital but he's actually willing to go to the December class by himself if he's here.

Week 23

Date/Week: September 15; week 23 (14 weeks (98 days) to C/S)

Total weight gain/loss: shall find out 9/16

Milestones: We've secured a post-partum doula and have child care pretty much sorted for 3 months onward; I've joined La Leche League and went to my first meeting; I'm scheduled to go to two childbirth classes on Sept 20 & 27 (they're on breastfeeding and bringing baby home); I've officially joined a prenatal yoga class

Physical Progress: I was feeling pretty big but after going to the LLL meting and the prenatal yoga class, I'm actually quite compact at this stage!

Symptoms: some leg cramping and heartburn

How do I feel about my body: I discovered in yoga last week that while I am in pretty good shape, getting through the creakiness is tough. I was sore through Sunday from that class - I even went swimming at a beach on Saturday to get through it. I find that I have started to rub my belly - probably in hope to feel sproglet from the outside eventually.

Food cravings/aversions: nothing really this week. Dried apricots perhaps.

Sleep: It's a crapshoot. Some nights I get through to about 5.45am and other nights I'm up at 3am and that's it. 

Energy level: Still in the energy zone but I wonder for how much longer. My to-do list is loosely dated since some nighs all I want to do is sit down when I get home...

Exercise: Warm-up at dance class; prenatal yoga; swimming; walking

Baby Movement: He's moving quite a bit. Aidan felt him twice last night but wasn't sure what he was feeling so it wasn't the stellar first time movement experience that you see in the movies... oh well!

Thoughts and Feelings? Just taking it week by week at the moment. I realise we're doing well considering. Our first key milestone is next week and I hope we get to celebrate the other 3 here but I'm now mentally ok with being flown out. We've done a lot in the last week, I've had my BP meds changed again and I'm hopeful that we continue to have a boring pregnancy. And I'm hoping hurricane Igor doesn't screw with my frozen food stash if we lose electricity...

What I am looking forward to: Week 24! Week 28! Week 32! Week 36! Christmas!

What am I reading / things I’m learning: Starting to read through the LLL materials. I have an idea about bottles that we'll need now. Also getting ready to wash the cloth diapers so reading about those. Thankfully the post-partum doula has experience with both!

Picture of Sproglet

I've been bad digitizing the scan pictures from Aug 31. Well, only one scanned well. As for today's picture, it is pretty crappy. Still, it was a good scan experience. Sproglet was sleeping so he was not giving good access to his back but the technician got some pictures. He's bigger and we saw better scans of his face. It's feeling a little more real.... Here's the better picture.

Beautiful Bellies (and Boobs)

I went to a La Leche League meeting today. I was a bit nervous because I have no clue about breastfeeding. I had downloaded a few newsletters and saw a few names of people that I knew but I was going in pretty blind.

The talk today was on returning to work. It was really interesting and I took 3 pages of notes. I now have a few strategies on how to deal with pumping and freezing and bottle feeding while breastfeeding. Next month's topic is bringing baby home and Aidan said he'll come along for that one.

While I was there I couldn't help but notice the amazing range of bellies in the pregnant ladies attending the meeting. I was feeling absolutely huge this morning and then felt positively tiny compared to the other ladies. And as for my boobs, I have nothing compare to many of the ladies there. I just need to take my body changes in stride because it is truly the incubation and feeding factory in development.

Yoga and Who will Watch the Sprog???

My return to prenatal yoga was a surprise. I remembered that it was tough but it's tougher with a baby in the belly. The class is a combination of yoga and pilates. I was fine in class but I have been really sore since so I can imagine how the others in class who admitted that they haven't been exercising must feel! The class is $25 for 2 hours so it is a pretty good deal for the next 3.5 months. And since I'll be teaching and doing warm-ups for highland 2 times a week and water aerobics twice a month, I should be in shape for my c-section recovery!

We've been having fun in the exploration of child care options. I have contacted a number of nurseries and they're pretty pricey (and many have waiting lists). I am not hot on the nursery option at the moment so we are exploring a nanny-share option with another couple who currently have an 8 month old. Then yesterday, the caregiver for our niece told Aidan's mom that she is losing a child to pre-school and whether we'd be interested in taking the spot. She is reasonably priced but (1) she keeps the children until about 2 and (2) she doesn't do Fridays. Aidan's parents offered to take the baby twice a week if my parents would do the other two and my parents loved the option. So now we need to figure out what to do on Fridays. The options are (a) taking turns working from home on Fridays or (b) Aidan takes Fridays off and works on Saturdays or (c) we find a caregiver for Fridays. So we're exploring this option as well.

And the shower... One of my friends wants to plan it so I need to sit down with her to identify a date and time and to give her email address and stuff. I think I'll offer my house as the location and provide the food so she doesn't have to worry about that part (with family, it'll be too big possibly to have a tea at a restaurant). I started getting info about doing registries in Bermuda and I can only set them up 2 weeks before the shower. People purchase the items and take them with them. Anything left over then goes back on the shelves. So I need to know where I am going to have to register for what! As for things we can't get here, I will set up a registry through myregistry.com but I need to talk to a college of mine who flies back and forth to Bermuda to see if I can send the items to him to bring down - Aidan and I will then pay him for duty and any extra bag charges that he may have. It's a pain but I don't think andy of the local stores will bring in some of the items that we want (i.e. the stokke xplory travel bag).

Week 22

Date/Week: September 8; week 22 (15 weeks (105 days) to C/S)

Total weight gain/loss: 185 (+7 since last month; +15 since beginning)

Milestones: We're almost 100 days until c-section; the nursery is taking shape; I've begun pulling things together for my hospital bag

Physical Progress: It feels like my boobs have settled. They're still a bit overwhelming but I am learning to get used to them. My maternity pants with the full panels are finally starting to fit - they're a bit warm though!

Symptoms: heartburn has been a pain; not as many leg cramps; some nausea

How do I feel about my body: I'm liking the pregnant profile somewhat. It's kind of odd that everything is compacted between my belly and boobs. I've done some measurements and my legs and arms are still the same size. My under-bra measurement has increased by 1 inch. All of my expansion is in the torso, which is not that long on me (I'm all legs). It's kind of cool!

Food cravings/aversions: plums; banana bread

Sleep: Some nights I get up at 3am and can't go back to sleep. Other nights I sleep all the way through to 6.30am but have really vivid dreams. Either way, I feel tired in the morning.

Energy level: I have energy but I can't do everything that I need to do. I cooked on Sunday for 3 hours and then I had to take a 2 hour nap to recover. I have a prenatal DVD that I want to try but I don't have enough energy in the evening to do it...

Exercise: Walking and the warm-up at dance class.

Baby Movement: I've felt a few strong kicks but generally I just feel him moving around. I look forward to feeling him move since we've apparently broken our doppler (still don't know how we've done that.

Thoughts and Feelings? We're focused on getting sproglet to December and home for Christmas! I'm a little tired of the emotional rollercoaster of doctor's appointments. I am thankful through that we've had a good pregnancy thus far and that sproglet is growing like a weed.

What I am looking forward to: Continuing to work on the nursery. I also need to work with a friend of mine on a baby shower (I have to give her addresses and phone numbers). I'm nervous about the whole baby shower concept but she knows that I don't handle frou-frou well... Guess I need to put together a registry...

What am I reading / things I’m learning: I have had to read a handbook from a hospital in Halifax and it was actually really informative. I used it to put together my list for my hospital bag. I've also been reading up on the local LLL and will go to my first meeting on Saturday morning.

99 Days to Go

My goodness... we're in the double digits!!! 

Lovely Holiday Weekend and 100 days to go!

It has been a good holiday weekend! I got to sleep in on Saturday but the dogs made it impossible on Sunday. I got some cooking and freezing done yesterday - enchiladas, bologanese, meatball, spinach and brown rice shells soup and portugese red bean soup. Next week's menu will be fun too (lasagna is on it). I'm even making banana bread... yum!

We started putting together the nursery yesterday. I can't believe the number of books we have. Many were mine but we've also collected a lot over the years. We still have a lot of Aidan's junk in the room so there is still the need to transition. Plus, we're not really decorating the room since we don't see the use of doing much in there for a baby so once the crib is up and the fitted sheet and quilt are in there, there won't be much else to do. As for clothes, I'm waiting for a few more lots I've won on eBay, I'll sort through what I like, wash the ones we keep and sell the rest.

I have my hospital packing list from the Halifax hospital. It's good for the hospital here as well so I used it for my packing list. I don't have some of the stuff - like nursing bras and pads - but I do have most of what is needed. It is kind of sobering to have this list and the suitcase out. I can't bring myself to pack yet. I wish I could hold off until the 3rd trimester when I feel that I should be packing a hospital bag. It sucks that a good part of this pregnancy is dealing with mental crap...

As for the milestones, I am going to go for a pedicure to celebrate 24 weeks. We're possibly going out to dinner for 28 weeks but I am also contemplating a prenatal massage. I am trying to think of something for week 32 that will be enjoyable for both of us. And if we make it to 36, it will be a great gift indeed (and an amazing yet exhausting Christmas).

Back to Earth

I was a bit of a basketcase last night. I always seem to get that way after an OB visit recently. My white coat fever doesn't help the situation any in his office... in any case, a lot of talking and a lot of research took place last night when we got home. I even got up at 1am and looked up a few more things. This morning, I feel more like my old self. I sure as hell don't want to be going through this every 2 weeks now that we will be seeing the OB that often (and then every week perhaps after Oct 20th). In any case, I did become comfortable with one scenario - if I go to Halifax, they can ensure the baby remains in utero longer. However, the question ultimately becomes when do I go - when there's a problem??? I think that's my issue with the whole going overseas thing at the moment. Sure, we're probably going to pack a "just in case" suitcase" for that scenario over the next week or so but unlike Boston, there isn't a 'how this scenario would work' plan in place.

Anyhow, we talked a lot last night and while our ultimate desire is to get to 36 weeks here, we're willing to do whatever it takes to get sproglet here healthy (hence the suitcase packing preparation). In any case, we now have 4 milestones that we're focused on:

• Sept 22 (24 weeks = viability);
• October 20 (28 weeks = 3rd Trimester; start of NSTs);
• Nov 17th (32 weeks = can deliver in Bermuda); and
• Dec 15th (36 weeks).

So yeah, lost of positive thoughts and prayers are going to be made going forward but we'll do what it takes to bring home a healthy sproglet!

Key Milestone - 32 Weeks

Today was my twice monthly OB visit. As usual, my BP was up but the baby's heartbeat was good (148) and I measured well. My weight was spot on (185.25) so I would say it was a good visit.

We went over what the high-risk OB said in Boston and my OB agrees with what will be done. I will start NSTs at week 28 and we'll look at bedrest and hospitalised bedrest if necessary. Concerning delivering at 36 weeks, he doesn't think I'll make it to 36 weeks. He thinks we'll end up delivering somewhere between November 12th (week 32) and Dec 17th (week 36). Any earlier and I'll have to be flown out to Halifax (thanks to my insurance company...). So we have a new milestone to reach - 32 weeks means I'll be able to deliver in Bermuda...

Week 21

Date/Week: September 1; week 21 (16 weeks (112 days) to C/S)

Total weight gain/loss: ?

Milestones: We get our c-section date tomorrow. It will most likely be somewhere between Dec 15 and 17... hope we'll be home for Christmas!

Physical Progress: I have an increasingly rounding belly that generally looks pretty cool - even the boobs don't look so bad since they are now protrude less than the belly. I've been experimenting with various LUSH massage bars to mix up the tedium of moisturizing the bump... great scents!

Symptoms: been pretty tired this week, some leg cramps and a bit of nausea.

How do I feel about my body: It has been a good week. My mom and I had a conversation about the boobs - that would have helped a few months ago. I am growing to not mind the bump but sometimes forget it's there when I feel normal. I am still kind of startled to see it in the mirror when I go into the bathroom in the morning though.

Food cravings/aversions: chicken noodle soup; cheddar cheese on toasted raisin bread with butter (think I'll go get one when I finish this)

Sleep: Much better since Aidan is home. Strangely, the furbabies have been sleeping pretty well so we've both gotten some good sleep. Looking forward to sleeping in on Labour Day (a tiny bit anyway)

Energy level: I've been feeling tired when I get home but since Aidan is doing construction type things to the house (installing the large mirror in my office; putting in a heated towel rack) I've just been crocheting or knitting elsewhere in the house. I do need to organise my office - particularly my desk - but I may do it once he has finished painting that room. Also, once he finishes paining the nursery and moves the furniture, I can start dealing with washing cloth diapers and clothes that I've gotted off of eBay.

Exercise: Walking. Planning to go to prenatal yoga tonight and water aerobics on Saturday.

Baby Movement: He's a pretty active sproglet. He was moving those arms and legs all over the place during the level 2 u/s yesterday. He is stubborn though as he would not move from lying on his back. We've already started discussing where he gets his stubborn streak from...

Thoughts and Feelings? We're viable in 3 weeks and even though we're taking each week at a time, I will probaby breathe my first sigh of relief then. Still, we still need to get to 30 weeks to feel comfortable about delivering early at the hospital here. I just really want my blood pressure to cooperate and for us to get to December safely and healthy.

What I am looking forward to: Seeing my OB on Sept 2nd to book the new c/s date and seeing sproglet again on Sept 13th. I am in the midst of knitting or crocheting 3 blankets - I think I'll be sick of yarn (again) once they're done. I also find that I look forward to Sundays when I make soups and stews and other meals and freeze them for the forthcoming winter. Sure, Aidan cooks but I have a feeling we may have our hands full and he won't be interested in cooking!

What am I reading / things I’m learning: I started reading up on cloth diapering preparations since I have to start washing covers and cloth inserts soon. We're also purchasing some pampers swaddlers sensitive as backups.