It's Raining!

Today is my due date.  And it's raining.  The rain will end by noon/ early afternoon.  And there are no signs of labor.

For those who are missing the significance of that, every major life event for me and Joel (at least as a couple) has included rain - usually a lot of it. 

Of course, we had our 40 week appointment today and everything looks good.  No signs of labor coming on anytime soon - not that that means anything, but still... The 10 day forecast looks great.  Saturday is the only day rain is predicted.  So, if you're holding out for rain, please don't.  :)  Who knows, maybe this baby will break our rain cycle!  I mean, something has to eventually, right?

Right now, I'm more in the mood to just post a picture and log off - so here you go!

 40 Week Stats:
-Baby is the size of a jackfruit.  (Anyone even know what that is???)
-In other words, the baby is probably between 6.2 and 9.2 lbs.  and between 18 - 22 inches
-Continuing to grow hair and nails
-I'm still isn't sleeping so well.  (Seriously, sooo looking forward to being up in the middle of the night to snuggle a newborn instead of spending most of it in the bathroom with acid reflux and more.  blech.)

I guess you all have a little more time to put in your predictions on whether this is a boy or a girl.  :)  Happy predicting!

And the Pendulum Swings Back

If I was anxious for the baby to stay in last week, this week is the opposite. 

A couple of weeks ago the baby's foot was pressing on one particular spot on my belly all day long.  The next day I hurt in that spot.  Well, over the past couple of weeks that particular spot has gotten to the point where it's hurt constantly.  I asked the doctor about it today and he said that all the stretching will sometimes cause the nerves to feel like they are in pain or burning.  Yeah - I've noticed. 

Also, at today's appointment, the doctor told me that he believes the baby is on the bigger side.  I have therefore been banned from eating any sweets until I deliver.  If that isn't reason enough to want the baby to come, I don't know what is.  I JUST bought Moose Tracks ice cream.  And carbs are what tend to be what calms my nauseated stomach.  He truly hates me... And not being allowed to have sweets just makes me want them more. 

Speaking of the baby being bigger, the baby has definitely dropped.  In order to see to drive, I have to sit up - which means I have to spread my legs, which means my feet can barely reach the pedals.  Which means???  much slower reaction time when I drive... so I'm not allowed to drive anymore either.  

I've had a couple of nights in the past week where my braxton hicks contractions have been much more intense - still not timeable though. So - to recap - burning sensation in my stomach muscles, nauseated often, not allowed to eat sweets, contractions coming a bit more frequently and quite a bit more intensely, more and more cramping, general discomfort, and no longer allowed to drive... yup - ready for the little one to show up. 

Dr. Habib Ahdoot (so much fun to say with the accent) suggested that I be doing all of the things I can to naturally induce labor.  Well, if it's the doctor's orders, it's the doctor's orders.  So - we'll see.  It's not like I can make it happen, but whatever I can do to help, I'll do.  The baby IS head down and engaged... so excellent.  Oooh and there IS a full moon this weekend!

The puggle, on the other hand, is not ready for the baby.  She's mad that she doesn't get to play with (read: destroy) all the baby's toys.  She's decided that she can prove that she's a baby and wake us up every couple of hours at night.  And overall, she just wants to keep us for herself.  I do believe she's restarted her "Let's keep the family small" campaign.  Too late, puppy.  Too late.  Poor pup made signs for nothing.  Little does she know that before too long she will have someone who's more than willing to throw her the human food that she is so often denied by us. 

I'm really hoping (but, sadly, not really expecting) that this will be the last pregnancy photo to be posted!

 

This week (Week 39) the baby:
- Is about the size of a watermelon... approximately 20 inches and weighs a little over 7 lbs (although Dr. A. thinks that baby is 7 and a half to 8 lbs.)
- has a rapidly developing brain
- fingernails may be past fingertips already

Inquiring Mind

This week has been filled with a lot of random thoughts for me.  Mostly questioning things.

1. When we decided to have a baby, did we REALLY think things through?  Did I REALLY understand the concept of my entire life changing???? (Stay in there, baby!!! I'm not ready for my life to be completely different!) 

Seriously, while I'm super, super excited about this new little one, this past week I've wondered if we really know what we're about to be getting ourselves into.  I guess we'll find out soon enough!

2.  Who ARE these doctors and nurses that let us go home with a newborn???  Do they not realize that we are clueless????

Joel has never changed a diaper in his life.  I'm the "experienced" one and it's been YEARS since I was a nanny and babysitter.  Even then, the babies were usually at least 6 months old.  Yeah, yeah, yeah... we'll figure it all out.  But I have to say - I think that any first time parent who says that they aren't even the least bit nervous they'll mess things up are either completely naive - or a liar. 

Don't get me wrong - I've met plenty of plenty of people that make me think "well - shoot - if THEY can do it - then we can CERTAINLY do it."  Ha.  But still... I know that there will be a learning curve.  Ah well - who better to try it on than your own kid?  It will give them something to talk about in therapy years down the road.

3.  What was I even thinking back at week 14???

This week I've been rushing to put together a photo book.  I got a coupon code to get a shutterfly book for free.  The catch is that it has to be done and ordered by Friday.  So I'm doing a week by week of the pregnancy.  (That will get me through 39 weeks.  Let's hope - for the sake of the book of course - that I don't get to 40 weeks.)  It's been pretty funny and amazing to watch how I've changed.  Back at week 14 I was thinking "wow - we HAVE to start taking pictures, I'm really starting to show!!"  HA. HA. HA.  I look at that picture and think "oh my word - where did THAT skinny girl go?  I want her back!!!  There's no baby bump there!"   

In that regard, I want the baby to come sooner rather than later.  Besides, I'd be okay with being that much closer to my hips, back, legs, feet, etc not hurting anymore.  Really, I would!

But - it won't be too much longer.  At this point, I'm due in 11 days.  So, even if this little one is obstinate, they'll induce in 21 days... or 22?  Not exactly sure.  But basically, in 3 weeks at most, we'll have a baby!  Last night I had contractions on and off through the night.  I woke up and feel perfectly normal/ fine.  So I said to the baby "so, it's gonna be like that, huh?" *sigh*

I've been encouraging this little one to come on Friday - or at least for labor to start on Friday... after 10 AM though, because I am meeting a new piano student on Friday morning.  She wants to start with me once I get back to teaching. I'd hate to have to cancel on her.  But more important, that gives Joel's parents a long weekend to not take off of work.  And it's never too early to teach your child to be considerate.  :) 

This week (week 38) the baby:
-Weighs about 6.8 lbs
-Is about 19.5 inches long
-Has a firm grasp
-Organs have matured
-May have an inch or so of hair (totally hope so!!) 

One final thought - I DID test positive for GBS.  (The first negative thing this whole pregnancy.)  Basically, that means that I'll get antibiotics during labor/ delivery so I don't pass it on to the baby.  GBS is a bacterial infection that can come and go and can have (and in my case has) NO symptoms.  Even with the antibiotic, there is a very small chance that it could be passed on.  So please keep baby in your thoughts and prayers so s/he does not get any infections through delivery. 

37 Weeks

38 Weeks

And We're Ready

By the end of this week, I'll be considered full term.  (Well, I am now depending on which website you believe.) So we've been getting ready.  At 36 weeks (to the day), I went to our registries and finished buying pretty much all the "must haves" that we still were lacking.  And it's been coming in box after box.  I love it.  It's like Christmas... only I know what I'm getting, so slightly more disappointing.  (I will NEVER understand people who don't like surprises.)

Last night, just before falling asleep, Joel asked me, "what else do we need to do?"  I laughed at him and told him we could discuss it in the morning.  If I get into task mode, I will never sleep.  But it struck me as so funny because his question took me back to our wedding day.  For months, leading up to the wedding, I was planning.  And with wedding plans, working, grad school, moving, and planning a honeymoon, I was kinda stressed.  But then our wedding day came.  I woke up and nothing was going to stress me out.  Raining?  So what!  Potential for things to be forgotten or messed up?  Too bad.  Flood of biblical proportions?  Whatever.  Seriously, I had done what I could do and now the day was here and I didn't care how it went down.  So.  I wake up.  I get a text from Joel, "Are you up?"  I call him back.  HA.  HE was a mess.  Stress.  Stress.  Stress.  Apparently, the deadline had hit and he was ready to do whatever needed to be done.   I just laughed and told him that it's done.  Taken care of.  And if not, eh - oh well. 

Well, in the past couple of years we've learned to work together even better.  I stress less in the process of getting things done and he doesn't wait until the absolute last second to help out with things.  Consequently, we're at 37 weeks and ready for this baby to be here. 

I'd love if the baby waited until 39 weeks and 1 or 2 days.  I want to get through summer piano lessons - but not "have" to teach the first week of September.  And really, the nursery still isn't perfectly set so that would give me some time to work on that.  But word on the street is that babies don't really care about their parent's timetable.  (What's up with that anyway?)  So, here we are... ready.  Car seat has been installed and inspected.  We have some diapers, bottles, clothes and all the basic necessities (plus a whole lot of stuff that I'm pretty sure ISN'T necessary).  Very few things have been opened.  Shoot, if this kid decides s/he like Medela bottles and I've opened the Avent, Dr. Brown's, Medela and whatever other brand I have here... well, I can't exchange them.  And I really don't want to be out the money.  Bottles are shockingly expensive.  Same with diapers.  Anyway - I digress into boringville.

So, yeah - I could have summed up this whole post with two words: We're Ready.  =)  

You probably won't notice, but that is NOT my engagement ring in the picture.  My fingers (and ankles/ feet) are swollen so I no longer can wear my engagement ring.  Most days my wedding ring (which is a 1/2 size larger) still fits, so I wear that with the fun ring that we bought as my substitute engagement ring.  It's huge, sparkly and fun.  I will be glad when I can return to wearing my real engagement ring though.


Baby Stats at 37 weeks:
-Weighs about 6 1/3 lbs.  (Our midwife predicted that it would be a boy and he would weigh 7.4lbs at birth)
-19 inches (think Swiss chard... if you know what that is)
-lungs should be fully developed

Feelin' the Love

I think I've mentioned a time or two - but I've been really lucky to have such an easy pregnancy as pregnancies go.  What I haven't mentioned nearly as much as I should have, is how much support I've had from the two other Fortners in the house: Joel and Belle.

Okay - Belle - not so much actual support... but a lot of puppy love.  Take the other day for example.  Wherever I went, she went.  All. day. long.  She even followed me when I'd go to the bathroom.  It was very sweet actually.  She just wanted to be snuggled up with her mommy.  At one point, Joel was home, working on the computer and I ran over to our apartment office to find out a couple of things.  Apparently, Belle sat at the door whining and crying for her mommy.  Joel likes to point out that he saved her from the pet store, but deep down, I still think Belle loves me better.

Joel, however, has taken being a great husband to a whole new level.  He rubs my back when it is hurts (which is quite often lately).  He brings me flowers just because (see above).  If I ever ask him to do something his response is always along the lines of "of course."  And he does it.  Soon after being asked.  He cooks amazing dinners.  He tells me to rest when I feel like I should be doing something productive.   I could go on, but the bottom line is that I am spoiled.  I won't lie.  I love it.  :)  Dawne Fortner, you did a great job raising your son! 

That said - I'm not feeling the love from everyone.  As I came home yesterday, the maintenance guy at our complex asked me, "so how much longer?"  I told him another month.  He goes "REALLY??? But you're SO BIG right NOW!"  Okay - yeah, I laughed.  It's true.  My belly is huge.  I've been asked many times if we are having twins.  Nope.  I've been asked "so - any day, huh?"  Nope.  I can't help it.   I have a short torso.  I completely blame my father's side of the family.  But what can you do?  Nothing - so the baby grows out and my belly is big.  It's what it is. 

However, it is causing those aforementioned back aches - more and more.  So, within the last week, I've finally hit the "yeah- I'm kinda ready to have this baby now" feeling.  Besides - this whole not knowing is killin' me.  I wanna know who it is that I've been carrying around for 8ish months! 

Anyway - next week I'm considered full term.  Woo hoo.  If the baby is so inclined to come, the doctors won't try to stop it.  And even if the baby doesn't feel like coming on time, it will still only be 5 1/2 weeks from now before they induce.  One month seems like it's so close and so far away all at once.  I'm kind of glad for the month though, because there is still a lot that we don't have.  Which reminds me.  I got online to order stuff, and instead, I'm writing to you all. 

Alright - my 34 week picture is from my baby shower.  Unfortunately, my friend Katie (who was one of the hostesses) took the photos and I don't have them from her yet.  (Beautiful shower by the way!)

So here is my 35 week picture.  At 34 weeks, the baby can start recognizing and responding to short melodies.  So, we've been trying to get Belle to bond with the baby.   The results are fairly entertaining.  I didn't realize until just now that this picture is so dark.  Oh well, I guess you don't get to see my gargantuan belly so well this week.  There's always next time.  Personally, I think this picture is all about Belle anyway. 

Baby stats at 36 weeks:
-Weighs almost 6 lbs
-More than 18.5 inches long
-Baby is head down!  YAY!  (This was confirmed with a sonogram this morning.) 
-Most systems (circulation, immune, etc) are in working order now
-Skin is smooth and soft

Oh Sleep, Where Are You?!?

In the past few weeks, sleep comes and goes.  I often have trouble falling asleep because I'm quite uncomfortable.  Or the baby is kicking the living daylights out of me.   (Active, active child!!)  When I finally get to sleep, I'm up every couple of hours to use the bathroom.  And then the baby is kicking and headbutting me again and again, so falling back asleep is problematic.  And at some point the dog decides there has been too much movement so she gets up and wakes me up.  And... eh - it's annoying. There's always something keeping me up.   

Last week, I was going to write a post, but I had only had 4 hours of sleep and I was cranky.  You know why I was mostly cranky?  Because people give stupid advice.  "Enjoy the sleep while you can."  Um.  yeah.  not sleeping anymore.  Maybe you should have told that to me EIGHT MONTHS AGO!!!!  MORON.  I mean, I have known for a long time that once the baby comes, there's no sleep...  I get it.  I'm ready for it.  Everyone knows that.  But no sleep now?  Why don't people bother to warn you about THAT?  THAT would have been useful information... but no - they just want to tell you what everybody already knows.  How is that "advice" possibly helpful?  In any way?!

You thought that previous paragraph came across as cranky?  Well, I got a full night's sleep (sort of) last night.  You really don't want to see the version that was written on virtually no sleep.  Ha - well, maybe you do.  But I deleted it already.   So sad for you.

The good thing for me is that after a couple of sleepless nights, I usually crash by the 3rd night and sleep through (mostly - a girl's got to use the bathroom!)

Today was our 34 week appointment and for the second appointment in a row, the baby was transverse.  Therefore, the midwife gave me homework.  First I have to do these funky inversions off the couch.  Second, I need to see a chiropractor who is certified in the Webster's Technique. Hopefully, by the next appointment the baby will be head down.  While they aren't worried about it yet, the idea is to do these natural techniques to help the baby go head down now before it becomes an issue.  Otherwise, they get to do other manipulations later on that are - well - painful.  And labor will be more difficult and longer.  And I'd likely end up with a C-section anyway.  So... yeah- fix it before it becomes a problem.

After the appointment I looked up a chiropractor and found that the only one certified in that technique in Alexandria happens to be in the building behind our apartment - AND our insurance covers that practice!  Sweet!  I called.  They had a new patient appointment time available this morning if I could make it in 30 minutes.  I could.  So I went.  And it was great.  After a scan and doing some initial checking of movements, it was obvious that my pelvis was slightly misaligned, making it difficult for the baby to go head down.  And it also explained why I have such bad round ligament pains on just one side.  I'll have a few more appointments in the upcoming weeks, but hopefully this will work out well for us.

Other than the lack of sleep and the baby that refuses to go head down, things are fantastic!  The pregnancy is still going very well.  I'm measuring perfectly on track.  And in 7 1/2 weeks - or less - there will be a baby Fortner among us.  (They will let me go one week past the due date then I have to see a special doctor, and then they will let me go another couple of days before inducing.  But that's it.  No longer than that.)

So - what's going on with this kid?

34 week stats:
- Baby is a cantaloupe - or 4.75 lbs roughly.
- And 18 inches long
- S/he is getting fatter/ rounder
- Central nervous system and lungs are maturing
- Recognizes and responds to simple songs.

AND... This kid kicks all day/ night.  We've decided that we're not having a baby - we're having a ninja.

So - is the ninja a boy or a girl?  We (meaning Belle) are taking bets now.

 And - let the kid party on... cause we are! (by the way... I've started to outgrow my small clothing... but only in the belly area.  LOL.  Dressing is starting to be a challenge again.)

 Happy Thursday!

The End is Almost Here

31 Weeks.  That means I only have 9 left.  Oh. My. Word.

The last few weeks flew by.  I knew they would.

Right after my 27 week point, I held a piano recital for all of my piano students.  The afternoon went off perfectly.  Each of the students played well, and only one hid behind the piano when his turn came.  But hey, he's only 5.  It's tough to play in front of 50 people when you're a 5 year old perfectionist.  Poor thing.  And yet, when he finally DID play, he did so very well.  My most advanced student played Bach's Minuet in G beautifully.  The parents were all happy with the performances and then there was cake... a piano cake - with kit kat keys.  I don't seem to have a picture of mine - but it looked similar to this.

The following week, I had one wrap up lesson with each student and then on Thursday (28 weeks) we left for vacation.  It was wonderful.  We started in Newport, RI.  The drive was long, but not as difficult as I expected.  I was certainly ready to be out of the car after 8 hours though!  In Newport, we watched the beginning of the Bermuda boat race, toured a few mansions that are preserved through the Preservation Society, ate amazing food, and generally had a fantastic time relaxing.

Next up was Mystic, Ct.  On our way there, we stopped in North Stonington to see the house that I lived in as a child.  While the yard was quite overgrown my my childhood days, I could still point out where we had our bunnies, built the fort for the kitty we found (and were not allowed to have in the house), and where the UPS guy tried to kill me (true - if a bit dramatized - story).  So many memories came flooding back - like the time we had FINALLY convinced my parents to let us sleep outside in a fort we had built.  But then, some guy broke into a house of my mom's friend that apparently lived kind of close and that was the end of that.  From a parental perspective, sure, I get it.  You have to make sure your kid is safe.  From a kid's perspective, that was the DUMBEST decision my parents could have made.  Clearly, the guy was breaking IN.  So we were safer OUT.   *sigh*  Parents.  So ridiculously overprotective.  =) 

Newport was beautiful and we had a great time, but Mystic was our favorite stop on the trip.  It was so relaxing and the B&B we stayed at was perfect.  And that portion of our trip was the most relaxing.  We hit up the seaport, downtown, the aquarium (where I compared myself to the whales), and just hung out around the B&B relaxing.  The weather was fantastic.  The people were friendly.  The restaurants had great food (we skipped Mystic Pizza). And I got in a couple of naps.  Ah - perfection.

Next up was Yale.  Well, New Haven - but the point of New Haven was Yale.  That was 29 Weeks for me and the beginning of the heat wave that decided to sweep across the East Coast (or Country? I don't keep up with these things.)  Being outside was miserable, but we did the Yale Tour - and rubbed the toe of Dr. Woosley - which is said to bring good luck.  Perhaps Baby Fortner will be a Yalie.  We better start saving now.  Tuition's a killer.

And that was our trip. I'm really glad we went.  I'm so excited to be starting a family and all that goes along with that, but there's a part of me that's going to really miss these times of just me and Joel - and the freedom that comes with that.  So for now, I'm trying to savor every moment and be thankful for it. 

There are only 9 weeks left. (Yes - We're down to a single digit countdown.  I cannot BELIEVE it!)  And when you think about it, I'm only 6 weeks away from being full term.  Holy. Moly! 

We are close to being ready.  As of this week, we had our hospital tour and we're pre-registered with the hospital.  Our birthing class is almost over - just 2 more classes, but the big stuff has been covered already.  The nursery is more or less set up.  It's not going to be what I want it to be.  Until about a month ago that really bothered me, but I'm coming to terms with it.   Since we don't know if this is a girl or a boy, some of the decorating is on hold.  I was going to stick with all neutrals, but the truth is, if it's a girl, the walls will be purple - or aqua blue.  A boy will have blue walls.  And other decorating hinges on who this is that I'm carrying... so it's just not going to be done before the baby arrives.  But what baby hangs out in their nursery anyway?  Of course, if someone had said that to me 2 months ago, I would have narrowed my eyes and thought bad things about them.

In our last childbirth class, we were given four questions to discuss with our spouses.  The first was "Do you feel ready?"   My answer was - and is - "absolutely."  Sure - there are the minor things (installation of car seat, we still don't have all the basics yet, etc.), but emotionally, I'm ready.  I'm ready to welcome a little baby into our home.  The idea of childbirth isn't the terrifying prospect that it once was.  I'm not impatient for it (yet), but I'm ready.   And that's good, because sometime in the next 10 weeks (hopefully more in the 8 - 9 range), life is going to change.  Just a little, right?  =)

Baby Stats for 31 Weeks:
- About the size of a pineapple (16ish inches long and about 3.3 pounds)
- Major brain and nerve development is happening
- Major eye development - the irises now react to light
- All 5 senses are in working order

Photo update

Since I really have nothing to write about, and limited time in which to attempt to be inspired to write, I'm skipping it again.

But for those of you who may cry, die, or have some other dramatic happening if you don't have a photo (i.e. this is for you, mom)...  =)

Here's me at 25 weeks:

And me at 26 weeks:

Above I'm with Kassidy.  She was in my K3 class a year ago.  She's the one who told me (after seeing a picture of Joel) that she wanted to go home with me to see my husband... because she loves him.  "I love him.  He's so beautiful."  Joel's head got a little big.  I made sure it came back to size when she told me a few days later that she loves him "because he has no hair - just like my daddy."

I miss that girl!  So Sunday, she and I, along with Joel and Melody (her mom) had ice cream for dinner.  Always a bad choice, but it tasted good at the time.  I paid for it all day Monday.  Baby likes healthy foods.  So, I won't be doing that again any time soon.  =)


Baby stats for 26 Weeks:
- The size of lettuce (13.6 - 14.8 inches and 1.5 - 2.5 lbs.)
- Eyes are forming and will soon start to open
- Eyelashes are grown
- Immune system is getting ready for life on the outside
- Taking breaths (of amniotic fluid - poor thing, sounds gross.)

The Countdown is ON

Today I'm 25 weeks pregnant.  I can't believe that there are only 15 (ish) weeks left.  Last week, after my 24 week appointment, I got home and it dawned on me that we only have a few months until the baby is here.  I had a momentary freak out.  You know all those things that are just un-done around your house?  Little things that you haven't bothered to update for years?  Those things freaked me out. 

When Joel and I were getting married, I took FOR-EV-ER to pack my stuff.  I was down to the last day and Joel came to "help".  His way of packing?  Throw it in a box and put it on the truck.  My way?  Sort it.  Pack it.  Realize if you had sorted it differently it would have fit perfectly in the box.  Unpack it.  Resort it.  Repack.  (Do again if necessary).  Label the box - in detail.  Put in on the truck. Clearly, Joel and I have different methods.  His method annoyed me.  But, honestly, it's two years later and some of my stuff that HE packed is still in disarray.  My teaching license (that I have no use of right now) is mixed in with my old tax forms.  Old bills (that at this point need to be shredded) are mixed in with other papers.  You get the idea.  It's been like that since we've gotten married.  But I had this "IF I DON'T DO IT NOW, IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN.  EVER!"  kind of moment.   It was not pretty. 

So I did what I always do.  I made a list.  I've decided that a much more reasonable goal is to try to knock off one extra project each week before the baby is here.  If it gets done, AWESOME!  If not, well, it hasn't been done for two years, so does it REALLY matter? 

Project number one?  My music.  Oh good gracious.  Do you know how much music a person collects when one has been playing the piano for (almost) 30 years?  (Geez- I sound freaking old!) And on top of that - this has been part of my career for over a decade.  I have a LOT of music.  Some of it is organized really well, but some of it - not nearly as much - particularly the music that I don't play so often.  Anitra's Dance is mixed in with Gershwin.  (Actually, it's a stride piano version of Anitra's Dance, so that one isn't too far off), but then I have a Mozart piece, mixed in with Brahms which is all mixed in with the more modern music.  Sheet music.  What a pain in the @$%.  So this week I've (mostly) conquered that.  I still have one pile of music to go, but you saw my method above.  This is no quick project.  It must be done with precision.  Otherwise, what's the point? 

See how beautiful!  It's ALL sorted!

But there is still this.  Small compared to what's done... but ugh.

That was week 24 - And, by the way, since you've been missing out on a couple of pictures - here's my week 24 picture.  We went to a National's ball game with some friends. That's Margaret sitting with me.  She's pretty awesome.  It may have been even more awesome if it were a random stranger who just wanted to be in the picture with me. 

 

24 Week Baby Stats (yup - last week's info):

-Baby (was) the size of a canteloupe (10.5 - 11.8 inches and 12.7 - 20.8 ozs.)

-Skin is gradually becoming more opaque and it has a new pink glow due to small capillaries that have recently formed.

As for week 23 - I won't give you stats - but I will give you a couple of pictures... The baby REALLY started kicking that week.  It was to the point where one day I just sat on the couch for at least an hour watching my belly move.  So weird.  So crazy.  And so cool. 

Belle wasn't quite ready:

Pictures and stats from week 25 to come.  With the way the last two weeks have gone, I figured I better go ahead and post this without it or you won't get anything. 

Happy Thursday to you!  



Baby Fortner Goes to Washington

Last night, Joel and I went on a tour of the West Wing.  For those who have watched the show, I'd like to point out that, sadly, Donna doesn't actually work there.  Also, the layout of the building is very different from the show.  T.V.!  I thought it was supposed to be real!  What a disappointment! 

Okay, not really.  I think that was coolest thing that we have done since living here.  Bobbi, who works for V.P. Biden, met us at the gate at 8 PM and got us through security relatively quickly.  We had 6 people in our group, so it was fantastic; we were able to interact with her quite a lot.  We were not able to go into the Situation Room, but she opened the door so we could at least look in a little bit.  She told us stories about working there and about the people.  I learned a lot about the buildings and such.  They change the photos out every couple of weeks, so she told us about most all of those - as well as the paintings. We saw the rose garden (gorgeous), the Roosevelt Room, the Navy Mess, and I feel like I'm leaving stuff out. But none of this was the highlight for me.  I was waiting for the Oval Office.

And then the moment came.  As expected, there was a partition and we could not go in.  That was not going to stop me.  Oh no.  My baby was going to go into the Oval Office.  So I did what any reasonable mother would do.  Forget security!  I scooted up as close as I could to that partition and I stuck my belly into the office of the President of the United States.  That's right ladies and gentlemen, Baby Fortner was in the Oval Office. 

Then the craziest thing happened.  My calm child started kicking and dancing.  I think Baby knew what Mama did was saying thanks.  :)   The only downside to all of that is that my bladder started to feel like it was a play toy.  So as we turned the corner, there were two bathrooms.  Oh yes.  I used the bathroom in the West Wing - not even 100 ft from the Oval Office.  Bet you haven't done that.

All of my photos are from last night - which is really ALMOST week 23.  We were not allowed to take any photos inside the White House so these will have to do.

At home:

Just before entering the West Wing:

Leaving the West Wing: 

Baby Stats for 22 Weeks (Depending on who you ask I'm either at the end of the 5th month or the beginning of the 6th month - not that it really matters):



-Size of a papaya (10.5- 11.8 inches long and 12.7 - 20.8 oz.)
-Eyes and lips are more developed - so baby looks more like a newborn now.
-Sleeping in cycles - about 12 to 14 hours a day

I have no stretch marks or an "outtie"... yet.  Thankfully.  I'm still sleeping pretty well - although I wake up about 3-5 times a night - to use the bathroom or try to get comfortable. Today is the first day that my belly feels heavy to me, although the scale told me that I don't weigh any more, so apparently it's all in my head. 

My next appointment is May 17 - a week from tomorrow.  I believe it's at that point that my pregnancy is considered "viable."  In other words, I could give birth and the chances are quite high that the baby could/ would survive.

Well, Happy Wednesday to you all!  I'll definitely post a bit late for week 23 so that there's actually more than 48 hours between my belly shots.  Ha.

Puggle Preparations

I know, I know... I missed a week.  I was sick last week and then Joel and I went out of town for a birthday/ anniversary weekend.  And quite frankly, I just didn't feel like writing anything. 

Lately, I've been doing some research on how to make sure the pup is ready for this new baby.  We've been told things such as "start preparing her now if you are changing her sleeping arrangements".  (We're not.)  "Make sure you bring something of baby's home from the hospital for her to smell before you bring the baby home".  (That one we knew.)  "Carry a baby doll around the house - preferably one that makes crying noises so the dog can grow accostomed to it."  (Okay - now that's just taking things too far.) 

A few weeks ago our friend Kate came over with her baby.  Belle did NOT like the attention that the baby was getting.  That was the first time I was a little bit concerned.  I know no matter what, it will be a transition for all of us - puggle included, but I want to make it the easiest transition possible.  This past weekend, our same friends kept Belle while we were out of town.  What we were told?  "Well, you're gonna have your hands full in September."  HA!  Belle wanted nothing more than to get into baby things and lick the baby's face.  Let's be honest.  Neither of those things surprised us. 

But really, I'm not too worried about it.  Belle is curious.  And she loves to lick people.  But she is also usually pretty obedient once she knows what the rules are - so long as the rules are consistently enforced at the beginning. We'll make sure she continues to get her walks and we'll spend time with her.  I'm sure the first few weeks will be a challenge, but we'll get through it and then the puppy will have a new friend to play with.  Okay, it will be more than a few weeks before she has someone new to play with, but still...

Here is the 21 week photo... along with a video.  What a ridiculous (six and a half year old) puppy. 

Annnnnd... the video refuses to have sound on it!  What a bummer!   If I can figure it out in the next couple of days, I'll definitely post it.  I'll just say this: Joel has something to say about the choice of the word "playmate". 

Baby stats (as of last week):
-Length of a carrot (10.5 inches long - carrots are that long??? weird!)
-Weighing about three quarters of a pound
-Baby has eyebrows and eyelids.
-If this is a girl, she already has a lifetime supply of eggs in her womb - about 6 million

I (should) get the week 22 post up by the end of the weekend.   Should. 

It's a......!!!!!!

Healthy Baby!!!!!!!!!! Yup, we're still Team Green.  We didn't cave. 

"Hi Mommy.  I'm having a dance party in here.  Tell the tech, 'just TRY and get a good picture!'"

Seriously, s/he was having a great time moving around in there!   Nevertheless, we still got several photos and the tech was able to get all of the measurements she needed.  Baby is measuring right on target at 20 weeks.  The heart rate is about 150.  I also had my 20 week appointment today.  And I'M measuring right on target in both size and weight.

Patrice, today's midwife is my all time favorite.  I LOVED her!  Seriously, I want her to deliver the baby.  Not only is she absolutely hilarious and the type to set you at ease, but she thinks I'm perfect.  Well, I mean, who am I to argue with THAT? 

But really, every thing is healthy with me.  I don't weigh too much or too little.  I'm not gaining too much or too little.  I exercise regularly, but not over the top crazy exercise.  (I walk, do the elliptical for a bit more intensity and have started yoga.  Running had to go out the window in the first trimester.)  But all that said, I loved her advice of not stressing about the "should and should nots" of pregnancy, but instead, just love each other and the baby, because that's the best thing we can do for the baby.   It was her one sweet moment among many irreverant ones.  :)  Also, I feel like she included Joel in more of the conversation than many of the others have in the past.  But, we'll see.  I don't get to schedule a midwife.  When the baby comes, whomever is working with be the one to deliver - which is why I now rotate through and meet them all. 

Another picture?  Okay!

Maybe I'm biased, but those are two of the cutest little feet that I've ever seen.

Half way there!  I can't believe it.  Time has flown by and I assume will continue to do so.  In the couple of months we have two trips planned, my parents coming into town, and other minor (but exciting) things coming up.  Then it will be summer and I'll really have to get into gear getting baby stuff ready.  I feel really lucky to have had such an easy pregnancy so far.  I hope it continues as things get busier!  

Baby Stats for you (as this child is kicking me!  wow!):
-Weighing in at 10.2 ozs and measuring at about 6.5 inches, this baby is about the size of a cantaloupe.
-Has working taste buds
-Baby is gulping down several ozs of amniotic fluid each day.

(Is it weird that these last two facts go together?  While I'm intensely curious what those taste buds are tasting, I have to be honest... I'd never want to try tasting amniotic fluid!)

Happy Thursday to you all.

Boy? Girl? Ultrasound is next week!

Okay, so the truth is that we are NOT going to find out if we're having a boy or girl at next week's ultrasound, but for fun I thought we could speculate today.  Here are some old wive's tales.  I've highlighted the ones that apply to me.  Some of this may be a bit "TMI", but, for accuracy sake (is there such a thing when it comes to OWTs?) I've included it all... well, except for most of the stuff about my breasts, because... well, my dad reads this.  But all you analytical types, don't stress.  I have taken care of you.  I deleted one item from each list and nothing was highlighted.  So it should still be accurate.  HA!

It's a boy if:

• You didn't experience morning sickness in early pregnancy.  (I had mild morning sickness - no actual throwing up).
• Your baby's heart rate is less than 140 beats per minute.
• You are carrying the extra weight out front.
• Your belly looks like a basketball.
• You are carrying low.  (I'm carrying in the middle)
• You are craving salty or sour foods. (I am this trimester!)
• You are craving protein -- meats and cheese.
• Your feet are colder than they were before pregnancy.
• The hair on your legs has grown faster during pregnancy.
• Your hands are very dry.
• Your pillow faces north when you sleep.
• Dad-to-be is gaining weight right along with you.
• Pregnancy has you looking better than ever.
• Your urine is bright yellow in color.
• Your nose is spreading.
• You hang your wedding ring over your belly and it moves in circles.
• You are having headaches.
• You add your age at the time of conception and the number for the month you conceived and the sum is an even number.

It's a girl if:

• You had morning sickness early in pregnancy. (Again - it was mild - not sure where this goes).
• Your baby's heart rate is at least 140 beats per minute.
• You are carrying the weight in your hips and rear.
• Your left breast is larger than your right breast.
• Your hair develops red highlights.
• You are carrying high.
• Your belly looks like a watermelon.
• You are craving sweets. (First trimester this is mostly all I wanted!  But now I'm not as much)
• You are craving fruit. (Again - this was big during the first trimester).
• You crave orange juice.
• You don't look quite as good as normal during pregnancy.
• You are moodier than usual during pregnancy.
• Your face breaks out more than usual.
• You refuse to eat the heel of a loaf of bread. (But I ALWAYS have - so does this REALLY mean anything, I think not.)
• Your pillow faces south when you sleep.  Okay - seriously - how can you tell, because it seems to be that your pillow would either be north/ south OR east/west.  But this "it's facing north" business doesn't make sense.  I mean, if one side is facing north, isn't the OTHER side facing south???  So how are you supposed to tell?
• Your urine is a dull yellow color.
• You hang your wedding ring over your belly and it moves from side (both ways have happened.)
• You add your age at the time of conception and the number for the month you conceived and the sum is an odd number.

I've also looked that the Chinese gender prediction calendar on few different websites.  It usually tells me boy, but sometimes comes up girl.  It just depends on how THAT website calculates the Chinese lunar calendar. 

All crazy speculation aside, I really don't care what we have...as long as it's not a donkey.  (That's right, Joel!  I'm putting in on the record: NO donkeys!)  I originally thought we were having a girl.  But I felt like that before even getting pregnant - and have no basis for feeling that way.  Lately, I have kind of felt like it was a boy.  Again - no reason to think it. 

Reasons I prefer a boy:
1. We really struggled to find a boys name that we liked, but once we figured it out, I found that I actually like it BETTER than I like our girls name.
2. I think every little girl needs a big brother.  So, it would be great if we had a boy first.

Reasons I prefer a girl:
1. Dresses
2. Tea parties
Need I say more?

I guess the saying is true: "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit!" 

And check it out... I managed to find a way to style my hair that I like!  (And... read the sign for sure this time!)

So what do you think?  Is my belly more like a basketball or more like a watermelon? 
Baby Stats:
-Size of a mango (6 inches, 8.5 oz)
-Developing a protective coating over his/ her skin
-Nerve cells for the 5 senses are developing

The Dreaded Mom Cut

It's true.  I am mortified to admit it, but I now have a mom haircut.  It wasn't supposed to be this way. 

On Monday evening, Joel and I returned from a trip to TN.  Thursday morning we have guests coming to town for a long weekend.  That gave me two days to clean our house, go grocery shopping at both stores.  (Yes - I have a two store grocery routine). I also needed to buy random things like a spare pillow and some much needed hangers, etc., and prepare for and teach all of my piano students.  Well, two of my students will still have to be on Thursday because I couldn't get them into those two days.  Nevertheless...

Tuesday morning I woke up feeling exhausted.  I was at the tail end of a bug that completely wore me out.  And then I also had all of this to do.  I was tempted to reschedule my haircut knowing that would take 2 hours of my day.  (Sometimes it's annoying that it takes 30 minutes to drive to and park someplace that's 2 miles away.)  But the problem is, it sometimes takes a couple of weeks to get into see Megan.  She's fantastic and reasonably priced.  Besides, I figured I could use that to wind down in the middle of the day, right? 

I won't lie.  I was feeling very stressed Tuesday morning, and relieved to go do something relaxing.  I arrive and Megan and I quickly discuss what's to be done: a trim.  She asks if I want my layers freshened up a bit.  Yes.  That would be great.  She begins and our talk turns to running and traveling and I was having a lovely time.  The hair cut is looking good and Megan starts to blow it out for me.  I close my eyes.  Then my thoughts go something like this:

"I know I'm not sleeping, but my eyes are so heavy."
"I should just leave them shut for a few minutes."
"Hmm, she's cutting again.  Well, she didn't really freshen up the layers yet.  I'm sure that's what she is doing."
"I'm so comfortable.  Just don't fall asleep.  Don't fall asleep."
"Still cutting?  Maybe I should open my eyes."
"Eh - it's Megan, she's always does great cuts, why am I worried?" 

A couple of minutes later I open my eyes.  Horrors.  Those aren't freshened up layers.... oh no... that's straight up a mom haircut she's giving me.  Crap.  What do I do?  Well, I have two choices... Have her fix it and have a much shorter haircut.  SO not what I want.  I was TRYING to grow out my hair.  OR... leave it and see if I can work with it. 

I opt for the second. 

So here I am, day 2 of the cut.  Still can't stand it.  Although, if I pull back just a bit on both sides, it doesn't look bad.   It's just when it's down all I can think is "mom cut". 

Maybe I was putting off some mom vibe.  I AM pregnant after all.  But we didn't discuss baby things - not even ONCE.  Joel tells me it's not bad at all.  However, he is married to me and therefore it's in his interest for me to be happy.  So, I'm not entirely sure he can be trusted in this instance.

Thankfully, my hair grows quickly.  And maybe as the days pass I'll figure out other ways to style it that make me hate it less.  If not, I'll bite the bullet and chop it.  I'd rather have a short cut that I like and wait forever for it to grow out again. I think. 

Obviously, I will not be posting a picture for you to look at and mock today. 

However, since I missed my week 18 post...

Week 18 baby stats (nearly a week late):
-About the size of a sweet potato (5.6 inches and 6.7 ozs) and growing
-Baby is yawning, hiccuping, sucking and swallowing
-Baby is twisting, rolling, punching and kicking.  (I THINK I felt the baby last week, but I haven't felt anything since...) 

I'll be impressed if you read all of this post.

This past week has been fairly uneventful.  I'm not gonna lie - I'm 93% happy about that.  No drama, no stress, nothing to worry about.  All of that is good. However,  I AM a little impatient to feel the baby move.  But word on the street is that I may still be waiting a few weeks for that.  Oh well.

Monday I went out to Falls Church.  I cannot describe how much I hate going out there!  BUT - they are home to the best music store around and I needed to pick up some things for my piano students.  While there I went to Old Navy who was having a sale.  Unfortunately, their maternity section was lacking.  I did find 3 tops that I really like- two of which I'll be able to wear now (on warm days) and until the baby gets here.

On Tuesday, I visited my friend Kate.  She's lending me a bunch of maternity things.  Since she was due in January, there's not a ton for me to borrow, but there were a few things that should take me through most (if not all) of my pregnancy.  Mostly though, I was really happy to have a couple of sweaters.  The weather went from sunny and 70s/ 80s to cold and - well, I have no idea what the temperature is.  But I've been extremely thankful for a wider selection of clothes - including some warmer ones! 

This past Thursday, all I wanted to do was clean the house.  And that's what I did.  I scrubbed the bathrooms, dusted, did 4 or 5 loads of laundry, cleaned the kitchen, vacuumed, sorted through things.  It was a very productive day.  By Friday, I had no interest in anything to do with cleaning.

You're still reading all of this boring stuff?  Wow.  I am impressed!  Surely you have something more entertaining to do!  I'd reward you when I see you by sharing my Vlasic dill kosher pickel spears, but let's be honest, I've eaten 1/2 a jar in 24 hours.  I'm not likely to share.  Sorry. 

Alright - on to the good stuff!

Baby Stats:
-Size of an onion (5.1 inches; 5.9 oz)
-Cartiladge is turning to bone
-Gaining muscle and fat
-Growing a thicker, stronger umbiblical cord