April 30 - What was THAT?

Mama was getting ready to leave for work this morning, with her hand on the doorknob, when she had a sudden rush of nausea, a wave of heat and pain from her belly. Daddy told her that she was probably having a pre-labor contraction. Mama said she could deal with most of it--but that if she was nauseous during actual labor she was going to have to see if something could be done.

Nausea--not a favorite of Mama's.

She is feeling much better now, but it feels like the time is getting closer every day.

In other news, she got me a stroller! So if she gets the urge to take me out on a nice day, she's got a place to put me. We're still looking for a changing table, but one of her students may have a second stage carseat for me.

Some of her students got me a little Peter Rabbit set of dishes--they are very cute. I'll have to get Mama to take a picture of my new "stuff" to post.

April 26 - just hanging out

Mama sure gets tired when I have one of my active days. She thought that she was going to get some rearranging and sorting of paperwork done today. However, I started wiggling and she finally gave in to the inevitable and took a nap.

She told Daddy that she didn't want to sleep for more than an hour, so he set up an alarm for her. She was too tired to get up when it went off, so she ended up sleeping for a couple of hours. Of course the rain outside helped soothe her into staying put under the nice warm covers.

They found some king sized pillowcases to use as sheets in the bassinet so I have something to sleep on when I get home. Mama also got some more baby books--she tells people that she's feeling a bit unprepared.

April 24 - The weight game

Mama keeps getting in trouble when she visits Dr. Jones because she isn't gaining much weight. Mama *knows* that she is eating, but she ends up walking more at the new apartment, so is getting some more exercise by default. She didn't weigh herself for about a week, and when she did (thinking that she had probably gained 5 pounds) she had lost four pounds. Well, Mama's not complaining, but Dr. Jones is worried that I'm not growing so we will have another ultrasound on May 12th.

At least I'll have some more pictures to share with all of you!

I've been pretty quiet this week, settling into my position nicely and moving just enough to let Mama know I'm getting stronger. Today, I'm pretty active. Maybe it's because we're blogging. Maybe I've got other plans. Mama's not sure, but she keeps rubbing her belly to try to comfort me. I seem to have rediscovered her bladder, and she's not terribly happy about that.

April 19 - running out of room?

Aunt June found a baby sale close to her house yesterday, and almost everything was half price today, so Mama and Daddy went to check it out. Lots of good stuff.

I now have my very own mini-tub, socks for covering my hands if I start scratching, a mirror for the car so that Mama can watch me in my car seat, some frog container items for the bath and a pack. They also got several books and a CD of lullabies.

They missed out on a stroller--Mama looked over at it and someone else had it in a checkout line. The one that Daddy really liked ended up not being on sale so they didn't get it today.

Daddy isn't sure if it will all fit in my room!

April 13 - Relocation accomplished

I was very fussy all day today--a lot more active than normal, which makes Mama very tired. When she went to bed, I got even more agitated until she rolled onto her back. At that point, I finished moving to the "head down" position.

I spent a while kicking where my head was last week, and finally went to sleep in the wee hours of the morning. But I'm moved into position now, so all I have to do is finish my growing.

April 11th - Checking out a new position

Over the last couple of days I have decided to change out my home a bit more. My head has been in Mama's upper right abdomen. I'm now sideways, and possibly rump forward. I'm still wiggling, especially when Mama is on the computer, and it feels to Daddy like I'm getting bigger and bigger.

Of course, that's my job right now!

Mama and Daddy found a Boppy pillow that was very inexpensive, as well as some outlet covers, so my stash continues to accumulate.

April 9 - A good day for baby stuff

Daddy went to a job fair today, and Mama had him stop at the Salvation Army superstore on the way home. He was looking for a changing table, but didn't find one. He did find a playpen! It's a blue plaid color, and Mama is happy that she has one now.

Grandpa Don wondered where she is going to put it, but Mama assured him that she'll find someplace!

There was a rummage sale going on to benefit one of the community colleges where I help Mama teach, so she got some more receiving blankets for me. She told Daddy that he could deal with the ones that have pink on them for the price. She's sure I won't care about the color.

Personally, I'm taking a bit of a siesta today. I've been pretty quiet. Perhaps I am getting used to my new position, as my head no longer feels like it is in the spot where Mama has been feeling it for a while. Of course, I'm supposed to move around when things get closer to my due date and go upside down, but I don't know that I'm ready for that yet.

PS--Happy Birthday, Aunt Sherry!

April 4 - The un-blizzard

Mama signed up for an all day birthing class that was today. She and Daddy were quite worried because there was a big snow storm due in overnight. My hospital is not close to our new apartment, and they were worried that they would not be able to get there. About a week earlier, Mama was caught unprepared for the big snowstorm that closed the college--no way to get milk and very little in the house--so she didn't want a similar situation.

So they camped out at the old place. Unfortunately, neither one of them could remember where the air bed was (it was in the garage) so they rounded up what pads they could find and camped on the floor. Daddy let Mama and I have the biggest one, so he got very little sleep.

The next morning, there was a skiff of snow on the ground. No problem to drive in it. But Mama and Daddy were still glad that they had prepared for the worst. They even had doughnuts as a special breakfast treat!

So Mama has now learned about what to expect during the birthing process, and how to breathe correctly. They went back the next day and learned how do take care of me once I arrive, and they've been promised a handbook to remind them of a lot of things. At least Mama feels more confident that she knows how to use receiving blankets correctly now.

Pictures!

So here I am, with my cute little nose and pouty mouth. I don't know that this is my best shot, but it's the best of this lot. Soon Mama hopes to have full color pictures of me!

Daddy thinks I look like "Mr. Potato Head" in this picture, and I'm not sure why. The ultrasonographer didn't get a picture of my hair, but she did show it to my parents.

I'll leave you now with a picture of my foot. It was up by my head! Mama is hoping that I get Daddy's toes. Hers are all bent and funny looking.

March 31 - Four pounds, three ounces so far!

Because of all the computer issues that Mama and Daddy are having, the new ultrasound pictures will be in a later post. But I've been measured and it's been determined that I am four pounds and three ounces--thank you very much!

I think this might be the first exam that I slept through. I was folded in half with my feet up by my face. Mama laughed at that since she doesn't think she was ever that flexible. But I didn't kick the ultrasound wand, and the ultrasonographer didn't have to chase me all over the place this time.

One of the portrait pictures is a "front" view--and you need to use some imagination--and Daddy thought it looked like Mr. Potato Head (whoever that is.) But the view from the side looks good, as does the picture of my foot!

I'm continuing to move around today (I did not want to go to sleep when Mama did last night) but I seem to be leaving Mama's bladder alone for the moment. She dreamt that she was in labor last night, so I was having an early April Fool's joke on her.

Mama promises pictures to come.

March 29 - Visit with Mama's folks

We went to my great-grandma's house today and met with Grandma and my cousin Nicole. I don't think anyone but Mama noticed that I made her belly bounce almost all afternoon.

Grandma Betty had found a blanket that Great-Grandma had crocheted years ago, and she purchased a little outfit for "Mama's Little Prince" which has a frog and crown on it. Mama will have to take a picture.

I've been pretty active and I must be big enough to really make things move. I have an ultrasound appointment in a couple of days. Mama has not gained very much weight with me, so Dr. Lorie wants to be sure that I am gaining enough weight.