back-pain and some record holders

Brent is watching a basketball game with some friends - during this time home alone I was planning on doing laundry.  Then the back pain struck...  This back pain has been putting me on the couch with heat pads for at least an hour per day for the past week and it is showing no signs on letting up.  Please don't be overdue, baby.  Even just 4 more weeks seems too long!

I've been spending some quality time on google - searching for baby-related world record holders.  Here's what I've learned:

The youngest mother recorded in history:  Lina Medina of Peru gave birth to a son before she turned 6 years old.  Apparently she began puberty at the age of 8 months!  It was never discovered how she became pregnant - sad story.

The largest baby in history - a 23lb 12 ounce baby was born in Canada in 1879.  Unfortunately he died the day he was born.

The smallest living baby born - a baby weighing 8.6 ounces at birth  - she was born at 26 weeks gestational age, which is definitely not the youngest preemie - but 8.6 ounces, whoah!

Oldest mother recorded in history - in 2008, a 70 year old woman gave birth to twins in India. 

Interesting, right? 

My dear friend, Sharon, pampered me today by scheduling me a manicure and pedicure.  I haven't touched my feet in months and it feels so good to have them all scrubbed up and polished.  I'm a new woman.  Now I need to schedule myself for the massage Katie bought me for my birthday - I'm finally uncomfortable enough that I can't wait any longer!  Thank goodness for fantastic friends. 

I also hit the 36 week mark today.  I am so huge and obviously pregnant - I get those "you're about to pop!" comments all the time now.  Despite this, I have plans with friends tonight starting at 10 pm.  A night out with a bunch of young, non-pregnant, single ladies.  I fit right in. I figure I need to live it up while I still can, this baby is going to keep me home many Saturday nights soon enough! 

35 weeks

The parents of my students surprised me today with a baby gift:  a Flip camera.  We really needed a video camera and I love the Flip - no tapes, no batteries, no cords = so easy! The picture quality is great too.  I am excited to bore everyone with the huge amount of baby videos I'll be taking - just wait!

 

I have 3.5 weeks of work left, unless the little guy decides to come early.  I'm going to miss all my little students so much.  Today, one particularly adorable student of mine asked me if I had "under-belly x-ray goggles" to look at my baby with.  He also loves feeling the baby move and after one powerful kick, he screamed "the baby's coming out!"  Love it.  Pre-schoolers are very interested in the baby-growing process and ask TONS of questions - such as "how did that baby get in there?"  and "how will you get the baby out?"   They also love looking at the ultrasound pictures - one student informed me that he took a picture of his diarrhea and it looked just like my baby.  Thanks, kid, but I think my baby is cuter than diarrhea.  There's never a dull moment at the school, that's for sure.  Despite being sad to leave my position and likely not going back in the fall, I am still counting down to my last day.  It's no fun to work when my back feels like it's breaking in half and this baby is seriously draining my energy source!

35 and a half weeks down!  I've been feeling a lot of strong contractions at night - which keep me awake.  Sometimes a midnight bath is the only way to get comfortable.  We had a growth ultrasound last week and he is growing just like he should be.  We got to see his little face - he didn't look very happy (probably because he was being jabbed in the face by the tech), but he's got some chubby cheeks already and is so cute.  I've also been doing non-stress tests weekly to make sure the baby is handling my funky blood pressure spikes okay.  So far, he's doing great.  I have another one tomorrow and hope he cooperates.  Last time he had 20 minutes of hiccups which we couldn't really monitor during and then immediately fell asleep for another 20 minutes.  I was strapped up to those machines for over an hour.  I would love to be done in less than 30 minutes tomorrow! 

no belly picture this week - I feel HUGE.  I'll brave up and take one this weekend to celebrate the 36 week mark. 

34 week update

Man, do I feel pregnant.  This whole pregnancy has been so easy - I've been feeling really good and mobile, able to do everything I used to, sleeping decently, UNTIL NOW!  I've hit a pregnant wall.  A couple Saturdays ago I started having Braxton-Hicks contractions which I haven't felt at all until now.  Since they started they pretty much haven't stopped.  They usually don't hurt but sometimes the intensity really surprises me and takes my breath away.  Standing up triggers them, sitting down triggers them, walking triggers them, bumping into something triggers them, baby moving triggers them, ugh.  I guess it's good my uterus is getting such a good workout!  I am hoping the increasing intensity of these suckers means we'll have this baby in less than 6 weeks.  Other pregnancy woes: Waddling is how I get around now and I suddenly have constant heartburn.  I really haven't complained at all during this pregnancy - I think it's time I get to a little.
We had our 34 week checkup a few days ago.  Everything with baby looks great, I love our midwives more and more with every visit, and I can't believe that I start my weekly appointments in 2 weeks. 
I have the ENTIRE week off of work (I love mid-winter break) and I am in full nesting mode.  On the agenda for today: paint the bathroom, paint the doors and trim all over the house, and make a new piece of artwork for the nursery.  I also have about 50 loads of baby laundry to do and plan on getting our hospital bags packs and carseat installed sometime this week. 

The only things that isn't GREAT with baby is his position.  Right now he's turned OP - so the back of his head is at the back of my pelvis.  We want him to be facing OA, or towards my back.  So I am having a great time trying to encourage him to turn around! Lots of hands and knees time.  Brent and I built a little structure last night that enabled me to lay on my stomach to get him to turn.  Of course he didn't budge, but it was a comfortable way to watch the Olympics!

 

a romantic Valentine's day evening, right?  I guess we've been together a LONG time when we're satisfied ordering a pizza and watching figure skating on Valentine's Day.  

things to be excited about:

• just filed our taxes and for the first time in 3 years we don't owe an arm and a leg to the IRS!  Yay for a real refund!  
• I got our new Moby Wrap in the mail today and can't wait to try it out with a baby
• I finally decided on some cloth diapers and got them ordered - I've been studying up on all the different kinds for WEEKS!
• As long as he's not late - we'll be meeting this little guy in less than 2 months!  

cloth diapers & birth class

Why are there so many choices?  I've been reading diaper reviews all night.  I'm leaning towards hybrids but I may just start by ordering a sampler pack, try them out with baby, and see which kind keeps him driest and leak-free. 

We had our first childbirth preparation class today.  I think I'm really going to like it.  Most of the other couples are about 10 years older than us, but that's Seattle for you.  I wasn't sure what to expect but was happy to discover it really focuses on a natural birth experience and we got to practice some breathing and relaxation techniques today.  We also watched a birth - which was a first for Brent.  His comment about the video: "that was weird."  I think it scared him a little because he ran off to play with his friends in Bellingham tonight.   Seems like it's starting to hit him that we are going to be PARENTS soon!  I didn't mind being left behind - It's been awhile since I've been home alone with no plans on a Saturday night.  I rented 2 movies, ate a whole box of Mike and Ike's, and I've been in search of the perfect cloth diaper for hours. 

It's midnight - I can't believe I've stayed up so late.  Shelby and I are off to snuggle.

Nesting

nursery is almost complete.

30 weeks