Footloose and fancy free

Here's a clip from the video I took of babyhill kicking me last night. The video quality isn't great because I took it with my camera, but it's decent. This is all about the feet...I'll try to take another one that shows the actual rocks and rolls of the whole body.

Note: When I squeal, it's because it feels really weird.

9 months of belly

I just added some 36 week belly pictures to Flickr. Click above or on the Flickr link at left to see the albums (belly pics are in "Pregnant Wenmei" and are in chronological order, so the newest ones will be the last five on page 3).

I have a video I might try to load, but it's rather large and might be a little disturbing to anyone who hasn't seen a baby move in utero. It's my own belly and even I get a little queasy! If I can figure out an easy way to load it (probably via YouTube, which is under maintenance right now) I will.

And yes, I'm up and online at midnight. Why? Because I'm pregnant and uncomfortable and can't sleep very well anymore. I know I'm supposed to be getting as much rest as possible since I'll be exhausted once the baby is here, but tossing and turning in bed isn't much more restful and it keeps Chris up.

Label conscious

Today is 36 weeks, and that means that if the baby comes now it won't be considered pre-term! Babies are officially "full term" at 37 weeks, but anytime between now and next Tuesday is still considered safe because the baby can breathe and eat on his/her own and will likely not have to stay in NICU.

So that's one "high risk" label I get to remove! Now I just have two remaining high risk markers: gestational diabetes and my favorite, advanced maternal age. I guess it's better to be advanced than rudimentary? I'm in the AP maternal class!

I'm hosed

Another joy of pregnancy I have now discovered: compression hose. To keep those little sausage-like feet from popping.

I hadn't been having much trouble with swelling (face and hands are normal, feet got a tad puffy at the end of the day but nothing crazy), but suddenly my feet have expanded to 2-3 times their normal size. It's really odd looking too, because my ankles aren't swelling that much. It just looks like I have really bad sprains in both of my feet. I half expect them to be black and blue, the way they look when I twist my ankle because I made the grave error of trying to be a grown-up and wear high-heeled shoes.

My doctor looked at my feet last week, had some fun poking my legs and leaving fingerprint indentions all over my shins ("Yep, you're swelling...look, isn't this fun?"), and told me that I need to start wearing compression stockings in order to make sure I don't hurt my feet and legs. So I made my third trip to the maternity store in 3 days to pick up some compression stockings. The only style they had is the full pantyhose style, so I got a couple of those. I shimmied my way into a pair and discovered that they actually do help! My legs and feet don't hurt so much anymore, and I'm not afraid to stand up at the end of the day for fear of splitting my feet open.

I also discovered that low-waisted maternity pants and full length compression hose don't mix well. It's bad enough that my belly pushes the pants down -- add a nice slick surface, and it's bye-bye pants. I had to walk around with my fingers hooked in my waistband to keep my pants up, and that didn't even work very well. I got several amused smiles from passers-by as I did my new materni-dance: waddle three steps, stop to hitch pants up, repeat.

At least it's not summertime -- I can't imagine having to wear these when it's hot out! Not to mention how goofy they'd look with my flip-flops.

Not exactly a newsflash

So I know this is pretty obvious, but goodness...pregnancy lasts a LONG time! TEN MONTHS of watching what you eat and drink, being tired and/or nauseous, becoming relatively immobile, missing out on your normal social and physical activities. And this doesn't even count the time before getting pregnant (if you were trying to stay healthy, eat well, cut back on vices, etc.)!

I've been going through old pictures and I realized that we don't have many "event" pictures for 2007. That's because we didn't attend anything (or at least, I didn't), or the things we did attend were quite mellow and sober (for me), and therefore not as photographed. I started thinking back about each event we normally celebrate: Oktoberfest? Nope, I was pregnant. 4th of July? Nope, baby on board. Bay to Breakers? Preggo. Cinco de Mayo? Knocked up. Chris' birthday? Preggers. St. Patrick's Day? Pregnant. And there won't be any Halloween bash photos from this year either.

My other sources of fun and photographs are hiking, kayaking or backpacking. None of those this year either. 2007 is going to go down as the year I didn't appear to do much of anything.

Although I have been growing a baby...which is pretty darn cool.

More belly pics

I just added some belly pics from weeks 34 and 35 to my pregnancy set on flickr (above, or click here to see the set -- the newest pictures are at the end of page 2). Even though I feel small when I'm standing next to other pregnant women, I think I look enormous in these pictures! It's funny -- I keep having dreams that my belly disappears and I wake up in a panic about it. Clearly, a disappearing belly is not an issue here.

For the next 5 weeks (or however long until I deliver), the baby will be putting on approximately an ounce a day in weight. That's almost a 1/2 pound a week! I think I'm entering that time when people on the street will look at me with pity and make comments such as "You look like you're about to pop". I guess it's a good thing that I'm restricted to house arrest?

34 weeks

We had another ultrasound today to see how babyhill is doing, and things look great! Baby is still growing as it should and is currently in the 24th percentile for weight (5lbs 3oz). It is still long and lean with a large head...kinda like its parents. I've posted the latest ultrasound photo to Flickr, so you should see it above.

When we monitored the baby, we saw what has become my "normal" pattern: I have a couple large contractions that I can feel, plus a bunch of small ones that I totally miss. Even when watching the monitor and knowing that, theoretically, I'm having a contraction. My doctor isn't too worried about the small ones right now, because they don't seem to be causing things to change or labor to start. However, I have been instructed to continue my modified house arrest (stay off my feet, work from home, etc.) until I'm at least 36 weeks along. After that, we will see how things are going and I may be allowed to go back to work and rejoin the outside world for a bit.

I know, it sounds strange that I'd be restricted now and allowed to go free later. That's because once I'm 36 weeks, there's not as much risk to the baby if I deliver early. Until then, however, I have to take it easy in order to keep baby put.

We also did our hospital tour this evening so that we know where to go and what to expect when the time comes to make our panic-stricken way there. I have to say, there's something strange about walking around with a group of very pregnant women. It's like a flock of ducks, waddling around. And I get nervous every time ALL of us pile into one elevator. Will it hold us?

I also feel a bit like an underachiever when I'm surrounded by pregnant women. I was chatting with some of them, and it turns out that I am the furthest along of most of them. Yet they all look so much more pregnant than I do! I kept sticking my belly out more so that I'd feel justified in hanging out with them.

Last night, the baby did some new move where it swept a long body part (leg? arm?) across the top of my belly. I was watching while it happened, and I actually screamed. I've gotten used to the little foot sticking out of or sliding down my right side, but an entire limb? Across the front and top of my belly? Where I can see it clearly? That was a bit much.

Anyway, time for me to drink a glass of milk (precisely 8 oz, 12g of carbs, 8g of protein...) and then settle on the couch to watch the baby dance.

Baby shower

Jen and Eric (with help from Lara and Margaret) threw us a wonderful baby shower this weekend! It was a fun time and we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. I especially enjoyed myself, after spending so much time sitting on the couch trying to convince the baby to stay put for a few more weeks. It was so nice to be surrounded by good friends and enjoy their company!

The decorations were so fun and the food was amazing, including Lara's delicious cupcakes. She also made a giant lemon cupcake, which I was eyeing all night long even though I'm not allowed to eat sweets. Jen did save me a nice big slice of it (plus some of the yummy chocolate regular-sized cupcakes), which I immediately put in the freezer so that I can enjoy them after the baby is born. (All right, I admit that I did sneak a couple bites of the lemon cupcake during the evening...)

Margaret clearly has a lot more patience than I do, as she went through all of the online photo albums I have and picked out pictures of Chris and me to make these great little photo note cards. Guests were encouraged to write messages and advice for us on the note cards, and we really enjoyed reading them when we got home. Those will definitely be saved in my "baby box" (which is currently a Victoria's Secret box from my bridal shower...I think I'm going to have to upgrade soon).

As guests arrived, Jen met them at the door, gave them a necklace to wear and explained the game we were playing: the Baby game. The only rule was that you couldn't say the word "baby". If you said it, the first person to call you out on it got your necklace (plus any others you'd collected). The person with the most necklaces at the end of the night won a prize. After a lot of back and forth, the ultimate winner was Aran (although Ben and Carrie were definitely contenders). Once Aran won a huge cluster of necklaces from Carrie, he immediately hid in a corner and refused to talk until the game was over. Good strategy.

There was also a baby pool, where guests could sign up for different spots predicting when the baby will be born. Since we're already having so much "activity" on that front, the delivery dates didn't even extend to my actual due date! People are now encouraging me to hold out until a particular date so that they can win the pool. Sorry guys, I don't think I have much say over it.

My mom sent Jen my Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls from my childhood, and Jen set them up to watch over the gift table. It was such a nice surprise for me to see them there! I couldn't believe it at first, and immediately flipped up Ann's dress to see if she had the red heart with "I love you" written on it. That was all the proof I needed that those were, indeed, my dolls.

We received so many amazing gifts from friends and family! It's fun to see all of these tiny clothes and toys. And apparently, the baby will be a sports fan. When not dressed like a Bronco, the baby can choose between the USC Trojans, Bayern Munchen Fussball, Kansas Jayhawks, or MIT Engineers (OK, that last one doesn't necessarily scream "sports fan").

We were so overwhelmed with everyone's generosity. Wow.

OK, I've gone on long enough about the shower. I just had such a good time, I want to keep writing about every little thing. But I won't -- I know that's similar to forcing you to sit through every one of the 1600+ pictures I took on our honeymoon. I'll just wrap it up by saying that it was a really, really nice party and we are so appreciative of Jen, Eric, Lara and Margaret for working so hard on it, and of our friends and family for sharing such a happy time with us. Thank you!

Another day, another drug

I had another NST today, during which I apparently had several contractions that I didn't even feel. So now I'm on another medication to try to control the contractions. I figure I'm taking so many meds now, what's another one?

At our baby class last night, someone pointed out that we seem to be the only ones who are getting stuck with all of the complications. I guess we're just lucky?

I know one way we are lucky -- we have some great friends who are throwing us a shower tomorrow! I'm really looking forward to it. Being under house arrest has made me feel even more isolated (and bored) than I was before. Now I can't even relieve my boredom by going to the store or taking Cowboy for a walk...I just sit here. And I do mean "sit" -- I have contractions when I stand for more than 5-10 minutes.

I was already looking forward to this shower because it's a great group of friends and we always have fun with Eric and Jen, but now I'm even more excited because I'm getting "sprung" from house arrest for a night. And Trish is flying up for the weekend too! It's going to be a fun (mellow, seated) time.

33 weeks

I just added a couple pictures from today. Also, I had a long talk with the baby about how great it is in the womb and how he/she should enjoy it while he/she can -- ideally for at least another 5 weeks. I hope the baby listens.

House arrest

I've been instructed to take it easy and stay off my feet as much as possible in order to keep this baby from making a very early entrance. I'll be 33 weeks tomorrow and my doctor says that she'll be really happy if we can hold out until 36 weeks. The original goal (after the gestational diabetes diagnosis) was 38 weeks. So babyhill might end up being a Halloween baby instead of a Thanksgiving baby! We're still keeping our fingers crossed for Thanksgiving though. Just taking it day by day...

Dark side of the moon

Apparently babies don't "moon" in utero. What I thought was a baby butt poking out of my belly is actually a contraction. Interesting. So now, in addition to my bland...err...healthy diet of no cookies, ice cream or potato chips, I get to sit on the couch and do nothing until my next appointment on Monday.

Peanut butter and belly

I posted a couple more belly pics last night -- 32 weeks! And I'm starting to get huge. I'm getting that gravity-defying pregnant belly now.

Read an article about how Milla Jovovich has gained 70 lbs so far in her pregnancy, due mostly to peanut butter and bagels. Am jealous. Have not had a bagel in ages (one bagel = my entire carb count for the day). However, I have eaten at least the baby's weight in peanut butter.

Whenever I see anything about Milla Jovovich, I am reminded of a time I went with friends to watch her in concert at the Esplanade. This was when she was trying to be a singer (I don't think that endeavor lasted too long). I didn't know who she was, but my (male) friends knew her as a hot model and wanted to see her live. I honestly don't remember much about the concert itself, other than the fact that I wasn't overly impressed. And because of that, I've always thought of her as kind of a joke. So even though she seems to have somewhat established herself as an actress now, I still think of her as "that model who tried to be a singer".

But now I think of her as "that model who tried to be a singer and who gained 70 lbs by eating peanut butter". Much cooler.

It figures...

"I've got my figure back after giving birth. Sad, I'd hoped to get somebody else's."
- Caroline Quentin

I was kind of hoping to get Angelina Jolie's figure...but what are the chances of that, considering that she didn't even get her figure back?