Cleared for Take-off

Ruby went with me to my appointment with Dr. Chao today. We got to hear the baby's heartbeat. 150 BPM. He seems to be doing well. I asked her about positioning and she said she can tell around 36 weeks if baby is breach or if he is head down and getting into positioning. Since they don't do any more routine ultrasounds I was curious how they could tell.

She gave me the all-clear to fly to Hawaii and enjoy the vacation. I am excited to go. I stayed home with Ruby today because she was feverish last night. She seems to be doing OK today. I went to the chiropractor and got an adjustment and now I feel like I have been in a car wreck. My whole body is aching. I am icing my back and trying to take it easy. My weigh-in today was 182 lbs. Gosh, I will be big when the baby comes! I feel like I am in better fitness this pregnancy but am probably gaining the same amount of weight, or more!?

I have been eating a lot--burgers and fires, fudgecicles, bread, you name it! When I get back from Hawaii I will be signing up for my doula and getting that in place. The time is really ticking. This is the 30th week already. Where has the time gone?

HFB

We are officially in the third trimester and counting down now. Wow, time is going by fast! I am starting to feel it. I struggle to bend down, my back hurt and today I officially can't fit my wedding ring/band. Breathing is also a bit labored for me at times. I had a bit of acid reflux last week but nothing too bad. I had my glucose screen done and haven't heard anything from the OB office, so I am taking that as a sign that I passed. I will go back for an appointment next week.

We also decided on a name: Henry Frederic Bassett. Nick has always liked "Henry" and "Frederic" is family name--my dad's brother, my grandma's brother, and my great-grandfather all are named Frederic. I am glad that we can have a family tie-in. We have gotten mostly positive feedback from people who we have told the name.

Oh, I have also started to get even more hungry! I could eat everything and then some right now.
Current cravings: vegan ice cream from Sweet Ritual, granita from Dolce Neve, half-caff iced soy lattes, and burgers & fries, cereal at night. I am trying to stay hydrated and drink lots of water. It has been in the 100 degrees temperature here and I can feel it. We still have several hot weeks ahead. Hopefully out trip to Hawaii will be a nice respite from his ungodly heat.

I have also been having fun getting ready for the trip by shopping. I have found several pieces at the thrift store, Saver's, which I have got great deals on. I have been ordering some things online and have a lot of pretty dresses and beach-type pregnancy clothes. I have been feeling good about the way I look in this pregnancy and am trying to embrace it for as long as I can. I continue to work out and am staying in shape with this little guy. It's not easy, but he is worth it!

Closing out 2nd Trimester

The second trimester is nearing and end and I am getting BIG! July has been quite a full month. This week I finally had my glucose screen, after it was rescheduled twice. I will hopefully find out the results in a few days. The house is now taking shape since our new furniture is here. My next step will be making room for baby boy clothes and items. We have started to receive some hand-me-downs and I really need to create some space for this kiddo.

Last week I was sick with what was diagnosed as a likely sinus infection. I took 7 days of antibiotics and am finally feeling better. I am sad that I have had two infections now in my pregnancy. I am trying to stay healthy for my little guy. I have been eating a lot of ice cream lately. My biggest craving is Peanut Butter Chocolate Hagan Daaz. I am going to start limiting myself from it and shying away from dairy a bit better.

The heat here is now in the triple digits and that is making my mobility a bit labored. I have struggled with work due to visiting people who either do not use their A/C or have broken A/C units. It has been tough to counsel in some of the conditions I have been in. I really hope the next 12 weeks isn't as bad as this past week has been.

Tonight I attended a concert with my friend Elizabeth. We saw one of my favorites, Edwin McCain. It was the 5th time I have seen him in concert and it was wonderful. Baby boy was wiggling around in there and I think he enjoyed the music as well. I wore a long magenta dress, one that I also wore when I was pregnant with Ruby. I have been doing a lot of Thrift store shopping for Maternity clothes. I enjoy getting bargains at Savers and having some different items to add into my maternity wardrobe.

We leave for vacation in a little under 3 weeks and I will also be turning 33! Time is flying by. October will be here before we know it. My friends are planning a Baby Sprinkle for me in September.

Summer fun

We are here almost mid-July and things are moving along. Nick has been to Chile and back and Ruby and I went to Michigan for several days over the holiday. We had a great time at The Cottage and spending time with Grandma & Grandpa and Sarah. I enjoyed kayaking on the lake and resting.

Tomorrow I will hit the 25 week mark...15 weeks to go.

I have been having a rough time with back and leg pain. I hope that I can keep it under control for the next few months. We finally got a new bed and furniture, including a recliner/glider. Helps to put my legs up. I am looking forward to rocking and nursing my baby boy in this chair!

Other than that, we are just doing normal life. I am working in my side practice and Nick is finishing up his semester at Texas State. We have a big family trip planned next month and it will be a fun vacation for us as we near closure to our chapter of life as a family of three.

We still can't believe we are having a son! He is moving and grooving in there and my chiropractor said he is sitting on my back, maybe causing some of the pain. I just hope that when the time is right he can position himself head down and ready to go just like his sister did.

Still kicking

Baby boy is moving a lot! It is really fun to get a subtle reminder that there is a little growing person inside my body. Still mind-boggling when you really think about that! I had my appointment on Monday with Dr. Chao and it went well. The heart rate was about 143 and there was nothing else really to report. At my next appointment, I will do the dreaded glucose screen. Ugh! I am not looking forward to that, but hopefully this time, I will only have to do it once.

Nick has been in Chile for a few days now and Ruby and I are flying solo. We have kept quite busy with projects and meeting up with friends. We have a full agenda this weekend, but do look forward to Nick's return on Thursday of next week. Ruby has been breaking in some baby toys that Elizabeth handed down and I think will be quite pleased to teach baby brother a lot about the world. Ruby is referring to herself as "big Sister" when she talks about herself now. It is pretty cute. She likes to kiss the belly every morning and night.

I am still trying to get my workouts in and here I am at the gym this week. I feel like my belly has really grown in the last couple weeks. I can feel the shift in my center of gravity and certainly a limitation in my flexibility. I am really tired by the night's end and want to lay down a lot. My back continues to hurt, and I am sure kickboxing does not help that!

I also just purchased my first baby item. I bought him one of my favorite baby blankets that was also gifted to Ruby by Yaso. His little Tourance blankie should be here next week or so. I can't wait to see him on it.

21 weeks at the Gym

Wedding Travels

We traveled to New York last week for the wedding of my friend, Yaso, from college. I met Yaso the first week of class as freshman at UT-Austin. She and I were in the same Calculus II class and I credit her with helping me survive that course, and not completely failing. She and I stayed in touch over the past 15 years. I visited her in San Francisco after we both graduated, and she came to our wedding there in 2009.  The wedding was a beautiful multi-cultural affair. At 20 weeks pregnant, I was feeling good and had a blast on the dance floor. I enjoyed wearing this long purple gown and feeling beautiful as my pregnant self. Beside the wedding, we stayed busy. We met my cousin, Stella in NYC the day we arrived and had a great dinner. Then on Saturday we took the train to Beacon and had a hike with the wedding party. The next day we went to an art museum, Dia: Beacon, and a strawberry festival before the ceremony. 

I am starting to feel the baby move around a lot more and that is exciting. I continue to have back pain and have to go to the bathroom so often, but I know that is to be expected. Nick is on cloud nine to be having a son. He couldn't sleep after finding out the news...he was so excited! We don't have anything definitive on names yet. Yesterday, when I asked Ruby what we should name him, she responded, "Botticelli." That is an interesting one!

Nick is in Chile now for 2 weeks with his Texas State study abroad program. He left last night. I go to the doctor on Monday for another check-up.  Overall, I feel quite good and have good energy. Ruby and I have been staying busy and doing most of our normal routine.

Our Son

This morning we went in for the anatomy scan at 19w 3d. Nick and I both waited patiently for the tech to bring up the pics that would reveal the baby's sex to us. At the last moment, I anticipated it would be a girl. When she told us it was a boy, Nick was so excited and had tears of joy! He got his boy!!! I was happy too, but also a little bit like "oh my gosh! this is unchartered territory for me!" I don't know about boys! I know about girls!

She finished up the appointment and measured all the parts. She said that the baby is in the 46th percentile, which is awesome. He weighs apx 11 oz right now and has 10 fingers and 10 toes. His heartbeat was 145. Everything seems to be going well for the little guy. We were quick to inform our family and friends of the news. Everyone was of course excited for us.

Ruby was at school when we found out so we waited until we were both home from work to let her know that she was going to have a brother. I was nervous about how she would handle it, as she has expressed several times over the last months that she "doesn't like boys" and that "boys smell." I stopped at Toys-R-Us on my way home and found a newborn babydoll Cabbage Patch kid that was a boy. We presented it to her when we told her and she was actually fine with the news. She just wanted to play with her new babydoll! She took a bath with him and fed him and changed his diaper. She is really going to be a loving big sister I think!