Sunday, January 22, 2012

I've moved!!

I've moved from blogger to my own domain!!


Find all of my updates at www.babymidd.com!! Check it out to see the 3D ultrasound photos from Friday's visit to Goldenview.


I have a lot more flexibility in hosting my blog on my own websites, but I'm still working out a few kinks, like how to enable comments. So please visit my new site and watch for my updates there!


~Mama Midd

Friday, January 20, 2012

25 weeks (a little late...)

We are back from our babymoon, completely rested and happier than ever. The trip was fabulous, resort was amazing, food was fantastic, lots of sunshine, lots of laughs and lots of rest. It was truly everything we wanted and more.


I hit the 25 week mark while I was there and I'm closing in on the final weeks of the second trimester. It feels a little surreal. I'm getting a little bit nervous, but I'm feeling really good and really looking forward to the baby shower so I can check off a bunch of stuff on my "must-have" list.


I'm sleeping pretty well, though my trips to the bathroom are becoming more frequent. My back and hip pain is still pretty persistent, but (knock on wood) it's really not as bad as it was a month ago. Not sure if it's getting better or I've just learned to live with it!


Trent is about a pound and half now. Still a little tiny thing, but growing quickly! He's about the size of a rutabaga in weight. I'm going grocery shopping this weekend, I'll have to find one and pick it up... though I'm really not sure what a rutabaga is... 
He's also growing more hair, and if I could see it, I would know what color it is! I'm really curious to know if he will be blonde like his mama. My sister and I were both born with lots of hair, and so were her two little ones, so I'm hoping that he is too.


We get to see him tonight during a 3D/4D ultrasound and I'm really excited, but unusually nervous. Not sure why. Perhaps because this will be the first time we really get to see some of his features, and I'm just not sure what to expect. Stay tuned this weekend for another blog post where I'll share some pictures of the little guy!

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Hola!

A quick blog from Mexico to celebrate the 25 week mark. We are having the most amazing and relaxing trip. No excursions, no sightseeing, just some good old fashioned relaxation and good eating.


The only thing we scheduled was a photo shoot to remember our time here together with Trent. It was hilarious acting like models for an hour. We laughed and thanked each other for having fresh breath as we spent most of the time right in each other's faces. The end result was ridiculously amazing. I wish we could've bought all of the pictures. We picked out our favorites and I can't wait to post a few when we get home.


We have one day left and we'll be spending it poolside soaking in as much sun as we can. Just got an email alert that it's snowing at home. Yuck. Wouldn't mind staying here another week... The resort is fabulous.
Trent seems to love it too. He's so active. The 3 of us have had a truly amazing week bonding and talking about the future. One more trimester to go!!
I will blog more about the trip and about baby's developments when I get home.
Adios!


(That's a virgin piƱa colada of course...!!)

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

24 weeks ... Babymoon Time!!

I don't want to get too excited and jinx myself... but I've been sleeping without pain!! I've been sleeping for longer stretches and when I do wake up for one of my many trips to the bathroom, I am not agonizing in pain. I'm not tossing and turning nearly as much. I think I figured out just the right pillow stacking!
I'm hoping that my trip to Mexico, sleeping in a different bed, doesn't ruin this good run of sleeping. I am thinking of packing my body pillow. It's huge, and probably completely impractical, but sleep is SO important. We'll see how much room I end up with in my luggage...


So yes, off to Mexico soon! We will be staying in the Mayan Riviera / Playa del Carmen area. We are SO excited. It snowed for the first time this winter today. Not much, but it's definitely exciting to see it knowing that we're getting out of here! Ah.... the sun, the pool, my Kindle... I definitely earned this and I'm feeling so fortunate that we can afford a trip like this and have the time off. 
I'm still a bit nervous about going to the pool and revealing my pregnant belly in all it's glory but it is what it is! I have really enjoyed being pregnant in the winter. I get to hide my belly under layer after layer of warm shirts. I can wear comfy leggings and jeans. I really do sympathize for those pregnant in the summer. 
I guess as payback I will have to reveal my post-pregnancy body, in all of IT'S glory during the summer months. Eeeeeeek. But let's not get TOO far ahead of ourselves. Baby steps...


And how is Mr. Trent doing? Well, he gained ~4 ounces in the last week, is over a pound, and is about the size of an ear of corn! Holy smokes! Taste buds and lungs are the focus this week. The baby is developing surfactant which will help the baby breathe when he is born. 
He is still kicking up a storm, but I find that some days he is lazier than others. In typical mommy style I worry, but I read that this is completely normal. I have a doctor's appointment this week, which I'm looking forward to. I just like having a professional listen to the heart beat and ensure me that everything is going well. I've been seeing the doctor about every 4 weeks and I read that soon I will have to make the visit every 2 weeks to ensure that I'm not showing any signs of labor. Oh boy! Almost time for the 3rd trimester!

Monday, January 9, 2012

Strange eats and stranger dreams...

Besides my insatiable sweet tooth, I haven't really had any 'weird' cravings. But I definitely found myself eating some strange combinations last night and when my husband pointed it out I had to agree - I was definitely exhibiting some weird preggie eating behavior!! 
Prunes and chocolate milk anyone!? No? Well, it was DELICIOUS!
Don't knock the prunes until you've tried them. They're sweet and sticky and taste like candy! And it helps those slow moving bowels of preggie chicks right along! And well, it seemed to me that chocolate milk was a GREAT choice! Also sweet, and cold and refreshing!


That wasn't my first strange combination. The other was so traditional by the book strange pregnant eating... because of course it involved a pickle! A deli near my work gives you the most amazing pickle with your sandwich. And well, the pickle and the brownie I got for dessert ended up being an AMAZING flavor combo! No? Just me...??

I'm also hungry ALL of the time now and have been eating like a grown man. While at Hooters over the weekend, I ate like there wasn't going to be a tomorrow. And who's going to tell me that after the tater tot appetizer and boneless wings, that the banana milkshake and peanut butter pie was too much!? No one. But I will admit, it was. And lesson learned. I actually had to go for a walk outside after that one. It was a bit painful...

And finally the dreams. I wish that I could remember them all. Or I wish that I was more diligent about writing them down when I wake up because I forget them so easily. But I recently yelled out loud in my sleep to "be quiet because I'm on the phone!" during a very strange dream about working at a tattoo parlor mixed in with a host of other strange occurrences, including my sister-in-law suddenly practicing Hindu and meditating in front of St. Pius church. Strange, I know. And last night I had a crazy nightmare, which is nothing new for me anyway. I tend to have really graphic, scary and violent dreams. All I remember about last night's dream was that I killed someone, but it was in self defense. And I called the police on myself. Pretty sure that was related to some show I fell asleep watching last night... 

Friday, January 6, 2012

SPD

I have been getting a lot of questions about the pain that I've been experiencing so I thought I'd share with you what is actually going on and why I sound so miserable in my posts a lot of the time!


I am actually experiencing an issue that is called SPD or Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction. In pregnancy, you develop a hormone called relaxin, which causes your pelvis to open up in preparation for childbirth. But women with this condition have excessive relaxation in the ligaments in the pelvis and the there is too much mobility and separation in that area.
The pubic symphysis joint is right smack dab in the middle of the pelvis, which is why I often say that I feel like someone kicked me between the legs (sounds great right!?) Not so much... Sufferers of this condition also experience pain elsewhere (lower back, hips, groin, legs, abdomen.) I think because my pelvis is not aligned right, that when I sleep, everything starts to ache and that is why I'm in so much pain at night. 
It says about 1 in every 35 women will experience it, and so it sounds fairly common. It usually remedies itself after childbirth, but a small percentage of women still have trouble even after the baby is born. Not much can be done in the meantime. Yoga seems to help, but I've been advised by my doctor and yoga teacher that it can actually aggravate it. So can most exercises. So I'm feeling kind of stuck. I was hoping to stay pretty active throughout the pregnancy, but it's difficult to do when basic movements cause such pain.


My countdown ticker tells me that there are only 116 more days to go! I'm convinced that Trent is going to come early. I want to meet him so badly, and I want the relief of not carrying him anymore, but I want him to stay in there where it's safe, and where he can grow for as long as possible. But please, not one day longer...!!

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Kick, poke, jab and roll!

It's no secret that I'm not a fan of being pregnant. So it may come as surprise that I am actually taking a moment to write a quick blog about something I will actually MISS about being pregnant.


The baby has been kicking more steadily and more forcefully every day and I have to say that it's the most incredible feeling in the world. In the middle of an extremely hectic and stressful day at work, when I feel like I've just about reached my breaking point, there he is poking me reminding me that there are more important things in this world to worry about. It reminds me to take a moment to relax, to breathe deeply, and to remember that maternity leave is right around the corner haha...


You may very well find me complaining about these same kicks in a month or two when they keep me up at night, or when he's high enough that he's kicking me in the ribs, but for now I will relish in these thumps. Even when he is kicking my bladder... oops got to go! :-)

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

23 weeks and my love/hate relationship with this pregnancy

Ah, the love / hate relationship I have with this pregnancy. I hesitate writing this post because I feel like I do a lot of complaining on here so I will start with what I LOVE.


LOVE
The baby, of course. Whether it's hormones or maternal instinct or whatever you believe, a mother's love is the most powerful force in the universe. Yesterday, I felt him move around nearly the entire day. Given that I can't see or hear him, it's the only form of communication he has with me and I relish every moment. The kicks are still gentle enough that I feel them, but I'm not uncomfortable. I actually saw my tummy pop up for a second when he kicked me. And Daddy got to feel him over the weekend! He was kicking strong and steady so I had him put his hand where I knew he would feel it and finally, the little monkey gave him two good kicks right in his hand. 
Which brings me to my next love of this pregnancy, my husband. I feel like all the love I have for the baby is shared with him too, because the baby is part of him, and it just makes me love him even more. And he's amazing. I'm really lucky.


HATE
Ok you didn't think all that love and rainbows could go on too long did you? Because I'm in PAIN you guys. Yes, I'm more than halfway there, but the baby is only ONE pound. Will I feel six times more miserable when the baby is SIX pounds!? 
Sleeping is so uncomfortable, and I have a LOT of growing to do still! Some nights are better than others, and this post is coming off one of worst nights yet. Like, crying at 4am, I feel like someone threw me down a flight of stairs, I have a headache kind of uncomfortable. My lower back sears with pain and when I wake in the middle of the night to roll over, I get a shooting pain from my hip that I was laying on all the way through my leg down to my toes. OW.


So, yeah, I'm getting a little bit worried about the next 4 months. It took this little guy 23 weeks to gain a pound, and now he's going to gain like 5-7 more in the next ~17 weeks!? 


And don't you dare even suggest that this baby is born more than 8 pounds. I'm just not built for that. I'm already starting to worry about how this baby is coming into the world! ANY fleeting thought that I MAY have had about a natural labor is completely gone. I watched this GREAT documentary by Ricki Lake, and while I think natural childbirth is probably the right and natural way to do things, I'm going to take the epidural behind Door #2 please. Thankyouverymuch.


LOVE & HATE
There's one more thing to add, before I go on to tell you what the baby will be up to this week. My boobs! This has to go into the love AND hate category. These things are already HUGE. LOVE because it's just downright impressive. I was already a decent size before I started this journey and now I've got boobs in a size people only pay for...!! HATE because I've got freak show boobies!! And I have to buy a new bra, which I hate doing.


Speaking of boobies, check out one of Trent's new outfits haha




And finally - what's baby up to this week? Not much to see here. 23 weeks old and fattening up. From what I read, he's going to gain another pound in the next few weeks! He can hear really well now, and can be startled by loud noises. He's familiar with my voice and the sound of my heart and tummy growling. 
<3

Monday, January 2, 2012

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year blog followers!! 
While Thanksgiving is the traditional holiday to 'give thanks' I found myself doing a lot more reflecting this New Year's holiday. 2011 was very good to me.


To start the year, I received a promotion at my job and have had the opportunity to work with a great group, learn new things, and make an impact at my company in new and exciting ways.


Next we had our wedding and all of the exciting things that went along with that. All of the events leading up to the wedding gave us so many great memories and time spent with friends and family. Once in a lifetime moments that I will never forget, and will surely look back upon during 3am feedings...! I am so grateful to everyone who was involved and made that time special for us. 


We had our first full year in our home. We put a new roof on and we are in the process of making some more improvements to our heating system. We had a few hiccups: a few leaks, an overflowing dishwasher, a sewerage backup (FUN!) and I'm sure a few other "whoops" moments that I'm forgetting, but in the end none of it was significant and we were able to laugh at it all.


And to round off the year, we found out that we were expecting baby Trent. That journey will bring us into 2012 and I'm so excited for the year to come. But as we welcome the new year, I did want to take a few moments to thank everyone who has supported us all year long. I've also rediscovered some friendships with some of my mommy friends and I appreciate all of your advice and guidance! We love you all and can't wait to introduce Trent!!