33 Weeks!

Today marks the beginning of my 33rd week. A full-term pregnancy is 37 completed weeks. It's insane to think that in 5 short weeks, delivery will be fair game. Where did the time go?! As Zoe's birth draws closer, I'm starting to have "new mom" fears. Will I be a good mom? Will I enjoy being a mom? Will I still find time to enjoy lunch, dinner or a spa outing with a good friend? Will Trevor and I figure out a way to stay connected as a couple? How will I strike the infamous "work/life balance"? And the list goes on. Being a Type A personality, I wish I could figure out answers and solutions to all of these questions in advance, but I can't. I'll just have to do what every other mother does....take it one day/one moment at a time. That drives me crazy! But I wouldn't trade any of this for the world. I truly cannot wait to be Zoe's mommy!

As far as pregnancy symptoms are concerned, it's still more of the same. Lots of acid reflux/heartburn, back aches abound, and I'm still having minor hand and foot swelling. I'm also officially experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions. In addition, I can't seem to eat anything these days without dropping food on my chest or belly. What's up with that?! This year Trevor and I started a tradition of giving one another a gag gift for Christmas. His gag gift to me? A set of bibs! Too funny! I hope I don't jinx myself, but I haven't had a nosebleed in awhile. YAY! Oh, and now I wake myself up with my snoring. LOL. My weight gain is still good. As of today, I'm up 13 lbs. from my pre-preggers weight.

Zoe this week: she is losing that wrinkled, alien look and her skeleton is hardening. The bones in her skull aren't fused together just yet because they will need to move and slightly overlap to get her through the birth canal. Even after birth, they won't fuse until early adulthood so they can grow as Zoe's brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood. Zoe is developing her own immune system so that she will be able to protect herself, with help from some antibodies from me, from mild infections. She's also acting more and more like a baby by closing her eyes when she's sleep and opening them while she's awake. Awww.... The level of amniotic fluid in my uterus has reached it maximum this week, so there's more Zoe than fluid now. That explains all of the thumping and bumping I'm feeling. Between now and Zoe's birth, she can gain a third more weight or even double (yikes!) her weight, and depending on her current height, she can grow a full inch more this week alone. Wow!

Zoe is anywhere between 17 to 19 inches in length, and she weighs approximately 4.5 lbs. (about the weight of a pineapple ~ yum, mommy's favorite fruit):

Zoe's Ride

Trevor put together Zoe's stroller on Christmas Eve. We can't wait to see her in her "ride." :- ) We love it just as much as we did in the store.

Stroller base w/ stroller seat:

Stroller base w/ car seat:

Finally Feeling Them....

As of last night, I'm finally feeling Braxton Hicks contractions. Actually, they're pretty freaky. So far they aren't painful; just weird. Last night, I was dreaming about them all night. I don't know if I could actually feel them while I was sleeping, or if I was so freaked out about them earlier in the day that I carried them into my subconscious thoughts, but they're all I dreamt about. I've read that a woman can start feeling Braxton Hicks contractions as early as 20 weeks preggers, but the mere fact that I'm just feeling them makes me realize that Zoe's due date is imminent. Wow!

Santa Brought Me....

....a cold! Boooo!!! I really hoped I'd get through my pregnancy without getting sick. No such luck. Thankfully I had a flu shot, otherwise it could be worse.

Despite feeling a little crummy, Christmas was still very nice. My mother (a/k/a "Nana") came to visit Trevor and me. We had Christmas dinner at a local hotel---very relaxing and quite tasty! On Christmas night we drove through a nearby subdivision to admire all the beautiful Christmas light displays. It was a nice, relaxing Christmas. We can't wait to experience Christmas 2009 with Zoe!

As for gifts, Trevor hooked me up. He went to Jared's! Trevor made out like a bandit, too. I think the gift he appreciated most was from Zoe--a daddy diaper changing tool belt. Zoe wanted to be sure Daddy's adequated prepared for those first few diaper changes. LOL.

Now it's time to nurse this cold....

32 Weeks!

Today marks the start of my 32nd week, and my 8th month! Crazy! Overall, I'm feeling pretty good. My most problematic symptoms are acid reflux (daily), back aches (also daily), and occasional hip pain, primarily in my left hip. My skin and nails seem to be going through some changes, too. It could be from the cooler weather though. My skin is dry lately, even though I religiously use lotion, and my nails have been a little brittle. I'm taking a Calcium supplement in the event the nail issue is a sign of Calcium depletion. My appetite is also increasing. I still don't have any vegetable cravings, and my fruit cravings are mild. I hate that! And I can't eat something I don't crave. Bad mommy!!!

Weight gain is still good. Up 12.4 lbs. from my pre-preggers weight. According to the books, I should be having Braxton Hicks contractions by now. I'm not, or at least I don't notice them. I hope I don't jinx myself.

Zoe this week: she now has toenails, fingernails and hair! If my acid reflux is any indicator, and if the old wives tale is true, Zoe has a lot of hair! Zoe's skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth. Our baby girl is (hopefully) settling into a head-down, bottom-up position in preparation for birth. Zoe is still getting a lot of rest these days; reportedly having sleep cycles of 20-40 minutes long. I hope her sleep cycles are much longer once she's here. :- )

Zoe is approximately 17 inches long and weighs a little over 4 pounds (about the weight of a large jicama (so good in salads---not that I'm eating many these days)):

Year of "Lasts"

When 2008 rang in, I didn't realize this would be my year of "lasts." While I knew that Trevor and I would probably start trying to conceive, I didn't know when we'd start and how long it would take. As Zoe's birth draws closer, it has occurred to me that this is my year of lasts. As such, today is my last.....birthday not being a mother. I didn't do anything special; I just had a "me" day. Trevor is flying, so I had to play by myself. :- ( The most remarkable thing I did today was sleep in. Ahhhh! Then I had a facial and had my hair washed and styled. I think I'll spend the evening on the couch watching an "on demand" chic flick. I hope there's something good available.

Trevor sent me a sweet text this morning that made me cry. It said "Happy Bday! U get better with time. I love u very much and can't wait for Zoe to meet you. She is truly blessed to have u as a mommy." Awww.....

I can't wait to spend next December 23 as my "first" birthday as a mother! It will be so special!

Getting Goofier by the Day!

I'm getting goofier these days. I guess my pregnancy brain is in overdrive. At my prenatal appointment this morning, it took me about 2 seconds to forget that I was going to the restroom to give a urine sample. It wasn't until I was about to flush the toilet that I remembered. I think what was more hilarious was when I looked in the toilet trying to figure out a way to correct my mistake. Not really possible. LOL. So I had to down a lot of water to fill my bladder up and of all days/times for it refill slowly, it was this morning.

Then, tonight I was driving home from work and my neck was itching. I made an interesting discovery when I scratched it. Um, yeah, why did I put my sweater on backwards this morning and not notice ALL day! LOL. I thought something looked funny about the shape of my sweater and the turtleneck today. That explains it.

Can I get any goofier?! The sad thing is I know the answer to this question. Scary!

Good Prenatal Appointment (and a pep talk from Dr. S)

I had a regularly scheduled prenatal appointment this morning. The timing couldn't have been more perfect after my classes this weekend and the sense of fear I was left with. All is well with our baby girl. I'm measuring on target - 31 cm - so she's growing at the right pace. Zoe's heart beat was nice and strong - in the 150s. My blood pressure was great - 102/68. Weight gain is still looking good, but I was astonished by the number on the scale today. Most definitely the absolute most I've weighed in my entire life! But I know the number on the scale will go back down to a more comforting number once Zoe is born, so it's all good.

I told Dr. S that I'm feeling a little overwhelmed after the infant care and breast feeding classes. She agreed that it can seem very daunting when one thinks of ALL the things that go into it, but she encouraged me to take it one moment and one day at a time. She told me her own funny story of taking 20 minutes to change her daughter's diaper the first time. Despite all of her years of delivering babies and caring for expectant and new moms, she had her own struggles. Even after 20 minutes of trembling as she changed the diaper she said it still fell off. LOL. She was just so reassuring and put my mind at ease. With respect to breast feeding, she just told me to stay mentally and emotionally committed to it. I'm feeling a lot better today. I'm just going to keep reminding myself to take it one moment/one feeding at a time. I know I can do this. I will do this. I was just a little overwhelmed. I'm glad Dr. S allowed me to talk through it with her.

Preparing for Zoe

This weekend was dedicated to "preparing for Zoe." Saturday, Trevor and I attended an all-day "prepared childbirth" course. It felt as though we were in Saturday detention because it was only us, a woman named Julie and our instructor, Joni. I fully expected the class to be much fuller due to the convenience of knocking it all out in one day, but I guess no one wanted to give up their last Saturday before Christmas. The course was insightful, and it gave Trevor and me a lot to think about. Going into the course I was afraid of what I call the "two epis"---episiotomy and epidural. After the course, I'm not as afraid of the epidural; in fact, I fully intend to ask for one if things get too rough. The episiotomy, on the other other, is a different story. It still concerns me. I think I'm going to ask my doctor to let me risk a tear in lieu of the episiotomy unless she thinks I'll tear significantly. According to Joni, most women only tear superficially (I know there are always exceptions to this rule), whereas with the episiotomy the cut is usually much deeper and longer than the tear would've been.

Sunday's classes were much fuller and involved infant care and breastfeeding. These courses overwhelmed me. There is SOOOO much to consider when caring for an infant. Who knew?! I took so many notes; I hope I can remember it all. Breastfeeding seems like a daunting endeavor, but I'm fully committed to giving it my best shot. I hope I'll have great success. I think the toughest part of all of this will be the days I have to go it alone due to Trevor's piloting schedule, but I know it will all work out.

I hope we can figure all of this out. I know we will. I just hope it doesn't take us too long.

Parenting Philosophy

Trevor and I have been having an interesting conversation the last few days about how we want Zoe to address adults. Our first real parenting philosophy discussion. (Different than the hypothetical "what would you do if Zoe did [fill in the blank]?" questions.) This discussion was prompted by an experience Trevor recently had involving a child referring to him as "Trevor". Not "Mr. Trevor" or "Mr. D", just "Trevor". He was floored! When he was growing up, he was required to address adults, even family friends, as "Mr. or Mrs. [last name] ". I wasn't raised that way. For whatever reason, I was allowed to address family friends by their first name. I used "Mr. or Mrs. [last name]" with strangers, teachers, etc.

I don't want Zoe to address adults, even family friends, by first name only; however, I'm okay with her addressing family friends as "Mr. or Mrs. [first name]". Trevor, on the other hand, wants her to address family friends as "Mr. or Mrs. [last name]". I think that will be confusing to her and will require some type of name chart. Let's say we have a friend named "John Moss". Zoe will hear us calling John by his first name. She will be told to call him "Mr. Moss". How confusing for a child! At least in my opinion. I think "Mr. John" is sufficient. Trevor thinks that sounds ridiculous.

At the end of the day, I completely support my husband and we will teach Zoe to address "John" as "Mr. Moss". It's not a big deal. This discussion just illustrates to me how much our individual experiences bleed into our own parenting philosophy. The funny things you never think of.....

31 Weeks!

31 weeks today! Only 9 weeks to go....wow! I'm so anxious to meet my little Zoe-pooh, but I want her to stay in there and keep on baking. Mommy will just have to wait.

I'm still feeling good despite my various pregnancy symptoms. Although I'm still experiencing more of the same, I've added aching hips to my list of symptoms. The hip pain is more pronounced in my left hip and is courtesy of a hormone called "relaxin". Relaxin causes laxity of joints and tendons, which allows for enough room for the baby to pass through the pelvis. Acid reflux and back aches are getting more problematic lately. But it's all worth it and I know the "prize" will be sweet....literally. Oh, and I officially waddle when I have to pee really bad.

I'm up 11 lbs. from my pre-preggers weight.

Zoe this week: her brain connections are developing at an impressive rate these days. She is able to process information, track light, and perceive signals from all five senses. Zoe is sleeping more these days, still getting lots of REM sleep. She can turn her head from side to side, and her arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath her skin. Zoe's moving a lot lately. I jokingly told Trevor that she's been slam dancing this evening. :- ) I wouldn't have it any other way.

Zoe is about 17 inches long and she weighs about 3.5 lbs (about the weight of 4 navel oranges):

My Husband, the Comedian

When Trevor and I woke up last Friday morning for our flight to San Antonio, he told me he had something he wanted to share with me. Apparently he was rudely awaken at 2:30 am by a wild hog (a/k/a a snoring wife). To prove to me that I really do snore at night, he did something extreme.....he recorded me on his cell phone. I wish I could figure out a way to download the sound clip to this blog. It was hilarious!!! I can't believe I'm capable of producing such.....NOISE! LOL. I sounded horrible! I even had him play it for some of my friends. They cracked up. This whole snoring thing has become a running joke between Trevor and me. Now when we wake up in the morning Trevor greets me with a very loving "good morning, thunder cat" or "good morning, wolverine." LOL.

First Time for Everything

Acid reflux has become the bane of my existence lately. I still refuse to take the Nexium Dr. S prescribed, so I've been suffering through it with Tums, elevated sleeping and lately I've even been drinking a cup of soy milk before bed. The milk really does help. The other tactic I decided to employ last night was eating less for dinner. That helped the acid reflux, but when I woke up at 4:30 am to pee, I was starving! So much so that I couldn't fall back to sleep. So I did something I've yet to do in this pregnancy, I went to the kitchen for a little snack. I had a banana and some water. Nothing major. But it helped to stave off the hunger pangs. Apparently Zoe had been waiting for that because she started doing a jig about 3 minutes after I finished the banana. LOL. I think I'll start keeping a little snack on my night stand.

Baby Shower #1

I had my first baby shower last weekend in my hometown (San Antonio). It was great being back! I can't believe how much San Antonio has grown and changed. The next time we visit, we'll have Zoe in tow. I can't wait!

Trevor and I flew in Friday morning. I spent Friday afternoon with two of my BFFs that hosted my shower, Sharri and Michelle. I love those girls! We spent Friday afternoon doing one of our favorite things....eating. LOL. We also had manicures and pedicures and did a little shopping, and then we did a little more eating.....hey, Zoe needed a snack, and Michelle and Sharri joined in for moral support! :- )

Saturday morning, I had my make-up done, attended the shower and then on Saturday night Sharri's mom (my "second mom") hosted a fabulous dinner at her home. It was like Thanksgiving! Literally---roast, roasted chicken, ham, homemade mac and cheese, corn, collard greens, dressing w/ gravy, rolls, cranberry sauce, peach cobbler w/ ice cream, pound cake, apple pie and sweet potato pie. YUM, YUM, YUM!!!  Trevor and I, my mother-in-law, my mom and my sister-in-law, Misty, attended. It was a late night, but it was worth it.

The shower was amazing! Sharri and Michelle did a great job, and it was so nice to see all of my family and friends! It really made me miss San Antonio! Zoe got some great gifts. Lots of clothes, wash cloths, burp cloths, teethers, etc., plus her exersaucer, diaper champ, tub, a bottle drying system, and a $100 gift card. Everyone's generosity, especially given the holidays and the state of the economy, was much appreciated!

Sunday morning, Trevor and I had our couple's maternity shoot. It was so much fun. I can't wait to see the pics. Sunday afternoon we had lunch with my mom and my sister-in-law, hung out a bit, and then headed back to the airport. I was completely exhausted once we got back home. Although I still have 9.5 weeks to go, this third trimester is already wiping me out!

Here are some pics:

Sharri, Michelle and Me (lunch at Neiman Marcus)---the human "Oreo" as Michelle referred to this picture---the funny thing is we were talking about how good Oreos are just before this picture (LOL):

Michelle, Me and Sharri (getting pedis):

The Food Table (yum!):

The Cake (red velvet, of course):

Michelle, Me and Sharri:

Mom, Me and Misty (my newest sister-in-law...she won my baby brother's heart):

Trevor, Mom, Mama D (my mother-in-law) and Me: (after the shower):

Ms. Mable (my "second mom") and Me:

Pregnancy in a Nutshell

And the pregnant women said, "amen!" What a cute preggers cartoon!

30 Weeks!

Today marks 30 weeks. Woot! I had a scheduled prenatal appointment today. Dr. S is in a 3-doctor practice, so she requires her patients to see the other two doctors at some point between weeks 30-40 in the event she's not on call the day I go into labor. Trevor and I appreciate getting an opportunity to meet the other two doctors. The doctor we saw today, Dr. W1 (there are two "W" docs), was nice. The appointment went well. I'm feeling good---just more of the same. I'm measuring on target and my blood pressure was good ~ 116/64 (or something like that). My urine sample was good. Zoe's heartbeat was nice and strong @ 150-155 bpm. I'm up exactly 10 lbs. from my pre-preggers weight.


Zoe this week: lots to report. A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in my uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.) Zoe's brain is taking on characteristic grooves and indentations. In addition, her bone marrow has taken over production of red blood cells (before, tissue groups and then the spleen took care of producing the blood cells). This is an important step for Zoe, because it means she is better able to thrive on her own once born. Much of the lanugo — the soft, downy hair covering Zoe's body — is beginning to disappear now because both fat and the brain are regulating her body temperature.

Zoe is still moving a lot. The last several nights she's been making moves that feel like something out of "The Matrix." I wish I could see inside my stomach to see what she's doing. It's funny.


Zoe is about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs just over 3 pounds (as much as a head of cabbage):

Prediction: Zoe's First Word

I have a prediction about Zoe's first word. While most babies say "dada" first, or possibly "mama", I think Zoe's first word will be "pepto." As in Pepto Bismol. As effective as I think Pepto Bismol is for a minor upset stomach, I don't think it's great as.....a paint color. Trevor and I had Zoe's room painted last Friday. We also had crown molding and a chair rail installed. Our contractor did a great job, but the shade of pink isn't as pale as it looked on the 2x2 color swatch. I was so disappointed! I remain hopeful that the color will grow on me, particularly once the furniture is in the room, the bedding is down and accessories are put in place. Surely all of this will tone down the "pepto" look. I can only hope....for Zoe's sake, and her mommy's. If not, we'll paint the room again.

While I can joke about this now, I must confess that I was a bit down about it on Saturday. Trevor and I talked about it Saturday morning and he asked why I was letting it get to me. He wondered if I was worried about what others would think. I started to explain that I just want the room to be perfect for Zoe. Although I know she won't "notice" the room for awhile, I want her to love the room once she's aware of it. And then I cried. Dang pregnancy hormones! It's only paint for crying out loud! (No pun intended....)

29 weeks!

I'm always late posting these updates, but yesterday marked 29 weeks! All is well, or as well as can be expected when one is 29 weeks preggers. Same aches and pains, and acid reflux issues still plague me. Most troubling, however, is that the first trimester fatigue is back. Boooo!!! Monday, I did something I've never done.....I actually closed the door to my office and laid my head down on my desk. I took a 20 minute nap, and contrary to popular belief, it did not energize me. I really wish I could figure out a way to slip in a 1-2 hour nap midday. I really feel like I need it these days. YAWN!

I neglected to do my weekly Wednesday weigh-in, but as of last Sunday, I'm up 7.4 lbs. from my pre-preggers weight.

Zoe this week: our baby girl's muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and her head is growing bigger (not too big, I hope) to make room for her developing brain. In order to meet Zoe's demanding nutritional needs, mommy needs plenty of protein, Vitamin C, folic acid and iron these days. (I think I'm doing good on all fronts, except the Vitamin C part. Must work on that.) Zoe's bones continue to harden, thus she's soaking up a lot of calcium---approximately 250 milligrams per day. Good thing I started taking that Calcium supplement (since I can't drink milk - yuck)! Finally, while Zoe's baby-teeth buds are already in place, she is now forming buds for her permanent teeth.

Zoe weighs close to 3 lbs. these days and is approximately 15.5 inches long (head to heel). She weighs as much as a butternut squash:

No CPAP for Me

I had my follow-up appointment to get the results from my sleep study. The verdict: I don't have sleep apnea. Thank God! The overall impressions from my sleep study indicate that I had some spontaneous arousals from sleep that couldn't be linked to anything in particular. The sleep medicine doctor said they're probably just associated with my pregnancy....probably my frequent restroom breaks or attempts to find a comfortable sleeping position. I did have a few abnormal breathing incidents (8.9/hour), but they only occurred during REM sleep, which apparently isn't uncommon because this is the most relaxed state of sleep. The most important finding is that my oxygen level is not dropping to a dangerous level during the night. That was great news, both for me and for Zoe! My snoring was rated as "mild", which was a surprise because Trevor makes it seem as though he's sleeping with a lumberjack at night. LOL. In the end, there will be no CPAP for me. YAY!!! The doctor wants me to consider sleeping with a mouth guard to help with the snoring, but mainly to help with the limited breathing interruptions they detected. Apparently the base of my tongue is wide, which predisposes me to breathing problems during sleep. My mouth looks like this according to the doc (grade IV diagram):




Due to the lack of clearance between the base of my tongue and my throat, my air passage becomes obstructed when my soft pallet relaxes. This is more than I ever wanted to know about my mouth, tongue and air passage. Using a mouth guard will help to bring my tongue forward and clear my air passage; however, prolonged use of the mouth guard can cause me to develop an under bite, so I'm not crazy about that. We'll see. I think I'll wait until Zoe is born and see if things improve.

She's Got Skills!

Zoe's been doing a number on my bladder this morning. I swear she's doing this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W22gpBv00gg

I Miss You....

Dear Sleep,

I can't believe it's come to this. After all of our years together, we must part. At first I was in denial, but after nearly a week without you (last night was the worst!), I've come to terms with the inevitable. I'm not sure who's to blame for what has happened between us. Perhaps you're to blame for not trying harder to meet my needs. Or maybe it is I who betrayed you when I crossed into my third trimester of pregnancy. But I guess it doesn't really matter now, does it? There's nothing to be gained from assessing blame. We just have to accept what has happened between us and move on. Perhaps we'll meet again after Zoe is born, but probably not immediately. Maybe we'll reconcile when she's 3 months old, or 5 months old, perhaps when she's 1 year old. I just don't know???? Let's not put a time limit on it, okay? All I can say is that I REALLY hope our paths cross again. Please know that I really do love you, and I miss you already! In fact, I'm sure I'll miss you more than you'll miss me. Perhaps we can meet up from time to time. I'll leave that up to you.

Ta-ta for now. Until we meet again, my friend.....

A Great Thanksgiving

Trevor and I had a nice, relaxing and somewhat non-traditional Thanksgiving. Since it's just the two of us this year, we decided to go out to eat rather than cooking. We had a late reservation (5:30), so we spent the early part of the day working in our yard. (The non-traditional portion of our holiday) We haven't had time to plant our fall color, so today was the day! It was a beautiful day; a perfect day for gardening. Trevor did most of the heavy lifting, but I was able to make some contributions. The yard looks great! We even started our Christmas decorating....yep, we hung a wreath on the door! :- )

Dinner was okay. We went to the Four Seasons Resort. The ambiance was great, but the food was just so-so. (But the dessert was amazing!) Definitely not worth the money. But hey, it was low maintenance for us (no maintenance, in fact), and it was still enjoyable.

We're already looking forward to Thanksgiving 2009 with Zoe. It'll be so much fun!

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Dear Lord,

Your Word instructs me, in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, "to give thanks in all things, for this is God's will for [me] in Christ Jesus." At this time of Thanksgiving, I thank you for all of the many blessings in my life. First and foremost, for Your Son, Jesus Christ, my savior. Thank You for blessing me, Trevor and our families with life and health. I thank You for the many special friends You've blessed us with. Thank You for the amazing church You led us to and for a rich teaching of Your word on a weekly basis. Thank You for blessing Trevor and I with wonderful jobs and careers, for a beautiful home, and for blessing us to be a blessing to others. I thank You that despite the craziness going on around us and in this economy, You are our source, protector, sun and shield.

Thank You for blessing me with an amazing husband who loves me as You've instructed....as Christ loves the church. I thank You for Trevor's gentle spirit, his faithful love, and his heart for You.

Thank You, Lord, for the men and women who are defending our country domestically and abroad. Keep them safe from all hurt, harm and danger, and bless them and their families for their sacrifice.

Last, but certainly not least, thank You so very much for the wonderful gift of life growing inside of me. In fact, her very name, Zoe, means "life". Thank You for blessing her to grow strong inside of me, and I thank You for her life and purpose.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

28 Weeks (Hello, Third Trimester!)

Yesterday marked week 28! Hello, Third Trimester!!! Wow!!! I know I sound like a broken record, but time REALLY IS flying! I'm still experiencing the same symptoms as before, but now I'm also just generally uncomfortable, primarily at night. A good night's rest is becoming more and more elusive these days, thus I wake up most mornings feeling like I just fell asleep. YAWN! I'm also having pretty chronic bouts with acid reflux in the evening. Dr. S prescribed me some Nexium, but I haven't filled the prescription yet. I really don't like taking a lot of prescription meds because they are packed with weird side effects. Let's see, if I take the Nexium I'll be exchanging acid reflux for headaches, diarrhea and nausea....and possibly dry mouth, abdominal pains and constipation. Um, no thanks! I'll just keep popping Tums and spending my first 3 hours of (elusive) sleep sitting upright.


Zoe this week: our baby girl is still squirming around like crazy! And I still love it! While Trevor still hasn't "felt" her move, he did see my stomach jump today. It was pretty exciting! Zoe's new skill this week...blinking! And she's even getting REM sleep these days. (Too bad mommy isn't!) It is even believed that babies in utero start dreaming at this stage. I wonder what our little angel is dreaming about?! I hope all of her good dreams come true!


Zoe weighs approximately 2.5 lbs. this week and she's almost 16 inches long. Zoe weighs as much as Chinese cabbage:

Why?!

So I've been searching for some maternity picture ideas. Although our photographer is VERY skilled, I still want to look around for unique ideas we can incorporate into our shoot. This brings me to my question of "why?!" WHY do sooooo many women want to take nude maternity pictures? I'm not talking about exposing the belly...even I'd do that. I'm talking about really nude, meaning NO clothes. Perhaps I'm just a bit of a prude, but I really don't get it. I understand the wonder of pregnancy, and I believe that pregnancy is beautiful. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get all of that. But I really don't get the whole nude picture thing. I even saw a picture of a couple, where both of them are nude and they're standing sideways (picture a standing up spooning position), looking away from the camera. Where exactly does one display such a photo?! Perhaps in their office? Not! Over their dining room table? I hope not! Over the fireplace? Uh, nope! Oh, in the nursery right? Perhaps a tad bid inappropriate. That probably only leaves their bedroom, right? I can kind of understand that. But what if you have more than one child? Do you just hang nude photos all over your bedroom? It just doesn't seem practical to me. I REALLY do not get it at all!!!! But maybe it's just me....

Last Second Trimester Prenatal Appointment

Yesterday I had my last prenatal appointment for this trimester. The frequency of my appointments will now be bi-weekly. I really can't believe how fast time is flying! The appointment went well. Sunday night I started getting menstrual-type cramps in my lower left pelvic area and then a general sense of pressure along my entire lower pelvic region. Dr. S examined me and everything was fine. My cervix looked good and it's long and closed. I'm not having any bleeding, abnormal discharge, etc. Dr. S said we can probably assume it's just one of the many discomforts of pregnancy, but she said she'll have me go into labor and delivery to get evaluated if I notice it gets worse. So far, it's okay.

Zoe's heartbeat was nice and strong ~ in the 140s. My uterus is measuring at 27 cm, which is perfect, and I've gained 1 lb. since my last appointment on November 7. All is good!

Dr. S gave us a list of recommended pediatricians, so we'll soon begin our search for Zoe's pediatrician. Dr. S also gave us the registration paperwork for the hospital we selected for Zoe's delivery. All of these things seemed like stuff we'd worry about "later." Well, "later" is here. Again, I can't believe how fast time is flying!

Pregnancy Brain Strikes Again

This morning I decided I wanted to wear a pair of shoes that were actually in the back seat of my car, so I got fully dressed, made my way to the garage, changed my shoes and was on my way. Or so I thought. As I was backing out of the garage I hear a loud tumbling sound going down the back of the car, followed by a load crash! I immediately remembered that I sat a GLASS of orange juice (thankfully, with a lid) on the car while I changed my shoes. How is it that I managed to forget about said glass of orange juice in the span of one minute?! Thankfully I didn't run over any glass, but I ended up having to get out of the car to sweep up glass from the drive way. Dang pregnancy brain!!!

Maternity Shoot Scheduled!

I'll be in San Antonio (my hometown) in a few weeks for my first baby shower. I can't wait!!! I decided to contact the photographer that did our engagement and wedding photos to see if he can do a maternity session with us that weekend. I hadn't heard back from him, so I was worried he was booked up. Consequently, Trevor and I did an unintended maternity shoot yesterday when we went to have photos done for our holiday cards. We went there for holiday cards that cost $29/dozen and walked out paying over $550 for photos we never intended to take! And we weren't even 100% in love with the pics. Well, to my surprise, I found an e-mail from our photographer in my in-box this morning! He was delighted to hear our news and is going to do our maternity shoot while we're in San Antonio! YAY!!! His work is phenomenal and will be MUCH better quality than what we bought last night. More than anything, I love the idea of having our photographer take us full circle---engagement, wedding, and now our first child! Needless to say, I will be cancelling our order at the other place!

Some People!

Yesterday Trevor and I had pictures taken for purposes of our first ever photo holiday card. We just went to a place in the mall. Talk about a rip-off city and high sales pressure! But that's a different post. Anyway, we wrapped up our photo shoot and were shown to a waiting area so we could view and select our photos. There was a middle-aged lady in the area who was just beaming as she stared at my belly. After a few seconds she engaged me in the following dialogue:

Lady: "Hi!!" (still beaming)

Me: "Hello." (beaming back)

Lady: "When are you due?!" (still beaming)

Me: "February. February 18." (still beaming)

Lady: "Really?!" (still beaming)

Me: "Yep!" (feeling really good; fully expecting a nice compliment)

Lady: "Wow! You look like you're ready to go any day now." (still beaming)

Me: "Really?" (in a very irritated tone as I turned away; no longer beaming)

I promptly sat down in the furthest seat from that lady and told Trevor, "that was rude. " (Fully hoping she heard me) I told Trevor that I should've asked her when she was due. (She clearly wasn't pregnant, but was a little thick around the waist)

Some people! Sheesh!!!

Sleep Study Complete!

Last night, as Trevor and I were finishing up dinner and watching last Sunday's episode of the Amazing Race (love that show!), I received a call from the sleep center informing me they had a cancellation and asking if I could make it there to have my sleep study completed. As much as I wanted to remain in the comfort of my home, I decided to go in lieu of waiting until December 2. What an experience! I'm so glad Trevor was home from work and able to accompany me. He was a great sport and slept in a recliner all night. (Sleep center rules) I love that man!!!

We arrived after 10pm and were shown to our "suite". Thankfully, the environment didn't feel clinical and was somewhat cozy....until they wired me up. Within about 1.5 hours, they had me connected to an endless number of wires. I'm talking wires for days. I looked like a robot with exposed wires, but Trevor assured me that I looked as beautiful as the day he married me. LOL. Electrodes were attached to my face, collar bone, shins, scalp, and behind my ears using a conductive glue. In total, I had about 15 electrodes and wires dangling from my body. Nasal airflow sensors were taped to my face and situated under my nose (talk about tickling!) and near my mouth, chest and abdomen belts were placed on me, and an oximeter was taped to my finger. I was also fitted for a CPAP mask in the event sleep apnea was detected during the study. Boy are those uncomfortable! One of them made me feel like I was suffocating.

Once I was fully connected, a calibration test was conducted. That was strange. My technician, Evan, directed me to do various things over an intercom to ensure all the electrodes were working. I was told to move my eyes rapidly left to right/up and down, move my ankles one foot at a time, clench my teeth, hold my breath, make breathing motions w/ my stomach while holding my breath, take deep breaths, close my eyes, blink my eyes, etc. Once everything was calibrated, the sleeping began. I was being watched on camera all night and the two-way intercom was always on. Spooky. Twice I awaken by two techs entering my room with flashlights because they weren't getting a good reading on my oximeter. Finally they made the decision to remove my oximeter and....you guessed it, tape it to my face. As if I had any more space on my face for yet another measuring device. When I had to pee I just woke up and told my tech over the intercom. It felt like I was talking to God:

Me: "Evan" (in a groggy voice)

Tech: "Yes, my child."

Me: "I have to pee."

Tech: "No need to fret. I'll be right there, my child." (In enters Evan, disconnects my electrode box, places it around my neck and sends me to my private restroom)

Now, peeing with wires going down my legs, while squatting, was a challenge because I was trying desperately not to pee on the wires. LOL. Plus, (TMI - sorry) since pregnancy brings about its fair share of flatulence, I was trying not to "poot" while peeing because the bathroom had ZERO acoustics so I know it would've echoed over the entire sleep center. LOL.

Thankfully, the "I need to go pee" requests only occurred twice, so that wasn't too bad. When my time was up, Evan came over the intercom with a monotone "Good morning. The sleep study is complete." And just like that it was over. He came in and peeled off all the electrodes and asked the most foolish question I've heard in awhile....."So, how did you sleep?" I wanted to say, "Um, how would you sleep if you were wired up like a bomb?"

Poor Trevor needed some WD-40 to get out of the recliner. LOL. We left the sleep center beat down tired! But it's complete. Evan couldn't tell me how I did; he said the doctor will discuss that with me. However, I was excited that I wasn't made to put on the CPAP mask during the night which must mean that I didn't stop breathing. Fingers crossed....

27 Weeks!

One more week down, 13 weeks to go! I can't believe I'll be starting my third trimester next week. Crazy! Not much is new with me, just more of the same. Although I have found that I'm starting to get more uncomfortable these days. I've been using Rhinocort at night at the recommendation of the sleep medicine doctor and this morning Trevor said he thinks it's actually helping my snoring. YAY!!! Apparently I no longer snore when I'm on my side, only when I'm on my back. Previously I was snoring no matter the position. So I'm hopeful that my sleep study on December 2 won't result in a sleep apnea diagnosis....just a bad case of pregnancy-induced congestion. Fingers crossed....

I'm now up a total of 6.2 lbs. from my pre-pregnancy weight. I'm pleased that my weight gain has been slow and steady despite my insatiable sweet tooth! I'm trying to work in a more diverse palate, but I'm the consummate creature of habit. Thus I'm still downing tons of California rolls, miso soup, hot turkey subs, wheat bagels with grape jelly and lately I've been jonesing for chicken pad thai. I am working in more fruit though. Unfortunately there aren't a lot of veggies on my plate these days. I really need to work on that.

Zoe this week: our baby girl has become a little jitterbug. She's been moving quite a bit lately, and I love it! Unfortunately she's as still as a statue when her daddy puts his hand on my tummy. Silly girl! Our little angel is sleeping and waking at regular intervals now and opening and closing her eyes. Due to the development of more brain tissue, her brain is quite active these days. Her hearing is maturing and she's recognizing our voices more and more. Awww!

Zoe weighs just over 2 lbs. and is between 14.5 - 15 inches head to heels. She weighs as much as a head of cauliflower (what mommy needs to be eating these day):

I PASSED!!!

I just found out I passed my gestational diabetes screening! YAY!! The normal range for the glucose test is 65-139; mine was 118. I'm so excited!! I think this is almost, I repeat almost, as exciting as passing the Texas bar exam! I don't know why this test had me so worked up, but it did. I'm just pleased that I can scratch one more concern off my list.

Severe Case of Pregnancy Brain

I think I've developed a severe case of "pregnancy brain." I've been rather forgetful lately. I've always forgotten silly things like leaving something upstairs in my bedroom, only to realize I've forgotten it once I'm downstairs in the living room. Ugh! I've also been guilty of going all the way upstairs for something only to arrive upstairs and totally forget what I went upstairs for. Again, ugh! Okay, so all of that is normal, thus I won't blame it on pregnancy brain. But lately I've started forgetting my keys are in the ignition of my car. I'll disembark the car and then realize they're still in the ignition when I attempt to engage the alarm. Thank God the doors don't lock by themselves otherwise I'd be racking up a hefty bill with a locksmith. I'm also glad that I'm diligent about engaging the alarm on the car, otherwise my car would be an easy target for a thief. I'm in big trouble if I start forgetting to engage the alarm between now and February.

The other thing I've started to forget.....where I put my cell phone, namely when I'm getting ready to get out of the car or getting ready to start driving. I can't tell you how many times I've tore my purse apart looking for my cell phone only to realize it's between my ear and shoulder. Yep, I'm talking on the phone while looking for the phone. Go figure????

Today took the cake. I totally and completely forgot the PIN number to my debit card. I mean totally and completely! I'm talking about standing AT the ATM machine punching in every sequence of numbers I can think of to no avail. Thankfully it was one of those machines where you swipe your card, otherwise my card would've been confiscated by the machine for suspicious activity. I still can't remember my PIN number five hours later. And I just used that card last week. Strange!

Yep, I have a severe case of pregnancy brain! LOL. The joys of pregnancy.

More Punch, Please!

Today I had my gestational diabetes screening. I chose the fruit punch flavored glucose drink. It was so good! It tasted just like Hi-C Fruit Punch. Yum. Zoe either loved it or hated it because it felt like she was doing back flips! My results should be in within the next couple of days. I REALLY hope I pass.

Nursery Woes Return

Much to my chagrin, I'm obsessing over Zoe's nursery bedding again. WHY???? I really thought we had it figured out....UNTIL I received Restoration Hardware Baby & Child's catalog in the mail. I LOVE their stuff!!! So, despite having crib bedding and matching accessories in my home for the bedding I thought we were going with, I've now ordered the below sets from RH. (Unfortunately their Baby & Child line isn't in stores yet) Once I have all three in my home, I will make a final decision. Thank God for 90 day return policies! I'm so happy we haven't started any painting yet and that all three sets will match our furniture.

I don't know why I'm making this so difficult! Actually, I do. First , because I make most decisions more difficult than necessary. Second, I'm making this difficult because in my mind I want Zoe's nursery to be perfect! But for whom? Zoe won't even know the difference! Trevor has been such a trooper. He indulges me, but I bet he's screaming on the inside. LOL.

Current bedding:













New bedding ideas:

Is that me?!

Today Trevor came downtown to have lunch with me. My husband is the greatest! Anyway, we walked to a restaurant nearby and on our way back to my building I caught a glimpse of my reflection in a window. I thought someone was walking directly in front of me for a second there. Holy stomach, Batman! I've POPPED!!! I have no idea when it happened, but it happened. And I have 3 months to go. GULP! I'll have to post an updated picture soon....but I have to take one first. We may have to set the camera on panoramic mode to get the full image! LOL.

Week 26! (and 2nd trimester screening)

Today begins week 26 of my pregnancy. YAY!!! Things are the same with me....still having aches in my left side under my ribs, still snoring, still having occasional nosebleeds (right nostril only ~ strange), still having occasional headaches, still having minor swelling in my feet and ankles at the end of the day. New this week....sleeping is getting a little uncomfortable. I think part of the problem is that I'm so self-conscious about my snoring, and I'm trying really hard to sleep on my sides and not my back for Zoe's benefit. Also, my back is starting to hurt daily. I've even resorted to taking a heating pad with me to work. What a funny sight! Despite this long list of "ailments", I actually feel pretty good if that makes sense?! I'm up a total of 5.8 lbs. from my pre-preggers weight.

Today we had a subsequent, and final, 2nd trimester screening to look at Zoe's anatomy. Everything looked perfect!! Her heart has all four chambers and looked healthy, her brain is developing properly, and all organs are present and in their proper place.

Zoe this week: our baby girl's eyes are now beginning to open, and she can respond to light. Zoe's brainwave activity is also kicking in at this stage, which means she not only hears noises, but she can also respond to them. Zoe is inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of her lungs. We actually saw her do this during today's ultrasound! It was sooooo cute!!! She did it twice!!

Zoe is approximately 14 inches long (head to heel) and she weighs 1lb. 14 oz. (according to today's ultrasound). She's about the size of an English hothouse cucumber (whatever that is???):

Breaking 100!

According to my tickers, we have approx. 99 days until Zoe graces us with her presence! I can't believe we broke 100!! I can still remember when we had well over 200 days to go. WOW!!! Time flies when you're growing a baby!

Visit with Sleep Medicine Doctor

I met with the sleep medicine doctor today. He agreed that I could have sleep apnea, but he said the snoring may also be from all the congestion I've been having. He won't know for sure until I have a sleep study done, so that's the next step. Apparently sleep issues abound in the area because the soonest they can get me in is December 2. Shoot! I asked them to please call me if they have a cancellation because I want to get this diagnosed sooner versus later, particularly because I'm pregnant. In the meantime, the doctor prescribed me a nasal spray that should help with the congestion. He believes it's safe to use during pregnancy, but I'm waiting for Dr. S to confirm this. If I have sleep apnea, I will be evaluated again after Zoe is born to see if the problem is corrected. I'm just hoping I don't have it at all.

I was slightly offended that the doctor kept talking about my weight throughout the appointment. He kept saying things like "with the added weight, plus your pregnancy....", "when you lose the weight after your pregnancy....", "due to your weight gain....", etc. I wanted to scream "enough with the weight already!!! Sheesh!!!" You'd think that I had to be rolled in there on a gurney or something, or hoisted up through a window. I'm not THAT big!!! To add insult to injury, Trevor was in the room. Everyone knows that you don't discuss weight with a woman - EVER - especially when her husband's in the room! Okay, so maybe there's an exception to that rule when you're a doctor, but not with my husband in the room! I now have a renewed mission to lose those law school pounds, plus any pregnancy weight I gain!

Snoring Update and Prenatal Appointment

Trevor returned home last night, so I was finally able to get feedback on whether the combination of putting tea tree oil in my bath water, using a saline nasal spray, AND sleeping with a warm mist humidifier is helping to alleviate my snoring. Verdict: the snoring persists. Trevor said there wasn't an ounce of improvement. Lovely! Trevor was successful in giving himself a pep talk to fall asleep despite my snoring. He said he kept telling himself "Trevor, you can do this. You can fall asleep. You've been to SERE school (which stands for "survival, evasion, resistance, and escape"--it is a POW survival course he went through in the Navy)." Too funny! How sad that enduring my snoring can be likened to being a POW. LOL.

So, today I had a regular prenatal appointment with Dr. S. Trevor went with me and described my snoring to her. She's concerned that I may have pregnancy-induced sleep apnea. She's working with my primary care physician to identify a good sleep study center for me to get evaluated. I should have that information later today. If I do have sleep apnea, she's going to put me on a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine for the remainder of my pregnancy because of the risk of cutting off oxygen to Zoe. I really hope I don't have sleep apnea, but if I do, I'm glad there's a remedy for it. In the meantime, Dr. S recommended sleeping in an elevated position to open up my airway.

Until then, the snoring continues....

Today's appointment: Zoe's heartbeat was nice and strong at 162 bpm, and my uterus is measuring on target. My blood pressure was good - 118/70. With the exception of the sleep apnea concern, today's appointment was good.

A Time for Everything

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Last night America experienced a defining moment in time. Even if I hadn't supported Barack Obama in this election, I'd still be so proud of America today. As an African-American, I never thought I'd see this day. What an exciting time! There is indeed "a time for everything", and it's America's time.

I pray for the safety of Barack Obama and his family. May the Lord bless you and keep you, President-Elect Obama.

The Year of Your Birth

Dear Zoe,

2009 is going to be exciting for two reasons. First, you'll enter this world. What a wonderful day that will be! Second, you'll be born the same year that America swears in its first ever African-American President! Last night, Barack Obama earned the distinguished title of President-Elect of the United States of America! Sweetie, this is such a monumental time in American history, and you'll be born the year it all takes place. What a lucky girl you are! This country, and the opportunities facing you, will never be the same.

Love you,
Mommy

25 Weeks!

25 weeks, already?! Wow!!! I can't believe that Zoe will be here in 15 weeks! We have so much to do between now and then! Our only hope of getting things done is on the weekends due to the demands of my job and Trevor's travel schedule. Thus, I've starting counting "by weekends" until Zoe's arrival. Thus, we have 15 weekends to prepare, which assumes that we work up until the end, which I don't want to do. Not to mention that we have holidays, baby showers and family commitments to contend with as well. Yikes!!! Trevor and I have decided that we want to finish our baby prep, particularly the nursery, by the end of the year. Time is ticking fast!

The reality that we'll soon have a child is setting in. Our stroller came in, as did the car seat and bases. We still need to assemble the stroller, but it's here. The crib bedding has arrived as well. Before long we'll have nursery furniture. Wow!!!

I'm feeling pretty good still. Aches and pains are the same. According to Trevor, my snoring is getting REE-DICULOUS!! How embarrassing!! I purchased a humidifier, saline nasal spray, and am hoping the snoring gets better. Trevor said that sometimes it sounds like I'm not breathing, so we're going to talk to Dr. S about the possibility of pregnancy-induced sleep apnea at our appointment on Friday. I've also been having more frequent nose bleeds, although they're only from my right nostril. Strange! I think my fatigue is returning; I'm not happy about that.

I weighed myself this morning. It seems I went through a "growth spurt", yeah that's what we'll call it, a "growth spurt." I'm now up a total of 5.4 lbs. from my pre-preggers weight. GULP! I know that's not bad, it just seems like I had a big jump in one week.

Zoe this week: she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. Her wrinkled skin is beginning to smooth out. Her nostrils, which have been plugged up to this point, are starting to open up to give her practice with breathing. Additionally, her lungs are continuing to grow. Capillaries are forming under Zoe's skin and they're filling with blood. Zoe continues to be pretty active and I love it, although a few of her recent moves have been slightly uncomfortable. Oh, I felt her hiccups for the first time on Sunday. She had 11 in a row. How cute!

Zoe is approximately 14 inches long (head to heels) and she weighs just under 2 lbs. Zoe is about the size of a rutabaga (not a very cute comparison):

24 Weeks! (and "growing pains")

Yesterday marked the beginning of my 24th week. Things with me are still largely the same; however, I do have a new symptom that's become bothersome. I have this nagging pain on my left side, about 4 inches below my breast. (Different from the rib pain I've been having) The pain is very localized. Sometimes my skin itches in this area, sometimes it gets a strange burning sensation, but it always aches. Last week there were a couple of times when it hurt just to lean over the sink to wash my face or brush my teeth, and it even hurt if I laughed or coughed. It felt like someone was stabbing me. Not fun! Anyway, I called Dr. S on Friday afternoon and she said I probably have a "hot spot." Apparently this is a growing pain that localizes in one consistent spot. She offered to see me on Monday to make sure everything was okay. I know she probably thinks I'm a total pest and a whiner. Oh well!! I saw Dr. S on Monday and she still thinks it's just a "growing pain." I've come to despise that term! She prodded around the area, but didn't feel anything suspicious. I have another ultrasound scheduled in a couple of weeks with the perinatologist to check Zoe's anatomy one more time. Dr. S is going to have that doc do an ultrasound of the area to make sure nothing is going on internally. Thankfully, the stabbing sensations are gone, but I still have general achiness, itching and burning in the region. Good times! My blood pressure during the visit was good - 116/68 and Zoe's heart beat was nice and strong - 140-150 bpm.

I'm up 1.6 lbs. from my pre-preggers weight, so I'm doing a good job with my weight gain. My appetite is starting to increase a bit, but it's still not out of control. If I could just shake this sweet tooth! I have one extreme craving right now....toasted whole wheat bagels w/ butter and grape jelly. I have one just about every morning. The cashier at the local bagel shop knows my order by heart now - "wheat bagel with butter and jelly, a banana and decaf coffee? Yep!"

Zoe this week: our little angel's brain is growing quickly now. I hope the Lord blesses her with ubber intelligence! :- ) Her taste buds are continuing to develop (yet another reason to kick my sugar habit), and her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree". Her lungs are also producing surfactant, a substance that will help her air sacs inflate once she's born. Zoe's skin is still thin and translucent, and she's still a platinum blond since her hair still lacks pigment. Last, but not least, Zoe's cute little face is almost fully formed. I already know she's going to be gorgeous!

Zoe is growing steadily. Babies are said to gain approximately 6 ounces per week at this point. Zoe is approximately 1 1/2 lbs. and over a foot long (head to heel). She's about the size of an ear of corn:

Baked Gingerbread Loaves

I caught a glimpse of my feet a few minutes ago, and they look like baked loaves of bread. Since I'm of the brown persuasion, I decided they look like gingerbread loaves. Cute gingerbread loaves, but gingerbread loaves nonetheless. LOL. It's amazing how pregnancy makes one's extremities swell for no reason at all! My hands are fine, but there's something about my feet lately.

Amazing Husband!!!

My husband is so amazing!! I'm the luckiest girl this side of Heaven! I had my office door closed a few minutes ago because I was eating lunch. I hear a tap on my door and in walks my secretary with a huge bouquet of two dozen yellow roses (my favorite!). I open the card and it reads as follows:

"One for every week of Zoe's life...you are a wonderful wife and mother. I love you very much! Trevor"

My eyes instantly welled up with tears. I couldn't even read the card to my secretary for fear of completely breaking down....I had to let her read it.

Aw... I love my "baby daddy" so much!!! :- ) He is so amazing!!!

Thanks, my love!

Crib Bedding - Check!

We finally decided on Zoe's crib bedding. What a relief! Now we have to start thinking about general room decor, but that shouldn't be as difficult. I hope.

And the winner is....."Raspberry Truffle":

Just Because

Dear Zoe,

There's no special reason for this post. I just wanted to tell you how much I love you already. I've been feeling you move a lot more lately, and I just love the feeling of your little thumps. It's almost as if you're reminding me that you're in there, but I know you're really just stretching, repositioning yourself and/or playing with the umbilical cord. ;- ) I also know that your light thumps will soon become forceful kicks and punches, but I'll do my best to enjoy those too. Even when they hurt.

I can't wait to hold you and play with you, sweetness. I daydream about your toothless grins and the little cooing sounds you'll make. I can't wait to hear you giggle for the first time. I'm even dreaming of your first cry. I can't wait to snuggle with you morning, noon and night, and I can't wait to feel your breath against my skin. I just can't wait for YOU!

Daddy and I are going to do everything in our power to be the best parents we can be. We know the Lord will grace us through it day-by-day, and He'll give us what we need to be great parents to you.

I love you, Zoe!

Anxiously anticipating your arrival,
Mommy

She Loves the Spa!

I went to the spa last Saturday for my monthly facial. Zoe was kicking like crazy! She probably smelled the eucalyptus. I think she loves the spa already! Like mother, like daughter. (I refuse to believe she hated the experience ~ smile) I can't wait until she's old enough for mom/daughter spa days. There will be plenty of those in our future (although it will be awhile before that time comes).

23 Weeks! (plus the big reveal)

Yesterday started my 23rd week. Not much is new with me. My aches and pains are the same---round ligament pain and that pesky pain in my left rib cage and on the left side of my back. I'm still working on my posture, which helps. I've also developed a nightly routine of soaking in a hot, but not too hot, tub. Ahhh!!! My feet are still swelling occasionally. I put on a pair of boots this morning and they were a bit snug. I thought it may have been because I haven't worn them in awhile. I still wore them, figuring they'd stretch during the day. When I mentioned it to Trevor on my drive to work, he said he noticed that my feet looked a little swollen this morning. Great!

I lost weight over the last week. I'm now up only 4 ounces from my pre-preggers weight. That's shocking considering the amount of sweets I've been eating!

Zoe's movements are becoming more frequent and much more distinct. I love to feel her move. This morning I was resting my hand on my tummy, and I swear I felt two thumps against my hand. I was going to have Trevor feel them too, but I had to pee so bad that I couldn't lay there and relish in the moment. We'll see how the next few days go. I can't wait for him to feel his daughter move!

Zoe this week: apparently Zoe is developing her sense of movement and can feel my movements pretty well. She is also developing a keen sense of sound. We bought a book to read to her in utero called "Oh, Baby, the Places You'll Go". Trevor read it to her Sunday night and will continue to do so on a regular basis. Zoe's skin is reddish in color because of developing blood vessels, plus her skin is still pretty thin. Her skin is loose and saggy because skin develops faster than fat during fetal growth. I wonder why that has to change later in life??? LOL. (not that walking around with sagging skin would be very cute!)

Zoe is still approximately 11 inches long (head to heel) and weighs a little over 1 lb. She's about the size of a large mango:

Here's my big reveal. We finally took a pic of my belly bump on Sunday. This pic was taken at 22 weeks, 5 days. I'm certainly not the size of a large mango, but I'm definitely all baby!