Update on Baby Alexander and Mommy & Daddy.

This baby is growing for sure. According to all the books and the websites that I read, she's probably around 2.5 pounds right now and 15 inches long. If you ask my stomach and my bladder...they would probably say that she weighs in at a whopping 25 pounds. :) Not only to I feel huge, but I am officially walking and getting out of chairs like a pregnant lady.

On Wednesday I had an OB appointment. The baby is measuring ok and her heartbeat sounded good too. I'm going to the doctor every 2 weeks now. We're definitely in the home stretch now.

Will and I started our birthing class on Monday. It was great. I'm really going to enjoy them. There are 6 other couples in our class who are all first time parents like us. It's reassuring to hear that we all have the same concerns. Although most of the other couples have decided on a name by now! (EEK)

I really like the instructor too. She's been teaching the class for 24 years and is also a lactation consulatant at our hospital. I ran into her on Tuesday at the dog park with Sadie and we had a chance to chat and get to know each other a bit.

During the first part of the class, she showed us medical poster boards of the inside of a non-pregnant woman. Then she showed us views of 25, 29 and 36 weeks pregnant. We got to see how the baby grows and pushes all of a females body part up into her chest and "out of the way". And how the baby sits right on the bladder. Will looked at me and said, "I feel so bad for you".

The second part of the class was very relaxing. We gave each other massages on the floor in an effort to try to "learn" to relax. According to our instructor, Martha, Will needs to perfect the massage so he can keep me calm during labor. :) Trust me, he's a pro at it. :) Next week we learn our first breathing technique. Will is going to be out of town so I will be attending by myself.

It's hard to believe that in 10 weeks we will meet our daughter. I can't wait!!!

A sweet tooth for my growing appetite

Hmmm....so I'm beginning to think the old wives tale of having a sweet tooth if you're pregnant with a girl is true! I've definitely got a HUGE sweet tooth. Some of these cravings have led me to the purchase and consume the following (of course, none were consumed in less than 2 sittings (and I'm talking about the strawberries...)

1) a box of 12 Dunkin Donuts at 3 in the afternoon
2) a chocolate fudge ice cream cake with raspberry filling from Cold Stone Creamery (for Valentine's Day)
3) a dozen white, dark and milk chocolate dipped extra-large strawberries (also for Valentine's Day)
4) a bag of mini York Peppermint Patties.
5) Nestle ice cream bars (lite version)

And, I'm sure there are a few more that I have failed to recall at this point. :)

My photo at 7 months

OK - 28 weeks and 1 very long day intothe pregnancy. :) Here's what I look like right now. Give me another few weeks and I just might pop!!!

Not sure if I'll be able to fit into this tank top for my next photo. It has definitely reached full stretch capacity. It was beginning to cut off my circulation. hehehe

Just for kicks....take a look at my photo when I was 6 weeks.

Finally, the 3rd trimester!

Yea!!! I've reached the third trimester. I'm 28 weeks pregnant now and beginning the home stretch. We start our birthing class on Monday night. The class will held at the hospital and last for 6 weeks. Then we'll be really ready to have the baby, wink wink!!

Speaking of the baby, she probably weighs just over 2 pounds now and is between 14 and 15 inches long. I feel her moving all the time - especially when I'm relaxing at night around 8:30. She's quite a mover!

I'm really starting to go into panic mode...about just about everything and anything. :) Will the nursery be ready in time? Will I have a normal delivery? Is the baby ok? Is the throbbing pain that I constantly feel in my pubic area normal (yes, it is - it's my joints loosening and widening). Will I ever be able to hoist myself off of the couch without using the armrest? Did I really just eat more that Will for dinner (how is that possible?)? All very important questions!

The crib has been put together, I think Will is going paint this weekend and we'll be ordering the rest of the furniture in a week. So, the nursery is moving along quite nicely. Once the room is painted, I'll post a photo.

The doctors....

I had a doctor appointment earlier this week. It was uneventful. :) My belly is measuring fine and the baby's heartrate was in the 150s. I had a chance to meet with the final OB that works in the office. Like the others I didn't really care for her because she didn't really take the chance to get to know me at all. I'm just a chart to her.

So here's the tally on the doctors who could deliver our baby:
Dr. Rex Waterbury - older man, uninterested bedside manner, very blunt.
Dr. Jeannie Hilton - young woman, impersonal bedside manner, robot-like (but I've only met her once)
Dr. Renna Talreja - very young woman, looks fresh out of school to me. Hard to tell her bedside manner, but she definitely didn't ask me anything about how I'm feeling, etc...
Dr. Nancy Bradbury - by far the best - young woman, by far the best bedside manner, takes the most time with me as a patient. I hope she's working the day/night that I deliver.

Here's an update on our little one:
The baby weighs almost 2 pounds and is gaining ounces each week. She's probably around 14 inches from head to heels. She learning to practice how to breathe and her lungs are inhaling amniotic fluid. She won't get her first real breath until she's born.