24 Weeks

I know I said it before, but I just can't get over how fast the weeks are going now!! There's no turning back . . . haha. Liam is growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (like an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop (wonder if he liked that delicious curry at the Thai House last night!? He better learn to like Asian food!). His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

We had our monthly doctors appointment yesterday(have I mentioned that Brian hasn't missed one of these and always asks a few questions - good daddy!). I was supposed to have a massage first but they cancelled it. I was disappointed but rescheduled. Everything "looks great!" I even got praised for my weight. I told her that my hands and wrist bother me in the night and that I usually wake up with numbness in both. I also told her how my feet hurt so kill me at the end of a busy weekend or long work day. She said "yep, that's pregnancy!" And since my blood pressure is perfect there is no cause for alarm. I got the script to do the glucose test so I will try and get that taken care of next week. The instructions are to not eat anything "sugary" for breakfast (I'll have to skip the blueberry muffin frosted mini wheats - have you had that? Yum-o!). You go to the lab and drink a substance and then sit in the waiting room for an hour before they check you. That will be fun! If your results come back at all questionable then you have to go for a three hour test. Fingers crossed that doesn't happen.

We signed up for birthing classes at Winter Park Hospital (where we are delivering). Those start on June 11 and are every Thursday from 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. for five weeks. 9:00 p.m.!? Oh man, I will be so tired! Ha. June 11th is my Mom's birthday, but she is also having some surgery that day. It's a preventative surgery that hopefully will save her from getting cancer, but still is scary. I know she doesn't want to make a big deal about it, but I am still going to post about her recovery . . . we hope it's speedy! Liam will need his Grammy strong!

We got the crib this week! We moved it into the garage in the box, so I can't tell you if I love it or not. We have some other things to do in the room before we put it together and get it in there. Also got the bedding (love it!) and the glider "has shipped." Have I mentioned on here before that the room is already painted a yummy light blue (a color I actually used in my apartment and wasn't ready to part with so did a room in the house that color too) and will be staying that way! No painting - yay!!

What else . . . I feel like we have been SO busy!! We purchased life insurance policies yesterday! Does that officially make us grown up or what!? Grown up in some ways, but still giggled when giving urine samples to the nurse that came to the house. Oh well! That reminds me when I mentioned to Brian that there was a lactation class that went along with the birthing classes and the husbands are encouraged to attend he proclaimed "BOOBIES!" So there you go . . .

23 weeks

Liam is now more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound - about as much as a mango. I read that we should turn on the radio and dance to the music that with his sense of movement well developed by now, he can feel me dance. FUN! We'll have to do that tonight. I can see my stomach moving . . . often! He seems very active. Hmmm, an active boy. That's no scary! It says that loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze him when he hears them outside the womb. I am sure the hair dryer is already familiar!

I am waking up with numb hands all night long. And only one pair of shoes actually feel "good." I guess swelling is going to be my main issue. I have gotten used to the fire ball (heartburn) in my throat. That's all I can complain about . . . and should complain about!

I ordered a crib!! And a glider. Oh, and the bedding. I can't wait to get he room set up. I will share pictures in a few weeks!

Things Strangers Say . . . No 1

This is the first in what I think will be a long list of funny things people say to me. It's still weird that people are looking at me now and KNOWING that I am pregnant . . . not questioning if I am just gaining some weight!

A perfectly dressed, 40-something year old man got in the elevator at the same time as me this morning. He pushed "14," final destination: prestigious law firm. I felt him staring at my belly. All these thoughts flashed through my head . . . "you look important. do you have kids? did your wife look like this? did you even pay attention to her if she did? do you have a hot nanny? do you think I am a mess? Are you wondering if I am really pregnant or just drank too much beer?" Then he catches my eye and states . . .

"WHOA, you sure didn't plan this well. You have the entire summer!"

Not only did he know I was pregnant, but it seemed that he knew about how far along I was. I misjudged the important looking man and my thoughts quickly went to "caring father, making a living!" Ha.

22 Weeks

The weeks are moving a lot faster now! I am starting to think about cribs and birthing classes and getting our bathrooms remodeled (for a bathtub) and back up sitters and breast pumps and . . . these are the things that keep me up at night! That's me . . . worry, worry, worry!

Today Liam is about 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash - yum!) and almost 1 pound. He's starting to look just like a miniture newborn with all the right pieces and parts! His lips, eyelids and eyebrows are becoming more distinct and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums (crooked I am sure - orthodonics in our future?). His eyes have formed, but the irises (the color part) still lack pigment.

I feel REALLY good this week. My wrist pain is less and my feet aren't bad either. A weekend of rest really helped! We went over to Mom and Dad's for Easter Sunday and I floated in the pool for a long time. I have a feeling I will be there a lot this summer! Mom made an incredible dinner (ham, the best funeral potatoes, homemade applesauce, asparagus, green beans . . .) and I didn't do a thing. Thank you!! I kept thinking about Easter next year . . . with an 8 month old (by the way, that is about my favorite "baby" age!). I am sure we will dress Liam up in some ridiculously cute outfit and take a million pictures. Life will be so different and so much fun! Then the following year we will hunt Easter eggs and the Easter bunny will become a favorite character - up there with Santa and the Tooth Fairy! I am excited to bring back some childhood traditions and make some new ones!

Not much else to report. Next drs appointment is in 2 weeks and I get a massage at the med spa before my appointment. This is the free 30 min one that they provide, but I still have the one hour one that Brian gave me for my birthday! Oh, and Brian took Miso for his one year appointment yesterday (what a great cat dad!) . . . he weighs 12.5 pounds and besides a little vision impairment (poor little guy needs glasses) he is in tip top shape. The vet said we are doing a great job. Hopefully a glimpse into how we take care of the baby!!

Bump!

Week 17 on the left. Week 21 on the right. That's a belly!

Keeps me laughing.

I keep thinking of something that some drunk girls messaged me about recently . . . Kelly and her college friends had a girls' weekend this past weekend. They are all successful mommies. Most of two, but some of three! They left me a message one night that went something like this . . .

Oh my god, you have a penis inside of you. Haha. Heehee.

I guess I do!? Haha. But that isn't the funny part to me. The funny part is that when thirty something moms get together for a weekend of fun, away from their families, they turn into 12 year old boys!!

I can't wait to join in the fun next year! Thanks ladies.

Hello, My Name Is . . .

LIAM ROBERT DINSMORE

Brian and I decided last night that we didn't want to wait to share the name. We started thinking "what if something happens to the name" "what if someone else 'takes' it." We got kinda panicky and thought we just needed to get it out there. Haha. I already can't imagine his name being anything else!

21 Weeks

Over the half way bump! Speaking of bumps . . . I think my belly is starting to get pretty big. We are taking a photo tonight and you can see for yourself.

I still can't get over how cool the ultrasound was last week. Can we do that every week? I just want to check in on the little boy! We are, oh so, close to annoucing the name. We were thinking of waiting till after he is born to prevent any nasty comments (why do people do that?) but everyone asks and it would be fun to start using it. And if you went to third grade with a fat kid that had the same name - we don't care!

The baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. It says that I will soon feel like he's practicing martial arts as his initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. I already feel this AND I can see my belly jumping. Brian still hasn't seen it. We both stared at my belly for about 30 mins yesterday and nothing! OOO . . . it just happened. He knows I am talking about him.

Another thing that is happening as I type . . . my wrists hurt. They really hurt! As mentioned below. I have read a lot and think that it must be carpel tunnel. Icing has been suggested. I will try.

In other news . . . we got a new dresser and chest of drawers this weekend. They are big and beautiful. We got all of Brian's clothes into the chest and made room in the closet for his clothes that are hanging in the baby's room. I got all of my stuff out of a dresser in the baby's room and into the new dresser. I made Brian try on everything he owns and we made decisions together. We took a huge amount of stuff to Goodwill (54 t shirts to start - oh my). It felt SO good. I feel really organized and ready to decorate the room. Brian is already planning the art and mom is crocheting!! I am art directing everyone. Ha. We continue to research cribs (thanks everyone for your input, it has been helpful).

Isn't it a little early . . .

. . . too feel so miserable!? Ut oh. Today is making me nervous. My right foot is swollen and hurts so badly that not one pair of shoes I own is comfortable. I woke up at 2:00 a.m. with swollen, painful hands. WHAT IS THAT?! This can only get worse, right? Maybe it is just because I worked so hard this weekend and now I am paying the price. Looks like I won't be able to clean the entire house anymore - without help. Darn.

By the way . . . Moms . . . what shoes did you wear while pregnant?! I need something somewhat professional. I am starting to think that black ballet slipper type are my only option. I bought flats on Friday, wore them around the house a little and they are really uncomfortable! I need something soft.

Do you need this stuff?

I am starting to shop for things for the room. I have a couple questions. Leave me a comment and tell me what you think about . . .

1. Do you think we need (did you use) a rocker/glider? There really isn't enough room in the baby's room for one, but am I going to wish I had one?

2. Crib . . . anything I need to know? Is a drop side necessary? I found one that I really like and it has this little changing table built in (what a space saver) and later it becomes a toddler bed and the changing table becomes a bookshelf. I don't really want a changing table but someone else (Brian, Mom, etc) might prefer it so I thought this was the perfect solutions.

Anything else you care to share about car seats, strollers, etc?! Leave me a comment or shoot me an email!!

It's a boy!!!

Everything looked perfect in the ultrasound. He is measuring 21 weeks and 4 days. Not 20 weeks like we thought. I knew he/we/I was further along. We have an appointment at the doctor tomorrow. I wonder if they will adjust my due date. Here are some pics!