Baby turning?

So I've been pretty darn uncomfortable since this past Sunday.  I think eating a large amount of salty foods over Thanksgiving holiday made my feet and hands swell a little bit because I had a hard time wearing both my engagement ring and wedding band.  It seems to be a lot better now and they are fitting just fine.

Back to my extreme discomfort.  I really don't even know how to describe it.  It isn't the same as Braxton Hicks because the "tight" sensation doesn't go away for any period like it would with contractions.  It almost feels like I'm being punished for having a relatively small belly because it feels like the baby wants more room than is available and he/she is lying entirely against the front of my belly.  I'm hoping this new discomfort is just because the baby is trying to flip to be head down - that would eliminate a lot of my worry about that.  If that is what is going on I hope it doesn't feel this uncomfortable for 7 more weeks.

Heading to flood Baby's ears with the sweet serenade of Michael Buble with Aunt Megan tonight, I'll try to blog a little more often!  Until next time, not much new to report! :)

Happy Birthday Mom!

Sounds weird, eh?

Melissa's birthday was yesterday. We had baby class (quite the present, I know).  She also had to work on her birthday - I must have done something wrong in telling her to go in yesterday. It was a long day for her but I know that she's looking forward to the long weekend. I'm not one for sappy stuff, especially on birthday's but this one is special. She's going to be a mom (and me a dad). Last birthday as a non-parent...

 

Melissa - I love you. We have been through a lot the last few months and I know that the next few will be even more exciting and probably even more rewarding. I want you to know that you are an amazing woman and I'm so proud that I can call you my wife. Keep on "cruisin" (who was she kidding?) and the baby will be here before we know it. Happy Birthday beautiful. I love you.

32 week check-up

Justin and I went to the usual OB office visit today: check-in, check weight, pee in a cup, get blood pressure, wait for doctor or midwife, measure belly, listen to heartbeat, ask questions...every time...  Justin hasn't been to the OB with me in quite some time and after the appointment he says, "So is that pretty standard for your visits?"  Haha, um yeah pretty much exactly every time.

Great things from this visit:

• I haven't gained that much weight since my last visit (which I think it awesome, especially because they aren't saying there is anything wrong with the growth of the baby or anything like that)


• The doctor we saw today was very nice, just like everyone at this office (Justin is taking credit for finding us a great OB-GYN office)


• She eased some labor fears by repeating multiple times how "nice and tall" we are and how she thinks I will do "just fine"


• She also eased my fears about the baby being breach because of my poorly positioned sacrum.  She told me not to worry about anything until 36 weeks- so we have another month.


• She (along with pretty much every other person we've seen) mentioned that the baby's heartbeat is 130-140 bpm - "Perfect"

I can't believe we only have 8 weeks left.  If you haven't put your vote in on the pool, see my previous post, or the link on the right side of the page!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!  I hope everyone spends some time letting the important people in their lives know how thankful they are to have them!

Baby Pool!!

So excited I think I found a really neat, free online baby pool!  I've been wanting to do this for a while so I'm pretty pumped.  You can take a guess at a bunch of things in the pool and the website will use a point system to calculate a winner.  Maybe Justin and I can come up with something really cool and exciting to send to the winner!  Make sure to enter your email address if you want a day of birth announcement since it seems that using the pool will be an easy way to send out a mass email about Baby Hales!

List of guess-able things:

• Birthday


• Birth time


• Gender


• Length


• Weight


• Hair Color


• Eye Color


• First Name


• Middle Name


• Comments

I left the names in there, not because I want you to guess what you think we will name them (although that's how you get points) I've liked hearing other people's name suggestions because sometimes it can give us good ideas!  I will also post new belly photos from the front and side tonight so those of you that want to see all angles to guess gender can do that! So have at it!  I'm excited to see everyone's guesses!

http://bebepool.com/melissamhales

In other news:

I am seriously having a rough week at work, and next week, although shorter is looking even rougher.  I'm also becoming increasingly uncomfortable this week.  Not just like "big" uncomfortable, like cramping and unable to bend over without gasping for breath uncomfortable.  I was so excited for yoga yesterday, but even that didn't help too much this week.  I couldn't do some of the poses due to the aforementioned discomfort, and my self diagnosed subluxing knee, subluxed so it is really hurting today.  I hope it's just the week.  Looking forward to a relaxing weekend and some time with friends and family Saturday night at a "Pigger!"

Birthing classes!

So this will probably be a quick post but we attended our first birthing class on Monday.  Justin said he is more excited afterwards, whereas the more I learn and see the more nervous I become...so hopefully he will be calm, cool and collected and pull through for me!  The instructor asked us to introduce ourselves and, among other things, say what we had least expected about this pregnancy.  I quickly came up with my response: the "pregnancy brain."  I mean seriously, I spent all afternoon on Sunday with my husband who I have known and been with for 6 years, and I didn't even notice he shaved his beard!  I'm embarrassed to admit it since I pretty much observe people for a living, but I'm sorry Justin!

My highlight from the class:

While watching the first of I'm sure many "birthing videos," which was relatively PG, there was some cheesy music and narration playing in the background.  I really can't even describe it, but the reason it was a highlight for me was because it made me realize that although Justin and I are VERY VERY different, there are some things that are so similar and always make me smile.  Such as Monday night, while watching this video, about 5 minutes in, all I could think was "man this is pretty cheesy with the music and the narrator."  The moment I'm thinking this, Justin squeezes my  hand to get my attention.  I turn to him and he whispers to me, "Is it just me or is this a little cheesy?"  Haha, exactly what I was thinking!  I love you!  More to come tomorrow maybe- including new photos!

Official Due Date....ONLY 1!

I had my 30 week doctor's appointment yesterday.  I saw a new nurse midwife who I haven't seen before.  She was really nice.  When she came in and sat down, she said "So, 30 weeks and 3 days?"  I was like, wait what?  Because you see, according to the doctor's until yesterday, I was under the assumption they were still using the January 24th due date and I would have been 29 weeks and 4 days yesterday.  So I said, "Oh, you guys changed the due date?"  She said maybe the previous midwife I had seen had done it since I wasn't really sure at all about the first day of my last period.  This seems like a stupid thing to be excited about but I'm thrilled I can stop saying "Depends on who you ask," when people ask me when I am due.  I'm officially only due on the 18th of January!

The midwife also told me the first thing that might not be a perfect easy pregnancy this week.  My iron levels are borderline low so I'm supposed to add more to my diet.  She said I can get it by eating things like spinach, beans, and ... liver.  I said, "So all the delicious things!" :)  She said she cringed every time she said it!  Anyways, looks like more steaks for me!  She also told me that I should get a flu shot and that we most likely will not get another ultrasound unless they need to see something (position) or if I go past my due date - to check everything out.

Also this week, we got our new stroller!  They said it would take 2 weeks to ship but that turned into 2 days!  So I went into nesting/cleaning mode on Thursday night.  I put together the swing, bouncer and stroller.  I pushed the stroller around our kitchen island (the only place where there is ANY room) and said, "Justin, how do I look?"  He told me I looked pregnant!

Hopefully today, I'll make some thank you cards for my generous friends and family and/or actually make my honeymoon scrapbook!  Here is a picture of some of our organized baby things in the den/nursery!

Baby Shower Weekend

My older sister, Megan, hosted my baby shower this weekend.  She is so creative and crafty that my younger sister, Lauren, and I are almost dreading planning her bridal shower - we have so much to live up to.  I should have taken more pictures of the awesome decor!

Lauren and one of my aunts (MEM) were flying down from Milwaukee to spend the weekend with us, my in-laws were driving up from VA Beach and quite a few of my friends in the area were coming to celebrate with us.  My mom also wasn't supposed to be able to come, but she flew down to surprise me - it meant a whole lot to me since she had to miss my bridal shower due to work.  Honestly, I felt so overwhelmed and loved it was so wonderful!  Just a simple little gathering of some family and friends talking about babies.  Baby Hales is lucky to have so many people who already love him/her and that love his/her mom and dad.  I'm a little less stressed now that we have some of the bigger things that we really need.  Here are some pictures from the weekend.  Thank you to my family and friends that could come, I wish I could explain to you how much it means to me!

New Shape!!

So you know how the other day I decided no more bare belly photos since I felt like my belly was funny shaped?  Well, today when I looked in the mirror before I got in the shower, I noticed something...my belly looks like it changed shape!  I went into work and told my boss Kate my thoughts from the morning, she said "Yeah...maybe."  But she also tells me EVERY SINGLE MONDAY that I grew a lot since the last time she saw me (read: over the weekend).  When she goes to see her family in Australia for 2 weeks, she's going to be shocked when she gets back!

So I came home and told Justin I think my belly changed.  I stood up and put one hand above and one hand below my belly and prepared to tell him what I thought, and he goes, "it looks lower."  AH- that's exactly what I was going to say!  I feel like the shape when from long, tall and flat to shorter and rounder!  I can't believe it wasn't just in my head!  Justin even noticed it. :)  We decided that maybe the baby has flipped to be head down and that's why the shape is a little different.  Anyways, nothing else exciting to report! :)