our baby boy's debut

When I was pregnant I loved reading other people's birth stories.  I knew I'd want to write ours down in detail for me and anyone else who runs by it, even if it turned out to be something I never expected!  Enjoy!

The date:
Wednesday November, 12th 2014

As of a few days prior we were ready to wait for contractions to get going and head to the hospital to push out a pink baby boy.  However, a few somersaults and a big surprise later, we found out this little peanut had other plans.  Baby boy was stuck in a complete breech position (aka: his head was up by my ribs instead of down by my pelvis) and he had little to no chance of flipping despite me doing everything short of handstands in the pool.  There was just so little room left! 

We woke up that morning with an appointment for a scheduled C-section at 12:30pm.  Surprisingly I slept incredibly well and felt very calm.  The night before we called our home teacher over for he and David to give me a priesthood blessing.  It promised me strength and peace and that everything would work out for the best to delivery our little boy.  I know that blessing strengthened and empowered me to get through that long and crazy Wednesday, and I am so thankful for it.

After waking up, taking one last long, indulgent shower, and getting last minute things thrown in hospital bags, we drove the long 5 minutes to Huntington Hospital.  I had always imagined making this drive fighting through contractions, running up to the maternity ward and excitedly informing them we were having a baby!  As it was, we were calm and collected.  We drove, parked, and walked to the maternity ward to check in for our pre-scheduled appointment.  I was fighting down some increasingly frequent contractions at this point that were slowly growing stronger, so I guess that part of my imagining was right ;)

When we were all checked in, the nurse took us back to triage where they would check my vitals and make sure everything was right before surgery.  They were just going to put the IV in when I reminded the nurse that I was only here getting a C-section because my baby was breech.  If he had flipped in the last few days (fingers crossed!), then we were a no go.  I repeat: a no-go.  She put the fetal heart monitor on my belly and wasn't immediately sure which way baby was positioned.  Two nurses then felt my belly and again couldn't tell if that bump up my ribs was his head or his bum!  At this point I was getting pretty excited - maybe he flipped!!  Maybe my hours of laying head down on our propped up ironing board were not in vain!  To be absolutely sure they rolled in the machine to do one last ultrasound.  At first things were still fuzzy, but not for long.

The verdict:

Baby boy was still very much breech. 

We were going through with the C-section.

I was very surprised with myself when I didn't start freaking out.  I just took David's hand and said, "Ok, lets do this."  They then got me outfitted in a stylish hospital gown (which was much more modest than I was expecting: bonus), hooked me up to an IV, and pumped me full of fluids. 

At this point, my anesthesiologist, Dr. Hill, came in to talk to us about my numbing process.  I'd always planned on getting an epidural when I went into labor and to be honest, a spinal block - what they do for a C-section - isn't far from it as far as the procedure goes.  However, I'd always planned on being distracted by waves of contractions to suppress my anxiety ;)  That aside, I will forever be grateful for a calm and kind anesthesiologist.  In my opinion he made the biggest difference for me that day.  While my doctor's hands were busy during surgery, he stood up by my head and patiently talked me through everything I was feeling and what to expect. 

After a quick pep talk with my OB, they sent Dave out to get scrubbed up and I was escorted over to the operating room with Jack Johnson playing softly in the background.  There is something completely surreal about walking into a room where surgery will take place.  The biggest medical procedure I've ever been through up to this point was getting my wisdom teeth extracted, so this felt like kind of a big step up.  But, honestly, this is really the best sort of surgery - the kind where you come out holding a sweet little babe!  Even so, I am endlessly grateful for wonderful nurses and doctors who were kind and thoughtful and kept me calm and collected. 

After getting my big shot (which was really not that bad - one stinging prick and then some pressure - I can handle that), I lay on the table waiting for the spinal block to completely kick in as Dr. Hill did his checks.  Only then did I have a sudden thought: Come on, I thought, there is no way some magical shot in my back would work well enough to numb me completely for a surgery that I would be wide awake for.  At this point Dr. Hill showed me a little sharp plastic tack that he would start poking me with: starting on my arm and then move down my side to poke incrementally lower, all the while asking when I couldn't feel it anymore.  At first I totally felt the pokes...but slowly they became more distant until I was sure he was jesting when he said he "poked" my stomach and asked if i felt it.  Modern medicine, I tell ya, it's pretty cool stuff.

At this point they mercifully draped me (who needs to see that, right?), and my OB, Dr. Matsuda, came in with his assistant, Dr. Henneburg.  Bless these two guys, I'm so grateful for their steady hands, light humor, and quick work.  I kind of thought someone would announce, "And now we're making the first incision..." or something like that, but they just got down to work, and that was probably for the best.  Soon after they started, Dave was lead back into the room and sat up by my head, held my IV-ed hand, and fed me encouraging words - all of which I very much needed.

The procedure started at 12:30 that afternoon and by 12:42 there was the cry of a little babe.  My doctor lifted our little wet boy over the draping for me to see, while I tried to sit up to get a better look.  Not so easy when your abs are numbed and won't respond to you, but it was worth every ounce of effort.

Baby boy's first picture - I just think it's amazing.  I love his little arms raised as if to say:

"Tada!  I'm heeeerre!!"

The nurses whisked our little one to a warming table to check him and clean him up.  Dave ran over to be with him and cut the umbilical cord, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit jealous.  Bless those kind nurses for their initiative to grab our camera to capture some of these sweet first moments for me to see.

After his scrub down, Dave and our little guy sat up by my head for most of the rest of the procedure, distracting me beautifully except for a bad case of the shakes that took me over due to the anesthesia.  I did experience some pretty intense referred pain in my shoulders during surgery (perfectly normal), the kind of pinch where you just really need someone to give you a massage, but staring at my baby boy helped immensely.

 I LOVE this picture of our new little bundle - our little gnome ;)

When I was almost done, Dave and our little guy were taken to the recovery room just ahead of me and I followed them out soon after.  Despite being in a bit of a medicated haze, holding my sweet baby boy for the first time was still the sweetest thing I've ever experienced.  His warm tiny body was just so fragile and new and perfect and right against mine.  And is it just me or are those little striped hospital caps the cutest things around?

It was love at first sight with our sweet little Clark Ernest Nemrow:

The rest of our afternoon was a bit of a blur of cuddles and visits and settling in.
It was a day to be remembered and one of the best of my life.

 We love Poppi and Grammy Tobler :)

Even though the debut of our little peanut didn't end up being anything like I had expected I am so grateful for the men and women that got our Clark here safe and sound.  I know C-sections can sometimes hold a pretty negative stereotype, but we had a great experience and ultimately I feel very comfortable that this is how things were supposed to happen.  

And now, 2 weeks later, it doesn't matter to me one bit how he got here, just that he is and he's ours and we love him to the moon and back.

baby journal: week 39

Well, as life is wont to do, the best laid plans of mice and mommas-to-be are apt to go awry.  Baby boy is still happy and healthy, my fingers feel like puffed up sausages/ 80-year-old arthritic claws, and my back is ready to say adios to this pulling weight on my tummy - these were all to be expected.  What wasn't in the game plan was going into the doctor Monday afternoon for one last ultrasound and the thumbs up for the all good when...things changed.  Baby boy is completely wonderful (and estimated around a whopping 8 pounds!), but he somehow has somersaulted himself to be completely breech.

Surprise!

Our doctor was shocked and, honestly, so were we.  With only a few shorts days left to my due date and a baby that our doctor is pretty sure will come this week, with very little likelihood that he will flip back on his own, he strongly advised us to call the hospital and set up a scheduled C-section for sooner rather than later.  Dave and I were pretty stunned and I would be lying if I said I didn't start crying some pretty terrified tears at this point.  A C-section was sooooo never in the cards, I hadn't even thought about it and, quite frankly, I was a mess about it for a while there.

Contractions?  Water breaking?  Pushing this little dude out?  Mentally I was so there.

Scrubbing up?  A surgery?  A spinal block?  Ummmm...what?  Yikes!

I'm so grateful for good doctors who are patient and understanding.  My OB sat us down and explained that if my water broke and I went into labor on my own with baby boy still bum down there could be some very real and very scary scenarios on the table.  Ultimately this is all about getting baby boy here in one pink and rosy piece so we decided the best thing to do was to pick this boy out a birthday and get things moving.  Scheduling for Tuesday just seemed like too crazy for me to even consider, so we scooted over to Wednesday and set go time for 11/12/14 at 12:30PM.

When we went home yesterday afternoon we started making calls and asking for added prayers in our behalf for this little nugget to turn head down again.  I mean, if we can avoid surgery, I gotta tell you, I'm all for it.  Then there was a host of Googling and some pretty funny contortioning going on all night long.  (And, no, laying on an ironing board is NOT comfortable, in case you were wondering)  Parts of me keeps thinking this or that is helping the little dude move, but really, who knows?? 

We'll have to see tomorrow...

baby journal: week 38

(Because every pregnant lady has to attempt to take that Pinterest inspired bumpin' silhouette picture - this was ours)

I gotta tell you, it's pretty weird to be getting to the end of a lot of my to-do list:

• Found a pediatrician - ✓
• Got things hung on the walls in the nursery - ✓
• Washed baby's bedding and newborn clothes - ✓
• Installed the car seat - ✓
• Got our hospital bags all packed - ✓
• Filled in the beginning of our baby book - ✓

All these check marks make me realize that baby boy could come, well, any time now.  And that is both terrifying and exciting and ridiculous. Also telling 15 people at Target that my due date is next week was all sorts of craziness.

My fingers currently feel like they're 80-years-old and arthritic.  I feel pretty good about making it almost all the way with my wedding ring intact, but I've been missing it like crazy these last few weeks!  Soon...

We saw the doc again this week and all is good and quiet on the baby front.  I'm officially dilated to 1cm now (in case you were wondering) and we set up an appointment to see him again on Monday next week.  My heart kind of skipped a beat, though, when our doc looked at his schedule and was like, "well, we might make it to our next appointment or we might now...we'll just have to wait and see what baby does!"  Eek!  That made me want to run home, clean the whole house, double/triple check my hospital bag, and get a pedicure asap.  Then again, all the little old ladies at church are assuring me that baby boy could totally come 10 days late, so, there's that ;)

The only kind of exciting thing around here is that I've finally had a few Braxton Hicks contractions - aka: fake contractions, but it makes me feel like we're getting somewhere!  They make my tummy feel like it's hard as a rock and don't last much longer than a minute.  Much different from how I imagine actual contractions feel - more like a cramp and squeezing sensation?  What do I know.  I guess we'll find out (hopefully) soon!!

baby journal: week 37

Well, apparently, 37 weeks is considered:

 officially full term.

What???  Holy cow friends, that means we're in the danger zone.  Baby boy could come any day between now and November 14th and it would really be go time.  Crazy times.

A plus about being pregnant in October?  You get to figure out a bumpin' Halloween costume.  Dave and I have been brainstorming for a while: bun in the oven & the baker, pregnant Kate Middleton & Prince William, Wilson the volleyball and a shipwrecked Tom Cruise from Cast Away, but we couldn't decided.  Then David, the creative genius, came up with this whole ticking time bomb routine and I couldn't resist.  I was a bit hesitant about strapping some fake TNT to my baby belly (suicide bomber much...?), but the joke was too good to pass up.  So Dave donned a Bomb Squad tshirt and we called it a night.  Thank goodness people at our ward Halloween party thought it was funny ;)

 

Aside from swollen fingers and slightly puffy ankles, I don't have a ton to complain about.  Well, if you don't count the back aches and the fact that my hips are trying to crack themselves apart, but, you know, I digress.

Things are really starting to feel real around here.  I did my first load of laundry full of tiny baby clothes and bed sheets and it killed me.  They're so small!  The nursery is slowly getting organized, we've got the swing all set up, and the car seat is ready to install.  Crazy times I tell you, crazy times.

I was pretty sure I'd start feeling claustrophobic around this point in my pregnancy and I totally have...just not for me, for baby boy!  I was sitting in bed the other night thinking about how he is just continuing to get bigger in such a small space, and how dark it is in there - not to mention the tiny opening he'd going to have worm himself through soon!  It made me get all sweaty and clammy just thinking about it for him!  Haha, I wasn't expecting that.

Lastly, and at the risk of being a little too TMI, Dave and I saw the doc this week and...I'm almost dilated to 1cm!!  I just feel kind of accomplished over here.  But don't worry, pretty sure baby boy is staying put for a few more weeks.  Or, at least, that's what I'm telling myself...the lady checking me out at Ross the other day assured me I was going to come sooner...um, thanks?

baby journal: week 36

Well, nesting is for sure a real thing and it has been doing the rounds in our little apartment lately.  Honestly, the only reason we will be really settled into this place before the one year mark (how long it's taken me in past apartments...) is because the nesting bug has had me up one side and down the other rearranging, organizing, IKEA running, cleaning, and re-rearranging (sorry Dave) - it's been chaos, but, you know, with better results.

We're getting to the final countdown over here, and, while I'm really excited, the more I read about childbirth the more I think, "um, yeah, you can just stay in there forever little guy..."

But really. 

On an educational note, I actually learned what an epidural is this week.  I've been counting on one since the beginning, but I guess I always just assumed an epidural was this big shot.  I mean, the only thing people ever say about it is that it's this huge needle (see above paragraph), but upon further research it now has become clear that it's this tube they stick in your spine with a huge needle and drip the meds through...how come no one ever mentions that little fact?  Still pretty sure I want one, but I'm super glad I figured out the deets beforehand.  Being surprised with a huge needle and tubing apparatus in the midst of active labor?  Not quite in my birth plan.

Speaking of birth plans, mine's still open for interpretation.  So far it's: call doctor, get to the hospital, get epidural, do what they tell me, come home with baby.  I like to keep things simple.

One of the funniest things now days is telling people I'm due in 4 weeks and seeing their eyes pop.  I may not look it, but there is for sure a little honeydew of a babe wriggling around in there, and he has an affinity for crowding my lungs - don't mind me while I pant after walking up one flight of stairs.  Seriously, one part of me is just excited for this babe to drop so I can breath easier.  Literally.

In an effort to actually be a responsible parent I've finally spent some time looking for pediatricians.  Seriously, it's been on my to-do list for, well, too long, and I've been avoiding it like the plague.  It's just that I hate finding new doctors!  I just want someone to tell me so-and-so is great, go to them.  (sigh) I've made the rounds at church and I didn't talk to a single momma who likes her pediatrician very much, or they have Kaiser for their insurance which is pretty much locked up tight if you're not in the loop.  So, last week, I begged my OB for recommendations and, honestly, the man was a saint.  He sat me down and gave me a solid three doctors to go look into, what he likes about them, their contact info, and a host of other things.  I could have kissed him.  Now I've done what I've been dreading and set up consultations, which we all know is to basically scope out the office, staff, and doctor's bedside manner.  We'll see how they go...

baby journal: week 35

Mind boggling fact of the week:

BABY BOY'S DUE DATE IS LESS THAN ONE MONTH AWAY

Yikes!

I pretty much had a mini freak out that made me run out to Target to buy a case of diapers and wipes, you know, just in case.  Part of me was pretty sure this whole being pregnant thing would never come to an end, so being able to see the end of the tunnel??  Crazy times.

Also, funny prego side effect?  Sweaty hands, and feet, but mostly hands.  Dave went to hold my hand the other night and exclaimed, "Ewww!  What the heck?!"  Good thing my easily offendable pregnant hormones weren't flaring, because that could have easily made me start bawling.  As it was, we keeled over laughing.  Hopefully that goes away after baby - both the hormones and the wet, clammy hands.

Strangely, I can totally feel my hips starting to loosen up.  And my knees.  And my ankles.  And my knuckles.   If the belly was no indication of baby boy soon making his grand debut, my wobbling prego waddle and clumsy feet should be.

Also, sadly, the swelling has gotten to me.  I was really hoping I'd be able to get through 9 months with my wedding ring intact, but, alas, it's become a bit snug.  It may have to be swapped out for a bit these days...

baby journal: week 34

Alright, lets talk about how heartburn is a real thing.  I've played with it on and off since I've been pregnant, but it's definitely ramping up here in the final weeks.  Please pass the Tums.

While Dave and I lounged in bed on Sunday morning, (hurray for Conference and staying in our PJ's till noon!) I promptly feel back asleep for another hour.  Apparently baby boy gave his daddy a good show: kicking and punching him in the side for at least 45 minutes.  If that doesn't make you smile, I don't know what will.

Also it's pretty hilarious when Dave catches baby boy doing a big kick - the ones where my stomach wobbles violently to one side.  His eyes turn into quarters and then he starts talking really fast about how much he can't wait to meet this kid.  Me too pal, me too.

baby journal: week 33

Well, it was kind of ridiculously crazy when the cutest dapper, bow tie clad, black gentleman at the market this week asked me when I was due and I said, oh you know, next month!  And then he proceeded to give me parenting advice, which was kind of equally as fantastic, but holy cow.  This little dude is making his debut in a month and a half (ish)!  Where does the time go?  Also I should probably get a move on de-storage-rooming that nursery of his...

Weekly highlights: we've hit the point where I can stub my pinky toe, but I have absolutely no capacity for bending down to inspect the damage.  Also this is seriously how I feel trying to roll off the mattress every morning.

Baby is about the size of a durian fruit, which, I have to say, is the most random fruit comparison thus far.  Also durian fruits are supposed to reek to high heavens, so thanks for telling me my baby is as big as a stinky tropical fruit bump.com.  Anywho, baby boy is probably closing in on the 5 lb range which my back is starting to tell me is a rather substantial amount of weight.  Hello pillows, heat pads, and back supports.

On the plus side, having an ample bump can make for meeting some seriously sweet people.  Like the darling lady who bagged my groceries this week and, upon noticing baby boy, grabbed me 5 extra bags so that none of them would be too heavy for me to carry.  This is LA people, we have to pay for paper bags, and she didn't charge me a thing.  What a doll. 

PS - my wedding ring is starting to get a little snug...darn.

baby journal: week 32

We got to go to the doctor again this week and watch baby boy squirm up on the big screen.  Holy cow, he is the most entertaining little bean - you know I could watch him all day.  Which is what I fully expect to do once he comes, by the by.  We saw him open and close his little mouth and twist about (in what room he has left - not much!), and I just about died.  Doctor gave us the thumbs up that all is well and we're going to start having appointments every 2 weeks!  Ah!  That means we're getting closer!  Crazy.  Baby boy is even set to go and in postilion with his head pointed down, which is nuts.  Who said we were ready for you come yet darlin'?  Hold your little horses a bit longer, alright?

I'm also starting to feel like, all of a sudden, I have this huge bump attached to me that came out of nowhere.  I was just going along, minding my own business and then all of a sudden I'm most definitely, unmistakably pregnant.  Surprise!  I'm having a baby.  Now everyone knows.  Baby boy is also favoring the left side, as of late, so this big baby bump is, every so sweetly, lopsided.  Also, since real estate is becoming scare, baby has transitioned from little kicks to a lot of...twisting?  Squirming?  Wriggling feels like the right word.  During the day it doesn't really register, but when I lay down at night to sleep?  Totally feels like I ate a bucket full of worms.  Kind of a weird sensation...

Dave and I also went to a class up at the hospital on nursing on Thursday night and I think it was a success.  It wasn't so much that the instructor told us anything super new, but more that she just reassured us that such and such is normal or this and that is to be expected and gave us some good resources for extra info.  I'm also pretty sure it was just good for Dave and I to sit down and get the same info on at least one topic concerning this babe.  At least we'll be on the same page about something!  Maybe?

baby journal: week 31

One of my favorite things to do now days is to look up what a sweet little preemie baby looks like born at such and such weeks.  Since hitting week 30 it's crazy how fully developed they look!  (ie: here)  I know I've said it before, but seriously, it's so crazy to think there really is a little baby in there squirming around, hiccuping, and growing like mad.  I'm starting to get so excited to kiss his fat little cheeks.

This week baby boy is, apparently, the size of a pineapple - a pineapple folks!  Dave and I went to the market on Saturday and I held one up to my belly and I gotta tell you, pineapples are kinda big.  Maybe it's his added growth that has now given baby boy the ability to tickle me...from the inside!  It is the strangest feeling.  He's also heating me up like a bonfire so the A/C is really non negotiable these days.

Big week highlight: we went and toured the maternity ward at the hospital we'll be delivering at.  I have to tell you, I felt so funny walking into the hospital while pregnant without any signs of labor.  It just felt a little anticlimactic.  The tour, however, was fabulous and they gave us as many cookies as we wanted.  Be still my prego carb craving heart.  (Yes, Dave grabbed four for the road.  Yes, we were the only ones that took that many.  Embarrassing.)  We weren't able to see the actual labor and delivery rooms because they had a full house that night, but it was good for my muddled pregnant mind to see what I could expect, be told where we should park, and what we needed to bring.  I have zero desire to be in labor and filling out forms so when they gave us everything we'd need ahead of time I knew we were a match made in heaven ;)  And, yes, I went home and filled out almost every form - fortune favors the prepared, right??

The cutest thing this week?  My bump has finally made it to that stage where it doubles as a shelf (not the cute part), so on Wednesday night when Dave called to tell me he was on his way home from work I put the call on speaker and placed my phone on my new found phone rest.  And when Dave started talking?  Baby boy started kicking like crazy.  He knows his daddy already.  Kind of adorable.

baby journal: week 30

This week has been characterized by hip pain - holy hannah keep you up at night kind of stuff - and fatigue.  Ah, third trimester, it will be a nice thing when we are through with one another, no?  But by then I'll be a sleep deprived, hormonal mess, so I guess you just have to pick your demons.  And, ok, the hip pain was really brought on by a sub-par mattress I slept on over the weekend.  When I got home and back to my memory foam mattress topper?  Heaven.  Sweet, sweet heaven.  I even (almost) slept through the night.  Miracles do happen.

We also took a little mini babymoon/3rd anniversary trip this weekend down in Laguna Beach.  Needless to say, it was delightful.  Dave and I have done a lot of vacationing the last month or so, but it was great to get away just the two of us for a few days and enjoy the sun and sand.  Dave had to enjoy the waves for both of us though, as they were crashing a little too high and hard to tempt baby boy and me...

Also worth noting: I am officially running at a higher body temp than David.  Normally I run southward of 98.7 and David is a furnace, but these days I'm sleeping sans blankets with the air blasting while he's snuggled under the covers.  It's really strange actually.  Good thing summer is turning into "fall" around here (the forecast for next week is in the triple digits - ugh), maybe I'll get a little bit of a reprieve soon!  Or maybe not...

baby journal: week 29

Week 29, aka: bump goes to Utah.  And what with the plethora of good food we ate whilst up north, the bump might have come home with a little extra padding...

Sorry, not sorry.

One nutty thing that clicked together in my head this week was the fact that baby boy really looks like a little baby in there now!  A girlfriend of mine delivered her baby girl prematurely a few weeks ago (mom and baby are doing fine) and posted the baby's picture at 29 weeks out and about in the world, and holy moly!  She looks like a for real and serious little baby!  Of course, this is silliness.  What else would that little karate chopping machine in my womb look like, but it's still crazy.  I showed Dave those pictures and his eyes got as big as saucers - "Seriously?  That's what our baby looks like right now??" He had an even harder time wrapping his mind around it than I did.

Another milestone in the holy crap it's third trimester and there's so much to do checklist is we got the crib set up and put together!  It looks pretty crazy in our little second bedroom (which is presently half nursery/ half storage space - add that to the checklist), but things are starting to feel real around here.  We also ordered our glider so check, check, and check.

Baby boy is starting to have some REAL opinions about my sitting positions around here.  It's pretty funny trying to find a posture where we're both comfortable.  Slouching appears to be a thing of the past.

Also hilarious is how little routines have had to change to accommodate my growing bump.  Example: checking out at the grocery store.  I used to unload from the front of the cart, then scoot around the side to get to the back of the cart to push it through to the bagger.  Not anymore.  That narrow aisle was not built to graciously hold both baby boy and myself.  Que a whole lot of squirming and finagling and a funny look from the cashier. 

Weekly highlight: I'm pretty sure I felt baby boy having a hiccuping fit on Monday night.  And I'm even more sure Dave and I caught him at it on Tuesday night.  It's silly how much I enjoyed it.

baby journal: week 28

David and I have been having a little debate about how far along I am.  By all accounts, I am 7 months pregnant (which sounds sooo much better than 28 weeks btw).  BUT, according to everything I've ever been told, pregnancy is only supposed to last 9 months.  But my doctor says pregnancy lasts 40 weeks.  But one month = 4 weeks and thus 40 weeks = 10 months (??) And since my due date is November 14th that means I'll be pregnant for three more months, right??  I'm confused.

After a tough induction into the third trimester (cankles//traveling//sunburns), things have started to settle down and my most prevalent complaint now days is sleep.  Why oh why are you so illusive?  There were two sweet, sweet nights in a big queen-sized bed in Michigan where I slept blissfully through the night.  I have yet to recreate said miracle, but it was amazing.  Most nights my body pillow and I do the tango while I debate about if I'm hot enough to actually have to get out of bed to turn the A/C up or not.  I wouldn't call it restful, and it makes an afternoon nap unavoidable, but such is life.

Baby boy has also decided to start crowding my abdomen, making for weird feelings at the top of my ribcage and shortness of breath an ever present reality.  It's kind of hilarious sometimes when I lie down to "go to bed" (ha! see above) and I'm more or less panting like a dog.  We get a good laugh out of that.

Dave and I also decided that the best idea for a 28-week pregnant lady is to hop in a Suburban full of my sister's college necessities and drive 10 hours up to Utah for Labor Day weekend.  I'm not saying I regret it (they had me sittin' pretty in the backseat with a million pillows and a footrest), but after 9 hours of bumpy roads, my bump was beginning to get a bit sore...hopefully baby boy is a fan of roller coasters.

baby journal: week 27

This is a sneak peak of the gorgeous maternity pictures my sister in law snapped for me to document little bean and I whilst out eastward.  We had a great time trying to hide my sun scorched legs and showing off baby boy.  Fun times.

The craziest thing that happened this week is that I am officially in my third trimester!!  Holy moly, where does the time go?  Can't believe we're in the final chapter of this whole thing and yeah, maybe we should get that nursery put together, huh?

An update on my Flintstone feet: elevation, foot massages (bless you David), and drinking absurd amounts of agua did the trick.  I now have ankles again and fingers crossed it stays that way till baby boy comes. 

My first official act as a 27 month along, third trimester pregnant lady was to take a 4 hour red eye flight to Michigan - smart, huh?  It actually was pretty painless as I slept for two hours, got up to walk the aisles, and then slept the next two hours, but it was still pretty humorous.

Whilst in Michigan I was much more liberal with the SPF and didn't get toasted a single bit, but oh did my shins peel.  That was delightful.  Baby and I discovered we liked biking around little South Haven - perhaps mostly because it was very flat terrain - and floating on my tummy out on a raft out on the lake.  That felt heavenly.  Cousin baby Tobler is also the size of rutabaga (has anyone ever actually seen one of those?), and it was fun to compare bumps with Kristin for the last time before babies come!     

baby journal: week 26

(Let it be known that this is probably my most favorite bumpin' picture we've taken thus far - just sayin'.)

This week we headed down for part I of a two part, two week, two family vacation series.  Part I belongs to the Nemrows and beautiful San Clemente, California aka: my favorite beach pretty much ever.  Just can't beat it. 

Sadly, this picture is the calm before the storm.  I'm normally really, really good when it comes to sunscreen (burns = so not worth it), and as you can see, my alabaster skin is on the glowing side of the spectrum.  Read: it hasn't seen much sun since last summer (or who knows when).  I was good and lathered up my arms, back, face, chest, shoulders, wore my hat, sat under the umbrella, all those good things...I just kinda missed my legs.  Sigh.  They got toasted.  Most especially my ankles.  I should have documented the damage, but it was not a pretty sight.  To justify me a little bit, apparently while pregnant you become more susceptible to the sun, but that didn't help ease the pain.

I woke up the morning after this picture was taken in such crazy, tight, ruby red skinned agony that David had to help hobble me over to the loo and back.  No fun.  Also, no fun is when your pregnant ankles decide to freak out and become balloons because of your traumatic sunburn.  Hello kankles, you are real.  Plus I just got a manicure and painted my toes a lovely shade of violet which clashed quite nicely with my tomato sausage feet.  Moral of the story?  Cover up kids.  Being burned in the pits.   Thank goodness for aloe, numbing spray, and the really nice concierge lady who sent a bagillion pillows to our room so I could prop up all my puffy extremities in peace.

Ah pregnancy, you are so glamorous.

baby journal: week 25

Well, it happened.  This week was the first time I tried on something from my pre-pregnancy wardrobe and it woefully didn't fit.  I'm not feeling too bad for myself as I've made it 25 weeks with no problems (and trying on a pre-prego pencil skirt for church on Sunday really was a long shot), but it was  mile marker.  This belly of mine has become a nice little bump and, while I feel huge when I look down at my feet, when I turn sideways and look in the mirror it's never as big as I think it is. 

Sleeping is still a constant dance - I swear it's like clockwork.  Every single night I wake up at the same time and must switch the side I'm sleeping on.  Right to left, left to right, doesn't matter, but somehow 4 hours is the max about of time that baby boy will put up with one position.  I'm not sure if he's punching me in the ribs to give me the memo or it's some kind of mama spidey sense, but it sure isn't helping this whole getting a good night's rest deal I'm trying to get going over here.

We saw the doc on Wednesday for my 25-week check up and all is well.  We got to see our little guy on the ultrasound (probably for the last time - *sniff*) and the doctor got a really crazy snapshot of him looking at the screen where you can see the outline of his little nose and the shadows of both his eyes.  Honestly, it's totally nutty to see his face (in very blurry detail), and I'm getting even more excited to see the real thing!

I also took my glucose test at this appointment to make sure I haven't developed gestational diabetes and all that jazz.  I'm fine getting blood work done and all that, but that sugary drink they give you?  Bleh.  Think flat lemon-lime syrupy sugar water.  Not exactly refreshing, but we pulled through.  Fingers crossed I pass with flying colors so I don't have to retake it :P

baby journal: week 24

Some form of a nesting impulse has finally come to light and we're working on the nursery over here.  We nailed down the crib pretty fast, but I'm having a hard time finding a rocking chair/ glider that I like.  The hunt, as they say, is on.  Here are few options I'm considering: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4.  We shall see.  I'm also on the lookout for a nice little dresser to make into a changing table.  Once those guys are nailed down then it's the fun stuff: mobiles, pictures, painting.  Is it time for those things yet, please??

Baby boy is getting stronger and stronger all the time.  Dave keeps being so surprised by the force of his kicks which is so fun to watch.  I also informed Dave the other night, that the average length of a baby is around 20 inches, and I think his jaw dropped a little.  Gleaning some new-found mama respect around here.

Right now, the little guy is about the size of a cantaloup (holy huge), but Dave and I had a brilliant, 11:30 PM idea.  Instead of measuring how big the baby is by comparing it to a piece of fruit, we should start comparing it to candy instead.  You know, you start with your baby the size of Nerd and then work your way through Laffy Taffy's, Milky Ways, one of those giant gummy bears that no one could actually eat, and end with something like Fruit by the Foot.  It's genius.  We couldn't believe no ones ever thought of this ;)

baby journal: week 23

The 3rd trimester is looming ever closer around here, but the fatigue thought it'd jump the gun by a month or so and get a move on around here.  Afternoon naps, welcome back old friend.

My bump is still staying pretty modest, which is fine by me, but we made a fun discovery a week or so back.  According to my grandma Tobler, her mother - so, my great grandma Pendleton - carried her baby's pretty nonchalantly as well, not showing much of a bump for most of her pregnancy.  So, maybe this is genetic!  Fun to make connections.

My body also doesn't seem to be able to make a decision about these hormones of mine.  Some days my face is clear and free of all spots, and the next?  12-year-old preteen pizza face.  Oh hormones, you are an adventure (that's a nice way of putting it...).

baby journal: week 22

Well I did it, I finally caved and started shopping for nightgowns, because let's face it: I'm so over waistbands.  During the day?  Fine, I'll put up appearances.  But at night?  No way pal.  I want to be comfy, comfy, comfy.  So, yeah, I bought a few caftans - and I'm not even sorry about it.

Sleep has started to become elusive even with a mattress topper, body pillow, plus a few pillows besides.  It's a sad business...we need to figure that one out.  I guess when you've got a house guest as big as a papaya (Dave: that's huge!) sitting in your abdomen this can't be too shocking.

David has informed me that I've started to waddle a bit, but I don't think that boy knows what waddling actually is.  I'm still walking fine and dandy, thank you very much, sweetheart.  Except when I go up and down the stairs.  No judging.  Stairs get to me.

It's been funny to see what my body can and can't handle anymore.  For instance, I got down and scrubbed our tub earlier this week and then the next day I couldn't shake an achy back.  Silly, yes, but there it is.  I'm also getting winded much more easily than before, but I've read that's normal (don't lie to me now internet!).  I'm sure this is just the tip of the ice burg...

PS - Did you know I'm 6 months along??  Gosh that sounds like a lot...

baby journal: week 21

Well, we saw the doc this past week, and that little baby of ours is still for sure a little man.  When we found out the gender a few weeks ago, the doctor gave us just a bit of pause when he said he was 80% sure we were having a little boy, but not to go painting the nursery blue till after our next ultrasound.  Well, confirmed.  That right there, ladies and gents, is a bouncing baby boy bump.

Also, I gained, um, 6 pounds since my last appointment a month ago...say what??  I blame it on my mother-in-laws delicious cooking over the 4th of July weekend ;)  I couldn't resist!!  Pass the fruits and veges please.

Baby boy is weighing in at just shy of one pound and about the size of a pomegranate, which is pretty darn big you guys!  I mean, going from seeing an ultrasound where he was just a tiny little bean to this week where his whole body was almost too big to fit on the monitor screen?  So crazy how he's changed and grown.  And that nose?  I'm betting this little guy looks just like Dave when we meet him in just a few short months!  Doc checked on all the vital bones and body parts and so far so good: two legs, two arms, fingers, toes, head.  Just what we like to hear.  Little dude was also being a show off and crossing and uncrossing his cute little legs for us and twisting all about flailing his tiny arms.  Looks like he's inherited his daddy's dance moves ;)

In other silly pregnant news, a stranger in the checkout line noticed I was pregnant for the first time.  My bump has been super gradual in showing himself, and I don't own too many tighter tops so it's not always obvious, but it was so fun to have someone notice without me telling them!  I'm sure this will be something that become more and more annoying as I get bigger and bigger and bigger, but for now?  It's the funnest.