Storm = No Sonogram

Well, first let's point out that today is Dec. 13th, and I made it through school today; just one more day!

Next, I will let you know that we won't be getting any updates/measurements of Baby Lepori this evening. The ultrasound technician canceled all the appointments for today because she could not make it in to work.

Maybe she lives further west, but I think that is lame. I went to work all day and made it home just fine. It snowed for a while, pretty heavily in fact (my students were completely distracted/excited), then changed to sleet. Anyway, it got cleared from the major roads. People are, thankfully, driving cautiously, so my commute home was just fine.

So, when I called the doctor's office and found out my appointment was canceled, I was asked if I wanted to reschedule. When I said yes, they replied that the soonest appointment was for Wednesday morning at 10:40! Whatevs... but I did take it. By that time I'll have had another check-up (Monday evening) and the due date will have come and gone...

Back to school: My students had a Baby Shower for me this afternoon. It was really cute, and they did a great job of keeping it a secret. They gave me a basket of books-- one (or sometimes more than one) from each child with really cute notes inside them (i.e. "To Mrs. Lepori and Baby Lepori, This was one of my favorite books when I was a baby. I hope you enjoy reading it together." or "To Baby Lepori, I hope you enjoy this book. Your mom is the best.")

I am still a bit freaked out that tomorrow is my last day. I am kind of sad, but on the other hand I am so looking forward to meeting Baby! Also, yesterday my custodian informed me that he's looking forward to winning a bunch o' money if I come to school tomorrow. Funny.

Last thing: I had a great conversation with the teacher who just returned from her maternity leave. She asked if we knew the gender. When I replied no, but that we'd gotten lots of "boy" predictions, she said, "It doesn't matter, because when it's a girl, they'll all say, 'I knew it was a girl all along'." She is so right, because they are all already changing their tune regarding Baby's "immanent" arrival. No more of that silly "Your lips have changed," talk. In fact they're all saying I haven't dropped yet. So funny.

Almost 39 Weeks

I had another doctor's appointment this evening. I've gained about a pound since last week and Baby's heart rate is good (Baby did try to evade the Doppler again!) as is my blood pressure. However, the doctor was mildly concerned about my "tiny belly," so she ordered another sonogram/ultrasound. I go on Thursday evening. I'll be sure to keep you posted, but I'm not too worried. By the way, Baby is moving around right now. I just ate some of the gingerbread cookies that Dan made... Baby likes cookies!

Baby "Brush"

So Dan woke up on Saturday morning all mad at me because of a HILARIOUS dream he had Friday night. In said dream, his mom called him.

Here is their dream conversation:

Mom: Are you upset?
Dan: No, why?
Mom: Because Jen and her sisters decided to name the baby Brush.
Dan: Hell no! We are NOT naming the baby Brush!!

Later in the dream he confronts me saying, "I thought you liked traditional names!" However, for some CRAZY reason, in the dream, I was fond of Brush.

IT CRACKS ME UP in real life.

4th Grade Baby Predictions

Today we created a chart at school. The students' names went down the left and across the top were the headings: gender, date, weight, length, name suggestions. My darling kiddos then got to write in their predictions for Baby. I think only about 5 of the 19 said "girl," and a large number chose 12/21 as the birthdate. Most of the weight was in the 7-8 pound range although there were some great amazing predictions like 13 and 14 pounds (let's hope not!). My personal favorite column is the length because the kids were HI-larious! I think the range is something like 6 inches to 15 inches. Yes, Baby is going to be a heavy short little thing. What?! So funny!

There were some good name choices. I was amazed when one person wrote "Dalton" as that is actually a name in my family! There were lots of Matts, and a few cute names as well. The funniest one was Tomantha which, in case you haven't guessed already, is a combination of Tom and Samantha. You gotta love fourth graders!

Only six more days of school

So, I am in the middle of conferences. Actually, that's not true. I only have four conferences left; I've had 16 already (for those of you thinking, but you only have 19 students, I had to confer with one couple seperately about their son... no biggie). Anyway, it has been lovely to discuss these excellent students with their parents who have had kind things to say about me and my promised return in May. They've also given some Baby advice which has been helpful, amusing and funny (funny because we're supposed to be discussing their fourth grader, not my as-yet-unborn baby).

I am still sad/freaked out about leaving school. I cannot believe that a week from tomorrow is my last day. It will be so odd to be home waiting for Baby while someone else is teaching my class.

Meanwhile, Dan received many nice items today at a shower at his workplace. We now own a combination tummytime mat/shopping cart seat mat; a drum into which you put shapes; and a BEAUTIFUL hand knitted blanket as well as some give certifs. Very nice.

Also, the nursery is looking FABULOUS. I will take pictures tomorrow after we tidy it up from all of Dan's little projects.

My tummy is ENORMOUS. I'll post pictures of it soon as well.

38 Weeks and Going Strong!

Well, all seems to be going well for Baby and Mommy Lepori. I had a checkup on Monday evening at which I impressed the woman doctor (whom I hadn't seen previously-- there are so many in this practice!) with my lack o' stretch marks and report of feeling great. Baby tried to evade the doppler, so it took us a little while to hear the heartbeat. I managed not to freak out because I had felt Baby moving around so much whilst waiting for the doctor to come in to the room, so I knew he/she was fine.

I was rather heavy on the ol' scale, but still not as heavy as two weeks ago. Plus this was a different office and thus a different scale. Baby's HR was 130-something this week.

That's pretty much it for the medical news.

People are giving me less of a hard time about Baby's impending arrival. I do think I've dropped some now, but I also know that can happen weeks (not days or moments) before delivery. I still feel great, and I think I'm walking fairly normally. Even the woman who has been accusing me of waddling for weeks conceded that I'm not. Funny. The overwhelming opinion seems to be that Baby is a boy, but we'll see... they all have a 50% chance of being right!

Meanwhile, Dan is almost finished painting Baby's second dresser (which I believe will be full of blankets-- we have received LOTS in the past week). It is BEAUTIFUL. When he finishes the trim, I promise to post some photos.

Oh, a little while ago Baby pushed out just above my bellybutton and totally made the top part of it stick out. It was so funny.

I repacked our hospital bags last night... I'm getting pretty excited to meet this child!

Possible Nesting Update

OK, I still maintain that Dan is the biggest "nester" ever. This weekend has been no exception. Yesterday we enjoyed a delicious waffle breakfast after sleeping in because Dan has been staying up really late downloading all our CDs into itunes so that I can make my ultimate labor mix for the ipod (his idea-- a good one). Anyway, over waffles we decided on our errands for the day: visiting the Unfinished Furniture store (to look at shelves for Baby), Home Depot, the tree farm (to mark, not cut, our tree), and the baby stores (to exchange/return some items). We also mapped our stops to make for the most logical and direct route in these times of high gas prices.

Anyway, after seeing some lovely but WAY expensive UNFINISHED furniture, we decided to go with Plan B. Or maybe it was Plan A and unfinished furtniture was Plan B. Anyway, Dan bought hardware and lumber and set about putting shelves up on the wall near Baby's dresser/changing table. Also, he decided to re-paint the other extra dresser (that I had used and which was Ernie's as a child).

Today Dan hung the shelving hardware, stained the shelves, and almost finished painting the dresser. It is white with green drawer fronts (that match the curtains) and white handles. The green is done, but the white needs at least one more coat. The shelves are ready to go up once they dry (and they look fabulous). Baby has a handy Daddy!

Now, unlike past weekends, whilst Dan has been busy with these Baby projects, I've actually done something other than just laundry (although I did that as well). I put away all the latest baby stuff from Thursday's school shower, vacuumed the entire house, cleaned the bathroom, cleaned the kitchen, dusted the living and dining rooms (with Pledge-- love it), put away most of our framed photos to make room for Christmas stuff, put out some Christmas stuff, and worked on report cards. Impressive, eh?

37 Weeks and All is Well

So today is the 13th anniversary of Dan and I meeting. Just in case you wanted to know.

Anyway, this has been a busy and good week. On Monday my fourth grade colleagues came to my classroom after school to tell me that I had to change my doctor's appointment that was scheduled for Thursday. Allegedly at lunch that day, when someone was asking me about how things were going, when I was seeing the doctor again, etc., and I mentioned my Thursday afternoon appt., the whole room flipped out, but I missed it. Bottom line: my school shower was planned for Thursday. Thus, I called the doctor's office and rescheduled for Wed.

The doctor's visit was good: My weight is 154.5 lbs. This is less than the weight from Thanksgiving Eve's appointment (when it appeared I had gained A LOT in two weeks), so the nurse, doctor and I all think that was a fluke measurement. My strepB was negative, so I won't need antibiotics during delivery (yea!). I got to hear Baby's heartbeat-- always great! Not much else. I go back on Monday (and the two following Mondays).

The shower on Thursday was really nice. Eric made some very tastey sugar cookies in the shape of little baby feet (although some people thought they were ghosts or angel wings) in pink and blue. There were pink and blue of everything; I took a pink cup, blue plate, pink fork and blue napkin. Anyway, I received many wonderful gifts (lots of clothes!) and am so grateful for all the well wishes and generosity.

In exciting news, my cousin and his wife had their second son yesterday morning. He looks very cute, and it seems that both Baby Lincoln and Momma Anne are doing well. Hooray!

Oh-- in things that annoy me news:

• there are two people at school who are convinced I'm having the baby any day now ("Look at her lips" yeah, whatever, they're chapped, ...)
• A woman at Macy's asked me if I was having twins.
• The custodians are making bets about whether I'll last until Dec. 14th or not (my planned last day)-- I told the guy who sweeps my room to bet on me making it.
• I finally was ready to buy a nursing bra at Macy's today, but they wouldn't accept my 20% off coupon even though it didn't say that it excludes maternity. I refused to buy it after that.
• I saw a rear view of myself in the dressing room at Macy's and I am quite unhappy about the size of my rear end.

Things for Which I'm Thankful

Well, I'm not at the parade, but alas, I am thankful for so many other things:

• My amazing husband who cleans like a banshee, finds the crib I love, and dries my silly tears
• Our wonderful family
• Baby and his/her cute little foot
• A functional (and beautiful) crib
• My superb group of fourth graders
• Good friends both near and far
  
• A good haircut
• The comfort and ease of maternity clothes
• laptop computers
• the pumpkin pie that I made last night
• Danskos
• The internet
• My cellphone and bluetooth which allows me to talk to Mom, Ali & Mag whenever I'm stuck in terrible Paramus traffic
  
• Our nice guest room where I can watch Project Runway whilst Dan watches Southpark
• seasonal weather
• new furniture
• blueberry muffins
• prenatal yoga
• The nice community in which I work

36 Weeks!

So basically, I am hearing all sorts o' things now: "Your face looks different," "I think you've dropped," and my personal favorite, "You're waddling." I pretty much disagree with all of these assessments, especially the last one. I'm still hearing some of "You look great!" "You're all baby!" and I miss those comments when I get the others. Oh well.

Today was my appointment for the week: Baby's heartrate was between 140 and 148 bpm. I appeared to have gained quite a bit o' weight, but I had on my heavy Danskos, so I'm blaming the shoes. Baby is still head-down. By the by, I felt a foot in my hand through my belly tonight, so cool!

I do feel fairly huge, but I swear I'm not waddling. Not today anyway (yesterday I was certainly not walking like normal, but I'd say it was more of a limp than a waddle-- Baby was hanging out on my sciatic nerve again). Even so, I still dont want Baby to come early. I want to stay at school until my planned last day of Dec. 14th!

In crib news, we put the mobile together and onto the crib. It is lovely.

Crib Update...

So after school today I had a voicemail from my dear husband that said he had good news. I immediately called him... he had made some phone calls and found our crib at another BRU nearby. I ditched yoga in order to make the trip with him. The Asst. Manager there gave us a bit of a hard time, but luckily whomever Dan had talked to on the phone had set aside our crib with our name on it, so she gave in to us. We traded the defected item for the new one and headed home where we promptly unpacked it and went to work assembling (which we could do without looking at the directions, though we did, just to be sure).

There were some immediate differences that we noticed in terms of hardware and construction, which had us feeling pretty good. When we finished assembling everything, we felt even more confident. Sure enough, the drop side works like a charm! Hooray!!!

Crib = Tears

So, we went back to BRU tonight to return our defective crib and get a replacement. James wasn't there tonight, so we talked with Chris. Chris, unlike James, was neither friendly nor helpful. He told us about problems he'd seen with the crib due to people putting it together incorrectly, etc. We told him over and over about the situation and the diagnosis (and what James had told us) and what we'd observed as a difference between our pins and the pins in the floor models. He seemed annoyed and tried to order us a new one, but said he couldn't. It seems they are on backorder or something (this did seem so when I got home and looked online, but Chris didn't really explain the situation AT ALL to us). Basically, we still have the disassembled defective crib in the Taurus. I want to be patient and get it replaced, but we did look for other options both at BRU and buybuyBaby. Dan even went to Pottery Barn Kids. Bottom line, nothing is as pretty as ours for the same price. There were a few that were almost as pretty but cost more. There were some that cost less and looked it. I just really like the one we picked out. I'm SO annoyed, not only with the situation but with Chris's unhelpfulness and general apathy to our situation. Boo.

Halloween Costume Photos

Sorry this took almost 3 weeks to post!

News Alert: I'm not nesting

Yeah, yeah, don't get all excited about nesting... this would have happened even if there wasn't a baby coming. Our house was a disaster area. Basically we spend every weekend cleaning. Last weekend it was in preparation for/setting up the furniture, this weekend was dealing with all the crap that got moved into different places last weekend. The end is in sight though!

Also, I felt no urge to do this. I didn't really get into it either.

When I do finally get the nesting instinct, I'm not sure what will be left to clean!

Today we finished dealing with all the remaining stuff in the dining room (it only needs vacuuming now), and Dan cleaned out the linen closet and coat closet. I did laundry (not Baby's yet, but it has moved downstairs) and some kitchen stuff. Dan also cleaned out some kitchen cabinets and drawers.

I think Dan is the one who is nesting. Seriously, he wants to do every job. I'll say, "I'm going to break these boxes down and put them out because tomorrow is corrugated cardboard day." He'll reply, "I can do that." Yes, you can, Dan, but not while you're also making dinner and cleaning drawers!

Crib Update

So we went to Babies R Us last night because even though we took the crib apart and put it back together, and it is improved but not right. While the drop side now raises and lowers, there is a problem. When raised, if you shake the crib at all, the side drops down suddenly and forcefully! We emailed the crib company on Tuesday evening, but haven't heard back yet.

Anyway, we checked out the 3 different BRU floor samples of our crib (3 different colors). It seems ours is, in fact, defected. When we looked at the pins on the floor models, they looked completely different than ours (much longer and thus farther into the drop sides). Aha! The root of our problems!

We talked to the very nice James who was shocked to hear that the floor models (which he said "get abused") worked so much better than our brand new crib. As we looked at the floor models together with him and explained our situation, he assessed that ours has a defect. We now have to disassemble our crib, again, and bring it back. We'll get a new one. Hooray! We should have the new one assembled in no time as we are nows pros.

Can't Sleep

So, I've been awake for around an hour. I got up at first for a drink and a trip to the bathroom-- very normal-- but then I couldn't go back to sleep. I've given up now. I guess my body is used to the early rising and doesn't care that it is the weekend. Oh well. Maybe I can catch a nap this afternoon.

Another Day of Getting Ready

Well, Dan & I started our day with some delicious stove-cooked oatmeal paired with comprehensive list making. We made lists of things to do in each room of the house. I cannot say that we got to many rooms, but we did get a lot done: Dan finished painting the deck (which included an emergency trip to Home Depot because the second can o' paint Ern had left us was not the same as the first that Dan used 2 weeks ago...), and I set up the nursery/emptied the dining room.
Let me begin by saying that the crib is still not quite right. It is better, but not right. We emailed the customer service for the company on Tuesday but haven't heard back from them yet. Anyway, the Pack & Play is currently set up in our bedroom for Baby to sleep in until he/she moves to the crib. (We'll fold up the P&P and use the Freeman family cradle from Scotland when it arrives.)
Anyway, first I cleaned Baby's room. This involved getting out the last remaining non-baby items from the closet and from last weekend's master bedroom update (during which most of our stuff spent some time in Baby's room). Then I dusted and vacuumed and cleaned the insides of the drawers. During this portion of the day, I wore a mask over my face & nose to avoid the dust I hold responsible for my still lingering laryngitis. Now Baby's room was sparkling clean and ready, so I began to move items in from the dining room (where they've been living/lining the walls since the shower 4 weeks ago!). First was the Diaper Chump which now has a bag in place and is ready for action. Then came the diaper basket atop the dresser. It also holds the wipes and three varieties of ointment. We put a few items in boxes in the closet (i.e. the "feeding chair" as Dan calls the high chair, the outlaw Bumbo, the Baby Bjorn, the bath chair). When Baby is ready for those items, we'll take them out. I did assemble the Baby Papasan, then folded it and put it in the closet in the "on-deck" circle along with the mobile (waiting for the crib to be functional) and the Boppy. Baby's bath items are currently in the closet as well. The basket o' toys (mostly teethers) and the basket o' cuddly animals are in the room also. I want to get a bookshelf for the baskets and books, etc. Now we just have to do Baby's laundry and put it away! The carseat is ready to go in the car (that might be a project for tomorrow), and the only other items still in the dining room are the strollers and the bottles (which we're hoping we won't have to use for a while).
In other news, my ankles swelled up quite ridiculously last evening. I had been out at happy hour (enjoying seltzer) with a bunch of people from school, so I wonder if sitting on a barstool for a few hours contributed to the situation. Oh, and after that Dan & I went to the movies, so that was more sitting. Anyway, it was shocking. I had a big bulge over the indentation from my sock elastic then other indentations from sock wrinkles! I immediately elevated my feet and was scared to look at them when I woke up this morning (they were fine).

It is laryngitis Subtitle: I love parenthesis.

Well, Dan called the doctors office last night trying to get me an appointment, so they called first thing this morning. I had to whisper on the phone to the receptionist which was hilarious. She started talking very softly to me. I also wrote up a little summary of the onset of my symptoms and the possible causes I had brainstormed (excess dust exposure from the cleaning last weekend, excess crying Mon. morning). The doctor found this interesting I think. Whatevs. I wasn't a big fan of her, but I'm not a big fan of the practice as a whole (this is NOT my OB), so there you are. Anyway, the strep test was negative (yea!) and there are no signs of infection (yea!), so all I can do is rest & wait (annoying). She did give me a prescription for an antibiotic (of course), which I won't fill, in case things get worse. I came home and took a nap then did a bit o' internet research on WebMD which also said I just have to rest (and cease whispering) and drink fluids. It also recommended using a humidifier... I think I'll go set up the AWESOME penguin humidifier we got as a shower gift.

Rendered Speechless

I have no voice. Dan just called in sick for me for tomorrow, and we'll go to the doctor to make sure it isn't strep or anything that needs medicine. Hopefully I will feel better after resting (although that's all I've been doing for the last 3 hours, and I still cannot talk). I don't really feel bad though. And I am not running a fever (we'd be at the doctor already if I were-- no fevers allowed in pregnancy). My voice was diminishing all day, and my students were very concerned. They are so sweet.

Very Sad News

I received a very sad phone call this morning. One of my colleagues who was expecting a child at the end of the month lost the baby this weekend. She went to the doctor on Thursday and there was no heartbeat. This was her third child, and was an unexpected pregnancy. She has two little girls; this baby was a boy. I am so sad for her, but I have no idea what to do or how she must feel.

Old Photos

Not exactly sure when I took these photos... I'm guessing around 30 or 31 weeks. I need to take some new ones-- I've gotten much bigger!

Furniture Fun!

So today we got our new bedroom furniture from Ethan Allan. It is beautiful (as you can see). I have moved my clothes into my new dresser, but Dan hasn't done his yet. He's been too busy working on the refinishing trial... He is considering refinishing a dresser for Baby. To test his technique, he's doing an end table from the same set of furniture as said dresser. Depending on how it turns out, he'll either move forward with refinishing or not. In the meantime, his dresser is in Baby's room, and as soon as he empties it into his gorgeous new dresser, I'll wash Baby's clothes (with the all free & clear I bought) and start setting up the nursery.
Of course, the nursery is pretty much a disaster area right now. It received much of the stuff from our room so that we could move in the new stuff. (Btw, we TOTALLY cleaned the heck out of our room-- cleaned under the carpet, vacuumed four times, washed the curtains, cleaned the windows, etc. before the furniture arrived.) We've agreed to reassemble Baby's crib also, so it is in a state of un-assembly right now... I'm thinking Baby's room will be looking fabulous by week's end though. I just took a peek at the re-finishing project going on in the basement, and it seems to be going pretty well...

Today is All About Me

So yesterday was spent visiting the doctor, the dentist, the ultrasound tech, the hospital... Today I got my hair cut at a new salon and got a wonderful Spa Mom-to-be pedicure. Nice. The haircut was great-- I finally got rid of the border between the front and back of my hair. My stylist was nice, and the salon is just down the street from our house. She wants me to come in next week for a "check up" (no charge) to be sure that all looks good. Nice! I also received a gift certificate for $35 toward a facial or other spa treatment. Very nice!
My Mom-to-Be Pedicure was very lovely and much more rewarding than the typical nail salon fare (especially the last, lame one Ali & I got when Team Winter visited in October). I had a private room-- very relaxing. I got to soak much more than usual. I also had a mango scrub and then a mask put on my feet which was supposed to help with swelling. After that I got a wonderful massage of my feet & lower legs. The actual grooming and painting of my nails was great too. Oh-- and I had some lemon water and cinnamon muffins. Delightful!
Sidebar: Why is it that I cannot find a diaper bag that I like? Everything in the stores seems to be either a) enormous, b) tacky looking, or c) frumpy looking. Is it too much to ask to have a diaper bag that has some compartments, is lightly colored on the inside (so you can see what you're looking for), and is kind of fun looking? I mean, seriously!

All is Well

So, we went for the ultrasound. Baby doesn't like to show his/her face; he/she kept covering it with some very cute little hands. We got one print-out, but you can hardly see anything in it. Baby is camera-shy (like Daddy). All the measurements were for 34 weeks, so that is good news. Nice job, Baby!
After that we headed to the hospital to complete our pre-registration paperwork. Not too exciting, but still one less thing that has to be done. Our favorite form was the consent form for the baby which said, "I, _________, consent to be treated at Valley Hospital." The staff there had filled in the blank with "Baby," which cracked us up. On the back of that form is a place where you sign, and if the patient cannot sign, a reason/condition has to be filled in. The condition the staff filled in was "newborn" which also amused us greatly.
In other health news, I had a dentist appointment today at which both the hygienist and the dentist were impressed with the fact that my gums weren't all red and puffy like most pregnant women. Go me! I also didn't have much build-up which made me rather proud. The hygienist didn't know whether to give me a pink or blue toothbrush, so I told her to go with green. :-)

True Facts

OK, so when we got home from the city Tuesday night I threw my shoes in the trash. No joke. I had them off most of the time we were in the theater. My feet felt like sausages in them. Plus they were 6 years old, so I think they had a good life. Today I bought new black flats to replace them. Are you ready for this... they are size 9!!! But, my feet aren't sausagy in them, and they're pretty cute (and only $30!). They're dollhouse brand which makes me think of Kara Saun and the great shoe scandal of Project Runway's season 1 finale. (BTW, I am looking forward to the new season next Wednesday!) So, I don't know if my feet will be permanently size 9s, but my 8.5s (and some 8s) still fit. However, the 7.5s (and some 8s) are certainly a thing of the past!
In other news, I had my 34 week appointment today. I don't think I gained any weight in the last 2 weeks. I weighed in at 151 (after removing my comfy but HEAVY danskos-- best shoes ever!). Baby's heart rate was 135, if I recall correctly, and sounded so strong! Go Baby! It is still head down, back on my left, legs on my right (and the feet enjoy kicking over there), which is a good way to be. When he measured, I was only 32 cm, so that means I need an ultrasound to be sure that the baby is growing alright. I'm sure that it is, and the doctor figured that as well-- he said since I'm pretty "slight" (his word) that was probably why the measurement was 2 cm smaller than expected. Anyway, we go for the ultrasound this evening. I'm not expecting any issues and am looking forward to seeing Baby!!!
I went to BRU after my doctors appointment to trade sizes of a few items from the shower (We had WAY too much tiny stuff). I got there at 9:18, but they don't open 'til 9:30. Anyway, there were many others arriving with me, most with small children. We were all waiting by the doors for them to open. I felt like such a dork-- like those people outside of stores when there's a big sale or it's the day after Thanksgiving or something. It was funny. I did meet a nice, young mom of three whose son's birthday is Dec. 15th. She recommended having a birthday party brunch since people are so busy with holiday parties, etc. that time of year. I like it!
Lastly, our crib is having issues. After Dan put it together, we've been having trouble raising and lowering its drop side. Dan is thoroughly frustrated and ready to bolt it and such in the name of Baby's safety. I chatted with the crib department folk at BRU today, and I think I have some useful advice (it's a two-person job, if two particular parts are too tight it won't work, etc.). Fingers crossed that it will work, and we'll have a crib that is not only BEAUTIFUL but also functional (which is really more important isn't it?).

Off to the Theatre

So today Baby is trading athletics for the arts. I slept in because I like sleeping and because it was raining which makes me like it even more. Thus, I didn't work out before school. I didn't work out after school because I thought I didn't have enough time (which was wrong, as it turns out, because Dan didn't get home as quickly from work as he'd hoped) before we head to the city. We're going to see Young Frankenstein-- the new Mel Brooks musical. I'm pretty excited. It is quite possibly our last Broadway musical before Baby comes and crimps our style...
We're hoping to get some yummy dinner at Le Madeleine beforehand... if we can get there in time. If not, we'll have to eat something, because Baby & I are hungry! Oh, and Baby has been on the move today-- fun! I even felt something like a leg dragging across my belly at one point.
Speaking of Baby in the belly, at my appointment two weeks ago, I learned that Baby was head-down. Very good. I learned last night at Lamaze that Baby will most likely stay that way-- even better! I also learned all about interventions-- drugs, tools, c-sections... I got dizzy. No joke. How silly is it that that stuff makes me dizzy but not the description of pain, etc.?!

Marathon Baby

So, yesterday morning (Sat.), I headed in to the city to meet my teammates between 5:00 and 5:30 AM to Adopt-a-Mile of the Mens Olympic Marathon Trials in Central Park. Thanks to the good work of our captain, our mile included the finish line. Nice! We got to see the runners five times including the amazing finish. It was pretty fun, although a bit reminiscent of my other experience volunteering for NYRRC (not much direction, very early morning, hurry up and wait,...). The best thing was that I was with many of my MCNY teammates whom I haven't seen so much now that I'm not racing and training with them every week.
The runners were awesome and completely lived up to the hype of being the best field of American runners in quite some time (perhaps ever). We all made bets as to the winning time and the last place time. This turned out to be pretty entertaining, and three people correctly guessed 2:09 as the winning time (which is an Olympic Trials record). At the finish line I was quite near both Bill Rogers and Rod Stewart. And, of course, the awesome American marathoners! After the race three of us enjoyed a delicious brunch. I loved the company!
Today was Marathon Sunday. I'd planned to go in to watch & cheer, but Dan wanted to paint the deck, and I hadn't made proper plans to meet up with anyone else. Instead I stayed home and enjoyed the local NBC coverage while I did laundry and graded papers. I was screaming for Paula Radcliffe as she won. She just had a baby in January, so I am feeling confident about my hopes for running the NYC Marathon next November! Both the men's and women's races were exciting and close today. Very fun to watch. I also got to see Lance finish in an impressive 2:46 with his non-cycling 175 lb. frame. (Oh, it appears that the rumor I heard about him at yesterday's Trials is true!)
So, Baby got to experience two marathons in two days, though not as a participant. I withdrew my entry on Tuesday to today's race... probably could have done that a lot sooner... Hopefully in 2008 Baby will enjoy cheering for me!

Just in Case

So, our friends Matt & Nancy just had their daughter on Friday night... four weeks early. She is said to be feisty and doing well as is Nancy. Last month our friend Jenn had her daughter 2 weeks early. Dan was born somewhere around 4-6 weeks early. Granted, all of these were second children, but it was enough to scare Dan and I into thinking that Baby could get here a lot sooner than we expect...
With that in mind, I packed my bags last night. We were told to have two separate bags: one for birth and one for afterwards. We even received a packing list for both. My birth bag is done; I just need some snacks for Dan which I need to go to the grocery store to procure. My other bag is mostly done. I just need to pack Baby's going home outfit, which means I need to wash baby clothes, which means I need to get some proper detergent, which again means I must go to the grocery store.
Now I feel a little better, but I still hope Baby waits until close to the due date.
Oh-- Dan set up the crib yesterday also. It is beautiful and makes Baby's arrival more real. And is one more way we've gotten ready!

Best Baby Packaging on Recalled Product

So, at my shower two weeks ago, we had a great time looking at the photos of the babies sitting in Bumbo chairs on the interestingly shaped box of my Bumbo chair. By the by, I immediately knew what was in the box even when I saw it wrapped because of its shape (I recognized it from seeing it in the store). I was excited because I think they're cool. Well, as it turns out, the chairs were recalled less than a week later.
Dan's first reaction was, "Well, if you want to return it, we have to copy the pictures from the box first." I agreed. However, we're not going to return it. Turns out that if you simply follow the directions that come with the chair, you will avoid the accidents that got it recalled. The chair should be on the ground, and Baby should be supervised while sitting in it. Will do!
Hey, and maybe we'll take some funny photos of Baby and his/her friends sitting in their now-unavailable-Bumbos at the beach or at a birthday party. :-)

Halloween Fun

OK, I am sorry I haven't posted in such a long time. And I know that photos are LONG OVERDUE. Seriously, you'll be impressed when you see how big Baby is now!
Today was faux Halloween at Dan's workplace. Now this is an office worthy of imitation on "The Office." Seriously. For those of you who don't know it, they have a costume contest (complete with a parade) and a competition for haunted cubicles. No joke. There are also pumpkin carving contests and other such silly things. This year they moved the festivities to the 30th so that no one would have to miss out on the fun because they were leaving work on the 31st to attend their son/daughter's school parade/festivities. Funny.
Dan has been a costume award winner in the past. He's gone to work covered in latex and tissue paper to create realistic old man wrinkles. He's had a golf ball glued to his head with blood around it to make it look like it got lodged there (also quite convincing). The man loves make up and special effects. He had a great costume ready to go this year, but found out late last night that his liquid latex had expired and become a gummy mess. No prosthetics for Dan! Oh dear! He actually went without costume today (but wasn't upset because he thought it was kind of weird to do it a day early).
However, not to fear. He got his Halloween fix helping me create my best costume ever this evening. At school we always have some theme that the faculty always has to do-- last year we were pirates, the year before that cats, prior to that construction workers, witches, etc. Well, this year the theme was a bit more broad: Wizard of Oz. My first instinct was to be the twister, but I couldn't figure out how. Then I got my heart set on the yellow brick road. Well, Dan and I just spent the evening cutting bricks out of yellow plastic tape and sticking them to a pair of coveralls that he has (that fit over Baby pretty well). It looks FABULOUS. I have never been so excited about a costume as an adult!
Baby is so lucky because Dan is going to always make sure it has a great costume. No store bought schlock for our kid! Homemade creative costumes only (and thus, lots o' candy and glory)!

I'm a model!

So yesterday, one of the many errands we tackled on our list was to procure some clothing for me. We went to Destination Maternity (which houses Pea in a Pod, Motherhood, and Mimi Maternity as well as a spa & a yoga studio). I found many cute items, and when I came out for the third time to show Dan what I had tried on, he had wandered away to look at baby stuff. One of the employees saw me and told me that the dress looked good. "In fact," she said, "everything you've tried on looks really cute on you." I thanked her and we chatted a bit about the dress. Then she said, "You should model for us!" She proceeded to tell me about a dinner for which they were one of the sponsors. The dinner is for expectant moms, and there will be a fashion show. I'll be one of the models in said fashion show! I get to attend the dinner, and I get a 30% off gift certificate. I put all my cute items on hold, so I can save 30%. I go tomorrow to pick out my modeling outfit... Fun!!! Dan is so proud. :-)

30 Weeks

Well, I did, in fact, take my last run last Tuesday morning. I haven't run since that post. My back feels much better for this decision. I am still working out with weights two or three times a week. Also, now that my back has recovered, I've started taking brisk walks on my old running routes. Tomorrow evening I have my first prenatal yoga class-- yippee!
This weekend I got to see my sister Ali & her husband. It was fun to have another family member to see the growing belly and feel Baby's kicks and movements. Following the pattern of recent weeks, Baby seemed to pop again on Friday, and I've gotten lots of comments regarding the growth.
Today was our 30 week check-up, and all is well. I had gained 3 pounds since the last visit (although I may have lost one of those after stepping off the scale and visiting the restroom for my urine sample...), and Baby's heartbeat was loud and strong. I asked about the pain I've been feeling (best described as what you might experience after a long bicycle trip), and was assured it was very normal. The doctor had a nice chuckle when I told him I had to stop running last week. He was amused because I'd asked if it was alright to continue at my appointment two weeks ago, and then didn't last much longer. He said he couldn't understand why I wanted to run in the first place (not as a pregnant woman, but at all). Whatevs.
I'm dying to take some new photos of my pokey-out belly to post, but the camera wasn't cooperating very well earlier this evening, so I'll try again tomorrow.
Oh! It finally cooled off today! Yea! Yesterday we were pushing 90 degrees, and I had swollen ankles after sitting all afternoon in an un-airconditioned in-service. Fun. Not. Hooray for fall... now I just need to go buy some clothes!

No More Running?!?

Well, I am dangerously close to calling it quits for the running. I keep getting sore in the lower back/sciatic nerve area. When I'm running I feel great (well, as great as I can with this pace and extra weight), but afterwards I am really having a hard time getting around. I'm really sad because I don't mind the slow pace and change in attitude toward running, but I can't imagine not doing it at all. I think I'll be ok if I can join a pool somewhere and swim pretty regularly...
Otherwise, Baby is doing well!
Oh-- and at school there are so many more pregnant people announced this week! My friend who teaches 2nd grade, a guidance counselor, a school psychologist, and a consultant! This is in addition to me and the enrichment teacher.

Fridays = Growth Spurts

OK, I'm convinced that Baby has a growth spurt every Friday. Last week it seemed I looked much larger on Friday than I had earlier in the week. The same was certainly true this Friday. In fact, by the afternoon, I was also very uncomfortable. Baby seemed to be sitting on my sciatic nerve! Every step I took was shooting pain into my lower back. No good at all. I even was wearing my sneakers for cross-country practice, but it didn't seem to help. I kept resting on a stool in my classroom as I taught, so that I wouldn't have to feel the pain! At some point during cross-country practice I started to feel better in the back, but now it felt as though Baby had moved to my bladder. I was just so uncomfortable all afternoon! Things got better as the weekend progressed, although I still maintain that Baby is much bigger!

28 weeks--Third Trimester

This picture was taken on Sunday, September 23.
These in the blue shirt are from today (Wedesday, Sept. 26th).
So last night we went to the doctor for our 28 week check-up. I've gained 3 pounds in the last month. Nevertheless, I think Baby got a lot bigger last week. Or else my abs got a lot weaker. Either way, my belly pokes out more now than it did a few weeks ago. All seemed fine at the check-up. We heard the heartbeat (I didn't get the numbers from my uterus measurement-boo-- next time!), and now I go every two weeks.

I still feel pretty good. I had a great 5 mile run yesterday morning then got up and lifted weights today. After school was our first cross-country meet, on the HOTTEST day-- it was in the high 80s and really humid. The kids did great though, and won handily. I was very proud not only of their running, but also their sportsmanship. I was also proud of myself and Baby for running around cheering & coaching (& sweating!).

So far, all the moms at school have been great. Tomorrow is Back-to-School Night... we'll see how that goes. The teachers are great as well. While it is flattering to hear that I don't look pregnant from the back, I know I'm certainly wider than I was. Whatevs-- I don't mind the flattery! Even with today's extreme heat and lack o' breeze (or AC), I managed to feel pretty good throughout the school day. I hope this energy keeps up!

Registering for Baby

Well, my apologies for not posting in so long. With school and cross country practice starting back, I've been pretty busy. I'm wondering if all my activities are affecting Baby. Sometimes I get REALLY freaked out thinking that Baby is not moving as much or as often as he/she should be. In fact, I'm really looking forward to my doctor's appointment on Tuesday night to reassure me that all is well (I want to hear that heartbeat again!).
Cross country has been fun and funny. The team is pretty into the baby. They were coming up with names at practice on Friday. They also get protective of me, and don't want me running too much. One day we were playing tag, and I became it. One of the eighth grade boys shouted out, "Give her a break! She's pregnant! Let her tag you!" It was funny. They also give each other a hard time if I am ahead of them on the warm-up or cool-down.
So, the last week or so has been spent registering for Baby. And that is the REAL reason I haven't posted in so long-- I've been obsessing about EVERY decision for every bit of baby gear! At first I was only going to register at Buy Buy Baby because I like the quality of stuff they have, and Baby Bargains said that it is the best baby retail store. Also, I am anti-Babies R Us because of the use of the backwards R in their name. However, they have a very expansive selection of items (and a more user-friendly website) and are a much larger chain. So, now I am registered at both places.
The bad part of having two registries is that only half your stuff is on either one. So what if someone really wants to get you the bath stuff, but they are at the wrong store? Oh well. I'm sure it will all work out fine. I'm over stressing about it!
Stress: I really got to the point that I couldn't make a decision any more. There is a Maclaren stroller that I love. I mean, I have been loving this thing for months! Then I go to the store and I am not sure if I love it any more. So we pick a different one. Then I read online reviews, and I start doubting that stroller. My next step was to swear off a stroller altogether! Finally, I went back to the original object of my affection, the beautiful Maclaren, and put it on the registry. The more I read about it and look at it, the more in love with it I fall all over again! Now I really hope I get it. :-)
In terms of baby furniture, we picked out a crib that we think is really pretty. (It also got rave reviews online.) It goes with the dresser that we are giving Baby (because we're buying ourselves a nice bedroom set) and using as a changing table. The crib has a drop-down side and hidden hardware-- things I like. It can be changed into a toddler bed, if we ever really feel the need to do that. I also registered for a glider and ottoman. I chose wood that goes with the crib & dresser, and a neutral fabric. It isn't too big, as neither am I. I'm sure it is pretty expensive, but it is also really comfy... we'll see if we get it.
The latest thing that we've been spending a bit of time fretting over is the Pack & Play. I had pretty much decided against getting one since our house is fairly small, and I'm hoping to be able to use my family cradle before Baby sleeps in the crib. I didn't really see the need for the P & P. Then, it was suggested to me on a few occasions by a few different folks, that it could come in handy. So, I put out an email to my wonderful friends who are already moms to get their take on it. It appears that the thing is useful, even in a small house, and especially for traveling. So now I need to pick one of those out... I'm not going to get one with all the bells and whistles though. (For instance, some come with big bassinet-type shades on them. Dan and I found that amusing.)
OK, that's it for now. I'll take some new photos and post them soon. I think Baby had a growth spurt late this week!

26 Weeks

Baby's First Race

So, on Saturday morning, Baby and I tackled a 4 mile race in Central Park. Dan & I had signed up to do a 5K at Shea Stadium (home of our beloved Mets) in July, but it got canceled, and my registration was automatically switched to the race this Sat. I wasn't going to do it, and tried to get my registration refunded, but that didn't work. So I figured, "Hey, I know I can do 4 miles, and it has been ages since I've run in the Park, so let's do it!" Dan was not a fan. I had to promise to take it easy and not slip into "race mode."
I picked up my number before the race and noted with a smile that it listed my pace as 6:27. Yeah, not for now! Then I picked up my t-shirt. Usually I get (or wish they hadn't run out of) size small. Instead I asked for a medium, then traded that in for a large after holding it up to my belly.
Well, it was continued to be a non-normal pre-race routine for me. I ate two bananas over the course of an hour and drank plenty and then just hung out at the port-o-johns. No warm-up. At all. Just lots of trips to the restroom to try to avoid the need to go mid-run (which happens almost daily now). Also, I didn't worry about changing into racing flats or looking for the person giving out stickers for the local elite starting area. In fact, I didn't even look for my teammates because I wanted to keep the easy run mindset.
When it came time to line up, I made my way to the middle of the pack. When the race started, I just ran my normal easy pregnancy pace. I was amazed that I was passing people and proud that I made it up Cat Hill with no problems or walking. I did walk a bit as I forced myself to drink a full cup o' water at the first station (I rarely take water in short distances, and especially not at mile one). I also walked a short stretch in the second mile as we went uphill to the transverse. In mile three, which is quite hilly, I walked a lot more. Mile four is pretty much downhill, so I just stayed steady. As I was approaching the finish, I took a look over my shoulder out of curiosity. I couldn't believe how many people were behind me! Good for them for being out there though.
After the race, I managed to catch up with quite a few teammates who were surprised to see me. It was fun to visit with everyone and to get pregnancy advice from those who've been there.
Oh- another highlight of the morning happened before the race. As I was walking towards the port-a-johns, a basketball rolled in front of me. I stopped it with my foot, picked it up and threw it to a vaguely familiar woman who then complemented me on my "quick hands and feet." When I walked past that booth later, I saw that it said "Shoot Hoops with the WNBA," so I think I got props from a professional basketballer!!!

Back to School

OK, so the blog hasn't been updated in a while because I returned to work on Tuesday, and my students returned to school on Wednesday. I must admit that I was pretty nervous about going back to school because I was afraid of getting lots of unwanted advice and comments about the pregnancy, etc. For example, "You're too small," "You're too big," "Is that what you're eating for lunch?" However, happily, it hasn't been that way at all! (yet.)
Most of the feedback has been along the lines of "You look so cute!" In fact, today my principal told me that I was her "favorite expecting person" because I'm so cute, and another teacher told me I remind her of Access Hollywood with my "celebrity-like baby bump." All this stroking of my ego is FABULOUS! Keep it up!
An additional good thing has been that my students haven't made much of a big deal about it at all. They asked if it's a boy or girl and when the baby will be born, but they haven't really asked about how long I'll be gone or anything like that. I'm super glad of that! Today one student did note when we walked past the room where my sub is currently doing a maternity leave for another teacher. He saw her name on the door and said it aloud with an interesting tone. Since the letter went home to parents a couple of weeks ago with her name listed as the maternity leave for both of us, I guess he was putting it all together at that moment. All I said was, "Yes, she's new, and this is her classroom." I kind of wanted to add, "and you'll get to know her very well this year." But I didn't.
Anyway, let me just say this. Telling the administration I was preggers in time to affect class lists was a brilliant move. My class ROCKS! Seriously, I love them!!! Now, of course I always love my class, but this class is just great. I have no major "issues" because they knew I'd be out for a good portion of the year. The kids are sweet and so well behaved. And adorable. It is delightful. (It also helps that I simply have four less students than last year, which has nothing to do with maternity leave, just enrollment.) Anyway, I am thrilled about this year at school, however much of it I end up working.

Luck be a Baby...

So, we got back last night from our "last vacation before Baby" for which we went to Vegas. We had a pretty good time and did a lot of non-gambling. The best two events, by far, were our trip to see the Grand Canyon (during which we walked on the Skywalk out over the Canyon) and our day at the Spa. The Spa was fabulous and extremely relaxing; it didn't seem like we were in Vegas at all while we were there. Dan and I enjoyed a couples massage (with me receiving prenatal massage) as well as many other spa facilities. They had Roman Baths with three different mineral water whirlpools (one hot, one really hot, and one cold-- I could only go in the cold one). There were also a variety of saunas (steam, cedar, ...); Dan enjoyed those, but I couldn't. Also there was the Arctic Ice Room which snowed down moisturizer on you in a cold room. I loved that. Even the regular showers were amazing with showers coming out of the walls as well as from above. It was great. There was also plenty of fruit, juice, tea and water to be enjoyed (and we took full advantage of those services). An excellent day! In addition to the Spa and Canyon, we also enjoyed a few shows, many of the hotel/casinos' features like fountains and volcanoes, as well as some delicious meals.
Now, there are some things that made the trip a bit not so great for the pregnant me. For one, I wasn't imbibing, and that seems to be a big part of the culture there. Also, people were smoking EVERYWHERE! I don't think I've ever been so excited or anxious to do laundry as I was today. Finally, it was HOT. Really, really hot. In fact, one day I was convinced that I had harmed the baby because it was so hot out when we were by the pool. I kept getting in the water, but I was still scared afterwards. Even though I had avoided the saunas and hot tubs at the spa, here I was outside in the desert heat, and I was inconsolable for most of the evening.
So, we did do a bit of gambling during our visit. During my one and only trip to the $5 blackjack table, we started with $80 in chips and cashed out with $190. Nice. My only other gambling was at the airport on our way out of town. I put $5 in the Star Wars slot machine, pressed the button for max bet, spun a Death Star Bonus and ended up with $152! I immediately cashed out even though I had only taken one spin. Dan was a little less lucky-- he didn't win on slots or in either of the two poker tournaments he entered. We decided that the baby was bringing me good luck!

There's a Party in my Belly!

Well, after much anticipation, Dan finally felt the baby moving on Saturday night. As usual, when I finally went to bed, Baby decided it was time to get moving, so I called Dan in. He didn't feel anything at first, but then he felt it move and kick a bit. Last night while we were watching TV, Baby got active again. We just chilled out on the couch with our hands on my belly feeling the baby. So much fun. Seriously! A little bit later we were playing cards, but I was having trouble concentrating because I was so enamored by the kicks and movements going on. At one point I was kind of laying back on the couch, and we could totally watch Baby moving! It was amazing! I actually had trouble falling asleep because Baby didn't want to settle down.

24 Weeks and All is Well

Today was my 24 week check-up. The doctor told me I'll enter the third trimester in two and two-thirds weeks. Funny. Anyway, everything went well. I'd only gained two pounds since my last visit 4 weeks ago (I was astonished!), and they said my weight gain was "right in the middle" of where it should be. My uterus measured 24 cm, and the baby's pulse was good. They didn't seemed concerned about my two random vitamin barfing incidents. Also, the doctor said the baby must like bananas (Like Mom, like baby!), since I'd eaten one this morning and he/she was moving all over the place. Later in the morning, I got my car inspected, and it was the first time that a stranger had asked me about the pregnancy. The final inspector, a woman, asked how far along I was. We chatted a bit, and she told me that her daughter had been due on Jan. 1st and born on Christmas Eve (which, by the by, is the day I expect this baby to be born).

Morning Sickness Strikes Again

I haven't had morning sickness at all. Until August 10-- the day we were planning to leave on our road trip down the East Coast. I've been fine since then, until today. I got up, took my vitamins and enjoyed a drink of water while working out in front of the Today Show (there's a funny image). Well, just as with the first time, I suddenly got a super-watery mouth and started feeling woozy. Also just like last time, all I actually threw up was the water & vitamin (a lovely golden color). I felt less bad this time-- it came over me more suddenly (or maybe I recognized it faster), and I felt completely fine immediately afterwards (last time I laid down for a little while) and resumed my work out. Bizarre.
Oh, in other news, all went well at school today. I don't have to make any decisions about my maternity leave yet. Hooray! Additionally, everyone said I looked tiny & cute which is really nice when you feel large and nothing fits.

Maternity Leave

So today I was out running errands and in a rather good mood (as I had purchased 4 maternity t-shirts for school for a grand total of $19.96!) when I received a voicemail from school. My mood suddenly and drastically changed. It seems they've assumed I'd be out through June, and hired my replacement. Well, we'd been spending the summer seriously contemplating the idea of me returning in May, Dan staying home and us keeping the health benefits. Dan spent part of this afternoon talking to the HR department at work, and found out that he can do it. He won't get paid, but I will when I return. It's just stressful because I'm nervous about the decision altogether... I was just blissfully thinking that it wouldn't matter if I hadn't decided yet... Now I have to call school and tell them because they want to send out a letter.

No Clothes

Well, I am now 23 weeks pregnant, and I'm running out of clothes to wear. As of today, I can no longer button my cargo shorts. Last week I was buttoning them with some difficulty, but now that can't even happen. Luckily I have some baggy shirts I can wear over them in their unbuttoned state. Also, I purchased a maternity skirt at Old Navy yesterday for the low, low price of $7.99. That will add one more outfit to my warm beginning of the school year wardrobe.
I am looking forward to doing some maternity wear shopping. I just don't want to buy too much that won't be useful come November-December.