Today's Letter

I know I just posted last week's photo with a letter to Baby, but I have a few things to add, so listen up Little One!

Dear Baby,

• Your nana is coming tomorrow at 10 a.m. She'd really like to have as much time cuddling you as possible, so you should probably get here ASAP. And while I'm sure she'll be happy to spend some quality time with your mama, she's really coming for YOU. So be sweet and come on out.
• Your great Uncle Gary wants you to show up tomorrow. He says that November 1st is an AWESOME day to be born (he's a bit biased because he's born on that day), and while I'm still not convinced that you should share his name (Uncle for the first name and Gary for the middle name), I would be COMPLETELY happy with you sharing his birthday!! He's a pretty great guy, and it would be quite special if you had the same birthday as he does! 
• Your mama is getting bored. I know I may look back on this time and think to myself, "What in the world was I in such a rush for?!" but I don't feel that way now. I am so incredibly excited to see you, to hold you, to kiss you, to watch you grow into a little person (and someday a big person). I can't wait to watch you and your father. He's beyond excited too! And I'm really ready to stop thinking that each little thing in my body might be a sign of you coming! 
• And while I have just mentioned 4 of us that are super excited for you, TRUST ME, THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE WONDERING WHERE IN THE WORLD YOU ARE! Each day, we get messages, texts, emails, phone calls of your caring family members and our dear friends checking in to see about you. They are dying to know if you are a boy or a girl. They can't wait to hear your name. They want to see your sweet little face. They want to know that you made it safely and that you are a healthy little baby. 
• Your daddy is so excited that I can't even call him on the phone at work without a text warning prior... He gets so disappointed if I do and there's no news of your impending arrival. So please, let's get this going so we can make the call he's so incredibly excited to get! 
• And you've made your point. You're going to come when you want. I'll remember this as you grow up. (You're teaching me about control... Mama needs to remember that she can't control everything ;) October wasn't the month of choice for you (November is good too - some great people were born in November - including your father!) Good thing we didn't buy the birthstone for October for mama like we had planned... ;) And you are also teaching us a lesson - kids cost more than we had anticipated. So, while you would have saved us some money by coming in October  (hopefully you aunt and uncle don't mind having renters for a more extended time ;),  we are more than happy for you to come in November.
• Heck, if you really want to, just come today, even though it's Halloween. 

Love,

Mama

PS: Your cousin, Phoenix, requested that you don't come on the 2nd. That's his birthday. Of course, if you insist, I won't be surprised - if you are anything like his little sister, you'll want to do EVERYTHING he does. He's a pretty cool kid, and I think you are going to really love him! 

41 Weeks

41 weeks 5 days Update

Still pregnant.

We had an appointment with the midwives this afternoon. They ran an NST (some test that monitored the baby's heart rate and movements), and it came back perfectly fine. They were really happy with the results and felt fine about me still being pregnant at this point.

I've started getting questions about induction (usually hospitals would be jumping all over that at this point, I'm sure). We are going to avoid any inductions and hospitals for as long as it is safe for the baby and myself. So, with the tests continuing to come back positive, we aren't looking at hospital inductions at this point. (NOTE TO LITTLE ONE: Mama really doesn't want to be in a hospital if possible, so go ahead and come soon! xoxo)

We did make a plan for some more natural ways of inviting labor. I'll continue to go to acupuncture, either everyday or every other day - feeling more the every other day... If I am still pregnant in a few days, I am going to get a breast pump and use it with a cotton root herbal tincture to see if that can help. And then, Friday, we'll have another NST and discuss the possibility of Castor Oil (although, I'd prefer if this baby would just come before we have to get to that point!) I can birth at the birthing center up to almost 43 weeks, but they'd prefer if I'd go sooner because health risks do increase after 42 weeks. Of course, I'll be monitored so we can catch any of those, and so far, so good as far as health of baby and me.

The baby is still in position and getting even lower than it already was. I remained dilated at 3 cm from last week's appointment. All of our vitals - baby's and mine - are perfectly healthy.

We saw a beautiful newborn baby (boy, I think) at an appointment as we were coming in. We swooned a little, and I felt insane baby envy! I cannot wait to hold this sweet little bundle of baby!!!!

Today will be the day! OR maybe I should say... Will today be the day?

First walk of the day.

Loving these bright fall colors!

Went and bought a small lamp for the bedroom for nighttime feeding.

Have a full day planned to hopefully coax a baby out.

Stayed up late last night sweeping and mopping the back stairs to try to encourage my contractions to pick up.

Of course, no luck.

Planned meals for the week, but really hoping this is the week that my meal plan goes out the window.

Starting to wonder about what induction options the midwives will share with us, but really hoping it doesn't come to that.

Thinking if we were still in NYC we'd have had a baby this last weekend with the impending hurricane weather (& remembering all the babies born last year on the days before the storm).

Oh sigh. We really hope that today will be the day!

Baby's Still on the Inside

Many are "patiently" waiting (about as patiently as we are) for news on the baby's arrival. I'm serious about being pregnant forever. I don't feel like the end is near... Anymore, I could care less about knowing WHEN the baby is coming, I just want it to go ahead and come NOW. My advice to any first-time mamas... take your due date and add 2 weeks. Then start thinking about going into labor!

Yesterday afternoon was our ultrasound to check the baby's growth since my belly doesn't seem to be growing through the fundal height measurement (like I said the other day, I've measured around 35 weeks since I was 35 weeks and I'm 41 weeks 3 days now...) The ultrasound technician technically couldn't tell us anything, and I wasn't sure if our midwives would get the report going into the weekend, so I had just resigned myself to thinking we'd hear results on Monday at our next appointment. Yet, I was wrong... around 7 p.m. last night, we got a call from one of our midwives letting us know results. (Seriously, I love Alma!)

Baby met 8 out of 8 on the Biophysical Profile. There was enough amniotic fluid and the baby's various body parts were measuring anywhere from 38 and half weeks to 41 and a half weeks. The heart rate was good, and we even watched as the diaphragm moved, showing us the baby was "breathing" in the womb. The baby is WAY low the pelvis, which made it really difficult for the technician to get a view of the head (but we already knew the baby was so low from our appointments). The one "concern" (which would be expected considering I'm 41w3d) was that the placenta has matured. I know that going past your due date the health of the placenta becomes a concern because it could begin to deteriorate. I asked how we would continue to monitor it and was told a few things. First, a senior midwife is going to come in and feel the baby on Monday at our appointment. Second, I need to keep track of the baby's movements during its most active time in the day to make sure it is moving at least 10 times in an hour. Once I hit 42 weeks, we'll discuss what induction might look like if indeed this baby does decide to stay in past 42 weeks. In Oregon, if the baby and mama are healthy, you can legally remain pregnant well over 42 weeks and almost to 43 weeks. 43 weeks is November 7th... I'd prefer if we'd just GET. THE. SHOW. ON. THE. ROAD. (I'm talking to you little one!)

One other thing, the technician calculated an estimate of baby's weight based on the measurements she took, and she said the baby could be around 8 and a half pounds. Quite shocking to both Seth and me! He's saying 7 and a half and I'm still thinking 6 and a half. My midwife said that weight could be off by 2 pounds, and she was okay with a 6 pound baby or a 10 pound baby. We'll be excited to see how big this little one is considering how small I am in comparison to what we expected me to look like at 41+ weeks pregnant!

Two long rainy walks today and loud cheering for the K-State win over Texas Tech will hopefully be enough to push me into labor tonight (wishful thinking... maybe). Otherwise, we'll be hitting the sidewalks again tomorrow, after a session of Yoga in the morning.

Can you tell I'm really ready for the babe to get here?!?

Voted

With it being election year, one of the first things I did was to register to vote. As the day crept closer I realized I'd most likely be going to the with a newborn. I got a little worried that I'd end up not voting because of the hassle... Until I received my ballot in the mail. I was completely unaware of Portland's voting system, but I am a huge fan! Today, I was able to take my time, read up on all the candidates and measures and make my decision. I liked that I could do it at my table and take my time. And this afternoon, I'll drop it off in one of the official drop boxes near Seth's work...

Taking Advantage of Sunshine

Yesterday was a beautiful blue sky day, and I spent a good part of it trying to walk this baby out while enjoying the company of P, Z, and Jac (who was trying to walk her baby to sleep ;) Of course, no such luck, yet (I truly do feel like I could just live in a perpetual state of pregnant FOREVER - I know it's not possible, but this all feels the norm now!)

I also went to a second session of acupuncture where my acupuncturist said I seemed to be making progress since the sensations in my back were less intense even though he was being just as aggressive (if not more). He offered to add some electricity; I suggested we wait until Saturday's session (in hopes that I wouldn't need it, but I am thinking we may resort to it - after I get the midwives go-ahead!)

We are getting lots of family and friends checking in on our status or making predictions as to when the baby will come. Today, a co-worker of Seth's predicted labor starting Sunday and birth on Monday based on the full moon. I would be completely fine with that (if little one doesn't show up sooner)...

(Photo by Jac. I had to steal it from her photo stream!! Thanks Jac!)

A Fall Walk

One of the things about Portland that I most looked forward to seeing and enjoying was the nature that bloomed all year long. Last winter, when Jac was doing her best to convince us to move to Portland, she'd send photos of flowers blooming. It amazed me. There I was in the middle of winter, in freezing New York where everything was D.E.A.D. And here she's sending me these flowers. Even though it's not winter or December (and honestly it barely looks like fall yet - some streets don't even look like fall has started!), I'm still amazed by all the flowers that continue to bloom as the weather gets cooler and the leaves begin to change and fall. 

Someone growing black tomatoes. Jac, P, and Z got us some a couple weeks ago from a CSA. Yum.

An example of a place where it barely seems as fall has started. 

Lauralhurst is staying pretty green, for the most part. You can see some leaves have fallen, but when you look up, it's still pretty green. Ooooo and it smells sooooo amazing there! I wish I could bottle it up and bring it home! 

Kale. There's a house a block or so away that has the most kale plants and pretty large ones too. Think about how many yummy kale chips you can make with all that kale (which is what I've been doing every couple of days with kale from the backyard garden). 

A New Poll - Cast Your Vote

First of all, it's quite a surprise that we've (maybe more me) have been able to keep the baby's gender a secret for almost 20 weeks!! I'm not that great at withholding information... I have this smile that gives it all away (if you know me well enough to recognize it). And although I love the game Bullshit, I am not that great at it because of that damn smile! You'd think I'd have it mastered for the amount of orneriness I have in my OWN family and after years of living with Seth and his own streak!!

So as the days are closing in, and we are getting the last of the phone calls seeing if maybe, just maybe, we'll slip and share the details, I thought it would be fun to put a little poll on the blog. There at the top, you can cast your vote!! We'd love to see what people are thinking our little jujube is. We can't wait to let the cat out of the bag (but that's only happening when the babe is out of the belly). Sooo hurry, get your vote in before the baby comes! Voting ends when the baby decides it ends! 

Almost 41 Week Update

I know how everyone likes a good update, and I definitely like a place to record and share for myself. Today was quite the day. I had my 41 week appointment (tomorrow is the "official" 41 weeks). I feel like there has been a whirlwind since.

We discussed the monitoring that would start at 41 weeks and 3 days (which is technically Saturday, so it's actually starting a day ahead on Friday). Originally, it was just monitoring at the birthing center, but towards the end of the appointment, it changed into something more. I've been measuring (in fundal height) 35 weeks for, well, weeks - pretty much since I was 35 weeks. While I have been getting the recommended 80-100 (usually 100) grams of protein everyday and eating like it's my job on an at least every 2-3 hour schedule (even in the night), and I have been gaining weight, the fundal height doesn't seem to be increasing. This could have a lot to do with my own height and my long torso (as I told the mamas in my knitting circle yesterday, "Finding a shirt long enough for my torso is quite difficult, but holding a baby in my torso is something I can do!") Yet, just to be sure, we've scheduled an ultrasound to check the fetal growth along with all the other things that need to be checked when you reach 41 weeks and 3 days. I had hoped not to do another ultrasound, but for the sake of making sure babe is well, we are, of course, quite willing to get this ultrasound scheduled. Friday, we'll go in for an afternoon appointment to see the images of our little one (unless it is sweet enough to grace us with its presence before Friday).

During the appointment, my midwife also checked my cervix and gave it a bit of encouragement - a membrane sweep and a little pull forward making it dilate to 3 cm (before she did that I don't think it had done much dilating on its own - it was soft and ready, though, and she was able to hook it, which she said she often can't do with first-time mamas). That was a bit intense - I just focused on not tensing any part of my body and breathing through it - exhaling longer than I inhaled. There was a little bird in the mosaic on the wall above the birthing tub that became my point of focus... I was using some of what I had learned and practiced from my prenatal yoga practice. The nice thing about that experience was I knew it would end fairly quickly... but it did make me wonder what I have gotten myself into ;)

Their next recommendation was to start acupuncture to induce labor. I've never done acupuncture before but knew there was a good chance that would be changing if I went past my due date. It has been recommended to do it every 2 days. They recommended Seven Stars Acupuncture for its affordability. I liked them because they were able to get me right in today. I knew it wouldn't be very painful, but it was definitely a bit uncomfortable. The acupuncturist told me not to take my first impression and apply to impressions of all acupuncture experiences. Since he was trying to induce labor, it was a bit more intense than normal (which was fine by me - if it gives my uterus a nice nudge to get to work!) Most of the points in which he inserted needles were acupressure points that we had learned about during our birthing class. He said the points would stimulate the blood flow in the uterus to encourage labor. It was an interesting sensation feeling the needles stimulate the pressure points (?), nerves(?) or muscles(?) (whatever they were stimulating). Some of them were quite uncomfortable - particular one point in my lower back and the one in my left hand. If baby isn't here by Thursday, I'll be heading in for another session. (Oh and one other interesting thing, he took my pulse in many different places around my body - wrists, neck, sides of face, feet - and based off the pulse he explained that he could usually determine the sex of the baby, which he correctly determined! Crazy!!)

I'm off to eat (again) and then walk to the library to get some knitting books. Then I think I'll rest and work on a little K-State knitting project I started for the little one until it's time for me to make dinner.

40 Weeks

Hey Baby

Hey Baby,

Your parents are ready for you to come. After the K-State game tonight (of course)! 

We can't wait to kiss your little toes, and your father can't wait to play play play with you!!! 

Love,

your beyond excited parents

Fall Walk

Trying to coax a baby out today and enjoy this most beautiful, warm fall day. Some of these trees remind me of trees that were in our Brooklyn neighborhood.

I am feeling more and more like the birth is come closer... Just want it to get going ;) Tomorrow's attempt to push along the baby will be yoga and Seth mentioned spicy Mexican food for dinner... So maybe we'll end the day with a date night :)

Is Cleaning Out Your Inbox Considered Nesting?

Cause if so, I have been busy this morning!! The Inbox was 2500+ messages with over 1000 unread... And now we are down to 74 with only 30 unread. I'll get that thing cleaned out by the end of today... But for now, I guess I'll eat some lunch and go on a walk :)

I Love His Music

P and Z in the Backyard

Walking back from my fall photo walk, I saw Jac, P and Z were in the backyard. So I headed back to hang out and snap some more photos (I love taking pictures of people and haven't really too much lately, so this was fun (even if I couldn't get down to be up close like I am used to!)) 

P hauling pumpkins to their front porch. 

 Zia peeking out from behind her gate.

We knew exactly where that shovel with tiny little pebbles was headed... 

Yum! 

 When P and I went around front to check out the pumpkins, Zia was fairly dirt free. When we came back a couple minutes later, she was a different story ;) 

Climbing trees just like her brother! 

 Those perfect grapes... Just torturing us on the other side of the fence.

P spent most of the time swinging from this tree. 

I love love love living sooooo close to them! Last night, we went up to enjoy a delicious apple cobbler (with whipped cream, of course). After dessert, we headed to the top floor to see P's fort and enjoyed playing - including some fun games of Simon Says... Where I discovered I make a pretty good Simon! ;) Jac was telling P that maybe next time he sees us, we'll have a little baby. It's crazy to think how things will change and that we'll have a sweet little one ourselves. We've always soooo enjoyed our nieces and nephews, but to think we are giving our siblings a new addition to their list of nieces or nephews! Of course it will be a while before ours can really play with the cousins, but that will be fun to watch as the little one grows!!