love.

Jenny is sweet enough to throw me a shower this weekend with some of our old Acsys/Accountants Intl. co-workers. Can't wait to catch up with these ladies! In the meantime, I just wanted to share the saying that's on the invitation. Love it!


The Greatest Gift
Today the doctor confirmed what my heart already knew: I am carrying a child. This is a joy unlike any other. It is too amazing for science and too wonderful for words.

Today a stranger in an elevator confirmed what my body already knew: My child is becoming obvious. "When are you due?" As I answer, maternal pride wells up from within. It is too complex for science and too new for words.

Today a strong kick confirmed what my mind already knew: I hold within my womb a human being. Another kick follows as if to say, "I am a real, live person". It is too spiritual for science and too precious for words.

Sally A. Powell

Fun stuff.

Wednesday I went to the midwife. This was the first appointment where Tad wasn't there, but no way around it because he's in fire rookie school for the next six weeks. It was normal appointment in that I had a list of questions and Anjili and I talked for about 20 minutes. I told her I would be really surprised if she doesn't attend the birth because I've seen her more than anyone else there! Three weeks before at my last appt. bb was still breach so I was eager to find out if anything had changed so after we chatted she felt my belly -- the head was down! That was great news... I was surprised I didn't feel all that movement of the 180 degree turn but I had no clue. I was so excited when Anjili said she was going to do a quick ultrasound to make sure. Too bad it lasted less than 30 seconds... she just said "yep, there's the head, there's the butt and there's the feet". Much different than my 20 minute ultrasound at See Baby! The only other news from this appt. was that I had lost a pound. She didn't say anything about it, probably because I'm measuring fine. Tad was worried but I told him as long as the baby and my belly are growing then I don't care if I gain another pound in the next 9 weeks!

That night Tad and I went to Atlanta Medical for the Midwife Meet n' Greet. It's mainly for people who are thinking of using them so there was a Q and A session and a maternity ward tour (which is why I wanted to go). Tad and I are incredibly lucky that we've gone to Intown Midwifery from the beginning. There were several women there who were in their third trimester who decided to transfer because they were unhappy with their OB. Tad even said "we have to make sure we have all of our kids with them". It makes me happy he loves them as much as I do!

I'm still feeling pretty good, just get worn out easily and I'm always hot (to be expected this time of year in Atlanta regardless of whether you're pregnant or not!). I pretty much take lukewarm showers and I still feel light-headed so I sit down to brush my teeth and put on my make-up in the morning. The past several nights I've been waking up at around 2:30 and stay up for an hour to an hour 1/2. It's pretty annoying. I'm never uncomfortable but sometimes I'm hungry so I eat something with protein in it and then lay back down. My mind is super busy with thoughts of pregnancy, labor, and work so it takes a while to fall back asleep. The baby is most active during this time too so I have a feeling he or she arrives I'll be up at the same hour. :) I'm thankful that the nausea is minimal. On average, I probably get sick once/week but it hits me all of a sudden. Sometimes it's when I brush my tongue in the morning and other times it's completely random (like on Thursday when I drank some water with lime and had the sudden urge to vom). I'm used to it now.

We decided on a doula, the amazing Shari Aizenman.

Lastly, my first baby shower was yesterday. Jess and Becky hosted at Jess' house and I must say, it was one of the best showers I've been to with lots of yummy food and awesome decorations! I have some pretty wonderful friends too... bb got tons of stuff! Here are some of my favorite pics:

Photobucket">




Photobucket">




Photobucket">




Photobucket">




Photobucket">




Photobucket">




Photobucket">




Photobucket">




This week we have the water birth class at North Fulton on Sunday. It's required by Tenet to labor/deliver in the water. I was planning to take it at AMC, but when I called last week to register they said the next available slot was Sept. 1st. Whoops, procrastinated on that one! I thought that was cutting it a little close to my due date so I just decided to go up to Roswell to take it. On Saturday, Jenny is throwing me a shower with some of my old Acsys co-workers. I'm looking forward to catching up with them!

Article

One of the best articles I've read... makes me feel good about the decisions I've made so far:

Reducing the cesarean rate for first-time mothers

30 weeks down, 10-12 more to go. :)

Can't believe I'm 30 weeks already! God willing I will make it full term so that's why I put 10-12 weeks more! A doula I spoke with told me that the average first time pregnant woman goes until 41 weeks and 2 days. I'm reminding myself of that stat often so when September 10th comes around (or the 18th for that matter) I won't be disappointed that there are no signs of labor! My widwives will let me go to 42 weeks (but after 40 weeks I'll start seeing Dr. Bootstaylor for fetal monitoring to ensure the baby is still doing well).

We're in full blown preparation mode, in terms of birthing this baby anyway (I need to get my butt in gear with finishing the nursery - the tree wall decal is NOT on the wall, I still haven't decided on bedding for the day bed, I need to buy a crib mattress, the amazing crib skirt that Tad's mom made isn't on yet, I need to go back to Michael's to finish my bird houses, order prints from etsy that I want, and on and on and on). But what I HAVE been doing is signing up for an independent birthing class (8/13 is the big day), reading books and articles to prepare (currently tackling Birthing From Within, with Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and Ricki Lake's Your Best Birth to follow). I even have one on the way from the library for Tad to read: The Birth Partner: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Doulas and All Other Labor Companions. Of course, he doesn't know it yet but I look at him with sweet eyes and say it's important to me maybe he'll look at it. I'm kidding.

We've also met one doula that I REALLY like. She came over last week and talked to us for almost 2 hours. I promised myself I would meet at least 2 before making a decision so I'm still looking at folks... So not too shabby on the preparation side. I know planning an unmedicated birth with no preparation is silly because I'm not trying to fool myself that this will be the hardest and most empowering thing I've ever done if it works out. (Which is another thing I've realized - I can make all the plans in the world, but at the end of the day, the baby determines what will happen and that may be a cesarean delivery, who knows!)

But Tad and I are getting excited and most of our conversations are around the baby, how we envision labor, life changing when the baby gets home, the dogs adjusting, maternity leave, childcare at GP for Kids, etc. etc. etc. It's kind of hard not to talk about when you have this massive belly around, a baby flipping and kicking 24-7, peeing 20 times/day, and my hips hurting from the ligaments stretching and preparing. :)

One thing I am super excited about is our baby growing up at Buckhead Church and having them dedicated there. When Tad and I started going there 5 years ago, I remember thinking I couldn't wait to have a baby so they could go to Waumba Land (the pre-school space). :) We are blessed to go to such an awesome church, no doubt. Speaking of being blessed, I really want to put the lyrics of this song in the nursery:

He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us oh
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.


We are His portion and He is our prize
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes
If grace is an ocean, we're all sinking
So Heaven meets earth like a sloppy, wet kiss
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest
I don't have time to maintain these regrets
When I think about the way He loves us.
(David Crowder Band)

Oops, wrong week

So I wrote the blog on Friday and I've been thinking all along that I'm 27 weeks. Well, I just got my babycenter update email that I'm 26. Oops. Can you tell my brain is mush? I just hope that after this baby comes, I will get my senses about me again. Otherwise, I'm worried for Tad, my job, friends and family. :)

Over halfway!

So this post is catch up from the last SEVEN weeks (wow, times flies). I thought I would be more diligent with blogging because I was so fond of journaling and diaries when I was younger. I guess I lost that itch. :) Or I have more on my plate these days than in high school!

We had the ultrasound at 19 weeks and it showed that the baby was measuring right on target. Awesome! We saw the bladder, the four chambers of the heart, the spine and the legs and arms. It was incredible. I've often told friends who are having ultrasounds "be sure to drink a Coke before so the baby moves around" and of course I forgot this advice so the most we got was a little wave. But it was still very cool to see this kid who has taken over my body. :)

Here are some pics:













The past couple of weeks have been uneventful in terms of the baby besides the kicking and moving becoming more noticeable. That's been my favorite part of the pregnancy so far - it truly is a miracle! And I love that Tad has been able to fill it for the past 5 weeks or so. I think it makes it more real for him besides just seeing my growing belly. The baby is most active in the morning and at night. Tad's mom said that both Tammie and Tad ended up being the most awake during the time they were most active in the womb. Tad and I are hoping for a night-lover because neither of us are morning people! We'll see.

Another important thing to note is that I've had ZERO heartburn. If the wives tail holds true, this means that my kid will have nothing more than some peach fuzz, just like me when I was an infant. (I don't think I had hair until I was 4!). Tad didn't have much either so my dreams of having a baby with a head full of hair are probably hopeless. :)

Tad's parents came over for 2 weeks and completely re-did our house. Not kidding. They painted every room, re-did the hardwoods in the nursery, put in a new threshold in the foyer and helped Tad build a shed for the backyard. They were amazing help and I'm so thankful. There's no telling how many times they went to Sherwin Williams. I bet at least 10. Dad, Tad, Tad's dad and a couple of guys from our small group also cut a bunch of limbs and one tree down in the backyard too. Our hope is to grow some grass back there in the fall! The house looks so much better.

Tomorrow I will be 27 weeks. The thought of only having around 13 weeks to go is crazy. Time has flown by, just like everyone said it would. For the past week I've been trying to research birthing classes and doulas. We still haven't decided if we're going to use a doula, but most likely we will. I figure Tad and I can use all the help we can get with the first one and doing it with no medication.

I go to Intown Midwifery Tuesday and have the glucose test done to make sure I don't have gestational diabetes. I'm going to try to be good and keep my sweet intake to a minimum until then, but of course I'm craving ice cream. I think because it's getting warmer (it's been in the 90's) and anything cool just hits the spot.

The Bivens family is heading down to the beach on the 18th and I couldn't be more excited for a vacation. I've only had one day off since December! The only downside is Tad can't go since he just started at Forest Park. That's a bummer. But regardless, I can't wait to lounge on one of those low beach chairs close to the water with a good book in my hand! I may even buy some O'douls or make some virgin margaritas!

19 weeks!

Jess took this picture of me last Sunday at the Braves game. Today I hit the 19 week mark. Can't believe I'm almost halfway done. Everyone told me it would go by fast and I didn't believe them. Now I do!

Monday I went for my monthly midwife appointment... everything is still going well. I've gained 8 lbs so far (I think giving up desserts for Lent has saved me several pounds!) and the baby's heart rate was around 160. I asked if it's true that girls have higher heart rates but the midwife said she had heard that, but wasn't sure. Like everything else, it depends. My uterus is right below my belly button, which is on track for how far along I am. The midwife even showed Tad how to press down on my belly and feel it. Apparently it feels like a bicep. Strange.

I've started to feel the baby move. Last Wednesday I felt some light poking, but now it's much more apparent. Like little tapping inside of me. I have to be sitting pretty still to notice it, and it's always on my left side. The midwife said that the placenta is on the right and the baby on the left, probably. I kind of forgot that part of pregnancy (feeling the baby inside of you). It calms me. I can't wait for Tad to be able to feel it too! I'm feeling like a million bucks these days. Well, maybe not a million but several hundred thousand. ;) I have a lot more energy, only need around 8 hours of sleep (I still shoot for more!) and minimal puking. (Although I ate Oz last night and threw it all up after I brushed my teeth and gagged -- oops.) The only major symptom left from the first trimester is having to pee a lot during the night. I typically get up anywhere from 2-5 times, even if I stop drinking liquids hours before I go to bed. I can tell my body is going through some changes... everything is loosening up from the progesterone, which make my hips and back sore. I've never been to a chiropractor before but I'm going Monday and I feel like it's a few days before Christmas -- I can't wait! There's also a massage therapist on staff so I'm hoping for a double dose of goodness.

Next Friday at 9:00 I go in for an ultrasound. It will be my first one so Tad and I are stoked to see this kid! Nope, not finding out what we're having (that's always the next thing people ask). If all goes well that day, then we'll get into planning mode. Tad's parents are planning to come in a few weeks to help with the nursery and some house stuff (building a privacy fence, painting the house, re-doing some of the flooring). I'm sure mom and dad will be here too. The thought of all the work exhausts me but I'm excited at the same time.

We were supposed to be in Helen for the weekend and take Lilli and Avery to Cabbage Patchland for their Easter Egg Hunt, but the weather last night was crummy. Instead, Abby and I are going to the Dawsonville outlets to find some maternity clothes. I've worn out the bella band and I want to get some work dresses. Abby will also get to meet Brecken for the first time because we're having lunch with Jess and the little guy. I'm sure it will make Abby have the baby bug again, like she says holding a baby always does!