Live.Laugh.Love

Week 39 (September 7 - September 9)

Not much to report here, but I thought I would type a quick note. The no-salt diet worked really well! My feet are still swollen, but I can at least squeeze into sandals and my feet don't feel like they are going to split open. (TMI?) I have been having Braxton-Hicks contractions on and off, but really only when I bend down, so play time with Zoë has been limited a bit (much to her displeasure.) I still have a lingering cough and when I do cough it makes my belly button pop out, which cracks me up. I've never had an outie before and it is so funny looking!

Zoë is very excited to meet her baby sister, but I also think that she is beginning to understand that things will soon be changing. She has been very clingy, especially with me. She has been wanting me to be with her every minute of the day which is unusual. I am torn because I want to spend as much time with her as possible, yet I don't want to encourage this unusually dependent behavior. I am sure it will work itself out.

We spent our last afternoon as a family of three hanging out at Redmond Town Center. Zoë got to play on the toys for as long as she wanted, then we enjoyed a yummy dinner at Roxy's Diner. It is the cutest little place! We had never been there before, but you can bet we will be back (often.) Then we made one final stop at Gymboree to pick up a much needed item (a present from Eden to her big sister) and let Zoë pick out a Halloween costume. I would have to say it was a good time had by all.

Oh, here is an interesting little tidbit. Someone poached our nanny. %$#@! I'm happy for Debbie, don't get me wrong. She was looking for a permanent position and she found one, but geez! Two days before I have a baby? Come on people. Thankfully, since we are using a service they already have another nanny lined up for us. I spoke with her today and she seems even better than Debbie. She is much younger and seems to have a lot more energy to keep up with Zoë. This really could turn out to be for the best.

Alrighty, I am off to finish packing for the hospital and enjoy my last night of solid sleep for who knows how long. Don't worry we will be posting pictures of our new addition very soon. (You know I'm bringing my laptop to the hospital.) Hehehe.

Week 38 (August 31 - September 6)

Two words: Swollen feet. Not like normal swollen feet, freakishly-huge-can't-stand-on-them feet. I had my check up on Thursday and the scale showed that I gained FOUR pounds. In a week. And do you know where those pounds were? Yep, the feet. Nice. You can read all about my visit right here.

Another interesting tidbit, the doctor said that the baby was measuring big, but that it was because she was a good 2-3 inches above my cervix. This little one seems to be just as stubborn (and comfortable) as her sister was and hasn't dropped a centimeter. Not that it really matters since I am having a c-section anyway.

I still have a lingering cough, which seems to irritate Eden. I cough and she squirms around. Oh, and I figured out that she also doesn't like it when I eat ice (constantly) because she tries to get away from the cold. Funny little baby.

Cravings: Salt (since I can't have any of course)

Aversions: None

Baby Eden:
If she is the "average baby," she weights 6.8 pounds and is 19.6 inches long. Have you noticed she hiccups a lot? (Yes!) Because there is no air around her, those breathing exercises cause amniotic fluid to get into her windpipe. The result? Hiccups! The baby's intestines are accumulating lots of meconium. Meconium takes on the role of being your baby's first bowel movement -- removing the waste that has accumulated. She may have a full head of hair now -- an inch or more long! Don't be surprised if it's an unexpected color. Some blond couples have dark haired babies; some dark haired couples have red-haired babies; some couples have babies with only peach fuzz! It may just persuade you to take a closer look at your family tree! Circumference of head and abdomen are about the same size for your baby. No wonder it's so hard to get a t-shirt over a newborn's head! (Thank you c-section.)  

Week 37 (August 24 - August 30)

Well the good news is that I can breathe again. The bad news is, I can't stop coughing. Neither can Kelly. What a pair we are. Zoë's cough seems to be going away though, nice of her to share with us. Her doctor said that this cold/cough lasts about 2-3 weeks and no antibiotic or cough medicine seems to touch it. On the plus side that means that by the time Miss Eden makes her appearance we should all be healthy AND my doctor assures me that I cannot in fact make my water break by coughing too hard. (I had been wondering about that.)

I am slowly but surely checking things off of my to-do list. It really didn't seem that long when I created the list it is taking forever. I am moving pretty slowly these days. It is my blasted swollen feet. More specifically my swollen legs. I am swollen up to my knees. So annoying. Even my toes are swollen. Which means that I need to rest and put my feet up. Not something that I like doing when I am motivated to do things like paint murals. Dang poofy feet.

I made some fun baby/postpartum purchases this week. I ordered the valance and diaper stacker for Eden's room. Now I just need to organize it. Honestly, I am not in too big a rush because it's not like she is actually going to be in there for at least a month anyway (but it's nice to have.) I was also on the fence about ordering a chic hospital gown. I saw them on Tori & Dean and thought that was a fabulous idea! Why wear a boring hospital gown when you could be glamorous after all? I was *this* close to buying one but decided against it. Really, I would be wearing it for about a day... still it would have looked fabulous in the hospital pictures. Instead I went with the more practical but still chic nightgowns which I can wear in and out of the hospital.

What else? We found our nanny this week. It was a pretty short search. The Seattle Nanny Network did all of the screenings, reference checks, etc. It is a little more expensive going through a service but I think it will be worth it. A few of my friends have been doing nanny searches on their own and had terrible luck. I don't want to deal with that right now. Our nanny's name is Debbie and she is going to start full time on September 22nd. Woo Hoo! She is going to be with us for the next three months to help us/me transition to two little ones. Debbie came over in the morning on Monday, Wednesday and Friday to play with Zoë. I wanted the two of them to have some time to connect before the baby comes. They seem to have hit it off pretty well, especially since Debbie made cookies with Zoë on Friday and brought blue frosting to decorate them with. You can win Zoë over with just about anything if it is blue. :)

Cravings: Ice (but that makes me cough so I have been avoiding it)

Aversions: None

Baby Eden:
This week, the average size is about 6.3 pounds now and 19.1 inches length. She is official full term now but can still benefit from extra days in the womb. The baby continues to practice breathing movements. Grasp is firm now. A few weeks ago Eden would move her eyes toward light. Now she turns towards light outside the uterus. As the uterine wall stretches and thins allowing more light to permeate, she is developing definite daily activity cycles. You will want to be sure to establish good patterns yourself at this time, thus encouraging them in your child. Ever heard of a baby getting his days/nights mixed up? Now's the time to try to avoid that!

Week 36 (August 17 - August 23)

I feel like I am suffocating. Kelly and I caught Zoë's cold and the three of us have all been sick all week. I can't breathe through my nose and the baby is squishing my lungs, hence the suffocation. It is very unpleasant. On the plus side, we are all feeling better, we just don't sound like it. I took Zoë to the doctor a week ago and he said that there is a bug going around that lasts 2-3 weeks and no medication will touch it. You just have to ride it out. Nice. You don't think that coughing or sneezing really hard could make my water break prematurely, do you?

On the plus side, the weather cooled off this week and my feet are back to their normal size. Woo Hoo! But I did forget to mention another lovely side effect of this pregnancy last week, the mask of pregnancy. Like the varicose veins and stretch marks aren't bad enough, I have to start freckling on my face? I will be going in for laser treatments for years to recover from this pregnancy. Good grief!

What else? I started having Braxton-Hicks contractions on Thursday. I was emptying our master closet for the California Closet installation, then refilling it. All the bending seemed to irritate Miss Eden/my body, hence the contractions. I have been taking it easy in the bending department and they seem to have gone away. I told my OB at my appointment on Friday and she said that everything looked good (and that the baby hasn't dropped...neither did Zoë) but that I needed to try not to contract. OK then. I'll see what I can do. LOL! My next appointment is in a week. Yep, I am now on the weekly check-up plan. We're getting close!

Cravings: Melted ice, Chicken Noodle Soup and Cookies

Aversions: Nothing

Baby Eden:

If she hasn't already, this week the baby may drop into the birth canal. (Nope.) Fat is dimpling your baby's elbows and knees, and forming creases in the neck and wrists. Her skin is growing smooth and, shall we say it, "baby" soft. Her gums are very rigid. It won't be many months before you'll see her teeth. She has a fully developed pair of kidneys and her liver has begun processing some waste products. The child's average size is now 18.66 inches and 5.78 pounds. Between now and birth she will gain about an ounce a day!

   

Weeks 34 and 35 (August 3 - August 16)

Let the countdown begin! (Actually it began last week.) We are now in the final month before Baby Eden arrives! I keep oscillating between excitement and panic. I still have quite the to-do list, but as long as the baby does not arrive before September 10th we should be good to go.

I am feeling really really good, hot but good. It has been smokin' hot in Seattle this last week. It was 99.8 degrees in our bedroom the other day and 88.4 degrees downstairs. That is way to hot. Needless to say, our heat pump/air conditioning is being installed on Wednesday. Ironically when it will be 65 degrees and rainy.

I had Kelly take a picture of me today, the first day of week 36. I have stopped weighing myself, I figure that I have less than a month to go and have gained waaaay less than my pregnancy with Zoë. As long as my maternity clothes don't get any tighter then I am going to be a happy camper. My one main pregnancy complaint is that have Fred Flinstone feet. Maybe even Fred Flinstone legs... The swelling is pretty bad. Zoë's favorite past time is making dents in my ankles. Sweet little angel that she is. I try to put my feet up, but then Eden rests up in my ribs and squishes my lower back/organs. Frankly, I'd rather have swollen feet. I'm not overly tired and my appetite has returned to pre-pregnancy levels. All good things.

Cravings: Ice cube and the wonderful smell of gas

Aversions: Nothing

Baby Eden, Week 34:
The baby acts completely like a newborn, with her eyes opened when awake and closed when sleeping. You may also find her settling into more of a routine for sleeping & awake times. (True) She has learned to blink. She can also see more clearly when there is a bright light on your stomach and probably has the outline of all your organs memorized! Antibodies from my blood are being tranferred to her. These immunities continue to build until birth. Then breastmilk will add even more protection against disease. The baby may have already turned to a head-down position in preparation for birth. If she is your first baby, she may be settling into the pelvis with his head pressing against your cervix. Fingernails have reached the end of the fingertips now. She may scratch her face even before she is born! Our little one's length is 17.7 inches and weight is 4.7 pounds.

 Baby Eden, Week 35:
Fat accumulations plumps up the arms and legs this week. These layers of fat will help her regulate his body temperature. They also provide those cute little dimples on elbows and knees! Her hearing is fully developed. It's getting crowded! The baby is now taking up most of the uterus and you may even feel like your chest has run out of room! Soon enough though, baby will move down and you'll be able to breathe easily again (just not walk so easily! Ha!). Baby Eden is 18.2 inches long and weighs 5.3 pounds.

 

Weeks 32 and 33 (July 20 - August 2)

Let's start off with a new tummy picture, shall we? It is actually a 33 week picture not the 32 week picture I was intending, which honestly does make me a little twitchy, but unpacking and getting our townhouse market ready does not make for cute pictures.

How am I feeling? Tired and frustrated. As it turns out, moving when you are eight months pregnant is not very easy. I never had any illusions about lugging boxes around, we hired movers for that. But I never dreamed that I would only be able to unpack three or so boxes a day before my round ligaments started killing me. I know that in the long run, it won't matter that it took me three-four weeks to unpack, but currently it is annoying. You know how I feel about clutter and messes.

Last week, Zoë and I escaped the craziness of our house and spent a girl's morning together. I am trying to enjoy every moment I can with my little monkey. We won't be able to spend alone time together for much longer... We went to Panera for breakfast then to Babies R Us to register for the baby. It was a good time had by all. I just had to make sure that Zoë didn't scan everything she saw (and yes, she did try.)

Another weird pregnancy factoid, I love the smell of gas right now. Our garage is one of my favorite places because it just smells so good in there. You know that lawn mower, WD-40 smell? Mmmmm. Totally bizarre, I know. Still.....mmmmm, gas. They should make it an air freshner.

Cravings: Melting Ice

Aversions: None

Baby Eden, Week Thirty Two:
All five senses are working. Our little one is fascinated and practicing testing these out as much as possible! Toenails are completely formed even though she may not be quite ready for a French manicure. Hair on her head continues to grow in. Brain scans have shown that babies have periods of dream sleep (REM) starting around the eight month. Eden is up to 3.75 pounds (1702gm) now and is 16.7 inches (42.4cm) long.

Baby Eden, Week Thirty Three:
Amniotic fluid is at its highest level during my pregnancy. The baby's head size has increased 3/8ths of an inch due to rapid brain growth. Neurons and synapses are developing in huge numbers -- forming connections in your baby's brain will give him the skills he needs to thrive as a newborn. This week, she may be able to coordinate sucking and swallowing with breathing. While most of her bones are hardening, her skull is quite pliable and not completely joined. The bones will be able to move slightly to make birthing easier. The baby takes intermittent deep breaths -- of water! That's okay, though since she gets oxygen from the placenta. This breathing exercises muscles and encourages her lung cells to produce more surfactant (a protein essential for healthy lung development). Eden is now 17.2 inches (43.7cm) long and weighs 4.23 pounds (1918gm).  

Weeks 30 and 31 (July 6 - July 19)

Not much has been going off the last two weeks, pregnancy wise. We have been busy with projects around the townhouse and getting it ready to go on the market. (Sneaky how we didn't mention that before, huh?) I have started packing and it is going slowly. It is really hard to bend over and put things in boxes with a big tummy in the way!

On the tummy front, Eden is moving like crazy. It is specific movement, like being able to feel a hand or foot move across my stomach and seeing a bump. It's so cool and totally weird at the same time. When she is being calm, I can rub my stomach and she will start moving around. Of course the opposite is true for Kelly and Zoë. She still stops moving 98% of the time when they try to feel her. It could have something to do with the fact that they like to shake my stomach like a Magic 8 ball...

Cravings: Pretty much anything that I don't have to cook myself.

Aversions: None

Baby Eden, Week Thirty:

Her head is getting larger to accommodate a period of rapid brain growth. A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her. As she grows and fills the uterus, the amount of amniotic fluid will decrease. She spends more and more time practicing opening and closing eyelids. Her eyes can move from side to side, following a light source. She may even reach out to touch the light. Early lanugo is beginning to disappear that served to protect the baby's skin from the water in the womb. Our little one's own hair may begin to appear. Toenails are entering their final growth stage. Bone marrow is now in charge of red blood cell production. These red blood cells will continue to service the child's body by transporting oxygen and removing the wastes (carbon monoxide and other gases). Eden has the capability now to produce tears -- yes, within the womb. By the end of this week, she is now 15.7 inches (39.9cm) long and weighs 2.91 pounds (1319gm).

Baby Eden, Week Thirty One:
The rate of physical growth slows down just a bit, but even though she doesn't get much longer, she will gain a lot of weight the rest of the pregnancy. Fat continues accumulating. This layer of fat turns her skin from red to the rosy pink she will have as a newborn. Calcium, phosphorus and iron are being stored and her bones are growing and hardening. Her brain enters another period of rapid growth, producing hundreds of billions of new nerve cells! Amazing! She may move to the rhythm of music. Studies with heart rates show that she also prefers some types of music to others -- already! Lungs are the only major organ left to complete development. Eden is 16.2 inches (41.1cm) long and weighs 3.3 pounds (1502gm). 

Week 29 (June 29 - July 5)

This has been a very eventful week! I had my check-up this week and everything is fine. Blood pressure, good. Weight gain, good. Heart beat, good. Now that I have reached my third trimester (eek!) I will have check-ups with the doctor every two weeks. Oh my goodness. I only have ten weeks to go!

I think I just had a little panic attack. Things to do, things to do!!!

And we have finally decided on a name. Drum roll please...

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I have liked the name Eden since before we were even pregnant. It brings to mind a beautiful and tranquil garden. Zoë means lively. This time we are going with peaceful and serene. Bonus? It is not on the top 100 baby names, which I love. Michelle is after my Dad. We were oscillating between Michelle and Michaela, but Eden Michelle sounds more threatening for when she gets in trouble. Hehehe. :)

Would you believe that we also got the Zoë seal of approval on the name? I think it was meant to be. She vetoed every other name with threw at her. Now she calls the baby both Burp and Eden. Nice.

Eden is growing and moving like crazy. I have been saying that for weeks, and I don't anticipate that stopping any time soon. What has changed is that I can feel her little feet and hands moving across my belly. It is the coolest and most bizarre feeling. It's like she is checking out her surroundings. Or trying to escape. Who knows.

Cravings: Cookies (still). That is not helping the ol' scale.

Aversions: Nothing of note

Baby Eden:
The baby's head is in proportion with body now. She appears more like a newborn each and every day! Fat continues to accumulate under the skin -- only now preparing for entering the *real world*. The baby's brain can control primitive breathing and body temperatures. Her eyes can move in their sockets. Soon she will be able to follow a blinking light. (Nice for her since Zoë likes shining a flash light on my tummy.) The baby is increasingly sensitive to changes in light, sound, taste, and smell! Various studies show that the baby may indicate preferences (or disdain) for particular tastes or odors at this stage. She is also moving from side to side, but probably still is head up. In the next few weeks, she will move to the head down birthing position. Her length is now approximately 15.2 inches (38.6cm) and weight is 2.54 pounds (1153gm). 

Week 28 (June 22 - June 28)

Today I fully realize the unfortunate timing of this pregnancy. Being über pregnant through the summer is going to be miserable if today is any indication. UGH. I am so uncomfortable. Right now I am sitting in the recliner with my feet propped up with a pillow (Zoë is on the couch with her feet propped up too. LOL!) and the fan blowing on me. It is 80 degrees by the fan and 90 upstairs in our bedroom. I knew this was coming. The first thing most people say to me when they find out my due date is, "Oh you are going to be pregnant all summer. I'm sorry." Yeah, thanks.

"I'm meelllllllllttttiiiiiiing!" (Said in my best wicked witch voice.)

Tomorrow is supposed to be 90. I am seriously considering booking a hotel room. A hotel room with A/C. I take back everything I have said about Kelly's crazy intolerance to heat. I now think he is perfectly sane. Of course I am a hormonal pregnant lady so together I'm sure we are completely insane. Either way, it is HOT! And my feet are swollen. That little bit of loveliness started today. I think it's the heat. Bleck.

Other than that I really do feel good. Sunday marks the start of the third trimester. Otherwise known as the incredible expanding Maegan. The baby is already moving around like crazy and making my stomach lurch back and forth and she is only two pounds. Give her a month and she might just tip me over. LOL! I am still feeling a bit frustrated about my limited activities. The round ligament pain I was having after bending down and planting flowers for twenty minutes just about killed me off on Friday. Come on! It's not like I was lifting bags of bark and spreading it like Kel. Just planting meazly flowers. Geez!

Oh, on a side note, Zoë has now decided that the baby's name is Burp. You like? No? Kelly and I aren't really fans either. I thought that only little boys were supposed to be amused by burping and farting. Apparently not.

Cravings: Sandwiches (Classic turkey from Quizno's specifically) and cookies

Aversions: None

Baby Birr:
Eyebrows and eyelashes are now very noticeable! Hair on the baby's head is growing longer. (I wonder if she will be born with a full head of hair like Zoë?) The eyes are completely formed now. The baby's body is getting plump and rounded. Most of that increase is muscle tissue and bone. Fat will be added during the third trimester. Muscle tone is improving. (Yep, you can actually see that happening. LOL!) Lungs are capable of breathing now. She can recognize ours voices now and will often calm to it later on! The baby weighs in now at 2.2 pounds (1005gm) and is 14.8 inches (37.6cm).

Weeks 26 and 27 (June 8 - June 21)

Good news, no more round ligament pains! Until today that is. It turns out I was right and holding/carrying Zoë is the source of the strain. I was holding her today for about ten minutes at Home Depot and the pain is back with a vengeance. Poo. On the plus side, now that I know for sure what is causing it I can stop.

In other news, the baby is moving like crazy. And she is strong enough now that my stomach is moving constantly. It makes me smile all the time. My stomach lurches all over the place. LOL! Of course when Kelly and Zoë try to feel the baby move do you think she will cooperate? 98% of the time the answer is no.

Zoë has decided that the baby should be named Burp instead of Lucy. Lovely. I think we'll veto that one as well. We still don't have a name for this little one picked out. We liked Jillian but the name means "Bearded Youth." What the heck is that supposed to mean? We can't exactly name her that. Imagine the introductions..."This is our daughter Zoë, it means lively. And this is out daughter Jillian, the little bearded child." Um, no.

Cravings: None

Aversions: None

Baby Birr:
To support the fetus's growing body, the spine is getting stronger and more supple. Though no longer than the span of the average adult hand, it is now made up of 150 joints, 33 rings, and some 1,000 ligaments. Air sacs in the lungs form now. Lungs begin to secrete a greasy substance called surfactant. Without surfactant the fetal lungs would stick together and couldn't expand after the baby is born. Although they've been sealed shut for the last few months, the baby's eyes are opening and beginning to blink this week. Retinas begin to form. Brain wave activity for hearing and sight begins to be detectable. Fetal brain scans show response to touch. Her brain continues its rapid growth. Response to sound grows more consistent toward the end of the seventh month, when the network of nerves to the ear is complete. The baby's hearing continues to develop, he or she may start to recognize our voices. Lungs continue to grow and prepare for functioning outside of the womb. Each day in the womb greatly increases survival rates! She also continues to take small breaths and although she's only breathing in water and not air, it's still good practice for when she's born. Eyelids are now open more. The baby can distinguish between light and dark. Retinas have formed. Your baby will grow over an inch this week alone! You may suspect this phenominal growth rate repeats in the preteen years! Average size is now 14.4 inches (36.6cm) and 1.9 pound (875gm).