25 Weeks and Counting!

I am 25 weeks!  

15 weeks to go! 

Nearing my third trimester! 

Checked off the "To-Do List":

Matt and I have been very busy.  We have pre-registered for the hospital and signed up for classes.  We will be taking Birth Class, Breastfeeding, and Daddy Boot Camp all in March. 

Since I am a planner, I am starting to set the date for baby showers, and I have been staying late after school to plan the rest of the school year out so I can prepare for the long-term substitute.  

Matt has been remodeling our entry hallway, which includes installing an energy-efficient door, new door trims, spackling, and painting.  I hate how home projects make the house look worse before it starts to look better.  I am glad he is joining in on the "nesting" though.  

Baby Micah:

He has been moving more often!  Matt gets to feel him "dance" most nights as we cuddle up for bed.  Anytime now I will feel the infamous hiccups since his vocal cords are now developed.   

At the last doctor's visit they informed me I have a fibroid, which is a small nonmalignant growth in my uterus.  It will not effect my pregnancy as long as it stays small.  He says not to worry, but of course, I worry.   I also have something called Group B Strep, which is a virus in my vagina.  They will give me special antibiotics in the hospital to ensure that it does not pick up the virus as it passes through during labor.  I just thank God for technology and the ability to be proactive about potential dangers.  Next time at the doctor's they will be testing for Gestational Diabetes.  I am not looking forward to drinking the orange goop before hand.   

My favorite book to look up all these new and scary things the doctor tells me about is What to Expect When You're Expecting.  I just like the index where I can look up these words and be informed.  Matt always asks why I don't use the internet, but just like recipes, I want a resource that someone recommends so I know I can trust it instead of a endless amount of information and not knowing which one is "the best".  

New Side Effects:

-Leg Cramps in the middle of the night

-Very tired and emotional

-Waddling, which equals back pain since my sense of balance is changing it puts strain on my back.  

What I am Learning:

I have been enjoying the many free magazines that are given out when you register at stores, register at hospitals, and register for a doctor.  

My favorite magazines so far:

-You and Your Family: for Expectant Parents

- American Baby

-New Parent

- Baby Talk

-Becoming Us- by Toys R Us and Babies R Us

-Parenting

Another important website is the AAP - which are all the guidelines and laws set in place to keep infants safe.  

As I read these magazines I will be buzzing by to tell you about particular articles I found helpful.  Next time I promise a belly picture too :)  Micah seems to be growing every day!

Kindergartners on Pregnancy

I teach Kindergarten at a small Christian School.  They have had a very unique experience because this particular class has been with me through this entire pregnancy and will even get to meet him!  

They helped me spread the news about my pregnancy at the beginning of the year, and they have watched my belly grow.  Every so often I tell them how big the baby is, possibly with age-appropriate pictures.  I will have the Micah at the end of the school year, and I hope to bring him in so they can meet him one of the last days of school.  


The day we were going to have the Ultrasound to reveal if it was a boy or girl I had them predict and graph what they think it would be.  I told them the next day I would wear a blue shirt if it was a boy, and I would wear a pink shirt if it was a girl.  It was so fun to watch them tearing into the room and announcing; "It's a BOY!"   Kids always make everything more exciting!  

Some funny questions and quotes about babies and pregnancy from the minds of Kindergartners:

Me:  The Baby is about a foot long this week!
Student:  Like Subway? 
Other Students: *Singing* Five dollar, five dollar, five dollar foot lonnnnnnng


Me:  The baby is the size of a peach this week
Next Day:  Here is a peach for you!  It's like your baby!  I prayed for your peach today!


Student:  Does the baby pee in there?


Student:  (Right after Christmas break when they haven't seen me for two weeks)
WOW!  Your baby is getting fat!  


Student:  How do they know if it's a boy or girl?
Me:  They take a picture from the inside and they can tell from the picture
Student:   So the baby is naked?  Ewwwww!


Student:  How does the baby get in there?


Student:  I was never THAT small!


Student:  Does the baby eat your leftovers?  


Student:  *Hugging my belly*  Do you think I can squeeze it out?

Thank you!

I am loving the outpouring of love and advice in response to this blog!  I adore hearing from family and friends giving me advice and encouragement!  Keep it coming!  I love it!  Feel free to message, comment, or email any time!  I am open to any and all advice because I am a humble first-time Mom that cannot get enough information!  I love the links, comments, and words of caution. Thank you for being you! 

Since I promoted BabyWise, it is only fair for me to post what the "other side" claims.  This link was given to me from a very dear friend, and I think it is very eye-opening and important to read.

With any Theory, I believe it is important to hear and read about both sides and make a judgement call solely relying on your conscience and instincts you have as a Mom. I am starting to believe that I will personally take parts and pieces from several theories, and use them according to what Micah's unique needs are, which I wont know until he is here.  This is why I feel the need to emphasis the need to be a critical thinker when reviewing theories and never pick one to follow blindly but be knowledgeable and apply the parts and pieces that you feel fit your baby. 

BabyWise parts and pieces I still like:

- The emphasis on full meals instead of "snacking"

-The huge emphasis on breast feeding

-Their suggestion of making the three essential times in this order: Feeding, Wake Time, Sleep.  

Also, my cousin gave me a great link to cloth diapers!  I am excited to learn more about them as a possibility.  

Another research topic lately: 

Charlie

Daisy

My dear doggies.  How do you help them transition into being a big brother and sister to a baby?  Research to follow.  

The Basic Needs of a Baby

After much reading I have come to my conclusion about the basic needs of newborn babies.  

1.  Feeding

2.  Sleeping

3.  Love

4.  Diapering

This relates very closely to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.  These facts did not surprise me; what did however, is all the theories, debates, and instincts that go into helping your baby fulfill all of their basic needs.  You have a plethora of choices and ways to fulfill these needs, which is again, daunting!


Feeding:
There are two main extreme theories to feeding your baby; demand-feeding or rigid scheduling.  Demand-feeding means every time your baby cries, feed them!  Rigid scheduling is you keep to a very strict schedule and only feed him when the clock tells you to.  The theory I like best is in the middle of the two extremes.  It is called BabyWise.  This theory was suggested to me by a mother at the school I teach at, and she convinced me to read the book simply because she has happy, content children.  


My disclaimer:  I do not plan to follow any one theory blindly but allow God to develop my instincts and use these theories to be knowledgeable to what my unique Micah needs.  Also, Micah is not here and I am merely planning, this could fall through the cracks.  


Basically, in my own words, BabyWise combines flexible scheduling with parental assessment.  This means that you establish a routine within the bounds of lovingly providing your baby with food by using parental assessment and common instincts instead of following the clock blindly.  It puts a huge emphasis on not allowing your baby to "snack" throughout the day, but be very intentional about getting full meals at every feeding.  Full feedings ensure that baby receives appropriate nutrition from the better-caloric milk that comes only from breastfeeding for an appropriate amount of time each session.  


In theory, if you intentionally give full meals, baby will naturally fall in a hunger cycle that is developmentally appropriate, which promotes better sleeping and more content and happy awake times.  Wouldn't any mother want that?  


Sleeping:
Babywise scheduling promotes better sleeping patterns.  Within the first two months, baby should be sleeping through most of the night according to this book.  The big debate is; do you ever allow your baby to cry themselves to sleep or do you not allow that emotional trauma?  Depends why they are crying.  The book goes into how to decipher and read their cries.  I would be willing to let him cry himself to sleep only under extreme conditions that require us  to endure that heart-break for the better good for him in the long-run.  


***One thing I have learned from teaching:  You HAVE to do what is better for little ones instead of what is easier at the moment.  Doing what is best for them can be extremely heart-breaking and hard to do, but the best long-term outcome will be worth it!  


Love:
Bonding is essential.  Silly songs and cuddling are the things I am looking forward to the most.  We already talk to Micah a lot in the womb, and silly songs are already being formed to sing to him :)  I read over and over again how important it is to stimulate your baby with faces, touch, and your voice.  They come out of the womb already knowing the Mom's voice, which is so precious!  Their sense of hearing is developed very early on.  Also, they can only visually focus several inches away, which is the perfect amount for them to focus in and study faces as we hold them.  God knew what he was doing, didn't He?  I am reminded of the Bible Passage:

Psalm 139:12-14

New International Version (NIV)

¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you; 

   the night will shine like the day, 

   for darkness is as light to you.

 ¹³ For you created my inmost being; 

   you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 

¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 

   your works are wonderful, 

   I know that full well. 

What scares me the most is the possibility of struggling to bond with the baby because of weepiness and hormones, or traumatic events that could take place in the Hospital, which would call for incubation or other extreme measures that would make it harder to bond physically because of time or placement.  

Diapering:
Yuck!  We have decided for the convenience of disposable diapers.  My Mennonite ways cringe at the waste, but I cannot muster up the courage to do cloth diapers.  I wish our society would make it easier to do cloth diapers.  I have heard there are programs that pick up a sack of dirty diapers at your door and deliver clean cloth diapers every week.   That seems like a rich luxury that is not feasible, but a lady can wish! 

I am going to be a Mom!

I am going to be a Mom!

It is a humbling experience to know God has entrusted one of his most precious gems to my husband and I.  We have an incredible journey ahead of us, and it is very scary and exciting.  

Here is Matt and I at Christmas

I have decided to make a blog about this fun journey we are embarking on.  I will tell stories, rant, and even share my opinion once in a while.  


A little background:  My husband and I have been married for two years before we decided to try to have a baby.  We were shocked to get pregnant immediately.  Of course we couldn't contain ourselves so we shared the news as soon as we knew.  This is the first ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy.  It was so neat because you could literally see the heart beating.  It was right at six weeks.  Matt says it looks like a veloceraptor, so that is what we called it for a while.  

  


I am blessed with an easy pregnancy so far *knocks on wood* with little nausea and pain.  I am quite emotional.  I cried during a movie preview!  Not a movie, the PREVIEW.   And not just cry, bawl!  Here's the trailer.  I am also noticing back pain because of my changing sense of balance.  I have gained 20+ pounds all in one area, so I tend to waddle, which puts strain on my back and feet.  


Matt (my husband) is such a blessing!  He massages my back, puts up with my tears (sometimes just laughs at them because I get embarrassed when I cry for no reason, so then I laugh... so it turns into this laugh-cry, which is even MORE embarrassing!), and is very protective.  He escorts me through the snow, and is willing to be at my beck-and-call.  I will have to make sure he gets his "guys night" soon.  


I am now 24 weeks.  We know it's a BOY! We have decided to name him Micah Alexander.  I had to get over the fact that I will not be buying pink ruffly things or bows.  I was a wee bit sad, but now I have the big brother.  His middle name means "Protector and defender of mankind", which goes with being a good big brother!  Here I am at 22 weeks:

Finally you can see I am pregnant!  I am an attention whore, so I LOVE when people touch my belly or compliment me!  I do indeed glow!  


Micah is due on May 12th, which is cool because that's my Mom's Birthday.  So maybe they will share a birthday!  AND it's just a few days before Mother's Day... so maybe I'll get to celebrate it this year!  :)  


Our Most Daunting Tasks so Far:


-Hospital Tours.  We had to ask dumb questions like "What is a Triage Room?"  
- Realizing I'm not just pregnant, but I am going to have a baby!  What do I do with a baby?  I literally looked up how to "swaddle" a baby.  It is scary to be on the precipice of all the knowledge you have to know to take care of a baby.   The more you learn the more you know you don't know.  Ahh!
-Did you know you had to push for hours at labor?  It's not just one push and you're done!  It's literally HOURS of pushing.  Ouch!  
-Registering-  "What is THIS?", what do I really need vs. want? 


Our To Do List:
-Pre-register for our hospital.  We decided to go to General.  Mostly because they do this thing called "Skin-to-Skin Time".  I loved the idea.  It's literally an allotted time right after birth that the Mom or Dad sets the baby on their chest.  It helps the baby transition , and it is bonding time for the parents.  They said the mom literally has hormones in their chest that regulate the babies body temperature, heartbeat, and hormones.  And this way I get some time alone with my Micah!  
-Register for classes at the hospital:  Birth Class, Breast-Feeding Class, and Daddy Daycare.  The more you know the better... right?  
-Read lots and lots of books so I can pretend like I know what I am doing.  
-Start to get ready for my long-term substitute.  That's a scary process because I am more of a take it week-by-week teacher.  Preparing for 5+ weeks of teaching at the end of the school year more than 4 months away is a very scary task.  


 Below are more Ultrasounds of Micah:  These were taken at 22 weeks.