Gaining weight, learning to breathe

Sorry, I know I've been slacking on the postings. Here are the latest updates:

Last Tuesday was our most recent doctor's appointment, and everything's going well. We're both gaining weight like we should be. Dr. Smith answered my questions with patience, and I felt better about things I've been feeling. Baby H. is still moving around like a gymnast, although in recent days it's a little less frequent. The books say that's because he's running out of room to move. I think he's also getting into position; Dr. Smith said at our next appointment, which is Tuesday of next week, he'll be able to tell how the little guy is positioned. When Dr. Smith felt my belly last week, he had kind of a confused look on his face... he said it was almost as if Junior is on his side. I can tell that by his kicks and movements -- like I mentioned in a previous post, his feet seem to be at my upper right, and his head (judging from his hiccups) at my lower left, almost at a diagonal. Starting next week, I'll be seeing Dr. Smith every week and he'll be doing internal measurements. I can't believe D-Day is right around the corner!!

Last Tuesday was also our first of two Lamaze classes, the second being last night. They were really interesting and, I think, fun. David and I learned different breathing techniques to get me through contractions and labor, and he learned all sorts of ways to help me when I feel like it gets to be too much :) I've pretty much decided that I won't get an epidural unless I absolutely can't handle the pain. I've talked to several friends who didn't use an epidural for pain and they did just fine. There is just something about having a needle put that close to my spine, not being able to get out of the bed once it's in, and not being able to feel much of anything from my belly down for a significant period of time that I just can't embrace the idea. I'm learning that there are other ways to find relief!

We haven't taken a recent belly shot, but plan to do that soon. I'll post it once it's been taken. I'll also post Bedford shower pictures, hopefully tomorrow. I know, I'm a slacker... just like I haven't written any thank you cards. They're coming, don't worry!

It's funny the reactions I get from people about how I look. If they see me from behind and then I turn around, they're shocked that I'm pregnant because Baby H. is like a basketball on my front. Most people ask when I'm due and then comment on how small I look. I guess I'll take it as a compliment, although I know how much I weigh!! I've never, ever weighed even close to what I am now -- although I know there's a baby involved :)

OK, I believe I'm pregnant now...

So, I've had a pretty easy pregnancy so far. I admit that, and I know I'm lucky. I didn't have morning sickness, I haven't had many real cravings, I haven't had an aversion to foods or smells. I have my tired days, but I haven't been sick (knock on wood).

Well, this week I hit 33 weeks, and I guess Baby H decided it was time I didn't have it so easy. I started off the week feeling really run down (although that could have had to do with all the running around we did last weekend putting together Junior's room -- photos coming soon). Then Wednesday I felt nauseous for a good portion of the day. That was not fun. I don't know exactly what it was, but Thursday I was feeling much better.

I do get tired and winded a lot easier than pre-pregnancy, which I am not surprised by. I've cut back on walking around the neighborhood to twice a week on a good week. And I take naps when I can. I must say I'm glad I work two part-time jobs -- one of which allows me to make my own hours -- instead of a full-time job. I don't know what I'd do :)

Another thing I've noticed in the past few weeks is awful heartburn/acid reflux. It's terrible. I finally broke down and bought myself a bottle of Tums today... they seem to help. I'm starting to pin down the foods that trigger it -- it's hard to cut anything out at this point, since I've had the pleasure of eating whatever I want this whole pregnancy (see paragraph 1).

And lastly, though possibly most importantly, I've noticed my terrible memory lately. It's so bad, I forgot that I had the photos from my Bedford shower on our camera, not Heather's (who took the pictures, but with our camera), until this past week, when my mother-in-law reminded me of the fact... So those photos will be going up soon, I promise -- I don't have to wait to get them in e-mail like I thought I did.

Baby Boy H has hiccups again :) It's such a weird/neat feeling. He moves around alot, mostly on my right side. I think I can tell where he is these days -- his little feet kick me on the right, and his hiccups come from my lower left, which would be about right, since D-Day is only a little more than a month away!

My next doctor's appointment is Tuesday morning, and I have a short list of questions for Dr. Smith. I'll give an update on here next week. I never really gave a report from the last appointment, but everything was fine. We're both growing like we should be!

Showered with gifts (Part 1)

OK, here are the long promised shower photos. I'll start with ones from Ohio. Like I mentioned before, it had a ducky theme. Mom and Aunt Elaine, with help from some others, were responsible for this great event :)

The duck on the left is soap... the one on the right, chocolate!

Yummy cake :)

Grandma, me and Mom ... can you see the family resemblance? :)

Lots of great gifts! Let the unwrapping begin!! I tried to pick out some of the more interesting photos... :) Thanks, Nicole, for capturing just the right facial expressions!!

My wonderful helper, Kristina!

A blanket hand-made by Grandma.


Gifts for everyone! Here I'm drawing a name for a door prize.

Aunt Pat, me and Aunt Elaine.

David showed up just in time to load gifts into the vehicles!

Quick report

I just wanted to make a quick announcement: I am no longer an "innie" :) It's funny how your body changes during pregnancy -- my ankles disappear by the end of the day, my feet move slower than they used to, I'm constantly hungry. Plus, if you start out with an "innie" belly button, chances are it will eventually pop out. Well, that's what mine did over the weekend. As David says, it's now more even with my belly than it is an "outie."

Ah, the joys of pregnancy! :)

What a weekend...

This past weekend was the baby shower in Bedford thrown by David's sister Heather and their family. It was a lot of fun, and the decorations were very cute! We have some creative families -- the Ohio shower, which was equally as cute, was a duck theme, and the Bedford shower's decor played off of our nursery bedding, which is helicopters and airplanes.

My mom, aunt and cousin were able to come down for the shower, and my brother Allan and his wife Leslie were able to come up, which made it extra special. Mom and her crew got to our place Friday night, then Saturday morning we all headed to Bedford. Saturday evening they went to Allan and Leslie's in North Carolina for the night before heading home.

Sunday David and I came back to Richmond. I had a Mary Kay appointment later that afternoon, so I rushed to that -- and in my haste, I fell when I was hurrying into my customer's apartment. It was a little embarassing, though very painful. Both of my knees got scraped up (my pantyhose were ruined, of course), as did the back of my left hand. I also caught myself with the palm of my right hand, but that came out unscratched. So I'll be wearing pants for a little while to cover up my extra-large bandaids. I haven't really had a problem with balance so far in my pregnancy, but I'm sure it had something to do with my fall!

No worries, though -- Junior is just fine. In fact, I believe he had hicups Sunday night, and again Monday evening!! It's kind of neat. He's still moving around like crazy, although it seems he moves more when I'm not around people who want to feel him move :)

I promise, pictures are coming soon!!

Another week, another good report

Sorry it's been so long since I wrote, but no news is good news, right?! This past Tuesday was my regular appointment with Dr. Smith, and everything checked out A-OK. Baby Boy Hylton's heartbeat is holding strong at 148 bpm (although this is lower than it had been, the nurse said he's fine). I hit the 30-week mark on Monday, which means D-Day is that much closer.

It seems with the 10-week countdown, Baby H. decided to get a little more aggressive in his pushing techniques. Now instead of gentile movements every once in a while, he's constantly pushing on my abdomen (at least it seems that way!!). I still get the more gentile movements, but boy can he push!! And there are times when I have a lump on each side of my belly -- I just wish I knew if it was a head, a foot, a hand or a butt :)

I still plan to get shower pictures up... it's been a busy week. Tomorrow we're heading to Bedford for another shower -- I'm sure we'll have fun! Mom, Aunt Elaine and cousin Nicole are coming down from Ohio to attend as well, so that will be very nice. In fact, they should be here in the next couple of hours!!

A passing grade

Woo-hoo -- I got the call today that I passed my glucose test on Tuesday!!

For those of you lucky enough to have never had a test like this, let me briefly explain the morning of my test. I was at the doctor's around 8:45 a.m. Tuesday; the nurse drew my blood and then had me drink some super sweet liquid. Then I got to sit in the waiting room and ... wait. An hour later, and for the next two hours after that, I had to go back to the nurse to have my blood drawn. That's four, count 'em, four blood tests between 8:45 a.m. and noon. And remember, I had to fast that morning, so I was awfully hungry by the time it was over. The apple I brought was gone before I got to the car, and I stopped to get something relatively healthy on the way home. (OK, it was Arby's. So sue me.)

But I survived -- and to top it all off, I passed! Now I don't feel quite so guilty for chowing down on a nice big slice of chocolate cake last night :)

Pictures from the shower will be up this weekend -- thank you Kristina for sending them to me!