Snow... there have rarely been any instances when I really did not want it to snow. So we get snowed in for a few days, as long as we're all here, who cares?! But with December 22ns fast approaching, snow on the ground, and a cold winter predicted most places, I admit I'm a little nervous. A few years ago they got two feet of snow here. Not a big deal, could even be fun, but not if some snowstorm coincides with Teddy deciding to put in an appearance! And everyone knows how thoughtful babies are in choosing days to be born on... My midwives live an hour away on the other side of Portland. Again, not normally a problem at all. Unless there is snow all over the place, and they can't get through on 26. When Jimmy drove home from work in the snow last year, only a few inches thick, it took him six hours. And the thing is, if we're snowed in, we would have as much trouble getting anywhere as they would have in getting to us! Not just the midwives, but Mom or Bonnie either... which means it would be the two of us. Check that, the three of us, lol!! The odds are very remote. But then again, the odds of us having snow before Thanksgiving aren't good either, and here it is! I'm just sayin'... Anyhow, because that odd does remain, I suggested to Jimmy that I read him the chapter on emergency childbirth procedures. :-) He is, needless to say, not real keen on the idea of delivering a baby solo, but at least I know I'll be able to count on him if it did come up! We'd have the birth kit here, so we would have everything we needed, cord clamp and all that stuff. Just no midwife. :-) Well, not much use worrying about it, but having thought of it I might as well make sure all the bases are covered just in case.
Otherwise Teddy seems to be doing very well! He seems to be sitting lower than he used to, but of course I can't tell very well from this angle. I did get the bedroom furniture moved around (notice I said I got it moved, not that I moved it!), and it does look a lot better! It opens the room up a lot, so the bed is against a wall but there is actually room to stand in the bedroom, or have a bassinet, or even both! The living room is a little full since we have Shelly's chair still here, but eventually we'll find a way to get that down to her and then there will be more room in the living room as well. Still no paint on the bathroom, but I just can't think of a good color to use in there anyhow. Oh well. The bassinet should be coming soon, the birth kit is supposed to be ordered anytime, and otherwise I think we have everything ready for Teddy to come! I can't wait to see him! I admit I am thoroughly looking forward to touching my toes and laying on my stomach, but there is also a definite enjoyment in having my little boy always with me, feeling him move, knowing every time he hiccups or anything... still, I can't wait till I can actually hold him in my arms!
Oh, I got a beautiful maternity coat! Just in time too, it seems. :-) They were clearing out all their winter maternity stuff, and this coat is amazing-- it's wool, pea jacket style, blue plaid, with pleats in the front so I can get huge in it or also look fine just starting to show! I love it. :-) I had no coat that would fit over, so when I found this one I asked Jimmy and he was such a sweetie and said yes. :-) I'm hoping it will last many babies!!

Well, it's been a week this time, but that's a lot better than a month!! I had a dumb realization this morning. One of those moments that make you feel like an idiot, and glad you have PG brain to blame it on! Baby for the longest time was really good about getting active at four each afternoon. Just like clockwork, it was amazing! But the last two weeks or so he hasn't been doing that! I didn't know why, and sometimes when he *did* get active, I'd check the clock and it would be the "wrong" time... well, today he was being super bouncy and I was wondering what was making him so active. It was right about 3:00....and then I realized, babies don't pay any attention to daylight savings time! He's been an hour off since we set the clocks back! Yeah, that took a real brain to figure out...lol!!
Tuesday's prenatal went really well. The protein in the UA was down from before, and I'd gained about a pound. Blood pressure was good, and Teddy measured 35cm., so right on target! I did mention casually that twice now I've had BH contractions coming 5-10 minutes apart, lasting about an hour. Both times in the evening, and they then slowed down and by the time I went to sleep they were normal, with nothing unusual the next day. Not a big deal, but I wanted to mention it. They both looked more interested than I'd expected though, and after talking it over they suggested they check me. I said it couldn't hurt, so go ahead. The thing is, the US gave a due date of Dec. 9th, so they just wanted to make sure nothing was going on. Well, they did check me, and there is actually something starting to go on. Not a lot, of course, just a fingertip dilation and no effacement at all, but the cervix is definitely soft, which they normally wouldn't expect for a few more weeks. So basically they said I might want to get the birth kit and baby stuff ready so I'd have it, just to be safe. Nothing indicating he'll be here in the next few weeks, which is good, but they're thinking he'll be on the early side rather than the late. Obviously these things vary widely, but it's possible he'll be here around 38 or 39 weeks! Of course, he could still wait for 42 weeks, but it's an exciting thought at any rate that maybe I've only got another three or four weeks! Either way, I've got most the baby things ready now, just need to get the birth kit and some plastic pants. And figure out what to stock the freezer/cupboards with that will be good for modwives and others here during the labor, but that won't go bad in the meantime. The nearest pizza place is 25-30 min. or I'd be tempted to try that for after Teddy comes, but I might get a few freezer ones. :-) As for midwife food though... any ideas on that? I could wait till labor starts and go out in the early stages and get some stuff, be a nice distraction, but I really don't want to wait. I like being ready ahead of time! Anyhow, it's something to think about, even if it's a fairly minor point! In the meantime, I want to change all the furniture around. I don't like it. I also want to paint the bathroom. I've got an excuse with that busted pipe that made a hole in the sheetrock we need to repair! It'll have to be painted over anyhow. :-) But that idea makes me want to paint the kitchen as well... hmmm.

Over a month from the last post...sad! I guess I'm not a particularly good blogger. I haven't been online much lately, hence the delay. Fortunately, babies do not require blogs to keep growing. Of course, if they did you'd have to peel me away! So 33weeks, 4 days, 45 days to go! I'm officially waiting till Wednesday to say "A month and a half", since then it'll officially be 34 weeks, but it's so close now anyhow! I was telling Nicola that the last two months seem to be taking as long as the entire rest of the pregnancy combined! She verified that, so I guess it's normal and therefore is not likely to speed up... Although, I do have Jimmy's birthday, our FIRST ANNIVERSARY!!!!!!, Thanksgiving, and all the Christmas preperations to take care of between now and then, so that ought to help it go just a bit faster...maybe? I just cannot wait to see Teddy! I think about him all the time, what he will look like, will I be able to tell which little knobs they are that I've been feeling, what color will his eyes be, how big will he be, what position will he like to curl up in... and yes, I have two very stupid worries. I know they are ridiculous, but I worry firstly that he won't love his Mommy (I told you it's silly! And Siobhan assures me this is normal anyhow. :-) ) and my second silly worry is that he will be blind. I knock wood as I write that. I know it's a dumb worry... but I know he's healthy in all other respects, I know he can hear me and that he wiggles around a lot, and that the risk of downs is pretty well non-existent. The only thing they haven't checked, and can't very well, is his eyes. And he's so low that the flashlight doesn't bring any reaction, at least so far. So, I worry. I pray about it too. I guess all mommies fixate on something. :-) At the last prenatal the heart rate was 128-144, definitely a boy heartbeat, and things were looking good! He measured at 31 weeks (I was 32 and 4 days), which is in the perfectly normal range, but adds to my belief that he will not be a humongous baby like people predict! Actually, it turns out only 3% of babies are 9lbs 14oz or larger at birth... and, incidentally, 3% of moms are diabetics! Makes you wonder, hunh?
Earlier Teddy found something tender which he was using as a punching bag--wow, that was the most uncomfortable thing I think he's done yet! The nerve dances are more painful, but very short lived. And indigestion and heartburn I do not blame directly on him, atthough I suppose he does cause them. But this!! Yike! I got Jimmy to rub him for a bit, and after some extremely violent twists and turns, he finally settled down. He does love his Daddy! I had been reading about Behemoth and Leviathin, and I suspect Teddy, like all little boys, is fascinated with dinosaurs and was pretending to be a fierce T-Rex or something. :-)
Anyhow, here's my 32 week picture...