Week 35

Weight: 133 lbs. (+20 lbs)
Fundal height: 33 cm
(determined by measuring from the top of the pubic bone the top of the uterus (called the fundus) which is quite a bit above the belly button right now)

I know...I know...I'm late!!! I apologize for not posting on Monday. I have been fighting off some sort of illness. I'm not seriously sick by any means, but that's what I'm trying to prevent - especially with a weekend full of events coming up including my shower. So to do that I took Monday off and have been laying low. Laying so low that we ended giving up our club level tickets to the Sabres game on Wednesday. Of course, it had to be one of the most exciting games of the year - argh!!

Enough with being sick! Last week was a full week! Tuesday I had dinner with two of my girlfriends - Kendra and Michelle T. It was great to chat with both of them - there's nothing like hanging out with the girls! On Wednesday my kindergarten teammates and aides threw me a shower. How fun it was! I'm so lucky to be working with such great women! We had a wonderful sit down dinner, received SO many cute gifts, and then had a yummy cake. Todd joined us near the end and requested a tutorial on everything we received. We ended up staying at Maria & Russ' house until 10pm! Now we can officially begin the prewashing of all clothing and blankets stage.

On Thursday I had my 34 week appointment with Sarah, one of the midwives. Luckily, I gained back some of the weight I had lost in Florida - 5 pounds in two weeks! Other than that everything checked out. The baby is still head down and Sarah predicts the baby is at least 3.5 pounds.

I ended up calling two pediatricians last week - Town & Village (where Dr. Cavalieri (family friend) and Dr. Roehmholdt (my former pediatrician as a teenager) practices) and Suburban Pediatrics (where many of my students go to since it's right in Clarence). We have an appointment with Town & Village on April 1st where we will meet with Dr. Roehmholdt.

I then called Suburban Pediatrics (who has a great website). After choosing an option, the phone service hung up on me. So I called back and did finally get someone to speak to. Unfortunately, we cannot go during their Open House times (Wednesday evening) so all they could give us was a lactation consultant to talk to and give us a tour. However, when the receptionist tried to find us an appointment time, she couldn't find their schedule. So she asked me to call back on Monday. Needless to say, I haven't called back and not sure if I will.

After going through that with Suburban Pediatrics, I really appreciated calling Town & Village having a human answer the phone. Getting the answering options at Suburban reminded me too much of what I just left at Audubon Women's Medical. In the end, whatever decision we make isn't permanent.

This past Saturday, Todd's parents went with us to pick up the baby's dresser from Whites. We also placed an order for our glider and ottoman - thanks to Mom and Dad Rassman! It's going to be so comfy. We then came back to the house so Todd and his dad took the extra mattresses downstairs and brought the dresser upstairs. We ended the evening with a great dinner with all the Rassmans!

Unfortunately, I think it was all the exciting events of last week that wore me down and here I am today - home from school for a second time this week. So here's to getting back to my happy healthy self!

Baby Development (from Pregnancy.org)

• The average baby weighs almost five and a half pounds now.
• Most babies born now will survive and without many long-term problems.
• Fat accumulations plumps up the arms and legs this week. These layers of fat will help him regulate his body temperature. They also provide those cute little dimples on elbows and knees!
• His/her hearing is fully developed, so be sure to talk to your son/daughter. Do you find yourself speaking in a high-pitched tone? That's okay since some studies show babies respond better to higher pitches.
• It's getting crowded! Your 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!).
• Your baby is 18.2 inches long and weighs 5.3 pounds.
• The testes have completed their descent in males.

(pictures from Pregnancy.org)

Week 34

Well I made it...in a sense. If I go into labor from this point on nothing will be done in order to prevent delivery. For as much as that is positive, let me just explain that if I do deliver anytime soon we are NOT ready!!! We have the crib built, a pack of diapers, and some onesies. Oh and I received the valance that I ordered today - not that it would help us in any way. If the child was to come in the next couple weeks, everyone in close proximity to us (aka our parents) will be on RED ALERT to gather the goods needed to get us to the hospital and the baby home!

Luckily, I'm still feeling well in my eighth month although I'm starting to deal with some acid-reflux and backaches. I'm not sure I can get used to the feeling of a fire in my throat. However, I am trying to watch what I eat and when I eat. It seems to be helping so far or the baby is allowing my stomach more room right now. But if this is all I have to complain about, I think I'm doing pretty well.

The birthing class we were supposed to attend on Saturday ended up being cancelled due to a snow storm we had. Got a good 12+ inches of snow - yea!!! There's nothing like a good snow storm! It gave me a good reason to relax and read some more of Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child.

Unfortunately, Todd woke up sick on Thursday, so I was the one outside snowblowing and shoveling Friday and Saturday. It sounds much worse than it really was - I secretly enjoy doing stuff like that! Although I was glad that Todd was well enough to get up Sunday and do it. After being put on antibiotics on Friday to ensure whatever he had did not spread to his lungs, he is feeling better and went back to work today.

So to add to the red alertness if the baby comes early - we will not have had any child birth class preparation. Unless we find another one to attend, the class that was cancelled is rescheduled for April 12th - a mere 9 days before the due date. Now I'm really glad we decided upon having Cindy, our Doula, accompany the birth!

Looking forward to a shower my kindergarten teammates are throwing for me on Wednesday. It will be my first official shower!! I then have a midwife visit scheduled for Thursday. And on Saturday we are going to pick up the dresser from White's. So little by little, I guess we really are getting ourselves ready!

Finally, I officially have 4 weeks and a few days left to work - April 11th will be my last teaching day since we have the following week off for Spring Break. If I'm not thinking about getting our home ready, I am thinking about getting my classroom and substitute, Laura, ready for the big take over.

In the meantime, I am finding my kiddos' hands on my stomach more and more lately as they are trying to feel the baby move or looking for 'hard spots' (hands, feets, etc.). It's actually quite cute. I think I've only bumped into one head with my protruding tummy so far!

Off to bed. Need to get all the sleep I can to store up for the sleep deprivation part of parenting!

Baby's Development (from Pregnancy.org)

• Your baby acts completely like a newborn, with his/her eyes opened when awake and closed when sleeping. You may also find him/her settling into more of a routine for sleeping & awake times.


• S/he has learned to blink. S/he 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 your blood are being transferred to him/her. These immunities continue to build until birth. Then breast milk will add even more protection against disease.


• Your baby may have already turned to a head-down position in preparation for birth. If s/he is your first baby, s/he may be settling into the pelvis with his head pressing against your cervix.


• Fingernails have reached the end of the fingertips now. S/he may scratch her face even before s/he is born!


• Your little one's length is 17.7 inches and weight is 4.7 pounds.

(pictures from Pregnancy.org)

Week 33

Weight: 128 lbs. (- 1 lbs)
Fundal height: 32 cm (determined by measuring from the top of the pubic bone the top of the uterus (called the fundus) which is quite a bit above the belly button right now)

Well here I am...eight months pregnant!! I officially took my first (and hopefully last) fall today. It was everything I expected - awkward, ungraceful, embarrassing, and a little scary.

It was nothing exciting - I was walking and just turned my right ankle (maybe because of some water on the floor?) and there was no recovering so down I went onto my left side. Only one student saw and I don't think she knew what to do. I felt like a turtle on its back - I was able to get up as quickly as I fell but it was just the awkwardness of being on the ground. I officially realized what all the books meant by my center of gravity is off and my joints are not as strong. Anyway, I did all I had to - called the midwives and filled out the accident reports. In the end, I'm sure we are both going to be okay! If there was any week to fall this may have been the best since the volume of my amniotic fluid is at its peak, therefore, cushioning the baby from the fall.

We had an appointment this past week as well. Believe it or not, I actually lost a pound. I am assuming it's because I was not feeling all that great last week and, hence, not eating as much as I should have been. But neither the nurse (Kathy) nor the midwife (Sarah) were concerned.

Once again, the appointment lasted at least 30 minutes - which is a good thing. We discussed circumcisions (if it's a boy), cord blood collection/donation, anesthesia options (hopefully won't be needed), and even post pardum birth control. We don't want to end up like one of their 18-year-old patients who came back for her 6 week post pardum appointment and found out she was pregnant again!!!

So far Sarah is my favorite midwife. She's just SO thorough!! But then again I have spoken to Martha each time I've needed to call in and we seem to be on the same page. In addition, she's so helpful and reassuring. And then Elaine just has so much experience. So in the end I will be thankful to have any one of the midwives to deliver the baby!

This Saturday we will be taking our Childbirth course. It's a one day shot so I hope we take it all in!! We may also be picking up the dresser that day as well. With only 7 weeks to go, we would also like to take a Breastfeeding 101 class along with a 'How to Take Care of a Baby' course!!

And finally, my roommate and housemate from college, Breanne, gave birth early yesterday morning to Emma! Although I have not spoken to her, it sounds as though both momma and child are doing well! Congrats to her and Seth!!!

Baby's Development (from Pregnancy.org)

• Amniotic fluid is at its highest level during your pregnancy.
• Your 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/her the skills s/he needs to thrive as a newborn. This week, s/he may be able to coordinate sucking and swallowing with breathing.
• While most of his/her bones are hardening, his/her skull is quite pliable and not completely joined. The bones will be able to move slightly to make birthing easier.
• You baby takes intermittent deep breaths -- of water! That's okay, though since s/he gets oxygen from the placenta. This breathing exercises muscles and encourages his/her lung cells to produce more surfactant (a protein essential for healthy lung development).
• If the baby is a boy, his testicles will be descending from his abdomen into his scrotum. Sometimes one or both testicles won't move into position until after birth.
• Your infant is now 17.2 inches long and weighs 4.23 pounds.

(pictures from Pregnancy.org)

Week 32

We're baaaack!!!! After a two-hour delay, we arrived back in Buffalo at 11:30pm on Friday. The 20-something degree weather was NO comparison to 80-something degree weather we were having in Florida.

We had a GREAT time. We got to visit with Aunt Margy, Uncle Tom, Matthew, & Alexis (Dan & Katharine's kiddos), Mara & Jackson, Gen, Tim, and even Dan (he was in overnight). We did a LOT of walking, basked in the sun, swam as much as we could to keep cool, and ate ate ate (when I was feeling well).

I did end up feeling better by Thursday and Friday. Of course, just in time to go home. I knew I was feeling better when I woke up in the middle of the night hungry and needed to eat as soon as I got up in the morning. I didn't realize I would miss eating as much as I did.

I received many ooos and ahhs with my belly sticking out. Along with those ooos and ahhs came many predictions. In the end it was even - as many boy predictions as girl predictions. Dan even bet $100 it will be a boy - we'll see!!!

On Saturday we got right back to work. We ended up finally purchasing a crib, a mattress, rails (to convert the bed to a toddler bed and then full-size bed some day), and a dresser.

This was a very drawn out process that tested both Todd and me. I'm not sure why it ended up being so difficult. Maybe because we were trying to find furniture that our child would tolerate for the next 18 years of his/her life - not too fancy in case we have a boy, not too masculine if it's a girl, simple lines, not too dark, not too light - ahhhh!!!! We were able to leave the store with the crib and mattress (you know...just in case). However, we will pick up the dresser once Todd's parents come back from Florida.

We also hit Pottery Barn Baby and decided on bedding, curtains, and other room decor that we could put on a registry in addition to our Babies R Us registry. It feels good to finally be making some final decisions in preparation for a shower put on by my kindergarten teammates on March 12th, a shower Todd's mom and sister-in-law, Kim, are throwing on March 22nd, and then a shower my cousins, Alex and Wendy, are hosting on April 5th. We're so excited and so lucky to have this many people to share this exciting time with!!!

On Sunday Todd and I built/assembled the crib. It definitely took two of us to interpret and follow the directions. Of course, it couldn't be built without running into a small hitch. But it wasn't anything we couldn't handle using our free Black & Decker version of the 'Dremel.' The next step is to clear out the room, put the mattress, bedding, and frame in storage downstairs. And then we'll need to paint the room and start putting it together.

We'll keep you up to date on the building of the baby's room!


Baby's Development (from Pregnancy.org)

• The baby is up to 3.75 pounds now and is 16.7 inches long.
• You might notice s/he's not moving around as much now. Don't worry! S/he is fine -- just running short on room. S/he still has plenty of growing to do though, believe it or not!
• All five senses are working. Your little one is fascinated and practicing testing these out as much as possible!
• Toenails are completely formed even though s/he may not be quite ready for a French manicure.
• Hair on your infant's head continues to grow in.
• Brain scans have shown that babies have periods of dream sleep (REM) starting around the eight month. What do you suppose the baby is dreaming about?
  
  
  (pictures from Pregnancy.org)

Week 31

Weight: 129 lbs. (+ 16 lbs)
Fundal height: 30 cm (determined by measuring from the top of the pubic bone the top of the uterus (called the fundus) which is quite a bit above the belly button right now)

Had an appointment (on Valentine's Day) where we got to meet with another one of the midwives, Elaine Clutterbuck. At this time we received the necessary info just in case something should happen in Florida - keep your fingers crossed! Believe it or not, it was my last 'once a month' appointment as I will now be going every 2 weeks for the next month. Come April, I will need to go every week until delivery.

On Saturday we left for Marco Island, FL to stay with Gram. The flight was pretty good, although the baby wouldn't stop moving. I wonder if the baby can feel the changes in pressure at all? It was SOOOOO nice to arrive to sunny and 84 degree weather. This is exactly what we needed!!

Unfortunately, I'm actually not feeling that great. I almost feel as though I am in the first trimester again. I'm feeling nauseated and quite picky about what I can/want to eat. Of course, this is making Gram worry so I did call the midwife today. She said what I expected - to stay hydrated and call with any pre-labor signs (I LOVE the fact that when I call I am able to speak directly to a midwife immediately. This would NEVER have happened with my former obstetricians). Let's hope either I am battling a minor stomach bug and/or the discomforts of traveling and being pregnant in very warm weather. Now I understand what my mom said about making sure I stay cool.

We are scheduled to fly back Friday which seems too soon. However, it will give us the weekend before it is time to go back to work for my last five weeks. I will let you know on Monday how the rest of our week went!

Baby's Development (from Pregnancy.org)

• 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 his bones are growing and hardening.
• The baby is 16.2 inches long and weighs 3.3 pounds.
• His/her brain enters another period of rapid growth, producing hundreds of billions of new nerve cells! Amazing!
• S/he 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. Remember, that while you may be anxious to meet your little one that these last few weeks can be vital - with each day increasing your baby's ability to breathe on her own.

(pictures from Pregnancy.org)

Week 30

Ten weeks...can we believe it? Ten weeks...that's a marking period away!

I spent this past weekend keeping Todd company while he recouperated from a good ol' winter cold. He actually took Thursday and Friday off from work and then needed Saturday and Sunday to rest. He went back to work on Monday but not without a headache. He took many a naps, watched Band of Brothers marathon, and spent three nights on the couch.

Luckily, I have gotten away with staying healthy so far. Although I did have to remind him to please cover his mouth when he coughed. It took some explaining for him to understand that if I were to get sick I do not have the luxury of taking the drugs he was able to to stay comfortable.

In the meantime, my mom and I went to Mimi Maternity to get summer clothing for me to wear while Todd and I are in Marco Island next week. We were able to pick up enough clothes to last me the week. However, the big debate is whether to buy a maternity swimsuit or stick with my two-piece. The under 40 crowd tends to favor the two-piece option. They say, "Tan that belly. It's not like it's a beer gut." The over 40 crowd is not sure they are ready to see a pregnant woman's belly. I guess it will ultimately depend on if Old Navy has swimsuits because I've already checked at Target and Mimi Maternity with no luck.

However, before going shopping we went to White's Furniture to look at furniture (for the third time). This is turning out to be more of a pain than pleasure (smile). We can't exactly find a set we both love. But our inability to find a set we both like is stalling our purchase of other items like a glider (which I hear I'll need/want ASAP for feeding).

I have my 30 week appointment with a midwife on Thursday. My next appointment will be in four weeks, then I move to appointments every 2 weeks for my 8th month, and then during my last month every week until the baby arrives.

We've also scheduled our birthing class for Saturday, March 8th. I'm hoping that since we have decided to have a doula (Cindy) attend our birth that she will be able to fill us in on anything we forget or missed with it only being a one day class. Are there any other classes we should be taking beforehand too?

I won't be able to write next week since we'll be away - hopefully baking in some warm sun. In the meantime, send good vibes to Sacramento, CA as DJ will be taking his Acupuncture Board Exams on Wednesday - Good Luck Deej!!!!!


Baby Development (from Pregnancy.org)

• Your baby is nearly three pounds now.
• His/her head is getting larger to accommodate a period of rapid brain growth. Don't forget to continue to "teach" your baby in the womb by exposing to music, literature, and simply talking to him/her.
• A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him/her. As s/he grows and fills your uterus, the amount of amniotic fluid will decrease.
• S/he spends more and more time practicing opening and closing eyelids. His/her eyes can move from side to side, following a light source. S/he may even reach out to touch the light.
• Early lanugo is beginning to disappear that served to protect your baby's skin from the water in the womb. Your 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 your child's body by transporting oxygen and removing the wastes (carbon monoxide and other gases).
• Your baby has the capability now to produce tears -- yes, within the womb.
• By the end of this week, your baby is now 15.7 inches long and weighs 2.91 pounds.

(pictures from Pregnancy.org)

Week 29

For the past three days I feel as if I haven't stopped growing. Todd even made a comment today asking if I had grown since yesterday. My stomach feels like it is at full capacity for my skin, but I know I'll be proven wrong in the next 11 weeks. Can you believe it??? We're 11 weeks away - yikes!!!

Spent my wind day last week putting together a registry. There's just SO much to choose from. Good thing I have a bunch of friends and family who already have children so they were able to give me their two cents on a bunch of products.

Went to go see the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra's Tribute to the Doors on Saturday with Mom and Dad Rassman and Jeff and Kim. It was a great concert! It was also nice to see a bunch of young people at a BPO event for once. I couldn't tell if the baby liked it or not, but s/he did not stop moving the entire concert!!

Well I need to stop procrastinating and begin/finish my purchase requsitions by Friday. Ta ta for now!!


Baby Development (from Pregnancy.org)

• Your baby's head is in proportion with body now. He appears more like a newborn each and every day!
• Fat continues to accumulate under the skin -- only now preparing for entering the *real world*.
• Your baby's brain can control primitive breathing and body temperatures.
• His/her eyes can move in their sockets. Soon he will be able to follow a blinking light.
• Your baby is increasingly sensitive to changes in light, sound, taste, and smell! Various studies show that your baby may indicate preferences (or disdain) for particular tastes or odors at this stage
• S/he is also moving from side to side, but probably still is head up. In the next few weeks, s/he will move to the head down birthing position. At times you may feel as if he is performing somersaults for a circus act!
• His/her length is now approximately 15.2 inches and weight is 2.54 pounds.

(pictures from Pregnancy.org)