it's the little things...

Ahhhhh, to be able to experience the wonderful sides of pregnancy...these are the moments worth living for... last week, on Friday, November 9th, i was sitting in my office listening to a conference call at work when all of the sudden, i felt a bumping in my lower abdomen. i thought to myself, at first, stop punching me...geez, why are you consistently punching me? ok, wait, these punches seem synchronized. once i realized baby had the hiccups, i was over come with joy! It was as if they bothered her...she began to squirm like she was trying to escape them. she was kicking and moving about, but was not able to escape them. She hiccuped for about 5 minutes. my smile went from ear to ear, realizing, that is my little girl....and i love her.

I guess when so much time is passing i sometimes take for granted that there is a human being inside me. i don't tend to give it much thought as it is such a surreal experience, i feel i may not believe it until i actually get to meet her. Experiencing her having the hiccups made her seem so much more human. it's almost as if i heard her cry or something. once you can associate a human action with the baby, it's like - WOW! there IS a baby in there!!! HOW COOL!

The day before the hiccups, i experienced my first two Braxton Hicks contractions. the first one was while i was at work. i had a stiff tightening of my belly and a sort of uncomfortableness all throughout my belly and abdomen. ROCK HARD. i had been getting cramping all morning long with i contributed to round ligament pain. the second was during dinner with my dad. he didn't know, but as we sat there eating, my belly stiffened again. i had to sit up straighter in order to catch my breath.

i have read that your baby grows at an incredible rate the last few weeks it is in the womb. i anticipated the ligament pain returning. the last time i really felt a lot of ligament stretching was in my second trimester. baby is growing rapidly now. The lung, brain and liver are the last things to develop. Putting on weight is one of the main things the body works on during this time as the efforts to develop the organs tends to slow down. so, i know this cramping is normal.

We went to our first one of two child birthing classes yesterday. The instructor was quite enjoyable, although very unprofessional and unorganized. i am so used to a more dictated classroom atmosphere that i was sure the class would be based on a textbook and a movie. well, we got a book, but she never asked us to open it. She stood there and talked...occasionally picking up a poster from the floor, that she was standing on, and pointing out just how large your uterus is now... there was no movie, altho she indicated there is one but she didn't seem in the mood to wrestle with the projector. everything she spoke about, i covered in all my readings. and kudos to me, ted felt the same way. which means, i have been educating him more than i thought i was and making him a part of the experience as much as i possible can. we did go over about 5 mins of breathing techniques. Ted politely pointed out to me that all these techniques should be a breeze for me, seeing how i was adamant about yoga. pain can be a state of mind, if you train yourself to relax and breath with the pain. Yoga teaches a way to manage your relaxation and to be in control of your body. if i can burn that in my brain, i should make it through labor alright. i will be super happy to have him there to remind me of it...i think he will be a good coach. labor is staring me in the face....i will do the best that i can.

The kitchen countertops are installed, the sink is floating in the countertop and needs it's last final adjustments to add water and glue down, the island is coming along...things are still moving. the last big project is almost complete. well, last big project for now. We await big brother's handy electrical hand to finish the kitchen and laundry hook-up.

the leaves have changed color and are falling uncontrollably. Fall is beautiful in the East. Reds, Oranges, Yellows, browns....green.... ahhhhh. My drive to work, although still a huge pain in the ass, has become one of which the surroundings offer some peace. peace reminding me that another season is passing and these are the last moments to cherish before my life changes forever.

wow - it's been a month almost!

OK, so I am almost 34 weeks....coming this Thursday. I have had my baby shower, we've moved into our house, and things are getting under way. Ted is still busily working on the house...as there are endless projects awaiting his attention. He always finds something to do. Our kitchen wasn't quite together for the move in, but the counter tops are arriving today and our kitchen shall be together soon enough. boxes need unpacking, furniture needs placing and the place needs tidying up. i've got some work ahead of me too!

Baby is growing so big, as am i. i can sometimes feel her legs under my ribcage (good thing, means she is head down). we start part one of two of our child birthing class this coming Sunday and my breastfeeding class shortly follows. i've gone through our goodies from the shower and have marked on a list what i need and what we've got. i'm trying to get organized. i feel the need to pack a bag.

about a week ago, my feet started to swell as well as my ankles. Dr said it is normal.... i say....sure....whatever. my shoe size has gone from an 8 - 8 1/2 to a 9 1/2. i try elevating them when i have the chance, but in the course of a day, the opportunities are difficult. not much else to complain about. i think i have had it pretty good, so far. i await Braxton Hicks contractions...for i have not experieinced one yet, i don't believe. those will help me to prepare for labor. i need a sneak preview to let me know what i am in for. all in all, maybe i am naive, but i do not anticiapte it being a horrible experience. trying, painful and flat out strange, but not too crazy horrible.

i switched my OB. Ghattas was getting a little on the nerve-wracking side. something told me sarcasm and flat out rudeness weren't par for the course in pregnancy care. So far, i am enjoying the new Dr., Dr. Baker. i've never had a male GYN so the experience is weird for me....but i feel it is the much better choice between the two. of course, Ghattas could still deliver if he is unavailable. ho hmmmm

in three weeks, they say the baby is full term and can come any time. I say give me at least five. i feel so out of sorts until i get things organized. as of next monday, i will have started to see the OB once a week. that in itself, feels like the end is near.

i am still very excited to meet our baby. i have waited, what seems like two years, to meet her. my life has changed so drastically since i found out i was pregnant, i almost can't wait for the next step....because this place, this limbo place is becoming a little on the SLOW side....and these raging hormones have GOT TO GO!