Week 30: The last "decade"?

 And here we are.  The final quarter.  Crunch time.  Holy heck, it's getting real!!


Your pregnancy: Week 30

During this 30th week of pregnancy, your baby continues to steadily add weight and important, insulating layers of fat to his body.

• At Week 30, your baby weighs about 3 pounds and is about 15-1/2 inches long , or about the length of a bunch of celery.
• From this week until week 37 of pregnancy, your baby gains an impressive half a pound a week.
• Your baby might be practicing breathing movements as he rhythmically moves his diaphragm. You might even notice a slight twitching in your abdomen when this happens.
• Your baby's brain continues to expand and develop, creating additional grooves and folds in the brain's surface. These wrinkles give your baby's brain tissue the needed room to expand as he develops and learns throughout his lifetime.
• Your baby's brain can now regulate his temperature, so he begins to lose the lanugo, which is the fine hair that has been covering his body for warmth.

 I have no doubts whatsoever this kiddo is a growin' girl/boy.  I feel like my stomach literally can't hold any more.  Do tummy's ever burst? No really, I want to know (yes, okay, I am kidding!!)

Momma: Week 30

Me and baby post kickboxing!

Body: Up 16.5 pounds....wait another 1.5 inches bigger.  Somebody's doing some serious growing in there!!  I'm having some issues with breathing lately...seems the lil one likes to lodge themselves under mommy's ribcage and take a nap.  Ya know how you feel after running a marathon in 90 degree weather and the final sprint to the finish?  Yeah, it's like that.  24/7.  Thanks, lil turd :-P

Cravings: Back on the quesadillas.  I bought some nummy 2% cheddar and a 30 pack of corn tortillas....that should last a week.  Maybe. 

Aversions: None per say, but still avoiding things that I've learned to avoid.  Baby, like momma, has some serious opinions about chow.

Sleep: A few family issues and th inability to get comfy = many nights with my kindle, on the couch, trying for comfort.  Thankfully, I have "What to Expect the First Year"...err.....5% done.  (What, that thing is about 700 pages long!!)

Fears:Pediatricians, hospital tours, and birth plans...oh my!  We've scheduled the first two visits, and it's time to think about my birth plan.  Ya know, other than extracting the watermelon from my body with as least amount of pain and time as possible.  Can't I just write that and they'll get what I mean?

Best Baby Moment: Waking up on mother's day to see my husband leaning over my tummy, putting his ear to it, and smiling..."Little G wants to say Happy Mother's Day, Mommy!"  Awww.  So sweet.

Items Bought/Received: A sweet convertible high chair from Dad G and Lois, and so many cool burp cloths, receiving blankets, and baby outfits from mom. A nursing nightgown (delivery room attire).  A few nursing bras.  OH!  And for mommy's day, Dad to be and lil bit got me a free entry to the 2014 marathon of my choice-plus 10 'get out of middle of the night wake up' coupons.  SWEET!

IRON BABY: Week 29!

Swimming: 5 miles
Biking: 82 miles
Running: 8 miles
Total: 95 miles

Iron Baby’s Travels to date (week 19 on)….1064.8 miles- That's the distance between Rochester NY and Ocala, FL, where Baby G did their first race!  (Well, the first race mommy knew there was a baby g!)  Go, baby go!

Up this week:  A double race week and a trip to Washington, DC....busy baby week!

Race Week, baby!

Or...race week....BABY!  Yeah, it's like that.  So, as we round into the 30th week of el preggo (pun intended), I find myself in a situation I haven't been in in quite a while - in the next six days, I have not one, but two races!  Woah, super woman!  What's on tap for runnin'?

Sorry Mussel guy....no rides for you!

1.  The Spring Duathlon - This is a race Greg and I have done several times, along with it's counterpart, the fall duathlon (crazy names, I know).  These take place in Mendon Ponds, and are nice, small, local races, drawing about 200 people.  The Spring Du is a 2 mile run, 10 mile bike, 1 mile run, 10 mile bike, 2 mile run (or you can opt to super sprint and chop off the last bike/run).  Now, vcalm down, killas.  Even though I like to pretend that I can do it all, my preggo self only bikes in one place right now....my basement.  I have the clear to bike if I want, but that would be moreseo mountain biking at a leisurely 12mph on the canal with no cars.  Not a 19 mph, clipped in, on the road Mendon race.  Nah.  I'm a little too uncoordinated now, plus I kinda like keeping lil bit safe.  For the next two months while I have control, that is :-P  So, my awesome father in law and I have teamed up to tackle this du- I'm the runner (waddler?) and he's the biker.  Saturday's the big day-hopefully it doesn't snow!!! 

Me and Alexa at the Fall Du 2009...woah!

I've had awesome luck with this race before-it's quite hilly and by no means will you see a PR for running or 10 miles of biking, but the hilly trails suit me.  Of course, this year it's all about running for two, so I am sure there will be plenty of walking in my future!

2.  The JP Morgan Corporate Challenge - Next Tuesday, I will line up with 30 of my co-workers and 10,000 other best friends at the RIT campus and run 3.5 miles just for the heck of it.  I ran this race back in 2008 as part of team BJ's, and I think it's a pretty awesome concept-supporting corporate wellness. Now, the last time I raced this course, I clocked in under 29 minutes....somehow, I think that won't be the case this time....but it will be fun nonetheless!  I put down (optimistically) a 35 minute time finish...we'll see if I can make it happen!To add to the fun, I'll be at a conference in DC the three days before...my plane lands at 5, and the run starts at 7.  Who says I don't know how to have fun?  (Yes, Dad, I know.  I'm crazy.  But both momma and doc are okay, so on we go!)

So excited for these races.  While I've been really happy to be pregnant, it feels a bit like part of me is lost...and this is more of the old me.  Early wakeups, transition, body marking, and a starting gun.  Post race food.  A race shirt.  Sweating it out with people I know and adore.

And then, ya know, that whole birthing thing.  :-P  Speaking of which...this week we've set up an appointment with a pediatrician, a hospital tour, and filled out pre-admission forms.  Yikes.  Starting to get real!!!

Are you racing this weekend?  Anything fun coming down the pipes?  Tell me about it so I can live vicariously through you!!

Mama Said

Because she carried you for 9 months (which is hard work!)

Because she fixed your boo boos and gave the best hugs.

Because she taught you how to read and tie your shoes.

Because she taught you wrong from right and how to survive in the real world.

Because she bakes the best cookies out of anyone.  Ever.

Because a meal at her house wouldn't be complete without 300 million leftovers.

Because she never stopped spoiling you with anything...most importantly, love.

Because she'll always love you, no matter what.

 Because even though you might be all growed up, you can still be a kiddo in her eyes.

Because she makes you feel beautiful....on your best days, and your worst.

Because anything you could give her, homemade or not (we don't have the stuff for pancakes....) is the best gift, period.

 Because you couldn't have made the next generation without her :-P

To all the moms out there, Happy Mother's Day!  We appreciate and love you so much more than we can say!!

And yes...that's to the fur moms, too :-D

And the momma's to be, too, of course :-)

Fuzzy Love

Well, the good news is, my fur child seems to be almost back to normal!  It was touch and go there for a few days!!  Backing up.....
For those of you that don't know me that well, I am a huge cat lover.  I've always had them-when I was growing up, my mom had anywhere from 5-7 cats all the time.  Yeah, she's a cat lady, she admits it.  Even though they were "family cats", there was always one cat that was mine.  I got Ginger, my little orange and white buddy, when I was 3....and carried him everywhere.  By the tail.  Now that's love.  He palled around with me till my senior year, then went to the big catnip tree in the sky.
When I was a freshman in high school, I got my little Summer girl.  We went to Lollypop to pick out a cat for mom, and this little feisty calico caught my eye.  We took her in the observation room to bond, and I kept trying to play with her...and she wanted nothing to do with me.  I was just about to give up when she went bombing across the room, ran smack into the glass wall, and fell back, dazed.  She shook her head a few times, looked at me, jumped in my lap, and started purring.
Sixteen years later, she's seen me through high school (posing with me for my senior yearbook photo!), college, my first apartment, countless boyfriends (some she liked, some not so much), and of course, my hubby.  She was there with me the night before my wedding.  And without a doubt, the first one that knew about baby g.

And she's never stopped purring, being my buddy, or being there for me.
A few days ago, I thought I was gonna lose her.  Upper respiratory infection, while the equivalent of the human cold, can be pretty serious in cats, especially if they are older.  And when you weigh 6.5 pounds normally...it's super serious.  Especially when you lose almost a pound in 3 days.  And won't eat.  Or drink.
So we took her to the kitty ER.  And fed her with an eye dropper.  And gave her sips with one.  And sat with her for a few nights, making sure she was okay.
She may not be a human child.  And some people might not understand it.  But this little kiddo is my fur child in every sense, and without her I know I would be so lost.
Cats don't live forever.  And 16 is certainly a ripe old age for any kiddo.  But over the last few days, I've dome to realize all the little things about her that I love so much....but maybe never thought about or appreciated nearly enough.
My best friend who...

* Greets me at the door every day when I come home-after seeing her little face in the window as I pull in the driveway, just waiting for me.
*Shares milk from my cereal, my goldfish crackers, and my leftover dinner water.
* Eats corn off the cob
* Sits with me while I am writing and butts her head up against my chin to let me know that she's there.
*Snuggles up against me in bed and let's me sleep chin to back...and doesn't even mind when I um, drool on her.  Just slightly.
* Gives me love and purrs when I feel down, or tired, or sick, or on any random Wednesday...just because.
* Knows every little thing about me....from the time I was a teenager.  Everything.  And loves me just the same.

I love you, my little summer girl (named after A Mid Summer night's Dream-yay for the Bard!)  My Roo, my Jones, my snugglicious....or any other silly name I might call you, ever.  You're my bestest fur bud, and I hope to keep you around for another 10 years!

Go hug your cat or dog.  They surely deserve it-even if they never say they love you, they do.  And what would you do without them, really? :-)

Week 29: Rounding (har har) another corner!

 Last week of my twenties....wait, didn't I say that 6 months ago?  Um yeah, moving on...let's see what my little kick monster is up to this week!

Your pregnancy:  Week 29

Your baby is growing rapidly now. This week he weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is getting bigger to accommodate his growing brain – which is busy developing billions of neurons. Every day, about 200 milligrams of calcium is deposited in your baby's skeleton, which is now hardening. With this rapid growth, it's no surprise that your baby's nutritional needs reach their peak during this trimester. 

Woah!  Time to get in some more milk and cheese-baby's got some growin' to do!  

Momma: Week 29

Body: Up 15 pounds -same as last week.  It's been a week full of ups and downs and it's probably showing on the scale.  No big thang-hopefully week 30 is less stressful :-)

Cravings: Fruit and sugar cookies.  The latter is entirely due to the ridiculously yummy cookies my cousin had as a favor for my shower this past week.  I may have eaten two.  Or ten.  But who's counting?  Also, there's nothing like a fresh mango or a crisp apple this week.  Yum.  Just no bananas.  Yech.

Aversions: Still off the oats.  Seriously, what does this baby have against my breakfast??

Sleep:Not so great this week.  I've had a sick fur kiddo, so I've spent quite a bit of time worrying and caring for her every few hours.  Good mommy training.  No, not really.  Get better, Summer!

Fears: Am I really at 30 weeks almost?  What if I don't have everything ready?  What if we can't afford this baby?  What if I have no flippin clue what to do?  Ya know, small things like that.  Thankfully, books and experienced mommies are a pregnant girl's best friend. 

Best Baby Moment: Greg and I had our baby shower this week-yes, I say "ours".  We had a few men involved in the shower, and Greg stepped up to the plate to be by my side in a typically estrogen filled environment.  He did a great job, and it was a wonderful shower.  We got completely spoiled, of course, and this baby should really not want for much, including lots of homemade love.  Thank you so much to Karen and my mom for throwing such a wonderful shower!  I love you!

Items Bought/Received:Bought= nothing.  Received...oh my word.  A pack and play, stroller, breast

pump, books, clothes, Target gift cards, a diaper genie, a high chair, and so many wonderful kiddo toys and turtle things I can't even count! Oh, and my cousin and her hubby bought us a baby photo shoot for after kiddo is born, which is priceless.  Such a wonderful week!

IRON BABY: Week 28!

Swimming: 4 miles
Biking: 85 miles
Running: 5 miles
Total: 94 miles

Iron Baby’s Travels to date….969.8 miles- That's the distance between Rochester NY and Atlanta, Georgia.  Hot lanta, my baby's a movin and groovin!

Up this week-Mother's Day.  Am I officially one or not?  Do I get to demand royalty this year or does it not count until kiddo is breathing independently? What do you guys think? :-P

Turtle Power

It's been a long weekend-mostly good, with a little bit of struggle thrown in.  I had the most thoughtful, amazing baby shower ever thrown for Greg and I on Saturday-everyone was absolutely amazing and we had a wonderful time.  The bad news...our little fur child has been sick for a few days and took a turn for the worse on Saturday night.  We spent 3 hours in the kitty ER today and I'm running off of about 5 hours sleep for the last two nights....it's been a stressful, anxiety filled last 26 hours.  Mommy test?  I dunno, but I'm trying everything I can for my little love!
With that out there, forgive my lack of post, but I knew I owed everyone the best of the weekend...some shower pics!  can you tell what our nursery theme is?? :-)

More tomorrow....lil bit is doing super well and kicking up a storm....hopefully our other (fur) kiddo rebounds soon!!

Week 28: I drank the koolaid.

And...it's time for another weekly round up of poppin mama and baby g (formerly known as Prince....um....non preggo Rae...)

Your Pregnancy: Week 27

By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

Ruh roh.  No chicken and cabbage for Mom this week!!

Momma: Week 28

Body: Up 15 pounds- Lil bit at a time.  I've never had so many people tell me how tiny I am....guys, I may look tiny, but I certainly feel this giant bowling ball full o baby on my tummy-someone get a crane to help me up, stat!

Cravings: Mmmmmm quesadillas.  Two corn tortillas with some melty cheddar cheese= delicious.  I think I eat one almost every single night.  Nom nom nom.

Aversions – Ugh,  can't do oatmeal again.  Seriously, this kiddo is SOL if they think Momma won't be feeding them Quaker at some point.  EAT YOUR FIBER, KID.  It's good for you!  So we've been having other breakfasts...like cheese sandwiches and apples.  High quality stuff.  LOL

Sleep: Can't get enough.  Seriously.  Kiddo is sucking the life out of me.  If I shut my door at work, they won't know I'm sleeping, right?  Kidding, kidding.  Pam, shut the door!!!

Orange Triamenic.  Yuck.

Fears:Not really a fear, but one realized.  The damn glucose test.  It sucked, the drink is awful, and if I don't pass, I doubt I will make it through a 3 hour test.  C'mon body, work with me here!  No genetics at play, I hope....I hope....I hope....

Best Baby Moment: It just keeps getting better and better every day, I tell ya.  Greg and I are so super stoked, and now that the baby is developing his or her own little personality and play/kick time, we just have a ball with it.  Plus, I've never seen my husband look at me quite this way.  It's hard to put my finger on it, but I feel like there's just so much love bursting in our little family.  It's awesome.

Items Bought/Received: got a sweet bumbo seat and a turtle activity mat from my friend Jen, and a sweet Mum and Dad = me outfit from my cousin Jen.  It's been a Jen week!

IRON BABY: Week 27!

Swimming: 5 miles
Biking: 75 miles
Running: 6 miles
Total: 86 miles

Iron Baby’s Travels to date….873.8 miles- That's the distance between Rochester NY and Myrtle Beach, SC.  Baby spring break!

Up this weekend-the big family shower!  Super excited and super nervous to be the center of attention....maybe everyone can wear a fake belly?  C'mon!  :-D