Home stretch... before the home stretch

I just hit the mark for my 27th week, which is the final one in my second trimester.
I've obviously been watching this baby grow as each day ticks away, but when I think about being almost two-thirds of the way done with the pregnancy it's hard to figure out where the time has gone!
Many people warned me at the beginning that the nine months would fly by, but I didn't believe it back in December and January when I had this huge timeline stretched out in front of me.
The baby weighs over two pounds this week, roughly equal (in weight) to a head of cauliflower. It's size is still measured as an eggplant — a very healthy one! We don't get a new fruit/veggie reference until next week.
And I'm having no trouble believing that the baby is growing more each day. The kicks are starting to get a little uncomfortable at times. I put Brian's hand on my belly the other morning during a particularly frenzied spell from the baby and he said, "bad baby" every time it launched another limb (or its head?) into my side.
But I do love all the movement! And I'm getting excited about meeting this squirmy, little baby — in a few more months, of course.

Stockpiling

The baby's arrival is still three months away, but our house is already bursting with equipment for the little guy (or gal).
My brother and sister-in-law, Dan and Jen, recently decided to pass down ALL their baby supplies to us. We've gotten two car loads and there still might be more!
They've passed on a pack-n-play, swing, bouncy seat, stroller travel system, baby gates, bottles, bath tub, play mat, toys and even a Classic Pooh crib mobile :) Apparently we have the same nursery taste! We are so grateful for everything.
This early baby shower from the Dan and Jen comes after we got a crib and changing table from one of Brian's co-workers. Both pieces are in great shape and look awesome in the nursery. I feel so blessed by the generosity we've been shown during this pregnancy. I plan to pay it forward as much as I can as others I know start their families.
While filling out our baby registry might take some imagination now, it's great to know that we've already got most of what we need for the baby. I'm a big planner and there's nothing I like more than crossing things off that "baby needs" list.
If anyone has any suggestions for must-have items that Brian and I probably aren't thinking of, do tell!

Braxton Hicks and breathless

As I near the end of my second trimester, I've been experiencing a couple freaky (though normal) pregnancy symptoms.

I started noticing last week that every so often I can feel the entire lower half of my belly tighten up. It's as if the baby is grabbing at things from the inside and pulling it all together. I realized it may be Braxton Hicks contractions and asked the doctor about it. She said it's normal at this point to feel the uterus tighten up and release every so often. I guess it's considered "practice contractions" and as long as they don't come too close together, I'm fine. It's kind of cool now that I know what it is and why it's OK.

The less-fun side effect I've had recently is getting out of breath really quickly. This often happens around this time because the baby is crowding the rib cage and preventing my lungs from fully expanding. I notice it the most when I climb stairs — so I'm extra glad that Brian got the upstairs toilet installed temporarily and I'm saved from 2-3 extra trips downstairs during the night. The doctor still wants me to be getting 30 minutes of exercise a day, so I can't use the breathing thing as my excuse. But I'm making sure to move even slower!

Today's column

Sorry about the posting delays. I was out of town — visiting Jim, Sandy, Alora and Jay in Nebraska — from Thursday until yesterday.
I'll write more later, but here's a link to a column I wrote for today's Journal & Courier.

www.jconline.com/article/20090511/LIFE09/905110302

Brian's first post

Not to throw anyone off, but this is Brian, not Dorothy. She's asked me to sometimes drop in a line or two on the blog, so this is my first post.

I guess I should start by saying I'm pretty excited about the baby coming in just a few months. It don't feel real yet, though I'm sure it will after the first night at home. Goodbye, sleep.

One of the things I'm really excited about is all the things I get to teach my son or daughter. I'm worried about kids these days (wow, that sounded old) and their lack of energy. My kids aren't sitting in front of computers, video games or televisions all day. I want them outside playing, enjoying nature, their friends and all the dumb games kids make up.

So, on that note, I've started creating a list of all the things I think kids in 10, 15 or 20 years won't know how to do anymore. And I want my kids to know how to do all of them. Some early entries for you to peruse:

- Build a fire without pouring gas or lighter fluid on the wood.
- Do their own minor car repairs (change oil, check fluids, tires, etc.)
- Clean walnuts, dry them and crack them to get the nuts (it's possible I believe our baby is a squirrel) like I did with my grandpa
- Plant and take care of a garden

More to come.

Best of both

Brian and I skated into some dangerous territory the other day when I brought up the subject of which traits (of ours) we hoped the baby would get. That conversation basically turned into each of us insulting the other's features, none of which will be good enough for our offspring. We quickly moved on to safer discussion topics :)

I've included a new picture below that our friend Melissa took last weekend. I was impressed by how skinny Brian looks in the picture — where he stands in the shadow of my ever-growing belly. I know he's been losing weight, but it's very noticeable here. Go Brian!

Sent to the store

On his recent visits in town, Dan (my brother) has been helping Brian on our bathroom reconstruction project. It's awesome having the extra hands, since my help in the whole process is limited.
The boys have decided my best role is to run to the store and get them beer. I'm happy to help, but buying beer once you're visibly pregnant is definitely awkward. The first time I did it, I stupidly said to the cashier, "This isn't for me." That statement raised the question of who I was buying the case of Miller Lite for... I told him it was not for some teenager in the parking lot.
On my most recent beer run for the boys, I got up to the counter with my purchase before I realized what I had on. Not only was I the only pregnant woman in the store buying a case of beer, but I was wearing a T-shirt of Brian's that says "Budweiser is good!"
Very classy. Definitely some mom-of-the-year material.