Week 31

We had our 30 week check-up yesterday.  My blood pressure and heart rate are good.  I had a 6 pound weight gain in the last 2 weeks, which brings my total weight gain for this pregnancy to 15 lbs.  I'd been trying to eat more over the last couple of weeks after comparing Adam's estimated weight to our baby girl's estimated weight at around the same age.  Baby Girl is estimated at about 1 pound lighter than Adam, so I have been determined to do all that I can to try to help our little one gain as much as she can in this last trimester.

The only thing I can do is make sure I eat my meals, take my prenatal vitamins, drink plenty of water and get plenty of rest.  I'd been doing pretty well in all those categories except for making sure to eat my meals within a reasonable time frame.  It's too easy for me to put off eating, because I'm either not feeling hungry or busy with work or both.  Since I've made a point to eat more, I've managed to eat when I'm supposed to be eating.  The effort seems to be paying off.  We'll have a better idea if it's helping Little Sis at our next ultrasound appointment, to be scheduled at 32 weeks.

Our baby girl's heart rate was good and she remains an active tenant.  She is a strong girl.  Earlier in the week, she was kicking so hard and over so many hours that my abdomen was hurting.  It made it impossible to sleep and hard to work when it continued into the morning.  She finally settled down to more gentle movements after a day of her inflicting an internal beat-down--about the time that I threatened to lock her into drum lessons for her entire childhood.

While Matt and I were at this week's appointment, Adam asked about us.  He'd been napping when I left.  The nanny told him that we were at the doctor's office, checking on Baby Sister.  That prompted Adam to ask the nanny if Baby Sister is okay.  Our sweet boy brings her up in conversation quite often, asking how she's doing, looking for her under my shirt and asking if she's getting bigger, bigger, bigger.  He also likes shining a flashlight through my belly and talking to her.  I think he's more than ready for the new addition to our family. 

My Name is Poop

There is no doubt that our boy is a comedian.  He'll do many things for a laugh, even when he is the only one amused.  His favorite go-to is using the word poop.  It all started (in my opinion) when Matt and Adam we're waiting for me in the Socorro Walmart parking lot over Easter weekend.  Matt tried to call me on my cellphone while I was inside the store.  After repeatedly getting my voice mail greeting, Matt said, "Oh, poop!"  Adam found the exclamation delightfully funny and never to be overused.

Weeks passed and Adam gradually started working poop into his everyday word fun.  He was encouraged not only by our initial giggles, but also by our later attempts to get him to stop using the word so often.  We really didn't think it was anything to worry about until the infamous MyGym class where he decided to unleash his public use of the word.

Matt and my mom took Adam to MyGym on that Saturday.  Adam is normally a little shy about saying his name during class introductions and a few weeks prior, he'd gotten flustered and said his name was "Momma" which resulted in the parents laughing.  Laughter doesn't necessarily scare off our little funny guy.  He tends to think he's hit a gold mine when something he does or says makes someone laugh, even if that wasn't his original intention.

During introductions for this particular class, Adam was on one side of the teacher (Brittany) and a little girl (Annie) was on the other side of the teacher.  This was Annie's first class and she was having a very fussy time.  When Brittany asked Annie to say her name to the class, Adam answered, "Poop!"  In the same moment, Annie started crying.

Adam understands that the introductions always start with a child seated next to the teacher, what he didn't realize that it could be either child sitting next to the teacher.  He thought that he was going first, but it didn't work out that way.  We're pretty sure that he didn't intend to call Annie, Poop, but was meaning to answer that for his own name.

When it was finally his turn to say his name, he used his second chance to say his name:  Poop!  This repeat got a few laughs from the crowd.  Not good.

Since that class, Adam has come up with various word combinations (not limited to those listed):
poop soup
dog eat poop
Poop Mama
Poop Daddy
Adam Winter Craig Poop
poop face

He's also gotten into a habit of answer poop when asked a question.  I've found that repeating the question and offering him choices of acceptable answers (and for the love of God, not laughing when he says it) is the best way to encourage him to be serious.

In MyGym class, Adam reverts back to his poop name when Brittany is teaching the class, but will answer "Adam" (very shyly) when anyone else is teaching.  This revelation has embarrassed poor Brittany most of all.  We'll work on this, but I think the key is taking the power out of the word.  He also thinks the word obnoxious is hilarious.  Go figure!

Baby Sister

Talk of Baby Sister is becoming the norm around the house.  When we talk about plans for the day or recount the events of the past day, Little Sis is included.  Adam asks when Baby Sister will come out and now he knows the answer, "...when she is big, big, big, like when Adam was born."

The pregnancy itself is going smoothly.  I had to have surgery on a tooth that had a root canal done 5 years ago.  My tooth starting hurting suddenly and fiercely.  I went in for an exam and surgery within two days of the pain starting.  My mouth healed within 2 weeks and I was back to full health for about 3 days before I got a stomach bug that put me in bed for a little over 2 days. 

Despite the set-backs and a few weeks of difficulty eating, I gained 4 pounds in 4 weeks.  And I'm up about 8lbs total for the pregnancy and expecting to gain a pound a week over the next 10 weeks.  As I get bigger, I worry that I'm gaining too much, then I worry that I'm not eating enough.  After the last set of ultrasounds, I decided not to worry that Baby Girl is doing just fine.  I'm taking my vitamins, drinking plenty of water and feeling really good overall.

 Profile view of Baby Girl

Two weeks ago, I had my 1-hour glucose test done at the OB's office.  Let me offer some advice to even the most confident of expecting moms:  Do not.  Do not drink a coffee with three sugars and eat half a donut an hour before you go in for your glucose test.  If you do, you will need to show up at the office 2 days later, after fasting overnight and will have to do the 3-hour glucose test.  Yes, my blood sugar was a "little high" for the first test. 

The 3-hour test was pretty awful for the first hour.  You go into the office, have your blood drawn and are handed a bottle of the most concentrated sugar concoction that chemistry will allow and you are required to drink it within 5 minutes.  Once the drink is drained, the clock starts and you get your blood drawn every hour for the next three hours. 

The sugar blast to my system had me very nauseated the first hour.  I had taken my laptop to the appointment so that I could watch dvds while I waited.  I was grateful that I'd chosen The Terminator to watch.  It was sufficient for keeping my mind of wanting to throw up, but it made it a little trickier when various little kids wanted to see what was going on on my computer.  I survived and after the first hour, my only discomfort was the waiting...and the hunger.  My test results were normal and I learned to respect the 1-hour glucose test.  That coffee and half donut were NOT worth it.

Baby's vitals and measurement are on track.  At the ultrasound appointment this past week, she is estimated too be 2lbs, 2oz.  Woohoo!

View of Baby Girl's face and forearm

More Posts to Come

This morning, Matt's grandmother passed away.  She'd been ill for a while and took a sudden turn for the worst this week.  Consequently, our free time this week has been spent trying to be with Matt's grandmother and to be as much support as possible to Matt's uncle and aunt who cared for her during her last months. 

I have lots to post about both Adam and Baby Sister (including ultrasound photos), so I'll be trying to get much posted over the weekend (as I promised earlier in the week).

Hiking

In May, we (Matt, Lesia and I) had the opportunity to take Adam hiking on Mt. Lemmon.  He did really well earlier in the year when we took him to Madera Canyon for a small hike and ever since then, he'd, off and on, bring up hiking.  He'd latched onto the idea of hiking for several days in a row one week and finally, we had a weekend in which we could do it.  

Adam loves being outdoors as much as Matt and me.  The problem is he gets so excited to go hiking that he runs, skips and jumps out all his energy in the first mile and we have to take turns carrying him back to the vehicle.  Fortunately, we never go too far from our starting point.  1) because I'm carrying little sister, I can't hike that far myself.  2) we know that wherever we go, we'll be carrying Adam back!

 Adam, pooped out and bribed with chocolate.

Pointing out the trees and mountain tops below.

Since that outing, we've had game nights (Selesia's birthday party), MyGym classes (Saturdays), soccer games (Matt), a couple of illnesses (me) that have kept us close to home.  I'm hoping we'll get another chance to get out and hike before baby sister makes her arrival.

Repeat and Clarify

Adam continues to amaze us and there is no conversation that is secret from his ears unless he is not around.  I've found that I have to be extra careful what I talk about in front of Adam--even if I thought Adam was playing in the living room when I start to tell Matt about a nightmare I had.

Over the weekend, I was telling my sister about the infamous Spain trip and about when Matt and I drove up to an overpass where several people were standing around in complete darkness, doing God knows what.  Before I knew it, Adam climbed on the couch with me, put his hand on my shoulder, ducked into my view and asked, "People?  Dark?"  Oh, boy.  I had to CMA on that one and add that everything turned out fine.

Last night, Matt and I were asking Adam about his favorites.  Favorite animal, favorite color.  When I asked Matt what was his favorite color, he said it depended on his mood.  Adam then started asking, "Mood?  Mood?" wanting to know what it meant.  Nothing gets by this kid.  I love it.

April 27

I thought it would be fun to see pictures of Adam on this day, 1 and 2 years ago.  Enjoy!

April 27, 2011

April 27, 2010