Yay! Five pictures from our maternity session are online as a sneak peek:
http://imagesbyamy.blogspot.com
Check them out! We LOVE them!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
L&D Tour and Maternity photo shoot
It's week 35 and nope, no name hints yet! You all will have to wait until she's born, unless you happen to be around Travis and he blurts it out again. That happened a couple of weeks ago when we were having breakfast with some friends. He was just saying a sentence and where he would normally say "the baby" he said "(the baby's name)". It was TOO funny. Then he had the nerve to say, "I thought it was going to be you who gave it away." Ha! The thing about her name is that we aren't completely sure yet, so we wouldn't want to tell and get everyone thinking it is one thing, then change our minds. We have changed our minds quite a bit during the almost nine months, so there's no telling if we'll change it again. The name we were settled on for about two months was dethroned not too long ago, in fact!
Plus, you're all lucky we gave away the gender! Next time we're going to keep that a secret too. (Look at me talking about next time already!)
We had a doctor's appointment yesterday and before the appointment we went to tour the labor & delivery unit, postpartum unit, and the nursery. Our childbirth educator recommended we do that so we will know where to go when the moment comes and also to ask the nurses some questions about procedures, etc. We were pleased with what we found. The l&d rooms are very comfortable, they have a nice big shower, a CD player so we can bring some music, and the nurse there was very nice. I told her about our intentions for a drug-free delivery and she said that it's not common but they do have natural moms. I will have to have an IV inserted (but no drugs put in unless it's an emergency) and have the fetal heartbeat monitored for 20 minutes of every hour. Other than that I am free to move around and labor as I please. For natural moms, I have heard it is imperative to move around - nobody in that much pain wants to be confined to a bed (much less a hospital bed). She told me that I really didn't need to pack too much - that they will have everything the baby or I need. I may decide to bring a nightgown of my own b/c I don't know how comfy it will be to wear a hospital gown for two days (or hopefully just one day). And I'll bring an extra pillow or two.
We then went to the post-partum unit and the rooms there weren't quite as nice. At this point though we won't care about the room because our little girl will be in it with us. Anyway, they are pretty small and the "bed" they have for Travis is inhumane. Luckily he slept on worse in East Timor. It is standard for the baby to be in the room at all times except when she is seeing the pediatrician. They have lactation specialists to help with breastfeeding. It is a very secure unit, in fact the nurse kept referring to it as a 'lock-down' unit, like a prison. I prefer it that way!
The doctor's appointment went well, too. We actually saw the nurse practitioner this time, and we really like her. She said the baby's head is 'way down' which is GREAT because at this point she is not likely to flip and be in breech position. Everything is going as it should be.
I'm still doing yoga and I just started swimming in the apartment pool. It is SO hot here all day so I wasn't really able to comfortably walk for exercise anymore. Swimming is so nice - I wish I had been doing it all along. It makes me feel weightless, which with the 30 extra pounds I'm carrying these days, feels quite nice.
Finally, we had our maternity photo shoot today. We are an exhausted pair (I guess trio) of models as a result. It was about two hours long and part of it was outside (again - HOT!). It was really fun though and the photographer was great. We were part of a promotional deal she is running for maternity/newborn shots so we got a great deal and we will be used in her portfolio. Her website is imagesbyamy.blogspot.com, and she will have a 'sneak peek' of our session posted in about a week. Then, for the grandmas reading this, photos will be available for purchase shorty after (although you may want to wait for the newborn pics - they'll be cuter than my pregnant belly).
That's it for now - I'm off to eat Oreos!
Plus, you're all lucky we gave away the gender! Next time we're going to keep that a secret too. (Look at me talking about next time already!)
We had a doctor's appointment yesterday and before the appointment we went to tour the labor & delivery unit, postpartum unit, and the nursery. Our childbirth educator recommended we do that so we will know where to go when the moment comes and also to ask the nurses some questions about procedures, etc. We were pleased with what we found. The l&d rooms are very comfortable, they have a nice big shower, a CD player so we can bring some music, and the nurse there was very nice. I told her about our intentions for a drug-free delivery and she said that it's not common but they do have natural moms. I will have to have an IV inserted (but no drugs put in unless it's an emergency) and have the fetal heartbeat monitored for 20 minutes of every hour. Other than that I am free to move around and labor as I please. For natural moms, I have heard it is imperative to move around - nobody in that much pain wants to be confined to a bed (much less a hospital bed). She told me that I really didn't need to pack too much - that they will have everything the baby or I need. I may decide to bring a nightgown of my own b/c I don't know how comfy it will be to wear a hospital gown for two days (or hopefully just one day). And I'll bring an extra pillow or two.
We then went to the post-partum unit and the rooms there weren't quite as nice. At this point though we won't care about the room because our little girl will be in it with us. Anyway, they are pretty small and the "bed" they have for Travis is inhumane. Luckily he slept on worse in East Timor. It is standard for the baby to be in the room at all times except when she is seeing the pediatrician. They have lactation specialists to help with breastfeeding. It is a very secure unit, in fact the nurse kept referring to it as a 'lock-down' unit, like a prison. I prefer it that way!
The doctor's appointment went well, too. We actually saw the nurse practitioner this time, and we really like her. She said the baby's head is 'way down' which is GREAT because at this point she is not likely to flip and be in breech position. Everything is going as it should be.
I'm still doing yoga and I just started swimming in the apartment pool. It is SO hot here all day so I wasn't really able to comfortably walk for exercise anymore. Swimming is so nice - I wish I had been doing it all along. It makes me feel weightless, which with the 30 extra pounds I'm carrying these days, feels quite nice.
Finally, we had our maternity photo shoot today. We are an exhausted pair (I guess trio) of models as a result. It was about two hours long and part of it was outside (again - HOT!). It was really fun though and the photographer was great. We were part of a promotional deal she is running for maternity/newborn shots so we got a great deal and we will be used in her portfolio. Her website is imagesbyamy.blogspot.com, and she will have a 'sneak peek' of our session posted in about a week. Then, for the grandmas reading this, photos will be available for purchase shorty after (although you may want to wait for the newborn pics - they'll be cuter than my pregnant belly).
That's it for now - I'm off to eat Oreos!
Sunday, August 17, 2008
34 weeks!
Well, at this point, the doc said that if labor started, they wouldn't stop it. So, whenever the little girl decides to come out, we'll have a daughter! We are very excited.
I have been feeling extremely huge and tired lately. I don't think it helps that it's a million degrees outside.
We're having some maternity pictures done this week as a part of a maternity/newborn photo package. I hope they turn out.
I have been feeling extremely huge and tired lately. I don't think it helps that it's a million degrees outside.
We're having some maternity pictures done this week as a part of a maternity/newborn photo package. I hope they turn out.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Travis as a dad
Travis found this video and thought it portrayed the type of dad he will be. Please watch!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
(a short story)
The following very short story was written for our birthing class. The assignment was "to express the moment of your baby's birth in a medium of your choice."
"The First Meal"
by Travis Leger
THE BEEPING, the orders, the shuffling - they all fade.
White latex gloves hand me a tiny person, no longer than my forearm, naked and feeling the air with its hands and legs like a swimmer underwater.
I bring the little girl to my chest and shade her eyes with my free hand. Her eyes, which have yet to open before this second, appear.
"Hey," I say.
"Hey," she says.
"How are you, little girl?"
As if still underwater, she wipes her eyes with the backs of her clenched fists.
"What just happened?" She turns her head away and then back. "I recognize your voice."
I can feel her heart beating against my arm, on my chest.
"I recognize your heartbeat," I say. "I used to listen to it."
She wipes her eyes again and then smacks her lips.
"I'm really craving. . . something. . . what is it?" she says.
"I think I know," I say. "Nurse, can you get us some fried chicken please?"
"The First Meal"
by Travis Leger
THE BEEPING, the orders, the shuffling - they all fade.
White latex gloves hand me a tiny person, no longer than my forearm, naked and feeling the air with its hands and legs like a swimmer underwater.
I bring the little girl to my chest and shade her eyes with my free hand. Her eyes, which have yet to open before this second, appear.
"Hey," I say.
"Hey," she says.
"How are you, little girl?"
As if still underwater, she wipes her eyes with the backs of her clenched fists.
"What just happened?" She turns her head away and then back. "I recognize your voice."
I can feel her heart beating against my arm, on my chest.
"I recognize your heartbeat," I say. "I used to listen to it."
She wipes her eyes again and then smacks her lips.
"I'm really craving. . . something. . . what is it?" she says.
"I think I know," I say. "Nurse, can you get us some fried chicken please?"
Saturday, July 19, 2008
30 Weeks!
I have to say it is quite surreal to look at the above slideshow of transforming body. It's amazing. There's a child growing in there. My child. I can't wait to meet her. This miracle of life really IS a miracle!
My body has definitely been feeling the changes. Just in the past month or so. I have had quite a bit of pelvic pain lately, due to normal stretching, so that has been uncomfortable. When I don't sit up straight enough, a small part of my belly falls asleep. Just loses feeling, and it's really weird. And my ribs are gone, but sometimes they hurt anyway. Yoga is my savior. Walking helps, too. I cannot imagine how my body would be feeling if I hadn't been exercising.
Our little girl, who has a name but it's being kept secret, has been growing and changing, too. At somewhere around 3 pounds, I can feel her moving on both sides of my belly at once. The movement is awesome, and I wish I had xray vision to see what she's doing in there. Some women say, "Oh I felt her little foot/finger/head/butt/whatever" but to me a body part is a body part and I can't tell the difference.
What I have detected is hiccups. A few times a day, our little girl will get the hiccups. At first I thought it was just smaller, rhythmic movements. Then I thought, wow she's good to be moving in such perfect rhythm! Come to find out, they are hiccups! And they are so cute. Tiny little bumps inside my belly, and we wonder if she gets as frustrated with the hiccups as we adults do. To be honest, it's the first time I've really connected with her as a person-to-be. (Wow! She JUST started hiccuping!!!! Told you we had a connection.) Until the hiccups it's been hard to connect with what things are like for her in there - it's not like I remember my time in the womb and can relate. But, with the hiccups, it's something we both do. I hiccup. She hiccups. Thus the connection.
I love it. Despite the pain, it's amazing having her in my belly. And it's going to be even more amazing to meet her!
Hiccup!
My body has definitely been feeling the changes. Just in the past month or so. I have had quite a bit of pelvic pain lately, due to normal stretching, so that has been uncomfortable. When I don't sit up straight enough, a small part of my belly falls asleep. Just loses feeling, and it's really weird. And my ribs are gone, but sometimes they hurt anyway. Yoga is my savior. Walking helps, too. I cannot imagine how my body would be feeling if I hadn't been exercising.
Our little girl, who has a name but it's being kept secret, has been growing and changing, too. At somewhere around 3 pounds, I can feel her moving on both sides of my belly at once. The movement is awesome, and I wish I had xray vision to see what she's doing in there. Some women say, "Oh I felt her little foot/finger/head/butt/whatever" but to me a body part is a body part and I can't tell the difference.
What I have detected is hiccups. A few times a day, our little girl will get the hiccups. At first I thought it was just smaller, rhythmic movements. Then I thought, wow she's good to be moving in such perfect rhythm! Come to find out, they are hiccups! And they are so cute. Tiny little bumps inside my belly, and we wonder if she gets as frustrated with the hiccups as we adults do. To be honest, it's the first time I've really connected with her as a person-to-be. (Wow! She JUST started hiccuping!!!! Told you we had a connection.) Until the hiccups it's been hard to connect with what things are like for her in there - it's not like I remember my time in the womb and can relate. But, with the hiccups, it's something we both do. I hiccup. She hiccups. Thus the connection.
I love it. Despite the pain, it's amazing having her in my belly. And it's going to be even more amazing to meet her!
Hiccup!
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