Gender Reveal

Mr. Explorer Bud and I had our 20 week ultrasound and are excited to announce what we are having........

The little guy looked great in the ultrasound and was very calm. He is measuring a week ahead and all his organs and measurements look good. As for other pregnancy related things, I think I have finally started to feel the little guy moving around the past two days which is really fun. It kinda feels like sideways bubbles moving around my stomach!! Last week we started our Hypnobabies class and have been enjoying that and doing lots and lots of practice my self-hypnosis. I have been feeling great and am working on eating healthy to prepare for a good labor!!!

33 weeks!

How far along: 33 weeks today...49 days to go!  This week his eyes are staying open while he's awake, his brain is undergoing major development, his bones are hardening and he's starting to coordinate his breathing with sucking and swallowing.  He weighs over 4 pounds and is now over 17 inches long...thebump.com reports that he may grow up to an inch this week!

Total weight change: I think I had gained like 4 pounds at my last doctor's appointment last week...so 38 total?  Man...that sounds bad.  *sigh*

Maternity clothes: Still every dag-gone day. 

Stretch Marks: None new, but I did get a little "scare" a couple nights ago when I was putting on lotion and thought that I saw some new red stretch marks.  It turns out that it was a trick of the light.  I'm happy to report the road map still looks the same.

Movement: He's still moving really well.  Got a little nervous last night when I hadn't felt him move much last evening.  Luckily, he made up for it after my shower last night while I was reclining in bed.  SUCH A RELIEF!  He was doing some serious karate today (that's what I call it when he's really active) so I've enjoyed him letting me know that he's still here and doing okay.  =o)

Sleep: Same...I'm having to change sides every couple of hours or else my hips hurt too much.  And now I have to either support my tummy while I roll over and sit up into a reclining position to roll over.  Not to mention the peeing...

Best Moment This Past Week: Mr. CB and I had birthing class this past weekend (sorry I forgot to mention it last post).  It was pretty cool, a couple of weird moments when we were trying different relaxation poses because of the belly but we learned a lot of things and Mr. CB was very receptive.  We definitely feel more prepared!

Most Difficult Moment This Past Week: Hands-down the scare from last night.  But I did have a patient make (yet another) comment yesterday.  I called her back to the scale and she asked me "You haven't had that baby yet?"  (Now I've never seen this lady a day in my life.)  I said something like "I'm only eight months!" to which she sobered a little and asked "Are you having twins?"  I mean really?!?!  Come on lady...I don't know you...and I'm NO WHERE NEAR BIG ENOUGH TO BE DUE OR TO BE HAVING TWINS!  

Belly Button In or Out: Still an inny, but I don't think it will be for long...

Cravings/Aversions: The sweet-tooth has completely taken over this past week, as I'm sure the scale will enjoy showing me at my next appointment on Monday.  =o(

Symptoms: Let's see...fatigue?  Definitely.  Hot-flashes?  Flashes?  More like a constant inferno!!  Swelling?  You betcha!  My ankles are super sexy.  Increased urination?  Yeah, some...I love it when Parker punches my bladder.  Braxton-Hicks?  Only when I'm on my feet too long or don't take in enough water.  They're not bad though.


That's it for now...

Childbirth Class

We had our childbirth class this past weekend! Long day. 6 hours in the classroom, but I do have to give the instructor props for giving us hourly bathroom breaks and letting us get up and move around for certain activities in the class. Going into the class I was really worried how the swelling in my feet would do not being able to get my feet up for that long, but it turned out fine.

I have a confession to make: I mostly signed us up for the class so that my husband would have a clue what he was in for...both when it came to labor & delivery, and for my recovery afterwards. I've read up on things pretty well, have discussed things with people a bunch, and have witnessed a birth. I wanted my husband to know how to time contractions, when it was time to go to the hospital, the different stages of labor, what he can do during labor to help...and that in the days/weeks afterwards he's going to need to step up. Mission Accomplished.

The class was pretty comprehensive. It started out with "Is it time to go to the hospital?" scenarios, went through each stage of labor (what to expect, how to cope, including videos of medicated & non-medicated births and a c-section), and recovery (both types of delivery).

I didn't really feel like I learned a whole lot, but I know the Mr did. Plus I think it helped him to see other Dads-to-be in the class, that he's not the only one facing this. Another confession from me: I liked being in the class around other 3rd Tri moms-to-be. It was nice to be around people that get the discomforts and worries going on with me these days.

One thing I did learn that I thought was kind of cool is that the baby typically twists when it comes out during delivery. From what the instructor said, baby will be kind of sideways a the start of labor and as its skull progresses through the pelvis it twists. Both the pre-labor positioning and the twist help line up the widest part of babies head with the widest opening (at that given stage) of the moms pelvis. I didn't realize that and thought it was kind of cool...especially because it means our little guy is spot on in his positioning (head down, with his back sort of facing to the left of my belly button). This image isn't one from the class, but it shows the twist.

(Image credit: http://www.epigee.org/health/birth.html )

3rd Tri Freak Out

(Image credit:http://www.parentdish.com/tag/crying%20babies/)

I think I've officially had my first dose of what I've heard referenced as the 3rd Tri Freak Out. OK, not going to lie, I've had several doses of it in the last few days...but the best one of all was on Sunday. I cried into my french toast as we were eating breakfast. Seriously. Sitting there, shoveling food into my mouth, tears streaming down my face. Classic. I'm sure my husband was having a WTF moment of his own sitting there watching that.

I think it was the combination of several things creating the perfect storm. For starters, my crossing the line to 3rd Tri matched up pretty much exactly with the EDD from my first pregnancy...so I was emotional anyways. Then there is the fact that our Baby Shower is this weekend (5 days from now. EEK!) and our registries are virtually untouched. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for any and everything people are willing to get for us...but we are first time parents, are living on one income, and still have A LOT of the most basic stuff to get. The realization that in just a few months this little one will be joining the outside world and I'll be the one getting him there and feeding him (going to try breastfeeding) hit me like a ton of bricks. As did the fact that we still don't have a name for this kid. The icing on the cake was getting word from my parents that they aren't planning on flying out until about 10 days after baby is due since that works best with their schedules. Now, I live clear across the country from them and I knew the chance of them dropping everything and coming here for the birth (or immediately after) was slim...but its been a reality check having it be certain. Been even harder emotionally since I know that they will be there on a moments notice for the births of my brothers children (brothers live near them). **

The good news is that the freak out spurred action.

Soon after I finished my french toast, my husband and I sat down and had a long talk. We made a list of priority things to get after the shower, really exciting things like the pack and play (with bassinet) that we hope for the baby to sleep in at first, the breast pump to help me with possible engorgement and such, a place to change the baby (we have the furniture, but not the pad or much else). We discussed what classes we wanted to take together (CPR, childbirth and a labor and delivery tour) and what ones I'll take solo (breastfeeding and one on having a Navy Baby). I've been able to schedule all but the CPR class already...looks like August is going to be a busy one for classes!

I'm still struggling with regards to the parents thing since, in an ideal world I'd have wanted my mom in the delivery room, but I am thrilled that they are coming over to visit. This may be the only trip they make over here the entire time we're stationed here and I know that to them its a huge deal to be doing it as they don't travel much. My MIL has offered to fly out on a moments notice to help us with the immediate post birth stuff, something she's done for all of my husbands siblings (he's the last to have kids). For awhile I was debating this...didn't want my mom to feel bad and such. The thing is though, is that my MIL let my mom have first choice of when to come out here, and my mom made her choice. Right now I'm leaning towards doing what is right for our family and saying that as long as the birth isn't within a few days of when my parents are due to fly out, that her coming here sounds great. If the dates end up too close together, she can come after they leave (we don't have room here for more that one set of visitors at a time). I know we will really be able to use the help then and I think, personality and experience-wise (she had 4 kids of her own) that she'd be a good person to have around.

Oh and with regard to the name issue...we've narrowed it down to two possible first names and a certain middle name. You'll have to stay tuned to see what it is though...I won't be revealing that until the baby is born.

**I just want to clarify that my parents lack of being here for the birth isn't because they don't want to be. Its a mix of the distance, their schedules, a lack of vacation time and finances. The not being here is hard on them as well.

20 week update

20 weeks! Halfway through this pregnancy! I'm shocked at how quickly this baby is growing, and how fast this pregnancy seems to be going.

We had our 20-week midwife appointment this week. We talked about going to concerts (ok), whether we'll be circumcising if we have a boy (yes, and got a referral to a mohel), weight gain (10lbs at 20 weeks, which is right on track), movement (my placenta is in the front, so it will most likely be another few weeks before we feel baby consistently), and birth classes (going great, we started on Monday). My uterus is about an inch above my belly button, and I'll tell you what--it's so weird to hear my stomach rumbling from midway between my belly button and ribcage when I'm so used to hearing it tell me it's hungry down near my bladder! Even precious Magnolia Cat looked at me oddly when it grumbled during petting time last night!

We also started childbirth classes on Monday. There are 7 other couples in the class, and we're taking an 8-week series focused on natural birth. The first class was great--we did some get-to-know-each-other exercises, did a quick relaxation exercise, and watched three birth videos. Seeing a placenta on video is not for the faint of heart! Everyone in the class is between 20 and 27 weeks, so it's nice to have a group of people going through the same things we are, at roughly the same times.

Hope you all have a great week! Sending lots of love and baby dust to each of you...
Magnolia Bud

!4 and 15 week update OR Inception: Pregnancy Edition

Hello, ladies, and welcome, new buds!

Seriously, I have to post more. Life has been hectic, but even I'm starting to go "Wait, Cherry who?"

I am immensely sorry.

Anyway, updates.

- No more morning sickness! YAY! Except when I don't eat. Which happens an alarming amount. Pre-pregnancy, I was one of those people who could completely forget breakfast and not eat until dinner and be fine. You know those people. They're obnoxious and everyone secretly waits for the day when they discover chocolate cake and eat themselves to 400 pounds. Anyway, now that I'm pregnant, the habit is still to wake up fiftenn minutes before I have to be at work, throw on my clothes and jet. Then, at 9:30, right in the middle of morning circle time, my stomach says "CHERRYBUDFEEDMENOW!!" So I've taken to not only actually eating breakfast for the first time since I was in high school (I know. Revolutionary.), but taking these things to work with me:

Photo Credit

They keep my tummy sane. I will say that, when you are the "teacher" in a room full of one year olds, it's hard to sneak bites of cracker without having huge baby eyes in your face saying "So, you gonna finish that?"

- We signed up for childbirth classes today. The goal is to (gulp) get through labor without an epidural. Go ahead. Laugh. Roll your eyes. Pat me on the head and say "That's sweet." But I'm at least going to try, so we've signed up for Bradley Classes, which come highly recommended by several friends who have made it through labor without meds. We were actually incredibly late signing up, and only managed to get a spot because another couple opted out. So woo-hooo!

- My dreams of late have become increasingly disturbing. Seriously, it's like Christopher Nolan has invaded my head. The dreams are so vivid and real. Plus, some of them are a little on the..umm..naughty side and that's just a whole mess of confusing, when I have never felt less sexy in my life.

- And, lastly, this is what I look like right now. Ignore the gaping black hole behind me. Please. It was that or bear witness to my piles of laundry.

Until next time,