Bob, 30 Weeks & Going to School

30 Weeks

I’m 30 weeks along now. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, I’m a biggie. Everyone I see says, “Wow, you’re REALLY showing now! WHEN are you due?” And when I say “September 4^th” they look skeptical…or scared for me. Not sure which. What do they expect…Bob’s putting on her/his cute baby fat now (as am I, apparently.) Supposedly this baby fat will help Bob to lose the lanugo – the fine downy baby hairs covering his/her body, though I AM having Greg’s baby, so I’m certain I’m giving birth to a little hairy monkey anyway. That’s fine. I will love that hairy monkey baby just like it was human.

I am experiencing many of the normal side effects of pregnancy – absentmindedness (which I’ve been told never ever goes away), clumsiness, lethargy, backaches, leg cramps. The one side effect that has NOT hit? Feet growth! I was actually looking forward to fitting into “grown up” shoes for the first time.

Greg & I took the hospital Labor&Delivery Tour recently. We’re delivering at Valley Presbyterian which is a mere 5 minutes away. This is the only hospital where my physician delivers, but after learning about the hospital, I’m pleased. They’ve recently undergone a large renovation of their Labor&Delivery wing and have plans to renovate the entirety of the department. They are also training all doctors and nurses as Valley Presbyterian switches to a “Baby Friendly Hospital” as outlined by the World Health Organization. Valley Pres is one of the only hospitals in LA County that not only offers a large series of pre- and postnatal classes for mothers & fathers, but they are free even if you aren’t delivering at their hospital. I took my first class the other day – Breastfeeding Preparation – and we begin a 4 class Childbirth series next week.

For those that still haven’t seen Greg’s Chase Bank ad, here’s the youtube link. You can see Greg "run away" from Felix the lion. Greg makes the funniest face as he exits - whenever we see the commercial, we laugh & laugh! They really filmed that in a bank too - Greg walked that lion right into a downtown LA Chase bank (not during "regular business hours", of course!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UnPjNBZS50

Bob, 29 Weeks, Ain't that a Kick in the Head?

29 Weeks, whew!

I’m 29 weeks, a good week into the 3^rd trimester & beginning to feel it. Definitely getting a bit run down by the late afternoons (especially if I’ve “pushed it” during the day), finding it difficult to sit comfortably while driving too far or through a movie at the theater, hard to be on my feet for too long and I actually haven’t slept through the night in weeks (and even then, it was at best every other night.) However, other than fatigue and sleep, I still feel really great & am enjoying my ever growing Bob!

We had our 3^rd trimester ultrasound yesterday & all things look perfectly & are right on schedule. My weight gain is on target (I’m up 20 lbs from my pre-preggo weight), blood pressure good & all looks good with the baby – blood flow, brain, heart, kidneys, etc. Bob is estimated to weigh 3 lbs 2 oz & will likely more than double that by birth. It’s a good thing babies are oh-so-bendy because Bob’s feet were curled all the way up to her/his head! In the 3D pic, that’s a FOOT by Bob’s face. Now THAT’S a curled up baby. In the top left corner of the 3D pic, you can see an outline of a baby - that's the position Bob was in during the ultrasound, upside-down sideways baby. 3D pics are great b/c of the clarity, but they’re a bit jarring b/c they turn out so “lumpy” looking. See for yourself.   

Bob's profile, 29 weeks

3D Bob, Mama's nose & Daddy's mouth? Whose lumps are those?

Here is a short snippet of the ultrasound dvd. As it begins, you can see Bob's curled up leg & foot. Most of it is of Bob's face though as the doctor was obtaining the 3D pic for us. 

Bob, 28 Weeks & Having Sleepovers

28 Weeks - Welcome to the 3rd Trimester!

It appears as though Bob is trying to kick his/her way outta me. And by “appears” I mean that I can now SEE the kicking. In my newbie opinion, it is, to date, the craziest part of pregnancy (so far.) I wonder if a pregnant woman inspired that famous scene in “Alien?” 

Geronimo the wolf cub finally spent a night with us and he did great (aka didn’t poop or pee in his crate during the night. We have very low standards for the definition of “great.”) As before, Tupelo hates him, but then again, I’d snap at him too if he kept nipping at my ass like he did hers. For the most part, she wanted nothing to do with him though they did have moments of walking around the yard together – wiener & wolf, in peace – and we all went on a short walk around the block together! When Greg “worked” Geronimo and paid him with chicken, Tupelo was more than willing to be near him. As Greg went through the “sit”, “lie down”, “on your feet”, “mark” behaviors, Tupelo was right behind the wolf, offering all the learned behaviors too. They turn into robots when chicken’s on the line! It’s amazing how “gamey” Geronimo smells even though he lives such a domestic life – that wild dog smell just emits naturally, apparently, and fills the room quite quickly. Nothing a day of “airing out” and candles doesn’t erase. All in all, a very good sleepover indeed. 

"I am handsome and I smell."

Geronimo & Tupelo, paying attention to everything Greg says

"Chicken, chicken, chicken, chicken..."

"Hmm, this looks like something I should try to eat."

"Kinda crunchy, kinda getting stuck..."

"Holy crap, it's stuck on my tooth! Help!"

"Thanks for helping, Greg. That was totally embarrassing."

Bob, 27 Weeks & Already on Vacation

27 Weeks, Shell Beach

There are a few terms that have gained speed in everyday vernacular that although fine with the definitions, I roll my eyes at the words. For example, “date night”, “man cave”, “bestie”, “metrosexual”, “bromance” and now, “babymoon.” Nonetheless, we took a “babymoon” & it was great! Babymoons, for those that have escaped learning this goofy term, are a little getaway that expectant couples take (often around the 2^nd trimester) before things get really uncomfortable (and then really inconvenient.) Our chosen spot was The Clffs Resort & Spa at Shell Beach about 3 hours north of LA, 1/2way to San Francisco. Like most beaches around this area, it stays breezy all the time – around 70 degrees or so. The Cliffs being a dog-friendly hotel (as many places in these coastal areas are), we were able to bring little Tupelo as well.

Our mini-vacation included time on the beach, time poolside, massages, daily ice cream scarfing, ocean view dining & dinner at the Olde Port Inn. Olde Port Inn is at the end of a pier at Avila Beach – they have glass bottom tables so that you can see down into the water as you eat. As we left the restaurant, we heard sea lions making a commotion, so we investigated further and found them at the bottom of a short staircase behind a sign that merely read: WARNING Sea Lions Will Bite. It was completely dark, but I was able to get one on camera (kinda grainy footage, but you get the idea.) In spite of the fact that while at Shell Beach we had to have our windshield replaced due to a crack from a rock that started minute & grew to over a foot in length within a 12 hour period, it was a perfect getaway! Bob seemed to enjoy it all, especially the prenatal massage & the daily ice cream. Greg is able to feel Bob all the time now and lately it has felt as though Bob is trying to have a dance party inside my belly...or punching & kicking his/her way out, a Plan B Exit Strategy, if you will. 

 

View from our balcony

Poolside

Greg & Tupelo plan our day while lounging in a very big chair

Tupelo leads the way to the beach

Tupelo & Greg explore the tide pools

Look closely - anemones!

SmithAldridge family photo

Noisy, but photogenic sea lion

Glass bottom dining at the end of the pier at the Olde Port Inn, Avila Beach