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

Bob, 26 Weeks & Attracting Wolves

Bob, 26 Weeks

Bob is now 26 weeks & according to “the books”, has developed all 5 senses…and is opening her/his eyes (though, I can’t imagine there’s much to view in there.)

Spent a night at the ranch and brought Tupelo. She was able to meet Geronimo the wolf cub for the first time and whew, she did not like him. If she’d met him a few weeks ago before he had such a weight & height advantage on her, she would’ve wanted to play with him. But, he’s already so much bigger & so rowdy that she snapped at him every chance she got. Oddly, her barking at him was the only time he ran away (though he always returned for more) – with the larger dogs, he just keeps pestering them in spite of their protests. Geronimo has the energy of 4 toddlers trapped inside the furry body of a mouthy spiky-toothed wolf who likes to run through his own poop and then lay across your lap. Sweet. Below are some pics of the little adorable poop-covered menace.

Tupelo & Geronimo, strange perspective

Geronimo &  tolerant tolerant Izzy

Izzy & the menace

A wolf kiss for Greg

"No really, I'm very sweet. Ignore the poop all over me."

"Don't make eye contact with him, don't make eye contact with him."

Bruno & Geronimo "Get up! Let's play!!" 

On Saturday, Greg took me to the Lockwood Animal Rescue Center http://lockwoodarc.org/ to meet and hang with a pack of wolves (unfortunately, I didn't bring my camera for that as it was a bit of a surprise.) It was amazing! One shy guy named Rainier immediately approached me, sniffed my hand then leaned his head again my belly. He then followed me wherever I walked. One of the rescue guys was really impressed and said, “That’s really amazing. He never approaches people on his own like that.” Rainier must’ve sensed that Bob’s good people.  There were 4 or 5 other wolves in the 2 acre enclosure and all were gentle & inquisitive. After being rescued, they are rehabilitated to assist returning soldiers battling PTSD and become therapy animals. 

Bob, 25 Weeks & Kicking Dad

25 Weeks 

I’m 25 weeks today and Bob is growing, growing, growing (as am I.) I had my 1 hour glucose test on Friday and all came back normal – no gestational diabetes for me, yea! Bob’s heart is still healthy & strong too.

On Friday night I agreed to eat ½ a hamburger…a REAL hamburger. For those keeping track, I stopped eating meat in December of 1995 and other than a bite or two over the last 17 years (including one bite of prime rib in 2008 – the first time Greg saw me have even a morsel of meat), I’ve never felt the urge to stop being a vegetarian (I eat seafood, eggs & dairy, so I easily get plenty of nutrition.) I didn't even feel the need to eat a hamburger, but months ago when we learned about Bob, I said to Greg that I’d be willing to eat a bit of lean red meat throughout the pregnancy (the iron from animals is more easily absorbed through the body & for the baby than leafy greens, grains & of course, supplements.) Surprisingly, it took Greg a while to take me up on this offer. Of course, I had rules (as is my way.) I wanted the meat to be organic & from a reputable source & I wanted Greg to grill it himself – that way I knew what I was getting & what went into it & how it was prepared. So, Greg grilled me up a cheeseburger (and a mahi mahi pineapple teryiaki burger as a backup.) And it was fine – but then again, you smother anything in caramelized onions, avocado, tomato, melted cheese, ketchup & stone ground mustard, it’s bound to taste good. So, we’ll see how this continues…

Later that night, Bob thanked Greg for the red meat (or rejected it?) by kicking him! Greg finally felt Bob kick after many nights of waiting with his hand over my belly only to say, “I only feel my own pulse. Or yours.” Bob kicked Greg square on the palm of his hand & Greg’s face lit up & he said, “Was that you? Or Bob!? I felt it. Kicks. Unmistakable kicks!”  Tupelo gave Greg a look that seemed to say, “Yeah, it’s been doing that a while, dude.”

Bob, 24 Weeks & Already Making New Little Friends

24 Weeks

I drove to the ranch today for the first time since carrying Bob. Well, actually, Bob went to the ranch when I was around 3 weeks pregnant, but at the time I was unaware of Bob's existence. When I mentioned this, Greg said, "Bob was just cells then. The only people who think Bob was a full-on baby then are Republicans." To which I replied, "And Arizona." But that was back in December and today it was around 95 degrees. “But it’s a dry heat” means nothing to me when it's that hot. When people ask if I’m nervous about having a baby or going through labor, the only thing I can think is, “No. Just nervous about being 9 months pregnant in the Summer weather.”

Although hot, comfort took a backseat once Bob got to meet Geronimo, the newest addition to the Hollywood Animals Ranch. Geronimo (or “Nimo”, as Greg & I are calling him) is a 12 week old wolf cub & he is adorable! As soon as he gets his 3^rd round of shots, he can come home with Greg to meet Tupelo! Tupelo LOVES when Greg brings home animals for her to tire out (and she’s an expert at it. Some of you may remember when Tupelo used to play with Murphy, the black leopard. Some of the trainers would take Tupelo home with them when they took Murphy just so Murphy would be sleepy by bed time.) Wonder if she’ll have the same effect on Bob??? 

Handsome Geronimo

Tile feels good in the heat

Greg & Geronimo

Geronimo & Me

Here's a little video I shot of the rottweilers getting Geronimo to show off his little howl!

Tupelo & Murphy, 2007