31 Weeks- Happy New Year!

Well, it's 31 weeks today...meaning there are only 9 weeks left to go! With the due date nearing I am starting to get ready more seriously for the arrival of our little boy. Technically he could come anytime after February 8th so I am planning on being ready to go at that point. The baby shower is nearing, just 18 days away, and I am getting very excited for that.

The year 2011 is nearly through and I can't believe it will be January again next week. To ring in the new year I have bought two bottles of sparkling cider- things are going to get CRAZY! I've also completely redesigned the blog. I'm not exactly the best when it comes to some of the higher tech stuff involving blogging but I think it turned out rather decent for not knowing what the heck I'm doing. I hope you like the new look. I will be continuing the blog after Roxas is born too, it has really kind of evolved into a great way for me to get out some of my feelings and share what is on my mind every week and I'm sure with a new baby there will be plenty to share. Plus I still have a ton of sarcasm and wit that I haven't used up yet.

Christmas was over this past weekend and it was a fun one. I was surprised with a wonderful gift of brand new doors for our house. It may not seem like a big deal to many but to me, it meant the world. We never got around to updating the doors in our house and they have bugged me for the past 3 years! We got to see our family and spend a little time with just us too. It was somewhat bittersweet. As we enjoyed our day a little voice reminded me that it will never be just like this every again. I cherished every moment I could of it and I can't wait to have new Christmas memories with our baby boy. Even though it won't ever be the same, it will always be wonderful.

We went to our doctor today and I am pleased to report that Roxas is happy and healthy. His heartbeat was a steady 146 and for once he didn't have enough room to run away from the doppler! The doctor said I am measuring great and my weight is pretty good for it being after the holidays...hey, you don't argue when the pregnant lady wants her box of chocolate covered cherries. I have actually only gained 18lbs so far which is pretty average and makes me happy. The doc also informed me that he is in the appropriate "head down" or "vertex" position and showed me where his butt and limbs were at which was neat. He is "a good sized baby, not scary big...but big" according to the doctor as well. Kenny and I were decent sized babies too so I'm going to bet he weighs around 8 1/2 pounds.

This week he is still gaining weight (around 3lbs) and another inch (around 17in). His brain is still developing at break-neck speeds as more neruons meet up every minute. Those textbooks I've been reading must be helping. For the most part a lot of what he does now is just maturing and growing. This also means my belly is growing at crazy speeds. I've officially left the "honeymoon" phase of pregnancy according to the doctor and it's defintely starting to feel more like it at this point. Even though I whine and complain sometimes, it's still all worth it when I feel a little knee or elbow nudging me and saying "hey mom, just a little longer!"

That's all for today and I hope everybody has a Happy New Year and have a glass of champagne for me!

30 Weeks...Holy Crow

We are finally in the last 10 weeks! I can't wait until we actually get to hold and cuddle on our boy. At 37 weeks we are considered term and technically he could come anytime after then. I'm excited to have him but part of me is still reserved too. It really hasn't set in that we are going to have a tiny human baby to look after in just 10 weeks. I know, I know, you would think that the giant belly might give me a clue but really it's hard to grasp that there is a baby in there and not just some crazy octopus. Although if I did have a crazy octopus in my belly we'd have bigger things to worry about. What I am trying to say here is it's hard to connect what I see on the ultrasound to what I feel in my belly, and I doubt it will feel real until they put him on my chest and I see him for the first time.

Anyways, he is really growing fast weighing in at around 3lbs and around 16in long. He is almost as long as he will be at birth. I was 22in long (and over 9lbs) when I was born...I'm kind of hoping he is a bit smaller than I was but somehow I don't think he will be a small baby. His brain is really developing at this point, and getting all wrinkly. Those characteristic wrinkles and folds in our brains extend the actual surface area of the brain, thus allowing for more and more neurological growth! I guess I should start reading some textbooks aloud for him. Something else kind of cool (or warm) with his brain is it has now taken over his temperature control. His bone marrow has also taken control of erythropoiesis (I like that word, always have, I don't know why) which is the production of red blood cells which his spleen had previously been doing. He's really gearing up for the outside world.

As for me? Well I'm starting to get a bit more cranky about all this. I feel awful for complaining, I even feel like I shouldn't complain at all sometimes. After all some women would kill to be in my shoes and here I am whining about it. I am very grateful that I get to experience all of this, the good-bad-and ugly, but it really does get to you eventually. When you just can't get comfortable whether it's your back killing you or the baby ramming elbows into you it's just not very fun. Try having somebody ram you in the liver repeatedly and then smile through it all. Ok, pity party over.

The baby shower is coming up fast, in just 25 days! I am really excited to see all of my friends-especially some of those I haven't seen in too long. Our anniversary is also coming up fast, and it coincidentally marks 37 weeks for us. I can't believe we have been married for nearly 3 years. Seems like just a few months ago we got back from our honeymoon. Unfortunately I have been forbidden to go to Disneyland like we usually do for our anniversary so we will have a little "stay-cation" instead. I was really hoping to waddle around D-land enough to go into labor there...gosh that would be so COOL! I know I need help. Instead we are going to stay in the hotel room that we did the first night we were married and just enjoy our day together as a couple rather than the family we will shortly become. I'm starting to get really excited for all the things coming up in the very near future. I know it will be here before I know it but patience has never been my strong suit when it comes to waiting!

Until next week...Merry Christmas!!!