Yay! The Crib!

When I got home, my wonderful husband had constructed the crib, and then I let him go out and mow the yard, and do laundry, and pick up the house. (Yeah, that was him making fun of me sitting down to write an update to the blog. But it's all pretty much true... I did help with the cleaning up.)

So finally the last piece of 'big' stuff is together. I think we've got the room arranged, but we'll look at it for a couple of days and see. The wallpaper border is supposed to be here tomorrow so we'll hopefully get a chance to put that up soon.

Saturday we're going down to see my sister and brother-in law, Deborah and Kendle and go to the lake... and more than likely we'll stop by and see Emily if she's had her baby by then. She's in the hospital tonight where they're administering cervadil (a prostoglandin) to make her cervix ripen and (hopefully) begin to dialate. So, we'll see how that goes.

The baby room before and (halfway) after

First, a picture of the bare room before we even started painting. Not great, but just so you see what we started with.

Now, the pictures of where the baby room is at right now. It's not finished by any means, but I'm excited enough about the things that we have to go ahead and put some pics up.

The Rocking Chair Darrell got me, with my little build-a-bear sitting in it. (Since Darrell gave me the bear not long after we first met, and it has two little hearts in it, don't you think it's fitting that Ethan gets it?) The dresser we put together on Sunday, along with the baseball mitt lamp that Darrell got for $20 at Hobby Lobby and the "Ethan" sippy cup. If you look on the right you can see the little sports switchplate cover. We had to go ahead and put it up.
The changing table with the wipe warmer from Joan. And the little rainforest swing that we got off craigslist for $20 (It's a $60 swing and in perfect condition.)
The corner where the crib will probably go. (The crib is the big flat box lying on the floor with the laundry basket and paint on top of it.) The crib mattress, comforter set and stroller and carseat are just chilling out waiting to be put somewhere better.

Painting the baby room

Just a few pictures I took while Darrell and the girls were putting the first coat on the baby room.
Maddy Cheesing

Maddy contemplating the wonders of the tiny roller

Putting that little roller to work!

Bailey Cheesing

Bailey Hard at work

Discussing the wonders of the slighly larger little roller

Darrell getting started.

Maddy making sure her Dad doesn't miss any spots

You don't even look pregnant!

I'm sure the bag girl at the comissary was being kind when she acted so shocked that I was expecting a baby. I know, I really don't look that big (and yes some pictures should be coming soon.) But I think that with the somewhat tighter shirt I was wearing yesterday it should have been obvious. I mean, if I don't look pregnant, do I just look fat? I was nice to her, but got in the car feeling completely crushed. Looking back, I was being irrational but at the moment it was a pretty big deal.

This is why being pregnant and shopping on a very empty stomach is not a good idea. I ate a moderately large lunch with Sarah at Panera Bread around 12, but forgot to eat my normal snack around 2 pm. That would have been no big deal if I hadn't had to walk around the grocery store for an hour. By the time I was done, I was kind of dazed. The cashier asked me at least three times "are you doing okay today, honey?" A trip to Chick-fil-A and 30 minutes off my feet on the drive home helped tremendously, and I'm no longer bothered that she doesn't think I look pregnant.

I really did start knitting as I threatened to do. I found a pattern and started a hat, but even though my stiches per inch were the same as the pattern called for, the hat turned out to be humongous. I finished it just to see how it would turn out and started on a new (and much smaller) one. It will be finished tonight, and maybe I'll upload some pictures. I feel so June Cleaver-ish, knitting away in front of the t.v. It's somewhat satisfying though. I don't care if it's perfect, or even if he ever really wears it... the best part is keeping myself busy while I'm waiting for my bean to finish cooking.

In other news, I'm finally starting to notice my belly getting in the way. I can't carry things the the way I used to, and when I cook or do dishes, it starts to hurt from constantly being shoved into the counter. I just forget it's there! I can still bend over fairly easily to do things like tying my shoes and shaving, but I "feel" it when I do. Eventually though, Darrell is going to have to quit driving the 4Runner because when he moves the seat back I'm having a hard time reaching the lever to move it forward again. My little legs are just too darn short!

Week 25

~~I didn't like the one from kid's health, so this week's fetal development is brought to you from pregnancy.baby-gaga.com

Fetal Development: Your little grower’s physical proportions are evening out at this point and most of their remaining development will largely be weight gain and lots and lots of nervous system development. The good news is: if your child is born premature now they’ll be more likely to survive without too much trauma as their lungs began to produce “surfactant” last week, which means their tiny respiratory system is getting stronger with each passing day. Yes, now’s a good time for a minor sigh of relief and a quick pat on the back. All that hard work and conscientious living is really getting your child prepared for a healthy delivery. Keep up the fabulous work mama! This week they’ll be scootching slowly out of the old breech position and start rotating (already!) into a better position for exit during their birth. Their head and feet are slowly rotating so that the head is pointed down towards the birth canal. Time is short (or really long, depending on who you ask)—just (still!) 14 weeks left before you can go back to being a single-resident human.


And how's mom doing? Trimester two is finally almost over, which means you have that one final trimester of pregnancy to enjoy (and suffer through). You could celebrate this landmark passage by purchasing some piece of clothing designed to make your curvy body look as gorgeous and classy as possible... and don’t let the price tag stop you, this is an act of self-love not book-keeping. But before you max out your credit card, remember: you’re only going to get larger, so buy smart. Speaking of larger, you’re obviously carrying more weight now and your back is going to let you know. Don’t let this get you down or make you feel like a weakling—it all comes with the territory of being preggers. Try to practice good posture—it will alleviate some of the back fatigue as slouching is actually harder on your back. It’s also common for women to experience leg cramps during this period. Go ahead, strong arm someone who loves you into giving you a massage. Or if you're lucky enough to have the extra bucks, head to a spa that specializes in pregnancy massages and get the full-treatment.


You may have already noticed that your hair seems fuller, thicker, more plentiful and darker-- especially your body hair. There are two basic reasons for this: 1) you're shedding much less (head) hair than you usually do and 2) your body's hormones contribute to the way your body hair is growing right now. Not to worry, all the hairiness will return to normal after you've delivered your baby.

little night owl

Baby Ethan decided about 4 am that it was playtime. He was bopping around so much he literally woke me up. My arm was lying across my belly and he was pummelling it to death. I told Darrell this morning, I sure hope that his sleep schedule changes before he's born. He sleeps in the evenings, but apparently plays all night and into the morning/early afternoon. I love you, little bean, but that's not going to work!

Plus, I wish he was awake more during the day so I could enjoy him kicking around. Oh, there he is. It's like he knows I'm talking about him, now he's karate kicking just above my belly button :)

Appointment with Ann

Friday I had my 24 week appointment with the new midwife, Ann. She had a student midwife with her who actually did most of the exam while I was talking to Ann. I was even more impressed with her during this visit. The first thing she did was ask me what questions I had, and she seemed to be expecting a barage of them - my OB usually asked for questions as she was on her way out the door. I was not as prepared as I should have been, probably but I did ask her the main things. I confirmed that she will wait to cut the cord until it stops pulsing, which is something that my OB had dismissed out of hand, saying she never waited and wouldn't. She also helped me out with my questions regarding how/when to find a pediatrician and assured me that the baby never leaves the room after delivery. He'll be examined in the room after I've had time to nurse him and the cord has been cut. It amused me when she gave Darrell a hard time about cutting the cord... she seemed to take a slight bit of offense to the fact that he didn't want to, though she did a good job of reassuring him that they take as much of the "gross" factor away as possible. No biggie, I'll do it if he won't :)

The stats... 24 weeks and 6 days:

Heart beat - in the 140s
Fundal height - 24 and a "smidge"
Blood pressure - perfect (I can never remember the numbers)
Weight - 152

Everything is good, and within the 'normal range' but I'm not encouraged with my weight gain. Ann didn't come out and say I'd gained too much, but she did give me a lecture about walking frequently and good nutrition. Mostly the stuff I already know but have a hard time putting into practice. I think I'll do much better once the girls go home simply because I won't keep as much junk around the house. --Not that I want them to go at all. I'm dreading the end of our summer together. They go home August 10th, and the house is going to be awfully quiet...

Tired

I found myself dozing off at my desk yesterday afternoon and I already feel like I could again today.  Helping with VBS was fun, but it wore me out.  Each night was probably more exercise than I've been getting in a week!  That is sad.

 

I stepped on the scale last night to find I've only gained about 4 lbs in the past 4 weeks since my last doctor's appointment.  That's awesome considering at the last appointment I was incredibly disappointed to find I'd gained much more than I thought.  Ideally I should be gaining a pound a week throughout the rest of my pregnancy.  For the past couple of days I've been eating better at work (finishing up with a cheeseburger from McD's last night though) and resisting the ice cream at night.  The ice cream is the hard part, because I really can't get rid of heartburn without it.  This is not a joke.  I've tried just about everything else I can think of.  Hopefully if I improve my eating habits more and get back on the treadmill the ice cream won't be such a big deal and I won't feel so guilty about it. 

Too Sweet

I didn't feel great yesterday but by the time I'd worked, eaten dinner with the girls and helped out with Vacation Bible School for 3-4 hours, I was pooped.  In fact, I felt like total poop and my stomach was all messed up, so I went and crawled in bed while Darrell was working on homework.  I didn't mean to fall asleep waiting for him (I didn't even brush my teeth and take my vitamin  *gross*) but I was out almost instantly and barely realized when he came in.  I do remember that he crawled into bed and cuddled up behind me, put his hand on my belly and started asking how Ethan was doing tonight.  I wasn't comprehending much, so I hope I gave him an intelligible answer.  I fell back to sleep like that and the warm fuzzies I was feeling weren't just sleep related.

 

I hope he knows how much I love him :)

 

My random thought of the morning: I think I'm going to knit Ethan some little hats and booties since he's a winter baby.  Maybe I'll get adventurous and make him a sweater too.  How cheesy of me is it to want to sit in the rocking chair in his baby room and do it?  Hehe.  I've got to stop and buy some supplies Thursday or Friday...  I promised Maddy I would teach her to knit so I think I'd better buy a couple of sets of needles for her and Bailey while I'm at it.

The Kicker

Saturday morning, lying in bed waiting for the girls to wake up, Darrell finally got to feel Ethan kicking for the first time.  It seems to have taken forever.  He's normally most active in the mid-morning and afternoon so that's when I'm at work.  In the evenings, it's almost like he can hear me tell Darrell to feel, because the minute I do, he stops kicking!  Thankfully we've made it past that; Ethan was pretty active last night again and not too ornery, so Darrell got to feel a little more.

 

I'm mildly obsessed with feeling him kick, or watching my belly and waiting for him to kick. (It's like a cool little reverse trampoline effect.) I also love to poke around, trying to figure out what parts of him are where.  Can't say I've had much success with that yet.  I'd really love to know though.  Last night it did not feel so much like a foot kicking, more like a larger object - My guess was that he was playing trampoline and bonking his head into my side... but I don't even know if that made sense! 

 

Friday I realized that I can finally see my belly protruding past my boobs, meaning, when I look down I can see it.  Darrell thinks I'm silly, but for me (currently wearing an E) that's quite an accomplishment.

More getting ready for baby...

Thursday night we taped the baby room and Friday, Darrell and the girls put the first coat on. I took some pictures of them working on it and I'll try to remember to add them tonight. (We have VBS at the church though, so no guarantees.)

Saturday, Kathy came over and helped put the second coat on. While we were waiting for Kathy to arrive, I sent Darrell to get some cash, so he could pick up a stroller at a yard-sale just down the street. I didn't like the stroller, it was actually an old travel system with the infant carrier, but there was no base for infant carrier and it was an off brand that I didn't recognize. However, I figured I needed to get over myself - we've spent so much money on nice stuff already, and having the perfect stroller isn't exactly priority. An hour later, Darrell came back, bearing some baby clothes, a bassinet and an awesome Eddie Bauer Travel system that he'd found at another yard sale. I was so thrilled. It is in nearly perfect condition and has everything I wanted. He paid $25 for it instead of the $250 we could have spent buying a new carseat/stroller system. It looks a lot like this, although this picture doesn't do it justice:

The bassinet was something we had not planned on buying, but we'd been debating exactly what to do. I was thinking we could just use a pack 'n play in our room for the first couple of months since we'll need one later as a playpen. It would have taken up a lot of room, and I REALLY wanted a co-sleeper kind of set up so that I can keep baby bean close to me at night, without actually having him in bed. Well, this bassinet has a side that comes down so it can be used as a co-sleeper (right next to to the bed). It also has music, vibration, a battery operated mobile, lights (little flashing ones and one that can be used to see at night), storage underneath, and the top comes off to make a changing table! Here is a stock picture that I found, although the one we have is blue gingham:

I feel very blessed, and I think it's no coincidence that he "just happened" to pull down the side street to check out another garage sale on his way to get the stroller I didn't like.

We put the rocking chair together yesterday before I went to a baby shower for Darrell's co-worker so it was another "baby-filled" day. Here is the chair he bought me:

Week 24

Your Baby's Development

Your baby is still receiving oxygen through the placenta. But once birth occurs, his or her lungs will start taking in oxygen on their own. In preparation for that, your baby's lungs are developing the ability to produce surfactant. Surfactant is a substance that keeps the air sacs in our lungs from collapsing and sticking together when we exhale, allowing us to breathe properly.
Because the inner ear — which controls balance in the body — is now completely developed, your baby may be able to tell when he or she is upside down or right side up while floating and making movements in the amniotic fluid.

Your Body
An important prenatal test, glucose screening, is usually performed sometime during weeks 24 to 28. The glucose screening test checks for gestational diabetes, a temporary type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy and can cause problems in the newborn, such as low blood sugar. Gestational diabetes may also increase the chances that a woman would need a cesarean section because it can lead to the growth of very large babies.
During the glucose screening test, you'll drink a sugary solution and then have your blood drawn. If your blood sugar levels are too high, you'll have further tests, which your health care provider will discuss with you. Gestational diabetes usually can be controlled by eating a well-planned diet and getting regular exercise, but sometimes medication, such as daily insulin, will be needed during the pregnancy.

When this is over...

...I'm going to be a mom.

It's kind of a weird realization. Being a mother is something I've always wanted. Even in college when I was eschewing all things domestic and womanly in favor a more feminist point of view, I knew that I intended to become a mother. I've never doubted that.

But the realization has been slow in coming, for some reason. I'm loving pregnancy. The growing belly, little flutters and hard kicks. I'm taking it in and trying to memorize each sensation. I love imagining his arrival and how we'll adjust to a new baby in the house. We're gathering the things for the nursery and will probably start painting this weekend so we can set things up. As real as all of that is, I still have these moments of shock where I realize that HOLY COW this is permanent! It's not like picking something up at Walmart, knowing we can take it back if things don't work out. Love it or hate it, for better or worse, we're going to have a baby. He'll be ours, but more importantly we'll be his. For the rest our lives, we'll be his parents -- we'll belong to him. In fact, this is just the beginning. It will never be over.

We'll meet his needs, soothe his fears, sympathize in his trials and rejoice over his triumphs. We'll teach him compassion, and patience and the strength to fight for what's right.
We'll protect him when he needs it, and learn when we need to give him independence.

I hope we'll do a good job. When Ethan leaves for college I want him to be a little sad. I want him to be one of the ones that I envied as a young adult, who weren't shy to confess how much they love and get along with their parents, despite rocky times. I want him to know that we always put him first, and that his best interests were always at the forefront of our minds. I want him to know without even having to think about it that even when we disagree, we're there for him no matter what.

Every parent must want these things, but it seems so many fall short. It can't just be luck of the draw. What is the magic recipe, the formula for good parenting? And not just good parenting, but stellar, outstanding, uncomparable parenting?

Ugh

Someone has heated something up in the office microwave and it smells FOUL. Some type of weird fishy smell. My aversion is in no way pregnancy related but since I can't get away from it I thought I should share.

I'm trying to think of an excuse to leave the office but I don't have a good one.

because I've been quiet...

There's very little "new" to report about baby Hafer. He's doing fine and seems to be growing pretty quickly. With each passing day I think I can feel him moving around more and more. He definitely enjoys sitting around with his head up (breech) because I feel him kicking around very low most of the time. I wouldn't complain, but it's a very strange feeling to have someone poking around down there all the time.

I'm having a harder time getting comfortable at night but I'm still managing to get rest. I'm thankful for that because I had a few nights of insomnia very early in the pregnancy and they were miserable. Unfortunately since I'm working about 9 - 9.5 hours a day I'm ready to fall asleep by 9:30 or earlier each night. Poor Darrell is rarely tired until at least 11... and that's when he's not studying until the wee hours of the morning.

I found a little swing to match the jumper we bought on craigslist and my wonderful friend Kathy picked it up for me last night. We will probabably buy a stroller/carseat combo in a few weeks since it is a necessity but leave the rest of the smaller and not so necessary stuff to chill out on the baby registries at Target and Babies R Us. I don't anticipate a huge number of people to be shopping from it, but at least if anyone goes looking it will be there.

I'm just so excited to start getting everything put together. It might be a little too early but I'm not really in the mood to care. At the least I want the room painted this weekend. Yup.

The Jumperoo

Way back before we were pregnant, just looking at baby stuff and dreaming, Darrell fell in love with this little Fisher Price Rainforest Jumperoo thing. 

 

We love it, but it's $80 and one of those things that we don't actually have to have right now.  Last week after selling the bike because of a listing he put on Craigslist.com we both started perusing it ... mostly looking for baby stuff.

 

Lo and behold, we found the jumperoo in almost perfect condition for $45.  I need to wash the cover, but other than that it's perfectly clean.  A little lysol spray and it'll be ready for baby to grow into it. What a blessing!

 

Now if only we get so lucky with all the other little stuff like a swing, bouncer seat etc.

 

23 Weeks - Weekly Development

From kidshealth.org

Your Baby's Development
Even though fat is beginning to accumulate on your baby's body, the skin still hangs loosely, giving your baby a wrinkled appearance. Your baby's daily workout routine includes moving the muscles in the fingers, toes, arms, and legs regularly. As a result, you may feel more forceful movements.



By now your baby weighs a little more than 1 pound (454 grams). If preterm labor and delivery were to occur this week, a baby could survive with expert medical care, but might have mild to severe disabilities. With increasing research and knowledge in the field of fetal medicine, the long-term prognosis for premature babies (preemies) improves every year.





Your Body
The closer you get to your delivery date, the more trouble you may have sleeping. Anxiety, frequent urination, heartburn, leg cramps, and general discomfort can translate into a short night's sleep for a pregnant woman. But your baby's health and your own depend on you getting adequate rest. Try a warm bath, soothing music, a relaxing book, or a cup of herbal tea to put you in the mood to snooze.

Many doctors recommend that pregnant women sleep on their sides, not their backs or stomachs, so that blood flow to the placenta is not restricted. If you find this uncomfortable, try placing a pillow between your knees to relieve the pressure of your weight while lying on your side.

the belly - 22 Weeks

I know this picture kind of sucks, but it's what I've got. I'm not so good at taking them myself. I think my husband should be helping me. (hint....)

are you pregnant?

I went to a meeting today and ran into someone who used to work accross the hall. I haven't seen her much in a couple of months. She got the honor of being the first person to ask me, out of the blue, if I was pregnant. I've got to confess, I was ecstatic. I know I've finally got a belly, but up to this point I haven't been sure how noticable it is to the unsuspecting eye.

Yay. I don't just look fat anymore!

then comes daddy with the baby carriage

I've been thinking this morning about how amazing it is to have a child in regards to marriage.  I know that I can only imagine how things will be when he is born.  But even the imagining of it seems to be affecting me, and the way I view Darrell.  I don't know if I can put it into words, really.

 

Right now, we're married.  We share our home, our cars, and our lives.  He's my best friend.  Whenever something happens, good or bad, he's the first one I want to tell about it, talk about it with and get advice from.  Our vows of marriage bind us together, but we're about to share something tangible that will bind us for all time.  No matter what happens, if a man and a woman have a child together they are then forever connected, whether they wish to be or not.  This child won't be mine, he won't be Darrell's, he'll be ours.  He'll have a little piece of each of us and those pieces will be irrevocably integrated into who he is.

 

Lately I find myself watching Darrell and thinking about every aspect of him; his actions, his personality nuances and his cute little quirks, wondering "I wonder if Ethan will do that, (make that face, look like that, act like that, say that)."  I wonder if I'll look into my son's eyes and see my husband looking back at me.  I'm sure I will, and that being the case, how can it not make me love each of them even more because they're part of one another? 

 

The emotions that go into it are so great, I wonder sometimes why God didn't make it harder to make a baby.  It's such an intimate, amazing thing, yet so many people make it such a casual event.  How can they?  Looking at it from this side, I'm amazed that it can be taken so lightly. 

 

I'm very strange and mushy this morning.  Unfortunately that means I'm also rather jumbled.  Hopefully this makes sense.

by the way...

I'm very annoyed with Blogger this morning.  I have posted twice and can't see either post, no matter how many times I refresh, update or delete my browsing history, I can't view the new posts.  The latest thing I can view is yesterday's post.  I KNOW that other people can see them because I got a comment, but I can't.

 

I feel so left out.

Baby Book

Babies R Us is becoming like a weekend hangout for us these days. We haven't purchased much, but we've definitely logged some time in there, going over the different themes, clothes, furniture, accessories... On Saturday we finally purchased the bedding set that comes with the sheet, comforter, dust ruffle, crib bumper, valance, and diaper stacker. And while we were there I went ahead and bought a baby book.

I wasn't sure if there was some sort of "bad Karma" related to filling out the baby book ahead of time. Since we even know his name we can fill out pretty much everything up to the time and date of birth. You know, when we found out, our reactions, why we chose his name, the family tree. All that stuff. So I got started without thinking much about it. Somewhere in the middle I got very creeped out though, and had to stop. I was having horrible thoughts about how I would feel looking back if something were to happen to Ethan and I had this baby book as a reminder. So I stopped.

But last night I decided to go ahead and finish. Like I told Darrell, if on the off chance anything DID happen to him, everything right up to this point would still be relevant. A tradgedy would not erase the happenings so far. All these wonderful, joyful experiences and milestones would still have happened. And even though he is yet to be born, we still love him and would remember him just the same.

Okay, enough of the morbid thoughts! Ethan's baby book is up and running... just waiting until we can fill out those next pages...

Today's thoughts

The weekly development I posted yesterday mentioned Braxton Hicks contractions. I think I may have been having these for a couple of weeks now, but I'm not sure. They're infrequent and it seems like they could easily be confused with round ligament pain, which I have had a lot of. The difference seems to be that I only notice the round ligament pain when I stand after sitting for a period of time. It's just some minor pain in the lower part of my abdomen, but sometimes it is tight enough that I have to pause for several seconds before I can take a step.

The BH contractions occur even when I'm sitting. It's also a tightening in the lower abdomen but the feeling is more sustained. It doesn't hurt, but it's not exactly comfortable either. It does let me know that my body should be ready to do what it's supposed to do when the time comes. And that's a comforting thought.

I've noticed the last couple of days Ethan Bean has been pretty quiet. It's odd how long we go without movement in the beginning of pregnancy, but once we've felt it, a lack can start to be a huge cause for worry. I'm not worried, especially now, I just felt a 'bump' moments ago, for the first time this morning. I wasn't freaking out before, but it's weird how he can be so active sometimes, and then other times I won't feel him for what seems like days at a time. I guess he's just lazy like me :)

22 Weeks

From Kid'sHealth.org:

The senses your baby will use to learn about the world are developing daily. Taste buds have started to form on the tongue, and the brain and nerve endings are formed enough so that the fetus can feel touch. Your baby may experiment with this newfound sense of touch by stroking his or her face or sucking on a thumb, as well as feeling other body parts and seeing how they move.
Your baby's reproductive system is continuing to develop, too. In boys, the testes have begun to descend from the abdomen, and in girls, the uterus and ovaries are in place and the vagina is developed.


Your Body
If you haven’t felt them already, you may soon notice your uterus practicing for delivery with irregular, painless contractions called Braxton Hicks contractions. You may feel a squeezing sensation in your abdomen. Don't worry, though: Your baby may be able to feel the contraction as it squeezes the uterus, but Braxton Hicks contractions aren't dangerous or harmful. If, however, the contractions become more intense, painful, or frequent, contact your health care provider immediately because painful, regular contractions may be a sign of preterm labor.

Nursery progress

We chose the "My Little MVP" sports theme from the previous post. We decided it would grow up with Ethan a little better than the alpahbet theme. He'll still be able to use this when he's a toddler. We bought the crib set this weekend, and at walmart we found the cutest curtain rod, with little footballs on each end to hang the valance.

We're going to paint the room a neutral "taupe" color. We bought a gallon and will probably begin painting this weekend. The girls want to help. I'm a little nervous about that, but Darrell seems confident he can handle their good intentions. Hehe. We want to do everything we can to keep them involved in this process. I'm thankful that for the most part they seem to be doing very well, and are looking forward to being big sisters. They're very concerned about what their roles will be, and looking forward to taking care of him.

Darrell's Dilemma

Which set is better? We love the "all boy" aspect of the sports one, but the Alphabet one is so bright and cheery. Votes?

I still take the stairs

At work, I can't bring myself to take the elevator up one flight of stairs. Even in heels with my arms full of stuff. I was thinking this morning that it's more an act of stubbornness on my part than anything else. I know that walking the stairs doesn't give me any significant amount of exercise. But I refuse to join the masses in the elevators. I've always equated taking the elevator one floor to be proof that you are either disabled or supremely lazy. And until I can't see my own feet, (and possibly beyond) I will be taking the stairs.

It's sad that this stubborn attitude doesn't translate to my time on the treadmill. So far this week I've logged 20 minutes. Over the weekend I'm glad to say I got a good deal of walking in, and I was hoping that would help me jumpstart my exercise program again. I could list the benefits of an exercise regimen during pregnancy and go on for quite some time. Easier labors, faster recovery and weight loss are two of the important ones, but those just scratch the surface. So why don't I get on the treadmill instead of goofing on my computer? I don't mind the exercise as much as I mind being tied in one location and forced to do a fixed thing for a certain amount of time.

I've been reading on the treadmill but I think I'm going to begin getting audio books at the library and putting them on my ipod. I wonder if walking outside will help. We don't really have a great place to walk in our neighborhood, but I guess it can be done. I'm sure the girls would come with me and ride their bikes.

What's in His Name

I have been meaning to check the baby name book for several days now, and just got around to doing an online search.  Since I love names and their meanings, it's odd that I didn't do that long ago, although I already had a vague memory of both names because I've looked them up before, just not specifically since we chose them.

 

Ethan means strong, firm and Joseph means God will add.

 

I love the meaning of both, but especially Ethan.  It's just a beautiful name and I feel like it's no coincidence that every time Darrell has said he hopes the baby is like me, I've replied that I want the baby to have his qualities too... specifically his determination and leadership qualities.  Strong, firm.  Sounds about right.

21 Weeks

I keep planning to make a "week" post on Sundays but so far have ended up too busy. Here is the baby's progress report. It's not all inclusive, just a simple one from Kidshealth.org.

Your Baby's Development
The amniotic fluid that has cushioned and supported your baby in the uterus now serves another purpose. The intestines have developed enough that small amounts of sugars can be absorbed from the fluid that is swallowed and passed through the digestive system to the large bowel. Almost all of your baby's nourishment, however, still comes from you through the placenta.
Until now your baby's liver and spleen have been responsible for the production of blood cells. But now the bone marrow spaces are developed enough to contribute to blood cell formation as well, and bone marrow will become the major site of blood cell production in the third trimester and after birth. (The spleen will stop producing blood cells by week 30, and the liver will stop a few weeks before birth.)

Pretty cool, I think. The bean can also hear sounds now, which I think is just incredible. He's getting to know us while he's in the womb. Just amazing.