Marley & Me

I watched Marley & Me today. I was pleasantly surprised – I expected it to be a shallow romantic comedy, but it was more than that. But that’s beyond the point.

The point is, it made me cry. There is this scene where they come for their first 10-week ultrasound. First, the technician couldn’t find the heartbeat with the doppler. And then she proceeds to do the u/s and, changing in face, excuses herself, comes back with the doctor who breaks the news: there’s no heartbeat and no baby.

I was bawling. Hugging my belly and telling my baby boy inside there how much I love him and how grateful I am to have him, to pass all those early ultrasounds – seeing just a pixel of heartbeat going on and off at 6 weeks, seeing beginnings of arms and legs at 8 weeks, and then even seeing him move and wiggle his limbs at 10 weeks… and then, of course, feeling him move around. All the way to now – feeling his big rolls and stretches. I cried and cried (I was home alone), telling him how we both – mommy and daddy – love him and cannot wait to meet him.

Hugs to all of you who had to go through this in real life. You are very brave and you deserve better. And I do believe – you will get there.

Humbly yours, Zygotta.

Congratulations, China Doll!

I can comment again on most of blogspot blogs, but not all. China Doll‘s is one of those I cannot comment on – and I really, really wanted to say – congrats!

what a miraculous transformation…
looking forward to reading all about baby B!

 

 

Pre-Birth Energy Boost

I remember them telling us at the prenatal classes that just before going in labour (like over the last week), you not only nest like crazy – you get an energy boost. Hmmm, I am guessing I’m there.

Today, I unpacked one of the bookcases that we had bought at Ikea yesterday. I brought it upstairs, 2 items at a time (the whole box was way too heavy). I found the necessary tools, assembled, and installed it in a closet in the nursery and re-arranged all the stuff in the closet. Now I have normal storage – there was so much space wasted!

I moved the crib and glider to allow more space for 2 more cabinets/wardrobes (they have doors, drawers, open shelves… for toys, clothes, books, stuff).

I am currently doing one final laundry load of baby stuff (I got some more after my big laundry day a month ago).

I assembled the bouncer.

I hung the paintings that I painted last week.

I added a few final items to my L&D bag (liquid snacks… jello and such).

Next I will do a laundry load and set the bed for myself in the nursery – and for the baby (well, for him its only a matter of stretching the bedsheet over the mattress )

I am sure my hubby will be horrified that I engaged in all this manual labour, but I was super-careful to not lift or push anything too heavy. And I feel so accomplished.

I can put my feet up and watch a movie now. Or maybe I should watch it while bouncing on a yoga ball…

39 Weeks

Huh, I am obviously ready to transition over to the next stage. I think for the first time I forgot to post the “week number so-and-so” post on time! A few times, I posted late – but never because I forgot.

So there you are – reaching 39 weeks finally did it. I forgot to post about it. I was preoccupied with painting, watching movies (I recently discovered you can get movies for free in your local library – which just happens to be across the street), shopping for some furniture at Ikea…

People are starting to annoy me. I though usually everyone starts asking you “any news yet?” after you pass your EDD. But no. I get emails and calls on a daily basis now. Cheerfully asking “how are you feeling? any progress? any news?” People, I am still a week away from even my EDD – and then it is pretty common to go a few days over!

I assure everyone I will let them know. I inform them we’ve created a mailing list and an email will go out as soon as we have news to share. I started asking people to not ask me the question. Argh.

The furniture we bought in Ikea yesterday ( we need more storage in the nursery) barely fit into our car. After playing tetris with the boxes, car seat that we already installed, some junk in the trunk, me and hubby, I ended up in the passenger seat pushed forward to the point that I was leaning forward, the top of my head in contact with the roof of the car (bumping on each pothole which are plentiful this time of the year), my knees squeezed between the seat and the panel. Baby didn’t appreciate this weird position and kicked me all the way home (which, thankfully, is only about 10 minutes). My hubby said that now I know how cramped our baby must feel inside

Why did I leave my driving license at home??? I could’ve been driving, having squeezed my hubby in the passenger seat…

Anyway… I feel kind of sorry for my baby. I think he should be happy to get out and be able to stretch his legs and arms Well, soon enough For now – watching movies while bouncing on a yoga ball, a lunch date in an Indian restaurant. We should also try sex. Especially since, from all I am hearing, there will be no sex for at least 6 weeks post-partum…

But I am not rushing my baby. I just hope he doesn’t stay too long past my EDD.

And since I didn’t gain ANY weight over the past 4 weeks, I am misbehaving. Ice-cream, nutella and bread all around. It’s a feast!

6-10-14-18-22-26-30-34-38

Oh, here’s my latest every-four-week pic update:

Hmmm. Too bad I didn’t take a 36-week pic – before the baby has dropped. My belly is still huge – but it sits lower now.

I think I will take another one just before going to the hospital, when the contractions start. If I will be able to

On a side note (TMI, but I have to share): you know how baby take all the space and all your internal organs get pushed in the corners of the abdomen? It’s very weird to feel and hear gas move right under your rib cage. Seriously, very bizarre feeling.

38w5d – Nothing to Report

Nothing to report. Baby is rolling, stretching, kicking.

I met my new pregnant friend yesterday – our due dates are a couple of week apart. She was in awe from how big my belly got over the past 3-4 weeks. She also was confused why my belly remained so high if the baby has dropped, according to my OB. I don’t know why. I feel like the belly might be a bit smaller – in the way it protrudes forward – but it definitely did not get any lower.

Other than that – same old, same old.

Baby’s inside. I am reading, painting, blogging, emailing, and playing with my new toy. I bought a smart phone (finally). So that I will be able to stay connected with the world when the baby arrives. When I am put for a walk. When I am breastfeeding for the umpteenth time during the same night. To be able to send an email or skype my parents when I have a few seconds (but not enough to get to my laptop). That’s the reality when you have friends and family all over the globe. You need a smart phone.

And honestly, I don’t feel like the baby will arrive soon. I think if I went in labour now, I would’ve been surprised. I do not expect it to happen anytime soon. So I am just enjoying the slow and quiet time.

I got tagged to tell you about myself

Tanya tagged me in this fun game of tag.

Rules

1. Post these rules
2. You must post 11 random things about yourself
3. Answer the questions set for you in their post
4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer
5. Go to their blog and tell them you’ve tagged them
6. Tag 11 people

 

My 11 Random Things:

1. When I was a tween, I intended to become a writer. I wrote a few children books, some of which I find quite good even today. As a teen, I moved on to drawing comics with me as the main character, fantasizing about boys Now all I write is blogs. Well, and presentations and reports for work…
2. Over the course of my life, I lived in 5 different countries for extended periods of time.
3. I know 4 languages – 2 very fluent, one is more of a “read and understand”, one is purely conversational. I can read it, but can’t stand having to read more than a couple of sentences, it drives me insane.
4. I have outstandingly strong nails. I clip them when they get too long to type comfortably. I haven’t had short nails since I was about 12. I am going to cut them in the next few days prior to my baby’s arrival. That’s gonna be weird for me.
5. I loved geometry and algebra in school. Never used them since – cannot remember any of the trigonometry stuff any longer.
6. I love everything to do with publishing and printing. I absolutely have to be the first one to open a freshly arrived magazine. I cannot used e-readers – I need to hold a book, see and feel its quality.
7. I met Queen Elizabeth II.
8. I cannot make myself go to a gym or for a run. Exercising is the most boring, dreadful thing on earth for me. I prefer watching my food intake and weighing myself regularly.
9. I’ve been drawing and painting as long as I can remember myself. I drew LOTS in my late teens. I even attempted a graphic design career (studied for one year and then had to drop it). I still enjoy painting and doing other creative projects with my hands – mosaics, applications, etc.
10. I have the longest sweet tooth you have ever seen. I love, love, LOVE sweets. Pastries, dark chocolate, flan cakes… Almost anything!
11. I like walking. When visiting other places, the best thing for me is to get out and start walking, soaking in the views, listening to locals, inhaling the smells, taking pictures, keeping notes for my travel blog. I can walk for hours like that.

 

My 11 Random Questions from Tanya:

1. Do you have a favorite website that you check out everyday? If so, what website? My email and my blogs and blogs I read. Well, and facebook.
2. Did you have any pets growing up? Parrots. My sister is allergic to fur, so parrots were the only option. I found them quite boring – you can’t even really pet them.
3. Do you have any funny stories about moving? God, I moved about 20 times in my life… Funny stories? Once the movers brought all the boxes and furniture and left, and alarm went off in one of the boxes. Boxes were a few rows deep, a few boxes tall. And it was the kind of alarm that only shuts up when you press the button (or when the battery dies). It took me a while to find which of the boxes was ringing and get to the alarm.
4. What is your favorite room in your house and why? Living room. It’s bright and spacious enough for both me and my hubby to sit companionably together, in the same room, doing different things.
5. Where would you go if you could travel anywhere in the world? That’s a tough question – I traveled so much. Perhaps, Easter Island.
6. Who is the most influential person in your life? I don’t have influential people. I don’t idolize people. Certain deeds inspire me, but not people.
7. What is your favorite thing to watch on TV? I don’t watch TV. I don’t even have cable.
8. When do you go to bed? Get up? I got to bed between 11 and 12. If I have to go to work, I wake up at 7-7:30. If not – around 9.
9. What is your idea of a dream date? (Money is not an issue.) Hmmm. Never thought about it. An open-air restaurant somewhere in Europe on a warm seashore.
10. What is your least favorite food? Bony meat – wings and ribs. Because it’s too messy.
11. What was your favorite subject in school? Algebra and geometry.

The 11 People I’m Tagging:

1. Artist Mouse
2. ifserenitynow
3. Eighteenyears’s Blog
4. babiesandus
5. Jess
6.   rs. E
7. St Elsewhere
8. Shannon
9. China Doll
10. ababymakingdiary
11. buckupbuttercup.net

My random questions:

1. What was your most memorable travel destination? Why?
2. Tell a story of how you met someone famous
3. What was your greatest fear in childhood?
4. If there was one thing about your appearance that you could change, what would that be?
5. What skill are you most proud of?
6. Who did you wanna become when you grow up?
7. Is there a household chore that you enjoy?
8. What book did you enjoy the most over the past year?
9. Show a picture that captures one of your best memories
10. If someone gave you a year-long paid sabbatical, what would you do?
11. Tell about the place you live in (city, neighbourhood, country… make it as big or as precise as you wish)

Looking forward to reading more about you

Nursery Decor

Perhaps you remember me running around, frustrated, trying to find cute curtains for the nursery? I ended up buying fabric. And while I still didn’t get to actually sewing the curtains, I undertook another project: I painted the characters from the fabric on 5 pieces of canvas to decorate the room and create a theme.

Curtain fabric:

My desk:

And here are the pictures:

 

No Rush

Now that I know my baby isn’t too too big (head circumference is at 39 weeks while I am 38w4d) – and he’s into gaining fat, not growing skull – I relaxed. I think I should be able to deliver my baby naturally. I think all will be well and fine.

So now I am in no rush. I have 1.5 weeks until EDD (11 days to go!!!) – let him stay there until about then. Get strong and ready for this world.

I am slowly starting to process the fact that he’s going to be here really soon. Hopefully, I will get ready by the time he arrives

So now I am relaxed and happy that all seems to be going as it should. Taking my time to do whatever I feel like. As in reading until 2 am and sleeping in

38w2d Ultrasound

So I had the ultrasound done today. I was given the report to bring it to my OB (the lab is in the same building), so I read it.

Cervix: 5.4 cm! That’s long, not open. Which, according to Dr. Google, means very tightly shut. Very long.

Baby’s head measures at 39w and 40.5 w (there are to measurements, I didn’t quite get what each means). Yikes.  I am glad in these past weeks babies are more into gaining fat than growing heads…

His abdomen is only 35 weeks. No wonder I didn’t gain any weight over the pas weeks…

Everything seems to be in norm, though.

So now it’s a waiting game.

Putting my feet up and waiting. Nesting. Spent quite some today organizing under-the-sink cupboards in all bathrooms. This is a pretty cool shelving unit – very handy to stuff more under the sink, regardless of that huge pipe!