36 Weeks :-)

Just Realized we started week 36 today! 35 days to go if the little bugger isn't early/late :-)

Your Growing Baby
With one month to go, your baby weighs about six pounds and is fattening. Her full length from crown to feet is about 20 1/2 inches. Has your baby's movement slowed down? If so, you shouldn't worry. Five to ten percent of all mothers report that babies start to slow down as they grow larger and get more cramped for space. Still, you should be able to feel your baby move more than ten times a day. If you're concerned, try drinking a sweet beverage, such as orange juice, and then lying on your side for a while. Most babies will wake up and start to move. If you're still concerned, contact your healthcare provider.
Your Changing Body
As women in the grocery store have probably already told you, you look like you could go any minute. And they may be right—your due date just suggests a time when the baby's likely to be born. In reality, you could go into labor any time between now and six weeks from now! Your belly button is becoming flattened, and may even stick out like a wine cork. You may feel a lightening sensation on your ribs and organs as your baby descends into your pelvis. Breathing and eating will be easier, but you'll be running to the bathroom more often than ever, and the change in pressure may cause shooting pains in your groin or leg. If you're aching (and we don't see how you couldn't be), indulge in a pregnancy massage from a professional masseuse, or find a pool, and take a swim. At home, try sitting on an exercise ball to take pressure off of your back.

www.fitpregnancy.com

The Last Meal vs. The First Meal :-)

I love to eavesdrop on random conversations on topics including what people would choose for their hypothetical "last meal".  Lately the preggie boards are booming with what people will choose to drink as their "first drink" alcoholic of course, post baby.  I find myself day dreaming about the first meal...especially since I learned that the hospital starves you during labor.  I know...starves sounds dramatic.  They don't want you to puke or have any problems if they have to put you under in an emergency...therefore clear fluids only.

I could barely get myself out to walk  tonight but convinced myself to do laps around the farmer's market downtown.  It was there that I discovered VANILLA MOON BAKERY.  

How could I have not known about this place? It's a tiny little bakery that resembles a family owned "citizen cake" with a bazillion different delicious cupcakes...so many that I couldn't decide! I think post baby it should be an auto order of 2 doz mix!  My entree would be a toss up between Refuge's cheeseburger and Town's flank steak Mmmm.  To drink you ask?  My old standby, a malibu and coke...but there is that stigma about hard alcohol and breastfeeding.  I'd probably have to go with a glass of percico, a sparkling wine that Jose and I recently discovered...similar to a champagne but so much better!

Any Day Now...

I love that everyone (including complete strangers) likes to comment on how Charlie could make his arrival "any day now"....if I only had a dollar for every time I heard that one - Charlie's college fund would be nice and fat.

The general discomfort, emotional bouts, and crankiness have set in with 38 days to go.  Most of my friends are saying "it's about time", Jose I think is just proud I've made it this far.  I'm ready to reclaim my body and hormones or at least get that process started. Today is officially my 1st week at my new position - Domestic Affairs CEO.  (Jose likes to note that he is CIO :-) I don't know quite what to do with myself. My to do list is long and yet a nap always sounds like a good idea these days.

This week is again full of appointments including the car seat fitting inspection at LPCH, a *free* infant/child cpr class I found through my preggie fitness class and trying to nail down a time to meet our pediatrician who is pretty booked.  Friday we go back to the OB and will see if she will clear me to fly with Jose in his upcoming trip - as of last week Charlie is head down but no other progress indicators.  She likes to comment on what a big baby he is becoming which is getting annoying - I explained to her that most of my siblings and I were 8-9lbs (I was 9lb 8 ou) to which  she just says - you don't want a 9lb baby, maybe he'll come a couple of weeks early. Sounds good to me :-)

7 weeks / 2 days to go

But who's counting? It seems as if summer is flying by with or without me and yet I'm anxious to hold my baby boy. Jose and I barely had time to breathe in June with all the events and (his) travel. I'm happy we're into July with a slower pace now. Jose and I spent the 4th putting together what we could in Charlie's room and setting up things like the diaper genie so it's less of a cluster when we first come home. Don't get me wrong - I expect a full cluster - just trying to prep a few things to make it easier on ourselves. I think a sign of strength in a marriage is whether or not you can effectively put together a bunch of stuff with picture instructions and a gazillion parts without having someone sleep on the couch afterwards :-) Normally I would find something else to do in another room but Jose and I did so well this time around and that makes me feel proud, that's right, I don't mind saying it!

On Sunday we ventured into the city to twin peaks and fort point (under the golden gate). Twin Peaks boasts almost panoramic views of SF and I HIGHLY reccommend it - never even heard about it before this weekend! Fort point was amazing and scary and beautiful - it brought a whole new perspective. In the park shop we stopped for lunch and Jose discovered several children's books that we decided Charlie MUST have. Not only am I anxious to meet this baby but I am soooo anxious for him to know his Daddy who I love more than anything in this world.

Photos of Baby Charlies' Room - In Progress