32 weeks - Pregnancy & Produce

56 days to go ... um ... what?!?!?!? Yep, 8 weeks to go and this little one will be "done cooking."

WOW - wasn't it just August 16th and we were shocked by finally getting a BFP?!?!? (Big Fat Positive-pregnancy test)

Where did all the time go? I remember when I felt like we had plenty of time to get things ready and now I feel like we don't have enough time!

Our third birthing class was this week and we're actually really enjoying them-for the most part it has confirmed my feelings about the birth process. The only thing that I'd say I don't like is how it's freaked me out even more than I already was about being induced and having a C-section. I have always wanted to avoid those two things like the plague but now even more so.

Which brings me to a bit of news that I haven't talked about yet.

I failed my 1 hour glucose test and had to do the 3 hour glucose test on Friday. For those that don't know this test is to determine if you have Gestational Diabetes-click here for more info:
http://www.babycenter.com/0_gestational-diabetes_2058.bc - Needless to say I'm praying I don't have this.

I'm fine with following the GD diet if I were to have it...but I do NOT want to increase my chances of having to be induced, that then will increase my chances of having a c-section.

The Dr and I talked about this on Friday when I went in...as I cried. She says that I should wait to worry too much until the results come back on Monday-she doesn't know me very well. She also says that if I were to have it she wouldn't want me going over 40 weeks-which says to me that she'll want to induce me right around my due date. That also says to me that we're going to have lots of "discussions" about this...and for those of you that do know me pretty well, I think you know what I mean when I put the word discussions in quotes.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all about making the best, healthiest choice for my baby...I'm just not convinced that some magic thing happens right at 40 weeks that puts my child at automatic risk.

So...there will be ongoing "discussions" about this...stay tuned.

In other news, I gained 7 lbs in 2 weeks!! WHAT?!?!?!? I don't feel like I've gained 7 lbs in two weeks. I freaked a bit about this too...but the Dr was fine with it-I really haven't gained much weight at all so this big jump didn't concern her. But wow...seriously?

I am definitely feeling bigger-it's like it happened overnight. My once comfy pj pants are not so comfy anymore and are way too short. Something tells me that I'm going to start feeling bigger by the day as this little one keeps growing-check out the update for this week:

"How your baby's growing:

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth."

31 Weeks - 61 days left?!? This calls for an Estes Park Weekend

With 61 days left...yes, you read that right, 61 days left...we decided one final weekend away with just the two of us was in order. We headed to Estes and had a nice long, snowy weekend full of fun, relaxation and snow shoeing!

The weekend was perfect!!

~Friday we just played around town a bit before heading to The Other Side for their amazing Mexican buffet-soooo good!!

~Saturday Matt went on a "real hike and snowshoe outing" while I stayed "home" and watched the Olympics, the KU - CU basketball game-Go Jayhawks, and did some card making too. Needless to say it was the kind of day we both needed!! We stayed in that afternoon/evening and watched more Olympics and then made dinner followed by our tradition of chocolate fondue with yummy fruit and cookies!

~Sunday we debated how bad we really needed to get back to work, and were hoping that after close to a foot of snow the highways would be closed...no such luck though. So we packed up and headed on a snow shoe trip that I could handle-aka no major steep hills.

The weekend was just what we" needed! "Is the nursery done?" Nope-not even close. "But at least the room is painted right? Nope again, not even close. Started yes, but not near done...so now that we've had the "recharge weekend" it's time to get down to getting ready for this baby!

31 week update:

"This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy."

And just like that...

someone is taken, gone, and no longer with us.

I was scrap booking with my good friend Val when my phone rang-the display showed "7200000000"...which is a call from work, the main office.

I answered the call and it was a member of our Administration.

"Melissa, we've had a tragic death here at the DA's office..."

I don't really know what else was said...or I should say I don't really remember what else was said.

What I do know is that a young member of our office is now gone-taken too soon, without warning, without reason.

I met Briana over a year ago when she was still in law school. She was working as an intern in county court and then later was moved to work as an intern in felony. Briana was a bubbly, funny, bright, hardworking girl in her mid-twenties. I remember when she had come back after taking the bar, nervous waiting for the results...I remember telling her to "relax and take a deep breath"-I had total confidence that she would pass.

Of course I was right- Briana passed and was giddy with celebration when she came back to work after getting the results.

So when I got the call on Saturday, I was shocked.

Shocked, and reminded that life is precious and far more unpredictable than I'd like it to be. Reminded that each day truly is a gift and that each day could be our last. Reminded that you can say "thank you" enough.

Reminded not to wait until tomorrow...there may not be one.

You'll be missed Briana ... by everyone.

30 weeks - Pregnancy & Produce

First Birthing Class-check!
Glucose Screening-check!


Our first class was Thursday night-I really wasn't looking forward to it, it had been a long day and the last thing I wanted to do was go to a 3 hour class! Luckily, it really wasn't bad at all. The teacher is great-really nice and down to earth. She's not pushing drugs and she's not pushing au natural either. She's got a great sense of humor and that is nice...especially after a long day at work!


Turns out we weren't the oldest people there, there is one couple that is as old as us, if not older! We met a great couple in our class and so we had a good time laughing and making comments under our breath together!


Also-we were only one of two couples who aren't finding out what we're having-Team Green was represented but not very many of us! : )


Our 30 week apt was yesterday & so was our Glucose Test. The orange stuff didn't taste *that* bad and I was able to get it all down without ralphing. We got into the Dr's office and as soon as the blood was drawn I was chowing down the almonds and cheese stick Matt brought me. We'll have the results in a couple of days-so hopefully we'll know something by Tuesday next week.


Dr says that everything looks great and is going smoothly-baby's heart rate was up a bit compared to where it's normally at. HR was 162 and we're normally around 150-155 BPM-Dr said it was probably due to the glucose.


This weekend we're taking a day to ourselves-Saturday: Matt will be hiking with Maddie and I'll be scrapbooking with my good friend Valarie. Sunday/Monday we'll be working on painting the nursery-really looking forward to seeing it all come together!! Don't worry...I'll keep you posted and with progress pictures! : )

Toodles!
~Melissa




This week's update:
"Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)"

Birthing Classes here we come!

Tomorrow will be our first birthing class. We'll be taking this class for the next 4 weeks-every Thursday from 6-9pm.

Don't ask me why but I'm nervous. I've been pretty calm this entire time-not over thinking things, not over reacting to things...and I'd like to keep it that way. Just don't want to get so much information that it freaks me out.

And...I'm seriously thinking we may just be the "elderly" couple at the class. I laugh when I think about the other couples that may be there-probably in their mid-twenties, while Matt and are are in our mid-thirties. It kind of makes me laugh...kinda.

Tomorrow is going to be an especially long day. I have a 7am meeting and then won't get home until about 9:30pm. Can you say exhausted?

I'm sure I'll have plenty to say after tomorrow's class...stay tuned.

~Melissa

Calgon take me away...

sooner rather than later please.

I remember awhile ago posting that I was really going to have to learn to draw the line at work, set boundaries and stop being the "go to girl" for everyone.

Apparently I still haven't figured that out.

I want to. I need to. I have to.

I don't know how to.

29 weeks-Pregnancy & Produce...& a Shower!

What a day! Today we reached the 29th week in our pregnancy and I had my first shower!


My mom talked to Matt's mom and they put together a little "Mother/Daughter Shower" for today-we met everyone in Longmont at the Egg & I and had a great time all together. It was nice to have all the women in the family all together. The only people we were missing were my sister Maegan and Matt's Aunt Nancy.


It was really nice and this little one got some super cute things-everyone spoiled us!

Our update this week:

"Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day."