Special Delivery: Fat Pants!

18 Week Check Up Deets:

Today I had another in-home check up. Along side the usual blood pressure, Q&A session, uterus measurements and Doppler heart rate (150-160bpm - sooooomebody kept kicking away from the doppler...) reading, we discussed my anatomical/gender ultra sound appointment. Cannnnnnnnn't waaaaaaiiiiiitttttttt. I also found out I will be missing 2 out of 3 of my birth classes because I'll be in Florida that week. I'm extremely bummed since this is my first one and I don't know what to do.

There has been much more movement (I would call it a regular circus in there) in the last several weeks and not like earlier feathery light swooshes. It's slightly more startling when it occurs and it feels stronger, like a jab. Over the last 2 weeks baby had a major growth spurt and I gained 4lbs! At this point we're fairly sure there's only one person in there so that's a big relief.

People who don't even know are noticing!

And now a moment of applause for the FDA for taking a stance against the over use of ultra sounds including the 3D/4D and home Dopplers. They’re meant to be a diagnostic tool, not a photo booth or an ipod. I understand the draw here. I can't wait to see who's in there! But I’m going to put aside my wants in favor of the best possible health of our baby. Also the reason why I chose home birth. You might argue, well my children came out just fine (and you're lucky) or this has been routine for years and everyone has turned out ok. Really!??  You're going to take a good hard look at THIS nation and say that pretty much everyone has turned out ok? Perhaps my eyes work differently than yours. A new health analysis bearing the title: US Health in International Perspective: Shorter Lives, Poorer Health, Americans come in dead last in a comparison of 17 affluent nations. While there are many factors contributing to this ultra embarrassing rank, the over-use of [western] medicine certainly makes a large contribution. 

Week 15: Apple sized

Week 18: Yam sized

 

I made my first big baby purchase with the baby contributions we received over the holidays! THE NURSING CHAIR. Best thing I have ever put my butt in. I was thinking maybe I'd get a slip cover for it to prevent all varieties of expulsions from staining it. Next up are the pack and play and the car seat! I will get them sooner rather than later (and any other plastic things) because they need plenty of time to let the gas off. That's that "new" smell you smell when you get in a new car or buy a plastic-anything...yeah that's toxic chemicals bleeding out of the material.

Complete with fuzzi-bunny fabric!

COME BACK IN TWO WEEKS TO FIND OUT WHO WE'RE HAVING!!!!! And to see some super creepy alien baby ultra sound pix too.

My guess has always been girl. But I'm good with either. In fact, I have more babysitting experience with boys...then there's the whole brother thing. Gender prediction calendar says...

I took data from my Facebook group of women all due this summer and this method was correct 66% of the time.

Oh yeah and speaking of creepy baby pictures...one day, I got totally bored and did this:

MUAHHAHAHAHA! You were warned.

A quote from my favorite baby book:
"We do not teach infants how to move, because we believe each baby knows much better. We do not interfere with their play. We do not interfere with what they choose from the available materials."
~ Magda Gerber, "Respecting Infants"