Baby Hiccups, Impromptu Party

It's been a busy week... as usual. I keep waiting for the moment when everything calms down and there's time to relax for a bit. Maybe next weekend?

The 3-hour glucose test wasn't the end of the world. I think I'll get my results in the middle of next week. Turns out my 1-hour result was 133. Some doctors make the cut-off at 130, some at 140. So I should be fine, but keep your fingers crossed for me! I got a lot of reading done in the doctor's office in between them poking me in the arm.

We also had our 2nd baby class. We did hand and back massages, but that part seems like a waste of time to me. I'd rather focus more on the Lamaze-y stuff. I guess masage is part of that, but do we really need to practice a hand massage? We watched another birth on the video and all of the boys got all skeeved out by the close-up graphic shots. I told Mike he didn't have to see that part when I deliver, and he said he'd rather see mine than some random lady's on a video!

Mike went out for a beer last night... his first test since quitting smoking about 6 weeks ago. Then I find out this morning that he's invited about 100 people over for a pre-wedding shin-dig at our house tonight. Such a generous boy when he gets a little beer in him. Gotta love Mikey. The fact that he'll do all the hard work and clean the house really helps make up for the short notice - love you babe.

So I couldn't sleep last night, Mike was snoring, random rain storm at 3am etc. Then Baby Mulvihill got the hiccups, I think! It was quite strange and worried me a bit. I could feel him moving in two places at once, and it was almost like a little shudder. It was quite rhythmic so I assume it was some sort of hiccup. He's been kicking up a storm as usual today so my fears have been allayed, but it was very very very strange. Not as strange as my last baby dream, but strange nonetheless.

Today I had lunch with the girls from work and got some belly love. Very few folks have felt the baby so far, it was nice that he cooperated and kicked back at them a few times. It's not that I want the strangers touching me, but it's nice to get a little rub now and again :-)

Well... I gotta get myself together and get ready for this weekend. And I solemnly vow to take my belly photos this weekend since I didn't get around to it last weekend.

Baby Class, Road Trip, Test Results

Thursday night was our first Childbirth Education class. There were about 10 couples total, and it was a little touchy-feely, but not too bad. Mike said he actually learned something, and we got to watch a video of a birth in which the delivery of the placenta is shown in great detail. Fun. Next week we get to learn about back massages. I'm most looking forward to the hospital tour.

We had a lovely visit to South Carolina this weekend. We played with Emily, Craig, and Kate, ate yummy food, napped, and played a little Guitar Hero. It was so nice to catch up with old pals, meet sweet Kate, and enjoy a relaxed road-trip. I don't think we took a single photo, aside from the roadside sign for Coosawhatchie, which made us giggle. Em and Craig are great about posting video and photos of Kate online, I hope I am as good at sharing our photos of the little booger once he's born.

We returned home Sunday night with a car full of goodies, hand-me-downs from Kate that Emily gave us. We are so lucky to have friends with baby gear to donate or loan us. I know we'll return the favor with the next batch of new babies. Although sometimes I think we're the last ones to have kids among our friends.

Today I got the dreaded call from the doctor's office... I have to go back because the results of my blood glucose test were a little high (she said just by a few points, and I would probably "pass" the next test). This time I have to do the 3-hour test, which means a lot of sitting around the office, waiting, and having blood drawn every hour.

This week we will be busy again, long doctor visit, another baby class, work work work, and we're expecting visitors on Friday for the Labor Day Wedding Weekend Extravaganza! I plan to take lots of naps to keep up with all the friends and parties. I will also try to take lots of photos. I'm very excited to see all the out-of-towners and to have a long weekend at home, or at least in town :-) And it could be my last weekend of enjoying sweets.... we'll see.

All's Well

Today was a doctor visit with the glucose test, to see if I've got "the diabetes." They had me drink the sugary stuff, which wasn't too bad. The lab tech chose fruit punch for me, she said she tasted a little bit and it's better than the orange. It was remarkably like concentrated hawaiian punch and it wasn't too much to handle. I though it would make little Johnny rambunctious in my tummy, but he was pretty relaxed. An hour later they drew two vials of blood and I will hear (or not) in the next three days if we passed the test.

We're getting down to the wire, I have to start going to the doctor every 2 weeks now. And after mid-September I can't travel more than an hour from home. Sorry Mom & Dad, you'll have to come here to see the bump any more. Dad already says he's not coming to see the baby every weekend, no matter how cute he is. So I don't expect a lot of visits from him. Maybe we'll take one last trip to Venice and the beach before I'm on restriction.

As anyone who's been pregnant before knows, this is a very public time in a woman's life. Friends, relatives, and strangers alike are quick with an opinion about the size and shape of your belly. I have a bad habit of stressing about this, but my mind was set slightly at ease by searching Flickr for photos of other women at this stage, and by the fact that my fundal height was right on target :-)

Moms update

My poor mom. When I called to check on her Sunday night after her fall at the roller skating rink, she was at the hospital with a broken wrist. Yesterday she visited a doctor and got an orange cast, thankfully sugery isn't necessary. Heal quickly, Mom!

As for me, I'm a busy girl this week. Doctor appointment tomorrow with glucose test, oil change, our first childbirth education class on Thursday, and our little road trip on Friday. Work has been crazy busy since classes started yesterday and our enrollment at UCF is up to almost 48,000. According to our provost, we're the sixth largest in the country.

We finally decided on the car seat/stroller to get (we tend to make decisions and change them a few months later) and Mom is planning a shower for October. So... things are moving along and I think I'm officially in my third trimester. I can't believe it!

This weekend Mike got to see the belly move for the first time, you have to have a little patience but I get some good kicks and rolls that make the belly bounce. And I also got some nudges in the ribs for the first time. I can't wait until we get to see a little foot poking out :-)

No Roller Skating for Mom

Today was my sister-in-law's birthday (Happy Birthday Jenny!) and we went out to the Deltona roller rink to celebrate. Not until last week did I realize it probably would not be wise for me to attempt to skate. I grew up on roller skates and later roller blades, but my new body is apparently not to be trusted. So I watched and enjoyed from the sidelines. Played some air hockey and basketball with Mike in the arcade, and enjoyed the birthday food. My poor mom took a tumble and hurt her wrist, I think I got an inkling of how moms feel when I saw her sitting there looking stunned and hurt. We nursed her and sent her home to recover. Hope she's feeling better already!

Mike made more painting progress this weekend, doing all the trimwork and doors for the back bedrooms and hallway. Our guestroom got used for the first time since we rearranged, and we'll get to the nursery by the end of September hopefully! Next weekend we drive up to Columbia, South Carolina to visit Emily and her family, I'm so excited!

The picture is me at 27 weeks wearing a little smock top that I think my grandmother wore when she was pregnant. I'll have to get the whole story from her :-) Thanks Nana!

Besides the family reunion, which was the reason for our trip, I think the highlight was our day-trip to Letchworth State Park. It was a lovely day and the park wasn't crowded at all. We met up with family and hiked from the Glen Iris Inn at the Middle Falls up to the Portage Bridge at the Upper Falls. We had lunch at the Inn, caught up with family and then headed to check out the view from Inspiration Point. You can see lots more photos at my Flickr account. I had sore calves the next few days from climbing all of those stairs, but I know it was good for me and the babe to get some exercise. I have not been great about that... but trying to be better!

Home Again, Home Again

We're back! We successfully ate our way through Buffalo... from wings and pizza to hot dogs, roast beef (not on weck), Tim Horton's donuts, and Fran-Ceil's custard. We stuffed ourselves. We saw some sights and lots of relatives. It was so nice to see aunts, uncles, and cousins... especially my newest sweet toddler cousins who I don't see very often. I'll post pictures tomorrow, today I'm just happy to spend the evening with my couch and DVR. I'm behind on belly pictures since we were away for the weekend, so I'll have to catch up on that too.

Leavin' on a Jet Plane

Today's the big travel day for our family. Mom and Dad will arrive from Venice this afternoon and then we all fly to Buffalo together. I'm working half a day, don't know what I will really accomplish (especially as my first order of business was updating this blog!).

Looking forward to seeing lots of family, cousins I never knew I had, etc. Eating buffalo wings and beef on weck and frozen custard at Fran-Ceils. Mmm, an eating tour of Buffalo. We're going to try to visit Letchworth State Park, otherwise known as the "Grand Canyon of the East." Who knew?

Baby (otherwise known as Johnny or Cletus) is kicking up a storm these days. I can't even picture what he's doing in there. He gets wedged in strange positions and gives me heartburn a lot. I read somewhere that he can cry now, although I can't imagine what would make him cry. I'm trying to be nice.

Last night I told Mike I was considering trying to birth this baby without an epidural. Considering. Leaving my options open. He's totally in agreement, but I hear most men are, since they don't have to experience the pain themselves. So, we'll see. I'm reading and talking to friends and I'm sure I'll change my mind a thousand times.

Love to everyone, I'll post Buffalo pictures early next week.

It's a boy!

I think almost everyone (except Cletus's new cousin Lucas) knows we had our ultrasound on July 3rd and found out this baby's a boy. Mike really wanted to find out the sex, I was a little more patient. I could have waited, but my one motivation was knowing what color to decorate the nursery. Other than that, I was happily oblivous. I was a little sad to find out in the end, because up until that moment in my mind I could have either a boy or a girl. I could fantasize about frilly pink dresses and teenage meltdowns, or simple boy clothes and childhood injuries. It was a wee bit sad to put those pink ruffled dreams to rest.

Now we know it's a boy and we're both thrilled, yet I'm drawn to the gender-neutral color schemes. I'm sure we'll end up with plenty of blue, but we're thinking green, yellow, and brown for the nursery. Everyone says if you don't find out the sex, you'll be so sick of green and yellow... well, you can send it my way :-)

We're gearing up for the trip to Buffalo this weekend, then we'll have a weekend at home for more painting, etc. and then we'll head to Columbia, SC to visit Emily, Craig, and their daughter Kate (almost a year old). Today we bought tickets for Mike to go to California at the end of September to visit Chris and Randi and Truman (also almost a year old). We'll get the travel out of our systems for a while hopefully!

All is Well

Everything went well at the doctor yesterday. Met the fourth doctor at my OB office, it could be any one of them delivering this kid. He had pretty blue eyes, and more questions for me than I had for him. Every once in a while I run into a doctor who is just fascinated by librarians. I guess I should appreciate that someone in his profession would have respect for someone in mine. We chatted for a while and I got my permission letter to travel.

Going to Buffalo next week to visit family and go to a reunion. I'm looking forward to catching up with Mom & Dad, who I haven't seen since May! They haven't even seen the baby bump in person... they're in for a treat. Today I was in a meeting and got distracted watching the baby kick, you can see it from the outside if you're patient.