Thoughts on Another

Dear Friends and Family,

I don't think I'll have the time to finish this post this morning. And, I'm not sure where it'll lead. But, for the million and one people who think they're entitled to an opinion, truth be told you're not. And, for the thousand and one people who think this is a vote, it isn't. But, with that being said, if you feel the need to comment, I won't take it personally.

One

• we get to spend time with P
• we get to focus on P
• we have room for one in the house
• saving for college is expensive



• the next one maybe a boy, this is a minor one compared to everything else
• the next one may not be born perfect like P was (i.e. my eggs are getting old)
• I could get gestational diabetes with the next one
• I'm deathly afraid of SIDS
• I need to lose the baby weight from P
• I'd need to lose the baby weight from the next one
• the next one is not a carbon copy of the first one, they couldn't be as perfect as P



• the craziness that is breastfeeding for the first year and working at the same time
• taking maternity leave in my current job would be tough
• we'd be more limited in what we can do (e.g. travel, eat out)

More than One

• we'd have "the spare"
• P could be lonely being an only
• there'd be someone for P to share the burden (of caring for us) with
• perhaps this is one of those things where you can't imagine the happiness until you get there
• (some) babies are so cute

I guess I need to think about how important each of these are. And, I need to think about other factors, perhaps the list is incomplete.

But, for now, I think I'm happy with the one I have.


Cheers!
mouse

2010, Here We Come

Dear Friends and Family,

A new year and a chance to look forward and back and pontificate. Here's a link to last year's post, but I'm not going to peek at it until after I write the bulk of this year's post.

How to begin writing about the year just past without writing about P? She's eight months old now and the changes continue to come faster than I ever thought possible. She's playing in a diaper box right now with Mr. mouse. We drew a dashboard on one end and have been pushing her around in it like it's a small car.

One of Mr. mouse's friends once told me (before we were even expecting) that God gives you only as much child as you can handle. And, in that regard, I think she was 100% on the mark. P's a happy baby (now that she's on Zantac) and she sleeps well and eats well and she does well with the long weekdays and semi-structured weekends. I still have trouble believing we've been entrusted with her care. Really, they should have tests and licenses required before allowing people to become parents.

And, because P can be so encompassing, a lot of stuff has fallen by the wayside. I have grand ambitions that 2010 will be better. First, once P is done breastfeeding, I'll get back between 2.5 and 3 hours a day that I currently spend on feeding and pumping. And, once she's done breastfeeding, I can tackle the weight loss without being afraid of losing milk supply.

So, here begins the look at the "stuff" that constitutes what I care about:

baby... maybe: Everyone asks - are we going to have another? And, much as I love P, I don't think we will. Baby #2 won't be P in miniature. And, the experience won't be a rewind of P. It'll be a whole new experience and it'll be that much more complicated for involving four moving parts. For now, I'm happy with one.

clutter diet: For having an infant in the house, we've done well on this front. P has a crib and mattress, a pack and play (that we use for a changing table), a swing and bouncy chair (that are both going on Craigslist soon since she's outgrown both of them), two strollers, and a high chair. We have a couple of tubs of toys and books. And, a scary collection of plastic (bottles, milk storage vials, and pump accessories). But, overall, we've kept it sane as far as the addition of stuff. And, because we had to clear out the basement and garage to make room for her, she's net negative as far as clutter is concerned. And, because I need to clear out space in the basement for P stuff that I want to save, she continues to force us to manage our clutter.

green is good: For a tiny baby, P has a carbon footprint the size of Texas. She has diapers and wipes. We kept the house cool for her over the summer and warm for her over the winter. We drive to school/daycare together every day. And, our laundry and dishwasher consumption has skyrocketed. This one will require some thought to kick start again.

korean soap operas: I had the "talk" with my mom while we were home for the holidays. She'll come out to visit in February, but realizes that moving out here into our basement for six months isn't going to happen.

make your mark: I'm not sure how this will play out. This is still something that I want to do, but I'm still not sure how, yet. For Christmas, Mr. mouse and I made charitable donations instead of buying each other stuff. I donated my share towards The March of Dimes (because they provided so much info on premature babies when I was afraid P would be early), The Heifer Organization (providing livestock to people in need), and a local women's shelter (because everyone needs a partner when fighting abuse).

money matters: We've been fortunate. We've been able to chip away at the pile of debt that everyone seems to carry around. And, with luck, we'll be free and clear by the end of 2010. (Yes, that includes the mortgage!) Our strategy? We live on one income and we save the other. It required a lot of discipline when we first started back in 2001, but, now, it's second nature. I am the first to say, we're fortunate. Both of us enjoy our work. And, both of us earn enough to make living on one income possible. But, it's not a walk in the park. Money is like closet space. Whatever you have, you use up, and wish you had 10% more.

mouse pad: This year, we WILL tackle all of the water ingestion.

the first year: P has headphones on while sitting in her high chair. Mr. mouse is getting ready to puree some avocados and some fish. She doesn't like the food processor. Hence the headphones.

travel: Eight flights and two road trips down, P's a seasoned traveler. We just need to get her a passport.

wellness: After P hits her one year mark, I'll begin this in earnest.

work: I enjoy it. It pays the bills. I wish it was a shorter commute.

Okay. Now, I peek at last year's post. Hmmm... not far off the mark. I'm okay with it and looking forward to 2011.


Cheers!
mouse

The Past 24 Hours

Dear Friends and Family,

Where to pick up the story? When we last left you, we were at the hospital awaiting Pioneer's birth. And, I was on an emotional roller coaster that had me spent.

Things got a lot easier after I got the epidural. And, emotionally, I found it comforting to be able to spend the morning focusing on enjoying Pioneer inside while thinking about seeing them outside.

I had an hour nap around 11 o'clock. And, then spent the next ninety minutes enjoying some quiet time with Mr. mouse while we waited on our doctor. She came in ~1:30 and by shortly after two, Pioneer was born. To be honest, labor wasn't bad at all. I know, I'll engender all sorts of hate with it, but, it wasn't painful, it wasn't too difficult, it was quick, and every made me feel like a champion afterward.

Pioneer weighed in at 6 lbs, 12 oz and was 19.5 inches long. She had a head full of hair. And, to everyone's delight, she was screaming at the top of her lungs and a had glorious red/pink color all over.

We spent the next hour in the delivery room trying to feed (no success), bathing, cleaning, and cooing. Then, we headed into the post-delivery room and have been here since.

We've had more luck on the feeding front. And, Mr. mouse and I were thrilled with our first poopy diaper last night and jumping up and down today with our first wet diaper this morning. Wow, what 24 hours can do to you. Whoever thought we'd be celebrating diapers?

Pioneer, in my biased opinion, is perfect. She's got a perfectly round head because labor went so quickly. And, she's got 10 perfect fingers, 10 perfect toes, and 1 perfect nose. She's not fussy. And, so far, our biggest problem has been that she sleeps too much. We've been having trouble waking her to feed her. Then again, she slept a lot in-utero, so I was expecting her to sleep well once she was born.

Mr. mouse has had a field day taking photos of her. And, we've been trying to stay on top of all of the congratulatory emails and phone calls. I'm glad to have a breather to take a moment to catch up here.

We head home tomorrow to a host of new challenges. So far, I've been blown away with how much of it Mr. mouse has taken care of for me and how much of it I've been able to take care of as well. Like last night, Pioneer was crying while she was sleeping. I'm sure she was fine, but I wanted Mr. mouse to be able to get some sleep, so I got up and picked her up and walked over to a chair and held her and she quieted. It felt so good just to be able to do that.

I'm just been trying to enjoy every moment of the past two days recognizing it's a once in a lifetime experience.


Cheers!
mouse

05.11.09 (Week 40, Day 3) Where to Begin?!?!

Dear Friends and Family,

Let's start with the here and now and then we'll backtrack to the weekend...

We're at the hospital, in labor & delivery. Cervix is at 5 cm. Pitocin's at 6 ml/min. Epidural went in about an hour and half ago. Just trying to take it all in stride.

So, rewind to our appointment on Friday. Our doctor recommended we come in on Monday to be induced since I've been so dilated. And, later in the afternoon, we got a call from the scheduler with a time slot for our induction.

May the angst begin.

Essentially, we were torn between coming in and waiting. On the one hand I wanted Pioneer to be born since I was still afraid of something going wrong the last couple of days. And on the other hand, I wanted to give them as much time to develop as possible and I was enjoying the bond we had been sharing the past 10 months together. Plus both Mr. mouse and I had a marginal inclination towards letting Mother Nature take its course.

So we spent the entire weekend talking ourselves in circles.

Saturday, we went out for brunch and then I napped while Mr. mouse ran some errands. Then, we both dived into housework. I tackled the kitchen while Mr. mouse cleaned the car, weeded the front lawn and repaired a couple of loose boards on our stairs.

We ate fried rice for dinner and then did a quick Target run before turning in for the night.

Sunday, we skipped our usual F1 brunch routine and instead spent the morning enjoying the quiet time at home. We had pasta for lunch and called the doctor's office to cancel the induction. The doctor on call gave us several good reasons to keep it and told us to think about it...

We packed our bags and headed out for the day. We decided to go to the aquarium, our first quasi-date together almost 15 years ago. While at the aquarium, the contractions started and we headed home.

Mr. mouse did some work while I zoned on the couch. Then, we both had sandwiches for dinner (tuna fish for me, crab cake for Mr. mouse) with tortilla chips and salsa. And we drove out for ice cream before calling the doctor.

We called and no surprise, they told us to come in. We were admitted and brought up to our room. I have to admit, the first part was harrowing. I was struggling with all the stuff going on and I felt bad for Pioneer - for all the stuff we were subjecting them to without good reason. I really struggled with it when they broke my water. But now, I've settled into a better spot and am more focused on the future and meeting Pioneer than on the past and missing Pioneer.

Pitocin just increased to 8 ml/min. Thank goodness for my epidural. I'm really glad I can still feel Pioneer's movements. I would have really been torn if I had to trade off pain management for sharing the last day with them.

May write more later today. May not. Will play it by ear.


Cheers!
mouse

05.08.09 (Week 39, Day 7): Last Structured Update

Dear Friends and Family,

Where are we at now? 39 down, anytime in the next 3 weeks.

I just looked online and we're up to the last update in the WebMD "Your Pregnancy Week by Week" series. We're entering into Pioneer's last week of development and next Friday will be their "official" due date.

Mr. mouse and I have another doctor's appointment this afternoon. I'm not expecting a ton of new information since we haven't had any new symptoms and have been in the wait-and-see mode the last week. Then again, those are the appointments that always take us by surprise.

Pioneer continues to grow. They don't get the hiccups as frequently as they used to. Their movements aren't as frequent (since they nap regularly now) and are more muffled (since they're running out of room).

I don't sleep as deeply as I used to. It's a combination of having to get up to use the bathroom and then finding a comfortable position to fall back asleep in. It (the having to find a comfortable position) started this past week and will probably continue the rest of the pregnancy. I can't complain. Theoretically, it's the last two weeks of what has been a relatively comfortable pregnancy.

I can't wait until I finally get to see Pioneer. It still doesn't seem possible.

Baby
Your baby's length is about 21.5 inches from head to toe and it weighs about 7.5 pounds. Boys often tend to weigh a little more than girls. Reflexes are coordinated so the baby can blink, close his eyes, turn his head, grasp firmly and respond to sounds, light and touch. More lanugo falls out, but some may remain at birth on shoulders, folds of skin and backs of ears.

Mom-to-Be
Birth should be soon now, but don't worry if your due date comes and goes. Only 5% of all babies are born exactly on the due date. It may be more difficult for you to get a good night's sleep because it's hard to find a comfortable position, but try to rest as much as possible, with your feet up if you can.

Tip for the Week
If you think you're in labor, don't eat. Even something light in your stomach can cause nausea.

What's Happening Inside You?
Your baby continues to grow and mature: the lungs are nearly fully developed. Your baby's reflexes are coordinated so he or she can blink, close the eyes, turn the head, grasp firmly, and respond to sounds, light and touch

You should still feel movement every day. Your baby's position changes to prepare itself for labor and delivery. The baby drops down in your pelvis, and usually his or her head is facing down toward the birth canal.

By the end of this month, your baby is about 18 to 20 inches long and weighs about 7 pounds.


Cheers!
mouse

05.07.09 (Week 39, Day 6): No News

Dear Friends and Family,

Still no news to report.

I've been making progress today on clearing out my work inbox. That's my goal for the day.

Pioneer continues to grow. I continue to become more and more loose-jointed.

Most of the other symptoms have gone away. 9 more days until the due date.

I can do this.


Cheers!
mouse

Three Ways of Knowing

Dear Friends and Family,

I've always categorized knowing something into three different categories.

There's knowing something with your head. That's factual knowing. For example, I "know" that if I don't water my plants they will eventually die. It's generally reliable and repeatable.

Then, there's knowing something with your gut. That's instinctual knowing. For example, I "know" that this summer is going to fly. It's less reliable and less repeatable, but sometimes the only thing you have to go off of.

And, last but certainly not least, there's knowing something with your heart. That's knowing based on faith. I "know" I love Mr. mouse. It's something I "know" so deep it's core to who I am.

Things can shuffle amongst categories from gut to head or to heart and vice versa.

Yesterday, don't laugh, I made the leap on Pioneer. Up until now, I knew Pioneer was coming, in my head, but I didn't really get it. And, out of nowhere, I finally got it. We're going to be parents. And, it's in my heart now. Funny how that works.


Cheers!
mouse

05.05.09 (Week 39, Day 4): Digging Deep

Dear Friends and Family,

11 more days until our due date.

Last night was a tough night and I think it may continue to be tough going forward. Still no contractions. The part that's gotten tough is the relaxin that's literally causing me to fall apart at the seams. Walking is tough, standing is tough, reaching down for stuff is tough... Unhinged. I know I'll be thankful come labor and delivery, but for now, not fun.

This is when I need to dig deep and find the mental reserves to carry me through the last 11 days in one piece. I can do it. I've been through MUCH worse for MUCH longer periods of time.

Piece of cake.


Cheers!
mouse

PS: Had dinner with Lily last night. She left this morning to return home. It was good seeing her.

05.04.09: Reunion Weekend

Dear Friends and Family,

Here are the headlines before I dive into the details:

• still waiting
• my friend, Lily, is in town
• it was reunion weekend

Friday, I spent the day at school catching up on school related stuff. Then, I drove over to pick up Lily for dinner. We picked up Mr. mouse and headed out for Mexican food. Another friend, in for reunion weekend, met up with us for dinner. And for dessert, we headed to Spring.

Friday night, Pioneer felt big and I felt short of breath. No contractions.

Saturday was reunion. It was good seeing everyone. Some people have less hair, some people have gone grey, some people have lost weight, some people have gained weight, some people got married, and some are parents. But, all-in-all, most people are the same, inside. Funny, how that works.

Saturday night, Pioneer felt quiet, but enough movement to be normal. No contractions.

Sunday, we met up with Lily for lunch. Then, I rested while Mr. mouse did the usual Sunday errands. I feel like I'm coming apart at the seams. It must be the relaxin working on my joints. I just feel looser all over.

Sunday night, Pioneer felt awkward, no position sitting or lying down felt good. No contractions.

We'll see where this week leads.


Cheers!
mouse

05.01.09 (Week 38, Day 7): May Baby

Dear Friends and Family,

Where are we at now? 38 down, anytime in the next 4 weeks.

Before I launch into an update on Pioneer, with every day passing as slowly as it does, I'm stunned to find that the year is flying by. We're in May, people. Wow, I'm floored.

Let me repeat, I'm floored. We've made it to May. April, the month that seemed to go on forever, has come and gone. Pioneer is well within the bounds of full term. At this point, Mr. mouse and I aren't doing anything to bring on labor, but, we're not doing anything to delay it either. I'm not sure how I'll do the work thing next week, if I'll work from home or if I'll go in. It may be a combination of both. We'll see.

We went in for our doctor's appointment yesterday. Cervix: 4 cm, 100% effaced, Pioneer at 0 station. No other huge updates. False labor pains continue on and off.

Crazy as it sounds, I am going to miss all of this. I'm sure I'll be excited about Pioneer once they're born, but, pregnancy has been fun as well. It's bonding and sharing, both with Pioneer and with Mr. mouse. Maybe because Pioneer's still small and comfortable, I'm not one of those women who is dying to be done.

Pioneer is taking longer periods of rest now. The doctor says three episodes a day of movement is fine. The movements seem stronger in that there seems to be some controlled muscle behind them, but they're also more subtle, probably because Pioneer is running out of room.

Baby
Your baby is about 21.5 inches long from head to toe and weighs a little more than 7 pounds. Toenails and fingernails have grown to tips of toes and fingers. Muscles of your baby's arms and legs are strong, and he's practicing lung movements. Baby's head has dropped into the mother's pelvis if he's head-down, which allows you to breathe a little easier.

Mom-to-Be
You're probably feeling quite large and uncomfortable. Your uterus has filled your pelvis and most of your abdomen, pushing everything else out of the way. Your center of gravity has shifted, so you may be clumsier than usual.

Tip for the Week
Watch for signs of labor, but don't get too obsessed. It could happen soon or still be weeks away. Some differences between false labor and contractions: False labor pains usually concentrate in the lower abdomen and groin, while true labor pains may start in the lower back and may spread through the entire abdomen. Real labor also becomes stronger and more powerful as time passes.


Cheers!
mouse

04.30.09 (Week 38, Day 6): Back Pains

Dear Friends and Family,

I woke last night ~2 AM with back pain which is a first for me. Mr. mouse wanted to time it, but it wasn't intermittent, it was constant. He got me a glass of cold water and then rubbed my back. Pioneer re-adjusted into a more comfortable position, and by 3 AM, we were all back to sleep.

Guess it wasn't labor.

We're off to the doctor this afternoon for our next appointment.


Cheers!
mouse

04.29.09 (Week 38, Day 5): Living in a Depeche Mode World

Dear Friends and Family,

It was good to get into the office yesterday for a day. But, today, I'm working from home. Don't feel the need to push my luck.

I've got a Depeche Mode song stuck in my head, probably because I need to pick up a good book or a good hobby. Perhaps it's time to dust off the knitting needles. Or, really, I should tackle the excel sheet I've been procrastinating on. Sigh.

Wanted: motivation

Sitting target
Sitting waiting
Anticipating
Nothing
Nothing


Cheers!
mouse

04.24.07 (Week 37, Day 7): TERM!

Dear Friends and Family,

Where are we at now? 37 down, anytime in the next 5 weeks.

Pass the sparkling apple cider! Pioneer and the rest of us have made it to term. After all of the fun and games of the past month and half, it feels good just to be able to say that.

Now, "all" that's left are the fun and games of labor and delivery. I still worry that something can still go wrong. I guess there's no getting rid of that feeling. There's always some risk. I had a friend lose a baby at term, so, for me, it feels like a real risk, not just a hypothetical risk.

This is hard to believe, but I may miss being pregnant. For all the extra ultrasounds and hospital visits and everything, Pioneer wasn't too hard on me. And, it's been fun feeling them move and grow and sharing the bond we've been sharing. I'll miss that once they're born.

Symptoms? Let's see. There's the false labor pains which I'm convinced are still doing the job of getting the cervix ready for what's to come. There's the shortness of breath which comes in fits and bursts every now and then. There's "the burpies" which seem to be acid reflux related and are a sign that I should have eaten dinner 30 minutes ago. And, fortunately for all of us, the stretch mark crisis seems to have passed. Belly's stayed nice and smooth after that scare that morning. Guess the band and the lotion helped prevent that one. Knock on wood.

I hope to cover our birth plan with the doctor this morning. I've kept it very simple: prefer a vaginal delivery unless a c-section becomes medically necessary; prefer an epidural for pain management, but only for the later stages of labor; prefer NO episiotomy, if at all possible; want Mr. mouse to be able to cut the cord, if possible; want Mr. mouse to be able to hold Pioneer for a moment before all of the tests begin, if possible; and want Pioneer circumcised if he's a boy. I think that covers it. Hopefully our doctor thinks it's reasonable. Mr. mouse doesn't think it'll be an issue.

I also hope to get the clearance today for some more flexibility - like to take some long walks and stuff, now that Pioneer's at term. We'll see what the doctor says.

Baby
Your baby is about 21 inches from head to toe and weighs about 6.8 pounds. Most of the baby's downy hair, lanugo, and whitish coating, vernix, is disappearing. Your baby is getting its antibodies from you to protect against illness. Baby's growth is slowing, but fat cells under skin get plumper for life outside the womb. Almost ready for birth, your baby would do well if born now.

Mom-to-Be
You're probably not getting any bigger, but you may be feeling more uncomfortable. Make sure you have a bag packed. It won't be long now -- 95% of all babies are born within two weeks of their mother's due date.

Tip for the Week
Consider whether you'll circumcise your baby if it's a boy. Circumcision isn't as much a medical issue as a cultural or religious one.


Cheers!
mouse

04.23.09 (Week 37, Day 6): Slowly Making it Through the Week

Dear Friends and Family,

It's Thursday which makes tomorrow Friday. Don't ask me why I'm so focused on the date, but I am. Tomorrow, if we make it to tomorrow, Pioneer officially becomes a full term baby. It's been a harrowing week this week with two nights of false labor pains. But, slowly, but surely, we're ticking away at the week.

The word slowly is also à propos since I've physically slowed down quite a bit this week. I was walking from my car last night when I realized my waddle was considerably slower than my waddle last week Monday at work. I guess I didn't notice since I've been confined to the house all week this week.


Cheers!
mouse

04.22.09 (Week 37, Day 5): False Labor

Dear Friends and Family,

I woke at 2AM with pains in the abdomen. Mr. mouse got me a glass of water and we duly timed and took notes for two hours before going back to sleep.

The contractions were coming every 5-10 minutes and lasting 30-60 seconds. But, the intensity was of a dull menstrual cramp which on a scale of 1-10, I'd rate a 1.5. In other words, they were not "true" labor pains.

We'll see what today brings. Hopefully Pioneer and the uterus both calm down and we make it to Friday for our next doctor's appointment and our official "full term" milestone.


Cheers!
mouse

04.21.09 (Week 37, Day 4): Changes

Dear Friends and Family,

This may be TMI, but I think I may have lost my mucus plug this evening. It looked liked runny vanilla pudding. Enough said.

Onto more interesting news - the contractions have changed in nature from just tightening to now feeling like menstrual cramps. Still no duration to them so just jotting down the times for now.


Cheers!
mouse

Time for Weight Watchers

Dear Friends and Family,

No worries. I'm not going to jeopardize Pioneer's growth and development by doing anything crazy. But, I stepped on the scale this morning and decided I needed to take some control of the situation.

Working from home isn't the best from a food control perspective. First, there's the ability to graze non-stop if I want. And, second, there's almost no physical activity during the day since I'm pretty much confined to the house.

So, I've decided to journal my food. That way, I'll think twice before deciding what to snack on. I can do strawberries or crackers. This will encourage me to strawberries.

See, nothing crazy, just getting a grip on reality. After all, every pound I put on now is a pound I'll have to work to take off later. And the 30 I've put on is in the range of normal (25 - 35 pounds). No point making life harder than it needs to be.


Cheers!
mouse

Our Master Check List

• pick Pioneer's middle name, if any
• figure out my summer schedule
• mail out curtains, again
• hang curtains, again
• figure out changing table area

For after Pioneer is born

• thank you cards
• birth announcements
• figure out nanny plans
• will/estate plan
• check life insurance
• add Pioneer to insurance plans and beneficiary info
• plan June weekend
• get my parents to do their research on name options

dang curtains, what an absolute pain in the neck...

04.18.09 (Week 37, Day 1): Mildly Annoyed

Dear Friends and Family,

We went in for our doctor's appointment yesterday and got lots of good news. Pioneer grew at an amazing pace over the last two weeks and is measuring 65th percentile at 6 lbs 4 oz. I somehow doubt Pioneer was able to put on 2 lbs in two weeks, but still, growth is good. Pioneer still has plenty of amniotic fluid. And, I've only progressed to 3+ cm which makes me feel like the week at home was good for all of us.

So why am I mildly annoyed? I noticed this morning... a... stretch mark... going right down the mid-line of my abdomen. And, an army of red lines, kind of like the lines that mark of the sections of an orange, going down my abdomen. Not having a ton of experience on this front, I've applied a ton of thick lotion and put on my "ring" that I use to hold up some of my pants. Perhaps with the robes and yoga pants I've been wearing all week my abdomen hasn't been getting the support it needs. We'll see how it all goes.

Stretch marks, boo.


Cheers!
mouse

04.17.09 (Week 36, Day 7): Feeling Better

Dear Friends and Family,

Where are we at now? 36 down, 1 - 5 weeks to go. Entering week 37.

This week has been a lot easier on us emotionally. Working from home has helped a ton. And, another week down is another week closer to term.

No new symptoms to report. Overall, I can't complain. So far, the pregnancy hasn't been too rough for either Mr. mouse or me, and because Pioneer is so small I'm still physically comfortable. It is getting a little tougher to get out of bed in the morning, but nothing that's too much of a bother.

We go in for another doctor's appointment today - to see how Pioneer and the cervix are holding up.

Baby
Your baby is about 21 inches from head to toe and weighs almost 6.5 pounds. Baby is getting rounder every day, and skin is getting pinker and losing its wrinkly appearance. Baby's head is usually positioned down into the pelvis by now.

Mom-to-Be
Your uterus may stay the same size as it was for the last week or two. Your weight gain should be about as high as it will go, about 25 to 35 pounds. About this time, your doctor might perform a pelvic exam to help judge the progress of your pregnancy.

Tip for the Week
Just in case you deliver early, consider packing two bags for the hospital. Pack one bag for you, with warm socks, a robe, lip balm and everything you'll want during labor. Pack the other bag with the newborn items you'll want after your baby is born.


Cheers!
mouse

Working from Home

Dear Friends and Family,

Working from home again. I have to say, I miss going to the office. But, I know if I was in the office, I'd wish I was home. Sigh.

Pioneer continues to move about. And, I continue to have more Braxton-Hicks contractions. I'm curious to see what the numbers say on Friday.

One day at a time.


Cheers!
mouse