So...today is our first Childbirth Class! Im so excited to go tonight. Its only 2 hours long but Im really excited to see how Brad responds to this experience. Its gonna make it even MORE real than before. Other than that, there isnt a ton of new things to let you guys know about. I had an interview today for a new position at work. Its a pay raise and I would get to work from home 3 days a week. That would be HUGE for me. Since we moved out to Spring Hill, its a 40 min drive to work every day. Not to mention, once the baby gets here, working from home would be a HUGE plus for me. The interview went well today and I have a follow up interview tomorrow with the next person up the chain in management. Hopefully it all works out and Ill get to start the new position at the end of the quarter. Anyway, on to the questionnaire.

How far along? 26 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 10 lbs

Sleep: Sleeping well except for the transition when we moved to the new house.

Best moment this week: Moving into our new place.

Movement: All the time. He is using my body as a punching bag...my belly jumps EVERYWHERE.

Food cravings: Bananas...apples with peanut butter...pretty much fruit

Gender: Boy.

Belly Button in or out? out...but not ridiculously out

What I miss: bending over without being uncomfortable

What I am looking forward to: Our class tonight!

Milestones: passed the gestational diabetes test!!

I also ran across this awesomeness on one of the message boards I frequent. It is NOT directed towards anyone (so dont get all offended or get any ideas :P). I just thought it was funny...although the belly comment needs to be emailed to the entire company that I work for :).

Dear Non-Pregnant Person
,
I hope you find these guidelines helpful in your interactions with pregnant women as failing to follow them may result in serious physical harm. If you are thinking, surely she doesn't mean me- then you should probably read this twice.

1) The appropriate response to a couple telling you they are having a baby is 'Congratulations!' with enthusiasm. Any other response makes you an ass.


2) Through the wonders of science, we now know that babies are made ONLY by the mother and father- not grandparents. Unless the baby is in your uterus or you are the man that helped put it there, you may not ever use the phrase 'my baby'.

3) On the same note, unless you made the baby as defined in 2, the pregnancy, birth and raising of the child are not about you. You do not have input. No one wants to hear your opinion unless they ask for it. The same goes for the name of the baby.

4) The body of a pregnant woman should be treated the same as any other body. You would not randomly touch someone's stomach if they were not pregnant, nor would you inquire into the condition of their uterus, cervix or how they plan to use their breasts. Pregnancy does not remove all traces of privacy from a woman.


5) Likewise, no woman wants to hear comments on her weight- ever. A pregnant woman does not find it flattering that you think she is about is pop, must be having twins, looks swollen or has gained weight in her face. Telling her she looks too small only makes her worry that she is somehow starving her baby. Making such comments invite her to critique your physical appearance, and you may not act offended. The only acceptable comment on appearance is 'You look fabulous!'.

6) By the time we are 20-30 years old, most of us have picked up on the fact that the summer is hot. We are hot every summer when we are not pregnant. We don't need you to point out that we will be miserably hot before the baby comes.

7) There is a reason that tickets to L&D are not yet sold on Ticketmaster. Childbirth is actually not a public event. It may sound crazy, but some women really do not relish the idea of their mother, MIL (Mother-in-Law) or a host of other family members seeing their bare butt and genitals. Also, some people simply feel like the birth of their child is a private and emotional moment to be shared only by the parents. Like everything else in life, unless you receive an invitation, you are NOT invited. This includes doctor appointments, ultrasounds, labor, delivery, the hospital and the parents home. You do not decide if you will be there for the birth or if you will move in with the new parents to 'help out'. If your assistance is desired, rest assured that you will be asked for it.

8) If you did not receive an invitation to the ultrasound, amnio, hospital, L&D, home then you were not invited. You do not get to trump the mother's call on this one. Don't think you are doing us a favor by just showing up to "help out". If your assistance is needed, it will be requested.

9) If you are asked to help after the birth, this means you should clean up the house, help with cooking meals, and generally stay out of the way. Holding the baby more than the parents, interfering with breastfeeding and sleeping schedules and making a woman who is still leaking fluid from multiple locations lift a finger in housework is not helping.

10) The only people entitled to time with the baby are the parents. Whether they choose to have you at the hospital for the birth or ask for you to wait three weeks to visit, appreciate that you are being given the privilege of seeing their child. Complaining or showing disappointment only encourages the parents to include you less. I hope this helps- it sure makes us feel better.

Signed, All Pregnant Women

Milestone!!

Well yesterday was a big day. Yesterday (according to my most recent ultrasound and my doctor) I hit 24 weeks. Why is this number important? Because 24 weeks is the week of viability! If I went into labor today and had to have Baby Abel this week, he would most likely survive. Of course with lots and lots of NICU intervention but survival is definitely probable. That really makes it even MORE real than before. I mean we have 16 weeks left...thats 112 days.

Anyway...a week from today we have my next appointment. Itll be a LONG one as I mentioned before. But we get to see the baby again and thats definitely exciting. We are also moving next weekend to a house in Spring Hill. Baby Abel will get his OWN room :). I cant wait to get all of our beachy stuff in there and start to decorate. My wonderful Mother in Law is buying us our crib and we are getting an antique rocker from Brad's grandparents. We just need a nice dresser to double as a changing table and we are good to go! I mean besides everything else we need...

Im still trying to get Brad to do another blog post. His was so great last time!!

How far along? 24 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 8lbs

Sleep: Still sleeping alright. Not sleeping on my back anymore.

Best moment this week: Signing our new lease :)

Movement: In the mornings and at night, periodically throughout the day...

Food cravings: Bananas :)

Gender: Boy.

Belly Button in or out? Definitely moving to the out stage

What I miss: Being able to wear my favorite clothes

What I am looking forward to: Dr appointment next week.

Milestones: 24 weeks! Baby Abel could survive!!

21 weeks? 22 weeks?

So we had our Ultrasound a couple of weeks ago. One of the weird things that happened was that Baby Abel was measuring 8 days ahead of where he should have been. So instead of measuring 19 weeks and 3 days, he measured 20 weeks and 4 days. Not too big of a deal but when we went to our appointment the next week, the nurse told me that I was 21 weeks and 1 day. So I could be 21 weeks (based on our first ever ultrasound) or 22 weeks (based on the most recent ultrasound). I didnt ask about changing my due date so Im sticking with my original right now. Ill probably ask at my next appointment. At our last appointment, Baby Abel sounded good and everything went well. The doctor said my ultrasound results looked good and everything looked normal. They didnt get a good picture of where the umbilical cord inserts into the placenta so I have to get a follow up ultrasound at my next appointment. The next appointment will be interested. I also have to do the Gestational Diabetes screen. So I get to go in, drink the GD drink, get an ultrasound, give blood, then see my doctor. Im gonna be there for like 3 or 4 hours. Crazy! But itll be nice to see him again and see what he is up to.

I feel him every day these days. Last Saturday, Brad even got to feel him kick when he was kicking pretty hard. He moves every morning and every night, actually right now he is moving around doing something. He is definitely an active little boy. Im sure that spells disaster for Brad and I :).

We have chosen a name for him already. He is James Bradley Abel Jr. James runs in both of our families and Jrs run in mine. We just figured that was the best way to go...not to mention I like it :). We havent decided what to call him yet. Brad doesnt like James and I dont want to call him Bradley (in case family calls the name and they both answer). We are leaning towards JB right now but I have the feeling Im gonna end up calling him Lil B or something like that. Anyway...enough ranting on and on.

How far along? 21/22 weeks
 
Total weight gain/loss: 5lbs over pre-pregnancy weight

Sleep: Pretty well...just getting up to pee but falling right back asleep

Best moment this week: Brad feeling Baby move!

Movement: All the time

Food cravings: Strawberry Shortcake :)

Gender: BOY!

Belly Button in or out? Same as always...half and half

What I miss: Ummmm...I dunno right now. Maybe a glass of good wine

What I am looking forward to: Making our registry!

Milestones: Feeling more movement!