35 weeks

March 19, 2007: We had an awesome week in ID. Here is a picture of me at the end of the week on a short hike that James and I did above the Galena Pass. We had been snow shoeing that day at Galena Lodge and then went up for a better view. The weather was amazing all week and we were sad to leave the 65 degree sunny days for the cold NH weather. We had a great time seeing Jon and were lucky enough to get home despite the storms in New England. I saw the doctor today and because I was still measuring small we had an ultra sound to check on the baby's size and health. (Even though I gained 4 lbs in the last 2 weeks!) Much to our relief the baby is doing great and she is a very average size. She weighs 5 pounds 7 ounces right now and is in the 59th percentile. They said because I have a long torso that it seems like I am small even though I am not. So that was great news to hear as we head into the last stretch. I start seeing the doctor every week now and we also had our first birthing class today. Also, we think we finally picked a name for our baby, but you will have to wait until she arrives to hear what it is.

34 Weeks

March 12, 2007:

We are out in Sun Valley, ID visiting Jon for our spring break. It is really gorgeous here and the weather is unbelievable. It is 65 degrees and sunny. James is enjoying snow boarding and skiing with Jon, despite his broken wrist. I have been snow shoeing and just relaxing. Here we are at the top of the mountain with Jon one day and here is my 34 week belly on the balcony of our condo which over looks the ski mountain.

33 Weeks

March 4, 2007:

At this weeks check up the doctors made me nervous by telling me I am "measuring small". When you are 33 weeks along and they measure the size of your stomach it should match the weeks and thus be 33 cms. I am 31 cms. She said if the difference gets to be more than 2 cms we would get checked out with an ultrasound. For now though, she has said it is nothing to worry about and gave me the green light to head to Sun Valley at the end of this week. I just have to bring a copy of my medical file with me in case anything happens out there. I am still feeling good though and still running 2-3 miles 4 times a week.

30 Weeks

February 11, 2007: 30 weeks down, 10 to go. The tear in my round ligament seems to be healing and I have been able to start working out again. I have been walking and also just started up jogging again. It feels great to be able to get some exercise after a few weeks off. The baby kicks with more strength every day. I think it is weighing in at about 3 lbs now, but I see the doctor tomorrow for my check up so I will post an update after that. Mark and Jen came up to visit this past weekend and brought us some baby gear so now the nursery is coming along even more. We now have a bassinet, bouncy seat, baby bjorn, a tub, and lots of clothes.

Nursery

January 30, 2007: Today we finished painting the baby's room. Neither of us have ever painted anything before so it was a learning experience. The first difficulty was knowing what color that looked good on a tiny square in the store would look good covering entire walls. Our "light blue" turned out to be a little bit brighter than we planned, but for a few months the little one can deal. The biggest discovery I made was what a pain in the neck painting is. I hated all the taping and fine edge work. I didn't mind using the rollers in big places, but next time I hope I can afford a painter! :)

Mount Morgan

January 28, 2007: 28 Weeks pregnant today and really starting to feel bigger. I have not done any exercise in two weeks because I am letting a tear in one of my round ligaments heal up. Today was a gorgeous winter day and we decided to go for a hike. The trail was 2.1 miles to the top and you get to 2,220 feet in elevation. We took it nice and slow and got to the top in about an hour and twenty minutes. The views were fantastic. I have been feeling great and just can't really get used to being so big. It is a strange feeling. When I sit at my desk my uterus touches my rib cage and I can feel the baby kick me in the ribs.

6 Month Mark

January 14, 2007: Well, the third trimester has arrived. I really can't believe I am 6 months pregnant already. I have gained about 17 pounds so far and it is getting noticeable to me and to others. I feel much heavier and everyone seems to say, "You have popped". My belly button is sticking out now which is funny. The baby is still moving around quite a bit. My uterus is now the size of a basketball and the baby is about 14 inches long from head to toe and weighs just under 2 pounds. She is now opening and closing her eyes, practicing taking small breaths of amniotic fluid, developing a more keen sense of hearing, and adding layers of fat all the time. I am still feeling pretty good, although the weight does create more aches and pains. Sleeping is getting more difficult, and when I toss and turn there is a lot more to it now. They say when the second trimester comes to an end the honeymoon is over. We'll wait and see ...

Moving Around: 22 Weeks

December 17, 2006: I am now 5 months pregnant and I feel like my body is changing a lot lately. I have gotten much bigger and I am now in maternity clothes. My belly button has started to pop out. The baby is really starting to move around a lot now and with more strength. I can feel it moving during most of the day, and at night James can sometimes feel it when he has a hand on my stomach. I am feeling great though. Still working out, running between 2 and 3 miles a few times a week and sometimes walking in addition. James is in Sun Valley visiting Jon, no skiing for me this winter.

Ultrasound: 19 Weeks 2 Days

November 28, 2006: Today was the appointment we were really looking forward to, the ultrasound. James was able to come with me so he could see the baby. There is a lot of excitement but also apprehension as you can find out if there is anything wrong with the baby at this point. Thankfully the baby appears to be healthy and we had an amazing time watching the image on the screen. I have gained 10.5 pounds so far. We asked the nurse to tell us if we are expecting a boy or girl and unfortunately junior would not cooperate fully. The legs were crossed and it kept it's back turned to us for most of it. But the nurse's professional opinion was that there is a 95% chance that we are having a baby GIRL. Here is a picture from the visit where she appears to be sucking her thumb.

First Visit: 8 Weeks 3 Days

September 13, 2006: Today I went to the doctor for the first time. I had an early ultrasound and was able to see the baby. What an amazing experience! The baby is tiny (1.98 cm in length)and looks like a little bean. This early there is no noticeably human shape, other than the flashing strobe in the center which is it's heart.
I have been feeling pretty good, although I am tired and sometimes queasy. Walking into the dining hall and passing by the hot food section does not do wonders for my stomach at this point.

Telling Family

September 2, 2006: We kept the news to ourselves for a week and could not hold it in anymore. We broke down and decided to tell our parents and siblings today. There was a lot of surprised reactions but mostly just excitement.

Two Pink Lines

August 25, 2006: Two pink lines means I am pregnant! We are not going to tell anyone except one teacher here at New Hampton so we can find out who to use for an obstetrician around here. According to calculations I am already 6 weeks pregnant today which means I am due April 22, 2007.