A day by the pool

The pictures say it all.

1st birthday (one week that is)

Its hard to believe a week has passed. In some ways it feels like a lifetime - lack of sleep, reality not yet hit. In other ways, I can see already how time is going to fly. My little bird has some meat on his chicken legs and bony fingers now. His face is, ever so slightly, taking shape. We are forming routines and patterns. I love nothing more than to lay with him on my chest in the morning, his head snuggled under my chin, resting his cheek on his own folded hands. I already fear the day down the path when he is too big to do this, and I try to relish every moment of it. I want to always remember the tiny little noises - the sigh he makes after he sneezes, the muffled protest just before he cries... I keep encouraging Scott, who has worked all week, to also sit down and enjoy these fleeting moments with his newborn son. Sawyer and I spent a few hours Saturday by my parents' pool. Sawyer celebrated the first day of his second week by dipping his toes in the water, getting 100 photos taken and then splaying out in the shade of an umbrella. Justin headed off for an overnight at a friend's house Saturday night and Scott and I spent Sunday in our pajamas in bed, bonding with the babe and catching up on much needed rest.

the sponge bath

I have been dreading this day since I first read the chapter on sponge baths in "What to Expect the First Year." How could something as simple as a bath be SO complicated. We geared up the team. Justin was assigned photographer. Mom read the directions, so she was in charge of the actual sponging. I was on the adhesive removal committee. Powerful bandages from the hospital and doctor's office still clung to his tender skin and needed to be extracted carefully. We gathered 157 items the book said we needed: lotion, Q-tips, cotton balls, baby suds, waterproof pad, towel, washcloth, lotion, diaper, vaseline, gause, diaper rash cream, fresh outfit, small bowl, etc. In the end, it turned out to be as simple as wiping him off with a warm washcloth. Sawyer, who - typical boy - objects to having his clothes off or being changed in any fashion, screamed like he was being stabbed with a thousand knives. The adhesive proved a bit more of a challenge, but nothing three tablespoons of soap, a little warm water and a quick rip couldn't cure. The reward came at the end when we got to wrap him up in this cute frog towel and take lots and lots of pictures.

July 25 - the day of the doctor

Today we had to return Richmond for our new baby appointment, which meant a four-hour round trip in the car.... because not only can you NOT deliver a baby in the Northern Neck, apparently there are no pediatricians here either. Complicating matters is my still-present temperature, now up to 102. My doctor wants to see me in her office back here before 2:30.
After a great night of sleep (Sawyer only woke us up once between 10 pm and 6 am), my mom and I are off to the pediatricians. She drives my Suby. Sawyer sleeps the whole way! Of course, the challenge with a newborn and a 2-hour car ride is that as soon as you get there, the baby needs to eat. I knew what would happen. As soon as the doctor called us in, Sawyer would start screaming from starvation. And, that's pretty much how it went down. I explained our situation to both the nurse and the doctor, hoping they would realize that I wasn't really such a bad mom after all.
The nurse praised the shape of Sawyers head: "I've never seen such a perfectly-shaped head on a baby who was delivered vaginally." I beamed. I didn't realize until then that a "perfectly-shaped" head was something to be proud of.
The doctor was thrilled to see that Sawyer, who was down to 6 pounds 15 ounces when we left the hospital, was now back up to 7 pounds 4 ounces. He told me I could let him sleep as long as he wanted a night. No need to wake him up to feed him. Yippee.
Then they left us in the office and I gave Sawyer a quick snack. In the Panera parking lot, I gave him another quick snack. We drove two hours to my doctor who was going to "squeeze me in." Expecting a long wait, I sat in the back of the car to finally try to give Sawyer a decent meal. Three gulps later, they were calling me in. I tried again while waiting for the doctor to come into the examining room. She appeared almost immediately.
Turns out I had the onset of endometritis, an infection of the uterus. It can make you really sick really fast, she said. Not something to mess with. She put me on antibiotics.
Tried to feed Sawyer in the grocery store parking lot and at CVS while we were waiting for our prescription. Poor guy just couldn't catch a decent meal. But he remained calm. Didn't cry. What a trooper!
Mom worked it at the drive-thru window to speed things up. In a very un-Anne-like high voice she said, "We have a tiny little baby.... see? Here, let me pull up just a little so you can see. He's only four days old! Is there any way we can get that prescription in under an hour?"
Worked like a charm.
Finally home, Sawyer ate like a beast.
My beastly fever cleared up the next day.

wondermom

There is nothing like becoming a new mom to make you want your own mommy. Upon arriving home, I came down with a temperature. Still struggling to move between the bed, the bathroom and the couch, my mom arrived to help me overcome my raging hormone-induced compulsive tendencies. She plowed through six loads of laundry. Cooked. Cleaned. Basically everything my mother hates doing. She also held Sawyer so I could take a much-needed shower, entertained Justin and kept me company. I am so lucky she's here.

nurses, ribbons and champagne

After three and a half days sitting in the hospital, talking on the cell phone, watching TV and staring at the sleeping baby, we were ever so ready to go home. I was growing tired of the revolving door of nurses, lactician consultants, hospital welcome teams, pediatricians, nutritionists and midwives. The postpartum nurses were the worst - just as you get really attached to one, she's off her shift and a newbie arrives who doesn't know your story, doesn't know how well you're baby is feeding. Over the next 12 hours you form a bond. Then she leaves without even saying goodbye.
My arm was sore from the automatic blood pressure cuff. I was sick of TV. And scott and I had hit our limit: three-and-a-half days trapped in a room together is a challenge for us. We are both very independent people and thrive with some time to ourselves.
Three hours after our slated checkout time, they finally let us go. Grumpy and hungry we made the trip home. Sawyer slept so hard in the car that at one point we pulled over so I could get in the back seat with him to make sure he was still breathing. (We have since installed a mirror).
We were overwhelmed on our return by welcome home decorations left by Susan and a refrigerator full of food stocked by Dawn. But the best thing was the stack of paper plates, cups, forks, spoons and napkins that Dawn left. (A mother of three, this woman knows what a new mom needs).
We were soon greeted by the dogs (Duncan was intensely curious, Tucker could care less), Justin and my parents. The family cooked up a gourmet flank steak dinner with french fries and succotash salad and cracked open a bottle of champagne to celebrate.
It's never felt quite so good to be home.

hats in the hospital

When babies are born at Memorial Regional, they are immediately donned a lightweight cotton skull cap. I loved this cap and I wanted to keep it. But Sawyer returned from his first trip to the hospital nursery wearing - to my horror - a thick wool knitted hat with a pom-pom on top. It was, after all, July, and the hospital recovery room was bordering on too warm. And, the wool hat just did not seem appropriate for lounging around in bed all day.
I asked the nurses if I could get a hat like the one he was given when he was born. They just looked at me, bewildered, and said, "But, our volunteers make these hats."
Oh. I felt like a big B.
When they left I took his hat off. The next time he returned from the nursery, however, he was wearing another pom-pom. I took this one off too.
It soon became a battle between me and the nurses. They put a hat on, I took it off, they put a new hat on, I took it off - day after day.
Let's just say, I am now well stocked for winter.

Birth Story: July 21, 2006

After months fearing the nearly two-hour drive to the hospital while in labor and worrying about giving birth in the Wal-Mart parking lot, our birth story couldn't have been better.
On July 20, four days before my due date, my water broke around 6 a.m. But without any contractions it took me half the day to be absolutely certain that's what had happened. After a tentative call to our doctor we were headed to labor and delivery at Memorial Regional Hospital in Richmond. But, we had time to kill. Scott got a latte. We stopped at the store for dog food. At home, Scott took a shower and shaved. I doubled checked around the house for essentials - cell phone chargers, exercise ball and Propel (flavored energy drink). We made phone calls and arrangements for Justin. We stopped at the full service gas station. We stopped again so I could use the ladies room in Tappahannock.
At one point, Scott turned to me and said, "I can't believe this is really happening.... it seems surreal."
I said, "We're lucky it's happening like this. We'd never have our sh-- together otherwise."
At 2:30 pm we finally arrived at the hospital and our room was waiting for us, confirming - if there was any doubt still lingering - that after 39 weeks we were indeed having a baby.
By 3:30, following monitoring and an exam, our midwife Brenda Brickhouse confirmed that NOTHING was happening. My water had broken, I was having tiny contractions, but I was still only 1.5 cm dilated and 80 percent effaced. Time to jump start the engine.
They started me on a pitocin drip and we watched a Netflix (Season 1 of the show 24) on Scott's computer. Apparently my pain tolerance is pretty high. The nurse increased the dose one notch every 20 minutes and I kept watching the dvd until, about 3 hours later, I popped out of bed in pain. They had the drip cranked up to a 12 and the contractions were one on top of another. I tried to walk around the room. I slowed danced with Scott to Allison Kraus. I bounced around on my exercise ball.
By 8 pm, I was wearing down and worried about Scott. He was freezing (the hospital is kept at walk-in cooler temps) and starving (the cafeteria had closed). Yet he was handling my demands with aplomb.
I need a massage. No, I need a hot pad. No, now take that off and massage my back. Lower. Okay, hot pad. Give me water. The nurses, incidentally, were impressed with our preparedness: the Propel, the ball, the rice sock (for a heat pad), the movies and music. Of course, we had all day to get ready.
My contractions were coming on hard and fast - about 2 minutes apart and one minute long. I could barely recover between them. My body began uncontrollably shaking and - to put it delicately - I lost everything in my stomach several times. I couldn't talk.
I was only 3 cm dilated and I foresaw a long night ahead for everyone and knew we would all need our strength later, and so I asked for some relief.
Relief came in the form of Dr. Kim, a blessed angel from Heaven with a very long needle. My midwife hugged me and he injected my with an epidural. They turned off the pitocin.
My midwife told me she would come back to check on me at 12:30 am, hoping for 6 or 7 cm at that point, but by 11 pm I was feeling my contractions again and by midnight I was emptying my stomach of the popsicle I had just eaten and practically screaming from pain.
The slightly-concerned looking nurse called the midwife back in the room at 12:15 am. The midwife took one look at me and said, "He's right there. You're ready to push. Go on."
"What?" I said, suddenly scared.
Scott was up again and by my side, holding a leg and wrenching my neck into my chest while everyone in the room screamed "PUSH!"
The first thing I knew about my baby was that he had a lot of hair. Everyone commented on it. But, no, I didn't want to reach down and touch his head. No, I didn't want a mirror. I had one mission and one mission only. To launch this missile.
After nine hours in labor and 20 minutes of pushing, our son more or less slid into the world.
My first reaction: "I can't believe THAT just came out of me." He looked so BIG.
Then the nurse put him on my chest with his wide-open eyes taking me in and he looked so small.
Before I left for the hospital, Justin predicted that I would cry. He was right, I did. I cried at that moment when I held our baby in my arms for the first time.
I finally understand why everyone calls it a miracle.
William Sawyer Pierce: Born July 21, 2006 at 12:48 am, weighing 7 lbs 8 ounces and stretching 21.5 inches.

Week 39

The only news here is NO NEWS.

Our baby is officially ready to greet the world this week. I remain slightly dilated and almost completely effaced. The baby's head is "engaged" in my pelvis and ready to go. According to the doctor, there is no reason I shouldn't be having a baby this week.... but it could be next week ... don't you hate the way doctors can never be firm about anything. She is willing to let me go two weeks late, but we won't talk about that until next week's appointment (which is on my due date). Almost everyone who has looked at me this morning has predicted that it will happen this week. My plan is to try to ignore the fact that I am even pregnant. Hopefully the week will go by quickly.

Seven days from my due date and I must say that I am now OFFICIALLY uncomfortable. I have to use all four limbs to pry myself out of the car, and turning over in bed in the middle of the night is like trying to flip a beached whale. If possible, I have grown even larger since last week.

Any way you look at it, Scott and I will have a new baby in the next few weeks. That thought is enough to hyperventilate me. I am so excited, but I also realize that my life is about to change forever in unpredictable ways. What a strange place to be standing - one foot on each side of the county line - looking back and looking ahead.

I hope the next time I write to you all it will be with good news.

Week 12

We're Pregnant!

This is very exciting news for us and we're looking forward to a great adventure. So far, pregnancy has been treating me well. I haven't gotten the classic "morning sickness," but I have been tired; and everytime I open the refrigerator door I gag. Glad at last to be through the first trimester. Stay tuned for regular updates as the weeks and months progress.

Reid

Week 15

Happily into my second trimester, I am feeling much more normal these day. Nausea has subsided and I seem to have more energy. Have been getting into the yoga routine again and am looking forward to another appointment Monday - but I don't find out the gender for another month. Mom and I went maternity clothes shopping, and while I've outgrown all my old digs, I'm trying to hold off as much as possible on wearing the new clothes with the knowledge that once I break into them, I'll be wearing those same clothes for the next six months.

How your baby's growing: At around 4 inches long, crown to rump, your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 ounces. He's busy inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid, which will help develop the air sacs in his lungs. His legs are growing longer than his arms now, and he can move all his joints and limbs. That means his hands are more functional, too. Sweat glands are appearing, and although his eyelids are fused shut, he can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, he's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but his taste buds are beginning to form.

Week 16

Had my Dr's appt. today and all looks well. She says I may even be a little more than 16 weeks based on growth (every pregnancy is different), but we won't know if she's going to change the due date for sure until the ultrasound next month (March 8) when we also get to hopefully find out the sex. I haven't felt any movement yet, but any time now.... I've gained about 8 pounds and my tummy is starting to pop now. People on the street are starting to notice. I feel great - back to normal really.

Here the standard update I get on a weekly basis (they switch back and forth between male and female gender pronouns on a weekly basis to be fair):

How your baby's growing: At 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom) and 3 1/2 ounces, your baby is about the size of an avocado. In the next three weeks, she'll go through a tremendous growth spurt, though, doubling her weight and adding inches to her length. Her lower limbs are much more developed now. Her head is more erect than it has been, and her eyes have moved toward the front of her head. Your baby's ears are close to their final position, too. Some of her more advanced body systems are working, including her circulatory system and urinary tract. Her heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, circulating her total blood volume through her body many times. (By the end of your pregnancy, this will increase to about 190 quarts.) The patterning of her scalp has begun, though her hair isn't recognizable yet. Although closed, her eyes are moving (slowly), and she's even started growing toenails.

Soon you'll experience one of the most wonderful moments of pregnancy — feeling your baby move. While some women notice "quickening" as early as 16 weeks, most don't until about 18 weeks or more. The earliest movements may feel like little flutters, gas bubbles, or even like popcorn popping. Over the following weeks they'll start to feel unmistakably like kicks.

Week 17

Well, another week behind us brings some good news. All the blood they've extracted from my arm over the last two months has proven useful. The baby apparently is healthy as can be. A sweet sigh of relief. They'll be able to double check things when we do our next ultrasound in March.

I had a joyful moment during a meeting tonight when I felt the baby kick for the first time. I was leaning over - bored to tears, head in hand. I guess I must have been squashing the poor thing cause all the sudden I felt this weird popcorn popping feeling in my stomach. I sat up straight, a little surprised and put my hand on the spot where I had felt the popcorn .... and I felt it again, right under my hand, a little tiny kick. I could hardly contain my smile, and I felt a little bit of the heebee-jeebees too. I'll enjoy it while I can, because as the baby grows, those kicks may not be so sweet and cute.

The baby is now 5 ounces and 5 inches long, about the size of a large onion. I, on the other hand, and feeling like a baby giraffe -- a bit off balance and awkward with my growing belly.

The "Blizzard of '06" missed us for the most part, we only got three or four inches whereas my folks got more than a foot in NoVa. Hope everyone is doing well.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Week 18

All's well. Weather's cold cold cold. Now that I have begun to feel our little flipper moving, I notice it all the time - like butterflies in the stomach. Poor Scott is constantly called over to feel - but as of yet hasn't gotten so much as a kick. On an exciting work note, I was just notified that I won three awards in this year's Virginia Press Association contest. No idea what I've won yet. We'll find out when we travel to Roanoke for the conference in late March. Here's the typical weekly update I get by email and pictures of both our babies to boot.

How your baby's growing: Head to bottom, your baby is approximately 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a large sweet potato) and she weighs almost 7 ounces. She's busy flexing her arms and legs — movements that you'll likely start noticing more and more. Her blood vessels are visible through her thin skin and her ears are now in position and stand out from her head. Myelin (a protective covering) is beginning to form around her nerves, a process that will continue for a year after she's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and Fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If your baby is a boy, his little parts are noticeable, though he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

Reid

Week 19

Hello all,
Well, I'm just a week shy of the halfway mark and we hopefully get to find out what sex the little flipper is on Friday. We bought a tall stack of books this weekend on a trip up to DC covering topics ranging from naming the baby to surviving the first year - so I have some reading ahead of me. Otherwise I am feeling good. I swear my belly grew over night. I looked down one morning this week - and there it was, out of the blue, a big bulging belly. Go figure, the baby has gone from the size of a jumbo shrimp to a zucchini in a little more than a month. It's the fastest growth period the baby will have.

How your baby's growing: Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces, and he measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the length of a small zucchini. His arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of his body now. The hair on his scalp is sprouting. This is a crucial time for sensory development: Your baby's brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. If your baby is a girl, she has an astonishing six million eggs in her ovaries. They'll dwindle to fewer than two million by the time she's born.

The weather has been wacky 30 one day 70 the next. I am desperately trying to keep my mouth shut, and Scott is working on finishing the house on time. Good for me and bad for him - time is flying!

Best to you all....
Reid

Week 20

Its a boy!!
That's the most exciting news of the week. Apparently it's also a large and very healthy boy (he's about a week above average on the growth scale.) We spent about an hour last Friday in the sonogram room checking out the little guy as he tossed and turned, sucked him thumb and scratched his elbow. Once he even looked at us and stuck his tongue out.

I'm still due July 24.

We are excited, working on wrapping our minds around the concept of a little boy, and beginning to talk names. We are taking suggestions but we are going to keep the final name a secret until the baby is born.

He weighs about a pound and is about a foot long.

I've made it to the halfway mark! Yippee!

Here's a profile of the little guy sucking his thumb (laying on his back). I think he looks like Scott. ; ) We have some more pics but I thought it would probably mortify our son 12 years from now to know that we emailed his boy parts to all our family and friends. Let's just say he's DEFINITELY a boy. And a very active one at that. He moves around all the time - and he stays up late too... hmmm. Another night owl in the family.

Take care,
Reid and Scott

Week 21

Hello everybody!
My baby update this week noted that I "may soon feel like my baby is practicing martial arts as his initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges." I actually got my first hint that I was having a boy when he started moving at 17 weeks-- the movements never felt so much like a butterfly as a bat trapped in a box. Now the jabs can be felt through my clothing and Scott got his first good kick last night - at long last, enough of the "I think I felt something's"

The update also said "You may also discover a pattern to his activity as you get to know him better. Some babies are restless in the evening, for example, just as you're trying to fall asleep." As I noted last week, I definitely have a night owl on my hands. He's active all afternoon and when I lay down to sleep he's practicing his disco moves, but I never feel him move much in the morning. Like me, he enjoys sleeping in.

I had an appointment today, and all is well. I've gained 15 pounds in the first 21 weeks. Now, my doctor says, I should gain about a pound a week. It's a little scary to think about. I can hardly bend over to use the dust pan when I sweep as it is. And putting shoes and socks on has become an added challenge. My coworker even giggled as she said I was "dragging my way across the parking lot" this afternoon with all that extra weight. Another 20 pounds? Its hard to imagine. Scott is very pleased, however, that a lot of the weight appears to have been gained in the "Dolly Parton" arena.

I am looking forward to two trips in April. First a long weekend in LA just before my birthday to spend with the Madeira Girls. Sarah Quainton is expecting a baby in May so we will be showering her and relaxing in a condo by the beach. Scott will be off for a boy's weekend with Justin, so I must return home for a birthday alone, full of work, doctor's appointments and meetings.

Then, of course, Ross's long-awaited wedding is coming up and we will get to spend five days in New Orleans where we may not want to swim in the water, or even drink it, but we will be guaranteed a raucous weekend-long celebration and hopefully some beignets and (decaf) coffee.

I may have to sneak away one more time before my "confinement" period begins around 32 weeks - not that I'm really confined, just that I shouldn't travel long distances. Justin is coming out in mid-June for the whole summer, so he will get to be here when his baby brother is born. We are currently signing him up for camp with swimming, golfing, tennis and sailing as well as some time chilling out at home with me, and the babe when he gets here.

My plan is to spend the entire month of July floating in giant inner tube in my parent's pool armed with a glass of lemonade, an ugly bathing suit, and a large brimmed hat.

Otherwise all is well. The house is coming along, albeit slowly, and Scott and I were out there together on Sunday building a section of roof. (Actually, he did most of the hammering but I did carry lumber, hand him tools and climb ladders. He even let me use the nail gun once, but, due to enormous kickback, I ended up installing three nails every time instead of one, so I gave up quickly.)

Hope everyone is well.
Reid

Week 22

According to my email update this week, baby Pierce-Armstrong is beginning to look more like a miniature newborn now, with more distinct lips, eyelids, and eyebrows. He's even developing tiny teeth buds beneath the gum line. His skin will continue to appear wrinkled until he gains enough weight to fill it out, and the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his head and body is now visible. His eyes are developed, though the iris (the colored part of the eye) still lacks pigment.

The email also notes that my stomach "may become a hand magnet — people will touch it without asking permission." I guess I'm not poking out too far yet because so far people have been able to resist the urge to feel. I swear though, some days I look like I'm ready to pop and other days I barely look pregnant. I think it really depends on whether the clothes I wear accentuate the bump.

The funny thing for me is that, for the most part, I feel pretty normal. My energy level is high. I'm not insanely hungry or nauseated. And, when I am look down I can still see my feet. I kinda forget I'm pregnant sometimes until, walking through a restaurant, I see a table of strange women smiling sweetly at me, or I catch my reflection in a shop window - now that's enough to make me do a double take.

Scott and I have been keeping something of a video journal of the major events of my pregnancy. He actually turns out to be quite the comedian when the camera is pointed at him, and he keeps me in stitches with narratives such as, "shopping for the best diaper pail." Maybe when it's all done we'll share the edited version.

I, on the other hand, have been more focused on irrelevant things such as color schemes for the nursery. While we are racing to get the main part of the house finished by the time Justin arrives in June, and while an actual nursery is months and months away still - the baby will sleep in our room for the first few months and Justin will likely occupy the room destined to be the nursery until his upstairs hideaway is complete - I have a perfect image in my mind of what the baby's room should look like.

Inspired by our very first baby present - a lime green pottery barn blanket from Ross and Niki (thank you) - I have dreamed up a room design with an ebony crib and dresser, stark white (and completely bleachable) bedding and lime green accents. Tasteful and simple. (My hope is to avoid any Disney-themed interior decoration for at least three years.) Of course, I married a man who cares about things like furniture and bedding and wants a say in everything baby-related. He also has strong ideas about what nursery furniture we pick. He very begrudgingly allowed me my ebony crib and dresser. I haven't broken the news to him yet about the white bedding and lime green accents. (I wonder if he'll go for the scalloped edging on the crib skirt I want?)

The most exciting happening of the week arrived in the back of Dawn Biddlecomb's suburban. Dawn, a friend who lives nearby in Reedville, has three boys, all under the age of 4. On Sunday afternoon she brought us four huge seafood boxes full of baby clothes. I was in heaven. I sat on the floor and joyfully organized all the clothes into piles according to size (clearly I am nesting). Since Dawn is a woman with good taste, the hand-me-downs include the entire spring line of Ralph Lauren onesies. That doesn't mean I won't be shopping for new clothes – I think the urge to buy teeny tiny outfits is primal – but it does take some of the pressure off.

We'll that's the news from our end of the sticks. Keep in touch and let us know how you are doing.
Reid and Scott

Week 23

The only thing my weekly update said of interest this week was, "Loud noises heard often in utero — such as your dog barking or the roar of a vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze your baby when he hears them outside the womb."

This is a good thing. We went to Roanoke over the weekend for the Virginia Press Association conference and awards banquet. The banquet itself was followed by a Mardi Gras theme party in the hotel. My coworkers and our spouses had a blast standing on the side of the dance floor watching the young reporters from the big daily newspapers "get down." We even danced to a few of the more familiar tunes ourselves.

But we spent most of the night standing right next to the speakers and I could barely hear myself talk by the time we left. I worried that the baby was going to be rocked right out of the womb, but now I know I was just preparing him for a future of rock concerts.

Last week was a busy one. We had a reporter quit and I have been burning the midnight oil trying to keep up with everything. I didn't get home home until after 8 p.m. any night last week and It's 6:30 pm Monday night and I'm off to a meeting.

Hope you all are doing well.
Reid

Week 24

If you followed the news last week, you may have heard a new statistic - the average pregnancy is getting shorter. More than 50 percent of women are having their babies at 39 rather than 40 weeks, and births after 40 weeks have declined by 21 percent in the last decade. I would be so lucky! I've never been one to fall within the "average" statistically, I won't hope to this time around.

But, it does remind me that I only have two weeks remaining in my second trimester. Time seems to be flying - where did the last three months go?

Our baby is apparently growing steadily - having gained about a quarter pound since last week, when he was just over a pound. By the way I've been eating, I'd believe it. I was very hungry last week. The result however, is that my now soccer-ball sized uterus is pushing up against my stomach and causing some commercial-worthy heartburn. I haven't turned to the Mylanta yet – I have never taken an antacid in my life – but give me a few hours and I'm sure I'll give in.

The list of foods I'm supposed to be wary of - due to my higher susceptibility to food-born illness - extends from soft and unpasturized cheeses like brie and blue to cold cuts, unwashed vegetables and sushi. I have to admit that if I paid attention to everything they warn you about I probably wouldn't eat or drink a thing.

I went shopping in Williamsburg this weekend with a girlfriend and couldn't help myself. I bought my first outfit for the little man: a polo pinstripe seersucker getup. It's so preppy I can hardly deal. He'll be able to wear it for about a day. I don't think the word "practical" can seriously be used when shopping for baby clothes. And this after my friend unloaded four boxes of clothes on me two weeks ago.

The house is coming along. We still have a long way to go, but the hard part is almost over. We ordered roofing and siding last week – it will look like a real home soon enough. That said, Scott won't be here for the rest of the month to work on it.

He is off a UVA this weekend finishing up his Master Builder's degree through a joint program with the National Association of Home Builders. He has been working on this certification for three years now. They only offer the classes once or twice a year and, toward the end, they never seemed to offer the ones he needed. Each class is 8 hours and he had to take 12 classes all together. This will be a triumph for him.

He will be in Charlottesville until Tuesday and then will return for one day before we are off to California. We'll spend only a night together in LA with Sarah, Cap and Dara. Scott will then head down to So. Cal. to spend a few days with Justin, watch him play a baseball game, visit his school and do something fun. The girls and I are renting a condo near the beach in Marina Del Rey and we'll be doing the baby shower thing for Sarah on Saturday. I come home Sunday by myself and will spend my birthday solo going to meetings and doctors appointments. Scott returns Wednesday morning and has only a week before we head to New Orleans for the big wedding. After that, things should hopefully quiet down.

In the meantime I enjoyed a relaxing weekend at home by myself, talking on the phone, reading and researching baby names. We've got it down to a short list now, which gives us some hope of reaching a decision by the time the baby is born.

Happy daylight savings....
Reid and The Little Man

Week 25

I've just returned from a wonderful weekend in California visiting Madeira friends Sarah Quainton, Dara Trought MacDonald and Jessica Watson. We three girls threw a baby shower for Sarah, which was a roaring success, if I dare say so myself. Sarah and I had a chance to compare bellies - she wins. She's due in six weeks and is expecting a girl. One of her friends brought her four-day-old baby to the shower - a most impressive feat. It was fun to see the little guy but I was way more fascinated by the new mom. While everyone else ogled at the baby, I stared at her, trying to detect how tired and haggard she was, asking questions about the first few nights as a mom, checking out how insanely bundled the baby was and scoping out the 50 pounds of gear she had brought with her. Sarah made off with quite a loot herself and spent Sunday afternoon after we left putting stuff together and organizing - who knew it could be so fun!

We spent four days walking around the Venice Beach and Marina Del Rey area, enjoying beautiful weather and the beach and eating A LOT. The girls surprised me Saturday night with a birthday dinner at a family-style Italian restaurant where the waiters make you sing and clink glasses throughout the course of the evening. Think: When the moon hits the sky like a big pizza pie....

The flight went well. On the way out, Scott and I flew on the same plane but he was offered the emergency row seating with its extra leg room and took it. I asked if they had another seat in that row and the guy looked me up and down and said I wasn't allowed sit there "in my condition." Sometimes I forget that other people can plainly see that I'm pregnant, and out-of-the-blue questions from strangers like, "How many months," leave me staring blankly back like an idiot. So, anyway, my adoring husband left me sitting by myself ten rows back. I passed the time entrenched in Memoirs of a Geisha.

In both directions, we hit a lot of turbulence so the seat belt sign was always on and I had to keep making mad dashes for the restrooms between bumps and jolts, climbing over people as I went. I drove home late last night and hit not one but two fast food restaurants on the way. I tried to be reserved at Kentucky Fried Chicken and only got the three-piece strips, but when I passed McDonalds I had a sudden craving for an apple pie. The cashier asked me if I wanted two for a dollar and I said, "One is enough," remembering that I had my doctor's appointment along with dreaded weigh-in session today. "That will be 97 cents," he said. So I ended up telling him just to give me two, and of course I ate them both on the way home.

The weigh-in went fine anyway, and I've gained about 19 pounds total. I think I've mentioned that my doctor is the scale Nazi. Everything else looks good - my blood pressure was 118 over 70, baby's heart rate is 148 bpm, loud and strong and he's moving around a lot, which they kept asking me about. I guess that's an important sign that everything is normal.

Scott is still in Cali with Justin, currently outfitting him for the wedding festivities.

I've sent some pictures from the trip. Enjoy!
Reid

Week 26

Our baby now weighs a little under 2 pounds and measures about 14 inches, from head to heel. The nerve pathways in his ears are developing, which means his response to sounds is growing more consistent. His lungs are developing now, too, as he continues to take small breaths of amniotic fluid — good practice for when he's born and takes that first breath of air.

We head to New Orleans Wednesday for Ross and Niki's wedding and can't wait to see many of you there. We are all ready to go: bridesmaid's dress altered and groomsman's kilt in hand.

My tummy seems to have expanded quite a bit in recent weeks. No mistaking it. The most frequent question I get these days is: "Have you felt the baby move?" The answer is a resounding "Yes!" In fact, I can't believe just how much he moves. It seems like in the last two weeks he has become much more active, or maybe he is just running out of room in there. I feel him moving when I wake up, when I go to bed and at all hours in between. (Keep asking myself: Is this a sign of things to come?) If I am holding a book on my belly, sometimes it will jump when the baby kicks underneath it and, if you watch for long enough, you may be able to see the skin of my belly wriggle. Of course, if you want to try to feel a little kick, you have to be patient. He seems to have a sixth sense about when other people come over to touch my tummy and he always stops whatever he's doing and sits still.

According to my pregnancy calendar, this is the last week of my second trimester. I guess I soon get to say goodbye to the fun parts of being pregnant and hello to bloating, back pain and behemoth-dom. But, right now I feel great. The last three months have been a joy and, without the first trimester nausea and the third trimester waddle, I have enjoyed myself. I realize that I will never be able to experience pregnancy in the same way again, so I want to enjoy it. If I do have another one at some point - and let's get through this one first - I know I will be too busy running around and taking care of Child #1 o notice the details I do now. I figure that this is the time to indulge myself in the little joys and changes I am experiencing. If there is ever a Child #2, it will be lucky to get a monthly update, not to mention a weekly one.

Those of you who are traveling, whether to the wedding or elsewhere, be safe!

Much love,

Reid

Week 27

How your baby's growing: Your baby is really starting to fill up your uterus. This week he weighs almost 2 pounds and is about 14.4 inches long with his legs extended. He can now open and close his eyes, and he sleeps and wakes at regular intervals. He may suck his fingers, and although his lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with assistance — if he were to be born prematurely. Chalk up any rhythmic movement you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and isn't bothersome to him, so enjoy the tickle. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. Wonder what he's thinking?

"Little Man's" movements have become much more pronounced lately and sometime watching my stomach move is more fascinating than TV. I don't doubt that he's running out of room and I think sometimes he is just trying to stretch me out with all his exercises. While many women may wish for a fast and early delivery, fears of the baby coming too early or too fast haunt me at night. My worst case scenario would be if the baby came early and the house wasn't ready yet. We're racing the clock. Just last night I dreamed that he was born a full month early and because 36 weeks is considered "full term" the hospital sent me home with this teeny tiny little baby and I totally wasn't ready. It seems like everyone hears horror stories when they are pregnant. Everyone keeps telling me stories of going to a regular doctors appointment only to find the baby is crowning or deliveries that last an hour and a half. The nearest hospital to us that delivers babies is an hour and a half drive from home, and I really don't want to have this baby in the Wal-Mart parking lot (and it happens around here with some frequency -- another major concern is getting pulled over by state troopers who hold you up even longer). Of course, if everything goes as planned I will be a week late and have an 8 hour long labor resulting in a healthy 6.5 pound baby. I don't want to push it too far the other way.... No three days in labor, three weeks late, or 11 pound babies thank you very much.

But, as my mom put it, the minute we get pregnant, our lives are no longer our own to control. We become completely devoted and dedicated (and bound) to our child and his schedule.

Stayed tuned for wedding news and photos (for those who weren't there). I will pass them on as soon as they become available.

Week 28

How your baby's growing: By this week, your baby can open his eyes — which now sport lashes — and he'll turn her head toward a continuous, bright light from the outside. His fat layers are beginning to form, too, as he gets ready for life outside the womb.

How your life's changing:
Do your legs feel creepy-crawly at night? Tingling in your lower legs and an irresistible urge to move them is known as restless legs syndrome (RLS), and it can make it hard to relax when you're settling in. No one knows what causes RLS, but it's common among pregnant women. Try cutting down on caffeine, which can make the symptoms worse, and massage your calves when they feel tense. Some studies also show that taking iron supplements helps ease your discomfort.

That's an affirmative on the creepy-crawly leg thing. Also this week I am feeling overwhelmingly tired. I don't know if it's the pollen and time of year, the heavy work load this week at the paper, or the fact that I am now into my third trimester. I am also feeling BIG. I think I have grown since New Orleans (a week ago). Even dad said I looked big now. He told me that it's "the beginning of the end." When will men learn that you don't say things like that to a pregnant woman? Just the other day I was at the gas station getting a cup of decaf and a donut on my way to work and this short, bald, squat, middle aged man turns to me and says: "Take it easy on the donuts. After all, you are what you eat." If you are what you eat, I'd rather be a chocolate iced donut with pretty sprinkles than a sack of potatoes. But, whatever, he's lucky I was in good humor. If he said that to me today I would probably have socked him. Nevertheless, I started this morning out with an oat bran english muffin and a cup of herbal tea. Scott and I got together with my parents this weekend for our first big crab feast of the summer. I think we ate at least a dozen crabs each. You ladies should be getting an update from Jen soon, but we changed the DC shower date to the weekend of June 10 to hopefully accommodate more people and make it a little further away from my due date. I understand most of you are all far away and probably can't make it, and I know I'll be seeing some of you earlier or later in the summer, but in case any of you want to some see me big and fat, I thought I would keep you abreast of the plan.

Until next week.
Reid

Week 30

How your baby's growing: Your baby's a bit more than 15 1/2 inches long now, and he weighs almost 3 pounds. A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him, but that volume will decrease as he gets bigger and fills out your uterus. His eyes open and close, he's able to distinguish between light and dark, and he can even follow a light source back and forth. Once he's born, he'll keep his eyes closed for a good part of the day. When he does open them, he'll respond to changes in light but will have a visual acuity of only 20/400 — which means he can only make out objects a few inches from his face. ("Normal" vision in adults is 20/20.)

How your life's changing: You may be feeling a little tired these days, especially if you're having any trouble sleeping. You might also feel clumsy, which is perfectly understandable. Not only are you heavier, your balance is off and your joints are loosened, thanks to pregnancy hormones. Those loose joints can actually cause your feet to grow a shoe size --permanently. Remember those mood swings you had earlier in pregnancy? The combination of uncomfortable symptoms and your hormones may result in a revisit of those ups and downs you felt in the first few months. -- note: don't mess with a pregnant woman.

Scott and I have had a busy week. I never even got around to writing a 29 week update and I am already 30 weeks. With ten weeks left until baby-time, we started our childbirth preparedness classes last Wednesday. The classes are once a week on Wed. night at the hospital where we will deliver in Richmond (an hour and a half away). It was our first look at the hospital and we will take a tour of the birthing center in the third week. We were relieved to find that it is a VERY nice facility with a huge fountain out front and marble floors in the lobby. The classes are pretty basic. We run through the stages of labor and watch frightening videos that bring a tear to your eye at the end. The best part was when Scott had to practice his massage techniques on my back for half an hour at the end of class. I told him he needs A LOT of practice and offered, selflessly, to let him practice on me every night. I think its fair to say that I look quite pregnant now. People walk by me and say "whoa," if that's a hint. I will try to get somebody to take a belly shot this weekend. Ross is going to be here for mother's day weekend, and I am looking forward to two days of wedding and honeymoon analysis. We plan to eat crabs, play golf and make brunch for mom on Sunday. Ross starts a new job on Monday and his training is in DC, so I think he is also catching dinner with the godparents Sunday night.

The big news of the week, however, has nothing to do with baby stuff. Scott and Dad had a big presentation before the Northumberland County Board of Supervisors for a 13-home cluster development on Hack's Creek. The property has 26 acres and 1200 feet of shoreline. Scott designed a very nice little community with modest and low-maintenance craftsman-style homes, a lot of open space, hiking trails along the waterfront and community access to the water. One of the most unique aspects of the development is that the homeowners will only own the property directly around their homes and the community will own and maintain the rest of the property - including the portion along the waterfront. Anyway, the board has tabled several very controversial cluster developments recently, and even looked at rewriting its zoning ordinance to address cluster developments, so we were all a little concerned that this proposal could be tabled with the rest of them. Scott spent the better part of the week working on a presentation, which he made to the 5 board members, county staff, and a room of maybe 40-50 people. Needless to say, he was very nervous. He pulled it off beautifully. A handful of neighbors got up during the public hearing to express concerns, but nobody voiced an outright objection to the project. Several people even got up and praised the development concept saying that this is just the kind of thing the county needs. Well, the board unanimously approved the proposal, much to everyone's relief. Scott and Dad (and another partner, David) are about to embark on a very exciting adventure together. I couldn't be more thrilled for them, and you are all invited to come buy one of the homes in the new development.

Poor Sarah Q. - for those of you who are following that - is still insanely pregnant and is due in only three days. Her doctor has told her, however, that the baby may not come until Memorial Day Weekend. Yikes!! Stay tuned for more news there.....

Happy Mother's Day to all you women - mothers and mother's-in-spirit both.

Much love,
Reid

Week 31

How your baby's growing: This week, your baby measures about 16 inches long. He weighs a little over 3 pounds and is headed for a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and he's beginning to accumulate a layer of fat underneath his skin in preparation for life as a newborn. As a result, his arms, legs, and body are filling out.

Scott and I have been attending our childbirth preparedness classes in Richmond. While it's a long drive (1.5 hours each way), I think it's worth it - and it's good practice for when we have to make "THE DRIVE." The best part of class is the half-hour of massage practice at the end. I'm looking forward to touring the birthing center this week. Our crib, which we ordered on Ebay, showed up last week. Scott was so excited that he assembled it right there in the living room. Of course, now we are walking around it (if you can imagine our little living room) and will have to find a place to store it until we get into the new house. As for the new house, delays continue and the project seems overwhelming at times. We worked on it some this weekend only to realize that we really need to build the decks before continuing. Our new moving deadline is prior to Labor Day weekend when we hope to be having some house guests. I am still feeling pretty good, although my stomach is growing and looking at this picture, I realize I am beginning to retain water (bloated face). Ross took this of me last weekend on the new property. Nine more weeks! I can't imagine where all that baby is going to go.

Still no news from Sarah Q, who is now a week overdue. The doctor scheduled an induction for May 30.

Love to all.... Reid

Week 32

How your baby's growing: By now, your baby probably weighs almost 4 pounds and is almost 17 inches long. He has tiny toenails now, and his fingernails have grown in, too. Some babies have a head of hair already; others have only peach fuzz.

Well, hopefully we only have 8 more weeks left. A due date, after all, is not a guarantee. I just hope he's not too late. The sooner he gets here, the more time Justin will have to spend with him. Of course, Justin will probably think he is just a boring blob that does nothing but eat and sleep. Justin arrives in only a few weeks - June 15 to be exact - and he leaves August 12. That's a little more than 8 weeks with us and we can't wait.

I broke-in the pool this weekend. My mom was the only one crazy enough to follow suit. The water was very chilly and the baby kicked (I may have even heard a muffled scream) as I sank my belly below the waterline. It felt refreshing though, once I got used to it, and I spent several hours just hanging onto a noodle and kicking my legs - part of my new "Just say no to cellulite on the butt" campaign.

Speaking of butts, I have been making a concerted effort to censor these updates after Uncle Ross expressed queasiness over any and all references to amniotic fluid and uteruses. After reading enough about it, I have become somewhat desensitized to all mention of anatomy and bodily function. As my friend Sarah Q. pointed out, the entire pregnancy experience culminates in a room full of people staring at your privates for several hours - and you don't even care. This is just a step along that path. Soon, I guess, my most daily conversations will likely hinge on even less pleasant topics such as poop and vomit.

And, speaking of Sarah Quainton, she and husband Capulet Poehner announce the birth of their first baby - Adelaide Catherine Poehner - who was born Wednesday, May 24, weighing 7 pounds 12 ounces and stretching 19 inches in length. I have been following the whole process with extreme interest, as anyone can imagine. I had the privilege of speaking to Sarah DURING labor (she had just received her epidural), directly after Adelaide was born (Sarah couldn't even move her legs yet), After the first night in the hospital and after the first few days at home. She seems to be adjusting well to motherhood and mentions that she can just sit and watch the baby for hours on end.

We have our last baby class this week and I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow. Hope everyone is doing well and had a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend.

Week 33

This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds and measures 17.2 inches from the top of his head to his heels. His skin is becoming less red and wrinkled, and while most of his bones are hardening, his skull is quite pliable and not completely joined.

Baby Pierce is head down and in firing position. Or, at least he was when I went to the doctor's last week. I feel like he may have shifted a little sideways again since then. I am still on target with 116 over 70 blood pressure, a strong 140 bpm fetal heartbeat and an additional 26 pounds in weight. I am now on a two-week schedule for doctor's visits. Overall, I am feeling really good. I have a lot of energy even though I have started sleeping less at night, waking up at 5 a.m unable to go back to sleep. My eyes just pop open and that's it, I'm helplessly awake. I think this is nature's way of preparing me. Going to sleep is difficult too, now that Jr. has decided that 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. is a good time to practice his disco moves. It's difficult enough to sleep with somebody tossing and turning next to you - try INSIDE of you. My tummy looks like a basketball these days and, perhaps because I am so short torsoed, my lung capacity has diminished a startling amount. A short flight of stairs leaves me breathless.

We finished our last childbirth class and, I must say, I learned something new about my husband. Okay, it's not totally new information. Scott loves war movies, but he can't stand to watch blood spilled and always closes his eyes during the goriest scenes. The last class focused on C-sections and they showed us a video - a DIGITAL SIMULATION mind you - of a C-Section procedure. Scott had to leave the room. If it comes to surgery, it appears that my support person will be supporting himself against a wall in the waiting room. He swears that he will have no problem with a normal birth and even cut Justin's umbilical cord, so we'll see. Hopefully it won't come to surgery.

We had a house guest this weekend, which gave me the excuse to get a lot of stuff done around the house. We moved some furniture around to make space for the baby and are loving the new layout. Meanwhile (drum roll) the shingles began to go onto the new house this weekend and the progress is astonishing. We WILL be in our new house by Labor Day Weekend, although I am still hoping to get in before Justin leaves. Speaking of Justin, he will be arriving June 15.

I head to DC next weekend for my last foray from home before the little one arrives. I have a day of beauty scheduled on Saturday with my friend Jen and on Sunday she is throwing me a little shower. I am looking forward to a little ceremony and celebration of the pending birth - making it all seem real.

The weeks keep ticking by and I just can't wait to meet our son. I don't want to wish it here to quickly, though, because I know I should relish these last few weeks of "Life As We Know It."

Somebody advised me to stop and take a good look around before I head to the hospital because nothing will ever look the same again.

I hope you are all doing well.

Much Love,
Reid

Week 34

How your baby's growing: Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds and is probably almost 18 inches long. His fat layers — which he'll need to regulate his body temperature once he's born — are filling out, making him rounder. His central nervous system is still maturing and his lungs are well developed by now. If you've been nervous about going into preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that 99 percent of babies this age can survive outside the womb — and most have no major long-term problems related to prematurity.

Six more weeks to go and I am still feeling pretty good. So far, knock on wood, no back pain, no ankle swelling and my rings still fit. I am still able to sleep fairly well. Junior is incredibly active in the womb still. You may think I'd get used to it by now, but it never ceases to marvel me, watching my stomach wriggle and squirm. I can almost feel body parts through my skin now, which makes it all seem even more real.

Jen and Connie threw me a shower this weekend, and I just want to say thanks to everyone who sent stuff. (More personal thank you's are on their way.) It really made the day more special since only 8 people could actually attend the shower. I drove home last night loaded down like Santa Claus. Scott was ready to set everything up, but I reminded him that six weeks is a pretty long time and that, with Justin coming on Thursday, we need all the space we can get. Having the gear makes me feel more prepared and Scott said he's ready now. Mom and Connie both took pictures and I will send those out as soon as they get them to me.

I have yet another doctor's appointment today. I am still busy as ever at work and looking forward to seeing Justin.

Let me know how you are doing.

Reid

Week 35

How your baby's growing: Your baby's getting big. He weighs a tad over 5 pounds and is just over 18 inches long. Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

How your life's changing: Your uterus — now up under your ribs — has expanded to about 15 times its original volume, and you may feel like you've run out of room! If you could peek inside your uterus, you'd see that there's much less amniotic fluid and much more baby in there now. Your ballooning uterus is crowding your internal organs too, which is why you probably have to urinate more often and have heartburn and other digestive problems.

Sorry if there's too much amniotic fluid in that description for you Ross. But, at this point, pregnancy gets kinda gross and uncomfortable.

Saturday was a pretty miserable day for me. It was so hot walking around Tappahannock for Rivah Fest that I felt like if I let go, the baby would fall out. Add to that emotional swings (there's a man at a furniture store who will never be the same after I let him both have it both barrels for putting on too much sales pressure, the discomfort of having a baby's foot under your rib on the 1.5 hour drive to Richmond, missing the class we drove an hour and a half to attend (my fault), returning a non-functioning remote control toy at Target for a different one only to get home and find that the new remote control toy doesn't work either and waiting two-hour wait for dinner at the restaurant. Let's just say I was glad to go to sleep and put the whole day behind me.

Sunday was much better. I spent hours floating in the pool. We had a father's day feast of fruit and quiche and bacon. We played board games by the pool. Scott made a delicious Thai taco dinner (which Justin amazingly gobbled down despite the lettuce wraps and spicy curry seasoning). We read books together and ate fresh Nestle Toll House cookies for an hour before Justin went to bed. We talked to the whole family in California.

Justin is in camp at the country club this week (golf, tennis and swimming.) The girls at work are throwing me a shower this weekend. After that I will have a better idea of what I still need and can do a final shop in preparation.

Summer is in full force.

Hope every one is doing well.

Reid

Week 36

How your baby's growing: Your baby is still putting on the pounds — about an ounce a day. He now weighs almost 6 pounds and is a little less than 19 inches long. He's shedding most of the downy hair that covered his body as well as the vernix caseosa, the creamy substance that covered and protected his skin during its submersion in amniotic fluid. At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Babies between 37 and 42 weeks are considered full-term; a baby born before 37 weeks is pre-term and after 42 is post-term.) Most likely he's in a head-down position by now, which is optimal for a smooth delivery.

How your life's changing: While your baby continues to grow and crowd your internal organs, you may find that you're not as hungry as you were a few weeks ago. Smaller, more frequent meals are often easier to handle at this point. On the other hand, you may have less heartburn and have an easier time breathing when your baby starts to drop down lower in your pelvis. Some women say, once the baby drops, that it feels as though they're carrying a bowling ball between their legs, or as if the baby is going to fall out. You might also notice that your Braxton Hicks contractions are a little more frequent now.

As I reach the end of this pregnancy, I think everyone else is more uncomfortable looking at me than I am at myself. People keep saying "aren't you gone yet,' or "didn't expect to see you here." I am hoping to go on a final shop with Scott this weekend to pick up the final essentials we need before the little one arrives, and then I will feel more ready. I have to visit the doctor weekly now for checkups. Otherwise, all is well. I'm sending some photos from the shower.

Week 37

How your baby's growing: Congratulations! Your pregnancy is now considered full term — meaning your baby is developmentally ready to handle life outside the womb. (Babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 weeks are post-term.) Your baby probably weighs a little over 6 pounds at this point and measures between 19 and 20 inches, head to heel.

Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children are born blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

Now is the time to start the pool. It's anybody's guess when this baby will be born. As of my doctor's appt this morning, I am 1 cm dilated and 50 percent effaced.... for those of you who understand the jargon. Baby's heart rate was 150, my bp was normal and - get this - I haven't gained so much as a pound in the last month!! (I am celebrating with a quarter pounder and a chocolate milkshake for lunch). The baby has dropped but is still kicking up a storm. Doctor says it could be tomorrow or it could be three weeks. Scott and I did our big shop Sunday and purchased all the remaining essentials. We didn't get home until 9 p.m. but I made him build the shelf we bought so I could start putting things away. (If Justin had been awake to count cuss words, he'd be rich). Anyway, I am personally rooting for an early delivery - but what pregnant woman in July isn't. The godparents are down this week staying with my folks. I've attached my column that appeared in last week's Rappahannock Record for your further amusement.
Happy Fourth of July everyone.
Reid

PS - We are also taking bets on baby's hair color. I am personally guessing spiky and dark.

Week 38

Two more weeks remain until my due date.... July 24. At this point, however, I am trying to not focus on the exact date - something like 20 percent of babies are actually born on their due date. The rest of us will deliver within a four week window surrounding our date.

Anticipation is growing but not slowing us down. This weekend we went berry picking and then hiking at the state park. I hoofed it 8 miles, including a climb up 154 stairs (see photos). Was hoping to walk the baby right out of me but, so far, he's still clinging on for dear life. Finished the weekend up with a crab feast Saturday night followed by vanilla ice cream topped with fresh blackberries. We enjoyed a fresh blueberry pancake breakfast Sunday morning and saw "Pirates of the Caribbean Part 2."

Bag is packed - it's truly amazing how much stuff one is supposed to bring to the hospital. I feel like we are ready to move in for a week! Cameras, I-pod, snacks, car seat, diaper bag, clothes, exercise ball.... it's borderline ridiculous. I bet we end up not using half of it. But, what else do we have to do right now? Been having some sporadic contractions over the last 24 hours. Not putting much stock into it. Most likely just Braxton Hicks - but heart-stopping all the same. Have a Dr's appt. this afternoon so we'll see what she says. I've decided that my doctor's favorite line is: 'Could be tomorrow, Could be three weeks.'

At this point, the baby could be anywhere from 6 pounds to 7.5 pounds and up to 20 inches long according to my BabyCenter.com update. I am going to ask my doctor estimate the weight when I see her today. So far, she hasn't ventured a guess. Small babies run in the family, and I'm hoping this one will follow suit. Nothing wrong with a six-pounder, right? (Please God don't let it be an eight pounder). Sarah Q's baby is six week's old now and weighs 9 pounds. I was just trying to imagine those poor women who give birth to nine pound babies - or more! Never mind, I don't even want think about it.

Justin starts sailing camp this week and by the time he is done he will be a better sailor than any of us. The course looks pretty intense. Swimming tests, reading homework, etc. I left him this morning with a big smile on his face, so I take it he's excited. His father and I are a bit more anxious and hoping he has fun and isn't overwhelmed and exhausted (it's an all day camp). They finish off with a big race on Friday so we'll be sure to get some pictures.

Here's some pictures from our weekend hike: