Baby Newsletter Week 27

Below is a copy of one of the weekly newsletters my friend, Heather, sent to our friends at work during my pregnancy as the BPA (Baby Personal Assistant):

Hi Baby Fans (Fanby's!),

Baby Cauliflower:

-Baby weighs almost two pounds!!! 

-He's sleeping regular intervals, opening and closing his eyes, and perhaps sucking on his little fingers! Too cute!

-Baby's brain tissue is developing making, baby's brain active and super smart! A future Wold Booker in the making!

-He is starting to have hiccups!!! So any tiny rhythmic movements in Mama Mel's belly may be due to this! 

Mama Cauliflower:

-Mama Mel is closing on the second trimester and with that a new slew of issues!

-Expect an aching back and your leg muscles to cramp up now and then!

-It's also time for the parent's to be to start thinking of post baby planning! 

Have a great week!

Heather the official BPA

Baby Newsletter Week 26

Below is a copy of one of the weekly newsletters my friend, Heather, sent to our friends at work during my pregnancy as the BPA (Baby Personal Assistant):

Heyo Baby Scouts! Happy Monday!

We're not just any cucumber… we're an English hothouse cucumber!!! Ow ow! Mind you this is measuring in length this week!

Baby hothouse:

-Nerves in baby's ears are better developed and more sensitive than before!

-He may now be able to hear your voice!!!!! So come on over and talk to baby!

-He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid… which is gross, yet important for the development of his lungs! He will need good lungs to belt out the Michigan fight song!

-Yay for baby fat… no not the designer. 

-This is icky… but his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum – a magical trip that will take about two to three days.

Mama hothouse:

-She's rushing around with classes, registering baby's new things, and attempting to do daily tasks… let's make sure we give her a break and help  out Mama b/c her blood pressure is increased and she is a stressin!

-Lower back is feeling achy thanks to a growing uterus which is shifting Erika's center of gravity. This is causing weakened abdominal muscles and may be pressing on a nerve… and of course hormonal changes!

-The solution is a warm bath or hot compress (or cold, depending on her mood)

-Other very important points: good posture during the day is a must! -avoid bending and twisting! -take frequent breaks when sitting or standing! -sleep on your side with legs bent and pillow b/w your legs! 

-Foot massages are also a MUST!

Have a great week!

Heather the official BPA

Two Hours (For Four Weeks) Is Not That Long

"It doesn't matter if you want to or not; you're going," I informed my husband, as I was signing the two of us up for Prepared Childhood Class at the hospital where I will be giving birth.

"I said I'd go to the Lamaze class," he replied, sighing. 

"Why are you sighing?" I asked him. "It's going to be a class full of 20- and 30-something chicks who you know put out!"

Even though I know he's only agreeing to go to the class because his colleague who he respects the most did it before he had kids (although this particular colleague made sure to stop at the liquor store before the class to have a drink so he could get through it), I jumped at that statement and latched onto it with both hands.

"OK, we've established that you've agreed," I said. "And just so you know, the class lasts four weeks."

"FOUR WEEKS!?" he said, incredulously. "Why is it for four weeks?"

"Because one eight-hour day would be a lot to learn all about labor and delivery," I said calmly. "So we're going for two hours once a week for four weeks. Besides, you've already said that you're going."

"TWO HOURS?!" he whined. "Well then we can't go on Saturday mornings! That's going to cut into college football!"

"Fine," I said. "I'll sign us up for Tuesday nights. So just know that you have plans from 7 to 9 p.m. every Tuesday in September."

"Whatever," he grumbled, turning up the volume on the football game.

But he said he'll go. This will be interesting.

Baby Newsletter Week 25

Below is a copy of one of the weekly newsletters my friend, Heather, sent to our friends at work during my pregnancy as the BPA (Baby Personal Assistant):

Heyo Baby Scouts! Happy Monday!

This week we are one sexy… rutabega!

Baby Ruta:

-Baby is finally getting a little bit of chubs!

-The wrinkles are slowly smoothing out and baby is looking more like a baby

-More hair!!!

Mama Ruta:

-Erika's hair is feeling more full and lustrous… well maybe soon… warning: don't ask her about her hair or touch it… we're not quite at the full and lustrous stage yet…. But if she does grow hair soon it will all fall after she gives birth

-The grace is gone… movements are a bit more strained and there should be no exercise if she's feeling dizzy, pain, or any shortness of breath. But I guess that workout warning goes out to all of us. 

Until next week!

-Heather the official BPA

Baby Newsletter Week 24

Below is a copy of one of the weekly newsletters my friend, Heather, sent to our friends at work during my pregnancy as the BPA (Baby Personal Assistant):

Hello Baby Scouts! 

Baby corn:

-Baby is pretty lean… but his little body will be filling out proportionally soon and he'll be an adorable little chunky monkey soon!

-His brain is growing quickly- so time for Ma and Pa to read some stories and pump knowledge into that baby!

-His little taste buds are now developing… bring on the pizza and corndogs!

-His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree"  as well as cells that produce surfactant. 

-His skin is still thin and translucent… kinda creepy.

Mama corn:

-Rik's belly should be about the size of a soccer ball! But I personally feel that she's more of a water polo ball size or several tennis balls! Regardless she looks amazing! 

Glad to be back and on the baby band wagon!

Heather, the official BPA

Soft little pokes

Other than getting bigger and bigger by the day, I really haven't been feeling all that different in my second trimester. Sure, I get tired and hot more easily, and simple tasks like walking up stairs are getting more difficult, but I haven't felt sick (thank God) or out of sorts like I expected my pregnant self would feel.

What I am feeling lately, however, is impatient. I'm impatient because I only feel my little Bellybean move a few times a day, and poor Brent hasn't felt his son move at all yet.

The highlight of my day is feeling the little guy move, which I've been able to do for about three weeks now. It just feels like a soft poke - none of these bubbles or butterflies or anything like I've read it's supposed to feel like. It's just a tiny, soft poke coming from inside my body letting me know he's there.

And every time I feel that soft poke, I smile. I'll be in a meeting, at my desk at work, sitting on the train, or watching TV, feel that poke, and smile while putting my hand on my belly so I can feel it both from the inside and out.

Lately, our little Bellybean has been especially active right around 10:30 p.m. when his dad and I are winding down in front of the TV. And the routine has been for me to feel a few little pokes in a row, and then scoot over to Brent so I can grab his hand and put it on my belly. The pokes, of course, immediately cease the second his hand is resting on my stomach. Little stinker wants to keep his daddy in suspense.

For some reason it's important to me that Brent be able to feel the little guy. I think it's because Brent has told me that from a man's perspective, having a baby doesn't seem real until he's able to hold the baby in his arms and marvel at the fact that it's his.

Me, I get to host our son in my own body until he's ready to take his first breath. I get to take him with me wherever I go. Daddy wants to experience you too, baby. Don't make him wait too much longer!