October 17, 2011

Week 26 - Bonjour!

I'm back from a week in Montreal, and let me tell you, I am so DONE with flying!!  At least for the rest of this pregnancy anyways.  My tailbone is NOT a happy camper. Granted, it never was after a flight (even before I was pregnant), but it's being particularly tempermental after four flights over the course of three weeks in my current condition.   I've made an appointment for a prenatal massage, so I'm hoping that will help to alleviate some of my aches and pains!

The conference I attended (International Conference of Human Genetics) was quite interesting, and my poster actually recieved some attention which was nice!  As the first author of the poster, I'm required to stand around for an hour and answer any questions people have.  I always worry that no one will visit my poster, and I'll be standing there twiddling my thumbs for the entire hour.  Turns out, there was no reason for concern as there were quite a few people with questions and comments!

I was welcomed back to Vancouver by some beautiful fall weather.  We took the pup for a walk through the endowment lands on Sunday, and it was so nice to be back there wandering around.  Although this growing girl in my belly makes it difficult to wander around for any length of time without requiring a bathroom!

And on Sunday afternoon, friends of ours dropped off a whole bunch of baby stuff; it felt like Christmas!  They brought a vibrating chair, a co-sleeper, a couple of baby carriers, a bunch of receiving blankets, wet diaper bags, and 3 tubs of clothes!! I had a peek through the clothes, and there were so many adorable outfits in perfect condition.  I can't wait to dress this little girl up!

Let's see what else is going on?  Oh right, we've booked a 3D ultrasound for next week when my parents are visiting.  I can't wait to show of this little girl to her grandparents.  Patrick and I are pretty excited about getting to see her in more detail too.   And we've booked a maternity photo shoot with our wedding photographers!  We're going for a "lifestyle" shoot more so than a bare belly shoot, and I couldn't be more excited.  Don't worry, I'll be sure to share our favorites here!

Weekly Update:

Week: 26

Weight Gain: I'm now up by 16 lbs.  I'm actually pretty happy with that number.  Hopefully the weight gain will be sure and steady from now on (just a bit less than a pound a week they say).

Feeling:  Looks like my most recent aches and pains are due to something called pubic symphysis diastasis. Basically,  it's due to the release of relaxin causing a widening of the gap in the pubic bone.  It's generally a good thing as this allows for more room during the birth process, but it can cause pain in both the pubic bone area, and radiating out to the lower back too.  I'll talk to the midwife about it during my next appointment, though I don't believe there's much that can be done for it other than resting!

Maternity Clothes:  I finally found some new boots!!  They aren't maternity boots or anything, but they look good under my boot cut jeans OR over my maternity leggings - so I'm really happy.  I've been trying to find new boots for over two years (hate all the round toe stuff out there).  I guess I'll have to get some more leggings and perhaps some skinny jeans since I have a pair of boots I can wear with them all winter long.

Cravings: Just this week, for a fleeting moment, I really wanted jello.  It didn't last long, and I think it's because I caught a fruity smell that reminded me of jello when it's first disolving in hot water.  Don't know if that counts - but I can tell you that jello is NOT something I usually wish for - haha.  

Milestones: No major milestones to report this week.  I'll be going for my glucose tolerance test this week, so hopefully I'll be able to report a pass on that next week.

Movement:  She's been a bit more quiet this week.  Perhaps all this travelling has messed with her internal schedule - heh.

Weekly Wisdom:  Take time to really enjoy being a couple before baby arrives.

Random Name Ideas:  So we have a name that we both really like, but we're going to hold off sharing it for now.  It's not set in stone, and we're still open to new ideas - but I think that's why we've slowed down a bit on the name front.  Perhaps my parents will have some ideas for us next week!


And bump photo for this week:


Signed,
Montreal Mama!

October 11, 2011

Week 25 - Thankful

Things continue to move right along!  The weeks just dragged by in the first trimester and now they are flying by.  Baby girl is growing away (as is my belly) and she seems to be doing quite well.   Had another midwife appointment this week and my fundal height (size of my belly) was bang on for how far along I am in the pregnancy.  Her heartbeat was chugging along (still love hearing it every time) and she's moving around a lot more in there now.   The only issue was that the urine dipstick test (lovely I know) came back positive for sugar (not for protein which is the more worriesome of the two).   It's (very) possible that I ate lots of some sugar laden items the day before my appointment, so I'm not too worried yet.  The midwife recommended I go for the fasting glucose tolerance test (which I would have done anyways) so I'll do that next week at some point.  They just want to be sure that I am not developing gestational diabetes.

And before you say anything Dad, one does not get gestational diabetes from eating too many sugary treats!!  heh.  But the midwife did suggest that I try limit my intake of sugars regardless, as too much sugar makes big babies.  She also said it can make babies that are dependant on sugar when they first arrive on the scene (haven't heard much about this before - but word on the street is they can be kinda cranky if they are sugar dependant ruh-roh)!   However, she also said not to deprive myself completely, so the apple crumble pie I made for thanksgiving did not go to waste :)

Speaking of thanksgiving, I ended up making a whole turkey for just the two of us! No, this was not the original plan. So the story goes like this.  I wanted to make a turkey loaf that a friend from work told me about (two small turkey breasts layered in a loaf pan with stuffing and cranberry sauce between them, all wrapped up with prosciutto - yum) so we went to granville island market as I knew my chances of finding just turkey breasts at the supermarket were rather slim.

There is a specific store in the market that deals mainly in turkey meat items (some chicken too), so I figured that was the best bet.   The market was packed (it was a beautiful sunny thanksgiving weekend saturday - what the heck was I thinking!!), but luckily the store was in the midst of cutting up more turkey breasts - score!   So I explained what I wanted and she said she could portion out two small turkey breast halves for a total of 5lbs of turkey - double score!   She told me the price, which I heard as 16 something - also very reasonable.

I give her my debit card, and she rings it up on the machine.  As I am wont to do, I hit the ok button barely a glance at the price...but luckily catch a glimpse of the numbers six four zero zero before the machine changes to the next screen.  Hmmm...that can't be right.  Hit correction button. Yep, it says $64.00.  She must have punched it in wrong.   "Um excuse me miss, I think you put the wrong amount in - the price here says 64.00"   And here's the kicker - the price WAS NOT WRONG!!!  They wanted 64.00 for 5lbs of turkey breast meat.  I sputtered, turned red, and mumbled my apologies and walked away without those seemingly gold infused turkey breasts!

Off to save-on we went...hoping beyond hope that they might have turkey breasts.  Of course they didn't.  But they did have a small 9lb turkey for 20.00.  SOLD.   Turkey sandwiches for everyone - haha.  It actually turned out quite good if I do say so myself.  And I still used prosciutto in the making, so all was right in the world again.

Seriously though - SIXTY FOUR DOLLARS PEOPLE!!!  Oh, I'm sure they are very happy, organic, free run, grain fed turkeys (er..were), but you know what....I am not a millionaire.  I can not justify spending that much money on a single meal that I must cook myself.  And no, my conscious does not keep me up at night (it would if I spent that much moola on 5lbs of turkey breast though - hah).

Other than that - not much else to report.  I'm heading to Montreal for the International Congress of Human Genetics conference meeting this week.  Yep, makes me sound smart doesn't it?  Don't be fooled.  So back on a plane yet again,  My tailbone is going to be SO angry with me.  Ah well, all for the name of science right?

Week: 25

Weight Gain: I finally had a chance to weigh myself in the morning (the usual time I weigh myself) and the scale said 14lbs.  So either I lost a pound (unlikely) or the extra pound was due to weighing myself in the evening (more likely).  Regardless - the midwife said this is a good range to be in, so not too worried.

Feeling: The middle/upper back pain is becoming rather bothersome.  It gets to a point at the end of the day, where I just can't get comfortable no matter which way I sit.  You can bet I'll be booking an appointment for prenatal massage as soon as I get back from Montreal!

Maternity Clothes: I'm thinking I'll be wanting a few more sweaters yet - hello rainy winter vancouver! I'm also going to have to start thinking about a winter jacket of sorts.  And something for walking the dog in the rain.  Perhaps just a cheap poncho for the latter issue, but I'd like to find a convertable winter coat (maternity to non-maternity) that I can use even after the baby arrives.  Saw a couple in Motherhood - might have to give them a whirl.

Cravings: You know, I still haven't had a TRUE pregnancy craving.  And by that I mean, no MUST HAVE IT RIGHT NOW cravings.  I was kinda looking forward to that, in a weird science experimenty way - haha.  Oh well, it could still happen I suppose. 

Milestones: Nothing major this week - she's just dancing along in there.

Movement:  I like to think of her movements as dancing, and gymnastics with a bit of karate thrown in!

Weekly Wisdom:  Take time to really enjoy being a couple before baby arrives.

Random Name Ideas: No ideas this week!  We really need to get on the name train - heh.  Any suggestions?

No picture at the moment - but I'll try to take one tomorrow morning after I get ready.

October 4, 2011

Week 24 - Papaya!

Whoops - did you see that time warp?  Somehow we jumped from Week 21 to Week 24...now how in the world did that happen?  Oh wait, never mind, I remember now....things got a little hectic and I sort of kind of slacked off - hah.   But not to worry, weeeeeeeeeeeee're back!  And I do mean we, because baby girl is starting to take up a whole lot of real estate around these here parts.

Why so hectic you ask?  Well let's see, it might have had something to do with flying to Italy and back over the course of a single week.   Might I suggest that a trip of that distance is not really a great idea when you only have a week?  We were juuuuuuuuuuuust getting accustomed to the time change when it was time to turn around and head back again.   Ah well, the weather was gorgeous...28 degrees and sunny (dare I say almost too hot - blasphemy I know), the wedding was lovely, as was leisurely strolling around Rome with Patrick's family, and the food was plentiful (mmmmmmmmmmmmm gelato)!

And in baby news - we have reached VIABILITY!!  Medically speaking, viability is the point at which a prematurely born infant has a 50% chance of long-term survival outside of mom's womb.  Of course, we don't want baby girl making an appearance any time soon (hear that little girl, you stay right where you are, snug as a bug in a rug), but it's still an exciting milestone!

She's been kicking up a storm as of late too. Her little staccato beat keeps me entertained through out the day, and I've even felt a few kicks from the outside.  Even more exciting - Patrick was finally able to feel a kick the other day too!  There really IS a baby in there :)

We arrived home from Italy on Wednesday, and both of us took Thursday and Friday off from work to recover from the jet lag. Whose great idea was that again? Oh right - mine - heh.  Turns out the nesting insinct beats out jet lag - who'd have thought.  We managed to clear out a ton of stuff from the second bedroom and dropped it all off at the local thrift store.  Baby girl's closet may actually have room for baby clothes!

And now for the weekly update:

Week: 24 (baby girl is the size of a papaya)!

Weight Gain: I haven't had a chance to way myself in the morning (my usual time) but I did step on the scale the other night and it claimed I was up 15 lbs now.  Between you and me, I think he's lying.  Either that, or all that pasta, pizza and gelato is catching up to me!   

Feeling: On the diclectin front - I'm down to just 2 a day, so I thiiiink I'm finally turning a corner here.  Just in time too, as it looks like I'll be replacing that discomfort for heart burn, round ligament pain, and backaches - haha.  And have I mentioned the night wakings to go to the bathroom?  Yep, that's started already too.  I woke up four times the other night.  FOUR!!  I didn't think THAT was supposed to happen until I got a bit further along.  Stupid small bladder.  Ah well, good practice for when baby arrives I suppose.

Maternity Clothes: We arrived home from summery italy to wintery vancouver, so of course I had to get a couple more pairs of jeans and some new sweaters too! 

Cravings: Truffles!!  And I don't mean the chocolately kind.  Last time we were in Italy I was able to taste truffles (of the fungus variety) for the first time, and boy was I happy to have them again this time - YUM!  And the gelatooooooooooh.  Makes me want to run out and buy myself some right this instant.  Lemon of course.   But as soon as we stepped off the plane and felt the cool autumn breeze, I instantly wanted pumpkin everything! haha.  

Milestones: Viability baby!  And of course feeling baby girls kicks from the outside too :)

Movement:  Lots of movement now.  Thank goodness she's not keeping me up at night with her gymnastics (yet), though she whomped an "oof" out of me the other day, so I am guessing it won't be long now.

Weekly Wisdom:  Stop eating BEFORE you're completely full, unless you enjoy feeling as if your stomach  might explode at any moment!

Random Name Ideas: Lots of ideas from family and friends while we were in Italy: Ludovica, Mercedes, Natasha, Danielle, Delilah, Chiara, Brietta...and so many more that I forget now!

A change in weather equals a more fall-ish photo this week:


And a little bonus - here's a video that Patrick put together of our trip to Italy.  My belly makes an appearance a couple of times, as does my favorite gelato place! 


Signed,
Viable Mama!