Week 23

On January 7th, we got to see Miles again.  The doctor wanted to get a brain view he couldn't find last time due to the angle of the baby in my stomach.  I am normally very excited about these appointments, but on this day I wasn't feeling great.  I had been fighting a cold and I got really hot in the office waiting for the doctor, which made me feel worse. I was up 7 lbs. 

Miles loves to have his feet by his face. He also loves to move them constantly.  He covered his face with them most of the time we were having the ultrasound.  The picture below is one of the best views of his face (with his foot). I'm not sure where he got that flexibility. I'm not sure where he gets his energy either. 

 As cool as it is to see my boy's face the parts I'm most thankful for are these healthy brain and heart shots. I knew when we had the anatomy appointment it was a lot more than just a gender reveal, it was checking all our punk's major organs.  Hearing that he was healthy and that everything was measuring perfectly was the best Christmas present ever.

I think I may have successfully curved the heartburn and the congestion this week.  I'm feeling kicks, pushes, rolls, and flutters hourly.  My students address Miles by name and ask how he feels about certain things we are doing. It's fun to interpret for him based on his movements. They also are extra concerned about me around the classroom, wanting to carry things, not wanting me standing on chairs to reach boxes etc.  During our lock-down drill two of my boys barricaded me between three desks for extra protection.



On a different note, we had a great time with our familes at Christmas. I took this picture of the stocking on my side of the family.  (My mom and dad's are not shown, they are hanging above ours)  I can't wait to see Miles' stocking hanging with the rest next year! I also love the time my mom has put into making each of these.

The last Rumker photo of the 8 of us.  Yes, our first gift on Christmas Eve is matching shirts and pj pants. I love how my mom buys extra pair of adult pants and sews the grand kid pants to match. My parents have always made Christmas special and full of tradition. I can't wait for Miles to get to experience it.  I barely look pregnant here. I am 39 inches around currently (thanks to my students' bar graph, I know this). Oh yeah, my hair looks awesome here because my sister-in-law cut and straightened it! Thanks Tai!

Here's to a healthy and adventurous 2013.

Just to remember

I feel like no one warned me about pregnancy.  I said that a lot during the first trimester.  All I saw what happy moms with expanding tummies on facebook.  Then came the gender reveal, and the baby shower. Then finally a picture of the new baby with happy mom and dad.  I kid you not when I tell you most of the moms had make-up on their first picture with baby!

While my stomach is exanding, I'm not really a week-by-week picture taker.  I take pictures when it's normal to.  My materity shots will be of family Thanksgivings and Christmas.

The first trimester I couldn't stand the thought or sight or smell of certain foods.  I was tired ALL. THE. TIME. 

Then came the period where I was so thirsty I thought I was going to have a panic attack when our 5 gallon water bottle ran out.

Then came the "I'm gonna wet my pants but I can only pee 3 tablespoons"

Next is ice-pick through the chest heartburn.  Avoiding things I love, like tea, chocolate, and orange juice just so I don't think i'm having a heart attack.

Now I've moved on to this stupid cold for the last 3 weeks.  Normally I'd take some medicine and suck it up, but I'm coming to discover that my doctor (whom I love) is more of a safe than sorry guy and he says I'll be okay. Sure. Tell that to the pregnant gal who can't sleep because she can't breathe.

Now I do realize that none of these symptoms are out of the ordinary; and moms have been doing this since the beginning of time.  I think they may forget about them when they see that smushed up gooey face for the first time. 

So this is an effort to remember. The good kicks and wiggles, the uncomfortable symptoms that in the early weeks that convienced me I was indeed growing a baby, and the ugly no coffee, pimples everywhere, excuse me while I eat this bottle of tums momma that I'm becoming.

Week 22

I'm sliding into acceptance that I may actually be due May 8th.  Or Mayth as I've come to refer to it.

Miles kicks and pushes up a storm these days.  Sometimes it catches me off guard and makes me gasp.  He especially likes right after I've eaten and in the evening.  I hope I'm not dealing with some night-owl because this mama LOVES to go to bed early.

My students started a "Mrs. Howard's big belly baby bar graph" before we left for Christmas Break.  I measured 36 inches around the fattest part of my stomach.  I wonder how many inches I'll have grown when we go back to school next week.  (They named it all on their own)

When I went to the doc on Dec. 19th. I had gained a total of 3 lbs. We'll see how much I've packed on (due to Christmas and sitting a whole lot) when I go in on the 7th.

Miles now owns: 1 pack and play, 2 outfits, 1 package of diapers, 2 toys, and around 30 books. I feel like that's a good ratio for all his needs. :)

I'm ready for warmer weather as pregnancy has made me COLD! I'm NEVER cold and I can't say I'm a fan.

Good news: Coffee and I are friends again. 

Bad news: figuring out what baby items I actually NEED is stressful. But with this tiny living space, and budget, we need to be purposeful in what we accumulate.

Pregnany Weirdness

So, I've learned some things while being pregnant.

1. It's not so fun.  Yes, there are fun things: seeing your baby on Ultrasound, feeling tiny kicks, etc. But most of the time it's not fun.  Heartburn, pimples, nausea, trying to find food that sounds good...

2. As not fun as it is, I'm sure the end result is worth it.

3. Who knew thinking of certain things could make me gag. Literally.

4. I feel like I'm going to wet myself at any second...and a tablespoon of pee comes out.

5. When you feel kicks and call your husband over to feel them, they immediately stop.

6. Trying not to sleep on your back is more difficult than it sounds.

7. You read things in books that sound crazy, then you try them.

8. People pet you. I thought this may happen when I was farther along....but people don't show restraint. They just rub my fat belly (mostly fat, not baby yet) to their heart's content.

9. My boobs STILL hurt. All the time.

10. Pregnancy is a GREAT excuse for anything.

THE NAME part 1

Yesterday I had my 19 week appointment...or is it 20? I really have no idea. I'm still due May 8th.  As we were going through the anatomy scan the doc asked if we wanted to know the gender. We, of course, said yes...and then acted like it wasn't the reason we were there. 

So the doctor causally said "he" a couple of times. I think Trevor caught it but I didn't. I was too concerned with checking out the 4 chamber heart and other various organs.  The doctor finally came out and said, it's a boy.  I asked him if he was SURE. Then, right on cue the parts flashed up on the screen.  Proud mom moment #1 ... my boy is not modest. He actually seemed to be happy to announce to the world what the doctor called his "wee-wee". Awesome.

So the doctor then had to rush to a c-section so we didn't get to finish the whole scan...which means I get to see the baby in 3D and 4D again on January 7th.  God must know how concrete of a person I am. I want to SEE that my boy is doing good.  This will be my 4th chance! So expect pictures then, because all I have right now is 'wee-wee' pictures, and even though the kid is proud to show them off, to me that's a bit weird.

So the name.. Miles Owen Howard.

We had a lot of criteria for the name.
1. No trendy names
2. None that end in -Aiden
3. Strangers must be able to spell it
4. Teachers will read it and know the gender
5. Unique enough that they won't have to go by a last initial.....example: Jessica H. or Jacob H.
6. Have a family connection

Miles fits all the categories 1-5 with little explanation. The family connection is important to us because we want our children to feel tied to their family, both members they know and don't know.  The meaning of Miles is soldier. All of our grandpas, along with Trevor's dad, and two of our three brothers have served/ are serving in the military.  I like to think of it as a nod to all of them and the sacrifice they made for their country.  I'm proud to have three generations (and possibly farther) involved with something they believe in. 

Part two: the middle name and reactions coming soon!

It's beginning to look a bit like...

Christmas.

baby. Today I purchased my first piece of baby gear. First, I checked with a friend to make sure it was necessary then I jumped in feet first. Then I carried it to my car.. ooph! I'm not sure when pregnant people are supposed to stop carrying heavy things but I may be approaching that time.  It was noticeably more difficult.

I have also been feeling small little bumps in my stomach. I'm fairly certain it's the baby moving around in there.

When I got home I decide to assemble the new baby equipment. It was very easy! I love the higher level, I didn't know they came with those. Plus when it tears down, all of this stays attached!

 

 

I went for the gray color with blue and yellow accents so it would be gender neutral. Since we don't know what flavor the baby is for two more days and we can use it for future children.  I love it! 

A December to remember

this one may be one for the record books.

10th- Trevor gets his wisdom teeth removed. There goes $244 dollars of my Christmas Bonus.  (Thank the Lord we have dental insurance)

I'm going to take off work the 10th and 11th to nurse him back to health. And myself back to mental health...school has been crazy....and not the kids...

17th - We find out what flavor baby Howard is. Now the entire time I've had a feeling it's a girl. I'm not sure why... girls don't really happen in the Howard family.  I will be surprised if I'm wrong.  So much to the fact that I already refer to the baby as the girl name we picked to Trevor.  I can't imagine having a boy now that for 5 months I've "known" it's a girl. Only time will tell....

As far as I can tell I'm somewhere in the 17/18 week range and my stomach finally lost the muffin top look and has shifted to the mid-section.  It seems higher that I thought it would be. My size 7 pants still button fine but they are uncomfortable and restrictive. I haven't felt any fluttering movements but then again maybe I'm not realizing what they are.

22- Head home to see Mom, Dad, Michael, Tai, David, & Kaia!!!! I can't wait!

23- Christmas with my extended family in Conway.  ((hope there's some pumpkin butter under the tree with Super cousin Howard's name on it ))

24- Annual Rumker family Christmas Eve bash...complete with matching Christmas outfit picture, card games and adult beverages, and snack foods galore, and presents!!!

29- Christmas in Kansas City. Complete with football, beer, and Poppy taking an hour to eat. Sadly missing two key components this year. But nevertheless, an epic time will be had by all!


It's also weird to think that at this time next Christmas I'll have a 6 month old!