The Mr. Mr.'

December 16th, 2010
35 weeks

So life has been SUPER busy with it being the end of the semester and all and once again I've neglected the blog, especially these updates. I know someday I will regret not having a FULL detailed record, but for now i'm just happy I made through the semester and I can now relax {possibly ALL A's I might add! Whoo Hoo!}.

Anyway. I am now, according to my countdown thingy, officially starting my 35th week {according to my doc I started it on Tuesday. I start my new weeks on Wednesdays now.... =D}. This means I have exactly 5, yes 5, weeks until I am 40 weeks full term. It also means that I have 2 weeks until I amd 37 weeks, which is also considered full term. Excuse my Paysonian language but HOLY CRAP! I am sooooooo ready for my little man to be here, yet feel SO unprepared. Two weeks and he could be here. Oh my. Slight freak out right now as I actually acknowledge this......

Baby boy finally has a name, but I think I'll wait to disclose it until he gets here. I have to make sure it fits! =D It is fun to hear all my siblings and especially Nick call him by name. I feel like it totally fits but it is still really hard for me to call him by it. He is still "baby", "little man", "buddy", "mr", etc. to me.

Lucky for me he's finally dropped into "go" position and is now not residing in my ribs. I used to hear pregnant woman complain about this all the time and wondered what the fuss really was about. Trust me, it's not pleasant. My little man just LOVED running his little heal {or so i assumed that's what it was} along my ribs just like you see little boys running a stick along a fence. That felt AMAZING! Sometimes it even felt like he would rest his little foot ON TOP of my ribs. I'd get the weirdest bump above my ribs and it felt just as great as his heal trick. I can say it is much better for my ribs to have him out of them {somewhat. I'm starting to wonder if I have a GIGANTIC baby inside me. I feel him touching me in like five different places almost at all times.} but it is a different "evil" to have him so heavy in my {excuse the Paysonian language again} crotch. Sometimes there is so much pressure there it feels like he's trying to work himself out! I've even day dreamed about being somewhere and him just plopping right out. Gross, right?! I'd like to blame all my weird dreams and day dreams on the whole pregnancy thing but in reality I've always seemed to have a very active, possibly weird, imagination. Meh, whatev.

Many woman call their pregnancy pictures baby bump pictures. I can still call mine that, but I wouldn't be refering to my stomach. No, my stomache has become more like a basketball, or huge beach ball for that matter. The baby bump I now have is my belly button. It's gotten SOO pushed out that it literally can be called a "bump" all by it's lonesome. It's the kind you see the you just oddly want to poke, and many people do, for some reason. I've trickily learned to pull my clothes tight enough that it is almost hidden, but like I said it's gaining such a mind of it's own it's becoming quite difficult to hide lately. Maybe it's jealous of all the attention my real "bump" gets. Who knows.

For the past month or so I've noticed the DEFINITE change in my hips. Everyone has heard and witnessed the pregnant waddle. I can't say I've escaped it, no not even remotely, BUT i can give you insight to why it's happening! I've figured it out. My hips are getting soooo spread apart that to honestly walk comfortably i'd most likely walk like I have something in my drawers {spelling? pants}. Really. Legs all spread out almost like you see the cowboys do when they're in a shoot out, or if they'd just ridden a horse for a long period of tim. But of course we all know that would be completely embarrassing and ridiculous looking. So us pregant, wide hipped, women do our best to squeeze those legs together and walk at the same time. Hence The Waddle. My personal trick is to put one foot right infront of the other just like I were walking on a line. I haven't quite decided if this makes my waddle worse and it'd be better to just do the wide cowboy walk, or vise versa, but for now it stands.

Nesting has definitely set in, and to be honest I can't say I hate it. Not only has it motivated me to get my house clean, and keep it that way, but it was the most AMAZING motivation with my school work! I'd stress that if I didn't keep on top my work I'd randomly have the baby early and fail all  my classes. Or if I didn't get my work done asap I wouldn't have the time to keep my house clean just in case my little guy decided to suprise us early. I wish I could keep that turbo charged energy forever. Can you imagine what that would be like to have MINUS the exhaustion from pregnancy I feel. I'd be freaking SUPER WOMAN! Lovely.

The next post you see may very well be when this little guy decides to come, or I guess my frustrations at him not coming when he's supposed to {LAST WEEK OF THIS MONTH WOULD BE FANTASTIC LITTLE MAN... JUST SAYIN'}. Lets hope it's the first choice of the two purely for my sanity's sake. Well and possibly Nick's. Poor guy. Having to live with an already ridiculously impatient woman and now  PREGNANT ridiculously impatient woman. He can carry our next child I guess.... =D 

Sorry for no pictures. I am HUGE. Trust me. I will try to get one or two up soon. 

Here's what's happening with Baby Judson this week:

From all the pictures I found, and the way he pushes against me, I'm assuming he's quite cramped about now.

Congratulations! You’re now carrying nearly 6 lbs of baby not counting their amniotic fluid, the umbilical cord, or the placenta itself. We’re impressed because that’s a LOT of work non-stop. Are you feeling proud of yourself yet? Well, get to it—you’ve done an amazing job! At this point, your little grower is almost busting out of the womb size-wise, which make their restricted attempts to move much challenging. Of course, your stubborn little sucker is still trying to move around as if they weren’t in a cramped space. And the accumulationg baby fat deposits are starting to level off so your little butter ball will be padded and warm when they head out of their super snug little home.

And how's mom doing?

We’re sure you’ve noted that the contractions are picking up and despite the obvious appeal of getting the pregnancy over with at this point, try not to jump the gun too soon by declaring actual labor. Of course, if it’s getting to the point where you’re having contractions continuously— you’re in The pain experienced depends on several things including your own natural pain threshold, medication, birthing position, fetal position, previous births, your general health and the actual birthing environment labor and yes, it’s time for the "grab your bags we’re gonna have a baby" rush. For the rest of you not yet in labor, your watermelon-betwixt-my-legs waddle is as charming as ever, not to mention the glorious ongoing back pain and fatigue. Hang in there! Once you’ve got your miracle baby on the outside, this will all be a dim memory. So, catch the cat naps whenever possible and keep yourself hydrated with water and try to imagine how all of this will (hopefully) be much funnier in hindsight.

Your doctor or midwife should soon start monitoring cervical effacement (thinning of the cervix) and dilation in order to predict labor. If your cervix is already dilated labor is probably not far away—although there are some moms who walk around with a dilated cervix for a couple of days prior to labor. And if you haven’t heard about the joys of discharging the mucus plug (which protects the uterus from infection) along with some spotting, commonly called “bloody show”—both are signs that labor is around the corner. Should you discharge anything unusual in consistency and/or coloration, don’t hesitate to call you health care providor, it’s probably nothing, but you certainly don’t need the extra stress right now.

Let’s talk about pain. Reports on the intensity of pain experienced during labor and childbirth are widely varied from woman to woman. The pain experienced depends on several things including your own natural pain threshold, medication, birthing position, fetal position, previous births, your general health and the actual birthing environment. Of course, there are natural births, cesarean deliveries, spinals, IV’s and other pain medications, all of which also play into how you experience pain during child birth.

Ideally, you should attempt to be as relaxed as possible and willing to accept the pain as part of the birthing process. In reality, your experience of the birthing process is unique to your body and how you choose to respond to it. Pain is a two part process: the first part is the physical experience of the pain and the second is your emotional reaction to your experience—and that is the part you have the most control over. Choosing to accept and endure the pain of child-birth (with or without medication) can be an empowering experience for any woman, as well as making the birthing process notably easier for those assisting you.

I thought this was HILARIOUS. For some odd reason I feel competitive with anyone that is remotely close to their due date like me. I always think, I hope I deliver before her! Sad, right?

October 15th, 2010

26 weeks

Yeah, yeah i'm a slacker.... I get it. I can't believe it really has been 8 weeks since I last posted! Oy. Well anyway. I am now 26 weeks 1 day. According to all the internet sites I like to read Baby boy Judson..... OOOPS! I forget. You haven't even heard he is a he because of how big of a slacker I am. Oy. Yep, our little man is definitely 100% all BOY! Nick was grinning ear to ear when we saw the blessed shot of little boy's goods. Anyway. Like I was saying. According to all the internet sites I like to read Baby boy could now come at anytime and still survive. Very scary thought! Of course we don't want him to come for at least another 11weeks at which point I will be 37 weeks and considered full term. Does 11 weeks sound super short to anyone else?! I mean this whole pregnancy has been "30 weeks left!" "20 weeks left!". Does it not feel very fast, and SCARY, to anyone else that come 2 more weeks I will be in the single digits?!!! HOLY CRAP! Although I am super nervous, I am even more so VERY excited for this little guy to make his debut. I swear I dream a million dreams at night, all very vivid, and ALL of babies. I can't wait for the day when he's here and I'm really holding him in my arms rather than dreaming about it. *Sigh*.
Here are some changes that have happend with me and baby boy over the past 8 weeks (yes, i get it! I'm a SLACKER....):

• I've become a balloon. Yes, you heard right, a balloon. Minute by minutes i swear I can feel my stomache growing more. Since I am so short it has absolutely NO where to go but straight out.
• Becoming a balloon, contrary to what you may think, is not exactly pain free. Those stabbing vagina pains are still there but now feel like a few people are deciding to have there go at my vagina with their fists. Fun!
• Sleeping has become near impossible. I was a belly sleeper before so now trying to get comfortable I switch from side to side ALL night long.
• Up to my 5th month baby boy took that time to grow about a pound. Now, within the next month, he will do the same thing all over again. At WARPED speed {and i feel like i can feel every minute of it!}
• Baby boy is SUPER hyper active and kicks and rolls around ALL day. Although it makes me somewhat naseated sometimes I still absolutely love it. If it gets too much I just loving scold little man to PLEASE be gentler with me.
• I've succeeded now in scaring TWO people as they're seen my stomach wobble, pop, and become disformed as my little guy kicks or punches. Both jumped and screamed. I think Baby Judson is going to have quite the sense of humor =D

I know it sounds like I'm miserable and an annoying pregnant person, but really I'm quite enjoying myself! It's weird how all those discomforts don't seem to bother you knowing what you get at the end of it.

20 week Ultrasound Pictures!

IT'S A BOY!

Two little feet. Ten little toes!

Showin' us his muscles

Coverin' his face

Lips, chin, and nose

Baby boys room is almost done and I am SO ecstatic about it! They just laid carpet today. Now all that needs to be finished is the crib and changing table and some last decorating touches. Nick and I spent two whole nights painting the COOLEST african tree on his wall. Here are some pictures of the progress so far:

The tree we spent two nights painting

His closet and clothes so far

Tree and wall art

Wall art

Other wall art. A shelf will be going in between them.

We still have to do his name on the wall (which isn't done because baby boy doesn't have one yet....), some other decorating, and of course buys lots and lots more clothes and others stuff for him. Exciting!
Belly Picture:
26 weeks 1 day

What's happening with baby?

26 week fetus

Deep breath! Air sacks are developing in your baby's lungs, which means it just might be possible for your baby to take a breath at the end of this week. The air sacks (technically called alveoli) will continue to grow for the next nine years. The membrane that keeps the alveoli separate from the blood vessels is now thin enough to allow for that oxygen–carbon dioxide exchange we call breathing. Other highlights this week: The retina completes the development of its normal layers this week—all the better to see you with. Well not you, per se, because his eyes are still sealed shut and it's really dark in there, but your baby's eyes are now fully developed. Brainwaves for the auditory and visual systems are detectable in baby's noggin this week. That means baby's brain is registering things like sound and light. He can't understand what any of it means yet, but he's on track to comprehend an entire episode of Blue's Clues in no time!As hearing continues to develop, your baby will start to recognize your voice. One hint that your karaoke rendition of "Bohemian Rhapsody" is not the best would be when the baby starts banging on your gut. Your bambino will also start to recognize your partner's voice. He may feel silly talking to your stomach, but assure him that somebody other than you is definitely listening. Research has shown that newborns actually recognize familiar sounds after birth. Proof that your baby has been paying attention all along.Break out the sparkling apple juice—baby has now completed two-thirds of his stay in Hotel Womb. Your baby is about 1 2/3 pounds and is 14 inches long head-to-heel, or about the length of a burp cloth (otherwise known as your primary wardrobe accessory for the next several months). Ok, i know, I'm a super slacker. I created this tab originally because I wanted a week by week "journal" of my feelings, pictures, and updates of this pregnancy. Of course it's taken me this long to start it. I'm going to try and do a little catch up, but i'm sure you've all experienced trying to catch up with a journal. It's the catching up that keeps you away from actually doing it! It ends up taking sooooo long you end up not wanting to even look at the stupid thing anymore, and then, if you're like me, you just give up and go another year or so without a journal. So anyway, like I said, I will try to do a brief catch up, but from here on out i'm hoping to just give a brief update of yet the new things to start going crazy with my body! :D

August 20th, 2010

18 weeks

Brief Catch Up:

Nick and I started to notice around Mayish that I hadn't had my expected period yet. Having been pregnant last year this made us a bit nervous but in our minds this time there was just absolutely NO way it could be. We had taken precautions we thought were good enough to prevent this. Not that we didn't want it. Just not right at this point. We learned the hard way last year that if you don't have insurance BEFORE you get pregnant your pretty much tough out of luck. Our plans were to start trying for a baby the end of this {2010} summer after we'd gotten all the insurance shenanigans in place. We had even started them at this point, but not finished. Of course. I kept having the feeling I was. We both kept blowing it off. Finally i tested. THREE positives! Somehow we've become SUPER good at this unplanned pregnancy thing. This year though was MUCH different than last. No we didn't {DON'T} have insurance, BUT i'd stressed and gone through all the emotions of that trial last year. We don't know the reason I miscarried but one thing i was sure of was this year was i was NOT going to stress. If that had been the reason I miscarried last year I was not going to let that happen this time. We had already explored our options insurance wise last year so we, together, sat down and made the decision quickly what we were going to do and then promised neither of us would stress. It's made a WORLD of difference. I instantly was ECSTATIC. So was Nick. If any of you have "lost" a baby you can imagine how this felt to be given this opportunity to be a mommy and daddy again. To start a family. We could both hardly contain our excitement. Next we set off to choose a doctor. We had a very "UNDESIREABLE" experience last year so another thing I knew I wanted to do different was choose a different doctor. We went with Dr. Nance. He was my moms doctor for all of my siblings and she loved him. I was a bit nervous about the him being a boy and all. I've had NEVER been to a guys doctor for my down there parts! He is absolutely incredible though. I LOVE him! I love his staff! They alone have made this experience this time around so much more enjoyable and fun. Something I'd always thought pregnancy was supposed to be. Exciting. He also is a very knowledgeable high risk doctor. That eased my worries a bunch. We started there for our 8 week appoinment and have been back ever since.

Everything has been going super smoothly. They did find after my blood work last time that I'm low in Iron but i've just been ordered to take Iron supplements. One thing i've learned is that there are well known fact about pregnancy and then there are the HUGE {ok maybe not HUGE, but for sure big} surprises. I feel like there are all these common things people tell you about pregnancy {i.e. morning sickness, dizzyness, hunger, swollenness, ect.} AND THEN there are a bunch of these other things that when I mention them to people that have been pregnant they're like "oh yeah of course".... Well why the heck did no one think to tell me of this before?! Having had a miscarriage last year when I started into my second trimester this year I had a HUGE panic attack. I had no idea that around this time everything down there starts to stretch and pull and move. It hurts! Like bad cramps. Also when i'd move from a position or get up from being in one position too long it would feel like someone had punched me as hard as they could in my vagina bone. Fun, right?? NOT. It really freaked me out, so i, like a silly little first time pregnant girl, called my doctor bawling. I was sure I was miscarrying and everything that happened last year was happening again. Dr. Nance calmly and so tenderly, ha ha, explained everything to me and told me all would be good. Well I'm still pregnant so I'm assuming he was right :D

Up to this point i've now hear the heartbeat four times. I live for the days of my appointments. Litterally. I check my calendar on my phone almost like i'm hoping that the appoinment has magically moved up. It is so weird the first time you hear the quick little heartbeat how much you love that mini human inside of you.

Probably about two or three weeks ago I started feeling the baby. The first couple weeks were just little flutters. I wasn't so sure it was the baby but I also wasn't sure what else it could be! Alien? I talked to my mom and sister-in-laws and they all said it sounded about right. The baby now, i believe, likes to kick, or punch, maybe both, me. It's not such a fluttery feeling anymore. More like little pops. I can't wait for the day Nick gets to feel it. When mini he/she starts doing it a lot I always make him put his hand on my stomach hoping he'll feel it. Not yet I guess. I have noticed the last week when he/she does it the most. This baby must love talking! It goes crazy when Nick talks. LOVES it's daddy! And other people that talk loud or seem to have a different pitch voice I really notice it too.

Luckily with this pregnancy I haven't been super sick. For a few weeks in the beginning I would throw up every once in a while but NOTHING like last year where I couldn't keep a single thing down. If I go by the stardards of all my moms babies that means it's a boy. She was super sick with all her girls and not so much with boys. If I go with my instinct I think it's a girl. Nick and I really wanted a boy {of course we just want a healthy baby}. I was the oldest, and he was the only boy in the family. We both just thought it would be fun to have an older brother first. But we will be SUPER happy with either. Everyone we talk to seems to think boy. For some reason we both have this odd feeling it's a girl. Our 20 week ultrasound is in two weeks so we will for sure let you know! I can't wait to get the nursery started! We have a few names picked out for both sexes but I don't think I will reveal them until baby is here. Only for this reason: I'm not sure i can name the baby before I actually see him/her! How can I give this child a name they will have for the rest of their life? I've told Nick I think we'll just have to take our few names and name the baby when i see it. If it's a girl it will be Baby P Judson or Baby A Judson. If it is a boy it will be Baby C Judson or Baby N Judson....

Anyway. There's my first, and hopefully not my last, update. Here's a little info about what's happening with our mini person this week:

How your baby's growing:

Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

18 week fetus

Pictures:

14 Week Baby Bump

WARNING: YES, THE NEXT PICTURE I AM WEARING MY BIKINI 15 WEEKS PREGO. I WAS NOT TRYING TO BE CHIC, STYLISH, OR CUTE! :D I ONLY HAD BIKINI'S AND I WAS NOT BUYING A BRAND NEW SWIMMING SUIT JUST BECAUSE I AM GOING TO BE "BIG" THE LAST PART OF THIS SUMMER.... So enjoy and don't make fun! :D

15 week Baby Bump

It has been 3 weeks since this picture and I am now HUGE. Really. I'm not kidding. In like one week I just blew up. For real! I'll get a picutre soon.

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