Becoming a Mother

Lately, I have been wondering about the new identity I will soon assume. How will I feel when a person I do not know addresses me as Oliver’s mom instead of asking my name? What will I think when I've wiped a runny nose for the 100th time and there is screaming and crying and I’ve just stepped on every single Lego we own? When I’m cleaning up after the tenth blowout diaper in an hour, when a child is vomiting, when I am physically incapable of consoling my sleepy baby, when the thought of spending one more minute in THIS HOUSE makes me want to cry…what then? Who will I be at that moment?

I know the answer is that I will be Mom, with all of the highs and lows that being Mom brings. I will kiss scraped knees and spread frosting on birthday cupcakes. I will give out countless hugs and sing silly songs to hear a single giggle. I will enforce discipline, carry my baby in a sling and read a million bedtime stories. I will finger paint, help with homework and watch my husband throw our baby in the air. I will guide this child through rises and falls, through good choices and bad, through monsters in the closet or under the bed and friends who aren't the best influences. I will love beyond my understanding and worry beyond my current capacity and, and, and, AND! But still, of course, I wonder…

WHAT WILL IT BE LIKE TO BE A MOTHER?

Time Flies When Incubating - 30 weeks!

Third trimester? Really? I can't help but feel like it was just yesterday that I told Brent he was going to be a father. What a great time its been preparing for Oliver to arrive. In only a few weeks my entire world will be turned upside down. I'll be resigning from my job to a full-time mom in addition to birthing a baby. I don't know what this new life will be like, but I already love it!

How far along: 30 weeks today!

Symptoms: Tired! Heartburn is almost daily.

Total Weight Gain: 13 pounds!

Maternity Clothes: I added a few new ones to the rotation.

Stretch Marks: Remember those static plasma balls? Just sayin…

Sleep: It’s better than it has been. Part of that may be due to kicking the 160 pound dog out of the bed.

Best Moment This Week: Having Oliver respond to certain things I do.

Movement: His most active time is around 9:30 p.m.

Food Cravings: Orange juice.

Belly Button: Still an innie.

What I miss: Having a closet full of clothes that fit!

What I am looking forward to: I have my first baby shower this weekend. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone and seeing all the cute baby stuff! I’m also looking forward to seeing the Parinatologist again to see if Oliver is still measuring off the charts in weight and length. At 28 weeks he was measuring 31 weeks and about 3 to 3.5 pounds!

Milestones: 3rd Trimester and 30 weeks! I also found out at my 28 week appointment that Oliver is no longer breech and has moved into birthing position. Here's hoping he stays put!

How is Daddy?: Ready! He talks to Oliver at night which generally results in a kick-a-thon!

How are the Grandparents?: Supportive! Brent and I (and Oliver) are truly blessed in this department!

Stranger Encounters: The man that runs the Moe’s in my office building asked me when I was due. I told him Nov. 5 and he said, “Ohhhhhh!”

Here's to the home stretch!

The Best of Friends

Above is a picture of our first child, Anders. She's a 6 year old, 160 pound, Great Dane who has made our lives much more full than we ever imagined. We often wonder, what did we do for entertainment before her? She's truly a gentle giant with quite the personality. For instance, last night when I told her to get off our bed and onto her dog bed (which happens to be a twin mattress in the floor) she looked at me and waltzed out of the room, climbed on the couch and refused to get up. At 2:30 a.m., I make one of my trips to the restroom and notice she's now laying in the floor next to my side of the bed (nothing like tripping over a body to wake you up). I go into the kitchen for water and find the living room floor scattered with things that weren't there when we went to bed. I took inventory and found; a lid to the spray starch, a blanket, a pillow, a few dog toys, a pen and some dirty laundry. Thankfully, she's not a chewer!

Anders is aware that something is changing in our house and she can often be found laying in the nursery floor. We can't wait for Oliver and Anders to meet and begin to interact. I envision spending my days as a stay-at-home (a blog on that later) taking dog toys from Oliver and kid toys from Anders. It's a good thing Brent and I don't come close to qualifying as a germaphobes.

Here's to Anders and Oliver and the bond they will share!

Kick, Flutter, Bang, Poke, Flutter, Kick...SWOON!

Dear Oliver,

I never thought I would love being pregnant. I sort of always considered it would be a necessary evil required of me to get what I ultimately desired, you. Perhaps its all the horror stories people love to share with you about their own pregnancies or all the details I read in the umpteen pregnancy books before ever peeing on a stick.

What I've learned is, I was wrong. Maybe that's because I haven't found this pregnancy to be particularly painful or complicated. I love being pregnant and pregnancy is nothing short of miraculous. Every week this journey seems better than the last. This week I can actually see you kicking from the outside. It's amazing to look down and see my basketball sized belly moving in sync with your daily soccer drills. I often find myself smiling when I feel you hiccuping from within.

I can't wrap my head around the fact that this pregnancy is more than halfway over. Wasn't it only yesterday I woke up early to pee on not one but two sticks? While I am eager to meet you, I'm also a little sad that I will soon be sharing you with the world and no longer able to keep you snuggled safely all to myself.

The finish line to taste the sweet and painful victory of birth is drawing near. Until then I will savor all of our time together, just the two of us.

Love, Mom.

24 Weeks!

Time to check in. I'm really amazed that I'm already at week 24. I have days where I feel like this pregnancy is going to last forever and days where I can't believe it's over half way gone.

How far along: 24 weeks today!

Symptoms: Heartburn sucks period. Low back ache comes and goes but is at its worst when I've been standing for long periods of time. I'm still experiencing pregnancy rhinitis (stuffy/runny nose). I seem to have found a little bit of energy and am now getting much more done after working a full day.

Total Weight Gain: 10 pounds total and some days it feels like 50!

Maternity Clothes: Nothing new to see here, just the same ol' maternity dress for the 300th wear. :)

Stretch Marks: Shall we count them? Nah, that would just get depressing (and take too long).

Sleep: I get my best sleep from 4 am to 8 am. Too bad I have to be up by 6.

Best Moment This Week: In the last four weeks, we've painted the nursery and put up crown moulding (thanks to my parents), purchased (thanks to my in-laws) and put together the crib, purchased the closet system and dresser/changing table, ordered fabric for the crib skirt and roman shade, had the crib mattress delivered and made final art selections for the walls.

Movement: I'm feeling movement all day every day now and I love it. He routinely kicks, squirms and apparently has the hiccups. I also purchased an at home Fetal Doppler. I love listening to his heartbeat!

Food Cravings: Apples with peanut butter and string cheese.

Belly Button: Still an innie.

What I miss: Sleeping a solid 8 hours. I've never had sleep issues, so this is new territory. Totally worth the headache but a full nights rest would be grand!

What I am looking forward to: Finishing the nursery, baby showers, squeezing in every date night with hubby I possibly can, retiring from work and meeting Oliver!

Milestones: Over the hump!

How is Daddy?: Ecstatic! He's reading books about being a father and parenting a son. So fun!

How are the Grandparents?: Eager as ever! They are ready to meet Oliver and have been 100% supportive in everything we need.

Stranger Encounters: I've gotten a few "when are you due" comments lately and when I say November 5 usually they say "oh big baby!"