Kicks aren't for Kids?

One of our pregnancy books said something that made a lot of sense: as we ease into your due date, you're going to keep growing and growing, filling up the uterus more and more. Soon, your cozy home is gonna be pretty cramped. Now, you won't be uncomfortable or anything, but these tight quarters are definitely going to start cramping your style, and your movements.

And that means we may soon be feeling fewer kicks. And that actually makes me sad! Feeling you kick makes me smile no matter what kind of mood I'm in. In fact, I even fell asleep with a smile on my face and a and on your Mom's belly a few nights ago; you were kicking before bed time!

The book says that we will still be able to feel some smooth, rolling movements; but the short kicks and jabs may be out the window.

For now, though, we're still in the clear on feeling kicks: Last night you had some HUGE movements too, squirming and rolling and kicking and stretching the whole night long. And we'll hold on to each one as long as they last!

But, I can't say that I'm too sad about you stopping kicking soon, because I know that I can feel you kick IN PERSON really soon!

Do Fetuses Dream of Embryonic Sheep?

There you are, a big, bountiful baby bump on week 28 of this journey. I know it seems like I've reported almost every movement, every kick, every turn, every hiccup you make. That's because when you move, it's very exciting for everyone here in the outside world.

But, as you are now almost fully developed some cool things are happening in your off time too. When you stop kicking or rolling we normally say, "I guess he went to sleep," and either wait for you to wake up again or jostle you to wake you up for more playing (rude, huh?)

Scientists know that you- and others in your predicament - can actually sleep in two different ways: inactive AND active sleep. On the outside here, we sleep inactively first, and then actively. On the inside, though, you do the opposite- active first, then inactive.

Active sleeping is synonymous with REM (no, not the band, silly; Rapid Eye Movement). And, REM sleep is when we on the outside of your Mom's belly tend to have dreams.

There's no real way to tell, but because you engage in REM sleep, scientists actually think that you might be able to dream too!

In a rare role reversal, I found that absolutely fascinating and amazing, while your Mom took a pragmatic approach.

"But dreams are just your brain trying to make sense of random synapses firing off in your brain- brining in random images of things you've seen or witnessed," she said.

And that's true, as far as I know.

But I still think you have plenty to dream about:

• Certain flavors of food or smells
• Your Mom's heartbeat
• My singing
• The dogs barking
• Your Mom's internal organs
• Being jostled (like in a car ride)
• Kicking
• Music
• The Paul McCartney & Ben Folds Concerts
• Guitar Music
• The feeling of being on a walk

You probably also have a few things to even have nightmares about:

My singing

• That time we put the flashlight up to the belly
• My singing
• Spicy Food
• My singing

So, even if you're not dreaming or just don't have too much to dream about, I can still dream that you are dreaming, right?

And, I know that your Mom and I both are having tons of dreams about you.

While you continue to get bigger and bigger, we'll continue to dream about you coming out to meet us - and, maybe, you'll be dreaming about meeting the people connected to all the voices you've been hearing and internal organs you've been cozying up to for the past 7 months.

Or maybe, you'll just keep dreaming of embryonic sheep.

Your Smiling Face

Yesterday your Mom and I went to the doctors, with Mimi and Nannah June in tow. This was a very special visit, as it was our last sonogram appointment, and our last chance to see your smiling face until you come out!

Before the doctors came in, though, I woke you up and got you all riled up: you were rolling, and stretching and maneuvering and kicking everyone's hands- and actually moving our hands so that others could see them rise and fall. Both Mimi and Nannah had a lot of fun feeling you kick.

But they had even more fun when we got to see you! You've grown a lot since we saw you last. You're now 2.5 pounds, and have a lot of definition on your face. You also are moving so much, that the sonogram lady had to chase you around your Mom's belly. She said you were almost "too fast" for her- but she managed to get some pictures:

The doctor said everything was looking great- your spine, your brain, your heart, your umbilical cord. And he even gave your mother a compliment that she'd never received before (and probably never will again): "Your Cervix is Awesome!"

Despite that moment of awkwardness, the appointment went wonderfully. It's hard to imagine how much you've grown...just a month or so ago, you looked like the Skeleton King, and now you bear a striking resemblance to Elmer Fudd!

They said you are a happy, healthy baby. And we already knew that you were an active baby, but you didn't have to show off at the doctors. Perhaps we shouldn't have riled you up first!

Look at that profile! It looks like you may have your mother's nose, and her cheeks. But then again, your Aunt Deborah did call me "Elmer Fudd" for a long enough period of my young life that I actually thought that was my name. So maybe you take after your old man a little too!

Roll Over, Beethoven

Last night your Mom told me that she was pretty sure she felt you turn all the way around in her stomach moving from one side to another. Unfortunately, I was a little late to rush to her side, and missed the whole procedure! Maybe you'll be doing more acrobatics as you get more and more mobile!

But the more mobile you get, the less mobile your Mom is feeling. Her belly's getting so big that she can't really find a comfortable spot and, while you seem to be doing it effortlessly, she can hardly roll over herself!

In fact, your Mom sometimes gets so uncomfortable (and feels trapped in the sheets) that she just starts flailing like a fish out of water. But with more legs kicking everywhere. As you can tell, this is not a pleasant feeling to be kicked by one of these flailing legs. But, I guess, that's how this works: you kick your Mom, she kicks me.

It's not that she's in pain or that your kicks or movements hurt her; although once this week I'm pretty sure you took her by surprise with a quick move. We were driving, and she gasped, put her hands to her belly and I looked her in the eyes: they were wide open as if she was shocked or if she was trying to win a staring contest. It was a big movement that really caught her off guard! Just being so big, and heavy where she never has been before, is causing some light discomfort. And she's not afraid to let me know.

I've encouraged her to "use her words," but flailing, writhing and kicking seems to suit her better.

So maybe I'll wear shin guards to bed.

Besides the slight discomfort and bruised shins, though, as we are about to officially embark on the third trimester, we're both feeling really good. The classes made us feel a little more secure and knowledgable, the nursery's in good shape, the shower invitations are out (we're having a party for you before you're even born!), my lullabye singing voice is drastically improving (from an A to an A+, I'd say), and your Mom's belly is getting bigger and bigger!

We have a sonogram on Monday, and we can't wait to see you again!

So, officially (for us anyway, thanks fuzzy preggo math) we'll be seeing you in the Third Trimester. I can't wait to see how you and your Mother continue to grow. We're in the home stretch now and I'll be there for all of it and see you at the finish line (even if I have to hobble there...due to the bruised shins and all).

Bye-bye-mester, part II

Today and tomorrow are officially our last days in the second trimester. We're in week 27, and from here on out, it's officially the home stretch! That means we get to meet you in about 3 months!

Now, pregnancy math is just about the fuzziest math I've ever seen, so don't expect specifics here. In fact some of the books we're reading say that we're already in the third trimester, some say we're still in second gear, other say that it is official this Saturday: we're ready for the big time for our last trimester.

What does that mean?

It means you are mostly humanoid.

It means we're going to be taking some maternity pictures (professionally, thank you very much)!

It means that you're going to be fast-approaching the size of a watermelon.

And it also means that your mom is going to continue to get bigger and bigger.

Just take a look at her here on week 27:

But, what's the point of coming to an end of something if we don't get to reminisce about where we've been?

In celebration I've put together a collage of your Mother's growth from Week 8 (when we started taking pictures) all the way to today. Get ready to see some major baby evolution!


Pretty hard to believe, right?

You're Mom and I are both curious to see how much bigger she's going to get in this last trimester!