Eighth in the Hole

It's hard to believe that our 8th month is almost over. That's right, buddy, you're now well into your 35th week of growing in your Mom's belly and, come Saturday, your Mom and I begin our 9th month.

That means that the end of pregnancy is nigh and that a new beginning is just around the corner. You're going to be born in approximately 32 days! (Although, some people are rooting for you to be born in as little as 13 days so they can win the chocolate bar bet!) But your Mom and I are hopeful that you'll make it to full term, and be born sometime in March!

As we're settling into the last month, you may be settling into place: head down. With your head down toward the cervix, you're in primo position to be born. In fact, we're pretty sure that you spend most of your time upside down now, since your Mom can feel you kick BOTH sides of her ribcage simultaneously!

But, don't worry, your kicking isn't really the sole culprit for your Mom's growing discomfort. She and you are both just getting so big that your Mom's belly is just plain cumbersome. You may have reached your final birthlength, estimated at around 17-20 inches, but you haven't reached your final weight yet. As the weeks go onward you're just going to be packing on the pounds, adding some girth and adding discomfort, (though it's unintentional).

In fact, just a few days after I re-earned my place sleeping in bed and not on the couch after my surgery, your Mom has taken to moving to the couch in the middle of the night. Apparently the firmness of the couch allows her more support to prop up her heavy belly. We tried propping up the belly on her body pillow- but it's "too tall" to get the belly on. We tried propping it up on one of those airline neck pillows- but that's too small. And last night, your Mom went into your nursery and grabbed a wedge pillow and tried to wedge her belly up with that, but it just didn't work, apparently.

I know this because when I woke up this morning, your Mom was sleeping on the couch.

A few more nights of this and, perhaps, your Mom will become one of those people rooting for Febraury 15th after all!

It's official...

It's now 2010-- the year in which you'll be born! We're 31 weeks now. You could be here in as little as 5 weeks! But, your Mom is still hoping you stay in there for 9 weeks, simply because February is a pretty crowded birthday month in our family and March is mostly unclaimed territory!

But, your Mom may be changing her tune relatively soon. In the past couple of days her back has been getting more and more sore, and she hasn't been able to find that "sweet spot" for sleeping.

In fact, last night before we went to bed, your Mom said these infamous words:

"It's official: I'm uncomfortable."

But not to worry: you're doing everything you're supposed to be doing. You're growing, kicking, hiccupping, sleeping and (I think) sometimes you're dancing too. But maybe you don't have to dance right on your mother's spine.

Now that you weight at least 3 pounds and are about 16 inches long (from head to toe), it makes sense that your mother is officially (on the record) uncomfortable! You're nearing your birth length! But, you're probably not even halfway to your birthweight yet. So, maybe, by the end of this month, your Mom will be rooting for a February baby!

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).