27 Weeks- Heels over Head

Little one, last week we got to see you for the last sonographic time before we get to see you in person!

We went to the waiting room, got checked in and got ready.

We were eager to see you, because it had been so long, and you've grown so much. You've already got a little personality, and bump around, spin and kick all over your Mom's belly every night, and we were eager to see what you were up to.

You didn't disappoint.

It turns out that you are a flexible little baby. You were sitting with your Legs up over your head (both of them!) And your arm above that. I guess it was comfortable!

We got to see your little toes and fingers (and watch your little fingers playing with said little toes).

We watched you open your mouth and take a breath.

We watched in awe as the tech and doctor checked everything out and told us that you were "one hell of a kid" in there: perfect brain, perfect heart, 10 fingers, 10 toes, no tail.

You almost weigh 3 pounds.

And we are heels over head in love with you already...

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!

Baby School

On Saturday, your Mom and I celebrated the beginning of week 27 by spending the whole day in school. Yep, Saturday School. But it was totally worth it: we took a class on Baby CPR, Baby choking remedies and Baby Care (including bathing, swaddling, changing, immunizations, nursing, and more).

We are totally still a little scared, never having children before; but these classes made us feel a little more confident and a little more ready for you to arrive.

When we entered the class room, the first thing we saw was the pile of identical babies stacked up in the corner. It was a bit odd, to say the least, but- really- where would YOU keep your pile of babies?

Then we learned how to do chest compressions just in case your heart stops. Don't worry, though, the teacher said that baby CPR, while a vital skill to know, is one that is hardly ever used. Which mean, you're gonna be just fine! But just in case you're note, your Mom and I know exactly what to do!

Then we had to breath right into this baby doll's mouth to help resuscitate it (as part of the CPR)-- but the doll never woke up! But at least I got to breath into a doll's mouth. Cross that life-goal off my list!

We finally graduated from the CPR class to the baby care class. I think I started out quite well and impressed everyone with how tightly I held the baby's head. Dad of the Year!

And then, of course, we learned to change the diaper. But, I imagine, you'll never have a diaper change as clean and easy as with the doll. For starters, this little fella didn't even excrete anything. But he was anatomically correct-- which was pretty frightening. Your Mom even pointed to it in the middle of class, leaned over to me and asked "WHY??????"

Now that we're officially less than 90 days away from meeting you, it was good to have all this information under our belts (or hats, or wherever we're gonna keep it).

Don't get me wrong- we still don't know exactly what we're doing...but we're getting closer!