26 Weeks and 100 Questions

By 26 weeks, there's no hiding that there's a baby in there. My belly is out and my belly button is saluting everyone that sets eyes on it. Inevitably, the questions began to be asked by everyone from my mailman to the cashier at Trader Joe's. Below is the list of questions I have been asked in week 26 of this pregnancy:

• Have you tried bowling yet? My ex-wife swore that being pregnant helped her game.
• Umm, no. Though my belly is bigger than a bowling ball at this point.
• Are you sure you don't want your own glass of wine?
• No, of course I'm not sure. But that darn maternal guilt gets me every time.
• How far along are you?
• Too far to count. But if you'd really like to know, I'm 26 weeks, 6 days, 3 hours, and 15 minutes.
• When are you due?
• Too far away to be optimistic. So I say "May 25th." with a "woe is me" look written all over my face.
• Is it a boy or a girl?
• It's a boy! That, I say with a smile.
• Do you have a name?
• Yes...sweet Leo.
• Is Lidia excited to be a big sister?
• Yes, but ask her about a week after Leo is here and I have a feeling she will not be so thrilled anymore.

and, finally, my favorite

• Are you pregnant?

My favorite answer to that question is, "No, I've just been eating a lot of cheeseburgers lately." It's losing it's luster though, so I'm determined to come up with a more smart-ass answer. I invite any suggestions.

Lettuce Give You Lovin's

Hey Little Leo! We just had the best moment. Lidia made daddy and I laugh so hard that we cried. I wonder what it feels like for you when mommy laughs. I know that I can definitely feel your every move. A little bit ago, it almost seemed like you were moving your fingers around, just tap-tapping on your cozy little amnoitic sac.

In terms of development, your eyelashes are fully grown now. If they are anything like your daddy's, mommy's, and big sister's, then they will be long and luscious! Another exciting development - your eyes are beginning to open up this week. Up to this point, they have been fused shut. Although there's not much to see in your dark haven, I imagine you have been investigating your hands, your feet, and the umbilical cord. I'm sure you will begin to study and take in all of your surroundings.

Well, my son, it's been another amazing week interacting with you. I love you! Keep growing healthy down there and we will keep praying for you.

25 Weeks - Happy Valentine's Day

A man walks into a bar. A woman immediately notices him. She does nothing but look into his eyes as he passes her, hoping that he will sense her stare. He notices her, looks straight into her eyes and utters two words that would change their lives forever: "Nice hat."

You know how they say you can't possibly meet your soul mate at a bar? Well, Jason and I beg to differ. If it wasn't for that bar, for Jason's slight intoxication, and for my stylish flat cap, we would never have found each other. 7 years ago fate and the good Lord above brought us together. And now, fate and the good Lord above have kept us together: loving, supporting, embracing, and humoring each other. We have a bond that I had only dreamed I would find as a little girl. Jason is the first person, beyond my immediate family, who showed me unconditional love. Without him, I wouldn't be as close to the woman that I am today. In fact, most importantly, I wouldn't be able to be the mother that I am without him.

A second child brings anxiety. People lament over finances, emotional stability, and time-management. I, however, have little to no anxiety about having a second child. As long as Jason is by my side, I know that we can make it through anything life throws at us. And I absolutely cannot wait to have the opportunity to raise another child with the man of my dreams. Our son and daughter can go on through life knowing that they were conceived and brought into the world by two people who were absolutely head-over-heels crazy about one another. Yes, sometimes my office mates can hear me on the phone, yelling, "Schneider!" when he does something I consider stupid. And he's not one to hide his 100 pet peeves with me. But that's what is so great about us - we have conflict, but we work through it. And in the end, we end up laughing about it. He is my rock, my foundation. My Hallmark card to him couldn't have said it better:

"You're my husband, my partner, my friend.
We've been together a long time now.
We've laughed and cried and seen each other through our best and worst and everything in between.
And whenever I look at you, I feel even more love than I've ever felt before.
You're my partner, and you're my best friend, and I ask nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you.
Happy Valentine's Day."

And I would be remiss not to include his Hallmark card to me:

"My love,
I followed my heart, and it led me to you!"

Jason Matthew, I love you now and always.

Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it all...

Our Little Eggplant

It's time to make it official, Leonardo Matthew. That is your name. But of course, you knew that because we talk to you constantly and call you Leo. Did you enjoy the book that Lidia read to you the other night? It's almost as she lulled you to sleep. We got to visit the doctor yesterday to get an update on how you are doing. The doctor stated that your heartbeat was perfect, and that mommy's belly was beautiful. You are doing absolutely wonderful in there. You're growing, moving, and hitting all of your fetal milestones. The doctor did let us know that this time around, we would have the option to be induced at 39 weeks. This means that we would actually get to choose the day that you would be brought into the world. While this idea does seem appealing, mommy and daddy are going to once again attempt to have a natural, unmedicated birth. We want you to come into this world when you are ready.

It's time for mommy to sign off now, my love, my Leo. We started calling Lidia, little Liddie Lou around this time. I think my little Leo lion sounds pretty good for you, son. Keep growing healthy down there and we will keep praying for you. Sweet dreams!

24 Weeks. The Coast is Clear.

There is something mysteriously settling about being 24 weeks pregnant. While there are no guarantees in life - and no guarantees for life - it brings me peace to know that we have reached the 24 week mark. If, by some ill-fated chance, baby brother was forced to come into this world at this point, there would be a chance for his survival. According to statistics, over half of the babies that are delivered at 24 weeks will live to see life out of NICU. They will most likely be looking at a long stay in the hospital, needing much support when it comes to respiratory function, staying warm, and eating. These little miracles are called micro-preemies and are usually only 1 to 2 pounds. They face many physical and mental challenges that will follow them throughout their life. Though this would be such an unfortunate fate for any baby and any family to have to endure, the great thing about these babies is that they have life - that they have survived.

I have this amazing gift inside of me. The miracle of life. I feel him stretching, kicking, and curling up for a mid-morning snooze. We talk to him, we include him in our daily activities. We want nothing more than to see him and hold him and kiss his sweet lips. However,  my prayers are directed at him to remain growing healthy and strong in his cozy womb for another solid 16 weeks. But, I know feel comfort in knowing that, though never wished for, the silver lining on a preemie baby cloud would be knowing I could now hold him in my arms.

Sweet as a Grapefruit

Hi, my sweet baby boy. I feel like I'm getting to know you very well lately. Lidia and I were coloring tonight and you made it very apparent that you wanted to be a part of the fun, too. Lidia loved to watch my stomach tonight as you kicked, twisted, and turned. She kept talking to you and it's almost as if you would respond to her by giving your "kick" of approval. I have this vision of you sensing her hand on my stomach, and you slowly using all of the coordination that you can muster up to place your hand to meet hers.

Capillaries are now forming in your skin, which will give it that pink glow. You will now begin to grow at a steady 6 ounces a week, which means you'll finally be getting some squishy fat on that body of yours.

Well, it's time for us to get some rest now, my love. We love you more than words could ever express. The tears in my eyes as I type that sentence speak more than my words ever could. Sleep tight...sweet dreams.

23 Weeks from the Eyes of Lidia

Dear Baby Brother,

Mama was a bit worn out tonight, so I decided to take on the daunting task of writing this blog. I'm not quite sure what I am supposed to write about, so I've decided to just let you know what kind of parents you will have. Daddy is so silly and I can't wait for you to meet him. He will do anything for you. Usually, when mama tells me "no," I go to Daddy and he will give me the "yes" answer that I want. I know as soon as you get here he will take charge, like he did with me. Mama will be pretty run down and physically drained after you arrive. That's when Daddy will swoop in. There were many nights during my first year of life where he would walk around the house for hours with me because I just couldn't figure out how to calm myself. The only thing that brought me peace was being bounced in my Daddy's arms. Daddy is always smiling when it comes to his babies. And it seems like one of his main goals in life is to make sure that I'm smiling, too. During the first two years of my life - and probably yours, too - Daddy stayed home with me every Wednesday. We normally didn't go anywhere - we just stayed home and played. Daddy loves to play with me and he is my favorite playmate.

Now, onto Mommy. You will never receive more kisses from anyone. Mommy loves to kiss and hug me. She will tell you, "Give me lippers!" This makes me feel so loved - and sometimes annoyed. Mommy loves to teach me new things and when I catch on, it is written all over her face how proud she is of me. Mommy tells me everyday, multiple times a day, how much she loves me and missed me while she was at work. You will never question her love for you. Mommy also encourages me to dance and sing. Every night before bath time, I turn on the radio and we dance and sing to the songs on the radio. One of my favorite things to do with Mommy is to go shopping. There is not much that she will say "no" to when it comes to buying things for us (especially clothes). Today, a box came in the mail with clothes for you. Me and mommy had so much fun going through the clothes. I placed them on Mommy's belly for you. I kept saying that you will be so cozy in them.

Baby brother, I can't wait until you come into this world. Our family will not be complete until you get here. Right now, it seems like we are missing someone. And that someone is you!

Little Pomegranate

You, my son, are getting quite big! I can't believe that you are close to being a pound and a half at this point. Just about everyone who I see comments on my belly - and you. You are apparently gearing up to start gaining a lot of weight soon. Right now, you supposedly look like a small - and cute- baby doll.

Right now you can hear just about everything going on in the world outside. That explains why you sometimes move around when the dogs start barking. And as Lidia would say, "They barkin' at nothing."

We can't wait until you get here because we've got lots of lovin' to give you!  Keep growing healthy down there and we will keep praying for you.

22 Weeks with Lessons to Learn

The thought of raising a son brings on a huge cloud of responsibility, but yet a ray of opportunity.  I have this enormous opportunity to mold my son into everything that a man is supposed to be. As I pondered this subject, I came up with the top lessons I want to teach my son.

No, you can't always get what you want because you are a man. How do I teach this? I simply start by not giving you everything you want (this will begin at a reasonable age, of course).

Yes, you can be artistically and musically inclined and still be considered masculine. Yes, your father has amazing athletic ability and will most likely get you involved with soccer as soon as you arrive home from the hospital. But, you have to remember that you have a musically inclined mother who will always be encouraging you to explore the arts. And hopefully, we can soon be the proud owners of an upright piano to encourage your exploration even more. How do I teach this? Well, we will continue our family nightly routine of singing and dancing before bedtime.

Don't be afraid to be yourself. Eventually, son, you will know who you are. As long as your heart is pure and your intentions are good, let your true self pour out. How do I teach this? I will let you play with barbies, enroll in dance lessons, or play football. There will be no limitations to what you can do (that is, unless you want your lip pierced - mama will put her foot down with that one). The world is yours for the taking, son. My dad wasn't afraid to give us girls a hammer to help him build and my mom wasn't afraid to show my brother how to cook, do laundry, and clean. Gender stereotypes don't mean a thing in this family.

Don't ever - and I mean ever - lead someone on. You'll know when it's right. You'll know when it's not working anymore. So stop it. How do I teach this? By modeling that although it's sometimes not easy to tell the truth, the truth will literally set you free. It's OK to have failed relationships, it's OK to break hearts, and it's OK to have your heart broken. Those experiences are all a part of finding your soul mate - those experiences are what brought your daddy and I together.

And finally...
Be a man of integrity. Be a man that people can trust. And don't forget to thank God daily for everything with which you have been blessed.

Oh, and always put the seat down.

My Sweet Papaya

Well, I can say with confidence that we officially have your name. Maybe next week your daddy will officially let me share it. We're calling you by it daily. Lidia no longer refers to you as baby peanut, but by your name. Let's just say you're going to be our little Lion King.

You are now experiencing sleep cycles like a baby. I can definitely tell when you are asleep and when you are awake. When I was cooking dinner tonight, you decided to drop kick my bladder, in which I yelled out in pain. I'm curious as to how you are positioned right now. I always try to envision which body part of yours is doing the beating on my insides.

It's time for your mama to sign off now. Goodnight my love! Keep growing healthy and we will keep praying for you.

21 Weeks - Not Too Shabby

Our little man is doing great. He is perfect. He is fabulous. I have to keep telling myself those reassuring statements. And why? Because, I have to convince myself that even though this pregnancy is totally different than Lidia's, our son is going to be just as healthy, smart, and funny as she is. Jason and I went to the baby doctor and the results of the ultrasound came back with no issues. At the time, he was weighing in at a healthy 11 ounces. All of my blood work came back as no increased risk of him having any kind of major genetic defects. So, even though I am still nauseated (and even vomitted this week), it doesn't mean that there is anything wrong with him. Perhaps it just means that I got lucky the first time around. The doctor told us that the third baby is always the best pregnancy because with the first two combined, you end up having every single symptom there is. So when number three comes along, there are no surprises. You have already experienced all there is to experience and you know that it's normal, and that your baby will be normal, too. And there couldn't be anything more normal than a baby the size of a banana.

Goin' Bananas Over You!

Son, you sure do know how to brighten my day. I can't help but stop what I'm doing, sit back, put my hand on my belly, and just relish in the moment. I made the mistake of watching birth stories this week and I sobbed like a baby at every single one of them. The reason why? Because I absolutely am pining for the day when we get to experience your birth and bring you into this world. I never stop thanking God for you, my darling boy. You are a miracle - twisting and turning inside of me. You are big enough for me to feel you moving, but not so big that you are cramped. Soon, though, you will be more constricted. So take advantage of your ability to twist, flip, and dance! Keep growing healthy and we will keep praying for you. Goodnight our love!

20 Weeks - We're Halfway! It's About Time!

It's that time...that time we can officially celebrate the half-way mark. Woohoo! Honestly, this whole pregnancy/new-baby-coming-into-our-lives thing hasn't caught on completely yet, and I learned from last time that it won't until he is actually here with us. That's why counting down the weeks is so important to us - it keeps us focused on the amazing gift we are about to receive in less than 5 months. For a couple to actually start talking about and deciding that they are ready for a baby (when are we ever ready, though?), the least amount of time they can expect until they are holding that baby in their arms is 11 months - which I round up to 1 year. 1 year it takes to conceive, grow, and give birth to a child. When you think about it, a year is a long time. And because I am such an antsy person, I have to have those special moments and milestones to look forward to in each pregnancy to gratify me. So, I have decided to share my milestone chart in hopes that it will help other antsy mom-to-be's in their year-quest to hold their baby.

• Week 4 - Pee on a Stick. Yes, this is the moment you've been waiting for. You grab your Clear Blue Easy Digital and hit it with a steady stream of pee. 2 minutes later, you've got your answer. You're pregnant! Spend the next 2 weeks getting your first doctor's appointment, stocking up on your prenatal vitamins and fish oil, saving all those favorite pregnancy Web sites to your Favorites: www.whattoexpect.com, www.thebump.com, www.babycenter.com, and purchasing (or blowing the dust off of) the pregnancy "bible," What to Expect When You're Expecting.
• Week 6 - Now's a good time to tell your close family and friends. Your mom, dad, sisters, brothers. Your best friend since grade school. Share the great news with them. And most importantly, ask them to pray that your baby keeps growing healthy during the next crucial weeks (it never hurts to have too many people praying for your miracle!).
• Week 8 - Start a work-out routine and remain consistent. Yes, I know, I need to take my own advice. Don't judge. Just do it - trust me, you will thank me later. Also, this is a key time to start researching all the safe anti-nausea remedies: Flat Ginger Ale, sour candy (like preggo pops), vitamin B6, lemon water, Sea-bands, etc. Let's face it, you're looking at at least 4 more weeks until you see the light at the end of the nausea tunnel.
• Week 9 or 10. Your first doctor's appointment. Reality and anticipation begin to sink in. You may even want to let your co-workers and friends know of the news now.
• Week 12. You can breathe now. The chance of you having a miscarriage is less than 3%. Start thanking God for letting your baby grow healthy during the most crucial development period. In the next weeks, start researching names, coming up with a nursey theme, and mapping out your maternity leave. Trust me, this takes time.
• Week 12 or 13. It's Facebook announcement time. Yes, time to let your facebook "friends" know there's a baby on the way. That way, they won't be surprised with your seemingly emotional posts. I agree with you, I sobbed at last week's Grey's Anatomy, too!
• Weeks 14 and 15. Go on a maternity-clothes shopping spree. Remember to get timeless items that you can take with you into your next pregnancy. If you have one near you, the Gap Clearance Outlet will let you outfit yourself for the rest of your pregnancy for around $150.
• Weeks 16, 17 or 18. You can stop guessing now. That IS the baby moving inside of you. Cherish every punch, jab, and kick you feel. Begin to track his movements and see if you can predict them. Start talking to your baby. He can hear you!
• Week 18, 19, or 20. Boy or girl? You will finally find out! And if you haven't already, you'll get to see that precious face and body for the first time. The little feet and hands are heart-melters. And, is that a cute little belly I see poking out?  
• See, you've arrived at week 20 already! Stay tuned for the charting of the next 20 weeks...

Cant-a-lope Get Any Cuter?

Hi my sweet cantalope. Your daddy would like to say a few things to you tonight. "I can't wait to hold you, see you, and play with you." And I have to report, he is laughing as he says this because he realizes how ridiculously cheesy it is. Not that he doesn't mean those things, it's just that he is much better at showing his emotions than verbalizing them. Let's be honest here - your mama's definitely the writer of the family. :)

In terms of development, you are mostly focused on getting bigger and maturing your already-formed organs (and gulpinig in that yummy amniotic fluid). We reached another milestone this week - daddy put his hand on my belly and felt you move! It was amazing. We will continue to pray for your health and growth. Keep kicking, my darling son. Mama and Dada love it!