35 Weeks (end of) - You Know You're 9 Months Pregnant When...

Yes, it's obvious I'm close to the end. I mean, just look at me! For those of you who haven't been pregnant before, or who are in the early stages of pregnancy, I decided to compile one of my infamous lists for you.

You Know You're 9 Months Pregnant When...

• You can't go anywhere - and I mean anywhere - without someone asking if you're due soon (and you do everything to hold back saying, "What do you think?!").
• You get on the scale in the morning to see how many pounds you've packed on in the past couple of days and you can't see the number because your belly is protruding past the scale (which, perhaps, is a good thing in this instance).
• Your shower routine uses up your daily allowance of creativity. From attempting to shave to trying to clean the bottoms of your feet, you get discouraged and contemplate living with smelly feet and hairy legs for the next 4 weeks.
• Your nightly sleep resembles that of a chicken baking in the oven - you're constantly rotating from your left side to your right side. It goes something like this: 11 pm - right side aching, flip to left side, 12 am - left side aching, flip to right side, etc.
• No matter what position you are in during the day, you are aching somewhere. You sit, your upper right back aches. You stand, your feet are throbbing. You walk, your pelvis is screaming in pain. You lay down, your hips and tail bone ache.
• You have not only a valid, traditional, socially acceptable muffin top in your waist, but also in your swollen feet as they pour out of your shoes.
• You wear high heals, and you bite it...big time...for no apparent reason...in front of a large group of people.
• You spend an unacceptable amount of time each morning and evening squeezing your wedding band on and off.
• You grimace at those who have an accessible parking tag walking ever-so-graciously into the grocery store as you have to park a mile away and take rest breaks on your way in.
• Your maternity clothes no longer fit you, but you refuse to buy more because you only have 4 more weeks. Sorry people, you must deal with glimpses of the bottom of my belly.
• You run to the bathroom with urgency, sit on the toilet, and only a trickle of pee comes out. Really? You then seriously consider adult diapers.
• Your belly, instead of your hips, has become a nice shelf for holding your toddler.
• You have a whole conversation with someone and cannot recall one word they said because you were too busy trying to concentrate on not being too tired to listen to said person.

You Butternut Be Late!

Hello my little squishy squash Leo. Well, I'm a day late again, but it actually works out to our benefit because I had a doctor's appointment today. My total weight gain with you so far has been 34 pounds. Already, it exceeds what I gained with Lidia, but that is to be expected. You are a boy, and I haven't been able to be as active with you as I was with Lidia. No worries, though! You will be just as healthy, and mommy already has her training plan for post-baby weight loss. We received some good news at the doctor's today - you are head down and are almost guaranteed not to change positions for the rest of your time in my cozy womb. Also, we found out today that I am 1 cm dilated. In looking back at Lidia's blog, it turns out my dilation was the exact same with her as it is with you at this point in the pregnancy. Again, induction was brought up with this doctor and she said that she never has had to do a Cesarean section on a 2nd time mother who was induced. This eased some of my fears of being induced. She told me that there is no medical reason for you to be in the womb past 39 weeks - that the choice to not induce is not medically based, but socially based. Still, your daddy and I are not sure what the best path is. We definitely do not want to be induced for selfish reasons. One thing we know for sure is that your arrival into this world is 3-4 weeks away, whether naturally or not. Can you believe that, sweet Leo?

Your brain is continuing to grow at a rapid pace, with new cells forming constantly. You have now reached your max height and won't do much more growing in that department until after birth. And, you only have about 1-2 pounds left to gain before your big debut.

We are 100% ready for you, Leonardo. Daddy even finished painting your room tonight. We love you and can't wait to finally hold you in our arms!

34 Weeks - The Rest

And by rest, I don't mean relaxation. I owe you all the rest of my list of milestones to look forward to in pregnancy. The milestones that keep it fresh and eliminate the monotomy. So without further ado, here it is:

Weeks 20-24 - Its time to start your registry! Ask around and start reading reviews on all those must-have baby products. It will take you at least 4 weeks to compile this list, no matter which store or stores you choose. Babies-R-Us seems to be the go-to store when it comes to baby registries, as they have everything - and more- that you will need for your baby.

Weeks 24-28 - Plan a trip! These 4 weeks will probably be the best weeks of your pregnancy. So plan a weekend - heck, a week - trip. Shop, paint the baby's room, and do any big projects that you would like done before baby gets here. Because once you hit the third trimester, it is literally downhill from there. You won't have the physical capacity to handle much of anything.

Weeks 28-32 - Schedule a 3D ultrasound! This is the best time to see your baby in 3D. He has accumulated enough fat by now that he actually looks like a baby, and its not too late in the pregnancy where room is lacking and the chances of good pictures are slim.

Weeks 32-36 - Time for your baby shower! I would recommend holding the shower towards the earlier part of these weeks, as predictions of pre-term labor are tough to make with first babies. Many people choose the traditional women-only daytime shower. But don't be afraid to be adventurous with a evening co-ed shower (just make sure you have a keg for the men).

Weeks 36-40 - It's nesting time! Though you may not feel up to it on most days, try to do the cleaning that you would do once a month. That way, you have done your last cleaning before baby arrives and you don't have to lement over all the things that need done after baby gets here. This also entails getting baby's room ready for his arrival. Also, start walking. Walk miles - and include hills and valleys. By 37 weeks, your baby is considered full term, so start doing all those tricks to intice baby into this world. I highly suggest [several] pregnancy massages during this time.

Baby is here!

Well, he's not quite here yet. But we're ready for him...

A Durian?

I have no idea what a durian is, but this week you are the size of one. Apparently, you could be weighing in at a max of 5-6 pounds this week. That is completely amazing to me! You are now recognizing sweet songs that are sung. Lidia, Dada, and I have been singing "Twinkle Little Star" to you in hopes that you will recognize it when you enter this world. Mama has had a marked increase in her need to pee lately, which is a sign that you've moved further down in my pelvis - and are that much closer to the outside world.

It's time for us to sign-off now. Sleep tight my sweet baby Leo and know that Dada and I will be snuggling you tightly. We love you!

33 Weeks - Happy Easter!

Yes, I am one day late again (sorry mom!). I actually have a good excuse - I was busy doing some work from home that had to be completed by this morning. I am constantly amazed about how much additional work needs to be done at my job before I am able to go on maternity leave. Most people think that maternity leave just happens - that you go about your days as normal and then you get to graciously glide into your maternity leave. Well, that's not so much the case. Some weeks I feel like I am working double time to prepare for the time that I will be out, as do most moms who are getting ready for their leave. Jason, too, finds himself preparing for his leave. Though his leave isn't quite the same leave as I will be given, he will be dealing with lack of sleep which inevitably means less time to do work (at his job and around the house).

 We haven't quite caught the "nesting" bug yet, but I feel it coming around the corner. Today, we had our last "routine" doctor's appointment. By routine, I mean it followed the same schedule as our appointments up to this date: leave urine sample, check weight, take blood pressure, get belly measured, and listen to baby's heartbeat. In two weeks, my appointments will start to include a cervical check to assess whether labor is near or not. Again, the doctor we met with today talked about induction. I had asked her what most of her patients end up doing. She really didn't answer my question, instead she said since I had gone past my due date with Lidia and my mom had gone past her due date with her children, then it is highly likely I will go past my due date with Leo as well. She said that I am just one of those women who have longer gestations. Finally, she said that if I am 2 centimeters dilated when I am 39 weeks (which I was with Lidia) then we will schedule an induction between weeks 39 and 40. And, you know, we might just be OK with that scenario. Until then, though, we will continue preparing...and of course praying for a perfectly healthy baby boy.

Honeydew List

Sweet Leo, the list of your milestones keeps growing. Now, your immune system is strong enough to fight your first possible infections outside of the womb. I found it amazing to read that you can actually differentiate between day and nighttime because the uterine walls are getting so thin. Your daddy and I just got done having a conversation with you about how life is going to be so much different for you after you are born, but not to worry - we will be with you every step of the way.

We love you Leonardo Matthew and we absolutely cannot wait for the next 6 weeks to fly by! Goodnight, our sweet baby.

32 Weeks - Life with a Newborn

To those of you who are currently enduring those sleepless days and nights with a newborn - this is for you.

As we near the arrival of our sweet Leo, I can't help but reminisce about the days with a newborn. No one can ever prepare for what life will be like when you go from no baby to baby. Jason and I had absolutely no experience with babies - reading the book and watching the DVD of "The Happiest Baby on the Block" was not enough to prepare us for what we were about to encounter. You know how they say that if the month of March comes in like a lion, than it will go out like a lamb? That is the saying to which I would like to compare our first newborn experience. And I am not identifying the newborn as Lidia, per se, because it wasn't her who struggled - it was us who struggled. She just happened to be the lucky newborn who got us newbies as parents.

I have no regrets for stopping the blog as soon as Lidia was born. If I had continued writing, I'm sure it would have shown how clueless we really were as parents. I remember not even being able to pee without putting her down. Our first newborn didn't want anything to do with sleeping in any location other than her parents' arms. I know, you may be thinking that we spoiled her, but she woke up every single time we set her down to sleep. So when she fell asleep on one of us, we literally were out of commission until she woke up. And if we had the unfortunate luck of having to relieve ourselves while she was sleeping, she sometimes accompanied us to the bathroom. To get our first newborn to sleep, it took the actual physical effort of standing up and rocking her back and forth for sometimes an hour. And how could we forget that every time we found a moment to doze off, she woke up. Every time we decided to go to the store or eat out, she had decided that it was time for her to express her dislike with whatever she deemed appropriate. But, again I say, it wasn't her issue - it was ours. We were baby virgins. We had to go through all of our - and other's - tricks of the trade. Another memory is singing "You are My Sunshine" over and over again to keep her content. Every time we would stop the song, she would start crying. So we belted it as loudly and as proudly as we could to keep our baby content.

I fully support what I wrote in the first post of this blog - our first newborn taught us everything we know about being a parent. We have learned patience - she eventually stopped crying. We have learned to be completely selfless - she literally owned my boobs for the first 15 months of her life. And frankly, she owned our every thought and every ounce of our living, breathing selves.  Show me one person who never doubts that they are the best parent. We doubt ourselves everyday. Our tricks that we learn are just that - they are tricks. They aren't some fancy theories coming to life. And just when you think that the newborn phase will kidnap the rest of your carefree life, you are flash-forwarded to 2 and a half years later...

When we eat pasta, it is serious business. Every ounce of Italian in our body is focusing on getting every piece of rotini in our stomach before our stomach registers that it's full. The same holds true for Lidia. So as we sat down to devour our pasta one evening recently, it was no surprise that there was silence as we chomped down every bite. Out of nowhere, Lidia stops eating and looks over at me. I look over at her waiting, as I could tell her mind was trying to put together what she wanted to tell me. She finally said, "Mommy?" I answered, "Yes, my love?" She replied back, "You're a good mommy." Immediately, my eyes welled up with tears and I said, "That is the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me." And she concluded by saying, "I lub you."

So to all the newbie parents out there - it gets better, I promise. And even if you are doubting yourself, chances are your newborn thinks you are the best. He just doesn't have the words to tell you...yet. Keep your head up (literally), and keep doing what you feel works best for your newborn. He will eventually thank you.

Squishy Squash

It was so nice to feel you moving tonight, my love. You had been pretty inactive throughout the day. Of course, I worried a little bit. But then, after dinner, you had a burst of energy and were practicing your moves for about a hour. I just read where I will be noticing a decrease in your movements these days because you are settling into actual newborn sleep cycles. If your sleep cycles are any indication of what your sleep cycles will be outside of the womb, it looks like we might have another baby who loves to sleep on his mommy and daddy.

Speaking of sleep, it is that oh-so-favorite time of the day for your mommy. Good night, my sweet Leo. We'll be seeing you soon!

31 Weeks - Meet Leo!

I have nothing more to share this week than the fabulous 3D pictures of our baby boy. I now know that he is head down with his head looking at my left hip, his butt is positioned right below my right rib-cage, and his legs and arms are just about everywhere.

He's got his Daddy's nose

 Cute, chubby cheeks

Legs and arms everywhere!

 Looks like he is smelling his foot!

He's got his mommy, daddy, and sister's plump lips.

 Look at that cute little ear and those precious wrinkles!

Sweet Little Pineapple

Leo, it was so amazing to see you last night. You were very active an hour  before our appointment, but then decided to take a snooze right before it was showtime. You had your hand in front of your face for most of the ultrasound, but the technician was able to poke you enough to get you to move for a couple of quick shots. I know one thing for sure - you sure are a handsome baby boy!

Apparently, you are now between 2 1/2 and 4 pounds. As big as mommy's belly is, I'm guessing that you are closer to the 4 pound mark.Your brain and nervous system are continuing to grow rapidly at this point and all of your 5 senses are fully formed.

Well, my sweet Leo, I can't believe that the next time we will see you we will actually be holding you in our arms. We love you so much! Keep growing healthy and we will keep praying for you:)

30 Weeks - Our Glass is 3/4 Full!

We have only a quarter of the way to go until we get to see our precious baby boy. I can't believe that we are at this point already! This is where the action phase kicks in. This is where we take out our to-do list and begin checking everything off. Clothes - check. Furniture - check. Name - check. 3D/4D ultrasound - uh oh!

It has been no surprise that through this pregnancy, I have wanted to replicate and reproduce activities that happened with Lidia's pregnancy. The blog, the belly pictures, the Big Reveal - they are all important parts that I didn't want baby Leo to miss out on just because he was baby number two. Naturally, I also want to have a 3D/4D ultrasound with him, like we did with Lidia. I have scheduled one for next week and could not be more excited. We had the fortunate luck of seeing Leo cozy in the womb 4 times before week 20. But, sadly, we haven't gotten to see him since then. I understand why some people would not want to spend the extra money or time on getting one of these ultrasounds done. I, however, would not miss the chance to see our baby boy. We've got 10 weeks left to wait patiently, and seeing his face and body would help these next 10 weeks go by so quickly. Jason isn't so keen on doing the 3D/4D ultrasound this time - he says he wants to be surprised. While I want to respect my husband's opinion, I am taking the opportunity to be selfish. I am with Leo everyday. With every move he makes, I try to envision his face, his eyes, his mouth, his nose. Having the amazing pictures that a 3D/4D ultrasound can produce will make me feel so much closer to our baby. Finally, I want to because I can. Every pain and every contraction that I have can be wiped away by seeing his face. And I can't wait to share his handsome face with you next blog!

Cool as a Cucumber

Leo, don't get me wrong, we are excited for you to enter this world, but not quite yet! Mama has been having some consistent contractions these past couple days. The doctor said that it's just second baby "stuff," so I am not too worried about them...just yet. Mama had to tell you sternly last night that you better stay put for at least another 9 weeks!

Son, we are so excited to see you (in ultrasound form) in less than a week! I'll be sure to drink some fruit juice beforehand so you'll be sure to be active - hopefully you'll put on a nice show for us. You are continuing to gain weight this week. In fact, each week from this point on you'll be gaining close to a half of a pound. We couldn't be more ready for you to enter this world and become part of our family. Your brain is growing rapidly, as usual. I have no doubt that you will be just as smart as your older sister.

It's time for this contracting mama to get some sleep now (and maybe some ice cream as a night-cap). Good night my love!

29 Weeks - Hey Mr. D.J. Put a Record On, I Want to Dance with My Baby

The closer we get to Leo's due date, the more we discuss our labor and delivery plans. There are many factors that go into planning for labor and delivery, especially if you are a planner like myself. Even more planning takes place if you intend on hitting the labor and delivery scene sans drugs. One of the "musts" I kept hearing when planning for an unmedicated birth was to make a soothing labor and delivery soundtrack. When I was close to the big day with Lidia, I remember searching the Internet high and low for the perfect soothing mix. I was having a hard time finding a mix that was already made, so I pretty much had to make my own. Below is a list of songs that ended up being our soundtrack:

Only Time - Enya
Return to Innocence - Enigma
The Maiden Whose Voice Made the Animals Sing - Anael
Once Upon a Dream - Anael
Servant Song - Angelina
Here I am Lord - Angelina
Rain Down - Angelina
Be Not Afraid - Angelina
You Are Mine - Angelina
A Mother's Prayer - Celine Dion
Dreams Are More Precious - Enya
Godspeed - Dixie Chicks
I Wish For You - Jessica Andrews
I Hope You Dance - Lee Ann Womack
Sunrise - Norah Jones
Lullabye - Billy Joel
Watermark - Enya

I'm hoping that by providing this list, someone, somewhere, might stumble upon it and use it as their own. We had it playing on repeat from 11 pm until 4 pm the next day. Will I use this mix again for Leo? Most likely not. We all know how my labor and delivery went last time, which makes me think I need to switch it up. Like I have said previously, music has the power to motivate me. When I train for my races, my music mix has to be upbeat and inspirational. I could honestly run for hours if I had the perfect mix playing on my iPod. I get sick of songs, too, so another important factor is being able to switch up the mix with new, upbeat tracks. Which makes me think that this time around, I might try a different genre of music. My Leo labor and delivery mix is below. Let's hope I can dance him right out of me with this soundtrack:)

Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO
International Love - Pitbull
We Are Young - Fun
Glad You Came - The Wanted
Marry the Night - Lady Gaga
Stereo Hearts - Gym Class  Heroes
So Good - B.o.B.
Wild Ones - Flo Rida
Survivor/I Will Survive - Glee Cast
Turn Me On - David Guetta & Nicki Manaj
Ass Back Home - Gym Class Heroes
Domino - Jessie J
Sexy and I Know It - LMFAO
Without You - David Guetta & Usher
Good Feeling - Flo Rida
Super Bass - Nicki Manaj
It Girl - Jason Derulo

Acorn Squishy Squash

Well hello there, son! Mama got to hear the sweet sound of your heartbeat at an unscheduled doctor's visit today. You see, mama has been having a lot of pain in her pelvic area. I knew that you were OK, but the pain has been so bad that I have trouble walking to my car after work. I originally thought it was your head resting on my bladder, but apparently mama has what is called pubic symphysis separation. Nothing to worry about, it just means I may have to be a bit sedentary the next 10 weeks.

You are active as ever, Leo. This makes mommy, daddy, and even Lidia happy! We get to see you moving quite a bit. My favorite is when I feel you hiccuping. I can tell this disturbs you because as soon as those hiccups start, you begin to move all around.

It is a fact that in the next 11 weeks, you will double - and even come close to tripling - your current weight.  You're also getting pretty close to your actual length at birth. Speaking of your birthday - we are now counting down the days! 71, 70, 69, 68, 67... every day that passes means we are one more day closer to holding you in our arms. We love you little Leo!