The Belly Button Blues

So since I'm not one to very much enjoy taking the popular "baby bump" photos so many other folks desire (you'll notice there aren't too many of my bulging belly out there), I thought perhaps it'd be good to chronicle my body's transformation another way, a more "creative" way . . . by belly button.

Below is a video slideshow of the change I have been privileged enough to experience from week 23 until now (week 38.5).  Don't expect a turkey baster type of pop-out (mine more or less just flattened) and be prepared for some incredibly gross stretch marks visible (and growing) starting at about 34 weeks.  They get really bad at about 36 weeks, which just adds a special perspective to the belly button shape at that point, which I think, looks a lot like the pucker from the Keystone bitter beer face man . . .

Showered with Love

On Saturday, December 3, 2011 I was surrounded by an amazing group of women (and two lovely little girls) and was completely and absolutely showered with love.  Megan--my friend of over 15 years or so now--generously hosted a baby shower in honor of Raleigh's and my impending parenthood.  Despite the cold weather and wet streets (the snow was flying hard in certain parts of town), many showed up to help celebrate the gift of Little E and his/her imminent entrance into the world.

As a special treat, the women contributed to a charm bracelet for me, to support me emotionally during our labor and delivery.  (Megan said it was the next best thing to having each of them in the room with us, and I agree!)  As each person added their charm, they explained why they chose what they did and more so, some piece of advice or well-wish for me/us.  I will forever hold the words shared in my heart . . .

Below are some of the photos from the day.  Thank you to everyone who came, and to Megan for such a wonderful gift--I felt so loved!

The ladies in my "circle"

 

My bracelet of strength and love

Our Little Pumpkin

Ok, so here we have it--our little pumpkin.  Twenty-four weeks in the making, and totally visible on this beautiful autumn day.

It's hard to believe that in less the time that he/she has been with us inside my belly, they'll really be with us, outside my belly and here in our arms.  And this time next year, be walking (with help, I'm sure) around the pumpkin patch as well, taking mommy and daddy every which way through the tall grasses, finding big and little pumpkins to consider taking home.  Carefully watching the animals in the petting zoo, and maybe even imitating some of the sounds they make.  Sitting on the hay bales, playing in the corn box, meandering through the tot-sized maze of straw and cornstalks, peeking their head through the painted cutouts of halloween figures so mommy can take a picture to send to grandmas and grandpas . . . Ahh, I look forward to that time.

And yet in the meantime, I'm enjoying our little pumpkin right where he/she is.

The Best Weekend EVER! (Pt. 2)

As Raleigh said before he left the house last night for work, "This was the best weekend EVER!"  And I totally agree.  :)

After giving us a beautiful show at the ultrasound appointment on Friday and enjoying a lazy day with mom and dad on Saturday (which included a much needed 3.5 hour nap for mommy), baby made himself/herself known again late Saturday night into Sunday morning.

After an evening gathering at Auntie Megan and Uncle Byron's house and then ice cream with Grandma and Papa Malsom's house, we came home to shower and get ready for bed.  Raleigh was still brushing his teeth as I laid in bed reading.  I could feel the baby moving (nothing out of the ordinary) and was quietly enjoying the little kicks and flutters.  Raleigh climbed in, and as he did, I felt the elastic band on my underwear against my lower waist stretch.  "Sweetie, put your hand on my belly," I suggested.  "Here," As we've done several times before, I guided Raleigh's hand to my belly where he gently set it.  He waited.

"Whoa!" he said, half jumping back in bed, eyes open wide.

"Can you feel that?!" I asked, half knowing that his response meant he really did.  He nodded with excitement and his face lit up with a HUGE smile.  So did mine.  We'd both been waiting for this moment for so long, and now, it was finally here.  :)

Another 4-5 kicks more (and they were good kicks--the kind that make your hand move visibly on the belly), baby was done for the evening.  But man oh man that was a moment neither Raleigh nor I will soon forget; it was awesome!

For the rest of the weekend, and even now, every spare moment Raleigh gets he feels my belly for baby's movement.  Sometimes, our little one stays still while other times baby gives him a nudge or two just to say "Hi!".  One thing is for sure, though, both of us look forward to the day when we can both consistently feel him/her move around, and I think this weekend means that time is getting closer!  Wahoo!

The Best Weekend EVER! (Pt. 1)

Ok so yesterday was the best, and when I say that, I mean THE BEST!  We had our 20 week ultrasound, which even after just the first few passes of the wand we could make out the image of the most beautiful face we've ever seen.  Oh my--he/she is incredible!  Two eyes, a nose, lips, two ears, hands and feet . . . all where they should be.  He/she had their arms bent up near their head, to which I teased Raleigh: "He/She sleeps just like you do!"  We could count fingers and toes, and once baby sat still long enough (he/she was wiggling around so much the ultrasound tech had trouble keeping up), even the individual vertebrae in the spine were visible.  All of baby's measurements look good, and we could see all 4 chambers of the heart, different parts of the brain, and when the tech turned on a special color-coded function to see movement of liquids, baby's blood vessels lit up clearly.

Baby's profile

Five little fingers . . .

Squirming away, we got the spine!

Baby was moving around so much that several times we had to look away so as not to see a peek of their girlie or boy parts.  (We told the tech not to tell us either way, though afterwards she confirmed it was pretty obvious to her.)

All in all, it was just WONDERFUL!  It felt SO good to see with my own two eyes all is well.  Raleigh held my hand the whole time, and gave me gentle squeezes every now and then as a silent "I love you" message I picked up right away.  It was just such an awesome experience.  (And once again, Raleigh had to wipe a few tears away.)  :)

Face on right side, looking out.

After we left the doctor's office in a fog of bliss and amazement, we went to our favorite restaurant to celebrate our baby's health and the halfway point in our pregnancy.  At dinner I gave Raleigh a new MLS ring wrapped carefully in an "All Star Dad" mug, as a reminder of what an amazing man he is to both baby and me.  By the look in his eyes and the words that followed, I think he liked it.  In fact, I know he did.

Dreams...

I have dreams just about every night now, likely due to the horomones racing through my system and the fact that I no longer get solid sleep--I wake anywhere from 3-10 times per night to pee, to rearrange the pillow between my legs, to roll over, etc.

For the first time however, I had a dream about our little one--a specific dream that showed me her face.  Yes, it was a girl.  :)

In my dream she was recently born, though the birthing process was already behind me.  Still, in those first few moments of seeing her face, both Raleigh and I were captivated.

Her face was round and slightly pudgy (I think lightly swollen from the birthing process), and pinkish-red in color.  She had bright blue eyes that she didn't hesitate to open to stare at us--calmly and intently, as if she was as mesmerized by us as we were of her.  She blinked once or twice, then kept staring.

She had hair (yes, she had hair!) which was dirty blonde in color.  It was about one inch long, and the air on her crown around her forehead stuck straight up--as if to imitate her daddy's spiky do.  (In my dream Raleigh and I giggled at that!)

In short, she was beautiful!

My dream ended as quickly as it began, and after a quick roll to the other side (and disappointing realization my previous vision was only a dream), I soon fell asleep and started another, new and different dream.  This time, we had twin boys (go figure!), which Grandma and Grandpa Malsom somehow managed to lose at Costco.  (I know, totally weird!)  Their names were Carson Quinn and Alexander Matthew.  (I woke up before we found them, in case you're wondering.)

The second dream wasn't as memorable as the first as I know we're not having twins this round.  Still, I wonder if in my first dream I did see the face of our little one.  I guess only time will tell, right?  Five months and some to go!

Could It Be . . . Baby???

On Friday (September 2nd), I think I might have felt baby move for the first time!  I was lying in bed, still waking up and yet aware of my surroundings, when out of the blue I felt my muscles in my lower right (front) abdomen area tighten . . . but only in an area about the size of a quarter or 50-cent piece, and almost in a "pushing-out" from the inside sense.  It was so strange; I have never before felt anything like it!  I laid there for awhile longer (hand gently resting on my belly) just to see if I felt anything further, but nothing.

All the books I've read say that I will begin feeling baby move any time now, but that first time moms don't often feel the movement as early as other simply because they don't know what they're feeling for.  I still tend to think I did feel baby, because I've never had that experience before and feel like the muscle "twitch" was too low and isolated to be gas or another explainable movement.  I suppose we'll find out soon as the baby moves more and more as they grow.

I do wish Raleigh got to feel the baby as soon as I do, only because this is so special to both of us I feel a little guilty experiencing this wondrous part without him.  I know that will change and at some point he'll get to feel the baby move too, but I do wish he could do more than listen to my stories of how it feels to have something alive and growing inside.  (Sounds like the plot to a scary movie more than reality!)  The words don't come easily all the time, as what I feel is sometimes tough to describe.

This afternoon I felt like what I can describe as little bubbles popping inside my belly . . . could that have been baby too?  Only time will tell, I suppose, and I look forward to confirming with the doctor next week that all is well and our little one is growing just as he/she should.