33 Weeks

This week baby E should weigh a little over 4 pounds and measure at around 17 inches from head to toe....not our baby boy! We had an ultrasound on Monday that revealed a cooperative, but squirmy, 5 pound baby boy. At first, the ultrasound tech said six-and-a-half pounds. He certainly knows how to scare a pregnant lady - I could not believe my ears, so I made him check again. He went and ran the numbers and measurements in the computer and apologized for frightening me. Baby really weighed about 4 lbs 13 oz (last Monday). Of course, there is some room for inconsistencies when trying to determine weight of baby by ultrasound - but regardless, my belly is still growing and I often have a big baby foot sticking out of my right side and a bum, just to the left of my midline.

Baby is in perfect position for birth (head down facing my back), so hopefully he stays right where he is.

Every night, Pat and I get into bed and watch him - and daddy chats with baby. He squirms and squiggles so much it's incredible. Every evening, Tonka walks around and fluffs his pillow several times to make sure it is comfortable for sleeping - we call it "making his bed"...I think baby E might be doing that in there, too. He also does morning stretches. It's funny, he's woken me up a few times during the night, but for the most part, we wake together...for instance, when I get up to pee (two hours after i've gone to bed) I lay back down and he is squirming. I lay in bed after waking each morning to watch and feel him doing his stretches and then I start my day. If it's a work day, he typically will stay up for about half of the 40-minute car ride (still stretching and sticking his little fit in my side or ribs), then he naps - does some somersaulting, or kickboxing - I can't really tell...and repeat. He is so active - I hope he's a good sleeper once he's born! And the hiccups...goodness - he gets them as little as three and as many as six times per day.

We're eager for him to be here, but know he still needs time to grow and develop - (a week early wouldn't be bad, little one!). Still, it's crazy to think that our due date is just around the corner.

We had our labor and delivery class last weekend. It was great. A bit of the day was focused on relaxation techniques - using pillows, blankets, birthing balls (which I now have - fabulous!) and touch. I can tell that Pat is going to be an awesome support system. He is so caring and supportive and is a really great masseuse when he wants to be. He makes me so relaxed and comfortable - he soothes me more than any other person can without even saying a word. So happy I have him to take care of me. He's going to be such a great Dad.

I'm hoping - when it comes time - to do most of my laboring at home. Though the hospital has every little resource you could possibly need, we've decided that we'd rather wait to check in so that I can be comfortable and relaxed at home (of course, some of this is up to my midwives - and no, I do not want to actually give birth at home).

Typically, we survive the summer without much use of an AC - though this summer, I think it's been on and off every day for a couple of weeks. I really haven't got much to complain about. The days when it is really hot, I go in to work. Then, I take the days off that are more mild and that Pat and I can spend together. This week we went blueberry picking (on the hottest day of the year). But it was great! We picked 5lbs of blueberries before it was "time" to go. I.e. contractions and sweltering heat. Not a great combo.

Stay cool :)



Baby E's Nursery

Finally, it's done - (all except a closet door). It looks so beautiful and we're starting to fill it with some little things that we've collected for our little man. Most importantly, his bed and dresser--gifts from his Grandma and Grandpa Ericson--and my gorgeous (first) mother's day gift from Patrick - a glider...I have a great husband. I can't wait to rock our little guy in it. Every night for the past few nights i've gone up and sat in my new chair. I think it's my favorite part of the room. Here are some photos and i'll be sure to post more.

Daddy assembling the crib.

One of my favorite books - "Pat the Bunny"...and my favorite page.

Baby's really awesome light fixture.

There is a story here. We tried to make a light fixture similar to this...epic fail (we bought this one). Isn't it beautiful?



Baby's First Photoshoot

This past Sunday we met up with my girlfriend Becky, who calls herself a novice photographer, to get some pictures of our growing family. Though Becky is just beginning to branch out into the world of professional photography - the pictures came out wonderfully and she did an excellent job. The day was beautiful, not a cloud in the sky. Which, if you're familiar with photography at all, is most definitely not the easiest of scenarios in terms of lighting. Here are some favorites from our afternoon.



So much love for our baby boy! 

Baby was kicking - this is Pat saying "he's right...there".

This is Lake Pinneo in Quechee, where we were married.

Thank you to Becky for a fun afternoon and some great pictures! 

Name Game

Many people have been asking - have you named him yet and what what WHO will he be??!


The answer is yes, we have thought of names, we have a whole list. However, we have decided to bring our list with us to the hospital and name him when we meet him. We are aware that babies don't look much more that red and squishy when they are first born, but we feel like it is a very personal decision that should be left up to the two of us - AND, since we found out the sex of our little one, why not have just a little mystery until he's born? ;)

Officially Summertime

We're coming up on 30 weeks this Thursday, which means that in six short weeks, this little guy will be full-term (my due date is September 8 - 40 weeks, but 36 weeks is considered full-term). Right now, baby is about the size of a green head of cabbage, weighs a little over three pounds and is over 15.5" long. May and June have been busy months thus far, so busy in fact, that I can't even remember what has happened. Below is a picture from 29 weeks.

The nursery is almost complete (hopefully I will have pictures up in the next couple of weeks). I'm having fun toying with decor ideas - but it's hard to visualize when it's not quite complete. Pat's doing a great job though, and has been lucky enough to have both of our dads to help.

 He's got to be bigger than that, right?

In very exciting news, I retrieved Avery from Connecticut last Saturday, and in less than one week, my Mom and Scott should be back in New Hampshire at last!

We had a great 28-week midwife appointment in which I had to drink 5 oz of a repulsive orange glucose drink then have blood work done to test for gestational diabetes. Thankfully, it came out negative - so no worries there. We also got another peek at baby E. It always takes my breath away to see him on camera. He has been very active and the ultrasound tech reported that he is still a BOY and is a very long baby...surprise, surprise. We got some great pictures, and if you ask me, I think he's got chubby cheeks like me and big lips like his Dad! The picture itself is a little creepy looking, but the "live" version of the ultrasound was incredible.

Babyface at 28 weeks.

The reason we have gotten to have so many looks at our little guy is that around the time of my board exams, my blood pressure was slightly elevated (shocking!). So, because elevated blood pressure can cause decreased blood flow to the placenta and baby, they like to check growth and development more frequently - though our baby is growing very well. This past visit, the midwife said that baby E appears to be in the 84th percentile for height and weight and his heart sounded great. My blood pressure has been back to normal and i'm feeling really good- so at this point, we're just feeling lucky to get so many pictures of our little man.

I have been working at a health center in Newbury, Vermont for the physician that I worked with on the public health project. The health center is unique in that there are several practitioners in the center that work cooperatively. A family physician, physical therapist, massage therapist, family and substance abuse councelor, and she'd like to expand even more by hiring a dental hygienist. I have always thought that dental health should be integrated into overall health and medical care and love this idea of incorporating the two fields. Currently, i'm working up a proposal, but it's all up in the air, so we'll see. It would be a great opportunity, especially because I could bring our baby boy to work early on, since he'll be relying on me to eat. It's been great so far, lots of babies to cuddle and I even got an on-the-job prenatal massage the other day - fabulous!

26 weeks - baby's first kayak

27 weeks in front of the Intrepid

Baby E does NYC

Family photo - soon, i'll have a baby in my arms, too.