Christmas Recap

It's hard to believe a week of visiting with family and friends in Ohio has already come and gone! As we look forward to celebrating New Year's here in Maryland, I thought a Christmas recap is in order before we officially leave behind 2008.

As always, there was plenty of food, fun and festivities to be had throughout the Christmas week. My mom, sisters and I spent a whole day baking cookies (though I have no photos to prove it), and we all pitched in to prepare Christmas Eve dinner before changing into our Christmas pajamas for our yearly photo opp.


Here's a picture of my parents' beautiful Christmas tree and all the presents that we awoke to on Christmas morning.


After opening presents at my parents' house and attending Mass on Christmas morning, Jeremy and I headed over to his parents' house for yet another dose of presents (and a lunch of Dad M's delicious Wedding Soup).

And our day didn't end there! We stopped at three other places to visit extended relatives, and let me tell you, this pregnant lady was TIRED by the end of the day! It's hard to imagine that next year we'll have a baby in tow with whom we can share all the excitement.

In spite of all the holiday parties, a baby shower was thrown by Grandma A and Grandma M in honor of Baby M's impending arrival. A recap and photos to come soon! In the meantime, we hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable New Year's Eve!

Season's Greetings

As we prepare to spend Christmas with our families, the Moorhead clan wishes everyone a peaceful and restful holiday season. We look forward to the coming of the new year and all the excitement that it brings, especially with Baby M's arrival less than two months away!

Merry Christmas and Lots of Luck and Love in the New Year!

Take a Look, It's in a Book

Here's what's cookin' with Baby M in this 31st week:

(Jeremy was the art director for this photo!)

This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

It's amazing how accurate some of these weekly descriptions can be! Baby M is definitely moving alot these days and contributing to some restless nights. It's just too hard to sleep when your stomach is rolling and rippling all night long. Jeremy and I have been having fun playing games with Baby M at night, as we watch my stomach move in reaction to Jeremy's voice and/or tapping on my stomach.

However, during those sleepless nights I have plenty of books at my bedside to keep me entertained. Between school and preparing for Baby M, our house is littered with books, magazines and various other sources of information. Let's just say researching has become quite an addiction. Whether we're planning a vacation, making a major purchase or just going out to see a movie, I have my mom to thank for my obsession with researching EVERYTHING beforehand.

Last weekend, we took our one-day marathon childbirth class at the hospital where Baby M is scheduled to make his/her grande appearance. There were four other couples in the class, which lasted from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and was jam-packed with overwhelming yet very helpful information. Now I have even more handouts, fliers and pamphlets to keep me busy for the next two months!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

We're moving right along through the end of my 29th week! Here's a little bit about what's going on with Baby M this week:

Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

However, it looks like Baby M is requiring so much iron these days that he/she is taking all of mine! The good news is that I passed my glucose screening test, but the blood test showed that I've got a bout of anemia. It's pretty common to develop anemia at this point in pregnancy, so now all I have to do is take an additional vitamin and start eating steak and spinach like it's going out of style. If only cookies had iron in them, this wouldn't be an issue.

Last night I took a night off from all the writing and research I've been doing for school, and Jer and I put up our Christmas tree. I've been feeling a little out of sync with the holidays this season (which is highly unusual for me), but now that our tree is up, I can't help but get excited!

As I awoke today with a bit of a Christmas buzz, I thought about everything that our Christmas tree represents to me. Adorned with a mix of ornaments from my childhood and ones that Jeremy and I have purchased throughout our 10 years together, it in many ways represents Christmases past, present and future.

Growing up, my parents had a way of making Christmas a magical time for me and my sisters. Our house was (and still is) always decorated from top to bottom with endless Christmas decorations, and each one of us girls would put up a small Christmas tree of our own in our bedrooms. At night we would spend time driving around in the family van looking at Christmas lights and listening to Christmas songs, and every year we would make our annual trip to Kraynak's, where we could walk through the display of animated Christmas scenes and pick out our very own Christmas ornament. In addition to the baking, the traditional Italian fish dinner on Christmas Eve, the magic and mystery of Sam the Elf, and the awesome sight of our Christmas tree gleaming bright behind a mound of wrapped gifts on Christmas morning, there is the sense of warmth, love and family that always surrounded us kids each and every year.

This year, as I pull out many of those very same Christmas decorations that I remember as a kid, I can't help but look forward to all the Christmases to come. Next year at this time, we'll have our very own family to build memories with and to carry on the traditions of the past. And Baby M will have a very Merry Christmas, indeed!

28 Week Progress

With only two and a half months to go, we're starting to make progress on many fronts. Here's where we stand on some baby-related responsibilities.

Baby M's Room - Our crib and crib mattress delivered last week! It's finally starting to look like a baby's room now that the baby actually has a place to sleep. The minute I saw the crib, I had to try out the baby bedding to get an idea of what the big picture is going to look like. Here's the crib and the unsheeted mattress, which still needs to drop down just slightly for the crib bumper to fit properly. So this isn't exactly how it's going to look, but you get the idea!


Also, Jeremy finished painting the dresser and switched out the hardware, but we're waiting to get the carpet cleaned before we officially move it into Baby M's room. The lighting in this picture is not ideal, so the color might look a little more intense than it does in person. He did such a great job!



And here's how the rest of the room is shaping up. Jeremy patched some holes this week, and I went out and bought curtains today. However, I'm not completely convinced that we'll keep the green curtains (hence the reason why they haven't been ironed). I'm thinking that once we move the dresser upstairs, there may be more green than this little room can handle!



Other Baby Items - A coworker of mine gave me a swing for Baby M, one that she affectionately nicknamed the "crack swing" since her daughter loved it so much. It's been sitting in our dining room for about a week now, and I just love staring at it. It's so cute, and I'm so grateful for her thoughtfulness!



Monthly Checkup - I had another monthly checkup this week, and I also had to take the routine glucose screening test. I had been dreading this test my entire pregnancy, just based on all the horror stories I've heard about how awful it can be. With visions of me vomiting and/or passing out, I had Jeremy come with me to the appointment, but luckily, I have nothing exciting to report! I just had to drink 10 ounces of a SUPER sugary cola/gatorade-like drink within a 5 minute period and have my blood drawn an hour later to check for the possibility of gestational diabetes. I haven't heard anything from the doctor yet, so I'm assuming no news is good news!

So now that I'm in the third trimester, I start seeing the doctor every two weeks! Baby M's heartbeat checked out just fine (in the 150s), and with mixed emotions I report that I've gained 21 pounds so far. Considering that I should have another 12 weeks to go, I can only imagine what my total weight gain will be. All the books say that most women gain about 35 pounds in a normal pregnancy, but I had convinced myself that I wouldn't be one of THOSE statistics. Nuh-uh, no way ... not even with all the cravings that I've been having for Hostess cupcakes, rootbeer floats and Oreo cheesecake. I never thought I would be in the norm and gain 35 pounds.

Unfortunately, it looks like I'm right on track. Oh well, I might as well embrace it. All the more reason to have seconds on Thanksgiving. Bring on the sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie!!

Marking a Milestone

We’re marking a big milestone at the Moorhead house this week! Yes, I’m officially in the third trimester of my pregnancy, but that’s not what we’re celebrating. This week, it’s all about Jeremy turning the big 3-0 today! Today is the day he forever says goodbye to his 20s and enters the more sophisticated 30s, as a daddy-to-be! So, a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my "baby daddy" and to the person who is more than I could ever ask for in a husband and a best friend. We've been together now for a third of his life, and there hasn't been a dull moment yet! If you know Jeremy, you know that things are never boring when he's around!

Happy 30th!

Simply Irresistible

Yep, that's me and Baby M! These days my belly is "simply irresistible" to some people who feel compelled to shower me with rubs, pats and grabs. I can't even begin to tell you how many people touched my baby bump this past weekend and proceeded to tell me about their awful labor and delivery stories. Of course, though, everyone makes sure to end their story with an enthusiastic expression along the lines of "But you'll be fine!" Thanks for the reassurance, now can you take your hand off my stomach!?!?

Things are moving along quickly here at the Moorhead household, as I prepare to enter the third trimester next week. We started our baby registry over the weekend, which was completely overwhelming but fun at the same time, thanks to my mom and sister who accompanied us on our little outing. The crib is set to deliver next week, and we finally picked out a paint color for an old changing table/dresser of mine that will go in Baby M's room. I can't wait for the room to come together ... the nesting bug has definitely hit me already!

Baby M's movements have gotten MUCH stronger these past few weeks. Jeremy can actually see my stomach move when Baby M really gets going, and yesterday I could feel the baby's hiccups while sitting at my desk. It feels like Baby M and Jeremy share the same dancing skills.

Here's a little more about Baby M's development throughout this 26th week. And sadly, there aren't any food or fruit comparisons this week! However, I'm personally feeling a bit cantaloupe-ish, maybe even soccer ball-ish these days.

Week 26 of Pregnancy: Baby's Eyes Open
Your baby's eyes — which have been closed for the past few months — are now beginning to open. Your baby's brain-wave activity is also kicking in at this stage in fetal development, which means your little one can not only hear noises but can now also respond to them.

Get out the Vote

Election Day is finally here! I fulfilled my civic duty this morning and waited in line for 45 minutes to cast my vote, so can this election season FINALLY end?!? Jeremy and I have spent the past two years literally counting down the days to this November 4th, in hopes that our life will return to somewhat normal once this day comes and goes.

Jeremy has done a lot of traveling this election season, and he's spent the past nearly three weeks with the McCain campaign. After two nights of only getting three hours of sleep, Jeremy is eagerly anticipating the end to all this craziness. Here's a pic from the campaign trail. Jeremy is among the press and wearing a goldish/orange shirt. May the best man win ... and win EARLY! None of these too-close-to-call shenanigans!

Kooky and Spooky

Happy Halloween!!

Since I'm not dressed as anything more than a pregnant publications manager today, I thought I'd share a picture of one of my favorite Halloween costumes. Yep, that's me with the inflatable bird on my head, and, just in case you're wondering, I was dressed as a Kooky Spook. I can't say I've worn all that many memorable Halloween costumes throughout the years, but really, when you've worn an inflatable bird on your head, there's not much out there that can top THAT! I'm pretty sure I saw pieces of the Kooky Spook costume in my parents' basement the last time I was home, so hopefully Baby M can sport this costume in the future.

Not much is new on the baby front. I'm experiencing all the hallmarks of pregnancy now ... backaches, indigestion, fatigue and some restless nights. Oh, and I'm starting to hate maternity clothes. They're frumpy, awkward and just plain old boring. But overall, I feel pretty good and have enjoyed being pregnant! The coolest part is knowing there's always someone with me, and Baby M reminds me of that these days with much stronger kicks and punches. Hopefully Jeremy will be able to feel Baby M one of these days!

24 Weeks and Counting

A short countdown to kick off the weekend:

114 days until my due date (Feb. 14th!)

60 days until Christmas

27 days until Jeremy turns the big 3-0

11 days until Election Day (will it EVER end??)

4 weeks until I enter the third-trimester

1 more week until Baby M's size increases from papaya to eggplant

Nostalgia

Lately I've been getting a bit nostalgic and have been reminiscing about all the toys and activities that I enjoyed as a kid. I spotted a travel Lite-Brite kit at the store over the weekend and started thinking about the big, clumsy set that I had as a young'in. I remember getting such satisfaction from pushing the plastic, colored pegs through the black construction paper templates that would act as a sort of paint-by-number guide over top of the Lite-Brite screen. And I also remember how sore my fingers used to get from pulling out the pegs one by one, once my masterpiece was complete. Inevitably some of the pegs would get lodged in the screen and put up a mighty fight before coming loose, and my thumb and forefinger paid the price.

A few weeks back, I asked Jeremy if he ever played with Colorforms as a kid. With a blank stare, he confessed that he had no idea what I was talking about. So I told him all about the Smurfs Colorform set that I had as a kid and how I can still remember the vinyl smell of those static cling stickers. And to my surprise, one of my favorite blogs had this article on their site today about modern reusable sticker sets that are very reminiscent of Colorforms. I got way too excited about it and wasted plenty of time perusing the manufacturer's web site. I think this pirate set is too cute. Of course, these really aren't baby toys, so we've got a while before we can indulge in these sort of purchases for Baby M.

Merrily we Roll Along

Lots has been accomplished this week! I'm finally feeling like we're making some progress toward preparing for Baby M, and that makes me a very happy momma-to-be. To catch you up, here's what's been going on at our household this week:

* We started the week with a visit to a pick-your-own farm in the area and enjoyed being surrounded by the sights and smells of fall. We spent some time picking a variety of apples, some beets and a bag full of spinach. And we topped it off with a glass of apple cider that was nowhere near as good as the apple cider from White House Farms.

* Jeremy spent most of his weekend cleaning out the music room and making way for baby. And we even purchased a chair that we've been eyeing for the nursery. It's nice and bouncy, and we've already spent time breaking it in. Let's just hope the crib and dresser we've ordered all fit nicely into this tiny, tiny space!

* We've started the tedious and stressful process of looking for daycare. Between the two of us, we've called about 25 centers and family providers and we only have three prospects we plan to visit. It's a competitive market around here, and although we're not looking for care until May/June, most spots are already filled. I think I might start playing the lottery in hopes of becoming a stay-at-home mom one of these days ...

* And finally, my uterus is growing. (Is this TMI?) I've had two days of some pretty uncomfortable growing pains and lower back pain. But it's all worth it, I know. Just like we're making room for baby, so is my uterus. And this week it has to make way for a spaghetti squash-sized Baby M. (All this comparing to vegetables and fruit has made grocery shopping VERY interesting these days.)

TGIF

Just thought I would give my weekly fruit-vegetable comparison to the growing Baby M this week, particularly because it's one of my favorite fruits. Baby M is nearing banana size this week. Grow baby, grow! And here's another pregnancy tip for the weekend. "Cutting loose" is definitely in order, and we're hoping to get out and enjoy our favorite time of year -- fall! But rest assured, there is no breakdancing on the agenda for this weekend, at least on my behalf. As for Jeremy and the poopers, they can breakdance all they want!

A Kodak Moment

We've got more photos of Baby M to share! Our 20-week ultrasound was this morning, and everything went really well. Baby M is measuring where he/she should be (about 10 inches and weighing 12 ounces) and had a heartbeat of 150 bpm. We got to see the brain, the heart and its four chambers, the kidneys, the eyes, and all of Baby M's developing features ... with the exception of the sex organs, of course. However I was unbelievably tempted to tell the ultrasound tech to just show us the goods, but the urge passed once Baby M started putting on a show for us. Both Jeremy and I were entranced just watching Baby M and all of his/her punching, twisting, wriggling, sucking and reacting to the ultrasound tech's movement of my belly. I think we've definitely got a busy-body on our hands.

Profile shot

Profile shot .... I love the little nose!

Another profile shot, with Baby M stretching his/her neck back

One of Baby M's arms

So based on the latest photos, any guesses as to Baby M's sex? We've had Grandpa M with two dreams that we're having a girl and Grandma M agreeing that it's a girl based on the shape and size of my belly. However, Grandma A has been dreaming it's a boy. As for us? We haven't had dreams that say one or the other, and maybe that's because we'll be ecstatic either way!

View from the Top

This weekend marks the halfway point as I reach the 20-week mark. 20 WEEKS! I can't believe there are only 20 more weeks to go before we meet the illustrious Baby M! Only 20 more weeks until Baby M grows from it's current 6 1/2-inch cantaloupe size to it's potential watermelon-sized self. And only 20 more weeks left for us to prepare the house for baby, work out some sort of daycare situation and convince ourselves that yes, we are indeed going to be parents.

And the reality of it all should sink in next week, when we go in for our 20-week ultrasound and get a glimpse of the action. From my vantage point, though, it looks as if Baby M is definitely growing, with the help of our recent trip home to Ohio. After indulging in the Italian food and cookie selections available at a typical northeast Ohio wedding, and taking a trip to White House Apple Farms for some doughnuts and cider, Baby M and I got our sugar fill for the week. The way I see it, though, is that it's never too early to give Baby M a little (or big!) taste of home.