Baby Gear Reviews- 5 Months Later

Back in August I wrote a review of Landon's baby items at 3 weeks old. When we were shopping and registering for stuff I kept wondering what we'd need after those first few months. With a small apartment and budget, I really wanted things that would last beyond the newborn phase. So here's an updated list of what we have and what we like:

Furniture

1. Storkcraft Rochester Crib w/ Drawer: I still love this crib. It was $200 and looks great. Landon has slept in there since he came home from the NICU. I hear him babbling to his mobile and the cars on his bumper when he wakes up, and it's roomy enough for him to roll around in. He'll be in here until he graduates to a big boy bed (I have no idea when that happens, but I'm pretty sure it's a ways off).
2. Ultimate Crib Sheet: very nice to have when your baby spits up all over the crib- just unsnap the sides and put on a new one over the still clean fitted sheet. It's soft on top and waterproof underneath. I've also found that his drool soaks through the normal sheets and starts to smell- this is quicker and easier to change every few days.
3. Changing Table: I still really like having this- I know you can use any surface with a pad, but we found this one in the same wood as the crib for about $75 and I like the rails and security it provides. Plus, the extra shelves come in handy for larger items and stuffed animals.

Gear

1. Graco Snugride Infant Car Seat and Stroller Frame: I still love this whole set (especially the stroller) and would highly recommend you get something like it rather than a giant travel system. Unfortunately Landon is getting too heavy to carry around in the car seat. We'll continue to use it a while longer, but we've begun looking for a convertible car seat (if you have any recommendations, let me know!). I'm really, really going to miss the stroller and the ability to just pop him in and out of the car base and stroller frame.
2. Chicco C6 Umbrella Stroller: This is our regular stroller. It's lightweight, sturdy, and collapses easily, but I've noticed my feet constantly hit the wheels. It's a great stroller, but next time I'd go to a store and try out different ones before buying to make sure it fits my height and stride.
3. JJ Cole Bundle Me: necessary if you live somewhere cold. It keeps him warm in Chicago winter weather without a coat or heavy clothes- we just stick a hat on his head and we're off. It's roomy and will last him as long as he fits in his infant car seat.
4. Fisher Price Baby Papasan Chair: this thing was a godsend for about two months. Landon did all of his sleeping in here all swaddled up. I would absolutely buy it again, just for those two months, but it really isn't a playtime bouncer (the toy/mirror are pretty boring) and he quickly got too big for it.
5. Fisher Price Infant-to-Toddler Rocker: this is his our fun chair. Landon loves it- at first he just looked at the toys, then he was able to hit them, and now he grabs them and tries to stick them in his mouth. We often take the toy bar off and hand him other toys or books to hold while he's in there. I love that it will grow with him (it can be used as a rocking chair up to 40 lbs.) and wasn't too expensive. I think you need some kind of chair to safely hold the baby while he entertains himself and you get stuff done. I move this all around the house with me.
6. Diaper Genie II: love this. There's lots of diaper pails out there, but this one is very simple to use (you only need one free hand, a very good thing) and has kept his room stink-free. You have to buy refills at $6 a piece, but they last for a while- after 5.5 months, we're only on #3.
7. Sure Comfort Deluxe Tub: this worked well, but we only used it for the first 3-4 months (now he takes baths in the big tub with mommy or daddy). I think this a good model and it is nice to have even now for a quick wash when he spits up all over himself during the day.
8. Evenflo Expressions Plus Highchair: we love this- it's compact, folds up easily, has 3 reclining positions for the back, 7 height positions, and is nicely colored. The tray is wide and snaps off to go in the dishwasher. I was sad we couldn't get the cool Fisher Price booster that snaps onto a regular chair (we don't have a kitchen table or chairs), but now I'm really glad we had to get a normal high chair. We stick him in here all the time to play with toys and books, and it's tall enough to let him see over the kitchen island and watch me cook or do things around the apartment (it's on wheels).
9. Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier- Active: I wanted to love this, but we haven't used it much- maybe we would have if we lived in a warmer climate and spent more time out and about. It worked well for me on Landon's fussy days when I just couldn't hold him anymore, but buying a swing quickly rendered it unnecessary. It was a gift, but if we'd bought it, I would have wished we saved our money.
10. Fisher Price Cradle Swing: like the papasan chair, it was priceless for the months we used it, but it didn't last long. It was expensive and big so I didn't get one at first, but having a colickly, acid-refluxy baby made me change my mind. I think it just depends on your situation- I'm glad we have it now for future babies and Landon spent many, many hours (and took many naps) in here between months 2-4, but he's already lost interest and it's getting small. I'm sure there are more interactive swings that would last longer, but the soothing, quiet nature of this one is what made it so magical.

Toys

1. Gymini Total Playground Activity Mat: I think it's nice to have some kind of play gym, but it doesn't have to be this one. I like many of its features: the sides snap up to make a mini barrier around it, the big mirror, the toys can be switched around, and the bars can be removed leaving just the play mat to roll around on, but Landon never figured out the kick pad and I think that's what makes this one so expensive. As a gift, it's awesome, but if you're paying, you could probably do just as well with a cheaper one.
2. Fisher Price Rainforest Waterfall Soother: we didn't use it at all for the first five months- I wasn't even sure why I registered for it, but we've been trying some light "sleep training" on Landon (basically just getting him to fall asleep on his own without having to be rocked until he's a dead weight in our arms) and it's a lifesaver. Now when he gets sleepy, I put him in his crib, turn off the light, and turn on this soother. He'll fuss a little, but is captivated by the moving water and sounds and quickly quiets and watches. The movements slow, the music gets quieter, and by the time it's done playing, he's asleep. We also use it if he wakes up at night- it gives him something to look at while he's trying to figure out how to fall asleep.
3. Symphony-in-Motion Geometric Shapes Mobile: the best mobile, ever. He still adores it and I can depend on it to keep him busy for a full 15 minutes (this is not a "go to sleep" mobile, it's definitely for entertainment and you can swing it out of the crib at nighttime). It's pricey, but it's the reason I can take a shower every morning and it hasn't gotten old even after looking at it multiple times a day, every day. He still squeals and pumps his arms and legs like crazy- it was also the first thing he ever babbled to.
4. Little Superstar Sing Along Stage: Christmas gift from grandma and grandpa. Great fun- lots of lights and sounds, and it isn't too big. It's already made him better at sitting up on his own.
5. Books: this was the most important thing to me for Landon to have. He loves anything bright and made of cloth or plastic so he can stick it in his mouth. Dr. Seuss is already a favorite as is Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.
6. Bumpo chair: great- he likes sitting in this and holding his books. Not necessary if you have a bouncy chair, but we got it as a gift and I'm glad we have it. There was a recall because people are dumb and despite the smooth bottom and lack of any restraints, they would place the seats on counters or tables and leave baby unattended. The recall just involved Bumpo issuing you a giant warning sticker telling you not to do this. Ours came from Target, but I can't find it online anymore- maybe they stopped selling it after the recall. I hope not, it's a useful little seat.
7. Teethers!! The big plastic ones you put in the freezer haven't worked for us- I think the cold on his hand bothers him and they're too big for his mouth. These blocks are fantastic- they can go in the bath, squeak, and are perfect teethers. Baby Einstein makes a duck with rubber teethers attached and it's Landon's best friend (he's talking to it right now).

Clothes, Diapers, etc.

1. Outfits: Landon pretty much lives in the footed sleep-and-plays from Carter's. They're easy, keep his legs and feet warm, and you can put a onesie underneath for an extra layer. I've discovered I prefer ones with snaps around the crotch instead of a zipper all the way down. I almost never dress him in two-piece outfits that don't involve onesies- he has no hips (do any babies?) and the pants ride low, exposing his giant belly. It looks chilly.
2. Burp cloths: we use a 12-pack of cloth diapers and they're great. Absorbent and inexpensive.
3. Bibs: have lots of these. We go through at least 3 a day because of the drooling and another 2 from meal time.
4. Diapers: we used Pampers Swaddlers and are now on to Pampers Cruisers. I know I should try the store brands to save money, but each Pampers pack has a coupon inside and I can usually find them on sale at the grocery store. He's never had a leak in these, so I just pay the extra dollar. We use store brands for almost everything else. (And FYI, in Chicago I've found grocery stores- Dominick's or Jewel- are the cheapest place to buy diapers and formula, though oddly, not wipes or baby food)
5. Dr. Smith's Diaper Ointment: the best diaper rash cream. Landon had a stomach virus and developed a really bad one; we tried Desitin, A&D ointment, Boudreaux's butt paste, and finally this expensive stuff and after 2 days the rash was almost gone. Worth every penny.

So that's a lot of stuff- and to think I bypassed entire sections of Babies R Us (and have so far held out on getting any kind of exersaucer, though I'm quite sure Landon would love it). Most of the big stuff was used in stages: first the papasan and the swing, now the rocker and high chair, so it's not as bad as it seems. For advice from other new moms, see Magic Cookie's baby product reviews from when her son was a newborn and the list Shelley's doctor gave her when she found herself with a baby several weeks earlier than anticipated. And please add your own reviews or favorite items in the comments!

Yay!

And now a nice superficial post to balance out the deeper one from this morning.

Today was the first time I attempted to wear a pair of pre-pregnancy jeans-- and they fit! True they're not my smallest pair, but they are jeans with a non-elasticized waist, a zipper, and a button. The little act of fastening that button pretty much made my day. Landon has been a big help in losing my pregnancy weight: when he was in the NICU I had time to make food, but no desire to eat it, and now that his very vocal desire to be held overrides my desire to eat, and so I have no time to make anything.

Pregnancy/Delivery Recovery

I never got to write much about how I was doing after Landon was born because I was so preoccupied with how he was doing. I had been dreading the delivery recovery process- any message board I stumbled upon talked about 4th degree tears, pain for months, etc. I was also dreading the arduous return to my pre-pregnancy weight. My mom insisted that she felt great after having me and my two siblings, but she's something of a freak of nature in all things physical- she's weighed the exact same since she was 18 (think head cheerleader/prom queen type figure), eats a large popcorn drowning in butter every time we go to the movies, and even though she gained over 50 lbs when she was pregnant with me, she was back in her tiny jeans in two weeks. So yeah... I wasn't exactly taking her word for it.

Anyway, it turns out that I felt pretty darn good after getting that baby out as well. Yeah I was sore, swollen, and stitched up, but you just wear those pad-like ice packs (loved those), take the ibuprofen regularly (I never had to take the narcotic that I was allotted- I was sore, but not in pain), use your peri-bottle every time you go to the bathroom, and exercise care when transitioning from standing to sitting. I also bought those moist cottonelle wipes to use instead of toilet paper and that made a big difference. Since we were in the NICU all day, it was hard to keep using my peri bottle so I just stuck those wipes in my purse. I was lucky with my tearing- I just had one first degree tear and another one too small to even get a degree designation. I think my skin is quite stretchy because I didn't get stretch marks either. I was very sore for about 3 days, rather sore for another 3-4, and honestly felt pretty great after that. By the time we took Landon home from the NICU (12 days post-partum), I had been feeling totally normal for several days. I do wonder if my recovery was quicker because I didn't have a baby to take care of. When we weren't visiting him, I was resting in my hospital bed, and even when we were with him, I was just sitting in a chair next to his isolette. There's also nothing like worrying about someone else to make you forget or minimalize your own pain. So having a baby in the "Special Care Nursery" (Northwestern's euphemism for the NICU) is probably a positive thing for your physical recovery- not that I'd recommend it or ever want to use that method again.

As far as the weight goes, I was at +41 lbs the day I went into labor. I'm now +11. It's amazing how much of that weight must have just been fluid. My wedding rings fit the day after delivery and I tried on every single pair of shoes last week and they all fit (thank goodness!). I'm pretty much wearing normal tops and maternity bottoms- it's very comfy and I'm really not that excited about trying on my old jeans again. I've grown quite attached to the cute jeans with the stretchy waist band. Sitting in the library was so much more comfortable with those on- they were like jean PJ pants. My stomach is still quite squishy and I find it unbelievable that it will ever return to its original size, but we'll see. Luckily, I have all of Fall, Winter, and Spring before I even have to think of wearing a bikini again.

Landon's Labor & Delivery Story

I really wanted to write down my labor story- mostly for my own memories, but also for anyone else wondering about one person's experience. It was just last night, but it already feels like so long ago. All the times are approximate and I may edit this as I remember more details.

Sat, July 14 - Sun, July 15
7:45pm: My water breaks in the Big Bowl chinese restaurant. I page my OB/midwife practice and get a phone call back telling me to come straight to the hospital. JP says something to the waiter about his wife being in labor and we jump in a cab.

8:20pm: We're in the Labor Evaluation Unit. My water is confirmed to have broken (and is in fact running down my legs and pooling in my shoes). I have no noticeable contractions and will be started on pitocin to get things going (once the water breaks you need to have the baby within about 24 hours). I am in some form of shock that this is actually happening right now- I'm quite hung up on the fact that I don't have a bag packed. JP is calm and excited.

8:40pm: I call a good friend of mine who lives nearby. She comes to sit with me while JP and her husband drive to our apartment to get my camera and a few other necessities. I get taken to my (huge) labor and delivery room. I'm now hooked up to penicillin (I hadn't made it to the 37-week appointment where they test you for Group B Strep), pitocin, and IV fluids. My contractions have started, but they pretty much just feel like cramps and are very irregular- I can (and do!) talk through them pretty easily. My midwife arrives and talks me through what might happen over the next several hours. I also meet my labor and delivery nurse who I really like.

10:00pm: JP gets back from our apartment and my friends leave. I can definitely feel the contractions now and they are getting more regular. I've already spoken with the anesthesiologist about getting an epidural when the pain gets too intense, so knowing that will be coming is very comforting.

11:45pm: I decide it's time for the epidural. My contractions are regular and intense- I can get through them, but I really can't imagine continuing to do so for an unknown number of hours. JP has to leave the room for the procedure, which is convenient since the dinner he ordered has finally arrived. I get the spinal/epidural block. It's totally painless except for the initial numbing shots and the relief is almost immediate. I can still feel and move my legs, and I'm still very aware that I'm having a contraction, but that painful edge is gone. I also get a catheter since I'm now confined to the bed until the baby is born- that process is completely painless and I actually start thinking that one of those would have been nice over the last few weeks when I was getting up every 2 hours at night to pee.

12:00am: I get my first internal exam- I'd been warned that my progress could be slow because my water broke without contractions and I was a first-time mother. But to everyone's surprise I'm 100% effaced and 6 cm dilated!

~2:00am: My contractions are getting downright painful, even through the epidural. I'm examined and it turns out I'm 9.5cm dilated already. We decide that I should get another dose of the epidural meds to get me through the last 0.5cm. This will also allow me to rest for a little while (you usually can't push right after getting a dose because your pain is numbed too much). JP falls asleep immediately and I try but spend most of the time in a semi-sleep-state dreaming about climbing up and falling back down a mountain.

4am-5am: I'm awake again and feeling more intense contractions, now with increasing rectal pressure because the baby's head is descending. The epidural is still doing it's job, but I'm definitely looking forward to the end- I want to meet my son and I really want to get some sleep. The contractions just won't stop- as soon as one ends I know another is beginning soon. I can't get comfortable. My midwife comes in- I'm a full 10 cm dilated and the head is engaged.

5:30am: Time to start pushing. This is really intense- the epidural seems to have disappeared. My L&D nurse is on my right, JP is on my left, and my midwife is in the middle. We leave the bed intact (most doctors shorten the bed and put your feet up in paddles), the lights down low, and everything is really quiet. My midwife talks me through the contractions and pushing, and JP and the nurse offer encouragement. JP was so amazing during the whole experience- he knew just how to encourage me without annoying me (tough at that point). Each push burns and stings more than anything has ever burnt or stung me before- my midwife called it pushing through a ring of fire and that sounds about right. I'm surprised to find that I feel discouraged even though it's only been about 15 minutes- this part is harder than I thought it would be. My midwife is encouraging me and JP tells me he can see the head. That motivates me again- I want this to be done and I'm so excited about meeting my baby. About 2 contractions later- with several pushes within each contraction- I hear my midwife say "keep pushing for the shoulders." At first I think she is just trying to encourage me (I must have missed everyone telling me the head was out), but the next thing I know there is a baby laying on my chest! It's incredible- absolutely incredible.

6:04 am: His official birth time. I get to hold him for a few moments and then he's taken away by the NICU team. I have two 1st degree tears my midwife is stitching up. I then deliver the placenta, which wouldn't hurt too much except that the thought of anything coming out of that area is somewhat horrifying. There's a little more pressure and then it's all over.

At about 8 am we meet our nurse from the recovery floor and stop by the NICU on our way up to the new room. Landon looks so tiny in his isolette all hooked up to different machines. We touch and comfort him the best we can and then go up to our new room and pass out.

Surprise!

So JP and I attended our 8 hour "Great Expectations" class this morning. We learned all about the different stages of labor, various ways of managing pain, post-partnum recovery, and newborn basic care. We also got a tour of the hospital and learned what to expect on the big day. After the class, during which JP spent much of his time making fun of the people in the 80's era videos, we decided that since our parking was paid for the next 24 hours we might as well spend some time downtown. I'd been wanting to see the new Harry Potter movie and we managed to get tickets to a show starting in twenty minutes. The movie was good- though I thought the 3rd and 4th were better. We then walked to a chinese restaurant for dinner. We had just ordered our drinks and appetizers when suddenly I felt a gush of liquid. I went to the bathroom and saw that everything was soaked- and I now had liquid running down my legs. I went back to the table and calmly (through the shock) informed JP that my water had broken. I left the restaurant (there was now a lot of liquid running down my legs), left JP to explain what just happened to the waiter, and called my midwife. Because I'm a full four weeks early she said we needed to go directly to the hospital. JP ran out a few seconds later (apparently the restaurant wrote off our bill) and we hopped in a cab back to the place we had just left a few hours earlier.

So here I am in labor & delivery. I was admitted immediately as my water had most definitely broken, but I couldn't feel any contractions yet. I'm hooked up to a few IVs (one with pitocin) and am waiting for the contractions to become more regular so I can get my epidural. The last few have been quite intense (enough to where I'm thinking women who don't get epidurals are incredible- and possibly a bit insane), so that glorious event will probably be soon.

I'm pretty much in shock. This is early. He's officially premature (though only by 5 days, so he should be fine). I'm supposed to work for 3 more weeks- and get 3 more weeks of paychecks. His baby clothes are all over his bed. His mobile hasn't arrived. I never packed a hospital bag. I didn't read this chapter of my pregnancy books. But I'm also excited- we get to meet our son sometime in the next 24 hours! And in my next post- so will you!

36 Weeks and a Kielbasa Update

Today I begin Week 37. Apparently my son can be born anytime between now and 6 weeks from now- don't you love the narrow window for such a huge event? We've got the nursery pretty much arranged. It has furniture (that has been assembled), lots of toys (including two train sets JP insisted on purchasing and spent last night "testing out"), and a large stuffed Bevo (UT's longhorn mascot). There are lots of clothes that I washed yesterday and am planning to put in bins today. We ended up purchasing the Trofast storage system from Ikea over the weekend. The baby's bedding is all primary colors and we were able to get blue, red, and green bins to go in the Trofast unit. It looks really cute and seems practical- I can just toss his onesies, socks, toys, etc. in a bin. When he gets older we'll buy a proper dresser and just use the bins for all the toys I'm sure he will possess by then (being the first grandchild on both sides and all). His sheets and mobile should arrive in the mail any day. We've got two brands of bottles ready to test out. There are diapers in the diaper stacker. The envelopes for the baby announcements are addressed and stamped. I'm dividing my leftover time between staring longingly at the August calendar and enjoying my time with JP in the new apartment (oh, and working at the Firm).

My Kielbasa toes and ankles look a bit better today. Last night they were of epic proportions and I was experiencing "pitting edema" where you poke your ankle and the indention remains for a few seconds. That freaked out JP and I was ordered to call my midwife. She asked me all the preeclampsia questions and said the swelling was most likely normal "4-weeks to go + July heat" type swelling, but if I get a headache I need to come in for a blood pressure check. I remain headache free, so I'm just trying to enjoy the fact that I get to wear rubber flip flops to the office. I've gained 38 lbs., which is more than I was hoping, but I think at least 3 lbs. of it is in each foot. JP refers to "the belly" as if it is an independent thing that just happens to accompany me everywhere, and a lot of the time, that's pretty much how I feel about it. It still surprises me to look down and see it sticking out like that. It's easy to forget how "natural" pregnancy is- a lot of it is really quite bizarre.

Honoring the Legal Secretary

No one at my Chicago Firm has been more concerned about my "condition" than the legal secretaries in the office. My back was really hurting by the end of last week. I mentioned it to two secretaries who had come into my office to say hello and they sprang into action. One got a bouncy ball she had sat on while she was pregnant- that helped quite a bit after all the unpacking and organizing I had been doing at the new apartment. Another went to Staples last night, found a back rest to put on my chair, sought approval to purchase it, and placed it on my desk chair as a surprise for me this morning. I am so grateful for their help and concern. I don't have a working relationship with a legal secretary yet (I'm pretty sure half the projects I do are ones normally handed out to the attorney's secretary), but I know mine will be an invaluable resource one day and I look forward to repaying him or her with the same kindness these secretaries have shown me.

Looking Like Kielbasas

A little background: While on our cross-country road trip between Austin and Chicago, JP and I were determined to stop for a nice dinner. We needed a real break from the car and the firm was paying our travel expenses. Unfortunately there is nothing in the way of fine dining between Illinois and Texas- somehow on both of our car trips we ended up having dinner at the Perkins restaurant in Blytheville, Arkansas. Both times I had a satisfying meal of pancakes, and both times we marveled at the "Manly Breakfast Platter" complete with not one, not two, but FOUR types of sausage. One of those four varieties was the imposing "kielbasa sausage" and when I looked at my fingers this morning, those kielbasas were precisely what came to mind.

So I now have my first real nuisance of a third-trimester symptom: swelling. After wearing high heels and skirts during my 5-week internship in Texas, I'm now hiding my ever fattening ankles with pants and barely squeezing my feet into flip flops. So far no one at work has commented on my less than professional footwear and I'm really hoping they don't- I vastly prefer heels and don't want to buy wide, flat work shoes that I'll only wear for the next 4 weeks. I have some nice looking sandals and with the pants they're barely noticeable anyway. I tried to wear boots yesterday and even though I had on JP's large socks, they left a rather deep impressions in my ankles after only 20 minutes. I'd be alarmed except that I have no other signs of preeclampsia, my blood pressure is normal, and according to every pregnancy authority, swelling is to be expected this late in the game.

Just now I noticed that my toes are swelling and touching each other. I thought toes always touched, but they must not because I am suddenly very aware of their proximity. My ankles have no shape, they just bulge their way down to my foot. It's all very bizarre. Oh- and for the first time in my life, my thighs rub together when I walk. That has nothing to do with swelling and everything to do with my daily dessert eating, but I thought I'd throw it out there- it seems to fit with the "looking like kielbasas" theme of this post.

Sigh... only 4 weeks and 2 days to go until August 9th. I realize the due date is practically arbitrary as only about 10% of babies are born precisely on that day, but if I wake up on the 10th without a baby I'm going to be really upset. I keep reading that first babies are often late, but nothing will tell me how often and how late- any anecdotes? I figure a random sampling of blog readers is about as scientific as some of the official pregnancy articles out there on the internet.

Common Courtesy

I've always appreciated it when a man offers his seat to me on a bus or train. I never expect it and I nearly always say that I'm fine standing, but I think it's nice of them to do. (I'm a staunch believer in equality of the sexes, but I believe there's room for chivalry and courtesy amongst equality.) Now that I'm nearly 9 months pregnant I pretty much expect someone to offer me their seat on the crowded and hot buses and trains I take to and from work every day. So far someone has immediately offered one to me and each time I've gratefully taken it. This morning, however, I stood amongst SIX sitting men in their 20's and 30's on a crowded El and not a single one offered me their seat. Two stops later people were tightly pressed up against me and I was really getting uncomfortable. Finally an older woman saw me and offered me her seat- of all the people on that end of the train, the only other person who should be sitting down, got up! I felt bad accepting, but my back was already hurting and I had several stops left to go.

I understand that I'm not actually entitled to a seat, but I think it's common courtesy to offer yours to a largely pregnant woman if you are capable of standing. It's not just about men giving up their seats to a woman- I've offered my seat to someone who is elderly, pregnant, or otherwise looks like they need to sit down more than I do. I got to work seriously irritated at those men for looking at me and then looking back out the window. One more thing to add to my list of "things I want to teach my son".

Sick

The Firm's social whirlwind has finally caught up with me- I've caught a bit of a cold. I'm treating myself with pregnancy-approved Sudafed, orange juice, and snicker doodles. I've discovered that the baby goes nuts when I drink OJ- he immediately does some type of rhythmic gymnastics routine. My whole stomach shakes! It's lots of fun- I like picturing him dancing around in there.

This weekend I go home to my parent's house for a bridal luncheon my mom is hosting. We have plans to see at least one chick flick (complete with large popcorn, diet coke, and mike & ikes) and pack all the baby shower gifts from 3 weeks ago into the back of my car. I think I'll just leave it all back there for the 5 days I'll have left in Austin- there's nothing that can melt and my parking spots are pretty secure. I can't believe JP and I will be driving back to Chicago in 8 days. I've enjoyed my time at the Firm so much- it feels so good to know I've found a place I think I can be happy (and a kick ass lawyer ;) Despite my sadness at leaving all the Firm fun behind, I can't wait to start unpacking, decorating the baby's nursery, and, of course, spending lots of quality time with JP!

33 Week Update

While in law school all I did was post about pregnancy, but now that I'm working I'm blogging about it less. Maybe because law school isn't as fun or interesting to me as working? Or maybe it's just because I post less in general. Anyway- I had my 33 week check up yesterday at my Austin doctor's office. My weight is frighteningly high- it's still in the range of normal and 95% of it is in my stomach (or so I am told by Everyone around me, including random strangers)- but it's a very high number and that freaks me out a little. So far the few baby dreams that I've had involve me looking at my stomach and being relieved that it's flat again. This may reveal a troublingly shallow side of me. Other people have dreams of leaving their baby somewhere or not being able to take care of him or her- I dream about fitting in to my old clothes. It's not that I'm supremely confident in my (lack of) parenting skills, I think it's that weight struggles are a very familiar thing to me whereas taking care of an infant is so foreign that my subconscious hasn't even processed it enough to dream about it.

When I was in the early stages of pregnancy I was desperate for information about what it would be like near the end. All the books and articles speak in such generalities about stretch marks, swelling, hemorrhoids, etc., apparently "many women" and "some women" experience these things. Here's my personal 33-week observations: I do not have stretch marks yet. I do not have any trouble sleeping and still use one regular old pillow. I wear high heels to work every day and haven't noticed any swelling. I don't feel any hungrier than normal (unlike the 5th month where I was hungry all the time). My skin looks the same and is not any drier, oilier, or more prone to break outs (and I'm pretty sure any remarked upon "glow" is just Austin heat). My hair is not thicker (pregnancy books love to mention that one). I have not had any other unfortunate side effects: constipation, hemorrhoids, gas, heartburn, etc. I don't know if I'm really lucky or if the pregnancy authors just paint a bleak picture to make you feel good when your pregnancy goes well. However, I still have 7 weeks to go, which leaves plenty of time for a few of those observations to change for the worse.

The doctor did mention that my blood pressure was oh so slightly elevated on Monday. I'm normally 110-120/60 and yesterday I was 130/70. After reading Shelley's blog, I'm acutely aware of preeclampsia. I'm supposed to keep an eye out for any other symptoms and they'll be checking me closely at my next appointment.

So that's about it. I'm getting more and more excited about holding our son in my arms- I think about it quite a bit. He's so real now- I feel him squirm around and can make out elbows and limbs when I press my stomach. I don't think much about the labor and delivery part. Not because of any delusions of any easy labor, but because I just don't think there's much I can plan for or worry about. JP and I are going to a class at the Chicago hospital when I get back- we'll get a tour of the maternity wing and learn the basics of labor, c-sections, and baby care. If there's one things I've learned from people's birth stories it's that anything can happen. I have no real plan except for the epidural (which is written in big red letters at the top of my chart). I have preferences, but no deep convictions about any particular kind of birth, so whatever has to happen to result in a healthy baby and a healthy me is fine. At least for now I'm much more concerned with getting our baby's nursery properly outfitted! (and apparently fitting in to my old jeans ;)

Texas Thunderstorm

For those of you who haven't experienced a Texas Thunderstorm- it is truly something to behold. I was driving back to Austin from Houston a few hours ago and the National Weather Service announcement came on the radio: "There is a severe thunderstorm warning for X county. Expect penny-sized hail, severe winds, tornadoes, and heavy rains capable of producing flash floods. If you are on the road, get to a safe spot. Lie down in a ditch or area of low elevation. If you are in your home, stay in the interior away from windows". This was repeated every 5 minutes. You could see the black sky up ahead. All I wanted to do was get home to Steve's and curl up in bed. Not being a cautious person by nature, and having experienced several Texas-sized storms, I decided to plow on through. I stayed at about 20 mph, had my wipers on high, and both hands gripped tightly on the steering wheel. It was insane. Lightning struck a light pole right next to me and sparks went everywhere. Tree branches were flying across the road. The wind was blowing so hard I had to fight to keep my car on the road (to say nothing of in my lane). The rain was being kicked up into swirling circles on top of the road. As I sit here all safe and cozy in my bed, I'm thinking- what the HELL was I doing still driving on the road? Any other person with half a brain had pulled over. But honestly at the time I felt okay just driving slowly and steadily through it. Isn't it funny how many times you do something that seems somewhat unwise or possibly unsafe and then later look back and think how bad things could have been (or am I the only one that does that with any kind of frequency)?

Anyway- the whole weekend home was fantastic. The baby shower was so much fun- the gifts ran the gamut of darling and useful (some getting high marks in both areas) and it was really wonderful to see all my family and friends. I sometimes wish that we had moved more (or ever) growing up, but now I'm so thankful that I have a whole community I can truly call home. I have known most of the people at my shower for at least 15 years and many of them for nearly 20- and that's a pretty wonderful thing. We spent today up at my parent's lake house enjoying the boat, water, and a fantastic Texas meal of brisket, baked beans, and pasta salad. On Saturday I finally succeeded at finding a maternity swim suit that didn't make me burst out laughing when I looked in the changing room mirror- it's a one piece, black with a white strip under the bust. It actually looks (almost) flattering when viewed straight on. There's a firm event with a party barge on the lake, so I really needed to get one. I also found a cute sundress to wear over it. I have to admit that I really love some of my "maternity chic" clothing- there are several pieces I wish I had in a non-maternity version.

I'm going to try to get a good night's sleep- there's lots of great work stuff ahead of me this week and on Friday JP will be here to visit! He moved us this weekend- an event that really deserves it's own post along with "husband of the year" award as it ended up being quite a debacle- I've never been so happy to be far away in Texas. On Saturday while he was drowning in boxes, packing tape, and botched mover schedules, I was getting my hair cut, a pedicure, and attending a baby shower. For at least one day I didn't feel like I was the over-burdened one because I was carrying the baby around!

The Madness Continues

I haven't been hungry since Tuesday morning. I swear we get fed every hour and so far my time sheets reflect 2.5 hours of actual work in the past 3 days. It's been a blast and looking at my schedule it doesn't appear to be slowing down for at least the next 2 weeks. I thought I'd have all kinds of time to read, do a few projects on my laptop (like finding a pretty blog template), watch movies, hang out with Steve, etc., but I get home, take off my makeup, and fall straight to sleep. I can barely even talk to JP at night. Today after work I'm driving home to Houston because a family friend is hosting a baby shower for me tomorrow. I'm really excited about seeing all my Texas friends and family- many of whom I haven't seen since our wedding! (And of course, opening all the cute baby gifts!)

As far as being pregnant and a summer associate- I think being pregnant is actually working in my favor. The expectations for me are so low! We had a bowling event the other day and I did okay (scored a 118- the last time I bowled I was in middle school), but everyone was so impressed! And every other female associate wears uncomfortable heels all day, but when I do it, it creates a buzz about how tough I am. It's great! Like I mentioned before- people either don't care and don't say anything about it or they get all excited and ask a bunch of questions and share their new mommy/daddy experiences. Both responses are great and I definitely don't think that anyone thinks less of me or my legal abilities because of "condition".

And a brief pregnancy update: he's now squirming around like Crazy. After being a very lazy baby, the little guy has decided to take up dancing, swimming, and possibly gymnastics. My stomach is constantly moving around and it's so fun. He doesn't really "kick", it's just more of a squirming around. I imagine things are getting a bit crowded in there. I'm now in week 31, so he doesn't have too far to go!

Who Is That Woman In The Mirror?

I stopped at Old Navy on the way home from my midwife appointment yesterday to buy a swim suit. I'm hoping to take up swimming again this summer because it's going to be 300 degrees in Austin and I think it will be nice to feel weightless. I was in the dressing room trying on various maternity swim suits when I caught a look at myself in the mirror (which I had been avoiding), and I immediately thought- who is that woman? She has huge thighs! Her arms are flabby! Her back is flabby! What the hell happened to me?! I can handle the belly- it's big and it gets in the way sometimes, but it was expected. This squishiness that is now spreading elsewhere is not acceptable. The other day I noticed my legs touched when I walked- ah! When did that happen?

I couldn't buy the suit. I've decided the only swimming I'll be doing is in my bathtub where no one can see me and I don't have to wear a swimsuit that squishes any squishiness to make it look even squishier. I may change my mind when I actually get to Texas and start melting - perhaps I can find an old fashioned bathing costume...

Side note: I have my first exam today at 2pm. I haven't finished my outlines. I haven't read the outlines that I have finished. I can't figure out why I'm not at all concerned about this. What am I going to be like as a 3L?

Pregnancy Brings Out the Polite in Cabdrivers

I had my 6th midwife appointment today (with glucose tolerance test- that orange soda drink was something I would have loved at age 7, but found nauseating as a grownup). Afterward I decided to walk home- it's a little over 3 miles and this week I'll be sitting on my butt in the library studying, sitting to take exams, and sitting in the car to drive to Texas, so I thought I should take advantage of the exercise (the fact that this meant I cold stop in Gap and Old Navy on my way home was pure coincidence). I was at a busy corner of Michigan Avenue and like a good pedestrian, patiently waited for the little white man on the crosswalk sign to tell me to go. I started walking and suddenly a cab driver thought the red light had a hint of yellow left in it and gunned it across the intersection. I was in the middle of the road, he stopped, I stopped, gave him an evil glare, and he rolled down his window and in heavily accented English said "I'm so sorry ma'am". A sincere apology! From a cabbie! I have never witnessed such a phenomenon. I suppose having a big pregnant belly stick out in front of you can bring out the politeness in people.*

*It also tends to bring out a need to touch you and ask personal questions, but there really has been a marked increase in smiles and politeness around me in the past few months.

Tired

I feel like I'm back in the 1st trimester. Even after a solid 8 hours of sleep, I feel so groggy and sleepy during the day that my eyelids close involuntarily during class and when I'm trying to studying. When you put off outlining until five days before your first final, it's imperative to be productive during your waking hours. I do not have time for exhaustion- unless it's the well-deserved "I just finished outlining for all of my classes" kind of exhaustion.

Parental Sacrifice

Our son isn't born yet, but JP and I have made our first official sacrifice as parents. His company is celebrating their 20th anniversary and sending all employees and spouses to the Four Seasons in Costa Rico for an all-expenses paid 4-day weekend. All Expenses. Four Seasons. Costa Rica. The dates: August 29-Sept 1. Our baby's due date: Aug 9. So we RSVP'd no. You can't abandon a 2-week old and I know that when the time comes the thought of leaving him for a few days will be unimaginable (well, there might be moments when it sounds pretty good, but we still couldn't imagine actually doing it).

That weekend also happens to be our 2nd wedding anniversary. If we hadn't decided we wanted to start our family this young, we'd be sipping tropical drinks poolside, exploring the jungle, snorkeling, eating, and soaking up our time together. Instead we'll be figuring out project baby, not sleeping, and eating take out. This trip represented our first "oh my god what have we done" realization that our lives are going to be pretty different. We're grown-ups... and parents! Our lives aren't just about us! But I already feel like we've changed. It actually wasn't with much regret that we accepted the fact we couldn't go. There's even a consolation prize- this trip means that JP gets an extra few days at home with the baby. I expected to feel some real sadness over saying no- it is a pretty amazing trip and JP has worked so hard and really deserves that vacation- but all I could think about was the fact that we will have met our son by then.

I know there will be more cool trips, and when we're back in Texas grandma and grandpa will be close enough to babysit. Plus, an advantage of having a baby at 24 is that I'll only be 42 when we send him off to college- plenty of time to visit all kinds of exotic locales with JP!

Passing Notes

I have one class in which laptops are banned. The class also happens to be taught by my most obnoxious professor. It's unfortunate because the topic should have been fascinating. Our class discussions even manage to be quite good until the professor interrupts by launching into a thirty minute oration on what is, without fail, the most boring part of our discussion. This happened yesterday- we were talking about the constitutionality of Ten Commandments monuments on federal/state grounds. Somehow he picked up on a "Hobbesian backdrop" and the sermon began. Without AIM or google chat to assist us in communicating with each other, a classmate sitting in front of me held up his spiral with the words:

"So bored. Fake labor now."

Of course a snort of laughter escapes me right as the Professor mentions "enormous religious strife and killing."

Hello, Third Trimester

So here I am at Week 28. My weight gain has calmed down (1 lb. last week rather than 3, with no conscious change in eating or activity), my belly is substantial, the baby kicks, punches, and wiggles around regularly, and I feel great. I'm not uncomfortably large yet or experiencing any of the more unpleasant symptoms associated with the end of pregnancy (although I have noticed that I tend to feel 10 degrees warmer than anyone else- living in Texas for five weeks should be all kinds of fun this summer). Our apartment is literally covered in baby stuff. The reason we're moving in June is because there is no room in our cute little loft for anything more than what is in there now, so the crib, carseat, carseat base, carseat stroller, cushy umbrella stroller, and seventeen baby shower gifts are all piled in the middle of our living room. Lilly thinks it's a big jungle gym of fun, but the clutter is driving me nuts. We have access to our new place this weekend and are going to move a lot of it then.

Everything continues to go well with being a pregnant law student. I haven't actually told many professors about my pregnancy, but it's pretty obvious now anyway. I also never officially talked to the administration. I think they'd be positive about it, but I had no idea how to initiate the conversation. I'm doing fine, I don't need anything, so what am I talking to them for? A benefit of going to such a small school is that the administrative deans are pretty responsive to individual needs- I'm certain if there had ever been a problem they would have accommodated me. (That's also the reason I never talked to most of my professors throughout the year- I was able to attend and stay awake in my classes and I wasn't expecting any help on the exam, so unless I neeeded to miss class for a midwife appointment, the topic just never came up. Whenever it did, they were all very congratulatory.) All my classmates continue to be interested, supportive, and very complimentary of my maternity wardrobe :)

The next few weeks are going to be insanely busy. I really need to start emphasizing the second half of "pregnant law student." There is only one more week of class and then I have three exams in a row starting May 22. Immediately after my exam on Thursday we will start the 1000 mile drive down to Houston for my baby brother's high school graduation. We'll go to Austin on Sunday to move me in to JP's old swim teammate's house and then JP will fly back to Chicago on Monday. The next weekend I have a baby shower in my hometown and he'll be moving us to the new apartment. The timing worked out quite well- I get to eat cake and open presents and he gets to pack, move, and unpack! So to sum it up, in the next two weeks I will be: catching up on all my reading, preparing for exams, packing for a 5-week stay in Texas, packing the apartment for a move, calling to change our utilities and address, soaking up quality time with JP, and saying goodbye to our beautiful "newlywed" apartment. But what did I do yesterday? Went to Target to register for some more baby things, went to another maternity store in search of a khaki skirt, and watched 2 episodes of the not-nearly-as-good-as-project-runway-or-top-chef Bravo Show "Shear Genius". Denial? Perhaps. Reveling in ignoring school and focusing on being pregnant? Aboslutely.

The (No) Sex Post

I've been debating writing this post for a while. On the one hand it's something I really wanted to get other people's comments about, but on the other, there are people who read this blog and know me in the real world and I didn't want to subject them to unwanted knowledge about my sex life. I've decided that during pregnancy everything about you becomes somewhat public- you can go to any health website, click on a pregnancy week, and learn All about what's going on with my body. I also realized that people can exercise their free will and simply click the little red X and close this webpage, thereby avoiding any undue emotional trauma, so here goes...

Everywhere I look- pregnancy books, websites, movies, and tv shows- doctors, authors, and actors have told me I won't be able to get enough sex during my second trimester. They cite increased blood flow, sexy hormones, less exhaustion, and no more morning sickness, and promise things like "many woman experience their first orgasm or multiple orgasms!". Just a few weeks ago, a character on "Brothers & Sisters" (one of my new favorite tv shows) was in her second trimester and practically attacked her husband any time he was within a few yards of her. JP and I saw all this and thought "ooh, that will be fun!" I expected my sex drive to go through the roof, and JP, already a big fan of pregnancy thanks to the doubling in boob size, was already adjusting the number of kids he thought we should have.

But then my sex drive plummeted- like through the basement, underground, and resting somewhere in the earth's core. I still think about it as much as I used to, I'm still as attracted to JP as I used to be, and I still want it as much on a mental and emotional level- I just have absolutely no physical response. It sucks, quite a lot. While searching the internet for any website with some acknowledgement there are women who don't become sex crazed while pregnant, I found a survey of a few hundred magazine readers (I think it was "Self" or one like that) and well over a third reported that their sex drive decreased while pregnant. That at least made me feel like I wasn't an asexual freak, but I can't find anything else like that! Everything just has generalities about how "many women" find their sex drive increases. I asked my doctor and she said many of her patients have complained of the same thing- it's just hormonal and things should get back to normal after the baby is born.

I have a wonderfully understanding husband, but this is frustrating for both of us. It's gotten to the point that I'm looking forward to working in Texas because at least then I won't have to feel bad about our lack of a sex life- we can blame the 1000 miles between us! And it's not like we Never do it, I think 10 days is our longest pause, but I really miss physically wanting to.

I don't have any friends with children and this just isn't one of those things that comes up in phone conversations with my mom, so I'd really like to hear other people's experiences, or the experiences of your friends, sisters, etc. (please feel free to comment anonymously). Did anyone else feel this way? When did your sex drive come back- later in pregnancy? after the birth? I can't imagine the infant sleep/feeding schedule is all that conducive to a hot sex life, but I just want to want it again! And as long as we're talking about it, how long after the birth did you resume sex? While that seems like a really long way away, I'm hoping that at least then I'll feel like "me" again and things can get back to normal. Or as normal as it can be with an infant...