Dear Little One #6

Dear Little One,

Today you and I visited the midwife to check on your progress and things couldn't be better.  You are growing at a perfect rate, sitting in my belly properly, your heart is beating nice and strong and your effects on my body are just as they should.  Every time we visit the midwife she is able to find your little heartbeat a little quicker than the last time, which puts my nerves at ease.

I have been seeing a midwife nurse who reports to a doctor since, at this point, the pregnancy is as low risk as it gets.  I really like the midwife - very down to earth and calming.  She puts any concerns I have at ease, which is wonderful with a first time worrier mom like me.  I hope she will be available to deliver you into the world in July as I think she will be a nice face for you to see upon your entry to the outside world.

We received your stroller yesterday.  I was so excited that I insisted on assembling it, even though you are not due for another three months.  Your crib arrives on Monday and we can start assembling your new bedroom soon.  I am very excited (and I think your dad is too).  All of these things makes your pending arrival more real.

Daddy and I just returned from a trip to Oahu's North Shore.  We spent a week swimming, playing on the beach, kayaking, snorkling and hiking together.  It was such a wonderful, relaxing trip for both of us.  We enjoyed watching you kick (I think you loved the beach and ocean as much as we did) and talking about what we will do when we bring you back to Oahu once you are big enough to enjoy it.  I am so looking forward to that trip and seeing  it through the eyes of a little person.

Hadley, I think about you every moment of every day.  While it is still so unreal, I can not wait until you get here.  So many people are excited about your arrival, but no one is more excited than your daddy and I.  Keep on growing nice and strong and kick me all you want because it makes me feel good to know you are OK.

I love you.

Mom

Dear Little One #5

"Kick Daddy in the face!"I have said that countless times before, as I snuggle up to Mama's belly and talk to you. Only, last night, you actually heard me and I got a couple of kicks from you...right to the face. I am not sure if you actually did hear your daddy talking and you were inside, smiling, and kicking. I think it may be early at 27 weeks for you to be able to respond. Still, it's a nice thought that you are able to. It melts my heart thinking about you and how we will soon be able to see your face, hear your gurgles and yes, even the crying. Of course I am in the midst of persuading your Mom to be the one to always get up in the middle of the night to feed you and calm you down. Yeah right...that isn't going so well. Actually, I am going to put my foot in my mouth here, but I am looking forward to some alone time with you and look forward to getting up with you. When I have to wake to take care of you and you and I can hang out just the two of us...that will be fun. Your mom has had you all to herself and will have you most of the day so I will try to spend as much time with you as I can. I find myself sometimes staring into space imagining how things will be once you make our family complete. You are always in my thoughts Hadley. Daddly loves you so much. Talk to you later.

Dear Little One #4

Dear Little One,

Today you are officially 25 full in-utero weeks old.  I can't believe you will be here in the next 14 weeks.  Daddy and I have started getting ready for you - arranging our apartment to create a nursery, washing your new little clothes that you will grow out of far too quickly, touring the hospital, enrolling in classes etc.  14 weeks seems like such a long time, but there is a lot to do before then.  Your Grandma and Grandpa G sent a puzzle stool with your name on it, that we couldn't resist assembling and putting in the "Hadley" area (it's so cute, I can just imagine you sitting on it with your little pig-tales, reading a book).

I feel you swimming around my belly everyday.  You seem to get the hiccups often, which, according to "What to Expect, When You're Expecting," is not uncomfortable for you, very normal and we do enjoy the entertainment.  Sometimes I think that you must have a twin in there or you are stretched out completely, tickling both sides of my tummy.  The doctor tells us there is just you, and we are so excited.

It's amazing how you can feel love for something so immediately. I've been in love with you since the moment I learned about you.  Everyday that love grows more and more as my belly expands more and more (and it is expanding, as it should).

Hadley, I am counting the days, hours, minutes and seconds until your arrival.  While I am frightened of the delivery process, I can't wait to be admitted to that hospital, hooked up to all of those monitors and know that your arrival is very close. I can't wait to meet you, to hold you in my arms, to see your daddy hold you (he is jealous that I get to carry you inside of me and feel you all day) and to introduce you to the rest of your family and our friends who have been anxiously awaiting your arrival.  Keep on growing strong and healthy, giving me some good left hooks in the rib cage from time to time so I know you are there.

Much love,

Mom

Other things they don't tell you about being pregnant...

11. Foot growth!  I'm a tall girl already, therefore I already have big feet.  They've now expanded a whole size, to the degree I had to buy new shoes.  I hear they might not go back down :(  

12.  Severe exhaustion:  I just returned from a pleasure trip to New York City and I've never been so exhausted.  I have visited several times and I feel that this time I did half of what I normally do, but my feet and body were beyond done.

13. Perineal massage: Just received the third trimester packet and this little exercise frightens me (but will probably benefit me in the big picture).

14. On the plus side: An express ticket to any bathroom!  Like I said, I was just in New York and was able to visit the ladies room at The Plaza Hotel and at the Met (without paying).

10 Things They Don't Tell You About Pregnancy

1. You are actually pregnant for ten months, not nine! On that same note, they actually consider you pregnant before you actually conceived.

Papa's take: Wednesday marked 5 months since our first date. Doctor says we are 5 1/2 months pregnant. Do the math!!

2. No soft cheese! I already knew about no raw fish, caffeine or alcohol, but no soft cheese?

3. Bladder leakage. This is a fun thing I have recently learned about after a sneeze in a public place.

Papa's take: Ask Mama about the gym! Just ask!

4. The appetite of a five year old. I figured I'd have some nausea, maybe some up-chuck, but I didn't think I'd become finicky. Up until the last couple of weeks, my diet consisted of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cheese pizza, apples, mint chip ice cream, crackers and Fruity Pebbles.

5. Massive boobs. I figured they'd grow a bit, but from a B to a D! Whoa! And they are supposed to get bigger once the baby comes?

Papa's take: Daddy likes:)

6. Quick gag reflex. It doesn't take much these days to make me gag. Just telling me a somewhat gross story will get me started with the dry heaves (and on a couple of occasions, has sent me running to the bathroom!)

Papa's take: Hmmm...maybe I shouldn't go there!

7. Gas. I can no longer claim that I don't ever fart. Guess what everyone, I do!

Papa's take: It took 5 months but Mama let one slip in my presence...classic!

8. Occasional shortness of breath. Some days I can do 30 minutes on the elliptical machine no problem, others, I can barely climb the one flight of stairs to our apartment.

9. Acid Reflux. Nuf' said.

10. Snoring. I don't think I've ever snored before, but apparently now I'm a chain saw (this weeks sound is that of a choo choo train).

Papa's take: Seriously...it is making me consider ear plugs.

Dear Little One #3

Mama asked me tonight "Do you think we are doing everything right?" She was thinking that the occasional diet pepsi she had was bad for you and she was feeling guilty for it. To ease her mind we read through a baby book and learned that doctors don't worry about caffeine consumption unless you drink more than 3 cups of coffee or its equivalent a day. So no need to worry Mama! Everytime we see you with an utlrasound we are amazed at how healthy you seem to be. You are growing ahead of schedule and your legs are so very long. What an active little thing you are too. The technician who did the 4D ultrasound said you were more active than normal. I wonder if that means you'll be running us ragged. I bet you end up walking faster than the other kids. With all that energy you have you'll end up channeling it and pushing yourself to do things quickly, like crawl, walk and then run. Just remember that sometimes you can get in such a rush to see things, and do things, that you miss out on what is right in front of you. Take time to yourself. Slow things down. Color in your books or pick some flowers for Mom. I will try to show you what the world has to offer but I can only take you so far and show you so much, but your imagination can take you anywhere you'd like. See the clouds, the rainbows and the rabbit running in the fields. Notice the old man feeding the pigeons and watch Sesame Street with your old man. Never worry about being too silly with your Mom and me. We are very silly too. Of course there is a time and place for silliness and we will expect you to behave when we are out and about. You mind your mother when she asks you to do something. Just because you act like a big girl when we are out shopping or visiting with friends doesn't mean that you can't carry that silly girl you can be inside. You will know when to let her out. It'll just feel right. Do me one favor though, try and get mommy's silly little girl to come out more than it does. She has been through a lot could use some more playing and laughing, no matter where she is or who she's around. I am sure between the two of us we can manage to do that. Did I tell you that Mommy is very ticklish? Yes indeed. She is a big fan of feet touching. Do it often!
I love you Hadley

Dad

FAT

One of the lovely things about being pregnant is the constant feeling of fat.  It's an age old complaint, but now I get it.  I've never been tiny, I'm 5'9" and that is just not possible, but I've never seen myself as fat (though, I've probably complained that I felt that way).  But now, I just plain feel fat, hungry and just not cute.  People say I'm "glowing," but I just don't see it.

Moms out there: Any advice on how to feel pretty for the next four months before our beautiful little arrival?

Thanks for your help!

- The Fat Pregnant Bellyacher