More Belly!

Here I am at 27 weeks - sliding into the third trimester!


And a few bare belly shots as our little one grows and grows!

Side View

Front View

  The belly button is almost gone!

Some sources say that the third trimester begins at 27 weeks, others say at 28 weeks.  Either way, I've noticed some changes this week.  I cannot buckle my shoes anymore.  I have a few pairs of slip on shoes that will have to get me through the rest of the pregnancy - unless Mike is willing to help out!  

I am also peeing a lot more in the last few days.  Tonight, just before I started writing this post, Tiny Dancer kicked my bladder, making me feel suddenly like I was gonna pee my pants.  Thankfully, I didn't.  

Bending is getting harder and harder.  Mike & I have been doing a lot of work in the garden and I find myself doing a lot of squatting and bending.  Even though it is hard, I try to endure.  The squatting specifically will (hopefully) benefit during labor and delivery.

Okay, the evening is getting to be late . . . off to bed for this little mama!

26 Week Belly Shot

Here is my 26-week belly shot!

The pants that I am wearing in this picture are not maternity - I used the clasp on the waistband to hold them up, since I can't zip them! Time to add to my maternity wardrobe, I think . . .

Happy Easter!

And the Belly Grows

I can't believe it has been almost 2 weeks since I last posted a belly shot! I guess that time is starting to really fly by. I feel a little nervous as I think about this, considering there is still a lot to do to prep for the arrival our Tiny Dancer. I have a list of things to get done - among which is the childbirth prep.

My goal is to have an unmedicated birth. I hope to be able to trust in my body's ability to guide me through the process. My intention is to accept the process versus fighting against it - whether in the form of fear or in the form of reactive resistance to the pain and intensity of each contraction. I have not done this before - apart from trusting my body's process of miscarrying the baby last year.

My doctor gave the the option of a d & c or to naturally miscarry, and I opted to go for the natural route. The process took about a week from start to finish. Although, considering the estimation that that heart had stopped beating at 6 weeks and my body didn't begin to miscarry until three weeks later, I guess the whole process took about a month in total.

I know that I had contractions during the miscarriage. However, miscarrying a very early pregnancy is a very different physical process than birthing a full term baby. Basically, I have no idea what I am in for.

Which leads me back to the chilbirth preparation class. We begin at the end of this month and the class spans the duration of 9 weeks - meeting once weekly. After some research, I decided to sign us up for the Bradley Method class. I won't go into much detail today - but here is a link for more info, for those of you who are interested in learning more about it.

Here is a little blurb on the Bradley Method:

• The Bradley Method^® teaches natural childbirth and views birth as a natural process.
  
• It is our belief that most women with proper education, preparation, and the help of a loving and supportive coach can be taught to give birth naturally.
  
• The Bradley Method^® is a system of natural labor techniques in which a woman and her coach play an active part.
  
• It is a simple method of increasing self-awareness, teaching a woman how to deal with the stress of labor by tuning in to her own body.
  
• The Bradley Method^® encourages mothers to trust their bodies using natural breathing, relaxation, nutrition, exercise, and education.

So, I look forward to the classes as the next step in preparing for this baby. It couldn't come at a better time, either. I notice that as each week passes, the reality that I will be birthing this baby settles in a little more. This week my feeling have been more towards the "holy shit!!" end of things versus the groovy "all is good, trust the body's knowing" side of things. I'll tell you - I practice acceptance and letting go all the time with this whole process. What a transformative experience.

I was a little late in taking my 24-week belly shot, so the two that I have to post are only four days apart.

Here goes!

24 weeks!

25 weeks!

Man, I always have Mike take these pictures first thing in the morning, right after I finish getting ready for work. I wish I looked so freshly primped all day long!!

Bathroom Update - And it goes on . . .

and on, and on . . .

Even thought it feels like forever, Mike has been kicking ass at getting the master bath remodel done. This weekend marks the second full week that he has been working on the remodel. As with many home renovation projects, once Mike started to work on the bathroom he discovered that there was much more to be done than he originally anticipated. For one, the baseboards and drywall around the toilet were covered in mildew and really just rotting away. It was pretty gross once he got the toilet out.

So, here is what he has done so far:

• remove the orange peel texture from the walls (that was the video in this post)
• remove the old, yucky drywall
• remove the old shower fan
• reposition and replace the new shower fan
• change the electrical so that everything is centrally located - all the switches are in one place instead of two
• replace the drywall
• build framing for around the existing opening for the closet
• install new bullnose in multiple locations in the bathroom
  
• remove the old window & sill - which had termite damage (hopefully no new damage will show up now)
• install new window
• mud the new drywall & bullnose
• sand & mud again
• prime the walls
• paint

He still has a lot left to do, but he has reached the point where he is starting to put the bathroom back together versus tearing it apart. Knowing this, we both can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Two weeks isn't really a long time to be without the master bath - especially when we have another bathroom that is fully functioning, and thanks to that remodel, is a very nice bathroom to use!

The biggest pain - which makes the task seem like it has been going on forever - is having our house disheveled and the closet inaccessible. My wardrobe currently lives on our guest bed - and it is messy and cluttered. Bleh.

Okay - enough griping from me about the inconvenience of not having a closet - here are some pics of the remodel, in progress.

Sanding complete: Old texture removed

Where the toilet was - can you see how gross the baseboards & wall is there??

Another shot of the toilet area - with a bunch of different colors we were testing out.

The vanity area - after Mike removed the orange peel texture

The old window is out!

Low-cost air conditioning

The new window - before new drywall & bullnose

The new window, with bullnose, etc done - also - the walls have been primed!

The closet (preexisting) - but the framing is new on the top of the closet - and the edge of the wall (on the right) has new, rounded bullnose. Mike chose plastic bullnose to prevent rusting.

Putting up a second coat of paint

More paint

I think that I said it when he did the last bathroom - but I am so impressed with Mike's MAD skills! Our house is pimpin', thanks to that man of mine! :)