Week 29

Beginning week 29! Only 11 left to go! Getting pieces for the baby room, starting a new job, getting ready for a family shower... Maybe it is too many things to do all at once? Especially while awaiting the arrival of Nikolai in 11 weeks?  Hmm... But they are necessary! Not to mention Fun! Sadly, not so much happy stuff is happening though too...

Enter! 3rd Trimester!

And so it has happened, we are now on the last stretch before the arrival of our little Nikolai. 28 weeks done and only 12 left to go. The anticipation is building, and yet, neither of us quite feel ready. This is our last 3 months, just the two of us. But to be able to hold our little guy, see his fingers and his toes, we cannot wait for that. It seems so much more final now. I have a doctors appointment in 1 week, 6 more to go before the arrival of Nikolai. The time is going to fly by, and we still have so many preparations to do!

Super Sweet Heart Beat

Got back from the doctors yesterday super stoked because I recorded Nikolai's Heartbeat! I listened to the recording the entire way home. Over and over again! Granted it is only about 10 seconds worth of the heartbeat (and I wish it is a little louder), but still! I can listen to it over and over again. Our little peanut's heartbeat! That, I think, is the best thing I have gotten from a regular check-up so far. Sonograms don't count as a regular check up. :)

10 Things They Should Really Warn You About Before Getting Pregnant

Ok, so I was going to wait to post this until next week, but after watching Tyra and her episode on the Teen Pregnancy Epidemic, I have to do it before I forget. Two girls were on saying they were trying to get pregnant. One at the age of 14 the other at 16. How crazy! Being so young and actively trying! Wow!  Of course, Tyra had pregnant teens on the show to share their stories and hopefully change the minds of the trying young ones. I wonder what they are thinking, those girls. It's not all fun and games. One said she was looking forward to the shower, but that is what, a few hours out of a lifetime!?! Granted, yes it is something to look forward to, but not to be the center of attention, and not for the gifts. To celebrate a life that will be entering the world very soon! Wait till later, and you can participate in many showers to come.

I also feel sorry for the people who think, "yes! 9+ months without that dreaded period!"  (Yes, it will take longer than just after birth for the return of a period, especially if you are breastfeeding). We should know better that with some great things (feeling the baby kick and move, hearing the heartbeat) mother nature is going to throw some extra curve balls and make some not so nice moments like: round ligament pain, motion sickness and dizziness, morning sickness that lasts ALL DAY, and more that are not so familiar.

Practice Makes ... ?

Well... I had my interview with Sahuarita School District yesterday for a substituting job. Now that I have actually reflected on the questions and the coordinator's responses, I think it went fairly well! That excites me. I have heard good things about the district and the campus looks wonderful. I will be keeping my fingers crossed. And, I had so many stories to go with some of the questions (especially discipline)! One of the questions was about what type of situation you would send a student straight to the principal's office. Not that I needed to think about the question so much (is that bad?), but I had a story to go with every response I gave her. Maybe not that every story involved something I have seen, but something I have heard! And I could go off on a couple of those stories too! But really, it fits with emotional and physical safety of the students; the moment that is broken or threatened, then to me, that requires immediate principal intervention. But I guess the way I phrased my response, "you just don't treat another human being that way" made her really think about it. Apparently, no one has responded quite that way before. That is a good thing, right? And, she said she should get the references verified quickly so I can get as much time in before Nikolai is born. That is a good sign, right?

I am hoping that the extensive practice from school (teacher assisting, practicum placements, immersion substituting, student teaching) will make the substituting experience for me at least a little easier. Especially after the student teaching. There was nothing like being in the classroom everyday, all day. Oh, I do miss it though. Maybe because I am bored at home, maybe because the kids and my cooperating teachers were awesome. But, it was a lot of fun, even the difficult parts. I guess I am just nervous...

2nd Trimester ~ 1 Week Left!

What a way to mark the ending of the 2nd trimester but to start the Childbirth classes!

We are taking classes on the Bradley Method because of our goals to go through childbirth un-medicated. Yes! People say we are crazy, that the pain is unbearable, and it will save the baby and yourself unnecessary tiredness and exhaustion. (personal experiences are not all the same)... Well, based on our feelings and how we perceive how childbirth will go, we don't want the medication. It's not bravery. It is how we want to experience the miracle of our child entering the world. This comes with the understanding that there may be a necessity for the use of medication and/or even cesarean. But that, though, is something we hope will not happen. We are using these classes to be the best prepared we can be before walking into the delivery ward of the hospital. I have a feeling we will be defending this position the rest of the way until after we have Nikolai in our arms.

HeartBeat

Today was the first day Brandon heard Nikolai's heartbeat without the Doctors office using the Doppler! At least as far as we think. I read in whattoexpect.com that the dad should be able to start hearing the baby's heartbeat by putting his ear to the stomach. We had been trying that for the last week with no results. Today, I was laying on the sofa and he went to hug my stomach. I put my hand over is ear just to hold him close. When I moved my hand away Brandon responded, "wait! I think I heard it!" So we tried again and he got so excited! Tears in my eyes, did I see tears in his? We were talking the other day, that I need to record the next appointment so he can hear Nikolai's heartbeat. Now, maybe I don't need to... Course, I think I will still try. But, one week to go until the next visit...

Tuesday, we start our child-birthing class. It will be here before we know it! Thursday I have an interview for a substitute teaching position with Sahuarita Unified School District. Three nights of working at the bowling alley somewhere in there. This next week is gonna fly, I have a feeling. I am just going to have to keep my fingers crossed and hope that all goes well!!!

100 Days Left!

It just seems like a major marker, a nice round number!

100 days left! Exciting!

An Interesting Evening...

So, Saturday evening was interesting...

We had a birthday celebration dinner to go to last night for a friend of ours. Mmm, Black Angus Steakhouse! Such great Fillet Mignon (that is what I ordered, even though it was $3 extra)! We had a coupon and a party of 17 people! And of course, we were the first ones there. 40 minutes early! But that gave us time to run back to a Walgreen's and grab a card for the special birthday girl! So, at least the wait time wasn't that bad. But then, it took them at least 20 minutes to get the table ready for us to sit. Which, with a party that big, I can understand. We finally order our main course, after the appetizer, and when it finally arrived some good amount of time later, only half our party got their food! No point in waiting to eat, those of us who had gotten our food, it started to get cold! So, we ate. Not until once we finished did the other half of our party receive their food! It was crazy! I felt so bad eating in front of them, but my meal smelled so good! (steak, broccoli with parmesan cheese, and loaded baked potato soup!) Once we all finished our food, it took at least a good 30-45 minutes to get the desserts out! We were there for 4 hours! Most of it waiting time! I guess one of us complained because we got on top of the coupon, free sodas, a 25% discount and free desserts for those that did not use the coupon! The servers were so apologetic and the manager even came out and apologized to us. Hey, it was over an $80 meal for only $40! It was just crazy! And it didn't end there!

A bowling ball in my stomach!?!

I have been learning, as time progresses, that it is becoming more and more difficult to do things that require getting close to the floor! Things like emptying and loading the dishwasher (especially the bottom rack) and taking clothes out from the dryer. Either I do it and once I get back up, my back aches horribly, or I just can't get the weight back up. This also means that grabbing peoples shoe sizes at the bowling alley is becoming more difficult too! At least I can work the register and tell the other person they need to do the shoes. And at home, Brandon - I am sorry, but I am going to need your help with the dishes and laundry. What am I going to do with myself during the day time? scrapbook... :)

People have asked me what it is like, being pregnant. I have decided that it is like carrying a 10 pound bowling ball strapped to your stomach only not quite so hard. You can't lay on your stomach or have it dig into you. Can't lay on your back because the weight is on your spine. It gets in the way when bending over, can't reach your feet an toes. And does this make for a difficult time washing feet and legs in the shower! But, does this bowling ball definitely kick back! And how much fun is that! I rub it all the time! It is more fun to watch than the TV! I love my bowling ball belly, but cannot weight for Nikolai to come out of it so I can lay on my back and stomach again. And not to mention holding him!!!