We went to look at the litter of puppies when they were just 11 days old.  Once we had chosen Charlie, we kept visiting him on the weekends until he was finally eight weeks old and we could take him home.  And I always hated to leave him and eagerly awaited the day we could have him for keeps.

I feel the same way every time I get to see my baby.

I had another appointment today.  My mother is also still in town, having gotten stuck here while trying to avoid of all the global warming across the country.  So my favorite ultrasound tech gave grandma a quick peek at baby.

She's growing, especially in the cheeks.  (And since these things are basically rorschach tests, I made a little drawing of her face beside it so you can tell what you're looking at.)



I had been feeling spry up until a few days ago when I hit a major wall, and now I know why: she's getting big, and I have a knee in my ribcage.  I have finally hit that usch part of the end of pregnancy; I'm tired, sore, and chock full of baby.  I ate lunch today and then threw it up in my mouth in Target afterwards.  There's just no room.  When I sit, she's up in my ribs.  When I stand, she's sitting directly on my bladder.  I finally understand what people mean when they say they're really uncomfortable and ready to be done being pregnant.

And I have two months left to go.

Two more months before I can take her home for keeps.  And squeeze those cheeks.

Posted by: Sarah at 05:53 PM | Comments (16) | Add Comment
Post contains 277 words, total size 2 kb.

1 By the ninth month I was constantly munching because my husband is 6'2" and I am 5'1" and I was huge!  A "meal" meant I had acid reflux for the next 2 days.

Posted by: Tracey at January 11, 2010 06:41 PM (x+F0t)

2 Hooray for global warming! Grandma wouldn't have seen her granddaughter without it!

The Peanuts-like drawing helps. Now that I can see her face, she seems really real.

Did you notice that about seven weeks passed before you could take Charlie home ... which is almost two months? At least those seven weeks weren't physicially usch. Or as we would say in English, ouch!

And squeeze those cheeks.

And she'll eventually squeeze you back!

Posted by: Amritas at January 11, 2010 07:04 PM (cs8bo)

3 How awesome!!  So glad grandma got hooked up, yo!    Your tech is a super kindhearted person.

Posted by: wifeunit at January 11, 2010 07:15 PM (4B1kO)

4

Reading about someone else's pregnancy, it goes by much faster.  I'm sure that's comforting.    It was at this point in my pregnancies when I remember feeling so powerful and special and particularly connected to all women throughout time.  It is a singular experience and despite all of the changes in modern life and the trappings of modern pregnancy (like ultrasound), the feeling of that baby inside you hasn't changed.  Apparently I get contemplative while pregnant.  Plus, I actually liked being pregnant.

I can't remember if you're working or not, but when the serious nesting urge kicks in, remember to sleep a lot (or whenever you can) and get your feet up!

I didn't get a chance to chime in on what to buy, but along those lines, I highly recommend (depending on your home layout) having a portable, mini diaper changing station in addtion to the main one.  We kept a basket with diapers, changing pad, wipes, butt cream, an extra onesie, and receiving blanket in the family room next to the rocking chair.  Very handy.  Also, sleeping on a towel or washable, absorbant pad will save you from washing your sheets everytime something leaks (be it a diaper, breast or sanitary pad).  Hope that wasn't TMI, but it will save you some laundry in those early days when sleep is at a premium.

Enjoy the anticipation of meeting your daughter.  And I for one will vote for you morphing into a mommy blogger.  Please?

Posted by: Christa at January 11, 2010 07:32 PM (2qSbp)

5 ADORABLE. Sarah, I remember feeling the same way - sitting was uncomfortable, standing was etc. I remember thinking "I cant get any bigger" but did. I knew it was bad when I was outgrowing my maternity clothes...Only a few more weeks!!

Posted by: keri at January 11, 2010 08:24 PM (dtvJC)

6 Lols about the drawing...I sooo needed that before W "interpreted" for me.

Posted by: calivalleygirl at January 11, 2010 09:35 PM (XkiVB)

7 I never felt that way with either of our kids.  Weird.  My wife, on the other hand...

Funny thing--if you can do it, push back on the offending protrusion.  Sometimes, they will push back too!

The Mrs. says frequent position changes are the name of the game.

For a real treat, swallow pop rocks. 

Posted by: Chuck Z at January 11, 2010 09:36 PM (bMH2g)

8 *hugs*  If it would make the next 8 weeks go by faster, I'd count them down with you.  Heck, I might just do it anyway in hopes of it making a difference

Posted by: Susan at January 11, 2010 09:36 PM (EU2Wl)

9 chock full of baby!!!!!!!

Posted by: MaryIndiana at January 12, 2010 03:14 AM (ZzRNC)

10 She is beautiful. The last couple of months went by so sloooww for me. I hope they move quicker for you.

Posted by: Tressa at January 12, 2010 10:30 AM (yY6P+)

11 Congrats! And soon you can chew on noses and smell that luscsious sweet baby smell that only newborn + wipes + baby wash + hugs + snuggly blankets/clothing can smell like ... like new puppy smell but BETTER. 

Posted by: Darla at January 12, 2010 11:35 AM (XvIN7)

12 Sssoooo that's what GIRLS look like! So happy for you and that Grandma was able to see her!  Be sure and sleep, sleep, sleep because it won't be long and a night of sleep will just be a memory

Posted by: Laura, A Military Mom at January 12, 2010 03:30 PM (oLHZ3)

13 She's beautiful.  It's amazing too, because they really do look like those pictures once they're out and you can make the comparison.  Sometimes babies drop a little before the end, and it becomes either a little more bearable or worse.  Here's hoping she shifts and gives you a little relief...

Posted by: Ann M. at January 13, 2010 12:32 AM (+GQ3g)

14 Ann is so right--sometimes when I look at Ian's profile, even though he's almost two, I can see that ultrasound at 20 weeks.

And ChuckZ brings up a fun thing, too: I used to be able to "tickle" Ian's feet when he pushed out with them.  He would lodge a shoulder on my left hip bone and stretch so his foot was almost visible just under my rib cage, on the right.  I could rub his foot with my finger, and he'd twitch or withdraw--or kick back!  Totally an "Aliens" moment.  I had to keep pushing his feet back down when he did that. 

He didn't like his space encroached upon, either.  He actually pushed me away from a counter when I was leaning on it while doing dishes.   He's still pretty sensitive about things around his feet.  The kid can KICK!   He'll play soccer someday.

Posted by: Deltasierra at January 13, 2010 02:12 AM (/Mv9b)

15 Going swimming helped alleviate the "I can't breathe but I really have to pee!" scenario that played out daily for the last 2-3 months of my last pregnancy. Little Man was long and I am not, therefore he was in my ribs and on my bladder at the same time and there were days where it would have me in tears. Swimming helped me feel a little less...stuffed. But "chock full of baby" is a wonderful thing So is "for keeps".

Posted by: HomefrontSix at January 16, 2010 05:04 AM (2vZeF)

16 Yep.  About 7 months, I remember feeling very "full of baby", and then at about 8  months, he "dropped" and I had room to eat again.  And boy was I hungry.  All the time.  Until the last month, when I was soooo ready to be done, because he'd refilled back up all the space he'd relieved when he dropped.  But my little guy was 97th percentile size-wise.  I hope your little girl is a little less huge, for your comfort's sake.   Enjoy these last couple months of independence; now that my son is here, my life revolves around him, and I don't always get to do what I want when I want.  And see any movies you want to see in theatres, 'cause you'll have to get a sitter for any movies you want to see for the next year or two, at least.

Posted by: leofwende at January 16, 2010 01:46 PM (28CBm)

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