Jake's Journey » May 2004 Journal Entries » AboutMyBaby - online baby scrapbooks, photo albums, videos, birth and pregnancy announcements

< > May 2004

Sat, May 29, 2004 10:00 AM
(30w 4d): New belly pictures are up! Sorry it took me so long, I guess I forgot that anyone was interested in seeing Jake from the outside point of view! My belly-button seems to be waging its own battle... it’s still an innie, but when I sneeze or laugh too hard I can feel it trying to push its way out. I don't think it'll quite make it to full time outie. But, I will keep you all updated. I know it must be important because people keep asking.

Cute Story of the Week: Yesterday Matt and I went to Ikea (*drool* I love that place), and on the way home stopped at a Quiznos (*drool* I love that place too) for lunch. I got our drinks and went outside to sit down while Matt was in loading up on pickles (he's so good to me). Recently I've found that once I commit myself to moving in one direction its nearly impossible to change course mid-action (like stopping a train, then putting it into reverse, these things take time). So, of course, as I'm attempting to lower myself into the patio chair they have outside (more like committing my giant butt to the whims of gravity), I hear, "be careful of that chair!" Yeah, sure... 30 seconds ago still would have been too late.

I hit the chair and cringe expecting the next sensations I feel to be cement and pain. With one eye open, I look at the lady who was attempting to induce labor through the fear technique, and she's staring at me...sitting safely in the chair. Of course being the sweet, gentle, and oh so polite flower that I am, I sat there with my mouth open, staring at her, waiting for an explanation. She stumbles over some sort of "these chairs just aren't that sturdy, and you should just be careful IN YOUR CONDITION" explanation... duh, in everything she said all I heard was "IN YOUR CONDITION."

If you know Matt and I (and I assume you do), you probably don't expect this kid to be anything short of 'rough and tumble hellion'. But, that's not the point. The point; that was the first time someone had said "IN YOUR CONDTION". Wow, I have a condition. A condition that is fairly obvious to others. I hope for your sake, dear reader, that it's not contagious!

I giggled about that phrase for the rest of the day. Seems strange to have a "condition".

So far no date has been set for the baby shower (at least as far as I know), but invitations are being worked on, and should be out soon! I suppose I should get off my butt and work on a registry so I don't get yelled at any more.

I also want to say thanks to the 6 people who have voted in the baby name poll! If anyone else wants to vote the link is at the bottom of the main page on the left. There is also a link over there for 'the baby game.' If you don't make a guess now, I'll make you do it during the shower. When you go to that site, you log in to the game you want on the left side of the page. Make sure to use capital 'M', Capital 'F', lower case 'raser' or it won't work. The 'game' part comes up in the middle of the page, and then there are polls along the left side.

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Tue, May 25, 2004 9:23 AM
(30w): 30 W?! Wow! Only 10 to go! Jake should weigh about 3 pounds by now, and his total length is about 17 inches (crown-to-rump is about 10.8 inches). He will gain about 2 pounds this month.

Jake's brain is now so sophisticated that if he was born today he could see, hear, remember, and learn. His brain exhibits all the brain waves (although not in the same sequence) that an adult brain exhibits.

Looking at the calendar, I'm just amazed at how little time is left! We're already on our third (of five) lamaze class, my doctor's appointments are about to change from 4 weeks apart to two weeks apart, other classes, hospital tour, Rush concert... its all getting closer and closer.

If you hadn't noticed, we're test driving a new middle name... Alexander. I would love to see what people think of our name choices, and have put together a "baby names poll". There is a link at the bottom of the links section, click on it, and tell us what you think!

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Sun, May 23, 2004 9:12 AM
(29w 5d): Obviously we went for the 3D ultrasound yesterday. I don't know what to say, as you can see the pictures are amazing. I'm going to attempt to put some of the video on the site too, but I don't know what format its in, so I don't know if I can yet. Be sure to check out the album with the rest of the pictures!

The technology is amazing. Its still so very surreal, I know that baby is in there, but I don't know that I'll really believe it until I see it.

(Quick plug: the place that did it is called Baby's Debut Imaging, and they are in Elk Grove. The lady that did it was wonderful, and the atmosphere was comfortable and plesant - not clinical like when they do it at the doctor's office. If anyone wants more information email me, I'll be happy to share.)

I think I'm going to go watch the video again...

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Tue, May 18, 2004 10:21 AM
(29 weeks): By this time Jake weighs about 2.7 pounds, and his crown-to-rump length is about 10.4 inches (total length about 16.7 inches). He will put on more than one pound this month alone.

My books say that at this point his eyes are practicing blinking and looking movements, and his brain is taking on a wrinkled appearance. His toenails are visable, and he probably has a good head of hair at this point.

Right now I am most excited about the 3D ultrasound this weekend! We were supposed to go last weekend, but decided to postpone so that both grandmas could come along to see. I can't wait to have the pictures to post here!

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Mon, May 17, 2004 12:20 PM
no, seriously, let me know when a link doesn't work and I'll fix it. I promise. The "Fetal Development" link is now working.

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Mon, May 17, 2004 11:25 AM
(28w 6d): Where do I start? The first Lamaze class on Thursday was... um... interesting. It kind of scares me when I know more than the instructor does. But, I guess my obsessive-compulsive nature has made me read all the most recent literature, and she probably doesn't have time to... uh.. yeah, that makes me feel better.

So, Lamaze isn't truly Lamaze. It’s more of a childbirth preparation class, and we'll teach you how to breathe a bit too. We spent about 10 minutes doing some minor exercises and breathing. I guess that was the most frightening part of the class. I logically know that this baby is going to have to come out, and I know the most logical way for him to come out, but suddenly its occurring to me that it is going to actually be happening to me. I've watched videos, and read stories, but I guess it just didn't completely register that I'm seriously going to have to do that... and I have NO CHOICE.

I told Matt the other night that I am hoping it'll be like getting a tattoo, it hurts for a bit, but the end result is a permanent product that is totally worth it. I have a feeling its going to be a little more traumatic than all that, but what can you do? No matter how much I sit here and cry and say I don't wanna, I'm still gonna hafta. And no amount of being a spoiled little daddy’s girl, or spoiled wife is going to get me out of it. Oh well, suck it up, get over it... in the grand scheme of things its nothing right?

So, there's that little tidbit of reality. Then Saturday I noticed a funky bump... my belly has a funky bump. When I lean a certain way I get this big funky bump! Upon closer inspection, which included some poking and prodding, I realized that this funky bump is not me... its Jake! Holy crap! There's a baby in there, he's all curled up in one spot... and he's getting big. I'm pretty sure the funky bump is his rear (and lower back). Hopefully he'll stay like this until the 3D ultrasound on Saturday so I can see exactly what position he's in. But for now, he's Jake the Funky Bump. This is too much reality in one week if you ask me.

So anyway, check out the latest pictures in the nursery photo album. We moved the furniture back in, and have made great strides in the “cute little details” idea department (what to hang on the walls, etc.). But, we haven't gotten brave enough to actually put anything up yet.

I’ll let you know how the next Lamaze class goes on Friday morning (yep, we’re going back… for FIVE weeks).

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Tue, May 11, 2004 9:28 AM
(28w): By now Jake weighs about 2.4 pounds, and his crown-to-rump length is nearly 10 inches (his total length is about 15.75 inches). He is beginning to fill out a bit, becoming plumper and rounder every day. In the last four weeks his weight has doubled!

He probably has eyebrows and eyelashes by now. And, his lungs are now capable of breathing air. This week his brain will begin to have the ability to direct rhythmic breathing, and regulate body temprature.

Basically, if something were to happen (it won't) and I went into labor tomorrow (not gonna happen), Jake would be able to survive on his own with very little medical intervention. But, not to worry, he and I have had a very long discussion about this, and he really wants to go to the Rush concert. I told him he couldn't go if he decided to get unruly.

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Mon, May 10, 2004 4:58 PM
(27w 6d): One more step in the nursery is complete!! My mom and I spent most of the afternoon working on clouds. They really came out beautiful. I posted some pictures for all to see!

I'm hoping Matt will feel like doing a bit more in there tonight, and I'll be able to put some more pictures up later. I can't wait for it to actually look like a baby's room!

** 9:52 PM **
Just got the pictures of the Molding posted too. Wow! I can't believe how cool it looks. I also can't believe how close to done it is!

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Sun, May 9, 2004 8:24 AM
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!

(27w 5d): I just got the best gift ever. At first I was a little confused, and thought it was just a blank piece of black construction paper. But, Matt explained it very well.... Its a picture Jake did for me... its a picture of his world, its exactly what he knows right now.

I've never laughed, or cried, so hard. Pregnancy hormones, gotta love 'em!

I'm going to frame it.

(There is a picture of it in the "other stuff" photo album. Enjoy!)

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Sat, May 8, 2004 3:28 PM
(27w 4d): It is interesting, the types of people that mention your pregnancy, the types of people that will chat with you about it. For example (you saw this coming right?), I have been putting off my Icee craving for a few days now, but today I just couldn't take it anymore. I have been NEEDING a Coke Icee, and as luck would have it, the am/pm down the street just happens to have them, and also has a cherry vanilla flavor. Mixing the Coke with the Cherry Vanilla is the most brilliant thing I've ever done. But, that's beside the point. As I approached the register with my joyful concoction, the kid behind it points directly at my belly and says, "That's a boy huh?"

At the same time I'm saying, "Wow, how'd you know? That's pretty good!" its dawning on me that he's probably about 22 (crap, when did I get so old that 22 equals kid?!), and obviously a little gangster (gangsta) punk. Wha?

He says, "I can just tell." Of course I'm smiling and looking at him a bit confused and he continues, "I have kids at home, all boys, when you are big like that they are boys." Hey! Did he just say "Big Like That"??

Now of course I'm still trying to mentally sort all this out... he's young... ALL his kids at home are boys.. he works at the am/pm... Big Like That!!

Sheesh! Kids these days!

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Tue, May 4, 2004 9:04 AM
(27w): This week marks the beginning of the third trimester! Wow! Only 13 weeks to go. Jake should weigh in at just over two pounds and have a total length of 15.3 inches (that is head to toe).

I've been told that these are the longest three months of the pregnancy, but it is still nice to know that I am 2/3 of the way through. And, its gone so fast!! We've known about this pregnancy for 18 weeks now... and that's longer than the 13 weeks that we have left so really, it can't be that bad of a wait right?

What really gets me going is all the change in my life over the last 18 weeks. In some ways I feel like I'm a different person. Not only the physical changes in my body, or the change in my lifestyle, but the mental changes I've gone through, and how much I've learned in just the last few months. I know there is still so much more to learn, and a lot of changes still to come, but so far its mind boggling.

By this time next year I'm going to have a 9-month-old running around my house terrorizing my pets... whoa!

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Sun, May 2, 2004 9:23 AM
(26w 5d): "We" started painting the nursery yesterday. I can't really help paint (not allowed to be in the fumes), but I am a really good "you missed a spot" girl, "gofer", and picture taker. I think I could be a really good war photojournalist.. dive into the hot zone without getting yelled at to get out, snap a couple of quick action shots, then run off before anyone even notices I was there (and remembers that I wasn't supposed to be).

Mauly helped even more than I did by distracting Matt while I took pictures, and making sure to always be right where you'd trip over her and nearly land with one foot in the paint bucket, or sleeping right where you wanted to put the ladder.

"We're" going to try and get the second color up today. Apparently my dazzling supervisory skills are nothing compared to the call of the gun range and clay pidgeons.

By the way, thanks so much to everyone for leaving messages! I love you guys!!

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Sat, May 1, 2004 8:54 AM
(26w 4d): I've been pretty self conscious lately. I'm just not used to people looking at me, let alone staring at me. But then, every once in a while, I catch this odd smile... its a smile that I think is only reserved for pregnant women. I don't quite know what it is... its not jealousy, or that "I know what you've been doing (wink wink nudge nudge)" smile.... its almost as if some of that 'pregnant glow' I keep hearing about has rubbed off on them for a moment. And, usually I realize that its not my newly found massive girth (that just keeps getting bigger and bigger! Ack!) they are looking at... its the baby they are looking at (or maybe the giant boobs? ...nah, its the baby). I don't know if they even really see "me".

Okay, well, maybe that only makes sense to me.... *LOL*

(Wait, did I just say baby and me in the same sentence? Whoa.. I need to sit down. Some days it just sounds stranger than others.)

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates