Project: Baby

I've got a special project in the works this year - one that has a due date no matter what!  I'm creating a journal that I hope we can turn into something special when this little one joins us in mid-September.

Week 14: Hey Baby - we're doing pretty good together.  I'm starting to feel a little more energy these days, and am so glad to not be as sick or as exhausted as I had been in the first trimester.  So far we've see you once, at 8 weeks.  You were the size of a peanut and your heart was fluttering a million miles a minute.  At 12 weeks we got to hear that strong little heart for the first time.  We're seeing the beginning of a bump as you grow - you're the size of a lemon now - and I'm curious to see how my body responds and changes as you get bigger.  Your dad is already planning in every way for your arrival, and I'm making sure you get all the vitamins and nutrients you need (and plenty of ice cream too)!

Week 16: Hey Baby - the last two weeks have been good. People are starting to notice, and I'm told I'm glowing. My appetite is picking up too, starting with drinking at least three glasses of milk a day. All of your bones have been developing the last few weeks so we hope this means you'll be nice and strong. You're the size of an avocado now, and in four more weeks we get to see you for the first time through an ultrasound. Your dad is so excited about it that he even played an April's Fools joke on me saying that he booked a very expensive private ultrasound now because he just can't wait.  Wouldn't we just be so lucky if you got his sense of humor?

Week 18: Hey Baby - we're almost at the half way mark and next week we get to see you! Hopefully we get to find out what you are - your dad has been counting the days to this appointment.  I have no idea if you're a boy or a girl, my inclination seems to change every day, but I like to guess and imagine what your personality might be like. I've felt a few flutters and some pressure that I think is you pushing against me; I can't wait to feel you really move.  The dog has started to figure out something is different too. Nola wants to stay close to us more often and is always looking for cuddle time. We'll have to find a good arrangement on the couch that makes room for you both.

Week 20/21: Hey baby, we're halfway there! And we got some big news with this milestone. On April 27 we had our ultrasound appointment. While most of the time we had no idea what those black and white images were on the screen, we did get to see pictures of your heart, brain, face and feet. It was a wonderful little glimpse into your progress. We also got to find out that our little peanut is a girl! And we plan to name our darling little girl "Mia". I hope you love your name as much as I do, although you have quite a list of namesakes. Mia is a nickname for Mary or Maria, and in our families that includes your grandmother, Susan Mary, and your great-grandmothers Mary and Marie. It also comes from the same root word as your Aunt Melina's name, which means "dear" or "lovely".  And since Mia also means "mine" (in Italian and Portuguese), I plan to call you mia Mia, which your Grandma Lisa wants to shorten to Mimi (another family name - your great-great-grandmother) So when asked where you got your name, you can say you are collectively named after an aunt, a grandmother, three great-grandmothers and a great-great grandmother - or a group of pretty awesome and inspiring women.

*Name art was created by your Aunt Rachel of R&R Creations.

Week 22: Hey Baby! Mia Mia you are getting so much bigger! Or at least it seems like my belly has grown quite a bit in the last two weeks. I can feel you moving around pretty often too and your kicks are getting much stronger than they were only a week or two ago. The little flutters I felt occasionally at week 20 are now big flips & flops and summersaults in the mornings and afternoons. You even let me know when you didn't have enough room because I was leaning forward at my desk at work by giving me several fast kicks. At the moment I'm feeling a little tired, definitely walking a little slower, and may not be able to tie my shoes for much longer, but otherwise you and I are doing pretty well together. We love you and are very excited to be halfway through the second trimester!

Week 26: Mia Mia you're getting so big in my belly! I may be saying this too soon because we still have a long ways to go, but we had an ultrasound earlier this week and you're in the 94th percentile for your size. All of the measurements taken this week showed you were the size of a fetus at 28 weeks. And you are definitely trying to find all the room you can  - stretching, and pushing, and kicking against me.  If I could only get you to stop kicking my stomach we'd be doing even better!

Week 30: Hey baby! We’re fully into the third trimester and our countdown is getting close to single digits.  We still have quite a bit of set up left to do for your arrival, but I’ve been so tired for the last month that I barely make it to and from work without being completely exhausted.  We’ve also had to deal with a couple weeks of record heat, and I learned that any temperature over 85 makes me sick right now. But I’m doing all I can to make the best of it (which mostly means staying inside, in the air conditioning, sipping ice water). Your daddy is taking good care of us though, trying to make things easier around the house and for my commute to work.  We are also feeling lots of love from our family - we had two wonderful baby showers hosted by your grandmothers in June and July and received so many gifts I think your room and wardrobe are going to be very well stocked for your first year!

Week 32: Hey Baby! I hit panic mode this week. Well not quite a full panic, but a definite sense of urgency has set in. There are only eight weeks left until your due date Mia! We have so much to do! I put together a check list, sent it to your dad, and then got tired and forgot about it. This is pretty much how everything happens lately - I do a simple task, and then rest for 45 minutes or so - which means I'm not getting much done either. But it doesn't really matter. You'll let us know when you're ready, which has nothing to do with whether or not we're ready. Your dad is understanding of my lethargy these days, but he is trying to encourage me to exercise and go for walks. I have to admit, it hasn't been very successful except that I am stretching in the mornings again. And I keep trying to summon the energy for yoga. Maybe over the weekend.


Week 34: Tired and heavy are the words of the week. Sorry Mia, but you're really weighing me down. I can tell you've dropped lower in my abdomen and are sitting around my pelvis in the last week because your movements are different, and there's a lot more pressure on the lower part of my belly than before. Everything I've read says this happens earlier for first pregnancies, but it could also be a sign that labor may start within two weeks. Even though I'm ready to no longer be pregnant, I would like you to be full term, so let's hang on for a little longer. I'm trying to get everything prepared that I can in the meantime just in case.

Week 36: We started weekly doctors visits this week, which will continue until you're born. We have another ultrasound scheduled for August 31st to see how big you are. We're talking about possibly inducing at 39 weeks if you're still in that 94th percentile. I have got to tell you Mia, I'm ready for you - or at least I'm ready for this pregnancy to be over. Between the heartburn, swollen hands and feet, eczema outbreaks, and PUPPP, I am honestly at my wits end. I'm not sleeping more than a couple hours a night and I'm doing everything I can not to scratch at the rashes on my belly, hands, neck and feet. I wish I could be more pleasant with this week because I do want this to be something I can share with you, but I am worn out from it all. Your father is wonderful trying to keep me going and comforting me through it. And I'm trying to keep busy to distract myself, which has led me to some very fun craft projects for your room that I hope to have finished before your arrival. But as you're almost full term, you can decide to relive me of this pregnancy any time!