Stick and Stones

April 18, 2013 (29.5 weeks):

Baby Sierra’s bones are hardening and she’s taking up some vital nutrients right now. Her brain is developing rapidly too. She is about 15 inches long and close to 3 pounds now. I feel hungry more than ever too.  

The past weekend was very relaxing for us. Saturday we had a slow morning of doing “weekend” chores around the house and transplanting the rest of our beans and sunflowers into the ground from flats. We hit up the Davis library to check out some DVD’s, and headed to the men’s soccer game versus UC Davis. It was an intense game (as they are rivals). The first half brought 3 goals all from Davis, and the second half brought 3 more goals from Sac State. In the last minute of play one of the UC Davis players knocked down one of the Sac State players and held him down. We were thinking this would be an immediate red card, but no… they were both given a yellow card. Unfortunately, this was the second yellow for our player and he was given a red and kicked off the field. Subsequently, UC Davis was given possession of the ball and scored with only a few seconds to go. Gus and I were less than pleased with the ref, as most spectators tend to be at soccer games.

Later in the evening, the pregnant ladies got together for dinner! Jill, Lisa, and I met at Katmandu, a great Indian restaurant in town. They are both two months behind me, and two months in pregnancy world makes a huge difference in how big you are! They both barely have a baby bump. I find it funny that whenever we all go out we mention to the server we are all pregnant so we won’t be drinking, and they always say the same thing, “All of you?!” “Yep, that’s right all three of us…” Who would have guessed three pregnant ladies could all hang out together?!  It’s always nice to get together because we all want to talk pregnancy issues and we are all so open about what’s going on at our stages that the conversation never seems to die down. I consider it like having a running partner you have been training with for at least 6 months. They know everything about your bodily functions, and it doesn’t even faze them. This is a similar scenario for the three of us pregnant ladies, except there isn’t any exercise involved.

Sunday was another excellent day. Slow wake-up. Run down-town to pick-up some things for the garden and use the internet. Garden all day and take a nap. After the nap, Gus read another book to Sierra, California the Beautiful. This book has pictures all over California by one of his favorite photographers, Galen Rowell. There are quotes from famous writers that go along with all of the pictures in the book. It may be a little advanced for Sierra, but it’s just another way for her to hear his voice.   At the end of the day we watched “The Life of Birds” with David Attenborough before turning in. We were both satisfied with a low-key day. As Gus said, we are just discovering different things to do together (while I’m pregnant). 

I have read in many of the pregnancy books that dental care during pregnancy is really important and often neglected, so soon after I found out I scheduled my cleaning. Apparently pregnant women are more likely to get cavities, gingivitis, and their gums bleed more often. Well my Monday cleaning proved that to be true. No cavities or gingivitis, but my gums bleed like crazy and were sore for most of the day afterwards. Either way, I was glad that I got it done now. The next 10.5 weeks there will be many other last minute appointments and things to remember besides getting my teeth cleaned.

On the work-out front: Running, I go when I am feeling pretty good. Gus, the dogs and I went running twice together this week. I feel more out of breath because of how compressed everything is getting in my abdomen. Swimming: no more flip turns for me starting this week… too uncomfortable. Weight lifting: I am starting to feel the need to change my routine, although I haven’t done that yet. Changing up deadlifts and squats are my biggest concerns now, but that may soon include my Olympic lifts as well.

Now that I am this far along, I am starting to consider taking sick days starting the week before my official maternity leave begins because every day that passes I am feeling less and less mobile, and physically tired a lot.  I seriously want to meet the women who say they feel amazing during their pregnancy… Does anyone actually feel better during pregnancy than they did before hand? Do women actually feel sexier??? If so I need to meet these women and get some tips.

On a positive note, I did recently speak with a woman from work that has a 2 year old girl and she gave me some “size 2” diapers (although disposable they are still nice to have around), baby clothes, and blankets! She gave me some good late pregnancy and post-pregnancy tips. I also received an early baby shower package from my mom in the mail… I was asked not to open until the baby shower on the 27^th, but if you know me as I have said many times before I have a hard time with surprises… or big gifts sitting around just screaming my name out. There were SO many cute outfits and other baby goodies! I can’t wait until we can put them all on her!

Gus has been practicing the guitar in the mornings this week so he can play for Sierra when she gets here. It will be nice to have someone to have a musical influence on her as she grows up. I know it impacted me a lot to hear my dad play the piano throughout my childhood.

Me at 29.5 weeks, 10.5 more to go (25 pound weight gain):