Baby Shower!

My mom and my sister, Kellie threw a shower for me and my sister, Melody (who's also pregnant), on Saturday, February 16th. I was overwhelmed by the turnout and the generosity that people showed towards us and our baby. I have many special memories of that day that I've already written down to share with Baby Pope one day in the future. We never got an official count but we think there were about 40 people there. My parent's living room, kitchen and dining room were full of people-- well the living room was almost fully occupied with gifts. I have a lot of pictures, but I'll post a few that will hopefully be a good representation of the afternoon. Sisters - who's bigger?
Me and the grandmas.
We asked that people bring a book for the baby instead of a card and write a message to the baby inside the book. I was so pleased by how many people participated. We love books and reading and I know the messages will be especially nice to look back on. These are the books Baby Pope received:


My mom's mom (so Baby Pope's great-grandmother) made a quilt for the baby using some different green fabrics I picked out. One has some jungle animals on it to match the "theme" of our nursery corner. It's not overly babyish which is exactly what we wanted. I love it.

We got a few coordinating outfits. Since our babies will be so close in age they could be mistaken for twins. Thankfully Scott and Dusty don't look anything alike.

Kellie made Melody and I each a cake out of diapers, which was really cool and will be very useful.


We also had some cupcakes with babies sleeping under their quilts on top. And everything is edible-- even the babies.
It was a wonderful day. Unfortunately, Scott couldn't make it since he's a busy graduate student. His parent's were able to travel up to Redding for the first time and take part in the festivities. The also got the grand tour of Redding and surrounding areas. We think we showed them a good time. We had beautiful weather in the high 60s and 70s most of the weekend so it was a lovely time to visit. And for the Pope/Kerbis side who aren't familiar with Redding or Northern California, here's a taste of what you're missing:
On Debi & Jim's last day we visited this well-known lookout of "The Three Shastas": Shasta Dam, Shasta Lake and Mount Shasta. Wasn't it a beautiful day?

Thank you again to everyone who came to the shower and thank you to those of you who weren't able to make it that sent Baby Pope gifts anyway. We really appreciate all your generosity.

31 weeks

I didn't realize I was a week behind. Hopefully the 32 week post won't be too far behind.


How your baby's growing: This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

How your life's changing: Have you noticed the muscles in your uterus tightening now and then? Many women feel these random contractions — called Braxton Hicks contractions — in the second half of pregnancy. Often lasting about 30 seconds, they're irregular, and at this point, they should be infrequent and painless. Frequent contractions, on the other hand — even those that don't hurt — may be a sign of preterm labor. Call your practitioner immediately if you have more than four contractions in an hour or any other signs of preterm labor: an increase in vaginal discharge or a change in the type of discharge (if it becomes watery, mucus-like, or bloody — even if it's pink or just tinged with blood); abdominal pain or menstrual-like cramping; an increase in pressure in the pelvic area; or low back pain, especially if you didn't have it before.

You may have noticed some leaking of colostrum, or "premilk," from your breasts lately. If so, try tucking some nursing pads into your bra to protect your clothes. (And if not, it's certainly nothing to worry about; your breasts are making colostrum all the same, even if you don't see any.) If your current bra is too snug, you might also want to pick up a nursing bra. Choose a nursing bra at least one cup size bigger than you need now. When your milk comes in you'll be grateful for that extra room!

How I'm doing: I haven't noticed any Braxton Hicks contractions since much closer to the beginning of pregnancy. I'm sure they'll be coming back soon. We had a midwife appointment this week (or last week now that I'm a week late on this update). The baby was doing just fine. Her heartbeat was still nice and strong. I only gained .7 lbs in the two weeks since my previous appointment so I did well on that front. We made it out to a nice dinner one night to one of Mario Batali's restaurants in LA Osteria Mozza. Even though Scott can be a picky eater we both enjoyed everything we ate and dined next to Lionel Richie in the process; unfortunately his new grandbaby wasn't with him. We're trying to get in a lot of things we won't be able to do with a baby. For Valentine's Day we purchased tickets to Wicked! at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood. We'll be going to see that next week and sitting in something like the 10th row. We're really looking forward to that.

We also had an additional birthing class which was mainly on nutrition and a bit about early labor, when to go to the hospital, etc. And we also had our hospital tour. It was a busy week; especially since I didn't return from Redding until Monday evening. The hospital tour was exciting. It was cool to see the place our baby will be born. Or might be born. As it turns out UCLA Ronald Reagan Hospital will be opening on May 4th (Happy birthday Dad!). My due date is on April 25th according to me or April 30th according to my midwives. So the baby's birthday could be very close to or after May 4th. So it's likely we'll find out which hospital our baby will be born at very close to her actual birthday. Luckily they are across the street from each other so it doesn't require any advanced planning. I'm holding out hope that she'll stay put until after the 4th. We saw pictures of the new hospital and I'd rather go there. Even if just for the private rooms. At the old hospital the recovery rooms are semi-private and Scott would have to go home at 9 PM every night if I had a roommate. Babies room-in at UCLA (the nursery is only for babies with problems) so obviously I'd much prefer if Scott were there. If we go to the old hospital, we may consider upgrading to a private room for $330/night (yikes!). But then Scott would have his own twin bed to sleep over in. But of course insurance won't pay for that.

We feel very fortunate to be having our baby at UCLA though. It's a wonderful hospital. Our tour was given by the Director of Labor and Delivery who's a nurse and we liked her a lot. We feel confident that with our midwives and the staff at UCLA we'll get the birth experience we want in a very safe environment.

But I'm leaving out the best part of my week. My mom and sister, Kellie threw me and my (also pregnant) sister, Melody a shower on February 16th.

30 weeks

How your baby's growing: Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.) Her eyesight is almost as good as her mom's already though!

How your life's changing: You may be feeling a little tired these days, especially if you're having trouble sleeping. You might also feel clumsier than normal, which is perfectly understandable. Not only are you heavier, but the concentration of weight in your pregnant belly causes a shift in your center of gravity. Plus, thanks to hormonal changes, your ligaments are more lax, so your joints are looser, which may also contribute to your balance being a bit off. Also, this relaxation of your ligaments can actually cause your feet to spread permanently, so you may have to invest in some new shoes in a bigger size.

Remember those mood swings you had earlier in pregnancy? The combination of uncomfortable symptoms and hormonal changes can result in a return of those emotional ups and downs. It's normal to worry about what your labor will be like or whether you'll be a good parent. But if you can't shake the blues or feel increasingly irritable or agitated, talk to your doctor or midwife. You may be among the 1 in 10 expectant women who battle depression during pregnancy. Also let your caregiver know if you're frequently nervous or anxious.

How I'm doing: I feel like I've hit a major milestone now. 30 weeks, less than 10 weeks to go (or 7-10 weeks since 37 weeks is full term). I feel like we've started the countdown now.

I'm getting bigger and just starting to get uncomfortable. It's getting hard to move around while I'm laying down. I try to hit the bed in the position I want to sleep in (laying on my left side) so I don't have to adjust. I'm now sleeping with 3 pillows (one under my head and two down the length of my body like a body pillow). I might need to add one under my back since it's uncomfortable to lay flat on my back for very long (the baby's weight pushes on my back and compresses nerves). She has also started giving me more frequent uncomfortable kicks. Nothing really hurts, it's more like a jab in my side that I would prefer not to have. My bladder is also getting compressed. Every time I stand up and she shifts down slightly I feel like I need to go to the bathroom even though there's not much in there.

Even with all the complaints I still feel great most of the day. I enjoy feeling her kick and just move around. I enjoy our bond that no one else can experience. Scott likes to lay in bed for a few extra minutes in the morning and at night before we go to sleep to feel her move. She always obliges now; I guess because she doesn't have as much room. So far, she's most active at 11 AM, 3 PM and 10:30 PM. We'll see if she keeps up that schedule on the outside. It often seems like she's doing the splits or spreading her arms out because I can feel a simultaneous kick on both sides of my belly. Maybe she'll be a gymnast or a yogi like her mom.

I'm very much looking forward to my baby shower tomorrow and seeing many of you. I didn't think I would make it up north again before the baby came so I'm glad for this chance to make the trip. And to see if my sister has a belly yet. In December mine was just starting to pop but hers wasn't yet. I arrive in Redding at 9:30 tonight and leave Monday evening.

29 weeks

How your baby's growing: Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

How your life's changing: Your baby's very active now. Your practitioner may ask you to spend some time each day counting kicks and will give you specific instructions on how to do this. Let her know if you ever notice a decrease in activity. You may need a nonstress test or biophysical profile to check on your baby's condition.

Some old friends — heartburn and constipation — may take center stage now. The pregnancy hormone progesterone relaxes smooth muscle tissue throughout your body, including your gastrointestinal tract. This relaxation, coupled with the crowding in your abdomen, slows digestion, which in turn can cause gas and heartburn — especially after a big meal — and contribute to constipation as well.

Your growing uterus may also be contributing to hemorrhoids. These swollen blood vessels in your rectal area are common during pregnancy and usually clear up in the weeks after giving birth. If they're itchy or painful, try soaking in a sitz bath or applying cold compresses medicated with witch hazel to the affected area. Also avoid sitting or standing for long stretches. Talk with your practitioner before using any over-the counter remedies during pregnancy, and let her know if you have any rectal bleeding. To prevent constipation, eat a high-fiber diet, drink plenty of water, and get some regular exercise.

Some women get something called "supine hypotensive syndrome" during pregnancy, where laying flat on your back causes a change in heart rate and blood pressure that makes you feel dizzy until you change position. You might note that you feel lightheaded if you stand up too quickly, too. To avoid "the spins" lie on your side rather than your back, and move slowly as you go from lying down to sitting and then standing.

How I'm doing: I'm starting to feel the effects of the third trimester. My stomach is getting bigger and I notice that if I do a lot without taking a break I get a pain in my stomach. I'm doing well keeping up with exercising. I only make it to yoga once a week now since our birth class is at the same time on Thursday evenings. But I'm also keeping up with swimming and the stationary bike.

We started our birthing class last Thursday. We have this Thursday off for Valentine's Day. So far we both like it and we hope to learn a lot. We will also be touring our hospital this coming week. Despite its original opening date of sometime in 2004, the new UCLA hospital looks like it won't be opening until this summer. So we'll be checking out where we'll have this baby. Which is conveniently located across the street from Scott's lab.

My baby shower is also this weekend in Redding. My mom and my sister, Kellie, are throwing it for Melody and I. I'm pretty excited to see some family and friends for the long weekend. We did have a mishap with at least one invitation (it was returned to my mom without an envelope) so if you didn't get an invitation it may have been yours. It only made it back to my mom because the address of the party was on the inside of the card so the post office delivered it to her. It's possible this happened to more than one invitation. If you're reading this, you're invited to the shower, which is this Saturday at 3 PM at my parents house. If you're coming and please RSVP to my mom, or if you don't have her contact information you can call or email me.

The baby is doing well. She's very active. She moves around a lot and I can tell she's getting stronger and stronger. We're getting very excited to meet her very soon. We're basically at 7 months now, so only 2 1/2 more to go (did you know pregnancy isn't really 9 months long?).

I think I've made it to the nesting phase. I cleaned out my half of the closet to make more room for baby's stuff. We also added a little bit to the nursery corner. We added some vinyl jungle animals to the walls. We think it looks pretty cute. You'll also see that my yellow baby blanket is in the crib. We'll use that with this baby since it's still in great shape.


We think it looks pretty cute.

Baby shower

I will be having a baby shower in Redding on February 16th at 3 PM. If you need directions let me know (email me through the link on the right). Invitations are on their way, hopefully to all of the correct addresses if I did my part correctly. This is a combined shower with my sister, Melody, since our due dates are less than a month apart and most of the same people would attend the shower anyway.

Hope to see many of you soon!

28 week prenatal appointment

I had my 28 week prenatal appointment yesterday. Just a quick note about how we're doing.

My stats:

weight gain - 20 lbs up so far. The goal is 25-35 overall, so I'm at the upper limit of that if things progress similarly.
blood pressure - 130/80 pretty much right on target
fundal height (i.e. how big the belly is) - 28", right in the middle of the target zone.

Baby's stats:

heart beat - 154 bpm, right on track. Some people think readings in the 150s indicates a girl.
kick counts - baby is kicking at least once a day.

I had my Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT) which tests for gestational diabetes yesterday. I may not get the results until my next appointment (February 20th). I imagine they might call earlier than that if I screen positively and need to go back for the 3-hour test. The orange sugar drink wasn't that horrible. It tasted like a non-carbonated orange soda. I also got my rhogam shot which turned into a big hassle because they had to go pick it up from the hospital due to some special storage requirements. I left with band-aids all over my left arm (blood draw and a shot); thankfully I don't mind needles.

Yesterday was also Super Tuesday here in California and 23 other states. I hope you made it out to vote if you were in one of those states and I know many of you are. Scott and I both had busy days and we didn't make it to our very crowded polling place until 7:40 PM. Scott and I were both born in an election year (Reagan) so we'll share that stat with our first baby.

I'm seeing red...

Big boxes for a little baby.

Our new car seat (Graco SnugRide in Lotus). Thanks Bauby Debi and Grandpa Jim!
This is all bundled up with the cold-weather "boot" on:

And without the boot:

The base next to the car seat. The base stays in the car all the time to make sure it stays installed correctly. The car seat snaps in and out so...
it can snap into a stroller!

Here's the stroller without the car seat.
And then the stroller with the regular seat in it. See how it's two strollers in one?
If you know us well, we don't even need to tell you that we (mainly me) researched a lot of car seats. We looked at the safety ratings including the ratings on the "failed" consumer reports test which only was a failed test because they crashed them at too high a speed--this car seat still passed. Riding in a car is one of the most dangerous things a baby can do (or any of us can do really) so we wanted to make sure we picked out the best one we could. Baby Pope will be riding in this car seat until she's 22 lbs or 29 in whichever comes first. We're guessing that will be somewhere around 6 months old give or take a month or two. The stroller will probably be used as long as she's willing to ride in a stroller.