Somehow, I really don’t think he/she is going to show up exactly on that day, but Andrew and I both have a gut feeling that D Day (Delivery Day) will happen a day or two on either side of July 3rd.

I’m guessing July 1, and Andrew thinks we’ll have a little firecracker baby on July 4th (my dad the chemistry teacher is rooting for that day, too!). My mom, on the other hand, thinks this baby will come early since my sisters and I all arrived at least a week in advance. I guess we’ll find out.

Meanwhile, Andrew and I have been getting things ready around the house. My parents made bunk beds for the girls. The only problem is, homemade bunk beds don’t come with assembly instructions! I think we all spent about 30 minutes trying to figure out which leg went where.

Finally, we got it figured out and it went together fairly quickly with the help of my mom and sister Allison.

Meanwhile, I started assembling the crib that my sisters and I slept in as babies.

My mom pointed out that the crib manufacturers had put plastic bumpers on the side rails to prevent babies from leaving teeth marks if they decided to chew on their bed. As you can see from this photo, my sisters and I found other places to gnaw.

We’ve also been having fun with old wives’ tales that are supposed to predict gender. Here are the results:

Chinese calendar prediction -http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/PredictSex.htm
Result: Boy

140+ heartbeats per minute indicates a girl, and below 140 a boy.
Result: Girl

Craving ice cream every single day? Some people believe this means it’s a girl. If you have to have salty or sour stuff, then it’s a boy.
Result: Both?!

Legend has it that the Mayans determined a baby’s sex by looking at the mother’s age at conception and the year of conception. If both are even or odd, it’s a girl. If one’s even and one’s odd, it’s a boy.
Result: Girl

If you’re breaking out like crazy, blame it on your girl babe. The belief goes that girls steal their mother’s beauty, hence, those annoying zits.
Result: Boy

Pop off your wedding ring — if you still can! — and tie it to a string. Hang it over your belly. If it swings in a circle, a little guy’s in your future. If it goes back and forth, you’ve got a girl.
Result: Girl

Sick as a dog during the first trimester — or still? Signs indicate you’re having a girl. Little or no morning sickness points to a boy.
Result: Boy

It’s a boy if:
You didn’t experience morning sickness in early pregnancy
Your baby’s heart rate is less than 140 beats per minute
You are carrying the extra weight out front
Your belly looks like a basketball
Your areolas have darkened considerably (TMI?)
You are craving salty or sour foods
You are craving protein — meats and cheese
Your feet are colder than they were before pregnancy
The hair on your legs has grown faster during pregnancy
Your hands are very dry
Your pillow faces north when you sleep
Dad-to-be is gaining weight, right along with you
Pregnancy has you looking better than ever
Your urine is bright yellow in color (TMI?)
Your nose is spreading
You hang your wedding ring over your belly and it moves in circles
You are having headaches
You add your age at the time of conception and the number for the month you conceived and the sum is an even number
Result: 9/18

It’s a girl if:
You had morning sickness early in pregnancy
Your baby’s heart rate is at least 140 beats per minute
You are carrying extra weight in your hips and rear
Your left breast is larger than your right breast
Your hair develops red highlights
You are carrying high
Your belly looks like a watermelon
You are craving sweets
You are craving fruit
You crave orange juice
You don’t look quite as good as normal during pregnancy
You are moodier than usual during pregnancy
Your face breaks out more than usual
You refuse to eat the heel of a loaf of bread
Your breasts have really blossomed!
Your pillow faces south when you sleep
Your urine is a dull yellow color
You hang your wedding ring over your belly and it moves from side to side
You add your age at the time of conception and the number for the month you conceived and the sum is an odd number
Result: 9/19

Sooooo….12 out of 24 old wives’ tales say “Boy”, while 12 out of 25 say “Girl”. At that rate, Baby is either going to be a boy or a girl! My next idea is to go get a pedicure. My friend Jessica didn’t find out the gender of her baby, and every time she got her nails done or picked up tailoring/dry cleaning, the ladies would point at her belly and say, “Boy.” Wouldn’t you know it, her SON was born this past Tuesday!

To get our friends and family involved in the guessing, I started a poll at the beginning of June. If you’d like to place your bets on the details surrounding Baby’s birth day, you can vote here: http://tinyurl.com/34geuun

This afternoon I’ll have my 36-week appointment with my midwife. Excited to hear about Baby’s progress. We’re really looking forward to meeting this little person inside my belly! Won’t be long now!

We helped Andrew’s sister and her family get moved into their new home
We moved to the country and have been working on making our new house feel like home and getting our old house rented out.
I’ve been busy fulfilling a handful of last book/cake orders before taking a break for Baby
I’ve begun preparing for Baby’s arrival and am now down to 2x month appointments with my midwife.

So…this post will essentially be a “catch up”…sort of like a high school reunion…cramming tons of life-happenings into a quick time slot.

Here’s me at 32 weeks (I’m 33 weeks as of today…and still need to take that shot). You can tell by the amount of my belly that’s exposed that Baby is clearly growing. He/She is now the size of a honeydew melon. Baby is still swimming and kicking around inside, though the movements are starting to become more intense now that he/she is bigger…the less room Baby has, the more powerful the punches and kicks seem. At my appointment this past Wednesday, Baby is measuring at 31 with a heart rate average of 140-155.

My midwife, Pauline, commented that I have “nice ankles,” mainly implying that I don’t have any swelling. My blood pressure is terrific and my weight gain is well within the healthy range. I feel fantastic (despite the ever-present hearthburn). There’s an old wives’ tale that says heartburn means your baby will have a full head of hair. Andrew and I joke that if that’s true, our baby won’t cry, he/she will gurgle like Chewbacca!

I’ve continued going to the gym a couple times a week and walking around the countryside on my non-gym days. I feel really strong and healthy and people comment a lot about how small I am for being as far along as 33 weeks.

My mom made me a really cute maternity top out of some cupcake fabric we found:

I also got my order of Fuzzi Bunz cloth diapers in the mail. They are so cute! I have them washed and ready to go in case Baby arrives earlier than July 3rd.

We have the bassinet set up in our bedroom, where Baby will sleep until he/she is too big for it and has to be moved to a crib.

I also need to start putting together casseroles and recipes that can be put together quickly or made in advance and frozen. Any suggestions? I love trying new recipes, so feel free to send some (or links to web recipes) my way!

In all, things are going well. We’ve gotten moved and settled, the girls are almost out of school for the summer, Andrew’s been keeping busy with welding and restoring rent houses, I’m creating books and preparing for Baby. Crazy to think we are down to just a handful of weeks now! SO excited to meet this little bugger that’s been kicking me for the past several months!

Baby and I are continuing to exercise together…we’ve been walking around town and various parks as well as attending Zumba classes at the Y. Between the Mexican food I crave almost daily and the salsa music they play at Zumba class, I’m pretty sure our kid might come out with a Speedy Gonzales accent.

I’m feeling fantastic, yet I expect the 3rd trimester fatigue to come eventually. That’s why I think it’s so important to keep exercising, eating well, and getting plenty of sleep.

I’ve officially broken up with my previous OB/GYN and switched to a midwife at a nearby facility. I’ve had two appointments so far, and I have a complete peace about Birth Day, unlike how I was feeling at the previous hospital. My midwife is super sweet and really laid-back–if I had to choose a different career for her based on her personality, she’d be a great librarian. At my appointments, she’s spent at least 40 minutes speaking with me about concerns, questions, what to expect next. I can honestly say I’ve never had any doctor or dentist spend that much time with me in my entire life.

At the last appointment, I did the ‘dreaded’ glucose test. I’ve seen the bright orange goo before, but the cup they brought me just looked like flat Sprite. It was ice-cold (thank goodness), and I just chugged the whole glass in seconds. I don’t know if I have my sweet tooth to thank or what, but it wasn’t that bad. My nurse is really funny and watched me gulp it down and made a gagging face. haha. The results are back and everything looks great.

One thing I didn’t expect to deal with is the Rhogam shot. I’m an A- blood type and apparently 85% of the population is a + type, so there’s a good chance Andrew (and thus Baby) has a positive blood type. Apparently, when an Rh- mother is carrying an Rh+ fetus, her body can recognize the baby as a ‘intruder’ and begin fighting against it like an illness (eek!). Andrew’s going to find out his blood type and if he’s negative also, we’re in the clear. If he’s positive, I’ll be getting the Rhogam shot to protect Baby from any antibodies my system may make.

In other news, we are preparing to move to the country soon! I’ve started packing some of the things we won’t need in the next month, but I won’t be of much use when moving day actually arrives. I won’t be able to do any heavy lifting, so our friends and family will have to do it all…oh, darn!

Thanks for following along. Things are chugging away. Won’t be too much longer before Baby is here!!

I’m still feeling really good, and I’ve learned how to adjust to the changes in my body without too much trouble. The hardest thing has been dealing with colds and pains without using drugs to cope. Sure, I know there are “approved” drugs that you can take for congestion, headaches, etc., but I just don’t feel right putting those chemicals in my body when there’s a defenseless fetus in there that is subjected to everything I do.

A week or two ago, I had terrible congestion which was causing me to have panic attacks when I’d lay down to sleep at night. I felt like I was suffocating because I couldn’t breathe. At 10:30 one night, I was dreading heading to bed, so I spent time looking online to see what I might be able to do to fight the congestion. I almost caved to medicine, but the concerns about pseudoephedrine were enough to convince me that while it may be “okay” to take Sudafed and the like, I wanted to do this pregnancy drug-free.

Instead, my sweet husband Andrew drove me to the pharmacy, where I stocked up on Breathe Right Strips, Vicks, and a Neti Pot (used for nasal irrigation, which is about as pleasant as it sounds). We also cranked the humidifier in our bedroom to High and I propped myself up on 3 pillows. I can honestly tell you that I got restful sleep the rest of the week. I owe it all to the Breathe Right Strips! They were a total godsend.

Since then, I haven’t run into any problems…I’m sure the 3rd trimester will bring its share of issues, but I know I can handle them.

I am doing what I can to maintain healthy weight gain AND continue on the fitness journey I began several years ago. For me, yoga is too slow-paced and I get bored. On the other hand, some of my favorite classes at the Y have just become too much for my body to handle with the extra weight, wobbly balance, and extra blood/fluid volume.

So, I’ve been trying out different workout DVDs from the library and finally found a really good one: Gabrielle Reece’s Fit & Healthy Prenatal Workouts. I’m used to Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred and other hard-core programs like that, so it’s nice to have found a prenatal DVD that uses a ball, bands, and weights instead of assuming that because I’m pregnant, I’m also a wimp.

NOT TRUE, clearly:

I’ve also begun to question what I really want out of my birth experience. Seeing as how I feel it’s unhealthy and unnecessary to even take cold medicine, I can’t imagine being in a position where a doctor would push drugs on me during labor. I’ve done lots of soul-searching and praying, and I’ve set up an appointment for tomorrow with a midwifery practice here in town. Although I’ve had no problems with my OB thus far, I don’t like the idea that I’d be assigned to whomever was on call at the time I go into labor. I also don’t like the politics and policies of most hospital settings.

God designed women’s bodies for birth, and I trust that my body has knowledge that my head does not. I want to labor and deliver in an environment that supports and encourages this mindset rather than one that starts a timer and hurries me along in something that’s been considered natural for centuries. It hasn’t been a decision I’ve taken lightly, and I know many would think I’m changing my mind fairly late in the game, considering that I’m 24 weeks along.

However, I do not want any regrets surrounding my first baby’s birth. I have to make the most educated decisions I can; Decisions that are best for Baby and me. I truly believe that that is the benchmark of a good parent: being informed, knowing the options, and making the best choice possible. I’d be remiss in thinking that parenthood’s responsibilities do not begin until after Baby is born.

I mean, how could I see something like THIS when I wake up in the morning and forget there’s a new person inside of me, just waiting to experience life?! It’s a miracle, really!

My ‘bump’ is starting to really account for something now. Apparently, Baby is the size of a spaghetti squash, so it makes sense that I’d stick out finally.

This morning was our mid-term ultrasound. I am so thankful that Andrew is in the position of making his own work schedule, as it was so comforting and wonderful to have him there with me as we saw the first few glimpses of our Baby. We informed the technician that we did NOT want to know the baby’s gender, so she had us look away whenever she headed towards Baby’s middle section.

I think it was hard for Andrew not to peek, as I noticed his eyes got a little shifty. He gave me a hard time when we were finished, saying (with a big smirk on his face), “I think I saw something!” But with a 2D ultrasound, it’s fairly tricky for the untrained eye to tell for certain what anything is…so I’m pretty sure he was just joking with me. (If you hear otherwise, please let me know!)

Here are Baby’s first photos. First, a top view of Baby’s head…the arrow is pointing to Baby’s little ear sticking out.

Baby is giving us a four-fingered wave (thumb is hidden):

Between my mammoth lady feet and the Meadows monkey-toes, our kid is doomed to have big feet…

Baby’s profile with hand under the chin…

this pose of Baby’s reminds me of this:

Uh-oh, we may have a THINKER on our hands!!

This next shot is the best of all. I’ve rotated the photo so y’all don’t get cramps in your neck! Right there in the middle of the shot is Baby staring right back at you!

We also got a couple quick video shots of Baby.

This is a profile shot of Baby Meadows. You can see the heartbeat to the left of the screen. Baby ‘gulps’ about halfway through, but we like to think of it as Baby blowing a kiss.

And for this one, if you tilt your head to the right, you’ll see Baby Meadows looking right back at you! Baby’s left eye even gives a little ‘wink’ if you watch closely!

I felt the first kicks on Thursday night (Febr 11). I’ve heard it feels like butterflies or a goldfish in your stomach, but to me, it feels more like an irregular heartbeat below my bellybutton. In fact, I may have felt something a week or two ago, and assumed it was a heartbeat and not realized it was a ‘kick’. But in the past week the motion has become more regular and frequent and there’s no mistaking that it is in fact Baby!

I’m also showing more. Apparently, Baby is the size of a cantaloupe now, so it’s no wonder my belly is finally starting to stick out! Thankfully, my friend Michelle blessed me with two big bags of maternity clothes she no longer needs ((Thanks, girl!!)), so I’m set! I will have to get a couple summer things (especially a bathing suit), and I’d really like a pair of jeans that will still be in style when we’re ready for Baby #2 and #3 and #?

Here’s a look back over the past few months:

I feel great, my energy is back, but despite all that, the past week has been a rough one. Bad weather, horrible head cold,  rollercoaster emotions, and sheer lack of motivation have driven me to avoid the gym and eat junk. Thankfully, I have a very supportive husband who listens to me and supports me even (and especially) when I’m crying about being my own worst enemy. This week (despite the continuing head cold), I am back on track with plans to work out several times and eat whole foods. Baby deserves my best, and I need to do my best for my own sanity.

This morning, I was looking at pictures from our wedding and our honeymoon on the beach. They reminded me that I DO know what to do…what to eat, what size portions to eat, how much exercise to get. One of my biggest goals for this pregnancy is to have a weight gain that is no more than what is necessary for Baby’s health (25-35 pounds total). It’s the weight we gain from eating junk while pregnant that’s the hardest to lose, and I don’t want to be kicking myself later for not doing a good job now.

I am starting to show a little bit. I’m thankful I’ve felt good enough to work out several times a week. It’s snowy and dreary here, and I believe the sweat sessions are helping counteract the caloric damage that’s been done by all the winter-weather-induced baking.

I’ve continued researching all the new fangled cloth diapers as well as nursery decor and birthing methods. I don’t even like to take medicine when I have a headache, so I really want to do this birth as natural as possible. I’m reading two fantastic books right now that are really specific on things you can do to make labor go more smoothly (positioning, different types of breathing, movement, mantras, etc.) The Big Book of Birth by Erica Lyon is full of practical advice without being too “hippie-ish”. It gives suggestions on what to look for during early labor, when to head to the hospital, etc.

And, because I think “hippies” know better than doctors do sometimes (ESPECIALLY in regards to low-risk pregnancy and birth…a natural thing, NOT a medical ‘condition’), I’ve really enjoyed reading Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin. Gaskin is a midwife in Tennessee and has delivered thousands of babies. She’s studied what makes a woman progress in labor and what sets her back. She even has a drug- and surgery-free technique for helping babies get unstuck in the birth canal…named the “Gaskin Maneuver” after her. Her book is incredibly helpful, especially for someone wanting to do a natural birth.

The best advice I’ve gotten during this pregnancy is “Get educated“. There are so many options out there, and so many things we are told are ‘normal’, especially in regards to a hospital birth. Me? I want to know what my choices truly are so I can stand up for myself, my beliefs, and my baby. Isn’t that what being a parent is about: doing what’s best for your children?

How about you? What’s the best thing you learned during your pregnancy or in the early days of parenthood? I’d love to hear from you.

When are you due?
July 3rd, 2010. Though only about 4% of babies arrive on their due date. They aren’t library books, people. My mom thinks I’ll deliver early, Andrew’s mom thinks I may go late. I just hope it’s not too close to the 4th of July, for fear that my doc will be at the lake, eating hot dogs and shooting off fireworks.

Where are you having the baby/Who’s your doctor?
I’ve been going to Dr. Susan Chambers’ OB/GYN practice for over a year now. She works for Lakeside Women’s Hospital: a doctor-owned and operated facility that is run by females only. It’s fantastic and Dr. Chambers is wonderful.

Was this pregnancy planned?
Not that that’s any of your business, but yes. We started our marriage with a one year plan, but changed our minds after spending time with my cousin’s little girls in NYC. I stopped taking the Pill and was pregnant 10 days later. Good thing we knew we were ready!

Are you going to find out what you are having?
Nope. We could find out in February when I have my next ultrasound, but I think finding out spoils all the fun. It’d be like opening your birthday present several months early and then wrapping it back up until your birthday. I’d rather be surprised! That, and our family likes to guess the gender and the actual date of arrival…closest guess gets to hold the baby first after us!

Have you thought of names?
Yes, and we aren’t telling. For one, they aren’t set in stone. For two, I don’t want to jinx them by giving people the opportunity to comment on them before baby is even born. For three, surprises are fun!

Have you started buying baby stuff?
No. Sure, I’ve researched cloth diapers and the like (so far I like Fuzzi Bunz the best), but we’ve got so many hand-me-downs coming our way that it would be silly to start spending money now. My mom even saved my own crib from 27 years ago, and I am so excited for my baby to sleep in it, too! That said, my sister Arica did buy me an entire Baby Gap outfit. Very cute. Just because we’re not shopping yet doesn’t mean you have to refrain if you feel so inclined. That, and we’ll be moving in the spring, so we’re trying not to acquire any more stuff until after we move!

How many grandchildren does this make for your parents?
This baby will be my parents’ first and Andrew’s parents’ 8th. For my mom’s parents, this will be their first great-grand. For my dad’s mom, this will be her third great-grand. For Andrew’s grandparents, this will be their 8th great-grand.

What do the girls (Sierra and Mesa) think?
They are really excited. Mesa is hoping for a girl and Sierra is hoping for a boy (last time they mentioned it). When they come stay with us, they always ask me how big the baby is and what’s changed. We’ve all been delighted to learn all about how God knits us together…for instance, did you know babies have fingerprints by the 13th week of pregnancy?! Amazing. Last week, we looked online for videos of babies kicking…we all agreed that it looked a lot like aliens. It’s exciting that they are so happy about the baby. They will be terrific helpers and big sisters. I also think it’s fun to note that when Baby arrives, the girls will be the same ages [11 and 8] as me and Arica were when our sister Allison was born!

Will your baby grow up to be a cowboy (or cowgirl)?
I tend to think Willie Nelson’s advice was pretty sound (“Mamas, don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys”), but our kid can be anything he/she wants to be as long as they’re not causing any harm. We certainly aren’t going to push them to be something or do things they have no interest in. The most successful people in this world are successful because they are passionate about what they do. That’s all we want for our kids: a passion that moves them towards positive actions.

Can I touch your stomach?
Only if I can touch yours. What do you mean, ‘that’s weird’? Why isn’t it weird to touch a pregnant lady’s?!

At 12 weeks, I still wasn’t looking much different:

No real bump to speak of or anything. Which makes sense, considering that at 12 weeks, a fetus is only the size of a plum.

At 15.5 weeks today with a fetus the size of a naval orange, I’m still not showing much, but more than I was a few weeks ago:

I’ve been very diligent about going to the gym several times a week. It helps that Andrew will be running in the 10th annual OKC Memorial Marathon and has become more focused on his training and workouts. When he goes, I go, with a few rare exceptions. I’m glad we have each other and that getting fit is something we enjoy doing together.

I’ve also experimented with some classes at the YMCA. In the past week, in addition to my regular weights-and-treadmill/stationary bike routine, I have taken yoga once and deep water aerobics once. I even made a friend in water aerobics! Her name is Megan and she’s like me–in the sense that she’s also pregnant and is the only other class attender under the age of 60. Ha!

It was a great workout…and I’m in need of a new swimsuit for sure! Apparently, even though my tummy doesn’t look much different, other bumps of mine are growing! And pregnancy aside, I’ll admit the thought of shopping for a swimsuit in January makes me feel a little funny.

So far things are progressing well. My doctor always comments on how healthy I am, and how she’s fairly confident that this pregnancy will be an easy one for me if I just keep doing what I’m doing. I’ve been doing lots of research on midwives, and that’s a path I am very interested in, though probably not this time around. Want to make sure everything progresses normally all the way through to the end. If that’s the case, then I’ll midwife-shop the next time around.

I’ve finished the book “Your Best Birth” and watched the film “The Business of Being Born”. Some of the statistics are shocking! Made me think of how much my mom dislikes doctors. Man, this movie would make her FUME! (I’ll tell you all about it sometime, Mom.)

Erin and Jon (Andrew’s sister and brother-in-law) are getting closer and closer to having their new home finished. Once it’s done, we’ll move in to their current house and rent out our house in town. I’ve never moved while being 7 months pregnant, so I’m looking forward to letting everyone else do the heavy lifting.

It’s a good thing I’m already pregnant…I can hardly wait to have a little one of my own!! Just 7 more months to go!!