Little LaCasse

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

35 Weeks!

January 30, 2013

What Little LaCasse is up to:

Most babies born now will survive
Fat accumulation plumps up the arms and legs
Hearing is fully developed
Baby is now taking up most of the uterus
Testes have completed their descent in males
Length (18.2 inches); weight (5.3 pounds)

What we have been up to:

Lennon gave us another little scare over the weekend. He was not willing to move despite orange juice, ice water, laying down, trying to do kick counts, and mountain dew, so he won himself a little non-stress test. Luckily, he passed with flying colors, but to my surprise (and the midwife's surprise) I was having contractions every four minutes. I couldn't feel them at all, but they were coming every four minutes on the dot and the midwife said they can't be considered braxton hicks because of how consistent they were. She went on to say that at this point, they don't do anything to stop contractions and that if they start to get painful or I experience any other signs of labor to come into the hospital. Well, that put me on edge for a few days until I forgot about it because I felt like a pre-term ticking time bomb. Nothing came out of it though, but I was told no more running :( I suppose I'll "briskly walk."
I've noticed that lately I am overly oily. Gross, but true. Even though I wash my hair every night, I look disgusting my the morning and my face is breaking out like a 13 year olds. I've also acquired the puffy pregnancy face. Yuck. A lady I work with said, "I almost didn't recognize you!" Hmmm...well, I haven't been on a weight loss plan and I'm not wearing make-up, so I'll assume that was not a compliment.
I discovered I don't like having boobs. I was always flat chested and wished I had boobs, but now that they are here, they are uncomfortable and get it the way and I don't envy anybody with boobs.
Packed my labor bag!!!
Ordered clary sage oil and lavender oil to use while in labor
Finished ordering and buying last minute things for Lennon and everything is officially purchased and ready to go.
Set up Lennon's changing table station.
Finished packing the diaper bag
Put together a bin of stuff to keep in the car for when trips end up taking longer than expected and the unexpected happens.
Sterilized anything of Lennon's that we got used
Finished putting this blog into a Shutterfly album to print after Lennon is born
Did some serious nesting...dusted everything and even tore apart fans to dust each individual blade and wire. Yikes.
My quality of sleep is nonexistent. I'm really not uncomfortable, I think I just have too much on my wind to ever completely wind down. The more pregnant I get, the less I can sit still.

from babycenter.com

Lennon is still a large cantaloupe...just a little larger version of a large cantaloupe

Took Reggy for a nice, long walk yesterday when it was 65 degrees!!

Got Lennon his first Carhartt clothing article! Yay!

Friday, January 25, 2013

January 19, 2013

My sister-in-law put together a wonderful baby shower for baby Lennon. Over 30 of my friends and family members attended and some drove hours just to be there for the afternoon. It meant so much to me to see everybody and know that they were there in celebration of Lennon. I can't wait for them to meet him and be a part of his life.

Two of my best friends from high school.

Natrually, we were reminded of the time when we were all horses in Cinderalla.

Totally oblivious to what is going on. I'll blame that on the baby.

Getting the belly measured...

My two roommates from college :)

Station for people to stamp little footprints and sign the date that they think Lennon will make his grand entrance.

Mommy-to-be quiz, which my co-worker won. Probably because she is stuck with me 75% of my life.

Mingling

Such cute gifts with a book instead of a card to kick-start Little Lennon's library!

The inside of Shawn's Aunt's card (Lennon's Great Aunt) which included a picture of little Shawn.
Made me sad ha. Must be the hormones.

Everybody filled out their "Wishes for Lennon"

LOVED the punch bowl!

Little chick deviled eggs made with love by Pappy.

A message from Lennon glued into all of the thank you cards.

34 Weeks!

January 23, 2013

What Little LaCasse has been up to:

Eyes are opened when awake and closed when sleeping
Baby has learned to blink
Baby may settle into more of a routine for sleeping and awake times
Antibodies from mom's blood are being transferred to the baby
Baby may already turned to a head-down position
Fingernails have reached the end of the fingertips
Length (17.7 inches); weight (4.7 pounds)

What we have been up to:

Celebrated my baby shower on Saturday, courtesy of my wonderful sister-in-law, and it was so good to be around all of my family and friends and celebrate Little Lennon
Somehow lost 2 pounds when I got weighed at my last doctor's appointment. Time to increase my cheese steak order from a 6 inch to a 12 inch!
Got all of the baby's stuff into the spare bedroom (which has been scattered throughout the house, random closets, and the attic) and spent almost two whole days organizing everything
Throughout my pregnancy, I thought the new contacts I got back in August were just a terrible match for my eyes, but the more I think about it, I think pregnancy has just made me unable to tolerate contacts. I hope my eyes go back to normal post-partum.
My belly button is slowly becoming less flesh with my belly and more so protruding...
I'm still retaining a decent amount of fluid in my lower legs/feet. When I took my knee high boots off after my baby shower, there were indentations the whole way up my leg where the zipper was and any little buckle wrapped around the boot.
I finally started to notice that I struggle with everyday things more than before due to my increased size. Running still feels like I'm hauling a horse behind me and makes my hips hurt at night and moving all of the baby's stuff around the house and up and down the stairs took every bit of my energy. I had to sit down and rest every few minutes. It was even exhausting to try to sit up straight on the floor while putting together the car seat. This is frustrating for me because I'm the kind of person who can't sit still and I like to get a lot done and do things for myself. Guess this is what it feels like to get old and start deteriorating! So much to look forward to!
Finished doing all of the baby's laundry (clothes and crib bedding) so everything is officially washed and ready.
Ran around like a nut every night after work returning duplicated stuff that I received at my shower and was able to buy everything off of my registry, as well as anything I else I still needed with the gift cards I got back.
Turned into a super nerd and typed up all of the exercises from the Hypnobirthing book and the Bradley Method book so I can really start practicing more and studying everything.
Started reading "Mind Over Labor," which was recommended by my doula
Ordered red raspberry leaf tea and evening primrose oil to start in a few weeks. My midwife and doula said I could start the tea now and EPO at 36-37 weeks, but that scares me. Knowing my luck, the stuff will actually be really effective and I'll go into pre-term labor.
Picked out Lennon's coming home outfit! So excited!

Shirt is starting to fit more like a shirt and less like a maxi dress.

Lennon is a large cantaloupe this week!

Lennon's coming home outfit!!
Yes, I'm aware that it is going to be a pain to get him dressed in this and the second I do, he will either puke and/or poop all over it, but I still want to attempt a cute outfit and have a simple onesie packed for plan B.

His little coming home shoes!

Found him a pair of converse high tops for only $5 at a local consigment shop!

Bare belly!

My abundance of Red Raspberry Leaf tea for when it's go-time.

Everything that Lennon got at the shower.
I have so many great family members and friends :)

All of Lennon's stuff sorted and organized. Phew.

from babycenter.com

Thursday, January 17, 2013

33 Weeks!

January 16, 2013

What Little LaCasse has been up to:

Amniotic fluid is at its highest level now
Baby's head size has increased 3/8 inch due to rapid brain growth
Neurons and synapses are developing in huge numbers
Skull is still quite pliable and not completely joined
Baby takes intermittent deep breaths
Testicles will be descending from his abdomen into his scrotum
Length (17.2 inches); weight (4.23 pounds)

What we have been up to:

Found out that I get 12 paid weeks off of work after the birth of the baby!!! So excited! I was originally told I would only get about seven.
Still feeling very full all of the time and like my midsection is going to burst at the seams.
Baby boy has been VERY active and his movements are so strong that they actually hurt sometimes. In the morning, it feels like I did an ab workout the night before, but then I remember I don't have abs anymore.
My quality of sleep has been declining due to my increased size and reflux, but in a way I have been sleeping better because the baby doesn't seem to get super active when I lay down at night like he did in the past. Maybe he finally has his days and nights straightened out. Let's hope it stays that way.
Running has officially become more difficult. I just feel so heavy and water logged, like somebody strapped bricks to my feet when I try to run. I look around the gym to see if anybody is giving me the evil eye for being that person that THUMPS with every stride like they are a damn elephant. Good thing most people have headphones in.
I got all of my school work done for the next month and a half (which made me not such a pleasant person in the process), but now I feel great about it and I can 100%, completely focus on nesting and preparing for the baby and enjoying the few weeks I have left to take long naps and lounge around without a care in the world.
I whipped out the Bradley book and Hypnobirthing book again to focus all of my time on reviewing the parts I bookmarked and highlighted when I originally read through both books and to start practicing the exercises.
Hung out with my sister-in-law and her coworker, who has a 3 month old, and it was a good reminder of how much work a baby is. Stressed me out a little bit, because sometimes I forget how much my life is going to change, but I'm sure I'll forget what life used to be like once the baby is here.

It's taking on the torpedo look.

and I thought I was fat then...

Lennon is a pineapple! Good thing babies don't actually come out with spikes on them and a big, bushy top.

from babycenter.com

Friday, January 11, 2013

32 Weeks!

January 9, 2013

What Little LaCasse is up to:

Baby may not move around as much now
All five senses are working
Toenails are completely formed
Hair on the baby's head continues to grow in
Baby has periods of dream sleep (REM)
Length (16.7 inches); weight (3.7 pounds)

What we have been up to:

Got to see you in action during a 4D ultrasound session on Saturday! You are DEFINATELY a little boy. I had them double check just to be sure. You also look just like your Daddy. I am getting no credit here for being the one carrying you around for 9 months. You are head down still and facing my left side. Both of your hands are still constantly up at your face and you like to suck on your fingers and wrists. My favorite part was watching you drink amniotic fluid. It looked like you were yawning really big! The tech said she can't tell me how big you are, but she did say that an OB reviews the ultrasound and would let us know if anything looked abnormal, but nobody called!
I've been able to feel you move around a lot more and your punches and kicks seems a lot harder. Now that I know where your hands and feet are, it's neat to be able to picture what you are doing in there when I feel movement.
I started getting one of the first real pregnancy symptoms I have had in awhile...heartburn. It is the worst in the morning and when I go to bed at night. I keep a bottle of TUMS on my desk at work and a bottle in my purse that I move to my nightstand every night. I hope the old wives tale is true and you have lots of hair!
I'm still hitting up the gym most days of the week and am able to run, although it is getting harder. The extra weight and fluid in my legs makes running feel like sombody strapped bricks to my feet. I refuse to give it up just yet though.
We still have not decided on a middle name for you. That might not happen until after your arrival.
All of the RSVPs are in for the shower. 33 women are coming! I can't wait to celebrate you with everyone else!
There's a flu epidemic going around and a lot of people at work have been sick. I've been so lucky and tried so hard to not get sick since I found out I was pregnant and I hope my streak does not end with everything that is going around.
I got a prenatal massage and facial on Friday. It was not as great as a normal massage. I think everybody is scared of pregnant women and don't want to be too aggressive. The massage place had a little shop connected to it and I got a sage/cedar/lavendar smudge stick to burn while I'm in labor.
We looked all over for honey sticks to eat while I am in labor (they are recommended in some labor books as a good snack during labor because they are fast, healthy, and provide energy) but I haven't been able to find them anywhere :( I might have to resort to ordering them online.
I went to my first professional prenatal yoga class and like the massage, it was not that great because everything was so tuned down that it was boring and wasn't challenging at all. It was nice to be around other pregnant women though.
My Master's program started back up and I chose to hit the ground running and work my butt off in case I go into labor early. I already have all of my assignments done that are due in January and plan to start February's assignments tomorrow. The class ends March 3rd (3 days before your due date), so I would like to have all of the work done by early Feburary.