Our Little Swiss Chard

This week, Bun is approximately 6 lbs. and almost 19 inches long ---- like a stalk of Swiss Chard (this is according to BabyCenter.com). And this little Swiss Chard is kicking away all the time. SC is also constantly putting intense pressure on Oven Mom’s bladder (I average about 3-4 trips to the bathroom each night) and causing some serious sciatica pain. But it’s all worth it, we are convinced. At this point, we’re getting very excited and anxious to meet our little Swiss Chard, and finally find out whether we’re going to have a son or a daughter! (By the way, if you haven’t wagered a guess yet, check out our online poll below). Oven Mom is also looking quite large. I’ll save the largeness for next week’s 38 week Bump Watch photo, but to give you an idea of size, here are a couple of hilarious comments I received over the weekend: “You look like a pencil with the eraser in the wrong place!” and (from an older gay gentleman): “Oh, DEAR, you must stay away from those watermelon seeds….they’re dangerous.” Vitals from yesterday’s appointment: Weight gain: 20 lbs. Blood pressure: 114/70. Bun’s Heartbeat: 128 bpms. Belly Measurement: Exactly 37 weeks. THREE WEEKS TO GO!

Weigh In

All right, darling readers, it’s time to wager your guesses about All Things Bun. You’ve come along with us this far into our pregnancy journey, so you know a lot of details and have seen The Belly grow. Time to weigh in!

Do you think Bun is a boy or a girl? When do you think Bun will be born? How much will he/she weigh? How long will he/she be? We’ve set up an online “poll” and would love to see your guesses. The person who comes closest to reality will win a prize! I’m not quite sure what that prize will be yet, but it’ll be good- you’re just going to have to take my word for it. Enter your guess – check out http://www.expectnet.com/games/GordonBun

John Lost His Basketball

….Shhhhh……..I ate it! Yes, Oven Mom is larger and more in charge each day. And often feels like an oven. Apparently your core body temperature rises (due to the baking, obviously) during pregnancy, and although I’m usually cold, these days I am often so hot it’s all I can do not to go running out of a room to get fresh air or start stripping clothes off. Seriously, it’s ridiculous. And so is this back pain! My sciatica is really killing me. It’s insanely uncomfortable, but the doctor said with all of this weight up front, it’s natural. Greeaaaatttt. By the way, our appointment the other day was totally normal – Weight gain: 19.2 lbs. Blood Pressure: 110/70. Bun’s Heartbeat: 140 bpms. Belly measurement: Exactly 36 weeks. FOUR WEEKS TO GO!!!

Spoiled Rotten

Me, Bun and Big Daddy were spoiled once again! Our Delaware shower was on Saturday, and once again people came from near and far to celebrate the impending arrival of Bun with us. And - once again - we were showered with presents, smiles and love, and it was wonderful. I'm not sure if every Mom To Be has permagrin during their shower, but I know I did. Besides all of the lovely presents and the time and effort the "planners" put into it, I left feeling like Bun is very lucky to have such fabulous people in his/her life already. Thanks, all of you, who gave me permagrin on Saturday. I know Bun was smiling too.

ABUNdant Belly

The Belly continues to grow. Hence, so does Bun. What does this mean for Oven Mom? Well, it’s been a little bit of a rough week. Preggers saw a significant decrease in energy this past week, which is hard to take. I’m not experiencing anything as bad as the First Trimester zzzzz’s, but I just hope it doesn’t get any worse. I’ve also had some sciatica, which, frankly, makes me feel old. I mean, how often do you hear someone my age say, “Man, my sciatica is really killing me today.” Not very $@#$! often! In addition, the painful growing pains, particularly in the Belly region, were fierce this week. I know it’s everything stretching and pulling and moving around – intestines included (nice thought, huh?), but MAN, sometimes I’m really hurtin’. Although I’ve gained just 20 lbs. so far, those 20 lbs. are killer. By the time I get dressed for the gym, I feel like I’ve already had a work out. If you’re curious as to what I mean, tape a 20 lb. pillow to your abdomen and try getting socks and sneakers on. Motherhood is definitely not for sissies. Alas, this is all for a good cause, and the Bun has a limited amount of time left in Oven Mom! Tomorrow is not only another shower for us (we’re so spoiled), but a month – 31 days, to be precise – from our due date! Meep!

Inconceivable!

Seriously, were our feet EVER this small? I can’t imagine. I mean, I know babies are small humans, but the size of this sock is RIDICULOUS. They are so cute, I just want to eat one. In fact, most of the baby clothes I spent most of Saturday washing were SO small, I thought there had been a mistake and people had bought doll clothes by accident. I guess I have a lot to learn. However, I did learn that there is WAY too much packaging associated with baby clothes – hangers, price tags, size stickers, those annoying little plastic things that keep things together or pinned to cardboard……it’s almost as if baby clothes manufacturers are saying, “Congrats on becoming a parent! Here’s your first lesson in patience: try to get these clothes off the hanger and into the washer. Good luck!” Seriously, I spent about an hour just getting everything de-tagged.

In other news, my co-workers threw me a Baby Shower today. I was totally caught by surprise and it was so nice to take a break from the hectic-ness and open presents in the middle of a crazy day. And eat cake. Eating cake is always fun, especially these days. It’s like, Carbs? Yes please. Sweets? Bring ‘em on. Carbs and sweets combined into one? Pure. Heaven. On. Earth.

Bump Watch! 34 Weeks (by request)

Just six weeks to go, and the Hormones from Hell have kicked in. Preggers is slightly more emotional lately. I think I stared at my belly this morning for a solid five minutes, hardly blinking, trying to decide whether to laugh or cry. I have definitely experienced a growth spurt in the belly region, and have also had some growing pains and backaches to go along with it. And WOW, The Belly is getting big. This kid is going to be huge! I can see it already: a 12 pounder for sure. And here's the really scary part: I'm only going to get bigger. Yikes! How is that humanly possible?

Due Dates

Another Doctor's appointment today, and another confirmation that our due date of June 17th is right on. I am, apparently, measuring at EXACTLY 34 weeks, which means six weeks from today, Bun should be here. Operative word: SHOULD. Technically a due date is a guesstimate, with delivery two weeks before OR two weeks after considered normal. And as much as they tell you that it's a guesstimate, your due date becomes a date you permanently fixate on, even though you know that only a small percentage of babies are born on their due date. Well, I think Bun will be in that small percentage. For one thing, most babies are born on a Tuesday. I don't remember where I read that, but I'm going with it - June 17th is a Tuesday. Secondly, one of my best friends got married on June 17th. Obviously a sign. Thirdly, the Full Moon is the 18th, and apparently a lot of babies are born around a Full Moon. And lastly, well.......I will be crawling out of my skin come June 18th, so I just KNOW Bun will make Mommy happy and arrive when he/she should. ;) Oh, and for those who are curious, Bun's heartbeat was 123 bpms today.

Pregnancy Brain

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Pregnancy Brain, let me start by saying that it is a very real affliction. It effects many pregnant women, not just blond ones, and it’s directly related to those wonderful little hormones that can wreak havoc on your body and cause everything from acne to cankles. Fortunately I have not had to deal with acne or cankles (YET), but my Pregnancy Brain is getting increasingly worse. More and more I am finding spoons where the forks are supposed to be and I have even found the coffee pot (full of steaming hot coffee) in the refrigerator. The other day I was sending out about 20 pieces of mail and luckily realized (at the last minute) that I had put the stamp on the left side of all of the envelopes instead of the right side. And just today at work, I stopped in the bathroom and put the papers I was carrying underneath the Oust so they wouldn’t go anywhere, and didn’t realize until I got back to my office that not only had I grabbed my papers on the way out, but I had carried the Oust back to my desk as well. Now, I know what you’re thinking --- How many “DUH” moments can you blame on Pregnancy Brain? Well, here’s your answer, straight from the mouth of Psycho Bitch herself: As many as I please, #*&^$@! Wait until YOU’RE pregnant, and then we’ll talk.