Pop Pop Pop

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It’s official, folks. The belly has popped and as much as I try to camouflage, baby boy is announcing to the world that he’s on the way.  At least, I hope that the world can see a baby and not a beer belly.

20 weeks side view

The front view is a little less revealing - especially with prints. :-)

The above photos were taken a day apart during week 20.  I do believe that the maxi dress will be my best friend for the remaining 20 weeks of this journey.

So far I feel pretty close to great.  The only side effects are my pants not cooperating.  At this point the belly band and I have a special relationship.  The other noticeable difference is feeling baby in my belly when I bend over.  Yes, I know, bend at your knees.  I’m trying but there will be a point when I may not be able to get back up.

The big question of the week is what will we name our son?  We honestly have not chosen a name but there is a list.  There’s not a lot that you get to keep secret once the gender is announced, but the name is something we may keep to ourselves until he makes his appearance.

What exactly is our son up to this week?

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He’s also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby’s legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the “crown to rump” measurement. After 20 weeks, he’s measured from head to toe.)

He’s swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He’s also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you’ll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery – Oh joy!).  Source

Our son is actually closer to 13 ounces which worries me quite a bit.  After losing five pounds at the beginning, I was not as mindful when it came to eating during the bulk of my first trimester.  However, it’s time to get on track before I birth a 10 lb heavy weight. The baby is incredibly active and enjoys tumbling practice around 7 o’clock each night.  Unfortunately I’m the only one who can feel the movements. I’m anxious for the day I notice the first jab so Chris can get an idea of what we’re in for.  Is it too early to practice baby meditation?

Ohm

The Big Reveal

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Tomorrow we find out if we’re having a boy or a girl. Many of my family and friends are aware of this event but I ask that you allow us to bask in the glory of the tiddly wink or the whoo-ha for just a few days.  I feel the Karate Kid kicking and dancing, but there’s something about knowing the gender (at least for me) that will make everything seem so much more real.  I don’t know if that makes any sense, but we’ve held off buying anything or considering names until we have a distinct direction.

People ask what I think I’m having.  If I went with the old wives tale – then I think it’s a boy.  Dad just says healthy while Grandma and Godmommy are totally team girl.  Whatever the case, we all win.

We did not announce we were expecting until 14 weeks or so.  My body has fully cooperated with me in that I truly did not begin to show until week 19.

Not Preggo (Dec 2011)

Not preggo

Preggo (19 weeks)

19 weeks

Yay, a bump!  Now I can wear all of the maternity gear I’ve been buying for the past few months.  Bump display is truly determined by what I wear.  None of the directors were able to tell that I’m pregnant during my child care center tours this week.  I just don’t want anyone to mistake my bump for chub. :)

What’s going on with the Karate Kid at week 19?

Your baby’s sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don’t be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid. Source

This week the baby will grow from a tomato to the length of a banana.  The produce growth rate is amazing to me.  I wonder if eating my weight in the produce of the week will lead to optimal health?  Calm down folks, I’m just kidding.

As for me, I have my ups and downs.  Bursts of energy are more common than bouts of fatigue.  The only issue is sleeping through the night.  My midwife told me that I can still sleep on my back, but all the literature screams “NO!”  Needless to say, I freak out nightly when I discover that I’ve been sleeping in my favorite position. 

As for healthy eating…ah, um, well…I’m doing my best.  I’m not gaining much at all but I’m craving all things ice cream – Frosty’s, sundae’s, etc.  I’m not a cow’s milk drinker.  In fact, my body has refused lactose for years.  However, baby seems to appreciate the cold, creamy goodness and I have suffered zero side effects.  I’ve heard that baby tends to shy away from whatever mom eats too much of during pregnancy.  I can only hope that Frosty’s are not on my little samurai’s menu.  My hope is banana soft serve will be desired instead of Blizzards.

By the weekend, I’ll be halfway to Mommyhood.  For now, I’m off to enjoy a cold creamy treat.

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Sweet dreams…

The Non-reading Librarian

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Last year I began a 100 book challenge at the worst time.  I was in the middle of finishing my second master’s and the bulk of my reading stemmed from academia.  With the Baby Sparklet en route it makes no sense to attempt a book challenge, but I have been reading.  Initially I thought I would delve into every preggo book on the market.  Instead I invested in two.  The first book is a week by week read.  The second, The Mocha Manual to a Fabulous Pregnancy is detailed below.

The Mocha Manual to a Fabulous Pregnancy

I love the sista-girl approach to this book.  The explanation of fatigue, gas, fashion and beyond was like having a conversation with a good friend.  The author also details pregnancy issues specific to black women which can be difficult to find online.

The book is a quick but enjoyable read and the humor is something every woman will find enjoyable.  The testimonies of other woman and celebrities were insightful and lets you know that pregnancy is not as glamorous as featured on E!  Every woman experiences her own journey and this book is a great road map for the most interesting 40 weeks of your life.

The End of an Era

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On my way to work Friday, George Michael’s “Freedom” came on the radio.  How fitting for my last day as a K-12 educator.  Don’t get me wrong, I have enjoyed the past decade of my life.  Over the past 10 years I taught 6th graders in Houston and 6th-12th graders in North Carolina. My certification has afforded me the opportunity to teach reading, writing and share the joy of literature to thousands of children at three different schools.  I’ve met amazing students, worked with outstanding educators and learned more than I taught. 

In undergrad I started college with the expectation that I would finish.  I fluttered around from major to major, finally graduating with a degree in English.  I was promptly hired by the Girl Scouts.  Odd pairing but it was perfect for me at the time.  Several years after working with the girls in green, I worked in the adoption/foster care industry.  The one constant in my two post-college jobs were the children.  Eventually I felt the urge to truly utilize my degree but still work with children so I applied to Houston ISDs Alternative Certification Teaching Program.  My years in the classroom led me to the school library which showed me a greater need and way to impact students.  Our world and the way we communicate with others was and is constantly changing.  Educational technology excited me and the desire to integrate these tools into the classroom led me to seeking a second master’s degree.  It was my hope that this degree would catapult me to the world of higher education.  Guess what?  It did!

At the end of this month I will move into a position at a North Carolina university that will allow me to work with educators to integrate technology into their curriculum.  I. AM. SO. EXCITED.

There’s more news – If you haven’t kept up with my Twitter feed or notice the change in the navigation above then I’m happy to announce that we’re expecting a bundle of joy around October 13.  As of now, the gender if unknown but will be revealed next week.

http://machinistofpunk.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/stork.jpg

Thanks to everyone that has followed my journey since the birth of the original blog.  Your support has meant so much throughout the highs and lows in my life.  In the words of George Michael, “I won’t let you down.”

Stay tuned to the blog as changes are made to integrate my current technology blog, baby updates and healthy living all in one place.