Baby Diary Take Two: 37 Weeks

Wednesday, November 4, 2013

37 Weeks

Dear Sweet Pea-

My goodness this week has been a whirlwind.  It started off great with Thanksgiving until I poisoned us and we ended up severely ill and in OB triage for fluids the next day to keep you nice and safe.  I spent the rest of the week resting up and finishing projects around the house.  It finally hit me that you will be here in sheer days and I need to finalize all the things I want before you arrive.  Why it has taken this long for that to occur to me is odd, I know.  Also, heartburn and feet swelling both turned up this week hardcore--yikes.  We also started going weekly to the doctor but I have barely started to dilate and you're still pretty high up.  Which is fine!  I need these extra days to finish your wall decorations and rest before you have me up all night with feedings.  I am so looking forward to breastfeeding, it is such a magical experience.  Keep baking, we will hold you soon!

Love,

Mommy

Likes

• Grapefruit
• Mango
• Gatorade
• Toast with Strawberry Jelly
• Peanut Butter
• Potatoes (roasted, mashed, fried--all of the above)

Ticking Time Bomb

This is a bizarre month to be pregnant. There is so much to do and so much I want to enjoy with Lloyd. Yet every day we tick closer to the date we all decided to "strongly encourage" this baby to come out. It seems so odd to know his birthdate this time around, after spending a month dilated with prodromal labor with Lloyd thinking "is today the day?" every time I woke up. Then waiting an additional week and having to be induced. The mind game was awful. 

This time I have this odd knowledge ingrained into me that I won't go into labor this time either. Call it experience, or family history (there's never been an early kid in my family. Ever), or hopeful premonition. But the count down is still official now. Weeks. Days. The absolute end to this pregnancy; the date we get to finally hold our miracle boy safely in this world. The sweet relief and beauty that comes with delivery. 

The decision to encourage this baby out wasn't easy. I won't have pitocin, so technically you can't even call it an induction. We weighed all our options and I do not believe in taking a child before they are ready. However, I refuse to have a c-section and we got dangerously close with Lloyd because of his head size and weight--I was very close to that point where they can't let you push any more, infection concerns begin, and just sheer exhaustion from working so hard and so long. To make that more complicated: Lloyd measured completely average sized throughout the pregnancy, even at the post-due sono. This child has measured large from the beginning by all the different sonographers and doctors. Head size included. Which is what tore me so badly; yes, he came out but my nether regions paid the price. Luckily my immediate recovery was easy (hemmeroids caused most of my discomfort, not the stitches), but it took the better part of 6-8 months before the lady parts were completely pain free. It would be great to avoid that by having a nice 8+ pounder. Which is what they predict we will have if we deliver on our chosen date. My body was meant to carry big babies, but even I have limits. 

So here I am, frantically finishing up a bevy of sewing orders that came into my shop last minute. Hoping I can get them done early this week so we can enjoy my last few days of pregnancy with the big boy. Today we are decorating the tree and switching out dishes for our Christmas ones (they were my moms and even though it'll be one more thing to put away after ABC is here, I can't not bring them out), maybe drinking some hot cocoa (in 70° Weather), and watching Christmas movies with Lloyd. This weekend I am determined to get us all up and at the Polar Express showing at the IMAX. These are memories I will not sacrifice. I need these last days with Lloyd; I crave each moment with him knowing so much will change once we have two. I'm more patient, more watchful, more calm these last weeks with him. This time he has as an only child is now so short. He is so wonderful, so curious, so intelligent--he will make this transition with grace and wonderful maturity I am sure. Struggles, sure, but he is such an incredible kid. I owe it to him to make this Christmas just as special as any other. We both deserve it. But always in the back of my mind is the countdown. 

Days. How did we get here after so long? So many days, weeks, and months convinced this pregnancy too would fail. Now we can deliver any day and be considered full-term. It seems surreal and unreal simultaneously. Days! So much to do. His poor room isn't even finished, our bags only half packed! Oh second child, I'm so sorry. We love you so dearly. 

Two children. I'm going to have two children calling me mommy this month. Two angels with me on earth. How blessed I feel. 

Baby Diary Take Two: 36 Weeks

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

36 Weeks 

Sweet pea-

It is officially the holidays! All this pie is making its way into my belly and we have a massive liking of pecan pie. Yum yum. It's been a quiet week other than lots and lots of baking; I made a full thanksgiving for us and your brother so we don't get sick by accidentally eating something we are allergic to. Next year you will be enjoying all these recipes I perfected this year. We weren't able to see the doctor this week because of the holiday, so our appointment next week will be extremely busy since it will be one of our last. We have a beautiful room ready for you too. I cannot wait to meet you! You sweet boy, I'm most thankful for you this year.

Love,

Mommy

Likes

• Pecan Pie
• Stuffing
• Turkey Pot Pie
• Root Beer

Gluten Free Pie Crust

From here, great Julia Child quote

A few times recently I have sent the original link to the pie crust recipe I found and now make exclusively, but I have to include so many of my alterations it's a little embarrassing.  So here is the original recipe from King Arthur Flour but typed below is where it has ended up and never once has it failed me, torn, caused immense cursing, or made me even glance at another pie crust recipe.  It rolls out so incredibly easy, even if we weren't gluten free I would keep making it! Plus you make it in the food processor. Winning!

Gluten Free Pie Crust

2 1/2 cups Gluten Free All Purpose Flour (recipe follows)

1 tsp Xanthan Gum

1 tsp Salt

1 1/2 sticks (12 Tbsp) Cold Butter, cubed

2 Tbsp Honey

2 Eggs (or equivalent of egg replacer mix)

2 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar

In a large food processor add dry ingredients and pulse to combine.  Add cubed butter and pulse until crumbly then add honey, vinegar, and egg replacement or egg (whichever you are using).  Mix until a ball forms, if it is still a little crumbly add cold water a tsp at a time.  Wrap in Saran Wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour.  Divide dough in half and roll out between two pieces of wax paper.  Makes two crusts. 

Note: I have often made this a couple days in advance and left refrigerated with excellent results. I have also rolled it out, put it in pans, and frozen for use later; just thaw completely before adding your filling. 

Gluten Free All Purpose Flour

3 cups Brown Rice Flour

1 cup Potato Starch

1/2 cup Tapioca Starch

Baby Diary Take Two: 35 Weeks

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

35 Weeks

Sweet boy,

Man this week has been all over the place. We started out pretty normal: Daddy is done with football now and will be home earlier and able to come to some doctors appointments after thanksgiving, enjoyed a relatively calm weekend, then your brother and I caught head colds, and we ended up in Labor and Delivery one night because you hadn't moved all day. Scared the bejesus out of me and although I tried all the normal tricks to get you going (lots of sugary juice, caffeine, jiggling) nothing seemed to work. Then I had a few contractions and we knew we had to go get you checked out. Of course, as they got us hooked up to the monitors you started kicking like normal. Stubborn, are we? No worries, everyone was glad we got checked out. Our doctor is excited for us to be in these last few weeks; the next time we go in after the holiday we will start the final preparations for your birth! 

Love you bubba,

Mommy

Likes

• Chocolate Covered Raisens
• Grapes
• Mashed Potatoes
• Toast with Strawberry Jelly

Baby Diary Take Two: 34 Weeks

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

34 Weeks

Sweet Pea-

These last few weeks will be so important for you.  You need to finish growing and getting "big and strong!" as your brother always says you are.  He keeps asking when you will come out of Mommy's big belly.  Just a few more weeks!  All this journey and you will be here in just a few short weeks.  I can feel you getting larger and more chunky as your limbs become more defined in each singular movement, even when you get the hiccups now my entire belly moves!  I keep thinking that I cannot get any bigger, but I know I will.  All this discomfort is just reminding me of how quickly you will be here.  Your room is pretty much complete and we have everything we need for your arrival; I love all your beautiful things.  I keep dreaming about delivering you and how you will look, you will be so handsome I just know it.

Love,

Mommy

Likes

• Homemade Chex Mix
• Warm Apple Cider
• Dark Chocolate Raisins
• Burgers from In-n-Out
• Pink Lemonade from In-n-Out (I hate lemonade!!)

Baby Diary Take Two: 33 Weeks

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

33 Weeks

Sweet boy-

You are finally at the stage where all you are doing is chunking out, and boy do I feel it! I now waddle most of the day from all your weight in my pelvis, my shirts aren't fitting, my skin is so tight it itches constantly, and I generally feel huge. We had such a lovely baby shower this weekend thrown by some of Mommy's friends; you got lots of cute things and some very useful gifts too.  The washing machine has been full of your tiny clothes for a couple days. They still seem too small even for when you arrive, it is hard for Mommy to imagine you in all of them sometimes. You will be so stinkin' cute! 

Love,

Mommy

Changes

• Lots and lots of pelvic pressure. It feels like his shoulders are rubbing against my pelvic bones.
• My torn muscle pretty much hurts all the time now. I have no idea how this will effect labor but it makes me a bit nervous, won't lie!
• My skin itches non stop! I alternate belly butter, vitamin e oil, vitamin e lotion, cetaphil, and aquaphor on it throughout the day but it's still red and itchy by night time. It looks so taught and translucent! Big belly!