*sigh*

Up until this morning, I was so sure he was head down - the hiccups were super low, and kicks were nice and high in the belly.

And then suddenly this morning, the hiccups are up really high in the belly, and I can feel kicking in my pelvic floor.

*sigh*

Moe, baby, why you gotta be like that?

We'll know for sure on Tuesday at the ultrasound.

Text Conversation

Yumi to Mark: I just hurled on Sussex Drive!

Mark to Yumi: Now THAT's sending a message to Harper! 

Dear Moe (34 Weeks)

Hello, my darling. You're now about 4.7 lbs, and 18 inches from head to toe. We're at the point now where when you move, I can sometimes feel something pointy (elbow? knee? foot?) poking me. It's very cool.

We've asked a dear friend of ours (who just happens to run an excellent photography business) to come and take some photos of me, your Daddy, and my belly. (So, photos of you, really.) I haven't done a very fantastic job of photographing my growing belly on a regular basis, but these portraits should provide a nice record of my body at its (almost) fullest. I'm looking forward to them. Being pregnant has been such a wonderful time in my life - I would like a nice keepsake from it. You know, other than YOU, which is certainly the best "keepsake" I could imagine. :)

I had a wonderful time with your Aunt Marsha last weekend. It took some coaxing (of you, not her), but she did manage to feel you move under her hand. And we went swimming, which was just so wonderful that I intend to try and do it a few more times before you arrive. What a treat to feel so weightless!

Aunt Marsha also threw your Daddy and me a wonderful baby shower. It was at a pub downtown, and it was so lovely to see all these people who love us all in one place. We didn't play a single game, no one had to eat baby food, and I didn't have to wear gift bows in my hair. It was perfect. We ate great food (there was far more than we thought there would be), laughed and chatted, and then we opened our gifts and were overwhelmed by the generosity of our friends. It was a really lovely time.

We also bought the last item of furniture for your room - it's a tall, thin cabinet where I'll be able to keep all your diaper changing accessories, as well as display some of your toys and stuffed animals. And last night, a Costco decorator came to our house and we bought some gorgeous blinds for your room (and the other bedrooms) - yours are a pale yellow, honeycomb style, and they are "blackout" blinds so they let in hardly any light at all. You'll be able to nap happily any time of day (she says hopefully). And we went the extra mile and got the cordless style so there would be no danger of you hurting yourself on those dangling strings. Also, Boo won't drive us crazy playing with them.

Only five more sleeps until we get to see you on that ultrasound screen, Moe-o'-mine. I can't wait. Until then, keep growing and soaking up our love. We're sending you an awful lot of it every day! xoxo

Dear Moe (33 Weeks)

Thirty-three weeks! Only seven weeks left until you're full term, little bean. And you aren't so little any more (or bean-like, for that matter). You're likely just over four pounds, and about 17 inches from head to toe. I suspect that you are head down now, as a lot of the movement and kicking is now higher up in my belly. Also, while your hiccups are more subtle, they are also from lower down. We'll find out for sure on Feb 2 at our last ultrasound.

Perhaps you would be happy to know that we got your change table assembled this week. Your Daddy was a trooper with the Ikea instructions - we just need to fasten it to the wall, and it will be all set. (But we won't do that until we buy one more piece of Ikea furniture. I'm adamant that we pick up a tall, narrow Ikea cabinet. Your Daddy is being very sweet and humouring me.) I put some of your little clothes in the change table/dresser, and put a few items aside to bring with us to dress you at the hospital. Daddy also picked up a whack of newborn diapers at Costco for you, so we'll be all set for your arrival.

This morning I weighed myself and I've gained 30 lbs since becoming pregnant. My weight is now equal to my highest pre-pregnancy weight. I know I'll gain some more before you arrive - you still have some growing to do, which means that I do, too. My initial goal was to not gain more than 35 lbs, but that may not be realistic right now - I may push to 40 lbs. Keep on growing, and I'll worry about taking the weight off again once you're here with us on the other side. :) In the meantime, I'll keep trying to eat properly, not indulge too much, and stay reasonably active.

My belly is getting pretty darn big, and I've noticed some tiny stretch marks appearing around my belly button and on my sides. Tying my boot laces is becoming a challenge. Once a day, your Daddy comes up behind me and lifts my belly a bit to give me a break. It sounds silly, but it feels very nice to have someone else carry the load, even for a moment! I'm looking forward to Aunt Marsha's visit this weekend - we're going to swim in a salt water pool, and I'm sure it will feel really lovely to be weightless in the water. I tried on my one-piece bathing suit the other night, but it's not going to fit anymore with you taking up so much space. *grin* So Mommy will brave the stares and wear the bikini. :)

Your Daddy is a pretty awesome guy, Moe. I can't wait for you to meet him and see for yourself. We trade foot rubs in the evening now, since my feet and ankles get pretty swollen by the end of the day. He makes feeding us dinner his priority before feeding himself, and he's quick to offer me tea or crackers if he sees me looking green. He takes very good care of us.

I love you like pancakes, little boy. Keep growing into you.

Dear Moe (32 Weeks)

Hello, darling. Welcome to eight months. Just eight weeks to go (give or take) until you are here with us on the other side. And only about four weeks until I begin my leave. It's getting very exciting.

We had our appointment with Dr. P today, and from here on in, he'll be seeing us every two weeks. Everything looked great - my blood pressure is textbook perfect, and you are exactly the size you should be. (Which means that I can ignore all the people who keep saying, "You don't LOOK eight months pregnant... isn't he on the small side?")

Our next appointment is in just under three weeks, and we'll get to see you in an ultrasound one last time. This wasn't part of the original plan, but Dr. P. would like to make sure that we know what position you're in. He wasn't able to tell today by poking and prodding. Knowing in advance whether you are head down will help us plan for labour a bit better. If you aren't head down yet, start thinking upside-down thoughts!

We also finished our prenatal class this week, and while I don't think anyone goes into this feeling 100% prepared, we certainly feel more prepared than we did before the class. We've also been introduced to infant care and breastfeeding, which is helping us feel more confident that we can take care of you properly.

Whether you are head down or not, you're starting to get big enough that your movements have changed. Gone are the kicky jerky movements, and instead I can feel you generally shifting around. You must be running out of room in there! Also, there are times when the pressure on my bladder is a little crazy - not so hard, ok, darling? :)

I've been eating plenty of pink grapefruit and drinking a lot of low-acid apple juice. (Of course, I would start craving pink grapefruit just as Florida's crops are destroyed by poor weather.) I wonder if you'll like these things when you're here with us. (Your Daddy doesn't understand how anyone could like grapefruit, but maybe you'll see things my way.)

I'm sending you buckets and buckets of love, sweetheart. Keep growing and developing and getting ready to join us here on the other side. We love you so much and can't wait to meet you.

Dear Moe (31 Weeks)

Hello, my darling, and happy new year. I know 2010 is going to be a banner year for you - what could be more exciting than being born and starting your life? :)

You got plenty of Christmas gifts, especially for someone who isn't even born yet. So there are lots of lovely things waiting for you here on the other side. People have been so generous.

We rang in the new year together with very dear friends, and you bopped along to the music from Lego Rock Band like a trooper. You moved a lot when I sang - not sure if you were appreciative or protesting. I guess we'll find out after you're born. ;)

I got quite a scare on the morning of December 31 - I slipped on the stairs to the front hall and went down like a sack of bricks over five stairs. Luckily, I bounced along on my butt and you weren't hurt at all. But it was pretty terrifying - I was so worried for you. You kicked right away and let me know you were fine, but you must have been rather startled! I decided to stay close to home for the day, and thankfully everything was fine. Well, except that my arm is very bruised and looks terrible, and my lower back has a great stair-shaped bruise on it. But you're ok, so I couldn't care less.

I wanted to make sure I told you how much I love being pregnant with you. This has just been the most amazing experience - feeling you grow, and watching my body change. I've tried to soak up every precious moment, even the ones that haven't been quite so precious. (I can think of more than a few moments where I've rested my head on a toilet seat.) But I wanted you to know that through it all, it's been a pleasure and an honour to help you grow into you. You are our miracle, and we're so excited to meet you and get to know you and include you in our lives. We love you so much already, and we haven't even met!

Our prenatal class has made it clear that the first 9 months with you won't be easy - they will be very challenging, but also very rewarding. I think we're up for that challenge. And I'm going to try and give myself permission to complain when things get rough (that's something that people who have wanted a baby for a long time have a lot of trouble with), but know that you are worth every crazy sleepless moment. And yes, there may be days when you cry and I cry, too... but at least we're doing it together. :)