Being Sara

In my first pregnancy, Xander moved in what I would have called a typical manner - he would kick occasionally throughout the day, and have hiccups once in a while, but there would be hours at a time where he would be resting peacefully in utero - sleeping, floating, whatever babies do in there.  Once he came out and started to gain control of his limbs, Zach and I often described him as in “constant motion” - he never stops moving until he falls alseep.  We marveled at the amount of energy this kid has.

So, now onto pregnancy number two.  This baby moves ALL THE TIME.  Not an hour of the day goes by without some kicks and wiggles.  Sometimes they are strong enough to take my breath away.  I’ve actually learned to fall alseep to the lighter kicks, because he kicks all the time.  I’ve noticed a few bouts of hiccups, but mostly it’s just wiggling and kicking.  I think my voice and my movement used to lull Xander to sleep, but not this one - he stays awake through all of it.  And if Xander was a constant motion kid with the more average amount of movement in the womb, and he is a “constant motion kid” what will this one be like?  At least Xander slept for significant amounts of time, and wasn’t a bad sleeper when he was an infant.  I know there isn’t any way to predict it, but it worries me that this little guy doesn’t sleep for long periods of time yet…

Related items

• Baby Week 30 - Crowded Maternity Ward?
• Baby Week 24 - The start of the end…
• Baby Week 16 - Fluttering, maybe??
• Baby Week 32 - Feeling Those Feet!
• Baby Week 31 - Tired of the Crumb Catcher

Smiley Xander

Last week I had a flash back to a blog post I did over a year ago about the first time Xander showed any excitement at seeing me when I pick him up from day care.  I was thinking about this post specifically because these days picking up Xander is one of the highlights of my day.  As soon as he sees me he runs at me.  This usually prompts a reminder from one of the staff members that he needs to walk, not run.  So then he walks as quickly as his little feet will carry him to me, with his arms wide open of course.  I pick him up and he wraps his little arms around my neck and squeezes as tightly as he can and I give him a little squeeze back.  It’s a great way to end my day, with someone so happy to see me.  The picture I chose this week was taken at my parent’s house a few weeks ago, but it’s an excellent representation of the little boy I see every day after work.  Before you have kids it’s easy to wonder why anyone would want to go through all of the effort, and I can tell you moments like these remind you why.

Related items

• Xander Week 89 - He Has A Palate!
• Xander Week 65 - First Words…
• Xander Week 97 - A Big Boy Room
• Xander Week 96 - First Big Fall
• Xander Week 93 - The Great Hunger Strike

I think I’ve peaked in the comfortable portion of this pregnancy, and I’m on the downward slide towards birth.  The last few days my back and all of the muscles in my lower body have started to ache.  My stomach is starting to grow more and the baby is apparently putting on about 6oz a week, and I’m really starting to feel it.  This worries me since I’ve still got 3 months and a few days to go.  If I’m already starting to feel worn, this is not a good sign.  I was hoping the energy and comfort level would last a little longer…  On the other hand, I can’t wait to meet the new guy!  Who will he look like?  Will he remind us of Xander as a baby?  Will he have a full head of hair?  What color will his eyes be?  How will Xander react to the new one?  I guess I’ll have to keep trying to remember that the payoff is definitely worth all of this pain and discomfort, but I know as the months drag on this is going to be harder and harder to do…

Related items

• Baby Week 30 - Crowded Maternity Ward?
• Baby Week 32 - Feeling Those Feet!
• Baby Week 31 - Tired of the Crumb Catcher
• Baby Week 25 - Dancing Baby!
• Baby Week 20 - Ug, Pregnancy Brain!!

Our first family photo

It’s a bit surreal to think about where Xander, Zach and I all were two years ago at this time.  I think it’s even stranger for me this year, as I’m pregnant again (though admittedly not nearly as pregnant as I was 2 years ago).  Xander was just about to meet the world, I was working at an entirely different job, Zach was years away from being promoted to his current position.  I hadn’t met most of the people I see every day now, and although we had already lined up a day care slot for Xander, I didn’t know or trust those day care providers the way I do now.  I think our whole family has changed and grown quite a bit over the past two years, but it is of course Xander’s changes that are the biggest and most obvious.

It’s amazing to think about how much Xander has grown and changed in the past year.  His first year was full of changes and developments, and the more obvious ones were physical changes - sitting, rolling, crawling, walking, etc.  Between years one and two the changes have seemed to be more verbal.  He’s gone from the super basic “da” and “ma” to three and four word sentences.  He has developed preferences and opinions and is not shy about sharing them.  For Zach and me the communication piece has been huge - it’s allowed us to understand Xander’s needs better, and learn more about who he is.

Xander's First Birthday - mmm, cake...

We have a fairly big birthday party planned for tomorrow.  It’s Curious George themed - we’re grilling hamburgers and hot dogs, and we’ve got cupcakes and ice cream for dessert.  I’m told the weather should be beautiful (yay!) so presumably most of the party will take place in the yard, which Xander will be perfectly happy about.  Xander’s best friend from day care is coming - last year we just had our friends and family, so this is a new and exciting development.  This boy is about a month older than Xander, and ironically, his mother is pregnant and due about a week before I am.

I’m sure it’ll be a great day - we always enjoy seeing all of our friends and family, and I think Xander will have a great time.  Zach and I are dreading the amount of stuff that will accumulate after the party.  I will never be the parent who tells people not to bring presents for their child.  On the other hand, I have no idea where the heck we are going to put all of these presents…

I hope you all have a wonderful September 20th - we’ll be spending it celebrating my first born’s birthday

Related items

• Xander Week 96 - First Big Fall
• Xander Week 92 - Happy Kid
• Xander Week 85 - Time to bragg…
• Xander Week 66 - Curious George
• Xander Week 50 - Birthday Party Planning

20 week fetus

I am a type A personality.  I like structure and orginization.  I make lists, and I follow up on questions.  I rarely forget the details.  That is, until now…  My hormones are driving me nuts now!  I can’t remember even the simplest tasks.  Sometimes I’ll have a conversation with someone, and completely forget about it by the next day - it’s like de ja vu to them, but it’s an entirely new conversation to me.  Others at work have noticed too.  I’m more forgetful and scattered these day.  I’ve started making myself lists at work - lists of things I need to at work, lists of things I need to do at home and lists of things I need to talk about with Zach.  Of course, I keep forgetting my home lists at work, so that doesn’t always work out in my favor…  So far, this has been the most irritating pregnancy side effect.  The nausea was the most miserable, but at least it didn’t effect my professional relationships, and I was still able to remember everything that I needed to get done.  Now I just look like a ditz with a round belly.  I don’t know if this symptom will eventually go away like the others, or if I’m doomed to another four plus months of being the pregnant idiot…

Related items

• Baby Week 32 - Feeling Those Feet!
• Baby Week 31 - Tired of the Crumb Catcher
• Baby Week 30 - Crowded Maternity Ward?
• Baby Week 24 - The start of the end…
• Baby Week 21 - We have a due date!