Baby Shower Numba 2...

is happening people.  Those near NC will be invited.  If your invite has not reached you, it is either, in the mail or going in the mail today.  I am really excited.  All hubbys and significant others who choose to not to attend the shower (which is being held in a private room), can hang with my hubby outside of the shower since it is being held in a bowling alley.  You guys can laugh, drink, bowl (if available) and share stories about how you are going to keep the boys away from your daughters!

Zoe is doing fine.  We are in week 33, and she is growing.  Not much room to move.  When she does, it looks like an alien experiment is going on inside my belly.  The feelings from the inside is more like it tickles or hurts (if she's stretching too far and hits organs).  From the outside, it looks like something out of a Sci-Fi flick.  Derrick found this very intriguing yesterday.  We also tested the music theory.  Our little girl seems to like J-Pop (or japanese pop...like her daddy), Beyonce and Chris Brown.  She also likes Soul music.  Jazz seems to soothe her and put her to sleep.  She stopped moving when Lil Wayne popped up, so we can safely assume that she doesn't particularly like the sound of his voice...which pleases her parents.

As we get closer to her due date, I get so anxious.  I feel like there is so much to do before she gets here.  Maybe this nesting thing really is starting to kick in.  :)  I think my hubby will be happy :)

Bj

Week 32: is it possible...

Is it possible that I'm going to get any bigger?! LOL! Life is good, though it's gotten a bit more complicated:). Last Saturday, we took our pregnancy pics, which has been posted by the hubby on his...and my Facebook pages. I must say...we look very happy and we enjoyed every minute of it :). I thought I was nesting. Not quite yet, but I do tend to spend more time in Zoe's room. I think it makes me feel even closer to her when we are in here. As I type, I'm in her room. I do find myself messing with her clothes and her things :). I am enjoying this time because soon she will be arriving and the peacefulness I feel right now, gets thrown under a bus! I would love to think that I'm going to have this newborn who only cries when she's wet or hungry. But i know better! :). I'm just going to sit back and try to enjoy it for all it's worth. Because I know shes definitely worth it all :) Rarely do I talk about my mother in law on here, but an unfortunate event has happened and I feel the need to talk about it. My mom in law lives with us. She suffered a stroke and aneurysm 20 years ago, and unfortunately, she still suffers with effects from it. She is partially paralyzed and only uses her left hand and leg. I took her to the doctor on Friday and I found out that she tore cartilage in her left chest. Now, what the doctor usually tells a person in this situation is, just use your right arm for the next 4-6 weeks. Well...she can't do that. My hubby and I are her primary caregivers and now we are scrambling to figure out what to do. The fact is this couldn't have happened at a worse time. I'm 8 months pregnant (give or take a few days)! I can't be lifting her, bathing her,etc in my current condition. And my hubby, has to work. We are thinking a nurses aide may have to come in and help her for a little while. Though bringing this up to her, will probably be a little tough, it's the best thing for her. Today, Derrick and I had our first birthing class session. It was great! I learned that my hubby has magic hands! His massages were the best! I was actually visualizing us in the beach relaxing while he was massaging me. I could smell the salt water and feel the sun on my face. Any worries were drained during that time! I am really hoping that I can experience all that when I'm in labor. If I do...this birthing thing will be a breeze! We also saw a couple of birthing videos. I am in awe and amazed at the biology of a woman. The fact is we were made to do this. We have strength that we haven't even tapped into yet. It makes me feel proud to have this experience. I was a little surprised that Derrick didnt ger grossed out by the birth. The only part that he thought was yucky, was the afterbirth :). To tell you the truth, I can't blame him for thinking that. But it is the vessel that has been keeping our wee one safe for all these months. So I have a bit of respect for it :). A woman's body is amazing. Tomorrow, we go back for our last session. Breathing exercises :). And hopefully, they will teach my hubby how to swaddle. He's very intrigued about learning how :) Zoe has been swimming around...with less room to swim :). I've seen what I think was her butt through my skin :). Derrick thinks I'm seeing things :). She's getting bigger and her space is getting smaller. I haven't really experienced a lot of back pain, just a little. I'm finding it harder to get in and out of bed, along with comfortable sleeping positions. And, I do wake up in the middle of the night more frequently now. Even with all that going on, I must say, this has been one of the most exciting times of my life. And we can't wait to meet our little girl! Bj

Michigan Baby Shower Weekend (the Tarantino version)

Monday: I woke up feeling good. I had a good time and I was leaving the cold and the snow to go to the 50-60 degree weather of home :). Got into the car and I felt a little queasy. When we got to the airport, I felt bad, but I figured a trip to the restroom and some food in my tummy would make things better. I was very wrong. The plane taxis out the runway, and by the time we are in the air, I have filled up two barf bags. I felt so horrible. But the people around me were so understanding. My hubby was rubbing my back, and so was my mom in law. The flight attendant gotme some ginger ale. And the passengers seemed to empathize with me. After getting sick, I thought I would feel better. Again, I was so wrong. About 10 minutes before we land, I let go again. Luckily, I still had a Delta trash bag in my purse on the car ride home...blah! I let go again! I think Derrick was so happy that I had that bag. His whole front seat would have been soaked! And this continued throughout the day until I got some Gatorade in my system. I have such empathy for those mommies to be who get sick throughout their pregnancy. One day of morning, afternoon and evening sickness had me worn out! I admit, I've been blessed. Sunday: I may not have had a white Christmas but visiting Michigan sure made up for it. It was so pretty and so cold! . We had plans to have a family dinner with Derrick's family, but due to weather conditions we just went to visit his grandmother instead. She was happy to see us and it was good to see her. Saturday: My cousin/BFF threw me a baby shower. She planned and set everything up. All I had to do was give her a guest list and show up. It was fantastic! When I walked in the room, I felt the love :). And I'm sure that Zoe felt it too :). We all had such a good time. I got to see my aunts and cousins, my sister in laws, a uncle (unexpectantly, friends, and my oldest niece and my youngest nephew. It was good to see them all. The games were cute. And opening the gifts was fun. Zoe is going to be one of the most well dressed babies on the block! :) Simultaneously during the baby shower, my mom in law was having a get together with her friends and family. Since it had been over 10 years since she had been to Flint, and about 20 years since she had seen some of her friends, she invited them to the restaurant to catch up. While I would have loved for her to do this another time...is neither here or there, she enjoyed herself and she was happy, and that's all I can ask for. Derrick was running back and forth between both events. And I must say, I am a blessed woman. My hubby is awesome. He was trying to be a translator for his mom, and be a supportive hubby for me. It makes me appreciate him all he does. He honestly needs a vacation from our vacation. But I am glad at some point he was able to enjoy himself. I love him very much. That evening we went to my inlaws' house for a birthday party. We had a blast! It was nice to chill out with the family and we finally got to set eyes on our beautiful little niece :). She is such a doll. That night made me realize that we all need to get together more often. Derrick and I both loved seeing everyone and wish we could have had more time together. Friday: Getting through the airports sucked! I felt so bad for Derrick because he not only had to deal with my pregnant butt, but his disabled mom. Pushing her around in a wheelchair, and me waddling through the airport was a time and a half. But when we got to Detroit, it was beautiful. The grass was green and the sun was out. It was beautiful. It made me smile to be back in Michigan. I didn't realize how much I missed it until we made the drive to Grand Blanc. Seeing my other mom and my brother was awesome. All in all it was a great trip and I loved it. I hope we can make it back when the weather is a little warmer and Zoe is vaccinated. Bj