25 weeks and a healthier cat...

Well, I've made it past the viability mark--which I'd imagine is always and exciting time for moms-to-be. At 24 weeks, babies are viable. I'll be 25 weeks in 2 days, which puts me safely in the viability club. Things are starting to slow down a little. I can feel that I am on my way out of the "honeymoon period" that is the 2nd trimester. Maizey isn't quite as active as she was, which is probably because things are getting tighter for her in there. I don't feel the somersaults like i used to, and I will miss that, but she is still kickin' for sure.

Other indicators that the 3rd trimester is fast approaching:

My feet are swelling--my Dansko's feel really tight today (which means I'll need to find an even more reasonable [aka ugly but expensive] shoe), but none of that will matter since I can officially no longer see my feet when looking down.

When I'm in my pre-natal yoga class in Half Lotus position, my pulse is so strong that I cannot sit still, it literally rocks me back and forth--it becomes more of a half-lotus-blowing-in-the-wind position.

I'm now anemic 'cause the baby is stealing all my iron. Which basically means that when I'm not asleep from fatigue, I'm dizzy and weak. Hopefully my supplement will start to kick in soon.

I'm snoring, loud enough that Ryan requested I use breathe right strips, and though there has been some improvement, I still wake up with a sore throat.

All I can say about pregnancy is you'd better hope that your partner really loves you, because there are plenty of not-so-attractive aspects of pregnancy. I know Ryan still loves me, but I also know that he is likely disappointed that I'm not as princessly feminine as he may have once thought. Oh yeah I think all the whining, complaining, crying, and major bitchiness has probably made him wish we adopted.

After a quarter-hearted attempt to give Allie away, we are realizing that it isn't so difficult after all to live with a diabetic cat. She is doing a lot better, and the shots don't seem to bother her at all. We're just gonna have to hit up all of our family and friends to help us out when we go out of town, which is going to suck, but I think we'll be able to make it work.

Here is our week in pictures:

Here is a slightly revitalized-looking Allie. The truth is even when she was perfectly healthy, she looked tired and diabetic. Here she is with her Christmas present.

Here is the baby's momma at 25 weeks

Here is our new swing that my parents got us. Thanks mom and dad. All I can say is...why don't they make these for adults? I would TOTALLY own one!

Here is the bedding we got for the baby's room. So sweet and feminine. Thank you Jan and Gordon!

My cousin Carmen is due 2 months before me with a little boy. Here we are at her shower. Left to right: Cousin Alison, Cousin Carmen, Sissy Erika, and me (looking very pregnant in the face).

And here is Ryan, just because he's cute and nice.

Are you f-ing kidding me?

The vet just called, Allie has diabetes. Ryan and I just started laughing when we heard the message. Not because we're evil, because we are ridiculously unlucky in this department. And if you're wondering, yes we are going to be giving our cat insulin injections everyday. We're such suckers...what next? I guess I should've been clued in when the vet rated Allie a 4.5 out of 5 for obesity.

Allie looking tired and diabetic

The Original Princess

We have another princess on the way, but my little niece Ariana is definitely the original. Here is a video that Georgia put together of Ari's journey for their CDH group (Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia http://www.cdhsupport.org/).

23 weeks

I'm aware this photo looks like a knee or miscellaneous body part, but Ryan is otherwise occupied. He's started the weekly "cleaning of the garage" project--which proceeds any and all other house projects. So, I had to take it with my short arms.

23 weeks

Here is a picture that I just took of my little babies staring at me in the office (god forbid Louise actually walk on the tile to come and visit me in the office--she's never actually been in this room before). I feel the love from my animals, that is for sure!

That is Louise in the middle, the one who looks like a beached harbor seal. It's her unique charm.

Here is Ryan feeling the love:

Kicked out of class...

I got kicked out of Anatomy for being pregnant. I could've stayed but here's what I would have had to wear:

I'm not kidding.

I opted to take another class this quarter.

22 week photos of baby

So, it's not our baby, but it's cool to get an idea of what she looks like. It's pretty bizarre to think that such a perfectly formed little human is hanging out in my belly...

Big Belly Pictures

Okay, I've been resisting this. Ryan and I have been taking belly pics every three weeks or so. But, now instead of just looking like I had a food baby in my stomach I think they are starting to look more like a woman expecting versus a woman who ate too much for dinner--so I decided I would feel okay sharing them. Here is our 21.5 week shot.

21.5 weeks

so...

Ryan just emailed me saying that he thinks Maisy is better. I don't know. We'll let you know for sure around the middle of May...

Kicks and Spelling

First, I'd like to say that this font is called Georgia--that one is for you George...luckily for you we don't know anyone named Lucida Grande.

Second, I'd like to say that we've finally decided on a spelling for the name of our unborn: Maizey. It's phonetically correct, and it looks better then Mayzie.

Third, I'm happy to announce that our daughter is not only intelligent, but funny too. Last night we went to bed way too early. After tossing and turning I decided to get up and watch The Real Housewives of Orange County (I didn't say I was intelligent). I had 10 minutes to kill, so I grabbed my stethoscope and was going to try to listen to Maizey's heartbeat. I pushed the stethoscope down on my belly and within seconds, it bounced off. She kicked it...hard. I tried again, and she kicked it again. No matter where I went, she found it and kicked it off. This went on for a few minutes before I decided that maybe she didn't want me doing this, but I couldn't stop laughing. I couldn't get over the fact that even though babies are vulnerable and so dependant when they're born, they certainly aren't that way in the womb. They are tough and rule their roost. I even read that there is documentation of babies getting agressive toward the needle when amniocentesis is performed...they'll hit at it. Anyway, I can only conclude that all the Dr. Seuss we are reading to her is rocketing her IQ off the charts...and of course her good genes.

Maizey's First Pictures

Maizey's Profile at 20 weeks
Profile at 18 weeks
Alien Face at 18 weeks
Perfectly Formed Foot at 18 weeks