Before the street cleaning

Before the street cleaning, originally uploaded by LeahC.

Fall in the City

Fall in the City, originally uploaded by LeahC.

Work and Pregnant Life Balance

I'm tired people.

My belly knocks people over on the el train.

I'm so out of breath in the mornings (I don't know why it's worse in the mornings) that Jason ends up walking my backpack the 3/4 of a mile to work and then turns around and goes back to his company, even though the el stops right outside his door (yes, he's that guy...and thus the best). I hate that I can't do this for myself anymore. I'm a marathon runner and have trouble walking in the mornings...it. is. so. annoying.

I'm so consumed with baby thoughts and stress because I don't think that we are going to get everything done in time that it's even more exhausting.

So right. What's an 8 month pregnant woman to do?

Well this pregnant woman talked to her boss and the woman who is the director of operations yesterday about options. We can take unpaid time off here which is great, but I didn't exactly want to give up all work. SO we came to a conclusion that Friday will be my last day in the Studio and then for the next two weeks I'll do some part time work from home as it comes up.

It's like a giant weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Would I like the money of working full time? Sure! Who wouldn't!?! But there is a balance and sometimes (lots of times!) money isn't everything. When I mentioned to my sister-in-law that we had a crazy, busy, stressful weekend, she suggested that I try and take it easy because in a few weeks my entire world is going to be upside down. And of course she's right. I need some time to get prepared (I know I know you can never really be prepared) and relax and wait for the crazy to come to me!

So starting Monday I'll be doing just that.

It's nice working at a company where this was even a possibility as I know there are places were you have to work all the way till the end with no other options. Nice of Obtiva to work with me to come up with a solution that works for all. 

Today I'm officially 8 months pregnant. Jason got up really early to do some contract work and came back to bed at about 5:45 to doze with me for awhile. I think I have mentioned on here that I am a really hard sleeper. I woke up and Jason was like, "dude the baby was going crazy and moving more than I have ever felt her before" I was like...oh really? I slept through it. Back in the day when I was convinced she wasn't moving at all, I bet she moved a ton at night and I just never woke up for it...hopefully I wake up when she cries in the night!

A week from today we have our 36 week appointment and we'll have *another* ultrasound to see what she's doing in there and then we'll have to decide if we want to do the external versioning. Today I'm on the planned c-section bus, but we'll see what the doctor says next week. And of course she could still turn on her own...she's just running out of time and space I'm guessing.

These are exciting times. That's for damn sure.

4 Weeks From Today....Maybe

Well little Lucy, unless you turn that big ass head around we will be meeting you in 4 weeks from today. Yes, yes...your mother likes schedules and plans and loves when things come early and so loves the idea of know the exact time you'll be greeting us. Although...still she's a wary of the abdominal surgery.

Anyone out there have a planned c-section? Advice, tips, stories, recovery (my biggest concern) would be *greatly* appreciated as Jason and I go back and forth a couple of times a day on whether we should try the external versioning or just stick with the planned. She of course might turn on her own too, but assuming she won't I'd like all the information I can get.

We had another jam packed weekend. Hung out with my Dad all day on Saturday and Saturday night we stayed up...wait for it...wait for it....all the way until 11:30! I know....the Coca Cola Classic that I had at about 7:30 kept me up with the big kids. By the way...after about 10 years of Diet Coke (which I still crave and will return to in obscene amounts I'm sure), I freakin' love regular coke. It's so spicy and delicious and it's a little treat on the weekends.

Sunday we did some work in the morning, and then went to Target to get some stuff for the baby's room and some of the stuff to just try and set me at ease. We washed all of the baby's clothes, blankets, sheets and diapers and so the room really is starting to come together. We need a bookshelf still, have to hang pictures, and some other things but we are getting really really close to done in there. Our goal is to be done at 37 weeks as that's when she is full term and so that's when we could most likely really start to expect her....if she doesn't stick to her schedule.

We got rid of a *ton* more stuff, consolidated some storage tubs. Found all my kid books that I've been making us move around for the past 10 years, I knew they would come in handy some day! We do need another "Monster at the End of the Book" though...because my copy was completely disintegrated.

Jason's parents came to visit in the afternoon for a few hours yesterday and after they left, we did some more cleaning, work and then relaxed with some more work and some playoff baseball.

So yeah we're looking at about a month. I still can't believe that we are so close to the end. I can't wait to meet her! No belly pictures today, but here is a great one of a subway performer who was singing old motown songs at the Jackson redline stop in Chicago:

Belly!

Another great weekend for us here at JasonLeahRun. Saturday my Mom was in town from Florida to host a baby shower for me. We had tons of fun and Baby Lucy has a ton more cute clothes. Now that the showers are over we are going to make an inventory of things we gotta get that are must haves and then we'll be ready...well I don't know if you are every *really* ready for a baby...but as close as we can be.

Yesterday we went to visit friends with babies stopping first off to see Baby Ethan who is 3 weeks old and then little baby Eleanor who is 7 weeks old. Ethan is a big baby and it's funny because the two are almost the same size!

In between the visits we went to the forest preserve to take some pictures of the fallness (my photoblog will have a photo *everyday* this week....so don't forget to check that out http://leahcphotos.wordpress.com). While we were there, Jason and I got a little goofy and we decided to take some more belly pictures. Given I haven't taken one since week 22, it's hilarious for me to see the difference. I thought I was *huge* at 20 weeks....yeah. Not so much. All the belly photos can be found here at my smugmug account. Enjoy a select few of the photos we took below (realizing that these are rare, as usually I am hiding behind the lens not in front of it!)...I think I look pretty good for 34.5 weeks through! It's all baby in there!


Today we have a doctors appointment in the morning. I don't think Lucy has turned freakin' anywhere, but we'll see. I'm pretty sure I felt her giant head up near the top of my stomach...but we'll see, maybe I'm not a doctor and don't know what I'm feeling :).

Enjoy the start of the week everyone!

Baby's Room Part II

Last weekend we spent a lot of time in the west suburbs buying baby furniture and crib mattresses as we had use of my cousins hatchback car for the day. After doing all of that we spent the day building the crib and changing table, putting in new lighting in the room and also putting up some curtains. The room is starting to really come together. My mom is in town this weekend for a baby shower and when she comes over on Saturday night we'll go through all the stuff we have and make lists of all the stuff we need, and she can help us put the furniture in good places. Should be a great time and I can't wait to see her!

So here are just some pictures from our Saturday furniture putting together extravaganza. Notice that the cat is all ready to suck the baby's breath out. Seriously we put together the crib and she jumped right in!

Best Sleep Ever

Seriously, I would like to know what 33 week pregnant woman is sleeping as much or as hard as I am at night. I go to bed at like 9:30 and read for about 30 minutes, and then I'm out like a light until the alarm goes off at 6am. Which I then snooze for about 45 minutes. In addition to the sleeping, the dreams I'm having I think are movies they are so vivid and detailed (not to mention super super strange!)

I maybe would sleep like this when we were in the midst of marathon training, but seriously it's crazy. The good thing is that I'm way full of energy in the mornings....the bad thing is that at night I'm dead and feel like crap. I have always always been a good hard sleeper from like 2 weeks old apparently, so it's not like something totally new. I just thought when I was this far along in the pregnancy I would have trouble sleeping. I just think it's hilarious that I'm sleeping so much and so hard. The feeling like crap in the evening I have noticed is more exaggerated when we don't go for a walk or anything in the evenings. I walk a lot to get to work and back but I think I have to do extra to combat the sitting at work all day.

I know a lot of woman at this stage of their pregnancy have to get up a lot in the middle of the night to pee or are in general just uncomfortable. Given that Lucy is all folded up like a lawn chair and upside down in there, I'm wondering if her head is not sitting down on my bladder like it would be in the normal case and so I don't have that problem. And as far as the uncomfortable goes, I'm fine. Sometimes at night she really gets rocking and rolling and it's not the best feeling in the world and it kind of makes me sick, but again..maybe because all of her business is up near my stomach and so when she moves she's doing funny things to my tummy. Who knows.

All I know is I feel great, and have been sleeping great and have about 6-7 weeks to go. Which is crazy.

This weekend we trading cars with my cousin Lisa and using her hatchback to go to IKEA to get the furniture for the baby's room. Then we are going to spend most of the day tomorrow putting that together and getting our bedroom put together better, throwing more things out and hopefully getting books together to donate. Sunday we are doing work type things and that's all we have planned so far. So busy as usual for the weekend, but good busy.

Are You a Gymnast Already?

Hey there Little Lucy.

How you doing in there? Remember 4 weeks ago when we got some pictures of you and you were all nicely head down? That was a fun time wasn't it? But no, you apparently don't agree and have decided that you are much more comfortable with your head up and your legs right in front of your face.

Sigh.

We were so surprised when the technician told us that you were in the breech position, and you are in the frank breech position. We are 32 (almost 33 weeks) and so you are running out of time to flip around.

Luckily we seem to have the best doctor in the world who talked to us for a good 20-30 minutes about what the next steps were and actually there are no steps for the next 4 weeks, but if you are still enjoying kissing your knees at that point we are going to need a new game plan. If you are sticking with your breech positioning we'll be scheduling a c-section for you on November 23rd. Now. Your mother likes to have plans and schedules AND even more loves to be early for things. So in this sense that makes her giggle like a little school girl. However, a vaginal birth is of course better for everyone.

We also got a measurement of your head. Of your giant giant giant head. We just went to visit your grandpa and grandma Sue and spent roughly 1 hour teasing you about your giant head. Sorry! But you are being born into a big headed teasing family so you can get used to it. Your father who has a nice normal sized head compared one of your pictures to the picture of Darth Vadar sans his helmet and I can't help but agree:
Other than your giant headedness (You get that from your mom's side of the family. Sorry kiddo!) you look great. You have long legs, and all is well with your growth. Just the concern about the breech stuff and we'll worry more about that in 4 weeks. We think you might have some Angelina Jolie in you as well with this kisser:
Here you are just looking cute and not making faces at us...although that head. whew. It's big. Maybe if you do turn we'll have get you out through the front...don't know if your Mom is ready for that business.
As for me, I'm doing good too. Blood pressure still on the high side although a little bit better than 4 weeks ago. We got back to visit the doc in 2 weeks and so we'll see if anything interesting happens then.

In other news around here. Your room is getting more and more done, and your Dad has realized how much has to happen before you get here and has gotten a little bit on the concerned and stressed out side...which is cute cause your Dad is never ever stressed out.

So if you feel like being a gymnast in there and turn yourself around, go for it. Either way we'll make sure you get here safe and sound in about 7 weeks. I can't wait to see you in real life!

A Baby Room Makeover

So yeah, I wanted to paint the baby's room green. So we got some paint card things, and compared the colors to the sheets and art prints we have in the room to find a match. We picked one that didn't seem too bright, but wasn't pale either so you could tell that there was something on the walls.

Yeah.

Well it's going to be a damn happy room! And she won't be able to sleep because it's so bright that she she closes her eyes she'll be seeing some little green spots. Well ok it's not that bad, and after a few hours it's totally growing on me. PLUS once we get more furniture in there and stuff on the walls it won't just be an empty room with bright green walls, it'll be a baby's room...with bright green walls which is fun. So there. We also replaced all the outlets and covers since the previous painters just did the lazy paint over the outlets and covers thing...which is ugly. So now it's all nice and waiting for baby furniture. Here are some pictures from before, during and after, and if anything we can say that the before was *really* ugly.

Where's the Time Going?

So yeah, tomorrow we hit the 32 week mark. On Monday we hit the 2 months to go mark. What the what? When did that happen?

In the last week my good friend who has been about 9 weeks ahead of me in pregnancy gave birth to a boy named Ethan. We went to visit them in the hospital and all of a sudden I was very much, "Um, we don't have anything ready for Lucy" So I am starting to panic a little bit although we've gotten a lot done this week and hopefully the room will be looking more baby like by the end of the weekend as we are giving the room a fresh coat of paint and we were supposed to have furniture, but then we went to visit the said furniture and the furniture I thought I liked I didn't when we got there (although it's totally fine if that's what we go with) and the one I did like turns out is apparently part crib, part baby killer. I don't understand these review sites. So this crib apparently has a gap between the mattress and the bars, and so all these people are like, "THIS IS OBVIOUSLY BAD AND DANGEROUS!!!!" But they don't say why it's bad and dangerous and Consumer Reports rated this crib 2nd on it's list of best cribs. So I don't really understand what the problem is. I would like some scientific fact and experiments saying, ok, this could be bad because this and this could happen. Not just, well obviously that's bad. I also think we can get a little bit of a wider mattress and it would take care of the problem. I'm just really annoyed because it was the only crib/changing table I have seen that hasn't made me want to vomit all over it.

Ok. Ok. See this is what I'm talking about. Panic.

The crib we are looking at is the Leksvik crib at IKEA. Just do a search for "Leksvik mattress gap" or something and there are a few google things to see. Why does a mattress need to be super snug to the rails? Does anyone else have this crib and see no problem with it? I've found a few posters that have said it's no big deal and other that are like, OH MY GOD THIS HAS TO GO BACK TO IKEA RIGHT THIS SECOND BUT I'M 6 HOURS AWAY FROM IKEA AND I'M CURRENTLY IN LABOR. So I mean there are ranges, I just want to know what could go bad with a space like this or if it's just some overly worried parents being nuts because I'm sorry the first thing my parents did when the got me home from the hospital is put me into a bassinet who's legs then went out from under it and I went shooting out the back of it...and I'm fine. I mean...I wouldn't recommend baby bassinet shooting, I'm just saying it seems that the crazy has gone up lots of notches in the last 30 years.

Alright. That's my rant and some LeahC crazy to brighten up your Thursday morning.

***NOTE***
At the bottom of the post on the baby bargins site about this crib they say that they heard back from the CPSC and they have ruled that the crib gap does NOT pose a safety concern. That is, it does not violate any current standards.

They said they heard back from them after they went to print and will update the book in the next printing....I think it's funny that they went to print with unscientific evidence about a product. Like maybe you should have heard from the people that deem safety stuff before saying that something is not safe and putting it into a book that obviously gets a lot of press. So Anyways. It looks like it will be fine.
**********

As far as Miss Little Lucy goes, she's doing great. She's moving weirdly now and I can feel her rolling over. Yesterday we would see little feet or hands or I don't know what poke out of my belly and the roll around. Jason was like, "Well that's a new one." I'm still sleeping pretty well although if I roll over on my back I wake up with a lot of pain in my stomach area so that can't be good. After I woke up though I rolled over and then had lots of dreams of the baby moving a lot and being nuts and I wonder if she really is being nuts and I'm just such a ridiculous sleeper that I'm not waking up fully to feel it. Also in the dream I was in labor, so that was fun.

And finally to the two douche bags on the train this morning, if you see a pregnant woman standing next to you don't just talk to each other loudly about things like "Can you be with a baby mama if the baby daddy wasn't around" or "Maybe I just need to sow my wild oats and get some strangers pregnant" and not give up your seat because you have obviously seen the pregnant lady standing and you are just choosing to try and channel Jack Black or Seth Rogan and be "funny" And you aren't funny. Jack Black and Seth Rogan already did the bit, they already have the act going. You can't just copy it and think you are just as funny or clever or witty. BECAUSE YOU AREN'T. YOU AREN'T FUNNY. You are just two jackasses that talked loudly on the train because you thought you were funny and clever and you weren't you just looked like assholes. So there.

Everyone is out of my office today except for me which makes things a bit on the quiet side. I'm meeting my Dad for lunch at 12:30 so that should be a nice time.

So yes, it's almost Friday. Almost 32 weeks done. And we are looking at the Baby Killer Crib 1000. GRRRRR!