28 Weeks

Let's play a number's game:

1 trimester left.
2 doctor's visits a month.
3 centimeter stomach gain in two weeks.
4 weeks until the baby's room is finished.
5 pillows Kristina uses in various places when sleeping.
6 weeks until Kristina's first Mother's Day.
6.2 miles from our apartment to the hospital.
7 "easy" months behind us.
8 ethnicities Nemo will be a part of.
9 possible names we're still debating.
10 pounds gained by Brady so far.
11 pounds gained by Kristina so far.
12 different routes to the hospital Brady wants to find before May 1.
15 inches long the baby is right now.
22 inches long--how long the baby will probably be when born.

58 days until Brady's jaw surgery.
60 days until Kristina starts her maternity leave.

61 days until Cathedral's graduation.
75 days until Chaminade's graduation.
85 days until Nemo's due date.
98 days until Auntie Sara comes home.

27 Weeks

Tonight while we were eating dinner, Kristina said that Nemo was being rambunctious.  I looked over and could see her stomach moving.  There were about 2 or 3 real good "butt bumps" that I noticed from about 5 feet away.  Kristina and I just stared at her stomach in awe.  It is so great to see and feel those movements because it really helps me connect more concretely with both the baby and Kristina. 

Since Kristina is closing in on her last trimester, she has to go to the doctor's office every two weeks. During her last trip, they measured her for the first time. They expect a pregnant woman to grow one centimeter for every week she is pregnant, for a total of 40 centimeters. Well, Kristina is 3 cm ahead of schedule. For all that extra size, however, she hasn't gained an equivalent amount of weight. Which means that Nemo is long and skinny. Sound like anyone you know?

As for other news, we got this baby monitor that is supposed to help you hear your baby's heart beat. It's basically a sensitive microphone connected to headphones.  They say you can hear the heart beat, hiccups and maybe even kicking. But when we listened we just heard the sound of flowing water. Turns out you can't hear any of the good stuff for a couple of more weeks. But the flowing water was the sound of blood and nutrients flowing in and out of the placenta; literally the sound of life.

Later that night I tested the microphone on my belly and put on the headphones to see what I could hear. I couldn't hear anything interesting, so I turned the volume up. Then I farted and almost went deaf (no joke).

It's a good thing that I didn't go deaf because I applied for a job with the CIA over the weekend (also, no joke).  They need a few good men or women to join the Clandestine Services and I provided my high score on the James Bond game for the Wii in my list of positive attributes.  If I hear from them, I'll let you know--or maybe I'll be in the cone of silence.  

Will Nemo kick so hard that he or she break's Kristina's ribs?  Will Brady be abducted in his sleep and put on a cargo ship headed to Venezuela?  Tune in next week, same baby time, same baby channel.

26 Weeks

Over the weekend, we went to a "Labor and Delivery Class" at the hospital.  Basically it was a crash course in all the possible things that could happen during labor.  They recommend that we go so that we aren't pestering the nurses and doctors during Show Time.  There were maybe 15 other couples in the class with us--some of them due very soon.  After we heard all the horror stories, saw the diagrams and watched one particularly graphic and nausea-inducing video, we learned that a doctor has to give you a Cesarian Section if you request it.  All the women in the room gave one another a look.  It was the look of, "Hey, I don't have to be anyone's hero." For what it's worth, just being a human incubator for nine months qualifies one for the Hall of Justice in my book.

In far more important news, two interesting things happened when Kristina came to my swim team's first meet today.  First, being pregnant and sitting the bleachers doesn't mix.  She had to leave after the 200 freestyle relay and is now laying on her second ice pack of the night.  After the meet when I got home she said, "Nemo must have been practicing her flutter kick at your meet--she was going crazy."  I teared up.  

Later, during dinner, Kristina reported that, "Now Nemo's practicing her flip turns."  Too much to handle.  It sounds like Kristina needs to get her "bleacher butt" in better shape.  

For all the movement that Kristina can feel, I have only felt the baby move once.  After weeks of hurrying over to her, placing my hands on her stomach and coming away empty handed, I felt what seemed like a slight twitch.  It was very cool.  We decided that it was clearly a "butt bump" and deduced that Nemo likes to boogie.  

Thanks for all the love and support.  It's always great hearing from our friends and family.  More next week.  

  

25 Weeks

Submitted for your consideration:

and

and 

I suggest that Nemo's got rhythm--which is good, because Dad doesn't.  

Over the weekend, Kristina was asked to dance at the "Many Cultures, One Faith Liturgy" during the LA Religious Education Congress.  She carried the baby beautifully in front of over 1,000 people and I was so proud of her.  

Thanks for the name suggestions.  We'll take them under advisement.  More next week.

24 Weeks

We've reached 6 months! Only 4 more to go. In general, Kristina's constitution has improved, but her immune system has weakened and she is often sick. Obviously, her stomach is growing and we've been forced to evaluate all the maternity clothing stores and have come to find what works for her.

So it turns out that the pain Kristina felt in her ribs last week was Nemo's big foot wedged up there. The pain was so much that she went in to the doctor's office to check it out and the ultrasound discovered the cause of the pain.

Our baby is getting fat. He or she is putting on that fat that will make the baby less opaque. That's right, up until now, Nemo has been virtually see-through. The fat will help with that. He or she is the length of an ear of corn--but Nemo will definitely not be a Cornhusker.

This week we are looking for boy's names in the comment thread. Last week we had some great ideas of girl's names. I especially liked Reba and Willamina. Thanks for your help.

23 Weeks

Nothing very exciting to report this week--certainly nothing as exciting as the ultrasound from last week.  I guess the most exciting news is that we're closing in on the last trimester.  There seems to be a lot of excitement at the beginning of the pregnancy--telling everyone and making plans in your head--and obviously a lot of excitement at the end.  But, the middle is filled with a lot of...boredom.  We did, however, get a chance over the long weekend to further organize Nemo's room.  We use a monkey doll as a stand-in for the baby--it's name is Chief Red Bottom.

Kristina has felt a new pain recently.  She says it feels like her ribs have separated from her sternum.  It must be the baby growing and her body trying to accommodate.  It makes sleeping on her side very uncomfortable.  To compound the issue, pregnant women cannot sleep on their backs.  Obviously sleeping on one's stomach is out of the question--though I hear such a position is a new break dancing move amongst all the pregnant women these days.  Such difficulties make for some seriously miserable nights.  

On another note, the great name fight has begun.  We each have our ideas, and our stubbornness.  We could really appreciate your fresh ideas.  Offer any ideas you may have for girl's names in the comments thread this week.  Next week we'll do boys names.  After that maybe we'll have a party--"A Man, a Keg and a Fertalized Egg Party"--to vote on name options.  Thank you in advance for all the great ideas and your continued support.  

22 Weeks

This may sound like a joke, but the baby is the size of a spaghetti squash this week.  It looks like we were all wrong.  

Kristina and I went to the doctor's office today for her regular check up and saw some pretty breathtaking  ultrasound pictures.  First, Nemo was scratching the back of his or her head.  The left arm was reached over the face and the fingers were itching away.  We've got a little thinker.  Maybe Nemo was considering the purpose of mankind in in a chaotic universe or the relationship between Jesus and Buddha.  

Secondly, we saw all four chambers of Nemo's heart.  Fricking amazing.  The blood pumps with the strength of a thoroughbred horse.  Perhaps we have a marathoner, base jumper or even a rickshaw driver on our hands.

Anyway, this is the ultrasound picture from today.  If you look closely, squint and turn your head to the side, you can make out a head, neck and part of the body--sort of.  We couldn't see the rest of the body because we want to be surprised.