Aquariums, Trolls and Fortunes, Oh My!

Yesterday was the first Saturday Andrew and I have had in months that didn’t have a single thing written on the calendar. We thus decided to take advantage of it! Who knows, it could have been our last Saturday without anything planned and without a baby. There are only a few more weekends left, or possibly none at all before Tadpole comes. Though I am totally looking forward to her coming. ^_^

Andrew and I decided to have a date day. We wanted to get going early in the morning, but unfortunately I didn’t sleep much at all the night before, so we didn’t get out the door until after lunch. Our first stop was the Seattle Aquarium! I love being surrounded by the ocean. ^_^ 

Happy to be at the Seattle Aquarium

We got to the aquarium right before the fish feeding time at the dome tank, so we walked through all the exhibits to make sure I at least could have a seat while we watched the divers feed the fish. They had a short talk before the feeding began, and I thought it was funny it watch some of the fish swim up to the bag of food and pull bits and pieces out the side of it.

The fish were following the divers around the tank

We of course went back through all the exhibits and made sure we didn’t miss anything. Here’s a bit of what we saw.

Starfish! Aww, look how they love each other.

Pretty, bright-colored coral. Andrew says it makes him feel like he's in sunny California

The lion fish

I forget the name of this little guy, but he looks cool!

Barney the harbor sea

I think one of my favorite things this visit was seeing how fast sea otters eat! We got to the sea otter exhibit right after their feeding started. One of the otters had a big chunk of something it was eating, so I thought I’d take a picture of him. He turned around once and it was half gone. By the time he turned around again his meal had vanished! All that to say I did not get a super good picture of him eating, but check out his teeth!

Nom nom nom.

We also had fun with Andrew and Tadpole being a jellyfish. I’m sure Tadpole smiled for the camera. ^_~

Andrew the Jellyfish!

Tadpole the Jellyfish!

After the Aquarium we went to the Troll under the Fremont Bridge. I don’t remember ever being there, and Andrew hasn’t been there before, and we figure since we live in Seattle we should at least go see it once. 

Then we had an early dinner at Super Buffet, a Chinese buffet located across the street from the Northgate Mall. It’s a place we kept talking about eating at, and just haven’t. And since we know we’ll be moving out of the Northgate area, we figured we should eat there before we live further away. Tadpole has been making me super hungry lately, so a buffet style meal was perfect after a day of walking. I even ate more food than Andrew! For those who know my eating habits, this rarely ever happens. I did discover that I do not like muscles and that whole baby octopus are pretty darn good. 

My first plate of food

When we got our two fortune cookies at the end of our meal, Andrew told me to pick which one I wanted. I grabbed both, placed one on the left side of my baby bump and the other on the right side, and then asked Tadpole which one I should choose. She kicked me on the right side, so I received this fortune:

So does this meal Tadpole is going to save me sometime in the future? And if yes, how?

All in all we had a great day being together! It was nice just being the two of us, but I look forward to going on outings like this with little Miss Tadpole.

Week 37

I totally forgot to post these pictures yesterday! I blame it on having "pregnant brain." I've been randomly forgetting things, or not finishing sentences. For example, when making rice in a rice cooker, I did everything you are supposed to do but push down the cook button. I only realized this after I was expecting it to be done...

Since we’re in the month of Tadpole’s due date, I’ve decided to have a weekly photo taken instead of a monthly picture. There probably won’t be much change per week, but I thought it would be fun. So here you have it, me at the beginning of week 37.

Car Seat

Andrew and I decided that once April came we would put Tadpole’s car seat into the car. So this last Sunday night, that’s exactly what we did! Our infant car seat is the Graco SnugRide 30 (B is for Bear).

Minnie Mouse helped make it more real. She's still in the car seat and I realize when I drive around, whoever is behind me can see Minnie Mouse in my car. I wonder what they all think.

Putting in the base

Making sure it's nice and secure!

This week we also finished packing for the hospital for the three of us. Or at least finished packing as much as we’re able. There is a very organized list of “still needs to be packed” on our fridge for the big day. There are two subcategories: me and Andrew. And then under each of our names is a list of things we need to pack for ourselves, organized by what room the item would be found in. We are prepared! And I feel so much better now that we’re packed and ready to go and that the car seat is ready too. The hospital won’t let you take your little one home unless you have a car seat that has been properly installed in your car, and I want to bring Tadpole home!

And today marks 20 days until Tadpole’s due date! WOW!!! Don’t forget to vote on when you think Tadpole will be born. The poll is located on the right near the top of the blog.

Unscheduled Doctor Appointment

Before you get too concerned or excited, let me first say that changing my doctor appointment from this Thursday to suddenly this morning was not due to Tadpole’s health, but my own. Though Doc. S did go ahead and do all the usually check-ups, and we canceled my Thursday appointment and I’ll have my regular check up next week on Tuesday.

Anyway! Today I had to suddenly go in due to the possibility of developing a yeast infection, yuck! Most women reading this know how uncomfortable those can be… And sadly the chances of getting a yeast infection increases when you’re pregnant. Good thing is that yeast infections do not affect the baby at all. The only time Tadpole would be affected by me having a yeast infection is if I had one while I was giving birth to her. But she doesn’t seem to be coming any time super soon, so there’s time to take some meds and have the yeast infection clear up.

Doc S prescribed to me Fluconazole, which is different than most meds for yeast infections because you take it orally and you only have to take a single pill. The medication stays in your system for a few days, and symptoms begin to diminish within 24 hours and eventually disappear. This clears up most infections, so since I only have a mild infection it should work great!

As I said, Tadpole isn’t being affected by my yeast infection at all. She’s doing well, like usual. Her heart rate was measured at 144bpm again, and my uterus is almost 38cm. Doc S asked if I was having any contractions and I told him I’ve been having about 1-2 a day that just feel like mild cramps and usually don’t tend to last long. He said since it doesn’t seem that much is going on we’ll wait to check my cervix until we get closer to Tadpole’s due date.

Some women want their cervix checked at each appointment around this time, but Doc S expressed that since it can be uncomfortable to do and if contractions aren’t happening frequently the cervix isn’t likely to be dilating yet, and doing an exam can increase the likelihood of an infections, he thinks it’s best to hold off on it. However, he also told me that if I want him to check and see if I’ve started to efface or dilate, then he will. I’m on the same page as him though. I prefer to wait to check my cervix. Maybe in a couple weeks we’ll have Doc S check, unless contractions increase or my water breaks of course.

On a cute side note, yesterday my Sunday school kids were adorable! We usually sing a few songs before story time, and the songs tend to have hand motions and/or you stand up and sit down during the song. Changing from a sitting position to a standing position quickly is getting difficult to do. So lately during the song time I’ll either stand the whole time or sit down. Since the kids know Tadpole is due soon and that next Sunday will be my last Sunday in the classroom for a couple months, they had a lot of questions!

They wanted to know Tadpole’s name, and I sadly told them it was secret and that I couldn’t even give them a hint. So they tried guessing a few names like Marissa, Melissa, Emma and Emily. Then they asked if my tummy felt hard or soft. I told them they could feel my tummy if they wanted to, but they all decided they were too shy to do this, or that my belly was just too weird. I did describe to them that some areas feel harder than others due to Tadpole pushing/leaning out with a part of her body. I thus went on to feel my belly and try to identify some of Tadpole’s body parts. I pointed at where her behind was and poked at where the top of her head was. One of the girls then exclaimed “don’t poke her!”

It was super cute! They were so curious and asking all these questions and making comments, and yet didn’t want to feel my tummy when Tadpole was still or moving. They did sing “Allelu Allelu” to Tadpole by singing louder and singing towards my tummy, and Tadpole started dancing to their singing. ^_^

Church Baby Shower

This last Sunday was the shower that my church put on for me. It was fantastic! It was so much fun, and like my other showers, I felt so loved and blessed, and saw that Tadpole was already loved by the people there and also blessed. The shower was held after church, so many of the women who attended brought a dish to share and we had a very delicious potluck. There were so many different dishes! I wanted to eat a bit of everything, and barely had enough room on my plate to do so. I ate a lot of really good food, and wish that I had room to eat more.

Krissy, Rebekah, Kelly and Kate helping out in the kitchen. There were many other helping hands too.

Check out the food choices! I don't think I could decide what dish was my favorite

When I was done with my plate I tabled hopped. I wanted to make sure I spent time with each of the women there who came to celebrate Tadpole’s life. When mostly everyone else was done eating two women shared some wise insight as mothers. The first to share was my friend Ellen, who became a mom last year. She shared about some of the challenges she faced, but that God was always there with her and she knew she could get through anything with God. Ellen also shared about the joys of her little girl that measure so much more than any of the challenges she has faced. 

Ellen sharing

Laurie, a mother I look up to who is the mom of some of the kids I have the joy of teaching at church, was the second to share. She focused on foundation of the family/home. She gave a great reminder that even though you’ll want to become wrapped up with your little one when she is born, Tadpole is not the foundation on which I stand, and on which my family is built. She reminded me that God comes first, then Andrew, and then Tadpole and any other child who might come in the future. What’s cool is I was thinking about that earlier that morning, so it was great to hear it from Laurie and have her read scripture that went along with it as well.

Laurie and Sharon

After that, Kate introduced the craft that everyone participated in. On each table there were squares of paper that each had a different letter of the alphabet. Around the room there was one for each letter. Individually, or working in pairs/groups, everyone was to draw pictures that corresponded with the letter they had and on the back write a message to Tadpole and/or Andrew and I. Sherry later took it home to bound all the squares together as Tadpole’s first Alphabet Book. It’s so cool! I would love to show you each and every page, but that would be 26 pictures. So here are a few to show you a taste of what Tadpole’s Alphabet Book is.

Alisa working on one of the letters. You can see a few of the other squares.

If you click the image to see it larger, you can see some of the alphabet squares. Everyone put a lot of creativity into them

Krissy made this one. She drew our friend Gifford and at the top wrote "Google."

Dessert was served when everyone was about half done. You can tell these women know me. Dessert was mini homemade chocolate chip cookies, strawberries, and dairy-free ice cream! Three of my favorite foods, all on one plate. Hehehe ^_^ I love that there were chocolate chip cookies in some variation at each baby shower!!

So good! The ice cream was scooped right before it was served, thus it's not in the picture.

While people where eating their dessert and finishing up the Alphabet Book I started opening the gifts. I had my own little group of helpers too. ^_^ My friend Krissy was my secretary. And then two kids from my Sunday school class, Hailey and Hikari, helped me open all the gifts. Hailey’s older sister, Rehgan, was the “manager” and made sure the younger girls put the wrapping paper in the recycling bag, and then she put the opened gift on a different table. It was so much fun to have them all helping me out. I didn’t ever have to reach for a gift, and the kids were so enthusiastic about it!

My little helpers. ^_^

They were so excited to pull the wrapping paper off the big gifts! I was a little afraid their excitement would make me drop the gift on them.

 The men came back from lunch and hanging out when the gift opening was about done. I love this picture Anna caught of Andrew and Jeff waiting to be let in. And thank you Anna for taking all the pictures!

"Please let us in. You ladies look like you're having fun."

 We were blessed with many adorable outfits, great books, and some much needed items! We even received four big group gifts: a Baby Bijorn carrier, the rain forest play gym mat, the space saver high chair, and the car seat Tadpole will use when she grows to big to fit into her infant one. Our little family has truly been blessed by so many women and their families at our church, along with all the women and their families from the other showers! Thank you all so very much! Very soon little Tadpole will be able to use her gifts, and each time she does, we’ll remember how loved and blessed she is.

Doctor Appointment for 36 and Monthly Pic

I am officially full term! And a month away from Tadpole’s due date! Whooohoo! As we draw closer to April 27^th Tadpole becomes more and more prepared for life outside the womb, but right now she would also do really well. So I guess you could say she could come any day now, but most likely not for a few weeks. Gotta give her a little time to plump up and have cute baby fat that also helps to regulate her body temperature. Just don’t get really big, Tadpole, okay?

Well, Tadpole must have had a little growth spurt this last week. My uterus is measuring at 37cm, which is one centimeter more than the average woman at this point, but also kind of normal. I blame it on all the good food this last week (the highlights being the food at the church baby shower and my cousin’s birthday party). Tadpole’s heart rate was measured at 144bpm and yet again, she kicked the Doppler Doc. S was using to listen to her heart. And she’s still head down and should be staying that way (you got that lil girl? You stay head down from here on out. And I mean out literally, okay?).

After all the info was gathered on Tadpole, Doc. S had me repeat when I should call in about labor to make sure I remembered all the information correctly from last week. I got that down pat! Then I asked him a little about what he typically does or allows during the birth of one’s baby. I asked him if I could have little Tadpole right away or if he had a procedure he prefers to do. Doc S said I could have her right away, and that I had the choice to either have her cleaned up a bit before she’s placed on me, or while she’s on me. I told him I’d probably want her to be cleaned up a little. Babies are like little Yodas that are wet from amniotic fluid, and covered in some vernix caseosa (this white/creamy stuff that covers a baby’s skin when in the womb) and some blood when they’re born… To be honest I don’t know if I will think that it’s kind of gross or not when she’s born. I know it’s 100% normal, and that there is a great chance I won’t care about it at all and just want my little one. But who knows. I told Doc S I’d probably want her cleaned a bit unless I said something like “I want her now!”

I also asked him when he cuts the umbilical cord (some doctors do it right away, and some wait until after the placenta is pushed out). He said he has it cut when the umbilical cord stops pulsing, which I guess typically occurs fast. He also said that he is open to Andrew or someone else cutting the umbilical cord, and typically asks if someone wants to cut it unless you tell him before hand not to ask this and just have him cut it. Andrew and I will have to discuss what we want to have happen. We might not come up with a decision until Tadpole’s out and breathing oxygen.

During this appointment I was also tested for Group B Strep. You can read about it here. About 20-25% of women in the US have this bacteria and are healthy. The thing is it exists in the birth canal, and if you’re a carrier of it, your baby has a chance of becoming infected. Only about 1 in every 2,000 babies in the US become infected, but it can have serious affects on your baby which is why women are screened for it. This way they know if you need to be given antibiotics before you give birth to your baby to fight against it. I’ll be getting the results at my check up next week.

We only have a month left until Tadpole’s due date! I know full well she will enter the world in God’s perfect timing. This means when God knows Tadpole is ready and when Andrew and I are ready as well. Who knows when that will be but God. But you all can guess by placing your vote on when you think Tadpole will be born. The poll is located on the right near the top of the blog.

But we’ve come to the end of another month! So here’s a monthly picture for you all to look at. 

March baby bump - week 36

Hoshi wanted some camera time with her mommy.

If you can't nest, shop!

Yesterday was the church baby shower in honor of Tadpole. I can’t wait to tell you all about it! But you know me, I like pictures, and I am waiting to get some pictures from a few people before I tell you about the wonderful event.

                                  

Today, to help ease my nesting urge since I cannot nest, I went on a shopping spree for baby items we still need prior to Tadpole’s arrival, along with shopping for things I need myself either for the hospital or right after we all get back home. I was out a lot longer than planned! But that was due to not being able to move as fast (I now waddle instead of walk from time to time depending on how Tadpole is sitting), and because there were so many sales going on at the stores I went to.

I had to use a LOT of willpower to not purchase unnecessary items for Tadpole that I want just because they’re super cute. I think the hardest thing to walk away from was a Little Mermaid shirt that was actually sized for infants and not toddlers! I really should have bought it… I did end up purchases two pairs of sunglasses for her that were at a great sale price though. Tadpole is now a proud owner of not only the pink pair she received at a baby shower in Cali, but also a blue pair and a white/silver pair.

I am extremely grateful for expectant mother parking at Babies R Us. The parking lot was so crowded today! I would have had to park a long ways away if not for their special spots for pregnant women. I walked out with a diaper pail, so the close parking really came in handy. I bought a few other needed babies items there as well, but the rest of my day was spent at Kohl’s and Target.

I stopped by Kohl’s for myself. I needed a couple more tank tops that fit and actually cover my baby bump since that’s what I tend to wear at home when I don’t go out. As for the Target stop, well I guess you could say that shopping stop was for Tadpole and me. I ended up buying a lot of things on my “pack for the hospital list” including some snack items. I’ll have to store them in our apartment somewhere safe so Andrew and I don’t eat them before the big day! The cutest thing I got at Target is this little notebook that is the shape of a frog. I wanted to make sure we brought something to write on in case I want to draw, play tic-tac-toe, write down important info, etc. I thought it was perfect.

I am also extremely thankful for gift cards. Without them I would made a bigger whole in my wallet.

It was nice being out and about today even though I feel so tired now. The highlight of my day was not shopping though; it was being able to spend a little bit of time with my sister to buy her Jamba Juice on her birthday!

Happy birthday, Heidi! I love you!!!