The last few weeks.

It's been five weeks since she was born and fifteen weeks since my last post, so I need to get this out now!

All in all, my pregnancy with Margot was smooth and relatively stress-free. Since Aisling was born five weeks early, the expectation of an early delivery consumed the final two months of my pregnancy. As it turns out (probably because of all that preparation), Margot was born at 39 weeks, only four days before her due date.

At the 32-week ultrasound, which I needed due to a low-lying placenta that they wanted to make sure had moved sufficiently away from my cervix to not interfere with a vaginal birth by bleeding, they measured the baby and found that she was above the 95th percentile for estimated weight, head and abdominal circumference. This meant that they wanted me to come in at 38 weeks for a "growth scan" to make sure baby wasn't "too big.' Because these growth scans are associated with interventions that don't actually change outcomes for babies (and can actually lead to negative outcomes for mothers), I refused this scan. But the knowledge that this baby, like Aisling, was on track to be 9+ lbs was still intimidating.

The last few weeks of my full-term pregnancy were, as I had always heard, agonizing. It was consistently >90 degrees and the little AC unit we'd bought for our bedroom barely got it cool enough to make me comfortable at night. Luckily, baby was great about sleeping all night with me, so other than the heat I was sleeping pretty well. Because of the heat and baby's drain on my body, my physical activity plummeted in the last two months -- I'd been hiking and walking 4-5 miles per day, on average, in March-April; but I just couldn't keep it up once I hit 30+ weeks.

In mid-June, my friend Carrie flew out for a "Babycation" in Carmel. We stayed at a lovely resort hotel, ate incredible food, and shopped and explored the little town of Carmel-By-The-Sea, a great little local getaway. It was on this trip that my belly "dropped" for the first time, pressure in my pelvis increased, and I began having crampy braxton-hicks contractions. I say "dropped for the first time" because it dropped several times over the next six weeks or so, and every time the baby would slowly grow back up to fill the space made when I dropped.

Life with an almost-preschooler was busy, so I made plans to free myself up when baby came. Time would have flown if I'd been comfortable instead of increasingly miserable. Aisling turned three in June, and in July her three-day daycare schedule went up to full-time, because I thought I'd deliver in July and would need the respite from her threenager attitude. But instead, I remained full of baby. My consulting work died down, and I found myself increasingly bored. I was too uncomfortable to do anything physical, so I turned my nesting instinct to the digital realm and compiled all of my videos of Aisling into 10-min chapters by month, and uploaded them to the cloud for safekeeping.

In the last 3-4 weeks, I noticed little stretch marks forming under my belly button, on either side. I was much bigger than when I delivered Aisling. My clothes were starting to not fit any longer, and it was difficult to find a comfortable position when sitting or laying down. I didn't swell up or get particularly short of breath, but I felt very tired all the time.

I was wondering what it would feel like to go into labor on my own. Every evening, I started to have crampy, regular contractions from about 6 until after I fell asleep. They were usually gone when I woke to pee sometime in the night. It was getting difficult to pee and poop as the baby's head pressed into new places.

My doctor's appointments were uneventful until the last week. Baby always measured on pace, but I could tell she was going to be a big girl and, even though I wanted a natural birth, I was getting nervous. I wasn't nervous enough, however, to want the doctor to do anything about a "big baby" like induce me.

At my 39-week check (Friday July 22), I did go ahead and let the doctor sweep my membranes, which was not nearly as uncomfortable as I'd heard. I had lost my mucous plug earlier that morning. My blood pressure was elevated at this check, so my doctor sent me into L&D for monitoring. It came right down, and they sent me home with advice to check it all weekend in case of hypertension. On Sunday it was creeping up again, so I went in again, but it was totally normal in L&D, so home I came. On Monday, I had another Dr appt, and she swept my membranes again. I was at 3 1/2 cm dilated and 60% effaced. That evening I didn't even have the usual 6pm-bedtime cramping, so I thought there was no hope of delivering that night.

I was wrong.

29 Weeks! Coasting right along.

Well, it's been over 10 weeks since I posted last, and time is, of course, flying. Seems like things are moving faster this pregnancy, what with having an almost-preschooler, work, and life. Doug had an accident two weeks ago that has also been distracting -- he fell while biking to work and shattered his elbow. That put him in the hospital for a couple of days, and with a several-month recovery window. Thankfully I'm only just now entering the third trimester, and so things haven't been as hard as they could be.

It's harder to blog, too, because there just aren't that many things to make decisions about during this pregnancy. I was reading over my last blog and we had so many new opinions! This time feels much more decided and familiar. We also have almost everything we'll need, and the primary unknowns are around the actual birth and how the baby's personality manifests in the first several months.

So... I guess I'll focus on the things that make this pregnancy special.

First of all, having a big sister expecting her baby sister makes things fun and exciting. Aisling is very aware at all times of my growing belly. She spontaneously kisses and cuddles it all the time, and asks me what her baby sister is thinking and saying. We talk a lot about how her baby sister will be small and helpless, how she will only drink my boobies for a long time, just like Aisling did. We talk about how Aisling was born in the hospital, and needed to stay in the hospital for a few days. It's actually helpful that Doug was in the hospital recently, because she has a whole context now that she would otherwise be missing. It's also helpful that a couple of our friends recently delivered their second babies, because she's gotten to see how small they are and how slowly they grow up. There are younger toddlers at her daycare, too, who were infants when they started and are now 15-16 months old. So there's an awareness that I'm not just going to birth another 3-yo playmate for Aisling.

The pregnancy itself is going pretty smoothly. Because I delivered Aisling pre-term, I'm taking weekly shots of progesterone, which evidence indicates prevents 30-50% of subsequent preterm deliveries. The doctors aren't terribly worried, though, because Aisling was so close to full-term when I delivered. I'm being watched as a high-risk mother, because I'm "old," I delivered early last time, and my placenta was 2 MM closer to my cervix than they'd like to see at 20 weeks. It will almost certainly move in time for the delivery, though.

My weight gain was slightly slower this time, though I'm mostly caught up now; my belly seemed to get bigger faster, though. In fact, the way my uterus got bigger faster seemed to give this baby tons more room to move than Aisling had at that stage, because I've felt soooo much more movement than I remember with Aisling, in a very different way. Flips, kicks, tumbles, rolls, gymnastics! This baby also had the ability, for many weeks, to lay transverse (sideways) across my pelvis when I was sitting down, and she would wiggle her hands and feet so that I could feel little tickles right up against each hip bone in front, way down low, at the same time. So strange!

She started getting the hiccups right on time, at about 26 weeks. Hiccups help me figure out her position: when they're low in my belly, I know her head is down. Sometimes she'll flip and I'll feel them up high, but like Aisling she seems to prefer head-down (hope it stays this way). Over the last 2 weeks things are starting to close in on her and she's getting so much stronger. She likes to brace her feet on the right side of my belly, up near the top, and puuuuuussshhh! Aisling did this too, but I don't remember her being strong enough that it was as uncomfortable as it can be now.

About this time last pregnancy I did a "second trimester recap." Might as well do that again.

Her size: Up to 2.5 lbs and 16" long

My size: I was trending bigger a few weeks ago, and I definitely feel uncomfortable if I eat too much, but I don't feel humongous right now. I'm measuring right on track. I can clearly feel baby through my belly.

Belly Button:still an innie, like last time. Getting shallow but not close to popping out.

Stretch Marks: None so far, at least not on my belly. I think Aisling did end up giving me a few, but they're on my lower sides and hips, and they're pretty faint. In fact I just noticed them when I was looking for stretch marks from this pregnancy and found some old ones I never noticed before.

Weight Gain: I've gained 20-25 lbs and expect to gain 10-15 more before we're done.

Sleep: Like Aisling, this baby is good about sleeping at night when I sleep, and not keeping me awake with too much late-night partying. Unlike Aisling's pregnancy, though, I have a toddler now who wakes up sometimes and requires a little settling or tucking or hugging or pottying, which is always interesting and exciting to baby sister, who usually wakes up too. Luckily she usually settles right back down again.

I had some epic mega-dreams during the second trimester, which have mostly gone away. These dreams were like intense action/fantasy/sci-fi movies, and I'd wake up to pee and then lay down and fall right back into the same dream. It was crazy. I kinda looked forward to them every night.

Maternity Clothes: I still have what I wore last pregnancy, plus a few hand-me-downs from some mommy friends, plus a few new purchases (mostly t-shirts). Since we live on the peninsula this time, the weather is different -- warmer, drier, more consistent than the city. It will soon be genuine summer, which it never was when Aisling was born in SF. I remember bringing her home in mid-June and getting a wool hat from REI because our apartment was soooo cold.

Food Cravings and Aversions: None, really. I ate tons of watermelon with Aisling, and I also like it this pregnancy, despite having eaten very little of it in the 3 intervening years. I'm probably eating slightly healthier this time, if only because I don't work someplace with delicious catered lunches every day and a fully-stocked snack bar in the kitchen.

General symptoms: I definitely get more braxton-hicks contractions with this baby. I remember getting them when I climbed hills and stairs with Aisling. Now I get them all the time when I stand up from sitting, and sometimes when I think about having a contraction, one starts.

I've experienced way less bladder trauma during this pregnancy, too. It's not that it's comfy or anything; this baby just doesn't seem to have the same instinct to pummel, scratch, and torment my poor bladder the way Aisling did. On the other hand, I officially leak a little pee when I sneeze, which is extremely annoying.

I was WAY more active during this second trimester than I was last time. Partly because I only work part-time and walked or hiked 3-5 miles every day in late Feb, all of March, and early April. I've been doing less lately though, and I need to amp it back up. I have been getting tired and a little out of breath more easily lately, though.

What I'm looking forward to: Meeting Baby Sister! I can't wait to start our new life as a slightly bigger family. Also, having a beer or a glass or two of wine while relaxing and laughing with friends will be such a relief. And sleeping on my back again.

Sisters!

It's been two years since I last blogged, and a busy two years it's been, indeed!

The reason I decided to start blogging again (and it is a very time-consuming endeavor) is that in July Aisling is going to be a big sister, to a little sister!

I'm currently 17 weeks along, which is a little later than when I blogged about my pregnancy with Aisling. It's been a similarly quiet pregnancy, so far.


We know that we're having a girl earlier than we knew Aisling's sex, because this time I had a blood test at 12 weeks (non-invasive prenatal test) that screens for genetic trisomies and also tells sex of the fetus. It told us that this baby has an extremely low probability of Downs or other trisomies, and is a girl. I'm excited that Aisling will get to experience the joy of two-way-sisterhood. My own sisters are very dear to me.

The primary difference in the two pregnancies, to date, has been that I experienced more nausea during the first trimester, as well as a lot of cramping in the first 2-3 weeks, and my boobs hurt less. I also started feeling this baby move quite a bit earlier. Her moves seem to be quite different than how I described Aisling's, too. This baby is a thumper and a bumper, while Aisling was a swooper and a flutter-er.

I started feeling distinct tiny BUMPS at about 12 weeks. It took me a few times to decide that it was a teensy baby bumping and not just a uterine muscle twitch. I noticed that right after I'd empty my bladder, there would always be a BUMP and then another BUMP. Very tiny, but very not-a-muscle-twitch. Over the last several weeks the bumps have gotten stronger and more complex. Bumpata-bumpata-BUMP! Still pretty tiny though, since baby is now the size of a chipmunk.

So far I'm about the same size as I was with Aisling, too. I gained about 35 lbs with her, and lost it all again. I've gained about 10 lbs so far, which is a little bit less than at the same point last time. I'm just to the point where I'm looking pregnant, and not just thick through the middle. So I've started wearing some maternity clothes, which are nice and comfy. It's nice having mom friends who can give me clothes this time!

Doug and I are looking forward to welcoming this little bundle into our home. We plan to do about the same arrangement with this newborn as with Aisling. We will keep her in our room until about 6-7 months and then, if we're not ready to move to a different apartment or house, we'll probably have the girls share a room. Several friends have posted cute loft-bed-plus-crib solutions for their kid's bedrooms.

Aisling is sooooo excited about her baby sister. She has started hugging my belly, kissing it, and exclaiming, "I love my baby sister!" randomly. It's pretty adorable. I think she'll be a wonderful sister.

Starting solids!

We've started adding solid foods to Aisling's "toy" selection! We're loosly following the "Baby Led Weaning" approach to feeding, which means that instead of feeding purees with a spoon, we're mostly giving her foods that she can hold, manipulate, and learn to eat herself.

Books were her first solid food...

By "weaning" I don't mean stopping breastfeeding. The nutritional and immunological benefits of breastfeeding continue throughout the first several years, and I'm able to keep it up relatively easily. At six months babies are becoming VERY interested in everything adults do and hold, and they begin reaching and putting everything into their mouths. This, combined with the ability to sit upright unsupported, is the signal that a baby is ready for solid foods. Around 12 months of age an increasing proportion of a baby's calories and nutrition should come from solid foods, especially as babies become toddlers, but the nutrition in breast milk is extremely beneficial!

We love our folding Combi high chair!

We planned to start solids in January, so we got a great high chair for Aisling's Christmas. We chose the Combi High Chair, which has several heights and folds up neatly for storage. The seat is completely washable and we really like how it looks (not covered in cartoons), works, and folds away. The multiple positions are also handy.

who needs a spoon?!

First foods

Our first foods were pretty simple: Banana, Avocado, sheep milk yogurt, and a smooshed blend thereof. Even though we decided not to puree, there's still a gag reflex to deal with which keeps babies from choking, so I would smash up a blend and let her have at it. I used my finger to scoop some up and she'd guide it to her mouth, herself. The funniest time was when she refused to let me help her but wanted to eat it off the edge of the plate! Before long she was starting to tolerate textures pretty well.

At a friend's BBQ one afternoon a couple of weeks ago I gave her a piece of orange peel to suck on and she LOVED it. I gave her some peel with orange still attached... even better! Soon oranges became her favorite food and hobby.

It's been about three weeks so far and we're going strong. Since there's no history of food allergies in our immediate families, we're being pretty relaxed about what we offer her. Fats and proteins are most important, as well as foods naturally rich in iron. We generally avoid processed foods like crackers and cereal. I plan to make some granola for "cheerio replacement." I'll also start offering her beans, smooshed berries, various veggies, and other "finger foods."

Just about anything we're eating is fair game, aside from foods drenched in Sriracha or cayenne pepper (pretty common in our house). Daddy or I usually have to help her get it to her mouth, but she's getting better. She sucks on vegetables, gums meat, slurps up finger-fulls of our green smoothies, and generally tries just about everything. She doesn't swallow much at all, which is fine since most of her nutrition still comes from nursing. Nursing is also still incredibly convenient since I have a meal ready for her everywhere we go. It's so nice not to feel the need to pressure her to eat, or get anxious that she's not getting enough nutrition, since she's still nursing. 

All-in-all, food is fun!

How did solids go for you and your baby/ies?

sssllllluurp!

This Brussels sprout looks interesting...

...and delicious!

Six months old: Christmas!

December 11-January 11

Aisling turned six months old on December 11.

I'm late as usual, so rather than trying to wax eloquent about this month's happenings, I'll just make a list.

Milestones achieved:
Rolling over both ways
Falling in love with her feet
Reaching and grabbing with decent accuracy
Sitting balanced unsupported
Getting up onto her knees
Testing out her vocal range with high-pitched squeals
Playing with her mouth noises
Drooling uncontrollably, but no other signs of teeth yet.

In January we start her on Solid foods!

Here's our December photo recap:

Great Grammie is the cuddliest!

Uncle Phil gave me my favorite Christmas present.

First family Christmas photo

The cutest present under our tree.

Great Grandpa and I can make the same face!

Opening her first present from Uncle Phil... a pink Octopus!
Christmas wouldn't be complete without a cephalopod.

First snow!

Blogging is hard!

Keeping up with this blog is more difficult all the time, but I'm determined to do it! I've read moms lamenting the lack of time, but I honestly never really understood what the big deal was. Now I know...and I have a very low-maintenance baby!

I won't go so far as to document my day moment-by-moment, as some moms do, but just as a note to my future self, here are the obstacles to blogging lately:

1) Constant interruption. It's hard to get started when I'll be interrupted in 5, 4, 3, 2...
2) Sorting thru photos to post. Doug takes HUNDREDS of pictures. It's agony to pick a few.
3) Other things to do on the internet. Like pay bills, look for a job, and hunt for sitters.
4) Other priorities. Like getting my baby off the floor and to a park!
5) Did I mention choosing photos?
6) Cleaning the apartment. My baby and husband are mobile disaster areas.
7) Apartment solutions. i.e. Baby needs a bedroom.
8) Writer's block. All of the above and more combine to make me a terrible writer. Sigh.

This blog is a prime example of #8. But I'm lucky that my brain doesn't contain the usual commentary on life, which can easily be summed up as, "...ung."

There's more, but that's all that comes to mind right now. And it's time to go to the park!

And that's what's really most important, isn't it?

Five months old: First travel!

Just turned five months old...
So much is gonna happen to me this month!

November 11-December 11

This month was wonderful. The first half of the month we just relaxed, enjoyed being in a new home, and developed our weekly rhythm. Every morning Sandi wakes up between 6-6:30 and pumps some milk, then goes for a run while Doug and Aisling sleep. She's usually home by 8:00 am.

When Sandi gets home Doug is usually up and making coffee with one of his fancy hand filters and smoothies in our new Vitamix. Sandi takes a shower right away and then takes over baby duty (she usually sleeps until 8ish) while Doug gets ready for work. He's out the door between 9-9:30 for a fast bike ride to work, which he loves.

Aisling and I have very full days, and for the first time I have a complete understanding of just how much work it is to stay home with a baby, especially one who's so social but not yet physically developed enough to entertain herself yet.

Usually I fed her a bottle at 9:30 with the milk I pumped at 6 and then nurse her to sleep at 10 or so. During this month she had a period when she really hated taking the bottle which made for some tough mornings. I want her to take a bottle so that we can have other people babysit her in a more flexible way. We haven't started solid foods yet but we plan to once she's 6 months old or so. No rush, since she's obviously developing just fine on breastmilk alone. She napped from 10-11 or so and for short periods in the afternoon. Daddy came home by 6 or so and she was usually down by 8-8:30. Sometimes I'd nurse her to sleep, and sometimes I could just lay her in her bed and she'd go out by herself.

It was so nice to have a few quiet weeks in which to develop a routine. I rushed around during Aisling's naps cleaning and doing chores, and when she was awake we'd walk or play or run errands. I always feel incredibly guilty getting onto the computer when she's awake, because it basically means sitting there ignoring her... so the blog fell woefully behind once again.

This was also the month when we began looking for childcare. The equation is a tricky one. I'll probably blog about that one later.

The highlight of this month was our trip to Tennessee for Thanksgiving! Sandi's sisters met Aisling in August, but Grandmommy hadn't yet gotten to hold her youngest granddaughter yet. It was a wonderful long visit!

Aisling (finally) rolled over for the first time in Tennessee on her Aunt Tracie's living room floor. It was an exciting moment. She thoroughly enjoyed having a well-staffed entourage and fan club, as well. when we got home to Mountain View on December 10, she didn't even know what to do without all that attention.

Rolling over for the fist time was just the first of several milestones she reached in the subsequent weeks. But those weeks occurred just after her 6th month birthday. Which I'll post next.

Here's a little photo journal of our Tennessee Thanksgiving Adventure:

Seeing Aunt Tracie again

Meeting Cousin Lauren

Meeting Grandmommy

Meeting Grandpa "Pocky"

Ebro loves Aisling!

Fun with Daddy

Center of attention!

Here kitty kitty kitty... 

I love this family!