29 weeks - 2 Showers, 2 Beer Events, and a Dr. appointment

It has been a busy week!  We had our big baby shower and my work baby shower as well as another doctor appointment (although since those will start being weekly, they are less exciting).  Then we had lots of beer events this weekend and have done quite the cleaning session as well.  Fhew!

The main shower was thrown by my best friend, Becky, with help from my Mom and Tara.  It was perfect and I really enjoyed myself.  We got so much of the stuff we need and good fun stuff as well.  I do truly feel showered with love and support by the people around us.  Neither Charles, nor I, are very worried about our ability to parent, but having such a strong community certainly chases any remaining doubt away.  Thanks for everyone who helped make this so special.

The weekend was extra fun because Kevin and Tara flew up with Luke and baby-Andrew.  It was really fun to see all four of them and to spend time as a family (with my parents too!).  It was kind of an exhausting weekend but honestly, it was such an emotional refresher.  I loved holding Andrew and realizing that holding a baby isn’t as hard on my arms as I thought (and Kevin showed me how to use the BECO baby carrier and I am really excited about that).  Grammie and Granddad Conover gave me the BECO and I know that will come in handy a lot.

 

I saw the doctor on Tuesday.  It was my first experience with a quick ultrasound where they just look at the kid and amniotic fluid rather than measuring everything.  It was so quick!  The big news of the day was that for the first time the baby was breech.  I noticed a lot of weird movement Monday night followed by some kicks in new places and discomfort in new places so I think that is when he flipped.  I can’t tell whether he has flipped back or not.  He has been squirming around a lot, but also kicking me in new spots (but this may just be because he is getting bigger and bigger).  It isn't a big deal yet, but we hope he will flip back and stay head down as we approach my delivery date.  Otherwise, he is doing well and looking quite cute.  I got a good 3-D ultrasound pick of the baby's face and his leg (flexible kiddo).

 

Wednesday, Charles and I went into my office for my work shower.  It was really fun to see all my coworkers (since I go to work so rarely).  We got showered with lots of presents and support and got to plan a few fun word related baby games (scramble and wordfind, where Charles and I excelled!).  It was great to feel that support even though I mostly work at home and talk to my coworkers on the phone.

Then Saturday was the annual Great Pumpkin Beer Festival!  This is Charles and my fifth year attending and we went with several of our Microsoftie friends (Chris and Mo Diehl, and Steve).  It was supposed to be terrible weather, but the sun came out and it was warm enough to be comfortable until the very end.  We really lucked out.  Our tradition afterwards is to go to Tu Casa, and of course that was amazing as well.  Charles and I finished off the exhausting day with a nice nap and trip to my favorite Gelato place. Overall, it was a really fun day.

After all of our fun Saturday, we had a lot to get done Sunday but we also had the monthly Elysian apocalypse event for lunch (with Chris and Mo our apocalypse survival buddies).  After lunch, we did clean out the whole closet in the baby room and do a little tidying up around the house as well, grocery shop, and we cooked meatloaf.  Overall it was a well-balanced weekend of productivity and fun and it was nice to get to enjoy some non-baby events while we can. 

I have noticed over the last week that bending over is getting nearly impossible, even though I don’t feel much bigger than when I could bend over.   I also think my feet keep getting father away!  On a weird note, I wonder how much longer my belly button will be an innie because I can make it turn into an outie by gently pressing around it.  It is sort of gross and fun to watch (and it feels like nothing).  One of the few discomfort-free parts of pregnancy!  Lastly, the baby is definitely getting stronger and can really punch/kick me hard when he wants too.  It will actually interrupt my thought or sentence when he hits something that feels important.  Most of the kicks aren’t too bad but there are some pretty intense ones.  I am sure this will just get more frequent as he grows.   It is fun to have him as a companion though and I find myself bonding with him more day by day and thinking of him as his own person (not just a little fertilized egg).