Third Trimester Thoughts

So today we reached the 30-week point. It is both exciting and scary to think that we are 3/4 of the way to the finish line - that is, if I deliver on time. This is probably not likely considering that I've never been the most prompt person. At least there is intervention ready by way of induction in case Cali decides that she prefers to overextend her stay. I am hoping that we won't have to go that route but if anyone is betting on the date, I would put my money on a later rather than earlier date. (My guess is November 16th.)
The only recent changes in the third trimester of pregnancy are as follows:
1. I am radiating heat like a furnace. It doesn't seem to matter if I'm outside in the heat or inside in the air conditioning - I can't seem to regulate my body temperature to that of a normal human being. Sometimes when it rains, I think that I can actually see steam rising from my body.
2. The baby has become much more active, especially at inopportune times. I was in a meeting this week and Calabasa gave me a huge kick in my side. I was so startled that I jumped and put my hand on my stomach. Suddenly, I had all eyes in the room on me, all wondering what they would do if I actually went into labor (both an embarrassing and amusing moment to me).
3. Probably the most amusing change has been concerning my dreams. I suppose that it is subconscious nervousness about the baby's impending arrival. In the latest dream, we were coming home from the hospital with the baby when I realized that I hadn't called anyone to let them know that the baby was born. In the dream, we lived about an hour away from my parents, and I got the great idea to just drive to their house to surprise them with the baby. Then in the car (in the middle of the night), I realized that I did not bring any clothes, diapers - nothing - for the baby. Could this mean that I'm not feeling ready for the baby's entrance into the world? Hmm...
The truth is that I am not yet overanxious for her to arrive. I'm not really uncomfortable (yet), and I find myself continuously thinking only 10 more weeks of this fairly easy and predictable lifestyle that we have settled into. I know that it will be wonderful when she arrives but I almost feel like I should make a list of things that I want to accomplish in these last 10 weeks of relative freedom, as if I were preparing for a life sentence of house arrest. I feel a bit odd and guilty about that thought but it just seems that every parent hits you with "Just wait, if you think you're busy/tired/etc now..."
Terra has been doing her part to prepare us though. She was sick this weekend. We think it was an allergic reaction to something she ate but she broke out in terrible hives. She also woke up about 4 times in one night with diarrhea. We gave her Children's Benedryl and worried like crazy until the massive bumps went down. This meant that our weekend was pretty much spent at home nursing her back to health. However, she is back in good health, and in the end, everyone being healthy is all that really matters.

Belly Laughs

Just a couple of updates...
We had our second "Prepared Childbirth" class this week. I really look forward to these classes not so much for the information but more for the support group atmosphere. Everyone shares their funny pregnancy stories, and everything (even morning sickness) seems far better when shared among others going through the same thing. It has been a while since Carl and I were in class together. We took one class together in college, and it was definitely all work and no play. However, it seems that the past 7 years since our college days has changed Carl because the reverse now seems true (although setting most certainly contributes to the change in attitude). During our classes concerning bringing our child into the world, Carl cannot resist making comments to make me laugh. For Seinfeld fans, it is a lot like Jerry putting the Pez dispenser on Elaine's leg to make her laugh during the George's girlfriend's piano recital - Carl purposely tries to make me laugh during what is supposed to be very sentimental and heartfelt moments. Well, during our last class, none of Carl's antics were necessary to get me going. This week we watched yet another childbirth video. In this video (clearly set in the early eighties judging from the big hair and short shorts), the father's name was Carl. They showed Carl being a very supportive husband throughout his wife's labor. At one point, the woman is on an exercise ball in the shower to relieve some of the pain. For some unknown reason, Carl decides that this is the perfect time to sing "She'll be coming around the mountain when she comes..." to his wife, and to make matters worse, he had a very distinct Boston accent which distorted the song. I started laughing so hard that I was in tears, and I had to excuse myself from the class to get myself together. Unfortunately, I know that this episode means that it is guaranteed that Carl will be giving me his own rendition of this song when we go into labor.
During the past week, we also had another doctor's visit. From the beginning, I knew that our doctor was wrong about the due date. We have been subtly hinting at this fact since the beginning, but now that the date is approaching, I have lost my ability to be subtle. So the negotiations began... Our doctor figured our due date to be November 19th, I determined that our due date is November 6th, and the sonogram put us at November 8th. After strongly encouraging him to reconsider our date, he stated that actually November 20th would be the date. This was definitely a step in the wrong direction. I was ready to pull out the big guns for this battle. Finally, he agreed to re-consult the magic cardboard wheel o' fun for a final word on this matter. He said the wheel showed November 13th to be the due date and so we had a winner...at least for now...

I had to post this adorable picture of my niece and goddaughter, Mary Mackenzie. Happy 1st birthday baby! 

Sorry it took so long to get pictures of the nursery on the blog - I guess that's what happens when you're a working girl. Hey Diddle Diddle pictures are on the wall, and you could say that the theme of the room is nursery rhymes (although we haven't added any others yet). It is still a bit bare...we will be adding the glider, toy chest, and bookshelf soon. The baby's name will be on the wall in wooden letters over the crib but since we don't know the name yet, we can't complete that part! 

The changing table/hutch. 

View of the nursery from the door. 

Bring Your Child to Work Day - Everyday

Although I have enjoyed being a lazy bum for the past month, alas, it must come to an end. I accepted a position as the Cottage Director of the Young School Early Childhood Program. It is a strange title, I know. I don't know why job titles can't be straightforward in Early Childhood Education programs, but it seems that they never are. Basically, I am supervising the preschool classrooms at the school (they also have infant and toddler rooms). The Young School has 4 Early Childhood Centers in different locations, and I am hoping to become involved in curriculum development/implementation for all the centers. It is a great school, and I'm looking forward to starting this new chapter in my career. Probably the best part of the job, however, is that I will be able to take Cali (the nickname for the baby decided upon by Ingrid) to work with me. While she is in the infant room, I will be working with the preschool rooms. Best of all is that childcare is free for management staff (yee hah!)
Yesterday we (by we I mean Carl and his friend) took the futon out of the guest-bedroom-turned-nursery and moved it to the study downstairs. This means that we (by we I mean Carl) will be able to set up the crib in the nursery this weekend. Once the crib is set up, I will take pictures of the nursery and post them on the blog (hopefully by early next week).

An Opinionated Girl

Yesterday we returned from the Jersey shore where we met Aunt Ingrid for a mini vacation. It was Calabasa's first trip to the ocean and probably my last trip out of state for the remainder of the pregnancy. I am feeling really good for the time being. We went out to eat last night, and someone offered me his chair while we waited. It was the first time a stranger acknowledged that I was pregnant which was really exciting. I am trying to enjoy this relatively easy phase while it lasts because I know that new challenges await in the third trimester (which begins next week).
We have made progress in the baby name department. We thought that we had narrowed the choices to two, but we reconsidered a couple of names, and now we are officially considering four names. I'm not sure that we will narrow it any further before the baby comes. Hopefully, we will know the name when we see her.
I have been feeling a little more kicking lately. Her timing with kicking is often comical and seems as if she is trying to communicate with us. Yesterday she kicked me while I was singing in the car. Her point was taken, and after I stopped singing, she didn't kick anymore. A girl letting her opinion known already - I love it!