Daddy Boot Camp

Todd will be attending a Daddy Boot Camp class tonight at St. Joe's. I think he's a little nervous as he's not sure what to expect but I also think he's kind of excited about it too.

We talked about the fact that he hasn't changed a diaper in probably 15 years or so...so I got out a diaper and a stuffed dog and told him to go for it! LOL!

It was so funny. I put the dog on the couch and said, "Ok. There's our daughter and she has poopy pants. Change her."

He said, "Can't you just put it (the dog) on my lap?"

I said, "Do you think that's how you'll be changing her?"

"Well, no. Probably not," he said and chuckled while getting up to go to the couch.

He did an OK job actually but I kept saying, "Are you going to lean on your daughter's stomach like that? Are you going to push on her legs like that?"

Of course his answers were no but it was the idea behind what he was doing. I wanted him to take it seriously and he really wasn't.

He finished and said, "There. She's done. If the diaper doesn't fall off, we're good to go!"

The diaper didn't fall off but he sure didn't have the one side pulled tight enough.

Hopefully he takes notes tonight at class.

The third trimester

Tomorrow I hit the 28 week mark and the beginning of the end — the third trimester.

Where has the time gone? I think it's flown by...but I guess I should watch what I say as the next three months are bound to drag on and on...and I'll wonder when it will EVER end!

"Lucy Mathilda Duckie Howie Howard" continues to do well. She's growing nicely and not giving her momma too much grief. Although, she's quite the little kicker as she reminds me plenty throughout the day that she's in "there" and doesn't want me to forget it!

We have another ultrasound on May 3 so I cannot wait to see how she's grown and find out how much she weighs now. On March 22, she weighed 1 pound, 7 ounces, so I'm guessing she's going to be over 2 pounds for sure! Hopefully she cooperates and we get more great pics of her! I love looking at them...letting my imagination run wild...dreaming of how she'll look when she's born. Will she have hair? Will she have chubby cheeks? A little button nose? Beautifully formed lips?

Oh, the miracle of it all.

It's almost too much for my heart and mind to take.

How sweet it is...

I had to drink the orange-flavored drink yesterday. It was time for my gestational diabetes test.

And I'm happy to report, I passed. I needed a number less than 140 and mine came back at 99! Woohoo!

I was thrilled by that news since there was a good possibility my results could have gone the other way. I have diabetes in my family and of course I'm overweight. I didn't have a lot going for me other than the fact that I already take a medication that controls my blood sugars due to my insulin resistance. That definitely helped. Frankly, I don't care how my number got to 99, just as long as it did.

It's just one less thing to worry about for the remainder of my pregnancy.

100 days today and counting until July 10 (if I make it that far)!

25 weeks today and counting....

I had my second ultrasound on Monday in St. Cloud.

I'm still having a girl, thank goodness, as there has been an explosion of pink at my house lately!

And my girl weighs 1 pound, 7 ounces!

We met with Dr. Nye who was very nice. I liked her very much. When we go back down on May 3, we'll see her again. I'm glad about that as I feel it's important to establish relationships with these doctors rather than see different ones at each appointment.

She was shocked to find out that my doctor here in Brainerd had basically already made the decision that I would be having a c-section and having it at Abbott no less! She was not as convinced. At least I feel now that there are other things on the table. I felt like she listened to me and cared about what I was saying.

Meanwhile, Baby Girl Howard continues to kick me to remind me she's here. She doesn't do it on command, or rather, when I poke and prod and shake my belly. She definitely has a mind of her own!

I wonder if this is a glimpse of what's to come?

The first kick

She did it.

And I felt it.

My baby girl kicked me this morning and I felt it on the outside for the very first time!

What a moment to remember. I didn't cry like many of you might think. It just made me smile.

I told Todd about it and I'm sure he'll be asking me all the time now if I can feel her kicking because of course, he'll want to feel that kick for the first time, too.

Exciting and strange all at the same time.

What a miracle.

Information overload

I had a baby doctor appointment yesterday and found out some interesting stuff.

First, I will be having monthly ultrasounds in St. Cloud from now on as they want to closely monitor my little girl's growth. Because I take some medications, they want to make sure that none of those are hindering her growth. So far, that's not the case. She's right where she's supposed to be.

Secondly, I will definitely be having a C-section...but I wasn't surprised by that. In light of my blood pressure issues and current situation regarding my back/hip/leg, I was pretty much thinking C-section.

Thirdly, what I WASN'T thinking was that I would have my baby girl somewhere other than at St. Joe's! But guess what? I'll more than likely have her at Abbott in the Twin Cities! Not at all what I was thinking....and was quite shocked to be told this news yesterday without Todd being there with me. My doctor just kind of dumped it all on me!

But, the more I thought about this and talked with a few people, I realized it will be better to have a plan in place, rather than everyone having a high stress level (including me) and operating under an emergency situation. I don't want that either.

I just want what is best for me and the baby so if that means traveling a little farther from home to bring this beautiful girl in the world, so be it.

Something's a-flutter!

I think I'm finally feeling my little girl move inside me.

And what a weird feeling it is. To know that a human life is moving and growing and living inside me is hard to wrap my brain around. It's almost like the movie "Alien" as I wait for something to crawl out of my stomach. Eww. Terrible thought, I know.

But it really is surreal. I can't believe I'm responsible for growing this life (well, me and God). I'm trying to enjoy every new thing that happens to me on this journey. I never thought that I would experience any of this. I hoped and prayed it would but I thought I'd have to live vicariously through my friends and family, hanging onto their every word as they described their baby's kicks and bumps and twists and turns. Oh, how I wanted that for myself!

And now, praise the Lord, I've got it!