37 Weeks: The Ludicrous Stage

Now less than 20 days until my due date and, Lord willing, less than that 'til our Little Man arrives. I am now calling this stage of pregnancy the "Ludicrous Stage"

... as in my belly is so ludicrously large, it's hard keeping it covered even in my largest maternity clothes.

...as in my feet and ankles are so ludicrously swollen even my Birkenstocks and house slippers are tight. Some days it's not even worth leaving the house knowing I'll have to squeeze my feet into something!

...as in my hands and wrists are so ludicrously swollen I haven't worn my wedding ring for a month and my hands are slightly numb as I type!

Thang also recently told me that he's had visions of our tiny, newborn son with long, wavy tresses down his back...and I'm starting to believe it considering the heartburn I've had throughout this pregnancy.

Ahhhh, if I didn't keep laughing about it, I might just cry. : )

Despite all these pregnancy symptoms, baby and mama are quite healthy, my blood pressure is normal and my belly is actually measuring right on now (it was measuring quite large earlier in the pregnancy and there were some concerns that something could be wrong with the babe). Don't get me wrong, I am SO, SO THANKFUL for this child and for a pretty uncomplicated pregnancy, just already identifying with Romans 8:22. I recently remembered being at this stage with Nora and telling Thang I would be ok with adopting our next child...then not less than a week after Nora was born trying to figure out when we could get pregnant again!

Nora had to get in on the action.

Nora's belly pic. : )

I have also been trying to get myself psyched up for birth. We had a really wonderful, peaceful, unmedicated birth with Nora (thank you Lord for jacuzzis!) and I am praying for another great experience. For some reason though, I am feeling a bit more apprehensive this time around...maybe because I know what to expect? But, I keep reminding myself that God made my body for this and how when I went into labor with Nora I was in this "zone" where I just knew I had a job to do and I needed to let my body do it.

I've been watching some Youtube videos of births and came across this video. A friend sent this to me when I was pregnant with Nora and I find it so inspiring. The lady has 2 strong contractions during the duration of this song!!!

If only I had such a voice!

We'll keep you all updated on this Little Man's arrival...my prediction is around the 16th or 17th...yikes, that's less than 2 weeks!!!

This, That and the Other

Some updates on us...

Pregnancy :: I had my 28-week checkup last week, and indeed I am still measuring big...33-34 weeks. *Sigh*. Carrying around this big ol' belly is getting tiring plus I've had several nights here and there of insomnia, which is rough. But, Little Man, is way active - kicking, punching and even tickling Mommy with funny flutters. I can even make out body parts like his feet. This is a pretty new experience for me as Nora loved to sleep in-utero and pretty much just wiggled her bum back and forth. I must admit, I am slightly intimidated by the idea of mothering a little boy. Having grown up with one sister and having Nora, not sure what I'm in for...but I'm sure it will be a sweet adventure no matter what!

Thang :: Is, in a word, AWESOME. I had a VERY short night of sleep last night and am feeling pretty miserable. So, as soon as he got home from work, he packed up Nora and headed to the library and park to give me a break and is picking up dinner on his way home. AND, because the couch is pretty much the only comfortable place for me to get some shut-eye these days, he drug out his sleeping bag and camped out on the floor next to me several nights this week. God bless that man.

Nora :: Growing up way too fast and continuing to make us smile everyday, thankful we get to be her parents (do I say that often enough?). Miss Nora will soon get an entire post of her own, but here's a sneak peak of some of her latest: practicing to be a "ballewina fow Halloweena!", the early stages of potty-training and theology for 2 year olds. Aren't you intrigued?! More to come on all this...

Scripture :: A couple of verses I am meditating on today...

"The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out." Proverbs 20: 5

"The lamp of the LORD searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being." Proverbs 20: 27

House :: I am definitely entering into the "manic nesting stage" of pregnancy, which means lists of projects for myself and "honey-do" lists for my honey. The kiddos will share a room, so I am trying to come up with creative ways to make Nora and Little Man's room fun and gender-non-specific while trying not to change things too much for N. I have lots of ideas I'm excited to share on this transformation! We are also in the process of redecorating our bedroom (or should I say decorating it in the first place). Thang and I have been going through Mark Driscoll's study on the Song of Solomon and have been reminded that our room should be an oasis (which isn't quite happening when you still have t.v. trays for nightstands). Before and after pics to come!

Some random posts I've collected that I wanted to pass along ::

Best Picture Books ::: Holy Experience

Today's Parent: Promoting a new kind of nanny state? ::: McKmama

Homeschooling is not optional ::: Not Just Cute (it's not what you think)

Child's Play is a Job Well Done ::: Kitchen Stewardship

Being Intentional about Activity ::: Adventure in Progress

The Love with which we Perform ::: Incourage

Well, that was a random smattering of some of the latest around here!

26 30 26 Weeks

It seemed like from the moment I got a pregnancy test, I was ready to toss my regular jeans and dig out my maternity pants. With Nora, I often got the comment "How far along are you?! You're so tiny!"...this time around it's been more like "When are you due?...December?! That much longer?!" At my 24 week appointment, my feeling of busting at the seams was confirmed when my midwife measured my belly and announced I was measuring at 28-29 weeks!!! After feeling around, poking and prodding, she decided she didn't think it was baby that was so huge, but that I probably had a lot of fluid. She had me schedule another ultrasound and to go home and not worry. Uh-huh. Sure.

Of course, as soon as I got home I googled "excess amniotic fluid" and was given diagnoses ranging from absolutely nothing being wrong with me or babe to issues with the baby's digestive tract or other birth defects. We had to wait a week-and-a-half for our ultrasound (that was the earliest they could get me in). I became keenly aware of every little kick or twitch coming from my belly as I prayed that he was healthy and strong. I was also reminded how very little control we have over these little ones growing inside of us - I was powerless but to pray, and pray I did.

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them. - Psalm 139: 13-16

I rested in knowing that my gracious Heavenly Father was knitting this babe together, that what is "secret" to me is not secret to Him. And, that, no matter what, this baby is fearfully and wonderfully made. I also clung to these verses...

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4: 6-7

...and found comfort in knowing that although my Father is sovereign, all-knowing, all-powerful, He still allows His children to ask Him for things. And, besides a couple of brief, freak-out moments, I truly experienced God's peace in the waiting.

Praise God, the ultrasound showed our little man growing normally with all systems working well...and swimming in a very large pool of fluid! So, at 26 weeks I was measuring at 30 weeks as my belly continues to expand and grow. At this rate, at full term I will be measuring at 44 weeks pregnant!!! My midwife assured me that the fluid will probably level off and my belly growth will "normalize"...for the sake of stretch marks, I do hope so. : )

26 weeks w/Nora (in Florida for our "Babymoon")

30 weeks w/Nora

26 weeks w/Little Man Tran!!!

P.S. If you have any mu-mus, please send them my way, I may be needing them come December!

Baby Pool

So, we're at T-minus 5 days until we find out the gender of our sweet baby! We are SO EXCITED! I have to admit, I was initially convinced this was another little girl, but have been swayed to think it's a boy (not that it will really matter in the end!). There are 7 ladies pregnant at our church who are all due within a month-and-half of one another. So far, the 5 ladies who know what they're having are ALL HAVING BOYS! So, I'm thinking there must be testosterone in the air. : )

Baby belly at 19 weeks - I'm officially HUGE! 19 weeks with Nora

So, go ahead, take a guess at what we're having. Click on the link below to take a guess at gender, birth date, weight, etc. (I'm officially sticking with my original guess of a girl)

Tran Baby Pool

There may just be a PRIZE for the winner!

Surviving the 1st Trimester, and beyond...

Thang tells me things were pretty rough for me during the 1st trimester with Nora, but I feel like they've been rougher this time around. Not to go into excruciating detail, but with Nora there was a lot of nausea, with this one, things went well beyond nausea (catch my drift?). I seriously have an even greater appreciation for those ladies who are sick throughout their entire pregnancies (I know several) and yet have had multiple children (can't imagine being sick like this for literally years of my life!).

God is so gracious though, and instead of the 16 weeks of yuckiness I had with Nora, things have seemed to settle down for me around 15 weeks this time. Now to enjoy the rest of the pregnancy (well at least until the back pain and swollen ankles begin, but I'll take that any day over the 1st trimester stuff).

I thought I would share a few of the things that seemed to provide me some relief.

Papaya enzymes. These are a great digestive support and helped alot with the burning, acidy feeling I would have sometimes after eating. These were recommended by a natural health practitioner, but I also checked with my nurse midwife to make sure they were safe. She gave the ok and while they were by no means a cure-all, they definitely helped.

Chewable prenatal vitamins. I quickly learned there was no way I could choke down those horse pills they call prenatal vitamins when my gag reflex was already on overdrive. I was so happy to find these...they were like a special treat, tasted like candy. I especially liked that they used natural coloring like blueberry and and carrot juices. I was surprised to see that most prenatal vitamins, including the samples provided by my midwife used artificial coloring.

Sea bands. A friend lent me hers when I was about 12 weeks along. These bands are worn on the wrist and provide a special pressure point to relieve symptoms of motion sickness...and pregnancy blahs. I don't know if it just happened to be the timing and things were starting to get better on their own, but after starting to use these my nausea got much more manageable. They basically look like some sweet, 1980's-style wrist sweatbands. I joked I needed one of these lovelies to match...

Aaaaah, ice cream, a little bowl/cone of heaven. As with my last pregnancy, the be-all, end-all, sure-thing when absolutely nothing else sounded appetizing was ice cream. Thang found an awesome sale on Breyer's and literally stocked our chest freezer. No, probably not the most nutritional meal, but often my dinner, and yes, a couple of times my breakfast. But, hey, there's calcium in ice cream, right?!

Another sure-fire remedy for the yuckies was a decaf Frappuccino. If I was out-and-about and started feeling sick, I was so thankful to know there would be a Starbuck's at the next corner. Can I just say, Target + Starbucks = DANGEROUS, DANGEROUS combination!

Photo attribute

And, last but most certainly not least, PRAYER! Looking back over the past 2 1/2 months, I honestly don't know how I got out-of-bed some days, let alone took care of Nora, but by the grace of God. There were many days, my heart's cry was simply "help me, Father, help me do this next thing". There were many times when I just needed to get out-of-the-house for small group or an appointment and I would pray and ask God to ease my yuckiness and He would take away my symptoms for several hours! It was awesome! I wish I could say this was always my first thought when morning sickness hit hard, but God was so faithful in the times that I did.

Hope some of these ideas are helpful. I know some of these come from the advice of several friends and I always appreciate hearing what other mom's have found to help them through.

So, for those of you who've been through a pregnancy or two, what got you through the worst of it?

(I'm tucking your ideas away for the next time...)

Cat's out of the bag

...or else somebody's puttin' on some weight...

Already in maternity pants and lovin' it!

Yes, we're expecting Li'l Tran #2 - due date December 24th, 2010! Talk about an amazing Christmas gift! This is also my very good excuse for not posting here for quite awhile. The nausea and exhaustion hit right at 6 weeks and we are now on week 14 and it's still going strong. With Nora the bad symptoms stopped around 16 weeks, so I am praying I only have a couple more weeks of this (or less, I sure wouldn't mind). This first trimester seems to be even harder than it was with Nora, and I was working full time while pregnant with her. I have no idea how I did it?! But, Thang seems to think I've just forgotten how bad it was.

God is continually reminding me that I am amazingly blessed to have this baby growing inside me and I need to stop whining. And, I have an awesome husband who has literally picked up all the slack over the past couple of months - after working all day he makes dinner (or just as often goes and picks it up), gives Nora her baths and puts her to bed almost every night, cleans up the kitchen (a room I almost can't stand to enter these days), and has done some major grocery shopping (which, bless his heart, takes him about twice as long as it takes me since I've gotten it down to a science). Thang is such a gift and I literally don't know how I would survive without him!

Nora knows there's a baby inside Mommy's tummy and will point to it when asked...but she also seems to think there's one in her tummy too. Hope she's not too disappointed in about 6 months!

Nora slurping up a noodle like a pro!

We are so excited to meet this little person. Thang is convinced it's a boy, I am sure it's another girl. We'll find out in about 6 weeks who's right! Either way, they will be, and are, so loved!!!