Emerson now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. I looked up pictures of 29 week old babies who are healthy and it amazed me that our little one looks that much like a baby now! His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. His bones are soaking up lots of calcium, so I need to be sure to drink my calcium enriched OJ. This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your Jude’s hardening skeleton each day! This has become a concern of mine lately since the gallbladder seems to say NO to a lot of dairy.

This week the gallbladder has thankfully taken a breather. In fact, the only thing that is really bothering me in the least is the lower back pain from the spreading ligaments in my hips (helped along by a little round head, I’m sure). My sleep schedule has been a bit off, so I feel like I am not getting enough rest. But really, it is late nights coupled with late mornings that are making me feel so tired. That plus the many night time trips to the loo! Back to work will alleviate this problem I’m sure, when I have to get back to my usual schedule.

I am feeling pretty amazed that we are so close to the end of this pregnancy. It is flying by! 11 weeks is nothing! As I am looking ahead and planning for my teaching, I am becoming all too aware of how close the WASL is, thus how close we are to holding our son. He is due two weeks before the big test and I have a lot to accomplish before then both in my teaching and getting ready for the baby. It will be a roller coaster. Plus, I know enough people who have gone into labor quite early, not me I’m sure, that I want to make sure we are ready for everything.

I have suddenly sprung into motion. I know that typical nesting does not really happen until RIGHT before labor and birth, but this weekend has found me asking Bradley to move all the baby stuff inside so I can clean it and yesterday I HAD to go to Home Depot to get the paint needed to finish off the bathrooms and the kids’ rooms. Then I clean clean cleaned all day yesterday. Plus put together and painted the crib. And washed the baby seat… You get the idea. My back paid for all that activity, but I am feeling like I accomplished something during my break. Or at least set up things for me to do in the next few weeks when I have a few moments.

Just to clarify, we are not calling the baby EJ ever. I have just written that as a shortened version f his initials. He will be Jude or Emerson. There has been a little misunderstanding in this area as I have been talking to people!

We had a really nice, really low key New Year’s Eve celebration. We played the Wii, ate lots of junk, and celebrated Chicago New Year’s (10:00). Bradley’s mom came over and we just had the nicest time. Then on the day of New Year’s, I spent my time clearing out all the Christmas decorations while Bradley detailed the car. Upon seeing our barren home, we both sunk into that post Christmas funk that hovers a few days after the most wonderful time of the year passes.

Bradley bought a bike with his birthday money and has been riding all over town to pick up groceries and library books. He is amazed at how easy it is and is now looking into getting one of those trailer things to haul the kids along with him.

Just a fun bit of news, our good friends Vince and Jamie had a trip to the hospital for dehydration. They are pregnant and Jamie has those horrible pregnancies where morning sickness is debilitating for almost the entire time. Anyways, they had an ultrasound that revealed TWINS! We are just amazed and so excited for them, so exciting. What a life changing event.

Have a wonderful week. 11 weeks and counting. How amazing…
Tami

PS: Thanks to those of you who have been commenting to me lately. It is nice to know who is reading this and always nice to hear from my friends. Cassandra’s post last week was particularly hilarious and made many folks, my mom included, laugh heartily (quote follows): Forgot one thing. The “freakishly strong dance” your feeling. Is really ninja kicks, karate, running, stick sword fighting, and maybe a little rock throwing. 🙂 thanks cassandra!


Comments are closed.