GOT THE LAB RESULTS

I got a call yesterday from my OB's office with the result of my glucose/blood test. Negative for Gestational Diabetes BUT my iron is low, so I'll have to take iron supplement or be conscious of what I eat and add more iron-rich food in my diet.

THIS WEEKEND

I am looking forward to this weekend. We're finally going to start getting the baby's room ready - at least that's the plan. I hope we get something done.

29 WEEKS!

I can't believe it. 11 weeks to go. It's getting closer... We got to get the nursery done or at least started! We haven't finalized the paint color yet - I already have an idea what to do, just need to get the paint from the store, and get the chair-rail or wallpaper border. And we need to get the closet system for the nursery too and install it soon. I wonder if it's better to have HomeDepot install it or if Keith will install it either this long weekend or other weekend within the month of June, (he'll most likely cuss and curse while doing it hehehe )

This is borrowed from www.babycenter.com:

How your baby's growing: Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to accommodate his brain — which is busy developing billions of neurons. With this rapid growth, it's no surprise that your baby's nutritional needs reach their peak during this trimester. To keep yourself and him well nourished, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamin C, folic acid, iron, and calcium. (About 200 milligrams of calcium is deposited in your baby's skeleton — which is now hardening — every day.)

I need to eat more protein to "feed" his growing brain!  I've been eating bad for the past four days, I have  to go to the grocery today to get supplies.   I think I'm back to the first trimester mood - always exhausted, so I just want to lay down and rest a lot.  And that is also why I haven't been preparing better food (excuses, excuses... ;oD)

See PHOTOS to see how the baby looks like at 29th week.

MAY 11 Prenatal appointment.

Prenatal appointment was last May 11th. According to the doctor/nurse practitioner, Baby Briar's heartbeat was between 150 - 153, normal - healthy. Size, based on measurement of my belly is just right - normal. Sorry no ultrasound so no new baby pictures yet.

Had another glucose test that day, but as of 05/20/ 2007, I have not heard from the laboratory/hospital yet if the glucose test returns negative or positive for gestational diabetes. I hope everything is normal. I'm guessing No News means Good news.

I'm charting baby's movement now too. So far so good. He has made 10 "movements" within 10 minutes. Good job Baby! According to the doctor, if he hasn't made any movement or has not completed 10 movement withing 2hours we need to call the Doctor or we need to go to the hospital. So, I'm glad baby's active... Active = Healthy (or something like that :D).

Aside from feeling a little bit heavier (some aches and pains, exhaustion, and a little breathless at times), I feel fine. ;o) So, I'm hoping things are well and will stay that way till it's time for Baby Briar to come out.

His kick is getting harder though. At times, people around me are puzzled why I gasp - it's from his kick or punch. Sure glad his not kicking my ribs (yet!) mostly going outside of the belly and mostly on my right side. It feels like he is upside down now. Why do I say that? Well, whenever he's having hiccups, I can feel it in my lower abdomen and he's bumping my bladder. It feels weird and yet funny.

MONTHLY REFLECTIONS :

I've started thinking about the nursery:

• A LOT!  We haven't started yet.  The room is still filled with boxes and junk (and I won't add anything anymore, lest I get in trouble ;oD heh) 
  

I've been dreaming about you:

•  about the baby?  Not really.  They said dreams are more vivid during pregnancy - and that is true.  I still don't remember what I dreamt about when I woke up though.  But during REM, my dream feels so real, like I am there and it is really happening.

I used to love food! Now I avoid:

•  chicken.  I don't know why.  I think, it's the texture.

I never thought pregnancy would make me:

•  ?  I don't know, I don't have an answer to this.  I guess I'm not aware if I changed or not.  I believe I haven't changed, I'm still the sweet, nice, thoughtful, responsible,beautiful and humble little ol' me - hehehe  ;oD

I can't wait to:

•  finish the nursery and to finally see Baby Briar.
  

My prenatal visit this month taught me:

•  to be more aware of baby's movement.
  

My hopes:

•  the same as last month - that Baby is healthy.

My fears:

•  (the same as last month?) labor and delivery...
  

Baby is so active. I feel him a lot now. Kicking, punching, elbow(ing?), probably doing headbuts too! hehe...

I often see (not just feel!) my belly moving. He's so cute.

I'm a few days away from my third trimester, as I understand it correctly it starts on the 27th week? Ah, here it is :

"A pregnancy is divided into trimesters: the first trimester is from week 1 to the end of week 12, the second trimester is from week 13 to the end of week 26, and the third trimester is from week 27 to the end of the pregnancy."

And I am now 26weeks and 3days along. Monday starts my third trimester.

I'm hoping I can still go to Keith's Induction to US Martial Arts Hall of Fame on June 2, it's in L.A. so it's not too far to travel. I'm getting heavy now - er, I mean my belly sitting for a long time is getting uncomfortable.

Speaking of heavy, I just got a nice"complement" yesterday. I was told that my pregnancy is all belly, and from behind I don't look like I'm pregnant at all! Thank you! I'm so glad to hear that, that means I didn't really gain that much. I hope I can keep that up till the baby comes out. I'm not dieting, I'm just eating healthy. I'm actually eating all day, grazing if you must. Mostly fruits, right now, I'm munching on an apple - to tide me over until 12NN for lunch (hehehe it's now 11:29AM).

Luckily too, I'm not experiencing swelling, and keeping my fingers crossed that I won't. I've heard some women have it around this time/stage of pregnancy already. So I'm doing good. I'm keeping my legs propped up even at work - I still have that box for when we moved building and that's what I'm using. I read that helps in alleviating or preventing swelling. My wedding ring still fits, actually it feels a little loose, so it's good.

Keith bought something for the baby and we got it last night. It's cute I'll post a picture of it this weekend.

That's it for now. Next prenatal appointment is on May 11, I hope they do an ultrasound so I can see the baby again and have another set of pictures to post.

Got gifts from Grandpa Doug and Kay last Saturday, April 21!

I got toys and new clothes. Check out the Photo section for pictures!

Thank you Grandpa Doug and Kay!!

MONTHLY REFLECTIONS : (6 Month)

Buying maternity clothes was:

• FUN! Of course, shopping is always fun - but not as fun as buying baby clothes!

The biggest change in my body has been:

• my new big belly? Soon as I hit 20 weeks, my belly popped out. Keith calls me RollyPolly

My favorite change in my body has been:

• I can't say , I'll just say it's my belly - cause I can feel the baby kick now, I can feel him move... I can even feel his hiccup... it's so cute!

What I never thought would change was:

• my chin? I'm getting double now. I don't want to look FAT! My weight is good, for the past weeks, I haven't really gained fat - just the baby, but looks like I'm starting to in my face and chin

At this month's prenatal visit I learned that:

• Baby's weight and height(length) is normal, heartbeat is very good. That's it for this visit, the doctor didn't say anything else. She just felt the baby kick though while she has the doppler instrument on my belly to listen to the heartbeat.
  

My hopes:

• again, just that the baby is healthy.

My fears:

• nothing much. Keith would say, he's a Miller so he's tough... I'll add to that, he's a Belisario so he's a fighter - he's going to be fine.

MONTHLY REFLECTIONS : (5th Month)

The first time I felt you kick:

It felt like:

I felt:

The strangest food craving I've had is:

This month's prenatal visit taught me that:

My hopes:

My fears: