30 weeks

Getting bigger every day

Hard to believe that next week our weekly countdown will be in the single digits!  Only 70 more days!!  I was thinking during my morning walk with Berlin one day this week, that 10 weeks ago we were getting to see our little one during our ultrasound.  And 10 weeks from now we will get to see our little miracle when he or she enters the world.  I remember thinking the ultrasound was like Christmas morning, but I'm sure that will pale in comparison to seeing our baby for the first time!

Adorable bear which was hand-made by Aunt Jessica

The baby's room is slowly, but surely coming together.  We keep accumulating more and more things.  I keep asking Jared how one little person can need so many things.  Just doesn't seem right.  But all baby things are just so darn cute!  We bought a bookcase for the baby's room, which to most people may not seem like a big deal, but was one thing I really had been looking forward to.  There are books from when I was growing up, when Jared was growing up, as well as new books that people have gotten for us.  Now we just have to wait until the little one arrives to start reading all those stories.  I hope the baby will love to read and listen to stories as much as I did growing up.    

Bookcase with the Scentsy elephant (from Tonya)
and sonogram picture frame (from Amanda)

Rock-n-Play Sleeper
(from Aunt Angela)

While we were back home in Indiana for Christmas and New Year's, my mom and sister threw me an awesome baby shower.  We received so many nice things.  I truly am so blessed with such a wonderful family and so many great friends.  

Diaper cake from Aunt/Godmother Jessica
(includes diapers, washcloths, and onesies)

Last week, we began our childbirth classes at the hospital and we got a tour of the labor and delivery area.  It was a stark realization of the possibilities.  I've have been so adamant on having a drug-free delivery, that I never even remotely considered the possibility of a C-section.  Although, this is still what I want, at the hospital it dawned on me, that it is still a possibility, whether I want it or not.  It may not be up to me.  And at that point I must accept it.  I will do whatever is medically necessary to ensure the baby and myself are okay.

Labor scares me, as it does for most women I'm sure.  But I've finally realized I'm scared because of the unknown and the fact that I cannot prepare.  I'm a planner by nature.  I like to have a plan.  How can you have a plan when you don't know what to expect exactly?  Although there was a small reassurance that I will be okay.  Once we met some of the people in our class, and realized that they are going to go through the same thing that I am, I thought to myself, "I will be just fine!"  I also thankful for my knowledge about and from seeing animals give birth.  Having a previous knowledge of what oxytocin is, how it works, and what it does for example, is just one less thing to remember at game time!

Pregnancy yoga classes began again last night.  This session we have a different instructor, Staci.  She is much more intense than Michelle was previously.  When I say intense, I mean it in a good way.  And she really likes to include Kegel's in almost every pose.  Always fun!  I really have enjoyed yoga and feel as though it will really help me with labor, physically as well as mentally.  I guess we'll see in a few short weeks!

This week we've reached a few not so monumental milestones. 1) My belly button is officially flattened out.  I like to think of it as being on vacation for the next few weeks.  Hopefully it returns sooner rather than later.  I'm okay with flat, but the first time I see any ounce of it sticking out, you'd better believe I will be buying stock in Band-Aids in order to cover it up.  2) Men have started asking me when I'm due.  So, I guess that means that I am clearly looking pregnant and not like I've been on a beer diet for the past few months.  I thought this would be exciting, but not nearly as much as I originally thought.  I guess the reality of not being able to comfortably put on my left sock anymore, helps damper the mood.  I find it very funny that women still are hesitant to ask.  Men are from Mars, women are from Venus, right?

Outside of the pregnancy, we've officially started finishing our basement.  Framing began today and they will be cutting the concrete for the Bilco door on Monday.  The goal is for it to be complete, with all the dust cleaned up, before baby Roberts arrives.  Hopefully this is the case, so family and friends will have a bedroom to sleep in.  Currently, the guest arrangements would be the futon in my office, the living room sofa, or the guest bed in the garage.  Take your pick!

From the base of the stairs - open area will be living space;
against far wall will be a storage closet

Living area

Looking from the living area back the hallway-storage to left,
bathroom to right, and bedroom straight back

Tomorrow Jared and I will be interviewing a doula.  I know most people do not understand our thinking behind hiring a doula, but the more I read and hear about others experience, I think it will be a positive.  Wish us luck!  I will update everyone on this in my next post.

"A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bank balance smaller, homes happier, clothes dirty, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for."