31 Weeks and Counting

I am definitely feeling like I'm on the home stretch now with this pregnancy, but 2 more months still feels far off particularly as I look at my huge belly every day only getting bigger! I'm doing as much as a I can to stay busy and active now that I'm home which has included regular visits to the gym, prenatal yoga classes, reading about labor and babies, and interviewing and choosing a doula (labor and birth assistant). It's pretty strange to literally just wait for this baby's arrival and so I'm trying to make it my priority to prepare as much as I can. I suppose I should consider it a luxury that I have this time when I'm not working, have little to no stress, and can virtually focus all my energy on taking care of myself. I keep reminding myself that this time may never happen again so I'm trying to savor each moment of it.

My dad has insisted that I document these last few months on camera so he has taken a few shots of the belly this past week which really looks like I've stuffed a basketball into my shirt...but I promise...there is really a baby in there!


Determined to have a calm baby and a smooth labor, I've bought into the idea that having the baby listen to calm soothing music designed for babies will help. So each morning and evening I let the little one have 30 minutes of music time. Usually he responds right away with moving and dancing all over the place...I'm taking that as a sign he likes it. And each week, I move to the next track in the series which adds another layer of sound. Sounds good to me but it still remains to be seen if it works!

Baby Training with Gus

After getting back to Athens from my trip to New York, my parents and I made a quick turn around and drove 6 hours to my brother and sister-in-law's house in Kentucky to have a visit with them and my cute-as-pie nephew, Gus. Now that my pregnancy has progressed and baby prep has begun, the visit with Gus was really like baby training 101 for me. My brother gave me a lesson in changing cloth diapers (which we're going to give a shot with our little one). I'm not quite sure how it's all going to go but I at least think I've got the basics down. Although I realize it's a whole different thing to scoop the poop in the toilet yourself rather than watching someone else do it! Maybe that will be Alan's job. I also got a lesson in sleep deprivation from both Josh and Missy as I watched them as Gus resisted his day and night time sleep and tested the nerves of all of us.

A rare moment of peaceful sleep in the swing.



I have tremendous admiration for them to stay calm and patient with a not-so-calm Gus and only hope I can do the same with our little one. But, the second Gus would smile and giggle at us, all the nerves he tested minutes earlier relaxed and we were all his. This little doorway jumper device is one of his favorite places and is sure to guarantee some giggles.



I got to feed Gus some solids, as he is becoming more adventuresome trying things like blueberries, carrots, and potatoes...mushed to a pulp of course. He is one demanding kid though. If you are to let more than a second pass between spoonfuls, he bangs his fists and grunts for more so I practiced my speedy feeding technique.



And over the weekend, we got to take a day trip to Nashville with Missy and Gus (Josh was out of town) which was great fun as none of us had really been there before. We bopped around town taking in the main sights of music row and the Vanderbilt campus where we had brunch. We even had a star sighting of Taylor Swift! Gus was almost perfectly well-behaved the entire time and sported this little knitted hat I made for him on my last visit.



We also got to try on his new sweater vest I'd been working on while in Ghana and it fit him just perfectly!



While I was there, Missy and Josh gave me tons, and I mean TONS, of baby clothes and gear that they are no longer in need of with Gus. Included were a stroller, car seat, bouncer chair, baby swing, bassinet, and enough clothes for 3 infants! We loaded up the car inside and out and brought it all back to Athens where it will await this baby's arrival.





I can't wait for the next visit with Gus and parents but am afraid I may need to stay closer to home over the next two months. But it will be so much fun to finally get to introduce these cousins to each other