Some folks get confused by the concept of due dates, so I thought it might be helpful to remind everyone that first-time moms usually go well past their due dates.

Everything’s going fine here, no significant changes, we’re just taking it easy and getting excited to meet Stewie!

So load us up on your iPhone, iPod Touch, Android (G1, Droid, Nexus One, etc), or BlackBerry Storm and let us know what you think!

In baby news, we think we had the “bloody show” a couple of days ago, which may mean the birthing time is almost upon us, but other than a few contractions here and there, nothing has really changed on the baby front. Last Friday she was 1cm dilated, and tomorrow she’ll get checked again.

Dr. H said that although he did not feel much dilation going on yet, he felt a lot of thinning.  He then said that he was impressed with how far down Stewie’s head was – he had to reach UNDER and AROUND his head to feel for dilation on my cervix.  This naturally had me yelling because, well, it hurt!  Stewie is also apparently in perfect position, which relieves me a lot.

Come out and play whenever you’re ready, Stewie! You seem interested in getting to know our world!

Love,

Mama B

Here’s me at month nine!

I am extremely sorry about the lack of updates for the past few months, and the subsequent update diarrhea that has occurred in just the past few hours.  We had some technical difficulties that are now fixed.  Tychi has had some adventures in the past few months: he ended up having anesthesia TWICE (once for an MRI/spinal tap to find out if he had an epileptic episode, and once for a benign tumor on his periodontal ligament).  We have been so concerned for him medically and it has taken up a lot of our emotional vigor to not freak out as he healed up.  Things are looking good these days, though! He’s also made remarkable progress in his training, and is quite a bit friendlier with other dogs/people!

I took photos at my lovely friend Jenna’s wedding!  This was my first official stint as a wedding photographer type person.  It was incredibly fun!

Aunties Susan and Leslie came to visit Las Vegas for their birthday!  We spent a great afternoon at their resort’s pool, where I debuted my enormous belly and swam for the first time during my pregnancy.  (I hate swimming generally.)  It was funny to find out that I could still float on my back, albeit with a bit of a weight in the middle!  It was also fun to walk around in a bikini to encourage other pregnant women to do the same.  Wear your belly proudly, breastfeed in public, and enjoy your child no matter what other people think!   Stewie says, thanks so much for coming to see us, Aunties!

In physical baby news, I have had a luckily normal pregnancy (so far!) with no complications, and our natural childbirth plan is in place.  My doula, Marcie Thomas, is awesome, and I’ve just about finished my Hypnobabies program.  I unfortunately tested positive for Strep B, but apparently all that means is that I will have to have some antibiotics during my birthing time.   My (and Stewie’s) hospital bag and cooler are (mostly) packed and situated. I am still sleeping really well, although some nights can be a bit uncomfortable due to heartburn and pain.  Daily naps are a must and have been for the past few months.  I am all kinds of swollen everywhere (not too much though) and have that strange pregnancy-waddle going on.  Stewie enjoys rolling, kicking, hiccuping, and generally bopping around like a caged animal!  I think I’m going to have a jogging partner once he learns to walk

The carseat’s installed, stroller and bassinet are assembled, and we’ve got everything we could possibly need.  Now I am relaxing in these last few weeks, eating lots of Jello and ice (current big cravings) and waiting for the Big Day!

I have also had to pee about five hundred times during this massive updating spree.

Promise to update more regularly!

Love,

Mama Bear

Sandy is trying to measure my belly to see whose guess was most accurate.  He is unsure of himself!

Stewie had a cake!  It had strawberries in the middle, yummmm.

Don’t hand a pregnant woman a knife and cake scooper!  Well, probably most pregnant women can handle it.  I got a little excited.

Grandma Steph, Papa and Mama Bear!

Somebody made me laugh while I was opening gifts.  I am probably peeing myself here. Such is my delicate condition! :p

I am sleepy here!  There’s Cola, who made me an amazing diaper bag by hand, and Trisha, who hates babies but came to my shower anyway!  Awwwww!  I love my Vegas girls.

A final post coming soon!

Love,

Mama Bear

I think these were taken somewhere around 36 weeks?  I look pretty happy, but as I recall things were pretty uncomfortable, especially up in my ribs where Stewie was trying to pummel my lungs!  Thank goodness he doesn’t do that anymore.

Hello, little one!

Love,

Mama Bear

Walking in, there’s Stewie’s rocking chair and bookshelf.  He has many many more books now.  The green stripe was a wall decal that was quite simple to put up.

Stewie’s changing table, toybox, and a decal of his name surrounded by stars over his crib.  His crib is chock full of cool patterns and lovely stuffed animals and a farm mobile.  I won’t actually let him sleep in it with all of them, though!

Keep turning right… a cow, sheep, and pig are framed above his crib.  It’s really important for him to know about farm animals. LOL.  Cool green and white striped lamp stands next to the invaluable dog-gate.  The dogs always really want to get in Stewie’s room.  It’s cute!

Stewie’s changing table/dresser, filled with clothes!  All are organized according to age and size.  Let’s see how long that lasts after he’s born! Haha.

Next post in a few minutes!

Love,

Mama Bear

Here are some pics from the week-long stay:

Mom, me, and Aunty Laura the morning we left.  I am about six months pregnant!

Grandma, me, and dear Dina Finato, wearing new panties that Aunty Laura bought for Grandma.  Yes, they are clean, and no, I am not drunk!  Promise!

The matching pants party – we were soooo jealous we didn’t have these cool red pants!!

My insanely adorable eight month old cousins, Kara (in my arms) and Emily (in Grandma’s).  They belong to my cousins Christina and Russ Mashore!  Big bro Travis was running around acting cute but the girls were content to be held!

Me and my sissy Susie!  Look at the awesome giant stuffed animal she and Leslie gave Stewie!  Thanks Aunties!

Me and Grandma Ros, who is so very excited to meet Stewie!

Me and Stewie’s delicious godmother Nicole, who is no slouch when it comes to making fantastic diaper cakes!

More updates in a few minutes!

Love,

Mama Bear

Coming soon: new pictures of the completed nursery, our new mom’s awesome belly, and the just-installed car seat!

Only a few more weeks to go, and we’re very excited here. Won’t be too long before we’re posting “outside” pictures of Stewie!

I’m having a lot of frustration lately due to nerve pinching in my right hip – it is difficult to walk some days, and Sandy has to yell at me to rest, since this is supposedly the only cure.  It does feel better after I rest, but the boredom and general pissed-offedness of not being able to do things and having to ask for help ignites a rage in me.  Yesterday Sandy had to do Tychi’s training, which is my favorite part of the day, and Tychi was doing so well that my face was smiling and my heart was aching.  It’s like having someone else teach your child to ride a bike, while you can only watch.  I only hope my darling baby Stewie will decide that maybe he can move to better accommodate me!

This self-hypnosis is kind of amazing.  I can compare it to the high of being on Klonopin, with the half-life of Xanax.  I’m basically learning how to shut off the muscles in my body on command in order to make it easier for my pressure waves (contractions) to send the baby down in the most natural way possible.  Epidurals interfere with this, as do localized injections like Demerol.  Supposedly a lot of pain from labor comes from women tensing up and preventing the uterus from doing what it needs to do to get the baby out, and relaxing into the pain and accepting it make a big difference.  I’m very intrigued by the idea of giving birth like an animal: seeking out a dark and quiet place, relaxing into the sensation, and experiencing birth in relative privacy.  I always laughed with pleasure when Mammy told Scarlett O’Hara that it was shameful the way she gave birth with no more fuss than an alley cat, or something similar.  I’m looking forward to my birthing time without fear.

In regards to fitness, I will depend on the P90X program and daily running to get me into great shape after birth.  I can’t wait until I’m back to my old self and can take the physical fitness test to get into the police academy and pass it with flying colors.  I hate that there are different fitness standards for men and women when we’re going to be doing the same job, so I will aim to meet the men’s standards.

As a pregnant woman, I feel like Krang, wondering when Shredder is going to finish my body!