Birthday Weekend - Finally!

Last month I told Josh that we were going away for his birthday but not for a month. He didn't know where or what we were going to do, and I managed to keep it a secret. Josh had a conference in Tulsa on Friday so Mom, Dad, the boys, and I met Josh in Stillwater that night. We had a nice supper at Eskimo Joe's before the boys went home with Mom and Dad. Josh and I checked into our hotel and got to see a late night movie. We slept in the next day, wandered around Hastings a long time, and then headed north. Josh asked, "Are we going to Wichita?" When I replied, "Yes," Josh thought a moment and then exclaims, "Are we going to a Zac Brown Band concert?!?" 

We stayed with my cousins and had a good visit with them. We had a great time at the concert - it was our second time to see them. We would go a third time to see them in concert. They put on quite the show. They sing songs off their albums which is great, but they do a lot of other songs that showcase their mad instrumental skills and all the talents of the band (different band members sing lead and some of them switch instruments). They performed songs by Dave Matthews Band, Aerosmith, Metallica, Tom Petty, and other classics. It was so much fun! If you ever have the chance, you should definitely see them in concert!

We had a really nice getaway - probably our last before the baby arrives. So glad we got to go! Of course, we were pretty excited to see two little boys when we got home!

A Sign It's Storm Season in Oklahoma

Stormy nights mean we all sleep in the living room together.

Pregnant Cousins Pictures

22 weeks

&

29 weeks

28 weeks: Welcome 3rd Trimester

Button and I have entered the last trimester - yippee! 

I wanted to confirm this fact so I looked it up on the Internet (my pregnancy bible - What to Expect When You're Expecting is in the other room - and we all know I'm not getting up off this couch!). This is what The Bump reported:

Third Trimester: Starts at the beginning of the 28th week after your LMP and ends with labor.

Well, I'm glad they specified an end time.

I could tell I had entered that last stage when for the first time during my whole pregnancy, I worked all day, picked the kids up, heated up dinner, played, picked up the house, bathed the kids...all before Josh got home. I can't remember the last time I had that much energy. It's a BIG blessing.

It's the week before finals and just like the students, I'm pulling late-nighters to get work done. Last night, I decided that since it was after 1 AM, I would go ahead and have a snack and take my nausea meds. Usually, I wake up around 5:30 AM to eat a snack, take nausea meds, and go back to sleep for another hour or two. Well, I still woke up at 5:30 AM and so did Button. My stomach was growling and Button was wide awake kicking...kicking so hard, she woke Josh up whose back was against my tummy. Josh asks, "Is she kicking me?" I said, "Yep. Welcome to my world." I tried to go back to sleep, but I finally gave into my hunger and her kicking and got up and ate. Needless to say, I'm hoping both Button and I get more sleep tonight.

Though I like my sleep, I do like to feel her move so much. She stretches a lot, pushing herself out my side. She's 1.5-2.5 lbs now and over a foot long.

Finally, what's a pregnancy update without another crazy thing someone had enough gall to tell me?

I hadn't worn any heels in awhile, but lately, I'm feeling better including my back. I broke my heels out Sunday and wore them Monday to school, too. I should have known some old man would offer his opinion on my wardrobe (pregnancy must attract nosy old men).

Old man: Should you be wearing heels?
Me: Uh, I'm okay for today.
Old man: I doubt your doctor would agree.

I had no response. I just turned around and walked away from his strong opinions of heels. I should have told him I know when I can handle wearing heels and when I can't. Plus the beauty of being in my office so much: I can take my shoes off inside my office if needed.

Finally, I had a meeting with other chemists recently (not just from my school). If you put a group of chemists together, you can bet that there will be socially-awkward conversation. Adding a pregnant chemist to the mix really creates an awkward atmosphere. Here are the comments I was told:

"Wow, looks like you have something growing inside you."

"I would ask you what happened to you, but I think it's pretty obvious."

"Don't you know what causes that by now?"

No questions about my due date or gender of the baby. Nothing like that. But I didn't expect anything else. I had my first kid in grad school surrounded by chemists. Remember this? (Read the blue part at the end)

Button Update

The weeks are flying by now. There's about 12 weeks until Button probably arrives. One sign that this is the third baby: we are no where ready for her arrival, but I know we'll get it done. Her room is still currently the storage room, and her crib isn't even put together. Once I get through the month, we will start setting up for her in May. I'm thinking a little to do each weekend wouldn't be too bad. That being said, Little Button already has some clothes - who can resist buying little girl clothes? AND friends are already giving me some special hand-me-downs for her. I can't wait to see her dressed in them.

She is still pretty active 24/7. After a real busy day for her, she is always a little quieter the next day like today. She had a party yesterday I think - that child maybe was still about an hour. I appreciate her activeness - it's comforting to feel her move around and kick so often.

Is it possible for babies in the womb to react to my emotions or touches? Last weekend, Josh and I went to the movies. There was some intense scenes in one of the previews and of course in Jurassic Park. Anytime I got real tense, Button would ball up and stick out on my side. I think she might have been reacting to the adrenaline. Probably no more intense movies for me!
She also seems to know if anybody but me touches my tummy to feel her. She will be kicking up her heels, but as soon as someone else tries to feel her, she becomes a statue. Can she tell the difference?
I went to the doctor this past week for a check-up. She was sticking out on my right side (one of her favorite spots), and she jumped and moved when the nurse put the heart monitor on my tummy right where she was laying. The nurse exclaimed, "I must've scared her!" If I rub my tummy or pat where she is laying, she usually snuggles in closer to my hand. I'm not sure if she is really reacting or it's just a coincidence, but either way: I'm enjoying carrying her. This is the good part of pregnancy.

A few facts about Button in case one day I decide to scrapbook or make her a baby book (because let's be honest, I should do L Child's first):

Her heart rate was 130.

I'm starting to have Braxton-Hicks. I asked the doctor about it because I had them with L Child, but not this early (I think I was about 32 weeks with him when they started, and I'm about 28 weeks right now). She said it's because the uterus has a memory. With each pregnancy, it starts practicing for labor earlier. Before you grandmas start worrying, I'm not having real contractions. They don't feel like them nor do they hurt. It's just a small tightening in the same area as a contraction. The doctor told me if they start to hurt or last a long time to go to the hospital of course, but they usually just happen once or twice especially if I'm tired. Laying down and drinking water usually helps (dehydration can cause them, too). I thought having Braxton-Hicks with L Child might mean that I wouldn't have to be induced. Not true. So I'm not getting my hopes up with Button either. She probably will hang out inside my tummy for as long as possible.

I'm measuring a week behind which probably doesn't mean anything significant (my due date doesn't change and nothing is of concern about Baby). The doctor did say it might mean that after my prior big babies, this might be my 7-pounder. I wouldn't mind that!

Right after this appointment, some old man in a sandwich spot asked me when I was due. When I told him, he asked me if I had two in there.

Then he insisted that I might be wrong when I told him there's only one baby.

Oh nosy strangers!

Waiting for Button

I was asked at the chiro's this week, "So how many weeks do you have left?"

I have no idea. I'm not counting the weeks like that yet (I couldn't even remember exactly what week I'm on either).

I just replied, "Oh awhile. I'm due in July."

July seems faraway to the boys. They keep asking why Button can't come out now. Well, I think L Child could wait awhile longer...

He had an imaginary pet spider yesterday. The spider sat on my shoulder then my head. Then Liam had it on my belly on the baby. Then he said the spider told the baby, "You stay in there FOOOREVVVER, baby."