The attack of the killer cankles

Have you ever heard of cankles? It happens when your calf merges with your ankles... And you don't know when one starts and the other finishes.

I've had them before... After our trip to Austin. Well, i have them again here in Orlando... And it's disgusting. I propped them up during a lot of yeterday -- and it still wasn't enough to bring them down.

To make matters worse, I'm heading back on a plane today. So I'll have to deal with this problem getting worse before it gets better. What a bummer.

The upside? I carried onto the plane two HUGE carry-on bags on my way here. I'm only carrying one back with me (HOORAY!). So my travel hom will be a lot easier.

Crazy lady isn't as crazy

Randy and I were talking recently when he realized I'm not as crazy as I was during the last pregnancy. He says he spent a lot of time talking me of the ceiling. I'm just not that crazy this time around.

At least I have that to be proud of.

There's nothing cute about me

So we took Cam to ride on his first homecoming parade... And I was not graceful. Not only was I wearing a really large gold sweatshirt (I was joking that I looked like a large glowing orb), but I fell out of the float when we were getting off. I didn't fall down hard... A kind man was helping me off... But I couldn't stay upright. He kindly guided me down to the ground as slowly as possible. My hips are a little sore and I have a bruise on the back of my leg. But this fall was nothing like the spill I took on the ice when I was pregnant with Cam.

Oh... And the doctor's office called a couple of days ago saying I have iron levels that are a bit low... So I'm taking iron supplements and hopefully I can boost that up. Obviously, I've been tired. At least I have a better idea why -- the combination of a bladder infection and low iron really leave me tired. I will survive.

Wiggle wiggle wiggle

Jordan is on the move. That girl can go! And here's the coolest news of the weeek:

Two mornings ago, Randy finally felt a really big kick or two. That made me very happy.

As Cam says: "Oh Bummer!!"

So I had another doctor's appointment... From now on, we're on the every two weeks schedule.
So, the appointment was going really well... Jordan was avoiding the doppler thing that listens to her heart. She is very healthy, I gained very little weight this past month. And just as we were wrapping things up, it turns out... I have a bladder infection. Bummer. I'd felt a little wierd in the last day or so... SO I'm guessing that's what was wrong. So now I'm doing what I don't like to do while pregnant: take drugs. Hopefully the low-dose antibiotic will do the trick and everything will clear up.

The upside of the day: I'm about to head out of work and hit my yoga class!! Hooray.

Pacifier report confuses me

So there's this new study and recommendation released today by the American Academy of Pediatrics. They're saying the use of pacifiers in bed cuts the risk of SIDS by 61%. I'm torn here. I really don't like the idea of Jordan becoming dependent on a little plastic thing... But at the same time, the idea of actually preventing SIDS in any way seems like an important idea.

I'm so confused. And tired. And so glad that tomorrow is a yoga day.

:-)

Starting to get tired

Today is officially the day I can really say the baby is three months away.

Last weekend, I started working through all of Cam's old baby clothes... And started setting Jordan's room up. The drawers are starting to get full... And I've decided I'll need some headbands and bows with blue on it... Because there are some really cool outfits that are blue.

Cam is curious about the room... And periodically takes toys out of there.

I've handed out three or six bags of clothes to new parents and parents-to-be in the world of KOMU. They're all excited. Here's the interesting thing: I still have a ton of clothes to donate. I can't believe how well dressed Cameron was.

A Soccer Ball in My Belly

Yes. It looks like there's a ball sticking out of my shirt. But still, people are a little worried to assume I'm pregnant. I was talking to a new neighbor (who moved here from Lexington, KY)... And I had to mention our next child when he said -- Oh I was afraid to say something... Probably because I wasn't wearing official pregnancy clothing -- Just a big t-shirt.

Jordan continues to wiggle and kick. Yesterday she was really calm. The kicks weren't very strong. I think it's because we were up late the night before at a concert... So I'm guessing Jordan didn't get the same amount of sleep that she's used to. Anyway. Today it all went back to normal. She's kicking with force again.

It will be interesting to see how it all works out next week. We're going to a three day music festival. She will be OVERstimulated.

Another doctor's visit

I got to go to this month's doctor's appointment. It was kind of cool. In the last month, my doctor and I started participating in a program that is designed for new faculty members. It was kind of a fluke that we were both picked to be a part of the program. Since the first meeting of this group, she was so much more friendly with me... We have a relationship that goes beyond the examination room. As Randy says -- She may actually answer my page when it's time for Jordan to arrive.

Anyway. All seems well. I'm measuring exactly where I should at this point in the pregnancy... Even though I feel much bigger. I was cleared to go on a business trip next month. And I got some tips on how to work on donating the baby's umbillical cord. I was sad when I didn't with Cameron's... I want to make sure that happens with Jordan's birth.

By the way... When I lay on my back, I can watch Jordan dance along my belly. Her kicks and punches are picking up speed. It's a great feeling knowing she's growing.

How low can you go?

I carry babies low. I couldn't say that with Cameron since he was my first. But Jordan is proving it. I carry babies low.

All of Jordans kicks or punches come very low... I can feel my pelvic bone expand. I'm going to the bathroom all the time because there just isn't a lot of room in there.

And I have 4 more months to go!!

Astonishing. I didn't truly document my pregnancy with Cam, so I can't be sure exactly what point I was at when he started to feel uncomfortable.

My mom keeps recommending I stand on my head for a little while... Maybe she'll move up a bit. I can't decide which is better -- a baby who is so high, you can't breathe or a baby who's so low, you can't walk right. I think I'll just deal with the cards that are handed to me.

Okay. That smarts.

I've noticed I tend to carry babies low. I had this problem with Cam and I have a similar situation with Jordan. The problem with this trend is I can feel my pelvic bone stretching. It's a terrible feeling. It's especially uncomfortable when I need to use the bathroom... And that need has taken a step up in recent days.

I assume the fact that the more pain I'm dealing with means Jordan is growing. That's a good thing. I have interesting wiggles and kicks from time to time. But the most I'm feeling is stretching. And I'll be honest. Pelvic bones shouldn't be able to stretch as much as mine does.

Ouch!

Turbulence and Landing

Jordan made it known that she doesn't like turbulence and a hard landing.

My first flight from Edmonton to Minneapolis was bumpy in the end. It was a little wigglier than I enjoyed. I had to hold my belly just to feel comfortable. Then we landed... And just as the plane finally slowed down, Jordan kicked very hard as if she was saying: "What the HELL was that?"

So for the rest of the day, she crowded up on my right side even more than usual.

By the end of all of the travels and we finally got to the car to drive back from St. Louis to Columbia, I noticed my ankles have swollen for the first time in this pregnancy. It's ugly. Really, really ugly.

Hopefully a lot of water and rest this weekend will put everything back to normal.

The smallest traveller

I'm in Canada this week... Training on nerdy computer stuff.
As I was flying I thought about all the places Jordan has been since her conception:
Las Vegas
Maine
St. Louis
Denver
Chicago
Kentucky
Edmonton, Canada
Austin (next month)
And if the doctor thinks it's okay: Orlando

That's pretty well traveled. Cameron just had to sit through grad school with me. Jordan gets to train on nerdy computer programs and fly on a lot of planes. She doesn't seem to mind.

But she keeps hanging out on one side -- My right side. She's crammed up in there and doesn't seem interested in moving. It's a little strange... She wiggles and kicks in the same area. My belly is actually bigger on one side than the other. It's not that noticeable to anyone other than myself. But it's obvious to me.

I'm seeing things differently

I've purposefully ignored ads that are targeted towards girls.

Until now.

I was watching cartoons with Cam while we were in Kentucky. We don't normally watch cartoons... So I don't normally watch commercials. I kind of try to avoid those.

Anyway. I was watching the cartoons with Cam when I saw a Barbie pegasus commercial. It was a big horse head that had colorful hair girls could design. I never liked those kind of toys as a kid... I never owned one. That's when I realized I'd have to have conversations about Barbie and colorful toys instead of super heros and cars.

That's going to take some time getting used to.

Another appointment

We had another doctor's appointment today. All is going well. I'm gaining weight at a steady, but not dangerous pace. The blood sugar levels were stellar, my blood pressure: 100/70 -- pretty darn good for a pregnant lady.

Jordan continues to wiggle and kick... She seems awake a lot... But I'm probably just noticing movement in her sleep. I have a feeling she'll be like her brother -- Always on the move, awake or asleep.

More details on Jordan

So... Jordan is very wiggly. She stayed in one spot for 45 minutes but just never stopped wiggling. She kept moving so much that we couldn't get a good look. I remember Cameron being wiggly, but Jordan was a mover and a shaker.

She isn't very big. Right now she's about 9 ounces... 8 pounds less than Cameron's birth weight. She's in the 35th percentile in size. There isn't anything to be concerned about, she just isn't monster in size like her brother.

To be honest. I was just really excited to see a baby with a head with a normal size. Maybe she'll have a head like Mommy instead of Randy's huge cranium.

We're excited to watch my belly grow as Jordan grows. It's very different knowing a name and sex of a new baby before birth. Cameron's surprise was probably the greatest surprise we could have. But it's so cool to watch Cameron feel more connected to his new sister.

It's a GIRL

Yes. We got a chance to meet little Jordan today. I'll try to scan in a picture soon and post it.

She's healthy, amazingly active and due between January 5th and 7th. More to come.

One day away

I'm being silly counting down the ultrasound. But because we're willing to find out if this is a boy or a girl, it's even more exciting. By the time I had my 20 week ultrasound with Cam, I'd had two other ultrasounds... So I'd seen him wiggling around before. I'm also excited to bring Cameron to the appointment so he can see. It may not go well. But I think it will be interesting to Cam. We shall see.

Yoga and wiggles

I started a yoga class last night... Now that I'm moving to days, I'll be able to take evening classes. So I skipped out of work for a couple of hours yesterday to attend the first class. There are a bunch of pregnant women in the class. I have the latest due date by 2 days. We all have bellies and struggled through the first day of exercises. But I already started remembering some of the skills I learned from a similar class from 3 years ago when I was pregnant with Cameron.

On the same day, the baby started much more obvious wiggling. He or she was wiggling and poking every time I sat down and took a breather. It's kind of exciting to finally feel a more physical connection with this little one than just watching my body expand.

Oh, and by the way... The ultrasound is officially 2 days away!

4 days away

The ultrasound is coming. I'm looking forward to meeting Jordan or Kian... That's our girl or boy name. Jordan for a girl or Kian for a boy.

We went to a Bruce Springsteen concert this past weekend. It was strange to feel the music reverberate in my belly. It was strange and I'm sure the baby was rocking. Near the end of the the show, we got up really close to watch and MAN did things shake. I can't feel mega kicks yet, but I think I felt wiggles from time to time.

This won't be our last show. In the next month, we are going to a concert or two in Columbia. And Randy and I plan to go to a music festival in Austin, Texas. This baby will really know how to dance!