Noemi's Birth Story

Well, this birth story will be a bit shorter than Joaquin's.

On Sunday, December 16, 2012, I started feeling some contractions that were stronger than my normal braxton hicks contractions but were still easy to talk through, walk through and generally no big deal. They started around 7:45 or 8:00 p.m. I thought it was probably the same thing that happened with Joaquin - a night or two of those kind of contractions before the real deal. I remembered that the "real" contractions were miserable and I was only at 4cm when I got to the hospital with Joaquin after about 2 hours of those painful contractions. I was trying not to get my hopes up too!

So, while Jay read Joaquin bedtime stories I jumped in the bath. I kept my iPhone with me and timed the contractions just in case. I timed them in the tup until around 9:00. They were averaging 45-50 seconds and were about 5-6 minutes apart. The general rule is that you don't go to the hospital until contractions are 1 minute long and 5 minutes apart for at least an hour. I wasn't there yet.

But when I got out of the tub I felt a small pop. It was not dramatic like when my water broke with Joaquin but I thought it was a leak in the amniotic sack. So, I told Jay to let Gery and my Dad know and ask them to come over.

I jumped in the shower and Jay started packing up the rest of the stuff for the hospital bag. I got dressed, put on some makeup, and then debated blow drying my hair. Jay thought I was crazy and convinced me to just leave it wet so we could go. The contractions were pretty painful at this point and I stopped timing them. They were definitely coming quickly - probably ever 2 or 3 minutes.

Jay got the car all ready and our neighbors happened to be outside chatting. They offered to sit in our living room until Gery showed up. I thought it was sort of silly and didn't see the need to rush out when Gery was only 5-10 minutes away, but I let it go and we left.

Jay dropped me off at the front of the hospital and I walked up to check in while he parked the car. The nurses brought me to triage to do a preliminary check and ask the basic questions about my contractions, etc. They got me set up on a bed and one of the nurses checked to see how dilated I was (OUCH!). She got a very surprised look on her face and said to the other nurse "I think she's at 8.5 or 9 cm. Can you check to make sure I got that right?"

Um..... WHAT?!!?!

The other nurse confirmed (double OUCH) that I was at 9 cm. They immediately got me in a wheelchair and raced me to labor and delivery. This is when I started asking that they get the anesthesiologist in there pronto so I could get an epidural. I think I knew it was not going to happen but I was clinging to hope.

Once in delivery room, the nurses started getting me set up with an IV (for the antibiotics because I was GBS positive) and with the heart and contraction monitors. They called my OB and the anesthesiologist. By the time the anesthesiologist got in the room I could tell I was at 10 cm and ready to push. Now, for those of you who have not given birth, let me just tell you that when you are ready to push, there is no choice in the matter. You just do it. You can't stop it. Which is why when the nurses started to sort of panic and tell me not to push I wanted to rip their throats out (well, not quite, but sort of). The anesthesiologist gave me a sympathetic look and said "maybe next time."

This was when I looked at Jay in total panic. It was terrifying. But I had no choice. The hospital laborist rushed to get his gloves on and was barely even ready when Noemi's head started to come out. It was excruciating but the pain only lasted for a few minutes and then she was out! It was incredible. It took about an hour or two for the initial shock of the experience to wear off. In fact, I couldn't really sleep at all until about 6:00 am because of all of the adrenaline.

All in all, it was a great experience. I could have done without some of the pain but it was great to avoid numb legs, a catheter, tons of excess IV fluid, etc. I didn't even take a Motrin after!

We checked out of the hospital at around 7:30 pm the next day. So, from check in to check out was 21.5 hours. I sort of expect my health insurance company to send me a thank you note for how much money we just saved them :-)

Thanks for reading our story!

One last note: the L&D nurse suggested that we have 10 kids since it was clearly so easy for us. Hahah. Not likely. But maybe 1 more :-)

Joaquin is Adorable

Let's not forget our original cutie pie! Here's a great picture of Joaquin taken yesterday. Boy oh boy do we have a future heartbreaker on our hands!

Noemi Rebecca is Here!

Here is a picture of Noemi from yesterday, peacefully sleeping:

And here is a picture of us right after the birth:

Noemi arrived on December 16, 2012 at 10:32 p.m. She weighed 7 lbs. 13 oz. and was 19.5 inches tall. She scored an 8/9 on her apgars.

Birth story to follow when I have a bit more time. Suffice it to say for now, the experience was not at all what we expected but was fabulous none-the-less.

More pictures to follow later as well.

Barf

Yup...

I really hope that randomly barfing is a sign I'm about to go into labor. Otherwise, that was just really unpleasant for no reason.

Will keep you posted.

We are headed to the mall to walk around/tempt fate.

Belly Picture - 39 weeks 2 days

Let's hope this is the last belly picture!

Joaquin with Santa

We went to South Coast yesterday to visit Santa. This picture turned out pretty well compared to last year, when Joaquin basically screamed and we got a picture of him jumping away from Santa.

Ticker Change Thursday - 39 Weeks

Noemi is 39 weeks today and about the size of a watermelon (um...yikes!). She keeps growing, despite being so crowded in there. She probably weighs around 6.2 to 9.2 pounds and measures about 18.9 to 20.9 inches. She's probably able to flex her limbs now and her brain is still rapidly developing. She's getting smarter by the week! Finally, her nails may extend past her fingertips.

How far along? 39 weeks

Weight gain/loss: I'm up a total of 37 pounds.

Sleep? Sleep is pretty good most nights, although a few times a week I have trouble sleeping either because of contractions or because of general late pregnancy insomnia.

Best moment this week? We took Joaquin to Rainforest Cafe at South Coast Plaza on Sunday. It was such a gimmick but he really loved it. It was fun watching him get excited when the gorillas and elephants started dancing. It was like a quick trip to Disneyland.

Movement: Movements are slowing down. I think she's a bit cramped.

Food cravings: Fruit. I am not really that hungry these days. My stomach is squished.

What I miss? Everything at this point. I am so ready to go back to being a normal person.

What I am looking forward to? Meeting Noemi. That moment can't come soon enough at this point! (Yes, this one will stay the same until she comes out!!).

Milestones: 39 weeks is huge. A few months ago I started doing research on what "full term" really meant and discovered that although 37 weeks is traditionally considered full term, doctors have recently started to really focus on getting to 39 weeks due to the health benefits for the baby. It was sort of upsetting to read at the time because I thought there was no way I'd make it this far given how early Joaquin came. But, here I am!

What I'm nervous about: At this point it is just a waiting game, which brings its own kind of anxiety. I am constantly on the lookout for signs that something (anything!) is going to happen. Patience is not my strong suit.

It's 12/12/12

Wouldn't that be a cool birthday?! Well, unfortunately, no sign of that happening :-(

I'll keep you posted if there are any changes. A long walk may be in order today, along with something spicy for lunch. Jay is in court until about 2:30 today, so it would be ideal if I went in to labor around then and had a very fast delivery. Something tells me these things just don't work out that way though ;-)

On a positive note, tomorrow I will be 39 weeks, otherwise known as the "new full term" according to my research online. So, making it to tomorrow means great things for Noemi's health and maybe even increases the likelihood that she is an easy baby who likes to sleep.

Holy Cow - Single Digits

I just looked at my ticker - only 9 days until my actual due date. Crazy!

Update from Checkup

I'm 2.5-3 cm. Doctor says labor is not imminent but doubts I will make it to my appointment next Tuesday. We shall see.

In Case You Were Wondering

Still nothing to report.

I have another check up tomorrow morning. I will post an update afterward. Jay's prediction of a 12/12/12 birthday now no longer sounds preposterous. It actually sounds perfect!

More Cooking!

I did some more cooking over the weekend. This time though, the food was for us to enjoy now rather than freeze. My good friend gave me a beautiful Le Creuset dutch oven for my birthday and I just had to put it to use while I still had the energy. I made this:

The recipe can be found HERE. Williams-Sonoma calls it Short Rib Osso Bucco with Polenta Crust. The recipe doesn't take a ton of work, but does take a lot of time. 7 hours! All in all, the meal was pretty darn delicious although it is definitely a winter meal with all of the heavy flavors and lots of fat. In the future, I might try it with mostly bone-out short ribs and just one or two with the ribs to cut down on the extra fat (and expense).

Belly Picture - 38 Weeks 2 days

Poor Finger

I took the pups to get groomed this morning. Bananas did not want to get out of the car. Long story short, I managed to possibly break and definitely fracture my right pointer finger. The doctor at urgent care did not know for sure. She wants me to go to an orthopedist tomorrow or Monday. Fun times.

Hopefully I heal quickly. This is not really the gentle touch I envisioned for our newborn!

Cookies!

One more recipe done! Here's a pic of some of my favorite cookies in the whole world:

These are a lot of work but they are worth it!

My Niece

Here's some more info about my new niece:

Name: Margaux McMinn Weight: 7 pounds 2 ounces Length: 19 inches (same as Joaquin!) I am still not sure what time she was born yesterday. Oh, and here's another pic of the beautiful girl:

Ticker Change Thursday - 38 Weeks!

Wow! I'm 38 weeks pregnant. I never would have believed I would make it this far if someone had told me. But, it's great that Noemi is getting this extra time. She may have been full term a week ago but her health is still benefitting from the extra time. Noemi is about 18.9 to 20.9 inches long and weighs about 6.2 to 9.2 pounds. Her head is now about the same circumference as her abdomen. She may have about an inch or so of hair already. She's slowly shedding that white goo on her skin (called vernix caseosa) but we still might see some of it at birth.

How far along? 38 weeks

Weight gain/loss: I'm up a total of 35 pounds.

Sleep? I am sleeping pretty well lately but Jay is sick and coughing a lot in the middle of the night, which keeps me up. Hopefully he gets better soon!

Best moment this week? Seeing the picture of my new niece yesterday. I am so happy for Mia!

Movement: She is still a big mover.

Food cravings: Is red wine food? I went to lunch with my friend yesterday and we sat next to some women who were drinking red wine and it smelled amazing. It was just cruel.

What I miss? Being able to walk like a normal person. This past week I have been getting cramps in my groin area on the right side when I walk that are quite unpleasant and also make me worry I am going to just fall right over!

What I am looking forward to? Meeting Noemi. That moment can't come soon enough at this point!

Milestones: Getting to 38 weeks is fabulous. I am well out of the preemie territory and am now less worried about her having jaundice or other complications.

What I'm nervous about: I have a few projects at work that are keeping me busy. I hope I can maintain some concentration and get them done quickly and well so I don't leave any loose ends or disappoint any clients. After I'm done with those projects I just hope I don't get new ones!

Mini Mia is Here!

I'm still not sure of the stats or a name, but here's a pic of my adorable niece!!!

Good Luck Mia!

My sister-in-law, Mia, is 41 weeks pregnant today! I can't even imagine. Yesterday she was told her baby girl was breech. Such a bummer. She is going it this morning to try to flip the baby and may either be induced today or tomorrow or have a c-section today depending on the results. I am wishing her lots of luck that they can flip the baby over so she can avoid a c-section. In any case, baby girl is doing well and that is all that really matters in the end. I can't wait to see pictures of my niece! I can't believe I am going to be an auntie. WOOOHOOOO!! So much fun :-)

No News Today

Nothing to report here. Just waiting. And working. I'm actually busy with work today, which I am sort of hating. It is getting very difficult to concentrate.

Some Progress

I had a check up this morning. I'm just about 2 cm dilated at this point. My OB said she thinks it may be another week or maybe just a day. Who knows... I'll keep you posted if there are any developments.

Two More Recipes Done

I have completed two more freezer meals!

First, I made these turkey meatballs:

The recipe for the meatballs can be found HERE. I made extra so we had some for dinner that night as well. They are pretty good for being turkey instead of beef, although they definitely require a bit of dressing up with sauce.

Then I made this baked ziti:

This recipe required a bit more dedication but we found it was definitely worth the extra work. It was delicious. The recipe can be found HERE.

Belly Picture Friday - 37w1d

I had to go in to the office today for some random things so I thought I'd do a true comparison picture. I wore the exact same outfit I wore for my last belly picture when I was pregnant with Joaquin. It's a little more faded this year than it was in 2010 though.

Here's today:

And here I am at 36w1d with Joaquin:

I weigh about 2-3 pounds less this time around than I did with Joaquin. But I'm not quite sure which picture looks more "pregnant."

Ticker Change Thursday - 37 Weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yay! Noemi has reached full term. She likely measures around 18.9 to 20.9 inches and weighs about 6.2 to 9.2 pounds and is the size of a winter melon (I'm not quite sure I've ever seen one of these). She's gaining about 1/2 ounce each day. She's practicing some skills: inhaling, exhaling, sucking, gripping and blinking.

How far along? 37 weeks

Weight gain/loss: I'm up a total of 34 pounds.

Sleep? The last few days have been pretty good. I had a rough night Sunday and couldn't really sleep at all but otherwise, sleep has actually been better this week.

Best moment this week? Right now! I just woke up and I am 37 weeks. Full term. It is a great relief.

Movement: She is still moving quite a bit. Sometimes her movements actually hurt a little, but only for a brief second. It's nice that she moves so much - it keeps me from worrying about her.

Food cravings: Seafood.

What I miss? Being about to walk up stairs with ease.

What I am looking forward to? I'm getting a facial this afternoon. Aaahh. So relaxing.

Milestones:Making it to 37 weeks is about as big a milestone as they come. It means no NICU team in my delivery room, no blood glucose tests every 4 hours in the hospital (which require a foot poke), no carseat challenge (which involves baby being away from mommy for 2-3 hours and just sitting in a carseat under supervision). I am soooo happy to avoid all of this. The glucose tests in particular were hell. Poor Joaquin's feet were black and blue by the time we left and I swear they would come in to do that test just as he was going to take a nap every single time. It was so awful.

What I'm nervous about: Not knowing when she's going to arrive. Now that I made it to 37 weeks, I want to meet her! Of course, a few more weeks of baking is great for baby so I will have to be patient.

Pictures of Joaquin

Joaquin is super cute. Here's some evidence :-)

A recent picture at the beach:

Two pictures from Joaquin's 2nd birthday:

Joaquin dressed as Max for Halloween:

Thanks to my Dad and Gery for being such great photographers! I'd never be able to get shots like these on my own.

Late Pregnancy Insomnia

Ugh. From about 11:00 until about 2:30 I slept on and off, but woke up to pee every 20 to 30 minutes. Finally, I gave up at around 3:00. No contractions, just insomnia. Hopefully this doesn't happen every night from here on out and hopefully it doesn't mean the baby is coming too soon! I want to make it to Thursday at least! Okay - off to bed for another try at getting some sleep.

Belly Picture Friday - 36w1d

Pardon the mess in the background!

For comparison, here's a pic from when I was equally pregnant with Joaquin:

Happy Birthday To Me!

I think I will celebrate with some delicious Martinellis later. ;-)

Ticker Change Thursday - 36 Weeks!

Noemi is 36 weeks today and it is her last week as the size of a honeydew melon. She is continuing to put on weight at about ½ pound each week. This layer of fat will help her regulate her body temperature after leaving the womb. In fact, she will be 15 percent fat at birth. Even in the womb, she can listen, feel, touch and see. Her gums are firm with ridges that look somewhat like teeth, though her actual pearly whites won't start breaking through until she's between three months and a year old. She has definite patterns of sleep and wakefulness—opening her eyes while awake and closing them while sleeping. She will become alert and turn her head toward light and sound just as a newborn would.

How far along? 36 weeks

Weight gain/loss: I'm up a total of 31 pounds.

Sleep? This changes day by day. Sleeping on my sides is getting OLD. It is really starting to hurt my hip joints. It will be so nice to start sleeping on my stomach again soon.

Best moment this week? It's my birthday and Thanksgiving today, so I am looking forward to a nice holiday, good food, and time with family. Oh, also "watching" UCLA beat USC by 10 points last Saturday (watching is a bit of a stretch. We were forced to follow the plays via game cast due to our lack of cable, but somehow it was still quite exciting).

Movement: Noemi moves a lot. I definitely don't remember Joaquin moving this much. It's definitely a cool feeling (except when I am trying to fall asleep!).

Food cravings: It's 7:30 am right now, so a huge cappuccino sounds amazing.

What I miss? Red wine, skinny jeans and shoes with buckles.

What I am looking forward to? Watching Notre Dame kick USC's tail this Saturday (We are #1!!).

Milestones: Each week is its own big milestone these days. I'm hoping I get to post at least another one of these Ticker Change Thursday entries next week, which would be a huge milestone - I didn't get past this one last time!

What I'm nervous about: Not too much. I need to get some cooking done, finish packing my hospital bag and do a few more things to feel totally ready but even if she decided to show up today I think we'd pretty much be fine, which is a good feeling.

Another Count Down Post

This picture works again so I'm reusing it. I'm just one week away from the day that Joaquin was born. Crazy! Starting yesterday I noticed a significant increase in pregnancy related discomfort - back pain in particular. It reminded me of why I was ready to be done last time even though I should have known that discomfort is okay as long as the baby keeps cooking a little longer. This time I am practicing my patience and hoping that Noemi stays nice and snuggled for well over another week. Still, it's sort of surreal to think that I might be only a week away from meeting my little princess.

One Month!

It's November 20th, just one month away from my due date. Based on my experience with Joaquin, I doubt I will be pregnant for another month, but it's still a nice milestone to cross. Just a few weeks left and we get to meet our sweet Noemi!

One Recipe Down

I've got the chili in the slow cooker, thanks to my Dad and Gery coming over this morning to play with Joaquin while Jay went to work. It's nice to have a little quiet time to cook and cross one more thing off of my to-do list. Plus, the chili smells really good. The recipe I used can be found HERE, but I modify it by adding 2 cans of red kidney beans and 3 cans of black beans.

Belly Picture (Sunday) - 35w3d

Here's a picture from today, because I didn't get around to it on Friday. After looking at this picture, it's no wonder total strangers keep commenting "any day now"!

Ticker Change Thursday - 35 Weeks

Noemi is 35 weeks today and still about the size of a honeydew melon. Her kidneys are fully developed now, and her liver can process some waste products (this last part is important - a well functioning liver is key to avoiding jaundice, which is not something we want to deal with again!). Most of her basic physical development is now complete — she'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

How far along? 35 weeks

Weight gain/loss: About 31 pounds.

Sleep? I am waking up about once an hour to pee every night these days. And my hips are killing me when I get up, but I am able to fall asleep easily at night, which is the most important part.

Best moment this week? Joaquin keeps improving his verbal skills. Yesterday he was practically having a conversation with me. It was so fun!

Movement: Movement has picked up again. I can see my belly moving through my clothes on a fairly regular basis. It's cool.

Food cravings: Sushi!!! Really, any seafood. And water. I've been really thirsty with the Santa Ana winds that have been going on lately.

What I miss? Normal clothes and wine.

What I am looking forward to? My birthday is next week!

Milestones: I'm 35 weeks today, which is a big milestone! 35 weeks down, 35 days to go until my due date! Many OBs mark week 35 as a crucial milestone for development and say that if labor starts now they tend not to worry too much about it. Of course, I'd like it if Noemi kept cooking for a few more weeks.

What I'm nervous about: Not much. I think we have this under control, at least as much as we can. I have a to-do list for before she arrives but I am confident that I can get it all done. I am actually more worried that I will finish it all and then wonder what to do with myself! Not a bad problem.

Hospital Bag Packing

I'm just 2 weeks away from being 36w6d (otherwise known as the day Joaquin was born). Yikes!! So, I've decided it's high time I get my hospital bag packed. There are a ton of sample lists on the internet of things to pack for this occasion. I have found that none of them really get it right. Maybe I'm just a crazy over-packer (okay, I certainly am) but I just think all of those lists leave out some very important items. So, here's my list (and a list that can be copied by anyone who similarly believes that you can never be over prepared):

TOILETRIES:

* Face wash and face wash wipes (for those times you are stuck in a hospital bed on an IV and can't get to a sink but want a clean face)

* Body lotion and hand lotion (hospitals are dry!)

* Shampoo and conditioner (yes, hospitals have this, but theirs is pretty gross)

* Toothbrush/paste

* Face lotion (and eye cream if you use it)

* Deodorant

* Hair ties

* Comb/brush

* Makeup and brushes

* Blow dryer (I will probably not use this, but I'll bring it anyway in case I'm feeling inspired)

* Razor

* Chapstick (I love aquaphor)

* Towel from home (hospital towels are tiny and rough)

* Floss

* Nursing pads

OTHER STUFF FOR MOM:

* Nursing tanks (x3 - I probably won't need 3 of these, but you never know if you are going to have a barf or blood situation on your hands and need to change)

* Nursing bras (x2 - One comfy one for sleeping in and one normal one for leaving the hospital)

* Slipper socks (x2)

* Cheap cotton robe with 3/4 sleeves and knee length (to wrap myself up in when I want to leave the room but nothing fancy because it will probably get ruined. I found a nice one at Target this week on clearance for only $15)

* Comfy pants that don't have a tight waist band (x2)

* Sweater/sweatshirt that opens in the front

* Sandals

* Book: Nursing Mother's Companion (because, let's face it, those nurses and lactation consultants are useless and annoying and this book is amazing)

* Pillow (with non-white cover, because hospital pillows are flat and uncomfortable)

* Blanket (because I remember being freezing all night with the hospital bedding last time)

STUFF FOR DAD:

* 2 changes of clothes and a toothbrush (We live within a mile of the hospital and Jay will only spend the night once so his list is shorter than most because he can just go home and get things/take a shower if he needs)

TECHNOLOGY:

* iPad/iPod/iPhone/iMac/Camera/kindle and all chargers. How did we ever live without Apple? ;-)

BABY STUFF:

* My BreastFriend Nursing Pillow (I was in a world of hurt last time because I forgot this very essential item. I could not believe how much easier nursing was once I got home and could use it!)

* 2 Preemie sized outfits

* 2 Newborn sized outfits (other moms may also want to bring two 0-3 month sized outfits but I am sure I will not have a big baby)

* 2 small receiving blankets to roll up on the sides of the carseat. This one surprised me last time and Jay had to go home and get some before they would let us leave.

* 2 stroller blankets - one heavy and one light, so we are prepared for a cold or warm day

* Baby hats (x2)

* Baby socks (x2)

* Baby nail clippers (apparently they don't have these at the hospital and some babies are born with mini claws!)

FOOD:

* Sparkling water

* Snacks - Fruit, jerky, crackers, trail mix, granola bars, candy, protein shakes. Basically a bunch of stuff that doesn't require a fridge. It is a loooong time between dinner and breakfast in a hospital and I remember waking up starving every night. It would have been nice to have something to munch on.

I think that's it! Haha.

Get Cookin!

This time, I need to start preparing freezer meals a bit earlier than I did last time. I found my old list of recipes to make (that were mostly never made). Here it is:

Herbed Turkey Meatballs

Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookies

Vegetable Tangine

Zesty Orange Bread

White Bean Pasta and Swiss Chard Soup

Garden-Style Eggplant Parmesan

Lasagna

Beef Stroganoff

Baked Ziti

Chili

I think maybe I will start with the chili because it is relatively easy and keeps very well. I've got to get Jay to unearth the deep freezer in the garage first so we have a place to put all of this. My goal is to make one of these items maybe every other day or so until I'm done. It will be nice to have some food in the house that's ready to go for those days when it's 8:30 and we just realize we haven't even thought about dinner yet.

Belly Picture (Sunday) - 34 weeks 1 day

I'm a bit late posting this, but this picture is from Friday when I was 34 weeks and 1 day. I went to lunch with some girls from work, so I took advantage of the full length bathroom mirror while I was there to get a picture. I hope everyone had a great weekend!

Ticker Change Thursday - 34 Weeks

Noemi is 34 weeks today and still about the size of a honeydew melon. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. The great news is that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

How far along? 34 weeks

Weight gain/loss:I'm not sure. I'd guess that I'm up a total of 31 pounds.

Sleep? I was fine until I got a nasty cold. Now I keep waking up and coughing and trying to breathe. Hopefully I get better soon.

Best moment this week? My mom came up for the weekend and we had a lot of fun. Joaquin keeps talking about grandma. It's very cute.

Movement: She is still moving like crazy. It is weird to see it so obviously from the outside sometimes.

Food cravings: Eh - I barely have an appetite these days. I only eat because I know I am supposed to.

What I miss? Being healthy. Or being able to take Sudafed. Either one.

What I am looking forward to? Being done with this merger. We are closing today. Woot woot! I have been working on it since May and just tallied my hours on this one project - over 700. Yikes. I can't wait for it (and the late nights and early mornings) to be over. Then I just have one more deal to close and I am home free!!!

Milestones: Every week feels like a huge milestone these days. Only 3 weeks to full term now. Yay!!

What I'm nervous about: I'm not really nervous today. Just tired from being sick and too much work. This weekend should be very helpful on both fronts.

Woot Woot!

Obama won! Dems picked up 2 Senate seats. Akin (i.e. the legitimate rape guy) lost. Prop 30 passed (CA prop increasing taxes on very wealthy to fund schools). Marriage equality is increasing around this country.

What a fabulous day.

Most of this makes me happy in a very theoretical, long term sense. I am happy that the party that does more to protect our environment (and the environment that my kids will inherit) is in power. I am happy about Obamacare, as it is not only ethically right in general (imo) it will hopefully open doors to new career paths, etc. (I mean, needing to be with a large employer just to get healthcare is just total BS if you ask me). There's a bunch of other stuff I won't get into (cue my misty eyes when I think about the people who have been in love for years actually being able to get married like the rest of us).

But, most immediately, WOOHOOO! An Obama win means one thing for my family: more immigration work for Jay. People have been hesitant to apply for the faux-DREAM Act stuff because they thought Romney would yank it away. And if the Rs want any shot at the next election, they need to start playing nice with immigrants. So, bring on the comprehensive immigration reform :-)

Happy Election Day!

It's November 6, 2012: Election Day! I already voted, although unfortunately my ballot was provisional. I guess I was signed up to vote by mail and I didn't realize it was sort of an either/or situation. Oh well, it will still get counted, just a little late.

As I drove to the polling station I realized that I was really excited about voting. Just about as excited as I would be if I were driving to a long anticipated celebration of some kind. I realize this makes me a huge dork, but I'm fine with that.

So, here's to Obama winning the election. I think it is not secret to my readers that I am a solid Democrat. I am only slightly nervous he will win, but nervous just the same. I can't wait until it's all said and done tonight!

Belly Picture Friday - 33w1d

Please pardon the mess in the background. It is still a substantial improvement from two weeks ago though. I just need to put the PackNPlay together and clean up my work document mess and then we are all ready! Oh, and I guess I should start thinking about that hospital bag in the next couple weeks!

Ticker Change Thursday - 33 Weeks

Noemi is 33 weeks today and about the size of a honeydew melon. She's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and her skeleton is hardening. The bones in her skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for her to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as her brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

How far along? 33 weeks

Weight gain/loss: I think I'm up a total of 29 or 30 pounds.

Sleep? I wake up a ton to pee, but otherwise sleep is fine.

Best moment this week? Trick or treating with Joaquin last night was so fun! He got the hang of it quickly and was so adorable in his Max costume (from Where the Wild Things Are). I will post some pics later. Unfortunately, in all of the excitement I dropped my camera and now it will not turn on :-(

Movement: She is still moving a lot, but the movements are slower. Probably because she's so crammed in there!

Food cravings: Salted caramels and hot tea.

What I miss? Not having contractions. It is stressful having them now. I want Noemi to stay put until at least 37 weeks.

What I am looking forward to? My mom is coming up to visit this weekend, which should be fun!

Milestones: I'm one week away from 34 weeks, which is when my old OB said that babies tend to do really well if they are born.

What I'm nervous about: I have a lot of work to do by Monday and I have a stressful afternoon coming up. I am wondering how I am going to juggle all of this. (Note: I guess some things never change. This last bit is word for word what I wrote at 33 weeks with Joaquin. It fit so well today I'm just sticking with it. Sigh. Only a few more weeks of work and then I'm done.)

More Birthday Pictures

Growth Ultrasound Results

I got the results from the growth ultrasound we did last week and everything looks great. Noemi almost exactly average sized for her gestational age and nothing appears to be amiss. Phew! At this stage, no news is great news. Just one more month (minus a day) until she's full term (that's 37 weeks). We can make it!

Happy Second Birthday Joaquin!

Saturday was Joaquin's second birthday and it was fabulous. His Layla and Laylo were here (Jay's parents) and we took Joaquin to Disneyland for the first time. What fun!

Joaquin loved it from the very beginning. The bus ride from the parking lot to the park was even exciting for him. We went on the train around the park, took a jungle cruise, rode Dumbo and the merry-go-round, had some delicious but not so nutritious chicken fingers and ended the day with a ride on Pirates of the Caribbean. He loved every minute of it. We were a bit nervous about Pirates and hoped it would not be too scary and we were pleasantly surprised that he was not phased by it at all. He loved singing the pirates song after that.

We left the park around 3, as both Joaquin and I were pretty much pooped. Then, after stopping to pick up some necessities and a birthday cake, we went to the hotel where Jay's parents were staying and watched a very stressful yet fun Notre Dame football game. It was the biggest game of the season - against Oklahoma at Oklahoma (ranked #8) - and we won 30 to 13. Yay!

What a great day. Joaquin ended it with some birthday cake and presents and was pretty thrilled all around about this whole birthday thing.

Then on Sunday his grandma and grandpa (my Dad and Gery) came over with some dinner and that beautiful birthday cupcake pictured above. He got more treats and more presents, making this pretty much the best weekend ever for a toddler. He's going to think he's gone to heaven when he realizes that tomorrow is a candy-filled holiday on top of it all.

On a more serious note, the last two years have been a whirlwind of fun and love with our darling little boy. He is a pleasure to be around in every way. His laugh is infectious, his curiousity inspiring and his affection is heart melting. It's hard to believe it has been two years since we welcomed him into this world. As I said to Jay, we've already had him for over 10% of the time he will likely live at home! (To which Jay replied, you never know, he might live with us until he's 30). Haha. Joaquin has enriched our lives in ways I can't even explain and never would have believed until I experienced it myself. He's so great, we decided we wanted to do it all over again!

Ticker Change Thursday - 32 Weeks

Noemi is 32 weeks today and still about the size of a squash. She sleeps 90-95% of the day, and sometimes experiences REM sleep, an indication of dreaming. She is head-down, which is great news. This week her movements will peak. The wrinkles in her face are disappearing and fat is still being deposited throughout her body. The body growth slows down from now on. Because of the lack of space in the uterus, the legs are drawn up in what is known as the fetal position. As a preparation for breastfeeding, she has already learned to root for the breast. The baby will turn its head if touched on the cheek and open its mouth if the bottom lip is tickled. By this time the baby can also suck and swallow in a coordinated way.

How far along? 32 weeks

Weight gain/loss: I'm up a total of 28 pounds.

Sleep? Other than waking up 6+ times a night to pee, sleep is pretty good these days.

Best moment this week? I finally got the office/nursery ready, which was a relief. But, I think the best moment was this morning when Joaquin got a little motorcycle for his birthday from Elizabeth. He was so excited and so adorable riding it around!

Movement: It seems like she keeps kicking the same spot on my belly because I feel a little bruised. Ouch!

Food cravings: Iced tea.

What I miss? The list is long these days: normal clothes, energy, cocktails, sleeping on my stomach, agility. But, of course, it is all sooo worth it.

What I am looking forward to? This merger closing next week. It is killing me. I started working from home this week which has helped but it is still more busy than I would like and can reasonably handle at this point. Just one more week!

Milestones: I had what may have been my last ultrasound yesterday. No pictures, unfortunately, but from what I could tell Noemi's growth is right on track. Yay!!

What I'm nervous about: We are taking Joaquin to Disneyland for the first time on Saturday to celebrate his second birthday. I am really excited because I know he will love it but it is going to be a tough day for me to keep up. I hope I can make it through without ruining his fun!

Belly Picture Friday - 31 weeks 1 day

Apologies for the not-so-great photo. I'm working from home today, as you can see. I'm sure you can also see the work in progress that is the office these days. I can't wait to get it all cleaned up and ready to go! Happy Friday everyone. Hope you have a fabulous weekend.

Ticker Change Thursday - 31 Weeks

Noemi is 31 weeks today and about the size of a squash. She should be approximately 4 pounds. Noemie is busy accumulating layers of fat under her skin. The arms, legs, and body start to fill out and will look less wrinkly as each week progresses. She may be finding the space tighter and tighter at this point.

How far along? 31 weeks

Weight gain/loss: I haven't checked since last week. I was up 25 points then. Hopefully I'm gaining about 1 pound a week.

Sleep? Sleep has been significantly worse this week. I am so big and need to pee so much that I wake up at least 6-7 times a night.

Best moment this week? I'm working from home today, which is pretty nice.

Movement: She is everywhere! It is fun, but of course all of her movements mean plenty of kicks straight to my bladder.

Food cravings: None really. Food is sort of a necessary evil today. I'm only really eating to avoid feeling hungry.

Belly button in or out? Out and to the right.

What I miss? Sleeping on my stomach.

What I am looking forward to? We got the garage organized last weekend and now we need to move the mattress and bookcase out of the office. Then we can get all of the baby stuff set up (and clear some major baby product clutter that has accumulated recently). Getting this done will fill me with relief. I'm weird, I know.

Milestones: I'm officially working from home today. I think this may be at least semi-permanent.

What I'm nervous about: Keeping this baby baking for at least 6 more weeks. 7 would be even better.

Belly Picture Friday - 30w1d

3D Pictures!

I was feeling a little antsy without the great 3D shots we got with Joaquin, so Jay and I went to a special place in Costa Mesa today to get a 3D session and some pictures to share with the blog. Noemi was a bit sleepy and liked to cover her face with her hands, but here are a few shots from our session. Enjoy!

And finally, Noemi says "Peace!"