Weekly Buzz - Week 39

Oh sweet baby, we're nearing the end of this incredible part of our relationship. As much as I love being pregnant, these past few weeks have been rough. Nothing out of the ordinary, and really, the fact that I made it till 36 weeks before I got uncomfortable is great. But I can't wait to hold you. I can't wait to munch on the toes that have, for the past month, been firmly planted in my ribs. I can't wait to find out if you're a Buzz or a Buzzette. I can't wait to introduce you to Natalie (she can't wait to meet you either!).

I had my 39-week checkup, and I'll just say that I've made progress (advertising on the Internet exactly how much progress my lady parts have made seems mildly weird). I know progress doesn't necessarily mean anything, but it was still nice to hear that we're moving in the right direction.

Feel free to NOT follow your sister's footsteps of being 6 days late. There's a full moon on Thursday. Think about it. Jus' sayin'.

Weekly Buzz - Week 37

I do believe, little baby, that you have indeed dropped. My belly has gone from a basketball-shaped mass to more of a Pinocchio-nose-shaped mass. You make me look a lot pointier now, and while it's not as cute as a basketball, it means we're making progress. Keep it up!

I lost a pound this week. Of course I'm not trying to lose weight, but since I've only gained weight for the past 9 months, it was kind of nice to hear that I lost something. I'm sure it's due to being outside more thanks to the lovely weather we've been having.

Daddy and I are packing our hospital bag this week (shame on us for not having it done earlier!). I've packed four outfits for you: two pink outfits in different sizes and two blue outfits in different sizes. I'm assuming you'll be too big for a newborn outfit (Smith babies are anything but small and dainty), but I'm bringing two, just in case. I cannot believe you'll be here soon. Like for REAL soon.

I'm pretty sure that Daddy and I have finalized your name. We have our #1 boy name and #1 girl name - and we also have backup names in case the #1 name doesn't suit you for some reason. And funny enough, they happen to be Natalie's favorite names for you.

Oh, and according to SLPA, you're the size of a Swiss chard. A 6.5-lb Swiss chard.

Weekly Buzz - Week 34

So Super Lame Pregnancy App (SLPA) continues to baffle me in its description of you. This week marks 34 weeks. And to what did SLPA compare you to? Not just a cantaloupe, no sir, but an average cantaloupe. I can assure you, dear baby, that you are anything but average. Team Smith doesn't contain any average members. Kooky? Yes. Spazzy? Sure. Mind-blowingly awesome? You betcha. Average? Ha.

Onto other you-related news, you are now head-down. I think you must have moved this morning, because I was pretty sure you were still lying sideways last night. And birthing a kid who insists on lying sideways ain't happening. You're too young for an anatomy lesson, but trust me: sideways != good ... head down = good.

And you are definitely your father's child. Because while your body is measuring at 34 weeks, your head is measuring at 36w+2d. If you decide to come on your 'head due date', you'll be here before Halloween. That's in just a few short weeks. A. Few. Short. Weeks.

I think another holiday baby would be awesome. I was just thinking of Veteran's Day.

Weekly Buzz - Week 29

You are quite the squirmy little munchkin, Mr. (or Miss) Yightyear. I hope that doesn't sound like a complaint, because truly it's not. Feeling the baby move is my #1 favorite thing about being pregnant, hands down. I love watching my belly jump and wiggle; I love that an actual person is making it jump and wiggle. Your kicks haven't been painful, and I'm hoping they'll stay that way. My one request is that you kindly move off my lungs because it's not cute to have to sit and catch your breath coming back from the kitchen.

Oh, and you're now the size of a butternut squash! Very fitting since you'll be eating lots and lots of those when it comes time for solid food. Just ask your sister. She'll tell you they rock. Unless, of course, she doesn't. In which case she'll be lying.

Weekly Buzz - Week 26

Super Lame Pregnancy App (SLPA) says you're now the size of a hothouse cucumber. The size? Really? Length, sure. Shape, most assuredly no. Your big-headed self is anything BUT the shape of a hothouse cucumber. A hothouse cucumber with a mango on top, perhaps.

Weekly Buzz - Week 25

Hey guess what! You went from 23.5 weeks to 25 weeks (well, not really, but as far as me keeping track, we completely skipped over your 24th week. Sorry about that.) I had my routine monthly appointment today and my midwife said that she forgot to tell me at my last appointment that she moved my due date up. So instead of being due on Thanksgiving, you're now due on 11/15. I vote for 11/11. Having both your and Nat's birth days full of 1s would be neat.

In all honesty, a different due date doesn't change anything. You're going to come when you're good and ready. Just ask your six-days-late sister and how her tardiness cost Daddy and me the tax break for 2008 by 15 hours. Don't tell her I said this, but she soooooo owes us.

Weekly Buzz - Week 23

According to the incredibly cheesy pregnancy app I have on my phone, you're now the size of a large mango. Maybe it's me, but this just strikes me as odd. You were a 'mango' a month or so ago. And this week you're a 'large mango'. Will you be a 'larger mango' next week? And an 'even bigger mango' the week after that? Because to me, the aforementioned cheesy app should be able to describe the weight of a fetus without having to add an adjective to a fruit (the same fruit that it used to describe you a month or two ago).

A large mango, according to Google Images

Oh, if it only looked like I were trying to smuggle a large mango under my shirt instead of a 20 lb turkey ...

Weekly Buzz - Week 22

I'm about 16 weeks overdue posting a Weekly Buzz, but better late than never, right?!

I found out I was pregnant with you on March 14, 2011. I took the test early that morning, saw that it was positive, and had to muster up some iron-clad restraint not to wake Daddy up and show him. I wanted it to be a surprise, so I casually laid the test on his bathroom sink, knowing that he would find it when he woke up. Your sister (fun fact - that's the first time I've ever seen the word "sister" in print when referring to Natalie. Cool!) and I did our normal morning routine while I anxiously waited for Daddy to get up. Wouldn't you know that he chooses THAT day to sleep in. I felt like a kid at Christmas who just couldn't wait for her sleepy parents to wake up on their own. So I went to our room, lovingly patted Daddy on the shoulder, and oh-so-sweetly asked if he was ever going to get up. Because he needed to get up. Now. He opened one eye, looked at me and asked "Did you take it?" I said I had and he wanted to know the results. I said that if he would simply go to his sink (like I thought he would an hour ago!), he'd see for himself. Cheering, laughing, and crying ensued. Natalie didn't know what was going on, but she thought it was great anyway.

It didn't take long before Natalie named you Baby Buzz Yightyear. And it's stuck. I sincerely hope she's not mad when she finds out you're not actually a Space Ranger. Though, by the time you get old enough for a career, "Space Ranger" might actually be a job. So she might have been right all along.

Let me just say again how glad I am that God isn't swayed by my persistent prayers. Because if I had gotten pregnant when I had wanted to, I would have had you in May. And let's just say that wasn't the best time to introduce a wee little munchkin into Team Smith. I think November will be muuuuuuch better. A November birth will put you and Natalie at about the same age difference that Aunt KK and I are (almost 3 years). And to me, that's perfect.

I first felt you kick on June 19th, Father's Day (what a sweet gift!) at 17 weeks, 3 days. Daddy first felt you kick on July 9th at 20 weeks, 2 days.

We decided not to find out your gender ahead of time. Daddy didn't want to find out with Natalie but I was all looney-tunes-first-time-mom and said that I couldn't possibly NOT find out. I liked the idea in theory, but not in reality. And when we found out you were coming, Daddy said he still didn't want to find out. After some convincing, I got on board. And I am SO excited to wait. The moment you're born is going to be so amazing. (I apologize in advance if the moments leading up to you being born are loud, teary, and profanity-laden. I'm doing this drug-free, so bear with me).

Your due date is 11/24/11 - Thanksgiving Day (which is fitting, seeing as how Natalie was also born on a holiday), but at my 20-week appointment, you were measuring a week-and-a-half ahead, which would put my due date at 11/12/11. My midwife didn't move my due date, but I know starting at the beginning of November, I'll be on pins and needles. Side note - it'd be cool if you were born on 11/11/11. That's also a holiday, and I'd hate for Natalie to have a day off of school for her birthday and you don't. Because then you might try to convince me to let you stay home on your birthday since SHE doesn't have to go to school on HER birthday. So in all fairness, go with 11/11/11 or 11/24/11. Thanks in advance.

I love you so much, Baby Buzz. And I can't wait to see you. And kiss you. And discover you're a mild-mannered excellent sleeper (ha!). And introduce you to the pure wackiness that encompasses Team Smith.

Hugs and smooches,
Mommy