I'm Not a Huge Fan of This Vegetable but....

I just learned that Harper is about the size of an eggplant :P Just made me giggle.

Maybe he'll be an eggplant for Halloween next year? :)

Being Pregnant is a Good Justification for my Blogging Laziness (26 weeks until due date!)

Yes, yes...I am guilty of slacking on this blog for the past couple of weeks! I will do my best to update everyone on Tuli, Harper and myself :)

My Mom came down a couple of weeks ago to meet our midwife, Colleen. It made me really happy to have them meet, as they will be the 2 women at Harper's birth that I will lean on the most for support. I am so lucky to have a mother who is willing to explore different ways of doing things, and supporting me in my decision. I am lucky to have such a loving mom! The BEST part of the visit with my Mom and Colleen was when my Mom got to hear Harper's heartbeat. I don't know why that was so cool to me, but it just was. I was lying on my grandparents old couch (the same couch that I was photographed on when I was a baby), with my legs draped over Tuli's lap, my Mom at my head, and the quick echoing of Harper's heartbeat filling the room. It was a really wonderful moment for me!

Last weekend, my good friend Sarah, came down to stay with me for the weekend. Tuli headed up to Portland with Max for a Fantasy Basketball draft, and Sarah came to keep me company. We have been friends since high school, but became really close when we were roommates our freshman year in college at U of O. Sarah works as a nanny in Portland (while going to school as well), and she brought down 2 huge boxes of clothes from a little boy she watches. We are so lucky to have people making sure Harper will be well-dressed! haha

During Sarah's stay, 2 "firsts" happened - one good, one bad. The good "first" was that I got my first pedicure. The leg and foot massage were the best part - I could really care less how good my toes look, but that was a nice bonus!

The bad "first" - I hit a possum :( It is the first animal I have ever hit with a car, which makes me really sad :( The other crappy part was that I knocked a fog light off of Tuli's car :( All around, I felt pretty bad for both the possum and the poor BMW. I'm at least glad that if I had to hit an animal, that it wasn't a cat, or dog or duck. - and that the BMW only suffered a minor injury :P I was having flashbacks of a time when I was little when my Mom hit some ducks on Waverly Drive, and she was so upset about it. I know I would be hysterical, especially with these wacko hormones running my body!

I've finally started tackling Harper's room, and the unpacking of boxes in there. I have already taken a carload of stuff to Goodwill, and recycled/thrown out a bunch of crap that I didn't need. It feels good to be finally making progress in there. I still plan on taking my Mom up on her offer of coming down and helping us with the room more. It's so crazy to think that in a few months, that room will be OUR BABY'S room! I guess the "nesting" stage has finally kicked in - Yay!

I am currently off of work until November 10th (but I'm getting paid for it...gotta love corporate American sometimes!). Without going into too much detail, my body was not handling the stress at work very well, and it was causing a lot of uncomfortable situations inside of my body. Colleen thought it was best to do some nesting, get some acupuncture, and just relax for a couple of weeks. I have been to 2 acupuncture appointments now, and I can tell that they are greatly helping me!

This weekend, Tuli has been sick with a bad cold :( He still managed to find the energy to watch the Ducks kick some but with his friend Derek, so that was good! :) I made him a batch of apple crisp to make him feel better, and I think it helped a bit. I hate seeing him sick - it hardly ever happens, but I still don't like it when it does happen! Keep him in your thoughts that he gets better soon!

I spent this weekend kind of trying to avoid getting sick...I spent most of the day Saturday with my friend Marci. She has a 2 1/2 year old named Kaden, who I just adore. He gave my belly lots of attention and kisses during my time with them! Today, I went over to Nate and Cathy's house to visit with them, and their 3 month old, Brooklyn. She is so chubby, and so adorable. She looks so much like Nate! I got to help Cathy set up her front yard for Halloween, full of fake tombstones and cobwebs. It was a good night of friends and babies :)



In some sad news, my Dad and step-mom, Dena, had to put down one of their dogs, Ripley, this past week. He was only 8 years old, and it isn't fair that he had to go so soon. He was suffering from cancer, and he is no longer in pain. Please keep Dena in your thoughts, as she is having a difficult time with his passing - he was like a child to her. Rest in Peace, Ripley Ray Healy.

It's hard to believe I am almost in my third trimester! Wednesday marks that big day. I can't believe that I am over 26 weeks right now. Here is the latest on Harper's development:

~His spine is beginning to form
~He can inhale/exhale
~His eyes have completely formed
~He can now respond to touch (massaging him thru my belly)
~He weighs almost 2 pounds
~He's continuing to put on baby fat
~His testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.
~My uterus measures over 2.5 inches above my belly button
~I have gained about 8-10 pounds so far, and from here on out, I should be gaining about 1 pound each week
~I can feel him move all the time now (standing, laying down, sitting)

We are so excited to find out who our next president will be in less than 2 weeks! Yay!!!!

The Last Time I'll Ever Eat a Hot Dog From the Memorial Coliseum...

I have heard many of my friends who are already mothers say, "I miss feeling the baby kick inside of me." I can totally understand why they would say this now! Harper is so active, and I love the incredible feeling of him moving around inside of me. He's big enough now that I can tell the difference between kicks/punches and him doing somersaults inside of me. I am able to feel my belly with my hands, and tell where he is "hanging out" in there too. It's such a cool feeling! I feel very privileged to be able to experience this "right of passage" that most women get to have :)

On Thursday night, Tuli and I went to see one of our favorite bands, Weezer, at the Memorial Coliseum in Portland. It was an awesome show!!! We got some great pictures (our seats were AMAZING, thanks Tuli!!!), and I took some videos as well :)

Here are two pictures to convey how excited we were to be going to this concert :P


We also got to stop by and see Erin and Trenton again. It was so adorable, Trenton kept pointing and wanting to touch my belly. He knew that there was something in there! So cute...




We really had a blast...but we made a big mistake in eating crappy food :( We have been eating so healthy, and most of the food we eat is organic. The stadium hot dog I had at the concert was definitely neither healthy nor organic. I spent all day and night Friday throwing up and being miserable. I wasn't even able to hold down water. It's the sickest I've been in awhile for sure. When I called Colleen, our midwife, and told her what was going on, she told me it sounded like a bad case of food poisoning. She gave me some tips on how I could help myself feel better, and they worked. I have also found something that I know I'll want to eat during labor - crushed Gatorade ice cubes!!! Tuli has been doing a great job helping me to feel better with shoulder rubs, soups and loving me despite me being a sicky :P As always, I really feel lucky to have such a wonderful partner who loves me and would do anything for me.


In baby-growth news, here's what we've learned this week:
Harper weighs over a pound now!
His taste buds are forming.
My uterus is about the size of a soccer ball (holy cow!), and it has now grown about 1.5 inches above my belly button!
Harper's eyes can open and shut, and he is able to see light through the amniotic sac.
His hearing is improving everyday as he is able to distinguish more sounds from outside the womb.
He is covered in a fine body hair (which he'll probably be blessed to have his whole life, like Mommy!)
Harper's lungs are developing.
He is starting to develop his cute body fat :)

We have an appointment with Colleen this Tuesday - it's nice actually looking forward to meeting with a healthcare professional, rather than dreading it!! And we get to hear Harper's heartbeat again too :)

Our Decision to Have a Homebirth

One of the first things I asked Tuli when we were looking at our current apartment was, "Can you see me giving birth to our baby here?"

That might sound strange to some people - but to us, it just feels like the right choice for us. Having a homebirth is something I never considered, or knew much about, until I got pregnant and began researching my options. I didn't even know that there really WERE options to be honest. Granted, I knew that KJ, Tuli's mom, had Tuli and both of his brothers at home...but other than her, I had never heard of anyone else doing it!

Some people have suggested that KJ has had a large influence on our decision for a homebirth. Yes and No. Yes in the sense that homebirths are the "norm" for Tuli. He was raised a lot differently than I was, and hey - he turned out pretty great! So did both of his brothers! Yes in the sense that I actually KNEW someone who had experienced a homebirth, and lived to tell of it - 3 times even!!! On the other hand, KJ has never even gone so far as to "suggest" to me that having a homebirth was a better choice. I came to the decision to birth at home all on my own - from researching the safety of it, the choices I have, the education and experience of the midwife, and the likelihood of having to be transported to the hospital. I do want to say however, how much I admire KJ for her strength and courage!!!!

Anyone can ask Tuli, or either one of my parents...that I usually do things "my way," despite the suggestions (which I know ALL come from a caring, loving place!!!!) I have been given, and the way things are "normally" done.

I understand that not everyone is comfortable with the idea of me birthing at home....afterall, it's not the "norm" and what most people are used to. I invite anyone who wants to - come and meet our midwife, Colleen! See how educated, experienced, and wonderful she is! She has been delivering babies at home for 10 years, with no infant or maternal deaths. She herself has birthed both of her children at home. She is an active member of the Oregon Midwifery Council. If you would like to be here for one of our appointments, I would love that! Just let me know, and I'll let you know when our next appointment is. They are always in the late evening, so as not to interfere with work schedules...

I encourage anyone to research the actual safety of homebirth. I think most people will be pleasantly surprised that homebirths are at LEAST just as safe as, if not safer, than hospital births. My body was made to do this - free of monitors being hooked up to my contracting body, being able to eat/drink as I wish, being in the position that I feel will deliver my baby the most effectively (not on my back thank you very much! Ever heard of gravity?!?!?), and being in an environment that I feel comfortable in. Hospitals, simply put, just DON'T make me feel safe and secure...they raise my blood pressure, in turn, not allowing my body to release the necessary hormones for my cervix to dialate naturally, and a high blood pressure will also increase my pain (ahhh, the things you learn in treatment come in handy!), therefore, increasing my chances of giving in and getting an epidural. I will be able to be surrounded by loved ones...even my teddy bear and my cat! I will be able to listen to relaxing music! Only ONE person will have to do an intimate exam on me! I will be allowed to eat, to help maintain my strength! I will be able to have Tuli to lean against...more than just the hand I would be given to hold at a hospital. Tuli will be able to "catch" Harper! Harper and Tuli won't have to sleep in a little bed next to me that night...there is no limit on our bonding time while we are at home :)

I can't describe how excited I feel when I think about going into labor. Before I had researched homebirth, and joined a network of fellow home-birthing women, I was honestly scared as hell to go into labor! The thought of staying a couple of nights in the hospital makes my heart start pounding faster. The thought of numerous nurses checking my cervix, and hospital food for a few days makes me nauseous! I feel SO completely confident that my body will know what to do - after all, my breasts are already leaking! Of course, if something were to occur that put myself, or Harper in danger, a hospital transport would immediately be in place!

I feel very loved knowing that everyone is concerned about mine and Harper's safety - I am lucky to have people who love us so much! This is why I would LOVE for people to come for one of our appointments with Colleen. She would be more than happy to answer your questions honestly, and hopefully give you piece of mind that she knows what she is doing as a trained and certified nurse midwife.

My ultimate dream is to have a wonderful, complication-free homebirth. To be sitting on my grandparents old blue couch, "Old Blue", with Tuli and our perfect baby boy. To be able to change the outlook on homebirth for a few more people. To be proud of our decision to bring Harper into the world into our HOME, a place of peace and love. To have my body do things the way they were made to!

Pictures from this week:

23 Weeks! Pregnant BMW Model:



Obama Mama!!