Fun Fruit Friday...aka...My belly's HUGE.

"At week 37, your pregnancy is considered full term, meaning baby is likely to thrive after birth. Baby spends these last weeks in preparation for the outside world… meaning careful refinement of the blink, suck, inhale and exhale. Meconium, which you’ll probably find in the first diaper, is accumulating in the intestines. If (okay, as) you worry about giving birth, consider what it’s like for the little one. During the journey out of your womb, baby will produce more stress hormones than any other time in life."

And believe me...I do in fact look like I've swallowed a watermelon these days.

Only 2 more Fun Fruit Fridays...

Ok I'm a little late on this fruit...it actually goes with weeks 33-36 of the pregnancy-so feast your eyes on what my baby boy has been lookin' like for the last month!  It's a honeydew-or as I like to refer to this fruit... "the armpit of the fruit salad."  Seriously though-who goes for the honeydew first in a fruit salad when it's surrounded by delicious strawberries, pineapples, and other succulent, more flavorful fruits?  Not this gal.

Anyways...like I said...Baby Perks has been a "honeydew" for about a month now and is heading towards being classified as one of my all time summer fruits.  I'm sure if you take even a second to think about what fruit looks most like my belly these days, it won't be hard for you to figure out what's coming in the last installment of  "Fun Fruit Friday."

A quick update on Henry's progress as we count down the days to his arrival...

Daddy Perks and I had a doctor's apppointment this week and found out I am not dialated at all, I'm measuring right where I should be, my blood pressure is a fantastic 102/60, and in fact that nurse even complimented me on my weight gain being right where it should be.  I told her I'd be more than willing to host a training for all the pregnant women at the practice to let them know how I've managed to stay within the suggested weight gain limit-the training would be broken down into 3 segments: 1.) Chipotle Burritos, 2.) McDonald's Quarter Pounders w/ Cheese, 3.) All other horrible foods that I've indulged in over the past nine months.

This weekend I head to Lexington, Kentucky to stand in a wedding for my dear friend Erica.  Tomorrow my belly and I will be dressed from head to toe in pink and purple taffeta goodness, and yes-I will be sporting 4-inch stilettos.  I was worried that my swollen feet and ankles wouldn't get enough attention, but I think these shoes will really make sure I get extra pity groans as I hobble down the aisle praying that my water doesn't break mid-ceremony.  This will be the last big shin-dig Daddy Perks and I have before the arrival of Henry so we are going to enjoy our weekend with friends and family knowing that the next time we head out of state we'll have added the title of "Mommy" and "Daddy" to our bag of tricks.

Meanwhile, I hope "y'all" have  a wonderful weekend :)  (Had to squeeze in a little southern accent as I head down south to my college town-GO CATS!)

Fun Fruit Friday and More!

Thank goodness it's finally time for another size update on baby Henry.  Feast your eyes on this delicacy...

No-it's not a mini pumpkin.  It's a squash.  And yes-you read those stats correctly.  For the next few weeks, Henry will be measuring approximately 16-ish inches and weighing in between 2.5 and almost 4 pounds respectively.  Not bad little man!  You're already growing up too fast in my eyes!  Or perhaps my sentiment about wanting to slow down your growth more stems from the fact that you've been making it VERY difficult for Mama to sleep these days.  The bigger you get, the more I toss and turn.

And poor Daddy Perks is getting the raw end of the deal.  A good wife would probably let her husband sleep, even if she was having trouble.  But I figure, if Baby Perks is so lovingly preparing me for tiresome adventures ahead...then I should make sure my hubby gets to experience a few sleepless nights before the big arrival too.  So in the middle of the night when I'm up tossing and turning, I make sure to sigh obnoxiously just loud enough so that my sweet husband will wake up from his peaceful slumber to check on his needy pregnant wife.  Then he goes down the list of typical things I might need...offering me water, gatorade, to turn down the AC, more pillows, less pillows, my sanity...

 I listen, all the while politely thinking in my head... "NO-I DON'T WANT ANY OF THOSE THINGS.  I JUST THINK IF I HAVE TO BE AWAKE AT 3 IN THE MORNING...SO SHOULD YOU!"  So then until we fall back asleep we lay there pondering how our lives are going to change so drastically in just a few short months. It's also during this time that Henry feels it necessary to get his nightly calistenics in...so Daddy Perks and I get to lay together, our hands on my belly, feeling the baby move.  And believe me...there's no better feeling in the world.

Ok-back to the squash.  My handy-dandy baby sizing guide has this to say about the 7th month of pregnancy...

"Baby’s energy is surging, thanks to the formation of white fat deposits beneath the skin. (Have those kicks and jabs to the ribs tipped you off yet?) Baby is also settling into sleep and waking cycles, though -- as you’ve also probably noticed -- they don’t necessarily coincide with your own. Also this month, all five senses are finally functional, and the brain and nervous system are going through major developments."

In other news...my growing belly has been the inspiration on the playground at school these days.  I've noticed several students (mostly girls) have been taking basketballs and other round objects and sticking them under their shirt so "they can be pregnant like Mrs. Perkins."  I've also noticed several students (mostly boys) taking these "pregnant girls" onto the basketball court so they can perform "emergency C-Sections" on them.  God only knows how I'll explain this one to parents.

Produce Update...

"Watch what you say -- baby is now able to hear outside noise from down in the womb. Studies show that baby finds gentle music and your own voice most soothing. Nipples are starting to sprout, and that little face is fully formed. And, baby's starting to settle into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- just pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop. "

 

Henry was DEFINITELY NOT sleeping at 1:30 a.m. last night.  In fact, I finally had to have a heart-to-heart with him about the importance of letting Mommy get some sleep. Apparently he wanted to meet in the middle...he agreed to 4 hours.  Looks like somebody is preparing me for what's to come once he arrives. 

And yes...now my kid can officially hear what I'm saying ALL THE TIME.  Does this mean I should keep my profanity filter switched on-even after I'm done teaching for the day?  Crap.

 

PS...that fruit is a papaya.

Fun Fruit Friday!

You guessed it...time for your favorite bambino produce update...

 

[caption id="attachment_164" align="aligncenter" width="425" caption="Baby Perks is 19 weeks old!"][/caption]

 

And the timing of this week's comparison couldn't be more perfect.   Tomorrow I will head to a place where the mangoes are plentiful.  A place where the leathery skin on wrinkly old men swallows the beaches.  A place where golf carts outnumber SUV's.  A place where the palm trees are growing and the SPF is flowing.  

If you haven't been staying up with LIFOP, then let me clarify.  The place I'm headed is not a retirement home.  Although quite frankly, my vacation to Ft. Myers, Florida might as well be to a retirement home because all I intend to do while I'm there is sit by the pool, play checkers in the afternoon, and eat the delicious Chicken Pot Pie that my fantasitc 85 year-old Nana has been preparing for weeks in honor of my arrival.  

So-since this will be Baby Perks' one and ONLY in utero plane ride...we've been having lots of pep talks these days.  I wanted to be clear that  he/she needs to keep the in utero summer saults to a minimum during our take off and landing.  I want to make sure the first time I feel my little one moving it's the real deal.  I don't want to mistake a stomach-dropping take-off or a bumpy landing for the pregnancy milestone which I'm looking forward to with such anticipation.  SO-we've come to an understanding that he/she is going to take a nice long nap from the time we leave for the airport on Saturday morning in Columbus until the time Mommy Perks is finally lounging out by the pool in a super-cute new maternity bathing suit.  

And BY THE WAY... Baby Perks is FINALLY being compared to a sweet, delicious, and exotic fruit.  Of course these are all adjectives any doting parent would be proud to hear if used to describe their little squirt.  Especially exotic.

Fun Fruit Friday!

How's your favorite cyber-baby sizing up these days?  Well, since you're dying to know...

 

I'm at odds once again.  My sweet Baby Perks is currently a similar size with yet another food that I absolutely despise.  Seriously, if you know me at all, then you know I detest sweet potatoes.  Truth be told-I can't even muster up enough holiday spirit to force down this odd "potato" during Thanksgiving dinner in an effort to be festive.  I think part of it might be the fact that I'm way more of a "salty" person than I am a "sweet" person.  (Note-this is in regards to actual food.  I consider myself to be very sweet when it comes to non-food related issues.)  Let me try to explain...

If you want cookies, I want chips.  If you want ice cream, I want high sodium dips.  If you're hosting a cookie baking party, I'll be hosting a Bring-Your-Own-Appetizer party.  Give me cheeseballs and chip dips over cake and cookies any day.

The following description accompanied my weekly fruit update..."Your fetus has become amazingly mobile (at least compared to you), passing the hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking and swallowing. And baby's finally big enough that you'll be able to feel those movements soon."

Go Baby Perks!  Call me a doting new mommy...but seriously-my little one can kick, punch, suck AND swallow.  I mean no big deal, but I'm pretty sure those are all the required skills he/she will need to land themself in a principal's office, a juvenile detention center, or at the very least, on a twisted episode of Jerry Springer.  And the fact is-I couldn't be more proud.

And yes-you read correctly.  Pretty soon, I'll be be able to feel Baby Perks!  This is a pregnancy milestone I simply can't WAIT to reach.  Now, I could devote a whole blog post to getting on my soapbox about the MILLION ways women describe "what it feels like" when you feel the baby move for the first time.  Some call it a "flutter."  Others say it feels like "nervous butterflies."  My own mother said it feels like a "rumbling in your tummy."  Here's the thing-if that's the case, I've been "feeling Baby Perks move" since I was 4 years old.  In other words, I'm still waiting for the defining moment...a moment of certainty when I know for sure that what I'm feeling in my tummy isn't indigestion, gas, or the leftover quarter pounder with cheese I just slammed at lunch.  I know when it happens, I'll know.  And of course, you readers will be among the first to hear about it. 

Now-that being said...let me clear up what may be a trend that's starting to evolve.  JUST because I've been at odds with Baby Perks' last few fruit/veggie comparisons, does NOT mean I'm at odds with my growing bambino.  In fact, Baby Perks and I are falling more in love with every day that passes.  Well, I suppose I can really only speak for myself (although, at this point in my child's short life, I'll take creative license and speak on my little one's behalf) and say we're developing quite the obsession with one another these days.  I guess his or her infatuation with me is probably more based on the current goodness I'm sending his or her way via my umbilical cord.  I mean let's be honest...at this point Baby Perks is already eternally indebted to me for all immune system he/she's been hogging from my body over the past 17 weeks.  

Now me on the other hand, my infatuation with Baby Perks is weird and twisted in the world of women.  There aren't many females in the western world who'd be thanking any individual and/or inanimate object for making their belly expand.  But I personally, couldn't be more thrilled with with the way Baby Perks is making my mid-section bigger by the minute.  He/She can take full responsibility for the "insert-coat-hanger-in-my-mouth" smile that I can't seem to get off my face.  It's true.  The belly is in full effect these days, and people aren't too shy to touch it, rub it, talk about it, and tell me just HOW BIG I'm getting.  Like I said, any other circumstance in the world would have women appalled at people even acknowledging their growing tummy, but when you're pregnant-it's a different story.

Bottom line...Baby Perks-I'm (and always will be) your biggest fan.

*Disclaimer...I've been catching all kinds of heat from loyal LIFOP readers for not posting in 6 days.  Here's the deal-on Sunday night our dear friends Jaime and Scott welcomed their sweet baby girl Emma Elizabeth into the world.  Daddy Perks and I have loved every second of getting to watch some of our best friends in the world cross the threshold into parenthood for the first time...in fact-we're calling it a "dry run" AKA a chance for us to see what we're in for come August.  So since Sunday morning, I've made 4 trips to the hospital, somehow made it through picture day AND St. Patty's day at school (if you're a teacher you know exactly what kind of accomplisment this is) and have managed to somehow make it to Friday in one piece.  It's an accomplishment any pregnant woman would pat themselves on the back for.  

Look forward to the next few days...I'll be posting lots of fun stuff including a belly bump alert, pregnancy soapbox issues I need to get off my chest, pictures of Baby Emma (if the new Mom & Dad will let me exploit their child on the internet) and much, much more.