Nhamo in paradise

34 Weeks - and Nhamo is 8 months

So you know what this means, yes?  New belly shots!  When I compare these pictures to the ones we took at 30 weeks, I don't see much of a difference.  I think perhaps that's because my uterus has expanded upwards and sideways, as opposed to out.  I can *feel* a huge difference.  This past few weeks my center of gravity is way off and the extra weight is very noticeable.  I've expanded sideways so much that I've had to invent a system of sleeping that supports my belly.  I can't sleep on one side too long or my body starts to protest, yet 'turning over' is now an event all into itself.  Last night Ty took pity on me and helped 'push' me over - yikes.  Other changes - my belly is now so tight that Ty can't give Gabriel 'zurperts' anymore.  He is getting very strong, and although he can't do somersaults anymore he makes his presence known.  He pushes outwards so hard, I won't be surprised if I actually see the imprint of a foot any day now. I'm starting to feel braxton-hicks contractions.  They started off small, just a subtle tightening of my belly.  It was hard to distinquish between Gabriel's body pushes and the contractions.  This morning, however, the belly tightening was combined with intense cramping (like bad period pains) for about 30 seconds.  I'm also finding it hard to catch my breath more often. Riding my bike back from school today was a struggle (but I still enjoyed the ride - my knight was on her 2 wheel steed this time and waited on campus so she could escort me home.)

At 8 months old, Nhamo weighs about 5 pounds and is 20 inches long.  Growing his brain and adding on fat are his main tasks from now until birth.  This week he starts to remember what he hears and what he tastes - and these experiences will impact his preferences at birth. (So we know for sure he will like coffee and chocolate! - and Baba's been sneaking in broccoli and quinua.)

Nausea has reared its ugly head...

...and my Ty has jumped to the rescue once again.  Since the third/fourth month, I have had no problems with eating  I was so thrilled when the morning sickness passed - and I could enjoy food again.  Well, it seems this prognancy is going to begin and end with me fighting my stomach.  The worst part is this time I am much hungrier than I was in the first trimester!  Luckily, I have Ty, who has just padded out of the house early sunday morning on a mission to find me something I can eat.  She quizzed me this morning 'How about a pastry?' (me:  no...too sweet) 'A muffin, how about a muffin.' (me: hmmm..I think a muffin would work.)  So - even before her morning coffee - my love, my knight, jumped on her steed of four wheels and has gone on a morning quest for her wife and the belly (and the boy - who is aptly living up to his 'nhamo' nickname.)

Bigger than a basketball

So early in this pregnancy, Ty said to me 'later on you'll be bigger than a basketball!'  Yesterday I was laying on the floor when Ty looked at me and exclaimed 'don't move!'  She left the room and shortly returned with a basketball, a large metal ruler, and a balance measure.  As you can see - I am indeed bigger than a basketball!!

Antique Rocker...

Here are some close-up pictures of the rocker I found for Ty.  The fact that it needs work makes it just that much more endearing.  Ty has spent the last several days sanding and painting - and connecting to the history of this beautiful rocker.  You can 'feel' the history in the wood - so many stories!  I'm glad we will be adding to this narrative. 

Small peek at the nursery

Ty's testing out the Baba rocker in this picture, which shows the nursery 'in progress.'  We just got the bookshelf set up.  The cradle is currently holding all sorts of fun baby goodies.  We still need to get the mattress and sheets for it.  Gabriel will sleep primarily in a co-sleeper for the first few months, but will slowly transition to the cradle (and then later a crib.)  I love the Johnny Depp poster!

So what's with this 'theme' business?

An example of what our nursery will *not* look like. 

There have been many surprises in this pregnancy, especially regarding the 'culture' of pregnancy.  As we're coming to the finish line I've run into another unexpected twist - the nursery.  Or, rather, the nursery 'theme.'  I didn't know nursery's were supposed to have a theme!  I'm thinking - the kid can only see bright colors, so we will put up bright colors.  And the rest is simply made up of images and toys that we like - stuffed animals from loved ones, books to read, the awesome johnny depp poster, a row of peace flags with hebrew prayers written on each one, a little tiger rattle (because tigers hold a special place in this house), a tiny triathlon suit, etc.  We are animal lovers, so a lot of his clothes have little critters on them.  I definitely want everything to look nice together, but we would both prefer a variety to his room than a constant theme.  I like the fact that most stuff in his room is there due to personal interest from either Ty or I.  This actually reminds me of our Christmas tree growing up.  Our 'ornaments' were basically little memory nicknacks that our family had picked up over the years...little shoes from when us kids were little, graduation tassles, favorite small stuffed animals, etc.  I remember being confused when I saw other trees that had themes and matching ornaments.  My favorite part of the holiday was decorating the tree because each 'ornament' had a story.  That's what I want for Gabriel's room - to be able to see the 'story' and love behind the decorations. 

So - for everyone asking me 'what the theme is' so they can baby shop - the field's wide open - have fun! We *are* trying to avoid anymore blue clothing (see my previous post on blue) and anything screaming 'boy '- such as sports, army fatigue, or tractors.  Anything to do with cycling, however, is an exception to the rule!!

While I'm on the decorating theme, I've been looking for a specific type of rocker to put in the nursery, one that I thought Ty would feel at home in.  After 6 months of constantly checking craig's list and antique stores, I found 'the one' - and for only 10 bucks!!  It needs some work, but it's structurally sound.  Mom and Dad checked it out (they used to refurnish furniture) and confirmed that it was handmade and an antique.  Ty already has plans to decorate it and make it her own. I'll put pictures up when it's finished. 

First scare...

A few days ago a car alarm went off right next to me (it was very loud) and Gabriel *jumped* inside my belly.  What a crazy feeling!  He literally jumped, and hard.  I had to struggle to keep my balance...and then from laughing too hard.  :-)

32 Weeks

As of Monday, we are heading into our 8th month...with just 8 more weeks to go.  Anyone else terrified?  As for little Nhamo, well, he's not so little anymore.  Weighing it at close to 4 pounds and about 19 inches long (head to feet.)  He's all bunched up in there (hence the term 'fetal position') and let me tell you - he doesn't like it.  He's spending a lot of his awake time seeing how far he can stretch mommy's tummy.  A few nights ago Ty's hands were resting on my belly when it seemed like he tried to stretch every body part at once - she was amazed at how strong he is.  Occasionally he'll throw his entire body out towards my belly button, and when he does this when I'm walking, I temporarily lose my balance.  Crazy stuff.  I do get some periods of relief (supposedly he's sleeping about 90% of the time in there, though I think he gets less.) As for development, his brain is doing most of the growing now - this weeks focus is a 6-layered cerebral cortex.  For about two weeks now he's been able to differentiate sounds of different frequencies, and although all of his senses are in working order, his hearing gets the most action.  Ty and I picked out books to read and music to play consistently in the next two months - with any luck he'll *know* them when he is born, and they will help calm him.  My brother was born a few months early, and the nurses in the hospital prenatal ward rocked out to music all night. (in was 1977, and they told my parents that the babies couldn't hear yet.) When they got to bring him home, the only music that would calm him was loud rock.  :-) 

Guides on the road to parenting...

One of the most beautiful poems on what it means to be a parent that I have ever read. 

Kahlil Gibran’s “On Children,” from his work The Prophet:

On Children
Kahlil Gibran

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let our bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.

Counting sheep is *not* helpful!

Last night was the pits.  I think I managed to get *maybe* 2 hours of sporatic sleep from 11:00pm to 6:00am.  I was hot (even in the airconditioned room), the restless leg stuff was in all of my muscles, and I kept getting hungry as well.  To top everything off, Gabriel was crazy active all night.  I actually got worried at some point, because for about 30 seconds it felt like he was in a sparring match, kicks and punches just hitting me everywhere!  But then he went back to his normal movements, so everything seemed fine.  I think he's just so strong now, that he wakes me from my sleep.  And as soon as I'm even slightly awake, I notice that I'm hot and my legs start to twitch.  Ack!  I tried sleeping on the couch, walking around, eating food...nothing worked.  I think it was about 6:00am when I went out on the balcony, curled up on a char and ate cheerios (it was actually a little chilly out there with some drizzle - and I was half contemplating putting a sleeping bag down on the porch!)  Gabriel was up to, and this is when I recognized that his movements seem to instigate some of the restless leg stuff.  He would kick or move, and I would instantly feel the 'twitchy' sensation start to move down my leg.  Anyway, since the sun was starting to come up, I felt it was safe enough to open the front screen door and let that cool air fill the living room - where I promply fell asleep on the couch until Ty gently moved me to the bed later that morning.  I slept until 10:00 - the first sound sleep I had gotten all night.  I am very lucky not to have to work early this morning!!!