Impending

It looks like tomorrow is going to be the big day! And, boy, are we ever ready! I'm 4cm dilated, and have only had some sporadic contractions--nothing that appears to indicate labor has actually, fully begun.

We are set to induce in the morning. Despite the desire that labor start on its own and that D2 come in his own time, I'm simply ready to be done being pregnant. While the pregnancy itself has been relatively low-stress, we've had some pretty significant circumstances add heaps of stress over the past nine months. While the end of pregnancy won't really change some of those things (it might actually create more!), I just feel like heaving a sigh of relief that the end is in sight.

At any rate, after a few weeks now of wondering when the big day will be, wondering if every little twinge or pain is a sign of impending labor, wondering if I really do need to pick up whatever I've dropped on the floor, the end is here. D2's birthday will be tomorrow (pending labor magically starting sometime before 7am tomorrow!). We are so ready.

The Waiting Game

Today marks 39 weeks. I'm trying not to get my hopes up. At 39 weeks with Brennan, I was still just over 2 weeks away from delivering him. We're optimistic that D2 will choose to make his grand entrance sooner rather than later, but really, he'll come when he wants to, not necessarily when we want him to.

And thus, the waiting game goes on and on. We're definitely ready for this little guy to come on out and meet us!

• Hospital preregistration is done.
• Hosptial tour is done.
• Baby laundry is done.
• Hospital bag is mostly packed (except for those few things I'll need to throw in last minute)
• I've trained my co-worker to take over my responsibilities for the immediate (maybe long-term???) future.
• D2's room is ready and waiting for him.
• Birth announcement is ready to be posted on the blog
• And, boy, are we ready to finally get to share the big secret--his name!

D2, come out now!

The Final Countdown

We are in the final days of this pregnancy. At 38 weeks, I'm definitely ready to meet this little guy! While having him out will present its own set of challenges, it's time to be done being pregnant. At my appointment today, we found out that I'm 3cm dilated. Sporadic contractions have begun with increasing frequency. We did discuss the possibility of induction, but both John and I would prefer that labor start on its own this time. Next week, we'll look at scheduling an induction for sometime after the due date--provided I haven't gone into labor by then on my own. But, for now, we continue to wait.

Flips and Wiggles

I'm 35 weeks today. Only 5 more to go before D2 will enter this world! For my past couple of appointments, we were discouraged to hear that he was breech. After lots of praying and some home remedies to try to get him to flip, we were rewarded with the news that D2 is now head down! We're definitely excited to hear this news! I'd been hoping to avoid having a C-section for many reasons, and this news gives me hope that I'll be able to deliver naturally again. We did also learn that I'm already 1 cm dilated! That didn't happen with Brennan until the day before he was born--a week past my due date. While we would like him to come a little early, we are definitely hoping for a late April baby.

On another note, I did find out last week that because I'm only part-time, I don't qualify for FMLA. That means that I would have to go back to work once I'm medically cleared to do so. I've requested that I be allowed to take a full 8 weeks off to get through D2's two-month check-up before having a friend start watching both boys. Please be praying with us that this request would be granted, and that I'd be emotionally ready to go back to work and leave my babes behind whenever the time comes to do so.

Getting Closer

I'm 32 weeks today...only 8 more to go! D2 has definitely gotten WAY more active in my belly lately. Sometimes his acrobatics cause quite a bit of discomfort, but it is fun to feel him moving around in there.

I was thinking the other that it feels like I've been pregnant forever. But John reminded me of just how much has happened in our lives since getting pregnant--moving, John's job loss, and just having a two-year-old around.

We are definitely excited to meet this new little one and see what he looks like and what his personality will be like. How much will he be like Brennan, and how much will be uniquely him? What parts of John and I will be in this little one? Will he live up to the meaning of his name? Yes, we have officially decided on D2's name. But you will have to wait a bit longer for that big announcement!

One Last Photo?

Here's one last photo of D2 before we get to meet him in person! I had another ultrasound this morning so we got to see him all snuggled up and sleeping. In this photo, he's using his hand as a pillow for his nap.

We did find out as well that he is currently head up. Since I really, really do not want to have a C-section, please be praying with us that this little guy would decide that being head down is more fun and will be much easier on Mama! We still have about a month for him to turn on his own without too much difficulty. Anything after that will require some contingency planning between us and my doctor.

It sure is fun getting to see him again! We're definitely ready and excited to meet this new little man (hopefully either on time or even a little bit early this time around!).

28 Weeks!

I am 28 weeks pregnant today. Only 12 more to go! The end of April feels kind of far away still (especially in light of our recent snowstorm and the promise of more snow this weekend), but thinking that he will arrive in a mere 12 weeks makes it feel quite close! Time to finish getting his room ready!

More D2 Pics

When we had our ultrasound on Wednesday, the tech was a little concerned when some measurements for his nuchal fold at the back of the neck measured slightly thicker from some angles (which is a soft marker for Down's syndrome). We were immediately referred to a specialist. Overall, we were not too worried. All my other blood work had come back with VERY low risk for any sort of birth defects and everything else on the ultrasound (and my previous ultrasounds) showed a very healthy, normal little boy. So, while there was some concern, we were just excited to see our new little man again.

Friday was our appointment. When the doctor looked at the images taken on Wednesday, she began to suspect it was the baby's head position that created a thicker fold at the back of his neck. And, sure enough, the ultrasound confirmed that. Everything is perfect and normal with no further tests or meetings with a specialist needed.

It was such a relief! Especially having been down a similar road with Brennan (who was diagnosed with a choroid plexus cyst at his big ultrasound, resulting in a referral to a specialist) but that ended happily as well. Since we've now been referred to a specialist for both boys, if we have a third baby, we're just going to go into the ultrasound expecting to be referred and hopefully be pleasantly surprised if we are not! It just might be easier that way...

But, we were super excited to see our little man again--who still was modestly crossing his legs, but did uncross them long enough to get further confirmation that he is indeed a little man! We got to see all his organs again, his spine, his brain, the blood pumping in his heart and umbilical cord. We even got to see him moving around and then cover up his eyes like he was playing peekaboo!

The little man in profile, with his little hand up by his face.

A perfect shot of his leg.

Manville, population 3

We had another ultrasound this morning and got the word that D2 is a little "he"! D2 wasn't quite as immodest as Brennan was, but once the ultrasound tech convinced him to uncross his little legs, the confirmation was there. Brennan's response when told he was going to have a little brother: "uh-oh!" An auspicious beginning to the sibling relationship!

We are very excited for the news, as it means reusing lots of clothes and toys that are still in great shape (and super cute -- the clothes that is). Not to be all bottom-line about it, but that was a factor in what we were hoping for!

We have to guard against expectations that D2 will be "Brennan 2.0" -- just like his older brother in every way. No, he may be a boy, but he'll be his own man. We know a bit about what to expect and are better prepared than we'd have been if a little girl were in our future.

Now we just have to pick a name...

The Fantastic Four--Downer Style!

D2 is on the way!

We are super excited to have another little one entering our family in late April. I've been feeling pretty good, and I'm hoping that morning sickness will decide to skip me this time around! I had my first appointment today, which made everything feel more real--especially getting to see D2 in an ultrasound :)

Any day now...

Baby D is nearly here ... and Momma is ready! The little alien is kicking and poking and squirming and the womb is just too small a space for all that movement. So we'd just as soon he come on out and get to know the world out here. Tomorrow we go in for our next doctor's appointment to see how things are progressing. Naomi had some contractions on Saturday, but virtually none yesterday. Today they've been sporadic, but starting to get longer. So he could come in the next day or two, or it could be several more days. Bottom line: you just never know. We're both done working ...for the immediate future (in my case) and several months (in Naomi's case), so we'll just hang out till he decides to grace us with his presence.


Here's one last pregnancy photo before we post baby pics...


After all these months I'm glad we've held onto his name and kept that a secret. Keeping gender a secret would've been hard and it's been fun to plan for a boy and not an "it", but it's nice to have something secret that people are really eager to find out about. The name really is important as it'll stay with him his whole life. We want it to mean something -- to both tell him something about where he comes from and cast a vision for where we hope he goes.

So here it is. You've waited long enough. His name is going to

32 weeks!

This is Mama and Little D at 32 weeks. Today marks 33 weeks--only 7 more to go! Scary and exciting all at the same time. As the belly grows, so does the anticipation of meeting this active little guy!

28 weeks and counting!

This photo of Mama and Little D was taken last week at 28 weeks. The belly is ever growing!

More Baby D Pics

Here's baby's face... can't tell if he's smiling ... or frowning because he's being prodded with the ultrasound thingy.
Here's a close-up of baby's nose, upper lip and mouth, and his left hand -- the left hand that'll one day be throwing 99 mph heaters at Fenway Park!
And, finally, here he's showing his powerful left foot ... the foot that will score many goals in the English Premier League. (He's practicing kicking his Momma's belly right now) ...
And speaking of Momma's belly... (24 weeks and counting)

P.S. For all who might be interested or wondering, we're registered at Babies R Us for all those essential items that baby can't do without (and a few that he can, but they were SO cute!)

20 weeks!

more baby pics

The upside to having to see a specialist because of a little hiccup in Baby D's development is we get more pictures of our little boy! Enjoy...
It took a while (and a little poking and prodding) but Baby D finally turn toward us so we could get a good picture of his face.

Here he's waving at us. You can even see his little metatarsals! He's got the right number of fingers!

It's a boy (but this is not the picture that shows it)!

This is Baby D looking right at the camera. You can see his feet at left, hands/arms in the middle, and head (cranium -- kind of looks like a skull -- I hope our little boy isn't Skeletor!) on the right. Not the cutest pic ever, but he's our boy and we love him anyway!

4 months down ... 5 to go

My beautiful bride's beginning to show!

Photo Time

We got this lovely little surprise for our anniversary today: our first look at Little D and the sound of his/her racing heartbeat. The sound you'll have to imagine, but here's the picture (baby is actually 3.52cm long). Baby appears to have the proper number of arms and legs, is the right size for his/her age and, best of all ... there's only one! (There was some doubt about that since twins run in both our families).