A million thank yous

Tater and I have arrived home to North Carolina safely after a wonderful time in California. It was great to see so many family members and friends, and I had so much fun at the showers.

(For the backstory on Tater's name, see the Dec. 20 post, about 4 paragraphs down. (-: )

Last Sunday, my family showed so much love at the shower in Stockton. It was so surreal to be around everyone who remembered my mom when she was pregnant with me! It was the first time that I'd been around family members from both of my parents' sides for a long time -- perhaps it hasn't happened since I was little Tater's age. :-) Having that opportunity meant so much to me, and it made me realize, once again, exactly how far away we are from everyone. I can't explain how special it made me feel, and I just wish that J and Miss A could have been there to share in the fun. Thank you Momma, Daddy and T!

On Monday, I experienced a very fun surprise. Thinking we were just going for a "light dinner," I headed to my Uncle David's with my mom and sister. But what I thought would be a relatively empty house was filled with people from my childhood. Naturally, a lot of things have changed since my dancing days in '94, but being there was such a familiar feeling -- and it was nice to catch up with old friends. And again, a surreal feeling overcame me as stories were retold about my days in utero and growing up. It is so nice to have such a wonderful extended family and I really hope that we can make the trek back to California often enough so that Tater can meet and know everyone, too! Thank you Uncle David and Eric!

As you can see from the picture above and in the online albums, the family's love was felt through more than their presence alone. We were overwhelmed with thoughtfulness and generosity, and now baby Tater is off to a smashing start! It has been so much fun sifting through all of the adorable baby stuff -- and it just makes the idea of a real baby arriving soon hit home. We can't thank you enough for your emotional and material support!! (By the way, if you've got more pictures, I'll be happy to add them to the album. Some of you in Stockton managed to evade the camera and some pictures from Fresno were quite out of focus.)

We sort of missed Week 32, so here are updates for last week and this week:

Baby's Age (this week): 31 Weeks
Baby's Weight: About 4.5 lbs
Baby's Length: 12" head to rump; 19.5" head to toes

Week 32:

The baby is now able to register information from all five of its senses, but certain senses, like smell, will not be used until outside of the womb when air is breathed. The baby's brain has also increased dramatically in size but is folding in on itself now as part of the development process. The baby's pupils are opening and closing now in response to the amount of light. The baby's toenails will be completely formed by the end of this week.

Week 33:

The baby continues to grow at an amazing rate of development. The baby may be sucking its fingers and thumbs, preparing for the process of breast feeding. Baby is making its greatest demands for protein and fat in the later stages of pregnancy so your nutrition is, as always, very important to your pregnancy and the baby.

Can you believe it? Only 49 days until March 11!!!!

Tater goes to Cali

Baby Tater and I made it safely to California yesterday. We're visiting Baby's Lola, Grandpa R and Auntie T, along with other relatives that I can't wait to see! It's nice to be "home," but that was one lonnnnnng flight! I don't think little Tater likes taking off and landing too much; maybe it's the change in pressure, but this little one seemed quite agitated! I'll be sure to post again soon.

OK, gotta run. Here are Tater's developments for Week 31:

Baby's Age: 29 Weeks
Baby's Weight: About 3.5 lbs
Baby's Length: 11.75" head to rump; 18" head to toes

The baby's growth in height and weight will begin to slow from here on out (but the baby will still gain 2 pounds this month). The baby's brain is still growing rapidly, making connections and learning complicated functions it will need for the rest of its life. The baby may have a callous on its thumb from sucking on it. Unless there is a problem with the placenta, the baby's blood is its own and does not mix with mine.

Eid Mubarak everyone!

Down the home stretch (w/ a little performance anxiety)

At Week 30, I’m officially rounding third with my eyes set on home plate. Base Coach J is furiously winding his arm, urging me to keep going – slide, dive if I have to. After all, what choice do I really have? This baby can’t stay inside of me forever!

It’s hard to believe that we are three-fourths of the way there, give or take a couple of weeks, but each day it becomes a little more real. I just saw pictures of two babies with whose moms I attended yoga and water fitness just a few months ago. The little boy and girl have already grown so quickly, it’s frightening! And today, J and I go to “meet and greet” Contestant #2 (of 3) in the pediatrician hunt. It is so surreal to be sitting there asking a doctor questions in preparation for a little person that we’ve never even seen! I’ve shelved many of the pregnancy resources I’ve relied on, trading them in for What to Expect the First Year (though I’m sure I’ll need to revisit those initial books regarding labor and delivery!). Our bedroom has even been rearranged to make room for a crib and other miscellaneous baby stuff that we’ve been eyeing. I am so eager to meet this little one – to know what its personality will be like, to see his/her little face, to count those little fingers and toes, and to know whether s/he really plans to be up every night at 2 a.m. (since that is currently one of the baby’s most active times in utero).

Speaking of this kid’s personality, I am going to crack up if s/he turns out to be on the shy side. When we’re home alone, I can elicit responses from the baby when I talk to him/her, play a little jazz or read a book out loud (Our favorite right now is Oh, Baby, the Places You Will Go. I highly recommend it! We may add Hop on Pop to the repertoire this week.). During these times and in times of quiet, I can literally sit back and “watch the show” through the rough jerks and gentle ripples on my belly. But as soon as I call for J’s or Miss A’s attention to feel or watch with me, the baby stops, like s/he knows someone is watching. It is almost without fail! And for New Year’s Eve, Azizah and Khalid were visiting for the weekend. The baby must have heard the unfamiliar voices and retreated with a little stage fright because s/he was more still than s/he’s ever been since I started feeling little twitches back in October. But the minute I returned to the quiet of the bedroom, the action resumed. The baby did seem to join in the countdown fun though – perhaps it was the sparkling red grape juice – but it was short-lived.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being shy, as long as it doesn’t keep you from functioning in life. But I can’t relate; I just don’t know how to urge someone to come out of his/her shell if she doesn’t want to. This baby’s parents aren’t shy and his/her big sister certainly isn’t! The only experience I have to work from is that of the baby’s Auntie T. She was the one who you’d secretly watch singing and dancing in her room, only to have the curtain drop the moment she realized you were there. She hid under the table when “Happy Birthday” was sung in her honor and she used our mom’s leg as a shield to hide from strangers and friends alike. Though I always thought her behavior to be funny, out of place in our family and a little on the odd side, I can’t say that there was anything wrong with it (Not in those respects anyway. Ask me another day about the ice cream cone incident! Ha!) It was just a part of her very broad personality, and if you ask me, she functions quite well in social settings.

But all of this talk is a little premature, I’m sure. We have no idea what this child will be like. Considering the great ultrasound shots we got at 13 and 20 weeks, we could have a little ham on our hands. S/he could be a little chatterbox like his/her parents and big sister. Or the baby could have an unimaginably unique set of traits. We just can’t call it yet. But, what I can say is that no matter what – despite possible middle-of-the night feedings or ridiculously rough bladder kicks or blows to the rib cage or temper tantrums or whether this baby is physically and/or mentally healthy or ill – we will do our best to love him/her unconditionally and support him/her to be the best person s/he can be. I know that not everyday will be easy, but this baby represents our belief in a better tomorrow and a better world, and as parents we are going to have to stay on top of each other to make sure we remember that and nurture our child – even when we are super frustrated and functioning on a combined 0-2 hours of sleep. I am grateful for this little source of hope and I just pray that I can step up to the plate and do what I have to do!

On another note, baby and I are making our first trip “home” to California next week. Aside from the long plane trip, I can’t wait. I’ll be sure to post pictures of the baby “meeting” his/her relatives for the first time. After we return home, I’m on doctor’s orders to stay off of airplanes, so this is our last big hurrah before the big day.

Week 30 developments

Baby's Age: 28 weeks
Baby's length: 10.75 inches, head to rump; 17 inches, head to toe
Weight: 3 lbs

Other developments: The baby's brain is taking a wrinkled look because of the rapid growth. Red blood cell production is now entirely the result of bone marrow. The grooves and indentations of a developed brain are called convolutions. The baby will put on more than a pound of weight this month. The baby's length is about the same as a loaf of bread.