The Baldwin Experience: My Journey Through Life

Wow, I have LOTS of pregnancy updates! :-) Quinn and I went to St. Louis last weekend where our good friends Billy and Jess hosted a "couples baby shower" for us! Jess, Kristin and Catherine really pulled it together, we felt so loved! Also, my good friend Jodi gave us ALL SORTS of great baby things that were basically unused from her little one Amelia, as well as the cutest new baby clothing set! We are really appreciative of our friends and everything they did for us! The party started at 7pm at Billy and Jess'... There were appetizers and lots of "adult beverages" for the non-preggos in the room ;-), as well as St. Julian's sparkling wine for me. Billy, of course, had techno on, and we opened our presents and ate all kinds of goodies! I have to say... it was the coolest shower I've been to thus far. Then we went out, and I made it until 12:30am, which was pretty impressive for me as of lately. Also, it was 80 degrees and sunny for most of the weekend,...

Take a look at the picture above... This is the general "positioning" of baby Bennett at this stage in the game. No WONDER those jabs and kicks are getting so much more intense... He doesn't have as much room to "roam around"!! We had an appointment yesterday and everything is still great! I have gained 19 pounds :-), I'm measuring 29cm, my blood pressure is still 100/60, Bennett's heart rate was 140 and all the blood tests came back negative from the glucose screening. Yay! Also, I asked doc to check out the small red spots I have been noticing on my chest (just below my collar bone). He said I had spider angioma. Wikipedia says "Spider Angioma is a skin condition characterized by a central and elevated red dot, about the size of a pinhead, from which small blood vessels radiate (looking like a spider). They are often associated with high estrogen levels during pregnancy." AWESOME! Ahhh, the joys of pregnancy ;-)... The good news is that...

Take a look at the new 28 week pictures (to enlarge click on the picture)! As you can see, a lot of my hair is gone! It was driving me nuts so I got rid of it! The good news is, they cut 12 inches so I was able to donate to Locks of Love! :-) Well, we're in the final stretch! Even though we still have roughly 12 weeks to go, it is fast approaching!! Today I go in for my glucose screening test and drink the bright orange Glucola I have heard so many wonderful things about. ;-) Exactly an hour after I drink the strange sugary liquid, they will test my blood to determine whether or not gestational diabetes is present. Bennett is CONSTANTLY moving and lately has enjoyed kicking me in the ribs on my right side ;-). It has been a great thing for Quinn because he can now regularly feel his son moving (starting at ~ 27 weeks)! According to Baby Center, "By this week, your baby weighs 2.25 pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of his head to his heels. H...

Our hospital tour went well last week... We got to see where Bennett is going to be born, the nursery, etc. It makes it "REAL" now, and we are truly getting excited to meet our boy! I am still feeling great and am constantly told by my fabulous, ever-patient husband that I am not as "crazy" as his "Boys' Guide to Pregnancy" book told him I would be! ;-) We had an appointment on Monday and, even though most of the appointments now are in-and-out, I really enjoy my monthly progress report! :-) Bennett's heart rate has slowed to 128 (it gets slower and slower as the baby nears birth) and I've gained 15 lbs! Also, they confirmed that I am having Braxton Hicks contractions. Baby Center says "Braxton Hicks contractions are sporadic uterine contractions that start about 6 weeks into your pregnancy, although you won't be able to feel them that early. You probably won't start to notice them until sometime after mid-pregnancy, if you notice ...

It's been awhile since I've posted... Things seem to be getting busier as we get closer to the due date - I wonder why??! ;-) I am really embracing being pregnant. I am visibly pregnant now and don't just look like I'm eating too much, which is great ;-). If you've been pregnant, you know what I mean! In the first months (just over five, for me), you look more "husky" than pregnant... The "bump" isn't that distinguishable! However, that has changed and I find my belly irresistible; I just want to rub it all the time! Bennett moves around like my belly is a jungle gym and our tech for the "gender verification" ultrasound said he was moving so much he looked like he was at a rock concert! We recently took a trip to Miami... I had a voucher and a free ticket from work travel, so it was a very inexpensive trip. We thought it would be a good idea to have a "Babymoon". For those of you that are unfamiliar, here is Wikipedia'...

So, I think Bennett is mad at me... ;-) I have been feeling him move regularly for about the last week. I feel my stomach drop, then it gets tight, then it feels like he's rolling around in there! It's such a strange feeling - and a little different for everyone at first. A lot of people described it to me as popcorn popping, bubbles, riding a roller coaster... and many confuse it with gas pains initially! :-) It was difficult at first to identify, but now it's definite. This being said, I hardly felt him yesterday. Feeling a little concerned, last night in bed I started gently "prodding and poking" my belly. I was moving it all around trying to get a response... And all of a sudden, that all so familiar feeling - for an HOUR! And all day today I have been feeling him! Not a bad thing, I must say - quite the contrary... but that's why I say to be careful what you wish for!! ;-) A beautiful Michigan sunrise... I was a little late to work today so I could capt...

I attended my first prenatal yoga class yesterday - it was GREAT! There were eight of us total; three of us are due in the same week! There were a lot of poses and stretches that targeted the lower back and hips, which was awesome. I felt really close with baby and the women there... you know, classic "preggo camaraderie"! ;-) No, this isn't me... just a picture of some chick I found on the internet! ;-) I also pre-registered and scheduled a tour at the hospital for the end of January, and a birthing class that Quinn and I will both attend in March! It's all becoming so real, and exciting!!! My sister-in-law found out she's having a boy too!! :-) Congratulations, Kristin and Derek!