belly updates

It's been a while, I know.

I got a voice mail from a Bellingham friend this week telling me she searched and searched my blog for the due date and couldn't find it. So I figured it was about time to update folks on the belly developments.

Here it is at 39 weeks:

 

It totally looks like I swallowed a basketball!

Those of you who were around for my Daisy pregnancy will notice I'm quite a bit smaller this time around. I think it has to do with my job as a Mom to a toddler rather than my desk job that allowed me to sit and be lazy all day. And my doc told me this morning it doesn't look like a 9-pounder in there. So I'm excited about that!

What? You don't believe I'm small? Check this out (just please ignore that awful look on my face):

 

Not yet convinced?

Here's a belly shot today:

 

And WHOA, one from a week before Daisy's due date.

 

So here are some updates:

• "official" due date is July 26th.

• Met my new doctor today. (The doctor I'd been seeing was an interim doc. So is this guy but he'll be my doc for delivery.) We both like him a lot better than my previous doc and got lots of questions answered.

• I'm really hoping for a vaginal delivery this time, which is refered to as a "vaginal birth after caesarean" or "VBAC". But there are some risks involved, including tearing of the uterus. So we're cautiously moving forward. Here's the kicker: I have to go into spontaneous labor and there can't be any artifical methods of induction or labor stimulation. So not only do I have to go into labor myself, I also have to progress "correctly" or will be wheeled into surgery. We've known about this for a while and are happy to have surgery if I need to, but just didn't want to schedule it right off the bat.

• Doc also told us if Spud doesn't decide to arrive before the 26th we'll be scheduling surgery. Which means, for those of you keeping track, Spud should be here before August for sure!

• Doc did "check" today. Head is down but not yet in the pelvis. A little dilated but not too much effacement yet.

• I'm still feeling good. Having a few contractions here and there. Muscle pains below the belly from holding the darn thing up. Tire a little more easily but still feel like I've got good energy. And LOVING all the strangers who tell me I'm looking good, as opposed to last pregnancy when all I heard was how huge I was. (I even had someone in the library last week tell me that from behind she didn't even know I was pregnant!)

• Working this week to get a hospital bag together, clean our house, and start in on the baby announcements.

Anything else y'all are dying to know?

Comments

[Becca]

The lady in the library's comment reminds me of when someone told my little sister when she was pregnant that she looked like "a straw that swallowed a watermelon" - skinny everywhere but the belly! :)

You're looking great and I'm crossing my fingers for a successful VBAC for you!

[sasha]

Yay!! You look gorgeous girl! Can't wait to find out what it is! Thanks for the photos. What a special time for you.

[teresa]

Thanks for the update! I was curious about your due date, too :)

You are looking so great!

[candace]

how are you standing upright? the rest of you is sooo small? seriously. and you have no stretch marks! I have had stretchmark sense i was twelve...and i don't have children! I am super excited for spud! yeah babies!!!

[jen]

Candi...I'm jealous about her lack of stretch marks, too. She was HUGE with Daisy...she deserves stretch marks (D-I say that in the most loving way possible). Of course, I was HUGE with Sam, so I guess I deserve my stretch marks, too. :)

Deanna, you look fabulous...just like one of those pregnancy models. You are an inspiration for me to try a little harder this time around. Thanks for the post; you've been in my thoughts a lot lately.

[Deanna]

What can I say? I lucked out.

[Michelle]

lookin' good!! try to go in on a weekend, Ok!!!??? :0)

[Rae]

You and Darin must be *so ready* to meet this new baby! Hope your birth plans procede without a hitch. I don't even know what to guess that it will be, we'll just have to wait.

I try to comment on your blog quite often from home, but always seem to have problems with it timing out. Hopefully this will work (I'm still at WORK. ACK!)

[Sarah]

Hi Deanna,
Congratulations! I love the "basketball!" I think it will be a boy, but who knows! Good luck with delivery and family transitions. Those first few months can be tough ones, but the love that you start to see between siblings and the joy it brings your family makes it all worth it. We are expecting our third in January, so I am looking at your 39 wk. pictures and thinking whoa! for myself too!!
Blessings!

[debbie]

Deanna- you look beautiful! I love baby spud's shape and size and cannot wait to meet this new famly member! I pray for patience and peace in the next few days for you. Love you lots!!!

[Sierra Stover]

holy belly! pictures of your blown up tummy always make me smile, as i'm sure pictures of the new baby will too. getting so excited!! good luck :).