What a Week ...

What a week ... and that might explain why I've posted nothing since Tuesday.

Jonathan flew out to D.C. last Sunday, and thankfully comes home this evening.

All is well with the baby this week. I'm starting to find it difficult to find a good sleeping position at night and it seems when I finally do get comfortable, its time to get up. But regardless, I know I'm still getting way more sleep now than I will once the baby comes. So, as they say, "Its all good."

This week, I have learned that Bella (you know, the dog ...) is pretty much a Daddy's Girl. She's excited to see me when I get home and when she gets the hint that she'll be going on a walk. But aside from that, she seems to be oblivious to the fact that I even exist. But, I kind of understand ... Jonathan interacts with Bella much more differently than I do. He's her playmate. I'm just the Mom.

Probalby the hardest thing about Jonathan being gone is that I am the one who has to walk Bella twice a day. She's 50 pounds of energy on those walks and I'm just a big ol' pregnant woman slowly walking along, trying to keep Bella from running off after rabbits, birds and unknown creatures that lurk in the bushes.

Aside from Bella, work has been crazy for me this week (and will get progressively more busy until our annual conference comes and goes next month).

This girl needs a nice, quite, and relaxing weekend with her husband!

Jennifer

Cheap Thrills ...

... and there's nothing wrong with cheap frills. In this case, my thrills are free!

The baby has been moving around like crazy today ... and it makes me laugh! And I love to watch my stomach as he moves around. Ever seen that movie Alien? That's what its like - only nothing is bursting out of my stomach (yet!).

Jonathan finally felt the baby kick this weekend. The timing was good: it was his strongest kick yet, and Jonathan's hand was right there to feel it. YAY!

Jennifer

The Baby at 26 Weeks

Week 26: Eyes Wide (Almost) Open

Look who's looking. Your baby's eyes — which have been closed for the past few months (so that the retina, the part of the eye that allows images to come into focus, could develop) — are now beginning to open. What this means is that your baby is able to see what's going on now (unfortunately the view in your uterus isn't all that exciting). But do try this at home for kicks (baby's that is): Shine a flashlight at your stomach. Your baby might kick in response (as in: "Get that light out of my eyes!").

The iris, the colored part of the eye, still doesn't have much pigmentation (that'll fill in over the next month or two), so it's too early to start guessing your baby's eye color. Even the color your baby will be born with might not be the permanent shade; so you may be kept guessing until your baby is close to six months old.

Look what else is going on this week: Your baby's brain-wave activity is kicking in, which means your little one can not only hear noises but can now also respond to them. Not in so many words, of course, but with an increase in pulse rate or activity.

And talking about activity, at your baby's current height and weight (about nine inches tall and two pounds), and at the rate he or she is growing, your baby will soon be feeling a little cramped in your uterus. Not to worry, there's still plenty of room for your baby to grow. It just means your gymnast will have less room for those somersaults, cartwheels, and other Olympic feats.

It Finally Happened ...

My pregnancy books, and previously pregnant friends, have all mentioned that perfect strangers will approach a pregnant woman and make "pregnancy talk." This afternoon was the first time for me.

As the classic story goes, I was in line at the grocery store (well, Whole Foods, so it was a LONG line) so I had a few minutes to chat with this woman. It was actually a very positive conversation: she asked if it was my first baby, told me to take advantage of being able to eat everything, mentioned if I'd be breastfeeding, then I get to continue eating everything I wanted, etc.

And then ... she lookes at my stomach and says, "So you must be due pretty soon then?" I said, "No, actually ... not until November."

The poor woman. She didn't know what to say ... and I felt embarassed for her. So I quickly said, "I keep wondering how many babies are in here!" She laughed, I laughed and all was well.

I still haven't had perfect strangers come up and want to touch my stomach. And you know what? I don't think I'd mind if they did. I am just soooo happy to be pregnant!!!

Jennifer