28 weeks: ducks in a row

Even though we still have eleven-and-a-half weeks left, we're already getting the house ready for the new baby.  We just set up the crib in Charlotte's room and have moved the dresser/changing table into our room for now (their room is too small to accommodate both!).  The baby won't be sleeping in the crib until he's sleeping through the night, but we figured it was good for Charlotte to get used to having it in there.  We'll have a co-sleeper in our room which is essentially a little crib that attaches to my side of the bed for easy overnight feeding and safe sleeping.  He'll be sleeping in that for the first three to six months.  I've also already washed and organised all of the baby clothes and they are now in their new home in the dresser/changing table in our room.

Overall I'm feeling very prepared!  The only big thing left is to get a comfy chair to nurse in for our room.  I looked into getting comfy cushions made for the wooden rocking chair in Charlotte's room, but decided a new chair would be most practical.  I'll be sure to keep you all posted once we get it all figured out!

-Bethie

PS:  Family and friends have generously started asking what else we need, so I've made an Amazon Baby Wish List for the remaining things we could use.  You can find it by clicking here.  It is through the UK Amazon site so you don't have to pay ridiculous shipping!  Thank you!!

PPS:  While I was at it, I also made an Amazon Wish List for Charlotte for Christmas and her birthday for those who've been asking!

Week 27: THIRD TRIMESTER!!

I am thrilled to report that I am now in the third trimester of my pregnancy!  Wahoo!!  We are slowly but surely getting ready for our new little one's arrival and are still a bit in shock as to how quickly this has all gone the second time around!

I owe you all a few updates.  First of all, I posted earlier about needing a dress to wear to sing the Messiah solos in.  By the time I was this big with Charlotte, all of my gigs were requiring black so I didn't need to invest in a colorful gown.  This time around black wasn't going to cut it, but I also couldn't stand the thought of spending a fortune on a dress I was going to wear one time.  Enter my local mum's Facebook group.  This group has been amazing for buying and selling baby/kid things and plugging into the local mum/kid community around our neighborhood.  I posted a request for a maternity gown and, amazingly, a lovely woman offered me the use of this dress and asked absolutely nothing in return!  I still can't believe it.  I offered to pay her or to repay her in some other small way and she has decided not to say no to some freshly baked cinnamon rolls.  Not only was the dress gorgeous, but it was also SO comfortable!  It felt like pajamas!  No joke!  If you are in the UK and in the market for a dressy maternity gown, check out Tiffany Rose.  I promise they won't disappoint!

Lastly, an update on my sciatica.  I am happy to report that since returning to London, my sciatica has more or less gone away!  I think the problem was going from the very active lifestyle I have here in London to a very sedentary lifestyle for the ten days I was in Miami.  I had two massively long plane flights and then lots of sitting for rehearsal and even more sitting to drive two and from rehearsals and performances.  I noticed the sciatica was always much worse after sitting for a long period of time and I was mostly sitting while in Miami.  But the good news is that I'm back to walking around a mile a day and chasing my toddler and it seems to be just what the doctor ordered!  Let's hope things continue to be comfortable as I still have three months left!

xoxo

25 weeks: sciatica in paradise

I've just returned to London after ten days in Miami singing with Seraphic Fire.  I had a fabulous time and got to sing some spectacular music, but I came back home with much worse sciatica than when I left.  I was only able to stand during our performances with Tylenol (not ideal, I know) and butt massages (don't tell Jason).  My guess is that all of the sitting I did in both rehearsal and in the car really did me in.  I just saw a doctor today and got referred for physical therapy, so hopefully that will help things.  The pain has already improved since my activity level has returned to normal, but I'm still pretty uncomfortable.  Mostly, I'm worried about things being this bad at six months, what will it be like at nine months!

Last night I read this article on a design blog about a friend of a friend who miscarried at six months (which is where I nearly am in my pregnancy).  I bawled my eyes out and was reminded of the three little ones I lost so early on.  Losing babies just seems like the most unfair thing that anyone has to live through and I will never understand why it happens.  Life is delicate and unpredictable and sometimes just really unfair.  It breaks my heart to think about miscarriage, but it is a good reminder to try to enjoy every moment of this pregnancy, even the painful bits, because this may be the only time I have with this sweet life within me.  That being said, all is well and I got to hear his little heartbeat again today which is always a comfort.  I can't say that it is because I am blessed (because your'e not blessed if you miscarry?) or that I am anything other than simply lucky to have this little life in me.  With this in mind, it feels silly to be concerned about any pain or discomfort when the whole picture is considered . . .

23 weeks: profile pic

Isn't he cute?!  I had to go back for another ultrasound when they couldn't see the bottom of his spine at my 20 week scan.  He is still very strong and healthy and his spine checked out just fine!  While I was there, the technician got a great profile shot of our little guy.  For comparison, here is the profile shot we got of Charlie in utero:

I'd marvel at the similarities, but don't all ultrasound pictures look about the same?

All has been well this last week, though I'm starting to get some more frequent sciatic nerve pain.  I was told I could ask my doctor about a referral to a physical therapist so perhaps it's time I do that.  Last time my sciatic nerve pain got so bad that I literally could not walk.  Jason would wheel me around the house in an office chair and had to get up with me in the middle of the night to lift me onto the toilet.  It was a humbling experience that I'd prefer not to repeat.  The worst of it only lasted a few days to a week, but I did have to sing a concert with my medieval trio from a chair.  It was such a hassle getting me on stage and in the chair that I just sat there during the intermission!  Talk about embarrassing!

I leave for Miami a week from today, so my next update will hopefully include a belly shot of me look tan and svelte in a bikini on the beach!  (Yeah, right!)

PS:  Here's what I was up to when I was five months along with Charlie!

  

22 weeks: keep on keeping on

score study with the big guy

Five months already!  According to my What to Expect When You're Expecting app the baby is going to double in weight by the end of the month.  Woah.  That means I'm going to have to retire my cute skinny maternity jeans soon.  Boo hoo.  

In other news, I'm going to be pretty busy in the next month as I prepare for a gig here in London and then head to Miami to sing with Seraphic Fire for the last time this season!  (I sadly had to cancel my other gigs with them, as I want to be sure this little one is born here in London and not on an airplane!)    

I'm not looking forward to a long plane ride in my condition, but perhaps if I look pathetic enough at check-in they'll upgrade me.  Maybe?  Well, in any case, I'll bring my Kindle, lots of knitting projects and will load my phone with episodes of this American Life.  That paired with the specially requested vegetarian Indian meal and lots of junk food snacks should keep happy . . . even if I am stuck in a middle seat!

PS:  Here's what I was up to when I was five months along with Charlotte!

21 weeks: large and in charge

Yes, I know I look enormous.  No, there are not two babies in there.  Or three.  Just one super active little boy!  In fact, he's so active now that I can see my belly moving when he's going at it in there.  Jason felt him moving the other day, but Charlie hasn't yet.  It's only a matter of time as he's a busy little guy.  I find that every time I have a moment to rest, he decides it's playtime.  It hasn't yet gotten to the point where it keeps me up at night, so I'm still treasuring every bump and nudge he gives me.  It really helps ease my anxiety about how he's doing in there!

PS:  Here's what I was up to when I was 21 weeks along with Charlotte!

It's a Boy!

We were so excited to find out our big gender news last week that I completely forgot to put the big news up on the blog!  Charlie is going to have a little brother!  Truth be told, she was a bit heartbroken about it as she was certain that the baby was "a girl called Bee."  Poor thing.  She's warmed up to the idea now and likes to talk to her baby brother and give him kisses.  Sweet thing!  

I've already gone through all of Charlie's baby clothes and dug up anything that was gender neutral.  I thought I had more than I actually do, but I've had a couple of friends offer to lend us some of their things, so that will help a lot.  I also have a friend who has six-month-old twin baby boys so she'll have quite a few things to get rid of as well.  The babe will eventually be sharing a room with Charlie and luckily things are pretty gender neutral in there:  the walls are grey, the dresser is green and the cot/crib is dark wood.  

We also learned from the scan that the baby is nice and healthy and all the organs and the brain look normal.  The ultrasound technician couldn't see the very bottom of his spine (he's sitting too low!) so she booked me in for a follow up scan.  She said there is absolutely nothing to worry about, she just wants to get a good look at the bottom of his spine so she can check it off her list.  Frankly, I'm thrilled to get the opportunity to see him again, so I don't mind one bit!  Maybe this next time we'll get a nice profile picture to share!

PS:  Charlotte's gender scan!