Weeks 24 and 25

Sorry about not posting for a while, my laptop decided that it doesn't have windows anymore.

Week 24: An appointment and another football game
I had my first appointment without an ultrasound. I was pretty disappointed. Ultrasounds are like little visits and I get so excited. We did hear Xan's heartbeat, a solid 150. I also had my gestational diabetes test, which I passed.

On Tuesday I went to Her Choice with my mom. After visiting for a little while, Mom and I decided I was way too swollen to drive back to Auburn and I stayed for lunch. I chatted with the workers and waited patiently... to get my "little visit". MiMi got so excited she ran out beckoning her friends to come meet her new grandson. =)

I was encouraged to think about volunteering some time at Her Choice once I move home, which I think might be good. Not just for me, but for the girls coming in. I will be big and ringless, smiling at them and wordlessly encouraging them to choose life... that if I can do it, so can they.


Xander went to his second Auburn football game this weekend. What a game it was! My dad bought tickets to the last six home games (some Bama fan he is ;) ) and this week decided to take "his baby and her baby!" =) All three of us were very excited to spend time together. Everyone, even Noah (according to his adoring PaPa), warned him not to let me sit in the rain. They must know us well. We'd wait out the rain... we did wait out the rain, but under the cover of the stands, for a whole hour!! I really enjoyed the game, but I MOST enjoyed spending time with my daddy. =)

So, a funny story about waiting for the rain to stop... I left Dad to go to the bathroom and got stuck halfway there. I was surrounded by West Virginia fans who WOULD NOT BUDGE. Soon I was joined by a girl in Auburn gear who was desperate to get to the bathroom too. Once the big West Virginia fan in front of me heard where we were headed he looked down at me and said "I'm not letting you go. Ha, sorry." I mustered the meanest face i could give a stranger and almost screamed "I am 6 months pregnant, LET ME THROUGH!"

This week Xander is a foot long and weighs over a pound. His lungs are preparing for his first breath. Although I think he has recognized certain sounds for a while, the books and websites say he really can now.

Funny Kid Story of the Week: I finally told my kids about Xander this week. No more big t-shirts, no more having to hide him! So, for the funny story I have decided to give you all a list of some of the questions I have been getting.

• "If you strated to die, don't they have to cut the baby out of you so he can live?"
• "If I push on you really hard will the baby come out? Is that what the doctor is going to do?"
• "Xander isn't a good name. You should call him Alex."
• "Why do you have to leave? We'll watch Xander here so you can stay!"

Week 25: More swelling, more back pain, less sleep, less time left
I retain A LOT of water. I have been watching my salt, measuring my water, and putting my feet up... but I still swell like a balloon! Which makes my back hurt, which makes it hard to sleep.

I haven't done much this week... I was going to have a date, but Griffin lost his wallet, =( poor guy. But with all this down time and the kids asking about when I am leaving, I have started to realize that my time is running out. Soon I will be moving home, then I will have Xander. It is getting overwelming.

This week Xander is a pound and a half! He is growing baby fat and his skin is becoming less translucent. His hair is growing faster and has color finally!

Funny Kid Story of the Week: I had a little first grade boy approach me saying he had a question to ask about Xander but that he couldn't say it in front of the other kids. Once we were secluded he said, "Does Xander have a private?" I bit my lip (trying not to laugh) and said, "well, that's how we know he is a boy." He answered me by asking how long he has had one. It was really hard to keep from laughing. All the other counselors who heard thought it was hillarious.

Xander's First Auburn Game

I went with Jamie to the Auburn vs Mississippi State game... it was awesome/terrible. I pushed myself a little too hard and wore myself out by the 2nd quarter. Xander was still most of the game and only wiggled when the stands were quiet... I guess he wanted to know what play he missed ;)

Our wonderful driver... I know this picture really doesn't do him justice, I just think it is funny. "We can't take a picture now!" (we were stopped on College Street where he was letting us out).

Auntie J. Rae likes to give us lots of kisses. =) Tailgating was probably how I overdid it. We walked ALL OVER Auburn.

At the game we sat with Uncle Micah and his roommate Joe. They sit really close!

The end result (besides beating Mississippi State 49-24) was HUGE feet, HUGE ankles, HUGE hands, and a HUGE face. This Saturday I am going to the game with PaPa, but he and I won't be making so many tailgating stops.

Week 23: Xander's Playlist

I was going to the doctor Friday, but it has been rescheduled... so I decided to go ahead and post.

At this point Xander hears 80% of what I hear. Like my neighbors blaring music until 3 am, the kids running up to tell me jokes/riddles, "it's time to line up!", "HANDS UP!!", and me singing along to songs on the radio... so I decided it was time to make him a playlist. Some of the songs are songs I will sing along to, some are songs Griffin and I decided we wanted him to hear, and the classical stuff (which is his FAVORITE) is supposed to sound great to babies. So, these songs are for my little man. Maybe one day he'll hear them on the radio and feel at peace. =)

1. Jack Johnson-Angel
2. Ingrid Michaelson- Keep Breathing
3. Ban Harper- Walk Away
4. Led Zeppelin- Dazed and Confused
5. Kings of Leon- Be Somebody
6. Radiohead- 15 Step
7. Snow Patrol- You Could Be Happy
8. Miley Cyrus- The Climb
9. Keravel- Pure and Simple
10. (Various Artists)- A Dark Night
11. Relaxation and Meditation- Rain Storm 2: Rain on the Window
12. Kelly Clarkson- Already Gone
13. The Rolling Stones- Paint it Black
14. Jack's Mannequin- Swim
15. Sonata No. 16
16. Canon in D
17. Clair de Lune
18. Carter Burwell- Bella's Lullaby
19. Martin Luther McCoy- While My Guitar Gently Weeps
20. Rob Pattinson- Never Think
21. Diana Krall- Just the Way You Are
22. Rockabye Baby!- Here Comes the Sun
23. Rockabye Baby!- Strawberry Fields Forever

So, Xander is now 11 inches long (the size of a papaya) and weighs over a pound (while his mommy weighs in A LOT these days). His sleep schedule is still erratic, his awake times are even more noticable these days. I'm waiting for the day a kid at work sees him kick, they've gotten so powerful these days they make my bath water ripple!

Funny kid story: One of the third graders gives me a hug everyday, she was in my group last year... I call her My Valentine. Yesterday she hugged me, looked at my belly and then looked at my face, then asked "are you full Miss Emily?".

Weeks 21 and 22

I was going to post pictures of my expanding belly and gifts I have recieved... but my computer and phone don't want to cooperate with eachother. This is why I waited so long to post something new.

WEEK 21: swelling and the swine flu.
Over the weekend I started swelling up like a balloon. My feet, hands, and face didn't look like they belonged to me. We (as in Griffin, my mom, his mom, and I) were a little concerned... so when I called the nurse line they scheduled an appointment for me Tuesday afternoon... only to find out that I am a small person and that small people tend to retain a lot of water and salt. Great, four hours of driving to find out that I am small. Oh well, better safe than sorry. Now I carry a water bottle with me where ever I go and I can't add salt to my meals.

No worries, I haven't had the swine flu... but it is tearing through Auburn like crazy. Griffin's roommate and mine both had it and both Griffin and I managed to not catch it. Thankfully. Unfortunatly it means I have to miss the first football game. =( Students are sure to show up no matter how they feel and a close crowd like that is probably a bad idea.

Funny kid story of the week: During art with the first graders I noticed one of the girls had written on her arm, when I told her to clean it off she said "but so-and-so wrote on his face!" He turns around and over his wry little smile was a mustache!! His face is what made it really funny...

So Far in WEEK 22: dropped from class, lonely, weepy, and bored.
Auburn decided to drop me from my online course. I cried uncontrollably for 2 hours. This was supposed to be an easy course so that I would have the GPA to transfer into the College of Education when Xander and I get back to Auburn... but apparently not. I am trying to get back into the course, but Auburn is giving me the run around and nobody has any answers or advice.

My hormones/medication make me so sensitive. I cry almost everyday. Now I don't even have school as a distraction.

Xander's eyes are fully formed, although there is no pigment in his irises. He is eleven inches long (head-to-heel) and weighs almost a pound. Now he looks like a real baby and not an alien!! I wish I could afford a 4D ultrasound... I am so anxious to see what he looks like. Of course, I am REALLY ready to meet him (even though I'm scared of actually being a mom).

Funny kid story: One of my third graders asked me why a lady had two last names. I told her that sometimes women keep their maiden name and add their husband's to which she replied, "then I'm going to be ______ _______ Brown". I asked her who she was going to marry and she said, " GUH! I'm gonna marry Chris Brown!"