People keep asking me how I feel (well, that’s not new), but my response is! I don’t know how to describe it other than “I feel so full of baby!” It’s weird how I can be starving, yet my belly feel so full and tight....new and bizarre. Baby boy’s feet (assuming it’s his feet) kick against my ribs multiple times a day (and definitely every night) and sometimes it feels like a little foot gets stuck up there under my ribs. I try to kind of push him down, but I don’t want to hurt him...so I just take it! Sleeping has officially reached the “uncomfortable” stage and I have one spot in my mid/side back that aches so much if I sit too long in the same position. I have daily heartburn now, which is a bummer because I thought I was in the clear. I had only a couple bouts of it in earlier weeks, but the burning sensation visits me regularly these days. I have a feeling it might stick around through the next 7 weeks..bummer. I am getting a lot more tired and feel the need for a serious nap every day (okay, that’s not new either...but it’s intensified now!) We had a “snow day” yesterday, which was crazy because there was no snow, nor was there any ice after 8a.m. Texans are weirdos. It will be cold (it was 15 degrees today!!!) and people freak out and refuse to go outside...which means you can’t go to school either (last I checked we worked in a heated building and most people have cars with heaters). However, I glady received the news and then took a 2 hour siesta....(ahhh, so refreshing!). Watch for my post on May 30th (Memorial Day) and remind me of how sweet it was to take a nap yesterday on the “snow day” because I will be complaining about going to school to make-up for the missed day yesterday (grr) and having spend another day away from baby boy! I think I’ve gained 25lbs now...which I’m okay with. At first I kept thinking “I cannot get on the scale and see 150!” but I think that might happen now, seeing that I’m at 143lbs and have 7 more weeks to go...oh well. I guess the only real thing that bothers me about my body is that now when I look at my thighs, I see cellulite on the front of them...THE FRONT!
Enough of the “negatives,” though – I have so much to be thankful for! I have 7 weeks left and am getting more and more excited. Monday we finished our 2nd childbirth class (of 3) and took a tour of the Labor and Delivery rooms and the Mother and Baby rooms (they move you across the hall 2 hours after you deliver). The hospital is 2 years old, so it’s very nice! David and I both felt much more excited after the tour because I think it made it all feel so much more real. Not like the kicks, growing belly and heartburn don’t make it feel real! David was the volunteer to get on the delivery bed and demonstrate several different positions women can get into to help make labor more comfortable (hilarious!) He even practiced breathing while “modeling” for us. Around 8:30p.m. all the tired, achey, and sick-of-standing women welcomed a good laugh! He’s a trooper. Yes, I got a picture, but it’s on my phone and I don’t know how to get it into my blog....haha.
Okay, time to grade papers.....or take some Tums and go to bed???? Hmm..the second option sounds so much better! Oh, we are going to be seeking God and praying about labor, delivery and still praying about Kbabe’s name, so please join us! If God speaks anything to you, please pass it along!
David's birthday present: His Daddy Bag (aka a cool Patagonia Backpack)
David's daddy-time blanket (I made this quilt for David over X-mas Break - it was a lot of work, but so fun cutting, sewing together and making the dino teeth border!)
Happy 28th Birthday David (Jan. 12, 2011)
32 Weeks and 4 days - Jan. 30, 2011
32 Weeks (Disregard the sweaty "glisten," I had just finished a pregnancy workout)
I haven’t had this feeling since my wedding: there is something about the approachment of one of life’s biggest moments that makes time seem to FLY by yet c r e e p by simultaneously.The combination of excitement and anxiety (only as I look at my to-do list) fills my nights, dreams, and especially my first thoughts in the morning which then makes me roll (literally) out of bed with a little more “umph” than before.I think that knowing I’m one day closer to holding my baby boy gets me going with a bit more enthusiasm (even when I am exhausted due to rolling back and forth all night and getting up to pee now 2-3 times a night). And I love it.I love my baby.I love that in 8 weeks I’ll be holding him (maybe sooner? But let’s hope not too soon and definitely not later!!)
My amazing, generous and creative mother planned a beautiful baby shower for me in Michigan on January 16.We had a lovely lunch at Brickstreet in Grand Blanc and some faithful friends and family were in attendance with precious and practical gifts of all sorts.I took it all in and enjoyed the moment.The highlight of the weekend was spending some quality time with my Aunt Pam, Aunt Susan and cousins Rae, Jammie , Jill and Olivia.We stayed up until 2a.m. playing games and laughing until we cried (and peed our pants....and I wasn’t the only one!But, I was the only one with a good excuse).The only lack was not having my mother-in-law there (and sisters-in-law: Simone, Anna-Maria, and Miriam).I love them dearly and know they would have been there if they could.
We started childbirth classes this week at our hospital.Session 1 was informative, helpful and comical (due to our great instructor).Even though I already know much of this information, it’s good to hear it again with David. At the end, we practiced a few breathing techniques and David learned how to lead me during labor and not just say “Good job baby, keep doing that breathing thing.”These techniques have been helpful the past few days as I frequently find myself standing up for just a few moments and suddenly out of breath, huffing and puffing (seriously?They say this is normal, but I feel like a 400lb out-of-breath whale from just standing or walking up 3 steps).Then, I’ll sit down and within minutes need to get back up due to the back pain or my ribs cramping down and feeling little feet pounding against my ribs.8 more weeks?Oh right, I just said “I love this.”(and I do...really!)
Time to practice our “Cleansing Breath”....
30 Weeks - January 16, 2010
30 Weeks
30 Weeks
Bug Quilt that my mom made: she literally cut out and sewed every little detail of these bugs: eyes, arms, feet, etc!)
Farm Quilt: Another work-of-art by my mother...a LABOR of LOVE putting this together!
Farm Animals :)
Me and Maim
Me and Mom (holding some of the bedding pieces she made!)
New robe mommy made me to match bedding and to wear at the hospital
Happy 2011! I have never really gotten excited about a new year, but not this year! 2010 had many challenges for me (and definitely MANY great things), but I gladly shut the door there and WELCOME 2011. I am so excited for the new season of life I am about to walk into and so excited to be a mom! God is preparing my heart more and more. My prayer the past few months has been for God to create more capacity in my heart to love Him...and also to love my son!
The Baby and Belly: I’m getting much larger and can distinctly feel every little movement of our little prince! Some of them are so strong that they make me feel like my stomach is turning...probably because with his movments, it literally is (haha)! I love it though! I have gained 20 lbs and have 12 more weeks to go! I feel good and am thankful. The cravings subsided during trimster 2, but are coming back. Last night in the airport, I wanted frozen yogurt so badly, but due to delays in flights we had to run off one plane and onto the next However, on our way home from Dallas to Waco we were both hungry and stopped at Denny’s at 1a.m. because I wanted french toast. Not only did I enjoy the tasty treat, but I laughed so hard at the company we had in the restaurant. I get a lot of experience in the ghetto culture while teaching at my school, but last night we had an experience in Hillbilly Texas land. Let me preface this with the fact that God loves these people and I am not trying to judge them...but sometimes observing humanity can be funny! At one table, was a family of like 6 kids and two dads...all overweight, except for one skinny girl about 7 years old with silver crowns on most of her teeth. I couldn’t help but wonder why they were all up at 1:30a.m. and drinking Coke? Scenes like that actually make me quite sad. Okay, now the funny part. In a booth across the room were two gentlemen and one lady, who were all apparently intoxicated. They proceeded to argue over how many states were in the U.S. and the woman was certain there were 52 because she “went to school and knows!” The children at the other table started discussing this too and one kid agreed with there being 52 and another started arguing that there are 51 because they just took one away (which one did they take away???) I’m deliriously tired and dying laughing at all this. The waiters and waitresses get invovled and no one knows for certain. Even when the girl looks over at me and says “There are 52, right?” and I say “Actually, I think there are only 50,” she turns back to the guys and says “See, even they think there are 52.” Finally, another guy brings his iPhone over to prove that there are only 50. Just when you think it’s over, she continues to say there are 51 because Cananda is a state. Oh my. We ate our food and overheard the teenage boys aruging whether or not I was someone famous....lol. I was flattered. It was just too funny that I had to share...and the TX accents made it all the better last night.
Back to the purpose of the blog: pregnancy. I am 7 months pregnant (28.5 weeks). It seems weird to say I’m 7 months pregnant....I always imagined large pregnant women at 7 months...and I guess that’s me now! See pics below! We had originally intended to spend Christmas in South Africa with David’s family, but due to London, Heathrow shutting down after a snow storm our trip was delayed and then sadly cancelled. We could not find an alternate route out of NYC, so we had to rent a car and we drove to Michigan. We (David, Sara and I) tried to enjoy our time in NYC by taking a bus/boat tour and actually had some great quality time together for those 4 days. Our time in MI was restful...but our hearts ached to not be with the family in Joburg. We arrived back in Waco this morning around 3a.m. For the first time since we moved here, I feel “at home!” I feel like this is the beginning of some of God’s promises He made me for 2011! Okay, I’ll update more frequently (but not so lengthy) these last 3 months! Thanks for your prayers!
28 Weeks or 7 Months
side view at 28 weeks pregnant
Making the most of our COLD stop in NYC! (We had only summer clothes packed in our suitcases, with the exception of light jackets, hats and gloves because we thought we might be spending 1 day in London!)
Whew! Time sure is flying by! We had a lovely week in Michigan for Thanksgiving with my family. I registered for all sorts of baby goodies (and a bff came with me, Lauren Maiman). I loved every second of it! I ate lots of food and enjoyed every second of that too :) The past two weeks back in Waco have been crazy-busy with work and our Hispanic Ministry. We leave in a week and half for South Africa to spend Christmas with David's family. We are so looking forward to this visit. We haven't been with all of David's siblings and parents (and now all our nieces and nephew) since our wedding 4.5 years ago! What a blessing this trip will be.
Pregnancy is going very well - I'm rounding out nicely and enjoying the dance parties that baby boy has in my tummy. Here are a few pictures to update y'all!
Our little guy is growing quickly....and I can tell he gets bigger each day because I can feel him more and more! It truly is amazing! Starting at 19 week,s I could feel him each night. Around this time (7-10p.m.) he wakes up and wiggles around. I am sitting here and can even see my belly pop up when he kicks or punches. It's so crazy! I am in love :) I will always try to grab David's hand and put it on my belly...but so often Kbabe stops right then! My next doctor appointment is tomorrow, so I'm hopeful for more good news. I feel great (in terms of pregnancy..but I have been sick with a cold, cough, sore throat for nearly 5 weeks now!) I am READY to be well again...please pray for me.
This past weekend we went to Chicago to celebrate my cousin Rae's wedding. She was stunning and it was a wonderful time with my mom's family. It was fun for my parents and brother, Bruce, to actually SEE the belly! I'll update more next week when I'm off for Thanksgiving...but here are a few pictures at 21 weeks. I feel like I've grown a lot since the last pictures taken during week 18!
On Monday, Oct. 25th we went to our ultrasound! With a full bladder, I endured a 30 minute prodding session. David got to watch it all and at the end, she turned the screen and gave us both a guided tour of our little prince. We saw his heart beat, his eyes (well, the “spots” where they are), his fingers, toes, kidneys, nose, chin, profile, bones, umbilical cord and the “man-proof!” When she announced that it was a boy, my heart fluttered with joy (as did David’s)! We would have been thrilled either way, but how fun to have a baby boy…and as David says “Well, at least there will be someone in the family to carry on the Karnes name.”
Speaking of fluttering…I felt our baby boy move for the first time during the ultrasound! She had to prod him to get him to move so she could measure his spine and I think he had one of his biggest movements because I most definitely felt him! How fun! I have felt him move a couple times since…and love it!
I love being pregnant and finally being able to dream of our baby with more specifics – like what HE will look like, what HE will be like, if HE will play sports, etc. It feels more real now…and the belly is definitely a pregnant belly now…not just a few extra lbs. I love it! Although, the hips are rounding out almost as nicely as the belly (oh well!). My mom and I made an agreement back in the August that by my cousin Rae’s wedding on November 13, I would gain 10lbs and she would lose 10. Well, I went to the gym today and have hit the 10lb mile marker. I started this journey at 118 and am now 128.8 (okay, no woman will ever round up when it comes to her weight….even when she’s pregnant!) I feel and look like I’ve gained way more than 10! I do love these changes though and seeing my belly grow because it means that my BABY BOY is GROWING and with each week, he is that much closer to being in my arms!
I am 19 weeks ….almost half way done! WOW! I feel like it’s going pretty quickly, but David can just hardly stand it – it’s going so slowly for him. He wants his SON out and in his arms!
18 weeks
18 Weeks Ultrasound
1. Upper left = Kbabe's "manhood" (notice the arrow. He is sitting indian-style. You can also see his left femur bone pretty clearly!)
2. Upper right = precious profile
3. Lower left = hand (four fingers shown - the 5th is tucked in - she assured us there are five though)
The last week (or so) has been full of belly aches; lots of inner stretching and pulling going on. I was a little concerned about these, but then read that it’s normal because all the ligaments and muscles do lots of spreading and stretching this month. I feel like I’m finally starting to look pregnant these days. This was confirmed when a few students at school this week said “Miss, I don’t mean no disrespect, but are you pregnant?” I am officially wearing maternity pants (needing buy some more asap!). The nausea has past (well, mostly...it flares up once and awhile, especially if I stay up past my bed time). Although, I’m still waiting for the 2nd trimester energy boost I have heard so much about! I am so very tired these days, almost more so than the 1st trimester. The past week I went to bed at 8p.m. most nights and then around 1:30 at school I got sooo very sleepy. I’m just trying to listen to my body (and baby) and get the rest I need. It’s true, every woman’s pregnancy is different. Even with all the changes and challenges, I do love being pregnant. Only 8 more days until we find out if we’re having a boy or girl and we cannot wait!!!!!! Our appointment is at 1p.m. on October 25. I took the rest of the day off work so we can celebrate, make some phone calls, and go on a date. We haven’t really come up with names, so we can’t wait to start thinking of some. However, we are probably going to wait until we have the baby to share the name....we’ll see I have a check-up doctor appointment tomorrow and am looking forward to more good news. On that note, time to finish grading papers and off to SLEEP for me! Thanks for your prayers and love!
