Dancing Baby

Last night, I sang and sang to you because it just felt right. Lo and behold, you started to dance in my belly! I stopped singing, you stopped moving. I started singing, and there you went, again!

We've had some quiet, garden days, haven't we? I've stopped listening to people's advice on how to make you "come out" sooner, faster, induce labor...you will know when you're ready. All that I might have missed had I kept sitting around, just waiting...we're still participating with each other!

Love you so much, and dad...oh, dad has so many plans for you. Many which involve lots of exasperated sighs and eye-rolling from mom. But all good fun--I can't wait to see what kind of buddies you turn out to be!

36-37 Weeks

You've dropped, lots of false labor...any time now, eh, little Brellow?

They say that the closer to the due date, the less movement. Well, little man, you certainly have proven them wrong! And, we know that you really, really don't like having your heartbeat listened to--the nurse last week said you were ornery. I love it. Are you already aware? Certainly, I hope to not train out of you the immediate expression of your feelings on things. Beautiful baby. My little fish.

Dad has been murmuring the promise of sandwiches to you in the evening. You and your dad, sitting together, munching and having a talk about your day. I look forward to that, my guy.

Our guy! Soon, dad will be able to hold you, as well!

We're at 34 weeks, baby...

Little one...

We made it to 34 weeks! They say you have a 99% chance of surviving if born, now! And you're moving so much...I feel you with me, always. Even the painful moments...I don't mind.

Soon, you're kicking right now! Soon...

I can't wait to bundle you up, diaper you, sniff you...I can't wait to see you holding hands with dad, sleeping...

Take your time, but we both know time inside is coming to an end, don't we?
My little fish...you're now a BrellowBoy!

We're together, still, my Little Brellowfish!

29/30 weeks? I can't believe it--the end of our journey, nested the way you are inside of me...we are closer to the end than we are to the beginning at this point. Where did the time go? After 36 weeks, any labor that starts will be allowed to continue. That sounds so official! 35 weeks and 6 days, no dice. But 36 weeks...

Take your time, little Brellowfish...we can't wait to smell your hair, kiss your wee feet, whisper secrets. Dad has undoubtedly already impressed you a great deal--your kicks are most enthusiastic when he's around! That said, take your time. Take the time you need in order to be a healthy little Fish when you emerge. The discomfort is nothing, truly. Don't worry one whit about any of that--just be you and what you need.

Love,
Us

Dear Brellowfish, at 28 Weeks...

Oh, an early morning, just you and me, little fish. Your Dad had a tough weekend, and he slumbers away, which makes me glad. The house feels so good! It always feels good to be home, but the quiet time feels extra-special today.

I worked into late last night--a bit naughty, staying up until 2am, but I do that, little Brellowfish. Mama is a bit intense, sometimes--very focused. But the entire time I worked, I was aware of your presence. You refused to be ignored! You've been active and kicking for some time, now, but seeing it expressed through my belly is still amazing to me. After I went to bed, finally, you were still kicking up a storm. I put my hands on my stomach and gently pressed back. And you responded in kind...kick! Kick!

Sometime after 32 weeks, the midwife said that Dad may be able to hear your heartbeat using a toilet paper tube. For fun, he tried, yesterday. No heartbeat, but when he removed the tube and put his ear to my belly, there you were, again! Kicking, as if to say, "Yes, I know you're out there! I can't wait!" Or maybe, "Hey, this is MY space!"

Who knows--you'll have to tell us, sometime. My gosh, we can't wait to meet you.

Love,
Mom and Dad

26 weeks

25 Weeks

24 Weeks

21 Weeks

Week 21, originally uploaded by This Wee Life.

My Dear Little Guy,

Someone said that I wasn't gaining enough baby weight.

I beg to differ--you are doing a marvelous job enlarging your habitat and making space. Keep up the good work!

Love,
Mom and Dad

Baby, fall is here!

Each and every day is so special. These last days of fall are the last I'll spend with just your Dad and I--that is special. Next year, these last days of fall will be your first! How special that will be, too. By then, you will be almost 7 months old, instead of your current 17 weeks! You will be able to see these colors at 7 months, see what Mommy calls "Fire Maples," and you will be able to pick up leaves in your tiny hand and crush them with us. Crunch them, squish some fall soil, shelter in our chests from those blustery fall winds...

It is amazing.

Brellow Fish Habitat

with the slow, contemplative disposition of a thousand years

Greetings, brellowfish. Your mother has been much more active than I at this--but my late entry into this project is not a sign of disinterestedness, it is merely my way. Your mother is active, moving, creative, possessing and eminating an energy that moves things forward even when they don't realize they're sitting still. It is a powerful presence that I'm sure you'll enjoy. I'm not as fast into new things (again, not from lack of interest) and tend to think and re-think an action in a new arena, even when I would be better served by simply immersing myself in the event. When I do act, it is decisive, as you will see. Now, enough with presenting my apologies for being late to the game--but it's best you understand how we both work so that you know how to interpret us.


You have been giving me many things to smile about (aside from just your ever-nearing emergence), the most enjoyable of which is the constant cravings you are causing your mother. I like that you are often craving things that I do. Another fun event is the seemingly uncontrollable attachment that our youngest cat Sadie has to your mother now. Sadie was always a friendly and loving cat to us, but her new obsession with your mother makes us wonder if she knows you're there. Given that, in general, Sadie is not fond of people other than us, you should feel very lucky that she may already know you're on the way and decided you are an acceptable addition.


I wonder what you are thinking in there. I wonder what you'll think when you're old enough to share your thoughts--be patient, I'm sure you'll be thinking long before you can express what you're thinking, but we'll be here when you can.

Long day, but breathing

What a day! Your mama, in an effort to keep your environment as pristine as possible, stopped taking her allergy and asthma medication in January. It's been happening slowly over the past 5 years, but by January '08, mama was on very few meds and doing just fine. And then August, '08 hit, capping off "Summer of the Seriously Ugly Ragweed."

Baby B, we had to go to acute care today so mama could breathe again. I don't like these weird medicines any more than you (leuko-tryings, inhaled powders, STEROIDS? no way), so I'm taking it one minor-med at a time, but we need the oxygen, you and me.

So far, the azmacort and rhinocort are all we need, and I am using those with the lightest possible hand. I don't think I will need even 1/2 as much medicine as they predicted. We are staying indoors as much as possible, to avoid exposure. What a rotten deal--I hope when breastfeeding, there is SOMETHING of use passed onto you, other than killer badminton skills and a disdain for lists. I promise, if you have allergies, we will figure something out so you don't have to take all these meds, too.

On the flip-side of things, mama has already gained 7 pounds, and its only week 8 with you, Baby B! Can you add Vietnamese food to your list of "ways to add girth?" Thanks a bunch.

Feeling guilty about the breathing-thing,
Mama

We're Pregnant!