38 weeks!

Two weeks until our due date! I have had many people tell me that at this time, I should be miserable and ready to have my baby. I am still not sure I am ready to have her! I know it could be anytime now, which means when I wake up in the middle of the night with a stomachache, which has happened nearly every night this week, and I think this could be the time we have our baby. I wasn't sure I would make it into the New Year, but with one day left, it is looking like I will!

This last week I have been a little nauseas. Not all day, but on and off. I have also been really tired this week. Luckily, there isn't too much to do, in regards to being having our home ready for the baby. This week I had a really good run of about 45 minutes on the treadmill, thanks to having a person talking to me the whole time, I only walked once or twice for a few seconds, but I barely noticed having to go pee the whole time because we were talking. That was definitely the highlight of my workouts for the week. I have worked out everyday and done about 45 minutes of stairmaster, or stairs/ellip/run combo. And lifted a few times this week too.

My days and weeks are going through the motions until we actually have our girl! My bag is "kind of packed", as in I have her clothes in it, a blanket for her in it, and socks for me and some shorts. I still have more to put in it, but again, I feel like it could be a long time still.

My doctors appointment this week had some different things. First of all I lost about 3 pounds this week. Maybe it is being nauseas, or something, but I have still been eating the same and doing the same workouts. My scale at home had me down 5 pounds, then I ate breakfast and drank some water and was down the 3 at the office. The doctor said that it could just be fluid differences, or just losing some weight before I have her. This week I was also 80% effaced, with no dilation. Apparently, generally with your first baby you efface first, then dilate (opposite usually happens with second child). However, I am still convinced that doing those types of checkups really serve no purpose as I could be 100% effaced for weeks and have no progression or just the opposite could happen. I guess time will only tell. However, with the nausea, weight loss and tiredness, maybe it is a sign that labor is right around the corner. I also think I have had a few braxton hicks contractions. I am not sure. I haven't had any this whole time, but this week I have had a few times where my whole stomach has gotten hard, it doesn't hurt and I wouldn't have noticed it, except I bent over and was very uncomfortable. But it also feels like the baby could have just been moving and sticking up at that moment too. She has definitely been moving quite a bit this week. Last night she was up and moving so much that I was dreaming about her moving and in my dream I thought I could see her feet through my stomach!

That's about it for week 38. Onward to week 39 and a New Year!

Belly Pictures:



Random info:
Days till due date: 14!!!!
Days pregnant: 266!!!
Scary: Uterus pre-pregnancy weighs 2 ounces, now weighs 2.5 pounds!
Development: Baby is still growing and is now between 7-8 pounds and 20 inches long. More surfactant is being made and she is also putting on fat.

37 Weeks...!

We are now officially full term. If we were to have our baby now, most likely everything would be developed well and our baby would no longer be considered a "pre-term" baby. Thursday I had my weekly visit. Everything is still looking pretty good. I gained more weight, again. And my doctor told me that at this point in pregnancy she doesn't usually measure my stomach because the baby has changed position and it can affect the measurement, she did measure anyway and I measured 35/36 weeks. The baby's head is down, this time she didn't mention if it was "far" down or not, but I don't think it is much further down then where it was last week. The one improvement was that I have effaced (thinned out) to some extent. More than last week, not a lot. I am not dilated at all. She said if she was to guess, I would be going a few more weeks.

Our house is now officially clean. Very clean. Now, all we need is the baby!

Things I have learned in pregnancy, so far:

1. People make weird/rude comments: From early in pregnancy "Are you fat or pregnant?" And now asking "Are you only having one baby?"

2. Who knew that your thighs got bigger?? I mean hips are supposed to get wider...but your thighs? No, it is not because I am sitting down eating a jar of nutella (although, that does sound good!). Maybe some of it is muscle since it is like I am working out with a weight vest on, while I do stairmaster, run and lunges (still holding the same weight) lol, I can only hope!

3. I never thought I would "outgrow" my "big" clothes/tops. I for sure thought that some of my bigger t-shirts, longsleeves and workouts shirts would last me through everything. I have for sure outgrown almost all of my clothes and have had to turn to some of Pedro's workout shirts.

4. I thought running 20 miles was difficult. Running pregnant is way more difficult. Feeling like I need to go pee for almost the entire run, is definitely not pleasant. As I have gone along and gained weight, my feet also get tired and want to cramp some. Not enough to stop, maybe that is because the pee problem has made me have to stop a few times already.

5. Early pregnancy, when I assume my gait had changed some because I wasn't "using" my abs as much, I was getting a sharp pain in my butt. Now that I am later in pregnancy, after I run (and sometimes just because), my "tail" hurts. I know this is loosening of the ligaments, but my tail can really catch me off guard!

6. No matter how much you workout, you will gain whatever you are going to gain. I do not eat that much. For instance a usual day is this: Oatmeal for breakfast with milk to drink. An egg sandwich for lunch, or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. And for dinner whatever I make (which is usually pretty decent), usually gets eaten mostly by Pedro. Today was broccoli cheese and potato soup (not a full fat version). Some days I only get two meals in because I am out and about doing stuff.

7. I have many (or better yet, most) days that I do not even know that I am pregnant. I would have definitely thought that I would "feel" pregnant, especially at 37 weeks. I only notice how pregnant I am, when my "tail" hurts or I have to get off the sofa (or out of the car)! I also have a hard time tying my shoes and putting pants on, it reminds me of having a back injury where you can't bend over. I am not sure when I made this change over to having these problems, but I think it has been more recent.

8. I don't have problems sleeping at night, however, I do have a problem sleeping because I wake up feeling like I have to go pee. So, it's not because I am uncomfortable (since I don't notice being very large), but because I have to go to the bathroom (one night last week I got up 6 times!).

9. I worried about having a lot of symptoms. I haven't really had any (knock on wood). I haven't had any real cravings or aversions. I have had some heartburn, but not long lasting. I haven't had braxton hicks (yet), I have had some cramping. I am not a moody person in general, so that hasn't been a problem. Tired? Well, that is a difficult one because I am tired, but I am generally tired (in the past because of the hours spent working out). I have had some mid back pain (is this a pregnancy symptom? I assume since I have never had it before).

10. I still have a hard time believing there is a baby in there. Yes, she kicks me and tells me, but it kind of reminds me of when you have a muscle twitching. I mean I know there is a baby in there, but I really do have a hard time believing it!

11. Everyone said that time would go so slowly near the end. I swear it has been going faster and faster!

12. I thought I would be ready to have a baby. But as it get's closer, I am not sure that this is the case! Am I ready to have someone else control my schedule? Lack of sleep? No more long showers? No more scheduling my work whenever I feel like it? I know, I know. Everyone says that once you have her that they wouldn't trade having her for anything else. But until I have her, I am trying to be as selfish as possible and take advantage of all my "me" time (plus Stella, Polar time and Pedro too)!

13. I am usually a night person. I generally really enjoy evening workouts and doing stuff then. However, at this point, when I have waited that long to go to the gym, I am tired and wish I would have gone earlier in the day. So, this is a big change for me, I don't want to go real early, but mid morning would be a much better idea. I still go, but motivation is a bit less.

14. I never knew people would really think it is weird that I am working out everyday while pregnant. I never really thought about it before, but when I see a pregnant person working out, I didn't think that they should be "resting". But apparently that is a very common thought process. Working out does take a different mental attitude, since you are working out everyday and things get harder, slower and you get heavier. Which is probably the only time in your life that you will feel like this, but I can't imagine not doing it. I think it will make working out and seeing benefits that much more fun! Although, I workout because I enjoy working out and I miss it if I miss a day, but I have probably worked out in some form or another since I was in 3rd or 4th grade.

Belly pictures:


Ok, so I wasn't thinking I was looking that much bigger until I saw THIS!


Random facts:
Days till due date: 22!!
Days pregnant: 258!
Development: Full term, all functions should be working now, although she is still growing and gaining weight
Size: 20 inches and about 6.5lbs (still gaining about .5 lbs a week)
Movement: Should slow down some because there is less room, however she is moving A LOT it seems, maybe more wiggles and stretching.

36 weeks...

My weekly doctors appointments started this last Thursday. Everything is looking good. This week I measured 35, so still normal. I was up a couple more pounds from the two weeks before. The baby's head is down, but not "far" down. And I have not dilated. I know that it can go from this to having a baby tomorrow, or I could be dilated and it take weeks. But as of now, I am not dilated and hoping she stays put for a bit. At this point, my thought is, until at least AFTER Christmas. I am coaching and have games Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week, plus a few lessons and then it is Christmas.

It is funny, because our main countdown is to having the baby, I keep forgetting that Christmas is right around the corner! We just can't believe that we will be having a baby VERY soon. Again, listening to people and other blogs of people just having babies, makes you WORRY way more! His co-worker just had a baby and said that HE was so EXHAUSTED, that his wife couldn't wake him up. Mind you, they were still in the hospital, after having delivered the baby! Imagine, when they go home! Actually, he won't be as tired because he will go back to work, so depends on what he has to do with the baby when he gets home. Another person posted about a day in a life of a 7 week old, and that didn't sound any better. Note to self: STOP reading or having people TELL me how horrible it is.

Workouts have still been going well. The only problem has been with running. I ran 3 or 4 days this week and all but 1 of those days was pretty horrible. Horrible meaning that it was causing some "pain" down there, like a nerve was getting pinched. It wasn't severe, but enough to make running miserable, on the one day that I had to run (with run club), at least it was on the treadmill so I could walk some. The other days I switched to stairmaster because that is still fine.

Yesterday, we went to the Bronco's vs. Patriots game. The Patriots killed the Bronco's, so it wasn't as much fun for me, but the seats were pretty good and they were on the aisle so it was nice to be able to get in and out. Plus the weather was excellent! It was about 56 degrees! Here is a picture from the game:




Belly Pictures from week 36:




Random facts:
Day's till due date: 25!!!
Day's pregnant: 255!
Baby size: 6lbs and 20 inches
Gross/Strange Baby Development: Baby is swallowing the downy and waxy covering on her body, which will make up her first poop (meconium).
Development: At the end of this week the baby will be considered FULL TERM! Almost all of the baby's systems have been developed and ready to go!

35 weeks...

Only 5 weeks left until my due date. 2 more weeks until I would be considered full term. This last week went pretty fast, but I didn't get to do my usual sleeping in routine. Which is sad, because I am trying to take advantage of all the days I can, before our little girl comes and steals my sleep for 18 years. I had to get up early this week because we finally got our new windows put in! We are hoping this saves us on our energy bills, especially since we will actually have to turn on the heat when she is here (not keep our house at 57 degrees, 56 at night with a fan on and windows open).

With our windows put in and our house more organized, I am really trying to "deep clean" everything else. My mom helped early in the week to organize a few things and help me get rid of some things that I really didn't want to. Then she cleaned out our "cat room" so that now it is super clean. If our girl were to show up soon, we would be pretty ready, but hopefully she stays put for another year or so, I mean 5 weeks or so.

This week I have had some cramping. Nothing severe, but I haven't had any cramping since the incident back at 25 weeks or so. That and some mid back pain have been my only issues this week. My tailbone area has been a little more sore after running, but I think my gait has changed more this week. I think I might be officially starting to waddle a little bit more, or at least I feel like I am. My running pace on the treadmill has slowed down a bit more, but I have been doing more combo of cardio. 10 minutes on treadmill, followed by 10 on stairs, then maybe 5 on elliptical, or some sort of combo then repeating it for about 45-60 minutes. Staying on one is getting really boring.

This upcoming week will be a crazy busy week. Starting on Sunday I have lessons and shopping with the team for the family we adopted. Then Pedro has an interview on Monday. Then we have a restaurant review I want to get done, just in case we have our girl soon. I have 2 practices (plus lessons I need to schedule), a doctors appointment, Pedro's work Christmas party, a race at the gym, Collin's bday dinner and finishing with the Bronco/Patriot game next Sunday. Plus the normal stuff that needs to get done. Hopefully, all of our events won't make her want to come out and join us.

35 week belly picture:




Random info:
Days till due date: 34!!!!
Days pregnant: 246!
Baby's length: 20 inches
Baby's weight: about 5.5lbs, has gone from about 2% body fat at 20 weeks to 15% body fat now (hoping to get to about 30%)
Development: Brain is developing a lot during this time.
Scary: All of the websites about 35 weeks pregnant talk about "birth plans" and freezing food etc. so you have stuff to eat after you have the baby...makes it seem even closer!
Days till doctors appt: 5 (then every week)

A day in the life of my children...

I am pretty sure that their lives will change just about as much as mine when the baby arrives. So, I figured I should give them a post, so we can all remember their controlling schedule!

Stella and Polar are very needy babies, who love to sleep, when they are not being needy. I assume our baby will be even more needy, but hopefully just as sleepy!

Our day begins with Stella in the bed, with her legs on top of me, snoring away. Yes, she is snoring, because just like me, she has put on some sympathy pregnancy weight. I get up and tell her to wake up. She looks at me, then quickly goes back to sleep. I uncover her, so that she knows that I am serious, we are getting up. Then I go and wake Polar up. Polar sleeps on the sofa in another room. He is baby gated in his room, because unlike Stella and I, he is an early riser and he will come and wake us up! He gets up from the sofa, super excited and wants to run and jump. Meanwhile, Stella is slowly staggering out of bed, because she knows if she isn't out of bed before Polar makes his way to the room, he will jump on her. Stella definitely takes after me. Stella stretches and I hear her jump out of bed and Polar RUNS to go and get her. She gives him a little growl, but he doesn't care and keeps jumping and playing.

At this time I am brushing my teeth and after both dogs RUN downstairs and outside, then RUN back upstairs, Stella goes back and lays on Polar's sofa to lay in the sun and Polar comes and sits in the bathroom with me. He needs morning love. After this I check my emails and they both lay on the sofa, or if it is the summer, they may go downstairs and lay outside in the sun. After I finish emails I ask if they would like breakfast. If my emails take me awhile, Stella will start barking at me and running around, which means, HURRY UP! They both get up and go downstairs with me. Now that Stella is a little chunky I have to feed them separately and not leave the bowl full of food. I feed Stella first, while Polar walks around the table by the bowl, going in circles, like a shark. Stella eats and then I put food in the bowl for Polar. While Polar eats I baby gate Stella in the kitchen with me so that he can eat all of his own food. Stella just stares at him.

While I eat breakfast both dogs usually lay on the sofa while I eat. If it is really cold downstairs, Polar will go to his room and lay in the sun, while Stella stays with me. If it is hot out, this is when they usually lay outside. After this, it usually depends on what we do for the day. If we don't have a lot to do, the dogs will sleep and lay around. If I am going somewhere and I put on sneakers or something, the dogs will start running around the house full speed. They know the signs of leaving the house and are ready to go.

When we go someplace, depending on the time I will be gone, I have to get their leashes, water and make sure their blankets are laying in the back of the car. The dogs go out to the car with the garage closed and Stella will jump into the car on her "side." Polar has recently decided he is too scared to jump in with the tight fit of the trunk and the garage door. So he will sit with me by the passenger door of the car while I open the garage. He waits and then once I see there is nobody outside he will go with me and jump in his "side" of the car. Both dogs go with me most places, unless it is REALLY cold or hot.

In the evening, we follow a similar dinner routine except this time Stella will nudge the food container until I allow her to eat. It is non-stop nudging and crying until I feed her. Polar will just stand by the bowl with his ears down and stare at me. Apparently, if I am in the kitchen making my own food, it means that it is their time to eat, so this routine happens if I am making lunch too. Then we separate and eat again. When we watch tv downstairs, Stella likes to lay between my legs and Polar likes to lay ON me, whether that be on my legs, stomach (even while pregnant), or any other part of me that he can lay on. They frequently try to trick each other by getting up and chasing the cat, then they will run back and try to get the spot they really want to lay. At about 10:30pm, Stella decides that it is time for their "fun". She will cry, run around or sit on the stairs and stare at me. This means that she knows it is time for us to go upstairs and the dogs each get their own bone. I baby gate Polar in his room and Stella goes to our room. They get their bones while I shower. After I am done showering I take their bones and they get a drink then go to the place where the other one had their bone, where they check for anything left on the floor, which frequently means they lick the floor for about 15 minutes. Then I hear Polar RUN down the stairs and outside to go to the bathroom. Stella waits upstairs. If I am still in the bathroom, they will lay outside the door, waiting for the next great part of their day. They get a treat when they go to bed. Polar runs to his room and Stella sits right outside his door. I do a few tricks with Stella while Polar waits patiently. I give them each a treat and then make Polar's "cove". I take the blankets and make a cove for him to sleep, since it is pretty cold in our house (if you see in the picture above he has kicked the blankets onto the floor). He jumps up in the cove and lays down, I cover him up and tell him goodnight and then baby gate him in the room. Stella has gone downstairs at this point, to make sure there is no food crumbs left and to go outside. I get into bed and then I will hear Stella SPRINTING through the doggy door and up the stairs to bed. She usually jumps on the bed, checks that I am there, then jumps off and gets a drink then returns and gets back under my blankets with me and snuggles up. If Pedro is working she gets his WHOLE side of the bed, which is great for both of us, she loves to have her own pillow and stretch out room and still be covered up.

The next morning the routine starts again....

Here is another picture for you:

34 weeks...

I know, I keep saying it. Time is FLYING by! I can't believe that our due date is now 41 days away! I had my two week checkup this week and everything is looking good. I only gained 1 lb during these two weeks, which is one of the first times since the second trimester that I haven't gained a pound in a week. Trust me, I am not complaining! Funny thing is that I still don't think that I have gotten any bigger! This week that was a little true, because I measured 33 weeks instead of 34 weeks. Still normal, but as I keep saying, sometimes you are ahead and sometimes you are behind. However, when I look at my picture it reminds me of the one I took in Florida, where I look extra big. I think I look wider this week, which again makes sense since she seems to either lay sideways or diagonal, with one foot on my hip and the other in the opposite rib.

This week I have been tired. More tired than usual. By the time the evening comes I want nothing more than to take a nap. However, that is about the time that I have lessons, practice or my workouts. I really need to get the workouts done earlier in the day when my energy levels are higher and so is motivation! I decided to take a class at the gym this week. It was pretty funny. I choose a class that has a lot of unstable movements. One of our first things in the class was to do medicine ball tosses between the legs to a partner that then passed the ball over their head. Super easy if you are not pregnant. But, I had to do all squats when I passed the ball, instead of a combo bend/squat. Then we did a lot of stuff on a bosu and I even did chest press on a ball, where you have to hold your core up. It wasn't difficult at all! I was also using weights heavier than everyone in the class, they probably thought I was crazy! My doctor told me that I should just wear a note that says "Yes, my doctor has said this is fine for me to do." I probably look the most crazy when I am running on the treadmill! Or when I am spotting Pedro, which apparently freaks people out.

Today we took some maternity photos. My mom was appalled and claimed that they were "naked" photos. I was fully clothed minus showing the stomach. Not sure how that makes me naked? She asked if I would be showing people my "naked stomach"...totally hilarious! Here is one of our pictures of just me, so if you are worried, you might want to close your eyes now!





We have many more photos, so I will post a few more later!


Here is this weeks belly:




Random info:
Days till due date: 41!!
Days pregnant: 239
Weight gained: 31 lbs!
Baby size: about 5 lbs and 20 inches long
Strange fact: Waxy coating on baby is getting thicker this week
Baby development: fingernails have reached the tips of her fingers
Days till next doctors appointment: 12

33 weeks..

Seven more weeks left until our 40 week due date. 37 weeks is still considered full term, which could mean in a month, we could be delivering a full term baby. Am I ready? As my aunt said...are you ever ready? Our list of items which we "need" is becoming smaller and smaller. Or at least for the items we "think" we "need". All the small things, like getting the house REALLY cleaned and getting rid of things that we don't "need", are all on our list of things to do.

I have definitely been blessed with a pretty good pregnancy so far (knock on wood). I have continued to feel good, even normal. Unless, you count the fact that when I went for a 3 mile run yesterday, which is all uphill the way out (really it is!), I had to walk a few times on the way out, but I ran the whole way back. That extra weight and squishing of the lungs sure makes hills a lot more difficult! For run club tomorrow, I picked a location that is downhill at the beginning and then flat. I don't mind having to walk up the hill on the way back, but starting off walking is never fun!

I don't think I have gotten much bigger the past few weeks. But I guess when you see yourself everyday, it is harder to tell.



Random facts:
Days till due date: 49!
Days pregnant: 231
Baby's size: 4.25-more than 4.5lbs
Baby's length: 17-19 inches in length
Growth: Baby could grow another inch this week and will gain a third or even double her weight before being born.
Development: Baby now has her own immune system
Day's till next doctors appt: 6

32 weeks...

I am a little late with the 32 week post. Nothing of great interest this week and we have been busy with two birthday parties and a food review. Again, the weeks seem to come very quickly. Everyone says this last part of the pregnancy is the longest part. I am not sure when the "dragging" part of the weeks will come, because they sure have not yet! This time of the year usually goes fast, so I am pretty sure it will go even faster now.

This week I had my doctors appointment. Everything is still going well, measuring and weighing on track. If you can say that gaining a 1lb a week is on track! Better 1 than 2, I guess. Each week that I am bigger, it is hard to believe. Some days I feel small (haha) and some days I feel really big. But still for the most part, I wouldn't know that I am pregnant. I asked the doctor what she "thought" the baby might weigh, but she said she really has no idea because we will not do another ultrasound, unless my measurements become really off, one way or the other. She said she would guess a 7.5-8lb baby, but that was just a guess.

In our progress of getting things done, we moved the dog kennels to the garage and put the pack and play up in the computer room. Yes, we have something in almost every room for her, mainly because we have dogs and I don't plan on just putting her on the floor with the dogs. I'm sure some people think my dogs are devils and might eat her, I more worry that in their "fun" they would jump on her, or lick her so much that she would need a bath.

Here is to another fast week, 4 days till Thanksgiving and our 33rd week.






Random facts:
Days pregnant: 226
Days till due date: 54
Baby size: 19 inches and 4 lbs
Baby gains: about .5lbs a week from now until due date
She has toenails, fingernails and real hair, her skin is not see through and is plumping up

31 weeks..

Time continues to fly by! 31 weeks pregnant, sounds pretty scary! Things are coming together pretty well in our house. Her room is looking very nice, hope she likes pink (like her dad!). However, it still looks like a tornado has gone through the room. All of her clothes are washed and put away. However, the closet top and floor still have luggage pieces and some of Pedro's things along with the glider chair, that is currently home to Pedro's shorts. Hopefully he finds a new home for them soon, so I can finish putting her stuff in there. I try not to let the dogs play in the room, they get to go in, but mainly they just lay down on the floor while I am doing things.

Nothing else exciting this week. I have been busy with practice and lessons (my weekend has 6 scheduled right now). Running this week has taken place on the treadmill, although it has been nice out, I have not taken advantage of it because I have to be at the gym for lessons, so I figure I will just workout there.

Still have been feeling good. The only strange thing I get is that I get this pain in the middle of my back. Not sure what it is, but I definitely have been getting it more. And sometimes I have a "burning" pain in one of my ribs. I assume she just likes to push against a nerve causing some of the pain. During most of my pregnancy I have not wanted dessert. However, the last two weeks or so, that has changed back to my normal dessert loving self!

Here is a picture of one of the walls we did this week:


We also got a new rug, once I take a picture I will put it up.

Here are the belly pictures:


And no, I am not watching wrestling now, because I have a big belly like a sumo wrestler (as seen by the TV, that is Pedro's show)




Random info:
Day's pregnant:217
Day's till due date: 63
Baby length: 18 inches
Baby weight: the average is 3.25 lbs right now...no idea how big our girl is
Baby: Sleeping more and may gain 3-5 more lbs prior to delivering, which is her main job right now, plumping up!
Day's till next doctors appt: 6 days

30 weeks!

I am in the 30's! Our baby girl could arrive in 7-12 weeks (or earlier, but hopefully she decides to grow a bit more first). That is a wide range, but I am hoping to make sure that I have everything ready for her, just in case she makes an early arrival. Today was my last baby shower, this one was with family. I got a lot of good necessities, so now we have a good idea of what we still need or want. Tonight, I took all of our newborn to 3 month clothing out and organized them all to be washed. Then I took the summer/dresses/short sleeves 3-12 month stuff (not very much), 6-12 month winter long sleeves and hoodies (not too many), and 6-12 month long pants (a few pair), and put them in one storage bin, labeled with sizes and seasons, so if the season changes, or she grows into a bigger size, I have them labeled and easy to find. I have no idea how many times you change a baby's clothes in a day, but I am sure it is a lot, so you can never have too much stuff, and for different seasons, we have only a few outfits, or only a few as she grows. I have no idea how big she will be when she is born, so I am not sure what size she will be needing. I am not going to wash any of the bedding yet, because we are hopefully getting new windows soon and so they will be out in the open and will need to be washed again once we get those done.

I would say that I don't feel like I have grown that much in the past month, but some people think I look bigger? I guess, I don't know since I see myself everyday. My doctor appointment this week went well, I now start going every two weeks. I measured fine (she didn't give me a measurement) and my blood pressure was still low and my heart rate was a nice 58 bpm, good to see some benefit from all of the working out I do! The funny thing was that I had randomly weighed myself a few days before my appointment and then again the night before my appointment I had not gained any weight in the three weeks, until that morning I got on the scale and I had literally gained 2lbs that day. Whatever! I have not been as hungry lately and it seems if I eat a bigger meal, I get a stomachache. Must not be as much room. I think I need to eat smaller meals. I have been having some heartburn (not the severely painful kind, just an annoying kind), in the evenings and when I run.

The only other symptoms I have been experiencing is that this past week or so I have been a bit more tired than usual. Besides that, I still feel normal (besides the everyday bloody nose and dry lips). The other day at the mall I went to get a sample of the good candy they have and a lady said that "the pregnant lady needs to feed the baby" and I was a little confused why she was saying that, until I remembered I was pregnant! haha!. Yesterday, I ran 5 miles at a pretty fast pace, outside with run club and felt completely fine. I get a little sore in my lower abdomen in the afternoon after the run, it feels kind of like sore muscles, which I am sure are doing extra work to hold up the baby! But the pain goes away by the evening.

This week we have been pretty busy, organizing the baby's room, figuring out where some of Pedro's clothing will go and finding things for the room. Then we did two restaurant reviews and went to see two movies. Plus, I have had quite a few lessons and my own workouts (everyday), the baby shower, and practices. Been quite a busy week, that is the reason the post is a few days later than usual.

Alright here are a few pictures, I should have some more from the baby shower soon.

Here is some of the work we have done in the room:


This is a coat hanger and we put the monkey, bird and the leaves. The wall color is light pink on top and chocolate brown on the bottom, but it looks darker in the picture. This is how the rest of the room is painted around (half pink/brown).


The cake from the shower, Dena got it and it matches everything awesomely! Don't look at the ugly baby pictures of Pedro and I, I feel bad for our daughter since we are both kind of scary!



Here are the belly pictures (she still likes to lay sideways across my stomach, or mostly on my left side):




Random facts:
Day's till due date: 68 days!
Day's pregnant: 212!
Baby is now 3-4lbs and about 17 inches long.
Baby's new skills: Brain is developing grooves. She is learning to regulate her own body temperature, so she is starting to lose the fine hair that covers her body. Her bone marrow has taken over red blood cell production.
She will gain about .5lbs a week from here on out.
Day's till next doctor's appointment: 11 days

29 weeks...

Each day it sinks in more and more...we are going to HAVE A BABY! Yes, I know this sounds really stupid, but really, we are not naive to believe that a child will not change anything in our lives. I guess I imagine the worse and that it will change EVERYTHING. But for instance I imagine bad things like, I imagine having to be in labor for 40 hours, to the point that, even though I don't want an epidural because of my fear of them, but me having one because I have been in labor for so long that I give in to the idea (or maybe this will happen immediately, I have no set in stone plans, other than I would MUCH prefer no epidural bc of my fear). Anyway, I imagine a baby that will keep me up so much, that I will not know what my name is the first few weeks. I imagine most things as being infinitely more difficult. Yes, I know people have kids all the time. My expectations are just for the most extreme. I HOPE Pedro, enjoys our newborn as much as he enjoys the toddlers, however, maybe we will take the trade off, because the idea of chasing around a toddler, sounds just as exhausting! My mom got me a book, the chicken soup for the soul for new moms book. Anyway, that doesn't make it any better! The stories keep talking about how they are so tired they are wearing different shoes. Or how they went for a run with their baby in a stroller and it screamed once they got to the turn around point of the run (although it was mile 12 of a 24 mile run) and had to run the whole way back with a screaming baby. I know people say the tradeoff is well worth it, but scary nonetheless! I told Pedro that he may have to start running some of our errands (not likely) once the baby arrives, for instance today, we had to get dog food. We were driving to get the food, which Pedro has been with me to get a few times, in the past year. And he starts going to a store that I haven't been to in almost two years. Then we get to the store and I tell him to grab the bags of food (we buy two different brands and mix them) and he grabs the small bags. I told him those are not the bags we buy, we buy the big bags because our dogs would eat the small bags in a week... and he wasn't sure which size we usually buy. Worries me quite a bit, because that would have been something easy to go and do! Oh, well...he will get the hang of it, or I will, lol.


This week, I swear I have gotten bigger. Not sure if the pictures will demonstrate that, but usually I wake up thinking "I'm looking skinny today (sort of)", but this week I feel quite a bit bigger. I have also had a horrible cold for nearly a week, which has made my sleep not very good. My glucose results came back normal, I was a little worried since the ultrasound tech thought our baby was really big, which can be a sign of gestational diabetes. But all my lab work was good.

Workouts have just been ok this week, because of the cold. Monday's run club, instead of running with everyone, I took Stella with me for a 3 mile jog/walk, because the cool air was making my throat/cough worse. With the snow this week, I think I might have made an official change (minus Saturday's and nice warm days), to runs on the treadmill. Prior to being pregnant the treadmill was the most horrible thing ever. Now, the idea sounds pretty good. I can run slow, and not "see" how slow I am running (which at this point is ridiculous) and I can go to the bathroom at any point and my water is right there. I may change my mind once it gets nice out again, but this week that was my main workout. I did the stairmaster a few times, but my cold was making me short on breath, but this didn't happen on my slow treadmill runs.


This week we have also started painting. We needed to paint our hallway, so that has been almost completed and we have primed the walls in the baby's room. Tomorrow we are hoping to do almost all of the painting, in the baby's room. Then after my shower next week, we will be able to get the whole room done! Which is good news, just in case our little one decides to make an early appearance.

This weeks belly pictures:



Here I am at week 25, only 4 weeks ago!




Random facts:
Day's till due date: 78
Day's pregnant: 202
Baby's length: 17 inches
Baby's weight: 3-4 lbs
Scary fact: She is almost her length now, but will come close to TRIPLING her weight over the next 11 weeks.
Development: teeth buds for permanent teeth are forming in her gums
Day's till next doctor appt: 7 (then every two weeks)

28 weeks or 3rd Trimester!

I can't believe we are already in the 3rd trimester. Time has flown by. Remind me of this when I am even bigger than I already am and I am swearing about how large I am, and how long it is taking. Or at least, I have heard that the last few weeks are the hardest because you know the baby could be coming at any time..and you are a lot bigger (can I actually get bigger? I don't want to know the answer to that!).

I also did my glucose test this week. It was ok, the baby enjoyed the sugar because she was moving for the entire hour after I drank it.

Anyway, the exciting news was that today we went for a 3d/4d ultrasound. We went ahead and paid for one in case we would not get any more ultrasounds and since the baby wasn't exactly cooperative last time we wanted to try again. Today was no different. Our baby is not very helpful when we want pictures. They think it is because my abs are really strong (can't believe there are any muscles at this point) and they are holding everything in closer. Funny, because my stomach is so large, I can't believe there is not A LOT of room in there! Anyway, we did confirm that the baby is a GIRL! We also found out that she is estimated to be pretty big. Right now at 28 weeks she should weigh about 2.25 lbs. The tech believed that she is closer to 3.5 lbs (or about 3 weeks ahead). She has a nice double chin, chubby cheeks and appears quite chunky. As, we know things could be big this week and smaller or on track next, but right now she seems to be sizing up to be a big baby (haven't decided if this is good or bad...lol). She liked to smile a lot. She also liked to put her giant feet by her face so we couldn't get a good view.

Here are a few of her pictures:







Here is my belly at 28 weeks:




Random facts:
Baby size: 16 inches long (we did not measure her today)
Baby weight: apparently between 2.25-3.5 lbs
Days till next doctor appt: 13 days
Days till due date: 84
Days pregnant: 196
Development: Baby now blinks and has REM sleep cycle so she could be dreaming

27 weeks...

This is the last week, before being in the 3rd trimester! I have now officially reached my highest weight ever, in my life. Surprised that I have almost weighed this much before? When I played bball I weighed close to this and when I could bench 225lbs (hard to imagine right?) I weighed close to this. I am up about 23lbs right now ( + or -3lbs depending on time of day and water weight). I have been gaining appropriately during the second trimester of about 1lb per week. The doctor said some people taper off a bit during the third trimester and some people gain more. Let's hope that I either taper off, or maintain a slow gain.

This week I had my regular checkup at the doctors office. After waiting for an hour in the room because my doctor was in labor and delivery, I had my five second checkup. This week, I am measuring slightly ahead, but I know this measurement can be ahead, behind or on track and change each time. I think she said I was close to 28.5 weeks, and I am 27 weeks. So, not a huge difference, although it probably was the growth of the week before. Baby's heartrate was around 150 and everything is looking good. Next week, I have to go do the glucose test and then I will be back at the doctor at week 30 and then going every two weeks after that. I can't believe how time has flown.

My workouts have been going pretty good. I have been taking the dogs for a run. I take Stella out for about 2 miles then I switch and take Polar out for about the same. We are not running very fast. I think the dogs can almost walk at the speed we are going! The stairmaster and elliptical are on my off days of running and I lift weights on those days. Nothing else too exciting, other than I am still running. The only downside with the slow running is that I still run with run club and I know that not many people run as slow as I do, and I don't mind, but sometimes they want to stay with me and I would prefer they just get their run in, I know that I am slow and I don't want them to waste their workouts.

This week I also got my flu shot. I am not a big fan of getting one, but after hearing the pro's and con's for the baby, I decided that I would get one. I coach and spend a lot of time around kids, so in general, I am more susceptible to being around someone that might have the flu, so I went ahead and got one.

Symptom wise, things have been pretty good. I do find that when I am laying on the sofa, I have a hard time breathing if I lay a certain way. I still have the nosebleeds and I still have my "clown" lip issue. Really, other than that things have felt pretty good. Today I am a bit more tired than usual, but it could be because I know my weekend consists of coaching about 10 games or so, plus run club and a meeting at the gym.


We also had my baby shower, with my team this week! It was great! We had about 21 of my players there and their mom's. They got me a wide range of things from my registry and a lot of things that we need. When you have nothing for the baby to start with, I am very thankful, for everyone helping us get the things we need for our baby! I know some of the things are luxuries, but I am so happy people are willing to help us! We still need a large variety of things from, bottles and different size clothing, to bigger items like a monitor or pack n play. We have one more shower with our family at the beginning of November, so hopefully after that, we will be set and ready to get everything cleaned and organized!!!!

We went to a consignment sale for baby clothes this week and we got some great stuff! Most stuff was about $3.00! Here is a picture of some of the stuff we ended up with:

One fun thing was that last night while I was in bed, the baby must have been stretching out. I could feel her from one hip all the way to the other hip. So, she was laying sideways and stretching out. They were quite large kicks so the length that way must be a little short for her!

Alright here are the pictures this week:




Random Facts:
Baby's length: 15inches
Baby's weight: 2lbs
Days till due date: 91
Days pregnant:189
Development: At this point the baby has more taste buds than she will at any other point. This means that she can easily taste the food that I am eating and may react to it! (spicy food..mmm).
Days till ULTRASOUND: 7!!
Days till next doctors appt: 21 or 6 if you count my glucose test.

26 weeks...

This last week was the first time that I have had any "issue" during pregnancy. I am not sure I will call it an issue. But it did call for me to have an early doctors appointment. Last Friday, I woke up to a really bad sharp pain on my right side. I was thinking, this is quite awful, I can't imagine labor pain! Anyway, it lasted for part of the morning and was pretty painful, but I figured it was pain from the baby growing and now occupying my right side (if you remember two days prior was the first time I had felt her on that side). I worked out and did my usual stuff and then later in the evening I was very crampy. Not just on the right side, but had pretty bad cramps. I drank some extra water and figured I would see what Saturday would bring. Saturday, I ran in the morning but only 2.5 miles, I didn't want to aggravate whatever the issue was the day before. I was fine, but after I ran, I had one lesson then I went home and rested the rest of the day and drank plenty of water. But by mid afternoon, I was crampy again. It went away and came back again that night when I went to bed. Sunday I woke up with the feeling and then had to coach 5 games, and my stomach just felt "different" than what it has been feeling. That is the best way I can explain it. My mom and Pedro were both very worried. I wasn't worried, just assumed it was growing pains. Although, everyone that I talked to told me they never had these pains/cramps and then one person told me she did and it was pre-term labor. Great. I called the nurse Monday morning and told her that I was currently feeling fine, but I explained the cramping over the weekend and she decided it was best for me to come in that morning.

I went to the office and they did my blood pressure (110/55), heart rate (62), measured me (25), weighed me (up 3lbs) and listened to the baby's heartbeat (155). Everything was looking right on track and good. She told me that it was probably just growing pains and that maybe with my tight abs/obliques before that it would cause more pulling than an average person. She told me that the running I am doing could cause more of the pain as it pulls more on my muscles. She didn't say I couldn't run, just that it might get more uncomfortable for me. I know the pain she is referring to from running, I get it most days after I run, it feels just like a sore muscle in my lower (what use to be) abs. That doesn't bother me. I'm going with what she said it was, growing pains, but it was a little different than the pains that I have had from running and even today, laying in bed I was a bit achy in my hip/oblique area. I will still go back for my next appointment as scheduled and continue on from there.

This week we got a very unexpected present in the mail, but one I have been wanting. We got our BOB stroller! That is exciting, because I plan to run with our baby, but also because it isn't a little stroller where Pedro will look like he is pushing a doll's stroller because they are so much smaller. We will likely have both types of strollers (I think Linzy is loaning me her's) so we will have that too, but this one should be good for my runs! I assume the baby will like running, with all the running she does now!

We haven't purchased anything lately and our nursery is still at the same point. We are waiting for my first baby shower, next week with my team, and then getting the room painted, then the baby shower with my family. We will also be getting our new windows sometime in Nov. Hopefully, by about Thanksgiving we will have our room together. I don't want to have to spend the last month of my pregnancy organizing the room/clothes etc.

A big week:




As I keep saying, it is very strange. I workout everyday. I eat well. I don't eat bad food. Yet, I am bigger and heavier each week. I definitely have zero control over this!

Random info:
Days till due date: 99!!!!
Days pregnant: 181
Days till next doctors appt: 7
Days till 3rd trimester: 7!
Baby weighs: 1.75/2 lbs
Baby size: 14 inches (cucumber, not sure I have seen a cucumber this size?)
Development: Baby's ears are more developed and can hear us talking. Also, she is inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, to get her lungs practiced.
Days till 3D ultrasound: 15

25 weeks...

25 weeks and still going fine. I need to just tattoo that to me, because it seems that EVERY person I see, asks me how I am feeling. I still don't understand that question...would someone actually say "HORRIBLE"? I find that hard to believe. Even people that sit at home and complain, I don't think they would tell someone that it they feel horrible or something, would they?

This week the only weird symptom I am having is that I am having a hard time sleeping. I am tired. Then I go to bed, fall asleep for about 4 hours and then I wake up, where I am wide awake, at about 6am. Now, we know I am NOT a morning person. So, I lay in bed and and kind of doze on and off until about 800, then I seem to fall back asleep, good sleep, until like 1030. I don't know what it is, but it reminds me of after I did my Ironman. I was super tired and would fall asleep and then wake up early and have a hard time sleeping. Maybe it is similar, because they say after an Ironman, your metabolism and hormones are all out of whack, which is the same as now...so maybe that is the issue. I have read that it happens, a lot of time because people are stressed. But as we know, I am not a very stressed person (even with all the kicking, I completely forget that I am pregnant!).

My baby has been kicking me a lot on my left side. When you look at the pictures I appear really crooked, to where it looks like the baby is sitting on the left side. I think the combo with that and the placenta in the front has made for the left ONLY kicking. Last night, was the first time I have EVER felt her kick on my right side. It is probably because she is getting a lot bigger and so I can feel it there.

Workouts this week have been going fine. Nothing exciting. I read this one girls post, that is a runner and is pregnant, she said the same exact thing that I have said: Running pregnant feels like you are running a marathon. By the time you finish a 4 mile run, it feels the same as if you had been out for a 20 mile run. My legs are more tired and it seems a lot longer! That is probably because after 10 minutes I have to go pee and generally, I have to wait until I get back so that I can go...so I am counting down the miles! The only other weird thing I have had happen running is that my right foot has gone numb a few times. My shoes are not tied to tight, as I don't tie them very tight at all...and when I stop running, it comes right back. It is really annoying!

Other symptoms this week: I have had ALMOST cramping in my calves at night when I am sleeping...I stretch and feel it about to cramp and I have to quickly pull my foot back before it happens. Thankfully, I haven't had a calf cramp yet! (knock on wood). And my tailbone hurts by the end of the day, I find I have to sit more on my butt, and not lean back or it will definitely hurt!

On a separate note, yesterday Pedro had to have two teeth pulled and a cavity filled, all on one part of his mouth. Oddly, for being such a wimp about going to get it done, he hasn't complained at all! So, I guess it feels better now that the teeth are out that were causing him so much pain. Now it is just a pain to our bank account.

Our registries are pretty much done (Target and Babies 'R Us) and we will be planning my baby shower sometime soon.

Two more weeks until the 3rd Trimester! I can't believe how quickly time has flown by!





Random facts:
Days till due date: 106 (likely to be the last post in the 100's!!)
Days pregnant: 174
Size of baby: 13.5 inches long (body/weight size of a rutabaga)
Weight of baby: 1.5lbs
Development: By weeks end, air sacs will have developed in the lungs
Odd development: Baby's nostrils have been plugged up until now, are starting to open
Days till doctors appt and 3rd trimester: 14 days

24 Weeks...

Another week has flown by! I am now 24 weeks pregnant. I would say this is 6 months (6 months x 4 weeks), but most places claim 23 weeks is beginning of 6 months (not sure how that works). This week, I have been a little more tired than most weeks. It seems being pregnant you go through weeks of feeling great and weeks or days of feeling tired. That seems to be my common pregnancy symptom, being tired. However, I am generally a tired person! LOL...but usually that is because I have worked out for some huge amount of time. Clearly, not the case now!

Workouts have been going pretty ok this week. Since I have been feeling a little more tired, I feel the same tiredness in my workouts. This was one of those weeks where you get annoyed because no matter what I do, some days doing 40 minutes on the stairmaster makes me feel like that is one of the hardest workouts ever! When really, I went from doing 1.5 hours on level 9/10 to 40 minutes on level 4. As I said, it just seems that some weeks feel a little more difficult than other weeks. Hopefully this next week is better!

Other than that, nothing too exciting going on. I think, looking at the picture this week that I might look bigger than I did last week, but if you were to ask me I would have said that I wasn't any bigger. However, I was wearing a regular tank top at the gym today, a long one (one of only 5 gym shirts that I own that fit), and I was working out and walked past the mirror and noticed that a small portion of my stomach could be seen! I can tell you nobody wants to see that !!!! Last year I was on the stairmaster next to a lady that had her shirt off doing the stairs. I know that they say pregnant women feel hot quicker, but it definitely does NOT look hot! Please, everyone keep their shirts on and long enough not to show belly. I will now just go back to one of the 4 shirts that now fits! Hopefully, these will last throughout the rest of my pregnancy as I do not want to buy any!

The only symptoms I have had have been the tiredness, nosebleeds (yes they have continued) and my stupid dry lip thing...that looks like I have been drinking Kool-aid. UGH! Can't stand it! I have had it since about week 12 and I have tried EVERYTHING to make it better.

This week we have accomplished a few things. We put together quite a few things ("We" as in Pedro). We now have our crib, glider, changing table and dresser in the room. Sounds like a lot? It is! We are going to have to figure out how to make it all work. Right now most of Pedro's clothes are still in the room and some other things, so ignore all of the extra clothes etc. lying around, but here is our current room:


We are going to paint the room and do some other things, so hopefully it will look nice!


Alright, here are this weeks pictures (I want to remind you I take these pictures right when I get up, so that I don't have a "food" baby too!):






Random Facts:
Days Pregnant: 167
Days till due date: 113
Update on the weight gained: I want to say that I posted 19lbs last week. HOWEVER, two days before the doctor I was up 19 lbs, then the day before the doctor my scale said up 15lbs...so I'm sure I am somewhere around this number. I must retain water like no other!
Milestone: At 24 weeks your baby has a 40% chance of surviving if born today
Size: Nearly 1 FOOT long! They say an ear of corn, but I imagine a foot long sub!
Weight: about 1.3 lbs
Uh Oh fact: amniotic fluid is changing this week and will INCREASE in volume, does that mean I will be getting a lot bigger??
Baby body: Cartilage is being replaced with bone

23 weeks...

According to my book I am reading, I am now 6 MONTHS pregnant. 23rd - 27th week falls under 6 months pregnant. It says that by the end of the month my baby will double her weight! Right now she has lots of loose skin, that will start filling with fat.

This last week I decided I needed a goal for my working out. As you can tell, a person needs some sort of motivation, when it seems that no matter what you do...there isn't an "obvious" benefit". Let me also say, that I work out because I ENJOY it, not because of any other reason. The health benefit is nice, but I LOVE to workout. Yes, like everyone there are days where I do not want to workout...but those are very few. Anyway, back to the goal. This last week, since I was 22 weeks pregnant, I decided to run 22 miles. Not all at once! 22 miles use to seem like a small amount. At most that was 3 workouts in a slower week. Now it seemed like a big goal! I ran every day to reach this goal:

Friday 3 miles on the treadmill (not minding the tred because the bathroom is right by!)
Saturday 4 outside
Sunday 3 treadmill
Monday 5.15 outside
Tuesday 1.5 with Stella
Tuesday 1.5 with Polar
Weds 3 treadmill
Thursday 1.5 on the treadmill

TOTAL: 22.65 miles


This will probably be the most I will run for the rest of my pregnancy, but it was fun to do this week. I also lifted 3 days and did the elliptical twice.


This week I also had my 4 week checkup. I got to the doctors office a few minutes early and they got me in the room right away. It was a different nurse (I have seen a different nurse and different doctor each visit). This nurse, like the others, went on and on about how great it was that I workout and how my blood pressure and heart rate are low. How it will be so great for labor, for me and the baby (hmm..remind me of that then!). How it will be so much easier to get back into shape and how she wishes she could tell everyone that this is what they should be doing. That is all nice to hear, because working out is harder each week! Then she said the doctor would be right in...tick tock...tick tock...15 minutes later no doctor. The nurse comes back in and says the doctor I am there to see is in delivery right now, so depending on how long the delivery takes, will depend on if I see him or someone else. I told her I would see anyone. 10 more minutes pass and the doctor arrives. He comes in and says "Have we met?" I said "no". He told me his name and was reading mine out of the thing, so I said "I'm..." and he interrupts and says "Pregnant." Alrighty then...I can tell what type of doctor he is. He is one of those guys on Patch Adams, that describes their patients by their current status "sick, pregnant, blah blah". He immediately had me lay down...took out the tape measure, measured me, said that is good (no idea what it was), quickly grabbed the doppler, tells me heart rate sounds good (I saw the machine say 154)...then asks if I have any questions. I say no. Then he tells me to schedule in 4 weeks and that after that I will be on every two weeks appointments. Then he leaves. I think my total appointment time was less than 2 minutes. I don't want him to be my doctor, but that will probably mean it will be him.

Then today I had to meet with the GM of the gym and my "boss". I was asked about 10 times if I am capable of running. I explained that I was just upstairs running and I have run everyday this week, so yes, I am able to run. Then the GM says, well at some point you will stop...when will that be? I said, I have no intention of not being able to run. Will that mean I can run up until my delivery date? Maybe? Or maybe in a week, I will feel too uncomfortable? Who knows...I didn't tell him that part, but I don't intend to stop running unless I have to, or it is really painful. He then asked me, what my doctor thinks about me running. I told him they all think it is great and as long as I don't have any problems and I am measuring correctly that they are more than happy with it. He seemed very surprised, as did my "boss". They then asked if I am able to do my job in my condition (run and do a information table at the gym once a month, and post on a website once a week). Again with the "condition" thing...it is really annoying. Anyway, I'm not sure it is appropriate to be asking this type of question to someone in the workplace...

Everything else has been going good. We registered for a few things, but will need some help with the rest of the registry items.


Here I am at 23 weeks, not looking too much bigger:





But compare to 17 weeks:

Random Facts:
Days left till due date: 119
Days pregnant:161
Weight gained: 19lbs
Baby size: 11.5 inches, 1.1 lbs (weight is similar to a large mango)
Baby moves: I feel her move mostly when I am in bed at night or in the morning. Not many movements during the day.
Baby hears: Loud noises are now familiar, dogs barking or vacuum probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb
Baby: Now has a sense of balance and can feel you move
Days till next appointment and THIRD trimester! 27 days
3D ultrasound: coming soon! (need to schedule)