Baby, We Are Showered with Love!

Month seven in this pregnancy has been a bit of a roller coaster ride. The heartburn has gotten worse!! The baby is feeling heavy. It's hard to breath sometimes, baby must be pushing up against my lungs. Sleeping is starting to get difficult. At this point, mainly because of having to get up so many times to go to the bathroom. It's hard to get up! And, I think I have begun to feel Braxton Hicks contractions.

A week before our babyshower, I got some bad news about my dad. He ended up in the hospital due to an infection in the blood that caused failure in several of his organs. I rushed to Miami to be with him and with my siblings. I was able to see some improvement before I left, and I hope that he recognized me. But, he never regained full consciousness while I was there. I got back to Denver exhausted, but glad that I was able to see my dad.

Our babyshower was super fun! I was so thrilled to see so many people close to my heart that I hadn't seen in a while. It was a really special celebration. I felt the warmth and love of all those who came and even those that weren't able to attend but called or sent texts. A few pics...



Mama, daddy and baby

Abuela



My beloved librarian colleagues

The babyshower hosts

Tía Nubia

Tía Lety

Coworkers and Lovely Bella

Coworkers

Delicious Grand Marnier Cake - I wonder who got that big ol' piece?

Tía Pepa

Mike, Jen and Adelade

Tammy and Taylor

 

Rico and I have been working mad to get everything ready for baby (mainly Rico). Mama can't do as much anymore with the growing belly. Prenatal appointments are every two weeks now. This month I need to start working on my birthing plan. We start birthing classes this Sunday. Can't wait! I decided I want a doula, so I've been interviewing a few. Hope to choose one in the next week or so.

The baby has been moving so much!!! We have a lot of fun watching him and wondering if we're seeing a hand, a foot, an elbow... I am starting to get a little nervous. He'll be here any day now, and I wonder if we will be ready. Not just the house, but emotionally, mentally - will we know what to do at birth, or when we bring our precious hapa baby home?

A few belly pics...

33 Weeks

33 Weeks
 

Daddy thinks he has a belly, but mama has him beat in that department!





 

Babymoon & Beginning of Third Trimester

When I suggested a babymoon to Rico, I thought we might get away to the mountains for the weekend and just relax and bond before the wonderful madness of parenthood began. : ) I never dreamed that our babymoon would be on the beautiful island of Hawaii. I used to say that Hawaii was over rated. I was there once in 2008. But, this time I saw it with a new pair of eyes. It could be that all things appear enhanced to a blissfully expecting mamá. Or too, that I was able to see more of the island than just a tiny strip of Waikiki. It really is a gorgeous island.

Our babymoon was everything I could have wanted and more. The soothing warm temperatures were a welcome break from the freezing cold in Denver. Rico's family was very attentive, and I enjoyed spending time with them very much. Babydaddy and I got to eat great food and do fun things and take a break from the constant to do list back home with baby registries, and doctor's appointments, and birthing classes, getting house ready, and on and on and on... It was perfect! I think baby loved Hawaii, too, because he had a growth spurt. I was only gone a week, but all my coworkers commented on how much my belly grew in that short time! Oh and one funny story. According to Hawaiian tradition, a girl puts a flower on the right side when she's available. So here I am parading my belly all over the island with the flower on the right side indicating that I'm single and available. : ) Adelia's friend finally put it on the left side for me, and that turned out to be one of my favorite pictures of us.

Flower on the left side, finally! : )

Rico's sister Wendy and her family

Rico's sister Adelia and her family

So, I have officially begun the third trimester. I look like I have a cantaloupe in my belly. I still get nauseous almost everyday. I also still have lots of heartburn. Tums is my new best friend! My back pains have subsided, though. I feel like I'm actually sleeping a little bit better. It's weird, but in some ways I'm feeling better. I suppose the obnoxious third trimester symptoms will kick in soon. I can't wait to get into the nesting period. I want energy to finish getting this house ready for the baby.

24 Weeks

24 Weeks

25 Weeks

28 Weeks

28 Weeks

We had our first visit with the midwife practice, Center for Midwifery. All went well. I have a good feeling about this group, and I'm anticipating a positive birth experience. At my next appointment I have to do the glucose test. I have to drink 8 oz of disgusting sugary syrup. Gross!! Not looking forward to it, but I suppose it's a must.

I had a cool surprise waiting for me when I reported to work after my vacation. Looks like everything is ready for mamá and baby after maternity leave.

Our new maternity room on campus

Christmas & New Year's with Baby in the Belly

Baby and I went home to Miami to spend Christmas with my family. It was a lightening trip... we were only there a little less than 3 days. But, it was totally worth it. My family and friends just loved seeing and touching the belly. Baby got lots of lovin' and lots of presents! I enjoyed the warm weather, and actually felt relief from the pregnancy symptoms. But the highlight of my trip was when we went to see my dad at the Assisted Living Facility on Christmas Eve. He hasn't recognized me the last two times that I've visited, so I wasn't sure what to expect when I shared my news with him. I showed him my belly, and told him I was going to have a baby, and my dad said, "Finally... now you can be happy!" And, I knew that he recognized me, and he remembered our conversations and how much I wanted a baby.

Mom and Dad, Noche Buena

My siblings

My gorgeous nephews, Noche Buena

The Family

Showing off the belly, 6 months pregnant

My beautiful nieces

My baby niece made her first gingerbread house with Tia's help, of course!

We spent New Year's Eve in Denver where it was freezing cold! We spent it with a bunch of Cubans, so we got to eat typical Cuban holiday food again, moros y cristianos, puerco asado, yuca hervida... and baby got to hear Cuban salsa again.

Showing off the belly, still 6 months pregnant : )

Three preggers at the New Year's Eve Party

With my dear friend, Pepa

Daddy and I didn't get to spend the holidays together, since he was working. We had our Christmas Dinner when I got back from Miami. He gave baby adorable Converse booties and a million dollars!!! Mamá got a cute teddy bear that can be warmed up or chilled to soothe aching muscles. We had a lovely dinner at Nona's Bistro, one of my favorite Italian restaurants.

Baby's Converse Booties

Baby's Million Dollar - I don't guarantee that baby will see this, mamá is a chocolaholic!

I've already used him!

Baby, You're Doing Karate in My Belly!

I'm officially past the halfway point in my pregnancy. At 21 weeks we had our ultrasound and found out that our little angel is a baby boy. So far everything is going well and baby is progressing as he should. He's been extremely active in mama's belly. It's fun identifying his patterns - when he's sleeping, when he's up and practicing martial arts in the belly! Daddy was able to feel one of his kicks already. He's getting lots of love and attention, too. At work staff, faculty and students like to rub the belly and talk to baby. Grandma, daddy and mama read to him. Daddy, plays the guitar and sings to him sometimes. We all talk to him all the time. He gets kisses from daddy, too.

He's a boy!

Celebrating the News of Our Baby Boy

We finally got our registry done! Wow, that was a lot of work. Poor Rico had to push me around in a wheelchair at Baby's r Us, because my back was killing me. Of course we bought baby a few things... like this adorable cowboy bib.

Daddy Sports It Quite Well, Doesn't He?

I recently transferred from my practice to a midwifery practice. I'm going to attempt a water birth at Anschutz University Hospital. We have our first appointment on January 2nd. After that visit we need to sign up for birthing classes.

I wasn't able to put a Christmas tree this year. I promise my baby boy he will have a tree next year!! I did find him the perfect stocking, though! He already has two presents inside - one from mama and one from daddy.

Baby's Elmo Stocking

My mom, baby and I will be spending a few days in Miami over the Christmas holiday. I'm looking forward to spending time with family and friends, enjoying some warmth and humidity and showing off my belly. It has really popped out as you can tell from the pictures. I hope I can manage the trip. I admit carrying my baby boy has not been easy. I'm still not completely over the nausea. My new nuisance is heartburn. And then, there's my lower back. I asked my mom today if she thinks I'll be able to do this again. She said she thinks I'll think about it real heard. I told her I think once I see my son and have him in my arms I will instantly forget all the symptoms and pains of pregnancy.

20 Weeks Pregnant

20 Weeks Pregnant

22 Weeks Pregnant

22 Weeks Pregnant

Thanksgiving with Baby in the Belly

Thanksgiving 2012 was truly lovely. We got to use my new dining room furniture. The food was delicious. My flan de queso was a hit. We spent it with lovely people close to my heart. And best of all, I felt the baby on Thanksgiving day unmistakably. I felt the famous flutters I kept reading and hearing about everywhere. It was beautiful! And, I've been feeling the baby consistently everyday since.

Flan de Queso

I was also very happy that the baby and I could spend Thanksgiving with daddy. As a flight attendant, holidays are sometimes tough to get off. So, we were lucky this year. And Rico and I had so much to be thankful for this year! Since, not only do we have a precious hapa baby on the way, but daddy is cancer free. Yay!

Daddy's Matching the Wall : )

The Expecting Parents

My Momma, Her eyes are closed, but look at that smile

Thanksgiving dinner at work with the faculty, students and staff was really fun, too. I got to meet my librarian's kids and see his wife again after a really long time.

Alfredo, Amy Sue, and Their Beautiful Kids

The day after Thanksgiving, we met at my boss' place up in the mountains. We picked a tree in her 13 acres of land to put in the lobby of our campus. That was fun!

Can You Tell I'm Pregnant? 

The Tree We Chose Going Down!

My Chama, Ludy, with her Beautiful Daughters