The Pumpkin Patch & 28 Week Visit

Alex and I celebrated the return of fall this past weekend by participating in several festive traditions. First, we went to a local farm/pumpkin patch. We fed the animals, went on a hayride, and chose the perfect pumpkins. When we got home we made caramel apples and got to work carving out our pumpkins. It was a lot of fun, and I will try to post some pictures (at the moment this site is being a bit picky). Alex said he is looking forward to next year, when he doesn't have to pose alone next to the animals, the tractor, etc. He thinks it's dorky, I remind him they are cherished memories.

Our 28 week visit went well. Unfortunately my midwife forgot to put in the order for my glucose screening test so I have to go back Monday to take it. But we still got to listen to her heartbeat - which sounded strong. She kept smacking the monitor while the midwife was trying to find a good position so it was difficult to hear at first, but she finally calmed down. We start our baby classes the first week of November and I am looking forward to those. I am interested to see and hear what other women who are in the "home stretch" are doing to stay active. We have our breast cancer 5-mile walk this Saturday, hopefully I can make it to the end. Nashville does not have too many steep hills, and Alex is used to carrying heavy rucksacks so if it comes down to it, I am sure he can just carry me the rest of the way! :)

Caffeine and Belly Buttons

I realize what I am about to say is going to sound like bad parenting already. Many of you are going to think, "why would you do such a thing?" or "that doesn't sound like a very good excuse". Well, all I have to say is oh well, because I'm doing it, it's working, and that's all that matters.
I have reached the stage in pregnancy where doctor's advise you begin "counting kicks". It is supposed to help keep track of your baby's movement or at least make sure it's still alive and kicking (haha). To be honest, and this is where my bad mommy badge is awarded, I don't have the time or the desire to sit there and pay attention to her womb spasms. Besides, she doesn't even kick as much as they say she is supposed to anyway which means I would just have to pay attention even more to when she is moving. BORING! There had to be a more efficient way to make sure this biscuit is baking.
Enter Starbucks. (Or for those of you who would like to pretend I am not using a large corporate coffee conglomerate and instead have opted to support the small business owner... Enter Mama Joe's Coffee Shop). Either way, caffeine has been asked to step up to the plate. Hold on to your knickers and before you start emailing me hate mail, hear me out. I do not do this every day and when I do it is only half caff (a nice balance between decaf and full caffeine) and it is a small cup. Furthermore, if it were 1950 you would not be saying anything about this issue and wondering why I am not continuing to smoke a pack of Marlboro's every day. So there.
End result... the girl loves it! She moves at the speed/intensity the doctors are looking for and - funniest part- the coffee gives her the hiccups. I had not felt that sensation previously and it is very cool. In short, my soapbox stance is this - to monitor the health and well being of my precious little sack of gooey baby I have introduced her to the wonderful world of vanilla lattes and I'll be darned if she doesn't enjoy it.

Oh yeah, on a separate note, my belly button looks FREAKY! I truly believe that having a pregnant woman's belly button pop out is God's way of reminding up we actually have to clean inside there. I'll admit it, I found some surprises - lost socks, a letter I intended to mail, some lint. (First two = false, last one = definitely). It's an uncharted territory.