Jen & Matt's Shower

We went to our good friends' baby shower this last weekend in Newport Coast and had a great time meeting a bunch of their friends and hanging out with many we already know. There were a few of us who were pregnant, all at different stages, and a good number of moms - all with great advice for getting ready for the little one to arrive. The location was absolutely gorgeous, and the food was delicious - all around a great event!

We really have enjoyed sharing this experience with Matt & Jen, and they've been wonderful friends throughout. We look forward to the next step...parenthood! I'm sure we'll all have different adventures and adjustments, but we're so happy to get to go through it with such good people around us.

Week 36

Remember when...? 36 weeks ago we started posting these images. A lot has changed! We're starting the waiting period, when anything could happen at any time, although I don't think we're quite ready yet. I don't feel contractions, although I have had a few random ones on occasion, but everything seems pretty normal still. I'm just getting to the point of walking with my shoulders back to balance the belly, and I'm pretty happy taking it easy when I can.

I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow, and it's the first of the weekly visits as we prepare for delivery. It's also relatively important because I have a cervical exam, and I get tested for Strep B, which we hope comes back negative because it requires that I take antibiotics during delivery, and the baby will also have to take antibiotics once she arrives to ensure that she is not infected. This means being hooked up to an IV during the delivery, as well as other implications that we hope do not need to happen. So tomorrow's test is pretty important.

Week 34

8 1/2 months! Henri has given up. He's completely exhausted by my pregnancy and can't take it anymore. He's ready for Baby Mo to come already!

I, however, am hanging in there and excited for our new arrival.

With some encouragement from Greg, Henri finally decides he could be excited...while I just ponder my fat feet.

Today is my 36th birthday, and I think I'll look back at photos of me today and be very happy (despite my fat feet!).

Week 31 (late)

This post is a couple weeks late (and we completely missed Weeks 30 and 32), but I'll soon add a photo from this week to show the difference. The main thing to notice here is how much my belly has started dropping. Week 31 was the start of the downward slide, and by now (Week 33), I feel like Baby Mo is playing somewhere between my hip bones. My body has started getting ready for labor, and I'm moving a lot slower, as a result. I'm also starting to waddle a little when I'm tired, and I feel like my belly is stretching downward every time I stand up after sitting for awhile. So, the physical factors of the third trimester are kicking in. Of course, I still have at least 5 weeks to go (hopefully), so it will be interesting to track how much my body changes over that time.

I have been doing kick counts every night for over a month, and Baby Mo is an active one! I wait until after I eat dinner every night and then sit quietly and count how long it takes her to move ten times. The standard time increments are 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 1 hour, 1 1/2 hours, and 2 hours. She has made it in 10 minutes or less just about every time....and she often makes it in less than 2 minutes....all good signs that she's growing and developing as a healthy baby should.

We're also at the stage where we see the baby doc every two weeks now. That will change to every week in the last month before the due date. As fast as my body is changing, I can understand why! I've already had a single, solitary contraction, as if to let me know what I have to look forward to. That was an interesting experience because it took me a minute to realize what was happening, but it was also good to practice breathing and feeling my way through it so I know what to do when the real ones come. Since it was just a single occurrence, my doctor told me there's nothing to worry about - this will happen - and they're not real until they're consistent.

We've been blessed with a healthy pregnancy so far, so I'm hoping that will translate into a healthy delivery and baby, and Braxton-Hicks contractions are actually a part of the healthy preparation for labor. Because I will be over the age of 35 when I deliver, I will have all the pre-delivery tests, like the non-stress test every week, where Baby Mo's activity is monitored at the hospital. I'm very fortunate to have a doctor who is not too caught up in a "high risk" attitude, which could at the extreme end have me scheduling a c-section before even trying to deliver naturally. Because I've been healthy throughout the pregnancy, my doctor isn't overly conservative in her approach, which I greatly appreciate.

Now here's a good sidenote regarding my doctor...Her name when I started seeing her was Dr. Jody White. Apparently she got married a year ago and is just now getting around to changing her name, so the sign at the doctor's office is in a kind of transitional state to help clients know that she's changing her name. It reads, "Dr. Jody White Lai"....pronounced lie.

Mo Family Baby Shower

We had a beautiful West Coast shower this last weekend, hosted by Mom Mo with detailing by Greg's cousin, Mitzi. All I can say is food, food, and more incredible food! Il Fornaio served as a perfect backdrop for a wonderful meal and many good laughs...and the presents! Wow! Thank you so much to all the ladies who made it a very special event and established my little girl's appetite for fine things in grand style.

Mo Family

Presents!

Mitzi's beautiful flowers

Rossmoor Cake...yummmm!

Mom Mo

Gianna Mo

Week 29

I'm a little behind. This is from last week, but it definitely shows how much my belly is growing. I've gone through another shift where it's not just that you can tell that I'm pregnant, I'm actually getting some size and projection...kind of like a torpedo. I don't have an extra inch of room, and so my belly is growing straight out, which looks kind of funny. Of course, in this outfit, it just looks cute!

As a sidenote...this is in the new house, and Max hasn't figured out that he needs to take his place in the weekly photo. He's too busy luxuriously lounging in his newly expanded space. Maybe he'll come back again soon.

New House

Baby Registry

We've had lots of questions about the baby registry, and now that we have our new address, we're happy to let you know all the details.

We used 3 websites to cover all the goodies (see the links below under the images). You can use just our last name for the search (Mocilnikar), since there aren't too many other Mocilnikars with baby registries out there.

Thank you so much for all your support in welcoming our little girl into the world!

1. www.babyearth.com

2. www.babiesrus.com

3. www.diapers.com

We're Moving!!

It's finally happening! We're moving this weekend! Of course everything is a little crazy right now, as a result, but we can't express how happy we are that everything is finally going forward. The new place is so cute...big back yard, studio space for Greg, lots of great daylight, and a really good feeling. We just can't wait to get settled in!

Childbirth Class

Greg and I attended Hoag Hospital's Childbirth Class this last weekend...7 hours of information about all the stages of birth, and I have to say...wow! There's a ton of information to know. We learned about some great relaxation and breathing techniques (thus, the floor mats in the photo above). Greg kept me laughing with visualizations of all kinds of crazy things, and we agreed it was good to get it all out now since we probably won't have the luxury when we're really in labor. We actually saw plenty of videos of women in labor, which confirmed that to be true. I'm now preparing myself for how hard this is going to be!

Our instructor was great, although she was a little hazy when it came to talking about the hospital's cesaerean percentages, which are around 50%, and I found that some of her responses to questions about risks for some procedures were pretty guarded, but generally, we learned that the hospital takes a very family-centric approach that promotes active birth techniques in an attempt to get through as much of the delivery as naturally as possible. Personally, I like that.

One interesting fact that our teacher shared, however, is that over 90% of women who deliver at Hoag get epidurals..."not too surprising in an Orange County hospital" (our teacher's thoughts, not mine, although probably true.) I'm probably on the realistic side of that equation and expect that I will get an epidural before it's over, but I'd like to stay active for as long as possible, simply because it helps speed the delivery time. Once they numb your lower half, you're confined to bed, and you can't walk (for the simple fact that you can't feel your legs!), which can unfortunately, slow the baby's movement out. We want to avoid that for as long as possible.

One of the great points that the instructor made was that women who are informed about delivery typically have better delivery experiences. We've found that our thoughts about delivery have become more refined as we learn more, but at the same time, we're more flexible because you just never know how it's going to go. I'm sure that's what she was referring to. We've also had some great conversations recently with friends who delivered in the last few weeks, and their insights have been invaluable. The basic premise of it all is that every situation will be different, so be ready for anything! In the end, the goal is to have a healthy baby and healthy mom!

Reading List

I promised a friend that I would post a reference list of books that I'm reading for pregnancy, delivery, and childcare, so here it is:

• The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy - Vicki Iovine - I love her perspective on pregnancy...so funny! I laughed the entire time I read this honest account of what REALLY happens when you're pregnant.
• Your Pregnancy Week by Week - Glade B. Curtis and Judith Schuler - This is a pretty straight forward description of pregnancy as it progresses each week. Medically based, it has a lot of information about medical issues that could happen, but it can get a little heavy on this information at times. It's a basic, good reference book along the way.
• The Birth Partner - Penny Simkin - This is an excellent book! I would recommend this to every new mom and dad. It's written for the partner, but it really applies to anyone who is planning to be involved in a delivery. It has in-depth information on everything you need to know from contractions to complications, and it is not overly biased on one delivery method or another. While encouraging natural approaches, it does not preach, which is refreshing, and I consider the information to be critical to have should you need to make any tough decisions during delivery. It is clearly presented and exceptionally informative, and I would give it five stars. It will be with us in the delivery room.
• The Nursing Mother's Companion - Kathleen Huggins - I have admittedly not started this book yet, but it has been repeatedly recommended to me by other moms and is the standard nursing book recommended by my delivery hospital. It's next on my reading list.
• Baby Wise - Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam - While not written exceptionally well, the concept behind this book makes sense to me, and we will probably adopt this approach in raising our daughter. Based on the idea of establishing a routine and providing structured support for the daily experience of feeding and sleeping, the goal is to ultimately develop independence in your child that should allow him or her to incorporate into your life as a member of the family, as opposed to taking it over as the center of the family. Should be interesting to see how it works.
• The Happiest Baby on the Block DVD - Harvey Karch - I recommend the DVD over the book because you can see how this technique for soothing your crying infant actually works (and it's only 35 minutes long). Greg can't keep a straight face every time it gets to the "shooshing" part of the concept, but beyond that, it's a pretty helpful and impressive video. Seeing this man instantly quiet a screaming baby is inspiring and definitely gives any parent hope that they too can soothe a baby into restfulness using the techniques shown in the video.
• Baby 411 - Ari Brown and Denise Shields - I have not purchased this book yet, but it has been recommended by our delivery hospital as the ultimate reference for what to do with your baby once you get her home. I've heard good reviews for it, so I'll probably pick it up pretty soon.
• Love and Logic - Jim and Charles Fay - I have not researched this book, but it has been recommended to me by a very good friend who is also a speech therapist and works with special needs children. She is probably one of the most informed people I know in the area of child behavior, and she says this book offers a great technique for handling behavioral issues. I will be looking into it soon!

I hope that's helpful for any moms out there who are following the blog. If you have any suggestions, feel free to share them too!

Week 27

It's a little early in the week, but I thought this was a good shot. I had a great workout tonight, and I realized there's no better way to see the bump than when I'm rockin' my workout clothes. I've been doing yoga a few times a week, and the breathing and stretching is a fantastic relief. My body is certainly shifting as I go along in the pregnancy, and my hips are definitely opening up, causing some sciatic pain in the mornings. By the time I get home from work, I just want a massage, and yoga seems to take care of that need. I've also been doing "The Perfect Pregnancy Workout" by Karyn Steben, who is a dancer for Cirque du Soleil. She's got this amazing body at about 6-7 months pregnant in the video, and the workout is just challenging enough to make you work but not too much. If I can do her workout and half a session of yoga, I'm really set. That's what I did tonight, so this shot is me feeling very good.

On another note, I had a doctor's visit last Thursday and found out that we do not have to worry about gestational diabetes. (Thank heavens!) The glucose test came back normal, although I'm now taking an iron supplement. For as much as everyone talks about the glucose test being this awful ordeal, it was really underwhelming. You drink a small bottle of sugar drink that is sweeter than Gatorade, but if it's cold, it's not that bad. Then you get your blood drawn in an hour, and that's it. Of course, the way people talk about it, you'd think you had to drink a gallon of sugar Kool-Aid or some form of gross syrup, and then run a mile hooked up to machines, and then maybe stand on your head for a half hour before finally having some strange science fiction test done to you. (At least that's what I envisioned until my girlfriend told me what really happens!) It was very easy, and I'm thankful for that.

I also had a great conversation with my doctor about expectations for delivery, and she said a really wonderful thing. "There's nothing we can do medically that will be more beautiful than what you can do naturally." That is extremely reassuring since I would like to stay as natural as possible in delivery. I'm not opposed to epidurals, and my approach is based more on common sense and ultimately safety, but having a doctor who supports a natural birth as much as possible is wonderful. I'm also happy to know that Hoag Hospital is supportive in a similar way, although I'm not going in with an unrealistic expectation about pain management, or even the possibility of a c-section, if medically necessary. Of course, it will all happen exactly as it's supposed to, and as long as we have a healthy baby and a healthy Mom at the end of the whole experience, I'll be happy. So, I'm starting to gear up for the idea of delivery, which is a pretty awesome thing to prepare for as a woman - perhaps one of the most significant in life.

Baby Basic Care Class

Jennifer, Me, and Erica

Jennifer is due two days before me, and Erica is due a few weeks after both of us. We're taking all the baby classes at Hoag Hospital together over the next couple months, and I have to say it's much more fun to do these with friends!

Matt & Greg

Of course, the boys definitely couldn't make it through the classes without each other. This is Jen's husband, Matt....I can't tell who's more pregnant!

Week 26

Same dress as Week 20 1/2, different belly! Check it out....still growing. (And Max made the photo again, sort of.)

Week 25

This is the first week that I feel like I actually look pregnant. No denying, regardless of what I wear, I look pregnant. I'm not complaining. There's something really cool about the greetings you get, the smiles, the look on people's faces when they see you that shows you that you're pregnant. They respond with this sort of inquisitive, glowing , supportive look, like they're cheering you on. Even grumpy old men are a little less grumpy. I'm happy I can so easily share this good feeling with people just by showing a belly.

Baby GIrl Gifts

Our friends Nick and Kirstie just had a baby boy recently, and shortly afterwards, we received our first baby gift from them. I cannot even tell you how adorable these clothes are! And the bear is possibly the softest thing I have ever touched. Thanks so much, guys, for your thoughtfulness! The second we have a new address, we'll put the registries out for everyone who can't be here, and we'll let you know where to send stuff.

Week 24

I'm a little late on posting this photo. It's from the middle of the 24th Week (last week). The bump is starting to pop, although it's still pretty small. Everything is going well, though, and we got some great news last night. The house we've been hoping to rent is becoming available in the beginning of April, so we'll be moving soon! Of course, we still have to negotiate with the landlord, etc., but we're hoping everything goes smoothly with that, and we can be in by the middle to late April. We can't wait! As soon as we know everything is set, I'll post photos of the new spot....

I Love Technology

I went to the doctor today and had another ultrasound.  Beyond how amazing it is to see my daughter moving in real time as I feel her flutters and jabs, I was also completely intrigued by the ability of the technician to switch seamlessly between X-Ray and 3D imaging.  The move these days is toward the 3D image, although I think I like the X-Ray better.  One interesting thing the technician told me is that the 3D images look better as time goes on because the baby fills out more, and the features develop until the baby finally looks pretty similar to what they'll look like when they're born.  Since I usually get examples of both 3d and X-Ray, I'll be checking this theory out as the weeks go on.

X-Ray



3D  (why it's called the "fetal position")

3D  (little feet!)

As far as progress, everything is normal.  I even gained weight since the last time I was in, despite fighting bronchitis and a sinus infection for two weeks.  (BTW - being sick while you're pregnant is no fun!)  I'm coming up on the dreaded glucose test in a few weeks, and beyond that, most of the testing seems to be on hiatus.  We're cruising.

We are looking for a larger apartment, but that has not come through yet, although we have the possibility of renting a 2 bedroom house in a really great neighborhood, so keep your fingers crossed that it will become available, and we get to rent it soon!  The second we know where we're going (and we have more space), we'll put the registry out, but in the meantime we're just enjoying this time and learning as much as we can about labor, delivery, what to expect when our girl arrives, etc.  If anyone has recommendations for books or DVD's, let us know.

Week 22

Apparently our cat has decided that this blog is half about him.  So welcome to The Adventures of a New Mo AND Max

Nursery Dreams

We can't resist planning the nursery, even though we still need to move to a bigger place with another bedroom.  It's just fun to imagine the space already and imagine having a little one to fill it.  This is the crib bedding and furniture we've chosen.  We probably won't go as pink in the entire room as the image of the bedding, but we thought this was a fun set for a girl that gives us plenty of other color options.  (We have to admit an aversion to the typical pink, although it's undeniably going to make its way, I'm sure, into our daughter's life.)  

We're currently looking to move in the next couple months, and once we get everything put together in our new place, we'll have more images.