33 Weeks - 7 To Go!

All About Us

How far along are you? When are you due? How long do you have left? Do you know what you're having? Do you have a name for her? Is your nursery done? Those are a few of the many questions that I have been asked in the last couple weeks, and questions that most pregnant women at this point will get. I am guessing these questions are more prevalent in this stage in pregnancy because it is OH so obvious that there is a baby in there. For those of you who haven't reached this point, I have one piece of advise - Answer all questions with a smile on your face :) Though this may seem easy to do, as us pregnant ladies are always willing to take time out to talk about our babies, after the fifth time a question is asked in a day it gets to be a little too much. When you're in a job where you encounter many different people each day, chances are you will be asked these questions over and over again. The askers of these questions expect you to smile and gush over the fact that they are taking time to notice you and your "condition." So please, give the people what they want. If not, they may talk behind your back about how the pregnancy "hormones" must be getting to you. Or, you may choose to use humor in these situations by answering the question, "How far along are you?" with "Excuse me? I don't know what you're talking about." My favorite was when a worker at Subway asked me "How long?" and I replied by saying, "A foot long, please." Apparently, he wasn't inquiring about my sub size, but my tummy size.

Honeydew List

Your list of amazing acts inside the womb is getting longer and longer. You have recently grown quite fond of hiccuping at least once a day. This is so neat to feel! Sometimes you hiccup so hard that I think it startles you and you move all around. Speaking of moving, your increasing growth has not slowed down your movement in the least. I cannot believe that you are nearly 5 pounds! You move around for hours at a time, many times a day. Every time you move around, it makes me the happiest person on this earth. Your movement alone is enough to make what could be a horrible day an especially pleasant one. And I'm not the only one who benefits from your movement - daddy does as well. When he talks to you and puts his hand on my tummy, you move around like crazy. I can tell that you are already a daddy's girl! I can't determine right now if you are head up or head down, but I will be sure to ask the doctor this week. Just as long as you are head down around 36 weeks, your mommy and daddy will not worry.

Do you like to hear your fishie at night? Your great-grandma and great aunts got you this musical fish that your daddy and I absolutely love. We play it for you each night before we go to sleep. Hopefully it will be a very comforting sound to you when you enter this world.

Some very exciting news for you this week - you will be getting another cousin in March! Congratulations to Terri and Dave!!

Lidia Louise, how sweet it is to dream of you as your daddy and I do every second of everyday. Even without yet holding you in our arms, you make our hearts whole and our smiles never-ending. Goodnight my dear - I will feel you when we wake!

32 weeks = 8 MONTHS!

All About Us

I am going to spend the first paragraph of this blog merely praising God for answering my family's prayers this week. Because I believe that my sister would not appreciate much detail and attention to this situation, I am going to simply say thank you Lord for keeping Kristi and baby Venuti safe and sound. I am eagerly waiting to meet baby Venuti when he/she is scheduled to arrive!

Jason and I had a very baby related week. On Tuesday, we had our first childbirth class. We didn't talk about childbirth, though. The whole class was focused on mom and baby nutrition. Needless to say, I caught Jason dozing off a couple times. The most exciting part of the class was being able to see women who are at the same stage in pregnancy as I am. It is so neat to see how each woman carries her baby differently. And I found that many of these women had the same cravings as I do - spicy food, ice cream, cheese, and Trader Joe's Raisin Bran. We have 6 weeks of classes to go and Jason and I can't wait to get to the good stuff - preparation for childbirth!

We chose this series of classes because they are focused on those who are wanting to have an unmedicated birth. Being able to go through this experience without the use of induction drugs or an epidural would mean the world to me, Jason, and Lidia. It would be the single-most important goal we could ever meet. At our Doctor's appointment this week, I was able to talk to the Dr. about this wish of ours. She asked me if my mother had natural, unmediated births and I responded proudly by saying she had four. The doctor said if my body type is similar to my mother's, which it is, it is highly likely that I will be able to do the same. She also recommended that my mother be with me and Jason during labor and delivery since she has been through four successful unmedicated births herself. So, what do you say mama? The reality is that it would probably take her and my dad at least 5 hours to get down here and by then, baby Lidia might have already come. Jason and I are going to be like sponges in these classes and soak up all the information we need to know about natural pain relief. I will still have an open mind about the whole process because I know that you can't always predict how the baby is going to perform. Our next Dr.'s appointment is now only 2 weeks away - something that is very reassuring to me. I like to get confirmation from the Dr. that everything is as it should be - that Ms. Lidia is perfect.

As this pregnancy moves onto the 8th month, I am trying my hardest to stay normal and active. I am extremely exhausted and my back pains are almost enough to drive me crazy. Laying down too long is painful - as is sitting, standing, and walking. As you can assume, the ability to find a comfortable position has become the focus of most of my days. It's affecting Jason as well because he has to massage my back frequently - so much so that his hands are actually sore. I think I may have to invest in an actual licensed massage therapist so I don't drive Jason away (I also might want to invest in some beano and gasx, too)!
Also, I am getting extremely full with small amounts of food lately. This could be because our little girl and all of her components are resting against my stomach. This has been quite a shock for many who are aware of how much I used to eat. It makes me very conscious of everything I am putting in my mouth, as dear Lidia would appreciate me getting full on chicken and broccoli rather than ice cream sandwiches and cheetos. I can hardly believe I feel this way and we have 8 weeks left!

It's very exciting that my belly is getting big and my baby is moving almost non-stop. The one annoying thing about having a pregnant belly is having people that want to touch it all the time. One day this week, a woman at work saw me and ran over to me to rub my belly. She said she was having a bad week and needed to rub my belly for luck. I quickly shot back by smiling and saying, "I am not Buddha!" I don't mind when people ask my permission to touch my belly or when close family members touch my belly, but I find it very annoying when some people - acquaintances and perfect strangers - just think they have the right to touch my belly. I'm going to make a new shirt that says, "Hands Off the Belly!"

Ouch that Hurt!

Lidia, you can pack quite a punch or kick! A little bit ago, you hit my ribs so hard that I screamed out in pain. Daddy thought I was having a contraction and that we needed to go to the hospital (a little too soon for that). It was reassuring to him to find out that you were only beating up your dear mother who has been carrying you selflessly for the past 8 months. I read where your kicks and punches are going to be felt more strongly now because your over 4 pound frame is running out of room and amniotic fluid to cushion those blows. Just promise me that you won't do that when I'm in an important meeting!

Other than your weight and your brain, you are also growing in length. You are a whopping 19 inches now from head to tow. Daddy asked if you would be squirming around and kicking your legs when you are first born since you are so squished in my belly right now. I assume you will be, but I haven't ever seen a newborn baby before so who knows! You are no longer translucent because of the fat that has been accumulating on your body. Also, your finger and toe nails are now filling the beds of your nails.

Well, our love, it is now 8 short weeks until we meet. I have no doubt that it will be the best day of our lives. Keep dreaming and kicking girl. All the pain is worth the day when we will finally be able to see you, hold you, and kiss you. We love you, Lidia!

PS - not sure why the date and time are off on this blog. It was posted on July 12, 2009 at 11:oo p.m.

31 Weeks - Happy 4th of July!

All About Us

Major headache + amazing weekend with the Danzo family + pure exhaustion = Writer's block. Enjoy the pictures!

Little Liddie Lou

This is your new nickname - we hope you like it! It sounds like a character from a Dr. Seuss book, doesn't it? Your brain is developing as rapidly as ever this week. You can perceive so many sensations now like light and sound. Your 5 senses are all in working order now, thanks to the thousands of connections in your brain that have been forming over the last couple of weeks. You have currently been moving around in my belly for the past two hours and have shown no signs of stopping. It is amazing to think that you are now sleeping and waking like an actual newborn. I can definitely tell when you are in these sleep and wake cycles. Luckily for me, the sleep periods are when I am sleeping, too! And speaking of sleep, it is something mommy needs to get a lot of tonight - starting now. I will see you in my dreams my love!

30 Weeks - One Quarter Left!

All About Mommy and Daddy - Through Ava's Eyes
Mommy asked me to do the blog tonight because she was very tired. I wasn't sure what to write about, so I am going to tell you all what mommy and daddy did this week. Every morning, Angelo and I get to cuddle with daddy for awhile when mommy first goes to work. On most days, he goes to work and puts us in our cage. One day this week, daddy got to stay home with us all day. We absolutely love it when he takes us on runs - which he did on this day. Poor Angelo, though, he tuckered out about half way through the run and daddy had to carry him. I, on the other hand, could run for miles! Mommy and daddy are going to enter us in the Wiener Nationals again this summer. I hope I win this time! Angelo has no prayer. Come down and watch us on August 8th at River Downs in Cincinnati!

Moving on, early Friday morning, it was storming really bad. I hate the rain and I hate going out to pee in the rain even more. This storm was different, though. The thunder was so loud and there was so much lightening. Daddy got a call at 5 a.m., which isn't unusual. It's usually something to do with his work. I could tell that this call was different by the way that daddy was reacting. When he got off the phone, mommy sounded scared, too, and he told her that his workplace had been destroyed by the storm. Daddy later said that it was a mini-tornado that hit his work! He left for work at 530 am that day and didn't get home until 9 pm. I could tell that mommy was really missing him when she got home from work. She took a nap with me and Angelo until 8 pm that night - Daddy would never let her do that!

The next day, Angelo and I got very excited because we were leaving to go on a trip. The worst part about it was that we had to be buckled in the back seat. Before mommy had this baby in her tummy, we got to be buckled up front with her. Now, mommy can't get comfortable when we are on her lap, so we have to go in the backseat. I am very sad about this and I cry for about the first 15 minutes or so. Then I cry some more periodically throughout the trip. I'm hoping that mommy will one day bring at least me back up there with her, but I'm starting to believe that it will never happen again. We finally got to our destination, which according to mommy and daddy, was Columbus, Ohio. We ran into the house of mommy and daddy's friends - Ashley and Chris. We were stopped in our tracks by what looked like a big horse and his name was Ben. Mommy later told me that he was a Newfoundland - a very big dog. He ended up being nice after he batted me and Angelo around first. Then mommy and daddy said me and Angelo needed practice with this small human named Isaac. Isaac pulled my ears, banged on me with his hand, pulled my skin, and yanked my collar. I remained calm and cool, though, because I knew that's what mommy and daddy wanted me to do. I have a feeling that kind of stuff might be happening a lot to me in the near future. Angelo just wanted to lick the small human. Mommy kept pushing him away from Isaac, so I'm guessing that we aren't really supposed to do that to small humans. Licking is fun! After a fun-filled day in Columbus, we went back home to see our sister Sophia.

Mommy and daddy spent the whole day today working on the house because all of Daddy's family came over to our house to celebrate daddy's birthday. Me and Angelo's favorite part was licking up all the crumbs that people spilled on the floor. Mommy also gave me and Angelo a bath, cleaned out our ears, and clipped our nails. She kept telling us that she does this because she loves us, not because she likes to see us upset - which we were. I guess love means suffering. Well, mommy needs to take over from here so I'm going to go lay on a pillow and cuddle up with my brother. I hope you all enjoyed my week!

Our Dreamgirl

Lidia, our love for you was brought to a whole new level this weekend. As you know, we got to see you in a 3D/4D ultrasound. We got to see your chubby cheeks, your round nose, your cute little hands and feet, and your beautiful eyes. It was so surreal because you looked like an actual baby. I know that you have so much more developing to do in the next 10 weeks, but you honestly looked like a full-term baby. You were very intent on keeping your hands and your feet in front of your face during most of the ultrasound. The ultrasound tech kept pushing on my belly to get you to move, but you wouldn't move much. I told her that you are used to being jostled around when I run and when the animals step on you, so I didn't expect you to care too much that she was rocking you all around. It's OK, though, because we got some pretty good pictures of you. And either lucky or unlucky for you, you resemble my newborn picture quite a bit. 10 weeks ago we saw you for the first time and 10 weeks from now we will get to actually hold you in our arms. There are no words to explain how full our hearts are already with love for you!

The major development going on this week is your brain. Your brain is now able to regulate your body temperature, which means that the soft hair covering your body, lanugo, will start to fall off (you won't need it to keep you warm anymore!). I have no doubt that your brain will grow big and you will be a very smart girl! Daddy and I are going to stare at your pictures, as we have been doing all weekend. Goodnight sweet Lidia!

29th Week - The Last of the Twenties

All About Us


Jason and I are currently relaxing after an exciting weekend with the Schneider family at Lake Cumberland. Lake Cumberland is in Jamestown, Kentucky and is about 3 hours south of our home. We got to the house that Jason's parents rented late Friday night and spent all day Saturday on the Lake. We rented a pontoon boat and a jet ski. We had fun getting out in the water and swimming around with the fishies. Jason was quite the speed demon on the jet ski, which is one of the reasons I refused to get on it. I have heard so many horror stories about jet skis that I decided to play it safe and stay on the boat and in the water. There's always next year! I thought that I could get away with no SPF for the first couple hours I was out there, but I was badly mistaken. My shoulders are now the same color of red as the red in the McDonald's sign. The rest of my body was pretty much saved, though. So in addition to all of the discomforts of pregnancy, I have to add sunburn to my list - with no one to blame but myself. Another lesson learned - no spf = a very uncomfortable and grumpy pregnant lady. Our sleep was a little compromised this weekend as well. I couldn't get comfortable due to many factors - backache, anxiety, sunburn, dogs, small bed, husband taking up too much room, etc. And lets face it, when you're sleeping next to someone who can't get comfortable, you can't get to sleep either - which was Jason's story. Lidia was up with us as well, poor thing. So here's to a good nights sleep tonight in our own bed- hopefully!


Squishy Squash



Hi my dear! You are now the size of a squash - strange comparison but I'm cool with it. You are a whopping 3 pounds and you are about 16 inches from head to toe. I am guessing that it is your foot that has been jabbing my upper right ribs these days, as the Doctor said that you are head down. Speaking of Doctors, we got to go to our monthly visit again this week. Mommy and daddy learned many things, one being that mommy has gained a total of 20 pounds so far. I was extremely surprised by this number, but have since been made aware that it is right on target for this stage in pregnancy. You, on the other hand, are a mere 3 pounds according to the doctor. That means that you are growing as you should be! We also got to hear your heartbeat again, at which time the Doctor said you were showing off. We have now seen 4 out of the 7 women doctors at our clinic, which means we only have 3 left to see. They have all been very nice and extremely knowledgeable. I have no doubt that you and I will be in very good hands no matter which one of them delivers you. Our next appointment was set for 3 weeks away instead of the typical 4 weeks- which is a sign that the end is in sight. The closer our appointments get, the sooner you will be here in our arms! Your daddy and I keep talking about next Saturday when we will get to see you again at our 3D/4D ultrasound. I have heard that the pictures we will get to see of you will be very similar to what you will actually look like when we get to see you in person. So you can imagine how excited we are for this! Don't worry, we will be sure to post pictures for all to see:) We will see you soon, Lidia!

28 Weeks

An Open Letter to My Husband, Lidia's Father

It has been one year. 365 days. 52 weeks. Not a day, week, or now year has gone by when I don't thank God for you. I am convinced that you are an angel sent down from heaven especially for me. This past year has been the best year of my entire life - all which can be credited to you, my husband. I had always heard that the 1st year of marriage was the roughest. I was prepared for the worst - the fights, slammed doors, thrown kitchen plates (ok, maybe not that extreme). But something else happened - the first year of marriage was awesome! Yes, we have had our fights, but the best thing about us is that we actually learned from them. Take a look back at where we were when we first were married - we were two different lives merging into one. We have made so many compromises in this past year that have made our lives so much better. For example, it really irked you how I would leave dishes in the sink, so I decided that I would make your life easier by putting them in their appropriate places. And you know I hated it when you left the seat up on the toilet and then blamed it on Angelo. Now, I can't even remember the last time I went to the bathroom and had to put the seat down. The great thing about our love is that we both want to make each other happy. The selfish lifestyle of single life is not remaining in our home anymore. We are a team in so many aspects. We all know I would have never been able to train and complete any of the 3 5K's I ran this year without you. Your motivation and confidence in me has made me feel like I can accomplish anything, as long as you are by my side. And I'm sure that all the home improvement projects you have done this year wouldn't have been possible without my help, motivation, and confidence in you. We have made some very important decisions together this year - from putting our house on the market to taking it off and from getting pregnant to naming our baby. One thing is evident, no matter what decision we make, as long as it is a mutual decision, it has always proven to be the best for us. As a girl growing up, I could have never imagined finding a love as strong as our love. My life before you was extremely empty - I was always thinking, "There's gotta be more to life." From the moment I met you I knew that I would marry you. You were it - you are more than anything I could have ever imagined a husband to be. My life is meaningful now that you have entered it and again, I thank God for you. Remember my Dad's toast at our wedding when he said that you would now be the man helping me through troubled waters? Well he was absolutely right. You have always been there for me in the still water, waiting for me to make it through the troubled water so you could catch me. I have no doubt in my mind that Lidia is going to be the luckiest girl alive to have a father like you. You and I will be teaming up again to be the best parents to Lidia that we can be. I am so lucky to have you, Jason Matthew. Happy 1st Anniversary - I love you!

3rd Trimester!

Hello baby! We have now successfully entered the 3rd trimester and Daddy and I are already so proud of what you have accomplished. I can now feel actual fluid movements from you - not just kicks and jabs. For example, I can feel and see what seems to be a leg or an arm moving across my belly. I can also feel when you change positions. You seem to like when mommy is having conversations with other people, as this is the time when I feel you move like crazy. I'm sure you have much to add to the conversation!

You are supposively able to dream now and I wonder what you are dreaming about. Could it be the day when you finally get to see your mommy and daddy? Because we certainly dream about that day! You are continuing to practice sucking and blinking and might even be coughing in there. You must be growing up a storm because there's not one day that goes by that someone doesn't comment on how big my belly is getting.

It's time for bed now, sweet one. You are so sweet the way you sleep when mommy does. Good night Lidia!

27 Weeks of Baby

All About Us

Baby Brain - yes, it is really a true condition and I have become a victim. Apparently, the blood flow to my brain is acting rather sluggish and causing me to work extra hard to remember things. My Jeopardy! skills are also suffering due to my brain's slow processing. People say that the reason this happens is due to the low blood pressure pregnancy causes. So, I apologize ahead of time if I forget important dates and certain facts I should know. Oh yeah, and don't hold it against me when I "forget" to shower on Sundays. :)

As far as other pregnancy symptoms I'm experiencing this week, just give me a checklist of possible symptoms and I could put a check by each and every one. Needless to say, this hasn't been the greatest week of pregnancy. I am very eager for the next 3 months to go by as quickly as possible so that I can feel like myself again. Yes, I'm whining, but boy does it ever feel good. Luckily for me, I have the most caring, understanding, and empathetic husband ever. He gives me a massage every single day without even being asked. We went to a Reds game last night with one of Jason's friends and he asked me, "When are you guys due?" I immediately shot back with, "We?! I am due at the beginning of September." But then I realized how selfish I was being by saying that and I apologized. Even though I am the one experiencing this pregnancy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Jason is too - just in a different way. And I don't think this happens with every husband/partner. I know that Jason feels every ache and every ounce of anxiety I have running through my body. I can tell this because he does everything in his power to make me feel better. He doesn't feel 100% unless I feel 100%. And that makes me the happiest woman alive. Well, that, and our dear Lidia.

Your First Reds Game!

Well hello my little crazy legs! I hope you were able to enjoy your first Reds game last night. We were part of a sold-out crowd of over 40,000 fans. And, we got to sit 7 rows back from the Reds dugout. What a night! I felt you kicking while we were there, but it was probably because mommy stuffed herself at dinner again. Speaking of dinner, you got to hear mommy's friend Jena and her husband Mark as we scarfed down food from Don Pablos. Their 2 boys are going to be a couple of your best friends! Also, you were a hit in Mommy's new shirt, as many people stopped to compliment us on it.

I cannot hardly believe it, but this week you are a whopping 15 inches! That would explain why in the mornings when I am laying in bed I can feel you wake up and hit me on both sides of abdomen at the same time. It's a great way to start my day! Next week, mommy has to officially start counting your kicks. This "kick count" insures that you are happy and healthy. As long as I count 10 kicks in 1 hour, 2 times a day, you are doing fabulous. I have no doubt in my mind that this will be easy. We both know how much you love to squirm around! You are also putting some more meat on those bones as you are weighing in at over 2 pounds. As far as developments are concerned, your eyes are now open after being fused shut for the past 7 months. It's supposedly pretty dark in there, so there's not much for you to see. But, you can at least practice blinking!

Our sweet Lidia, next week we will enter the last phase of this pregnancy and then you will finally be here in our arms. Your mommy and daddy dream about you every second of every day. We love you so much!