Dear wee one: Part 5

So I have already started to slack on some of the things I like to do in my spare time. Blogging. Guess what. The secret is long since out and you have made yourself known in another round of ultra sound pics. 

 

There you are in all full glory. I think you are about 21 weeks there, as your 24 weeks today. Don't know your gender as thought it could be a fun surprise for us and everyone else excited about your arrival. I like the bottom one. I label it the "thinker" as you stroke your chin. Ha ha.

According to a website I go to on a regular basis you have grown to various different kinds of fruits and vegetables. In order of what I can remember you've been the size of a lemon, navel orange, avocado, sweet potato, mango, squash and the most recent corn (although when I look at the squash your dad grows and compare to the corn I would think its kind of a downgrade). I find it overall pretty comical to compare you to something edible but it does give perspective to things, certainly.

I know on a regular basis that you are around as you make your presence known. You kick me often. I feel it most at night when I'm on my stomach and full of food or have a full bladder, (thanks for that) *wink wink. But you will do tiny ones during the day too. Just today I noticed how my stomach will move ever so subtlety....crazy!

 

Your doctor's visits have you always ranging from 140-145 in heart rate. And I have just met one of the doctors (part of a team) that will deliver you when your ready. She will be the one following me for awhile. We both seem to share a sarcastic humor so I think we should get along. And really, her hands just might be the first ones to touch you, so I hope you like her too!  Due date is official as I am measuring it perfectly as well Oct 16. However I am convinced you will make it a week later. Better make sure I am stocked on Halloween candy prior!

Wondering how I am feeling? Not as tired as before but I sure get out of breath when I scale up hills during Bentley's dog walks. And usually around that walking some lovely round ligament pain flares up. And the most significant change is my stomach is growing! It is especially tight after supper when I am full of food. Pillows have become my hugging companion at night, making sleep just a little easier.  

I don't know if I have cravings per say but there are things I love right now. So far it has been a hot hot spring/summer. Cold watermelon (6 full melons, those far) and navel oranges have been fantastic. Really any kind of fruit or smoothie makes me happy. Plus slurpees! YUM. and the occasional ice cream or blizzard, salted caramel is what I'm going for. When I really think about bad cravings its the  ripple chips and cheesies. Because of that I have started cutting raw veggies and eating them daily too. You sure make it known when your hungry. And when your hungry, I'm hungry....now! So I try to keep it at bay, eating small meals regularly when I can.

 

Nerves hit me on occasion. I wonder what life will be like when your around. I have enjoyed my jobs immensely this last year and I don't even mind working full time hours which I am doing presently. With you coming, we both anticipate our outlook on life will change, thus probably my job will too. You get a full year of me, baby! Hope you can handle it! ha ha. And after the year, we will trial what we think is best for all of us.
It hit me when my dentist went to me the other day and told me they will see me in December. Got me thinking that you will be around then. I wonder where you will go for those couple of hours? Plus dogs need to be walked and food needs to be made. Changes changes changes. I sit and wonder what I will do but I don't like to make anything definite as I just don't know what will happen. So I ponder.

So that's the latest and greatest for you. I have a glucose test that I have been dreading, coming up. Plus another ultra sound when you hit 35 weeks! and the doctor's visits are going to increase come August to bi-weekly. So I will hear that little heart a bit more. I will try to stay cool.

Love 

My Dog Bentley

I really love my dog. So very much. So much that I worry about how I may start to neglect my pup when the little one makes it's entrance in October. So many blogs, people, and even friends say that it will happen. And that just makes me too sad. I'm not aiming to keep up his walks in the first week of November. But I am hoping that we will be able to start them sometime when (or if) I get a handle of things...ha ha ha. And I think I need to cling to that delusion (if it is one) until I come to that realization first hand...so please don't shatter it! :)

In the meantime, I (we) are enjoying our dog time. It has become a habit that we take him to the dog park everyday for an hour. I love the dog park. Especially by the zoo as I find it has it's own unique beauty every season.

This is where Bentley and I will do our hill training. He will chase after squirrels, mice and even a deer has crossed his path. When that happens his natural instincts just take over. But over the last year and even months we have started to see a big change. He still may run away at times but the amount has substantially decreased. And the recall is 90% better than last year. We wonder if it's because we have started to walk together on these walks and he is better behaved. But it could also be that we are the longest he has probably had with one family. We are his people!

Just a few weeks ago I separated from the walk to go to the bathroom and was going to meet Mark and Bents at the car. Mark came up to me at the toilets and said that didn't work because Bentley would just stay smack dab in the middle of our ever extended walk away from each other. Funny guy!

Today we went to pets in the park. Mark has been working diligently on Bentley's retrieval skills. And through the carnival games Bents shone. From bobbing for hot dogs (got them all in less than 5 s flat in the deep tub), to retrieving treats from the sand and puzzle box, he was amazing. He still could use some work on the "kissing department" as we both put treats in our mouths to get him to kiss us (yes we are those people). And he really likes to do his own obstacle courses in nature, not any man made ones offered. But, hey, you have to have your own likes!

It hasn't been huge sailing with Bentley this year. He did have surgery in April. We aren't quite sure what he did but regardless he had a hole right by his left front leg. It got flushed, a drain got put in and stitches were used. Plus I doubled up on reinforcement with dressing supplies so he wouldn't feel the need to pull it out. He was not impressed. He fought the anesthetic x 2, the little gobber. Plus he was doped up for about three days after.
AND he is still horrible when it comes to cutting his nails. Plus I have become additionally traumatized as I hit his quick the last time I was able to cut one of his nails.

Bentley has celebrated one birthday with us making him three years old. Bone for a present plus toys to destroy and treats galore. I look back and am so happy we decided to get him. He has been a wonderful companion to have in our lives. AND I have become a crazy obsessed dog person. Something I swore I would never be. But he is worth becoming one!

Love him!