Eight Months Old This Time Next Year

Hi Baby Rose!

You are moving around a lot more now.  I can feel you quite often during my day.  Your kicks are getting a bit harder.  They still are not super obvious from the outside.  But I love the constant reminders that you are in there.

I have been reading up on what life will be like for us this time next year! You will be eight months old on July 15th.  You will be crawling around, and picking things up with two fingers.  We will be giving you "O" shaped cereal and other chunks of food.  If we are able to get breastfeeding going you might still be doing that several times a day.  You should not be watching TV until you are two years old! So no Disney movies for you yet.  You could start learning sign language at eight months.  You also will respond to low and serious reprimands, so we will have to start letting you know if certain things are off limits.  We could start playing memory games with you looking at baby flash cards or family pictures.  You might be pulling up on furniture.

Love,

Momma

Fun activities to try:

• Let your baby put tennis balls or toy cars in the cups of a muffin tin. She'll also love playing with shape-sorting toys.
• Create a miniature obstacle course using pillows, cushions, chairs, and boxes for Baby to crawl between and over. Join in the game to show her how to navigate it.
• Ask your baby questions and wait for a response. Encourage her to shake her head yes or no. Teach her to wave "bye-bye" and clap when she is happy.
• Baby understands more words than you might suspect. Mention a favorite toy, pet, or a family member's name. If she immediately looks for it, you'll know she understands.
• Offer your baby objects such as a toothbrush, cup, hairbrush, or toy telephone. When he treats the object appropriately, such as putting the toy phone to his ear, react positively and enthusiastically.
• Introduce your child to a variety of foods. He will love the ways different foods feel and taste. Let him start drinking from a sippy cup. He will have fun imitating you at mealtime.
• Some favorite food choices for this age include dry cereal, scrambled eggs, diced soft fruit and vegetables, cubes of cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, diced meat, teething biscuits, crackers, pasta, and mashed potatoes.
• When you are reading to your little one, ask her to find and point to the tree, cat, ball, and so on in the pictures. When you are dressing Baby, ask her to point to her head, tummy, and toes.
• When you are reading to your little one, ask her to find and point to the tree, cat, ball, and so on in the pictures. When you are dressing Baby, ask her to point to her head, tummy, and toes.
• Whenever your child does something accidentally, such as dropping his sippy cup from his high chair, say "uh-oh!" This lets him know you are not upset and that everyone makes mistakes. Eventually he will begin to imitate these phrases, and sometimes there won't be a real reason.
• Play games with your little one when you're dressing her. Play peekaboo when her head pops through her pajama top. Kiss her hands when they appear through her sleeves. Ask her to step in her pant legs. Clap when she follows directions.

Activities from here.

24 weeks and health weight gain

Hi Baby Rose!

You have been moving pretty consistently lately.  I still can't feel it on the outside that often.  It happened a few times last night as I was getting to sleep.  But I didn't want to wake up your daddy, as he has to get up very early each day at 3:30 am!

Weight Gain

In the last few months I have gained a bit too much weight.  I guess I was enjoying fruits and desserts a bit too much.  I am now 24 weeks along, and I have gained 19 pounds! That is a bit too much.  I am supposed to be more at 12 pounds gained perhaps.  For example, the momma below from a blog that I read called the Daily Garnish has only gained 16 - 17 pounds and she is 27 weeks!

Swelling

I have started to have some issues with swelling. I have felt a "heaviness" in my legs and the skin felt tight in the evenings for awhile now. I thought it could be the feeling of swelling, but my ankles etc didn't look big or anything. At home I have a standing desk and stood up for four hours doing work for an accounting class I am taking. Apparently that was a bad idea! I could literally feel the fluid shaking around as I walked down to bed.  I am trying to drink more water today, and will make sure to elevate my feet on a larger pillow while I sleep tonight.  I am really hoping I don't have to start wearing tight hose!

Exercise

I am still able to work out consistently.  Last week we were in Liberal the first part of the week.  I walked a few times when we first arrived.  It certainly was not the 3 miles I am used to.  I worked out on Sunday after we got back and did 3.5 or more miles and then did some work with weights, and some front and side planks.  I also did a bit of running at 4.6.

This has been a busy week, so I was not able to work out again until this morning.  I was only able to do 1.7 miles in 25 minutes.  Maybe I can work out again tomorrow! It's just hard to get up in the morning at 6 or 6:30.  I was actually able to run a bit on the treadmill this morning.  I was only at 4.6, but it felt good.

Midwife

I had an appointment on Monday with our Midwife Jill Dolberg.  Apparently my tummy is right at 23 centimeters, so I am right on track.  Your heart beat is slowing down as you get bigger like it's supposed to.  I got to hold a model of you at their office.  You're getting big little girl!  Next month I have go to for the one hour glucose test to be sure I do not have gestational diabetes.  I will really be praying that I don't!

We are so thankful that this has been an uneventful pregnancy and that you are growing and healthy.  My best friend Shea in Ireland has had a very difficult pregnancy.  She is only 2 weeks ahead of me, and is already leaking amniotic fluid. We are praying all goes well for her and the baby. 

Love you!

Mommy

Kicks on the outside

Dear baby Rose,

Yesterday was the first time that I felt your kicks on the outside of my tummy! I could put my hand on my stomach and feel your little movements.  I'm so happy to feel you moving away in there.  What a blessing you are my baby girl.  I am so thankful that we will get to welcome you into our family in a few months.

Love you,

Mommy

You have a name!

Dear Kuti,

I went though many books of Saints and baby names and came up with a list of names that I liked.  I then narrowed it down to names that I REALLY liked.  Then your daddy went through them to decide which one he liked.  We were hoping to find the name of a saint that we liked because Ammachi had hoped we would find a good saint name.  I looked through normal baby name books also.  We have your name chosen!

Your name will be Rose Kreiser Madathil (unless you look like your name should be a bit different, we have two back-up names :)).   Our back-up names are Dorothy (we would call you Dottie) for my grandma.  Our other back-up name is Aria.  Your dad says we can only call you Aria if you look mean!  So, most likely your name will be Rose.

Love,

Mommy



Here is a bit of information about St. Rose of Lima from here:

Virgin, patroness of America, born at Lima, Peru 20 April, 1586; died there 30 August, 1617.

At her confirmation in 1597, she took the name of Rose, because, when an infant, her face had been seen transformed by a mystical rose. As a child she was remarkable for a great reverence, and pronounced love, for all things relating to God. This so took possession of her that thenceforth her life was given up toprayer and mortification. She had an intense devotion to the Infant Jesus and His Blessed Mother, before whose altar she spent hours. She was scrupulouslyobedient and of untiring industry, making rapid progress by earnest attention to her parents' instruction, to her studies, and to her domestic work, especially with her needle.

After reading of St. Catherine she determined to take that saint as her model. She began by fasting three times a week, adding secret severe penances, and when her vanity was assailed, cutting off her beautiful hair, wearing coarse clothing, and roughening her hands with toil. All this time she had to struggle against the objections of her friends, the ridicule of her family, and the censure of her parents. Many hours were spent before the Blessed Sacrament, which she received daily.

Finally she determined to take a vow of virginity, and inspired by supernatural love, adopted extraordinary means to fulfill it. At the outset she had to combat the opposition of her parents, who wished her to marry. For ten years the struggle continued before she won, by patience and prayer, their consent to continue her mission.

At the same time great temptations assailed her purity, faith, and constance, causing her excruciating agony of mind and desolation of spirit, urging her to more frequent mortifications; but daily, also, Our Lord manifested Himself, fortifying her with the knowledge of His presence and consoling her mind with evidence of His Divine love. Fasting daily was soon followed by perpetual abstinence from meat, and that, in turn, by use of only the coarsest food and just sufficient to support life.

Her days were filled with acts of charity and industry, her exquisite lace and embroidery helping to support her home, while her nights were devoted to prayer andpenance. When her work permitted, she retired to a little grotto which she had built, with her brother's aid, in their small garden, and there passed her nights in solitude and prayer. Overcoming the opposition of her parents, and with the consent of her confessor, she was allowed later to become practically a recluse in this cell, save for her visits to the Blessed Sacrament.

In her twentieth year she received the habit of St. Dominic. Thereafter she redoubled the severity and variety of her penances to a heroic degree, wearing constantly a metal spiked crown, concealed by roses, and an iron chain about her waist. Days passed without food, save a draught of gall mixed with bitter herbs. When she could no longer stand, she sought repose on a bed constructed by herself, of broken glass, stone, potsherds, and thorns. She admitted that the thought of lying down on it made her tremble with dread. Fourteen years this martyrdom of her body continued without relaxation, but not without consolation.Our Lord revealed Himself to her frequently, flooding her soul with such inexpressible peace and joy as to leave her in ecstasy for hours. At these times she offered to Him all her mortifications and penances in expiation for offences against His Divine Majesty, for the idolatry of her country, for the conversion ofsinners, and for the souls in Purgatory.

Many miracles followed her death. She was beatified by Clement IX, in 1667, and canonized in 1671 by Clement X, the first American to be so honoured. Her feastis celebrated 30 August. She is represented wearing a crown of roses.

Image from here, here, and here.

You're a girl!

Dear Kuti,

We headed down to your Ummuch and Uppachen's house in Liberal, Kansas on Saturday of last week.  On Friday we picked up cupcakes from Cupcakes & More in Lincoln.  We had dropped off the folded and stapled strip of paper there after our sonogram on Tuesday.   The cupcakes made it through a 7 hour drive down, and a few hour lay-over at Cheney Reservoir to see your daddy's best man from our wedding, Curtis and his wife.  They are pregnant with a little girl who is due just a day after you are!

We waited until Sunday afternoon when Auntie Daisy and Uncle Kevin were able to make it down to Liberal.  Your Nonni and Grandpa in Kansas City were able to be a part of our "gender reveal" by google chat/hangout.  We busted into the cupcakes and found out that you are a girl! Below is a picture of a few of the half eaten cupcakes :).  We are so excited to meet you baby girl!

Love,

Mommy

Afternoon Baby

Dear Kuti,

I think you enjoy the afternoons and evenings better than mornings.  It is amazing how much more active you are in the evenings.  You are quite quiet in the mornings.  By the afternoon you start moving a bit more.  In the evenings you definitely make your presence known.  I am actually looking forward to when you move around all the time! I like having company :).

I have been looking quite a bit at your sonogram picture and noticing little details.  Obviously your sweet round little belly is so cute.  I can even see your little toes, and how you are sitting Indian style with your legs crossed.

Love you!

Mommy

Structures in Good Shape!

Dear Kuti,

Your dad and I were so happy to find out that you are a healthy and lively little baby.  You kept putting your hands up to your mouth and moving them.  Our sweet little sonogram picture shows you maybe sucking your thumb. The tech showed us your bright white femur.  Your bones are well calcified.  We saw your brain and heart structures are in good shape.  Your spine is also straight and strong.  You also have a sweet and "well nourished" round tummy :).  The tech WAS able to tell if you are a girl or boy.  We are waiting to find out until Sunday with your Ummuchi and Uppachen (grandma and grandpa) in Liberal.  Your Auntie Daisy and Uncle Kevin will be there too.  The tech made very sure that I could not peek at the little slip of paper that she wrote whether you are a girl or boy on. She folded it into a tiny square, stapled, AND taped it!  She gave us two little squares.  Your dad and I then took one square to Cupcakes & More in Lincoln so that Regina and her cupcake ladies could make tasty gender reveal cupcakes for us to take to Liberal.  I am putting the other square into the mail so that your Nonni in Kansas City can open it with us on Sunday!

I can't wait to find out and start working on picking out a name for you.  If you are a boy we have two good names picked out, Ethan or John Krieser Madathil.  If you are a girl, we're still not sure!  Your Ummuchi says you should be named after a good saint.  So I got a few baby name books and a few books about saints from the library to take with us.

We love you Kuti! We are so thankful to God that you are growing well and all of your internal structures look good and strong.  I love that you have a sweet round belly.  In our sonogram pic it looks like you are sitting Indian style and sucking your thumb.

You're so cute already Kuti!

Here you are at 20 weeks and 5 days.

Love you,

Mommy

Sonogram Tomorrow

My Dear Kuti,

Your dad and I will be going at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow to get a sonogram.  We will find out if all of your internal structures like your heart and lungs are in good shape and as they should be.  I read a very scary story about a lady whose baby had heart valve issues.  The doctors actually said that the prognosis was not good because no one over the age of 30 was living with the defect and 3 surgeries required to fix the defect.  The doctors suggested that they abort the baby.  Kuti, no matter what your daddy and I will not be ending your life.  We love you.  We are praying that you have been growing well and are healthy!

We will also have the sonogram tech fill out a card letting us know if you area  boy or girl! I am so excited to find out if you are a girl or boy.  Daddy thinks you are a girl.  I just am not sure.  I was down in Kansas City with my mom (who will be called your Nonni) to search for clothes and other items for you! We had a great time searching for good deals.

Here I am for a walk with Nonni and Sadie!

We love you!

- Mommy

Half Way Done!

Hi Kuti,

You are now more than 20 weeks along! That means we have less than 20 weeks to go before we meet you.  I took a few pictures of myself.  I just need to get them off of my camera to put them on here! I hope you are growing a lot.  I have been gaining some weight.  I have gained a total of 13.7 pounds according to one of my pregnancy apps :(.  I should show more restraint when it comes to cookies!  I have been doing a lot better about eating produce though.  I read that I should be eating 9 servings of fruits or vegetables every day! That is a lot.  I have started making smoothies with almond milk, spinach, blueberries, and frozen fruit.  They are pretty tasty!  I have also started taking fish oil because it has DHA in it that should help the connections in your brain develop.  I definitely was not eating any fish before, so I am hoping this will help you to get what you need.

I am so thankful for you Kuti.  This has been a very easy pregnancy.  I had another friend that found out she was pregnant a few weeks ago.  She just found out that the baby now has no heart beat.  I had heard that 1 out of every 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage.  I have heard about too many of them lately though.  I also read a blog called La Vie Petite who lost a baby who was even 16 weeks along, and she lost her baby.  She was even forced to go through 3 hours of labor to birth her baby who had died.  I love and trust in God.  These things are hard though.  I pray for you every day little Kuti.  I have even started praying for your future spouse (although you could be a priest or nun if you wanted to).

It is fun to start talking to you.  I do feel little flutters in my belly more often now.  I actually cannot wait until you are big enough so that I can really feel you kick.

I love you Kuti! Keep growing!

- Mommy

Here are some pics of me at 20 weeks (or there about)