Be prepared.� The Web site I'm about to share with you may either crack you up or creep you out, but I'm assuming more often than not it will be the latter.� For me, I think it does both.

So basically, there's this site called ManBabies.com.� It takes normal pictures of father-son interactions and superimposes their heads on each other's body.� Case in point:

[caption id="attachment_388" align="aligncenter" width="550" caption="ManBabies Pool Time"][/caption]

Creepy, right?� How about this one ...

[caption id="attachment_389" align="aligncenter" width="550" caption="Backpacking ManBabies"][/caption]

Pretty funny, I think.� Anyway, I'll let you decide for yourself.� My sister shared the site with me, and I definitely thought it was worthy enough to be featured on the blog.� Hey, it can't be any worse than the Baby Shower Cake Wrecks or the Martha Stewart Halloween costumes, can it?� I'm not gonna lie - if Baby Lump turns out to be a boy, I'm kind of looking forward to taking a picture of James and him and making a ManBaby picture out of it.� My new laptop is fully equipped with PhotoShop.� ;o)

In the interim, feel free to check out more ManBabies at ManBabies.com at your leisure.

As for Baby Lump, my last doctor appointment revealed that my baby bump is measuring slightly smaller than it should be for 33 weeks gestation (See, It's not just me being paranoid that I seem small!).� Based on my too-small belly, our doctor scheduled an ultrasound for this Monday.� A little worrisome to me, but on the bright side, we get more fetal baby pictures!

And there's no need for James and I to avert our eyes; apparently it's not possible for the untrained eye to tell the baby's sex, even this far along.� Another cool thing is we'll probably be able to find out the exact weight of Baby Lump, along with his/her position in the womb.� Hopefully his/her head is starting to point downward to make for an easy landing.

Oven Timer: 33 weeks, 2 days

Topics: Weekly Updates, Internet Fun, Bizarre, ManBabies, ultrasound, baby bump, baby presentation, 33 weeks, belly

Topics: Media, online ad, Motrin moms scandal, Motrin moms, advertisement, Motrin

[caption id="attachment_378" align="alignright" width="265" caption="Boy or Girl?"][/caption]

So James and I have successfully completed our natural childbirth class, and I am happy to report that I still plan on attempting the feat of childbirth sans medication.

Interestingly enough, one of the most memorable things about the class occurred when we were all re-introducing ourselves at the beginning of the second session.� This time our instructor, Sandy asked everyone to also reveal the sex of their babies-to-be.

First of all, James and I might just be the last couple on Earth who wants the sex of their baby to remain a surprise.� Okay, okay - I exaggerate, but it honestly seems like surprise-seekers like us are few and far between when it comes to the baby gender game these days.� Of the six other couples taking the class, we are the only ones who aren't aware of our baby's flavor.

Sandy actually ended up commending James and me at the end of class for wanting to keep Baby Lump's sex unknown.� She verbalized my exact thought process: There are very few true surprises in life, so you might as well take advantage of them when they come along.

The thing is, the lack of gender surprise among the couples isn't even the most shocking part.� The most shocking part is that of all six couples, not one of them is expecting a boy.� That's right - all six couples are having girls.� What are the chances?� (Math geeks, break out your calculators).� Now, I'm pretty sure this doesn't say squat about the odds of me having one gender over the other, but I am extremely interested to see whether Baby Lump conforms to the trend set in my childbirth class.� Interesting, huh?� Does this make anyone second-guess their birth stat projections?

Baby Lump's Week 32 Development:

Measurement/Weight: Baby Lump weighs about 5 lbs. and measures between 17 and 18 inches in length.

Other Highlights: At about this time, Baby Lump is running out of space and settling into the tucked, head-down fetal position.� He/she is also experiencing alternating periods of deep sleeping and being actively awake, much like a newborn does.

Oven Timer: 32 weeks, 3 days

Topics: Weekly Updates, gender, natural childbirth class, childbirth class, sex of baby

[caption id="attachment_370" align="alignleft" width="194" caption="Birthing Ball"][/caption]

James and I attended our first of two natural childbirth classes last Sunday at Isis Maternity.� Before we went, I was thinking the class would either sell me on or deter me from my decision to birth Baby Lump naturally.� The verdict?� It's still a "go."

If you're thinking there is still a possibility the second class will make me rethink my decision, it's very unlikely.� The first class was devoted to the particularly scary stuff - we watched a pretty rough video, which was basically a compilation of unedited footage of women in labor.� Next class we're focusing on more pleasant things like breastfeeding.

[caption id="attachment_371" align="alignright" width="259" caption="Birthing Ball - Alternate Use "][/caption]

So far the class has done a good job of preparing us preggo students for the three stages of labor, suggesting various relaxation techniques and positions for coping with the pain.� During the early phase of labor, many techniques involve using what the obstetrics community calls a "birthing ball," which every non-pregnant woman in the world knows as an exercise ball.� So for all you fitness enthusiasts out there who are planning to have a baby at some point in your life, that exercise ball you've been using for your crunches is going to come doubly in handy some day.� Messing around with that "birthing ball" was my favorite part of class - I've already ordered my own, and it's on its way.

Oh yeah, and our instructor is also quite a hoot.� Her name is Sandy, and she had absolutely no reservations about getting down on the floor and demonstrating different birthing positions.� She is currently a nursing student who is planning to become a midwife.� We think she's great.

Baby Lump's stats for week 31:

Measurement/Weight: Baby Lump should now weigh about 4 to 5 pounds and measures approximately 16� 1/2 inches.� He/she will continue to gain about a half pound per week until shortly before birth - Yowzers!

Other Highlights: Baby Lump is beginning to develop immunity to mild infections, his/her appearance is similar to what it will be at birth (sans some weight) and he/she may start to be getting into position for birth (head turned down toward the pelvis).

We're down to a single digit countdown now - only 8� 1/2 weeks (or fewer) to go!

Oven Timer: 31 weeks, 3 days

Topics: Weekly Updates, natural childbirth class, week 31, stages of labor, Isis Maternity, birthing ball

A lot of people have been asking me lately if I'm ready for Baby Lump's arrival.� I always get a little thrown off by the question - do they mean ready emotionally or ready materialistically?

Materialistically, James and I would definitely be able to get by if Baby Lump were to grace us with his/her presence tomorrow.� For the most part, we have a lot of the essentials thanks to the baby shower in PA - a place for Baby Lump to sleep, a stroller, a carseat, some diapers, some clothes, bathing products, etc.

Answering whether I am emotionally ready is slightly more difficult.� In some ways I think I am, and in others, maybe not so much.� I think I'm teetering on the edge right now.� I'm getting very excited for Baby Lump to finally be here, yet I'd be caught pretty off-guard if he/she were to show up in the next few days. Plus - we still need a boy's name!

[caption id="attachment_356" align="alignright" width="361" caption="Graco Pack and Play in Nouvelle Pattern"][/caption]

Still, the nesting instinct has definitely been catching up with me.� I have such an urge to start getting the "nursery" ready, but right now it's too busy serving as both James' office and the guest room.� Plus, we're kind of lacking on the furniture front at the moment, so there wouldn't be much I could do anyway.� I was, however, able to convince James to help me set up the pack and play last night, which will serve as Baby Lump's crib/changing area/play pen as long as we're living in this apartment.� It's hanging out in our bedroom for the time being.� I definitely swallowed a big, heaping dose of reality last night when I peered over at the pack and play from my bed and imagined the many times I'll be hearing a baby's cry coming from its general direction.� Baby Lump could be here as early as next month and not be considered premature!� (Crazy!)

I know I'm a little late posting this week, but here is a summary of Baby Lump's 30-week stats:

Measurement/Weight: not much progress here - still about 3-4 lbs. and 15-16 inches

Other Highlights: Most of Baby Lump's developemental energy this past week has been focused on rapid brain cell growth.� Additionally, his/her fingernails and toenails are now fully formed, and he/she is starting to shed the lanugo (a fine layer of hair that has been covering the skin), which means Baby Lump is becoming less and less of a furbaby.

Oven Timer: 30 weeks, 3 days

Topics: Weekly Updates, little baby lump, 30 weeks, nesting