[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

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

Here's something fun for you to chew on in honor of the upcoming election.� After I posted my call for help in naming Baby Lump last week, one of my twitter pals, @petertdavis made me promise I wouldn't do something like this ...

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1lM5JLN1hI&hl=en&fs=1]

Can you believe that guy?� What a nimrod!� Let me tell you, if James ever pulled a stunt like that, he'd get a lot more than two weeks in the doghouse.� Let's see, which name would you give your child - Sarah McCain-Palin or Ava Grace?

By the way, I think I've come up with a pretty good boy name for Baby Lump - how about Joe Obama-Biden?

In other news, yesterday I hit a pretty big milestone, at least from my point of view.� It was the first time a person gave up his seat on the T for me on account of my preggo belly.� Hooray, baby bump!� It's definitely becoming more substantial.� Have you seen this week's pic compared to last week's?� There's definitely a noticeable difference.

So I'm coming up on week 30 - can you believe it?� It's getting so close!� Baby Lump should now be using all five of his/her senses, his/her toenails are fully formed, and Lump's noggin is pretty much in proportion to the rest of his/her body.� Baby Lump measures between 15 and 16 inches (think a loaf of bread) and weighs between 3 and 4 pounds (think a Macbook Air).

My Little Lump also seems to be a lot more active lately, as if to say "LET ME OUT!"� Apparently, that's because of all the energizing fat he/she has been developing.� In fact, if Lump were born sometime this week, he/she would have a 9 out of 10 chance of survival.� Still, I think we'll keep him/her in there to bake a little while longer ...

Oven Timer: 29 weeks, 2 days

"German Engineering" is not just a great song by Maritime.� It's also the reason James and I are having a baby.� Forget Brooke Shields and her "have a baby for love" mantra, James' and my actual motivation for getting pregnant was Volkswagen's Routan minivan ...

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDZSxFLcMVg&hl=en&fs=1]

Okay, okay, all kidding aside, time to update you on Baby Lump's developmental touch points for this week.� At this point, he/she should be about 15 inches long, weigh almost 3 pounds and be starting to form some eyelashes and eyebrows.� One Web site I refer to describes the baby's length as similar to an amusement park cinnamon-sugar-coated churro.� Mmm ...

I had my glucose screening on Monday, which checks for gestational diabetes.� Everything I've read about it prepared me to drink a nasty "glucose cocktail" before my blood was taken, but it honestly wasn't bad at all.� It basically tasted like a very sweet but flat cup of Pepsi.� Anyway, I heard from the doctor today that I passed, although my iron is low (no news here, it always has been), which means I'll be taking an iron supplement from now on.� No biggie.

Well, it seems like we're in the home stretch now folks.� The frequency of my doctor visitations has now been increased to once every two weeks until week 36, at which point I'll check in once a week until delivery.

Does anyone else think time has gone by at a ridiculously fast pace?

Oven Timer: 28 weeks, 2 days