The Move

First off, I'd like to thank everyone who has purchased and sent baby items recently, we really appreciate it!

I guess it's about time I updated everybody on how our move to the new town and apartment went! Please keep in mind that we still currently have no Internet and this is being done from my phone, so I'm not sure how organized everything will turn out.

PACKING

First of all, the moving company didn't drop off the boxes until just a week before the move! With Tomo working and me being pregnant and working, plus errands to run, things to cancel, and even a trip to Tokyo to get the keys, we really didn't have a lot of time to pack everything up. The moving van was scheduled to come in the afternoon but decided to come mid-morning instead! Needless to say, we were packing while they were packing and it was a busy busy morning. We finally managed to get everything packed up and labeled and were on our way to our new home!

MOVING IN

The apartment is very nice...a lot nicer than our previous ones. We picked a larger 3 bedroom because of the little man coming soon. It's pretty spacious, the kitchen has SO much counter space and cabinets which I love, the floors are wood and tile, it has huge doors/windows for the balcony, and it feels more like a permanent place to live than the others. (Even though we won't be here that long). The building entrance is very nice and really makes me feel like we're living in a high end place.

Unpacking only took a few days. One of Tomo's previous workers came and helped us get started and I took a day off work to spend the day emptying boxes. One more day was spent organizing everything and making the place feel lived in and somewhat homey.

I'm sorry for the lack of baby update in this post, but don't worry, that update will be coming soon!

Now for the apartment pictures. I tried to take some before and after pictures but the moving people were too fast in bringing everything in and I couldn't really get good shots of the empty place.

Since I can't caption the pictures from the phone, here's a brief description in the order they're posted (I hope):
1. View when you first walk in the door
2. Our bedroom
3. Tomo's "work room"
4. Toilet with all the fixings
5. Bath/laundry room
6. Bath/shower
7. Soon to be baby's area
8. Kitchen 1
9. Kitchen 2
10. Living room
11. View from the balcony

A Lot Going On!

   A lot has been going on lately. Last week I had a birthing class to go to, a doctor's appointment, work of course, and packing for the move. I know I updated recently, but it doesn't hurt to update more right?

Birthing Class:

It was pretty informative. Tomo had to translate some things for me but I think I got the basics. They basically went over what labor signs to look out for, when to head to the hospital, what to bring, how to bring it, what to expect during the stay (we stay for a week), and some breastfeeding information. They handed out a booklet of information that I'll have to go over with Tomo sometime.

Afterwards we took a quick hospital tour, which I think I mentioned in the last post. It was just like the pictures in the pamphlet and website. So old-fashioned and cold looking! I felt like I was taking a walk through the past. There's a labor room where I'll labor until the baby's head is about to pop out, then they transfer me to the delivery room and prop me up in one of those chairs with the leg holders that keep the legs open. Looks so scary! There's equipment everywhere and green walls and it looks so much like an operation room....There's also the possibility of 2 women being in labor at the same time, right next to each other, with just a curtain separating the two chairs. Yikes. BUT the rooms where I'll stay for the week seem very nice. They are all private so there's no chance of sharing a room unless the hospital is overcrowded, which they say very rarely happens. The baby gets put in a little compartment attached to the bed so I'll get to be with him day and night if I'd like, which I would. BUT (yes another but) the room that's included in the price we pay doesn't include a shower, just a toilet. If I want a private shower I have to pay extra so we'll see how I feel about that. Oh and we have to pay extra for TV, but I think I can deal with no TV for a week.

Doctor's Appointment:

     After the hospital tour I had an appointment with the doctor. Everything is going fine. My stomach is small for how many weeks I am (34 now!) but Jacet is still growing on schedule. That's really the only update I have on that, and it's not really an update because it hasn't changed from last time! My next appointment is in 2-ish weeks so maybe I'll "pop" then...

Moving:

    So as many of you know, we're moving because Tomo got transferred. The official move is on Wednesday, so packing has begun! It's hard to pack everything while pregnant but I'm being careful and Tomo's helping of course. Tuesday we'll be going Tokyo to get the key for the apartment and have dinner with Tomo's Block Leader, which means that the packing technically has to be finished by Monday since the movers come Wednesday. Only one day to pack up so much stuff still!

Other Stuff:

    Recently my sister had asked me to send her links to Japanese websites of baby things that I wanted and she would try to get something since I'm not having a baby shower. So, because of that request, I made a short "registry" type list at Amazon Japan. Since it's based in Japan, the shipping is cheaper or free and they have English so I think (hope) it'll be easy to buy things. I don't want to sound like a beggar, but I do get jealous seeing all the people in my baby forum having their showers around now! I'm not going to ask everyone to buy me things, the list is more for people who were thinking of buying things anyway or want to buy things. The items are mostly Japanese, but I wrote little descriptions in English on the right hand side :)


Here's the link for the list: http://www.amazon.co.jp/registry/wishlist/33AAEEREEBVP7/ref=cm_wl_act_vv?_encoding=UTF8&reveal=&visitor-view=1
(If the link doesn't work, just copy and paste it into the address bar)

Our new address is on there as well for anyone who would like to know it :)

That's it for now. Stay Tuned!

Counting Down...

     It's been too long since I've updated! I haven't felt the need since not much has changed recently. Nothing too exciting anyway. This coming Tuesday I will be 33 weeks along!A lot has happened the past few weeks so I will update you all on some of that :)

Baby Update: 

  Jacet is still growing strong. At the last appointment (just about 1.5 weeks ago), he was a little bigger than average, weighing about 4.2 lbs and about 18 inches. He seems to be healthy. His heart is beating strongly, he's kicking me nonstop all day, every day, and moving around just fine. I can't wait to meet him!

 It's not a very clear ultrasound picture, but you can see his eye socket and if you look closely you can see his nose in the right frame. His hand is up by his mouth. The left frame shows the ribs and the shading part is his heart I believe. Or maybe his stomach. I don't know!




Me Update: 

   My belly hasn't grown very much recently. It's only grown about 1 or 2 cm in a month. I was a little worried at first, but since Jacet seems to be growing fine and the doctor hasn't mentioned anything, then I guess I'm fine. I guess I just carry small :) My blood pressure was a little high at the last visit so I was prescribed some Calcium pills which is supposed to help. At least that's what the doctor said. Hopefully it goes down next time!

 The first two belly pictures are from 31.5 weeks, the last is from today....about 32.3 weeks. I think most of my weight gain is going to my butt! 

   We registered at the hospital and have a birthing class this coming and the next Tuesday. It's free and provided by the hospital which is nice. Afterwards is a hospital tour which I'm looking forward to. The pictures in the brochure and website seem so...cold and old-fashioned. I hope that the rooms look more comforting and warm in person since I have to stay there for a week!

Other Stuff:

     Now for some more general baby related stuff, as well as some life in Japan stuff.

Tomo had a 2 week vacation so we took advantage of that and did a good amount of stuff.
      First we searched for an apartment. We're moving to a city about 30-40 minutes away. It's closer to my job and it's also still close enough to my hospital so I don't have to change doctors, which is awesome. Since the last 2 moves we were too far away to really pick an apartment on our own, we had fun browsing the internet for available places and then going to see them before picking. The apartment we decided on is very nice. It's a 6 floor building and ours is the 4th floor. It's a 3 room apartment: 2 western rooms, 1 Japanese style room. It's very modern. There's an elevator, a lobby, a park nearby. The train station is about a 10 min walk (which is closer than the current 23 minute walk). Basically everything is about a 10 minute walk away, which is totally fine once I want to lose all the pregnancy weight! Anyway, I will be taking pictures once we move at the end of the month!

     Second, Tomo went snowboarding with our friend Ryuoh as a sort of last hurrah for the boys before Jacet is here. Ryuoh stayed over and we drove him to his hometown (which is nearby) where we met his mother. She generously gave us a type of Moses(?) basket for the baby!
     Tomo's mother and sister then came to visit for the night and next day. They were in Tokyo from Hokkaido to look at apartments since his sister will be moving there for a job. We had a nice dinner with them and then the next day we went shopping for baby! We bought a lot of necessary things and I'm so grateful. It was very exciting as that was the first time we actively went shopping for him. I realized that we still need SO MUCH STUFF. It also made me realize just how close the due date actually is!
    A list of things we bought: some onesies/undershirts; a few bibs; bath towels and small face towels; a baby blanket; a baby dress thing that covers his feet to keep him warm; a baby carrier; a car seat; nursing bras and some nursing tops; other maternity stuff for me; slippers for the hospital that I apparently need to bring; PJs for the hospital; a baby bag. I think that's about it. I still need a lot more stuff, but we'll worry about that after moving. Now for pictures!

Tomo really wanted the "America" shirts since Jacet will be half American....

           

(sorry for the not so very eye appealing line-up of pictures. The blog site is super annoying and doesn't let me put them where I want....)

The next day, Tomo and I took a short 1 night 2 day onsen (hot spring) trip. We stayed in a nice hotel and had a lovely soak in the hot water. It was our last relaxing 'trip' together before we have to start bringing a little baby with us everywhere :)

That's all for now! My next doctor's appointment is on Tuesday but I probably won't update for awhile because nothing much will be changing. Next time will probably be after we move, so look forward to new apartment pictures :)

27 weeks...Third Trimester: Here I Come!

    First of all, Happy New Year everyone!  Second of all, 27 weeks this week! About the equivalent of 7ish months! Only 3 more to go! Time is flying by and this little guy will be here before we know it. Again, there's not much to update on as from here on out it's just about making sure he's growing and healthy. Appointments will be every 2 weeks from now.

Doctor's Update:    

We went to the clinic at a different time than usual which led to seeing a different doctor. I didn't mind at all. My usual OB is an older lady and I believe the one we saw this time was her son (it's a family clinic). He was very nice and friendly and I actually think I like him more than the woman! He took his time with the ultrasound and explained everything he showed and was doing, which is more than my usual doctor does. Of course I didn't understand everything but he did try to use English when he could. Basically, Jacet is growing fine and right on target with how far along I am. His heartbeat is strong and everything looks to be correctly formed. He now weighs about 1166g which equals about 2 1/2 lbs. The doctor was also able to get a very lovely picture of Jacet's cute little face.

Me Update:

Apparently the younger doctor does not believe my weight is a problem. He didn't mention anything about it. My sugar levels are also normal. I knew it was just all the Christmas cookies I had eaten...
I don't really have any pregnancy symptoms. I get tired easily and it's getting a little uncomfortable to sleep at night...and my legs fall asleep often. Not to mention nighttime pee breaks. Other than that and the fact that my belly (and butt. and face. and thighs.) is growing, I feel perfectly normal. Now for some belly pictures :)  the first few are from last week (26 weeks) and then some I took today.

 Other Stuff:

Since we only have about 3 months to go (yikes!), I've started researching baby stuff to buy. We're most likely moving at the end of Feb/beginning of March, so most of the big stuff will have to wait until then. But I've narrowed down my options and made a list of other necessities to get in the meantime. There are so many little extra things that we have to get! So here is where I ask you all for any advice and opinions for things I definitely need vs things I really don't need :)

Stay Tuned for more updates!



 

Getting Bigger and Bigger~

     There's really not much to update this time around. I'm now 24 weeks and some odd days and had my Doctor's appointment this week to check up on the little guy. He's still very healthy and moving around quite a lot! I can feel the kicks everyday now. Tomo has yet to believe that he's kicking/punching/moving enough so that I can feel it inside and out. He thinks it's all in my head....but it's not, and someday, when he has the patience to wait for it, he'll feel them too. It's not very regular right now so Tomo is reluctant to sit with his hand on my stomach waiting for the possibility of a kick. I know soon enough they'll be strong enough and regular enough that he'll get the chance to feel them though.

     The doctor's visit was pretty quick and uneventful. I was told I gained too much weight even though it's only up about 4kg (~9lb). The doctor told me that she only wanted me to gain about 5-6kg (11-12lbs) total! That's obviously not going to happen as the baby will probably be anywhere from 6lbs when he's born...Japan is very strict about weight gain. I think it has something to do with the fact that they mostly perform natural births and believe a smaller baby is easier to give birth to...but it's also probably because their body build is smaller. I was also told at this visit that the sugar content in my urine was too high. They took some blood to check up on that. Hopefully it was just that day since I had eaten a bunch of cookies from baking the day before and had chocolate milk right before the appointment...Other than those little mishaps, everything was fine! He's still a boy, still moving, heart is still beating. He weighs about 750kg which is about 1.6 lbs and right on track. Sadly I wasn't given an ultrasound picture this time around (probably because she was mad at me about my sugar and weight!). And yes, we are still planning on the name Jacet(t?), though spelling is yet to be decided.

On another note, Christmas is coming! The house is decorated and even though we won't have presents under the tree, it still feels Christmas-y. My family (plus grandparents) sent a nice Nativity Scene for Christmas and Tomo's parents sent a nice, warm blanket. My grandparents also sent some adorable baby clothes, blankets, and toys :) Tomo and I had a little "date day" and went to see some pretty Christmas lights (after we picked up my new Resident Card with a renewed 3 year Visa!). Tomo has to work Christmas Eve, but he promised to come home early so we can have a Japan Traditional KFC and Pizza Christmas dinner and go to church. Yes, I convinced him to go to Christmas Eve Mass with me! Christmas Day we have no plans so far except for me making dinner American Christmas style...except with not so much food since it's just the two of us. After Christmas is the New Year! Tomo has to work both New Year's Eve AND Day so that will be uneventful. I'll still make food for New Year's Eve and spend the night watching all of the Music Concerts they show on tv while I wait for him to get home.

 Enough rambling. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to everyone!

Halfway Mark!

This is just a little post to express my excitement that I made it halfway! I'm now 20 weeks and feel pretty great now. And...I think I've started to feel some kicking! I'm not 100% sure, but occasionally I'll feel little flutters in my abdomen and am hoping that it's the little guy. BUT I could just be imagining things since I'm so anxious to feel him move!

Tomo's mom sent me some stomach warmers/supports. They're very comfortable and do help a lot while I'm sleeping. She also sent some very cute chocolate and a new infrared space heater that's supposed to warm up the whole room, now if only it would get cold out so I could use it!

Also, I feel like my stomach popped out during the last week! Maybe it's just me, or maybe it's because I always pay attention to it after I eat...but you can judge for yourself. First are two 20 week pictures that I took today, and (obviously) the one after is the 19 week picture from last week:

What do you think? Bigger? Just my imagination? Even though I'm getting bigger, I still feel like I'm in the "looks fat" rather than the "looks pregnant" stage.

Now for some name information. I know people aren't too crazy about the name that Tomo made up, but for now, that's what it is; he's set on it and rejects any other name I give him, and I'm opening up to it. Full name, at this point in time, is............Jacet (pronounced Jay-set) Haru (for Japan times, it means Spring) Izumiya. Jacet Haru Izumiya. Due April 9, 2013.

It's a...

BOY! I'm sure most of you saw the Facebook announcement I posted. I was going to try to wait until I had time to update the blog but...I was just too excited! I'm now 19 weeks and 2 days, just about halfway! Now for some more general updates.

I've been following a forum on the babycenter.com website that consists of other April 2013 moms. Sometimes it helps a lot to read the advice and opinions of the more experienced mothers, but recently it's been making me anxious and worried. A lot of the women have started feeling their baby's movements from around 16 weeks and an occasional few have posted 2nd trimester miscarriages. Well, I haven't yet felt any baby movements (I'm 19 weeks) and became so worried that something was wrong! I stayed pretty calm with the knowledge that nothing felt WRONG and that I was still getting nauseous and sick occasionally, but I still couldn't wait for the doctor to check things out.

Finally, Tuesday came and we went to the office. I was very excited to possibly be able to find out the gender. Before the ultrasound the dr asked general questions and looked at my chart etc. Well, apparently I've gained too much weight already! She said my end weight gain should be around 10kg (22lb). Tomo made her check my chart again though and reminded her about the weight I lost from morning sickness. If using my morning sickness weight, I gained too much. Using my pre-pregnancy weight, I only gained about 2-3lbs which I think is pretty normal. So she changed her diagnosis from "too much weight" to "gaining to fast." Either way, I'll have to start watching what I eat...

Ultrasound time! I got a little worried at first when she was measuring and asking if I felt movements. When I said no, she got a concerned look on her face and said something like "we'll let's just look and see." She showed us the baby and he was moving around and perfectly fine! I assume that when she points out all the parts to us she's checking for anything wrong as well. When she got to the leg area, lo and behold, a little tiny (but definitely noticeable) "boy-part" was hanging out! 100% boy! She didn't take a picture of the "money shot" though...

Reactions: I was (am) excited because I wanted a "big brother" figure for any other children we have. Tomo was actually quite disappointed. He really wanted a little girl! He thinks that a boy as a first child is going to be difficult to handle. His mom said the same thing, but I think that's just because Tomo was such a wild child.

And now for names. We've been tossing names out here and there, well I have and Tomo just says yes or no, and Tomo decided to take a name I said and sort of make one up. I suggested Jace, Tomo added a 't' and we now have Jacet! Lol. It's not so far out there that I won't take it into consideration, and it's actually growing on me...the middle name will be Japanese but we haven't thought about that one too much yet.

The weather is finally getting colder so I can break out my more comfortable winter clothes and boots. And apparently in Japan (not sure about the U.S.) it's important to keep the pregnant belly warm. They actually make belly warmers for that so maybe ill get one. I'm in Japan, might as well do it the Japanese way :)

That's all for now. Stay tuned for more updates eventually!