Minneapolis is the 2nd Ranked Place to Have a Baby!

According to Fit Pregnancy, Minneapolis is ranked number two in a list of the best cities to have a baby. I know we live in Hugo, but I think that this probably covers the entire metro area. Here are some reasons why this is such a great place to have a family:

• According to data from the CDC, maternal mortality in MN is especially low.
• MN allows greater dependent-related tax breaks than most.
• The CDC reports very low infant mortality rates for MN.
• Babies born in MN are 14% less likely than average to be born prematurely.
• 21% of babies in MN are born via C-section, which is below the average of 27% for the country.
• 16.1% of Minneapolis mothers breastfeed their babies exclusively which is higher than the national average of 12%.
• There are more advanced fertility clinics per capita than average.
• Minneapolis has one doula for every 37 live births.
• Minneapolis has 42 midwives for every 1,000 births.
• There are 24% more fertility doctors per capita here than average.
• Minneapolis has more OB-GYNs than average.
• Minneapolis has 39 licensed home day cares for every 1,000 children under 4 years.

There are some things that Fit Pregnancy says Minneapolis could use some work on:

• Hospital costs here are among the highest in the nation.
• Weather not conducive to getting out and working off the pregnancy weight gain (haven't they ever heard of a gym, or even the skyways?).
• State laws do not require health insurance companies to provide or offer any fertility-related services.
• Minnesota requires less visits by officials to home daycare centers than average.

That's pretty darn good if you ask me. I guess there are some good things to do with living in Minnesota! : )

Week 28

At this point the baby begins to turn around and will eventually be facing with its head down to be ready for labor (hopefully). She weighs around 2 1/2 pounds and should be about 16 inches long.

Some tricks that she is working on and should have mastered this week are blinking, coughing, sucking, hiccuping, and practice breathing. The baby also is reaching the REM cycle in her sleep, I wonder if her dreams are as crazy as some of the ones that John has been having, but that's a story for another post...

I guess it is time to start finalizing all of our stuff. We've signed up for our baby class, so I guess the next thing on the list is painting and putting together the nursery (the crib and dresser are already put together).

Third Trimester

We've officially moved into the home stretch of the pregnancy!

This morning when I reminded John what today was I realized that this baby could technically be here in 10-14 weeks. Crazy how fast this all goes! I remember back before 10 weeks thinking that 40 weeks seemed like forever, not anymore!

New Machine at Airport Security Gates

Check out this link, if you are chosen out of line at the airport security checkpoint and do not want to be physically frisked, you will soon have the choice of being x-rayed. (Careful with the second picture, it unfortunately is a little graphic.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/05/18/airport.security.body.scans/

I'm not sure if I would be comfortable knowing that a stranger had access to that type of photo of me!

Outsiders

Well this morning I quickly realized that I have gotten to the point in this pregnancy where people that I do not know are beginning to notice that I am pregnant. This is 100 times better than people just thinking that I ate too many pieces of cake, which could also be the truth! : )

I was grabbing breakfast at D'Brian's and the woman behind the register asked if I was pregnant. I was surprised at how excited and happy I was to tell her yes. Strangers noticing this fact makes the day that she will come seem so much closer than before. Though I am nervous and worrying about every last detail, like normal, I am also getting more and more excited as the days go by.

Being able to meet and snuggle with my two friends newborn baby girls over the last couple of weeks definitely makes that waiting seem even longer! When holding Reese and Peyton I could definitely imagine myself snuggled up in the rocking chair or on the couch with baby Kate just sitting there for hours! Of course that will be interrupted by baby bathroom issues, feedings, beagle craziness, and the rest that life throws our way. It will all be worth it though and I can't wait.

Last week John told me that when she comes it will be "fun", and I am really starting to agree!

Grocery Shopping

Last night I stopped at the grocery store on my way home, I had to get the fixin's for nachos. Yum!

It is really hard for me to go to the grocery store before dinner and not leave with some sort of dessert. As I was going through the isles looking at cookies, cakes, candy, ice cream, etc every time I would stop to maybe think about grabbing something the baby would kick. This wouldn't be just a tiny kick, they were huge windup, see on the outside, kicks.

I left the grocery store without buying any dessert or sweet snacks. Looks like we may have a health nut on our hands! Maybe she could help us out!

Baby Tent

I have come to the conclusion that maternity shirts are not shirts but are actually baby tents. At least that is what they look like in photos. Here is proof (courtesy of Lucy) from Saturday!