Table for 6?

Erin, Jen & I had Brunch with the bumps in Devlin's on Saturday March 21st. There was a baby shower in progress, a woman beside us who was clearly pregnant, and about 5 small babies ranging in age from 5 weeks to about a year. I think there's something in the Brighton water!



Here's a lovely picture of the three of us (6 of us) @ Devlin's.
Erin's little one will be names Sean Michael Keane, Jen's little one will be Ethan Patrick Donahue... only about Nine weeks left until we find out if there will be three boys, or two boys and a girl among us.

St. Patricks Day

Bernie, Emma and I at the Green Briar in Brighton, MA

Parading the Bump

The little one and I went off to the Southie parade today. Bump really enjoyed the bagpipes and drums. Thomas and I had our day out at the hospital yesterday for Labor and Delivery Class. Thomas learned a great deal and now knows exactly how to "RELAX" me and help me breathe through labor... Sounds like a great theory, we'll see how much we both remember when I'm screaming and having contractions!

Bump's on the move.

Ok, so this is not actually my bump, but it's more or less what it FEELS like, as if a little baby kick is going to come right out the side of me. . . (and I'd say it looks about this big now too)
Our little one is now 29 weeks along. Only about 2 and a half months left! It's racing by. I'm still working and saving up for a summer off, and still in reasonably great shape. My ankles are still swollen, but I'm wearing some pretty snazzy compression stockings to keep the fluid in check. I am fortunate enough to get my feet up at work as well.

The belly is now measuring 44inches around!!!! And my weight gain at this point is right on target for "Normal" if there is such a thing in pregnancy. This kid LOVES music. Every time I have the radio on or there's music on TV the baby dances. It was really having a ball in there while the sound of music was on last Friday night. I also started to do kick counts, which is counting how long it takes the baby to kick or move 10 times. I've given up entirely. Bump is constantly on the move, so I have no fear of not making the suggested time frame of 2 hours. It actually moves about 10 times in 2 minutes sometimes. I'm not sure if he or she will come out and instantly become the youngest member of the US gymnastics team or actually be born with Irish dance shoes on it's wee little feet. Perhaps both! The nurses at Tufts told me the baby is SO responsive that it is behaving like a 32 week old baby at 28 weeks! hopefully that doesn't mean he or she will make an appearance 4 weeks early!

The verdict is still 50/50 Tom & Mom think it will be a boy and Dad and I think girl. Many of my friends and folks I've met think it's a boy, but there's just a gut feeling this little one is going to be my little girl. We will all be over joyed either way. It is such an exciting time for us all and we are thankful to be able to share this experience with all of you as well.

Nice photos to make up for the ankle shot:

Thomas and the Bump each got me flowers for my birthday, Thomas' bunch were noticeably larger, just to remind me not to totally forget he exists when the little one comes along. Both bunches were absolutely beautiful!

Here's a shot of the Hospital where the Bump will be born.
View from the Hospital of the Boston Sky line at Dusk... Kind of reminds me of one of those cell phone ads, but pretty anyway.


Saturday we went for a great walk around Castle Island with our first baby, Shadow.

Big hearts, bigger ankles.

This year for Valentines (our 5th one together) Thomas took me (and the bump) out to dinner at "Banq" – a swanky little place in the south end with fabulous food. We both had amazing meals and realized that our "grown-up" dinners out would soon require a baby sitter! And that the opportunity to go out again may not happen for a long time. I also realized that the chances to wear a nice outfit without worring about baby spit and or spit-up getting on them were getting fewer and fewer.... and really may not happen for years! So we dressed up and enjoyed our romantic evening at Banq, followed by drinks at Devlins, where we went on our first date, and Porterbellys, where we met. I had about 6 Shirley Temples and the baby was really kicking, enjoying the music and bopping away to it. Towards the end of the night, I started to feel like my ankles were aching, I was unpleasantly surprised to get home to see the sight below: (disclaimer, don't scroll down if you're easily grossed out)



.....and this my friends, is why pregnant ladies should not wear designer patent leather stelletto boots, no matter how well they look with the outfit for a fancy dinner out...

Up until now I have really only gained weight in the belly region, but the pounds are adding up quickly as the little one doubles in weight every few weeks, and my ankles and wrists are taking on fluid exponentially. I've now got a brace for my right wrist and compression socks for my feet. Thursday makes 27 weeks, so we've got only one more in the second trimester, then Third Trimester begins on March 5th. Tomorrow is my next apointment at Tuffts, maybe I'll even have a new picture/ultrasound to share of the little one. Then Thomas is taking me out for a nice birthday dinner... I will not however be wearing the boots.

Watch out world, I'm on my way and I'm bringing friends!

So, many of mommy and daddy's friends have been busy making friends for me too, which is very nice of them. (I'm a baby, it's totally cool that I think the world revolves around me... cause, well, it will!) Any way, here's my troop of fellow hooligans on the way and a few who came to check the place out before I got here too!



Baby Lemaire, Jen & Marc's second swagering sailor or sailor-ette should make a splash some time around the first week of June. (that's his or her big bro Luc in the photo with their mommy!)


Baby Barry, Andy & Laura's feisty little firecracker is due in July!


Baby Keane, Graham & Erin's "Mo cuishle" should be entering the ring August 8th - ish.


Baby Donahue, Brian and Jen's mogul of fun, should arrive in town a week later.


Baby McEnoy, Jess & Darren's future footballer should be starting forward for some of the gaa games in late August.





My buddies Emma and Tristen will almost be a year old when I arrive, so a special thanks to their mommies, Andrea & Bernie for helping my mommy through being pregnant with me, and letting her know what to expect when I show up!!!



Check back for more updates on my pals. As they arrive I'll add their stats and replace the pics of their folks with photos of them!

~ Cheers, THE BUMP.