Week 32

What little man is up to this week:

Baby's movements are slowing down this week. As the your uterus gets more 
and more cramped, he's curled up, chin resting on his chest and arms and 
legs cocked. He continues to practice breathing, to open and close his 
eyes, and to swallow amniotic fluid. In fact, during this last trimester 
he will be swallowing about 4 cups of amniotic fluid a day! His taste 
buds have matured now and experts believe that Baby can already 
distinguish some of the tastes in your amniotic fluid--like onions, 
garlic, and certain strong spices, like cumin. Some scientists believe 
this pre-taste is a way to prepare a baby for the different flavors of 
breast milk, which also changes based on a mom's daily diet.

What I’m up to this week:

Expect to see this same reaction every week: Holy crap! I am 32 weeks pregnant!! This means that if my pregnancy lasts 40 weeks, I am 80% of the way done cooking this little man. However I’m going to be real with myself and set the expectations pretty low – I have a feeling I’m going to be a typical first time mother that goes until 41 weeks and has to be induced. If that’s the case, then Baby A will make an appearance on July 30 or 31. David and I have our eyes on July 17 for this little one to join us on his own though. And yes, I plan on working up until that point. My water could break at work, which I think would be awesome and my coworkers think would be horrible. Which means that I will have to be bringing my hospital bag with me wherever I go come July 1 when I’ll be full term (37 weeks).

Anyone have any good things to bring to the hospital that aren’t on the typical lists online? I’ll take any advice I can get! Also, I plan on breastfeeding so the hospital bag will need that stuff as well. This is what I have so far, please tell me if I am missing something or if anything I have is ridiculous or unnecessary:

1. Birth Plan
2. Birthing Ball (this is just an exercise ball that came highly recommended from the birthing class teacher RN. Once I sat on one in class and my hip/back pain disappeared immediately, I was sold. It’s supposed to help with labor to relieve pressure and my hospital only has 1 for all their L&D rooms, so I’m bringing my own.)
3. Boppy
4. Focus Object (I’m bringing the stuffed owl from his nursery. This was another rec from the teacher. If anything it’ll be good for pictures once he’s born.)
5. Nightlight (I’ve heard this is good for middle of the night feedings/diaper changes when you don’t want to turn on the obnoxious fluorescent lights.)
6. Snacks (Hospital food isn’t the greatest, let’s be honest.)
7. Cameras + chargers (including cell phone chargers)
8. Kindle + Tablet and chargers + books/magazines + deck of cards + DVD to watch
9. Flip flops for showering and/or when your feet are too swollen to put on regular shoes
10. Lotion/chapstick/Vaseline (when my mom was in the hospital last year the air was so dry I thought my nose was going to crack and fall off. We’d rub Vaseline in our nostrils just to get some relief.)
11. Baby’s Coming Home outfit + blanket + cute hat + mittens + One extra outfit because I’m psycho
12. Preemie outfit just in case (in my family we have 5 pound babies, and they don’t fit in “newborn” sized clothing)
13. Baby Book – when they stamp his feet for their certificate’s foot prints they will just stamp yours too, all at once.
14. Diaper Bag
15. Car seat + body support pillow thingy
16. Nursing bra + Soothies + Breast Pads + Nipple cream + Nursing Cover (for when company is visiting)
17. Change of clothes – something either maternity or stretchy to form to your just-had-a-baby body
18. Non-Slip socks and slippers
19. Granny Panties
20. Pajamas/night gown/Robe (for after birth when you just want your own stuff)
21. Pillow + extra blanket for David on the couch
22. Patterned pillowcase + own pillow (hospital pillows are crap, and the pattern will cheer you up, I’ve heard. Plus it’ll look cute in pictures)
23. Travel Fan (because my husband and I are weirdos that can’t sleep without some white noise)
24. iHome to listen to music + aux cord for phone
25. Insulated Travel cup
26. Tennis Balls (these are amazing for David to rub my back with – another birthing class technique)
27. Own bath towel (?)
28. “Thank you” for the hospital staff – this is if (and only if) I am bored and standing around staring at my belly willing him to come and feel like baking. There’s a pretty high chance that once I clean the whole house and organize his nursery for the 100^th time I’ll feel like making something with sugar in it for me to eat and maybe a little extra for those nice nurses who are going to be cleaning a lot of gross personal stuff of mine.
29. Toiletries (yes the hospital provides them but I’ve heard they’re crap)
    • Travel shampoo/conditioner
    • Soap
    • Razor
    • Deodorant
    • Face wipes
    • Toothbrush/Toothpaste
    • Hair brush + straightener (in case I have the overwhelming urge to look human)
    • Make up (see g. above)
    • Dry shampoo (this was another new mom’s rec – in case you can’t shower)
    • Hair ties/clips

Things I’ve heard you need but the hospital will provide:

• Onesies
• Diapers
• Pacifiers
• Nipple cream
• Super Duper Sanitary Pads
• Blankets
• Other things that are obvious but I can’t think of right now (real helpful, right?)

This week was pretty awesome. It started with a surprise work baby shower for my friend at work and I. We got surprised with lots of nice gifts! David hid it from me the whole time.

Then this weekend was Memorial Day, and we spent it at the horse race track with our friends and at the pool. There was a whole lotta this:

My hips and back have been killing me lately. I’ve been spending my time with the maternity belt on and bouncing on the birthing ball. It’s very hot, as you can see. Anyone have any relief mechanisms? Tylenol does nothing, and I can’t ice it all day long. I don’t know what else to do but it is MISERABLE. And when he moves I can feel relief for a few minutes, until he moves right back on my sciatic again. Little shit.

Pregnancy is very sexy, ya’ll.

How far along? 32 Weeks.
Total weight gain/loss: 10-11  pounds up (steadily gaining a pound a week it seems).
Maternity clothes? Yes
Cravings: Summer food deviled eggs, watermelon, etc.
Stretch marks? Nope.
Baby is the size of: Baby A weighs about 3.75 pounds and is approximately 16.7 inches long, about the size of a large jicama.
Sleep: I wake up in the middle of the night to movement ALL the time. I don’t really mind anymore, I just put my hand on my belly and feel him moving and fall right back asleep.
Best moment this week: Work shower, and spending the weekend outside. Summer’s finally here!
Miss Anything? A few bud light limes would have been nice while laying by the pool!
Movement: All the time
Anything making you queasy or sick: Not really
Have you started to show yet: Yes
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? Flat
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!
Looking forward to: 3D Ultrasound photos are TOMORROW!! And my baby shower is Saturday… I’m beyond giddy!

Give me advice on hospital bag packing!!

Got to go – my mother-in-law is in town! 3D Ultrasound photos coming this weekend!

Week 31

What my little man is up to this week:

This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 
pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth 
spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and 
body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath 
his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble 
sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take 
comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

What I’m up to this week:

Did I really type that title correctly? Am I really 31 weeks pregnant?? Only single digit weeks to countdown from here on out!! I keep hearing all this talk about birth plans and hospital bags… am I really that far along? Time sure flies! But it sure makes me sad… hence the reason I wrote this, because I just love being pregnant. Am I nuts for feeling that way? I absolutely positively love being pregnant. Maybe it’s because I’m hopped up on hormones, or that my little boy’s movements are getting stronger and bigger every day, or that my friend just had her son and I’m starting to realize there is an end in sight, but I’m going to miss being pregnant with this baby tremendously. I most certainly do not understand articles like this at all!

That’s not to say that I don’t have my problems… I cry (happy or sad tears) almost every other day. Things that don’t make sense make me cry. The most ridiculous things in the world make my burst out in tears for no reason at all. My back is killing me. My hips feel like someone took the ligaments attached to them and won’t stop pulling as hard as they can towards the front of my body. I feel nauseous every time I let myself get too hungry, I’m not sleeping well, and I feel like a beached whale. But I freakin’ love it. I am 31 weeks pregnant and have the energy I did before I was pregnant. I can buzz around the house for hours and hours cleaning and organizing and making curtains and cooking dinner and then only realize when I sit for the night how much pain my back and hips are in. I will absolutely miss being at this stage. Call me in a few weeks, though, and my opinion might change. I can see myself being so uncomfortable that I just want to lay in bed all day because I feel so big. But for now, I’m loving it.

Look closely…

Let’s see, this week’s ailments include:

I’m starting to feel nauseous every day about lunch time. Until I get something in my system does the feeling subside. It’s not terrible, but this humidity sure doesn’t help.

My hips ache all day long. It’s not sciatic pain anymore (I don’t think?) it’s more ligament pain from the stretching. It feels so good when David stands behind me and holds my belly up just to get some relief.

I’m a hot box. I know this weather isn’t helping, nor is the fact that our building at work doesn’t have air conditioning yet, but I am hot all the time. I kick off the covers every night because I’m so hot. I already told David that he better not worry about the damn electric bill the next two months because I will be turning the temp down every chance I get. Does anyone have a walk in fridge I can borrow to just sit in until July?

My belly is getting LARGE and in charge. I can’t wear some of my maternity shirts much longer because the bottom of my belly will show. It’s very sexy, I tell ya.

What else?

Oh… hormones are out of control. Two examples:

Our birthing class is at the hospital where we’ll be delivering. Every time a baby is born they play a lullaby across the speakers. In the middle of class, the lullaby came on and I BURST into tears. Like huge wet tears streaming down my face and the teacher made a comment and everyone looked at me.  And I couldn’t make them stop.

The other night before bed, David kissed my belly and sang “You are my sunshine” to the baby. I lost it again. He looked up and said, “Are you crying????” and rolled his eyes. He’s used to my antics. I just feel so lucky sometimes that I can’t control my emotions.

Onto bigger and better things…

I did the normal 8 months pregnant thing and got my hair cut off!! You know your hair’s too long when you sit down and your hair can touch your belly button!

This weekend we watched our good friend’s baby boy. We had him overnight and decided we would see how having an 11 month old would fit into our lifestyle. We did everything normally that we would do on the weekends: we took naps (ok, the baby and I took a nap… David mowed the grass), I made lunch for everyone, we took a big long walk with the dogs and the stroller, we went out to dinner, and I made a big breakfast for us all the next morning. Now I’m saying this with caution because Baby Z is probably the best baby on the face of this earth, but he fit into our lifestyle perfectly. The biggest test was going to be when we went out to dinner. I packed his bag twice making sure I didn’t forget anything (and still forgot something), and off we went to a little Italian place in town. We got him a high chair, gave him some toys and his juice, and he played until the food came. Then we fed him some of our meals while we ate. After he was full he played peek-a-boo with us with a napkin and had the attention of the whole room because he is JUST THAT DAMN CUTE. And then we held his hand to walk out to the car and drove home. It was absolutely amazing. It is a trust testament to his awesome parents how good of a baby he is. He even slept from 9pm until 9am!! PERFECT child, I tell you. I realize this isn’t a true representation of what a newborn is going to be like, but it’s nice to know that we can have our child fit into our lifestyle (with some minor tweaks). Granted we don’t have a wild and crazy life where we go out clubbing every weekend or go to the bar drinking all the time, but we do want to be able to keep up the same type of life we have now. And I sure did love the baby cuddles he gave in the morning, and how he fell asleep on me when he took his bottles, and how he nuzzled his head into my neck when he bumped his head on the ottoman (he’s still learning how to walk). It made my heart melt. I cannot wait to meet our little one and experience all those things with him.

After Baby Z left on Sunday we got down to business in baby A’s nursery. We picked up last minute stuff at IKEA, hung shelves, touched up spots of paint that had been scratched, hung his mirror, and did curtains. It is really coming together!

I tried to find a shower dress this weekend and it got very depressing really fast. I feel like a huge tub of lard in every single dress made for pregnant women and it blows. The visions in my mind of a cute blonde pregnant girl with this adorable little bump are slowing dissipating as I realize that is not longer the case.

I have a friend at work who is 4 weeks ahead of me who is so damn cute. Yesterday when I saw her in the hallway I said, “Still have ankles?” She said, “Yup, you?” It was a funny discussion and made me laugh.

How far along? 31 Weeks.
Total weight gain/loss: 8-9  pounds up (steadily gaining a pound a week it seems).
Maternity clothes? Yes, and some are even getting too small.
Cravings: cereal again. And everything apple – apple sauce, apple juice, etc. and deviled eggs.
Stretch marks? Nope.
Baby is the size of: Baby A weighs about 3.3 pounds and is approximately 16 inches long, about the size of four navel orange (wtf??) .
Sleep: Last night I fell asleep after dinner and slept through the night. Almost 12 hours. I did wake up 4 times to a dance party in my belly and a bunch of hiccups.
Best moment this week: Watching baby Z.
Miss Anything? Just being able to find an outfit easily.
Movement: All the time
Anything making you queasy or sick: When I get too hungry.
Have you started to show yet: Yes
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? Flat
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: So happy I could burst!
Looking forward to: This weekend for Memorial Day we are going to a horse track and tailgating while we watch the race all day. It’s a tradition we do with our good friends every summer and it’s awesome.

Dear Baby Adair

Dear baby boy of mine,

For the past 7 months, I have enjoyed everything about this pregnancy with you. Even when I couldn’t stomach food for days, or when the “practice” contractions had me crying in a ball, I wouldn’t have had it any other way. This weekend and today, more than ever, I realize that time with you growing inside of me is limited, and shortly it will be over. While I read this week’s update that said that I am in the single digit countdown until you are born, and it hit me like a ton of bricks. While the primary goal of this pregnancy has always been to give birth to a healthy baby, I can’t help but feel sad over the fact that that will also mean that I am no longer pregnant with you. You are outside of my womb, in this big scary world, no longer physically connected to me. I really am going to miss being pregnant with you, baby boy. I wrote down some things that I’ve loved and will miss immensely once you are born.

I’ve loved watching my belly twist and turn on the outside while I picture you trying to get comfy in there.

I’ve loved drinking juice or really cold water and getting you all upset so you have a little dance off with yourself in there.

I’ve loved picturing what you’re going to look like, calling you your special name your daddy and I picked out, and giving you 3000 nicknames already.

I’ve loved decorating your nursery piece by piece with so much love I could burst. Every single piece that is in that room was either handpicked or hand made by your daddy and me, and we loved every minute of it. Picturing you in my arms in the glider or kicking up a storm on your changing table makes me giddy with happiness.

I’ve loved poking and prodding you through my belly trying to figure out what body part I can feel and patting your little butt through my belly just picturing it on the outside.

I’ve loved watching my belly swell and grow, knowing that it is your home and what kept you healthy, safe, and strong since you were made.

I’ve loved knowing that I am capable of growing you, in some miracle of sorts, inside my body until you are ready to show your face to the world.

I’ve loved from the minute we decided we wanted to try having a baby, to the two pink lines on the test, to the huge movements in my belly, to the day you decide when you are going to come into this world, picturing what life will be like with you. I’ve loved dreaming about giving you everything your daddy and I had and more. I’ve loved thinking how much life is going to change when you come. I’ve loved thinking about how in love I’m going to be with you, how you will change my whole outlook on life and love and family, and how grateful I am to you for that.

I’ve loved watching your grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins talk about you with huge grins on their faces. You are going to be such a blessing to everyone, baby boy, not just your dad and I.

I’ve loved reading your updates every week as you grow. He can hear now! His hair is growing in! His heart and brain are developing!

I’ve loved, even through the misery, the back pain and uncomfortable aches I’ve had because I know they are necessary for you to grow big and strong.

I loved feeling nauseous for the first 3 months, knowing that something was happening in there, even when my belly wasn’t growing yet and I couldn’t yet feel you move.

I’ve loved all the attention you get from acquaintances and strangers. People are extra nice and I think that you deserve that, since you are so special.

I’ve loved hearing the line in our wedding song that says, “I can just see you with a baby on the way…” and knowing that you were destined to be ours since the beginning of time. There was a reason for every single thing that has happened to your daddy and me in our lives, a reason we both got scheduled for that class miles away from home at the same time – so that we could meet and ultimately have you. You were meant to be ours from day 1.

I’ve loved hearing the song “Anything like me” and picturing you and your daddy – playing catch and going fishing. Boy am I in trouble if you have your daddy’s love for anything motorized and/or dangerous!

Little man of mine, thank you for everything you’ve done for me. I can’t imagine loving you anymore than I already do, and yet I know the day I meet you for the first time I will experience a love I’ve never felt and can only now dream of.  Thank you for picking me as your mommy. I promise I will do everything I can to make you proud.

Love,

Mommy

Weeks 29 and 30

Brace yourself friends, this is going to be a long post. My days have gotten so crazy at work and my weekends jam packed with friends and family that I barely have time to breathe let alone type up my weeks on the blog. So weeks 29 and 30 will be together, and the only way I’m even sure of what the hell my life has been about the past 2 weeks is because of my Google calendar and the pictures that are on my camera.

Here it goes!

What Baby A is up to this week:

Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and he weighs almost 3 pounds 
(like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds 
him, but that volume will decrease as he gets bigger and takes up more 
room in your uterus. His eyesight continues to develop, though it's not 
very keen; even after he's born, he'll keep his eyes closed for a good 
part of the day. When he does open them, he'll respond to changes in 
light but will have 20/400 vision – which means he can only make out 
objects a few inches from his face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

What I’ve been up to this week:

(Week 29)

Week 29 started off with our first birthing class. This is something that I really wanted to do with our first baby and kind of forced David into it with me. He really wasn’t into it, especially because it is a four week course for three hours a class. We have ours every Thursday night after work. We paid out of pocket for them so once booked, we were going. We are actually learning A LOT, both of us. I thought for sure that I would be the educated one and just in “reiterate” mode with all the info I’ve read and experienced in the past, since I have 7 nieces and nephews and witnessed one of them come into this world (another story for another time!) but I really am learning a lot too.  Let me just say that I am SO HAPPY I signed us up for these, and even though David tried every way possible to get out of it, he’s happy too. I think they’ve brought us so much closer as a couple and we are both bonding throughout every course.

(Mother’s Day)

 We are one of 12 couples in the course right now, and I was surprised to learn that it wasn’t every body’s first child. I thought that after one you kind of maybe have the whole birthing thing learned. One woman is on her fifth (!!!!!) baby and bringing her 14 year old daughter along to be the “coach.” I guess that’s one way to scare the shit out of your kid from getting knocked up! I was also surprised that everyone there is a married heterosexual couple. I thought for sure there would be some other types of families there, maybe some who are even adopting just to learn from the experience, or same sex partners that are having children with fertility treatments, etc.

What I took the most from the first class was how easy my pregnancy has been compared to some of these poor women. Don’t get me wrong, the first trimester made me want to curl up in a ball and die 95% of the day, but since then I’ve had a pretty easy pregnancy. I still have tons of energy and can function pretty normally throughout the days and nights. We went around the room and each said how many times a night we were getting up to pee, and when I said “once” some of them looked like they wanted to kill me. There were girls there getting up 4 times a night, with a few getting up every hour, for a grand total of 8 times a night!!! Holy hell. Shoot me now.  Granted, some of them are a little bit farther along in their pregnancies, but 8 times a night would send me to the loony bin. Some of them talked about miserable heart burn, back pain, swollen appendages, etc. I have none of those things except my occasional sciatic pain that is being remedied by my chiro. Some of them have gained a huge amount of weight and are so uncomfortable, and I’m still at 6 and doing ok most of the time.  I’m not trying to brag, just saying that it was nice to have things get put into perspective for me. Maybe my horrible symptoms were all taken care of in the first 3 months when I felt like death on a stick. Maybe they just haven’t hit me yet… All I know is that I’m thanking my lucky stars!!

Things I learned at birthing class that I want to share:

• I discussed my Braxton Hicks with the teacher (An L&D RN), and they are completely normal. I have the fear that I’m not going to know the difference when actual labor starts, and she said that if I drink (chug) 16 ounces of water and lay on my side for an hour and they don’t go away, then they aren’t BH and to call your doctor.
• Your mucus plug can pass days or even weeks before birth (in other words, don’t get your hopes up that it means anything). My teacher said average is about a week before birth.
• If you think your water is leaking but aren’t sure if it is amniotic fluid or just pee, put a pad on and check if the liquid is clear (amniotic fluid) or yellow.  Once your water breaks, my hospital needs to get baby out within 24 hours so there is no risk of infection.
• Epidurals used to only be allowed if you were 4cm dilated and only up to 7cm dilated. (And yes I checked the spelling on this – I thought it would be spelled dialated, but apparently that’s wrong).  Now they can be given (at least at my hospital) between 3cm and 9cm.  I wondered why someone would want an epidural at 9cm dilated after they had done most of the work and the answer is TRANSITION! Oh that wonderful time. Not. Apparently it’s painful and you WILL KNOW when you’re in transition. This is when some women “cave” per say and get the meds.
• The baby’s skull is made up of 5 moveable plates. This allows the head to be able to pass through the birth canal because the plates can slide over one another. It’s also the reason for the cone head babies have when they’re born. It’s responsible for the “soft spot” that is discussed so often with a newborn, because it can take up to a year for the plates to finish forming. It is also the reason babies can have a flat spot on the back of their head if they are laying on their backs a lot.
• My hospital allows you to have a birth plan. In fact, they even give you a template you can fill out. This makes me very happy because I do have a couple things I would like done (or not done) that aren’t normal “procedure.” I’ll discuss this more in another post.
• I only have to be hooked up to the monitors for 20 minutes out of every hour. This is wonderful news because I am able to labor out of bed for the rest of the hour. I also bought a birthing ball and plan on walking a lot (I say this now, but we’ll see!!).

 

We also learned a ton of massage and counter pressure techniques and focus tools to help aide in labor pain. Every time the teacher would ask the “coach” to massage the mom, we’d have to return the favor. She was an equal opportunity massager. She also taught the dads a bunch of tricks to help soothe and calm an aching and grouchy momma-to-be. I seriously cannot recommend it enough.  We also signed up for the breastfeeding class because I know I’m going to be a hot mess if things don’t just magically work in the first couple weeks, esp with all the crazy hormones and my life being turned upside down.
(Week 30)

Ok so back on track… Friday morning I had my glucose test and 28 week appointment. I was nervous as hell to have my blood drawn but it honestly wasn’t that bad. I had a choice between the fruit punch flavor and the orange, and I chose the orange. It tasted like an uncarbonated Fanta, but nothing horrible. The blood draw was sucky but I hate them anytime. I had to get the pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine also, so I just felt like a human pin cushion that day.

My doc recommended that anyone coming in contact with the baby for a long period of time in his first few months of life get the vaccine also, so David and my and David’s parents are going to get it since they will be spending a lot of time with little baby A on their chest. The baby will get the vaccine in the hospital when he is born but it takes a few months to fully work. I know there is all this talk of vaccines and going against the grain lately, but I just don’t care. If it comes to my baby’s health, I’m going to trust my doctor. If little baby A can squeeze through a 10cm hole into this scary world and get poked and prodded, so can I and my family. The needle is smaller than a flu shot needle and it didn’t hurt at all. And I FREAKIN HATE NEEDLES.

My doc also made a comment about “finally gaining weight” this week, which made me feel good that she was complimenting me, except for the fact that I realized I gained a pound a week since my last appointment. Whoops.

Then my niece had her first communion. She looked like an angel baby and I couldn’t stop smiling. Picture my obnoxiously proud auntie face the whole time…  I’m turning into my mother!

(My baby niece)(My brother and his little girl)

Then I traveled for work to Detroit for the week. Traveling 7 months pregnant sure is a fun adventure. I had lots of snacks in my bag and was ready to go. When I got to my gate I was very surprised that nobody offered me a seat, even though they all were taken and some people were even putting their bags on seats! So I had to ask a guy to move his briefcase off a seat so I could sit down. I also had to ask strangers to help me put my carry-on bag in and out of the overhead bins.

(Baby A’s last plane ride in my belly)

Here’s a funny story for you. I flew home on Thursday just in time for our second birthing class. David planned on meeting me at the hospital since I was coming from a separate direction from the airport. My hour long flight was about an hour delayed for no reason (thanks, Delta!) so when I landed I frantically texted David to go to class without me and I would show up late. He wrote back immediately, “Can’t, stuck at Target because I locked my keys in the car.” So apparently he got out of his car in the parking lot to check that one of his turn signals was out, shut the door WITH THE CAR ON, and it locked behind him. Thank God my parents were about 20 minutes away and came to save the day. They had planned on waiting there for AAA and then David would drive to class (the AAA policy is in my parents name and I am on the policy, but not David).  And randomly, our two good friends drove by in the parking lot! So they were able to drop David off at the hospital (thank you K+A!!!) so he wasn’t too late while my parents waited for AAA to come unlock his car. Not until his battery died, though, so it was a long and annoying process. They had to give him a jump and then my parents had to drive his keys and the bag with pillows back to the hospital for us. I had to run through the airport dragging my luggage while having Braxton Hicks just laughing at the whole situation. What a freakin’ fiasco!! I’m sure David enjoyed sitting in birthing class by himself for a while before I showed up. That’s what he gets for trying to get out of it the week before, though!

Lastly, we celebrated Mother’s Day with my mom. She’s the best ever and I love her so much. I hope to use everything she has taught me to be half the mom to my son that she is to me. She is so amazing and I am so lucky to have her. We were thinking of another mom of ours that we are so lucky to have also, Mom A. We missed you and wish we could have spent the day with you too!!

 

How far along? 30 Weeks.
Total weight gain/loss:  6-7 pounds up
Maternity clothes? Yes.
Cravings: Fresh Fruit
Stretch marks? Nope.
Baby is the size of: I thought this email was funny. It said: “Your baby weighs about 3 pounds and is approximately 15.5 inches long, about the size of a Chihuahua.” Ha! Not my Chihuahua. Ours weighs 25lbs and is full blown chunky butt like his little brother is going to be. If Baby A is the size of Bubba right now, then I’m in some trouble in 10 weeks when he has to squeeze out of me.

Sleep: Depends on the day.
Best moment this week: I got 4 Mother’s Day cards this week!! My family and friends were so thoughtful to think of me. They all made me cry, of course! Also I slept 12 hours straight the night before Mother’s Day and after all my traveling all week, I needed it!
Miss Anything? We went to an O’s game and I REALLY wanted to have a beer while tailgating. It was the very first O’s game in my adult life that I actually remembered the ENTIRE 9 innings. (To others that are fans of good baseball teams, the Orioles have sucked for as long as I can remember. I’m still an Orioles fan and LOVE going to games, but mostly we go to drink and have a social hour. This year is the first in a long while that we are actually really good, and we’re loving it).
Movement: All the time
Anything making you queasy or sick: On the plane, when we sat on the tarmac for 45 minutes with no air flow. It was awful.
Have you started to show yet: Yes
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? Getting flatter!
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy
Looking forward to: Babysitting our best friends’ little boy Z this weekend. He is about 11 months old, and it’s really going to show me how difficult it will be chasing around a toddler while pregnant. I plan on taking him out in public just to get the dirty looks of being 7 months pregnant with a baby already. I REALLY hope someone says something to me about “Don’t you know how that happens?” lol. I’ll die of laughter.

Week 28

What the bean is up to this week:

By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese 
cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. 
He can blink his eyes, which now sport lashes. With his eyesight 
developing, he may be able to see the light that filters in through your 
womb. He's also developing billions of neurons in his brain and adding 
more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

What I’m up to this week:

HELLO THIRD TRIMESTER!!!!!!

Looks like I’m steadily gaining a pound a week. I’m ok with that in theory, since my little man will now be gaining about a half pound a week from here on out. It’s still hard, especially hearing comments from people that mean well, but still say things that burn a little. I know I’m doing everything right and this is just how my body looks during pregnancy, and I am absolutely so in love with my belly and stare at it in the mirror all the time just marveling at its size, but I still want to hit the girls that have these tiny little bumps at 6+ months. Still, the fact that I’ve only gained 5 pounds at 6 months is shocking, I know. Especially because he now weighs half of those pounds, then you add in the weight of the extra blood flowing through my veins, my uterus size (large, let me tell ya), the extra amniotic fluid, the placenta, etc, etc… it isn’t bad at all. Kind of explained in this pregnancy weight gain chart here:

Also according to this pregnancy weight gain estimator, I’m below the “recommended range” of weight gain but I know I will catch up by the end… especially due to the fact that I’m constantly eating. Gaining at least a pound a week from here on out would put me at 17+ pounds total, and I’m supposed to only be gaining 15-25 according to my doc.

Which brings me to my next point. I went through a phase a couple months ago where I was constantly hungry, and then it kind of fizzled out and I was back to normal. But it seems like I’m back to that stage again because I eat ALL THE TIME. Not a lot in one sitting, but more so a shit ton of little snacks all day long. I make sure most of them are healthy choices and really try to control the portion size, but yesterday I wrote down what I ate and damn it was a lot.

Breakfast: A half package (2 crackers) of Belvita
Lunch: Lean Cuisine + small bag of cheetos
Snacks: A package of cheese crackers (6 pack), handful peanuts, handful of special K, 2 packages of apple sauce, a handful of strawberries, and ok, I freakin ate a (fun size) mini snickers and twix bar.
Dinner: Homemade lasagna
Dessert: Individual package of pudding.
Drank: 12,000 glasses of water and a small coffee

The point of me eating Lean Cuisines for lunch is almost lost on the fact that I am still ravenous after I eat it and then eat something else (like chips) that probably have the same amount of calories in them. Whatevs. The shit used to fill me up, but now I’m growing a human being so suck it. At least I’m trying.

Braxton Hicks are out of control. I can set my timer to them every day. They happen about the time I’m leaving work and heading home, and then last most of the evening. They are so bad and often that we call them “Baby A” Hicks -but insert his real name. There- see there is a hint of his name! Anyway, it feels like obnoxious pressure in my lower abdomen and hurts like a beeyotch. I’m getting used to them though but it isn’t fun.

This weekend I started the baby’s mobile and curtains. I have 2 windows and a closet to do with 2 panels each, and I finished one panel. So one down, 5 to go! It’s time consuming but the end result is so worth it. Pictures of his nursery coming soon, I promise!!! David won’t let me share the in progress pictures until it’s completely finished. He’s also the one that wants to keep the name a secret, and the one that wouldn’t let me tell anyone I was pregnant until 14 weeks. He’s quite the secretive one, that boy. But the nursery looks AWESOME ifIdosaysomyself and I can’t wait to share it.

(Stay tuned for a post on how to make this. I know there is a tutorial on pinterest but I did mine a little differently.)

Tomorrow is our first of four birthing classes. David has been trying everything possible to get out of it but I think they are worth it. We shall see!! Then the next day I have my glucose test. Kind of nervous about it!

How far along? 28 Weeks.
Total weight gain/loss:  5 pounds up
Maternity clothes? Yes.
Cravings: Still sweets. Bad bad bad.
Stretch marks? Nope.
Baby is the size of: From head to heel, the size of a butternut squash. About 15.2 inches long and 2.5 pounds.

Sleep: Sometimes I wake up halfway on my belly/side and feel very guilty! But I’m so exhausted by the nighttime that I’m sleeping like a rock, it’s just getting to sleep that is the problem with my big ol’ basketball belly!
Best moment this week: Putting the first curtain in his room after I made it. Such an awesome feeling to be hand making a lot of his nursery myself
Miss Anything?  Nope
Movement: All the time
Anything making you queasy or sick: The thought of the glucose drink at my next appointment!
Have you started to show yet: Yes
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? Flatter and flatter by the day
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy
Looking forward to: Finishing his nursery!

Week 27

What’s up with the bean this week:

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) 
and is about 14 1/2 inches long with his legs extended. He's sleeping 
and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing his eyes, and 
perhaps even sucking his fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your 
baby's brain is very active now. While his lungs are still immature, they 
would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if he were 
born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a 
case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode 
usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother him, so just 
relax and enjoy the tickle.

 

What’s up with me this week:

I almost fall every single day. I almost fell down the garage steps the other day because David thought it would be a good idea to put the weed spray on the steps (off to the side) and I almost face planted. I can no longer see my feet. If I get off balance at all, I look like the idiot that sways back and forth and swings their arms in big circles in the air to try and regain my balance. It’s super hilarious to anyone but me, I’m sure. I almost fell out of my chair at work leaning over to get something. My center of gravity is definitely off. I bump into things with my belly all the time. I turn to the side thinking that I am skinnier in that direction trying to get through a small area which is comical because I am most certainly NOT.

My boy is so active it is ridiculous. For the first time, he kept me up all night. It wasn’t just kicks, either. It was full blown movement for HOURS ON END in the middle of the night. Every time I’d get to that point of almost falling asleep, he would dance for a few minutes. This happened over and over. It’s like Dance Party USA in there. I imagine him listening to techno music fist pumping his little hand in the air J-Shore style.

I can now feel body parts from the outside. The first time it happened at Lauren’s house and I felt something lopsided from the inside, so I had her poke and feel my belly to try and figure out what it was. It was big and hard (that’s what she said) and she said that it’s definitely his head. It’s crazy to me to think about the fact that she takes care of babies every single day that are the size of Baby A right now in my belly.

Last night I felt a foot in my rib (from the inside) and then poked it on the outside and I could feel this tiny hard thing protruding into my stomach. It’s truly amazing (again, I know I say this about something every week, but he is growing so fast that every week this miracle really does blow my mind).  David gets bugged out about it though, because I’m always poking and prodding to feel a body part and he thinks I’m going to poke his eye out.

What else? Braxton Hicks are in full swing, which are awesomely fun. Not. Also, I hit 6pm every day after work and am exhausted to the point where I could cry. It’s like I use all my energy up at work so by the time I get home I’m just done – almost to the point where I could fall asleep in the car on the drive home.

Oh and it seems that every other day I get nauseous for about an hour. I’ve read about 1^st trimester nausea coming back during the 3^rd tri and was really hoping to avoid it. Here’s hoping it has more to do with my new position at work and being nervous and not with pregnancy.

PS – nesting is in full swing. The bathroom got cleaned one night at 11:00pm because I just felt like it.  I never leave a dish in the sink because it drives me crazy, and I empty the dishwasher as soon as it’s done. I tidy up the kitchen every day because just having mail on the kitchen island drives me nuts. Who the hell am I?

Apologies if this week’s update is all over the place, that’s pretty much how my mind works these days.

How far along? 27 Weeks.
Total weight gain/loss:  4 pounds up
Maternity clothes? Yes.
Cravings: Fruit still, but now sweets after dinner every night. Bad news bears.
Stretch marks? Nope.
Baby is the size of: From head to heel, the size of a napa cabbage. About 14.8 inches long and 2.22 pounds. These fruit references are so stupid. So here is one that might sound more normal and appeal to more men. According to this hilarious site, Baby A is the size of a steel toed boot.

Sleep: Depends on the day.
Best moment this week: Aunt Lauren spoiled the babe already. She got him a “My Auntie Rocks” onesie that has a guitar on it. Also I probably clocked about 36 hours of sleep over my 3 day weekend, which was AWESOME.
Miss Anything?  I missed the opportunity to have crabs with my friends this week, but I can tell you that once we start having crabs regularly this summer, beer will be missed A LOT.
Movement: All the time
Anything making you queasy or sick: nausea is randomly creeping back into my life.
Have you started to show yet: Yes
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? It’s starting to pop through my shirts a little!
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Very happy, sometimes emotional.
Looking forward to: 3D Ultrasound and my shower!!!!!

Week 26

Week 26

What little boy is up to this week:

The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more 
sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and 
your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling 
small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development 
of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice 
for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing 
to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and 
measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. 
If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his 
scrotum — a trip that will take two to three days.

What I’m up to this week:

Umm, hi, I have 14 weeks left before my due date! I am officially 6 months pregnant and am 2/3 of the way through this pregnancy. Where did the time go? I feel like just yesterday I was peeing on a stick in the bathroom and hyperventilating when the 2^nd line showed up. 14 weeks seems like nothing at all. Like a summer off of school, or the entire amount of time we hid my pregnancy before I felt comfortable telling people. It still shocks me when random strangers ask me when I’m due or what I’m having, because in my eyes I still feel like I’m in the first trimester. Earth to Jen, the third trimester is in ONE WEEK. Some sites even say it starts this week. Holy shitballs… I’m going to have a baby.

This week was a big one for David and I – we celebrated our 1 year anniversary! We went on a cruise of the Baltimore Inner Harbor and then to a fancy dinner – the most expensive one we’ve ever eaten! It was so worth it though. And considering there was no alcohol on our bill, it could have been much more!

Remember how I said that the boy can now kick my ribs? Well he has ALWAYS kicked my ribs directly below my right boob. I feel them all day long, no matter what position I am in, he kicks me in my high right side and right ribs. I can tell he is getting taller though, because now I can feel pressure diagonally down on my left lower abdomen, almost in my pubic bone. Sometimes it feels like a huge ball of pressure, what I imagine to be his head, and sometimes it feels like little kicks, like when I first started feeling him, which I think is little punches. And they happen at the exact same time. So when he is kicking his legs, he is also flailing his arms. Which you can kind of see here.

The other cool thing he does this week is that he kicks me with both feet at the same time. If I put my hand on my belly where he is kicking me I can feel two distinct kicks happening, and sometimes it feels like he’s tap dancing because he does a bunch in a row. It’s awesome.

Side note – did you guys see the mom who gave birth to the 12 pound baby who was 4 weeks premature??!!!!???? Umm, my cervix hurts. Oww.  Baby A, take note. Mama wants you to be 12 pounds when you are about 3 months old, please, not when I have to push your huge body out of my… well you get the idea. Please and thank you!

This week my allergies are out of control and I have horrible sinus headaches. Pollen count is ridiculously high this year for only being mid-April and I can tell – my head feels like it’s in a vice!

 How far along? 26 Weeks.
Total weight gain/loss:  2.5 pounds up
Maternity clothes? Yes.
Cravings: Fruit like crazytown.
Stretch marks? Nope.
Baby is the size of: From head to heel, the size of an English hothouse cucumber (excuse me?). About 14.4 inches long and 1.9 pounds.

Top view:

Sleep: Getting better
Best moment this week: Celebrating our 1 year anniversary.
Miss Anything? I toasted David’s beer on our cruise with a coke. Womp womp.
Movement: All the time
Anything making you queasy or sick: Waves of nausea are starting to come back… weird.
Have you started to show yet: Yes
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? In but getting flatter!
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Very happy!
Looking forward to: 3D Ultrasound!

One year ago today…

I got up from a night of sleeplessness to prepare to marry my best friend.

The stylist and photographer showed up and it was a frenzy to get all of us girls ready and out the door in time.The weather looked dark and gloomy all morning but the rain held off until just about our ceremony – that was supposed to be outside on the beach.

A last minute phone call was made to have it inside, where we both decided that we didn’t care where it happened, as long as we got married today.

All of a sudden it was time to walk down the aisle, you with your mom,

and me with my dad.

And although my dad was a little reluctant to give me away,

I couldn’t wait to reach you at the end of the aisle.

When I saw your face I almost lost it, but managed through giggles to hold it together until we were pronounced husband and wife.

We danced the night away

and I just kept telling myself to freeze the moment…

remember this instance in my memory bank because it just kept happening so fast.

Finally the last song came on and I couldn’t believe the best day of my life had just flown by in an instant.

I couldn’t have asked for a better wedding day.

I couldn’t have asked for a better husband and a more perfect life for me.

So as I sit here and type this, while your son is kicking away in my belly,

just know that I love you, David James Adair… with all my heart and soul and I’m the luckiest woman in the whole world to have found you.

I never could have imagined when I packed up everything to live 5 hours away for 3 months that I would have found the love of my life.

Happy Anniversary, David.

Here’s to 8 million more.

Week 25

Week 25

What Mr. bean is up to this week:

Your little grower’s physical proportions are pretty much birth-ready and 
most of their remaining development will largely be weight gain and a ton 
of nervous system development.
The good news is: if your child were to be born premature, they’d likely 
survive without much trauma as their lungs started producing “surfactant” 
last week, which means their tiny respiratory system is getting stronger 
with each passing day.
Yes, now’s a good time for a minor sigh of relief and a quick pat on the 
back. All that hard work and conscientious living is really getting your 
child prepared for a healthy delivery.
In mobile-fetus news: your baby should be scootching slowly out of the 
breech position (head upright, with their butt-n-legs down by your pelvis) 
and start rotating around for a head-first exit through the birth canal.

This makes me ridiculously happy, to get to week 25. I don’t know why, but in my head it was this goal that I had to reach in order to take a sigh of relief that our baby could be born anytime now and survive. He’d have lots of issues to deal with in and be in the NICU for a long time, but he would most likely live. And that’s like a weight lifted off my shoulders. My best friend is a NICU nurse and I pick her brain all the time about premature babies. It’s been studied and proven that baby boys’ lungs develop slower in the womb than girls, especially if they are Caucasian. There is even a slang term for it, called “wimpy white boy” syndrome. And although I know our baby isn’t out of the woods yet, it still is a huge relief to get to the point where I know, in good care, he could be saved. All of these weeks left are just a bonus to me, to help him grow healthy, chunky, and strong and be his protector for a few more months before he comes out to the scary world.

(Don’t mind me, I just shoved a basketball under my dress.)

In other news, he has learned this new thing where he can now drag his foot (or elbow? Or hand?) across the inside of my belly. I will feel a poke and then a drag, from one point of my belly to the other. It actually stops me in my tracks from whatever I am doing. I’ve gotten used to the kicks and punches and rolls (where my belly does flip flops like a roller coaster ride), but these drags actually tickle me! I swear, coolest thing ever. I know I say that every week, but it seems that every week there is a new development and it amazes me every time.  I read somewhere that the baby must move at least 10 times in 24 hours to make sure he isn’t suffering from any fetal distress. Let me tell you, my child moves more than 10 times in an hour. Methinks I’m going to have my hands full with this one. David’s dad was telling me stories of how David was as a boy – he had no fear and was always going non-stop. I, on the other hand, could sit and play and be quiet for hours (I was the perfect child, obviously), so I know this kid takes after his dad. I’m in trouble. We were at my 24 week appt last week and the doc asked about movement. I said that I swear he moves more than an average baby in utero because I feel him constantly. She said that sometimes babies are just more active than others. They will usually get it from one of their parents if they are hyperactive. Then she proceeded to look over at David, who was sitting on the chair frantically shaking his knee up and down, started laughing and said, “Well the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, does it?”

I also read this week that I will start having problems sleeping. I’m not sure how the hell they can pinpoint this down to one single week, but it is SO TRUE. I’m sleeping horribly. I toss and turn and he kicks me and rolls all night. My bladder is the size of a pea (no pun intended! Hah!) and my back sciatica pain is out of control. Fun stuff here friends.

Please someone tell me how the HELL the show “I didn’t know I was pregnant” even exists? Because other than the possibility of growing an alien inside of me, there is NO WAY that I couldn’t tell I was pregnant. Do you think the kick in your ribs is just heartburn? I mean, come on… my whole belly moves from one side to the other. “I am dumb and oblivious to my body” is what the show should be called.

(Baby A wore a suit to the occasion)

We visited lots of family and friends this weekend for David’s grandparents’ 50^th wedding anniversary party. Lots of family came in from all over the country and we toasted to Gramma and Grampa and danced and sang the night away. Here’s hoping that David and I can make it 50 years!

David’s parents brought along a ton of baby stuff to give to little man. They can’t help but spoil their first grandbaby. They would introduce me to every family member by saying, “This is my daughter-in-law!”, and then touch my belly and say “And this is my grandson!!!!!” Can you tell by this picture how excited they are? This baby is so lucky to have two sets of grandparents that are so excited about him.

How far along? 25 Weeks.
Total weight gain/loss:  A few more pounds up. I’m thinking about removing this stat altogether, I’m just not that comfortable with it anymore. I’m also going to stop weighing myself every day and leave it for the doc appts. It’s just not worth how much it stresses me out.
Maternity clothes? Yes.
Cravings: Ice cream and pickles. How typical.
Stretch marks? Nope.
Baby is the size of: From head to heel, the size of an eggplant. About 14 inches long and 1.7 pounds.

Sleep: Horrible
Best moment this week: Baby A got to meet his grandparents, uncle, cousins, and great-grandparents for the first time as a BOY! (Last time we didn’t know what he was yet).
Miss Anything? A drink or two to help me sing karaoke. I sang it anyway, completely sober.
Movement: All the time
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope.
Have you started to show yet: Yes
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Very happy!
Looking forward to: Our one year anniversary coming up this weekend. And 1 more week until the 3^rd trimester!!

Week 24

What little boy is up to this week:

Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last 
week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot 
long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this 
point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start 
to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds 
are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the 
respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a 
substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside 
world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to 
change soon.

I read in my “What to Expect” book that the boy will now be gaining 6 ounces per week from here on out. THAT IS CRAZY! But I guess it makes sense if you think about the fact that he has about 16 weeks or less to grow from 1.5lbs to anywhere from 5-9lbs (Baby A, mommy would appreciate if you take after her or your daddy and stay in the 5-6 pound range, not your Grandpa Chief who was 10+ pounds)!

Also, baby boy can now kick my ribs. He is really into dancing the jig on my right ribs every day. It was a cool realization at first, but now it actually hurts. My little one pound monkey is STRONG I tell you. Who am I kidding? I still love it. I read that weeks 24-28 are when he’s the most active, because he’s still small enough to move around in there. And I CAN TELL. He is active as all get out and moves constantly. And I swear he’s going to be a chunky butt because every single time I eat he goes crazytown in there. I find myself staring at my belly all the time, because it moves so much. He can literally move my entire belly with one little kick. At first I thought it was cool to be able to feel it from the outside, but let me tell you, SEEING it on the outside is so much more amazing. I see a part of my belly poke out for a second and then it goes back to normal. It’s unbelievable. I’m really hoping he will perform for his grandparents this weekend when we see them. I know Grandma A will love to feel her grandson move for the first time.

Also, my uterus is the size of a basketball. And I can feel from the outside where my organs stop and my uterus starts. It’s all squishy at the top of my belly and hard as a rock a few inches above my belly button and down. Let me illustrate for you. All of the internal organs that normally take up your entire torso (liver, kidneys, small intestines, stomach) now take up the only space left available above your uterus. Now someone please take a look at these pictures and try and tell me that my body isn’t performing a miracle! The sheer fact that women’s bodies are built to grow a HUMAN BEING inside their belly is completely mind boggling. There is a living, breathing, dancing baby INSIDE YOU. Also, it’s going to grow to be 6-8 pounds and come out of your vagina. Chew on that for a second. It’s insane.

 

I finally hit my pre-pregnancy weight this week. Now I’m a pound above it and growing. I realize how lucky I am to actually not have gained any weight until week 24, but it’s still not easy to see the scale climb and your belly to grow. I have a free pass from my doc to gain 1-1.5lbs a week from here on out (and I’ll still be within the recommended “range” of weight gain), but that doesn’t mean that it makes it any easier to swallow. Also, my hips have widened. Don’t ask how I can tell (things that go around your waist are getting tighter) but it SUCKS. They were already wide to begin with. I don’t want this to turn into a bitch-fest of complaining but it’s not just as easy as you would think. Yes, I know my body is preparing to bring a human being into the world. Yes, I know how lucky I am to be able to get pregnant so easily and grow a healthy child. Yes, I know I need to trust my body because it knows what its doing, blah blah blah. Bottom line is that it’s difficult.

Also lots of registry research has happened this week. The big to-do lately has been about what car seat and stroller we are going to get. We initially didn’t care, but after LOTS of reading by David and I, we found out that we do care after all. Then we found “the one,” it’s the Mercedes Benz of strollers but I plan on using it a long time. This is the one we chose, if you’re interested. We are getting the whole travel system with the matching car seat because Britax is the shit when it comes to safety. And let’s be honest, I’d put my kid in a bubble for the rest of his life if it meant he was healthy and safe.

Ok and last thing – this baby stole my brain. Which I guess I’m ok with because that means he’ll be really smart if he has my and David’s brain put together, but I am.so.stupid. I used to be a smart girl, really I swear! Now I am dumber than a doornail. I trip, forget everything, including important work meetings unless I set a reminder, drop everything, and am clumsier than Ellie when she was a puppy (and Ellie used to run into walls she was so clumsy). I have said and done the stupidest things the last few weeks. I’m sure it doesn’t help that I haven’t been sleeping either, but for now, I’ll just blame it on my son. I was NOT this dumb before pregnancy so therefore it’s his fault.  I do love my little brain/uterus/body stealer more than anything, though.

(The puppies wanted me to remind you that they are still my babies, first and foremost.)

This weekend was not very eventful at all – we met a pediatrician, David got his windows tinted, and we went to a fish auction in Jersey about 3 hours away. David made a bunch of money selling the fish he’s grown and bred, and I sat by the taco truck they brought in from NYC eating chips and salsa till I was about to pop. And there was open bar so not only did I accompany my husband to the most boring thing ever a day full of talking about fish, but he got to drink and I drove him home. Next time you see him, ask him how much he loves me. And he better say a lot!

 

How far along? 24 Weeks.
Total weight gain/loss: 1 pound UP (Ahhh!!)
Maternity clothes? Yes.
Cravings: Cereal, ice cream, and salads/veggies again.
Stretch marks? Nope.
Baby is the size of: From head to heel, the size of a loaf of bread (holy shiz!!) – 13.6 inches long and 1.46lbs.
Sleep: Not so good anymore. Tossing and turning all night with a giant basketball strapped to my stomach is not fun.
Best moment this week: Signing up for birthing classes, breastfeeding class, and a tour of the hospital. Also planning David’s family’s trip out here for the birth makes it all the more real.
Miss Anything? I caved and drank a half glass of wine to celebrate my new job. So shoot me.
Movement: As said before, constant.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope.
Have you started to show yet: Yes
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? Somehow still an innie.
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Very happy!
Looking forward to: Seeing Baby A’s paternal grandparents and great grandparents this weekend!