Christmas 2010

We had a very last minute, hodge-podge Christmas that turned out to be a lot of fun. No one made huge plans since we didn't know what the baby's plans were. Yet somehow, my entire family, plus Jake's friend John, and my Aunt Kari all came together. We had a delicious meal thanks to my mother and laughed a whole lot. We ate too much, then rolled on the floor in front of the fire complaining that we ate too much ... while nibbling on more pie. I really love our family Christmas's :-) Especially the ones where my parent's house is on the market and there's no furniture in the house ... hence the random pieces of furniture and dining table in the living room ;-) 

39 Weeks! ... and Counting

39 Weeks!! I really cannot wrap my head around the fact that this pregnancy is almost over. I'm feeling much better today than I was when I wrote the last post (thank goodness!). Doctor told me to take it easy, and that's helped a lot more than just my feet. Things are quickly getting ready, and therefore, I'm ready - to have this baby!

Warning: Do not continue reading unless you want "TMI" ;-) I think the next few posts will probably all fall under that TMI category, but I don't mind sharing, so .... sorry?

Chris and I went to dinner Wednesday night and were discussing what the plan was if (when) I go past my due date. An hour later, I lost my mucus plug! I was very excited for the next 12 hours. Sadly, I went to the doctor Thursday for my regular appointment and found out there's still no more dilation. I will not complain about another week, because I certainly need the time to prepare - I just hope she isn't so cozy she never wants to come out!

My back pain is down considerably after spending the last 12 hours "taking it easy."
Contractions are totally gone. I had a few painful ones yesterday, but they are still "false" contractions since they are gone today.
My feet and calves are ugly. Very, very ugly.
My stomach is sore, but the doctor just called it "uterine sensitivity." K, thanks, well it's wonderful. Wonderful like someone just punched you in the gut.
I'm officially working from home until she's born and that alone has helped me feel 1000X more comfortable.
My blood pressure went up to 130/74 which is slightly elevated, so the doctor wants me to take it easy and stay off my feet.
Next appointment: Wednesday, the 29th. I have a feeling I'm gonna make it to that one. Grumble, grumble, grumble ...

37, 38 Weeks

This was Friday, at 38 weeks. At my 37 week appointment (which I had at 36.5 weeks) I had dilated 1 whole centimeter! Hahaha. Then Friday, a week and a half later at 38 weeks ... no more progress. Not really a big deal, but not all that exciting to hear, either.

LOL, do I look happy in that picture or what? 37 weeks was okay, I was still enjoying being pregnant.This last week has been awful. I just keep telling myself "A week and a half left, a week and a half left, I can do it ..." and then I start crying. I can't stand, sit, or lay down comfortably. I've given up on sleeping. I've got shooting pains going everywhere you can get shooting pains. And oh boy am I hormonal! Everything makes me nauseous. My feet look like tree trunks. My belly button hurts, of all things (which is still half out, half in).

Here's my (read: Chris's) to do list that needs to be done yesterday:

Clean the kitchen
Take speakers from garage to attic
Move clothes for storage to attic
Put shelves back in closet
FIX THE DAMN DRYER WHICH BROKE AT THE BEST TIME EVER
Unload the SUV full of garage sale stuff at Mom's house
Get FX's oil changed
Vacuum FX
INSTALL CARSEAT SO WE CAN KEEP OUR BABY
Fix baseboards in nursery (which RoadRunner so kindly destroyed)
Put furniture back in nursery
Finish decorating nursery
Choose a pediatrician
Fill out hospital forms
Write a birth plan
Buy groceries
Empty Chris's suitcases
Ship computer monitor to Asus for repair.

Yes, this list is making me very cranky. And it's not like we aren't busting our humps getting stuff done. Okay, Chris is busting his hump. I'm supervising. Chris cleaned out the garage this weekend! That was a major accomplishment. And now my car is in the garage!
ETA: We've also steam cleaned the carpets, re-arranged the bedroom, organized the office ...

And .... I'm tired of typing (read: thinking). See ya later.

36 Week Update



Let the waiting begin! Or more realistically, let the frantic whirlwind begin. If she came today, sure we have all the necessities - but I have a list a mile long of things I want to get done before she's born!

My 36 week appointment went great. I'm 50% effaced, but not dilated at all yet. Her estimated weight is 6 pounds, 3 ounces, although this can be off up to a pound in either direction. The doctor said her guess is that if I make it all the way to my due date, she'll be 7.5 - 8 pounds, but not over 8. First of all, I'm not sure I believe this. Chris and I were both over 8 pounds. Secondly, everyone keeps telling me I'm not going to make it to my due date. This is really going to mess with my head if I make it all the way to (or beyond) December 31.

My wedding rings are goners. I was wearing my real engagement ring with a face wedding band for the last week, but Saturday they both got put away and traded in for a $16 ring from TJMaxx. I'm swollen, but not terribly so. The fake rings are just more comfortable, and I'm all about comfort these days.

34 Weeks!

I'm not sure I ever posted this last one ... from 31 weeks:

And today, at 34 weeks:

I had a doctor's appointment that went generally well. I'm 34 weeks pregnant and measuring at 33.5. At my 30 week appointment, I thought she'd told me I was measuring at 37, but thankfully I'd just heard her wrong. She'd said 30.5 and not 37, phew! No giant baby in there ;-)

I feel great, except for some pelvic pain (which is no fun at all) and mild swelling in my feet. My belly button is half gone. As in, the top half is out, the bottom half is in. It's weird looking, but you'll have to take my word for it.

The baby is much lower than she was at our last appointment. My doctor found her heart beat down near my pelvis instead of up by my belly button like usual.

I also get the distinct impression the doctor doesn't think I'm going to make it to 40 weeks. She told me to take it easy so this girl stays put for another 2 weeks (but if I go into labor now, they won't take any steps to stop her). She said with a rather sarcastic smirk to not go more than 30 minutes from the hospital and that my body was doing a "really" good job of getting ready to deliver a baby. Granted, doctors have said stuff like this to lots of women who ended up going as far as 41 weeks, so only time will tell. I'd be fine with January!

P.S. I found that perfect rug. Crib is together. Pictures coming once the finishing touches are done!

Things Lately

Things I've missed during pregnancy:

- Sleeping more than an hour at a time
- Full mobility
- Easily putting on my shoes

Surprisingly, wine does not make that list. Soon, my belly button ring and my belly button will be on this list, but not quite yet.

Things I will NOT miss about pregnancy:

- Round ligament pain
- Charlie Horses
- Peeing all the freaking time
- Feeling like I've been kicked in the crotch

That's about it. The list of things I will miss about pregnancy is a mile long. I love, love, love being pregnant. For the record, I decided to write this now because I'm not positive I'll be able to include so many loves in about a month.

I continue to slow down. Chris had to come grocery shopping with me this weekend because I just can't do it by myself. I was glad he came because I was having a hard time even with his help! Yet, when we got home I got a second wind and cleaned out the fridge ... and the rest of the downstairs. I had to take Tylenol to sleep last night because every part of my body ached after just 4 hours of moving around.

6 weeks and 4 days until D-Day. Ya know, due date. At which point we will probably have a baby who still has no where to sleep and no where to hang her clothes. Yah, yah ... we're getting to that. More important to me right now if finding the perfect rug for her bedroom floor!

Jinxed

I should have known yesterday's post would jinx me! After I posted about all my stupid moves while pregnant, I really topped the list!

I went out to my car on my lunch break to make a quick phone call ... and ended up falling asleep with the key in the ignition to the "On" position. I woke up an hour later with the battery completely dead. Thankfully I had a super helpful coworker with jumper cables that came and gave me a jump. While doing this, I found out that my battery is inside a plastic case with a cover. Half way home I'm thinking that I don't remember putting that cover back on. I pull over and thankfully find the cover ... just sitting under my hood on top of the engine.

Then I get home and my plan is to leave the car running so it can juice up, run inside and grab the dogs, then go over to my parents house for dinner. I go inside and go upstairs to change out of my work clothes. Except I put on my pajamas and got in bed. If it weren't for the dogs whining and barking at me like "WTH lady, we need to pee!" I may have never remembered the car was outside running and my parents were waiting on me. Ha! I was just all set and ready for bed ... at 4:45pm ;-)

SIGH .... if I only had a brain.

Strange Things

Strange things I've done during this pregnancy:

The always cliche act of putting the milk in the pantry and the cereal in the fridge. That was some stinky milk.

I left a friend's house and didn't notice I was barefoot. I had no idea until the next morning when I was looking for my shoes. I called her and she asked what shoes I left wearing. Um, apparently none.

I left the house barefoot. Chris has a habit of asking me as we're pulling off our street, "Okay, what did you forget so we can go back now?" I did a body scan and realized I had no shoes on.

I went to go to sleep one night, reached over and turned off the light. I knew instantly something was not right, but it took a few seconds to realize the light had already been off, and I'd just turned it back on.

I made a very yummy breakfast one morning. As I was pouring the syrup for my waffle, I had this feeling that something was wrong. It took a full 5 seconds to realize I was pouring the syrup into my milk.

These are just a few specific examples of the last few (very forgetful) months. It's been interesting.

Notes to my Coworkers

I'm thinking of leaving a string of notes around my office. Just courtesy things like:


"Don't talk to me unless I talk to you first" outside my cube. Better yet, taped to both sides of my body.

"Don't use the damn middle stall. Use the first or third so I don't have to sit right next to you." In the bathroom, of course.

"Anyone who cooks anything that has an odor will be verbally and physically assaulted" on the microwave.

"Watch for broken glass" underneath the buzzing florescent light I just bashed to pieces.


I wonder if this would get me fired?

Happy Halloween!

Also a part of our perfect weekend was Halloween! After our 3D ultrasound, my parents came over. Chris and my Dad watched some World Series something or another ;-) and Baylor beat UT. Yay for my Dad, not Yay for Chris.

Mom and I made my Halloween costume.

Presenting ... a ladybug and her baby ladybug :-)

Our Weekend

Chris and I had an amazing weekend! We went out to our favorite restaurant Friday night and had so much fun (and I was a "bad mother" and consumed minimal amounts of sushi). Saturday we went out to eat for breakfast and lunch ... Mexican food both times. Chris has been deprived of good Tex-Mex in Ozona!

We also picked up the crib, where Chris danced his way out of the store announcing, "Preggo coming through!" I think he was maybe having a good time. Oh, on that note - don't try to put a crib into a 2 door sports car. It just won't fit.

I'd say, though, the highlight of our weekend was the 3D/4D ultrasound! I was not super excited about getting one, thinking it was just a gimmick to get more money. However, Chris talked me into one and I'm so so so SO glad he did! It was absolutely amazing. We also have a video of the ultrasound ... I'll try to upload that soon. For now, here are (the amazing, beautiful, absolutely perfect if I do say so myself) pictures:

She spent most of the ultrasound tasting her toes and playing with her feet. Too-Cute-For-Words is her new name ;-)

They weren't all lies ...

The stories about the third trimester, those weren't all lies. I'm not immune to the aches and pains. This perfect pregnancy is not meant to be.

I feel like I've been kicked in the crotch and can hardly walk, not to mention get in and out of chairs. Also, where is that energizer bunny I was just 2 short weeks ago? Suddenly, I can hardly keep my eyes open and a trip to the grocery store sounds like a serious task.

Just when I'm thinking there's no way I can handle this for 9 more weeks ... I feel an arm. I mean, I could have grabbed a hold of that little arm, it was pressed so hard against my belly. Then there's a rump sticking out my left side and a foot tickling the top of my stomach.
(For the record, I just made myself cry.)

Yah, I can definitely handle another 9 weeks of this. I spent hours in bed on Monday just laying perfectly still watching her move around in there. I love this.

Baby Shower

My friends and family threw me the most amazing baby shower this past Saturday. I'm still overwhelmed with gratitude for everything they did and everything the baby received. On top of that - I had a blast!

In My Living Room

I'm replacing the floors in the baby's room, and it's been slow going. We are basically done - there's literally 2 square feet left to put down. However, those 2 square feet are presenting a problem.

So currently, everything that would normally be in that room, is piled in my living room.

Under normal circumstances, I have in my living room:
Sofa
Chaise lounge
Chair
Ottoman
Coffee table
End table
Bookshelf
Armoire

I've added to it:
Changing table
Dresser
Hutch
Mirror
Two foot stools
Two tables full of misc baby items
This weekend is my baby shower, bringing even more stuff into the house.

~Breathe~
~Breathe~

Must.Finish.Floors.

Karma

- Thursday night I'm attempting to drive downtown through giant music festival induced traffic. I'm annoyed; I'm grumpy; it's taking me forever to get to my destination. A truck pulls out in the turn lane and tries to cut in front of me. I did not let him in. I'm not sure why, I usually let people over, but this guy just caught me at the wrong time apparently. So I continue on to dinner and I'm driving around this parking lot and the only open spot is the very last spot in a very large parking lot. Annoyed (still) I decide to drive around the parking lot. Again, this is not something I normally do - but hey, I'm 6 months pregnant and in high heels! When I get to the front of the parking lot ... one guess who's parked in the very front spot. Yep, the guy I wouldn't let into traffic.

Thanks, God. I can take a hint :-) Be nice.


- A couple weeks ago, I was at Discount Tire having a repair done. This guy that worked there was staring blatantly at me and my stomach. I thought what a jerk he was, along with some other rather rude things. Friday morning ... he was at my OB's office with his wife for what I gathered to be their first sonogram.

SIGH. I don't know everything, he wasn't being rude, he was probably having plenty of his own really exciting thoughts about his new baby. Lesson: Don't be so quick to judge.


Talk about some fast Karma turn-around! Hahaha. However, it's a good reminder of all the life lessons that get dulled in your mind (especially when you have extra hormones racing around).

PMS

I've got a serious case of PMS. Since I know it's not PMS, I really hope it's not the first signs of moody pregnant woman coming out. But seriously, my bra strap had the nerve to twist while I was putting it on this morning. I mean, that makes anyone cuss, right? That would ruin your morning, too?

But never fear! There were cream cheese kolaches from my boss at work his morning. You know that made my day!

27 Weeks ... What?

Last Friday I was 27 weeks! I wake up, I'm feeling good, energetic, having the time of my life being pregnant. Then I look at my handy dandy iPhone Pregnancy App and see this:

Do you see that inconspicuous number "3" under trimester? How exactly did that happen? I feel like time is flying by and I can't do anything to slow it down! I'm having so much fun being pregnant, and I seriously feel better than I ever did ... not-pregnant. I wish I could hold on to this second trimester for a little bit (or a lot) longer!

Also, I had a major pregnancy milestone today. I'm sitting at my desk thinking this girl is kicking like a black belt in karate (which Daddy plans to teach her) and I looked down to see ... my stomach kicking. I can see some very defined kicks from the outside! It's so fun to watch!

Mom Mentality

My "Mom Mentality" has not fully kicked in yet, obviously.

Last night when I was leaving my parents house, my headlights hit a person walking, um ... briskly across the street. Clearly a teenager, he jumped about 3 feet in the air when he saw my headlights. He dashed off and tried to hide in the shadow of a fence. Clearly, he'd been up to no good ;-)

A few blocks later I see several minivans haphazardly parked, accompanied by a group of adults, a group of teenagers, and a group of police officers.

My thoughts? "Ha, a few of you kids could learn a thing or two from the kid down the block that got away. And really? Busted by 10:30 pm? Lame."

And if my daughter ever asks ... I never went to parties that needed busting, I never ran from police ... I stayed home and studied hard every night!

Nesting?

Can you legitimately be "nesting" at 26 (and a half!) weeks pregnant? I have a ridiculous amount of energy and I can't seem to stop cleaning. Yesterday I spent 3 hours on a bug-killing mission at my house. I decided it was much better than hiring a company. If you want something done right, do it yourself, no? Then I had to clean the house from top to bottom. I mean, I had to clean that house. And I enjoyed doing it.

Different topic - see that bottom stripe of black on my sweater? See how it's darker than the other black stripes? That's cause I had to wear a tank under this sweater. Or my belly would stick out. S-E-X-Y! So I'm in a rush to wear all my favorite sweaters before my belly outgrows them.

Second different topic - please note that my wedding ring is still on. For now. I can't promise it will fit this time next week. Or tomorrow :-( Weight gained? 4 pounds. Apparently all in my fingers. HA!