January 27, 2015

Weekly Update: Week 34


How far along? 34 weeks

How much weight have you gained? 27 lbs.

Any cravings? I've still been eating a lot of ice (training for the delivery room!). 

What are you wearing? Same as the weeks before.

How are you feeling? Symptoms? Some more aches/pains/discomforts have started. I've been getting upper back pain this week, especially after sitting all day.

Stretch marks? Nope.

Belly button in or out? We discovered a new trick that my belly button can do. I've said before that in or out depends on my position. Generally, when I'm laying down it's in, but we were laying in bed the other night when I had to cough... then this happened...


I told you it was weird.

Sleep? Going downhill.

Best moment this week: I think that bellybutton moment might take the cake :) We had quite a few exciting moments though. We got a cloth diapering lesson and bought a few cloth diapers to test out. We got our car seat/stroller gifted to us, and will be putting it together shortly! We also contacted some potential doulas as well as turned in our deposit to hold little lady's daycare spot. 

Worst moment this week: This was part of our baby shower invitation:


So we got some really great books given to us at the shower. Which is totally awesome even though I'm writing this under the worst moment of the week. You see, this story is really just the "most pregnant" moment of the week...

So we have all these great books, and we've started reading them out loud to my belly. The other night I chose to read The Giving Tree. I've always loved this book, even though it's pretty sad. So Tyler and I snuggle up on the couch and I start reading aloud. I had forgotten just how sad it actually was and I could feel myself getting pretty emotional about it. I got to the part where the tree tells the boy to take her trunk, and I couldn't hold it together anymore. I started crying. I cried for about 10 minutes before I could continue reading. The poor giving tree! 

But that's not where the story ends. The next day at work I was telling my coworker how I started crying while reading the book, and sure enough tears sprung to my eyes right away again just talking about it. 

Still not the end.

That night, I was telling Tyler about crying while telling my coworker about crying while reading the book, and (you guessed it) my eyes started watering AGAIN.

Finally, today when my coworker asked if I had told my husband bout crying again, I had to relay the third round of tears to her. But this time I broke the cycle! The fourth subset of the story was tear free, but we still changed the subject pretty fast, just in case...

And for the record I'm not crying right now either.

Miss anything? Rolling over in bed comfortably. Every time I want to change positions, it's like a big production. I can't just roll in my sleep. I pretty much have to be uncomfortable enough to wake up and consciously and slowly move onto my other side.

Movement? Hiccups galore. I've started texting Tyler every time she gets hiccups so he can see how many times she actually gets them. It's a lot! 

Excited for anything? Everything! I'm feeling more and more prepared for this little one's appearance and I'm enjoying this "calm" before the storm of her arrival.

How’s dad-to-be? I think things are getting more real for him, and he's starting to see the pregnancy effect me more (I've really stayed pretty normal thus far) both physically and emotionally. So he's been getting as ready as he can to help me out more when I need it. He also finally got his flu shot and his Tdap vaccine to help keep our babe healthy when she arrives!

{  Looking pretty badass taking a selfie with his double Walgreens bandaided arms  }
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4/6/16 UPDATE: Just for the record... I'm going back through the blog doing some maintenance on accidentally deleted photos, and I re-read this post and sure enough... I started crying reading about crying about the Giving Tree. The cycle continues...

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January 20, 2015

Weekly Update: Week 33


How far along? 33 weeks

How much weight have you gained? 25 lbs. 

Any cravings? Earlier in the week (aka last Wednesday I think) one of my co-workers, who is also pregnant, got some Nutty Bars. All I wanted at that time was some ice water, but later that night after dinner.... ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT WERE THOSE NUTTY BARS! So the next morning I bought a whole box. Other than that I've been eating some really yummy food this week and haven't had much additional room for cravings. 

What are you wearing? Just the usual at this point.

How are you feeling? Symptoms? I had a bout of nauseousness today, and I'm extremely tired from a busy weekend, but overall I'm still feeling good. The aches, minor pains, and annoyances are increasing, but still not much to complain about.

Stretch marks? Still holding out!

Belly button in or out? Hard to say... it depends what position I am in. Sometimes it's in, sometimes out.

Sleep? Sleeping okay.

Best moment this week: Baby shower and family! There are so many people who are so excited for us, and excited to meet this little girl. It was wonderful to see so many this weekend! I was so overwhelmed by the love and support we felt when we got married, and now it means even more to me to have that love and support applied to this addition to our family. I am so excited that our daughter is going to have such a wonderful network of people who love her and will be there for her as she comes into this world and becomes her own little person. She already has so many people behind her, and she's still a fetus! 
-- A big thank you to you all! Whether I saw you this weekend, or if you just read about her weekly womb updates, I really appreciate you! <3

Worst moment this week: I think I'm just in a constant state of being overwhelmed. I'm not letting it affect me too much, but trying to prepare for something as unpredictable as giving birth is really hard! House projects, baby gear, work planning... there's so much to do, and the countdown is on but I don't even know when the countdown is going to stop. I can't totally plan anything because I don't know what or when anything is going to happen. It will just be what it will be. 

Miss anything? I still miss hot tubs. I just want to be in a hot tub, like always. Perhaps I am trying to empathize with my babe? She's all warm, snuggly, and floaty in this womb of mine and I just want that feeling too!

Movement? She's running out of room in there. I feel her all over the place! It used to be that I would just feel something in one spot, but now it's like she's just taking over my whole torso at once. 

Excited for anything? Folding all her new baby clothes! This is probably the only time in life I'll get excited about laundry and folding clothes. I'll enjoy it while I can.

How’s dad-to-be? Despite all the desserts we've been eating, he is 26 years cavity free and hoping that his good teeth get passed on to this little one. Is that partially genetic? 

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January 12, 2015

Weekly Update: Week 32

{  After Monday night Yoga  }
How far along? 32 Weeks!

How much weight have you gained? 24-25ish lbs, I think.

Any cravings? I don't think I've had any specific cravings this week... if anything, it'd be dark soda.

What are you wearing? Same as before, but we did go shopping this weekend and I checked out the maternity section at Macy's and found two new dresses on sale! I bought one for my shower and one for anytime. I can't wait to wear them!

How are you feeling? Symptoms? I've had some acid reflux (I think) the past few days. And I frequently forget what I'm trying to do or say. Occasionally, I even forget I'm pregnant...

Stretch marks? No, but I'm getting nervous they may show up soon. My belly is getting pretty tight!

Belly button in or out? Out-ish in.

Sleep? Not terrible, but not great. 

Best moment this week: We went to Babies 'R' Us this weekend because we were nearby. We did a lot of research when picking our our stroller/carseat combo, but Tyler had never gotten to try it out in person. So we took it for a spin down the aisles and spent quite a bit of time taking it all apart and putting it together in all of it's configurations. It was fun to just browse and see all the new babies around the store (even though Tyler always calls me a creeper for staring at them too much)! I'm just excited!

Worst moment this week: I'm not sure... I don't remember crying or having an overly emotional melt down of any kind. I don't remember forgetting my purse anywhere. I don't remember breaking anything or embarrassing myself... but then again I'm having a hard time remembering anything these days.   -- Oh! But I do remember cursing my paint brush A LOT as I was putting the final coats of poly on the dresser this weekend. It kept shedding fuzz of some kind onto my pretty paint job! 

Miss anything? Having the motivation to shave my legs... ha ha! Seriously. Pregnant shaving stinks! I did find the willpower to give myself a pedicure, so maybe the legs are next.

Movement? Lots, and hiccups pretty much every day. I like being able to tell how she is positioned based on her hiccups. Usually, she is head down and I feel them down by my left hip, but this weekend she flipped for a while and I could feel them in my upper right belly. She didn't stay that way for long though, and she's back to her favorite head down position.

Excited for anything? We have company coming into town this weekend and then both of our families are going to celebrate this little babe! I can't wait!


How’s dad-to-be? He is very proud of the nursery closet doors. He finished installing the new rail for the sliding doors, and then had to trim the doors down so they'd fit properly. The project went smoothly, and now so do the doors! And they won't fall off the tracks anymore. It's impossible with the new system

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January 7, 2015

Weekly Update: Week 31

{  This is real life, yo!  }
How far along? 31 weeks (although I'm posting this a day late so technically today is the first day of my 32nd week, but I'm always reflecting back on the week anyway so this still works!)

How much weight have you gained? 23 pounds

Any cravings? Nothing too strong this week. Although, I've pretty much wanted to be eating straight sugar. Gumball machines have been looking heavenly. We were out eating pizza on Friday, and I suddenly stopped when I overheard part of the conversation coming from the table next to us. What I heard was this: "We went to the one in Collinsville, and when he saw the cotton candy on the dessert bar his eyes got so big!" But where did they go? Any place that has cotton candy served on a dessert bar sounded like exactly the place I wanted to be. But alas, they did not say the name of the restaurant again. I was very close to interjecting and asking what magical place they were speaking of, but I refrained. The next morning though, I was still thinking about it and before I even got out of bed I started asking Google what this place might be. Finally, I found it, but was a little disappointing when I found out it was Golden Corral... I've never been there, but I haven't heard stellar reviews. So I haven't had gumballs or cotton candy this week, but both still sound pretty amazing!

What are you wearing? The first part was great because I really didn't care what I was wearing while on break. But Monday I had to go back to work, so no more staying in with leggings and pj's. It's back to funny fitting business casual.

How are you feeling? Symptoms? I get a little winded and tired now. Especially when I'm trying to quickly walk through the cold from my car into work then climb to the third floor of my building, but it is good exercise! It has also been a little rough going back to being at my desk all day, sitting for long periods makes my ribs feel squished. But my only complaints are slight discomforts, so overall I'm still feeling pretty good.

Stretch marks? Still holding out.

Belly button in or out? Ever so slowly, more of it is popping. It's really weird to see it pop out if she kicks me just in that right spot though!

Sleep? Not so great, but not terrible.

Best moment this week: Spending some quality time with Tyler. We made a lot of progress with baby related things, like the nursery and touring daycares, but we also spent some time together that wasn't focused on the imminent arrival of our offspring. It was pretty refreshing!!

Worst moment this week: Norbert and I have been fighting. He is already a little jealous of the baby and the attention that he is not receiving. The pregnancy has cut down on the frequency of our walks, so he has not been getting the exercise he deserves and now he has to get used to us being gone for work again. In protest he has been a naughty fluff dragon. He's started eating his bed, getting into our trash and recycling, and yesterday he took the bananas off of our kitchen counter!!!! He has NEVER gotten on our counter before. And of course with all the inedible things he's been trying to eat, it's made him sick at least one night. He gave us some practice at waking up at random intervals throughout the night to take care of his sick little self. I'm hoping that we come to a peaceful understanding soon.

Miss anything? Energy.

Movement? I feel a lot of hiccups very low, which means she's still head down (yay!), and she still likes to jab her feet into my right rib cage!

Excited for anything? Excited to finish the dresser. Only two coats left to go! Then we can actually start assembling the nursery.

How’s dad-to-be? I just asked him and he said that he's good and doesn't have any worries. He's currently replacing the tracks on the nursery closet doors so they can function correctly and will no longer fall off!

January 2, 2015

Crazed nesting?

I've become obsessed with nesting.

But it's not the super useful nesting urges I was hoping for.

I was hoping for scrub the fridge, organize the basement, sew the curtains nesting. But instead I've been mostly digital nesting. I have the mental obsession with getting things ready, I just haven't gotten the energy spurts to actually DO much of the real nesting.

I've been "shopping" online and basically adding things to our registries, but not physically purchasing much. I've been doing plenty of Pinterest searching and pinning all sorts of things for the nursery (I have knobs galore on my board). I have a mental plan for two different mobiles to make, as well as some artwork.

I've been scouring Craigslist and local swap and sell sites rather obsessively for a dresser/changing table (which I finally found!) and a tv stand for our living room.

That's not to say I haven't made any physical progress though. I have two new rugs for the nursery and a new shelf for her closet. I put together the shelf before Tyler even got home from work one day in an effort to not make him do everything handy related!

Room Essentials™ 8-Cube Organizer - White
{  Shelf from Target  - fits great in the closet!  }
The changing table dresser is a project piece that I was planning to tackle, as it is a blonde wood finish in need of a face lift. However, Tyler didn't think I should put on the deglosser and we bought oil based primer for it, so even with my respirator on I couldn't apply the primer coat because of the fumes. So it's accidentally become Tyler's project for now, and he's been hard at work on that (thanks honey!) while I've been out here on the couch digital nesting away... I am a very capable person, so this makes me feel lame. I should be able to do the rest of the coats with low VOC paint and the respirator though! 

{  Changing table project in progress. Hi, Norbert! Also, a sneak peak at our wall color. }
The nursery really is starting to come together slowly but surely! I'm just hoping my energy level soon catches up to my nesting brain and I'm able to start getting the rest of the house in order, doing some deep cleaning and organizing, and making freezer meals eventually!

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