Bumpdate - 34 Weeks

How far along?  34 Weeks...5.5 weeks to go!!

Baby is the size of? A Cantaloupe.  Baby weighs about 4 3/4 pounds and is almost 18 inches long from head to heel.

Total weight loss/gain? Gained 35 pounds.

Maternity Clothes?  Absolutely, only thing I can wear.  Even the shorts and pants are getting tough as the band hurts my belly and baby does not like it.  I tend to just wear dresses every day.

Stretch Marks?  None so far, lots of visible blue veins.

Sleep?  Eh sometimes good, sometimes not so good.  Hard to flip sides at night and hurts to get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

Best moment of this week? Hearing babies heartbeat today at my 34 week appointment.  We will now go to weekly visits after today which means we are in the home stretch.  Doc said baby was head down but had not dropped yet but that his or her position really didn't matter too much since it was going to be a C-section.  I measured exactly 34 CM, heart rate, BP and urine were all fine.  Doctor said since I carried almost to my due date with Harrison that chances are I would carry full term with this baby but that if I did happen to go into labor since we are at 34 weeks they wouldn't actively try to stop the labor.  I am still hoping baby holds out until our 39.5 week scheduled C-section!!

Worst moment of this week? Still feeling so tired and exhausted.  Feeling guilty on the days when Harrison and I don't leave the house.  We do puzzles by moving his little table over to the couch and I lay on the couch and watch/assist him when needed.  He doesn't seem to mind being home but I also get stir crazy.  So I try to do things with him in the morning and then rest for the afternoon.  Minimal tasks are exhausting.  Yesterday it was tough to get off the couch to go to the zoo but once I did and got there I felt much better moving around.  We also love to bring his little table outside in the afternoon and do play-doh in a shady spot.  He could sit for hours doing play-doh and I like it too because I can sit with my feet up and don't have to move a whole lot (except to chase Clancy when he steals a toy, my shoes, or a play-doh canister)!

Miss Anything?  I miss my energy.  And keep hoping it will be back once baby comes but who am I kidding, I will be running on zero sleep and tending to a newborn AND a non-stop moving toddler. 

Movement?  Lots of movement and getting very painful.  Especially when I have to pee.  Not much room in there for baby to move around anymore.

Food Cravings? Gah I wish!  My heartburn is so bad that I don't even feel like eating anything EVER.  I told the doctor today that I don't think I eat enough and she said based on my weight gain she was confident I was doing ok.

Anything make you queasy or sick?  Coffee right before I brush my teeth always makes me vomit, and eggs as per usual. 

Symptoms?  Pure exhaustion, heartburn like crazy, back pain is better but that tends to be better on the weekends when dad is here to help with Harrison and I can rest a little bit more.

Have you started to show yet?  Oh yes, this dress always makes me look huge.

Gender Predictions?  I still think a boy so it will probably be a girl.

Labor signs? Seems the Braxton hicks aren't as frequent but baby moving around sometimes feels like Braxton hicks.

Belly Button in or out?  Still pretty flat except for one little part that sticks out.

Exercise? Nothing out of the ordinary.

Happy or Moody most of the time?  Still pretty happy.  I had a moment the other day where the house was a mess and toys were exploding everywhere and I just wanted to cry.  I packed up a huge plastic storage box of Harrison's toys that he doesn't use anymore and put them in the guest room for now.  I went in there to get something and he found the box and dragged it out to the living room, opened the box and the toys were everywhere.  He did make me laugh when he would dance to this truck that plays this funky music.

Looking forward to?  Meeting baby, naming baby, announcing babies birth and sex to our friends and family.  Seeing Harrison meet and hold his little brother or sister for the first time.

Any irrational worries? Complications at birth, just keep praying for a healthy baby and a safe delivery.

Bumpdate - 33 Weeks

How far along? 33 Weeks - I missed the 32 week bumpdate, things have been busy.

Baby is the size of?  A Pineapple - baby weighs about 4 pounds and is approximately 17 inches from head to heel.

Total weight loss/gain? Gained 34.5 pounds

Maternity Clothes? Yes, even that selection is getting slim.

Stretch Marks? No stretch marks, lots of blue veins.  Getting itchy.

Sleep? Sleep is pretty good actually.  A friend gave me a big C shaped maternity pillow and it is amazing.  Supports the back, the tummy, and the legs all in one.  Actually, everyone in the family loves it.  Dad tried to steal it from me and I caught both Clancy and Harrison cuddled up in it at different times.  I will try to take a picture for next time.  But its the best thing in the world for a pregnant woman (or a dad, dog, or toddler too)!

Best moment of this week? Getting the maternity pillow!

Worst moment of this week? Feeling overwhelmed at times, of having to do it all.  House always feels a mess, trying to work, clean, make food, eat right, etc. etc.

Miss Anything? Nothing food wise.  I miss my energy.

Movement? Lots of movement and getting painful.  I think space is getting tight in there for baby.

Food Cravings? I wish I had cravings.  I still don't really have an appetite and the heartburn is SO bad that I don't even feel like eating.

Anything make you queasy or sick? Eggs, eggs and eggs...and would you believe every meal when I ask Harrison what he wants to eat he says "eggs and cashup" (ketchup).  YUCK.

Symptoms?  Heartburn up the wazoo, tired, Braxton hicks but not as many as before, lots of movement, sore upper back.

Have you started to show yet?  Yes, can't go anywhere without someone asking when I am due or if I know what I am having.

Gender Predictions? I think a boy.

Labor signs? Nothing yet and hoping holds off until my scheduled C-section.  6.5 weeks to go.  Holy COW our lives are about to be turned upside down!

Belly Button in or out?  Mostly in but there is one little area that sticks out.

Exercise? Nothing crazy, I can barely get out of bed!

Happy or Moody most of the time? Still pretty happy most of the time.

Looking forward to? Doctors appointment next Monday.  I will probably start going weekly pretty soon. 

Any irrational worries?  Recovery after C-section, complications during C-section, NO SLEEP!

Bumpdate - Week 31

How far along? 31 weeks

Baby is the size of? A coconut.  Baby weighs about 3 1/3 pounds and is about 16 inches long from head to toe.

Total weight loss/gain? Gained 32.5

Maternity Clothes?  Oh yes

Stretch Marks?  None so far

Sleep? I am sleeping pretty good despite being so big.  I have to sleep with a pillow under my belly and in-between my legs.  Getting out of bed is getting more and more difficult, especially in the middle of the night to go pee.

Best moment of this week? 31 week check up at the doctors.  Everything looked great.  BP was good, weight was good, heart beat was good, and I measured exactly 31 centimeters.  Right on track.

Worst moment of this week?  Felt really run down and tired this weekend.  Harrison and I are so busy during the week that I was exhausted come Saturday.  We had a lazy day on Saturday and then I felt guilty that we didn't leave the house all day.

Miss Anything?  Took a small sip of a friends beer at a St. Patty's day festival and it tasted really good. 

Movement?  Still lots of movement.  Harrison loves to put his hand on my tummy and feel the baby kick.  He also likes to push down on it which hurts me a little but does make baby kick more!

Food Cravings?  The caramels that Grandma Margaret sent. 

Anything make you queasy or sick? This morning after eating breakfast I felt like I was going to throw up and felt weak.  It passed in a few seconds after a few deep breaths.

Symptoms?  Lots of heartburn, upper back pain, lower pelvic pain after laying down for awhile, feet feel tired and swollen.

Have you started to show yet?  Oh yea.

Gender Predictions?  I think a boy.  The doctors office has also been really good at keeping the secret, I feel like they don't even know either unless its just buried in my chart somewhere.  But every time they enter the room they say "you don't know the gender right?" so they know not to spoil the surprise.

Labor signs?  Still having those Braxton hicks.

Belly Button in or out?  Its almost flat at this point.

Exercise?  Nothing out of the ordinary.  I get tired pretty easily.

Happy or Moody most of the time?  Still pretty happy. 

Looking forward to?  Meeting baby in 8 short weeks and my baby sprinkle that my MOPS mamas are throwing for me in a few weeks.

Any irrational worries? We have done nothing yet to prepare for baby.  The crib is still in pieces in the spare room, I still have to get all the newborn clothes, bibs, burp cloths, blankets out and wash them and get them set up.  We are so far behind!

Bumpdate - Week 30

How far along? 30 weeks

Baby is the size of? A large cabbage.  Baby weighs approximately 3 pounds and is 15 3/4 inches long.

Total weight loss/gain? Gained 30 pounds

Maternity Clothes? Oh yes

Stretch Marks? Been lucky so far

Sleep?  Sleeping pretty good but wake up really tired and like I didn't get enough sleep.  The time change has my system off and I have been up until 2am the last few nights and can't fall asleep.

Best moment of this week?  Harrison feeling baby kick quite a few times.

Worst moment of this week? Feeling tired again and Harrison not really letting Daddy help get him ready for bed, its tiring on me.  I think he just thinks of dad as the fun parent and getting ready for bed means the fun is over for the day.

Miss Anything? Food/drink-wise not really.  Just miss being able to bend over easy.

Movement?  This baby high kids ALL day and night long.  I could always feel Harrison moving but this baby moves and kicks like crazy.  I was in Publix the other day with Harrison and felt some serious kicks that were causing some Braxton hicks, I thought for sure this was it and I was going into labor.  But all was fine.

Food Cravings?  Coffee ice cream milkshakes (maybe the coffee ice cream is what is keeping me up at night!)

Anything make you queasy or sick? Still those darn eggs.  Such a shame too because hard boiled eggs are an easy quick protein and I just can't seem to get them down.

Symptoms?  Gah, so many!  Heartburn like crazy, my upper back is sooooo sore by the end of the day, I use the heating pad every night.  I'm also tired, and my body is just getting achy and uncomfortable.

Have you started to show yet?  Yes yes yes.

Oye Vey!  Guess I need to clean my mirror!

 

I do not know why Harrison is holding the drawer to my front entry way table??

Gender Predictions?  I think a boy.  I would love a girl, but a boy would be fun so Harrison has a little bro.  I'd be happy with either!

Labor signs?  Those Braxton hicks

Belly Button in or out?  Still in

Exercise?  Harrison is my exercise, kid never stops going!

Happy or Moody most of the time?  Still pretty happy. 

Looking forward to?  My doctor's appointment on Monday.

Any irrational worries? Pre-term labor, baby getting enough food and water, no sleep when baby gets here, the usual.

Old Wives Tales Gender Prediction

Dear Baby,

I did this old wives tale gender prediction test when I was pregnant with Harrison and it was right with him so lets see what it predicts for you!

1. Carrying high or low. If you carry high, it’s more than likely a girl, if you carry low it means it’s a boy: I think I have been carrying high through the pregnancy.  No one has really said anything regarding how I am carrying.  Verdict says: GIRL

2. Heart rate. Old wives tales say if it’s above 140 it’s a girl, below and it’s a boy.  When I went in at 9 weeks I think the heartbeat was 172. Verdict says: GIRL

3. Acne: if your skin gets worse it’s a girl, if it stays the same it’s a boy. Skin has stayed pretty much the same with an occasional pimple or two.  Verdict says: BOY

4 : Cravings. Sweets mean girl, while salty cravings point to boy. Definitely craving more sweet than salty. Verdict says: GIRL

5. If you have morning sickness, it’s a girl. If you don’t, it’s a boy. I wouldn't say I had morning sickness, just some occasional nausea and aversion to smells.  Verdict says: BOY

6. Skin: Dry means it’s a boy, smooth means it’s a girl.  My skin has become dry.  Verdict says: BOY

7. Chinese gender chart. The Chinese gender chart says girl.  Verdict says: GIRL

8. Leg hair.  If your leg hair grows faster while pregnant, it means your baby is a boy, if there’s no change it means it’s a girl. I am not a hairy person in general but I haven’t noticed my leg hair growing any faster.  Verdict says: GIRL

9. Mood. Wive’s tales say if you’re moody it’s a girl, if you’re not its a boy. I don't think I have been very moody or emotional.  Just tired and overwhelmed. Verdict says: BOY

10. Mother’s instinct. My feeling has always been a big question mark???  But this week I think a boy.  Verdict says: BOY

5 for Boy - 5 for Girl
VERDICT IS: A TIE?!?! JURY IS STILL OUT.

I guess even the old wives are unsure with this one!

Bumpdate - Week 29

How far along?  29 Weeks

Baby is the size of? A butternut squash.  Baby weighs about 2.5 pounds and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel.

Total weight loss/gain?  According to our scale gained 36 pounds.  At this point with Harrison I gained 42.

Maternity Clothes? Yes, I even tried some on today that were too small! 

Stretch Marks? None so far but my stomach has been getting itchy, probably from the skin stretching.

Sleep?  Sleep has been better now that Harrison is back in his own bed. 

Best moment of this week?  Transitioning Harrison to his new big boy bed.  So far so good and he loves it.  He has done awesome so far with the transition.

Also, finally scheduling my C-section for the 18th of May.  In just ten weeks we will meet baby and our lives will be changed forever.  Just pray that baby does not decide to come before the scheduled date!

Worst moment of this week? Walking a 5K with my moms group and not sure what I was thinking.  Harrison wouldn't sit in the stroller anymore so for the last mile I carried him.  I am not even kidding when I say that I was LITERALLY the last person to cross the finish line.  My body was so sore afterwards that I pretty much laid in bed or on the couch and watched TV and movies with Harrison the rest of the day.

Miss Anything? Not really

Movement?  Lots of movement.  Felt some pangs to the bladder today that made me feel like I might pee my pants.

Food Cravings?  Sweets.  Just finished off the box of yummy caramels that grandma Margaret sent.  I hid them from Harrison and they were so good.

Anything make you queasy or sick?  Same old eggs and brushing my teeth.

Symptoms? Heartburn, pressure, tired, WADDLING has kicked in.

Have you started to show yet?  Yep Yep

Gender Predictions?  Gosh I have no clue!  The doctors office has been really good at keeping the secret so far too.

Labor signs?  None yet thank goodness.

Belly button in or out?  Still in but almost flat

Exercise?  The 5K that ALMOST killed me.

Happy or Moody most of the time?  Always pretty happy.

Looking forward to?  Meeting baby on the 18th of May.  10 weeks to go!!

Any irrational worries?  Going into labor early, C-section recovery - I had a rough recovery my first time, battling two kids at bath and bed time.

Bumpdate - 28 Weeks

How far along?  28 weeks.  We have entered the third tri-mester.

Baby is the size of? An eggplant.  Baby weights about 2 1/4 pounds and is almost 15 inches long.

Total weight loss/gain? I was 154 at the doctors today with shoes and clothes on so that would mean that I have gained 26 pounds since week 5.

Maternity Clothes?  Yes

Stretch Marks?  None so far.  Using coconut oil on my tummy everyday.

Sleep? Tossing and turning a lot.  I sleep the most comfortable on the couch.

Best moment of this week?  Going for my check up today and doing the glucose screening.  I should get the glucose results in a week so pray for no gestational diabetes.  My exam was perfect, BP was good, iron was good, weight was good, heartbeat was strong and I was measuring one centimeter bigger than I should be.  I was measuring 29 instead of 28. :)  Made me feel much better since I was nervous that baby was originally measuring small in the ultrasounds.  Hopefully all those hard boiled eggs are paying off!

Worst moment of this week? Just feeling really anxious because we have not really done much to prepare for the baby.  I feel like at this point with Harrison I was so close to being ready, with this one, I'm just kinda like "I got this".

Miss Anything? Been missing my friends and family up north a lot lately.  Wishing I could plan one last trip up there before baby comes.

Movement? Lots of movement.  I swear baby never sleeps!  Hopefully that means he/she will sleep when they come out. HA!

Food Cravings? A jar of pickles somehow leaked in our fridge and I kept smelling the pickle smell and wanted pickles.

Anything make you queasy or sick?  Eggs, smells from the kitchen.

Symptoms?  Heart burn, lots of kicks, tired, charlie horses in my calfs at night.  Gosh are those painful.

Have you started to show yet?  Oh yes, random people ask all the time when I am due, what we are having, etc.

Sorry for the overkill of pictures,

just figured I would provide some other angles today.

Gender Predictions? Still have no clue.  Maybe a boy!?

Labor signs?  Some Braxton hicks

Belly Button in or out? In but looking a little strange.

Exercise? Keeping up with Harrison

Happy or Moody most of the time? Pretty happy.

Looking forward to?  Scheduling my C-section.  I figured we would talk about it today but the mid-wife I saw today said the doctors schedules weren't out yet for May.  I think I am going to try to call the office tomorrow to see if I can get someone else.

Any irrational worries?  Worried about recovery from the C-section and how I will handle Harrison jumping/climbing on me and wanting to be held while I am recovering and tending to the baby.