pregnancy

How far along? 35 Weeks.  Only 28 more days until the c-section! 

(Brennan and I made this paper chain to help him understand how much longer it will be until he meets his sister.  He gets very excited to cut a link every night.)

Total weight gain/loss: More than I care to publish on the internet.

Maternity clothes? There are still quite a few shirts hanging in the closet thanks to a friend who just had her baby three weeks ago, but only a few of them actually look okay on this gigantic stomach.

Stretch marks? I'm sure.

Sleep: I've managed to find comfort with a body pillow in front of me and a king-sized heavy pillow behind  - and slightly under - me, but I have to get up every two hours to go to the bathroom and reposition everything.  (Thank goodness Jim is a heavy sleeper.)

Best moment this week: Having Jim home for Labor Day today.  He took Brennan to the zoo, and tonight we had grilled steaks, baked potatoes, tomato pie, and brownies.  Yum.

Movement:  She moves and hiccups a lot.

Food cravings: Sugar, sugar, sugar!

Labor Signs: Nope 

Belly button in or out? Some days it's half out, and other days it's completely out.

What I miss: All of the things I missed before (hot baths, Diet Coke, Splenda, caffeine, and wine), plus the following:

Being able to do moderate exercise without exhaustion, sleeping for more than 2 - 3 hours at a time, cuddling with and hugging my husband, wearing my wedding and engagement rings.

What I am looking forward to: Meeting our little girl and introducing her to Brennan!  Also, I am looking forward to Jim hanging everything in the nursery.  I've been patient now for over three weeks!

What I am NOT looking forward to: Getting bigger, enduring the final exams before the birth (moms, you know what I mean!), and enduring 28 more days of physical and emotional misery.

Weekly Wisdom: Think before speaking.  Do not tell a woman in her eighth or ninth month of pregnancy that she is "huge" or "sure to go any day" (when she is weeks away from her due date) or that she'll "never make it" until her c-section or due date.  Do not act appalled or dismayed when she tells you how much time she has left, comment on her size or how enormous the baby must be for her stomach to stick out so far, or in any other way make her feel like she should apologize for her appearance.

Milestones: I think hitting the ninth month is a pretty huge milestone!  We can now count days instead of weeks!

The final belly shot will be taken the day before the c-section (unless she surprises us and comes early)!  We're ready when you are, baby!

Today was my baby shower, and I don't even know how to begin writing about it! I didn't have any expectations for this shower, but even if I had, this amazing day would have exceeded them all.

Do you want to know what made this shower so great?

We haven't lived in Tennessee that long, so I was truly surprised by all of the people who showed up to celebrate this baby with us. There were friends from our church, friends from MOPS, and friends I have made through Jim's work. It was so fun and so special to see all of the support we have, and my heart was so touched by the outpouring of love.

I tell ya, my friend Christy is such a master cook. She made everything from scratch including a tomato pie that was divine. (I know, I know, tomato pie doesn't sound that terrific. Trust me. Everyone left wanting the recipe.) She also made homemade truffles that were in these cute little black boxes with pink bows.  And her cupcakes?  Mmmm....

Everything for the shower was done in black and white damask with pink, to go with the baby's nursery.   It was truly beautiful.  It was elegant and fun and oh-so-girly. 

We got so many terrific things for the baby, and it was all stuff we need and can use.  Each gift was one-of-a-kind and so much fun to open, even for this girl who hates to open presents with everyone watching. 

There were five babies at the shower today ranging in age from 10 days to eleven months old (four of the five were under four months, I think).  The amazing thing is that I didn't hear more than a peep out of these sweet babies all morning.  They were a total joy and in no way a disruption.   They reminded us all of the gift that a new baby really is to a family.

There was a candy bar for people to fill candy bags, and the candy included some of my favorites.  I love black licorice, jelly beans, and chocolate, and these were all included!  (How lucky that they all came in black, white, and pink!) 

We also played a few tasteful games (I hate shower games, but these were actually no-pressure, no-awkwardness kinds of games), and one of the games encouraged people to figure out my answers to some questions.  Fun.

One of the best, most thoughtful details is that I was provided with lovely, homemade thank you notes and pre-addressed envelopes.  Seriously? Coordinating, handmade thank you notes?  Do these ladies know me, or what???

It was truly a memorable morning, and I was so touched.  I got home and told Jim it was the prettiest shower I had ever been to, and I started to cry.  He said, "Wow... You are so pregnant."  I know he's right, but I would have been moved even without the help of my hormones.  Thank you, thank you to everyone who came today and made me feel so loved and special.

Today we went to a birthday party for Brennan's twin four-year-old friends.  Their mom just started a new job this week and has been working like crazy, so I offered to make the cake for the bug-themed birthday party.  I can't take credit for the design... The idea for the shape came from the internet.  But I was pleased at how well it turned out.

The kids listened to The Very Hungry Caterpillar while they ate their cake, and it was fun to watch their little faces fill up with green frosting.

In other news, I spent six hours today working on the crib bumper for the nursery.  I kept running into the most irritating setbacks:  My bobbin kept catching, my thread kept ripping, I realized I had only made half as many silk ties as I needed, I sewed all five hundred feet (okay, small exaggeration) of the ruffle inside-out, and at the end of the day, Brennan accidentally got pure butter on a piece of silk fabric that I needed to work with.  

On top of all of those annoying things, my feet are like balloons today.  I haven't had much swelling up until this point, but today my feet are puffy and really hurt from being stretched beyond what is normal for my skin..  I'm going to blame it on the Chinese food we ate last night and the fact that I didn't have enough water, and I'll hope that tomorrow things will be back to normal.

I had a doctor's appointment this morning, and everything is going perfectly!  The baby has a terrific heart rate, my actual belly measurements are on the money, and everything is on track.  I have another doctor's appointment and ultrasound in twelve days, and after that I'll start the weekly appointments in September.  All in all, I have five more doctor's appointments, and then we will meet our little girl!  (Of course, she could come early, but let's hope not because that would seriously mess up our schedule!)

I know someone who answers some update questions every month on her blog, and they're always fun to read, so I thought I'd give it a try.

How far along? 31 1/2 Weeks.  Our c-section is scheduled for first thing in the morning on Tuesday, October 6th at either at 7 AM or 8 AM.  The paperwork from the hospital had conflicting times and the doctor is calling to check on it.  [I'm hoping for 8:00, because we have to arrive two hours early, and arriving at 5 AM (leaving my house at 4:30 AM) does not sound too fun.]

Total weight gain/loss: 40 pounds!!!  (Eek!)

Maternity clothes? They are all getting too small.  I still have several shirts that still fit along with two pairs of jeans, one pair of black pants, a few dresses, and a skirt.  Honestly, for right now, I'm okay with that because they should last me a few more weeks and then I just have to survive September.  (Who wants to spend money on clothes that will only be worn for a few weeks?)

Stretch marks? Yeah, I already had them left from Brennan, and I haven't studied them to see if they're any worse.  I don't need to know that right now.

Sleep: Ugh.  This is the worst.  As a whole I'm doing well during the daytime, but I absolutely cannot get comfortable at night, and even when I do, I wake up with achy muscles everywhere.

Best moment this week: Jim's mom is here, and she has been keeping Brennan occupied while I have visited with and ministered to different friends.  It has been energizing and refreshing.

Movement:  She moves so much that sometimes I don't even notice it, and then I wonder, "When was the last time she moved?"  Of course, she does it again quickly and then I realize she's been doing it all along.  She also has a lot of hiccups now.  

Food cravings: Chocolate, Starbucks Mochas (hot or iced... doesn't matter, but decaf, of course), Chinese food, & Pancake Pantry sweet potato pancakes

Labor Signs:
I have had a few Braxton Hicks, and last week I had one real contraction.  It was just one, so it didn't worry me, but it lasted for about thirty seconds and took my breath away.  It was pretty bizarre.

Belly button in or out? Mostly it's flat, but sometimes half of it sticks out.

What I miss: Hot baths, Diet Coke, Splenda, caffeine, and an occasional glass of wine.

What I am looking forward to: Finishing the nursery, organizing my house, and feeling more "ready."  I'm also looking forward to my shower next Saturday, the 22nd.

What I am NOT looking forward to: A c-section recovery.

Weekly Wisdom: Spending just 24 hours away from your toddler can make you a better mom!

Milestones: Clearing junk out of the nursery, emptying boxes from storage, and getting the nursery bedding underway.

Here is a sneak peek at our family photos from yesterday. Christy did such an amazing job! I will share more when they are ready! 

So, I'm about 28 weeks now, and I am into the seventh month, meaning I'm officially in the third trimester.   And, boy,  I can tell.  I am a bundle of hormones today!  This morning Jim, Brennan, and I went to Edwin Warner Park with my friend Christy to shoot some maternity and family photos (no, she did not take the picture above... her photos will be fabulous!).  It was a beautiful morning and everything was just right, but I was so emotional.  Holding my belly and thinking about the baby inside was overwhelming.  Hearing Christy's comments that my belly wasn't very big yet (normally a huge compliment to any pregnant woman!) caused me to worry that we were doing the photos too soon and I had jumped the gun.  And Jim's sleep deprivation from a late-night project made me extra sensitive too, as I worried about his mood and needs. 

The nearer we get to meeting this little girl, the more emotional and excited and panicked and scared and thrilled I get!  Eleven weeks feels like no time when I think about the projects I need to get done, the stuff I need to buy, and the moments I want to cherish as we wrap up our days as a family of three.  But when I think about the difficult weeks of pain, sleeplessness, and misery ahead of me, I think eleven weeks sounds like an eternity... 

It can sometimes be so hard to live for the moment and be content.  Some days I want time to slow down; other days I wish it would speed up.  I look forward to things like maternity photos, family visits, and baby showers to keep me going, but I sometimes forget to appreciate the day-to-day.  I'm grateful that the photos Christy captured this morning were pretty typical for our family.  We do go to Warner Park and enjoy the tadpoles, hike the trails, and play in the creek...  The pictures, no matter how perfectly pregnant I do or don't look, will be a great reminder of the fact that our everyday lives are a gift to be treasured. I can't wait to share the pics when they are ready!

In a few more days I will kiss the fifth month of pregnancy good-bye and begin month six.  It is just amazing what has happened in the last five weeks.  I went from having a small baby "bump" to having a certified belly!  I actually like the way I look at this stage - feminine and happy - but I fear how large I have yet to become.  I wish I could stay this size until the end!

I haven't been sick (throwing up) in four weeks, and I am truly enjoying this honeymoon trimester.  I know it will end soon enough...

Yesterday Brennan was asking a lot of questions about how the baby would take a bath, so I pulled a few boxes from our storage closet and showed him the baby bathtub as well as some toys.  We put a stuffed animal into the tub and I showed him how the baby will sit in there.  Then we talked for the millionth time about what to expect when the baby is born.  He has told me two or three times in the last twenty-four hours that if they baby cries when it comes out, he will go get it "a toy or somethin'."  So sweet. 

I am officially starting my fifth month of the pregnancy, and I feel good. I still have a few moments of nausea at night, but I completely stopped being sick with Brennan after the 18th week, so I am hoping I have totally reached the end.

I found a great seller on Etsy who custom-designed this maternity shirt for me. Isn't it cute? I wanted a "little pumpkin" instead of a typical stork's bag, and Nicky of  Jelly Bean Apparel did a great job.  She sent me a proof within a day or two so I could approve the image, and the shirt was mine so quickly!  (Well, it took me forever to place the order, but once I did, I had it within a week.)  It's long, extremely soft and comfortable, and I paid just over $20 plus shipping! It's currently my favorite shirt (although that doesn't say much, since I don't have too many that fit right now!)  I'll be heading back to buy another shirt sometime soon.  I like this one and this one.  Be advised, though, if you buy one of these shirts, they run a few sizes small.  I'm currently in a size small maternity shirt from most stores, but this shirt is a large.  I'm going to have to buy my next shirt in an XL just to wear it during the rest of the second trimester!

It is so exciting to say that I can now feel the baby kick!  It is faint and I never know when I'll feel it, but I actually just felt a little flutter as I wrote this last sentence!  It is my favorite part of being pregnant.  

In a few weeks we will find out if we are having a boy or a girl.  We didn't find out the last time, per Jim's request, but we are finding out this time, per my request.  This baby will be born in a completely different season than Brennan was, and I want to know what wardrobe to buy.  Plus, it will help me to feel more connected to the baby since there won't be tons of nursery or other preparations happening this time around.  I also want to prepare Brennan (and myself, particularly because my grandfather told me before he died that he wanted me to have a girl).  So, before I turn 31 at the end of the month, I will know if Brennan is having a brother or sister!