30 Weeks

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: No change - total weight gain is at 27 lbs.

MOVEMENT: Still moving all around.  Her head is currently pointed down which gives me a lot of movement up by my ribs and a lot of pressure in my lower abdomen.  I can feel when she rolls from side to side now.

CRAVINGS: Nope, nothing.  Thanksgiving weekend was a pretty bad 4 day splurge.  Back on the healthy kick now.  It helps without all those bad cravings.

SYMPTOMS: Emotional ups and downs, missing feet, swollen fingers (wedding ring still fits), crazy dreams, moderate heartburn (it actually wakes me up in the middle of the night now), spicy food aversion, frequent urination, mild constipation, lower back pain (has been getting worse the last couple of days), hip pain when sleeping, mild insomnia.

Cute story - Nick & I woke up around the same time (2AM) Sunday night/Monday morning.  We laid awake talking and fell asleep after being up for only an hour.  Insomnia is definitely better when someone is suffering with you.  I think being able to talk about what was racing through our heads at 2AM helped relax us and drift back off to sleep.  I really love my husband.

BELLY BUTTON: No change.  We now have the next 7 days to get it to pop all the way out so we can have bragging rights...otherwise I'm a loser too.

PREPARATIONS: Floor removal is fully underway!  Levelling should take place this week.  So, so excited.  We didn't get as much done this weekend as we had hoped, there was a lot of dust flying around on Friday so Nick made me stay away from the house all day.  On the plus side, I got some Christmas shopping done.

The crib is assembled, changing table in, pictures hung, mobile hung!  Still working on the closet, but it's near completion.  Once all of that is done, pictures will be posted.  No progress on the quilt...maybe this weekend.

Went to last daycare on my list today.  Was happy.  Think I'll add Cookie to that waiting list too so that I can have a back up plan in place in case my first choice doesn't pan out.  Next focus, need to get that pediatrician lined up.

MILESTONES: 30 WEEKS!!!  No more 10's to go through until we hit Week 40, which Cookie may very well have arrived by then...the fear has started melting away (although there is still and will always be a certain amount of fear) and the excited feeling is taking over.  I cannot wait to meet this little person.

TEN WEEKS AND COUNTING!

WEEKLY WISDOM: Enjoy what little you can remember now.  I can barely remember what happened tomorrow.  A friend asked me how Disneyland was one week after I went and I could only remember two things that I had one and seen.  Nick reminded me and I then remembered, but could not bring up the memories on my own!  I think lots and lots of lists help too.  That way your hubby can't trick you into thinking you said something or promised something when you didn't (and yes, Nick has tried).

29 Weeks

We've graduated to a squash (although I think it looks like a pumpkin, don't you?).  I'd be excited except I'm pretty sure we'll be stuck here for a few weeks.  I don't peek ahead, even though being the same thing week after week is getting old.

It hasn't been that long since my last post (I was late last week), but in the spirit of getting on track...

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: It looks like the scale crept up to almost 2 lbs (total weight gain 27 lbs).  Should have passed on those nachos and candy.

MOVEMENT: Umm...wow, definite change.  The movements are pretty big now and I can feel her roll and swish all around.  It's a totally different feeling than I have been feeling...I can't even come close to explaining.  I do get a lot of pressure in places where Cookie is pushing...still an amazing feeling, but it doesn't necessarily feel good.  I still don't think I've experienced hiccups yet.

CRAVINGS: Still nothing, but I've been splurging a little too much...time to get good again (although I'm not promising ANYTHING on Thanksgiving!).

SYMPTOMS: Emotional ups and downs, missing feet, swollen fingers (wedding ring still fits), crazy dreams, moderate heartburn, spicy food aversion, frequent urination, mild constipation, lower back pain (has been getting worse the last couple of days), hip pain when sleeping, one episode of insomnia (yuck).

It may be all in my head, but I feel like Cookie's grown in the last couple of days...my belly is tighter, it feels bigger, and my back is really bugging me when I walk (all since Sunday).

BELLY BUTTON: Top half is now an outtie, bottom half is hanging strong.  No one ever told me that the belly button could be half and half!

PREPARATIONS: Baseboards and trim are in!  We're going to start assembling the crib sometime this week...what an eye opener it will be when that is in!  Nick is still working on the closet...and very exciting news.  Crappy floor removal will begin tomorrow!  In about 2-3 weeks we should have a brand new hickory floor installed!  So excited!!!

MILESTONES: I'm at a loss for this one this time since I just blogged on Saturday and had three.

WEEKLY WISDOM: Enjoy your snuggle time with your significant other.  I can't remember the last time Nick and I were able to snuggle in bed.  Given that I sleep with five pillows AND a body pillow as well as have a baby bump in the way, there's not room for snuggling close.  I also don't sleep under the comforter anymore because I go from being so hot and then so cold that I toss the blanket on and off all night.  Sleeping in the same bed with different blankets is weird.  Nick joked he was going to buy us twin beds...not funny.

28 Weeks

I'm really, really late this week, but I figured I'm still an eggplant so who really cares?  I have to say, this being the same thing for weeks at a time blows.  It's not as exciting as it was when I couldn't wait for the new week to see what Cookie had changed into.  Each week right now is totally anti-climatic.

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: I had my Week 28 OB appointment and according to the doctor's scale, I'd actually lost 2 lbs since my last visit.  That makes total weight gain 25 lbs.  OB was not worried about the weight loss (especially since I'd packed it on so quickly the first trimester).  He noted that my belly was the right size and the heart rate was perfect (one of my milestones...they're starting to measure my belly).

MOVEMENT: I've started feeling her on and off all the time - no more night owl only movements.  I can tell that she's definitely bigger/gaining weight.  The movements are so much more pronounced.  I'm not sure if I've felt the hiccups yet, but occasionally there is a little earthquake in my belly like rapid fire movements...wonder if the is the hiccups?  I can also feel definite pressure from her if she's settling in a specific spot or what I imagine as her head or bum pushing into my organs or out through my belly.

When I'm laying on my side now, she sometimes shifts to the part of my body that's on the bed.  I can feel this big pressure.  Last night I stuck my hand under there and pushed at her and she pushed back!!!  I had Nick do it and she did it again...he was struck in amazement with actually interacting with Cookie rather than just sitting and waiting for the movement.

CRAVINGS: Nada.  I'm still watching my diet better, but with the elimination of the gestational diabetes scare, I have to admit I've been splurging in some goodies.  In my defense, my OB noted the holidays were coming and I should splurge, just responsibly...working on the responsible part.

SYMPTOMS: Emotional ups and downs, missing feet, swollen fingers (wedding ring still fits - but it's getting much tighter), crazy dreams, heartburn (and it increasing with a vengeance - TUMS still solves all my problems), spicy food aversion, frequent urination, mild constipation, mild lower back pain.  I noticed I'm not so hot/stuffy any more since winter's setting in.  I actually use a blanket nightly now...although it's much lighter than the comforter on our bed so still no close blanket sharing with Nick.  I had one crazy pregnant lady meltdown last week after my last blog.  The first one in quite a while.  Although I have an excuse, I'm still not very proud of them when they happen.

New this week: I'm getting hip pain when I lay in bed now.  I was only rolling over once a night, but now I'm rolling several times because of discomfort in my hip.  I now have a nest in bed.  I take four pillows and lay them out to sleep on (foam pillow at my hip), have the body pillow, and a fifth pillow for putting my head on.  This method puts Nick and I farther away, but he hasn't complained for lack of space in the queen sized bed...yet.

BELLY BUTTON: Nick has totally lost the bet...now I just need it to hold out until Week 30 which was my guess.  There's nothing at stake except for bragging rights which is huge in our household.  The top half is now poofed completely out, but the bottom half is still a solid innie...

PREPARATIONS: No preparations completed this week...we were at Disneyland (fun, fun, fun, but we didn't get any pictures - I actually lasted until almost 10PM at night!) last weekend and seemed to have something going on every weeknight so everything is at a standstill.  It's actually raining in San Diego today (we have a pretty big storm and it's supposed to rain all weekend so the nursery is the top priority).

MILESTONES: We officially started the third trimester!!!  VERY humbling and a little freaky.  Nothing to count down to except for the birth now...wow.  Baby preparation classes are going well...we watched birthing videos this week and talked about C-sections last week.  Nick's getting excited, I'm just getting scared.  I've been looking at all the little clothes that have starting flowing in as gifts.  They're so tiny.  It's crazy to think we're going to have something that fits into those things!

Second milestone – not one I like at all.  I had the first stranger rub my belly this morning when Nick and I went out for breakfast.  I tried turning away slightly and even put my hand up and she just kept right on going while she was talking to me.  Yuck.  I'm surprised crazy pregnant lady didn't come out at that moment...wonder if she noticed my fake smile/grimace?

Third milestone - I started looking into daycare for Cookie.  We'd prefer a nanny, but even with nanny sharing, it just won't be financially feasible for us.  The first one I went to made me cry.  I don't want to get into it, but there's no way in hell I'd ever leave my Cookie there, EVER.  The fact that some people do appalled me (although maybe I expect too much).  The second one I went to I loved (although moving up from the first one wouldn't take much AND it was more expensive by $200 per month).  I have a couple more to look at, but put Cookie on the wait list for the the second one.  They just really had their poop together.  One last comment, holy crap...day care IS expensive.

WEEKLY WISDOM: We all grow up and a lot of us move away from home.  My weekly wisdom this week - my family (especially my mom).  We're very close and I miss her a lot - she lives in Tacoma.  I'm embarking on this new phase of my life and becoming a mom myself.  I know I want to be just like her in my mothering skills, she always knows just what to say and do.  While I've always missed her and had a little ache because I don't live near, I've never felt it so acutely and so deeply as I do now (to the point of tears sometimes).  Moms always know the right thing to say and she does it when we're on the phone, but I'd give anything for a hug, a kiss, and a "you're going to be a great mom, don't be scared" from her.  Embarking on the third trimester has been an eye opening experience for me...I'm scared, anxious, and excited all at the same time.  Nick is wonderful and my friends are wonderful, but sometimes you just need your mom.

And now for the pictures...

 Carmel apples I got as treats for all the fabulous guests (thank you again!).

 Yummy spread prior to lunch...those cupcakes were fabulous - and thank you for saving some virgin punch for me...it was delicious!

Those decorations were hand made for the shower...they were all over the house.  Gorgeous!

...and here is my 28 week growing body.

27 Weeks

Still an eggplant, ugh. I hate being the same thing over and over and over again...patience has never been my thing!

So we’ll start this week’s blog off with my not so pleasant story from last night. Nick & I were laying in bed reading before going to sleep. Nick with a non-fiction political book (God bless him for being able to read them, I’ve tried, but just can’t do it) and me with a baby name book…yes, we’re finally beginning our process- and no, we won't tell you what we like.  You all get to wait until Cookie makes her appearance to learn what her yet to be decided name will be.

I was occasionally throwing a name out I liked and Nick would either veto or say add it to our little list for later thought. Little Mookie was coming in and out of the bedroom during this process, snuggling with me and when I would shift, getting up and going and exploring the rest of the house and then coming back. We were in bed for about 30 minutes or so. Nick turned off his light and turned on the news to go to sleep and Little Mookie jumped up and in the little space between my legs I make for him just like always and was looking at me while I was reading and then I heard it.

HE WAS PEEING ON ME!!!

I screamed and yelled he was peeing and Mookie ran away…there it was a puddle of pee quickly soaking into the blanket that was covering me. Nick went after Mookie. Luckily, I don’t use the same blanket as the comforter on our bed to sleep with any more because I get so hot so quickly and kick things off. Nick will sleep under our comforter and I use a different blanket and sleep on top of the comforter. I delicately pulled the duvet off and separated the two and threw them in garage (they’ll be washed today when I get home). Nick brought Mookie in the bed and rubbed his nose in it. I’m not sure this works with cats, but Nick insisted.

Now friends, what in the world do you think would make him pee on me? I can’t figure it out. He’s always, always, always been a mama’s boy. In the last couple of weeks he’s become even more clingier on me and insisting on cuddling me and following me everywhere and freaking out if I close a door behind me and he can’t get in. Nick has to work to get him to come near Nick now for pets and Mookie doesn’t cuddle with Nick at all in bed anymore. I’m all ears because Nick & I can’t figure it out…he peed in the spot he sleeps in every night and on the person he can’t stand not being near.  Could he really have been marking me as his territory?  He's neutered.

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: I think we’re up 1 ½ lbs from last week…we have a MD visit on Wednesday so I’ll let you know for sure. That would make total weight gain 27 ½ lbs. Sadness.

MOVEMENT: Still being a night owl. I can’t remember the last time Nick got to feel his little Cookie move. More sadness.

CRAVINGS: Still nothing I can think of, although I totally splurged after this last week. I went in for another 3 hour glucose test last Tuesday. If you recall, it should have been my regularly scheduled 1 hour, but due to my positive urine dip weeks ago, I had to go through the process. They wanted me to repeat the 1 hour, but my rationale is if it was abnormal a few weeks ago, it would be abnormal again so I wanted to jump to the 3 hour test because I just assumed I would have to do it anyway. I finished the test, had sweet potato fries with lunch, nachos for dinner, and then had McDonald’s cheeseburgers the next day. Totally gross, I know, how gluttonous can one person be? BUT, my rationale was I was convinced I had gestational diabetes, I needed to get in one last indulgence since I didn’t know for sure. My test came back NEGATIVE!!! Such happiness, but so much guilt for the total disgusting splurge in junk food.

SYMPTOMS: Emotional ups and downs, hot/stuffy all the time, missing feet, swollen fingers (wedding ring still fits), crazy dreams, heartburn, spicy food aversion, frequent urination, mild constipation, mild lower back pain. I also strained my neck Sunday morning telling Nick a story…it still hurts, but at least I had my prenatal massage this morning. Cyndi can work magic!
New this week: NO GESTATIONAL DIABETES!!! I’m still sleeping pretty well and haven’t gotten too uncomfortable. I still feel really, really fabulous. I’m hoping it will continue.

BELLY BUTTON: The top half of my belly button is still poofed. It doesn’t stick out like an outtie, but is more like the top half is just disappearing. Nick has until the end of the week for poppage and then I have to hope it hold out until Week 30 so I can win our little bet on when it will pop. I can still make it move in and out based upon my breathing. I still find it disgusting, but can’t stop. It’s like when you get a canker sore and can’t stop touching it with your tongue.

PREPARATIONS: I have the fabric I’m going to use for Cookie’s quilt and the curtains were hung last week. Nothing else in terms of preparations. My BFF, Lizzie was in town this weekend so we curbed the preparations. I did manage to get the fabric squares for the quilt cut up though. Just because you have people around, you can’t stop the nesting pregnant lady. It’s a disease.

MILESTONES: The belly button poofing comes to mind (see above). I also did my scheduled glucose test today. I went with the 3 hour rather than the 1 hour. I'm assuming the 1 hour would come back abnormal at this point so I'd rather just go to the lab once. As before, they have Internet so I was able to work the whole time.

Second milestone – baby preparation classes started. We learned all about labor and delivery on Wednesday night. I’m officially freaked out. I mean, my baby’s head will be the size of WHAT and I’ll only dilate HOW much?

Third milestone – We’ve officially started our last week of our third trimester. It’s really hitting us now. Next week it will be just a countdown to the delivery. No more trimesters to start.

Fourth milestone – Baby shower went off BEAUTIFULLY on Saturday!!!

WEEKLY WISDOM: Not so much a wisdom, but a realization. I have amazing friends. Our baby shower was wonderful on Saturday. We did a guy/girl combination party. The generosity of our friends was amazing not to mention my girlfriends who threw it. The decorations were made by a girlfriend in Northern California who couldn’t make, but shipped them down. I mean, we all know we have wonderful friends, but every so often you open your eyes and realize how truly wonderful they are. Thank you to everyone again, Nick and I are still so touched.

I should have uploaded pics from the baby shower, but I didn’t, I got lazy. Week 28 belly pic next week and I’ll upload some baby shower pictures then.

The Great Floor Debacle

It is OVER.  Our hate relationship with our floor issues is no longer.  We've been vindicated.

I'm not sure I ever blogged about this...while our beautiful bamboo floors were being put in they immediately began warping.  I will refrain from saying who sold them to us, who put them in, or our loving nicknames for both of them.  Thank you to our friend Gabe who directed us to the bond company to recoup our costs after 9 month of begging and demanding something be done. 

Pieces of the floor were ripped out over the course of that 9 months for tests and inspections.  An independent inspector came to our house and noted in their inspection report that the floor was improperly installed.  In May we were told the floor was being replaced.  We picked out a new floor and moved all of our furniture into from our great room to the family room.

They came and began the process and told us we had a busted pipe and that was what was wrong with the floor.  Funny since all of our pipes run through the attic and not our concrte slab.  They left a 100 sq ft hole cut into our floor.  We've been living out of our bedroom and kitchen since.  That's since MAY...it's now NOVEMBER!  I couldn't have the baby shower in our house because of that.  All those belly pics...taken in the middle of our 100 sq ft hole.  I kept hoping the next month would be different.

So after that, they refused to keep going and jerking us around...enter the California State Contractor's Board and the Bond Company.  The state of CA requires each licensed contractor carry a bond for instances like ours. 

After we had some more inspectors come out the house and be literally appalled with our situation...we've received a check for a full reimbursement of our floor plus the cost of removal plus the amount of money we spent to have a plumber come and check our pipes and confirm they ran through our attic, not a our concrete slab.

I hate to say this, but...Karma's a bitch suckas!  Hope to have the new floor in by Christmas.  Only hiccup is that the contractor's board may want to send one more inspector out to hopefully site the one who sold us the floor with  more infractions than the ones we've provided.

The floor installation originally began November 2008, finished February 2009.  Complaint reported to the one who sold us the floor August 2009...check received November 2010.  TWO years of floor misery...DONE!

Yes, Cookie is doing a happy dance.

26 Weeks

No funny stories this weekend...don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: I'm not sure really sure, maybe a 1/2 lb. to 1 lb.  It's hard to tell day to day.  I think total weight gain is still right at 25 lbs.

MOVEMENT: We have a night owl on our hands.  Cookie seems to sleep most of the day and enjoys waking mommy up at 2 - 3 AM dancing on the bladder.  After a bathroom trip, she's rocking away and won't let mommy go back to sleep until almost 4 AM now.
CRAVINGS: Nada...is that good or bad.  I do wish I could eat pasta since I've started this modified diet.  I mean, I CAN, but in limited quantities and I don't trust myself to try.

SYMPTOMS: Borderline gestational diabetic, emotional ups and downs, hot/stuffy all the time, missing feet, swollen fingers (wedding ring still fits), crazy dreams, heartburn, spicy food aversion, frequent urination, mild constipation, mild lower back pain.
New this week: On Sunday night I had the first experience where my stomach feels tight.  I can't describe it, it's like I could feel it stretching.  It wasn't the most fabulous feeling and I imagine it will come back again only worse.

BELLY BUTTON: The top half of my belly button is poofed a little bit!  If I lean into a reclining position and breath hard, I can make it stick all the way out and suck it all the way in.  Nick gets a kick out of it, I think it's disgusting, but can't stop doing it.  Nick's still thinks it will pop at Week 27.  I'm hoping for at earliest Week 30 so I won't have to live with it like that for very long.

PREPARATIONS: Finished making the curtains and hanging them up tonight!  We didn't get a chance to paint the baseboards this weekend and won't be able to work on it for the next couple of weekends.  My BFF is coming to town on Thursday to celebrate our b-days (we're 9 days a part) and go to our baby shower on Saturday.  Can't wait to see her, it's been WAY too long.  Weekend after, I'm going to waddle myself around Disneyland for our annual Disneyland trip.  I had wanted to squeeze it in this weekend with Liz in town, but with the baby shower, it just wasn't going to work.

I've also decided I'm going to try my hand at making Cookie a quilt.  It will be very simple and all the squares may not line up, but at least it will be made with love.

MILESTONES: The belly button poofing comes to mind (see above).  I also did my scheduled glucose test today. I went with the 3 hour rather than the 1 hour.  I'm assuming the 1 hour would come back abnormal at this point so I'd rather just go to the lab once.  As before, they have Internet so I was able to work the whole time.

Although it's not one yet, we're starting our baby preparation classes tomorrow (more about it next week).  Have no idea what we're in for...Nick's nervous about the birth video...I am too.

WEEKLY WISDOM: Even though they're really, really not cute, maternity pants rock it.  Up until this time I've been wearing my belly band and regular pants (I bought some in bigger sizes as I've been growing, but on the clearance rack because the maternity ones were so ugly to me).  I finally gave in an bought 2 pairs of khakis, 1 pair of jeans, 1 pair of capris.  Wow...you get to wear your regular size so it felt like I went down 4 sizes!  Plus, they are SO comfortable.  I've also re-discovered stretch pants...if you buy the ones specifically for pregnant ladies - HEAVEN!
 
No pictures this week...you'll have to be a little in suspense as we're getting the trim together.  I'd like the next pictures to be of a complete nursery, but that will be at least a month or so...you may get some sneak peeks of the quilt to be started.  Belly picture to come at Week 28.