32 Weeks!

Still that damn squash...ugh!

We finally put our tree up!  We put it up in the great room rather than the family room this year since we're going to replace the carpet/tile in the family room this month.  The weird thing is the family room is half tile and half carpet and my ever handy husband is determined to remove the tile himself...I think that's the priority for this weekend.

We've been debating on whether to get a new fake tree (yes, we go with the fake trees not the real ones - San Diego is technically in the middle of the desert).  The one we currently have looks so small in our nice, big house.  The only trouble is, we're sentimentally attached to the tree we have.  We bought it 7 years ago when I couldn't travel for Christmas because I had to work.  We were pretty poor back then (not that we're rolling in it now).  We found this tree at Big Lots for $20.  It's basically a large Charlie Brown's Christmas Tree, seriously.  It even sheds needles.  If you don't evenly space out the ornaments, it leans.  There was one year we really thought it would fall over before Christmas, but it survived.  We are still going back and forth.  A nice, large 7 or 8 foot tree would be awesome, but I don't know if we can part with this tree (it's only 5 feet tall)...we'll see.

It is SO nice having a house again!  Our friend, Clem, came over last Saturday and helped Nick move the rest of the furniture this growing person can no longer lift.  It's been heaven.  I feel like our house is so big now.  The floors are gorgeous, see picture below.  We forgot what it's like to have a living room again...don't ever take your space for granted.  I never will.

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: Had our OB visit this morning.  Weight gain is right on target, total is 29 lbs since pre-pregnancy, just a little under 2 lbs since our last visit.  OB was extremely pleased and told me to keep doing whatever it is I've been doing.  I didn't tell him about all the cookies I ate in the last 3 days...I don't think he wants me to keep that up.

MOVEMENT: Cookie is still pointed head down and the movements just seem to be getting bigger and bigger.  To the point that some hurt, I mean really hurt.  Bladder is taking the brunt of the movement and I'm really sick of going to bathroom already and we still have 8 more weeks!  Cookie got an A+ on her fetal movement counts today, it takes her anywhere from 5-10 minutes to move 10 times (was there any doubt my child would get anything less than an A+?).

And we have hiccups!!!  I've only had them a couple of times, but...really, really cool.

CRAVINGS: Ugh...went on a bit of a cheeseburger bender.  After the one I had 2 weeks ago, I went to McDonald's and ate 2 cheeseburgers!  I was still hungry and could have had more, but I had gone through the drive thru (thank goodness!).  I haven't really had cravings, but my appetite seems to be increasing the last week.  I ate 2 complete dinners (Nick's famous stir-fry and a serving of Hungarian Goulash) and was still hungry.  I thought my stomach was supposed to shrink as Cookie got bigger?

SYMPTOMS: Emotional ups and downs, missing feet, crazy dreams, mild heartburn (downgraded this week - actually have had the last 2 days with NO heartburn!), spicy food aversion, very frequent urination, mild constipation, lower back pain, hip pain when sleeping (which I've come to realize is actually sciatica), mild insomnia, occasional dizziness, mild swelling of the feet has returned (but it now includes the hands too), uterine discomfort.

Luckily the extreme fatigue was just that once.

New this week - General feeling of uncomfortableness and, GASP, stretch marks.  They're not that bad...yet.  They've appeared on my left inner thigh and some tiny ones on my left hip.  Cookie did not listen to the promise of a new car when she turns 16, I'm seriously thinking of nixing money for college too.  I was hoping I'd be safe since my mom didn't get them and, although I know it doesn't actually work, I've also been religious about the lotion and the oil too.  My only hope now is that they don't get any worse than they are.


BELLY BUTTON: Still half in, half out.  Beginning to wonder if it will become a full outtie at all?

PREPARATIONS: Floors are done!!!  Stained concrete patio has been delayed due to chance of rain, this guy is getting on my nerves.  It really should have been done last week when it was sunny and hot, but he wasn't organized enough to get it done.  Not as bad as Fat Tony, but still, really?  Re-grading of the yard is now complete, Nick has to trench the sprinkler system now, but we're putting that on hold until the tile in the family room is removed so we can move forward on the carpet.  Cookie's closet still needs finishing, but it will only take one evening to do...it's hard with the holidays, so many obligations, so little time. 

First pediatrician appointment occurred yesterday and it went well, she was wonderful.  Another for next week is scheduled.

Cookie's quilt is still only half finished...I'm taking next week off of work and will work on stripping and staining a cabinet for the family room, but may be able to squeeze in completion of the quilt too.

MILESTONES: I can't reach my shoes to tie them any more...officially.  Not sure that's a milestone I like.

My linea nigra (spelling?) has shown up.  It's very faint, but it's there.  For those of you who don't know, that's the dark line down the center of the belly most women get.

WEEKLY WISDOM: Wow...take a breath and really try to enjoy this time.  This is when stuff starts getting pretty scary and overwhelming (at least for me).  Pediatricians, day cares, the nursery, the birth plan, child preparation classes, final preparations, baby, baby, baby...a window into the rest of your life.  Being this pregnant during the holidays is hard, especially when your family does not live near you, it really cranks up the emotional downs (I really miss my mommy).  Everything we do, I keep thinking how this is the last time Nick & I will do this with it as just us...I know the whole thing is worth it, but I can't help but wonder and be a little scared at how we'll change once Cookie is here.

And here are the long awaited floors,  Little Mookie, and check out that Week 32 belly!  Also, just one little nursery teaser...