37 Weeks

So I don't know if this is a "WOOT WOOT!" or a "YIKES!"  We've changed fruits again, no more honeydew (which I don't like any way) and become a watermelon (which I love)...but this is the last fruit and the watermelong will now be squeeze through a jar opening.  Mixed feelings right now.

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: Had the OB visit today...weight has tapered off and we didn't gain ANYTHING.  Whew.  That 5 lbas in 2 weeks really scared me.  We're sitting pretty at about 30 lbs total gain.

MOVEMENT:Very frequent, big movements - now getting painful about a third of the time. My stomach actually gets lumpy at times. Hiccups are continuing every couple of days.  You can also see a little wave roll across my tummy.  I think it's her little bump swishing back and forth.

CRAVINGS: Nada.

SYMPTOMS: Emotional ups and downs, major forgetfulness, missing feet, crazy dreams, mild heartburn, spicy food aversion, very frequent urination, mild constipation, lower back pain, frequent hip pain while sleeping, middle of the night insomnia from the 3-4 times I wake up every night to pee, swelling of the feet and hands, uterine discomfort, faint linea nigra, minimal stretch marks on left and right hip and left and right inner thigh, mild fatigue, mild shortness of breath, general feeling of uncomfortableness, carpal tunnel. 

Two things I've been forgetting to mention, but have had for several weeks - gorgeous, gorgeous pregnancy hair.  I haven't had it cut since my first trimester and it's this shiny, silky beautiful hair.  I'll be sad to see it go.  I'm going to be seeing Kevin Ray for a cut this Saturday.  I don't want it all to fall out post baby, but I know it will happen.  Second thing, what is up with this nasal congestion?  I blow my nose at least twice a day and I get snot that must be attached to my brain.  When it comes out that's where it feels like it ends!

Still only that one episode of the Braxton-Hicks contractions.

New this week - menstrual like cramping...OB said it was contractions, yikes!  They don't particularly hurt, just uncomfortable...just like that time of the month.  So now I get to be swollen, fat, uncomfortable and now I feel like I'm getting my period.  Still, I wouldn't trade it for how I felt the first trimester!

BELLY BUTTON: I think it's somewhat of an outtie now. You can see the top half poke through my shirt now...the bottom is just beginning to start to become an outtie.  It's not as terrible as I had imagined it would be.  The carpal tunnel is worse.

PREPARATIONS: Carpet for family room is ordered, but won't be installed until it's received...two weeks from now.  *sigh*  We didn't plan that one very well.

Car seat is in, San Diego Highway Patrol will do a check on Saturday.  We'll see how well Nick & I did.

Nick started installing baseboards...since labor has technically kind of begun, he's working in high gear now.

MILESTONES: As noted above, OB visit today.  75% effaced (thinning of the cervix), 1 cm dialated (in one week!), Cookie has moved 1 cm closer to the outside world since last week. 

Nick was so adorable, he's so excited.  It's infectious and there was no true panicking on my part this week.  It's really great to have him home.

WEEKLY WISDOM: Make the right choices for you and your labor.  The best you can do is what you think is right for you and your baby.  Stick by it and don't let others sway you otherwise, only you know what's right for you and your labor and delivery.

36 Weeks & Cookie has Dropped!

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: Had the OB visit today. We're now going to weekly...I've gained 5 lbs in 2 weeks.  Yikes!  Nurse was quick to point out that my ankle swelling (and with my additional hand swelling) some of the weight gain can be attributed to the water retention.  I told her I liked that logic and I was keeping it.  That makes total weight gain to 30 lbs.  Ugh.

MOVEMENT:Very frequent, big movements - now getting painful about a third of the time. My stomach actually gets lumpy at times. Hiccups are continuing every couple of days (still loving them).

CRAVINGS: No cravings still.  My friends whom I'm staying with this week have been so wonderful and have been cooking for me all week.  Clem cooked last night and I had brussel sprouts for the first time since I was 7.  Clem's way is definitely not the boiled mush mess my parents used to make.  I absolutely LOVED them and can't wait to make them for Nick when he gets back!

SYMPTOMS: Emotional ups and downs, major forgetfulness, missing feet, crazy dreams, mild heartburn, spicy food aversion, very frequent urination, mild constipation, lower back pain, frequent hip pain while sleeping, middle of the night insomnia from the 3-4 times I wake up every night to pee, swelling of the feet and hands, uterine discomfort, faint linea nigra, minimal stretch marks on left and RIGHT hip and left and RIGHT inner thigh (hopefully we won't have any more), mild fatigue, mild shortness of breath, general feeling of uncomfortableness.  I was told that that the hand joint achiness and tingling at night is carpal tunnel - yea me.  OB promised it would go away after the baby was born - pure pregnancy related only.

Still only that one episode of the Braxton-Hicks contractions.

BELLY BUTTON: We have a flat belly button now...it hasn't popped out though

PREPARATIONS: I pulled the car seat out of the box today and put the infant bar on the Bob - but base has not been put in the car still.  Ordered the last few things we needed (including the changing pad for the changing table).  OB today has kicked me into gear - no more lounging (see the Milestones).  Still no movement on the family room - but Nick has been on the East Coast for work this week.  I'm currently being baby sat by our dear friends Clem & Tara (I refer to them as Clara).

Concrete patio is FINALLY being poured on Thursday...so says the contractor!

MILESTONES: Still exploding in size. Saw the OB today...Cookie has dropped.  I didn't feel it and I don't think I look different, but I think that's because I was carrying low to begin with.  50% effaced, no dilation.  Can we say YIKES!  A little scared and overwhelmed right now.  My body is getting ready whether my mind is ready...although my heart is.  I can't wait to meet this little girl I've bonded with these last 36 weeks (she's been my partner in crime).

Officially started our 9th month yesterday.  Another YIKES!  I still wonder what happened to the first and second trimesters (although I acutely remember how terribly I felt during that first trimester!).

WEEKLY WISDOM: Hmm...I have all the wisdoms I've already shared flowing around my mind.  This week's is actually two repeats from previously - your partner and your friends.  They've taken such good care of me...I know I couldn't have gotten through these weeks with out them.

Also - a special shout out to my friend in TX who I stole the inspiration for this blog from (she's due exactly two weeks before me). 

Candice - it's been fun going through this process with you and talking about everything that's been going on...I wish we lived in the same area - but it will be fun sharing with each other about our adventures in new motherhood.  I also can't wait to find out if Bebe is a boy or a girl!

Now...Week 36 belly pic!  The only other one you'll get if 40 Weeks (and that's if Cookie doesn't arrive before then)...wow!

35 Weeks (very, very late)

Very, very, very late in posting this week (sorry everyone).  Motivation has been dropping and I've been spending a lot of time watching TV and sleeping after work...during work I remain pretty distracted.  I feel like I have ADHD.

Funny pregnancy story...last night when I was leaving work, I couldn't find my car keys.  I spent 20 minutes looking for them all over my office and the entire Q office, even asked the  building security guard if someone had turned keys in that day.  Called Nick, but he wasn't answering his cell phone.  Called five times in a row and now answer (glad I wasn't in labor).  FINALLY found my keys in a random drawer in my desk.  Don't even REMOTELY remember putting them there.

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: OK, this is really, really, really sad...I don't remember how much I weighed at the last OB visit so I'm not exactly sure...BUT I'll be back at the OB on Wednesday.

MOVEMENT: Very frequent, big movements. My stomach actually gets lumpy at times. Hiccups are continuing every couple of days; however, since Cookie is head down, the hiccups make me have to pee very badly.  Another bonus this week, the movements are so big and powerful they can be quite painful at times.

CRAVINGS: Still no cravings and now my hunger is a yo-yo.  Some days I'm ravenous some days I have to force myself to eat.

SYMPTOMS: Emotional ups and downs, major forgetfulness, missing feet, crazy dreams, mild heartburn, spicy food aversion, very frequent urination, mild constipation, lower back pain, frequent hip pain while sleeping, middle of the night insomnia from the 3-4 times I wake up every night to pee, mild swelling of the feet and hands, uterine discomfort, faint linea nigra, minimal stretch marks on left hip and left inner thigh (these are still holding steady), mild fatigue, mild shortness of breath, general feeling of uncomfortableness.

Still only that one episode of the Braxton-Hicks contractions.

New this week:  Hand joint achiness, worse in the morning.  Also, my hands fall asleep a lot when I'm sleeping (which doesn't help with middle insomnia - I wake up with tingling hands).

BELLY BUTTON: Still half in, half out - very, very shallow now.

PREPARATIONS: Nothing really this week.  Nick has to travel for work next week so we spent most of our time together since we won't be together next week.  Nick is making me stay at a friend's house the whole week in case something happens.  He's pretty anxious about leaving me for a week...I'm pretty sure we'll be fine - even the OB told him not to worry too much.  Worse case scenario, he jumps a plane and is home in 5-6 hours.

Funny pregnancy story in preparations...I was in Target and found a lamp and bought it for Cookie's nursery.  I showed it to Nick all proud because it was on clearance too.  Nick said, "I thought we were using the lamp that we broke the shade on and were just going to buy a new shade."  Wow, totally forgot that...Cookie made Daddy return the lamp.

MILESTONES: Still exploding in size.  Other big milestone?  Nick now has to tie my shoes for me every time (unless they're my slip on shoes).  He also had to help me put my socks on the other day...I made the mistake of putting my jeans on first and just couldn't get my foot far enough to get the job done.

Also, last week of our 8th month - yikes!

WEEKLY WISDOM: Yup...still no wisdom.  More just a million thoughts flowing all around.  We're getting down to the wire...only five more weeks (technically almost four) until D-date.  Then we're responsible for an entire human being...this being expects us to know all the answers and make everything great.  I won't go far as to say Cookie's a bit screwed since we don't really know anything, but I'd wager to say the first few weeks to months of her life may be a little bit of a rocky start.  I AM confident we'll get the hang of it...just not sure about our learning curve.

Stay tuned for next week...Week 36 belly shot to debut.  I'm still told I look a little small, but I feel like a huge cow.

Pregnancy Brain Story...

Wanted to share this story because I know I'll forget it by the time next week rolls around.  Went back to work yesterday after taking all last week off to lounge, clean, and do some last preparations around the house.  As most of you have read, the rain put a kink in my plans, but I managed to get quite a bit done any way.

Any how, I was running late yesterday morning and thinking how I really didn't want to go to work.  Then I couldn't find my keys.  I looked in all the usual places and couldn't remember the last time I had driven the Jetta (not a big surprise since my brain has literally been mush for the last 8 months).  I spent 10 extra minutes looking for them and Nick was busy getting ready and trying to get out the door as well and didn't really seem interested in the fact that I couldn't find them.  Finally, I just took his Jetta key and headed out the door. 

When I got home last night I continued my quest before Nick got home from work with no success.  Where could I have stuck them?

For the next month or so I'm taking one day a week of of work so I don't cap out on vacation time while I'm out on maternity leave and today is one of those off days.  After making Nick coffee this morning I continued my quest yet again (I was positive they would just jump out at me).  Nick, again, didn't seem all that interested in my plight.  FINALLY, Nick says, "They're probably in the pocked of one of my jackets."  I couldn't figure out why that could be...he has his own Jetta key (they're computerized keys that set up the seat position based upon the driver so one is programmed for him and the other for me).

I then proceed to grab his jackets he's been using and lo and behold...there they are in the first jacket I look!  Why in the world didn't he tell me that yesterday?

34 Weeks!

Still the honeydew, but I think there's only one fruit left after this...wow.


TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: Had the OB visit today.  He's been tracking weight gain since my first OB visit at 6 weeks.  My total weight gain is actually 25 3/4 lbs since that visit.  I've been tracking since I found out I'm pregnant (I gained about 5 lbs prior to that first OB visit...that darn nausea cheeseburger craving!).  OB said they would like me to gain 25 - 35 lbs so I'm on target although I'm supposed to gain 1-2 lbs every week from this point forward...that prospect doesn't excite me (I gained 3 lbs since my last visit 2 weeks ago - Christmas DID happen).

MOVEMENT: Very frequent, big movements.  My stomach actually gets lumpy at times.  Hiccups are continuing every couple of days (still loving them).

CRAVINGS: No cravings, but I find myself very hungry now.  For Christmas dinner I had 2 servings of prime rib, 3 servings of mashed potatoes (no gravy), and 2 servings of green beans.  THEN I ate a piece of chocolate cake and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.  When we got home I was still kind of hungry (but I didn't tell Nick).

SYMPTOMS: Emotional ups and downs, major forgetfulness, missing feet, crazy dreams, mild heartburn, spicy food aversion, very frequent urination, mild constipation, lower back pain, occasional sciatica, frequent hip pain while sleeping, mild insomnia (finally had a really good night of sleep last night), mild swelling of the feet and hands, uterine discomfort, faint linea nigra, minimal stretch marks on left hip and left inner thigh, mild fatigue (almost needed a nap daily this last week), mild shortness of breath while walking, general feeling of uncomfortableness, mild back pain (even when sitting - need lumbar pillow for support now).

Only had the Braxton-Hicks contractions that one day...no reappearance.

BELLY BUTTON: Still half in, half out.

PREPARATIONS: Nick was a huge help and sanded the entire cabinet for me.  Sanding was much more difficult than I had anticipated.  Back was aching and I would get short of breath after a while from standing, sitting, and kneeling.  The staining came much more slowly.  I was just plain tired and lost the will to do it; however, the base of the cabinet has been stained and the doors as well.  They just need their shiny protective coating to be added now.  Hopefully that will get done this coming weekend.

Chipping of the tile has been completed.  It just needs to be vacuumed up and the old carpet removed which will most likely happen this weekend.  We've already picked out the new carpet and will go order and schedule installation once the room is fully prepped (hopefully this weekend). 

MILESTONES: Still exploding in size.  OB told us today that if Cookie was born today, she'd have a 100% chance of surviving...wow.

WEEKLY WISDOM: I'm all out of wisdom this week.  I've been feeling very uncomfortable, anxious, and increasingly excited.  I'm also very tired...so no wisdom, I just want a nap.

33 Weeks!

Woohoo!!!  No longer the funny squash!  Although a honeydew!?!  I keep wondering what happened to the little blueberry, time is just flying by (a little too quickly) and I'm just trying to keep up!!!

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: It looks like I've gained another pound on our scale making total weight gain 30 lbs, but we've stepped up to every two week OB visits so we'll have confirmation next week.

MOVEMENT: Very, very active and big movements now.  You can see a ripple across my belly when she roles and there's no words to describe the feeling...just plain weird.  The movements do hurt at some points and I'm not meaning uncomfortable, but OUCH!  Hiccups are happening occasionally, maybe about once a day.  Still the coolest thing...I find myself giggling when they happen.

CRAVINGS: No cravings, but I find myself very hungry now.

SYMPTOMS: Emotional ups and downs, major forgetfulness, missing feet, crazy dreams, mild heartburn, spicy food aversion, very frequent urination, mild constipation, lower back pain, occasional sciatica, frequent hip pain while sleeping, mild insomnia (had 3 days in a row before getting a good nights sleep), mild swelling of the feet and hands, uterine discomfort, faint linea nigra (spelling?), minimal stretch marks on left hip and left inner thigh, mild fatigue (had two two-three hour naps this last Saturday which may have contributed to the Saturday night insomnia), mild shortness of breath while walking, general feeling of uncomfortableness, mild back pain (even when sitting - need lumbar pillow for support now).

New this week: Was just telling my friend that I haven't had any Braxton-Hicks contractions (BH) because she was noting how she was having them and tonight while I was in Anthropologie, BAM!  One BH...it didn't feel very good...and these are just the warm up contractions!

BELLY BUTTON: Still half in, half out, but definitely shallower this week.

PREPARATIONS: Since it's raining cats and dogs here, the refinishing of the family room cabinet has been put on hold.  We were going to put it in the yard so I could sand it down, but it's been pouring since Saturday (not exactly why I pay the sunshine tax, but it makes it feel like winter).  That being said, Cookie's quilt is D-O-N-E!!!  Pictures below.

Nick also finished Cookie's closet (with the exception of one shelf) so nursery pictures are below too!!!

Nick's started chipping up the tile in our family room so we can move forward with carpeting as soon as possible...I also spent yesterday cleaning out our two junk rooms (the guest bedroom and the old home office).

MILESTONES: Wow, I've gotten very larger in the one week since I posted the last picture.  Everyone told me I would explode in the third trimester, but I didn't realize there would be this much change in just one week.  I'm pretty uncomfortable now...getting in and out of the car is much more difficult.  Shortness of breath just after walking or folding laundry is incredible.

WEEKLY WISDOM: We set up Cookie's Pack-n-Play in our bedroom (it has a bassinet with it) because we'll use this for her when she first arrives to sleep in our room with us.  Wow, I came into the room last night and it was a moving moment.  There will be a person in that not too long from now!  So my weekly wisdom?  Really work to be prepared...I know you don't want to get things set up too early, but in one week I went from feeling great to being pretty limited on some of the things I can do.  I'm glad I got a lot of the big stuff out of the way so that I can start relaxing even more in my final weeks.

One other thought that doesn't really fit anywhere.  I hung Cookie's little clothes up in the closet and they just look so small.  I can't believe we're going to have a little person that will actually fit into those things!

Here's the fun stuff!!!  Hope you enjoy Cookie's nursery!

 

Cookie's Toy Box - Thank you Daddy!

Filled with some toys.



Cookie's crib & that's Cookie's quilt made with love by Mommy.

The inside of Cookie's quilt...and the totally awesome Cookie onsie my friend got for Cookie (thank you again Candice - still my most favorite gift!)

  

Cookie's awesome fan thanks to Daddy's creativeness!



The handmade butterfly curtains...and the nasty, rainy weather outside!



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...