Bumpdate: 37 Weeks

I think this may be my final bumpdate of this pregnancy. Not because I think I'm about to go into labor but because I am 37+3 weeks and I just don't need another thing on my now almost finished to-do list! At my last doctor's appointment almost a week ago I was 3cm dilated and effacing and my weight gain had nearly reached a standstill (less than .5 a pound in 2 weeks). I was 36+5 and my doctor just told me to please wait until the 37 week mark. We've not surpassed that and while I've been having a lot of contractions this week, they haven't turned into anything. 

I'm at the point that I'm just ready. I'm extremely uncomfortable all the time, battling heartburn, back + hip pain, lots of pressure and bathroom trips and full on exhaustion every day all day. We've been working on home projects and just things we wanted to get accomplished before baby's arrival if possible. And of course spending time doing fun things with Fallon while she's still our only child. People keep telling me to relax and slow down to enjoy this time. But the truth is, the fast past we've been rolling at has been very fulfilling and oddly just what we needed before the massive slowdown that's about to happen. The adjustment period is going to be a doozy and there just won't be the time or energy or motivation to do a lot of the things we have been. And that's totally fine. I think we will be much more able to enjoy the big change when we don't have all these other things that we couldn't accomplish looming on the horizon. Of course this isn't the case for everyone but it's been good for us. 

I'm not sure if I have even given numbers on my weight gain this time but I'm up 24lbs. I gained more with Fallon but I was super swollen with her so I think that was part of it. And just for the record, I 100% do not have any feelings about this baby being a boy or a girl. I'd share if I did but I just don't feel a pull either way. And I'd like to think it's because I truly do want to be surprised. Bags are packed, plans are made, and now we just wait for baby!

Bumpdate: 35 Weeks

Less than 5 weeks until my due date and at this point I'm not sure anyone is confident I'll make it that far. Fallon was born just one day before her due date BUT she tried to come just as I hit 38 weeks. I'm fine meeting this little one by the end of this month, as long as we make it as least another 2 weeks. My belly did drop with Fallon at the end but looking back at my very last bump pictures she was still up high compared to my belly this time. I literally woke up about a week ago and immediately felt the shift. It's been so nice to be able to breathe without struggling through a conversation sitting down. I mean I still get winded with physical activity but wow what a difference in my comfort level, especially falling asleep. Now of course I traded squished lungs for more pressure on my lower body and a bowling ball on my bladder but honestly I'll take it. Making 1200 bathroom trips is still better to me than constant breathlessness. And I am so, so thankful we are all but past cold/flu season and our family has managed to avoid sickness. 

I've reached the point when everything just feel hard. Getting out of bed, putting on my shoes, bending down to pick up alllll the toys. Heartburn is back, exhaustion is almost unimaginable and my body just kind of hurts everywhere. Baby is still moving tons and I do love watching the movements even though it looks like and alien is about to come roaring through my stomach. But my belly button looks even wierder. I typically have a super innie and it definitely went flat with Fallon but this time I've totally popped an outtie. I wonder if it will go fully back in again like last time. I also have no linea nigra in sight, or stretch marks. I don't say this like it's something to brag about, just for documentation purposes. My mom didn't get any stretch marks and as much as applying certain things to your belly may minimize effects, I think it's majorly determined by genetics and luck of the draw. I do however have this weird skin discoloration in a spot only visible when I am in a bikini. I'm told it should fade and possibly disappear after birth but if that's what I'n left with then so be it. 

The nursery is all but finished and my sister is throwing me a sweet little sprinkle next weekend to celebrate so it's really starting to feel like the end. I will be washing blankets and sleepers in the next couple weeks, getting my pump and bottle parts all back out the baby gear we stored away after Fallon was too big. As uncomfortable and done with being pregnant as I am, there's so much more excitement to meet our new baby and definitely some nervousness about suddenly being outnumbered. I know it will be hard and exhausting and amazing all at the same time and there will be a steep learning curve followed by us fining our new rhythm. So my next update very well may be my last!

32 Week Bumpdate

Single digit weekly countdown. Say, what?! It came so much faster this time. In my last update I said I wanted to start doing them every 2 weeks but since I can't seem to post as often as I'd like, here we are. Honestly, I've been feeling pretty crappy. I am a kind of tired I've never been at any point in my life. Third trimester + toddler tantrums have my energy levels at an all time low. And the position this baby favors is, well, unfavorable at best for mama. I'm often breathless trying to hold a conversation while sitting down. Imagine what I sound like carrying a 23 pound toddler up the stairs. I'm guessing some sort of large wild animal. Like a rhino. Oh and then there's the pressure on my left side that often has me doing the ol' pregnancy waddle. Chris thinks it's cute. Just kidding, he laughs his ass off.  I don't blame him. But he rubs my back all the time so it's okay. 

I'm still having cinnamon cravings, have I mentioned that? I can't remember. It's a common problem these days. On the positive side I can blame it on both pregnancy brain and mom brain. They're both real, ask any mom. We've definitely reached the point where baby movement can be seen through my shirt. I wish I could have caught the face of the poor guy at Home Depot on camera when he saw a glimpse of the ripples under my pink sweatshirt. Fallon is still very sweet about pulling up my shirt and kissing my belly while saying "baby". Crossing all my fingers and toes she has the same feelings when her little sibling is on the outside. 

The nursery is now painted, new fan and furniture moving in next. I'm waiting on a rug and possibly adding another print and a plant but we are actually ahead of the game this time in that department. I can't say the same for baby names. Well, girl names. We have a short list but cannot agree on top picks. I've also purchased zero of the things from my own baby #2 must haves list. Win some, lose some. The name will come to us and those little drawers will be ready with supplies in no time. At least that's what I'm telling myself. 

Until next time, diffusing all the oils to help my totally uncomfortable self sleep!

28 Weeks: Hello Third Trimester

I remember when I was pregnant with Fallon at this point and some people kindly corrected me when I proudly said I was in my third trimester. When I shared this with my OB she laughed and said of course you are in your third trimester, who am I to argue?! But really, some charts do say 28 weeks, some say 29. It depends who you ask but I'm going with 28 weeks and that's that. 

I go back to the doctor next week to see how much my belly has grown and how much weight I've gained but I am feeling pretty large these days. Mostly due to the fact that my lungs are so smushed I'm constantly feeling out of breath, and I don't just mean a little winded, I mean like I'm running an all day marathon. On the up side I am usually able to sleep like the dead when I crash at night until Fallon wakes me before the sun comes up. The pins + needles feeding in my hands and arms has begun again, just like last time, but heartburn is nearly nonexistent! I am a kind of exhausted I've never known at the end of each day but thankfully back pain is minimal and other symptoms are just kind of annoying noise in the background of everything else going on. 

This baby is quite active throughout the day but remains so much gentler than my toddler ever was. Looking back on pictures of my first pregnancy I am pretty much carrying the same way size wise but my belly is a bit rounder this time. I still don't have any feelings on the sex myself but the general consensus from others is girl this time around. It was boy last time for reference and clearly I have a daughter. We've yet to buy anything on my second baby must have list, even though it's fairly short, and the nursery hasn't been touched. Second kid problems. We still have 3 months, right?! I'll probably be saying the same thing in March but we will be down to 3 weeks. Shrugs. 

I definitely have not kept up with a work out routine like I was able to do with Fallon, but carrying + chasing Fallon and going up and down the steps approximately 3 million times a day has kept my energy levels from completely tanking. I do wear some off my maternity shirts but being home this time I'm mostly in leggings and tunic tops or sweatshirts and quite honestly pjs all day far too often. The last time I wore jeans I just did the ol' rubber band trick but we may be beyond that now. I'll have to check and report back. Since we've reached the final stretch of pregnancy number 2 I'd like to do updates every 2 weeks through the end so hold me accountable!

Bumpdate: 24 Weeks

I swore I wouldn't go this long without an update when I posted halfway through this pregnancy, yet here we are 4.5 weeks later. My first trimester seemed to drag on forever but every time I blink another chunk of the second trimester is gone. Today at my OB appointment I was sent home with the lovely drink and instructions for the oh so fun glucose test. I cannot believe we've already reached this point. The last leg of this pregnancy is almost staring me in the face and it's surreal. 

So much has been happening around here preparing for and enjoying the holiday season. I've certainly been aware I'm carrying another precious baby when I'm suddenly breathing fire from a bowl of cereal or winded from thinking about walking upstairs. But I spend so much time chasing after and caring for my toddler everything seems like it's moving so much faster in round 2. Overall, this pregnancy has been much harder on me physically. I alternate from feeling lots of pressure down low to feeling like my lungs are being squished to the point that I'm short of breath even while laying down. I get fleeting waves of nausea here and there, mainly in response to certain smells, and intense lower back pain I do not remember from being pregnant with Fallon. Generally I feel low on energy, run down and often hung over when I wake up. BUT, when I finally rest my head to go to sleep at night and have a moment to think, I am just so HAPPY. I appreciate how lucky I am to have such an amazing little girl, feel those baby wiggles and kicks and know I picked the right guy to raise them both with. 

My belly is measuring a little behind but not so much that it's of concern. Weight gain is so far the same as with Fallon. I didn't gain a single pound with either babe in the first trimester then BAM started gaining steadily each week of the second trimester. I'm currently up 12lbs from pre-pregnancy weight. I'm sure it's all baby related, nothing to do with all the Christmas cookies I've been sneaking. We got to see baby #2 at the anatomy scan a couple weeks ago and everything was perfect. He or she is measuring right on track with all the parts in the all the right places. The tech told us to look away for a split second so she could verify the sex but said it wouldn't be noted in the chart anywhere so no one has the opportunity to slip up! Once again we are dealing with a long legged child who likes to be head down but curled on my left side. This kiddo was much more cooperative than Fallon so maybe that means he or she will have more of a mellow personality. It's all so exciting to think about! I'm going to try really hard to be better with these updates in the new year and final trimester but someone remind me if I fall behind! Pregnancy brain is no joke people. 

20 Weeks

Well all of a sudden I am halfway through this pregnancy with a handful of bump photos and no updates in weeks. Sorry second kid! Life has been so busy with a toddler, all the holiday fun and projects out of the wazoo around our house. But now that I have somewhat of a baby bump to show, here's how we've been doing on the pregnancy front. 

Beanie / Boots / Cardigan / Socks

This beginning of this pregnancy was much harder than my first. Of course keeping up a toddler tornado all day is exhausting in and of itself but generally I just was more tired and definitely more nauseous this go round. It's still difficult to find something to eat that isn't a 0 on the nutrition scale but sounds good, although so far no outright aversions this time. I craved all things blueberry with Fallon and this time it's Cinnamon! I've been making a strong effort to go for healthy options that thankfully this spice lends itself too....but Cinnamon Toast Crunch still gets me more often than I'd care to admit. And those dang Peppermint Mochas are probably making up the majority of my bump. I do go for the skinny version with almond milk so I justify them several times a week. Right?!

I felt Baby #2 about the same time I had felt Fallon but I was sure of it this time. Once you know what those little movements are you immediately recognize them again. We can fell baby #2 from the outside now and he/she wiggles and kicks so much when big sissy is up against my belly. Fallon has started to understand, in her 16 month old way, that there is a baby in mama's belly. If you ask her and she's of a mind to comply, she will lift my shirt and point and give it a little kiss. I mean c'mon, you're dead inside if you don't find that heart melting. Fallon had an anterior placenta (toward the front instead of the more common position of in the back) but she was so emphatic with her movements I felt all the same. I have a feeling this baby's is in back, which we will get to see in about a week and a half, because although his/her movements are much more gentle than big sis's I feel them prominently. Baby #2 is most active in the evening hours, when mama is trying to fall asleep! But over the last couple weeks he/she has definitely started wiggling more throughout the day. 

We are still solid in our decision to leave the sex a surprise until birth so don't expect a gender reveal after the anatomy scan. I was so unsure of which way to go this time but when my doctor asked at my first OB appointment I answered no we would't find out without hesitation and surprised myself. So I knew that was the right choice and Chris was sold on keeping it old school all along. Bring on all the grey + white again! And speaking of grey + white, we are excited to get started on the new nursery after the holidays. I have some ideas and inspiration I will be sharing here, it seems so much less stressful this time around for some reason. I guess maybe because I know a little bit more about what to expect with a newborn. 

Other than those pesky pregnancy aches and pains, little annoyances like heartburn and food losing it's appeal, I am feeling pretty dang good. I'm in that second trimester honeymoon phase with a little bump that all baby (okay and maybe some peppermint mochas) instead of bloat and isn't in the way yet, have some energy back and no longer wake up feeling hung over without the fun night before. I'm not really nervous about having another baby yet or stressed about navigating life as a mom of 2 under 2 (for a little while) and just really feeling excited and grateful to be carrying another child. 

I promise not to wait so long for the next update! Love you baby 2, even if I sometimes forget you're in there until you say hi with your feet. 

Baby #2 First Trimester Bumpdate

First I would like to thank you all so, so much for your kindness on our big announcement last week. It really does mean a lot to have people feeling so excited for us and this next chapter.  I read each and every comment and although I am unable to respond personally, THANK YOU. 

In all honesty this pregnancy was unexpected. I know, I know. How does that happen? Well, it does. It just does. But it's funny how things work out. While we might not have planned it this way, right now it seems like perfect timing. And I have to say I'm thrilled that the remainder of this pregnancy will happen through the cooler months. 9 months pregnant in Northern Kentucky July heat was not my favorite thing about the first time around. And speaking of the first time around, my pregnancy with Fallon was SO easy. This time, not so much. 

I cannot complain too much though because I haven't actually been getting sick, just feeling like I might at any moment, for most of the day. Heartburn kicked in almost immediately, the keep me up at night, tums work minimally if at all kind of heartburn. And oh my goodness the exhaustion. First trimester with Fallon I didn't realize I was any more tired than normal until I hit second trimester for comparison. But chasing a toddler while feeling like crap were new factors this go round and I was dead on my feet every night. I am officially out of the first trimester, sitting pretty at 14 weeks. The nausea has all but left the building and I feel like my energy is slowly starting to pick back up. I need every ounce I can get to keep up with my little wild thing. 

My due date is 4/04/18, but it changed 4 times before becoming final in the chart! I found out I was pregnant pretty early on, in an odd twist of fate. I've been taking pre-natal vitamins for the past 2 years as it is recommended to continue while breastfeeding. Fallon self weened just last month so I was on a Target run to get what I assumed would be one last bottle for awhile. Joke's on me. While in that aisle my sweet little toddler knocked some pregnancy tests off the shelf. As I was picking them up I had a moment. Maybe you know what I'm talking about when I say it was one of those prickling feelings down my spine like something was about to go down. It occurred to me that, according to previously known information about myself, something should have happened that day that as far as I knew at that moment, had not. I checked my calendar and then brushed it off because, well, these things are not always precise, especially after having a baby. But that prickly feeling caused me to leave the store with a test in my cart. And it was negative, or so I thought. 

Y'all these home tests are so good that the faintest of lines can show up, so faint you might not notice if you aren't sticking the test in front of your eyeball and squinting. I only ended up doing so because I later swore I saw a line and thought I was going nuts. The second test confirmed I was not crazy, at least in that respect, and the digital that said PREGNANT was kind of inarguable. So my first ultrasound was scheduled for what we assumed was 6 weeks. But the tech put me at just 5 and asked that we come back a week later to get a better picture. 2 scans later my due date had already changed 3 times, with every visit. When I finally saw my doctor for the first visit last week, I expressed my thoughts on the due date and she agreed it should be moved up 4 days based on the original scan. 4 days is 4 days people. Now watch me go overdue to the 4/08 date the tech last dated me with. 

So to recap, I am already 14 weeks pregnanct and have yet to take a weekly bump shot. Sorry second kid. We are thrilled to add another baby to the family but still shaking off the shock that it will be happening so soon. While I'd love to be able to do weekly bumpdates like I did with Fallon, this is a new season of life and that just won't be possible. But I do plan to do them whenever I can so you can all follow along with this pregnancy and I can document as much of it as I can. 

Happy Bump, I mean Hump Day!

38 Weeks

This is most likely my very last first pregnancy post. Crazy, right? In some ways it feels like I just found out I was pregnant and in some ways it feels like that was forever ago. I was a nervous wreck last week hoping that Baby P would stay put until after Kristina's wedding on Saturday. I'm still pregnant so obviously we made it. Relief washed over me after I gave my matron of honor speech and I knew I hadn't missed a single part of her big day. And then the contractions I'd been having on and off most of the day started to feel pretty consistent. Chris and I left after the first dances and made the 45 minute drive home. We used an app to start timing the contractions and it wasn't long before we hit the magic 5-1-1. In case you're unfamiliar, this means contractions are 5 minutes apart, lasting 1 minute or longer for an hour or more. I called my doctor and she advised me to go to the hospital and get checked out. We were pretty surprised to learn I was no closer to having a baby than I had been at my last doctor's appointment. Since I wasn't 39 weeks, not dilated to 3 cm and my water had not broken we were sent home. It was a restless night and contractions continued through the next day. When they were coming every 2-3 minutes we went back to the hospital. Shockingly I still had not progressed upon arrival. Unfortunately there was nothing they could do since inducing me to help things along wasn't a medical necessity. We did discover a minor complication which I was told essentially means my body has to work 3x as hard to progress the labor. I'm still having contractions but I'm not in severe pain and my water has yet to break so the waiting game continues. At this point we are hoping for my water to break and get things really going or I'll have to make it until Thursday when I'll be 39 weeks and can be admitted and induced regardless. 

This is certainly not anything I ever imagined would happen or was even aware could happen. I realize there's probably no ideal labor and I am thankful that Baby P is handling all this like a champ and doing just great. I was fortunate to have a very easy pregnancy so I guess a bit of a rough labor is the trade off. We are trying to remain positive and remember that at the end of all this is the greatest prize. If you can spare any prayers for us, that would be great! 

Symptoms: The heat hasn't been my friend and I've had some pretty swollen feet. I'm getting a bit tired and frustrated from all these contractions that don't seem to really be doing anything significant. I have parts of the day where I completely lose my appetite and then times when I feel like I could eat and eat and eat and never be full. Not sure what that is all about. I've definitely been doing some final nesting but there isn't really anything left to do so I am feeling restless and anxious. 

Let's hope the next post is Baby P's birth story!

P.S. I had my dress on inside out the entire day of the wedding and no one including me realized it until after the ceremony!

37 Weeks: Full Term!



Gingham Shirt / Leggings / White Tank

 

37 weeks, full term baby! As of my last doctor's appointment I was 90% effaced, 2cm dilated and baby was in a 0 position aka engaged. All of that could add up to nothing really if it stalls out or it could mean baby P is going to arrive any day. My doctor and I discussed induction if I make it to 39 weeks, which would be next Thursday. Why? Well, I think it might be a good thing to share with you. Genetics gave me my dad's athletic body type and while I'm grateful for that, it means my hips aren't exactly ideal for birth. My baby has measured right on track this whole pregnancy, save for those long, long legs, but we have to keep logistics in mind. Baby P is already a healthy birth weight with great lungs and at this point just gaining weight aka fatting up. I am all for going the natural route, if it's the safest, but in my case that probably just won't be the best option by 40 weeks or more. I do absolutely realize the amazing things the female body is capable of all on its own and there are millions of stories of how small women delivered large babies naturally and without complication. I'm just not willing to take the risk of my baby getting stuck and ending up with an emergency C-section if there is a healthy way to try to prevent it. Right or wrong in the eyes of the world, it's what my doctor, my husband and I feel the most comfortable with. So, if munchkin does not make his or her arrival by next week, we will go ahead and give the kid a little push.

Symptoms: Dilation/effacement continue to progress. I've been crampy with lower back pain and feeling tons of pressure in my pelvis as the baby has dropped. Contractions have come and gone but with no consistent pattern yet. My hands and feet swell everyday, just some days more than others. It is a combination of the heat and the fact that I sit at a desk all day. I get up and walk around as much as possible but it's not always enough. My eating habits are a bit odd now. I feel like my appetite is waning though once I start eating I end up getting down much more than I thought I would. I don't mean overeating, my portions are the same, I just eat more than I think I will. I got a huge burst of energy Sunday morning and went walking, worked out and cleaned for hours. I'm anxious and excited and just praying for a safe delivery while we wait.

36 Weeks

Last month of pregnancy. Oh. My. Goodness. This has probably been the biggest week of changes yet. When I went in for my prenatal appointment at 35 weeks I was 1 cm dilated, 0% effaced. That was a Thursday afternoon and by the following Monday (last week) I started to feel like my belly was dropping. Sure enough, when I went in for my 36 week appointment on Friday I had jumped to nearly 2 cm dilated and 70% effaced. Even as a first time mom, I do realize that babies are just freaking unpredictable and even though it looks like things are progressing now, these measurements could remain unchanged for days or weeks. But, since Friday my belly has continued to feel lower and lower with increased pressure in my pelvis and some lovely lower back pain. I keep hearing "drop it like it's hot" playing in my head. It's possible Baby P could arrive any day now but he/she could also keep us waiting a bit longer. After all, the official due date is not for another 3+ weeks.

 

I've felt good enough and continue to have permission from my doc to work out 5 days a week, moderately. She even asked at my last appointment if I thought I'd continue up until delivery. I'm slowing down for sure, but as of today, I'm not quitting. People keep telling me I need to relax, rest, put my feet up, lessen my pace, and I know they certainly say this with the best of intentions. But I know my body best and I feel like continuing with regular exercise is what it needs. I've lowered the intensity and/or duration and I don't cram so much else into my evenings the way I used to. Trust me, my feet do get some time up and I do take the time to relax daily.

 

My next appointment is in 2 days but my doctor did say we could have a baby at any point now. I've made it a habit of doing these "bumpdates" close to the end of each week of pregnancy so that I have the most information I can gather. But, since there is no guarantees now that I'll make it to another week, I'll try to post my next update sooner rather than later.

 

Any guesses on when Baby P's birthdate will be?

35 Weeks

Maternity Tee / Shorts

 

Waaayyy back in the first trimester, at least it seems like that was so long ago, I had a memorable pregnancy mood swing or 2. I thought a few totally melodramatic moments over Christmas decorations and missing socks was ridiculous then but now they seem pretty PG in comparison. Well, at least to the insanity that has been 35 weeks. In my pre-pregnancy life I was fairly easy going, in control of my emotions and almost always a think before I speak type of person. That version of myself has now gone completely out the window more than a few times this past week and let me tell you, it's not my favorite.

 

A little anxiety here and there is normal. Life can be stressful no matter who you are. But overwhelming, all consuming, coming at you like a freight train anxiety is not something I was familiar with. Until now. I touched on this yesterday but after reading some of  your e-mails I've decided to share a little bit more about my experience. Monthly hormonal changes can get the best of us all but I found myself in completely unfamiliar territory when I was first hit with a giant wave of anxiety last week. Needless to say, I did not handle it well. I think the most frustrating thing for me was not being able to stop it. When you're someone who can usually play it cool on the outside even when there's a raging hurricane of emotion on the inside, it's a total game changer. I almost felt like I was watching the panic overtake someone else's body and not my own.

 

These late pregnancy hormones are probably to blame BUT really there's no way to know if I'd feel this way even if pregnancy didn't come with raging hormones. So it wouldn't be fair to invalidate those feelings, especially in the moment, by downplaying them and simply labeling pregnancy hormones alone as the cause. The most helpful thing for me has been simply letting it out. It's beyond my control and that by itself makes me feel crazy so fighting it is just worse. I am so lucky that when these episodes crop up, I have all kinds of people in my corner who aren't afraid to be there while I ride it out. Oh, and I mentioned I make lists. I do this anyway but making lists upon lists upon lists helps to quell the anxiety and bring it down to a manageable level. Find what works for you and do it. Don't worry if it makes you seem even crazier because honey, I hate to break it to you, but you're already there. Own it.

 

Symptoms: Major anxiety and it sucks balls. Sorry. Punches to the bladder and kicks to the ribs. I both hate (for obvious reasons), and love it at the same time. Wanting to eat everything but only having room for small portions. That's probably a good thing when there's a bag of donuts within reach. And really starting to feel like I'm toting a beach ball around everywhere. Sometimes you just gotta have a sense of humor about it all.

 

P.S. Anxiety in pregnancy is usually normal but definitely mention it to your doctor. Had to say it.

33 Weeks

 

I just ate a cup of soft serve vanilla ice cream with sprinkles and baby P is having a party in there. This kiddo is moving all the time it seems but this is the wildest I think it's ever felt. I guess he/she has mama's sweet tooth already. I try to keep eating mostly food with health benefits but it's just been a week for indulging. Saturday was Kristina's bridal shower and Sunday was my first baby shower followed by our first wedding anniversary on Monday. You're supposed to eat from the top layer of your wedding cake that's been frozen for a year so who am I to buck the tradition? That was going to be it until this holiday weekend.....buuuuttt when work has the ice cream truck hanging out in the front parking lot with free soft serve, things change.

Maxi Dress c/o PinkBlush Maternity
 

I am still sticking with my 5 day a week workouts, although they are noticeably more difficult at this point. I'm going to say I'm 25+ lbs up since my next weigh in is 6/2 and I'll have gained a little more by then. It's definitely feeling like I'm carrying around the extra weight but not to the point that I'm super uncomfortable all the time or anything extreme. I'm still mixing maternity and regular clothes and the warm weather makes it pretty easy to throw on a dress. The long holiday weekend coming up is really making me miss being able to enjoy some adult beverages. I saw a recipe for blueberry pineapple margaritas and had one of those it's so not fair moments. Soon enough.

Maxi Dress
 

Symptoms: I walked around my baby shower in wedge heels for several hours in the heat without so much as a swollen baby toe. But since Monday night I've had a bit of swelling in all the little piggies + my ankles. They aren't cankles and honestly not very noticeable but I can feel it. I'm doing all the things you're supposed to do to prevent it and all the remedies to relieve it but doc says sometimes that fluid is stubborn. As long as it doesn't get worse and stay worse, no worries. No heartburn this week!!! Lower back pain, rib pain and shortness of breath come and go but nothing new or really even worth mentioning there. I'm looking forward to cheesecake at my next baby shower this weekend. I'll give you one guess on the flavor.

32 Weeks

Chambray shirt / Leggings / Bag

 

When people ask me how I'm feeling, my response is usually "pretty good". And it's true. So far I haven't really felt the third trimester slowdown I keep reading and hearing about. I've pretty much been doing the same things I always do with a few added symptoms thrown in that remind me I'm carrying a baby.

 

This past weekend I hosted a bachelorette party for my BFF, who is also pregnant and due about 3.5 months after me. Yea, it's super fun to be pregnant at the same time as your best friend. She and her fiancé found out the sex of the baby (it's a BOY!) the morning of the party and she told me immediately so I could get together a mini reveal to surprise the girls that night. I had so much fun planning the party the past several weeks, making lists, creating the food menu and décor and then seeing it all come together. But it all finally caught up with me.

 

Friday afternoon we had a repeat ultrasound and got to see our little munchkin. We were there to check on my fibroid as well as the echogenic bowel that had been seen on baby P at the anatomy scan. The fibroid hadn't grown at all and isn't hindering the baby in any way. Brain, heart and lungs were all perfection and working away. Head and belly were measuring right on schedule. And legs for DAAAYYYYS. I was 32 weeks, 1 day at the appointment and the legs measured 33 weeks, 3 days! Baby P is head down and running out of room so those legs are bent and he/she is pushing those cute little feet right up into my ribs. The echogenic bowel was still present, but less so than at 20 weeks and no one seems very concerned so we aren't either. It was so fun seeing that little face all smushed up against me even though we kept it old school and stuck with 2D.

 

After the ultrasound we went to check out some gliders for the nursery. It was important for me to do a sit test on several different styles because hello, that's the purpose of it and I wanted to make sure it's comfy. I then braved the huge grocery store I typically avoid with my shopping list for the party and managed to get almost everything I needed. It was a nice evening so Chris and I sat outside for a bit and then I did some food prep and called it a night. Saturday was go, go, go from waking up to crashing into bed. My parents were at the house while my dad finished a project upstairs so my mom helped me out with getting the rest of the food ready and arranging things. Thanks mom! My husband is also awesome and did most of the cleaning while I ran out for a few extra things. The party turned out great and we all had so much fun celebrating our bride and her baby boy on the way. But, after some clean up and getting ready for bed, I finally felt very much 8 months pregnant.

 

Symptoms: The rib pain is kind of terrible but now that I've seen it's those tiny feet pushing up from inside, it makes me smile anyway. They say heartburn means your kid will be born with hair. The latest ultrasound confirmed that baby P indeed already has more hair than either Chris or I were born with so I guess that one might be true. I've definitely noticed my workouts getting harder and make sure I take extra breaks and drink plenty of fluids. And I absolutely stop doing anything that doesn't feel right. Now is not the time to push myself, it's about staying healthy for baby and me. Oh and my belly button....it's still out on top, in on bottom. I'm wondering if it's just going to stay like this or if the whole ting will actually pop.

31 Weeks

Sweatshirt

 

We've entered single digits on the weeks left until my due date countdown people. We celebrated Mother's Day over the weekend and while it wasn't my first "official" one yet, it just made me really appreciate this little person I'm carrying inside me that much more. I cannot wait to be his or her mommy.

 

As far as the nursery goes, it's in process and picking up steam. The walls are painted and the furniture we are reusing has a fresh coat of white, courtesy of my mama. The crib is in and all put together and we are deciding on a glider to order. I have most of the extras on my baby registry so stocking everything won't happen until after my showers in the next few weeks. I have some blankets and wall art and tons of ideas but most of the finishing touches and décor won't happen until after baby P is here. Once we get things in place I will be happy to share pictures of the progress.

 

I'm wearing non-maternity dresses and leggings (both maternity and non) with mostly maternity tops but also some of my flowy and/or longer regular tops for the most part. Actually I'm not sure if I can get into any regular pants anymore because it's been a few weeks since I've even tried. I'm up 22+ lbs since my doctor's appointment last week but my weight gain should be slowing down now. It's a little harder to keep up with my regular workouts but not so much that I feel like I'm overdoing it. I feel more tired lately but I credit pushing myself to continue working out with giving me more energy than I'd have otherwise.

 

Symptoms: I've reached the point where I'm pretty dang uncomfortable at times. My belly isn't a watermelon yet, no swollen ankles or trouble putting my shoes on. But I feel breathless a lot, just sitting here, and searing, wake me and keep me up for long stretches in the middle of the night rib pain is awful. It's excruciating and I think I'd cry if I had the energy. I was a regular left side sleeper pre-pregnancy but hip and lower back pain are an unwelcome intrusion and staying comfortable is becoming a challenge. Now that I can't, I JUST WANT TO SLEEP ON MY BACK. Oh and the first person to sneak me an ice cold beer in a bottle into the hospital after I pop this baby out will be my new best friend.

30 Weeks

Tank

 

Well I've started to feel pretty darn pregnant now that we've reached 30 weeks. My belly is getting in the way, my kid is crowding my lungs and I'm forgetting things like I never have before. I called Chris yesterday and while it was ringing I forgot why I called. Finally I remembered about 8 hours later while I was folding laundry. Pregnancy Brain is totally real. But, because I personally know women who waited and waited and waited or are still waiting to feel like this, I want to say that I 100% appreciate my body and my baby, even when I'm complaining. Sometimes the kicks hurt, sometimes I feel breathless sitting down and sometimes I want to actually tear my ribcage right out of my body to stop the pain as it presses into my ever expanding uterus. But I am certain that none of this will matter in less than 10 weeks. I am so, so excited thinking about holding this baby in my arms and getting to know him or her on the outside. Pregnancy can be awesome or awful or both at the same time but there isn't a moment that I take it for granted.

 

Symptoms: Heartburn isn't constant but when it comes, it comes full force. I still haven't tried the baking soda in water remedy because it keeps happening when I'm not at home! My belly button is still pokey at the top and in but looking flatter at the bottom. Cute, I know. Rib pain has been pretty bad and I've found myself doing a lot of fidgeting and squirming around trying to alleviate it when I'm sitting down. I've been given some recommendations so I'll be including what works in an upcoming post. I had double blueberry pancakes at IHOP on Saturday. What does that tell you? Really I could eat fruit in general all day long. It pretty much all sounds good all the time. And peanut butter. PB and I go way back but recently I find myself with spoon in jar a lot more often. Hey, at least it's not ice cream.

29 Weeks

 

Turning 29 and being 29 weeks pregnant was one of those neat little things I'll always remember and never be able to say again. I had another doctor's appointment but I was the last patient of the day and the scale needed to be recalibrated so I won't know how much more weight I've put on until next week. Not that I love watching the numbers go up on the scale, but I do like to know where I stand. We have a cheap scale at home we used to weigh the dogs as puppies but since I was told there would probably be a difference between the numbers it would show and the scale at the doctor's office I didn't even bother. I have been trying to eat smaller meals more frequently or lighter options like salads so I don't get too full and bring on the dreaded heartburn. Here's the funny thing. It was back with a vengeance when I got a tip from a kind older man at Target to try dissolving a teaspoon of baking soda into an 8oz glass of water and chugging it down. It just so happened that was the say of my last doctor's appointment so I asked her about it. She said she hadn't had any patients mention it, but it was perfectly safe to try and to let her know if it worked. If you follow me on Snapchat @rufflifeky you know I asked if anyone has ever tried this as a heartburn cure. Several people had, with good results, so I was all set to try it, but I've only had a few bouts of low grade heartburn barely worth mentioning. I'm sure that now I've said this it will be back to visit and then I'll let you all know if the baking soda trick works.

 

I'm still mixing regular clothes with maternity, but I am fortunate that the office I work in has a very casual dress code and is even still pretty lax on it. The warmer weather has been great for maxi dresses and skirts with my maternity tanks and a denim vest or jacket over top. I can also still wear some of my short dresses as is or with leggings underneath to turn them into tunics. I rock leggings with tees or tanks and open shirts or jackets too. I have these in both colors and just ordered a second pair of these because I also sleep and workout in them. I'm not thrilled to be super pregnant when it starts to get really hot, but at the same time it seems to be much easier to dress for the third trimester in the Spring/Summer than Winter.

 

Symptoms: This kid moves all the time but right before I go to bed is by far the height of activity. Sometimes it looks like little P is just going to bust right out of my belly and break free. It looks SO WEIRD to see my body contort with the rolls, elbow jabs and punches. Rib pain and back pain, same old, same old. Still feeling good enough to keep up with 5 day a week regular workouts. I have been asked about the modifications I've been doing so I'll have to do a separate post on that. No sign of that dark line on my belly or stretch marks...yet. Sleep is fine, just waking up to pee once a night. I had a slice of homemade blueberry pie for my birthday and it was heaven. Yup, the blueberry cravings are still hanging around.

28 Weeks

T-shirt

 

There's debate over which week marks the beginning of the third trimester of pregnancy but no matter what you read or who you talk to, 28 weeks is the cut off. Officially no one can argue with me about being in the last leg of this journey. Don't get me wrong, I have surprised myself by rather enjoying pregnancy so far. But when I think about how fast my due date is approaching it gets harder to wait to meet this little munchkin I've been growing. I still have moments when I feel the baby move that have me all OMG I'M HAVING A BABY. Get with the program already girlfriend, you've been pregnant for 7 months. I continue to have my mind blown.

 

I've grown into the few maternity pieces of clothing I have now but can still make a lot of my regular clothes work. My belly button is looking weirder by the day but the bottom part is still in. I'm not sure if moodiness is creeping back in for this last trimester or what but several comments regarding my changing body recently have made me want to run my head through a wall. Y'all, no woman ever wants you to point out that something on her body is bigger, pregnant or not. Yes, I realize my belly is SUPPOSED to grow. That's par for the course. But I really, really, really could go at least a day where someone didn't mention it. And that's why the older woman who approached me at the post office yesterday just brightened my whole week. I was wearing a dress and trying out a new foam sunless tanner. She walked up to me and said, "Honey, I am not a gay person but you have the most beautiful legs". I'm almost sure rainbows shot out of my cheeks I was beaming so hard as I smiled and thanked her.

 

Symptoms: Lower back pain is making it difficult to stay comfortable but I'm still sleeping well, just getting up once a night to pee. Rib pain hasn't been so bad and I'm sure the kicks to my side instead of higher up have something to do with that. The biggest thing I've noticed is that it is difficult to eat a normal sized meal all at once anymore. I get full much faster and have to space out my food throughout the day so that I'm eating less at once but more frequently. It's just more of an annoyance than anything because my brain is saying hey lady, I'm still hungry but my stomach is saying sorry we're at capacity down here. On the positive side, if I'm eating something I shouldn't I can't eat nearly as much of it and have time to reconsider my choices before eating more. I still ate 2 donuts on Monday. It was a MONDAY.

27 Weeks

Does this bump make me look fat? That pretty much sums up how I feel when getting dressed every day now. My maternity clothes finally fit but I have a lot of room to grow, which is great because I'm sure I'll need it! I can still wear a lot of my regular clothes but they sure fit a lot differently. Some days I so wish I had X-ray vision so I could see exactly what this child is doing inside me. Although this is my first pregnancy, I know this is one active kiddo. My doctor thinks it's hilarious. I had my 27 week check up last week and once again, this little wild thing ninja kicked the Doppler off my belly and then did a full on roll across it when I was being measured, effectively wrinkling the tape so we had to start over. I took the infamous glucose tolerance test last Friday and I have to say, I don't know what all the fuss was about. My doctor sent me home with the drink and instruction sheet after my appointment and told me to do it at my convenience sometime in the next week. When I read I only had to "fast" for 2 hours, drink the sugar and then hit the lab for the blood draw in the following hour, it didn't seem like a big deal at all. I took the drink to work with me and refrigerated it and ate what I normally eat throughout the day (breakfast, snack, lunch). I downed the orange drink within the allotted 5 minute time period and looked at the clock, then headed to the lab on my way home. Personally I thought the drink tasted like the orange stuff we used to get at good ol' Mickey D's. It was super duper sweet but didn't make me want to gag or anything. I was a bit jittery driving to the lab but otherwise felt fine. I gave my blood like a champ (I guess I'm getting used it) and then slammed some Reese's Oreos I had bought at the store as my reward and headed home to kill a workout. No nausea, no headache, no sugar crash. I was told no news is good news and I haven't received a phone call so that means I passed! Bring on the sugar. On a side note, can we talk about this whole belly button thing? When I wear a tight fitting shirt it looks like it has popped out, but really it's just the top part. My bare belly reveals that the rest of the little button is still definitely in but looking flatter while just the area where my ring was is sticking out. It actually doesn't look as strange as it sounds but it's definitely interesting to say the least.

 

Symptoms: Rib pain and hip pain got me like OUCH. Sometimes it takes my breath away. Too bad, so sad, it's not going away until the munchkin arrives. Braxton-Hicks contractions have visited as well. I was stretching after a workout and felt my belly tighten for maybe 5-10 seconds and then release. It happened twice more and that was it. I assumed they would hurt at least a little bit but it was just an odd sensation of something happening I couldn't control but definitely didn't interfere with what I was doing. About those blueberries...I didn't even buy any this week. I am forcing myself to give more attention to other fruits so it's strawberries, blackberries, oranges, bananas and peaches instead. But I still want the blueberries. Ssshhh

26 Weeks

I am so used to a flurry of activity going on in my belly now that I notice when it stops rather than when it starts. I find myself poking around like hello in there, what are you doing now? This week I experienced the first bout of hiccups. Just to be clear, I'm talking about the baby, not me. I knew that babies get hiccups in the womb from other people talking about it but I guess it just did not feel like I thought it would. Like I said, continuous movement is the norm anymore so I didn't realize this was different right away. But as the quick, repetitive sort of buzzing continued it finally caught my attention as something new. Every time I have a what was that? moment and I'm at work or alone, I turn to Google. I described the feeling in so many words and immediately the search came back with baby hiccups. Of course! It has now happened a few times since and I have to giggle because hello, baby hiccups, so cute. I did read that these tend to be more commonly felt a bit further into the 3rd trimester, especially by first time moms, but we've been a bit early on everything else so far so I'm not too surprised.

 

Tomorrow we go back for another check-up and will find out how many more pounds I've packed on in the last month. As of 22.5 weeks I was up about 13. I'm sure the homemade cheesecake I made for Chris's birthday won't help the cause. I am definitely taking off my shoes though. I'll take the pounds I've earned but not an ounce more!

 

Symptoms: Rib pain, heartburn and hiccups. I could swear my kid is swinging from my ribs like a tiny monkey, having the time of it's life in there. It's always on my right side and it HURTS. But at the same time I kind of love it. So weird. Heartburn is back full strength but it's during the day rather than at night. I'm not sure if sleeping with my ever so faithful Dottie Cane (pregnancy pillow) has been keeping it at bay or if it really is just happening during the day, but it's not the most fun. It doesn't seem to matter what I eat, it just happens. I'm counting on this baby coming out with a sweet hairdo. Baby hiccups are hilarious. Oh, and the blueberry saga CONTINUES....

25 Weeks

 

It's not unique, but we are calling the baby "monkey" lately because that's what it feels like I have inside me. I told my mom I had little feet in my ribs and she said not to be surprised if I get a "hanging from my ribs by its toes" feeling and yea, that pretty much describes it. It's funny because I've been told baby P's birthday will fall in the year of the monkey according to the Chinese Zodiac Calendar. My belly is definitely getting bigger but I still have a peek-a-bump. I can pretty much hide it or at least significantly minimize it with loose and flowy tops or dresses but it also looks loud and proud when I show it off. I'm still not used to, nor do I think I ever will be, all the attention that comes with having a pregnant belly. But that's okay because as soon as this little monkey is born he or she will be the main attraction and I will be just the mom in the background.

 

 

Symptoms: Mood swings and nesting are in full force. Sunday morning I was getting ready for Easter brunch and having a fit about what to wear. I had it in my mind that since it was Easter and such a nice, warm day I was going to wear a pretty Spring dress. While I still have plenty of things in my closet that fit me, being hell bent on this particular category severely limited my options. In my mind I had a few choices but once I started putting them on, it became very clear that several parts of my body were just no longer going to be accommodated (at least not appropriately) by most of my non-maternity dresses. I settled on a chambray baby doll dress from last summer eventually but that was after throwing a mini tantrum about being stuffed in a fat suit and flinging dresses and hangers all over the bedroom. Ya know, like a grown woman. Now let's talk about this whole nesting thing. It started with going through the bedroom closets but then progressed to the kitchen cabinets and pantry and by the time I was organizing medications by what they are for I realized that's exactly what I was doing. While I am usually fairly organized, this is not my typical behavior so I'm chalking it up to the common pregnancy side effect they call nesting. Yup, that's me, mama bird over here preparing the nest.