Whoa Nelly!

Here I am at (somewhere around) 33 weeks, and honestly, I'm feeling quite massive.

According to everyone else, my eyes are deceiving me, but my cheeks and double chin beg to differ.  I feel huge!

Sorry for the terrible work bathroom pics, but it's the only time I can actually remember to take a belly photo!

I'll do the actual 33 week post tomorrow.

October

Everything went well at my midwife appointment on Friday.  My blood pressure was still slightly elevated, however, my midwife isn't concerned because it is still well within the normal range.  There was one big change, however.  My due date was changed from November 1st, to October 28th.  Usually a change of a couple days doesn't make a difference, especially because due dates are estimates.  But this four day difference put me in a whole different month.  Meaning, Baby V 2.0 is expected to arrive NEXT MONTH!

Ummmm....  what?  I seriously can't even wrap my head around the fact that my baby could possibly be here next month.  I'm not sure why, since my due date was so early in November.  But, holy cow!!

I'm keeping my weekly updates according to my old due date because it's just easier for me.  The same thing happened during my last pregnancy, and don't you know that she was born on the new due date that they gave me.  We'll see what happens.

Happy Monday everyone!

32 weeks w/ baby number two!

How far along: 32 weeks (five weeks until full term, and eight weeks until we are DUE!)

Total weight gain/loss:  Don't know, don't care. LOL!

Sleep:  I believe insomnia is starting to kick in.  I keep waking up in the middle of the night and then have trouble falling back asleep.  Of course, the lack of real sleep is causing me to be a pure joy to be around...

Food cravings:  I'm not really friends with food lately.  I'll eat well in the morning, but by dinner time I can only take a few bites before I feel full and uncomfortable.

Best moment this week:  Getting our double stroller delivered.  We really like it, and it isn't that huge, and the best part of all, it was FREE!  I won an award from my job and go to go online and pick a prize, and whaddya know?  They had a double stroller available!  So far, we love it, the only drawback is that we have to buy a new car seat.  But honestly, I wanted too anyways just because I'm a super paranoid mama.

Movement:  All the time!  And it HURTS!  Little body parts are constantly pushing out all over the place, and I have to try to gently rub them back in.  I'm so glad he's active though, it's really reassuring.  Even if the skin on my stomach has to take the brunt of it.

Gender:  Still a boy.  Why have I been doubting this lately?  Especially since I clearly saw a little penis on the ultrasound, twice!  I think I'm just trying to talk myself into getting a 3d/4d ultrasound.

Labor signs:  The Braxton Hicks contractions are back, I know I'm not drinking enough water, I'm working on it though.  Gotta keep little man baked for at least five more weeks!

Belly Button in or out:  No change there, out.  Not as tender, but I've been rubbing down with pure shea butter every morning and night.  I'm sure with the rapid growth spurt that the baby is about to go through, it'll start feeling sore again.

What I miss:  This week?  Nothing.  Honestly, zip, zilch, nada.  I've found my happy place and realize how fortunate that I am to already have one healthy child, and be baking another child.  It's mind blowing for me!

What I am looking forward to:  My midwife appointment tomorrow.  My blood pressure was really high the last time I had it checked, we'll see if I get taken off of work early, or have to push it through until the end....

Milestones:  Every day is a milestone!  At the end of this week, baby should be tipping the 4lb mark.  How amazing!  And he always seems to have the hiccups, which feel so weird but are still so cute!

Weekly Wisdom:  Try to relax and take care of yourself as much a possible when you're in the 3rd Trimester.  I find that when I do too much doing the day, I really pay for it later.  Everything hurts and swells.  As hard as it may be, doing that extra load of laundry or rearranging the living room furniture really doesn't need to be done right now.  Or possibly even by you. :-)

Symptoms:  Too many!  Honestly, for the most part I still feel really good.  I do have those moments where it feels like my body is shutting down though..

Emotions:  Up, for now!

31 weeks!

How far along:  31 weeks preggo!  Only SIX weeks until full term, and NINE weeks until my "due" date.

Total weight gain/loss:  I still have no idea, and I'm not pressed to find out either. :-)

Sleep:  Not so bad, I've started to wake up with numb hands.  That's not fun, but at least I'm getting sleep in the first place.

Food cravings:  Still no cravings, which is weird.  I just want a lot of whatever I have.  But then I don't eat it all.  My appetite seems to be decreasing.

Best moment this week:  Finding out that my blood pressure problems weren't bothering baby boy.

Movement:  Yes, this boy is on a roll.  Literally.  He was moving so much that they couldn't keep the monitors on him yesterday, so they took the monitors off.  I love it though, it is really reassuring.  Even when it is painful, I'm still so grateful that he's bouncing around in there.

Gender:  Still a boy!

Labor signs:  Yesterday I took a trip to Labor & Delivery.  Not because I thought I was in labor, but because of the swelling that I had experienced, along with some dizziness, tingly fingers, and shaky hands.  My sister came to get me from work and we went to the hospital.  My blood pressure was elevated.  Usually it's 100/60, but yesterday it was 137/77.  Now, those numbers aren't necessarily high, but they are too high for me.  Thankfully they went down, my preeclampsia tests came back normal, but I was/am dehydrated.  I have to really up my water intake, and that should help with the swelling.  Also, because the little guy doesn't have much room in there, and I haven't really "expanded" much (actual words from my midwife), he is probably putting pressure on one of my veins which is preventing adequate blood flow.

Belly Button in or out:  Out. I don't even remember what a normal belly button looks like anymore.

What I miss:  Really nothing.  Right now I'm focused on keeping baby boy safe and sound until it's time for him to make his grand debut.

What I am looking forward to:  My follow up appointment in two weeks.  That'll determine if my blood pressure is actually going to cause a problem, and if I'll have to go out on leave early.

Milestones: SINGLE DIGITS (in weeks) until my due date!  How awesome is that?

Weekly Wisdom:  Go with your gut.  Even though everything turned out fine yesterday at the hospital, I'm really glad that I went in anyways just to get checked out.  I'd rather have a false alarm than an ignored emergency.  The way I was feeling just wasn't right.  I think that knowing he was okay helped me to feel better.  I was anxious and worried, and that isn't good for either me or the baby.

Symptoms:  Most of them, including leg cramps.  But I don't have any of the real "issues" yet.  Hopefully they stay away!  I've read some seemingly horror stories on Babycenter about all types of weird pregnancy symptoms and side effects.

Emotions:  Better now that I know my baby boy is okay.  I'm excited to meet him, but not before he is fully developed!

Swelling

Lately I've been having disturbing amounts of swelling.  It started about a week ago when I noticed that my feet were sore.  I looked down and they were badly swollen.  Figuring it was frome me being so active, I kicked up my feet and relaxed and they seemed to go down by bedtime.

Yesterday was a totally different story.  My husband had dropped me off, and when he came to pick me up I just so happened to glance at my feet when I got in the car.  They were massive.  Seriously, it scared the good gracious out of me.  I took a picture and called my midwife.  My foot was super large, and my ankle seemed like it was the size of my thigh.  I also noticed some pain.

This morning I woke up and I felt like a puffer fish.  My face was swollen, my lips were swollen, my fingers were swollen.  It was a mess!

I'm a little nervous because this is the time that I started to have problems with blood pressure and swelling with Yorlee.  Hopefully I don't have to be put on bedrest again.  I have an appointment tomorrow afternoon.

I'm preparing myself for the worst, but hoping for the best.  We'll see what happens!

Pic from last week when I was almost 30 weeks.

30 Weeks!!!!!! Another goal crossed off my list!

How far along:  30 weeks, and super excited I must say!  Only SEVEN weeks until full term, and 10 weeks away from my due date.  Whoa, where did the time go?  Seems like yesterday I was begging to be at 24 weeks, and here I am, really getting close to the end.

Total weight gain/loss:  I have no clue.  I never unpacked the scale when we moved into our house, and honestly I don't care to know how much I weigh.  My clothes still fit (which is weird because they didn't fit for one day and then all was well), and I can still fit into most smaller sized non-maternity clothes.  Yay!

Sleep:  Hit and miss.  The night before last I slept GREAT, but most nights I keep waking up for one reason or another.  My bladder also has an attitude and will give me the urge to go even though I just went.  Not fun!

Food cravings:  None, but you won't see this girl turning down any food.  If it's there, I'll eat it.  Which can be both good and bad...

Best moment this week:  Crossing the 30 week goal off my list.  Amazing!!

Movement:  Oh my goodness, YES!  This boy seems to never stop moving.  Elbows, knees, and various body parts stick out of my belly all day.  My husband can be standing across the room and see it.  He's a wild one!

Gender:  Still a boy!  I've been thinking about trying to go for a 3D/4D ultrasound just for kicks.  But good grief, I just can't justify spending the money.  If a Groupon of Living Social deal comes along, I'll be all over it!

Labor signs:  Nada.  Braxton Hicks still pop up here and there, but things have been (and I hope they continue to be) quiet on the labor front.

Belly Button in or out:  Out.  And the comments I get about it get on my NERVES!  Like seriously, I can't control my belly button, whether it's in or out.  And I know it's out.  Nothing I can do about it...

What I miss: Not feeling so irritated by people.  I've hit that point in pregnancy where the comments/remarks/suggestions/advice/labor stories/opinions/etc., irritate the heck out of me!  Especially when I'm being told I'm, "so huge, am I sure there aren't two in there?", and then, "but you're SO tiny, are you really 7 months?" within five minutes of each other.  I'm going to start introducing the originators of different comments so they can hash it out amongst themselves and determine if I'm freakishly huge or freakishly small...

What I am looking forward to:  Spending more time with my family of three and relishing in sleeping through the night.  I know my days are numbered, and although it will be totally worth it, it will still be different.

Milestones: I'm in the 30's baby!!!!!!  Heck yeah!  And the possiblity that I could have LESS THAN TWO MONTHS before this boy is born.  Whoa Nelly!

Weekly Wisdom:  Enjoy what you have, because you don't know how long you'll have it.

Symptoms:  I have it all.  Well, almost all of it, I hear there are some pretty gruesome pregnancy symptoms out there, and thankfully I don't have those yet.

Emotions:  Ha, I might as well stop answering this question.

I tried my BEST to get a belly pic that I Instagrammed on here, but it won't show up!  I'll try again when I get home.  I've popped for sure, but I still feel pretty good.

29 Week Pregnancy Update

How far along:  29 weeks.  I'll be at my next goal of 30 weeks in just a few short days!  Only 11 weeks until my "due" date, and only 8 weeks until FULL TERM!!!

Total weight gain/loss:  I have no clue.  I'm sure I've gained, I've been eating a bunch of junk food...

Sleep:  Not the greatest, between being super congested, and Baby V 2.0 flinging knees and elbows all over the place.  But, I'll take what I can get at this point.

Food cravings:  Junk food.  I've been craving candy, ice cream, chips, etc.  And cheese!  My husband said, "The baby is packing on the pounds, and you are about to too."  As much as I hate to admit it, I think he's right...

Best moment this week:  Splurging on myself a bit.  I bought a diaper bag, iPad, and some accessories.

Movement:  All the time.  He currently has something sharp in my side.  The movement really hurts this time around.  And I feel it EVERYWHERE.  I can even tell his hands from his feet.

Gender:  I hope it's still a boy!  My husband has gone Hot Wheels crazy and buys some every time we go to the store.

Labor signs:  Nada.  Please, please stay that way until at least 37 weeks!  (It's so funny how we want to keep them in until full term, and then will try anything to get them out!)

Belly Button in or out:  Flat, itchy, and sore.

What I miss:  Having normal emotions.  I forgot how pregnancy makes it hard to interact with other people at times.  And being able to have full lung capacity.  I'm always huffing and puffing...

What I am looking forward to:  Spending more quality time with my baby girl.  Her whole world is about to turn upside down and I really want to cuddle her before it does.

Milestones: Being two months away from term is HUGE to me.  So I'm counting that as a milestone.  Oh, and also the fact that I was able to squeeze into some non-maternity slack again today.  I'll probably have to pry them off later...

Weekly Wisdom:  Don't react purely on emotion if you can avoid it.  I've been able to prevent a lot of arguments with people by looking at things logically instead of emotionally.  And I think it has been benefiting everyone.

Symptoms:  Too many to name.  I'm pregnant, and I feel pregnant.

Emotions:  Bad, I'm trying to get a hold of them.  I'm a work in progress.

Hahahaha....

So, you know how last week I was all, "And my whole outfit is non-maternity" blah-blah-blah...

Well, yesterday I wore my favorite pair of work slacks to work, and guess what?  I was absolutely miserable by the end of the day.  I felt like I was being squeezed, like I had literally stuffed myself into those pants.  And when I got home to change, I noticed that the entire outline of my zipper was indented into my belly.  Sigh...

It's so funny how fast things change.  My little gentleman is growing, growing, growing.

I've decided to watch what I eat, because all I have a taste for is junk food and candy.  Oh, and popsicles.  No way am I going to stay at a reasonable weight if I'm eating that kind of stuff, especially IN BED.

I'm really getting excited to meet the little person in my belly.

Non-maternity pants, HAHAHAHA!  I guess a shopping trip is in order!

You know you're in the 3rd Trimester when... (Part I)

- You can cry at the drop of the hat.
- You have an attention span shorter than your toddler.
- You waddle when you walk.
- You feel you can rearrange the couches and coffee table in your living room BY YOURSELF, because their current design is totally flawed and your nesting instinct has kicked in.
- You snore when you sleep. But not all the time, because you barely sleep.
- You knock things over with your belly.
- You start to feel really ugly.
- Your prized "skinny pants" start smothering your legs and squishing your protruding belly.
- You start to have a short temper and feel upset for what others view as no reason.
- You are constantly out of breath.
- You are constantly thinking about food.
- You always have two pairs of shoes at work in case your feet start to swell.
- You totally think your shirts are long enough until you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror at work and realize that you've been flashing people all day.
- You don't recognize yourself in the mirror.
- You spend more time in the bathroom than you do anywhere else.  Growing baby + bladder = numerous trips to the restroom.
- Your nose is always congested.
- You can't get your rings off of your finger because your fingers are swollen.
- You have to hold on to something to put your pants on, or else you'd topple over.
- You can no longer just hop over the numerous baby gates in your house.  You have to hold on to the wall, swing one leg over, and then grunt as you try to hoist the other leg over.


That's all I can think of for now.  I'm sure as I get further along I'll have to come out with a Part. II

Needless to say, I'm feeling like an emotional, hormonal, stuffy-nosed, irritable, air headed, physically unbalanced, larger version of myself.  And it's tough.  But, I know that the reward at the end is oh-so-sweet.  Even if that reward will keep me up all night.  Thankfully, I'm not at that "I can't wait to NOT be pregnant anymore!!" phase yet.  We'll see what happens... :-)

28 week belly pic

28 week work bathroom pic!  LOL!  Still not really in maternity clothes.  The outfit I'm in is 100% non-maternity with the exception of my belly band. And my shirt is a size Small.  Makes me feel good!  :-)  I also have continued to feel as though I have a fat head, baby belly, and small(ish) body.  So weird.  All of my proportions are off right now.  But that's okay, as long as baby boy is getting big and healthy!