30 weeks!

Wooo hooo 30 weeks!!  I cannot believe that I will be waiting for her "any day" in 49 more days!  When I think about it that way, I feel sooo unprepared.  The baby shower will be this coming weekend, so I didn't want to go too crazy purchasing things; I am excited to see what we have left to buy next week!  Josh and I both took the week off, so he promised to have the nursery finished before returning to work.  Let's see how that goes! ;)

I wanted to take the picture below for one other reason: to remind myself that I was actually still going to the gym with Josh while this pregnant.  It really makes me feel good knowing that I have the energy and strength to go.  And honestly, the looks people give are a little bit more of a motivation. :)  Today, a girl (a really fit girl!) at the gym noticed that I needed the 10lb weights (that she had), so he offered them to me and said I was "so cute pregnant."  Thank you, fit girl.  Your compliment pushed me to work harder. :)  

I didn't brave the treadmill today, though.  A few days ago while running on the treadmill, I had a flash of fear rush over me.  Either I peed on myself or my water broke.  I swore by it.  I'm sure that the people around me were wondering why the heck I was running full force and then just jumped off!  Girlfriend needed to run to the bathroom!  Fortunately, it was neither haha!  As soon as I get running (heck, even walking!), baby wants to nestle her head even more into my bladder; definitely makes it much harder!  So, I think I will probably stick to the elliptical and weight-lifting for a couple days.  Give my daughter's rattling brain a break.  

I haven't noticed any changes this week other than my sweet tooth being tamable.  I have been able to "just say no" and satisfy my cravings other ways.  Like a chocolate-covered strawberry, for example. ;)  I'll act like the regular pancakes I make during the weekends didn't have chocolate chips in them today!  No, but really, it has been easier to turn the other cheek to.  

I googled the average weight gain for 30 weeks and it looks like I'm on the lower end of the window.  At least until I get to the Doctor's office and step on their broken scale.  I swear, that thing does not like me.  I've never gone and only seen a 2 pound gain; it's only been 5+!  Oh well, This just means baby is growing healthily and I'm happy for that. :)

My belly button still hasn't popped yet!  I thought it would be by now, judging by how shallow it was a few weeks ago, but it's just becoming more and more shallow.  I don't have that "linea nigra" yet either.  I know that some women never get it.  Bummer.  I want some of those weird pregnancy things happening over here (rather than indigestion and constipation!).

I think I'm at that point now where if people ask me how far along I am, I will give them weeks rather than months.  Technically, you're pregnant for 10 months but people don't think like that, so if I say I'm 7 and a half  months pregnant, they will look at me like I'm crazy.  Yes, I'm sure I'm 7 months pregnant and no, I'm not taking your "compliments" seriously because people know pregnant women are too emotional and are afraid to say to them "hey, fatty, cool it down on the chocolate and carbs!" 

Here's to a bowl of coffee toffee ice cream to celebrate 3/4th of the way done!! ;)

29 weeks (late!)

I know, I know, I've been horrible with the posting.  I promise to step my game up soon! :)

Last Sunday, I hit 29 weeks.  I didn't get a chance to take a picture, but I don't think there was any serious change in the bump.
I remember in the beginning, I was so eager to feel those "big" movements and the rolling around and she's definitely delivered, that's for sure!  I have been feeling large movements, rolls, kicks, thumps, you name it.  It's really exciting to know that she's big enough to do that!  I love sitting back in bed or on the couch and actually seeing one side of my stomach "lumpier" than the other side.  :)  It doesn't seem like the touching bothers her any more, just when I poke.  She used to curl up and hide when I even slightly put a finger on her.
This week I've been thinking more and more about how much of a miracle this is!  It's just so crazy to think that my body (and God!) is making this baby without me having to do anything more than the obvious haha.  It's so amazing to feel and see the changes that are happening to me and my body because a little tiny human being is being made.  And not to mention, a little, tiny human being that is going to look like me and Josh.  Man!  It's just a crazy, crazy thought.  :)  God is truly awesome.
I've noticed that when I sit or stand for long periods of time, the swelling begins to happen ever so slightly.  Nothing that causes discomfort, just something I've noticed.  Yesterday Josh and I walked around the mall and by the time that we were leaving, I definitely had the pregnant girl waddle.  Her head was perfectly positioned on my bladder, causing me to have to pee every 20 minutes or so.  My feet felt like they wanted to bust out of my shoes.  My lower back was hurting.  My purse was too heavy for my right shoulder.  Yup, I was done-zo.  I just wanted to get home and eat some ice cream! :)

I'm going to post a non-weekly post soon because Josh and I are going to set up our Christmas decorations later today.  I am sooo looking forward to it!  I'll even be able to introduce you to Gingrich if he decides to stop by! ;)

Ahhh!!  I'll be 30 weeks tomorrow!!!  That means I'll be full-term in 7 short weeks!

3d ultrasound at 28 weeks

As I mentioned in last week's post, we were scheduled to see our little girl via 3d ultrasound.  I was a little upset because we didn't get very good pictures.  I was under the impression that you had to drink massive amounts of water like with other ultrasounds, but they said that I wouldn't have to drink more than what I would in a normal day.  And before the appointment, the ultrasound guy had me empty my bladder (problems 1 and 2, in my opinion!).
During the ultrasound, baby girl had her head buried in my pelvis and the umbilical cord blocking her face.  After the umbilical cord moved, she moved both of her fists in her face.  We tried everything we could do to see her, but as my mother-in-law said, baby just wasn't ready for us to see her yet.  We would have to wait! Blah.  I also asked the guy if he could give me measurements and tell me how baby was progressing, but he said that this ultrasound was solely for fun and that they wouldn't be doing anything that would require a radiologist's review.  This also confused me because the reason the doctor recommended that we go to our OB office rather than those $50 ultrasound places was because they actually look for abnormalities, make sure baby is progressing like she should, and that all of the information that the radiologist gathered would be further reviewed by others.  She said that the other places, the people that they hire are pretty much "photographers" and not trained to do anything other than put gel on your belly and look around.  Whatever. I kind of think that maybe going there would have been a better route!  I didn't get anything out of this 3d appointment other than 13 very lousy pictures.  :/
I don't mean to complain about it and sound like I wasn't happy to at least see something of baby, because we actually did!  Right when he began the ultrasound, we saw her yawning and her eyes wide open (followed by stubbornness and sleepiness!).  We were very excited to share in the moment with his parents and be able to walk away with something.  Oh and side note, we saw a very clear shot of her ear, and she's got mama's ears!  Josh's earlobes are attached while mine aren't . . . neither are hers!  Based on the one solid picture we got, I think she's going to have his nose and my lips (a little bigger than his).  But, she's definitely going to have lots of daddy's traits, which is actually something that I'm proud of! :)

I was hesitant to post any pictures of baby because I wanted to keep it something special between Josh and I (and a very select few), but hey, I might as well!  I am posting the best 2d that we got, and also one of the worst 3d (just to leave a little something to your imagination!).  :)  Enjoy! :)

(hand in her face!)

28 weeks

Yesterday was week 28. Already!  I seriously cannot believe how fast this pregnancy is going. So many women talk about how miserable they felt the entire time (and I understand that not all may have such pleasant experiences), but this has been a piece of cake. A lot of things are becoming more difficult to do like putting pants, socks, and shoes on, bending over to do things or pick things up, sleeping (that's a huge one!), but that's not enough to make me wish this was over. I'm actually pretty sad that I won't be pregnant in a little less than 3 months. Scary thought!  

Other than what was mentioned above, I haven't had any new experiences this week. I've been craving orange juice like a mother!!  As far as food cravings, nothing in particular. Fried foods and sugars are still my best friend. :)  

She has been a little acrobat this week!! I really haven't felt her move so much before. What To Expect says that this is the time that I will feel her move most because the room that she has is prime. She's big enough for those big, noticeable movements, but not too big to have the room to move. I know that her space will only become smaller and movements will only lessen. :/ But growth is a great thing!!

Tomorrow, I'm going for a 3D ultrasound and I cannot wait!!  I'm hoping that she is cooperative and that we get great pictures.  I think the part that is most exciting is that I'll get to see her move. Just love that. And I am really eager to see how she's positioned so that I'll be able to start identifying body parts, although I think I've already figured it out. We'll see if I'm right tomorrow!  My guess is that she's head down, shes in fetal position, back is facing to the left and what I've been feeling most is her butt above my belly button and her knee and foot bulging out about 1 inch below my right ribs. :) Can't wait to see her!

We also got her crib this weekend. I was so excited to spend all of this time putting it together, but we literally had that thing put together in 25 minutes. And yes, it was done correctly ;)  Just wish the fun lasted longer than that!  Now, we just have to wait until the shower (in less than 3 weeks!!) to begin filling her room and see what we can buy. That's going to be the best part!  

Here's to week 29 in progress!!  Already almost to week 30!!

Dreams of a dreamer

My husband, Josh is a dreamer, that's for sure. He talks about such optimistic, hopeful things. According to him, he will have his own construction business, possibly a software engineering business, we will be millionaires, our house will be paid off in the next 10 years, we will move to Tennessee and own lots of land with lots of animals and our dream log home.
I love hearing his dreams, though I have a very hard time taking him serious some times.

Me?  Ha, we'll when it comes to big dreams, I'm pretty pessimistic.  In my mind, we're lucky to have good jobs, we are lucky to have a home to call our own, let alone making enormous mortgage payments on it each month, and becoming millionaires? Ha! Only if we won the lottery.

The other evening, Josh and I were discussing his dreams and I asked him  Babe, what makes you sooo optimistic and me so opposite?  His answer was quite humbling, actually. He reminded me that dreams are what keeps us living, what gives us more motivation for the day. He told me "yeah, I probably won't ever get my dream motorcycle, if my job continues doing this well, I wouldn't leave to start my own company. But it gives me hope. Us hope."  Of course, then I began crying AND felt like a jerk. I began apologizing for being so horribly opposite of him and telling him that I love hearing his dreams and even if I might not take him seriously all of the time, I need to hear them because they carry me through, too. I love knowing that my Husband does not want to settle with where we are now. Yes, we are blessed and I praise God for what we have,  but it's so comforting knowing that my Husband wants more for us and is willing to work harder for something even though it may never come to reality.

Then he reminded me that one of my jobs as a Mother will be Dreamer.  Josh reminded me that perhaps one of my hardest lessons to learn as a mom will be dreaming ... and for baby's sake.  He said that if one day our baby girl wants to fly, I better sit down with her, build the both of us wings and try flying. I cannot tell her that it is impossible.  She needs her mama to be her support and when she shares a dream, I cannot let her down.

Talking with Josh about dreams just opened my eyes to a different part of life. Yeah, maybe more than half of dreams remain only that, but if we don't at least have dreams, then what do we have.  So, I'm going to hold my Husband's hand and support him and his dreams. I'm going to pray that God shows us favor and have faith that it will become bigger than our wildest imagination.  It's my job as a a Believer, a Wife, and a soon-to-be mama.

27 weeks

I know I'm a bit behind on the weekly update, but better late than never, right?  It'll be a shorter one because I need to hit the hay!  Stayed up all night waiting for the election results . . .

I mentioned last week that I was due to go in for the glucose screening during the 27th week.  It wasn't that bad at all!  I thought it was going to be much worse, but it was just some nasty ol' fruit punch.  They haven't called me yet about any negative results, so I'm hoping that's a good sign!  I would really hate to change my "diet."  Oh, and speaking of diet . . .

Yeah, definitely didn't make it 36 hours with no sugar.  I don't know what I was thinking by making such a goal the day before Halloween!  There were too many cookies, candy, cupcakes, etc. around for me to resist.  Oye.  But, I have learned to be more conscious about it all and know when enough is enough (except for the trip to get ice cream after the doctor's appointment. shh!).

This week I thought I would be feeling her kicking in my ribs since she felt so close last week, but nothing yet.  She just feels way higher than she ever has.  Watching my belly move has definitely been my new favorite past time.

Oh and while at the doctor's office, I did something I swore I'd never do: make an appointment for a 3d ultrasound.  I just couldn't help it!  I want to meet her now, so this will be the closest we can get to that!  Josh and I invited our moms, so it will be us four seeing baby for the first time! :)