28 weeks [and 4 days]

inanimate comparison:  thanks to my new iphone app...a chinese cabbage (see pic).

heh.  i wondered too.

maternity clothes:  a necessity.

stretch marks:  none.  i check every day.

sleep:  yes, please.

best moment this week:  officially hitting the third trimester.  so thankful to be at this point.

miss anything?:  i think i don't realize what i miss until i think about this question every two weeks.  i miss not having back aches but they're so second nature now that i barely notice [until they get bad].  i miss picking things up off the floor on the first attempt.  it usually takes 2-3 tries.  but, again...i don't necessarily notice.  jake asked me if having to pee gets old.  and that's another one.  i've gotten so used to the feeling of having to pee, that i don't even think about it.  ya just get up and go. 

movement:  i'd say m&m is on the spunky side, but i have nothing to compare it to.  movement is non-stop and the bumps keep getting b i g g e r.

cravings:  i just enjoy sweets... but that's nothing new.

sickness:  gone.

gender:  GIRL!!  [joke...still a secret]  it's interesting to me that boy has taken the lead on the survey.

labor signs:  maybe some braxton hicks.  like, one or two a day.  nothing painful.

symptoms:  back spasms and rib pain.  a bath is an absolute must each night.  i live for my baths.  it's no joke when they say that the first trimester can leave you icky feeling, the second is a breeze and then it starts to turn when you hit the third.  spot on.

belly button:  still in!  i thought for sure it would be out by now. 

wedding rings:  i'm down to just my engagement ring.  much less annoying.

happy or moody?:  happy and moody.  actually, not moody but tearful.  two nights ago, i just started crying in bed.  there was absolutely no antecedent to this cry-fest.  it just began and then it wouldn't stop.  jake was such a trooper.  i also cried in traffic this evening.  i could n o t be a commuter on a daily basis.  i also just have the most overwhelming feeling to want to be home.  i love home and being home ...and everything in my house ...and my dog ...and jake and i always just want to be home.  is that nesting?

looking forward to:  hearing that sweet little heartbeat tomorrow and piecing together the nursery that i have in my imagination.  update:  today, i want to get neutral bedding.  what the...?

fun with frametastic app. 

...

26 weeks and random events.

no chalkboard pic this week.  we'll have to settle for this mirror pic because jake just wasn't around when i needed the pic.

 

14 more weeks of growth?  i'm scared.

 

inanimate comparison:  i couldn't find this info. any more.  i guess the baby has outgrown the size of any common vegetable.  but, he/she weighs about two pounds now!

 

maternity clothes? oh yes.
 

stretch marks? none yet!  please...stay away!
 

sleep: lots of tossing.  lots of turning.  lots of peeing.
 

best moment this week:  coming home to a perfectly painted nursery!!  and also seeing family for my grandma's 80th.  she gave me a little something special for the nursery [see below].
 

miss anything? bending.
 

movement:  non stop and very low.
 

food cravings:  nothing specific.
 

anything making you queasy or sick:  not lately.
 

gender: still a surprise.  the survey has favored girl up until now.  boy is winning.
 

labor signs:  i would not consider them labor signs [i hope] but i get some sort of charlie horse feeling really low every now and then.  or...maybe that's a contraction.  these are questions for my doc on thursday.

 

symptoms:  my back hates me.  see the picture above and the dip in my lower back?  ya, i think that's why.
 

belly button in or out?  in.  for now...teetering on being out.
 

wedding rings on or off?  on...but sort of bugging me lately.
 

 happy or moody most of the time: happy, with moments of tearfulness.  mainly because i just want to be a home-body lately.
 

looking forward to: hearing a heartbeat on thursday.  working on the nursery more.  putting together a crib!! 

here are some pics of the nursery and other random events...

oh, p.s....congrats to mr. menz on his promotion at work!! 

 just in time for baby.  super proud!

the pic doesn't show the true paint color.  there is more green to it.  this shows up very gray.

my mom gave me that hope chest for my graduation.  trying to decide if it stays in the nursery.

my grandma had this handmade rocking horse in one of the rooms at her townhouse for as long as i can remember.  we used to play on it and when i was there for her birthday, she offered it to me.  i l.o.v.e. it!!

another angle.  not sure of the room set-up yet.

my gorgeous aunts and my dad with my grandma.

'80 reasons why we love you'.  the cutest book, created by my aunt gigi.  and that woman, my grandma, does not have a mean bone in her body.  she's the sweetest lady in the world.  no joke.

yep.  i parked there...for the first time.

i had my first o'doole's on the trip.  it tasted like beer.  i can't say that i really miss beer.

 

24 weeks (and then some)...

sorry about not being very punctual with updates.  this week was a doozy at work.  it's the end of the quarter and allllll of my data was due! so, technically...i am 24 weeks and 4 days.

inanimate comparison: about the length of a large ear of corn.  apparently, baby will double its weight this month.  let's hope that's not the same for me!
 

maternity clothes? oh yes.
 

stretch marks? none yet!  please...stay away!
 

sleep: i definitely toss and turn a bit more.  i wake up on my back a lot.  not sure why because i don't even find it comfortable.  i am most comfortable on my left side with my wedge (thanks to tara) under my bump or wedged under my back.
 

best moment this week: starting paint on the nursery...even if it was just the primer!  and...i think we officially have a boy name!  girl, not so much.
 

miss anything? bending with ease.  shaving with ease and getting in and out of bed with ease.  so, basically, anything involving bending.
 

movement: all.of.the.time.  this is the best part about pregnancy.  both jake and i can feel a lot more fluid motion, as opposed to kicks and bumps.  it's sort of a nightly ritual.  also...something interesting...my email from what.to.expect today said that if jake lays his head on my belly, at this point, he should be able to hear the baby's heartbeat?  anyone ever experience this?
 

food cravings: i haven't allowed myself to make rice krispies because there are thin mints in the house!  aside from cottage cheese with peaches, i will get an idea in my head...have to have it...then i'm over it.
 

anything making you queasy or sick:  not lately.
 

gender: still a surprise.
 

labor signs: way too early! 

symptoms: reflux, sciatic pain is back, lots of low pressure and a case of the sleepies
 

belly button in or out?  in.  for now.
 

wedding rings on or off?  on...
 

 happy or moody most of the time: happy.
 

looking forward to: getting my glider friday.  and getting the paint finished in the nursery!!  i got my paint sample today [silver sage] from restoration hardware and it is p.e.r.f.e.c.t.!!  we're going to have sherwin williams color match because that's the paint our guy uses.  i can not wait to see it all finished!

ick.  so not a good pic of me but jake had to get back to basketball, ya know...

and a close up side angle.

  ...

22 weeks and a 27th bday.

so...22 weeks!  and it also happens to be jake's 27th birthday today.  so this post includes a brief birthday recap too.

 

feeling like that is more than a 22 week belly??

 

inanimate comparison:  a spaghetti squash.

maternity clothes?:  pretty much everything.  and i got all kinds of cute stuff this weekend, thanks to my m.i.l.  my fav thing is this cute denim dress from the gap maternity!  and i found black, full panel skinny jeans...which i've been searching for.  i was totally spoiled.

cravings:  still very much stuck on rice krispy treats.  and, again, if i get something in my head...i have to have it.  then, i'm over it.

aversions:  changes daily.  definitely more cravings than aversions.

emotions:  pretty darn happy.  although, an incident at work had me pretty frazzled this week.  there were tears.

fatigue:  not too bad.

symptoms: pretty much constantly have the feeling of a full bladder, when it isn't necessarily full.  i toss and turn a bit in my sleep.  but the sciatic pain has really improved!

weight gain:  i will know wednesday.  eh, maybe i won't look. 

what i miss:  still missing sushi.

fears/concerns: just anxious for another ultra-sound wednesday; although i'm sure all is fine.    

highlight of the week:  finally feeling like we have a grip on the nursery [just have to get it started].  i did, however, order my glider this weekend!!!  ahhhh, i'm so excited.  i have my mom to thank for this generous gift.  i will think of her every time i'm gliding m&m to sleep :)

 

purchased from diapers.com - best deal i found.

{and, finally.........happy 27th bday 

to one really great guy.  

i can't wait to see him be a daddy.}

 

his bday dinner.  salad, shrimp (not me), steak with provel and yummy pasta

blurry.  blah.  can't wait or my iphone in april.

 ***i wish you could see that cheesecake.  holy cow.  it's from cheesecake factory.  

one piece of red velvet and one piece of hershey bar.  we couldn't eat it all.

 

20 weeks.

 half way.  hard to believe.  i have to say...after suffering the loss of a miscarriage, many times i thought i would never get to this point.  i can't believe we're here. 

looking rather sleepy.

inanimate comparison:  a banana.

maternity clothes?:  pretty much everything.  i've been rocking the long tanks paired with a cardigan most days at work.  thankfully, i've found some more maternity pants that fit length-wise at both old navy and motherhood (petites).  motherhood had a bathroom...hallelujah!

cravings:  i must complete a meal with some kind of sweet, so i usually make a dessert that lasts a week.  last week, it was coco rice krispie treats.  this week, stawberry rice krispie treats.  uh...yum.  other than that, i don't necessarily crave one certain thing, so much as get something on my mind...have to have it...then i'm over it.

aversions:  not much.

emotions:  just happy.  nesting.  and in the words of kristen bell, "if i'm not between a 3 and a 7  on the emotional scale, i'm crying".  even if it's from laughter.  i can't stop.

fatigue:  a little more tired lately.  if i don't get a solid 8 hours, there is a nap involved in my day.

symptoms:  getting fuller quicker.  get the sensation that i have to pee terribly and then it isn't much.  must be careful when bending over...i lose balance easily.  and the belly button is definitely on its way out.

weight gain:  i don't keep track, unless they tell me at an appointment. 

what i miss:  i've had sushi on the brain, lately.  nothing i can have, either.  i'm talking...fresh, raw salmon and raw tuna on a rainbow roll.  mouth watering.

fears/concerns:  a little anxious about room decor, now.  if i knew i was having a girl i would have the nursery all figured out and i would do this color palate.  but...we don't.  so i can't.  i know i will love our neutral theme...and i can add some touches later.  i'm also still stressing about the name.  how come we don't have that one name that we just know is it?  is that weird? 

highlight of the week:  jake feeling tons of movement now too!  also, just getting to the 20 week point!  looking forward to my next ultrasound in a couple weeks.

18 weeks [more like, pretty much 19]

18 weeks 3 days.  yes, i was sleepy.

the close ups always seem to make it look like it really feels.

inanimate comparison:  the size of a deli pickle or bell pepper.

maternity clothes?:  pants and leggings, yes...thanks to old navy.  i do have one pair of khakis and one pair of jeans that i can do the rubber band trick with.  tops are hit and miss.  i love the long maternity tops.

cravings:  i get dinner cravings.  for example, i saw baked beans and then had to have them.  i saw someone eating boiled cabbage [wtf?] and had to have that.  but the other day i noticed that, in my lunch, i had packed a piece of my strawberry cake, a strawberry poptart and a strawberry cereal bar.  i'm seeing a trend.

aversions: not many.

emotions:  over the moon.  easily teary.

fatigue:  up and down.  i'm pretty sleepy after work, but i try to move some how.  nighttime is touch and go because when i wake up to go potty, sometimes i stay up :(

symptoms: large ta-tas.  some lower back pain and, what i just learned is, sciatic nerve pain [i thought i had kidney stones....ya, nope].

weight gain:  7-9 lbs.  things have fluctuated. 

what i miss:  lately...nothing.  :)

fears/concerns:  that we will be those parents naming our child as we sign the birth certificate.  and maybe i'm nuts but i think my belly button has begun a slow progression outward.  very slow.  but it appears shallower?  a little concerned about that belly ring scar.  yoikes! 

highlight of the week:  by far, yesterday's ultrasound and sharing it with family.  excited for another in 4 weeks!!!  another highlight...jake feeling tiny movements too [if and when he's patient].

...

consuming.

one person who sent us well wishes when we announced this pregnancy said, "good luck on this all consuming journey".  i didn't think much of it then, but consuming is exactly the right word.

and i don't just mean consuming food....and cake....and m&ms....and ice cream cones.

consuming in every sense of the word.

my thoughts are currently consumed by...
nursery ideas
my next appointment
names
worries and fears
excitement
boy or girl?
sleep
eating
baby sitters
names
diapering
monitors
the delivery
exercise
car seats
girl or boy?
bottles
new car
names
middle names
feb 1
sleep
crib safety...
and i could just go on and on

and it's not just my thoughts.  also my actions.  my conversations.  my internet usage and my free time.

this has to be where pregnancy brain comes from.  the thoughts could just go on and on.  and then i feel a little movement and i'm reminded again that there's so much to think about...and in the middle of a therapy session, i'm no longer working on therapy but thinking about how i can't wait for those movements to become kicks and hiccups.  and somehow that triggers nursing and then all of the sudden, i'm thinking about breast pumps.  don't get me wrong.  i get my job done each day and i know i do a good job.  

 but i've decided, aside from work, i need to make a better effort to step outside of the ride for a few moments each day and make time for something or someone other than this or us.  call it a resolution.  a very late one.

but just real quick...a picture.  because, this week, i feel like a lot has changed.  the bump has grown [not to mention, changed shape?] and there's so much movement!!  but.  let me say.  the back pain has started.  the further my belly sticks out, the further my lower back curves in.  and this was actually the topic of my what to expect email this morning.  does this have a stopping point?!  i feel like it makes my rear-end look a little kardashian-ish, from the side.  this isn't very necessary as i do not lack in the trunk department.  notice below. 

sir mix a lot comes to mind.  17 weeks.

now, i'm going to go consume my dinner.  tonight, i just had to have baked beans. what the...

 

16 weeks.

i didn't feel like this pic showed the enormity of that which i feel in my mid section.

so i tried a close-up.  better.

 

inanimate comparison:  the size of a large avacado.

maternity clothes?:  leggings, yes.  but i'm in the in between phase right now.  i have one pair of jeans left that button, but i use the rubber band trick or the bella band for the rest.  i wear a few maternity tops.  i love the long length!  question:  do the maternity pants with the elastic wasteband (not the full pannel) last you for the whole pregnancy?  wondering if they're worth my money.

cravings:  mcdonald's cones.  strawberry cake.  (see this post.  it is to die for).  also, other fruity treats...like, peach yogurt or blueberry cake doughnuts (must not buy these).

aversions:  i am friends with chicken again.  not just a slab of it, but cut up.  i tried caffeine in one of those store bought starbucks drinks and i did not like how it made me feel.

emotions:  nothing to complain about.

fatigue:  getting better.  it's to the point where i don't necessarily realize it during the day, but i will get home and just crash.  i have no trouble sleeping...until i get up for that first potty of the night.  then my mind starts a-racin'.

symptoms: lots of bathroom breaks, a little back pain and some shooting pains in my pelvis region.  nothing out of the ordinary.

weight gain:  3 lbs. 

what i miss:  lately...nothing.  :)

fears/concerns:  i'm anxious for our anatomy screening at 18.5 weeks (feb. 1).  the big ultrasound when we get to see m&m on the big screen for a while.  just hoping we have a healthy one.

highlight of the week:  ok, maybe i'm crazy but i swear i am feeling a little movement.  let me explain.  if i lay really still, i sometimes feel a fleeting little tap on the right sight of my lower belly.  right where my doc always finds the heartbeat.  it isn't often and certainly isn't strong, but i really don't think it's gas.

...