time sure is flying

Can you believe that tomorrow marks the start of week 34? 

Me niether!

Only 6 weeks to go.  Well, with any luck, 7 weeks to go.  George thinks I'm crazy but I'm hoping Squirt will listen.  Baby, Mama would like to focus on one stressor at a time, while she still has the opportunity.  Please wait until after Dec. 9 at 4pm!

We had an amazing weekend.   Saturday we went to a breastfeeding class.  I warned George that it may be a little too hippy for us but it was actually very interesting and informative.  Then we had to do a little shopping...at which point the belly aching started.  But we finished the night with some amazing dinner out and a little football at home!  (Yes, we're old.)

Today was another amazing baby shower.  My wonderful friends threw a great shower with even better food!  And since my main focus recently has been on food I would say it was a success!  No, I'm joking... everything was amazing and everyone is so generous and creative!  Thanks guys!

So I went to the Dr. last week, and everything looked good.  I feel like I'm getting so close...they look at me like you've got a while lady!  Yeah, so from now on I have to start going every two weeks.  Now...I'm not saying that I love having other women inspect my business but if they don't check me everytime then I just don't know what I have to do in there every other week.

DoctorOB did say that she thought the Squirtmonster was head down which is good.  But some one at work thought he looked like he'd dropped. I feel like that can't be a good sign but unfortunately I've got evidence that seems to show just that. Boo.

Ok so for once I'm going to keep this short because last week I spilled wine on the keyboard and now all the buttons are sticking (please note that I was just holding the wine...well maybe tasting the wine...but it wasn't actually my wine)!  No matter the situation, typing is starting to be a serious work out for my swollen pregnant lady fingers.

Here are some interesting photos to compare last week and this week!  Enjoy!

Week 32

Week 33

Note the "dropped" appearance...I hope it's just the angle!

FYI...our nursery is still not done due to technical difficulties. Once it's done we'll definately post some obnoxious/proud parent photos!

Peace!

varicosities, belly button fuzz, and other pregnancy ailments

Ok...so I'm just going to pretend that I didn't set myself up for failure, by promising to update my blog more.  Yeah, just forget about that!

For real, I had good intentions, but life has a tendency to get in the way of blogging!  However, after my lack of blogging was commented on by a certain blog stalker (you know who you are), I felt it time to get back to it!

So we're rockin' and rollin' over here, right on into week 32!  Can you even believe it!  I am now officially a mobile home (and yes, that refers to both my size and my purpose)! 

In the last week I have ballooned, or rather Squirt has ballooned!  I think he's supposed to be about 4 lbs now!  And it is unbundantly clear that he is outgrowing his current residence.  I no longer am getting this cute little Squirt kicks.  Nope, instead I can feel him twisting and turning as if he's trying to get comfortable.   Have you even woken up in the middle of the night because your significant other was elbowing you in the head?  That's what it feels like!  As in...it's not pleasant.

The other news is that my feet are in a constant swollen state at this point.  So much so that I'm sure my grandmother's feet probably look better than mine right now.  It's insane.  I know it's normal, but it doesn't make it any less uncomfortable...or embarrassing!

I will say (even though it will make me feel like my grandma, again, to complain first and then say how lucky I am) I've been pretty lucky overall (see!).  I know people who were sick for 9 months, or on bedrest, or being admitted to the hospital on an oddly regular basis for Braxton-Hicks contractions.  None of that over here, thank goodness (although I am tired and crabby and can't breathe)! 

My belly button is even in it's proper location!  Well, at least close to it's proper location.  I think it might be trying to pop now but so far I've been vigilant about pushing it back in!  And, while I normally am the Queen of all Belly Button Fuzz, this half outie situation has forced me to relinquish my crown, at least temporarily!

But really what I feel most lucky about is that I have no varicosities!  Because, (I'm sorry to say my childless friends) you can get them everywhere (as in everywhere)!  I won't terrify you with the details, I'll let the baby book do that for you!  But again, I have a friend who had some varicosities in some uncomfortable places and she was miserable for a long time!  So thank you Squirt for making me feel nothing but love for you!!!

Somewhat related, I also want to thank my family and friends, and George's family and friends for the wonderful baby showers I had last week!  All the aunties and grandmothers worked really hard to plan these showers and I am seriously grateful for that!  Everything was lovely, and everyone was so generous.  We feel so lucky!

Here's a look at a crazy pregnant woman at 32 weeks!

And here is a look at the things crazy pregnant ladies pass on to each other!  Don't worry, it only looks like it's from the 80's!

Alright well, I hope you're all finding pleasure in my pain!  I'm out!



week 29: attack of the hormones

Attention world: the second-trimester-honeymoon-phase is over!

Consider yourself warned.

Let me just tell you that at the beginning of this third trimester some horrible, imaginary, out-of-my-control switch was flipped and it is Hormone Central over here.  All kinds of hormones: good, bad, happy, sad, angry, hungry, frustrated, anxious...you name it, I've experienced it.  Translation: I'm freaking emotional!

It's awful.  I'm tired, overwhelmed, and irritated.  Everything is bothering me and the worst part is that I know it and yet, I can't control it.  Bad!  Bad hormones!  I've been on the verge of tears for like four days now but they just won't come.  I know I'll feel better after (unfortunately, that is a concept lost on the male species) but I can't do it.  Want to know why?  I don't have time!

Between work and school and growing a baby there is no time to breakdown.  There's plenty of things to make you want to breakdown but no time to actually do it!  (In addition to not breaking down, I've also not exercised, cleaned my house, eaten a healthy meal, or done a plethora of other essential baby preparation things.)

Damn this being an adult thing!

There is good news though!  I think...  We've just about decided on a daycare for Baby Squirt.  We don't have a name for said baby, but he will have a regular daytime appointment with 5-7 other babies!  Now it's on to the pediatrician.  See, I can just work on checking off one baby necessity at a time!

Also, I'm very excited for some family baby showers that are coming up.  I know everyone has been working hard on their plans and I can't even tell you how much I appreciate it and am looking forward to them!

Even better, I love my kid so much I can't even stand it!  I can't wait for him to get here!  Well...I can wait and I hope he waits because he needs to cook some more and Mama has a ton of stuff to do before then.

 

That being said, I was too impatient to wait for my wonderful husband to get home so I tried a self portrait.  It's good-not-great but will definately do the trick!

Ok I'm off to tackle some more homework!  Maybe next time I'll address the wonders of the pregnant navel!

week 28? already?

I've had a request for more frequent posts, so I'll give it my best.  But I can't make any promises...you know, what with school, work, oh and the fact that my life is boring!!!!  No, I'm kidding!  I actually would like to post more frequently so I think a little pressure might just do the trick!

So we are into week 28 and according to "What to Expect..." my child is the size of a head of cauliflower!  What the...?  Seriously?  I feel sorry for all the women across the country who are reading week 28 and thinking that their kid is spherical and lumpy!

What the book should say is, "it's week 28 and you now have a Ninja Fetus!"  I'm not even joking!  George about fell off the couch when he felt that!  It was like Squirt was practicing doing the speed bag on my uterus!  Unfortunately, as smart as my Squirt Ninja is, he can't seem to do it on command.  We will work on that over the next couple of weeks and hopefully he will be ready to perform at the upcoming baby showers!

So yeah, week 28 huh?  We're just moving right along aren't we?  Yeah, that means 12 weeks or so to go?  12 WEEKS PEOPLE!!!!  Sense the tone!  I'm freaking out right about now!  We have no furniture, we still have major things left off our registry, we haven't signed up for any classes, and there's something else...what was it...oh right!  My little bundle of Squirt is due on Dec. 6 and as of right now I have finals on Dec. 8 and Dec. 9!!! 

Serenity now!  Serenity now!

Goodness, maybe I need a time out!  Or maybe I should be reading instead of blogging!  That sounds more like it!  I'm sure everything will be fine.  According to my husband (you know, the one who's really smart and doesn't worry about anything), everything is going to be fine and my worrying isn't helping anyone.  While he may be right, it in no way is going to make me calm down!  If I could only convince Squirt to cook for an extra week then maybe my worrying would subside.  But I hear it doesn't work like that...oh well.

Alright, here is the week 28 masterpiece.

And, for anyone who for one second thought about telling me that I hardly look pregnant, here's an in-your-face shot of my massive body habitus.  There is no denying it now...I'm a house.  I feel like I need one of those red flags you attach to oversize loads sticking out of your trunk on the way home from Home Depot.

Ok mama needs to go to bed now because work comes early in the morning.  But I suppose I should read something first...or maybe review who is on my fantasy football team...hmmmmm.

do i look pregnant now?

Oh.  My.  God.  Time does fly!  It's been so crazy this month and I feel bad that I haven't gotten to update the old blog like I've wanted to.  Boo to that!  But if you can believe it, tomorrow me and Squirt will begin our 27th week together!!!

Here's our current picture.  You know, the one in which I look TOTALLY pregnant!  And please excuse the wierd dimple on my abdomen...it's either a shadow or the skinniest part of me!  Oh, and I had to get a different view today because I had just been napping on my right side and had lines all over me...oops!

So let me explain my absence.  In addition to just being plain exhausted, trying to register for the right combination of classes, scouring this town for good, affordable daycare centers, and working more than any normal pregnant woman should, we were on vacation!  And it was glorious!

We went to Seattle (where it was unseasonably hot) and Vancouver (where they are Canadian).  Now I am a big fan of Canada...ask George, it wierds him out...but let me tell you one strange thing: I was basically the only pregnant person in Canada.

Here, I am surrounded by pregnant women, all swollen and waddly.  But in Canada I got the stink eye from random people on the street!  Apparently it is not en vogue in Vancouver to lug your little Squirt down their very fashionable streets!  Oh, but we prevailed!  And truthfully, in the end we did see two other pregnant ladies braving the childless streets of Vancouver.

I have some lovely pictures to share.  I had to choose wisely from the 1274 pictures that my shutter-happy husband took.  To his defense, I don't think we have 49 pictures of birds from this trip.  No really though, he's very handy with the camera and therefore we owe these wonderful moments in time to him!

We're on a boat!  Well... we were waiting to get on a boat!  We took a little ferry ride from Seattle to Bainbridge Island (which I completely recommend because ferries and islands are awesome)!

Here is Squirt are 6800 ft.  Oh yes, that's what I said!  We hiked a bunch that day.  It was exhausting but this Mama is tough!  And worriers, you can relax, we all made it safely back!

Everyone sing along now..."this hills are alive, with the sound of music."  If you don't immediately want to sing songs from The Sound of Music when you see this picture then something is definately wrong you (*cough*George*cough*).

And finally, here is the aftermath.  My feet were normal-pregnant-lady-swollen the whole trip.  But, on that red-eye flight home something mysterious happened to them.  Luckily, I was poised for action and ready to have some photographic evidence this time.  Truly, it's disgusting...I don't mind if you laugh, it's gross!  I mean my flip flops left a mark...you know that's a bad sign!  (BTW, I took this picture with my phone so please excuse the crappy photo...although maybe this picture doesn't need to be any clearer.)

Ok, I'm off for now but will definately make a better effort to update in the future!  Mama out!

16 more weeks of bloatedness

Good God...my feet are so freaking swollen!  My toes are like tiny cocktail weenies.  I know what you're thinking...I'm damn sexy!

I took a red-eye flight home from CA Sunday.  I actually laughed out loud when I saw my swollen feet.  George also found it very humerous.  I wish I had a picture to show you but after only 30 minutes of sleep on the plane it slipped my mind!

This is my pregnant self, with Squirt, in CA.  We definately enjoyed the wonderful weather!

So we're now at 24 weeks and Squirt is right on track.  I asked my OB if she thought my weight was on track, lucky for me she said yes.  She did, however, say that babies get fat from carbs.  Basically, I'm going to give birth to a turkey by the time December comes around...oops!

There is a picture of Squirt at 24 weeks.  I have discovered an interesting phenomenon with these pictures...they are making me look thinner than I actually am!  Shocking, I know!  But trust me, I am enormous! 

I know your next question and the answer is yes...I have developed a waddle.  It's really concerning, especially since I know I'm doing it.  At the end of the day, when I'm super tired, it's even worse.  God, I'm excited to see what new and exciting pregnancy problems will pop up in the next couple of weeks to go along with my duck butt (insert eye-roll here)!

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand, we're back

Sorry about the little hiatus.  I had to do some stressful but necessary things including writing two final papers, buying a Squirtmobile, and pretending to take care of my husband after he had his wisdom teeth out.  (I say pretending because he didn't actually need my help...because he didn't think it was that bad...I thought I was going to die...labor is going to kick my ass!)

Now onto the Squirt update!  Squirt has been hopped on something that past couple of days.  I suppose it could have something to do with the donuts I ate today (yes, that was plural).

Speaking of donuts...next weekend the worst horror of all horrors will happen...I will be pregnant in a swim suit.  Gasp!  I contemplated buying a maternity swim suit but then I realized that I had no intention of wearing a swim suit outside of my deck after next week.  So, instead it's just going to be me looking like I live in trailer!  Whatevs!

Back to Squirt!  He's awesome and I love him.  We started painting his room and I have a feeling that it's going to look great.  Thanks to George because he is the Master Baby Room Painter! 

Also related to donuts, I seem to remember reading that Squirt is going to double his weight in the next month.  He's getting so big.  We can't wait to see him!

Here's a peak at Squirt after 22 weeks!