34 weeks.

We’re in the middle of another polar vortex. Yippee skipee. And I’m now a 30 year-old woman; whoa! It’s been a great week of being at home and enjoying our apartment’s heater. I also caught Michael’s cold in the past two days And to give an update…

How far along: 34 weeks

Symptoms:

·      The nesting urge is still there but I’m working hard to funnel that energy into getting substitute plans ready which counts as nesting {right?}. But it was real hard to sit and work all during my two snow days this week instead of washing cute newborn outfits and putting together our pack n’ play.

·      A few cramps here and there but only if I don’t drink enough water.

·      I feel really uncomfortable anytime I get up off of the couch or out of a chair I’ve been sitting in for a while…I’m not quite sure if this is pregnancy related? But if my “condition” causes muscles and ligaments to relax, maybe it does.

·      Our daughter has been pressing on my bladder a lot; it could be that she’s getting bigger and there’s less space in there. Whatever the reason, it’s almost unbearable if I’ve been drinking a lot {of water!}, which I almost always am!

·      My upper back/shoulders hurt sooooooo bad. Laying down on my sides {is there any other way now?!} is the only thing that seems to help. Driving really exacerbates it. I was wondering maybe if it is le bébé pressing on a nerve but I think it’s the extra weight I’ve been lugging around for almost eight months.

·      That funny tingly feeling at the top of my rib cage has never gone away; though it’s been less frequent this week than before.

·      I have an outie belly button! I’ve had this situation going on for quite a while, I just never mentioned it!

Wait gain: 166…same as last week

Size of baby: a cantaloupe or a butternut squash.

Exercise: a bit of walking here and there; I ventured out several times during my snow days and also puttered around the mall for a while today…which I’m counting {my how times have changed}.

Milestones: I’m now the age I’ll be when we have our little one…that’s pretty cool to me. I

What I miss: nothing =)

Sex: there is one girl inside of me.

Movement: baby’s going around and around in there. I’m still feeling here in a sideways position, though not too often. I don’t think she dropped like I mentioned last week but she certainly is going at my bladder; when said organ is full it makes walking really uncomfortable!

Thoughts/questions/concerns: we did not get the car seat set up last week and we actually might wait a few more weeks since we drive people around here and there and the car seat takes up prime backseat real estate. I also want to make sure I feel like I have enough newborn clothing around. And the pack n’ play! Since that will be her bed, I feel an urge to get it going.

Sleep: though my pillow is still great, I’m waking up every two hours to use the bathroom and to flip over. And all that relaxin {hormone that causes muscles/ligaments to relax hence relaxin} makes for some gross mouth breathing. Boo.

Goals: get a couple of pieces of furniture at Ikea, continue working on my substitute plans for work, maybe start washing the newborn clothes, and perhaps get the pack n’ play started.

Random: I’m looking forward to this cold setting sail and the temperatures outside to creep up a bit higher than what they’re at. 

Also, I got a bit freaked out today when a coworker mentioned that in three weeks I'll be full term. Obviously we want our daughter to cook for the whole six weeks we've got left, but it's kind of intimidating to think that in half that time she'd be OK...it's true that she'd likely be very OK if she were to come now even but I also calculated how early I can go out at work and be able to stretch my leave through to the end of the school year and it's only two weeks prior to my due date {& even that's a stretch!} so she reallllllly needs to stay put!!

33 weeks.

January is half gone and our due date is, for all intents and purposes, the end of February...it's actually March 7th but I keep thinking about how all I have to do is get to the end of February. This means that we’re getting close {but not too close} to meeting this child of ours. In other news this week, we both stayed pretty really {think tuna melt and sandwich dinners} busy at work and I had another appointment with the midwife. And now, without further adieu, a bit of an update.

How far along: 33 weeks

Symptoms:

·      Nesting has set in but it’s at battle with some third trimester exhaustion that’s rearing its ugly head. I was never as bone-tired as I read I would be in my first trimester but I think I’m getting some of it now. It was actually worse last week and I forgot to write it down, and it could also have been from a really busy week right after getting back from break, but I’ve gotten some good sleep this week and these eyes still try to close when they need to be open.

·      Baby’s hiccupping which I can feel low down in my tummy, though they’re not too frequent.

·      I’m hungry hungry hungry!!!! And still craving protein.

·      The soles of my feet still hurt, as does my upper back/shoulder. It’s the worst when I’m driving, which I do almost two hours a day, so I end up doing some funny {but safe!} arm, shoulder, and neck stretches while I’m commuting.

·      I’m smelling things really strongly. This has been one that has come and gone, or maybe I’ve noticed it at times and then not at others. I could smell tuna that had been eaten hours earlier in our apartment.

·      I’ve been HOT this week. I read somewhere that my metabolic rate is raging this week, hence the heat.

·      The baby might have dropped a bit; I thought I had felt it and then someone at work remarked on it but in looking at pictures and thinking about it, I think it’s just her position of the day that maybe makes me look like I’m carrying slightly higher or slightly lower. 

Wait gain: 166

Size of baby: a durian fruit {they’re the stinky ones, I’m pretty sure} or a pineapple.

Exercise: some walking and I got in a great trek around the mall last weekend.

Milestones: hitting 33 weeks and also getting some drawers filled with clothes for little girl. They all need to be washed still but I got them out of the suitcase and box {from travel since our showers [thank you SO MUCH friends and families]} and into drawers according to size.

What I miss: nothing =)

Sex: it’s a girl.

Movement: she’s still at it. I think she’s been in a good head-down position though I still feel her creeping over to my sides. Some days are a bit slower and others she’s more active, which is how she’s always been.

Thoughts/questions/concerns: getting everything washed/set up for her which means we need to haul out a bunch of our crud in our apartment. By “haul out” I mean clean and clear. There is very little storage in our spacious one bedroom {I’m not being facetious; it really does feel spacious because of an open floor plan and lots of windows}. There’s such little time during the work week, if any, so it’s down to weekends for us to get our act together. The pack n’ play should be set up too, and we need to get her cars eat put in…I think we might get the car cleaned and try to do that last task this weekend.

Sleep: not too shabby. I’ve really come to love my pregnancy pillow.

Goals: same as last week – drink water, walk more, keep working. And get some stuff in order at work for when I leave, or at least start to, and get that car seat ready.

Random: I have a birthday coming up; I get to turn the age I’ll be when I have my first child. And there’s a three-day weekend ahead of me, how lovely!

 xoxo, natty ♥

32 weeks.

We survived the Polar Vortex; way to go us. The week flew by which I knew it would since I went back to work. When vacation flies by no one likes it but it’s kind of nice when mundane and tiring workweeks zip on by. In other news, here’s the update!

How far along: 32 weeks

Symptoms:

·      My upper back/shoulders hurt SO bad and this week it’s been mostly while I’m driving; and that’s a total of two hours a day! I can’t figure out if it’s the extra weight on the front end of my body pulling on my back muscles or if it’s actually something nerve related, like the baby is pushing on something weird in there. I’m doubting the second idea I have since I’ve been feeling this since 16 weeks.

·      Bending/leaning over hurts my tummy.

·      My legs get a little restless when sitting on the couch.

Wait gain: 163

Size of baby: squash or a large jicama.

Exercise: Some walking around the mall and a quick one around the neighborhood before the polar vortex hit us.

Milestones: not anything this week I think.

What I miss: nothing =)

Sex: girl girl girl girl.

Movement: this baby is moving in some big ways. I’m still getting lots of little kicks and pokes, some really fast, but she’s obviously bigger because there are some huge roly-poly movements. Also, it feels like she might actually be moving around more, as in she’s no longer lodged in my right side. I even feel her in an upright position {head down hopefully} but no placement hs been permanent.

Thoughts/questions/concerns: I have 8 {I distinctly remember telling Michael’s parents when I was 8 weeks along and had 32 weeks left, not the other way around!} weeks left {eeeeeeeeeek!} and I really want our daughter to take her time in there. I also want to make sure that I have enough leave time at work and with my due date {March 7^th} to the end of the school year when I would go off my leave, I’m cutting it pretty close. 

Sleep: it’s been pretty ok this week; I’ve been EXHAUSTED so that helps.

Goals: drink water, walk more, keep working.

Random: going back to work has been very tiring but good. Whenever I’m gone from work for a period of time I get this feeling in the last few days that I’ve somehow lost my ability to do my job {I’m not the only one who feels this, I’ve asked around}. Then I go back on the first day and no matter how challenging it is, I realize I haven’t actually forgotten how to do anything and it’s such a relief.

31 weeks.

It’s 2014 – Happy New Year!!! We’re still on vacation and finishing up a wonderful time in Arizona. California was lovely and the Valley of the Sun has been too but we’re gearing up to go back and get at the day-to-day. 

There’s a certain niceness to that day-to-day PLUS we have something really big to look forward to now. I think we both had been looking forward to this break for so long but what’s great about it is that even though it’s just about over, we get to really soak in the last weeks of anticipating the arrival of our little babe. 

Anyway, on to the update!

This is what I call "Lounge Wear" chic.

How far along: 31 weeks

Symptoms: Some fun ones –

·      Sleep has been pretty crummy; I think I got up four or five times last night to use the facilities. Plus my hips/upper back get really sore when I sleep on just one side, which is what I’m supposed to be doing. Sometimes a few minutes of lying on my back, what I’m not supposed to be doing, is all that can make it better. Flipping over from one side to another is now a production. It feels as though this challenging sleep really just popped up starting last week. I find that keeping both of my sides propped up with blankets and pillows helps with that pain. My pregnancy pillow should be helpful once I get back to it but I think this isn’t pillow-related, I just think it’s big-belly-related.

·      There’s been some {gross} acid reflux that makes me bolt up in the middle of the night. It’s not an issue as long as I don’t eat dinner too late. The grapefruit juice faux cocktails I’ve been downing probably don’t help {pink grapefruit juice [from the back yard], sprite, and club soda = yum}.

·      I just noticed some swollen feet for the first time last night. They’re back tonight too. This is something I had been hoping to keep at bay – please let them go away!!!!!

·      There’s still that funny tingling feeling at the top of my ribcage, it sometimes has a cool sensation too.

·      Sometimes my heart feels like it’s racing a bit and my breath feels almost short but I’ve heard that’s par for the course.

·      Getting up off of soft/deep seats and out of cars has been challenging. Our car seats back in DC are a bit high up so it hadn’t been a problem up until this vacation.

·      If I need to lace up my shoes, Michael is the one to do it for me since leaning down/over is not comfortable.

·      I’ve been pretty ravenous the past few days. I read somewhere that there’s a growth spurt happening for baby this week so perhaps that’s where the hunger is coming from.

Wait gain: Still at 160, though I saw 161 yesterday. Is this OK to not really gain wait for almost a month this late? I guess maybe I’m eating a bit less than I do when I’m working so that could be it. We’ll see, then, next week if I pack on a pound or two.

Size of baby: coconut or pineapple – it’s a tropical week!

Exercise: Guinness and I have had some lovely and warm walks around the neighborhood here. We all also meandered around the Desert Botanical Gardens Monday evening to check out their holiday luminaria exhibit along with their lit-up Chihuly exhibit.

Milestones: Michael’s parents threw us a wonderful and special baby shower this week. It was co-ed and so much fun to see all of their family and friends I’ve come to know and love over the past seven years. The shower was a ton of fun, the Mexican food was delicious, and baby girl Melamed got some more adorable outfits and some good practical baby things. We are feeling so grateful and blessed and happy and we are so excited to share our little girl with all of these people in California and Arizona {& beyond!} who love her already.

What I miss: nothing =)

Sex: GIRL!

Movement: little bit is still rolling around and she’s still in an oblique/transverse position {sideways/diagonal} so I feel her a ton on either side. Her movements are starting to hurt just a wee bit {especially when she’s in a more vertical position and my ribs get some love taps from her} but I love every single one of them. Both sides of the family have gotten to feel her moving and kicking {& see her} which has been great since and how exciting that the next time they see me she’ll be on the outside!

Thoughts/questions/concerns: I hope I don’t swell up! Especially with a flight coming up. I also think I’m going to feel pretty pooped when I go back to work since I’ve spent two weeks relaxing off of my feet.

I’m also feeling anxious about getting everything at work wrapped up so that I can focus on being a mother. I know it’s going to be a really full and busy next nine {please don’t let it be much fewer than 9!!!} weeks but I’m just SO excited to meet this girl and start life as a mom.

I’m also feeling anxious/ready to get enough clothing cleaned and ready for our child’s arrival. We have some very cute outfits and an OK stock of plain onesies but we need to finish stocking up on diapers {we’re going to go for cloth but we’ll do disposables for the first few weeks} and get some more newborn things ready to go. Is this called “nesting”

Sleep: oh yes, how could I forget I have a whole category dedicated to this? Baby brain. See above!

Goals: continue drinking water like a fish, get all of us safely back to DC, get back to work {isn’t the first day back after a break always the hardest?}, and start some serious nesting back home.

Random: Arizona has been a WONDERFUL vacation for us and it will be sad to say adiós but, like I said, there’s a lot to look forward to in the next few months.

30 weeks.

Ahhhhhh this feels SO good. I’m smack dab in the middle of break and loving every minute of it. And I’m also officially into the last 10-week {hopefully!!} stretch of this pregnancy; how did THAT happen? But it certainly does feel good to say I’m 30 weeks pregnant.

Bathroom selfie since my photographer is already with his family in Arizona.

How far along: 30 weeks

Symptoms: Things have been nice this week and I’m going to say it’s because I haven’t had to teach a.k.a. be on my feet for any extended period of time. My upper back has only hurt when I lay on one side for too long and my feeties have given me nothing but leisurely walks around the neighborhood. Other than that I’ve been pooped in the evenings but I dare say it’s just jet lag thanks to the three hour time difference.

I haven’t felt super thrilled about eating at various {& random times}; I’ll be hungry and not feel queasy at all but I’ll almost feel ill at the thought of food. But I eat anyway and I’m glad that I do. Oddly enough, I have been feeling super hungry this week. I’m not sure if the little one is growing a bit more or if it’s because I don’t have the lovely dining hall at work for lots of lunching.

I’m still getting this weird tingly feeling at the top of my ribs. It’s an odd sensation and definitely not on my skin so I think, as I mentioned last week, that it has to do with stretching and a possibly tweaked nerve somewhere in there.

Wait gain: So I’m at 160 finally {who’s ever going to enjoy saying THAT?}. But this isn’t on my usual scale and it was after a big dinner so I’m guessing I’m still somewhere around 159. I’m pretty sure I actually lost weight this week {see: no dining hall and we oddly haven’t been eating very many big meals, despite the holiday} and I want to make sure that this bun in the oven gets big and curvy {not for my own personal delivery ease, obviously, I just want her to be a fat and healthy bebé}.

Size of baby: it’s weird this week {isn’t it always?} – a cucumber or a head of cabbage!

Exercise: some easy walks. Not what I had hoped for this break but the days have been busy. Hopefully when I get to Arizona things will slow a bit and we’ll find time for longer constitutionals.

Milestones: I had a beautiful first baby shower last Sunday. It was wonderful and oh-so-nice, thanks to my darling aunt and grandmother. Little bit scored herself some very cute outfits as well as a neat set of alphabet cards – each guest decorated a card with a certain letter on it and my aunt will laminate them.

I also got to see everyone here which is great because the last time I did I didn’t look pregnant at all {though I certainly felt it} and the next time I see most people here there will be an outside baby to pass around.

What I miss: nothing =)

Sex: GIRL!

Movement: she’s still going at it and most everyone at home in California has gotten a change to feel her move.

The weirdest/coolest thing is seeing my belly go up and down; she’ll be so obviously on one side of me and be pushing out while the other side of the tummy dents in a bit. I haven’t seen any body parts yet – I don’t think that necessarily happens to everyone. I can tell you that I can feel either a head or a bum, it’s hard and roundish so I think it must be her noggin.

She still very obviously favors my right side and she most definitely is still in an oblique position {kind of diagonal} which is not what her mama wants. But she has time to move into head-down which is what I do want.

Thoughts/questions/concerns: Last week’s flight went well, though I was just sore the whole time. I fly again tomorrow though it’s a much shorter flight and my dad will be driving to Arizona so the doggy’s hitching a car ride which means I can drink as much water as I want and not worry about dragging a dachshund to the airplane bathroom with me every 25 minutes. Too bad this is the short flight.

I’m also concerned about the baby’s placement; I really do want her in the right position, not in some odd placement like she is now. The midwife seemed completely nonplussed about it and my feelings/concerns are completely self-inflicted so I should take a page out of her book and relax.

I also started thinking about childbirth classes and after some research of what’s available in our next of the woods think that we might end up just reading some books. I’m pretty smitten with Ina May Gaskin’s writings and may add in the Bradley method book or the Hypnobirthing book, but I kind of like the midwife from Tennessee’s words. I just have to hope that Mikey can find some time to sit down and read through them. I felt a bit freaked out realizing that a class probably won’t work in our schedule or budget but I’m really not, I think I feel more at peace about reading up on things and having the midwife/midwives to help.

Sleep: this is sad; it’s been good since my husband left California. The bed we get to sleep in here is a full. It’s great to have a bed! But we’re used to a queen and for me these days, I sleep best when I can stretch spread out. But our bed in Arizona is much bigger PLUS I get my hubby back so I’ll be a happy camper sleeper.

Goals: drink water, eat, walk a lot, rest, enjoy the next week and usher in 2014!

Random: we’ve had SUCH a good time in California. I don’t leave until later tomorrow evening so I still get a full day here, which is lovely. The weather has been unseasonably warm and visiting with family is one of the things I miss most living in DC – I’m really grateful for this time here.

29 weeks.

As of this morning I’m on a lovely two-week vacation…yippee skippee!! I get to go to California tomorrow and then Phoenix next Saturday so we get in a good visit with both families and for that I’m really grateful. On to this week’s update.

How far along: 29 weeks

Symptoms: My upper back still hurts…laying down helps.

The soles of my feet still hurt…being off of them helps.

I get this odd tingly feeling at the top of my rib-cage in the center of my chest and I think that this child is maybe hitting a nerve or that my stretching uterus is affecting a nerve somehow.

I’ve been a bit tired and really thirsty too. I’ve been drinking much more water than I had been, since two weeks ago, and I’m constantly going to the bathroom now which is OK because it’s all good for baby.

I also have some restless legs going on. It’s mostly if I’m sitting on the couch in the evenings and thankfully it’s not too bad in bed {watch it get really bad tonight}. Stretching them out helps a bit.

Wait gain: 158 as of yesterday afternoon. So I’ve really plumped up in general but I’ve gone down one pound since last week? And I haven’t really fluctuated for several weeks so I’m curious about this.

Size of baby: a butternut squash or an acorn squash…it’s squash week!

Exercise: a bit of walking but not much.

Milestones: our daughter has a few more outfits and a great start to her library. I also started going to the birthing center and to my first group session there {see yesterday}.

What I miss: nothing =)

Sex: ¡niña!

Movement: she’s going at it. I’m seeing my tummy move a lot. She also seems to favor my right side. And I can tell that she’s almost sideways. The midwife said that she’ll straighten up soon enough and that can’t be soon enough for me…I want this baby head down!

Thoughts/questions/concerns: I’m flying tomorrow, wish me luck! My plan is to walk up and down the aisle as much as I can and getting my water bottle filled up when I get past security so I can stay hydrated. The trouble is that I will have Guinness with me so I’ll have to hold him and that complicates things. I’m sure I’ll be fine. The midwives cleared me and I trust their judgment. I just hope that my hips or back don’t get too sore sitting on the plane or that my legs get the crazy restless feeling. And I hope I don’t feel crampy or crappy on the plane, but the water I plan to drink should help.

Sleep: good this week, despite waking up every few hours. Mike’s actually been In California since Monday so I get to stretch out and take up the whole bed and that helps. Weird dreams {which I’ve had the whole time}, snoring, and drooling are still persisting. I’m a beast.

Goals: keep drinking water, get past this flight, get ready for Christmas, go to my first baby shower {♥}, and enjoy the holidays.

Random: Guinness and I helped a couple get engaged tonight!!!!! I’ll explain more at a later date.

First group meeting.

Today I had my first group meeting at the Birth Center. They employ somewhat of a group care model for their prenatal patients that starts at around 25 weeks {I came in a couple sessions later than the women who started}.

The women who are due in the same month start to meet once every other week for a check-up with the midwife as well as a class, each one with a different topic. It's hard to picture but each session is two hours and for the first hour a lactation consultant begins the lesson while a midwife takes each of us aside for a quick check up/heartbeat hearing/etc.

I'm really excited about this since I get to meet other women due around the same time who are also interested in a midwife/birth center experience, plus I get this great prenatal curriculum without having to seek it out/pay for it.

Plus there are snacks. And a week where we plaster our bellies and make a cast to paint. You better believe Daddy's gonna be involved in that one.

Today's topic was the mechanics of breastfeeding, part I, circumcision, and the birth center vs. the hospital {they do have admitting rights at a near-by hospital and some women choose/need to give birth there}.

I'm glad I made this transition and am meeting other mamas and learning new things in a small group setting, my preferred method of taking in information.

I also got this folder that explains what size our baby is.

I love the reminiscent of the 80s clothing/earring outline.