I Guess I Do Have a Few Pictures to Post

So this is the handful of pictures from the shower that were taken on my camera (thanks, Sarah). If you are reading this and have pictures on your camera, please email them to me!!! I require photographic evidence!!! :)

Here is the generous pile of gifts before I got to dig in. I can't say enough how very grateful and lucky we are!!!

This is the beautiful quilt that my grandma made for Little Girl. She is in the process of making matching receiving blankets as well.

This amazing quilt was made for Little Girl by Mary's mom, Jo. I actually got to help pick out the fabrics that she used, but I couldn't have even imagined that it would turn out so fantastically.

This is me with the amazing women that I am lucky to call my family. I know there's a picture out there somewhere with me and the equally amazing women from Mike's family. By the way, Kris totally could have fit without doing the awkward squatting thing. Oh well. :)

Finally, here is Miss Bella in the adorable tutu that we got from Mike's mom. I love it!!!

33 Weeks and No Pictures...Sorry

I was going to have all kinds of pictures to post with this week's update, but it just isn't happening. My plan was to have Mike take a 33 week picture yesterday, but we both kind of passed out yesterday afternoon and slept until after 7. I wasn't thinking about much more than food and more sleep at that point. I'm thinking that the third trimester has finally caught up with me and Little Girl is totally sapping my energy. As for Mike, having Bronchitis and trying to quit smoking is definitely taking their toll. We are zombies. Please forgive me.

How far along? 33 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: As of last week, I'm up 20 from pre-preg. I'll go back to the doctor on Monday for another check-up.
Maternity clothes? I still need to get some fall stuff. It's getting pretty cool here.
Stretch marks? I got 'em.
Sleep: Not so terrible, but I'm really tired of the whole crampy legs and tingly fingers thing.
Best moment this week: Our first ever mommy/daughter spending spree at Babies R Us last weekend. I took my belly and did a big return/exchange/shopping trip and got most of what we still needed after the shower. Once again, I feel so grateful for what everyone has done for us!!!
Movement: She's still in there.
Food cravings: none that come to mind
Gender: das Mädchen
Labor Signs: not for me
What I miss: Once upon a time I felt like I was ready for this baby. The closer we get, the more I realize that we have so so much yet to do. We'll get there...
What I am looking forward to: getting our furniture home and having a dedicated baby's room
Weekly Wisdom: I'm too tired to come up with anything deep this morning. Sorry.
Milestones: We have a car seat and stroller!!! Woohoo!!!

Catching Up...Trying To, At Least

I feel like this week has been a complete whirlwind! I'm not sure where the time went, but I don't remember very much at all.

On Monday night/Tuesday morning, my poor husband came down with Bronchitis. He's completely miserable but is being a real trooper. He's trying so hard to stay away from me, and won't even sleep in the same bed because he doesn't want to get me sick. He's so protective. I've been teasing him about it, but really, he's so sweet and I love this side of him. This little girl we're waiting for is so lucky to have a daddy that loves her and her mommy so much.

Speaking of Little Girl, we had a doctor's appointment yesterday. In the name of full disclosure, I'll go ahead and say that I gained 4 pounds in 2 weeks. My nurse didn't seem shocked, but I know I was. I'm officially blaming it on the baby shower, the high school reunion, and having a house guest for four days. For those who are counting, that's a total of 20 pounds from pre-pregnancy weight. Gah! The doctor freaked me out a bit when she informed me that they would not attempt to stop labor after I reach 34 weeks. 34? Seriously? That's totally just a week and a half away! I don't have any reason to believe that I'll go that early, but seriously? I'm so not ready for this. Everything else was fine, though. Little Girl is still measuring a bit ahead, so we may get another chance to see her and check on her size at 36 weeks. I'll take it!

I got a call yesterday, and our baby furniture is all in, paid for, and waiting for us in Topeka. I talked with my brother, and we are in the process of figuring out the how and when of getting the new furniture here and the old furniture back to his place. I'm so grateful for our amazing families and how helpful they're being! We are so so lucky!!! I'm ready to have a dedicated baby room and start doing laundry and putting stuff away. I think that will make things feel that much more real and make me feel that much more ready.

This weekend, we are going to do some exchanges and shopping at Babies R Us. I think this will get us pretty close to being done with the baby shopping. I'm sure I'll come up with a few more things to pick up here and there, but the major items will all be purchased.

I haven't had a chance to write much about my amazing baby shower last weekend. It. Was. Fantastic. Again, I feel so lucky to be surrounded by so many incredible women that love and support me and can't wait to meet my daughter. I think a rumor went out that we needed blankets for this winter baby, because we got a ton of them, including three breathtaking homemade items. My lovely friend Mary totally shocked me with a video she had been keeping from me working on for some time. She interviewed Mike as well as both of our families, used pictures of Mike and I as babies and through the years, set it all to Beatles music, and even included quotes from the very blog that you are reading right now. It was so beautiful and a gift that we will cherish for years to come. Thank you, again, for everyone who made sure I had such a lovely day!!!

32 Weeks

How far along? 32 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: I'm not sure right now, but we do go back to the doctor on Thursday. We're down to appointment every 2 weeks!!!
Maternity clothes? There are pictures somewhere of Mike and I at the reunion, but I haven't received them yet. My dress was fantastic!
Stretch marks? ...are easier to see now that the henna is fading away
Sleep: Sleep was horrible the past few nights, but I'm convinced that it's because I was so busy and running around all the time. Hopefully things will get better as the weeks wears on.
Best moment this week: My baby shower...it was amazing! I have so many wonderful, generous and loving women in my life!!!
Movement: Starting to slow down just a bit...I'm sure it's getting cramped in there,
Food cravings: Hmmm...yesterday I went to the store for milk and ended up with doughnuts, cookie dough, and Cheetos. Shopping is dangerous.
Gender: girly girly girl
Labor Signs: nope
What I miss: I'm actually doing pretty good right now...no major complaints.
What I am looking forward to: Starting to get our apartment organized and that baby's room set up. We have a lot of work to do!!!
Weekly Wisdom: Rest is so so important. Don't underestimate how easily you get worn out in the third trimester!!!
Milestones: moving from having appointments every four weeks to every two weeks, we'll be down to weekly appointments before we know it

The Craziness

Note to readers: I'm going to blame the following scenario partially on pregnancy and partially on my mother.

Upon finding myself awake at 4:00 this morning, I somehow decided that it would be an opportune time to mop the kitchen and bathroom floors. I think I may have also done some dishes, but I'm not quite sure.

I think it's clear as to why I'm blaming this on pregnancy...the whole sleep thing...but some might be wonder why oh why I would blame this on my mother. I'll tell you...I have totally inherited her bad housekeeping habits.

I'm not a dirty person by any means (nor is my mother), but I have a terrible habit of letting little chores fall by the wayside on a daily basis. Clean dishes hanging out in the dishwasher or dish drainer for a few extra days? No problem. Clean clothes waiting a few extra days to be put away? Normal. Stacks of mail and papers and pictures and books and whatever else might accumulate on the coffee table or side table? Not a big deal. I don't have any excuses, it's just not a huge priority when it's just me and Mike. Here's the kicker, though...someone's coming to visit. Someone who doesn't live with my mild-chaos on a daily basis. Watch out!!! It is time to clean!!!

I remember how this would drive me nuts as a kid. Family would be coming in from out of town and all the sudden, the whole damn house had to be spotless. I thought it was crazy. Now Mike thinks I'm crazy. Great. I love my mother for so many reasons and now know why she loves to say, "No one ever had 'She kept a clean house' on her gravestone". Yes, my house will be neat and clean when people are coming to visit, but I openly admit that housekeeping is not high on my list of priorities.

I wonder if Little Girl will also follow in our footsteps...

A Letter To My Unborn Daughter

My dear, darling girl,

I am so so happy to know that you are growing and thriving. I love to feel your kicks and movements throughout the day. They help me stay confident in the knowledge that you are safe, happy, and getting bigger and stronger everyday. I feel like we already know one another and I can't wait to look into your eyes and feel your hand grasping my finger.

All that being said, seriously...those are my ribs. Back on up just a bit, Miss Thang!

All my love,

Mommy

31 Weeks

How far along? 31 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: As of last Wednesday, I was up 16 lbs. total from my pre-preg weight. Not too shabby. I'll take it.
Maternity clothes? I got my dress for the reunion. It's pretty, but it is a day dress. Yesterday, though, I got fancy shoes, a cool bracelet, and an awesome clutch that will evening-it-up for me.
Stretch marks? a badge of honor
Sleep: Ugh!!!
Best moment this week: Wednesday evening...a good doctors appointment, dinner out (India Palace...num num num), and having fun with my honey at childbirth class...it was really nice.
Movement: Holy crap, is this girl busy!!!
Food cravings: This week, I've been experiencing some "mystery cravings". I totally want something, I just can't figure out what it is. So obnoxious!!!
Gender: little lady
Labor Signs: not even
What I miss: getting up from a sitting position without horrible hip pain
What I am looking forward to: There is a lot to look forward to this week: a haircut, my baby shower (thanks to my amazing sister-in-law Kris and equally amazing friend Mary), fantastic 4-day visit from Sarah, my 10 year high school reunion...dang, I'm going to be busy!!!
Weekly Wisdom: Let people help you!!! They love you and want you to be as comfortable as possible.
Milestones: We brought home our first major baby item...we have a mattress!!! We may not have our crib yet, but we have a mattress, damn it! :)

"How Are You Doing?"

I hear this question at least three times a day. I hear, "How are you feeling?" about as often. I can't figure out how to describe the exact manner in which this is said, but it's always sugary sweet and a little bit patronizing. These questions most often come from women who have long past had their children. I've also noticed that they are usually women that aren't especially close to me, mostly just acquaintances. It really has me wondering how I should feel about this.

One part of me insists that people are caring and truly interested in how I am doing. There are good, well-meaning people out there, after all. This is the part of me that takes over and allows me to give a brief, upbeat description of how my pregnancy has been so far.

A much larger, but so far more subdued, part of me knows these women's real motive. They are looking for the opportunity to inform me that, "it only gets worse from here." Actually, it usually comes out as, "I hate to tell you, but it only gets worse from here." Why do they say this!? They don't hate to tell me it, they relish it!!! They love every opportunity to tell me their horror stories and fill me with dread for the next 10 weeks. Bah!!! Do they really think I don't know that things are bound to get more uncomfortable? Do I really look that naive?

For now, I'll just continue to bite my tongue, smile sweetly, give my brief reply and listen to what these women have to say. However, this is my formal warning...this good behavior can not last. Once their prophecies are fulfilled and things do, in fact, get worse, I will no longer find it necessary to be nice. I will be very happy to be grouchy and mean and blame it all on the hormones!

An Update

We went to the doctor yesterday afternoon. My last appointment was at 25 weeks, and in 5 weeks I've gained 3 (actually, 2.8, but who's counting?) more pounds, putting me up 16 total from pre-pregnancy. Not bad, not bad. My doctor told me that my blood work from a few weeks ago (glucose tolerance and hemoglobin) was perfect. We talked a little about what to expect in the next several weeks, the doctor poked around at Little Girl (she's head-down, thank goodness), and we listened to the baby's heartbeat. Everything seems really good, and we're now going in every two weeks. They also made me get a flu shot, but I don't want to talk about it.

After our appointment, we went to childbirth class number two. I think Mike and I both agreed that it was far more informative than last time, and we had a good time. I don't, however, think that our teacher likes us very much. Maybe we laugh and joke too much or something. I answered many of her questions, and while other couple received little prizes, we did not. Grumpy bitch.

30 Weeks

I got this henna piece on my belly this weekend to celebrate Little Girl. Henna in the third trimester is believed to be good luck, bringing about an easy labor and healthy baby. I just thought it would be a fun thing to include in my pregnancy memories. I wonder what my doctor will say about it on Wednesday. Chances are, though, that being in Lawrence, this won't be the first time she's seen this.

. . . . . .

How far along? 30 weeks (!!!)
Total weight gain/loss: I will let you know on Wednesday.
Maternity clothes? I need to order the dress I want for my high school reunion!!!
Stretch marks? present and accounted for
Sleep: We went camping over the long weekend, and I slept ridiculously well. Do you think Mike would mind if I take to sleeping on our air mattress out on the deck? It's just a thought!
Best moment this week: spending four days in the middle of nowhere with my husband
Movement: I think I'm starting to notice hiccups from time to time.
Food cravings: nothing to speak of
Gender: Baby Girl!!!
Labor Signs: nope
What I miss: nothing right now...I'm feeling pretty blissful.
What I am looking forward to: my doctor's appointment on Wedneday
Weekly Wisdom: You don't have to let strangers touch your belly. It's just not necessary.
Milestones: 30 weeks...3/4 of the way there...crazy

Such and Such

Just a few notes before I'm off for the long weekend...

Last night was our first childbirth class. I was pretty excited to go, and was a little disappointed. The first class had little to do with the birth. It was mostly about what to expect in the third trimester, signs of pre-labor, and services that the hospital offers. We did a little bit of relaxation-type stuff in the end, but overall, there wasn't much new information. Oh well. Hopefully it will get much better.

Tomorrow we leave on our annual Labor Day camping trip. It looks like we'll get some rain, but it shouldn't get too horribly hot, so I'm okay with that. I love being able to get away from everything for a few days and just enjoy myself. I think Mike and I are both looking at this as our own little "babymoon"...our last chance to get away before we become parents. I hope that we can look forward to camping trips with our little one in the future.