Full Term/37 Weeks/3 more weeks... maybe?

With just three more weeks to go and at about six and a half pounds (though weight and height vary from fetus to fetus), your baby is doing just fine. You can expect weight gain to be about half an ounce per day. (Boys, though, are likely to be heavier at birth than girls. And here's a bit of boy baby trivia to back that one up: Moms carrying boys tend to eat more than moms carrying girls — a foreshadowing of teenage refrigerator raids to come.) Since your little one is considered full-term now, if your baby was to leave the wet nest this week, he or she would likely thrive. That's because Mother Nature and you have done such a fine job.

So what's keeping your little one busy while waiting it out until D-day? Practice, practice, practice. Your baby is simulating breathing by inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid, sucking on his or her thumb, blinking, and pivoting from side to side (one day you feel the tushy on the left side, another day it has swung around to the right side). All these are skills needed for his or her next gig — starring as newborn.

Here's an interesting fact: Your baby's head (which, by the way, is still growing) will, at birth, be the same size circumference as his or her hips, abdomen, and shoulders. And guess what's making an impression (literally) these days on those shoulders and hips: fat — causing little dimples in those cute elbows and knees, shoulders and hip, and creases and folds in the neck and wrists.

Today's doctor's appoointment was quite interesting! First of all, the weight issue. She's still happy with me. It hasn't really moved. I probably could have lost more, but I cheated on the weekend b/c I really don't think I should be losing weight like I did. So as long as I don't gain (according to her scale) then I'm good. OK, but that aside today I am officially considered full term! That means Bagel can come now and she'd be just fine. Group B Strep test came back negative, so that's good! She checked my cervix (so uncomfortable) and although it's still closed, she said that it was much softer than last week. So she thinks that there will be no problem getting my cervix open once I start to dilate. Basically once I dilate, I probably won't be once of those who will be 3 cmm dilated for like 3 weeks. She said that my cervix being much softer than last week is a good sign. We also got ANOTHER ultrasound today! Unfortunately, we didn't get any pictures b/c our little girl would not show her face. Good thing Junior was off today so he could see. the purpose of the ultrasound was so the doc could take some measurements and make sure all was good. But she also wanted to try and get a shot of her face so she could print it and give it to us. Let's just say Toni is already stubborn. Anyway, all the measurments came back good and our little booger is in the 57% which mean she is of average size right now and just a tad over 6 lbs. HA! I knew she wasn't a big baby. But that just means the weight gain is all on me. Sigh... but I'd rather that than have to push a 10 lb baby out. We did see her move some which was really cool! She waqs sucking her thumb and all her little fingers did like a little wave of some sort. It was cool!!! She has a really nice round head, which I'm sure will get molded otherwise during birth, but hopefully it will come back to the perfect round shape!

But ok, the most exciting news! While the doc was doing measurements, she measured the amount of water (amniotic fluid) in the womb. Now techinically she measured at 10 (10 what, I don't know.) which she said is normal but she said from what she was seeing it seemed like the water was a little low. That means we might have to have the little booger sooner than planned! eeek! It's exciting! But she is going to measure the water again next wednesday before making that decision. But witht he fact that my cervix is soft and water may be low, i'm excited that I may have a baby sooner than I thought! We'll just have to wait and see.

I need to get a move on and finish packing my bag and wash her new going home outfit! I know, of all the adorable outfits I got during my showers and I STILL bought a going home outfit? Well, I wanted one that was one piece and buttoned up in the front so that I don't have to pull anything over her head the first few days. I heard it's best. I also need to get a couple of books to read in the hospital. One on breastfeeding and one about the first year of the baby b/c I do NOT want to go into this totally clueless!

So, what's new with me? Well I now get this crazy radiating pain down my sciatic quite regularly and sometimes I get this crampy like pain down there. I'm guessing that's a contraction. Still, not getting those regularly yet. The sucky part is when I get that cramp the SAME time the radiating pain comes on. OH MAN! I almost fell over the first time it happened. The sciatic thing really sucks because it makes walking that much more difficult and I'm already waddling. So now I waddle with a limp and my feet look like one huge kolache with 5 sausages sticking out. it's not pretty. On top of that, my southern region is sore ALL the time. It's so swollen it hurts. And my fingers... well besides them looking like sausages too, they hurt a little. Now I know it's a bad habit, but when my figners feel a little stiff I pop my knuckles and it feels better. Well, I can't just do that anymore. I try but it hurts and it also feels like there is so much extra fat or fluid or something surrounding my fingers that it keeps me from being able to opo my knuckles. So... my fingers are left stiff and a little uncomfortable. I'm starting to want my body back. haha! It's getting so difficult to even move.

Weird dream

The other night I had a dream I made friends with Eminem and he was a really nice guy. Not like the asshole he portrays to be. haha! that's it. I have no clue where a dream like that would stem from seeing how you don't even hear about him in the media these days. So that was weird, but then again not since I tend to have crazy dreams during this pregnancy. But I thought it was funny enough to blog about to remember and share.


Today I had my first stranger pat my belly. I always heard that it happens all the time, but I've never experienced it before today. I know everyone that touches my belly so it's not so weird. But today a client came in, and one we rarely see, and she was all, "ohhhhh how cute!!!" reached for my belly and started rubbing it. whoa. I NOW know the violation that people have spoken of. It's weird!!! I've heard and read about it and always thought, it can't be that bad right? I mean it's a pregnant belly. No, it is weird. I almost stepped back when she did that. But since she is a client I just stood there with a fake smile and let her fondle me. That's what it feels like when it's someone you don't know is running up on your belly.


Of course the popular question i keep getting is, "when are you due?" So my answer is always May 21. And then I get the ever so popular response, "wow! that's right around the corner!" So today I had the thought that one day (soon) someone will ask when I am due and my answer could be, "next week" instead of saying "May 21." Now HOW crazy is that!? Part of me still doesn't feel like it's THAT close. But I guess it's because I always had it in my head that once you are so close, you are so uncomfortable that you are near bed rest if not on bed rest already. And so far I've been pretty lucky and haven't had it so bad (knock on wood, it's not over yet). I mean sure, i'm more uncomfortable than before but nothing I can't tolerate. AND I haven't even had to hit my stash of Tylenol that I carry around with me. I just know that in my next pregnancy it will be complete opposite. Everything I lucked out on this time I'm sure will come get me the second time around. BUT let's not go there because that will be a couple of years at least!


right now she is squirming around in there and it's so weird. I think it's because I just ate and I'm sitting and therefore it is just got really cramped in there for her. So she's kicking me in my ribs and to the left and right trying to make room... I'm guessing.


Last night Junior was on some website that has toy cars for little kids to ride in; those motorized ones. He said SHE WILL have one no matter what. haha! boys and their toys. He really is determined to make her a car nut like him. We shall see. I was pretty tom boyish as a kid... and well as a teen too so I always figured that my daughter would be the complete opposite. But again, both my neices have a pretty good balance between the two. So maybe she will too. But then again, both my mom and I were so different in that aspect. Sigh.... just have to wait and see!

9 Months/4 more weeks!

Your baby's skull isn't the only soft structure in his or her little body. Most of your baby's bones and cartilage are quite soft as well (they'll harden over the first few years of life) — allowing for an easier journey as your baby squeezes through the birth canal at delivery (and less prodding and poking for Mom along the way). The skull bones are also not fused together yet so that the head can easily (well, relatively easily) maneuver through the birth canal.

So your little bruiser (who you've now learned won't be bruising you all that much with those soft bones) is now about six pounds in weight and measures slightly more than 20 inches in length. Growth will experience a slowdown now, both so your baby will be able to fit the narrow passageway to the outside and also so he or she can store up all the energy needed for delivery.

By now, many of your baby's systems are pretty mature, at least in baby terms — and just about ready for life on the outside. Blood circulation, for instance, has been perfected and your baby's immune system has matured enough to protect him or her from infections outside the womb. Other systems, however, still need a few finishing touches. Once such notable example: digestion — which actually won't be fully mature until sometime after birth. Why's that? Inside his or her little gestational cocoon, your baby has relied on the umbilical cord for nutrition, meaning that the digestive system — though developed — hasn't been operational. So your baby will take the first year or two to bring that system up to speed.

So today's the day I'm officially in my ninth month! Am I ready for the homestretch? Does it matter? It's coming no matter what. Part of me is ready and part of me isn't. But I think just last night did I really FEEL that part of me that might not be ready. It's normal at this point for me to feel some contractions here and there but nothing like what I will be feeling once labor really come on. Up until now, they have all been fairly painless and just uncomfortable. When I got home from work last night as I was changing into my house clothes I got a slight contraction except that THIS time it was a little painful. Nothing so bad like I'm sure it will be but enough pain to scare me. Right now there is no pattern or regularity to it so I'm ok. But that feeling of pain (even if just for a few seconds) kind of slapped a bit of reality in my face. I couldn't help but think, it's going to feel worse than this. And it will come much more regularly. holy crap! So in that sense, I'm not so sure I'm THAT ready.

But, on the other hand, I can't help but day dream about what she will be like. What will she look like? Who will she look more like? I hope she doesn't have my nose. I hope she's smart. All these things!

So ok. I had my doctor's appointment today and for once, my doctor is proud of me and my weight! I was hoping since I lost weight that she would tell me to eat. But just as I suspected, she said to keep it up. It's working for me. Sigh... ok. Everything checked out well. Today's appointment was a little different than most. Most she checks the heart rate, lectures me some about my weight and that's it. Well since I'm 36 weeks, she did the Group B Strep test (Group B streptococcus: A bacterium that can be found in the vagina that can be picked up by the baby as he or she passes through during childbirth, causing a very serious infection in the newborn . Testing for GBS is usually scheduled between weeks 35 and 37. The practitioner will use vaginal and rectal swabs, and if the result is positive, the treatment is to administer either IV antibiotics during labor or oral antibiotics during the last weeks of pregnancy. ) which requires me to, again, have those undressed-from-the-waist-down appointments again. That's never fun, but it has to be done. OK, but the really uncomfortable part is when she had to feel for my cervix. She said this would probably be the most uncomfortable i'd feel at an appointment and so far she is right. The pressure kind of hurt! But the good news is, she was able to tell that my little booger is head down already. Thank God! She moves around so much in there I'm always afraid she'll be a breech baby. But the doctor said that the movement is normal and that she is definitely head down already. Cervix is still closed and "far." But she said we're getting close (I"m assuming b/c I'm nine months?) and that hopefully the baby will come sooner rather than later. So we shall see. The heart rate is reading at about 130-132 which it has slowed down a bit but again, doc says it's normal and that it shows she is maturing well. Doc says the heart rate will slow down to as much as 120 right before delivery. So we're doing well, she says.

I've also noticed that I've dropped a little. My belly doesn't sit as high as it was. I'm not sure if it's really noticeable to anyone else but I can feel it b/c the crowding under my ribs aren't AS bad as it was. Again, this is normal. The closer I get to D-Day, the more I will drop or as they call it, lightening. Basically the baby is making it's way down into your pelvic region getting ready to greet the world and the heaviness and pressure of it causes your belly to drop. But supposedly this only happens with first timers b/c after that, any subsequent pregnancies you drop once it starts to get heavy since your muscles have already been loosened from your first pregnancy. Interesting, huh?

Anyway, so the other day it occurred to me how much reading I've done (and am still doing) about pregnancy. However, I need to read more about raising a child (at least the first year!) and breastfeeding! I know nothing! So I need to invest in a couple more books there. Ooo! But exciting news, I bought my breastpump today. I'm excited about it b/c I did a lot of research on them and although I had to spend a pretty penny on it, I'm told it will pay itself off quite quickly. I just hope I don't have any problems breastfeeding and that all goes well. But I need to do more reading up on it.

Well I have to say I am enjoying my Wednesdays off when I have aappointments. I get so much done in preparation for the baby that it makes me feel more at ease with my nesting instincts. haha! I found the perfect going home outfit for her. A one piece with the closures down the front of the outfit so I don't have to pull anything over her head. I got the breastpump and believe you me. Because if it's pretty penny cost, I used all the gift cards I had PLUS coupons! haha! That thing is expensive! Probably the biggest expense so far! AND, I was able to take all of my extra clothes to a consignment store and some to Goodwill. There are still some things that need to be taken care of but I have assigned those to Junior and he has ASSURED me that it will be done BEFORE the baby gets here. I'd do it myself, but it requires heavy lifting.

Well, one more week until I'm considered full term and the little one can come any day. It's so crazy that even though d-day isn't for another 3 more weeks, she can come safely in one week. eeek!

March of the penguin

Me, being the penguin, that is. I can't help it. I waddle ALL THE TIME. Sometimes I catch myself and try to walk normal, but that's too much effort and what the hell... I'm pregnant. Let me be. haha! this past weekend the swelling was pretty bad. Not bad in that it was cause for alarm, but bad on my scale. All the creases in my foot and ankle were gone! My fingers look like sausages. And I have a whole more month of this? great.


One thing I was noticing the other day and this is a GOOD thing is that I haven't really grown much hair on my legs, underarms and eyebrows as much as I normally would. i'm guessing that has to do with the pregnancy, but I'm not sure. If you know me, I barely grow hair on my legs anyway. I know... if you didn't already know that and you are female you are probably hating me right now. Sorry. I had to luck out SOMEWHERE right? Anyway, so now that i'm pregnant... I can't even remember the last time I shaved my legs! Seriously! And they are still smooth! so that's cool! My underarms and eyebrows I still need to tend to but not so much as before. Especailyl with my eyebrows. I used to go every couple of months to get them done and just pluck the strays in between visits. But I was thinking about it the other day and I haven't had my eyebrows done since Thanksgiving! I've just been plucking the obvious strays and I THINK my eyebrows look ok. hahaha! This is all weird considering that I have more hair on my head... which is GREAT! I keep thinking i'll go bald once the baby comes and all those hairs that didn't fall out b/c of the pregnancy do fall out.


I feel like my belly is getting bigger. I don't know if it really is but it feels like it! And I know that these last few days i've had to be careful with some of my shirts b/c sometimes the tend to ride up a little and expose me. Worse is, I don't know it either. So I just tug on my shirts every now and then.


stretch marks. Now there's a topic. I've been doing pretty good up until a about a week ago! I didn't really get any and maybe just a spot or two here and there. But just as I thought I was homefree, some more are starting to appear. ugh. Junior says it really isn't bad at all and some people get it really bad and I know he's right. But still. Who wants them right? Expecially when you've gone almost the whole pregnancy without them and therefore think you WON'T get them. WRONG. Well actually, I read that if you are going to get them, you'll get them regardless. No lotion or potion or whatever will keep it from coming. And they say it's hereditary. So I know my mom had em. So I guess it was bound ot happen. I was just hoping maybe I lucked out.


My belly button hasn't popped although it is much more even with the rest of my belly than it used to be. It's halfway popped if that makes sense.

Pain in my...

back... and well sometimes my ass too. haha! The back pains are creeping back and sometimes it radiates down my sciatic, hip, leg.... ugh. The last couple of nights I've woken up just from the back pain. And just when I thought I was lucky enough that I was sleeping pretty good in my third trimester. oh well. I guess it was inevitable. It was bound to happen, right?


I swear these last couple of days I really think the little booger wants out b/c she is really pushing in all sorts of places. Junior thinks of it as her playing with me (or him when he's around). He calls her silly and asks if she's playing around in there. Really I think she is getting uncomfortable. I know I am.


Crazy to think, but next week i'll be 36 weeks which means (drumroll please) that I will officially be in my ninth and last (hopefully) month! And then I'm going to be a mom! oh my gosh! That still trips me out! Me? A mom? I can't even imagine being called, Mom! Or Mommy... awww... that is going to melt my heart when that day comes. Or it'll probably be more like Mama. But I'm still excited that Junior gets to celebrate Fathers Day this year!!! eeek! What will we do for him?

5 more weeks!

I'm camera shy.

Just kidding. Well I don't know if she will be but something tells me not. Based on my neices, I'm just thinking there's no way she's going to be shy. But we shall see. Here's the update from whattoexpect.com:

At about 20 inches and five and a half pounds (but with about five more weeks to grow), most of your baby's growth over the next month or so before you meet will be in weight (with a gain of anywhere from one pound to several), not height (baby's pretty much reached the in utero limit in that department). Accordingly, fat continues to accumulate at a rapid pace these days (on baby, not just on your hips). Back in the middle of your pregnancy, your baby's weight was made up of only two percent fat; now that percentage has soared to closer to 15 percent (and will increase to 30 percent at term). Which means your baby's once skinny arms and legs are now quite plump…and irresistibly, squeezably soft.

Also continuing to grow at an amazing pace is your baby's brain power. Luckily, the part that surrounds that amazing brain — the skull — remains soft. And for good reason: A soft skull will allow your baby to squeeze more easily through the birth canal. (Mother Nature was really thinking this one through — imagine trying to push out a rock-hard head…ouch!)

So we finally got the crib and changing table situated in the room. They were sitting out in the living room for a few weeks there. And though I STILL feel there is a ton to do before the baby comes, I'm at least more comfortable with the fact that if she came now, we'd be ok. I hope. haha! I still need to find the perfect going home outfit for her. I know, with the tons of adorable things we got at the shower and I don't have an outfit? Well I've been reading up and it's best (so they say) to get a one piece, kimono style type outfit so that there is nothing having to pull over the baby's head which will probably make her scream. so yeah. I want to avoid that. Now I have a ton of things that either snap in the front or side but they are either long sleeve or just plain white. I figure since it'll be hot around that time, long sleeve may not be the way to go and plain white... well it's just plain. That's like house clothes. haha! I actually have one outfit that would be PERFECT for her! But it's for 3 months. So it will probably be a tad big for her. Well let's hope for my sake that it will be big b/c I'm still a little nervous about having a big baby!

Yesterday was a weird day. All day it felt as if the little booger wanted to just rip out of my belly already! There was so much strain it felt like. Not in a bad way. Just like she really wanted to get out or have more room. I'm sure space is just getting cramped in there for her. Especially when I am sitting down b/c that's when I most often feel (what I think is) her foot kick me under my ribs.

Well I think Junior is getting really excited b/c he keeps talking to her through my belly as if she were already here. It's kind of cute. I can't wait to see how close those two will become. I know without a doubt she is going to be a daddy's girl.

So far the weight has pretty much just stayed where it was. So that's good. Well it sucks b/c I was hoping it would drop more so that I could eat more. But it's just stayed the same which is a good thing. So I guess that means I have to keep up this sucky diet until she comes. Call me selfish but part of me wants her to come early just so I can eat! haha! I know, that's bad. I keep thinking maybe my doctor will think I did so well she'll let me eat a little more. But I'm guessing it'll be more like, hey keep it up! So yeah. But then again, the idea of her sharing my dad's birthday would be so awesome! May 26. It's just 5 days after my due date so it's very possible but I'm sure at that point I will just want her out any day soon.

I think this weekend we are going to install the car seat. eeek! I'm so excited and yet it's so weird b/c I'll be driving with a car seat in the back. I'll look like such a mom! haha! But I'm anxious to see how this latch thing works in newer cars. Awwww... and how exciting! Junior will get to celebrate Fathers day this year!!! Oh man I'm so excited!

So yes, I do plan to keep blogging after we have the baby with all of her updates and things. Although, I'm sure my blogs may be far less than it is now. I'm going to take the advice of veteran mom's all over and try to sleep when the baby sleeps and leave all the chores undone. I hear that otherwise you will never get any sleep. So it's my goal to try and sleep when she does.

Oh man! We still haven't picked a boys name just in case! Any suggestions???

Losing Weight

So it's been four days and 5 lbs lost. While my first reaction was, "alright!" I'm thinking it's not really necessarily a good thing. Does that mean my baby isn't getting anything? Or does that mean I'm not getting anything? I'm ok with that latter. I'm just not ok with the idea that I'm depriving my unborn child of any nutrition. But it's not like I'm starving myself or anything. I eat a lot of whatever I'm allowed to. Mostly salads, with chicken, snacking on different veggies and things. Or maybe the increased amount of veggies just 'cleaned me out' so to speak and that's where the weight loss came from. I don't know. But I'm thinking that if this weight loss continues for the next few days, I may eat something I'm not "supposed" to. Thankfully she's still moving ans squirming in there a lot (even as I type this) and my instincts tell me there is nothing to worry about. It's just my logic getting the best of me. So we shall see how it goes for the next few days.


Oh yeah! I don't have much of the swelling problem anymore. Well, I do but just a little. Nothing like I had those few days before. Or MAYBE I've just gotten used to it. I don't know. Nevermind. I just took a look at my feet and legs and there's still swollen. WIDE. my feet are WIDE! Guess I jsut got used to it.


We got our changing table this past Friday. yay! I didn't think we really need one (and we don't) but it's nice to have one. Somewhere to put all the diapers we got, wipes, etc. So I'm excited to get that up. But for now it's still sitting in my car because I'm not carrying that in by myself and Junior gets back from Austin today.


I learned a new trick this past weekend. Well not really a trick. And I've known about it but for some odd reason I never thought to try it myself. Anyway, it's setting the remote control on my belly. It's so entertaining to watch! I mean I feel Bagel all the time, but even sometimes I miss seeing the movement. With the remote there it kind of catches your attention. So we played that for a while today during her real active part of the day. it's crazy how she can make my belly rock from side to side! I can't wait until Junior get's home so he can see it. Everytime she makes a huge move and I tell him, it's too late. She doesn't do it again. Well rarely. So at least with the remote he can see it for himself. My sis in law, Lisa, also told me what part was which! Ok how does she know and I don't? Well besides the fact she is a veteran mom, she said that during her bed rest days she had plenty of time to figure it out. So I'm taking her word for it. So I felt what it her back and butt. hehe! But that was cool too because I somewhat got a sense of how big she is. Well kind of. I believe her legs are tucked in so I have no idea how tall she really is, but I can get a sense of how long her torso is! It kind of makes me a little more ready to have her. I want to see her already! But at the same time. I read the part in the What to Expect When You Are Expecting that focuses on labor and delivery. oh man. I mean I know it's kind of gruesome, gross and PAINFUL but reading about it isn't much more comforting. But on a brighter note, I guess the more I know and expect the less scary it will be when time comes. At least I hope so! But the question remains, will she be early, on time or late? Out of my neices and nephews, one was on time and three came early. I don't know if that has any bearing on me or not, but maybe. Crazy thing is
I only have about 5 1/2 weeks left. And so if I delivered say 3 weeks early, then that only leaves me with 2 1/2 weeks! Why did I point that out? To freak myself out? I don't know. haha! My sis in law thinks I've dropped a little already. Maybe I did. I don't know. eeek! I can't wait! Well sort of.

6 more weeks!

Your baby could be as tall as 20 inches right now and about five pounds. Need a visual? Hold a five-pound bag of flour in your arms and imagine it's your soon-to-be-born baby (cradle it, and you'll only get strange looks in the baking aisle). Then stack three such bags one on top of the other (and get ready for some more strange looks, maybe from the same clerks who saw you grinning and holding that one-pound box of sugar a few weeks ago). That's how tall your baby is now. (Now go bake some oatmeal raisin cookies with all that flour!)

If your little doughboy is, well, a boy, then you'll be pleased to know that this week his testicles are making their way down from his abdomen to his scrotum. (Some baby boys — three to four percent — are born with undescended testicles, but they usually make the trip down sometime before the first birthday.)

Your baby's fingernails now reach the end of the fingertips and may even curl over the tip, making a manicure one of the first things you'll need to do for your little bundle.

OK, but I won't be baking any cookies b/c my doctor forbids it. Yep. Yesterday's appointment went just like I thought it would. She freaked out. The jump in my weight looked off the charts on her scale. sigh. So now I am on a strict diet. It sucks. She told me to cut out all sugar which isn't really too hard for me. I don't have much of a sweet tooth anyway. What kills me is that I can't snack on fruit like I did b/c of the sugar in that. She said I could have one apple. how sucky is that? But I also have to cut out most carbs... like rice. ugh. how sucky. but ok, it's not too bad. I think it's a little extreme but she's afraid my baby wil be too big. So for that, I'm going along with what she says. I tried telling her that a day before the appointment I was doing ok and was just two pounds gained since the last appointment which is normal. But that that last day before the appointment I jumped up two pounds. Kind of freaked me out too, but I thought that's kind of a lot in one day. Maybe water retention? I don't know. Well she didn't believe me. She said she thinks I have a poor diet. And I admit I can do better, but I seriously didn't think that the two pounds in one day was real weight. Plus, her scale is whack. This morning I weighed myself and those two pounds were gone. I knew it! She has me at 40 lbs gained but based on my calculations and scale I'm at 36. WHICH, is still more than I want so I'm following her strict diet. But at least for my peace of mind, I am not as bad as she makes it seems. That and I don't want to try squeezing out a 10 lb baby either.

So that was a sucky start to my day. But it got better because I accomplished some things that I probably wouldn't have been able to had I not taken the day off. I finally took some of those things to Goodwill AND made myself an appointment with a consignment store for some other things I want to try and sell. So that's cool. Plus halfway packed my bag for the hospital. How crazy is that? I still can't believe I'm this close already. Part of me wants her to come early so I can get it over with, maybe eat some carbs, she may not be big afterall AND I'll have more time before I have to fit into that bridesmaid dress for the wedding! On the other hand, if she comes later then I can somewhat postpone the ineveitable that I'm not so sure I 'm ready for, have more time to get things done and there is a better chance she'd share my dad's birthday. Guess we'll just have to wait and see.

OK, but enough of that.

Anxiety

Mostly because tomorrow is my doctors appointment and the whole weight thing is giving me the anxiety. I think this time I really did jump in my weight. At least according to my scale. I'm hoping it's water retention because I did lack a little on that issue last few days. But still, I'm scared a jump in my scale will mean it's off the charts on her scale. Wouldn't that suck? But who knows. Maybe it'll be the opposite. ughh.... I wish I could skip that part.


But ok, anxiety also because I'm really starting to get the sense that D-day is near. I'm realizing that I really don't have much time left before Bagel makes her appearance. But, I'm also starting to feel much more uncomfortable these last few days than normal. The tightness that comes and goes that is uncomfortable SOMETIMES hurts a bit. Like cramps almost. yikes. This is it isn't it? I'm starting to think that maybe Bagel will come earlier than her due date. Maybe I'm just thinking that because I'm feeling things I haven't really felt before, but I don't know. Maybe she will.


Today I printed out a packing list because supposedly I should have already packed my bag just in case. eeek! I still can't believe I'm at that point. And I've been thinking that we haven't even really thought of alternatives. Like what if I go into labor or my water breaks and Junior is at work. Who do I call? I know if I'm at work it won't be a problem. Someone there can take me. We haven't even set anyone up to watch Jake (our dog) for when we are at the hospital yet. Oh man... we better get a move on.


OK, on a brighter note I got my traveling system today!!! yay!!! FINALLY! So yesterday when I got home, there was yet ANOTHER notice saying they attempted to deliver. OK... for one, I guess they found it because they were saying that someone had already signed for it. I don't know. Two, why are they STILL trying to deliver it at my home when we first tried having them deliver it to my work and THEN told them to keep it a will call? Whatever. So I called UPS when I got home because one of the packages (the traveling system) had a 3rd a final attempt and they were no longer going to try and deliver it; we would have to pick it up. The second package was the first attempt. ANYWAY, so I call and tell them the whole story. Long story short, the guy changes (yet again) the address and says they will try this FOURTH time to deliver it to my work. However, if the attempt fails it will be returned to sender. OK. Now I'm not worried about a failed attempt because someone is always at my work to sign. BUT I am worried they'll try delivering to my home AGAIN. So I ask the guy if there is any other way to reassure that that won't happen. Do you know he had the nerve to tell me that there is NO RECORD of me ever having changed the address before. WTF?! First, that didn't answer my question and second you better check yourself again. But ok, I didn't let my pregnancy hormones get the best of me... on the phone anyway. I was whatever about it. SO, today they delivered it to my work, thankfully. But just the one package. haha! Don't ask me why they didn't deliver the other one. I figured I'd wait until afternoon because sometimes UPS comes to us twice at work. Well they didn't. So I checked the tracking online and it says that they attempted for the first time at the "new" address and it failed. WTF!?! I don't think so! So I call them and they realize they messed up... AGAIN. And supposedly they tried delivering to my home... AGAIN. Anyway, they make sure the address was changed and even called me back to confirm that the package was pulled off the truck and placed into the one that comes to my work. Which sucks since I won't be there tomorrow. But someone there can sign for me. So it's ok. But I get home today, and I don't see any notice of any attempt! Yeah right they attempted. I think that package sat it's little ass on the truck all day and didn't move. sigh.... moving on.


This Friday I get a changing table! yay!!! We weren't going to get one b/c we figured it wasn't all that necessary. We could always change the baby somewhere flat. But my sis in law Lisa said her mom got a good deal on it and therefore it is a good deal for her and she would get it for me if I wanted. She wouldn't even let me pay. She said we could just exchange it for babysitting night. Which I would have done anyway and paid! I love those kiddos! Did I blog about this already? Oh well if I did. But it's so awesome how she and my brother have really helped us out. I mean, really! How do you thank someone enough for something like that? Junior seems to think, and I agree, that it's partly because my parents have passed on. And since Junior's mom lives in Toronto, we don't really have the helping hand like my brothers get or have gotten. It's so kind of them... it really is. And it still breaks my heart to this day that my kids will never know my parents. I hate that I can't have the pregnancy conversation with my mom either. Like did she experience certain things that I may be experiencing or what? Or get some advice or tips from her. Sigh.... what can you do right? Life goes on. Wow... if that alone gets me emotional, I will be one emotional wreck on d-day! I'll experience that rollercoaster of emotions I did when we found out we were pregnant, but times ten!


Oh yeah. I think Bagel has found her favorite side. She likes to be on the right side of me a lot. I always feel (what I'm guessing is) her foot right under my ribs on the right side and at the same time I feel her in my lower left abdomen. So she seems to be diagonal a lot. But then there are those days were it seems she is all on the right side because my right side is fuller and pointer. Like the center of my belly shifted to the right and my left side is soft. So I have a bit of a strange point off to the side. I think she tends to favor that side. Even as I blog, I can feel her foot (i think it's her foot) under my right ribs. it's fun to watch sometimes.


Did you notice I didn't have (or barely had) any typos? I proofread this time. haha! By the way, I added a poll so please take it! Thanks!

7 More Weeks!

I know, I'm late again. This past Wednesday I made the 33 week mark and THIS Wednesday I'll already be 34 weeks! So this post is slightly late. I also am starting to count down. Instead of 33 weeks, it's 7 more weeks. It's kinf of scary, but my sis in law brought that to my attention this past weekend! Most people ask me how far along I am. So I'm used to telling them 8 months or 33 weeks. Well she asked me how much longer I had, and the answer of 7 weeks tripped BOTH of us out!!! She was like, "holy crap! Are you nervous?!" And my response was, "I am now! I never thought of that way!" So yes, to avoid the inevitable. I'm counting down now. eeek! OK, here's the excerpt from whattoexpect.com:

This week your baby may be anywhere between 17 to 19 inches in length and weigh more than four and a half pounds. At this stage in fetal development, your baby could grow a full inch more this week alone — especially if he or she has been on the shorter side. Weight gain can range from a third more growth to a full doubling before the big debut.

The level of amniotic fluid in your uterus has reached its maximum, making it likely that you have more baby than fluid now. That's one reason why you're probably feeling lots of nudges and pushes — there's less liquid to cushion the blows. (Of course that means you're even closer to your baby now!)

If your uterine walls had eyes, here's what you'd see: your fetus acting more and more like a baby, with his or her eyes closing during sleep and opening while awake. And because those uterine walls are becoming thinner, more light penetrates the womb, helping your baby differentiate between day and night (now if only baby can remember that difference on the outside!).

And good news! Your baby has reached an important milestone about now: The development of his or her own immune system that (along with antibodies from you) will be able to provide protection from mild infections.

I am at the point where I have had to take of my rings. :( Oh wait... did I blog about that already? haha! Oh well, sorry if I did. But if not, it's really weird to not have my wedding rings on. I really tried to keep it on as long as I could, but I was starting to get the indentions in my finger and my skin started peeling underneath! haha! Junior told me to take it off already before it's too late. I guess since he works in the hospital, he always talks about people coming in with injuries and their fingers swell so bad that they end up having to cut the ring off. Or worse, if the ring is titanium, then they have to cut the finger off. So yeah. I took them off. The swelling is getting pretty bad... to me anway. Junior doesn't think so, but I feel so. I had a few events this past weekend and NO shoes to wear. i've been wearing flip flops. So... I gave in and bought some. But thank goodness for Payless because I didn't want to splurge on anything I may not be able to wear again after the pregnancy. But the shoes were quite cute I must say. Black, patented, peep toe wedges in a half size bigger AND in wide! haha! they felt good! Saturday we were at one of my best friends wedding ceremony and at the end of the night, I noticed my giners were REALLY swollen! I showed Junior and he said they looked like vienna sausage. gee thanks. But he was right. they were pretty gross. We took that as a sign that it was time to go home.

Yesterday we got the crib up and set up (thanks Kathy and Rusty!). Yay!!! It's more real now. haha! When you have a crib to look at. Well it got me started on my roll to preparing for the baby. I guess they call this the nesting stage. Well that and my sis in law having me come to the realization that I only have seven weeks left! ANYWAY, so I washed all the baby's clothes and sheets and organized and put everything away. In addition to that, I did some major cleaning. Cleaned out cabinets, vacuumed and not just vacuumed, but cleaned the baseboards and all that. Junior went through all the mail to shred whatever needed to be shred before throwing away the junk. I'm not done yet, but I feel a lot better about what we did because I think before we were NOT prepared! But I do believe they call this the nesting stage when you are too far a long to be doing work like that, but you almost panic that things are not set up for the baby and you get to work... almost forgetting that you are VERY pregnant. But I will tell you that last night I was in PAIN. Oh man my sciatic was killing me! I wasn't even just waddling anymore. I was just crippled! I used the massager Junior got me but it helped very little. Lesson learned? Maybe. I still have a lot to take care of. haha! Maybe I will exercise my voice this time instead trying to do it myself. But back on the whole nesting thing. I'm kind of scared to call it that because my sis in law kept saying that when she got into the nesting stage, she always went into labor 24 hours later. So yeah... I'll just call it preparation. haha! Given it's been more than 24 hours now, but still. you never know.

I think someone may have taken our traveling system! In case you don't know, the traveling system is when you have the stroller and and infant seat all in one. Anyway, Junior's aunt and uncle bought us one and had it shipped to us... a while back. Well Last Tuesday there was a UPS notice that we missed them for 2 packages. So I called and changed the address to my work address since we are rarely home during the days. the UPS lady said I should get it Wednesday, the next day. OK... Wednesday came around and nothing. So we figured, give them another day because maybe they had to switch trucks or locations or something because of the address change. Well Thursday comes around and still nothing BUT we get a notice for 2 packages from UPS on our home door. ooooook... So Junior calls them and they are all, "oh sorry. we see you changed the address we don't know what happened." So Junior tells them to just leave it at will call and we'll come get it ourselves. So Friday comes, and JUST as I am making my way out to go to UPS and pick them up, UPS is at my door with two packages! WTF!? But I guess it worked out b/c now I don't have to go there. But there was no traveling system. It was two other things from our registry from other people. So I'm a little confused. So I tell Junior and he figures out that there must be a total of 4 packages. 2 from the first notice anc 2 from the other notice. ohhhh!!! So that would explain the delivery confusion. So we figure that we must still ahve two packages at will call. Well I check online and it doesn't say that. In fact it couldn't find anything based on one of the tracking numbers. So I tell Junior to call today before he goes there to make sure there is even something waiting for us. He called Sunday and apparently our traveling system was already delivered and signed for last Thursday by an S. Castle. ?!?!?!?! Junior is like... I don't know who that is. That's not me. So now they are undergoing an investigation to find out where our stuff is. I don't even know what the other package is! so that really sucks!!! We kind of really need that and preferrably before the baby comes!

Anyway, on a brighter note my friends Ed and Angie are expecting... again!!! Their first born hasn't even made a year yet! hahaha! Congrats you guys!

Braxton Hicks

I've been having Braxton Hicks contractions here and there, nothing regularly and nothing painful. I could just feel my uterus tighten. I read that pregnant women actually always have these contractions all throughout pregnancy but that they just aren't felt until around 5 months or so. Apparently the uterus is preparing the entire pregnancy for brith by contracting. Again, it's not painful (yet) and just a tightened feeling for a few seconds and it goes away. Well lately I get that, but it's a little bit more uncomfortable now. Still not painful and still no regularity or pattern to it but it is more uncomfortable than it has been. So that sucks. I'm taking that as a sign that things are nearing. eeek!


Ok, so I've learned that I have more readers than I realized. Yay!!! I think it's awesome b/c sometimes I think I'm really only writing to like 2 or 3 people. Anyway, I've learned that some of the people that read this are first time pregnant women too! Ok, for you ladies I will share something with you that you may or may not realize happens. for any guys, so sorry but this will get kind of gross. And then some of you already have experienced this so this is nothing new and SOME may experience this in the future.


OK. So first I've heard about it was maybe about 4 months or so ago and I was pretty shocked. I mean it made sense, but I didn't realize that would happen. And what made me JUST now mention it and not then? Well a few things. I think for anyone that has followed my blog might notice that I have gotten a little bit more graphic and/or open about the whole experience. Why not, right? Also, earlier in my blog I tried to be conserative. I think I threw that out the window pretty much. AND, as I am almost finished reading Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy by Vickie Iovine (which, if you are pregnant I recommend reading), I figured if she could share her experiences through a published book then I can do the same in my little blog here. OK, so what is it already you ask? Well I didn't realize that AFTER you give birth just how nasty it is for you down there. I don't mean because all this stuff just came out of you along with the baby. So I mean for weeks on end. Like the book said, it's like having the neverending period. Obviously it's heavier in the beginning. Oh but it's not your period. It's just bleeding. I've heard and read that it can last as little as 3 or 4 weeks (I know... that's little!?) to as long as 3 months. YIKES! How sucky is that? Then you have (if you have the baby vaginally and undergo an epsiotomy) the stiches down there and the fear of having to go number two. All the bruising... ugh. I mean when I heard and read about it, it's like... well that does make a lot of sense. But to really get the 411 on it is NOT pretty. So I am REALLY not looking forward to that. Apparently in the beginning it's so bad that you can actually trickle... do you know what I mean!? Ewww! OK... but maybe it sounds worse than it is. I don't know. I'm not there yet. but I'll get back to you all on that.


MOVING ON. The crotch pain isn't so bad today... yet! I really don't like being swollen, though. It's just not pretty. haha! Yesterday I made the comment to my brother that my feet looked like water balloons and I GUESS he felt that was an invitation to add to that and said that I have cankles. Which is true... but really no pregnant woman wants to hear that from anyone even if she knows it's true.


My shirts are starting to have that open effect at the bottom. Like my belly is still fully covered, but it hangs over enough that it could provide a small shelter for soemthing. haha! Oh man... which reminds me I have to find something to wear for the wedding! OK... I think I will jsut find some sort of top and bite the bullet and invest in some new pants that will allow me to wear flats.