Month 1 Essentials

Someone (an expectant Mom a couple months behind me) suggested I do this and I actually thought it was a good idea.  Here are the things I couldn't live without for the first month:

Boppy Pillow:  This is probably the number one thing I've needed, especially in the first couple of weeks when there was no way I deal with the weight of Waylon on my body.  The Boppy not only made feeding him way easier, but it was also good to prop him up on when we were just hanging out.  Make sure to buy a couple extra covers though because it WILL get stained.
Aden + Anais swaddle blankets:  We have a lot of blankets but these are my favorite.  They're a little bigger and stretchier than other swaddle blankets which makes wrapping your baby a lot easier, they wash really well, and I love the cute little prints.  They also make burpy bibs that I highly recommend.
Lansinoh Disposable Breast Pads:  Look, it's as simple as this:  if you're breastfeeding and you don't want big wet stains all over your clothes, get yourself some of these.
Lansinoh Lanolin Cream:  This goes along with the breast pads.  If you don't want to be sore and chapped, get some of this stuff.
Scout:  This little Leap Pad friend is just about the cutest toy ever.  It takes about 5 minutes to plug in your baby's name, favorite color, food, and animal on the computer and then you have this awesome pal who chats about baby's favorite things, sings songs, makes animal noises and even plays bedtime music.  Waylon loves to listen to him, especially during diaper changes, and even Scott loves playing with Scout!  Plus when he's older, Scout can help Waylon learn his colors, how to spell his name, and some nursery rhymes.  Scout is awesone!
Netflix:  I've made no secret about the fact that I am not crazy about breastfeeding.  But those little 20-30 minute stretches of just hanging out while your baby feasts can make you feel a little less like an on call dairy cow if you keep your laptop or ipad close by and stream some half hour long TV episodes.  For the record, I don't do this for all feeding sessions, but sometimes I get a little bored.  Don't judge.

Waylon: One Month

I really meant to write Thanksgiving week but with the family in town I just ran out of time.  We had a lovely holiday and it was nice to have my parents and brother, sister-in-law and nephew here to celebrate and meet little Waylon.  Some pics...

He was a little crankypants for this photo but still super cute.

Here is Grandma hanging out with Gino and Waylon:

And here is Waylon meeting his sister for the first time:

It was a really nice week.

Anyhoo, Monday was Waylon's 1 month birthday!  I took him to the doctor in the morning for his 1-month check up.  He's 23 inches tall (92nd percentile) and weighs 9 lb. 8 oz. (40th percentile).  Basically, he's a tall and skinny lad but he's gaining weight at the right pace (I'm constantly worried about this) so the doctor said everything is fine.

The doctor also said he's sleeping pretty well; he usually eats around 10 at night then sleeps until about 3 when he wakes up to eat.  After that, he's right back to sleep until around 7:30 or 8.  He literally has been doing this since we brought him home and everyone keeps telling me how lucky I am to have such a good sleeper.

He's definitely getting more alert by the day and has even started smiling a little bit.  He holds his head and chest up like a little champ during tummy time.  He's not really a fan of the swing (which is great, since we have two of them!)  I'm kind of concerned that he seems to want to be held a lot. At night, he can put himself to sleep after the 3 a.m. feeding no problem, but during the day sometimes the only thing that will soothe him is being held.  I don't want that to become a habit but Scott says it's fine when babies are this young.  I'm thinking about getting Happiest Baby on the Block to make myself feel better about it.  Any thoughts/suggestions on that?

Supposedly, my nursery bedding should be here this week (I'm so done ordering off Etsy) so I can finally post some pics of Waylon's room.  Stay tuned!

Here is Little Man on his 1 month birthday:

Sprouting Sprout

It's been over a week since I updated the blog, and without getting too specific, let me just say that it's because I've been having some health problems.  It's crappy and I've been tired and in pain and lacking energy to do much of anything.  Luckily, my mom was here all last week and was a big help taking care of Waylon, making dinner and cleaning up around the house.  And of course Scott is super helpful as well which is good because it's been taking most of my strength lately just to feed Waylon.

Anyway, Little Man is doing great.  We went to the doctor on Monday and he grew 1 inch and gained 5.5 ounces in a week.  I think he might be having a growth spurt because he eats constantly it seems!  He is tall and skinny and still super handsome, don't you think?

Here's another of my fave pics.  Scott, Waylon and Josie just chilling listening to some records.

That's all for today.  Time to rest.

Real Talk

So, we've been home from the hospital for a little over a week now and baby Waylon is doing pretty great.  We had a doctor's appointment on Monday and she said everything looks great.  He gained about 4 ounces in 5 days which is right on target, and grew half an inch! He already looks older to me when I look at pictures of him we took in the hospital which is crazy to me.  I like my tiny little Sprout and it makes me a little sad he is already getting bigger.

Waylon is still a mostly peaceful happy baby.  He is starting to focus more when he looks at you and his eyes look a little lighter to me than when he was born.  Might they stay blueish-gray?  That would be so cute.  He really only cries when he's hungry or has a tummy ache and it's either the most overdramatic screaming fit you've ever heard (which makes me laugh) or this sad little baby bird noise (which also makes me laugh).  Yes, I laugh when my child cries.  Bad Mom!

Without jinxing myself, I have to say that Waylon has been sleeping pretty well.  He wakes up only once or twice a night, eats and goes right back to sleep.  Last night he slept from 1:30 to 7:00 which was amazing.  Keep it up little Sprout.

Okay, breastfeeding.  Obviously, he is eating well based on his weight gain and everything, but I have to be honest:  I hate breastfeeding.  It's not as painful as it was in the beginning but it's just not the romanticized lovely bonding experience that everyone leads you to believe that it is.  You're basically tethered to your child all the time, especially because pumping is not working for me, and I find myself watching the clock whenever he eats and counting down to when this particular round will be over.  Is that harsh and blunt and unloving?  Yes, but that's the truth and whether I enjoy it or not doesn't really matter.  I'm committed to doing it because I know it's best for both of us but I'm telling you, I can't wait for him to start eating food that doesn't come from my body.  Judge away.

How handsome is my little boy?

One Week of Waylon

Well that sure went by quickly.  I can't believe little Waylon is already a week old!  I think I've done a pretty good job adjusting to everything.  Breastfeeding by far has been the most challenging part of it all, but it is finally starting to get better.  Honestly, for the first couple of days I would just pray he didn't get hungry because it was so painful.  I tried pumping but it just doesn't produce that much for me and I felt like I spent all day either feeding him, pumping, or washing pump parts and bottles.  I think I will try pumping again in a couple of weeks just to give myself some freedom but for right now, it looks like the little Sprout is stuck on me.

I pray I don't jinx myself, but I think he is sleeping pretty well.  The doctor told me that I can't let him go for more than three hours without eating, even if this means that I have to wake him up in the middle of the night from a sound sleep.  That's about as counterintuitive as anything I've ever heard and I contemplated telling the doctor she was crazy.  If Waylon wants to sleep for 4 hours at a time at night, I'm not messing with that good fortune.

Other than that, he is a pretty happy and peaceful baby.  He only really gets upset when he's hungry or needs to be changed and I feel really lucky.  His face is expressive and hilarious.  I love how straight his nose is and his cleft chin. Basically, he's pretty much the most awesome little creature ever!

Waylon Scott's Birth Story Part #2

Okay, so I'm in the OR, shaking like crazy and crying because I'm freaking out about the impending C-section.  The nurses were all really nice as I was getting the spinal tap (or whatever the one that's not an epidural is called) but the anesthesiologist was like "listen, you need to pull it together."  Someone else might have thought that was pretty mean, but I actually found it quite calming.  People do this every day, these doctors and nurses probably do this every day, and it's going to be fine.

After I was numb and laying down on the table with the curtain up around my mid-section, they finally let Scott in the room.  Go time!  Even though nothing they did was painful, I could still feel the entire procedure take place.  It was weird, the zipping feeling, the moving around of my organs, the moment they pulled Sprout's little head off my rib cage (what a relief after months of burrowing!).  After a very short time the doctor said it's a boy and held up a slimy purple mass over the curtain for a split second, not even enough time to identify it as a human baby!  How annoying!

Scott could see much better than me and he was able to go over to where they were cleaning him off and told me that he was beautiful and perfect...and he is, don't you think?  Long and lean and handsome.

Scott got to see him first while they were still sewing me up.  How cute are these two?

Finally I got to see little Waylon Scott.  I think in the first moments the overwhelming emotion for me was relief.  My little Bean Sprout is more than fine, he's awesome!  I didn't die from surgery!  Everything is going to be okay!

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from that we took in the hospital of little Waylon.  Somehow we missed having a picture taken of the three of us!  I should probably remedy that soon.  Anyway, look at this fat little Sprout.  Can you see his cleft chin in this picture?

This was one of the first pics I could get with his eyes open.  He is really alert!  I hope his eyes stay the color they are now, but I think they might turn brown.

Here is my favorite one, of us finally leaving the hospital and heading for home (trying to beat the hurricane!).  He looks so pensive, staring out the window and it's the cutest thing ever.

I have lots more to talk about (people have been particularly curious about his name) but I think that's enough for the day.  Thanks to everyone who has been so supportive through the unknowns during my pregnancy.  It was scary at times but mostly exciting.  I'm so glad it's all over and I just get to enjoy my little Waylon now!

Waylon Scott's Birth Story Part #1

Sorry I'm a little behind with this but we're still getting used to being at home with the little man.

Anyway, Friday morning Scott and I got word that the offer we put on a house had been accepted! I will discuss this more in another post, let's stay on topic today.  It was a great start to the day and I went to my chiropractor appointment to try to turn the little Bean Sprout feeling good about the possibility.  Even though the version hadn't worked, I just still wanted to try everything that I could and you just never know.  After that, I went to meet Scott in Hartford for a delicious Mexican lunch around noon.  As we were driving, almost as we pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant, a black cat crossed in front of our car.  I'm not even kidding.  It narrowly avoided being hit on the other side of the street by a truck and ran right in front of it.  I did a double take and sure enough, all black.

I am a fairly superstitious person.  Okay, really superstitious!  So all during lunch, I just went over in my head what kind of bad luck a black cat crossing your path in the week of Halloween might mean.  Was something going to be wrong with the house?  Was the hurricane that was approaching the East Coast going to obliterate us all?  Was everything going to go okay in 6 days when Sprout was scheduled to come out?  I was so stressed out, I ended up overeating at lunch, but at least it was food I really loved.  Afterwards, I drove home at 5 miles below the speed limit in the right lane the whole time, just trying to make it home without incident.  I implored Scott to please do the same when he came home from work in a few hours.  It was a little after 1 and I settled down on the couch with my computer to catch up on election news and celebrity gossip.

As I was enjoying the amazing irony of Justin Timberlake having to share cover space of his ridiculous wedding photo with Britney Spears, I felt a little pop and then a huge whoosh.  Water broken!  I was a little caught off guard, partly because I had no other signs of impending labor and partly because my doctor had warned me that because of the position of the little Sprout, I was going to have to come to the hospital right away if my water did break.  So, I called Scott and waited in the bathtub for him to come while Niagara Falls continued to spill out of my body (seriously, totally unprepared for the sheer volume of water.  Sorry if that's gross, but it's true.)  My stomach actually got noticeably smaller as I sat there.

Scott didn't take to long to get home and luckily I was able to pass the time calling my parents, brother, and a couple of friends to keep me distracted.  We got to the hospital around 2:30 and they immediately did an ultrasound of Sprout and started monitoring his heart rate.  Still head up and a strong steady heartbeat.  It seemed we weren't in any danger but I was definitely going to have a C-Section, I thought within an hour or so.  Except when you eat two enchiladas, a tamale, rice, beans, and chips and salsa, you cannot undergo surgery right away.  So I was going to have to wait until 6 before I could be prepped for surgery.  Here's a photo of me chilling and waiting for the hours to pass.

It didn't seem very long at all before the nurses were coming to bring me to the OR.  It was very bright and cold in there, there were about 6 people all scrubbed up and a table full of medieval tools  in the corner, Scott couldn't come in while they prepped me, and I started to panic.  I've never had anesthesia, surgery, stitches, anything.  And that stupid black cat from earlier....

38 week update

It's time for some Real Talk:  It's a lovely warm day, the leaves are at their most colorful and beautiful, I've had a nice relaxing weekend with Scott, and I feel like punching somebody in the face.

Friday's version attempt was not successful.  The doctor and midwife beat on my stomach like it was a particularly infuriating ball of bread dough for what seemed like forever.  They got the Sprout turned about halfway around and were optimistic that s/he would figure the rest of the way out him/herself.  Except, as soon as they took their hands off me, Sprout seemed to say "Actually, I was just fine where I was before, thanks," and you could see the little head shift right back to where it had started.  So, I spent three hours in the hospital and have nothing to show for it except some lower abdomen bruising. The good news is, this whole fiasco seemed to have no effect on the Sprout whatsoever, as his/her heartbeat stayed steady and even the entire hour afterward that I had to be monitored (and s/he looked very healthy in 2 nurses' opinions.)

I am so uncomfortable all the time.  Sleep is a joke because I can't even roll over without building up some momentum or getting help, I don't like to sit down because it's too much of a hassle to stand up afterwards, standing too long makes my feet feel like they're asleep, and I have the weirdest feelings in my stomach.  It's either a pulling/squeezing really low, or this hot shooting pain in my groin and leg.  I'm hesitant to call them contractions because although it is painful, it is not devastatingly so which is what I've been made to believe contractions are.  Add that to the continued delight of a head stretching out my rib cage and making my upper stomach tingle constantly, the ever-increasing pain in my wrists, daily heartburn, and knobby little feet doing a dance on my bladder. Basically, the girl at the store today who told me I looked "really tired" is lucky I didn't open-hand slap her.

How far along?  38 weeks
Total weight gain?  Right around 30 pounds.  It feels more like 100.
Maternity clothes?  Yes and no.  It really doesn't matter.  I look like a blimp.  Not even my big cozy bathrobe closes anymore!
Stretch marks?  Still in a holding pattern.
Sleep?  No.  I'm actually surprised Scott can sleep either, what with all my flopping around.
Best moment of the week?  Seeing Sprout on the ultrasound and hearing everyone say s/he looks very healthy.
Miss anything?  Mobility.  A full night's sleep.
Movement?  So much.  After the version attempt when they were monitoring Sprout and me the nurse came in three times because she thought I was having contractions.  Nope, just Sprout doing his/her little morning dance routine.
Food craving?  I've actually kind of lost interest in food.  Even when I'm hungry, I'll just eat anything, I have no taste or preference for anything.  That makes it easier to eat healthy!
Anything make you sick or queasy?  Nope.
Gender?  Scott had a dream last night we had a blond haired girl, which, if you remember, I also did a few months ago.
Labor signs?  No.  I talked to my mom about the "contractions" I've had and she suspects that I just have a high pain tolerance.  She had a hard time identifying contractions as such too.
Symptoms?  Oh, I think we covered that above.
Belly button in or out?  Out.
Wedding rings on or off?  I keep it on.
Happy or moody most of the time?  Yeah, I'm cranky.  I am ready to be done with this and deal with  my stubborn little Sprout in the flesh.
Looking forward to?  Tomorrow the doctor should be calling me to let me know what day they are scheduling my C-section for, sometime between Oct 29th and Nov 2nd.  But I'm just hoping Sprout shows up this week.

So here's what's up...

At my doctor's appointment yesterday, we found out that Sprout is still breech.  All those weird positions and ice packs and chiropractor visits haven't budged him/her at all!  We spent some time talking to the doctor about what our options are, and decided to try an external cephalic version on Friday morning.  Basically, the doctor will manually try to flip the baby around to head down position while monitoring his/her vital signs to make sure everything is going smoothly.  One of three things will result from this:

1)  Sprout flips, everything is good, and I wait to go into labor on my own.  The chances of this happening in a first pregnancy are not as great as a second or third, but it's the only thing left at this point.

2)  Sprout does not flip, and I have to schedule a C-section for my 39th week (Halloween week!).  Because of the position the baby is in (not your everyday breech, of course not) I can't really go into labor on my own because if my water breaks there is a risk of a prolapsed cord and we don't have much time if that happens before things can get dangerous.

3)  Sprout reacts badly to the version and I need an emergency C-section on Friday.

I'm staying as optimistic as possible, but I am also having to accept the increasing probability of having a C-section.  Whatever is going to happen is going to happen.  Yes, I would like to feel more in control of what is happening in my body, and I would ideally like Sprout's birth to be something I DO rather than something that happens TO me.  But, it seems like Sprout is insistent on making his/her birth as dramatic as possible and putting on a little show.  I can't hate on that because, well, obviously I'd probably do the same thing.

37 week update

So, Baby Bean Sprout is officially full term.  That means any day could be THE day, but so far no signs of anything.  From here to the end, s/he is just going to keep getting bigger and stronger.  I've been doing all the last minute stuff I can think of and trying to stay busy, willing the days to go by quickly.

I've spent most of the week doing my baby-flipping exercises and feeling around my stomach to try to determine which little body parts are where.  I'm feeling much more calm about the whole thing.  I'm going to do everything I can to flip Sprout but it's possible that s/he is a stubborn little thing (where could this personality trait possible come from?!?) and will not cooperate.  In that case, there's nothing that I can do.  I will just wait to go into labor naturally, no induction, no scheduled C-section, and hope for the best.

How far along?  37 weeks
Total weight gain?  Meh.  I have a lot of work ahead of me in the new year.
Maternity clothes?  I feel lucky that I haven't had to spend a lot of money on this.  I'm in all regular clothes in my photo this week.
Stretch marks?  I'm pretty happy with the situation here.  It could definitely be worse.
Sleep?  I still wake up every night and can't get back to sleep, but when I am asleep it has seemed much more restful, if that makes sense.
Best moment of the week?  Realizing that we really are getting near the end and one way or another, Sprout will be making his/her debut soon!
Miss anything?  Nothing comes to mind
Movement?  YES.  A lot and it's sometimes painful.  I'm taking that as a sign that there's a good chance Sprout might figure out how to get his/her head down.
Food craving?  Oh my god I love grapefruit juice!  And carbs.
Anything make you sick or queasy?  Nah.
Gender?  Strangers are still split about 50/50 on guesses.
Labor signs?  Nope, but I'm much less disappointed about this than I was last week.  Take your time and get your head down, Sprout!
Symptoms?  Back pain has subsided somewhat, but my wrist is on fire all the time.
Belly button in or out?  Out
Wedding rings on or off?  One on, one off.
Happy or moody most of the time?  Happy, and focused on checking things off my to-do list.
Looking forward to?  I will be having another sonogram on Tuesday to see exactly what position Sprout is in, so that I best know how to get him/her where s/he needs to be.  Also, we can get another peek at his/her little face!

P.S.  I don't know what's up with the weird spots on my photos.  I think there's sand in my camera or something, ugh.

Baby is breech and Mama is not amused

You didn't really think I was going to break my streak did you?  Like, suddenly I was going to have uneventful normal doctor's visits from here on out until Sprout arrived?  Haha, you're so funny, with your optimism!

So, the little Sprout is intent on being a little troublemaker.  That's fine by me, kid, Battle of the Wills is one of my favorite games and I think you'll find your Mama a worthy adversary.  At my doctor's visit yesterday, they did an ultrasound and found Sprout's little head hanging out right under my ribcage.  Immediately, the doctor starts talking about a C-section, the one thing I've been trying to avoid/terrified of for the past 8+ months.  I spent most of the rest of the day on the computer (per usual, following my doctor's visits) looking for ways to turn the baby on my own and got right down to it.  So far those have included (often in combination): laying at a 45 degree angle with my legs up in the air for 20 minutes at a time, applying a bag of frozen corn to the back of Sprout's head, downward-facing dog with my knees on the couch and head on the floor, trying to find Pulsatilla, some kind of homeopathic pill, applying acupressure to the outside of my little toe, Moxibustion, which involves holding a smoldering Chinese Stick of Wonder next to my little toe for 20 minutes, researching the Webster's technique that some chiropractors perform, shining a flashlight/playing music next to my lady exit, and scoping out a pool for me to do handstands in.  Clearly, I'm not messing around.  If none of those work by my next visit, the doctor will try an external cephalic version, which basically means manually trying to move the baby into the position it's supposed to go.  Possible side effect:  the need for an emergency C-section right then and there, yea!

One technique I haven't mastered yet is deep relaxation.  I'm just so frustrated.  I've had a more stressful pregnancy than most (though it could be worse, thank god I'm not on bedrest) and it's just really annoying me to think that I may have done all this work and preparation for natural childbirth only to possibly need the least natural form of childbirth there is.

Words of encouragement would be welcome here, as well as any stories of how you got your baby to turn.

I'll leave you with a palate cleanser, my favorite wedding photo:

36 week update

Less than a month until my due date!  We're getting pretty near the end.  Bean Sprout is almost fully developed now, just his/her little lungs need a bit more time.  Other than that, s/he is just going to get bigger between now and whenever s/he decides to make a debut. (Soon, Sprout.  The sooner the better at this point.)  I've been doing all the home remedies they tell you to move things along but so far, no luck.  I don't have any indications whatsoever that s/he is ready to come out.  *Sigh*  At any rate, Sprout's room is finished, with the exception of bedding, which should be arriving sometime in the next week.  My hospital bag items are gathered but not yet packed and all Sprout's things have been washed and put away.  It's just a waiting game now.

Today is the Chicago marathon and I've been thinking about that all week.  I can't believe it's only a year since we ran it!  So much has happened in the past year (because why not do it all at once, haha) that it seems like much more time has passed.  I've been thinking a lot about the lady who ran last year while 8 months pregnant and went into labor as she crossed the finish line (and, shamefully, only finished like 10 minutes behind me).  She was about as pregnant then as I am today and I consider a 45 minute walk an intense workout at this point.  Last year, I thought she was crazy. This year, I can say without a doubt that she was batsh-t insane, but I have Questions.  Did she have to stop to pee 114 times?  Was that my saving grace, the only reason I finished in front of her?  By the end, were her feet the size of parade float balloons?  Which of the day's events was more physically grueling?  And mostly, why are you such a showoff?

How far along?  36 weeks
Total weight gain?  I woke up one morning this week and felt noticeably larger than when I went to sleep.  I decided that day to stop looking at the scale until Sprout is born.
Maternity clothes?  My long sweaters are still wearable, they're just much shorter now.  Shoes are my biggest problem.
Stretch marks?  How am I getting stretch marks on the skin that is not doing the actual stretching?
Sleep?  Nightly baths are making sleep possible at all, but I still wake up 2-3 times a night.
Best moment of the week?  Scott's feeling much better so he was able to finish up the last few things in Sprout's room, which was so exciting!  I can't wait to post some pics soon!
Miss anything?  Attractive clothes and shoes.
Movement?  A little less intense and more predictable than before.  There's still a dance party in my lady house every night around 11 p.m.
Food craving?  I drank 2 gallons of grapefruit juice this week!
Anything make you sick or queasy?  Nope!
Gender?  Sis-in-law dreamed I had a girl and we named her Quinn.
Labor signs?  All day on Thursday, I had this weird downward squeezing feel in my stomach.  I thought maybe it was the baby dropping down, but no such luck.
Symptoms?  Sudden, intense back pain, the top of my stomach feels numb/asleep all the time, shooting pains in my lady parts, constant soreness in my wrists.  It's a beautiful and graceful process for sure.
Belly button in or out?  Out.
Wedding rings on or off?  Wedding ring on and I just can't wait to wear my engagement ring again.
Happy or moody most of the time?  I feel mostly happy.
Looking forward to?  I'm going to ask the doctor on Tuesday how big she thinks Sprout is, and also see if there's any indication that Sprout is coming.

35 week update

It's going to be short one this week.  I've spent a lot of time preparing and finishing up little odds and ends around the house, started filling out the baby book, and I lined up a photographer for newborn photos.  I'm just feeling tired, sore, and ready to be done, even though I know in my head I may have a month or more to go.  You can come out any time now Sprout!

How far along?  35 weeks, about 8 months.
Total weight gain?  Under 30 lbs. but I'll have an exact number on Tuesday.
Maternity clothes?  More and more now that the weather is changing.  Boo pants weather!
Stretch marks?  Nothing new and the ones I have are already fading.  My new cream is awesome.
Sleep?  Better, but I feel like I have to be really mindful of sleep positions.  If I don't keep my hands flat and away from my body, they really hurt when I wake up.
Best moment of the week?  It's been a pretty low key week honestly.  No big ups or downs.
Miss anything?  Nothing that I can think of...
Movement?  Lots of wiggles, pokes, punches and twists.
Food craving?  Grapefruit juice.  Twix bars.
Anything make you sick or queasy?  It doesn't make me sick exactly, but meat is totally uninteresting to me and I try to avoid it.  Fish is okay though.
Gender?  You can end all this speculation if you'd just get here, Sprout!
Labor signs?  No, and for the first time this is disheartening.  I don't have any contractions and Baby is still way up high hanging out near/in my ribcage.
Symptoms?  My carpal tunnel syndrome is worse, so that I wake up every morning with witch hands, and the top of my stomach and under my ribs feel numb all the time, like it's asleep.  So weird.
Belly button in or out?  Mostly out.
Wedding rings on or off?  I'm happy I'm at least able to wear my wedding ring again.
Happy or moody most of the time?  Definitely less moody than last week.  I'm just busy, trying to check things off the list while there is still time.
Looking forward to?  Honestly, a warm bath and some sleep tonight.  I'm beat.

About the "kids" I already have...

So ever since I posted about Josie's Great Escape on Sunday, a few people been asking what I'm going to "do" with my dogs once the Sprout arrives.  I'm sorry?  I don't understand the question.  Turns out, these people are subtly (or not so subtly) suggesting I get rid of my dogs or, even worse, make a Sophie's Choice and only get rid of one!  Then this morning, someone actually sent me this article:

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/25/14095596-police-pit-bull-fatally-mauls-3-month-old-baby-in-texas?lite

Let's dissect, shall we?  We have a domestic disturbance bad enough for someone to call 911, which would clearly stress out and agitate any person or animal in the house.  Then, while people are OUTSIDE talking to the police, someone leaves a tiny baby UNATTENDED on a regular BED (not in a crib or playpen) with a DOG.  Are we really blaming the animal in this scenario?

After that, I felt like I had to defend my girls.  Yes, I have two big dogs that many would consider more trouble than they are worth.  I am fully aware of each of their behavior issues that can be considered potentially problematic.  But there's no way I can get rid of either of them, ever.  If you're not a dog person, I get that.  Here's how it goes in my house though.

Let's start with Josie.  I was there the day she was born and I've had that little monster since she was 6 weeks old.  She's a rottweiler though, so people automatically bring preconceived notions to the table, and she's had some traumatic encounters so she doesn't trust strangers.  Once you're in her circle though, you'd have trouble to find a more loving, loyal dog.  Not to mention, Jo and I have been together since before Scott and I were, so she has a little more seniority in my book.  She's not going anywhere.

And Belle.  She is big and clumsy and hyper and she jumps.  She won't mean any harm but she could hurt Sprout.  Okay, but please remember that Belle is still a baby and that she's already starting to calm down.  Also, Belle was a gift from me to Scott, and trust me when I say that those two love each other so much that they are each visibly upset when separated.  She stays.

I know it's going to take a lot of work and patience to get everyone to live together harmoniously when Sprout comes.  I'm working on their behavior daily, I am letting them adjust to Sprout accessories in the house gradually, and I have enough common sense to not ever leave my baby unattended with either of my dogs.  So please stop suggesting that I get rid of one or both of them like they are bags of old clothes instead of members of our family.  You're getting nowhere with that and you're pissing me off.

34 week update

Lesson of the week:  Scott is no longer allowed to travel out of town overnight, at least until the New Year (says I).  Something bad always happens.  Last time it was a gas leak from our fireplace, the time before that the power went out and before that, the hot water heater stopped working.  This week?   Josie got out of the yard and was missing for about an hour before I noticed the door was open.  That means I got to run around the neighborhood looking for her, praying that an unleashed Rottweiler didn't terrify people enough to call Animal Control.  So, after over an hour of driving around and trekking on foot through the woods (falling and spraining my ankle in the process), I finally found her sleeping on the neighbor's back porch, two doors down.  Thanks, Josie.

Scott had his own little mishap this week, bruising his ribs badly enough that he is even less mobile than I am.  We've spent the weekend laying around trying to out-misery each other.

Sprout is getting bigger and so am I.  This week s/he is about the size of a butternut squash, 18 inches long and 5 pounds or so.  S/he is still laying head down but I'm hoping s/he drops soon because my lungs could really use some relief from the constant pressure.  I'm a countdown person.  The longest they'll let you go is 2 weeks past your due date.  So, I've got 56 days max left.  Why don't you be a nice little Sprout and come in about 20 days instead?

How far along?  34 weeks
Total weight gain?  I actually forgot to look at the scale on Monday at the doctor's office.  I feel bigger though, no doubt.
Maternity clothes?  Still about 50/50.  My outfit in the pic this week is 50/50!
Stretch marks?  The new routine seems to be working.  Gotta keep being vigilant.
Sleep?  Worse, if possible.  Not only do I wake up several times a night, but for the last 5 days or so, I have searing pain in my left wrist and my thumb is dislocated every morning.  Rudimentary research (google) says this is pregnancy-related carpal tunnel syndrome.  Awesome!
Best moment of the week?  Finding Josie.  There are so many places to disappear near our house, I was really afraid she was gone for good.
Miss anything?  Same old same old.
Food craving?  I really really really want some Portillo's.
Anything make you sick or queasy?  Meat is becoming increasingly unappealing.
Gender?  A lady came up to me at the store this week and said "oh you must be having a girl!"
Labor signs?  I've spent a good amount of time this week preparing for this.  Bottom line?  It's going to hurt worse than anything I can imagine, it's going to be long and hard work, and I can do it.
Symptoms?  Taking a bath at night relieves some of my lower back pain, but I'm just TIRED all the time.
Belly button in or out?  It's still kinda out but not protruding.
Wedding rings on or off?  I've been able to get my wedding band every day this week!  No hope for my engagement ring though.
Happy or moody most of the time?  Oh, who am I kidding?  I've been feeling combative and yelling makes me feel better.  The recipients of my tirades?  Sub-par X-factor contestants, bad drivers, and people who can't ever put their phones away (seriously, they're like adult security blankets for some people and I want to rip them out of their hands and tell them to actually try being present in their lives for a change).
Looking forward to?  Fall!  The leaves are already starting to change colors and that means that Sprout won't be much longer.

33 week update

It's the middle of September and you know what that means...I'm all ready for my most favorite holiday, Halloween!  I'm dedicating the next week to decorating my house and gathering everything I need for my costume.  I have two Bean Sprout costume options, one for if s/he decides to arrive in time and one if not.  We even went to the Chinese supermarket a couple of weeks ago and got little packets of dried fish to give to the trick-or-treaters who don't bring their A-game with their costumes.  So don't come ringing my doorbell wearing your little league uniform and expect the good candy!  My house is totally getting egged this year.

It's been a pretty relaxing week which has been nice after a busy month of visitors.  Well, Scott and I have been relaxing.  Sprout, the restless little thing, is either training to be the next Muhammad Ali or McKayla Maroney in there. And it's getting pretty cramped so this is not the most comfortable feeling.  Thebump.com says that Sprout is the size of a durian this week, but since I have no idea what that is, it's basically 17.5 inches long and 4.5 pounds.  S/he keeps his/her eyes open while awake (um, all the time then?) and is starting to coordinate breathing and swallowing.  I don't know how well that's going since I can feel him/her hiccuping almost every day!  His/her little bones are also hardening and some major brain development is also happening, which is pretty cool to think about.

We actually just got back from our newborn care class, where I learned which side of a diaper is the front and Scott basically laughed at me the whole time.  So that was fun.  Actually, the coolest part was learning that they put a lo-jack on the baby as soon it is born that sets off alarms and locks the doors if it gets too close to any of the exits.  I have secretly been anxious for weeks about people switching/stealing babies in the maternity ward.  This is clearly the result of watching too many Lifetime movies on Sunday mornings in college!  At least I feel better about that extremely unlikely possibility.

How far along?  33 weeks
Total weight gain?  I will find out again tomorrow at my doctor's appointment, but I'm not anticipating more than a pound or two from last appointment.
Maternity clothes?  Still pretty much regular clothes except for my jeans.  *sigh*  It's jeans weather.
Stretch marks?  I've made a huge mistake.  I've been focusing on the area that I actually thought was stretching, my stomach.  I found a tiny mark on each hip this week, ugh.  So now, I'm covering everything from my neck to knees twice a day in Mederma.
Sleep?  Um, impossible.  Last night, the Sprout was so active it actually woke Scott up.
Best moment of the week?  Yesterday, we slept till almost 11, took a picnic to the beach and hung out all day, and were back to bed by 9.  Oh, did I need that.
Miss anything?  Sleeping on my stomach and curling up in a ball on the couch.
Food craving?  Cheese fries from Portillo's.
Anything make you sick or queasy?  Not at all.
Gender?  I've actually been thinking more about personality than gender lately.  A merciful God will send me a baby with Scott's temperament.  A just God will probably send me one just like me.
Labor signs?  I am going to freak out when this actually happens.
Symptoms?  Some new and delightful ones:  I get really overheated and sweaty lately and my hands are so sore I can't even crack my knuckles, and I have weird pressure in my lady parts.
Belly button in or out?  Out, but not so much that it's obvious through my shirts.
Wedding rings on or off?  Off.
Happy or moody most of the time?  Probably 50/50.  Halloween decorating will improve my mood!
Looking forward to?  Another update from the doctor, breastfeeding class and a birth center tour.

32 week update

A lot happening this week, but that's okay...it means the time is going by faster and Sprout is almost here!  I started off the week with a doctor's appointment and she says I look great on paper.  I've gained about 5 pounds less overall than I thought, Baby's head is down (so that IS your little feet digging into my ribcage, Sprout!), my diet and workout schedule are both good and I'm still measuring about a week bigger than I am.  We also decided on a pediatrician this week who is close by, meets the other criteria important to me, and went to BC.  I bought a bunch of workout and comfy clothes for after the Sprout arrives and I'm looking into getting a treadmill.  Send any recommendations my way, please!  I'm checking things off the list left and right.  

Annabelle flew into town on Tuesday night and then Carter flew in on Wednesday to surprise her and Griffin. (Although, I inadvertently ruined the surprise for him.  Woops.)  I just love having a full house!  It makes everything so much more fun.  Annabelle and I went shopping for the little Sprout yesterday and got a bunch of super cute sheets, clothes, and bath things. I think that will be the last shopping trip for while.

The Sproutling is about 17 inches long this week and 4 pounds.  From here on out, his/her weight gain is really going to pick up...s/he's got about 10 weeks to double in size!  S/he sleeps most of the day, and even has dreams (I can't even begin to imagine what a Sprout might dream of).  I hear that the movement should be slowing down now as s/he gets more crowded in there, but I think s/he is moving more than ever.  And me?  I am short of breath more often now and I still get heartburn, though it is less frequent.  I have to change clothes a few times a day for reasons I'm not going to explain.  Oh, miracles of pregnancy no one ever tells you!  I still feel pretty lucky though.  My breasts aren't leaky, I don't have varicose veins and my pregnant body more closely resembles Gisele's than Jessica Simpson's.  Haha, I just compared myself to Gisele!  Obviously, I don't look that good, but if those are the two extremes, I'm closer to her end of the spectrum, right?  Please agree with me.

Also, this is the picture Scott requested for today:

How far along?  32 weeks

Total weight gain?  Only 22 pounds!  I can definitely stay under 35 for sure now.

Maternity clothes?  Still mostly just regular clothes.

Stretch marks?  So far, still only the underside of my boobs.  Started using the new cream this week which promises results in 4 weeks and smells AWESOME.

Sleep?  Better, but not great.  Terrible when Scott is out of town.

Best moment of the week?  Look, I'm vain.  Finding out I gained 5 less pounds than I thought was awesome.  But having visitors is a really close 2nd!

Miss anything?  Honestly, I just wish I could wear my rings.  They are so pretty and I love them.

Food craving?  Nothing specific.

Anything make you sick or queasy?  Nope.

Gender?  10 more weeks of guessing!

Labor signs?  None that I can think of this week.

Symptoms?  More of the same.  They're either less intense than before or I'm used to it.

Belly button in or out?  More outtish than innish for sure now.

Wedding rings on or off?  I jammed them on one day this week and then immediately had to take them off...which took about 10 minutes and a bunch of lotion.

Happy or moody most of the time?  Happy!

Looking forward to?  My newborn care class next weekend.  It's about time I figure out what to do with the Sprout once s/he gets here, don't you think?

31 week update

Happy Labor Day weekend!  Still just plugging along this week.  I felt like July and most of August went by really fast, but time has definitely slowed down.  I suppose I should take advantage of that!  I got a diaper bag and a coming home outfit for Sprout this week, both of which I really love, and my rocking chair came.  We officially have all of our big stuff!  Now it's just odds and ends like organization and decoration, neither of which are my strong suit.

So, Bean Sprout is about 16.5 inches long this week and a little over 3.5 pounds.  All 5 senses are fully developed and his/her little irises even react to light.  I am still feeling a lot of movement, but it's not the forceful kicks that I was feeling a few weeks ago, it's more just shifting around.  Also, s/he seems to like to lodge his/her little hand/foot right under my rib cage, which makes my diaphragm fall asleep and my breathing difficult.   At least s/he seems to be figuring out the difference between day and night!  As for me, I'm in the uncomfortable phase now for sure.  I'm out of breath a lot with a constant ache or pain somewhere and my hands and feet are swollen enough now that I can't even attempt to wear my rings anymore. One symptom I'm definitely not feeling?  Pregnancy brain!

In case you hadn't heard, I got an email Thursday night saying I made the second round auditions to be a contestant on Jeopardy!  Oh my God, you have no idea how excited I am, this is a lifelong goal.  So, I have to go to Boston and take another 50 question test (could be tough), have a personal interview (piece of cake), and play a mock game against two other people (can't wait!).  The catch?  I have to go on November 8th, 4 days after my due date.  So a brand-new Sprout might be here and have to tag along, or I could still be pregnant and risk having a baby in a gross Boston hospital.  My only other option was to fly to Cincinnati a week later.  Uh, no thanks.  How could you screw me like this, Jeopardy?  I'm blaming Trebek.  Because he's a smug Canadian douche, you see.

How far along?  31 weeks, about 7 months.

Total weight gain?  27 pounds.  Not bad.  I didn't want to gain more than 35 the whole time and I think that's doable.

Maternity clothes?  I love my new Gap jeans (I seriously never anticipated typing that!) and Target actually has some cute dresses, like the one I'm wearing above.

Stretch marks?  My stomach still looks good.  I'm thinking I might need the heavy duty Mustela for my lady pillows.  Good thing I have a back stock of coupons!

Sleep?  I'm getting pretty used to short bouts of not that restful sleep.  I bet this will come in handy the next few months.

Best moment of the week:  What is having years of amassing useless trivia finally pay off?

Miss anything?  I was just saying to Scott yesterday that I'm so used to being fat and uncomfortable, I almost can't remember what it's like to feel normal.

Movement?  Lots of movement and lots of abuse to my internal organs whenever little Sprout flops around.

Food craving?  Fruit!

Anything make you sick or queasy?  Not really.

Gender?  I got another guess for boy this week.

Labor signs?  I get occasional sharp pains way down low but nothing overwhelming.

Symptoms?  I am out of breath a lot more lately and I'm fairly inflexible.  I keep trying to stretch my hips and groin in preparation, but it's becoming more difficult.

Belly button in or out?  The top is starting to pop out some.

Wedding rings on or off?  Seriously, I don't think my fingers have been naked for two days in a row since I was about 11 years old.

Happy or moody most of the time?  Happy!

Looking forward to?  My mother-in-law's visit this week!

30 week update

3 quarters of the way there!  I'm hoping the next 10 weeks go by quickly because I am IRRITABLE.  I'm hot, I don't sleep at night so I'm tired all the time, I can't bend over without grunting like a meathead lifting weights, I rotate between about 4 outfits that I'm sick of looking at, and I'm confined to flip flops because none of my cute shoes fit me anymore.  I figure the only way to deal with this is to stay busy.

I'm at the point in my quilt (thanks for the compliments, everyone!) where I only have hand sewing to do, so that frees up my machine to make curtains.  I also want to get all the material to make the bookshelves I found on Pinterest some time this week.  We also have an appointment at a pediatrician's office this week to find the little guy/girl a doctor.  Yesterday, we went shopping and found a mattress and some other essentials for Sprout's room.  We're getting there!  I want to get my hospital bag packed this week too.  So my time should be occupied enough that I can maybe forget about how immobile and gross I feel.

Sprout is about 3 pounds this week and about 16 inches long.  I don't really feel full on kicks anymore (maybe because there's not enough room in there to get enough momentum for a real kick) but s/he moves around more than ever, even during the day.  Sometimes it kind of hurts my organs and is especially uncomfortable when s/he pokes my bladder or lungs, but I'm to happy s/he seems as active as s/he does!

How far along?  30 weeks

Total weight gain?  Since I've been doing a lot more strength exercises, I've been weighing myself more often and the weight gain seems to have tapered off...so why do I feel like I keep expanding?

Maternity clothes?  Summer is ending and I ordered myself a pair of jeans and leggings this week.  I hope they're comfortable!

Stretch marks?  I'm doing well here.

Sleep?  Taking a bath before bedtime seems to help a little...then I can sleep for 2 hours or so instead of 45 minutes.

Best moment of the week?  A doctor's appointment without a failed test!

Miss anything?  Wearing clothes for style, not comfort.

Movement?  So much!  I wish I could tell which body part is always hanging out around my belly button.

Food craving?  I've been eating a lot of melon and Greek yogurt.

Anything make you sick or queasy?  It mostly depends on how Sprout is laying.\

Gender?  I can say for sure now that Sprout has a name, either way.  Sprout is totally a cool name, right?

Labor signs?  Some Braxton Hicks contractions, especially when I walk my dogs.

Symptoms?  I think we covered that above.

Belly button in or out?  Flat.

Wedding rings on or off?  Sadly, I can't wear them anymore.  I really hate not wearing them.

Happy or moody most of the time?  Moody.  Definitely moody.

Looking forward to?  Another productive week and a break in all this heat and humidity!

Sneak Peeks of Sprout's Room

First things first...I had a doctor's appointment this morning with my favorite doctor at the office (I REALLY hope she's the one who delivers Sprout, but I'm not that lucky) and I've gained no weight in the past two weeks and haven't gotten any bigger.  So, now I'm measuring at 30 weeks, only about a week ahead of schedule.  I guess Sprout just had a little growth spurt!  She still warned me that s/he is probably on the larger side, but I've been expecting that all along so whatevs.

Okay, on to the fun stuff.  I am still not ready to reveal the whole nursery yet because it's not done, not even close!  I am going to sit down and really go over what else to get, hopefully by the end of the week.  I washed and folded all the clothes we have so far...I can't believe an actual person is going to fit in those doll clothes!  But I do have a couple of things I wanted to show so far:

Let's start with the long-awaited quilt!  I'm really happy with how it turned out.  I still have to finish the backing and actually quilt it, but this is what you all wanted to see, right?  For those of you who've been asking, I started sewing a couple of years ago.  It was something I was always interested in, and my friend's mom walked me through making a shirt.  After that, I bought a machine and started taking lessons from a seamstress out here.  I learned how to do clothes first which made switching to quilts and curtains a lot easier, since they don't have waists or arms to accommodate for.  Anyway, I love how this turned out and I think it goes great with...

This super cute frame my sister-in-law made!  I just love the little elephants.  She is really talented and I can't wait for her to take some pics of the baby once s/he comes out.  Sorry the picture is kind of bad, I could not find a spot where there wasn't some kind of shadow.

On one of Scott and my many trips to Goodwill, we found this perfectly adorable little wooden rocking horse.  I think it is so awesome.  You can see the sporty painting on it, and "Max" is painted on the seat in blue, so I don't know if I'm going to sand that off or just tell Sprout the horse's name is Max.  Girls play sports too, so I'm not really worried about the mitt and balls.

And lastly, here is the amazing pram my grandma got for me at my baby shower.  I am kind of obsessed with it.  I was half-expecting it to come with a Mary Poppins!  I know it's not practical as an every day stroller, but I still think it will be cool to push around our neighborhood and I'm planning on using it instead of a bassinet downstairs.

So that's some of what I have so far...what do you think?

29 week update

Another eventful week!  My parents and Tiza came into town on Thursday, so we've been hanging out with them all weekend.  We went to Mystic Seaport on Friday which was a fun and New England-y little trip.  My mom and I also got my stroller ordered so we're all set to go with Sprout transportation.  We're getting down to the wire.  My weekly "to-do" list includes starting to pack a bag to bring to the hospital (no idea what to put in here), stocking the nursery (I am way behind on this), and getting an "easy to manage" haircut.  Is this why so many women end up with Mom haircuts?  They are being guided that way by well-meaning websites with no regard for their appearance?  Oh, that's just sad.

Sprout is about 15.5 inches long at this point and weighs about 2.7 pounds (give or take).  So, I guess s/he is not going to get much longer but three times as heavy!  There's a lot of movement down there, but it's still mostly at night, which I find, um, inauspicious?  Nighttime is for sleeps, Sprout!  As for me, I'm generally uncomfortable all the time.  I have another doctor's appointment on Tuesday, so we'll see if they want to do an ultrasound.  I wouldn't mind another peek at the baby!

So much to do this upcoming week:  I will post pictures of the completed front side of the quilt in the middle of the week.  If Scott hangs up the rod, I will also post photos of the curtains I made.  I need to really figure out the things I still need for the nursery and start shopping.  I found a website with some DIY bookshelves that I would like to make.  Sprout is already starting to collect some good books, including my old copy of Mother Goose that my dad's mom gave me for my second birthday.  Dad and I used to read it together every night (well, until I memorized the whole book and we had to move on) and it will be cool to read to Sprout from the same copy!

How far along?  29 weeks
Total weight gain?  I'll know more on Tuesday.  I hope it didn't jump up again!
Maternity clothes?  Thank God for being pregnant in the summer.  If I had to wear pants every day in this condition, I would be way less pleasant.
Stretch marks?  No, but my tummy has been itchy lately.  Taking this as a bad sign, I am being more liberal  with my cocoa butter applications.
Sleep?  Yeah, no.  45 minutes of uninterrupted sleep is average.  Last night I slept for 3 hours straight and felt like 100 bucks.
Best moment of the week?  Finding out we have two weddings in the first half of 2013 to attend, one in Phoenix, one in Cabo.  What better motivation could one ask for to get back into shape?
Miss anything?  A glass of Prosecco sounds really nice right now.
Movement?  Oh yeah.  In addition to the head/butt, sometimes I feel a little hand or foot move across my stomach.
Food craving?  Anything with blueberries.  The last few mornings, I've had blueberry Eggo waffles and blueberry Greek yogurt for breakfast.  Maybe Sprout is Violet Beauregarde?
Anything make you sick or queasy?  Nope!
Gender?  The cashier at the grocery store on Friday predicted a girl.
Labor signs?  Nope!
Symptoms?  Most of them, I guess!  It could be worse though.  At least I don't have hemorrhoids or varicose veins.
Belly button in or out?  It doesn't protrude or anything, but I don't think I can safely call it an innie anymore.
Wedding rings on or off?  I'm still forcing them on in the morning.  I hope they are more comfortable to wear once the heat and humidity breaks.
Happy or moody most of the time?  Pretty happy!  There's lots to do but I like being busy and I think it will make the next 11 weeks pass by quickly.
Looking forward to?  Another day to hang out with the parentals and productive week ahead!

28 week update

It's been a pretty eventful week.  I had a doctor's appointment on Monday that was okay.  She said I am measuring at about 30 weeks right now, which could mean that Sprout is particularly large (which I've suspected was going to happen all along) or it could mean that I have a lot of fluid (ew).  That could also explain why I gained 8 pounds in the last month!  If I'm still that far ahead when I go back in two weeks, they will do another ultrasound, though I'm not quite sure why that's necessary.  I'd fight pretty hard if they tried to tell me I "needed" to have labor induced.  We'll see what happens.  Right after that I took my glucose test.  Well, I'm getting really good at failing tests!  I had to go back on Thursday for the 3-hour test which turned out fine, so I guess I don't have gestational diabetes.  But seriously, wtf?  Can't I just have one doctor's appointment/test that doesn't stress me out?  Ugh.

Other than that, I've been mostly relaxing since our visitors left.  I made a lot of progress on my sewing projects this weekend and I will have some photos to show you all soon.  I need to make a list of all the things I still need before Sprout gets here, and I'm afraid it might be a long list.  I'd like to get everything done in the next couple of weeks just to be prepared.

Sprout is pretty much developed at this point and most of the rest of the time, s/he will just be filling out and getting bigger.  The lungs are developed enough that if s/he was born today, s/he would probably survive!  Aren't you curious to see what Sprout will look like?

How far along?  28 weeks
Total weight gain?  I was doing great until this past doctor's appointment.  Now I'm at about 23 lbs.  I am sooooo excited to start working out again soon!
Maternity clothes?  Mostly no.  It's been so grossly humid here that I don't feel like wearing clothes at all.
Stretch marks?  Eh, nothing new, but the ones on the underside of my boobs look worse than they did last week.  I'm still slathering on cocoa butter like whoa.
Sleep?  Weird.  I'm really tired at night but I wake up after a couple of hours and can't get back to sleep until it starts to get light out.  It's frustrating!
Best moment of the week?  Passing my second glucose test.  Seriously, that and the HIV test are the only ones I've passed so far.
Miss anything?  Bending over without grunting, haha!
Movement?  Lots and lots of movement that is pretty strong!  Sometimes I can feel something round poking against my stomach but I can't tell if it's a head or a butt.
Food craving?  I've been eyeing my basil plants out in the yard because as soon as there's enough, I'm making some pesto and feasting.
Anything make you sick or queasy?  I think Belle has an ear infection again.  Poor little gross dog.
Gender?  It's been quite a challenge to keep the quilt neutral!
Labor signs?  Nope.  All good here.
Symptoms?  My heartburn is getting worse.  The sleeplessness is a problem and I get backaches after too much physical activity.
Belly button in or out?  Neither?  It looks so weird.
Wedding rings on or off?  They're on, even though the humidity really tightens them up sometimes.
Happy or moody most of the time?  I was totally moody before getting the results of my second glucose test.  It didn't make me upset, it made me really angry!  Seriously, I don't sit around eating Twinkies and drinking Mountain Dew.  I don't like dessert and even prefer vegetables to fruit!  How could this even be an issue?
Looking forward to?  A chance to hang out with my favorite jet-setter!  And I really need to get to the DMV this week.

27 week update

Happy 3-month anniversary to my loving husband!

Wow, so much to talk about this week!  It's been pretty busy but a lot of fun.  Scott and I got back to Connecticut on Tuesday with Erika, and Jay, Courtney and Gino arrived on Thursday.  Since then, we've gone to New York, the Connecticut shore, and Newport, Rhode Island with the fam and it's been really great.  I love taking people to NYC for the first time and seeing what they like best.  And it was actually my first trip to Newport, so I got to do something new too.  Watching Gino go in the ocean and just love it was really cool.  I'm so glad I got to spend some time with him (and his parents) the last two weeks.  I hope little Sprout is half as cool as that kid!

Speaking of Sprout, s/he just keeps getting bigger, as you can see from my weekly photos.  His/her facial features are pretty much totally developed.  We'll see if my observations after the second ultrasound hold true and Sprout ends up looking mostly like Scott.  He/she also is starting to show some brain activity, which is pretty cool to think about.  On Saturday, we picked up the crib and changing table.  That was a big relief for me because I've been having these visions of Sprout coming early and having no bed!  The room is really starting to come together!  Sprout's almost here! (and then I can start my hardcore workout regimen I've been planning for the last month!)

How far along?  27 weeks
Total weight gain?  I'll find out in the morning at my doctor's appointment.  After tomorrow, I start going every two weeks.
Maternity clothes?  I bought a really cute maternity dress this week and it's amazing how much better they fit than just sizing up.  I think I'll try to make it through the warm weather with what I have and wait to get some fall maternity clothes.
Stretch marks?  Still doing okay here...but I'm getting so big I'm worried it might be a losing battle.
Sleep?  This has actually been better this week, mostly because I've been dog tired by the time I go to bed every night.
Best moment of the week?  So many.  Family visit!  Getting a crib and dresser!  Gino in the ocean!  Clam fritters! (listen, they were really good.)
Miss anything?  No, I really don't.
Movement?  Yes, quite a bit.  Scott feels some strong kicks in the night and Courtney felt a poke the other day too.
Food craving?  Nothing really, but I've eaten some pretty delicious food lately.
Anything make you sick or queasy?  The smell of a butcher shop we walked into in SOHO.  It was the grossest thing ever.
Gender?  We'll find out soon enough!
Labor signs?  Not really.  But I've been preparing myself as much as I can for the inevitable.
Symptoms?  Heartburn and fatigue are the only things that are really bothering me lately.
Belly button in or out?   It's in a weird in-between phase that caused the kids on the beach today to stare...or maybe it was just the fact that some huge pregnant woman had the audacity to wear a bikini.
Wedding rings on or off?  An hour after I wake up, they fit comfortably again.
Happy or moody most of the time?  Pretty happy!
Looking forward to?  Some down time and finishing up Sprout's room in the next few weeks.  Also, I really need to change my name on my driver's license and bank information!

26 week update

What a fun exciting week!  We got into town Wednesday night and it's been non-stop since then.  Lots of family time which has been really nice.  Yesterday we had Gino's first birthday party!  I can't believe he's already 1.  He's such a cute, good natured little boy.  I hope Bean Sprout follows suit.  I mean, who wouldn't love this face?  

Today it was time to get ready for Bean Sprout's arrival!  My parents hosted a really nice shower with help from some family and friends, and I had a delightful time.  We feel really blessed to have such generous people in our lives!  I definitely feel more prepared for Sprout to get here now too.

Speaking of little Bean Sprout, s/he is getting bigger all the time.  Now s/he is the size of a head of lettuce, about 14 inches long and 2 pounds.  Soon his/her eyes will start to open and s/he already has eyelashes (if you're lucky, Sprout, they'll be long, dark and luxurious like your Mama!).  

As for me, I've been focusing most of my energy on getting Sprout's room ready and mentally preparing myself for the birth.  I feel confident that we'll be ready for his/her arrival but the actual arriving process is still a little frightening to me.  I'll get there.

How far along?  26 weeks

Total weight gain?  I don't really know, I'll check when I get back to Connecticut.

Maternity clothes?  Nothing lately.  

Stretch marks?  I've been able to keep them at bay, thankfully.

Sleep?  I usually wake up in the middle of the night feeling wide awake.  This was actually really convenient this week as I was able to drive the first leg of our 14-hour trip home to Illinois.

Best moment of the week?  I had such a lovely time at our shower and celebrating a year of Gino!  Oh, and I love the Olympics!  So it's been a great week for me. 

Miss anything?  I'm past the point of missing alcohol and I'm not really restricting my diet too severely these days.  My weight's on target and I eat pretty well, and that seems like enough at this point.

Movement?  Yes, but not usually when people pet the bump.  Sprout doesn't seem to want to perform for the audience.

Food craving?  First stop in Illinois:  Portillo's!

Anything make you sick or queasy?  Nope!

Gender?  I think the guesses are about 50/50.

Labor signs?   My stomach gets really hard sometimes.  The doctor says it's contractions but it's nothing to worry about.

Symptoms?  Sleeplessness, heartburn, general fatigue and discomfort, back aches, weird dreams.

Belly button in or out?  It's mostly in...it looks weird.

Wedding rings on or off?  They're still on but they're uncomfortably tight in the morning.

Happy or moody most of the time?  Happy!

Looking forward to?  Setting up all our gifts in Sprout's room, our visitors next week!