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!

25 week update

Well, I'm getting to the end of the second trimester and my discomfort is becoming constant and more intense.  Bottom line:  I'm not very pleasant lately.  We went to the bluegrass festival this weekend and although I was looking forward to it, I didn't enjoy it as much as last year.  I was just so tired all the time and I realized that I have somehow developed hay fever.  So basically, I couldn't breathe, hear or find a comfortable position to sleep or sit in all weekend, which brought out the really sunny side of my personality. I think I've been uninvited from future events.

Bean Sprout is getting bigger and so am I.  S/he weighs about 1.5 pounds, is 13.5 inches long and his/her little bones are becoming solid.  S/he is also filling out and knows up from down now, which is cool, but s/he still prefers to just hang out directly on my bladder.  So thanks Sprout.

I'm told it's time to start working on a birth plan.  So far, I'm planning to give birth.  That's a start, I guess.

How far along?  25 weeks
Total weight gain?  I think about 15 pounds.
Maternity clothes?  I've been getting feedback that my dresses don't accentuate my bump enough.  That's the point!
Stretch marks?  Nothing new, so that's good.
Sleep?  Ha.  Can't sleep on my back because that cuts off circulation to your uterus.  Can't sleep on my stomach because, obviously.  Can't sleep on my right side because my diaphragm tingles really weirdly.  Can't stay too long on my left side because my hip gets sore.  So....yeah, not much sleeping.
Best moment of the week?  I put together a new dresser and side tables from Ikea, which always makes me feel like Jesus, and by that I mean he too was a respected carpenter.
Miss anything?  Nothing I can think of really.
Movement?  Yes, a lot, especially after eating or when I'm laying down.
Food craving?  All week I thought about these delicious jalapeno rellenos with cheese and shrimp from this one Mexican food restaurant near the bluegrass place.  They were to die for.  I could've eaten a dozen.
Anything make you sick or queasy?  This new doggie diet can't last.  It's soooo gross.
Gender?  I've narrowed it down to boy or girl.
Labor signs?  I don't think so, but I have a feeling Sprout may come early for some reason.  I hope not, I just have a feeling.
Symptoms?  General discomfort, heartburn, backaches, trouble sleeping.  Still 3+ months to go of this?!
Belly button in or out?  Innish.
Wedding rings on or off?  On!
Happy or moody most of the time?  Moody this week.  Definitely moody.
Looking forward to?  We are headed to Action Heights this weekend to celebrate Gino's first birthday and have a baby shower for Bean Sprout!  Pool, parties, and Portillo's!

24 week update

The doctor's appointment on Monday was uneventful, and I'll take that to be good news.  I feel like we had another really productive week.  I made appointments to go see two different pediatricians' offices, signed up for a breastfeeding class, and have started doing some research because I'm determined to try to deliver Sprout drug-free.  However, I do not want to go to some weird class and feel awkward and clench-y the whole time.  I mean, people all over the world have babies without even the option of drugs every day, and every spring you hear about some teenage girl squeezing out her baby in the bathroom at prom.  So, I'm thinking it can be done.

We've really been trying to get the house ready for visitors, which will start the first week of August when my brother, sister-in-law, and nephew come to stay with us!  I'm really excited for them to come out.  I just know time is going to start flying by and I'm trying to get as much done as I can while I still feel somewhat mobile.

Stats time:

How far along?  24 weeks
Total weight gain?  13 pounds, which puts me right on target.
Maternity clothes?  I went and got a few more loose dresses this week.  No maternity stuff though.
Stretch marks?  In the interest of honesty, I have to admit I found one on the underside of my left boob.  Prevention/eradication efforts have been redoubled.
Sleep?  No complaints.
Best moment of the week?  The feeling of accomplishment from getting some major things done/lined up.
Miss anything?  Nope.
Movement?  Yes a lot, especially right after I eat.  Scott has been able to feel it pretty often too, which is fun.
Food craving?  Every day it's different, but fairly specific.  Like, yesterday for lunch, it had to be a wedge salad, or this morning, eggs benedict with sauce on the side and the eggs well done.
Anything make you sick or queasy?  Chopping up the raw chicken and pig parts that my dogs eat.  Ew!
Gender?  Make your guesses, ladies and gents!
Labor signs?  I asked the doctor about this weird pulling feeling I get in my stomach sometimes and the fact that it gets really hard and she said that's "just" contractions (!)  but it's pretty normal and not to worry.
Symptoms?  Again, what's the point of this if I'm not being honest? Sneezing has become, um, hazardous.  Also, I have worse acne on my chest and shoulders than I ever had wearing a sweaty sports bra for 5+ hours a day.  Attractive.
Belly button in or out?  Holding on for dear life.
Wedding rings on or off?  On!
Happy or moody most of the time?  Happy!
Looking forward to?  Our first road trip in Yoko this weekend!

23 week update

Well, I must say it's been a productive week.  Scott and I finally ventured into Babies R Us and found some large item things that we really like.  I'm not anywhere close to being done, but at least I got the ball rolling.  I'll keep working on it this week.

I can't believe Sprout will be here in less than 4 months!  Well, hopefully.  I also can't believe that I'm this large and baby is only a pound...I mean, if s/he is going to gain at least another 5 pounds (but probably more) how much bigger am I going to get?  Ugh.

Let's see, what's new with the Bean Sprout this week...s/he has a fully formed face now, it just needs to fill out now so there's some chubby cheeks to pinch.  I feel like maybe I haven't been feeling Sprout move around as much but maybe that's just because I've been too busy to really pay attention.  At least my doctor's appointment is tomorrow to reassure me that everything is going along smoothly.  Maybe Sprout got a little startled when, during our 4th of July home fireworks show, one of the fireworks tipped over and shot directly at me, missing me by about 2 feet.  Sorry Sprout.  I hope it doesn't put you off fireworks forever because they are one of my favorite things in life.

How far along?  23 weeks
Total weight gain?  I actually purchased a scale this week but have been really hesitant to get on it.  I have really started missing the hardcore workouts I was doing last year at this time with the Chicago Marathon 2011 team, so I don't want to look at the number and feel like a blob.
Maternity clothes?  Nothing this week.  I wonder if just wearing regular dresses makes me look more or less shapeless.
Stretch marks?  Still fighting the good fight.
Sleep?  Fine, but I'm thinking it might be time for one of those pregnancy pillows.
Best moment of the week?  The 4th of July!  Easily in my top 2 favorite holidays, I love grilling out, the patriotic feel of the day and, of course, all the fireworks.  I also strongly feel it wouldn't be a legit Independence Day without a near-death experience, so mission: accomplished there.
Miss anything?  The ability to sit for longer than 10 minutes without having to readjust to get comfortable, the delight of sitting in the sun for 10 minutes without sweating profusely and getting nauseous.
Movement?  Yes, some, but I guess I was thinking there'd be more...It does say that Sprout sleeps 12-14 hours a day, so maybe that's fine.
Food craving?  I actually searched out a chocolate bar the other day.  That's usually a big yuck for me.
Anything make you sick or queasy?  Not really.
Gender?  People seem split about 50/50 on what Sprout is.  I just hope the poor thing doesn't have to wear yellow the first three months.
Labor signs?  No.
Symptoms?  I think my organs are starting to feel crowded.  I can't really bend down to put on my shoes without grunting.  That's attractive.
Belly button in or out?  Still in...
Wedding rings on or off?  They're on but snug.  The heat isn't helping.
Happy or moody most of the time?  Happy, especially because I think we're making some real progress getting ready for little Bean Sprout's arrival.
Looking forward to?  A encouraging doctor's appointment, mostly.

50 shades of gray

Get your mind outta the gutter, I'm not talking about THAT.  But I've been pretty busy this week and most of the pics I'm posting today are some kind of gray color, oddly enough, so why not entice my readership? ;)

First things first, we got ourselves a new living room this week.  I loved making slipcovers, but it wasn't really  what we were going for in the living room.  This is more like it, right?

I'm really happy with it.  I love the colors and it's super comfortable.

We also got Bean Sprout's room painted while we were away.  So, I'm thinking turquoise, white and gray is neutral enough for a boy or girl (and I would totally vomit in a pastel green/yellow room).  So here's our starting point:

I feel like now we can have fun with the rest of the decor and I'm excited to put some fun bright colors and prints in there!

That's the little elephant picture I bought for Sprout and box of loot in the corner from my mom, including Lady the Dog, who I've had to hide from Josie and Belle for obvious reasons.

I also bought a crib and changing table this week.  We decided to go for a higher quality crib that could convert to a toddler bed and then a big kid bed instead of just a standard crib.  I looked at about 100 white cribs before Scott found this one.  Nicely done, Husband.  They had a deal on buying the two pieces of furniture together so I figured, aw, why not?

http://www.pali-design.com/index.php?section=products&subsection=&page=products&product_serie_id=56&product_id=&product_photo_id=914&langue=en&view=photo_display

I also bought this rocking chair a few weeks ago which I think will look great with everything else.  We got the white with the darker bottom.

http://www.laylagrayce.com/Products/Nurseryworks-Empire-Rocker__NW65.aspx

What do you think?

Our last big purchase for the week was a new car for me.  I haven't really been very excited about this.  My Volkswagen that I have now has been the best car ever and is super cute, so I've been dreading the end of the lease.  But Scott says we need a "safe" car that is "sensible" for the Sprout.  I say the Sprout would be happy being the cool kid whose Mom has a sporty little two door convertible.  I mean, how can you not love Ellie Mae?

Man, I'm going to miss that car.  I had my heart set on a Jeep Wrangler 4-door because at least that doesn't look like you have to put on Mom-Jeans to drive it, but it wasn't meant to be (mostly because the sales guy screwed up big time at the last minute).  So, back to the drawing board.  Where was I going to find a boxy vehicle that is more like a truck than a crossover?  Since a G Wagon is not going to happen now, (I'll try again in 3 years!) meet Yoko:

It's really nice on the inside, has heated leather seats, a moon roof, blue tooth, satellite radio, and navigation, none of which the Jeep had...but I'd be lying if I said my heart didn't die a little buying a Toyota.  Now Jessica, you're saying, surely you know that a Volkswagen is not an American car?  Yes, I know.  But that's different!  Truthfully, I really like the car and if it was a Chevy I'd be so excited.  But it's hard to give up Ellie Mae.  I mean, truck drivers probably won't even honk at me when they drive alongside me in this, haha!

Anyway, Scott is super excited about this car because he loves Toyotas, it has a little thingamajig to pull his boat, and he thinks that this will make me more willing to go camping (it will NOT!).  And it looks like my pups will be much happier:

Anyway, Happy 4th of July to you all!  Remember to be thankful for all of your freedoms today and the people who work tirelessly to preserve it for us all.  God bless America!

22 week update

I've been staring at the screen for a while now, wondering how to talk about this week and nothing seems like the right thing.

I love getting to spend time with the family, I just wish it wasn't under these kind of circumstances. And that's all I have to say about that.

I feel like my bump is growing more rapidly than ever and Sprout is about a foot long now and weighs about a pound.  S/he moves around A LOT and usually while I am at rest.  It always makes me laugh when I feel it!

Pay no attention to my hair today.  It's 95 degrees, 100% humidity and our air conditioning is broken.  I can't fight against it

How far along?  22 weeks
Total weight gain?  Not sure but I definitely feel bigger this week than I did last week
Maternity clothes?  Lynn and I went shopping this week and got a bunch of really cute dresses I'm excited to wear!
Stretch marks?  None yet, but I've started being more diligent as all the websites are warning me they are just around the corner.
Sleep?  Great, actually.
Best moment of the week?  Family time, even when it's sad, is still lovely and comforting.
Miss anything?  Maybe sangria now that it's so warm.
Movement?  Sprout's pokes and punches are pretty strong now! S/he's an active little thing.
Food craving?  Orange Fanta.  Haha.
Anything make you sick or queasy?  The heat!
Gender?  Sprout has a name either way, at last!
Labor signs?  None I can tell.
Symptoms?  I get tired and out of breath more easily than ever before and I can get irritable pretty quickly.
Belly button in or out?  Still in, but looking weird.
Wedding rings on or off?  On!
Happy or moody most of the time?  50/50.
Looking forward to?  Gotta get to registering this week, keep plugging away at Sprout's quilt and maybe buy a crib!