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!

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.