34.5 weeks

So this is kind of how I am feeling lately. Round and very tired. I am having a lot of back pain again and am having a lot of trouble sleeping. I know it is just part of it, but is getting a little old. I am just trying to take it easy and do small tasks each day. One of those tasks was working on some artwork for the nursery. I am not an artist, but I pretend to be and I want our children to be surrounded by art, even if it is mediocre and created by their mother. So using some various mediums I created some graphic tribal patterned animals (a giraffe, monkey and elephant). They are sort of silhouetted on a background of color. They came out better than I thought and framed they actually look pretty good. Maybe if I get brave and things hung on the walls in the nursery I will post a picture.

Josh and I headed to the doctors yesterday and everything was fine. I gained a pound, not much in belly size (just a half a centimeter) and found out the baby was breech. Which I actually suspected because of the way I have been feeling him kick and move lately. I actually think he spends most of his time traverse, laying sideways across my belly with his little feet wedged in my left hip. Sometimes he gives me such a swift kick I think my legs might buckle. But I have heard from many women that they often get wedged in your ribs, which sounds worse to me. And the bonus is I am not having any heartburn since he is not up that far. Trying to look for the positives...
The doctor said the baby still had plenty of time to move around into position, so there was no need to worry yet. I am sure he will slip down into the right place eventually, on his own time.

33.5 weeks

So as of last Wednesday I was officially done with work...which was almost two weeks earlier than I had planned, but this baby decided it was time for me to rest and get off my feet, and it has been glorious. It makes such a difference when I can get more rest and pace myself during the day and don't have to be running a million miles an hour at school just to come home and feel guilty that I am too exhausted or in too much pain to get anything done around the house. This way I can sleep a little longer (until 7 instead of 5) and ease into the day. If I need to stop and rest I can, if I feel good I can keep going. Really every pregnant woman needs to not work through the 1st trimester, maybe pick up something in the 2nd and then stop again in the third. It would make life so much more bearable.

We have been plugging away through all the baby stuff putting things in their place and getting things ready. I don't think I am quite in the "nesting" mode yet, but anyone who knows me well, knows I need order to feel at ease, and I really have been organizing things the whole 8 months in preparation for the event. Which makes me feel a bit like a ticking time bomb...it's like a race to how much I can get done or in order before this little one comes in and promptly disrupts it all.

My back is doing better, still hurting, but I think that is just par for the course. At least I can move around most of the time and even make a trip out ever once and a while (with enough Tylenol and an icepack).

We met with a pediatrician yesterday to line that up and have a few questions answered. We found out that Rowan (yes that is the name we are calling him by right now) has only about a 25% chance on inheriting the blood disorder I have which was encouraging. It is also a relief because even if he does have it, since he is a boy, he will never have to worry about birth control pills or pregnancy affecting his hormone levels (all which would put a girl at more of a risk). And the doctor was very knowledgeable about the condition and even specialized in hematology. Something I didn't know when lining him up but was very pleased to learn.

Now I just need to get the fun things done; decorating the nursery walls, putting together any last minute items, washing and putting away all his little tiny clothes...and visiting with friends before I am stuck in the house for weeks without any contact to the outside world.

7 weeks and counting....

32 weeks

Josh and I had a busy weekend filled with lots of baby things. We made the epic journey to Babies r Us and returned some things, bought some things and tried to get the nursery ready. We spent Sunday organizing and putting things away. It is finally starting to feel like a room and not just a place to dump all the baby stuff. I can actually have the door open to the nursery and not feel embarrassed by the mess. So I think that is a step in the right direction.

I have been having a lot of back pain (probably from the stress of finishing up school and doing WAY too much this weekend). Anyway, Monday morning stepping out of the shower my back spasmed and I dropped to the floor. Monday was rough, I was and continue to be in a lot of pain. The doctor gave me some heavy pain killers, which really aren't helping, just making me really tired. I don't know what to do about work. I kind of just want to call it quits and be done. I was only going to have a week and a half left anyway. Need to figure that out soon.

The baby is fine, un-phased by everything going on around him. He continues to kick, a lot and is doing these big grand movements now where you can see my entire stomach shift from one side to the other.

31 weeks

I was showered with gifts this weekend and had a wonderful time seeing family and friends. Josh and I were both overwhelmed by the generosity and our now in the process of sorting through it all and figuring out what we still need...and just how many onesies does a person need? We are starting to count down...8-9 weeks to go. I can't believe that is all we have left (maybe less) before we meet this little person. I am finishing up work in the next two weeks and am desperately looking forward to a little time off before our whole lives change. There are so many last minute things I feel like I need to get ready, I hope I have time to fit them all in.

I am starting to get nervous about the whole 'birth' thing, but the baby has to come out, so I don't really have a choice in the matter. I am just crossing my fingers that the stars can align and I can be induced at the time my body is getting ready on its own and I can have the wonderful thing called an epidural. That's right folks, if this little guys decided to come when he wants to, I am o'natural....awesome. It has to do with the amount of time I am off the blood thinners before an anesthesiologist will put a needle in my back. I will survive, MANY women do it and live to tell about it, and some even go on to have more children. One could argue their mental stability, but whatever. I just hope he doesn't come crazy early, because I would like a little more time to prepare.

Side note and belly update...it is huge, or at least feels that way. I know people mean well, but if one more person tells me how big I have gotten or how I have "popped" I am going to punch them in the face. And I feel terrible, because I know I have uttered these words to my dear friends and I can promise, never again will I tell a pregnant woman anything but that she looks beautiful. Even if it is a lie. At this point I would take lies, I might even welcome them over the alternative....being the truth. I am also sick of people joking about my hormones. I know I am cranky, you don't need to point it out to me. I am cranky becuase I am not sleeping more that 1 1/2 hr intervals, have to get up at 5 just to haul myself to school to teach someone else's 12 year old brat, I am peeing more times than I can count (the total was up to 25 and that was modest) and the only perk is people hold open doors for me, sometimes.

For those of you who are out there and are pregnant or trying...I'm sorry, but someone needs to tell you the truth.

A few more photos

Went to the doctors today. Everything is going fine. I lost 3 pounds, the baby gained 2 centimeters. I am not sure how that happens but I am not complaining.

Here is a link to a few more photos...I will try to post a more complete album when the Internet is not moving so slow.

29 weeks..maternity photo shoot

So I am sure there will be more photos to come, but here is a good start.

I some how hit the jackpot and two of my best friends are professional photographers. Kristen Gardner lives in the area, and Lashelle Chappell works in the Durham, NC area. Both are incredibly talented and I highly recommend either of them if you ever want some shots of you, your family or a special event! Kristen and her husband and sweet baby girl came out to the house on Saturday afternoon and hung out and shot some photos of Josh and I as we wandered around the yard. I really more waddled, but whatever. I haven't seen the whole set yet, but I am thrilled with how these came out and I can't wait to see the rest. My other best friend Katie, whose talents also abound, did my make-up so I haven't felt that pretty since my wedding day. (I know I really do have the hook up when it comes to friends!).

As a complete side note, my sweet husband has been working hard to slim down as I grow and I think he just looks great in these photos as well, especially next to my ever increasing belly!

Who stole my bellybutton? and other thoughts about 28.5 weeks

So I have been MIA lately and I guess it can be attributed to that old adage our mothers taught us, "if you don't have anything nice to say...". It has been a rough go here the last few weeks and I just haven't been up to posting anything. Josh filled you in on some of the details, so there is not need to rehash it. I am doing a little better. Had a visit to a physical therapist on Monday and learned a few stretches that help my back a bit. But was told what I knew already, that this back pain is not going to end until this baby is out of me...which is a whole other issue.

So we went to our birthing class last weekend. We did a sort of blitzkrieg attack and knocked it out in two long days. It was informative and weird and hilarious. It is just funny on so many levels to sit around the room with other couples who are in the same situation and talk about incredibly personal things. I have to be honest I was a little like that kid in middle school health class, I couldn't help but giggle a time a two. Josh and I also saw a birthing video that may be permanently seared into out brains. Here's the thing, I know it is a 'beautiful' thing and a miracle and all that. But do I really need to see that up close and personal. I would have been an obstetrician if I wanted that view. I think it is safe to say Josh will be staying up near my head and attending to me during the birth of our little one. He might surprise me, but I know I wouldn't if I were him. I am just glad I won't be able to see what is going on.

For those of you wanting a belly update...it's growing. My bellybutton is changing, it hasn't popped out yet, but is on its way. I am up about 15 pounds now and I think my face is starting to show it a little bit. The kid is kicking and moving non-stop and just in the past few days has really started to do a lot of stretching and pushing. It is different than his movements before, which were kind of violent versions of kung foo. Now it is just a lot of pressure but also still some definite kicks. I just feel like I can feel him moving and stretching like I couldn't before. There was actually a defined bump sticking out the other day and I would push it down and he would push it right back up. This went on a few times and finally I let him win (I don't know what that says about my consistency with discipline, but I didn't think it would form any patterns yet).

Kristen will be taking some maternity photos this weekend so I am sure I will post a few when we got those. It should be fun...even though you know how I feel about being the center of attention, I know it is really important to document this time.