Week 28 - Visiting Louisville

How far along? 28 (sorry no picture. Woops)

Total weight gain/measurements: About 12 pounds. Not too bad for 28 weeks right?? Right???????????? (I'm looking for some support here)

Maternity clothes: So officially I can’t wear most of my normal shirts. Most. I measured my waist. Its crazy that it is  almost 9 inches bigger.  Hence why my shirts aren't working to well anymore. I don’t want to ruin all of them. Oh and yes… still wearing my regular pants.

Stretch marks? Not yet.  :)

Sleep: Lately very restless. I have been sleeping very lightly which results in Jared and I waking each other up all night. Whenever he gets up, turns over. Or I turn over… get up. We are becoming sleep deprived. BUT I have been in Louisville since Wednesday night sooooo I have been sleeping better and so has he.
We joke that we should be like the ‘old days’ and just have two twin beds. LOL.


Best moment this week: Flying out to Louisville!  I got to visit with Mary and Michael, my friends. The next night I got to see a bunch of people from my old work at Baptist. We went to Tom and Chee. –Somewhere I've always wanted to go. I got a mac and cheese grilled cheese and creamy tomato basil soup. It was soooooo good! I'm sure it was just as 'good' for you too... HA. Splurge!  After that we went to Uptown art to paint a picture of the Louisville sky line.  We all started getting goofy. It was so nice! It reminded me of a bunch of high school gals where you just have a good time and laugh at each other. 

I was also able to hang out with Jared on Tuesday before I left. It was so nice. He has been so busy with work, research, projects, contracts, etc….. That we haven’t really been able to talk or spend much time together. I missed him! But Tuesday he took the time to go on a date with me to Claim Jumper and we went swimming before. It was pretty cold because it was cloudy but we were the only ones and had a really good time- in addition to getting some exercise.

Worst moment this week: It was a pretty good dang week. The flight to Louisville was long and we sat on the runway for 45 minutes before taking off. It would have been ok, but there was NO AC and I was dying. Like not just hot, but confined feeling and pregnant and there were moments I thought I was gonna pass out.  But finally they got the plane going without a pregnant lady passed out on the floor. PHEW!

Miss anything? Just having the connections and friends that I do here in Louisville.  They help me feel so loved.

Movement: He is still kicking those ribs. So tender. But his moving has changed from kicking really hard to more movements where I feel an elbow or something move across my stomach. It is kinda cool. He also like to do a dance in the morning around 6.

Food cravings: Not really this week.

Anything making you queasy or sick? The smell of poop. Not so much dog poop, but human poop. Like babies with a dirty diaper. Stinky farts… makes me gag.

Labor signs: Braxton Hicks. They are starting to really cramp and hurt when I get them. I get one every time I get out of bed. It’s kinda annoying. And I had a bunch of them in a row- Jared started to get worried, but I was really dehydrated. They went away not long after I drank a bunch of water.

Symptoms: Tired. Braxton Hicks. And a belly. Other than that things have been good.

Belly button in or out? Out sometimes… but sometimes it is just flat looking.

Wedding rings on or off? On.  They feel really loose this week. I think I lost weight in my fingers. LOL. I’m just happy that I don’t have crazy swelling. Although my feet have been trying to swell a little.

Happy or moody most of the time? Happy! I got to spend time with my hubby who I love. I’ve gotten to visit Louisville with all my friends. I am so very lucky!

Looking forward to: Seeing Jared again, and my next OB appointment. Like I said they are all ‘boring’ appointments now, but for some reason I really like going and hearing how ‘great’ everything looks. Silly and a bit self-centered… I know.
Plus, because I’m so ‘by the book’ with no issues really I usually go… he listens to the heartbeat, looks at my labs, and then we just talk about whatever. Maybe his kids, a patient he had a while ago, how he met his wife…
We have 15 minutes for office time and he always makes sure to spend all 15 with me. It is really nice. He makes me feel like I’m a person, not just a way to get ahead of schedule. I like it. While I wouldn’t be mad or offended if he didn’t spend the whole time with me talking (I understand those doctors are busy), but it makes me feel good.

I will have to do a whole post on my visit to Louisville. It is so much fun being here!

Week 27 - 3rd Trimester!

Most important things first… I PASSED the glucose screening! Phew… I was really worried, mostly because I LOVE CARBS and anything sugary.

Jared was no help easing my worries. I would ask him if he thought I would pass the glucose test… Every time he would respond the same way… 
“How are you supposed to pass when you didn’t even study?”  Very reassuring husband…. :/

Although I also found out I am officially anemic from pregnancy. I don’t think I can stand to take any more Iron. So it is what it is.

Back to the topic at hand... 

3rd Trimester!

I made Jared take the picture. He was impatient as I required he take more than ONE shot so we could get a 'good' one.  Those wives... so annoying sometimes.

How far along? 27 weeks 1 days (in the picture)

Total weight gain/measurements: Not telling this week. (although it really isn't that crazy)
I've decided that if I feel like I am hungry I’m going to eat. “They” say you should gain about 1 pound a week from now out. Seems like a lot to me, but I’m gonna just let my body do what it wants.  (Oh, and no I’m not up-to my ‘break-up' weight yet).

Maternity clothes: Sunday I wore an Ann Taylor dress I also wore to my nursing school graduation. I think if anyone questioned if I was pregnant at church has no questions now. Personally I think it looks good with a little bump.

Dec. 2011

Stretch marks? Nope, but I have a feeling my belly button will never be quite the same.

Sleep: This week has been great for sleeping. We went to bed at 8-9pm (which we usually start to get in bed at 9). I don’t know if this has helped. I’m thinking it is increase in my exercise- or just change in types of exercise.  

Best moment this week: I got to swim again twice this week and lay out for a little while (yes it's that warm).

Worst moment this week: Running with the running group. It has nothing to do with bring pregnant, but in a way it does....  I felt ‘unfriended’ by a few people. Girl Drama. It is so silly, and it is all an assumption on her part.

Miss anything? Having a job.

Movement: Still hanging out kicking those ribs. He did give me a break for a few days and kicked elsewhere, but he is back again.

Food cravings: None this week. I woke up hungry one night, but at dinner the night before I couldn't fit anymore in my stomach but was still hungry so it makes sense I suppose.

Anything making you queasy or sick? I've been feeling sick at night. Most likely due to my pre-natal vitamin.

Labor signs: Braxton Hicks. They are less frequent this week, but much stronger feeling.

Symptoms: ‘Slow gut issues’.  A preggo belly. I'm starting to get SPD pain. It's no fun. And the everlasting upper back pain. Any bra suggestions are welcome!

Belly button in or out? Out-ish.

Wedding rings on or off? Still rockin' the rings

Happy or moody most of the time? Been kind-of down this week. I haven’t had much to ‘do’ that helped me feel important. I did get to work on Wednesday and that was fun. I didn't realize how much I miss working.

Looking forward to:  Louisville!  - I am going to get my hair cut while I'm there. It is crazy long right now, like down to my waist. I know I will be cutting at least 4-ish inches, but can't decide if I want to keep it long with some layers or more of a medium length cut or long bob.  Suggestions welcome.

Just something random…. I've started noticing people treating me differently. People have been going out of their way to get out of my way. It is funny. And people have started staring at the bump. I wonder how the airport is going to be… 

Here is the best shot of the both of us. It took 5 agonizing shots to get it... Oh the pain!

Week 26- SUGAR RUSH

So, technically I’m in my 3^rd TRIMESTER!!!! HOLY CRAP!

How far along? 26 weeks 4 days (in the picture)  And compared to the last picture I've definitely ‘’POPPED”

Weight gain/measurements: Not sure, and I don’t think I’m gonna weigh myself this week. Too depressing to me.

Although I was thinking, after a bad break up I was the heaviest I’d ever been, and I’m still not there (by a couple pounds), so I just need to keep things in perspective.
This time it’s not the cheesecake from Cheesecake factory… and thin mints… and Easter candy… this time it’s a child.

Maternity clothes: This is a normal shirt of mine from Kohls. Normally, it is a loose comfy, nice shirt, but it is not very loose anymore…  And the pants are my Lucky Charlie skinny jeans – my favorite pair regardless of how many pictures you may see my Seven for all mankind jeans.

Stretch marks? Not yet.

Sleep: Some nights I sleep for almost 10 hrs (but not without tossing and turning a bit and getting up to pee) but it only makes up for the nights of 2hrs.

Best moment this week: Well technically last week. The OB appointment. He said my labs were great, my weight was great, my b/p was great, and I was not fitting the ‘nurse curse’. Which I had never heard about… soo lets keep this ‘no nurse curse’ up.
I also got to run again this week. It felt GREAT, except for the BH’s after.
AND I got to swim for the first time since... October??  It was nice, but it is hard to keep my heart rate low enough. It is quite the aerobic exercise, and I've lost my 'skills'.

Worst moment this week: I felt horrible on Tuesday. I was tired. I felt nauseous. I felt like poo.  I’m guessing it was some quick little virus since Jared felt the same way the night before.

Miss anything? I don’t know that it would be appropriate to post… so use your imagination… the slightly dirty part of your imagination….

Movement: He is moving just as much if not more than before. So Strong! I've noticed that he moves lots when I drink things that are hot. He has decided to hang out by my right side of ribs.  He just love to kick/punch them. I’m starting to get tender there….  I don’t know how he is supposed to get so big in the upcoming weeks.

Food cravings: The other night I wanted something…. Banana bread- homemade.. mmmmm..  But like I've said… I’m just too lazy.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Other than feeling sick on Tuesday, I just have the occasional nauseous feeling.

Labor signs: Braxton Hicks. Blah. They are getting stronger and more frequent. 2-5+ a day. He is very possessive of his ‘space’. Whenever I have a BH he kicks like crazy. I’m thinking we all need to work something out.

Symptoms: Emotional. Queasy. Braxton Hicks. Tired. Emotional. Upper back pain. Preggo Belly. You know… the same as last week. I’m less emotional than before, but feeling bad on Tuesday I had hot tears ready at any moment.

Belly button in or out? Out. I officially put a Band-Aid on my bellybutton for the first time. It was sticking out worse than normal that day…

Wedding rings on or off? On.  I really don’t have much swelling. Sometimes my feet are a little swollen after being on my feet all day, but those days (and most other days) I try to wear my compression socks.  I’m prone to spider veins and I’m really trying to avoid getting more.

Happy or moody most of the time? This week has been happy; I think. Mostly at least. I've been trying to keep myself busy with things. Helping Jared with work stuff mostly.  Getting a license in a different state is such a hassle.  Photos, notaries, all the info in the world about everything. Boo. And I have my callings. I like them.  They are not stressful, but both require time, and make me feel like I’m worth having around.

Looking forward to: Visiting Louisville. I've got a few things planned with my friends including a night out painting, a movie and dinner, a trip to Zappos outlet, and a baby shower. I’m excited, but wish Jared could come with me. 
Also, passing my glucose test, hopefully… that happened on Friday. It went something like this in my mind...

Lab - Happy Valentines Day!  Instead of eating a ton of candy/donuts today, just drink this kinda awesome orange sugary drink with 50 GRAMS of sugar in it, and hang out with us for an hour.
Me- Sure.   'chugg-a-lug'.     And so I sat. Waiting in the small cramped waiting room.  And then it hit. OH BOY!  I think I sent Jared 4 text messages in a row, organized my calendar and read every CNN article I could - while critiquing the "5 Research Articles You May Have Missed" section. I could have done anything in those oh so sweet, but much too short moments... (BTW - the research articles were a bunch of crap studies with way too many variables. There's a reason we 'may have missed' them).

Then I crashed.

-Damn that Orange drink. It is of the devil-

Oh boy I crashed hard. I felt nauseous. My head hurt. I wanted to lay down. My body ached. I may have begged the crazy, druggy looking people around me to end my misery.
Jared got one text from me telling him how horrible this was and how sick I felt.
About 15 long agonizing minutes after my crash they took my blood again and let me go. Horrible. Just Horrible.


PLEASE let me pass!  I don't know that I could make it through 3 hours of that...

___________________________________________________

On another, more positive note... I came to a realization this week...

For some reason my brain has not connected the realism that being pregnant means having a child. I am tired of feeling so blah and having to do things differently, but then I’m sad that this will all be over and life will be completely different. I will have a child in my arms. I’m trying to wrap my brain around it… this will only happen a few times for me, meaning I have a finite number of times where I will have a child growing inside of me. A child that is mine and my lovers. It is weird that this child I feel kicking and punching and moving around will be in my arms in about 3 months and my life will be different forever.

Week 25

How far along? 25 weeks 6 days  (I almost forgot. AGAIN.- and I'm really bad at posting even close to the week I'm writing about... As I post this I'm almost 27wks.)

Total weight gain/measurements: ... He has really popped out this week. (at least to me). Weight gain – about 11lbs.  Maybe this is TMI, but Jared and I weighed my… ahem upper portion.... Like I said TMI!  I will not go into the details of HOW we did this, but we did.  Turns out 'they' are 5 pounds. No wonder I’m having such nasty upper back pain.

Maternity clothes: I occasionally wear maternity tops but I like to wear my ‘real’ clothes- at least while I still can. Some are starting to be too short, and my pants are gradually starting to get a tad bit smaller in the waist.  Sadly, I only give myself a couple more weeks of wearing normal, BUTTONED jeans.

Stretch marks? Nope.

Sleep: RESTLESS. He loves to dance around when I would prefer him sleeping.

Best moment this week: Shopping! My mom and I stopped by Kohls so she could look at some luggage options. Well, the luggage happened to be right next to the baby clothes.  Which they happen to be clearing out all the winter stuff AND I had a 20% off coupon. So all the clothes that were 60-90% off were even more off. IT WAS AWESOME.

Worst moment this week: Insomnia. Ew.

Miss anything? Running and my old body. I looked a mirror while shopping and saw I had a pregnant belly. It totally surprised me because I had, for the moment, forgotten I was preggo.  That was strange.

Movement: He is moving mostly at night. Sometimes it keeps me up. Mostly because I like to pay attention to him moving when he is. It is weird to see how the shape of my stomach changes when he moves different places.  Or just to see him making my stomach move when he kicks… weird.  I think it is the coolest when Jared feels him move. Like big movements, not just little kicks, but the type where he flips around and moves to the other side.

Food cravings: One day I suddenly found myself wanting cheesecake, which is strange because I don’t like cheesecake all that much. And randomly one night I woke up and wanted toast with cinnamon and sugar. Too bad I’m too lazy to actually get these things.

Anything making you queasy or sick? I've been randomly feeling nauseous. So fun.

Labor signs: Braxton Hicks. Some days there are 1 and other days I have 4+.

Symptoms: Emotional. Queasy. Braxton Hicks. Tired. Emotional. Upper back pain. Preggo Belly. You know… the norm.

Belly button in or out? Out L

Wedding rings on or off? On.

Happy or moody most of the time? This week mostly happy. I've been fairly busy with getting taxes organized, doing personal progress for mutual, ob appointments, etc… I don’t think I've had much time to wallow in my sorrows ;)

Looking forward to: Getting our tax return! LOL. 

Taxes: Man or Woman?

Since we have been married I have always been the one in 'charge' of finances.  Meaning I pay the bills, rent, check our accounts, pay the credit card, put money in savings etc...

I feel that it fits very well into the role of 'Wife' who tries to save money by planning meals, line drying clothes, couponing.  I get to see my work pay off with the account.

I have always, generally, viewed this as a more female role in the family, and since Jared is fine with that, it is my responsibility.

Since Jared has always been very busy with his schedule, and me having more down time I have always organized all our tax info. W2, 1090's, 3903.... so that Jared's dad could file them for us. (I will NEVER file taxes... too complicated for me).

So the other night at mutual I was doing the activity for personal progress.  I did not sleep much the night before, and had worked on taxes for a couple hours before going to mutual.
I mentioned to the other women that I was tired physically (from not sleeping) and mentally (from trying to find and organize all our tax stuff for two states).

They all laughed at me.  They acted like I had just cracked a brilliant joke.  (I wish I was that witty)

The only reason I could figure why: women don't do taxes.

So doing taxes.... in the general USA population... is it a "man" thing?  Or is it a "woman" thing?

24 and a Bit

How far along? 24 weeks 6 days  (I almost forgot. Woops)

Total weight gain/measurements: ... Gah. Lets just go with 5ish inches added on to my normal. :)

Maternity clothes: Haha THIS OUTFIT?? The shirt is a shirt I got from a 5 mile run in Indiana, and the pants are the 7 for all man kind again. Boring outfit!! With wet hair, and no make-up

Stretch marks? Nope.

Sleep: RESTLESS. Sleep an hour.... awake, move. Sleep an hour, awake, move....

Best moment this week: Letting the leaders in YW's know the news.

Worst moment this week: Other than being very emotional; the HORRIBLE charlie-horse I had last night. It was killer. Woke me up. I usually can sit up and pull my foot back to make it stop, but this one was so strong I couldn't pull it back an inch. I had to jump out of bed and stand on my one leg before my toes started to move. Jared just laid there.  I asked him later what he would have done if my own body weight wouldn't have stretched the muscle. Jump on my back of course!

Miss anything? Soft cheeses. mmmmm....

Movement: Bunches. He jumps now when startled with loud noises. He first did it when I turned on the vacuum, then he jumped at church when we started to sing. It is kinda cool, although I feel kinda bad I'm scaring him... just kinda... :)  (Oh motherhood will be fun- I'll have fun and just pay for counseling for him later...)

Food cravings: I woke up on Sunday wanting raspberry filled powder donuts. BUT this may have been because I had a series of weird dreams that included donuts. I don't think I would really say it was a craving though. BUT Jared agreed it would have tasted really good. Too bad it was Sunday. I still think it would taste good.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Na, not really. I never realized all these smells before though. The dogs breath for one I have never smelled before. Doesn't make me sick, but boy get him a Tic-Tac or something!

Labor signs: Braxton Hicks. Average of one every day. Are we sure women's bodies are 'made' for this??

Symptoms: EMOTIONAL - I don't think I've ever cried this much in all my years before this combined. And random nausea.

Belly button in or out? Out - still sad.

Wedding rings on or off? On.

Happy or moody most of the time? This week has been a bit better.  I started trying to do things that make me feel better. It started out moody, and has turned somewhat happy. Hopefully I can start tomorrow happy.

Looking forward to: The next OB appointment. I don't really know why, the appointments are boring ones now. And I would like to register somewhere... but I don't really want to alone. :/  Someone come visit me and lets register!

I'm thinking that people tend to think I'm smaller than I am because my rather large bosoms (strapped down in this pic) hence a portrait picture of 'the bump'.

Own it

So the last couple weeks have been very much a challenge for me. Mostly it is just old 'demons' coming out because I'm emotional. Oh so emotional... But honestly I've had some ambivalence about being pregnant. Some days I'm so happy and excited and wear tighter shirts to show off my little spare tire, but most days I feel fat and ugly and try to hid things from people. Because they must just see a person that loves their donuts.

Don't get me wrong I'm very happy and excited (and terrified) about being a mommy. I get emotional thinking about my own little boy. I know I will love him. How much? I probably won't even be able to conceive it when he is born. I worry he won't love me, which maybe is strange...

I realized (while talking with my SIL) that the reasons for not telling people at church is multifaceted.

1. I hate that there is a rumor we can't have kids. It is offensive. Makes me not want to share my happy news with you.
2. It is weird telling people the first time you are pregnant. I hear other people say it to me 'oh I'm pregnant'. 'We're expecting', etc, but for me to say it seems weird. Maybe because it is my first time???? IDK. Just a guess.
3. I don't really have many friends in the ward. Not many friends and NO close friends. I've told all my close friends elsewhere...

In my moodiness Jared and I both agreed that I need to stop hiding things from people and just try to 'own' being pregnant. (Of course this was not his exact words... He would have sounded gay had he said those words exactly... in-fact they were more like, try hard..., prayer..., atonement... etc...)

So I wore a tighter shirt in church, and the YW leader (who is turning into a really great friend) was staring at my belly. So funny to have caught her. But she didn't say anything.  BUT Jared is their home teacher and went over that afternoon and mentioned we were expecting.
Her reaction was funny! She said she was staring at my belly because she could see an outie belly button sticking out, but small people don't have outies unless they are pregnant. LOL.
We knew that after telling them it would quickly get around the ward that I was (contrary to the infertile rumors) expecting a boy. And it has. That night the RS contacted me about it. So I'm sure that many more know in the ward.
I hope it will help me to feel okay with 'pregnancy' and all that comes with it by others knowing and supporting, and not feeling like everyone just thinks I'm gaining a pudgy belly - and me trying to hide it.

So in an attempt to 'OWN' the fact I am 'with child'. I thought I would try this question-air. It is definitely stretching my out of my comfort zone, but I thought it might help.

23 Weeks- 

How far along? 23 weeks 5 days (in the picture)

Total weight gain/measurements: ... like 8 pounds (more if you count the weight that I lost and then gained back) -can't believe I'm posting my weight gain... gah. Insecurities. 

Maternity clothes: The top is Motherhood Maternity (yes, I'm starting to wear maternity tops, but really don't 'need' to... )The jeans are just my plain old regular 7 for all man-kind jeans. Still fit. There is only one pair of jeans that is tight, but they were iffy before too. So I feel lucky. I think I'm carrying fairly high (and small). Hence the jeans still fitting.

Stretch marks? Nope. 

Sleep: Ever since being pregnant I have not slept well. I am very restless and have good night and bad nights. The bad nights are usually 2-4 hours of sleep and then I'm wide awake. The good nights are like 7-9 hours of sound sleep - which means NO GETTING UP TO PEE!!! love that! Most the time it is just very restless-wake up every hour.

Best moment this week:  Letting my mom, sister and adopted sister (kate) feel him kicking. He was going crazy that day. AND I tried running (well jogging) again. First time in months.  IT WAS AWESOME. I had NO SI joint problems and went a little more than 3 miles. (I've been riding the bike trainer which mimics the moves you would do to help strengthen those muscles in PT and it's paid off!)
Worst moment this week: Having my feelings hurt. Being called, 'small' and 'chunky' in the same one minute span  :/

Miss anything? I miss my old looking self. :(  Sometimes I feel like I look like the Grinch.

Movement: He is always on the move. I'm convinced he is going to be a karate master, swimmer, track star... something active. He started kicking my floating ribs- fun.

Food cravings: Huh? What's that? Seriously, nope. 

Anything making you queasy or sick? I CANNOT take my prenatal vitamin during the day or I puke. It was no fun figuring that out. And the thought of poopy diapers... hopefully that will change or Jared's in for a world of fun. ;)

Gender: BOY of course!

Labor signs: Just some mild Braxton Hicks. They happen about every other day.  But I've been having them since 19 weeks so, Oh well.

Symptoms: I've always had slow 'gut' issues, then the puking this week, suddenly and for no reason I will get really nauseous - but it usually passes 5 mins later, and I've noticed getting out of bed is just a bit more of a challenge.       SIDE STORY... There is a lady who is 2 weeks ahead of me who is constantly complaining about EVERYTHING which is fine.... EXCEPT she BRAGGED constantly about not being nauseous at all in the first trimester. Which I hated her for since I was nauseous 24/7.  Now I feel pretty good... and she doesn't. Not that I'm Bragging out loud to her, BUT secretly I'm smiling.

Belly button in or out? Out- It has been for a while, its sad :(

Wedding rings on or off? On with room to spare. They feel looser than ever honestly.

Happy or moody most of the time? Probably moody since this is mostly the reason why I'm doing this... Jared would definitely say moody. He has been so good to me. There have been very hard days. You know... those days when I text him "Do you still love me?"
Poor Jared. He is great. Such a support, and very patient.

Looking forward to: Flying out to Kentucky at the end of February. :) I'm excited to see all my friends there!

Please note: The picture of me was taken after being at the zoo all day with my nephew, please disregard the 'ugh' in the picture :)



Here a few of the pics from the zoo with P.