The End is Near

and I can't wait! At this point, every day and move is painful. I sure hope it's a sign that things are progressing towards this little boy exiting and joining the world! Max and I are working on getting the house and our lives as prepared for this bombshell as much as possible. Garage sales are amazing for buying things in good condition that we need! We got a cradle swing ($180), travel swing ($69) (for Mema's house), bumbo with tray ($46), boppy ($35), and jumperoo ($73) for less then $100 total! We had a small family baby shower with his family on Sunday, it was simple and sweet and nice to be in a shaded park where I could be barefoot in the grass.

Yesterday we cleaned out and vacuumed both cars and installed the mirrors and carseats. Then we finished up Carter's room, put away all of the remaining clothes and blankets, washed the carseat covers and rest of the cloth diapers and organized all of his stuff. The hospital bags are packed and sitting next to the front door. All the ultrasound pictures are in his photo album and the bassinet in our room is made and ready for little guy to sleep in at night.

Today I'm deep cleaning the house and making sure everything is set so when we come home from the hospital, whenever that happens, we don't have to worry about cleaning up an existing mess.

Tomorrow I have another doctor appointment. Ultrasound to start with to check fluid levels then a non-stress test. I love getting to hear his heartbeat for 20 minutes twice a week but I'm tired of feeling like there is nothing personal about my appointments anymore. I go in, the nurse hooks me up, comes in after 20 minutes, unhooks me and then sometimes the midwife will come in, looks at my sugar records, says "good job" and then says "I'll see you next week." I hope I finally have some good contractions on the machine and that they will check me to see if my body is preparing for birth at all.

I'll take some pictures tonight of his room and some of his gear to post but for now, I'm going to finish dishes and laundry and take a nap.

36 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights: Had our growth scan, Carter is measuring 6 days behind at 5 lbs 9 oz as of Thursday. If we go to our due date she said to expect a 7.5 lb baby. He is so cute and in an awesome position! So sad that some of the ultrasound pictures he looks like he's crying though! :-(

How Far Along: 36 weeks

Size of baby: They should gain 1 oz a day so probably about 5 lbs 13 oz!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 12 pounds lost

Maternity Clothes: Maternity pants and long shirts.

Gender: All Boy!

Movement: Starting to slow down, which I'm happy about! He seems to be spending more time sleeping then moving but has his crazy moments of rolling around kicking me. It's so neat to see his hiccups and to feel him practice breathing though!
Sleep: Ok. When I do sleep I sleep like a baby, no pun intended. 

Symptoms: Lots of pressure in my pelvis and I've totally got the waddle going on, lol!

What I miss: Being able to stand up for more then 30 minutes without contractions starting.

Cravings: I want some s'mores, but those are off-limits until after birth and I'm off this diet!

Best Moment this week: Seeing Carter and his gorgeous face. Getting below that one month mark, we are officially in the month we will meet our son!

Looking Forward Too: 5 days until we're considered term and he can come at any time! So exciting but nerve-wrecking as well!

I'll post a picture later today.

34 Weeks and GD

Pregnancy Highlights: I'm ready to meet him!

How Far Along: 34 weeks

Size of baby: Probably 5-ish pounds, according to the books and websites. Go in for a growth scan next week so we'll know more then!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 10 pounds lost

Maternity Clothes: Maternity pants and long shirts.

Gender: All Boy!

Movement: Getting painful more and more. He seems to be more active, with short naps here and there throughout the day. I hope that means his sleep pattern is moving towards sleeping at night and being awake during the day! I ABSOLUTELY love the hiccups, he gets them a number of times a day and they wake me up at night.
Sleep: Going ok. I sleep a lot better right now for some reason, just have to wake up to go to the bathroom a couple times but I fall back asleep quickly and for the most part am comfortable.

Symptoms: ...

What I miss: Getting to eat what I want, when I want.

Cravings: Sweets and pudding and fruit and processed foods.

Best Moment this week: Our first non-stress test went great! Carter's heartrate responds correctly and I got to lay there for 30 minutes listening to his heartbeat and him moving :-)

Looking Forward Too: Getting to see him tomorrow and every Thursday until he's here! Oh, and the piece of baby shower cake that's in the freezer and going to the hospital with me for me to eat as soon as he's born!

So, they are considering me to have gestational diabetes. I am not diagnosed (as far as I know....) and have been told that I may be considered non-diabetic if I can manage my blood sugar. Why now? I passed the 3 hour test but at 32 weeks they had me test my blood sugar at home for 3 days. I had a couple of slightly elevated readings so I was put on the diet and go in twice a week for monitoring and get an ultrasound every week to make sure my amniotic fluid doesn't get too high. I really think they are overdoing it but am following the diet so hopefully they take me off the diet. They won't let me go past my due date so will induce if he isn't here by then. I really hate the idea of being induced, especially when I don't believe in the reasoning so I'm doing what I can to be treated like normal.....

31 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights: Got to see our little man's chubby cheeks and gorgeous lips and sweet little face. Down to less then 2 months and single digit week-wise! Sometimes it shocks me to think that he could be here in a matter of 5.5 weeks! We have our second birthing class tonight, I'm loving them so far! It's a 6 week course and I am loving it.

How Far Along: 31 weeks

Size of baby: Books say around 3 to 3.5 pounds, who knows for sure!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 12 pounds lost

Maternity Clothes: Maternity pants and long shirts.

Gender: All Boy!

Movement: AMAZING! We can identify knees and feet and butt. Sometimes it gets painful when he twists back and forth but I wouldn't trade it for the world. Ally has felt him move a lot and it's neat to see other people enjoy what Max and I have been enjoying for a while! Mom has felt him but not move a lot and she tried to hear him moving but that didn't work ;-)
Sleep: Carter has a nightly party that wakes me up and keeps me up. Between that, a very squished bladder, waking up starving, hip pain, body parts falling asleep, etc. sleep is getting rarely restful but I'm thankful for what I get and am trying different things to help me sleep more and get more restful sleep.

Symptoms: Not a whole lot new.

What I miss: Being able to sit up right without a butt shoved in my ribs ;-)

Cravings: None really

Best Moment this week: Seeing my family really start to embrace my pregnancy. Makes it feel like he's being embraced more as well, even though I know it's seperate, just feels so much better! Also getting to see our baby boy, who is very low and so we didn't get very many pictures but getting to see him and see his activity in there was so neat!

Looking Forward Too: Baby showers and getting to hold him in a few more weeks!

28 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights: Officially in the third trimester!

How Far Along: 28 weeks

Size of baby: Probably around 2-2.5 pounds.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 12 pounds lost

Maternity Clothes: Maternity pants and long shirts. Can still fit into some pre-pregnancy jeans! 

Gender: All Boy!

Movement: Has gotten pretty intense! If I'm sitting up he loves to kick my ribs and if I'm laying down you can see his feet/knees/butt/hands/elbows poking out and moving around!
Sleep: I don't think it will ever be the same again.

Symptoms: My hips are really sore and feel like they are loosening already.

What I miss: Nothing, I love being pregnant!

Cravings: Eh

Best Moment this week: Putting in my notice at work and getting ready to become a stay-at-home-mom to my little man!

Looking Forward Too: baby showers and the 3d ultrasound in 3-ish more weeks!

Sleep and Work

First up, sleep. I've always been a very good sleeper. I can sleep anywhere, any position, with any lights/noise going on. When I'm tired I have a very hard time staying awake and can nap and be in bed an hour later. I don't need a lot of sleep, 8-9 hours a night, pretty standard. That was all pre-pregnancy!

I can still sleep anywhere, in basically any position but I don't sleep through noise and lights as well. I am constantly tired and could sleep all day and night. I've been having a lot of pain, especially at night. My lower back kills me, tailbone aches, hips lock up and a certain little boy loves to shove his feet into my ribs. Last night was probably the best night of sleep I've gotten in awhile! I can sleep 12-13 hours a night and still feel tired. Last night I got about 9 hours a sleep from going to bed to waking up for good and I felt more rested then I have after sleeping for 13 hours! The secret?

A husband that makes sure I'm laying on my side instead of flat on my back. If I sleep on my back (not purposefully but I guess I roll over in my sleep) I get  horrible cramps in my lower abdomen and it's hard to breathe. A fleece blanket folded in half and put under my belly when I'm on my side. It makes such a HUGE difference! This little boy is getting heavy and it puts a ton of pressure on my ligaments if I don't have the blanket under my belly. I do have to wake up a little when I change the side I'm sleeping on to take the blanket with me but it's completely worth it. Another thing I did difference last night was only use one pillow for my head. Not sure if that helped or not but I've been using two and decided to try one instead. Besides that, I sleep worse with a body pillow or pillow between my legs. I usually throw my leg over Max if I need the relief off my hips at night but it's usually not needed.

The only problem last night I had was when I got up the couple of times to use the bathroom was my hips would lock up and buckle when I was walking. I don't have this problem when I get up in the morning, just in the middle of the night. I think my hips protest and are screaming at me that they should still be resting.


As far as work, I'm going to be quitting my job. I am having problems with being paid correctly and on time. The job is stressful, not just working with the dogs but the whole store stresses me out. So Max and I weighed our options and priorities and I'm going to start babysitting in a month. It will bring in enough income to help support us and make it so I can stay home with Carter. I already have one baby lined up to watch and only plan on watching two or three kids total, depending on the hours needed. It allows me to get to stay home and raise Carter, allows Max and I to have time together since I'll be home when he's home before work and on his days off and allow us to meet our financial goals.

I've also had people ask if I can groom their animals after I leave my job. No, I haven't told any clients at work but I do know some people who bring their animals in. I just have to tell my boss now that I'm leaving, a mere 4 months after starting. But there really isn't a better reason to stay home, then to raise our little boy. It's taken a lot of stress off me and makes me feel better knowing that I get to spend my days taking care of Carter, a friend's baby and our house. Now just to get the house ready for a 13 month old and a newborn in the next couple of months!

26 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights: As of yesterday I am 6 months pregnant and down to double digits! It feels like forever since those 5 months ago that we found out we were expecting! Feels like this pregnancy is taking forever and I still have at least 3 months left! Oh well, I'm sure that before too long I'll be begging for the time to slow down as I watch my little boy grow up right before me. I already dread him moving out and getting married!
How Far Along: 26 weeks

Size of baby: 1 lb 5 oz at the ultrasound. Some sites say babies gain between 3-6 oz a week now so probably between 1 lb 11 oz and 1 lb 14 oz.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 12 pounds lost

Maternity Clothes: Maternity pants and long shirts

Gender: All Boy!

Movement: My belly has started doing the wave when I'm laying down! I think he is facing my back since I feel him move all the time but not so much the punches and kicks outward like before.
Sleep: Doing a little better since I got myself on a schedule. Still hainvg a hard time getting comfortable and my hips/back kill me when I wake up but I'm getting restful sleep at least.

Symptoms: Nothing new 

What I miss: Waking up feeling refreshed and not in pain.

Cravings: lemonheads

Best Moment this week: Reaching the 7th month and knowing that soon he'll be here!

Looking Forward Too: The third trimester and viability!

I knew I forgot to post it somewhere!