34+ Weeks

How far along? 34weeks 1day...the weeks are really escaping me as I knew they would at this point!

Maternity clothes? Oh yes.  I'm starting to think leggings may be all I can handle from here on out.  But NOW I am determined NOT to buy anymore clothes with so little time left.

Exercising: I went for 2 walks this week on some nicer days!!  Yay!  Also, I don't know what possessed me, but I went to the gym one night!!  YEAH!  I just NEED to get back to at least walking, and it's getting TOO cold to do that outside, so I can certainly try to get my butt in gear to do some treadmill walking for the next few weeks!

Stretch marks? Still nope, hang in there belly skin!  My doctor made a comment how impressed she was with my lack of stretch marks this week, now don't jinx me doc!

Sleep: Breathing strips and extra strength chapstick have really been my savior with congestion and dryness at night.  Unfortunately comfortableness is still unattainable; my hips, ribs, and back ache so bad I'm constantly flipping from side to side, which is a huge task.  Getting up for my million potty trips is seriously painful...and so is the acid reflux at night.

Best moment this week: Thanksgiving was good, but had a rough week and weekend otherwise.

Dano and I on Thanksgiving

On a happier note; we received what is hopefully the completion (or close to for now) of our cloth diaper stash!!!  Look how cute!  Nobody should be as excited as I am about something that catches poop!  But I sure am excited :)

Have you told family and friends: Yup!

Miss Anything? Everyone was drinking wine at Thanksgiving and over the weekend, and that made me pretty jealous.  The red wine smelled absolutely delicious!  I can't WAIT for a glass of that!

Movement: Yup, more rib kicks and random body parts jabbing out.  At my doctors appointment when the doctor felt for her head she gave a HUGE kick, saying "Yup, you found me!"  So then the doc knew right where she was and was able to feel with 2 hands (her booty I think) and then had me do the same, boy was that weird!  It's one thing to feel with one hand just a foot kicking out, but when you use 2 hands and can practically grab her...freaky!

Food cravings: Sweets!  People keep asking me if I've had any weird cravings and no I haven't wanted pickles and ice cream or anything weird.  But I don't think anyone understands the magnitude of my sweet tooth and how much I did not care about sweets before!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Coffee, tuna, and cold cuts/subs. I think it's really just subs at this point.

Have you started to show yet: Oh yeah.

Gender: GIRL GIRL GIRL, IT'S A GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!  :)

Labor Signs: Nope, I wish I was feeling some Braxton Hicks...but I just don't think I have been.

Belly Button in or out? Out :(  Yuck!

Wedding rings on or off? Off, but now sporting my garnet ring Dano got me, which was huge when he first got it for me in September, and now that thing is getting hard to get on and off!!  Will my fingers ever be the same?!  I really REALLY miss my wedding rings.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Definitely more moody/emotional this past week :(

Looking forward to: Being in the home stretch, weekly doctors appointments, the nursery getting done....meeting our baby girl!!

Not loving: Just about everything.  Occasional nausea, sleeping hands, and acid reflux are the biggest offenders right now.  And feeling like I have a bowling ball sitting on my bladder every time I stand up and walk is really no fun. 

Also, I am SO THIRSTY all time.  I don't know what the deal is.  I drink gallons of water, so I can't possibly be dehydrated, but first thing in the morning and then again at night, I am so parched I feel like I might die.  I have become obsessed with Gatorade now too.  So I don't know what that's about.

I'll leave you with a Clydzilla pic as usual; he loved the box from the Bumbo!

Thanks for reading!
~Michelle

33+ Weeks & Maternity Pics

Ok TRY not to look directly at my face, I was feeling INCREDIBLY sick and nauseous this day and it was on Sunday so it was all I could do to FORCE myself to take a shower and at least put on a little bit of makeup for this pic.  Ugh, I was miserable.

How far along? 33weeks 4days -- OMG! only 4-6ish weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maternity clothes? Yup, and by the way, LOVING my maternity coat that I bought on sale back in July!  I was debating about getting one, but I'm SOO glad I did (as my other coats don't fit and NOT just in the belly area) and that I got it early and at a good price!  So take note, future preggos, of the season you'll be biggest in and think about the necessary attire.

Exercising: Once again, what's exercise??  :(  Though I did go bowling for a company bowling outing at work!  May not count as exercise to others, but man I was BEAT after that!  I also spent all day Saturday going through baby shower gifts (finally) and doing TONS of laundry, which meant A LOT of bending over and up and down stairs with laundry baskets, and my back was paying for that later and the next day!  YIKES!

Stretch marks? Still nope, hang in there belly skin!

Sleep: Never have I had to work SO hard at sleep in my life!  I used to be a pretty heavy sleeper, could sleep just about anywhere and, given the chance, could sleep in like no other!  Now it's humidifiers, pillows between my knees, breathing strips on my nose, extra strength Vaseline chapstick, nasal spray, Pepcid before bed, Tums and water next to the bed, and billions of pee trips!

Best moment this week: Going through and somewhat organizing the shower gifts AND Dan "re-building" my closet!  We didn't do all that much or get any fancy organizing system or anything, but it's a big improvement and gives me a lot more room, with 4 bars instead of only ONE!  So the baby's closet is almost officially empty of my clothes and junk!

Also, Baby P officially has a name!!  Dan had been telling me he would make his final decision about the name we'd been kicking around when he went hunting and "had some time to think".  Well he actually took his book of 60,000 names with him and really did think about it!  So when he came home and I asked to hear his "list" that he supposedly came up with he says "What about Carly?"  (which is out of the clear blue!)  So I said "Umm sure, I guess that could be on the list of contenders..."  So I ask for more and he says "Just kidding, we'll go with the one we picked!"  That little stinker!  He never even made a list, AND made up Carly in the moment!  He thinks he's soooo funny and slick, but I knew all along he'd end up liking and going with the name we'd been discussing.

Alllssooo...we got our maternity pictures back and they turned out awesome!  Once again done by Molly of Molly Johnson Photography!  The same one who did our gender reveal photos here.  (see a few of the pics below)

Have you told family and friends: Yup!

Miss Anything? Nothing in particular besides general comfortableness!  And getting a good night's sleep...but I realize I will probably be missing that for the rest of my life now.  I am starting to think about how much I'm going to miss my belly!  As much as it's in the way and does make me pretty uncomfortable some days, I'm for sure going to miss it!  I don't even want to think about getting back into non-maternity pants and having to suck my (probably bigger) gut in :(  And I will definitely miss her movements, though seeing her move in real life will probably make up for that :)

Movement: Yeap, but I think she's starting to slow down a bit for lack of room.  There's still plenty of movements, but they are bigger, slower ROLLS, as opposed to quick punches and kicks from a few weeks ago.  Still lots of hiccups though, multiple times a day!

Food cravings: Sweets!  Most nights, I choke down just a little bit of dinner just so I can have dessert!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Coffee, tuna, and cold cuts/subs. I think it's really just subs at this point.

Have you started to show yet: Yeap, AND had my first belly feel from a stranger!!!  Dan and I took a friend out to dinner for his birthday and he wanted to go to the restaurant he works at.  So of course everyone knew him.  One of the waitresses saw me, made some joke to him about my belly, and gave it a nice big feel.  So she did know him, but was still a complete stranger to me!

Gender: GIRL GIRL GIRL, IT'S A GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!  :)

Labor Signs: Nope.  I know I still have some weeks, but I'm ready to get this party started!!

Belly Button in or out? It's pretty much out :( and really sensitive.  I keep bumping it on things because it's sticking out more, and it's really uncomfortable when I do.  I really did put a Band-Aid over it one day, because even rubbing against my shirt is somewhat uncomfortable.

Wedding rings on or off? Off, but now sporting my garnet ring Dano got me, wondering if my wedding rings will ever fit again :(

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!

Looking forward to: Getting more organized!  Now that my closet is re-built, the baby's closet is just about empty.  But between Dan building ALL day and me feeling like absolute POOP on Sunday, the rest of the house is a MESS!  I did go through all the gifts, but they are still kind of strewn about the house with no real home yet.  The baby clothes, blankets, and diapers are all in baskets until I get around to washing them.  I'm starting to get anxious and want everything DONE!  I know I still have some time, but I'd rather have it done sooner than later and just be able to wait comfortably for baby girl's arrival.  Plus there will be lots of holiday stuff to tend to coming up!

Speaking of holiday stuff, I'm super excited for Thanksgiving this week!!  YAY!  Dano and I have the privilege of eating TWO dinners!  And he's off that night, which is pretty amazing.  We are also thinking about braving some Black Friday shopping for a few things, but we'll see.

Not loving: Some days (or maybe just some hours of some days) I'm completely fine and think I could do this forever. Then other days I just cannot WAIT to be done.  I mean the uncomfortableness, numb hands, horrid acid reflux, aches and pains, and constant peeing is just too much to handle some days.  Sometimes I just literally break down crying because I'm honestly just so ANNOYED with all the symptoms!  Like enough is enough!  Also being so incredibly tired no matter WHAT and now with occasional nausea..ugh I just can't wait to feel NORMAL again.  Well as normal as one can feel with zero sleep and a newborn baby!

Enjoy the pics!  Sorry for just dumping them, I didn't have the time or the patience to make some fun collage.

Thanks for reading!

~Michelle

32+ Weeks

How far along? 32weeks5days....ok now THIS is the latest we've taken the pic!  2 days before my new week!  Whoops!  This week was absolutely insane, I can't believe I survived.  And the board is stupid too, I'm pretty sure she's had toenails for awhile....the other option was to just write "AHHH!!!"  but Dan liked the toenail thing better.  WHATEVER!  Worst board so far!

Maternity clothes? Yup yup, I am really really hoping I can NOT buy anymore...I was buying random things here and there over the last couple weeks, so I'd really like to make it with what I have now....we'll see!

Exercising: Exercise?  What's exercise?  The most exercise I got this week was walking the mall :(  (which, sadly, was a lot of work for me)  Things are just not good in that area and it really stinks that we can't walk outside anymore.  I feel that I'm doomed.

Stretch marks? Still nope, hang in there belly skin!

Sleep: Oh sleep....some nights it's perfectly fine (minus 18 trips to the potty) and other nights I am literally up half the night, just laying there, wondering WHY I am not sleeping since I am EXHAUSTED. 

Best moment this week: My shower!!  It was so much fun to see everyone, and my sister-in-law, Angie, who put it on, did an amazing job!!  She made all the food herself!  And everyone loved it and was asking for recipes!  We got lots of needed things and lots of cute things too.  Plus a big group of friends started my cloth diaper stash for me which I'm SUPER excited about!!!  Now our living room is filled with baby gifts, which of course, me being in nesting mode, is stressing me out!!  But I can't do anything about it until we build a better closet for baby's room and/or our room, since half my clothes are in her closet still.  Yikes!  I just want to wash and organize and put away, and I really can't yet!

Here's a small photo dump of a few of the pics from the shower...

We also had 2 of our 3 birth classes, which actually went a lot better than expected!  I was (and still am) definitely nervous about having a "natural" labor in a hospital setting, but I think it might actually be possible!  And the rooms are really nice, though I started to freak out during the tour.  Just being in the room and thinking in a few weeks I am going to be in one of these rooms pushing out a baby!!!  It just started to make it a lot more real and freaked me out JUST a little bit.

Have you told family and friends: Yup!

Miss Anything? Just being comfortable and smaller.  Not that I was ever "skinny", but man, looking back pre-pregnancy and even the first few weeks, I look TINY compared to how I look and feel now :(  Especially in my face unfortunately. 

Movement: Yup, lots. Got my first few rib kicks this week.  Those are fun.

Food cravings: Still sweets, I'm starting to just not even want regular food, just cereal and dessert!!  She is going to be one SWEET girl :)

Anything making you queasy or sick: Coffee, tuna, and cold cuts/subs.  I had a ham sandwich last week, but I still don't want anything like Subway or Jimmy John's yet.

Have you started to show yet: Yup, I just can't believe how big it is!  And neither can Dan, he seriously giggles at it every time he sees it, or gives a loving "WHOA!  LOOK at that thing!!!"  And yet it's still gonna get bigger!!

Gender: GIRL GIRL GIRL, IT'S A GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!  :)

Labor Signs: Nope.

Belly Button in or out? Definitely starting to be more out :(  It's more than just the top that is sticking out now and you can see it through a lot of my clothes.  YUCK!  Normally the big stretchy panel on maternity pants was enough to hide it, but now it can poke through that!

Wedding rings on or off? Off, but now sporting my garnet ring Dano got me :)  I REALLY miss my wedding rings though :(

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!  And getting anxious!

Looking forward to: Thanksgiving!!  I love LOVE Thanksgiving.  Then I can't believe only 3 short weeks after Thanksgiving I'll be 37 weeks - full term!!!  I'm gonna try not to get antsy cuz who knows when she'll come, but I'm ALREADY ansty, so once I know I'm full-term I am definitely going to be very impatient. 

Also a NOT looking forward to:  Dan going hunting part of this week.  Boooo!

Not loving: Just kind of feeling sick and gross.  I can't really explain it, but I just feel YUCKY.  Maybe just from feeling so large, and out of shape and sweaty most of the time.  It's not a good feeling.  Other than that and the standard acid reflux and hip and back aches, things aren't too bad right now.

And did you really think we could go a week without a Clyde pic??  Here he is cuddling as usual with his hand on my belly :)

 Thanks for reading!!
 ~Michelle