38 Weeks

The puffiness and swelling are out of control :( This picture took A LOT of tries and still looks terrible.

How far along? 38 weeks on the dot!

Maternity clothes? Maternity clothes and Dano's t-shrits!  And, I'm not gonna lie, I wore yoga pants to work one day!  I'm SO uncomfortable!

Exercising: Yoga once a week, but not much else :(  I'm still doing tons around the house (washing diapers, cleaning, organizing, cooking, baking) so I feel like I'm still "active", but with it being so cold and snowy, it's too hard to actually walk.  And I'm in a lot of pain :(

Stretch marks? Not on my belly, but I think 2 tiny ones snuck up on my hips!  Super weird, it doesn't even seem like the skin is stretched where they are, whatev!

Sleep: Same as always...horrible.  Between the swelling and not sleeping, my face usually looks like I got hit by a train when I wake up.

Best moment this week: Dano had off on Christmas Eve AND Day!!!!  SO exciting!

And, also, deciding that I'm pretty damn proud of myself.  I got my Christmas shopping and wrapping done pretty early, made 13 freezer meals (with the help of a friend), washed TONS of baby clothes and billions of diapers billions of times, made countless projects for the nursery and organized it, organized all the baby clothes, made lots of hair bows, packed mine and baby's hospital bags, tried to maintain a clean house, still working full-time (I'm sure there's still more), all while 8 and 9 months pregnant!  I had such a big list of things I wanted done, and I finally feel like I'm to a point that anything left to do would just be "nice-to-do's" and there aren't even many of those!  I really thought I'd never get to that point and I'm so proud of all the stuff I've gotten done!  May not seem like much to some, but it feels good to me!

Miss Anything? Not being in PAIN!  I told Dan the other day, I fully expected the end to be uncomfortable, but I never knew it would be this PAINFUL!  Also really missing the feeling in my hands, they're either numb/tingly or hurt :( 

Movement: Yup, still squirmy and hiccup-y.  Some days it feels like she's pushing down so hard she's trying to escape! 

Food cravings: Still sweets.  Christmas is a good time for a pregnant lady craving sweets, they're everywhere!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Coffee, tuna, and cold cuts/subs.

Have you started to show yet: I'm ginormous!  So are my face, hands, and feet.

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

Labor Signs: Nothing :(  I'm starting to worry about her and my body knowing what they're doing since I haven't felt ANYTHING.  And I found out my doc won't let me go longer than 41 weeks, and I do NOT want to be induced, so we've got 2 weeks to get this show rolling!

Belly Button in or out? Out :(  Yuck!  

Wedding rings on or off? Off :( I am so incredibly puffy.  I feel like I don't fit into my skin.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy most of the time, but the crying is out of control.  I'm pretty sure I cry at least once a day, if not more, and I have no control over it.

Looking forward to: Meeting our baby girl!!!

Not loving: Just about everything about this at this point!

Thanks for reading!

~Michelle

37+ Weeks! Full-term!

How far along? 37weeks 1day OFFICIALLY FULL-TERM!!!!

Maternity clothes? Oh yeah.  We are down to a limited number of shirts that will fully cover the belly and not hang funny.

Exercising: Yoga!  Walking - for Christmas shopping and in Madison for my brother's college graduation...hey both count!  I was exhausted, swollen and sore after both!

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

Sleep: "Sleep" hurts.  Haven't been getting much of it.  And if I do, I wake up in a world of pain;  hips, back, neck, acid reflux, and of COURSE having to pee.

Best moment this week: Finally wrapping up our baby purchases and having a VERY productive weekend!  Got lots of diapers washed, the rest of the baby clothes washed, got her room more organized, and finished my Christmas shopping AND wrapping!!

Miss Anything? My body, feeling normal, not being puffy, not feeling exhausted, not having my back hurt just from doing the dishes, not having acid reflux...I could go on....ready to be done for sure.

Movement: Yup, I can tell she doesn't have much room left in there now though.  It's more just big pushes or moving over to just one side.

Food cravings: Still sweets and it seems my appetite is up even MORE if that's possible.  Of course then I eat too much and my poor stomach has no room to expand and then I just want to die of uncomfortableness.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Coffee, tuna, and cold cuts/subs.

Have you started to show yet: Oh yes, both in my belly AND my face and rest of my body.  The swelling/puffiness seems to have gotten worse.  I don't even recognize my face anymore, my hand seriously hurt from being so swollen.  And I have huge shoe and sock dents in my feet and cankles anytime at the end of the day.

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

Labor Signs: Nothing :(  I thought I could be above cervical checks and not let the number affect me (because I KNOW it really means NOTHING) but it turns out I can't.  My doc told me NOTHING is happening at my appointment this week :(  I KNOW it's early, and I KNOW I'm a first time mom, and I KNOW I could be zero and still go into labor the same day....but it's still hard not to get discouraged.  I just want there to be some progress!  Other than the dropping, I am feeling NOTHING!

Belly Button in or out? Out :(  Yuck!  

Wedding rings on or off? Off :( I am so incredibly puffy.  I feel like I don't fit into my skin.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Emotions are definitely running high.  Being doing a lot of crying...I think Dan and I are both at our wits end with that.

Looking forward to: Getting everything "DONE".  I know I will never feel like we are completely ready and done with everything I want done, but I need to get to a point of feeling like "ok if she came today, I'd be ok with that".  I started thinking the other day that if she comes TODAY, I would freak out because of all the things I'd still like to have in order.  Hopefully we'll get the nursery done before she gets here so I can share some pictures!  It's Dan's curtain project that is holding us up!  Ugh!

Not loving: Puffiness/swelling, heartburn, and numb hands.  All of these things have kicked into high gear the last couple weeks.  My feet barely fit into my shoes anymore, my hands HURT from being SO swollen, and my face, oh my gosh, my face..... :(  The heartburn (or I guess acid reflux) is the worst at night, even after taking a Pecid AND Tums before bed.  It seriously radiates into my eyeballs and makes me feel like I might throw up.  And the numb, tingly hands thing is really just driving me CRAZY!  I can't do ANYTHING without it starting up!  Then of course there's the constant pelvic pain/pressure and pressure on my bladder; that poor thing can't take much more.

Thanks for reading!
~Michelle

36+ Weeks

Ewww look at that belly button sticking out!!!

How far along? 36weeks 1day!  ONE WEEK until full term!!!!!

Maternity clothes? Yup, things are getting out of control with this belly!  Even some of my maternity shirts are starting to hang funny at the bottom because my belly is out SO far.  I was seriously trying on some of Dan's huge sweatshirts to wear on a Target run the other day!  BUT those just made me look like a house :(

Exercising: Back at yoga and it felt great!  I'm sure it would truly be comedy hour if anyone sat and watched me TRY to do yoga with this belly, but I do the best I can and can really still do most things.  It is hard, but I always feel good afterwards.  I'm also really counting on the hip opening and relaxation to help me in labor.  We'll see!

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

Sleep: Sleep Is. Just. Painful. Period.  I think sleeping and having to get up to pee 5 times are some of the most painful times of this all!  My hips hurt, my sides hurt, my NECK hurts, my back hurts, when I get up to pee it feels like I might either pee my pants or the baby AND my uterus are going to just fall out!  Getting "comfortable" and rolling over should be an Olympic event.  "Sleep" is just not pleasant.

Best moment this week: Pretty standard week.  Dano and I went to see the movie Honor Flight with his family, and his grandpa wore his war uniform!  So that was fun.  Also I made lots more hair flowers for baby (see below). I purchased a pack of 12 headbands off Zulily, so now I'm just making lots of flowers to attach to them as needed!  The flowers are all on clips so can be taken on and off or just put on her head as a clip (I fully expect this baby to come out with a FULL head of hair!).  I made them all except the white feathery one.  Also had another friend's baby shower over the weekend, she got lots of cute stuff and there were LOTS of other preggos and babies there! (see below)

Pretty headbands for Baby P!

5 preggos at Barbara's baby shower!  In order of when we're due, starting with me - the largest.

Have you told family and friends: Yup!

Miss Anything? Not really...again just comfortableness in general.  I don't even remember what it's like to be able to bend over or roll over in bed without effort!

Movement: Yup, big, sometimes painful kicks and punches and LOTS of pressure waaaay down low.  The doctor did confirm that she has "dropped"/"lightened"/"engaged"...whatever.  So my uncomfortableness with walking and CONSTANT pressure on my bladder is justified.  In fact the doctor asked how I am even walking at all!  YEAH my thoughts exactly!

Food cravings: Sweets!  Loving Gatorade lately too.  I've been SOOO thirsty, so the sweetness and thirst quenching factor has me drinking it faster than we can keep it in the fridge.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Coffee, tuna, and cold cuts/subs.  Sorta, kinda feeling like I could eat a sub lately though...hmm I might have to test it out!

Have you started to show yet: As I mentioned above, this thing is out of control.  There is just NO WAY I can go another FOUR weeks or more!!  It is already bordering on torpedo-looking.  And the puffiness is crazy too.  I have the round face, puffy feet and cankels, AND puffy hands.  I definitely look and feel like a completely different person.  It's one of those times where you look back at pictures where you THOUGHT you were "fat" and realize you'd give anything to look "fat" like that again :(

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

Labor Signs: NO! :(  I don't think I've even felt any Braxton Hicks...though I'm not positive, but I wish something would get started soon!!

Belly Button in or out? Out :(  Yuck!  

Wedding rings on or off? Off :( and not even wearing my replacement ring from Dan :(

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy but easily irritated.

Looking forward to: Something happening!  I know it's still early, but of course now it's ALL I can think about.  I am going to go absolutely crazy over these next few weeks just WAITING.  I DON'T do well with waiting or patience, especially when there is no known end date.  But just trying to stay focused on work where of COURSE I'm crazy busy and work is the last thing I want to be thinking about.  And also focusing on getting Christmas shopping done, hopefully making freezer meals, finishing up the nursery and house...ok so there's a lot to do in the next few weeks!

Not loving: Not knowing when it's going to happen!!!!  Is she going to be here for Christmas?  Can I buy her a cute Christmas outfit?  Will she be here before the new year for our big "tax deduction" everyone has been talking about?  Will I be at work?  Will I be asleep?  Will Dano be working and able to get off quickly?  What's going to happen first?  AHHHH!!  So excited and SOO scared and nervous and anxious!

Thanks for reading!
~Michelle

Belly Comparison!

Belly Comparison!

I thought it would be fun to compare my belly pics side by side.  I did every 5 weeks starting at week 10 (I spent about 20 minutes and could not get the 2 middle pictures to line up!)  Definitely crazy and a little depressing to look at!  Eventually I want to make one with every single week, I haven't missed a pic yet!

35+ Weeks

How far along? 35weeks 2days.

Maternity clothes? Yup yup, they are a must for this belly!

Exercising: Did ok with a little bit of walking...and...yoga is back!!  The studio I go to shut down for about a month to move and renovate a new space.  I am SUPER excited to get back for the next couple weeks!

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

Sleep: Ugh, that's all I have to say.  Hip pain is horrible.  And for some reason, my stupid NECK has been hurting!  I don't think it's pregnancy related, more like bad-pillow-related, but like I don't have enough pains, now my neck hurts too!

Best moment this week: Finding a super fun and easy way to make hair flowers for baby!  I ordered a bunch of plain headbands for super cheap off Zulily, so now I'm making lots of flowers to clip onto them!

Also, Dano and I got MOST of our registry completion shopping done!  Just a quick trip to Buy Buy Baby still and we should be done. 

Worst moment of the week?  My nesting urge has somewhat diminished, along with just being really busy lately, and the house is an absolute disaster!!  Sooo not something a 35 week pregnant lady should ever be saying!  There's baby stuff EVERYWHERE that we can't put away because Dan (yes Dan) is currently sewing curtains in the baby's room...DON'T ask!  I'm hoping to tackle most of it this weekend because if I happened to have her in the next few weeks and had to bring her home to our house in it's current state...YIKES.

Have you told family and friends: Yup!

Miss Anything? One night this week I was REALLY missing comfy cozy belly sleeping!  I LOVE sleeping on my belly and can't wait for that again.  And my back too...really anything BUT my sides.

Movement: Yup, hiccups, more rib kicks and I'm not positive but I think she has officially "dropped".  Unfortunately meaning MORE uncomfortableness :(  I feel like I have a bowling ball on my bladder and like it's going to fall out of me at any second.  It definitely makes me have a bit of a waddle, especially when I first stand up.

Food cravings: Sweets!  Especially waffles and cereal.  Dan can't believe how fast I'm going through boxes of waffles!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Coffee, tuna, and cold cuts/subs. I think it's really just subs at this point.  I haven't had Subway, Cousin's, or Jimmy John's since probably May!

Have you started to show yet: Oh yeah, I STILL can't believe it's going to get BIGGER!!  Getting lots more comments on it too, such as "that thing's ready to go!"

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

Labor Signs: Possibly the dropping, but I wouldn't even count that because apparently first time moms can drop a month or more before they give birth.

Belly Button in or out? Out :(  Yuck!  And maybe even getting MORE out if that's possible...

Wedding rings on or off? Off :( and starting to get nervous about even wearing my replacement ring from Dano due to lots of swelling :(

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy but easily irritated.

Looking forward to: Getting this party started!!!!  I've been telling myself all along that I'm probably going to go late, but now that I'm almost to 37 weeks (full-term) I am getting SOO anxious!  Just the knowing that it COULD happen at any time...though it more than likely won't for a few more weeks.

Also looking forward to weekly doc appointments and checking for dilation!  Many moms nowadays are against cervical checks for various reasons.  One of them being that it really DOESN'T tell you ANYTHING about when labor might start (no matter what the doctor says, she has NO idea either).  And I don't think that her telling me that I'm dilated at all will give me false hope about labor coming soon, but the way I see it, I just want to know that SOMETHING is happening.  I want to know that when I go into labor at 42 weeks (please God no!), that I have a couple centimeters already knocked out.  Does that make sense?  I want to know that when I do go into labor and get to the hospital, there's no chance they're going to tell me I'm only 1cm because I would already know I have at least 2 down from previous cervical checks - as an example.  I am a countdown person, and I need end dates and times, so it's already killing me that I can't have one for when baby is going to come.  So I at least need to know progress is happening and know that I will only have to make it through 7-8cm once I'm in active labor (HOPEFULLY!).  That being said, it's going to be hard not to get discouraged if progress is not happening at upcoming appointments, even though the progress, or lack there of, doesn't REALLY mean anything...which is one of the other reasons moms choose to decline checks...This is all just my crazy thought process and opinion!! :)  So feel free to ignore it ;)

Not loving: Things aren't too terrible at this point...I mean they're the same as always, but I'm just dealing with it, knowing the end is in sight and that no matter how uncomfy I am, I will still miss this giant beach ball when it's gone!

Thanks for reading!
~Michelle