38 weeks

38 weeks. already 5 weeks ago! don't mind my grammar and lack of capitalizing. i currently only have one hand to use since someone is being mr. cranky.
all i remember about 38 weeks is that i had a LOT of braxtons and was really starting to get sick of being pregnant. i would look at the calendar and wonder what day would my child finally arrive (happy to say that my son arrived 2 days later!) i was sick of my lack of clothes, sick of being huge, and i just wanted to see who was in there! everything was ready. max and i had spent the whole weekend getting the house ready and cleaned, finishing up the nursery, making freezer meals so we wouldn't have to cook after birth, etc... we were ready. good thing too since he came so much quicker than we were planning!

37 weeks

I've been getting really bad at keeping up with these! I've been so busy trying to get everything finished up for the baby that I haven't even gone on the computer once I've gotten home from work! Not to mention it's extremely uncomfortable sitting at the computer for 8 hours at work and to just come home and sit on the computer is just not my cup of tea....

Baby is getting very big. S/he is getting limbs stuck in my ribs and is punching my bladder just by adjusting his/her position. It is a very awkward feeling!

Our appointment this week was the same as last week... still 2 cm. I figured that would happen but I was sure hoping for a little improvement! I'm really pushing for a 10-10-10 baby so I guess Max and I better get going on home methods for getting this baby out! Otherwise I think bugger will come on the 18th.

Nesting is in full force. I don't think there is a room in our house that hasn't been messed with, rearranged, etc. So much to think about! Now I just have to clean the whole house and get some last minute things ready (which is why I took today off) and baby can come anytime! I'm so excited. Daily I think about who is in there, who I have been growing for so long. Finally being able to put a face to a name will be incredible :)

I'm so very ready to be done. I have been very lucky and have made it a lot longer than other women but I am getting very uncomfortable and am ready to get this body suit off. I would enjoy not peeing 3 times a night, I would like to see my feet and legs back to a normal size and lot supersized due to water retention... my cute shoes are waiting to be worn again along with some of my clothes! I know it might be a little while for my clothes but still. Ugh. Soon. Very soon.

36 weeks

I'm exhausted. That sums up this week. I'm also stressed out with everything that I feel like needs to be done still but as of today, I can comfort myself knowing that if the baby were to come tomorrow, we would be ok. The pack and play is set up in the living room ready for baby. The bassinet stuff is all washed and set up in our room. Blankets are washed, baby clothes are being washed now, car seat is not only purchased but installed in the car (and it wasn't as hard as we thought!), etc.

We had our 36 week appt on Monday and pretty much immediately when the doc went to do his business he told us we were 2 cm and 50% effaced. Wow! Susa said that wasn't very common at a 36 week appt so bugger could either be planning an early arrival (which would be a very NON-Max&I trait) or s/he is psyching us out. So now I am excited for our next appt on Tues to see if there was more progress or not. I feel like I can average it out then to get a better idea of when this baby will make his/her appearance.

Braxton hicks contractions have made their grand arrival. I was planning on talking to the doc on Monday about the fact that I didn't think I'd had any when BAM, I got them over and over and over and over. Pretty much every evening the uterus is practicing it's future torture over and over. I really can't tell when they are happening unless I have my hand on my belly and then I can feel everything stiffen up. It is a very weird sensation!

I guess on an end note... Bugger, your father would enjoy it if you came on a Friday around 3 so that he wouldn't miss as many work days (since they are unpaid) and your mother would enjoy it if you gave her another week at least so she can get things done. ;) With this in mind, bugger will probably come on Tues at 3 in the morning...

35 weeks

T-5 weeks until due date. Wow. This pregnancy has just flown by. People have told me that things go so slowly at the end but that is just not the case. Seems like I just started telling people I was pregnant or it was just about time for our ultrasound to see the bugger. Now we are down to 5 weeks. Incredible. I grew a human. Now this human is just getting chunky in there. Development is pretty much done. Should I help bugger with getting chunky by eating junk food? ;) I won't but I do eat a lot of cereal!

I think it looks like I dropped a little bit this week in comparison with last week. What do you think? I kind of feel like I'm walking a bit funny these days as well... kind of like there is an apple between my legs that I'm trying to keep from falling. Could just be my head doing that though since I think I'm dropping.

I'm sure having a rough time with hormones lately. Part hormones part life. I'm just so overwhelmed and stressed out (not baby related) that it's making me a bit melancholy and hormones just emphasize those feelings. I'm trying to stay positive and trying to stay calm for the baby but I'm having a very hard time. Life is just throwing curve balls right now and no matter how much Max and I try to figure out solutions, they just don't work out. I need to just keep myself calm for my bugger. It's too early for him/her to be getting stressed out.

On a happier note I had my first family baby shower this past weekend :) It was a lot of fun! We got a lot of cute stuff for bugger. I decided not to organize anything until the next family shower which is this weekend. Then Max and I can put stuff away and really assess what is left that we need. Babies require so much stuff! I tell you what though, I bet there will be more than one time that I "accidentally" steal one of buggers blankets. They make baby blankets so soft! They really need those in adult size!

Thanks Auntie JW :)

My child is already getting spoiled by his/her Auntie JW and s/he loves it!

Thanks Auntie JW for the yummy frostie! That was exactly what I wish Momma would give me more of to eat!

Love, Ayda or Dexter :)

34 weeks

Not too much different than 33 weeks. Just waiting. I have a feeling this waiting game will go on for a while. I'm not in a hurry and yet Oct 24 can't get here soon enough :) I love my little bugger so much and I can't wait to meet him/her.

My only complaint for the week is that the hormones flying through my body has made my eczema come out much earlier then it normally does and it's bad (for me). I wouldn't care about it so much if it wasn't on my face :( That is no fun. Worth it though. I tell myself that about everything. Oh the back pain is worth it; climbing up and down stairs all day to go to the bathroom is worth it; having absolutely no wardrobe to speak of is worth it; etc. It is really worth it. Bugger is worth everything.

Bugger has the hiccups a lot lately and they are strong enough to feel from the outside :) I think the baby has inherited my awful hiccups where they shake the whole body and they hurt. I don't think s/he likes them very much because the baby gets very squirmy when the hiccups appear. Makes me giggle a little bit to think of my irritated baby in the womb. Can't eat peanut butter or drink water real quick in there!

Love you bugger!

33 weeks

I made the last few bigger for you to see due to some recent comments on not being able to see my fantastic body (jk) very well...

I went to the doc yesterday for my 32 wk check up (at 33 weeks, whoops!) and you know what he said? He says “Jessica, after 34 weeks if you go into labor, we won’t try to stop it. Anytime up until Sunday, we will but after Sunday, we won’t”. …………………………………what?! Reality slap in the face! I doubt our child will come early but still, that would mean I would physically have my child in my arms NEXT WEEK! I don’t even have the car seat yet! That is the type of thing that will put a fire under your arse to get things done. Yeeowzer.

It’s funny these little things that just make having a baby so real. Your mind knows you are having a baby, your body obviously knows you are having a baby but it takes these little things to smack you in the face to really realize that there will be a baby.

I am SO EXCITED to meet my little bugger but at the same time I am getting to that terrified stage. So many mixed emotions right now… probably part hormones as well.

Baby A… lets see. S/he is continuing to grow in size and is a very health bugger. Measured 34 centimeters at our last appt with 130 for a heart rate. S/he has been head down since 30 weeks so hopefully baby stays like that! Baby A. thinks that the most comfortable position is with head down, butt towards my left arm and legs/feet at my right rib cage. S/he’s laying crooked all the time. Rarely do I feel the baby out of this position. We recently discovered that Baby A. enjoys music very much… We were at the talent show at the State Fair on Sunday and every time someone would come on stage and sing/play instruments the baby would go nuts moving around! Max says that this could be an indication of the baby hating music but I don’t think so J Not if s/he comes out of me!

32 weeks

Rolly rolly rolly. This baby rolls around all the time. Not too many kicks or punches but lots of rolling around. I love to feel my stinker... it's strange to think there is a 17 inch long human baby in there. Sometimes it feels like there in an alien moving around. We are getting so close to meeting this little one. I'm so excited and terrified at the same time.
Nursery is looking good :) Once I have it all together I will post a picture but I have to finish the mural on the wall still and then we will be covered! Mom and I (with help from Caitlin) made the mobile on Saturday. I found one that I liked on etsy.com but it was $85$ Oh no, I knew I could make that and I did. It turned out way better and Max loves that it was crafted by me (and mom.) We installed the new lighting, hung up some knickknacks and once the mural is done, we will just need the little stuff we get from the showers!
My least favorite time of the day is in the morning when I have to trudge up to my room to find something to wear. Everyday it seems like my wardrobe gets smaller and smaller. I put something on that I just wore LAST WEEK and it not longer fits. My mother in law has a consignment shop in Baldwin called Serendipity and it has been our life saver! Honestly, we get all our clothes there anyway because we live on a tight budget but it is so nice being able to head down there when I've outgrown things to just pick up some new stuff. Max's mom has been amazing to us this whole time and we are so thankful for her.
What else... oh yes, my poor feet. My poor legs. They can't wait for summer to be done... or this whole thing to be done. I bet I've gained a hefty amount just in water retention. Even right now my feet are swelled up to about 2 their size. It's pretty awesome. I LOVE only being able to wear flip flops because my fatty feet won't fit in my shoes. Love it.

Math doesn't lie...

current weight gained= 1/4 baby, etc + 1/4 ice cream (whoops) + 1/2 water retention in my legs and feet.

i love humidity.

31 weeks

Not too many changes this week. I feel like I'm back in the 1st trimester with being exhausted all the time. I mean, sheesh... sitting for too long makes me feel like I need a nap. This baby is just sucking out all of my energy which I'm totally fine with, but I really need to slow down. I have a real hard time saying no to people so I'm constantly busy and active and moving around. Rarely do I sit down and prop my feet up and now that I'm starting to get bigger, I need to do that and get my rest so I'm going to have to learn to say NO. That will be very tough for me.
I started going to the chiropractor this week. I've heard that it really helps with labor and delivery along with the general benefits of seeing a chiropractor. I've never been to one before so it was a new experience for me. He just did a mild adjustment the first time (which he says he normally doesn't do but apparently I'm super stressed out... go figure!) but man did it feel amazing to have my back cracked. I've been waiting for that for months. I think I'll enjoy this chiropractor business.
I've been craving orange juice this week which for once is a healthy craving :) Usually this little bugger only wants ice cream and sweets. My appetite is still normal and I'm still sleeping really well. I get up 2-3 times a night depending on when I stop drinking in the evening. I've just been so lucky to have such a great easy pregnancy. I promise that I do not take it for granted.
I had my first baby shower baby shower this week. My work through me a cute little shower and it was so nice to see my co-workers be so nice to me and the baby. We got some nice stuff that will be very helpful with baby. No duplicates. It made it even more real that we are having a little one when I had to put the stuff away in the nursery. We have had the furniture in there for a few weeks but now putting the little stuff in there, wow. Surreal.
T minus 9 weeks until baby!

30 weeks

We are in the home stretch! Or at least in the last ten weeks... I don't look too much bigger from last week but I sure feel big. Definitely slowing down, baby is starting to move differently. Not as many kicks and elbow jabs but a whole lot of rolling around. You can see his/her little rump move from one side to the other if I sit real still. Or bugger will shove his/her foot right into my rib and I will have to flinch a little at it and move the little teeny foot away from that spot. His/her favorite spot seems like it is with his/her head down to the left and with his/her feet on my upper right side. This is if you are me so if you are looking at me switch those sides around.
Getting up more at night to pee... I think this is God's way of preparing you for waking up several times a night. Granted you are only up for a couple minutes but still.
Max and I have accumulated some good stuff this week. I found a bumbo chair at a garage sale for $10! Hot commodities those things are. Max's friend brought over a exosaucer and a floormat/play gym thing for free so that was so very nice. Everything just needs a good cleaning and will work out just fine for our little bugger :)
I'm just so excited to meet my child. How strange is it going from being the daughter to having a daughter or a son... I already love the little bugger so much, I can only imagine it grows to ginormous amounts once you actually meet them face to face. I can't wait :)

Cousins #3

Here is how the cousins are shaping up these days... I think we both look pretty evenly matched except she's got ginormous boobs and mine are not so ginormous. Wouldn't it be crazy if both babies came on the same day! And Stella's birthday is Oct 23 so what if both babies came on Oct 23 and then my mother-in-law would have 3 out of 4 grandchildren with the bday of Oct 23. That's just crazy! and expensive...
Here are the comparisons if you are interested... Cousins #1 Cousins #2

28 weeks and 29 weeks

I have had a very busy couple of weeks… photos up the ying yang to edit and the house to take care of and the nursery to get set up. Man oh man, will it be nice when things calm down.

Highlights over the last couple weeks:

-The third trimester is upon us! That labor business is slowly but surely creeping up on me. Yikes.

-Birthing class started. It’s hilarious to watch my very conservative husband listen to/look at things like dilation charts, vaginal secretion discussions, videos of live births and all sorts of fun things like that. My favorite part though is when we have relaxation time and Max has to massage me J He can practice that all he wants.

-Nursery is much further along than it was. We have an area rug in there now, the crib is set up, my books were taken out of a bookshelf and the empty bookshelf is in the room now, my “new” changing table is in there and the rocking chair that Gma Jenny and Gpa Ray gave us a couple years ago. I just need to make some new cushions for the rocking chair and some other home projects that need to get done as well.

-Hmm, maybe not what you really need to know but last week Max and I were making dinner and I had to sneeze and when I did I peed my pants a little bit. Wasn’t quite expecting that! Baby is pushing down a bit on my bladder. Only sneeze while sitting from now on.

-Baby is getting big enough now that I can feel every little thing s/he does. Kicking is an obvious, but when s/he rolls, adjusts, changes position and when s/he has the hiccups! I do believe this is the start of the baby running out of room.

-Took care of that glucose business. Wasn’t too bad. Tasted like flat, extra sugary Sunkist. So sugary it burned my throat a little bit. Better to just chug that and get it done with. Results were normal so I can continue with this ice cream obsession that I have!

-Swelling of the limbs is so much fun. Last Thursday my feet were so swollen that it cut off circulation to my feet. My feet were asleep ALL. DAY. LONG. That is not comfortable. Even after Max would rub my feet and push that water retention up my leg, as soon as he stopped it just would swell right back up. It was fine the next day though.

-I have started to break into the maternity pants. I HATE maternity pants so I have been wearing my regular pants with a belly band but my ass has gotten too big to comfortably wear my normal pants so I’m stuck with the dumb maternity pants. I miss my normal pants. I miss my normal clothes. I miss having options. Countdown is on though to slowly fitting back into them! Baby Arco will be here in approximately T-minus 11 weeks! Holy Moses!

27 weeks

Baby and I have had a pretty good week. S/he was not moving around too much at the beginning of the week due to heat but has definitely made up for it in the past couple of days. I went swimming up at the cabin this past weekend which the baby apparently enjoyed immensely. Not sure if it was the cooling down or maybe s/he can feel me floating around but either way, as soon as I got in the water, s/he was kicking and swirling all over the place. Perhaps I have a future swimmer on my hands!

I go in this week for the glucose test. I have heard many, many bad things about this orange mixture they give you. Not looking forward to it. This appointment also marks the change from one appointment a month to one appointment every two weeks. Another indicator of how fast time is going!

I’ve been thinking about how grateful I am that my baby gets to be born into such a large family that already loves him/her. The baby will have so, so, so many aunts and uncles and is already gaining more and more cousins to play with. There are grandparents and great grandparents that are so excited to meet the little bugger. My baby is very blessed to have so much family.

26 weeks

Baby and I had our first experience on a road trip and camping together. I'd say we did pretty good. I can tell that I have a lot more blood pumping through me because man oh man was the heat hard to deal with. Lake Michigan, which in the past has proven impossible to get into, was my refuge. I couldn't get all the way in as it would be a temperature shock for the baby but I went up to my toosh and soaked one of my dresses in the water and put it on. That helped to cool me down. Ayda/Dex was pretty quiet in there which I attribute to the heat. Max and I did everything we could to keep me cool. Otherwise, camping while pregnant is not too bad at all.
Nothing new to report really. I've been able to feel punches and kicks for a while now but I'm really being able to distinct now those dragging movements across my belly. Little bugger is pretty strong. Sometimes s/he kicks some spots that are just plain uncomfortable. I don't care what a miracle it is to feel the baby, some things were just not meant to be kicked. Such as my bladder. The baby has discovered my bladder is such a fun toy when full. Not cool.
Max tells me I'm starting to waddle. I guess I can feel myself doing that. I'm sure that it is very attractive.
On Sunday, the baby was in such a high position that there was no way to get comfortable. S/he was pressing on my stomach so hard, made it hard to breathe deeply and sitting or standing wasn't comfortable. I'm hoping that isn't what it's like when you are further along but I'll bet it is. I'm not looking forward to that!
I just can't wait to meet this baby and know if I have a son or a daughter :)

25 weeks

Seems like I just took a picture yesterday and now it's already time for another. Weeks are just flying by so fast. I know I say that every week practically but it never ceases to amaze me.
Not too much different this week. Baby is getting stronger which is expected. Seems like Max is always surprised by how the kicks get stronger. It makes me smile to see his face when he gets whacked in the hand. Today he put his face on my belly and the baby gave him a good kick in the cheek. Max's smile was so cute :) I love it when Max is give the baby some attention and the baby responds back. Our little family.
It's been hitting me a little more that I am having a baby. Seems weird to write down because obviously I knew I was having a baby but to think there will actually be a baby in my house, that is MY child that lives here and will depend on Max and I for everything, is just crazy. I have a house that needs a nursery. I have a house that needs a bassinet and a pack and play and a crib and a changing table. I need to get a pump because I will be feeding this new life. It's very surreal.
You know what else? I have to give birth. Sheesh. This child has to come out somehow. That's been on my mind a little bit more lately as well. I'm not scared per say, but it's on my mind a little bit. I like how I have a little bit more knowledge on how things go with watching Axton come into the world so I won't be completely in the dark.
All in all, I am so excited. I can't wait to see what the sex is! My curiosity has been just gnawing at me. I am so completely fine with either sex but I can't wait to find out, to hear those magic words "it's a _____". What a moment that will be. Seems like the numbers are like 65/35 with odds being its a girl. It was pretty 50/50 for a while but more people think Ayda will be coming out of there. Time will tell!

24 weeks

I had another dream with the baby the other night. It was a girl and I had to keep changing her diaper over and over and over again. That was the whole dream. Me changing her diaper and I couldn't keep up! I had another dream too where the baby was kicking super hard and I was asking someone "don't you feel it? don't you feel the kicks?" and they did not. Guess the baby must be getting strong enough at night where it's entering my dreams!
I've been getting quite a few charlie horses lately. Always in the same spot. I was limping for a couple days last week after an especially bad night of charlie horses. Not cool. I hear that could be from a lack of potassium so I have been eating a banana every day.
We got the nursery painted :) Well, it needs one more coat but oh is it beautiful. Beautiful in a manly or feminine way... Very good color choice! It's a minty/sagey green. I'll eventually put pics up when the room is all put together. Right now it's just a painted room with an ugly floor. Nothing to show.
Baby feels quite large these days. I'm growing out of the clothes I have and am needing to update my wardrobe. Every morning I have a fun game that I like to call "first shirt that fits, wins". Not a game that I enjoy but apparently the baby likes it and likes to make it more challenging. My baby likes a good time :)

23 weeks

Holy humongous I look huge this week! At least in the pictures I think I look pretty big! Bugger must have had a growth spurt or something. S/he's quite the active one still and getting stronger and stronger. I know that is very expected but it is different feeling it then hearing about it. I'm told that bugger can open his/her eyes this week. Wonder what it looks like in there? S/he should also be used to all loud noises now such as the dogs barking and growling at each other. Once bugger comes out, those noises apparently shouldn't be a problem. Let's hope so! What Luca lacks in size he makes up for in noise while playing.
Hopefully I will get the nursery painted next weekend. Max and I are going back and forth between two colors. We will see what ends up in there. I also found a mobile online that I love but refuse to pay the high cost so I am going to attempt to make it myself. Wish me luck on that one!
While I am a die hard Pepsi girl this baby is apparently more about the Coke products as Coke is my craving of the week. Man oh man to crack in to a cold one of those is heaven on my tongue. Almost as good as apple juice which has always ranked number one in my book. Don't worry, I rarely indulge in my craving. I am quite sensitive to caffeine as it is and don't want to have my little 1 lb bugger hyper in there.

22 weeks

Bugger is getting bigger and stronger. Sometimes, just because I'm not used to it, s/he'll randomly kick harder then normal and I will flinch! I wonder what I'll do when the baby is full size and kicking at my ribs. I think that is when I'll enter the "get this thing out of me!" phase right? So right now, the kicks and swirls and elbow jabs are cute :)
My appetite is still pretty large. I do love my food. Max is doing his best at keeping me healthy. Those chocolate shakes sure call to me though. Anything with chocolate syrup really.
It's getting harder to sleep at night. I know it will get much worse, I do. I really do. You don't have to tell me. I am a hard core stomach sleeper so having to give that up at the beginning was hard but I recently had to give up sleeping on my back as well. I usually flop all over the place when I sleep so being down to 2 options just is not easy. Plus, I'll finally get comfortable and Max will move my leg or something and that throws everything off. Poo.
I guess that is all I can think of right now! I am so very lucky to be having such an easy pregnancy (knock on wood). Hopefully it will stay through the whole thing!

Question.

What does:

Rooftops in Vegas

Party at my Gma’s house

5 year old boy named Pittbull

Australian Funnel Web Spiders

Maternity homes for dogs and humans

About 800 ticks

have in common?

All included in my ten minute snooze button dream. Pregnant dreams are weird.