34 Weeks

GASP! If I were to go into labor tonight I wouldn't be leaving the hospital without a baby!!! This is surreal.
Mom told me the other night that she was in labor with me for 2 hours and my sister for 4! I've heard that the length of your labor tends to be similar to your mother's. So WOAH! I sure HOPE it happens that fast...but I'm not counting on it. I'm not counting on anything actually. Why set myself up for disappointment? Oh well, except the epidural. If for some reason I can't have that they are going to have to knock me the heck out and do a c-section.

I'm eating like a cow lately...I am just constantly hungry. And if I wake up in the middle of the night (as I am SURE to do at least twice) I am usually too hungry to fall back asleep and I have to go downstairs for a bite. Ugh. I'm going to be HUGE. Please come a little early OK monkey? Save mommy a couple of weeks of weight gain.
She's definitely dropped down. People are commenting on it. And I'm feeling lots more swingy leg movements up by my ribs. It's odd, but I'm actually feeling MORE out of breath now that she's lower. She much just be stretching her legs up into my lungs.

I had my last baby shower today. Some of the girls at work got together and threw me one. It was SO sweet. And I am just amazed at the generosity of my co-workers! I got SO MUCH stuff and lots of gift cards too! I'm especially impressed with all the single guys that brought me gifts! I couldn't feel more blessed and loved.
And I think between all my showers and my mom and dad I'll be able to get just about everything I need and want for the little monkey. Now I'm just waiting on those darn registry completion coupons. While I wait I'm compiling a list of everything I still need/want and figuring out the best way to spend my various gift cards and cash so I get the most bang for my buck. (I know...obsessive right? Does that count as nesting?).

It's overwhelming making all these lists and thinking about ALL of the things I need to get done before the baby comes. And so many of those things can't be done until all my sewing is done...which I am just totally unmotivated to do right now. I guess I'm just all sewed out. Although I am close to being done. I need to finish up the drapes, bedskirt, and changing pad cover. I know it doesn't SOUND like much. But it feels like it. My plan is to work the bedskirt first and then the changing pad cover. Then hopefully I won't feel so overwhelmed and can muster the courage to tackle the drapes. Normally I'm not so intimidated by straight stitching, but they are HUGE and I don't have a pattern for them. And winging it with my precious nursery fabrics is just plain scary. Then after I can put away all my sewing perephenalia I can get the living room and kitchen back in order and cleaned to a sparkle...or at least trust someone else to do it if I can't. But I don't want anyone else touching my sewing...and it's EVERYWHERE.

The hospital bag is on it's way to being packed. I've got a few more little things to buy for it and a list of items to be packed last minute. I also need to get a baby book and a take me home outfit for the munchkin...but nothing seems special enough...Although does it really matter what we bring her home in? I'm going home in PJs, she might as well too. LOL.

For some non-baby related news: I paid off 2 credit cards today!!!! Thank you Uncle Sam! You can't imagine what it feels like to have knocked 2 monthly bills off my budget!

31 weeks

Yes. I am SO lazy these days that not only do I not post belly pictures anymore I can't even update on time. Sorry. Get used to it. When the monkey gets here it will probably be even worse.
Nothing much new. Monkey's movements have started really slowing down. I'm still getting more then 10 within an hour after a meal or sugary drink, so I'm not worried. But it's a big change from her maniacal kangaroo boxing.
I finished my crib bedding. I really love it. About half way thru I was afraid I wasn't going to, but all put together it's so chic. I've still got to finish the curtains, a skirt and pillow cases for the bed, paint, and wait on the changing table from my mom. Then it's just a matter of hanging pictures and organizing. And now...CRIB BEDDING PICTURES:I am at a loss on paint. I have tried 5 different shades of pink and they all look disgusting. I thought about trying a chartreuse...but honestly I'm a little sick of trying to pick a color. I think I am just going to paint the walls white and give the room that "loft" feel. With all the black furniture, black bedding, and bright pink bedding I think white is really my best option. And who knows how much longer we'll be here anyway...white will be the easiest to get back to the "off white" shade the rest of the house is if we are trying to sell/rent in a few months. Sigh. Justin will be thrilled at least. He prefers white walls. I'll just have to jazz it up with wall decor.

Hiccups??

I think I'm feeling hiccups. And now that it's dawned on me what they are I realize I've been feeling them for a while and "she" gets them a lot. They aren't as hard as a kick and don't make my tummy jump. They feel more like the resonating thumping you feel when someone drives by with their bass BLASTING. And they are low between my hips.
"She's" had them for the last 8 minutes. It's kind of hilarious.

Whooah, we're halfway there...

Yeah, shut up. You know I've been waiting months to use Bon Jovi in my post title.

So yesterday was the halfway point. I can't even believe it.
Still having the morning sickness, and midday sickness if I go to long without eating, eat too much, or drink a bunch of water without food to go with it.
My belly is getting noticeably larger and all the maternity shirts I bought in my normal shirt size are becoming too short. But the next size up is too big in the chest. If my boobs would just cooperate I'd totally be set. But they stubbornly refuse to grow. Stupid boobs.
The Monkey's kicks are becoming much stronger and a lot of them are more like pushes...like when a cat kneads it's paws into you. I can also feel a lot of wiggling and squirming going on in there. It's so STRANGE! "Alien" really gets the imagry right, because it feels like it would look like that if you could see it.
I am pretty sure my hips spread last week. It felt like something was pushing them apart. Not the best thing I've ever experienced. I can't help but wonder if I am just super sensitive to these things or if a lot of other pregnant women feel them too. Because I never hear anyone talking about it. I did start feeling kicks much sooner than most. Maybe I have hyper-sensitive nerve endings. Perhaps that's also why I have a low pain threshold? Lucky me. I'm curious to know if there is any science behind it.
What else...We have our anatomy scan a week from Monday! I'm excited to see the little peanut again and make sure it's growing correctly. And of course, get more pictures to post!

And I guess that's it for now. I'll edit with pictures later tonight and add anything else I think of.

17 weeks

Definitely popping out more now. I feel like the bump looks bigger when I am looking down at it than it does from other peoples viewpoint. Justin agrees. in less than 48 hours we'll get to see the little monkey again. I am SO anxious. For the last few days the heartbeat has seemed faint and erratic. Several friends have said they experienced the same thing and their OBs told them it was perfectly normal even for the baby's heart to stop beating for a few seconds. So that makes me feel a little bit better. But I can't help but be paranoid that something is terribly wrong. Here's to another 48 hours of holding my breath.

Anyone that sees an optometrist might remember the test that evaulates periphreal vision. You look into a machine and stare at the black dot and click a button whenever you see squiggly vibrating lines somewhere on the screen. Well I haven't been able to determine if I'm feeling anymore movement, but I have been feel something similar to the squiggly vibrating areas on this particular eye exam. And sometimes I feel thumping, but not sharp like that first kick, this thumping is more like the bass from a passing car with some punk kid in it, rattling the windows.

I really lucked out this week when my friend Amber called to say she was chucking all her son's baby stuff and to came and take what I wanted. Her son Connor is 4 so I was thinking, I guess I'll take a look, but how much could she really have after 4 years? I was overwhlemingly surprised! Not only did I score a ton of bibs, onsies, toys, lap pads, blankets, burp clothes, and towles; I also got a bouncy chair that vibrates, an infantino baby carrier (in a stylish black and grey print), bath time stuff, a training potty, a diaper genie, and best of all: This awesome little tent that shields baby from sun and sand at the beach! So thanks a million Amber (and Connor) for all the great hand-me-downs. Connor was just adorable while I was pilaging. He kept showing me what he thought I should have and putting it in my pile. Then he insisted on helping me take everything to my car. He is such a sweetheart. I told him he's going to have to give my kid lessons. Okay, this beach tent this is just too cool. I've got to post some pictures:

I'm now in the process of washing all my loot with Dreft. And NO WONDER babies always smell so darn good! This detergent is making my whole house smell like babies. It's great!

Now for the not so great: I'm still having a dificult time eating. Nothing sounds appetizing. But if I don't eat I get sick. It's just no fun having to force food down. I used to get so much pleasure from food. It's really disappointing to have lost the ability to experience that. Especially with Thanksgiving coming up in a few weeks. And my back is aching more and more. But that's all I really have to complain about. All things considered, I'm feeling pretty lucky.