36 weeks 3 days

I had a checkup Friday, they'll be weekly from now until i have the baby. didn't go too well, it never does when I have to see this doctor. It's a practice of doctors, there are 4. I love 3 of them and tolerate this one. She's very blunt and over-reactive...which doesn't go well with someone who's overly worried about things.

Anyways, I gained 11 lbs in 2 weeks and am retaining fluid(she thinks it's 11 lbs of straight fluid that I gained). my blood pressure is fine and nothing else is wrong- I'm just swollen. I have a tendency to swell even when i'm not pregnant, so I wasn't too worried. But, she squeezed my legs and said "no more work, bed rest." I didn't say anything, I just started tearing up. This is the second time she's threatened me with bed rest and i'm getting a little tired of it. She saw me crying and said I can give it another week and she'll re-evaluate then, but when I'm not at work I need to be off my feet and keeping them elevated. Part of me thinks it's poppycock- if it was important for me to be on bedrest, why would she back down so quickly? Especially when I didn't fight it, I just had tears coming down my face.

I guess I'll be wrapping everything up at work this week in case I do officially go on bed rest. Oh- and she also said "there's no way you'll make it to your due date." Apparently I have a large baby, not monster size, just large. She said she'd be fine if I went into labor and had him this week! I'm not so sure I'd be fine with that, I thought I had another 4 weeks to get everything really ready. but, i'm already dilated a bit and effaced some, so we'll just have to see.

35 weeks 6 days

This baby has been finding new and interesting ways to lay in my uterus these days. Last night he was practicing the worm and he bumped my ice cream bowl. I guess that's what I get for using my stomach as a shelf :-P That didn't bother me, it was cute and Joe got to see him moving around too.

But this morning, he's discovered my belly button. and i think he's trying to poke his toe through it! my belly button is *almost* flat, after the burning this morning it might be completely flat by tonight. On top of that, I feel like my hips are spreading. I was told I have the "pregnancy waddle down pat". The heating pad is my best friend these days.

In other news, we finished our breastfeeding class last night. Not sure it was worth the $30.00 bucks, but at least I know our lactation consultant now. I'm definitely nervous about breastfeeding, and after the class I'm terrified of breast infections. They warned that if your bras leave marks, there's a higher possibility of breast infection. Well, I haven't found a bra that doesn't leave marks yet! I'm already having to special order b/c they don't sell my size in any store, now I have to try and guess on what size I'll be in when my milk comes in. Looks like I'm going to have to spend more money then I wanted to in order to get a decent nursing tank top too.

But, i'm down to 4 weeks and still feeling pretty good. I'm sleeping off and on, but generally getting enough to feel okay. Doctor's appt on Friday, we'll see what they say then.

way past time for an update (long)

I know I know, I haven't updated in forever. and I regret it, b/c i feel like time has flown past and I don't remember everything I'd like to. I'll try to go back and remember what I can...last update was at 27 weeks. i'm not doing belly pics any longer b/c i feel like a whale now, but here's the important stuff.

First- 31 weeks 2 days, I had my baby shower(2/23/08)! It was wonderful and just what I wanted. Good friends and good food- i'm not very hard to please. They tried to make it a surprise, but as usual...i'm just not easy to surprise. I was overwhelmed by everyone's generosity, and I just felt so loved. It's a wonderful feeling when you look around and realize all those people are there b/c they love you and they're so happy for you. We got almost all of the necessities for Noah that we needed, and lots of cute outfits and fun toys too.

Next- 32 weeks 1 day, (on a Friday) I had a regular doctor's appt. They said I was measuring 5 weeks ahead and were a little concerned. They mentioned "bed rest" which caused me to panic. We left the doctors and scheduled an ultrasound appt for Monday morning. We went home and I cried, Joe did his best to calm me down, but it's scary when you think there's something wrong with your baby or yourself. Saturday we went to Target and Babies 'R Us and bought everything that we hadn't been given at the shower. I was so afraid of being put on bed rest and not getting anything done before the baby came.

so Monday (32 weeks 4 days) we go for the ultrasound. and everything is fine. Baby is measuring right on target, already doing practice breathing, and pursing his lips like he's blowing kisses. I think he has Joe's chin already from the picture:



After that, we calmed down and slowed down. So now I've been slowly getting the nursery together. Most of the laundry is done, bottles and nipples are sterilized, furniture is together. We're waiting on mom to finish the curtains and dust ruffle, and we need to get the recliner in there. Other then that, it's ready. The pack-n-play and swing are already out in the living room. The house looks ready for a baby!


Today i'm 34 weeks 1 day- had a checkup and all is well. nice strong heartbeat, good blood pressure (for me), no problems. I go back in 2 weeks, and then my appts switch to weekly. I only have 3 weeks left until i'm full-term!

27 weeks

No big updates, just random stuff. Noah has been moving more often and my tummy is getting harder. I had Braxton Hicks contractions yesterday morning. and now i'm getting scared of daycare. i know my mom and joe's mom will be watching him, but i just can't get past the fact that i won't be able to raise my own kid. I'm already having separation anxiety and he's still in my uterus! I'm definitely going to have a hard time getting used to it. I hate expressing it, b/c I know Joe feels like it's his fault and that he needs to make more money. it's not and i've never told him that, i don't know how to even say what it is i'm worried about b/c I don't know. I'm partially afraid of missing little moments- what if i'm not around when Noah takes his first step, or says his first word? what if he prefers grandma to me and runs for her all the time? there are so many little what if questions that terrify me, and i guess it comes down to me being afraid i'll miss something or the baby won't like me.

allright, i'll try to calm down and think rationally. i know he'll love me b/c i'm his mom and i'll be able to provide his necessities. i just can't believe how close everything is now. we start childbirth classes in 15 days! I'm in my 3rd trimester- only 3 months left to get ready for the munchkin. and i still have lots of things i want to get accomplished:
-buy recliner
-hang shades and curtains and artwork
-buy a new entertainment center, so we can
-set up the new system we got for christmas
-get a fence put in around the property


anyway- here's the latest belly picture, i'm definitely getting bigger now!

25 weeks

First, i switched to my new schedule at work about 2 weeks ago. so far so good.

I had my doctor's appt on Friday. Noah's heartbeat was at 150, nice and strong. My weight was up again, but the doctor's haven't said that they're worried about it. After the appt, i went to get my gestational diabetes screening done. The results are normal!

i'm getting tired again and have horrid heartburn, but Noah has started moving around more often and more frequently so that's pretty neat. Joe got kicked once, but the movement still isn't always strong enough to feel on the outside. as for my belly, judge for yourself:

24wks5days

23 weeks

I'm 23 weeks today, and I'm freaking out. I got my weekly email that said I should be feeling strong karate kicks by now. I'M NOT!!!! and the email said if i pushed on my abdomen and moved it to the side, baby would respond. HE DOESN'T!!! so now of course, i'm worried something's wrong. I haven't felt strong movement in a day or so. I thought the worry would gradually go away as the pregnancy went along, but so far it hasn't. and man, you think crazy thoughts when you get worried. Things like- what if i rolled over too fast in the middle of the night and hurt him. or, what if we jinxed the pregnancy by buying nursery furniture and clothes for him already? and the craziest thing by far, is everything you'll do to try and make baby move. I've drank hot cocoa, cold juice, done jumping jacks in the bathroom at work, poked my belly, yelled at the baby in the car... and all i've gotten is an annoyed little thump. I want him to wake up and kick the bejeesus out of me.

Noah, you worry your mommy and you need to wake up and start moving around.

and now it's time...for an update!

It's been awhile since i've updated. So, first thing's first! I had my ultrasound on 12/3/2007. Aside from having to hold 16 oz of fluid in my bladder while the baby jumped on it, the experience was pleasant.

andddd... It's a boy! He was weighing 10 oz at the appointment, and his heartbeat was 133.

I had my 21 week check up on 12/12/2007. We received the blood work results (everything is good!). The ultrasound results were good too, but they couldn't get all the measurements they wanted. So- we go back for another ultrasound next week. Baby's heartbeat at the appointment was 140- higher then usual, he's getting bigger and stronger too.

I'm getting bigger too. Here's the most recent belly shot we've taken.
taken at 20weeks5 day