Pregnancy Week 35

  Baby Bump

How far along? 35 Weeks, 6 Days
 

Size of the baby: A coconut!

Maternity clothes? YES. YES. YES.
Stretch marks? Nope! Ittttchhhyyy skin though.
Sleep: Not awesome.  For some reason I have to pee every two seconds.  I wonder why that could be... 
Symptoms: My dearest friend Mr. Heartburn, digestion system on overdrive, increased BH contractions, and thirrrsttty.
Best moment this week: Baby Shower!  SO MUCH FUN!  Baby is so so so loved!
Miss Anything? Haha, I have a feeling this list is going to grow exponentially in the next few weeks. Mainly I miss my energy, sleeping, bending to touch my toes, walking up stairs without getting winded... RUNNING... but overall, it's just silly details that I can live without because baby will be here so soon!
Food cravings: Angel food cake with cool whip (I know, can I be more specific?), pears, root beer, carrots dipped in hummus.  Mmm.
Any aversions? Fish.  Maybe some day I'll want to eat it again.  Also food just doesn't sound good in general. It's an every day challenge to find something that sounds appealing.  I have to have it in front of me to want to eat anything (except for the food above, but that hardly counts as a healthy diet).  When your stomach is being kicked and squished by a certain someone... it's hard to find food appealing!
Have you started to show yet:  Gang's all here!
Baby Names? List is down to 5 names! Can't wait to figure out what he looks like on his Birthday!
Belly Button in or out? Outie is quickly getting bigger...

Linea Nigra? Yes! And I had someone say to me at the gym, "Your line is crooked!"  Haha yes, yes it is.
Wedding rings on or off? On!  They're actually a little loose lately too.
Happy or Moody most of the time: A great week overall!  Happy as a clam!  A stuffed clam that is.
Movement: He wins the award for high jump (in utero).  He seriously can't sit still!
Looking forward to:  Kissing his sweet cheeks and teeny button nose.
New mom tips I received this week (which I love getting!):  Don't be afraid of the labor process.  And also, don't be afraid to ask for an epidural.  It's nothing to be ashamed of!
Favorite part of being pregnant so far: Realizing I'm going to be a MOM in less than 4 weeks!  
Any Braxton Hicks contractions? Yes, and some stronger ones this week.
Feet Swelling? Nope!

Have you started to "waddle"? Quack Quack.  Yes.
Any weird dreams? I've been dreaming about Baby's birth a lot.  This week I actually saw his little face and it was ADORABLE.  Ahhhhh so excited.
Over being pregnant? Still hanging in there!  I'd be happy if he came any time, but I know realistically I probably have another month or more!  First babies are always late (or so they say!)
Still Running? No, although my sacral pain is doing better finally!  I can actually stand and walk without crying!  YAY! Thank heavens for my PT.  I somehow managed to fit in the elliptical every day and weights 3 times this week!

Letter to Baby

Hi Bambino!

This week it was made obvious JUST how much you are loved.  We had our baby shower which was SO much fun.  You got lots of pats and rubs from our family and friends.  I think you even gave a few high-fives to my friends which freaked a couple of them out.  It's amazing that I can actually see your little hands pushing out and waving hello.  (Creepy too...haha!).  You are officially spoiled ROTTEN and have enough clothes, toys, and goodies to last a long time.  Also, I hope you like safari animals as much as your Dad and I do, because you have more giraffe, elephants, and monkey-themed goodies than you'll ever know what to do with!  :)

This week you've achieved which will likely be your birth height!  You won't lengthen out much more (which is good because you're running out of room! Oh and on that note... lay off my ribs, kiddo!), but you will pack on the pounds. It's hard to believe that just when I feel you can't get any bigger, you sprout out even more!  You should be just under 6 pounds by now, but we'll have to wait and see.  Your ears are now fully developed  and the 2 things that make you a little boy have descended and developed! :) One of the biggest developments that happened this week was in your brain - all of your brain cells are becoming more advanced!  You're becoming our little Einstein as we speak. 

We are getting closer to deciding your name, but we're still not sure.  Just as so many things are unknown with your future!  Who will you look like?  Will you be a mini-me with curly hair and dimples?  Or a green-eyed lookalike to your handsome Dad?  Or maybe you'll have different parts of each us. What will you act like? Will you be silly and occasionally shy like your Dad?  Or will you be more outgoing but a homebody like me?  Will you be musically challenged (Dad) or love to sing (me)?  Will you want to be a Doctor? Artist? Engineer? Athlete? Whatever you choose to be, I can't wait to spend the rest of my life being your proud Momma.  

Love you little one,

Mom and Dad

Pregnancy Week 34

  Baby Bump

How far along? 34 Weeks, 6 Days
 

Size of the baby: A butternut squash!

Maternity clothes? Mmm hmmm..
Stretch marks? Nope!
Sleep: Not so good. Pretty tough finding a position that doesn't hurt my sacrum/low back :( That and every night around 2am I woke up ravenous.  Baby must be growing! 
Symptoms: More short of breath, restless legs at night (but luckily it goes away when I lie down!), & I can't find a meal that sounds good
Best moment this week: Our weekend getaway to Homer!
Miss Anything? Being pain-free.  I'm such a whiner, sorry.  But it hurrrttttsssss :(
Food cravings: Bread, chocolate soymilk, and coconut ice cream. YUM.
Any aversions? Anything that smells strong. No Italian, fish, Indian, or Mexican for this girl.  Pretty much all foods with a smell sound awful.  Makes eating out a challenge!
Have you started to show yet:  Totally and completely.
Baby Names? We added another to our unofficial list!  Now we have like 6 to choose from when he arrives :)
Belly Button in or out? Love my little outie!

Linea Nigra? Yes and getting a little darker!
Wedding rings on or off? On! My fingers are usually pretty swollen in the morning right when I wake up.  But by the time I'm up and walking around they're back to normal.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, happy, happy!  But not happy when I feel like my pelvis is going to split in half.  
Movement: SOOO much.  I LOVE IT.
Looking forward to:  Delivery day!
New mom tips I received this week (which I love getting!):  Be selfish and take time for you NOW!  Get a massage if you can, rest on the couch without feeling guilty, and sleep in!  (I can't seem to let myself slow down, so I reallllyyyyy need to find a way to listen to this).
Favorite part of being pregnant so far: Seeing the kicks get stronger and stronger!  
Any Braxton Hicks contractions? Yes, they're here!  
Feet Swelling? Nope!

Have you started to "waddle"? Yes.  I wanted to avoid waddling but there's no denying it now.
Any weird dreams? Not that I can remember this week
Over being pregnant? Not yet.  I feel great except for the sacral pain so if that weren't an issue I'd be okay with it all!  But I think my answer is going to change here in the next couple weeks...
Still Running? No :(  I'm able to do the elliptical and upper body weights without pain (as long as I wear my sacral support brace).  Running is officially off the list for a while.  Probably not until after baby at this point which I AM OKAY WITH!  I can barely walk let alone think of running right now.

Letter to Baby

Baby, baby, baby!!

34 weeks with you inside and only 6 more to go!  Do you think you'll be early?  I'd really be okay with that at this point, so feel free to come when you're ready! I know most Moms are late for their first baby so it could be a while, but I'm hoping that I'll get to meet you a little before you're due date. By now you're settling into the birth position with your head down.  I can tell you are there because you have the hiccups at least twice a day and I can feel the little spasms right next to my bladder!  The fine, soft hair that once covered your body for warmth is now almost completely gone!  Your immune system is taking charge for itself instead of relying on my me and the placenta.  You are becoming your own man already :)

Your Dad, Diego, and I got away this week for a much-needed vacation in Homer, AK.  It's a small little fishing town about 5 hours south of where we live and it was beautiful!  It is a bit of a ghost town in the winter but during the summer it is full of fishermen and tourists.  Your Dad and I plan to take you there this summer, so you'll get to see it soon enough!  We stayed in a beautiful condo right on the water so we got to hear the waves crashing all night long.  We ate delicious meals, walked on the beach with Diego (who was in HEAVEN) and explored the empty town.  It was just perfect.  It was our last trip with just the three of us which is bittersweet, so we took advantage of the time we had to sleep in and relax.  I'm going to miss the alone time with your Dad but I know life will be so much better with you around.  

Next week is your baby shower and I am so excited!  Be prepared to hear lots of "ooooh and ahhhhhs."  You are so loved, little one, and I can't wait for you to meet all the wonderful people in our lives!  

Hugs and kisses

Mom and Dad

Pregnancy Week 33

  Baby Bump

How far along? 33 Weeks, 6 Days
 

Size of the baby: A durian fruit.  He's also the size of a pineapple for those of us that have never seen one of these before!

Maternity clothes? Yep yep yep!
Stretch marks? No, skin is looking good!
Sleep: Okay this week, but still having trouble falling asleep at night.  Also waking up to pee a lot more now...
Symptoms: The horrendous sacral pain is back.  
Best moment this week: SEEING BABY ON ULTRASOUND!!!!!!
Miss Anything? I definitely missed a lot this week for some reason.  Probably because I feel like a gimp with my limping from the sacral pain.  Mainly missing my long runs and training!  Also missing the comfortable sleeping positions.
Food cravings: Anything pickled. And you know how I was completely against hot chocolate for my entire pregnancy thus far?  Well I'm officially a hot chocolate lover again!  Can't get enough!  
Anything making you queasy or sick:  No fishies or seafood for this girl.  BLEH. 
Any aversions? Cheerios, really pungent foods like curry/Indian food, and can't do anything spicy lately.
Have you started to show yet:  Maybe a little? ;)
Baby Names? Nothing official!
Belly Button in or out? Yes. As my coworkers say, "You're baby timer is done!" Just like the turkey pop-out timer, my belly button tells me that baby is almost fully cooked!

Linea Nigra? Yeppers. 
Wedding rings on or off? On!
Happy or Moody most of the time: Pretty happy... SUPER excited for baby now!  But the tears are frequent.
Movement: OH MY GOSH.  Baby is out of control!  Sometimes I wonder if he's going to tap his way out through my belly button or something! 
Looking forward to:  Meeting OUR BABY!
New mom tips I received this week (which I love getting!):  Take your time when getting back into exercise.  Don't give into the pressure of getting back to your pre-baby body within a week.  It's just not realistic.  If you do anything, do KEGALS! (Eek.  I am looking forward to running/exercise again more than anything!  But I know that this person was right.  Pregnancy and birth are traumatic and the body needs a lot of time to recover.)
Favorite part of being pregnant so far: Seeing baby grow and looking at him on Ultrasound!
Any Braxton Hicks contractions? Yes!  I'm sure I'm getting them now.  There's no denying that hard-as-a-rock belly when they come.
Feet Swelling? Nope!

Have you started to "waddle"? Okay, I finally started waddling this week.  But it's only because I am in such excruciating sacral pain that I can't walk like a normal person (my sacrum clicks and moves when I walk thanks to good 'ol Relaxin hormone causing the ligaments to stretch out and become unstable. Ow.)
Any weird dreams? I had one about going into labor at work.  Good thing I work with two family practice docs/obstetricians! 
Over being pregnant? No!  Feeling good (other than the sacral pain).
Still Running? No :( Well I ran 2x this week (3 miles, 3 miles), then I screwed up my sacrum at spin class and almost fell on the ice so I messed it up even more :(

Letter to Baby

Hello little one!

How was your week?  From the feel of it you are becoming quite the little gymnast. I sometimes stare down at my belly wondering what on earth you are doing in there.  I'll show you videos some day and maybe you'll remember what was making you jump about!  Your eyes are now staying open while you're awake and you're starting to have more coordinated breathing with sucking and swallowing!  Soon enough you'll get to use them in the real world :)

This week was the best week your Dad and I have had in a while.  Guess why?  We got to see you on Ultrasound again!  You were kicking up a storm and showing off all of your new tricks like sucking your thumb, gripping with the umbilical cord, and playing hide and seek.  You mostly like to hide though because you kept turning your cute face away!  We did get a few good profile shots though!  You are as beautiful as can be and we can't wait to see you for real!  You also showed off how you can already breathe in and out - pretty amazing if you ask me!  I have a feeling you're going to be a big kiddo... you were already measuring at 5 pounds!  And you have 7 weeks to go!  No wonder I get so tired... you're stealing all of my food!  I don't mind as long as you come out healthy!  Keep up the good work!

We also started birthing class this week.  Mom is a big baby and teared up when we watched the birthing video.  All those hormones sure do get the best of me!  It's been a great experience to learn about what to expect during the trials of labor and also different ways to cope with the pain.  Your Dad is learning how to be a member of my super-duper-support crew and I think he'll do a great job.  Both him and your Nonna will be there when you make your grand entrance into the world... they can't wait!  Next week your Dad and I are going on a mini-vacation to Homer, Alaska.  One of my all time favorite places in our big state!  It's our last trip as a family of three so we're looking forward to it! :)

Until next week...

All our love,

Mom and Dad