Week 31 Wrap Up

*Honestly, I'm SO over this whole chalkboard/blog thing. I love that I started it, but now I'm just exhausted all the time and it's more of a hassle than anything. But, I must finish what I started.....*

How far along? Finishing up 31 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Up 0.6lbs for a total loss of 3.2lbs.

Symptoms: Same as last week... Heartburn/indigestion. Crazy tired. Sinus woes. Weird sleeping habits. Swelling in my hands and feet. Ya know, the usual. 

Wedding rings on or off? Off. They're permanently on my necklace now.

Belly Button in or out? It's about as flat as I think it can/will get.

Sleep: Meh. Not good or bad. Just meh. 

Food cravings: Those wafer cookie things. They come in a 3 pack of chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla. Also Half Baked ice cream. Back to sweets I guess!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not really this week.

Miss anything? Sleeping on my belly. I don't remember anything else.

Happy, Moody, or Emotional most of the time: Um... Anxiety has been creeping in pretty badly worrying about Charlie coming early. I was probably pretty difficult to get along with.

Workouts: Monday, Thursday, Sunday this week. I've been slowing down some and have had to cut my reps on certain things, but I'm still out there trucking away!

The Bump: Just over 43 inches! He has gotten HUGE!!!

Have you started to show yet?: Um. Yes.

Stretch marks? Some very, very tiny little ones, less than a centimeter long on my hips.

Maternity Clothes? Absolutely.

Gender: BOY! Oh boy oh boy!!!

Any Names Picked Out Yet: Charlie! 

Labor Signs: A few small Braxton Hicks contractions.

Movement: He has set up camp in my ribs and twerks all over them. Good grief he is a little dancer. I can look down and see the huge lump by my ribs where he sits!

Best moment this week: We had our hospital classes and tour and I finally got a lot of my questions answered! Also, my chair came tonight!!! I LOVE it!!!

Looking forward to: Two more ultrasounds! One on Thursday and one the following Tuesday. Also, my parents are coming in town next Monday to spend the week. It's Daddy's birthday and he wants to get out of the house after having been cooped up so long after his surgery.

 

Week 30 Wrap Up

How far along? Finishing up 30 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Up 1.8lbs, but still down a total of  3.8lbs from my start weight. I'm beginning to feel rather large and less than pleased with some areas, but I keep reminding myself it's all for Charlie's benefit. 

Symptoms: Heartburn/indigestion. Crazy tired. Sinus woes. Weird sleeping habits. Swelling in my hands and feet. Ya know, the usual. 

Wedding rings on or off? More times than not they are just on a chain around my neck now. Too uncomfortable to wear. My fingers feel like sausages. 

Belly Button in or out? It's borderline flat... TOO weird. And to all your people who thought I was crazy for worrying about what would happen to my gallbladder surgery scars let me just tell you something... MY BELLY BUTTON SCAR WAS BLEEDING!!! OK it's was like a tenny tiny drop and probably just from a scrape or something, but STILL.

Sleep: Meh. Not good or bad. Just meh. 

Food cravings: We went to Atlanta for the weekend and I finally satisfied one of my 2 month long cravings... The Melting Pot! Mom and I went and did cheese, salad, and chocolate courses. It hit the spot. If I had a legit fondue pot in my house I would be so big that I couldn't get through the door.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Oh you know, just seeing one of my children explode all over my floor. "Mrs. Dillard, I feel like I'm going to throw up." "Go to the bathroom!" *Walks 10 feet away and quite literally erupts. Bless his heart. I felt so bad for him, but I also ran from the room. It was quite bad.

Miss anything? Sleeping on my belly. Being able to have a drink at The Melting Pot. Putting on pants with buttons and zippers with ease.

Happy, Moody, or Emotional most of the time: All in all I'd say a happy week!

Workouts: Tuesday was pretty rough. I was exhausted! Thursday was standard. I'm definitely starting to slow down on the elliptical and we have decreased the length of my sets. Saturday I didn't workout because we were in ATL. Funny story though... I was in the yard as the UPS man pulled up to deliver a package. He went to hand it to me and suddenly realized I was pregnant. The package was quite large so he asked if I needed him to carry it to the front porch. He said it wasn't that heavy, but he didn't know how much I could carry. I asked how much it weighed and couldn't help but laugh when he said 9 pounds! I told him I lift more than that 3 days a week at the gym! I loved his response... "Good for you, Momma! Good for you!" Working out pays off!

The Bump: I choose to keep last week's answer. It's  still spot on... Just over 42 inches. Bending over is starting to get... challenging. And if I try to sit "criss cross applesauce" I have to lean back. He's pretty smushed when I sit up straight. And I officially can't see my toes without leaning forward. This is really happening. AND HE'S ONLY GOING TO GET BIGGER!!!!

Have you started to show yet?: Absolutely. I had my most violating and uncomfortable unwelcomed belly toucher this week.... A STUDENT and she isn't in my class!!!! This RANDOM kid just walked past me in the hall and just reached out and rubbed my belly! As my kids just learned in their counselor lesson... That might not be an unsafe touch, but it is certainly an unwanted touch. Way to cross the student/teacher/child/adult barrier.

Stretch marks? No new ones. I'm lotioning up twice a day every day and pretty much always smell like a tanning bed, but I don't mind it. I've been doing that since I was about 12 weeks pregnant so maybe it's helped :)

Maternity Clothes? Almost every day! The struggle is real when I have to wear my regular khakis and black pants to work. I haven't found any maternity ones that I liked, and this late in the game I'm not worried about it.

Gender: BOY! Oh boy oh boy!!!

Any Names Picked Out Yet: Charlie! 

Labor Signs: Not really anything this week.

Movement: The boy is auditioning to be a break dancer on So You Think You Can Dance. He is constantly moving! He has finally found my ribs and loves to grind up against them. At church Sunday I could actually feel his butt jammed up in there and was able to push him around to get more comfortable.

Best moment this week: Some of the ladies from my home church and my mom's Emmaus reunion group hosted a shower for me. It was very small and intimate (10 people including me and mom), but it was so nice and I really enjoyed spending time with those ladies, even though some of them didn't know me but were there out of love for my sweet momma :) We got a few good things that will definitely come in handy!

Looking forward to: MY CHAIR IS COMING! MY CHAIR IS COMING!! They finally called and said it will be here on Monday! YAY!!!!!!

Week 29 Wrap Up

How far along? Finishing up 29 Weeks

Baby is the size of a: ... 3 lb something. He weighed 3lbs 1oz at my appointment this last Tuesday.

Total weight gain/loss: Up 2lbs. I'm down a total of 5.6lbs from my start weight. We are officially within the window of the first week's weight loss. The week that we actually "got pregnant" JD and I both lost 6lbs from doing our Whole 30/Paleo challenge. I might have freaked out this morning that I'm going to get back up to my starting weight, and ultimately surpass it. But, I'm thankful that my rockstar husband constantly reminds me that I'm only gaining weight because I'm being healthy and that it's good weight that Charlie needs. Love that man :)

Symptoms: Ummm... nothing out of the ordinary this week. I've been getting really tired again, regardless of how much sleep. I'm also SUPER uncomfortable above my belly button. Like WOAH smooshed intestines and stomach. I can't eat very much without feeling like a whale and like my belly is literally going to explode. Sitting up straight when my legs are up is a major challenge. Bending over is getting nearly impossible some days. Meh.

Wedding rings on or off? It's pretty 50/50 now. I'm definitely more swollen in my hands. I probably could be wearing them more, but it's not really comfortable, so they've been on my necklace lately.

Belly Button in or out? It's borderline flat... TOO weird.

Sleep: MUCH better!I finally made the connection that working out = better sleep :) As long as I'm working out I don't need the Great Wall of Pillows and I can sleep almost all the way through the night :)

Food cravings: Orange Stuff. No not just stuff that is orange, but actual "Orange Stuff." It doesn't have another name... that's just what it is. OK so it's actually mandarin oranges, crushed pineapple, frozen orange juice and orange jello all topped with instant lemon pudding mixed with Cool Whip. IT'S AMAZING! I randomly decided the other night that there is no law saying that I can only eat Orange Stuff at Christmas and Easter. I turned the car around, went straight to the grocery store, and went home and made "Orange Stuff." So yeah, I guess citrus continues to be one of my biggest cravings as of late.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Sick and queasy... No. But big meals give me the heartburn and indigestion. Bleh.

Miss anything? Sleeping on my belly. Not burping and tasting my meals hours later. Darn smushed digestive system. Darn. Darn. Darn.

Happy, Moody, or Emotional most of the time: I think I was pretty happy? Ask JD. He probably remembers better :) Honestly I don't remember too much. We've been really busy lately and starting back to work kept me extra busy and tired.

Workouts: Tuesday and Thursday were both good. I LOVE getting back into my workouts! Saturday we weren't able to go due to a church meeting, so I had Billy tell me a workout to do on my own instead. JD ended up being puny Saturday afternoon (and if he says he needs to take a nap then he truthfully doesnt feel well and NEEDS to take a nap). I ended up taking a 2 hour sympathy nap. I felt pretty bummed that we didn't go on Saturday, so we went on Sunday instead. Oh you mean a 7 months pregnant workout doesn't "normally" include rows, squats, shoulder exercises, step ups, pulling the sled sideways, spending 20 minutes on the elliptical, and ending with lateral resistance bands? Oh... well my maybe MY normal isn't the same as your normal. Let's all stop comparing :) 

The Bump: I choose to keep last week's answer. It's  still spot on... Just over 42 inches. Bending over is starting to get... challenging. And if I try to sit "criss cross applesauce" I have to lean back. He's pretty smushed when I sit up straight. And I officially can't see my toes without leaning forward. This is really happening. AND HE'S ONLY GOING TO GET BIGGER!!!!

Have you started to show yet?: Duh! Still getting all of those "You're so tiny!" comments though. Seriously... these people just must. not. get. it. I'm at a healthy weight. My baby is at a healthy weight. I might not look like I'm 7 months pregnant, but I promise you that I feel like it!

Stretch marks? No new ones.

Maternity Clothes? Almost every day!

Gender: BOY! Oh boy oh boy!!!

Any Names Picked Out Yet: Charlie!

Labor Signs: Not really anything this week.

Movement: After a few sleepy (and making mommy incredibly anxious) days, my wiggle worm is back. I actually FELT him this week. Not like I felt the pressure from him moving, but I pushed on my belly and FELT. HIS. FOOT. OK, I don't know that it was his foot, but based on it's location and what it felt like, I'm saying it was his foot. WOAH.

Best moment this week: Another good report from the doctor! His heart and brain both continue to look good. I still have to have a third Level 2/Echocardiogram in 3 weeks to check off some more things to look for before being 100% cleared off by the maternal fetal medicine specialists, but all continues to go as expected :) Happy healthy baby = happy mommy and daddy! And I'd be lying if I didn't say that I love all of these extra chances to see my handsome baby boy!

Looking forward to:My dadgum chair getting here! It's been 2 months since we ordered it and it's the last piece missing in the nursery! We just keep being told that it "should be here by the end of January, and we'll call you once it comes in." GRRR! I want it now!

ALSO, we are heading to Atlanta this weekend for a baby shower being hosted by some of the lovely ladies from my home church :) I'm excited to see everyone and to celebrate this precious little boy!  

Week 28 Wrap Up

How far along? Finishing up 28 Weeks

Baby is the size of a: ... I have no idea and I'm too tired to care or look it up. I'll find out his "weight" tomorrow.

Total weight gain/loss: Up 2.4lbs. At my 28 week appointment my doctor made the comment that I was only 2-3lbs off from my starting weight. I then remembered that she started tracking my weight at 5 weeks where as I started tracking it at conception. So if it makes her feel good to say I'm now back at my starting weight then yay! But according to my tracking I'm still down a total of 7.6lbs.

Symptoms: Majorly nesting. As in vacumming and dusting are now an almost daily thing. I've always been anal about wiping down the kitchen counters daily, if not multiple times a day. Now it's just expanded to other parts of the house. We were "just touching up some paint" in the nursery... which turned into a two day project of dusting, scrubbing, and touching up all of the baseboards, trim, doors, and cabinets in the house, as well as scrubbing and touching up all of the walls in the nursery. I also found it to be imperative that we reseal the caulk around the window in the nursery (Caulk guns! I can use them now! I learned!) We also had to clean out / rearrange the entire garage and attic... for the second time this pregnancy. I was so anal about it that I got out the broom and swept it out, even after JD used the leaf blower to blow off the floors. All in all it was a very busy week of completing "projects" around the house. Another carload was even taken to Goodwill (I think now our 4th since the beginning of the pregnancy...). I have ZERO sentimental attachment to anything. JD is taking advantage of this :)

Wedding rings on or off? On, but swelling has me taking them off after long days. 

Belly Button in or out? It's borderline flat... TOO weird.

Sleep: Rough. Many late nights due to football games and projects. Then poor sleep once I could get to sleep. Heartburn is a witch! Tums are like candy... on top of my daily 40mg of Omeprazole! And the crazy dreams. And the peeing. And the insomnia. Waking up between 330 and 430 is pretty common. UGH. I hate it. OH and you can all stop with the "get all the sleep now while you can" comments. They aren't cute. They aren't funny. And they certainly aren't helpful.

Food cravings: Dairy. But it gives me wicked heartburn... so that sucks.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope!

Miss anything? Sleeping on my belly. Or heck, sleeping in general. 

Happy, Moody, or Emotional most of the time: All of the above. I was super stressed but also excited and happy and fussy all at the same time. Finishing the nursery took everything out of me. I might have snapped a few times... As always I THANK GOD for that amazingly patient husband of mine. I've said all along that Charlie has eaten whatever little bit of filter and patience that I had before I was pregnant. JD must have picked up some extra somewhere :)

Workouts: Meh. Tuesday was a "get back in the routine" kind of day. Thursday we had off because Billy was sick. I'm thankful too because I hadn't been sleeping well and was able to get a lot done in the nursery instead. Billy was still sick on Saturday and I was puny tired. I just did a mediocre workout, but at least I worked out :)

The Bump: Just over 42 inches. Bending over is starting to get... challenging. And if I try to sit "criss cross applesauce" I have to lean back. He's pretty smushed when I sit up straight. And I officially can't see my toes without leaning forward. This is really happening. AND HE'S ONLY GOING TO GET BIGGER!!!!

Have you started to show yet?: Apparently not seeing me for 2 weeks made a difference at work today. LOTS of belly comments and belly rubs (everyone asked before hand though.) One of the custodians even said I looked like I swallowed a pumpkin! Thanks girl :)

*SIDE NOTE* What in the world am I supposed to do with my hands when people are rubbing my belly???

Stretch marks? No new ones.

Maternity Clothes? Here's the great thing about current fashion... The big baggy tops and such are popular. This means that I can wear stuff that isn't maternity and it still fit, or I can wear my cute maternity stuff after I'm pregnant and get more use out of it. It's a win win situation :)

Gender: BOY! The lights in my car WILL be staying on pink though. I have to hold on to my girly side!

Any Names Picked Out Yet: Charlie!

Labor Signs: A Braxton Hicks hit me pretty hard walking through Walmart the other night. Not painful... but strange enough to make me bust out my pregnancy swag (Thanks Megan!)

Movement: This kid never sleeps. OK that's not true... but I'm not looking forward to what this might indicate his activity level is like once he's out of there!

Best moment this week: We finished the nursery :) I still have a couple of canvases to finish painting, but I'd say it's 95% finished! There's a sneak peak of one of the walls on my FB. I'm waiting to do the "big reveal" once my chair comes in and I get the canvases painted. It's AMAZING. I'm SOOOOOOO pleased! AND JD made me the most beautiful dream shelves ever!

Looking forward to: Seeing Charlie for another hour tomorrow. We have a follow up appointment and repeat of my fetal echocardiogram and level 2 ultrasound just to continue monitoring the stuff we saw earlier. I have to go by myself now that JD has started his new job, but I'm not worried. Jesus loves this baby boy more than I ever could and I know that everything is going to be perfect!

Note the location change of this countdown... It's now located in his nursery! I'm going to paint the frame later to match his room and then use the chalkboard for all kinds of fun things :)