30 Weeks

Woohoo! 30 weeks! It feels like a milestone, 75% done with this pregnancy. Whew! I can't wait to meet my baby girl.

Danny is still out of it, so the nursery is still only half painted and all of baby's stuff is still in the hallway. His fever is broken though and he's on the mend, I just wish I could speed up the healing!
Time seems to be standing still this week, I think because Danny has been home for a week and a half, and sitting there doing absolutely nothing does not help time pass by. Danny had a spinal tap, where they take spinal fluid out to test for meningitis - from the same place in the spine as where an epidural would go. He is experiencing what is called a Spinal headache, a headache that is excruciating while sitting or standing upright, but not as bad when lying down putting pressure on the spine. This is something that is very common with spinal punctures and can last several weeks. Watching him go through it, and seeing just how miserable he has been with this headache for a week, made me wonder how many women live with this after having an epidural, and is the epidural really worth it? To have some temporary pain relief that is truely temporary pain, and in return gain a headache and possibly a backache for such a long time afterword? The headache has rendered him useless, he doesn't even like to get up to use the restroom because his head pounds... imagine doing that with a newborn baby! His sister also had spinal headaches that lasted several weeks after her son was born, and continues to feel back pain to this day - her son is almost 2 years old. Now this obviously does not happen to everyone, but again, would it be worth the risk?
Obviously I had already planned to have a natural birth, but seriously, this gives me more gumption to stick to the plan, and gave Danny a reason to stand behind my decision, other than the fact that he was just going along with whatever I wanted. He now says "Never have an epidural! I hope you never have to have a needle in your back!"
On with the pregnancy stuff. This week I've been way more tired, sleeping for ridiculous periods of time at night and during the day. I've also had a few days of feeling "unwell" but nothing *knockonwood* has come of it thankfully. I've also been experiencing a few headaches here and there.
Still eating every two hours, probably the only reason I wake up from naps is to eat. Our grocery bill went up a good amount because of this. It's all for baby!
Also, the pain.in.my.hips. OH MY GOODNESS! I feel like my legs are going to pop off, out of their sockets, because my hips are stretching out or something and it hurts! I talked to my mom about this and she said "I know honey, and that's why the last part of pregnancy feels like it lasts the longest." I am SO glad that I am not working because there have been a few days where it's almost too painful to stand. I've also had instances of back pain and more sciatic pain.
Her kicks make me giggle, and her wiggles take my breath away. I love her. I can't WAIT TO MEET HER!

Weight: 145.5 pounds
Waist: 37inches

29 Weeks Pregnant

This week has been rather productive... sort of. :)

We were able to get the paint for the nursery (we went with Rain Forest, as I had wanted spring breeze and Danny wanted the darkest color we went in the middle) and Danny got about 1/2 the nursery painted before he came down with the flu, so it's half way painted... and a liiiittle bright. I think we're so used to the tan and brown walls throughout our house that it's quite shocking to walk into a green room.

As far as the pregnancy goes, things are well. Still bouts of nausea here and there. I started doing my kick counts as the doctor asked, and I'm counting between 100-150 kicks an hour. She's really really active and I've decided not to count kicks anymore for the full hour because quite frankly it's a waste of time. I count how long it takes her to get to 10 kicks and then I quit counting. (It's supposed to take under 2 hours for the baby to get to 10 before you call the doctor. For me, it usually takes less than 4 minutes.) I'm also HUNGRY and eating every two to three hours, and I can't do with just a cracker or something, it has to be substantial. It's getting expensive and rediculous, as I'm making food all day long.
Another development for this week, though I've noticed it here and there before this week, now it's happening every single day, all day, and all night -- let down... colostrum. I've read and read about how normal this is before the baby comes and apparently not everyone has it before baby, but those who do seem to be able to establish a pretty good milk supply soon after the baby is born, so as bothersome as it may be (and as much as I have to wash out my bra) I take it as a blessing and a good sign.
I've also been finding it hard to sleep in, and yet two to three hours after waking up in the morning I need a nap. I'm not a naps kind of person so sometimes I just fall asleep on accident while I'm sitting down or something. I've forced myself to go back to bed to nap twice this week since I know now that the sleep is coming to get me no matter how much I try to avoid it.
Still no belly stretch marks and my belly button is still an innie, although the skin around it is pretty blue...
Danny and I have just about everything we need for the baby now. We are building our stock of cloth diapers, and so far we have 12, which is excellent. I'm still trying to decide what kind of pump to get, and we have a few gift cards left just in case there is something we forgot about. Also, for those in the KY area, my baby shower will be on the 31st January, hosted by Carrie Beth & Kara Beth. I will be 35 weeks along at that time. Hopefully Emma doesn't come before that!!!! I'd like to hold on to her until at least 37 weeks.

Weight 142.5
Waist: 36" and a little bit extra

28 Weeks

This marks the beginning of my 7th Month, how scary is that?!  That means 6 months are done, 28 weeks are completed. Woah.
Bring on the anxiety! And excitement!

This week Danny has been home for most of. It's made a huge difference in comfort and emotional security. He's been super sweet and when he's home from work he doesn't really let me do anything at all, even though I've been doing it all on my own since he left. He wants to take care of me while he's around. I love that. :)
A big development for this week - Hiccups. Not my own hiccups, but Emma's hiccups! I'd been feeling them for a little while but wasn't sure what they were. Danny was able to feel the hiccups on Saturday as well, which is super cool. I showed him how she loves to dance when I play gospel music and read her scriptures out loud.
Still "suffering" from indigestion/acid reflux. My ribs absolutely hate me when I try to lie down at night and I spend a lot of my time in bed tossing, though I am not sure I can call it tossing more than turning over slow-as-molasses. It gets much worse when my bladder is full for some reason.
We had another birthing class this week which was really fun, we got to practice relaxation through pretend contractions, which were painful and it was difficult to get the hang of the first time around because all you want to do when someone is hurting you is tense up and pull away, but it was very helpful in knowing that the pain just doesn't feel as bad when you finally relax. During some of our relaxation we got into some trouble for laughing too much, Danny loves to make me laugh, and that is NOT good when you're trying to get through a contraction, since the whole belly tenses up during laughter.
Last night we saw the labor/delivery episodes of the Office, and Danny started to freak out. He really got nervous about the upcoming event, and when I mentioned that we still had about 12 weeks to prepare he freaked out even more, not realizing that it was that close. I'm more nervous about taking care of a newborn than I am about labor and delivery. I'm ready to put the car seat in the car and start preparing for what I'll need in our hospital bag, and writing up our birth plan.

I had a doctor's appointment today, and they were pretty upset that I declined to be tested for gestational diabetes. Quite frankly I'm not at risk for it and I hate having unnecessary testing done. I've turned down lots of tests since the start of my pregnancy and so far.. so good. Really though it gave me a good preview of the battle I'm going to have going in to that hospital during labor, trying to deliver naturally and without a constant heart monitor on and without an IV. Luckily Danny will be there and so will my good friend Andrea, who will be there to deal with the doctors and nurses while I'm focusing on contracting. She is also the instructor of our Bradley classes, actually.

Weight: 141.5 (total weight gain: 18.5lbs)
Waist: 36 inches

Paint Color

We of course had no trouble choosing Emma's name, crib, bedding, or anything like that, but when it comes to painting the nursery I just can't decide!

Here is her bedding next to the paint choices. Help!

Right now the walls are this color brown/tan/whatever:

27 Weeks

And I've made it!!!! 3rd and FINAL TRIMESTER!!!!!! YESSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It freaks me out that I could have a baby at any time now... and that in 10 weeks I will reach "full term", Yikes!

Some days I feel like an elephant and some days I can't even tell I'm any more pregnant than just a little bloating. As it gets colder, Emma seems to hide deeper and deeper in my spine, sucking in my "belly" with her. This is great for fitting into clothing, but not so much for comfort.
The past few days I've been getting horrible sciatic pains, down my left side, which is where it bothered me pre-pregnancy when I would do things like vacuum and mop the entire house in one day. Bending, folding, standing, for 5-8 hours each day, 6 days a week... I'm coming to realize that I really will not be able to work much longer, not in the field that I am in. Because I stand up all day, my risk of premature delivery is much higher if I continue to work as I am. I'd like to cook her for as long as possible, so I'm about to put in 4 weeks notice next week *edit* I quit today. It's not worth jeopardizing full term. That means I will have about 8 weeks to get the house ready before my 40 week due date.
I've heard from many- many expectant mothers that once maternity leave starts, things don't slow down... because there is so much to do to prepare for her arrival.. and there is! Every stitch of everything has to be washed in baby friendly detergent, the carpet needs cleaned in the nursery, not to mention it needs painted.. the crib needs to be put together and we have to figure out whether or not we need more storage for the baby's room.

As far as symptoms go, the acid isn't as bad (knock on wood) as it was last week, as I don't have to sit upright to fall asleep. I've been having a small amount of vanilla ice cream before bed which has been helpful in reducing the acid, and I seem to stay asleep much longer if I eat in the short moments before going to sleep. Swelling isn't as bad this week, I'd say mostly because I've been eating at home rather than grabbing some salty fast food on my way from point A to point B. I still see it in my face more than anything, but probably because everything else has grown so much I probably wouldn't notice it there anyway.
Comfort is somewhat of a struggle, since I'm a "ball up" kind of girl, whether it's sitting in my computer chair or watching tv, or laying in bed reading, I like to have my legs to my chest... and I just can't do that anymore. My belly seems to get harder and harder, I can't squish it much anymore.
My ribs, lower back, and hips just ache in stabbing pain when I wake up in the night or in the morning. I also need to be careful when I try to get up out of bed now, because I've hurt my back trying to sit up.

Emma's movements are beginning to slow down. This could be because of her position, I can't feel her right up next to my skin anymore and when i do feel movement, it's very internal. Within the next few weeks it should slow even more as she begins to run out of room, or so I've read.

I can't wait to meet my baby girl. Every time I see a little girl at the store or while I'm out, my heart swells. I can't wait to hold her in my arms, to have her with me. And Danny is going to make such a wonderful Daddy.. he is such an amazing husband and I really miss him. Those massages and little gestures make a huge difference in my physical comfort.

Emotionally I'm a wreck. I'd say my mood swings are in pretty much full gear right now, it could have a lot to do with the fatigue.. but I'll burst out crying out of no where, and I'll get really really angry at little things, and annoyed, oh I'm on a short fuse.

I cried buckets when I got a gift from my mother in law - money for a winter coat that will fit during pregnancies - after she saw that I was struggling with buttoning up my coats. My mom got me a gift card also for maternity clothes, and I cried while on the phone with her talking about that. I'm thankful for their generosity.

One more thing, helloooo appetite. I've found the "hungry"!

Weight - 140 lbs
Waist - 35 inches

 

 p.s. yes those are still normal pants... with a rubber band.

26 Week VLOG

I did a VLOG and for some reason when I uploaded it to YouTube it messed up the sound-video, so it looks like an old dubbed Japanese movie. :)