The journey in pictures

The beginning - at just over 4 wks

At 6.5 wks we got to see that precious little heartbeat

At 9 wks I ran the Steamboat Half Marathon and visited every portapotty along the way...

and the next day we confirmed we still had a heartbeat...

and at 9 wks I was just starting to "pooch"

Still a skinny-minnie at 10 wks, but my clothes are starting to get uncomfortable

12 wks and the pooch is growing

13 wks and still fitting in my old tops but starting to need maternity bottoms

At 16 wks, baby is the size of an avocado... small enough to hold in my hand.

And the pooch continues to grow (16 wks)

17 wks in a shirt that accentuates the growing bump

18 wks at my Bradenton shower

19 wks from Elijah's view

20 wks in my pj's

20 wks we got to see our little angel again and found out it's a boy!

22 wks at Garden of the Gods

22 wks at the zoo

24 wks snapping pictures of myself in the mirror

At 26 wks my belly button is starting to pop

26 wks in pj's

At 30 wks I was preggopotamus for Halloween

My baby shower in Co Spgs was at 32.5 wk

At 35 wks using the timer on my camera while I cook dinner

At 36.5 wks we did a maternity photo shoot with a friend of Lindsey's

At 39.5 wks Jennifer came to visit and we took some pics at Garden of the Gods

Ash Logan is born 1/17/12 at 3:16pm and measures 19in & 7 lbs 8 oz.

We spent 24 hrs at the hospital recovering

Dressed and ready to head home and start our new life together

41 weeks...Hello, Ash Logan

There's a reason you didn't get a weekly update from me last week...I was a little busy last Tuesday. I'll warn you now, this story is LOOONG and detailed and will have some "eww, tmi!" moments, so read on at your own risk.

I'd been having Braxton Hicks contractions for weeks, and they were gradually getting stronger. We even thought they might be leading to something Sunday evening while I sat around with my parents who had flown in the day before. But Monday morning dawned and they'd died back down, so we went about our business. I felt a little crampy and had a little spotting, which Kari (my doula) said were indications of what was to come, but I knew it could still be days till delivery.

So that night we went to bed, and ... well, I'll leave out a detail or two here ... but shortly after we had laid down to sleep (around 11pm) I started having contractions. These were stronger and more painful than before, so I started timing them. They were every 3 minutes almost on the dot and so painful I got out of bed and went downstairs so my squirming wouldn't keep Josh awake. After almost an hour of timing them and what I thought was probably my water breaking, I texted Kari to let her know and she asked me a bunch of questions and said she'd come over. I came upstairs and sat through a contraction in our bathroom, and Josh heard me groaning and asked if I was ok. I told him Kari was coming, so he got up and dressed and ready for what was to come.

When she arrived shortly after midnight we spent a while downstairs keeping quiet so we wouldn't wake my sleeping parents. Then we moved up to the bedroom and labored for the rest of the night there. We tried a variety of positions - lying, sitting on the toilet, standing, showering...anything to try to be "comfortable". Kari encouraged me to try to eat, so I downed a handful of blueberries, but couldn't stomach anything else. As we reached the wee hours, I started falling asleep on my feet, so Kari had me and Josh lay down (i chose the floor b/c the bed was too soft) and she sat by me and encouraged me to rest/sleep between contractions. I had a brief, God-given lull of a few "gentle" ones in a row and so we all dozed off for 15 min or so. As the morning dawned, we moved back downstairs. Then my water broke in earnest and there was blood (normal) and a little bit of meconium (cause for mild concern), so Kari suggested we get ready to head to the hospital. Josh woke my parents to let them know and gathered last minute things, and out we went. I had become so dependent on Kari to get through contractions I begged her to come with us in our car. We got to the hospital and she came back with me while they checked my vitals and my cervix and propped me, and moved me to L&D where Josh joined us.

This portion of the morning is a little hazy b/c I was so exhausted, but I remember snippets like meeting my sweet nurse (Jessie). My parents arrived and shortly after my mom asked if she could come in. I said I didn't know, b/c at that point I just couldn't form an opinion about anything beyond what I was experiencing directly. She came and sat in a chair in the corner and I'm so glad she did. Eventually she was called over to help with something and became an integral part of my support team.

We tried a variety of positions in the hospital bed as well, some of which were more comfortable than others, but really nothing is comfortable when you're 12 hrs into labor. Around 11am I started to feel the urge to push. At first I was pushing weakly, and Kari helped me to figure out how to focus the pushes. A lot of the pushing I did was in the traditional position with Jessie holding my left leg up, Kari holding my right leg up, mom at my left shoulder and Josh my right helping me get into a semi-sitting position when the contraction built to peak pushing time. Through this time I was in a haze, Josh was lying his exhausted head down to rest between contractions, and I could only muster one-word sentences at most. I remember singing worship songs once when I felt so overwhelmed I didn't think I could go on, and I remember being frustrated with Ash for not being out yet. I also remember them laughing at me b/c I kept thanking everyone for everything, but I knew even in the midst of it that I needed every bit of help they were giving. Then Jessie had to grab her lunch, so Nurse Betty stepped into her spot. She was a sweet but strong older woman who came in and started being a coach (like in sports) - ok, push! 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10, deep breath, push! 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10, deep breath, push! 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10. At first I thought I might kill her, but after she left I realized that I needed that kind of coaching to muster my strength at this point and asked Kari to be "bossy like nurse Betty". It became even more exhausting when the nausea kicked in and I started puking water and blueberry skins with each push. After much pushing in this position or slightly side lying variations, we decided to try all fours to see if we could get his head past my pelvic bone. Once I finished clearing all the puke from my gut, it was a "comfortable" position and it  worked to get him farther down. As I knelt and pushed, they came in and said I'd been pushing too long and when the Dr came in half an hour he'd want to start talking forceps or vacuum assistance. The thought of having to make that decision overwhelmed me and when we rolled back over, my urgent need to get Ash out before the Dr came and the progress we'd made on hands and knees came together to get him where he needed to be.

When the Dr arrived he started trying to stretch me as the baby crowned (i wanted to kill him it hurt so bad), but it became obvious that I was going to tear no matter what, and the tearing was likely to go frontward in a painful way. When Kari supported dr's decision to do an episiotomy, I agreed readily and glad I did when Kari explained later what she saw from her angle and how things would have gone. While contractions had been painful and exhausting, nothing matched the excruciating pain of crowning, and I distinctly remember his ears coming through. My dad remembers hearing lots of screaming from the hall, and I know I was but couldn't help it. Finally they told me I could wait for the next contraction or just muster another push or two on my own and he'd be here, so of course I pushed. Soon I heard the blessed words, "wait, we're at his shoulders" and "ok, one more push, no not that strong, and he's out". They laid him on me purple-grey, severely cone-headed and covered in blood and goo, and all I could feel was relief that it was over.

They took him from me after a few minutes to suction the meconium out of his stomach and weigh and measure him - 7 lbs 8 oz (before they removed a bunch of meconium and fluid from his stomach) and 19". We marveled at Ash's timing - born at 3:16 in room 316. The next couple hours we spent in L&D recovering and passing him around and Josh and I finally ate for the first time in 24 hrs. Daddy and Lindsey and Elijah finally came in from the hall. I was amazed at Elijah's concern for Aunt Nelly - you okay, Nelly? Finally they took us to the nursery for his first bath and vital checks and vitK shot. Then off to post-partum where we would stay the night. My parents stayed with me so that Josh could go home and sleep, then he returned in the morning so they could go home and nap. Then at around 4 pm on the 18th (24 hrs after delivery) we discharged and came home with our bundle of joy.

The week since he came has been a busy one, but that story will wait for another day as being a "dairy farm" is a demanding job and it's time for me to shower and get back to work. :)

Hello, due date!

Jennifer and I went to Garden of the Gods and had fun snapping some more maternity pics.  I posted a few on FB, but thought I'd include some here too.  These are unedited... she's going to go home and play with some of them.  It's like a free photo shoot :)

We just thought this was funny... especially the part about how the rocks could fall at any time. :)

Colorado is SO beautiful!

I can't believe how big this shirt makes my belly look!

Look, I match the curve in the rocks :)

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along : 40 weeks

Size of Baby : averages say ~20-21" and 7-7.5 lbs... the same avg #'s for babies at birth, since we're at that point now

Total Weight Gain : ~31 lbs... that may have something to do with the treats I've been sneaking despite my reflux b/c I just can't hold out any longer :)

Maternity Clothes :  Now that I'm not working and not NECESSARILY getting my clothes dirty every time I wear them (I'm still pretty clumsy tho), I'm wearing pretty much just two or three of my most comfy pairs of pants over and over again.  Nothing seems to want to stay up since my belly is SO round and pushing them down all the time.  My leggings are my most comfy but I only have maybe 2 tops that will cover my belly AND butt and I feel exposed if those two aren't completely covered.  But I spend all my evenings in my pj's, so comfort isn't often an issue :)

Best Moment This Week :  having Jennifer here was such a blast!!  We had a perfect balance of out & about time and couch time.  Two trips to Garden of the Gods and some good walking.  Two chick flicks - The Help and Crazy, Stupid, Love.  It was a short trip (really just 3 days) but really fun.  And I was pleased to have enough energy to keep up, even at 9 mos pregnant.

Gender : boy

Movement : still his usual, though I'd like him to start moving DOWN! :)  Honestly, I'm not surprised he's in no hurry... I was always a little late in making big life changes; why shouldn't my baby be the same way. :-D  I just keep encouraging him that he's going to love all the room he has to move out here!! :)

Food Craving : well, I did a stupid thing and went and bought mint oreos... which I've been snacking on consistently despite the reflux issues they can cause.  On the upside, I also bought blueberries (BOGO, even for organic!) and have been enjoying them with cereal or bananas or on their own.

What I Miss Most : same old - my pre-preg body.  I can't wait to be able to sleep on my stomach or move like I'm not a beached whale!!!

Sleep : I haven't been getting enough of it between company in town (aka staying up too late) and waking up so often.  I count myself lucky if I can make it 3 hrs straight w/o waking at any point in the night.  Now that I'm not working I can sleep in after Josh goes to work, but that doesn't seem to be making much of a difference in how rested I feel.

What I Am Looking Forward To : meeting this little joker!  I can't wait to HOLD him!  And at this point I can almost guarantee for certain that I'll be seeing him in 2 wks or less, and that's SO exciting!  (Less is better, buddy!!)  I also have an appt tomorrow, and I'm interested to lay out a plan for the next couple weeks... since I like to have ducks in a row and I can't do anything with my L&D ducks, at least I can know where my dr's ducks are :-D

Belly Button : outtie

Symptoms : all the same old ones.  Contractions continue to grow in intensity and frequency, but still nothing worth tracking.  I had one REALLY strong on the other day - stopped me in my tracks completely and hurt for real... but it was just ONE and one doesn't mean anything.  I can't wait to actually go into labor b/c that means we're getting somewhere more quickly.  I'm trying to be patient, and be grateful that I really do feel pretty good considering I'm 40 wks pregnant now, but I just can't wait to have this kid!! :)  So honestly, the biggest symptom I have now is impatience :-D  haha

39 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along : 39 weeks.  I know I say it every week, but I just can't believe we're here... I remember when I was counting from 16-20 and it seemed like we'd never even get to 20 wks, let alone 40 wks, and here we are just one week from 40.  Crazy.

Size of Baby : averages say ~19-22" and 6-7.5 lbs.   

Total Weight Gain : ~30 lbs... I seem to be holding pretty steady give or take a couple pounds (depending on the day or time of day) here at the end, which is good since I seem to have landed square in the middle of the 25-35 lb recommended weight gain.  I'm content with the #'s AND how I look and feel... haha, for a preggo at least.

Maternity Clothes :  Some of my maternity tops are getting too short to cover my whole belly.  This thing is getting out of control!! :)  I know it won't be immediately after giving birth, but I can't wait to rediscover my old wardrobe again. 

Best Moment This Week : I have really enjoyed the leisure of four day weekends with my hubs.  We were able to get all our "chores" done and still have plenty of time for relaxing on the couch. 

Gender : boy

Movement :  he's a strong kid, and even though everything I've read says he's supposed to slow down here towards the end, he doesn't seem interested in that.  I mean, sure, he naps throughout the day.  But when he moves, he MOVES.  I can't wait for him to come out and have room to move even more.  Do we have an early walker on our hands?  Will we be baby proofing sooner than expected?  Only time will tell....

Food Craving : Chocolate of course.  I have a couple chocolate goodies packed in my hospital bag to snack on after he's born and have added Double Stuff Oreos to the grocery list for after Ash.  :)

What I Miss Most :  my old body and all the things that went with it.

Sleep : Josh has been on prednisone again/still, so we've had some rough sleep lately.  As far as pregnancy sleep goes, I've ditched the body pillow since my belly is big enough now not to need to be propped up at all and have started sleeping with a small throw pillow between my knees.  I kinda like the freedom and extra room.  I'm still waking every 2-3 hrs to pee or roll over to relieve pain in my hips.  But overall, when I can sleep, I'm sleeping pretty well.

What I Am Looking Forward To : tonight we pick up Jennifer at the airport.  She'll be staying the rest of the week, which will be fun.  I plan to do a lot of active stuff with her (walking at GoG, Manitou, etc), so hopefully we can jump-start this labor thing... b/c we all know what I'm looking forward to most is meeting my son, and waiting isn't getting any easier.

Belly Button : outtie.

Symptoms : reflux, general aches, fatigue, pelvic/hip pains...same old.

How did we get here!? 38 WEEKS!

My apologies; I didn't snap a picture this week.  We did a lot of being lazy this weekend and I wasn't even thinking about belly pics.  You can just go back and look at my maternity pics again, and imagine me just a smidge bigger.  Or check out the pics I posted yesterday of Ash's nursery with the curtains up and the glider cushions covered.  It's really ready for him, and it's making me all the more eager for him to come.


Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along : 38 weeks.  This is the beginning of the on-call period with my doula and the beginning of my maternity leave... dates that have been set for months and somehow crept up on my unexpectedly! :-O  We're now in the month of "any day now", which is going to make me crazy!! :)

Size of Baby : averages say ~19-21" and 6-7 lbs.   

Total Weight Gain : ~30 lbs

Maternity Clothes :  Some of my maternity tops are getting too short to cover my whole belly.  This thing is getting out of control!! :)

Best Moment This Week : getting to see Dan & Michelle & kids was such a treat!  I wish we had more than an hour with them, but I'm looking forward to Michelle's visit in March.  Christmas with friends was also a blessing, since otherwise Josh and I would have spent a slightly depressing day at home alone :)  On a lesser note, crossing these off my to-do list felt pretty good too: getting the curtains up in Ash's room (thanks to my hubs), getting my birth plan printed out (to be discussed with my dr today), and getting the ingredients bought and organized for my make-and-freeze dinner-cooking-marathon this week.

Gender : boy

Movement : you know, I'll go a day where I don't feel him moving much and start to get a little concerned, and then the next day he's going nuts all day.  But in general, the movement is still generally predictable.  After breakfast and dinner are still his busiest times.  And during contractions, I can feel his movements more sharply.

Food Craving : Chocolate of course.  I have a couple C-mas chocolate goodies packed in my hospital bag to snack on after he's born.

What I Miss Most : the light, energetic feeling of not being pregnant.  I'm getting SO heavy and sore and tired.

Sleep : I've taken Tylenol a couple nights, which helps some.  A four day weekend threw off our sleep schedule a little bit, but I'm expecting to feel a little "thrown off" for the next few months, so I guess we just started early ;-D

What I Am Looking Forward To : I can't wait to meet this kid!  I'm not overwhelmingly grumpy about still being pregnant (I've still got two weeks till my due date... I'll probably get grumpy after that!), but I'm just so ready to SEE him and start the face-to-face bonding process. 

Those who don't have dogs might not get this, but I'm really excited to get the dogs groomed today.  I haven't cut their hair in a couple months (due to being too round to get through the task) and they haven't had a bath in a couple weeks and they've been romping in the snow that still hasn't melted in our backyard, so they are scruffy and stinky and dirty.  Today they go to get professionally groomed (I should be able to do them myself [aka FOR FREE] by the time they need it again), and they'll come home washed and cut and pedicured and slightly more lovable! :) 

I'm also excited about being off work so I can truck through my to-do list, I'm eager to discuss a few more details of my birth plan with my dr, and I'm also glad that Josh only works three days this week so I get another 4 day weekend with him soon. :)

Belly Button : you know, I've been saying out b/c it does show under my clothes, but I feel like I need to clarify that it's just a little tiny nub of my belly button that doesn't even stick out very far.  But for someone who's always had a neutral belly button, I'm still going with outtie.

Symptoms : reflux, general aches, fatigue...same old. 

The new symptom is what I guess I'd describe as pain in my groin area, especially when I'm trying to move my legs certain ways.  My educated guess is that relaxin is doing its job on my pelvis and it's just starting to get loose.  My hips (outer thigh) have already been hurting (esp at night), but now it's in my inner thigh area as well.  I'm not ~excited~ about it, per se, but I'm glad my body is doing its job. :)  But it's just one more thing to slow me down b/c I have to be really careful about how I move.

Also, the contractions are getting stronger.  They're not regular enough for me to start timing yet, and they're not ALL strong... but I have been having more that hurt, make me catch my breath and stop me in my tracks for a second, especially in the evenings.  I "like" the practice, or maybe I should say I find the practice oddly comforting b/c I feel more prepared for an event you can't possibly be prepared for ahead of time.  I'm learning to breathe through them and how to relax - by doing it with the big ones.  I've also found that massaging my belly afterward along with a few deep breaths helps me recover pretty quickly.  I'm still nervous about the real thing, but excited as they grow in intensity b/c it means that we're closer to d-day.  It increases the feeling that it could be any day, which is both a relief and a frustration.  Josh and I are such planners, this unpredictability is killing us! :-þ

My labor verses

My doula asked me this weekend what verses she could use to encourage me during labor.  At first I could only think of Jer 29:11-14 (a passage that spoke to me through my miscarriages) and Heb 12:1-2 (my favorite verse from Challenge - I wrote it on my bike helmet! - that also applied to my half marathons).  Now I've expanded my list to include a few more.  What about you?  Do you have some verses/passages that bring you comfort and encouragement in times of trouble?  Maybe I could add your verse to my list!

Ps 9:9-10
The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed,
   a stronghold in times of trouble.
Those who know your name trust in you,
   for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Ps 139:13-18
For you created my inmost being;
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
   when I was made in the secret place,
   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
   all the days ordained for me were written in your book
   before one of them came to be.
How precious concerning me are your thoughts, God!
   How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
   they would outnumber the grains of sand—
   when I awake, I am still with you.

Jer 29:11-14
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will restore your fortunes."

Heb 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Heb 12:11-13
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

37 weeks

I know many of you clamor regularly for pics, so if you haven't already, check out the maternity pics that Amyssa Sherman posted on Facebook of our shoot on Saturday.  She's tagging me in them as she posts them, so they show up on my wall/profile for all to see. 

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along : 37 wks - this makes us full-term.  He could come anytime he wants, though I told him he has to wait till after Christmas! :)  I'm not expecting him to at least January, though.  BUT, if he chose to come tomorrow, there would be very little concern about his well-being.  YAY

Size of Baby : averages say ~19-21" and 6-7 lbs.   

Total Weight Gain : ~29 lbs

Maternity Clothes :  Some of my maternity tops are getting too short to cover my whole belly.  This thing is getting out of control!! :)

Best Moment This Week :  There hasn't been just one.  I'm so glad to have the last critical things on my to-do list taken care of : picked a pediatrician, pre-admitted at the hospital, finished our childbirth classes with our doula, solidifying our birth plan, and finished our C-mas shopping for the kids.  It was also a fun Saturday taking pictures with Amyssa, and cheese & chocolate fondue with Mark & Melissa was also a blast (if regrettable when the reflux kicked in later)

Gender : boy, and I can't wait to meet him! :)  I can't wait to see what he looks like and start to get to know him.

Movement : while he's definitely still on the move regularly, I'm getting a lot more squirming and a little less "kicking".  He's starting to get cramped, and likes to spend a good part of the day pushing with his feet.  I don't like as much as he does, since he's pushing my organs and my ribs and my tender belly.

Food Craving : CHOCOLATE!  I want hot chocolate, I want a box of chocolates, I want chocolate cookies... I just want chocolate.  I'm counting the days, even though I don't know how many there are :)  And tomato based comfort foods like lasagna and chili, but not nearly as bad as chocolate.

What I Miss Most : breathing.  And being able to eat "normal" foods without regretting it later.

Sleep :  horrible!  I've been waking up every 2 hrs almost without fail, and I'm SO tired.  We're definitely getting closer to the end.

What I Am Looking Forward To : I only have 3 more days of work left... which makes me sad, but it's getting harder and harder to keep up.  And I've been so tired that I'd love to be able to sleep in, take naps, and get some things done around here before Ash arrives.  But REALLY what I'm looking forward to is FRIDAY... we're driving up to Denver to meet Dan & Michelle (& Emma & Caleb) for lunch.  What a GREAT way to start my maternity leave :)

Belly Button : out 

Symptoms : reflux as usual.  I've also been pretty breathless lately, which is slowing me down significantly.  And of course the expected aches - ribs, back, hips, boobs.

36 weeks - LESS THAN A MONTH LEFT!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along : 36 weeks!  How did we get here?  I swear, I've been posting every week, so I shouldn't be so surprised.  But 36 wks is only 4 wks left.  Which immediately turns into 3 wks  __ days. :-O  It's less than a month.  The "good" news this week was the discussion we were having about the correlation between the full moon and the spike in women going into labor, and so I looked it up.  The full moon in January is the 9th.  My EDD is the 10th.  If the moon is any help, I might actually have this baby on time.  We'll see :)

Size of Baby : averages say ~18-20" and 6+ lbs.   

Total Weight Gain : ~28

Maternity Clothes : I'm trying to decide which clothes to wear for the photo shoot I've got tentatively scheduled for this weekend... I never thought I'd have so much trouble making this decision!! :) 

Best Moment This Week : it's been a pretty stressful week... we've heard from multiple people that last week was just kinda crazy for them too.  BUT, getting my thank you cards all written was quite an accomplishment.  And we had a blast playing Settlers with Mark & Melissa and Sam & Jenna on Friday night.  Plus I really enjoyed our time with Kari this weekend, sitting at our dining table going over childbirth class info.

Gender : boy, and I can't wait to meet him! :)

Movement : he's been moving like a champ.  I still haven't bothered with kick counts b/c he's active every day, and seems to even have a little routine.  After breakfast and late evening seem to be some of his busiest times, though he generally squirms in the car too.  The down side is that as he gets bigger and stronger, and he has less room for stretching out, this has become more painful for me.  Sometimes he stretches his feet right into my ribs or organs, but even just stretching them into the wild blue yonder of my belly (usually just below my ribs in the right/upper quadrant of my belly) makes me feel tender in that area.

Food Craving : cookies.  I've been BAD about sneaking Oreos even tho they're bad for my reflux.  And I've eaten a few other cookies this week too.  The holidays are atrocious for too many cookies around.  And I'm getting ready to make puppy chow for small group Thursday, and know I'll eat way too much of that too...

What I Miss Most : my old body.  I'm telling you, I really can't wait to do the things I used to do without even thinking about it.  I'm so grateful for a healthy body in my "normal" life, and the ability to do almost anything I want... I can't wait to have it back :) 

Sleep : I've been waking up every couple hours, but I've heard that's pretty common for this point.  Overall I feel like I've been doing pretty well on the sleep front.  My nightly dessert of Tums doesn't hurt either.

What I Am Looking Forward To : Friday I have an interview with another pediatrician.  I'm pretty sure this is the one we'll end up with.  My doc AND Molly both recommended the practice.  And of the profiles I liked, I ended up picking the actual doctor that Molly takes her kids to.  They also do in-office circumcisions, which was a relief after talking to the other doctor last week.  Then Saturday is our last meeting with Kari, which means I should walk away from that with my birth plan solidified.  Which I will cover with my doctor at my appt on Monday, and find out how close we'll be able to try to stick to my preferences.  AND I do my pre-admission at the hospital that day too, which will be taking care of the last critical thing hanging over my head.  I'm also supposed to get maternity shots done Saturday - fun!

Belly Button : out 

Symptoms : the usual reflux (which seems to have good days and bad days), occasional fatigue and back aches, and sometimes hip pain, but again I'm grateful to not have too much to deal with overall.

35 weeks!

35 weeks (my belly is NOT square at the top... that's the toaster peaking out ;-D)

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along : 35 weeks.  That's also known as 5 WEEKS LEFT!  That's ridiculous.  Saturday will be officially one month till EDD (the 10th).

Size of Baby : averages say ~18-20" and 5-6 lbs.  All his organ systems are in place and functional, so his odds if he came today (which he won't) are 99%.  His main job between now and d-day is putting on fat (which he'll spend the next few years losing) and brain development (which he'll spend the next few years growing). 

Total Weight Gain : ~26 lbs...  I lost a few lbs this weekend when I couldn't eat for a whole day and then spent the next half in the bathroom... and I haven't made it all back up yet, though I ate enough junk yesterday to close some of the gap.  Mmm, Starbucks and McDonald's :)

Maternity Clothes : a lot of my favorite maternity shirts are getting too short... I never thought that would happen!! :-O  I'm definitely reaching for all my longest shirts to make it to the bottom of my belly band nowadays.

Best Moment This Week :  I think it's a toss up between my shopping spree at Target for all the miscellaneous stuff we still "needed" - I haven't bought that much stuff in a long time, though $10-20 items can add up fast - OR when Josh came home from work with a gift for me b/c I sent him a picture while I was shopping of a little temptation I passed up.  He's such a sweet husband! :)

Gender : boy, and I can't wait to meet him! :)

Movement : with so little between him and me, when he moves you can always see it from the outside now, even hiccups... as a matter of fact, I'm watching my belly dance as a I type.  Friday when I was sick I thought I might cry every time he kicked me in the gut, but Saturday he was pretty chill most of the day... thanks, buddy. <3

Food Craving :  this week it hasn't really been anything, especially with The Bug.  Though since Josh came home with cookies, I have to admit I've been tempted by the Oreos... but knowing I have a month left to go, it's easier to just wait till they don't make me miserable.  And go buy double stuffs just for me.  Or mint ones.  One a package of each :)  Also, yesterday when I was out I grabbed McD's for lunch and was pleased to discover that happy meals now come with a baby sized fries AND apples... no more choosing.  And it's JUST enough fries to satisfy the non-pregnant french fry cravings I get.  Yippee.

What I Miss Most : being able to move and breathe.  A lot of the girls on my message boards for Jan due dates have started posting about their babies dropping, but no such luck here.  He's definitely way up in my ribs and stomach and lungs, even when he's not kicking me in them.  Add to that the end-of-pregnancy hip issues, and I'm a clumsy lumbering waddler.  It's not like I'm normally the most graceful person on earth, but I'm going to feel like it when this baby is out! :) 
 
Sleep : well, I lost an entire night to The Bug when I woke up vurping Thursday midnight and spent the rest of the night dozing in an upright position on the couch.  It has been so nice to get back to sleeping like a normal preggo after it passed.

What I Am Looking Forward To : since I was sick this weekend, we had to skip our childbirth class on Saturday, so I'm looking forward to having Kari over and her meeting the pups and showing off the nursery.  I'm going to have Josh hang the curtains this weekend and put away the pack-n-play we've had out for friends' kids or days I brought E home, and then the nursery is as ready as it'll ever be.  Minor changes, perhaps, but ready for anyday arrival.  I'm also excited to get a couple minor things crossed off my to-do list like pack my bags and reorganize my pantry a little (very early baby-proofing).  In longer-term, I'm looking forward to having a pediatrician chosen, being pre-admitted for the big day, and finishing work, which all happen in the next couple weeks.  I love E and will miss her to death when I'm done, but it gets harder every day now and I can't wait to just be home resting and preparing the last minute details for Ash's arrival.
 
Belly Button : ladies and gents, we have definite OUTIE!  I can't deny it anymore.  It's funny looking and pokes out gently (it's not hard), but it is undeniably OUT. 

Symptoms : the reflux is worse every day.  I'm taking Zantac twice a day AND chewing Tums AT LEAST once a day, sometimes more.  But I'm down to the countdown now, and I'm also grateful for the way it has kept my eating in check through the whole pregnancy.  I haven't been able to indulge in craving-foods, and I haven't been able to pig out in general, so I haven't gained a lot of excess weight.  Actually, after The Bug this weekend, I couldn't get my watch to stay on the right side of my wrist yesterday, so I'm ANYTHING but bloated.  Yes, I can't wait to get rid of it, but it has at least served a purpose.  We'll see in a month or so if it served the hair-growing purpose. :)  Have I mentioned I CAN'T WAIT TO MEET HIM!?

The latest symptom to pop up is occasional sharp hip pains.  Last night I could hardly get to the bathroom from the bed b/c one hip hurt all the way through to the back of the joint.  Things are definitely preparing to loosen up and let him out.

I've also been experiencing the usual breath issues, occasional rib pain (which I have come to believe is a FOOT pushing on the inside of my ribs), etc...it seems surreal that all of this will be over in such a short time! 

34 wks - starting the countdown

Sorry, I didn't get any pictures yet, but I'll try to snap one or two this week so you can see the ever growing monstrosity that is Preggosaurus! :-D

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along : 34 wks - ONLY 6 WKS LEFT TILL MY EDD!! :-O  I was booking my next few appts yesterday and was shocked to realize that I had booked right up to the week before my due date, SCARY.  It made me realize how "urgent" some of the things on my to-do list are - like taking maternity pics and finding a pediatrician and pre-registering at the hospital.  I've got some phone calls to make this week for sure.

Size of Baby : averages say ~18-20" and my ultrasound yesterday said he's 4 lbs 14oz, right on track.

Total Weight Gain : ~27 lbs

Maternity Clothes :  I was so excited to get a package in the mail this week from Jordan full of nursing bras & nursing tanks.  (There was more in there to be excited about, but those were the clothes for me)  I had started thinking I might have to go buy a few of each, but now I've got about 5 tanks and 6 bras that ought to work pretty well for me through nursing months.  YAY :)

Best Moment This Week :  Thanksgiving was awesome!!! I also had a great time working on the glider cushion covers with mom.  It was just a GREAT 5 day weekend of fun.

Gender : according to yesterday's ultrasound, he's STILL a boy :)

Movement : mom was excited to get to feel him move.  At first he was trying to be a brat and as soon as mom got her hand on my belly he'd stop.  But it didn't take long till she caught him squirming, and by the end of the weekend she'd seen the alien belly move by itself and even caught a few hiccups.  He's been getting hiccups a lot lately, but from what I've heard that's good... it means he's practicing breathing.  Also, since he's head down, I'll occasionally get a kick in the lungs or ribs or sides... whoo, that'll make you go whoa! :)

Food Craving : always chocolate, though six weeks is starting to feel bearable... I do month-long treats fasts, six weeks isn't much longer than that.  The hardest part is that this will go through C-mas when all the sweet goodies are out there... *sigh*  I did take a taste of mom's skinny peppermint mocha yesterday - mmmm. 

What I Miss Most :  I miss being able to breathe the most, I think, but a close second is definitely just being able to move freely.  It's starting to get hard to get up off the floor and stuff, which is no good for my job. 

Sleep :  I realized that some of my worst back pain issues were from sleeping propped up on a couple pillows and rolling to my side, so I went back to just one (my preggo pillow).  Which has been nice, except for the night I ended up sleeping sitting up against 4 pillows b/c I woke with vomit in my throat and nose twice.  But otherwise it has definitely helped the back pain and is more comfortable.  Though I can't wait to go back to sleeping like a normal person :)

What I Am Looking Forward To :  besides the aforementioned being able to eat and breathe and sleep like a normal person, I'm starting to look forward to meeting this little guy.  I mean, I've been happy about that for a while, but I'm really starting to feel it.  I was playing "find the feet" today with him and thought how much fun it'll be to actually grab his feet instead of just poking them through layers of skin and muscle and fluid.

Belly Button : it's out enough to be occasionally visible through clothes, but still not what I'd call an outie... just that little nub is gently sticking out.  But it's also getting "lower", almost out of sight for me if I stand up straight.  HAHA, my body is SO misshapen :)

Symptoms :  reflux, back ache, breathlessness and occasional fatigue... you know, the usual.