Sunday, January 26, 2014

Eight to go!


32 weeks down, which leaves right around eight weeks to go (hopefully not much, if any, more than that).

This past Thursday was baby shower #1, held at work during lunch time. I was nervous because I don't really know these people very well, but it turned out really nice: cake, punch, a few gifts... nothing too scary.

...And shower #2 (the bigger one, with family and friends) is just three weeks from now. "Worlds are colliding!" Isn't it always kinda nerve-wracking to have his side, her side, and both work sides coming together, even if it's just for a few hours?

Next weekend, we have another kiddo class, but this is when it kicks into high gear: a childbirth class. Childbirth? Certainly I don't need that yet!

It's crazy how time has flown... sort of. It seems like yesterday I was so excited for the end of the first trimester, and now... a childbirth class? It sounds crazy. But, at the same time, this "not sleeping" thing, this "feeling sooo freaking uncomfortable" thing - makes time screech to a halt.

I bought this... this... this thing... the other day. It's a supportive thing, designed to lift baby up a little, just out of my pelvis, thereby making that area less crowded and more comfortable. I tried it out when we went to a movie ("Anchorman 2" - pretty funny!), and decided that it may have worked for my NP (who recommended it so highly) because she was on her feet all day. But for me, who works seated at a desk all day, it just made the kicks that much more up-close and personal. Fail. At least I didn't pay full price ($50-ish?)!

Biggest complaints right now are:
1. I'm pretty much constantly uncomfortable, and
2. Insomnia.

Still, I haven't had any real cravings other than chocolate and ice cream (but I always want those things, no matter if I'm pregnant, hormonal, or none of the above). Fortunately, my Love indulges me once in a while, but without overdoing it (since I really don't want to gain some extraordinary amount with baby - especially if it's non-nutritious stuff like that).

It's also funny to me that everyone has (seemingly) suddenly changed their tunes, from, "Omigosh - you're so big! And it looks like you're getting bigger every day!" (Gee, thanks) to "Wow, you're tiny. You're all baby! It doesn't even look like the rest of your body has changed at all" (oh, bless you - you're my new favorite person). Weirdness. So I guess I grew a lot early on, but since then I've really slowed down, size-wise. Good deal.

So, with just eight-ish weeks to go, there's a lot happening, and still a lot left to be done (hospital bag might be tied with pre-registering at the hospital for #1 on that list), but hey - it's just eight weeks. I can do this. I hope.

Saturday, January 11, 2014

30 week meltdown

Tomorrow marks 30 weeks down, which leaves just ten (max, hopefully) to go. I find myself looking forward to the end so much that it's become nearly unbearable. Fortunately, there's a lot to look forward to - a lot that breaks the big "10 weeks" chunk into smaller, more bite-size chunks. I can do this. Maybe.

This weekend, we have lunch with a couple of friends, and possibly dinner and a movie with another. Next weekend, we're painting the nursery (actually, I have nothing to do with it, other than picking out colors - my sister-in-law and a couple of her daughters are coming over to paint; I'll be banished from the immediate area).

Next week, we have a doctor's appointment (just a baby checkup), and what Kaiser calls a "stork tour" - basically a tour of the maternity area. Exciting but nerve-wracking, just like every other baby-related thing.

Coming up within the next month is my baby shower (also nerve-wracking, because I'm not a big fan of having everyone's attention centered on me). Fortunately, we're registered, ready and rarin' to go.

Then comes the organizing of the baby stuff, the packing of the hospital bag, the freaking out... and then, horror of horrors: L&D (don't make me say it)!

I just hope everything goes as planned, but I'm not naive enough to think that it always does, so I'm trying to come to grips with that.

What if I have baby way earlier than expected? Later than expected? What if baby decides to make her grand appearance at home? What if I'm in L for, like, 57 hours? What if I have to have a c-section? What if I go into L at the most inopportune time of day or week? What if we don't make it to the hospital on time (we live a little more than an hour away from the hospital)? I'm trying to prepare for these possibilities.

Any advice? Calming words? Horror stories? I love them all!

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Changing my mindset

Is it really supposed to be this hard? I'm not in PAIN, exactly - I'm just uncomfortable almost ALL the time!

I sleep better with the help of Unisom (thanks to permission from my NP, and not my Ob), but I wake up, and my hips are just killing me! --> Fortunately, I was able to order something that MIGHT help with this issue.

My back hurts almost constantly, and try as I might, I can never find a comfortable seated position (again, the thing I ordered MIGHT help).

We talked about all these things the other day, and basically I was reminded of how lucky I am. For so much. I can carry a baby. She seems to be happy and healthy (if a little water-logged and eager to move and kick all of her waking hours), and I'm happy and healthy. We're good!

So we think it's a mindset thing. I need to change my mindset, which always does wonders for me - it already has! I don't ENJOY the rib-kicks, but I LOVE knowing that that means she's probably fine. I love that I get to be with her 24 hours a day (for now) - once she's outta there, I don't know how thrilled I'll be to hear the crying and respond to all of the other demands of a newborn.

I had a great, long talk with a friend about her natural labor and delivery (I'm definitely NOT doing that - I want drugs, drugs, and more drugs! If I feel so much as a pinch, I want someone to take care of that!). It was a great discussion, though, and it made me feel so much more relaxed about that part.

Just eleven weeks to go until due date!

Friday, January 3, 2014

Quick and dirty recap of the holidays

It's over. Finally, it's over, The holiday season is one of those times of year that I dread. Every year it's the same: what do I get for this person, that person, the other person? So much unnecessary pressure.

This year, though, it was at least a little busier, especially toward the end of the year. We spent Christmas Eve at home with a nice dinner with the in-laws (and shouting at the table, very classy) and a couple of movies. Christmas Day, we drove north to my parents' house. Presents didn't start until 2:30 p.m., not entirely unusual. And then we drove even farther north, to my sister-in-law's to see my niece get married.


(The niece that got married was on her honeymoon by the time this picture was taken, but trust me: she's beautiful, too.) Actually, maybe I did manage to get get just a silhouette:


But now, it's back to normality, abd I couldn't be happier. About that. But other things have started to bug me now. I don't think I'm usually a negative, complaining person, but I really don't feel good. I haven't felt great for... oh, about six months now. And there's still three to go!


I feel funky, definitely not like myself. I feel big and fat. (Notice my actual words here, please: "FEEL." I said "feel.") It doesn't feel good, abd I can't wait to have my new, altered, ruined body back, so I can start working on un-ruining it... and then ruining it again (we want two kids, pretty close together). Maybe I'll do a 10K or - better yet - a half marathon before #2 comes along.