grumpster

This may be gross, but it's my blog so don't read it if you don't like it.
(On an entirely different note, I'm such a grouch today...)
Anyway, so I've been losing mucous all day long. Dark and blood tinged...I never had this with Noah. It's a good sign I know, but I'd just like my water to break already and things to be underway. Or to start getting whammo blammo contractions. I know I'll regret wishing for pain when it's actually upon me, but right now ANYTHING seems better than waiting.
Plus Noah has totally been acting up - likely in response to my bad mood I'm sure. But either way, it's not helping anything.
Poor Jamie is just trying not to rock the boat while at the same time wishing this baby here as well!
Sigh.
Tomorrow is another S&S so hopefully if I don't go into labour tonight, that tomorrow something will happen.
Ugh.

confirmation

Okay NOW I lost my mucous plug. That was gross. But that was it. For sure.
Now to get things moving!

35 weeks...and counting!

I know I said this last week...but I can't believe I'm 35 weeks pregnant.
Had a midwife appointment this week (actually went to the office twice, but they didn't have my first appointment written down - their fault, not mine believe it or not!) and Noah sat happily and played with the toys in the office (I think he's getting used to going there by now).
Baby is head down with his back on my left side.
He was moving lots while Carol was listening to the heartbeat and every time he moved, his heart rate accelerated which is exactly what is supposed to happen. It was cool to hear the movements on the sonar thingy...doppler. Right.
I also did the swab for Strep B and am hoping I'm negative again. BUT I found out that even if I am positive, I don't need to go to the hospital - I can just get a prescription from my doctor and then the midwife can administer it to me at home! Hoorah! So while I hope I'm negative, at least I don't have to make that trip to the hospital and back (if I even MADE it back!).
I need to up my iron again (since I stopped taking it twice a day because of ... er ... issues) but it's better even though I am still categorized as anemic.
And my next appointment will be the home visit at our new place! Hooray! We move on Tuesday and I can't wait for it! And not a moment too soon either as we are supposed to be getting hit with a heat wave starting next week - with the humidex making it feel like it's mid 30's!
Whew!

34 week ponderings

I can't believe I'm 34 weeks pregnant. And that I have 6 weeks or less left (well, at least I think it'll be less...who really knows, though?) to go before we meet this little guy.
Sleeping hasn't really gotten harder since I first started having trouble sleeping, so that's kinda nice. I mean, some nights are good nights, some are not so good. It's been that way since...2 or so months ago?
Going from sitting to standing can be excruciating and forget about our trip that we hoped to take Noah to the zoo for the day. There's no way I could handle walking around for a whole day! So that will have to wait until next year - that's fine, though as he'll only enjoy it even more then! :)
I can't wait to move into our place and pull out all the baby clothes and put them in the dresser. I already saw a few of Noah's old things and was all, "Awwwwww". Don't even talk to me about how small size 1 diapers are too! I got a freebie in the mail and Jamie and I just looked at it in astonishment and then stared at Big Noah...:) Noah will look so big compared to this baby at first.
Noah's going to be such a sweet older brother (I hope). Mmm...give him about 18 months and they'll be playing like best buds.

symptoms and ponderings

Whew. I'm tired.
Here are a few symptoms of pregnancy I've totally been feeling lately:
- tired
- cankles (they're back baby! Okay, so not at the REALLY bad stage, but they are starting up again)
- I get REALLY full a lot faster
- I still can burp like a frat boy
- been feeling crampy - not like contractions or Braxton Hicks but exactly like period cramps - like I felt after my water broke with Noah. Crazy!
- Braxton Hicks contractions every now and again - they are more painful than I remember
- I grunt every time I bend over - it's brutal
- the pregnant waddle is in full force - at least I feel like I am waddling BIG TIME
- oh yes, did I mention I'm TIRED?!?!

Other than that and the lack of emotional and physical capacity I feel these days...I'm doing well. Honestly, though, all things considered I am doing well, I don't have much to complain about as I know MANY women who just hate being pregnant (hate the symptoms, that is) and have far worse symptoms (extreme heartburn, major physical difficulties, pre-term labour, etc.) so I'm still definitely counting my blessings.

To be honest, I remember feeling like I would always be pregnant. I feel that way again now. Like I will always feel this big and cumbersome. Like this baby will never actually get here. It's like the calm before the storm. I know introducing this fourth person to our family is going to change things in ways I can't imagine, but in a lot of ways I feel FAR more ready for this baby than I ever did with Noah. I am not scared of how my life is going to change. In terms of socially and "life phase"-wise my life has already changed. I am a Mom. I hang out with other Moms (I hang out with other wonderful people as well of course). I have to think about my child that I am leaving at home if I go out (ie. arrange all details and babysitter). Jamie and I are still trying to figure out how to have a date night - or just go on dates. Period. I am more than a Mom, but I am a Mom. Having this child will not change that.
I think my biggest concern right now is for Noah. How will this affect him? How will I split my time and energy between two little boys and one wonderful man? How will my heart possibly grow to develop love for a second child?
I know all these things will be answered in time...but they are the ones I think about the most - not the baby gear, maternity wear or decorated (or not - ha!) nursery.
I am excited to meet this little fella and get to know him, see what kind of temperament and personality he has. See if my hunch is right (that he will be darker than Noah - dark eyes and hair)...I'm excited for these things and as long as we can get our house/bedrooms set up in our new place, I'm fine if he decides to show up a little bit early. :)
Okay, enough ponderings...this preggo needs some sleep!

pregnant and...mostly loving it.

Well this pregnancy has been far more ... body intensive.
By that I mean to say that I am feeling the effects of carrying another person inside me a LOT more than I felt with Noah. I literally can't stand for long periods of time, walk for long periods of time and definitely can't walk as FAST as I could before. I can't imagine hiking up and down a mountain trail like I did with Noah at this point in my pregnancy. I am feeling him much lower and the pressure this puts on my *looks around and says in a quiet, whispery voice* cervix can be a bit much at times - like tonight when Jamie and I went for a walk with Noah in the stroller. It actually was getting to be somewhat painful to walk.
And I HATE complaining about being pregnant as I generally love it, but this time around I don't find it hard to gripe a teeny tiny bit when asked how "it's" going.

I've also officially pulled something in my groin (?) and done something to my shoulder - both on the left side of my body. I felt the groin muscle go when I was holding a heavy box and used my leg to help me open a door. "Oh, yep. That's not going to feel good later on..."
The shoulder...I have no idea. It could be that I mostly sleep on my side, although with all the flip-flopping I do during my sleep I can't imagine it is soley due to my sleep position.
Oh the aches and pains have started!!!

swelling

Today while in church I was fiddling with my engagement ring and wedding band and realized I couldn't get them off.
Oh jeez. The swelling has started 2 months earlier than it did last time!
Also, when I wear socks I get marks on my shins after when I take them off - fat feet land, here I come!

feelin' it

Wow, even just looking at my belly pics, I was carrying "high" until week 27 and then all of a sudden this baby just DROPPED. Isn't that a bit early?
No wonder I've been feeling extremely pregnant lately. And this pregnancy is totally taking a toll on me - much more than first time around. I did something to my hip yesterday and it's quite sore. Just walking? I have no idea how I hurt it. Likely hoisting Noah around or something...

week 27 and feeling it!

I am feeling this pregnancy to the max!
My belly feels very tight these days and I get out of breath a lot faster than I used to. I'm starting to feel the baby pushing everything up so that it's often uncomfortable if I'm slouching (I totally just corrected my posture and now I feel much better).
I also experienced my first Braxton Hicks on our way home from Chicago. It was while we were eating dinner at a restaurant and all of a sudden I felt sharp pains on my right side. Noah was sitting on my lap facing me pushing his foot into my side and I started saying, "Ow! Ow! Ow!" Jamie took Noah but the pains continued for a few more seconds but then stopped.
During this pregnancy I've often thought more about this baby coming "early" (not premie, but maybe a week or two earlier) whereas with Noah I just knew I would outlast my due date (and was TOTALLY content with that). This time around I'd be thrilled if this baby showed up a week or two early (but not earlier than that as we're moving at the end of June!!!).
So my prediction is that this little guy will show up the week before I am due (maybe not exactly a week, but sometime in that week before), even though my official guess is 3 days past my due date.
We'll see!

a wee update

Well I seem to have grown quite a bit in the last couple days.
I FEEL bigger, that's for sure. I've felt more kicks (or punches or head butts...not exactly sure what they are) to the cervix than I remember feeling with Noah, that's for sure. I just feel this baby so much lower than I did, although I'm definitely feeling tightness in my ribcage, that's for sure.
I will have to go for my gestational diabetes test in the next week or two and I'm hoping for the best, though my eating habits don't reflect that at all. Eep!
Not too much else is new in pregnancy-land.
We did some house hunting today and saw a bunch of houses for rent. We really liked a couple of them and will hopefully move forward with those. Somehow we always move when I'm extremely pregnant. It's my ticket to getting out of lifting heavy things. Haha...
It would be SO NICE to live in a house, have our own backyard and be able to do my own laundry in my own house...but for now I will just dream and imagine little Noah and his brother running around and causing a ruckus in our home-to-be. :)
It's also interesting to picture myself giving birth in any of these houses. I'm not so sure we'd tell the home owners that that is the plan...but that's definitely the plan! :) We're so sneaky.

mmmm....donuts

The other morning I woke up from a dream about Sour Cream Glazed donuts. I'm craving sweets in my dreams!?!?!
It's pretty insane as far as I'm concerned.

BIG (and not as in Tom Hanks, honey)

I couldn't sleep because my belly feels so big and uncomfortable so I got up to compare pictures with my pregnancy with Noah. I think I'm about the same size - maybe a little bigger (but smaller up top if you know what I mean...) but not by much (thank goodness!). But then I couldn't help myself and scanned through the rest of the pictures - I'm only week 37 and my first thoughts upon looking at pictures of myself then are: OH.MY.GOSH. Becky - look at her bump. It is SOOOOOOO big.
Seriously. I am going to get HUGE. I feel like I didn't even realize how gigantor I really was back then...but holy moley. Or as my brother once commented, "Whoa ho ginormo." I give him heck for saying this to a poor pregnant lady such as myself, but he was right on the money.
Yikes!
Big!

my bladder is being squished

I am officially at the "peeing every 10 minutes" stage of this pregnancy. Some days are worse than others, but I had forgotten about this. It's brutal. The other day I peed twice in the span of probably less than 10 minutes before leaving the house and then when we got to our destination (a mere 5 minutes away) I had to pee again. Ridiculous.

16 weeks and 6 days!

Today was my midwife appointment with Carol. It was good to see her again. :)
All my blood work and tests from last appt are all normal and fine.
I get to do a pee test sometime at my leisure over the next week or so.
My weight is back up to my pre-pregnancy weight (I had dropped about 8 or so lbs).
I met the intern who will be helping out until...May? June? Her name is Erin and the baby kept skidaddlin' away from her when she was trying to hear his/her hearbeat. 140 was the heartbeat.
AND....
I get to book my ultrasound for the first week of March which is when we'll hopefully get to find out the baby's gender!!! I am beyond excited to find out this time around! I just found it so amazing to be able to bond with Noah last time, knowing he was a boy and knowing what we'd name him...it was really cool. So I look forward to finding out if this little baby is a boy or a girl.
Pretty pumped!
I'd like to think we can keep it to ourselves for a bit after we find out, but that's not likely to happen.
Okay, off to bed for me now. Last night I slept horribly. I don't know what it was, but it was BRUTAL.
Must get more sleep!

Week 13

Not too much new here.
I seem to get hungry every 2 hours but then I end up eating the wrong thing (ie. sugar). Eek. Not good!
I'm feeling more energetic (yahoo!) and I'm finding myself nesting already! Perhaps it's the months of feeling like doing absolutely nothing and perhaps it's the pregnancy hormones kicking it in, but either way I've sorted and put away all of the clothes in Noah's closet that were too small and put them away in boxes.
Today I sorted through all the clothes in my closet and drawers and ended up with a Rubbermaid bin full of clothes that either don't fit or I don't particularly like (most of them fell into the first category, unfortunately) as well as a black garbage bag full!
And.......yeah.
I'm getting excited to find out whether this baby is a boy or a girl and I've already bought a crib (used for $40! It's really nice too!) and I'm looking around to borrow a bassinet or something. I'm doing room layouts in my head for Noah's room and the spare room and trying to figure out how to best use our space.
So...it's good. It was fun to pull out all my maternity clothes today. I like my maternity clothes.
But I'm still in my normal clothes for now.
So that's that!

a peek into the mind of a pregnant woman

And so the nesting begins! I've got mental lists of things I want to do.
Today I sorted through Noah's clothing - got rid of all the things in his drawers and closet that are too small and put them in boxes (geez, this kid has a LOT of clothes!). I might even venture into MY closet next!
Here is my mental list of things I'd like to clean up and out:
1. My closet. Give away/get rid of all the clothes that are too small and I will likely never fit into again (sniff, sniff) or that I just don't like and won't wear regardless.
2. The linen closet. Basically it just needs to be reorganized as I've been haphazardly shoving things back in there after they've been cleaned.
3. The bathroom cupboards. Get rid of/give away soaps/things I won't use and get rid of old shampoos and soaps. Tidy!
4. Completely reorganize my kitchen (this one's for you, Mom). It's so disorganized and disheveled and it's only going to get worse with not only 2 adults and a toddler but a baby too!

So that's the short list.
Ha.
No, that's the only list, so far.
Among other things on my mind are room reorganizing for when the baby comes - ie. where will the baby sleep? Should we shift stuff around in the office making room for a mini nursery?

And so this would explain the phenomenon of pregnancy brain. Your brain gets taken over with planning and organizing that there is no room left for normal every day things like what things are called, where things go or where I last left my glass of water.

pop goes the belly

Today seems to be the day that I can safely say that my belly has 'popped'. It's of great relief to me and I had a sort of deja vu as I remembered what it's like to have a pregnant belly again. It took awhile (longer than perhaps I expected?) but I definitely have a paunch.
I'm undecided as to whether I'll take pictures or not. I might just do a monthly belly update.

confirmation?

As if I needed confirmation of this pregnancy...I've been TOTALLY dragging my feet all day and feel VERY tired. True, I did go to bed later than I usually do, but I napped and still feel exhausted.
I'm taking this as a good sign?

scratch my itch, please

Well I am just ITCHING to tell people. Now that we've told some of our extended family I just want to spill the beans.
Maybe I'll send an email on Christmas day or something. That could be fun. Hmmm...we'll see.
Well, the nausea/off feeling I've been having has pretty much subsided which is GREAT although I almost had another tongue-brushing episode a couple days ago. Ick. I keep forgetting not to be so vigourous with the brushing! Oh well.
And while Jamie said a few days ago that he thought I was beginning to show, I finally agreed with him this morning as I looked at myself and KNEW I hadn't just eaten an entire turkey feast so it HAD to be the baby. Exciting! It's starting a LOT earlier than with Noah. I was looking at pictures of me at 13 weeks and I was way skinnier than I was 10 weeks ago but I guess that's to be expected before you've ever had any children.
Here we go!!!

first midwife appointment

Today was my first appointment with the midwife. She remembered me and Noah (Jamie wasn't there) from Noah's birth (she was a back up midwife but attended the birth) and was really nice.
It was a standard first appointment and I'll have a complete physical at my next appointment in a month from now.
Nothing else is new that I can think of...she took a bunch of blood to do some testing and discussed a bunch of things, I signed some papers and that's about it.
I did throw up this morning but it had mostly to do with the fact that I gagged myself when I brushed my teeth. Less than a minute later it all came up. Note to self: Don't brush your tongue as vigorously during pregnancy.
I'm generally NOT hungry until all of a sudden I'm starving and then I eat something. I think that's how I'll operate until I feel better. It just doesn't feel good at all to put food in my mouth/stomach when I'm not ready.