Thursday, April 26, 2012

36 BIG weeks pregnant

Oh boy....oh, big big  beautiful baby boy. What a week we've had! Week 36 has brought us into our 9th month, and officially 4 weeks until go time. With that, we had our first weekly appointment!. I have felt that I have been growing out of control these past few weeks (well, since week 34) so I was really amped to see the Doctor I prefer and get some feedback on how he thought I was doing. 

As soon as he walked in he said he could tell I was bigger. Just how much bigger?


If you guessed that I was measuring 2 weeks ahead again, then you win a magical prize, dear reader. 36 weeks and measuring in at a solid 38!!!! I'm taking this as us being "full term" a week early. 

Yessir, Mr. Ginormo man is still packing on the pounds and growing like a champ. I am VERY thankful for his health, but am of course fearful given his large size. 

The Doctor said I looked "stunning" otherwise and that he was really anxious to get the results of the growth ultrasound. I shared with him my broken tailbone woes and the fact he is sunny side up and he made the ick face ... it looks a little something like this:


He said he doesn't know how women do it...that he has heard their tailbones pop during labor.....COOL STORY BRO. He was very jovial in telling me that I could expect it to happen again (GREAT) and that I would be clutching a donut pillow again for another 12 weeks or so. 

Fun backstory: I broke my tailbone slipping on ice in the great state of New York (Western NY that is, land of snow and snow and more snow, and also chicken wings). I was walking to school in 8th grade and turned sharply on black ice and my feet literally went over my head and I landed directly on my tailbone, brought down by the weight of ALL of my textbooks in my backpack. (Why did we carry all of our heavy textbooks home?!) It hurt so bad that at first I was stunned and couldn't get up...the school buses conveniently were driving by and I later learned people thought I got hit by a car. I hobbled to school and tried to "walk it off" but soon realized in 1st period Spanish class that I could not.sit.down. At all. It was excruciatingly painful and I had to call my mom to come get me...I lay horizontally in the backseat of the car while she drove me to the doctor, who incidentally was a (male) family friend. I had to bare my teen-aged ass while he pressed on it and I jumped away from his touch like a stuck pig. Indeed it was broken.  I ended up carrying around a donut, affectionately called "buddy" short for "butt buddy" for a solid 4 months before I felt well enough to sit on a hard surface like a normal human being. It did numbers for my popularity and I'm pretty sure that's why I went on to become homecoming queen. 

Me and my Lou at homecoming! (not pictured but implied : broken ass)

Long story short, the recovery was ugly, and long, and it made day to day things like sitting comfortably, having a bowel movement or using a tampon super painful. 

So let's fast forward 10+ years and a pregnancy with a large baby who is sunny side up. Everyone I know who has had a child in this position had long, painful labors (some of which lead to c-sections). That coupled with this broken tailbone noise and I am shook!

The day after the Dr's appointment was our growth ultrasound. Having done some research from friends who had big babies with epidurals I knew that it could be done...but I really needed some numbers, stats, and empirical data to rationalize this all in my head. 

Excited for some news!

We went to get our scan at exactly 36 weeks per the Doctor's orders...and whaddyaknow....there's a biggun in there! We had a great tech who was very thorough (thank God) who answered every question we threw her way. She verified his largeness, and noted that I do NOT have extra amniotic fluid (which I was sorta hoping for, giving the size issues of late). She measured his femur bones, head (length and width) and his belly.

At 36 weeks gestational age our "little" guy is right around 38 weeks size-wise and a comfy 7 pounds. 

(insert freakout here)

At 36 weeks babies should on average be around 5.8 pounds. She was kind enough to remind me they gain up to a pound a week which would put him in the 9-11 pound range at 40 weeks. 

Bless this child's heart...and his large head...he is giving Mama an anxiety attack!


He's mighty pudgey in there! Get a load of those cheekers. All the better to smooch you with, my dear. 

So now that we know he is big, I was hoping I would feel better ... because we have some decisions to make. I am going to have to get really real here. Shit is about to happen and he could come at any time. (The Ultrasound tech said while my due date is May 24th, she would guess him to come around May 15th) While hypnobabies has been really great in terms of reducing anxiety for me, I no longer think I can self administer some anesthesia by way of my big brainparts. (Large heads run in this family apparently). 

The only things I do know I want are to fall into labor naturally as good, sweet Mother Nature intended. From there, I want to labor at home for as long as possible. When we do make it to the hospital I want to have all of our options outlined....an epidural is looking more and more likely. 

This is all in my head for right now...I am antsy to talk to my doctor on Monday when I will be 36 weeks 4 days. He definitely said at the last appointment that a c-section was a viable option that I could "elect" at any time, although they would want me to go into labor naturally. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO THERE'S THAT. 

I know, I know...you'd think it was twins

My darling BFF and favorite baby mama, Erin,  passed along some links in relation to people in similar circumstances. This one was especially helpful. 

I know the pain of a broken tailbone. It is not something I'd wish upon my least favorite clients. Yes, even the ones who berate me on the phone and overuse the capslocks key. I cannot imagine not being able to sit again for 4 months + (on top of potentially tearing/epipisiotomy?) and trying to breastfeed a baby. I don't want to not be able to sit in the glider and nurse him comfortably. I don't want to "try" for a vaginal labor and blow through my tailbone, get cut, have him potentially get stuck and have to go for a c-section on TOP of that either. Can you imagine a labor worse than tearing, having an incision and not being able to sit down after it's all said and done? I will be home by myself for a good bit...Grandma Niter has graciously offered her assistance...and I know no matter what the outcome I will need support. I don't want to fault myself for "failing" at delivering as naturally as possible. I also don't want to be in constant pain the first few months of his life either. I wouldn't be doing my best duties as a mother if I am in chronic pain and can't concentrate on his needs. And until you've broken your tailbone and can only get by sitting on a donut, you can't imagine the pain. 

Part of me feels that as much as I've worked out, tried to stay emotionally healthy, meditated, hypnobirthed, Ina-Mae'd and just tried to be as positive as possible that I am DESTINED on a one way ticket to c-sectiontown. 

drop, droppin like he's hot. 
The Doctor also said that at 36 weeks I am ALREADY 1 centimeter dialated and 50% effaced. Things are happening. Women can walk around dialated for weeks with no change, so I am not taking this as him coming tomorrow, but it's nice to know that after these long months of cervical drama that she is doing her job so far! Good job, champ. 

Alot is happening fast. I am now on my 2nd to last week of work. I have been tasked to transition a ton of clients to my team, and am still on events and trainings....needless to say it has been stressful and I feel like a huge burden to my colleagues. I have had one or several crying jags just trying to wrap my brain around the enormity of what all needs done before I leave on May 4th. My lists are seemingly endless and I have stayed late a few nights (much to the chagrin of my mom and husband who don't like the idea of their 9 months pregnant daughter/wife working until 8PM) but I really have no way of getting EVERYTHING done that I need to. 

hi-lighting things in pink makes them easier to accomplish. maybe. 

My house is in tip top shape, bags are packed and everything is set up for baby to come, but I cannot get caught up on transitioning/creating client documentation (an hour for each client x 10-20 clients) and still handle the day to day affairs of client support, billing, events and training. I've begged Jesus to take the wheel approximately 38 times a day, and have pondered whether or not a glass or bottle of wine would hurt ginormo baby at this time. (KIDDING). I am only human, and I may be a hormonal beast at that, but it will somehow all get done. 

I also quit the fancy gym this week, so I won't be inundating Instragram with awkward mirror pictures anymore. 

follow me @Leahlovelace...if you're into that type of shit. 
I will really really really miss the rich folks gym and all the amenities it provided...but for a SAHM living on one income, it is just not feasible. So long, tan 40 year old soccer moms and weird Asian ladies who dry their pubic muffs with the public hair dryers! 

I did enjoy some long walks (around the cul de sac) and did some Jillian and pilates this week...and if it weren't for having to stay late so much I think I could've worked out every day! Hope to keep this type of activity up for the long haul. 

How far along? Officially 36 weeks at the time of this post 
Total weight gain: Right around 32 big bad, ell bees
Maternity clothes? The shirt I wore today my stomach was falling out of on the bottom and you guessed it, it was maternity. Da hell?
Stretch marks? Sadly yes. I have shown them to a few people and the consensus is from those who have seen them in person that they look like veins?! Those who I have sent pictures of (yes I have stretch mark support from all the way to Buffalo and Las Vegas) seem to think they're legit. They're still pale purple, and low and JESUS CHRIST I AM MEASURING HUGE SO CUT ME SOME SLACK HERE
Sleep: I have been passing out on the couch anywhere from 9PM to Midnight, and waking up usually around 2AM to get the cramps out of my legs, hydrate, pee and try to sleep again...this is a cycle until 3 or 5AM when I make it up to the bed. I have to have such a fortress of pillows right now that it isn't feasible for me to try to squench into our not-even-queen-size bed with Glenn in it. I toss and turn and am up and down all night and it's disruptive to Glenn. At least one of us should get some adequate sleep, no?
Best moment this week: Glad to finally have these weekly appointments and know where we are at...size, dilation and effacement wise! There is safety in knowledge...once I figure out how to apply it. Also, my brother and sister and law announced they are having a baby girl, so I will have a NIECE in a few months!! 2012 is crazy for babies and my gender prediction talent is still SPOT ON! EXCITED!!

Miss Anything? my stretch mark free belly? Vanity aside, I am pre-mourning the loss of my social life....won't be able to spring for lunch with the ladies and gay lads at the drop of a hat anymore. But it's going to be worth it, this baby boy will be keeping me plenty busy and hopefully people don't forget Glenn and I exist and come visit us! 
Movement: Goodness lord, yes. The day of my Dr's appointment he was turbo active...I wondered if maybe the exam caused contractions that pissed him off in there? I am feeling weird tingles and pressure and just alot of general "girth" in there. 
Food cravings: PINEAPPLE. And carrots and chocolate but that's nothing new.
Anything making you queasy or sick: I can't go too long without eating/drinking something. I thought I was going to kirk out/pass out at Panera today when the line took approximately 18 minutes to get through. Must. stay. hydrated.
Gender: Ginormo boy

Labor Signs: None officially....I don't have a "feeling" I will get them any time soon...and I am perfectly okay with that! 
Symptoms: My belly button area is itchy and that can be annoying...still leg cramps at night..and the pain in ye old pelvic bones is somewhat back, but much much more tolerable than in months past.
Belly Button in or out? Awkward and flat
Wedding rings on or off? Still on, son!

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy most of the time! Glad to have got some knowledge dropped on our proverbial asses this week...I think the last week of work will help my mental stability tremendously! 
Looking forward to: Wrapping things up at the World of Webinars next week, and seeing my Daddy this weekend! Grandpa Roy is coming to town! 

Hopefully we will still be pregnant for a few more weeks so  YALL COME BACK NOW HEAR!?




Wednesday, April 18, 2012

34 to almost 35 weeks preggo!

Trying to eke in this late entry while I'm still in my 34th week! (35 weeks tomorrow!) We've been growing big and strong and have been very busy - the days have flown by and every night I had something going on and neglected this precious update. Alot of big milestones hit: baby is the size of a (large) cantaloupe, I hit 30 lbs of weight gain, had another doctor's visit, decided when I want to leave work, and the culmination of our social calendar....Baby Boy Lovelace's Baltimore Bonanza! 


I'm thinking homeboy is more like a solid 6 at this point
After a nice respite from the wonky sick feeling, I got hit like a ton of bricks midweek. I felt nauseous and dizzy again...and something that felt suspiciously like period cramps. Nothing too painful, but..."different". It was one of the busier weeks I have had in awhile work-wise and I had been doing alot of prep for getting myself/the house ready for guests to come into town for the shower. I think I over extended myself and with this ginormo baby's big growth and being so busy at work I couldn't eat my bevy of healthy snacks, everything just took the wind out of my sails. 


Sunburned and pink, an excellent combo
We did work out a few times this week (including a nice 3 mile walk in beautiful West Virginia!) and I think that helped alot with our (my) mental stability and general feeling-goodness. I feel so much better as long as I do some sort of exercise. With it being Easter we spent some time with family doing a ton of projects at Niter's house, as well as finishing the cornice for the nursery! The only thing left to do is have her come hem and put up the curtains! HOORAY!


Baby Boy will be riding trikes down Grandma's hill in no time!
Glenn made the wood part of the cornice, Mom did the fabric (made out of an Ikea crib sheet)
I had my 34th week appointment with the only doctor I hadn't yet met at the practice I've been going to. He is a teeny tiny Indian man who weighs about 92 lbs. soaking wet. He came in and said, "ooh, multiples?" in reference to this bump and I for a moment was afraid he had the wrong patient. He did say I seemed to have alot of fluid and that the measurements are big. Just how big you ask? Well, seems that earlier ultrasound may be on point, because Baby Boy is growing large and strong ahead of his gestational age. 


For the longest time (well, since I've been pregnant) each week my fundal height matched perfectly for where I was gestationally. 17 weeks was 17 cms. 24 weeks was 24, etc. For the first time I am measuring large, which seemed pretty telling to me. At 34 weeks he is measuring 36 weeks, which is why I think he may be a good 6 lbs in there already. The Doctor didn't seem too concerned about my feeling ill and crampy, because "you're already so big already and measuring ahead"...so I guess that must explain it? He wouldn't make any guesses at the baby's weight, saying that he delivered a 10 lber that morning but didn't realize how big the baby was until it was on the scale. Well then. 




Although I have been doing my hypnobabies quite religiously and steady reading my Ina Mae, I am getting nervous. The bigger I get, the feeling of sickness, the measurements being high....I'm worried that my hard work will be for naught and I will end up with a dreaded C Section from a 10 lb baby. Trying to stay positive and calm for the duration because he's the one in charge...he is the one in there growing and mashing my bladder and rocking and rolling about. He will decide when and how he wants to come and I am just the carrier for this whole process. 
Baby might have got a spray tan
I really do feel like the bump is getting alot bigger...and pointier if at all possible. I'm really curious as to what I am measuring at now, but unfortunately won't know until week 36, which seems like forever from now. 


Good golly....
Usually for ultrasounds they give you a specific week on the prescription - but this Dr. did not. I want to sneak ahead and see if I can go at 35 weeks...I will call the practice tomorrow and play dumb like they didn't "tell" me 36 weeks, cross your fingers for us! My emotional state sort of depends on the measurements right now, because if he really is as big as they say...mama is going to need more than some self-guided hypnosis. 


I don't feel like he has "dropped" into my pelvis like people talk about, but I'll be damned if he isn't pointing "down"


How far along? 
In these pictures, I think 34 weeks 3 days...today is 34 weeks 4 days. SO BASICALLY I'M LATE AND ALMOST 35 G.D. WEEKS PREGNANT. WHAT. 
Total weight gain: up to my total of 30 lbs. It's been steady at 180.6-180.8. Large and in charge, indeed. 
Maternity clothes? I wore a size small maxi dress to my shower....so no, not all maternity clothes this late in the game. 
snacking on some carrots and gatorade to help with nausea pre-shower

Some other shower favorites:
Glenn and I before the big party!

Some sweet ladies who have awesome matching abilities
baby has alot of sassy uncles!




We had visitors in all the way from NY, friends from college and beyond, and perhaps my favorite coworker ever!


Dean and Meredith and their baby to be (I'm guessing niece!) came through as well!
Tom and Dan have a beautiful house, and some beautiful friends!
We had some special "Blue Punch" made of rum, lychee liquor and soda water that gave people some raging hangovers!
We are so blessed to have so many great friends from NY who are part of our lives and excited for us....really thankful to have them travel our way to celebrate!
Baby wore blue and looked all sorts of big!
The gorgeous Shineza who gifted baby an expensive ass Northface!
Seriously so spoiled!
The gorgeous decor via Tom & Dan's fireplace, Tanner's planning skills, and Niter's pennants!
My amazing hostess, Tanner! She went all out for Baby Love and we are thrilled with how everything turned out!
Ridic attractive baby favva
Jackie is an awesome friend from Clarion & beyond!
Darling Michael who traveled in from Philly!
Uncle Bee Why helped Bodie get his balloon!
And this crew shut the night DOWN! :)
Stretch marks? Verdict is out. I have no stretch marks (that I can see) on my body to compare them to...but I see some faint lines that are sort of a light purple (?) below my belly button. I had Glenn look at them tonight and he tried to pull at my skin to see if they changed (apparently this is his test for stretch marks as he has some on his chest/arms from lifting weights) and said they didn't look like legitimate stretch marks to him. They still feel smooth like my normal skin. Regardless they are very light and not big and red and scary like I thought they are supposed to be, so if they are indeed stretch marks, mehh so be it. I did also get a spray tan and I think my big veiny belly could be making things look different. 

Sleep: Hypnobabies knocks me out some nights! I have still be having leg pain up the wazoo, regardless of whether or not I work out (so there, nurse practitioner!). I did have my first official calf cramp, where I shot up right out of bed woke up screaming. Glenn thought I was in labor and was relieved he only had to massage the rock hard muscle pain away :) .

Best moment this week: Getting to spend time with so many great friends, and family! We had multiple people come in from out of town and it was really special to us to be able to have one big room full of lovely people celebration the upcoming birth of this baby boy!



Awesome Twilight Turtle and Humidifier we got as gifts!

Just a little glimpse at Baby's Loot!
Almost all unpacked!
Miss Anything? Feeling calm? Wait, that happens never. My team and I met earlier this week to discuss what will happen while I'm out. Originally they were supposed to hire someone new because the team is so busy they essentially NEED a brand new person. That unfortunately fell by the wayside due to a low talent pool and lack of good talent/time to recruit. SO...the current team will be inheriting my clients. This is exactly what I didn't want to happen. I don't want the birth of my child to be a burden to others in the form of extra work. We are working on transitioning my clients shortly...I just don't have enough hours in the day. I am trying to update client files, book client conference transition calls, all while arranging things for the month of May and still conducing trainings and events. Somehow it will need to be finished. My last official day is May 4th! I have 12 working days to get this accomplished. I know it's best for me and baby stress wise to be home once I hit full term the 1st week of May, but I'll be darned if it isn't going to be a bear getting ready. Wish me luck!

Movement:
He is still super active, I feel him alot when I am hypnobabying it up...maybe because I am more in tuned with my body when that happens? Alot of people wanted to feel him kick at the shower this weekend but he gets shy in big, loud social situations I think.


Food cravings:
 sweets (surprise!) Mama and baby have had something chocolate everyday. Other than that, pineapple and fresh fruit of the citrus variety taste amazing to me...still going ham on the salads as well.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Baby has chilled out with the nausea, but I have a feeling with as busy as I'm going to be, that it may come back. I also managed to bonk myself in the head with a metal pole this week which was quite painful. I have a super sweet bruise above my eye now. 




day 1

Day 3

Gender: Girl. Made ya look.


Labor Signs: Nahh. Hoping to keep it this way. Everything is READY for him to come, minus some replacement parts for a breast pump...but I don't WANT him to come until May 20th or later. GEMINI BABY ALL THE WAY.

Symptoms: Just feeling like a crazy person running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Seriously not enough hours in the day.

Belly Button in or out? She's still a halfer



Wedding rings on or off? On...for now. Doctors are still impressed with my lack of swelling.


Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy now that I have a gameplan for my end of work schedule....and the showers are all done and most of everything is unpacked! And of course crazy excited, with a mix of holy crap, 5ish weeks more to go!!

Looking forward to: Winding down at work, and hopefully being able to fully just concentrate on my health, and baby! Final ultrasound booked 04/26 at 2:30PM....I think this will be the big determiner of how the rest of things will go! EEEEEEEK!


Hopefully things calm down and I can be better about updating for week 35 -- thanks as always, for reading and for your feedback!





Wednesday, April 4, 2012

33 weeks: adventures in anterior (placenta) -- big babies, hypnobirthing and Ina May

So if you know me personally or have followed a bit of this blog you can probably surmise the following:
  1. I'm excited about this baby, bigtime
  2. I love 3D ultrasounds
  3. I'm neurotic to a fault
That being said, of COURSE we got another 3D ultrasound done at exactly 32 weeks. Every time we've gone to the technician we have had someone new, this time it was the actual owner. She was very conversational and seemed to love what she was doing. She asked me how much I thought the baby weighed at 32 weeks...I gave the babycenter approved range of  around 3.75 lbs as my best guess.
babycenter view at 32 weeks..aka what I looked like at 17 weeks
She said, guess again...so I guessed 4? She kept pointing up towards the ceiling. 4 and a quarter? Nope. 4 and a half? 


just how big are you in there?!
TRY *****FIVE***** (worthy of 5 asterisks) POUNDS


I of course was happy he was growing like a champ, but having known 36 weeks babies who were born at that size I was a tad alarmed. I know the ovulation date and date we conceived so his due date/my gestational timeline should be right on track. She then used a tool to measure his head and it read at 35 weeks 1 days, and she said he was in the 89% percentile. (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)


That's my big headed baby! But oh, was he beautiful! Look at that sweet face and dare I say luscious lips? Unsure where he got those beauties from but I cannot wait to smooch them!


If babies grow a half pound each week in their important final trimester, that would put this kiddo at a comfy 8.5 to 9 lbs based on the tech's opinion. WHAT. That sound you hear is my pelvis creaking. 


She also was able to verify he was head down but face up (sunnyside/posterior) which is a recipe for some awful back labor per Dr. Google. 


But again, those lips! I die....
I've read that babies tend to snuggle up to their placentas, but homeboy is in there straight SMOOCHING that thing. I have a feeling he is quite comfy. All of this wouldn't bother me so much had I not been recently revolutionized by the idea of natural birth. If I just planned on having an epidural and being pumped full of pain medicines I could probably take it in stride. The problem is I have been struck by the holistic, "pain is mental, contractions are natural" guidance of "The Business of Being Born" (Damn you, Ricki) and started reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth


Both really delve into the notion that our bodies are made for this (duh) and that society has ingrained us to believe that labor has to mean intense pain. Alot of it you can approach positively, (each contraction gets you that much closer to your baby) ... it's called labor for a reason because it is WORK, but it doesn't have to be laden with fear. 


Reading natural birthing stories has been very motivating for me, and because I have conditioned my body so much during this pregnancy I think physically I could handle the actual physical "labor process". My fear lies in the fact that I tend to be high-anxiety (I can get panic attacks having a dental exam), I've broken my tailbone in the past,  he is sunnyside up/back labor/potential to get stuck pushing for hours, AAAAAAAAND the idea that he may be a big boy strikes the notion from my head I could possibly do this medication free. 


I really don't want any pitocin because of it's relation to stalling natural labor, causing more interventions, causing potential likelihood of a c-section, either. 



Oh, but that face. He will be so worth whatever happens. I plan to discuss with my doctors what their thought process is in terms of his size/likelihood to flip....and then we will take it from there. I have also downloaded Hypnobabies, which is either going to totally calm me down, or will frustrate me because of my lack of patience. The thing is I am so neurotic and prepared that literally EVERYTHING is set up for this child to come....perhaps studying hypnosis anesthesia and guided meditation will give me a healthy reprieve from packing and re-packing our bags and re-folding cloth diapers. 


In any event, I've been trying to stay really positive and learn more about the process and what I can do to best reach my goals. I know right now that part of me would be disappointed if I can't make my "idealized" view of birth happen...but nothing goes to plan with labor. I can't beat myself up for trying, even if I do end up with an epidural. One day at a time, ginormo baby!


So in other news, we've been growing steady! At my last visit I told the Dr. I had been noticing some leg cramping at night, and she suggested "slowing down", which unfortunately isn't really in my life plan right now. I have doubled up on my potassium intake and upped my calcium as well, but I do have to admit that she could be somewhat right. On days I really work myself hard (aka the elliptical machine) I have noticed increased pain at night. Earlier this week I rode that thing for 45 minutes...and end up waking in 3 hour tangents to release the pressure in my calves, butt, and hips...and to of course pee. 


No amount of post-workout stretching seems to make a difference. The only thing that cures the pain is standing up. A friend who is also preggers attributes this to all the weight we are just chilling in the middle causing the rest of our muscles to not have as much blood flow/more pressure. All I know is that it took me until 4PM the next DAY to feel reduced pain. Up next: more walking, less elliptical. WOMP WOMP. 



How far along? 33 big bouncing baby boy weeks!

Total weight gain: Up 28 lbs still...unsure if that's related to the fact that out of nowhere like the bitch that she is, nausea showed up earlier this week. I had 6 straight days where I would get hit with the overwhelming urge to throw up all over my desk at work, or need to go lay my head down. After having zero nausea at any point during this pregnancy I was really surprised it happened at all. The only thing I can attribute it to is him growing so much and getting so big that he is taking the oomph right out of me. I still managed to workout a few times and I think that ended up being my salvation. Knock on wood I've had 2 days with no vomitis so hopefully it was a fluke thing. I also keep gatorade and honey nut cheerios by the bed in case little dude is just needing a snack. 



Maternity clothes? I wore a maternity dress (hand me down) this week and got a lot of compliments on it! So yeah, I can embrace them here and there. 


Stretch marks?  Still holding strong!


Sleep: Kinda not the best, but getting it in where I can. I just told Glenn as I was typing this that being on my side already is hurting and he reminded me that in a few weeks/month we will have a good reason to be up off our feet to have him to tend to ... I'll be missing sleep pacing the floors with a baby, not to rid myself of leg pain. Love that man!


Best moment this week: Hanging out with Alexis in Frederick, scoring some more cloth diapers, and starting and getting 80% of my cloth diaper stash washed and put away (would be 100% but 8 more diapers came in the mail today). 



Miss Anything? That 2nd trimester powerful feeling of working out and the idea that I could "OWN" this labor process and  get him out like a champ. I just need to realign my goals and keep staying positive!

Movement: I can now feel his little hands burrowed deep into my pelvis, above the bone. It's the weirdest sensation of him tapping around in there, and sometimes he puts pressure on my pelvis. Still feeling his feet up high!
these big feet like his Daddy!
Food cravings: Since nausea reared her ugly head, I've been downing cheerios and bananas. Nothing too exciting unfortunately. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Sometimes the smell of meat. The other day at work the water coming from the faucet smelled weird to me....so maybe my pregnancy nose is back, or never left and is heightened?


Gender: 3d confirmed he's got quite the sack on him



Labor Signs: Nope, unless the nausea and leg pain are compounding issues...still feeling pretty dandy other than that!


Symptoms: Forgot to add pelvic girdle pain....that is unfortunately a nightly affair as well



Belly Button in or out? awkward halfski


Wedding rings on or off? On! Still no major swelling (knock on wood)




Happy or Moody most of the time: I had an awkward crying jag at Trader Joe's this week with a coworker, being anxious about things out of my control yet again, ie; my work replacement, projects ongoing, people not RSVPing for shower number 2, etc....it does feel good to be emotional at times and just RELEASE. Guaranteed the next day I usually feel happy as a lark. Hooray, hormones. 


Looking forward to: Seeing family this weekend for Easter, and next week being Baby Lovelace's Big Baltimore Shower! After that we have a few classes to take and are basically in the clear and counting down days until we meet this sweet baby boy!





Lilypie Pregnancy tickers