Third Trimester Favs

i wanted to start posting my monthly baby favorites, but realized i never finished my pregnancy favs. it seems a little silly to post something that feels like forever ago, but here goes!

the Preggle pregnancy pillow: yes, this is making its second and final appearance during the third trimester. i am fully convinced this is the sole reason i slept extremely well up until delivery. though quite large, it's just what a large pregnant lady needs to give her hips some relief during those last heavy weeks!

Preggatinis book: the last trimester is hard for a lot of reasons, and abstaining from alcohol when you are SO CLOSE to being able to have it is hard. my husband was so kind to offer to make me one of these whenever i wanted. i have to say the Momosa (OJ + non alcoholic sparking wine) was my favorite.

Bandini bras: they looks like a sports bra, but they aren't! i wore these almost exclusively the last trimester because my favorite Victoria's Secret Incredible bras were started to dig into my rib cage and belly. they have no wire, but only offer decent support. but i didn't really care at that point. and lets be honest, no one is looking at your chest during the 3rd trimester.

Leggings: more elastic clothes? yes please! those maternity shirts sure know how to work with leggings at all times. don't get me wrong, i had some regular maternity pants that looked like regular people clothes, but if i could get away with leggings, you can bet i would. there are a few brief points in life where someone can wear them and not be judged and pregnancy is one of them.

Carefree Panty Liners: ok girls, let's be honest. pregnancy does all types of things to your body. and just because you don't get your period doesn't mean that everything is hunky dory down yonder. i know you catch my drift, and i'm just glad i kept a stash of these in my purse at all times to keep myself feeling fresh!

The Happiest Baby on the Block: the third trimester wouldn't be complete without a little reading preparation. this was my favorite book and is SO useful. the husband and i have used all 5 of the "S's" with LW and they WORK. enough said.

Medela Double Action Stretch Mark Cream: told you this would be featured in the 3rd trimester if i didn't get any stretch marks on my belly and I DIDN'T! i can't say the same for my boosies, but i also never put any cream on there because i didn't feel them getting any bigger. let this be a lesson to all of you- don't neglect the ladies. the good thing is most of the bad ones are on the underside, and the way my boobs now look, they hang low enough that i can't even see the underside anyways! ahh, pregnancy.

and that's all folks! my last post on pregnancy. thank you all for reading along with me. it's baby talk from here on out!

Bumpdate- 40 Weeks

How far along: 40 weeks 4 days. yes, you read that right- over due by 4 days!

Baby is the size of: a pumpkin. i guess there is something after watermelon after all!

Extra poundage: 27 pounds. eek! 2 pounds in 1 week. Little Wood needs to come OUT.

Bump status: yesterday i started to feel like i grew overnight. does she look like she's dropped yet?
**Dilated: i actually don't know. i saw my delivering doctor last and she doesn't have the habit of telling me- probably to not be discouraging! 
**Effaced: 60%! yes, that's different from last week. is this due to different people measuring me? who knows. but i had my first "membrane sweep" when i was 2 days over due and it was a tad uncomfortable, but not horrible. right away i experienced bleeding and what i think could have been pieces of my mucous plug (sorry, TMI) passing.  i pretty much bled the rest of the day and am not sure if it was my bloody show or just because of the sweep.
**Contractions:  yes, i think so at this point. i had 2 that woke me up a few nights ago, but then nothing. then, since my sweep, i've had increasing menstrual-like cramps since.  last night i had a number of recurring sharp pains in my lower pelvis that were less than pleasant. hoping this is the beginning of the end!

Favorite food of the week: nothing really.

Heartburn worthy foods: not heartburn per se, but i have noticed that i'm feeling a little more queasy after i eat these days.

Favorite piece of clothing this week: i've been avoiding maternity clothes because i'm just sick of them! so i've worn leggings most of the week.

Movement: tons. i don't think LW likes contractions either, because she moves around a LOT when they  happen.

Sleep: still decent.
Pee trips in the night: 3-4.

Guilty pleasure: Breyer's Oreo ice cream.

Baby purchases this week:  no baby purchases, just nipple cream.

Looking forward to: meeting this baby!

Bumpdate- 39 Weeks

How far along: 39 weeks 4 days

Baby is the size of: a watermelon. the more time i'm a watermelon, the more cruel i think it is to end pregnancy with this huge fruit, and for so many weeks!

Extra poundage: 25 pounds

Bump status: i feel pretty much the same as last week. the doctor still says baby is a good size and that makes me happy
**Dilated: still 1cm.
**Effaced: I'm gonna go with 75% still because for the past 2 weeks no one has said otherwise at my appointments.
**Contractions:  while i don't think i've had any, i very well could be without knowing that's what they are. i often feel a lot of pelvic pain with tightening, but always just attribute it to LW moving around in there, because there doesn't seem to be a decipherable beginning and end to the pain. i'm hoping they are SOMETHING!

Favorite food of the week: cereal! this is going down in the baby book as a craving, for sure.

Heartburn worthy foods: yes, a few more times unfortunately. both with Mexican food. i'm crossing my fingers that the burger i plan on having when i go out to lunch goes over well.

Favorite piece of clothing this week: it's been REALLY warm in Southern Ca this week. i've been quite enjoying my Old Navy roll over skirts, and am happy to report that my entire outfit pictured above is non-maternity!

Movement: still a lot of movement and sometimes painfully so.

Sleep: pretty good. however, because LW is so often on my left side, i often lay on my right so i don't feel a huge lump between me and the mattress. i've been waking up with VERY sore ribs because of this.
Pee trips in the night: 3-4.

Guilty pleasure:  probably some See's candy, leftover from Valentine's day? ;)

Baby purchases this week:  i purchased a second changing pad cover to match LW's nursery. other than that, i'm running out of necessities to buy since she has most everything she needs for her first few months.

Looking forward to: my due date on Wednesday. not that this means i will have LW in my arms, but i will be closer than i ever have to this being a reality!

pregnant girl problems

after 39 weeks of pregnancy bliss, i have to admit i didn't see this coming: i am OVER being pregnant. don't get me wrong, i still feel pretty good- i've only gained 25 pounds, my face has stopped breaking out, i'm not swollen, and i'm still sleeping great.  but let's be honest, everyone is pregnant for a reason and that's a baby at the end of this journey. and the fact is, i'm ready to meet her.

i've had a pretty easy time of this pregnancy thing. but lately i've been hormonal and crabby beyond recognition. luckily, no one really gets to see this because my hubby is at work all day and i've spent the past two weeks finishing up random errands before my child decides to greet me. EVERYTHING is driving me crazy- poor drivers, the obnoxious dogs downstairs who bark at me and every other person who walks by, other people having their babies before me, dealing with my insurance about getting a breast pump (STILL), and incessant phone calls and texts from people asking me how i'm feeling and if there's a baby yet (yeah, like i'm not going to tell you if the baby came!). i'm stressed out with family coming in to town 1 day after my due date, especially when i told them not to come so early, and the thought of having too many people cramping my style post-birth.

i'm tired of people telling me that i'm so small (!), that i must be carrying a boy, or that i don't look pregnant from the back. people- i'm right on track for gestational age, will probably have a 7lb baby and trust me- she's a girl. as for looking pregnant from the back, what does that even mean?

i'm frustrated with my own body for not giving me any indication when this baby is coming. i've been dilated a 1cm for over a month and pretty much nothing else. i have no braxton hicks or regular contractions, and the baby hasn't dropped. i know that labor can start whenever, but i'm starting to feel like i'll be pregnant FOREVER.

i know, dramatic. but anyone who has stood where i do now can identify with how i'm feeling. with 5 days until my due date, i'm just plain ready to add the missing piece of this 9 month long puzzle.  i've run out of errands to do and baby supplies to buy because frankly, all i need is this baby! please God, don't let me have a March baby! the thought of going in to next month might very well kill me.

Bumpdate- 38 Weeks

How far along: 38 weeks 4 days

Baby is the size of: a watermelon. still a watermelon

Extra poundage: 24 pounds

Bump status: the dr. said that i have a great sized baby for my pelvis, and that she thinks LW will be about 7 pounds. TAKE THAT all you people who say i'm small! maybe everyone else is just huge!
**Dilated: still 1cm.
**Effaced: 75%- same as last week, i'm assuming. i saw my delivering doctor this time and she wasn't super specific on this one.

Favorite food of the week: cereal. i'm sensing a pattern....

Heartburn worthy foods: ugg i had some tomato soup last night and a 4 cheese grilled cheese that did not go over well!

Favorite piece of clothing this week: sweat pants, sweat pants, sweat pants. i LOVE not having to put on nylons! i also went 3 days in a row without makeup. so liberating.

Movement: lots. she loves to shove her heel on my right side!

Sleep: fabulous. although i've woken up twice now with a huge charlie horse in my right calf and it hurts SO BAD.
Pee trips in the night: 3-4.

Guilty pleasure:  leftover mini Boston creme pies i made from Super Bowl Sunday.

Baby purchases this week:  i returned a bunch of duplicate shower gifts and got some more CUTE clothes. i can't wait to put LW in them.

Looking forward to: the final days of pregnancy, although i have to say i've quite enjoyed it.

Bumpdate- 37 Weeks

How far along: 37 weeks 5 days

Baby is the size of: a watermelon.i'm crossing my fingers that they mean a "mini" watermelon!

Extra poundage: 23 pounds

Bump status: i played a little catch up this week and measured 36cm. the past few weeks i was a little on the small size, which was making me a little paranoid. Couple that with everyone i see saying "you are so small!" and it's getting me a little peeved.
**Dilated: 1cm. the Dr. says she thinks i could be a "few" more by my next appointment, because LW's head is super low
**Effaced: 75%

Favorite food of the week: nothing really is my favorite. i'm still consuming large quantities of cereal?

Heartburn worthy foods: none officially, but i did feel a little something after having a burger last night.

Favorite piece of clothing this week: now that i'm out of work, stretchy clothes are my best friend! i've reunited with my stash of Bandini bras, and decided i will use these a lot while nursing. they don't have underwire and are thinner than a sports bra. the only bummer is they aren't super supportive, but at this point i don't really care!

Movement: yep, she's still rolling in there. it's getting a little more pokey and painful though.

Sleep: still pretty great, when my husband isn't snoring the night away!
Pee trips in the night: 3-4.

Guilty pleasure:  probably my coffee. it's becoming so soothing lately and i gots to have it!

Baby purchases this week:  i don't think i bought anything, but a few more gifts have tricked in. LW is a very blessed babe.

Looking forward to: the last 16 days +/- of being just a duo with the husband!

adventures in breast pump rentals

thanks to Obama Care, my insurance (and most every insurance company) has decided/been forced to cover either the purchase or rental of a breast pump. each company gets to decide which they want, and whether its single or double, manual or electric. so many options! and believe me, they make a difference. who wants to buy a single manual breast pump? i'm no expert, but not me!

my insurance company, though quite small, has decided they will cover 100% for the rental of ANY type of breast pump. hi yo! while it took me no less than 3 calls on separate occasions to find out if there are any limitations, i was finally informed that there are none, other than picking from a list of their approved contractors.  easy, no? WRONG!

they sent me a 1000 page book (i'm not kidding, it was the size of a phone book) of California in-network providers for everything they cover. the Durable Medical Supplies part was 3 pages. so i tore those out and tossed the rest of the book. then i also realized you can just get everything online. which i should have done, because their printed materials are RIDICULOUSLY inaccurate.  i spent an entire day calling ALL OF THESE medical supply places:

and guess what, NONE of them either carry breast pumps (who knew that CPAP machines and compression socks were so popular?) and/or they WERE NOT contracted with my insurance. say what? but i just got your name off my "preferred provider" list from my insurance! well sorry, we actually aren't contracted with them.

then, jackpot. i finally find a place, and send everything in. a week goes by and i hear back- actually we aren't a provider for your insurance. WHAT?! you are listed in 2 different places on my list under 2 different names, both are "preferred!"sorry, we could bill you as out of network? um NO. my deductible would cover the cost of purchasing a pump, so no thanks.

needless to say, this process has been the most frustrating i've ever experienced with a) my insurance company and b) in regards to being pregnant. why not just buy a breast pump? because if i'm already paying for my insurance to rent me one, and a potentially hospital grade one, no less, then i'm going to rent one and save myself $300.

i found yet another place and sent everything in and am now waiting AGAIN for them to call me and tell me they aren't a provider. my insurance company is no help, because they can't look up a  medical goods store by what they sell. and every time i call one of their "providers" they either only sell diabetes supplies, or are a medical supply assembly-only facility. what the heck?

keep your fingers crossed for me! much more of this and i'm going to proposition my insurance to outright buy me a pump. one can only hope.

Childbirth 101

Happy February! Suffice it to say, i will have a baby this month! that's still a little beyond my comprehension.  but as i continually follow my What to Expect February forum and see all my cohorts have their babies, i'm getting more and more anxious to meet our Little Wood. i had every intention to write a little more throughout January, but between my two jobs, three baby showers, childbirth classes, and cold weather which left me wanting to hibernate, i just didn't have the energy. but i am a new woman, because yesterday was my last day of work before maternity leave starts! i have roughly 18 days til my due date, and who knows how long until the wee babe makes her appearance. at my appointment yesterday i was 75% effaced and 1cm dilated, so we shall see! For now, i'm feeling pretty amazing, and still feeling a ton of movement from LW.

well, on to the purpose of this post- Childbirth classes! this was one class which i initially tried to get out of. they were three weeks long, 6-9 every thursday, and frankly sounded terrifying. i hated the idea of "panting" in front of other people, and semi-convinced myself that they wouldn't be useful because i would end up having a c-section (there is no foundation for believing this- baby is head down and low. but i just REALLY didn't want to take a class and watch horrifying videos.) after completing the three weeks and feeling only mildly squeamish at the thought of crowning and episiodomies, i am here to tell you that you NEED TO TAKE A CHILDBIRTH CLASS. why?

because most women prolong their own labor because they are scared and resistant to what's going on in their body- due to lack of knowledge. i don't know about you, but when the time comes, i want Little Wood out of there as soon as possible and don't want to experience the agony of labor longer than i need to.

because it will make your husband feel much more a part of the process, and not so helpless on the sidelines as you writhe in pain. plus, he can help act on your behalf when it's epidural time! (which i'm open to receiving, just not committed off the bat).

because the videos, while sorely outdated and boasting the most unattractive people from the 90's on the planet, really are helpful. childbirth is not "knocked up" or a "friends" episode. it's ugly and sweaty and you need to be prepared.

and finally, because your spouse gets to learn pregnancy massage! We spent the last 30-45 minutes of each class practicing relaxing breathing techniques while our spouses massaged! the breathing techniques were actually quite nice, and weren't the typical "hee-hee-ha" i've seen. who knows if i'll use them when the time comes, but it's nice to have them in my arsenal.

all in all, it was a great experience and only made me more confident in my hospital and myself. i still wouldn't say i'm excited for labor, but at least i know what i got myself in to!

Bumpdate- 36 Weeks

How far along: 36 weeks 5 days

Baby is the size of: a watermelon. way to make me feel huge!

Extra poundage: 23 pounds

Bump status: according to my doctor, i'm not measuring "out" so much anymore, because the baby is dropping. although from the look of my picture above, i would say i'm still "out there."

Favorite food of the week: my boss gave me a bunch of Korean snacks and i've pretty much eaten all of them. just a bunch of fancy crackers and Pretz, but still.

Heartburn worthy foods: none! hoping i've seen the end of HB

Favorite piece of clothing this week: boo maternity clothes.

Movement: i'm feeling  a lot of elbows and heels, thank you very much.

Sleep: awesome.
Pee trips in the night: i've been at a solid 4 times the last few nights. i'm so thankful the wee babe doesn't wake up when i get up and i can fall back asleep!

Guilty pleasure:  omg SLURPEES. they are beyond delicious and i had a huge on the other day. even though it was raining.

Baby purchases this week:  Little Wood will be so stoked that we bought her stroller this week! i'm probably more excited than her, but can't wait for it to arrive (today!).

Looking forward to: finishing my LAST WEEK OF WORK!

Showers for Olivia

the last two weekends have been super busy, but good busy, with two baby showers! i am super blessed to have both family and friends who were able to throw me wonderful celebrations for our Little Wood. My step mom hosted a shower at one of my favorite Italian restaurants in Costa Mesa, Maggiano's. It was awesome to see so many family members and co-workers and be able to celebrate.  We received so many amazing gifts, including some necessities like our car seat and swing, and some wonderful homemade gifts too. here are some pics!

 

 

 

 

 

 and just yesterday some of my closest friends through me a wonderful shower for my Bible study and church friends. even more blessings! they hosted with an owl motif (which i can't help but be obsessed with) and i got some more more needed items, like swaddling blankets, clothes, and bath goodies. 

 

 

 

 

 

it goes without saying that i have a TON of thank you cards to do (and laundry)!  all of my showers have made me more and more excited to meet the wee babe.  i'm finally starting to feel prepared, but still want her to stay a-cookin' for a few more weeks at least. Dave and I are still enjoying these last few weeks alone together. even though it will be different after this month, we can't wait to share our lives with Little Wood!

Bumpdate- 35 Weeks

 

How far along: 35 weeks 4 days

Baby is the size of: still a large cantaloupe. i'm sad because i think i only have 1 fruit left!
Extra poundage: 22 pounds

Bump status: this week was the first week i'm not measuring the exact amount of centimeters as weeks. at my appointment i measured 34 CM instead of 35, but the doctor wasn't worried because she said at this stage the baby is starting to drop so i won't be growing out so much.

Favorite food of the week: cereal. and Target has an awesome sale going on for cereal too!

Heartburn worthy foods: none

Favorite piece of clothing this week: probably my last and final piece of purchased maternity wear, the blouse i'm wearing in the pic above for my baby shower.

Movement: i'm finally starting to experience my belly being totally lopsided at times. it's so bizarre!
Sleep: when i get comfortable, it's all good.  the key word here is "when."

Pee trips in the night: 2-3. i also just get up when i can't get comfortable and go. does that count?

Guilty pleasure:  soda. it is beyond delicious to me lately!

Baby purchases this week:  tomorrow i'm going to finally buy the crib mattress.

Looking forward to: Eight (8) days of work left!

Bumpdate- 34 Weeks

How far along: 34 weeks 4 days

Baby is the size of: a large cantaloupe. not just a cantaloupe, a large one.

Extra poundage: 21 pounds

Bump status: i'm starting to feel very "pronounced" if you will. i've hit my belly twice on cabinet doors this week.

Favorite food of the week: still cereal. i've had to eat it twice at 2am this week alone. little wood, gimme a break!

Heartburn worthy foods: none

Favorite piece of clothing this week: i'm beginning to stare longingly into my closet at my old clothes and yearning to wear them. i'm getting sick of wearing the same ole same ole! the only respite i have is that i only have 3 more weeks of work and can just wear sweatpants and T-shirts until this baby comes out.

Movement: lately i've been feeling like LW's movements are similar to the rollers on those massage chairs at the nail salon. she's had her rear end to the side of my belly button off an on all week!

Sleep: pretty stinkin' good still. thank you Jesus.
Pee trips in the night: 2-4. yes, 4. lately i'm finding it's REALLY easy for me to get dehydrated so i've been trying to drink more, even before bed. i don't like waking up parched and crampy.

Guilty pleasure:  my mom's butter cookies that she brought all the way from Arizona!

Baby purchases this week:  it's safe to say the wee babe got a lot of goodies this week at my shower! no purchases by me were necessary. there will be a baby shower post to follow this week.

Looking forward to: a 2nd baby shower on Saturday

Bumpdate- 33 Weeks

How far along: 33 weeks 4 days

Baby is the size of: pineapple

Extra poundage: 21 pounds

Bump status: this picture is doing a good job of hiding my bump, but what you can't see is that the shirt is ready to bust open! i put two pics because one just doesn't do my size justice. at my appointment this week, i was measuring 33.5 centimeters, which is right on track for my gestational "age." i'm still confused why everyone says i'm "so small" when in fact i've been right where i should be. does that mean everyone else carries big?

Favorite food of the week: nothing really. i haven't been super hungry all that much. though i have consumed my fair share of cereal!

Heartburn worthy foods: none this week!

Favorite piece of clothing this week: none. i'm just glad that there are still some non-maternity shirts/tank tops i can squeeze myself into.

Movement: yes. the doctor said i should still be feeling the same amount of movement, but that it just might feel different. there will be more stretching feelings, as opposed to somersaulting- of which i haven't felt much of anyways.

Sleep: with the exception of the 1 night where a neighborhood dog barked ALL THE LIVE LONG NIGHT, i have been sleeping rather well. little wood and i seem to be on the same schedule, and she doesn't wake me up when i change positions.
Pee trips in the night: 1-3. but it's been so dry out with the weather that i'm trying to drink more water- hence the extra peeing.

Guilty pleasure:  coconut cream pie that i had twice at work!

Baby purchases this week:  no clothes for the wee babe, but i did buy 5 baskets for her closet and changing table. i also bought my first pack of diapers and wipes so i would have something for when she arrives! I've been told not to "stock up" on too many diapers because some babies aren't "compatible" with all types of diapers and can have allergies.

Looking forward to: my baby shower next Saturday!

Bumpdate- 32 Weeks

How far along: 32 weeks 3 days

Baby is the size of:honeydew!

Extra poundage: after Christmas, i have to be at least 20 pounds in.

Bump status: umm, have you seen the picture above? holy cow!

Favorite food of the week: probably my step-mom's homemade mac n'cheese we had for Christmas dinner. omg.

Heartburn worthy foods: i'm terrified my heartburn is coming back! i've had it twice this week- both after eating Christmas dinner and subsequent leftovers. please God, no!

Favorite piece of clothing this week: i'm starting to hate having to wear maternity shirts. and pants. 1 of my 2 pairs of "weekend pants" started to separate from the elastic waistband, so i had to take it to the dry cleaners to fix. then, knowing i only have 7 weeks left, i hate having to think about buying more shirts. but i just can't fit in old ones and don't want to stretch them out. grrrr...

Movement: Little Wood is starting to cause me some pain here and there. i know it's because she's running out of room and is probably more aware of her ability to move her arms and legs. but sometimes she hurts! and i have random stretches where she moves like crazy, then a day or two where she's much more subdued. huh.

Sleep: getting floppier every night. luckily, it's only when i'm about to wake up, but still.
Pee trips in the night: 1-2. 

Guilty pleasure:  my friend, Gwin's fudge.

Baby purchases this week:  Old Navy is having a great sale, so i bought 4 onesies, 1 pair of leggings, and a hat. then i went to Target, who is also having a sale, and got 4 more pairs of leggings. it's about time- the poor girl needs some pants. 

Looking forward to: only 5 weeks of work left until maternity leave starts!

Christmas in utero

Christmas is probably my favorite holiday of the year. i love the music, decorations, and the overall spirit. oh, and the eggnog, peppermint, and cookie treats.  it was a little emotional for me this year, what with all the hormones, and i even caught myself trying not to cry a few times at church while singing Christmas carols!  being that this is our last Christmas without the wee babe, the husband and i decided to take it easy, but to also spoil each other a little in the gift department:) we know our focus during this time will change completely next year, and definitely for the better! we are always blessed during Christmas by each other, and our families. here are some of my favorite gifts from this year!

Madewell Heart Stripe sweater- this was an inadvertent gift from the husband. he had originally gotten me a different sweater that made me look like a whale (and it would have even w/o being pregnant) and some awesome thermal pajama pants. but the pants were defective and i had to return them and they didn't have any more! so sad. but i got this cute sweater instead and it kind of even fits my pregnant belly.

Clarisonic Mia cleaner- i didn't even know i wanted this until I had it! it's a facial hand buffer/exfoliater which i've used 3 times and already love it. it's gentle on my acne prone skin and makes it feel so soft! i'm hoping it can really keep my acne at bay until i can get back on my Rx creams after Little Wood comes.

JCrew striped blouse- i LOVE this print and can't wait to wear it! right now i look a little silly in it because my belly is half exposed. oh well.

Chi pink flat iron- i've had my Hai for at least 5 years and needed an upgrade. my parents got me this new one and it's AMAZING! it's much smoother than the Hai and makes my  hair so much shinier.

Madewell UK Storyteller Scarf- this is such a beautiful scarf. it's got "hand drawings" of Scotland, Ireland, and England on it and i can't wait to wear it.

Les Miserables (unabridged)- yes, i know, i'm quite advantageous for having a baby next year. but i've always wanted to read this and i think it may be my 1 and only book goal for next year. we'll see.

Madewell Skimmers in emerald green- i've decided that i'm a "flats" girl. heels kill my feet and do not a happy mama make. my husband is now indulging me, and got me this lovely flats!

and finally, the wee babe was also blessed this year by the hubs (guess which item he bought) and by grandma and grandpa Jalowiec:

it goes without saying that i can't wait until we can share the wonderful holiday season with our newest Little Wood next year. she is already so loved and blessed!

Bumpdate- 31 Weeks

How far along: 31 weeks 4 days today. holy cow, i'm in the single digits for number of weeks left- 9!

Baby is the size of: head of lettuce

Extra poundage: doctor confirmed- 19 pounds. after my ultrasound, they also told me the wee babe is 3lbs 10 oz! (and that she's still a girl. PHEW!)

Bump status: feeling a little bigger here and there. my t-shirts i wear for PJ's are looking pretty silly with half my belly showing, but i don't care!

Favorite food of the week:  Korean bread that my boss got me. holy cow, such buttery goodness.

Heartburn worthy foods: had a tad of HB twice this week with enchiladas. it must be the spiciness!

Favorite piece of clothing this week: my new Gap maternity shirt (seen in the picture above). even though it's the color of melon and makes me look a little similar to one, it's super comfy and i like that it doesn't have the ruching on the side. it seems every maternity shirt i come across has this!

Movement: i don't feel many kicks per se anymore. like a good wine, Little Wood is a more full bodied mover at this point. to be honest, it can be a tad painful at times, and i think i'm feeling her fingers grab at my insides at times. and yesterday my belly was pretty lopsided after a jaunt through the mall for some last minute shopping!

Sleep: good, but much more flopping back and forth as my belly gets heavier.
Pee trips in the night: 1-3. 

Guilty pleasure:  Christmas sweets. 

Baby purchases this week:  three more onesies (i really should start focusing on pants) from Baby Gap.

Looking forward to: Christmas! only two days away, and it's our last without Little Wood.

last ultrasound

i always thought i would be a big proponent of having a lot of ultrasounds when i was pregnant. pregnancy is quite long, all things considered, and i knew i would be curious about what my little one was up to in the womb. now that i'm here, i'm surprised at my lack of interest in getting more pre-birth pics of my babe in utero. it probably has a lot to do with the little info we have on the impact of ultrasounds on the unborn, and me just not wanting to take the risk. additionally, i  just have this desire to leave my wee one alone in there as she makes her way towards life. i can feel her all day every day, and that's been enough for me.

that being said, my doctor required that i have a final ultrasound this last week to make sure my placenta had moved up. at my 18 week scan, it was a little low, and they wanted to make sure i wasn't a candidate for placenta previa. good news to report, it has! along with ensuring i was good to go for labor and delivery, i also got to see a few last moments of the wee babe before she's here for good.

one thing i will say, is that Little Wood is not very photogenic. this is the 2nd time that she has refused to cooperate for a good picture. this time, it's because she was busy hiding her face by having her legs practically touching her forehead. she blocked any good face shots that may have been. regardless, i was still a happy momma to be. the ultrasound tech said that she looked perfect and even had some hair! she is head down and if i'm going to take a stab at natural childbirth, i hope she stays that way.

here's one last photo for your viewing pleasure!

Bumpdate- 30 Weeks

How far along: 30 weeks 5 days today. i'm 3/4 of the way done! (p.s. it was raining yesterday, hence the inside photo. also, don't mind my fly away hair)

Baby is the size of: head of lettuce

Extra poundage: i weighed myself at the gym last week and i'm up to 19lbs!

Bump status: feel about the same as last week. everyone i come across though doesn't believe i'm as far along as i am and tells me i'm tiny! can't complain.

Favorite food of the week:  peppermint! anything peppermint- hot chocolate, creamer, cookies oh my!

Heartburn worthy foods: none!

Favorite piece of clothing this week: long sleeved anything. it's been cold in good ole California. though having only bought 4 long sleeved maternity shirts, i'm in desperate need of just a few more to make it the last 9.5 weeks.

Movement: i swear the other morning i felt either a head or rump move over by my hip. it was the first time i felt something so distinctive and large that i knew it was a body part, not just a kick. so cute.

Sleep: pretty good.
Pee trips in the night: 1-3. 

Guilty pleasure:  Trader Joe's Candy Cane Jo-Jo's. i will need to stock up on these before they stop selling them for the season.

Baby purchases this week:  yep! i bought the wee babe two long sleeved striped onesies (i just LOVE stripes and polka dots on babies), a dresser, shelves for the nursery, and some jars for hair bows. that little bit of shopping helped me regain control. i was starting to feel unprepared again.

Looking forward to: my last ultrasound on Wednesday. i'm just hoping she's still a girl- i've done way too much painting and shopping for that 1st ultrasound to be wrong!

Bumpdate- 29 Weeks

How far along: 29 weeks, 3 days in the picture. 29 weeks 5 days today.

Baby is the size of: butternut squash (so cute!)

Extra poundage: still 17 lbs that i know of

Bump status: i don't feel bigger, but i did wear a maternity shirt to work last week and was told i got huge! though i'm not offended because i know they didn't mean bad huge ;)

Favorite food of the week:  nothing in particular

Heartburn worthy foods: i was burping our carne asada fajitas for about an hour after dinner last night, but that's about it.

Favorite piece of clothing this week: i had to work all this week and was just grateful for stretchy pants. i've also noticed that my shoes are starting to kill me, or rather, just being on my feet off and on all day :(

Movement: still a lot. last week i had to have an unexpected appointment due to a lovely UTI infection and they wanted to check on the wee babe. she did NOT like the doppler. she kept moving away and when they found her, she would kick it! i personally thought it was cute :)

Sleep: so good! i think it's the cold weather. i'm getting into some DEEP sleep where i wake up and my ear hurts from sleeping on 1 side for so long.
Pee trips in the night: 1-3. yes! only 1x last night!

Guilty pleasure:  coffee. i blame it on all the fancy coffee creamers and holiday drinks. darn you Starbucks!

Baby purchases this week:  i really tried, but i'm finding i'm REALLY picky and will not put just anything on my child. that being said, nothing.

Looking forward to: mailing off both my Christmas cards and 1 set of shower invites this week! (see above for a preview of our Christmas card shoot!)

another class for the wee babe

this past week i took my first class at the hospital in preparation for the wee babe's arrival, Successful Breastfeeding! i told Dave he could take the night off, even though i knew he was more than welcome to come. i figured he would be more uncomfortable than anything and i wanted to make sure i could absorb all the info without worrying about him.

this was the best 2 1/2 hours i've spent so far! obviously, i have no experience at all in this area of child-rearing, and my mom didn't breastfeed because it was the 80's and it wasn't much of a fad in those days, so i couldn't glean a lot of knowledge from her. i absolutely loved the instructor, the materials, video, and facilitation. i feel much more prepared and am actually very excited for my Little Wood to hurry up and get here! oddly, it was quite the bonding experience.

i'm not going to go into details about what i learned because you can take your own class! we've already signed up for our Childbirth 101 classes in January and am a little scared, i'm not going to lie. it's 3 consecutive Thursdays in a row, and i've been instructed to wear comfortable clothing and bring to pillows. that just screams heavy breathing. i'll let you know how it goes!