34 week... 8 1/2 months!

     I can't believe we're down to the last 6 weeks (give or take a week or two on either side)! Still the size of a honeydew, weighing about 4.2 to 5.8 pounds and measuring about 17.2 to 18.7 inches long.

     We got the car seat and Chris installed it in my car a  few days ago. Yay! I know it's a little early, but at least it's done and if she happens to show up a little early, it's one less thing to worry about. We have an infant car seat that we received from a friend that will go in Chris' car as the due date gets a little closer, but I think we'll probably end up using my car to drive around in for the first few months. It's bigger and seems a little sturdier (heaven forbid we're in an accident).

     I got all her little outfits washed and either hung up/placed in drawers or packed away (we're planning on moving when our apartment lease is up in July, so anything above 3 months is packed away since we won't need it). I stopped at a couple resale/consignment shops today (one is just two miles from the waterbirth center! It's called Hoot and Annie. How cute is that?) and picked up a few more onesies (super cute and most were only $1/each. Way cuter and cheaper than buying the boring white ones from the store).

     Went over to Omi's today to visit with her and Icen. He's 7 weeks old now! I can't believe it. He's slowly but surely getting bigger and more handsome every time I see him. I hope Ayla will be able to match his good looks ;)   I picked up a couple carriers/wraps and Icen was a fairly cooperative little model. We tried the Moby wrap and the K'Tan wrap/carrier (I also tried a cheaper, front backpack style carrier I picked up at Hoot and Annie. I think I'll be able to use it with Ayla for a few months, but probably more around 2 or 3 months when she has head control). The Moby is SUPER long! I knew it was basically just a long piece of fabric, but I was really unprepared for the length. Got it on without too much difficulty, but with the basketball stomach, I had to place it a little higher and it was probably a little tighter than it had to be. It was a little difficult to get Icen into, but I think it'll be easier to wear something like that when I have more room in the stomach area. The K'tan wrap was a little easier to get on, but I don't like that Chris and I would have to buy two (you buy the size according to whoever's going to be wearing it) and it costs about $15 more than the Moby. So I think if we get a wrap, it'll be the Moby. They have an olive green color that I like at Target. It's on my registry if anyone feels so inclined to purchase it for us... :)

     I think we have most of what we need. I was looking for a cheap changing table on craigslist, we need some bottles and breastmilk storage containers/bags and probably more diapers, but other than that, everything else left on our registries would just be nice to have, but not a necessity. (For those who were asking, we're registered at Target.com and BabiesRUs.com under Kirsten Alsman and Chris Leniger).

                                                                34 weeks (8 1/2 months)

33 weeks... size of a honeydew!

     Cupcake has graduated from the size of a squash to the size of a honeydew! The average weight at this stage is 4.2 to 5.8 pounds and the average length is 17.2 to 18.7 inches. I can't believe she's about a foot and a half long! It's funny, because I know there's a baby in there and I'm really excited, but I still have these moments where I think "there's an actual little person in there!" or I see a baby somewhere and think "I get to have one of those soon!"  It's a good thing you have about 9 months to process it all before they get here.

     According to the website I follow (thebump.com), she could grow up to a full inch this week and her brain is developing like crazy, bones are hardening and she's keeping her eyes open more when she's awake.

     The baby shower was on Saturday. It turned out really well! It was a smaller group, but looking back I'm glad. I already felt like too much attention was on me (I had to snag Icen up as soon as Omi got there and slipped away a little later to change his diaper while they played Bingo). We got a lot of really cute stuff and a lot of useful stuff! The food was really good and the cupcakes Chris' mom made were amazing! I'm not usually much of a cupcake eater (I'll have one or two when I bake them, but I like making them more than I like eating them. Now brownies on the other hand... ha ha!), but the cinnamon streusel cupcake and strawberry cupcake with whipped topping were SO GOOD!

              Nancy, Christina, Rylie, Amy, Grace, Katie, Connie, Icen and Omi! Peggy took the photo. 

    Nancy, Christina, Rylie, Amy and Grace, Kelsey, Katie, Peggy, Icen and Omi. Connie took the photo
Thanks to everyone who was able to make it! I had a great time and really appreciate everything!


     Julie came over and painted my belly before the shower on Saturday morning. She did a fantastic job! Everyone else loved it, too!

     She does really great work! You can see more of her stuff on her website at www.gildedcat.com


And a little late, but here are last weeks (32 weeks/8 months) photos:

                                                 Last week (32 weeks/8 months)

                                                    Last week (32 weeks/8 months)


     I didn't make it to the chiropractor yesterday for two reasons. 1) They don't accept my insurance (and charge over $130 for the first visit if they don't take your insurance) and 2) I went in to work to cover someone's 5 hour shift. My hips haven't been hurting too bad lately, so I'm not in a huge rush to go in. But in case I do need to go in, there are a bunch that my insurance does cover (I was wanting to try this other place because a friend at work suggested it).

32 weeks... 8 months!!

   Cupcake is still the size of a squash and weighing around 4 pounds, with a length of about 16 inches.

   I had another prenatal appointment today with my midwife, Katherine. Chris was unable to make it (the first time he hasn't been to one of my appointments!) and might not be able to make it to the next one, either (just because of the scheduling/availability for prenatal appointments on Katherine's part). But I've got the rest of our appointments all scheduled out and he should be able to make those, no problem. I'm currently seeing one of my two midwives every 2 weeks. In a month, we'll move to weekly appointments (at the 36 week mark!).

   The baby shower is on Saturday and I'm so excited! I will definitely get pictures (especially since a friend from work is going to paint my belly that morning! Check out her website:  www.thegildedcat.com)

    My hips have still been sore since Relaxin (a hormone) is being produced to loosen up the ligaments in my hips for baby's arrival. My midwife says that CC is sitting kind of low in my pelvis, so that's probably part of it. I went in for a massage last night, hoping it would help, but no. After dinner, I sat in the tub for a bit, which helped a little and then used a lavender heating pad while sitting on the couch (one of the fantastic things Chris' mom got me for my birthday. Thanks, Peggy! I think I've used it every day since I got it, mostly for my  hips, a little for my shoulder). I have a chiropractic appointment set for Monday afternoon. I really hope that helps. The pain isn't constant and is about every other day (sometimes daily), but as the Cupcake gets bigger in the next 2 months, I'm sure it's not going to feel so great. I've never been to a chiropractor and am really nervous about the "cracking" and "popping" that gets associated with it.

    I found out through the HR person at my work that during maternity leave, I'll actually receive about 60% of my pay! Whoo hoo! I was worried that I'd only be able to use whatever sick and vacation time I had and then have to save money to cover the rest of the time I wanted to take off (about a month all together). Now that I know I'll get a little money while not working, I'll probably take closer to 6 weeks off (just depending on how everything goes). It's such a huge relief to know that I'll have a little bit of money coming in. I know, I know, only taking a month off seems crazy, but it was all I was going to be able to afford. After our last Childbirth Preparation class, I was really wishing I was able to take off more time (one of the women in my class was taking off 6 months! Lucky!), especially knowing that it can take up to 6 weeks for your body to heal and get back to normal.

    I'm feeling little hiccups about every day (or every other day sometimes) now. Chris was able to feel them the other day when I was at home and a friend at work was able to feel them one morning. They just feel like little heart beat pulses.

    While I was on the treadmill at the gym a few days ago, one of the guys that works there (and possibly the gym manager) came over to me. I paused my mp3 player and looked at him. He said, "I was just going to make a smart ass comment..." I continued to look at him until he said, "I was gonna ask if you could reach your magazine". (I had a magazine propped up on the treadmill "dashboard" and was flipping a page as I walked). He continued to ask me how long I had left, if it was my first and if I knew the sex. Then he started telling me about his kids, how he had one of each, yadda, yadda, yadda. The whole time I just kept thinking, "Can I get back to my workout now, buddy?" He just wanted to talk about himself (he's one of those guys that always tries to make a spectacle of himself at the gym).

    I'm starting to do some research on vaccinations for Ayla. I already know there are a few things that are typically done following the birth (testing, Vitamin K injection, eye goo application, etc) that I know I don't want (I don't see huge indications for them and Chris and I have talked and pretty much agreed). Vaccinations... ugh. I'm getting a book from the library that was recommended by one of my cousins and another that was recommended by the midwife who taught our Childbirth Preparation class. I know some people will  be shocked or have opinions on my refusing certain "normal" tests and procedures, but I've done my research and know what the risks and benefits are. I'm not refusing certain things just to be a rebel and I'm certainly not going to have things done because everyone else does. I feel like there aren't enough people who do their research and think for themselves and I don't want to be one of them. Besides, people take risks everyday that are more harmful than not getting a vaccination or neonatal test done (like riding in a car or walking on the sidewalk). Just like during my pregnancy... the only diagnostic or testing I've had done was the ultrasound at 5 months. No amnio, no glucose testing, no vaginal exams... and look, everything's going fine. I feel like a lot of the testing done during pregnancy is stressful and unnecessary and is only done because "that's what everyone does!" Well if everyone else jumped off a bridge...

31 weeks

From TheBump.com: Baby's now (still) the size of a squash!Baby's going through major brain and nerve development these days. Her irises now react to light, and all five senses are in working order. (She won't pick up anything from her nose until after birth, though -- smell is transferred through air, not amniotic fluid.)

    Chris and I had our last Childbirth Preparation class at the waterbirth center last night. We learned some interesting tid bits here and there and I enjoyed hearing stories and questions from the other couples there. I'm going to miss going to class every week! Last week, we were able to get in and out of the tubs (sans water, of course) to try different birthing positions and get a feel for how deep the tubs are (nice and deep!) and last night, we talked about postpartum care of both mom and baby.

     My baby shower is next week on Saturday. I'm looking forward to spending some time with friends and family and hopefully we'll get a few things that we need for the little Cupcake.

    I'm up to about 163 now and trying to not freak out about it. I know baby is growing and getting what she needs and I still haven't had any swelling in my hands or feet. I'm still able to work out and be pretty active without too much uncomfortability (with the exception of my hips being a little sore sometimes still).

    I can't believe she's going to be here in 6-10 weeks!

30 weeks... 7 1/2 months!

     The cupcake is baking and baking... she's about 16 inches in length (head to toe) and weighs around 3-4 pounds (depending on which website/book you look at).
    
     Had a prenatal appointment this morning and the midwife thinks she feels perfect (size-wise)! She's head down with her feet just below my ribs on the right side and her little butt in the middle of my stomach (she likes to push out sometimes and I wasn't sure if it was a head or butt at this point, but now I know... it's booty). Sometimes she'll bring her legs into her chest and I'll feel a little knee poking my belly button (which isn't really there anymore. It hasn't "popped out", but it definitely isn't a hole anymore). Still feeling really good with the exception of twice where I've felt "kind-of-but-not-really" dizzy. Something's just off. I know it's not dehydration or sleep deprivation or my blood sugar or blood pressure... one of my midwives thinks it might be that the Cupcake is putting pressure on a returning blood vessel and the lack of blood flow is causing it. It's only happened twice, lasts for just a few hours and then I'm totally fine. Still able to go to work and function, it just feels... different. I had Chris drive me to work the first time it happened because I wasn't sure what was going on. Luckily, I had today off, so I dropped him off at work after the appointment and went home to take a 3-hour nap :)  I think the only other thing this last week was a bout of "pregnancy brain" yesterday. I tried to unlock someone else's Honda Element when I was leaving the gym. At least it was the same color as my car and didn't have an alarm system. Last night at Bunco, I was having a hard time keeping score and remember Zoe's dog's name (I had to ask Omi at least 3 times). I feel like I've stayed pretty sharp most of the pregnancy, so I'm hoping yesterday was just a fluke and that it's not going to be a constant thing.

     We start having our prenatal appointments every two weeks now instead of once a month (until week 36, where it will be once a week). Putting it on a time schedule like that makes it seem really close! Chris and I are both excited, but nervous. I still feel like it's close, but also far away. I'm sure as the weeks pass by, I'll be feeling like it's going really fast. I can't believe it's almost over!

     Getting the baby shower planned. That will be in about 3 weeks and I'm really looking forward to seeing friends and family! I think it will be fun. I haven't seen some people for a while, so I think they'll be surprised at how big I've gotten.

                                                                         7 1/2 months

                                                      Okay, so it looks like I ate a basketball...
                            

                                                 But only looking big in the stomach... right? ;)