Soft Curves

My second trimester was lovely. I felt great, I slept great, I breathed easy walking up and down stairs, and my bump made the perfect soccer ball shape under my maternity clothes. Most days I forgot I was pregnant. Ok, not really, but I had no complaints. 

And then the third trimester came in with a vengeance. Sleeping has become incredibly uncomfortable. With every waddle I feel the extra weight that's been added. The weeks leading up to when we'll finally meet our little guy seem never-ending. My clothes continue to get tighter, and I feel like a whale most of the time. I've been told more than once that I look like I'm ready to pop. And whenever I tell people I'm not due until the end of March they respond with "oh, you poor thing".

At the gym last week one of the front desk attendants told me I'm a lot bigger than I was with my other two. 

"Thanks! I still have two months," I responded with a fake smile. 

Then I watched as she floundered like a fish.

"But you still look great, like really great! You look so cute! I'm so glad you're here, it's so good to see you!" she said back pedaling her compliment--or insult, I'm still not sure which one it was.

Uh-huh.

I thanked her again, but this time for real. I felt bad that she felt so bad. I know she didn't mean to make me feel larger than life. I ran upstairs--and out of breath--to the elliptical vowing to not stop until I sweated off the pancakes I ate for breakfast that morning.  

Half Way There

I've made it to the half way point. **praise hands** A part of me feels like the baby will be here in no time, but I also feel like 20 weeks seems so far away. I mean, we still have Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Valentine's Day, and St. Patrick's Day to get through. The leaves still have to fall from the trees and Charlotte's one snowfall in the winter needs to blanket the grass until it all melts away in the afternoon sun. Flowers will be blooming again before my due date rolls around and daylight savings will have already graced us with her sunny presence. Still so far away, right?

To tear or not to tear?!

Here we go again

I can't believe the last time I posted was back in June. I didn't think it'd be like that, but the summer just got away, I got pregnant, I got really, really tired, and my writing was set on the back burner. I even wrote a post back in April promising myself I wouldn't do that again. I guess you could say I jinxed myself. Since realizing I went on an involuntary hiatus I've slowly started writing again. I have a few pieces in the works and maybe they'll make it to the blog, maybe they won't. I'm having trouble starting a piece and not finishing it. The trend recently has been I lose interest in that piece or I have another idea that pops in my mind and I have to get it down on paper or I'll lose it. Either way, I did finish this small thought below so I'll share it with you, plus there's a bumpdate following it. I contemplated whether I'd even do a bumpdate this time around because, you know, it's my third, but the more I thought about it the more I said, "yeah, this is my third, and he/she is just as important as my other two." So here we go again!

Little He or Little She?

The butterflies began fluttering as soon as I arrived at Abby and Amanda's house. I couldn't believe the day had finally arrived. We were going to find out the gender! Wait, who's baby is this? Certainly not mine, but for a second I had to remind myself I'm not the one who's pregnant here. Gender reveal parties are where it's at! The suspense, the excitement, the waiting, and then...the REVEAL! It's a big deal. And only those who have participated can truly understand the joy + eager anticipation that are involved.

 

We had a small get together Saturday night to celebrate our good friends Stephen and Heather Jackson and the newest addition to their already precious family of three.

Little Kiah came running into the living room clueless as to what we were all doing. All she cared about were the pink and blue m&m's set on display. As we took pictures voting on what we thought the Jackson's baby gender is, Kiah was not to be left out.

"Pick blue or pink, Kiah. Do you think you'll have a baby brother or baby sister?"

She chose pink!

The rest of the votes...

We enjoyed a delicious meal together but not without our conversations centering on that cake and what color would be seen once it was cut. We just couldn't wait!!! Dishes were cleaned just as quickly as the food was devoured and the time had come to pop open the champagne (sparkling grape juice for Heather!) and let the Jackson's slice into that cake! Shrills from the ladies and woooo's from the guys led up to that last moment and then...

IT'S A BOY!!!!   

 

 

Everyone was so excited! Heather really wanted a boy and Stephen got his mini-me. And once again, I was wrong! Note to self and others: when asking what I think a baby's gender will be know that it'll always be the opposite of what I guess. I've never been right, not even once.

We immediately checked the gender reveal picture just to be sure. Because, you know, we're ultrasound technicians and know exactly what we're looking for.

The cake ended up tasting better than we had thought it would and the pop of blue made it that much better!

Seriously, gender reveal parties are the best! I loved every moment spending it with my friends and eagerly waiting to see what color was inside that cake. How blessed that little boy is to have such wonderful and God-fearing parents in Stephen and Heather and a sweet and loving big sister in Kiah! Now the next reveal will be when we get to finally meet the little guy--I can't wait! Here's to great friends, a new baby boy, and being a great big sister!

"You mean I have to share my mommy and daddy now?" 

We are Full-Term!

If you remember correctly from last week's update I was given a pelvic exam including "everything likesuchas". Well the "everything likesuchas"was pretty normal, says my doctor--except I tested positive for Group Beta Strep. I knew right away as soon as she said it what that meant and my heart dropped.

No, I don't have strep throat and I'm not sick.

Basically Group Beta Strep is a bacteria that can live in the body without you even knowing it...awesome. It's fairly common and found in about 10 to 30 percent of pregnant women...sweet. When I go into labor I will be hooked up to an IV with antibiotics because if I don't get it treated I could pass the bacteria to the baby which could lead to an infection like meningitis or pneumonia. About 5 percent of babies infected with GBS die...dear Lord, hold me now!

Of course, I cried. That's just what pregnant mama's who are doped up on their own hormones do. Plus this wasn't a part of my birth plan!!! I was supposed to go au naturale without being hooked to anything!

I'm sure many of you are like Wah, Wah, ok? a little IV won't hurt and birth plans are pointless. But this news was something I didn't expect and it's always a blow to receive the unexpected. After researching a little more about what GBS is and how it can affect our baby, there's no question I'll take the IV.

Besides being in a poopy mood for about 2 hours, today is a fantastic day because we've reached full-term which means Juice Drop can come any day now!...ok, I know, she's my first so it'll probably be at least another 4 weeks but a mama can hope, right? :)

Baby Girl is ready for some Buckeye football! 

How far along? 37 Weeks

Total weight gain: 32 lbs--whoa, 3 pounds in a week is more than I should be gaining! I'm blaming it on Juice Drop--she's packing on the pounds! 

Maternity clothes? Most of the time. 

Stretch marks? Nope 

Sleep: Better, I think I'm just getting used to being uncomfortable

Best moment this week: Celebrating Juice Drop at my Charlotte baby shower!

Miss Anything? Being able to get up from a couch gracefully 

Movement: Morning, noon, and night! Hiccups, seeing feet, knees, elbows, and tush protrude :)

Food cravings: Chocolate

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope

Gender: GIRL!!!

Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks are getting stronger. Cervix is still closed but head is down!

Symptoms: Back and rib pain, Braxton Hicks, peeing ALL THE TIME (even when hardly anything comes out!), shortness of breath, memory lapse, clumsiness, swollen fingers and toes 

Belly Button in or out? Outie!

Wedding rings on or off? Off but on a necklace.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy! 

Looking forward to: Travis' birthday weekend! Buckeye football, celebrating my man, and Labor Day festivities :)

4 weeks sounds a LOT closer than 1 month

We've finally come to weekly appointments! I say this with enthusiasm but also with trepidation. We're coming to the end of this whole pregnancy, and at the end comes a living, breathing, human being solely dependent on Travis and me! No more cute little bump; I get the real deal, folks, and am I really ready, prepared, and equipped to be responsible for another life?!

Ehh, I got this...right?

We had our 36 week appointment today, and by far was the longest time we've waited but I think it was the funniest appointment we've ever had. I don't know about you other woman but the only man I like down in my pelvic region is my husband so when the nurse informed me (after making the comment that having sex while she was pregnant helped her baby...thank you very much for that image, Nurse Jessie) they'd be swabbing "down there" for strep B and "everything likesuchas" I asked if I would be having a female or male doctor perform all these niceties. Oh, you have a female doctor today. Phew! Close call--especially when all I saw outside my room were male residents! Well, what do you know, a male resident walks in 15 minutes later(!!!) and right away Travis and I look at one another. I think he could tell what we were thinking because as he sat in his nifty swirly chair and before he asked any questions, he exclaimed I won't be doing your pelvic exam, just checking the heartbeat. We about died when he left the room. Poor guy, only a student trying to get an A, and here we are giving him the eye, like, you betta not think you'll be doing my pelvic exam! Well, what do you know, that same male resident came strolling back in a half hour later(!!!) with the doctor who actually would be performing the pelvic exam and we could tell by the expression on his face he was thinking hey guys, I'm just observing, not doing the pelvic exam, I repeat, not doing the pelvic exam! We decided to let off the evil eye this time and trust that the female doctor would be taking over. She asked a few questions and out the door they both were yet again. After being in our little room for a total of 45 minutes (not to mention in the waiting room for over 30 minutes!) the doctor and a nurse, sans male resident, finally arrived to do my pelvic exam. "Everything likesuchas" was great and we found out my cervix is still closed but her head is down low and ready to go! So all in all, a long day but we went away happy to have heard her heartbeat (wow, alliteration!) knowing she's in the right position, and laughing at both ours and the male resident's reaction to a simple pelvic exam. Oh boy, I guess I better get used to the idea of being vulnerable because when I'm in deep labor I don't think I'll really care who performs a pelvic exam and "everything likesuchas"!

How far along? 36 Weeks

Total weight gain: 29 lbs 

Maternity clothes? Most of the time. 

Stretch marks? Nope 

Sleep: good, not great...God's way of preparing us for what's to come :)

Best moment this week: Helping move my sister, Emily, into her dorm room only 20 minutes from us!

Miss Anything? Being comfy

Movement: Morning, noon, and night! Hiccups, seeing feet, knees, elbows, and tush protrude :)

Food cravings: nada this week

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope

Gender: GIRL!!!

Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks are getting stronger. Cervix is still closed but head is down!

Symptoms: Back and rib pain, Braxton Hicks, peeing ALL THE TIME (even when hardly anything comes out!), shortness of breath, memory lapse, clumsiness, swollen fingers and toes 

Belly Button in or out? Outie!

Wedding rings on or off? Off but on a necklace, still very bitter about this.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy! 

Looking forward to: My final baby shower this Saturday with all my Charlotte peeps! :)

As of Late...

The reason why I've only been posting weekly updates as of late is because all that is on my mind is this BABY! She takes up all my thoughts, all my doings, all my prayers, and I don't want to bore you with all of that. So instead I'll just post some pics of our happenings and as of late--and no, they're not all about Juice Drop...if they were, then I'd really need to get a life!

urban eagles camp.

ten hour road trip for a dear friend.

Mexican corn on the cob.

pregnancy perks.

what if I joined the Avengers? awesome.

mini golf.

best friends.

laughter.

big brush.

Juice Drop's first (and better be only!) vandalism.

best friends.

sisters.

maywedge.

bride and bridesmaid.

third baby shower.

preteen ministry days.

fishing partners.

bros and sistas.

food baby and real baby.