32 weeks!

32 weeks and doing great!  I am constantly praying that it continues to go that way!  The last two weeks have gone great, although I am having some new symptoms!

 

We are continuing to go to our prenatal classes on Tuesday evenings.  We had our breastfeeding class during week 31 and it went well.  We learned a lot and continue to hope and pray that breastfeeding will go well for us.  Week 32 brought the first of our 3 childbirth classes.  We had originally had it scheduled for one full day, but had to change it.  We are making the long trek to St. Joseph's hospital in St. Paul, but it is totally worth it.  We are learning a lot and each class makes it more real!  We are going to be going through labor -- this baby has to come out!  Ryan giggled when he pointed out a spot in the book that was geared towards the partner that said, "Don't take anything personally."  Seriously.  :) 

I had another prenatal appointment last week and it went great again.  My blood pressure is still great and I still haven't gone over 10 pounds in weight gain, which is good for me.  I got my Tdap vaccination and my 32 week packet with lots of information as well as information on pre-registering at the hospital.  It is so hard to believe that it will be here soon. 

This week we went to Wisconsin Dells with Sam, Rachelle, and the kids and stayed at the Wilderness.  We had a fun time, but baby sure made it easy for me to take it easy!  On the very few water slides that I was willing to ride, the trek up the steps sure was a lot of work.  I can tell that baby is really starting to grow and take up space inside of me -- and take my breath away!  I tired very easily and took lots of breaks.  

Here are baby stats this week: 

Size of baby: According to the Internet - a large jicama.  Seriously? Who comes up with that stuff?  And what in the heck is that?  Apparently she is around 3 3/4 pounds - 4 pounds and about 16-17 inches long.  She still has lots of growing to do!

Movement: She is a very busy girl and I am loving it!  I feel her movements all of the time.  I feel a lot of her movements up by my left rib cage, but feel them all over as well.  I love watching her move in my tummy too!  What a miracle!

Sleep: I am still not going to complain about sleep!  I am getting it and that is all that matters!  The last 4 nights I have woke up every 2 hours to pee, but I fall back to sleep right away!  Every morning before I get out of bed I wait for a kick or punch from baby girl.  :) 

What I miss:  Not sure. 

Cravings: Pizza.  It is so good.

Symptoms: Week 31 brought a new symptom for me -- Heartburn.  I have never had heartburn in my life.  Ugh -- gross!  I will fall asleep for a little while and then wake up, sitting up fast with a feeling like I am going to puke and nasty taste in my mouth, throat, and chest.  Yuck.  Tums have been my friend.  I also had one night where I woke up with what I am sure was a Braxton Hick contraction.  And of course, the peeing and the charlie horses.  I am still battling a bad cold.  This will be the third week.  That can go away anytime soon!

Maternity Clothes: Nothing has changed here.  Yes, maternity clothes are necessary.  My normal t-shirts are getting tighter by the day. 

Best moment this week: My heart melts when Ryan feels or sees the baby move.  He gets so excited and it just melts my heart.  I get to feel her all day long and the little bit he gets to feel her is just so exciting.  I love it.  

 

 Happy Fall!

 

Week 32!  Not sure if she is as big as that pumpkin yet-- but I feel that way! 

This week will be a fun week.  On Tuesday night we have our second to last childbirth class.  On Tuesday afternoon we are doing something very neat that we will share after we do it!  This weekend my mom is throwing me a baby shower in Grogan.  I am very excited!! It is hard to believe it is getting to be the end of October!  

Week 30! 10 weeks to go!

Yesterday we made it into week 30 which means there are potentially only 10 weeks to go!  It is so hard to believe!  Next weekend marks exactly two months until our due date.  To some that may seem like a long time away, but when you are expecting a new life to come into the world that is your responsibility for the rest of your life... two months isn't long! 

The past two weeks have been great and we have been making quite a bit of progress in the baby world again.  It is going to be non-stop from here out! 

On Sunday I had my first baby shower in Norwood Young America thrown by Rose, Julie, and Ryan's aunts.  It was an awesome shower.  I still can't even believe all of the wonderful gifts that we received and the great support that we have.  It is incredible.  When I got home that evening I took each thing out and showed it to Ryan telling him who it was from, etc.  I felt like it was never ending! 

Here is a photo of all the goodies after I took them out of their bags to show Ryan.  Thank you SO much for the wonderful gifts, cards, good wishes, and just being there for us.  It really does mean so much to us!  We are very thankful. 

The adorable cake made by Rose! Thank you!

My wonderful mother and mother-in-law! 

My great sister-in-law Rachelle! 

On Tuesday night we had our first prenatal class at Amma Parenting in Edina.  It was titled Newborns 101.  The class was good, but I knew a lot of the information from nursing school and taking care of my niece Alaina and Ryan knew a lot from living with his niece and nephew for 8 years as they grew up.  It was kind of comical when we had to go around and introduce ourselves and explain how much interaction we have had with newborns and babies.  All of the men said that they have either A) held a baby once B) never changed a diaper or C) never touched a baby.  Ryan wasn't afraid to mention that he lived with and took care of his niece and nephew from birth to at least 6 years of age, not to mention his own siblings or cousins.  He definitely had the most experience and I wasn't afraid to mention that he has a lot more experience than me!  

Overall, it was a good class and mostly a refresher, but there was a lot of good things pertaining to safety that you can never hear too many times.  Our next class is on Tuesday and it is all about breastfeeding.  Again, I learned all about breastfeeding in nursing school and helped teach mothers how to breastfeed, but when it comes to myself.. well, I don't really know anything and I need the help!  Breastfeeding is going to be challenging and I pray that it will work out for us.  This class will be very helpful for me and even Ryan so that he can help troubleshoot and understand the entire process.  I am very thankful I have a husband (daddy to be) that is so willing to learn and wants to be a part of every step of this.  Thank you Ryan.  

I started putting away all of baby girl's new goodies this week.  Her room is really starting to look like a baby's room with all of the new goodies!  I am in the process of washing everything and putting it away.  This process makes me pretty excited for her arrival.  I even sat down on Friday afternoon and read some of her new books to Baby Girl.  Apparently you're even supposed to be reading to your baby in the womb -- so that is what I was doing! :)  Of course, I couldn't get through "I'll Love You Forever" without crying.  I don't know how my mom read it to us so many times without bawling through the entire thing!  I may have to learn how to control my emotions or maybe it won't be as bad since I won't be pregnant anymore!  :)

As a I was putting stuff away the other night, Buttons wasn't being so helpful.  He knocked over a stack of Baby Girl's new books and decided to sit on them, but he looked oh so cute.  Of course the only thing that I could do was take a picture! :)

 On Thursday of this past week I had my first biweekly prenatal appointment.  I have biweekly prenatal appointments until about 36 weeks and then I will go weekly.  The appointment went great.  Baby sounded great and I explained how much I am loving all of her movements.  I can tell when she is doing a full movement in my belly and when she is just giving me kicks or punches.  She has recently starting using my bladder as a trampoline.  It is kind of annoying, but I'll take it! :)  My blood pressure was right on target at 125/71 and heart rate was great at 81.  Best of all, I have only gained 10 pounds.  The doctor congratulated me and said that they are okay with moms gaining 10 pounds at the halfway point.  Well, I am quite a bit past that and I am doing great.  The pounds will start creeping up over the next few weeks that I get to meet our baby girl. 

I got Rhogam this week since I have A- blood and if Baby Girl has + blood, my antibodies could attack her.  I also received it after my miscarriage and will receive it again after birth to protect any future births.  Ya know what else I got this week?  My flu shot!!  I would encourage you to get yours as well if you haven't yet!  I am urging any family members of ours to receive their flu shots and Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) since Baby Girl will be born in the thick of flu and pertussis season.  We want to do what we can to keep her safe.  Ryan is getting his flu shot tomorrow and we will set up an appointment for him to get his Tdap when I get mine in two weeks.  It is very important. 

 

 

Week 30 Baby Stats:

Size of baby: According to the internet she is the size of a large cabbage.  That simile is hard for me.  In normal terms, she is about 17 inches long and over 3 pounds.  She has almost reached her birth length, but she has a long way to go in the developing department.  But really, she is getting big!  She is going to start growing exponentially and my photo above shows it.  I don't want to know what I am going to look like at 39 weeks.  Uffda!  

Movement: Since I really started feeling her big movements, I have began to feel the difference in them.  I know when she is just giving me kicks and punches and I know when she is moving and squirming around in there!   It is fun to SEE her move as well!  Sometimes she kicks right at my bladder and it makes me nervous about what could happen in the future if she keeps that up!  Yesterday I rolled onto my side and she was like a drum in there.  It amazes me every single time!  Sometimes she catches me so off guard with a big kick that it still startles me!  All I have to say -- stay in there baby! 

Sleep: For the most part sleep is still pretty good.  I have been using that body pillow since about 20 weeks and it really is necessary.  I've noticed that sometimes I wake up on my back and I can feel that my heart is racing and I have trouble breathing.  Back to my side I go!  The past week I have also started having to use the bathroom multiple times throughout the night.  That obviously has something to do with her using my bladder as a trampoline! 

What I miss:  Bending over normally?  Seriously, I look like a dip when I bend over.  You can't just bend straight over with a big belly in the way.  Oh, and I still miss sandwiches.  First meal after birth please?  Thank you. 

Cravings:  Cereal.   I always want cereal as a snack. 

Symptoms: Peeing.  I have to pee.  Funny though, I have to pee much more during the night than during the day.  I am starting to get tired easier.  I haven't really started swelling yet (a little in my ankles), but I am nervous each day that I put my wedding ring on.  As soon as I get a hint of swelling that thing is coming off!  I am not about to get that beautiful ring cut off my finger (I had a friend who did)! 

Maternity Clothes: Totally necessary!  And they are comfy.  I have been wearing some of my normal t-shirts, but I definitely stretch them out when I wear them. 

Best moment this week: I have a couple!  Like I mentioned above, my shower was just great.  I am very thankful for everything that we received and all the wonderful people in our lives supporting us.  The next one?  Putting away and "playing" with all these baby goodies.  It is sure getting me excited to finally meet our little one.  It is hard to believe that it won't be long and she will be in our arms, not in my belly.  And finally, hearing her heartbeat at my 29 week, 5 day appointment.  Why it was so neat this time?  It was the first time during my entire pregnancy that I wasn't afraid to go to my appointment or hear (or not hear) her heartbeat.  Will I still be afraid the rest of my pregnancy that something could happen?  Yes, but feeling her move around inside me so much during the day is so reassuring.  

Well, I am off to finish washing and folding Baby Girl's clothes.  They are much more fun to wash and fold than our clothes!   :)  Thanks for your support!