{36} Weeks

How far along: 36 Weeks

                                                                   Weeks to go: 4

Baby is the size of: Head of romaine lettuce

Gender Prediction: Girl

Weight gain: 31 (lost 2 lbs)
Symptoms: Hips hurt, Nesting like CRAZY, leg cramps, and holy heartburn/indigestion!

Mood: Yowzers. I'm an emotional wreck .. watch out.

Maternity clothes: Over them. No, but really.. I'm selling most of them after this because if I get pregnant again I just want all new. None of them fit. I'm always uncomfortable no matter what I'm wearing.

Cravings: Milk, Sweets, Fruit

Aversions: Just raw meat.. per usual.

Sleep: Not amazing, for sure. I really think I would sleep fine if Trice weren't in bed with me.. but it's just so restricting. 

Movement: Lots 'o movement!

Labor Signs: Had some strong Braxton Hicks this week (see below), baby has dropped, waddling

Best moment this week: Finally getting all of our hair cuts! Going out for supper Sunday night with my dad!
Worst moment this week: Stomach flu. Enough said. It was brutal. I got so dehydrated I started having strong consistent contractions. Trice only slept a total of 4 hours that night .. so it was just not fun. They were going to put me on an IV for dehydration, but they let me go home with the agreement that I would come back if I couldn't keep any fluids down that night. Luckily I was able to! I didn't eat anything from noon on Tuesday to lunch on Friday .. poor baby starving inside of me!

Maternity pictures also did NOT go well. Picture day is ALWAYS stressful and I ALWAYS ask myself why we pay for them. It was SO windy that last minute we had to have htem inside our house -- not a fan .. so it was stressful to say the least. Trice was way crazy with them being at our house, and we didn't capture any of the shots I had hoped for. Oh well. 

Miss anything: Comfy clothes when I'm sick! 

Trice's Thoughts this Week: If someone even starts to mention baby, Trice says, "WE DON'T KNOW!" because he knows the next question will be if it's going to be a boy or a girl. Apparently he is over it. He is a little too lovey with my tummy these days and it's a bit painful. He wants ALL of baby's things/wants to be in ALL of baby's things.
Appointment Notes: Heartbeat was much lower (due to me being sick we think) -- 130. I tested positive for Group B strep again which was very disappointing. We had hoped to have as little interventions as possible during labor this time, but it is one thing that makes me nervous so I will get the antibiotics (which is unfortunate since I don't even like antibiotics for my child ever) ... just praying there are no complications from this. Other than that, all is well -- baby is head down. My doctor answered ALL my questions and calmed my fears!!

{Big Brothers} are a {BIG} Deal

When I was pregnant with Trice, we were so excited to be having our first child. Pregnancy #2 has brought that same joy but in different ways -- one of them was getting to share it with Trice. I am incredibly excited to see him as a big brother. I know it will be a HUGE adjustment for all of us and there are still times I wonder how my heart will possibly have room for another blessing .. but it will. 

Big Brother Bag packed full of goodies!

So what's inside?! Well, I took a picture of it all but then realized his shirt that matches baby's coming home outfit was in the picture, and I don't want anyone to see it before he's wearing it .. so .. this is the best picture you'll get of the contents! 

1. Dinosaur Color Activity Book w/Crayons

2. Mini Magna Doodle

3. Stuffed Dinosaur

4. Lots of Big Brother and New Baby books!

5. A Book to make funny faces using stickers

6. New baby -- Baby came with a newborn hat, diaper, one outfit, swaddle blanket and bottle. I added a little diaper bag and a pacifier, blankie that matches the big blankie Trice sleeps with every night. There's even a little "birth certificate" with it so we'll let him name his baby -- most likely "Motorcycle."

7. A few snacks for the hospital! 

Trice's Present for Baby

This is a small gift Trice will bring baby when he comes to the hospital to meet him/her! He is SO excited about it. 

Don't mind that it's out of focus -- I was being lazy and used auto mode! Don't mind that it's sideways either.. 

Trice picked out the dinosaur and the monkey rattle. I added the blankie that matches his big blankie and the blankie in his bag! Thank goodness my second mother, Kathy, made so many matching blankets! :) (Today I found a little Iowa State board book I bought before I was ever even pregnant with Trice .. so that got added!)

{33} Weeks

How far along: 33 Weeks

                                                                   Weeks to go: 7

Baby is the size of: Pineapple

Gender Prediction: Girl

Weight gain: 
Symptoms: I ate a cookie - I got heartburn. I eat anything - I get heartburn. (Totally did NOT have this with Trice .. must be a girl thing). ;) Just my hips killing me again because I'm overdue for a chiropractor appointment. SUPER dry skin! 

Mood: Really great .. what's wrong with me? 

Maternity clothes: Still outgrowing them by the second. Trice likes to point at me and laugh and say, "Belly's sticking out!" 

Cravings: Milk, Cottage Cheese, Fresh Fruit, Cookies

Aversions: None. 

Sleep: (Trice sleeping)

Movement: Still in Ninja mode. Lots of kicking my ribs going on. 

Labor Signs: Just some more Braxton Hicks. 

Best moment this week: Our church's AWANA group had their carnival Wednesday night. It was a blast! Trice loved playing the games and hanging out with his best buddy, Sydney. (My dad started calling her "Syd the kid" so now Trice calls her "Sydney the kid"). Hehe. Trice also started an active toddler's class at the Y. They do tumbling, games, arts/crafts, etc. He had a BLAST!
Worst moment this week: My best friend in town's house sold this week. It was the final "this is really happening. she's really leaving" moment for me. Surprisingly, I held it together pretty well. I'm absolutely devastated they are leaving, but I'm happy they won't have the stress of trying to sell the house hanging over them. It's looking like they will be leaving the beginning of April .. so a lot of changes for Trice all at once. I so wish she would still be here when baby arrives!

Miss anything: I don't even drink pop, but I'd really like a dr. pepper right about now! 

Trice's Thoughts this Week: He'd really like that baby to come out already. He keeps whining, "It's not coming out, mom." Then he gets really mopey and tells me, "Baby is never coming out!" Still lots of hugs and kisses. He thinks baby has one toy in there and one blankie.
Appt Notes: Heartbeat - 181 (yowzers!). Measuring at 34 Weeks. Re-signed papers saying I am choosing a VBAC (whoops!) Baby is head down!

{32} Weeks

32 Weeks pregnant with Trice vs. 32 Weeks Pregnant with Motorcycle

How far along: 32 Weeks

                                                                   Weeks to go: 8!! Bah!

Baby is the size of: Large Jicama

Gender Prediction: Girl

Weight gain: ??
Symptoms: My lung capacity has decreased dramatically. I can't even make it through a quick breakfast prayer without nearly passing out. My bladder capacity has also decreased dramatically. I think I have to pee again before I'm done peeing. I've also had this unpleasant burning/pulling sensation on the left side of my tummy. My google searching is attributing it to my scar tissue stretching. We'll see what the doc says (I'm certain his first words will be, "What have I told you about google searching?!"

Mood: You know - not so bad! (Nick may have a different opinion). I apparently do wake up a little crabby because one morning Trice told Nick, "Don't wake mommy up or she'll be cranky!"

Maternity clothes: I gave in and bought some new maternity clothes when we went shopping last week. My tummy was hanging out of half of mine and with 8 weeks to still clothe myself, I had to do SOMETHING!

Cravings: Milk!! Yum! 

Aversions: None. 

Sleep: Mostly the same. My hips have been hurting less which results in less tossing and turning! Woohoo!

Movement: I felt the hiccups all the time with Trice, but honestly I think this week is the first I've felt them with this baby. Trice got to feel them and he thought it was hilarious! Of course then he had to pretend hiccup. 

Labor Signs: Just a ton of Braxton Hicks .. they go away when I rest and drink water, but they sure are painful!

Best moment this week: Oh so many!! Friday I spent the morning swimming/playing basketball/play blocks with a friend who had the day off. Our boys are the same age and she's also pregnant so it's always fun to get together and chat! Then I left for the weekend for our church's women's retreat. I ALMOST didn't go this year - that would have been a HUGE mistake. It was a blast! The speaker was incredible, the food was great, and the fellowship with some amazing women was just what the doctor ordered. I definitely left with a changed heart. Also, getting more baby clothes washed and hung up in the closet was pretty exciting!! This baby will be styling.

Worst moment this week: The swimming pool we went to on Friday apparently eats flesh. My entire body broke out in a painful burning red rash... so that has been fun! Hopefully I find a remedy that works soon. 

Miss anything: Just Trice being able to fit on my lap, carrying him without running out of breath, and lying on my tummy to play with him!

Trice's Thoughts this Week: I hung up the baby's clothes in our closet and one morning while I was getting ready, Trice just stood in there staring at them with a huge smile on his face. I'm not sure if he was preparing to rip them all off the shelf or if he was dreaming of baby in those cute little clothes, but I'll pretend it was the latter. I asked him if he thought baby would look like me, daddy, or him and he said, "I think it will look like a dinosaur." He also was upset that baby was going with me on my trip to the women's retreat .. sorry, buddy, but we're literally connected. He still insists on naming baby Motorcycle, but one morning he told me, "Baby will just have to name itself." He then decided if baby is a boy, we could call it "Truck." He's also been very curious about where baby goes potty, if baby will wipe after going potty, how baby drinks my milk, etc. We've had some interesting conversations this week...