30 Week Bump Update

How Far Along: 30 weeks

Oh Em Geee!  30 weeks!  I just don't know how this happened!  In some ways it feels like I've been pregnant forever, in other ways, I cannot believe how fast it's gone!  We are three quarters of the way done!  I could TECHNICALLY have her starting in 7 weeks!!  That is just so crazy to think about!  Though I know most first timers go late, and I definitely want her fully baked.

Estimated Due Date: January 28, 2013

Total Weight Gain: 19.5 lbs.

Movement: She’s really been moving more and more lately. I can sure tell she’s growing because now I can tell where she’s at exactly and even see when she’s moved/moving from one side to the other. It’s been pretty wild to experience.  

Sleep: Getting comfortable to just fall asleep is next to impossible. A good nights sleep has been long forgotten – a distant memory and I have no hopes of it returning for quite some time.

Cravings: Still crave Vietnamese food… spicy.

Labor Signs: Nope, none yet!

Maternity Clothes: Yup! And they’re SO comfortable!

Belly Button in or out? It’s still in but it is starting to flatten out.

Wedding Ring on or off? Still on, but barely, I’m not sure I’ll make it the next 9 weeks with it on.

Stretch Marks: Nope! And I’m keeping my fingers crossed it stays that way!

Other crazy symptoms: Still experiencing fatigue {don’t plan on this going away anytime soon, even long after she’s born!}… Pregnancy brain – forgetting tons of silly things… I’ve noticed a crazy change in my balance and the dreaded heartburn; I’ve never experienced heartburn before pregnancy.

What I am looking forward to: This week I’m looking forward to Thanksgiving. This will be my first year to host. I’m excited to see family and spend time with them. It’s the one time each year that everyone makes effort to come together.

Best Moment this week: Feeling the change in her movement… although some positions she gets in can feel quite uncomfortable, it’s a great feeling knowing she’s growing and being able to somewhat measure that for myself. Watching the lump on my belly move and knowing that is my daughter is a really indescribable feeling.

Anticipation

an·tic·i·pa·tion

the act of anticipating or the state of being anticipated. 2. realization in advance; foretaste. 3. expectation or hope. 4. previous notion; slight previous impression.

Pregnancy is FULL of anticipation! I am constantly anticipating the next step with excitement. This final trimester, I’ve been thinking {and dreaming} so much about our little girl. Those who know me know that I am a lover of planning and preparing! With that said, her little nursery is pretty complete just waiting for her arrival. It’s all organized; her little blankets and clothes have been washed and put in their place. Ryan has assembled her swing and the car seat and stroller are just collecting dust waiting to be used. I’ve even contemplated assembling her pack n’ play in our bedroom {where she will sleep for her first couple of months} but I know that’s taking my preparedness a bit too far as we still have approximately 10 weeks left to go. Ha!

Last week was my glucose screening for gestational diabetes. I was not looking forward to this as most women complain about the yucky sugar solution you have to drink within 5 minutes. After an hour a blood sample is taken to test your blood sugar level. If your level is too high, your Dr will have you go back in for the 3 hour test. I was keeping my fingers crossed that I would be able to pass my screening and bypass the 3 hour test. In my opinion, while the drink was terrible, it wasn’t as bad as it had been described. Any score of 140 would require the 3 hour test… my score was 139. Sheesh. I was instructed to watch my sugar and carb intake {very happy camper that I did pass, even if it was only by 1 point}. I was also told that I am anemic and that I needed to add an iron supplement to my prenatal vitamins. Easy fix.

My every two week appointments have already begun and Ryan and I are anticipating our birthing class on December 1^st. During this class they are also going to take us over to the hospital for a tour… I hear they’ve made major renovations at St. Francis and that it is very nice.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner! I can’t believe the way time flies!

Debut

I guess I have officially jumped onto the blog bandwagon. Several have suggested that I keep a journal throughout my pregnancy… and after some thought I figured it would be more fun to keep a blog to document our ever-so-changing lives. This way, we can share it with friends and family as well even after Elliet is born. Most importantly it will serve to remind us to slow down and enjoy each day as it’s given to us and all the small details that we would normally forget.

And so here it is… what will be known as the bump updates… This is going to be a recap up until this point. {Thanks for humoring me.}

How Far Along: 28 weeks

So far I have been very, very lucky to have not gotten sick and for that I’ve been very grateful!

Total Weight Gain: 15 lbs.

Gender: It’s a GIRL! And for that I’m super excited! She already has lots of frilly bows! According to my Aunt Sheila, we’ve had to distinguish Elliet’s color as purple so that Paisley isn’t confused with her already taken color of pink! Oh poor Paisley, her world is going to be turned upside down.

Movement: She likes to move most in the evenings when I’m home and relaxed on the couch. Ryan first felt her move on September 29^th, that was very neat! She doesn’t move much for him, but hopefully as she grows that will change and he will be able to feel her more.

Sleep: I wake up multiple times a night! It is a good night if I can go back to sleep. I haven’t slept well at all since getting pregnant. I guess my body is prepping me for what’s to come!

Cravings: Vietnamese food! Specifically Re Lei’s… tofu spring rolls and soy chicken and vegetables! Unfortunately I don’t go as often as I would like to, but my good friend Megan meets me there for lunch every time I ask her to! I love her for that!

Other crazy symptoms: My biggest “symptom” this whole pregnancy has been fatigue. It was ridiculous during my 1^st trimester how drained of energy I felt and just as people reassured me, it went away during my 2^nd. However, to my dismay, as I’ve entered my 3^rd I think its coming back full force. Ryan has been great about it too… he is a big help with things like the dishes and letting me relax. Also, when I feel like going to bed early {and by early I mean 8:30pm early} he’s a trooper and comes and crawls in bed with me and keeps me company!

What I am looking forward to: It is interesting how what I’m looking forward to has changed throughout this pregnancy so far. Initially, we were looking forward to finding out the gender, feeling her move and preparing her nursery. My 2^nd trimester was more nesting mode… getting her nursery organized and put together {a recommendation of my friend Kristi, not to wait until my 3^rd trimester to do so, due to fatigue. I’m glad I listened to her advice!!} And finally, I’ve noticed it change once again entering my 3^rd trimester… Ryan and I constantly question what we think she will look like and how our lives will change. We can’t imagine the love we will have for her. We’ve become very excited for her arrival!

Best Moment this week: The best moment this week was today’s Dr appt. We learned our sweet pea is weighing 3 lbs 2 oz and everything is looking great! She’s still breech and with her swift kicks to my bladder, I didn’t need Dr. Martin to tell me that! Ha! We’re lucky enough to receive an ultrasound at each and every visit… Ryan and I were excited today because we both noticed the difference in how pronounced her facial features have become as opposed to previous ultrasounds.