36

I didn't post last week! Feeling like a bad mama. Things were hectic with the holidays, but we had a lovely Christmas with our families. Happy Birthday Jesus! 
Today (well, yesterday, since it's now past midnight) marks 36 weeks! Squeeeeeeeeee! 
At this point Poppy is about 6 pounds and over 18 inches long. Baby is gaining about 1/2 a pound a week...wow! Chub up, Pops! I will have another ultrasound next week to check Poppy's size, and make sure he/she is not too big to fit through my pelvis. Mama has breedin' hips, so I think we'll be OK even if this little one has a huge head like Daddy did when he was born. I had a rather large noggin too :)
I have this entire week off for Winter Break, and I cannot freakin believe tomorrow is Friday...how the hail did that happen?! I have a long list of things I wanted to get done around the house over break, and just started on them today. So far I have washed and prepped all of our beautiful cloth diapers. Yay! So we've got your butt covered, Poppy. I also worked on getting ahead on my own laundry (this is always a challenge for me). I put all of the christmas decorations and gifts away, washed and set up the swing we are borrowing (thank you Sarah and Louie!) and cleaned out the spare bedroom. Hoping to do the following in the next 4 days:
Clean out bathroom, hallway, and foyer closets. Must make room for baby stuff. Lots of baby stuff. 
Clean out dresser in spare bedroom. More baby stuff. 
Clean out and scrub down fridge. Just cuz it's gross.
Detail my car and install carseat. (Interior of my car is pretty gross too). (Andy)
Finish packing hopital bag (almost done!)
Assemble Pack n Play
Make returns/exchanges at Babies R Us and Buy Buy Baby
Clean out loft and replace light fixture
Dust everything
Mop all floors (Andy)
Scrub Bathrooms (Andy)


Le Sigh. I feel like if I don't get it all done before I go back to work Tuesday, it will never get done. Speaking of work, yes...I am working up until my due date. That totals 17 more work days. I am praying for at least 1-2 snow days in the mix. I mean it has to snow eventually, right?! Work is becoming more and more challenging. I have so little patience left for my poor, sweet students. And my body hates me for being on my feet all day. I literally have to drag myself around and end up swollen and exhausted by the time I get home. BUT, the longer I work the more time I will have home with my sweet baby. So work I shall! I found an excellent long-term sub, so I am stoked about that. I now have the task of writing up lesson plans for her for 12 weeks. Bleh. 
So, some people say 37 weeks is "full term", but my doc says it's 36 weeks! Which means Poppy is full grown and ready to come out any time now! I must admit, when I first found out I was pregnant and read everything I could get my hands on, I learned that it's best for baby to stay inside as long as possible. I just knew I'd be patient, knowing my baby was doing his or her last 4 weeks of growing safe inside me. Ha. And now that I'm 'full term' I am so ready to meet this little poppy seed. I know myself, and I know that for the next however many days I will be obessessing over every possibel sign of labor. Where the hell is that mucous plug?! Was that a gas pain or a contraction? Is my water breaking or did I just pee myself a little (again). Do I have the poops from the White Castle I ate for snack, or because my body is prepping for labor? I thought not knowing Poppy's sex was going to be the greatest surprise, but now I am realizing not knowing Poppy's bithday is equally exciting in a similarly torturous way. Whenever this little one decides to arrive is truly fine with me, just please pray for him or her to come quickly and safely. It's all a great mystery at this point, and we have to trust in God that everything will go according to his plan. I just hope he has a kind plan for us ;)

34 weeks 2 days, which means...

40 days until our due date! That's just under 6 weeks. I am praying this little one does not want to hide in mommy's ute past his/her due date. Not because of the discomfort, but because I want to meet this baby! It's killing me!! Boy, girl, bald, hairy, fat, skinnny, stubborn like daddy or perfect like mommy (ha!). Seriously, the curiosity is getting to be overwhelming. 

Newest symptoms: swelling and severe heartburn. and hot flashes. i've had them before but not to this extent. I really shouldn't complain about the swelling, it's not too grotesque and not consistent. But when it happend by hands and feet burn like a mutha. I am still able to wear my wedding and engagement rings comfortably, but I did finally take the sizer off the engagement ring (which made it about a half size smaller). I purposely didn't have it sized down even though it's a bit large for the purpose of being able to wear it throughout my pregnancy (and after). We'll see how things go for the next 6 weeks :)

So everything I've read says I would probably feel decreased movement beginning about last week. Um, no. I feel it more than ever. Poppy has moved up and booty pops me right in the sternum all.day.long. Thanks for the love, Pops. Not sure (s)he is still in transverse position, as I am feeling huccups way up high under my right boob. I'm baffaled. Please don't be breech, baby. Pretty please?!

I have now gained 30 pounds, and I really only want to gain about 5 more. Seeing as how Pops is probably going to gain at least another 3-5 pounds in the next 6 weeks, this is going to be a challenge. Being in your last few weeks of pregnancy during the holidays is cruel. Nomnomnomnomnom. 

Here are few of the pics from my maternity photo shoot with cousin Ken. He did a wonderful job, especially considering this was his first time doing maternity pics (besdies for his beautiful wife, of course!)

33 down, 7 to go

Ahhhh, I love Sundays. Soup's on the stove, sun shining in the window, and I can put my feet up without feeling guilty. 


33 weeks and 3 days pregnant today. Hopefully Poppy will be here in less than 7 weeks. Can't wait to meet this little person. Today my cousin Ken came over and took some maternity pics for me! He is super talented and I can't wait to see them :)


It has been a week since our lovely shower, and the basement is packed with baby stuff. SO much baby stuff. We are forever grateful. On Friday I put together the bouncer and we took the carseat out...it was fully assembled, yay! It's sitting on the dining room table and it's gorgeous and I love it. Pretty soon we'll install it in the backseat of the car! Weeeeeeeeeeeee!

Sideways

32 Weeks down, 8 to go. Baby is about the size of a honeydew, around 17 inches long and 4-4 1/2 pounds. 
Our ultrasound last week confirmed that poppy is in transverse position, which basically means (s)he is hanging out sideways in my ute. I was so excited when the ultrasound tech told us poppy's position, because I already knew exactly how baby was hanging out. I felt like such a proud mommy for knowing my baby's butt from his/her head in utero. Visual aide:

Poppy's legs are not curled up like in this picture though. Oh no. They are stretched out and those little feet are getting plenty of exercise kicking mommy in the ribs. Hard. It's all good. Poppy also likes to booty pop and rump shake quite often, making for an interesting show from the outside as my belly pops and shakes. Boy or girl, this child takes after mama...Baby Got Back. 

So I am now convinced that Poppy is a boy. Don't ask why, I just have a 'feeling'. I had a dream that is was so, and in my dream I was really sad because I had my heart set on a girl (in my DREAM I felt that way). Ever since I woke up from that dream, I've felt certain there's a penis in my belly. We'll know soon!

In other news, I discovered my first stretch marks this week. On my breasteses. Yippee. They're utterly beautiful...

Today was our shower and it was a lovely day. I'll post on it later this week, with pics. In the meantime, mama has some leftover cupcakes to 'put away' and some maxin and chillaxin to do. Ciao for now!

31 Weeks

We have hit the single digit week countdown! 31 Weeks on a beautiful Thanksgiving Day. And so much to be thankful for. 
Poppy is growing beautifully. We had an ultrasound on Tuesday, and the tech said everything looks "pefect". Baby is about 4 pounds, just a bit above average.  He or she was staring right at us, gave us a good wave and looked like daddy :) Here's a belly comparison pic, just for fun. The scary part is that Poppy will double in size from now until due date! 

Pregnancy is a roller coaster; at least, it has been for me. Hormones and emotions run rampid, physical changes bring joy, pain and, well, confusion. It's a lot to adjust to. I've enjoyed it to the fullest so far, but would be lying if I said it was a breeze. There have been days when I've thought, "Oh my goodness, how will I ever do this again?" But those days have have been grossly outnumbered by the days when I've felt energized, amazed and simply grateful for the miracle that is happening inside of me. Some would argue and say it is not a miralce, it is something that happens every day to millions of people. I have to disagree. The complexity of fetal development, the rate at which my baby is growing, the act of childbirth...it's all a beautiful miracle to me. Which brings me to Thanksgiving. 
There is so much for us to be thankful for over the course of the past year. Our beautiful wedding day, the excitement of being newly married, creating life, experiencing pregnancy. And yet it has contained some of the most difficult moments of our lives. This is our first holiday without Andy's father, Randy. Our hearts are broken. I love my husband more than words can describe. How can we be so happy about the upcoming birth of our child, and yet so sad at the loss of a parent at the same time? There are no answers, no easy solutions when dealing with grief. All that I can do is love. Love my husband, love Randy, love our baby, love our families. And trust in God. Poppy now has an angel watching over him/her every moment of every day. I see and feel signs of Randy everywhere, and am comforted knowing he is with us. He loved Poppy so much already. Every time we talked to him or saw him the first thing he asked about was Roman. He had fondly nicknamed the baby Roman, and we loved it! Even before we got pregnant, he asked about the phantom baby every day. I am so glad he knew Poppy, even if only from the inside. And the thing that amazes and comforts me most is knowing that I am carrying a piece of Randy with me, all day every day. And when Poppy is born, he/she will know his/her Papa, because he is PART of her. It is so beautiful. And at the same time so sad that he will not be here in this physical world to experience the joy of watching Poppy grow. I pray that God will give me the strength to be the support my husband needs, and that our new baby will help us to heal. And we are so grateful for the constant love and support of our family and friends. 
So this Thanksgiving I am grateful for miracle of life. Even with all of it's challenges, every moment is a precious gift from God. 

3/4 of the way there...

30 Weeks today. Wow! How the?! What the?! When the?!


That's right folks, 30 weeks down and only 10 to go. Went to the OB yesterday and she said any time after 36 weeks is safe to deliver. OMG. That's only SIX WEEKS away. 
We got to hear Poppy's heartbeat, and it was a strong 168. Wanna hear it?!:

Best. Sound. Ever. 


OB said I am measuring big and Poppy was in the 75th percentile for size at 24 weeks ultrasound, so we get to go and see him/her hanging out in the ute next week. Yay. 


Movement has increased and this little one is not shy about letting me know what's up. I love it. Big rolls and bumps and thumps all day long. I'm really going to miss this feeling. Even though it's getting to the point where it sometimes hurts a little and causes discomfort. Yeah, I feel like a weirdo when the baby jabs me in the ribs and I jump in my seat. But my students aren't phased. As grandma says, "What the heck do THEY know, anyway." 


I wore tall boots with a high wedge heel to work today over my leggings. I felt pretty and not frumpy. It is now 7pm and my feet are still throbbing and my back is broken. I mean really, it must literally be broken to feel this way. Conclusion: I'd rather sport the portly pregnant frump look than endure the pain that comes with heels. Yeah, the height makes me look 10 pounds lighter, but at this point, who am I trying to fool. hahahaha. 


So what's going on with Poppy? Well, at 30 weeks the baby should be about 3 pounds (i'm guessing ours is a bit more, based on what the dr. said) and almost 16 inches. I can feel the 3 pounds, that makes sense. But 16 inches?! That kind of blows my mind. No wonder I feel kicks right under boobs and right above my crotch at the same time!


OK, off to do some nursery crafts. Thanks for checking in! xo

I'm Bored

There is much to be done, but I am too tired to move. So here is an updated survvey for your reading pleasure:

How far along? 29 weeks and 4 days pregnant
Total weight gain/loss: 22 pounds (holy shit, how did THAT happen?!)
Sleep: up 2-4 times/night to pee, plus another 3-4 times to switch sides because my hips and legs are killing me
Movement: all.the.time. it's just now starting to change from kicks and jabs to some pretty big rolls and turns. not to mention the amazing bladder trampoline routine
Symptoms: physical exhaustion, go from full to starving in a matter of seconds
Symptoms I DON'T have: snail trail/swamp crotch
Food cravings: avacados, coca-cola, hot choclate, milk
Food aversions: none really
Gender: I'll let you know around January 26th
Labor Signs: just good old braxton hicks. hoping their frequency indicates that my body will pop this baby out like it's nothing when the time comes
Belly Button in or out? flat with a little bit at the top poking out
What I miss: raw sushi, and i have been craving a beer.
What I am looking forward to: meeting my little sweetheart. and not feeling like a cow. 

Fluffy Butt

29 Weeks! O. M. G. 


We're planning to put up the crib this weekend (squeeeee!). Still trying to figure out how to fool Andy into thinking it will be fun :p 


Besides decorating the nursery, my latest obsession has been cloth diapers. Before you roll your eyes at me and mumble under your breath about 'how long that will last" let me tell ya, I've done my research and put a lot of thought into this. First of all, if you know me you know that I love to be frugal and thrifty. Of course, I know that my baby will need diapers, but spending all of that money on a piece of plastic/cotton that will get thrown away and contribute to waste seems like such a, well....waste! When I first started looking into cloth diapers I became totally overwhelmed. There are so many options! And of course, if you're a 'cool' cloth diaper mama, you have to use all of the abbreviations, "AIOs, fitteds, OS, PFs". Ugh. Nearly scared me away. But I read and read and even went to Modern Natural Baby in Ferndale (of course) for a little demo. So my plan is go to old school and use prefolds with covers...just like my mom did when Jesse and I were babes. Prefolds are your typical original cloth diaper, kept in place with a 'snappi'

Swell, I know. But how do you keep it from leaking? That's the fun part...covers! These are waterproof and come in all kinds of cute colors and patterns. 

Adorable, right?! The neato thing is that you can get 'one size' covers, which have multiple snaps so the diaper can grow with baby! Like this:

Besides a nice stash of prefolds with covers, I will have some All-in-ones for Poppy as well. These are idiot proof and basically function exactly like a disposable diaper, except instead of throwing it away, you throw it in the washing machine and use it again. These are a bit pricier, but can be found on sale and in excellent used condition for a great price. 

Ta-Da!

What else do you need to cloth diaper? Not whole lot. I diaper sprayer is nice, but not essential. It hooks up to the toilet so you can spray off the poops before you throw the diaper in the dirty pail. You also need a washer and dryer, laundry detergent for sensitive skin, and the motivation to do more laundry than you ever have in your life.

So now let's talk cost. The average cost of dipaering a baby in disposables for 30 months is between $1,500.00 - 2,000.00, assuming you are paying between $.17-.33 per diaper. The cost for 30 months worth of prefolds and wraps is about $250. Add another $500 over the course of those 30 months for laundering/energy costs and accessories, and we have a grand total of $750.00 to cloth diaper. That's a savings of anywhere between $750.00-1250.00! Let's be realistic though. I am going to add some of the more expensive All-in-one diapers to my stash because they are easy (for the babysitter!) and oh-so-cute. So let's add another $250.00. Well lookie there, we are still saving $500.00-1000.00. Oh but it doesn't stop there, friends. You see, these diapers are reusable for our future children. Yes, that's right. We will not have to buy more cloth diapers for our next babies...which is going to save us literally thousands more dollars. Enough to pay for a trip to, oh I don't know, Disneyland? AND, any diapers that are still in good condition can be sold at resale for upward of 50% of their original cost. Eat your heart out, extreme couponers. 

Oh, and did I mention we willl be saving the earth, one perfold at a time? Yeah, that too. 

Oh, one more thing! Crazy legs. They go perfect with adorable cloth diapers (or without!)and are unbelieveably cute:

Poppy's Place!

We are finally making some progress on the nursery. Baby steps (no pun intended, hehehehe) toward bringing my vision to life. Here is a what the nursery room looked like before:

It functioned as a closet/dumping ground. Ahem, I may have slight hoarding problem. 

Here it is after a fresh coat of (bright white!) paint and some new (neutral!) carpeting:

Now I can start with the fun part....the decorating and DIY projects! First project comeplete: pinwheel mobile! It was fairly easy to make and I quite enjoyed it. Cost me a total of $14, and I have enough supplies left over to make at least one more. Here she is, in all her glory:

28 Down, only 12 to go!

Our poppy seed is 28 weeks strong and has now grown to about the size of a cabbage!

Poppy is also growing in length, coming in around a whopping 15 inches! He or she must really be curled up in a little ball in mama's belly! I looked at the yard stick on my desk, and 15 inches is no joke. How else can (s)he fit in here:

Here's more info on Poppy's growth this week:

She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

This reminds me, I want to try the falshlight trick this evening; rumor has it if you move a flashlight across your belly, baby will move and follow it. Crazy cakes! I'll you know how it works :)

So I had my OB checkup on Tuesday, and everything looked great! The nurse was looking over my chart before she got ready to listen to the baby's heartbeat with the doppler, and she says to me, "So, are you having a girl?" Um, NO! We are waiting to find out. She just smiled and said that was nice. Then we listened to the heartbeat and she said it was in the high 150s, low 160s as usual. WTF?! Was hinting it might be a girl because of the higher heartrate (old wives tale), or did she accidentally reveal something she saw on the chart? Ugh, way to torture me, nurse! So I thought it would be fun to look at the Old Wives Tales regarding gender again, since the first time I did it was 14 weeks ago. I've color coded them, pink for girl, blue for boy (duh!) and green for n/a. Here is where we stand, Old Wives:

Old Wives Tale #4:  Heart Rate
If the baby’s heart rate is above 140 bpm, it is said that the baby will be a girl.  If it is under 140 bpm, then it will be a boy.  
Old Wives Tale #12:  Shape of Belly
If you are carrying high with a big, round belly, you are having a girl.  If you are carrying low with a smaller belly that sticks straight out, it’s a boy.  
Old Wives Tale #13:  Ring Test
Using a string, hang your wedding ring over your pregnant belly.  You are having a girl if the ring swings back and forth  and it’s a boy if it swings in a circle.   
Old Wives Tale #14:  Shape of Mom’s Face
When your face gets fuller and rounder when pregnant, it means you’re going to have a girl.  If your face is long and narrow, it’s a boy.  
I think this is b.s. since women all gain weight differently.  However, that being said, my face has gotten rounder, so all signs point to a girl for this one.
Old Wives Tale #15:  Key Test
This test involves a key.  If you pick up a key at the top (the roundest part), you are going to have a boy.  If you pick up the key at the bottom (smallest part), you are going to have a girl.  If you happen to grab the key in the middle, congrats, it’s twins!  
Old Wives Tale #16:  Mayan Tale
The Mayan tale adds the mothers age at conception and the year of conception.  If the result is a even number then mom is having a girl.  If the result is an odd number then a boy is on the way!  According to this, we are having a girl.
Old Wives Tale #17:  Drano Test
The drano test combines a tablespoon of Drano and urine together.  If the mixture turns green, it’s a girl.  If it turns blue, it’s a boy.  Ummmm, TBA
Old Wives Tale #18:  Acne
If you have acne while pregnant, it’s a girl.  It’s thought that acne during pregnancy is caused by the extra hormones.  
Old Wives Tale #19:  Cravings
People believe that if you are craving salty foods while pregnant, you can count on having a boy.  If you crave sweets, fruit, and orange juice, you are having a little girl.  
Old Wives Tale #20:  Smell of Garlic
If a pregnant woman eats a clove of garlic and the smell does not come out of her pores, it’s a girl.  If the smell seeps out of her pores, it’s a boy. Hahahaha, I am so NOT dealing with heartburn that would ensue with this one!
Old Wives Tale #22:  Skin under Left Eye
The eye test is when a “V” or “branches” appear when you pull down the skin under your left eye.  If you see a “V” or “branches” in the white part, you’re having a girl.  I have a “V”, so one more point for a girl.
Old Wives Tale #26:  Time of Conception
The person that is most aggressive in bed at the time of conception is the opposite of what the baby will be.  In this case, we’ll have a girl. 
Old Wives Tale #27:  Legs
If your legs get really big, you’re having a boy.  If your legs stay in shape and lean, it’s a girl. 
Old Wives Tale #28:  Moodiness and a Little Pecker
If you are really moody, you are having a girl since you have another extra girl hormones in you.  Your pregnancy will make you smile and be more happy if you are having a boy because there’s a little penis inside you.  Not sure how true this is, but it sure does make me laugh!
Old Wives Tale #29:  Bread
If you eat the ends of bread, it’s a boy.  If you eat the middle of the load, it’s a girl.  I’ve never liked the ends of bread and always have eaten from the middle… Another point for a little girl.  
Old Wives Tale #30:  Chinese Gender Chart
The Chinese Gender Chart claims to have an accuracy rate of over 90%.  It is based on how old the mother is at conception and the month that she conceived.  This tale tells me that I’ve having a girl.  
Old Wives Tale #31:  Mom’s Beauty
Basically you are having a girl if your beauty disappears during pregnancy.  It is said that the girl “steals” the mother’s beauty.  If you think that pregnancy has never made you look more beautiful, you might just be having a little boy.  
Old Wives Tale #32:  Dream of Sex of Baby
If you have dreams that you are having a boy, you will have a girl.  If you dream about having a girl, it will be a boy.  Dreams show the opposite of what you are having.  I’ve only had a dream that I was having twins, and there’s only one baby in there, so maybe there’s some truth to this…  or maybe it’s just a coincidence! I've dreamt of having both!
Old Wives Tale #33:  Clumsy vs. Graceful
If the pregnant woman is graceful throughout her pregnancy, she’s having a girl.  If she becomes clumsy, she’s having a boy.  
Old Wives Tale #35:  Side You Most Rest On
If a pregnant woman prefers to lay on her left side, she’s having a boy.  If she prefers resting on her right side, she’s having a girl.  I prefer my right side lately.  Hmm. I'm constantly switching back and forth.
Old Wives Tale #36:  Hands
When the pregnant woman is asked to show her hands, it’s a boy if she keeps her palms down and a girl if she shows her palms up.  
Old Wives Tale #37:  Dad’s Weight Gain
If the dad-to-be gains weight while you are pregnant, it’s a girl.  If he doesn’t gain weight, you’re having a boy.  
Old Wives Tale #39:  Necklace Over Hand
Have someone hold a necklace over your hand.  If the necklace swings back and forth, it’s a boy.  If it moves in a circle, it’s a girl.     
Old Wives Tale #40:  What Do You Think?
71% of the time, the mom-to-be knows what she is having.  I might be falling into the old wives tale trap, or maybe I just want a little girl, but I feel like it is a girl.
Old Wives Tale #41:  Morning Sickness
If you had a smooth pregnancy with no morning sickness, it’s a boy.  If you were sick or felt really nauseous during your pregnancy, count on a girl.  As you know, I have only thrown up once, but I’ve was extremely nauseousfor the first 4 months.  Girl again perhaps. 
Old Wives Tale #42:  Areolae
If your areolae (the part around your nips) have darkened, it’s a boy.  
Old Wives Tale #43:  Protein
When a pregnant woman craves meat and cheese, count on a boy.  
Old Wives Tale #44:  Feet
Are your feet colder now that you are pregnant?  If so, you just might be having a boy.  If your feet have stayed the same before pregnancy and during, you’re having a little girl.  
Old Wives Tale #45:  Hair on Legs
If the hair on your legs has been growing at record speeds, you might be having a boy.  
Old Wives Tale #46:  Hands are Dry
If your hands are constantly dry, it’s a boy.    
Old Wives Tale #47:  Urine
What color is your pee?  If it is bright yellow, you will have a little boy.  If your urine is a dull yellow, plan on a girl.  
Old Wives Tale #48:  Nose
Do you feel like your nose is growing and getting wider?  If so, you might be having a boy.    
Old Wives Tale #49:  Headaches
If you are having headaches, you might be carrying a boy.  I’ve definitely had an increase in headaches, so I wonder… 
Old Wives Tale #51:  Baby Names
It is said that when you can only think of specific names for a boy or a girl, you will have that particularly baby.  

That makes 19 for a GIRL and 10 for BOY. Hmmmmm, maybe that nurse was on to something....

Nest or Rest?

Today I am exactly 27 weeks pregnant....Poppy is due to arrive 3 months from yesterday, which means: HELLO THIRD TRIMESTER!


When I got my energy back in 2nd trimester, everyone said, "Don't worry, you will get really tired again and very uncomfortable once 3rd tri hits". Well damn you, everyone! You were right again! Except now, my mind and body are having a serious battle. You see, my nesting instinct is starting to kick in. I want to cook and bake and clean and organize. No joke, I woke up at 3:30am the other night and couldn't sleep...so naturally, I had to clean and reorganize the freezer. I come home from work and my feet and legs and hands are swollen like my homemade italian sausage. But I have no desire to rest....there is soup to be made! Oh, but my body gets me back for not resting. Revenge comes in the form of braxton hicks contractions. That wonderful sensation of my entire belly tightening like our baby one day will when (s)he has his or her first tantrum. Sorry, uterus, please take a time out. The tightening is accompanied by the feeling that i swallowed a 25 pound brick. Lovely. I can't help but wonder, how do pregnant mommies get through these times? I mean, I only have me and Andy to take care of...I can't imagine feeling this way and also taking care of another little one, or little ones for that matter! 
My other 3rd tri symptom is unquenchable thirst. I can't get enough water. Especially at night. Which leads to the insomnia. Drink, sleep, pee, lay, think, worry, toss, turn, try to find ANY position that does't hurt my aching hips and back. I've been up in the middle of the night every day this week anywhere from 1.5 - 4 hours. 
Aw, this entire post sounds like a bitch-fest :( I'm not complaining, just sharing my experience; and this is my reality. But I love it. I really do. 

I wore this to work for Halloween. I was a baby...having a baby. My students found this to be hilarious. 

On a different note, we are having Poppy's carpet installed in the nursery tomorrow. This means I can finally start to DECORATE! Squeeeeeeeee. I will post progress pics once we get started. So excited to make a comfortable home for my baby. 

6 Months

Thursday marked 26 weeks and Friday exactly 6 months. I have been carrying this little poppy seed inside of me for half a year! Mind boggling when I put in those terms. Here is what Poppy is up to these days:


And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.


Lately I have been thinking about the fact that in about 3 months, I will no longer have this baby inside of me. It has now become such a part of me to house my baby, I can not imagine NOT carrying him or her. It's normal: it's who I am. We are one. And the thought makes me sad...like, really sad. Like, I cry a little sad. I can't help wonder if this is a normal feeling, or if I am crazy cakes. I mean, of course I cannot wait to see and hold and look into the eyes of our baby. But I also will no longer get to feel it wiggle and squirm and turn and kick from the inside. Poppy will no longer get to hear and feel the beat of my heart so intimately. I am hoping that once (s)he is here I won't even think about those things...I will have so many new and exciting experiences to look forward to every single day. But I must say, I love being your safe little home, Poppy. 


"No one will ever know the strength of my love for you.


After all, you're the only one who knows what my heart sounds like from the inside"

Quotes of the day

"You're fat now!" ~ happy, well-meaning, sweet little first grade boy


"How much longer do you have?" "Just 14 weeks!" "Oh, I thought you were going to say 14 days!" ~ guy at work


"You look great! When are you due? Next month, right?" "Um, no. THREE months." ~ lady at work


And my favorite from last week:


"Mrs. Dowhan, Kyle called you fat!"
"Oh, I'm not fat honey, I'm pregnant!"
"He said you don't know what you is. You just fat!"


And at least 4 students a week ask, "Did you have your baby yet?!" 


sigh. 

Dear Poppy

Dear, sweet, Poppy,


You are so loved. As I lay here, feeling your squirm and kick inside me, I am overcome with love for you already. Imagining the first moment I get to see and hold and snuggle and kiss and feed you is overwhelming, I cannot imagine how my heart will burst with love when that time actually arrives. But you know what's really cool? Thinking about the love that will surround you from every direction once you take your first breath on your own. Daddy and I are so very blessed with amazing, wonderful, supportive people in our lives; and now we get to share YOU with them! Your grandparents and aunts and uncles will spoil you with love and attention. Mommy and daddy's friends, old and new, can't wait to meet you and see your precious face. Cousins, great aunts and uncles, neighbors, great grandma...we are so very lucky to be surrouned by such generous, caring people. And to experience all of them through your eyes, Poppy, will truly be a joy. You will laugh with these people, cry with them, learn and grow from them, and develop into your own beautiful personality. Daddy and I so look forward to guiding you in the direction of being the very best you can be. We love you! 

My perfect eggplant

25 weeks today, and Poppy is about the size of an eggplant! 

The third trimester exhaustion everyone describes is beginning to set in, but it is different from the first tri exhaustion. Basically, I feel huge, heavy, swollen and like I got hit by a car at about 3pm every day. This lasts until go to bed. Today I discovered the miracle of the heating pad on my back. Ahhhhh, sweet relief. I have also been doing a prenatal yoga video in the mornig before work and it helps relieve some of the general body aches and pains. 

Poppy is growing bigger and stronger every day...today she gave Nonna a healthy kick! Looks like she knows who is going to spoil her already ; )

25 weeks passed mean only 15 weeks left to go...whoa! We are going to register for the shower this weekend. Woo-hoo! I am rather excited. The nuresery is painted, and the crib should arrive any day. I've collected odds and ends and can't wait to start decorating the nursery. The nesting instinct is starting to hit!
I had an ultrasound in my gallbladder and some bloodwork, and got great news today - no gallstones! The Dr. thinks the pain I've been experiencing is more related to my reflux issues. He wants me to take Zantac for a week and see if it helps. This is a Class B drug. I have mixed feelings about taking it. I have come this far with taking only 2 tylenol and round of antibiotics (for a UTI) my entire pregnancy. I wish I could make it through the next 15 weeks without taking anything else. We'll see. Just relieved it's not the gallbladder. 
Here is another pic of what a 25-week-old baby looks like chillin in the ute:

Sweet, precious baby <3

I kinda miss...

Raw Sushi 



Medium Rare Steak


Lunchmeat (damn you, listeria!)


Standing up without wincing from lower back pain

Sleeping on my tummy

Dirty Martinis with blue cheese olives


Walking up the stairs without getting out of breath

Eating raw cookie dough while I bake


Unlimited seafood consumption (damn you, mercury!)

BUT

You're beyond worth it all, Poppy!

Our very own Cupie Doll

We had an ultrasound today! SO MUCH FUN watching Poppy hang out in the ute, especially now that I can see and feel the kicks and movements in synch. Neato! I always thought I would cry at ultrasounds, but I just end up giggling in pure joy the entire time. Maybe that will happen during Labor and Delivery too.....??? Bahahahaha.
There is absolutely no denying that this is Andy's baby when you look at Poppy's photo shoot from today. That big, bulbous, cupie doll head came straight from Daddy. Here's Poppy, giving us the thumbs up that everything is A-OK in there!

Poppy weighs 1 pound and 11 ounces already...about 2 weeks ahead of average. Uh-oh, taking after Daddy again??? (He was a 10-pounder at birth!). The thought of popping that big round head out frightens me, I must admit. But the cupie resemblance makes me all the more excited to meet my real live doll. Check it out:

Hehehehehehe, still giggly and giddy. Love you, Poppy! (Or should we call you Cupie now?!)

Score!

So I dragged my tired, insomniac arse out of bed this morning and went to my first ever mom-to-mom sale. Yep, that's right, MOM! Me :) hehehehe. Anyway, it was smaller than I expected and kind of seemed like an overpriced garage sale, which irritated me since I am a garage sale afficianado. I was about the leave when I noted the "large items" area of the sale. And there it was. In all of it's vintage glory, a 1950's Thayer high chair. It was refinished and in perfect condition and completely adorbale. SOLD! 
Here it sits in our dining room:

Everytime I walk past it my heart melts <3

23 Weeks

Time is flying. I cannot believe tomorrow is Friday already, and have a feeling that the weeks are going to continue to pass quickly. 

Today Poppy is exactly 23 weeks old! Here is what's happening inside my belly:

Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound, you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.

Watching Poppy squirm is indeed my favorite pastime. I also don't mind sharing the joy with others....want to rub this belly? Go right ahead! Want to feel Poppy dance? Place your hand right here...doesn't bother this mama in the least. I love the love. Bring it on :)

Today, while looking at some of the adroable sleepers and onesies we have acquired for Poppy, I had a total freak-out moment. An "Oh my god, we are really going to have a baby. A real, actual baby who will be living in this house and wearing these clothes. And it will be ours. And it will be soon." Awesome moment of surrealization. Also, looking online and in my baby books, I realize that Poppy is starting to look like an actual baby now. Cool. Amazing. Wonderful. Beautiful. 

We ordered the crib this week...thank you Nonna and Grandpa! We went with the vintage style Jenny Lind. It should arrive in the beginning of November and I can't wait! Also the nuresry is painted (thanks again to Grandpa!) and we're planning to have the carpet installed in the next week or two. Phew, things are finally beginning to come together. Poppy will be sleeping in our room for at least the first few months, so there truly isn't a need to have the nursery complete before (s)he arrives; but I feel such urgency and excitement!

I am currently laying on the couch, drinking water and trying to relax, because I believe I had my first Braxton Hicks contractions today. Totally freaked me out, just like every 'first' this pregnancy has. As scary as not knowing exactly what to expect is, I cherish every moment with Poppy and this journey we are taking together. You've taught me so much, Little One! I love you!

Does this bump make my butt look big?

It's no secret that baby momma got back. I always have, I always will. My whole life I assumed that my booty would continue to grow larger and larger when I got pregnant. What I hadn't taken into account was how my big old baby belly would grow too. And it turns out, the belly helps take the focus OFF of my big old booty. In conclusion, my bump is my new favorite accessory. It actaully makes my butt look smaller! It must be noted, while stating this observation, that I do in fact have distorted body image. This is a term is most commonly used to describe the image seen by women with eating disroders when they look in the mirror - they see a distorted image, a body much larger than it truly is. I, on, the other hand, have always seen a much thinner body than truly exists. I think pregnancy may just be magnifying this distortion, as the bump is such a distraction that everything else looks smaller in comparison. I dunno. All I know is, keep growing Poppy, momma likes her new butt. Look, it appears to be almost as flat at Nonnas!

In other body-related news, Uncle Sale has a new nickname for me: Jodhpurs. You know, the riding pants that flare out at the thighs, like this:

I guess the belly doesn't balance out the hamhocks like it does the booty. Luckily, I love Uncle Sal and think he's funny enough that this makes me laugh out loud every time I think about it. In any case, I don't care if my booty and my jodhpurs grow to this size of Texas, as long as my Poppy is safe, healthy, comfy and growing strong :)

Sweet dreams are made of...

Nipples and shark teeth. I have had several dreams about Poppy over the past few months, and they have all involed breastfeeding. I guess somewhere in my subconscious mind I am anxious about it. So, in last night's dream I was nursing Poppy, and she was a girl. She was quite homely looking, as has been the case in most of my dreams (possibly another underlying fear?). She wasn't latching on properly, so I held her back and looked at her mouth, and she opened it wide. Inside were hundreds of tiny, pointy sharks teeth. Little white teeth completely covering the entire roof of her mouth. It was sooooo creepster!! I woke up immediately. What's up with that?
In a previous dream Poppy was a newborn (ugly) baby girl and I was nursing her and she stopped nursing to ask me if she could have something else to eat. Yeah, she could talk. I asked my mom if I could give her spinach and she yelled at me...how could I BE so stupid! Geez, the kid asked, didn't she?!
In my very first dream about Poppy he was a boy, and we were having an ultrasound. We could see him swimming in blue water, fully clothed in a red shirt and baby jeans, in cartoon form. The ultrasound tech told us he was a boy. And then I woke up.
I don't think Poppy will come out fully clothed, able to speak or with shark teeth (god help us!). But preggy dreamland is pretty darn entertaining :)

22 Weeks!

I'm a little late in posting, but we have reached the 22 week mark! Here is that same survey I completed 8 weeks ago, just for fun:

How far along? 22 weeks. OMG, just realized Poppy is due EXACTLY 4 months from today!
Total weight gain/loss: + 13 pounds (but it's ALLLLLLL belly. ha. i wish).
Sleep: pain in my hips and legs wakes me up many times a night, as well as going potty 1 -2 times. but i usually get right back to sleep so i really can't complain!
Movement: oh yes! this is my favorite form of entertainment these days. feeling poopy kick, twirl, dance...and watching it too! Nonna and Daddy have also been able to feel the kicks! Best. Thing. Ever.
Symptoms: heartburn, cravings, weepy
Symptoms I DON'T have: no more morning sickness!
Food cravings: fresh tomatoes, sweets
Food aversions: um, none. feed me.
Gender: I'll let you know around January 26th
Labor Signs: dear lord, none yet, thank god.
Belly Button in or out? almost flattened out, with a big smiley face at the top thanks to my naval piercing.
What I miss: raw sushi, cold cuts, jumping around like a maniac with my students without turning red, sweaty, and breathless, sleeping on my back
What I am looking forward to: finishing the nursery, registering, MEETING POPPY!