38 weeks

Skin

Tight! especially this week. My body has been showing signs that I am pushing it way too hard and all of a sudden this week? Boom. Swelling. So. Skin is tight. Moisturizing like a crazy person.

Weight/Clothes

...annnnnnnnd thanks to the water retention mentioned above I have buoyed up an impressive 10 POUNDS since LAST WEEK. WTH. I had the assistant at the office weigh me AGAIN just to be sure at my appointment today. I mean, you have GOT TO BE KIDDING. Then they talked me off my ledge and reassured me that if I was retaining water this was entirely possible, my blood pressure still looks rocking, etc. So I should just relax and prop up my feet and take it easy. Easier said than done, my friends, but I will make a valiant effort.

Cravings/Aversions

In addition to already retaining water, the only things that sound good to me are salty, salty salty. Ugh. Food, I am over you. How did I ever love you so much? P.S. please let me love you again when this baby decides to make their appearance.

Cramps/Pain

Sciatic pain has marvelously gone away this week, though baby is still riding super low in my pelvis. Good news!

Sleeping

Trying to take it easy, generally sucking at that. Trying to sleep well and take care of self, you know...doing ok.

Heartburn

ugh.

Fetal Movement

Rolly Polly at night when Momma is trying to sleep. Of course. Generally slowing down in movement, which I try not to freak out about and then end up dwelling on and freaking out anyways even though I know this is totally normal. Oh, hormones.

The Girls

More of the same. Feeling normal. I am wondering if I will get engorged boobies when my milk comes in this go round. Some Mommas claim that after number one that doesn't happen. I wonder.

New this time around

A sudden ballooning of 10 pounds at the end of pregnancy? Wowza. Last time my weight didn't really change for like the last month or so. Geeze Louise. Drink water, put feet up, rest, preheat.

Oh yeah, this again.

Cankles. Huzzah. ::eye roll::

Mental State

Earlier this week I posted about "mental blocks" and just writing that post made me feel better and get my act in gear for preparation. But then, THEN, my friend had her BABY! Yaaaaay! And another friend told me she was pregnant! SQUUUEEEE!

And I realized again that there is nothing more thrilling and exciting (other than birthing your own baby) than your friends having babies.

38 weeks, last go round.

Evelyn Rae is 18 months old, I am 38 weeks along with Bump

...and doesn't she look thrilled to be in this photo? Ohhhhh, toddlerhood.

Taking it Easy

Welp, I had a whole lot planned today...


...but, my body has other plans.


Nothing serious, but enough signs and symptoms to tell me that I may have been pushing a bit hard lately.

So, today is going to be about takin it easy.

Hope y'all don't mind.



Evelyn Rae is 18 months old, I am 38 weeks along with bump

...and one of my friends I mentioned on Monday gave birth yesterday! Yay!

Mental Block

I'm gonna go ahead and be honest here - when I look back at posts from around this time before Evelyn was born, I am AMAZED at the level of preparation we had achieved. i sure didn't feel prepared at the time, but in comparison to this pregnancy? Wowza.

I have barely done a thing for the arrival of this baby. And yet, I'm not really worried about it? Is that weird?

I guess in perspective, I know what a new baby is like, and that I feel comfortable enough that we will more than likely be able to roll with the punches when this one gets home.

Most of my prep has been to get things ready for Evelyn. I haven't washed a single item of newborn clothes (oops), or read back through Ina May (oops), or any of my childbirth class notes (oops - I did dig the binder out though, does that count?)

As husband and I discussed this the other day, because he feels sort of the same way as me regarding rolling with the punches (can we say denial, much?) we discussed the possibility that we have sort of a mental block about this whole new arrival actually being here, since Ev doesn't really "get it."

I know that may seem weird, but because she doesn't really understand what is about to happen, we talk about it, but not in the same way we would if she was older. She's not asking a bajillion questions about Momma's growing belly, or about a "brother" or "sister" - though she is obsessed with my belly and belly button, and now points and says "Baby" to everyone's stomach.

Since so much of my day is consumed with Ev's needs, wants, emotions, etc. and I can't really reflect on it with her, my moments of introspection, reflection, and mental preparation are few and far between.

Hubs and I are hustling like CRAZY to get all of our "projects" done, which makes me feel better about nesting and preparing - but there is a certain point in the checklist we have to reach before the new baby stuff can be pulled out and added to the crazy - I am just hopping that point gets here before baby does!

Additionally, I think it is helping me keep the "OMG BABY IN TWO WEEKS"ish feeling at bay because I have a few friends all due around the same time as me, but before me. And they haven't had their baby's yet.

Yes, I understand all babies come in their own time, and that I could very well have my baby before they have theirs, especially since this is my second and they are having their first, which typically run late - not that you have to tell me - but I think it is an additional "hurdle" that these ladies welcome their bundles and then it will sort of be real to me that it is "my" turn.

Speaking of that whole waiting for baby thing, I think that it also comes into play that Evelyn was ELEVEN DAYS LATE. So, due dates have sort of stopped meaning anything to me. Is that weird?

I mean, overall they are just a guess by the medical community anyway, based on a 28 day cycle that not all women (including me!) even have, and yeah, my baby came when she was ready - and that was eleven days after the day I had so eagerly anticipated for almost a year.

Now that I have rambled and rationalized this whole thing, which I am sure could be psychoanalyzed into all sorts of weird things that I don't think my presence of mental blocks REALLY merit, I am gonna head back to my to do list.

It is long and crazy. But I need to check things off so that I can get into the full excitement and peace of mind to hit the labor zone.

Totally normal, right?

Right?


Evelyn is 18 months old, I am 38 weeks along with Bump

...and the other day I realized that I have been pregnant or breastfeeding since 2010, y'all.

And probably will be through 2014 (breastfeeding anyways).

WHAT THE HECK.

37 Weeks

Skin

Tight, and new stretch marks are officially here. They aren't nearly as big or as red as they were with evelyn at this point, so, hurray for that? Guess I will go stock back up on some Mederma again for postpartum care.

Weight/Clothes

Measuring "perfect", staying under weight than where I was with Evelyn. We shall see how this goes. I am getting pretty sick of winter clothes, which I always do around this time of year anyway, so "Bring on Spring"!

Cravings/Aversions

You know, food is...necessary? I just totally forgot how unappetizing food is most of the time during this stage of pregnancy. Blech, It just fills me up in 5 seconds anyways an drakes me feel gross. 

Cramps/Pain

Definitely still having little "practice" contractions. Also, sciatic pain. Boo. Hiss.

Sleeping

Sleeping pretty well thankfully, and by "pretty well" I mean a sort of restful waking up every hour or so kind of sleeping. I can't wait for "Baby has been sleeping through the night for a few months and oh yeah my body still knows how to really go into a deep sleep" kind of sleep. You know, in like 8 months or so.

Heartburn

Better this week? Maybe? Ugh. Ready for that to be GONE.

Fetal Movement

Big rolling twisting motions. They sometimes stop me in my tracks because there is a foot in my ribcage and ohmygoshsuddenlyicantbreathe and then, you know, I am fine two seconds later.

The Girls

Bigger. Seem to finally be filling up. Firmer, etc.

New this time around

Um, slowly starting to freak out about my complete and utter LACK of preparation. Last time there were classes, and books, and contemplation, and cuddles on the couch with my husband talking meaningfully about how this baby was going to impact our lives in every which way. This time? Ummm, I have a toddler. That is all.

Oh yeah, this again.

Reading Ina May again. See above. Making me feel better about that.

Mental State

Rotating between freaking the hell out and feeling fine. 

37 weeks, last go round.

Evelyn Rae is 18 months old, I am 37 weeks pregnant with Bump

...and this outfit and no pictures including Ev are brought to you by kind grandparents who were watching her for the night so we could go have a much needed fun dinner out with friends. 

Stiff.

My beloved husband had the day off of work today, thanks to some mandated recover time from his accident yesterday. He is totally fine, but stiff and sore as the woman who plowed into him (while he was at a DEAD STOP) was going about 30mph.

Anyway, he went to get checked out yesterday, got some good muscle relaxers from the doc and got the car checked out this morning - not totaled! Yay! 

(one of those situations where the car isn't valued at a lot, but it is worth a lot to us because it is PAID OFF, yo! So, we were kind of scared. Plus, I love my little first car.)

....

Speaking of being stiff and sore, we have both been stiff and sore and generally feeling it from all of our crawling all over, bending, squatting, etc due to our home projects. 

The difference is - now he has some good drugs and I don't. Boo. 

I kid, I kid. Kind of.

Additionally, I am feeling a bit sore this morning from something else.

...No, not having a baby, or contractions or any other thing your dirty mind may have gone to...

Last night, Ev woke up in the middle of the night. She has been back to her normal sleeping all through the night, no problem, schedule for a while now, so to be honest I thought it was just really early morning - like 6 or so. 

When her little voice came over the monitor, I blearily told A to just grab her and bring her in to cuddle with us for a little bit.

Turns out, it was actually 3:30 am.

Annnnnd, we spent the rest of the night like this -

Ahhh, the joys of parenting.

At least everyone else woke up well rested this morning, right?

Evelyn Rae is 18 months old, I am 37 weeks along with Bump

...and apparently we are expecting snow this weekend. HURRAY! If it's going to be this damn cold, I at least want some pretty snow.

Pssssssssst.

36 week post is up.

And that's all you kiddos are getting today.

I have sewing and projects to do.

...and husband was in a minor car accident.


He is just fine, but my poor little college car is not - so we will be sorting that out when he gets home.

Ah, life.


Evelyn Rae is 18 months old, I am 37 weeks along with Bump

...and there is some serious foot in ribcage action going on today. Oy baby!

Project-ing

We have been doing tons and tons of projects around this place lately, which will soon be revealed...

...but they all seem to take a little longer with our, um "enthusiastic" assistant running around.

But, I do have a project to share with y'all that I finished a while back.

My new wine rack!

..because what else do you build while pregnant and pining for your sweet, sweet wine? Ha.

Seriously though, a local dairy farm that is no longer operating as a dairy farm, but is still a totally a rad place to visit and eat, was selling off all their old milk crates.

Cleaned they were $5 a piece (I think) and dirty? 

$2. 

SERIOUSLY.

(I think. They might have been $4? I t was a while back. I forget. Moral of the story? They were CHEAP.)

So, I grabbed a couple (dozen) dirty ones for friends and family who wanted them, and some for me with the thoughts to make an awesome wine rack.

Regardless of my husband's skepticism that I could make something solid out of wood that had been hanging out in barns for God knows how long, it worked!

 Originally, I was just going to stack three of the crates, attach them to one another and call it a day.

But, it didn't seem that sturdy and was a little too tall and skinny for the space I had in mind. So, I nabbed one of the extra crates I had set aside for my Momma, who wanted "two or three" (spoiler alert - she got two! Sorry Momma!) and came up with my new design.

I scrubbed them down a little more (I had hosed them down previously), and then got to work. I decided to use Liquid Nails to attach the crates to one another after debating between that and a nuts/bolt situation for a long while. To be honest, I just wasn't sure if the wood could take just a few stress points of screws and nuts. So, I whipped out my trusty Liquid Nails.

I put two of the "halves" together with my VERY sophisticated system of weights, and let it dry overnight.

Can you tell by the lighting that most of this was done after our helper went to bed? 

Then I got to work on the legs. I wasn't sure about using any previously, but my new design ended up being a bit too short for my taste, so I picked these up from Lowe's and grabbed a stain to match the crates.

Again, using my VERY sophisticated tools, I threw some stain on these babies.

And on some base blocks that I had a nice dude at Lowe's cut for me.

By that night, they looked like this!

All ready for some legs.

I stacked my two halves of the crate rack together with some more Liquid Nails, attached the base blocks and let it hang out overnight. 

In the morning - I had this!

...aren't you glad those free weights are getting some use? I know I am.

Flipped it over, and there we go!

I still want to poly the outside of it for some protection, but don't want to lose that weathered look, so I need to special order some matte finish poly - none of the home improvement stores around us sell it.


But, in the meantime, I am hella happy with my round about $20 wine rack.

What do you think?

Evelyn Rae is 18 months old, I am 37 weeks along with Bump

...and little one has actually done  great job adhering to Mommy's "Off Limits" rule regarding this rack thus far. Just in case, none of our "nice" bottles of wine have migrated into it just yet... ;)

Love.

"And I say to you, I have also decided to stick with love, for I know that love is ultimately the only answer to mankind's problems... And I'm not talking about emotional bosh when I talk about love; I'm talking about a strong, demanding love. For I have seen too much hate...every time I see it, I know that it does something to their faces and their personalities, and I say to myself that hate is too great a burden to bear. I have decided to love." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Inspirational words from an inspirational man.

I hope everyone has a great day!


Evelyn Rae is 18 months old, I am 37 weeks along with Bump

...and I intend and hope to adequately teach my children many of the sentiments so eloquently expressed by Dr. King.

36 weeks

Skin

Ugh. We officially have new stretch marks. I think. They could just be old ones that look a little more purplish now than they did a week ago. Still. BOOOO.

Weight/Clothes

Still feeling pretty good, still under where I was at 31 weeks with Ev. Midwives say I am measuring great and look adorable, so, yay for me!

Cravings/Aversions

eh. Food. Blech. My stomach is too small to stomach anything of substance.

Cramps/Pain

Hello false labor contractions! I have been getting them for a while, but they are def getting more normal - which apparently is totally "Yup, normal" with second babies. COOL. who knew? Not me. Anyways, they hit me at night and sometimes in the afternoon, but then generally go away - obviously, or I would have a babe in arms by now ;)

Sleeping

Ugh. Lightly. Everyone keeps waking Momma up. Plus, it is freaking cold and stuff at night. But then I put on more clothes and it is HOT. Oy. Can't wait for those breastfeeding sweats! Ha. Fun times.

Heartburn

I.can't.even.

Fetal Movement

Slowing down a bit this week. Probably running out of room. Some people think this is an indication of labor starting soon, but Imma need a week or two more, ok Baby Bump?

The Girls

More of the same.

New this time around

It's getting pretty hard to pick my baby girl up. Sad faces.

Oh yeah, this again.

NESTING! I mean, I nested already a bit, but the other night I started stripping some peeling caulk away as I bathed Ev. So then it ALL NEEDED TO COME OUT RIGHT NOW. Yeah, fun times.

Mental State

Feeling better as we have hit some of our house projects out of the park. Preparations are in full swing folks!

36 weeks, last go round.

Evelyn Rae is 18 months old, I am 36 weeks along with Bump

...and some outtakes courtesy of Daddy.