37 weeks

Skin
Pale, pale, pale. Pale legs make even the slightest nit of swelling... unattractive? To say the least. My skin is getting thin for sure, and this baby trying to bust out of my abdomen aliens-style is not helping. Seriously, Baby G is head down where he or she should be and pushing out against the front of me when stretching. Craziness. Sometimes it hurts. Meh. 


Weight/Clothes
Down a 1/2 pound from my appointment last week, though I certainly feel bigger. Life is getting a little more difficult in the simple ways of sitting up in bed etc. Sitting up from laying down flat when you have a watermelon on your midsection = tres difficile. 

Cravings/Aversions
Meh, not hungry. Drinking water, eating protein, you know. I am having the weird burst of nesting energy they say hits some women in the last few weeks though and LOVE cooking right now. So, we are rolling with that. 

Cramps/Pain
Yikes with the pressure in the groin. Baby is weighing heavily down there, and it still hurts my right side if I try to roll over there...I dunno why that side hurts more, but the belly definitely needs support these days. 


Also... Braxton Hicks! Yay! Just a few, but they are definitely happening. Fun times. They don't hurt at all, they are just weird and there. Intriguing.


Sleeping
Doing ok, but it is HOT out. We live in a 100 year old house with 1 zone heating and cooling...and let me tell you that the last two summers upstairs have been fine for me. But, this summer spring has been ooc. When it is 98* all day beating down on the top of the house. Bah. The nights are warm for a preggo. We bought one of those fancy tower fans with temperature control the other day though, so we will see how that works out. At this point it is more about it being cool enough for baby to remain comfy as well.


Plus, I am getting woken up by baby movements! This baby wants to rock and roll all night apparently. But I get to practice sooting techniques by patting and rubbing my belly and saying soothing phrases. Usually calms him or her right down...for an hour or so. 


Mental State
So excited! Did you not see the post from yesterday? Ah! Fun times. Also, I find myself getting slightly jealous of all my teacher friends who are getting out for the summer...and then I remember to not be jealous because they will all be FREE to hang out with me and Baby G all summer long! Woot!


Also, I am really feeling great lately about this pregnancy and how it has been. I think I finally breathed a sigh of relief (that I didn't even know I was holding in) knowing I was full term and that things were going a-ok. I am totally at peace, and will miss being preggo for sure, but I am getting to the point where I am so.ready. to meet this baby. And not in a "get this baby out of me NOW" kinda way that I was sure I would be feeling by now. Give me till I pass my due date and check back. Ha. 

Heartburn

Boo.

The Girls

Hangin out. They have been the slightest bit sore this week, so i am wondering what that's all about. Growing again? Quelle surprise. 

Fetal Movement

Groovin! So funny. The alien movements are ooc with my belly now. And I think that we are far enough along that Baby G has started developing a sleeping pattern. Turns out this baby is nocturnal (like most other newborns) and really wants to play when I am going to bed and in the middle of the night. 

Oh, and any time I chew ice. Baby LOVES ice. Just like momma. Swoon.

Swelling

Still there, BP is still rocking it out and baby's heart rate is all good, so apparently it is environmental. Oh and that whole huge volume of blood thing. You know. All of that fun stuff. 

Appointment Updates

37 week appointment was great. First it was all exciting because as I was pulling into the parking lot I got a call from Nell, one of the midwives, that I would need to go to the main office rather than the midwifery because she had a woman laboring and about to give birth! Yay! I got so excited for that unknown woman!

Anywho, I trotted over to the other building and got to see Beth, whom I love, so all was dandy. She told me my Group B Strep test came back negative (wooty woot! no IVs for me!) and that everything seemed to be swimming right along from their end. She checked my cervix (just in case since husband's next few days/weeks are spotty in being able to attend our child's birth). And I am 1 cm dilated and 75% effaced! Woo! I mean that is not like a huge thrill and is totally normal at this point, but exciting that things are doing what they are supposed to! Yay!

Weird Stuff

I am nesting like CRAZY. I don't think I have ever had such an eye for dog hair in my whole life. I want to be scrubbing baseboards and reorganizing closets...and A just wants to relax. Which is totally understandable but leading to a bit of tension since I cannot.let.it.go. 

Everywhere I look I see some little mess or another than needs to be in TIP TOP SHAPE. Then I get tired and go to bed. I really just wish I could be home all day instead of tethered to my boring desk job and cleaning. So, instead I make lists. All day. It's a good little stress reliever. 

Since I don't have the real photo from yesterday with me...I snapped this in the bathroom. I wish you could see my cute black sandals because then the flower wouldn't look so rando. But, I am comfy. 

37 weeks, 1 day along

...and that dress in the cell phone photo is yet another example of non maternity clothes that you can use while pregnant. It's at Target RIGHT NOW for $18. Seriously. I almost bought it in every color because I think it will make nursing easy and accessible and is just plain cute. (P.S. Waaay more colors online) Others were buying it as a swimsuit cover up? I mean sure, if you want to, but I promise it's a dress. 

Full term!

Today, Baby G and I are at 37 weeks, which is officially FULL TERM! Woo!

I am so.freaking.excited y'all.

No seriously, I have always been excited to meet this baby, but now even more so. I didn't even know that today was a big marker in my head until...well, today. This baby can come at any time! I am going to be a mom with a baby all unattached and stuff in approximately 3 weeks! Craziness.

I am torn with sadness that this pregnancy is coming to an end for sure, but then I turn around and think, who the heck cares?! I get to meet my baby! Even through all the nausea in the beginning, the lack of sleep, the fact that this baby has recently been trying to bust through my skin aliens-style, everything, I really have enjoyed being pregnant. Such an amazing experience. (Plus when else is your belly so big, but still so firm?)

Updates after my appointment today, but first let me share my most favorite video of all time with you all to convey this sort of emotion.

37 weeks along

...and my husband and I quote that commercial to each other all.the.time.

Sacrifices

Yesterday I wrote about some changes in the budget at our household, and today I bring two more very.serious sacrifices that I will be making for Baby G.

(clue: anytime I link 2 words with a period, that equals sarcasm.)

Sacrifice #1: My Body


Now some people are very serious about this being an actual sacrifice, and I get it, I do. There is a totally vain part of me that is so damn mad I got stretch marks and that my thighs now touch and that my arms are chunkier than they used to be. Lame. I know.

But you know what is not lame? Growing a human being inside of you! That is pretty darn awesome. Then using that same body to sustain your baby = even awesomer.

That being said, I would still like to get back in shape post baby exiting my body. Mainly because I want to be healthy and fit back into all my cute clothes, but a small part because approximately 12 weeks post delivery this girl is getting married:

My about to be official sister-in-law and I at my wedding.

AND I will be a bridesmaid. With some of the same ladies from these other weddings...

This is actually all of us! Same ladies, different bride. <3 

In any case, the reason for this photo show is that I have pretty friends. (It's true, don't hate.) And, when it comes to the wedding this Fall, I would like to feel just as pretty as the rest of them. (It's true, I am vain, and woman enough to admit it.) Plus, these photos will forever be on display in places that I frequent because the bride is my SIL! I certainly don't want to be hanging out in my in laws house for Christmas staring at a picture of me on the wall that I hate with a fire burning deep inside. It's just the truth.

Mission Get Courtney's Body Back will start as soon as the doctors clear me for exercise. Now, I know me, so please do.not.worry that I am going to be too overzealous here. I am way too lazy to get into the addicted to working out mode. BUT, I would like to make a good effort. With that in mind, I have asked for a treadmill for the house for my birthday! Yay!

I even took a look around Craigslist yesterday to see if there were any good ones listed on the cheap in our area. This one sounded perfect.

Treadmill for Trade

"I have an older model treadmill that works well, but has been sitting unused for several years. I am looking to trade it for something useful. I'm looking for a new(ish) climbing tree stand for this bow season, but I'm open to other trades if you have something worthwhile. "

Bahahah, now where did that climbing tree stand I got for Christmas last year get to?

Sacrifice #2: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II

Oh? You don't think HP is cool? Please watch this and THEN tell me that.

Here's the thing. I LOVE HP. After discovering it in high school, I pre-ordered and bought all the books at midnight after the 3rd one (or had them shipped to my house early. you know, as you do.). AND I have seen all of the movies when they came out. Like, the day they came out if not at midnight.

Originally our wedding date was July 17th instead of June 12th (thanks Navy for that switcheroo) and a group viewing of HP6 was actually a part of our schedule of wedding events. Seriously. My friends love it too. 

You think we are weird? You can kick it to the curb. Read these books. They are great. That is all.

Release date for the LAST HP MOVIE EVAH? July 15th. What?! That is probably within the two week time frame where I am supposed to be doing nothing except resting, sleeping and breastfeeding Baby G.

Waaaaaaaah. I definitely am not going to see this thing at midnight, I am realistic about that. But....I am wondering if I can still make it out to see it on Day 1? Many people think that I just won't care, but I am still sad. So is husband since he loves HP too.

They say being a parent is all about sacrifices right?

36 weeks, 6 days pregnant

...and I really am a well adjusted person, I swear.

What do you NEED to have a baby?

This morning on the radio the song "Love like Crazy" came on. It helped give me some perspective and calm some shot nerves. 

Oh, you don't like country muzak/haven't heard the song? Here you go. (Or skip to lyrics below, or just scroll  by all of this, you know, whatevs, you're a grown up, make your choice).

Love Like Crazy - Lee Brice - Lee Brice Videos

They called him crazy when they started out

Said seventeen's too young to know what loves about

They've been together fifty-eight years now

That’s crazy

He brought home sixty-seven bucks a week

He bought a little 2 bedroom house on Maple Street

Where she blessed him with six more mouths to feed

Yeah that’s crazy

Just ask him how he did it; he'll say pull up a seat

It'll only take a minute, to tell you everything

Be your best friend, tell the truth, and overuse I love you

Go to work, do your best, don't outsmart your common sense

Never let your prayin' knees get lazy

And love like crazy

They called him crazy when he quit his job

Said them home computers, boy they'll never take off

He sold his one man shop to Microsoft

They paid like crazy

Just ask him how he made it

He'll tell you faith and sweat

And the heart of a faithful woman,

Who never let him forget

Be your best friend, tell the truth, and overuse I love you

Go to work, do your best, don't outsmart your common sense

Never let your prayin knees get lazy

And love like crazy

Always treat your woman like a lady

Never get too old to call her baby

Never let your prayin knees get lazy

And love like crazy

They called him crazy when they started out

They've been together fifty-eight years now

Ain't that crazy?

Here's why that song was calming to me. I finally broke down and did the actual budget of Courtney-as-a-stay-at-home-mom. And it freaked me right out.

As I said before, we can definitely afford it and this is totally a first world problem and a privilege - I totally understand that. But, it is still a shock to see what we usually spend on things (since we don't really have a constructed budget now) and to see how we will need to alter that.

Since I did this yesterday and A was on watch last night (and didn't call AGAIN, ahem husband who reads this blog - you're wife is 23 days from giving birth - might be an appropriate time to start recognizing the importance of a nightly check in phone call, ::sets soapbox aside::) I have just been savoring all of this shock by my lonesome. Well, the dog did listen to a bit, as has my super patient and super great at saving $$ officemate Cheryl.

But, this morning, as it was still tugging away at my brain, this song came on and reminded me. We will be ok.

Sure there will be sacrifices, but come on now.

I took a mental look around our home and realized what a great point we are at in our lives. We have a beautiful home, with nice furnishings and we own.it. (well, we are on our way, you know). We don't want for anything. We have been living like rock stars for the last few years (because we were totally still on the high of INCOME! We aren't students anymore! WOOO! and DINK status! Double woo!).

When I think about it logically, it makes sense that it would be a hit to go from no budget to a budget. And I know this. I also know that people have done.this.before.

The first verse of that song made me think about my grandma and grandpa, right away. They raised 7 kids together. 7! Neither of them had a college education. My grandmother worked as a secretary for a psychologist for years. My grandfather? He worked for Uniroyal tires. And not in an office. Manual labor, folks.

My handsome grandpa circa 1949.

Did I mention that when they had 5 kids they still lived in a two bedroom home? And yet, they managed. The kids thrived. They were all healthy and happy and have grown into productive adults with their own families. They started with almost nothing, and they did it.

My parents started similarly. When they were first married they lived in an apartment, with "the same orange crates" my grandparents had to keep their clothes in. No dressers, fruit crates.  Or so I was told growing up. They had a card table and folding chairs. They broke open their piggy banks to pay rent sometimes, and that was with my mom working a full time and part time job and my dad going to school full time, in ROTC and working two part time jobs. Yet, then they decided to have me. Ha!

And they did it.

All in all this morning just made me think about all of the nonsense I have been stressing about. Not that money is nonsense, but seriously, what do you really need to raise a kid? 

You need love and the basics. We have more than just the basics. I think know we will be fine. I think I can live without pedicures, jcrew and expensive hair salons for a while. Will my privileged little butt whine about it from time to time? Of course. I know me, and I know that I will. 

But, I am gaining perspective. And something tells me that when I finally get to look into those sweet little eyes, and I gain the privilege of spending time with that tiny baby, and my husband when he actually does get time off, I will have a whole new amount of perspective.

36 weeks, 5 days along

...and I have had three little "fake" contractions today! Wee!

36 weeks

*Note: Since both my husband and live in sister decided to abandon me a mere 4 weeks from my due date (cue whining and crying here. jk.) I took these photos by myself using a highly technical method of balancing my super expensive camera on top of a stack of yearbooks and Jane Austen novels sat atop an ironing board. Are you impressed? I know I was.*


Skin
Gah! How much bigger am I going to get?! The belly button is as flat as flat can be, with the top even popping out a bit - mayhap I will end up with a "Turkey's done" button after all. 


Seriously though, I am wondering how much further this skin will stretch, which is exactly what my What to Expect weekly update told me I would be thinking this week. I sort of hate when they are right about my mental state. I am a beautiful and unique snowflake, you see.


Weight/Clothes
Coming in under 200 lbs still! Yay! barely, by 3.5 pounds, but yeah. Wooty woot. 


According to many of my countdowns and tips about pregnancy, after this point my weight gain may actually stall or even reverse in these last couple of weeks. I don't think that's possible for me, but let's hope, k?


Cravings/Aversions
Still not picky, in fact I am not even hungry lately. This is super weird since I am a girl who is self-described as "not shy around food" but...I sometimes have to remind myself to eat. Still enjoying the taste when i eat it though, just feeling like someone who is eating because they are bored, not because they are hungry, though I know, I know my body needs the nutrients yada yada yada, so I am eating for a good reason.

Cramps/Pain
Oy. Lower groin pain! Baby is definitely riding lower these days and the pressure is serious business some most days. This is a good thing, baby moving down that is, but wowza. Also, with most of baby concentrated down low, I am starting to feel how big this kiddo is and worry slightly about his or her exit strategy. BUT, I know my body can rock this birth, so there.


Sleeping
Good in that I am sleeping through the night mostly, bad in that when I wake up, it is to shift and sometimes baby has decided to settle all on one side of the belly (gravity and all). When I then try and rollover, it seems as though I have a 12 pound bowling ball in my belly and it hurts to move.

Mental State
Seriously the most excited to have this baby I have been in this entire pregnancy. To think that I am going to be holding this baby in a month or less (we figured out the latest possible date I would have Baby G is July 13th as our practice will only let you go to 41 weeks, 5 days before inducing, which would put being induced on the 12th and only possibly giving birth on the 13th) is just crazy. Crazy exciting.


As I mentioned, I have had a few fleeting moments of anxiety regarding the actual birthing process. Though, that seems to be more because of the unknown, versus any fear regarding the birthing process or pain, if that makes sense.

Heartburn

Boo.

The Girls

Waiting for a baby to feed. I managed to stay in my larger C cup bras up until this point, though they are definitely fuller than they were when I first bought them. Based on that I am starting to stock up on some nursing accoutrement that will accommodate either the same size or a slightly larger D cup for the engorgement period, etc. 

Fetal Movement

Baby is low and punching.me.in.the.bladder. Either that or nuzzling it with his or her face. Seriously, every down low movement is making the bladder of steel that I have maintained for the most part say "Buh-bye" for now. 

Swelling

Still there. Once the heat wore down last week it wasn't quite as bad. 

98* in the beginning of June?! Are you kidding me Virginia? Let's get this together.

But once we were rolling in the 80s, and I continued with my regimen of protein, water and walking, things are better. definitely still swollen, but better. Again, the midwives say not to worry - BP is still rocking and low so it is more a matter of the conditions than a symptom of anything else going wrong (so far). I'm not worried, but trying to be cognizant of still staying on top of it. (it = being a healthy preggo)

**New Category**Appointment Updates

So, at my 36 week visit we not only scheduled all my other visits until D-day, BUT we also did my first cervical check. Kinda. The midwife asked if I wanted my cervix checked (because they are midwives and you have a choice with them y'all. Come on. Rocking.). I replied that we definitely could, but I didn't suspect that anythign would have happened yet.

That being said, she decided to do some exploration just to feel for how things were going but not the "check" my cervix so to speak. She got up there and said "Yup, that's a baby's head! Good job! Aaaaand, I am gonna stop there since we don't need to know any more for now. Great pelvic bones by the way!"

Of course, THEN I immediately wanted to know more information. Instead, I said "Thanks!" awkwardly to the pelvic bone comment, because really, how much do I have to do with that, and got all cleaned up. Next week I will definitely have them check because husband may have to go underway, and I would love to have as much info as possible before then (so I can beg and plead that he not go if I am dilated. Like, at all).

Weird Stuff

I think that my boss has a pretty traumatic view of birth. Not surprising for someone from her generation I guess, where hospital and super medicated births were the norm, but yeah, weird. Last week she announced at a staff function that she needed the number for A to be reached in case I, you know, "got wheeled out of here all of a sudden on a stretcher" because I went into labor. 

It's nice that she is concerned, but wheeled out on a stretcher? Really? 

36 weeks, 4 days along

...and since my sister was out of town, I totally stole that skirt from her room without asking (thanks sis!). She wore almost the exact same outfit to my baby shower back at the beginning of May.

How cute is it on a non-preggo? Ah, flat tummy. One day...

Also, thank the Lord for elastic banded skirts coming back into style. They fit right under the belly and manage to be comfy. 

Also #2, now that all of my Thank You notes have FINALLY made it in the mail, (that was the deal I made with myself, no post until the thank yous go out) I am going to blog about my awesome shower. Get excited!

What a difference...

30 weeks make.

Yup, same pajamas. 

Well, that's a maternity tank now.

I realized that I should snap this photo last night as I was laying in bed with these pjs on, sharing ice cubes with the dog (we both like to chew them, it's why we are so compatible), while reading this book.

So, this morning I did.

36 weeks along

...and I also snapped a photo of my ankles first thing in the morning once I was dressed so that I can do a direct comparison of what they look like in the afternoon as well. Ha.

35 weeks

*Coming in just under the wire here, as tomorrow is 36 weeks. Whew. Busy-ness these days.*


Skin


Varies drastically, sometimes I feel like my skin is so smooth and elastic and has a lot of stretch left, and other days I feel like a ripe fruit about to burst. I am following a better skin regimen than ever before in my life in regards to exfoliation, moisturizers, etc. so...we will soon see how much more room this baby can carve out of my body.

Weight/Clothes
We will see at my appointment on Friday! I don't feel as though my belly has gotten much bigger, but I do feel like my butt is expanding a little bit with my hops widening. Apparently that is totally normal and such so baby can, you know, come on out of there, but I am finally getting to the point where some of my pre-pregnancy pants don't work with a Belly band anymore. 


And on the subject of clothes, I am getting so tired of some of my maternity clothes. Don't get me wrong, I love a lot of them, but most of my favorite things are not work appropriate, so i find myself recycling through the same like 10 dresses for ease. When I get home I get to put on my fun clothes, which is awesome, but yeah. I will not be sad to see those work clothes go away. 



Cravings/Aversions
Not picky. When I go out to dinner with people they inevitably look at me and say, "You pick pregnant lady, what are you in the mood for?" Bless their hearts. but really, so long as there is good service with tons of ice water and a fresh wedge of lemon with each new glass? I am fine.

Cramps/Pain
Comes and goes. Sciatic pain every so often, lower uterus pressure from baby descending, you know, all par for the course.



Sleeping
Good and bad, I feel awful that I secretly enjoy having the whole bed to myself when A is gone overnight on the ship. But I do. I really do.I am starting to be ridiculously hot at night though. I thought night sweats came after the baby came out?

Mental State
We are getting closer and closer and I am getting more excited and frazzled with every passing day! So much to do! What if this baby comes early? Ack!


But then, moments where I am so excited to rock this birth and have my baby in arms. Hormones = shifting emotional state. Yay for being crazy!

Heartburn

It's there. I am so excited for it to go.away.

The Girls

Doing what they are supposed to do! Yay!

Fetal Movement

Still moving a lot, but the big movements have definitely wound down. There just isn't as much room in there. It is really funny the shapes that I find my belly in these days though. The other day it looked like I straight up had like a shark fin shaped belly. Baby was exactly where they should have been and pressing their spine and butt outward toward the world. So funny.

Swelling

You know, it continues. It is much more my feet than my ankles specifically, though yesterday was particularly big (for me) in the foot, ankle, calf area. Granted it was 97 degrees outside, and it went down once I put my feet up. But, seriously, who has TIME TO PUT THEIR FEET UP? I have so much to do! I know, I know, take care of yourself, blah. At the end of the day I have stuff to do and I cannot.just.sit with my feet up that much. 

Ankle circles and ten minutes with feet above my heart. That is what I am committing to today. And a nice long walk. And finishing my piping so that these crib bumpers can finally get into place...

Weird Stuff

The nursery is almost done. Awesome! And, it has helped me really visualize images of myself with a baby in there. In like 30 days. CRAZY.

35 weeks, 6 days along

...and I wore that same dress for our engagement photos.