36 weeks and growing

At 36 weeks i can't believe I still have another 4-5 to go if I go full term. But the nesting has also started to kick in and I am pretty much ready for a baby. Now I am trying to make Nick and I some freezer meals, so when baby comes we can focus on her.

Speaking of HER, I had one more ultrasound on Friday because I was measuring small. But it turns out I am right on track and she is about 6lbs. We also got a clear shot of her little lady parts, so I know I won't have to return all the generous amounts of clothing we have been given. Phew...

Sneak Peak...

Here is a sneak peak of little Parkert's room. I still have not put up anything on the walls, and I believe there might be a shelf or two in that mix, but you get the idea. The curtain fabric is what I completely fell in love with, and I couldn't "see" anything else, so we went with it. My mom was the best, she really knows what she is doing, and read the pattern and helped make changes with things about the pattern that I didn't like. When Nick is at work, it is hard to get stuff done so she also came yesterday to help organize and help me do a bit of planting. It is hard to do a lot of things when you can't squat, bend, or lift. She is my angel and I don't know what I would do without her!!!

Only read if you want to listen to whimpy whinning

It's hard to think about an update, when my life doesn't really have any exciting events lately, and I don't have any cute kiddos to post about. So I guess I can give a pregnancy update. I am not sure if anyone will be intrigued though. I am almost 32 weeks (I'll post a pic this week sometime), and I already want to be done and get my reward. But I guess I can wait since the last thing I want is a premature baby who's tiny body is not ready. I will try not to complain too much, since I have so many luxuries that many women are not given.

I have started deep end water aerobics three times a week (or I try to at least swim laps one of the days). I have read that it is wonderful for pregnant women. And I am really enjoying it but I am getting bored of the same thing over and over. I am not a creature of "exercise" habit. I have to switch it up a lot or I give up out of boredom. Unfortunately, at this point water is my only source of exercise. No walks, no elliptical, no strengthening moves for my legs, nothing... I walk around the store and my belly cramps up, I walk down the hallway at work and my hips lock up. So I am very very thankful for water. There is zero impact on my body and I can go at my own pace since gravity is not a factor, hallelujah! When I don't feel like taking the class, I swim laps, I get my black cap, my green goggles, and my polka-dot pregnancy suit on and swim away. I must say it feels great also, just to move my extremities and not wince in pain. It's hard when I can only work-out at the gym, sometimes I want to just take Gage on a quick walk, but I know the consequences, and Nick doesn't want a call at work for him to come carry me home from a walk. Not cool! I also have tried prenatal yoga, I can do about 25% of the video so I do the same moves over and over and over.....not so much fun.

Another complaint (geez, I need to throw myself a pitty party and get over-it) is this heartburn. I thought I could withhold quite a bit of discomfort (see knife-stabbing pain above) but the heartburn has been out of control lately. I have really tried to read up on it, learn some natural tricks, foods, etc but nothing was working. Turns out drinking water is really bad when you have heartburn, it makes it worse! I was trying to limit my intake of Tums to 4-6 a day because that was what my doc said was the max. Well.....this child is getting bigger and it is getting worse. For example: I was taking my class and it was getting worse and worse, I had 30 minutes left so I thought I could make it until the end. But the nausea kicked in and I was 10 seconds away from throwing-up in the pool, not a good way to make friends. So I jumped out of the pool and booked it as fast as I could to my purse in the locker room where I keep a stockpile of Tums. I downed about 4 of them and sat on the bench for a second while they reduced the acid. Then I went back to the class, they all assumed I just had to pee, so I went with that. I have many other stories of dramatically needing Tums but you get the idea.

I do have good news though I talked to my doc about my problems and she was so sympathetic and really wanted to make me more comfortable. I guess I thought she would say, "yeah it's tough but you only have 8 more weeks." But she said that my hip pain and ultra-severe heartburn is not normal for pregnancy, who knew! So she switched me from my OTC acid reducer to a prescription, and is sending me to physical therapy for my hips (I already go to massage and chiropractor weekly). I have taken the prescription for 1 day now and I must say I only had to take 3 Tums all day. It is a miracle!!! I will let you know how the physical therapy goes, I have to make an appointment on Monday. Hopefully, I can get in soon somewhere. My leg muscles are starting to turn to mush.....

On a non-whimpy note, my mom and I made all the baby bedding and curtains. They are perfect! I will post pics when I get the nursery in better shape. I SERIOUSLY CANNOT WAIT FOR THIS MUNCHKIN TO GET HERE!! Here's to 8 weeks flying by!

ps. My ring is now too tight some days, so I took it off. I am afraid they would have to cut it off if I swell any more. I think I might find a cheap replacement, any suggestions?

So much to choose from!

Many people have been asking me if I have registered yet, and my usual reply is, "no, should I have?" But because the season for showers is coming up quickly, I decided now is the time. Nick being the trooper that he is, said he would go, I knowing full well it would be an afternoon of torture for him. So today after church we went to breakfast with my mom and Nick politely suggested that me and my mom should go register today....okay buddy I get the hint. So mom and I went to register. And now I am exhausted!

She definitely knew a lot more than me, but seriously folks, who needs all the crap they offer. I plan on giving my kid a box, a wooden spoon and a metal pot to play with. Isn't that enough until she is five or so? Everyone tells you that you need a swing, a play mat, a bumbo, a boppy, a bouncy seat, a johnny jump-up, and a full time circus to entertain this child. And might I add every single thing comes with some gaudy mobile to hang above that does at least three of the following: vibrate, play music, sway, swivel, speak Latin to, play whale sounds, play womb sounds, jingle, etc. Talk about over stimulation. I don't want my child to expect she will have 12 things hanging in front of her face at all times to keep her occupied. What happens when we are out, or at someone else's house and I don't have all the stimulating junk for her to stair at....won't she be bored or will a wooden spoon do the trick?

I believe we are overstimulated as a country, so of course our children will be as well. I am hoping that a ceiling fan, or a quilt with bright colors, or a picture with fun colors will be entertaining enough. Of course my child will have toys, stuffed animals, and things hanging in her face to entertain from time to time, but hopefully she will learn some independence and find excitement and joy in things that are beautiful as well.

My high horse has gotten a bit too high, so I will step down now. Please excuse the above, I am overwhelmed from all the choices. Something snapped in me when I had to choose a binky from the wall of 1000. And everyone has a different opinion on which one is the best. I think I will let my child choose. Maybe that is just how it goes, once she is here, we can see what works for her. Let the journey begin!!!

28 weeks

What's a momma to do?

It's hard not to love this guy. He really is a part of this family, and even though a baby is coming, and it will be hard, we have vowed to make sure all his needs are fully met. I mean look at the pictures above, he is a lover, a protector, willing to go anywhere and do anything. He has unfortunately, not been himself these days. He has started itching and scratching. It first started with his tail, we thought he must have caught it on something. Then we found patches on his neck, and his face. Pretty much anywhere he can scratch, he has created a wound. So now we have him on a strict hypoallergenic diet (grain free, corn free, soy free, beef free, chicken free, turkey free, etc.) and lifestyle and we have to bathe him weekly. And all the research we have done says that it can take 10-14 weeks to finally see positive results. So here we go, we are on a journey, a very frustrating journey.

You know how much a scratch or cut itches while it heals, but we all know pretty well not to touch it because it will only make it worse (okay after the 4th or 5th time we re-open it)? Well, how do you explain that to a dog? We are constantly telling him to "leave-it," and he is constantly uncomfortable. So now we use the "cone of shame" when we leave for his own good and to protect his healing wounds. I really hope it is a food allergy because that is something we can control. If it is something in the environment like pollen, grass, or the cat, we are in for a different wild ride.

One funny thing the vet told is that most all Gold Retrievers HATE to be sprayed with anything. I thought we just had a big baby for a dog because he hides every time a spray bottle comes out. We really only spray conditioner on him but he acts like we are going to use some sort of painful torture devise. So you can imagine how fun it is spraying his wounds....

24 weeks

At 24 weeks, I feel pretty great. Very few complaints (see last post). Only thing is I really need it to warm up, because I only have one pair of long pants that fit and coats are slowly becoming a problem...