34 weeks (and not sure how I can get any bigger)!

34 weeks! We finished all of our baby classes and had the hospital tour this week. It almost feels real! We also finished the nursery minus the glider (ordered)... and the baby of course! There is still a lot we need but we are getting there, slowly but surely!

One of the sweetest things to happen to me this week (ever) arrived in a package this week. The package was from someone we didn't know. When we read the message the person said they had found our registry and wanted to send a random act of kindness gift. I was in tears over the kindness of strangers! It has even inspired others around me to do the same or start ministries at their church. I am looking forward to paying it forward at some point because of how much it blessed me!

I also walked a 5K with my mom yesterday. I have done 4 half marathons, countless short races (5Ks, 4+ milers, etc), and this was one of the hardest races I have done and I was walking! It had nothing to do with the race course and everything to do with being 8 1/2 months pregnant! I can't wait to run the same course next year (pushing a stroller!).

OK- Question time!

How far along: 34 weeks (and then some)

Total weight gain: More than 17 lbs, but I don't know how much more. I have an appt on Thursday, so I may find out then... but I hate finding that number out!

Maternity clothes: Always... and the looser the better when I am at home. 

Sleep: Still good, but I find myself laying only on one side and then waking up uncomfortable and having to turn, which of course wakes my bladder up so I have to get up and pee and then I lay back on the other side. Otherwise, sleep is my friend.

Best moment of this week: The random act of kindness gift, finishing our nursery, and finishing our baby classes!

Miss anything: Wine and running for sure!

Movement: Definitely

Food cravings: Fruit, coke slushies

Anything making you queasy or sick: Still red meat

Gender: Didn't find out! It will be a surprise!

Labor signs: Braxton Hicks contractions, but otherwise nothing else! I need 2 more weeks to finish the school year and then it can happen whenever.

Belly button in or out: In for not much longer, it is starting to pop out when I am laying down or when baby is positioned near it.

Wedding rings on or off: On

Happy or moody most of the time: Mostly happy, but definitely notice that I am getting moodier towards people.

Looking forward to: The glider coming in and my baby appointment on Thursday

33 weeks and thankful!

I feel like my question every week is "how am I already X amount of weeks?", and the fact is that this pregnancy seems to be flying! And yet, I am starting to feel like I have been and will be pregnant forever!

My Mom threw her baby shower for me last weekend and it was beautiful! She did a book theme (if you recall, so did my inlaws... everyone knows me so well! This baby is BOUND to be a reader, especially being the child of a teacher!). Even though they did the same theme, everything about the showers were different and perfect in their own way! The only thing that was the same was the green dyed eggs for green eggs and ham, but I didn't care one bit! I loved deviled eggs! My mom did such a beautiful job! Some of her decorations we are going to use in the nursery. :) Her foods were all of my favorite foods, and instead of a cake she did cupcakes (yummy) and a big Edible Arrangements fruit arrangement because I crave fruit! Very thoughtful! I only knew the date and time, so everything else was a surprise, including most of the guest list. It was so fun to see who was walking through the door next to celebrate this little munchkin with me! We are so grateful and blessed to have this child loved even before it enters the world!

Jeff's work also did a surprise shower for him this week! They were very generous and thoughtful and it excites me that he got to have a surprise too! :)

We finished our Childbirth classes. We have one breastfeeding class and the tour left to do and then we are playing the waiting game for this baby too come! School is out June 6th, and I am hoping to schedule a prenatal massage (a wonderful Mother's Day gift from my wonderful Mother-in-Law!) for June 7th. I've asked the baby for a few days to sleep in and then he/she can decide to come soon after! In the meantime, it is end of school stuff and nursery stuff keeping me busy and exhausted!

OK--- enough blabbering and onto the questions!

How far along: 33 weeks (and then some)

Total weight gain: More than 17 lbs, but I don't know how much more. They didn't tell me at this week's appt.

Maternity clothes: Always... and the looser the better when I am at home. 

Sleep: Pretty good, but it is harder to get and stay comfortable... and oh the peeing! (still the same so I find no need to change this comment) :)

Best moment of this week: The beautiful shower my mom threw for me and Jeff surprising me by telling me about his shower!

Miss anything: A nice glass of wine and sleeping on my stomach! Not to mention a good run.

Movement: Oh yes, and starting to get painful... but it is a beautiful pain, not a complaining pain (except maybe when baby punches my bladder or a tendon)

Food cravings: Fruit, root beer 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Still red meat

Gender: Didn't find out! It will be a surprise!

Labor signs: Too early, but having braxton hicks contractions here and there. Nothing major. 

Belly button in or out: In for not much longer, it is starting to pop out when I am laying down or when baby is positioned near it.

Wedding rings on or off: On

Happy or moody most of the time: Mostly happy! 

Looking forward to: The hospital tour on Thursday... it will make it more real!

32 weeks! And thoroughly surprised!

**Not sure why this never published! Here is 32 weeks!

Jeff's family threw me a beautiful surprise shower on Sunday and I really had NO IDEA it was coming. It was so wonderful! They did a book theme, so all the food was after children's books... fruits and veggies for Very Hungry Caterpillar, meatballs for Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, green deviled eggs and ham for... you guessed it.. Green Eggs and Ham! Pink Lemonade for Pinkalicious! And everyone brought a book with a special message in it for Charlie. It was wonderful and so perfect for me, the teacher! It really was wonderful and I could tell all the hard work and planning that went into it, down to the acting it took to get me there. Jeff and his family deserve an Emmy after that one! I crack up thinking of all the conversations they had that were staged to get me to this shower!

Today is my shower at my mom's. I am so excited! She's been planning it for a while. The only thing I know is the date and time (at my request because it was going to be a surprise, but I was getting overwhelmed).

I know that between these two showers, and all the people who came to them, that this baby is coming into the world well loved. I am tearing up just thinking about that! :)

Ok... onto my questions and then I have to get ready to go!

How far along: 32 weeks (and then some)

Total weight gain: 17 lbs total from last week... haven't weighed myself since then.

Maternity clothes: Always... and the looser the better when I am at home. 

Sleep: Pretty good, but it is harder to get and stay comfortable... and oh the peeing!

Best moment of this week: The beautiful surprise shower Jeff's family threw for me!

Miss anything: A nice glass of wine and sleeping on my stomach! Not to mention a good run. Jeff ran a 10K last weekend and I usually run in this event too. When he lined up at the start and I stayed on the side, I shed a few tears. 

Movement: Oh yes, although not so many kicks due to lack of room in there now! But the hiccups are out of control!

Food cravings: Fruit, root beer 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Still red meat

Gender: Didn't find out! It will be a surprise!

Labor signs: Too early, but having braxton hicks contractions here and there. Nothing major. 

Belly button in or out: Still in for now!

Wedding rings on or off: On

Happy or moody most of the time: Mostly happy! 

Looking forward to: My shower today!

31 weeks!

31 weeks and each week is another week closer! I am in the single digits with 9 weeks left! YIKES! This time is going so fast, but yet I feel like I've been pregnant FOREVER! I had a doctor appointment yesterday, which was great. I didn't gain any weight in the last 2 weeks, my blood pressure was great, and I was measuring near where I needed to measure. Jeff finally came to an appointment (he went to my 22 week ultrasound, but hasn't been to a doctor's appointment). He got to hear the baby's heartbeat for the first time. So beautiful!

We are slowly but surly getting things done in the nursery. My shower is next weekend, on the 11th (my mom said there was only one weekend TO plan it... Mother's Day Weekend!), so we will be able to do a lot more baby stuff then.

Our childbirth classes are halfway over! Next week we watch the childbirth video and learn how to push. This week we learned relaxation/calming techniques for active labor. It is getting me so excited for this little one's arrival! We also learned about pain control options. I know that some people have very strong opinions about epidurals, but I never really experienced those strong opinions until this week when our instructor was talking about it and one woman was obviously NOT thrilled about hearing about epidurals. I am NOT about to get into a debate about whether or not to get one, but I wish others would not project their opinion and wishes on everyone.

Here are my questions for the week:

How far along: 31 weeks (and then some)

Total weight gain: 17 lbs total! My dr is very happy with that! I am glad to hear because I hate seeing that scale each week!

Maternity clothes: Always... and the looser the better when I am at home. Currently sporting a pair of oversized sweatpants so that I don't have pressure on the belly!

Sleep: Good, but I get SO HOT at night!

Best moment of this week: A good dr's appointment and hearing that beautiful heartbeat!

Miss anything: Turkey Sandwiches!

Movement: TONS! And I believe Charlie is now squished because every movement is semi-uncomfortable, but I am thankful for all of it!

Food cravings: Fruit, root beer 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Still red meat

Gender: Didn't find out! It will be a surprise!

Labor signs: Too early, but having braxton hicks contractions here and there. Nothing major. 

Belly button in or out: Still in for now!

Wedding rings on or off: On

Happy or moody most of the time: Mostly happy! 

Looking forward to: Working more on the nursery and another childbirth class! I also can't wait to see our maternity pictures! We had them done on Sunday and I am sure they are beautiful!