No, this is not a birth story

If I have any readers left at this point, I would be shocked!  But no, I am not busy enjoying time with my new bundle of joy quite yet.

Baby boy is stubborn (everyone keeps saying how cozy he is in there...I don't think they realize how annoying that is to hear at this point) and has shown no signs of coming out yet.  The doctors are trying to push induction at this point, and I actually caved and scheduled an appointment for this morning...which I later canceled because I knew that I didn't want to go through with it.  We came to a compromise:  I will go in this afternoon for an NST (non-stress test) to make sure he is doing okay in there still.  After that, I'm not sure what happens next.  I do know that my hubs is getting a little nervous at this point, so we may be talking induction later this week if labor hasn't started on its own.  I believe that the body knows when it is time, but I also know that things can possibly get a little more complicated after 42 weeks.

The stats:
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How far along: 41 + 5

Size of baby: I dunno...huge? haha

Physical symptoms: elephant-sized ankles, backache, sciatic pain in legs

Weight gain/loss: too much

Maternity clothes: I believe I'm down to one pair of maternity shorts and a couple maternity tanks that still fit.  I pretty much live in sweat shorts at home and maxi skirts when I venture out.

Stretch marks: some on the boobs still, and I have now developed a few on my love handles and butt.  Very sexy, I know, but I can't really complain because I have gotten off easy so far in this area.

Sleep: What sleep?

Best moment since last week:  umm....nothing much happens these days.

Movement:  Now that he has less room to move around, there isn't quite as much movement during the day.  However, he has a party in my uterus pretty much every night between 8:30 and 9ish.

Cravings/Aversions:  still love sweets and spicy food

Gender: Boy!!!!

Labor signs: Not a whole lot.  Still a lot of BH contractions, some days I do have menstrual-like cramps but they haven't caused any cervical changes yet.

Belly button:  Outie

What I miss: sleep

What I am looking forward to: meeting my little boy

35 weeks

Sorry it's been so long folks, but there's nothing really to report over here.  I am in shock that I have made it to 35 weeks, and that I could be meeting my son very soon.  Since my last post a million years ago, I have found a wonderful OB that I actually trust.  I have also been reading through my Bradley Method book and have attended a childbirth class with the hospital.  Between that and my doula, I finally feel prepared for the upcoming birth....well, as prepared as one can be I suppose.  I am still planning on doing things all natural, which I will be doing unless for some reason they need to do a c-section.

My mom and sister threw me a wonderful baby shower last month, and we received so many things that we needed (plus lots of clothes of course).  After that, we were able to decide on nursery furniture and have been working on getting the nursery finished.  Little man will be sleeping in our room for awhile, but we still want to have his room set up for later on.  It has been stressful for me (I'm not so great at organizing or making decisions on decor), but so much fun for my husband since I let him choose the theme and he is basically designing the man cave he never got.

Cloth diapers are all prepped and ready to be put on his little tush.  Clothes are washed and put away.  Things are really coming together :)

Here's the lowdown:
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Size of baby: honeydew melon

Physical symptoms: swollen ankles, huge belly

Weight gain/loss: probably close to 35 lbs, geez

Maternity clothes: Even the maternity clothes don't fit as well these days

Stretch marks: just the boobs still

Sleep: Awful.  I wake up at least 4-5 times a night to pee, and the little sleep I do get isn't great.  Preparing for baby I suppose

Best moment since last week:  finally deciding on a name!

Movement: It's like there is an alien inside of me

Cravings/Aversions:  love sweets

Gender: Boy!!!!

Labor signs: lots of Braxton Hicks contractions

Belly button:  ready to pop out any day now

What I miss: sleep, shoes that fit, being able to shave my hoo-ha without a mirror

What I am looking forward to: meeting my little boy...only 5 weeks!

3rd Trimester!

Wow, has it really been 4 weeks since I last posted?  Sorry folks, I guess there just hasn't been much to tell.  I'm struggling with what to say on this blog now that I am finally expecting my miracle...so I'll just stick to the boring ol' updates.

How far along: 28 weeks...there are several different ideas on when each trimester starts, but I am going to say that 28 weeks sounds good for the 3rd trimester :)

Size of baby: eggplant

Physical symptoms: cankles...oh the horror!  Everything else is pretty much the same

Weight gain/loss: Much higher than I expected at this point...let's call it 26 lbs.  Ouch

Maternity clothes: Yup

Stretch marks: Boobs only...hoping since I have gone this long without stretch marks on my belly that I can avoid them altogether.

Sleep: Eh...I'm so uncomfortable, so it's hard to fall asleep.  Once I do, though, I guess I sleep alright.

Best moment since last week:  Making it to the 3rd trimester!

Movement: Tons.  I've gotten to see my belly move a little too, which is awesome.

Cravings/Aversions:  Poppyseed muffins...random.  Still dislike chicken

Gender: Boy!!!!

Labor signs: Nope

Belly button:  half n half

What I miss: fitting in my shoes :(

What I am looking forward to: meeting my new OBGYN July 1st...hoping that I get a better vibe from this one so that I can stop worrying so much about what my birth experience will be like.

24 weeks

How far along: 24w1d

Size of baby: Cantaloupe...damn that's big

Physical symptoms: cankles (probably time to give up on the heels at work), huge boobs, itchy belly

Weight gain/loss: I don't even wanna talk about it

Maternity clothes: Yup, love them.

Stretch marks: Boobs only

Sleep: Pregnancy pillow has saved my life.  I'm getting up slightly less to pee, which helps too

Best moment since last week:  Nothing major has happened with the pregnancy since last week.

Movement: Tons.  It is such an amazing feeling.

Cravings/Aversions:  All I think about are donuts

Gender: Boy!!!!

Labor signs: nope

Belly button:  stretched-out innie...slowly becoming an outie

What I miss:  my ankle bones

What I am looking forward to: seeing the movement happen...I love watching the videos of this, and can't wait to have my own little "alien" move around so I can see it.

23 weeks...

Hi y'all.  Sorry that I totally suck at posting these days.  Truth is, there isn't much to say.  Things are progressing normally, and for that I am thrilled.  Things at home are stressful.  We are still trying to find a new place to live, and the choices are really slim where we are.  Hopefully we will find something soon so we can be moved in before things get real crazy with baby coming.  For now, all of his things are in boxes, and I am stressing that I can't start setting up a room yet.  How will I nest without a home to nest in?  Anyway, if you care, the updates are below.

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How far along: 23 weeks

Size of baby: pomegranate

Physical symptoms: cankles, leg and hip cramps, lower back pain, constipation...overall "large-ness" haha

Weight gain/loss: 19 lbs...ouch

Maternity clothes: Yup, love them.

Stretch marks: Boobs only

Sleep: Well it got pretty bad, so I finally bought a pregnancy pillow.  So far, it seems to be helping at least a little.  Hey, I'll take what I can get at this point!

Best moment since last week:  Feeling him move on the outside!

Movement: I've been feeling a ton of movement for the last week or so, but yesterday, I finally felt him move on the outside.  It was awesome, and I am starting to feel more secure now that I can feel him daily.

Cravings/Aversions:  Same.  Love everything bad for me, which is why I am already up 19 lbs. :(

Gender: Boy!!!!

Labor signs: nope

Belly button:  stretched-out innie...slowly becoming an outie

What I miss:  Booze, sleeping on my back, walking up stairs without losing my breath

What I am looking forward to: my shower!  It is so hard not to buy things all the time, but I am trying to wait until after my shower

Mother's Day...

I've been trying to find the words for how I am feeling today, but I just can't.

I am sitting here feeling my little boy move, and I feel joy.

But I also hurt for those around me that are still struggling.  Though we worked hard and suffered many years of waiting for this, I know others have been through more and may never get to experience what I currently am.

I hurt for those that have lost their moms and those moms that have lost their children.

I feel guilty that I am experiencing joy while others are experiencing so much sadness.  While I remember being there, it doesn't ease the guilt.

My thoughts are with all of you today.

Don't give up hope.

Halfway there....what's between it's legs?

How far along: 20 weeks --- halfway there!  I never ever ever thought we would be here

Size of baby: banana?  weird

Physical symptoms: Constipation, huge boobs (finally had to bite the bullet and buy a new bra).  Thank you to those that gave me suggestions for my itchiness...I am using cocoa butter and it feels great

Weight gain/loss: 12-ish pounds

Maternity clothes: Yup, love them.

Stretch marks: Boobs only

Sleep: Better as long as I am able to find a good position.

Best moment since last week:  Our 20-week scan today.  Baby is measuring about 4-5 days ahead, so we are right on track.  It was crazy to see the whole skeleton, the brain, everything.  Pure heaven.

Movement: A couple flutters here and there that may have been gas...the little peanut was moving tons in the scan, and I couldn't even feel it.

Cravings/Aversions:  Same.

Gender: Boy!!!!  I was sure it was a girl, so I was shocked when the tech told me.  And I had her check twice just to make sure.  No mistaking it...he is ALL boy haha

Labor signs: nope

Belly button:  stretched-out innie

What I miss:  Booze, sleeping on my back, walking up stairs without losing my breath

What I am looking forward to: All I want to do right now is buy little boy things....but I know I should wait for my shower.