35.5 weeks {aka Watch Mommy Grow}

How far along: 35w 4d-I am doing these a bit more often now, since it is so close the end there is "more" to report. :)

35 weeks with Baby Q

isn't my girl a doll face?!

35 weeks w/ Lo.

Total Wt Gain/Loss: +20# :/ I really should just stop looking at the scale, I find it terribly depressing...I know it's "good" and all, but it doesn't mean I have to like it.

Maternity Clothes: Definitely wearing, especially pants! I love dresses and tunics, but mostly just live in sweats.

Best Moment thus far: Finding out he is head down! I was really started to worry he was breech and I want to avoid a c-section at all costs. I kept feeling jabs and kicks at my bladder and not at my ribs, which is what got me panicking that he wasn't head down!

Gender: BOY!

Movement: Still a "sleepy" baby and hardly moves at all.

Milestones: Baby’s senses are continuing to improve -- when light peeks in through your (extremely) stretched belly, those tiny eyelids and irises blink and dilate. And, baby can now recognize and react to simple songs… time to start practicing your lullabies! Growth (at least inside your womb) is starting to slow, and you may notice baby descend into your pelvis at the end of this month. ~(courtesy of thebump.com)

Food Cravings: none really anymore.

What I miss: Being skinny. I see cute clothes that I want to wear, but can't. :(

Sleep: What is sleep? Because I am not getting it. I hurt, I am HOT, I can't find a comfortable position and then when I do I have to get up and tinkle. Plus, my mind is just racing with all the unknowns, like when will he get here, who will take care of Lo, do we have everything, I still need to do... so frustrating, I just wish I could shut down my mind.

What I am looking forward to: The end. 4ish weeks and counting!!! {God willing} I am no longer trying to enjoy this pregnancy I am so over it. Only because I am tired of this limbo labor I am in. Who the heck wants to be contracting for weeks on end and be mean to their family because of it. Just get out already, so I can resume life.

Belly Button: Totally popped out. So embarrassing.

What I learned at my pre-natal visit:
35 week appt-His heart beat is 139bpm. My OB checked me I am 3cm dilated and nearly 90% effaced. Baby is head down {HUGE answer to prayer, because let's face not too much else has gone "right" this time around}, he is completely engaged and ready to come out! And other things that you veteran mommies know happens when you are at this point and that dilated. FUN! :/
Also, my OB said at this point they will do nothing to stop my labor, but she will do nothing to help it if I go in to the hospital unless I am at a 6 or 7 then they will break my waters etc. So that is good news, I definitely don't want labor stopped at this point.

GD Appt: My blood sugars have been awesome, so she doesn't need to see me for two weeks! Yay me!

Symptoms: Have I mentioned contractions and back labor?
Yeah, they have been intense and causing me to actually consider going to the hospital. Monday, I nearly had my husband come home, in the snow storm to take me, but decided to wait a bit longer. Finally, I went to bed thinking I would try and sleep as much as I could, because I was sure we would have a late night run, 3 hours later it all stopped.
Now it is Wednesday and they are back at it. I am so sick of it. This has been going on for 10+ weeks and I am done. My patience and tolerance {for practically everything} is gone. And now that I know things are progressing it has become more frustrating. I hate being a slow starter. I just hang at the precipices teetering until BAM! I am full on in labor, barely getting my epi in time before pushing! I don't even get to "enjoy" L&D because I move so fast.

I know he will be here before I know it and this will all be a distant memory, but for now this is just how I feel.

Gymanstics

We have been taking gymnastics at the Y for 4 months now and you love every last second of it...especially the stamp part. :)


The first month I was not so sure, you just seemed too young, but by the end you were loving it and I had to sign you up for another month. Each month I say this is it, but each month I re-sign you up. Even this month, January, when I know your brother's birth is looming, I just can't break your heart and not take you.


You ask about gymnastics every week. You get so excited when we go and chant "nastics, bye bye, nastics, Y, nasticis" the whole.way.there. {It is a 20 minute drive to our Y.}

I have been mega impressed with how far you have come and all you are learning. You are learning how to stand in line (sort of), wait your turn (sort of), and play with other kids (sort of). You even are learning a few tricks like

Heel sit:

Knee stand:

Squat:

And I have always been impressed with how you will go up to the bar or rings and pull up your feet without any support or assistance. You are super strong to do that.

I want to continue with our special gymnastic time even after brother gets here. You deserve and need it.

Miscellany Monday

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I am in desperate need of today's Miscellany Monday. I just have so many random things I want to post on, why I never know, I just do. I guess I really enjoy reading the mundane in people's lives as much as the "exciting/rivoting" stuff.

So here we go:

1. Every year my storage room {which is uber tiny} and I go round and round. Every year I win. I am really quite a minimalist at heart, so I kept very little, yet every when I dig out the Christmas stuff and put it back it is a disaster and there will be causalities.

I should have taken a before picture, but who remembers to take pictures of stuff like that? Just imagine junk piled everywhere, and where you could barely walk in there.

Now imagine it so nice and organized...at least for another year. So until next year my arch nemesis until next year...

Now the play room is next...this would be a dream for our playroom to look like this. Organized and bright and fun.


2. This is one of my favorite Christmas gifts. Honestly it was really the only thing I just had to have! I have been so "jealous" of my friends with their under the counter CD players. I just thought it would be so fun to dance around with Lo and listen to music for background noise as oppose to having the TV on. And I have been so right. I love love love LOVE this thing!!


I want Lo to learn songs and dance. While I miss my tv shows, Lo is just at the age where I am realizing she may be picking up on all the wrong things that my "talk shows" talk about, so unless I want to watch Super Why and Elmo all day, this is the best solution...and I love it!

3. I crave routine. And since the holidays hit and I do mean Thanksgiving. We have had very little routine in our lives. From grocery shopping to nap time. We still aren't completely back to one yet, since I am working these two weeks, but we are getting closer. Of course, as soon as we hit our full stride, baby Q will be here and well, there goes our routine, and we will have to come up with a "new" one. ::heavy sigh::

4. Lo's 2nd Birthday is coming up and while in my heart and mind I have BIG plans, I have decided to let them all pretty much go. I/we have decided we are not going to be giving her a birthday party per-say. I am just feeling exhausted, and too overwhelmed to do something "grand." I don't know when Baby Q will arrive, so that makes it hard to plan too {remember his due date is her birthday weekend}. Plus, I am not all that into birthday parties, I just really like to spend time with family. So that is what we will do. Have a low key family party, with grandparents and aunt(s)/uncle and call it an afternoon. It's a bit "sad" but she is two, she doesn't even know her birthday is coming.

But I am still going to incorporate Minnie as much as I can.

I am hoping Chad and I can just take her on a special date for her birthday somewhere fun like Exploration Place or something.

5. Bean Tubs. Seriously, who knew a $3 bag of beans would provide DAYS of entertainment for a toddler! I have got to start switching up that sensory tub more, she just loves it.


6. Meet my new best friend.

My glucose meter. It really isn't that bad pricking my finger 4x/day. And now they have these new Delica ones, that seriously you don't even feel the prick at all. The only problem I have is remembering to do it. I have to test in the morning before I eat (fasting) and then 2 hours post meal. I am doing ok, but I have forgotten several times. But at least my blood sugars have been staying in the normal range for the most part.

I also get to test for ketones each morning...it's pretty much like taking a HPT each morning, only again it is hard to remember when you have to go so badly.

7. Finally, I have been reading again! I actually really love to read, but don't because it becomes so addicting for me and I do nothing else until I finish the book and then usually I read series, so then I MUST start the next one...it's a viscous cycle really.
This is the current series I am on thanks to my MIL. Best part? They are Christian murder mystery books! I know it sounds like an oxy-moron, but the author weaves Christian values and themes through the storyline.
I really admire Christians who think "outside the box" and create music or books that appeal to all types of personalities, but can STILL keep the Christian message front and center. You know not everyone loves hymns, some people like rap or rock music, or murder mystery books ;) and if you are a Christian it is so nice to have artists/authors in that world that give you that genre, but proclaiming Christ name all at the same time. Equals win-win. Check 'em out.

Well, I think I have bored you enough with my mundane life updates. Now jump over to Carissa's blog to see more Miscellany posts. ;)