33 Weeks: Showers, Stretchmarks, and crazy Schedules

Here we are at 33 weeks, and it's not really the "weeks" countdown that begins to freak me out, but the "days." The ticker on the side is like a flashing red light that screams, "Your life is about to change! Your life is about to change!" Our time each week is filled with different baby related tasks. More and more I am convinced Heath and I need to take a weekend for ourselves before the big day arrives! Once July hits and Cayden gets here, it may be really difficult for us to have a moment with just each other.

Here is the photo of the week!

My school family decided to throw a baby shower for all the soon-to-be moms and dads this week. It was really amazing. The fact that friends take time out of their schedules to focus on us, just shows how truly blessed and loved we are. The pictures below are of some of the baby stuff that will soon need to be organized.

We received several hand made burp cloths which I love! They even get their own special basket on Cayden's bookshelf!

Stretch marks. I know, it's like gaining weight when you are pregnant. You just have to get used to the idea, and come to terms with the fact that YES, it is going to happen. So far I have one, right below my belly button. No, there will be no pictures to show. At this point I like the fact that the only time I can see it is in the mirror when I get ready, but.... I can feel it. Because it itches. A lot. There is no point in sharing this with anyone, but it's another milestone.

Speaking of milestones: We made it to our first birthing class this past week. There are four sessions, each three hours long. Our first class was really about the different symptoms women experience, and of course THE video. To be truthful, it really wasn't too bad. The cynical, mean side of me focused more on the women that were featured in the video and how strange they were. Heath and I still have some discussing to do as to who will be involved and what we want to happen on the BIG day. Who do you let in the delivery room? When do you call people to let them know? How annoying can I be, before it drives people crazy? It's all in the details.

We have our next class tomorrow, and we will be touring the hospital. YEA!

Milestone #3: Appointments every two weeks! Crazy!! I have made it to that part of the trimester when you get to go to the doctor more, and more. That makes me a little nervous. I begin thinking of all the things we need to get done. Pediatrician. Washing everything. Organizing everything. Packing the bag. Is that pain in my stomach a contraction or something else?

He isn't even here yet, and my brain is on overload.

Speaking of overload: We have about six books that we are reading right now. The major theme is sleeping patterns. We know what we would like to happen, and in a perfect world it would, but we are also not under any false hopes that it will. We just want to be prepared. If you know me well, you know this is how I operate. I have to read, study, and fill my brain with all the information, and then sort through it. There will be another post about our conclusions and theories that we want to steer clear of, and those that we agree with.


If I haven't mentioned it before, this is my mother's first grandchild. We went to her house for the holiday weekend. She loaded us up with more goodies. This doesn't count the items left at her house, or those that are being shipped to our house. I love how excited she is!

32 Weeks and a Baby Shower

I am officially 8 months pregnant...8 MONTHS people!!! Where does the time go?!?!

I was putting Cayden's bedding back on this morning, and I told Heath that we were going to have to start thinking about packing a bag for the hospital. Now, I realize that I have about a month until I really have to start thinking about this, but it is so close.

Maybe I should write a book about wearing grey shirts. It could be very Dr. Seussy.

This week has been pretty busy. We are beginning to wind down at school, and I am trying to cram a bunch of stuff in.

We had our first baby shower on Saturday! It was amazing! The generosity of our friends really can overwhelm me sometimes! We had two co-hosts and a house full of friends. I have a few pictures, but I will wait and give you the details in another post!

Enjoy!

Amazing Cake!! And it's NOT from Rick's. This lady may be giving Rick's a run for their money.

You can never really tell people "Thank-You" enough, but we appreciated all the wonderful gifts!

About me: I went to the doctor this week for my regular appointment and a follow-up ultrasound. They wanted to check on Cayden's dilated kidneys, and so far they have improved, at least to the point where the doctor isn't worrying about it. It was neat seeing Cayden again and I could actually see him move around. They measured him and he is apparently 4.4lbs. YIKES! Are we on our way to a giant baby? I asked as many questions as I could about my odds of having a large child. It seems that I should be okay, but of course they will keep their eye on me. I have gained a total of 13 pounds! woo hoo! This weekend has been rough on my "low-carb diet" considering the awesome baby shower cake I ate, the fruit dip, and the Krispy Kreme donuts! Sometimes you just can't say NO!

31 Weeks or 62 Days...

It is really amazing how time flies. The past few weeks have been nothing short of a whirlwind, and it really all revolves around the many changes in our lives. The biggest change thus far is the fact that in the last three weeks, we have packed our house and moved. When you think about it, three weeks seems like a pretty good amount of time. Not really. Especially when you are pregnant and can't help out as much as you would like. So it was basically all on Heath to bear the burden of getting us moved. He did a fantastic job, and we are in our apartment, which is an adjustment itself.

The next biggest change will come with Cayden's arrival. It would be foolish to say that "We are Ready!" and that there are no worries. Who is really ready for something that is going to change their entire lives? Cayden's first home will be in the apartment. All of his furniture is in the "dining room." Not that he is going to stay in there because he will be living in his Pack N Play in our bedroom for a few weeks, and then of course our house will be finished and we will have to move again, but who is really thinking about that right now...

Shower season is drawing near, and I must say that we have the greatest group of friends. Anyone is lucky to be showered once, but to have three in the makings is beyond a blessing. We really don't have much outside of the furniture, and the outfits that we have already received, so I look forward to all the baby stuff that is about to invade our future.

Now for the part that makes everyone say, "Ooooohhh......Ahhhhhhh!"

If you want a big laugh (no pun intended) check out the post of my belly in March.

Now about me: I am doing okay with the gestational diabetes thing. It is especially hard at this point in the pregnany to deny myself anything I want. I have picked up a sweets craving, and it is difficult to not want snack cakes, cake, ice cream, Yum-Yo's, donuts, snow cones...

I'm trying. I go to the doctor at the end of this week, and I am sure that the number on that scale will be in the teen's. I'm okay with that. We also have an ultrasound to check on his size and his kidneys, so it will be exciting to see the difference between the ultrasound at 19 weeks, and one at almost 32. We will also be starting our series of Birthing Classes. However, by luck, chance, fate, destiny, or whatever you choose to believe, Heath has managed to get out of the first class: The Video. I don't think he is too disappointed.

This post was a little lengthy but three weeks is a lot to catch up on.

Week 28 - Just Because I'm Pregnant...

Seven Months...Seriously? Part of the panic and anxiety is starting to filter into my brain. Don't get me wrong, I'm not having full blown attacks yet, or anything, just thoughts...
Can we do this? In three months Cayden will be here?! Are we really having a baby? This chapter in our life is just too crazy to think about!

Here I am...In all my glory, or at least in my favorite color....Black! You thought I would say Grey, right?

As I for warned in the last post, here is a conversation I had at Walmart last weekend.

Cashier: "Sooo, are you going to breastfeed or bottle feed?"

(Note: I realize I am at the point-of-no-return, as in I can't deny being preggers. But is that really how you want to start this conversation)

Me: Ummm...I'm not really sure yet. I guess we'll see how it goes?"

Cashier: Well, I was breastfed completely. My mom never got a bottle near me! My husband thinks this is crazy, but I don't see any other way. I know when we have children that is what we will do."

(Inner Thought: You have no kids? So you can be an expert because you were an exclusive breast only baby? How old are you? 20? 22?)

Me: Oh, well that's nice. (Smile and nod, smile and nod)

I'm not sure what comes over people when they are faced with a pregnant woman. There is this need to forgo all rules of personal space and conversation and break open barriers otherwise unexplored.

1: People think it's okay to touch your belly. It's not. Unless I know you...REALLY well. Believe it or not, I actually had a male student try to touch my belly...his hand was quickly slapped away. Another asked if they could smell my belly....trust me...Kids are weird.

2: It's okay to ask me how much I weigh, or how much weight I have gained. With this I am not as particular, maybe it's because I'm pretty excited that I haven't gained a lot of weight.

3: Breast v. Bottle - This topic makes me uncomfortable to think about and to imagine, let alone have an extended conversation about. Maybe this maternal instinct gene hasn't kicked in, but I am still leery about the whole breastfeeding thing.

4. "My, how you have grown!" I get it. I am big. I have put on weight. My belly sticks out farther than my boobs. It's obvious I am pregnant, I don't really need you to point it out.

There you go.

Week 27: Blessings all Around

So you say that I am in my third trimester already? Seriously? It is really hard to imagine. In some ways it feels like it has been forever, and in others it seems like a split second. During the past few months, and especially weeks we have been overwhelmed by all of the blessings God has given us. Blessing Number One: A baby. Although I complain about being pregnant, and all that it entails, I am extremely blessed to be given the opportunity to have a baby. Here is me at 27 Weeks! After this post I will not make any more comments on the grey shirt. Just be warned that it will probably be in most weekly updates. It's comfy. Blessing Number Two: We put our house up for sale about five weeks ago. Usually the optimist, I went into this thinking good if we do, it's okay if we don't. I really didn't get my hopes up. One week ago we accepted an offer, and are set to close on the 20th of May. We have been wanting to move closer into town for quite sometime, and now, along with a baby, we are getting the chance! Blessing Numbers Three through Seven: We have yet to have a shower, those will come at a later date, so it is amazing to me to already be surrounded by gifts from friends and family! Heath's cousin, Mandy, makes these SUPER cute burp cloths! This was one of the very first gifts we received, and I love them!

Heath's brother and sister-in-law gave us a bag full of goodies last night! I am sure the frog bath robe will come in very handy since Cayden's cousin LOVES his!

My friend Sarah gave me this super soft blanket and Boogie Wipes (she thought the name was funny) soon after we found out we were having a boy! Her son Beckett and Cayden will only be about 6 months apart!

Heath has some funny nicknames at work. Most of which I probably will never understand, but our good friend Heather had this onsie made. She was supposed to wait until the shower (which she is co-hosting) but couldn't help herself! She was too excited!

Things I have bought. There are not many. As you can see we have already been overwhelmed by so many presents, it's hard to compete! The outfit on the left is my favorite. I am pretty sure it will be featured in some three month photos!

From my mother. If you can't tell, this will be her first grandchild. She is a little excited. Cayden will be prepared for football season with some Razorback onsies!

My friend Kristin is due three days after me! It is so great to have someone to talk to about all the little things. At book club a couple of weeks ago she gave Cayden a fedora. She also purchased one for her daughter, so that they could match. I think the hat will look better on him, once he is actually wearing it...

This post was a little long, but it's hard to express how blessed, excited, overwhelmed, and lucky we truly are!

Next week's post: Doctor's visits and things I don't want to talk about in line at Wal-Mart!

Going through the big D...

and I don't mean Dallas. Or Depression. Or Divorce (Lord knows we have had enough of that to last for awhile). I mean Diabetes. According to the two glucose tests, I have gestational diabetes. In many ways I am not surprised considering my family history, but in a lot of ways it just makes me mad. I have an appointment in two weeks to discuss my diet and other stuff, so at least I will know a little more at that point.

On to the fun stuff. This week has been pretty eventful. Aside from the diagnosis, we hit the 26th week, which means we are officially less than 100 days away from Cayden making his appearance. Should we freak out now??

Here I am! Although a grey shirt has made another appearance, it is not the same one. And really, are you going to judge me? I'm pregnant. During this phase of my life, I will generally always win the argument with that excuse.

Another big moment this week: We FINALLY have bedding. I have searched high and low. I have ordered and returned. I have decided and then undecided. I am here to say I have made up my mind...no going back. I love this bedding from Pottery Barn, and really couldn't be happier!

Heath and I took a trip to Tulsa this weekend to look at this bedding, and to register. What an ordeal! When we got into the store it was sooo overwhelming. Too many choices and too much stuff. Not to say that we didn't register for a ton of stuff, but then again with Heath holding the scanning gun...I'm not sure that we didn't register for EVERYTHING in the store!

All in all, it was a good weekend. We actually got a couple of things from some friends this week too...I will post pictures of those later!

25 weeks...and the psychosis of a pregnant lady

What is that you say? I am wearing the same shirt as last week...yep. At least my pants are different.

At 25 weeks I am noticing a few different things about myself, aside from being obviously pregnant. During my entire pregnancy I haven't really been "emotional" at least not in the crying, weeping sense. I have had more of the bitchy and annoyed emotions. That is, until this week. Starting off with Army Wives it was pretty much down hill from there. And then I started having weird questions/thoughts.

This brings me to the meat of this post: Pregnant Women are Crazy.

Here are a few things I have pondered in the last week:

During the airplane ride -

* If my ears are popping, are Cayden's?

* Is it possible for my uterus to explode from the pressure?

After eating -

* If I eat too much, will my stomach expand enough to squish him?

Being around really loud music -

* Am I harming his ears by being in a room with loud music?

These are the things I have thought of the past few days. I am 100% sure that the closer I get to actually having a baby, the weirder and more crazy my thoughts will get. Hang on to your seats because we still have 15 weeks to go!!