Baby H: 32 weeks

How far along? 32 weeks.

Baby Size: Baby H is 16.7 inches and close to 4 pounds. The size of a squash.

Total weight gain: 30-35 pounds. This weight gain thing is crazy! I can go several weeks without the scale moving and then it jumps in one week. But the next time I get on the scale I'm down a couple pounds. Water weight maybe?!? Either way...I'm feeling HUGE! That's alot of weight to add to a a 5'3" frame.

Maternity clothes? I can't believe how fast you can outgrow maternity clothes - some of the tops I wore at the beginning of the pregnancy don't fit the belly anymore. I'm trying to buy more flowy tops to get through the last 8 weeks.
 

Sleep: My sleeping has gotten better compared to the prior couple of weeks. I wake up around 1am and 4am and go to the bathroom, but sleep the rest of the night {for the most part}.

 

Best moment this week: Finished the curtains & crib skirt for the nursery with my MIL! Nick still need to put up the curtain rods before we can hang the curtains, but I did put the skirt on the crib.

Getting our maternity pictures back!! {I'll post more of them next week}

 

 

Miss Anything? Bending over/moving normal/working out. As I see all the new spring/summer clothes in the stores - I'm missing my old pre-pregnancy body. Remember last summer when I thought I was fat...yeah, I can't wait to be that 'fat' again!!! HA! {and I might miss my bangs, too}

 

**Same dress - last summer compared to last week**

Movement: Seems like there is less big movement these days {feels more like rolls instead of kicks & punches} - mostly due to lack of space in there for Baby H. I mostly feel her/him move at night when I'm relaxing on the couch. 

Food cravings: I'm starting to lose my appetite. I don't feel hungry for anything and when I do eat - I don't eat very much because I get full fast.

Anything making you queasy or sick/symptoms: I was sailing through this pregnancy and everything seemed pretty easy...and then BAM - the third trimester hit like a freight train!!  I'm definitely feeling the nagging pains that come along with the final trimester - rib pain, lower back pain, trouble getting comfortable at night and feeling tired all the time. I have had a relatively easy pregnancy so far - so I'm taking it all in stride and know that it's just part of the process. I'm not too uncomfortable yet, but ask me in about 3 weeks and it may be a different story!
- Nose Bleeds - Almost every morning.
- Pregnancy hoof - The entire top of my left foot is numb.
- Pregnancy paw - My left thumb is still numb, but I haven't noticed any shooting pain lately.
- Tailbone pain - I might have to invest in a donut to sit on at work.
- Trouble sleeping - Sleeping seems to have gotten better lately, but I still wake up twice a night to go to the bathroom.
- Rib pain - The baby has decided to take up residency in my rib cage & it's painful!

Gender: I've had several friends tell me what they've had dreams in the last week that we're having a little red-headed girl. I'm right there with them thinking we're having a girl!!

Have you started to show yet: Strangers have decided they can start touching the belly & tell me the gender of the baby. That's always fun. {insert sarcasm here}

Mood: Nervous!! I can't believe we're in single digit weeks until Baby H is here! I'm not sure if I'm ready for the baby - the pregnancy has been pretty easy so far...but some days I realize there is going to be a baby at the end of this pregnancy & I'm not sure if I'm ready for such a big change in my life!! I don't feel like I'm old enough or responsible enough to have a baby yet!!

Stretch marks:  Still using lots of lotion - hoping not to get any stretch marks.

Belly button in or out: In.

Wedding ring on or off: On...if I remember to wear it!

Labor Signs: No.

Thoughts:
Our friends, Rachel & Nolan, had their baby last week! We were able to visit them in the hospital and meet little Easton! Well...I shouldn't say little Easton since he was 9lb 11.5 oz - OUCH! He had a full head of hair and is adorable!! After leaving the hospital, Nick & I realized that we're the next ones to have a baby!!

I've had a new pregnancy symptom start this week - pain in my ribs. I talked to the doctor about it at my 32 week appointment and he gave me a few tips on trying to reduce the pain, but it'll be a nagging pain that I'll have until the baby is here. Especially as my belly continues to grow & get heavier and pulls on the ligaments/muscles. He also told me at my appointment that the baby is head down, but hadn't dropped yet. The heartbeat continues to be around the 135-145 range.

We have our first baby shower this weekend and I'm so excited to see all the fun stuff that Baby H gets!! We had a BBQ with friends on Saturday night and they surprised us with a bathing themed baby gift! This is always my favorite gift to give expecting parents...so I was excited to get it myself!


 

Checklist before Baby

If you know me...then you know that I love to make lists {and check the items off as I finish them - which might actually be my favorite part}. I've started a list of to-do's to get done before the baby arrives. Thought I'd share it and update it as the due date gets closer!!

Any feedback on items I've missed?!? Or anything additional I need to add to the list?

Already completed:

• Pre-register at the hospital
• Take childbirth prep classes – decided not to go to classes but watch the DVD instead
• Write birth plan – my plan is to listen to the doctor and do whatever they tell me to do!
• Complete shower registry - it's as complete as it's going to get since I don't really know what I need.
• Maternity photos
• Book newborn photographer

Pre-baby:

• Pick a name – still can’t decide on middle name for a boy     
• Watch DVD childbirth prep video
• Watch Happiest Baby On the Block DVD
• Read childbirth books - I feel like I might need to start reading some books to get ready for baby?
• Find pediatrician – found who we want to use – need to call.
• Research health insurance for baby
• Finalize maternity leave with employer
• Start disability paperwork
• Set up dog sitting while we're at the hospital 
• Pack hospital bag {mom}
• Pack hospital bag {baby}
• Pack ‘daddy hospital survival kit’ - I want to make a basket with candy, food, soda, magazines, etc.
• Clean up around the house
• Make and freeze some meals
• Design & order thank you cards for shower
• Write and send out thank you cards  
• Purchase baby items needed not gifted at shower
• Buy postpartum supplies
• Buy nursing supplies
• Finish nursery 
• Wash all baby items
• Put away and organize baby items
• Assemble all baby gear
• Install car seat
• Purchase and install carbon monoxide detector      
• Get a pedicure 
• Get a haircut

Post-baby:

• Call friends & family to announce arrival of baby
• Send out birth announcement email to coworkers
• Call newborn photographer to schedule session
• Add baby to health insurance
• Mail out birth certificate
• Mail out birth announcements

Baby H: 31 weeks

How far along? 31 weeks.

Baby Size: Baby H is 16.25 inches and 3-4. pounds. The size of a pineapple.

Total weight gain: 30ish pounds. My weight has stayed around the same the last couple of weeks.

Maternity clothes? Loving maternity dresses/skirts {especially maxi} - so cute & comfy!
 

Sleep: My bad sleeping has turned Nick into a bad sleeper! {Oops} Apparently, being pregnant has caused me to start snoring!?! Nick says I snore so loud some nights that I wake myself up. When I wake up - I try to shift positions and move the whole bed {remember, I'm trying to move a body pillow with me}. He went down to the couch on Saturday night because I was keeping him up!

 

Best moment this week: Maternity pictures. Can't wait to get them back!

 

Miss Anything? Bending over/moving normal/working out.

Movement: I think I may have felt hiccups for the first time on Saturday. From what people have told me - it feels like a slow heartbeat, rhythmic and evenly paced and tends to last 2-5 minutes. Sounds like what I was feeling!!

Food cravings: I kinda wish I was craving something. Nothing ever sounds good, but I'm always hungry so I just eat whatever happens to be available at the time. 

Anything making you queasy or sick/symptoms: Nothing new...same old stuff.
- Nose Bleeds - Still have stuffy & bloody noses.
- Pregnancy hoof - Still have the shooting pain in my foot and it's numb
- Pregnancy paw - Still have the shooting pain in my thumb and it's numb.
- Tailbone pain - This has been my most 'painful' symptom of pregnancy so far..I don't think that's too bad compared to what some woman have to go through!
- Trouble sleeping - Still waking up at night & not sleeping well. I'm not tired during the day, but when I leave work at 5pm...that's when it hits me and I feel drained.

Gender: Not finding out. I can't find any more wives tales to predict the gender of the baby. The count so far is Girl - 5 and Boy - 5. Guess we'll find out what we're having in 9 weeks!!

Have you started to show yet: At my 30 week appointment - I was measuring right on track {30cm}. It's amazing how big my belly looks...but I guess that's what happens when you're only 5'3" and have a short torso. There is no where to go but out!

Mood: Excited!! I can't believe we're in single digit weeks until Baby H is here!

Stretch marks: Not yet...

Belly button in or out: In.

Wedding ring on or off: It's back on!! I must have been swollen before...because it's fitting now!

Labor Signs: No.

Thoughts:
I've been home the last 2 weekends, so I've been able to get some spring cleaning done. I finally took down my winter decorations and am ready to put up some fun spring decorations!! I can't wait until it warms up alittle and I can have the windows open & get some fresh air in the house! I still don't feel like I've hit that 'nesting stage' where I want to clean out all my closets & purge a bunch of stuff...but I keep my house pretty clean - so I may never hit this stage since I already clean so much?!?
 

 

I've been slowly working on the nursery. I'm waiting until after our 2 showers in April to add the finishing touches to it. But I found this free printable on Pinterest and had to print it off!!  {and I'm still loving elephants for the room}



 

 

I've been working on my sewing projects for the nursery. I've started with the curtains & they are taking forever!! It's alot of pinning the material before I even start on sewing. I have 2 panels pinned & ready to go. My MIL & I are planning a sewing day, so I'm hoping to get the curtains done this weekend. {and maybe the crib skirt, too!}

 

Easter was always my holiday to spend with my mom {she passed away last February}. I would pick her up and drive up to my sister's house to celebrate. We'd grill out on Saturday, have a couple drinks on Saturday night and have an Easter egg hunt with the girls on Sunday morning. This is the 2nd Easter without my mom...and the holiday just isn't the same.  Nick & I stayed home this year and celebrated with his family. We had a great church service and dinner with his family...and Baby H got her/his first Easter basket!! Next year - I am celebrating with my sister...and I can't wait to watch her help my baby with the Easter egg hunt like I've helped her girls over the years!!!



 

Nick has been wanting a La-Z-Boy chair since we moved in together 4 years ago and I'm not a big fan of the look of them. But I decided with a baby on the way, we'll need a chair in the living room for feedings/rocking the baby. You can see from the picture how excited he was to finally get his chair!! {since we got it - I've actually sat in it more than him!!}

Teh final big item for the nursery was delivered - the glider & ottoman - and I couldn't be more happy with them! I love the color & look of it - and it's super comfortable! I see myself spending alot of time in this spot in the next year!
 

 

Mustache Bash {Baby Shower}

A couple weeks ago, I hosted a couple's baby shower for our friends Rachel & Nolan.

 

They're expecting their first baby in early April - a baby boy!!

When I first started thinking of a theme for the party, we were going to go with a 'Baby Bear' theme since Nolan keeps joking they are going to name him Bear, but it was too hard to find bear themed items. As I was walking through Hobby Lobby - I noticed all the mustache items and thought that would be a perfect baby boy themed shower! It also fit because a couple years ago when the guys went snowmobiling in Wyoming - Nolan sported a mustache {as a joke} and took alot of grief for it - and still does!!

I made all the signs/bunting/cupcake picks for the party

 

The drink station.

 

 

 

My friend Beth made the cupcakes and they were amazing!

 

 

 

 

 The food table.

 

Time to open gifts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 We had a great day celebrating Baby Bear and can't wait to meet him!!!