34 weeks: more belly growth

28 weeks

34 weeks

28 weeks

34 weeks

33 weeks

I updated on my main blog so hope over there for the info. and pictures! :)

Roots & Wings

32 weeks BELLY

Well, gee whiz, it's no wonder I'm finding it so much harder to...oh, let's see...BREATHE now?!?!?! And sleep and stand and just function without discomfort.

Here's me at 28 weeks...



and 32 weeks, in the same top! I've um...grown in a month.



Left side, 28 weeks...



...and 32.



So, yeah, no more wondering why all this discomfort now. And the best news is: it's only going to get "better!"

Dreams

I had two good ones last night! The first was, as usual, the baby squirming around and me seeing all this movement, and actually being able to make out various body parts--namely, a hand. It looked a lot like a free frog's paw with roundish fingertips. I kept telling people, "Look! A hand!" At some point, I could actually see through my skin and there were pink things floating around and I made a Telletubbies comment. Weird.

This morning, I dreamed that my baby boy was laying in a bassinet with two baby girls, like we were taking pictures. He looked exactly like a newborn Andrew! I so badly wanted to pick him up so I did and snuggled his face against mine and held him--and it felt so good. I told Drew about it this morning and he said, "You like babies, huh?" Oddly enough, it still hasn't sunk in that we're going to have a newborn in the house in a couple of months!! I do love babies and I adore the newborn phase and I'm so excited to meet my little boy!! Who, I need to accept, may or may not look just like his brother did.

32 weeks

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, he'll gain a third to half of his birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. He now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). His skin is becoming soft and smooth as he plumps up in preparation for birth.

How your life's changing:
To accommodate you and your baby's growing needs, your blood volume has increased 40 to 50 percent since you got pregnant. With your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and crowding your stomach, the consequences may be shortness of breath and heartburn. To help relieve your discomfort, try sleeping propped up with pillows and eating smaller meals more often.

You may have lower-back pain as your pregnancy advances. If you do, let your caregiver know right away, particularly if you haven't had back pain before, since it can be a sign of preterm labor.

Assuming it's not preterm labor that's ailing you, you can probably blame your growing uterus and hormonal changes for your aching back. Your expanding uterus shifts your center of gravity and stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, changing your posture and putting a strain on your back. Hormonal changes in pregnancy loosen your joints and the ligaments that attach your pelvic bones to your spine. This can make you feel less stable and cause pain when you walk, stand, sit for long periods, roll over in bed, get out of a low chair or the tub, bend, or lift things.

one word...

...hemorrhoids.

Seriously, it is the epitome of adding insult to injury.

night out and new duds

So! I had some borrowed winter maternity clothes, plus the warm-weather maternity clothes I had for Andrew (some of which were so worn that they shrunk to being useless) but nothing that was springy and nice, i.e. nothing fit for my baby shower, a Spring luncheon or Easter!

AND, I had some money from my dad that he gave me as a "finder's fee" for a paint job. I overheard two men talking at their church about needing a painter, so I sent him over! Eaves dropping paid off!! That was the limit to my budget, too, so I figured on getting one dress.

Saturday, my mom mom came over and treated me to dinner at my favorite "girly" restaurant, Mimi's Cafe. I had a quiche, salad, fruit (no melon nonsense, either--just grapes and strawberries!) and a huge muffin dessert (that ended up being breakfast for the two days after!). Delicious, and it was so nice to sit and have a quiet meal with my mom.

THEN, we hit the local JCPenney to check out their maternity clothes before heading anywhere out of the way.

JACKPOT! Their maternity was on sale for either 30% or 50% off and while there were no dresses, there were plenty of separates to choose from.

My mom got me this outfit for my baby shower.

I got these capris in WHITE! I neeeeevvvveeerrr wear white on the bottom! But they're super-comfy, have the stretchy belly panel and are quite flattering, all things considered. I think these will be great post-pregnancy as well because the panel sort of disappears. Plus they look so fresh for Spring!



Now, for the shower, I got the top below in a blue and white floral pattern, but couldn't copy a picture of it. So you'll have to wait a couple weeks to see the complete shower outfit picture!

I bought this actual top myself, though, as another Springy top--yes, I'll have the same style in two different patterns! It's so loose and comfortable and COOL...but looks great! I believe it's chiffon. It doesn't have the empire waist, which tends to dig into me, or at least feel like it is...so I'll be able to breathe easy in these tops!



Then I bought this skirt in black for my other Spring occasions. VERY cool, comfy and, again, will work post-pregnancy as well. I know this will be a go-to piece for the next two months!!



We got home and I pulled a bunch of other pieces out of my closet and everything works together very nicely so now I should be all set for March/April. YEAH! I think it's important to look and feel good during pregnancy, especially toward the end! Thankfully, the loose, long style is "in" right now s I'll be able to wear my maternity duds after the birth, too!

Going out with a dress in mind and coming home with two complete new outfits is such a blessing! Thanks, Mom and Dad!!

My "birth month"

Everyone loooves to ask either "When are you due?" or "How long do you have left?" Both are a little unpredictable but I know most people just want to confirm what they expect regarding my size.
I got both questions at the same time last week. I said, "Early May," and "Oh, a couple months."
I like the idea of a "birth month," meaning I could give birth within two weeks in either direction of my May 6 due date.
So my birth month would be April 22 to May 20.
And, folks, April 22 isn't very far away!!

OB appointment update & belly shots

Saw my doc today, took Andrew with me so it was more fun than usual!! heehee
He was very intrigued with the Doppler--he said, "Mommy, I'm sorry you're hurt. Would you be all better?" I tried to tell him, we're just checking your brother's heart beat! He didn't get it.
So my blood pressure was fine, as always. My belly measured the same as last time, 32 cm. For 31 weeks, that means we're right on track. I only gained 0.5 lbs. this month. Evidently, I'm due for a growth spurt so maybe I'll gain weight and width at the same time soon! The indigestion/heartburn has been better for the last few days so if that keeps up, I know I'll be packing on the pounds!!
Dr. L said Ethan should be about 3 lbs. now--wow!! She also smiled when I told her I often feel like I can't breathe and said, "Well, I almost hate to tell ya, but that's completely common and normal." Yeeeaaahhh.
His heart rate has always been in the 150s-ish, but today was in the 160s. He'd been kicking around the whole time we were at the office so it made sense--he was wide awake and rarin' to go!!
I'm glad to be this far along but also glad to have two more months to get ready!
So far, so good!
I go every two weeks now--home stretch, baby!!

Here's me today, at 30.5 weeks.