Why must you do this to me?

World of Warcraft is releasing its newest expansion the day after my due date... chances are baby won't be here by then but why couldn't they have released it this summer. I need entertainment! lol

If baby isn't here by then, I want to go to the midnight release again :) I'll be nice and warm. If baby is here, well then we won't go obviously. I guess late night BF sessions will be coupled by some WoW playing to stay awake lol.

31 weeks

I can't recall all that I was thinking this last week. I really should start writing things down as I go through them or something.

I redid my registry and found most of the items on Canadian websites. Stupid Canada is SOOO expensive. For example: Medela Harmony Manual pump is $29.99 on amazon.com and $64.99 or something at TJ's Kids. That's really stupid.

My mom came home from her course that she left for the day before we got back from vacation. She went "woah, you grew" lol :) Now my parents are headed off for a maximum of 3 weeks... It will be interesting to see how baby grows between now and then. I have to work on a small list of things to have shipped to my grandma's house for my parents to bring back. I'm thinking the Medela Harmony and our Baby Jogger HyChair since I haven't found the HyChair anywhere that ships to Canada yet. Also have to order the rest of the prefolds that I want for baby and perhaps an infant insert for the mamaroo. I imagine that it would work in the seat of the stroller when we get it as well.

We started painting shelves for the baby's room. I'm super excited to get them up. I bought some RLR for stripping all my used diapers and I'll get those stripped and ready for baby to use.

How your baby's growing:

This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot too, (dancing all night long lol) so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy. Definitely not worried because of the movement :)

How your life's changing:

Have you noticed the muscles in your uterus tightening now and then? Nope, haven't felt any yet. The only tightening is when baby shoves on the front and that's only in those spots. Many women feel these random contractions — called Braxton Hicks contractions — in the second half of pregnancy. Often lasting about 30 seconds, they're irregular, and at this point, they should be infrequent and painless. Frequent contractions, on the other hand — even those that don't hurt — may be a sign of preterm labor. Call your practitioner immediately if you have more than four contractions in an hour or any other signs of preterm labor: an increase in vaginal discharge or a change in the type of discharge (if it becomes watery, mucus-like, or bloody — even if it's pink or just tinged with blood); abdominal pain or menstrual-like cramping; only cramps around here are gas cramps, and those suckers still hurt so much... an increase in pressure in the pelvic area; or low back pain, especially if you didn't have it before. Lower back pain when getting up from lying down but that's normal and not contraction like.

You may have noticed some leaking of colostrum, or "premilk," from your breasts lately. No leaking that requires pads at all. Tiny bits throughout the pregnancy and quickly dries, unnoticed. If so, try tucking some nursing pads into your bra to protect your clothes. (And if not, it's certainly nothing to worry about; your breasts are making colostrum all the same, even if you don't see any.) If your current bra is too snug, you might also want to pick up a nursing bra. Choose a nursing bra at least one cup size bigger than you need now. When your milk comes in you'll be grateful for that extra room!

If you're having a boy, you and your partner will want to take some time to think about whether or not to have your baby circumcised. Find out the pros and cons from your doctor, and what the procedure involves. We discussed this and decided way back at like 10 weeks.

Breastfeeding Quote

"My son won't be covered...he fights it. So, to rectify the situation I always carry a blanket with me. If you're offended by my NIP you can put the blanket over your head."

Things I still need to get

For diapering:

- 7 more infant prefolds ($1.50 each)

- 24 premium prefolds ($2.00 each)
- diaper sprayer (not necessary until 6 months old but will help to reduce stains now and cost of flushable liners at that point) (about $50) 

- large wetbag/pail liner ($30)

- strong 3M hook to hang wet bag on (since our floor space in the baby's room is very full) ($10 tops)

- RLR to strip used diapers :) ($2.00 a pouch)

- diaper cream ($10 for a large tub and $3 for a trial size)

- cloth wipes (36ish, need to make 8x8 2 ply flannel) (free)

For breastfeeding:

- pump (buying a manual if I don't get an electric) ($40)

- storage bags

- nursing bras for night and day

- lansinoh breastfeeding cream ($15)

- steam bags for cleaning pump

- bottle warmer (kiinde) ($70)

Such awesome colours

SO pretty! Got all my new diapers (except for one I was worried about bleeding) washed and prepped. Gotta get me some RLR and I'll strip my used ones.

Operation X Video

The bottom link is the video that was produced about my cousin and another girl. Such a shocker to me to see pictures of him at my wedding in there and even a picture of me. When my aunt and uncle were talking about the hospital and such, I just remembered the day my mom told me. I hope that this video can help some teens debating drugs and using. My cousin only did E recreationally. He was not on it all the time or anything. It was a bad batch that caused this but drugs are not safe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl9jS8oPtEc

29/30 weeks

2 week recap:

• vacation: driving all the way to NV was easy and I didn't have to pee much as long as I didn't drink too much
• baby shower (in separate post)
• didn't get enough water/milk while on vacay
• baby kicks are almost 90% shoves now and I rarely get one shove at a time
• iron is at the low end of normal... 14 the Dr said but I'm not sure what the middle of normal would be so I'm on a supplement which should give me some energy
• I love watching my stomach move up and down as baby moves around and I love the feeling of the trippy rolls. They're cooler than the shoves.
• DH got whacked in the face so hard that it kicked his face off my stomach.
• baby loves to sit so close to the outside of my stomach right now that I can push and feel where the majority of its body is
• heartburn isn't really frequent but it makes me miserable when it shows up
• the pelvic pain really hurts but it's not super bad thankfully
• baby has lots of diapers now :)
• definitely have had a few miserable evenings lately but they're the worst ones so far in 30 weeks
• not ready for labor yet but I'm hoping closer to the end I get some miserable days so I look forward to getting baby out and am not so scared
• fundal height is 31cm

This is pretty much a dream pregnancy I think and I'm feeling very blessed and lucky to have it this easy. I'm trying really hard to not take advantage of anything.

29 weeks 

last week in the 20's woohoo!

How your baby's growing:

Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day. Wasn't so great at milk or water drinking while on vacay last week... I'm gonna get back on that now!

How your life's changing:

Your baby's very active now. Oh boy, I believe that! This kid never stops moving I swear!! Your healthcare provider may ask you to spend some time each day counting kicks and will give you specific instructions on how to do this. Let your provider know if you ever notice that your baby is becoming less active. You may need a nonstress test or biophysical profile to check on your baby's condition.

Some old friends — heartburn and constipation — may take center stage now. No constipation, I'm really lucky there but when heartburn shows up, she stays for a long time! The pregnancy hormone progesterone relaxes smooth muscle tissue throughout your body, including your gastrointestinal tract. This relaxation, coupled with the crowding in your abdomen, slows digestion. Sluggish digestion can cause gas and heartburn — especially after a big meal — and contribute to constipation.

Your growing uterus may also be contributing to hemorrhoids. These swollen blood vessels in your rectal area are common during pregnancy. Fortunately, they usually clear up in the weeks after giving birth. Clear so far and hoping I don't have to deal with any... fingers crossed!!!!!

If they're itchy or painful, try soaking in a sitz bath or applying cold compresses medicated with witch hazel to the affected area. Avoid sitting or standing for long stretches. Talk with your provider before using any over-the-counter remedies during pregnancy, and let your provider know if you have any rectal bleeding. To prevent constipation, eat a high-fiber diet, drink plenty of water, and get some regular exercise.

Some women get something called "supine hypotensive syndrome" during pregnancy. This happens when lying flat on your back causes a change in heart rate and blood pressure that makes you feel dizzy until you change position. You might notice that you feel lightheaded if you stand up too quickly, too. I notice this but so far laying on my back doesn't make me dizzy, just occasionally hurts because of my heavy belly. To avoid "the spins," lie on your side rather than your back, and move slowly as you go from lying down to sitting and then standing.

 

30 weeks
10 weeks to go! Tomorrow (really today since it's like 1am) marks 9 weeks and 6 days left, which is also 69 days!

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). Wow baby puts on 1/4 to 1/2 a pound per week at this point. That's amazing... A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.) Good to know.

How your life's changing:

You may be feeling a little tired these days, especially if you're having trouble sleeping. I've got lower iron too which apparently probably makes me tired. I'm on 300 mg/day supplements so we'll see if that makes me more awake. I definitely go through random tired streaks but I'm able to stay up late if I sleep in late. You might also feel clumsier than normal, which is perfectly understandable. Not only are you heavier, but the concentration of weight in your pregnant belly causes a shift in your center of gravity. Plus, thanks to hormonal changes, your ligaments are more lax, so your joints are looser, which may also contribute to your balance being a bit off. Joints relaxing cause sharp stabbing knife-like pain in my pelvic bones when rolling over in bed, getting in and out of bed and occasionally walking around. It's no fun but thankfully not as bad as it could be.

Also, this relaxation of your ligaments can actually cause your feet to spread permanently, so you may have to invest in some new shoes in a bigger size. Remember those mood swings you had earlier in pregnancy? The combination of uncomfortable symptoms and hormonal changes can result in a return of those emotional ups and downs. It's normal to worry about what your labor will be like or whether you'll be a good parent. But if you can't shake the blues or feel increasingly irritable or agitated, talk to your doctor or midwife. You may be among the 1 in 10 expectant women who battle depression during pregnancy. Also let your caregiver know if you're frequently nervous or anxious.

Baby Shower

before

diaper motorcycle

punch table and appies

my baby balloon I named George

gift table

 bubble bath punch

entrance table

fruit bowl

the poop game

drawing a baby on their heads without looking

the babies

 the winner of the baby game/the sock game

 the string game

just chilling

  ready for gifts

 all the ladies

hostess with the ideas (MIL was cohostess)/my hubby

Vacay

Was on vacation. Will do 29/30 week update tomorrow or tuesday together and post about a few other things. TTFN, the nesting bug is taking over and I need to unpack stuff.

Adult things ;)

Went to my first adult toy/lingerie party. Definitely going to another one to buy some things! It was pretty awesome and they had some practical things too (shaving cream that gives NO razor burn, etc).

28 weeks

Starting to feel heavy. Sleeping lots and getting kicked a bunch. Baby just started doing a bunch of this head/butt pressing into the front of my belly about 2-3 inches above my belly button. No signs of an outie belly button to come yet. Less than 12 weeks until my due date now! I'm getting super excited!

Having lots of fun nesting, although I'm starting to run out of things to do! As soon as we get back from Nevada on the 16th, we'll be putting up pictures, shelves and decals. Super excited!!!!

Organized the top of the dresser. Look back a few posts to see what it looked like before. Second pic, me in a dress I wore non pregnant 3 summers ago. Still fits with a bit of growing room!

How your baby's growing:

By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. I guess I haven't been reading very well lately since last I remember, baby was like 1.5lbs... over 2lbs of baby. That's unreal to me! She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. Flashlights on the belly... must try that!! She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

You're in the home stretch! The third and final trimester starts this week. 2 down, 1 to go and this is the one that starts to get uncomfortable too :( If you're like most women, you'll gain about 11 pounds this trimester. It will probably be more for me but I'm not concerned.

At this point, you'll likely visit your doctor or midwife every two weeks. Then, at 36 weeks, you'll switch to weekly visits. Depending on your risk factors, your practitioner may recommend repeating blood tests for HIV and syphilis now, as well as doing cultures for chlamydia and gonorrhea, to be certain of your status before delivery. Probably gonna request retesting just to be sure, because there are some procedures after birth that I would rather not have done to baby and just retesting for these would reassure me that there's not problems. Also, if your glucose screening test result was high and you haven't yet had follow-up testing, you'll soon be given the 3-hour glucose tolerance test. My glucose levels in Canadian terms were 5.7 which in American terms is like... 103. I think that's within what they want you to be. That orange drink was NASTY!

Around this time, some women feel an unpleasant "creepy-crawly" sensation in their lower legs and an irresistible urge to move them while trying to relax or sleep. If this sensation is at least temporarily relieved when you move, you may have what's known as restless legs syndrome (RLS). No one knows for sure what causes RLS, but it's relatively common among expectant mothers. Try stretching or massaging your legs, and cut down on caffeine, which can make the symptoms worse. Ask your caregiver if you should try iron supplements, which can sometimes relieve RLS. KMFX no RLS. I don't need more problems.

Photo Bomb:

gonna go on the wall like scrabble tiles... cheap paper cut in squares and stencils with sharpie

vowels in turquoise and consonants in green

car seat box covered in fleece blanket to make it look prettier for now :)

car seat in our old snap n go. hoping we'll get our expensive stroller before 

baby comes but this buys us a bit of time if we can't

left side, patterned diapers; right side, plain colours

left side, NB pockets; right side, NB covers

best bottom inserts and pocket inserts

left side, kushies diapers; right side, all covers bigger than NB

fitted diapers

Pregnancy related pictures