The Great Bambino- Week 29

Weekly update time! I realized that even if no one reads these updates but me, they have been so great to document… I’ve looked back at prior weeks and got to reminisce on things I’ve kinda forgotten… So sorry if these bore you to death, but…… deal with it. J

Bambino’s Size: a squash… which is kinda vague. But his brain is getting more wrinkly, his skin smoother (thanks to him bulking up some fat) and he’s now almost 3lbs!

Food Loves: Oh man, I lost count of how many times last week I made the comment “I REALLY want a milkshake soooooo bad right now!” Let’s just say I got to hear Neal pipe up with “Mah milkshake brings all the boys to the yard, and they’re like, its better than yours…” every time I said anything about a milkshake. He’s a damn good singer. Ha! And I somehow didn’t get one single milkshake..
Anyways, dairy is a HUGE craving for me right now…. But strangely enough, not cheese. I want milk. Milk, milk, milk, milkshakes, soft serve ice cream… just typing this is making me crave a cold glass of milk really bad! Like I mentioned last week, Bambino’s bones are hardening, so he’s really sucking calcium out of me, so that might be why I’m having the sudden urge for milk.
My other cravings haven’t changed much…. Fruit (apples), Mexican food, salads, fresh things, soda…

Food that’s Gagging me: Still completely not interested in anything pork or anything shrimp.

Sleep: It has officially begun. The “I’m not sleeping so great” phase of this pregnancy. Last week I was either plagued by an aching back (thank you for all the rub downs sweet husband of mine!!!), restless legs, horrific heartburn, or just simple tossing and turning. I realized I have a “witching” hour. Almost every single morning I wake up at 4am and have to use the restroom. While I was at my parent’s this weekend, I woke up, got up to go to the bathroom and remember thinking “it must be 4am.” Yep. On the dot. I wake up at 5am to get ready for work, so waking up at 4am to pee kinda sucks because I realize I only have one more oh-so-short hour until I really have to be awake.

Best Moment of the Week: I had quite a few different people (some strangers) tell me that I looked “adorable” and or that I looked “great” or (and this was the best one) “luminous” last week. At this stage, I feel downright fat and the most unattractive I’ve ever felt in my life, so I’ll take any compliment someone wants to give me at this point. Am I vain? Yep, a little bit. Who isn’t????? Neal constantly reminds me that I’m growing a baby and not to feel bad about my body, but I’m not going to lie…. It’s been (mentally) hard getting bigger- especially getting as big as I am as quickly as I got- and holding onto that “I’m an attractive, sexy woman” feeling. Plus, let’s be honest.. there is SO much pressure on women to lose the baby weight- and lose it fast- after birth that watching yourself get bigger and knowing you are going to be judged and probably criticized for how quickly you can get back into your tight jeans post-baby is pretty rough on one’s self-esteem. I appreciate the kindness of friends and strangers who tell me I look wonderful and keep my spirits up. It makes my day!

Worst Moment of the Week: F***ing heartburn! It has sunk its nasty claws into to me and WILL NOT CEASE!!!!!!!!!!!! I get heartburn every day. Every.Single.Day. Ugh. And I’ve tried all the tricks… eat several small meals. Did it…. And still got heartburn. Don’t lay down for 2 hours after eating. Do it….and still get heartburn. Don’t eat spicy foods. I rarely do….and still get heartburn.
It wakes me up at night even, and at times has made me gag and almost throw up because my throat is seizing and burning so bad I can’t swallow my own spit, let alone water or anything else. It is hands-down the worst heartburn I’ve ever experienced, and I’m beyond tired of eating Tums every day. My next Dr. appt is this Wednesday and I hope he has some other kinds of suggestions or relief for me.

What’s Up with My Body: Bambino is going thru some major growth spurts I think! I feel like I get bigger and bigger by the day.. I am really starting to feel my bulk and added weight. I had to add a lumbar support back thingy to my chair at work, and my Mom let me borrow a lumbar pillow I can use at home. I literally can’t sit for more than 10 mins without my back or ribs aching. When I’m at home I’m constantly changing positions, and sometimes it just doesn’t work and I’m stuck with an aching back.
My belly has started itching quite a bit, especially my almost-popped out belly button. I also for some strange reason am being bothered again by itchy places on my legs. I had this problem over the summer and had weeks of itchy bumpy patches that I blamed on the heat. Well, it’s not hot out but the itchy spots have sprung up again… really weird.
I also have become the typical “hot preggo woman” in that I’m a furnace all the time. I wake up sweating at night, I get so hot at work (in an office I was always FREEZING in before I got pregnant) and I’m actually starting to turn down the heat in the car when I’m driving somewhere with Neal, which I thought for sure pigs would fly before that happened. I guess I didn’t have to worry about what to wear for a winter coat, since I hardly ever wear a coat. Who needs one when you are a walking tropical climate???

Da Bump: Whoa… looking big! And in need of hairspray apparently.. hair tweak, much???? (Let's hope Bambino inherits his Daddy's not-so-crazy-frizzy-fly away hair....) 

My Turn at Bat

Next stop on the Baby Train is… the Glynn household…

Hold on!!!

Oh god!!!

A friend of mine gave birth to a sweet baby girl on 11/11/11 (cool b-day!!!) and as she and I were exchanging some texts the night before this little girl’s arrival; it dawned on me. Like full on, heart-dropped-into-my-stomach-and-I-gasped-and-said-oh-sh**  kind of dawned on me.

I’M NEXT. 

via

In our group of friends we had quite the Preggo Club going on. My good friend McKenzie was pregnant first, (and gave birth to her awesome little guy in September) and then there this friend, who was due in November…. then me due in early February…. then after me is a girl due later in February…. and another girl due in March. 

It was awesome to have so many preggo friends to hang out with and drink sodas and water with at parties, and chat about fears and worries and excitement and the lovely things our bodies do when it grows a baby (farting much???)

Ok, sorry, TMI there...

Well, now two of those girls have welcomed their little beans into the world, and next up and newest recipient of the title “Most Pregnant in the Group” is little old me.

That realization hit me like a ton of bricks and I have to admit I started sweating a bit. For the last 28 weeks there were other, more pregnant girls going through all of this before me, and I got to just kinda hang back and watch their journeys and not think too much about what it would be like when it was my turn.

It is quickly becoming my turn.

I'm not ready for it to be my turn.

I don't want it to be my turn.

Can we go back several weeks?

Can I rethink this whole thing???

Where is my "Easy" button?

Screw the "Easy" button, where the hell is my "PANIC" button?????????????????

The Great Bambino- Week 28

Well…. Here’s my weekly update of what went down in Preggo Town… just got done with Week 28!

Bambino’s Size: A Butternut Squash… about 2 ½ lbs, and over 15 inches long! His bones are hardening and he’s sucking calcium out of me, so good thing dairy is sounding good these days!

Food Loves: Just about anything right now. I’ve hit the pregnant stage of “mmmmm food…..” and I get excited just thinking about eating. I hadn’t had that kind of reaction toward food until this point… I actually went through several weeks of barely eating anything and not being interested in food in earlier weeks of my pregnancy, so my appetite is really swinging the opposite direction now. Top of the list still includes almond butter, apples, yogurt, Caesar salad, anything Mexican, and dessert (I know, still on my dessert thing… not as severely as before, but I’ll just say…  chocolate mousse doesn’t stand an ice cube’s chance in hell if it’s anywhere near me).  And Thanksgiving coming up?? Let’s just say my stretchy maternity leggings are all prepped and ready to be worn that day!! Bring it!

Food that’s Gagging me: Still completely not interested in anything pork or anything shrimp.

Sleep: Still sleeping really good, but changing positions at night has become a total event that involves strategically putting a plan in place in my mind minutes before the actual change of positions so I can figure out exactly how I’m going to change positions, and then a slow shifting of body parts until the desired new position has been reached. This is all coupled with grunts as each body shift takes place. Move left arm <grunt> shift hip over <grunt> prop up on one elbow <grunt> push down with other arm and shift body onto side <grunt> Needless to say, this wakes Neal up and he ends up asking “are you ok over there?”  Yep… just fine darling hubby… just trying to shift around with a 25 lb medicine ball stuck to the front of my body, don’t worry about me….  <grunt>

Best Moment of the Week: hmmm…. Nothing really awesome happened last week that was pregnancy-related. Neal and I had a fun date night Saturday night and went down to Silverton to see his high school kids put on the musical “The Wizard of Oz”…. I never get tired of seeing Neal interact with his students, or see their faces brighten when they see him showing up at an event; “Mr. Glynn! Hey Mr. Glynn! You came? That’s so cool you came! What are we doing in PE on Monday, Mr. Glynn??” He’s so awesome with his students and they just freaking ADORE him it makes my heart burst. I swear sometimes he’s going to be asked for his autograph. Neal showed me his office in the locker room, and while he was using the bathroom, I wandered around and discovered an electronic wrestling scale just sitting there on the floor… just sitting there… waiting… which leads me to my Worst Moment….

Worst Moment of the Week: OMG! That stupid wrestling scale MUST, absolutely MUST be tweaked to read higher than what is real. Because if not, I have somehow gained 15 POUNDS in the last 2 weeks, since I was weighed at my last Dr’s appointment. There is no way. Just no way. All my clothes still fit. Nothing has gotten tighter. What the Eff???? 15 lbs in just two weeks? Its just not possible. I’ve been working out. Hardly eating dessert. Stupid wrestling scale. Put me in the stupid heavyweight division. Hmmphh.

What’s Up with My Body: It’s official. My feet have gotten bigger. They swell once and awhile, but overall they are just wider than what they were before. I am down to one pair of boots that fit, and about 2 pairs of other shoes… so a new pair of shoes might have to be purchased. The problem with being this pregnant in the winter is that you want warm shoes likes boots and things, and those usually fit tighter on your feet to begin with. I can’t just stick on some flip-flops and prance out of the house in 33 degree weather. Even my fuzzy Bearpaw boots are getting tough to wear because my calves have gotten bigger and they don’t fit up on my calves right. I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but Crocs are starting to look appealing.

I am still really feeling my bulk.. it’s getting really hard to get up from certain sitting positions, laying positions, and it’s getting nearly impossible to bend over. Putting on socks? Like and elephant trying to put on pantyhose. I’m that coordinated about it.

Da Bump: This is the only pic I got last week...

Dear Friday Letters

Dear Belly Button,

You are so close to popping out! I keep expecting to sneeze and have you go “boop!” at any moment. Let’s just commit to this sticking-out-thing fully and just go for it, ok? Go big or go home!

Dear Henry,

You were very rude last weekend when we doggy-sat your BFF Jackson. You kept stealing his bed! We did not raise you to have such bad manners… should we enroll you in a Puppy Etiquette course?

Dear Husband,

Your birthday is on Sunday! Even though we aren’t celebrating with anything extravagant, I hope the day will be filled with fun and you will know how much you are loved! So in case you didn't know just how much you were loved... let me show you....

Olive loves you…

Henry loves you…

And I LOVE YOU… (way more than the Fur Children!)

Glo Photography

And I know our little Bambino is going to think you are just the bee’s knees…. We are all so happy you were born! Happy Birthday (on Sunday) baby!!!!!!

Dear Mom,

You asked me last week if I needed any new socks for Christmas, so you could take advantage of Black Friday sales. I said I wasn’t sure if I needed new socks or not, and that I probably didn’t need any…. well… the proof is in the pudding. I think I need new socks!

And in Celebrity Buzz….

Dear Regis,

I am so sad that you are retiring! Even though you are 80 years old and deserve to retire. I was really looking forward to watching you every morning when I go on maternity leave... what am I going to do now???? And I have so many memories of watching “Live with Regis and Kathy Lee” during summer breaks when I was in middle school and high school. You are a true entertainment icon, and you will be very missed! Best of luck!!!

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I'm Giving it a Shot...

I ordered this book and got it in the mail the other day:

I really needed this book.

Why? Because I am (potentially) crazy and I want to *try* and have a drug-free birth.

I say “try” because that is exactly what my mind-set is. I am not going into this trying to be a hero and be screaming my lungs out and having my body ripped in half and still deny medical intervention and/or drugs because of my desire to “do it natural”

I’m not THAT crazy…

I just believe that the human body is designed to give birth (hey, women have been doing it since the dawn of time!) and that my body will instinctually know what to do. I just want to let it do what it already knows to do and let Nature take over.

I am also deathly, irrationally, stupidly freaked-the-hell out by epidurals.

Let me explain.  

Something about epidurals just seem unnatural to me. I DO NOT LIKE THE IDEA OF BEING NUMB. DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT… (did I make my point??? Haha)  so here is my Pros and Cons list for trying to do this whole birth thing a la naturale…

PROS

-No epidural means I will be able to get into any position that feels comfortable to me during labor. I can stand, walk around, be on all fours (probably growling too), on my side, bent over the bed, taking a shower.. whatever. That really appeals to me.

-No epidural means nothing will mess with my body’s natural production of pain relievers… oxytocin, adrenaline, and endorphins. The books say these can be just as strong as engineered drugs.

-No epidural means I won’t be completely paranoid and freaked out the entire time, wondering if I’ll ever get sensation back, or if they screwed up and I’ll be paralyzed for life. Yes, I am a horrible worry-wort and I am actually beyond freaked out that they will paralyze me.

-No epidural means no anesthesiologist charge on our final bill. Yes, this is my Scrooge side talking here. It could save us $1,000’s.

CONS

- I could end up with a long labor and not be able to sleep or rest.

-When sensation comes back into your legs and body, you itch really bad.

-Me, needle-phobe of the highest degree, will have to lie for hours knowing there is something stuck into my spine.

-There are risks, though they are rare… including horrible headaches, and being numb up to your neck, and other complications

-I would be stuck on my back as soon as I get the epidural. No moving, no walking, no showers, just lying there.

-Some research has shown babies born to Moms who have epidurals don’t latch on and nurse as easily as babies born under no epidural.

-Epidurals mess with and stop your body’s natural production of pain relievers

-Epidurals can wear off and you still end up feeling pain.

In my opinion, the Pros of doing it drug-free outweigh the Cons and potential complications of having and epidural. 

I am trying to prepare myself as best I can with researching and exercising so that my body can have this baby epidural-free. But like I mentioned before, I am not a hero, nor am I am a hippie-Earth Mother… so if I end up in horrible pain and am willing to give up my right arm for some pain relief, I will ask for it.

It’s just a big struggle for me to be open-minded about epidurals since something is my gut screams “NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” every time I even think about them. I am trying though, because I know my birth experience may come down to really needing one or wanting one.

I'm sure some of you are shaking your head, listing me under your "crazy people" list and thinking I'm too big of weenie to pull off this natural thing.

You may be right.

But... I want to give it a shot. I really do. My Mom had 2 kids with no drugs, and countless other women have too... if they can do it, I'd like to think I can too.

Here's hoping!

The Great Bambino- Week 27

Here is a recap of what down in Preggo town in Week 27… getting closer and closer by the day!

Bambino's Size:  A Chinese cabbage. Since I don’t really know what that is… he is 2 ¼ lbs, and 14 ½” long from head to toe. He’s opening his eyes and blinking… and he’s got eyelashes! (hopefully Neal’s crazy long, thick “baby giraffe” eyelashes)

Food Loves:  I’m gravitating back toward fresh cravings… salad, grapefruit (I went nuts and almost bought $8 worth of grapefruit yesterday… good thing I looked at the ad before checkout and noticed a sale on a different variety of grapefruit so I could switch it out), and I had a bad hankering for Jello yesterday so I had to buy some. I’m also all about almonds lately. Every morning I have 2 pieces of toast on the way to work slathered in almond butter, and a big to-go cup filled with chocolate almond milk. I also really craved sugar snap peas last week. I bought 2 bags, and ate almost 1 entire bag within 20 minutes. Those were definitely on the grocery list for this week too!

My dessert/sugar cravings are going away a bit. I still have a mini candy bar every day, but I’m not dying for chocolate/desserts like I was. My sugar cravings have changed a bit to things like Jello and soda (we hardly EVER buy soda to have at home, but I wanted it so bad yesterday we bought 2 different kinds). The awesome thing about being pregnant and wanting soda? Doctor’s would prefer you have real full-sugar soda as opposed to the fake chemical sugar in diet soda.. so no guilt with buying real Pepsi!

Food That's Gagging Me:  not much really, the usual. Pork, and shrimp still sounds gross.

Sleep: I’m still sleeping good… sleeping through the night almost every night, with just a few wake-ups either to go to the bathroom or change positions. I still wake up on my back almost every morning, so apparently that position is still comfortable enough for my body to fall into when I’m asleep. I’m wondering how long that will last…. but I’m just letting my body do what it finds comfortable on its own, so if I wake up on my back, I don’t flip positions.

Best Moment of the Week:  Two things stick out in my mind… 1) Neal brought home our copy of the form he filled out to get Bambino added to his insurance after his birth, and just seeing his name written down like that made it seem so real. I have to admit I got a little sentimental over that…. And 2) I decided to start reading to Bambino every night. He’s been able to hear for weeks now, and I decided since I’m part hopeless romantic, I was going to read to him from a book of love poems I have. Shakespeare, Lord Byron, all the greats are in there… hopefully the rhythm of the poems and the sound of my voice will become familiar to him. He’s very still and quiet while I read our nightly poem, so maybe he really is paying attention. I’m feeling more connected to him as an actual person now that he’s getting bigger and it’s nice to feel that connection.

Worst Moment of the Week:.  Ugh. A cold sore popping up on my lip! I HATE getting cold sores. They are so painful and ugly! Before I was pregnant, I’d get a cold sore maybe once every 2 or 3 years… very very rarely. I have now had THREE in this pregnancy! Once when I was about 2 weeks along and didn’t know I was pregnant yet (I remember thinking “why the hell did this pop out?? What is going on with my body that made a cold sore pop out??”) again in my 9^th week of pregnancy, and then again in Week 27. I know it’s because my immune system is depressed to help me not fight against the baby I’m growing, and a weakened immune system makes cold sores appear; but it’s still soooooo annoying. I beyond hate them. I couldn’t even kiss my hubby hello yesterday when he got home from a weekend away because of this damn thing on my lip.

What's Up with My Body:   I’m officially swelling. Check out my fat foot! What’s funny is that Amanda was in town and stayed with me Friday night and she said “you look great! Your face still looks thin and all that” and then I said “oh I know! I haven’t swollen at all yet!” at that exact moment I kicked off my slipper to (what I thought would prove my point of I haven’t swollen yet) to discover my huge Fred Flintstone of a right foot! Haha! I would have inserted my foot into my mouth at that moment if it wasn’t so fat.

Momma needs a pedicure- a STAT!!!

Also, I’m officially at the “dropping everything” phase. Did you know that pregnancy hormones loosen all your ligaments and joints.. including your hands, so your grasp on things is looser and you drop things more often? My phone almost went into the toilet this weekend, and completely fell into my plate of cheese and bean burritos (poor phone). I also dropped a carrot at the grocery store, and several other things throughout the week.. my keys have hit the floor more times than I can count.

My back still gets achy pretty quickly, and a lot of the achiness I’ve noticed is more centralized in my lower rib area… so I’m thinking my ribs are starting to spread a bit to accommodate Bambino.

He’s still kicking hard and being really active and I’m pretty sure I felt an elbow slide across the width of my abdomen one night. That was a weird feeling. Everyone keeps asking me if he’s gotten the hiccups yet, but I don’t think he has. I haven’t felt any rhythmic, repetitive movement like that. He’s more sporadic and his movement is mostly rolling or hard punches/kicks.

Da Bump: Including Henry this week for size reference (and because he looooves attention)! Bambino is right now half of Henry’s weight/size (Henry is 5lbs) but when he arrives he’ll be 1 ½ times bigger than Henry! Crazy.

Dear Friday Letters

Dear Veterans,
Thank you to everyone who has served and who is currently serving our country! We are fortunate to live in a free country, and I'm proud to be an American despite our faults and quirks at times. Your sacrifices to ensure our safety and the safety of generations to come can never be repaid with just a mere "thank you" but please know we appreciate all you do! And thank you to all the Military spouses out there! Your love and support is just as important, and I know your job is not an easy one!

Dear American Horror Story,

I am so glad my darling friend Sarah told me about you! Even Neal has gotten completely hooked. But seriously…. I will never, can never, not-in-your-life-will-I-ever watch you alone or right before I go to bed in an empty house. What is up with the evil thingies in your basement??? And Rubberman??? Holy cow!!! I have never been so highly entertained, intrigued or completely creeped the “F” out all at once.

via

Dear Fall,

Oh I love you so much… the days of clear skies and crisp weather…. Sitting by the fireplace and warming my ever-expanding tushy… and I love lazy Fall Sunday mornings with pumpkin pancakes and crisp apples!!! Thank you for being the best time of year to be happy, cozy and thankful for everything in my life!

Dear Husband,

I’m so glad you are my bestest friend… and you by far are the best person on this planet to watch America’s Funniest Home Videos with! Your side comments and reactions to the videos make me laugh so hard I can’t breathe, I can’t feel my face, and I choke on my water. After long days at work and all the stresses of life, we all need to laugh that hard once and awhile. Don’t ever change. Xoxo

Dear DMV,

Is it really necessary to charge $80 for a little renewal sticker to put on my car? I mean, really? All I have to say to you is “Grrrrrrrrrrr……”

And of course, the Celeb Buzz Letter….

Dear Duggers,

I have watched your show. I think you are very sweet, very wholesome people and I am not one to judge…. But…. A 20^th kid??? Michelle, sweetie… you are 45 and just had a very dangerous pregnancy and gave birth to a 15-weeks-early preemie with your last pregnancy. I know you are just having as many kids as God wants you to have.. but for the sake of your own (and this fetus’) health, I think you can stop now. I think God would understand, honestly.

via

xoxo-
Jess

Happy Little Food Rut

I have realized I’m in quite a food rut during this pregnancy.

It’s a good rut though, and I’m quite happy in it… but every week when I make my grocery list I realize I have been eating the same things over and over and over again for weeks now.

My pregnancy staples?

Bob’s Red Mill High Fiber hot cereal:

This stuff packs 10 grams of fiber per serving! Plus flaxseed, omega 3’s.. all kinds of good stuff. Neal said it looks like sawdust.. which it totally does, so it’s now nicknamed my “sawdust cereal” but it actually tastes pretty good. I eat this stuff every single morning with a fresh apple chopped up on it.

Yogurt:

Tillamook has become my favorite. It’s local, they use no growth hormones, and the Huckleberry is amazing.. and a flavor you don’t see in other yogurt brands since Huckleberries are pretty uniquely Oregon. I eat one every single day with tons and tons of Grape-Nuts mixed in it.

Fruit:

This varies slightly, depending on what is on sale that week, but it could be grapefruit, pears, or grapes.

Chocolate Almond Milk:

Totally obsessed with this stuff! I tried the vanilla once just for kicks and giggles and didn’t care for it.. I need the chocolate! I take a to-go cup full of this stuff with me every morning on my drive to work.

Almond Butter:

I’ve made the discovery that I have an intolerance to peanuts and peanut butter (sad, I know…) but whenever I eat PB I end up with sharp horrible intestinal pain. So, almond butter has become my new BFF. Two pieces of toast with tons of almond butter every morning in the car on my way to work! Mmmm…

Mexican Food:

Any kind, any time, any form… we eat some kind of Mexican meal at least once a week and it always sounds good to me. The combo of cheese and fresh tomatoes and hot sauce just really appeal to my taste buds right now.

Soda:

I know… not the healthiest, but it’s become a total treat for me. Neal will have a beer on a Friday movie night, and so I’ll have a soda. Root Beer has been my biggest pregnancy flavor craving, but any kind makes me really happy. Ahhhh…. Sugar and bubbles. Who needs champagne, right???

Takin' the kids to the park...

Neal and I set out for a nice little walk on Sunday afternoon because it was GORGEOUS out. Olive was already outside enjoying the sun, and when we started walking out of neighborhood with Henry, we realize Olive had spotted us and was following us out of the neighborhood.

"meow! meow! Mom! Wait! Wait, Mom! Mom! meow"

I didn’t want her to follow us across the busy highway, so instead of going on the long walk we intended, we decided to just walk around our neighborhood a few times.

The cat followed us the entire time! It was too funny… me, Neal, our pipsqueak of a dog in his baseball sweatshirt… and a cat following along meowing the whole way.

Doo dee doo... just out walking the cat...

She even followed us up into the grass/park area in the middle of our townhouses… so we joked that we were “taking the kiddos to the park” on that nice Sunday afternoon.

Exploring the "park"

Waiting for the dog to walk by so she can pounce

The Glynn Family Outing

Olive would even break out in a fast run at points, zoom by the dog, whack him with her paw, then lay down and “hide” by a curb… teasing him into playing with her. You could tell she was having SO much fun!

I think she liked her little afternoon adventure and is now ready for the next one!

"where to next guys???"

The Great Bambino- Week 26

Here is a recap of what down in Preggo town in Week 26… which according to my pregnancy book, is the first week of Trimester 3!!

Bambino's Size:  2 lbs! He’s like a head of cauliflower this week… and boy can I tell by the way he thumps into my organs all day long.

Food Loves:  I’m definitely on a Caesar salad kick again, and I’m still all about apples. We went grocery shopping yesterday and I was loading up my produce bag with apples and Neal was like “geeeezzzz! Do ya have enough?” Well, when we both eat at least 1 apple a day, that’s a big haul needed for the week! Maybe I should just start buying bushels.

I’m also really into hot chocolate lately. Almost every morning I’ve been making some to drink on the drive to work. I’m pretty much done drinking coffee because it started to give me heartburn and taste odd, so hot chocolate has been my alternative.

I’m also (sadly) still on my sweets kick.. I was bored Saturday night, so cookies ended up being baked. Bad bad bad! Part of me is going “its ok, I eat really healthy all day long, so having a little extra sweets is not a big deal” and then the other half of me (usually when I see myself naked in the bathroom lighting) goes “oh hello, Thunder Thighs… don’t forget you have to LOSE all that weight you are piling on!” It’s a constant battle.

What Evil looks like...

Food That's Gagging Me:  not much really, the usual. Pork, and shrimp still sounds gross.

Sleep: I’m still sleeping really good and really deep (thankfully) and I haven’t had any bizarre bad dreams either. I’m starting to enter the 3^rd Trimester “back to being tired” phase though. On Saturday I was EXHAUSTED and could not stay awake at 5pm. I ended up taking a little nap on the couch and still managed to be tired at bedtime too. I’m feeling the desire to nap coming back like I experienced in the 1^st Trimester.

Best Moment of the Week: Probably passing my glucose test! I have to admit I was a bit worried because of all the sugar and sweets I’ve been hogging down as of late…. So passing it and hearing that my body is handling food and sugar and glucose totally normal was a big sigh of relief and very good news! Plus that should be my last blood draw of this pregnancy, as long as things continue to go smoothly for me. Anytime I conquer a run-in with a needle I am very proud of myself. J

Also, I worked the Concession Stand at Neal’s high school with him on Friday night for a home football game and some cute old man told me that pregnant women are beautiful and that I looked great. That was pretty sweet.

Worst Moment of the Week:. Ok, I confess. I was a teeny bit moody last week. The only person who probably knew this or noticed this was Neal, since I try not to let my moodiness come out at work. I was just downright cranky, and kept getting offended over every single thing and doing the classic moody girl response of “and what do you mean by THAT???” whenever Neal would say something. I also cried for no real reason on Thursday when I sat down to eat dinner, so that was fun for Neal too. He handles me SO well I’m always reminded that I married the right guy for me. Love you Neal! Sorry Preggo over here was an emotional roller coaster last week!

What's Up with My Body:  The back pain has officially arrived! I think pregnancy is prelude to what it’s going to feel like being old. I get up in the morning and my lower back is so stiff and sore I hobble around for several minutes until it loosens up a bit. I also went a bit crazy yesterday cleaning the bathroom and tweaked my upper back and had pain whenever I breathed for the rest of the day. I also can’t sit for longer than about 10 mins before my back starts to ache. I have to use a throw pillow for lumbar support on the couch. I guess this is all normal seeing that I have 22lbs of compact tummy on the front of my body.

I definitely can notice a pattern in his movements at this point. He’s really active when I first wake up and for the first hour I’m at work, and then he’s pretty quiet in the late afternoon, and then gets crazy again in the evening. I think this little guy loves food because as soon as I start eating he starts in on the Happy Dance… especially if I eat anything Mexican, apples, or anything a bit spicy. I made amazing cheddar-jalapeno meatloaf last week and he went positively berserk!! Well, it probably helped that I had a Pepsi with my dinner that night so the poor kid got spicy and caffeine all at once!! It’s fun to see what food he reacts to. Last night I was reading and had my book resting on top of my belly and it was bopping up and down! He’s a very very active little dude. He’s still a little unpredictable though, and anytime he goes crazy and I get Neal to put his hand on my tummy, Bambino will stop. It will probably be a bit longer before he’s more consistent and friends or family will be able to feel him… unless they want to sit with their hand on my belly for at least 10 mins and wait for it.

I can squeeze my belly button all the way out! And then poke it back in… this bothers Neal. So I do it a lot. J Just a little bit more and it will be popped out on it’s own!

Da Bump: BEEP BEEP BEEP!!! Wide load coming through!!!!

Dear Friday Letters....

It’s Friday again! Yippee!!!! Time for another installment of my “Dear Friday Letters….”

Dear Glucose Test,

I kicked your butt, oh yes I did! I have to admit I was going to be more upset about the four blood draws in a row than actually having Gestational Diabetes if I didn’t pass you, but I did so we are in the clear! Bring on the candy!!!! Ok, kidding.. well, kinda…  

Dear Feet,

I can’t see you anymore when I look down. I know you are still there, but I kinda miss seeing you… Please don’t pull any tricks on me like getting into two different shoes in the morning, just to have a laugh at the poor preggo girl who wouldn’t be able to see you and notice she looked silly. Ok?

Dear Henry,

I know it’s been getting colder in the mornings, but are you that much of a Princess that on your morning potty trip outside you have to poop on the back deck by the door instead of the grass or bark mulch?? Should we buy you some super poofy, warm puppy boots for your delicate little feet so you can actually venture out into the yard??

"Don't make me go out there... sooooo cold!!!!"

Dear Husband,

Thank you for spending your Saturday night last weekend putting together our baby’s crib. I was so excited to get his crib, I wanted it put together right away, and being the sweetheart that you are, you got right to it! Not the most exciting Saturday night you could have, but you did have a beer while putting it together, so that somewhat counts as a wild crazy time, right?

And I’ve got to have a Celebrity Letter too…

Dear Chick Who Claims She Got Pregnant by Justin Bieber,

I think there are some major flaws in your story… A) I really don’t think The Biebs would choose to lose his virginity to you in an alleyway. B) if your “story” is true, The Biebs was 16 and you were 19 at the time of this sexual encounter. Ever heard of a little thing called “statutory rape?” and C) all you’ll likely get out of this is an investigation from California Police about why a 19 yr. old had sex with a 16 yr. old in the first place… that means a year in jail, and a lifetime on the Sex Offenders registry…. Yeah… I don’t think you thought your attempt at getting child support through too well, sweetie.

via

Me vs. Glucose

Alright Glucola… it’s just me and you.

I have to drink you today.

So how abouts we strike up a deal?

I’ll put you out of your misery quickly by chugging you down, and in return you stay down in my tummy and not come back up.

Deal? Deal.

I have dreaded my Glucose tolerance test since the moment I found out I was pregnant because I really don’t like having my blood drawn. This is what happens:

I have anxiety all day over the upcoming blood draw and can’t eat and usually have a squirmy tummy all day. I get to the Dr’s office, have to go through my whole schpeel of “I don’t do well with blood draws, this is how I need to do it” and probably come off as a high-maintenance wussy. I have to lie down, turn my head away, have an article of clothing I can put over my face like a child hiding under a blanket, take deep breaths, and be talked to constantly. Oh, and did I mention I tend to faint and I’ll need water at the ready for me to sip once this is all over?

You are welcome nurse, for giving you something to snicker at later in the day. I know, I’m a big weenie!

My biggest fear is that I won’t pass my Glucose tolerance test and I’ll have to drink this nasty stuff all over again, and somehow make it through the follow-up 4 blood draws: which they take all in a row.

{shudder}

I think if that happens I’m going to need a teddy bear with me.