Baby Bump: 35 Weeks

35 weeks with Baby A

Total Weight Gain: I'm up about 5 pounds over prepreg weight now. The weight started to pile on all of the sudden...probably because baby is growing very quickly. And I'm not quite sure how much more my stomach can stretch. I know our bodies are designed for this, but I feel like a science experiment!
Maternity Clothes: Ha! All maternity, all the time. Minus some tshirts...most of them are hubs'. 
Stretch Marks? Still none! I have NO idea how because this stomach is stretching to capacity.
Sleep: What's that? No, seriously. Remember when I slept 8 hours a night? That's a thing of the past. For the past several weeks it's been about 3-4 hours a night. I can't get comfortable. My belly gets in the way of everythinggg. And for the love, I just want to sleep a little before this kid comes and takes that away from me!
Movement: He's active all the time! Which is a good thing because it doesn't leave me wondering whether or not he's ok. He likes to jam feet into my ribs and his head is pressing on my bladder. Because, that's right, he's head down! Locked and loaded for delivery.
Exercise: I don't do that much anymore. It's hard enough for me to get around doing ordinary things, exercise definitely hasn't made it into the routine. I've been walking here and there. Nothing structured though. 
Food cravings: None really! 
Belly Button In or Out: Turkey's done!
Milestone: I had my ultrasound last week and the little guy is just shy of 5 pounds and head down, ready for delivery. I'm 2 weeks away from being full term. TWO WEEKS! Where has the time gone, seriously? It feels like I was just in my first trimester. 

I also had a FABULOUS surprise shower thrown for me this weekend from my friend Julie. It was awesome and I'm so, so lucky to have her, my friends and their families for support too. I think we're just about set with gear. Most things are put together. This weekend is car seat installation...which hubs is in charge of, since my putting together skills are lacking. After that, I just need to finish my hospital bag, get a few nursing tanks and I'll be just about ready. Lord help me. I'm beyond petrified for labor and delivery, but I know people do it all the time and it's totally worth it in the end!

Suprises about Pregnancy: What I didn't Know Would Happen

There are a lot of things about pregnancy that people don't tell you. I'm not sure if it's because they don't want to or because they're embarrassed. Luckily, I'm not above laying everything out on the table. Especially when it involves this baby baking I'm doing.

Here are a few things that have particularly surprised me.

1. First trimester hormones are no joke. They turn you from a perfectly normal person into a crazy bitch in about 60 seconds. I wasn't fully prepared for this and therefore, shed my fair share of tears from February to April.

2. Your nipples get darker. This was also not a thing that I was told could happen until AFTER it did. I was concerned. Hubs was concerned. I look like something out of the pages of National Geographic. I've been told they return to normal after you're done breastfeeding. Apparently, science says that they turn so the baby can see his target while breastfeeding. Good to know.

3. You don't poop anymore. Yes, I said poop. No matter how much fiber you think you're eating, everything gets stopped up. Add in the iron supplements I'm on for anemia, and you've got yourself an intestinal disaster.

4. The second trimester is a breeze. At least it was for me. I felt like I could do pretty much anything up until the middle of August. Take advantage of this time and energy and get important stuff done then, before you feel like collapsing on the couch every night.

5. Sleep is evasive starting at the end of the second trimester. Especially if you're a stomach sleeper. Your belly starts to get in the way. You're peeing every few hours. I think this is partially to get you ready for sleepless nights ahead.

6. Every time you don't think your belly can get any bigger, it does. I'm at the point now. I don't know how there's much more room in there, but I've got at least 6 more weeks worth of growth. And this kid has about 3 pounds more to put on. Meaning I'm going to get that much larger. Size ultra pregnant.

7. Every day tasks begin to get a little more difficult. Such as putting on your underbritches. It's a show every day in my bedroom. I've wobbled like a Weeble Wobble trying to get into these things.

8. You start to leak a little pee pee. I'll spare you the details, but it happens. Be prepared for it.

Suprising information? It was to me!

Baby Bump: 33 Weeks

Total Weight Gain: Still at 2 pounds over prepreg weight. But damnnnn do I feel GIANT these days. And I think it shows. Just look at the photo above. This kid is growing. As am I. Although it could have been the 5 cupcakes I ate this weekend at my shower.  
Maternity Clothes: All maternity. I'm clearly too large to fit into anything that's not. 
Stretch Marks? Still none! Thank you baby Jesus. 
Sleep: Oh, sleep. I miss you. I can't get 8 hours anymore. I used to sleep for 8 uninterrupted hours and it was fabulous. Now I get up at least twice to pee and it takes me a long time to settle back into position. Although this weekend I did get a fabulous new sleeping partner. A HUGE stuffed dog from Toys R Us from the baby shower. And although it's for the baby? It found it's way to my bed where I've been snuggling up to it. 
Movement: He's still on the move. And his movements are decidedly more uncomfortable. Baby boy is gaining strength and his pokes, jabs and kicks catch me by surprise a lot. 
Exercise: I'm terrible. I've been counting my house cleaning and running up and down the stairs to do the laundry as my cardio. But seriously? It feels like a legit workout when I vacuum, do laundry, dust, etc. I think I'll be going outside for a stroll tomorrow. I usually start to cramp up down below after 20 minutes, so my doc told me to take it easy when I feel that. 
Food cravings: None really. Shocking, I know. 
Belly Button In or Out: Turkey's done!
Milestone: I have an ultrasounds next week, so I'm really looking forward to that! And I had my first baby shower and baby boy was spoiled with gifts. From some seriously special homemade blankets to burp cloths, we're getting stocked up. I went through everything this week and I'm slowly, but surely getting everything together. I did laundry last night and will work on sanitizing bottles/binkies and getting everything in it's place in the coming weeks. 

Here's a peak into parts of the nursery that I have done. 

My sleeping partner. 

And some pics from my shower:

 Cake made by my sister

 Amanda and Pam came out the way out from Pittsburgh and Philly to attend. Amanda's 10 days behind me with her second baby! 

 My baby sister, who pulled the whole awesome thing together. And made some AWESOME cupcakes. Hence why I had about 5. 

Diaper made by Pam

Baby Bump: Week 31

Total Weight Gain: The weight is definitely coming on quicker now. I'm up about 2 pounds over my prepreg weight. At least today. I'm sure that'll change soon enough. The numbers seem to be going up every time I step on the scale. Only 2 months to go though! 
Maternity Clothes: All maternity, all the time. I'm sure my coworkers are getting as sick of my outfits as I am. 
Stretch Marks? Still none!
Sleep: Sleep still eludes me. I wake up about 3 times a night to pee and I have a ton of trouble finding a comfortable position that actually allows me to fall asleep. When hubs isn't here, I make a pillow fort which seems to help a little. 
Movement: He's still moving. Just not as much as he was before. Mostly because of the lack of room I'm sporting in my belly. When he does move, it's VERY noticeable. Especially if you happen to be staring at my belly when he decides to karate chop me. His positioning for the day also determines the amount of back and pelvic pain that I experience. 
Exercise: I'm totally awful on this one. I haven't really worked out a ton in a few weeks. Mostly because after about 20 minutes I start cramping up in my belly and get really uncomfortable. I guess this could be contributing to the more rapid weight gain. 
Food cravings: Froyo. Hubs and I went out for some yesterday, actually. And I decided to be semi-healthy and get fruit toppings instead of all candy like I normally get. Expect for that spoonful of cheesecake bites I put on it...
Belly Button In or Out: Turkey's done!
Milestone: My baby shower in my hometown is this coming weekend and I'm really looking forward to it! I'm starting to get the nursery more and more together. I plan to go get a bookshelf tomorrow and I finally got some curtains up this week. Someone recommended getting thermal/room darkening ones, so that's what I chose. Especially since he's got 2 windows in the nursery. Here's a little peak. 

Pardon the mess. I'm still getting things together. I bought some tie-backs yesterday and installed them today. Everything will come together soon enough!