33 Weeks

Well, I spent most of yesterday at the Dr.'s being evaluated for my early contractions. These are not braxton hicks! They're the biggies that require you to stop everything that you're doing and concentrate. Totally sucks. Anyway, all looked ok and I was told to just lay low and go straight to L&D if I had more than 6 an hour. I just love how people can tell a woman with a 20 mo old and a 3.5 year old to LAY LOW and TAKE IT EASY without busting a gut laughing! I mean, really...

So I'd be lying if I said I was feeling great cause the truth is that I feel like total crap. My back hurts and I feel like someone kicked me hard several times in the crotch, my belly is huge and itchy and seems to catch on everything that I walk past. Brooks asked me if there could be two in there it looked so big yesterday, but after comparing with my belly shots from Dash I think I'm pretty much the same place (in the belly at least, the hiney, now that's another story!). The Dr. told me to hold out till at least 36 weeks and I think I can do this for three more weeks. Seven more would be pushing it, but I know that they won't let me go past 38 weeks because the alleged GD could cause a 30lb baby. So worst case scenario is that I have 5 weeks left. That I can handle. Now if only someone would come handle these two other kids for me...

Nesting...and I Might Have a Problem

With the flurry of contractions this week, I realized that I am NOWHERE NEAR ready for this guy to arrive! Ok, that might be an understatement, but compared to how ready I was with Dash (forget that with Fin I was ready about 3 months in :) I have a LOT of work to do. So I informed Brooks that the next two weekends were all about baby-preparedness - the culminating event being next weekend where we get all the baby stuff out of the garage so I can wash it and inspect it. I'm sure I don't need to tell you how excited that made him!

I spent the better part of today getting organized. Birth plan is done, printed and laminated. We'll be meeting with our Doula, Yvonne, on Friday. I reorganized the emergency diaper supply bag in the car to include the new teeny ones we bought this week (Fin couldn't get over how little they were!). And my hospital bag is close to packed. Of course I need to qualify that with the fact that I HATE hospitals and only plan on spending one night if that so there really wasn't much to pack! I have long since moved Dash's stuff out of the nursery and into the room he'll be sharing with Fin, so I just had to straighten Snoopy's closet up a bit and that was done. I feel more ready now.

I think it's official - nesting has set in.

And in that vein, I have to admit, I have a problem. When I started off intending to sew a few burp cloths for this baby, I had no idea I'd go this far. I first picked up a pack of 12 cloth diapers. Then I saw an organic pack of 6 another place and they felt softer, so I bought those too. I bought a mess of material and sewed a few. But each time I would think I had sewn the last one, my eyes would catch the pile of sad, naked, empty cloth diapers and I'd realize I had material, what was one more...

Then I wandered into JoAnne's one day and found a bunch of new and pretty fabrics. Well, now I had more fabric and still some sad empty cloth diapers. So I made a few more...and some for a friend...and then I saw someone with a burp cloth and a matching blanket. Wait a minute! Did someone say matching blanket?!?
I loved this material. And the minky backing, sooo soft! And you didn't think I would stop at one set...
This green minky was even softer (and it shed and was a BITCH to sew). Now I have three more empty diapers and a small batch of material. After these, i WILL NOT go buy more. I WILL NOT go buy more...

A Sweet Short

For my friends who don't have kids yet, let me share one of the most amazing things about them. Some days, when you're feeling crappy and things are going awry, they just seem to know that you need a little extra TLC. Yesterday was one of those days for me.

And then it was naptime.

With Fin safely in his bed, Dash and I laid down to take a nap in my room. He nuzzled into me, took my arm, wrapped it around himself and asked "Got me mommy, got me?" "Yes my baby boy, I've got you". "Mommy, I love you." And the rest of the day just faded into memory and we both fell asleep.

Updates and Decisions

So here's last week's belly shot. 31 weeks. I'm huge. I'm just going to own it. Someone asked when I was due and when I told them August they were shocked. I'm short. I have no midsection. In other baby news, I failed the one hour GD test (I know, we're ALL surprised, right?) and declined the 3 hour test. My endo is out of town this week so by the time I get in to see him I'll be 33 weeks. Considering that the last time he saw me with Dash I was 34 weeks, I'm really hoping that means I'll only have to endure one visit. He's a nice guy, but really any pregnant woman will tell you that there are ENOUGH required Dr. visits already!

So back to feeling huge, I'm uncomfortable as all get-out. This baby has an amazing ability to crush my lungs and make me feel like there's an elephant sitting on my chest. Just going upstairs is enough to exhaust me if he's in the right position. That's getting old. Forget about sleeping comfortably. I indulge in Tylenol PM (which my dr. assured me is safe!) once or twice a week just so I can get SOME sleep. I think each pregnancy I've forgotten how much it stinks to be this large and uncomfortable. And although I feel like I might be bigger at this stage than I was with Fin or Dash, Brooks assures me that I'm just right. Good husband ;)

Last week was "baby week" on Disc and TLC, and so Brooks and I were watching a few shows this weekend. We both became a little fascinated with the women who had epidurals and were all talky and smiley even through the pushing phase. I quickly had to remind both of us that for those women, the pushing phase also seemed to go on forever whereas my natural births have literally been one or two pushes. Actually, I didn't even really push for Dash, my body just kind of took over (not to be gross, but imagine how you feel when you have the stomach flu...not exactly like you have a choice on whether or not you throw up!). But I feel tired. To the bone tired. And there is a little part of me that wonders what it would be like to just get an epidural at the first sign of pain and be able to nap and smile and laugh... In the end I'm too chicken (I know, too chicken to have an epidural?!?). I want to feel ok afterwards and so I'll just grin and bear it. Probably.

Get Your Hiney Ready...

I'm large. I failed the GD test. I have low iron. And yesterday Fin told me that my belly was extra large...and "dirty"...WHAT!?! Knowing I had just showered, I had to see for myself. Do you know what he was talking about? My stretch marks. Thanks kid. I explained to him what they were, and with tears in his eyes he told me he didn't want me to have them. Yeah, me neither. I could complain for a few more paragraphs, but instead I'll post this. I read it on a message board and am now shamelessly stealing it...

Baby Eviction Notice

I am issuing 30 day notice for EVICTION. Tenant will have 30 days in which he can either gather his belongings and promptly vacate the premises, or wait until the final day. After which, he will be physically removed from the property.

He's being evicted due to breech of contract and destruction of property. Expansions only to the FRONT of the house, within reasonable limits, were discussed. Not only have these limits been exceeded, but additions to the back of the house were also made!

Remodeling and gutting of the home was never approved, nor was changing the initial layout and base structure. And due to property damage, there are now leaks in both the upper AND lower levels of the home. On top of which, the landlord has received numerous complaints about nightly disturbances.

After 30 days from this day that he doesn’t comply with the notice will result in immediate and forceful removal at my discretion.

Sincerely,
Your Landlord