31 weeks!

So I am 31 weeks and 1 day along! I can't believe I only have 9 weeks to go in this adventure. And then it's a whole new chapter in life for me!

I think I am most excited to see what we will have! Boy or girl! Most of the people in my daily life says a girl (something about where the baby carries on me), but there are a few boy comments as well. I honestly don't care, so long as baby L is happy and healthy!

Ben and I completed our birthing and newborn classes, Ben still has the "daddy boot camp" class this Saturday, then we are all done! I have to admit, going through the classes, is probably one of the better things I have done. I feel a bit more prepared for what's going to happen, but as with most things in life, you can only plan and prepare so much. A lot of things in life just happen. Especially when it comes to birth and having children. Learning to go with the flow has been tough for me, but Ben is really great at it and I've learned lots from being with him.

Our baby shower is this weekend! I am excited to see my family and friends and help me celebrate this new chapter in my life. I am so very blessed to have such wonderful friends and family around me.

Overall, health wise, I seem to be doing ok, everything seems to be tracking very normal. Well, in my case, in the baby's case, Baby L is going to be a big baby. I have been measuring ahead for the last month. I am measuring  4 weeks ahead, so my doctor wanted to do an ultrasound to check the baby to see if it's a big baby or a big uterus. Well, Baby L is looking like a big baby! Thankfully not 4 weeks ahead, more so like 8 days. Given how much my due date has shifted around, I guess it's likely to happen. Also I was a big baby (9 pounds) and so was my brother (10 pounds 15 ounces). So the doctor seems to think that I just may be built to have big babies. Let's just hope its more on my end of the spectrum and not my brother's end.

Again the doctor's didn't seem too concerned with the size of the baby and said that everything that I want as of now, can still happen. Which is reassuring news to me. They commented that they'd probably like to do another ultrasound at 36 or 38 weeks just to check in again, but that as of now, things look fine.

According to my scale at home I am up 26 pounds overall, I am ok with this number, I've gotten better about gaining so much weight, knowing that things are ok with Baby L and I am handling things ok, I am good. This has also given me incentive to lose the weight after baby is born so that a) I can keep up with baby L and b) when we want to try for baby #2, I won't be as uncomfortable with weight and what not.

Baby L is moving a lot. It's been reassuring to me, more movements, mean healthy baby. Ben has been able to see more than he can feel. Something about his hand whether it's the heat or the pressure in his hands, the baby doesn't like and usually stops moving when he places a hand on my stomach.

I also feel like this summer has been the hottest and most humid summer ever, of course I know that's not true, but that's what I feel like it's been. I have been very thankful for the A/C that I have access to.

Sunday Thoughts

I've been enjoying spending time with my cousin while she's been in town on vacation. She's been staying at my parents and just relaxing and enjoying her time here.

My parents took her up to North Conway on Thursday of this week, I had baby classes on Wednesday and Thursday, so I wasn't able to join them until Friday. But we had such a relaxing time up there, even if it was a quick visit.

We had a great time showing Amy the north country, Saturday her and I went up the Mount Washington Auto Road, it's something that is quite unique and it's pretty amazing to do. Unfortunately it was a bit hazy and it impacted the view a bit, but we were still able to see quite a bit. It was 78* at the bottom and 59* at the top, it made for a pleasant trip, but it was VERY windy.

And this was only about halfway up! 

 

 

Good thing I didn't really bother doing my hair that morning....

My cousin is like my sister, her and I can talk freely and about anything. I have never felt the need to sensor myself around her.

One thing I noticed that really impacted me, was the altitude. And how much I got winded just from walking around. Being 29 weeks pregnant and having all that extra fluid and blood in my body and having to circulate that fluid/blood, takes a lot of effort normally. Add the thinner air on the top of the mountain and I got winded easily. We took our time walking around. All in all it was a fun trip up the mountain and to North Conway.

My cousin heads home tomorrow morning. And gosh I am going to miss her! We are getting together for dinner tonight with the family, I am sure it's bound to be a fun time.

As my cousin heads home, my friends' wedding is this coming Saturday and I can't wait to share in their special day. I stole a peek at the forecast and it's looking like the weather is going to be phenomenal.

On the baby front, things seem to be progressing, I felt as if the baby was taking a vacation while we were in North Conway, as there wasn't much movement, and of course the second I go to work the baby picks up with the movement, and even now the baby continues to move around. My cousin really would like to see/feel the baby, but every time we are around each other the baby seems to not want to move around. Or at least big movements that can be easily seen/felt from the outside. Most of the movements are smaller or quite low.

I have my next OB appointment on Friday which will include an ultrasound to check the size of the baby. Since I am measuring large, the doctor just wants to check in with the size.

Enjoy your week!

Life moves quickly...

You know if I blogged more I can break up all these things that are going on, but it just seems like life gets away from me.

Well I had my appointment last week, baby is still measuring large, so they scheduled an ultrasound for my next visit (July 20th) to check the size of the baby. My doctor didn't seem overly concerned, but just wanted to check. I guess it's fairly common. I am happy to get another look at the baby, I just hope things are ok. So far (according to the doctor's office) I am only up 11 pounds. By my scale at home I am up 20 pounds, that tends to fluctuate day to day, but ranges from like 18-22 pounds. I am hovering right around the 348-350 mark. I never thought I'd see those numbers, but I also know that right now, I can't be so concerned with the numbers, more so making sure I have a healthy baby. 

I also had my lab work done, and I got the results on Thursday. No gestational diabetes and I'm not anemic! Of course, this is the best possible news for me (and for my baby). I am very happy not to have be concerned with that.

The baby is moving a lot. I am now at the point where I am supposed to keep track of kicks/movements, at least 10 movements every 2 hours. I haven't been keeping track, but I know the baby is moving enough! Holy cow, there have been several occasions where the baby kicks and it ricochets off my ribs or something!  Takes my breath away! I enjoy feeling the movements, knowing they are special to me.

My cousin, Amy is in town for 2 weeks, I miss that girl so much when she's not here... but we have such a great time together. We went to the drive in and saw Ted on Tuesday night, and then last night we saw Magic Mike. I've been to the movies more in the last week than I have in the last 2 months! Also there are some great movies that are coming out in the near future. Her and I have also seen some of our family while they are in town as well, it's been really a great time. I have been enjoying my summer, as much as I can.

I've been working a lot of extra shifts at work, it's summer, so it's busy but also covering vacations, I've taken on some extra shifts. I'll be happy when I can be on maternity leave and get a break (but not really! LOL).

I had a wonderful Fourth, Ben and I had some time off and we went to visit with friends in Mass. It was great spending time with them and their children, especially where I had never met their youngest child and she's now 2!

We also bought baby furniture! Holy cow, things are getting real for us! It should be here in 6-8 weeks! Just in time for Ben to be cleaning out our guest bedroom and reconfiguring it into a nursery.

Life moves quickly...

Baby Class!

On Tuesday I hit 27 weeks and in most books/references that means third trimester! (in some references, 28 weeks is the beginning of the 3rd trimester).

There is no denying the fact that there is a baby in there. I am feeling movements all the time, as well as a lot of pelvic pain/pressure. As mentioned in my previous post, I am just chalking it up being pregnant. My gait has definitely changed, I've become more of a slow and deliberate mover. I try not to sit for too long as when I do move it's painful. As well as when I get up from bed, it's painful right at first.

Tonight Ben and I started our birth class, this is a four part series over the next month that will give us some information and tools to help with the birth. There are 5 other couples in the class with us, we seem to be due the latest out of all of them. Some are due in the middle of August. I don't know, when I heard that it just seemed so close. The instructor had us go around and introduce ourselves, she wanted us all to say one positive thing about this pregnancy. Most of the "students" laughed. I made eye contact with a woman next to us and her and I were just eye rolling all the time. It was quite hilarious.

Over the series we'll learn about labor and delivery and get a tour of the family center at the hospital. We also have separate classes planned on other topics which will hopefully get us started on being prepared for our little one! It's hard to believe that in 3 months we'll be having a baby! (And by we, I really mean me... let's get real about one thing, I am the one who's got to deliver this!)

Tuesday is 28 weeks for me and my dreaded glucose test. I have received a lot of feedback from my readers, thank you. It's just one of those things, and if I have gestational diabetes, well then I do. But I am going to do whatever I can to make sure that my baby and I stay happy and healthy.

Doctor's Appt Update

So I had my appt with my doctor yesterday (actually another doc in the office... we got to rotate through them all to at least meet with each one) And she measures me and says that I am "measuring big" I asked, how big. She said that I was measuring 31 weeks. I am 26 weeks and a few days.

A whole month ahead! I am/was/still is getting nervous about this.

The doctor said that she would talk to my regular doctor and that I might be scheduled for an ultrasound to check the baby's size.

I know that larger babies, is sometimes related to gestational diabetes. And my glucose test isn't for another 2 weeks. So now I am even more concerned about gestational diabetes. I am also aware that both my brother and I were large babies so that would also lead me to believe that I may be predisposed to having large babies as well.

According to their office, I am only up 7 pounds. But by my scale at home I am up 20 pounds. Which I am inclined to "believe" more since I weigh myself at the same time every few days, rather than different times of days on different scales in their office.

Also I've developed a reoccurring pain in my pelvic mound area (TMI!! sorry) and when walking it will radiate into my SI joint (butt area) Oh does it hurt! So I talked to the doc about it and she said, that it sounds typical, when the pelvis takes on more of the baby's/uterus weight and the bones start to soften in preparation for delivery.. I asked if the "joy" stage was over and she said yes, and you've most likely entered the waddling stage!

Oh goodie! I am so glad that we went to North Carolina LAST weekend... as I can't even begin to think about being in the car for more than just a few quick errands.

Weight a minute and birthday

So I stepped on the scale today, for being 25 weeks pregnant I am up 16 pounds overall. I am coming to the harsh realization that I will be over 350 pounds soon. This I admit, is very hard for me. I know that I am pregnant and that it happens, that I shouldn't get hung up on a number, but I am. My baby is happy and healthy and letting my know that he/she is in there.

I think my weight number complex is more so because I am concerned with gestational diabetes and I have my glucose testing looming. My doc says that there isn't much one can do to prevent it, but I have read that overweight/obese women are more prone to it.

Also looming over my head is my upcoming birthday, and my 30's (29 plus 1 if you as me...). As we get older it's more difficult to loose and keep off the weight. I know that I am going to have to work really hard post baby to not only loose the pregnancy weight, but also shed some of the weight previously. I am sure that breastfeeding and taking care of a newborn will greatly increase my activity level.

Although this is the heaviest I've ever been, I know there are people out there who are heavier. I feel like this is something that I have a good handle on, just occasionally have the minor freak out about.

On a more positive note, I will say that being pregnant has made my cravings for water increase, there are days that it's all I drink. Some days I prefer room temp water, other days I want it ice cold. Kind of odd, but in a good way. I am not going to fight THOSE cravings! I don't feel like I get enough in sometimes. 

Road Trip to North Carolina!

On Thursday evening Ben and I will be taking off for North Carolina. My baby brother is graduating college and I couldn't be more proud of him. So the family is all getting together to celebrate his accomplishment.

This is probably the last trip/vacation that Ben and I will take as a couple! With baby due in September we are running out of time!Very exciting things going on.

The last time I saw my brother was for my wedding in October, and the last time I've been down to North Carolina has been years. So needless to say we are both excited about getting to see and spend some time with one another.

Since I am pregnant we'll be driving down and taking lots of pit stops and breaks in order to stay comfortable. Thursday night we will be leaving late, so we opted to grab a hotel in Pennsylvania. We chose one close to Centralia, PA so on Friday morning we could go visit (at least drive through) the mostly abandoned mining town that is still has a fire burning underground since the 1960's. Ben and I are really interested in the weird/odd type things and this is something we are both interested in at least seeing with our own eyes. We figured it was a good place to stop for the night and would give us something to see.

Then Friday we will spend the majority of the day driving the rest of the way to North Carolina. Obviously taking breaks as necessary. Saturday and Sunday morning will be spent with Lindsay and Nick as well as my parents. We are taking dad out for Father's Day brunch on Sunday. It'll be nice to spend some quality time with dad as well as the family.

Sunday afternoon we'll head back north. Again stopping frequently for breaks. We are going to try and make it to Maryland, staying outside Baltimore Sunday night. Monday we are hoping to meet up with Steve from Running on Awesome or @SteveGrayFTW on twitter, for a little "fake life meets real life" meetup. Steve and I have become great online friends (2/3's of Team Awesome!) and then finally make our way back home by Monday night.

It's a whirlwind weekend, but I am hopeful that everything works out. I am also hoping to have lots of pictures to show for our trip! Most of all I am proud of my brother for accomplishing this. I don't think I could have done what he did. Holding down both work and school and finding a balance, that takes a lot of determination. With all the sacrifices he's made, I am hoping that he is well rewarded.