Truckin' Along...

37 weeks yesterday, nothing new to report besides the same old... (to be honest, the last few weeks there's no change in the "weekly updates!")

lower back pain was SO KILLER after Saturday's WalkerStalkerCon (which was fun, and would have been funner if I had a scooter or wheelchair, and if one didn't have to pay like $400 to take a picture with Norman Reedus...)

(DH totally snuck a picture of him through the crowd horde at his photo-op booth...) will have to get those pictures...

Anyways - by the end of the convention, I could barely stand (walking was better than standing in place) and some residual back pain lingered last night...

There's been lots of BH (nothing regular, timing-wise, but definitely probably an average of 6-10 a day, depending on physical activity...

She has gotten pretty low (nurse made a comment at today's appointment... during which, BP/weight/urine was all pretty good...)

And I can tell: there's been some increased pelvic pressure, some hella-bad RLP (in trying to turn from side to side last night, I nearly couldn't do it due to crotch pain... oiy!)

All this to say, my last day of work is Friday - BabyGirl if you can at least hold on until Monday the 14th so I can get some time off of work (unlike when your big brother decided to come two days "early" - in fact, at 38wd5d - mere hours after I left work...)
(and yea, I know - just because she's low and I get frequent BH - that does not mean labor is imminent or any such thing...)

And as I hormonally ranted to DH, bitching (I'm sure) about a co-worker or someone who was still not directing questions to the correct staff who will be taking over during my leave - which is FOUR DAYS AWAY!! - he had the perfect casual chat-response:

KEEP CALM AND PREGGO ON...

clever title here...

(apologies - I started this two mornings ago...) So this Monday morning started rough - E decided to clean just his bathroom sink (we have side-by-side his/hers) which really, I thought was just so NICE of him, considering I'd just cleaned the (disgusting) bathroom mirror (EVEN IN FRONT OF HIS SIDE!) over the weekend, and  - well, when have I EVER cleaned just "my" part of ANYTHING?!

And then - I tell E as we're scrambling around the house (a whole 'nother complaint - we could have negative three minutes til we have to go, and he will stop and play toys with Button...) that Button needs his winter (bubble) coat, as it was currently like, 38 degrees.
As we start to walk out the door, I see Button has a CORDUROY JACKET on...

so, long story short - Button and I are in the car heading to daycare and I'm just complaining, saying "Daddy doesn't listen to Mommy, and when he doesn't listen it makes Mommy mad..."

and you know what he says back to me?


"Mommy blows hot air..."


oh yea? Daddy says that? (Button says, "yea...")

ASSHOLE (of course this was said silently, because - holy REPEATING EVERYTHING stage...)

((yay for 36w pregnancy hormones...))

oh speaking of, THIRTY-SIX WEEKS?!

holy COW, there is less than two weeks of work left, and three weeks (as of Wednesday TODAY!) until baby girl's RCS date!! (NO... no set name yet, the one I am absolutely in love with now? E changed his mind on liking at all... GRRRRRRR!)

A quick summary: I'm super uncomfortable (is she still head down?!) getting LOTS of RLP (I think that's what it is!) and pelvic pain, and pain at part of my incision site that ached after Button was born.
And I can possibly kill livestock with the gas I get... and sleep? now I've got a slight bout of pregnancy insomnia, beginning with staying up til almost-midnight the past three nights in a row...

Weight gain has completely stalled the last month+ (in fact, my last appointment two weeks ago I'd lost a lb...)

Clothes, blankets, sheets and burp clothes are pretty much washed (nothing's been sanitized yet - pacifiers/bottle/pump parts) and a hospital bag is still yet to be packed (does it count that about 75% of the stuff I want packed is in piles on the guest bed?!)

While some sites say 36weeks the constipation can get worse, I am experiencing quite the opposite (especially for a gal whose "usual" is every few days!)

**Tuesday's doctor appointment went well, bp was fabulous, etc.  I had to get the GBS test done (a nice "Q-tip" swab of  ye olde vagina, which hadn't seen the light of day (or night) in so long, the dr had to basically unclench my knees...)
He palpated baby's position (yes, still head down - butt/back over to my left, and FEET/LIMBS having a ball on my right side...) and then (I guess?) did a cervix check? (he shoved two fingers so far, and was so uncomfortable...)

She seemed to have surprised the doc with how low she is (He 'tapped' his fingers against something, said, "feel that? that's HER HEAD!") but then answered my, "uh well - am I dilated at all?!" with a "Nope."
(We're also on weekly appointments now, HOLY COW!)
((and the differences between subsequent pregnancies - last appointment, 34 weeks, I totally thought I was 33 and the doctor came in and was all, "ok so you're 34 weeks..." and I literally said outloud, "I AM?!"))

 HORRIBLY overdue bump shots...

aaaand apparently I start to get lazy, taking photos only while getting into the shower. lol

(whoa, totally does look like she dropped a bit in the last pic!)

Hormones are touch-and-go (see above bitch-fest!) but nesting is going well, including crocheting adorable stuff like this sweater (ONLY NEEDS TWO BUTTONS before it's DONE!)

(I also started a stocking-hat last night, am planning on a matching diaper cover for newborn photos!)
something like this:

although I think my yarn's a little too stiff, or something - I've started on the pom-pom end and it's not exactly flexing... It actually kind of looks like a schlong-sleeve right now... (use your imagination on that one. lol)

We've scheduled ourselves SILLY these last few weeks before BG arrives:
this Saturday (12/5) we're going to Walker-Stalker Con! (Ha let's see how long I last at this...)
another Doc appointment on Monday (12/7)
a dermatologist check-up on Wednesday (12/9)
Next Friday is my LAST DAY OF WORK!!! (12/11)
and then Saturday morning we're throwing (what's hopefully) our first ANNUAL Christmas PJ Brunch!

I ordered these PJ's (on sale!)((they fit PERFECT)) and I have a cheery red tank to layer (which will hopefully peek out between pants and top!)

We'll be having four other couples, along with FIVE little boys (ranging from 5months to 4.5 years) so we'll have to get a little kids' table set up =)
((Is this crazy to be hosting so close to, well - EVERYTHING this holiday season and only one day after my last day of work?! OF COURSE IT IS! I CAN'T WAIT!))


**Also - this past Saturday November 14th my awesome SIL, MIL, DH's aunt+cousin put together a great Sprinkle for me, which, as I mentioned, a friend had kind of ruined the "surprise" but I was still surprised, as I totally didn't expect it that day! And there were more HUGE SURPRISES in store once the party got started!!
It totally deserves its own post, so next up - Sprinkle pictures (a few, no people/group shots really...) as well as pictures from the 3D ultrasound we got that evening (it was a crazy busy exciting day!)

Considering this post took me four days to get posted, hopefully I get shower stuff posted before BabyGirl comes!!

ACK! only 7 weeks left!

THIRTY-TWO WEEKS!

Baby

• Baby's getting ready for his or her descent—and is likely in the head-down position now. or not...   I was pretty sure she is transverse as I feel feet lodge into my pelvis and PUSH - and yes, confirmed at yesterday's OB check-up, "she definitely feels that way!" (while doc manhandled her to confirm, she totally kicked back like, "CUT IT OUT!")
• And baby's probably feeling even more cramped.  I will agree with this - the "kicks" are now more stretches and little limbs rolling around!

Momma

• More Braxton Hicks contractions. Are they getting more intense? um... YES.  like, alot alot. of course, these don't mean jack sh*t in terms of real labor... lol
• Heartburn. Go ahead and pop an antacid. Actually not too bad on this - I'll get a little bit of reflux here and there (like when I vurped this morning in the car... GAG)
• Feeling faint or light-headed can be a result of any number of things, including low blood sugar. I had more of this earlier in the pregnancy, but it's been much better recently (minus one "attack" this weekend where I waited too long to eat lunch....)

Best Moments This Week: Button is having fun looking at all the stuff coming in for "Baby Guhl" like his old jump-a-roo and bumbo (returned from my bestie Dee who borrowed 'em for her son!)

 

Total Weight Gain: I've plateaued the last two/three weeks, holding at 22lbs (with Button I plateaued the last month 1/2 or so...)

Maternity Clothes: yup. the paneled pants - the panels used to feel like they came to my chin, now they don't cover the bump all the way! lol

Symptoms: ok here's where we'll stop a minute... I've bitched the last two weeks of this pain and that, saying to E, "OMG I don't remember being this uncomfortable at this point with Button!" and said the same to the OB yesterday at my check-up as I complained of horrible bad low back pain (my coccyx sometimes feels like it's grinding on itself... OIY!) and take-your-breath-away RLP... and she responded, "each pregnancy is different, and of course there's pregnancy amnesia..."

meaning - you look back and think, "aw... I loved being pregnant! it wasn't that bad!" but it was un.com.fortable.... 

and I realized, thinking back on these check-ins that I was all, "no symptoms really! just a little tired!" so if I were to re-read these from Button's pregnancy, it wasn't that bad...

HA!

Here's the truth : I wake up at least 2-3 times a night, and then lay awake for a solid 20+ minutes, eyes closed, trying to get back to sleep... (and like last night, just as I doze off, Button "wakes" crying in a dream and needs soothing back to sleep)

There's times that RLP (or whatever it is) in my crotch makes me gasp as I shift on the couch (which then makes E yell, "don't gasp! you make me think your water broke or something!")

Whether it's from standing, or sitting all day at work - I get lower back pain that feels like bone grinding on bone, yet it feels so good to slowly get into a position on my back, feet up on the wall and relieve some of the pain...

and I cannot.  get.   enough.  sleep - like, first-tri fatigue again. I'm falling asleep on the couch by 9pm (holy lame...)

So there's a more honest "symptoms" answer =)

Sleep: well, I guess - see above. lol

 

Food Cravings: (same as last check-in) : nothing really crazy - it can change hour to hour...

Anything making you queasy or sick:  well, I can have a random moment hear and there (average once a week) where I get a quick wave of nausea (probably caused by low blood sugar or a too-empty stomach...)

Movement:  performing recorded kick-counts now on this cool app - and it hasn't made me go crazy yet! (like, if I start a count b/c she kicked once and then doesn't kick anymore, giving a "Failed" count even though I started it at a random time that I know is not her usual wake time!)
She's active as I lay in bed when I first wake up, very active about 9:30 as I settle in at work, again just around lunch time, again in late afternoon, and another two noticeable sessions - once when I get home from work and again after Button's gone to bed. (that doesn't count her 2-3 minimum active sessions during the night!)

Stretch Marks:(same as last check-in) : Still just ones I had on my hips from highschool...

Gender: (same as last check-in) : Baby Girl!!

Labour Signs: yup, more Braxton Hicks (regularly irregular. lol)

Belly Button In or Out?: it's getting close to poppin' here... if I don't double layer shirts (and have full panel pants on) you can see it (and Button likes to poke it. lol)

Wedding Rings on or off?: (same as last check-in) : On

Happy or Moody?: pretty off-kilter, so happy one minute and moody the next. lol a single bad driver (or pedestrian, guy who darted in front of my car last night in BLACK CLOTHING!) can set me off for awhile...

 

Purchases for baby: Nothing lately - got another bag from a daycare mom (different mom this time) who was just "cleaning house" and so it was a random small bag of 2T stuff, but we'll add it to our stash!

Purchases for Momma: nothing lately... I'm wanting to get a cute sweater dress or something new to wear to the baby shower, but kind of tough since it's supposed to be a big surprise and I don't even know when it is...

Miss Anything?: this answer has not changed. I'd really like a good martini especially after a stressful day at work... and a nice cold Blue Moon while watching the Patriots play football... *sigh*

Looking forward to: yup - meeting baby girl! Her name is stressing me - I keep waiting for a sign or an indication that a certain name is the one... so we still have no name. lol

this was late last night after my nightly couch-nap on my way to bed...

(so pardon the zombie-tired-look lol)

holy CRAP - Single digit Weeks Left!!!! (aka 30WeekPost)

Baby

• As baby's skin smoothes out, her brain just keeps getting more wrinkled (more room for brain tissue!)
• Her grip is now strong enough to grasp a finger!
• Her bone marrow has taken over production of red blood cell, which means she is better able to thrive on her own once born.
• Expect to feel your baby moving every day, especially after you’ve had a snack or meal and (sadly!) when you’re lying down She totally ramps it up when it's mommy's bedtime! sometimes when I wake at night to shift positions, she's mid-dance-party!

Momma

• About 75 percent of pregnant women suffer from puffy ankles and feet (and I feel guilty that I'm in the 25% that has no swelling... lol)
• Your second trimester get-up-and-go may have upped and left now. (totally... bedtime can be 8:30 if I'm laying on the couch, although I somehow made it to 11 last night - must have been the early bedtime from the night prior that helped me watch mostly all the Pats game Sunday night...)
• As your skin stretches to accommodate your growing belly and body, you (and 90 percent of the pregnant set) are probably starting to see the pink or red streaks known as stretch marks. (um.. again, in the minority percentage - no stretch marks... please don't hate...)

Best Moments This Week: (same as last check-in) : As always, when Baby Girl moves =) 

Total Weight Gain: I hovered at about the same weight for a bit after the vomiting a few weeks ago, but recently started upward ticking again - I'm gonna guess about 22 lbs now...

Maternity Clothes:loving them... all ready for legging + sweater weather!

Symptoms: (same as last check-in) : lots of kicks (and mood swings)

Sleep: (same as last check-in) : no change (enjoying it while I can, around the random just-because wake-ups (I think it's BabyGirl's nighttime calisthenics that actually wake me... lol))

Food Cravings: (same as last check-in) : nothing really crazy - it can change hour to hour...

Anything making you queasy or sick:  No, except the 3-hr GTT... YUCK

Movement: (same as last check-in) : Lots still!

Stretch Marks:(same as last check-in) : Still just ones I had on my hips from highschool...

Gender: (same as last check-in) : Baby Girl!!

Labour Signs: ooooh there was a night in the last week where there were a good amount of Braxton Hicks (in fact, the night before my 3hr GTT!) and I tried to really cool it and sit down and rest (hard with a toddler after work!) and then got attitude from DH when I asked for help like would he mind giving Button a bath... DOES HE UNDERSTAND I'M GROWING A HUMAN?!

Belly Button In or Out?: (same as last check-in) : In (never turned out last time either - though I finally took out my belly-button ring this time...)

Wedding Rings on or off?: (same as last check-in) : On

Happy or Moody?: Happy! I've always said this pregnancy that I didn't expect another baby shower, we have all that we need (except some girly clothes lol) but I discovered, while at breakfast with a somewhat friend/acquaintance, that there is a shower being thrown... =) I'm slightly bummed friend ruined the surprise (they really would have surprised me!) but I still have no idea who is throwing it, where it is, or when it is! (I didn't tell the friend she ruined a surprise. lol)

Purchases for baby: I hit a few garage sales with MIL last weekend and found a few onesies, and then "found" the clearance rack at a Carter's outlet (Baby Sister onesie for under $3!!!) but I'm trying to not buy another single thing, especially with the above-mentioned shower and gifts coming!

Purchases for Momma: hm... a striped summer dress from Old Navy Maternity ($8!) that I'm thinking would work with some bright tights and brown boots this fall!

Miss Anything?: A good drink... no change in that answer! And a friend pointed out recently, my parents will be here for New Year's Eve! Is that awful? contemplating/calculating if I can get out of the house 1 week PP?!?!?! LMFAO

Looking forward to: meeting Baby Girl!!! Figuring out what her damn name is going to be!  Seeing how she looks in this sweater I am SO CLOSE TO FINISHING:

Speaking of The Patriots - I apparently dreamt of Tom Brady a few weeks ago (according to notes I had saved in Blogger... OOOOO I just remembered it! the dream!

on some soccer field at night, stretching (seated, legs spread) and he sits behind me the same way to help me stretch... mmmmmm....

where was I? wipes drool

oh yea, so then last night's dreams were of Anthony Hopkins' Hannibal Lecter coming after me.

AWESOME...

We recently listened to Baby Girl's hiccups on the Doppler (so cute!) and then Button wanted to help listen to her heartbeat (140's, just like at the doctor's) and then demanded we listen to his heart beat...
(E has the cutest pictures on his phone...)

It's so crazy - 2.5 years ago we were listening to him through my stomach via the doppler, and now we’re here listening to his little toddler heart going, after listening to his littler sister's...

(oh yea - weekly bumps!)

 Yesterday before a christening 

exactly 30 weeks!

Official 27Week Check-In

27 Weeks

Seriously?!

WTF is a Rutabaga?!

Baby

• She's practicing inhaling and exhaling with her rapidly developing lungs.
• It's official: Baby's showing brain activity! And her brain will keep on getting more complex.
• Your baby may recognize both your and your partner's voices by now.

 

Momma

• The same leg cramps, backaches, constipation and hemorrhoids of previous weeks.
• Skin, hair and nail changes -- they might be thicker, grow faster or be more brittle.
• Snissing (that's peeing when you sneeze). Baby is putting a ton of pressure on your bladder. Make frequent pit stops.
• By 27 weeks pregnant, your uterus has swelled to the size of a basketball.

Best Moments This Week:As always, when Baby Girl moves =)

Total Weight Gain: Was up to about 20, but counting in the -2lbs from GutOlympics2015 last night, at 18 lbs gained. (almost identical to where I was with Button at this point! Why do I feel bigger then?!)

Maternity Clothes: enjoying the panels. getting ready for the weather-switch over, I have lots of sweaters waiting to be worn!

Symptoms: lots of kicks (and mood swings)

Sleep: no change (enjoying it while I can, around the random just-because wake-ups (I think it's BabyGirl's nighttime calisthenics that actually wake me... lol))

Food Cravings: nothing really crazy - it can change hour to hour...

Anything making you queasy or sick:  No

Movement: Lots still!

Stretch Marks: Still just ones I had on my hips from highschool...

Gender: Baby Girl!!

Labour Signs: none yet. (Thank god, especially after the crazy/weird/scary bout last night)

Belly Button In or Out?: In (never turned out last time either - though I finally took out my belly-button ring this time...)

Wedding Rings on or off?: On

Happy or Moody?: Happy today! (at the minute, at least. lol)

Purchases for baby: I got a few things (two onesies, a sleep sack, two pairs of pants) from the local thrift store again ($1 for a onesie?! SOLD!)

Purchases for Momma: they're not pregnancy/maternity related, but I got three pairs of shoes while at the mall yesterday - one being a pair of boots that I've been wanting (that style anyways) for awile now:

Miss Anything?:aside from the usual "alcohol please!" I miss being able to be really physically active (or even just go for a long walk!) without getting lightening crotch and RLP...

Looking forward to: next Monday - 28week appointment, GTT and - we'll be getting our official eviction date set!!!!!

since last BumpShot:

and last night (before shit hit the fan - HA, no pun intended!) when BabyGirl was all lopsided:

(I just realized, she doesn't look as lopsided as she was... lol)

Pictureless 25W check-in!

Pictureless because life gets busy (slash I get lazy) and the last picture I have is from last Wednesday (which, actually -  now that I look - I have not posted yet.  In fact, the last bump photo was end of August at 22w2d!)

Ok, ok - so here is last Wednesday:

and I'm pretty sure this chick made some kind of big move/turn last night because - holy UNCOMFORTABLE... I felt like my stomach was up in my chest, and had that is that vomit or do I need to burp feeling while I tossed and shifted and changed positions on the couch every few seconds (while watching Fear the Walking Dead!)

Baby Girl must have completed her shift (whichever way it was) by this morning because I feel SO MUCH BETTER! (and am feeling like there are more kicks now on the left side, when I used to feel her on the right side... whatever that means for whichever way she's facing...)

Next appointment to check isn't until the first week of October - I've got my 1hour GTT scheduled at the same time, and we'll be scheduling the date for the RCS! (of course, if she's anything like her big brother, she'll come whenever she damn well pleases, even if it's days before a scheduled RCS!)

25 WEEKS

Baby

• She's enjoying her new sense of equilibrium — she now knows which way is up and which is down.
• She's growing more fat and more hair too!

 Momma

• Constipation. Be sure to eat plenty of fiber-rich foods!
• Hemorrhoids -- baby is putting a ton of pressure on your digestive tract. And the constipation certainly isn't helping. (thanking the lord - never had these while pregnant with Button, and so far so good with this pregnancy!)
• Gas and bloating. Your hormones are slowing down digestion, creating excess gas. YUP. oooooh boy, YES.
• Heartburn. Since baby is pushing on your digestive system it can push stomach acid up your esophagus. no heartburn yet, just a teensy reflux-feeling when drinking after a meal...
• All-over aches and pains, thanks to hormone fluctuations.
• Trouble sleeping. It's tough to get comfy with that big belly in the way!

Best Moments This Week:It's always fun to watch family members (who want to) feel baby girl kick... (1 friend and 1 sister got to feel this week!)

Total Weight Gain: let's go with 15-16. lol I'm kind of only stepping on the scale to make sure there's not a crazy gain within a short amount of time (signs for something dangerous like pre-eclampsia)

Maternity Clothes: totally in - and I can't help but buy more whenever I'm at Burlington Coat Factory, even with allllllll the fall/winter stuff I have to pull out of bins (both from Button's pregnancy and hand-me-downs!)

Symptoms: lots of kicks (and mood swings)

Sleep: no change here - each night now I'm waking up at least once per night. not necessarily to pee, but just - waking up... thankfully I get back to sleep relatively quickly (after a few pillow adjustments)

 

Food Cravings: nothing really crazy - it can change hour to hour...

Anything making you queasy or sick:  No

Movement: Lots still!

Stretch Marks: Still just ones I had on my hips from highschool...

Gender: Baby Girl!!

Labour Signs: none yet.

Belly Button In or Out?: In (never turned out last time either - though I finally took out my belly-button ring this time...)

Wedding Rings on or off?: On

Happy or Moody?: yup, still moody... some days I can't stand the sight of E any more (like on Sunday when he tried to claim that I "wouldn't let him go fishing" with his dad because he "had to come to church instead" (I am so proud of the fact that I have never ever, not even once as a wife told E he couldn't do anything he wanted to...)

He bitched when I reminded him I wanted him to come to church Sunday morning, and then claimed he cancelled fishing because of it (despite the fact his father had 4 teeth pulled Saturday - in no condition to fish - and the forecast predicted rain all day...)  and then after all that, still didn't come with Button and I.  So.  I was "SO DONE" with him that day.

I'm fine now.

LOL

Purchases for baby: None this past week...

Purchases for Momma: Bought a few cheap tops from Burlington on Saturday (I had to return a wallet for E so I had store credit anyways!)

Miss Anything?: nothing really, I could still use a nice relaxing drink on a Friday evening after a long work week...

Looking forward to:getting a RCS date so we can finalize travel plans for my parents to come up at Christmas time!  (Also looking forward to tonight being the last night for the awesome yeast infection cream/treatment... YAY!)

(late) 23weeks

I started notes for this post on Monday... I know. it's now Thursday...

E and I also had a fight over the weekend about viability (when I told him we're 23 weeks, one more until viability and explained what that meant)

He basically said, "no. NO hospital would refuse life-saving treatment on a baby just because they didn't meet 'viability' " and said that people would be rioting at hospitals if they didn't try to save a baby born at 22 weeks, just because they weren't at viability.

I couldn't even attack that with him, I gave up (as I've discovered myself doing in the last few weeks) saying, "you know what? you're right.  You're totally right."

(could he sense my sarcasm?)

Because, fucking really?!? Would you like, DH, to speak with moms who did lose their babies born prematurely? Because hospitals do have "policies" (for lack of better term) regarding when they are required to perform life-saving measures and when they're not... and that shit does happen in real life - women go into labor early, and no - doctors may not be able to do anything to save the baby!!!! 

Would you like to ask those moms, DH, why they did not "riot and picket at their hospital" because the hospital only performed comfort care????

I just really couldn't even with him that day... 

((It's really become apparent to me that we both like to fight - and I can't keep doing it, it's exhausting.  Hence the recent trend of just "giving up."  Is that bad? that I'm choosing not to fight anymore? I want to, it's just almost always a losing situation, and then we both walk away steamed and pissed at the other person. (and I can hold onto that for hours)))

Anyways... 

So a late 23week check-in (at 23w4d):

23 Weeks!

Baby:

• She's forming little nipples (yeah, really!)
• Her face is fully formed now — she just needs a little extra fat to fill it out.
• She's listening to your voice and your heartbeat — and even to loud sounds like cars honking and dogs barking. (sorry baby for all the road-rage outbursts... I can't stand NJ drivers!!!)

 Mommy:

• Swollen ankles and feet (it's totally normal, but call your doc if it's extreme or sudden!) actually no swelling here... so far!
• Braxton Hicks contractions. Be sure to drink plenty of water and change positions frequently to stay comfortable. no noticeable BH... trying to stay hydrated!
• Aching back -- sorry, but this will likely linger for a while. off & on - I can actually feel pelvic/coccyx shifting with each step I take down the stairs! blugh
• Bleeding and/or swollen gums, common because of (you guessed it) pregnancy hormones. yup yup yup - every time I floss I bleed now... (also totally need to get to the dentist before 2nd tri is over...)

Best Moments This Week: Lost of kicks from baby girl, and in fact - Button got to feel baby sister give a few hi-yah's the other night! (at 23w1d)

Total Weight Gain: eh I'm gonna guess between 12 and 14 lbs... kind of just barely loosely keeping track now... Mostly trying to not go crazy-food-binge-ing and trying to get out walking at least a few times a week...

Maternity Clothes: totally in (except for maxi skirts.  regular (even flowy) tanks don't quite reach now!)

Symptoms: lots of kicks (and mood swings)

Sleep: Each night now I'm waking up at least once per night. not necessarily to pee, but just - waking up... thankfully I get back to sleep relatively quickly (after a few pillow adjustents)

Food Cravings: nothing really crazy - it can change hour to hour...

Anything making you queasy or sick:  No

Movement: Lots still!

Stretch Marks: Still just ones I had on my hips from highschool...

Gender: Baby Girl!!

Labour Signs: none yet. (though at my OB appt yesterday, I mentioned the difficulty I'd been having trying to discern what's regular for discharge, odors (if any), color, itching, etc. and of course, she "took a peek" only to discover I have a "slight Y.I." but we'll wait until the culture results come back tomorrow to be sure before starting any treatment... UGH fun.  first ever diagnosed Y.I...

Belly Button In or Out?: In (never turned out last time either)

Wedding Rings on or off?: On

Happy or Moody?: omg so moody... it doesn't help that, during a very calm normal discussion about date night and sitters for Ben and if there's time to do dinner and a movie, E pulls the "I'm not discussing this while you're in a mood."

um.  what fucking mood? ok, NOW I'm in a mood because of that stupid comment! (guys should be forced to move out during a pregnancy...)

Purchases for baby: I don't think I've made any recently... trying to hold off on purchases, as I've heard lots of friends (especially all my boy moms!) talk about how excited they are to shop for a little girl... =)

Purchases for Momma: None recently... I am getting excited for the fall weather - it'll feel like I bought a new wardrobe when I can bring out my maternity corduroys and sweaters that I have!

Miss Anything?: to be honest? drinking... there have been so many work days lately (today included so far) where I really want a nice martini at the end of the day (or like today, where I wonder how socially acceptable it would have been to go home at lunch and get a drink...)

ohmygod I sound like an alcoholic... lol

Looking forward to: this December, really! I can't wait to meet baby girl!!

Also - how do you know a purse belongs to a pregnant toddler-mom?

you find extra underwear right next to a toy police car...

(I also otally meant to do a weekend re-cap of our recent play-dates but with the viability argument, this post got too long... maybe a picture-heavy post later...)

Hump Hump

nothing much going on - chugging along (falling asleep most nights real early... BLUGH it's like First-Tri fatigue again...)

waiting for E to send me a bunch of pictures from the weekend (we spent it down the shore - beach, boardwalk, crabbing at the bay...)

this weekend E's going on his annual canoe trip and we're scheduling play dates, splash pads, and breakfasts...

For now, Happy Hump Day!

And Bump day!

Humpitty Bumpitty...

Happy HumpDayBumpDay!

Also- since it's Wednesday, let's do a Reading Challenge update!

Last total book count: 49 books read, 39 books from the Challenge List
New total book count: 58 books read, 43 books from the Challenge List

(Holy moly - only 7 books left to read!!)

Jumping right to where we left off:

#50. Finders Keepers by Sean Costello     N/A category    (fin 8/6/15)
One of those books I was sitting at lunch, bored, and began reading via my phone app - and actually pretty good! It chases a lottery ticket ($10million winner!) around and around as murder and mayhem are committed by those wanting the ticket for themselves... a light read, but well written!

#51. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer    #19/50: A book based on a true story    (fin 8/6/15)
This is a movie I actually saw first, starring Emile Hirsch.  An article was first written for Outside Magazine by Krakauer shortly after the body of Christopher McCandless was discovered in a bus in the Alaskan wilderness, and the article developed into this book.  It leads us all into the wilderness with McCandless, as he traveled through the U.S. on his journey, meeting a number of people along the way (interviews with them are included in the book!)  A great read!

#52. The Christmas Train by David Baldacci    #45/50: A book set during Christmas     (fin 8/10/15)
I've read David Baldacci before and liked his style of writing, so this book won out over guaranteed-to-be-cheesy Debbie Macomber and other Christmas books... A man, after a lifetime of dangerous combat-zone reporting, is set to take The Capital Limited from D.C. to Chicago, followed by The Southview Chief on into L.A. (He had recently been banned from airline travel for two years after an interesting altercation with security at LaGuardia Airport!)
It set up like a Woody Allen comedy, but there was still romance, and mystery (a thief on board!) and danger (record-breaking snow-storm to be traveled through)
I enjoyed reading!

#53. Pretty Baby by Mary Kubrica    #20/50: A book at the bottom of your to-read list   (fin 8/11/15)
I went literal with this category (I had first interpreted it as a book you totally didn't want to read, which didn't really make sense) so I instead pulled the most recently added book from my to-read list (at the literal bottom!)
(This was also a book I read a review for on this blog and literally the same day began reading it!)
I will put out a *TriggerWarning* as the main character, a woman who takes in a homeless girl and her infant, is still basically suffering from PTSD from an abortion she had years prior after a cervical/uterine cancer diagnosis, in order to save her own life... A very interesting read, if you're able to handle the trigger - I'd definitely recommend!

(#54 - 57) The Last Survivor Series by Susan Beth Pfeffer   #32/50: A trilogy
      #54. Life As We Knew It   (fin 8/13/15)
          Book Number One (in a four-part series - so not a trilogy, but close... lol) follows a teenage girl, diary-style, as the world undergoes radical natural changes: an asteroid strikes the moon, knocking it closer to the earth and setting off changes in the tidal cycle that wreak havoc on the world (tsunamis, flooding, volcanic eruptions, ash clouds, temperature changes)
     #55. The Dead and Gone   (fin 8/14/15)
          Book Number Two finds the readers going through the asteroid strike and whole world-ending thing again, but this time from the perspective of a highschool junior boy living in N.Y.C. We get to see a bit more of the global impacts and happenings, as he navigates the new world with his two younger sisters.
     #56. This World We Live In   (fin 8/16/15)
          Book Number Three catches up with the teenage girl from Book One, but approximately one year after The Event, as she (and family members) have adjusted (somewhat) to the new normal in their PA neighborhood.
     #57. Shade of the Moon   (fin 8/17/15)
          Book Number Four follows all of the characters, as they are now four years past The Event, and are living in a new "enclave" - a secure caste-based community rigidly monitored and maintained.
As you can see, I read through these books pretty quickly - not because they were quick reads, but because I couldn't put them down (I did not get as much work done as I should those days, instead choosing to read lol)
I think it's a really interesting post-apocalyptic story because it's a story not quite hit on yet - we've all (hopefully!) seen Armageddon, or we jump to The Hunger Games and see what the world's like decades after whatever happened.  This is a refreshing non-zombie/plague/virus-related tale! Highly recommended!

#58. Remember When #2 by T. Torrest    N/A category   (fin 8/15/15)
This series was one I loved when I read the first book (reviewed here) and became sad when I couldn't find the (ahem free) book anywhere to download... I finally bit the bullet and paid for the 2nd book (another day I was probably dying to read something and only had my phone on me)
A fun read, great steamy sex scenes (that aren't actually cheesy at all...) (and now I'm in the middle of reading the final Remember When #3!)



I'm also currently reading (when not at my desk for Remember When #3) a book called The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood - I'll have to be careful, I began it when very distracted last night and it's a book that needs full attention (but seems very good so far!)