I need a good laugh.

This just makes me laugh.

And I need a good laugh, because this cold still lingers on.... Poo.

31 Weeks! A Cold? WTH!

Babycenter:

How your baby's growing:

This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

How your life's changing:

Have you noticed the muscles in your uterus tightening now and then? Many women feel these random contractions — called Braxton Hicks contractions — in the second half of pregnancy. Often lasting about 30 seconds, they're irregular, and at this point, they should be infrequent and painless. Frequent contractions, on the other hand — even those that don't hurt — may be a sign of preterm labor. Call your practitioner immediately if you have more than four contractions in an hour or any other signs of preterm labor: an increase in vaginal discharge or a change in the type of discharge (if it becomes watery, mucus-like, or bloody — even if it's pink or just tinged with blood); abdominal pain or menstrual-like cramping; an increase in pressure in the pelvic area; or low back pain, especially if you didn't have it before.

You may have noticed some leaking of colostrum, or "premilk," from your breasts lately. If so, try tucking some nursing pads into your bra to protect your clothes. (And if not, it's certainly nothing to worry about; your breasts are making colostrum all the same, even if you don't see any.) If your current bra is too snug, you might also want to pick up a nursing bra. Choose a nursing bra at least one cup size bigger than you need now. When your milk comes in you'll be grateful for that extra room!

If you're having a boy, you and your partner will want to take some time to think about whether or not to have your baby circumcised. Find out the pros and cons from your doctor, and what the procedure involves.

Alphamom:

Your Baby:

• Blah blah blah 3.3 pounds, bag of oranges, sock full of nickels, etc.
• Enjoys yawning, sucking his or her thumb, kicking mom in the diaphragm.
• Turn-offs include: getting the hiccups, really loud noises and you trying to do all that boring “sleeping” at night.

You:

• Can totally round down your answer to “two months” when people ask you how much longer you have to go. DO NOT focus on the crazy week-to-month-ratio math at this point in pregnancy, particularly when there are breakable, smashy objects within reach.
• May be weirdly and inexplicably congested all the time. I, for one, appear to be allergic to my pillow. This is also prime time for pregnancy colds, as the toll on your body and immune system is getting higher by the week. Take it easy, slow down, take your vitamins and try try try to get enough sleep.
• Can now play everybody’s favorite game, Guess The Body Part That’s Sticking Out Next To My Belly Button! Elbow or heel? Head or butt? Did I seriously just maybe feel my baby’s BIG TOE?

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Me: Crankiness has ensued, so hence the lack of timely postings and witty repertoire.

The GD is just a regular thing now, with the having to draw blood numerous times a day and the not too much, not too few carb diet-dance. My next regular appointment is tomorrow, and I am curious to see how Baby Boy is progressing (too big?).

I did just receive my first jab-jab snarky comment, "Are you sure you have 2 months left?". Wink-wink, nudge-nudge. If the coworker wasn't already in the process of doing me a favor (bringing my timesheet upstairs due to our new ridiculous process), I may have thrown a shoe at him.

A cold has set in this week. Which apparently is right on time, according to the weekly updates. So just pile misery on top of misery. Dear Hubs did run out to the store for me last night for pharmaceuticals, after fixing the water heater so that I have an appropriate amount of hot water for my evening baths. Love that man! Feeling a bit better with my cold meds (from the doctor-approved list), but I just really really would like to be napping in the comforts of our master bedroom-cave at this very moment. But due to my razor-thin maternity leave schedule, no more 'mental health', 'I just want to stay home' or 'just have a miserable cold and am 7 months prego' days. Got to save every last hour up. I think I will be thanking myself after wee bebe' is here.

Halloween is right around the corner and maybe we'll try out the Fair this weekend...



Oh yeah, and it's our First Anniversary today! One year ago today we were here: (check out how swanky we are...)
















And just for laughs, I tried on my wedding dress (that has still been hanging from a curtain rod in our master bedroom....it's just SO PRETTY that I can't bear to store it away). If not for the satin band, I coulda-might've been able to zip it back up again... but it was sitting right where the belly bump would be, so that was a No-Go! But you get the general idea...









And today this arrived...












I may have a bowling ball (or 4 navel oranges... ahem.) rolling around in my rapidly-expanding abdomen, but this sure is a nice time in my life. Need to remind myself to take time to appreciate this fleeting time period!

30 Weeks! Prego my Eggo.

Babycenter:

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

How your life's changing:

You may be feeling a little tired these days, especially if you're having trouble sleeping. You might also feel clumsier than normal, which is perfectly understandable. Not only are you heavier, but the concentration of weight in your pregnant belly causes a shift in your center of gravity. Plus, thanks to hormonal changes, your ligaments are more lax, so your joints are looser, which may also contribute to your balance being a bit off. Also, this relaxation of your ligaments can actually cause your feet to spread permanently, so you may have to invest in some new shoes in a bigger size.

Remember those mood swings you had earlier in pregnancy? The combination of uncomfortable symptoms and hormonal changes can result in a return of those emotional ups and downs. It's normal to worry about what your labor will be like or whether you'll be a good parent. But if you can't shake the blues or feel increasingly irritable or agitated, talk to your doctor or midwife. You may be among the 1 in 10 expectant women who battle depression during pregnancy. Also let your caregiver know if you're frequently nervous or anxious.

Alphamom:

Week 30

Your Baby:

• Weighs about three pounds and is 17 inches long. Since most full-term babies are between 20 and 22 inches long at 40 weeks’ gestation, your baby will pack on more pounds than inches in the 10 weeks or so.
• Is starting to get a little crowded in there, but still has room to wiggle and roll and punch and kick.
• Despite all the movement, it’s still damn near impossible to tell what position your baby is in for sure (head down, breech, transverse, etc.), but it’s also still too early to be worrying about it. MOST babies settle into a head-down position around 36 weeks, and some still manage to flip themselves around after that.

You:

• May feel like you’re gestating a pissed-off housecat rather than a chubby wittle baby at this point, with some movement and kicks causing ACTUAL PHYSICAL PAIN. Some women experience kicks so sharp and unnerving they mistake them for uterine contractions, even if they’ve already been through pregnancy and labor and should really know better.
• Some of these women may even write pregnancy guides on the Internet.

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Me: So I guess I have settled into Acceptance of what I have to deal with, and that even includes firing a needle at my left index & ring finger(s) four times a day. Weeee!

We accomplished SO MUCH over the weekend in the nursery. It is usable as a room (nursery). It has a crib. It has a changing table! Go us! The armoire(s) have a coat of primer and the insides are painted. It finally feels like we are getting somewhere.

Not much else to say this week, other than TIRED.

29 Weeks. Reality sets in like a deep, dark cloud.

Babycenter:

How your baby's growing:

Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

How your life's changing:

Your baby's very active now. Your healthcare provider may ask you to spend some time each day counting kicks and will give you specific instructions on how to do this. Let your provider know if you ever notice that your baby is becoming less active. You may need a nonstress test or biophysical profile to check on your baby's condition.

Some old friends — heartburn and constipation — may take center stage now. The pregnancy hormone progesterone relaxes smooth muscle tissue throughout your body, including your gastrointestinal tract. This relaxation, coupled with the crowding in your abdomen, slows digestion. Sluggish digestion can cause gas and heartburn — especially after a big meal — and contribute to constipation.

Your growing uterus may also be contributing to hemorrhoids. These swollen blood vessels in your rectal area are common during pregnancy. Fortunately, they usually clear up in the weeks after giving birth.

If they're itchy or painful, try soaking in a sitz bath or applying cold compresses medicated with witch hazel to the affected area. Avoid sitting or standing for long stretches. Talk with your provider before using any over-the-counter remedies during pregnancy, and let your provider know if you have any rectal bleeding. To prevent constipation, eat a high-fiber diet, drink plenty of water, and get some regular exercise.

Some women get something called "supine hypotensive syndrome" during pregnancy. This happens when lying flat on your back causes a change in heart rate and blood pressure that makes you feel dizzy until you change position. You might notice that you feel lightheaded if you stand up too quickly, too. To avoid "the spins," lie on your side rather than your back, and move slowly as you go from lying down to sitting and then standing.

Alphamom:

by Amalah

Your Baby:

• Is big and strong enough to resemble a sinister alien thrashing around your abdomen, as my husband kindly pointed out recently, upon noticing a rouge pointy elbow jabbing up and down around my belly button.
• Is sucking up every drop of calcium you can provide as his or her bones continue to harden and become more…uh…bone-like.
• DID I MENTION THE POINTY JABBING? WITH THE SHARP LITTLE BONES?

You:

• Might start noticing a resurgence of first-trimester-type symptoms like heartburn and other gastrointestinal issues. Things are getting a BIT crowded in there, and the lack of room means slower digestion and more gas and constipation and woe.
• Are gaining weight. I don’t know or care to look up what the “recommended” amount is at this stage, but most likely you are starting to notice a steady upward movement of that little thingie on your doctor’s scale. If you’ve been using pregnancy as a dietary sweet tooth free-for-all, now might be a good time to start reining it in and focusing on healthy foods and portions instead of “BABY NEEDS CAKE AND A TUB OF FROSTING ON THE SIDE.”

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Me: And Reality has arrived. Thus far I've had my head nicely tucked up in the clouds, harboring fantasies about leaving work and becoming a SAHM after Baby Boy's arrival. It was painful to even consider the possibility of returning to work and putting him in daycare, so I just refused to even think about it.

But, after making myself sit down and face the numbers, it looks like it will just continue to be a fantasy for a while. Dear Hubs agrees that me not working would be for the best, but for now, Mama still gotz billz to pay. Poo. And alot is still riding on my working, namely me carrying health insurance for 4 people (soon to be 5).

So that means working out how much 'maternity leave' I can cobble together. It's looking like 12 weeks total, 6 weeks Paid Leave, 4 weeks Advanced Leave and 2 weeks LWOP. I hate the idea of going that far into the hole with Advanced Leave, with anticipating future baby sick days and doctor appointments, but when you are taking LWOP, you have to pay your insurance premiums. Which are not cheap.

And then there's daycare... I don't even know where to begin. There seems to be one at a church just up the road from us that is $110/week, which seems very reasonable for an infant but I am wondering what the catch is. I'm not opposed to daycare entirely, I mean I grew up in daycare and had a lot of great experiences associated with it; it's more that I just want to me a mother that is around and is there to witness all the milestones and be there. And not just hear about it from the daycare provider. It's soul-crushing, but what can you do? For now, just set a new goal and know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

I had the 1-hr GD test a little over a week ago, and then got the results a few days later that my levels were elevated and I had to go back in for the 3-hr GTT (glucose tolerance test). I took that last friday morning. I had to fast starting at midnight, and then arrive for my 8:30 am appointment, drink the orange goop again, and then they would draw my blood several times over a 3-hour period. This time I had to drink the whole bottle, not just half like before. That was not fun, drinking this pure sugar drink on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. Then they drew my blood for a CBC (still had the bruise on my arm from the previous test) and then did 2 finger sticks. Those weren't so bad, they just felt like hitting your finger really hard with a pencil or something. And then they did more finger sticks every hour for the next 3 hours. Lots of women came and went from the Lab waiting room; I overhead a phone conversation from a young women that was upset because her boyfriend or brother had been arrested several days ago, was released, and now she couldn't locate him.

This 3-Hr GTT wasn't as bad as the 5-Hr GTT that I had had last year when my GP was investigating some strange symptoms in me. That time they actually were drawing blood over several hours, and not just the finger sticks like this time. That time they started running out of veins and I looked like a junkie with all the bruises and bandaids.

So I was hoping the 3-Hr test would rule out that I had GD, and I've read that it usually does. But I just got the call from the nurse, saying that I failed that test too, and that I do, indeed, have Gestational Diabetes. Double poo.

I have to call the Diabetic Center at the hospital tomorrow to set up an appointment to learn all about counting carbs and testing my blood. So looking forward to this.

What is so ironic to me, is that I really haven't had many cravings, don't indulge in sweets all that often, and still consider my diet to be reasonably 'low carb'. Around 100-150 grams of carbs per day, I'd say. And now I'm supposed to be eating less than that?

So now I'm just worried about everything.... having to continue to work at a job that I'm not exactly thrilled with... daycare.... what's going to happen with this diabetes thing.....


Oh well. On the bright side of things:

1. I have no stretch marks and totally was anticipating them.

2. It's supposed to be cooler this week, like highs in the 60's this thursday?

3. Nursery is almost done. Crib arrived today and I need to go pick it up. Crib, crib set, mattress, changing table dresser and two armoires are scattered everywhere, just need to put them all together! One more payment on the glider from BRU and it is mine!

4. He's been kicking less and moving around more, from side to side. I can feel and tell which side he is 'laying' on, but still can't differentiate between a head and a rump. It's still fascinating.

My turn to whine and complain, whereas in real life I will pretend to be the Bigger Person.

I don't think anyone is really listening, so I'm gonna go ahead and say this.

With being pregnant, it generally oscillates between Generally Sucking(GS) and Weeee I'm So Cute and Special(WISCaS). The WISCaS is when I am gingerly strolling the streets of downtown, being greeted with warm smiles of onlookers, and you JUST KNOW they are thinking, Gosh she is so cute. Look at that baby bump. I can hardly stand it. Or strolling around BRU, Gymboree and/or Carter's and admiring all the onesies and obscenely cute matching plaid crib shoes while rubbing my bellae. Or answering non-intrusive, polite questions about due dates, boy or girl, etc.

The GS part is the part that brings you back to reality, with the general getting-larger by the day-ness, the swelling (where the hell did my ankle bones go), random nausea, tiredness and generally being uncomfortable because there just is no comfortable position to sit, lay or stand anymore. I'm become so familiar with this sore spot on my tailbone that I think I will name him Fred or something. Fred is a pain in the azz, literally. Fred is a product of having to lean back partially when seated, due to trying to relieve some of the pressure caused by a burgeoning bellae, but that ends up putting constant pressure on this same spot on my tailbone. Hence, Fred.

And then there's the inappropriate questions. Considering I have a hard enough time retaining female friendships and/or keeping coworkers from plotting against me, I try to refrain from replying with something snarky. But I sure am tired of being asked how I am feeling and being reminded of how much bigger I am getting. Just, please, for once, STFU.

The Second Trimester brought questions as to whether we were hoping for a boy or a girl. What is the point of this question exactly? If we told you (and didn't give the boring standard Just as Long as its Healthy!), and the results end up being something the opposite of what we told you we were 'hoping' for, then you get to snicker and think Ha Ha Suckas. Is this your motivation? If so, we should not be 'friends'.

All of this rambling brings me to the point of this posting. When I announced my pregnancy at work, one of my fellow coworkers informed me that I could get a spot in the parking garage at work (normally reserved for higher-ups, disabled persons, GSA vehicles, etc). I'm sure she was just trying to be helpful, especially being that they didn't give her any trouble at all in requesting a parking space during her pregnancy. So I send off a cheerful email to the pertinent person, asking what I need to do. And I get a snarky email back, saying You don't get a spot just because you are pregnant.

Bitch, please.

And she continues, But if you're doctor thinks so, here's the form for them to fill out.

So fine, I print out the forms, fill out my parts as necessary, like I am filling out Power of Attorney or Home Closing forms (even though this is for a parking spot) and then hand them over to Dr. Smiley at my next appointment, to which he gleefully signs (well maybe not gleefully but I do call him Dr. Smiley for a reason). And then shoot the forms back to the troll in the Building Dept. And then wait. And wait. Finally 2 weeks go by and I send another cheerful email, inquiring to the status of my request. Then another week and I finally get another Oh so Friendly email from the troll, stating that my request has been denied because my doctor said (meaning the troll decided that the signed form wasn't enough and that she needed to verify it with my doctor) that I wasn't High Risk and walking would be good for me.

Oh ho rea-lly.

Now even though I'm tempted, I am NOT storming down to the Building Dept and raising cain. I'm just not. I'm just going to do it here where I can say whatever the hell I damn well please. I'm not going down there and being the crazy prego lady making demands, being that I thought this was just a courtesy extended to the prego ladies of the building. And the prerequisite, that I be 'High Risk'. Um, honeychild, if I was HR, I would be parked at home on bedrest filling my eyeballs with Say Yes to the Dress. And not worried about how far I would have to walk to get from my car to my desk.

It just doesn't seem very fair. I apparently am not friends with the right people, I suppose. It's not the biggest deal in the world, but if I do happen to go into pre-term labor as I waddle my pretty pink princess self into the building, then we may have a problem. Like an employee having had requested their employer to make accommodations for a temporary disability (with Doctor note!) and was DENIED, despite the precedent that was set.

I told that coworker about being denied, and I think she was more upset about it that I was, so she graciously stormed down to the Chief of the Building Dept, and talked with him. He told her that if I filled out the forms again and got my doctor to sign again, and checked the magic amount of the right boxes on the form, that they would re-evaluate the request. But I have a feeling they would just happily deny my request again, so I'm not going through all that again.

But mostly, it's probably because I'm not obese and of a certain color. Doh! Did I just say that out loud?

28 Weeks! A Chinese Cabbage?

From Babycenter:

By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

How your life's changing:

You're in the home stretch! The third and final trimester starts this week. If you're like most women, you'll gain about 11 pounds this trimester.

At this point, you'll likely visit your doctor or midwife every two weeks. Then, at 36 weeks, you'll switch to weekly visits. Depending on your risk factors, your practitioner may recommend repeating blood tests for HIV and syphilis now, as well as doing cultures for chlamydia and gonorrhea, to be certain of your status before delivery. Also, if your glucose screening test result was high and you haven't yet had follow-up testing, you'll soon be given the 3-hour glucose tolerance test. And if the blood work done at your first prenatal visit showed that you're Rh negative, you'll get an injection of Rh immunoglobulin to prevent your body from developing antibodies that could attack your baby's blood. (If your baby is Rh positive, you'll receive another shot of Rh immunoglobulin after you give birth.)

Around this time, some women feel an unpleasant "creepy-crawly" sensation in their lower legs and an irresistible urge to move them while trying to relax or sleep. If this sensation is at least temporarily relieved when you move, you may have what's known as restless legs syndrome (RLS). No one knows for sure what causes RLS, but it's relatively common among expectant mothers. Try stretching or massaging your legs, and cut down on caffeine, which can make the symptoms worse. Ask your caregiver if you should try iron supplements, which can sometimes relieve RLS.

From Alphamom:

Your Baby:

• Continues to get a longer and fatter by the day. Shocking, I know. His or her weight has actually doubled in the past month alone, which is why you’ve probably gotten comments about “popping” recently.
• Weight is around 2.5 pounds right now, which (if you’re like me, gazing in horror and your inside-out belly button and spidery stretch marks) might sound a little frightening, since the baby clearly needs to gain a LOT MORE WEIGHT before he or she is fully cooked, and oh my God, how in the world is anything bigger going to fit in there?

You:

• Are either feeling like this pregnancy will NEVER end, or that 12 more weeks is simply not nearly enough time to prepare. Or you might feel both ways, changing your mind one minute to the next.
• Must move furniture and fold clothes and organize the linen closet and replace the bathroom vanity and finally get rid of that sooty stain on the marble fireplace and yes, DARLING, these are all essential tasks that MUST be completed before the baby gets here, DO NOT ARGUE WITH ME, NOW GO HANG UP SOME SHELVES.

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Me: Who (whom?) turned on the Nausea Valve again? WHO DAMMIT. And unlike First Tri, Oh the Stomach that must constantly purge itself of absolutely nothing, now it's actual meals. And usually meals that were a 'splurge' and I probably shouldn't have had in the first place. Like pizza. Or Doritos. Or Halloween oreos (Hello again!). Or Who the Hell Knows. But hey, I'm prego, we are supposed to indulge occasionally, right? RIGHT? My digestive areas seem to disagree. Back to the greek yogurt and fruit, I guess.

And the Tiredness has returned. This morning, as I sat with my daily ritual of English Breakfast tea, I seriously contemplated calling in to work sick, because I was just so damn tired. Like, arms feel heavy tired. But I still managed to drag myself there. Yesterday I had a glorious day off for Columbus Day and had so many plans (I will sew! I will launder! I will clean! I will decorate pumpkins! I will bake! I will!....). And I woke up TIRED. Oh so Tired. If our diet coke situation hadn't become so dire, I would have skipped the trip to the grocery store entirely, but I persevered anyway. And it kicked my arse. I later lounged on the couch with a bag of Doritos and later was regretting that decision.

It's not melt the sun hot anymore, but it sure isn't really cool yet. Boo. I have a beautiful camel maternity coat from Motherhood Maternity hanging in my closet, that hopefully I will get to use at some point. Maybe even before Baby Boy is born.

The nursery is so.close.to.being.done. And furniture is on its way! The crib, mattress and crib set has been ordered and is in route. The armoire(s) still lounge in the garage, waiting to be painted. Same thing for the changing table/dresser, except it is at the foot of our bed. I have ONE MORE PAYMENT for my glider from BRU. I have a coupon that may get used to purchase the ottoman from BRU as well. Stuff!

Oh yea, and appointments: Doctor's appointment last week, where I had both the gestational diabetes test and the Rhogam shot. The GD test was just drinking the orange goop and having my blood drawn one hour later. No biggie. And had the Rhogam shot at the very end of the appointment. I paid no attention to the size of the actual needle, but there was about an inch and a half of clear liquid in the syringe. Shot to the hip. I jabbered on about my lower-back tattoo that the nurse asked about as she was stabbing me. Also no biggie. Dr. Smiley had a new 'toy' to use this time; instead of just the doppler to listen to the HB, it had a flip screen that was also a mini-sonogram machine. So we got to SEE the HB (but not actually listen, I guess he had the sound turned off). And there it was, flickering away. And he pointed out some of the outline of the head, an arm, a knee, etc. Pretty cool and unexpected.


Me: 28 Weeks!

27 Weeks! A Cauliflower!

From Babycenter:

How your baby's growing:

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

How your life's changing:

The second trimester is drawing to a close, but as your body gears up for the final lap, you may start noticing some new symptoms. Along with an aching back, for example, you may find that your leg muscles cramp up now and then. They're carrying extra weight, after all, and your expanding uterus is putting pressure on the veins that return blood from your legs to your heart as well as on the nerves leading from your trunk to your legs. Unfortunately, the cramps may get worse as your pregnancy progresses. Leg cramps are more common at night but can also happen during the day. When a cramp strikes, stretching the calf muscle should give you some relief. Straighten your leg and then gently flex your toes back toward your shin. Walking for a few minutes or massaging your calf sometimes helps, too.

It may be the furthest thing from your mind right now, but it's not too soon to think about family planning. You'll want to have made some decisions about postpartum birth control before your baby arrives. If you're considering a tubal ligation, be aware that most states require you to sign a consent form at least 30 days beforehand. So if you'd like the option of having the surgery during your postpartum hospital stay, don't wait too much longer to discuss it with your caregiver. (You can still change your mind later.)

Alphamom:

Your Baby:

• Hey! Remember when I told you your baby was as big as a gummy bear? Oh, about 19 or 20 weeks ago?
• Now imagine a two-pound, 15-inch-long gummy bear. Yep.
• Eyelids (which have been fused since 11 or 12 weeks) can now open and close.

You:

• Are officially in the third trimester! Feel free to celebrate/panic at will.
• May notice more of that pesky round ligament pain as your belly gets harder and bigger and rounder, or as it starts to dip down a little bit, looking a little less perky and cute than it did a few weeks ago.
• Depending on your baby’s position, the kicks and movements might be a little painful. Feet up under your ribcage, jabs to the cervix, random body parts of mystery poking you way off to the side, where you didn’t even think those little appendages were long enough to reach.

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Me: I'm pretty sure I was kicked somewhere in the vicinity of my cervix last night... internally.

Owchee!

The rolls and kicks have thus far been endlessly fascinating and not painful. I've heard this may not always be the case, as he runs out of room in that cushy amniotic sack and starts aiming for internal organs and bone structure(s). Owchee again!

Symptoms that are sticking around: tiredness, nightly Jimmy Legs, occasional sickness. Apparently I can't tolerate tomato sauce anymore, which is a slight tragedy, as I try to put marinara sauce on just about everything, and generally love pizza, spaghetti, eggplant parm, etc. Soreness in the evenings, centered around my abdomen, feeling like I'm being 'stretched'. Soaks in the tub seem to help. And I am now fully embracing my prego pillow, plus a fan on my side of the bed as well. We are up to 4(!) total for the master bedroom now. The pillow is just so darn comfy, but it is a slight wrestling match to turn over or get up to pee the 2-3 times a night.

It's finally turned cool here again, and I could not be happier. Hopefully it's around to stay. Today's wardrobe: pink & grey long sleeve argyle sweater, white maternity tank underneath, grey maxi maternity dress from Old Navy (LOVE. SO COMFY), black hose socks, grey/black Ahnu mary janes and my rice pearl necklace that was my wedding gift from Hubs.



Some of my photography, the Hannah Houses of Mobile. I walk past these everyday, to and fro my parking lot.






The nursery is SO CLOSE to be being done! (structurally anyway). Just the finish work. Doors are in, just need to measure and order the film for the glass on the french doors. Now on to the furniture!

In general, feeling pretty good!