The Big 3-0

I’m 30 weeks pregnant! In other words, 10 weeks away from having a new little baby.

*gulp*

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30 seems like a big milestone. It means we’re in the home stretch. We’re reaching the finish line. We can start to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

People have been asking me a lot if I’m ready to have this baby and the answer is yes. In a sense. I’m certainly ready to meet the little one and DEFINITELY ready to have my body back. But at the same time, I’m not so eager that I want the baby to come early. Every day Team Trader Baby (TTB) can stay in and gestate is one more day of increased health. Also, from a practical stand point, we’re not quite there yet. The nursery isn’t done. We still have shopping to do. Not a lot, but enough that I’m starting to stress out just a little tiny bit.

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Getting my sassy on! Funny how, if you didn’t know, you probably wouldn’t be able to tell I’m pregnant in this pic. It’s all about the right angle…

Also, I know that once the baby is here, everything will change. Our little threesome will be no more. Isabella will have to share her time with Mommy and Daddy and visa versa, we won’t be able to have as much one on one time with her. I will miss that but we will have a new family dynamic which is great too.

My doctor’s visit was about the same as usual. We spent more time talking about football than babies (she’s a Ravens fan). I gained another 4 lbs which is right on the mark for my goal of 1 lb. per week, making my total weight gain at 31 lbs. If I keep this up, by the end I will have put on 40lbs or so. They like you to stay in the 35 lb. range but I’m pretty close and my doctor is not worried at all. No health issues of any kind (like gestational diabetes) so it’s all good.

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Pic from the doc’s office to change things up a bit! Plus she was running late and I was bored…

The baby is fine too. Heartbeat was strong and measurements were good (they measure the size of the bump in centimeters to make sure you’re tracking and I’m right on the money).

Now I’m on a “see the doc” every 2 week schedule since I’m in the 3rd trimester. At the next appointment, they will do another ultrasound to make sure the baby is growing enough. I can’t wait to see more images of the little one. This time they should be even more clear since baby will be so much more developed!! I guess there are advantages to being of Advanced Maternal Age!

I feel pretty good though, physically. As to be expected, I am having more and more discomfort in the form of back and hip pain. I have a knot on the left side of my back that will not go away. Every night when I lay down it starts throbbing. My sciatica pain is still there too. Mostly I feel it at night if I sleep on one side too long. For the past 2 day it’s been lingering and causing some pain on my right side when I walk and made sleeping very difficult.

Hip pain…just one more thing pregnant women and old people have in common.

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I can feel the baby getting bigger too. The little flutters and kicks that once were like bubbles inside me are now more like rocks. There are certain spots the baby hits that are extra sensitive and cause me to wince. Particularly when it moves up in to the top right corner of my uterus, under my rib cage.

I’ve been reflecting a bit on the differences between the 2 pregnancies that have gone full term (I feel like I have to clarify because I never want to forget the pregnancies that ended early as those babies are my children too, even though they’re not here) and I am way more active this time around. I remember days in my pregnancy with Isabella when I would come home from work, plop down on the couch and not move until bedtime. I would spend hours at a time watching movies or reading (I devoured the Twilight series). It was also at about this stage that I stopped exercising. Some of it was due to the fact that moving around was unwieldy and I wasn’t sure what I was allowed to do versus not so I just stopped all together. Some was pure laziness.

This time is much different. Isabella doesn’t allow me to come home and just veg! She wants to play and while there are days when my involvement in play is limited, I do what I can because that time with her is so important.

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I also try to work out 4-5 times a week, mixing in cardio, weights, pregnancy yoga and pregnancy Pilates. I’ve increased the yoga/Pilates to twice a week because the moves are geared toward strengthening, stretching and readying your body for labor and delivery. Plus it feels good!

I’m still trying to be mindful of my eating too. I recall very specifically having this thought in my Isabella pregnancy, “Screw it! I’m getting bigger anyway, might as well enjoy it!” and then I would reach for another cookie, piece of cake, slice of pizza or whatever. I’m trying not to do that this time around. I’m focusing on getting lots of fruits and veggies in my diet along with lean protein and iron. Don’t get me wrong – I definitely indulge in sweets and fatty foods too but not with the same abandon as I had before. Plus, I know how hard it was to lose the nearly 60 lbs. I gained 4 years ago and I do NOT want to go through that again!

On a fun note, the nursery is slowly coming together. We are using the room that was our old office. All that furniture has been moved out and the walls painted yellow.

I will do a more comprehensive, nursery focused post when it’s all done but for now, here’s a sneak peak.

This is how it started…

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These were the 2 colors we narrowed it down to (same on both walls, just a different perspective) and we chose the one on the right, which is a little brighter and has less orange in it.

And this is where we’re at today:

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That picture is actually pretty close to the true color but here is the official color if you want to see the pure form. It looks bright, and it is, but in a good way. That room is small and the yellow helps open it up. Once we get the baby furniture and other colors in there, I think it will be really cute. I have lots of ideas!

Next step is hauling in Isabella’s old crib and putting that together, along with the changing table. We need to bring up all the baby clothes and supplies out of storage and start organizing them too.  There are lots of other little details but for now, one thing at a time. The décor can be added over time. What’s important is to have the essentials done in time for baby’s arrival home!

I think that’s enough for today! I’ll have another update in 2 weeks!

Wanna see how far I’ve come? Then check these posts out!

Growing Up | Isabella Baby Moments | 26 Weeks

Growing Up

I bet you thought when you read the title of this post that it was about Isabella and how she’s growing so quickly and how fast time is going. 

Nope. 

It’s actually about me and how I made a decision to grow up in one area.  Ready? 

I decided to give up my belly piercing. 

I’ll wait while you pick yourselves up off the floor.

I got my belly button pierced when I was in college. It was my rebellious way of getting around the “no tattoo until you graduate and have a real job” rule laid down by my parents. No tattoo? Fine, I’ll pierce something! 

The belly button seemed to be the safest, easiest, least visible way to do just that. I could hide it on a daily basis yet still have the badge of honor of having a piercing – and of course show it off on the beach or whenever it was appropriate to bare the mid-drift (keep in mind this was back when I had a flat stomach and wasn’t horrified at the thought of anyone seeing my stomach). 

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Obviously that’s not me. My stomach wasn’t that flat.

So I had some strange dude stick a needle through  my skin and never looked back!  Until I got pregnant with Isabella. Oddly, once I started showing, I was immediately concerned about what would become of said piercing. I knew my ever expanding belly would outgrow my normal belly bar and I was sad at the thought of taking it out and the hole growing shut. So I ordered a special pregnancy bar that is longer to accommodate the growth. It worked like a charm! 

28wksIsabella pregnancy, at 28 weeks

With this pregnancy, I didn’t even think about the belly ring until we had the ultrasound and the tech asked me how long I was going to be able to keep it in. I told her what I had done previously and added the comment that I might also just let it go this time.  This was the first time I had ever thought about letting it go. It kind of surprised me and I’ve been thinking about it off and on ever since.

Lately, my “innie” has started to become an “outie” as the baby slowly grows. This has caused the ring/bar to stick out too and become more visible through my clothing.

I knew it was time to make a decision one way or another when it was becoming sore too, as a result of the extra strain. It was either buy a pregnancy bar (I lost my old one in the move) or give up the piercing all together.  I decided it was time to give it up and grow up. 

Not that having piercings as an adult means you’re not a grown up. I just felt that for me, I was holding on to old college days and an image that’s not really me anymore. CJ asked if taking it out would mean I would lose my inner rebel. I don’t think so. I mean, I still have my tattoos (that I got like, the day after I landed “a real job”, thank you very much.  My parents were thrilled) and might even get another one in the next year or so (we’ll see…). 

Also, there are other ways to rebel – change my hair, buy funky clothes, wear white after Labor Day, dip my carrots in peanut butter….

Now that I’ve done it, I kind of feel free. I don’t know why. It’s not like the piercing was holding me back or anything. I guess it just goes to show that it was the right decision.  And my profile is much smoother now too!

Isabella thought it was crazy when I showed her my “new” belly button. I believe her exact reaction was, “Whoa!” It’s caught me off guard a couple times too. Like in the shower. I use a loofah instead of a washcloth and I have to be careful around that piercing that it doesn’t get caught in the mesh. Well, that’s not a problem now! I sometimes spend like an extra minute just scrubbin’ my tummy because it’s so easy! There are also times during the day when I unconsciously rub my belly (it’s a pregnancy thing…like reassurance to the baby that mama is here or to me that the baby is still there) and it’s still a surprise to find it so smooth. 

So there you go. I guess 36 was the magic year for me to grow up! At least in one area. 

Just don’t ask me to give up mac n’cheese.

Got more time? Then click to some other posts!

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What I will… | One Liners | Opportunities

What I Will and Won’t Miss about Being Pregnant

As I enter the third trimester, I’m starting to fantasize about the things I’ll be able to do again once the baby is born. While I recognize that pregnancy is a gift in so many ways (and feel very blessed that we have the opportunity to have another child), I am definitely not one of those people who loves and relishes the 9 months of pregnancy and wants to pop out baby after baby.

I like alcohol too much.

Kidding.

Ok fine. It’s the raw cookie dough that I long for.

At any rate, lately I’ve found myself thinking about all the restrictions that will be lifted come April. Not just health related stuff either. I look around at CJ playing on the floor with Isabella or people wearing cute clothes that they don’t make in maternity sizes and feel envious. So I thought I’d make a list of a few little things I’m looking forward to after our cute bundle of joy makes an appearance!

I can’t wait to…

1. Bend over. Wait, that sounded bad. You know what I mean. It’s the small things isn’t it? Picking up dropped items on the floor…reaching into lower drawers…tying your shoes…shaving.

2. Have the ability to reach across tables, countertops, desks or any other surface. I seriously have a car wash receipt on the dashboard of my car that has been there for 3 weeks because I can’t reach it to throw it away.

3. Sleep / lie on my back and stomach. Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night in a panic because you’re lying on your back and don’t know how long you’ve been in that position? No? Then you’re not pregnant.

4. Cook without getting food on my belly because I don’t realize it’s touching the counter. Many a night have I gone upstairs to change in to jammies and looked in the mirror only to see a line of food stains across my shirt. I guess that explains why Samson sniffs my bump a lot.

5. Run and jump and be more physically active. Ok I don’t really long to go for a run any time soon but I at least want the option! Yes I still work out right now but it’s very low key. I want to sweat dammit!

6. Hold Isabella any way or time that I want. Though, it can be a convenient excuse for those times when she needs doesn’t need to be carried and is just being difficult.

7. Have a lap again. Right now Isabella can’t really snuggle on my lap. She has to sort of sit next to me. She still tries to sit directly on my lap but can’t really lean back and snuggle so it’s awkward. And I hate it.

8. Have a waist. ‘Nuf said.

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9. Wear my regular clothes again. Or cute new clothes for that matter. I’m getting tired of maternity clothes. Wearing the same rotation of shirts all the time gets old fast and I’m running out of ways to change up the outfits. Also I really only have 2 pairs of jeans that fit and look decent so I’m doing a lot of laundry and pretty much live in yoga pants on the weekend. I look forward to the day when I can box up all the maternity clothes and ship ’em to Goodwill!

10. NOT hear comments about how big I’m getting. I eagerly anticipate the days of hearing people tell me how great I look/how much weight I’ve lost/how they almost mistook me for a celebrity. What? It could happen…

There are a few things about pregnancy that I will miss. Ok only 2.

1. Elastic pants – old ladies and Santa Claus have the right idea. Especially at Thanksgiving!

2. Baby movements and kicks – no matter how many times it happens, the baby moving around inside you never gets old

But above all, the # 1 thing I am most looking forward to after pregnancy is getting to know and hold our new little baby! Every other ache, pain and inconvenience is worth getting to that point.

Check these out!

Isabella Baby Moments | The Translator | 26 Weeks

Isabella Baby Moments

Took Isabella to volleyball tryouts last night (CJ was running them so he had to be there and we just tagged along for a while). For one, it got us out of the house and two, gave her a chance to run around in a gym, explore and basically tire her out. “Blow the stink off of her” as my mom would say.

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Always a win!

An added bonus was that I got to see many friends whom I haven’t in a while due to not playing and it being wintertime when everyone hibernates. Many of these people hadn’t seen Munchkin in ages either and the overall consensus is that she’s really growing up, has a good fashion sense (I’ll take credit for that one…oh wait, CJ dressed her yesterday so I guess I have to give him credit. Fine.) and has cute curly hair.

One friend asked if she was excited to be a big sister. She said yes and then before I could stop her, proceeded to pull my shirt up and point to my belly saying, “There’s a baby in there!”

Yes sweetie, everyone is well aware of that just by looking at me…no one needs to see naked pictures as evidence!

Fortunately I had the kind of maternity jeans on which go up over your belly so people weren’t subjected to seeing my stretched out skin. High five to that!

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Another friend asked if she wanted a baby brother or sister. Her response? “I’ve been asking God for a baby sister.”

Cue the collective “aw…”

I had no idea that this is what she was hoping for! She’s never really shown much of a preference either way. I also didn’t know that she talks to God. We’re not an overly religious family so while we talk about God we don’t make a point of praying together every night or pushing any certain religion on her.

But man oh man will this earn her major points with the grandparents!

She’s also getting VERY excited about painting both her room and the nursery. She has specific ideas too which is great. The whole point of getting her involved in picking out colors and such was to generate excitement and I’m relieved that it’s working.

Tonight’s outing? A trip to Lowe’s to pick up paint samples! Oh boy, oh boy! (or maybe oh girl, oh girl!)

 

Check out these other posts!

The Translator | Out with the old, in with the new! | 26 weeks

The Translator

Isabella has a pretty big vocabulary for a 3 year old. I’m constantly amazed at what words she knows. She’s also kind of a know-it-all.

I can’t imagine where she got that from…

When she doesn’t know what a word means she just makes something up. She’ll say, “[xx] is Spanish for ___”.

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Before you say anything – yes we are growing her bangs out which is why they hang in front of her face. And if your name is Fred and you’re related to her, no, you can’t cut them.

Here are a few excerpts from Isabella’s Language Dictionary:

  • “’Grrr’ is dog Spanish for ‘bark’”
  • “Rum punch is the English word for fruit punch.” (English being the King’s English of course!)
  • “Zenta is the English word for underwear!” (I don’t even know where she got Zenta. She was looking at a Ziploc lid and I think saw the ‘z’ and went from there…)

And then there are her shortened version so words or names. Many times these come in to play when she can’t admit she got a word wrong.

  • “His name is Daddy but I call him CJ for short”
  • (When I asked her what she calls me for short) “Well, Mommy of course”!”
  • She called something an asteroid and I corrected her because it was a star. “Well, I call stars ‘asteroids’ for short sometimes.”

So there you have it! Some recent Isabella-isms and translations! Thanks goodness I have her around to help me understand what The Brit is saying! Oh wait, most of the time what the Brit is saying isn’t appropriate for young ears…

If you liked this, check out these!

Potty Time | Singing for her Supper | Are you Smarter Than a 2 Year Old?