Baby showers and such

So I know I'm a little behind on posting.  I get so wrapped up in work during the day and by the time I get home at night, the last thing I want to do is sit in front of the computer!

I had my friend shower on February 27th and it was awesome!  Katie and Karen really outdid themselves on putting together the shower for me.  Here's a picture of the cake and the diaper cake!!  AMAZING!

I've been feeling pretty good for being almost 34 weeks pregnant.  I think it's because I have been going to the chiropractor weekly, drinking PLENTY of fluids and I have a husband that generously rubs my feet and has picked up a lot of the house work!  I don't know what I would do without him.  The time is drawing near and I still can't believe that we are going to be parents...to a human being!  He's going to be our responsibility and no one else's!  I know we will do just fine, but it's still so crazy! 

We had our family (dad's side) shower this past weekend and it was very nice as well.  I don't have any pictures to share since Jason hasn't put them on the computer yet and I'm not about to try and figure it out because every time I do, I somehow manage to screw the computer up!  We received some really nice gifts and are so thankful we have such amazing family!  Jason's step-mom and sisters weren't able to make it to the shower so they came over on Saturday and we got to have a little "shower" of our own.  Again, we have an amazing family!  Sunday night Jason and I put together the carseat and stroller (well it was already put together by Jason and his dad on Saturday) and the pack-n-play.  They have been sitting in our living rooms so the animals can get used to them.  Suprisingly the cats have not tried to jump into the pack-n-play.  Parker did try and eat one of the animals off the mobile earlier this morning but hopefully it was a one time thing :)

The nursery is pretty much complete with the exception of the wall border and the glider.  I've still got to wash the bathroom stuff and a few more outfits, but most of his clothes are done and the bedding is washed.  There are still a few items we need to go get from BRU but that'll be done here in the next few weeks...hopefully we don't wait too long!

I start my weekly appointments next week which is so weird!  I can't believe the time is just flying by!  Baby Z is still measuring right on schedule so we're happy about that!  Here's a little update:

Highlights:

How Far Along: 33w5d
Size of Baby: supposedly 4 1/2 pounds and ~19 inches long
Total Weight Gain/Loss: at the doc's office last thursday I was up 29 pounds
Maternity Clothes: all...my maternity pants are starting to get a little snug on me but I'm hoping I can last another 7 weeks!
Movement: All day, every day...he has basically run out of room in there and constantly either has his knee bulging from my belly or his little feet are stuck up in my rib cage
Symptoms: nothing crazy...if I do too much then my sciatica acts up.  and that fun 1st tri going pee 5 times a night is now back with a vengeance
What I Miss: My abs
Girl, Boy, or Team Green: boy
Cravings: ice cold water
Is your nursery done? Glider is on back order, need to hang wall border and window cover and get blinds for the smaller windows, night stand and a lamp
What are you really looking forward to? Having my body back and getting to see what LO looks like
Can you still paint your toenails? didn't even try...i can barely put my shoes on so i'm thinking no.  i had a pedicure two weeks ago and it was amazing!
Are you getting nervous? Yes...I think I'm most nervous because this is something that I cannot control...I don't know WHEN I'm going to go into labor and I don't know HOW my body is going to react to labor.  I'm also nervous to think that DH and I are going to be responsible for this little guy forever!  It's an amazing feeling but at the same time so scary!

Happy Valentine's Day (30 weeks)

So this Valentine's Day was the first VDay that Jason and I spent apart since we've been together.  It was a little tough but he still managed to surprise me and send me flowers!!  He is so thoughtful and knows just how to make my day a little special, even if it means we don't get to see each other.  They are absolutely beautiful!  We did get to celebrate two days early when he took us to our usual VDay spot, the Melting Pot.  For the first time I was actually able to keep up with Jason with the amount of food I ate!  Not that proud of it, but I am usually walking out of that place almost in tears because I am so full...but not this time :)  I was a definitely full but I was not overly stuffed!

I'm spending this week out in San Diego for work and the weather couldn't be more perfect.  It was 65 yesterday and should be about the same today.  Unfortunately it's supposed to rain Wednesday and Thursday but I'll take rain over snow anyday!  I'm definitely looking forward to coming back to Chicago and there being just a little snow left.

I still can't believe that I am 30 weeks pregnant and have only 10 weeks to go!  Before we were counting up the weeks and now I feel like I'm counting down the weeks...so crazy!  We have our first child birth class this weekend.  It's a marathon class that is all day and I'm hoping we made the right decision on selecting this class instead of the "meet 4 times over 4 weeks" class.  Either way, I think the class will be very informative and just make this whole baby thing even more real.  To be honest, I'm not as stressed or worried as I was early on in the pregnancy about being a mother.  I have this overwhelming calm that has taken over me, like "I know what I'll need to do when he gets here" type of thing.  I'm sure that will all be washed away the second we bring him home, but for right now, I'm glad I'm not stressing.  NOW, when I think about all the preparation and things we still need to do and consider, that's where my stress level picks up a little bit.  I mean, we could really have a baby any day now (I hope he decides to bake for at the minimum 7 more weeks).  But really, if he were to be born tomorrow, with medical help, we could have a baby.

Anywho...here is the weekly update, enjoy :) (please disregard the creepy hotel room and the crappy iPhone 3GS picture...I'm hoping to upgrade once the baby gets here!)

Pregnancy Highlights:
How Far Along: 30w2d (30w in picture)
Size of Baby: Between 3-4 pounds.
Total Weight Gain/Loss: +21. I still can't believe how the scale keeps going up.  I did read from my WTE application all the different items that make up a "30lb weight gain" and it made me feel better knowing the disbursements :)
Maternity Clothes: Everything.  I had to break down and buy a few more shirts last week from ON because everything I bought a few months ago are sweaters and I seriously feel like I'm going to have a heat stroke when I wear them bc my body temp has spiked!!!
Movement: He's rolling a lot more.  The kicks and jabs are getting a little more intense.  Just hope he stays away from the ribs!
Symptoms: none really. just hip joint and sciatica (sp)
What I Miss: Philly sushi rolls and a nice glass of reisling...I think that's because we hit up our usual Melting Pot V-Day celebration and I couldn't have a glass of wine!
Girl, Boy, or Team Green: Boy
Cravings: Still oranges.
Is your nursery done? Need to put up wall border, wash the bedding, and think of a name so we can get his name hung above the dresser
Favorite Change in Your Body? the fact that my belly keeps expanding.  it's so crazy how we, as women, can grow a human being inside of us!  now let's just hope my favorite change in 6 months is that my body is back to normal :)

Lease Favorite Change in Your Body? My thighs.  I have "swimmer thighs" so I have to work really hard at keeping them in shape and I haven't done a darn thing so they're starting to turn mushy and I am NOT happy about it :(  And I also miss my abs...but those will always come back :) 

Baby Shower Outfit? Down to two for one of my showers and I already have an outfit for the other :)

All snowed in!

So we got about 18 inches of snow last night and lost a part of our fence...how nice!  Jason and I are both working from home today, thank Heavens because all of Will County roads are closed.  He's outside using his new snow blower and cleaning off our driveway :) 

In baby related news, nothing has really changed.  Still tossing and turning at night but nothing I can't handle.  Still haven't started to feel uncomfortable yet so I'm still enjoying being pregnant.  This whole being snowed in thing really makes me want to drink a bottle of wine, but that ain't happening so I guess that's the only thing right this second that I'm not enjoying about my pregnancy...yeah yeah, I'll get over it :)

Hope everyone stays warm out there!!!

Pregnancy Highlights:
How Far Along: 28w 1d…getting closer to the finish line!!
Size of Baby: somewhere between 2.5-3lbs and 16.5 inches long
Total Weight Gain/Loss:  as of Friday I was up 21lbs.  I’m sure that’s gone up…I’ve been gaining more than a pound a week since 20 weeks. 
Maternity Clothes: Everything…I think it’s time for me to suck it up and buy a new bra.
Movement: He’s still a kicker.  Not too hard yet.  he hasn’t reached my ribs yet so I’m thankful for that.  He’s squirming in there and it’s a little uncomfortable but I’ll manage.
Symptoms: Starting to get some major sciatica pain :(  
What I Miss: sleeping through the night and not waking up with back pain
Girl, Boy, or Team Green: boy
Belly button In or Out: so out.
Cravings: oranges, ice cream, cheeseburgers
Is your nursery done? decide on a name so we can buy wood letters to hang above the dresser, and put up the wall boarder. Jason and his Dad knocked off the painting for the dresser/changing table so we’re one step closer
Do you feel ready? I am but I’m not.  I’m ready to meet this little guy and see what he looks like and just hold him close to me.  I’m not ready only because I haven’t gotten to my uncomfortable stage yet but I’m sure that will be reached here in the next few weeks.
Overall, have you enjoyed pregnancy? Yes, I have very much enjoyed this pregnancy.  I didn’t have any m/s in the first tri and things have been pretty normal for me.  I do miss working out though so that’s the one downside of being pregnant.

Bump Pic Monday

So there's  board that I'm a part of that posts pictures of our bumps and goes through a few highlights.  Figured I'd share here as well :)

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 27w1d
Size of Baby: 2.5 lbs?
Total Weight Gain/Loss: +19 lbs.
Maternity Clothes: Everything!
Movement: Oh yeah.  It's absolutely rediculous today. He's basically been having a dance party in there since this morning.  Starting to get a little naucious from it!
Symptoms: Tossing and turning at night.  other than that, everything else is going well...guess my body is starting to get used to the extra weight.
What I Miss: Sushi...ugh!
Girl, Boy, or Team Green: Boy
Belly button In or Out: So out
Cravings: Oranges, cheeseburgers and hot caramel/fudge ice cream sundae
Is your nursery done? Not yet.  We painted it when we first moved in 3 years ago (3 walls a bright blue, 1 wall chocolate).  We've got the crib and bedding.  We need to put up the wall boarder, paint the dresser, buy the glider and hang wall decor.
Have you had a baby shower? I'm having three:  friend shower is Feb 27th, dad's side is March 6th and my mom's side is after the baby's born
Nursery theme? Puppies :)

Sorry, it's been waaaaayy too long!

Okay, so I'm really going to stay on top of this blog thing now (hopefully).  A lot has gone on since I last posted in November.  We found out December 10th that we're having a little BOY!  We couldn't be more excited.  Now we're just trying to figure out what we want to name him (we're keeping it a suprise).  There's one in particular that we love (I'm stating here and now that Jason suggested it!) but we really want to make sure that there is nothing else to consider.  It's fun but at the same time a little nerve wracking since he will have this name for the rest of his life!
I am feeling him kick on a very regular basis nowadays.  He's got a routine too :)  I usually wake up at 3:3am to use the restroom and he's a solid block on my right side...I lay back in bed and he gives me a few kicks.  At about 9-9:30, he starts rolling around in there and kicking me.  It's so cute, although they're getting stronger and stronger!  He also rolls around and kicks me at about 6pm and then right before bed.  Jason felt him for the first time right after Christmas.  It was so neat to have him finally feel that there is a little person inside me!
I can't believe that the third trimester is approaching very fast.  Before we know it, our little man will be here with us!  Our next OB appointment is this Friday.  I think either this appointment or the next one I'll be getting my Rhogam shot (supposed to get it at 28 weeks).  Click this link to learn more. http://www.justmommies.com/articles/rh_negative.shtml

We got our crib back in December and put it together. We're using the "blue room" for everyone who has gotten a tour of our house :)  Glad he turned out to be a little boy because if he was a girl, we would have had to paint the room back to pink (it was pink when we first moved in and then painted it blue and brown).  We have a dresser that needs to be painted white to match the crib, hang some wall decor, wash the bedding and our nursery will be all set!  We're going with a puppy theme (who wudda thought)!  I've had to slow down on my clothing purchases for him because all I buy are things with puppies on them!  I still need to buy the little onesie that says "My big brother is a yellow lab".  I want to buy it in like every size! ha!
This pregnancy has been pretty much a breeze for me.  I haven't had any morning sickness, no crazy food aversions (only thing is that I can't stand the thought of string cheese...this coming from someone who LOVES cheese), etc.  The only thing I'm starting to deal with is hip joint pain.  My chiropractor did wonders for me last week and it hasn't been too bad this week.  I know it's because my body is trying to adjust to the weight gain (yes people, I'm gaining weight).  I guess I'm trying to adjust to the whole weight gain thing too.  Jason said I can gain as much weight as I want to :)  Oh, how I love him!
Jason has been an amazing husband and father-to-be these past few months.  He's just as involved with preparing and decision making with the baby as he was for the wedding.  I am so grateful to have him in my life!!!  He is seriously going to be the best father ever!
I just signed us up for some child birth classes in February and March.  Can't wait!!
Here's me at 26 weeks 1 day.

Right now I feel like it's the calm before the storm...I have to travel next week and the week of Valentine's Day for work, I've got three showers (Feb 27, March 6 and March 13), all the birthing classes we are signed up for...and then the arrival of our son.  It's one heck of a rollercoaster ride and I am not in any way wanting to get off of it.  I absolutely love my life right now and I wouldn't change one single thing :)

Hiccups

Well we had our 15w appointment today!  Took the NP about .5 seconds to find the baby's heartbeat!  Again, words can't describe what it's like to hear your baby's heartbeat while they're inside of you.  Best thing about today?  The baby had the hiccups!  I busted out laughing and couldn't stop for a few seconds.  It was the coolest thing ever.  To know that the baby had the hiccups and I couldn't feel a thing...I know that will change as the weeks come and go.  Baby's heartrate was 154bpm so we're still looking good!  Only 5 more weeks until we can find out if we're having a boy or girl.  It's seriously killing me!  I know I have to have patience and that it will be here before we know it considering I've already been pregnant for 10 weeks now!  Every day my belly grows a little more and it becomes even more real that we are going to be parents.  It's a scary feeling but at the same time I know we will be the "World's Greatest Parents" :)  We better get one of those cool mugs from our child! haha!!!