Tummy Tuesday

37 Weeks

2 weeks and 2 days to go! But who is counting? Mary Claire came 5 days early so that is what I am gaging my time left by... so really 11 days... right? (I am going to be a very unhappy camper in 12 days if Margaret is not here- just forewarning you)

They say there are 3 trimesters of pregnancy... but I heard someone say recently that is false. It should be broken up as follows : first 36 weeks and the last month. Totally true! I am finally in the uncomfortable part of pregnancy and in the "get this baby outta here" stage. My back hurts, my feet hurt, I can't breath,  I'm tired, I'm hungry but don't want to eat because there is no room in there and then I get heart burn, etc... All those things that make most people miserable most of their 9 months have just now hit me. Thankful that I only have "11 days" left. (Still going with 11 days)

Highlights from last Friday

*Lost 2.5 pounds in 1 week*

Remember that "there is no room for food" feeling I have- apparently it has decreased my appetite, Doc said no worries I am in still well with in the normal range and Margaret is going to get what she needs no matter what so he was not at all concerned.

*Margaret's heart rate was "unusually low for her"*

Her heart rate has been running in the mid to upper 150's but last Friday it was 128bpm. Doc shook her around a bit and got it up to 132bpm and said he wasn't concerned that she was probably just sleeping. He said anything about 110 is considered normal and as long as it is above that Margaret is fine. 

*Still progressing quite nicely*

After he check, the first thing out of his mouth was "Do you want to induce?" I told him I was did not  and he said, "Good, I'm not sure you are going to make it the full 40 weeks so picking an induction date before you go into labor could be tricky." I guess my face must have lit up because he quickly followed with, "Now don't be mad at me if you go the full 40 weeks- it is entirely possible, but I would not be at all surprised if you go early." There is hope! See I told you 11 days....

So much to do and so little time (ahem... 11 days) left to do it!

Her nursery is not done. It still needs carpet, lights and a doorknob. Don't get me started on the workers.... UGH this momma wants to make a nest! Chase will not give me their number, and probably for good reason.

I have packed (for the most part) the hospital bag and it is in the van ready to go. Still not sure what we are going to do about Mary Claire if I go into labor- guess it will be a game time decision depending on what time of day and what day of the week I go into labor. Best case- I will go into labor in the morning on a week day and we can take her to school and that will give our out of town family time to get here and get her. Worst case- any other time than when she can go to school and she might just be going with us :) If you would like to be on the list to receive a panicked call from Chase trying to find someone to watch our kid when I go into labor let me know- we are currently taking applications.

Tummy Tuesday

36 WEEKS

Margaret is now around 6 pounds a packing on an ounce a day (or so "they" say), approximatly the size of a head of lettuce. Since I am measuring almost the exact same as I did with Mary Claire and she was only 6 pounds 2 ounces full term I highly doubt Margaret is already 6 pounds at only 36 weeks.

Speaking of Mary Claire- she "needed" to be in a picture too

On Thursday Margaret will move from being considered "Pre-term" to "Early Term"- then at 39 weeks she will be considered "Full Term." AHH!!! Almost there!

Highlights from the first weekly doctors appointment last friday.

- She is head down "Lock and Ready to go" as the doctor referred to it.

- I am already "progressing nicely" and could possibly have her a little early just like sister.

- Because I had an uncomplicated labor and delivery with Mary Claire I can expect that again.

- Just because my water broke with Mary Claire does not indicate it will this time. In fact odds are it won't this time.

Slowly but surely getting ready for Margaret too come! 

Her room is coming right along- should be complete just in time for her arrival.

Since her room is not finished yet and our spare room is currently FULL all the stuff from the attic and things we have bought for Margaret's Room the back of the minivan is the holding space for the gifts from our showers...

If you see it we are VERY appreciative!!! Just have no where to put it at the moment. One day I will have a room to put her furniture in, a closet put her extra diapers/wipes in, and a dresser to put her clothes. one day.... one day....

And starting to pack a hospital bag. So far I have hair bows, a door hanger, and a big sister gift Margaret is bringing Mary Claire... Priorities

Tummy Tuesday

35 Weeks

Wahoo.... Final Stretch! 4 weeks and 2 days until Margaret is due!

I'm hot... very hot- God must really love me because this July has been very mild. Praying for a mild August too!  Other than having this basketball growth that prevents me from putting on shoes like a normal person and squishes my lungs I feel great! No heartburn, no leg cramps, only getting up once to pee at night- I really can't complain. I honestly don't feel like the side of a barn- Don't get me wrong I don't feel petite but I am comfortable most of the time. At my last appointment I asked Doc about my belly size- if I was measuring small and he said I was measuring "textbook perfect." So far another "textbook pregnancy" let's just all say a little prayer that my labor and deliver are the same- but can I be so lucky again?

 A little bump comparison.... about the same

Margaret is running out of room in there. It's beginning to be a tight fit. "They" say I should feel less kicks and jabs and more rolls and soft movement because of this but that is really all I have felt all along so not much as changed. My bely is usually lop sided though. She likes my right side- just like her big sister. 

I have been very thirsty lately- wonder if that means I am putting on water weight? I'll ask Doc this Friday since I am starting my weekly appointments.... Ahhh. Crunch time!

Speaking of crunch time- we now have trim and paint in the nursery! FINALLY it is looking like a room! Only things left are carpet- light fixtures, door knobs, closet rod, furniture, decor, and BABY!

Tummy Tuesday

34 Weeks

Margaret is now pushing 5 pounds and 18 inches long. Although if she is anything like her sister she is smaller than "average." Right now she is packing on the fat to help her regulate her body temperature once she joins us in the outside world. Her lungs are also maturing, but babies born 34-37 weeks (still considered premie) have no long term health problems. She may have to stay in the NICU for a week or so but long term they are just as healthy as full-term babies. But don't get any big ideas Margaret... Mommy and Daddy are NOT ready yet!

Something new did happen this week... new for this pregnancy and new to me all together. Late on Sunday night my belly shook like a bowl full of jelly... Literally. It was like she got chilled, or I swallowed a phone on vibrate? I immediacy googled "Can babies have seizures in utero"- Dr Google says no. He says it is possible but HIGHLY unlikely. What is more than likely was was uterine spasms. Comparable to when you work out so hard that your muscles give out and quiver... my uterus (which is also just a muscle) is being "exercised" to the max and spasmed. Dr confirmed this first thing on Monday morning when I called. As long as she is still moving around and I'm not having contractions she is good.

Tummy Tuesday

33 Weeks

6 weeks and 2 days to go.... but, who's counting?!?!

I don't feel as big with Margaret as I did with Mary Claire (but apparently I am- see below). I have people tell me all the time that I look so small to be due in 6 weeks (keep those comments coming please). And honestly I feel *little* too. *Little* being a relative term- no one who is pregnant feels little. I just don't feel like the side of a barn like I did with Mary Claire, but I guess I still have 6 weeks to get there. 

Margaret is now pushing 4 pounds and 17 inches long- about the size of a pineapple. And she is an active little booger! Like I have said before- she doesn't like a punch like Mary Claire- she ROLLS- most of the time it is easier to see her movements than feel them. Typically my tummy looks lop-sided too. As I sit here typing this I am watching my belly (covering the keyboard) roll like the ocean. I love this! Definitely one of the things I will miss most in 6 weeks.

Can't wait to meet this little girl! It is so hard for me to believe that she will be her own little person just like Mary Claire but different. Will she have blonde curly hair, and be a girlie girl like her big sister? Or will she have dark hair (like her aunts) and be a tom-boy? Will she be a good eater and sleeper (Please yes!)? Will she be an extravert, class clown, and high maintenance or will she be mellow and go with the flow? (please be the later.... Not sure I can deal with two "drama queens") Will she spit up all the time like sister or will I get to not smell like sour milk for the first 6 months of her life? I just can't wait to know! But in saying all that---- I seriously CAN wait because I haven't done the first thing to prepare for her arrival. No nursery, no bedding, no diaper bag, no double stroller, no monitor, no bottles, no pump, no hospital bag, no clean (hand-me down.... welcome to being the little sister) clothes neatly hung in a closet, nothing.... in all first world aspects I am NOT ready. Sister does have some cute shoes and hair bows though... oh and a handful of diapers. So I am "second child" ready right? Bless her... Already getting the shaft. When I was buying things preparing for Mary Claire "Cute" was the determining factor on getting something....now it is functionality. Oh how times have changed. 

Oh and check out this SUPER CUTE painting Margaret's Uncle William painted for her! 

Can't wait to hang it in the nursery.... but we aren't going to talk about the 1/2 finished nursery.

Tummy Tuesday

32 Weeks

Whew... Really getting big now. 

Margaret now weighs 3.5 pounds and is over 16 inches long. I will be gaining about 1 pound a week until she is done cooking- 1/2 of which will go straight to Margaret (the other 1/2 will go straight to my hips and thighs). She will gain almost 1/2 her birth weight in the next 8 weeks as she fattens up to join us in the outside world. She now has finger nails, toe nails, and real hair (or just peach fuzz like her big sister did)

Momma P is rocking on... not very agile anymore and I can't breathe. At first I thought I was just out of shape (shocker) but apparently it is because Margaret is pushing my diaphragm up- which also accounts for the heart burn and smaller meals. Don't get me wrong, I still eat a lot, just can't at one sitting. I eat a little all.day.long.

I got my first obligatory "I can no longer reach my toes" pedicure. Oh, the up side of pregnancy!

And just in case anyone is wondering, no we have not made any progress on her nursery. Still doesn't have carpet, trim, molding, doors, or fixtures. I'll buy pizza and beer to anyone who wants to come finish, because apparently our contractors wife had major complications with her delivery and he has been tending to her for the last 4 weeks.... Seriously Dude.... I felt sorry for you at first, but this is a little ridiculous.

Tummy Tuesday

31 Weeks

Sorry... no make-up but feel lucky I showered and have clean hair. Just one of those days.

Margaret is just over 16 inches long and weighs around 3.5 pounds. Its hard to believe (or remember) but I am about to get much bigger because Margaret is hitting a growth spurt and packing on the pounds. She is very active (LOVE it). She can turn her head side to side now and fat is beginning to accumulate under her skin to fill out the wrinkles.

And as for Momma- I'm still feeling great! Sleeping good, minimal heart burn, no leg cramps, only getting up to pee once at night. I do loose my balance frequently, and my hands are starting to swell (bye-bye wedding rings) but over-all everything is great in Momma's world. 

I have another doctors appointment this week, then "we" start biweekly visits.... It's crunch time.