Week 32

I've been spoiled the past two weeks with nice photos taken by my lovely
sister, Lindsay Anderson!

How far along: 32 weeks  (not too long after my last post, but I'm trying to get back on track)

Days to due date: 56 days!

Total weight gain: Up 28 pounds. 

---My belly has always been bigger than normal (when they measure my uterus from the pubic bone up to how high the fundus, or tip of my uterus is) - it actually works out to normally be the number if inches = the number of weeks you are. This week is it 34 inches, when I'm only 32 weeks along. Reason for this jumbled explanation? I'm chalking the extra pounds to my fatter-than-normal belly :) Don't judge, it makes me feel better. 

Maternity clothes: Yes. Sweatpants are a savior. 

Sleep: Umm, pretty good for the most part. I stayed at my sister's for a few days and had her cat sleeping by our heads purring all night... that was slightly annoying (and a little cute at the same time). And the past few days I've seemed to catch some sort of cold that keeps my nose and chest congested as well as a nice sore throat, so I've been sleeping sitting up and trying not to cough. 

Best moment this week: Well, I have a few. It's been a really nice week. I got to stay with my sister in Fargo and see our cousins (Tanya let me give William, now 2 months old, a bath and that was pretty darn cute and fun and made me homesick for my own unborn baby... a strange, sweet feeling), as well as our aunt, uncle and other cousins, our other uncle, and my grandparents - everyone liked checking out my large belly. Then I came to the farm and spent the night at my mama's, showing her all the baby things we got at the baby shower and talking about the North Dakota baby shower next week. It's been a while since I've seen my husband, though.... 

What I miss: Sleeping normal! And unswollen hands, ankles and feet. AND life without this disgusting cold. 

Movement: Yepp. Sometimes it feels kind of strange (and his hiccups honestly sort of weird me out with their consecutive little movements, I know I should just love them, but that's one thing I don't) but I know I'll miss this personal little show that he give to only me. 

----I was up in the middle of the night the other day because of this cold and the only good part about it was laying on the couch with my computer light shining on my belly watching it move and swoosh all around :) That alone makes this sickness worth it. 

Food cravings: Nothing. Well, maybe chocolate milk. Baby K has just been soaking up all my food, it seems. So I eat only little bits at a time, but often. 

Making me queasy: Nothing.

Starting to show: My mom says she can't believe how "huge" I am. Thanks mom, ha! She said she doesn't remember being this big ever during her pregnancies. 

Gender: A sweet baby boy. 

Happy or moody: I've actually been a little snippy this week. I seem to have lost patience for anything. 

Things I've been experiencing this week: I think I've mentioned it all already. 

What I'm looking forward to: Seeing my husband. 

Size of baby: A squash:

Week 31

 

How far along: 31 weeks 4 days (very late in posting this)

Days to due date: 59 days :)

Total weight gain: Who knows. And who cares at this point. 

Maternity clothes: Need them. Tanks are getting too short :(

Sleep: Good this week. THANK YOU, JESUS!

Best moment this week: Getting to be with my sister for a few days. We took the train (our favorite form of transportation) to Wisconsin for Baby Shower #1, thrown by my mother-in-law. We came home with a  suitcase full of soft, snuggly outfits and other baby things :)

What I miss: Wearing my old clothes. I miss my normal jeans. 

Movement: Of course. Lots of swooshes, making mama have a lumpy stomach most the time :) It's fun to feel him up by my ribs and down in my pelvis at the same time. What a big boy. 

Food cravings: Nothing really. Just food - I feel like I eat and then just feel empty and hollow again a few hours later. It was hard to "eat good" in Wisconsin with the cake and other goodies. 

Making me queasy: Nothing.

Starting to show: Quite. Some say I look larger than a full term woman, while others say I'm "hiding it well." Again, who cares at this point. 

Gender: Sweet baby boy. 

Happy or moody: Pretty happy. 

Things I've been experiencing this week: It's been a pretty quiet week, and I'm not complaining. 

What I'm looking forward to: This next month being nice and busy: going shopping for wedding dresses with my bff, staying in Williston with my husband (missing him right now), breast feeding class that I wrangled my bestie into going with me to :), labor classes with the hubby and touring the birth place in the hospital and Baby Shower #2 in Gackle. 

Size of baby: A pineapple:

Kingston version of Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day, as we all know,  is approaching quickly. 

When I give gifts, I like to try to find something funny and quirky. Especially for V-day, which is a holiday that doesn't warent a too thought-out present. So, for my spouse, better half, love of my life, hubby, sometimes pain in my butt (whaaat? did I say that?!) - whatever you want to call him, I found this lovely 4 pound can o' cherries :) Because sometimes (all the time) he lets his girly side out and wants cherries in his drinks. (He also got some Sugar Daddy boxers, (because he IS my sugar daddy :) and some candy.)

Scott, on the other hand, is a practical man. Romantic is not necessarily a quality I'd put high up on his list of characteristics. For our first Valentine's Day together I did get a dozen roses... so did my sister and mom. I think he was trying to get in good with the ladies of the house. But,  nonetheless they were greatly welcomed and appreciated.

BUT, before you go thinking I was maybe wrong with my admittance of his non-romantic-ness, my gift from him for our first Christmas together was a pair of hunting boots. Nice and insulated to solve the problem of my constant cold toes when we go out hunting. Practical. Logical. Scott. 

SO, this year for Valentine's Day, my lovely husband spent his time, expertise and money on finding me a nice... deer rifle!!! (Not so sure if it was because of the holiday, or that he remembered that V-day was even in February, but I like to just assume it was a nice way to say for him to say, "I loveeee you, huney" on this love holiday.) 

So when we were in Minot after our Scott-proclaimed "honeymoon" in Velva, N.D. (a complete other story), we got to go to the gun store and pick up my very own Browning a-bolt 22-250. The scope will come in later. I must say, I am very pleased! Now for next year's deer hunting season, my sister and I will each have our own guns (no sharing or barrowing for us!). And we won't mix up our shells... a problem Scott THINKS we sisters might find ourselves in. 

No chocolate, flowers or teddy bears for this girl. Just a means for this mama to bring home her OWN bacon :)

Happy Valentine's Day, huney butt - I love you and the gifts you come up with.

xoxo, 

-e

Week 30

I promise, I do wear more shirts than just this tank all the time :P

How far along: 29 weeks 6 days

Days to due date: 72 days :)

Total weight gain: 25 pounds as of this week's doctor appointment (Since weight gain in a woman who is of "normal" size is 25-35 lbs, my number has prompted me to really, really be conscious of what I eat these last few weeks.)

Maternity clothes: Motherhood had a buy one get one half off on jeans, so I got 2 new pairs that actually fit over my belly and are comfy. Those and my sweatpants have been wonderful to me this week. 

Sleep: Very, very frustrating. I've had to fall asleep on the couch because it's the only comfortable position...

Best moment this week: It was really fun to see a bunch of friends we hadn't seen in a while at the Superbowl party (and for them to see me big and pregnant :). 
And we stayed in Minot at a hotel one night and I got to go swimming for the first time while pregnant. Putting on that bikini was a lot more amusing than I thought and I loved sporting my huge belly :)
And having the husband home, of course.  

What I miss: Sleep. And core strength. 

Movement: Still a lot - kicks, punches, rolls, little appendages and heads poking out, hiccups. 

Food cravings: I've now decided that I'm in control of these little cravings. I need to watch what I eat and be more responsible in this area. 

Making me queasy: Nothing in particular but I've been having bouts of sickness throughout the days. 

Starting to show: Oh mama, yes. 

Gender: Sweet baby boy. 

Happy or moody: Been slightly frustrated and edgy. 

Things I've been experiencing this week: Well, I found out I failed the glucose test :( By three stinking points (you're supposed to be 130 and I was 133.) So I took the more conclusive, three hour glucose test (the inside of my elbow was swollen and painful, not sure what's up with that, this has never happened before) and passed with flying colors. Thank you, Jesus!

• Oh, and I'm slightly anemic. Nothing to worry about though, it sounds. Just another (iron) pill to pop. 
• My dreams have been strange. Very strange. 
• Although my sleeping is sporadic, when I do get to sleep I sleep hard. Sliver lining...
• My belly has now become a food, water and drips-from-the-spatula catcher. 

What I'm looking forward to: This week I've really just wanted to meet this little baby inside me who has already given me so much joy and caused me so much discomfort :P I've started putting together a hospital bag and signing up for labor and breastfeeding classes - I'm ready to be done being pregnant. 

Size of baby: A cucumber:

Week 29

How far along: 28 weeks 6 days

Days to due date: 78 days :)

Total weight gain: Guessing 23-24 pounds.

Maternity clothes: Yes ma'am. Although I've been trying to live in sweats as much as possible. Even my maternity jeans are just not that comfortable. 

Sleep: It's been a trying week for this category. It's been difficult with the waking up a million times to either pee or switch from side to side because of hip or shoulder discomfort. I'm definitely looking forward to having a "normal" body again so when I do get sleep, it's comfortable. 

Best moment this week: I was laying in bed with my shirt pulled up above my belly and I noticed a nice little round protrusion to the right of my belly button. Baby boy moved around down there for a little bit and then decided to move (whichever part of his body) slowly up to my ribs :) It's so neat to see something like that and imagine just what he was doing and how he was moving.  

What I miss: I've started to miss some of my clothes. My belly is making most of my shirts too short. And I miss my husband... he was on days off but had to go back to work for a while. I'm looking forward to him being home again. 

Movement: Lots. I can tell he's getting bigger and stronger because he kicks mama quite hard at times. At least he's taken a rest to jabbing my ribs this week. 

Food cravings: Sweets, I suppose. It's not intense but I find myself wanting desert when we go out or something sweet after a meal at home. 

Making me queazy: Nothing in particular. But I've been feeling sick in the afternoons again... hope that morning sickness stuff isn't creeping back.

Starting to show: Quite. 

Gender: Sweet baby boy. 

Happy or moody: Happy :)

Things I've been experiencing this week: Just general discomfort. Sitting is good for breathing, but not for this tailbone pain. Laying on the couch is good for my tailbone but difficult for finding a good position for breathing right. Sleeping is equally as trying. Standing and walking feel good, but only last so long until I'm out of breath or need to take a rest. But... it's all worth it.

• AND, my belly button has started to do a new weird thing. It's still an innie (barely hanging on), but now there is a little ridge along the edge, so it has become a little peek on my already bulging belly :)

• AND, I've been having some wicked heartburn this week... right now I have it bad and Baby K has the hiccups. Such a hard life we have :)

What I'm looking forward to: My best friend's (and her fiance's) SuperBowl party on Sunday. I don't care a thing about the game, although I'll be rooting for which ever team is from New York, but I'm really excited to help Lisa get food ready. And to watch the commercials and half time show. And to have my hubby there with me :)

Size of baby: An acorn squash: