{ 35 weeks }

35 weeks! Being 35 weeks is a fun thing... because not only am I 35 weeks, but I have 35 days until my "due date." Obviously being "due" doesn't mean baby will come then. Baby might not even come for up to two weeks after that! So it could be a little while yet. But the 35/35 milestone is kind of a fun one. Maybe it's because I didn't really "feel" all that pregnant until more recently, but I really feel like this is flying by. It's probably also because Ryan keeps me majorly on my toes, though, too... so I don't really have a lot of time to sit around and just think... and wait...

Best moment this week: Watching my belly twist and turn with the crazy movements of this little one! That's a "best moment" pretty much every day, though.

Prayer requests: Just the same thing as always... ;] The severe nausea and SPD pain. The pain has been excruciating and makes sleeping quite difficult. I hate taking medication and have yet to do so for this (even though I feel like the pain has been way more than enough to "justify" it)... I usually just try to "tough it out."

What scripture is speaking to you this week?: John 16:21 ~ "When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the aunguish, for the joy that her child has been born into the world."

Baby's growth?: He/she seems to be measuring right on target. I'm curious to know how big this babe will be...

Symptoms?: Um, everything! Nausea, SPD, sleeplessness, peeing a bajillion times a day/night, braxtion hicks... the works! But it's SO WORTH IT! ...even though it sucks. A lot.

Medical stuff?: Nothing to report. I didn't have an appointment this week, though.

Weight gain (or loss)?: Still below my pre-pregnancy weight. Don't worry, I'll gain it all back when I start nursing. *rolls eyes*

Cravings?: Today I craved a salad for lunch, so I ate one. I regretted that. Soo... my cravings don't really usually seem to be good ideas... like, ever.

What made you cry this week?: We had a huge snowstorm (~14"), and Jake was gone from Saturday night until Monday night doing snow removal. I'm getting pretty "husband-needy" as I seemed to at the end-ish of my pregnancy with Ryan... so it was hard not having him around. Especially because Ryan is here now! Anyway. I like my husband a lot. And I like it when he is home. :]

Maternity clothes?: ...what are those? I actually do have a few maternity shirts, but I still wear all my regular stuff.

Movement?: OFTEN, but mostly in the evenings or early morning. Baby is DEFINITELY head down and likes to twist and turn his/her head into my pelvis. It's such a weird feeling...

What I miss?: Feeling NORMAL. I miss feeling healthy, hungry, and like I could run around all day with my little guy outside.

What I'm looking forward to?: ...see above ;] I'm so ready for this wee one to be here! When baby is ready, of course. And I'm excited to nurse again. I'm determined to have a better beginning than Ryan and I did, and I feel really confident.

And finally... this is pretty much me right now:

Thankfully, since the beginning of my pregnancy, I have had the "Mission: Organization" going and had a goal to organize my entire house before the baby was born. You can look at a few of my past posts to see how that has gone. We just have to finish the attic and the office, and then we're DONE. So, there really isn't much to do... but I still feel like I have to clean things over (and over) again. Nesting much? ;]

Linking up with My Joy Filled Pregnancy... 

{ 30 weeks }

I'm not really sure how we went from an acorn squash baby to a cucumber baby... but whatever! ;]

My midwife appointment went well. Not really too many "new" details to share; we're still keeping an eye on my ketones and weight gain (or, well, lack of)... I've been starting to get really stressed out and frustrated with the situation, which isn't necessarily good, either. I explained to Jenny that I just get really frustrated that my urine keeps showing ketones when I feel like I've been really trying hard and doing the best I can with eating more... but yet it's just not enough. She understood and just encouraged me to keep trying.

I really, really need prayer regarding the pelvis/hip pain. It has gone from the point of painful but tolerable to barely tolerable... and I typically have a pretty high pain tolerance. This pain is no joke and it makes me feel pretty worthless... I have a few good hours every few days where I'm able to get some "house things" done, but other than that, most things are too hard on my body to accomplish and that's really hard for me. I actually ENJOY cleaning and organizing so not being able to keep a tidy house and prepare meals for Jake... it's just frustrating to me. Walking, sitting, getting dressed, rolling over in bed (or finding a comfy position in the first place) are all nightmares to do. So I would really, really appreciate prayer. I can't do this for the next 10 weeks... but I know that God will give me the grace to get through it.

We got the dresser from Ikea set up and stained, and I put all of baby's clothes in it; washed, folded and organized. Maybe it's too early for me to be doing that... but I don't care. Honestly, with all this pain... I want to get as much done now as I can! But I think that's all we really have to do. Other than the few house projects that I want to get done before baby comes. We're still "planning" on doing those. Hmph. We'll see. ;]

Random annoyance... I think my house smells like poop and I cannot figure it out... it's driving me crazy. I took out the garbage (it could have been a stinky diaper, maybe) and searched for the odor... but it's no where. Maybe it's in my head? I lit a candle and the smell has either gone away, or I'm just used to it because I've been in here all day... ha.

CRAVINGS... this is probably a bad idea to post pictures of what I'm craving right now... *starts to salivate*

apples

tortilla chips

raspberry milk shakes

...aaaand that's pretty much it. 

I took a "field trip" with my mom to the thrift store today. I just HAD to get out of the house today. I think I spent the most today that I ever have at a thrift store, but it was really fun to find some treasures. I found a toy organizer for Ryan (one like this), a fun tunnel for him to crawl in, and a little wooden stool to sit on. He found it in the store and we carried it all over, and he sat on it while I looked at things... it was perfect, haha! I got a few Christmas decorations and a fall wreath for the door. Oh, and a couple books for Ryan. All in all, it wasn't an expensive trip (and everything was half off, except for the toy bins), and it was fun to find some neat things. 

Not very much else is going on around here... Ryan is doing really well and has REALLY started to talk in the last week... I mean, he talked quite a bit before, but he repeats a TON of stuff now and it's so much fun! He has quite a few two-word sentences  too, which has been cool. "Socks on/off," "thank you," "excuse me," "get down," "all done," "help please..." I'm probably forgetting some. I'm not even sure what his single word vocab is up to now. He hasn't learned any new signs (rather, I haven't taught him any) because I've felt like the ones he knows have been beneficial enough and haven't really felt the need to teach him more. He is so much fun to be around, though... writing about him gives me all sorts of warm fuzzies because he is just such a joy. What a little blessing!! 

Can you believe he is 21 months now?! 

[phone pic; eating carrots and dip!]

[phone pic; riding his truck around]

[phone pic; testing out baby's new carseat with Lamby {"Me me"}]

And I'll leave you with one more picture... of da belly. 

{30 weeks}

Please remember to pray for me! I really need it.

{ 28 / 29 weeks }

And here is it, the third trimester! We're on the homestretch, baby!

I had an appointment with my midwife last Monday. {Mostly} everything looks great! I'm still having issues with ketones being in my urine and we aren't really sure why. I'm sure it's from not taking in as many calories as I "should" be... but it's very hard when you don't have a big appetite.

I've also been having SPD issues... SPD is basically where you have too much of the relaxin hormone in your body and it makes your joints feel super loose. It hurts, a LOT. There are some days when I just want to tie my legs together at the knees so I don't have to move my hips. It basically like someone took a sledgehammer to my pelvis...not fun. I typically have a pretty high pain tolerance but this is definitely the worst I've felt (yes, worse than Ryan's labor/birth!). Going up/down stairs, walking, sitting, putting on pants, stepping over something, carrying things, picking up Ryan... simple, every day "life" things have become pretty painful. If it isn't one thing, it's another, huh? I must just be meant to have pregnancies that are... interesting.

The nausea has lessened to an extent but it's still around, here and there. I've been nauseous most of the day today, and night time has been pretty awful. Baby, you are so worth this! But that doesn't make it "fun" or easy.

I was up a 1/2lb at my last appointment, so still 3lbs under my pre-pregnancy weight. Blood pressure was good, like 108/70 or something like that. She also did the gestational diabetes test, which I kicked in the pants ;] Instead of having to drink that nasty glucose beverage (oofta, that made me so nauseous last time), I got to eat 18 jelly beans. They've been tested to have the same amount of sugar and it's a more "pleasant" thing to eat. It still wasn't the most enjoyable (I'm not a huge fan of sweets/jelly beans), but it was way more tolerable than the awful orange drink! Then we waited an hour and my midwife checked my blood (finger poke). The blood sugar needed to be below 140 (but she prefers 130), and it was 102. We were kind of wondering if maybe the GD test number was high if it would give us an idea of what's going on with the ketones in my urine, but that obviously has nothing to do with it.

I went to go into the lab and get my blood drawn yesterday. My midwife tried to draw my blood again at this last appointment and my veins are just too difficult! Their urine tests are more sensitive so maybe it will give us some insight on the ketones. Otherwise if I continue to have issues with it, she may want me to see a regular OB to make sure she isn't missing something. I'm hoping to avoid that... but if it happens, it happens.

The birth is starting to feel so much more real... I was given a list of things to purchase! It's so surreal. I think it will feel that way until I'm in labor. Or until the baby is here :] But it's starting to become very, very real and I am SO excited!!

I was hoping to post a picture this time, but every time I am "photo decent" (which, let's be honest, is not every day at this point), I forget to ask Jake to take a picture. Oh well... next time! Next appointment is November 5th. :]

Waiting

A certain little someone loves his papa, and anxiously awaits for him in front of the window in the living room. I love that he loves his daddy. :]

Fall Fun Outside

Ryan... what an adventerous little boy!! He loves being outside and has really enjoyed the cooler weather so we can be outside more often.