When Ben and I started planning a family, a friend of mine recommended a website called the Two Week Wait (named for the nerve wracking time frame between Ovulation and the pregnancy test when you are waiting to see if anything stuck and you successfully conceived that month), she said it was an amazing resource of information where you could learn how to properly track what was happening with your body, and talk to other women to ask questions and share experiences. I joined the site last November, and shortly before getting my positive test stumbled upon a wonderful group of woman all over the world who I am happy to call some of my very dear friends. We met in an open chat thread, and week after week we compared stories, laughed together, cried together and got to know each other, until the group slowly whittled down to 14 amazing woman that have stayed in contact together for the better part of a year to support each other and share experiences and news. When we first met, non of us were pregnant. Now 10 are, 3 of which are due within 3 days of each other - myself - Nov 6th, Tessa - Nov 7th and Lynn - Nov 8th. As this week marks 38 weeks for all three of us, one of the girls discovered that we were back in the Two Week Wait. We've come full circle, and now we wait and see who goes first! Another fun fact - all three of us are expecting girls! In fact out of the 10 ladies who are pregnant, there are 5 girls, 2 boys and 3 unknown at this point!
Man. Two weeks isn't a lot of time! Especially considering that just because that's the count down to my Due Date, doesn't mean Lump will follow the schedule! She may arrive in 3 weeks, she may arrive tomorrow! Only she knows, and unfortunately she's not about to tell me ahead of time! I think we are ready for her though. Last night I got Ben to install the car seat in the car, I have Lump's bag packed, and mine starting to be (I can't exactly pack away all my clothes when I'm living off of such a limited wardrobe right now -so I need to keep things out) I have a list of things to put in the bag sitting beside the bag so that when I do get that feeling I won't be running around trying frantically to remember what I'm going to need between contractions!
The Nursery is ready for her (aside from finishing the Mobile, but that will hardly take any time at all - just a little wood, a clamp to fasten it to the crib, and some fishing line, and we're all set!) I've gone through boxes and boxes of clothing that was both purchased and generously loaned out to me, and it's all washed and folded/hung in place just waiting for our little one's arrival! I even organized it by size in the closet starting with newborn sleepers on the far left and as you travel to the right the sleepers gradually get longer and bigger! I have all my 0-3 month clothing on the top rack, and the 3-6 month clothing on the bottom with all the onsies in the drawers organized by size too! (I'm a virgo... it's what I do!)
My mom came up on a day trip this last week for a visit and brought my grandparents, who presented me with a beautiful sweater and hat that my grandmother lovingly knitted especially for my little girl. It's so beautiful, and it means so very much to me to have something that was made with her in mind. At the shower my mom gave me several sweaters and outfits that my grandmother had made when my mom was expecting me, and now I have something to present to Lump at her baby shower for her little girl many many years down the road.
I'm actually blown away at how many of our friends have hand made us things for our little girl! We have a quilt, three crocheted blankets, a swaddling wrap, and now this beautiful little sweater! Who says the information age has destroyed hand made gifts and notions? Lump is a very loved little girl already. I can't wait to introduce her to all these incredible people!
My freezer is also fully packed and ready for baby as Mom T came over this last weekend and we made 20-30 meals in anticipation, and I still have a couple more I'm going to whip up this week to cover all our bases.
At this point I believe a couple bottles are all we are missing as far as "stuff" goes and I expect to pick those up this week. We even connected and charged up the baby monitor! Speaking of the Monitor, it's awesome! We turned it on the other day, and Mom, Dad and I stood in the Nursery and chatted while Ben took the Parent unit and went for a walk, he said he walked half way down the block (at least 8 or 9 houses away) and it was still clear as day! (not that we intend to do that, but it's nice to know we can be outside cutting the grass or changing the oil on the car while Lump naps and still be connected to her!) For any Mommy or Daddie's-to-be this is the one we have:
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| Safety First - Digital Baby Monitor |
As far as how I'm feeling these days, I feel pretty good! I still have a little pain in my pelvis as Lump descends further into place, but I only really notice it when I'm transitioning from a seated to standing position, or when I do a lot of walking. Because I'm in the final weeks I've been seeing my OB on a weekly basis, and on our last appointment she told me that the head has dropped further which explains the increased waddle - and Lois even commented that I'm carrying lower already between last week and this week - she's fairly certain I won't be seeing November, but only time will tell! Ben and I are preparing for a Halloween baby, as it would be fitting for us considering how much we both love Halloween! (that's right, that's my only basis for expecting her then... if it were me, I would want to be a Halloween baby too!) But truth be told, as long as she doesn't arrive on Rememberance Day I would be thrilled with whatever Birthday she chooses :)
Since we are getting closer and closer to D Day, I have been giving Ben a little homework to catch up on as my coach to ensure that he is also fully aware of the steps and phases of labour, and can help me through them when the time comes. In true Ben style though, he has been taking his new found knowledge and playing doctor with me, messaging me during the day to ask me if I "have started leaking yet" (water breaking) and asking if he needs to come home with the paper towel to clean up the floor and such. Such a comedian that man :P
Yesterday he proudly informed me that he's caught up on his daily emails from the labour and delivery resource website we are both subscribed to - when I asked him if he learned anything he responded "lots of gross stuff". I had a pretty good laugh at that. No one ever said Labour was a pretty experience! I'm fine if he can't name what I'm going through, or know the different stages of my recovery, as long as he's aware that giving birth is one of the most traumatic experiences a woman's body can go through, and for the following weeks afterward, he needs to understand that I am going to be doing my best to maintain normalcy, but if I have a hormonal sob one day, followed by being too exhausted to haul myself to my feet the next, he just needs to roll with the punches and fill in where I can't until I get through this. I'm not worried though - Ben is a good man, and even though we love to tease each other, and he jokingly plays the part of "clueless father"- I know that he would do whatever was required of him to make sure his girls were taken care of, and he's going to be an amazing dad.
... and now I'm crying. ...what up Hormones?!? Honestly the other night I was watching Lump's ultrasound video again, and I started blubbering! I know I was sensitive in the past, but this is ridiculous! ... Don't mind me, just carry on with what you were doing... over emotional pregnant woman over here...
Anyway, here is potentially one of the last 2 (or 3?) recaps!
How far along? 38 Weeks
Total weight gain: 28 Pounds
- Same
Inches gained in the waist: 12” (47.5” waist now!) ½” bigger, I think Lump dropping further put more of her back and tush around my belly button, making that area wider.
Inches gained in the waist: 12” (47.5” waist now!) ½” bigger, I think Lump dropping further put more of her back and tush around my belly button, making that area wider.
Maternity clothes? … um…
not really anymore? My outfits
these days are mostly Value Village Men’s XL shirts, and Men’s sweat
pants. I only have one or two
items from my original Maternity clothing that still covers me up, but I’ve out
grown most everything else! The
other day I wore a dress over pants because I didn’t have a shirt long enough,
and the dress itself was too short!
Stretch marks? Same as
last week – they are there, and I’m hoping they go quickly once Lump makes her
arrival!
Sleep: Lots of tossing and turning – I
honestly think the cooler nights and having the furnace on is the cause of it –
I sleep quite well when I’m chilly – I always have my arms and feet outside of
the blanket and I like my shoulders on the cooler side – with the bulk of the
blanket covering my torso and most of my legs, when that furnace kicks in in
the middle of the night however –I suddenly awake sweating and kick everything
off, only to awake an hour later having finally cooled down to pull it all back
again… I miss September…
Best moment this week: It was a good week! I can’t say for certain what was the
best! I’m just enjoying every day
right now!
Miss Anything? It’s
difficult to get up and off the couch these days, so the tiny bladder is a pain
in the ass when I can’t make it through an hour show without struggling to get
up twice! Plus I’ve been getting
up in the middle of the night to pee too which isn’t helping me feel well
rested. Oh well. Soon I’ll get my bladder back!
Movement: Still rolling around! It’s awesome that I can feel some recognizable bumps these days!
Movement: Still rolling around! It’s awesome that I can feel some recognizable bumps these days!
Food cravings: Nothing.
Anything making you queasy
or sick: Nope
Gender: GIRL!
Labor Signs: I had 2 BH
contractions last week, and that’s been it. I didn’t even cramp up when Ben and I went for a walk, which
is usually what triggers them!
Symptoms: more
of the same
Belly Button in or
out? Still in! I’m going to
call it – it’s not popping!
Wedding rings on or off? Off, but still easily wearing my school ring, but I think I’m going to retire it, as I don’t know when labour is going to start, and I doubt “take off your ring” is going to be the first thing on my mind, and I don’t want to get to the hospital and have them have to cut this one too because everything swelled up and I can’t get it off!
Wedding rings on or off? Off, but still easily wearing my school ring, but I think I’m going to retire it, as I don’t know when labour is going to start, and I doubt “take off your ring” is going to be the first thing on my mind, and I don’t want to get to the hospital and have them have to cut this one too because everything swelled up and I can’t get it off!
Happy or Moody most of the
time: Very Happy!
Looking forward
to: My little one’s
arrival!
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