28 week quiz (and belly pic!)

How far along? 28 weeks!

How big is baby? Hard to say.  The estimates start varying now from site to site.  But my doctor estimated 3 pounds.

Weight gain? 18.6 at Friday's appointment.  Very happy with that!  But we'll see how I fare with the holidays...

Stretch Marks? Not yet!!!

Maternity clothes? While looking for clothes for our photo session, I discovered a few items from Auburn I had previously missed.  New favorites include a short sleeved red sweater, and a black and gray casual shirt.

Sleep? I'm hanging in there.  I don't wake up to go to the bathroom, so I'll count that as a success story.  I was officially woken up by Karson for the first time I believe.  Sunday morning I was dreaming about drums (no, really) and woke up to feel strong kicks on each side of my belly.  Who knows what he was doing in there!

Cravings? Not pregnancy related, but thanks to Dad's pumpkin cheesecake I have a new favorite dessert.

Nursery update? No updates since the 25 week quiz really.  We hung curtains. Otherwise I'm waiting until our two upcoming showers are over to start laundering, organizing and putting away. 

Movement? This little guy is crazy!  I think he's a drummer.  And he still likes to get in to a weird position and stick what I think is his rear end out really far.  It's always on my right side.  I'll get a photo one of these times.

High point? Two!  1) We took some maternity photos this past weekend, that I'm anxious to share with you once they are available.  2) Decorating for Christmas!

Low point? Soreness.  I may have overdone it a bit between the Christmas decorating, the driving, and the photo session.  I finally had some pain and soreness Saturday evening.  But a long night's rest seemed to help a lot.  I also think it was related to a growth spurt I can tell happened the last couple of weeks.

What am I looking forward to? Gaining 10 pounds this holiday season and doing so guilt free! ;-)

Here's a 28 week belly photo...with our main tree as a backdrop!  (Quite a growth spurt this time I think!)

Thankful! ...Fantastic even!

I don't have time for a long post.  Places to go and people to see!  ;-)  But I wanted to say that today's 28 week appointment went well!  I drank the orange gunk like a champ, had blood drawn for glucose testing, and had a great visit with the Doc.

He believes Karson has already moved in to a head down position, which is good!  He was pleased with all measurements and stats, and even used the word "fantastic"!

I then scheduled my 30 week appointment.  Can you believe we're already to the point where appointments are two weeks apart???

I'll post the 28 week updated quiz and belly shot soon.  I just wanted to share the quick update. 

Have a great weekend!

Dear Karson - Welcome to the 3rd Trimester!

Dear Karson,

It's me, your mama.  I wanted to congratulate you on reaching a big milestone!  As of today (or last Tuesday depending on who you ask, but whatever), we have officially reached the third trimester.  Great teamwork!   

For me, it's been a pleasure!  Carrying you has not been a burden, or an inconvenience.  It has been a joy!  Knowing how well you've been doing so far has been such a relief to your daddy and me.  We both love the moments when we feel your sweet kicks and rolls.  And I will never get tired of hearing your heartbeat at the doctor's office.

We have been busy getting ready for you.  You should see your daddy putting together the planes that we plan to hang from your ceiling.  He is so careful and slow, wanting every piece to fit together perfectly.  That's nearly impossible since we only paid $2 per plane - but that doesn't stop him from trying!  We've also made progress on your nursery, and I can't wait for you to see it!  I hope you'll find it a cozy and fun place to call home.

We spent the last weekend with my family, and as we played with your cousins, I couldn't help but think of how exciting it will be when you're with us too!  You have a lot of family across the miles (on both sides) who are looking forward to meeting you!

This week we are decorating for Christmas.  It will be our last one without kids!  That's hard to believe.  Even though you won't be here physically yet, you're with us in spirit.  We've ordered a special Christmas ornament to always remind us that in 2010, you were on the way!

More to come soon. 

Love - Mama

Third Trimester

We're here!  And I can tell!  Friday I was a busy, but happy camper here at work.  Today, I have to sit perfectly upright or I feel like this large bowling ball in my belly might completely squish out any air I have a chance at breathing.

I've never been a gal whose boobs rested on her belly.  I've never had the boobs nor the belly for that to be possible.  What a bizarre feeling.

No, I don't think I changed that much over the weekend.  But growth is definitely happening!  And Karson appears to have added a room on to his temporary home, somewhere in the lung region!  I'll let him expand his home for now, but he better not get too cozy as I plan to evict him in approximately 3 months!!!

A Case of the Mondays

Have you ever had a case of the Mondays...but on Thursday?  I did yesterday. 

I'm not even sure why. 

I can recall being frustrated at work about having to do and redo some things, and in fact I'm nearly a week behind on something because of some unexpected issues that have arisen. 

I recall eating a late rushed lunch at my desk while working. 

I recall having horrible traffic on the way home. 

I recall having my quiet ride home where I usually talk to Karson (crazy alert, I know) and pray turn in to some weird moment where I started imagining worst case scenarios and in fact brought my self to tears.  Ok, not tears, more like sobs.  (No really, I can do that with my imagination...)

I had a simple project for an upcoming event that I wanted to take care of, but even that went wrong and resulted in a trip to Staples when I should have been doing one of the three loads of laundry that we needed done before today for upcoming travel reasons. 

So when Justin called me I answered gruffly and told him I was in a bad mood.  Now mind you, by then I couldn't completely remember why, I just knew I was feeling a bit cranky and raw, and he should be warned. 

I then pouted a bit all evening, and when I realized I wasn't feeling mopey enough, upped the mope factor.

But why?  It's as if I thought I was due for a bad mood, so I performed it to the fullest so I could check it off of my to do list.  I would love to blame pregnancy hormones, but if I'm honest, I'll admit to you that I've always been an emotional gal.  And this was no pregnancy related funk.

I'm back to reality this morning.  And in retrospect, yesterday wasn't actually that bad of a day.  I get paid to do my job, who really cares if the day is filled with some rework.  That quick lunch was yummy.  I don't think the commute home was any worse than usual.  I got all three loads of laundry done.  The Staples task really didn't go well, but I think it can be remedied before the deadline.   As for my self inflicted pity party on the ride home - it was in fact self inflicted, but perhaps a good cry is healing every now and then.  Aside from that I had a somewhat relaxing evening, got lots of points in my fantasy league from the Thursday night game, got to bed on time and slept well.  And I enjoyed all of that evening from my warm comfy home with a loving husband.  Does that sound so bad?

Not really! 

I've decided we're entitled to a funk every now and then.  Even if it's completely unjustified.  Just try not to take it out on others, and if you do, make sure you let them know how much you appreciate them tolerating you during your Monday Thursdays. 

Happy Veterans Day!

Some quotes...

The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave... --Patrick Henry--

War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. --John Stewart Mill--

Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have ever made a difference in the world, but the Marines don't have that problem. --Ronald Reagan--

The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his. --George Patton--

We make war that we may live in peace. --Aristotle--

People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. --George Orwell--

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Thanks to all who have served or are serving.  And to those who are no longer with us because of their bravery, I pray your efforts are not in vain, and that we show our gratitude in how we appreciate our freedom.
 

"Oh Honey, I don't miss those days."

The title just contains some encouraging words from a cashier I encountered yesterday when she saw my belly.  She then went on to discuss how much she hated being pregnant all three times.  Of course, it just so happens, she doesn't seem to enjoy being a mom either.  At least if she does, she kept those details to herself.

I've decided some people are just miserable.  But that's not the point of this post.

The point is - I think I WILL miss this.  I won't miss being nauseous all day during the early weeks.  I won't miss never feeling like I look put together.  I won't miss having to wear glasses because contacts suddenly irritated my eyes.  I'm sure I won't miss being 8.5 months pregnant and thinking if I get any bigger I'll pop.  But I will miss this.  I'll miss the sweet punches and kicks and rolls I get from Karson throughout the day.  I'll miss knowing that he's protected for now, and that only I can take care of him.  I'll miss the anticipation that Justin and I feel.  I'll miss the excitement of preparing.  I'll miss the moments when Justin gets to feel Karson move.  I'll miss Justin's morning hugs when one is for me and one is for Karson. 

I know that having him here will be infinitely more special.  And the moments I treasure now will be replaced with other special ones, like seeing Karson smile, hearing his laugh, and watching him learn and grow.

But, dear angry cashier lady, despite your inability to look back on pregnancy fondly - I'm happy to say, I will in fact miss these days!