Project Baby: 30 Weeks & Counting!

Well, this week has been yet another interesting week. Glad week 30 comes to an end tomorrow and week 31 starts. 9 weeks from tomorrow until I'm due! YAY! This past week has been filled with a lot of stress and was actually kind of overwhelming emotionally. I blame the pregnancy for the tears and getting overwhelmed! 

I guess I just let all of the stresses in life get me down last Thursday. We do have a lot going on right now, though. We're in the process of trying to redo some things on the house we're buying: scrape off popcorn ceilings, have them retextured, repaint all of the bedrooms and main floor, touch up bathrooms and kitchen, shampoo carpets, refinish the hardwood floors, and the list could go on and on. Last Thursday, I felt like I was drowning. I let the house, packing/cleaning our apartment, school, my church calling, worries about myself and the baby overwhelm me to where I just broke down. I just didn't see how in a few short weeks we could get everything done that we had to get done to move out and move in. I have since realized that I can only keep working to do my best and that's it! I've seen in my life that everything works out. We are really blessed to have great family and friends who are willing to help us. So grateful!

This week's thoughts:

• I have been feeling the BURN this week. And, no I don't mean my old friend heart burn. I mean, the muscles in my stomach have been BURNING like the fiery passion of 1,000 suns. I mentioned that last week, but the burning muscles have only gotten worse. When I go to bed at night, it goes away for the most part and I wake up feeling better. In fact, laying down really seems to help. But, I can't lay down all day long now, can I? I've been trying to sit more at work (NOT MY STYLE), which has been really hard for me to actually remember to do. I think my stomach muscles must be separating or stretching or something. That's what it feels like to me. Any tips on how to get rid of this horrible burning?
• I've been meaning to mention this for a few weeks, but I really love cuddling up to Evan in the morning and letting him feel the baby move around. It's one thing for someone to have his hand on your stomach and feel the baby move in one part of your body. It's another thing to allow someone to feel the baby move around all over the place. It's been a fun bonding experience for Evan and I, which usually produces a lot of laughter as we're feeling this little guy do all sorts of flips and tricks in there.
• Yesterday at church, I was just sitting there and felt some little taps on the top of my thighs. I thought there was NO WAY our little Sargie could be kicking down there. Well, I guess there is a way when your stomach touches your legs when you're sitting down. How did my belly get so big? I swear, I was just barely showing and now I've got this baby bump! Even looking back at Week 24 I realize that even though I felt pretty big, I wasn't all that big in reality.
• On Saturday, I wore an all pre-pregnancy clothes outfit. Granted, the shorts were low-riders and were always a little loose, but I still can't fit into some of my pre-pregnancy clothes! Speaking of... The only maternity clothes I've bought are two pairs of pants, one pictured in this week's photo montage. I usually wear a variety of stretchy, tight basic T's with sweaters and other things that still fit. Sometimes I wear clothes my sisters gave me (like the shirt in these pictures), although almost all of the clothes are for winter. My plan is to try to NOT buy any maternity clothes. Am I weird? Probably. Cheap? DEFINITELY! I just really don't want to spend money on clothes I'm only going to be wearing for the next 9+ weeks. I can foresee me breaking down to buy some cute summer tops or a cute summer pregnancy skirt, but I am trying to get away with not for as long as I can!
• Other than all of that, I'm doing really well. The acid reflux medicine is really helping me to feel better and I am able to eat practically like a NORMAL person again. It's awesome! Here's to the next 9 weeks and 1 day! :)

  

Project Baby: 29 Weeks & Mother's Day

It's hard to believe I'm already at 29 weeks! (Tomorrow marks 30 weeks and the 10 week countdown. YIKES!) How did I already get this far? The first 14 weeks or so seemed to take FOREVER. I thought I'd never get to a place where I wasn't constantly worried about miscarrying. But, now here I am getting closer and closer to being able to hold my son!

To be honest, I'm actually starting to get a little scared. I know it may sound weird, but I've just been going on with my normal life as best as I can while being pregnant. I haven't bought one thing for the baby. I haven't picked out colors for his room or even picked a name for my child. I've just been so busy and haven't had the time. However, I'm suddenly seeing more and more that this is all very real. I am going to have a baby soon. Wait, back up... I am going to BIRTH a baby soon. WHAT?! How is that supposed to happen? I'm going to then have a newborn son soon who is going to need my constant care/attention. How am I going to juggle the demands of being a wife? mother? my job? church callings? planning another Germany exchange for 2013? owning a house? I just plan on rolling with the punches at this point. There isn't much I can do to prepare for what lies ahead. I can think all I want and organize my life as much as I want, but there will be unknowns and unexpected things that happen. The best I can do is remember to be flexible and enjoy this time as much as I can as I pray to God for strength to help me be the best wife/mother/sister/teacher/friend I can!


Thoughts this week:

• Did I tell you we're moving? Yes, we're moving. Way back at week 19, my sister mentioned at my ultrasound that the renters were moving out of the house my siblings and I inherited. We've been talking/thinking about buying the house ever since then. Well, last week, we decided for sure to do it! It means we have to be moved out of our apartment in 2.5 weeks and moved into that house. This doesn't sound so bad, right? Well, we are repainting/touching up every room in the house first. We're refinishing the hard wood floors. Evan has already scraped off the popcorn ceilings, but must now scour the house of all of the asbestos dust. Then, the ceilings have to be retextured. Once all of this is done, we have to deep clean the entire house so we can move our stuff in. I think you see where this is going! Doing all of this of course doesn't include the fact that we have to pack up, move our stuff, and deep clean our apartment too! So much work in the next few weeks all at the end of the school year. We are really excited to have this opportunity to move, but the next few months until the baby comes will be INSANE as we're getting the house done and everything ready!
• Since last week, my stomach muscles on the left of my belly button have been getting this burning sensation at the end of the school day. After I sleep at night, it goes away. It's a small area about the size of a quarter, but man, it burns! It feels like my muscles are ripping apart! In fact, that's probably exactly what is happening.
• As I got out of the shower the other day and looked at my naked belly in the mirror, I realized that I am NOT as gigantic as I've been thinking I am. Yes, my stomach is ginormous when you compare it with what I used to look like! But, I'm carrying a 3 pound fetus, amniotic fluid, an enlarged uterus, 150% more blood, and a placenta in there. This realization helped me to feel better, which is good because I'm sure I will get HUGE in the coming weeks.
• I've now been taking the acid reflux medication for a week and I honestly am feeling much better without heart burn and acid reflux. I have more of an appetite again and feel more like myself. The downside is that I have a constant sugary taste in my mouth because of the medicine. I don't typically do very well with sugar as it makes me sick. So, a little nausea never killed anyone right?
• This last week, I actually lost 1.6 lbs. Not sure how that happened. I feel like I've been eating more than before because I don't have the acid reflux keeping me from eating most foods. Hm... conundrum!
• I honestly am feeling pretty good at this point. I can still walk just fine and at the same pace I've always been able to walk. I'm a little tired, but my body really feels pretty good and I'm not really uncomfortable (except when I have those burning muscles. I'm hoping this reprieve of feeling good lasts a little longer!
• Other than that... I've been missing my mom a lot lately. Even though she's been gone 21 years this month, I still miss her and wish I could ask her about her pregnancies, how I was as a baby, her thoughts on us moving... so many unanswered questions. Thank goodness, I'm blessed with three wonderful mother figures in my life: Evan's mom, my sister, and my Oma!

With my sister and Oma for Mother's Day at my sister's house

 PICTURE OUTTAKES

I was so tired after dinner at Evan's parents that I fell asleep on this big comfy chair they have. Apparently, Evan snapped a picture of me.

Evan had this GREAT idea to have me hop up on the fence for a picture. We both realized super fast how awkward it was!

My sister snapped this of Evan and I just as Evan said his thoughts about what we're naming the baby. You can tell from the picture I wasn't super thrilled about his idea! :)

Project Baby: Week 28

Week 28 marks the start of the 3rd trimester. Honestly, I can't believe I'm at this point already. The first 17-18 weeks when I was feeling SO SICK and constantly worried about the baby, every day felt like a week. It's hard to believe that it's now 10 weeks later and the start of my 3rd trimester. Each day I feel so blessed to be pregnant. I know that being able to carry this child is truly a miracle and a blessing. Feeling his little kicks and punches make up for the downsides. Pregnancy is such a miracle!


Thoughts this week:

• I went to the doctor this week for my Week 28 appointment. This little guy's heartbeat was at 153! It could have to do with the fact that I ate a donut (and felt SO SICK... sugar and I don't sit well!) right before the appointment, but this kid seems to have a fast heartbeat. I like to think he has a strong heart like his dad. :) Stout actually means "strong heart!"
• Also at my appointment, my doctor prescribed me medication for my acid reflux issue. I AM SO GRATEFUL! In the past few days, it's been so nice to not have acid constantly burning my throat and vocal chords. I do, however, have a constant sugary taste in my mouth and have felt some nausea because of the medication, but I actually feel like I can almost eat like normal again. It's been awesome!
• At my doctor's appointment, I found out I gained 7 pounds in 4 weeks, bringing my total weight gain up to 19 pounds. Yeah, I was kind of embarrassed and disheartened to have that much weight gain in such a short time, but whatever! My doctor told me to be a little bit more careful about how much I'm eating. Honestly, though, I generally eat VERY healthy. (Oatmeal for breakfast, only whole foods, etc.) And, in fact, the past month or more, heart burn and acid reflux have affected me so badly that I actually have had to force myself to eat. I've been worried I haven't been eating enough calories! So... I felt pretty bad at first. I actually started crying that day when I was driving home from school. After talking to Evan, I realized that I just had to say that I'm doing my best to be healthy!  I drink plenty of water, I'm not swelling or anything, I eat whole foods, I rarely eat sugar or any processed foods. I try to walk as often as I can. What more can I do?!
• Last week was a BUSY week for me and the baby. I had a 3.5 hour technology training, a German Club meeting, an early morning staff meeting, a field trip to the University of Washington with the upper level language students, and an all-day State History Day event where I judged contestants performances. BUSY. I even walked around 6 miles on the day of the field trip on Friday! Who says you can't/shouldn't be active when you're pregnant?!
• On Saturday, I stumbled upon our engagement pictures we took nearly 3 years ago. Looking through them got me SO depressed! I was SO LITTLE! I know my 7-month pregnant self does not even compare to my pre-married body, but I still felt pretty glum. Thank goodness I have a good husband who was there with me to remind me that I AM PREGNANT and still beautiful. See the contrast of the weight gain below to sympathize with me:

May 2009, engagement pictures

May 2012- 7 months pregnant

 

Project Baby: Week 27

Well, if I said that Week 27 wasn't tough, I'd be lying. I pretty much cried from Saturday to Monday because of being overwhelmed with life and all the upcoming decisions relating to the baby: where to live, moving, going back to work after having the baby, etc. On top of that, each day my heartburn turned acid reflux has gotten progressively worse. I hardly have the desire to eat and feel nauseous pretty much all the time, no matter what foods I eat or remedies I've tried. YIKES! I guess as this baby is moving up, he just keeps pushing my stomach up more and more. I'm going to the doctor this week for my Week 28 appointment. Hopefully, she can prescribe me something for acid reflux! The acid is literally burning my throat, including my vocal chords. The past few days, my voice has been so scratchy because of how much the acid is affecting my vocal chords. Still so grateful to be pregnant and to be able to have a baby in spite of this, but I have cried a lot because of the pain and frustration!

Other updates this week:

• Our little guy has been kicking me in the same spot for about 3 weeks now. This stomach muscle on the upper right-hand side of my body is literally SORE because he has kicked me so much there! In fact, the other day, I had Evan feel the area. Sure enough, the muscle was poking out because he has kicked me so much there! Apparently, he is really favoring kicking my right side.
• The baby is still head down. It's a lot harder to feel his arm movements than it is to feel his kicks. I think it must be because there are more ligaments down where he is punching than there are where he is kicking (not to mention, his legs are probably stronger than his arms are). I can feel his little punches best at night after I get back from going to the bathroom.
• I got my FIRST baby outfit in the mail this week! I won a contest over on my friend, Melody's blog, and got 3 of the cutest little onesies done by Little Yellow Sew Shop. (One of them is pictured below.) These are not only the first clothes the baby has gotten, but the first ANYTHING for the baby. I haven't bought anything yet for the baby. I guess I better get on that! It's just hard to know what I'm going to need.
• Other than acid reflux, my body still feels fine. I haven't started swelling, I can still walk like a normal person and do things I would normally do. I can still tie my shoes (and even touch my toes!), but it's WAY easier to do standing up than sitting down. So glad to be healthy!
• P.S. Can you tell I got a little crazy with photo editing in Picasa? Well, I did. The color on the pictures wasn't very good so I played around a little to get a new look!

Outtake of the week... Evan started snapping shots when we got to his parents to get the picture thing done with. Unfortunately, I was on the phone with my Oma and couldn't stop him. Gotta love my green water bottle, my funny smile, my Munich bag, and the cell phone to my ear. Nothing says 27 weeks like all of those things combined!

Project Baby: 26 Weeks

The last week has definitely been crazy! We had new technology installed in my building at school and, for someone who uses technology in every class DAILY, hooking everything up took quite some time! Little Sargie and I were at school until 9:30pm on Friday night organizing and cleaning up the mess from all that had to be moved. Upwards and onwards, though, right?

By the way, you can see I finally remembered to wear my Project Baby pregnancy shirt for pictures! I couldn't believe how much tighter it's gotten since I last wore it at 22 weeks. Check out the difference!


Thoughts this week:

• HEARTBURN! I have to be VERY cautious about what I eat right now because it seems like everything is giving me heartburn. I honestly am feeling a little frustrated because the foods that don't give me heartburn are so limited. I mean, even carrots are giving me heartburn right now. YIKES!
• More and more I'm able to tell how much weight the baby has gained. Not only is my stomach bigger, but it just feels like it is weighing more. Sometimes at night before I go to bed, the lower part of my abdomen just feels sore because of all of the weight pushing down on it.
• I have lost my balance twice this week (granted, I was getting down from standing on a chair). I guess I need to be more careful! It's weird realizing I can't jump up two stairs at a time like I normally do... well, I can, but where I once could EASILY spring up the steps, I now am feeling the weight gain when I do it!
• I may have mentioned this last week, but my stomach is also feeling heavier in the night. Moving from side to side, I can definitely feel how much more the baby is weighing! I also am noticing in the night how much my stomach muscles are getting stretched. Every time I get up in the night to get a snack and go to the bathroom (usually 2-3), I have to be careful not to turn to fast otherwise I stretch my stomach muscles a little too far!
• Everything else is going fine. I feel fairly normal, besides the major heartburn, which is frustrating, but I'm able to deal with it. I honestly just feel SO GRATEFUL to be pregnant and that I've made it this far. Each day, I thank God that I have this opportunity and that I'm able to carry the baby one day longer. After my miscarriage last summer and hearing from so many of their struggles, I realize how truly blessed I am to have this opportunity in my life! :)

26 weeks pregnant and I can still do this! :)