Done Lost My Mind!

This post is for no other reason than for myself to make sense of all of the strange things that pregnancy did to me in the future. I know that pregnancy does weird things to a person, and I have a pretty good feeling that's what this is all about.

First, I must provide a strong disclaimer -- I despise Tiger Woods. I might loathe him actually, but I won't get into all of that here. So a couple weeks ago I had a very vivid dream - that Tiger and I were dating. We had met at some party with mutual friends, and eventually that evening he had invited me to start going to his golf tournaments with him. He even had his pilot's license, so it was just him and I on his private jet touring the country and basically living the dream. He treated me like an absolute princess and it was a dream that at the time, thought I never wanted to wake up from. (I know, this is absolutely NUTS...I can't believe I'm writing this). When I woke up and saw Dan next to me in the middle of the night, I thought he was Tiger. I got up and went to the bathroom, and fell back asleep and picked up right where I left off. I woke up the next morning and thought it was Tiger who was calling me when my phone rang. It was so real. For 2 whole days, I thought that this dream was real. When I saw him playing on TV, I felt like I had already been there and witnessed that moment first-hand. Dan and I still laugh about this, and the funniest part is that I was actually attracted to him throughout the entire dream and thought he was just the greatest thing ever.

Finally a week later reality became reality again (thank GOODNESS). I didn't think anything more of this dream (besides the running jokes between Dan and I about this now). Until last night, when I am thinking I had what must have been yet another vivid dream. I do remember that I had a hard time falling asleep last night, and I am pretty sure that Little Miss was moving quite a lot. I think I felt like entire limbs moving across my entire lower abdomen...more than usual. Last night, either in a dream or reality, on my upper right side Little Miss was particularly active, and it was even stronger movements than I have ever felt before. At one point, I felt what I was so positive was a tiny little fist poking out of my belly and it was long enough that she held it right under my hand that was cupped around it. I also felt movement up by my ribs that was something I haven't felt before. It was surreal, and maybe it was. I could not stop thinking about this all day, running it through my mind over and over to try and figure out if it was real. I wish I could put into words what is going through my mind about this, but the closest thing I can relate it to is that picture that is viral online about the tiny baby hand reaching out and holding onto the surgeon's hand before the baby had been delivered. Seeing that picture for the first time is the closest thing that evoked the same feelings that I have about this if somehow it was real. I want to re-live that moment 100 times.

Mid-morning today I got an email from Pampers (one that I get weekly with pregnancy updates that I rarely ever open) and decided for some odd reason to open it. At the very end, the following paragraph caught my eye:

Dream weaver. If you're like most pregnant women, you've got an extremely vivid, even bizarre, nightlife once you nod off: You give birth to a full-grown son. You go through labor only to find...a litter of kittens. The newborn baby in your arms suddenly opens his mouth and says, "I love you, Mama." You may dream not just about your pregnancy and baby, either; many women report that their dreams during pregnancy are filled with wild adventures, heady love affairs, and strange occurrences, all rendered in Technicolor. What the heck is going on? The dramatic dreams of pregnancy may be due to the extra hormones coursing through your body. Or they may simply be your mind's way of dealing with the range of thoughts and emotions you're experiencing right now. Whatever the reason, enjoy your vibrant nighttime getaways, and don't take them too seriously.

Now if that isn't something confirming that I done lost my mind, I don't know what is!

27 Weeks

And here is the updated post with the 27 week belly pic!

 

How far along? 27 weeks .... Crazy to think we only have 13 more! These last 7 weeks especially have gone faster than the entire first 20 did I think!
Total weight gain: 14 pounds at week 26. 15 pounds at week 27.   (According to my doctor's records weight gain is 12.8 pounds which has been since my first OB appointment...interesting?)
Baby is the size of:  2-2.5 pounds(ish)?
Maternity clothes?  Starting to outgrow my regular t-shirts, and my work clothes are getting a bit snug. Hoping I have a few more weeks in them.
Stretch marks? Nothing new here, fortunately!
Sleep: Sleeping pretty well, but having to get up to go to the bathroom more again. Last night was 5 times..an all-time high.
Best moment this week: Her kicks have gotten so much stronger this past week! I have been loving watching my belly move, and I always smile when I have a hand or arm resting on my belly and see it move throughout the day. Also, I was super excited to purchase the camera that I have been saving up for and looking forward to for YEARS this week! We weren't planning on getting it for another couple months or so, but it was on sale so we decided to pull the trigger. Can't wait to start playing with it! Also purchased the diaper bag that I have had my eye on for a year...and found the perfect color. Can't wait for that to get here now, too!
Miss anything? Only really miss a nice glass of wine now when we got out to dinner.
Movement: More and more, finally!
Food cravings: Really just anything sweet, but it probably doesn't count when I was like that pre-pregnancy
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope
Gender: Sweet baby GIRL!
Baby Name: It's pretty much decided, but I'm still not calling it a done deal yet
Labor Signs: None
Symptoms: Heartburn all day every day, and I'm still hot.all.the.time. Have also had 3 asthma exacerbations these past couple weeks, 1 of which scared me quite a little. Unfortunately I am taking medication (albuterol, singulair, and daily zyrtec) that I would much rather not be having to take right now. But it's all I can do. My dad reminded me that "If Mommy isn't breathing well, baby isn't either." If I wasn't pregnant right now, I would probably be on a round of steroids because nothing seems to be helping clear it up.
Comments Solicited from Others: I walked into a patient's room this week, and she said "Let me guess, it's a girl isn't it?" with all confidence. I was somewhat caught off guard and told her she was correct. She said she was positive that I was having a girl by how high I was carrying it. (So pretty much all of the myths have been true with this pregnancy and us having a girl. Even though I was positive that we were having a boy, all of the gender prediction quizzes, etc said girl from the very beginning. All of our heartrates were high and in the "girl range." And I'm carrying her high, just as the myth goes. Interesting!) Another patient, after walking into a room, asked how far along I was and after telling her I was 6 months she said "You are awfully big for only being 6 months!" Thanks for the honesty, but quite honestly I thought I would be bigger at this point than I am.
Belly Button in or out? In...barely
Wedding rings on or off? On, getting a bit more snug.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, of course!
Looking forward to: Is it too soon to say that I'm ready to be done being pregnant?

On September 17, we had another doctor appointment and this was the dreaded diabetes testing. Having gestational diabetes has been one of my biggest fears throughout this pregnancy, and really the only thing that I have really worried about. Just as feared, I failed with a reading of 148. I am devastated. 140 is required to pass the screening test, so I get to go back in a week for the 3 hour glucose tolerance test and drink double the glucola and wait 3 hours this time instead of 1. Praying really hard that this was just a fluke. They reassured me that it was only a screening test and I was only 8 points above what I needed to be. Needless to say, I am pretty bummed about it, but thinking positive for next week.

Her heart rate was nice and strong at 142 and my uterus is measuring at about 25.5 weeks, which he said was normal.

This week I am praying extra hard about my job situation and would appreciate all prayers. I have had 3 interviews at one office here in town and am waiting to hear back on that one, and have another interview at another one next Monday. I'm really praying hard that God's will be done with this, because I don't want to be switching jobs several times before I find the right one. The interview on Monday is for what could possibly be my dream job, so it would be pretty cool if that worked out. We will see, and until then, I will keep praying.

Sweet Baby Girl - I washed the first load of your teeny, tiny clothes and hung them all in your closet. I was fortunate to get a huge pile of clothes from a friend before our garage sale last week, and could not wait to get them home and hung up. I just love to go in there and sit and think about how much fun this is going to be! :) You are going to look so stinkin' CUTE!

Love and Prayers in Week 28!

25 Weeks

***This post is 2 weeks late being posted, but was typed at 25 weeks. I had been trying to find my camera cord to post the 25 week belly pic and just finally found it.

How far along? 25 weeks
Total weight gain: 13 pounds - Have woke up starving twice now in the middle of the night...so much that I had to get up and eat, which is something I have NEVER done before. So much for staying around 20 pounds this pregnancy...
Baby is the size of an:  Eggplant
Maternity clothes? Slowly getting out more and more. Had to buy a new Husker shirt for the game this weekend because I have outgrown all of mine from last year.
Stretch marks? Nothing new
Sleep: I'm back to being able to sleep for a good 12 hours if time allows and a lot of days I feel like I need 12 hours. But that isn't to say that I don't have to get up 4 or 5 times to pee during that time.
Best moment this week: Having a 5 day "weekend" for Labor Day - on Thursday Daddy and I went back up to NE Furniture Mart and ordered our glider and brought home the dresser (I LOVE it!), went and looked at cameras (SO excited to make a purchase - the one I want is even on sale!), bought myself a couple large husker shirts so I'm ready for the season, enjoyed a Diet Pepsi (guilt-free), and went to dinner with Grandma Wert. Friday I baked husker/fall sugar cookies, an apple coffee cake, and Dan made an egg casserole for gameday morning and then we went to a party at a friends' house. Saturday was Husker gameday with Grandpa and Grandpa Matthes. On Sunday, I worked on my garage sale pile for next weekend and got everything labeled and then went and hung out with some of my very favorite girlfriends while Daddy had his annual fantasy football draft/golf/poker day with the guys. On Monday, I slept til noon-thirty while Daddy played in a golf tournament. It has been a crazy busy weekend, but I wouldn't change one bit of it!
Miss anything? Not really, things have been so crazy busy that I really haven't had time to think about it
Movement: Some, it seems like it's a little less lately (maybe I'm just too busy to notice). Still mostly on my left side.
Food cravings: Have been too busy to really notice
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope
Gender: Sweet baby GIRL!
Baby Name: It's pretty much decided...
Labor Signs: None
Symptoms: Still lots of indigestion, but surprisingly less fatigue than prior weeks. And speaking of feeling overheated all the time, sitting at that football game in the 98 degree heat about put me over the edge. I'm still trying to recover from that one!
Belly Button in or out? In...barely
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, of course
Looking forward to: COOLER WEATHER - I'm over this heat.

At Friday nights' party, there must have been 20 kids running around and at any one time half of them were probably screaming or crying. Someone asked if I was ready for that, and without thinking, my answer was "No, I'm not. I'm enjoying that I can just sit here" (and none of those are my problems to worry about). I got to thinking that that probably came out very wrong, because of course I am excited about having a child of my own and I love a couple of them there just as they were my own. But I did very much mean what I said. Truth be told, I am not ready for that because right now I am enjoying my last 3.5 months of my kid-free, quiet life. Our time will come, but right now I am loving that Dan and I can just pick up and go wherever we want whenever we want, and that we can enjoy evenings out without chasing around crying or screaming kids. I am loving our adults-only outings, and I am ok with admitting that. Come December, I will be ready and I will welcome that crying, screaming baby girl with open arms.

Sweet Baby Girl - Just as I had finished writing above that I had been feeling you move less than normal, I sat there for an hour watching you sommersault in my tummy as much as you ever have. It seems like it has been so long since I have had a morning where I can just sit and watch you move like that...I was starting to miss that. You really only move around like this when I am alone - I just wish you would do this on one of the mornings where Daddy can sit here and watch you with me. You always seem to go still when he puts his hand on my tummy - I think maybe he has the same calming effect on you that he does me. There is just something about Daddy's hands, Baby Girl, and I know you will be calmed by them just as much as I am...I think you are already.

Last night you were living up to your partyin' in the pm reputation, and kept me awake for a couple hours from about 3-5 am. I felt lots of kicks on both sides of my tummy at one time...you must be longer than I can even imagine you being because I didn't think that was possible. I am surprised to say that I wasn't even mad about the sleep that I wasn't getting, because it isn't very often that I get to feel you so much for so long!

Love and Prayers in Week 26!

24 Weeks (The Belly, a Spider, and Giraffe)

Here was the 24 week belly picture that I haven't had a chance to post. I wasn't going to put on makeup just for this picture, so you get what you get. When I get a day off of makeup, I take it!

 

Here is Daddy putting the finishing touches on the dresser. It is a much better quality dresser than the first one we tried; I'm thinking we are going to be much happier with this one in the long run. 

 

All done! It is just what I had in mind. :)

 

All I had to do was light a little fire under Daddy that we needed to get started thinking about some things for the nursery, and he was ready to go. I had one night where I hardly slept at all because I was starting to stress out about all of the things that needed to be done, and what seemed like so little time to do it since I work every other weekend (I know, I know I was maybe being a tad ridiculous. But I am a planner, and we are getting short on weekends with all the parties/showers/holidays coming up!) After that, he was the one pushing to get things figured out and start getting some thing settled. He was the one pushing to get back up to NFM to get the right dresser and to get the glider ordered since it takes 6-8 weeks to come in, and I appreciated that more than I can ever say. I'm fairly confident in saying that he has had just as much fun with all of this as I have. We have had so much fun doing all of these things together...time together, alone, that I will never take for granted.

 

This next picture is really just for me. A couple weeks ago, Daddy told me that he had brought home a toy from his parents' house from when he was little. He had a couple to pick from, and he said he had picked the spider because it was most like us - our spider is a story that goes way back with us.

 

Anyways, I didn't really think too much about it. A couple days ago I was in the nursery getting a pair of pants before work, and I saw something odd in the crib. I walked over and saw this:

 

I had NO idea what that thing was, or where it came from. As I was getting ready, it dawned on me that it was probably that toy that Daddy was talking about. There that thing sat in the very middle of Baby Girl's crib. Not on the wide open bookshelf, not in the closet where most of the other toys are...but in the very middle of the crib. I just had to laugh because that is just something that Daddy would do...It is probably something only I can appreciate. And now I can't bring myself to move it. I can just picture him walking in there and wanting to put it somewhere special, and that is right where he chose.

 

He has also told me a couple different times these past few months that there is a giant giraffe that he walks by everyday at the hospital gift shop that he wanted to buy for Little Miss. I have always liked giraffes, and Baby Girl does have a couple giraffe toys already so I just laughed it off for the most part. I haven't really thought much about that giant giraffe until the other day when he was unloading the dishwasher and out of the blue he asked "What are you going to do if someday you come home and there is a giant giraffe in the corner of her room?" I had really just been blowing it off every time he had mentioned it, but at that moment I realized that he was really serious about buying this giraffe and that he was feeling me out about it. I asked if he was really serious about buying it, and he said "Well, kinda. I know how much you like giraffes and I think I'm starting to like them now too." I didn't even ask how much that thing costs, because I'm pretty sure he doesn't know himself, or really care for that matter. So let's just say, I won't be surprised if one day I walk in the nursery to find it. A bit ridiculous, maybe? But so dang cute if you ask me. :)

Nursery Progress

So I am a little late posting this, but about 2 weeks ago Daddy put the crib together for me. He was a good sport with all of the pictures I was taking. I reminded him that this was a monumental occasion, of course.

And this is where he and I are much different - he reads the instructions, and I do not. Which also explains why things always go so much smoother for him.

Snapped this picture, and he looked up at me and said,
"Am I going to make the blog?"
Not sure what he meant by that, but yes honey, you made the blog :)

It turned out pretty cute! Can't wait to get the bedding made and see how it all comes together. We went to put the dresser together a week ago and took the first piece out of the box, which was the top piece, and it had a crack in three different directions on that one piece alone. So needless to say, we packaged it back up and shipped it back for a refund. This was one of our longer discussions prior to purchasing nursery furniture, because I approached the dresser as something that would be her's until she graduated and would probably have quite a bit of wear and tear from being in a kid's room...so therefore it should probably be more durable to begin with. Daddy insisted we spend as little money as possible on a dresser just like we are doing with the crib and glider, and I gave in because he is always right about those things (it's all about picking your battles, right?). After seeing the cracks in the dresser that we got, he didn't waste too much time telling me that I was right...so it looks like we are going to be going to look at furniture stores another time for a dresser that will at least hold up well enough to make it to our house.

He also put together a bookshelf that we got a great deal on a couple nights later. I cannot wait to fill that thing up with books for all those special nights before bedtime!

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There have really only been three things in my life that I absolutely could not wait for: getting engaged, my wedding day, and having a baby. The first two were absolutely perfect and God continues to bless me everyday with the man that I married. They were everything I ever dreamed of. More perfect, actually. I am so trying to take this all in as my third dream becomes reality here in less than 4 months. I don't want to take a single moment for granted.

I love your Daddy so much it hurts, and I already love you, Baby Girl, that much and I have yet to meet you. I cannot fathom the depth of love that I will have for you, having half of the same of everything that I chose and love so much in your Daddy -- his patience, his continuous acceptance and forgiveness of others, his gentleness towards others, his positive outlook on life, his love and regard for his family and friends, his contagious laugh, his sincere smile, and his ability to give a sincere hug at just the right time. You are going to be an amazing little girl.

Great-Grandma bought you your very first diapers and baby lotion, and boy was it wierd to think that in less than 4 months we will be wrapping you up in those tiny little diapers and lathering your skin with that smell that I love so very much. I just can't wait to meet you...this miracle that has been growing inside of me, kicking my belly and bringing smiles to my face, and the little girl who has consumed my thoughts all day long...that little girl that I love so dearly.  

Love and Prayers in Week 24, Sweetie!

Partyin' in the PM (23 Weeks)

23 weeks = 17 to go!

 

This was after a long day of work, and I am a hot sweaty mess

after wearing a mask all day. Please excuse myself and the

quality of these pictures. How embarrassing!

(Hoping to purchase a new camera in a couple months)

How far along? 23 weeks
Total weight gain: 8.5 pounds
Baby is the size of a: Large mailing envelope?
Maternity clothes? Tank tops, and I did break out the leggings. LOVE this cooler weather! :)
Stretch marks? Nothing new here
Sleep: Can't complain!
Best moment this week:  Starting to feel Babe move on my right side...finally! I've felt a couple really faint kicks on my right side (probably because my placenta is still hanging out on my right side) these past few weeks very rarely, and tonight for the most part it's been on the right side! Also, right at 23 weeks was the first time I felt movement in the top of my belly and not down by my hip bones...that was a cool feeling. I have a feeling that I might not think it's so cool when she won't get out of my ribs here in a few weeks. Babe has also decided that the pm is a great time to party...she has been particularly active in the evenings lately, and even more so throughout the night and early early mornings.
Miss anything? A big glass of red wine...
Movement: Quite a bit, she's getting stronger and stronger every week now. For the most part it is always on my left side still.
Food cravings: Ice water, Chicken fried steak, oatmeal chocolate cookies from The Cookie Company.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nothing!
Gender: Sweet baby GIRL!
Baby Name: Closer...still not for sure. I've started thinking of her by name, so we should probably make sure that it's for sure here pretty soon.
Labor Signs: None
Symptoms: Indigestion, feeling overheated all the time, and a couple episodes of round ligament pain. Surprisingly less fatigued this week which has been much appreciated.
Belly Button in or out? Getting more and more shallow...
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, of course
Looking forward to: This week I have been especially looking forward to Thanksgiving....the one holiday a year that we almost always make it back to Cambridge and we get to stay more than a couple days when we go. I love being around family and having 4 days away to just relax...not to mention all of the good food! Also, only 2 months and 11 days until I put the Christmas tree up...Dan has been prewarned that the tree is going up even earlier this year because of Little Miss' arrival being during the holiday season. Also looking forward to the weather cooling off so that I can start running my oven again...and that means pumpkin pies, pumpkin bars, fresh cinnamon rolls, soups, and hot mulled apple cider.

Baby Girl - We have finally decided on the chair for your nursery that we will spend lots of time partyin' in with you, and I can't wait to make those sweet memories with you in that special spot. But for now, you can continue with your cozy party, and I'll cherish these last few months of uninterrupted sleep. Love and prayers in week 24, Sweet Baby Girl!

22 Weeks

How far along? 22 weeks  (Little late posting, but I had typed it last week)
Total weight gain: 7 pounds
Baby is the size of a: Small doll
Maternity clothes? Tank tops, but also getting excited about breaking out my maternity leggings!
Stretch marks? Trying to stay really diligent with my cocoa butter...
Sleep: Can't complain! I also just got a pregnancy wedge while we were registering and that + my Snoogle pillow are making things pretty tolerable right now
Best moment this week: Laying in bed this morning, watching my belly while it was raining and thundering outside. I can feel a wave when she moves from one side of my belly to another, and can always feel right where she is at when I'm laying down. I layed there soaking it all up for about 2 hours more just because I could :)

Here is a pic from my morning laying in bed watching her move. I am laying
completely flat, and that sticking up on the right is either her head or butt. I could
feel a wave of movement when she went from the left side to this.
Nothing better than enjoying this while it is raining outside :)

Miss anything? Still Diet Pepsi, being able to bend easy in the middle
Movement: This past week and a half she has been moving a lot! She's getting strong enough that it is almost distracting at times.
Food cravings: Ice water, Chicken fried steak.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nothing!
Gender: GIRL!
Baby Name: Haven't talked about this much recently
Labor Signs: None
Symptoms: Just some indigestion still, and feeling really really hot all.the.time. I have always had hot flashes even before pregnancy, but now it seems like I just have one continuous hot flash. I am thankful that it isn't 120 degrees outside anymore, but today it was 80 degrees and I thought I was dying. Good thing winter is coming up, I think the cooler weather is going to be perfect timing.
Belly Button in or out? Getting more and more shallow...it's about to be neither in or out
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, of course
Looking forward to: Being another week closer to December!!