The waiting game officially begins!

I had my 38 week doctor's visit today. He tried to strip my membranes a bit to possibly help things along but I'm not sure it will do much. It didn't even hurt as much as I thought it would. It did the trick for my sister and her water broke that same night her doctor stripped her membranes at 39 weeks and my neighbor was telling me her doctor did the same with her second baby and she went into labor three days after. So who knows we shall see but it sure is exciting now waiting for those first signs of labor :) I feel soooo much better from my cold and am regaining my energy back so I feel like I am ready to go into labor at any point now! The baby room is completely ready, we even set up our new drop cam that we got so we are ready to go…even the diaper bag is packed! ;) 
I'm also in a good place with work related stuff…my contract is signed to officially begin in private practice June 1, my degree is being conferred this month and I should have my books and degree by March 1 or 2! Yippie! I pulled out of tomorrow's equine workshop that I was suppose to help run but decided that I am simply too pregnant to be outside around horses for 4 hours running a workshop. I have been reading a lot of therapy books, brushing up on my clinical skills and also started the outline of chapters for my book, and the curriculum for the support group I want to do once I start working. So I feel like I am in a good place and get to take it easy until the baby comes! Of course Maia is keeping me busy enough and things never get bored around here but at least I am not stressed. Tomorrow for example, I am going for a walk in the morning to get some exercise, then squeezing in what may be my last manicure/pedicure for a while, getting a car wash and hopefully picking up my new business cards with my official new title Ph.D yippie! Monday is my birthday and if baby boy hasn't come over the weekend or on my birthday (what a great birthday present that would be..or not LOL) I will be having lunch with Brad at Yard Bird to celebrate. I didn't want to do anything at night and Saturday we are already going for dinner with Linda, my brother and his girlfriend to Pubbelly Sushi. 

Some nights I get more sleep than others. Brad and I have been tearing through season two of house of cards (such a great show!) and just finished last night. So naturally my bed time has been between 11-11:30pm and the nights that I get cramp I get less sleep than really needed. Maia has been sleeping like a baby as of late until last night she decided she needed to wake up at 3am and then again at 4am. Ugh, I was so tired. I went and sat with her and she was so clingy making a scene when I left the room. Sometimes, I wonder if she senses that the baby is coming and needs to squeeze in some extra mammi time ;) 

Excited to see family trickling in over the next few weeks. My in-laws are coming end of next week and I think my dad and Linda are as well. Fun times ahead! 

Come on baby boy…we want to meet you!! 

Maia can't wait to meet her baby brother :)

Week 38 Belly Update

Total weight gain:

35 pounds.

Body changes:

Water retention especially in legs and calves but no swelling of ankles. Rounder and bigger belly. Tightness in calves especially at night and in the morning.

Sleep: 

Not bad. Some nights I get cramps and wake up quite bit other nights I have nothing and sleep fairly well. My back pain has gone away so that’s been a nice relief. The cramps suck but it’s a sign things are moving along as they should and preparing me for labor so all is good.

Best moment this week: 

Taking Maia with me to the doctor’s and having her curl up next to me on the checking table while the doc was measuring my belly…and she points at my belly and looks at him saying “baby da”. So cute. She was so worried they were going to do something to us that got all protective. It was really sweet.

Gender: 

Boy.

Food Cravings / Aversions: 

Ice cream and pasta. Craving ginger ale which I’ve been craving for the past two months or so. I also still love my OJ in the morning.

What I miss:

Being able to bend over and reach for something on the floor without feeling like my belly is going to burst and I am going to fall over LOL. I also pretty much miss all the other things I keep mentioning though I have been taking baths recently and it’s been so nice. They are not super hot but just hot enough to make it a nice experience. I also cheated, and went to one of my favorite sushi places in South Beach and devoured so much sushi…yes raw fish…it was amaze balls! I figured the place is top notch which it is and if I got into labor it will be fine, the baby is fully cooked at this point. I’m actually going back there this Saturday with my family. Yumm can’t wait. I felt totally fine after, probably much better I would have felt had I eaten pasta or a burger somewhere else!

Symptoms:

Cramps at night. Tightness in calves. As of today 38 weeks and 4 days I am 2-3 dilated, effaced and progressing along nicely. Hopefully the little guy will decide to come soon! Doc did try to strip my membranes a little so we will see if that helps at all. It didn’t hurt as much as I thought it would. Good thing I had Maia clinging to me…a great distraction J

Movement:

Yes he’s moving around, sometimes very aggressively other times softly. He still seems quite comfortable in there.

What I am looking forward to:

Feeling some real contractions…hopefully soon!  

Milestones: 

Getting back into shape J

Thought of the week: 

…and the waiting game officially begins wohooo!

Week 37 Belly Update

Total weight gain:

34 pounds

Body changes:

Big, big belly. I think he’s started to drop more too.

A little tingling and sensation in my breasts.

Sleep: 

Some nights better than others. My back pain miraculously disappeared. Instead I was battling the worst cold ever all week. So miserable. And last night I got another case of terrible lower belly cramps. Maybe the worst yet. I had to get up several times, walk around and it still wouldn’t go away! It comes on so fast and it’s so painful because it takes me a while to get out of bed with my big belly. I’m really looking forward to this coming to an end.

Best moment this week: 

Hard to say, it’s been a rough week with my cold. I laid low most of the week, even had to cancel a work day and stay home. Maybe spending valentine’s day at home, cooking one of Brad’s favorite meal and watching season two of house of cards. He got me beautiful flowers J

Gender: 

Boy!

Food Cravings / Aversions: 

Eating pretty bad right now. I’m also quite hungry but mostly craving carbs and sweets…or fruit.

What I miss:

Having a flat stomach LOL

Symptoms:

Cramps in my lower belly (right side), a little heart burn, tired. At my last doc visit two days ago, I was 1.5cm dilated. Doc said I’m making progress but baby still has to drop some more but that’s moving along as it should.

Movement: 

Yes quite a bit.

What I am looking forward to:

Feeling signs of labor…hallelujah!

Milestones: 

The next few weeks…

Thought of the week: 

I really admire women that have 3…4 pregnancies in a row & women that carry twins or triplets. It’s simply a lot to put your body through…and I’m not sure I could or would want to do that…

Week 36 Belly Update

Total weight gain:

34 pounds.

Body changes:

Big, big belly! Maybe more water retention.

Sleep: 

I actually slept well last night. I figured out a little pillow system that seems to work the best. A soft pillow in between my knees and then a smaller harder one for my arms to rest on. It’s also easy to switch from side to side because the pillows aren’t that big. Last night I went to bed at 10pm I was so tired. I kept falling asleep during Girls and Orange is the New Black that I just turned off the TV and went to sleep. It felt so good. Even though I slept well, I woke up feeling a bit under the weather, like I’m coming down with a cold. Ugh. Vitamins, vitamins are calling…

Best moment this week: 

Going to the zoo with Maia and seeing her look at all the animals in amazement especially now that she recognizes a lot of them from books and can make their sounds…it was too cute.

Gender:

Boy!  

Food Cravings / Aversions: 

Craving carbs…pasta…bread…ice cream...I’m going out with a bang…enjoying the last few weeks of free eating before the diet begins!

What I miss:

Not carrying around such a big belly haha

Symptoms:

Back pain and tightness and at night. Lower abdominal cramping, mostly on right side…only at night though and less than week before. Tired and cranky.

Movement: 

Yes, yes. Little guy has been active but he still seems pretty comfortable in there…

What I am looking forward to:

Signs of labour ;)

Milestones: 

Losing all the pounds I gained!

Thought of the week: 

When is the dog training going to end with Lucky…we signed up for a 6 week course (1 lesson per week) but we need to practice every day with  him. It’s amazing to see how it’s hard to just pack in 15 extra minutes a day to do some practicing. Sounds so easy, but it’s not. I’m also wondering if it will make a huge difference or not…will it be a lot of money for nothing?