Week 33

I love being pregnant, I love being pregnant, I love being pregnant...

I am not miserable and I know for certain there are far more people that have harder pregnancies than me. But it's all relative, right? I am not wishing this baby out early and I don't feel all the time like I am just "done" with being pregnant, but there are certain days and times that I feel entitled to complain. I never understood women that said they were just "done"... until now. My latest complaints are that:

1. My back always aches (and when it's your 2nd, you get less sympathy and, consequently, less back rubs);

2. Maternity sizes are AWFUL. "S" should stand for "small" (which is a bit ironic, when you're talking about pregnancy clothing) and not "short"! I am not particularly tall at 5'6, so why do all the maternity shirts come only to my belly button?

3. I'm swollen. If I am not wearing flip-flops, I can tell my feet are fatter. And my legs are puffier. And my face looks bloated. And my arms are big... need I go on?

In fairness, pregnancy has been easy for me, albeit a bit more uncomfortable this time, but still nothing to really feel sorry for myself about. Even my doctor says I am just "made to be pregnant". Part of my complaints are grounded in the fact that I am really just simply excited for this baby to come. I was excited when I was pregnant with Deviney but in a different way, and with added anxiety and anticipation. With this baby, the fears are fewer and the anxiety is... well, it's not gone, it's just targeted at different things. What makes a second pregnancy different is that this time, I know what it's like to hold my child in my arms for the first time, to sit for a 1/2 hour just looking at his/her beautiful face, to feel the overwhelming bursting love you can only understand when you become a parent, to be overcome with amazing pride. Those are feelings you never forget and, for some of us, we are lucky to experience it even one time in our lives. I'm thrilled I get to do it again.

32 Weeks: Running out of Room

There are 8 weeks until this baby's due date and I really, truly, sincerely have no idea how I will get any bigger. I am nearly certain there is no room left inside for this baby! He/She must feel the same because I am pretty sure this baby could kick his/her way out with only slightly more effort. Yikes.

Based on a very official poll (Facebook), most people believe we will be having a boy. There were approximately 9 votes for girl and 18 for boy. I have no idea what opinions were based on, but it is certainly making things fun for us! When I was pregnant the first time, Drew and I both felt like we were having a girl. This time, we are split. Sometimes I think it's simply because we enjoy the competition.

I visited the doctor late last week. I measure 32cm (right on target), gained 2 lbs in 2 weeks (right on target) and my blood pressure was... well, right on target. The baby's heart rate - for those of you still guessing gender - was in the 130s. If you believe lower means boy, then this week it is a boy. If you believe higher is girl, then it was a girl just 2 weeks ago in the 150s.

31 Weeks

We are now in single digits for the weekly countdown: 9 to go. That also means we have about 2 months left. Since the last 2 months have flown by, I have a feeling this is going to come sooner than we think.

Deviney celebrated her 2nd birthday this week and one of the gifts she got was a baby doll, complete with a bottle, bib, sippy cup, rattle, bath essentials, etc. She has been so sweet with her baby doll - rocks her, lays her down when she is "tired", gives her a bottle, feeds her "spaghetti", gives her kisses... I am hopeful this is indicative of things to come. Although, I could live without the jumping off the ottoman with the baby in arms and throwing her on the couch.

We've also been reading Deviney a book about being a big sister. It's hard to say if she understands any of it, but it certainly can't hurt.

So it seems this week more than any other week, I have been the recipient of a lot of comments about how large my belly is getting. It doesn't really bother me, mostly because I know it's true and partly because it's been followed-up with, "but it looks like that is the only place that is getting bigger". Truth be told, my arms, face, thighs, and ankles are larger than they used to be but if other people don't see it (or just want to lie to me about it), that's fine! It does concern me a bit, though, that I still have 2 months to go and the baby is going to do nothing but get bigger. The weight comes off, the weight comes off, the weight comes off (I say to myself, begging it to be true the second time around).

Counting Down: 30 Weeks

There are only 10 weeks to go - well, to be technical, I guess it's more like 9 weeks and 5 days... not that I am counting (but I am). That means about 68 days until our due date. How is that possible?


While we get closer and closer to actually meeting this little bundle, we are starting to do more and more to prepare. This weekend we had maternity photos done by my incredibly talented sister. While I have only seen a few "preview" pictures, I am certain I am going to be happy with them. I didn't do any photos this time with a naked belly (which I may or may not later regret), only because I am a little more self-conscious about my body this time than I was the first. I suppose if I am ever one day curious, I have the weekly photos to reference.


We also have Deviney officially in her new big girl room. Our sweet little girl has never looked back! She knows the baby crib is now "for the baby in mommy's belly" and she goes straight to her new room for naps, bedtime, and sometimes to play. She has slept very well in there (maybe better than the crib!) and gets excited to tell people all about it. We're still working on potty training (with the occasional near-accident) but feel pretty confident she will be completely done before the baby comes.

We also bought the baby's "going home outfits" tonight. Like last time, we have something for a boy and something for a girl. Drew picked out the girl outfit (since he is certain it's a girl) and I picked the boy. I also may have picked out a "little sister" and "little brother" outfit. Seriously, how could I resist?

I went to the doctor last week with no real news to report. My BP was fine, belly measured fine, and the baby seemed to be moving around just fine. The heartbeat measured this time in the 150s. I will go back Friday of next week again. Weekly appointments start mid-November. That's when time starts moving faster - if that is even possible?