Pregnancy Update: Week 37

How far along? 37+ Weeks

How big is baby? Baby Center App says a little over 6 pounds!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I'm up 28.5 pounds this week. 

Next Appointment: Tuesday morning

Maternity Clothes: Yes of course.

Sleep: So so

Best Moment This Week: Having her room pretty much finished.

Annoyance of the Week: Intense rib pain

Movement: Yes, she's still pretty busy though it's definitely slowed a bit.

Planning/Preparation: Just little things like hanging stuff up. I should be doing a lot more, but I've been tired.

Belly Button In/Out: Flat

Gender: 100% girl

What I Miss: All the usual stuff.  I'm really ready for normal clothes again though!

What I'm Looking Forward To:  Seeing my baby girl's face and kissing her! 

Contractions: A few sporadic ones.

Milestones?: I'm full term and am slightly dilated.

Join the Movement: National Infertility Awareness Week!

This week marks National Infertility Awareness Week.  I know in previous years I've mentioned it in quick passing. I don't consider myself very good at blogging themes. They always like an assignment and suddenly I always feel woefully under researched on the topic. I'm going to try my best this year though...so hang with me.

For 2013 the theme for National Infertility Awareness Week is "Join the Movement."  For days I've been mulling it over in my head what this could mean for my life. I mean let's be honest here....in 2011 I did IVF, got pregnant and in early 2012 had my miracle baby. Then 6 1/2 months later I was pregnant without medical help and I'm a few weeks to delivery.  We have no plans to have anymore kids, at least not in the next 5 years.  Our frozen embryos are being donated (topic for another day) to help another couple.  Where on Earth do I fit in with the infertility community?  I can certainly relate to people going through the journey and give some advice, but I'm not really on the inside anymore.  What movement am I part of? Finally after sitting here awhile I think I got it. It's not about being an "insider," but instead continuing to advocate for those still facing the journey to parenthood or whatever end result gives them peace.  Infertility will affect 1 in 8 people. That's a lot of people! And yet it's still something kept so quiet.  My "Join the Movement" pledge is my commitment to keep the topic out there, because though my infertility journey has changed course I can still keep working for others.  No one should be ashamed or have to suffer in silence while dealing with infertility.

-Liz

Exhaustion and all that jazz....

I'm at the end of my second pregnancy and I'm hitting the wall. I am T.I.R.E.D! (Okay, okay I've pretty much been exhausted the whole go around this time with the exception of a few blissful weeks around 16-20 weeks.) I am ready to have this baby and start the terrifying adventure which is being the Mom of two children under 2. 
Yesterday I finally sort of forced myself to actually work in Julia's nursery. The closet looks AMAZING now, if I can brag for a moment. I had this grand plan to hang up every last piece of clothing she owns, but after going through the first 30 hangers I decided I'd just hang through size 3 months (and 1 odd outfit that is size 0-6months.) That only used up close to 60 hangers (don't judge...I didn't buy it all myself.) The rest I put in neatly labeled plastic bins.  Now my husband has no excuse not to put the crib together. He's pretty handy with that stuff so I am honestly certain it'll get done this week; he just really wanted the clothes out of his way. He rocks like that.  I also finally ordered her crib bedding set and got her a crib mattress...because she might need somewhere to sleep. ;-) Today I painted wooden letters that spell out her name in a very appropriate paint colored called Parisian Pink. They aren't as big as I envisioned so me thinks they'll go on her door. The rest of the decor for her room is all in my head still. I'm really stuck on what to do in there...I blame it on exhaustion. I just can't make any decisions.
When we moved here last year we became the proud owners of a lovely LG Washer & Dryer set. Seriously these things rock my socks....if you're in the market I recommend them, not that I have much to compare them with. Today I finally figured out how to use the steam feature on my dryer...who knew it could be so simple? The owners manual...that's who! I used it to sterilize/cleanse/whatever some stuffed animals. Genius!
Have I talked about the new house on here much? Yeah I don't think I have. It's pretty much 100% awesome...minus one very irritating fact: our cell phone service for making calls is horrendous!! Calls drop randomly and without warning. Verizon finally sent us out a Network Extender. Yeah guess what? Calls still drop even when we are supposedly under the network extender's coverage area. About the only place you can generally guarantee you'll be able to complete a phone call is sitting right next to the thing. We are seriously contemplating getting a land line now just to have a reliable phone at the house. Otherwise...again we love the house and one of these days I will finish decorating it and maybe share the pictures on FB.

Whelp, gotta go....Little Dude is awake from nap. Toodles friends!

Pregnancy Update: 35 weeks

How far along? 35 weeks

How big is baby? The Baby Center App says over 5 pounds and approx. 18 inches long.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I was 144.5 on Tuesday, so that's about a 27.5 pound gain total. I'm right on track compared to where I was at this point with Matthew.

Next Appointment: April 23 (Little Dude's 15 month birthday)

Maternity Clothes: Yes of course.

Sleep: Horrible

Best Moment This Week: My Stork Express hospital tour & preadmission.

Annoyance of the Week: The continued viral cough thing I have that doesn't abate no matter what.

Movement: Tons, but I can definitely tell she's running out of room.

Planning/Preparation:  Due to this horrendous cough....not much of any lately.

Belly Button In/Out: Flat.

Gender: 100% girl

What I Miss: Things not hurting and having energy.

What I'm Looking Forward To:  My baby shower and then holding my little girl in my arms.

Contractions: A few, not as bad as other weeks.

Milestones?: 2 weeks until I'm considered full term!