The Home Stretch

36 weeks.

 

Yes... we are definitely in the home stretch now.

 

It's funny how my feelings have shifted from "I can't wait until she's here so I can snuggle her" to "I can't wait until she's here so I can feel like a normal person again." Yes, I am utterly convinced I will get more rest once she is outside my body. The waking up every single hour to pee is ridiculous. Babies sleep longer than one hour increments, I'm sure. (OK, so maybe not always!) The back pain and the calf cramps have pretty much subsided, which is awesome. It's still difficult to put on my pants standing up, but at least I can walk without pain. Puff is excited this means I can unload the dishwasher again. (Although I do occasionally get the back and hip pain after laying around for too long. Must mean I need to be up and active!)

 

Rolling out of bed or getting up from the couch is still horribly awkward. Finding a comfortable way to sleep is impossible. Oh yeah, and I've developed a nice case of carpal tunnel in my right hand. I have almost dropped my laptop, a gallon of milk, and some dishes due to the pain in my wrist. Apparently lots of women get it. Just gotta be thankful mine held off until sometime between weeks 34 and 35, right? I hear it goes away usually not long after giving birth. It's like my body read a list of symptoms that can come along with pregnancy and it wanted to try out most of them, at least for a few days. On the bright side, the doc gave me a wrist brace to wear and it helps at night from getting into any odd positions and having to cry out in pain when my wrist gets turned incorrectly.

Oh, and the dreams! I've always had crazy intricate and strange dreams. It's no wonder I'm a part-time insomniac and never really feel rested. Apparently pregnancy can enhance these puppies. I have been waking up almost every hour the past few weeks, mostly cued by a strange dream. (Of course, then I have to get up to pee. And then I realize I'm hungry as soon as I get back into bed. It's a vicious cycle.) But some of the dreams are downright horrifying. One included a creature that was half-leprechaun on top and half-dinosaur on the bottom. And he was basically holding me captive and forced me to kidnap someone who looked a lot like Halle Berry and made me take her to a campground that was also a cemetery. I hid under the covers the rest of the night after that doozy!

 

But you're probably looking for the follow-up to what I had promised last week about the ultrasound and the induction???? Well, there's not much to tell. I had been measuring at 37 weeks when I was only 33 weeks. But then when I went back at 35 weeks, I was still measuring at just 37 weeks. So the bump didn't grow. Which meant they didn't want to do an ultrasound. Which means they are not inducing me at 37 weeks. Which all means that I felt like a horrible, terrible, wife for making Puff leave work early during one of his busiest times of the year to go to the doc with me to not get any new information. We do have an official ultrasound scheduled for next week though, so we can get a better idea of Bimmer's weight. And then we will probably discuss induction at 39 weeks. So, we're on hold. And yes, I'm totally bummed. Such a total tease!

Shower x2

Back on April 14th, I headed to my old college stomping ground to meet up with some of the 420 girls for our first group baby shower. Kimhead and Rach were the perfect hosts, even if Kimhead always goes a little overboard. (But I love her for it anyway!)

We were all invited to a New England style clam bake. There's a story behind a Clam Bake vs. Biker Rally from back in our sophomore year of college that still rings pretty true to this day. But, I digress. I almost didn't get the clearance from the doc, since I was 34 weeks at the time and she was hesitant to have me wander too far from home. Puff volunteered to go with me, but the doc said that since that wouldn't prevent me from going into early labor, I left him at home to cut the grass and eat at a cajun restaurant I keep denying him.


While I had told them to go light on decor, since it was just a few of us, they still busted out with some cute beachy themed decorations. I was especially in love with the twine and lifesavers wrapped around the silverware. We ate, we caught up, we gossiped, and then we opened some gifts.

Bimmer is so blessed to have even more people that care and love her already! And thanks to Kimhead always planning ahead, she even got her first Halloween bib. LOL. And some USC Gamecocks gear to wear this fall for football season. Not to mention Rach who whipped up a dress for the baby with the leftover seersucker from her bedskirt. Oh yeah, in an hour the morning of the shower. That girl's got it going on!

We didn't play any games, but we did have an arts and crafts project. We all gathered on the patio and decorated a onesie. I loved Biner's that read "Back Seat Driver" on it. So perfect for Puff and his car obsession. We also wrote "messages in a bottle" to the baby, which will no doubt end up in her scrapbook very soon!

All told, it was a great day. And while we missed everyone else who couldn't come (due to the fact that some live as far away as Louisiana!!!) it was just a nice relaxing and fun girl's day. Those won't happen the same way anymore from here on out. Sure, Bimmer can come and hang with my friends. But, as I was thinking on the drive into Columbia, how easy is it going to be to stop and pee with a baby in tow and no one to watch her at the rest stop?

Yes, these are the things that keep me up at night!

Nursery: Step 5

Before we get into the real meat of today's entry, I just wanted to remind you that today is our big important doctor's visit. I am 35 1/2 weeks along and they are going to check this afternoon to see if they still think Bimmer is huge. If so, we may end up with an ultrasound (bonus photos of baby are always nice!) and then we may be faced with a decision: induction or c-section. Or we may find out she's normal sized and everything will progress naturally as planned. Just keep us in your thoughts and prayers today that regardless of how she gets here, she gets here healthy.

OK... so before the big nursery reveal (which should be the next time I post about the room) I thought I would post some of the small details that I love so much!

 

A big shout out to Bimmer's future friends, Gabe & Alyssa, for their spare Boppy. The perfect nursery coordinating cover? A happy coincidence.

 

Yeah, so Bimmer won't actually need shoes, but Puff couldn't resist these puppies.

 

The room's accessories are still not all decided upon, nor are they in place. But these are a few things that will definitely be at home in her room. First, the handmade wooden horse that Puff and I bought the baby when I was 8 weeks pregnant... at the Angola Prison Rodeo. The Precious Moments night light was mine from when I was a child. Except, somewhere over time, I decided I didn't need to keep the light and the cord. Thank goodness for Amazon to find a replacement! Lastly, the money clip is from the FIL. It had been his father's and we are happy to have a family heirloom in Bimmer's room that means something to us and can be passed along to another generation.

 

The pink and white seersucker fabric I scored on sale at Hobby Lobby, coupled with Rach's sewing expertise, gave us the most adorable and perfect crib skirt. I couldn't have found a better one pre-made in a bedding package if I tried! It will be even cuter once we get to lower her down a notch and it hangs to the floor. And see that gorgeous white sparkly blanket draped over the crib? My step-mom MADE that when she was recovering from surgery. It's almost too pretty to ever let Bimmer touch it!

 

At my shower in The Fort, my aunt gifted us this adorable little suitcase filled with some goodies. (Yes, technically it's just a fancy gift box.) But it was too cute to throw away, so I repurposed it for the time being with all of Bimmer's baby toys. It fits perfectly under the crib (which is good, since my under bed boxes are too big) and we can stash those teethers and animals until she's a bit bigger.

 

Somewhere on Pinterest, I had found a suggestion of using these drawer organizer boxes from Ikea. When we went to Atlanta back in March, we snagged a 6 pack of different sized boxes and I wish I had bought a few more! They are the perfect size to contain bibs, hats, socks, and onesies. I'm sure her drawers will get rearranged a ton, but the top is for diapers and accessories, plus lotions, swaddlers, receiving blankets, and white onesies. The real deal is the next drawer down with her clothes divided by type. There's not a picture of the bottom drawer, but it's for her more plush blankets, towels and wash cloths, sheets, and other extra goodies.

 

Yes, this child has a fabulous wardrobe. I never thought I would even want baby hangers, since I sorta thought they were a waste, but once you hang up these adorable little dresses and rompers, how could you resist?!?!

Ode to Moms

This Mother's Day, I'm working with Clever Girls in support of Macy's Heart of Haiti to shine a light on the "trade, not aid" program, which provides sustainable income to Haitian artisans struggling to rebuild their lives and support their families after the 2010 earthquake.

It's amazing what a year's difference can do. Last year when I was lucky enough to write for this cause, I wrote about my Granny. My thoughts on mothers and mother figures were strictly and solely pointed toward those women who had influenced me as a child. Now? Well, I'm 35 weeks pregnant and about to become a mother myself. I have a new found appreciate and adoration for all of my friends who have come before me.

I've always been a strong-willed and hard-headed individual. I approached pregnancy the same way I did anything else in my life... with an "I can do this and won't need any help" attitude. I learned very quickly that wasn't the case. I also learned very quickly that it is such a blessing to have such good friends who have paved the way before me. (Perhaps I waited til they had kids on purpose? LOL.) I have infinite resources at my finger tips with the internet and my own mom and grandmothers and aunts. But there's something to be said to being able to shoot a text to my best friend to ask her if a second head support in the car seat is necessary. Or if the menstrual-like cramping I'm having is normal.

My core group of friends has been around since middle and high school. We've grown up together and have supported each other through graduations and boys and new jobs and weddings. Now we're in (what I consider to be) the best part of our lives. We are finding our stride and we are bringing up a new generation. We are transitioning into a stage in our life where we need different things from each other now... like hand-me-down clothes and Boppys. And suggestions on what to do if we find ourselves in tears and overwhelmed during the first few weeks of our children's lives. Because not only have they showered Bimmer with stuff (HERE) they have also showered me with love and encouragement. They have assured me I am doing this right. And I know that once Bimmer arrives, I will be calling them more than ever with new questions and concerns.

As I am about to embark on the most amazing journey of my life, I can only smile at the fact that we are now grown-ups. We are now becoming the mothers we always dreamt of being. We are learning from those before us and will put our own spin on parenthood. I can only hope that one day, my daughter will be lucky enough to have friends as awesome as mine. And that one day, she too, can become a great mother. I suppose I just need to make sure I'm a great mom first.

 

 

Thank you to Macy's Heart of Haiti for sponsoring my participation in this “Share Your Heart" promotion. I was selected for this sponsorship by the

  All opinions expressed here are my own.

Dress Me Up

One thing I wish I had been more prepared for pre-pregnancy was maternity clothes. I hate to shop and I had no idea where to start with what I would and would not need. I heard so many varying opinions, from not needing anything until the third trimester, to needing to stock up on a ton of outfits from the start. So, just in case anyone was interested in my maternity clothes story, here ya go!

I managed to get through the first trimester without having to waver from my normal wardrobe. Thankfully, shirts like these were in style so I wore a lot of them to work as I started to sport a tiny pooch...

 

Toward the end of the first trimester, I did have to invest in a Belly Band in order to prolong the use of my work pants. I was down to one pair of jeans that fit by about 16 weeks, but thanks to a friend's Goodwill pile, I was able to score a few size 12 dress pants and a cute black dress that worked great for awhile. Also, a few size Large shirts from her got me well into the third trimester.

Around week 16, I did stock up on a few maternity items...

 

This wardrobe included:

* 2 pairs of jeans (one from Gap, one from Pea in the Pod)

* 2 pairs of dress pants (one from Target, one from Pea in the Pod)

* 5 sweaters (from Gap, Destination Maternity, Target, and Pea in the Pod)

* 3 camisoles (from Target)

* 3 long-sleeve t-shirts (from Destination Maternity, Target, and Gap)

* 2 plain t-shirts (from Target)

* 2 graphic t-shirts (from a local maternity boutique and Spencers)

* 1 blouse (from Gap)

Now, had I continued working after week 16, I probably would've needed to invest in some additional winter items. Also, thankfully, our winter was crazy mild. So my regular winter coat got me through January and we were able to return the $80 coat we had gotten from Destination Maternity. A friend also let me borrow one of her big ol' winter jackets that was even way too big on her, but I never needed it. I did find that the Pea in the Pod dressier clothes fit much better than those from elsewhere. Although the band on their jeans started really irking me after 24 weeks, while the Gap band stayed in place a bit better, since it sat more under my stomach.

While I wasn't working, my wardrobe consisted of my pre-pregnancy pajama pants, lounge pants, and yoga pants. Some were size small, some were medium. And up through about week 26, I was able to wear my size medium t-shirts I had. (Not the girly fit ones, but just normal t-shirts.) Then I had to upgrade to Puff's size large t-shirts, since they were roomier and much more comfortable. I did luck out with underwear too that my ass didn't grow, so I never needed to buy anything new there. I did, however, have to upgrade my bras. I went up 2 cup sizes very early on, so I hit up Victoria's Secret for their t-shirt bras that were like $25 each... one nude, one white, and one black. But at week 29, I had had enough of the underwire, so I hit up Kohl's for a Vanity Fair bra (on sale for $20) that was wireless. And was another size bigger.

At 30 weeks, I did have to invest in some spring clothes, since the weather had already been warm enough some days for me to rock some elastic-band pre-pregnancy work-out shorts. I wanted to find a cute dress, but was having lots of trouble doing so. I finally ended up in the normal woman's section at Target and scored a cute striped jersey kimono-sleeved, empire-waist dress (size medium) that worked and I can still wear post-pregnancy. In addition to that find, I picked up these few things...

 

So, my spring wardrobe included:

* 1 new camisole (from Kohl's)

* 1 striped t-shirt (from Kohl's)

* 2 ribbed tank tops (from Old Navy BOGO sale)

* 2 v-neck t-shirts (from Old Navy BOGO sale)

* 1 pair of shorts (from Destination Maternity)

I also lucked out that a few pre-pregnancy dresses still fit, like this one...

 

That would be why I needed that new camisole! ::insert grin::

And much to Kimhead's chagrin, my feet did not grow out of my shoes. Not like I had a badass shoe collection to begin with! All told, it wasn't the massive investment I had expected, but that definitely had a lot to do with the fact that from week 16 on, I was a housewife. Now we'll just have to plan for baby #2 to come in the same season so I won't have to start all over again next time!

Flash Bulb Friday

July 2007 - Riverboat on the Ohio River

 

Happy 420 everyone! (To reminiss about my junior year of college, where we lived in room 420. Not pot. There wasn't any pot. Just lots of rum.)

Haunting Photos

At the height of my nesting, I decided to tackle the paperwork abyss that is our office desk. Puff's "filing system" seems to be to just toss in any paper he thinks he might ever need again, plus business cards, postcards, photos, CDs, and travel brochures, into random drawers. Even though I never open them, I know it's there. And it hurts my head just thinking about such nonsense.

 

So, one day, I started digging. I found more than I bargained for. Yup... I found his stash of photos of his ex-girlfriends.

 

And at 8 months pregnant, I was feeling like this...

 

 

 

And the photos I was holding in my hand seemed to look like this...

 

 

 

I'd be hypocritical if I told him to get rid of them, seeing as I have lots of photos of Mr. Smith and a handful of The Ex. (Mostly just because they were from travels and I look super cute in them.) There may be one or two of guys from before them too. And I won't get rid of them. So, I don't expect Puff to toss his. I guess I just hate knowing that he has them. I don't know why... we've been married about 2 years, together for 4, and are welcoming a baby practically any day. I have no more need to worry about these women than he has to worry about me running off with Jason Statham.

 

Although, if that were an option....

 

Is it OK to be an emotional hoarder and keep photos and letters, etc. from your ex? Should there be a time limit on it? Or should there just be an unwritten rule to stash those items where your current honey won't find them? I don't want to be the wife who refuses to acknowledge Puff had a life before we met. I've known too many women like that and they irk me. I have a past and so does he. I just wonder, sometimes, how much of that past we need to cling to and when is it best to just let go?

 

I think the photo that upset me the most was one of him and the Slutasian one Halloween. (We all know my distaste for her to begin with!) But in this photo, she was wearing a costume that Puff has repeatedly mentioned that he would want ME to wear for him.,The minute I saw it, my heart just sank. I'm not into that sorta thing anyway, but to know he has already had one woman in that costume just completely killed his chances for me to ever wear it for him in the future. I would be constantly thinking about her. And whether or not Puff was comparing us. And feeling unspecial, since it wasn't something new for us to enjoy together.

 

I don't care if we go to restaurants they used to frequent or take hikes they once took. I hope that he feels the same way. But sometimes you just can't recreate something with someone else. Here's hoping he will drop the whole costume thing. And here's hoping I can get that image out of my mind. We have better things to focus on right now... like creating our own memories and our own happiness. It's time to put the past, in the past.