Pancakes save the day

After a fabulous Oktoberfest celebration with all the Chicagoland (and some Wisconsin) Whites, Joe and I fell asleep at 8:30 pm, and then woke up this morning at 8.  I was a much-need sleep, and the fall weather made it all the more fabulous.  Upon my waking, however, I remembered the sink full of dishes.  It made my stomach hurt as I thought about it being just one more thing on my long list of stuff to get done today.  Normally, a long list wouldn't frighten me, but I have such little energy these days that it is so hard to let myself nap when I know there are still so many things to accomplish.  The nap usually wins, but the outstanding items on the to-do list weigh down my week.

As I said in last week's post, I guess I should just get used to it. 

But to counteract the anxiety I was experiencing, I remembered that the Knights of Columbus were having a pancake breakfast after church.  Score!  Less dishes AND it supports a good cause.  We were all over that.  I even got seconds.

How far along? 39 weeks

How big is baby? About 4 of the doctor's hand widths.  He or she is still growing, but has given me a lot more breathing room.  Whew.

Total weight gain: 49 pounds.  

Maternity Clothes? Why didn't anyone tell me that I'd need another round of clothing near the end of the second trimester?  All the labels say to "buy your pre-pregnant size."  Hi, I'm a size 4.  Sometimes a size 2 depending on the store.  I'm currently wearing a size 8 and these are uncomfortably small.  I had assumed that the pants I bought half-way through the pregnancy would last, but was a big fat NO.  This is not true.  In case you or your significant other have not yet been pregnancy, I'm warning you now--the clothes-buying never stops.

Stretch marks? Still there.  I've given up on trying to put anything on them--it just doesn't seem worth the effort anymore.

Sleep: Interrupted 2-3 times a night.  This past week I couldn't get back to sleep for a number of hours.  Again, I suppose I just need to get used to this.

Movement: A few times I've had a braxton-hick while baby was awkwardly to one side.  This made a large protrusion come out of my side.  It kind of looked like half a softball was coming out of my right side.   It was kind of amusing, but also still so strange to see.

Food cravings: This week the food difficulties of first trimester have returned.  Nothing sounds good and I'm incredibly fickle.  Because nothing sounds appetizing I find myself forgoing to eat, which just makes me ill.  Plus, I know I'm not supposed to let myself get too hungry during these final weeks because it can often trigger labor (or a false feeling of labor).  It is such a catch-22.

What I miss: The corner of the dining room being baby-item free.  Having enough energy to grocery shop AND clean in the same day.  Not constantly wondering when labor will begin and my life will drastically change.

What I am looking forward to:  Getting over the initial shock of a new baby and enjoying our time together--going shopping and out to lunch with my mom.  Baking and making dinner.  Afternoon naps.

Milestones: Remembering to trust.  Does that count?  I've grown attached to the image of the Divine Mercy in the past few weeks.  I keep reminding myself that the timing of all of this doesn't depend on me.  No matter how mentally ready I am I really don't matter in the situation.  As a planner, it is so difficult to just "let it be" and know that it could be tonight, or it could be in another 4 weeks.

Say What?:

I was doing some returns of repeat baby items at Target.  The woman behind the counter asked me how old my baby was.  It caught me so off-guard.  "Um, 3 weeks away?"  "Oh, I didn't realize!  You're still so small!"  Thanks...I guess?  Also, I have a hard time believing her.

Baby kicks

At 38 weeks Baby was dancing to his or her own beat, and we were able to catch some of it on video.

To give you some perspective, this is me laying on my side--eventually you'll see my hip to the left of the screen and torso to the right. Those are Baby's feet trying to escape.

We filmed for about 4 minutes, but I've cut out some of the less exciting footage of me breathing....

Antsy yet content

We're three weeks out from Baby's supposed due date.  I write on a sunny Sunday morning.  In case there is any question in a year, weekend mornings are usually spent sleeping in--me until 8 or so, and Joe until...I bug him enough to get up and get moving.  I clean and straighten and cut coupons from Sunday's paper.   I make breakfast while Joe places the big weekend work order over the phone.  There is usually an afternoon nap before whatever evening plans commence.

I can tell I've hit the exhaustion of late pregnancy because the apartment is so...untidy. I keep telling myself that seeing piles of junk mail and dirty dishes is just building my mental stamina for once the baby is born.  In the meantime, despite how much it wears on me, I just have to let it go.  I'm too tired to right all the wrongs.

I'm stealing the following Q&A from another blog I read and adore.  I feel a little silly starting it this far in, but I suppose late is better than never.

How far along? 38 weeks

How big is baby? About 4 of the doctor's hand widths.  This is how we measure.

Total weight gain: 44.5 pounds.  Ack.  That number, although not all that important, makes me shutter. 

Maternity Clothes? I've outgrown almost all of them.  Every morning is a challenge.  "What can I wear today that won't make me freak out by lunch time?"  I'm starting to resort to the black yoga pants at work.  No one has said anything yet...

Stretch marks? I was doing so well and then they just appeared one day.  Bam!  All on the underside of my belly, so of course I can't see them myself unless I look in a mirror.

Sleep: Interrupted 2-3 times a night.

Movement: Less constant the past few days, but still present and quite aggressive.  The dance parties have been replaced more with braxton-hicks.  In the past week, though, since the baby has moved down a bit, I'm able to feel hand movements.   

Food cravings: More ice water, please!  This has probably been the only consistent craving (constant desire?) throughout the pregnancy.  When we talked about craving ice being a sign of Pica in our birthing classes I got really nervous.  But then realized that I liked it for comfort reasons.  It had nothing to do with my nutrition!

What I miss: Being able to roll over in bed without it being a big ordeal.  Pants that button & zip.  Having feeling in my right hand.

What I am looking forward to: Being done with the birth.  That moment when Baby is on my chest for the first time taking in the world before he/she nurses.  

Also, I'm looking forward to dressing Baby.  I feel so cheesy saying that, like I'm having a doll rather than a human being, but I can't wait to put together outfits for the cool fall weather.  And then sit on the front porch and wait for Dad to come home from work.

Milestones: Baby has defiantly dropped in the last week.  There is more room at the top of my stomach and my pants are fitting differently at my hips yet again.

Say What?:

Last weekend at a wedding reception a server refilling my water told me I was beautiful.  "I just love pregnant women," she said.  Such a compliment when I'm feeling so big and awkward.

A few months ago, as I was walking to a conference in a downtown Chicago building a construction worker stopped, tipped his hard hat, and said, "Congratulations."

When people ask, "are you having a boy or a girl?" Joe responds: "One of those.  Yes."

              

Alright Baby.  We'll see you soon.  Could me tonight.  Could be another month.  We're getting antsy.