33 weeks

Hey, you know what’s fun to say?  “I’m due NEXT MONTH!”  We’ll just forget for a moment that it’s still technically 7 weeks away because that sounds infinitely longer.   ;)

Thursday was the 4th of July and we had the day off from work.  I ran some errands with my mom, dad, and little bro who is in town visiting.  Uncle Billy was pretty excited to touch a pregnant belly for the first time.  Meanwhile, Bobby was making his weekly trip to Home Depot and working in the yard.  When I came home he asked me to come into the back yard and follow him around to the side of the house.  I was getting a little bit nervous and fully expecting to be shown a snake or some other sort of dead animal that he found.

But instead, I saw this… and my heart exploded.

 

He planted a rose bush right outside Brooke’s window.  He chose it because it’s “tiny and pretty – just like she is going to be".  Umm… melt right into a puddle, why don’t I?

The next day I had an appointment at the doctor’s office.  It followed its normal boring pattern: pee in a cup, get weighed, check blood pressure, measure belly, listen to heartbeat.  And then she started feeling around on my stomach.  She got to the top right section and said “I can’t tell if this is the head or the butt.  Let’s go into the ultrasound room.”  She put the wand thing right up to that spot and instantly said “Yep, that’s the head.  She’s breech.”

@*#&#^@*$&##)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So I left the office with a handout of some uncomfortable looking exercises to do and a few tears in my eyes.  Obviously, having a C-section isn’t the worst thing in the world.  People do it all the time.  It just isn’t my preference… so I needed a few minutes to pout about it.  When the day comes we’re just going to do whatever we have to do to welcome Brooke safely.  But until then, it looks like I’ll be hanging out upside down.   ;)

32 weeks

We closed out the month of June with another baby shower.  This one was thrown by the sweet ladies I work with.  I didn’t sleep well the night before my first baby shower, and the same exact thing happened the night before my work shower.  I think I get major anxiety about being the center of attention and opening gifts in front of people.  I’m so appreciative and so touched by their thoughtfulness and generosity – but I also feel weird and guilty when people spend money on me. 

But clearly, everyone loves buying baby clothes, so I guess I just need to get over it.  :)  Brooke now has enough outfits to clothe 10 baby girls.

This weekend Bobby and I also went out to breakfast at our favorite spot on the island of Palm Beach… followed by a bike ride along our favorite bike path.  I was really turning some heads with my huge basketball belly.  :)

31 weeks

This week we had our maternity photos taken by the supremely talented (and also newly pregnant!) Jessica Lorren.  We didn’t know it at the time because she had not yet gone public with her exciting news – remember, this is still the 35 weeks- pregnant- me going back in time and playing catch up – and maybe that’s for the best because I probably would have screamed with glee and hugged her way too tightly.  An overreaction by society’s standards, considering we hardly know each other.  But the joy that comes with finding out that you’re going to be a mother… well, it’s just explosive, and all-encompassing, and if it is what you want in life.. then I want it for you too.  BADLY.  Because I know firsthand what it feels like to fear that it will never happen.

I also got in some practice with my gorgeous (but not superbly comfortable) new rocking chair

30 weeks

This week baby Brooke was showered with love (and tons of gifts made exclusively for itty bitty humans) by our lovely family and friends.  It was so overwhelming to see and feel the excitement and joy that others have for our expanding family.

{I'll add photos as soon as I have them}

It was also Bobby’s very first Fathers Day.  I know I’ll say the same thing next year because at that point he’ll actually have a sweet little daughter to swoop into his arms while she covers him in hugs and kisses on his special day… but a Daddy-to-be is still a Daddy in my book.  So he got a gift from his little girl in utero and we had breakfast with his family and spent time with my family that afternoon.

Brooke's Uncle Steve, Brooke's Grandpa, Brooke's Daddy

29 weeks

I’m really losing steam on completing my weekly updates.  As I write this, I am currently 35 weeks pregnant and trying to remember the details of week 29.  Exhaustion has set in.  So you can pretty much assume that whatever I mention that I did from here until delivery is literally all that happened in my life that week (with the exception of dragging myself to work and then promptly putting on pjs the second I get home).

Big sister Lia likes to feel the kicks too   :)

So Tuesday I had another doctor appointment – this time meeting midwife #3.  To cut right to the chase, I waited on the paper covered exam table for 40 minutes before I finally walked out and told the nurse that I couldn’t wait anymore and I was starving and about to faint.  She tells me “Rachel is heading in to see you right now.”  Lo and behold this woman Rachel is just sitting around in her office while I’ve just wasted my entire lunch hour waiting on her (and also starving to death).  So basically I dislike her immensely and never want to see her again.  I *did* however stick around for my 5 minute appointment after finally kicking her butt into gear.  I didn’t want my chart to be missing any information.  I need to find a way to ensure that my regular midwife is the one present for my delivery.  I might just have to beg to be induced on a day that she is working.

In happier news – along with Bobby’s new job came a company car for him to drive.  So last week we said goodbye to his enormous Toyota Tundra (and the car payment and insurance payment that were also kind of enormous).  What a blessing!  Freeing up this extra cash left Bobby feeling hugely generous and he decided to splurge on a “birthing gift” for me.  A term he must have come up with all on his own; in girl world these are more commonly called “push presents”.  But because this is never something I ever brought up to him (because honestly I see Brooke as the ultimate present) it made his terminology all the more hilarious and adorable.

Take a look at mama’s hot new bag!

28 weeks

Last week Bobby put his foot down and insisted that we get a 3D ultrasound.  I had nothing against the idea, of course... but our doctor had never mentioned it to us and people always say it costs hundreds of dollars to get it done.  But hubby said it was worth it and really wanted me to make an appointment.
Out of curiosity, I did a google search for 3D ultrasounds and the results that came back were all of these little businesses that do this as a novelty thing.  As in, it's not a doctor performing the ultrasound and it serves no medical purpose whatsoever.  It's just for fun.  
So that's how we found ourselves at 3D Baby Bump (which is conveniently located next door to a Carvel in a tiny strip mall in West Palm Beach) on Memorial Day.  They did a 20 minute ultrasound, gave us a DVD of the entire thing plus all the pictures, AND recorded Brooke's heartbeat and put it inside a little stuffed lamb.  All for $99!
We signed in and were then led to a large room with a comfy bed for me and a "man chair" for Bobby to sit next to me.  Then over on the other side of the room were two rows of movie theater seats!  Ya know, just in case you wanted to invite everyone you know to come along.

So here she is folks!  Our little miracle.  With a cute little nose and smooshy kissy lips.

So who does she look like?  Mommy or Daddy?  So far, everyone is saying Daddy.

27 weeks

How far along? 27 weeks and 4 days

Baby's size? She’s 2 whole pounds!  Awwwwww.  And she’s 14.5 inches long.

Weight Gain? 21 lbs.

Maternity clothes? I ordered a dress for the baby shower but it hasn’t arrived yet.  So I’m not sure if it’s a keeper.

Stretch marks? Thursday morning I was getting ready for work and saw some lines running down the left side of my belly.  I promptly began to cry and quickly got dressed and headed out the door.  The girls at work saw that I was upset and made me explain… which led to everyone laughing at me.  I guess they were expecting something more serious.  (Stretch marks are forever!!!  This is serious!!!)

When I got home at lunchtime, I took another look and no longer saw them.  Soooo, it’s possible that I overreacted to some marks left on my skin from my pajamas or my sheets or something.  This matter shall remain under further investigation.

Sleep? So great, and I’m so appreciative.

Best moment this week? I think my nesting instinct finally kicked in and I was able to organize and put away some things in Brooke's room.  We have been blessed with TONS of beautiful hand-me-downs... and I've kind of just been piling them up along the edges of her bedroom up until this point.  I also did my first load of baby laundry.  Her clothes are so cute and tiny!

Movement? She’s been pressing something large and hard (I’m guessing her butt or head) up against the front of my belly on the right side quite often!  What a funny feeling.

Food cravings? I kind of just want to eat cereal all the time.  Wheaties or Special K, please.

Symptoms? Braxton Hicks contractions!  Or so I'm told anyway.  I was hanging out with my besties for girls night and would periodically get some tightening and some pain on the right side of my belly.  They all said that's what it is.  It lasted for a couple of hours Thursday evening, but hasn't been back to visit me since then.

What I miss? This is another “I miss my husband” week.  He recently got promoted so he’s in that phase where you have to do your old job, plus train your replacement, plus get trained for your new position.  But this new job will be SO AWESOME for him.  And he won’t have to travel as much.  And we’re still staying local.  So this really couldn’t have come at a better time.  Praise the Lord!

We send him photos when he's traveling so he knows how much we miss him.

What I'm looking forward to? The rocking chair that I have been stalking because it’s been on backorder is finally on its way to me!!  This has been the only piece of furniture missing from Brooke’s room for months!  The nursery will finally feel complete.  Well, then we’ll just be missing the baby.  All in due time…

Weekly Wisdom: Well, I learned that I do NOT have gestational diabetes.  Score!!  I had to drink this sugary "fruit punch" drink and then have my blood drawn exactly one hour later.  My body is still processing sugars properly.  Whoo-hooo!

Milestones: This is the final week of my 2^nd trimester.  We’re in the home stretch now! 

Emotions: Stretch mark scare day was a disaster, but other than that, I’m just anxious.  Anxious to meet my daughter and anxious to drop this weight!