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!

26 weeks

How far along? 26 weeks 4 days

Baby's size? Brooke is approximately 14 inches from head to heel and about 1.66 lbs.

Weight Gain? Ummm…. Like 20 lbs.  Don’t tell anyone.

Maternity clothes? I got a few new things from Destination Maternity online a few weeks ago.  I felt like I needed some shorts and a few casual tops to get me through our trip to Mexico without dying of heat stroke.  I’m hoping that once I find a dress for my baby shower I’ll be done buying maternity clothes for good.

Stretch marks? I haven’t seen anything suspicious yet.

Sleep? Glorious.  I want to just take one long nap until the baby is ready to come out.

Best moment this week? When I went to my parents’ house to pick up my dog after our trip, there was a gift there waiting for me!  From my Pop-pop!  I got so emotional at the thought of him picking this out for me… at 90 years old.  I just don’t have any words.  I’m so excited that he is finally getting promoted to Great Grandfather.  Brooke is going to absolutely love him.

Movement? When she’s awake she moves around constantly!  Sometimes she nudges me so hard, it’s uncomfortable.  She’s strong like her daddy.

Food cravings? Does ice water count?  I just want cold cold water.  And if my glass isn’t filled to the brim with ice… you’re gonna get an earful from me.

Symptoms? Oh my goodness, I had my first swollen feet experience on Wednesday!  When I put on my shoes to go to work that morning, they felt a little snug.  And when I got home for lunch, I kicked my shoes off to relax for a bit, and they looked all puffy!  I got a little nervous, but I was mostly just grossed out.  It was not cute.

What I miss? My dresses and pencil skirts that I haven’t been able to wear in months

What I'm looking forward to? I can’t wait to see what Baby B looks like.  I hope she has a tiny Duffin head (for obvious reasons)… and I hope she has some hair that she’ll let me put bows and barrettes in.   :)

Weekly Wisdom: We traveled home from Mexico on Monday… so this wisdom was in fact obtained this week and not last week:  Mexican men do not get up and offer their seat to pregnant chicks.  However, SO MANY of the Mexican women DO!  ?Como se dice “backwards!”?  Right?!

I totally wasn’t offended or anything.  I never even took any of the offered up seats.  It was just a funny observation.

Milestones: Successful completion of an international vacation while larger than a whale!!  And non-pregnancy related:  I upgraded my iPhone 4S to a new iPhone 5 AND upgraded our crummy first generation iPad to a cute little iPad mini.  Still important.  Still exciting. 

Emotions: Happy to be home in our own bed with our dog.  I like it when our whole family is together.