That Was Scary

Yesterday evening I suddenly started having contractions. I don't think that they were real labor contractions, but they were different from the regular braxton hicks that I've felt before. They came like clockwork about every 3 minutes, lasted about 10 seconds, and they hurt and wrapped around to my back and of course my abdomen would get rock hard. I tried drinking some water and laying down, but laying down made them hurt worse so I just walked around. After about 30 minutes I called my doctor and she told me that if they didn't go away in an hour then to go to L & D. Luckily within that time frame they started losing intensity and then went away and I spent the rest of the night laying down. The pain wasn't unbearable, but it was scary and I felt really nauseated and just "yucky". I also don't think Cor.ben really appreciated it because he would kick like crazy after each one let up. Whew, hopefully that won't happen again until show time.

My Big Baby

I had my appointment and monthly growth scan (ultrasound) today and Cor.ben is just about 6 lbs and is in the 84th percentile! WOWZER! I'm so happy that he's a big boy! He's definitely very cute too. He was smacking his lips, showing off his big cheeks, and was practicing breathing. I don't know if I should share this, but it's too funny not to... the ultrasound tech was hilarious and during the ultrasound she said "Wow! He has a big penis! His dad is going to be really happy about this" and she even printed off a copy for me to show my husband (he couldn't come and it was the only appointment time available). She was definitely very entertaining.

The only thing that I'm worried about is that I'm group B strep (+). Well, I have been throughout this entire pregnancy, but now I guess they found a significant amount in my urine. So I have to take an antibiotic 4 times a day for two weeks in addition to being on IV antibiotics while I'm in labor. Yuck! I know that it's no big deal, but I want to labor at home as long as possible without having to worry about getting antibiotics in time and I really don't want to be strapped to an IV while I'm laboring at the hospital. Oh well, I guess it's small potatoes in the long run and really won't matter. I just want everything to be easy and stress free.

I have also started leaking colostrum... but only from one side. Is that weird? And I've started having braxton hicks. They aren't too bad, but sometimes they hurt or are uncomfortable. It's just so exciting that my body is preparing for the arrival of my baby. What a precious miracle!

Yesterday we went and bought the rest of the "must haves" before baby's arrival. That was so much fun. From now until then we'll just buy the "wants" and "it would be nice to have" items.

My SIL also gave birth to my nephew on the 21st. He's so stinking cute and such a great baby. My SIL is a major trooper and I really look up to her. She gave birth completely drug free and was in labor for 42 hours!

Diaper Bag

Oh the little things in life that make me happy! On Saturday the hubs and I went to Bur.lington to look at a few things and while I was waiting for him to come check out bassinets with me (we found one for a steal, yay!) I was cruising the diaper bag section expecting to find nothing. Let me tell ya, I have looked at so many diaper bags and they all seem so blah, or they're too big or too small, but mostly they're just blah. I'm going to be using a diaper bag instead of a purse, so I want something that isn't hideous. We have some extra $$ coming in around October, so I was planning on just sharing my dh's man diaper bag until then and then heading to the Coa.ch outlet and picking up my dream diaper bag. Anyways.... back to Bur.lington... as I was cruising the diaper bag section I saw a beaUtiful bag... and get this!!!... it was only $24!!!!!!!!!!! So I took it home with me and I may possibly love it more than the Coa.ch bag! What?!?! We'll see, I'm still going to head down to the outlet and check it out. For now I'm so happy and excited and I already started putting stuff in it. Wow!

It has a long strap and short straps

It has two exterior side pockets

It has a really deep interior with 4 pockets

Who knew someone could go on for so long about a stinking diaper bag! Lol! Also, I'm 33 weeks tomorrow! YIPPEE! And....... my SIL is in labor as we speak! WOW!!!!

32 Weeks

Not that you need to see another picture just a week later, but I like this one better... so it's posted. And yes, I'm wearing the same outfit in another color. The maternity clothes selection out here is ridiculously small and these shirts and shorts are SUPER comfortable. For those that are curious the shirt is from the wonderful Target and the shorts are Motherhood Maternity, but I got them from Babies R Us. If my husband wouldn't protest I could easily wear these shorts every day. Luckily I love him enough to change things up every now and then.

I had my doctor's appointment last week and I'm happy to report that my weight gain has indeed completely slowed down (as predicted) and I think I only gained 2-3 lbs. My doctor also told me that I'm measuring right on track and told me to tell those people who say I look like I'm due already to kiss off. ;) I'm really loving her! I get another growth scan next week and then at week 34 I start having to come in twice a week for NST's. That should be interesting. Man, some days it seems like this pregnancy is whizzing by and that I have hardly any time left, but today I have been feeling like it will never end. I'm just so excited to meet my son!

In sad news my butt has officially been taken over by stretch marks. What's weird is that some days they are a lot darker than other days. Has anyone else experienced that with stretch marks? I'm glad that they're only on my butt and that they can be easily covered, but I'm still hoping that they disappear.

So, last week I started a prenatal yoga class. It's SO awesome! Of course we did some amazing relaxation stuff, but we also learned a breathing technique for labor, ideal labor positions, strengthened our pelvic floor muscles, and did a lot of hip stretches. I would say it's a must for expectant mothers. Unfortunately, in typical Jennifer fashion, I overdid things and for the past few days my right hip has been locked up and in extreme pain. Today it started feeling a little bit better, but it has been so difficult to try and get things done. Lol, I have to have my husband help me get dressed because I can't bend over and I can't lift my leg up. At least he gets a kick out of it. I'm still going to go to yoga this week, but it will mostly be for the relaxation and companionship. I'm sure my instructor will understand me sitting most things out. Hopefully I learned my lesson.

Dresses

As I'm rapidly outgrowing my maternity clothes (seriously... a shirt that I bought last week and thought was fine is already bordering on too short. Ridiculous!) I decided that the way to go is with maternity dresses. I think that they're awesome because they're so comfortable, they keep me cool, hopefully I won't be able to outgrow them, and I think they're cute (I hope you agree). I definitely want to get a few more that are super casual if I can find any.

31 Weeks

Woowee! I'm tired! Last week DH and I made a spur of the moment trip out of town due to a family emergency and we just got back in town Saturday around 4am and weren't able to rest very long because we had several obligations that day. Today I woke up at 10:30am and then went back to bed at 12:30pm and just woke up again at 3:30pm. I don't like being this unproductive, but the rest sure felt great.

Cor.ben has been quite the mover and shaker lately. It's so amazing to feel and see all of his big movements and DH has been blown away. It's so cute! He even called his Mom to tell her about it (LOL) and he compared our son to a big fish. I would describe him more as a giant wiggle worm. Thank God I have the ultrasound pictures to prove that I'm actually pregnant with a human or we would both be skeptical :). Right now he likes to stick his foot around my sternum and has also found my ribs. I'm always happy to feel him move, but that isn't the best feeling in the world. My favorite is when he sticks his butt out. It makes me realize how big he is now and it's funny because it makes my belly look all lopsided. It definitely is more entertaining than anything else I can think of.

My ankles and feet have also become VERY swollen. I wish that I would have taken some pictures of my feet to give you guys a good laugh. I'm sure a lot of it has to do with all of the standing and walking around I had to do while we were gone and it was also really hot. Since we've been home I've been trying to keep my feet up as much as possible and I have been sucking down water.

In my last post I told you guys that my family has been making comments that I look like I'm due already and I thought they were crazy, but apparently I must look that way in person. Here are two comments I got this week from strangers... "you look like if I poked you, you would pop" and when I told another lady I was due August 9th she said "WOW, I thought you were going to tell me you were due this week". Hmm, well I will be due.... IN ONLY 9 MORE WEEKS! YAY!!!! (and I'll be full term in only 6 weeks).

My weekly wisdom this week is that I need to sleep on soft surfaces. While we were gone the bed that I was sleeping on was EXTREMELY soft and my hips didn't hurt at all, but as soon as we got home and I slept on my bed they were excruciatingly painful. It's not like my bed is hard, it's a freaking pillow top, but I guess I need something softer. I'm going to go buy some mattress padding or egg crates and see if that works.

Oh... an additional YAY!... my SIL is due in 2 weeks! I can't wait to see my little nephew. She is beyond ready for him to make his appearance.

Hospital Tour

We had our labor and delivery hospital tour today! We were both so tired because we just got back from out of town and didn't get in until almost 4am. I could have easily just stayed home and slept, but I'm glad that dh convinced me to still go. It was great seeing where I will deliver my little boy and to get reassurance that I will have support in getting the type of delivery that I want. Dh and I both got nervous when we reached the part of the tour that shows a labor and delivery room. We could both imagine ourselves there and got a little dizzy, lol! Oh and did I mention that this tour was at ..... drum roll please... my new hospital! Yup, I was finally able to successfully switch doctors and hospitals! The difference between the hospitals is like night and day, thank you Lord! I very briefly met with my new doctor last week right before she had to leave to deliver a baby (aw!), but I'll get to see her again next week. So far I really REALLY like her. I'm so relieved!

I still need to do an update and post some new pictures. I can't believe I'm almost 31 weeks! I'll post and take some pictures after I catch up on some zzz's. Cor.ben is definitely a big boy now and is doing some crazy things!