Wall pretty

omgah.  We stayed up til 2am working on this last night.  Which probably wasn't the best idea considering I had to get up for work this morning, but it was worth it!  LOVE how it turned out!!

To fully appreciate this labor of love, you should know each piece had to be cut out and applied. 

I have every intention of taking that ugly brown valance down and replacing it soon.  NO BROWN!

It was most definitely a two-person job and I'm so thankful the Hubs helped me with it.  Let's just say he's slightly more "detail oriented" than I am.  To put it mildly.

When we finally went to bed, I started having contractions.  A whopping THREE to be exact, all painful (again), but that was it.  It was strange because I would get very hot and feel like I might vomit while it felt like someone had my entire abdomen in a vice and set it on fire.  I could feel it cramp up, get really tight, and then gradually ease up.  And after each one came the chills, I was so cold I was shivering.  I drank some water and tried to get comfortable enough to get a little sleep.

Today I've been searching for something to wear for my baby shower this weekend.  I want to be comfortable, but feel pretty -- which doesn't happen very often these days.  Anyway, I was trying on some of my heels (dumb, maybe, but they always make you feel & look taller/more fabulous, right?) and I must have twisted my ankle, because now I officially have ONE GIANT CANKLE and one slightly puffy foot.  I keep jokingly asking the Hubs to give me some Lasix, which he refuses.  Maybe I'm not totally joking.  Can one part of me just NOT be swollen for a moment?

31 Weeks

Well another week down.  Nine, yes 9, to go!  One of my patients - who is a very sweet older lady - said to me this week "I just know you're carrying a boy."  I asked her what made her think that?  Because that DOES seem to be the popular opinion.  She replied "Because you're getting real wide in the back....real wide."  And used her hands, moving apart, to demonstrate this "expansion".  GEE THANKS.   I've been pretty surprised at people's brutal honesty and bluntness in the things they say to me.  Most of them are my patients and I see them on a regular basis for chemo treatments, so they've seen me...ummm...grow.  They all mean well.  I guess sometimes I'm just superextrahypersensitive.

Speaking of work, this week whooped my behind.  We were SO busy all week.  I had one day off and slept for most of it. 

In addition to being tired, I've been totally hormonal in a way that is completely foreign to me:  I'm not a big cryer.  Sure, if someone close to me dies, then yes, tears shall follow.  Hearbroken?  Waterworks.  Really really angry/mad, then also yes, a few tears might eek their way out.  But for the most part, it's just not something I do much of.  Until this week.  It seems anything to do with a newborn baby gets me all teary-eyed.  I was watching "One Born Every Minute" on Lifetime and got all weepy.  Then in Target today, I see a brand-spanking-new baby being carried in one of those front-body carriers by the dad.  Awww....instant tears.  What is up with THAT????

Speaking of Target (seriously, my A.D.D. could go on forever like this), the MUCH ANTICIPATED Target near my house is scheduled to open March 6!  That's basically 2 weeks away!!  I can literally walk to this store and it's been in the works for a loooong time, teasing me with the big Red Bullseye, leading me on with rumors of "Grand Opening dates" that turned out to be false.  I have visions of me and the baby in a babyjogger, making our weekly trips down the hill to Target dancing in my head.

On to baby:  This kid has been having a party in my uterus allllll week long.  Day, night, doesn't matter.  I can't believe how much movement there's been and how strong he or she is getting.  I'm a little scared when I think in the next 9 weeks, all this baby has to do is get bigger.  And bigger.  And bigger.

In nursery news, the glider rocker arrived.  The Hubs and I put it together in all of 15 minutes.  I was never in love with the look of it, but turns out it's also NOT the most comfortable rocker I've ever sat in.  But the price was right and it came with a matching gliding ottoman, so it will serve its purpose.  I don't mean to complain...it matches the room and it's better than sitting on the floor to nurse my baby ; )

Also, it turns out I don't have to go to Israel afterall to track down the seller of my wall decals and beat him up (like I was planning to do).  They arrived via post yesterday!  It came in a zillion pieces so that will be fun to put up.  It actually looks kinda complicated.  I'll take pics after we get it up.  I'm nervous because it's a one-shot only deal.  They aren't reusable, so if you have to peel it off because you screwed up, too bad.

The weather here has been GORGEOUS this week.  Mid 60's and mostly sunny.  It's been so refreshing and just what my tired heavy hot puffy body needed.  I took Dakota to the dog park a few times and let her get her fill of running and butt-sniffing in.  She's happy.  We also went on many extended walks and got to open the windows in the house.  It felt like spring, glorious spring.  Then I had to remind myself it's FEBRUARY and we are headed back to "normal" temps in the next week.  Ugggh.

What I'm really excited for is my baby shower this weekend!  My Hubs' family is throwing me a shower and I can't wait to see what Baby K gets.  I think after this, I will be able to go out and buy the remaining things we still need.  But I hear you need surprisingly little for a newborn.  Shhhh....don't tell the Hubs that!

30 Weeks

OK...we're 30 weeks in.  10 weeks to go.  Unless I go early...my cousin Jennifer had her baby today and she was 4 weeks early!!  Both mom & baby are healthy, Anayla Daniel Thorne weighed 6 lbs, 3 ozs.  I can't wait to see pictures!!  Is it so wrong of me to be just a little bit jealous? ha ha...I just want my lil nugget to get here, but not QUITE yet.  (So stay in there and keep baking little Baby K!)

And last night I had a big scare.  Joe was out of town for work and I was getting my hair done in the evening.  Jen (friend and hair goddess) was telling me a story shortly after finishing my hair.  Suddenly I start feeling this HORRENDOUS pain in my lower abdomen.  Severe cramping and tightening -- enough to take my breath away.  I'm SUPER uncomfortable, maybe even starting to fight back tears (yah, I'm a big fat wuss) but wanting to hear the rest of the story.  The pain worsens, and after a few seconds, I feel lke I might pass out.  Or throw up.  Or just spontaneously combust.  So I jump up, run into the bathroom and I think I might have screamed.  It hurt. THAT. BAD.  I came back out two minutes later, totally hot, flushed, full of my typical-Tammy red rash/hives.  Still feeling nauseated, but the pain was starting to ease up.  When I described it to Jen (who is a mama herself) she said "Yep, I think you had your first contraction dear". 

I DID NOT SIGN UP FOR THAT!  If that's the case.....how do we turn this truck around?  Seriously.  I am not cut out for this!  All this time I just keep putting labor out of my mind and try not to worry about it.  And if one more person says "the pain is worth it", I might get violent.

Had my monthly prenatal massage today and we are now at the point that I have to lie on my side because my belly is too big.  It was BLISSFUL.  Seeing Bernita every month has been a very pleasurable way to pass the time!!

I also had my OB appointment yesterday.  Nothing new there.  Well....except for another 6 pound weight gain.  Since I didn't gain any at the previous appointment, I'm trying not to beat myself up over it.  Letting it go is a lot harder than I ever would've imagined.  Ironically, yesterday was the FIRST time my Dr. didn't ask me if I was having any contractions.  And then just a few hours later *Poof*! Contraction!  Anyway, I'm supposed to be seeing him every 2 weeks but he said not to come back for 3 weeks.  I guess he is that UNconcerned....a good thing, I know.  He said my belly is growing right on track, so I'm happy.

Not much else new, but it's as cold as Minnesota here lately.  I'm over THAT as well as my inability to bend over. *sigh*  It's supposed to get up into the mid-50's next week, so I welcome that with open arms.

How far along: 30 weeks

Total weight gain: 27 pounds and no end in sight.  Oy.

How much does baby weigh: Almost 3 pounds.  15.7 inches long.  (That's so weird to think about something that big living inside me!)  Baby is now the size of a head of cabbage.

Maternity clothes:  Yes.  And just larger scrubs.  I bought some cute Valentine's scrub tops and thankfully VDay is Monday, because I will get about 1 more wear out of them.  They are already too snug in my belly and I just bought them!!  Don't get me started on bras...

Cravings: Still anything sweet.  Carbs, carbs, carbs.  I hope I love meat one day again.  I have almost zero interest in cooking these days.

Sleep: Is alright.  I toss & turn a lot to keep all my pillows where they should be in order to stay comfortable.  I've been napping almost every day for 2 hours.  I get reeeeaaaallllly tired.

Movement:  Lots more movement now and I can tell the baby is getting stronger.  I feel it especially in the evenings.  But I've noticed it during the day too, while at work.  I can see someone squirming around in there.  It's so weird to look down and see/feel your belly move side-to-side!

Belly button in or out:  Still flush/even.  The top has begun to topple out a little bit, but for the most part, it's hanging in there!

What I'm looking forward to:  Girls movie night out tomorrow night for the new Adam Sandler/Jennifer Aniston flick.  My hubs returning home.  My baby shower next weekend.  Finding a new dress for the baby shower.  The glider rocker getting delivered.  Finishing the nursery.  I have a to-do list a mile long!

Oh, and the wall decals I ordered that were coming from Israel -- still not here.  Shocker.  I contacted the seller on etsy.com and he assures me everything is being held up due to all the winter weather problems around the country. 

I'll believe him for now...don't make me come over there little Israeli guy...

Milestone: 70 days to go!  Baby's eyesight is developing.  I need to find a pediatrician and my OB doc gave me a couple of names and numbers, so that's next to-do.  Oh, and I may have panicked early about the stretch marks, I'm still stretchy free for now.

What I miss:  Ice cold beer.  Wine.  Sleeping all night.  Walking without pain.  Bending over without stopping breathing.  My old clothes.  My single chin (ha ha!)

29 Weeks & Dad's Visit

My Dad came into town for a visit last week.  It was nice to have him around!  We took a day trip to Columbus to visit my Grandma, Aunt, & Uncle and to pick up a china hutch that my Grandma was giving my dad.  It was an adventure as we realized right before we left that the hutch wouldn't fit in my jeep.  I had the brilliant idea "Let's just rent a U-Haul trailer!" since I had the hitchey-winchy thing on the back.  So we get all the way up to Columbus, get to the U-Haul place and guess who doesn't have the ball and insert in her vehicle?  Moi.  So this cheap trailer rental turned into a more expensive ordeal, but it was worth it.  I love having a piece of furniture in our family that's been around so long and has so much history.  Oh, it's beautiful too!

We stayed busy while my Dad was in town, but we also did a LOT of eating and lounging around/relaxing!  Aside from our trip to Columbus, we went to Union Terminal and wandered the museums.  Made a trip to Home Depot (yes, this is exciting), watched old Western movies, and ate waaaaay too much at the Brazilian Steakhouse.  There might have been one night when we had 2 desserts.  One of us might have had 3 (it wasn't me!!)

Things I'm looking forward to this week:
-Getting my hair did
-Movie night with the girls.  Yes, we're going to a RomCom and the Hubs can't stop me (he hates 'em!)
-Getting my massage with Bernita
-My OB appointment on Wednesday.  Am I weird to look forward to my doctor's appointments?  They're not (as of yet) unpleasant, I like hearing the heart beat, and most of all, I like PROGRESS.  I'm going nuts with this long winter, being all couped up and just getting larger and larger and larger!

Speaking of larger and larger, here's a pic for good measure.  Even my head is getting fat:

My darling hubs had the day off from work today and ordered this, most presumably so I'd stop whining about it.  I keep saying "In just 10 1/2 weeks, this baby is coming!  Don't forget: He or she could always come early!!"

It's not the most appealing piece of furniture, and yes, it screams "I belong in a nursery rocking a baby!" but it will get the job done.  And my hubs is never one to pass up a great deal.