Getting Comfy: Trying To Clock Some Hours In Dream Land.

Last week, I had no idea what fruit/veggie/food stuff Spencer was the size of. But I've been informed by another preggo chick's blog that at 31 weeks, he was the size of 4 oranges. Are they small, are they large...I can't tell you. But allegedly, that's how big my little bruiser was.

This week, 32 weeks to be exact, he is the size of jicama, which is really coincidental. My pal John Jackson and I were just discussing jicama. Neither of us knew what it was so I did some research and learned it's kind of like a water chestnut or a radish...therefore, it is disgusting, and the furthest thing from Spencer. Regardless, this week he is about the size of one of these nasty...vegetables? It doesn't really seem to be bigger than 4 oranges though.

At 32 weeks, my boy is pretty much at his birth length which should at least be around 19 inches and he's weighing in at around 4.5 pounds which is awesome. I want him to be as big and healthy as he can be!  "They" say he can even double in size between now and birth...my mom DID predict a 9 pound bundle of joy! This week, his Immune System is all in place...unless he's like his mommy, then he's doomed. And amniotic fluid is at it's maximum now so they're less juice to cushion his ninja activities.

And in the land of ME, it's said that insomnia affects about 75% of moms during the third trimester but it's not really insomnia that's my problem. Even my Chronic Fatigue Syndrome hasn't been an issue...I've actually had MORE energy during my pregnancy, including now. I'm just uncomfortable and FUSSY! Then there are frequent bathroom trips and then trying to get back into a comfy spot when the Round Ligament Pains and (I think) contraction cramping hits at night. Once I find that comfy spot, I'm out like a light again. There's just a lot of hunting going on during the night. The pillow between the knees is helping.

An additional help to my night time troubles has been the adjustment in my work schedule. I cut my days down by an hour and half, which may not sound like much (but it's IS when I was clocking 10.5 hour days). But it's been 2 days and I can already feel the difference. By the time I start feeling irrationally fussy at work, it's time to hit the road. And I have some extra time while I'm there to relax, settle, and empty my mind in order to get some quality snoozing in. I feel really good about it...even if it makes me feel incredibly lazy. I'm going to embrace the laziness because in no time...it'll vanish!

Baby Shower is this weekend which is a milestone we need to hit! I'm in such a panic about him coming early and us being unprepared but things are looking MORE than good that I won't be dropping any bombs before Sunday. I'm keeping everything crossed that this is the case...especially my legs. To my girlfriends out there, I really can't WAIT to see your sexy faces! It's been far, far too long!

Time for morning meds and the countdown until my long weekend begins!



Snack Size: Experiencing Weird Symptoms In Small Doses.

And now for your viewing pleasure, 26 weeks...still an eggplant.

Nice flowery drawers, grandma. What can I say? They're comfy and comfy is what I need since Spencer seems to be pushing buttons for weird symptoms these days.

ON THE MENU

 A. My back has always been a problem (since I partially slipped a disc years ago and followed that up with a compression fraction from falling down the stairs). Add a one pound eggplant to that pressure and, well, nights have been unpleasant.

B. I can no longer regulate my body temperature. HOT is my only setting.


C. I'm guessing Spence Baby is positioned on a nerve because for a few days, my right thigh was asleep. Now it's my right thigh, forearm, and there's a dull and annoying tingle on the right side of my torso. Not painful but highly annoying.


D. A very mild heartburn seems to be present in the morning. But we were told at week 18 that the baby already had hair and rumor is babies with lots of hair cause heartburn. Tums are on my "CAN HAS" list. I'll deal.


E. Bloody noses have returned but they aren't super-soakers like before.


F. Round Ligament Pains have returned but like in the beginning, it's when I make a quick movement, when I sneeze, when I'm positioned one way for too long. They're no big deal but of course I totally FREAK because I feel like I'm ripping my guts to shreds and somehow hurting him. He gets a nice massage after I feel one of those twinges.


G. I keep having incredibly vivid dreams and they BUG ME!


H. I'm back to getting up at least once, if not twice, to empty my tank during the night. Like with the back problems, I've always had sleeping problems. So these little night time annoyances are...annoying.


I. Leg cramps a.k.a. CHARLIE HORSES! Pre-pregnancy, I told NOT handle nor tolerate Charlie Horses and they made me into a HUGE baby. I would crumble to the ground. Somehow, during my preggoness, I’ve figured out how to stop them as soon as they appear. Small victory.


* Side note: how unfair is it that clumsiness is a side effect of pregnancy??? I’ve been burdened with being a walking disaster my entire life. Does it really have to intensify while I’m responsible for protecting a little person??? Grrrrrrr.


At least I can poop. That's a small yet powerful blessing! And sure, there are a lot of things on my list but I'm not bitching (YOU'RE NOT??), just making note. All of these things affect me in small ways. They come and they're gone. I just want to have a list of things to use during guilt-trips when he's older.


Enough about me. Let's blather about him.


26 WEEKS: The nerves is his ears are way more developed so he can hear both me and Todd, which is good because I'm been chatting to him nightly and I don't want him to miss out on any of my gems. He's still practicing breathing in the amniotic fluid and he's piling on the fat so he's more pinchable and less...Skeletor. Allegedly he's more than a pound (maybe even close to 2) and over a foot long. And his testicles are making their descent. That's my little man!


As for me...I'm still supposed to be sleeping and eating, which I am, but watching "Pregnant In Heels"  (Rosie Pope is my new female celeb-crush) has me anxious to sign up for the free childbirth related classes offered by our hospital. The better prepared you are, the easier it'll be. They're free so WHY NOT? I know blood pressure can become an issue at this time which freaks me out because I've had blood pressure issues, on the low end. Hopefully that was a fluke.


And there you have it. The world according to me and Spencer!

Slightly Emo: A Note To The Unborn Vol. 5

My dearest and squirmiest Spencer:

I haven't written you a note since we found out you were a boy! Out little man. I'll be honest, having two sisters, I always imagined I'd WANT a girl. But when the ultrasound broad asked if I had any feelings about what you were, I KNEW you were a boy and I couldn't be happier! I knew all along. My special little guy. We've named you Spencer Lee Gansert. Spencer was a name I really liked...I like last names as first names...and Lee is my father's middle name. I think it's a strong name and a cute name, a name that will transition from boy to man. Your daddy and I can't WAIT to meet you...and your arrival is coming so SOON!!!

We (and your big brother) went to two places yesterday and registered for everything we could possibly need to take care of you, entertain you, keep you safe, help you grow. It was an awesome yet draining experience. Again, I'll be honest, I got pretty overwhelmed and very emotional. I haven't really had uncontrollable preggo emotions these 22.5 weeks, give or take a few commercials or songs making me tear up here and there. I've been pretty solid!

But for whatever reason, picking out gifts for you knocked the wind out of me and daddy had to give me some special attention. Screaming or crying, it could've gone either way right there in the middle of the store. But a little snuggle and squeeze, and a raspberry lemonade mellowed me out and we got the job done. You're going to have an AWESOME room, little dude. And I plan to do everything I possible can to give you an awesome life. You have my word on that.

I've learned your routines and am enjoying feeling all your twists-n-turning-n-kicks-n-flips! In fact, you're squirming right now! It doesn't last very long in the morning. I like to think it's you saying "Good Morning, mommy" and then drifting back to sleep. Daddy spends time rubbing my belly and gets to share in feeling you spazz out. We both love it. We both love YOU. I'm starting to "puff up", according to your big brother (who gives you a pat from time to time and says Hello to you), so it's starting to be more evident that you're in there. I love it.

I didn't especially love when daddy called me "fatty". I called him "tubs" in return. And I'm not really loving the return of Round Ligmanet Pain or the stiff back that just appeared yesterday. It's all making me fussy. But believe me, I know how lucky I've been this whole pregnancy. I'm tough. You're tough. We can deal with a little pain here and there, am I right??

Anyway, I just wanted to pop in and record a little of what's going on these days as we await your arrival. I hope you're OK in there and that we're doing a decent jog of keeping you comfortable and comforted. It broke my heart when you got the hiccups last week...I wanted to soothe you but didn't know how. Just know we're thinking about you constantly and everyone is dying to meet you. You are WAY loved! For reals. And I'll do my best not to get emo and stress you out.

I love you, baby monster.

Love,
Your Crazy Mommy

Read All About It: Awesome Developements After a Dry Spell.

SO. MUCH. TO. TELL.

So I'll start by giving you your dose of text book information on the little monster right up front, starting with him or her being the size of an avocado this week (Holy Guacamole!, according to Todd).

And the weird thing is when you look at my ever-morphing body, it LOOKS like I have an avocado in there. Or a football. My pooch is pointy and weird but I like it. I am 16 weeks (and 2 days) and I've gained 3 pounds total. Todd was worried about this but the doc said not to fret. I was losing in the beginning so 3 lbs. = success. Not to mention that a lot of broads don't bulk up until the end, so no need for weight gaining milkshakes just yet.

Monster has eyebrows and lashes, and fingerprints. No crimes in utero.

And back to the doc...we had our 16 week appointment on Friday and our doc told me that I'm doing GREAT. She received back all my blood work results and while she didn't say anything about markers for Downs, etc., she did say everything was thumbs up. Even the Round Ligament Pain was dubbed utterly normal.  I'm NORMAL! Well, outside of my Kindergarten vaccine for Rubella being unequivocal a.k.a. weak (17 years go by and they can tell that??? CREEPY!). So as soon as the monster debuts, she'll re-vaccinate and all will be gravy.

The heartbeat was 154 beats, which you can hear HERE!

We received paperwork for my next round of blood work (vampires in lab coats, I tell you) AND the ultrasound we've been so impatiently waiting for. AND I CAN'T WAIT ANYMORE! It just makes it so much more REAL. I mean, I have no symptoms, the existence of my bump comes and goes (a guy at work even asked my nephew if something was wrong because I don't look preggo at all)...the more I know about the little monster, the more I attach and become mom. I'm nervous to get served with bad news, but more excited over all!

March 21st at 10:00. The moment of the big reveal.

Aunt Sharon

Me a.k.a. Mommy

Do you know what else makes it more real? Feeling the little monster MOVE, which I think I did yesterday morning! I can't say for sure and it hasn't happened since but I was laying in bed and felt this weird little...I don't know. Stronger than a swish or a flutter but not quite as strong as gas moving around. Just three little thumps.

Three, little, awesome, bad ass THUMPS!

So the ultrasound is March 21st and our next appointment is April 5th. Trucking along.

Twiddling Thumbs: Waiting For Some Moments of Excitement.

Years before I even dreamed of getting preggo, I started eating this horrific concoction of angle hair pasta, butter, corn, mozzarella cheese, and Italian salad dressing. Someone dubbed it "pregnancy food" because it was a weird miss-mash of whatever I could fine in the cupboard (ah, my college years) that would only appeal to a certain crowd. I am eating it today for the first time while pregnant. Delicious as ever!

I've made it to 15 weeks and I'm growing myself a navel orange.

This week, my monster is REALLY moving. I haven't felt the little fish tail swish they say early movement feels like, but allegedly, it's possible. I'm in tune with every movement in my body right now, let me tell you, waiting to know it's REALLY in there! And because of all the movement and developing sweat glands, my baby could possibly be sweating!! If he/she is like me, it's sweat free. I can run a marathon, stink to high Heaven, and never lose a drop. If he/she is like their daddy, they're already a wet mop!!

Every little thing is special. Even if it's gross.

This is kind of a boring part of pregnancy, to be honest. But the boring part of pregnancy makes it easier to live life! I'm not a prisoner of my bed! I'm feeling so great, in fact, thagt we've planned a "Babymoon" to New York City during Easter. My mom took me to see "Grease" in utero and I'm taking my little monster to see the sights! It'll be a nice last adventure (for awhile) for Todd and I and we'll be in great company! I can't wait.

I also can't wait for our appointment this Friday. We get to hear the thumping heartbeat again AND we get our paperwork to schedule our ultrasound! If the monster is behaving, we'll know if it's a boy or a girl! In about 3 weeks, I'll know if I've been reading gossip magazines to my son or my daughter. THAT is going to be amazing. I'm smiling just thinking about it.

But for the moment...nothing too exciting going on in the baby department.

Except, perhaps, the round ligament pain I've been experiencing the week.

About Round Ligament Pain, per WedMD:

Round ligament pain refers to a type of pelvic pain caused by stretching of the round ligaments. This occurs more commonly on the right side of the pelvis.

Your uterus is normally the size of a pear. Thick ligaments, one of which is called the round ligament, hold your uterus in suspension within your abdomen. As the uterus grows in size and weight, these ligaments become very long and thin, stressing and tensing like rubber bands.


The ligaments pull and tug on nearby nerve fibers and sensitive structures, causing pain. The severity of pain can worry you. Although round ligament pain is uncomfortable, it is also very normal.

A ligament spasm, an involuntary contraction or cramp, usually triggers a sharp pain. These spasms are found more frequently on the right side than the left because of the normal tendency of the uterus to turn to the right.

You might awaken at night with pain after having suddenly rolled over in your sleep.

The pain may also be brought on by exercise.

So far, it only happens when I sneeze, cough, or stretch too hard. Weird, but I can handle it. I'm tough!