A list of suggestions

Since I know quite a few people now pregnant for the first time, I figured I'd get this list down.

• Palmer's Cocoa Butter for Stretch Marks - Use this once at night and morning. Start right away.
• Full belly panel with stretchy fabric for jeans and pants were awesome! No pain. TRY the banded types, but I felt too much pressure under my belly when I sat and the baby hated it just as much as me.
• What to Expect When You're Expecting - This was the best book ever - answered a lot of my questions about baby and myself.
• Baby Bargains - This was a great book to help me figure out what I should and shouldn't be buying for baby, nursery, myself, etc. MUCH needed book before you go all crazy buying everything cute and unneeded. I think I learned a lot about safety through this venue, also.
• Hospital Birth Class was immensely helpful. I felt much better afterwards and the lady who did the class was wonderful.
• Start saving up diaper coupons now!
• Look for great sales/clearances for furniture at Walmart, etc. We got a great changing table for $45! Originally over $150
• Watch clothes on clearance in the stores and in the second hand shops - there are always some great finds! Just make sure you wash them. Same with toys.
• Do your nursery before you get into weeks 30+. I liked that D and I started very early and I was able to help with a lot of the putting together and making the nursery the way I wanted.
• Start a file or binder with hospital items. You're going to get stuff you will want available for when you go into labor at the hospital.
• I did buy a Bola Pregnancy Chime - I couldn't help it. I liked the idea and it is fun to wear. I bought the heart.
• I sustained myself on canned peaches for about 4 months - of course a few crackers thrown in and other fruits, but that was about it. Just follow what your body tells you and don't push yourself unless your doctor says to. Otherwise, I was fine and never threw up, was just nauseous all day and night long.

Week 39

Just got back from my week 39 Doctors Appointment. I lost 2 lbs (more than likely this was the water weight that I had gained 4lbs earlier last week) and my blood pressure went down slightly. So, good news on that end. The resting is working. Doctor also said the pain band that I feel across my midsectiona nd around my back is probably a nerve that's being stretched when I sit down, try to get up, etc. Not to worry unless the pain is centralized in a certain spot. D came with me, so that was nice to have his support, just in case there were any problems. But, she said he measures average, the heartbeat was strong and I'm still dilated at a small 1. So, I have another appointment next week.

Been working on the baby album - enjoying the creative aspect of it. I'll post some pictures of it later when I have a chance.

Trick or Treat in the residence halls is tomorrow! =)

It's going to be a CrAzY RiDe

I have been wanting to get some pictures of D and I when I had a belly, and here they are. Took them today. Remember, I only have a week and a half left until I am due.

BTW, today has been hard. Baby hasn't moved much, not like he used to, but he does move. And my stomach feels extra tight and crampy when I move at ALL. Also, the back pain is making it uncomfortable, no matter what I do.

But he is moving and I feel OK otherwise, just makes me wonder what is going on in there.

My last appointment had my blood pressure up there again. So, I am now officially on my second day of Maternity Leave. I am to relax and nest. Although, I am still thinking about work (it will be hard not to when I live where I work), but I will do my best to let them hash out anything I missed.

I also stopped by Target today and saw the cute sweater I've wanted to get for my baby boy siunce I saw it on the rack. It was on clearance and so I grabbed it :-)

And now that I take a good look at these pictures, holy cow my face IS poofy, just like my feet and hands. /sigh Ah well...

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Just picked this book up at the local bookstore. (Pic shamelessly grabbed off Amazon, check out the link!)

I will start reading it after I finish Charlaine Harris' "Ice Cold Grave" book.

I couldn't help picking this up - I kept hearing people discuss this book and laughing. So, I want to give it a try.

Week 36 + 6 days

Well, tomorrow marks my 37th week. I still don't *feel* big, but my body is definitely telling me to slow down. Having a hard time sittin for more than an hour, walking around (I am carrying him low and it feels like the whole 7ish pouds are on the bottom belly dragging me down), or even bending. I NEED to learn to not bend down to pick things up. I am doing my best to 'squat' to pick up things, but you forget! I have these low crampy feelings, or twinges and my back is usually killing me now and I just feel cumbersome.

I broke down two weeks ago and bout size 11 tennis shoes, because my size 9s were just TOO tight. So sad. I hear they will go back to normal from some and others tell me that it won't. I'd hate to have to buy all new shoes!

None of my winter jackets will fit. This wouldn't be a problem if the weather was a bit nicer, but it's been in the 30s and 40s during the day and 20s at night. So, I layer - a lot. Lots of snow for the weekend, but it was melted today. I wonder if it'll keep this way or go back to fall.

Daryk seems to be doing well. I think I may be stressing more than him these days. I want to be able to leave work without worrying about my student staff, but that may be impossible. I am going to miss the work - I know it. But, I am looking forward to time off to nest and rest, and then to bond.

I think we've hit that wall of not buying anymore baby things. We did a great job on the nursery and have done what we can, but I have heard from others that hats are being made, blankets, and I am sure diapers when we have the little guy. So, we are slowing way down. I like to be over prepared, but feel good right now. Love to sit in the nursery and look around, look at the little onesies, touch the little sweaters I found at garage sales during the summer, and just relax in the rocker I got from family and read the baby sign-language book from Aspen. I am hoping that I have the gumption to keep that goal - to teach myself, D and the baby to communicate in that manner.

Otherwise, D and I had our 2nd year anniversary last Tuesday. He got me roses and a beautiful card. I got him a steak and a card. We ate in and just enjoyed each others company.

My mom has been in contact with us more than usual, and us with the family - that makes me happy. I go through these long stretches of being so involved in my own life, that I lose track of them. I want more, but how to add that into busy schedules is almost foreign to me. Besides the fact that even now I want to go to bed at 9pm every night and the other funny thing is I HATE clothes these days. Anything on my tummy makes me miserable, anything UNDER the tummy makes me miserable. I just want to run aorund in soft tshirt and baggy shorts that hang off me so I dont have ANY pressure anywhere. But, ah well.