Weeks 31 & 32

I can't believe it's been 2 weeks since my last blog post!

Weeks 31 & 32 have flown by! Between another baby shower, a painful bottom that sent me to the GI doctor, Thanksgiving and working on Abigail's room, it's been crazy! Not to mention the first Braxton Hicks contractions!

Abigail has been very active too. The Dr and I both think she's still breech. So that means her head is enjoying getting stuck up under my ribs and allowing less room for my stomach (hello acid reflux!) and her butt and feet take turns pressing on my bladder. I'll be completely comfortable in a position and as soon as I change positions, I feel her move into a position that is anything but! I've been feeling jabs of not-so-soft elbows and knees too. Those can actually make me cringe. But if I try to push them out of the hole they're stuck in, she doesn't seem to appreciate it --- I then get kicked or hit elsewhere. She's a stubborn girl --- just like me :) We've started feeling full body rolls -- yep, her Daddy felt them too! So surreal!

The baby shower we had the weekend before Thanksgiving was so great! My sister, cousin, stepmama, and Aunt were great planners and hostesses! And we got to see many family members and friends we've been missing lately. All topped off with great food, fun games, and LOTS of stuff for Abigail. And, I have to say, my husband is so awesome. He has joined me at both of our showers so far. I've already told him he's off the hook for the next one though as long as he makes an appearance.

Cousin Amber

Baby Cousin "Baby Girl Bradford"

Mommy & Daddy

31w6d

Great Grandmama & Great Granddaddy Murphrey

The Grandpas (Papa Pittman, Granddaddy Murphrey, & Papa Gardner)

The Grandmamas (Nana Gardner, Mammy Pittman, & Reesie Murphrey)

We're FINALLY working on Abigail's room. The double bed in there has been broken down and removed. Bedding, diaper stacker, valances, paint (and painting necessities) purchased and in the house. And just tonight, I started on her wall art canvases. The hubby plans to start painting tomorrow after work. I pray that my mental image looks great in reality. Once I put away the rest of the shower gifts (currently in bags/boxes in the middle of the floor) and make room for the crib, we can get that set up, bedding washed, and it'll look like a nursery :)  And I'll be able to breathe SO much better with that weight lifted!

2 of the Wall Art Canvases made by ME

Also, I have felt my first contractions. The very first one was on day 32w6d at 11:05 a.m. No matter how many people you ask to describe them, you still don't really know what to expect. I was at work having a crazy busy morning. I sat down to take a breather, and my uterus just started feeling really tight. From my pelvic bone up to my ribs. My abdomen felt rock hard. Not painful, just pressure. It was tight for several seconds, then started relaxing. Abigail then did all kinds of moving about. She was probably caught off guard as much as I was. This repeated every 45-55 mins x4. Finally, after having one at 4 and again at 4:25, I paged the on call OB. She confirmed what I suspected was just normal BHC, told me when I got off after 7 to drink a lot of water, take some Tylenol, and lay down with my feet up. As life would have it, I didn't have any more contractions that day after I spoke with her, but I did do as she said when I got home around 8. The following day, I drank more fluids, had a calmer day at work, but still had a couple contractions after lunch (and a cup of coffee). The contractions are making this so much more real. It's just crazy thinking that in roughly 4-7 weeks we'll have the baby girl we've been dreaming of and praying for.

Week 33 is here, and will be consisting of working on the nursery, thank you cards, an ultrasound (YAY!) to check Abigail's size and position, and our last baby shower before Abigail arrives. Busy busy! But, FUN FUN!

Week 30

Last week brought on several exciting events. New symptoms, new expanding belly, new cravings, and our first shower for Abigail.

Symptoms- Abigail seems to adore lying on my right side, almost in a sitting position with her head under my ribs and her butt/feet on my bladder. So, when I sit I can barely breathe and when I stand I feel like running to the bathroom. The discomfort of pregnancy has begun. She's stubborn too (guess she got that honest). I've been told by several that if I nudge her, she'll move and I'll get some relief. Ha ha. Not the case. Anyway, the shortness of breath has been the most difficult change, and I can only imagine it'll get worse. Having to take a break from getting clothes out of the dryer to catch my breath, or having to stop at work for the same reason ... I didn't even have to do that when I was a smoker. It also appears that my nasal stuffiness has returned. At least I got a short vacation from it. Back pain has become more frequent. Bending over to tie my shoes or pick something up that I dropped has become a challenge. On a plus side, Abigail seems to have more predictable sleep/wake cycles. She's very active during the day, mostly in spurts, and pretty still at night. Maybe this is something she'll stick to when outside of the womb. She almost always wakes up at meal time. If I am eating, she's usually moving.

Belly- This past week, there was a very obvious change in my belly from the week before. Even a coworker noticed it. It's like, week 29 was a cute belly just hanging out there. Week 30 brought on the "wow! she must be due in the next couple weeks" look. And my belly button has, well, pretty much disappeared at this point. The scar from gallbladder surgery (that was hidden inside my belly button) is oh so obvious now. Still only 1 tiny stretch mark though on the right underside of my belly. It looks kinda like a small, faint scratch. I'm thankful for this. The bruises from the daily Lovenox shots seem to be getting worse though. Both of my "love handles" are lumpy, sore and purple. Only 6 more weeks of these until after Abigail arrives though. Also, I've noticed that my belly is starting to itch. Mostly around my belly button area. This area has also started going numb. Too bad I can't get the Lovenox shots there!

Belly button at 30 weeks

New Cravings - Dairy products: Yogurt, cold cereal with milk, chocolate milk, ice cream. I eat 2-3 containers of yogurt a day. Chocolate milk and cereal usually at least once a day, and ice cream whenever I remember it's in the freezer -- usually once a day. Then I read in a "what to expect" email that baby is requiring at least 200mg of calcium a day at this point to build strong bones. Hmmm. Maybe there is some truth to craving what your body and baby need. Although, I'm pretty sure she's not requiring those new Reese's Peanut Butter Trees :)

Our First Shower - Last, but certainly not least, we were showered with love and gifts for Baby Abigail this past week. My hubby's "home church" family hosted a shower for us. We had a great turn out and got lots of cute things for Abigail. It was so great seeing all the familiar faces and meeting a few new ones. All Abigail's grandmamas were able to make it also. It's amazing how much love people have for someone they've never met. Abigail sure is one blessed little girl.

Abigail's Nana, Mammy, Mama, & Reesie

30w4d

Life is Good Today

First of all, we FINALLY got my 3-hr GTT results -- I do NOT have gestational diabetes! YAY! Actually, my glucose level was low at the 3 hour mark. That explains the lightheadedness/dizziness/weakness I was feeling at that point.

Today, I'm 29w4d. My fundal height was 32 weeks. Abigail measured 31w4d via ultrasound. We got to see her up close and personal via 4-D u/s. It was so real. Her chubby cheeks. A (reflex) smile. A yawn (the absolute cutest yawn I've ever seen). A case of the hiccups. Some practice breaths. A glimpse of hair (yay! she's not bald!). She weighed in at 4 lbs, 1 oz. This calls for a follow-up ultrasound to check her growth in a month. We may be looking at a 10-pounder here (yikes)! She appears to be healthy though. Overall in the 76th percentile. I forgot to ask, but I think my weight gain is now a little less than 10 lbs. Makes me feel good knowing that's probably all baby/placenta/amniotic fluid/breast tissue. But the new Reese Peanut Butter Cups craving might have something to do with it too. Next u/s will be 12/1 (33w3d) to check her size again.

Video of Abigail Yawning

29w4d U/S

Abigail

Smile!

Look at those cheeks!

Yawn!

Profile & Arm

Look at those piggies!

Us with our ultrasound ladies

They love Abigail too :)

We enjoyed a nice surprise of free lunch while shoe shopping. Seems I've outgrown my tennis shoes -- something I may have realized sooner if it weren't for the unseasonable-flipflop-weather. The ones I wear to work still fit because they are SO worn out, but they have no support left and have increased my back/leg pain. So, new shoes it is. They were on sale - kinda - and I had gift cards to cover the entire purchase.

I had a long, busy day of errands, but with my hubby beside me and my baby girl kicking inside me. Life is good.