Week 35

work shower
Let's start out with the crabby and end with the good.

I have been really oily lately, it's pretty gross. I normally only shower every other day and that seems to be enough. However, when I do that now, by the time of the second day I feel so gross! Most of the oil seems to be coming from my face. This seems to have been a problem starting maybe just a few weeks ago.

WTH: There has been a strange pattern going lately with "my team". so, on last Sunday we had the no-notification cancellation on the birth class. Then I was supposed to have my actual prenatal appointment with LaNette this past tuesday. I left work early to go the appointment but right before I left I decided to just play on facebook for min (which I normally wouldn't do) and happen to notice that LaNette posted that she was on here way to a birth about an hour before. I decided to text her...well, of course our appointment was cancelled and she forgot to tell me. I didn't receive this "noticed" until I was only about 5 min from her house. I guess at least I found out before I rang the bell! Well, the next day we reschedule the appointment for this friday (yesterday) for 8:00am. I set my alarm early so I can get there ontime. when I wokeup I had a text waiting for me that she was at another birth and we need to reschedule again. Well, we are supposed to meet tomorrow afternoon - so we'll see if that happens.

Along the same lines, we had our first meeting with our doula on thursday. We headed out to get to our appointment and after we were on the road for maybe 5-10 min, we get a text that she would like to push the meeting back by 30min. Ok fine, we turned around...took Mr T for a walk and headed out again. We get to her office and she isn't there...she calls me just after 7 and goes "i'm here" and I reply back with "i'm here too". Well, we were waiting at her office and she was waiting at our house. Eventually she made it to her office and we started the appointment almost an hour after our original appointment.

And that segway into the good part of the week

The meeting with our doula went really well. I really didn't know what to expect so I was pretty surprised (and tired!!) that the meeting lasted about 3 hours - so until 11:30pm. So, first good thing. We still really like her - we all got a long well and were kind of chatty so that's a good sign. The second thing, the appointment ended up being a crash bradley course in the three stages of labor. Most of it I've sort of read before, but it's always good to hear it again.

Final good thing this week - I had a surprise baby shower at work from my team :) It was only an hour long, so it went pretty fast but it was cute. They decorated at meeting room and even had a few games! I was super surprised too that they had a gift for us - the swing! So, generous. The funny thing is that we ended up buying the swing maybe a week ago or so, but I didn't say anything. So, tomorrow we are going to return the one I bought (since it's still in the box).

Oh, and this weekend we are trying to finish up the baby stuff- and are getting pretty darn close. the baby's room is done and his clothes are in the dresser. Also, as I type Dan is installing the car seat and putting the swing together :) )

34 weeks

Over the weekend I went to a Sacred Pregnancy meeting. I wasn't sure what it was, but a friend of mine's friend is a Sacred Pregnancy instructor (the 1st one in the state) and held an initial free event to give everyone a sample of what it's all about. I found out about all of this through a facebook invite.

I was extremely hesitant to go because honestly it seemed it little too hippie for me. I believe in all of that stuff but it's a little on the deep end for me and I'm still in the shallows. I was also hesitant to go b/c I was worried it would be a big crying fest. I've been emotional lately and really don't want to start the waterworks.

Well, I went to the event and it was pretty good. There were general introductions and then a craft. All of which was ok. I felt really out of place b/c everyone there was in that industry of healing and birth and I had to introduce myself as an office worker. However, everyone was very nice and welcoming.

We had to make the crafts for each other (we drew names). The lady that drew my name latched onto my introduction when I said, "I'm just a technical writer". She went on this thing on how that either meant I don't love what I do or that I don't love myself and that what I do matters. I thought that was pretty bold for just meeting me a few minutes ago. I ended up drawing the name of the woman that hosted the event - so my project was pretty easy. I just made something to thank her for bringing us together and to congratulate her on her new journey.

The last activity was the hardest because we sat in a circle and gave our intentions to the salt bowl. That's when all of the crying started (I held back).

Overall, the event was pretty relaxing which I needed. It was a lot for me to handle, but it would be good for me to do it in smaller doses. However, I felt bad after the event b/c I didn't give it my all. I held back a lot and tried to confine my emotions. I was worried that I brought bad energy to the circle.

The next day the woman who hosted the event sent me message and said, "What a blessing your presence was in the circle!". It made me feel better for a little bit that I didn't ruin her event, but at the same time I wonder if she was just saying something nice.

Here's a link to pictures from the event: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.632238790143866.1073741830.602869873080758&type=1

33 weeks

So, on friday afternoon/morning I posted a blog that Dan Jr. was moving around a lot. Well, that night (while i was sleeping) I had the WORST cramping ever. It was all the way around from my back to my front. It kept me up for a few hours. I texted LaNette and she wasn't sure what that was b/c it sounded a little strong to be a braxton hicks. well, pause in the story...

Today, we got up early and went to LaNette's house for our birthing class! well, we got there only to find out class was cancelled :( LaNette had 4 births in the last week with the most recent one ending around 6:30am (and class was supposed to start at her house at 9am). However, I never got the message b/c she had her assistant do the texting and I guess she texted the wrong "stephanie s."

Back to the story, while I was at LaNette's this morning I thought I would ask about what all that pain was I was going through the other night. She deduced that dan jr just made a big movement. He used to be laying face back/back up and he has since turned completely around and is now laying facing up with his back to my back. She says a movement that big mixed with the general position causes a lot of strain on my uterus. He is defiantly not in an ideal position but I guess there is enough time for him to fix is position and it shouldn't be as big of a deal as it was for him to turn back around.

**
Yesterday, mom and I went shopping and bought up the rest of the stuff that we need for the baby (well, at least for the first few weeks). Once of those items included a the stroller/car seat - which dan assembled today. Also, i finished my crib skirt! Now, I just have to clean the baby's room and I can attach the skirt.

Movement

Lots and Lots and Lots of movement today. This is a little unusual..and pretty uncomfortable.

32 week

Pregnancy is boring
my house is dirty and cluttered already
it's hard to write thank you cards when you're crabby

one positive - we had our pregnancy photoshoot yesterday. It was short and sweet and I can't wait to see the pics

This weekend alone i've gotten "you are so small" and "you are getting really big" and two people said "you aren't going to make it until your due date"

31 weeks - The Shower

My shower was this weekend and it went really!! It was held at Holler Park just down the road from us, the weather was great, and maybe 25-30 people were there (both sides and friends). It was theme "jungle animal" and it was super cute! I had a great time and it went by super fast.

• Cute baby shower items:
• Tiff made that watermelon baby carriage fruit basket thing - it turned out great.
• There were a bunch of diapers available for people to write cute notes on
• There was a cardbaord picture frame for people to sign - that activity was a little light
• Little blue pacifiers were frozen in ice cubes...first person whos "water breaks" one a  prize
• Gift bingo
• Little diapers wrapped up like diapers with milk balls in them
• The gift opening was fun, but also awkward. It took about an hour to get through everything and I almost broke a sweat it was so warm sitting up there.
• I didn't have much time to look around the room, but man did I see some board faces!! But at the same time there were some smiley faces in the front row :)
• After the shower a bunch of people came over after the shower and that was extremely overwhelming! the house was crowded, kitchen was messy, and everyone wanted to see the baby's room  - but it's not anything close to ready, or even cute to look at yet. 
• Dan's mom and 2 of this sisters (and one boyfriend) stayed at the house. It was a lot of fun having them here and also very exhausting. very much a whirl-wind weekend.
• This whole time too I've been fighting a cold.
• We got a lot of stuff and surprisingly not too many things we need to return  - though I haven't sorted through all of the clothes yet. Also, unfortunately, there were nearly no gift receipts, so most of it will be a pain in the butt to return anyways. And there's also a lot of stuff we need to buy still..
• There defiantly were some re-gifts and even a few used item.
• ...This post is bumming me out (it's making me mentally recap all the petty things that got me upset this weekend)...i think i just need more sleep.
• Now that it's over, time to move on and focus on our new family
• OH yeah, i forgot to mention the cake. Mom asked me where I wanted my cake from and I said that it would be just fine if she made a cake but that I don't like grocery store cakes. I was kind of hoping she would make the cake just b/c the only other option left would be to spend a lot of money at a regular bakery. Well, she bought a grocery store cake (from sendiks) and I didn't like it. However, it was decorated super cute (they copied the picture from my shower invites) and a lot of people at the shower said they really liked the cake. Mom even said that she told the lady at the grocery store that "my daughter doesn't like grocery store cakes" and they lady said back "well, we will have to change her mind about that!". Mom was so impressed she wants to go back to the store and personally thank that lady for making such a good cake. I never told my mom what I thought of the cake b/c it's really not important and she's so happy with the outcome. However, if she would ever directly ask me what I thought, I would say something.

30 Frickin' Weeks!

Yikes...and the 10 week countdown begins.

• Another good prenatal appointment. "everything is perfect" Dan jr is still head down and i guess he'll probably stay that way from now on. LaNette is estimating that he's about 2.25lbs, which is a little smaller than all the online resources are telling me (maybe 2.5-3lbs).

• I got my first shower gift this week too :) My Aunt Penny from Florida sent out a gift to mom's house. Mom gave me the option to wait until the shower or see it now...i chose to see it now hehe. It's a highchair!

• We had another doula interview this week (and another one tonight). Though it was better than the first one, it really didn't go that well. She seemed to have more confidence and i'm assuming this is coming from her background in nursing, but really she again only has maybe 5-7 births under her belt and they have all been at a hospital. however, this girl did have clients that she was not familiar with and seems to be moving in a more holistic direction. Overall, we still weren't impressed and at this point neither of those girls would be any better than just maybe having my mom there (and she would be free!). If these next few interviews go just as bad, I think i'm passing on a doula and will just look for an extra set of hand for dan from friend or family....

• Update: I had to stop writing this blog to take another doula interview. this one was great!! this lady was great, confident, experienced, knowledgeable, has homebirth experience, has worked with lanette before, and if affordable! she's bradely class instructor, certified in breastfeeding, infant massage, accupunture and herbal medicine, etc. etc. so cool.

• Dan's mom sent us an email early this week that she wants to "surprise" us by getting us a gliding rocker for a shower gift. This is a super sweet gesture, but it has ended up being a stressful one. Realistically, i don't think i want a glider. Vicki was adamant that we need one - a big comfy one. But when I think about it, it's just a big bulky expensive piece of furniture that I don't have room for and once i'm done with the bulk of the nursing, will just be something else I have to deal with. And if i'm really thinking that, it would be a waste of her money to get us a glider. We tried to tell her, but she said that she would just feel better knowing that we had one...the only thing holder her back was that the one we "wanted" was not in stock. So, that night (and during my lunch break) we ran out to the store to sit on all the rockers again and we weren't able to find one that was big enough and comfortable. So, we told vicki and she since has seemed to change her mind that if we really didn't want it, she wouldn't get it. so, now we are back at square one.