Week 29

 Dear Baby,

Merry Christmas! This is technically your first Christmas. Your daddy had to work on duty up in Virginia, but really, that was the only downer of the day. It was as close to perfect as you can get. :) We got up and went to church, then we went and visited Granny at the nursing home. After that, we went to Mama's to have Christmas there. That's the first time in several years that I was able to eat there and celebrate. It was a good lunch.
Then we went home to my parents' house. We got to open presents and have a fabulous dinner. Mark made steaks that were sooooo yummy! Not your typical Christmas dinner, but perfect!

Speaking of presents, oh boy! I was incredibly spoiled this year...beyond what I could have ever guessed! I got fabulous amethyst jewelry from Mark and Dawn. It's so pretty and represents you very well. :) They also got you an amethyst crystal rock for your room. Then my parents got me a miche bag with two shells. They are big enough I can tote all of my stuff and yours too! They also really surprised me with Rachael Ray cookware. My previous pot set was warped and the lids wouldn't fit. I planned on buying a new set in the new year, but mom and dad shocked me! I've already cooked with it and these pots are fabulous! Maybe it's enough to make me get in the kitchen more...one can hope, right? Daddy got a roku for Christmas. That's a fun, new electronic! It makes any tv in our house an internet tv. Awesome. We have truly been blessed this year. We are all so very spoiled!

Love,
Mommy

Week 28

Dear Baby,

This is the week of glucose! I went on Tuesday for my one hour. Because they didn't tell me not to eat, I ate breakfast before I went. I truly think that's why I failed...by TWO points. Ugh. After I drank the glucose, I wanted to go to sleep (which isn't allowed). I was pretty uncomfortable and a magazine was just making me sleepier.
The three hour test was a much more pleasant experience, if you can imagine! I think I was more prepared in knowing what to expect. I couldn't eat for twelve hours before the test. That was challenging, because I couldn't fall asleep until 2am and I was hungry! But I did not want to fail this test, so I was good and drank water instead. That was a mistake! I was awakened probably every hour by my wonderful bladder! I love the people who work in the lab at the clinic. They are such friendly people. This time around it was all guys. They told me they didn't know if they could drink those glucose drinks. I told them they really aren't bad...as long as you don't drink them on a full stomach!
My strategy for staying awake this time was my ipod. I loaded some tv shows onto it the night before and the time flew by. I also crocheted your nursery blanket for the first two hours. I had to quit the third hour, because the carpal tunnel was giving me fits! It will be a beautiful blanket, though. I bought enough yarn to do 3 blankets, but it looks like I am only going to manage one. I would have started on them earlier in my pregnancy if I had known swelling would be such a problem. But after I have you, and while you sleep, maybe I can get the others done.
In total, I got stuck 4 times. Only one of them didn't hurt. I think the swelling may make the blood draws hurt a little more than usual. I hope I passed. I might not know until next week because people are on Christmas stand down now. We'll keep our fingers crossed!

Love,
Mommy

Week 27

Dear Baby,

The pregnancy symptoms have escalated this week. It looks like my third trimester is sure to be a doozy! My breakouts are in full force across my face, chest, shoulders and down my back. That is a lot of acne for a girl who has only ever had one or two zits at a time! On the days I wear make up, I tend to feel better about myself. But mostly I am just biding my time until your arrival. Usually they don't hurt, so that's positive! :)

The other thing is swelling. You'd think every cell in my body decided to drink a gallon of water each! I wish I could just prick myself with a pin and let it all out. Check out my ankles in the pic below! :S  I am drinking quite a bit of water to counter it and exercise is a goal. My shoe selection is becoming quite limited these days. I have had to give up wearing my wedding rings. I don't want them to get stuck! Even my faux rings are too small. When your daddy gets home, we'll go shopping for a bigger faux ring. I hate being ringless! I also may have to give up my watch soon. Sigh.

The swelling has created another problem. I now have carpal tunnel in my right hand. The tips of my fingers are numb almost constantly and gripping things is getting harder. I feel like an old woman! I hope the next couple of months fly by. I would like for you to come out beautiful, smart and healthy. But I would also like you to restore my healthy self to it's previous condition! :)

So far, I have gained about 19 pounds with you. I gained the first 16 quite rapidly in early November, but have finally slowed down to around a pound a week. I'm cool with that as long as it doesn't get up to 50 or something! I waddle, waddle, waddle...especially when I'm tired. Most of the waddling comes from a catch in my lower back/hip area. If I over-do it, I can barely weight bear when standing. This is mostly only a problem late at night or early in the morning. My body has to warm up to movement. lol I guess because I have always been blessed to have a healthy body, every little pain intrigues me. I notice! I suffer for you, my dear. :)

Love,
Mommy

Week 26

Dear Baby,

This week I felt you kick on the outside for the first time! You kicked so hard, you kept bumping my laptop. :) It was pretty amusing. So far, you like to be up from midnight to 3am ish. You move around the most during that time. It's cool, because I  love to stay up at night as long as you let me sleep most of the morning. ;)

I've been working on your crib this week. I got it all sanded and primed now. I hope to paint it soon. Sanding a crib is a major pain in the butt! It had a really thick lacquer on it, so it had to be sanded before priming. I liked doing the primer, though. It was good practice at not letting the paint drip among the slats. I hope it comes out beautifully, because I have put a lot of hard work and love into it. :)

I didn't want to ruin my good maternity clothes with paint, so I squeezed into my pajamas to do this project. Because I looked like this most of the week, this is the pic you get. I'm totally bumming it! ;)

It's a good thing I wore the pj's. A piece of the crib I was priming slipped out of my hand and landed in the small plastic paint tray. Paint splashed everywhere! Including on poor Melbourne who was sitting beside me. It was a miracle it missed my glasses, but it got Melbourne all over his face. I wish I had time to get a pic, but I wanted to wipe off as much of it as I could before it dried in his fur. He has a small spot or two that didn't quite make it unscathed, but overall he cleaned up well. I'll bet he won't want to sit beside me the next time I go to paint!
It's been an exciting week. I hope you will kick hard enough to feel from the outside again when your daddy gets home from Virginia. I can't wait to share with him!

Love,
Mommy