being 9 months pregnant is hard

It's not all roses!

• I get up to use the restroom at least 6 times each night.  Sometimes I almost nod off on the toilet.
• Bending over is the most difficult thing.  I'm not sure it's worth it anymore.
• So. Tired.  All. The. Time.
• Breathing is hard sometimes.  I can't even lie on my back anymore if I want to keep enjoying my oxygen.
• Can't stand for very long now.  My thigh starts going numb.
• I can't bear this heat!  Had to go pantsless tonight.

But I guess it's not as bad as it could be!  And as long as the little lady is doing well I am fine with housing her inside me for a few weeks longer.  :)

Everything's coming up Milhouse!

So much done today!

I got up early and heading shopping.  We just needed a few more essentials to be ready in case you come any day now.  So I trekked out to a bunch of stores and compared and bought things!  It wasn't much, but I'm telling ya: having baby powder in the house makes me feel so much better.

I've got what I need to diaper you and clean you and clothe you and feed you and help you sleep.  Tomorrow we're picking up your pack n' play with the bassinet and we will be SET.

ALSO

We saw the lovely doctor.  He checked out your heartbeat and you sound like a champ.  Everything looks great and he even thinks you are head-down!  I was SO happy to hear that!  I want to bring you into the world as naturally as possible and I'm so glad you're cooperating!

THEN

Your dad and I went on a date to the dollar theater.  You kicked your way right through The A-Team.

:D

37 weeks.

shower and getting ready for you

Dear Little Lady,

Last weekend a bunch of people got together to celebrate your upcoming entry into the world.  It was a great time.  Friends and family brought you gifts and talked about how excited they were to meet you in a few weeks.  You're gonna have some freakin' adorable outfits to lounge around in.

This was your cake:

Some of your presents:

Your mom and some of her friends:

And your happy parents:

Your parents, incidentally, are currently very busy getting everything ready for your arrival.  It's a lot of work!  We have a dresser to paint and things to hang and boxes to move and clothes to organize!  Things to scrub and stuff to buy!

So you can stay inside me for a while longer, okay?  Get chubby and healthy and when you come out there will be snuggles.

<3
--Your Mom

36 weeks!

35 weeks

hiccups

Hey Little Lady,

The first time I heard that babies got hiccups in the womb I was astounded.  I could not wait to feel you have some!

You sure took your time though.  Seems like every other pregnant lady I know was feeling them months ago.  I started wondering how I would even differentiate your hiccups from other movements...thought maybe I was just dense and I'd never know...

But you totally came through for me!  I'll never forget that moment a couple of days ago when I felt a little bump inside...and then a few seconds later another bump in the exact same spot...and then again.  OF COURSE that's what hiccups would feel like.  Of course!

It was especially cool when your dad got to feel them the next day too.

We're waiting for you excitedly!

Love,
The Lady You Live Inside

34 weeks

33 weeks!

hey hey

Dear Little Lady,

You move around like a nut!  Seriously.  Are you a nut?  I think you might be a nut.

It's kind of cool that you let me know you're alright in there but sometimes I must admit...it feels weird.  I can't say I ever really wanted to know how a massage of my innards felt.

Enjoy it now, though, because I hear in the next few weeks space is going to come at a premium what with your getting chubby and all.

But don't worry!  You'll be out and free in two months!

Love,
--The Lady Growing You

32 weeks.

ch-ch-ch-changes!

I'll spare you the details of the weird gross stuff happening to my body and just show you one of the slightly weird, interesting things:

My usual Summer freckles multiplied!  I've never had so many freckles before.  WEIRD.

31 weeks

30 weeks

status of the pregnant lady

This is what it's like to be me these days:

• I get headaches a lot.  They suck.  I don't like taking pills for them so I am just kinda cranky very often.
• It's hard to get out of bed.  I have to roll out.  It's a pain.  Especially since...
• I'm constantly peeing.  Three times plus every night.
• And this little girl moves around a lot.  So sometimes I think everything's cool and then she kicks and OHMYGOD I have to go to the restroom.
• It's getting hot and I'm pretty uncomfortable already.  Oh dear this does not bode well.  Curse you, Bakersfield!
• I'm still surprised that no strangers have commented on my belly.  Not even my regular cashiers at the grocery store.  Maybe people don't do that anymore?
• My belly muscles are sore.  Movement requires lots of forethought.
• I get so tired so easily.  I don't even know what I possibly did yesterday but I woke up today with a sore left thigh.
• HEARTBURN.

...

But there's a baby at the end of this!  And I can already feel she's gonna be awesome!  :D

29 weeks

your parents at 29 weeks

Right before this picture was taken, your father jiggled you pretty good.  :D

we saw you!

Dear Little Lady,

Your dad and I got to see you today.  We saw your heart beat.  We saw your spine.  Your little feet and your arms and hands.  Your cute nose and adorable head.

We even saw your ladybits!

We can't wait to meet you.  We're already in love.

28 weeks!

tummy watchin'

This little lady is pretty darn active.  I like to imagine that she's having fun in there.  It seems she takes after her mother and really enjoys mealtimes!

I have fun watching my belly.  Sometimes when she's going nuts in there I just pull up my shirt and stare.  I can't even explain how bizarre it is for a living thing inside of you to move so significantly that you can see it on the outside.  I try to visualize what parts of her are making my belly move and I smile.  Maybe she's stretching?  Trying to find a more comfortable position?

So, remember all those times I was cranky about my menstrual cycle and I complained that the ability to bear children better be worth it?

Yeah, it totally is.  :)