31 Weeks! (sorry for the HUGE delay)

*This week the baby is:   Approx. 3.5lbs and 16 inches long!!  
*How far along:  31w today!  
*Due Date: September 24th, 2013
*Total Weight gain/loss:  I haven't weighed myself since the last post 5 weeks ago.  So I really have no clue what I weigh.  It's more though that I know!  :)  
*Maternity Clothes:  I bought a t-shirt from Target yesterday but it is kinda sheer.  UGH  it's so hard to find shirts that you don't have to layer!  The other week I bought a dressier shirt, it's light pink with darker pink flowers on it.  I also bought my favourite maternity item, a casual blue tank top.  I want to go and get the orange one, from Thyme.  But I should really just make do with what I have.  Although I really need a bigger pair of pants.  I have gained too much weight to wear the ones I bought around 16 weeks comfortably.  :(  
Sleep:  Hmm I don't think I wrote about the increase in having to pee.  Definitely during the night.  For a while there I was up about 2-3 times a night to pee.  Very disruptive for sure!  Now, since after last weekend it's better and I only wake up maybe once!  Sometimes I have slept the whole night!  What's weird is that I wondered last sunday night or so, (just over a week ago) that my uterus felt lower.  I mentioned to JJ the next day and he said that we actually was thinking the same thing.  I think that baby dropped a bit, and somehow, for whatever reason, has made it easier on my bladder.  Seems like it should be opposite, but nope.  I'm glad anyway!  

So we went camping last weekend and we slept in the Jeep on our way cross province.  That was brutal.  I got about 3 hrs of crappy sleep.  And then camping was bad too especially the first night.  The second night I think I was just too tired to let the discomfort get in the way as much.  We got these thin inflatable/foamy mattresses, and while pregnant they just don't cut it.  My poor hips hurt, and I couldn't lie on my back because there wasn't enough give.  Yah, it wasn't cool haha.  But camping was fun.*Best moment this week:  Best moment?  In the past 5 weeks perhaps?  Haha!  Hmm... It was good to go to see my family and be where we hope to move back to soon.  Made coming home kinda depressing.  But hopefully the house will sell soon and we can get back there BEFORE the baby is born.  I have been enjoying the baby jumping around.  Although baby is busy it's not usually too dramatic in it's movements but every once in a while it will kinda spazz out and make some big jumps.  I finished work almost two weeks ago!!!  That was a great moment!  It finally feels more real, my second day at home.  (we were on holidays for a while right after I finished)  I'm going to have to keep myself busy though, it's a lot of time on my hands.  I have lots of cleaning today and tomorrow to accomplish though, and I have some sewing projects to do.  I started my rag quilt today.  I cut out the squares.  I have receiving blankets and a nursing cover to make as well.  
*Movement?  See the above.
*Food Cravings:  Fruit.  I haven't been getting enough.  I'm hot and just want a juicy smoothie or some strawberries and pineapple.
*Symptoms:  Last weekend on the camp out I started swelling!  My ankles could hold the indents when I pressed on the inside under the bone.  Then they stayed about the same half way through the week and then they got a bit worse and on the way home (due to the sitting I guess) they got quite fat.  Yesterday they shrunk back to just a bit of swelling.  So I'm glad.  TONNES of Braxton Hicks!!!  They just keep increasing in quantity over the weeks.  I think I contract more than the average gal.  Especially for a  first baby.

 Gender:  Be patient be patient don't be in such a hurry....
*Labor Signs: Sometimes I wonder if the amount of Braxton Contractions I get are normal, but it seems as if lots of ladies I've read about online get this many or more and they go into labour at a normal time.  The other night though I started contracting frequently for about two hours. (I'm talking about maybe 15 or so in that time frame)  They actually started in my lower back and made me feel like I needed to number 2 and then my belly tightened more uncomfortably than normal.  I took a bath and prayed and had two that were a bit more spaced out.  I finally just tried to sleep and then I woke up and they were back to my normal feeling ones, but still quite frequent all day long.  I have an appointment this coming tuesday at 32 weeks.  I will tell her what happened and hopefully she will check me to see if my cervix started thinning or dilating with all of these contractions.  
*Belly Button in or out:  Still in but seems a bit deeper again.  Maybe from dropping?  Gaining weight?  I don't know...
*Feeling toward Pregnancy:  Anxious, nervous about labour, excited to be having our baby, and it's starting to drag all of the sudden.  But it will be done before we know it!
*What I miss:  Ok, I miss being able to walk around and climb stairs without feeling like I've climbed Everest.  I miss being able to shave properly and put on pants and shoes easier.  It's so hard to do that now.  I miss eating cold cuts, especially balogna sandwhiches with ketchep.  I so look forward to eating them!!  
*What I'm looking forward to:   MOVING!!  Being able to set up our nursery somewhere and feel more prepared!  Not beng pregnant and being able to lose weight and feel better about myself again.  The baby!
*Milestones:  I hit the third trimester 3 weeks ago.  Now I'm in the 30's!  Baby if born now will have challenges but should catch up to his or her peers quickly.  So preterm labour doesn't scare me anymore really because most likely baby will make it just fine, although I would hate to have baby go through painful or uncomfortable procedures.
*Any new stretchmarks: I've gotten tonnes more stretchmarks on my hips and thighs.  Very lovely.  But I know those will fade away sooner or later.  I have a couple on my lower belly on each side now.  Oh well.  What can you do?

 *Things We Have Gotten: Once upon a child had a sale a couple of weeks ago and for about 12$ I got 10 items of clothing!  We found a white change table on Kijiji which we picked up in Winnipeg last weekend.  J and I had a date on Wednesday and went to Ikea and picked up I white 3 drawer dresser, a wicker lamp, three white picture frames and a wicker laundry basket.  This last week at my mom's store I purchased fabric in neutral reds, browns, and whites for the rag quilt I'm making.  OOOHH!!  Yesterday I went to Target and I found NEWBORN PANTS!  I'm so excited!  I bought 3 2-packs!   I was reading online though an apparently I don't have enough clothes yet.  Right now I have 5 newborn sleepers, 6 onesies and 6 pairs of pants, also newborn.  Since I believe our baby will fit newborn for about 4 weeks or so, I have leanrt this isn't enough and I should have about 10 of each.  So I will go out shopping some more I guess haha!  Rats!  ;)  The other week I also bought natural newborn diapers (2 36 packs) and 2 packs of biodegradable wipes.  I bought a pack of 2 hooded towels and 4 wash cloths.  I don't remember what else though I think I got a couple more items that trip to babies are us.  I wrote down a list of things that we still need for the baby with the help of two of my sister-in-laws.  I still have a whole page full of items that we will be needing for the first year.  But we're having a shower on August 17th, so I'm sure some things will get taken care of.  

Almost 26 Weeks

*This week the baby is:   Head to bum 9.4 inches, and 1.8-2.2 pounds.  
*How far along:  25w5d
*Due Date: September 24th, 2013
*Total Weight gain/loss:  Holding a bit steadier with the weight gain.  Around 160.4?  Hopefully.  I shall weigh again in the near future I'm soon.  So in three weeks up about a 1.5 pounds instead of 3 like the pattern was.  So around 24.5 pounds at 26 weeks.  
*Maternity Clothes: I bought a pair of low-rise silver jeans the other day.  Yay for having pants that feel like me again!  I found an awesome coral maxi-dress at RW and Co and a white skirt with eyelet (sp?) lace at the bottom (knee length) at Thyme.  
Sleep:  Been able to sleep in a bit very recently.  But still tned ot get up early.  
*Best moment this week:  Hmmm... baby is kicking and moving my belly a lot more now.  My whole belly moves now often.  I was very excited to find that dress at RW and Co.  
*Movement?  See the above.
*Food Cravings:  Nope.
*Symptoms: Lots of Braxton Hicks happening these days.   Specifically the last week or so.  They are more uncomfortable now.  Not painful but they kinda can take my breath away a little bit the way the squeeze feels.  The other morning I woke up and rolled and picked up my pillow off the floor and it created the biggest BH I have had.  Normally my lower tummy just gets hard but this time my whole uterus got super tight.  About five or ten minutes later another one.  Kinda cool.  Makes you wonder about what labour will be like and preterm labour.

 Gender: September will tell the answer.  :)
*Labor Signs: Noper.
*Belly Button in or out:  Still in, and getting a bit shallower again.
*Feeling toward Pregnancy:  It's the primary thing I think about.  I enjoy learning lots about the baby and labour and all things in between.  
*What I miss:  Hmmm... being able to bend at the waist?  Haha, no it's kinda fun feeling so awkward.  
*What I'm looking forward to: Being done work and moving and selling the house.  Please pray it goes fast!  We have a rental waiting for us in Blumenort if we can sell the house soon!
*Milestones:  At 26 weeks, baby has an 80% chance of survival!
*Any new stretchmarks: Maybe a couple more on my thighs and hips.  Still none, thankfully, on my belly.  The ones I have are daker.  

 *Things We Have Gotten:  I bought a potential going home outfit for the baby the other day.  I have gotten a fuzzy sleep bag for the baby and a couple sleepers from some ladies at work.  

23 Weeks

*This week the baby is:   Head to bum 8.3 inches ish, and 1.1-1.3 pounds.  At our ultrasound last week at 22w2d baby was approx. 1.1 pounds.  The little porker.  :)
*How far along:  23w1d
*Due Date: September 24th, 2013
*Total Weight gain/loss:  Still gaining :)  Around 159 pounds.  Still on track at a pound a week in spite of my efforts.  23 weeks and 23 pounds.  Lovely.  So I guess I can count on being at 40 pounds at 40 weeks.  Could be worse I guess but waaay more than I wanted to gain!
*Maternity Clothes: Still wearing em'
Sleep:  Same old however I'm doing better on less sleep then I was.  
*Best moment this week: Our ultrasound was great although I was having anxiety issues that day so I was really having an anxiety attack throughout the ultrasound which put a damper on it, but I still enjoyed seeing our cute baby.  At the end of it its little hands were both up by its face and it was just all curled up and cute.  For the whole time pretty much it was curled up pretty tight.  
*Movement?  Still lots of kicking and the outside belly movements are getting bigger all the time. 
*Food Cravings:  Nope.
*Symptoms:  The optomotrist appointment showed that my eyes are fine, so that was really good.  Hmmm... I get BH throughout my day often.  Guessing maybe a few times a day every day for a long time now.  My feet get sore at work and my body tends to want to try to go out of place if I lift too much or put myself in different positions I'm not used to.  My back and hippish areas.  

 Gender:  It's a boy!  No, a girl!  Oh well, guess you'll have to wait.
*Labor Signs: Noper.
*Belly Button in or out:  Still in, and getting a bit shallower again.
*Feeling toward Pregnancy:  Be glad to have our baby at the end of this.  Hope it goes by fast!
*What I miss:   Not too much.
*What I'm looking forward to:  My last day of work on June 25!  (hopefully!)
*Milestones:  Baby is possibly viable at this stage in the game!
*Any new stretchmarks: The faint stretch marks have been confirmed on my left thigh.  One more little one on the left and right on my side as well for new ones.  So far nothing on my belly, I really really hope they don't come but I'm expecting some small ones at least.

 *Things We Have Gotten:   Got some new sleepers and onesies and baby hats and a swaddle blanket for when baby is newborn.  Little pants too.  :)

22 Weeks

*This week the baby is:   Crown to rump length is 7.9 inches, 15 oz -1.1 lbs!!
*How far along:  22w1d
*Due Date: September 24th, 2013
*Total Weight gain/loss:  Not sure, didn't weigh myself properly recently.  I'm ok with that haha.  Still trying to be really careful.
*Maternity Clothes: Still wearing em'
Sleep:  Same old.  
*Best moment this week:  Probable hearing my babies heartbeat again.  151 I think it was.  So slightly slower, which is normal.  
*Movement?  Yupper this kid likes to move!  :)  He/she likes to kick my bladder.
*Food Cravings:  Nope.
*Symptoms:  Still feeling a bit sick every once in a while.  Still a bit more tired.  The eye thing is still there, no flashing though really.  Going to optomotrist tomorrow and another ultrasound.  Please pray for both appointments to go really well!  Thanks!

 Gender:  Yup it's a boy or girl!
*Labor Signs: Nope.  Although I had some stabby kinda pain low in my uterus today but I think it's a muscle or ligament thing.  Not labour pain definitely.  
*Belly Button in or out:  Still in, J thinks it looks weird :)  It's kinda brown inside too!  
*Feeling toward Pregnancy:  Looking forward to the baby coming.
*What I miss:   Not too much.
*What I'm looking forward to:  A baby!
*Milestones:  22 weeks seems quite far along.  That's a milestone in and of itself.
*Any new stretchmarks: I might have the start of a few more faaaaiiint ones on my left thigh.

 *Things We Have Gotten:   Nothing for baby recently.

21 Weeks

*This week the baby is:   12.3-15 oz and about 7.5 inches crown to rump
*How far along:  21w3d
*Due Date: September 24th, 2013
*Total Weight gain/loss:  21 pounds, 21.5 weeks.  I've been holding pretty steady the last week and a half FINALLY.   Wish I didn't have to calorie count.
*Maternity Clothes:  I have found some tops in boxes as I was getting ready for our garage sale we had.  That was a lovely surprise.  
Sleep:  Usually once I'm awake I'm awake.  
*Best moment this week:  Hmmm... taking off a couple days of work to work on the house giving us a super duper long May long weekend.  
*Movement?  Oh yes.  Off an on throughout the day and more and more while I'm up and moving.  Still mostly when sit or lie down though. 
*Food Cravings:  No not really.
*Symptoms:  Still feeling a bit sick every once in a while.  Usually not for very long.  I have to go to the optomotrist again as I have had weird flashing a few times that don't last long, and also in bright light I have cloudy dots in my vision, but go away once I'm not looking in bright daylight, but need to make sure my retina isn't detatching etc, which could be really bad for my eyes.  So that's a prayer request!  

 Gender:  Yup it's a boy or girl!
*Labor Signs: Nope.
*Belly Button in or out:  Still in, J thinks it looks weird :)
*Feeling toward Pregnancy:  I feel pretty good about things.  Liking being pregnant a bit better now that I'm a bit more energetic and not as sick.
*What I miss:  I don't know, still the whole thing about not feeling as attractive.
*What I'm looking forward to:  Summer sun and fun!!!!!
*Milestones:  Not sure.
*Any new stretchmarks: My boob's stretch marks from before are darkening still on the side.  I started getting these tiny spider vains on the right side of my belly.  On the side of my hips I have some small little red ones. 

 *Things We Have Gotten:   Nothing for baby recently.

18 and 19 and 20 Week Update

*This week the baby is:   10.5-12.3 oz (for 20 weeks)
*How far along:  19w5d
*Due Date: September 24th, 2013
*Total Weight gain/loss:   I don't know I haven't weighed myself in a couple of weeks.  Too scared.  Trying still to gain slower.
*Maternity Clothes:  About a week ago I found some clothes at Suzy Sheir (3 tops) and a skirt at Urban Planet that work as maternity so that was nice and cheaper too.  Yesterday I bought two pairs of maternity shorts at Motherhood and also a dressy tank top and then a casual pink one.  I had tears in my eyes in the change room because I felt so big and not in a cute pregnant way.  Thankfully my husband was there and made me feel a bit better about things.  I sure love him.  Today I picked up some clothes from Thyme that I got on sale.  I had two coupons for 50 dollars off a 100 dollar sale.  So I bought a grey tank top and a white one (the same style) and I got blue cargo capris and white cotton capris and then a lilac colour tank as well.  Oh yes, I got a maxi sundress and a BATHING SUIT at Swimco.  So that's a relief that I found something for swimming that offers enough coverage.  I hope it stretches to accomadate until the summer is over 
Sleep:  Having trouble sleeping once I wake up in the morning for the past week and a half.  Ugh which means not enough sleep.  I'm quite tired as we speak.
*Best moment this week:  The best moment was at 18w3 days when I felt the baby with my hand for the first time and then the next day I actually got to see the baby tapping on the outside.  On the left side just above my belly button.  Cool!  I haven't seen my belly move since though.  Then just at 19w4d in the wee hours of the morning J felt the baby for the first time a bunch of times!
*Movement?  Yes, see above!  I feel baby consistently throughout the day since  probably about 17 weeks.  
*Food Cravings:  No cravings that I can think of.
*Symptoms:  Still getting sick feeling every day for part of the day.  It's manageable but annoying.  I stopped using my Diclectin cause my prescription ran out about a week ago.  I wish I still had it but I'm doing ok.

 Gender:  Yup it's a boy or girl!
*Labor Signs: No but my stomach often tightens up for a few seconds at a time.  I think it's BH but could it be the baby flipping around?  I don't like the feeling.  It doesn't hurt at all but it kinda makes me feel a bit nauseous.
*Belly Button in or out:  Still in, I have a very deep belly button.  
*Feeling toward Pregnancy:  Pregnancy is ok.  I don't love it, don't hate it.  It's a means to and end.
*What I miss:  Sleeping properly!  These days I wake up in the morning and whatever time that is, usually I can't return to sleep which means that I almost always don't get enough sleep anymore.  That started about a week and a half ago getting crappy sleeps.  I miss being able to wear cute non-preggo summer clothes that suit my style better.
*What I'm looking forward to:  Being done renovations and putting the house on the market.  Hopefully very very soon.  Being done work!!  About 7 more weeks to go.
*Milestones:  Feeling baby move with my hand and JJ too and seeing my belly move.  Also at 18w3d I had the first (and still only) person comment on my pregnancy that didn't know me.  A lady at Safeway.  She was very talkative and was very excited for me.  
*Any new stretchmarks: My boob's stretch marks from before are darkening still on the side.  I started getting these tiny spider vains on the right side of my belly.  I can handle that over stretch marks any day which I really hope don't come.  

 *Things We Have Gotten:   Well I got a free onesie from Thyme with my purchase today.  We picked up our crib about 2 weeks ago from Babies R' Us.  The box is HUGE.