Strange Pregnancy Happenings

Being nearly 32 weeks into this, there have been all sorts of things to happen that have caught me off guard. No matter if someone told me about it, I read it in a book  or it was just common sense, it is all different when it really happens to you.

Let's see how many strange happenings I can recall:

1. can't get enough sleep (especially at the beginning)

2. not being able to sleep (3rd trimester...hence why I am writing this at 4:30 in the AM!!)

3. eating all the time and still feeling hungry (just ate some Frosted Flakes!)

4. getting emotional about shows like Biggest Loser

5. bloody mucus

6. bleeding/sensitive gums 

7. the urge to clean everything in preparation for the baby

8. worrying more than usual

9. feeling like my stomach is contorting when the baby moves/rolls around

10. watching my stomach move with baby...this can amuse Matt and me for hours!!

11. HORRIBLE leg cramps (especially in the middle of the night!)

12. headaches (early in pregnancy)

13. not being able to breathe for nearly 5 weeks (I was so congested and could not do too much)

14. waking up to pee in the middle of the night (this has never been an issue for me; it always seems to be from 3:00-4:00)

15. feeling like I am going to bust and then being surprised at how little comes out

16. not having to pee until I stand up, and I feel like a little kid running to the bathroom

17. getting out of breath from walking

18. feeling like I ran 3 miles after walking up 3 flights of stairs to my classroom (the extra 22 pounds right now is making a significant difference!)

19. constipation (1st trimester--I think my body was adjusting to the prenatal vitamins)

20. extra water weight that I really cannot see (well, except for the underwear and bra that will not snap anymore!)

21. vivid, crazy, random dreams

22. more acne than usual

23. dry, flaky scalp

24. swollen female parts

25. backache (this is a more recent one which will only get worse)

Notice I have not said anything about nausea. I have been oh so thankful to not have this one! I know this is a long list, but this pregnancy has been wonderful! I am ready for Ethan to be here, but I will also miss this joyous time in my life.

Hiccups?

I have been feeling this odd jolting, vibration, movement of some sort. It has startled me at first, yet sometimes it is so faint that I do not even notice it. I have come to the assumption that it might be hiccups. It is not a big movement like all the other ones that I feel. How sweet! Matt and I find ourselves literally staring at my belly! Ethan seems to be rather active around 8:00-10:00 at night; it is a little after I ate dinner or a snack, and Matt is home.

Everything is becoming more real! I am getting the crib and glider tomorrow morning. A very dear friend of mine from work is giving us the crib and glider; she has one child, and has told me for the past several years that she wanted to pass the furniture on to me. I am blessed to have her in my life, and I cannot wait to see the nursery come together!

It feels like a brand new house!

It has been a really long time since I have updated any info! Needless to say, Matt and I have found ourselves extremely busy preparing for the baby. Lots of changes have been made in the house and lots of money has been spent! There are more changes and money to come! I am afraid that we have only gotten started!

Here are some of the big accomplishments in the past month:

1. organized/cleaned garage

2. painted nursery

3. painted guest bathroom

4. painted office/guest bedroom

5. installed new floors throughout the ENTIRE house; Matt did nearly all of this himself!!

6. major cleaning out of all our junk--it's amazing how much stuff we had accumulated over the past 4 years!

7. bought and put together new office furniture

Still to come:

1. assemble crib

2. paint dresser/changing table

3. organize kitchen cabinets

4. clean out bonus room and attic

5. donate stuff to Goodwill

6. get twin bed to add in office 

7. continue to make room for all the baby accessory items that will be joining our house!

Lots to do before he comes...

I believe it is called "nesting:" the process of cleaning and fixing up everything before baby's arrival. It is part of a mother's nature to have everything perfect for the baby. I honestly think that Matt may have it worse than me! We have decided to use this time to really do some major home improvement stuff around the house. We are going to clean and organize the garage, paint the nursery, office, and guest bathroom, and then get new floors in the entire house. After the cleaning and organizing, we are going to have a garage sale. We really need to do some Spring cleaning, and this baby boy is giving us reason to make it all happen! We have accumulated so much stuff over the past 4 years, and it is only about to increase! 

We plan on starting with the garage tomorrow. We may also go ahead and pick out some paint colors; that will give Matt something else to do when he is off of work or in the evenings. I am so excited to see things change and get ready for our little baby boy! 

Surprise, Mrs. Johnson!

I have been meaning to create a post about this, but I am still in the midst of the worst cold of my life! It has been another rough week of sleep, working all day, and trying to maintain my house!

I of course told my students last Thursday that I was having a boy. They were excited, and it was cool to see them show emotion. On Friday morning, I left my classroom before school even began to go to the bathroom; I knew that the time was approaching when the students would be arriving, and being pregnant and all, going to the bathroom is a much needed necessity! As I was making my way back to my room, I was constantly stopped by various teachers, and it was annoying me because I was trying to take care of a few things in my classroom before the day fully began. I had no idea that while I was out of my classroom a group of my students were decorating my room and were going to surprise me. 

My classroom was full of streamers, "It's a Boy!" banners, balloons, a HUGE pin for me to wear, and a present for the new arrival. I was so astonished that they went out of the way to do such a thing, and it really meant a lot to me. 

We are having a precious baby boy!

A boy it is! We are both very excited, and the whole pregnancy seems even more real now. It was so incredible to see him moving around. He was yawning, stretching, moving arms and legs, and other sorts of things that kept us amazed. At one point, one of his feet was up at his head...WOW! He weighs right at a pound, which will surely change a lot as the time goes on!

Matt is stoked, as any dad would be. I can see it now; a guitar buddy, Playstation trouble maker, and mountain bike partner! We bought the baby boy his first outfit--a grey onesie with a guitar on it! It is precious and suits our family quite well!

sick and preggo...not a good combo!

I have been fighting a cold all week. It is that time of year, I am a teacher, so it is nearly inevitable. I thought I was going to be okay until Thursday. My throat was scratchy, and it was difficult to talk all day long to 8th graders. Yesterday, I had 2 cough attacks at school; I could not stop. When I woke up this morning, I literally could not breathe. I have been lazy all day because I know my body needs the rest. Sudafed, Tylenol, tissues, my pj's and bed have been my best friends today! I have come to the conclusion that my throat was giving me such fits because I had drainage seeping down. Now I am just waiting for Matt to get home so that I can try to feel a little better and have some energy.

4 more days until we see our baby on the ultrasound!