Kids say the darnest things!

This might be the funniest thing that has happened to me since I have been pregnant...


Matt and I went to the mall last night to hang out and see a movie. The walking around was good for me, even though it was not the easiest task in the world. We were in Journeys (a shoe store) just looking around. There was a boy of about 4 years old (at the most) in there with his parents. I hardly even noticed the boy until he came up to me. Here is how the conversation went:

Boy: What you got in there?

Matt and I were confused at first, and then we realized that he was referring to my belly.

Boy: What's in there? Let me see.

He obviously thought I was hiding something under my shirt.

Boy: Lift up your shirt! I wanna see!

Me: (laughing) It's a baby...you looked like this once too.

Boy: No!!! I wanna see...what is it?

He was laughing and jumping up and down anticipating the magic show of me showing him what I was hiding under my shirt. I suppose he has not seen many pregnant ladies before, and my belly to him just looked like a big ball or something else really exciting. Needless to say, Matt and I were laughing about it the rest of the night!!

Just waiting...

I am a few days over 37 weeks, and I just sit and wonder when Ethan will begin to make his journey into this world. I am fairly confident that we have everything ready. I am such a planner, so not knowing when he will come just about drives me crazy! I am trying to take it easy this weekend. I have been rather busy at school with packing up my classroom, finishing the school year, and just being busy getting ready for Ethan. I have really worn myself out.

I went to the doc on Thursday, and they think he is about 6 1/2 pounds. Only time will tell! Matt and I talk all the time on how we want to see his little face! It's so hard to believe that he is almost here.

I can really tell that the pregnancy is coming to an end. Everything just feels different. He has moved down a good bit, which makes me go to the bathroom all the time! My back aches, and I have had trouble sleeping. He moves all the time, and these movements poke and pry at my body! I cannot wait for him to be here!!

Mother's (to-be) Day

Even though Ethan is not here yet, I consider myself a mother already. I have been preparing, loving, and caring for this baby for many months now. It is so weird to think that this time next year my baby boy will be almost a year old!!

Matt gave me a very sweet card and signed his name "Dad."--it made me laugh, smile, and almost cry at the same time. I told him not to go overboard with anything for me because I know that he can get a little carried away. He bought and picked out a book for me; he knows I love to read and that I will be rather lazy this summer, especially when the baby is sleeping. I was totally surprised and impressed that he remembered my favorite author, Jodi Piccoult, and got me one of her books. He was so down on himself though when I told him that I had already read it; it was actually the first book of hers that I read about 3 years ago. I did not care at all; I do not own the book and would love to read it again. He was not satisfied at all. Needless to say, he returned the book and had me pick out another one. When I got home from work yesterday, he had also picked out a pair of Crocs flip flops that he knew I liked. He is so sweet!!

My aunt sent me a card in the mail about becoming a mom, my uncle called me, and my sister gave me a card and a present. This is becoming more and more real!! I cannot wait to really become a mom and experience the true joys of motherhood!!

Counting down the weeks!

Oh my how this time has gone by! We only have about 4 1/2 more weeks until the expected due date (June 11), but only God knows when precious Ethan will come! We still have some things to do, but my goal is to get it all accomplished over the next week or 2 so that I can relax.

I went to the doctor this past Monday, and everything looks great! I am measuring right on schedule, blood pressure is amazing, and I have a total weight gain of 28 pounds. Ethan is in a great position for a normal vaginal delivery. His head is in the right spot, and it is very unlikely that he will move from there. His movements now are becoming a little more uncomfortable. Sometimes I feel like he is trying to puncture my ribs and other organs. I am having to use the restroom a lot more frequently; I can surely tell he is bigger and right on my bladder!

I am fairly certain that I have experienced my first real contraction, not a Braxton Hicks. It woke me up the other night. It was like a really bad cramp that lasted for a little while. Everything was extremely tight, and I felt as if there was nothing I could do to alleviate the pain. Once it surpassed, I got out of bed to use the restroom, and then I proceeded back to sleep. I suppose I should get used to these things! I keep reminding myself that my mom delivered all 3 of her babies at 37 and 38 weeks, so that is very soon for me! I really should be more productive on this Saturday!!

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!