31 Weeks....

How far along? 31 weeks today.

Size of Baby: Babycenter.com indicates that baby is "over 16 inches long. She weighs about 3.3 pounds."

Baby Milestones: According to whattoexpect.com, the baby is "now processing information, tracking light, and perceiving signals from all five senses. She's also putting in longer stretches of sleep, which is why you're probably noticing more defined patterns of wakefulness (and movement) and rest (when she’s pretty still)." 

Maternity Clothes: Yes. And, I just got some new ones at Old Navy. I really think this is the end for me buying maternity clothes. We have 58 days until c-section date. I'm just going to buy comfy clothes or pajamas from this point forward. ....well.....unless I see something that I just have to have. I better leave that caveat in there so Hubby doesn't hold me to something I said once...you know?!?!

Gender: We've been told that it's a girl 4 times now. If they are all wrong, well, this little boy better look good in pink!

Belly Button In/Out: In, but getting flatter! Mine doesn't usually pop out, but rather, my belly stretches to the point that my normally "in" belly button gets flattened out evenly with the belly....

Labor Signs: Today, I freaking hate this question. Why? Because I'm tired and sore from the hours of Braxton Hicks contractions yesterday and last night.

Story from yesterday/last night: so, they tell you to call the dr if you have more than 4 Braxton Hicks in an hour. Okay.....so I had a pretty painful one at 3:52 yesterday afternoon. I started timing them. I was having more than 4 in an hour, but they were crazy sporadic with their timing. They weren't getting closer together. They weren't getting stronger. Some were stronger than others. At the highest point, they were about a 4/10 on the pain scale. But, they weren't going away despite my massive water intake and laying down for hours. So, from about 4pm-7pm, I had more than 4/hr with no relief. I finally called the dr on call. Yes, I waited until after hours because if I had called sooner, then it wouldn't have even been an hour after the onset, and it's not like they would have done anything about it with 8 minutes til quitting time...you know? So, naturally, the on call dr tells me to go into L&D for monitoring. My question was: "What's the worst that could happen if I do nothing and wait this out at home?" The worse: premature delivery in my home with only my son and husband for assistance, in a town with no hospital, and the closest hospital has no NICU. That's the worst---just so you know. Well, I should say, that's the worst excluding the possibility of death for me & the baby. I suppose that's really the worst....So, although I was 98% sure that I was having painful Braxton Hicks, we went in for monitoring because we were told to. Check out these pics: nothing remarkable on the monitor, though I could listen to Baby Girl's heartbeat forever.... Hubby was up waaaaaay past his bedtime, and that's my view with the monitor on my belly.

Memaw stayed at our house with Gage while we went in for monitoring. When I was finally released from that super-uncomfortable stretcher surrounded by a curtain, I came home to this on my side of the bed:

That's Gage and his hippo, Henry. I am sooooo lucky that he's mine. I climbed into bed, and Damon & I just snuggled and cuddled him and rubbed his hair.... Little boy.....

And, naturally my night didn't end there. I'd been chugging water for hours. I was practically peeing pure water! So, I was up a few more times to use the restroom. Woke up twice with heartburn, and woke up around 4am with another painful Braxton Hicks. Ugh. Before I knew it, the alarm was going off this morning, and I had to get up..... So today, I'm tired. I've had ZERO Braxton Hicks since 4am, but my whole belly is just sore, like I've done a million sit ups.

I would like to take a moment to just point out the irony here: my body is doing what it is supposed to do by having these Braxton Hicks to prepare my body for childbirth. Hey, body, didn't you get the memo?? We're having a c-section again. You can knock this shit off, mmmmkay? Finally, my body gets its crap together with regard to procreation, and I don't need it! I don't neeeeeed you to keep throwing these bullshit contractions my way.
I'm just sayin'....

Movement: Oh, goodness, yes! Middle of the night is still her favorite work-out time, and evening is a close second...

Sleep: How do I miss thee? Let me count the ways! Let's see, the cramps in the legs, the potty breaks, the heartburn, the snoring, the kicks (he calls them "gentle nudges") from Hubby when my snoring is unbearable to him, the Braxton Hicks in the middle of the night, the fact that my feet fall asleep if I find myself asleep on my back....all of those things---they interfere with my sleep. I'd nap more if I could, but they are building a house on the lot next door to ours....so there are days when I truly want to go out there and pay the guys cash to just.stop.building!

Cravings/Aversions: Unhealthy food? Yes, please! Healthy food....well, some of it is okay.... Meat? Fine. I don't want to choose meat, but I know that I need it, so I have been trying....
Recently I couldn't shovel veggie sushi into my mouth fast enough. Veggie sushi and soy sauce??? Yes, please!!!!!
Mmmmm.....

I totally ate that whole little tray of sushi as soon as I got in my car. I never even left the parking lot. I ate it all right there, and it was delicious. (...I may or may not have thought about going back in to order another tray....)

Symptoms:I think I covered this in the sleep category. All of those things +swelling in my feet if I've been on them for any length of time...


Feeling: Sometimes I feel like this baby is going to fall out! Sometimes I feel great. I never feel both of those things at the same time. I'm just sayin'....

Best Moment this Week: My baby shower. Or, the trip to & from the shower. Or, just being there at my Mom's.... Or, I guess, just all of it. All of it was my favorite from this week!


What I Miss: 

I am not even a big beer drinker, but for whatever reason, when I saw this at the grocery store---I could practically taste it! ....all cold and perfect.... and now I'm thinking about it again. I've actually never had Shiner Light Blonde. I enjoy Shiner Blonde, so I'm sure I'll like the light too....and now I want one... 

What I am Looking Forward To: Trying a Shiner Light Blonde (duh...didn't we just go over this?), having this baby, finishing the nursery, the arrival of the car seat.

Next Appointment: April 11th.

That's all for now!