Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Internals

I had my first internal exam yesterday.

Not my favorite thing in the world, but I somehow survived.

I went in trying not to have any expectations on how far I had progressed,if any. But I was pleasantly surprised! I'm 1cm dialated and 70% effaced. I was pretty excited about all of that...and I got even more excited when I read this.

"What many new moms don't realize is that after complete effacement, labor is soon coming. It is a better predictor than dilation. This process can take much longer than dilation itself, so the higher the percentage, the more thinning has occurred."


WOOOO HOOO! Dr. Morse had a big smile on her face & seemed very happy and surprised. She told me that that was really awesome for a first time mom w/ still four weeks to go!

I've been taking Evening Primrose Oil, which is supposed to help w/ the thinning of the cervix. Hopefully it will continue to help. I just keep praying that I will keep progressing and that I won't be stuck at the same next week.

I'm really hoping to go into labor on my own since there has been talk about being induced because of my gestational diabetes...which is pretty much my worst nightmare.

Elliot has been moving around like CRAZY since yesterday. I've never felt him move this much. I think he might be trying to escape! He wants out just as badly as I want him out! :) We're really excited about meeting each other!

I think I've started nesting. Last night I straightened up a couple closets, vaccumed, and just did some general cleaning. Little things I'd never noticed before were really starting to get on my nerve. For instance, sometimes food gets stuck between the counter top and the stove...yeah, I'll be cleaning THAT out before the baby comes. Eww. I was DYING to dust last night, but I'm out of dust cloths. I contemplated calling my mom & asking her to bring me some...but I figured that was a bit over the top.

All I want to do is sit E's room and stare at everything. Fold his clothes over & over and make sure they're in order by size. I want to keep re-arranging things, but everything is pretty much where it needs to be! I wish I hadn't been so good about doing that stuff along the way, so I could do it now! :) So, I may just sit in there and rock tonight and read him a book or two.

The women I work with threw me a shower today. I got the cutest things! I got this humidifier...

http://www.target.com/Crane-Frog-Cool-Mist-Humidifier/dp/B0008GPM5E/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&searchView=grid5&frombrowse=0&node=1038576&keywords=humidifier&field_browse=1038576&searchSize=30&id=Crane%20Frog%20Cool%20Mist%20Humidifier&field_availability=-2&refinementHistory=subjectbin%2Ctarget_com_age%2Ctarget_com_gender-bin%2Ctarget_com_character-bin%2Cprice%2Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%2Ctarget_com_size-bin%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin&searchNodeID=1038576&field_launch-date=-1y&searchRank=target104545&searchPage=2&field_keywords=humidifier

And this night light....

http://www.target.com/Circo-LED-Scandi-Night-Light/dp/B001FSGRVW/sr=1-15/qid=1267038375/ref=sr_1_15/180-8257046-6198949?ie=UTF8&search-alias=tgt-index&frombrowse=0&index=target&rh=k%3Anight%20light&page=1

How cute are those? I'll probably wash them up tonight and put them in his room. I'm just so ready for my sweet little sugar to get here I can hardly stand it!!!!

My mom also made me a few things that I need to take pictures of once I get home from work today. She's such a sweetie and I think she's just as excited about Elliot arriving as we are!

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Waking Up

I'm exhausted.

Not quite as tired as I was in my first trimester. Okay, that's a lie. I'm equally as tired, just in a different way.

First trimester I could've gotten 15 hours of sleep each night & I would still be tired mentally & physically. Some days, just the thought of getting out of bed wore me out. I couldn't WAIT to get home from work so I could put on my favorite jammies, curl up in bed and sleep the night away. My body was growing a new baby...which, if you don't know, takes a lot of work. : ) It was no bigger than the size of a bean and it was already zapping the life out of me. Boy, I had no idea what I was in for.

I'm feelin' the same way again. Now, this time, I'm tired for a whole different reason. I'm starting to go to the bathroom about 4 times a night on average. Sometimes more, and on the rare occasion, a little less. My hips hurt, my crotch hurts (Sorry if that's too much TMI, it's just the truth), my back hurts...everything hurts. I can't get comfortable in bed, and once I do, I have to pee...

...again.

It takes a LOT of effort for me to drag myself out of bed these days. Literally, I'm almost dragging myself. I have to hold on to the headboard, and muster up all my bicep strength and pull. It's a little tough to get over all the pillows I have surrounding me, keeping me as comfortable as I can possibly be. Then, there's the sheet issue. Steve ends up with the comforter (he's a cold little fella) and I end up w/ the whole sheet (toasty momma, over here!). Well, as much as I love just having a sheet to cover me, I don't love it so much when I have the whole darn sheet on my side, 'causing me to nearly get tangled up and fall out of bed. (True story. Almost happened last week.)

This would all be easier if I had these little things I like to call abs.

Abs? What abs? I had to wake Steve up the other night so he could put his arm behind me and prop me up in bed so I could get out. When I told him thanks the next morning, he said he didn't even remember helping.

By the time I'm done going to the bathroom, which by the way, last night I hit a new low...I fell asleep on the toilet. I mean, for craps sake! I didn't even have to pee long enough for me to fall asleep, but somehow I managed.

Getting back into bed, that's a huge task too. Crawling back over all the pillows, settling back in, and getting dog paws out of my back. Ugh, I have to admit, I just got really tired and exhausted thinking about all of that. Finally, once I settle back in, little Elliot decides (some nights) that he'd like to host a dance party in my belly & invite everyone he knows (which thankfully, he doesn't know a lot of people yet) So, it's pretty much E and my organs dancing around, moving into places I had no idea certain organs could go. He really also loves to get the hiccups while I'm sleeping. Which, I don't mind...the constant rhythm of them kind of puts me back to sleep.

Needless to say, my actual hours of sleep are few in numbers. I know I just need to get used to this since I'll be waking up with my little sugar multiple times a night in about 5 weeks...but I don't think I'll mind it as much then.

The times I'll be up with him, I'll actually get to see him, hold him, kiss him, snuggle him...and I think that'll make it all worth waking up.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Replacing Cleaners

So, I've been thinking lately, we need to be more "green". We're going to start recycling, we're using cloth diapers, and I'm planning on taking my own bags to the grocery store from now on.

But, another thing I thought of is that I'd like to replace all my cleaners and replace them with Organic, Earth friendly products. The fumes from the cleaners always really bother me, plus I don't think it's best for the baby to be around either. So, I think I'm going to try out some of Mrs. Meyer's cleaning supplies!

Check out the website here...
http://www.mrsmeyers.com/Default.aspx

I'm going to replace all of the cleaners I currently have. I'll probably just give them to my mom. : ) Really, the only two cleaners that I use a lot of are Windex (the kind w/ vinegar) (I can't stand the blue kind. WAY to strong of a smell)and Scrubbing Bubbles. I'll admit, that's my best friend when it comes to cleaning my bathroom. I just love the sparkly look that my counter tops and toilet get after those little bubbles do their job. BUT I'd rather clean with something safer and better for me and my family.

So, today during my lunch break, I'm going to head on over to Clovers and buy my first couple of Mrs. Meyers products. I'm pretty stoked about it.

I really am feeling old...I'm getting really excited about cleaning products & cloth diapers...is this what my life is becoming?

Probably...and I'm 100% okay with it.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Tired of being pregnant

I know I shouldn't complain, but honestly...I'm tired of being pregnant.

These last few weeks have not been very much fun. I'm starting to feel extremely tired again, though not as tired as I was in the 1st trimester. There were days back then when I felt like I could fall asleep & stay asleep for days. Even weeks!!!

Now I'm tired because I don't get enough sleep at night. I can't get comfortable in bed, my hips and crotch area are always sore and the baby kicks me all the time when I'm trying to sleep!

I told Steve that I'm starting to even dread bed time because I know it's just going to be a struggle. I never have a hard time falling asleep, but I'll wake up about 3 or 4 times to go to the bathroom, and when I do, I have a really hard time getting out of bed. The other night, I had to have Steve help me out! Poor guy. I had to wake him up just so I could get out of bed. : / I felt so helpless. So, by the time I get out of bed, I'm about to pee in my pants. Then, I get to the bathroom & hardly anything comes out. Uh, all that for NOTHING? Then, I have to crawl back into bed & find a comfortable position again. And 9/10 times, when I lay down again, I get insta-heart burn, so then I lay there for a while (1.5 hours in last night's case) with this horrible burning sensation and feeling like I could puke.

Then, finally I fall back asleep for what feels like 30 minutes then my alarm is going off.

I just can't win. And on top of it all, I've had a snotty/stuffy nose since probably October. I didn't know someone could produce so much snot. It's redic. And honestly, annoying. I feel like I have a cold all the time.

I just really wish it was at least week 37 for me. That way, he'd be full term & I wouldn't worry about him coming anytime after that. In fact, I told him his lease was up in 3 weeks, which would put me right at 37. I hope he heard me. :)

In 2 weeks I get my first internal, and I'm hoping I'll be a little dialated & effaced. We'll see! I'm sending up prayers right & left!

Monday, February 8, 2010

6 More Weeks Until Due Date...

With only 6 more weeks left, I've been very ANTSY!

I was just telling Steve that I wish I had something left to do in preparation for Hawk's arrival, but really, I don't have much left to do.

I do have some packing to do for the hospital, and probably need to wash the cloth diapers I bought a couple more times to make sure they get to maximum absorbancy, but other than that, the waiting game is on.

Yesterday, I bought 3 dozen pre-folded cloth diapers, Rockin' Green Detergent, and two covers to start out with. The store I bought them at didn't have a whole lot to choose from, so I picked out two that I liked. I ordered more once I got home.

I decided to go w/ 3 Thirsties, and 3 Bummis. I've heard really great things about both of them. So I'll try them out. And whatever I like the best, I'll buy more of for my 2nd batch of diapers that I'll need.

On everything, I spent $140, which I didn't think was bad, espescially considering all the money I'll save on using disposables.

I'm really excited about the detergent. It's $13.95 for a bag that will do 45/90 loads, depending how often you wash. It's wonderful! It's obviously "Green", so I don't mind spending a little bit more. We can also use it on all our clothes, not just diapers. I bought some Dreft a while ago for Hawk's clothing since his skin might not be able to tolerate the harshness of Tide or something, so, as soon as we run out of Dreft & Tide I'll exclusively use Rockin' Green. I can't wait! They have some crazy scents like Mango Sorbet (which was YUMMY!) and Monkey Snacks!?

I'm very very excited about cloth diapering. I never thought I would be. I'm just so excited about saving so much money & making sure my little muffin's tushie isn't exposed to harsh chemicals that may cause him irritation! It'll be so great! :)

I'm just so excited about so many things recently. I have so much to look forward to! I just wish it would hurry up and get here! I am running out of patience.

Hopefully at my 36 week appointment, Dr. Morse will tell me some good news & maybe I'll have started dialating & effacing! Wouldn't that be great?

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

my favorite feeling {ever}

I think I'm really going to miss being pregnant. Despite all the times I complain to Steve about how I can hardly walk across the room w/o tearing up because I'm in so much pain, or that at any moment, I could possibly pee in my pants because I've been kicked in just the right spot I really truly will miss it.

I love the feeling of Elliot moving around inside of me. It is my favorite feeling ever. Just knowing that I'm the one who gets to carry our children is really such a huge blessing. The aches, pains and sleepless nights are worth it. I wouldn't let Steve carry him if I could. This is such a special time for me. I know at the beginning it was hard for Steve to bond w/ Elliot since he couldn't feel him moving around at all. But since he's started to feel kicks and see him moving from the outside, I know he's just as excited and just as in love with him as I am.

We are DYING to meet him. We talk about it almost every day. What will he look like? Whose nose will he have? Will he have big ears like Steve? {I think so!} Will he have my lips or my toes? Steve always seems to lean towards Elliot looking JUST like him. As much as I get annoyed that he's always saying, "Oh, he'll look like this because I did when I was a baby." I secretly hope he looks just like his daddy. Afterall, he's the most handsome man I know. I hope he has Steve's lips, nose, ears, toes, dark hair, and olive complexion...and my chubby cheeks. : ) I think that'd make for a pretty adorable little guy.

Well, I just got back from my dr's appointment. Apparently, I've lost 2 lbs, bringing my total down to 15 lbs gained so far. I think I lost some water weight from last time. I was pretty swollen for a while, but that seems to have gone down some. Hooray! :)

Now, I just need to lay off the trail mix.