Growing Baby 2- 37 Weeks!

I haven't done an actual update in a long time. It's been a combination of life and a toddler and not really having much to say. Last week, however, Little Man decided to throw us for a loop.

A few weeks ago, my OB noticed that baby's heart was adding an extra beat. He had me do a non-stress test and they decided that he was fine. Last week, October 5 (37 weeks exactly), I went in for my weekly check up and Dr. Rone noticed that his heart was still adding the beat and it was a little more prominent. He sent me over for another NST and that doctor immediately unhooked me from the monitors and had me do an ultrasound.

The next few minutes were a blur. She was throwing around words like "emergency c-section," "ambulance," "hospital," and "You're having this baby right now, call your husband." I was terrified. I didn't know what was going on with the baby. I called David and had to give the phone to the doctor because I couldn't get any words out.

Thankfully, Dr. Rone came in about that time and told everyone to chill out, more or less. I did not need an ambulance and my baby was not dying. He asked me if I would like David to drive me to the hospital and told me that he would be over to check on me soon.

Once we were at the hospital, I got settled in a room and was told again that we were having a baby that day. I still didn't know if that meant induction or c-section. I still didn't really know what was going on with little man. Finally, the head of high risk came in and explained that his heart was adding an extra beat (which we already knew) and that I would be meeting with a fetal cardiologist to determine how severe things were. I had a 30 minute long ultrasound with the cardiologist and he determined that M's heart has no abnormalities but he was having premature atrial contractions. Every third beat, his heart would add in an extra. But he said that the ventricles and the rest of his heart were dealing with it as they should. He said that most people have these episodes at some point in their lives. From his standpoint, he said that baby was fine and would not need to come that day but I had to meet with high risk for the ultimate decision.

Fast forward a few hours later, and the high risk doctor came in to talk about our options. We got Dr. Rone on the phone and ultimately decided that I was too overwhelmed to make any kind of decision that day. I went home, was up all night worrying, and then met with Dr. Rone the next day.

Let me just say that I am so, so lucky to have the doctor that I do. He listens, he advocates for me, and I have complete trust in him. I know that there are many women who do not have that luxury. He sat with me for almost 45 minutes and did his best to calm me down and answer my questions.

At that point, our options were:

*Do nothing and let him come when he's ready, but go in two or three times a week for ultrasounds to make sure his heart is still ok. I haven't been able to eat or sleep since Thursday, so I don't think putting myself through 3 more weeks of worry is the best thing for me or baby.
*Get induced right away.
*Or, what we ultimately decided, wait a week, have two ultrasounds this week, and then get my membranes swept Thursday and get induced Friday.

That option worked best for me for a number of reasons. I felt better giving him that extra week. We'll be 38 weeks and a day when I'm induced. Dr. Rone is on call next weekend and will be the doctor delivering. With such a special circumstance, the increased risk of c-section, and my pregnancy anxiety, I needed him to be the one delivering this baby.

I'm a nervous wreck. I know that birth plans are just plans and they change. But I was really hoping for a healing birth this time. To get the chance to labor at home and shoot for that natural birth I wanted. So I'm mourning that a bit. I'm also terrified of being induced and dealing with the Pitocin contractions. I also know that being induced doubles my chances for a c-section, not to mention the fact that the likelihood of a c-section was already increased because of little man's heart. I have never had surgery in my life, so the idea of a c-section scares me to death. C-section mamas are so brave and strong, and I don't really know if I can do it without completely losing it. I worry about the pain of recovery and not being the first to hold him. I worry about being alone in recovery. I worry about not getting to nurse him right away. So much anxiety and fear right now, but I'm trying to work through it.

So yeah. That's where we are right now. As of this moment, I'll have an ultrasound Monday and Thursday and then go in Friday to get induced and meet this baby.

Little man, you definitely threw us for a loop this week. Mama and daddy are a little scared and nervous, but we can't wait to meet you!

Growing Baby 2- 36 Weeks!

36 Weeks on September 28!

Growing Baby 2-35 Weeks!

35 weeks on September 21!

Growing Baby 2- 21 Weeks!

21 weeks this week! It's crazy how fast these weeks are going.

I feel like at this point when I was pregnant with Sawyer, I had started getting things ready for him. I had the nursery planned and had bought furniture. We haven't done anything for this kiddo yet. I still have to finish Sawyer's room from when we moved! So much to do and so little time.

We've been at the beach this week, which has been so nice. We are staying on Anna Maria Island and it is by far the best beach I have ever been to. It's been so nice to get a break from everything back home. Sawyer LOVES the ocean and the beach. He is pretty fearless when it comes to water, which is exciting and terrifying for me. It's hard to believe that when we come back next year, we will have 2 little ones in tow.

I'm definitely feeling the aches and pains of pregnancy a lot earlier this time around. It's already getting uncomfortable/painful to lift and carry Sawyer and my energy level is so low. I'm in bed most nights by 9 because I can't keep my eyes open. I'd probably go to bed earlier than that if Sawyer would let me!

We have our next ultrasound on Tuesday and I can't wait to see how big this little man has gotten!

Growing Baby 2- Sixteen Weeks!

A day late on posting, but we had our gender ultrasound last night and didn't get home until late. We now know if this little baby is a brother or a sister!

I went back and forth with my guess. With Sawyer, I knew from the beginning that he was a boy. But this one had me stumped. I ended up going with boy, David voted girl, and Sawyer said, "It's just a baby Twix!" We can't wait to celebrate with everyone tomorrow for our gender reveal. Hopefully this rain will hold off!

It really didn't matter to us either way. I'm just glad to know so I can start thinking about names, planning a nursery, and making our registry!

Sawyer's Birth Story

He's here! Sawyer Penn Crossen decided to make his grand entrance Friday, October 24, at 12:28 pm, after 13 hours of labor. I'm worried that there are already parts I have forgotten, so I want to write as much of his birth story down as possible before I forget even more, so it's probably going to be a bit wordy. Fair warning-- there may be some things that are TMI, so proceed with caution.

Last Thursday, the 23rd, didn't feel much different than any other day during the last week or two of pregnancy. I was uncomfortable, huge, and just ready to meet our baby. I met David at Rincon for lunch, hoping that the spicy food would help get things started. This might have worked, but for the little fact that I had horrible heart burn AND I hate spicy food, so I ended up getting my usual instead of something that would make me feel awful. After lunch, we hit up Graeters for a milkshake and I joked that it would probably be my last one for a while because I would be on a strict no milk shake diet after little man's arrival.

After dropping David back at work I hit up Michaels, because in my non-rational pregnancy brain state I decided that I needed to make a wreath for our front door so that it would be there when we brought our baby home from the hospital. I looked back through my text messages from that day and saw that I texted my mom around 2pm and told her that my stomach was really cramping, and that I hoped it was the baby and not my lunch. lol

Fast forward a few hours later-- I texted David around 5 to tell him that he needed to come home so we could go walking and make this baby come out. I was still feeling crampy, but it wasn't much different than how I had been feeling the past few days. I didn't want to get my hopes up that anything was happening. David made it home and we made a quick run to Kroger where I bought Halloween candy for our nurses in the event that I wouldn't have time to make them cookies.

Once we were back home, David started making dinner and I sat at the counter to keep him company. I was really starting to feel a lot of pain in my back and the cramping in my stomach hadn't stopped. I think I knew then that something was happening. I texted my friend Stefanie that I thought we may have a baby soon because my back was hurting so bad and my stomach was still cramping. Then I texted Jenni, our doula, to keep her in the loop.

While I was texting them, I started getting a migraine. When I get migraines, it's really bad. My vision gets spotty and blurry, then eventually I can't see. Then my hands and arms go completely numb before the headache sets in. I haven't had a migraine in about 2 years. I know what my trigger is (artificial sweeteners), so if I stay away from those I normally don't get headaches. I started freaking out and crying because I knew how awful it was going to be, especially because I couldn't take any meds for it. David helped me upstairs to bed, but after a few minutes I started to feel really weird. My mouth and tongue went completely numb and I couldn't talk. I was convinced I was having a stroke. David called labor and delivery triage and they recommended that I come in to get my blood pressure checked, just to be on the safe side.
Once there, they hooked me up to the monitors to check out Sawyer's heart rate. My blood pressure was fine, but every time I had a contraction (I couldn't feel them yet, so I still didn't think I was in labor) his heart rate would drop a little bit. They did an exam and said that I was dilated 3cm, which is what I was earlier that week at my doctor's appointment. They decided to keep me overnight to observe the baby's heart rate, but that was it.

Once they had me settled in a room, I told David to go home to feed the cats and grab our bags. This was around 10:45pm. At this point, I still wasn't feeling anything other than the Braxton Hicks that I had been feeling all day so I settled back to try and sleep off the headache while David was gone. Fast forward 15 minutes to 11pm and the first real contraction hit. I remember wondering this whole pregnancy how I would know when the contractions stopped being B/H and started being real. Everyone kept telling me that "I would just know." They were right. My stomach started cramping like crazy, but instead of feeling the contraction in the front like I had expected, I felt the whole thing in my back. It was awful. I think that this was the low point for me during labor. I was alone and writhing around in pain, it was dark, and I didn't have the presence of mind to call the nurses to come in. I timed them for about 30 minutes and they were coming 5-6 minutes apart. At the point, I remember calling David and crying and asking him to hurry up and come back. It was another 30 minutes before he got back to the hospital and once he did, the doctor came in to check me. She determined that in the hour and a half since my last check, I had dilated another 2cm and was currently at a 5 and was about 75% effaced. As she stood up to leave, my water broke. I remember saying to her that I had either peed my pants or my water had broken. She kind of looked at me in disbelief, but checked me again anyway and determined that my water had in fact broken. This whole moment in time is kind of surreal to me. In my mind, I was still at the hospital for a migraine, not because I was in labor. I just remember telling David to call my mom and Jenni, our doula, and then I just kept repeating over and over again that we were having a baby.

At this point the contractions were insane. The only way I can describe them is by saying that it felt like all the bones in my back were being crushed at the same time. I had heard that back labor was awful, but I wasn't prepared for just how bad it was. Once my doula got there, she was able to calm me down a bit and helped me start breathing through the contractions. Up to that point I had been fighting them and holding my breath, which only made it worse. With Jenni's help, I was able to find a place in my head and just concentrate on the breathing, which helped for a bit. Another thing that added to the fire was the fact that Sawyer had his feet firmly planted in my ribs (like he had been the past few weeks), so my options were limited on positions. Anytime I moved I felt like he was going to break them. Using the peanut ball was out of the question as well, because anytime I tried to move into position Sawyer's heart rate dropped.

This is when the time starts to blur for me a bit. I really wish I had thought to ask someone to keep track of how fast I was progressing. All the nurses and doctors kept telling me that since this was my first baby that it would be a while before he was here. I think we were all surprised when I hit 7cm about 3-4 hours (we think) after my first real contraction started. It was at this point that I realized that I wasn't going to make it the rest of the way without an epidural. This whole pregnancy I wanted to deliver with no meds and I really thought that I could do it. However, I also know my body and I knew that with all the pain I was feeling in my back, combined with his feet in my ribs, that I would not make it. It was really hard for me to admit that I needed the epidural, but looking back on it I wouldn't have changed anything. All the nurses, the anesthesiologist, and my family were so supportive of my decision. They all said how proud they were that I had made it to 7cm on my own and that there was no shame in getting the epidural. In my heart, I know that there is nothing at all wrong with getting an epidural. I just really wanted to prove that I could do it and I really didn't want to expose my baby to any more drugs than I had to. In the end though, I think that had I not gotten the meds I would have been too tired to push and probably would have ended up having a c-section.

As a side note, I do want to say that overall our experience at UK was a good one, but I really wish that I had fought the nurses and doctors about letting me get up (prior to the epidural). I really think that if I had been able to get up and move around, the contractions would have gone better and he would have moved down faster. I don't know if they didn't want me to get up because his heart rate kept dropping or for some other reason, but I really wish I had asked. Also, while I'm on the subject- why does the hospital send staff in to talk to you while you're in the middle of a contraction? We opted out of the eye ointment (after doing our own research), so of course someone had to come in and tell us all the bad things that could happen since we declined it. Fair enough. I get it. But this med student who looked like he was 12 years old came in right during a contraction and started telling me that my baby could go blind, etc. I just remember looking at him and yelling at him to just stop talking. Maybe they should think about sending someone in before all the crappy stuff starts happening?

The epidural sucked. I was terrified of it to begin with and I was mad at myself for getting it. They had me sit on the side of the bed and lean against David. They numbed my back and then inserted the needle. This actually didn't bother me at all. The part that sucked was having to stay bent over during the contractions. In my case, they actually had to do it twice because it kinked the first time, so it ended up taking double the amount of time. As much as getting the epidural sucked, it was magic. I didn't even know when I was having contractions. David, my mom, and Kendra were able to get some rest and I was able to lie back under these magical warm blankets and talk with Jenni. I don't even remember what we talked about, but it was nice to take my mind off things.

By 6:30 am, I was at 8.5 cm and fully effaced, but little man still had not dropped. Again, I think it's because they wouldn't let me get up. If we have any more babies, this is something that I will definitely fight them on. In the moment though, I didn't really have the presence of mind to ask them about it.

The rest of the morning was kind of a blur. I remember not believing them when they told me that I was 10cm and 100% effaced. I remember looking at David and telling him that today was a good day for a birthday. Around 9am the doctor came in and told me that they were going to start cutting back the strength of my epidural so that I could start pushing (up to this point, I had been pushing the button as soon as the green light told me I could). I think I had a bit of a freak out because I did not want to feel those awful back pains again. The doctor's reasoning was that I couldn't feel the contractions and I wouldn't be able to feel how hard I was pushing, so cutting back the meds was necessary to avoid a potential c-section. I was on board with that.

Let me tell you, pushing is hard. First, I had no idea what I was doing because hello, I had never done this before. Second, you have to hold your breath while you push for ten seconds, so you can't breathe and your eyes feel like they're going to pop out of your head. (Side note-this was the only time I yelled at David. He was counting those seconds way too slow. I yelled at him to stop counting and that he wasn't allowed to count anymore). Third, in my case at least, I had a set of little feet firmly planted in my ribs so I felt like I was running a marathon with a stitch in my side. Every time I leaned forward to push, I thought my ribs would break. It burned like crazy and I couldn't move to make it better. I guess I've watched too many episodes of Grey's Anatomy, because I was convinced that I would just have to push a few times and I would magically be given a baby. HA. I pushed for 3 hours. With each push and no baby, I got increasingly discouraged. I just remember turning to David and telling him that I couldn't do it anymore and that our baby would never be born. This is why having a great support system is key. David, Kendra, my mom, and Jenni were constantly telling me that I could do it. Also, my husband is amazing. Labor is not glamorous. But he held my hair back and wiped my face while I was puking and continually told me how beautiful I was and how good of a job I was doing. Find someone who does that and never let them go, people!

At some point during all this pushing, I just remember being done. I was exhausted. My whole body hurt. I'm pretty sure I voiced all of these concerns. I remember Dr. Marcum coming in and telling me that if I didn't make some progress that they were going to give me Pitocin. I immediately started crying because I had read awful things about Pitocin and was convinced that it was going to hurt my baby. I guess that gave me the push I needed because I started pushing like crazy. I remember Kendra being right in my ear counting each push for me and telling me that I was almost there. It was then that Dr. Marcum told me that it was 12:20 and we would have a baby by 12:35. I don't think I really processed that. I remember hearing Jenni's voice asking me if I saw what they were doing (they were raising the bed up and getting everything ready for the baby). She said "They're getting everything ready so you can meet your baby!"

Those final pushes were crazy. They didn't hurt, or if they did I didn't register them. I kept visualizing him coming out and being placed in my arms. It was such a weird feeling- for lack of a better image, it was kind of like pooping out a bowling ball. I don't know how many more I had, but I do know that he was out about the same time as they hung the Pitocin. He came out at 12:28- 7 minutes earlier than Dr. Marcum's guess.

Words can't even describe how I felt in that moment. All the pain, the nausea, the 13 hours of intense labor...all of it was gone the minute they gave him to me. I would have done it all over again in a heartbeat if he had needed me to. I knew I loved him when he was in my belly, but that in no way compared to the love I felt for him then. It felt like my whole world had stopped and it was just me and this tiny baby. I tried to drink in every bit of him and memorize his face, his hands, and his little toes. The old cliche definitely rang true in that moment. My life changed in an instant. It was no longer about me and David. It was all about this little boy and I knew then that there wasn't a thing in the world that I wouldn't do for him.

I think it really does speak to how much you love your baby because the fact that baby boy pooped all over me the minute they gave him to me, getting stitches, delivering the placenta, and having my belly pushed on to get my uterus to contract didn't even phase me. I don't even really remember it.

So that's Sawyer's birth story. It's not as nicely written as some of the ones I've seen online and is probably a bit boring to anyone but me, but it's ours. I know I've left things out and may have gotten a few things wrong, but I hope to be able to share this with him some day and hope that he knows that every bit of pain was worth it and that he was loved from the very beginning.

Sawyer Penn, mommy and daddy love you so much! We can't wait to share this world with you, to watch you grow, to teach you and learn from you, and most importantly- love you every second of your life!

39 Weeks!

Baby Crossen is 39 weeks this week! I know that we still have a week to go, but I find myself getting more discouraged every day that passes without Little Man deciding to make his grand entrance. I know I will miss being pregnant but at this moment, I'm so over it. I'm tired, nervous, excited, terrified, and every other emotion all rolled into one. I'm just so ready to meet our little boy!
We had an appointment yesterday for a membrane sweep. I was really optimistic that it was going to work and get this labor kick started, but so far nothing has happened. We did find out that I dilated another centimeter since last Friday, so I'm at a 3. The doctor said that everything is looking good and my body is doing what it's supposed to do, so basically we're just waiting on this stubborn little boy to decide he's ready!
I think one of the hardest things right now (besides the waiting) is dealing with everyone's questions. I know that people mean well, but I can only hear "Wow, are you still pregnant?" and "Why don't you just tell him to hurry up?" so many times before I feel like snapping. I also don't think that being pregnant means that you have to tell everyone every little thing that's going on with your body. I share some things here on the blog, but that's my choice. Why do people feel like it's ok to ask you how often you're going to the bathroom and what the state of your cervix is?
I think I had a mini panic attack the other day when I realized that we are going to have a baby any day now. I am so so excited for him to be here, but I think it's only natural to be a little terrified of being a parent. There are times when I worry about how I'll feel once he's here and it's not just me and David any more. We're both worried about messing things up and doing something wrong. I know that all of that is natural, but it's still scary!

How far along? 39 weeks, 2 days.
Total weight gain/loss: About 32 lbs.
Sleep: It's been a little better the past few nights, but it's still not super comfortable. Getting up to go to the bathroom every hour and feeling a baby kick you in the ribs all night doesn't make for a great night's sleep.
Best moment this week: Hearing that everything is good with the baby and that my body is doing what it's supposed to do to get ready for him to come!
Miss Anything? The usual- sleep & being comfortable. I also want the world's biggest glass of orange juice. I can't wait for this heartburn to go away!
Food cravings: I'm not really having any specific cravings, but I've been loving sweets of all kinds right now. Cookies, ice cream, lemonade, chocolate...I want it all.
Anything making you queasy or sick: I was really nauseous on Sunday, but I think that it was from lack of sleep.
Belly Button: It's sticking out! Must mean he's finished cooking!
Worst moment this week: The membrane sweep. I was so convinced that it was going to work right away and when it didn't, I got super discouraged.
Labor Signs: TMI ahead-fair warning. 3 cm dilated, still about 50% effaced, and started losing the mucous plug a day or two ago. The Braxton-Hicks are still around, but they're not nearly as frequent.
Aches & Pains: Lots of rib pain from a certain little boy's feet! I also had the world's worst headache last night. I felt like my eyes were going to explode out of my head.
Wedding rings on or off? On, but I'm about to take them off because my fingers are swollen.
Happy or Moody most of the time: All the feelings, all the time. I'm also cranky. I don't feel like talking to people about how far along I am and why he's not here yet.
Weekly Wisdom: As hard as it is, don't get discouraged when things don't progress like you want them to. I know that he'll be here when he's ready, but it's really hard to wait.
Looking forward to: Meeting our little man!

38 Weeks!

Baby Crossen is 38 weeks this week! We are in the home stretch! As much as I've enjoyed being pregnant, I am so ready to be finished and meet my little boy! After spending 3/4 of a year pregnant, I can't imagine how it will feel when I'm not anymore. I'm sure there are things I'll miss (not gonna lie, the special treatment has been nice!), but I'm ready to have my body back to some semblance of normal.
I've been fairly lucky throughout this pregnancy. The food aversions were awful, but I didn't have morning sickness. I passed my glucose test and I haven't had high blood pressure. I think I've had it pretty easy. However, this past week has been the worst. My whole body hurts and aches, being comfortable is a thing of the past, I can't breathe, the baby keeps his feet lodged in my ribs, I get heartburn from drinking water, my feet get swollen after being on them for a short amount of time, and I haven't slept in days. As bad as all that is though, I am so lucky that little man and I are healthy. Every bout of heartburn and every punch in the ribs will be worth it when I have him in my arms! I haven't even met him yet and I know that I am so so lucky that I was picked to be his mama!
I think the hardest part now is the waiting. We still have two weeks to go but he could show up anytime between now and then. I hate not knowing! I also hate not knowing if all the aches and pains are the real deal or not! These Braxton Hicks contractions are no joke! I can only imagine how bad the real ones will be.

How far along? 38 weeks, 1 day.
Total weight gain/loss: Still right at 30lbs.
Sleep: None at all. I'm lucky because I can try and get a nap during the day, but for the most part I'm running on zero.
Best moment this week: Finally being able to say that the nursery and the baby's bathroom are completely finished!
Miss Anything? Same as before-sleep and being comfortable.
Food cravings: I want a sunny side up egg with a runny yolk and toast to dip in it so bad! Boo for salmonella.
Anything making you queasy or sick: I've been pretty nauseous for the past week. I think it's mostly from the lack of sleep.
Belly Button: Belly button is completely gone! It's so weird!
Worst moment this week: Last night. A combination of being sore from dance, the rain (which causes my hips and knees to ache like crazy), and tons of contractions made it impossible to get comfortable or fall asleep. This led to me being propped up on about 10 pillows on the couch with a heating pad and Grey's Anatomy on Netflix.
Labor Signs: Still 2cm dilated, 50% effaced, and Braxton-Hicks. Just waiting for this baby to decide to drop!
Aches & Pains: All of them, all the time.
Wedding rings on or off? On, but I'm about to take them off because my fingers are swollen.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Mostly cranky and tired. And I'm starting to snap at strangers at Kroger for being in my way. :(
Weekly Wisdom: Surround yourself with positivity! There is no need to listen to people tell you horror stories, or tell you that you're crazy for doing things a certain way, or question why you bought this or that. Just ignore them!
Looking forward to: Meeting our little man!

37 Weeks!!

Baby Crossen is 37 weeks this week! We had our ultrasound last Friday and we found out that "little" man is not so little. He is measuring 8lbs, although the ultrasound can be a pound or so off either way. The ultrasound tech said that he's a large baby in general, not just in regards to weight. It definitely makes me a little worried about the natural birth that we're wanting, but I know that I can do it. The tech also says he has a ton of hair. She's the third tech to say that, so we'll see! I can't wait to see what he looks like!
The Braxton-Hicks contractions have been insane the last two days. They were happening so often that I was convinced I was about to go in to labor. My OB says that I'm a little over 2cm dilated, but not in actual labor. I'm hoping that what everyone says is true and that I'll know when things get real!
The baby is no longer breech, which is a big relief! Although now his favorite thing to do is stick his little feet in my ribs!
My last day at UK was yesterday, so I'm enjoying having some time off to get all these last minute things finished. My mom came over Sunday and helped me deep clean our house. I don't know what I would do without her! I spent today cooking all kinds of stuff to stock the freezer so that I don't have to worry about cooking once he gets here.
We had our hospital tour tonight. It was definitely a little scary walking around thinking that we're going to be there sometime within the next 3 weeks. I'm so excited about meeting this little boy, but I'm so scared/nervous too. I like being in control and I like to know what's going to happen, and neither of those things applies to birth!

How far along? 37 weeks, 1 day.
Total weight gain/loss: Not sure, I think I'm around the 30lb mark.
Stretch marks? No new ones, which is a huge surprise.
Sleep: Restless legs, braxton hicks, and a wiggly baby make sleep nearly impossible.
Best moment this week: Seeing the 3D ultrasound of our baby! He has super chubby cheeks and these pouty lips. He was very cranky because the tech kept waking him up!
Miss Anything? Sleep. Being able to stand on my feet for more than a few minutes before they start to hurt. Breathing. The list goes on!
Food cravings: I'm not really craving anything at the moment, but I'm loving Fuji apples and blueberry granola bars right now.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Not really.
Worst moment this week: Learning that baby boy could be really big, so naturally I start thinking worst case scenario and have convinced myself that he'll be 12lbs and I'll end up with a c-section.
Labor Signs: 2 cm dilated and Braxton-Hicks like crazy!
Aches & Pains: Again, the B/Hicks. Also leg cramps and back aches.
Wedding rings on or off? On, but I'm about to take them off because my fingers are swollen.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Irritated. Nervous. Happy & Excited.
Weekly Wisdom: There's no one like your mama! I'm so thankful for all her help!!
Looking forward to: Just counting down the days until we meet our little boy!

36 Weeks!

Baby Crossen is 36 weeks this week and this mama is exhausted! This blog post is way late this week, but between dance and work and everything else, I just haven't had the chance to sit down. This past week was a little crazy. On top of both jobs, I had a bunch of things to do around the house and I made all the treats for a baby shower for one of my bffs. I'm definitely not used to scaling back and it makes me cranky to realize that I can't do as much as I used to.
We go to the OB tomorrow morning for an ultrasound. Everyone cross your fingers that this little boy has decided that he wants to be head down and wants to stay that way!
I really can't believe that we're having a baby this month. Half the time I feel like we just found out we were pregnant and the other half I feel like I've been pregnant forever. It's crazy to think that this little boy is going to be here any time now! It's also insane that they only give you 2 days in the hospital and then they trust you enough to send you home alone to figure out how to care for this little person. I'm super glad I have my mom here to help us!

How far along? 36 weeks, 3 days.
Total weight gain/loss: I weighed myself today and it was 176, so I've gained an even 30lbs.
Stretch marks? No new ones, which is a huge surprise.
Sleep: Sleep is so bad. There's no being comfortable anymore. Once I get comfortable and fall asleep, baby boy decides to start dancing and rolling around and wakes me up.
Best moment this week: I can't really think of anything in particular. This week has been kind of rough- being uncomfortable and exhausted does not make for a happy mama. However, it's pretty exciting now that it's October and we can say that he'll be here THIS month!
Miss Anything? Being able to stand on my feet without having them swell!
Food cravings: The food aversions have come back, although they're not as bad as the first trimester. It's back to macaroni and cheese and fruit for me!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Most food is making queasy at the moment.
Worst moment this week: Headaches and backaches!
Gender: Boy!
Aches & Pains: The braxton hicks have gotten worse and I'm starting to have little twinges in my lower back.
Wedding rings on or off? On, but I'm about to take them off because my fingers are swollen.
Happy or Moody most of the time: I wouldn't say moody, so much as over it. I don't have the patience to put up with people.
Weekly Wisdom: Be prepared! Baby can come at any time!
Looking forward to: Ultrasound in the morning!

35 Weeks!

Baby Crossen is 35 weeks this week! We had a checkup last Friday and my doctor told me that I'm measuring about 4cm bigger than I should be at this point. We'll know approximately how big little man is on October 3 and then we'll go from there. The doctor says that he doesn't push for a c-section or induction just because the baby may be a little bigger. He mainly wants to look to make sure that baby has enough room to keep growing. He also said that baby boy was no longer breech, but he's been flipping around like crazy the past few days, so who knows if he'll stay that way! He also informed me that my ab muscles have split apart, which explains why I've been in so much pain lately.
I'm definitely feeling like I'm running out of steam at this point. I'm exhausted, uncomfortable, and pretty much over most things at this point. I am definitely ready to leave my day job and have time to focus on the things that need to be done. The nursery and his bathroom are finished except for a few finishing touches, but I still have a ton of other things that I need to take care of.

How far along? 35 weeks, 1 day.
Total weight gain/loss: I weighed 172 on Friday, so a total of 26 lbs.
Stretch marks? No new ones, but I don't see that lasting for long. This belly is out of control, I don't know how it's going to get any bigger.
Sleep: Awful. My stomach is huge and I can't get comfortable. Not to mention that every time I roll over, my stomach muscles hurt like crazy. The fact that I have to get up to pee every hour or so doesn't help, because then I can't fall back asleep. My mind is racing and I can't turn it off long enough to sleep!
Best moment this week: It's always the best feeling getting to hear that little heartbeat and learning that he's still growing and healthy! Also hearing that he's not breech made my day!
Miss Anything? Being comfortable. Sleeping. Being able to bend over without hurting.
Food cravings: Nothing really this week. I had a touch of a stomach bug yesterday and food has just been making me queasy.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Again, I haven't really been able to eat. Food sounds good, but I'm only able to take a few bites before it makes me sick.
Worst moment this week: The stomach bug.
Gender: Boy!
Aches & Pains: Baby boy is rolling like crazy and I'm fairly certain he just uses my organs as punching bags. I've also been having intense side pains and the B/H contractions are still around.
Belly Button in or out? Starting to poke out a bit!
Wedding rings on or off? On, but maybe not for long. My fingers have been a little swollen this week.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Moody and tired.
Weekly Wisdom: Drink tons of water and don't overdo it. I was on my feet for most of Sunday and didn't drink nearly enough water. That resulted in awful back pain and swollen ankles.
Looking forward to: The ultrasound! I can't wait to see our little man.

34 Weeks!!

Baby Crossen is 34 weeks this week! I am running way behind with the blog this week, which should tell you exactly how hectic it's been around here! There are so many odds and ends to get finished before this baby gets here. Every time I mark something off my list, I think of 5 other things to replace it. It's especially hard to be motivated because I'm exhausted by the time I get home from work and just want to go to sleep.
My mom and I hit up this amazing consignment sale over the weekend. I've had a few people tell me that getting second-hand baby things is weird/gross, but let me tell you-- most baby things are outgrown before they have a chance to ruin them. Why not take advantage of gently used cheap things?? Don't get me wrong, I love buying him new things and I won't be buying used carseats and bottle nipples, but an almost brand new baby swing for $45? Yes, please! I'm pretty proud of our haul:
Baby swing, 2 Chicco baby carriers, a sling, 8 burp cloths, 10 new Advent bottles, 4 Dr. Brown bottles, a seat, 6 bibs, 4 blankets, 2 hats, a new mattress pad, 10 pairs of socks, 2 hats, 25 pieces of clothing, and some toys for the grand total of $180.
That's not even counting the stuff that my mom got us. I think she got a bouncy seat, 2 or 3 nursing covers, new breast milk storage containers, blankets, swaddles, and who knows what else! She and my sister are going to spoil this little boy for sure.
We have a checkup tomorrow and I'm anxious to see what the doctor has to say about Little Man. He's been lying sideways for the past week and doesn't seem to be in any hurry to flip around. Although I don't think he's dropped at all (he's still comfy up by my ribs!), my belly does look lower. We're scheduled for our ultrasound on the 3rd, but I'm kind of hoping that he'll move it up. Our OB goes on vacation in 2 weeks, so I'm terrified/convinced that baby will decide to come then.
Even though he's not trying to flip around, he's been rolling and moving like crazy. I love watching my belly move up and down!

How far along? 34 weeks, 3 days.
Total weight gain/loss: Not sure. We'll find out tomorrow at our checkup.
Stretch marks? Still just a few on the inside of my legs. My belly is itching like crazy though.
Sleep: Sleep is still bad. There's no getting comfortable.
Best moment this week: My dance kiddos and the amazing studio that I work for threw us a baby shower! It's a great feeling knowing that he has all these awesome people in his life who love him already.
Miss Anything? Sleeping on my stomach. Or just sleeping, really. Being able to choreograph and move without hurting. Going more than 30 minutes without having to pee. Public restrooms are gross. :(
Food cravings: Chocolate Milk!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Well, all I could think about all week was making beef stew in my crock pot. Once I made it and tried to eat it today, I couldn't even stand the smell long enough to try it.
Worst moment this week: Work. Not dance, dance is great. But my other job. I'm just ready for maternity leave. I can't be bothered to deal with students and their complaints. I just want to get things ready for my baby.
Gender: Boy!
Aches & Pains: Still having the B/H contractions. I pulled a muscle right under my belly during the second trimester and it decided to flare up again this week. My lower back and feet have been killing me too.
Belly Button in or out? It's completely flat and the top has started to poke out.
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Zero patience.
Weekly Wisdom: Ignoring people is key. "You don't need all that baby stuff." "Why would you spend money on that?" "Oh you're having this done/not having that done?" Just ignore it all. Do what you want for yourself and your baby and forget about other people.
Looking forward to: Our checkup tomorrow. We're getting down to the wire! It's crazy thinking he could be here any time now!

33 Weeks!

Baby Crossen is 33 weeks this week! I can't believe that we're in the home stretch! The past two weeks have been pretty difficult. I've been super uncomfortable and haven't had much sleep at all, plus dance started back. As happy as I am about that, I didn't anticipate how hard it would be on my body to stand on my feet and dance around after a full day of work!
We had a check up last week and our OB still says I'm measuring big. He's not sure if it's the baby or a lot of fluid, so we're having an ultrasound at 36 weeks to see how big he is. He's also going to be checking to see if Little Man is still breech. I've thought a lot about it and have decided that even if they think he is big, I'm not going to let them induce me (unless of course he's in danger). All the research I've done on induction and Pitocin just make it clear to me that it's not worth it. I'm more worried about the fact that he's been breech this whole time! Keep your fingers crossed that he decides to flip around soon!
Also- this is not the most exciting chalkboard. I could barely keep my eyes open long enough to draw it!

How far along? 33 weeks, 2 days.
Total weight gain/loss: I'm up to 169 from 146, so 23 lbs.
Stretch marks? Just on the inside of my legs, which makes no sense.
Sleep: Sleep is awful. I can't breathe when I lie down and no amount of pillows helps me get comfortable.
Best moment this week: Seeing all my little kiddos at dance class! Some of their questions about my belly and the baby were hilarious! "What's he doing in there?" "Do you have a baby in your belly? Why? Does it hurt?" "Ms. Ashley! You got a fat belly over the summer!"
Miss Anything? Ease of movement. Breathing.
Food cravings: Chocolate Milk!
Anything making you queasy or sick: As much as I loved Kettle Corn last week, I hate it this week. I made a bag and had to throw it out because it smelled so bad.
Worst moment this week: Worst pregnant moment: I had the worst stomach pains/Braxton Hicks on Monday. They were taking my breath. Worst non-pregnant moment: Our "fixed" bathroom is broken again and we have a huge new leak spot on our ceiling.
Gender: Boy!
Aches & Pains: I had awful stomach cramps on Monday. I also think I've started having Braxton Hicks contractions.
Belly Button in or out? It's starting to pop out a little bit.
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Moody and tired.
Weekly Wisdom: Stick to your guns. Don't accept things from your doctor just because they're a doctor. Do your research and make informed decisions.
Looking forward to: Our baby shower at the dance studio tomorrow! And consignment sale shopping with mom this weekend!

32 Weeks!

Baby Crossen is 32 weeks this week! I think I'm finally starting to lose some of the steam that I've had the past couple of weeks. It's really frustrating to have a million things to do on your lists but not be able to get through half of them before you're exhausted and hurting. We went to IKEA on Saturday and picked up the bookcase for the nursery. After walking around for 2.5 hours this mama had had enough. I paid for it the next day too and could barely make it off the couch. I did manage to get his nursery in order though after David put the bookcase together. All of his clothes are washed and put away, everything is hung on the walls, the books and baskets are on the bookcase...It's finally looking almost finished! I have to finish sewing the crib skirt and foot stool, and find a few more odds and ends, and then it'll be complete! I can't wait until he's here so I can show everyone pictures of it! His name is above his crib, so I can't share pictures yet. Now I just need to finish his bathroom and we'll be set! Well, on the baby room front anyway. Don't get me started on the rest of our house.
I can't believe I complained about being uncomfortable earlier on in my pregnancy. It doesn't even touch how I'm feeling now and I'm sure it's only going to get worse from here on out. Sitting makes my legs restless, lying down is uncomfortable because my belly is huge and baby boy hates when I'm on my side, walking/sitting/doing anything really makes my back hurt, and sleep is not happening at the moment. I know it will be worth it in the end, but I'm feeling super whiny about it right now.
We had a doula meeting tonight and I always enjoy them. It's nice to talk to other moms to be and learn more about the whole birthing process. I need to start writing out our birth preferences/plan soon. There's so much to think about! It's nice to have a group of people who are so supportive of the decisions we are making for our son and his birth, even if they aren't what they would have chosen themselves. I feel so much better knowing that Jenni (our doula) will be there with me (along with David, my mom, and my sister).

How far along? 32 weeks, 1 day.
Total weight gain/loss: We'll find out at our check up tomorrow.
Stretch marks? Just on the inside of my legs, which makes no sense.
Sleep: Ha. Little man is definitely giving me a taste of what life is going to be like once he's here. I don't think I've slept in a few days.
Best moment this week: Folding all of his little clothes and getting his room ready for him!
Miss Anything? Being comfortable. I know that I'm going to miss feeling all his little kicks and movements once he's here, but right now all I can think about is being able to breathe and lie down again.
Food cravings: The lemonade craving is back. I'm still wanting ice. And just yesterday I've started loving Kettle Corn.
Anything making you queasy or sick: The heat. This humidity is awful and makes me super nauseous.
Worst moment this week: Painting our bathroom. There's drywall dust and sawdust everywhere from the construction, so it was a mess just trying to prep the room to paint. I also had to spend almost 3 hours removing wallpaper and fixing spots in the wall with drywall. Not a fun job to do when you're super fat and uncomfortable, but it had to be done and David wasn't able to be home to do it.
Gender: Boy!
Aches & Pains: Same as usual. Calf spasms, restless legs, awful lower back and rib pain, lightning bolt kicks to the cervix...It's fun times up in here.
Belly Button in or out? It hasn't popped out yet, but it's mostly gone.
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Moody. And cranky. I've just gotten to the point where I don't care and everything seems pointless unless it's related to our baby, especially at work. It's hard for me to really care about whiny students who didn't drop their classes in time. I'm just focused on my little man and wanting to meet him.
Weekly Wisdom: I'm out. My brain is tired, I have no wisdom at the moment. lol
Looking forward to: This isn't baby related, but I'm looking forward to dance starting back this week. I've missed my kiddos and I can't wait to see them!

31 Weeks!

Baby Crossen is 31 weeks this week! We are now in the single digits- only 9 weeks to go! It's so weird thinking that in 9 weeks (less if he decides to come early!) David and I are going to be parents. I know that our whole lives are going to be turned upside down and I am so excited/scared/nervous all at the same time. I absolutely can't wait to meet this little man. I'm so excited to get to know him and to discover what kind of person he is. David and I talk about it all the time. Will he have David's patience or will he have his mama's quick temper? Will he love to read or would he rather be running up and down the basketball court? I know that we have a long way to go for all of that, but I think it's going to be one of the best parts about being a parent.
We had a checkup last Friday and baby boy is doing fine. My doctor did say that I'm measuring on the bigger side. He's going to monitor it and if he still thinks I'm on the larger side at 36 weeks, they'll do a sizing ultrasound and then make a decision from there. This girl does NOT want to be induced or have a c-section, so I'm a little worried. I know that the end result is a healthy mom and baby, but I really hope that I can get there without interventions.
The nursery and baby bathroom are coming along. There's still plenty to do, but it's slowly getting there. I feel like we rarely have time to actually work on things and I really think if one more person tells me that we have plenty of time, I may scream or punch them. First, 9 weeks is not that long. Second, little man could come early. Having someone tell me that "he won't notice if the bathroom isn't finished," or something else along those lines, does not help. I want everything finished, regardless of whether or not baby will notice. I'm starting to think that my mom and I are the only people who realize this kiddo could come early.

How far along? 31 weeks, 1 day.
Total weight gain/loss: I started out at 146, lost 3 pounds and am now up to 166.
Stretch marks? 2 on my legs. :(
Sleep: It's been kind of awful lately. I just can't get comfortable. I've tried pillows, I've tried sleeping on the couch, I've tried sleeping while sitting up. It's just hard to breathe and the restless legs make it even worse.
Best moment this week: Working on the bathroom with my mama. I don't know what I would do without her! Also, baby has been moving like crazy and he responds when I play him music or poke him. As much as I want him here, I think I'm going to miss feeling him kicking around in there!
Miss Anything? I thought of a really good one earlier and now I can't remember. Speaking of which, I miss my memory. I can't remember anything these days.
Food cravings: Ice. I just like to crunch it.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Just getting all the heartburn. Even toast at breakfast gave me heartburn.
Worst moment this week: Not getting any sleep for 3 days straight. It was awful.
Gender: Boy!
Aches & Pains: Restless arms and legs. Leg cramps and calf spasms. Also, baby boy has decided that he likes to be breech and likes to kick me in the cervix. TMI, sorry- but it hurts!
Belly Button in or out? It hasn't popped out yet, but it's mostly gone.
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Not moody, but I just have zero patience. I can't deal with people. I have no filter and it's going to get me in trouble.
Weekly Wisdom: When people say rude things to you (Like telling you how fat you look), call them out on it. This is probably bad advice, but it makes me feel better. lol
Looking forward to: Our IKEA trip to pick up little man's bookcase!

30 Weeks!

We are 30 weeks and 1 day today! That means we are 75% finished with this pregnancy and if little man is here on time, we only have 10 short weeks to go. Where has all the time gone? Wasn't it just yesterday that I was holding my non-existent baby belly and thinking/pretending that it was huge?
The nursery is almost finished. The rocker that my mom and sister got us is supposed to come in tomorrow and we're making a Labor Day trip to IKEA to get a bookcase. Then it's just putting everything away. My mom and I are going to knock out the bathroom this weekend and I can't wait! David and I bought the crib mattress and some bedding, the Boppy, and some other odds and ends that we need the weekend. I'll feel much better once I have everything that he needs. I think it's time to start making lists again!
There are still a ton of things to do around the rest of the house, but hopefully we will cross them off the list soon.
We had our baby shower this past weekend. My mom and Stefanie (my bff of 22 years!) hosted it. It was a Parisian brunch theme. We had crepes, cream puffs, eclairs, quiche, and all kinds of other goodies to eat. I had a great time and baby Crossen has lots of new clothes, books, and blankets! I can't wait to wrap him up and read to him!
We had a meeting with our doula tonight at the Birth Haven. It was nice to talk to her and other expectant mamas and to get some advice. I guess it's coming down to the wire and it's time to start thinking about actually having this baby. It's terrifying because you have no idea what to expect. I have a birth plan, but I'm also going into it with an open mind. I know that things happen and I have to be able to go with it. The goal is a healthy baby and mama, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that happens. I'm planning on having my mom, Kendra, David, and our doula in the room and that puts me at ease a bit. I think if you surround yourself with people you're comfortable with that will make it much easier.

How far along? 30 weeks, 1 day.
Total weight gain/loss: I'll find out Friday.
Stretch marks? 2 on my legs. :(
Sleep: Hit or miss. Some nights I toss and turn all night and get no sleep. Other nights I'm so exhausted I don't even remember falling asleep.
Best moment this week: Our baby shower!
Miss Anything? Being comfortable. Bending over to pick things up. Breathing.
Food cravings: Iced oatmeal cookies and m&m blasts from Sonic.
Anything making you queasy or sick: I loved peanut butter sandwiches last week and now they are disgusting.
Worst moment this week: Dealing with people who don't understand the decisions we're making. I also had a little breakdown because I had a moment when I felt like we weren't going to have everything we need or have the house ready in time.
Gender: Boy!
Aches & Pains: Restless arms and legs. Leg cramps and calf spasms.
Belly Button in or out? It hasn't popped out yet, but it's mostly gone.
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: I'm becoming more emotional and teary lately. I haven't really had a crying meltdown this whole pregnancy, but I've had 2 this past week.
Weekly Wisdom: Ask questions! I always make a list to take to my appointments.
Looking forward to: Finishing the nursery and bathroom. Hopefully seeing our maternity pictures soon!

29 Weeks!

We are 29 weeks and 1 day today! This week has been pretty chaotic. We worked all day Saturday on things for the nursery and are almost finished! We are waiting on our rocker (a shower gift from my mom and sister) and we need to buy a bookcase, but other than that we have all the furniture in place! We finished the gallery wall and added some letters spelling out "READ" above the book shelves. I still need to sew his crib skirt, make the ottoman/pouf, and finish his mobile, but then the nursery will be finished!
Our shower is this weekend and I'm so excited! My BFF, Stef, and my mom have been working their butts off planning this shower for little man and I can't wait!
Next weekend my mom is coming over to help me paint and get the baby's bathroom in order. We're going with a dinosaur theme in there and I think it's going to be really cute!
Speaking of bathrooms-- We had to do a huge (to us) renovation on our bathroom this past week. We had a 1980's gigantic jacuzzi tub in our master bath and it decided to start leaking all over the place. We tried to get it fixed twice but were finally told that we needed to take it out. While this is something we wanted to do eventually, we didn't really want to do it right before this baby comes. Not only did we have to replace the tub, but we had to even out the floor, move plumbing, and add walls because the new tub isn't as huge as the old one. We are still waiting on the contractors to come finish the walls and close the hole in the ceiling, but hopefully by the end of the week everything will be finished!

I look gigantic in this photo! Can I blame it on the dress?

How far along? 29 weeks, 1 day.
Total weight gain/loss: I haven't weighed myself since my last appointment. I have a check up next Friday, so we'll see then.
Stretch marks? Just the random one on my leg.
Sleep: Sleep is ok until about 4am. That's when little man decides to start break dancing.
Best moment this week: Getting a ton of stuff finished in the nursery! And our maternity pictures! I can't wait to see them!
Miss Anything? Being able to teach for more than 2 hours without feeling like I'm going to die.
Food cravings: Iced oatmeal cookies, raisin bran and bananas, and peanut butter and honey sandwiches.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Not really. Still hate chicken.
Worst moment this week: I had the worst heartburn I have ever experienced. I seriously thought I was having a heart attack. It felt like a brick was on my chest and couldn't breathe. Give me all the TUMS!
Gender: Boy!
Aches & Pains: Restless arms and legs. Leg cramps and calf spasms.
Belly Button in or out? It hasn't popped out yet, but it's mostly gone.
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: I'm happy until people do things to make me angry. lol
Weekly Wisdom: You're never going to make everyone happy. I've realized that my number one priority is to do the best I possibly can for this little boy. No one can make those decisions except for me and David and if people don't like what we've decided, then it's their loss. Not mine. This pregnancy is passing by too fast to worry about other people and their drama!
Looking forward to: Our baby shower!

28 Weeks!

Baby Crossen is 28 weeks this week and we are officially in the third trimester! There isn't a lot to report this week. Still tired, still hard to breathe, and my ribs are still hurting. We had our maternity photos this morning at McConnell Springs and we had a blast. I can't wait to see them!
I'm still in nesting mode, but it's really hard to get things finished when all I want to do is come home and sleep!

How far along? 28 weeks, 2 days.
Total weight gain/loss: I think I'm about the same. I don't really think about it too much.
Stretch marks? I found a random one on my leg? None on my belly though, which is surprising.
Sleep: Sleep was terrible last week. I think it was a combination of David not being home and the restless legs that were happening every night. Plus it's really hard to find a position that makes it easy to breathe.
Best moment this week: I finished little man's quilt! I have a million little projects that I've started for him and not finished yet, but I finally buckled down on Sunday and knocked it out. It's not perfect, but considering that I taught myself from the internet, I think it turned out pretty well!
Miss Anything? Just being comfortable. My legs are hurting a lot and I have to prop myself up so I can breathe!
Food cravings: I'm not really craving anything, but recently I'm loving banana walnut muffins and peanut butter sandwiches.
Anything making you queasy or sick: The weather! This humidity is not settling well with me.
Worst moment this week: Having a minor freakout because we have to replace a wall, bathtub, and flooring in our bathroom AND we had to have David's car fixed this week too. LAME.
Gender: Boy!
Aches & Pains: Restless arms and legs.
Belly Button in or out? If I stand up, it's practically gone.
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Starting to get a little moody and emotional. I just feel like we're never going to get everything finished!
Weekly Wisdom: Prioritize. I can't do all the things and make all the things, so I have to figure out what is most important.
Looking forward to: Seeing our maternity pictures!

27 Weeks!

Baby Crossen is 27 weeks! Only one more week to go and we will be in the third trimester. I thought I was making pretty decent progress on everything I have to get done, but then I made a list and now I feel like I'll never get everything finished! Fingers crossed this babe doesn't come too early.
We had a 3D ultrasound over the weekend and little man has grown soo much since our last one. He kept his arm above his head the entire time and wouldn't move it. He was breech during the appointment, but at this stage that's totally normal. At one point, he had his feet up by his head- Maybe he'll be a dancer! She also said that it looks like he has hair!

How far along? 27 weeks, 1 day.
Total weight gain/loss: Oh dear. So before I was pregnant I weighed 146. I lost about 3-4 lbs during the first trimester. Then I got back up to 152 by week 20. I had a check up last week (week 26) and I weighed in at 163. So not counting what I lost, I've gained about 17 lbs.
Stretch marks? Still itchy. And the good old linea nigra is starting to show up. It's very faint, but it's there.
Sleep: Sleep has been ok this week as far as back pain goes. However, little man has decided that he really likes stretching and dancing around 5am, and that wakes me up.
Best moment this week: Getting to see baby boy! My birthday was Saturday, so I got to have 3D ultrasounds done at Baby Belly Spa (Thank you, mom!).
Miss Anything? Being comfortable! It's really hard to breathe and the rib pain is ridiculous.
Food cravings: Chewy Sprees!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Chicken. And everything gives me crazy heartburn.
Have you started to show yet: This belly is out of control!
Gender: Boy!
Aches & Pains: So much rib pain! It's awful. It feels like I have a stitch in my side 24/7.
Belly Button in or out? In, but barely!
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Zero patience. It's going to get me into trouble. Every time I walk up Rose Street on my lunch break, I have to pass this group of nurses who are gathered on the corner smoking. It takes all I have not to grab their cigarettes and stomp on them.
Weekly Wisdom: Make lists. I had no idea how much stuff I have left to do until I wrote it all down.
Looking forward to: Crossing things off my to-do list! And our baby shower is in 3 weeks!

26 Weeks!

Baby Crossen is 26 weeks! I know I say this almost every week, but WHERE is the time going? If baby boy comes on his due date, then that means we have 97 days before he's here. That's not long at all!
We worked on his nursery some more over the weekend and I'm loving how it's coming together. David hung the new ceiling fan and bookshelves (IKEA spice racks for the win!)and we got the curtains hung as well. I still need to hang the gallery wall over the dresser and paint his nightstand, but we're almost there!
We also have our maternity pictures in about 2 weeks. We're doing a sunrise session with Claire Marie Photo and I am soooo excited. Her photos are gorgeous!
Little man is still moving like crazy. Up until this past week I've only really felt him on the right side of my belly, but now he's moving all over the place. David and I watched my belly last night and the whole thing was shaking and rolling. It was crazy! He also responds to us when we poke my belly and play him music.

**Happy Birthday to my amazing Mom!!**

How far along? 26 weeks, 1 day.
Total weight gain/loss: We'll find out at our appointment today, so I'll update once I find out.
Stretch marks? Nope. Just itchy!
Sleep: Sleep is still pretty good. The chiropractor has really helped my back! Now if I could just get the cats to leave me alone. Apparently sleeping between me and David on top of my body pillow is the best thing ever to a cat.
Best moment this week: Getting more work done on the nursery. Poking my belly and watching him poke back!
Miss Anything? Being able to move the way I've always moved. I've always been a smaller person, so trying to figure out how to move around with this extra weight is hard. I have no balance either, which is why I fell down the stairs last week! No worries, baby and mama are ok. I fell on my butt, not my belly, so the only thing hurt was my ego.
Food cravings: Chewy Sprees, Fruit Snacks, Kashi cereal.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Honey and Chicken. I can kind of eat eggs again, but it's still hit or miss.
Have you started to show yet: This belly is out of control!
Gender: Boy!
Aches & Pains: The rib pain is intense, but everything else seems to be getting better. I also had my first real dance practice the other day (aside from teaching the little ones) and I was sooo sore the next day. It's hard dancing with this belly!
Belly Button in or out? In, but barely!
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy until people make me cranky, which is pretty easy to do.
Weekly Wisdom: This isn't really for me, it's for all people who talk to pregnant women. We know we are fat. We know we have gained weight. We don't need you to inform us of that. We're supposed to gain weight-it's how this whole baby thing works. My sweet dance moms and my husband are the best because they are constantly telling me how cute my belly is and that I look great (thank you!!), but other people seem to think it's ok to say things like, "Are you sure there's only one in there?" "Wow, you've gotten huge!" and "When are you due? Are you sure it's October?" Not ok, people. You are not funny. I know better than to let you hurt my feelings, but I may go full on pregnant lady hulk smash on you next time because you are annoying.
Looking forward to: Maternity pictures! And our appointment today. I always feel better after hearing little man's heart beat.