Oh Week 33...

What is it with the weeks that end in 3? Week 23 was a "rough" one and week 33 came in like a lion. Okay, I'm exaggerating a tad bit, but when everything has been so easy any deviation from that seems like a big deal. The minor aches and pains came in right on cue when week 33 began, along with the extreme exhaustion. My goodness, I'm tired, and just like the books have said, it's a different kind of exhaustion than it was in the first trimester. The first trimester was all hormonal, and this exhaustion is purely physical. Clearly my body is working hard. Sleep is also starting to become less and less easy - getting comfortable is actually truly tough for the first time, and also for the first time, I'm waking up at least twice every night like clockwork to go to the bathroom. I think my days of sleeping through the night are long gone and they have no intention of returning anytime soon.

I'm still working, which I still think is helping keep swelling down and the serious aches and pains away, but I think I've only got a couple of weeks left in me. We'll see how I feel come week 35 (the magic point when the doc would no longer try to stop it if I went into labor).

32 week photo

We're getting closer!

Weeks 31-32: still leaking lots of colostrum, being on my feet too long makes my hip joints/round ligaments very sore, bending over is very tough, tiredness came back big time at 32, belly button sticks out at edges but still hasn't "popped", itchy palms, got strep throat at 32 and taking amoxicillin, eating blueberry bagels with cc, eggos with pb and preserves, kale smoothies, luna bars, fast food burgers, decaf iced coffee. Started wanting diet coke again so got some caffeine free. Had first bit of wine (3 oz) on anniversary weekend at 31 weeks

A very good day (including our 32 week check up!)

Today has been a wonderful day.

It's FINALLY starting to "cool down", which always makes me happy (for the record, "cool down" is lows in the low 60s and highs in the low 80s), so the day started well with a long walk for the Moosh. While out walking, a very sweet woman was walking with a friend, and as we passed each other, she looked at me and said "you look ADORABLE!". Caught me totally off guard and was incredibly kind. I was so caught off guard, I'm not even sure how I responded, so let this be the official thank you, you very sweet lady! :)

Baby girl's face: her right eye (closed), nose and big lips

We also had our 32 week check up this afternoon, which included our last (eek!) sonogram. I was so excited to see baby girl's face - it had been over 10 weeks - and holy cow was is wonderful. She looks like a baby, with chubby cheeks and HAIR! Our girl has a head of hair already! Her heart was beating at a fast 167 bpm, which the tech said is common since she was moving around so much. We got a great view of her head, face, tummy, heart chambers, a leg and a foot. We received confirmation she's head down (YAY!) and she's completely curled up like a "C", with her butt at my ribs and her feet by her head. She had her little hands up by her face almost the entire time, which makes me wonder if she'll inherit my penchant for thumb sucking. We got an estimate that she's right around 4 pounds, which puts her on track to be average to low average in birth weight based on her rate of growth...basically we're looking at a baby girl in the high 6's, low 7's, as "average" is 7 pounds 9 ounces. Perfection. Length is almost impossible to determine since she's all curled up, but we do know that her precious little foot is 2 inches long.
After the sonogram we met with our doc who also commented on how I should be basking in how this pregnancy has been treating me. "No swelling?! No veins protruding?! So you're the one the maternity stores make short skirts for!"

Profile: lips still looks like mom's, but doc thinks we'll have to
wait and see on the nose :)

My weight gain is at 16 pounds, and things are still looking great. We got a few questions answered but the best part came when doc listened to her heartbeat. She found it quickly and we listened for a second, but then I felt a big move to the ribs and her heart rate got noticeably faster. Dr. Castilla said that's a sign of fetal well-being - that a heart rate goes up when the baby moves. Or in other words, she's happy. I don't think I've ever heard sweeter news in my life. I can't help but feel proud for taking care of this girl, for staying calm and keeping stress low, eating healthy (most of the time) and getting exercise. It felt like that one comment from the doctor justified all the work I've been doing. My girl is happy and healthy.
She doesn't think we'll be pre-term, thankfully, but did confirm the menstrual cramp-like feelings I've been getting are Braxton-Hicks (apparently they feel different to everyone).

One more two week gap before our next appointment, and then we're into once a week appointments! This is getting very, very real, and I absolutely cannot wait to meet this incredible person growing inside me.

A huge thank you to daddy-to-be, who has attended every appointment but one through this entire process. Dr. Castilla seemed quite impressed and wanted to make sure it was noted in the baby book how involved he has been and continues to be. I'm a lucky, lucky girl.

Lookie at my tootsies!

Karate CHOP!

I was laying in bed last night reading something out loud to Brad (likely something baby related, which he kindly always listens to), when all of the sudden...karate CHOP! I took a kick to the ribs so hard that I sucked in a serious amount of air followed by a loud OW! Brad shot up worried - "Are you okay? What's going on?"
I promptly started laughing through my grimace, explaining everything was fine, just peanut making her presence known.
Another crazy moment in this incredible journey. I suspect these kung fu kicks will only continue/get worse as these last 7 weeks progress, but I wouldn't have it any other way. It's a beautiful (while somewhat painful) reminder that baby girl is thriving in her cozy spot.
PS: She has hiccups for what seems to be the 137th time as I'm writing this.  Swoon.

The traveling has come to an end

Those that know us best know that we're on the move quite a bit. Traveling is something we've made a priority in our lives - it's something we've both decided is incredibly important to us and we can't wait to show this amazing world to our daughter. But for now, the traveling has come to and end. It's so strange to know we have no foreseeable trips on the horizon and that I'm essentially hunkered down at home, waiting for baby girl to make her appearance.

It does seem fitting that our last trip was back to Washington, DC to visit friends (many of whom are like family) for a shower celebrating Peanut. It was a perfect afternoon filled with lots of laughing, stories, and most importantly, love.

See you on the flipside, US Airways, with a beautiful little girl in tow.

DC Shower

With the beautiful hostesses

This weekend we were incredibly blessed to have another shower thrown, this one by our dear, dear friends in DC, Karen, Barbara and Liz. Very fitting, it was held at Karen and Patrick's house, with Annie and Zoe in attendance. We received so many generous and loving gifts and we were once again reminded how much DC just feels like home. We cannot wait to introduce baby girl to her east coast family in 2015! A few photo highlights below:

10/18/14: Six Year Anniversary

Shower day in DC happened to coincide with our six year anniversary. Six years. It's been a wild ride, one full of some high highs and some low lows, but we've always come out stronger and renewed in our commitment to each other, our marriage, and now our family.

The last six years have shown us 1 apartment, 2 houses, 9 collective job changes, 5 countries visited, 1 dog, 1 cross-country move and 1 baby on the way. I cannot believe how much we've accomplished, and I can't wait to see what the coming years have in store.

So happy we were able to spend one more anniversary dinner at one of
our favorite DC restaurants, which will be closing in a couple of weeks!
Thanks for all of the delicious special occasion dinners, Tallula!

Nursery touches

A couple of decor pieces I found at a vintage/antique store:

And I'm IN LOVE with this dresser now that I've found the most perfect drawer pulls. Thank you, Anthro!

Let the countdown begin!

On Thursday, we'll have 9 weeks to go - single digits! Where has the time gone?! As more pieces start to fall into place with items in hand and finalizing the nursery, I am more and more excited to meet this peanut. And so crazy how much I love this girl already.

30 weeks!

Nursery is close to finished - just some final decor to add! And blessed that I continue to feel great!

Weeks 29-30: tons of strong movement, have to sleep with pillow under my belly, no swelling yet, she still stays on my right side most of the time, round ligaments get sore more easily, under belly gets sore after being in one position too long

Wichita love - our first baby shower!

Mom, Angela and Chris Gunderson graciously hosted a beautiful shower for baby girl and me on October 5. Since peanut will be coming so close to Christmas, we won't be able to see anyone over the holidays, and I feel so blessed that so many of my family members came from near and far to celebrate. So many generous gifts and lots of well wishes - it was a beautiful, relaxing weekend. A huge thank you to Uncle Evan who came down from KC to take some photos. Here are a few highlights...