34 Week Update

8.5 Months

How far along: 34 weeks and 2 days or 8 and 1/2 months in normal calendar days. (See: "Excuse Me, What? The Guide to Pregnancy in Weeks and Months" for an accurate description of how far along we are.)

Total weight gain: I am at 142 so i am up 30 lbs.

Maternity clothes: I guess I will be wearing both maternity and non-maternity to the end.

Stretch marks: I still don't have any on my stomach or sides, but I do still have a patch (that has lightened with oils) on my hip. I'm thankful that I've gained the weight slowly throughout this pregnancy because I think that has helped me stay away from getting them too bad. I feel like if I had a jump in weight or gained fast one month, I'd probably have more of them.

Sleep: Insomnia is LONG gone as I have been sleeping like a baby with minimal restlessness. I do semi-wake up to turn my body, but I usually fall right back to sleep. Waking up is so painful though! My hands, feet, and legs are so swollen in the morning to the point where it hurts and my joints ache terribly.

Best moment this week: Seriously, do I have to choose just one? Spending time with both of our families for Christmas and New Years. My dad coming from Austin with Debbie and Ben and us (James, them, and I) taking Reagan to Chuck E. Cheese, getting my kitchen back and almost fully completed, getting back into the gym swing of things, getting to use my juicer and making some AMAZING drinks that make me feel great, and watching James set up Annabelle's nursery. I have too many best moments of the week and I am so fulfilled and happy in life that I can't choose just one best moment. I don't even think I can think of a worst moment, that's how completely happy I am. :)

This kid...

Reagan likes to watch James build things.

Miss Anything: I really miss being physically fit because I can't accomplish ANYTHING like I used to. Unpacking one box required at least 2 breaks where I just sat, let my feet stop tingling and burning, and popped my back to realign it. I can't even shop for home decor because being on my feet for more than 30 minutes has me limping and hobbling around. I miss my body not hurting and I feel like I pulled my groin muscle so I've stayed home to rest it the past 3 days. I just miss NOT being pregnant. I can't wait to have my body and energy back and between Reagan and trying to maintain the house, I'm so beat 24/7. Can I tie my tubes at 24?

Movement: Baby Belle likes to sit AS FAR OUT as possible! I swear her rump has been under my belly button, pushing as far as she can for months and I am now feeling the other side of her far far down on my left side. For some reason feeling the big parts of her body is normal to me, but when I feel a tiny hand or foot it freaks me out. I hope I'm not hurting her with how much room I don't have anymore. lol

Food cravings: After making a few different juice recipes, I now crave the Green Juice which is made from:

• 4 or 5 large handfuls of spinach
• 1 large handful of kale
• 1/2 a peeled cucumber
• 4 stalks of celery
• 2 medium green apples (I use only 1)
• 1/2 a lemon or a nickles worth of fresh ginger

or the Blueberry Cabbage Juice which consists of:

• 1/4 medium red cabbage
• 1 large cucumber, peeled
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 1 large green apple

I promise, these juices are so AMAZING and mouth-watering, you'll immediately fall in love with juicing! I'm still a newbie, but out of the 4 different recipes I've tried, these two are the ones I keep going back for. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: When James was painting our kitchen cabinets I felt woozy and sick. The paint smell was so strong that I went and hid in my closet and I STILL smelled it like I was in the same room. Needless to say we packed Reagan up and went to James' parent's house and stayed the night!

Have you started to show yet: Define show.... just kidding. Yes, I am actually accidentally running into things because I underestimate how big I am.

33w3d

34 weeks

Name: Annabelle Emli (pronounced Em-lee) and her nickname is Belle, Cheeks, Baby Belle, Baby Bellerina, Baby Belly. I've called her all sorts of things. 

Anna- James' sister's name is Anna, my grandma's middle name is Ann, and my middle name is Ann-Marie.

Belle- My great grandma's name is Claudia Belle.

Em- My cousin's name is Emily.

Li- My other cousin, Emily's younger sister is Lila.

Labor signs: My stomach contracts every now and then. Mostly at the gym when I'm on the treadmill. :)

Symptoms: Swollen everything! Tingling hands, feet, and legs, feeling exhausted all the time, waddling everywhere, limping, my belly moving constantly. My due date is so close, yet so far away!

Belly Button in or out: Still in, but the top is starting to poke out.

Wedding rings on or off: I have to take my band off at night, usually in the middle of the night, but once I get up and drink my daily cup of warm lemon water, I can fit my ring back on! It's only in the mornings for about 5 minutes that I can't wear it because my hands need just that amount of time to deflate.  

Happy or moody most of the time: I'm a crazy mix of emotions. I am mostly exhausted which makes me irritable, I am happy when I make it to the gym because that makes me feel normal, but when I miss for a few days, I'm kind of unbearable, even to myself. I am mad when I have to clean, I am upset when I can't do things I used to be able to do and even the laundry is difficult now, I mean, I can't carry the stinking laundry baskets up and down the stairs anymore. I am just so over this and want to get back to normal.

Looking forward to: I am looking forward to my baby shower that is in a little less than 2 weeks. I will be 36 weeks then and hopefully the excitement from it all sends me into labor. ;)