38 Week Bumpdate

How far along? 38 weeks

Weight Gain? Again, my weight is about the same as last week! It seems I’ve gained about 27-29 lbs through this pregnancy, which is right on track!

Size of baby? Little one is the size of a spaghetti squash this week.

Pregnancy Symptoms? Pretty much everything you can name is at an all time high - heartburn, has to pee all. the. time. , moderate insomnia, exhaustion, swollen feet, nesting instinct, and braxton hicks contractions.  

Must have items?

• Notes on my phone so I can remember to jot down tasks to accomplish before baby gets here!

Sleep? Not good, not bad, just the usual. When Kendal has to wake up at 4 am for work I have a very difficult time falling back asleep. But luckily one morning when he didn’t have to set his alarm crazy early, I slept soundly until about 8:30! It was amaaaazing. Then Kendal woke me up with a foot massage and I was just so happy I could have cried! However, even the times I thought I was sleeping soundly, Kendal said I moaned and groaned throughout the night. Soooo maybe I wasn’t getting as restful sleep as I thought!

Cravings? I have either craved really healthy or really unhealthy this week! There hasn’t been a lot of in between. While I’ve had the time to prepare and enjoy 3 very balanced meals a day (which has made me feel amazing by the way), I have also found myself wanting to eat alllll the chocolate chip teddy grahams  (haven’t had those in years. Omg they are so so delish), bowl after bowl of nutter butter cereal (brand new! We found them at Walmart and they are freaking good), and Dr. Pepper or cherry coke (it has to be cherry, not original - and I am not a huge cherry flavored fan?) and spicy chicken sandwiches (on more than just one occasion)..... Even though I don’t really like soda OR spicy food. Weird right?? I have also been enjoying more dairy than usual this week, even though in the past weeks it has made me feel sick… for example, one of my go to snacks has been turkey w/ mozzarella cheese and crackers! Or garden veggie cheese dip from Gossners on crackers. Or blueberry drinkable yogurts. And for whatever reason… it hasn’t upset my tummy like it normally does. So strange! Pregnancy is such a doozy.

Anything making you queasy? I mentioned that nutter butter cereal as a craving just barely, but one night after eating one helping too many, I can’t eat anymore.... And looking at the box makes my stomach churn. It wasn’t a long term craving, obviously! But it hit the spot while it existed! Also, one night when my body was super achy (I seriously thought I was going into labor), Kendal and I were watching some YouTube videos to distract me from the pain. Well, we got on a foodie kick and started watching tons of videos about food and I enjoyed it for a while until I saw one that made my heartburn scream. It wasn’t even that gross? It was some concoction of tater tots topped with queso and some other stuff my brain isn’t even letting me remember right now. Haha

Baby movement? Always! Fortunately she hasn’t been up in my ribs QUITE as much this week. But her movements are so big now that honestly they sometimes make me feel nauseous. The only way I can describe it is it kind of feels the same as when you ride a ride like Rocket at Lagoon. You know, that dropping feeling where your stomach kind of soars? Honestly that feeling is one of my favorites in the entire world (I’ve tried convincing Kendal to go skydiving with me multiple times), however when your not expecting it and it’s actually caused by a little (big) baby instead of adrenaline…. It doesn’t settle too well.

Best moment this week? Since I stopped going into work this week, I have had the chance to put all my time and energy into bettering myself and our home before baby gets here! I made a list a few weeks ago and have slowly been checking off items every day, which just makes me feel so good. Checking items off lists has always been therapeutic to me! Plus the weather in Logan has been AMAZING this week! Not necessarily warm, but definitely not cold and very sunny :)))) I’ve loved it! It has motivated me to spend more time in the fresh air which has been so cleansing for my mental state. I’ve gone on walks everyday around noon, listening to uplifting podcasts, and it sets such a good tone for the rest of the day! It makes me feel so productive and content. I also had the goal to keep our sink clear of dishes, especially at the end of the night. It has really made a positive impact on the feel of our home in general. Dishes are easily my LEAST favorite chore in the entire world. Hate is a strong word, but that is how I feel about doing dishes. So keeping this goal has been huge for me! I think I dislike it so much because it is neverrrrr endingggg and it takes up so much time! It is required multiple times a day and piles up so friggen quick. Plus, I really cringe about the way my hands feel after doing the dishes… just yuck! BUT keeping the sink clear has motivated me to keep up with other chores around the house (that I don’t mind doing so much). I tell ya, that nesting urge is alive and real! Our house has never been cleaner. Having the time to make our space clear has kept my mind clear and allowed room for more positivity! I was in serious need of that before this baby comes. Just last week I was breaking down nearly every day about everything that needed to be done before she arrived and it was putting me in a dark place! Luckily I feel so much more ready and happy to be welcoming her into our family in just a few more days!!!!

Weird pregnancy moment? I seriously thought I was going into labor just last night. I was actually really surprised when I woke up to the morning and my body didn’t hurt so bad. I started feeling really uncomfortable around 8 pm and got the craziest urge to clean all our bathrooms and vacuum the carpets and sweep and mop the kitchen. Earlier that morning I had FaceTimed with my mom and I was telling her all about the cleaning I was going to do that day and she was like “Oh… maybe the baby will come tonight! Lot’s of mothers get the urge to clean right before baby comes!” Long story short, I took care of some car stuff that took longer than expected and I was too tired during the day to do the cleaning I had intended. So when my body started hurting, I was like “Ah! If I really go into labor tonight, our house will not be ready to bring her back to!” (even though it totally would be because as I just mentioned above, I’ve been cleaning and tidying all week). Anyway, after I did all that, I got into bed with Kendal and the pains just got worse and worse the longer I layed there. I ended up not falling asleep til like 1 because I was hurting so bad! But here I am, writing this post feeling perfectly normal. As normal as possible for being 39 weeks (today) anyway. So… we will just keep waiting until those early labor pains actually bring a baby into the world! Fingers crossed that’s only a few days away!

What I’m looking forward to? My mom and dad get here on MONDAY! Woop! I can’t wait to see them and I extra can’t wait to see my baby girl! She is so close! I can feel it!

37 Week Bumpdate

How far along? 37 weeks

Weight Gain? Same, same! The decimals might vary a little bit but not a lot has changed in a few weeks, which continues to surprise me because I am sure I am getting bigger!

Size of baby? My little honey is the size of a honeydew melon now! Caute :’)

Pregnancy Symptoms? I am back to the pure exhaustion of the first trimester. Showering makes me fatigued. I have to nap after a grocery store run. I practically fell asleep on the exam table while waiting for my doctor to come in. I stand for 10 minutes and my back aches. I had forgotten what it felt like to be THIS tired! Luckily, the end is near! Of course, then I will have a tiny human giving me a run for my money. But at least my body won’t be making another body at that point!

Must have items?

• Hand sanitizer to keep me healthy in the midst of cold and flu season! I can’t get sick this close to the due date!

Sleep? Due to my utter exhaustion, sleep hasn’t been too bad this week! Even though I still have my nightly routine of waking up in the middle of the night for a few hours, I have started actually napping a little during the day! I have always sucked at napping, so when I get a solid snooze in while the sun is still up, that is a HUGE win!

Cravings? Not any major cravings this week coming to mind! However I did make a batch of chocolate covered bananas with chopped walnuts that I have thoroughly enjoyed chowing on in the afternoons!

Anything making you queasy? Stumped on this question too! All I can say is the usual…. Literally everything I eat gives me heartburn. Everything. And it is worse at night because laying down doesn’t help it go away!

Baby movement? Oh my goodness, yes! And I could tell she dropped toward the beginning of the week because… things just felt different down there. Unfortunately she is still VERY much in my rib cage just because she is so long and big. And boy… when she moves her feet… I die a little. The pressure on my ribs is so intense and painful. Sometimes I even have marks on my skin and I know it’s bruising from the inside out. Pretty crazy! Oh, speaking of my skin…. It seriously feels like it’s going to SNAP! I don’t know how I’ll survive a few weeks of her getting bigger and bigger in there!

Best moment this week? Last week of work. So happy to be able to spend the time I have left before baby gets here to fully focus on myself and my baby to get enough rest, eat properly and mentally prepare myself for the big day! ALSO! My doctor told me I am dilated 1 cm! Woo! A couple of nights throughout the week, I was in quite a bit of pain and apparently those are the Braxton Hicks contractions. They honestly didn’t feel the way I’ve imagined it. I thought it would mainly be my bump that would hurt, but nope! For me, it basically feels like menstrual cramps on steroids. Haha fun huh? Mostly I was feeling it in my back and legs. Also… my lady bits. But according to my doctor, this is all normal! And when I was like, “yeah… they reeeeeally hurt.” She just smiled and said, “that’s so when you actually go into labor you’ll be glad that the nightly pains are gone instead of scared for the big pains to come!” Anyway, with all that being said, I don’t necessarily think any of this means I will go early (although that would be wonderful). My body is just preparing itself for the biggest event of all!

Weird pregnancy moment? Pregnancy brain was so real this week. I was training  my replacement at work and forgetting the most obvious stuff like peoples names that I interact with on a daily basis. And when I was making dinner, I realized I had put the garlic I was using in the measuring cup drawer instead of in the refrigerator. Haha glad I caught that quickly or else things would have smelled reeeal funky in our house. But the funniest moment of all was probably while I was talking to my doctor at the appointment and literally in the middle of my own sentence, I kind of mumbled off and then was like “.... what were we talking about?” HAHAH. Pregnancy brain is real, folks.

What I’m looking forward to? The big day! It is so close. I am getting more anxious and excited every day. AAAAND my parents will be here so soon! I can’t wait to see them!!!!

36 Week Bumpdate

How far along? 36 weeks

Weight Gain? Nothing changed much since my last appointment. Unusual because I feel bigger!

Size of baby? A fruit as sweet as this baby… she’s now the size of a papaya!

Pregnancy Symptoms? Here’s a list of foods that don’t give me heartburn: __________

Haha f’real doe. The other night I woke up with the most stinging heartburn I have ever experienced! I literally woke up gasping for air because it hurt so bad I couldn’t breath. I even felt nauseous because of it and was sure I was going to throw up but luckily I didn’t! It was realllyyyy unpleasant though, as you’d imagine. All I gotta say is I hope this little girl really does have a head full of hair so all this heartburn is worth it!

Must have items?

• A loving husband to help me stand up from the bed or couch is essential at this point. Lucky for me, I got the cuuuutest and sweeeeetest boy in the whole wide world!

Sleep? Still having very vivid nightmares amongst my usual 3:30 a.m. stirrings :(

Cravings? Garlic bread! I have never bought garlic bread because the pre-made stuff usually kind of freaks me out… but this week, I NEEDED IT! Haha how weird.

Anything making you queasy? Dairy products didn’t make me feel too well this week. I might really be a little lactose intolerant! I’ve always thought I might be but this week was another level. Sad face because one of the other things that sounded really good this week was mozzarella cheese with salty rice crackers… which I continued to eat anyway because YUM. It was the chocolate milk that really put me in a coma!

Baby movement? Yes! And she is so big now that when she wiggles or rolls it seriously takes my breath away! One thing everyone always tells me when I say how far along I am is, “Oh my gosh… you’re so SMALL” or “tiny” or “hardly showing”…. But let me tell ya…. If I could expand my belly to give myself and this baby a little more room… I WOULD! She must be so squished in there and my organs are just as smooshed. And I am without a doubt that my insides around my ribs are completely bruised. BUT GUESS WHAT?? She is officially head down… yay! See more below :)

Best moment this week? Getting an ultrasound is always the highlight of my week! Last week baby was still nearly breech so the doctor ordered an ultrasound for my next visit to make sure she was doing what nature wants… and sheeee issss! I don’t know when it happened, but she made the move toward the nearest (and only) emergency exit. Thank goodness! Now let’s pray she doesn’t decide to flip up again! Also, I was really excited to see her face but baby girl was being camera shy and would not move her hands away from her face no matter what we tried! I was a little bummed about that but I am really interested to see if this will be a habit she’ll carry with her once she’s born! Every time we’ve had an ultrasound, her hands have been all snug by her face. Usually we are able to get her to move for just a moment to get a look at her cutie face but this time she was not having it! Her profile is sure adorable though :)

Weird pregnancy moment? I asked Kendal what he thought because I can’t think of anything that out of the ordinary and he smirked a little and said “crying because of your dreams”. HAHA RUDE! That only happened ONE TIME! But… it’s a valid answer after all because I really can’t think of anything else!

What I’m looking forward to? I am looking forward to completing some of the last big projects on my list so I feel as ready as possible for her arrival! I only have a week of work left and then I will be able to put all my time and energy into organizing her room and our house to my OCD specifications :)

35 Week Bumpdate

How far along? 35 weeks

Weight Gain? It seems my weight has been pretty stable since last week’s doctor’s appointment. Also…. I am confused again as to how much I have really gained! Kendal works at Kubex and has this really fancy weight machine that shows BMI and muscle % and when I stepped on it without shoes, it showed that I was actually 4 lbs less than what usually pops up on the scale at the doctors. And that was even after I ate a huge banana, chocolate and peanut butter smoothie! I guess that makes sense though because normally I am wearing big chunky boots and a few layers of sweaters or scarves.

Size of baby? A bunch of carrots. But I think we can all agree this baby will be even cuter than all the bunny rabbits ;)

Pregnancy Symptoms? Tired but unable to catch any z’s. Uncomfortable. Can hardly put my own socks on. Heartburn, heartburn and more heartburn. The constant need to pee. Oh pregnancy… just a beautiful and wild ride ;)

Sleep? I kicked Kendal out to the couch one night at his parents because we were on a full bed and there just wasn’t quite enough room for him, me, my belly, and my fortress of pillows! Poor lover boy. I think he was a little sad because it was the night before Christmas…. But I just could not get comfortable! He had to go. Haha. But he knows how much I love him :)

Cravings? Cheetos and buffalo wings! Neither are super intense cravings but those are two things that I normally NEVER eat that sounded and tasted SO good hahah

Anything making you queasy? Cucumbers and strawberry greek yogurt. Darn first trimester ruined them for me! I have always loved both (especially cucumbers) but now every time I try them, all the memories of the dark days come rushing back to me :( I hope this gets better once baby comes because cucumbers are such a yummy, cheap and easy vegetable to snack on!

Baby movement? So much! On Christmas as we were watching a movie and I was way uncomfortable laying down on the couch so I got up to use the bathroom and stretched a little before I sat down. Then she started moving like CRAZY. It was like those videos where the baby literally looks like they are trying to escape! I wanted to video it but I was nervous if I moved at all to grab my phone, she’d stop. It only went on for like 45 seconds - 1 minute so I’m glad I got to enjoy it while it lasted rather than missing it to bend down and get my phone.

Best moment this week? We celebrated Christmas! What could be better than that! We spent it in Pocatello with Kendal’s family and enjoyed lots of yummy food and quality time together. On Christmas Adam we all went to see The Greatest Showman and I HIGHLY recommend that movie. It was incredible! However, the people behind me probably thought I had ADD because I was shifting every 5 minutes to get comfortable in the movie seats. Haha it is a good thing I didn’t have people on both sides of me because I was allll over those chairs. From practically laying down in Kendal’s lap at times to my legs being spread eagle.

Weird pregnancy moment? This was the week where my doctor had to check my cervix… so that was fun. LOL NOT. I’ll keep my pants ON, thank you very much. Anyway, it seems like baby hasn’t quite moved down to birth position. She is still quite sideways/ halfway breach. So next week I will have an ultrasound to see exactly where she’s at and my doctor might need to push/ persuade her to change positions. Luckily I have 5 weeks left so there is time for her to move down… but please pray for me that things go as they should!!!

What I’m looking forward to? This is actually the opposite but I figure this is the best section to put it under! After Kendal and I went grocery shopping one day together, I admitted a fear I’ve had this entire time even though it’s probably bonkers and silly. The thought of going grocery shopping alone with a baby almost scares me more than labor and delivery. Is that silly or what?

34 Week Bumpdate

How far along? 34 weeks

Weight Gain? I gained two more lbs since my last appointment! Right on track!

Size of baby? Savoy Cabbage

Pregnancy Symptoms? Insomnia.

Sleep? ^^^

Cravings? I have been craving Zupas like a mad woman and Logan doesn’t have anything that even compares :(((( But luckily when we went down to Salt Lake to see my BFF Mandaline while she was in town, I got to treat myself to a Zupas turkey + artichoke panini and mangoberry salad! Nom nom nom. I was one happy girl. Now if only I could have it every day…. COME ON LOGAN. HELP A PREGGO OUT!

Anything making you queasy? I made some zucchini and squash and it ended up tasting like fish. Why is suddenly everything I like starting to taste like fish? First the peaches, now my veggies?? Is that normal??

Baby movement? Always! But now that baby is getting bigger and her space is a little more cramped, there is less jabbing and kicking and a lot more squirming! I am never going to get over how much I love how it feels and looks on the outside. It is the freaking coolest!

Best moment this week? My angel mother-in-law and aunt threw me a big baby shower with family and neighborhood friends and it turned out magical! For it being so close to the holidays, we had a great turn out. I was so overwhelmed with all the love and support I received from the amazing tribe of women I have in my life. I got to see some people I hadn’t seen in a very long time and it was an amazing reminder of all the people who are there for me and this baby, even with my own mom in India. Even with my mom in India though, she Facetimed us for the first bit of the shower and it felt like she was there with me <3 So many people cried when they walked in and saw my mom on the little screen I was carrying around with me. We ate the yummiest food and chatted and chatted just like ladies like to do. Haha! Then I opened the most stylish baby wardrobe one by one and got so so excited to dress this little miss up! I already know I am going to cry when she outgrows each little outfit.

What I’m looking forward to? I’ll have weekly doctor visits from here on out. As crazy as it may sound to love going to the doctor, I just love hearing that heart beat!

33 Week Bumpdate

How far along? 33 weeks

Size of baby? Cauliflower blossom

Pregnancy Symptoms? Starting to get reeeeal uncomfortable. And I still have 7 weeks! Heaven help me!

Sleep? Eh.

Cravings? My girl Stacey made some chicken salad for my baby shower and ohhhhh myyyy goshhhhh I have been dreaming of it ever since! It was honestly the best chicken salad I have ever had! It was made with half mayo and half greek yogurt (which was a huge plus because mayonnaise has always kind of freaked me out) and a teeny bit of vinegar for tang and a little bit of honey for sweetness. Then it was mixed with all the good stuff (nuts, apples, raisins) YUM. I’ve also been craving anything with ham! I’ve been eating ham and cheese sandwiches for lunch almost everyday and before we went to our ward Christmas party I was like “man I hope it’s ham and potatoes” and low and behold! It was!

Anything making you queasy? I’ve been going crazy for cottage cheese with peaches for a few weeks now but the last time I ate it, it tasted like fish?? I’m not sure if we bought a different brand or if I’m just being weird but yuccckkkk now I’m scared to eat my favorite snack again :(

Baby movement? Oh yes! She is always up in my rib cage though and I’m anxiously awaiting for her to drop into the birth position so I don’t have to deal with her crushing my insides anymore. Haha everyone always comments on how cute I look ”resting” my hand on my baby bump… but in all reality, I’m probably trying to shove her out of my rib cage!

Best moment this week?  This week was filled with best moments! First and foremost, my beloved USU forth floor sisters threw me the most adorable baby shower! It’s always so fun to get together with them and act like crazy little freshies again. They sure spoiled my little babe with some cutie stuff! Then we had my work Christmas party, complete with some amaaazing prime rib. My dad always makes prime rib for Christmas and it made my heart happy to celebrate the tradition from Logan even though they are in India for one more Christmas. Then we partied again the next night at our ward Christmas party! On Wednesday, our good friends Chris and Maddie invited us to a David Blaine magic show at the Spectrum (who I had never heard of before… but it turns out he is literally world famous and a total kook! Look him up. He is seriously ridiculous.) Maddie happens to also be expecting a little girl just a few months after us and it was extra fun to talk with her about all things pregnancy and baby.  The next night I had the chance to meet my friend Amanda’s 6 week old baby just in time before they take off for her husband’s flight school! It was so crazy to look at her baby and realize I will have my own in just a matter of weeks! Also…. I definitely don’t know how to hold newborns! Haha yikes! Tiny babies have always kind of scared me just because I feel like they are soooo fragile but everyone says it’s different when it’s your own baby! Man do I hope they’re right!

Weird pregnancy moment? I NEVER feel relieved after going to the bathroom and it is so frustrating! Like right after I pee, I walk out of the bathroom and instantly feel the pain of my bladder again as if I’ve been holding it for hours. IT. IS. THE. WORST.

What I’m looking forward to? Holding my own baby and hopefully feeling those motherly instincts! Haha

32 Week Bumpdate

How far along? 32 weeks

Weight Gain? I have gained 27 lbs! Woah!  When I asked my doctor about healthy weight gain and the fact that I put on 4 lbs in a matter of 2 weeks, she just smiled and said, “let’s remember we celebrated thanksgiving between these appointments”. Haha!

Size of baby? A Florida pomelo! No idea what that is but when I change the setting on my app to “weird but cute animals” it says she is the size of a “naked-tailed armadillo” haha! I’m not too sure how I feel about that setting.

Pregnancy Symptoms? Feeling extra emotional this week. Between the scare (see below), the happy ultrasound (again, see below) and a very loving text from my older brother, I cried multiple times this week.

Must have items?

• Fortress of pillows for sleeping! Pregnancy can change a person. Normally I am all about cuddles and regularly request snugs throughout the day but the other night when I hadn’t built up my little fort on my side of the bed, Kendal came to bed late after studying for a final and tried kissing me and cuddling me goodnight and I woke up and mumbled, “You are REALLY encroaching on my space”. Hahahah sorry honey! And then I took a big pillow and stuffed it between us and wrapped my legs around that instead of my cutie hubster. The next morning, Kendal looks at me with a puppy dog face and says, “I just wanted to snuggle ya!” And the incident from the night came back to my memory! Hahah I thought it was pretty funny.

Sleep? I think the previous story sums up sleep pretty well, haha! Seriously getting uncomfortable over here. And when I wake up to pee I have the HARDEST time falling back asleep. I’ve also had several nightmares that leave me waking up all sweaty and freaked out and I definitely don’t fall back asleep after that happens… even if it’s at 3 am. Smh!

Cravings? I’m still going pretty hard on cottage cheese and peaches/ pears! It’s the yummiest combo and so satisfying! Also… gimmie all the avocados :)

Anything making you queasy? Nothing really! I STILL  feel icky if I go to long without eating (learned that the hard way) but as far as foods go… nothing is particularly bad!

Baby movement? Yes! One of the best times she was moving was while Kendal and I were watching a Christmas movie and I was laying down on the couch with my feet in his lap and she was going buck wild! So I grabbed Kendal’s hand and put it right where she was going bonkers and his eyes got huge and was like, “she’s trying to escape!” They were probably the biggest movements he’s been able to feel. It’s just so fun sharing those moments together! I mean, I always get to party with her but Kendal isn’t with us 24/7 (though I wish he could be) so it’s always special when he gets to feel her :)

Best moment this week? Best and worst. I got an unplanned ultrasound (due to a little scare…. but don’t worry, everything is fine!) Apparently the ultrasound can show HAIR and baby girl is definitely not a baldy! It was so exciting seeing all the little wisps on top of her squishy head! I’ve been dreaming of a little babe with a head full of locks and it looks like that’s what we are getting! Also she’s measuring one week ahead so she certainly has her parents genes and is looking big and strong :)

Weird pregnancy moment? So the little scare we had was some light spotting. When it occurred I immediately called in and spoke with the on call doctor and he said it wasn’t anything I should be worried about but when I went in for my routine appointment I told my doctor and she wanted to order an ultrasound just to be safe. Not going to lie, I cried almost the whole drive home after just because I felt nervous and scared and a little mad at the other doctor I spoke with on the phone who told me it was normal (which, to be fair, it can be normal. But it would have been nice to know I still needed an ultrasound done to be POSITIVE things were going well in my little baby’s 9 month home).

What I’m looking forward to? Extra stoked to hold my baby and dress her hairy head up in the cutest headbands! :)