How far along: 32 weeks, completed 08/14/12.
Weight gain: Not sure, but fun detail–one of the pairs of maternity jeans that I bought on this early-pregnancy shopping trip is, um . . . too small. Like, my thighs and butt are too large to comfortably live in them.
So long, cute dark-wash cropped jeans. I didn’t realize my fatty reserves were going to render you obsolete so early in the game.
Huh.
There you have it.
Clothes: I made a Target trip to find something to labor in. I wanted a nightgown type thing in really soft material, stretchy so that I can pull it up and down and all around if necessary, with no tags (I could see myself growing frantic if there was any tagalicious scratchiness while I was trying to focus on getting through a contraction, know what I mean?). After trying on the entire sleepwear section in the store, I found the perfect thing! And just in time, because I’m pretty sure I was singlehandedly keeping the dressing room staff inundated with work. The result: a short sleeveless nightgown, super soft, stretchy, the whole works . . . except for the color (bubble gum pink), but I don’t think anyone’s going to be taking my picture, so I can live with it. Especially since the only other color available was a weird minty green reminiscent of badly painted elementary school walls.
Of course, while at Target, I also browsed around beyond sleepwear and got another maternity tank, a nice stretchy jersey skirt and a couple long (though non-maternity) tops. Most of which were on clearance, in my defense . . . and our ability to do laundry AS OF NOW in our new apartment is about to free up all sorts of clothes that have been languishing in the hamper for months while I avoided the over-heated laundromat like the plague.
So give me time to do a few more loads and it will feel like I just went shopping–again.
Purchases: Besides some clothes for myself, nothing new for little Alice. But now that we’re transitioning into our new place, it will become more evident what I still need to get.
Body: I don’t feel like there’s much to say here . . . oh, except that as I was relaxing on the couch in a very unlady-like position and not extremely clad either, I realized that I could see a vein running all the way up my inner thigh. It almost looked like some dye from my jeans had rubbed off along that inner seam–but no. It’s a vein, baby. It’s kind of cool. As long as it doesn’t go varicose on me!
Sleep: It’s actually been a great week for sleep! Every time I get up to pee, I do 10-30 squats before getting back into bed, and that helps rid my legs of the antsy restlessness that could otherwise keep me tossing and turning.
Best moment(s) of the week: Hard to say, but some highlights were our next-to-last Bradley Method class on breastfeeding, realizing that the awesome temp that started at the office is going to work out perfectly, reveling with my husband in our 7 years of marriage on Monday . . . life is good.
Movement: Somersaults, body rolls, limbs pushing all about–it’s great.
Food cravings/aversions: None come to mind.
Symptoms: Besides my more-visible-than-ever veins, I can’t think of any symptoms other than feeling somewhat more tired than usual and taking stairs S-L-O-W-L-Y (and I mean slowly). And of course continuing to get up to pee 2-3 times per night.
Emotions: My friend Sarah just had her baby, Ethan William. I haven’t met the little guy in person yet, but the moment I saw the announcement on facebook, it was Waterworks Unlimited. I cried . . . and cried . . . and cried.
My brother-in-law wasn’t quite sure what to do with me.
Pregnancy really does result in a precious, tiny baby. This isn’t just some body thing that I’m going through–there is a day when it will be over, and a small creature will be snuggled in the crook of my arm.
My husband and I also watched some highlights from the Olympics online (side note: NOT the great experience that NBC promised–I think we may have to get a TV next time the Olympics are happening). But the point is, there was this commercial by P&G with the tag line “proud sponsor of moms” or something that showed a mom cheering on a gymnast. Then there’s this moment when (sniff) it shows an old snapshot of that mom holding her daughter when she was a tiny, red, scrunchy baby and . . . I cried every darn time that commercial played. Which was every time we watched a clip online.
Hopes and dreams: I basically just can’t believe that my due date is under 2 months away. When it hits me, my brain goes into happy mushland.
What I miss: Nothing this week!
What I’m looking forward to: Settling into our new place . . . more about that soon.
Husband update: I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again: I’m so glad we’re taking this Bradley Method class. As much as my husband loves to read and is an avid researcher in the realms of his schooling, he hasn’t gravitated towards reading tons about pregnancy, delivery, breastfeeding and the like on his own. I mean, if I hand him a book and say “please read this chapter–it’s important to me,” he’ll do it. But he doesn’t just pick them up in his spare time for kicks like I have done. So having this class setting where we get to learn all this information together has been, in my mind, invaluable. It’s been the perfect arena for him to gather and absorb all the information and then process it with me, and has saved me from feeling like I have to force him to read a bunch of books.
I highly recommend taking a birthing class with your partner! I wondered at first if the cost and the time commitment were going to be worth it, and at this point, the answer is clearly a huge YES for us.
Well, here’s to getting as settled as possible over the weekend–I’ll be posting pics of our new digs soon!
