34 Weeks Update

34 Weeks Update.

  

How far along: 34 Weeks

Gender: BOY! - Like, double-confirmed recently.

Weight gain: "Negative one and a half pounds" /high-five from OB

Maternity clothes: I got a new black dress that I'm pretty much going to live in until baby shows up.

Stretch marks: Oh, lord, yes.  ugh.

Belly button in or out: Out!  I asked if it could unravel and all my guts could spill out.  Apparently that's not a thing.

Best moment this week: Picking Ben up at the airport.  Seeing how damned excited Felix was to see him.  Seeing how much the dogs missed him and how much they were like, "Oh YES, now we can sleep." about it all.

Worst moment this week: I wasn't able to attend a good friend's wedding this last weekend.  I knew I would be disappointed and I was just as, if not more so, disappointed than anticipated. 

Miss anything: Wine.  Getting up off the floor, couch, car easily.  Cuddling Felix close.  Sleeping on my stomach.

Movement: All over.  His little foot or hand keeps appearing on the right side like he thinks it's the exit.

Cravings: The tartest lemon-y lemon bar ever.  Nachos.

Queasy or sick: Doing good!

Mood: Is tired a mood?  I feel tired, nervous, excited, irritated, impatient, shaky, sarcastic, happy, hungry, restless, determined, creative, desperate to finish my to do list, blissful and itchy.

Looking forward to: My baby showers!!!  Deleting my to do list because it's totes done.  Wrapping up crochet projects I've put off for months.  Eating Dairy Queen cake when I get home.

32 Weeks Update

32 Weeks Update.

  

How far along: 32 Weeks (ok, this was last week, but whatever)

Gender: BOY!

Weight gain: 11 lbs

Maternity clothes: I have 2 pairs of jeans that fit.  2 skirts. 2 leggings and 3 shirts.  Options are getting limited and laundry has increased.  

Stretch marks: about 3.  But I think if they are just new additions to old ones that they shouldn't count.

Belly button in or out: Out and running into people, doors, corners, etc.

Best moment this week: Mother's Day weekend.  Such a whirlwind of fun, meals, family, giggling babies, beautiful flowers and naps.  That, or cleaning the shower with vinegar, dish soap and baking soda.  SO AWESOME.

Worst moment this week: Sharp pain on my right side that freaked me out.  Reminding me that I can't go as fast or lift as much or clean as long as I think I can. 

Miss anything: Reisling.  Eating whatever I want without a second thought.

Movement: Getting more roll-y instead of punch-y now that he's getting to be a fatty.

Cravings: Really spicy nachos.  Lemon bars.  Ice-cold anything.  S'mores.

Queasy or sick: Doing good!

Mood: This pregnancy continues to surprise me.  Ask Ben and he'll tell you (I think) that he prefers this one to when I was growing Felix.  With Felix it was "Hey, I was thinking OH MY GOD I HATE THIS DRAWER."  Like, there was no warning that Hulk Christi was coming.  It was smash or be smashed.  With this little guy, it comes on slowly and hangs out a good long while.  So, if I wake up in bitch mode/crying face/project mode, I'm there for like a day.  

Looking forward to: My Aunt and Uncle are coming for a visit!  Going to the zoo!  Finishing up big projects!  Maternity photo shoot!

To My Birthday Boy,

To My Birthday Boy,

Oh sweet boy.  What a wonderful, hilarious, joyful, exceedingly blissful year it’s been.  What do you think of your life so far?  It’s hard to believe that, two years ago today, I was just going in for one of your last checkups only to find out that you’d be joining us in the world a few short whirlwind hours later.  

And what a whirlwind it's been.  Watching you grow and change has quickly become one of my favorite things.  I thought I'd miss the tiny changes since I see you every day.  But it's amazing how I see the tiniest things that are taking you from tiny human to fully-grown little boy.  

I can't get over how fast you grow.  How much you understand and remember, how verbal and expressive and genuine you are in all your emotions.  Be it elation or intense frustration - you feel it and show it fully.  I hope that never goes away.  So many grown ups couch their emotions and stop feeling moments to their fullest because of this learned habit.  For this reason, and so many others, I wish I could stick you in a time-stopping, protective bubble and never let any dark or sad parts of life touch you.  I dread having to explain anything to you other than how a caterpillar turns into a butterfly or how an echo works.  I hope you always believe in magic as inately as you do now.  I feel so privileged  to witness your wonder, excitement and complete acceptance of the mysteries that surround you.

I am proud of you every day.  From the tiniest things to the world at large - when you run up to me, say, "Mommy, I have to go to the bathroom." and then DO.  To your tender heart, telling me "It be okay, mama." when I have a tear.  To seeing how much you like things to be in order - Ketchup on the chicken, mustard on the corn.  Watching you figure things out for yourself is such great fun.  

As if you weren't already the greatest kid ever, soon you will be a big brother.  Another feather in your cap of awesome.  Seeing how you are with all the babies and other kids in your life gives me great hope and solid certainty that you will be a rockstar when your brother arrives.  You are so kind and gentle and giving, something I don't see in lots of kids, let alone humans in general.  I love how much you want to help in everything that I do.  I am glad that you live in a house of "sure, baby, come on" attitude.  Allowing you to help and do as much yourself as possible is going to be a fantastic skill when you're an adult.  

I love puddle stomping with you, yelling across the cul-de-sac, singing Frozen at the top of our lungs, having picnics, experiencing snow, going to the zoo, visiting friends and family, going in your brother's room, feeding your animals, cooking noodles with you, flying like superheroes, laughing until our bodies hurt, cuddling and watching TV, playing grill, reading books, singing our nighttime songs, watching you touch the ceiling, seeing your face light up when your dad puts you on his shoulders, laughing at the funny things you say, hugging puppies, looking for big school buses, getting close (but not too close) to animals, explaining things to you so you understand as best your tiny human brain can, easing your fears, midnight rocking chair cuddles, picking you up from the floor when you roll out of bed, watching how much you can really eat, shaking my head in amazement when you choose blue cheese and apples for dinner, 

 I think you’re a great, cool kid and the best son a mom could ask for.  Thank you for being such a wonderful, inspiring, lovable, photogenic, constantly happy part of my life.  This past year is filed in with your first year under "best of my life".  

All my love,
Your Mama 

30 Weeks Update

30 Weeks Update.

  

How far along: 30 Weeks

Gender: BOY!

Weight gain: 11 lbs

Maternity clothes: Only and always.  I tried to wear on of my non-maternity dresses (one that I always thought "this is a little poochy and would look great when I'm pregnant) for Easter and ended up hurling it and several others across the room in tears.  Big, striped, Easter COW.

Stretch marks: One new one, just above my bellybutton.

Belly button in or out: It's safe to say it's out for the count.

Best moment this week: Finishing a 5k.  Yes, I walked.  Slowly.  So slow that I was the last person of our group (and probably the last of all registered participants) to finish.  But I only stopped once!

Worst moment this week: Being at work overnight a few nights.  I missed my Ben, baby and bed terribly.  

Miss anything: I long for the days when not everything I ate tasted like burn-y.

Movement: He is a party animal in there!  So often, my belly is lopsided because he is crammed all the way to the right.  Felix did the same thing.  Started getting the whole "THESE ARE ALL MY LIMBS" movement, where I feel a punch up near my ribs and a kick down on my hip at the same time.  

Cravings: Anything cold.  And getting my to do list down to a minimum.

Queasy or sick: Heartburn o'clock.

Mood: Pretty good.  I only wanted to stab someone in the neck with a shrimp fork a few times this week.  Once because a repairman wouldn't talk to me since I was a woman (it was my fault I was out of the kitchen in the first place) and a few people who just couldn't be bothered to say please and thank you (one of normal Christi's biggest pet peeves - pregnant Christi lost her shit a little over it this week).

Looking forward to: Felix's birthday party, birthday family lunch and actual birthday.  This week is crazy busy but at least it's all (mostly) fun tasks.  

4/15/14

Every once in a while there comes a need to step away from every loud piece of life.  
Shut out all intruding interjections, the beeps and clicks, dings and alerts.
And just be peaceful.  

Embrace the moment of energy flowing from the fingertips.  
Recognize the rise of strength drawn from the air and ground.  
Pull close to you the swell of calm.
Bask in the beauty and mystery of it all.
If only for a moment.

There is enormous responsibility in this kind of peace.  
Feel it as full as possible.
Allow it to wrap tight round your soul like the tingling arms of sleep.  

For you won't always feel this way.  
And you won't always feel this way.

Breathe deep.

26 Weeks

26 Weeks Update.

  

Or, as I like to call it - 99 DAYS LEFT.  We are in double digits, people.

How far along: 26 Weeks

Gender: BOY!

Weight gain: Surprisingly slow.  I think -10 to 8 lbs now.  Midwife said it was fine if I was eating healthy.  I told her I eat a lot of Fruit Loops.

Maternity clothes: Yes, all others have been banished for a good 3-5 months

Stretch marks: One new one, just above my bellybutton.

Belly button in or out: Neither.  It's flat and pulled tight.  My scar from my hernia repair 15 years ago is so little and visible!

Best moment this week: Swimming with Ben, Felix, Beth, Ari and The Fury.  Felix had a BLAST.  Went down the slide, played ball, kicked and splashed.  Such fun.

Worst moment this week: I ate six Olive Garden breadsticks and pasta.  I was up until like 1 AM griping about my stomach.  Worth. it. 

Miss anything: Reisling, and now with the "good" weather I want to go kayaking so badly.

Movement: Lots and lots.  Went to EMP yesterday and he was rocking out to Jimmy Hendrix.

Cravings: Caramel Frappuchinos and anything strawberry flavored.

Queasy or sick: I puked twice this week.  Random, weird and I blame vegetables.

Mood: Mostly good!  I'm happy and agreeable as long as I get exactly what I want when I want it.  

Looking forward to: Painting baby's room, massively cleaning the house and garage, finishing up landscaping, knocking out projects.  Nesting = getting shit done.

22 Weeks

How far along: 22 Weeks

Gender: BOY!

Weight gain: -11 lbs.  I lost 18 lbs in the first trimester thanks to my best friend, nausea.  I've gained 7 of it back thanks to my new best friend, frosting.

Maternity clothes: Oh yes.  I have a few shirts that aren't maternity still trying to cover the belly for dear life.  Give it another few days or few donuts and they will begin to fail miserably.  I'm wearing the crap out of maternity leggings and jammies.

Stretch marks: Just the old ones from when I was growing Felix.

Belly button in or out: In...ish.  And weird looking.  I can no longer hide things in there.  On the plus side, it's a great time to clean all the lint out.

Sleep: Excellent!  Pregnancy produces wickedly vivid dreams.  Which is fine, unless they're nightmares.  I'm so done waking up thinking I've given birth to a clown or velociraptor.

Best moment this week: Baby kicking me after a particularly bad dream.  As if to say, "It's okay, Mom.  I'm here!" 

Worst moment this week: Running out of cream cheese.

Miss anything: Reisling.  

Movement: Baby boy started this thing where it feels like he gets a running start and rams his tiny shoulder into my uterus like he's trying to bust down a locked door.

Cravings: Maraschino cherries, cream cheese, Taco Bell chicken quesidilla, pears

Queasy or sick: All is well unless I run across a particularly bad smell.  Coffee, gasoline, doody.

Mood: Like, just one?  Is that possible?  I'm usually pretty happy with bouts of blind rage and Downton Abbey-induced weeping.

Looking forward to: Our mini-vacay coming up in Mid-March.  The weather turning nice so we can play outside with Felix and the dogs.