That's still two and a half months left. Two and a half months! And it's all uphill from here. The good news is that we had another ultrasound at 28 weeks and baby girl is developing right along and looking healthy. She's around the 70th percentile in growth, measuring almost a full week ahead and weighing in at a 3 hefty pounds. And I feel it. Oh lord, do I feel it. Here I was thinking things were getting uncomfortable a couple months ago. Hah! That was a picnic compared to the new aches and pains.. Breathing is becoming difficult to do since I now have three pounds of baby compressing my lungs. Speaking of compressed organs, Tums have become an everyday necessity. I don't think I have ever in my life experienced heartburn until now. In an earlier entry I posted a visual of what the insides of a pregnant woman versus a non pregnant woman look like. Let's come back to that just for effect.
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| Normal vs pregnant body |
Is that compressed and stretched out lima bean shaped thing really my stomach? Well, that certainly explains the heartburn. And the bladder. Okay, where the hell did my bladder go? Essentially all of my internal organs have been rearranged and flattened out. And I still have 10 more weeks left of this.
Unfortunately, since I sit all day at my job the poor thing is scrunched up next to my rib cage. She lets me know how much she enjoys it by spiritedly kicking the hell out of my ribs. Her and I both wish I had a longer torso for her to stretch out in. My belly no longer feels like it's my own. It's just this extension of me that I carry around. Most of the time it feels like I'm wearing a huge fanny pack with weights in it. A fanny pack that kicks, squirms, hiccups, and completely flips around. It's getting a little bit like Alien in there.
Only much cuter of course. But I do have to say, it is pretty cool to have a little buddy with me all day long. We roll our eyes at all the dumb things people say and do (which is pretty often) and fist bump when things go our way.
So, until recently I was still cycling at my favorite spin place but that started getting too uncomfortable around the 27 week mark. Those tiny bicycle seats can give you a sore bum anyway without the added pressure against your tailbone. I can't quite seem to find the motivation to exercise during the work week after a 12 hour day so I'm trying to fill my weekends with physical activity to keep my stamina up. I'm still rolling around on a floor mat with the other expectant mommas during prenatal yoga, hitting the gym and hiking the hills of Southern California. I usually get in some sort of exercise at least 3 days a week. It's not much but I'm under the mindset that every little bit helps.
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| Gym brat - 28 weeks |
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| Hollywood Hike - 29 weeks |
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| 30 week selfie |
And here's a recent development. Strangers are now acknowledging the bump. There's no more hiding it. A couple of weeks ago I was at Starbucks and ordered a tall white chocolate mocha to help me get through a day of furniture shopping and Babies R Us. After the barista handed me the drink and noticed my burgeoning belly he asked if I wanted it decaf. I politely told him no. Later that afternoon, Nik and I were in the grocery store when a sweet woman next to me asked how far along I was. When I told her 7 months she told me that I was just adorable. Made my freaking day. I've also noticed that strangers seem to be opening doors for me or offering to pick something up when my clumsier than usual self drops it. Los Angeles isn't exactly the most friendly city so I can only assume it's the baby bump. There are still a few people who tell me that I look small for how far along I am. And those people are my new best friends.
Things are also progressing on the home front. Nik and I have started on the nursery! We still have a lot to do but here's what we were able to accomplish so far.
I'll try and take a panoramic once it's complete, which probably won't be until sometime in March. But it's quickly becoming my new favorite room in the house.
In addition to that we have also received some early shower presents from my family. I now sleep next to a beautiful cradle in the bedroom, there is a car seat in our living room and a stroller in my trunk. It's just so odd to see baby gear in the house. Definitely a first. Also a first? Getting excited about diapers. One of Nik's colleagues recently had a baby boy who outgrew his newborn diapers. We now have almost 80 free Pampers Swaddlers hanging out in the baby's dresser drawer. Life is most certainly changing.
And in 10 "short" weeks we get to welcome this beautiful and permanent change into our lives.
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| 28 week mug shot |
.Can not freaking wait.
