31 weeks

Hello!

I have not written in a while, but we have been out of town and then as soon as we got back I had work, dentists appointments, and we started our birthing class at the hospital!

We went home to Columbia for a week with a quick trip to Charleston thrown in for a babymoon. We really love visiting Charleston after all Tyler has a condo there and lived there for a few years. We stayed on my Dad's boat which would usually be okay except being 29 weeks pregnant and Charleston going from cool spring-y weather to rain to normal summer weather {HOT} it got a little uncomfortable. I had the a/c down so low in the boat Tyler woke up freezing! But, anyway we were able to eat our favorite place....

Oak Steakhouse. We enjoy their oysters rockefeller {THE BEST} and my husband was sweet enough to ask for our reservation on the third floor near a window! Please excuse my hair... it's difficult to get ready on a boat. Also, we got caught in a normal Charleston summer shower for about 30 minutes. But overall it was a great dinner and I highly recommend trying out Oak next time you're in Charleston. Then, I have heard Tyler talk about Kaminsky's plenty of times and we were supposed to go on our honeymoon, but for some reason didn't get by there. Well, even though I have to watch my sugars, how could you deny a pregnant lady some good dessert? I had figured that we had done so much walking in downtown Charleston from the car to Oak to Kaminsky's and back that I would be fine okay. It was totally worth it! 

The next day it had turned HOT! I guess the rain brought it in and so we got some breakfast at our favorite breakfast spot, The Marina Variety Store, and headed to the Charleston Harbor Marina pool {the Variety Store is not at the Charleston Harbor Marina where we stayed} and decided what was next. We decided that it may be a good idea to see some beach before we left the coast since that's not possible out here in the desert! So, we went back to the boat and got ready to hit Sullivan's Island. It was already lunch time by the time we made it to the island and we tried Poe's. Ehhh. I maybe was supposed to get a hamburger there, but considering how hot it was outside eating something so heavy didn't sound great. I had a buffalo shrimp salad {it was nothing to write home about}. But the atmosphere there was pretty cool! We didn't stay at the beach very long and headed back home after about 30 minutes. HAHA. It was hot and I am just not into tanning while pregnant. We headed back to the pool then back to the boat where Tyler had a few beers on the back. I took a shower and laid down for a nap rest. All in all it was a great babymoon and I couldn't have asked for anything better and I got lucky because I am pretty sure I got all my walking done in those two days for the whole week! 

Back in Columbia it was family every day. It was good for Tyler to see all his family since I had been in Columbia a few weeks before. Our schedule was packed every single day and we didn't stop, but that was okay. We were also able to bring home all the items I had received from the baby shower. And, our nursery is finally coming together and I would say is pretty much together except for a few odds and ends. Molly could go home now, but we definitely do not want that! We are prepared though! 

As I said before we started our birthing class last week, took a pediatrician Q&A class, and had an ultrasound. Last week was a nice welcome back from vacation. Now, we just wait and prepare for baby!

At our ultrasound, all went well... she's measuring right on track! 

How far along? 31 weeks 2 days

Size of Baby A? bunch of asparagus; 16.2 inches and 3.3 lbs {But Molly is weighing 3 lbs 10 oz according to our u/s}

Maternity Clothes? maternity jeans. larger size dresses. pre-pregnancy tops still work {kinda}

Weight Gain? 15.6 lbs{not happy about this but I am blaming all the good food in Columbia and Charleston}

Gender? girly girl!

Sleep? ehhh. if sleeping and waking every hour or every other hour counts. at least i am sleeping. i am a natural side sleeper so being uncomfortable hasn't really hit me yet. but i just wake up often. i guess it's better than not sleeping at all.. huh?

Movement? a lot. she seems to be calm while i am active, up, and walking around. but it's so comforting. i love every time i feel it. there have been no painful jabs except maybe a few times when she hits a specific nerve! 

Cravings? peanut butter crackers. waffles or pancakes with syrup {i try to stick with whole grain or whole wheat and sugar free syrup}. still ice cream! 

What I miss? still a glass of chard. iced coffee. pasta.  

Symptoms? congestion. usual aches and pains of getting around with a pregnant belly. 

Best moment of the week? well it's been a few weeks so Charleston and seeing our sweet girl on the big screen! 

Hello Third Trimester!

Well, I welcomed the third trimester on Saturday. I got a little cocky when I worked last week and everyone asked how I was feeling {a day before my 28th week} - I told everyone I felt great and sometimes I even forgot I was pregnant! Well, I jinxed myself because the next few days I felt sore all over. My uterine contractions feel like dull cramps {menstrual cramps for those who know what I'm talking about}. Those are probably the most uncomfortable. Then sometimes I'll get like a weird side cramp. I compare it to how it feels when you are running and you get a 'stitch in your side' I got a few times and I assume she is probably putting her weight on that one side and hitting a nerve- how dare her!

Sleep... sleep is another story. I love it! I even nap during the day, but only for an hour so I can sleep okay at  night and get to sleep at a decent hour. Well, sleep at night is ALWAYS interrupted which is okay and I am used to because even before pregnancy I would wake up to use the restroom {I was never sure if I needed to go or just thought it was a good idea}. But, getting back to sleep at night is getting harder. I have to get comfortable and I go to bed and the apartment feels like it's at a comfortable temperature- but I wake up SO HOT. I also feel like all my senses are heightened in the middle of the night trying to go back to sleep. I have never been one to 'be afraid of the dark', but I always peek into the living room on my way to bathroom {this pregnancy would be easier in a home of our own because the house we buy MUST have bathroom access from my bedroom} anyway, I am afraid I am going to see something? Not sure. Last week Tyler couldn't sleep, got up to eat a snack, and turned on the tv. Well, I almost had a heart attack because he has NEVER done that since we've been married and I freaked out. I was sure we had a squatter or a ghost. Then, as I am trying to fall back asleep I will have to feel like I need to pee at least two more times. Trust me, it's an ordeal and Tyler is just lucky he is not awake to notice my tossing, turning, and get ups. Also, Riley had a UTI last week so I feel every jump off the bed and assume she needs to be taken out so she doesn't pee in the apartment like last week! Oh, did I mention my nose gets really really really stuffy at night and if I don't get up in the middle of the night to blow my nose my mouth ends up open and I get horrible dry mouth.

But, compared to other people's pregnancy's I feel bleeds that these are my only complaints. If I get cramps, I drink water and lay down. No big deal.

Went to the doctor today! Today was the first day I went to the doctor and came out feeling so confident about my pregnancy. For the first 28 weeks I was so worried something bad was going to happen. But, he checked my sugar {I test them twice a week- two times a day} log and he said they looked great. I just have to continue doing what I am doing and I do not need a gestational diabetes test! Woohoo! That was music to my ears. I wouldn't say that I don't have it because I still have to check my sugars twice a week or at random, but I don't have to feel restricted to a diet. I check my sugars at random to see what makes my sugars go high. I know that sweet tea probably isn't a good idea- just something I've got to cut out for the next 12 weeks which, may be hard for this southern girl, but totally worth it. I know {and have stayed away this whole pregnancy} that I can't have pasta or white bread {sometimes I do if I don't have a choice}. Dr. Gluck said he was 'really happy' with how things were going, my weight gain is fine, I am measuring good, my blood pressure was normal {111/71}, and I told him about me and Tyler's drive to Columbia and he said 'be safe' I should have no problems just make sure I get out and walk around. Ahhhh... music to my ears. Now my only worry is to make sure I feel her move every day. About once or twice a week she will have a lazy day, but that usually follows a day when she is super active. I read that you should start to feel a pattern, but seriously- she has no pattern. When falling asleep at night sometimes she goes crazy, but sometimes I think she falls asleep before me! It will be interesting to see what her sleeping patterns are once she arrives. She also will start to kick when I lay on my left side {that's usually how I fall asleep} and I can't tell if she is saying goodnight or please don't lay like that {sometimes I am like halfway on my side and stomach}. I feel like she has her own personality already.

In two weeks I go in for a ultrasound and in four weeks I go in for another check-up. Time is flying by....

I also must mention a friend of mine who was only 6 weeks ahead of me, but pregnant with boy and girl twins had her sweet babies last night. I am so overcome with joy for her and the two new additions to the Hoffman family. BabieS and Mom are doing well and I know she is over the moon that they are here. Congrats Laura! Can't wait to see more pictures of Abigail and George! I am going to miss your belly pictures, but look forward to blog updates of life with twins!

I can't wait to get Columbia this weekend and our babymoon  in Charleston!

How far along? 28 weeks 4 days

Size of Baby A? iceberg lettuce; 14.8 inches; 2.2 lbs

Maternity Clothes? maternity jeans, my normal tops, and cotton dresses all around- same...although some tops just aren't working anymore and i've had my fair share of breakdowns getting dressed!

Weight Gain? 12.2 same as last week!

Gender? all things *PINK*

Sleep? well... see above!

Movement? a lot and anytime day or night! some lazy days!

Cravings? lately ice cream- not sure how that would affect my sugars ;) 

What I miss? a glass of chard on the porch. 

Symptoms? stuffy nose. cramps. 'side stitch' 

Best moment of the week? no gestational diabetes test- keep doing what i'm doing.