Maternity Photo Shoot - 32 weeks

Maternity - the big picture

Well it feels like I've been pregnant for an entire year or longer! It's unreal that this baby boy is about to make his debut (hopefully sooner than later since my due date was yesterday). I have to say, I've been extremely blessed with a wonderful pregnancy (not to brag, just to be grateful). Sure, I had some of the typical discomforts of pregnancy, but overall I was impressed with how great it has been. And there is nothing like feeling this baby kick in my belly. I absolutely love it! I may be overdue, but I'm just trying to enjoy every last minute of having him safe and warm inside. I know I'll miss it when he comes and is more work to take care of. So many mixed feelings!
I haven't kept a journal during my pregnancy but I have jotted down notes on my phone so I wouldn't forget how I've felt along the way. Here are some highlights-
Week 6: [146 lbs] Nauseous, exhausted, sore chest
Week 12: [146] Started showing, feeling bloated, less nauseous
Week 14: [146] Headaches, less nauseous, sensitive gums, red spots appeared on neck/ upper chest
Week 15: [144] Can feel belly bump, threw up once
Week 16: [146] Feeling pregnant but not sick, bump shows, scheduled ultrasound!
Week 17: [147] Headaches
Week 18: [149] Baby kicking! Belly feels hard, belly button wider
Week 19: [152] Lots of baby movement (baby kicked belly button and that hurt!), It's a boy!
Week 20: [153] Wearing maternity pants
Week 21: [154] Got a preservative free flu shot, lots of people start asking when I'm due
Week 22: [155] Got a cold
Week 23: [158] Little bit of heartburn, people at work just realizing I'm pregnant, say "you look good"
Week 24: [160] Back hurts while sleeping
Week 25: [159] "You're so small" comments, love to feel baby move and watch my belly
Week 26: [161] Glucose test (lemon lime), packing and moving, baby has hiccups
Week 27: [161] Belly feels a lot bigger, second glucose test (fruit punch)- lots more sugar and bruises that lasted a week, linea negra showed up, baby hiccups at least every morning, can feel limbs moving
Week 28: [160] no diabetes! Phew! measuring 28 cm, limbs all over the place, sore muscles, start kick counting
Week 29: [161] Belly button starts sticking out, leg cramps at night
Week 30: [162] Bought 4 dresses at Motherhood Maternity, ordered crib and mattress, itchy belly
Week 31: [163] Little bit of heartburn
Week 32: [165] Maternity photos taken
Week 33: [167] Baby shower at work
Week 34: [167] Kidney infection admission/ dry run at the hospital, back hurts, Braxton Hicks contractions, measuring 34 cm.
Week 35: [167] Installed car seat, back aches, Christmas, measured 34 cm
Week 36: [168] Last week of work, Braxton Hicks, back aches, feel really pregnant, starting to waddle, strep culture, measuring 35 cm, sore muscles at the top of belly, finished painting baby curtains
Week 37:  [168] Baby care basics class, measuring 37 cm, sore back and upper belly, made baby blanket
Week 38: [170] Family/friends baby shower, bought used stroller, peed a little when I sneezed, colostrum leaked a little at night, 1/2 cm dilated
Week 39: [171] Baby's head is lower, but still doesn't feel like my "stomach dropped"
Week 40: [172] Is he here yet?! Baby's head is super low and in position, should be coming any day!

I haven't been as healthy and good at exercising as I would have liked (goal for baby #2), but at least I was normal with my weight gain. I have never felt as good and confident about my body as I have while being pregnant. My goal is to try to keep this positive outlook on my body post pregnancy.

The other great thing about being pregnant is what a wonderful support I've had in my sweet husband Weston! He has been there to cook dinners, blow dry or straighten my hair when I was too tired and nauseous, help me up off the couch when I reached whale size, put together the baby crib, go to two months of baby classes, review baby products, give up bed space to lots of pillows, and lots and lots of other things I know he didn't want to do but did anyway because he loves me that much! He has been so wonderful and it makes me confident that he'll be a good labor coach and even better dad. I love him and I'm excited to figure out all this parenting stuff together!