34 weeks and crib bedding

Alrighty, we're down another week! Just 6 more to go till D-Day (due date) and one more to go till Mom's baby shower.


Here's the latest belly photo and I'm measuring at 40" even. (Doesn't the growing ever stop???)




Newest (well not that new, but totally on my mind today) pregnancy symptom is crazy baby bladder urges. I can literally feel him moving around in my belly and stomping on my bladder and man, it feels sore. I really feel like I have to go to the bathroom immediately, and I when I go, there's not much coming out. It drives me crazy! His movements are so strong now. I'm definitely getting to that point where I'm ready to have him out soon (though I know I'll yearn for the peace I have now once he comes).

Also update on the house situation - we got our photographs taken today and our house will be listed Tuesday morning (which means its officially on the market)! These first few weeks will be the MOST important in terms of getting offers. I pray pray pray that we get offered our listing price or more. I found out from my neighbor that he also plans to list his place for sale in the next few weeks! Ack! I told him to please wait b/c I dont want him under cutting our price (which I think he'll do b/c he has more equity than we do and can afford it). For now, I'm not going to worry about it. It's in God's hands. All I can do is think positive and pray for the best.

Also, as I was perusing Babies R Us today, I did a potentially silly impulse purchase. I saw that a 6 piece crib bedding set similar to the one we had registered for was on clearance for $139 (regular price $189), and the matching mobile was on sale for $30 (regular $49). (Silly me, I see the "clearance" sign and I automatically think it's a great deal and that I should get it before I miss the chance.)

I brought it home and set it up (w/o the window valence b/c it wont work for the type of blinds in our nursery) and I like it. But after talking to my mom and a friend, I'm realizing that it may still be a bit pricey, especially if I'm not going to actually be using the quilt for a long long time (due to the SIDS risk) and the window valence. I'm thinking I should return it and look elsewhere for more bargains.....especially since money is super tight right now for us. I did ask, they'll accept a return withing 90 days as long as I have the original receipt and the original packaging.





What'd everyone else do for crib bedding? Or what do you think, keepers or return? My heart is not super set on the pattern/theme, so I dont mind getting another one.

33 weeks, PNA appt and baby showers!

So much has been going on since I last posted, but I've just been so busy that I only got a chance to post it now. So here's my weekend in numerical paragraph fashion:

1) Most importantly, we reached the end of another week - 33 weeks!! The belly finally grew 1/2 an inch to 39.5". And here's my latest belly photo:



2) My work threw myself and two of my other coworkers who are pregnant a surprise baby shower on Friday. I had a feeling something was going on b/c another coworker let it slip and I could see the streamers and balloons in our large conference room as I passed by. But it was still very thoughtful that they did this for us (me) and I'm very very grateful. I'm also very very grateful for the fancy stroller that I got!!! The Mac.laren Quest Sport - in black and champagne. It'll definitely come in handy for when Kaua outgrows his little carseat and the snap n go stroller frame we have. (P.s. My daddy said he'll buy us Kaua's carseat last night!! Yay!!!) Last big ticket item on my list -- breast pump. =)

3)My inlaws threw me a baby shower on Saturday! I was unsure who would attend but there were a fair amount of people - approximately 20! It was really nice and again, the thought was there and I sure do feel loved and know that Kaua will be loved. Baby Kaua got some really cool stuff, like a swimmer diaper for the beach, a tiny little wetsuit and some really practical baby stuff like handmade blankets/quilts, onesies, a thermometer, and an electronic aspirator (never even heard of an electronic one before!). And I got two nursing pillows!! (I'll probably return one). And Kaua got some very very cute clothes including the MOST ADORABLE firefighter outfit ever!! Sadly its for a 3 month old, so I cant make it be his coming home outfit from the hospital (actually that's a good thing, he'll definitely fit into it no matter how big he is at birth and I already have a TON of handmedown newborn clothes).

4) I had another PNA appointment on Friday and everything is going A-Ok with Kaua. These appointments are seriously sooooooooooo mundane and boring, there's really nothing much to say about them. I did ask my doctor if I could attend a haunted lagoon boat ride that evening and he saw nothing wrong with it, since the ride was very smooth (nothing like a rollacoaster or other thrill ride). He just cautioned that if it was too loud, like a rock concert, I should probably avoid it, but it wasnt. We confirmed that Kaua is still head down, face down, which we're hoping he'll stay b/c that's ideal for birth.

5) Last but certainly not least, we finally picked a realtor to sell our place. It's a tandem team and they're actually the realtors who sold the house to us!! They are a FULL service realtor, which means they will charge the full price commission, but they are offering to do SO MUCH for us in terms of staging our house and cleaning it etc. all on their own dime that for me it's worth it. They're also offering us small discounts where they can, like offering to pay for the GE tax that we'd have to pay on their commission, offering to get us a discount on the closing costs for the escrow company, offering to pay for the cleaning services to clean our house, and offering their own personal time to stage my home with their own stuff or stuff that they'll buy. It's a huge relief that they will do this for us, since my looming due date is near, and I dont have much "bending" capability to do significantly cleaning in our house. They also were sweet in trying to "butter" us up when they came over to do their spiel, they brought us homemade delicious banana bread and a baby gift for Kaua (a box full of baby toys that are designed to enhance his development as he grows...very very cool!) They're also very positive on getting the sales price we want for our home. Granted, b/c we have very little equity in our home, we'll have to come out of pocket to sell the home, but we knew that going forward and are prepared for it. Who knows though, i need to only think positive and perhaps our home will sell for more than the list price!!!! The house goes on the market next week and the first few weeks will be very significant in terms of getting offers. If we get any offers right away, we'll know we're priced reasonably.

Believe and Receive right!?!

Remembering or not?

This may be a controversial post. My intent is just to post my own personal experience and do not intend to cause anyone pain. I respect everyone's beliefs and choices as I'm sure others will do the same for me.

Today is, October 15, which is
National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. Today is for remembering those who were lost. Those whose time on earth was brief but who will live on in our hearts and memories. At 7 pm tonight, light a candle. If everyone lights a candle at 7 pm and keeps it burning for a hour there will be a continuous wave of light over the entire world honoring those whose time with us was too short.

(I took the above from other's posts in the bloggy community).

Personally, I feel reluctant to recognize/celebrate this day for myself, despite having gone through two prior miscarriages. My reason? Simple - I dont want to remember my grief and pain of last year. (I will however recognize and celebrate this day for those many other parents who wish to remember their losses).

Coincidentally, I believe I had just had my first D&C for my 2nd MC around this time last year. I remember this time of year because both my mom and my grandma flew up to be here with me during and after the procedure and I remember going Halloween shopping with them and I remember purchasing a Halloween candy bowl for my house to put candy in. We also bought some fake spider webs and spiders and decorated the bowl. The pain and grief I felt during that time was like no other I had ever experienced. I was confused. I had lost two pregnancies consecutively. I felt completely robbed of my "innocence" and normally sunny disposition that I've always had on life. I put that bowl out this past weekend and filled it with candy and I remembered its origin for a brief few minutes as I did so.

But back to my post. For me, setting aside a day to remember my 2 MCs is like setting aside a day to be sad. I dont want to be sad. I'm happy. I have a healthy boy in my belly. He's expected to arrive in this world in less than 8 weeks. When people ask if this is my first, I respond with yes, it is. I dont know if I really count my first two pregnancies as a first and second child and that Kaua is my third. Those pregnancies lasted 5.5 weeks and 9 weeks respectively (though the embryo in the 2nd pregnancy didn't grow past 6 weeks). Although I completely respect, understand and even agree that for other's those pregancies and children are very real and somewhere in heaven they will be reunited as a family again, I just dont feel the same for my situation. Kaua is my first child. Am I weird? Am I callous? Am I heartless? I dunno. Why do I not feel the same about my prior two pregnancies? I dunno. All I know is that I'm happy, I'm blessed and I dont want to be sad. I doubt I'll ever forget my experiences and I know why I've gone through them and feel that I've grown so much as a person for going through it and infact relish my current pregnancy and will always relish having a child because of my experiences, but I dont want to set aside a day to be sad. I want to focus on celebrating.

Anyone else feel the same or am I the only one?

*edited - After reflecting a bit more on my post, I've decided that today will be a day where I will remember, honor and celebrate all those women (and men) who have gone through or are going through a loss. I will recognize that as celebrants of this day, we share a common bond of pain and grief and will send prayers and well wishes to all who continue to grieve and suffer. I will not, however, allow myself to use this day as a selfpity party, but instead, will praise God that I have been blessed with Kaua.

Naughty girl

Ok, I'm guilty. I've been peeking at my baby registry. I've been telling myself that I'm looking at the registries only to make changes and adjustments (b/c I'll find something new I want to register for, or change my mind about something I've previously registered for). But I recently realized that you can tell when someone's purchased something on your registry. So just yesterday, even though I really didn't have any "changes" to make, I peeked at my registry (actually two of the three that I have) and saw that someone bought something! (The baby bjourn air carrier!!) Yippee!!! That makes me so excited! But it also makes me feel super guilty, because it's like peeking at your birthday/christmas present before the actual day. So from today on, I'm going to promise myself not look at my registries, unless I absolutely have to (for instance, I get something from a shower that was on my registry and therefore need to take it off so that no one buys the same thing for me at another* shower). I realize I just gave myself an out to be naughty again, but I'm pretty good at following through with what I say.

I cant wait till we get everything together for the baby. It'll make it feel more "real" to me to see the nursery set up and all of the baby items ready for when Kaua comes home.

*Yes, I'm a lucky gal - I'm having three showers! -- The In law's shower (this saturday), my mommy's shower (Nov. 1) and my friends' shower (Nov. 22).

32 weeks!

32 weeks pregnant! Well, I'm another week down. Interestingly, my belly has not grown in inches, but it still looks bigger and I probably gained more weight (I find out this Friday at my next PNA).

Not much new to report. I can feel Kaua move a lot more, but I read in WTE that its because my amniotic fluid levels have topped out, which means more baby, less fluid, and therefore, less cushion to soften those "blows" that he gives me. It's really quite trippy feeling. I place my hand on my belly and feels his movements trying to guess what body part he's brushing up against my belly, but I have no idea really. Maybe the doc will be able to tell me. Less than 8 weeks till Kaua. =)

New on the symptom front is feet swelling. It's still not very significant but more than last week. I still fit my sandals, but I think it may get worse. I tried taking off my toe ring, but no luck. It still fits on my toe with some room, but it does not come off the top of my toe. I hope my feet dont swell up too much so that it cuts off my circulation, or it will be bye bye toe ring (we'll have to cut it off). I've had this toe ring on for years. Its 14K and its from my Aunty. Long story short, she was walking in the mall and a vendor asked her to try one on. She warned him that it may not come back off, and lo and behold, it didn't. He said to just come back and return it when it could come off. She never went back, but eventually got it off. She then gave it to me. I swear I've had it on my toe for over 7-10 years and it's still looking beautiful. It'd be sad to have to cut it off, but that's what I get for waiting so long to take it off.

Here's my feet today:

Not much swelling, but they were swollen saturday night when we went to watch our local university football game. I'll try to take a swollen feet picture next time.


Not much else going on other than meeting with realtors and working on getting our house market ready. Did some painting over the weekend. Still need to do some more....but it's a start.

I think my first baby shower is coming up next week saturday. The inlaws are throwing it so I have no idea what to expect. DH will be working and I'm sure it'll just be his side of the family (like how they did when they threw my bridal shower a couple years back). The interesting thing is that none of his immediate family lives here, so it'll just be his aunties and his cousin's wives. Haven't even been told where it is or when to show up. I've just been told that my saturday is reserved. Hey, it's the thought that counts right?

32 week belly photo:

31 weeks and 7th PNA update

I've completed 31 weeks of pregnancy this weekend. But I dont have a photo to share because I went camping (that was super fun!).

Last week friday I had my 7th PNA. DH was off and was able to come along. This was the last of my every 4 week appointments. I'm now going to have PNAs every two weeks, next one next Friday already!!

Kaua is doing well. Doc didn't comment on my uterus/tummy measurement, but I'm assuming all is well since he ended the appointment saying that I'm doing exceptionally well. Doc also didn't comment on my weight gain (he never really does), but I gained 4 lbs since my last PNA putting me up to 26lbs total!!! bleh! Kaua's heartbeat was normal and he appeared to be head down. Doc answered a bunch of prewritten questions I had. Off the top of my head, here are some of the things we talked about:

He indicated that what's been known as a "walking" epidural would not be very effective because if I have enough feeling "down there" to be able to walk around, I likely wouldn't be getting very significant pain relief, which is the purpose for an epidural. He stated that a perenial massage wouldn't be necessary (if I didn't want one). He said that he prefers natural tearing over an episiotomy, unless there is a reason to cut (likely due to fetal distress and the need to get baby out quicker, or the need for a vacuum or foreceps to assist in the delivery). I can continue to workout at the gym like I've been doing up until birth as long as I feel ok. The increased discharge I've been noticing is completely normal for this stage in pregnancy, as long is its generally odorless and clear (which it has been). He offered me the flu shot, but I declined it, (my reasoning is because I've never had the shot before and I rarely get the flu nowadays, so I dont see the need for it). He was fine with me not getting the flu shot, but stated that he would like for me to get the H1N1 shot when it becomes available, which I likely will. He reassured me that its very common for a baby to favor one side of the uterus over the other. Kaua really really likes my upper right side. When he checked for Kaua's heartbeat, it was below my belly button (on the right side) which indicated Kaua is head down! (yippee!!!) and that the big bump that I always feel in my upper right tummy is likely Kaua's butt sticking out. I probably shouldn't try to push the bump in when it's uncomfortable, instead I should try to change positions or move around to get Kaua to move (FYI, this doesn't work all the time, sometimes Kaua is content to stay as is, no matter how I move around). His standard recommendation for purposes of temporary disability insurance is 6 weeks off froom work for a standard vaginal delivery and 8 weeks off from work for a c-section. He said that he would provide me with a recommendation to get off of work 2 weeks prior to delivery if I wanted it as well. I asked if he would simply add on the 2 weeks after I give birth, to his standard 6 -8 week recomendation for time off from work, but he said that the insurers are pretty strict and that increasing the time after delivery must be for a substantial reason. I doubt I'll take advantage of the two weeks off prior to delivery, just because we need my full salary, and there is no sense in me not working two weeks prior to delivery if Kaua isn't here. I'd much rather work to help alleviate our financial strains. Of course, if I could extend my maternity leave (with some pay) I would totally take advantage of it if it meant I could spend more time with my son.

That's all I can think of at this time.

On the symptom front I think the only new symptoms are somewhat slight swelling in my ankles. It's not really noticable in appearance yet, but I noticed it because one of my sandals that are normally too big for me, are fitting me a little better. The back straps still fall down, but they stay up for a little longer than before. I also have a little more pain when standing up at times (my uterus feels full or I feel some slight round ligament pain). According to WTE, Kaua is almost 4 lbs and almost 19 inches long. His weight gain and growth is supposed to slow down from now till birth. I'm feeling ready for him to come out now, (I miss my flat tummy and the ease of movement you take for granted till you have a huge belly) though I know its best that he doesn't show up till 36 or 37 weeks at the earliest. Less than 9 weeks till Kaua! I know I'm going to panic when it gets closer and I realize I still have very little baby things!!