Baby Bump Wednesday: Week 32

8 weeks left! Or less! We're slowly making progress on our huge To-Do list, Caleb lugged the desk and chair we were trying to sell up to his office and we're working on moving all the files on the EMac so we can get rid of the thing, and uh...that's about it. I've bought more storage bins in the last month or so than I ever have, and it feels good to make more room in my linen cabinet (read: two drawers in the hallway). I also finally finally went through my closet and got rid of the clothes that don't fit anymore, folded them up nicely, hopefully to be used again in the near future. Instead of like, ya know, two years from now. When we get back from our last hurrah trip I'm going to set up the armoire. That's right, me. Caleb and I have a little bet going on, see, when we first moved in I purchased a small cabinet for our bathroom from Ikea to hold our toiletries and set it up all by myself. It's perfect, the drawers slide in and out nice and smoothly and line up with perfect A Type Personality precision. Caleb put together both the dresser in our room and the one we just purchased for the baby's room, and um...well. The drawers don't quite line up perfectly, and a few of them have some issues sliding in and out. I've teased him about it, and so we decided I'd put the armoire together to see if it was just Ikea furniture being cheap and not perfectly made, as Caleb argues, or if it might possibly be the one wielding the tools.

This is the kind of thing we do, if nothing but to be able to gloat for months after.

The baby this week is yet again around the same weight and height. Nearly 4 lbs. and 17-ish inches. He's like the tortoise you know, slow and steady wins the race. The food comparison for the week is a large jicama. Those odd looking...vegetables(?) you see in the funky section of your produce isle. Next to the bok choy and broccolini. I don't have a clue what they are really, or what you use them for, but there you go. He has his beautiful blue eyes now (am curious to see if they stay that way like Caleb or if he'll be green-eyed like myself) and has hair. Or peach fuzz. His skin is smoothing out as he develops more fat and becoming much less red than before. All the better to munch on, if you ask me.

I had my 32 week visit on Tuesday, met my new doctor since my old one moved, and everything seems to be going along nicely. My belly is growing as it should (obviously...) and my weight well..it seems to be the same as last time. Not quite sure how that's possible as that was an entire month ago (I don't own a scale...I refuse to get one, scales and I go way waaay back and it wasn't a pretty relationship we had. So I've cut ties.) but whatever. I've been surprised that my appetite hasn't grown to enormous proportions like I expected it to. I'm most hungry in the morning hours for some reason, require some sort of snack every couple hours or so, but then after lunch I feel like I'm back to my old pre-pregnancy self, able to wait for dinner without gnawing my arm off. We'll see if that stays the same, from now on I'm supposed to gain an entire pound a week, half of that going to the baby, until I deliver. Thank heavens for the Palmer's Cocoa Butter, all this growing makes my belly itch like crazy.

I was looking up this whole backache phenomenon that plagues pregnant women and found that the reason for all these aching joints is because of two things, one, your growing belly pulls and stretches the ligaments making them prone to pulls and strains (don't I know that...) and two, one of the hormones produced actually loosens the joints and ligaments that attach to your pelvic bone. This "can make you feel less stable and cause pain when you walk, stand, sit for long periods, roll over in bed, get out of a low chair or the tub, bend, or lift things." Basically, when you do just about anything. This'll be great for labor, you certainly don't want anything tight when you're trying to deliver a little watermelon sized baby, but makes for some fun times until then. This is also why pregnant women waddle, though who wouldn't with loose joints? I'm just grateful I have a wonderful husband to rub my back at night. Right Cabe? My nightly massage? He loves it, especially with all these late nights we've had...

I've also had several of the dreaded leg cramps lately, always in my calves. I must have had a few in my sleep, because for the last day or so my right calf is so sore I can barely walk straight. I can feel them coming now, always right before bed and the first thing after waking up, and I immediately start flexing my foot to try and ward them off. It seems to help, none of them have progressed to the full on roll-out-of-bed pain I've experienced a few times so far (it doesn't even faze Caleb anymore, I can actually hear him trying not to laugh while I moan in pain, which always results in a swift punch to his arm) and I consider that a success.

All in all, we're just getting excited to actually meet this little guy. This last weekend we watched a few of our friend's kids, 4 total, Owen, an almost three year old, and twin girls (around 8 months? 9? I forget...) while they all went to a party. It wasn't as bad as it sounds,  the boys had fun playing with Play Dough (and by "boys" I mean Caleb included) and I couldn't get enough of the little girls. I think the only time it became apparent how much work it must be for their mom was when Caleb was busy setting up the pack-n-plays while I made bottles and watched all four of them. The boys were having a snack and they discovered how much fun spilled milk can be, and the girls were busy crawling around in the living room, and it was impossible to watch all of them at once. It was only for a few minutes, but I was able to get a small glimpse of what her every day life must be like, and I'm just amazed. She deserves some kind of award. It's great to have such wonderful examples around me of the kind of mother I'd like to be. Both of these moms are fabulous, and I can't wait to "join the ranks". As they say. (Someone says that, right? Right?)

 

I've been told by multiple people (one being my waxer today...) that I must be having a girl since I haven't broken out on my face. I have no real reply for this, except that no, actually, I'm having a boy. One lady even asked if I was sure, like I don't know, maybe I had forgotten that tiny detail? What did they say I was having again...I need to write it down next time... I've never heard that before, but maybe it's a common wives tale? Has anyone heard this? Or have firsthand experience?

Comments

[Erin]

I'm having a boy, too and my skin has never been better. So I'm not sure that it means anything really. I have heard though that sometimes you can get a rash, I think it's called PUPP, if you're carrying a boy. Something about competing hormones. Also- with the leg cramps,I find that if I point my toe to get rid of it it's all over. Shooting horrible pain. However, if I stretch my heel out instead it goes right away. Not sure if that works for everyone, but it's worth a try. Especially because it stops me from limping around the next couple days from achy after pain. Good luck :)

[Abby]

Dude, I can't wait! He is going to be sooooooooooo cute. That skin thing is gnarly. I had a friend tell me that her skin has never been better since having her girl, so go figure. I think it's a wives tale on the sex of the baby and skin relationship. I thought women broke out in the beginning of pregnancy due to major hormone shift.

[Sarah]

First of all...don't listen to anybody! They are all full of crap and don't know what they are talking about. Skin breaking out for a girl? That is hardly scientific! Everybody reacts different. Secondly, you do NOT look nearly big enough to be 7 months pregnant! You're tiny!

[Leslie Hansen]

Kim,
You are too cute! I WISH I looked like that at 32 weeks! Amazing. Anywho, I agree w/ the last comment...everyone is full of crap. Everyone's experience is different. BUT, I can say that the leg cramp thing was my WORST ENEMY with all of my pregnancies. Seriously, just flexing my foot did nothing. I was in tears sometimes. What I found that helped was leg rubs (the deep painful kind) and sometimes a heating pad. Hopefully that will help.

I am so excited for you to have your little guy! Keep us updated.

[PUPPP]

You've got great figure for your age.. I agree with last two comments, dont listen to others.. Congrats..
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[Rerto Jordans]

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