Baby Bump Wednesday: Week 38

...still pregnant. I know I shouldn't be surprised, or even expecting to have this baby early, but...I've sort of been hoping for it. Partially because of this back ache, partially because I'm a freak who likes even numbers, partially because I'm getting anxious to meet this little guy that likes to squish my bladder and poke my various organs, and who has a tendency to get the hiccups on a fairly regular basis.

He's getting closer to the 7 lb. mark, supposidly gaining an ounce a day at this point. (Another reason to get this kid out of here...) He's as long as a leek, and practicing the art of finger grasping, something I happen to love about babies. All his organs should be developed and ready for the outside world, and ALRIGHTY THEN. I GET IT. BABY IS READY. We're just...waiting...hanging out until he decides he's done roasting.

I hope he decides that it's time soon.

As I've mentioned, oh, a billion times, my back (alright, more like my hips) is becoming quite a problem. I had all sorts of plans to tackle all the million projects we have left to complete and clean the house and organize drawers and so on and so forth now that I'm on maternity leave, but my back has decided otherwise. It started hurting a few weeks ago, but didn't REALLY start acting up until this last week. I have become quite attached to my heating pad, and Caleb has been trying some counterpressure type things that we learned at our birthing class, but there's not much improvement. I talked to my doctor about it at our appointment this week, and she said it sounded like sacroiliac joint pain, common in pregnancy due to the pull of weight from the belly and all the wonderful cocktail of hormones being produced that loosens the joints. Love the description of movements it affects, "walking, standing up, sitting down...". Pretty much any movement, really. My bones, they is loose. And loose bones is painful. And such. But again, I've had it so easy, I really shouldn't be complaining. Except that ow, it hurts. And I'd like it to stop. The end.

So back to my appointment, it was fairly uneventful. I dilated an entire half centimeter more, putting me at a lovely 1.5 centimeters. Woo! Progress! I gained two pounds more, and my belly is..not quite measuring where it should, although that's probably because he's sitting funny in there. When I get Braxton Hicks these days it usually only happens on my right side, which results in one freaky looking belly. At exactly halfway across it will suddenly jut out when it's contracting, and it is honestly the strangest thing I've ever seen. Like a sideways hunchback. That's really the only thing going on, mostly Braxton Hicks, with a few real-ish contractions here and there. Nothing to write home about, yet. 

My doctor had a med student following her that day, and as we were sitting there, post exam, the student said, "Um...I see that your arm is all red and splotchy..."

Riiiight...

I knew where she was going with it, circulation issues and the like. I get it. I'm just so sick of explaining to people that no, sorry, that's just my skin tone, my lovely skin tone that turns a gorgeous and very sought after pinkish, purpleish, whiteish, splotchiness when I'm anything less than the ideal temperature. This was documented (very beautifully I might add) on my wedding day, it had snowed two days before and it was absolutely freezing. My arms were purple. It was so attractive.

My circulation is fine. No cure for pink-purple splotchiness.

We're nearly ready for this baby. Yesterday our crib arrived, and as soon as we finished eating dinner we set to work putting it together. And by we I mean Caleb, I sat in the rocking chair and dictated instructions. Told him things like "I think that side is on upside down", and "I think this is a Swedish company..." and other important tidbits. Behold! Our crib!

 

Minus the mattress and bedding and such. But that's okay, because he'll be spending his early days sleeping in this:

 

A cradle passed around in Caleb's family. Please also notice the sleep positioner, because I'm one of those people. The ones that will lay awake at night wondering if he's breathing. How 'bout now? I don't hear him breathing...what if he's not breathing?! What if he's rolled to his stomach?!?! And then I'd get up to check for the billionth time. This will save me the worry. Hopefully.

I also went to the city yesterday to pick up my diaper bag from Design Public's outlet. Outlet being a very loose term, it was a room inside your typical San Francisco building, old, smelling of mildew, and very cramped. I met the guy in a room stuffed to the brim with boxes. The only way you could even remotely tell it was Design Public were the fancy light fixtures, which looked very out of place when framed with concrete walls and metal shelves.

  

(Enjoy this shot from the website, because I'm too settled with my pillow and heating pad to get up and walk into the next room to take a picture...)

I love it, even more so because I got it for a fabulous deal. I just loves deals.

Next on my list is a haircut. I do this all the time, make the appointment and then spend the 24 hours leading up to it trying to figure out what in the world I'm going to do. I've been trying to grow it out, but every time I get to this point I give up and cut it short. I can't decide which will be easier when I'm wrangling a newborn. Short? Longer? Super short? Either way, I can't handle it at the moment, and if I don't take care of it now it could be months before I get around to it.

Ooh, but then I could book an appointment with my favorite stylist in Salt Lake...hmm...

This just means I'll spend the next several hours browsing images on Google. Trying to remind myself that no matter what I do, I won't LOOK like her...

 

I'll look like this, except maybe a little...deflated. A good haircut will do my self esteem some good.

Comments

[Liv]

Love the crib.

Is that a tiny little belly button poking out?!

My mom was pregnant with my little brother about the same time period as you. She went trick-or-treating with me and my older brother on the 31st and then popped out my brother the next day.

But hey, if you have the boy on Nov. 1st, then you can just add his birth month and birth day together. Voila!! Even number!! You could even add the birth year to it and still have an even number :)

[Kimba]

Thanks Liv! Yes, I do believe my belly button is pokin' a bit.

Also? It's sad to say, but I've been thinking that exact same thing! :) "If he's born on this day, and I add the numbers up...then it's okay! Right?!?!"

Because I am, indeed, crazy.

[Heather]

"My bones, they is lose." I love it. The cleverness which is in you, all wrapped up in a perfectly cute package too. No justice I tell you. Even if you do have a smaller human protruding out of your right side, you still are adorable. By the way I saw the pic of you on Caleb's um, "site" and I just went "ohhh", out loud when I saw the Kim that I first met. I love you, and I just love that he loves you as much as you deserve. Lucky baby to have two such loving parents... if he would just make his appearance already.

[La Petite Chic]

Beautiful crib! I love the feet on it. The diaper bag is super cute too. And you, you look awesome!! Only 2 more weeks (or less hopefully!).

[Abby]

Dude, start eating some oreos or something. I swear you look the same! I want a nine pounder!!

[Abby]

Dude, start eating some oreos or something. I swear you look the same! I want a nine pounder!!

[Lucky Red Hen]

I got a temporary handicap pass at the end of my first pregnancy because my hips were SO bad (oh, the ache). Stylin' crib (I lurv it) and the bag is fetching. P.S. The sleep positioner goes on either side of the belly and the back, not at the head where it's laying in the crib at the moment (but I'm sure you knew that and just put it in there to be ready). You should have a baby naming contest, or sumpin.