Pregnancy Week 21 - 27

Baby Sweat's feet @ 24w6d

Baby Sweat @ 24w6d

Week 21: 1/5 – 1/11 (pomegranate)

I absolutely love feeling you move.  You’re pretty consistent as I feel you more after every meal.  I’m starting to get uncomfortable even though I’m not showing.  I definitely feel the pressure of baby, and it’s not as easy as it once was trying to adjust and get comfortable.  Chris and I have been talking to baby.  Since Chris now works nights, I’ll put him on speaker phone and have him talk to baby.  We both love you so much!  Exciting end to the week, Chris was able to feel baby move on Friday!  It was such a joy to see him feel his baby!

Week 22: 1/12 – 1/18 (papaya)

Tuesday night I was in bed and baby was moving lots…baby seems most active at night.  So I decided to observe my stomach for a while.  And I got to see you!  It was the most amazing thing ever.  Seeing your movements and little jabs here and there.  I loved it!

Week 23: 1/19 – 1/25 (grapefruit)            

You are definitely getting more active.  I just love it.  I love knowing baby can hear me and Chris.  The other night Chris got home as I was getting into bed, so he said goodnight to me and baby, and while Chris was talking to baby, baby kicked Chris in the chin!  It was a super fun and special moment. 

Week 24:  1/26 – 2/1 (cantaloupe)

The big activity this week was one night when Chris came into bed and I was awake, and baby was kicking.  It was in the middle of the night and I put Chris’ hand on my stomach, and baby was all over the place.  Chris as now named you our “little black belt”.  Had another ultrasound on Friday, baby was shy and wouldn’t show his/her face.  Your legs look super long, your heart rate was 158, and you measured to be 1 pound 13 ounces.  Growing right on track!

Week 25: 2/2 – 2/8 (cauliflower)

I’m getting tired this week.  Previously I’ve been good with going to the gym 2 or 3 times a week.  This week I’m down to one, just because I’m tired.  I’m still 3 weeks away from the 3^rd trimester…I was really hoping the tiredness would wait until then.  The big event this week was traveling to ABQ for my first baby shower.  The shower was a lot of fun, and baby got lots of cute things!  We are so blessed.

Week 26: 2/9 – 2/15 (lettuce)

I’m still tired this week, but I am back in the gym, which is so nice.  My favorite workout is definitely Thursday’s Dance Jam!  Baby doesn’t like jumping too much, but loves it when I shake my rump!  Ha!  I also had a appointment at the regular doctor.  They finally looked at my blood sugars, and decided to put me on medication.  I’m not too surprised by this, and am just happy someone finally looked at my numbers.  Baby’s heart rate was 152.  I’ve been more emotional this week, mainly just missing Chris.  His new schedule isn’t getting easier on me, and I miss him something terrible at night.  I actually feel like I may look pregnant this week.  And I’ve had a couple of people notice my “bump”.

Week 27: 2/16 – 2/22 (rutabaga)

Things are slowly getting more and more real.  We spent all day Sunday in the baby’s room.  We did two loads of baby laundry, folding it and putting it all away. 

just some random stuff

roses from my love

i tried to take a picture from the top of the roses (and yes that's my huge baby bump!)

Not too sure when I became the person that doesn't take pictures.  But I have indeed become that person.  Chris and I had a nice Valentine's Weekend.  When I got home Friday 2/14 I had beautiful violet colored roses waiting for me, along with a super sweet card in which Chris wrote to his: Forever Valentine.  Sometimes I still have to pinch myself.  Not too sure how it is that I got so lucky.  Chris as been absolutely fantastic throughout this pregnancy.  But I think I'll save all of that for another post.  He got home early Friday night, and he opened his gift from me.  His favorite item was a personalized tie clip with his initials that I ordered off of etsy.  On the back of the tie clip it says "Forever and ever", which is also engraved on our wedding bands.  "Forever" on his, "and ever" on mine.  Saturday 2/15 morning I went and got my haircut.  Last time I got my haircut was last March, which for me is forever...11 months.  Usually I get a cut every 3 or 4 months.  So I just decided to chop it off.  It's the shortest it has been in a long time, but still can go back in a ponytail.  While I was out getting my haircut, we got a security system installed on the house.  This helps give me peace of mind while Chris works night, and knowing that soon we'll have another little human to protect.   Saturday afternoon we checked out Costco, which my dad generously bought us a membership for.  We had joined Sam's Club last year, and didn't really like it.  Costco is much better.  Saturday night we had a nice dinner at Vesta Dipping Grill.  This place seems to have become our go-to restaurant when we have something to special to celebrate.  I love it.  We've been there a handful of times, and out of all of the times, this was the first time the service wasn't 5 star, so that was disappointing.  I really meant to get a picture of us at the restaurant, but I just forgot.
Last week was somewhat eventful.  On top of the overwhelming feeling of being pregnant and preparing for baby a lot of other things have been going on.  It's difficult to talk about just because I don't feel it is my place.  I'm learning that just because I'm an open book that somethings need to be left alone.  I hate to be cryptic, and who knows maybe one day I'll write about the "other things" but right now isn't the time.
I had a discussion with my boss last week about my upcoming maternity leave.  This process has definitely been stressful.  I work for a company that employee's 30,000 people, and I feel like I'm the first pregnant lady calling HR trying to figure out my leave.  I've called 4 different times, spoken to 10 different people (easily) been on the phone for more than hour each time, just go get 10 different answers.  Thankfully my boss put me in contact with an actual HR person, who was able to answer my questions.  I would think it wouldn't be that hard.
I went to the dentist today.  Not a good idea.  About 20 minutes in, I got dizzy and super hot that I started dripping sweat down my face.  I had the dental hygienist stop and bring me back up.  Got some water and cooled down.  We tried again, and I got a pillow to put underneath my butt.  But I only lasted another 10 minutes.  Needless to say, I won't be going back to the dentist until baby is born.  Big super kudos to Shelly (my dental hygienist) who just called me to check to see how I was doing!  I love this dentist, and have been seeing Shelly for the past 6 or 7 years.  I'm so thankful she was empathetic.
Lastly, we got Baby Sweat's crib today!   

What It's Like

washed and folded clothes are put away!

My thoughts lately have been consumed with this pregnancy and baby.  I’m definitely occupied with all things baby and what it’s like to be pregnant.  I remember a specific conversation I had with my friend Sarah back when she was pregnant with her first son Talon.  We had gone out to dinner and I asked her: “What is it like to be pregnant?”  This was before I had met Chris, and before I knew I would get married, and get pregnant myself.  I wanted to know all of the intimate details of pregnancy, and the feeling of growing a baby, because at that time I really didn’t think I would ever have firsthand experience.  Unfortunately I don’t remember Sarah’s response to the question, but that makes me ask myself the question: What is it like to be pregnant?  I really started thinking about it when Chris recently asked me what it feels like when the baby kicks.  It’s weird because I almost feel bad, that I get to spend all of this time with the baby, because I see how Chris treasures “playing” with the baby and feeling the baby move.  I told him that I feel bad when I don’t go and feel it when it moves in the middle of the night, that I feel like I’m ignoring it, but I’m too asleep to give it any attention, even though I know it’s awake.  Plus I know the time will soon come, when ignoring it won’t be an option. 

So here is my response, about what it’s like to be pregnant.

The most unexpected part about being pregnant is being worried all the time.  I’ve heard this gets a little easier with the more pregnancies you have, but I didn’t expect to be so worried.  I suppose it is to be expected as a First Time Mom, but now that I am pregnant, I just want the baby to be ok.  It definitely isn’t as bad now that I can feel baby move, and whenever I question babies activity the baby seems to give me a little movement letting me know that everything is ok.  Plus, all of the doctor’s appointments.  Because of my pre-diabetic status, I’m going to a doctor every other week, which includes a monthly ultrasound.  Throughout the pregnancy baby has had a strong heart rate, and the specialists is very happy with how babies heart and brain looks.  So truly I have nothing to be worried about, but that’s easier said than done.  Even more worrisome, is I know that the worrying will just get worse once Baby Sweat is born!

Now the question of what it feels like to feel the baby move.  I love this feeling.  Who knows if I’ll feel this way in another 12 weeks when I’m about to pop, but for right now it’s one of the things I enjoy the most.  Sometimes I just want to stare down at my stomach to see if I can catch some movement, but then I feel weird just starting at my stomach.  When I do catch a glimpse of the baby move, I immediately giggle.  Seeing it move is a completely different sensation compared to either feeling it move from the inside or outside.  I often wonder what baby is doing in there.  When Chris asked what it feels like the only response I could come up with was “It feels like exactly how you imagine it would feel like.”  I don’t really feel like that is much of an answer, because even before I was pregnant and before I could feel baby move, I really didn’t know what feeling I was expecting.  So to say it feels like how I imagined it to be isn’t really an answer.  Now that baby is stronger and bigger, I’m feeling different types of movement.  Sometimes it’s like a wave that moves all across my belly, other times it’s a quick jab, or sometimes it’s like a vibration and it tickles me.  Baby doesn’t like it when my stomach is either pushed up against my desk, or pushed against the counter if I’m doing dishes, and baby makes that known with some quick movements telling me “Hey give me some space!”  Like it knows something is crowding its personal area! 

Compared to what I’ve heard from other pregnancies I’ve really enjoyed being pregnant.  Overall I don’t have any big issues with it.  My worst complaint thus far is the exhaustion I felt in my first trimester.  Which out of all of the symptoms you can have, exhaustion is pretty mild.  For that I feel truly blessed.  I do really hate testing my blood sugars and pricking myself 4 times a day, especially when I prick myself and don’t get enough blood, and I have to prick myself again.  I’m also frustrated with the fact that up until just recently every time I went to the doctor they wouldn’t look at my numbers.  I definitely feel like the regular doctor isn’t really working with the specialist doctor and vice versa.  It’s unfortunate, but I figure eventually we’ll all have to get on the same page, because eventually I’ll be having a baby.  Right now my “high risk complication” doesn’t really seem to be too big of an issue, and for that I’m grateful. 

I enter my 3^rd trimester on Saturday, and I can’t believe it.  I’m anxious to find out what’s to come, and I’m already wondering what baby will look like.  I’m fearful to categorize this pregnancy as “easy” but that’s how I feel thus far.  And I hope and pray the next 12 weeks are “easy” like the past 28 weeks.

ABQ Baby Shower

yummy cupcakes

beautiful flowers

sonogram frame

craft station for the onsies

bassinet

mom and i

I traveled to Albuquerque this past weekend for my first (of two) baby showers.  My mom first mentioned a baby shower back in October, and wanting to throw it during the holidays.  I thought a Christmas baby shower was too soon, so we decided on the beginning of February.  We first set the date for Super Bowl weekend, but once I realized it was such an important weekend, the shower got moved to the following Saturday. 

I knew I wanted the theme of the shower to match the theme of baby’s room: You Are My Sunshine.  My mom did a beautiful job.  When I arrived at my parents house Friday morning my mom already had a huge layout.  Baby onesies everywhere, yellow flowers, and big yellow balls.  I asked her: “Do you know someone having a baby, or something?!”  Needless to say, my mom is beside herself glowing in soon to be grand motherhood. 

We did some errands Friday morning, finding a perfect (clearance) scrapbook, and picking up cupcakes.  We finished decorating the house Friday afternoon, and everything was set to go for the 12noon baby shower the next day.

Saturday morning my dad picked up chicken salad sandwiches, and my mom made the drinks.  The rest of the food was provided by my aunts. 

As the guests and the food started to arrive I couldn’t help by feel so blessed.  On Thursday Baby Sweat and I had a conversation about this trip, and how we were traveling just for him/her.  How he/she is already so loved, that we’re going to this party for just its honor. 

The shower itself was laid back.  We ate, and chatted, and people shared their thoughts on what they think Baby Sweat will be: boy or girl.  My mom had a little craft station for people to decorate a onesie and that was really the only activity.  Other than opening presents of course!  My goodness, baby is spoiled already!  I got lots of great stuff, including lots of diapers and wipes. 

The big surprise was Chris’ arrival after majority of the guests had left.  Chris surprised me!  It was great to see him especially since our weekends are really our only time see each other.  I was so excited to see him, hug him and kiss him!!!  After everyone left we went to church then to dinner, for an early anniversary dinner for my parents, who will celebrate their 39^th wedding anniversary on Saturday! 

The next day was spent organizing all of the gifts.  I brought a large suitcase to fill, and we were able to bring home all of the cloth items, in addition to some books and other things. 

Overall the weekend was fantastic.  It is still very surreal to me that this is happening, but I’m definitely enjoying it.

100 days and counting!

I have approximately 100 days to go in this pregnancy.  Could be more, could be less.  It isn't up to me! :)

I’m nearing the 3^rd trimester.  I honestly can’t believe it.  Time is flying by, and I know the next few months are going to go even quicker.  We have a working list of things that need to be done for Baby Sweat and its arrival.  Chris painted the baby’s room back in October, it was a good project for him while he was unemployed and I was pleasantly surprised how quick and nice it turned out.  Referring back to this dream, the theme of the room is “You are my Sunshine”.  Grays, yellows, and white.  I wish I had taken a “before” shot, but the room prior was entirely a light brown, including the ceiling!  Three of the walls are now gray, and one wall is white with yellow strips, and the ceiling is white.  The previous home owner left a coat rack in the room, that was a dark wood, with silver latches.  Chris painted the wood yellow, along with a bookshelf that used to be in the living room of our old place.  It was originally a light wood color, and it is now gray with a yellow shelf.  We found a super cute yellow lamp, and last weekend Chris put together the dresser we got from IKEA.  The dresser fits perfectly in the closet where we want to put it, except one small detail neither one of us thought about.  It’s too long.  When you try to open the drawers the closet doors are in the way.  So the way the room ends up will be different to what I originally pictured.  Right now the room is a free for all.  Anything extra that we don’t know what to do with goes into the baby’s room.  It’s weird to think that in a few months this room will occupy a human.  Our house definitely has room to grow, but I’m already questioning where everything is going to go?! 

The big goal is to have the room up, working, and fully functional for baby by mid-April.  I don’t predict baby will come early, I just want it to be done, so we don’t have to worry about it.  I want to have a good amount of time where all there is left to do is wait. 

I definitely feel like we are working with a good timeline, and already have a lot accomplished just by having the room painted.  But I think about everything else that needs to be done, and I think we have just enough to time to get it all done!

So Excited!

Larimer Square - Downtown Denver

Civic Center building - Denver, CO

Empire State Building - NYC

HA!

I'm so excited for tomorrow!  The Broncos are going to the Super Bowl!  I'm definitely what I would call a band wagon fan.  I didn't really get into the Broncos or football until I moved here.  Prior to living here I never really followed the NFL.  I would definitely watch the Super Bowl, but the Denver Broncos are the first team I feel invested in.  I remember the first home Bronco game after I moved here.  It was August 2002, and I drove down to the stadium prior to the game, just to see it fill up with people.  At the time the stadium was Invesco Field at Mile High.  The stadium is located right off of I-25 and Colfax, in the heart of Denver.  I drove down with all the Bronco fans, and I called my mom with chills being so excited to just be near all the energy coming off of the stadium.  At that moment my loyalty to the Broncos definitely increased. 
Since then I've gone to a total of 1 preseason game, and 4 regular season games.  And like the energy from just driving by the game day field, seeing a game live is such an event!  I love any event  live, but Denver Bronco football live is just amazing.  From the sky divers landing in the stadium,  to yelling "IN-COM-PLETE" every time the opposing team throws an incomplete pass, it's just so much fun.  And well if the game is fun, entertaining, and ends with a win, that's the icing on the cake!
I've definitely become a much more invested fan since meeting Chris.  He's been a loyal Bronco fan since the John Elway days.  He's taught me so much about the game, and with my new knowledge it makes watching the games so much better. 
And now we're going to the most watched sporting event in the world: THE SUPER BOWL!!!!  It feels very reminiscent to when the Colorado Rockies went to the World Series in 2007.  The energy throughout the city is intense.   Everyone is showing their team spirit.  You seen orange and blue and "Go Broncos" signs everywhere.  It's pretty much all you hear about on the news.  It's definitely the main topic on my Facebook wall.  The main topic of discussion is "the big game".  It's so exciting.  Bronco fever is everywhere.
I am by no means a professional sports person, but I of course do have my thoughts on tomorrow's game.  We're going up against the number one defense, with our number one offense.  It'll be an entertaining game, for sure.  I predict it'll start out with a couple of 4 and out's from both sides, until a good rhythm gets established.  So I think the beginning might be a little boring, before the true excitement starts late in the 1st quarter, 2nd quarter at the latest.  I hope that we get on the scoreboard first, but I'm not too positive either way.  But I think once a team as points on the board, is when the true momentum will really pick up.  I think the Broncos are a more seasoned team.  We have more seasoned players compared to Seattle.  I think for both sides this is a positive and a negative.  Peyton Manning is a quarterback through in through.  He expects his offense to protect him, and in his mind his one and only job is to throw the ball.  He is your textbook quarterback.  I think this is good, because he will get the job done, and will get it done well.  However, there are times when a quarterback does need to run with the ball.  This is where having a seasoned quarterback that is prone to injury hurts us.  Peyton has no desire to run with the ball.  Fine, that's not his job I get it.  However this is a pro for Seattle.  Their QB will run with the ball if need be.  But at the same time, I think he runs with the ball a little too much.  I think he needs to work on the basic foundation of what a good quarterback should do: throw the ball.  Peyton uses his whole entire team: pro.  The other dude tries to make it a one man show: con.  You can't win a Super Bowl by yourself.  I've hardly spent anytime watching the Seahawks this season, this is just my extremely small observation watching the small glimpse of their last playoff game against the 49ers.  So take what I say about them with a grain of salt. 
Another hurdle I think the Broncos will have, is that the Broncos get cocky.  And well, that's just unattractive.  I think that's why we lost the 3 games that we lost this season.  We were cocky, went in with the expectation that we would win and we didn't put our all into the game.  The other team prepared better, and wanted to prove that they could bet us.  They played better, and it was too late for us to come back.  So the other team ended up being the better team, and won.  I think for the most part we are favored for tomorrows game, I just really hope we don't go into thinking "We've got this in the bag."  Tomorrow's game won't be easy, and I think we have a lot to prove before we can rise up and declare being the number one team in the NFL. 
Regardless of what happens I'm truly proud to be a Denver Bronco fan, and I think going to this event has done a lot of positive things for our city.  Of course, I hope we pull a big fat W at the end of this, but if not, the team itself as done a ton of growing in the 2 short season's we've had Peyton as our QB.  I know there will definitely be some growth come our next QB, and hopefully we'll establish the growth back to the top because being part of a Super Bowl bound team is a helluva a lot of fun!

GO BRONCOS!!!