32 weeks **8 months!!!!**

How I am feeling:

I AM FEELING 32 WEEKS PREGNANT.

Which means that I am thrilled, excited, overwhelmed, anxious, nervous and giddy all at the same time. I am uncomfortable, but loving it. I am tired, but I cannot sleep. I need to pee constantly, but always just a drop or two. I want sex so bad, but am "afraid" of penetration. I know I need to eat and gain my pound a week, but I'm never very hungry. But if I am hungry, watch out because I NEED to eat! I feel so behind because I have so much to do in the baby room, but as I look at it, it's not too much and I think I can do it. But then I don't. It's still so hard to actually move the stuff out of there. It's a part of me. But I am so excited to make it a part of Hudson, and my ideas are just bursting. I think I have some resentment towards Royce that I am just now realizing. He hasn't had to "give up" anything for this dream. His room escaped unscathed. He still has his legos, his hotwheels and all of his hunting goodies. His clothing is still scattered everywhere. I NEED him to start sorting through his laundry the way I have been and make room for me in our bedroom. Guess I need to have a good heart-to-heart with him. Anyways, back to what I love about being 32 weeks pregnant:

I love feeling Hudson's wiggles every 20 minutes or so.

I love watching his wiggles as he spreads himself out, my whole belly just waves!

I love the hardness of my tummy when he is stretched out.

I love that strangers ask me how far along I am and seem genuinely interested.

I love that friends and family want to touch my belly and talk to him.

I love that in "8" short weeks I will be able to hold him and love him!

Some of the things I am excited about once he is actually here:

Obviously, I cannot wait to hold him and feel his skin against mine,

I want to hear his cooing, see his smile, tickle his tiny toes...

but I am also super excited to be able to lie on my own tummy! As much as I will miss this bump, I will be thrilled to have full mobility once again.

Growth Spurt @ 30 weeks

Hudson must be going through a growth spurt! My tummy is stretching like crazy. It ITCHES like crazy!! And those who thought I was blessed to have so few stretch marks will be pleased to see that they have caught me. They are itchy, bulgey and dry. My cocoa butter lotion stinks, but I hope it will help with the stretch marks. NOTHING helps with the itching. I've tried baby oil, Aveeno lotion, baking soda baths. Honestly, the only time I am not itching is when I don't have material rubbing on the marks, just air. Work, and most public/social settings, is kind of against bare midriffs though...

Pregnant Pinups!

25 (almost 26) weeks Belly Bump

I have no idea why it is so hard to hold the camera straight and not get a diagnol pic! Oh well, better than nothing.

Nekkid belly! It looks funny. I laugh about it every night.

Father's Day pictures

I had my preggo-pinup pics done yesterday, to surprise Royce with on Father's Day. I wore some pinup-inspired outfits, (not the yellow dress... too tight!) and got my hair done.

As for props, I did some with my stroller, some with the pedal car, some with a handmade HUDSON emblem, some with my cute knit Converse booties, some with graduation regalia, and some with a BUMP street sign. I "think" they qualify as Pinup, but I just couldn't find myself doing the cutesy-winky-oopsy-kissy faces. I just felt like smiling, felt like it expressed best what I am feeling, pure HAPPINESS. I don't necessarily feel "sexy," but I really do feel beautiful and feminine. I love making a baby. I'm good at it. Hope I'm as good at having a baby!

Pictures should be ready either tomorrow or Friday. My photographer was a friend from work, Shanda Butterfield. She was awesome. It was a nice time out with a friend, and she made me a hell of a deal. Can't wait to see how they turn out! Think I'll make some kind of collage and get 3 copies, one each for Royce, mom and dad. Then get some just prints for Royce. Not sure yet though. Just excited to see 'em!

23 weeks

Week 16

Been awhile, but here it is:

Gained- 8 pound, gradually.

How I feel:

• Amazing. Beautiful. Some people complain about not feeling sexy, but I feel beautiful. Not sexy persay, but beautiful and womanly. Doesn't get more womanly than carrying a child!


• I love my bump. Every morning, I wake up and embrace my tummy. I touch it throughout the day, wanting to protect and love it. For several years now, I've been self-conscious of my soft tummy, but now I absolutely love it. When little Hudson comes, I will be happy to have my arms full of baby, but will definitely miss my belly.


• Phlegmy. I am so full of snot. I do not know how it is even possible! I'm miserable. Doc says its an ear infection and gave me Amoxicillin for 10 days. Hope it works!!!


• Excited. Thinking more and more about life with baby!!

Woke up with a Bump!

I definitely got a bump today! I LOVE IT!

This shirt is usually pretty flattering, wrapping tightly around my waist and chest, but hanging loosely in between. Not today! Today it hugs the belly just so. And the belly is hard, not just flab. I just love it! I've had a goofy grin on my face all day, and as hard as I try to go about my day as usual, all I can think of is Baby! Love this baby!

Week 12

Look at that bump! It's further out than the boobens! But it's funny because it seems to come and go. Love it when it's there!

How I am feeling:

• Still loving this whole pregnancy thing!
• Loving this baby more and more each day!
• Still tired, exhausted some days. Usually I am ok, but if I need a nap, I NEED a nap!
• Emotional still- haven't yelled or cried again, but it's just waiting right there at the surface.
• Appetite seems to be worse. Nothing sounds good. Or I make something, try it, and decide that it is not gonna do it. And I think not eating lots is what causes the headaches.
• My nose is stuffy, then runny, and I'm sneezing a LOT. I'm allergic to everything else, why not pregnancy?
• Am I craving chocolate donuts, or is it just the only thing that sounds good enough for breakfast- I just don't know.
• I'm wearing the prego pants my mommy got me. They're still a little big, and I can fit into my regular pants ok, but these are more comfortable.
• Notice myself peeing a lot again.
  

11 weeks

I had my 11 week appointment last Friday. Royce couldn't come with me because he was at AutoRama, so my friend Alex came with me instead. It was kind of funny because the nurse, doctor and office staff all seemed to think that we were lesbian lovers having a love child! They kept saying things like "Do you guys have any questions?" and "We'll see you guys next time." The appointment itself was quick and good. First, I peed in a cup. Haven't heard anything, so I am assuming all is well. That seems to be the way this doctor's office works. Next, they did my blood pressure and it looked great. When they weighed me, I was surprise to learn that I hadn't gained any weight since last time. Finally they did the ultrasound. I had to undress from waist down, in case they had to go vaginally, but they were able to do an abdominal ultrasound just fine. The picture and images from this one wasn't nearly as clear as the first, but the baby is definitely growing well. Bugatti measures at 10.5 weeks and 3.58 cm, approximately 1.4 inches, and has adorable little hands that waved to us! The heartbeat sounds strong, quote "Perfect." The doctor moved my due date to 9-29-2011.

I forgot to do pictures this weekend, so no bump pictures. :( And I am feeling the same as in past weeks, nothing new. Everything is a little less though, feeling a little less tired and not getting disgusted by smells.

Week 10

That might be a bump...

How I am feeling:

• Light headaches intermittently

• Still tired!


• Feeling gaggy more often, still not pukey though


• Moody!! I am sorry to everyone who has had to deal with my moodiness! Not to say that they didn't deserve most of it, especially Royce...
  
• Emotional- crying over drama shows. Not a sucker for the sappy commercials though!


• Actually craved pickles!! Not just any pickle though, a Bogey's pickle!

Week Nine (no pics!)

How I am feeling:

• This week I have had some headaches and dizziness. Taking baby doses of Children's Tylenol. It actually helps, or I'm feeding into the placebo effect.
• I have a bubbly tummy. I want to throw up, think it'd help, but it just isn't happening.
• I'm uncomfortable. Can't sit or lay in one position, constantly tossing around.
• Legs are achey. Not like before, nothing specific, just generally achey.
• Feelin' fat. Wish I was feelin' (and lookin'!) preggers, but it's just fat. An ugly bulge. Probably the same as in all the weeks prior, but it just feels more pronounced and pants are feeling tighter. Went shopping for a cutesy dress and nothing fit right. Boobs are too big, and still growing, belly pootch is just that. Probably why I skipped the pics this week.
• Want my Bump!!
• Still happy! Probably sounds like I'm complaining, but I'm not, just writing honestly about my feelings. I am happy to be where I am, excited to gain all that weight, have swollen ankles, etc. But I do want my bump, so that it's obvious to everyone else why I have the weight and swollenness. It will all be more than worth it!
• As of today, I kind of don't want to know the gender of baby. Crazy!!?!! I'm sure I will, I'm not good with secrets or surprises, but as of today, a surprise might be nice.

Everything else about this pregnancy was meticulously planned and assisted.

It wasn't just two happy people doing what they do, it was two happy, determined, people doing what needed to be done, at a certain time with a goal in mind.

Then it was two happy, determined, frustrated people doing what needed to be done, at a certain time, with a goal in mind, with the aid of medicine and medical practitioners.

Finally, it was two happy, determined, frustrated, desperate people having the experts do what needed to be done, at a certain time, with a goal in mind, preceded by medicines, examinations and constant worry.

Now it is two deliriously happy people cautiously excited about a future.

A little surprise might be kinda nice.

But I have about 7 more weeks before they can confidently determine gender anyways...

Week Eight

How I am feeling:

• So happy to not be throwing-up sick! Only nausea I've had is smelling something and not wanting it. Especially Cup 'O Noodles. Oh yeah, and the yucky stink of puppy poop at Mom's grooming shop made me gag a bit.
  
• No more body zits.
• Boobs are feeling better, not sore, not itchy.
• Just lovin' life... and sleeping... and working... and sleeping...
• Got my new pillows, definitely needed new pillows! They've even helped with my sleepy-arm syndrome, where I fall asleep on my arm and wake up with it tingling.
• Not peeing as much either... or not noticing it? I dunno.

Week Seven

Pics to come...

How I am feeling:

• Still so excited to be a mommy! But also, it's getting kind of scary now... there really is a little being growing in me! I saw it, I heard it!




• Still very tired. Lots of naps and going to bed earlier.




• Nose picks up lots of smells, but they don't nauseate me, just kind of disgust me and make me stay away.




• I have zits on my back and neck.




• Don't know if it's a pregnant thing or not, but my right leg is achey!




• Sometimes, for no reason, I feel like I'm just gonna break down and cry. I haven't yet, but please, if I do, understand that it truly is FOR NO REASON!
  




• Not sleeping great. I get uncomfortable easily, I fall asleep on my arms and wake up with my hands tingling, I have vivid dreams, and, apparently, I'm snoring loudly and beating my hubby up. I think I need new pillows.




• Still peeing lots. I hate having to wake up in the middle of the night to pee!




• Had my first craving yesterday at our Super Bowl party- Sherbet. Wanted something sweet, fruity, smooth and cold. Any flavor woulda done it. After the game, on our way home, I asked Royce to stop at the store. Except the store on our way was closed. He agreed to go to the store closest to our house and I told him if it wasn't open, I would deal with just a shake from Burger King. But when we pulled in the parking lot and the store was closed, he continued on to the next store. Aww! He loves me! We bought Raspberry Sherbet and went home and cuddled up to watch Glee. Happy night!
  

Week Six

How I am feeling:

• Still just giddy to be a mommy-to-be!
• Exhausted!! Going to bed earlier and taking mid-day naps
• Breast are still tender
• Some food aversions- they sound good, until I prepare it or see it, then not so much... better than morning sickness though, so I'll take it!
• SO EXCITED TO HEAR BABY'S HEARTBEAT THIS WEEK!!!!
  

Week Five

January 23, 2011

I've decided that this will be my bump outfit, it seems fitting to wear a shirt that says "Dangerous curves ahead!"

How I am feeling:

• Tired. Very tired.
• not sick, but small appetite
• Breasts are tender, nipples erect
• EXCITED! Can't think of anything else!
• Brain dead. Stupid. 'Cuz I can't think of anything else!