Well, Week 27 is another one in the books, which only means one thing...

WE ARE IN THE THIRD TRIMESTER!!!!!!!!

Praise the Lord, if the end of this week isn't a week to celebrate, I don't know what is. We are moving into D-Day, and I told Cody on our lunch date today that I cannot believe how quickly April has gone by. It's been an incredibly busy month for us, mostly for Cody, but it's been a super long, quick paced month. I recognize the contradiction. The best way to describe it is that the day to day grind is tiring and tedious, but to consider that next week we will be in May is an incredible eye opener to the quick pace of our lives. I know that sometimes life gets in the way, but it's my prayer that when Ella is born, the Lord is quick to remind us of our priorities. I pray that we recognize when things need to change, and that we aren't too prideful to say no if it means sacrificing time with our sweet one. These are very real prayers in my life, because I never want to look back and feel like I missed her life trying to balance my own.

That being said, I also pray that the Lord rescues me from battling monotony. I plan to leave a job that allows me to be out and about during the day, and while it exhausts me right now, I enjoyed it pre-pregnancy. I don't want to feel bored and lonely while Ella is still too little to talk back, and while I hear routine is the best way to combat these feelings, I'm not sure how to plot a routine with a newborn. I know I'll cherish my time with her so very much, but I also don't want to feel like a prisoner in my own home. I'm thankful we live across the street from a park, and it'll be great in the summer and fall when we can take walks, but I fear the winter and being trapped inside with a baby that can't converse with me. I don't want to blow Cody's phone up looking for conversation, but I also never want to take for granted that I'm able to stay home with my daughter when there are so many other women that can't afford the same privilege. It's a weird place. I know it's the best thing for all of us, but I guess fear of the unknown is also a little unnerving.

In new symptoms, I've noticed a bit of a waddle to my walk. I notice it the most when I'm trying to keep up with Cody, and he even laughs when he turns around and sees me trying to catch him. We went to the grocery store this week for the first time in about a month (I'm telling you, we've been busy) and it was exhausting. I was trying not to be too dramatic while we walked across the parking lot, but I must have been super obvious, because Cody said "When we get home, I want you to go and sit down on the couch for a little while." I wasn't going to argue, and I ended up on the couch for two hours coming in and out of sleep. Those kind of things hit out of nowhere lately, and fortunately, it's always been at a place or time that I could stop and rest for a while. I can only hope a wave of exhaustion doesn't hit while I'm out and about somewhere that I can't stop. Pregnancy has been so great for helping me learn how to listen to my body. I really do hope it sticks around after the baby is out. Now that I don't panic at every weird thing my body does (that's the wonderful thing about those babies wiggling around inside of us), I'm able to stop and really think to myself "What would that be if it isn't the baby?" and 9 times out of 10, I'm able to self diagnose. It's fabulous. I'm super excited to say that I have been sober from sweet tea for almost two weeks now, and I don't miss it at all. As a matter of fact, based on the way I feel and even subtle changes like my teeth looking way whiter, it's enough to keep me sober. I only had a tea every few days, but I still wanted to stop drinking it, so even though I felt ridiculous, I asked the Lord to help me curb the craving. I had a tea at lunch the next day, and I made it about 2 drinks in before I stopped because it tasted bitter. I tried again at dinner that night, and it was the same taste. Since then, I haven't craved tea at all. You can't tell me that the Lord doesn't hear even the simplest prayers... even if they make us feel silly while we pray. My body craves water exclusively now, although I do grab the occasional lemonade if I feel like I'm dragging. I've absolutely loved it. I can't say my energy has been restored, but my skin looks so much better, I haven't cramped or ached for no good reason, I've been able to combat some digestive issues (it's a pregnancy blog, what do you want from me?), and I'm able to get out of the bed easily in the mornings when I'm super hydrated. It's incredible what water does for your body, so even if you aren't pregnant, join me on the water train. And if you "hate" water the way I did, I feel for you...but if I can change my mindset, you can too. I didn't even need Advocare to make a change in my life. =D That was a little tacky, but Advocare is blowing up my facebook and it's enough to make me want to delete my account. But I can't, because I'm committed to finishing this blog first.

I have my glucose test tomorrow. I've never been LESS excited about any of the "milestones" in pregnancy so far. I hear it's "Not that bad," and it's "Just like Flat Orange Soda!" Um, "not that bad" doesn't translate to good, and I don't like orange soda when it's not flat, so I'm definitely looking forward to it being over. I pray to the sweet Lord that I don't have to do the 3 hour test, but every other woman in my family has been border-line positive. So I'm prepared for either result. I'm proud of myself though, because I haven't tried eating any differently to "tip" the results. I've actually heard that it's not even possible, but it sure doesn't stop people from trying. If I have gestational diabetes, what better way to kick start a healthy lifestyle than to do it while she's still in utero? If I don't have gestational diabetes, it will be wonderful. I will be thrilled. But I feel like it's going to be okay regardless, if you know what I mean. Optimism is the key to surviving pregnancy.

*UPDATE* The Glucose test was not bad at all. The drink was in a water bottle, which was wonderful, because I don't like drinking out of cups without straws. The drink was also FRIGID, which I loved, because the heater was on in the clinic. You know, because of this wonderful Spring Winter we're having at the end of April. Ugh. Anyway, I had 10 minutes to get the drink down, but I was done in about 3. The drink did not taste like flat Orange Soda, but like an orange slurpee. NAY! It tastes like a melted popsicle. You know, the ones that come in the little plastic tube? Identical. That's where I recognize the flavor from! That was sincerely driving me crazy. The frigid of the drink probably helped significantly. So looking back, I obviously wouldn't choose to drink it over something else, but if I have to go back for the 3 hour test, I'm not worried about "keeping it down." I didn't gag, I didn't cringe, and I was actually pleasantly surprised by the smooth of the flavor. I love it when that happens, it's like finding a good wine.

I also get my Rhogam shot this week. It's a great indicator of how long we have until this pregnancy ends. You see, you have to get the rhogam shot exactly 12 weeks before delivery. Most doctors (including mine) won't let an RH Negative mother go past 40 weeks after getting the shot, so I'm super excited to know that this baby will be in my arms in 12 weeks (at the VERY latest.) If her blood type is positive, I get the RH shot again after delivery. If it's negative, this will be my only Rhogam shot. I know you're probably thinking "Why doesn't Cody just get his blood type checked so that you avoid a shot?" Well, that's a great question. And we pondered the same thought. But it turns out that you can't show up at a lab and say "Hello, I need my blood type." And we aren't totally thrilled about donating a bag of blood just to know his type. And even if my doctor were to write an order for Cody's blood type, somebody still has to get poked and prodded. It may as well be me. And let's be honest, shots aren't even bad. I always appreciate the nurses that pinch your arm fat and poke, but even when they don't, shots don't bother me. I've been shot multiple times so far this pregnancy, so what's one more? I really hate Hand IV drips more than anything. Not because it hurts, but because it's awkward. I don't like it. Anyway, we're 12 weeks away from this baby!!!

I'm almost afraid to say it out loud, but pregnancy has really kind of taken a turn for me this week. I hate that it took 28 weeks, but I am glad to say that for the first time, I've really enjoyed life this week. The first half of pregnancy is full of so many bodily changes. So many changes, all of the time. Weeks 20-28 were just kind of awkward for me, because the weird symptoms stopped being new, but the baby was so tiny that feeling it was almost always a "Was that the baby?" And then when the kicks got a little stronger, they were so short lived that you only got a temporary giddy feeling. But this week, when I've consistently felt Ella move all day, every day... something changes in a woman. It's been so wonderful for me as her mother, because the bonding is beginning now. My tiny baby loves rocking chairs already. I love to sit on the front porch and rock while cradling my belly, and if I stop for half of a second, that baby goes on a kicking rampage. A few nights ago, my back was aching pretty severely, so I sat in the rocker for awhile... like, 2 hours. It was a peaceful evening, and Cody sat beside me and held my hand. I really almost cried because of how precious it was. I was holding the hand of the man that is 1/2 of this tiny tick in my womb, and she moved and kicked in response to what I can only assume was my heart beating a little faster. The only thing I can say about it all is that even if this week is the only week that I look back and smile about, then at least I finally have a week that I really loved being pregnant. I'm just being honest about it. Then again, I could love next week, and the week after. Really, I could love it until I start getting super uncomfortable... but I might love it then, because I know it's almost over. So hold on, Pregger friends that are behind me. Sometimes those babies will steal your heart and you won't even know how to cope with it... but you'll love it.

I do want to stop and take a moment to brag about my sweet husband. I'm not going to lie, I was a little nervous about his lack of sensitivity when I found out we were pregnant. I don't want that to be misinterpreted, because he's never been anything but wonderful to me... but I saw him burrow his brows a little when I told him about some of the things my dad used to do for me. Cody always tells me I'm too spoiled and it's my dad's fault for making me that way... but the way I see it, knowing how crazy my dad was about me saved me from a lot of heartache. I knew that if I didn't feel loved the way my dad made feel loved, I was in the wrong relationship. Cody was the first one to really open my eyes to just how deeply he loved me, through subtle and obvious ways. Even when we were still engaged, Cody informed me that our kids wouldn't be spoiled the way I was, but they would know they were taken care of. I've been nervous about it since. I didn't know how to fathom life without doing special things for my kids on Valentines Day or Easter, or even just because I felt like loving on my babies. Well, I'm here to tell you that I won't have to worry about any of it. I've watch my husband's heart begin to soften toward me and my pregnancy woes, because though he never said it out loud, I could tell that sometimes he thought I was exaggerating. He's been like a different man the last few weeks, encouraging me to rest frequently, encouraging me with affection when I catch a bad glimpse in the mirror, and showing up with random surprises to carry me through tedious weeks. He talks to the baby, tells her how pretty she is, and how much he loves her without prodding from me, and that's sincerely something I never thought I'd witness. I've always loved him, but seeing him transition to a Daddy has been a different kind of love. I see him differently now, and I don't know how I could possibly be anything but crazy about him from now until... forever. Even when he laughs at me when I try to bend over or get out of the bathtub. *sidenote, Bless the Lord for giving me monkey toes. They've been a lifesaver this pregnancy.*

The garden is growing faster than either of us could have imagined. Our tomato plants don't even reach my knee and they already have huge tomatoes on them. Part of me is pretty excited, because I crave tomatoes all of the time, but the other part of me is kind of like "Well, so much for 60 days." Our squash and zucchini plants are growing just marvelously this year, and I'm SO excited about it. I made a Chicken Fajita Salad for dinner one night this week, and in lieu of Bell Peppers (the quickest possible routes to heartburn,) it called for squash and zucchini. I was hesitant, because you don't see a whole lot of squash in mexican dishes, but it was amazing. So good. I'll never eat fajitas the same way again. But besides all of that, I've been countless recipes for various breads and muffins, and I don't know that I'll feel nice enough to share my squash again this year. I only have seven plants, after all. Ha. I'm sure I'll change my tune mid-summer. Anyway, It's exciting to watch the garden really begin to look like a garden and not dirt, because it was super boring there for a couple of weeks. We also made a fun investment for our front yard: GRASS! I know what you're thinking "With the Water restrictions?!" Yeah, Yeah. We chose a hybrid grass specifically for this region, it only requires an inch of water a week, and the restrictions have been moved to 2 days a week. We're feeling really good about our decision so far, and it was SO great not to choke on the dirt when the cold front blew in a few days ago. We've already noticed a significantly smaller amount of dirt on the porch, and it really gave our yard the most adorable curb appeal. I'm really excited to see it this summer when all of the squares are green and vibrant. I'll also have a baby by then. In about 84 days, really.

Okay, I think that's all! Next week will include updated photos of my sweet Ella, and we're both so antsy with excitement that I don't know how I'm going to make it to the appointment. Our families are growing equally enthralled by the baby growing so close to making her appearance, so really it's been a great environment around us lately. Here's our bump! See ya Next Week. 

Week 26

New this Week:

Relentless Fatigue. Even when I'm awake, I'm not awake. It's not quite as bad as the first trimester, because all of my organs are functioning and I'm still in a pretty good mood, but I'm tired.

Inability to get off of the couch or floor by myself (in a timely manner). Or a ladylike manner, at that.

Hyper-sensitivity. I'm easily offended, quick to jump down your throat if I feel threatened, and annoyed over the little things. I blame fatigue, heartburn, and hormones. Because of it, a simple tear is no more. If Kaylea is going to cry, it's going to be a river. Justin Timberlake would be so proud of the river I've cried for him this week.

A feeling that I can't quite distinguish in my head. It's neither light-headed nor dizzy. It's neither pain nor discomfort. It's like a sampler platter of all of the above. How was that for a complicated explanation? I'm not dehydrated (I drink 4.5 liters a day. this is not a joke.) I'm not hungry. My blood pressure is fine. I've never had blood sugar issues, but I guess we'll see if it's because of that after my glucose test next Wednesday (blah!) It's not enough to make me feel like something is wrong, but enough to make me aware of it. Isn't that strange?

Pregnancy Brain. I think everyone is hyper aware of my obsession with spelling and grammar. Well, don't judge me if you ask me to spell a fairly simple word for you this week, because I can't do it. I don't know what's going on, but you should have SEEN me trying to spell Colossians at church last night. It was sad. And it's only sadder that I had to look up at least 5 other words this week.

Swelling. Nothing severe. Just enough that I took my wedding ring off (sad,) and kicked my shoes off anytime I sat down. In a restaurant, in Lowe's, at church, and even in the car. I still have ankles and wrists, but if I'm on my feet too long, they swell. And I blame the 90 degree weather for my fingers.

Pregnancy induced Insomnia. This isn't severe yet, but it's definitely starting. My mind moves a million miles an hour at night, usually about the baby. When my mind finally slows, I have a difficult time getting comfortable. It's amazing how heavy my stomach feels when I'm laying down. It takes a lot of effort to roll to either side. My back usually aches, or sometimes my hips join the party. But honestly, sometimes I'm just awake for no good reason at all. I'm tired, and my eyes are heavy, but I never fall into a deep sleep. They say your body begins to prepare you for life after baby, so maybe that's what's going on. I'm not sure, but I bet it definitely contributes to the extreme fatigue, eh?

Sweating like a Wildebeast in the middle of Africa. Y'all. I don't sweat. I'm not a sweaty person, a B.O. Person, or even a person in denial. I don't fight body odor or excessive sweating. This is probably because I am very rarely hot, because I'm generally pretty cold-natured. My husband freezes me out of the house in Winter and Summer, resulting in lots of screaming during the night when my frigid toes just so happen to graze Cody's thigh. Not anymore! At the moment, we have 2 fans blowing full blast at our bed. I have moved the bed from it's usual spot so that we are sleeping directly beneath the ceiling fan. I have cut my absolute favorite pair of sweats from pre-marriage (it was time. They're so white trash looking.) in to sweat shorts, and though they're miserably uneven and super baggy in the crotch (resulting in me looking like I carry an extra 40 pounds below my stomach,) I finally slept without waking up in a heat stroke. It's been a really interesting transition, because I always know that when my ears feel like they're on fire, then I'm about to start sweating. It's so strange. SO uncomfortably strange.

How was that for a big list of new symptoms? Week 26 was a little bit relentless, but I've been in pretty good spirits. There's something about knowing that we have less than 100 days left (91, to be more specific.) There's something about knowing we're entering into the third trimester that makes all of this seem more acceptable. There's a magical feeling that comes with knowing that we're approaching the 12 week countdown, because I've been through all of that before. It's WONDERFUL knowing that 37 weeks will be upon us in such a short time, because while I'm not crossing my fingers for early labor, I would be okay with going into labor before 40 weeks. I'm just being honest.

I've been trying to work on my attitude toward life in general lately. I was a little embarrassed on Sunday when I said "I just don't like being pregnant." and the person's response was "I can Tell." On one hand, I was like "Um, sorry I just stabbed you with a fork." But the other half of me was like "Yikes. I need to work through some 'tude issues, apparently." So I've been trying to make a very conscious effort to be happier. If you catch me when I'm NOT at work, life is pretty beautiful. But it's a real journey to stay happy at work. I'm in a great mood if I wake up on my own terms, get ready at my own leisure, and leave the house by choice. I am not in a great mood otherwise. I guess it's because I know I have to go to work. And I have to sit in an uncomfortable chair for most of the day. And I have to be nice to some pretty frustrating people because it's my job description. But my time at work is rapidly coming to an end. I have to survive a little over a month, and I'll be free to sprawl across the couch in whatever awkward position I can get semi-comfortable in. What I'm really trying to say is that while the first half of this pregnancy really was horrible (because of my gallbladder, not my daughter,) but I am making a very conscious decision to be happy for the last half. It's not the easiest thing I've done, but I'm a work in progress. 

Other than that, it's been a really sweet (as in precious, not the hip-hop-happening sweet) week at our house. We started our baby's nursery. The nursery itself never really bothered me, but I'm sure that anyone who's single, married, or a first time parent can laugh with us when we say that Ella's room has been the "junk room." Cody has a great passion for audio engineering, and unfortunately, that means that an entire bedroom in our home is dedicated to it. That left us one extra room in our house for all of the things that we simply couldn't find a spot for elsewhere. I have been dreading cleaning that room out for 26 weeks. Unfortunately, I'm not getting any smaller, and it's getting significantly harder to bend over without feeling it in my back, even when I bend with my legs. It's significantly harder to get back out of the floor when I plop down in exhaustion. So I knew that it was now or letting the baby sleep in the hallway for the first 3 years of her life. It wasn't too bad, but I'm sure my pregnant attitude of "just toss it" helped significantly. We went to Hobby Lobby and started the "decor" purchasing, and it was so fun to hang it on the walls. Before I post pictures, I want to warn you that we opted out of painting the nursery (gasp!) We didn't want a super vibrant color, and we just couldn't find a pale enough pink to live with for the next 5 years. So we're over compensating in wall hangings. It's actually really cute so far. We have a long way to go, but I feel better knowing that her room is at least her room and not our pile of "don't knows." Her room is basically full of pinks and lime green, so if you see anything reasonably priced, give us a holler! One of my favorite friends is in charge of making her curtains, so we'll hang those at another time, but until then, here are a few snapshots of the progress! 

Another weird conundrum is organization. Between my mother and my BFFL, Ella already has so many clothes hanging in her closet. I don't know the appropriate course of action. Should I have the clothes in the closet based on her size, meaning I pack and unpack her clothes as her sizes change... or should I buy dividers and hang everything in there at one time? What am I supposed to do with baby shoes? Keep them in a tub? What about bows that don't clip? Or headbands? I want our lives to be functional, but getting started seems to be the hardest part. I guess that's because I don't know where to start. I've heard you should only wash a few outfits until you see how big the baby is, because why wash something they'll never wear? Why wash when you can re-gift? haha! I'm just kidding. Sort of. But I've also heard to wash EVERYTHING because babies go through clothes so fast in the beginning. It's like... come up with a general consensus, pinterest and baby books. In the meantime, I'll open her closet and stare, just as I've done the last 3 times I've tried to organize. I appreciate any feedback. 

I think that's mostly it. I do want to share my first weird craving:

Yep. You read it right. Weird craving. It's time to be honest about something... I don't like Chick-Fil-A. I never have. I know, I know. Look of shock and disdain. Flaring Nostrils. Friendships questioned. Whatever. It's not my thing. I don't like it. I don't eat it. I flare my nostrils when it's suggested. And today, for the first time ever, I went to Chick-Fil-A by choice. I ate every bit of my meal, and my stomach was satisfied. I don't know how to exist in this universe, and I'm not sure I like it... but that's just my life these days.

That's it! Week 26 was fun because it became the week that I was obviously pregnant and not fat. Strangers asked me my due date, my husband fell in love with the mound that I can't hide anymore, and my doctor gave me a "well done" on the baby growing. Baby is measuring a little big, but not enough to change the due date. I look pregnant, feel pregnant, and I'm beginning to think "Wow, 13 weeks isn't very long!" instead of dreading how much farther we have to go. I'm super excited about my baby shower (one month from today!) and I'm really looking forward to seeing her on our 3D ultrasound next week! Here's the bump!

Week 25

Week 25 was exhausting, and it's only partially because I'm pregnant.

I have been so desperate to escape town for awhile, if for no other reason than I needed a change of pace. I haven't been anywhere since April of 2012, and I was itching for a change of scenery. Fortunately, I have two of the grandest parents in the land, and way back in February my dad called and said "Let's go watch the Rangers smash on Hamilton for your birthday!" and I said (rather wearily) "Okay..."

The trip came at a perfect time, because I was about to pull my hair out because I was so ready to be away from Odessa for awhile. It was a fast and furious trip, but I feel so much better. I missed my husband horribly (you'll recall my hormones have grown rather attached to his adorably hot bod), but I was able to get away one more time before I have a baby to carry around with me, and it was nice.

On Saturday morning, I met my parents at their house at an hour that I usually opt out of being awake to witness. We set out on I-20 and I tried my best not to cuss at other drivers (seriously, we drive like dillholes in this town. Something has to change.) while my dad slammed on brakes and accelerated past 18 wheelers. It was not my favorite part of the trip, and we were only thirty miles away from home. My dad is a great driver, fortunately, and we survived. It took us entirely too long to reach Sweetwater, mostly because of overactive bladders, and I was already feeling a little bit sick of riding in the car. Fortunately, we managed to survive the rest of the trip with only one stop, and we were soon in the hustle and bustle of Dallas traffic on a gorgeous Saturday. We stopped at P.F. Changs for a quick lunch, and devoured the cucumber-tomato salad that was served alongside my plate. About this time, I noticed how quiet my daughter had been, because she normally gets SUPER active when I eat. She was still and silent. We left lunch and went to one of the million malls in the area, and while I enjoyed myself, we were already working on an eight hour day with no nap. I was feeling a little sleepy, but tried to soldier on. Then I made the mistake of going to Grapevine Mills...on a Saturday. It was a stupid, stupid decision, and I made it about 3 stores in before I noticed a giant empty room with chairs next to the ice skating rink. I sat down with the intention of catching my breath (You try being pregnant and walking at the pace of crazy outlet shoppers) and ended up staying for about 50 minutes. My parents tracked me down, and I tried to make it to a few more stores before we gave up. I ended up finding a bench and I hung out with my dad while my mom shopped her life away. This did nothing for my mood, because I was so excited to walk those malls. I just really wasn't prepared to get so tired so easily. My daughter still refused to wake from whatever coma she chose to take that day, and as a first time mom, even though you know that everything is probably fine, your hormones can really wear you down. We ate dinner at a fun restaurant called "Uncle Bucks," and I ate an enormous bowl of pasta. It was divine, but made me aware of how tired I was. In spite of the sleepy, We all needed an "emergency" item from Target, and all I could think about was going to the hotel and going to sleep. Let's envision together what you feel it would be like to wake a Bear from hibernation in the middle of winter, and you probably have a pretty good summation of my mood that night. Half way through Target, I ended up on the phone with my husband and I was in tears. I couldn't tell him what was wrong, because I really didn't know, I just needed to cry. I blame exhaustion and hormones, but you really never know. Through it all, Ella stayed completely still through two meals, a five hour car ride, and my tear-filled meltdown. I was truly growing incredibly anxious about it. We went back to the hotel and I think I made it about thirty minutes into the movie we were watching before I was out like a light.

The next morning I woke up feeling a million times better, less like a crazy person, and even sang opera in the shower to impress my mother. We drove to UPtown Dallas and I fell so in love with the vibe of the area. Cute shops, gorgeous townhomes and complexes, Countless food choices, and away from the hectic traffic. I wanted so badly to buy a pink bicycle and move there. But then I realized that it wasn't an environment that I would want to raise a baby in. It was an environment that I could have pictured myself in if I was single and 23, rather than married and 23. Don't misinterpret or blow that out of proportion... it's just a statement. It's the life I would've pursued if the Lord hadn't wrecked my world when he brought my husband into my life at eighteen years old. It's a weird thought, because my little brother seems SO young to me at 19, but I was already engaged at 19. I never really ponder what life would've been like if I hadn't married young, because every day of my life is such a testament to the Lord's faithfulness. I adore my cute little house, my rambunctious pups, and that I get to fall asleep next to a man that pursues my heart every night. I love that the Lord took the dreams I had and showed me just how much greater his dreams are, and that I was willing to listen. It makes me so excited to see the path that Ella embarks, and if the Lord intends that she ends up 23, single, and living in a shack by the sea, I hope that she loves it the same way I love the way my life played out. She will, no doubt. Anyway, I loved UPtown Dallas, visiting my sweet Uncle Danny, laughing at stories from their childhood, and really just being content in the moment. I love being content in the moment. After a bit of shopping (mostly at Crate and Barrel because it's my FAVORITE), my dad and I sped back to the hotel in Arlington to prepare for a baseball game. I love baseball, especially live. I love the environment at ballparks, hearing stadiums sing the national anthem, and taunting refs over bad calls. This game was even better because the Rangers were playing against Hamilton (Booooo!) and the team spirit was extra hyped. After I survived countless flights of stairs (because my dad hooked us up with All You Can Eat Seats), I settled into the game, and for the first time in almost 2 days, the baby started moving. And she moved the ENTIRE game. Non-Stop. It was hilarious, so sweet, and a sign that she'll be a Rangers fan. 

The next day we packed up and left for home. I was ready to see my husband before he escaped for Las Vegas (a "work" trip), and sleep in my sub-zero temperature bedroom. After a fun date, we both collapsed into bed, and the next day was my BIRTHDAY! I had a great day, with a super hyper baby, and my birthday also marked 100 days until my due date. I captured the moment, and then spent a wonderful evening with my family. I was a little sad, because I know that my birthdays from now on won't really be MY birthdays. I'll have a 9 month old baby this time next year, and after that, I'll likely never open my own presents again. Or it'll look a little silly if I (as the mother) have a Princess cake. I'll be breaking a 23 year tradition next year, and it's been a little hard to get over. That's probably hormones, but it doesn't make it any less annoying. Regardless, I soaked in the day, smiled every time a foot kicked me in the stomach, and went to bed early as a gift to myself. 23 will indubitably be the best year yet!

That's mostly all. Kind of a short and boring blog, but fortunately, it was a short and boring week. Well, It was really scary week for one day, but after my sweet baby chose to embrace jazzercise instead of comatose states, it was a really good week. I am thankful I had the opportunity to get away one last time, and even though we couldn't be together, Cody had the same opportunity. I guess our next major step will be buckling down and starting her nursery (blah). We're entering into the final phase of this pregnancy, and while it feels that time is dragging and flying simultaneously, I'm ready to hold that baby. And kiss her sweet toes. And see her sweet nose. AGH. 98 days to go! Here's the bump!

Week 24

I'm running out of witty introductions to this blog. I also lack the witty creative thinking I had pre-pregnancy.

So we'll dive right in. This week has been so easy, breezy (not in real life. It's been like a tornado in real life), and laid back. I've battled a little bit of fatigue. As usual, my back hurts pretty much all of the time. I wake up several times a night, but usually fall back asleep pretty easily. Basically, I've grown accustomed to aches and pains during pregnancy, and so they really kind of roll off of me like water on a duck. No new symptoms, no doctor visits, and no severe discomfort. It. Has. Been. Wonderful.

Our Garden is finally in the ground, which usually makes the next 60 days of my life fly by, which is wonderful, because 60 days puts us in June. And June puts us a very short time away from D-Day. I always find myself super suckered into the 60 day germination process of plants, whether that be a vegetable or a flower, because I get to watch the process from seed to harvest. I watch the tiniest of plants weather the wind, occasional thunderstorm, and relentless heat. Plants really are the prettiest in the morning, and I actually get out of the bed to have my coffee on the porch to watch the flowers open during the summer. I guess I'll be doing that with Orange Juice this summer (agh, I miss coffee so much.) Anyway, I see what the plants overcome in order to grow, and it always makes me aware of the Lord and His faithfulness. That may sound weird to some of you, but I love that I need an evident and obvious Lord in my life, whether that be through Sunsets, Babies growing where doctors said they wouldn't, or through the process of plant growth. Maybe that's why I hate Winter so badly. It's harder for me to see the creative wit of the Lord. ANYWAY, it's exciting to know that the same process is happening inside of me, and even though I can't see her growing, I know she is. And though it takes much longer, I'll see the fruit of my labor in such a short time. I already get entirely too emotional when I think about seeing her in the flesh, so I already know it's worth it all. I would be okay if time moved a little faster, though.

I typed about the garden on Monday, and then a stupid cold front blew in. What?! In a way, it's one of those examples I talked about, where you look out the window and see the shivering plants in the wind... and you just know that they're dying and you'll have to buy more plants in three days. But they always survive. And produce enormous tomatoes. And I hate them by August because there are SO MANY TOMATOES. So I stop watering them. And then they really do die. And then October rolls around and all I want is a tomato, but I can't have one... because I killed the plant.

...I do believe we just went down a rabbit hole. Back to the original point: It is cold outside. Not cold enough that I wear a jacket, but cold enough that I feel silly wearing Spring colors. I demand a new groundhog, because at this point, I prefer that he would've just seen his shadow. At least these temperatures would be more acceptable. We had dinner on the porch on Monday night, and it was warm outside. I loved it. I was telling Cody that one day we can watch our baby play in the yard while we sit on the porch and hold hands. Or this summer, I can sit on the porch and watch him work the garden while my sweet baby sleeps in my arms. OR at the end of the day, when I'm exhausted from being a human vending machine and he's exhausted from hearing her cry in the middle of the night, we can sit on that porch and cry together while she snores inside. I was so excited, because her impending arrival seemed SO close... and the next day, the cold was back. And she felt so far away again. Isn't it funny how the weather can dictate our moods? Especially if your hormones are feeling a little out of control anyway. And they have. I don't know what's going on this week, but I need Cody's affection, affirmation, or presence. I think he secretly loves it, because I'm generally not super clingy to him. I love talking to him, texting him, and being around him in general, but I've never really NEEDED the display of affection. Um, I sure do now. Like, I literally get sad if he doesn't reach for my hand while we're walking somewhere. Or if he doesn't hug me as soon as he walks in the door, my world crumbles. Or if he hasn't said "I love you" in an appropriate amount of time, I feel strangely out of place in my own home. It's weird, and I hate it. It's hard enough to feel like I'm getting fat, but it's even harder to feel like a clingy girlfriend. Fortunately, he knows that it's my hormones, and he's been so wonderful about random displays of affection, "You're so Pretty" comments, and more snuggles in general. It's been wonderful. And weird. It's like the first 6 months of marriage all over. You know, those days where it's okay to kiss with morning breath and it's okay to cuddle in bed on a Saturday until noon. Don't pretend like those things are still okay. They aren't. I know it, you know it.

Have I ever told you how much I HATE charley horses? I've only had a few of them the first 23 weeks, and if we're being honest, it was the kind where you recognize the very beginning of the pain and you instantly freeze what you're doing so it passes. Well, THOSE days are over. Last night, I woke up and noticed that my right leg was twitching. Kind of the same sensation as when your eye twitches when you're tired. Intrigued and confused simultaneously, I rolled over and stretched my legs before I prepared to fall back into my coma. Except when I stretched my leg, I felt that same familiar twinge. I stopped moving, but my leg didn't. Pain. So much Pain. Sometimes it felt really cool to feel (and see) the muscle contracting; but most of the time, it hurt. I survived the first wave and thought to myself "Well that was less than pleasant." And not even ten seconds later, it flared back up. Twelve minutes, I fought that charley horse. TWELVE minutes. And then the left leg flared up around minute eight. I had two charley horses at the same time, in different legs. Ask me what Cody did throughout the torture? Slept. And snored. I don't know how he slept through my contraction-like breathing. I tried to stretch my legs while the pain hung out, but it only made it worse. I finally stood up beside the bed and noticed that it brought a little relief, so I paced my bedroom floor for awhile. Since then, my right leg has been so horribly sore. I wake up at night whenever I move my leg, though I'm not sure if the pain or fear wakes me up, but to say that I'm tired is a bit of an understatement. I eat at least 3 bananas a day now, and I haven't had any problems since.

I am entering into the "Tired of being Pregnant" phase. And before you laugh to yourself and shake your head condescendingly, just be aware that I know that I still have 3 more months. Be aware that I KNOW that the hard times are coming. I know that a baby is going to be too big for my stomach and in my ribs. I know that a baby is going to make it feel like I'm in a continual state of exhaustion. I know that the pressure from a baby preparing to make her appearance is going to be fairly uncomfortable. I know. I have been warned, informed, terrified, and made aware of each of these facts. That doesn't change the fact that I have been pregnant for the past six months. I've been pregnant, irritable, tired, and achy for six months of my life, and I'm really just ready to move past this phase. I've had surgery, been poked with more needles than I care to count, felt completely out of control, and cried more tears than I've ever cried in my life. I am SO thrilled to see this baby that the Lord so craftily put together inside of me through it all, and I don't think there's anything wrong with being more excited to see her than to keep her inside. When she moves, my heart takes flight. When I look at her ultrasound pictures, my enthusiasm is almost uncontainable. I love bonding with her through the limited resources available, but it's time. It's time to be okay with her coming into our world and wrecking it completely. It's time to be okay with knowing that even though this world is so scary (I was never really aware of how scary until I was responsible for another life,) she's not mine. It's time accept that she belongs to the Lord now, tomorrow, and forever... and there's something comforting about it. I know that when she's in my arms and looks so much like her daddy that I burst into tears, it'll be harder to acknowledge that she doesn't belong to me, but I would prefer that her life belong to the one that made me her mom. I want to be okay with sending her to school, playing at a park, or even going to an annual check up. Pregnancy hormones bring so many negative thoughts to light, whether that be everything that can go wrong in a pregnancy, or everything that can go wrong after she's here, and I hate it. I love that I already love her so much, but I'm ready to be captivated by peace instead of battling my hormones for a positive mindset. I'm just being real, honest, and open with all of you at the moment. I used to be so judgmental of whiny pregnant women. Because at that phase of my life, all I knew is that those women had what I wanted more than anything, and that I would be the most thankful pregnant woman in the world. Everyone would be blown away by my love and appreciation for my growing fetus. I am so blessed and thankful to be so incredibly humbled by my ignorance. Pregnancy is hard. And your outlook on life is continually transitioning. You learn quickly that there are things that matter, and there are things that don't, but every facet of your life revolves around how it will affect your baby. It changed my outlook on my marriage (in a positive way,) friendships, relationship with the Lord, and life in general. Growing this baby has eternally changed the way I think, and though it's made me entirely too cautious at times, I will never judge another pregnant woman's complaints. I understand now that sometimes you just want your back to stop hurting long enough to eat dinner. Sometimes, you just wish that the baby on your bladder was asleep on your chest. Sometimes, you're so sick of opinions from other people that you want to retreat into your closet and stay there until your baby is born. Pregnancy is worth it all, but it's hard, and I'm ready to kiss my baby's toes.

Okay. Soapbox Sermon over. Here's the bump! I took my regular picture, but I accidentally deleted it and cried for at least five minutes. So this was three days later:

Please excuse my sweatpants. The weather was cloudier, windier, and colder that I originally planned. They aren't maternity sweats, so they made a weird line around my stomach. But I was comfortable, and that's really all that counts.

KG