I got weeks 23 and 24 up here kinda late. So I can't believe week 25 has already come and gone. That means only 15 more weeks until my due date. My mom keeps commenting on how big she "knows" my baby is going to be. Finally, a couple of nights ago, I told her that most people who see me say I look small for 6 months so maybe it's just her. She has 4 kids and is a size 1! I, my friends, am nowhere close to a size one. She is this gorgeous tiny Hispanic lady. I got pretty much all of my genes from my father I'm thinking. His family is very white, tall and big. So, people generally don't believe us when they find out I am my mother's daughter. Her pregnancy pictures show her only looking pregnant at the very end. She looks like this super model in her post delivery pictures. There's even one of her lying on the beach looking perfect just weeks after one of us was born! Ah! So, I was getting a little upset thinking that she was trying to compare how she looked during her pregnancies and how I look now. Then, I mentioned something about already being 6 months along and she was like "Oooooh!" I guess because I was so sick for the first 4 months, and wasn't getting out much, we hadn't had much time to hang out together then. So, she still kind of feels like I just got pregnant and didn't realize how far along I was. The light-bulb definitely went on. So, I feel better. She still thinks we'll probably have a big baby because both my and my spouse have big statured families (not including my mom's side of course).
What I'm Up To
This past week I've been busy mostly with little errands. My mom and sister are giving me a baby shower. So, they've asked me to please think of some things I'd like them to have for me. I guess they just want to make sure I have the shower I want. Since I like crafty stuff, they also gave me the opportunity to make the invitations. I think I will. I have so much stuff for scrapbooking that I probably won't even need to buy anything. I guess it's a little strange, but (in my opinion) it's also a good thing. Many of the guests are going to be friends that my mom has known for years and years. I know a lot of them are going to be very generous because they love my mom and to share in her joys. I think that being able to be a part of making sure we've planned a nice event for "my" guests will make me feel a little more comfortable accepting everyone's generosity come present-opening time. I hate being the center of attention though. I always feel a little awkward at Christmas with my family or at my birthday when I'm opening presents. Like "Ah! Stop looking at me!" :o)~
Things that I'm putting on my lists of ideas for the shower are: 1. Food from California Pizza Kitchen. My mom wants to have the shower at her house. She has this gorgeous backyard with lots of grass and a pool. I know she has this canopy type of thing in the garage that's never been set up. So, I think, if they set that up and we do most of the party ouside lighter foods like yummy salads and gourmet pizza would be a good idea. 2. Favors from Nothing Bundt Cakes. I read about this idea for a favor online where you bake a bunch of pillsbury cinnamon rolls and wrap them in pretty plastic wrap with a tag that says something like "So glad you could come, from ___ and her bun." I also read a few comments on baby shower sites where people doing the shower said it's a little silly to just do like a baby themed plastic favor and have the guest throw it away later; Better to do something they can actually use as a thank you. I know my mom and sister aren't going to want to bake a crapload of cinnamon rolls on top of everything else. So, I thought the mini bundt cakes from Nothing Bundt Cakes would be an easy and delicious replacement. They're just over $3 each. I know there are lots and lots of other options that you can make yourself for less. I just think this option is tasteful and what's $3 for someone who is spending let's say $20 at the least on a gift? 3. A Cake from Freed's Bakery. My family has been going here for years for our birthday cakes. This is also where I got my wedding cake. They can make anything. My favorite is their strawberry shortcake cake. The strawberries are always fresh and the cake and frostings never taste too sugary or sweet. I had ideas for the design of the cake and for the colors of the shower. I think I'm just going to let my mom and sister surprise me though. It'll probably be pinks, red and green. I'm pretty sure that's how I'll do the invitations. Those are the colors I plan to use in the baby's nursery to match the cute bedding set I bought her. 4. Games etc: I think for a guestbook type keepsake I found a good idea online. The idea was to take a picture of each guest with me with a polaroid camera. Then, the guest can sign in (with name, address, and email - that way I'll have all the information for thank yous and birth announcements) a book next to their picture. I think it would be neat to have a little envelope or pocket on each guest page. That way, as an activity, the guests can write one wish for the baby, piece of advice etc. on a piece of paper to be put in the pocket next to their picture. Another activity I think would be cool is to have each guest write down a name they like for the baby's middle name (because we don't have one yet) and why we should pick it and put it in a big baby bottle. I've heard of people decorating or signing onesies as a keepsake. Maybe the guests could do this in groups and then we could vote on the best one for a prize. There are lots of other more rowdy fun games. I think I'll leave all that up to them though.
I had a prenatal visit this week too. I had an appointment for 10:40am, but I had to be there at 8am to drink this solution and sit with it. I had read some pretty icky stories about this test. I must've just gotten lucky to be taking the test now. I had to come in fasting from midnight the night before. This was pretty easy for my because I usually sleep in until 9 or 9:30am anyways. So, I'm not used to having food in between midnight and 8am. The sugary solution came in either fruit punch or orange. I chose fruit punch and it tasted...exactly like fruit punch. I had five minutes to finish the contents of a plastic bottle the size of a very small plastic water bottle. I think I did it in less than 2 minutes. Then, I had to sit in the waiting room for an hour. I wasn't allowed to eat anything, but I could drink as much water as I liked. Time went by pretty quick. I came prepared with magazines and watched a little bit of what was on the office TV (Saved By the Bell & Fresh Prince of Bel Air). Then, the lab tech poked her head out of the door and I went back to have blood taken. She took 1 vial. I love the lab tech in my OB's office. She just chats away with you about random things and I (who hate hate hate needles) never feel a thing. Also, unlike when I go for thyroid bloodwork and spend days with a huge purply green area where they've taken blood, all I ever get after she's done is the tiny red dot where the needle went in and that goes away pretty quick. After she took my blood the nurses went ahead and got me back for my appointment. That was nice. I did the usual: weigh-in (ah!!!), blood pressure check (good), fetal heart doppler (138) and questions about how I was doing and if I had any concerns. The OB wrote down what hospital I plan to use and told me I didn't have to register until around week 32. I asked him about those 3D/4D keepsake scans and whether or not they're safe. He said they are perfectly safe. I told him I had read that the machines usually aren't run by medical professionals. He said that is correct, which means they can't really tell me much about the ultrasound.
I had been thinking recently about maybe getting a 3D/4D scan done with my mom and sister. I thought it would be a fun way for them to bond with the baby. Plus, I really want to include my in-laws more. When I set up the baby's website with her ultrasound pictures, they were SO EXCITED. They live in Idaho and Northern Utah. So, we don't exactly get to go for lunch on a weekly basis and talk about the baby together (like I do with my mom and sister). They're also very excited that this baby will be the first female grandbaby/niece on their side. So, I thought making copies of the 4D scan for them would be special. Only if it was safe though. If I do go ahead and get the scan done, I plan on only doing a short scan. They have all kinds of packages with different features and lengths of time. I'd just rather do the shortest possible for my own piece of mind. I trust my doctor's judgment, and that is the only reason I'd even ever consider the scan just for fun at all.
How I Am Feeling Physically
I've felt good this week. I'm finding more and more that vegetables and me just don't get along during this pregnancy though. I'm loving salads. It's just that later I don't love what the salad does to my digestive system. I almost always get gassy or diarrhea. :o( Gross. My nose bleeds have been a lot better since I really started hitting the water and saline nasal gel hard. I still feel and sound a little stuffy a lot of the time though. I get hot flashes on and off. Still having the sweaty-pit syndrome too. I'll get out of the shower, get dressed, and by the time I get downstairs to put shoes on I have underarm wet spots! So, it's light colors and frequent deodorant application for me. My appetite is great. (As in great BIG when I'm hungry. :/) Still not into fish (I had salmon at least once a week pre-pregnancy.) though. I gained 2 pounds instead of one this past week. :( In my opinion, I'm looking a little squishier than I'd like.
How I Am Feeling Emotionally
I know pregnancy is this beautiful natural process. I've just been thinking lately that the women in my pregnancy magazines are more in tune with the "beautiful" part than me. Don't get me wrong, I love love love my belly. I think it's awesome. My legs arms and face seem to slowly be expanding little by little too though and I don't like that. I'm still wearing my prepregnancy size in my maternity styles. I just feel more chunky underneath my clothes. So, my self-image is suffering a bit. I find myself thinking more and more about how to get the weight off ASAP after the baby comes. I want to start getting more exercise in here and there too. Nothing too crazy though. The baby's safety is more of a concern to me than whether I'll look good in my baby shower pictures.
I was so sure I'd be one of those prenatal yoga, speedwalking, gained the minimum weight needed kind of pregnant ladies. My body just wasn't going to let me go that route though I guess. Being so sick the first 4 months kinda started me off on the wrong foot. It doesn't help that, even though I always chose healthy meals, I give in to cravings too. Chocolate custard with heath bar is just the best sometimes. :)
A friend's wife gave me this little book of exercises she used during her pregnancy. This was around 12 weeks. I think I'll finally start using it. At least while I can. Before I'm deciding whether it's worth the effort to try and stand with my gi-normous belly. :)~ I think that, as long as I'm doing SOMETHING active like that, it'll help me feel better about myself and help me transition back into exercising after sleep-deprived new-mommy mode later. So, wish me luck with that.
Another thing I'm trying to do, to help calm this supposed unconscious fear I have of not being able to breastfeed, is learn more about breastfeeding. I bought a book. If it's any good I'll review it when I put up my 26 week post. I'm kind of getting annoyed by the whole 'formula is evil' mentality I keep picking up from different sources. I do plan on breastfeeding my baby exclusively. It does irritate me that I keep getting tons of formula samples and coupons in the mail. I do also wish the "free baby bag" offers I can supposedly get at my hospital after delivery would come with a choice of a manual pump and breasfeeding lotions or pads and coupons instead of more formula and samples. I've read that women who have formula around are more likely to give up breastfeeding and go to the formula. So, I do have my gripes and am aware of the "danger" of having formula around. I'm also aware of the many MIRACULOUS benefits my daughter may or may not receive from breast milk as well as my own physical and mental benefits from the process. The list of these seems to be aplenty and growing. Taking that into account though, I don't feel that it's right to demonize formula companies. If for whatever reason I can't breastfeed, I'm glad I have options and that I'll have a gazillion coupons to make the switch less painful financially. More and more I'm seeing articles in magazines and online that try to include bottle-feeding mothers in their dialogue. It always just seems like that though, an inclusion. The focus is always on how much better it is to breastfeed. I understand fully the benefits of breastfeeding. I think all the information available for mothers who chose to breastfeed is awesome. I just don't see the benefit in telling a mother that can't do it that formula companies are evil. What a way to pour salt on the wound of someone who may already feel like less of a mother. The mother who mixes a bottle of formula or who gets an epidural or c-section is no less of a mother than the one who has a natural vaginal homebirth and breastfeeds. They both still have the same cares, worries, hopes, and love for their baby. So, why make one feel bad for a choice that is hers to make for whatever reason. It just seems like so many resources for pregnant mothers tend to put one mother on a pedastle and look at the other with a kind of sympathy. Like "oh...we know dear...some people just can't do it this ideal way...but it's ok." Anyways, that's my rant about that.
~Jessy
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