Number of the day: 35!

     This blog post is brought to you by the number 35. 

There are only 35 days left until the due date and we are at 35 weeks today. Where has the time gone? Lucy's circulatory and musculoskeletal system is now complete, she is roughly 20in long and weighing in at around 5 1/2 pounds. She's packing on the pounds, which is probably why I'm so hungry all the time. Getting closer and closer to birthday size!
    
     Now that the due date seems so near my instincts have kicked in full blast. I've been obsessing over things like cleaning our closet, shampooing our carpets, dusting, laundry and just generally nesting in preparation for a new little one. I have lists for my lists categorizing what I need to get ready, what things need to be bought by when and just about every detail I can come up with is covered. One problem with my obsessing is I don't sleep well when I know I have stuff to do. Pft! Sleep? I could use that time to re-organize the linen closet! The last few nights have been torturous for sleep. Lucy wakes up around 10pm every night and commences gymnastics class. (See video at bottom) She will kick, squirm and do who knows what else in there for at least two or three hours. Ever try to sleep when somebody is consistently poking you? It's not easy. Then if she isn't doing acrobatics I can't seem to find a way to sleep that relieves the sharp pains in my back and hips. It's all a cruel joke really. I know I won't be sleeping much after July but my body refuses to let me enjoy these last few sleep filled nights.

     We went to my best friends baby shower last weekend and it was awesome getting to see somebody I've grown up with becoming a mom. I loved getting to see her and get some great bump buddy pictures too. Our baby shower is this weekend and I'm really looking forward to it. I haven't been quite as focused on Lucy as I was with Roxas. I don't quite get the opportunities to with kiddo running around trying to body slam the dog, or climb a shelf, or otherwise just get himself into trouble. The baby shower will be nice to really get a chance to just focus on Lucy and celebrate her. Lots of friends and of course yummy cake. We are also doing a photo shoot on Monday with the ever talented Jenna (go check out her blog http://blog.jennaebertphotography.com/ ) and I'm beside myself with excitement to get some good pictures of this big belly and our little family. Can't wait!

     Another thought, besides the untidy state of my pantry, surfacing more and more is the idea of labor for the second time. Thankfully I have this weird labor amnesia. I can remember being there, what was going on in my head, but I can't remember the pain. That being said I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little worried. There are a few things I would like to have go differently this time, but I'm not going to be surprised if they don't. I did without the epidural last time and hope to do the same again, after all I did it once and I'm still alive, but my big goal this time is forgoing the pain medication. We'll see how it goes but even bigger than that is my goal of not being induced again. I was very, very lucky to end up on the better side of the 50/50 shot of a c-section rate with inductions last time but I don't really want to tempt fate. I have my fingers crossed for a spontaneous labor and a hopefully shorter birth this time but only time will tell. The best I can do is hope and pray!

    Well that's pretty much all for now, I will have pictures from the shower next week!

Until next time...

34 Weeks- I'm One Lucky Woman

     Thirty four weeks, it seems like this past week has really flown by. The countdown on my refrigerator proudly displays there are only 42 days until the due date (and only 21 days until full term!). Seems like it was just yesterday I was all excited to write "99 days" and now...wow.
     Lucy is growing still but her growth is slowing down a little bit. Her height is most likely maxed out now but she is still putting on weight with roughly 2 pounds left to gain until birthday! She's smushed up against my ever thinning tummy and this makes it very easy to pick out what is a foot, or knee or shoulder. She likes to stretch out though and having her little feet lodged into my side and ribs is not exactly comfortable. Her favorite time to stretch is of course, when I am trying to get to sleep. Sleep is such a luxury now. If it isn't horrendous pain in my hips/pelvic joints keeping me awake it's her stretching, poking and prodding me. No amount of pillows seems to support all the spots that need it. Not that long to go though, then I can go back to my preferred position of sleeping on my stomach. I really, really miss sleeping on my stomach.

     Things have been great around here, and I can only hope it lasts. Roxas is rambunctious as ever and always keeping me on my toes but we have so much fun together. I look at him and can't believe how much he has grown up in just a year. 15 little months have taken him from a helpless newborn to this crazy toddler running around, climbing on stuff and saying actual words. I actually looked at Kenny the other night and asked him "when did we become parents of a toddler?" What they say is so true, they grow up too fast. I long for the days where he would lazily sleep away in my arms or nap snuggled up on my chest. I guess it's a good thing but he's amazingly independent and wants to do as much as he can by himself. He still needs me for tons of things but I can already feel that sense of being needed starting to slip. He would much rather run around the house talking on his toy phone, or stack blocks than sit and snuggle with mommy. He's becoming such a big boy now and I'm so lucky to get to spend all this time with him.

     I am a very lucky woman. On my bad days I can sulk and get really upset that I don't have certain things or our life isn't the exact way I want it. Lately though I've been trying to focus on the really good things and keep my thoughts turned positive. It's easy to get lost in the "we can't" or the "if only" thoughts. I realize though that I am so unbelievably blessed with this life of mine. My husband has been my biggest blessing. Without him I wouldn't have this life. He works so hard to give his family everything we need and he could totally tell me to get a job, that I can't stay home, that I have to contribute but he is just crazy enough to love me and sacrifice so much for us. Truthfully he gets the short end of the stick. I feel guiltily spoiled in all the good things I get to enjoy. I love being a mom (most of the time) and I love studying to become a nurse (at least 78% of the time). I work hard too, trust me not every day goes smoothly, but I really do see how lucky I am to have what I do.
     Sure our lives before all these changes was great and I miss it. We weren't super rich or anything but I never worried too much about paying bills, we were able to live comfortably. We spontaneously went to movies, out to eat, bought crazy Disney collectibles, and spent time just enjoying each others company. Then we decided that we would have a baby, and I would leave my job to be a stay at home mom and go to nursing school. We lost my income and gained a huge expense. Seems like a really backwards idea now that I write it all out. We had faith though. I knew it was the right thing to do and even though this last year has had it's rough spots both financially and emotionally we have made it though all of them.
     Another huge blessing is our parents. That independent part of me shudders at the thought of having to ask our parents for help when we are a grown family our on our own but when I put myself in their shoes I get it. No matter how old Roxas or Lucy gets. No matter if they are on their own, have a family, whatever I would do anything to help them and be happy about it. Our parents have been the best support we could ever ask for. Always willing to help us out, with whatever we need and without complaint. They are there for us whenever we need them and no matter how old you get, you will always need your parents.

     Now with the arrival of our daughter looming in the very near future I can't think of a way that life could get any better. I know I won't feel this way when I've had 2 hours of sleep, haven't showered for a week, Roxas wants lunch and Lucy wants to nurse, but I know eventually I will miss those times. Eventually Lucy will be a little toddler running around being chased by her brother, and I will wonder what on Earth happened to my itty bitty babies that were just here. I will wonder when they grew up, I know I will blink and they will be teenagers with days of blocks and smooshed peas long gone. It's true, they grow up too fast. I'm lucky enough to be there for it and I intend to cherish it as much as I can while I have the chance.

     We may not have everything in life but we do have some amazingly good things. For now Roxas is napping and I'm enjoying some quiet time with my cankles up. Life is good. Life is very good.

Until next time...