28 Weeks

Nothing new or exciting to report. I had an appointment this last week and my glucose test. My blood pressure is kinda low, low enough that they mentioned it anyways. I only gained 1.4lbs (yay for not gaining another 9!) and my blood sugar came back normal. I've got low iron too, but I'm not anemic. Baby's heartbeat was good, and I am measuring between 28 and 29 weeks based on the measuring tape.

I've begun seeing a chiropractor. I had severe back, shoulder, arm and neck pain a week ago and the chiropractor says it's due to my pelvis spreading out. So I get to wear a fancy pelvic belt to keep it in place. Since going to him, the pain has gotten almost non-existant. I have, however been dealing with leg cramps more and more frequently... and usually in the mornings before I get outta bed. Yesterday I had one so bad I couldn't move my leg or bed my foot! It was kinda scary, and my hubby came and helped me stretch it out. I still have the pain in my calf, but I don't know what else to do for it. Maybe the chiropractor can help.

I have 1 more monthly appointment left, then I get to start going every 2 weeks. That's nice b/c the end is in sight, but it also is annoying feeling like I'm there all the time. Anywho, that's all for now.

Cloth Diaper Stash

So, FINALLY my diapers arrived today. They took forever to get shipped and finally they showed up on my door step today. Again, for those who may have missed it, we are cloth diapering this baby. And trust me, the cloth diapering thing has totally evolved from the dark ages, and they are actually quite easy (in theory, we'll have to wait until June to know for sure) but I feel very good about saving my family money, cloth being better for baby's bum, and also the environmental factor is a bonus. So, I unpacked my diapers and layed them out, and stuffed them, and took lots of pics to share. Now I'm not gonna try and convert everyone to cloth diapers, but I just wanna show you how they are nowadays...I had no clue until a friend mentioned it to me. So, first of all, here's the pics.

 This is a pic of my whole collection of diapers. There are 28 total here, and I have 2 more coming... There are 9 Ebay diapers (mainly the print diapers), and the solids are Kawaii brand diapers. On the far right, there is a stack of diaper covers, and 2 stuffed covers... there are 12 total of those. I will have 30 diapers total...

 These are all Kawaii...specifically, they are the Kawaii heavy duty microfleece diapers. Very soft and fit 8-36lbs. The way pocket diapers work is they have a fleece pocket (fleece against baby's skin wicks away moisture) and you put a microfiber insert into the pocket and put the diaper on like you would a disposable. When the diaper is dirty, spray it off (or use a flushable liner and flush it) and toss in the diaper pail. Then you put on a new diaper!

 My Neon diapers. :) Lime green and electric yellow. Won't loose this baby in a crowd!

 Now this one is a diaper cover. It's a little different from the others, as in there is no pocket to stuff. You just put an insert inside the folds in it (as seen below)... in theory you can reuse the cover more than once before washing because it does not get dirty, just the insert. We'll see how well that actually works. Below is the diaper cover open... I got 6 snap closure, 6 velcro closure, and one of each color (except pink).

 Here's my cloth diapering set up. I've got 2 baskets of pocket diapers, one of diaper covers, and a basket of cloth wipes. In the drawers to the right I have stored misc, supplies until I figure out where things will go. And to the left is my diaper pail...don't know if it will stay there or not, but inside it is a Kissaluv's antibacterial washable diaper pail liner, for the dirty diapers. I don't like it being so close to Cohen's bed, and on the other side it would be right next to the crib, so it might find a new home before long.

This drawer is all my inserts, I have microfiber and hemp inserts... different absorbencies and thicknesses. These go inside the pocket diapers, or lay into the covers. In the other drawer I have some basic old fashioned prefold diapers that can be used as burp rags or diaper inserts in a pinch. P.S. Don't you think my boppy pillow has the cutest pattern ever? (It's on top of the drawers).

 

One thing that might be a pain is washing them. They have to be washed in special detergent and have a cycle of a few rinses and washes, but I plan on line-drying them in the summer. The sun also helps remove any stains you might get. Seriously, the sun is a natural stain remover!

So, call me a weirdo, but I am very excited to start trying this. It may loose it's shiney new appeal once baby starts pooping in the diapers, but for now, it's just fun!

26 Weeks

Today I am 26 weeks (27 if you go by ultrasound)! We're getting closer to the end!! My Mom is planning on flying in from Virginia for the birth, and we are already starting to talk flights and dates! I am so excited!! I have been feeling pretty good for the most part. I have started having issues finding a comfortable sleeping position... I've found a pillow between my legs is probably the most comfortable, but even that doesn't cut the cake. I get so uncomfortable sitting on the couch through more than a 30 min show, and that is bugging me. I am still dealing with the painful gas pains... I am thinking it has to do with my hernia... maybe things aren't digesting properly. And I told my friend this, but It's not flatulence (tooting) that's the problem, it's just gas bubbles getting trapped and no where to go. But it has me bent over in pain after every meal, no matter what it is I eat. I called my doctors office and asked them if I could take Beano to prevent it, and they read from a list everything I could take, which was all after-the-fact relief. Gas-X Was on the list, so I found Gas-X prevention (basically the Gas-x version of Beano) and had a gas pain free night last night. I hope I've found a solution. I'd gladly take my heartburn back from my previous pregnancies if I could get rid of this!

I am feeling less huge this week...I guess hearing 9lbs makes you feel huge... but I was able to wear a pre-pregnancy pullover hoodie just fine this last week and barely looked pregnant, so I was happy with that. I doubt the belly shrunk, It was all just a mental thing. I have been getting braxton hicks alot...last night at a little pizza party I spend the whole time (about 30 min) in a constant BH. It was annoying.

Baby Jake sure is moving a lot!! Moreso this week than before. My belly is constantly twitching or "bubbling" (thats what it looks like) and I feel like he keeps brushing his fingers across my belly, which is weird!! He likes to hang out in my ribs, don't remember when Cohen started doing that, but it's nice and annoying at the same time, but I love it. I am so less anxious about this one now that he is moving around.

We are pretty much done shopping for baby. I've ordered all my cloth diapers and supplies, a giant box of sposie diapers for the first few weeks, I bought some blankets, some sleeper sacks, a boppy, made my moby wrap, ordered my sling ring to make a sling-ring-sling... I got a nursing cover... The only things I think I may wanna get is a baby bathtub, a breast pump, and maybe some really small onesies for the first few weeks, since I dont have really any little ones.

Anyways, I didn't get a 25 week pic up last week, so here's 25 and 26 week pics.

24 Weeks and some change

Well I went to the doctor this last week and had another ultrasound. Baby is growing perfectly, a little too perfectly. He's quite large for his age already, supposed to be around 1 pound, but is weighing in around 2lbs!! U/S Tech says he's got a big head (just what I want to hear...) and he's just "a big boy." Makes me a little nervous about delivery... if he's already so big I'm worried about how big he'll be at delivery, especially if I go past due like I did with Cohen. I have been pretty adamant about not being induced for baby size reasons, but I have scared myself officially with all the possible complications that I am not so sure anymore. The heart issue he had (thick wall of the heart or something) has resolved itself, but the enlarged urethral-pelvic junction is still there, and they want to follow up atleast once more before the end of the pregnancy. Again, they reassured me it was fairly common and that it shouldnt really cause any problems for baby once he's born. I also learned I gained 9lbs since my last appointment 4 weeks ago!! That is a LOT! After I took this picture above, I can definitely see the 9lbs. I am making it a point to be a little more active during the days, I'm gonna start walking on a treadmill or the mall or something. I dont want to loose weight, I just don't want to gain more than I need to. Anyways, here's an ultrasound pic. Hooray for the 6th month!

So tired! 23 weeks

Well, I'm 23 weeks pregnant, and Oh boy am I so exhausted. I've had a long week- and it's not even over yet! I worked all weekend, School all day Monday and Today...then I get to work all this weekend and do the school thing again. I definitely need to muster up some extra energy, I come home and sit and never want to get up! Yet I do, because dinner doesn't cook itself, and laundry doesnt do itself either.

Some pregnancy highlights this week:
~Hubby says (and I quote) "You're huge!" I already feel huge, you need not point it out lol. I can't imagine how big I will look and feel in May... I feel pushed to my limit already!
~By belly has surpassed my boobs.
~According to my inlaw's scale, I've gained 15lbs. I don't believe it, but according to hubby "Oh, I can tell." gee thanks. lol.
~Leg cramps galore. I get them mostly in my driving leg, and ouch that is a pain!

Anywho... thats all for now. Even that little bit has worn me out. haha.

22 Weeks

Nothing new to report...except that maybe the braxton hicks have started this week. Not fun, I forgot how uncomfortable they are! Anyways, thats all for now. Here's my 22 week pic, please excuse my cluttered bathroom. :)

21 weeks!

Was my last post really at 18 weeks? Sorry, I thought I'd posted sooner! Well, first of all, we are having another BOY! The ultrasound was really great and actually showed me measuring a week ahead, so due May 26th. I am still counting on June 2nd though, with DS he was 9 days late. If this one came "early" I'd be pleasantly surprised! Everything on the u/s was good, there was a "prominent urethral pelvic junction" that they wanted to follow up on with another ultrasound, but other than that he's great! He's weighing in at 13oz (probably a little more now, that was over a week ago), has a "fat lil tummy" and at the moment, lies breech, but I don't think I'm to worried about that yet. We were very surprised it is a boy, but couldn't be happier.

I didn't bother posting a pic this time, because I really haven't changed since the last one. There are days when I look and feel more pregnant than I really am, and then days I forget I am pregnant haha. The second trimester is definitely the easiest, no issues with nausea anymore, and I'm not terrified that I am going to loose this one anymore. He moves a lot and kicks strong, so I don't worry as much.  UPDATE: Tonight I discovered I am already making a leaking colostrum (first milk)!!! This is a huge deal to me, since I had issues BFing with my son, and this has NEVER happened, even after my milk came in!! Sorry, but you're probably used to TMI if you're a frequent reader! lol

Started getting things together for him... ordered my first 10 cloth diapers, made my own crib bumpers, about to make my crib skirt, bought a changing table, washed and destained some baby clothes and put them in a drawer in his room. Painted wooden letters for his room. I've kept pretty busy and I'm excited!! Anyways, that's about all for now... enjoy some pics.