The ever-growing belly... as of last Thursday, it was 33cm (fundal height) which is somewhere between the 50th and 75th percentile.

Today is my 35/35 day!!  As in, 35 weeks pregnant, with 35 days to go!

All about me this week: Feeling slightly more uncomfortable lately.  The new annoying thing... I have developed some sort of pregnancy carpal tunnel (and yes, that's a real thing).  Basically I wake up at night with one or more fingers completely numb, and then in the morning my fingers/joints are all really really sore and stiff.  It's not a huge deal, but it definitely is annoying.  I guess it's the result of some swelling in my fingers.  It's also getting even harder to get comfortable while sleeping, and I SO look forward to my days off work when I can sleep in as late as I want (as in, go back to sleep as many times and for as long as I want after I wake up).  I've been trying to exercise and do some more strengthening things lately, but this weather is really not on my side.  We don't belong to a gym, so my only form of exercise really requires being outside.  So, when it is raining non-stop, my exercising gets put on hold.  I've been able to do some things inside, and I even tried a prenatal yoga DVD, but I hated yoga before getting pregnant, so I'm not sure why I thought I would like it while being pregnant...  What else... still no belly stretch marks, no swelling (except for in my fingers, apparently).

All about baby this week: Well, let's see... mostly she's adding fat and growing a little bit taller.  She now might weigh about 5.5 pounds, and I've seen a lot of variation in how tall she might be at this point, so we'll go with 18-20 inches?  She is pretty much fully grown height-wise, just needs to add more fat.  Her fingernails are getting pretty long now, reaching the end of her fingertips.

I have finally made some progress on packing a hospital bag, and checking things off my huge list of things to do before baby gets here.  We tested and set up the baby monitor, I've opened all our baby bottles and breast milk storage containers so that I can wash/sterilize them. I bought a breast pump (which looks so complicated I think I'm going to have to read the manual front to back).  We have not installed the car seat yet, we're waiting a few more weeks before doing that.  but it's getting close.  Yikes!

Weight gain this week: 2 pounds!  I feel like I'm eating the same amount, but gaining more weight.  Eh.
Total weight gain: 21.5 pounds

The last few weeks of growing:

One year ago today (May 30, 2009) Mark and I got married!  And yes I know it's only the 29th in the US, but it's the 30th in NZ so that counts.  Now as I've said before, technically this was a second wedding, but the first as far as the Catholic church is concerned.  And since nobody else knew about our first wedding, this would be the anniversary everyone would expect us to celebrate.  But we have decided to celebrate both!  Who wouldn't want to have two anniversaries?  Basically all that means is Mark plans a date or something fun for one anniversary, and I plan it for the next, or something like that.  But anyway, I was looking back through pictures from last year and I can't help but remember how amazing of a day it was, so I made a little video slideshow!!  I can't figure out how to upload the high quality version to youtube (it always freezes my browser and I have to force quit it), so all these videos I upload are not the best of quality, but it's better than nothing I guess!  Enjoy!

Well, today was our last day of birth class... yet here I am, sitting on the couch, writing a blog.  In other words, we didn't go.  Don't get me wrong, we had every intention of going, it just didn't quite work out that way.  Our birth class was split up into two sessions, on two Saturdays from 9am-4:30pm.  The first class was alright, although we left around 1pm because Mark had a soccer game, and I had originally planned on staying the whole time, but then I was too tired and wanted to go home too. 7 plus hours of birth class in a row is a lot!  So again, today I was planning on staying the whole time, until I only got about 2 hours of sleep last night.  I've progressed from waking up and being uncomfortable, to waking up and not being able to fall back asleep.  So I woke up (for about the 5th time) at about 5:30 this morning, and couldn't fall back to sleep until 7:30, and my alarm went off at 8 to get ready for birth class.  Yeah, not happening.  Mark even offered to go without me, which he got major bonus points for, but I wasn't sure it was going to be all that worthwhile.  Today's topics were all about a newborn baby (sleep, clothing, diaper options, breast feeding, etc..) and while I am no expert, I know a fair bit of information on those topics.  Especially breast feeding since I am going to be taking a class specifically for breast feeding, since that seems to be the most challenging part of having a newborn for a lot of people (with sleep coming in a close second).

So anyway, basically Mark and I participated in 25% of birth class, but I honestly think we're going to be pretty well prepared (you know, as prepared as you can be for your first baby).  So now I'm going to spend the rest of my day catching up on sleep, and feeling sorry for Mark, who has to go play in a soccer game in the pouring rain!

It's official.  It is now winter time in New Zealand.  It's been getting more and more winter-like in these past weeks, but now I think it can officially be considered full blown winter.  It has been raining literally non-stop all week, and is freeeeeezing!!  And unfortunately, it's only going to get colder.  See, unfortunately, our house is not actually that warm.  In New Zealand, central heating is pretty rare.  People tend to use (1) a fireplace (2) a space heater of some kind or (3) a heat pump in order to warm their houses.  We do not have a fireplace, but we do have a heat pump.  Now, the thing is, whoever installed it decided to place it in the hallway facing AWAY from the rest of the house, so when we turn it on, the hallway warms up really nicely, but the rooms where we spend most of our time (kitchen, lounge, dining) stay freezing cold.  So instead, Mark complains, and bundles up in sweats and wraps himself in a blanket to stay warm.  Now we did buy a space heater, but apparently that little sucker costs about 50 cents an hour to run, which means if we only use it for just 2 hours a day, that's already $30 extra a month!  God forbid we use it in the bedroom and actually keep it on during the night!  But actually, I bought that heater for the baby's room at night, because it does get cold and there is no heating in there.  The nice thing is, this little space heater has a thermostat, so it won't get too hot, and will keep the room at a consistent temperature, and it shuts off automatically once it gets to a certain temp.  At least our baby will be warm!!  Mark and I will just have to get some more blankets or something. :)  Otherwise, this winter is going to be very expensive!

Oh, the forecast for this week (and probably for the next month...)  Sigh.

Remember those lovely wall letters my mom and I made when she was here?  I showed you the picture of them hanging on the wall, right above the baby's crib.  Well, I have read over and over that you shouldn't put a shelf above the crib, ya know, in case of earthquakes and objects falling off the shelf into the crib.  Well, I hung these wall letters up above the crib using the only thing I had handy (that super duper sticky stuff that always takes chunks of drywall off the wall when you try and remove it even though it swears it won't).  Anyway, I got them all straight and level, and stuck them to the wall, and they looked perfect!  And they seemed stuck on there really well, so I didn't give it a second thought.

Fast forward a couple of weeks, and I come back into the nursery and look up at the wall, only to see that the wall now reads "I-L-E-Y."  And where has the "R" gone?  Why, right into the crib of course, where our baby would have potentially been sleeping.  Thank goodness I put the letters up well in advance, so that this happened before we actually have a baby here.  So the past few days have been spent trying to figure out how to safely keep those letters attached to the wall.  See, they are wooden, with no way to hang them built in to the letters themselves.  My first thought was to drill a little hole in the back of each letter, and then I can just hang them on the wall using a nail.  Well, basically the drill I used was too small, then it was impossible for me to get them level, so forget it.  Plan B.  I decided to nail the letters to the wall.  Well, that would have actually been a good idea, except for the fact that the only nails we have at our house are super thin, so they bend when I try to hammer them through the wood.  I maybe went through 10 nails before I decided that wasn't going to work out.  This plan may still be an option if I get some better nails, but I am too impatient, so I tried to move to plan C.  I was going to try and find those little metal things that you screw/attach to the back of the letter, and then you use a nail to hang them.  You know the ones I'm talking about, the little saw tooth ones?  But, I couldn't find them anywhere.  Go figure.  So, back to square one.

My mom might just send me the appropriate hanging hardware from the US, or I might just try and get some bigger nails. But either way, those letters are not coming off that wall any time soon!  

How I'm feeling:  I'd say I'm feeling pretty good still, although some days are harder than others.  As I said last week, I get tired if I have a particularly active or long day, but on my average day I feel pretty good!  Sleeping is kind of a big pain now, just because it's hard to get comfortable, and rolling over is not exactly the easiest thing in the world.  I have also officially stopped wearing my wedding rings.  I can still fit my engagement ring, it's just a little snug, and if I am pretty active or in a hot room, and my fingers swell at all, then it's kind of scary how stuck it gets, so I thought it better to play it safe and store it in my jewelry box.  I currently am wearing an opal ring I got when I graduated from high school (I think that's when I got it), and it fits very well.  I don't have any swelling anywhere else in my body, so that's a plus!  I also haven't experienced any leg cramps, which I have heard are pretty common, so I am considering myself very lucky.  And also... no stretch marks on my ever-growing belly!  Woohoo!

What baby is doing these days:  Moving/ trying to escape.  She is definitely cramped in there, and so I feel fewer big kicks, and more whole body rolls.  The amount of movement hasn't changed, she's still super active and squirmy, it just feels different as she grows and gets more squished in there.  Sometimes it feels like she is literally pushing straight out on my belly to try and make more room for herself.  By now, baby is about 5 pounds, and may be about 19 inches long?  Of course these are all just rough estimates, so who knows.  But I feel like I am growing a lot each week, so I'm going to hope she is growing a lot each week as well (although I'm really hoping to NOT have a 9 pound baby!!).

Weight gain this week: 1.5 pounds
Total weight gain: 19.5 pounds

Hospital tour:  Yesterday Mark and I went on a tour of Wellington Hospital, where we will be giving birth.  I had never actually set foot in the hospital before, so the tour was very useful for us (even though we had to pay $20 for it).  And we found out some really important info that I would not want to find out on the day of.  For example, after a certain hour (I think 8pm) the elevators no longer go up to the delivery ward, you need to call an orderly to take you up there (security reasons I guess).  Also, the hospital really does not supply anything for you... as in, you need to bring all baby's diapers, wipes, clothes, blankets, as well as all your own stuff for post delivery.  Good to know.  But I must say, I was quite impressed with the facilities, especially after all the bad things I've heard.  The delivery suites are pretty big, and each have their own bed (duh), birth tub, bathroom, couch/lazy boy for the support person, as well as all kinds of things for labor (birthing ball, bean bags, birthing stool).  And there is only one person per delivery suite, and while we were there apparently there were 4 or 5 ladies there in labor, and we barely heard a peep!  The rooms are pretty sound proof, so you don't really hear other women giving birth.  

So anyway, once the baby is born, she will stay with us in the room at all times (unless there is some kind of problem).  They do not have a nursery, all healthy babies stay with their moms at all times.  Then a few hours later, after a shower and a meal, we move from the delivery suite to the postnatal ward, where it's either one or two moms/babies to a room.  Mark is NOT allowed to stay there overnight with us, and he has to leave by 8pm (when the ward is closed to visitors, including husbands).  Boo.  I think that's all the pertinent information.  Basically, I am now going to need to pack a hospital suitcase rather than just a hospital bag, since I have to bring so much extra stuff, but oh well.  Overall I'm quite pleased with Wellington Hospital's facilities!!

What else have people been asking me... Oh yes, I have 3 more weeks of work until I am officially retired.  Haha.  So yes, I will be working up to just after 37 weeks.  The cool thing is, I have enough vacation days saved up that I will still be getting paid up until my due date, and then for the next 14 weeks I will be getting paid parental leave, so I will still be getting income until October!  Aahhh the perks of having a baby in New Zealand.  And our last birth class is this upcoming weekend, so after that supposedly we are all prepared to have a baby!

As I've said before, I read a lot of stuff online related to pregnancy and babies... the things I find most interesting (and sometimes informative) are some of the discussion boards that exist.  For example, I like reading the discussion boards for moms of newborns, where they talk about issues they are having or ask other moms some questions.  Well, it always amazes me some of the unrealistic expectations some moms-to-be have.  Now let me start by saying, obviously I'm not expert.  I've never had a baby.  I do not know what it is like to have a newborn 24/7.  I have lots of experience with newborns, but I've never had one of my own, clearly.  That said, I like to think my expectations are realistic, if not even a little more negative than most.

For example, things that I've found new moms complain the most about, or were clueless as to what to expect.

(1) Sleep.  Sure newborn babies are sleepy, and may sleep a lot.  BUT, funny how that works, they don't exactly sleep a lot IN A ROW, which is the key thing.  They may sleep an hour or two here and there (or maybe only 30 minutes here and there), but in between those sleeps, they need to be fed, changed, held, etc...  Which means, for quite a while, I am going to be exhausted.  And not just like "oh I didn't get a good night's sleep" exhausted, but really truly overwhelmingly exhausted.  I get that.  I am expecting that.  I am not PREPARED for that, I don't think you really can be.  But I do at least know it's coming.  And, if somehow my baby is a little sleeping angel, then it's an added bonus!!

(2) Breast feeding (if you choose to do so, which I do).  I have been around enough people with babies to know that breast feeding is no easy task.  Sure it can be, if you are extremely lucky, or with a bit of practice, but initially I expect it to be challenging.  I think it will be painful.  I think I will want to give up.  It will be tiring and frustrating being the only one who can feed the baby.  It will be time consuming.  But, from what I've heard, if you can get through the first little while (which may be a couple weeks, or may be more than a month), then it does get easier, and less painful.  So I expect to be frustrated and exhausted, that way it won't come as a shock to me when it doesn't happen just like in the movies, easy peazy.  And, again, if I have a baby that eats like a champ, added bonus!

(3) Housework/cooking.  Ha.  I have no expectations here.  Aside from putting on my charming face and trying to convince Mark or any other helpful guests that they really actually want to vacuum and do the dishes rather than hold the baby.  :)

(4) Birth recovery.  Obviously this depends a lot on how exactly my labor and birth goes, but I don't expect to be back on my feet feeling 100% right away.  I've read about all kinds of things to expect over the weeks following birth, but I'll spare you the details.  Let's just say I'm well aware of what I could be feeling like.  Hoping to feel great, but well-informed of the possibilities.

(5) Hormones.  This goes a little bit with birth recovery, but let me just warn you if you plan on coming to visit us after baby gets here, I could seem a little crazy to you.  I haven't really been emotional so far this pregnancy, but who knows after baby gets here.  So, consider yourself warned, and I will try not to be an emotional mess!

Those are all the things I have heard people complain about once the baby comes, saying they never expected XYZ to happen, or they weren't prepared for how hard such and such is.  But I have heard enough real life accounts to be somewhat prepared at least.  Can't wait to meet our baby!

Now that I'm nearing the end of pregnancy, and feeling "more pregnant," there are definitely some things I am looking forward to when NOT pregnant anymore.  Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed being pregnant, but there are definitely some things I will not miss!  For example...

The best things about NOT being pregnant anymore (that I can think of right now)
(1) I get a baby out of this whole deal!!
(2) Not getting up 6 times a night to pee.  Now, obviously I will be getting up in the middle of the night for other reasons (ahem, a baby), but at least that doesn't seem like a useless reason for me to be waking up.  And (hopefully) it won't be incredibly difficult for me to roll over and physically get out of bed anymore.
(3) I will be able to eat what I want (as in, there aren't all these rules for things you can and can't eat).  AND... no more heartburn.  Wow that will be nice.
(4) I won't feel huge anymore... or run my big old belly into things because I thought I could fit into a small space when actually I couldn't.
(5) Exercise!!  I will actually be able to do it again!  Not right away of course, but soon enough.
(6) Baby's foot will no longer be wedged in my rib cage. Aaaaaaah that will be nice.
(7) Strangers will stop staring straight at my belly everywhere I go.
(8) I can wear  my wedding rings again.
(9) I won't wake up in the middle up the night with numb fingers.

Things I will miss about being pregnant
(1) Getting baby all to myself!
(2) Feeling all the kicks, rolls, and hiccups all the time.
(3) Having a good excuse for gaining weight :)
(4) Not feeling guilty/lazy for sitting on the couch all day.
(5) The ability to take long daytime naps every once in a while.
(6) Still getting to have unlimited alone time with my husband!! Cherishing these last few weeks before we become a family of three!!

I'm sure there are plenty of things I missed in both categories, but those are what came to mind right away.  My goal was to be all ready for the baby to be here by June 1st, just in case she makes an early appearance, but that's only like a week and a half away and I have so much left to do!!  The next 6 weeks are seriously going to fly by (I think...)

A few days late.  But here you go.  I seriously feel like I am getting bigger every. single. day.

The people Mark works with in his chemistry lab all got together and bought us a tree, rather than flowers, when we got back from the US.  We have now named it the "Ducky Tree" and last weekend Mark surprised me while I was napping and planted it in our backyard!  Now every time we look at it, we can think of Ducky!  And, even better, it's a fruit tree (feijoa), so we can now grow our own fruit (although I have a feeling it might not grow fruit for quite a while).  It's just a baby tree right now, maybe 3.5 or 4 feet tall, but hopefully it will grow!!  Please excuse the ridiculously long grass, we haven't mowed it in, well, a month maybe?  Oops.