Counting Sheep and Jelly Beans

This week hasn’t seen any big events but instead many small ones. Today marks 33 weeks (Foo Foo is now the size of a honeydew melon). And as my friend, Courtney said, “You could go anytime now, sister!” I hope it doesn’t happen too too early but I wouldn’t mind 1-2 weeks early. Most of my new mom friends were on time to about a week late. Foo Foo’s name could be Mary after all (jk as that violates Tony’s anti-alliteration laws).

Sugar cravings haven’t subsided this week except for Tuesday when I was able to stay away from all chocolate in the office. I’ve been visiting Michelle’s desk too and trying to pick out the margarita-flavored jelly beans. Hey, a girl can use all the help she can get!

Sleeping has actually been more comfortable this week as I gave into the extra pillow suggestions and stuffed it under my belly and along my left side. I’m having a hard time getting up in the morning and I’ve been going to bed even earlier than before. We’re talking in the 8:30pm time frame. If the Red Sox were in the World Series I would stay up but I’m not going to torture myself for crap TV.

Another thing I’ve learned is to not hold your pee. When you have to go, don’t wait. If you do, it can feel like you’re going to die. Not really, but it feels like a ton of pressure slamming down on your bladder. Not comfortable at all. Kegel exercises are meant to be done separately.

The more distinguished movements continue this week as the books say she weighs in at more than 4lbs. Last night while we were driving home I left a distinct arm (or leg) move across my entire belly. It was wild! I’m supposed to say “Foo Foo!” when that happens instead of gasping or saying something else so that Tony doesn’t think we’re about to get in a car accident. But yesterday I couldn’t help it. I definitely gasped out loud! The day continued to get more interesting as the hormonal tides shifted as Tony says and I cried my way through the evening news. War homecomings are happy and sad at the same time. Fallen soldier stories are the worst. This particular story had the grandfather - also a veteran - tear up and say that he swore he would never again cry over another fallen soldier. I lost it! Tony laughed at me. I was laughing too but through the tears.

I followed my Mom’s advice to help relax: take a bath. I always remember her taking baths. Apparently she took them when she was pregnant too, just with a carton of ice cream complete with whipped cream and nuts. Anyway, I told Tony I was going to take a bath (which I haven’t done yet in this house and honestly can't remember the last time I did) and he started laughing. He said I was going to look like an island with my belly popping out of the water. Nice, Tony. Real nice!

COMING UP:
Saturday - Brigham Tour
Wednesday - Breastfeeding Class
next Friday - 34wk Check-Up at the docs (hopefully this will include the H1N1 shot as I haven’t been able to get one yet)

Edema and Junk Food Attack

I might just change the name of my blog to "The Bloated Blogger." That's what Tony called me this morning when he was helping me get situated in the chase lounge with my feet propped up on 4, yes 4, pillows. This has been dubbed "The Edema Attack." The extreme swollen ankles and feet started on Wednesday or Thursday. It became super obvious on Friday morning at the gym. I finished a set on the quad machine and looked down to clearly see the indentation across the lower front part of my legs. GROSS! Onto the butt exercise with the band around my ankle. Again, the pressure left an obvious indentation. I was thinking of ways to put my feet up at work while I stretched... I took my rubber flip flops off after showering and it tooked like I still had them on! My poor feet and disappearing ankles! I told Tony about my edema attack when I got to work. I don't think he really believed me until Friday night when I took my sneakers and socks off. There was a very obvious and deep outline of where my socks ended. He was totally grossed out! Meanwhile, my Mom propped my feet up on the couch and Aunt Marjorie rubbed them! They were both excited to see how much my belly had grown in just the last week. Marj was talking to the baby and calling her Princess.

Friday was not a good food day. It was a tasty day but with little nutritional value seeing as the menu included chocolate cake for breakfast (leftover from Courtney's going away party), two mini and most delicious vanilla cupcakes from Party Favors that Al brought in and one more cupcake (I felt bad for Kristen and had to take it off her hands!) in the afternoon.

We went to bed early Friday night and got up around 4:30 on Saturday to bring Marj to the airport. From Logan we drove directly to Tony's parents' house in Burlington, VT. Foo Foo was active almost the whole way. At one point on Rt. 89 she rolled her bum to the side and kicked her leg out and didn't want to bring it back in (a little uncomfortable but she must have had to stretch). Saturday we spent the day relaxing and eating (what else are you supposed to do in the rain?). Honestly, all I did was lay in the chase lounge with my feet propped up, read magazines, watch football and eat. Kim had picked up ice cream at the grocery store so I was sure to indulge in some of that too. Chuck decided to make apple crisp later that night and I enjoyed some of that too. Hey, why not?! Kim was sitting nearby most of the afternoon so I called her over whenever Foo Foo seemed active enough for her to feel. Not many defined kicks but a lot of rolling around. She likes to shake her bum! She was moving so much that I tried to capture it on camera.

The crib is coming home with us tonight. Can't wait to see it all set up. Doesn't seem long now!