34 Week Update: Cobra Kai Baby, Hiccups

This has been a long week. Early in the week sleep was pretty much non-existent and I felt the worst I have ever felt in this pregnancy on Monday. My body ached from head to toe and it didn't matter if I was sitting, standing, laying down, or leaning, I just could not get comfortable. My ankles and calves were swollen and the heels of my feet hurt. I finally got fed up on Monday night and Marco went to the store and got me some Benadryl and a humidifier (love him!). My doctor had given me a list of acceptable medications earlier on and Benadryl is ok to take as a sleep aid. Hallelujah. I slept much better after that, the swelling and achiness went away and I felt much better. It's amazing how sleep can influence so many other things. I guess we have a glimpse into the future when we're sleep deprived after she comes.

We had two classes this week. Our last childbirth class was on Tuesday and we had a breastfeeding basics class on Wednesday. We ended up staying later than usual on Tuesday because we were talking with our nurse teacher. Her name is Ann and I just love her. We worked with dolls and she showed us how to change diapers and swaddle a newborn. Marco's doll had this undershirt on which totally looked like a gi (apparently it's what they provide for the baby in the hospital). He decided that it would be hilarious if he printed out a Cobra Kai logo and put it on the back of Gianna's undershirt and called her Johnny. So his doll has been referred to as "Cobra Kai Baby" ever since. He cracked himself (and me) up! I think he laughed so hard it hurt. :)

While doing my kick count one night this week I noticed that Gianna's movements were pretty consistent in the same spot in regular intervals. It took a second, but I realized she had the hiccups! This was the first (and only) time I have felt them. We heard her have hiccups on the doppler at a previous doctor appointment it wasn't strong enough for me to feel it. Marco came upstairs and was able to feel them, too. It was really cool. I could see my belly moving with them and now we know she is still head down. :)

Baby G's nursery is coming along. The wood floor is installed and looks amazing! We are so happy with how it turned out. It was worth the extra months of waiting (but I still hate that company). I am excited to begin setting up the room and getting things organized. We finished the painting over the weekend, cleaned everything, and got most of her furniture in the room. I am in nesting overload!  I can't believe I am due in six weeks. The belly has a life of its own. We were carpooling to work one day this week and I looked down at my belly and said, "I think she grew more overnight, I feel bigger today than I did yesterday." She is at the point where she is gaining half a pound per week so I guess that is normal. I am officially in the uncomfortable stage. For now, I am still loving her kicks and twists and punches and know I will miss them when she does come out.

I have our maternity pics back and they came out amazing. My scanner is down so I have not had a chance to get to Kinkos to scan them. It will happen...soon.  Here is the 34 week picture. I was so tired when this was taken so excuse the awful sleepy-eyed look on my face.

How far along? 34 weeks
Maternity clothes? I am running out of clothes that fit! :(
Stretch marks? Nope.

Sleep: Better with the humidifier and some Benadryl.
Best moment of the week: Seeing the wood floor installed.
Miss anything: Sleep.

Movement: They are quite strong now. Still no rib kicks but she hurts me other ways, lol. :)
Food cravings: Orange juice.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Braxton Hicks.
Gender: Girl!

Symptoms: Pregnancy insomnia.
Belly button in or out: In- super flat like a pancake

Wedding rings on or off: On 

Labor Signs: Still getting Braxton Hicks but less this week. 
Happy or moody most of the time: Happy
Looking forward to: Setting up the nursery. Maternity leave.

33 Week Update: Braxton Hicks and AGD Pledge Class 2030

Gianna is getting bigger everyday and I am getting more tired and more out of breath. :) Her movements carry more oomph to them now that there is a lot less room in there for her. I have seven more weeks to go! I am carrying her very much in front so my belly looks huge like I literally stuffed a basketball under my shirt. I have been getting a lot of comments about how I must be due any day now...no, like 45 more days actually.

We had our 33 week check up and Gianna is measuring 33 weeks, right on track. She is head down again! I hope she stays that way. I have been getting a lot of Braxton Hicks contractions and I had my first official cankle sighting this week, too. It was a sad day, lol. I sit at work all day so that is not very helpful for circulation. I need to keep drinking a ton of water and try to put my feet up more. We went to the San Gennaro festival this weekend and I paid for it afterwards. My legs, knees and ankles were so sore and by the time we got back to the car I had a cramp in my left foot that would not go away! I was still swelling the next morning so Marco came up with this method to keep the ice bags on my ankles. :) I laugh every time I look at this picture! The joys of pregnancy. I get excited when I can see an ankle now.

I will be taking full advantage of this perk for the next seven weeks!

I am being sent to the High Risk Pregnancy Center to have an ultrasound done to check my amniotic fluid. It looked cloudy on the last two 3D ultrasounds when before it had always been really clear. I don't know what that means but we should get a call early in the week to schedule the ultrasound and we'll go from there.

The nursery has a floor! The problem is that the floor is downstairs in the living room. :) The install starts this weekend and will hopefully be completed by next weekend and I can start putting everything together. All our shower gifts are in the living room with the wood floor and I am itching to start organizing. I want everything put away before she comes. I will have more important things to focus on then and don't want to have these other projects hanging over my head. Plus, I am running low on energy and this bowling-ball-belly makes it hard to maneuver around so the sooner I can get everything done the better. It's going to look great when it's done!!!

This weekend was also Jona's baby shower. I can't tell you how excited I am that we are going to have girls that will literally be the same age. Her shower was held at Buca Di Beppo and was a lot of fun. Here are some pics and our dueling bumps. I can't wait for Gianna and Olivia to meet! AGD pledge class 2030!!!

Here is the 33 week update! Part of me wants time to slow down because I have so much to do, but the other part of me is getting quite uncomfortable and antsy. I can't wait to meet Gianna and hold her and see what she looks like. Oh, and I would like to have control over my body back at some point. :)

How far along? 33 weeks
Maternity clothes? I need more tops, this belly keeps outgrowing things. A maternity small fits the belly but the shoulder area is too big. The extra-small fits the top but not the belly. Around and around we go...
Stretch marks? Nope.

Sleep: Ha ha ha!
Best moment of the week: The wood is here!!!!! Childbirth class. It's getting more real. Next week we have our final class and a breastfeeding class. 
Miss anything: Sleep.

Movement: Lots! She's super jumpy in there now that there is less room for her.
Food cravings: Orange juice.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Braxton Hicks.
Gender: Girl!

Symptoms: Backaches, one or two headaches. Swollen ankles. I think I'm officially waddling. :)  
Belly button in or out: In- super flat like a pancake

Wedding rings on or off: On 

Labor Signs: I had lots of Braxton Hicks this week. I had 20 of them on Thursday alone. 
Happy or moody most of the time: Happy
Looking forward to: Getting the wood installed this coming weekend and putting the nursery together! Unpacking all our gifts and going through them again with Marco. Maternity leave.

Happy Birthday, Bella

Today is Bella birthday. She would have been 13 years old today. I knew last year that it may have been the last time we got to celebrate so we made it extra special for her with yummy doggy desserts. She was surrounded by all her favorite people (human and canine) and I can say that she thoroughly enjoyed herself.

I miss her everyday and I still find myself looking for her in the house, thinking I see her out of the corner of my eye, checking the time to make sure I'm home in time to feed her. Marco and I talk about her all the time like she's still here. It's weird how your heart can be so full yet feel so empty at the same time.

32 Week Update: My Baby Shower!

It's baby shower time!! It felt very strange to be far enough along in this pregnancy to be able to have a baby shower. It really is flying by! The shower was hosted by my mom and mother-in-law and they made it so special! They did everything from the decorations to the food, good wishes and favors. It was perfect. :)

We had about 35 people join us at my mom's house on Saturday. The generosity of our family and friends was overwhelming. I swear it took over two hours to open everything. Gianna is a very lucky little girl and is so loved! Marco and I are very blessed to have you all in our lives.

I didn't know it at the time, but my mom literally furnished Gianna's wardrobe for an entire year! Those brown and cream boxes contained more baby clothes than Babies R Us!

Before all the food came (and there was SO much food!)

Advice for the new parents and wishes for Gianna!

Giving advice to the new parents

Our family and friends are incredibly generous!

The yummy cupcakes my mother-in-law made!

My mommy and I!

The lovely hostesses and I! Thank you for such a beautiful shower!!!

Mande and I

So much cute stuff!

Is this not the cutest thing you've ever seen?! Thanks, Samantha!

Love the diaper cake, Marissa!

So many generous gifts!

Thank you, Nonna!

"Firsts" for Gianna!

Grandma had a book made for Gianna. It was very special! I can't wait to read it to her.

My godmother, Aunt Gale, made Marco this adorable scrapbook to keep track of all his "daddy firsts"

He loved it!

With Zia Nannina! Gianna can't wait to meet you :)

The cute cookie favors made by Linda

Putting daddy to work already!

The house is starting to be "baby-fied"

We also started our childbirth classes at Summerlin Hospital. Our nurse teacher is very nice. There are only two other couples in the class so it's nice to be in such a small group. We have another doctor appointment coming up next week. My fluid looked a little cloudy at the last 3D ultrasound so we'll see if they send me for a medical ultrasound to check it out. I am anxious to know if she is still breech. (You would think I'd be able to tell but I can't figure out which end is up with her!)

In other exciting news, I have a new baby cousin!!! My cousin Christy gave birth to her son, Zachary Kenneth over the weekend! He is beautiful and I can not wait to meet him. He came about 5 weeks early but is perfectly healthy and both mom and baby are doing great. It makes me feel the urge to pack my hospital bag immediately. :)

THE WOOD IS HERE!!!! Those are four little words I never thought I'd hear in the same sentence. We picked it up and it is "breathing" in the living room. It will be installed this coming weekend and I could not be more excited!

How far along? 32 weeks
Total weight gain:
Maternity clothes? Yes but still some regular dresses and tops.

Stretch marks? Nope.
Sleep: What is that?
Best moment of the week: My baby shower!

Miss anything: Sleep.

Movement: She is nocturnal. :) 
Food cravings: None this week.
Anything making you queasy or sick: I think the "inside kicking" is actually Braxton Hicks.
Gender: Girl!

Symptoms: Braxton Hicks contractions have started. I noticed that every time I felt queezy my belly would also get super tight. Turns out that contractions make me feel sick and these aren't even the real ones yet... 
Belly button in or out: In- super flat like a pancake

Wedding rings on or off: On 

Labor Signs: Nope, just Braxton Hicks which are normal at 32 weeks (as long as I am not having more than 4 in an hour).

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy
Looking forward to: Getting the wood installed this coming weekend and putting the nursery together! Unpacking all our gifts and going through them again with Marco.