Belly pic - 32 weeks

This is for Jessica. Here is me at 32 weeks...cute huh? I love the way I look this pregnancy but am nervous because lately all I want is sweets. I'm even craving pb&j for dinner!! Funny to think, the baby still has 4 or 5 lbs to gain!

Ultrasound decisions...

I am getting an ultrasound on the 15th...30 wks. Dr ordered. Until now we havn't found out the sex and didn't really care to know. Now we are going in for the ultrasound and there are a few people asking if we are still keeping is a surprise. Here are the reasons to and not to find out. TO find out... 1. I want cute cloth diapers that are not unisex 2. I have all of the boy/girl clothes separated but then I'll be able to put then in the dresser NOT to find out... 1. We are excited about the surprise and don't really care to know right now 2. save $$$ I know I'll go shopping if we did find out! 3. Labor. I have heard that it makes labor better if you are looking forward to finding out. 4. Although we can't control it...we've had a lot of people give us gruff about the sex of the baby.

Heartburn...

Dear Heartburn, I have been wondering where you've been and last week you showed up. I no longer want to eat or drink even though I am hungry. ugh. You are not welcome here. I like my sleep and I do not enjoy feeling yucky all evening and night. Go away! Thanks, Brittany

The baby has now moved in...to my rib.

THIS IS NOT MY TUMMY!!

Doc...are you sure there aren't two in there? Really sure? No but you are measuring 2 weeks bigger then you're supposed to. Um...That would explain why I feel like this baby is taking up so much space. I'm not complaining because it doesn't hurt but it feels like this week the baby is practicing staying awake, soccer, and bungee jumping. Funny thing though...the baby never kicks when I want it to. Like when Brandon or the kids want to feel it.

Leg Cramps

Two nights ago I woke up with a cramp in my leg. It was not my calf or my shin but on the side of my leg. I pulled my foot inword and got rid of the cramp. I was sore throughout the day but it was ok. Then last night I got another one in the same place. It went away then came back 3 more times. By the second one I was crying and trying to keep it together. It was 5am and I was sore and tired but I couldn't sleep. My leg felt so tight and painful that I was scared that it would happen again. Needless to say...I'm tired and sore today. I feel like my whole body is sore from all that.

I went online to read up on leg cramps and there are a few things that I can do to prevent them...

bananas

stretches throughout the day

warm bath

calcium (has not been proven to help)

So I have been stretching before and after workouts but I quess I'll have to do it before and after bed too. I already take calcium but I can add a banana a day. (Half in the morning and half at night because all that sugar makes my tummy hurt.) Baths...I told Brandon that I would only bath if he cleaned out the tub (not that it's dirty but I don't like taking baths because it feels yucky) so I'll get a bath tonight.

I posted about t hese cramps on facebook and Danielle (my sis) said that I should try a strawberry/banana/yogurt shake! YUM!

Atti...

On Saturday after I put Atti down for a nap I heard a little fist knocking at his door. I immediately knew that it couldn't be good. I put him back into his crib and told him that he needs to stay there till I get him out. I then heard more knocking at the door. He would not nap. I finally asked him if he wanted to sleep in Nixie's bed and he said yes so that is where he has been napping. So... tonight we turned his crib into a toddler bed and he is sleeping his first night in a big boy bed. Strange to think that my little almost 2 year old is a big boy now. Sad but great in so many ways. I knew that being pregnant Iwould need to help Nix and Atti prepare for the baby. I feel that they are getting closer and playing together a lot better lately and also becomming very independant. I am happy because my biggest fear is that I won't have enough arms for all three...and I won't. I know Brandon fears that too.

Pregnancy... I am still sick at 14 weeks (technically tomorrow I'll be 14). I am more tired that I remember ever being. I feel like I just woke up, in a daze, almost all day. I feel big and bloated. I don't want to eat ever again! Ugh...can you tell I'm ready to be feeling good again? I am craving fish and vegetables and water though. I have eaten so much celery and lettuce this week! I don't know why but veggies are the only things that don't make me sick. My cravings are a lot like they were when I was pregnant with Phoenix. I remember feeling really sick and only wanting veggies. Bread and Pasts are the worst! Sweets too...I get sick from just one bite. I always think I want chocolate then after the first bite I realize that an orange would be much better. Hopefully this goes away soon!!!

Maternity Clothes

Here is the deal. Most girls brag about when they started wearing maternity clothes... "I didn't have to wear them till 6 months!" "I had to wear them at 12 weeks!" I have been feeling screnched in my clothes. Starting to get a muffin top and having to put away a few smaller sizes. I havn't wanted to start wearing maternity clothes because I felt like it would mean that I'm getting fat or that I would just allow myself to get big faster. Since I am 13 weeks with my 3rd kid I thought that I'd get out my clothes today and see what I have that's still wearable. I got my bin down and took it all out. I filled the bin with the small clothes that I've already grown out of in the last few weeks. I decided to try on a smaller pair of maternity pants. Brandon said, "You look much more comfortable." That translated means..."Wow! Your muffin top is gone!" It's true too. I feel so much better. I was starting to cramp and feel pressure from wearing my jeans too tight. Not I'm happy that I got my clothes out! I have been eating much healthier this week and I hope that it will help with the weight gain. I have already gained 7 lbs but I'm sure a lot of it's water weight. I was getting so bloated because of slowing digestion that my stomach was always full and hard. It was causing pain so the Dr gave me a pill to take at night to help food move along. I havn't had to take it a lot but when I'm feeling yucky it sure helps. I hope with getting rid of the bloating and eating healthier I will slow the weight gain and avoid gaining 50 lbs this time. We'll see. Either way I'm happy to have big healthy babies and I have been blessed to lose the weight each time (although it takes longer each time).

Pregnancy Update

I am now 11 weeks pregnant which is exciting because most likely I will be feeling mostly better next week when my placenta is formed. I have been feeling a lot better then I did with the other pregnancies but more tired I think, it's hard to remember. The nausea isn't that bad..about what it was like with Atti. I am still learning a lot on how to keep the nausea down and still can't have much sugar. I am starting to get really excited to have the baby. I remember with Atti and Nix that I was just excited about the pregnancy but nervous about the newborn. I feel opposite this time. I feel like I'm getting too tired for pregnancy. We still havn't decided what to do about finding out the sex of the baby. Brandon really wants to find out and I am not sure. We have one of both sexes so I don't think it matters much. I like to think that he can find out and I will wait but I know that in 8 weeks I'll be too excited and won't be able to wait! Although Brandon is naming the baby we have I have been thinking of a few names but have been vetoed...here they are Girls: Charlise, Emily or Emmaline Boys: Keenan, Cade, Koda, and believe it or not Archamedes and call him Archie I have been wanting a little girl named Miss Mabel for a long time so we'll see. I know he's not a fan of it. I know that I am only 11 weeks but it is taking everything I have to not rearrange the rooms and paint. I can't wait to have a little boy room and a little girl room! YAY! Anyways, that is about where I am with the pregnancy.

The nitty gritty of pregnancy

I love seeing a pregnant woman. I have thoughts of sweet baby kicks, cute little baby bump, and a perfect little snuggily baby during nap time. Let's be honest though...It's not all sugar and everything nice...

heartburn sore hips runny nose gag reflex love handles weekly weigh-ins gas bloating body odor fatigue...nice way to say DEAD TIRED

Those are all problems with pregnancy but this time for me...the worst is that I can't kiss Brandon. Something about a kiss on the lips makes me gag. I feel so badly for him and I hope he can hang in with me for the next 3 weeks or so. He has been great so far. Even though he's working and going to school he some how finds the energy to get up at 5, work all day, go to school, and still pick up all the pieces when he gets home at 8. (By picking up pieces I mean making me eggs!)

8 Week Check-up

Today I was SO excited to have my first prenatal appointment. We have all had that ringworm so I thought that I'd have to cancel it but Jan said that she would watch the kids here so I got to go! So I got there and I waited and waited. (I soon learned that because I didn't want to apply for WIC and Medicaid that they double booked my appointment on accident. I guess people don't refuse often.) For the first hour I had a counseling session about my health and lifestyle. They asked questions like, "Does you husband hit or abuse you?" Then I had mt appointment with the Dr. SO DISSAPOINTING! I didn't even get to see the baby! I have to go get the ultrasound next week which I'm not excited about getting a babysitter again. I just hope that the ringworm is gone by then. Anyways, I can't wait to see my little gummy bear...until next week.... This is what I saw through the window today...naptime...cute!

How I Defeated Morning Sickness...sorta....

This pregnancy has been much easier then the others in the way of morning sickness. I don't know if it's due to my knowledge and experience with the others or if this is just easier this time. Either way I'm excited about all that I am learning and implementing this time. I thought I could write it out so that I'll know for next time and others can try my little tricks too! 1. Eat all night long. Whenever I'm pregnant in the beginning I wake up 2-4 times in the night to go to the bathroom. After I go I grab a bite of something, whether I'm hungry or not. This time I found that Kashi's Autumn Wheat works for me. I also eat almonds and sometimes saltines through the night. 2. Water. Sip all day long. I carry a water bottle with me all day and refill it a few times. A big part of my nausea is due to the taste in my mouth. Not drinking enough water makes my mouth almost foamy. Even when drinking enough you will have increased saliva and I spit all day long. Also I cramp if I don't have enough water...not good. 3. No sugar. This time I have learned that sugar makes me nauseous. I'm talking sweets as well as too much fruit. I have also found that rice, pasta, and breads are hard on my stomach. I don't know why and haven't really looked into it. If I am eating a little bit of whole grains it's ok as long as there is protein with it. Ex: Tortilla with meat inside. Toast with eggs. Fruit is ok but only a few pieces. (A trick to eating the most healthy friut is to choose fruits with the most vibrant color on the inside, or the meat of the fruit. ex: plum vs apple.) This has been hard because I still want a chocolate chip cookie even though I know it will make me sick. 4. Protein. I eat a few bites of protein whenever I start to feel sick. This has been hard to eat when I feel sick but it wakes it go away almost immediately. It is hard to fix my own meals and sometimes I gag the whole time I'm fixing it but it's worth it to feel better in the end. A few things that work well for me is cheese sticks, nuts, cubed ham, eggs, shredded wheat, and I am going to try ezekiel bread. 5. Small portions. I remember that I will be nauseous again in a half hour so I just eat bites at a time. Otherwise, I will be full and sick. 6. Ginger. It works for me. I found a candy called, Reeds Ginger Candy. I bite off 1/3 and hold it at the roof of my mouth. I have been told to try peppermint and I have been thinking of trying Altoids. (The ginger candy has sugar buy I don't get sick from it) I think that's it for now but I will add more as I learn more. When I was at my sister's house last week she helped a lot by telling me what to eat, because I can never decide what to eat, and a lot of times making it for me so that I don't have to gag the whole time. Also she picked mint and boiled it. The smell filled the house and was soothing to me. I hope this helps anyone struggling. Let me know what you do!