Fashionista

We all know that Shirley Jean is something of a fashionista. I call this her "Boho Look:"

Sometimes she brings me something she needs help putting on, other times, she comes out of her bedroom in "creative" outfits. Either way, too cute!

Poll

I'm interested in whether or not you all think BittyWee is a boy or girl. I've set the poll on the left here to go through my due date. I can't wait to see what you think.
Feel free to leave a comment and tell me WHY you think it's a boy or girl.

(Spoken like a true extrovert, right? "Hey, guys! Let's talk about me some more!")

Basketti

Can you hear the bath water running?

If you listen carefully, you should be able hear it...

I'm just glad I had the foresight to remove her shirt before dinner.

33 Weeks

Imagine my surprise when I looked at the camera this week to see the photo Richard had taken of me and saw this:
This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening.

I have said several times over the past week that it doesn't seem right that I should be this miserable this early...only six-plus weeks to go...

Actually, I'm doing pretty well. My only real complaint is some very painful varicose veins that should go away after BittyWee is born. To that I say, SHOULD?!? Let me put it this way: I'll be should-ing all over myself if they don't. Especially if they still hurt this bad.

Other than that, I'm feeling pretty good.

I find myself daydreaming more and more often about what it will be like to have an infant in the house again. I'm definitely looking forward to it, though I do NOT feel ready yet.

Now that Lauren's wedding is over, I'm hoping to be able to focus on getting our home ready for BittyWee's arrival. Every day I've been working toward getting rid of stuff, organizing and making room for his or her things.

This week I have been craving FOOD. You name it, it probably sounds good. I'm hoping this means BittyWee is having a growth spurt, not that I'm just turning into a cow. Now, THAT would be a disappointing photo. I'm just saying.

Playdate

I took these pictures of Shirley Jean playing with Sophia and Jazlyn a couple of weeks ago. They are too cute not to post.

Let us in!

Jazlyn taught SJ how to knock.

"And THEN, you won't BELIEVE what she said..."

Giggles. :)

Nice save.

Erin: Are we out of bagels?

Richard: Yes.

E: Bummer.

R: Aren't you about ready to move to just straight cream cheese?

E: So, you noticed?

R: Noticed what?

Jicama Week (32 Weeks)

I remember hitting week 32 with Shirley Jean and having to look up online what on earth a jicama is! BUT, apparently this week, BittyWee is as big as one. :)

According to BabyCenter.com:

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb.

This is all a very nice way to say I'm getting huge-mongous. The only thing growing faster than my belly is my boobs. (Sorry, Kristi.) I made it through my whole first pregnancy with only a few stretch marks on my hips and thighs...JUST two nights ago, I discovered a little family of stretch marks underneath my belly-button. I'm upset.

I'm sorry it's been a month since I last posted a pregnancy picture, and I don't really have a very good excuse other than that I'm tired. I don't want to post a picture of myself in sweatpants and a nasty half-ponytail, and that's how I look most days. It's been a tough two weeks or so. All of a sudden, I am exhausted all the time. I could sleep twelve hourse a day or more.

At my appointment with Fern last week, I had only gained three more pounds, bringing me to a grand total of 17 pounds for this pregnancy so far. I am pleased with this--of course, catching the flu over Christmas didn't hurt. I am already starting to see Fern every two weeks. I can't believe how fast this has gone! My blood pressure remains low, and I'm assuming I passed my glucose test...I forgot to ask.

This baby is unbelievably active. With Shirley, I couldn't feel specific body parts moving around inside of me, just wild kicks. This time, I can feel elbows or feet or a head or bottom moving all around. This is NOT something one gets used to!

This week I have grown increasingly more clumsy with every passing minute. I drop things, spill things, run into walls...you name it, I've ruined it or run into it. Earlier this week I SMASHED my foot getting into the shower. My toe is still swollen and bruised. I don't think it's broken, but it's not pretty.

I think that's about it...this post has gotten long enough!