Popo stuff, butt stuff, and whatevs

Man oh man.
So, after Wednesday I was pretty shaken up. We had a follow up appointment on Friday with the doctor to make sure my BP was going down. It didn't really change. So my doc decided to do a cervix check to see how close I was to delivery - in case I was ready enough to induce labor.
Ok. Why hasn't anyone warned me about this horrid torture?! After my body was ripped and torn apart by one touch, we found out I was 1-2 cm and 40% effaced. Doc said to expect Misha sometime this week, and since yesterday I've been losing my mucus plug/bloody show. I've also been having really low cramps, and the pain is coming from the same area that hurt when I got my cervix checked. I have an appointment tomorrow afternoon, so we'll see if I'm dilating. I really hope I am! My due date is the Thursday after this next one, so it's not too early.

Michael has been the BEST. He is so supportive of me, and has been an advocate when I feel like I can't speak up. Michael. He is fucking the best. He has been taking care of me like crazy. I can't imagine going through this without him. He's just awesome. We joked and laughed through our Baby Care class, he gets up close and personal with my hoohah and my booty ( I was worried I found a bump and that it was a hemroid..it wasn't. Haha. It didn't hurt or anything, just me bending weird when I was showering my ass and the skin bunched weird. Michael thought I was cute...I thought I was being disgusting. Haha), and he puts up with my CRAZY hormone fluctuations. One second I'm crying, the next I'm screaming, then I'm horny and need sex asap. Michael, he just goes with the flow. Awesome guy. <3

Ok, hopefully I'll have another blog tomorrow, or a baby..who knows!

Venting blog, if you're offended then don't read it.

This is going to be a grouchy post. So feel free to bail on this one.

Yesterday I had my 38 week appointment and it didn't go very well. Apparently my blood pressure was through the roof and the doctor started freaking out about preeclampsia and saying that I had to go to labor and delivery to get checked out. She was really sure that I would have to be induced. I was freaking out. It was especially scary because we didn't have anything - our hospital bag is in my car (we took Michael's to the appointment), and we haven't turned in our birth plan.
After going to L&D I was hooked up to a cuff and told to stay in bed for an hour while my blood work got examined and my blood pressure was taken every 15 minutes. It went down very quickly, and my blood work was great. Doctor thinks I am too stressed and that I am pushing myself too hard with school and life. She kinda doesn't want me to return to school, but my follow up appointment is on Friday, so I'm going to class for sure on Thursday.

"How are you feeling, Jess?"
"How's life/school/the pregnancy?"
"Do YOU want to vent for once instead of listening to my problems?"

No, I don't hear any of that. It's going to be frustrating when I hear "How's the baby?" "Can we come by and see her?" "Wanna hang out?". Really? You want to hang out now that I have a cute baby? No. I don't want to visit. No, you won't get an update. I'll be too busy spending time with MY kid to update you. Come to think of it, I'm thinking of not updating a LOT of people about my labor and the baby. Maybe I'll ask my sister to make the twitter account an invite-only one, if some people think it's dumb. Maybe I'll tell the nurses not to announce any info unless the room is cleared and that phones are banned in my delivery room so that NO ONE gets updated from anyone. yeah, maybe I'll do that.

Ugh, I felt rude just typing that. It was rude. I just need to vent. And since I only have this blog as a 100% venting tool, this is where it is.
Blah.

Baby baby baby, labor, and moneyz

Baby baby baby! My mind is constantly on labor-watch. Is it time yet? Was that a Braxton Hicks contraction or a labor contraction? I need to finish packing my bag, but we've already installed the car seat :)
Only three more weeks and the baby is starting to drop. My ribs are feeling so much better. For the past week I've literally been crying because the pain was so bad. One rib kept popping out of place and I'd turn or stretch a certain way and it would pop back into place. Worst pain ever. Thankfully the pressure is going away. I just hope it stays gone.
I have one big paper to write, then another smaller paper due and I am done with the stress of school. My last day will be Monday the 21st, which is awesome. I just hope Michelle will wait until then!

On Wednesday Michael and I went to Folsom to pick up our new car! I am so happy that he finally has a comfortable car that is not only reliable, but luxurious and perfect for him :) Michael is so hardworking, and he is smart with money, so he deserves this. <3 It's nice that we can sell his BMW and have a savings account for when the baby comes. Having a big savings is his (and my) top priority from here on out - well other than taking care of Michelle. Lol.
We have so many plans. I'll be staying at home for a year, we have the car payments, and we want to go to Monterrey for our first anniversary in September. Having a savings is really important for taking care of our immediate family. The three of us are a team - we are our main focus from here on out. It's so weird to say that, but it's true. When people have kids, things change. This is our immediate family now. Weird!

Ok, well I guessssss I could start working on the small paper due Friday. Hmm, how about no.

Lips and Legs

My daughter is apparently a model. We had an ultrasound yesterday to check if she was head down (which she is; yay!) and my doctor decided to check her size. At first, she was just measuring her head and stomach, but then when she went to measure her legs, the doc literally said "whoa!". Apparently, she has some of the longest legs the doc has seen. Haha. :) She gets that from my dad's side of the family. Because she is gonna be so long, we couldn't get an accurate reading of her weight (her long legs threw off the calculations I guess). The doc gave us a number (6 lbs 14 oz) but said it was WAY over. Haha. I was expecting her to be 7 at birth, so now I have no guess. Will she be smaller? Bigger?

Also, we got another clear shot of her lips! The are so big and beautiful! Doc even made note of them, saying "with those legs and those lips, you guys better be careful!" Haha.

I can't wait to meet my little lady. I just want to hold her and kiss that little face all over!

Below is a picture of her big lips :) It's a shot looking up at her face from down below. Look for the nostrils, then you'll see her lips (they look like she's wearing lipstick). <3 AND, there is a pic with doodles to point it out.
<3

Update, woooo!

I'm HUGE! This pic is from 34 weeks, and I'm 36 weeks this week! :)

For the past month Michael and I have been going to baby classes. We went to a breastfeeding class, a hospital tour/ labor prep class, and a childbirth preparation class. The childbirth prep class went on for the whole month, and it was awesome. I wish we would have signed up for another class, but with how busy I am with school, it's probably best that we didn't. Although, I'm a little worried about concrete methods of focus. I really should read a hypobirthing book.

Also, this month I had my baby shower! It was so exciting to show people my bump, which I thought was huge, but got tons of comments about how small I am. I think I've gotten a lot bigger since then though. We got so much stuff at the shower. People are so freaking generous. Michelle is going to have the cutest clothes on the block! I couldn't believe how many diapers we got, and how we've pretty much gotten everything we need for the baby's arrival.

So, I'm a little grouchy with my doctor. She cancelled my appointment because she was sick (not why I'm irritated), but then didn't reschedule me for two weeks later. I haven't been to see her in over 6 weeks! I'm at the end of my pregnancy, so I'd really like to make sure everything is smoooooth sailing. Is my baby face down? Is my blood pressure ok (I'm awfully swollen these days)? Did I gain too much weight? Oh shit! I forgot to mention, I gained like a million pounds! It's making me worried. I was hoping to reach this current weight when I was about to give birth. Ugh. I guess pregnancy is an event that I can't control.

SCHOOL is stressing me the hell out. I have so much stuff to work on; it's almost laughable how much work I have this quarter. This is supposed to be my easy quarter. Ha. Life has a funny way of working out. I told my teachers that I am leaving school on the 21st and 22nd, so I only have three more weeks! Ah! Three weeks and I am FREE from Davis! It feels awesome.

Appointments and wah wahs

Last week I wanted to update my blog on my most recent appointment, but I was feeling a little crunchy from stress and whatnot. Now that it's been a week and a half, I'm forgetting some of the finer details. Ah well, such is life.
So, last Friday (the one that was a week ago) Michael and I went in for our routine baby check-up. Everything was going great until I mentioned two sore spots. I've been having cramping in my lower stomach and in my ribs. Well, it's completely normal, said Doc, until I mentioned I'm having those pains even without eating a lot and when I'm fully hydrated. I didn't realize that mentioning those facts would make me end up getting poked and prodded by many annoying devices. First, I had a cervix check (which was annoying because I showered the night BEFORE, not the morning OF, which is something I always do when I have "lady appointments") which involved a transvaginal ultrasound. I was super annoyed, until the doctor said we could do a quick ultrasound to see the baby! The machine is not the high-res clear one in the diagnostics area, but an old one that can easily be moved from room to room. However, we still got the clearest shot of Michelle's face! THOSE LIPS! AH, they are so cute! She definitely gets them from her daddy :)
After seeing the baby, I was happy and thought that was the end of our time at Kaiser..nope. I also had to get blood work done because the pains I was feeling (since they weren't signs of early labor) could be strain my organs, so I had to go to the lab and get poked by some student. I usually don't like the students taking my blood, but the other guys working in there looked a little...um...crackheadish, so I stayed with her. Lol

Michael and I are going to be so immersed in baby-hospital stuff from here on out. We have a weekly Tuesday class for childbirth (every Tues in April), a few classes for tours, newborn care, and breastfeeding, as well as more appointments. AND, my baby shower is in two weeks! Alas, my stomach isn't big and my belly button still hasn't popped (and it isn't even flat yet!), so I feel like I won't be that woman getting molested by aunts and other female friends. Which is totally fine by me, but I wish I was a little bigger :)

Today is my first day of class for the LAST quarter I'll have before graduation! I am both excited, and nervous, because I worry that my teachers are going to be mad that I'm not going to be at school for the last 2 1/2- 3 weeks. Well, what can I do, ya know? It is what it is, so we'll see what happens after I go to class today.

Last update is regarding crafts! I blame Cassie and Melissa for my curiosity in crochet!! I decided to see if I could do it (because it looked so much more efficient than knitting), and guess what, I can! It is so fun, and so addicting, that I've already made a gazillion hats and flowers. Michelle is going to be the only May/June newborn with a huge selection of wool hats for those hot summer days. Lol

Cats and babies. HELP!

I don't know about you, but I don't think it's safe for a pregnant chick to run around the house, screaming at a cat, and getting herself all worked up into a sweaty, breathless mess. However, for me, this is a weekly routine.
 My cats are jerks. Plain and simple. I have to keep the nursery closed up at all times because my cats are obsessed with that room. Baxter likes to sleep in Michelle's crib. Zooey likes to steal her toy/clothes/small objects and chew them up and hide them throughout the house.

Call me crazy, but I think it's ridiculous to tiptoe around animals. Every website I've researched either employs two philosophies. The first is from cat-advice websites. They suggest I buy a throne and crown, and bow down to my evil cat; regardless of his actions. But honestly, they suggest I jump through hoops to keep doors closed (I don't want to! The paint smell still hasn't gone away and we painted months ago! It needs air!), put foil on everything, buy my cats new expensive toys (why? They like to steal my cheap stuff anyways..), and make sure my baby knows that the cats are boss. Um no. I'm boss. I'm the queen ruler of this house, and no one dictates my life. So that option is scratched.

Option two is the advice I get from baby-advice websites. Half the people say similar things, like getting nets to put over cribs, or foil in bassinets. But, then half of the people say toss the cat out on his ass or re-home. Yeah, that's not an option either. I don't know about other pet owners, but I love my animals (despite their desire to be evil dicks) and I took on a commitment to care for them. Putting them outside isn't an option either, as we live across from a big field. Our neighbors warned us against letting small pets outside for too long, as coyotes are a problem? Um, scary! To re-home Baxter would kill him. I'm not exaggerating; Baxter would have to be put to sleep if we brought him to a shelter. He can't even go to the vet without the vet and vet-techs all crying and begging for us to come rescue them. He ONLY likes Michael and me. So, I'd literally be killing him if I re-homed him. Zooey could be re-homed, but my cats are so attached to each other and I couldn't stand the depression it would cause. It's annoying, really.

So, what are my options? Put up with their bulls**t, scream at them on a weekly basis like a banshee, and get my heart rate up by chasing them around with a knife? Or rip my heart out of my chest and become a meat-eating animal hater who would put two cats out in the cold? Hey, I'm pregnant, I'm allowed to be dramatic.

HELP!
I need sound, solid advice. Should I set up booby traps? Should I put tacks in a sheet and lay it in the crib? Should I set up a motion-detecting robot that will shoot lasers at them when they come in contact with baby stuff? :(

Belly pics and cooter rants

Ah, pregnancy. I love you so. However, my vagina is extra angry at you today.

What a weird way to start off a blog, eh? Well, we'll get to my angry popo in a bit. First, I'd like to share updated pictures of my baby bump! The first pic is a side view, and the second is looking straight at me. I was already curvy/plus sized before I got pregnant, so my shape from the front isn't any different than it was pre-pregnancy.

28.4 days pregnant

 Front view. Woooo.

You wouldn't think I was having trouble getting around or staying comfortable due to my smaller bump, but I am! I don't know what is happening to my ribs, but they've decided to start stretching out, and without a muscle surrounding them, it hurts to rub them. It is the weirdest thing to complain about sore ribs, but there's pregnancy for ya :) Always an adventure.

So, onto my angry cooter. See, my awesome bump may be small for someone my size, but that doesn't mean my kid is small, nor does it mean my stomach is soft and flabby. That thing is hard as a rock! It makes it super hard to bend over and tie my shoes, cuff my pants, and shave my darned lady bits!

Today I thought I'd be courteous to my beastly husband, and clean up the goods. I had a nice hot shower, and thought, "hmm, my legs and armpits sure could use a shave; poor Michael is married to a yeti!" so I went to town. At the last minute I thought, "ah, better attack the undercarriage too!". Mistake. Big mistake.
See, I can't see my hoohah without a mirror, and bending over really far hurts like a mother, so I blindly started attacking the growing sprouts of hair. I think you can guess where this is going. I cut myself!

To many of you, it's not that big of a deal, but to me it was a huge one. My poor vahjayjay is already going to get turned into an unrecognizable piece of meat in a few months, does it really need this horrid abuse now? I finally get 9.5 months of freshness, freedom from Aunt Flo, and doctors staying out of there, and then I abuse my lady friend with a dull razor and slippery conditioner. Next time, Michael is on shaving duty.

So, now that I've fully disgusted you, my dear reader, have a wonderful day...and treat your vagina right!

p.s. No shame here, I have no sense of modesty. Feel free to blast me. Mock away! ;-)

Yeti Baby

Guess what I should be doing? If you've guessed "write a paper" then you must be an avid reader of this blog. Since I have a 5 hour deadline, I thought I'd create more of a crunch and write a bloggity blog.

On Tuesday, Michael and I went to our follow up ultrasound to get a clear shot of the little lady's heart. The last tech couldn't get a clear shot, but we were fine with it since it meant we got another glimpse of our girl. She's healthy and lovely, and apparently she's hairy! Below is a picture of her ultrasound, and if you look at the back of her head you might notice her hair. I bet it'll be thick and black!

The ultrasound tech also told us that she weighs 3 lbs (plus or minus 7 oz.). Wow! I hope she doesn't get too heavy; I want to get out of my labor with a semi-normal cooter.

Ok, on that gross note, I'm off to sweep my stairs, or whatever else people do to procrastinate.
<3

27 weeks and a quick update

No news on the weight gain front...I think I've gained one pound, so not much to brag about.
(At the end of this post is a picture from Thursday of my bump - 27 weeks!)

How can I tell if this new desire to have my house clean all the time is nesting, or me actually starting to care about having a messy house? Either way, it's nice to be able to have people drop by without the humiliation of a bra hanging from the chandelier and a sex toy peeking out from beneath the couch cushions. Haha. Obviously I'm exaggerating. Why on earth would we have our sex toys downstairs?! Lol

I feel like I'm getting bigger, but after looking at pictures from last week, it's apparent that I'm the same ole' me. Either way, the baby feels heavier. My back is starting to ache a bit, which has resulted in me waddling when I get sleepy or sore. Haha, Michael thinks it's hilarious to watch me waddle and do my "pregnancy stand up" when I get up from the couch. Lol.

Today is Izzy's fifth birthday party, and I am so excited to go and see everyone. Is it weird that I have baby fever? I mean, I carry a baby with me all day, but I am so excited to see and hold a new tiny baby. I think my bestie and my baby's bestie (Cass and Mackenzie, and Mark and Max) are staying home today cos her little guy is sick. I feel so sad for them! I don't know what I am going to do when Misha gets sick for the first time. I imagine it's both scary and sad. Scary cos I'm a stress case, and sad cos I know how much it sucks to be sick as an adult (when you have control over everything), so I can't imagine how much it sucks when you are a small kid. :( Feel better soon Max!

 Here's a pic of my belly. Do I look bigger (in the stomach. Ignore my fat arms..or else!! lol) to you? I feel bigger. Just for fun, I'll also throw in a picture of my front. I think I look a little bit wider (also, please disregard my headlights showing. Also disregard the fact that they are facing different directions. I didn't have time to primp my nips). Who knows.

6 months, update and a weight/natural rant

 Today - 26 weeks pregnant

 Today - 26 weeks pregnant

 February 8, 2012 - about 24 weeks, and hiding my face because I felt like a heifer. Looking at this pic now, I realize how crazy people can be when they are feeling hormonal (welcome to the wonders of pregnancy!)








I LOVE being pregnant. I love watching Michelle's body move across my stomach. I love the fact that she kicked Michael on the face when he was resting with me. I LOVE that she responds to our voices, and that she is healthy. I am in love with my bump, with how healthy I feel, and I feel so honored that pregnancy has been so wonderful for me. It makes me sad when people complain about their pregnancies, but there is nothing I can do to control others. I mentioned this a week or two ago on twitter when I was angry about the complaints..but now I'm just sad for the people who are stuck feeling that way. I thought I should update that thought on here, so I can remember this when I'm pregnant again :)

Ok, so time for a rant!

I was so nervous about my weight when I first got pregnant. I have always struggled with my weight and perception of myself, so I was worried about gaining too much and not being able to lose it. So, I have been taking really good care of myself and what I eat. I'm a vegetarian, so it's both easy and hard to eat healthy. Sometimes veggies don't sound good, and I just want a big plate of pasta.

When I first got pregnant I lost 10 pounds (how, I don't know!) without being sick or changing much about my lifestyle. As time has gone on, I haven't gained back but 2 of those ten pounds. My last doctors appt (last Friday) was frustrating for me because my doc said if I don't gain 5 lbs by my next appt she is sending me to a nutritional counselor. Um...if my baby is measuring normal (which she is), and I am healthy, then what is the problem? My mom only gained 16 lbs during her pregnancy with me!

I think doctors try to control pregnancies too much. I understand that some people have complications or problems, but so far nature is letting my body do its thing, and everything is great. I want my body to naturally progress the way it wants to, and I want to birth naturally. So far, I've had to make sure to repeat these things over and over because people think they know best. Sorry, but women have been giving birth for as long as there has been people, so I think that instinctively my body knows what to do.

This all being said, my doctor is totally for my desire to be all natural, she's just obsessing over my weight. Oddly enough, it's other people are trying to talk me out of natural childbirth! Natural. NATURAL. What my body was made to do and feel. Ah life, if there is one thing I hate, it's other people telling me what to do, especially when I've never asked for advice.

Ok, rant over!

Sophie, Skirts, and Baby Autumn

Tonight Michael surprised me (well, Michelle) with a Sophie la Girafe! It was so sweet of him to get this for her...especially when I only mentioned the toy to him once or twice :)

I've been thinking a lot about birthing outfits and whether or not I should make my own dress/skirt to wear for the delivery process. I don't want to wear a hospital gown while I'm squatting or kneeling on a birthing ball...my butt is not for show! lol. I'm thinking nursing sports bra and a skirt/dress thing. I'll decide/figure something out once I get a little bigger and talk to my doctor about our birth plans.

My cousin Melissa gave birth last night to a beautiful baby girl! After a really hard labor and recovery for the baby during her last pregnancy, this was very happy news! It's always amazing news when someone has a good labor and a healthy baby, but when they have a history of complications, it's extra relieving!
Welcome to the world, baby Autumn! You have a wonderful family, adorable brothers, and I cant wait to cuddle you!!

Kick kick kick

I think I have a ninja baby. She loves to kick and dance about in my womb. I think it's freaking awesome; I love each little movement she makes. She especially moves when Michael is talking. I think she likes him more than me; I'm gonna have to start competing with him!

On Sunday my mom was able to feel Michelle kick! She is the first person other than Michael to have the privilege. Later that day, Rachael felt her kick too! My stomach even jumps around and moves when she is particularly active. I can't wait until it moves in a huge wave and looks like a scene from Alien. Lol

Also, this weekend my family's friend Kris and her sister Dianna came by and brought us a baby book, and keepsakes for the nursery! It was so sweet and generous; I can't wait to fill up the baby book and album, and add little treasures to the keepsake box. We're very lucky to have such sweet friends and family.

Not much else to update on...just wanted to stay active on blogger, since I tend to disappear if I don't stay motivated.

<3
Jess

Nursery Progress!!

Michelle's room is finally starting to get worked on again! My sister Nikki surprised me with a beautiful homemade quilt she made for the nursery, and since we are getting a new rocking chair for the room tomorrow, I had to start getting more stuff done.

My mom came over and we put putty in the holes on the baseboards, sanded them, and painted them! Then, we re-vacuumed the room, hung up her hanging lantern, and put up her window valance! My mom also hung up all of the baby's clothes in the closet, but since we are adding racks and stuff in there, we will have to rehang them in a bit. Either way, the room looks awesome!

Below are some pics of the room, and the pretty quilt my sis made on the crib! We have so much more to do (wall decorations, tying down the wires from the lantern, and painting Misha's toybox...but it looks freaking awesome so far! <3

-Jess

 Here's my mom (Grammie) tidying up after all the work we did.

 Michael resting after doing "dad stuff" in the room ;-)

Pretty crib and quilt! Thanks, Nik!

Long time, No Blog

A lot has happened since my emo-ridden post in December. I hit the halfway point in my pregnancy, started working on the nursery, and had my first (informal) baby shower with my four close friends. The get together was very nice and it was so generous of my friends to buy us gifts already! I felt so loved and I know Michelle will feel the love too :)
Yesterday we had an ultrasound appointment at Kaiser to check Michelle's progress and learned that she is one pound one ounce..already!? Dang girl, I hope she stays on the smaller side. :) She is a very active baby in the evenings and late afternoon, but was barely moving for the ultrasound at 9 am. Definitely a Bergman baby! She likes her sleep :)
Tonight there is a prenatal yoga class being offered in Fairfield by my house, but I am scared to go. My doctor really recommended me to go to one, but I hate doing stuff like that alone. I haven't been in a yoga classroom in about 7 years, and my belly bump isn't as pretty and round as other girls. I really should go though! I've been having back pain and my muscles feel tight, so this would be awesome for me, but socially, I am a turd. Lol
I started school in the first week of January and it's already stressful, but way better than last quarter. I am taking two education classes and one sociology class (yay!), so I am immersed in stuff I actually enjoy learning about. The only bummer is that I couldn't get into a Soc class I NEEDED to graduate, so I have to take it next quarter and risk missing the last few weeks because I'll be giving birth or something. Ah well, I'm just gonna let the universe handle this one and see what happens. At least I'll only have one academic class next quarter along with the two art classes I am planning to take.

Below are some pictures from the ultrasound. The first is Misha's profile, the second is her little foot!

 

Next, here are some pictures of her room, with the new wall color, handmade blankets and pillows (by me!!), and cute wall plaque with her name. 

And lastly is a shot from way back at 19.6 weeks (I'm 22 now). I am chilling on the bed so my bump looks much rounder and cuter ;-)

Sorry for the delay in updating. I'll be back soon!

-Jess