Third Trimester!

As of yesterday I have started the third trimester. There is still 12 weeks to go until babys due date, but its really gone by quickly since the 20 week mark! I am feeling pretty good other than the heartburn incident, which luckily hasn't been back in full force *knock on wood*. I am just being really careful about what I eat now, especially at night!

I really can't wait to see my baby, I can feel little knees and feet and wonder who this little person is! I am still having moments where I feel like I need to know if its a boy or a girl, but I'm glad we are waiting...for the most part haha!

Tomorrow we are going for the 3D Ultrasound and I am so excited to get a glimpse! Hopefully baby cooperates and we get some nice, clear pictures. I will (hopefully)post the 3D images and a new belly pic tomorrow.

3 months to go!

A night to forget!

Last night I woke up at 2:30 with the most agonizing pain in my upper back, ribcage and chest in general. I was actually in panic mode with how sore I felt, it was as if I had been punched super hard in the back and I could barely breathe. I took some zantac as it felt a bit like heartburn but 1000 times worse. When that didn't kick in fast enough I took a tylenol too, and I am VERY hesitant to take any pain killer or drug while pregnant. By 5:00 it had calmed enough to realize it was indeed heartburn and had been by far the worst heartburn I've had in my entire life, and I had acid reflux while growing up! This was absolutely terrible pain. I was contemplating going to the ER it hurt so badly. I am hoping like crazy that this is a one-time deal, but I didn't really eat anything that would off-set such a vicious attack of heartburn! I'm almost at 28 weeks and thats when they say heartburn will kick in...if it's going to be a real problem anyway. If it was this bad now, what will it look like in a couple months?! Scared.

Appointment and a horrible day to follow

I had an appointment with my midwife today. Everything was good, I found out I don't have to do the gestational diabetes screen because I am so low-risk (Yay!). I was right when I thought baby was lying transverse along my pelvis- this baby is LOW. The heartbeat was just below 140 bpm. This baby has a much slower heartbeat than Julia did! It has been between 127-140 bpm. Julia was higher around 155-160 bpm. Aside from feeling like my pelvis is going to fall out of my body I have been feeling great! Another ultrasound is being booked for 32 weeks to check the location of my placenta again. Next midwife appointment is Sept. 15th.

I am pleased to see that this baby is being carried out front and not EVERYWHERE like with Ju! So far all the weight is in the baby bump and I'm seriously hoping I keep growing like this. Last time I felt so huge and bloated by 6 months, I was carrying everywhere and felt so gross! Maybe the weight will come off easier this time...I've only gained 13 lbs and hope to gain no more than 25. I don't even watch what I eat, I just eat healthy! I'm very pleased :D

The rest of my day was less than an adventure. I came out of my appointment to see I had a flat tire. Let me re-phrase that, not a flat tire a completely useless tire. It was ripped right open! I was PISSED, and upon looking at my BCAA card found out our membership expired LAST WEEK!! ARGH!! I was on Hastings with Julia in tow, pregnant and it was 25 degrees with no shade. I called a tow truck and it took him almost an hour and a half to get to us. When he finally came we went to get the spare tire from underneath the car and guess what? NO SPARE TIRE. Where the hell it is I have no clue. Might I also add that said tow truck driver barely speaks English. Trying to coordinate where he was towing my freaking car to was a fun game. Luckily when I called a cab a really nice driver came and was very helpful with following Mr. Tow Truck and cheering poor Julia up. He towed us to an Asian Auto Body/Tire shop. This was in sketch-ville and there wasn't really anywhere for us to walk to while they were fixing it. It took another hour for them to get organized and we were stuck outside in the blazing hot sun standing on concrete. My poor baby, I'm so glad I had lots of water and snacks for her in the car. She was good considering the situation but I was still stressed and snappy with her usual 2 year old behaviour. I feel terrible for being such a mean mom today, I apologized to her and she said, "me sorry too mommy". What a sweetheart. Anyway, I got totally ripped off at the auto body on a USED tire. The guy said $370 + labour for a new tire, or $100 for a used tire and labour included. Basically the jerk wanted me to buy his damn used tire. What choice did I have? I got pissy with him and he suggested I call the tow truck company for me to take the car somewhere else (another $100 for a tow? DONT THINK SO!). So today was an inconvenient $220 down the drain type of day, a ton of stress and a PAIN IN THE ASS!

I hope thats the last bad day in sight for a long time. Man it was a disappointing, crappy day! On the positive side though, the baby is healthy and growing perfectly. Can't wait for the 3D ultrasound- date changed to August 31st!!

Moving and baby "stuff"

Well, we are moving over the weekend! I can't believe I am doing this while 6 months pregnant but hey its better than 7 or 8 months..even 9 although I would never go there. We have rented a beautiful upper level of a house in Upper Lonsdale in North Vancouver. There is a nice yard for Julia, a deck for a bbq and lounging, 3 nice sized bedrooms on the upper level and a nice sized bathroom. The kitchen is nice and cozy and then we have a dining room and living room. I love that it has hardwood floors and has a cute character about it. To top it off the house is on a beautiful, quiet street and has a school with playground, etc. close by.

The baby is going to have a room! Hurray! I can't wait to start getting it organized and ready. I was trying to figure out what we need in my head but it will probably help to write it down, so here goes...

- Car Seat
- Double stroller (really like the Phil and Teds Dash)
- Baby bath tub
- Receiving blankets (have some from Julia but will definitely make some more)
- Bassinet bedding (going to sew with my Grandma with chenille dot fabric!)
- Crib bedding, I am thinking of one nice home-made crib blanket (likely going to make one for a boy and one for a girl)
- Burp Cloths
- Baby hangers
- Baby clothes but will wait until after baby is born to start buying
- Area rug for room
- Newborn diapers
- More washcloths
- Little hats for both boy/girl
- Pack of white onesies size newborn
- One boy sleeper, one girl sleeper
- "Going home outfit" for girl and boy
- Dye-free, scent-free laundry detergent
- Crib sheets
- Soothers

...I know there is much more but I am drawing blanks.

We already have:

- Bassinet
- Crib
- Change table
- Swing
- Bouncy Chair
- Bumbo
- Cuddly Wrap
- Ergo carrier w/infant insert
- Nursing pillow
- Sheep skin
- Cuddle bag for Car Seat
- Diaper Genie and refills
- Glider and Ottoman
- Portable changing mat
- Diaper Bag
- All the baby girl clothes we need if we have another girl!

Ok I'm hurting my brain here! I'm sure there are many details I've forgotten that I don't need to think of right this moment. In any case, we are slowly getting there and I'm excited!

Happy moving to us, and hopefully I don't want to kill myself by the end of this. Just taking it as slow as can be and being optimistic :)

Braxton Hicks

Today I've had pretty noticeable braxton hicks throughout the day. I barely had any with Julia until the very end, and even then I barely noticed them. These are quite strong and come and go randomly. Its a weird feeling, and feels too early but from what I've read perfectly normal especially for a 2nd pregnancy. Makes me wonder what to expect when I get closer...hope they just stay the way they are!

My stomach has been off today, and I'm not feeling great. Seems no matter what I eat gives me heartburn. I hope this is just a bad day and tomorrow everything will be back in order.

Belly @ 25 weeks

Photography

I have all these beautiful maternity shots in my mind, and really they are no good to me for myself! We have a family session booked in September for some maternity shots, and the last "official" photos of us being a family of 3. I know I will be doing a ton of newborn shots whether exhausted or not because that window is so small for the great shots in the first weeks. I'd also like to book with a photographer to get family shots with all 4 of us...its frustrating that I have all these ideas but unfortunately I can't include myself in the photos- the fate of the photographer I suppose. I don't want to pay hundreds of dollars every time so its a matter of finding amateur photographers with a great eye. I'm excited by all these ideas I have for different infant shots, especially sibling photos!

In the mean time I am going to try to get out once a week just me and my camera to get inspired and hopefully stumble upon some beautiful shots. There aren't many things in life as peaceful as going for a walk in nature, listening to my favourite tunes and taking pictures.

I'm getting more and more excited about photoshop as I work with it and get to know the program better. There are many cool pictures to come out of the next little while. Why not turn pregnant emotions into beautiful shots? There's passion and what a beautiful way to express it.

6 months down, 4 to go!

Yes, yes. Everyone thinks pregnancy is 9 months...but lets be realistic- its 10!!

But I am super stoked to be this far along, it has gone by quickly...but also feels like forever. The summer definitely helps time pass! We have a 3D ultrasound booked for Sept.7th so that is something to look forward to :)

According to various books, websites, etc. the baby is nearly 2 lbs and about 14 inches long crown to toe! I can't believe how big it is already. Baby is still on a very regular schedule. Every night at 10 pm, every morning around 6 am and then about half hour after each meal! Very strong legs on this little one when it does decide its party time!

My Mom is in town for the weekend (Thurs-Tues!) so I am having an amazing time! Its so great to have her around. Julia and I will be going to Calgary to hang out with her for a couple of weeks after my appointment on Aug.18th.

Things are great, the sun is shining and off we go for the afternoon! Will post another pic soon. I should post one with baby sitting low, and another when he/she is more upright. Huge difference- almost of looking pregnant or not!