Weeks 27 – 33

Well, I’m (hopefully) a solid 6 weeks from “the big day”. But who knows…

I can say with 100% certainty that the end of the second trimester brought the end of the honeymoon phase of pregnancy. Out with the nice little bump, in with the belly! And the rest of the not-so-fun symptoms – like acid reflux, insomnia, and cramping. Ok, my belly isn’t really that big yet. I’m hardly waddling. But my body has changed big time.

Exercise pretty much stopped around week 27. This was partially due to the fact that I was having cramping and I didn’t know if activity was the cause, but I also found running to be completely impossible. I didn’t have the stamina or the energy. And it just got plain uncomfortable. I walked periodically, but since I was still trying to work, my days off were really just rest days. Sometime between weeks 30 and 31, I stopped everything altogether due to the hospital visit and cramping episodes, and since then it’s been pretty much relaxing, mellow living. Yoga, stretching, short walks (for quickie errands around the neighb), and wii sports. I don’t think there’s a correlation between my activity and the cramping (since it has happened in the middle of the night), but I still don’t feel great about doing anything overly strenuous. So that’s the deal with the exercise.

I am still on antacids twice a day and it has definitely made things much better in the reflux department. The only other GI complaint I have in constipation, which has basically been an issue for all 34 weeks, so I’m hardly shocked by it. I started taking stool softeners periodically (nearly every other day), which has maybe helped? Maybe not. I’ve been dealing with IBS-C my whole life, but it’s hard to discern GI bloating and the likes from pregnancy stuff. Blah. I have good days and bad days but with everything else that’s been going on, constipation is the least of my worries. Never thought I’d say that.

On a related note, my appetite has returned. I had several ravenous days back at the end of the second trimester (pretty sure my little guy was going through a growth spurt because I was hungry around the clock). Then I did a complete 180. I felt like crap and had no interest in food and wasn’t eating very much at all. As in fewer calories than my pre-pregnancy self ate. I thought it was just a phase (these things seem to go up and down all the time that I’ve just come to expect the unexpected now). Turns out, that was probably all caused by the reflux because once I started taking those lovely little pills my appetite returned and I actually enjoyed food again (as opposed to dread it). Anyway. My weight gain is still in the normal range, but it is on the very low end (if you trust the graph). I’m not too worried though. Everyone says you really pack on the lbs during the last month.

Looking to the positive, things are really coming together in the guest bedroom nursery. The crib is set up, we have a GORGEOUS dresser/changing table and the oh-so-coveted B.O.B. stroller. I mean, that’s pretty much all you need right? [Kidding] I bought a car seat last week because I got nervous that I was going to go into labor early, while in Nor Cal for the holidays, and I know that’s one of the things you absolutely HAVE to have set up (and checked by qualified authorities) prior to going home with your newborn. I just wish it were easier to get an appointment to have your installed car seat checked (why do such simple things have to be such a pain). We also have some clothes and other registry items, thanks to our generous friends and family. I just need to wash the stuff before he arrives. The real issue is that we are still diaper-less. Obviously I have to do something about that in the near future. And if I’m being really honest, ideally we should pack a hospital bag too. That’s the kind of stuff you should have ready to go when you hit the 9 month point, right? My family is throwing another shower for us in a couple of weeks, so I guess there’s still time (even though it’s practically torture for Type A planners like Kyle and me).

I want to go jogging with it right now!!!!

On the cusp.

We searched high and low for a dresser. Seriously. Any place that has furniture, we checked it – from baby specific boutiques, to large and small online stores, to consignment shops, to garage sales. I’m not syaing we are picky, but…yeah…we are picky. This is the babi italia mayfair double dresser (in oyster shell). It’s the perfect height to be a changing table, and yet, it’s a gorgeous dresser that we will undoubtedly use forever. Those were our main criteria. The fact that it matches the crib and has lovely hardware and craftsmanship was icing on the cake.

I’m so in love.

It arrived in a massive box that didn’t fit it up the staircase, so we opened it up and took it out of the packaging before bringing it into the nursery. Kyle and his dad did the labor. I just watched (and worried).

Things are getting real!