40 Things I've learned in 40 weeks

 So yes- I haven't blogged in... well... months!  In June, we've moved to Korea, and have had an incredible start to our adventure here.  Suddenly, the end of this pregnancy has snuck up on me... today is my due date!!!  As it doesn't seem like the little guy (or big little guy, as I think he's pretty sizable!) will be coming out to play at the moment, I thought I'd take a few minutes to look back on stuff I've learned through this crazy baby-growing process!

 Things I’ve learned in 40 weeks of growing my son:

1.              If I never see another ‘TUMS’ again, it’ll be too soon.

2.              I can have the grandest intentions for making super-healthy meals every day, however, if the motivation to go out and buy/cook said meals isn’t there, I no longer feel guilty about occasionally ordering take-out.

3.              German doctors are much more calm and relaxed than American Army ones. 

4.              German doctors are not great at predicting the sex of the baby at 16 weeks.

5.              3-D ultrasounds are totally weird and creepy… until it’s your kid.  Then they are amazingly awesome.

6.              Belly kicks, flips and pokes are a totally indescribable feeling.

7.              Rib kicks, and bladder jabs are describable; they are not comfortable.

8.              Compression socks are a lifesaver on overseas airplane journeys.

9.              Uncomfyness/soreness during the last few weeks of being pregnant is nowhere near as bad as the pain and discomfort of my 1^st eight weeks of pregnancy.

10.           I am thankful every day to the preggo gods for sparing me from both morning sickness and stretch marks.

11.           Watching the numbers on the scale go up each monthly appointment was surprisingly more reassuring than scary.

12.           That being said, I never want to see the current scale number again… unless I am pregnant again.

13.           I’ll always remember where I was when Brian got to feel the baby kick for the 1^st time.  :)

14.           Any fears about childbirth seem to pale in comparison to fears about parenting.

15.           I feel less self-conscious in a 2-piece bathing suit now, than I did 37 pounds ago.

16.           I am thankful every day that Brian will be here (not deployed or TDY) when the baby is born.

17.           For as much as I gripe about technology, the fact that the grandparents will get to experience their 1^st grandchild’s first few months via Skype is an incredible thing.

18.           Some mornings I wake up and forget that I’m pregnant…. Then I try and roll over.

19.           Being severely pregnant in the heat of the summer isn’t really bad —I’d much prefer wearing these sundresses than heavy pants and layers.

20.           Having friends in the same stages of pregnancy with you is fantastically reassuring.

21.           Splurging on more and more books to read to your baby is never a bad investment.

22.           If people were as kind and considerate to everyone as they are to visibly pregnant people, the world would be a much happier place.

23.           I always liked the idea of having twins…. Now that I’m pregnant with just one, I cannot even begin to fathom having multiples.

24.           I cannot wait to see Brian as a daddy. 

25.           I could waste hours reading message boards on The Bump… it’s nice to see other people with the same questions and concerns… and the totally psycho ones make me feel much more normal.

26.           I’ve forgotten what it’s like to sleep through the night without getting up to use the bathroom or stretch my sore hips… I really can’t imagine falling asleep and not waking up again until the morning.

27.           Sometimes the heartburn is worth it to satisfy the spicy food fix; most often it’s not.

28.           Being pregnant certainly isn’t awful, but I don’t think I’d say that it’s particularly enjoyable either.

29.           When discomfort becomes routine, you tend to forget about it rather than harp on it.

30.           Maternity clothes come in two categories: Frumpy and boring or incredibly cute and ridiculously expensive.

31.           Long, non-maternity shirts and tanks can be worn pretty much the whole pregnancy.  At 40 weeks I still have two H&M short sleeve shirts that fit over the huge bump just fine.

32.           I do not miss scooping the cat litter.

33.           Through the kindness and generosity of our AF friends, friends from home, and family, I am convinced our little guy is already the most spoiled (and will be the best-dressed) baby on the planet.

34.           Coming up with the ‘perfect’ name is not easy! 

35.           I love playing “guess which baby part that is” with Brian when the baby decides to be a shark and swim everywhere at bedtime.

36.           The pregnancy ‘glow’ doesn’t happen for some people… I just got the pregnancy badly broken out skin instead.

37.           The closer I get to going into labor, (and the larger I hear the baby is measuring) the less inclined I am to having a med-free childbirth… and I’m okay with that.

38.           That being said, I REALLY hope this baby comes out on his own terms and I don’t have to be induced.

39.           My daydreams used to take me to exotic locales and 5 star restaurants… now I picture little league games and trips to the beach (perhaps still at exotic locales).

40.           It’s pretty amazing to have so much love and concern for someone you’ve never met. 

Belly Comparison... beginning to end

Here it is.... the crazy belly comparison from the time I found out I was expecting until just a few days before my due date.  Here's hoping I can get some semblance of that pre-baby shape back once the little guy is here!

36 Week Bump

Here's the ever-growing belly at 36 weeks!  Baby Morrissey seems to like Korea so far... especially the abundance of delicious Thai food and multitude of places to go for walks!

Baby boy in 3D

Here's the 3D ultrasound shot around 31 weeks; just before we left Germany.... baby boy Morrissey actually almost looks like a real baby! 

29 Week photo

Here's the bump at 29 weeks... not long before we left Germany:

28 Week Update

How the Pregnancy is going so far:

How far along: 28 weeks + a few days

How big is baby: Around the size of an eggplant!

Pregnancy weight gain:   Visiting the states did a number on me thanks to Chipotle, everything in Alabama being deep fried, and the home cooking from the fam in the northeast.  I'm up around 20 lbs now, but thankfully still feeling great!

Sleep:  According to Brian, I'm a "flopper."  I have a tough time getting comfortable before I fall asleep and thus 'flop' around for a while.  I've also started snoring apparently.  None of this I notice, but I pity my light-sleeping husband these days!
Maternity Clothes: After some great shopping while back in the states, I think I'm pretty much set for the summer.  My bff spoiled me with a couple of adorable dresses and tops from a boutique in Chicago, and those are my favorite (read: most comfy) right now.

Best moment of the week:  There are a few:

1. Returning to Germany and seeing Nellie-cat and our friends here at Spang!
2. Another great OB appointment confirming that baby Morrissey is growing just as he should... and that's he's still a boy!
3. Attending my last spouses coffee here.  It was a wonderful farewell from the ladies and it was also my worst moment of the week because I really don't want to leave yet!
4. Selling my car.  Without even advertising it to the public, we found someone who wants to purchase Civvy.  The transaction wont go through for another week and a half, but it's one less thing we need to worry about!

Funny moment of the week:  Getting a RhoGam shot at my OB appointment because I'm RH neg and Brian is RH positive... Brian misheard the MD and thought they were going to give me a Rogaine shot (aka the hair growth stuff)! 

Stressors this week: Preparing for the move.  We've gotten a good amount done in the last couple of days, but there is just so much more sorting to do!

Food cravings : Ice cream, spinach and corn (not combined, thank goodness)

Food aversions: None.  I'm back to wanting to eat everything in the grocery store.

Favorite Recipes/Meals this week: We're trying to clean out the pantry, so meals are getting creative!  Last night was asparagus risotto with shrimp and cauliflower.

 Symptoms:  The heartburn pretty much disappeared when I was stateside, but now it's coming back.  Sore upper back and ankles occasionally, but nothing too bad.  My skin is finally clearing up as well -thank goodness!  Oh, and my belly button is definitely a full "outtie" now.

Movement: All the time!  He's forever practicing his basketball dribbling with my innards.  :)  I'm just waiting for that scene in Alien where a hand pops out!

Gender: It's a boy!!!  They are "certain" this time! 

What I’m looking forward to: Having the move behind me.  I am very sad to be leaving Germany and our wonderful friends and house here, but simultaneously very ready to get settled into our new home before baby boy makes his debut!

What I miss from pre-pregnancy: Doing handstands, sharing a great bottle of wine, using our espresso machine.

Next appt: A couple of days before we leave to go to Korea (in just over 2 weeks).  It will be my last appt in Germany.  Boooo!

Forget the pink... it's a BOY!

First, let me apologize for the several week hiatus.   To say it's been a busy and crazy last few weeks is an understatement!  Between traveling back to the states to see Brian and the family, and getting ready to say a final 'Tschuss' to Germany,  I've been quite preoccupied.  Please bear with me as I try to recollect some of the big events from the last month or so!  Without a doubt, the biggest surprise I received came at my 22wk OB appointment...

I had the appointment just before flying back to the states, to make sure that everything was hunky-dory before getting on a 7 hour flight.  They did my glucose screening early that morning (everything was normal) and I had a 4 hour wait before my 'regular' appointment was scheduled.  Thankfully, they were not too busy, and were able to fit me in for the regular check-up right away, as opposed to having to return to the hospital in 4 hours.  The doctor who was able to see me was not my regular OB, but another very nice German fellow, who also spoke English incredibly well.

I may have mentioned this before, but one of my very favorite things with the care here in Germany, is that you get an ultrasound at every monthly appointment.  This time, the new doctor asked if I'd like to know the sex of the baby.  I told him that a month prior, I had an appointment and Brian and I were told that it was a girl... but that he was more than welcome to go back and check!  Boy am I glad he did!  After a few seconds of moving the ultrasound wand around my belly, he pauses... looks at me... looks back at the screen... and says (in a heavy accent):  "That is definitely NOT a girl!!!"

I looked at the screen and it did not take me long to realize he was right! He said that the crazy gummy bear was probably moving too much during the last appointment to get a clear shot.  I was shocked!  I think I even asked him if there were two babies in there (one boy and one girl)!  He reassured me that there was just one baby, and that we were, without a doubt, going to be parents to a son.

I asked for a print of the picture on the screen (clearly highlighting "the goods") so I could show it to Brian when I got to the states.  I now wish someone, anyone, had been at that appointment with me... the look on my face must have been priceless!  We had spent the past 5 weeks with the mindset that it was a girl.... granted I hadn't bought that many purple outfits and bows, but with the Spring Bazaar on base the week prior, I definitely walked away with a fair amount of stuff that will now be re-gifted to friends or saved for a future baby girl Morrissey.  I'm all about gender neutral stuff for sure, and he can wear whatever he wants, but I'm not going to willingly dress him in a dirndl this Oktoberfest instead of lederhosen!  :)

So that was a huge surprise... it's a boy!  I called Brian at around 5am in the states to tell him the news.... he was obviously shocked as well.  Now that we've had several weeks to let the news sink in (and another ultrasound at 27 weeks to confirm), we're finally adjusted to the idea that it's a boy!  We would be thrilled either way, for sure... so there was no disappointment when we found out--- just lots of surprise!   We've had a great time the last few weeks adjusting the items on our registry and telling family and friends.  The time until he arrives is flying by... it's hard to believe that in a little over two months, our son will be here!