The weeks are going fast and I’m starting to wonder when our little bambino will be joining us in her new home.  Up until this point actually having our bambino was so far in the future that it was hard to start planning what came next but the time is now upon us.  This week I had my last bi-weekly doctor’s appointment and got our maternity pictures taken.  In two weeks we start having weekly doctor visits!

Our little bambino is almost five pounds now and about 18 inches long.  She’s the size of a cantaloupe or butternut squash.  Our little girl can recognize and react to simple songs so we’ve been playing her music!  We got some great CDs from one of Dusty’s Aunts and I found a free app for my phone with lullabies so we’ve been playing those for her.  Dusty even makes up his own lullabies and sings those when he’s feeling really inspired.

Weight Gain: Officially, I gained about 1.5 pounds these past two weeks.  This was at the beginning of the week so I’m sure it was really more like 2 pounds by the end.

Maternity Clothes: Lots of t-shirts and shorts at the house and maternity dresses when I venture outside.

Sleep: Sleep continues to be difficult for a number of reasons including restroom breaks in the middle of the night, weird dreams, waking up to another item I need to add to my to-do list, the heat, achy back, and just restlessness in general.  This morning I woke up at 5am and couldn’t go back to sleep so I got up, did a few things around the house for a few hours and then went back to sleep for an hour.

Food: I’m still craving all of the delicious food around me while trying to maintain some will power!  I’ve decided it’s not a good idea to send a pregnant lady to the grocery store alone for several reasons.  One reason, I brought home dark chocolate covered caramels with sea salt and little donuts.  My second reason is that I decided if I had this baby early we needed to have groceries stocked up, otherwise Dusty would purchase groceries (until I was able to again) at Cubby’s (the corner store).  So, I bought lots of random things we could stock up on like paper towels, toilet paper, pasta noodles, Diet Mountain Dew, etc.

Movement:  She’s moving constantly.  When we went to the doctor this week our doctor said our little bambino was head down and that she was looking out so her pokes and shoves were very easy to feel.  She’s since moved to so her little rear end is to one side and she’s looking to the other side, still head down (or at least that’s what it feels like).

Belly Button:  No going back, it’s an outie.

Mood: For the most part, I’m feeling good and just trying to stay busy so the waiting doesn’t seem so long.  I’m most definitely an emotional ball of worms at times but Dusty’s been such a great husband, always saying the right things, doing nice things for me, and making me feel better!  It’s so crazy how the smallest thing can bring tears to my eyes or get me just a little more frustrated than usual.

Pregnancy Symptoms: My belly is most definitely the center of the attention and is only getting bigger by the week.  I love my growing belly and can’t imagine what it’ll look like in a month.  I went through my pregnancy with very few negative pregnancy symptoms but I’ve started feeling them these past few weeks.  The major symptoms include a lot of backaches, having difficulty sitting in one position for any lengthy amount of time, and feeling this summer heat!

Best Moment(s) This Week: Best moment(s) this week were getting our maternity pictures taken, attending a baby shower co-hosted by two of my close friends, Kate & Robin, and celebrating my sister’s 30th birthday.

Missing Anything: This week I’ve missed being able to do things on my own.  I’m really starting to have to rely on others more, mainly Dusty.  Normally I’d put something on a shelf or unload the groceries or carry something to my car without a second thought but now I have to ask for help with the smallest of things.  And then I’m feeling guilty about having to ask for help.  So weird, I know, to not want to ask for help when I’m almost 8 months pregnant but I sure can’t wait to be a little more independent again.

Looking Forward To: I’m looking forward to a productive week at home, teaching and finishing up some projects around the apartment.  I’m also looking forward to our From Belly to Bassinet class we’re taking at the hospital this coming weekend.  I know it’ll be long day but there are so many things that I’m sure we’ll learn.

Weekly Picture:  This week’s picture was taken by our place in the Old Market.  The dress is Forever 21.

***My weekly posts are written during the week and then posted the following week, after I’ve taken my weekly picture and I’ve had time to edit them.***

Things continue to be busy this week and I have a feeling they’ll stay this way until our bambino arrives.  Dusty’s trying to work as much as possible so he can feel caught up and a little less stressed when the baby comes, and that leaves me getting the house prepared.  I spent the week working from home, teaching, cleaning, and watching my nieces.

This week our bambino is the size of a durian (does anyone really know what that is) or a pineapple (again).  She’s about 17 inches in length and over 4 pounds now.  This week I worked a lot on the nursery, moving things around and getting rid of a lot of unnecessary things we’ve (really, I’ve) been holding on to for way too long.  Our trip to Minneapolis was a success so there were also a few things we bought for the nursery that needed to be put together.  The nursery is looking really good but there are piles of stuff sitting all over our place that need to either go in storage, go back to their original owner or need to find a new home.

Weight Gain: I gained about 1.5 pounds these past two weeks.  Don’t ask me how I did that because I was sure I would be up at least 4 pounds in the past two weeks.

Maternity Clothes: It’s getting hotter!  The weather is in the 90s and I’m feeling it.  When I’m at home I wear t-shirts and shorts and when I leave the apartment I wear one of the black cotton maternity dresses I own or wear one of my more colorful maternity dresses when I’m doing something a little more special (like when I plan on seeing someone I know).

Sleep: This tells you it all, I have bags under my eyes and I just don’t think they’re going away anytime soon.  It’s hard to find a comfortable position and I’m waking up quite a bit in the middle of the night because I feel uncomfortable, am hot, have to use the restroom or just start thinking about something I need to put on my to-do list.

Food: Lots of ice cream this week!  I’m a fan of chocolate!

Movement:  Still love those pokes and jabs she makes.  We’re starting to be able to tell how she’s laying.  Last week her little rear end was up against my right side but she’s moved a little and she must be facing out to the world with her feet near my ribs (so she’s upside down).

Belly Button:  No going back, it’s an outie.

Mood: I’m feeling really good about getting so much accomplished.  My to-do list that needs to be accomplished before our bambino arrives is still long but I’ve been crossing a lot off my list.

Best Moment(s) This Week: Best moment(s) this week were going to the pool with my nieces, co-hosting another sewing partying at my place and attending my family baby shower.  So many exciting things happened this week.  I went swimming while I was in Minneapolis last weekend and loved it!!!  I thought that swimming almost 8 months pregnant wouldn’t be my thing but it’s actually really relaxing so I went out and bought a maternity swimsuit and asked my nieces if they wanted to go to the pool (they were a great excuse to go).

Saturday I co-hosted a sewing party with my friend Beth and we made ironing board covers.  There were five of us and we had a blast.  I’ll post something about it soon.  It was nice to relax and forget about my to-do list for a few hours.

Sunday my sister and sister-in-law threw me a beautiful baby shower!!!  It was so overwhelming to have so many family and close friends together, celebrating our little bambino.  She’s a lucky little girl and so are Dusty and I.  We had three soon-to-be great-grandmas there, which was so amazing.  And I can’t forget to thank all those other people who helped with the party as well.

Missing Anything: This week I’ve been missing sleep!  And of course, this is something that I’m not getting it back anytime soon.  It’s only going to get worse so I’m trying to be thankful for the sleep and naps I do get.

Looking Forward To: I’m still looking forward to our doctor’s appointment next week (I thought it was last week but it’s not until Monday)!  I’m also looking forward to our maternity photo shoot (but a little anxious about finding a cute outfit)!

Weekly Picture:  This week’s picture was taken at my Mother-in-law’s house after our family baby shower.  She has beautiful flowers all around the house and I thought it would be an excellent backdrop to the pictures this week.  The dress is maternity from Gap.

***My weekly posts are written during the week and then posted the following week, after I’ve taken my weekly picture and I’ve had time to edit them.***

This post is coming a little late.  I can’t believe how fast the days are going and how little I feel like I’ve accomplished since we’ve gotten home from Paris.  I know we are getting a lot done to prepare for the bambino but the to-do list keeps getting longer.

This week our bambino is the size of a large jicama or squash and is about 16 1/2 inches in length and about 4 pounds.  This week was spent teaching my summer classes (mostly from home and then in class on Friday), catching up with friends, and going to Minneapolis for a last visit before our little one arrives.  The weekly emails we get say that this is the time to start connecting with our bambino, making sure to sing to her and when she is pushing or kicking in one spot, rub or push back gently.

Weight Gain: I’m going to the doctor’s every two weeks now so I decided to just wait until I visit next week before weighting myself.  That means I can worry about it later.

Maternity Clothes: This week was it cooled down a little in Omaha.  There were a few days in the mid 80s and then the rest of the week of in the 90s.  I have three black cotton maternity dresses from Target and I’ve been wearing those nonstop.

Sleep: I’ve officially adjusted to the time difference but this week has also signaled a change in my sleeping.  I’m waking up early, no matter what time I go to bed.  I work from home most days and could sleep in as late as I wanted but instead, I’m getting up at 7am.  And still getting up in the middle of the night.  It’s getting more and more difficult to get comfortable.  I’m using 4 pillows to prop me up on all sides.

Food: We’ve been getting into a routine of eating at home but it seems like so much more work to make dinner than it was a couple of weeks ago.  I’m making a lot of simple meals so I don’t have to dirty a lot of dishes and go to the grocery store all of the time.

Movement:  Lots of movement from our little bambino these days.  Dusty describes it as an alien in my belly, and often times that’s what it feels like.

Belly Button:  No going back, it’s an outie.

Mood: Overall, it’s been another great week.  I think that pregnancy has made me in a really happy mood (for the most part).  These past few months I’ve laughed at Dusty’s stories and jokes more than I ever have before.  I’ve always thought Dusty was funny and told some of the most entertaining stories but I can’t tell if he’s getting funnier or if it’s just the pregnancy that makes me laugh at everything he says (even when he’s making fun of me).

I’m still feeling more sentimental and emotional these days but it’s always because of the wonderful things happening!  I find myself thinking about Dusty being a dad or us being a family of three or how much our parents are doing for us and start getting tears in my eyes.

Best Moment(s) This Week: Best moment(s) this week were catching up with friends and family and going to Minneapolis to visit some of Dusty’s family and do a little shopping for the nursery in the big city.

Missing Anything: I’m missing my old body.  My back is starting to ache a lot more and it’s not only difficult to get out of bed but it’s also a little painful.  I’m glad this hasn’t gone on for the entire 9 months I was pregnant!  It’s a lot more difficult to stay in one position for a long period of time.

Looking Forward To: I’m looking forward to our doctor’s appointment next week and the family baby shower!  I’m also looking forward to cleaning out the spare bedroom that will become the nursery.  My mom is coming over to help clean out the closet and organize everything and my Mother-in-law is going to paint for us! We have some wonderful Moms!

Weekly Picture:  This week’s picture was taken by our apartment in the Old Market.  The dress is maternity from Target.

***My weekly posts are written during the week and then posted the following week, after I’ve taken my weekly picture and I’ve had time to edit them.***

This week our bambino is the size of a pineapple and is approximately 15-16 inches in length and weighs 3-4 pounds.  The first part of the week we spent doing lots of nostalgic Paris things like going to the Eiffel Tower for lunch and then going at night to see all of the sparkles, and of course, eating crepes.  The later part of the week was spent traveling home and then attending two baby showers as well as seeing family and friends.

Weight Gain: I went in for a check-up Friday and was happy to hear that I only gained 5 pounds over the past 5 weeks! I was quite sure the nurse was going to tell me I had doubled my weight and that I was going to have to really be careful these last few weeks.  That means a total weight gain of 15 pounds.  I guess all that walking around Paris really paid off.

Maternity Clothes: This week was a little cooler and rainy while in Paris so I’ve been wearing maxi dresses and then when we got back to Omaha it was a bit warmer, 80s and so I wore lots of cotton maternity dresses.  It’s so different adjusting to these warmer temperatures.  I’m spending a lot more time in doors with the air conditioning on.

Sleep: With the time shift of returning from Paris, in addition to the wake up calls of pregnancy, I had a bit of trouble sleeping the second half of the week.  I’m going to bed early and then waking up very early in the morning.  By Sunday, I was completely exhausted.

Food: Now that I’m back in the states I really do love Kit Kat bars.  Not sure what it is about them but they’re lovely!  Otherwise, I’m just trying to get back in the habit of grocery shopping and not going to the open market right out my front door twice a week.

Movement:  She still loves wiggling her little butt and moving around.  We had a quick ultra sound during our check-up and it was great to find out what little parts were moving where.  Her cute little rear end is right up against my right side and I feel a lot of pushing on that side. We feel her hiccups on occasion as well.

Belly Button:  No going back, it’s an outie.

Mood:  The bambino and I had another good week.  I was most definitely tired by the end of the week, with all of our traveling and then baby showers, but it was all worth it.  It was so good to see our family and friends.  Those hormones have most definitely started kicking into gear again.  I found myself waking up crying a little Sunday morning, thinking about how lucky we are to have such wonderful friends and family around that care so much about us.

Best Moment(s) This Week: Best moment(s) this week were spending our last few days in Paris together.  The day after our anniversary we went for a picnic at the Eiffel Tower, the same exact thing we were doing 7 years ago when Dusty proposed.  The other great moments this week were seeing friends and family at the baby showers our friends threw for us. And finally, seeing our little bambino during the ultra sound and hearing her heartbeat.  It’s so reassuring to hear she’s growing faster than ever and doing really good.

Missing Anything: I’m missing being able to travel easily and sleep on airplanes! Although everyone was very nice through the entire process, it was not the most comfortable and I was very glad to be home after almost 24 hours of traveling.

Looking Forward To: I’m looking forward to preparing for our little bambino and putting the nursery together. The stroller, car seat and crib are on the way!

Weekly Picture: This week’s picture was taken by our apartment in the Old Market after one of the baby showers.  The dress is from Target.

***My weekly posts are written during the week and then posted the following week, after I’ve taken my weekly picture and I’ve had time to edit them.***

This week our bambino is the size of a cucumber (I’m assuming that’s height) or the size of a large cabbage (that’s more like it).  The later part of the week was spent rushing around Paris doing all of the things we wanted to do but hadn’t done yet.  Dusty still worked a lot but we did find a few days to go out to lunch or dinner and see a few of the sights.  We also celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary (and last one before we’re a family of three).

Maternity Clothes: This week was a little cooler and rainy with most of the week in the 60s so I’ve been wearing maternity jeans and t-shirts or long maxi dresses.

Sleep: I’m most definitely starting to feel the symptoms of being 30 weeks pregnant.  I’m waking up more often in the middle of the night and finding it a little more difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position.  I’m still able to go back to sleep easily when I do wake up and am feeling refreshed in the morning.

Food: It’s crazy to see how much food I could consume if I wanted.  I can most definitely eat just as much as Dusty and sometimes more if I wanted.

Movement:  She loves to move around.  She especially loves kicking and punching (sounds so violent but it’s really not or at least not yet) on my right side, she must be really comfortable over there.  You can still find me beckoning Dusty to put his hand on my stomach to feel her move.  I still can’t get over how much she moves.

Belly Button:  It’s officially an outie.  As you can see in this week’s photo, it’s poking out just a bit (click on the image if you’d like to see it larger)!

Mood: This week was great!  I’m feeling really good and have actually enjoyed the cooler weather.  It’s so nice to have the windows of our place open and enjoy the cool breeze (I know it’s not going to be like that when we get home to the 90s).

Best Moment(s) This Week: Best moment(s) this week was celebrating our anniversary on Sunday.

Missing Anything: Being it’s our last full week in Paris I was missing all of the wonderful things I would normally be eating and drinking in Paris including those lovely cheeses and wine.

Looking Forward To: Although I love our time in Paris, I’m looking forward to being at home and getting ready for our little girl to arrive!  We were so busy before we left that we haven’t bought anything (except a dresser) or done anything for the nursery.

Weekly Picture:  This week’s picture was taken at the Parc du Champ de Mars.  The Champ de Mars is a long stretch of grass right at the base of the Eiffel Tower giving you a magnificent view of the Eiffel Tower.  We were actually a good half mile away from the Eiffel Tower on the grass and it gave us a perfect view of the tower.  This week I’m wearing a black maxi skirt that I made and a Target maternity top.  The scarf is my newest souvenir from Paris.

Weekly picture of me with the Eiffel Tower behind.