#mcsurvey

Dear McBaby,

In 4 weeks (maybe less!) I will finally get to meet you.  Honestly, I'm getting impatient! :) I'm dying to know what you look like...whether you have my nose or your daddy's, what color your eyes are, and how much hair you have (you're bound to have some - both of your parents have a strong head of hair)! 40 weeks is a long time to wait...I think we're both ready for our first meeting (especially since you seem to be trying to kick your way out)! ;)

Hurry, little one. I'm anxious to get my hands on you...and also, I'm getting a little tired of waddling. ;)

Love,

McMommy

***

Yes, it's true! I'm 36 weeks!  With only 4 weeks to go, reality is setting in FAST.  Our living room is filled with baby gear, the nursery is complete, and I've quickly crossed the line from being "functional pregnant" to "the size of my giant belly dictates my life."

My baby shower came and went, and I will eventually post pictures of the yummy food, gorgeous decorations, and delicious treats.  McBaby wasn't just showered...he was poured on.  The generosity of our friends and family had me choked up every time I tried to talk about it.  By the end of it all, my baby boy was set.  He has everything he needs, as long as his mommy and daddy can figure out how to use it all!  :)  

I was a woman possessed trying to finish the nursery before our shower (we hosted the shower at our house).  Poor Brad spent one Friday evening hanging shelves and applying wall decals until 12 AM. And other than a few comments about how his Friday nights had drastically changed since his college days, he didn't actually seem to mind that much!  ;)  I'm totally in love with McBaby's room...it turned out exactly as I envisioned and I couldn't be happier!  I will post pictures soon...I should probably capture it on film now, since I know this is the most organized it will ever be! 

It's been a big, busy 4 weeks since I last blogged, so without further ado, here's what we've been up to...

Baby Stats:  On Monday, we went for an ultrasound to find out McBaby's current weight/measurements and get a guess on his birth weight!  Turns out, I'm growing a chunky babe!  My baby boy is a whopping 7 lbs, 14 oz at 36 weeks...ALMOST 8 LBS ALREADY!  The doctor told us he's above the 90th percentile all over, even in length, which makes sense why I feel him so low, yet under my ribs at the same time. Poor little guy doesn't have much room!  

I was shocked, even though I knew the chances were high that I'd have a big baby because:

1.) Brad was nearly 10 lbs when he was born.

2.) I was over 8 lbs lbs when I was born.

3.) He's been measuring big all along!

However, I think I was in denial and it became VERY REAL then.  I feel like as soon as I heard "projected birth weight of 9 to 10 lbs," I journeyed into my own little haze-filled world and didn't hear a thing the doctor said from that point on.  Brad and I left the doctor's office both excited and nervous; especially knowing there's a chance he could come early and we may be parents before we know it. Brad looked at me and said, "We really need to decide on a name!"  And he couldn't be more right. It's crunch time!

Maternity clothes?  Here's a story for you:  I was so proud when I put on my non-maternity turquoise skinny jeans the other day with a belly band and they fit perfectly.  However, I soon found myself in "Tight Pants Hell."  Those damn pants pushed up on my giant belly when I was sitting, and they literally HURT (McBaby was none-too-pleased with my fashion choice, as I'm sure he really has no room to spare in there).  A few hours in, I was so miserable that I seriously considered taking my pants off in public.  So from here on out, it's stretch pants and maxi-skirts/dresses for me. Screw real pants...I always knew they were over-rated.

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Stretch marks? I can't even tell anymore. My stomach is so stretched out, I can't imagine getting out of this without some battle scars. ;)

Sleep:  Between bathroom trips, hip pain, and charlie horses, the ZZZZ's are hard to come by. I have taken over our bed, thanks to my giant body pillow and a memory foam mattress pad that I literally stole from my mother-in-law's guest bed after I discovered that it helped my hip pain. Brad's doing everything in his power to keep me comfortable and worries about me constantly...poor guy.  ;)

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Top moment(s) of the week: Seeing McBaby's face yesterday in the ultrasound!  I could see his plump little cheek, perfect little nose, and sweet mouth. He was even smacking his lips and sticking out his tongue. :)

This may be tough to see, but this is his face straight on. That's his forehead to the right, mouth and nose, and plump little cheek facing up. It's so weird to me that there's a full-grown baby in there...I mean, there's his FACE!  Can you see it?  It's like one of those "Magic Eye" photos...once you see it, it's very clear. But your eyes kind of cross until your brain can process what you're looking at. :)

Worst moment of the week:  Last Saturday morning, when an aching back and charlie horses/shin splints had me pretty miserable. Luckily, conditions improved as the day progressed, and seem to be getting better every day this week.

What I’m missing? Being able to breathe again! I get winded just from standing!  I was on the phone while walking up the stairs to my office the other day, and had to stop talking to catch my breath. 

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Movement: Baby's movements have gone from little pokes and kicks, to BIG nudges and waves. I can see my whole stomach moving...it's crazy!

Food cravings: I'm back to craving fruit, which is a good thing. My cousin, as if reading my mind, sent me a surprise gift of these delectable chocolate covered apples. I literally SCREAMED when I opened the box. Here's a hint: If you ever want to make a preggo's day, give her fruit dipped in chocolate and toffee! ;)

Anything making you queasy or sick: Just my too-tight pants!  :)

Bump Photos:  Here I am, in all of my big bellied glory! ;)

Belly button in or out:  It's pretty much flush at this point. We'll call it "barely" in. 

Who knew… that I could feel so much love for a nameless, faceless little person (although, hopefully not nameless for long)!  

...or that I could fall even more in love with my husband (whom I was already so crazy about to begin with).  He is so sweet and so involved; he tells me how cute I look.  He asks how "his baby is doing?"  He spends hours putting together baby gear.  He does laundry.  He grocery shops.  He's made me dinner 3 of 4 nights this week.  He does everything he can to make me more comfortable...it's amazing. IT. MELTS. MY. HEART.

...or finally, that I would turn into such a SAP during pregnancy. I would have rolled my eyes at this blog post a few years ago...and now look at me!  ;)

Looking forward to:  Meeting my baby boy. I seriously CAN'T wait!

My little McBaby is 32 weeks old this week!  With only 8 weeks to go, I'm overwhelmed by how soon I'll be a mommy.  It seems I waver between two extremes:  1.) UNBELIEVABLE EXCITEMENT, daydreaming about holding my little one for the first time, and 2.) SHEER AND UTTER TERROR.  Wait, I'm going to be a MOTHER?!  What am I going to do with a baby?!?!?!  Something like that.  :)

But the truth is, I'm elated. Brad and I talk regularly about how we can't wait for him to just be here.  And I know very quickly 8 weeks will turn to 4, then 2, and suddenly, I'll be holding our little sweet boy.  EEEEeeeeeeeee!  I can't wait!

This 3rd Trimester has not been without it's challenges, but it's also held many exciting moments.  And that, my friends, brings me to my 32 week survey...

About Baby:  I won't know the actual stats of our McBaby until our 36-week ultrasound. But here are some stats to give you an idea:  Baby is 3.5 to 4 lbs and 17-19 inches long. What I find most interesting is that according to BabyCenter.com, he will gain 1/2 lb per week for the next 8 weeks!  Crazy!

Maternity clothes? I alternate between maternity clothes and loose fitting regular clothes/leggings and jeans with belly bands.  I also bought a few of these maternity tanks from Old Navy, and they've been lifesavers. If you have a rapidly growing bump, I urge you to check them out! (I bought them in 4 colors, and the black and white polka dot one is my favorite)!  :)

Stretch marks?  So far, so good! Funny story:  I asked Brad to inspect me the other day, and he said, "Do you think there's a chance in hell I'd actually tell you right now if I found a stretch mark?  Nothing good would come from that!" HA! He's probably right... ;)

Sleep:  The last few weeks have brought some struggles in Sleepville. I'm having lower back/sciatic nerve/hip pain that is making finding a position very difficult.  I use an army of pillows and weird positioning to find relief, but I think the next 8 weeks will be challenging.

Top moment(s) of the week: Washing all of McBaby's little clothes, socks, and blankets. :) Surprisingly, I loved sorting and putting away all of his tiny little clothes. P.S. I did all of this laundry on Friday night. My weekends used to be so much cooler! ;)

Also, receiving early shower gifts from friends and family has been a weekly highlight. Every time the door bell rings, I squeal. It's like Christmas!!!

Meet Jacque the Peacock!  I hope he makes McBaby smile as much as he makes me smile!

Worst moment of the week: Between back pain and some shortness of breath (I think baby may be smushing my lungs), Sunday was a really rough, uncomfortable day/night. But we're all better now.  :)

What I’m missing? Being comfortable. There are so many discomforts in my body right now, I miss the days where I could just sit comfortably on the couch or fall asleep at night without issue.

Movement: More than ever!  :) I'm starting to learn where he likes to hang out and his movement patterns. I can often feel his little butt (I think) to the left of my belly button, and I think that's adorable. :)

Food cravings: Honey Nut Cheerios are my kryptonite. I eat them every day, which is funny because I never ate cereal before. I'm also obsessed with vanilla pudding and any (all) ice cream. It's safe to say I'm craving dairy!

Anything making you queasy or sick:  I smelled seafood in the grocery store the other day and wanted to die.  

Bump Photos:  This is me at 31 weeks!

And 32 weeks!

Belly button in or out:  In, but barely!  

Who knew…that "nesting" could be such a powerful force?! I don't know if I'm actually nesting, or if I have a spring cleaning bug, or if it's a combo of the two, but I'm on an organization streak like no other. I've re-organized my pantry, spice cabinet (I alphabetized the spices!), junk drawers, multiple kitchen cabinets, and our linen closet...and I'm still 2 months out from my due date. I wish I had this motivation all of the time!

Looking forward to: Finishing McBaby's nursery!  We are super close to having everything done and I'm completely in love with the room so far. I can't wait to post pictures of the finished product!  Also can't wait for my shower in just a few short weeks, and my 36 week ultrasound in 1 month!

Here's a sneak peak of his bedding from grandma Phyllis, and new little mobile from his great grandma, both of which I just LOVE. (I still need to wash the bedding, so don't judge me for how sloppy it all looks).  :)

That's it for week 32!  As always, thanks for reading, and have a great weekend! 

Click here to see my other posts about McBaby!

Happy Wednesday from Antarctica! Oh just kidding, I'm in Ohio, where it is currently 1 degree outside, but is supposed to be 40 and raining in 2 days. Sigh. However, I really can't complain…last week, Brad and I spent the week in Mexico, celebrating our friends' wedding (congrats to Seth and Valerie!) and it was wonderful!  It was so nice getting away for one final trip before we become parents (a very surreal thought). The next time we're at the beach, we'll be hauling beach umbrellas, applying sunscreen to soft baby skin, and building sand castles…I can't wait! :)

I am 28 weeks pregnant this week and all is going well. Baby Boy (and therefore my belly) is growing FAST, and I'm feeling more and more pregnant with every day that passes. But to be honest, I love every minute of it. :)

How far along? 28 weeks…helloooo 3rd trimester!

Total weight gain/loss: About 12 lbs…I suspect that all 4 of those pounds gained are a direct result of the number of desserts I ate in Mexico last week. ;)

This made me laugh:

Maternity clothes? Yep, I'm there. I was shocked when I tried on what I thought were my "baggy" summer clothes to take with me on our trip, and discovered that very few fit my bump. :)

Stretch marks? So far, so good!

Sleep:  Sleep is getting harder, thanks to the bathroom trips and discomfort from not being able to sleep on my back or stomach. But when I do sleep, I pass out!

Top moment(s) of the week:  Our spontaneous maternity photo session in Mexico. To be honest, I wasn't completely sold on professional maternity photos; I didn't want anything too cheesy, plus I'm not big on posed professional pictures (they're too much pressure and I wind up looking uncomfortable).

But we decided to do a short session in Mexico with a photographer at the resort, because it's not every day that you have the beautiful Mexico beaches as a backdrop (plus, if we hated them, we didn't have to buy them)! We were really happy with how they turned out, and I'm glad we have a few pictures to document this special chapter of our lives.  See below for a few of the pictures we took!

Worst moment of the week: I have a kink in my back that is really making my life difficult. Bending forward is incredibly painful…I'd say that's responsible for the only bad moments of the week. (And remember my constant aroma of cocoa butter? That has now been replaced with the distinct scent of Icy Hot! Sexy!)

What I’m missing? I once took for granted being able to hop out of bed or jump off the couch with ease. Now when I try to get out of bed, I'm like one of those beetles that has flipped on his back and can't get up. My arms and legs flail, and I rock back and forth until I can get enough leverage to make it to my feet. So what do I miss? I miss being able to BEND AT THE WAIST! :)

Movement: Getting harder and stronger every day. He kicked his daddy's hand really hard the other day. It was cute the way Brad jumped! :)

Food cravings: I'm obsessed with Quaker Oats Fruit & Cream oatmeal. I eat a bowl every morning and I've already plowed through one box. And  baked goods…I can't get enough. This sweet tooth is killing me!

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Nothing really. I still avoid seafood when I can.

Showing yet:  Oh yeah…as you can clearly see in my pictures above!

Belly button in or out:  In, but it's getting very shallow these days.

Who knew… that babies dream in the womb?! I read that in my Week 28 update from What to Expect and it made me smile. What do you think he's dreaming about in there? Cookies? Oh wait…that's just mommy. ;)

Looking forward to: Finishing the nursery, my shower next month…so many things….and warmer temperatures! ;)

Happy New Year (2 days late)! Can you believe it's 2014? I can't! The last decade has passed so quickly!  On NYE, it dawned on me that 2014 is the year that I will become a MOM...Holy crap!

I got a little behind with my surveys over the crazy month of December, so without further ado, here's what's been happening with me and McBaby over the last few weeks:

How far along? 24 weeks!!

Total weight gain/loss: About 8 lbs, according to my doctor visit last week. In my book, that's a Christmas miracle, considering the amount of crap I ate over the holidays! 

Maternity clothes? Yes! I have discovered the belly band, and it's WONDERFUL. Why don't people wear belly bands all of the time? If you don't know what a belly band is, it's a band of stretchy fabric (that kind of looks like a tube top) that you wear around the top of your pants. The belly band essentially holds your pants up so that you can wear them unbuttoned without them falling down. Did you guys hear me? It allows you to walk around with your pants unbuttoned! So allow me to pose my question again:  Why don't people wear belly bands ALL OF THE TIME?!  :)

Stretch marks? None so far…yay Palmer's cocoa butter! This is another product I think I may continue to use post pregnancy. I love how hydrating it is! My usually super dry winter skin is as smooth as a baby's bottom right now. :)

Sleep:  My favorite bro-in-law got me a Snoogle (pregnancy pillow) for Christmas and it has changed my life. I now sleep with it every night, and it spoons me all night long. It's the perfect sleeping partner. Sorry, husband! :)

Top moment of the week:  Celebrating McBaby's 1st (kinda) Christmas with our family. He got so many wonderful presents…he's so loved already. :) 

Below is just a few examples of all of his new gifts. This doesn't even include all of the clothes my mom and other friends and family have bought him over the past 5 months.  Thanks to his two grandmothers, the kid already has a full wardrobe! ;) Thank you all so much for being so sweet to our baby boy!

What I’m missing? I miss my stamina. I get tired so much faster; my back aches, my legs and feet hurt…it's something else. Although the plus side of this is that Brad has been doing laundry, cooking dinner, and taking good care of me, and I admit, it's nice to be spoiled. :)

Movement: Yes, little man moves constantly. Sometimes I feel like he kicks at the perfect times (like when we're talking about him), just to remind us he's listening. ;)

Food cravings: Nothing too specific lately…just sugar. I think I ate nearly an entire box of Krispy Kreme glazed donuts over Christmas. Ugh.

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Nothing really…some types of seafood (shrimp, crab)…mostly the smell.

Showing yet:  Yes! I have quite the bump! A grocery store employee actually referenced my pregnancy yesterday, and it was the 1st time I've had a stranger actually comment on it. I have arrived, I guess.  ;)

P.S. The only thing more fun than being pregnant is being pregnant with your BFF. :) Meet Alex, who is due 4 weeks before me and is also having a baby boy! We have already decided that they will be besties, of course. :)

Happy or Moody most of the time:  Happy! :)

Who knew… While I was well aware that a lot of things stretch and grow when growing a human, I never considered how much stretching stomach muscles actually hurt. Some days, my stomach muscles feel like I've been doing thousands of sit-ups (a feeling that I am NOT familiar with, believe me)! :)

Looking forward to: Going to Mexico in a few weeks for Seth & Valerie's wedding! We are ready to fiesta (and siesta) in the warm sun for a week! Plus, I bought 2 really cute maternity dresses that I'm excited to wear! ;)

This will be me… :)

I cannot believe I'm 21 weeks pregnant! I feel like it was just yesterday that I was looking at the little blip of McBaby, feeling an immense amount of relief that he was actually in there! And now, I'm halfway done and my stomach seems to be doubling in size every day! :)

Here's what's happening with me and McBaby over the last few weeks...

See my other McBaby posts here!

How far along? 21 weeks! It took a long time, but I finally feel pregnant!

Total weight gain/loss: I THINK I've gained 6-7 lbs, but I can't remember for sure where I started, so I'm going to confirm with my doctor at my 24 week appointment. I'll tell her my blog readers won't be able to sleep until they know the truth. ;)

Maternity clothes? Not really. I'm still in my regular jeans and tops. However, I may call it quits on the wearing of real pants pretty soon here. Why bother when this is one of the few times in life I'm actually expected to wear stretchy pants every day? ;)

Stretch marks? Nope! So far, so good!

Sleep:  Sleeping pretty well!  I do wake up sometimes in the middle of the night with "busy brain," but I think that's normal. 

Top moment of the week:  Seeing McBaby last week at his 20 week appointment, and hearing that he's healthy. Oh, and let's not forget that the doctor admitted that he's "a little big" for his age. He was 15 ounces and the norm for 20 weeks is around 10.5 to 11.5! She said he's in the 96th percentile in size/weight! OMG! But I am happy to hear that he's healthy and plump…I can't wait to squeeze his fat little cheeks! ;)

What I’m missing? You'll be shocked to hear this:  I miss WINE!

How adorable is this picture?! :)

Movement: Yes! Little kicks…he gets very excited after I eat, and at night while I'm watching TV (probably because I'm still eating). The other night, while eating popcorn in bed, he gave me such a jab that I actually jumped! ;) Brad can't feel him yet, but I think he will be able to any day now! (Count the # of times I wrote "eat" in that last paragraph and you'll learn my new favorite hobby!)

Food cravings: I've eaten an apple a day almost every single day of my pregnancy. That's a craving that lives on. And I've recently been eating microwave popcorn like it's crack. 

Anything making you queasy or sick:  I'm still very turned off by meat, especially of the "fowl" persuasion. Turkey and chicken are unappealing to me.  Strangely, I have no problem with breaded chicken, like chicken nuggets, but the idea of eating a chicken breast makes me want to hurl.

Showing yet:  Yes, it's like one day, I woke up and I had grown a bump overnight. I finally feel like I look pregnant, vs. like I ate too much cake for dinner. Check out the comparison photo below...I can't believe how much McBaby has grown in just 2 weeks (PS…I swear I don't wear tunics and leggings every day…this is pure coincidence)!  :)

Happy or Moody most of the time:  I'm happy! :)

Who knew…how ABSOLUTELY, DEAD TIRED pregnancy makes you. This past Sunday we went to the Steelers game and sat in freezing temps and snow for 3.5 hours. That's when I realized that I can't do as much as I once could...I was so exhausted by the end of the day that I could hardly speak. Growing McBaby is hard work!

(How cold do we look in this picture? haha brrrr!)

Looking forward to: Brad feeling his little kicks! :) It's surreal and weird, but it made it feel so much more real. I think it will seriously freak him out at first…but I also think he'll love it. :) Also, looking forward to seeing his new crib put together and starting on his nursery! (Note: picture below is the crib we bought, but that's not his nursery. Original picture here!) 

How far along? 17ish weeks! McBaby is the size of an onion!

Total weight gain/loss: I don't know…I haven't weighed myself in the last few days. At the doctor last week I was exactly the same. 

Maternity clothes? I don't NEED to wear them yet…my regular clothes fit fine. However, my beloved friend, Jen, sent me all of her maternity clothes and I've worn a few of the shirts because they're so darn cute! Also, I wore a pair of those jeans with the elastic band yesterday and decided they will be a new wardrobe staple (not just during pregnancy but for the rest of my life).

Stretch marks? No. I drown myself in cocoa butter daily.

Sleep:  Sleep is good, though I wake up at around 4 AM every morning for no reason. Not sure what that's about...

Top moment of the week:  Nothing overly exciting, but I bought McBaby the cutest little gray hoodie from Zulily this week! ;) Seriously…how cute is this?!

What I’m missing? Ahi tuna. I went out last week with Brad, Sara and Canaan, and they ALL ordered ahi tuna. It was torture! ;)

Movement: I don't think so, though I don't know if I'd recognize it if I did feel it. I think it will happen in the next few weeks. :)

Food cravings: Strangely…Papa Johns pizza. It's so weird…it's not all pizza, just Papa Johns. More specifically, I want the crust to dip in garlic butter. YUM.

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Some foods but it's completely random and ever changing. I still hate the idea of Pad Thai…a bad experience during early pregnancy is to blame.

Showing yet:  A little bit of a bump. :) If you know I'm prego, you can see it. If you don't…well you just think I'm fat.

This is me…but at 16ish weeks. Brad's been gone all week, so I had to self-portrait! ;)

Happy or Moody most of the time:  Happy!  :)

Who knew?! I learned this week that you're not supposed to lie on your back after 20 weeks. Well you can, but you'll get lightheaded. Apparently it puts pressure on some vein which pumps blood to your brain. Holy crap…who knew?! 

How far along? 15 weeks (time is speeding by!) We're in the second trimester!  Woohoo smooth sailing now! ;) Total weight gain/loss: About the same...the doctor says I'll start gaining in the next few weeks. :) Maternity clothes? Nope! Then again, my "office" wardrobe does consist of leggings and yoga pants, so it's not as noticeable. Stretch marks? None to report! (Anyone in a mile radius of me can probably smell my cocoa butter aroma, though!) Sleep: My energy is back! I'm sleeping fairly normal again, other than waking up once per night to go to the bathroom. Sometimes I can even stay awake past 10 PM! I know...big accomplishment! ;) Top moment of the week:  MCBABY IS A BOY!!! We had an early gender reveal ultrasound because MOMMY couldn't wait one more minute! And it's true...he made it VERY easy to tell!  We're so excited!!!!  And we got to see him again, and he was so much bigger than he was just 3 weeks ago. He was moving around and sucking his thumb again, and he had his little legs pulled up to his chest and his ankles crossed. HEART MELT!!!  What I’m missing? wine…I miss wine nights spent giggling and talking with my girls. We still giggle and talk, but the wine aspect is missing. :) Movement: Not yet...but it should be coming soon! Food cravings: Fruit! I eat an apple EVERY day! And tomatoes. I sit and eat cherry tomatoes like popcorn! Oh and glazed donuts...I finally caved one and bought one at Kroger the other day, and that craving seems to have subsided since. ;) Anything making you queasy or sick:  Some meat turns me off. But most of my queasiness has worn off. It's just sometimes, nothing sounds good to eat. Hopefully that will continue to improve as we work through Trimester 2! Showing yet:  Kinda...but if you don't know I'm pregnant, I just look like I'm just bloated. ;)