Concern

Well, the madness has begun.  I hate the beginning of the school year.  I have 160 new faces and names to memorize, new lesson plans to create for a new subject I've never taught on two weeks notice, webpages to set up, gradebooks to set up, routines to teach, and now piles of papers to grade and record.  I just can't wait for September to be OVER!  I am thankful I have a job and generally I enjoy my job but it is so hard to get back into a routine and being pregnant in my third trimester has not made it any easier.   All summer and at my last appointment on August 29th my blood pressure was 122/80.  On September 6th I began my new school year.  On September 12th my blood pressure was 139/93.  Yesterday (Sept. 20th) it was 149/103.  Today it was in the 150s/98 but after resting with my feet up it was back in the 140s/90s.  We called my OB to see what he thinks we should do and we may not hear back from him till tomorrow.  I have never had protein in my urine at any of my appointments so that is good.  I just think I (and my body) am not handling the stress of starting the new school year well and I don't quite know what to do about it. 

"Do I look pregnant to you?"

Dan wants to know when I will stop asking him that question.  I try to restrain myself but I am tired of looking chunky rather than pregnant.  After going back to teaching this week one of my colleagues asked me, "So how was your summer?  Did you have your baby?"  I just looked down at my stomach and patted it then look at her and responded, "Nope.  She is still in there."  She was shocked.  She said that I didn't look pregnant at all but at least she didn't say that I did look fat.  I used to cringe when pregnant women complained that they were "getting fat".  But I catch myself doing the very same thing occasionally.  I always knew I wouldn't be one of those women with the cute baby basketball bellies but I never guessed that at 75% through this pregnancy I still wouldn't look pregnant to the average person on the street.  Even my students who stare at me for 55 minutes straight everyday were surprised that I was pregnant.  I am trying to see the bright side of this phenomenon:  my back doesn't ache yet, strangers don't touch my belly, I don't get asked a million questions, etc.  This week I am wearing my most belly enhancing outfits! Or maybe I just need to get one of these:

28 Weeks down...12 Weeks to go... 8 Weeks left in my career!

28 Week Belly Shot (in my new JCP "tall length" full belly panel maternity jeans)  Can I get an AMEN tall girls out there!?

(I love my baby ticker.)  Today is the first day of my third trimester!  Some of the symptoms from my first trimester have returned.  The heartburn has come back as well as the upset stomach.  I have to eat often again.  Time to go buy another block of cheese!  I wake up with horribly stiff hands but I have my pillow routine down so that I can manage the poor circulation problem enough to sleep well.  I literally have to pee every 45 to 60 minutes.  I am pretty sure Baby Girl is sitting low and right on my bladder.  She is kicking tons and last night I think she was practicing her high kicks because my stomach was bouncing all over the place!  It is pretty fun to watch!  I am getting really excited to meet her in 12 weeks!

Today also starts my countdown till maternity leave.  While no official decision has been made most likely I will not return to my teaching position after Baby Shack is born.  Yes, we will most likely try to take the plunge and become a ONE INCOME family.  In Southern California that is pretty rare and not an easy task.  I have promised myself (and Dan) that I will become a frugal, coupon clipping housewife!  I am already well acquainted with our neighborhood thrift store and have begun baking our own bread (who knew how easy this was!) and cooking more meals at home rather than going out.  I have invested in cloth diapers and begun to acquaint myself with how to make your own baby food.  I am really looking forward to this transition that will happen in just 8 short weeks (October 28th)!  (Any and all advice, tips, and encouragement welcome!)

Halloween is my first day of maternity leave and I am so glad I don't have to teach on that day.  Most teachers HATE teaching on Halloween which is just as bad as teaching on a rainy day in So. Cal- when kids are SOOO distracted because "Oh my gosh, there is like water coming from the sky!!!"  And if there happens to be thunder and lightning, well you just might as well give up!  Halloween is also the date of our next big ultrasound at 36 weeks where the doctor will check to see what position the baby is in.  At my last check up this past Monday Dr. B said everything looks great!  My blood pressure was 122/80, my weight was only up 4 pounds from my visit four weeks ago, the baby's heart was beating strong, and everything was measuring just right.  I am so blessed!  Dan and I have taken advantage of the BabiesRUs Great Trade-in Event that is going on right now.  We have picked up some really cheap (like $3-$4) old baby items from the thrift store and then traded them in for 25% off coupons to purchase a few larger items off our registry.  This travel lite crib by Graco is one of the few items we purchased.  It is hard to believe that in just 12 short weeks Baby Girl Shack will be sleeping next to me in this cute little crib!

Baby Girl Shack's First Shower!

Some of the very lovely ladies in my family!

This past weekend we had my first baby shower with family and work friends in honor of Baby Girl!  It was great to celebrate our long awaited girl with pretty outfits, fun toys, and practical accessories.  The prize for the most creative gift goes to my neighbor Ginny who made this personalized diaper cake! 

The BELLY at 27 weeks!

My mom surprised me by restoring many of my baby dresses that I wore in the late 1970s and displayed them with pictures of me wearing the outfits.  My cousin Rachel planned a few really fun games with prizes and my cousin Karen spoke some special words about me and Baby Girl Shack and then prayed over us.

 My mom, sister, and sisters-in-law worked hard to make yummy food and drinks to go with the bright colored decorations. 

Thanks to my family and friends for making this day so special and exciting!  I will post pictures of the progress in the nursery soon!

These are the headlines that make a woman with IF go CRAZY!

Favorite Things: Baby Legs!!!

So one of the baby/kids items that I think are so cute are the leg warmers from Baby Legs.  Today and tomorrow only (Aug. 22-23) the entire site is 50% off and shipping is only $3.95 or free if you order $30 or more.  The coupon code is "Halfoff".  Happy shopping!


Of course  my favorites are the newborn BabyLegs:

These are called "Little Sunshine" and it is one of my favorite styles.

Double Digits!

Only 99 days left until baby girl Shack's due date!  Lately she has been moving and kicking a ton!  She likes to move especially after I eat and late at night.  The numbness in my hands has continued to worsen but thankfully I have been able to sleep a little better the last few nights due to a special pillow I bought called the Luna Lullaby Bosom Baby.  I did read that because of the increased blood flow in my body pressure is being applied to my median nerve which causes temporary carpal tunnel in my hands which is why they feel so stiff and sore.  I was glad to learn that I am not doing any permanent damage to my hands as I am quite fond of them.  ; )  I have lately taken on the challenge of finding cute and comfortable shoes for my gigantic swollen feet.  I was already a size 9.5 pre-pregnancy so it is a little hard to find shoes large and wide enough for me.  I have to return to teaching in a few weeks and we are not supposed to wear flip flops.  I got lucky a few times at the thrift store and found a couple cute pairs of wedges in 10wide and size 11 that feel comfy and fit well.  I am wondering just what my shoe size will end up being in the end because pretty much all moms have told me their shoe size never goes back to being what it was before pregnancy.  I have also been trying to find some clothing items that are work appropriate.  JC Penny was helpful as has been Old Navy Maternity.  This dress from JC Penny has been my absolute favorite lately!  I got it in both pink and black.  It is so comfy and cute!  I have taken to wearing dresses a lot more these days as they are much more comfortable in this hot weather than pants.  I still haven't taken  a belly shot yet.  Maybe soon...