I am lucky enough to work with some really great people at Zia Middle School.  I have been there for the last four years and have made a lot of great friends throughout the years.  My team put on a baby shower for me this past week and bought me this beautiful cake.

So many people chipped in to make quilts or buy gifts. I felt like such a lucky girl!  There are so many talented people out there!  I wish I knew how to quilt!

My wonderful friend Stephanie made this diaper cake for me.  Not only did she make it, but inside of it there were MORE gifts.  I was so spoiled!  P.S. She may or may not have burned herself in the process….yet another sacrifice for me. 🙂

Mike was able to show up for the breakfast in the morning.  I was glad he was able to come because he has never met my coworkers before and I am always coming home and talking to him about them.

We had a staff breakfast in the morning and then at lunch time we ate in the library while I opened presents.  Look at all the wonderful things I got!

Baby Olivia is one lucky girl!  I am one lucky girl for working with such awesome, supportive people!

How far along: 32 weeks, 2 days

Maternity clothes: The yoga pants are still my favorite.  My kids were asking me if there was a “special” store for pregnant people and I had to explain to them that a lot of stores have maternity sections.  They were in awe. I wish I had bought more maxi dresses or even just regular dresses to wear.  So comfortable and cute looking.  I don’t feel as frumpy dressed up in a dress.

How far along: 29 Weeks, 2 days

Maternity clothes: My favorite outfits are my maternity yoga pants I found at Ross, my empire waist dress I got at Marshalls, and my black work pants I got at Target.

Stretch marks: No.  I have gone through so many bottles of lotion! I’m not liking how I’m losing my muscle in my legs!

Fitness:Watched one of my friends run the Cupid’s Chase 5k and it got me so excited to get a jogging stroller.  There were so many people rocking it on times while running with the strollers!  (P.S. My friend did so well!  She beat her goal time by five minutes!)

Sleep: Up in the middle of the night….every night. (It’s 12:43am right now as I type this.) 

Best moment this week: Watching little girl move around in my stomach.  I still have not felt the hiccups yet, but she is definitely getting bigger. 

Miss anything: Ice Cream!  Running!  Biking!  P90x! Body Pump!

Morning sickness: Just low blood sugar at times.

Movement: She gets pretty comfy on my left side.  I am pretty lopsided most of the time.

Symptoms: Leg cramps and lack of sleep!

Food cravings: Hamburgers.  I want them.  And not a happy meal.  I want a BIG MAC.

Anything making you queasy or sick: When I don’t eat enough…

Have you started to show yet: Very dumb question.

Gender prediction: Girl.

Labor signs: No, but it is so weird to think we only have eight weeks until she is considered full term.  So crazy!!

Belly button in or out: It is starting to poke out a little! Ah!

Wedding rings on or off: On.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Work went so much better this week.  My student teacher is rocking it and we had really easy lessons.  I am so glad that I will have a long-term sub that knows my kids.  I think it will be a good transition.  When work goes well, then a happy pregnant woman I am!

Looking forward to: Going to Phoenix this week to watch Mike race three days in a row (I get off work! Woo hoo!), Valentine’s Dinner, shopping, and hopefully selling our Lexus!

How far along: 28  Weeks, 2 days

Maternity clothes: I love going all through the clearance racks and going a size up on clothes and putting them on!  I have found so many cheap shirts and workout clothes for 4 or 5 bucks each!

Stretch marks: Not yet! Woohoo!

Fitness: I love walking with my coworker because it gets me outside.  I also love watching Mike ride and race because it gets me all excited for this summer.  I really want to make it to the gym more this week.  It has been a very busy week!

Sleep: Not too great.  I have become a very light sleeper. A lot of it is anxiety and especially, being a litle uncomfortable.  I keep having the craziest nighmares!

Best moment this week: When I was sitting at Mike’s duathlon and was expecting the racer who was a little bit ahead of everyone on the run to come in first from the bike and then lo and behold, my husband is the first back!! The race officials were going crazy too.  He is such a good rider!  I was so proud!

Miss anything: Blue Bell Ice Cream, Bosa Donuts, Pizza Hut Pizza, Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies, the list goes on and on…and I can’t wait for mountain bike racing again! My legs can’t wait!

Morning sickness: I actually have felt pretty good this week.  Knock on wood, with the occasional low blood sugar and crankiness of not being able to eat awesome foods!

Movement: She is so against anyone touching her.  They were checking her heartrate at my appointment and she kept moving around.  Any time I try to have Mike feel her, she moves away from him.

Symptoms: Charlie Horses! Big time!

Food cravings: See my above list.  I do enjoy my almond milk shakes I make and I really like to eat apples with peanut butter.  They are pretty filling.  My doctor recommended Ezekial Bread and it’s pretty good with peanut butter on it too.

Anything making you queasy or sick: When I eat too much chicken or beef.

Have you started to show yet: Very dumb question.

Gender prediction: Girl.

Labor signs: She is starting to feel more like a basketball.

Belly button in or out: Still going strong and staying in! Woohoo!

Wedding rings on or off: On.

Happy or Moody most of the time: A little bit happier this week.  Hoping for a good week with a lot less to do and more SLEEP.

Looking forward to: Watching a friend race the Cupid’s 5K on Saturday and then we are off to Phoenix for President’s Day Weekend.  We are hoping to take the Lexus with us to sell! We will finally get rid of that dang thing!

How far along: 27 Weeks, 2 Days

Maternity clothes: Target has some awesome long shirts for only $9.99, so I stocked up on those and some workout clothes from Ross.  I am trying to not buy anything too expensive but the comfy shirts and workout pants are a necessity right now.

Stretch marks: Not yet, but this week my stomach is feeling EXTRA tight (like she doesn’t have any more room to grow!).  She is a growing girl!

Fitness: Well, bad news is I didn’t pass my glucose test.  Good news is, they are telling me to work out more.  That has triggered me to work out every day for more than a half an hour.  I took it pretty easy the first trimester and would definitely go back and up the treadmill and elliptical time, if I wasn’t so paranoid about losing the baby. First time mom here…hehe.

Sleep: One word: Insomnia.  My friend Jenn says that it’s natures way of preparing us to be up all night with the baby. What a cruel, cruel thing.

Best moment this week: I am not going to lie, there was really nothing too exciting about this week, and if it was, it wasn’t the “best”.  My mom sent us a rug and bumper with cute little bugs on it that I put up in the nursery.  Way cute.  Also, I am loving how excited Mike is getting about things.  He keeps going into the nursery and sitting and looking at everything. 

Miss anything: Due to the fact that I do have gestational diabetes, I REALLY REALLY miss sweets, and bread, and anything virtuous or lovely in the food department.  She is worth it though!

Morning sickness: No, but I have been pretty nauseous not having the usual meals that I eat.  Also, it feels like my stomach has shrunk.  I am guessing little girl is taking up so much room, I don’t really have room to eat anymore.

Movement:I think she is moving to position right now because her normal “stomping grounds” have become different.  She is definitely doing something down there.  I can’t tell her hands from her feet though.

Symptoms: Sore back, stomach ache, major leg cramps at night, indigestion, stuffy sinuses, you name it…it all started this week.  Welcome to the third trimester!

Food cravings: ICE CREAM!

Anything making you queasy or sick: I made some sugar-free mini cupcakes with my Babycakes maker and they made me so sick!

Have you started to show yet: Very dumb question.

Gender prediction: Girl. With a twinge of thinking it COULD be a boy.

Labor signs: I feel a little tight on the belly when I am working out.  I know Braxton-Hicks is common from here on out.

Belly button in or out: Still going strong and staying in! Woohoo!

Wedding rings on or off: On.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Moody. 😦  I am going to work on happy this week.  I have a cold and have been uncomfortable, but Mike has been very patient and helpful!

Looking forward to: Getting this baby out of me!! And the duathlon that Mike will be doing on Saturday. 🙂

How far along: 26 Weeks, 2 days

Maternity clothes: Yes.  I have been wearing a lot of skirts and dresses.  They are so much more comfortable than pants.  My favorite pants are these black “work pants” that feel like pajamas.  I consider them my “lucky” pants because I am so comfortable at work.  If only we could wear pajamas to work every day.

Stretch marks: Not yet, but I was reading on my Pregnancy App that week 30 starts a big growth spurt again. I am not sure if I have any room for her!

Fitness:  I slacked big time this week, but I have been trying to make it to the gym for 30 minute ellliptical and weights.  My favorite weight machine is the GLUTES.  It makes me feel awesome afterwards.  This week: swimming and working on arms.

Sleep: I felt kind of “off” this week.  It started on the weekend where I wasn’t able to catch up on sleep. So Monday night, I came home and fell asleep sitting up on the couch. (I have found that I actually breathe better sitting up, so it wasn’t that pitiful.  This getting up at five every day is a killer so I spend the weekends taking naps all the time.  This weekend is a three day weekend so it feels AWESOME.

Best moment this week: Mike laid his head on my stomach because we were reading that you can hear the heartbeat at this week if you put your head up to your stomach.  Right when he did that, she kicked him in the ear really hard.  It was cool because I can feel her kick, but I have never seen it.

Miss anything: This has nothing to do with pregnancy, but good SHOPPING.  Sorry Cruces, you don’t have a lot to choose from. I am looking forward to meeting my mom in Phoenix so I can get some good stuff.

Morning sickness: None.

Movement:She definitely kicked it up a notch this week.  She is moving around more than kicking.  I was all worried she wasn’t kicking enough but found out they have to kick at least four times in an hour. She does that in fifteen minutes.  She does have her lazy days though.

Symptoms: Foot cramps, sleepiness, stomach aches (because she is smashing it), also having a hard time breathing when I walk up the stairs. Ha ha!

Food cravings: Frozen yogurt and lasagna.

Anything making you queasy or sick: The smell of the Mountain View Market.  Has anyone been in there and noticed its distinct smell? I went in the other day and almost threw up. I had never even noticed the smell before.

Have you started to show yet: Dumb question.

Gender prediction: Girl. Not gonna lie…I still think that it could be a boy, just because I know people that happened to.  The nursery is neutral anyway. 🙂
Labor signs: No, next week is the beginning of the third trimester. Crazy!

Belly button in or out: Still going strong and staying in!

Wedding rings on or off: On. I just forget to put it on!

Happy or Moody most of the time: This week.  Moody. 🙂  I think once my student teacher gets the hang of things, it will be more happy.  It’s hard stuff!

Looking forward to: My glucose test this week. Not.

How far along: 25 weeks, 2 days

Maternity clothes: Yes, I am measuring two weeks larger.  This girl is a chunker!  (They think it’s actually not the baby, but fluid, etc.. ).  I do love my maternity clothes I got for Christmas.  I have to be very creative!

Stretch marks: Not yet, but I know my belly is going to be BIG!

Sleep: I love to sleep, it’s just too bad my mind won’t turn off.  I keep having crazy dreams or ideas on what I need to do.  I usually have to wake up, write down in my IPAD the things I am worrying about, and then go back to sleep.

Best moment this week: Seeing little girl at the ultrasound, getting the crib and changing table (it’s becoming REAL!), and feeling her move around! 

Miss anything: Having a fully functioning brain!  I forget everything!  I definitely don’t feel like I am on my A game at school, but thankfully I have a student teacher taking over that is pretty awesome. 

Morning sickness: None. Very lucky.
Movement:Yes- she moves a lot more than kicks.  My favorite thing is when my stomach goes totally lopsided! It is so weird!  Like right now my right side of my stomach is protruding out more than my left.  She also has been sitting on my bladder nonstop! Mike REALLY wants her to kick so he can see it.  We haven’t been able to accomplish that yet!

Symptoms: Foot cramps, a little fatigue (I blame it more on going back to school), and stomach aches. 

Food cravings: Wickles….my sister introduced me to them.  Spicy pickles! So awesome.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Boiled and bland chicken.

Have you started to show yet: Oh yes.
Gender prediction: Girl
Labor signs: No, but I am so curious how contractions are going to be.  I think about it a lot!  I keep wondering how I am going to react to the whole labor process!

Belly button in or out: I’m going to say in between… it looks flat and weird.

Wedding rings on or off: On..I just don’t wear it because I am afraid my hands will swell at school and I don’t want to have to take my rings off where there are “sticky fingers” that could take it!
Happy or Moody most of the time: 1/2 and 1/2.  I really enjoy the mornings doing my chores and hanging out at home.  At school, I get really moody by seventh period and have no patience with my kids.

Looking forward to: Finishing decorating the nursery and getting supplies around.  I am definitely in the nesting phase!!

When I went in for my 23 week check up, they noticed the anatomy scan had not been fully completed, so they assigned me to go to get another ultrasound. I must admit I am so glad I switched over to my new doctor’s office. They have been very supportive and very personal about everything. The midwife said I would really like this place I was going to and I was not disappointed.

Mike came along to see our little girl in action. It was nice because they had a huge screen on the wall so he could watch everything going on. The girl did the usual 2D ultrasound where you see the basic makeup of the baby and then she turned on the 3D scan. Here are some of the shots we got:

Mike and I were laughing because her hand looks like a foot.  I even made a comment about it and she said the baby moved right when they took the picture.  You can kind of tell on the right hand side where her hand was.

I was so excited to see her little butt cheeks.  Little baby butts and feet are my favorite things!  Also, this was to confirm that she is definitely a girl! 🙂

It’s weird to see her facial features.  I definitely think we have a “chunker” on our hands.  If you look at her cheeks, she is starting to get some fat on them.  I think she is going to take after her mom with her newborn pictures.  I was HUGE!

She is also has some big feet too, which we can say came from dad! There was also one picture that I can’t find where she was opening her mouth to yawn and Mike started to make raptor sounds from Jurassic Park.  It was kind of creepy! I like the 3D ultrasounds, but they are a little creepy looking with the gold.  But I loved, loved, loved being able to see Baby Girl doing her thing!

How far along: 21 weeks, 2 days