32 Weeks - here comes the waddle!

Before I start answering the usual questions, here is a bit of an insurance update.  By some miracle Stanford approved our continuity of care! So much YAY!  Even though the plan B route would have been just fine - the doctor was lovely and everyone keeps telling me how great El Camino is as a hospital - I'm really relieved we can just stick to the original plan of delivering at Stanford.  I'm not a person that cares who actually delivers the baby (my own doctor vs. whoever is on call), so that wasn't the concern.  I've been told by almost every doctor or support person involved in this pregnancy that I'm going to have to head to the hospital the second any sign of labor starts because of how quickly I had Charlie.  They all seem to predict this one will come even quicker.  Not that Stanford is right in our backyard, but it's much closer and easier to get to than El Camino for us.  I did a week day morning run down there from our house, which took about 50 minutes navigating backroads.  I can only imagine what an evening trip would take with all the horrid traffic, plus potentially coming from another 15+ miles north if I'm at work.  My main goals with this delivery are make it to the hospital and have the IP's present for the delivery.  A car baby would hider both of those things!  So, not to say those things still can't happen, but being in closer/easier access to the hospital makes me take a big sigh of relief.  I will also say that I'm going to be a very unhappy camper if all these people "curse me" and I'm laboring for days in the hospital since I prefer to labor at home.  I'm half kidding - you just never know what can happen!  The end goal will happen whether it goes to my ideal plan or not, and THAT is all that matters!

How Many Weeks? 32 weeks

Size of Baby?   Baby weighs 3 3/4 pounds - about the size of a jicama - and measures 16.7 inches from the top of head to heels.  Baby should be gaining about 1/2 a pound a week from here on out!

Symptoms?  Starting to waddle by the end of the day.  And feeling huge!

Sleep?  There have been more nights where I wake up more frequently for seemingly no reason.  Thankfully, I've been able to fall quickly back asleep.

Miss Anything?  Wine. I'm ready for a glass!  I think I just have it in my head since we are about to receive a few shipments from our wine clubs and I booked an anniversary getaway for Mike and me to Healdsburg.

Movement? ALL. THE. TIME. Mike was having fun this weekend messing with the little one.  Some little limb was poking out from my side and when he pushed on it it would push back then need to roll around to settle back in.  We both think this baby is much more of a mover than either of our kids were but I wonder how much of that is the posterior placenta thing?

Food Cravings? Not really. The thought of a poke bowl has shown up every so often. That is due in large part of me trying to figure out what to have for lunch and that is one of the quick, somewhat healthy options near work.

Anything making you queasy or sick?  Over eating. That amount seems to change meal by meal, day to day which makes the guessing game fun.

Recent Doctors Appointment?  I go tomorrow for a routine check-up and get to start asking birth prep questions!

Best IP moment? This hasn't happened yet, but I've very much looking forward showing mom-to-be this weekend at her shower!  And hopefully since we'll have a good chunk of time together she can get to feel some baby kicks.  I have been able to capture some pretty great movement videos for them but I really want her/them to feel it themselves!

Most asked question? Getting close?  Which I think is a nice way of saying - dang you're getting big! haha :)

Nesting? I'm in full blown slacker mode and loving it!  Work has been crazy so by the time we get the kids in bed I'm ready to do nothing but plop on the couch or go to bed.

32 Weeks with this (not feeling so little) nugget

 32 weeks with Charlie

32 weeks with Kendall

30 Weeks with My Belly Buddy

How Many Weeks? 30 weeks

Size of Baby?   Baby is the size of a zucchini. 15.7-inch, 2.9-pounds and continues to grow about half a pound and half an inch each week.

Showing? Goodbye to this question! I'm showing to the point where complete strangers have started to congratulate me and grill me

Symptoms?  My back pain is a pain, but has been coming and going so tolerable.  Sarah and I had an outing to buy some supportive flats so I can start to wean myself off my heel addiction.  I do not promise to go 100% without though!  Also, dog nose is back with a vengeance.  The smallest, normal smells have been making me nauseous. Like my deodorant that has basically no sent at all!

Sleep?  Some nights I've been waking up more frequently than my usual single bathroom break. But luckily I've been able to fall back asleep quickly.

Miss Anything?  Vacation.  It feels like for-ev-er since we were able to really get away and I think it's what I'm most looking forward to post-baby.  We have a few things in the works :)

Movement? Visible movement at this point!  I'm excited to get some belly contorting videos to send the parents.

Food Cravings? Nothing specific. One day I'm starving for anything and everything and the next I don't feel much like eating. My guess is it all depends of baby positioning.

Anything making you queasy or sick?  Lots of smells!

Gender Prediction? I've had 2 gender dreams and both were different. So, still no.  I've carried so similar with both of my own kids, as well as this one, that I can't even go off that.

Recent Doctors Appointment?  This past weekend we met our new doctor.  Why new doctor do you ask?  Well thanks to our lovely government sticking their hands in health care we were forced to change my insurance plan.  My IP's and case manager are way too nice and have been leaving me out of the nitty-gritty as much as possible regarding the whole mess but in short we couldn't be told who my providers would be until the 1st of the year.  They have spent hours and days trying to figure out where I can deliver now at the same time as fighting to keep me "grandfathered" in with my current health care (since I began my 3rd trimester on the 1st).  We finally decided to run a plan B along side this fight, which was picking a new OB and planning to deliver at El Camino hospital in Menlo Park instead of Stanford.  So we met with the new doctor, who is lovely, and had a great normal check-up. I'm measuring right on track and we got to hear the glorious heartbeat. This new doctor wants to see me every 2 weeks through 36 weeks and then once a week thereafter! Nutty!

Best IP moment? Just them. They're awesome! End of story.

Most asked question? Now that there is no hiding this belly people have been firing questions at me! Which I honestly don't mind but when the random checker at the store starts to get too deep into questions I feel weird playing along like this kid is mine.  Usually if someone I don't know says congratulations I just say thank you but after, is this your first? How many do you have? Have you picked out names? Etc. I find myself feeling like I need to mention it's not my child.  Which of course leads to an entirely other line of questioning.  If I don't "come clean" in my head I imagine continuing to shop at the same store and showing up in a few months without a giant belly but with no baby ever in toe.  I don't want anyone to think something terrible happened I guess? I'm still navigating the whole selective knowledge thing I suppose.

Nesting?  I've had a low key last few weeks (for me anyways).  I'm sure I'll find something else that "needs" to be done soon though!

I have been terrible about getting belly pictures! So I took this while out at a new listing yesterday. 30 weeks with my belly buddy!  I think there is no doubt I'm showing more at this point than with my own.

 30 weeks with Charlie

30 weeks with Kendall

Rest of December Catch Up

And to wrap up the year...

Downtown Redwood City Hometown Holiday's and tree lighting that we actually made it to for once!  It was an added bonus it was on my birthday so I didn't feel totally lame spending it at home on our couch.

Kiddo's waiting to see the holiday train

It's here!!  And I took basically no pictures.

There was only one body in my bed when I got up that morning but when I got back from the bathroom someone they multiplied! 

Story time

The boys of daycare!

4H Holiday meeting/party

Cutest child's pose ever

Date night for Mike's work holiday party

4H wreath making with buddy Joey

And some of the other beginning 4Hers

And later that day at 4H show rabbit project

Kendall's class did a kindness challenge during the month of December. Kendall did so well that she even got brought in front of her class and given recognition for all of her kindness.  She came home one day with this picture her friend drew and asked if we could make her a doll of it to make her friend happy.  How could I say no to that!

PBL presentation day at school

Little Giants doll for baby Isabelle 

Adorable footie PJs from my bosses. They were actually family PJs but there was a mix up with shipping and sizes.  Bummer because I would have loves to see Mike in them!!

I got to meet the adorable baby Lincoln on Christmas Eve!!

I can't wait for more baby snuggles soon!

Noon-Years gathering at Andy and Jack's party pad

Happy 2018 everyone!

Sir Elfs-a-lot's 2017 Visit

We had a fun month with Sir Elfs-a-lot!  Charlie was really into finding him this year which added to the excitement of his visits.  The kids can't wait for him to come back next year and see what kind of trouble he can get into :)

Elfs-a-lot brought PJs for the kids on his first day back

The biggest bummer about this visit was I REALLY wanted some goldfish that day!

His first time playing in the garage threw the kids for a loop

He vandalized a few of our family photos that night!

And I can't tell you how many times I tried to shut that drawer on his little legs during this visit

We really need to dust up there.