Finally - 3rd Trimester Time

3rd Trimester!  

We made it 2/3rds the way!  

My view from the top.  So weird not being able to SEE large parts of your body - No matter how you try to twist, turn, lift or contort.  Hahaha

Stretchy t-shirts, comfy athletic shorts, & supportive shoes -- literally my complete wardrobe 6 days out of the week, and usually not even this cute.  Oh my . . .

So it officially "popped."

This did not happen during my pregnancy with Hunter.  Instead of popping out, my belly button just smoothed completely flat.  No such luck this time.

Hunter was the first to take notice . . . 

and constantly feels the need to try to "poke it back in."

I also got to celebrate my BFF's news!  We've done so much together throughout our lives, including having our 1st boys.  And now we are doing it again!  Who knows, we made best friends last time - maybe spouses this time???   ;)

29 Weeks

30 Weeks

(And My 6th year Anniversery!!  Of course there must have been a reason to have fixed my hair, put on make-up, and dressed in something other than lounge clothes.)

You'd think I would be able to feel my belly hanging out, NOPE!  Not until after I positioned the camera and was ready to snap the picture - I laughed, went to fix it, & then snapped away instead.  :) That's what an extra 25 lbs will do to ya!

I hesitated on posting this - but it was just too funny & since this is my life journal now, I didn't want to forget it!                   

8 Weeks                                      30 Weeks

     8 Weeks                     18 Weeks                       25 Weeks                      31 Weeks

                       8 Months

32 Weeks: LESS THAN 8 WEEKS LEFT

Couldn't find a cute maternity Razorback shirt - so I improvised & made my own  :)

33 Weeks
(bestie at 24 Weeks)

Oh This Again:

---KICKING . . . which feels more like a rabid cat trapped in a burlap sack, rather than the sweet kicks from a tiny baby.  
We've definitely come to the point of ACTUAL PHYSICAL PAIN. 
---This has also allowed us to enjoy many rounds of the "guess that body part" since his kicks and movements are practically visible from across the room now. My torso seems to be enduring spasms as it jumps from one side to the next, going from round, to pointed, to completely lop-sided every few minutes. As with my pregnancy with Hunter, I feel as though my moments of "stillness" are so rare that it would be impossible to keep track of his kicks throughout the day. 
---I may just be a bit more aware this time, but I feel like I can tell or notice the difference between his shifting positions - mainly the difference between him being "transverse" (horizontal) or "head down." After days & days of absolute misery, both for me & what felt like for him too, he finally found a comfortable less painful position. Yeah. But it still feels like we are both completely out of room.  
---I've absolutely been waddling, probably for quite a while, but it's REALLY been noticeable lately.  I continually misjudge my belly circumference as I bump counters, knock things over, scrape edges (or people) as I "squeeze" past, and I can just about forget trying to reach anything - as I now have to put my belly on top of the counters to reach into the cabinets or turn off the sink . . . 
---And once again I am left wondering, can I get any bigger??

New This Time:

---The fact of KNOWING that I will get even bigger . . . which is both scary & comforting, if only for the fact that I feel as if I've completely run out of room and we still have several more weeks of sharing belly space & growing to endure together. 

---I don't remember having these exact feelings with Hunter, but I often feel like this baby is so uncomfortable that he's trying to dig his way out or if he were on the outside he'd just stretch out and say Ahhhh . . . which makes me kinda sad for him, if he really is that uncomfortable. Or maybe it's that I'm just so ready to hold him & cuddle him, and know he is safe & happy in my arms. :) 

---Although I had some fairly intense back pain last time, that was pretty much it - now I can add terrible hip pain, aching & swollen feet, AND back pain to the list. 

---After my last trip to the doctor I added a daily prescription for my crazy miserable indigestion & heartburn - which has been UHHH-MAZING. Praise Jesus. 

 ---As mentioned - the belly button popped out. :( As have my hips & booty. (I'm definitely growing a little more everywhere else this time, rather than keeping it confined to my belly region. hmmm) 

 ---I got to thinking the other day that I've really not had that many food cravings throughout this pregnancy. Early on I had a few that I noticed; salt, chips, pickles, and salt :) along with aversions to most sweets . . . but now I just like it all. My typical food choices: Raison Bran Crunch cereal or PB toast for breakfast, deli turkey (I know, I know) with cheese & chips or a Smart Ones meal for lunch, then snacks of popcorn, fruit, or PB & nilla wafers w/ choc milk, and of course my same dinner favorites - spaghetti, taco salad, turkey/walnut "sweet" salad, or just a good ole' PB&J. Something new I have added during this pregnancy is my Spark - placebo or not, I swear it gives me more energy and helps me "feel better" during those draggy days. I just hope its true that the added caffeine won't really effect my little guy. 

---CONTRACTIONS - yes, I'm still having them. No more than 4 an hour, but pretty consistent throughout the day, especially if I've been on my feet for over an hour or so. These contractions have added to my anxiety during this pregnancy. 

---My anxiety over this pregnancy, is so much higher this time around.  Just the other night, while Andrew was gone elk hunting & I was home alone with Hunter, my baby belly was SO uncomfortable that of course my mind started going crazy thinking all these thoughts of what 'could be' happening, and what might happen.  I literally layed on the couch trying to determine if I was actually hurting enough to go to the hospital or was it just anxiety that I was feeding into. I finally went on to bed praying it was anxiety that God & sleep would remedy. SO crazy how my mind can be consumed with frightening thoughts of something "happening" this time . . . which is where God takes over. 

---But more than anything, I think the biggest difference is how READY FOR HIM to get here we all are. I can not wait to see what he looks like and kiss his cheeks and snuggle him. I also can't wait for his big brother to meet him and witness all that is to come with that.  Having Hunter already is absolutely the biggest difference; his excitement & enthusiasm, his love, his energy to keep up with, and of course - the huge difference of having one child, versus two. 

---Which makes me stop and question - am I sure I'm ready?? Lol  I'm finally getting the hang of things, and life is drastically going to change in just a few short weeks . . . how exciting . . .

Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you. Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act. 

Psalm 37:5,7