31 Weeks and Down to Single Digits on Weeks to Wait!

31 weeks today and that means 9 weeks to go! AAAAAAAHHHHHH! I'm excited. Everyone says the 9 weeks will fly by and I'm sure they will. The baby continues to kick the crap out of me, wiggle, etc. and now I hear that when that's gone I'll miss that terribly too. He has gotten the hiccups several times in the past week and I hear that's a good sign, shows good development! Sleeping is still a challenge. I slept in my bed last nite w/Reg and my hips were sore again. I hate hate hate wearing anything except dresses and I still wish I could get away with no bras b/c I just feel so tight in my entire middle. But I know the day we meet El Bebe will be here soon enough and I do feel like it really isn't too far away now!

Feeling a little wistful b/c there are more and more gigs I won't be able to do. I am not doing the gig this Sat. b/c of the annual Sheriff Reserve dinner and I'm not doing the gig next Fri. b/c Katie's is way too damn smoky and I just refuse to tolerate that. Our CD is coming out soon and Paul scheduled the Baton Rouge release party for Nov. 16 but I can't do that b/c 1. I don't think I'm supposed to travel more than an hour away from the hospital in my last month and 2. Reg and I have our 1st Lamaze class the next morning at 8:30a. I hate missing out, but dammit, I have to remind myself I'm only going to be pregnant with this baby just this one time!

Getting excited about the baby shower coming up on Sunday, to be held at the Big Easy! I just hope people come. Looks like they're all waiting til the last minute to shop the registries. My first baby shower, wow, I never woulda thought. BTW these days I am definitely craving banana pudding and ice cream sanniches.

Reg has been going crazy getting my house ready. He totally cleaned out the dining room, an upstairs closet, he continually sweeps, mops, cleans my place. He's so awesome. He's been studying his daddy books. It's so sweet and of course he talks and reads to the baby all the time.

30 Weeks! 10 to go!

I have been sleeping on the couch most of this past weekend and on Monday night; however I did sleep in my bed last night. The couch is much better for my hips but I wanted to see if I could still sleep in my bed and find a way to help my hips not be so sore. I think that b/c my middle is so heavy if I prop up the baby bump with a pillow that really helps. I love my bed and want to be able to sleep in it, though the couch can be fun too.

The BIRTH fair on Sat. was cool; got some good info and some free swag. Saw my doula Jessica, who had a booth with her doula group. I sent Reg to a 2-hr talk on Sun. called "Birth of a Father" and he LOVED it, even bought the guy's book for $10. Then we had the breastfeeding class last nite at the hospital. It lasted from 6-9:30 and we mostly watched videos and had Q&A. Seems like the secret to success is to get the latch right from the beginning and everything else will fall into place.

Saw Dr. E on Monday. The baby's heartbeat was 158--higher than it's been but still normal--and my blood pressure was fine, my urine was fine, still no swelling in feet/ankles and I'm holding steady at the same weight I've had in the past 3 weeks or so. Good! Dr. E said baby is head down, not sure how he knew that and I didn't have time to ask b/c Doc had to run off (literally) and deliver a baby. Doc said baby kicking/moving/wiggling/punching is great b/c it shows the baby is happy and getting enough oxygen. I'll see Doc again in a couple weeks and he's gonna order some kind of special ultrasound and also said I probably don't need to go back to the perinatologist, Dr. H anymore.

Still having to pop Claritin-D a few times a week and Zantac as well. Last night was bad, I am belching through the night but last night some acid came up. I popped a Zantac around 3:30 am so I could get some relief. Doc said it's ok to take these but to knock off the Gas-X. Again, I didn't have time to ask him for alternatives (I can always email him if I want to) so I've just been walking around burping myself by pounding on my chest. Still keeping Tums in my purse and that helps a little. I also bought some apple cider vinegar and some baking soda to see if those work as natural remedies.

I can barely stand to wear a bra sometimes but I need the support so I don't stretch out the skin. But I am having to unhook my bra at work just to help myself breathe better/not feel so tight. I bought some "bandi-bras" (see pic below) that are like soft sports bras last week in size "XL", good Lord, but they work and are not so tight. I'm wearing them at night and even with clothes sometimes. I fill them up just fine too. I may need to visit a maternity store really soon and get measured for some good maternity/nursing bras--no underwire!!!

Working Greek Fest on Sunday was a trip. I wore civilian clothes (new black pants, black boots, Sheriff button down shirt, blazer) and had no weapon b/c I had no place to put it. They stuck me in the gift shop which was cool b/c I was near the cafeteria (kept getting plenty of drinks to stay hydrated) and I could always find a chair to sit though I did stand and walk around too b/c I got tired of sitting. Loved the Greek food, as always, and got the baklava-topped sundae and at the end of the day a candle vendor gave me a beautiful soy candle with a blue cross on it, "For your baby" she said, and the flavor was baklava sundae! Awww!!!

29 Weeks! Kick Poke Punch!

Little baby is quite the wiggler and mover and poker and kicker and puncher and WTH was that round bulge on the right side of my tummy the other morning--his head or his cute little butt??? :) I started doing "Kick Counts" last nite and have a chart I fill out. Ohhh but lately he is really kicking/poking my innards. He kicked my "meow meow" a few times and my bladder and man, that really kinda hurts! When he does that I say, "Baby! Don't play with that!"

Dr. visit tomorrow. I am having serious heartburn and am taking my Zantac, Tums, and this week had to break down and also get some Mylanta and Gas-X. I want to explore some natural remedies I've heard about though. The congestion is still coming and going and I'm glad I don't have to take Claritin-D EVERY day. I bought some more clothes last night b/c I am running out of clothes to wear to work, mostly and the weather is cooling a bit. I bought 6 items but 2 are non-maternity so I'll be able to use them after the pregnancy too. Plus the clothes will work for work, play, and gigging. Only spent $57 at Ross. Yay me!

Last nite I couldn't bear wearing the sports bra to bed; it was cutting me too tight at the top of my ribs so I just took it off and wore an undershirt so I'd have "some" kinda support. The last couple of nights have been rough. I am up and down peeing all the time and last night at 3am I was forced to pop a Zantac. Charley horses in my calves or feet have me leaping out of bed every couple of nights, too. A truly comfy sleeping position eludes me these days; my middle just feels soooo heavy. The baby gains most of his weight this trimester and he's just getting bigger and bigger... yay baby but man, I'm feeling it!!! I now have to "roll" out of bed, ha ha.

Reg and I went for a walk on Mon. night and we'll do the same tonite. I do need to do some stretching exercises and some prenatal yoga which is On Demand on my cable... I just feel so lazy these days. No excuse though. I've also been forgetting my Kegels though I have remembered them lately. I'm still holding at 149 and hope I don't gain much more weight.

Hella busy weekend ahead: Fri. gig. 4D ultrasound video appt. on Sat., then the B.I.R.T.H. Fair, then a gig. Sunday I work Greek Fest and I'll have to be in civilian clothes, oh well!