33 Weeks Along!!

On Thursday I had another doctor's appointment and our baby girl is measuring just right and growing strong and healthy. She is now in the head down position, so this past week she moved around a ton! She loves to kick and punch me. My uterus is really pushing up against my ribs so it's pretty tender under my breasts and sometimes feels as if that area is asleep or tingly. I get crazy bad leg cramps that wake me up in the middle of the night or after I've been sitting for too long. My hands are sometimes asleep when I wake up in the morning. But it's all worth it... I love getting ultrasounds and seeing our little baby!

Matt is the best husband ever! He is always cleaning the house, doing dishes, laundry, taking the dog out, cleaing the fish tanks, taking the garbage out and giving me massages. He always listens to me complain and gets me food and water. He does make fun fun of my fat feet though- rude! haha. they are soo swollen I only fit in a few pair of shoes. I'm so thankful for a great husband. He will be the best daddy ever and is just as excited for our sweet little girl.

This week I need to register, wash the baby bedding and clothes, maybe get some pregnancy phots and maybe even pack my hospital bag (just in case!) I'm SOO excited for my showers. I have the best friends in the world. I went to dinner with Nikki, Sharli, Caitlyn and Ashly the other night and it was a blast. Nikki's baby is adorable- she's 2 months old. I love my friends and sisters in Alpha Phi too.

Wednesday night my sister, Jessica, and I made cute car sear canopys!  We used a pattern from Jessica's friend and used 1 1/4 yards of each (2) material and also got tips from this blog http://just-because-i-am-me.blogspot.com/2010/02/car-seat-canopy-tutorial.html. Tip to those using velcro- buy sew-on velcro, not heavy duty because it will make your needle all goopy and not work.

Look how cute mine turned out. Sorry I had to brag because I'm NOT crafty (or done yet...) but I am excited and glad we made them. (Thanks for the help Jess, mom and Melinda) Jessica is also having a little girl and due September 11. I'm excited for her.

I have been busy at work and it is soo tiring. Monday and Tuesday I worked 12 hour shifts and I thought I was going to have to start maternity leave early my feet hurt so badly and I was tired. I just have one more event in September and then I'll get a nice break. I"m excited- I get a 12 week maternity leave and my work has the best insurance! I am so blessed.

We love our dog Baxter and dog sitting. They keep us very entertained!
 

Tinkerbell and Baxter

I absolutely LOVE babycenter.com and reading it makes me feel so much more prepared and I feel like I know what my baby and body are doing this week. It's awesome. 7 weeks or less!! SO excited! (and don't really know what to expect...)

Week 31

Pregnancy is crazy. It is so amazing and a miracle but seriously people must forget what it's like or everyone would only have one child. Lol.

Symptoms: My feet look like balloons, so does my stomach (obviously). I feel her moving around and punching me all the time. It was really awesome at first and I'm glad to know she's active and healthy in there but simmer down. It's starting to hurt. I have pains and its really sensative at the top of my ribs. My back and hips hurt- especially when I'm trying to sleep. I get leg cramps or charlie horses and cant even move my legs sometimes. I think she hit a growth spurt cuz I'm gaining weight like crazy.  I have gained almost 30 pounds! It's the most I have ever weighed. I'm just glad it's the baby and hope I get back to my pre pregnancy weight soon after she's out. I havent had heartburn as badly, just if I eat pizza or dont drink enough water. I still have acid reflux and gag if something stinks but you get used to it and tums help. I'm tired! And snore a lot. Overall I'm feeling pretty good.    


Freak out: I had to go get the Glucose Test last tuesday to see if i have gestational diabetes. Here are the signs that you are at greater risk:

•Are older than 25 when you are pregnant
•Have a family history of diabetes
•Gave birth to a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds or had a birth defect
•Have sugar (glucose) in your urine when you see your doctor for a regular prenatal visit
•Have high blood pressure
•Have too much amniotic fluid
•Have had an unexplained miscarriage or stillbirth
•Were overweight before your pregnancy

Since I am none of those I was surprised and scared when I got the call on Thursday morning that my blood sugar is very high and I probably have gestational diabetes. I was meeting with a client for a site visit at work at 11 am and the doctor called about 10:53 am. So i had a mini freak out and started crying. I pulled myself together and the site vist went great. Then I called Matt and told him I had to go the hospital the next day for the 3 hour glucose test. It seriously took like 4 hours and they have to draw your blood 4 times. You drink this nasty, well sugarry, drink and then just sit around and read or something. Then I was super tired afterwards. Since I did the blood tests on Friday they couldnt get the results back until this week. Monday they never called so Tuesday I called them and....Good News! I dont have gestational diabetes. I still want to eat healthier and I know it wouldnt have been the end of the world if I did have it but I'm glad I'm okay and hope the baby is healthy and growing just like she should be.

I love seeing ultra sounds! At our last appointment we saw her punching repetitively in there and saw her little facial features and tounge stick out. She is going to be adoarble and I cant believe she'll be here in less than 2 months!! It's so unreal. And exciting. I cant believe that babies are so long and skinny. My baby is like 16 inches long but only weights about 3 pounds.

This weekend we went to Bear Lake with my family and it was so much fun. I did really well on the drive and didnt have to stop to go to the bathroom or feel car sick. I was hot at the lake on Saturday, but who wasnt. It was crowded but the water was perfect and felt great. We gave each other pedicures and it felt so nice. We played lots of games and ate tons of delicious food. My nieces and nephews are so cute! They absolutely LOVE Baxter. He really is the best dog in the world. I love my family SO much and I'm glad we had a fun weekend. I realized that I need sleep! I am super emotional when I dont get enough sleep adn then combine that with being pregnant and its a mess. So reminder to self: get more sleep- even if I'm on vacation.

I got a maternity massage from Marisa last Monday and it was wonderful! We start birthing classes August 30 and go for 4 weeks. I think it will help me get familiarized with the hospital and also prepare more for giving birth, breast feeding and what to expect. I registered online but most of the stuff is out of stock or only sold online so i need to go into the stores sometime this week and register. I'm excited. I have the best family and friends. They are so nice and want to throw me showers- I'm so excited.

I watched a video of a lady giving birth with an epidural on babycenter.com http://bit.ly/cS6k4V and it was amazing! I thought it would gross or freaky but it was really cool. I think I might want to record mine because I'll never get that moment back. I wont show people- I just want it for myself and to remember how we reacted and what we said when she first comes out. I want Matt there with me and if my mom, sisters and mother-in-law want to be there then that's fine too. I was really scared and nervous but after watching this video I feel soo much better. Now I know that I for sure want an epidural. I think I want it filmed (maybe from my head view.) Matt wants to be there and cut the ambilical cord. I know I can do this and it will truly be amazing. I hope I dont have to have a c-section but if I have a big baby and a small canal or hips then I might have to. I was born c-section and i think it'll be okay.

I"m excited to have a little girl. We'll be able to put cute bows and flowers in her hair. She will be adorable. We are going to name her Juliette Kay Romero. I cant wait to see her. When I first see her I will tell her I love her and breast feed her. I know I will cry and I cant wait. We decided on the name Juliette becuase it is a beautiful, unique, kind of old fashion name. It isnt common and it was one of the only girl names we both agreed on. Her middle name will be Kay becuase both of our moms (Karine and Karen) start with K and it's a cute name. Glad this week is over and by Friday I'll be 32 weeks along. Ahh!! It's coming up.

Sisters for Life

We went to a super nice cabin up Spanish Fork Canyon in the middle of nowhere. Thanks Karly! There were 15 girls that slept over, played games, laughed until we peed our pants and stayed up way too late. It was a BLAST!! I'm so glad I have such good friends and that I can be part of Alpha Phi forever. It is such a great organization and I had the the best time!

A group shot- Lisa, Kimber, Natalie, Nicole, Karly, Rachelle, Biz, Ashley Whitney

Jacie, Gina, J Lowe, Me, Becca and Sarah. LOVE these girls!

 We played lasso golf (pic below), pop 5 (fast paced cranium and soo fun), bowl (like charades and catch phrase mixed with 3 different rounds), ate delicious dutch oven dinner and tons of candy and junk food.

 My favorite part was just sitting around the campfire at night. We talked about the great founders of this sorority and reminised about our good times at SUU. We played psychiatrist and stayed up talking about everything. We had a blast and built memories that will last forever! Thanks girls for the good weekend!

 I LOVE ALPHA PHI

Amigos do Brasil

This week has been so much fun! Betania is a convert from Brazil that Matt and his companions taught. Jordan baptized her. She has been in the United States for almost 30 days. Now she is in Utah visiting. She is so awesome and stayed with us for a few nights.

Matt, Betania, Jordan and Donny on Wednesday night- Betania's first s'mores

We went up Big Cottonwood Canyon and roasted hot dogs and marshmallows. I love the mountains. 

Thursday we went to temple square and dinner at Applebees.

 Alyssa, Nick, Jordan, Betania, Laura, me and Matt- Donny came later

 We went and saw the Mormon Tabernacle Choir practice on Thursday night at the Conference Center.

 Betania and her boys!

My favorite night was probably Friday and we didn't take any pictures. Betania and I just hung out at our apartment and she taught me how to make Brazilian food- rice, beans, and eggs. Sounds so simple but its different than how we cook it and it was soo delicious. Matt was SOO excited and said its the best gift she can give us. Lol. I'm excited to cook more.

Sunday night we made this cheese rolls (pan de queso) and they are SO good! We just watched TV and relaxed. Today she goes back to the airport and we'll miss her.We practiced lots of Portuguese and had a blast. I cant wait until we visit Brazil!!

Like a Squash

My baby is now the size of a squash! I am feeling it. I am in the third and final trimester! I cant believe it! The first 6 1/2 months have gone by so fast and I know she'll be here in no time but sometimes I think -- really 2 1/2 more months and I"ll only get bigger?? Lol.

Weeks along: 29

Symptoms: In the past 2 weeks I feel like I have totally popped out and started to show more. I really feel pregnant now and my face is chubs. My feet are even starting to get swollen after a long day of work walking around the convention center or being outside on the hot weekends. This little girl is a mover- she loves to kick and sqirm in there and I am still loving it. I can see my stomach moving sometimes and its a little bit creepy. But really it's a miracle to have a human inside there. She likes to push on my bladder though so i have to pee a lot.

Best thing this week: This week was GREAT! So I'll tell a 2:
     Our friend Betania from Brazil came to Utah to visit the missionaries who taught and baptized her. This week we did a lot of activities together with some of Matt's mission companions, their wives and Betania. We love her and are so glad to have her stay with us during her visit. I'm glad we have a two bedroom apartment now. I had fun going on dates with Matt and hanging out with our friends almost every night. (I'll post pictures of this in an upcoming post.) I'm excited for Matt to speak Portuguese to our children!
     Also, I had sisterhood retreat for all the alumnae in Alpha Phi- it was a blast to have a girls night and sleepover at Karly's cabin (post of this coming soon as well.)

Worst thing this week: Do not eat riblets from Applebees while pregnant. I had a nasty, nasty surprise Friday morning while throwing up. Ew. Dont imagine it. I'm back to throwing up just about every morning. Super fun. I gag over stinky smells and even gross thoughts. I have heart burn so bad- tums are my best friends but dont seem to work at night. Also, I am quite clumsy I guess you might say--- and i broke the screen on my phone 3 times in the last month. Not just like a tiny crack, but completely shattered. Yes 3 times. I need it tied to a string so it cant hit the ground. I dont know what to do.  

Preparing: We scheduled child birthing classes and start on Aug 30. Matt helps me stretch and gives me massages becuase my back and legs always ache. I"m excited for our appointment next week.

Nesting: We bought a crib off ksl.com and set up her blankets and mobile. We also got tons of cute clothes from a friend at my mother-in-laws work. Matt is adorable and got a fish tank with guppies and pink rocks for her. 

Maternity clothes: I love leggings and dresses. I dont like wearing baggy clothes. Jeans and pants in general are just too tight (evern maternity ones...) I love the belly band! I still try to squeeze into my regular pants and then just use the belly band but that might have to end soon :(

Cravings: I had my first real craving last Sunday. I really wanted no bake dinosaur cookies. We didnt have time to make them between everything we had to do that day so i ate almost a whole package of Grasshopper cookies and then continued on to eat a half bag of chocolate chips. It was like it didn't matter if I was hungry or full I just needed to eat them. Very delicious. I still want no bake cookies though. Yum.