{38 weeks} PUMPKIN!

SERIOUSLY!  Mister is now the size of a pumpkin!! How fun is that?!  

 Our little pumpkin =) 

According to The Bump, Baby Hoff is about 18.9 to 20.9 inches long and weighs about 6.2 to 9.2 pounds.

How far along? 38w0d 

Total weight gain: 35lbs 

Maternity clothes? mixture of both but mainly maternity.

Stretch marks? FOUND SOME!  They aren't on my belly though...and only on the left...How weird is that?! (I know, you're thinking "Really?? Is she excited about stretch marks?" and no, I'm not, I've just been waiting for them to show up and I've been working hard to earn those stripes...even if they are on my butt/hip----and I'm sure there will be more to come and probably on my stomach). 

Sleep: averaging about 4 a night
Best moment this week:Getting a package addressed to "Carlos Hoff"  Seriously made my week.

Miss Anything? not feeling pain on a daily basis....
Movement: Kicks, hiccups, rolls, jabs, punches, you name it Baby Hoff is probably doing it!
Food cravings: baked goods
Anything making you queasy or sick: chicken.
Gender: We know the gender........
Labor Signs: too many. 
Symptoms:MAJOR heartburn, sore legs/knees/feet/ankles, sleepy, pressure, and CONTRACTIONS... MAJOR LIGHTNING CROTCH (gotta love that)
Belly Button in or out?   the top is starting to stick out! Almost done!
Wedding rings on or off? I try to keep it on, if anything it fits on my pinky!
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy 
Looking forward to: getting snuggle time with this little bundle!  I'm ready for him to be here but I know he needs to keep cookin a little bit longer! I am just not loving the uncertainty of these last few weeks.

How are you feeling? I'm feeling =)  Mister has seriously been enjoying head butting my cervix this last week and that FREAKING HURTS.  Do you know how hard it is to not grimace or make a "HOLY $&%* THAT HURT" face when something genuinely hurts enough to take your breath away and drop you to your knees???  I'm afraid if I make those faces my poor kinder kids will be traumatized!  So, it's been a rough week.  I'm getting impatient waiting for him, and according to my Dr. She thinks we will make it until the 14th--but she's out of town.  He's not engaged yet, so hopefully this week we will have more progress towards that light at the end of the tunnel.  I know I'm ready for the next adventure....Chad I think is too--but we are both pretty nervous =)

Next Appointment: OCTOBER 3 (YES! we are going to make it to October!  I really want an October birthday baby!...but if he randomly showed up today I wouldn't be heart broken =))

Chad's amusement of this week: He tells me nothing....It really was a rough week though.  Poor guy was not a fan of how much pain I was in on Wednesday night. 

Here's the weekly picture (and I feel like poo--dang head cold):

    

{37 weeks} Winter Melon?

According to The Bump Baby Hoff has reached full term. He likely measures around 18.9 to 20.9 inches and weighs about 6.2 to 9.2 pounds. He's gaining about 1/2 ounce each day. 

 

How far along? 37w0d 

Total weight gain: 35lbs 

Maternity clothes? mixture of both but mainly maternity.

Stretch marks? none that I can tell

Sleep: averaging about 4-6 a night
Best moment this week:I think I'm almost ready for my sub--okay I'm ready for him, the only thing I have left to do are my centers for December.

Miss Anything? not feeling pain on a daily basis....
Movement: Kicks, hiccups, rolls, jabs, punches, you name it Baby Hoff is probably doing it!
Food cravings: baked goods
Anything making you queasy or sick: chicken.
Gender: We know the gender........
Labor Signs: too many. 
Symptoms:MAJOR heartburn, sore legs/knees/feet/ankles, sleepy, pressure, and CONTRACTIONS...
Belly Button in or out?   the top is starting to stick out! Almost done!
Wedding rings on or off? I try to keep it on, if anything it fits on my pinky!
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy 
Looking forward to: getting snuggle time with this little bundle!  I'm ready for him to be here but I know he needs to keep cookin a little bit longer!  However, after today, I'm ready to just be done with the pain.

How are you feeling? not swell.  After today, I'm completely confused, mentally and physically exhausted, and just not a happy camper. (see, it's a short one this week, so I'm not even feeling sarcastic or excited)

Next Appointment: September 26

Chad's amusement of this week: Watching my stomach contract and then immediately when it finishes mister gets his groove on.

Here's the weekly pictures (one of everyone!) and a video....

{36 weeks} Honey Honey Honeydew

According to The Bump, baby Hoff is still in the 17.2- to 18.7-inch and 4.2- to 5.8-pound range and continues to beef up.  

How far along? 36w0d 

Total weight gain: 34lbs 

Maternity clothes? mixture of both but mainly maternity.

Stretch marks? none that I can tell

Sleep: averaging about 4-6 a night
Best moment this week:not baby related...but the gas station around the loop from us is back open! They've been closed for a few months--tore down the building and the pumps and built ground up new!  They even landscaped!  It's amazing in there.  Lots to choose from now and even has a mini little cafe thing.  I'm just pumped my favorite gas station coffee is back--they even kept the same brand which makes me even more excited!  Chad can now get a "freal" iced mocha thingy (yesterday we splurged and he got a cookies and cream milk shake--he said it was pretty good).

Miss Anything? The normal things...and today I miss jeans because none fit that I have.  Hopefully the weather will jump back up a little bit (and I REALLY REALLY hate to say that) so that I can keep wearing my skirts and shorts to school and not have to buy more maternity clothes for these last few weeks.
Movement: Kicks, hiccups, rolls, jabs, punches, you name it Baby Hoff is probably doing it!
Food cravings:  m&m's have been my go to the last week or so
Anything making you queasy or sick: chicken.
Gender: We know the gender........
Labor Signs: yes.  My contractions have slowed and then quickened and then slowed....
Symptoms:MAJOR Sacroiliac Joint pain, MAJOR heartburn, sore legs/knees/feet/ankles, sleepy, braxton hicks, pressure, and CONTRACTIONS...
Belly Button in or out?   the top is starting to stick out! Almost done!
Wedding rings on or off? I try to keep it on, if anything it fits on my pinky!
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy 
Looking forward to: getting snuggle time with this little bundle!  I'm ready for him to be here, however I know he needs to keep cookin a little bit longer!

How are you feeling? Today is a weird day because it's a gloomy day so my mood isn't top notch--but I'll manage.  It was a day of "nothing fits and I give up" so as you'll see in the pictures below this is what I went with today and I really don't care if it looks okay or not lol  Hello stretchy leggings!  My friend Jen cleaned out her closet a few times and donated to my cause (maternity and non), but I'm still too big..well, wide I guess... for those clothes haha.  I'm hoping my hips/butt shrink back just a little bit--quickly...and just a little bit--so that I can fit into those jeans she gave me!  THANKS JEN!  Starting to get a little nervous about delivery and blood...don't ask me why because this whole time I've felt pretty calm and excited about the whole thing, but yesterday and today I've been a little anxious about it.  I know it'll be good and go smoothly, but something is just starting to get eerie.  Some gals I know that are due in October have started to have their babes and for some reason, seeing their little ones makes me go "That's really inside of me right now?!"  It's crazy to think.  Such a miracle going on.

Next Appointment: September 19 (I'm on weekly appointments now...only last week we had two appts to check on things and make sure we weren't making too much progress yet).

Chad's amusement of this week: He found it quite entertaining that I was laughing so hard this a.m. when I was trying to find ONE, just one, pair of pants that would fit.  Even my dumb maternity jeans didn't fit anymore.  He tried hard not to laugh at me and kept apologizing, but it didn't matter...I was laughing at myself too.  Other than that we've had a pretty mellow week.

Here's the weekly pictures   =) 

        

{35 weeks} coconut!

 According to The Bump, Baby Hoff is about 17.2 to 18.7 inches. From here on out, he won't get much longer, but he's plumping up. He's now about 4.2 to 5.8 pounds, and he'll put on a pound or more of baby fat before birth. 

How far along? 35w0d 

Total weight gain: 33lbs 

Maternity clothes? mixture of both but mainly maternity.

Stretch marks? none that I can tell

Sleep: averaging about 4-6 a night
Best moment this week:getting the last of the major things we need for baby

Miss Anything? energy, feeling human, and being able to do things myself
Movement: Kicks, hiccups, rolls, jabs, punches, you name it Baby Hoff is probably doing it!
Food cravings:  muffins and any baked goods really...
Anything making you queasy or sick: chicken and my appetite is gone...has been since Thursday morning.
Gender: We know the gender........
Labor Signs:LOTS.  Another round of shots and a pill this time to get the contractions to stop on Thursday...have been having fairly regular contractions since then. Today I welcomed back labor apparently.
Symptoms:MAJOR Sacroiliac Joint pain, MAJOR heartburn, sore legs/knees/feet/ankles, sleepy, braxton hicks, pressure, and CONTRACTIONS...
Belly Button in or out?   the top is starting to stick out! Almost done!
Wedding rings on or off? I try to keep it on, if anything it fits on my pinky!
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy 
Looking forward to: finding out what's going on with these contractions!

How are you feeling? nervous, anxious, excited, scared, unprepared, prepared, all of the above?????  After spending quite some time in Labor and Delivery on Thursday night for contractions, we figure this little one will be here soon.  Maybe he was just so excited from all the fun stuff he got at the baby shower my K team threw for us.....  I had been having what I like to call as Sharp Shooters (our nurse calls it lightning crotch) for a few days thinking it was just some bad round ligament pains mixed in with some braxton hicks, but after having a lovely time in the bathroom that signaled an "uh oh..." and a conversation or two with some lovely ladies in my life, decided I might need to call the on call doc and see what he had to say.  Of course he tells me "Ya, you probably should have came in sooner..." so off we went to the the hospital.  I got the lovely shots and even had to take a pill this time to try and stop them!  A few bags of fluid later, a double dose of two different nausea medications,  and SLOWED contractions, I was released and told to stay home from work for the day and take it easy all weekend.  The on call doctor told me to call back if the pain was worse then when I first came in otherwise I'm probably going to be one of "the lucky ladies that has contractions until you give birth."  Gosh, I can't wait!  I've had contractions all weekend and today I apparently welcomed back labor.  The meds have kept them slowed for now but who knows!  I'll be calling MY doctor in the morning to see what she has to say.  I'm hoping it isn't bed rest or to take it easy (because seriously, how do you teach kindergarten and take it easy???) but I know whatever she tells me to do I have to do it because it is what is best of baby and I.  So, here I sit, confined to the recliner for the majority of the day. 

Looks fun right??

Next Appointment: September 12
Chad's amusement of this week: getting the carseat installed.

Here's the weekly pictures   =) 

From today.....

From yesterday....

 

And because it's funny that everyone tells me I don't look 

pregnant from behind unless I'm waddling along..... 

Carseat is installed and has been tested out =)

Sadie even did a really good job in the car with it!  She did not try and jump in it or over it!  She did so good!!

{34 weeks} butternut!

According to The Bump, at less than two months to go [yeah...like a month and a half if I'm lucky!!!], Baby Hoff weighs in at about 4.2 pounds to 5.8 pounds and measures about 17.2 to 18.7 inches.  Oh, and you can compare that this week to a butternut squash!

How far along? 34w1d

Total weight gain: 33lbs

Maternity clothes? mixture of both but mainly maternity.

Stretch marks? none that I can tell..but around my belly button looks bruised....so that's a little weird
Sleep: averaging about 4-6 a night
Best moment this week: getting lots of fun packages in the mail!  It's always nice to get something other than a bill...even though our bank statement states otherwise for those packages haha
Miss Anything? energy, feeling human, and being able to do things myself
Movement: Kicks, hiccups, rolls, jabs, punches, you name it Baby Hoff is probably doing it!
Food cravings:  muffins and any baked goods really...
Anything making you queasy or sick: chicken--let me clarify: chicken breasts--I can eat chicken nuggets, chicken fries, and crispy chicken sandwiches....
Gender: We know the gender........
Labor Signs: still having braxton hicks and had a few contractions while working...have to sit and take a quick mental note to try and keep teaching!
Symptoms:MAJOR Sacroiliac Joint pain, MAJOR heartburn, sore legs/knees/feet/ankles, sleepy, braxton hicks, and lots of lovely pressure with a few stabbing pains thanks to Baby Hoff dropping. 
Belly Button in or out?   the top is starting to stick out! Almost done!
Wedding rings on or off? I try to keep it on, if anything it fits on my pinky!
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy 
Looking forward to: getting the car seat tomorrow...it's supposed to arrive tomorrow anyhow.

How are you feeling? currently?  I'm hungry--dinner is cooking =)  Today has been an off day; I think I'm dehydrated a bit.  Baby Hoff has been hanging out pretty low and thoroughly enjoys beating me up.  Lately the favorite thing to do is to stretch out from left to right...that hurts.  My stomach has been a torpedo out, so when baby moves to the complete opposite, yeah...my stomach doesn't stretch well that way.  Other than that just getting nervous about the arrival and the afters.  Everyone who knows me knows I don't like a lot of people or being the center of attention (which I know baby will be this, however my boobs plan to be hanging out A LOT and apparently I'm going to get to spend a lot of time being uncomfortable so I will HAVE to ask for help--even though most of you know that I HATE doing that)-- so I'm just a little worried about how things will be after arrival--here is everyone's apology in advance:  "I'm sorry if I'm being witchy, rude, selfish, inconsiderate, or whatever else you'd like to say I'm being if I'm not in the best mood.  I'm not so and so and I just had a baby in whatever way that was medically possible and you can't compare to that to so and so's because they aren't me and I handle/go though things differently.  If I'm in a great, somber mood, lucky you!  I'll do my best to keep the witchiness to a minimum."
Next Appointment: September 12
Chad's amusement of this week: Chad thinks its cool so I'll share it; I myself was a little traumatized by the whole thing.  At our appt this past week we mentioned we were in debate of what body part was poking where.  Well, apparently if you're not ready for the answer to that, don't say that to your doctor.  She poked around a bit then grabbed his head between her fingers and wiggled it a bit and told us what it was, poked on the butt and made Chad feel, and explained the little knobs were knees.  Now, all of that sounds harmless right?  Except when you learn that the head is around 3 inches from the exit!!!!!  That is the traumatizing part to me!  Baby is NOT ready to exit, but is hanging out pretty dang close! 

Here's the weekly pictures   =) 

See that?  Baby Hoff has still been hanging out over to one side....preference is ALWAYS made to the left and gosh does baby let me know that if I try to lay or lean to the right!!!!

{33 weeks} Durian???

According to The Bump, Baby Hoff weighs about 4.2 to 5.8 pounds and measures about 17.2 to 18.7 inches.  Baby Hoff is also the size of a Durian....which I've never heard of or seen in my life!

 

How far along? 33w0d

Total weight gain: 30lbs

Maternity clothes? mixture of both... 

Stretch marks? none that I can tell..but around my belly button looks bruised....so that's a little weird
Sleep: averaging about 4-6 a night
Best moment this week: getting the thinkin' chair back and finished!
Miss Anything? energy, feeling human, and being able to do things myself
Movement: Kicks, hiccups, rolls, jabs, punches, you name it Baby Hoff is probably doing it!
Food cravings:  muffins and any baked goods really...
Anything making you queasy or sick: chicken--let me clarify: chicken breasts--I can eat chicken nuggets, chicken fries, and crispy chicken sandwich....
Gender: We know the gender........
Labor Signs: still having braxton hicks and had a few contractions while working...had to sit and take a quick mental note to try and keep teaching!
Symptoms:MAJOR Sacroiliac Joint pain, MAJOR heartburn, sore legs/knees/feet/ankles, sleepy, braxton hicks.
Belly Button in or out?  flat! however the top has started to pop!
Wedding rings on or off? I try to wear them, but they end up coming off by the end of the day (especially at school when my room is 90+ degrees!)
Happy or Moody most of the time: happy--but apparently moody (see How are you feeling? below)
Looking forward to: getting everything done so I feel somewhat prepared at work and home for Baby Hoff

How are you feeling?  Tired. Sore. Swollen. Hot.  Anxious. Unprepared (but we are....minus the carseat!!).  I'm just not loving the unknown.  When will this little baby make it's debut?? We literally have 49 days until the official due date....is this baby going to take after my mom's births and my sister's and come early??  The doc tells me there is no correlation--but I think that is only half true.  How am I going to time contractions and teach at the same time?! I'm secretly hoping I "pee my pants" so that I know when I need to leave work!  After having three contractions the other day while trying to teach, it's going to be beastly hard to keep focused on both!  GAH!

(if below is bolded on your screen, it's not meant to be....I can't figure out how to fix that because when editing this post it shows up that it isn't bolded and larger than the other paragraphs) 
I'm also feeling frustrated--VERY FRUSTRATED.  MANY people keep telling Chad or I that "Gosh you're going to have to have a C-section because you are just too small to push that baby out." Daily. In one form or another this is said to one of us.  Why must people doubt me?  Yes, I am petite.  Do you all see me on a daily basis? No.  Do you all realize that yes I am small, but my body shape has changed dramatically?!  Do you not see how far my hips have spread when looking at my weekly photos?  Even if they hadn't spread as much as they have, there are MANY women who are smaller and more petite than I am that have been able to have a regular vaginal birth.  So, those who doubt me and my ability, thanks for setting me up for feeling like a failure if in fact this baby just doesn't want to descend into the birth canal or for some other reason and I have to have a C-section because it's what's best for the baby.  For those of you who have been nothing but supportive--thank you for believing in me and giving me the strength I will need to go through this life changing experience.
I've also gotten a glimpse into the October future....trying to make sure someone is available to watch the baby while I go in to work to help with the fall and winter party (because not many parents have volunteered), test my kiddos for report cards (because I have to fill in the report cards--I'd rather be the one testing so I know it's accurate information), and go in for parent teacher conferences (so I can get comped for those days instead of having to pay the sub) might just be a bit of a nightmare come October.  

Next Appointment: August 29
Chad's amusement of this week: getting Baby Hoff to move with his voice and realizing that sweeping and mopping the floors is a pretty big task that isn't fun (this is MAYBE the second time he's done this)--I know he appreciates when I clean the house--but I honestly think he has always thought it's not that big of a job (until now! because he's had to clean the bathroom and do the floors the last week or two).  

Here's the weekly pictures   =) 

(if below is bolded on your screen, it's not meant to be....I can't figure out how to fix that because when editing this post it shows up that it isn't bolded and larger than the other paragraphs)
Am I loving the forward facing picture? No. But I'm "keeping it real" and honest on here so that I can remember these memories and not forget the truth (since no one told me half the stuff that really goes on when you are pregnant....if only I would let you read my journal---you'd learn all the gory details!).  I don't love how my face has changed.  I don't mind the other parts that have changed, but I don't love the fuller face.  And I'm allowed to feel that way.

Thinkin' Chair Love

When my mom passed away in 2004 there was only one of her personal belongings that I REALLY wanted: her rocker.  I have MANY memories of her sitting in this chair.  I was lucky enough to be able to receive it when she passed and have spent a lot of time thinking and pondering about life while sitting in it.  Since getting the chair it has been my go-to spot to sit....it helps me cope with things, think about things, and just remember.  

This chair is old--A. Barb tells me it sat in her mom's room =)  I knew it was something that I would want to get fixed up sometime.  When Chad and I found out we were expecting and looked at some rockers and recliners to use in the nursery, nothing really stood out.  I figured it was time to fix up my thinkin' chair.  

This chair has many special memories for me and now it will have many more as we transition it into the nursery.  I could not be happier with how it turned out.  We hired someone to refinish it and our friend graciously reupholstered it for us as a baby shower gift.  They both did an amazing job and have brought new life to the chair.  I cannot wait to snuggle, rock, read, and feed Baby Hoff in this chair.  So many more amazing memories are about to be made.