30 weeks

This was a monumental week in my pregnancy thus far.  Mainly because I am REALLY feeling pregnant.  In a good way, of course.  There is just something about 30 that all of a sudden there is light at the end of the tunnel.  Here are some real live pregnancy observations:

One or two more weeks, and I think Stephen will be putting my socks on for me!  I now actually have to roll out of bed.  I can still sit straight up if I try really hard, but it hurts.  I quit wearing my wedding rings a few weeks ago, because my fingers would swell on and off through the day and get uncomfortable, but now they are pretty much swollen all the time.  We had a meeting with a bunch of college students the other day and I was talking to a girl, and she noticed I am pregnant so we talked about that for a while.  Well, she is good friends with another girl on staff who she later told: "That is so great that even though she got pregnant when she isn't married that she can still be so involved with the ministry!"  Ha!  I watched myself walking by a mirror the other day and I am pretty sure I was waddling.  It took me three days to clean the house this week.  Not because I did anything especially difficult, I just have to take a long break between major activities.  There is no more Halloween candy left for the trick or treaters.  I will take personal responsibility for this, BUT I found out yesterday when I was feeling guilty for eating so much candy that Stephen actually got into the huge bag, dumped it out, and picked out all of the twix bars.  It's actually not ALL gone, but all that is left are a few milky ways and 3 musketeers, and who even likes those?  

Pregnancy makes you crazy.  I spent the first 3 months worrying that I wasn't actually pregnant, the next 3 worrying because I wasn't big enough.  Then I had a bit of a growth spurt and I worried that I was too big.  My baby started moving a LOT in the last few weeks, which was fun, but then I started to worry that she was moving too much.  Then a couple days ago, she slowed down a bit, so I had to go in to do a nonstress test to make sure she isn't moving too little.  She gets the hiccups.  But is getting them more that 4 or 5 times a day a sign of something bad?  I bet I could find something on google that says it is.  I recently discovered that she is "transverse" (laying sideways) in my belly.  What if she doesn't turn?  C-section?  And then I pray and ask God that she would get here early (cause who doesn't want to have their baby asap?) but I have to cautiously throw in, "But only if she's healthy, strong, and with no complications, and not TOO early!"  As if God will play a dirty trick on me and answer my prayer to bring her early and say "But you just said early...you didn't say you ALSO wanted her to be healthy..."  So I take the prayer back.  "Nevermind....just healthy." 

And there is also the mood swings.  I use to think this was just an excuse for girls to be mean, then blame it on being pregnant.  I'll only confess one instance to you:  Stephen and I were on our way to bed.  He was in a pretty good mood trying to be all cuddly, and I just wasn't feeling it.  Sometimes I just don't want to be touched.  Well, he decided I was in a playful mood too, despite my hints, and was just pestering me.  I told him to cut it out, and of course he took this as me playing back, who knows why.  So then he starts tickling me and pinning me down- which I HATE.  So I sortof start freaking out, but of course, he still just thinks I'm playing back.  So then he gives me a strawberry on my belly and on my neck- (you know, where you basically blow spit all over someone...) So that's it for me.  I push him off and yell at him to quit it.  He realizes the fun is over, but still doesn't think its as big of a deal as I do.  So I storm off to the bathroom (because I have to pee for the hundredth time) and contemplate my revenge in there.  I came back, and did the only appropriate thing.  I spit on my hand and wipe it on his face and say "You spit on me, I spit on you."  He obviously at this point was convinced I was a psycho.  I apologized.  Now maybe that wasn't pregnancy, but I need to believe it was.  And frankly, it's a good thing I had something to blame it on!  :)

Here I am at 29 weeks! 

Cloth diapers

Now, I know what you are thinking.  The shabby white rectangle cloth somehow finagled to fit around a baby's tiny little legs and waist- fastened at the sides with clothespins or safety pins- bulky and sad looking with the noisy plastic waterproof pants over them.  Yes, that is what they use to be, and what I was lucky enough to wear during my diaper days...(apparently my sensitive little bottom just couldn't take the chemicals of disposables)  Well, cloth diapers have come a long way since then.  Did you know that if your baby isn't potty trained until 2 years (or older for MANY kids!) then you will probably spend $2000 or MORE on disposable diapers!?  If you are like me, and you want several kids- or 5, then that means $10,000 on DIAPERS.  Trash, basically.  It's disheartening.  When I read the ridiculous expense diapers would be, I began my research of cloth diapers.  Much to my surprise, not only have they come a long way in their functionality but also in appearance!  I'll give you the short rundown.

Prefolds and covers: almost exactly what I previously described- however, the covers don't HAVE to be plastic water pants.  They make cute ones in colors and prints that velcro or snap closed. *$1 for the prefold (cloth) and anywhere from $7-$17 for the cover (which can be reused without washing if it doesn't get yucky)
Fitteds and covers:  Same as above, only the cloth part is actually designed to fit on just like a diaper.  *$5-$15 for a fitted
Pocket diaper: looks like a regular diaper, (but cute) and there is a pocket on the inside that you stuff with a liner that soaks up whatever comes out of the baby.  *$15-$25, $5 for extra liners
All in 2:  Same as above, only no pocket, you either snap or lay the liner in. *$18-$25
All in 1: Exactly like a disposable diaper, only you don't throw it away, you wash it.  (You obviously wash all of them...)  *$20-$30
ALSO many of these come in sizes, or one size that can adjust to fit the baby.  Obviously- the sized will fit better, but the one size will be more economical and in the long run, save more money.

Babies need their diaper changed around 8 to 12 times a day, so you need at least that many diapers, and twice that many if you don't want to CONSTANTLY be doing laundry.  I have already started my collection (with the help of my mom of course) but I won't be done until several weeks after she is born, so I can see exactly which ones I really like best.  Here is my collection so far- with a few in the mail on the way: 

All of these are Pocket diapers.  The top two are one size (adjusted to smallest setting), the middle two are sized (small), and the bottom one is a duo- there are only two sizes (so it adjusts but will eventually be too small).  I have some Prefolds and covers on the way, as well as some All in Ones.  I am trying to have a variety of about 10-12 diapers to try when she is first born, then I will buy the rest in the kinds I like. 


There is obviously a lot more that goes into cloth diapering...like how you store them before you wash them, how you wash them, what to do when you are traveling, smells, etc.  But I will save that for those that are actually interested!  I am slightly obsessed and thanks to a few sleepless nights recently, I feel like I could start my own business with these or teach a class or something, and I don't even have a baby.   So do you think I'm crazy, or what? 

So long second trimester...

I may be jinxing myself since I actually have one full week left of the second trimester...but here are the top 10 things I will not miss about the second trimester in no particular order:

1.  "MY second trimester was great!  You are going to feel better in a week or two!"  You shouldn't tell a pregnant girl that, cause it might not be true! 
2. Weight gain.  I could cope with the 3 pounds of the first trimester, but holy cow I packed them on the next 3 months.
3. The inbetween belly.  No one could really tell I was pregnant, but it was clear I had gained weight.  And what do you wear for the in between belly? 
4. Hairy belly.  Something no one really tells you about...yes, my belly is hairy.  Luckily its blonde, but still pretty sick if you ask me.
5. Sweating.  Last week it was 50 degrees one evening- I had on a tank top and was still sweating profusely.  I know my hormones will continue to be wacky, but at least my third trimester will be enjoyed with cooler temps. 
6. Appointments.  4 weeks is just entirely too long to think up all the horrible things that could happen before your next appointment.  The internet should really be banned for all pregnant women. 
7. Braxton Hicks.  They were fun at first....but now I don't like them.
8. Glucose screening test.  That stuff made me feel sick the whole day!
9. Time.  Somehow it now takes me twice as long to do EVERYTHING. 
10. Even though it's just around the corner, it still FEELS like forever until I get to have my baby! 

Honestly, it was difficult for me to come up with 10 things I won't miss, so I guess the second trimester wasn't all bad.  It was surprisingly easy to come up with the 10 things I loved about the second trimester:

1. We got to find out we are having a girl, and got to see her on 2 ultrasounds squirming away.  
2. We got to pick out her name.
3. I get to feel her move all the time.
4. Stephen can SEE the little human inside me squirming around.
5. Hiccups.  Who knew it could be so fun for someone else to have the hiccups?
6. No more picky eater here...EVERYTHING sounds good!
7. Grandparents can no longer resist the urge to buy things.
8. I AM starting to show.  Which leads to the next bonus-
9. "Expecting mothers" parking spots.  I don't feel like a criminal now that I sortof look pregnant.
10. Books.  If only I could have gone to college to get a degree in pregnancy and motherhood.  I would have been such a faithful student and would have aced all my tests.

Here I am at 27 weeks.  One more week until 3rd trimester!