I Love Pickles: Baby's First Christmas (Kind of)

Well it has been a whole month since I last wrote b/c the holidays were craaaazy busy! I think I put way too much on my plate for a prego lady but it was all worth it. There haven't been too many crazy changes or updates since my last post until the last couple of weeks so that's why I had not written in a while. Plus, you all got a bump pic with your Christmas card so that should have held you over for now. My how the bump is growing... seriously feels like it's exponential and yesterday I swear I had growing pains!

Mike and I watched Away We Go last night and I was prompted to ask the dr. for a note that says it's OK to fly b/c I don't want to be the prego they are inspecting at the gate doubting that I am really only 7 months. Yes, I am now 7 months!!!! I am in the third trimester! AHHH! I am so excited slash scared!! I'm not yet too freaked out about the labor just mostly about what kind of mom I'm going to be and how our lives are going to change. I guess it's nice that our lives have already changed quite a bit as we are more homebodies now than ever before and I actually love it. I am starting to try and convince Mike to eat out and go to as many movies as possible now b/c it will be harder later.

My weight gain is starting to freak me out quite a bit but as long as the doc doesn't tell me it's bad, I'm trying to be OK with it. Babycenter.com says I will gain about 11 more pounds total but I seem to be above the mark for all of those stupid estimations, haha. I am working out about 3x a week still and already excited for my old body. I told my trainer that I am counting down the days until he is kicking my @ss again....As far as my body goes, I am growing to love it. I tried to explain to Mike that when I look at it for what it is, I love it. I love what it all represents. But sometimes I look at myself and am mortified at the crazy transformation and shape my body has contorted to! And I'm not just talkin about my belly!!! Most of the time I just enjoy it and know that it's temporary and will be SO worth it in three months. (TWELVE WEEKS!! What?!?!) Plus, Mike is the greatest about everything and I couldn't ask for a more supportive and awesome husband. Sorry I'm going to get cheezy here real quick but this whole process has made me fall in love with him all over again. Not sure if he feels the same way about me ;)

I am definitely obsessed with my belly. Every time it moves I move my hands to touch it and wait. The little kicks and punches have turned into alien like movements where I can feel a knee graze across the top of my belly or a foot pushing up against me! It's my favorite thing, and I kind of play with him/her and push back and forth and it seriously makes me laugh. Last night, I got kicked so hard I jumped in bed and started laughing but it also hurt a little! When he/she gets bigger I am scared about what those movements will feel like if it hurts already. I can actually SEE things move now, and it's so crazy but I do love it. I have bonded with my belly for sure :) Mike talks to it more and more and at the Bucks games it's always very active - already an avid fan! It even "jumped around" a little during the 4th quarter on Saturday night. All of my fam got to feel the movements when they were in town so that was fun. I think the baby likes the game Mexican Train b/c thats when it finally started beboppin around in there. My mom might have been more obsessed with my belly than me...

I'm now going to the doc every two weeks so it's getting closer and closer. I have my first baby shower in Houston in two weekends and I just cannot wait. Not a huge fan of everyone staring at me opening presents but I love that I get to see all my old girls and have fun and eat cake! ;) Speaking of cake - I ate 2.5 pieces at the NYE wedding we went to. I know, I really can't complain about weight gain.

Other to dos: We'll have to actually work on the nursery this month and pick a pediatrician, register at the hospital. We'll start our childbirthing and lactation classes this month so that should provide some good blogging material in the next several weeks. Life sure is crazy now and sometimes I can't believe it's all happening so fast.

I think Baxter knows something is up too. We are trying to get him ready as much as we get ourselves ready b/c he's definitely the baby now. We'll always love our little Bax and hope he and the baby become fast friends :)

I will take a bump pic tonight and add it to the blog. I'm not sure how much longer these bare belly pics will go on b/c it's starting to look real crazy.

This week my uterus is the size of a basketball. In case you were wondering, that is huge. Imagine swallowing a whole basketball. That's crazy. Women's bodies are seriously amazing. Is it going to get bigger?!?! I guess so. . . will keep you posted. Baby is about 2 1/4 pounds, about 15 inches long head to toe, and the size of a cabbage. Baby can now see as it's eyes are opening for the first time and it's starting to fatten up. Just like mama!

Here is my 28 week bump picture straight out of the shower tonight and no makeup and an almost outie bellybutton. This is me! Man am I forgoing vanity for the sake of this blog and maintaining transparency of my pregnancy b/c I swore this would be a brutally honest blog....