Grouchy Old Man - 30 weeks 2 days

Today we had my 30 week ultrasound to check on my dermoid AND get a sneak peak at baby girl. Matt and I both managed to be late... separately...so I was all in a tizzy about us being late, I hate being late. My dermoid looks great (as great as a tumor with teeth can look), it's actually shrunk a bit in size, they were concerned that it would be growing like crazy after it doubled in size in 12 weeks. I am so relieved that it isn't growing crazy anymore, I'll still need it out but I'm hoping that since it isn't growing like it was before I can wait on getting it out. Not sure what my doc will say, but we'll see.

Baby girl looks great. She's measuring perfectly (heart, brain, spine, femurs, kidneys, stomach and amniotic fluid). Did get a little bit of a surprise on her weight....The tech says she's clocking in at 4lbs! Normally at this age they're about 3lbs. She's still in the 75th percentile which is still normal, just a little big. I'm kinda concerned how much she is going to weigh when I try to squeeze her out my crotch. Scarlett was true to Scarlett fashion and was stubborn. First try she had her head facing my spine and was sitting on her feet so we couldn't look between her legs. I was sad when all we left with was a 2D picture of her side face, she called us back in because it was going to take the doctor some time to look at my dermoid scan so she had my dance, jump, wiggle and hip check to get her turned from behind my right hip. Remember how I mentioned I get hiccups in my hips? That's because she likes to bury her face behind my hips...go figure. After much persuasion she turned her head and gave us the most pouty old man face. She was not really thrilled about being jostled around, but OMG is she beautiful.

Pouty face

Her foot is indeed over her head

Beautiful, perfect, cherub lips

Seeing her face had me awestruck. She is perfect. Her cheeks are ridiculous, and she already has her pouty look down which will have her Daddy giving into her every whim. She absolutely has her Daddy's nose and my cheeks and lips. I couldn't stop giggling like a little kid looking at all of the pictures they sent us home with. Her pouty old man face kills me, she made little sucky faces with her mouth and was resting on her hands. It's crazy to think that she's a baby. She actually looks like a baby and not like an alien like she did before. I am so excited to have her in my arms in a few weeks!

I'll be the greatest fan of your life - 30 weeks 1 day

3/4 of the way done with the pregnancy. Where the hell did the time go? It blows my mind that in 10 weeks or less my little girl will be here. It is so exciting and overwhelming; there are times where I cannot wait to have her in my arms, and other times where I'm wanting her to stay put in my belly for at least another year. I want my body back to myself, yet I know that I can't keep her as safe and secure as I can when she's nestled inside. It's really easy to keep tabs on her now...not so much when she's not inside me.

Baby girl is doing great. She feels huge. The idea of her getting bigger in the next 10 weeks seems impossible because she feels that big. Her head is downish...she's sort of cockeyed. I get arms in my left lower belly, knees in the upper right and hiccups by my left hip. There is lots of wiggling and rearranging. I'm not getting big kicks as much, it's more of knees. A lot of pressure. She likes to push out with her back and limbs. She just feels good. I know I've said that before. Just everything about her is just fabulous. I love carrying my hiccuping, wiggly, resilient little girl. I know this sounds ridiculous but she feels happy, like she's just happy to be here, growing, listening to everything wonderful that is waiting for her here. Whenever I think of her curled up in my belly she's smiling. I know that babies don't smile in utero, I know they don't smile until around 8 weeks of life (I'm not talking the gas smiles, I'm talking the "oh hey, you're my momma, I like you" smile). But she's always smiling to me. I like that is how she feels, I love that she just feels so great and wonderful. It's impossible to express just how thankful and how much in love I am with this perfect little life. I really couldn't have been more blessed.

I myself am feeling great. I really can't complain, she's a joy to carry. It's difficult getting use to having someone else taking up most of your core and if I think about it too much I get weirded out. I'm more uncomfortable sitting these days, everything is sorta squashed up. It's worse as the day goes on, it's crazy, my belly starts out small in the morning and progressively pops out as the day keeps going. Then I wake up the next day and it's shrunk back down. The reflux is ever present. It's amazing how water, crackers and PBJ can make a person have reflux. I probably take 2 tums in the middle of the night from waking up and being acidic. I also have to pee 2-3 times in the middle of the night. But on the whole, I really feel wonderful. Very minor irritants.

Hello down there!

Had a wonderful weekend, Saturday we had Mikal's wedding and Sunday I worked (yes I consider work part of my wonderfulness). Mikal's wedding was awesome. It was the first time what I call "the entire family" was together. Jess came up to go with Tyler and Matt came with also along with Mom and Dad. The wedding was at the Walter Payton indoor practice field, it was incredible. It looks like a giant airplane hanger with astroturf. They did a olive green and plum color scheme in the middle of the field. It was really beautiful. I haven't seen Lovie and MaryAnne in awhile so it was really great to see them. I LOVE watching my mom with her friends. It's a totally different dynamic and a side of her I don't normally get to see. Vali, MaryAnne and my Mom are what I hope, Allison, Marcie and I will be like them when we grow up lol. The love and support from the Smith's and Fotos' is wonderful. Vali and MaryAnne are like aunts and knowing that they have my and Scarlett's backs really means a lot to me.

It was nice to pretend to be a normal 23 year old for a little while again. Matt and I slow danced...Tyler and Matt slow danced....Jess and I slow danced....there was a lot of laughing and drinking (the three of them that is). One of the best moments of my pregnancy happened that night. Matt went over and sat next to Dad and asked him how he felt feeling me move in Mom's stomach, and how incredible it is feeling Scarlett shimmy and wiggle. Dad told Matt the story of my being and how Mom and he tried for 10 years and finding out that she was pregnant on his birthday. Watching them talk about how much the love their daughters was really something. I know that Matt loves Scarlett as much as my dad loves me and I can't help but think just how lucky her and I both are.

Our night ended w/ Matt hurting his ankle, Jess almost getting into a fight and Tyler busting a pyrex bowl. My little drunkards lol. Matt played guitar when we got home and boy did Scarlett dance, she loves the guitar, boy is she her father's daughter. I didn't get much sleep that night. Matt snoring and breaking the noodle pillow barrier and Scarlett moving around and hiccuping all night. Despite the lack of sleep I love having my two together, my heart feels complete.

All in all gearing up for a great week, tomorrow I have my 30 week US to look at my dermoid and get a sneak peak at my beautiful little lady. I can't wait!

How far along? 30 weeks 1 day

Total weight gain: I ate Chipotle and chocolate lava cake today...sooooo I'm guessing more
Maternity clothes?  I wore my maternity dress on Saturday
Stretch marks?  None that I've noticed this week
Sleep:  Depends on the night, some good others bad
Best moment this week: Matt and my Dad on Saturday
Miss Anything? My momma, she's in Arizona this week...yes she did just leave today...yes I already miss her. As Matt would say, I'm a bit barnacle like today.
Movement:  Moving currently right now, lil wiggly worm
Food cravings: Gummy bears, thanks Allison
Anything making you queasy or sick: Not right now
Gender:  Baby girl
Labor Signs: Negative
Symptoms: Same as last week
Belly Button in or out? Despite ballooning out, still in
Happy or Moody most of the time: More or less happy, I did cry tonight
Looking forward to: Tomorrow getting to see my squirt!

Summer Time - 29 weeks 4 days

Officially the first day of Summer! How did I celebrate? Hanging out in public health lecture. I hate public health. I did have a 12 day break and this was our first week back. I have clearly been slacking in the writing department, I've been increasingly stressed (yes, even at break) and when I'm stressed I don't always want to write. My stress level has been decreased some so I'm back to writing.

Break: the two big events of my summer break included going to Alyssa's baby shower in Wisconsin and Brittany's wedding. Both were absolutely lovely. Brittany's wedding was first, Matt and I went dressed in black and green (oh yes, there was matching). We had a really nice time, he got to drink, I got to catch up with my friends. Scarlett also had her first daddy/daughter dance :) It was really nice just having some time being a 23 year old. I feel so caught up worrying about everything with Scarlett's impending arrival that I don't stop for a minute and enjoy being my age. I really needed that.

The following day Mom and I trekked up to Waupaca for Al's shower. I love being up there. I was just bummed that we didn't get to stay longer. HOWEVER there will be a lot of time spent up in Wisco this summer w/ Kelsey's wedding shower, bachelorette party and wedding! I still could use a week up on the lake though. Back to Al's shower. It was beautiful. Zoey, Kelsey and Sydney did a really gorgeous job. The only thing I could have done without was the 90+ degree weather. Pregnant lady + heat = miserable. Mom and I spent the night and shopped our way home that Monday. I treasure these days I get to spend with Mom just her and I. Not that having Scarlett with us wont be absolutely wonderful, the anticipation for her and planning is just fun and special for Mom and I.

Being back to the grind is difficult. I really just want to hang out in the pool and float all day. Impossible, but that's what I want lol. I've been feeling great. My belly is popping out quite a bit more these days but still getting the whole shocked that I'm so tiny and this far along. Believe me, this little girl is HUGE, I feel every ounce of her when she moves. She's been quite active, today especially. Her movements are a lot more fluid and exaggerated. It actually hurts when she kicks in my pelvis, which we've been doing a lot today. I did learn a trick. She likes being rubbed. Her and I were having a rough night, no sleep for me, lots of flailing from her. I just started rubbing my tummy and sure enough she calmed right down. Granted the second I stopped she went back to kicking, BUT as long as she gets rubbed she's calm. Her and I have that in common. She also is the hiccup queen. So am I the last few days. I can't believe that a little over 10 weeks baby girl will be here, it's feeling really surreal. Next week Matt and I have an US to see how she's growing and how my dermoid is doing. I'm so excited to see her little face. I just love the little runt so flipping much!

So a few posts ago I talked about how I only want positivity in baby's life and myself. I remind myself of 3 things each day that I'm grateful for. I've also started this new thing where every time I'm asked to donate a dollar (Walgreens, movie theaters, baby's r us, etc) for their respected charity I do. So far I've donated money to St. Judes, Alex's Lemonade Stand, Autism research, some childhood illness camp and some other place I can't remember...regardless, anytime I'm asked, I donate. It's part of my paying it forward and showing my appreciation for my own health and the health of my loved ones. I absolutely love it, I'm upset I didn't start doing this sooner. I also put my change into the cups for save-a-pet and etc. It makes me so happy. I should keep track of all the places. Hmm.

How far along? 29 weeks 4 days

Total weight gain: 18lbs...oh yes, I gained 10 pounds last month, much to my doctors delight. I apparently needed to gain more weight...not cool.
Maternity clothes?  Maternity leggies!
Stretch marks?  I can't tell if I have any new ones on my thighs or not
Sleep:  Meh
Best moment this week: This week...hmm...just enjoying my baby girl :)
Miss Anything? Sushi tonight
Movement:  Almost constantly today
Food cravings: Coke...I just want to drink a 2L of it
Anything making you queasy or sick: PBJ, just because of the reflux
Gender:  Lil lady
Labor Signs: Negative
Symptoms: I HATE freaking reflux
Belly Button in or out? in in in
Happy or Moody most of the time: Rather happy 
Looking forward to: Another awesome weekend. Mikal's wedding celebration, love that I get to spend saturday with the family include Matt and Jess :)

Three is the Lucky Number - 27 weeks 1 day

Ah yes, the number 3. I love the number 3. 33 is actually my lucky number. I was born on the 3rd too which makes 3 extra awesome. Scarlett is due September 3rd, she will be make our little family three. I am also in my third trimester this week and three months till baby girl is born!

It's been a relatively uneventful week. Scarlett is doing fantastically. She gets hiccups about once a day now, it is a weird feeling having the little blips in my belly. I can tell where her head is based on the blips. Sometimes she's transverse, breech or actually in the correct position; head down. The longest she's had em is 5 minutes. I wonder if I drink water if that'll help lol. Lots of fish flopping from my little bass. She's over a foot long and packs a lot of pressure. It's such a weird feeling, but I know that I'm going to miss having her snuggle close inside of me. There are days where I'm so excited to not be pregnant anymore, and other days I already miss it. I'm still feeling pretty good. I'm not particularly uncomfortable, but I'm not really comfortable either. Mostly I know I'm going to get a whole lot more uncomfortable in the next 13 weeks. I'm still most comfortable when I'm walking, which I do a lot. I get winded fast, even worse when I'm talking. I don't like sitting much anymore, I sort of have to lean back and sit with my legs wide open for my hips. I'm quite the scene these days.

Mostly though I love being pregnant. Scarlett is such a joy to carry around, she is a lovely baby. Pregnancy is such a beautiful state of being. A gross one, but absolutely beautiful. It is such a privilege having the honor of carrying a child. It truly is a gift. It's not a state of being I take lightly, I want to insure that she has the best start in life and is grown surrounded by love and safety.  One of my absolute favorite things is having my belly rubbed and touched. Not strangers or anything like that, but my friends and family. People are always nervous about touching which cracks me up, like it's ok to touch, no you wont hurt her. I've just always associated hands with support; you hold hands, work with your hands and help with your hands. It just feels like having positivity transfered to her. I always fall asleep with my hands on my belly, sort of cradled now that my belly is bigger. I just love it.

Matt was over last Wednesday, I attempted coconut shrimp, and burned it slightly. BUT my potatoes and rolls turned out really good. Matt is such a sweetheart, champ ate the crispier than normal shrimp. I'm trying my best to cook for us, and show him that I am capable of taking care of us. I'm determined. So I fed and gave him beer and of course had him lay in bed to feel his baby girl. Normally he just destroys my bedding, but he burrowed himself under the covers on his side with his hand on our daughter. She was pooped after our hectic day and was asleep. I was just talking quietly to Matt and after about 2 seconds he was lightly snoring. Totally conked out with his hand on my stomach. The two of them sleeping and me stuck in the position trying not to wake either of them. After 30 minutes I had to move his hand to pee, he ended up sleeping for an hour and a half...Even sleeping and snoring, I'm always happy having him next to me.

How far along? 27 weeks 1 day

Total weight gain: More than 8 I'm sure, I'll find out Friday
Maternity clothes? I bought a maternity dress for Alyssa's baby shower/ Mikal's wedding
Stretch marks?  None on my belly
Sleep:  Getting better finally
Best moment this week: Matt falling asleep with his hand on my tummy (I'm such a sucker)
Miss Anything? Having a beer, I just want to have a beer with my friends lol. 3 months!
Movement: I love my flip flopping fish
Food cravings: Coke still, chocolate, cantaloupe
Anything making you queasy or sick: Steak, ick
Gender:  Scarlett Alexandra Reichert
Labor Signs: I had some Braxton-Hicks last Wednesdays
Symptoms: Reflux and shortness of breath
Belly Button in or out? Sucker is in
Happy or Moody most of the time: Very happy
Looking forward to: This weekend! Going to Brittany's wedding on Saturday and Wisco on Sunday for Al's baby shower