In some ways, it seems like I shouldn't already be at 30 weeks, and in others, it seems like I should already be full-term by now. I think it depends on how I feel that particular day. Today, I did NOT feel so spunky.
Yesterday, we spent nearly the entire day painting our office. Back in October, we painted Stella's room, and I felt well enough to paint quite a bit and really help. Yesterday, I spent most of the time sitting on the floor, painting along the molding. I even stopped a couple times to take short rests. I'm feeling pretty darn huge these days, and I think I'm starting to look absurdly pregnant. Here's my latest belly shot - please forgive the pajama look. I couldn't stand wear real clothes any longer this evening:
Okay, okay. Enough complaining. It's hard to not complain, though, and yes, I feel like a terrible person for just wishing this was over already. Today, I was looking at ModCloth, and I kept remembering the wonderful feeling of having a waist and being able to run and just looking generally better than I do right now. Okay, I said enough complaining. :(
On to more positive things: Stella has been quite active lately. She moves so much, and it's shocking what she can actually do now. She's very strong. I added a new ticker (in case you didn't notice) to the top of our blog since the fruit/veggie thing is no longer amusing. Okay, a squash. Then, we've got a cantaloupe and then a watermelon. Not a lot to expect from that in the coming weeks. I figured the updates on her development might be more interesting. :)
I definitely believe that she's strong enough to grip a finger because some days it feels like she's trying to bust out of my belly. She'll kick really hard or just starting moving like crazy. Her movements really wake me up now, and on Sunday, I woke up at 4:30 am. I managed to wake Derek up with all of my shifting, and I looked at him and said, "Are you awake?" He said, "Uh... kinda." I said, "Well, your daughter is keeping me awake." We laid there for about another thirty minutes before he got up and made me chocolate chip pancakes and started getting ready for the early Mass. I have a wonderful husband :)
Lately, I've been having a few Braxton-Hicks contractions. At first, I was a little confused by them, but now, I'm just like, "Eh, another one of those." When we were picking out paint at Home Depot on Saturday, I just started having one right there. I was like, "Welp - okay." They're more annoying than anything. They happen at work a lot. I've been having more stretching-type cramps. Go ahead - say it: "How could you possibly get any larger?" Well, I'm not sure, but I guess we'll see. I'm sleeping okay, save the occasional wake up calls from Stella's feet.
I check in with the doctor on Monday, and I'll be in there a lot more often now. I don't think I can say this enough: she can come as early as possible. I am so ready to be on the road to getting this weight off - I can't wait to finally run again! - and just to have her here. I've spent a good amount of time complaining in this blog post, but I can't say enough just how excited I am to finally meet our little girl and to finally see what she looks like. I just sit and look at her stuff in her room and imagine what it will really be like. I can't wait :)
So to end on a positive note: I am so ready to for this to be over not only because I'm uncomfortable but also so I can get to the real business of getting to know Stella and just loving her and being the best mom I can possibly be. And, I cannot wait to finally see Derek with her. I think he's going to be an amazing dad. :) Is that the mushiest thing I've said in this blog to date? Probably. I've been getting really emotional lately. :)
