I've been complaining up and down to my husband, some e-friends, and even on Facebook about this current pregnancy. Then I remembered I have a blahg where I can freely complain about everything and anything I want because, well, it's my blahg. So I'll spare all the aforementioned groups from my latest rants...unless, of course, they read this. ;)
Pregnancy with Thad was nothing short of amazing. I felt great. My weight gain was right on par. I never had swollen anything. He wasn't real high, and he wasn't real low -- so my back was great, I never had the pressing urge to pee 14 times a night. Nothing.
Even when I was forced to get a tracheostomy with Thad, I felt great. Yes, my neck hurt and it was painful to turn my head, but I only had 5 weeks left at that point and I still felt well enough to leave the house and resume my daily activities. I was pretty sure I could be pregnant forever, and remember feeling nostalgic the day I went into labor -- I wasn't ready to be done feeling his kicks and hiccups from the inside!
This time?
Oh this time is totally different. And from what I understand, totally normal for girls. Which begs the question - is this where the complicated relationship between a mother and her daughter is first formed? Because I totally get it.
My weight gain with this baby has been anything but normal. Each check-up has produced a weight loss, or maybe a gain of one or two pounds. But the scale hasn't really changed. Around 29 weeks, I started to notice some considerable swelling -- at the doctor's office, I had gained 12 pounds!! The doctor figured it was water weight and, the following week, I had lost 4 pounds. So maybe she was right, who knows. But I am still incredibly swollen.
It was also right around 29 weeks when I first experienced the baby being up in my ribs. I had heard of this before, and heard it was uncomfortable, but never really had a clue just what that kind of discomfort felt like. I described it to Tom like having a huge gas bubble in my sternum that wouldn't go away. With the occasional kick or punch from Version 2.0, it feels a bit like someone punching me in that gas bubble...which, on occasion, sends me rushing to the nearest toilet to lose whatever I've recently put in my mouth.
Being in my ribs was temporary for the first week or so, and then I think she decided that she liked it. She's in there 24 hours a day, now.
Anyone who has experienced this knows what comes next.
I can't sit straight up, which makes emptying my bladder a real challenge. Lol. I drive like a 17-year-old gangster, with my seat tilted way back. Eating is a chore - I get thru a few bites, and I'm stuffed (and even more uncomfortable). Riding in the car is like asking me if I want to shove 100 knives into my chest just for shits and giggles. I have so many photo sessions to edit right now, but sitting at my computer for any length of time over 30 minutes produces incredible back aches. So I'm extremely far behind with my work.
Going to bed at night has become my least favorite part of the day. Laying on my right side is painful, simply because she is leaning that way. Laying on my left side is fine, but it doesn't do the trick all night long. They don't recommend that you sleep on your back while pregnant, but on the occasion that I do, it feels alright...until I get up. Then it's like every bone in my upper body is broken. It's odd.
To get out of bed, I have to actually hoist myself up. I usually pull up using the sheets, but sometimes I will reach for the knobs on the dresser next to my side. I make so many old lady creaks and sounds, that it's actually embarrassing.
Poor Thad. Every time he wants to do something with me, my answer is usually, "Sorry buddy, mommy can't right now." Tom has been out of town for a few days, and Thad has seriously had to learn to thrive. Lol. I was helping him with a movie in the DVD player earlier, and something feel. Thad quickly bent down to pick it up without a thought and said, "I'll get it mom. I don't want you to hurt yourself because you're pregnant."
Oh, my love. He makes me heart melt.
I am almost 32 weeks along, and the plan all this time has been to induce at 37. Now the plan has suddenly changed to 39. I'm not really sure why, but I have another appointment on Monday and I am going to try and convince them to revert back to Plan A. I have no doubt that these last 3 weeks have sent me spiraling into some sort of depression. I don't want to leave my house, and showering in the morning has become a real chore. I can't imagine being much more sleep deprived than I already am, and if a newborn comes with only two or three wake-ups in the night, then I'll already be getting more sleep then than I have in these last weeks.
After I put Thad to bed last night, I came downstairs for some orange juice. I took a look at the calendar and saw that I am a good 2 months away from having this baby and just burst into tears.
I don't want to be pregnant anymore. I honestly don't know if I can physically or mentally endure it for another 7 weeks.
Worst. Blogger. Evah.
You know, there once was a time when I would update my blahg sometimes two or three times a day. I can't believe it's been over a month since I've posted anything...yikes.
I'm not really sure why my incessant need to document my thoughts has subsided a bit over these past months. Maybe it's the times. Maybe it's the pregnancy. Maybe I just have too damn much going on already, lol. Either way, I thought this morning would be a perfect time to update you all on the Jeters, throw in some pictures of that kid I like to call "my favorite monkey," and who knows what else.
Either way, this blahg entry is destined to be replete with spelling errors because I went and got a full set of acrylics yesterday and they're too long. So. There you go.
Photography update.
I think the photography gods are trying to prepare me as best as they can for my own newborn pictures of baby Charlotte.
I should probably pause here and clear the confusion - yes, baby Charlotte is the name of the baby in my ute. Charlotte Rae, to be exact. It's ok if you're in love with the name...we are, too.
Anyways, as I was saying - when she arrives, I will obviously be taking a day (or 12) to do her own newborn photos. Since newborns aren't exactly my strong suit, I had considered maybe even hiring someone. But that's just silly. Over the past weeks (and in the coming weeks), it seems as though my only sessions on the books have been newborns. I have another one coming to the studio tomorrow! So it's been awesome practice.
This little guy actually belongs to my friend, Pam. I'll post her favorite birth pic first, and then you can see his handsome face. Oh man, I am so in love with him. He's awesome. I hope my own baby is this cute, lol.
Next weekend I am traveling to Washington, D.C., for several family photo shoots and when I come back I have two engagement shoots, a birth, a couple newborns, and several toddler sessions lined up. 'Tis the season for pictures. :)
Thaddeus update.
My child is an exact clone of his dad...in every way possible. Yes, they look alike. Well, I mean, I think they do. I don't really see it, but everyone else in the world seems to. Every now and then I catch a glimpse of Tom in a photo I've taken of Thad. For instance, this one:
This is not a look you really want to get from my husband. It a combination of a fake smile and a, "Really!?" Lol.
Aside from that, Thad also seems to be following in his dad's footsteps when it comes to his thoughts on school. Dear GOD, I hope this changes, but so far...ugh.
Me: "Thad, are you sad school is over?"
Thad: "No. I hate school."
Who in the heck hates preschool!? It only gets worse from here, unbeknownst to him. But yeah. Next year, he'll be in pre-K at a new school. I am sad to put him into a new school where he won't know anyone, but I'm also excited for this school. I've heard wonderful things about it, and it will be a far cry from where he was. He will be in school five days a week, from about 9 to 4. So there will be some huge changes!
But, now that summer break is here, we've been taking advantage of the nice weather. Oh, Lake Michigan. I will so miss this place when we get out of this state. It's the only thing I'll miss, but I'll miss it nonetheless.
Other than at the beach, Thad spends his days in the summer riding bikes and running thru sprinklers with the neighbor kids, driving Tom and me crazy asking for popsicles every 3.7 seconds, and catering to my every need to document my child on camera.
This picture was taken on a trip to Ohio with some friends of mine. Thad found his first little lady love.
And here, he was just a victim of me trying to get a picture of him going underwater. It didn't turn out how I wanted it to, but I love it just the same.
Charlotte update.
As I mentioned before, the baby in my ute is doing great. We got to see her on ultrasound a couple days ago, and she's growing right along. She is a little over two pounds - closer to three - and she lays sideways in my belly, often with her feet up by her head. Total weirdo.
She kicks with the force of a thousand ninjas. I can't even imagine what it will be like when she's like, eight pounds and still inside me. I feel like I should take out better insurance to cover the cost of my cracked ribs and deflated lungs. Thad was so chill in my belly...Charlotte has been the opposite, thus far.
She's also been the opposite for pregnancy in general.
With Thad, I had no acne. My skin was awesome. My hair growth was akin to Rapunzel. I was comfortable. I slept thru the night. I never complained. I never had swelling.
No wonder I wanted another baby.
This time around, my T-Zone resembles that of a teenager. I swear, I am constantly battling new zits. My skin hasn't changed, and my hair growth is still pretty fab. But I am not comfortable, ever. I don't sleep thru the night - we don't manage to get to bed until midnight, sometimes later, and I'm up a few hours later - wide awake - every night, until around 7, when I finally manage to fall back to sleep.
I complain all the time. Ask my husband. He'll tell you.
Oh, and I am a swollen, swollen human being. My ankles are typically cankles by noontime. It's sad, really.
I remember, when I was pregnant with Thad, that I wasn't really ready for my time being pregnant to end. Of course I wanted to meet my baby, but it was just so wonderful being able to feel his kicks inside of me, and be in such a natural state.
This time? Homegirl needs to hurry up and grow, and then move on out. I'm ready. Lol.
Update on Tom.
There really isn't a whole lot to report here.
I will take the time to say, however, that he has been such a wonderful, caring, phenomenal partner in crime - especially in these past few months. He literally waits on me hand and foot. He is my protector. He is my grocery carrier. He is my rock. I would have gone crazy awhile ago had it not been for him, keeping me grounded. And the simple fact that he even puts up with my craziness at all earns him "Husband of the Year."
Last night he took Thad and I out on what was quite possibly the first night out we've had in over a month. It was a very romantic evening of Carraba's...and Madagascar 3. Lol.
Real men watch Dreamworks.
Update on me.
I am officially 29 weeks and, like clockwork, that third trimester exhaustion has set in. It usually hits right around 4pm, where I'm suddenly unable to remember my name or what I'm doing. All I want to do is lay down and sleep forever. Instead, I push thru "the witching hour" and by the time Thad is in bed, I've usually got my second wind.
School is school. I still hate it. But whatever. My last exam is August 15, and I graduate September 23. So It's almost over.
Must.
Keep.
Pushing.
I am not teaching at ITT this summer, so my days have become pretty relaxed. Photography keeps my pretty busy, but it's nice having more time with Thad and Tom. There was a short window of time where I was literally gone every single night with some sort of school, photography, or work function and I hated it. It's nice not having to deal with that third aspect of my life.
Other updates.
We are leaving for Virginia on Tuesday to see Tom's family. I'm excited to see everyone, and spend several days relaxing. Thad keeps talking about his excitement over seeing Uncle Bruce and swimming in his pool. He starts his third round of swim lessons on Monday, so I hope he is able to relax and have more fun around water.
Once we get back from Virginia, we have a couple weeks before our anniversary. There isn't anything planned, but the day after we leave for Colorado. I'm excited to spend the 4th of July out there, and have a nice week in the Colorado summer air.
My baby shower is that week in Colorado as well, and I can't wait to see some of my friends and my mom's friends! It's been far too long without having seen some of these people.
After Colorado, we resume our normal lives for just a few short weeks...and then we have a baby.
Holy shit.
And then we have a baby.
So yeah, that's the update. I just got a little stressed with that last part, lol.
I'm not really sure why my incessant need to document my thoughts has subsided a bit over these past months. Maybe it's the times. Maybe it's the pregnancy. Maybe I just have too damn much going on already, lol. Either way, I thought this morning would be a perfect time to update you all on the Jeters, throw in some pictures of that kid I like to call "my favorite monkey," and who knows what else.
Either way, this blahg entry is destined to be replete with spelling errors because I went and got a full set of acrylics yesterday and they're too long. So. There you go.
Photography update.
I think the photography gods are trying to prepare me as best as they can for my own newborn pictures of baby Charlotte.
I should probably pause here and clear the confusion - yes, baby Charlotte is the name of the baby in my ute. Charlotte Rae, to be exact. It's ok if you're in love with the name...we are, too.
Anyways, as I was saying - when she arrives, I will obviously be taking a day (or 12) to do her own newborn photos. Since newborns aren't exactly my strong suit, I had considered maybe even hiring someone. But that's just silly. Over the past weeks (and in the coming weeks), it seems as though my only sessions on the books have been newborns. I have another one coming to the studio tomorrow! So it's been awesome practice.
This little guy actually belongs to my friend, Pam. I'll post her favorite birth pic first, and then you can see his handsome face. Oh man, I am so in love with him. He's awesome. I hope my own baby is this cute, lol.
Next weekend I am traveling to Washington, D.C., for several family photo shoots and when I come back I have two engagement shoots, a birth, a couple newborns, and several toddler sessions lined up. 'Tis the season for pictures. :)
Thaddeus update.
My child is an exact clone of his dad...in every way possible. Yes, they look alike. Well, I mean, I think they do. I don't really see it, but everyone else in the world seems to. Every now and then I catch a glimpse of Tom in a photo I've taken of Thad. For instance, this one:
This is not a look you really want to get from my husband. It a combination of a fake smile and a, "Really!?" Lol.
Aside from that, Thad also seems to be following in his dad's footsteps when it comes to his thoughts on school. Dear GOD, I hope this changes, but so far...ugh.
Me: "Thad, are you sad school is over?"
Thad: "No. I hate school."
Who in the heck hates preschool!? It only gets worse from here, unbeknownst to him. But yeah. Next year, he'll be in pre-K at a new school. I am sad to put him into a new school where he won't know anyone, but I'm also excited for this school. I've heard wonderful things about it, and it will be a far cry from where he was. He will be in school five days a week, from about 9 to 4. So there will be some huge changes!
But, now that summer break is here, we've been taking advantage of the nice weather. Oh, Lake Michigan. I will so miss this place when we get out of this state. It's the only thing I'll miss, but I'll miss it nonetheless.
Other than at the beach, Thad spends his days in the summer riding bikes and running thru sprinklers with the neighbor kids, driving Tom and me crazy asking for popsicles every 3.7 seconds, and catering to my every need to document my child on camera.
This picture was taken on a trip to Ohio with some friends of mine. Thad found his first little lady love.
And here, he was just a victim of me trying to get a picture of him going underwater. It didn't turn out how I wanted it to, but I love it just the same.
Charlotte update.
As I mentioned before, the baby in my ute is doing great. We got to see her on ultrasound a couple days ago, and she's growing right along. She is a little over two pounds - closer to three - and she lays sideways in my belly, often with her feet up by her head. Total weirdo.
She kicks with the force of a thousand ninjas. I can't even imagine what it will be like when she's like, eight pounds and still inside me. I feel like I should take out better insurance to cover the cost of my cracked ribs and deflated lungs. Thad was so chill in my belly...Charlotte has been the opposite, thus far.
She's also been the opposite for pregnancy in general.
With Thad, I had no acne. My skin was awesome. My hair growth was akin to Rapunzel. I was comfortable. I slept thru the night. I never complained. I never had swelling.
No wonder I wanted another baby.
This time around, my T-Zone resembles that of a teenager. I swear, I am constantly battling new zits. My skin hasn't changed, and my hair growth is still pretty fab. But I am not comfortable, ever. I don't sleep thru the night - we don't manage to get to bed until midnight, sometimes later, and I'm up a few hours later - wide awake - every night, until around 7, when I finally manage to fall back to sleep.
I complain all the time. Ask my husband. He'll tell you.
Oh, and I am a swollen, swollen human being. My ankles are typically cankles by noontime. It's sad, really.
I remember, when I was pregnant with Thad, that I wasn't really ready for my time being pregnant to end. Of course I wanted to meet my baby, but it was just so wonderful being able to feel his kicks inside of me, and be in such a natural state.
This time? Homegirl needs to hurry up and grow, and then move on out. I'm ready. Lol.
Update on Tom.
There really isn't a whole lot to report here.
I will take the time to say, however, that he has been such a wonderful, caring, phenomenal partner in crime - especially in these past few months. He literally waits on me hand and foot. He is my protector. He is my grocery carrier. He is my rock. I would have gone crazy awhile ago had it not been for him, keeping me grounded. And the simple fact that he even puts up with my craziness at all earns him "Husband of the Year."
Last night he took Thad and I out on what was quite possibly the first night out we've had in over a month. It was a very romantic evening of Carraba's...and Madagascar 3. Lol.
Real men watch Dreamworks.
Update on me.
I am officially 29 weeks and, like clockwork, that third trimester exhaustion has set in. It usually hits right around 4pm, where I'm suddenly unable to remember my name or what I'm doing. All I want to do is lay down and sleep forever. Instead, I push thru "the witching hour" and by the time Thad is in bed, I've usually got my second wind.
School is school. I still hate it. But whatever. My last exam is August 15, and I graduate September 23. So It's almost over.
Must.
Keep.
Pushing.
I am not teaching at ITT this summer, so my days have become pretty relaxed. Photography keeps my pretty busy, but it's nice having more time with Thad and Tom. There was a short window of time where I was literally gone every single night with some sort of school, photography, or work function and I hated it. It's nice not having to deal with that third aspect of my life.
Other updates.
We are leaving for Virginia on Tuesday to see Tom's family. I'm excited to see everyone, and spend several days relaxing. Thad keeps talking about his excitement over seeing Uncle Bruce and swimming in his pool. He starts his third round of swim lessons on Monday, so I hope he is able to relax and have more fun around water.
Once we get back from Virginia, we have a couple weeks before our anniversary. There isn't anything planned, but the day after we leave for Colorado. I'm excited to spend the 4th of July out there, and have a nice week in the Colorado summer air.
My baby shower is that week in Colorado as well, and I can't wait to see some of my friends and my mom's friends! It's been far too long without having seen some of these people.
After Colorado, we resume our normal lives for just a few short weeks...and then we have a baby.
Holy shit.
And then we have a baby.
So yeah, that's the update. I just got a little stressed with that last part, lol.
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