week 34

My, oh my, I'm in my 34th week already! Can you believe it!? Time has really flown by, and each week seems to fly by and drag on at the same time. I'm eager to reach the 36 week mark, which means the baby wouldn't be considered premature anymore, and birthing from that point on would have less complications for him.
I've been experiencing a lot of Braxton Hicks contractions in the past week. I'm getting about 2-3 an hour, which is not abnormal, but each one takes me by surprise. At least it's giving me lots of practice to learn to relax my body during contractions! Sleeping has become quite a challenge, and I wake up to the most painful kicks! My midwife told me today that a pain I'm experiencing on the top of my uterus is bruising that the baby has been causing! It's both painful and extremely cute at the same time. How could I be mad at this little guy for hurting me when he's running out of room in there? :)


Life in the past couple of weeks has been so busy! I've been collecting and preparing things for the shop nearly every day so I have a lot on hand when the little one gets here, my mom had surgery last week, and we are busting our butts working on the house. As much as we are eager to meet the baby, we are not quite ready yet. I'm hoping to start washing all of his little clothes and start putting everything in it's place in the next two weeks. I think that'll make all of this sink in a little bit more.

(we have so many squirrels in our yard all the time! Do you see the one in this picture and on the fence in the second one? They're so cute!)

Dear Baby Boy:
Goodness, you're almost here! I can't express how your dad and I are to meet you! You've changed our lives so much already, I can't imagine how it'll be when you're finally here. Lately, we've been thinking a lot about the day we will get to meet you. I just know that the first time we look at your little face, we'll fall so in love with you. Everything we do right now is with you in mind: from the house work, to the meals I cook. Your dad has even become a much safer driver, it's so cute.
You're quite the little active guy in the middle of the night! Even though you wake me up with a swift kick, I love that you have developed your own sleeping patterns. I can tell around what time it is based on if you're awake or not, and I think you're just the cutest little clock there is! You just stay in there for at least a few more weeks, fatten up a bit while we work hard, and then we can meet. Deal?
Love you so much,
Momma

Week 15

I kind of keep forgetting that I'm pregnant. I know that sounds silly, but I will go go go all day long, and get confused when I start to get tired quicker than before, or when my legs and feet start to hurt. I've also began to sweat a lot more, and my heartbeat goes crazy when I go up one flight of stairs. As I told Rachel when I arrived at her third story apartment, "I feel like a fat kid." I keep having to remind myself that my body is making a tiny little person right now, which takes up a lot of energy. Josh has told me to stop apologizing when I can't get everything done that I wanted to do, and to get enough rest! Just when I start to forget, though, I look down at my growing midsection and remember.

For this week's baby post, we ventured off to a Wildlife Refuge that's about one mile from our house. It's our first time visiting it, and I wonder if I'll go back. You see, it looks so nice and peaceful, but looks can be deceiving.
Here I am picking wildflowers, loving nature...



...when a SNAKE starts slithering around, being a jerk! Josh didn't believe me at first, but I saw it's scary, green-striped body with my own eyes! I had to re-enact the snake's motion just so Josh would believe me.



Being the gentleman that he is, Josh picked some Queen Anne's Lace for me (roots, dirt, and all).




I swear I heard snakes in the trees by this bridge, but Josh tells me I'm making stuff up.


(dress: from Starr; shoes, necklace, and purse: vintage, thrifted)
I love this dress so much! It's from the 1940's,from Starr's shop, Action is the Fruit. I'm definitely testing the strength of the seams around the belly, but I just couldn't wait till next year to wear it! You should check out her shop, because it's full of gorgeous vintage, all beautifully photographed by Starr herself!
I think these next pictures sum up me and Josh perfectly: I like to wear pretty vintage flowery dresses and pick flowers and berries...




...and Josh is thrilled when he finds gross boy things, like a dried up dead snake. He enjoys putting things in his mouth to look silly, making his own "nature's bluetooth", and torturing his wife.



We don't know if Baby is a boy or a girl yet, but I bet you that if we have a little boy, Josh and him will be teaming up to pull pranks on me! I have no doubt that will happen (but it's kind of cute to think about).


Dear Baby:
You have a couple of new nicknames this week, and I'll explain why. You've started to grow really fine, white hair all over your body. It's there to keep your skin protected and to keep you warm, but it makes your daddy and I giggle to think about. I've started to call you my Little Polar Bear, and your daddy likes to call you Fuzzy Little Man-Peach (but we don't know if you're a boy or girl yet!). I hope you don't mind your nicknames, it's out of love, I promise! Also, I apologize for not eating enough food the last few weeks. It's hard to remember to eat so often, but I promise I'll get better at it, and I'll be feeding you lots of yummy snacks so you won't go hungry! You're about 4 inches long now, and even though you're still so tiny, you've grown so so much since we found out about you! Keep up the good work, little one.
We love you so much,
Mommy and Daddy