How My Pregnancy is Going

Great.

How's yours?

Shall we talk about your cervix?

Why does everyone think that random strangers wanting to touch their tummy is the most awkward part of pregnancy? I find it much weirder when a random stranger asks me, "Are you dilated at all? Effaced?"

I actually have people do that! People that I do not know will come into my workplace and ask me these questions. I really want to reply, "Oh lets talk about your vagina first, shall we?"

That said, I do not mind friends and family asking how things down there are progressing. If you actually know me, I will tell you all about my cervix when asked. However, if you don't know my name, estimated age, and whether I have a husband or not, I don't want to skip all that "getting to know you" talk and jump right to the privates! Ha ha!

Okay. With all that said, I'm about to tell you about my cervix and other things that might be wwwaaaayyyy too much information. If you don't want to keep reading, believe me, I understand. Just push that little red 'X' up in the right hand corner (for pc users-sorry mac users. I can't tell you how to close your window...).

Push it....now.

Are you still here?

Are you sure?

Okay. You asked for it.

ALL THINGS PERTAINING TO MY PREGNANCY IN THE FINAL DAYS!!!!

As many know, I haven't gained much weight in these last few weeks. 14 weeks to be exact. I'm up a whopping 3 pounds for the last 3+months. However, I have gained plenty of weight throughout the rest of my pregnancy. I'm just a biscuit shy of 40 lbs with this baby so my doctor says I just happened to gain a lot at the beginning. Cool. And yes, I do feel a sense of accomplishment everytime I go to my appointment and the scale is no longer sky rocketing up. I'm not ashamed to admit it.

At my 37 week appointment everything felt normal and I was dilated to a 2.

At my 38 week appointment my cervix had decided to be a bit shy and I guess it hasn't "descended" at all. My doctor really had to work to check my cervix. This hurt. I'm not looking forward to people checking me a lot in the future. However, I was dilated to a 3, so I felt like it was worth it.

At my 39 week appointment (today) my cervix was still being shy. It just isn't ready for a baby to pass through it. Can you blame it? Doctor really worked me over checking me and gave me bad news. I'm back down to a 2. Crap.

I completely understand that being dilated or not dilated does not mean that I will have my baby any sooner or later! I just want to feel like something is progressing, not regressing.

I was kind of hoping that things were moving along a bit because I have been doing a lot to "induce labor." I've been deer hunting on bumpy roads with Ryan 3 times, taken 1 long walk, gotten 1 pedicure (pressure points supposedly put you into labor), and jumped up and down innumerable times.

And what do I get for all my effort? Dilated to a 2.

BACK TO HAPPY REPORTING!!

I do not have any stretch marks on my stomach, hips, back or thighs. I do have a couple on my breasts, but they are really small and pretty light, so I'm putting lotion on them and hopefully they will fade quickly! I was pretty worried about getting stretch marks. I was really scared that I would look like a stretched out and deflated balloon with ripply run marks throughout my skin after this pregnancy, but so far I am doing really good. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

My stomach grew a lot in this last week. I was measuring at 35 centimeters last week and this week I am at 38 centimeters!  Our little guy is getting bigger!!!!

Speaking of my stomach getting bigger, let me show you a few pictures:

36 weeks! I went bowling and it was a bit difficult to constantly lean over and throw the ball. I do really love this picture of the bowling ball right where my stomach is!

38 Weeks! I took this picture and then felt a little disheartened because I thought I looked huge. I can't believe I am still having these vanity issues this far along. I really need to get over myself.

39 Weeks. I don't think I look that much different, but the doctor says my stomach is poking out 3 more centimeters than last week. I actually remember looking at this picture compared to my 38 week picture and thinking that I looked smaller here.

You also get to see my new hair cut! I love it:) I got it cut a bit shorter than before so that I could let it grow out for a few more weeks this time. I'm cheap and lazy like that.



LITTLE MORE ABOUT MY VANITY:

I'm really scared of having my baby and then when looking back at all the pictures taken of the blessed event, thinking that I look completely awful in every single shot.

Sooo....every morning I wake up thinking, "This could be it. This could be the day I go to the hospital. I'm going to put my make up on and do my hair really nice."

Because you never know when you are going to have a baby and people are going to take pictures. I have to be ready for everything.

So everyday for the past week I have really put in some special attention on doing my hair and makeup. And every night when I go to bed, I've thought, "Wasted. All that effort was just wasted."

But I get up and do it the next day.

I'll probably not get ready one of these days and go into labor so fast I don't even have time to put on mascara! That would be really ironic.

ONE MORE  SUPER AWKWARD UPDATE:

My boobs.

Bless them, they really do try.

The nursing specialist at the hospital has been having me wear these little occulets to help my nipples to be "drawn out" for the past 4 weeks. It's weird. And it has completely confused my right side. She is in a constant "drawn out" position, but my left one just hasn't caught the trend. She, like my cervix, must be very shy. Breastfeeding could be a bit of a struggle for me. However, if I make it through this baby, they should be fine for the second.

All I could think when she told me this was, "You mean if my BABY makes it through this, then my second BABY should be fine."

I'm not the one struggling for food here.

Oh. The nursery is finished. I thought I should leave you with an update that wasn't going to give you nightmares.

You're welcome:)