Pregnancy: Weeks 33 & 34

Weight:  192 lbs. (by the end of week 32 I have gained 49 lbs.)

Weeks to Go: 6 (STILL A SINGLE DIGIT!!)

What I feel: HEARTBURN. Like no one's business. Once this week I was napping on the couch, woke up, started coughing because of the heartburn and then threw up. Yes. The beauty of pregnancy. Oh my goodness it felt like my throat was on fire. Worst kind of sick I have been in a while. I had to sleep sitting up for a few nights. Not a fun part of pregnancy.

This last month and a half seems to be crawling by. Perhaps it is because I am so excited and very anxious. Or maybe it's because every where I look I see babies. Oh due date, come a little faster!




What I look like:  Big, blonde and beautiful. Kind of. Not blonde. But big and beautiful for sure! I have gained a good amount of weight this last trimester but I still feel really good. I am running out of clothes as each days passes but I only need to hold out a while longer (right baby?) !!

Oh Things I didn't know about pregnancy until now: Apparently talking to a pregnant woman means you can tell her your entire life's story including the scary and sad baby stories. I have heard stories about hard deliveries, early deliveries, missed due dates, over due babies, why some people can't get pregnant, baby throw up, how to calm babies, why some women hire babysitters and don't go to daycare, freak accidents where babies are dropped (thankfully into the couch or a laundry bin), how hot their summer pregnancy was, the amount of time spent in labor, divorce and babies, and random stories about how birth order affects children. 

Now I don't mind hearing stories, or listening to people's advice, it was just a surprise to me that people would be so open to sharing all their intimate baby moments with me even though some times they barely know me. It must be some sort of therapy for them. The least I can do is listen.

Timeline happenings: Getting so close. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! 
We have picked out a baby name by the end of this 34th week and yes, it is still a secret that no one knows. It will be a great surprise. (Hint: I LOVE the name and it was a mutual decision between my husband and I).
 
I have also been being "pinning" a lot of baby things on Pinterest. Go ahead and check it out. Say awe a few times. Feel like having babies.

We got another ultrasound at week 34. I am now the proud soon-to-be-mother of a baby with five fingers on at least one of this hands. All he would do was make fist or wave to us so the only ultra sound picture I have is of his hands. He is head down, feet up during this ultrasound. The technician mentioned that at this point he probably won't flip around anymore because he is running out of room. Yes, my bladder thanks you for that baby.

 

Things for Baby: I think we might have enough stuff now. Although you never know...we are still debating on a bassinet. That might be a 10 pm Target purchase in our future. 

I also have a guilty pleasure. BABY CLOTHES! They are so darn cute. I know it is probably silly hang them up but they look so cute there! One of my favorite outfits says "Mommy's Little Monster". Perfect.

And the Husband says: "Your house is still getting bigger" --referring to my rather larger than life belly which seems to be expanding at an exponential rate! 

Lately we have been trying to spend as much time as possible doing us things. Eating ice cream, watching Downton Abbey and comedy shows. It has been nice to soak up some couple time before the baby makes 3.

More Baby/Parent Book Recommendations

A while back,  I posted about several baby and pregnancy books I devoured in my first few months of pregnancy. I got a lot out of those books but realized maybe I need to read some more about parenting this child.

Here is a quick review (and recommendations) of the parenting books I have read so far:

Bringing Up Bebe by Pamela Druckerman: Amidst all criticism I see on the internet for this book, it still ranks pretty high in the New York Times best sellers list. I was thrilled to see our library had several copies (yeah free books!) and I snagged one immediately. I devoured the book in about 3 days. I found it very interesting. Pamela begins her parenting in France, where she quickly sees a difference in child rearing. Even little 2-3 month old tykes are sleeping through the night! Pamela dives into the psychology and the practicality of the French parent. I really think they have some great points. Getting your child to eat bleu cheese and carrots from the start really is possible.  Although that part of the book got a lot of criticism in other articles I read, one article stressed that of course this seems strange or cold to Americans, given our relationship to food we can hardly get ourselves to eat bleu cheese, let alone our children!

I found the book to be extremely interesting and made me question some common American practices that could really use a change. Isn't it good for everyone if my child shows respect and social skills at a young age? And the task of keeping my child out of obesity statistics is only going to increase, a statistic French parents rarely deal with.

On Becoming Babywise by Gary Ezzo & Robert Bucknam: Another kind of controversial book according to comments on various websites. Many of the criticism comes from the  "tough", baby on a schedule talk the book has. Although it might seem a little extreme to some people, babies have the ability to get on a schedule and do well. If they learn how the world works, the book argues, they can be more independent, appreciative and even more attentive during awake times. I am a believer in raising children who understand their schedule is not the end all to be all every day. Moms and Dads have schedules, commitments and even time away from the children too. I liked the books approach to the first few months of your baby's life. I plan on using some of the tools when necessary. Even with harsh criticism abound, I'd say give this book a try at least.

The Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvery Karp: I will admit the title of this book was what jumped out to me at the library. I think the author did a great job giving concrete things to help you baby sleep better. I love his tips on swaddling, getting your baby to settle down and even how to do so with the fussiest babies. Since it is quite the guessing game as to the temperament of your baby before he starts wailing, the "tool kit" Dr. Karp gives is a great start. My husband even joined in on the fun of this book and we tried our hand at swaddling some teddy bears. He also read part of this book and found the advice to be practical. I hope the pre-reading will pay off!

I recommend this book for its practical, and hopefully useful advice. I think the books is a great start to finding ways to calm your baby, even with no babies to practice on.

So there you go, a few more books for those parents-to-be. Happy reading! Happy parenting!