Wisconsin Family Vaca (Week 31 & 32 Updates)

How far along:

31 weeks

Baby is as big as a: 

Pineapple

Total weight gain: 

19 lbs. Almost to 20!

Maternity clothes: 

At this point maternity shirts are more comfortable because they're definitely long enough to cover all sides of the belly. I wear skirts everyday to work and at home I live in my pregnancy leggings. I love those things!

Sleep:

Sleep is going great still. I did have a headache one night but it was only one night! I have been very tired but that's my own fault. I stayed up later than I normally do for a couple of nights so I was definitely feelin it at work the next few days!

Movement?

I have felt him a lot more in my ribs this week probably because he's getting bigger and longer. The funny thing is I really only feel him in my ribs on the right side. It doesn't hurt, it can just become uncomfortable depending on how I'm sitting. He's still most active at 2 and 8 ish but has been a lot more active in between those times.

Best moment this week: 

One night he was going crazy as I was going to bed and I'm 90% I felt his foot(or hand)! He was pushing really hard against my belly and I felt this prominent limb! Kinda freaky but so cool!

Weird pregnancy moment:

My dreams have been off the chain crazy. I keep having dreams that Dan is leaving me! How horrible is that! I wake up really sad and roll over to get Dan. He usually says, '"Girl you are crazy, I love YOU" I cuddle up to him and everything is right in the world. Until my alarm goes off. The other dream I had was that we got to talk to Carrie Underwood at a meet and greet she was doing at Home Depot? Yeah.

Symptoms:

Some lower back pain on the days when I'm doing a lot. Shortness of breath and there are fewer sitting position that I find comfortable. I have been wearing my silicone QALO wedding band. My fingers don't visibly swell but my wedding ring is sized down a 1/2 size in the beginning because I'm usually always cold and my fingers shrink. Even though I don't see a difference in my fingers I feel it a tiny bit and I don't want to risk it!
Food cravings:

Sandwiches. Anything chocolate. Spaghetti one night (until it gave me heartburn). Spicy things (this must be Dan's baby). I just love bread and milk. I could drink all the milk! I ran out of milk AND cereal a couple days ago and haven't gone shopping because I'm going to do a big haul for most of the month so I've been without. I survived but I miss it.

What I'm looking forward to: 

We're going to Wisconsin this week AND my swimming suit still covers my belly so double win. I had my doc write me a precautionary note that I'm cleared to fly JUST in case I get any flack for flying while pregnant (which for those of you who don't know is totally fine if you're healthy).

It has been scorching hot here in Texas and most people up to this point have told me, 'Oh honey, you're going to die this summer being pregnant' I might be singing that tune in 4 weeks but I'm grateful right now that I'm still doing okay! I just stay indoors and brave the heat when I have to. Saturday we ran some errands and finally made our first big baby purchase but it was so hot! Just walking from the car to the store was enough outside time for me. If you're in the shade it's not bad, but direct sun is sizzling hot. Everyone is Arizona is far worse off than we are here. 

So back to baby we started receiving gifts from our registry and what an awesome surprise that has been! I'm just amazed at how nice and giving people are! We received the CUTEST Denver Broncos get up for our baby boy complete with bib, hat, booties and pacifiers from one of Dan's closest friends and his sweet wife. Dan was especially stoked about that. Anything sports, I'm tellin ya! We also received one of my most wished for items from our registry. I honestly didn't think someone would purchase it for us so I just planned to purchase it later. You can imagine my excitement when I found it on my doorstep! It was a Fisher Price Auto Rock Sleep n Play from a member at work who has turned into a really good friend. I told Dan I wanted to assemble it myself and I was SO CLOSE. I got to the end and realized the holes to hook on the motor weren't in the right spot and essentially had to take it all apart. That's when I admitted defeat and had Dan help me. All that aside, it's all put together and works beautifully.

For the rest of the nursery we know what we want, we just haven't purchased them yet. However this weekend we did decide on a stroller and car seat! Feels good to get it out of the way. If you're wondering, we went with a Chicco Bravo Trio Travel System.

This is the one we thought would work best for us. This was probably the hardest decision I've had to make so far because I know I'll be using it the most so that fact that we bought it and I feel great about it, is huge for me. Originally I wanted a jogger and was really interested in jogger travel systems. My mind totally changed when we went and looked at them in person. Not all of them, but a majority of them are HEAVY. I'm talking 45-50 pounds heavy. It makes a big difference once you lift them up. Yes I can lift it but do I want to be lugging it in and out of the trunk everyday? No. Doctors don't recommend you jog with a baby until at least 6 months-1 year. Because of that I'd rather buy an all terrain or jogging stroller later especially if we still feel we'll use it. 

Here are my pros & cons about this stroller for any mama's to be out there:

PROS:

1. The car seat one of the highest rated (depending on the list you look at of course) for safety. When asking the sales associates between Chicco vs Graco they said Chicco carseats are a tiny notch above Graco because Chicco had more side impact padding. (Obviously they're all safe and up to car seat standards if they're being sold on the market).

2. The weight. The stroller is 23 lbs. I feel like I can throw it over my shoulder if I need to it's so light! Not really, but you understand my point.

3. This stroller strips all the way down to just a carrier (first picture). Making it even a little lighter and you can leave out the stroller seat if you want until they're old enough to flip them around. I like the minimalist look and feeling of just a carrier.

4. The metal bar. If your unfamiliar with travel systems, on most (not all) the car seat snaps in on the front of the stroller. It usually snaps into the tray and cup holder where your toddler would sit which is made of plastic. Models that snap in this way tend to see a lot of wear, tear and splitting on that plastic tray. Some moms have said by the time they turn their child around that tray is worn out from clipping and unclipping the car seat so much. Obviously this depends on how much use and how careful the user is. This model is the only one that comes with a metal bar. It's removable so when you turn your child around you change the metal bar to a snack tray that's in one piece.

5. Last is the weight distribution. I would be able to hang my diaper bag from the stroller if I choose to do so. The stroller is heavy enough in the right places so that it wouldn't tip back with a diaper bag hanging from it. Some pricier models we looked at from baby jogger were definitely back heavy and the employees warned us of that. Also the handle height is adjustable!

CONS:

1. It steers fine but 3 wheels are easier to steer one handed compared to 4 wheels. I also think 3 wheels look better for whatever reason. Obviously I got over that.

2. Other models had bigger basket space underneath.

3. It's not all terrain and the wheels are plastic. If you abuse it, they could break.

4. It's honestly not the best stroller on the market. There are better strollers out there but they have a higher price tag.

5. The umbrella on the carseat is stiff. It works but it's awkward to use. About 80% of the carseats I saw were like that so maybe there's a reason for it? Other brands had a few that would easily glide forward and back.

So there you have it! That's what we decided on what would be best for our family and situation. Everyone's different though so find what ever fits for you! Even while we were testing one out we received unsolicited advice from an older man telling me how we needed to buy one with bigger wheels haha. Only you know what will be best for you! I'm a 'feels' person and this purchase felt right for us. Do research, ask questions, try it out, decide together, go to the store 4 different times (ha!) and go with your gut. And remember, it's okay to change your mind. I did about 4 different times. When we went into buy I had a specific system in mind (the Bravo LE) and we actually walked out with just the Bravo instead. Last minute change! We learned that the price difference between the Bravo and the more expensive Bravo LE had nothing to do with safety or features but was mostly because of the premium fabrics and zip add ons. Yes is had a better stroller umbrella but I don't want to pay more for ritzy fabrics..I think we'll buy a jogger down the road and I'm okay with that. You don't have to purchase everything at once, especially if you won't use it right away.

For anyone in the market here are some other models I was considering:

Graco Fastaction Jogger

Graco Aire 3 (and XT)

Baby Trend Jogger

Chicco Viaro

Woah I look pregnant! Forgive the no make up/hair half done. We flew home early Sunday morning and were beat. We made it to the 1pm ward just for the sacrament and this is how I went for the 30 minutes I was there!

How far along:

32 weeks

Baby is as big as a: 

Head of Lettuce

Total weight gain: 

22 lbs

Maternity clothes: 

I am definitely pregnant. I feel like a small hippo and I live in maternity pants, skirts and other stretchy things. I hemmed a pair of capris RIGHT before we went to Wisconsin and I'm so glad I did. Definitely needed them.

Sleep:

I still can sleep well. This week I was in an unfamiliar bed so I tossed and turned a little bit. I had some crazy dreams but what else is new ha! Getting in and out of bed is getting harder.

Movement?

So much movement! Especially when we ate lots of sugar at the Jelly Belly Factory and then drank a lot of root beer. Sitting down is starting to get uncomfortable. I have to adjust frequently so I can breathe, so the baby isn't in my ribs and so my lower back doesn't start to hurt. It's not a bad pain. It's like when you sit in a position for so long and your muscles feel tired or numb.

Best moment this week: 

Going to Wisconsin for a family vacation! Not having any issues or problems flying was also a plus.

Weird pregnancy moment:

Probably the weird looks I got at Sprechers! Story below.

Symptoms:

My fingers have been swelling especially with flying and going to Wisconsin. Who knew Wisconsin was humid! I didn't bring my wedding ring and brought my QALO but hardly wore that because we were outside and it was hot. Heel pain, but I added some handy inserts in my shoes and that helped. Lower back pain, bending over is painful/impossible and I ask Dan  a lot more for help with sitting up or standing up. Also heaven help me when I'm not pregnant, I don't know if I'll remember to zip up my pants! (maternity pants don't have zippers) Please be my friend and tell me if my zipper is down.
Food cravings:

One day I was SO THIRSTY but I didn't want water. Hello Root Beer! Also milk. Oreos. Cereal. Sandwiches.

What I'm looking forward to: 

It's AUGUST guys! Which means prep, nest and baby shower! 

I waited to post the blog because I had appointments Monday & Tuesday and wanted to include them in my 32 week update!

As I've slightly alluded to we had been seeing a specialist because of some fluid build up. Baby boy had some extra fluid on his kidneys and his ureters were dilated because of it. This seems to be common in baby boys and usually corrects itself I'm told however it is also a soft marker for down syndrome. There are two different types of markers- soft and hard and multiple markers of each kind. Baby had one soft marker that they saw originally in May and it needed to be monitored. Last ultrasound in July showed the same amount of fluid, no change and no other markers of down syndrome. We once again turned down genetic testing because it can be inconclusive, may not give us a diagnosis and our baby is our baby no matter what. Monday's ultrasound showed the fluid levels decreased and he has perfectly healthy and normal kidneys! We love our baby no matter what but are thankful for his full bill of health. No more specialist appointment for us!

At the beginning of the appointment they started me out on the monitors to measure baby's heartbeat and contractions just as a precaution. No contractions here but baby was going to town kicking those monitors that his heart rate went up! Then we went and did the ultrasound. It was awesome to see baby boy again. We saw his cute face, we saw him yawn and stick his tongue out. He had the hiccups during the ultrasound too! I didn't realize what I was feeling was hiccups until I saw his little diaphragm spasms. Baby is 5 pounds now! Long story short, all good news and we are thankful!

The next day I saw my regular doctor. When I walked into the office I saw 15 people in the waiting room... not a good sign! I guess their computers crashed so they were a little behind. However I got in and out of there pretty quickly so I was happy. This is TMI but I don't care. Will I ever master peeing in a cup?! I need to try some different techniques because I miss EVERY. TIME. Men have it so easy. Back to the appointment, everything looks good! I'm healthy, baby is healthy and my OB is awesome. Next appointment they'll start checking my cervix. This is getting real!

WISCONSIN TRIP! The family reunion for Dan and his siblings was in Wisconsin this year. We bought my ticket a couple months ago, hoping we wouldn't run into the complications and that my doctor would clear me to fly at 32 weeks. Luckily I'm healthy and she did just that!

Wednesday

I had to wake up at some ridiculous hour like 4 am for our flights to Wisconsin. I honestly was expecting at least one person to make a snarky comment about me being pregnant and flying. I figured SOMEONE would say, 'You really shouldn't be doing that' but to my surprise no one said anything. We had a small layover in Chicago and we were thinking we'd be able to find some real Chicago style pizza in the airport. No Luck! After scouring the internet there aren't any good, legit Chicago style pizza places in the Chicago airport! What a shame. We did find other pizza and it was delicious.

We all stayed with Dan's brother and his wife which was so fun. I was also in heaven because they have the cutest pets! A hedgehog, a german shepherd and a munchkin cat. Their german shepherd was obsessed with the bump always smelling it, watching it and nuzzling it. I'm telling ya, dogs can sense these things. I didn't get a full body picture of their cat so here's an old one as a kitten:

We went and got lunch at Cuvler's, ran through the WalMart parking lot in a rainstorm reminiscent of Texas then relaxed at we awaited the rest of the family's arrival. Jenny, Phill, their kiddos and Sylvia all came it that evening.

Thursday

We spent the day at the Wisconsin State Fair and boy it was fun! Who knew Wisconsin was more humid than Texas. It was definitely hot but I've learned how to handle heat since living in the Lone Start State. We saw cattle, goats, sheet, chickens, rabbit and horses. The clydesdales were my favorite! 

For lunch Dan and I got brats in ode to the influx of German culture in Wisconsin. We headed to some air conditioning and looked at the expo building next. My favorite part? The famous giant cream puffs! Delicious! We saw a dog show, sea lions and tried some Sprechers Root Beer. Overall it was a great day and we walked A LOT.

Friday

Beach day! We spent this day at Lake Michigan on the soft sand. It was around 85 degrees out and the water was somewhere around 63 degrees. Pretty stark difference and Dan kept trying to push me in. I eventually got in on my own after a healthy amount of squealing. It felt good after your extremeties went numb! We had fun playing in the sand and hitting the volleyball around. The only downside was biting flies! They were unusual and their bites surprisingly hurt! Other than that we had a great time!

We downed a couple buckets of KFC for lunch and went to Dan's brother & his wife's hockey game! Fun to watch! The relaxed that evening and ate a bunch of pizza.

Saturday

We started the day with a tour of the Jelly Belly Warehouse! My favorite part were the free jelly bellys and the samples at the end. We purchased a healthy amount of jelly beans and were happy.

They say 'It's a boy!'

We made a pit stop at the house to grab lunch and relax before we headed out to Sprechers. Sprechers is a local brewery that makes beer and soda but is best known for their Root Beer. Dan and I tried some at the fair and it was delicious. We went on the tour for the brewery and at the end you get a free glass with unlimited soda samples. Our wristbands also included 4 beer sampe tabs. I made some new best friends when I gave my tags away. At one point as I was drinking root beer these two teenagers (16 or 17?) kept giving me the weirdest look and then obviously whispering to each other then looking at me again. My guess is that they thought this obviously pregnant woman was drinking beer! I just had to laugh.

For dinner we had a barbecue out back. We grilled, roasted over the fire and ended the night with smores AND ice cream. It was so fun to see the fireflies come out! I've seen fireflies once before but in Wisconsin there were so many. We watched Guardians of the Galaxy which I thought was hilarious! (where have I been this whole time it's been out) then went to bed late in order to wake up for our 5 am flight.

We traveled back safely and baby didn't kick me too much. We both zonked on the plane and were happy to be home. We spent most of the day (Sunday) doing laundry, resting, unpacking and preparing for the week. Overall it was a fun trip and I'm so glad I was healthy enough to go and felt good while I was there. I know my limits and Dan was great to go sit down with me for a few minutes if my feet where hurting or something. I keep thinking how good of a husband he is and how great a dad he'll make!