Nine

I was thinking about dates and birthdays and such the other day when I realized something kind of odd, but cool.

Pumpkin was due February 18, and came 9 days early on the 9th, the day before M's birthday. Peanut is due March 4, so if she came 9 days early like Pumpkin, she will be born on the 24th of February, the day before M's sister's birthday!

I feel like this little girl is going to come any day now, even though I know she won't cuz its still early. I am so ready for her though. If she doesn't make her appearance on her own before the the 29th though (another 9 in the number!), I will be getting induced. More on that later :)

Is there anything cool with the birthday dates in your family? 

Car Seats

Yes, seats, as in 2! My mom and I went to Target this weekend, and (spent way to much money) got both Pumpkin and Peanut car seats! Peanut's car seat is my baby shower gift from my mom, but we got it because it was on sale, and the last one there. Couldn't risk passing that up. We got Pumpkin's because he really needs the next size up, and it was on sale too, and was also the last one. Once again, couldn't pass that up!

I had done quite a bit of research on car seats for Peanut. Of course, every car seat is going to make it seem like it is the best one out there, and while there are probably better car seats than others, they all have to pass safety tests and be approved, so therefore, they are all going to be pretty safe. In my mind anyways :)

So in my quest for the perfect car seat, for me, I had a few requirements:

1. Had to be a car seat that had a base and I could easily get it in and out of the car
2. Weight. I'm not super strong, and when you add the baby's weight in with a 15 lb car seat, that's a lot
3. Easy to adjust. Pumpkin's infant car seat was a pain in the A to adjust when he grew. 
4. Soft. Granted the more "plastic-y" type materials are easier to clean off, I wanted a car seat that was soft to the touch. Yes you can add things inside to make the baby comfortable and have soft things around then, but in the middle of summer, that just means extra heat. No thanks.
5. Price. I can't afford an expensive car seat, and I didn't expect anyone to buy me one either. 

Luckily, I found the car seat that met all my requirements right away. Its the Baby Trend Flex-Loc Infant Car Seat in Grey Mist. And I am in love! Its grey, so a nice neutral color, soft fabric, weighs in at just under 9.5 lbs, easily connects and disconnects to the base, the adjusting harness only takes one hand, so its super easy, and I just so happen to have the Baby Trend jogging stroller, so this car seat will easily hook in, therefor I don't have to buy another stroller! Have I said I am in love? Here is a picture of the beauty:

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I am also very in love with Pumpkin's new "car seat". I guess it really is more of a booster, but I am not ready to think of it that way yet! He is going to be 4 in just a couple weeks, so he is ready to move up in car seats, and his old one is getting a little too small for him. I really am not comfortable with putting him in regular booster though. I don't like that they don't have any back, neck, or head support. I also don't like that they don't keep the seat belt in the right position on your child. They just don't seem safe to me for my little boy. But, just like with Peanut's car seat, I lucked out and found the perfect booster for Pumpkin!

It's the Graco Highback Turbobooster - Baldwin. It's made for children 30-100 lbs (Pumpkin is about 36 lbs), has the back support, head support (also side impact tested), and has the guide for the seat belt so that it goes across your child's chest in the right place, and stays there. This booster is perfect. It makes me feel so much better about moving Pumpkin up in car seats, I feel comfortable that he will be safe in it and that it gives the extra support that I find is still necessary. It also easily adjusts as your child grows. You just pull up on this little handle on top as your child gets taller, and it actually breaks down to a regular booster for if you are ever ready to when you are ready to move to that next step. It was about double to price then a regular booster, but so worth it to me. Check out this amazing-ness!

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I never thought I would be so excited about car seats, but I really am in love with these 2! They are the perfect fit for what I was looking for, and were very reasonable in price. I really couldn't be happier with any other car seats.

Did you luck out and find the perfect car seat? What were your requirements in find that perfect car seat?

2 More Weeks

I had another dr appt yesterday. Nothing exciting, just routine appt. Peanut is very much in front though, and Dr K was sure that I was going to measure ahead of schedule this time. I didn't though, instead, I am right on. Dr K kept saying that she must just be really sitting in front, but she might do an ultrasound to check her size next time.

I also get my Group B Strep screen next appt. We have opted out of all other screening and tests, but I will do this one. One, I am thinking Dr K will want to check my cervix anyways, I have been having a lot of pressure down there. And two, stillbirth scares the shit out of me. I want to make sure that I don't have Group B Strep so that the odds of it are low. Also, I don't think of this as a test like the others. It isn't telling me if there is something wrong with Peanut, its telling me that there is something wrong with me (what would be new?!). And its also telling the dr's what precautions to take during delivery so that everything is ok.

Our next appt is in 2 wks, then after that we start weekly appts! I can't believe we are already to that point, and so ready at the same time! I only made it to 3 wk appts with Pumpkin, so I'm curious as to how many I will make it to with Peanut. Regardless though, if Peanut decides to stick around inside longer than Pumpkin did, I will be getting induced on the 29th of February.

I am not a person who is a fan of voluntary c-sections or induction to fit your schedule better or to relieve yourself of being pregnant, but I did ask for this induction. We are getting Peanut of an insurance program, and it starts the 1st of every month after the baby is born. So if Peanut were to be born on March 1st, or any day after, her coverage wouldn't start until April 1st. That doesn't work out so well, especially if something were to go wrong. And her 2 wk check wouldn't be covered either. Dr K has agreed to induce me on the 29th for this reason, if need be. I really don't think there will be a need though. I think this little girl is going to make her appearance early.

Would you opt for an early induction or c-section due to insurance reasons? Or would you just let your body do what it needs to do regardless of possibly not having insurance for a month?

I'm Done

If you would have asked me a week or so ago, I would have said that I was not ready at all to have Peanut. In fact, I did say that in this post! Well, things have changed!

I am ready for Peanut to be born. I can't believe we still have about 5 or 6 wks to go until possible induction. I know it will go fast, and she may decide to make her appearance before then, but man, am I ready now!

I can't sleep at all. I cramp really bad. I throw up in my mouth multiple times a day (I think this has to do with needing to burp, but because there is no room for food, it comes up too). My nose is stuffy. My back hurts. I am nesting like crazy and actually getting kind of tired of feeling like everything needs to be perfect. I am baking a ton, which is really odd and good I guess, except I am eating it all too. I want to have a real drink. I want to put on real clothes. I want to get on the floor and play with Pumpkin. I feel like my crotch is breaking. My hips hurt. I'm bloating. My fingers look like sausages. I itch all over. Oh man, I am complaining a lot! But I am ready to have Peanut here to hold and kiss and love. I do love having her in my belly, and feeling her move around, but I am getting so uncomfortable.

I really am trying to enjoy the last few wks of pregnancy though, as much as it seems like I am hating them! I know that once Peanut is here, I will miss having her in my tummy. But then I will get to have her in my arms, which I think is a better trade. :)

Did you enjoy the end of pregnancy? Were you ready to be done, like I am right now?!

Feel the Burn

I wish I was talking about a good burn, like the kind of burn after a workout where you are like "oh yeah, take that muscles!". Unfortunately, I'm not talking about that kind of burn. The burns I am talking about are a little bit different... although the one isn't too bad I guess.

My pelvis is burning. I remember this when I was pregnant with Pumpkin. I actually remember the conversation I had with Dr K about it and I told her that I thought my crotch bone was breaking. She explained to me that the feeling I was having was very normal towards the end of pregnancy, and that my bones were not actually breaking. Us women are so luckily blessed with cartilage in between our pelvic bones, and that separates as the baby moves down and opens the bones up. It feels like the bones are breaking into two, but no worries, they aren't!

The other burn I have is a yeast infection. Common in pregnancy due to changes in hormones. I have had many yeast infections in my life due to different types of acne medicines I have been on, so this is nothing crazy abnormal for me. The big difference this time though is that I can't use my regular stand-by med Diflucan. I can't even use the less then fun Monistat 3 or 5, you know, the one with the little egg looking thing you insert? Nope, I have to use Monistat 7. SEVEN days of the nasty crap. Except its worse then the 3 or 5 day type because you don't get the little egg thing that slowly releases the medicine. Instead, you get a syringe,  and a tube of cream (that same one that you can put on externally to stop the itch), and you fill the syringe with it, and then fill your crotch. Yep, its gross, it gets all over (I can't even walk from the bathroom to my bed without it running out and down my leg), and it continues to come out the next day. I just hope it clears it up so that I don't have to do it again.

Of course I have the regular toward-the-end-of-pregnancy-burns going on too. Lower back, legs, feet, heartburn, stomach. And good ol' Braxton Hicks contractions. They come mostly at night, which sucks because I can't sleep anyways, and then when I do, the contractions wake me up. I am trying to "enjoy" it though because it won't be long and Peanut will be here! I am so excited, but I know that I will miss having her in my tummy.

Registering

I felt like I had an edge on knowing what to register for. I remember slightly registering for Pumpkin, and all the things that I thought I needed, and then the things that I actually used, liked, disliked, and what I really got off the registry. So when it came time to register for Peanut, I was armed with knowledge and ready to do it!

M and I made a date for last night to go register. I was super excited because I had my knowledge, and I love looking at anything and everything baby. The way the night started though, should have been a pretty clear warning that registering wasn't going to be as fun or easy as I had imagined.

First, Pumpkin threw a fit because he didn't want to go to his dad's house. Then, I couldn't get my socks on. I huffed and puffed and finally M had to do it for me. On the way there, we got stuck behind a lady going 25 in a 45. I have bad road rage as it is, but add pregnancy hormones on top, and you don't want to mess with me!

Once we got to Target (where we were registering at), I headed to the kiosk and started to set-up our registry. Except, it wouldn't let me. It kept telling me that our email was already in the system. Duh! We registered there for our wedding! So I put that information in, and it asked me to reset our password. So I followed the instructions and did so, then had to do it again, and again, and again. I got pissed, and M was hungry and pissed. I wanted to cry and kick the kiosk and through a tantrum. I might have a little actually.... Anyways. I finally decided just to start over, and make up an email address (they don't really send you anything important do they?!) and go from there.

After that, we got our little scanner gun, and set off, hoping that things would go smoother. No such luck. 95% of everything there was being clearanced, meaning we couldn't register for it. 3% of the stuff "wasn't recognized" by our scanner gun, so we registered for the other 2% of stuff, which is all "limited availability". There were no crib sheets, bumpers, blankets, bouncy chairs, pacifiers, feeding supplies, first aid kits, anything! So, our registry is still bare, but I am working on it online, and hoping that I can go back in a couple weeks and add to it in the store... if I'm brave enough to try again.

Here are a couple things we were able to register for though!

1) Boppy Pillows are the best. They are great for breastfeeding, and great for propping the baby up on their own. Greatest pillow ever made.

2) Car Seat Protector by Eddie Bauer. We have one of these bad boys under Pumpkin's car seat, and it is truly is a car seat saver. There have been many times when I take Pumpkin's car seat out of the car and there is so much crap, food and drink and unknowns, stuck all over this seat protector. It also helps from getting those dents and indentations in your seat that a car seat leaves. I love this thing, and my car loves me for putting this thing under the car seat.

3) We registered for this Samsung baby monitor for a couple reasons. One, we didn't really have many options. Two, it was one of the cheaper options we had. And three, the monitor is big enough to be able to see the baby, but small enough to be able to carry around with you. A regular, non-video, monitor would be fine too, but there weren't any to choose from, and we really would like a video one!

4) It gets cold up here in Montana, so a cover for the car seat is a must, like this JJ Cole one. It easily slips over any car seat, and zips up snug to keep your little one toasty warm. Its so soft and looks so comfy too!

5) This Fisher Price Rock 'n Play Sleeper is perfect to use as a bassinet by the bed, and a portable little crib to move around to the living room or wherever need be. I love that it doesn't take up a lot of room, is cute, and it rocks, kind of doubling as a swing.

6) I am going to try to breastfeed, but back up bottles are a must. So I did a little research, and thought that the best way to go was with these Breastflow bottles. They have a double nipple type thing going on, so the baby has to "latch" to it, similar to how they breastfeed. I am hoping this causes minimal nipple confusion, and also will keep Peanut interested in breastfeeding and not taking the "easy way out" with the simple bottle.

Hopefully our registry will keep growing. If not, I am not too worried about it because people are going to buy what they want to anyways, and 99% of the time that is super cute outfits!

Was your registering experience what you hoped and thought it would be? Did you register in store or online?

PREpartum Depression

Since Peanut hasn't been born yet, its not postpartum, but prepartum. No, I don't think this is really a true thing, but its the term I am using to describe how I am feeling right now.

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According to WebMD, some postpartum depression symptoms are:

• Depressed mood-tearfulness, hopelessness, and feeling empty inside, with or without severe anxiety
• Sleep problems - usually trouble with sleeping, even when your baby is sleeping.
• Extreme fatigue or loss of energy.
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, with no reasonable cause.
• Difficulty concentrating and making decisions.

These are only some of the symptoms, but they are the ones that are pertaining to me right now. I am having anxiety like crazy lately. Some term this as "nesting", but its gotten to the point that it affects my mood! I have almost become depressed because of all the stuff I want to get done, and I am feeling very over-whelmed. The nursery isn't finished (although coming along, more on that later though!). My walls are dirty, my bathrooms are dirty, I need to mop, all the beds need to be washed, the carpet needs to be cleaned, my drawers need to be cleaned out, the movies need to be alphabetized, I need to dust. See? The list goes on and on! I know that its not really necessary to do all these things, but I feel like I MUST. GET. THEM. DONE. I scrubbed the inside of the dishwasher yesterday with a toothbrush. That's how crazy I am getting!

I am also feeling very scared of being "empty" inside. I am loving having Peanut wiggle and move inside me. I am not ready to not have that. Its something that is just between me and Peanut, and I love that we have something of our own. I don't want to loose that. 

Sleep problems are a part of pregnancy, yes I know. My back hurts, my nose is stuffy so I can't breathe, I just can't get comfortable. BUT, I am also having problems sleeping because I lay awake at night with anxiety about the things I need to get done, and about "losing" Peanut. No, I am not really going to lose her, but like I said, I am not ready to not have her in my tummy.

My energy level has dropped like crazy. Which really sucks because of all the things I want to get done. You saw the list, there is no time for lack of energy! 

I have also been feeling guilty lately. I have no idea why. I can't even describe it. I don't know it its just anxiety over everything, or what, but it really sucks!

And lastly, I can't concentrate! Some term this "pregnancy brain", but man, it has gotten bad! My sister D called me the other night, and I could hardly talk to her because I was stirring soup! I don't even need to think about stirring soup, so I should have had no problem talking to D, but I just couldn't concentrate! 

See, I am having postpartum symptoms right now, prepartum! I am hoping that I shake these feelings soon, and get some energy to get some things done. Maybe if I can knock out my to do list, I will feel better, but maybe I need to pick the things that are really important on it first! I think the hardest part I am having is the thought of not having Peanut in my tummy anymore, but I have to keep reminding myself how much better it will be to hold her in my arms. :)

Have you had prepartum symptoms before? What items on my to do list do you think are the most important?!