December is here! In just a few, short days, we will be on
the official 3-month countdown to my due date… March 13th. It’s hard
to believe… and I’m still grappling with feeling like I’ve still got a long
ways to go and wondering where the last 6 months have gone. BTW - this thing is packed with bump pics, my friends and family - prepare yourselves. Apparently, I don't have the vision or the opportunity to take photographs of more interesting subjects these days... probably because I feel like I'm becoming a hermit.
The heat is majorly on in getting the nursery ready. We’ve
done a lot of research, price checking and shopping, and I think we’re super
close to pulling the trigger on a crib, dresser/changing table, glider and
bookshelf. I’ve actually had a few of these items “in my Amazon cart” for weeks
now waiting for both Black Friday and Cyber Monday to pass and see if they
became eligible for any deals. See, Adam is totally rubbing off on me, right? I’m
feeling the burn of anxiety in getting all of that stuff in the room and put
together… because of course, I want to decorate! I’ve got more defined ideas of
what I think I’d like to do at this point for the décor – so in typical Annie
fashion, I’d like to go ahead and get it done… ummmm NOW. Or yesterday. And I’m
bugging the bejesus out of Adam to move it along. We’re stopping at IKEA this
weekend while in St. Louis, so fingers crossed we walk out of there with a
couple of well-made, but good-deal items!
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| We went with new gray walls - and I'll be brightening it up with yellow, green, turquoise, etc. accent colors. Still a work in progress! |
Since Thanksgiving, we’ve had a few really nice, quieter
weekends at home where I was able to get the house decorated for Christmas, finished up some
crafts/shopping, started wrapping gifts, etc. And I binge-watched Season 2 of
Girls while Adam soaked in numerous hours of college football. See... hermit status? Regardless - it’s really nice
to stay put once in a while!
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| Future Leatherneck fan in the womb, ya'all... W-E-S-T-E-R-N... Go Western! |
I say that as I prepare for what’s looking like it’s going to be THREE, count ‘em THREE trips to St. Louis in the matter of 10 days. This is due to both work and family holiday obligations and it’s not supreme by any means, but I’m dealing with it. First up is my Paradowski holiday party this Friday, which will bring AT and I up and back over a 2 short-nights-stay. Then back to Muskie to hopefully assemble Truebe Tyke’s bedroom. And then it’s all aboard the puddle-jumper flight for me to STL on Monday through Wednesday for additional work/meetings. And finally, Adam and I will load the car once more and get back on the road for Kayser Christmas in Edwardsville next Saturday. It’s gonna be cray. I’m placing the over/under on number of times we have to stop for me to pee around at ~ 4 per leg. It’s a tough time for my bladder these days.
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| Although at Christmas time, I can say that they're all "gifts for other people." |
Other than that, we’re doing pretty good in Truebeville –
bakin’ the little bun, buildin’ the registries (to which I’ve already received
2 gifts with no return addresses – please notify me if you’re sending me
presents already!), and we’re bucklin’ down with thoughts and plans for the
drastic ways our home and lives are going to change. My lovely friends,
colleagues and family are working with me to logistically coordinate the six
different showers coming my way (oy!) – but just like I did with our nuptials,
I feel nothing but eternally appreciative and grateful. We’ll see how the ol’
framework is holding up after traveling a few consecutive weekends at 7 and 8
months pregs though… I’m hoping I won’t resemble a pale, humpback whale
emerging from the dark, Iowan abyss by that point. Haha.
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| We also got to catch a WIU basketball game last week - vs. Iowa - our neighbors are season-ticket holders and offered up Monday night's seats after they noticed our flag out front. Pays to be nerd fans! |
For real though, sometimes as of late, I’ll walk by a mirror
or a window and catch myself being totally shocked at the reminder of what I
see. I know it’s happening, and I’m starting to feel the regular discomforts of
being 6 months pregnant on occasion… but for the most part at this stage in the
game – I don’t presently and actively feel all that different all the time. On
rare occasions, I actually forget that I’ve gained 13 lbs, which I know is hard
to believe. I honestly feel it most when I’m trying to be as active as I used
to… I run out of breath super easy (I’ve learned that there’s something the
size of a rutabaga impending on my lung space), and I can’t bend over, stretch,
or pick things up as easily anymore. I joke with Adam that he’ll be tying my
shoes for me in no time. If I even decide to wear anything besides loafers or
slip-ons after January 1st.
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| We took this on the same night - after I changed into my super sexy sleepwear - Adam said the bump was more noticeable in this flattering garment. Haha... |
Heartburn: it’s my evil archenemy right now. The reaction is
instantaneous when I ingest anything. I start burping like an infant
(foreshadowing of what’s to come?); and it doesn’t matter if it’s sweet, spicy or
a freakin’ sandwich -- I’m poppin’ TUMS like they’re breath mints. Nighttime is
not the righttime for me – acid reflux is real and ruining my usual, gratuitous
8 hours. I’ve already become a more restless sleeper since growing the fetus due
to some circulation issues, but waking up to insanely hot, sizzling lava in my
esophagus has sent me over the edge. I’ve started propping myself up and
snoozing like my grandma used to in her chair to keep the spewing at bay. Urban
legend indicates this means your child will have a lot of hair. Now, AT has a
pretty nice, lush mop on his head (even at the ripe, old age of 34, ha!) – but
according to Carol Kayser – she had severe heartburn with her first pregnancy,
and my brother, Matt, was bald for the first 2 years of his life. We shall see,
I guess… can you imagine a newborn with a wild, ginger mane?
My #1 these days: cereal... Honey Nut Cheerios, Special K
with strawberries and Grape Nuts. I’m not being too crazy with the kiddo
types… although dang, Lucky Charms sounds freakin’ good right now. I also
really like oatmeal – in the words of the stellar R&B group, 112 – Peaches
‘n’ Cream is my jam. In a close 2nd place: celery and apples with
peanut butter.
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| We also attended an ugly Christmas sweater party - I got first place. Sometimes you gotta bring the heat to the competition. #snowbump |
XOXO - Merry early Christmas!
