Constipation Remedies 101

Here's everything you need to know about solving the horrible bout of your child's constipation:

1.  Wake up every hour on the hour during the night and walk with your child (can you say sleep deprivation).

2.  Try to figure out if your child is hungry or just in pain.  (note: you can usually tell the difference between the two cries, but not this time...totally throwing off your mama instincts and confidence)

3.  Pray for your child.  

4. Walk and bounce and shush and sing for hours today.

5. Change your child's diaper many times hoping that a clean diaper will spur on the feeling of needing to pee or poop (because every. other. time. you change your child's diaper it spurs on the feeling of needing to pee or poop!!).

6.  Walk to your office and back (1.5 miles total) hoping that the cinched action of the wrap will help squeeze it out (you are definitely getting your exercise today).

7.  Strip yourself and your child naked and take a shower hoping that the warm water and nakedness will help move it out.

8.  Let your child sleep on his stomach for his nap, hoping that the pressure on his stomach will help it move on the way out (and then check on him every minute to make sure he hasn't fallen victim to SIDS {Gosh there are so many things to worry and fret about when you are a mom}).

9.  Listen to your child scream a TOTALLY different scream then you've ever heard. 

10.  Cry with your child.  It might help. 

11. Call a friend and talk to them about their child's experience with constipation.  Let their words comfort you and listen when they tell you they are praying for you and your child.

12.  Change your child's diaper one more time and hold up his legs a little higher than normal.  Watch as a sight normally unseen (and should probably remain unseen) unfolds before your eyes.  More poop than you can ever imagine will come running out of your sweet child's behind.

You will laugh.  You will cry.  You will shout for joy.  Must most importantly...

You will cheer on your son as he does an amazing job and relieving himself all over your shirt. 

I love my son!

Pregnancy Survey - 37 weeks

How far along are you? 37 weeks...only 19 days till my due date (will I make it that long?)

How big is Baby? about 6 2/3 pounds and about 18-19 inches long.

Weight Gain? all for the baby!!

Gender? Still a Boy (having weird dreams of delivering a girl though)

Maternity Clothes? Skirts, dresses and leggings are still a God-send!

Stretch Marks? 3 new stretch marks showed up over night this past weekend!  That's ok, though...I'll consider them victory marks. :)

Sleep? Pretty choppy...not gonna lie.  I'll sleep about 2 hours max before waking up and having to turn over or go to the bathroom. 

Symptoms? Restlessness - nesting, but not a lot of energy.  Having the desire to have a clean house but really just wanting to lie down and do nothing.  Anxious for Sweet Pea's arrival.  Still pretty uncomfortable.  Still very forgetful. 

Movement? I'm lucky to have quite the mover on me! All. The. Time!  He likes to stretch which is getting uncomfortable for mommy.

Food Cravings? peanut butter and jelly still is the best thing on earth!  Also, El Tapatio is making a fortune off of me! :)

Labor Signs? I've been having more frequent Braxton-Hicks contractions.  It seems every time I stand up I feel one.  I keep hoping that today will be the day!

Belly Button in or out? 100% innie! It hasn't changed even a little bit.

What I miss? Being able to sleep on my stomach. Not going to the bathroom every half hour. Being able to see my toes.  Exercising like I want to, not having to modify everything.

What I am looking forward to? maternity leave where it's just me and baby and daddy and not a thing to do except just be! Learning how I cope with labor.

Best moment of the week? My family went on a mini vacation to Astoria and I climbed all the way to the top of the Astoria Column.  I didn't think I would be able to do it, but I did!  YAY!  It was well worth the 164 spiral stairs (up and down!!)

the exercise dilemma :)

I've been having a hard time at the gym on Mondays and Wednesdays.  Those are the days that I normally go to my yoga-lates class and try as hard as possible to be gracefully bendy in all the ways that my pregnant belly refuses to do.  It's gotten harder and harder, but I've struggled through it and really, it seems that I've been doing okay and I feel the benefit from it.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays I attend swim aerobic classes and truly enjoy those classes.  During the class, I feel light and free.  After class, my body has a different, very pressure free feel to it.  I do believe I'm going to keep attending those classes until I deliver.  But that always brings in the burning question: What if my water breaks while I'm in the pool?  Will I know it?

Now that I'm in my 9th month of pregnancy, I'm having thoughts that maybe I shouldn't be doing things that could pull muscles (especially in my abs....can you imagine trying to push a baby out with pulled muscles in your abs!?!?!)  I'm thinking about cutting yoga-lates out of my routine because I just don't want to run the risk.  And, now that the weather is getting nicer (ish) and it's staying lighter, longer, I think it will be a good thing to go on walks (at lease 30 minutes long).  I'm also thinking that I should bring my exercise ball home from the office and use that as much as possible during the evening when I'm watching TV and trying to relax.  Leaning on that will help promote Sweet Pea's head to be in the correct position.

All of these things have been on my mind as my body prepares for the most strenuous task it's ever conquered...and it WILL be conquered! :)  I've been focusing on keeping positive about the end task and reminding myself that God made me to do this.  But above that, I've been reminding myself that I can do so many things to help the process along and strengthen myself for this task.  I need to keep focused on that fact and remind myself daily that the harder I work now, the easier (hopefully) it will be when the day comes that I will finally get to hold my son.

--What kinds of things did you do during pregnancy to help your body prepare for labor?

poundage

*IT* happened!  I went in for my monthly doctor visit today and I knew it was going to happen, but I still am a little kljaser;aiweur[o  about it.  That's right there aren't words for it just yet.

I did my blood pressure/weigh in with the nurse (super sweet Christian lady).  I saw the scale and FREAKED!!!!!!!!!!  Are you effing kidding me?!??  That's what I weigh?  Are you sure you're doing this thing right?  ACK!!!!!

I jumped 9 pounds this month.  I really wasn't trying hard NOT to add the pounds, but I thought I was being good and making good choices.  Alright so I slacked on the exercise...who doesn't?  So I had Taco Bell that one night...who wouldn't?  So I bought a small thing of Ben & Jerry's....DUH!  I only had one very small piece of cake at Alice's birthday party....just one...I swear!

I really, really wanted to only gain 4-5 pounds this month.  I should have known though, with my genes (haha, I almost put jeans), I would pack on the pounds in double.  There's always next month to work harder at it.  The sad part is, you can't lose weight when pregnant and you can't go back and correct it.  Once the pounds are on, they're on and there's no turning back.  I have to gain another 4-5 pounds this month.  All for the baby (ooo!  he just kicked me! :)

I've put on 17 pounds since becoming pregnant and I told myself I was really going to stick to the 30-35 that the doctor recommends.  YIKES!!  I gotta start really focusing.  It'll be easier when this DARN rainy season is over.  I love walking outside, but can't do it right now.  It'll also be easier when the musical that I'm directing is over.  I won't be so exhausted and will actually make it to the gym 3-4 times a week instead of 1 time a week.  OUCH!!

I know it's not all about the weight you gain.  I know it's healthy for the baby for me to gain weight.  I'm not trying to complain and PLEASE notice that not one single time did I say I was fat or ugly or not cute.  I don't think any of those things (BIG grown-up step for me).  I am proud of the baby bump I have.  I'm doing everything I can to keep this baby happy and healthy inside of me (dude...there's a LIVING being inside of me...still gives me the biggest smile ever!)  This little baby is going be the most amazing boy ever!  I want to be as healthy as possible to have the energy to play and run and laugh and dance.  That means focusing on the poundage :)

I'm going to be an energetic, fun, HOT momma!!!!