Bump Report - 13 Days till 40 Weeks

I have ceased counting in weeks, it makes more sense at this point to talk in days. And you will notice that I have shrunk considerably in these pictures. These are the bump pictures Brit and Em took about in the middle of the pregnancy.

For the most part, this week has been pretty uneventful. Chad and I have acquired the essentials we have been told we need, without going overboard due to space.

Today, though, is the first day in this pregnancy that I have felt mostly blechy. I have not thrown up, but all day I've wanted to. So, I'm sorry to the mothers who had this feeling the whole pregnancy!

We have been getting tune ups on our car and praying that it will hold on for quite a while longer. Don't give out on us yet!!

We also had a very unpleasant surprise Friday morning. Snow. On the ground. Blowing in the air. Not nice.

So, Monday is the next appointment. Saturday, the 7th, my midwife goes on vacation. Tuesday, the 17th, she arrives back in town. Ideally Squirt would come before the 7th or after the 17th, but God's got his timing in mind, not mine.

And that's that. If you would like to see more of the photos, here is their website.

BT

Radio Silence

Sorry for being a bit quite lately. Lots of wishing, hoping, trusting and contemplating going on over here.

Mothers always tell me that the last month of pregnancy is the worst because it feels like the baby is never going to come out. I can relate to that feeling, but I'm not quite despairing yet. I have 15 days until my due date, and I fully intend to then start my countdown on our mirror over to the end of 42 weeks. I don't have a problem with baby coming late, I would just prefer early, ya know. 

Also have been thinking about what this blog is becoming, something I never thought it would. Now, as I look family life in the face, I get the feeling you dear readers may be subjected to the whim of my mothering heart. Whether that be way too many photos of our little Squirt or stories about the mundane. 

So, take this as my warning!

BT

Quick Full-Term Note

So I'm officially full-term now. Baby could come anytime, and I can tell. I feel EVERY move Squirt makes and usually can see them too.

I believe Squirt has dropped, what do you think?

On my way to my first full-term appointment (and the hospital walk through appointment). Here's where the fun waiting game begins!!

(sorry about the lack of organization, posted from my phone. Eventually I'll clean it up on the computer)

BT

Bump Report - Week 36

Hello there again!
It's week 36 and....St. Patrick's Day and....my daddy's birthday!!

It was also my last day working. Being all that was in store for today, green was the color for the day.

People have asked me throughout the pregnancy what has been my craving and I've never had a good answer. But as I get closer to the end and I look back, it's there, staring me in the face. Sugary cereal, mostly having to do with chocolate cereal. Coco Krispies, Krave, Reese's Puffs, the list goes on. Can't seem to get enough of it.

I've also been asked about swollen hands and feet. My hands gained water weight at the beginning and I haven't been able to wear my ring since :( But my feet and ankles held off until about 2 weeks ago. And it's just getting worse. Today was 81 degrees outside; I looked down and found some very impressive cankles and gigantic feet. It's good that these last few days (and for a few more days) it's been (will be) warm enough for non-socked feet.

Lastly, I have a friend who's due date was 10 days before mine (April 3rd); I just got a call that she had her little boy last night. Put's life into perspective. Baby please just wait until after next weekend, my last weekend away with your daddy before we will spend our time loving on you.

BT

Bump Report - Week 35

We are coming to the end...here's to hoping Baby Troyer will be here within these next 5 weeks! (I'm well aware that many if not most first time mothers deliver late, and if I'm anything like my mother I'll deliver at the last possible moment - 2 weeks late. But I can always hope)

I'm past the point of counting weeks...days, that's what I count now.

Not much new that I have to tell you though. Sleeping is hard. Sitting is hard. Standing is hard. Belly gets in the way. Heartburn happens. Getting up is hard. Feet are swelling. Clothing doesn't fit. (Don't get too depressed, keep reading)

On the bright side!!! Baby movements are wonderful! People are starting to think I'm dropping (which could be true, I'm still waiting for the lung relief)! I do only have 3 to 7 weeks! I get to update my wardrobe when this is done (time for an adult's wardrobe)! Because of the belly and all, no one is noticing that I have about 4 outfits I like! Good hair days! Spending time with my mommy! Talking all about future baby to Husband until he starts ignoring me! Oh, and waking up with a crib in our room (albeit filled up with shower gifts)!!

Squirt is about 5 1/2 pounds now! (at least that's what they say. I was born at 42 weeks and was only about 6 1/2 pounds.)

That's where we sit now. The end is in sight (just trying not to get too attached to the idea of an early delivery)

BT

Be Back Later

Shower #2 is this afternoon. I'll be back later with a recap...and maybe a Bump Report for week 35 too!

Stay Tuned

BT

It's a Tea Day

Tuesday, March 6

After the head-spinning day I had yesterday, this morning was a "take-it-easy" morning. I started off with blackberry vanilla tea and toast with strawberry jam. (The tea was decaf.)

I sat at the table and looked at the remnant of showing Husband the goods from shower #1 that were still on the floor from the night before.

(Believe it or not, they are organized right now, the bags and tissue paper just decided to encompass all of my nice neat piles.)

I decided the best use of my time today was to recover and write thank you notes. So I turned on my Regina Spektor Pandora station and went to work. 

The rest of the morning and afternoon my main activities were reading to Squirt the books that we were given for Baby's library and writing the thank you notes to those wonderful ladies. I'm pleased to say that the thank you notes have been completed (as has the reading of the books) and by the evening I was able to spend it relaxing with my husband :)

BT

Dr. Appointment and Baby Shower #1

Monday, March 5

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I had my 34 week Dr. Appointment with Bonnie. Left home at 7:10 to pick up a dear friend to come for a coffee date afterward and headed to the appointment. Pretty normal appointment. I'm measuring 34 cm which she says at this point I should be measuring what my weekage is.

My next appointment in two weeks then I start going every week.

Sad news that for y'all (well sad for me, but I've known and haven't spoken of it on here I don't think). My due date is April 13. My midwife, Bonnie is leaving for vacation on April 6. If I remember correctly she is gone for two weeks, which means if baby comes at or within a couple days of 40 weeks, Bonnie won't be there deliver Squirt. The way the office is run at that point (and for the appointments I'd have while she is gone) I will be seeing one of the other Dr. in the office and they would deliver Squirt if need be.

So I'm sad that there is a chance that I won't have Bonnie during delivery, but I am confident in the other Drs. in the office. They have all come highly recommended by everyone who recommended me to the office.

I'm secretly (or not so secretly) holding out hope that I'll be one of the few first-time mothers to deliver right at 38 weeks instead of most who go longer than 40.

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After the appointment Sydney, a high school friend of mine, headed to a coffee shop. She is home on spring break and I'm so glad we had the opportunity to talk. I must admit I struggle to not be a little jealous (or a lot jealous) of the overseas opportunities she's taking and the community she's found with her local Campus Crusade, but in the midst of that tinge of jealousy I thank God that He's blessed her in such ways!

A little Walmart shopping and we were on the way home.

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At 1:45 I sat down to eat lunch before tackling a whole bunch of cleaning that this past weekend kept me from doing in the kitchen (I'm choosing not to do a post on the power outage, but we were without power from 3:37 AM Saturday morning to 4:30ish PM Saturday afternoon and without water until 8 something PM Saturday night).

My mom dropped off her half of the ingredients for Taco Pie that we were sharing with my parents for supper. And I spent the afternoon cleaning and making the Taco Pie.

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At 6:10 my mom and I headed out to the camp where we used to live. My lovely friend Cherry was putting on a shower for Baby Troyer with the camp ladies that I grew up around.

It was a fun and beautifully set up shower (I never expected it would be anything less) and the ladies out at camp reminded me once again how deeply I have been blessed with Godly women.

The room where we had it wasn't ideal for picture taking, and my mom wasn't quite sure how to use my camera, so not many of the pictures turned out, but it was a night that will be long remembered.

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Depending on how well you know this pregnant version of Bridgette, you may know just how much more activity that is for me in one day than normal. To say I was tired by the end of the night would be a severe understatement. But it was worth it!

Thank you Lord for a wonderful (and busy) day!

Stars and Kicks

There Will Be Days Like This

I'm finding as this pregnancy comes closer and closer to a close (42 days to 40 weeks!!) I'm struggling to keep energy up. I can do nothing all day and still have no energy at the end of the day. Some days I'm able to trick my mind into thinking that the decaf coffee I'm drinking will give the caffeine punch I'm looking at. Yesterday was not one of those days.

Chad and I have been doing some preparing of the house and especially the bedroom for the two baby showers coming up this next week. So, here is where the dresser is going to be put.

And here is where the crib will go (with some minor furniture shifting if need be). And really that's about all we have room for right now. I have a rocker/play/sleeper on my registry too, that can double as a bassinet for the first couple months. It's foldable and storable, so it'll fit in the house. We are excitedly waiting to see where God is going to take us and what opportunities He is going to give us as we enter into this next phase. (hard to believe it's already time for the next phase...but here we are)

BT

Bump Report - Week 34

I didn't think I would get around to Bump Report this week, but I did end up taking pictures yesterday (while I was fighting sleep). I love being pregnant, and it's gone so fast, BUT it is still pregnancy. I avoided the sickness, but that's not to say that I don't have other pregnancy affects.

I'm finding as this pregnancy comes closer and closer to a close (42 days to 40 weeks!!) I'm struggling to keep energy up. I can do nothing all day and still have no energy at the end of the day.

We then add to that the different feelings and pains that come with being this late in the pregnancy. My feet and ankles are starting to feel the pregnancy finally. 

 Some mornings I will say that I've been beat up from the inside out. My hips seem to be the main attraction for kicking and punching. My legs are also telling me that I weigh more than they want me to.

It's hard to believe that my belly could get any bigger...but it will :)

Oh and I'm pretty positive that what I have been feeling are braxton hicks contractions. Yippee for my body practicing...I feel like cheering on my muscles to get strong and be able to push this child out in record time!!!

BT