Getting closer and closer!

This past week in my pregnancy has brought much discomfort and subsequent grumpy scrooginess to my normally happy countenance. I am uncomfortable. I can't reach my own feet, my face is starting to look unfamiliar to me (puffiness, ick), crazy dark circles under my eyes,  sleep deprivation, AND among other discomforts, to top it all off, I have the worst cold EVER!! 

However, my biggest complaint right now is :NO PANTS WILL STAY UP AROUND THIS BASKETBALL OF A BELLY. I swear, I feel like that's where two-thirds of my discomfort and grumpiness is coming from... from being ANGRY with my PANTS. I've gotten to this point where they won't stay up, so I am constantly pulling on them, and my underwear are being pushed down with every step I take, so I'm pulling on those too, and suddenly I'm in a blind rage and I feel like punching a wall. Seriously. I still try to dress fashionably, but because of my pant problem, am finding it truly difficult to maintain this goal of mine!!

This is a downside of being pregnant in the Winter: PANTS.  (Although I have been loving the winter weather, I"m ALWAYS so hot, so it's nice to go outside and just sit in the cool air every now and then!)  Now, every morning when I open my pants drawer, I feel 'the scowl' creep back on my face. And it doesn't leave again until I can ditch them that night. This even goes for pajama pants (with ties!)... and "mid belly" pants... and "under belly" pants... and "full belly coverage" pants... I'm convinced that there are NO pants made in the universe that will cooperate with this insane belly of mine.

To recap for those who may have dozed off during this rant: I.HATE. PANTS.

Anyway, to get off my "woe is me" tirade,  there have been many wonderful, positive aspects of being this BIG. I love feeling my baby girl move inside of me. There is no feeling in the world that can compare. I love getting home from work, plopping on the couch, pulling up my shirt, and watching the show! She moves so much and i'm starting to recognize body parts, like her little bum, her back, her shoulder, even elbows. It's just so precious, and makes me all the more anxious to meet the little miracle. I also love how close my husband and I grow with each week of pregnancy. We are both just so excited to start this journey together of parenthood, and I have no doubt how wonderful he will be with baby Claire. He loves talking to her and he even claims he can hear her heartbeat through my belly! So cute :) 

Well, here's a lovely view of my BIG belly.... just lovely :)

 34 W.

Knock on Wood!

I am now in my third trimester, THANK GOODNESS! I can't believe I've finally made it this far.... when I first found out I was pregnant, and just in the first 4-5 weeks of pregnancy, the third trimester seemed light years away! But here I am, and I feel just about ready to pop! It's so surreal to me still, to see such a huge mound growing on me! I've gained about 20 lbs this far into the pregnancy, and yet it feels like 50. My back aches pretty bad, as well as my joints, and the worst part is that the baby's favorite position just so happens to be resting on my sciatic nerve... ahhhh the anguish!! 

However, besides the few aches and pains and the discomfort of the extra weight.... I feel so very fortunate that I haven't had some of the more common side effects that a lot of pregnant women experience this far into pregnancy. I don't get very swollen, if I do, it's in my fingers and very slight. I also can sleep pretty great WITHOUT a pregnancy pillow! All the pillows around me make me feel so claustrophobic and it makes trying to sleep more uncomfortable. I fall asleep pretty hard, especially with Ryan reading to me every night :). I haven't had any problems with constipation, OR hemorrhoids.... I don't know how I would manage dealing with those.... and I still only have to get up once at night to go to the bathroom!! I really feel that God has blessed me during this pregnancy... I think he knows how big of a wuss I am, so he's taking it easy on me :) so, keep wishing me luck and KNOCK ON WOOD that these symptoms don't arise hahah!

As for what's new for me, I am still working like a crazy woman, some days I work close to 12-13 hours a day, without a nap, and I feel completely exhausted all the time. I've been trying to stay decently active and I was doing a pretty good job of it when Ryan was staying late each night after work to coach football. I was able to get a 3-4 days a week of walking on the treadmill, but since Basketball has started I have him home more often and I would rather spend the time with him, instead of on the treadmill :) As I get closer to the end, I have been taking full fledged advantage of  any and all time I get alone with him. I'm so scared that things will be so different between us once the baby is born. I know our relationship will be only stronger and more solid once we have the baby, but I know that as of right now I need to really appreciate what we have for the time being (despite my extreme impatience and wanting the baby RIGHT NOW!!)

I've almost got the nursery all done, I am just missing my baby dresser, and a few finishing touches. I can't wait to get it all done so I can post it and show it to everyone! I love decorating and hope it turns out pretty cute. I've also been feeling the urge to cook and bake.... I've never had so much fun in the kitchen before!! I've baked a couple different types of rolls, tons of cookies, and candies.... It's not good for my bulging figure.... but I just can't help myself! I just love baking!! I don't eat too much of what I bake, so Ryan has been accusing me of baking yummy things to fatten him up, so I feel better about myself!! haha, he may have a good point ;). Anyway, I don't have many pics to post, except my 28 weeks picture and my 30 weeks picture:

 28 Weeks Pregnant

30 Weeks Pregnant

Baby Girl!!!!!!

I thought I'd be a better this time around.... but apparently not! But for my mental sake, and my racing mind... I figured, time for an update! We have had 2 ultrasounds and both have confirmed a baby girl. At first we had mixed feelings on this: so excited for baby time, but also so nervous to have a girl. Girls scare me to be honest. DRAMA, HORMONES, MOOD SWINGS... can I say OMG?! haha, don't know how to handle another one of me :) I don't know if my husband does either. But as we approach week 27, and feel her move so much and respond to some of the things we do to promote movement, we get so excited. Especially with all the fun girly things i get to dress her up in, and decorate the nursery with, I am THRILLED and so is Ryan.... We feel like she can't come soon enough, we can hardly wait. The baby AND I have both grown so much in the last 4 weeks.... the weight is starting to really have an affect on me. I am achy and cranky by the time i get off work, and I feel so sore all the time! My neck, back, legs, butt.... etc. Thankfully Ryan doesn't complain too much when asked to rub out the kinks! He's been so wonderful. Love that boy :) I wanted to post a few of the ideas I have for the baby's room. Most of these items have been bought, i just want to complete decorating before i post pictures of the actual nursery... so here we go. Enjoy!

The Crib: (thanks to our amazing in-laws, they picked out THE most beautiful crib I've ever seen)

 

Chinese Lanterns! Except mine are in white, green and pink (with white blossoms!) So cute!

 

Wall mural Ryan and I put above the crib, I LOVE this, I'm totally going through a "bird" phase, so this goes perfectly in the baby's room!

The bedding, It's even cuter in real life, it's got cute little patterned birdies, and brown and green accents. I got an amazing deal on this bedding, so I am so excited!!

I will post more this week!! I have more pics and more to vent :)

Being pregnant, why can't it be more fun?!

I haven't kept a journal, diary, or blogged AT ALL about my pregnancy, which is really disappointing, because this is my 1st BABY!! I'm soooo excited to be a mother, very anxious, and very scared... My mind is constantly going! It's been such a roller coaster ride thus far, and I think I would be severely regretful if I didn't start documenting some of the symptoms, and most importantly, feelings of what I have been experiencing due to this pregnancy :)

    Finding out: I found out that I was pregnant on June 23, 2010. Only to discover that I was about 5-6 weeks pregnant. I was actually quite shocked when I found out. Ryan and I hadn't exactly been TRYING per se, but we weren't preventing either. We both knew that we were ready to have a baby, but we wanted to put it in God's hands and let him figure out the timing for us. We thought that it would take quite a while to conceive, however, because I was suffering chronic and brutal pelvic pains and after getting it checked out by an ultra sound tech, she said one of my ovaries was not producing and it may be difficult for me to get pregnant! Well... lo and behold, apparently just a week or so after, I was pregnant and didn't even realize it! My mom had to be the one to tell me that I could possibly be pregnant after I was complaining non-stop to her one weekend that I was about 2 weeks late on my period and was sooo bloated and tired! Who wouldn't have thought those were pms symptoms?! I'm really not stupid, I promise!! I ended up taking about 4 different pregnancy tests, just to make sure.  I bawled each and every time I saw the two bars or the actual "pregnant" on the tests! Ryan would never admit it, but I know he had little tears in his eyes :) So cute!
   First Trimester: OHHH My gosh! The first trimester was SO hard for me! I was hardly able to move, with out puking! I laid on my couch or in bed almost the WHOLE summer, just feeling miserable. I had the worst, not morning sickness, but all day sickness. I seriously thought that some days I wouldn't be able to get through it. I just wanted to give up... I was getting bloated, retaining water, shoving food down my throat just to stay healthy every 2 hours, constantly trying to drink water, taking prenatals that made me gag and throw up, AND still try to stay decent looking and keep up on my personal hygiene so my husband didn't go running for the hills haha! Not that he would, he's seriously amazing. I really believe that the only way I got through the first trimester without truly being traumatized forever by pregnancy, is my husband. He was taking care of me 24/7. He would hold my hair back for me while I was worshiping the toilet for hours on end, he cooked for me, cleaned for me (what husband will do the dishes, wipe the counters down, AND vacuum?), and still managed to tell me how beautiful I was! I am such a lucky girl. I thank God for him EVERY day. I also thank God that I was able to get through the first trimester :)
   Second Trimester:  I am now well into the 2nd trimester, and still feeling a little icky, run down, and nauseous, BUT it is all so much easier to endure now that I've been able to feel my little baby kick. It is the most amazing feeling in the world. I really can't describe the way it feels. My best description is like a little fish in my tummy doing flips and somersaults! Each day I feel the baby, I feel an overwhelming excitement and the full gravity of this miracle inside me. I can't get over that Ryan and I actually made this baby together. I'm starting to love being pregnant, despite the sickness, fatigue, lack of sleep, and nausea. I love seeing my belly grow, and having my husband rub it every time he is with me. Our bond has grown to a much deeper level, and we are so much more in love than i ever thought it possible.
    I am back at work full-time now, and am working evenings as well at all the high school athletic events, and it has been pretty tough on me, but it is nice to get up for the day and actually get ready, and feel a sense of accomplishment! Over the summer I started to feel a little depressed, and working has helped take my mind off the hardships of pregnancy, so I have actually really enjoyed being back at work.
   We still haven't learned the sex of the baby, but find out tomorrow afternoon!!! I really think it's going to be a girl, but we will know for sure tomorrow I guess!!! Below is a pic of me at 18 weeks pregnant, I'm actually 19 weeks right now, and can't believe I am half way through the pregnancy! Let's pray that it goes by faster than everyone tells me it will!!!

A little bit of a change......

I deleted my previous blog for a plethora of reasons.... #1 being, it was titled "The Frosts" with the address of ryanandamanda.blogspot.com... it didn't really make sense to keep it because, well, Ryan never blogged on it, and I never posted anything because it was slightly overwhelming to post about OUR lives, and what WE were doing, and what WE did together..... #2 for me, it just makes more sense to have a blog just for myself, where I can type away, vent and document things about me, and how I feel and felt and reacted to certain, specific things in my life. #3 I felt a lot of pressure to post things that made my life look extraordinary and exciting, which to be honest, I really don't lead an exciting life! Extraordinary?? Yes, maybe to me, but not so much to others. We are very simple, quiet and settled, and I just stopped blogging because I felt I had to be impressive!! Among other reasons which I will keep to myself, I have decided to start my very own blog, where I can be myself, and use this as an outlet, perhaps journal even! So call me selfish or self-centered, but I am excited to start blogging again and hopefully I will be dedicated enough to keep up on it!