Pregnancy update!

It's been a long time since I've done a pregnancy update! Now is a pretty good time, especially because I figure I'm into the 3rd trimester, can I get a woot woot?!?!

[I'm 27 weeks and 3 days. Some places consider 28 weeks 3rd trimester, others 27. my Nutrition in the Lifecycle says it's 27, plus she's due in less than 3 months PLUS it's sooner so I'm sticking with that]

This is at 27 weeks

Every day when I wake up I feel like she has grown SOOO much! I feel like my belly doubles overnight!

Sometimes I think it's super cute and other times I just feel like a beached whale. You win some and you lose some right?

I'm realizing that in these bump pictures I'm always only half smiling. I promise I have a real smile. The problem is Clint takes them on my phone and I can never tell when he's taking one. Glad we cleared that up.

So, symptoms. The fun part.

Lots of aversions still. Smells are powerful. Still nauseous (especially if I have to stand more than a few minutes), but hardly throw up now though. Party time!

I never knew heartburn could be so painful. I would completely stop eating if it would help, but alas, it does not. When it's been too long since I've eaten I get it then too. I have really bad reflux with it as well. My poor esophogus. I also get it just from drinking. I have to sleep propped up to keep the acids down which is uncomfortable but it makes it so I can at least sleep! [That and half a bottle of tums.] It stinks but I'd still take it over throwing up.

My back pain and sciatica have actually been better the last few days! I've been trying to pack really light for school and sleeping on my back has helped too. It's still pretty painful but I'll take any improvement I can get. I also just ordered one of those Boppy belly support bands that will come in especially handy on my long days at school when I have to do a LOT of walking. Have any of you used one of those? Did they work for you?

The fatigue is insane! Most people tell me they're jealous when I tell them I went to bed last night at 8:00, but it's not like I'm doing it for fun. I wouldn't choose to waste 10 hours a day sleeping if I didn't have to, ha! Working and going to school alone don't give me much extra time (as in they DON'T give me any). If I get less than 9 hours of sleep a night, my productivity goes WAY down...like zonked out in class at 10am down. Sometimes sleep is the best use of time. And it's not just a sleepy tired, it's an achy tired. More like the kind you get with the flu or when you're sick. It's not that bad. Again, way better than throwing up 10 times a day.

LOTS of leg cramps! They make me go from dead asleep to screaming in .0057 seconds! Again, inconvenient and super painful for a few minutes, but not that big of a deal.

I've had some of the weird symptoms too. Itchy skin, nosebleeds, dizziness, hot flashes, nightmares.

I'm still having a really hard time balancing everything on my plate. I feel like I've talked about it enough though so I'll leave it there.

We've had some frustrating problems lately with my doctors office and the insurance, but it's getting resolved (hopefully) soon.

There's some more, but that's enough. Basically I'm just crossing my fingers the intense vomiting doesn't come back. I seriously thought I was going to die a slow painful death...and I was 100% convinced she would be our only baby. I even cried like a baby when I told Clint I was positive I couldn't handle another pregnancy. Isn't it cool how making it through the more difficult times gives us perspective? I can already see how worth it it is.

Now onto the fun part! The good parts of da bebe.

I love when strangers point out that I'm pregnant and ask questions. I've had a few bad experiences, but for the most part people are SO nice about it. I love to hear people say how great being a parent is. I am SO excited.

We registered the other day and it was SO fun. I can't wait for baby baths and baby dressing and baby food and baby blankets and everything baby!

People have shown us so much love and support! I've had a few especially kind friends bring us dinner. I cannot tell you how much we appreciate that! I've had friends send me texts or calls just to check up on me. It's so nice to feel loved while you're going through a difficult time. I know Heavenly Father has helped so much too. There's no way I would be holding up so well if it weren't for some divine intervention! :)

Ainsley moves like a crazy person right now. Fun fact: pretty much the exact same time I lay down to go to sleep is when she decides it'd be a good time to practice her aerobics routine. From what I can tell, she's really good. Her movements are stronger now and really obvious to the outside. Yesterday I was studying and had my laptop resting against my belly and she totally kicked it off! We're able to guess what body parts are too, which is fun. When she pushes out if it's thin we guess an arm or leg and if it's bigger it usually feels more like her bum or head. I hope she doesn't mind, but I love poking her and playing games with her. I talk to her a lot. She probably thinks her mom is crazy. 

I already love her so much, it's insane. I didn't know it would be like this, but I'm so grateful it is. Can't wait to hold my baby girl.