31 Weeks

Only 9 more left! And I'm over the moon to meet our little girl and am really really missing my pre-pregnancy belly (mostly because I used to be able to tie my shoes and shave my legs). Made a quick trip down to so-cal to visit hubby, take maternity pictures and get some sun last weekend. He surprised me with a card (he knows how much I love them, but rarely get them...I suppose it makes me appreciate them that much more) and an adorable onsie for baby girl :).  My 31 week picture was taken on a set of eco-conscious steps next to my husband's cafe. I tried to get just the words "Making a better world for you and me", but I was too lazy to use photo shop (pregnancy is starting to get really exhausting).

How far along? 31 weeks!

How is she growing: About the size of 5 large oranges...or 3lbs of my husband's favorite blend of philz coffee :).

Weight gain so far: After my 30 week scare, I've avoided scales entirely. However, I imagine I'm somewhere between last week's "I've really eaten a balanced diet" 25 lbs to this week's "I really can't stay away from the ice cream in the freezer" 30 lbs.

Stretch marks? None so far, but she sure is trying hard to give me a few.

Belly button in or out: Ack! Almost an outie!

Wardrobe situation: I've now gotten to the place where I am only willing to wear clothing items that I don't have to iron, which brings my maternity wardrobe down to only two pants and a skirt. I think by Thursday I may have to force myself to pull out the ironing board.

Sleep: Last night I slept almost 8 hours (not straight of course)--only 4 bathroom breaks! I've become quite skilled at sleep walking my way into and out of the bathroom, so much that I'm able to snuggle back into my bed to pick up where my dream left off. Though the labor nightmares have really taken a turn for the worst.

Best moment this week: Seeing joon and taking maternity pictures on the Pier in Santa Monica with my favorite photographer, Ayumi! Oh, and eating spring rolls with jasmine lime iced tea and chicken salad in bánh tiêu (sweet sesame pocket bread) from EB...mmmm.

Movement: I honestly don't think she slept all day...she's been kicking, punching, stretching non-stop since 7am. She's getting so big now that there's not much to cushion her blows and sometimes they really hurt. But I love you, my little ninja.

Food cravings/aversions: Egg salad sandwiches...I know, kind of stinky and gross, but they sound so good! And any fruit I can get my hands on. This week, it was mangoes and kiwis...thank you farmer's market.

What I miss: Really missing having my husband around, especially at this point in the pregnancy. Although at times it feels pretty empowering to do it all on my own, it would be nice to have my baby there to indulge me in my cravings for pound cake, tie my shoes in the morning, and look me in the eye and say "baby, everyday that you get bigger and bigger I love you even more."

Mood: Happy, but a total emotional basket-case.  The other night I cried for about an hour out of no where. I realize now that next time that happens, I should not face-time my husband.

What I'm looking forward to: My baby shower and getting ready for our little girl to come into the world in just a few short weeks!

29 & 30 Weeks

Forgive me. The past two weeks I've been living in a cubicle, hunched over my computer ferociously typing a 65 page grant while consuming large amounts of joe joe's cookies and dried mango slices. I found that baby girl has picked up on this poor habit quickly and if I am overdue for one of these indulgences she lets me know...either with a strong punch to the kidney or a kick to my left lung. Though I've tried to be good about integrating a large helping of Greek yogurt and granola, often with a banana or apple on the side, her stubborn personality shines through and her kicking storm does not quiet until she gets her fair share of a joe-joe. I can see the terrible twos almost too vividly...darling joon, we really are in for it. Hope you're ready.

How far along? 30 weeks!

How is she growing: rapidly...

Weight gain so far: At my 30 week doctor's appointment last Friday, I stepped nonchalantly onto the scale only to be shocked by the increasing numbers ticking in front of me...4...5....6....7...12 lbs! How did I gain 12 lbs in two weeks?! My calm was suddenly transformed into hysteria with thoughts of a world record sized baby exiting a pathway I feared would never be the same again. As the perplexed MA wrote down the new numbers to alert my physician of this rapid weight gain, I felt heaviness on my body and looking down I found the true culprit...a 10 lb computer bag hanging silently from my left shoulder. 

Stretch marks? I thought I found one on my right side yesterday, but turns out it was the stretched scar of an incident involving my older sister and a fork...I believe the incident took place directly following the realization that she was no longer an only child.

Belly button in or out: Flat and very odd looking.

Wardrobe situation: 100% maternity (in public that is)...as you can see above, the only non maternity wear are my sweet new sunglasses and my new baby g from my baby c.

Sleep: Not great this past week, partly because of grant writing until the wee small hours of the morning. Leg cramps are still unwelcomingly present along with frequent trips to the bathroom. And as if that wasn't the worst of it, I've suddenly become Manny Pacquiao (or his opponent more likely), waking up with 2 to 3 nosebleeds a night! I do hope these go away soon..

Best moment this week: Besides getting new sunglasses?? ...maybe realizing, truly, that I am going to be a mother.

Movement: Lots of jabs, kicks, punches, squirms. I started noticing hiccups and stretches last week, seems like she is really getting cramped in there.

Food cravings/aversions: Still pound cake, but today I really really wanted a large bowl of cocoa krispies...so I went to the store. And bought grape-nuts.

What I miss: My darling joon and tying my shoes in less than 10 minutes.

Mood: Happy and very anxious to meet our baby girl. Ahhh...I can't believe joon and I are going to be parents!

What I'm looking forward to: The baby shower :), seeing joon on Thursday, and finishing this grant!

28 Weeks

And gravity is starting to get the best of me. I'm surprised I haven't plopped over, belly first, in the middle of the grocery store check out line. It sure is easy to gain weight pregnant, so I've been trying to stay active. Joon took this picture while out on a walk the day he left. I am smiling in the photo, but I was pretty upset about him leaving. I also need to admit that, seriously, the hoodie does not fit anymore.

How far along? 28 weeks!

How is she growing: She feels like a 10 lb bag of potatoes, but think she's more like an x-large chipotle burrito. okay, maybe two x-large chipotle burritos.

Weight gain so far: hmm, between the freshly baked biscuits and the midday cookie breaks, I've hit almost 22 lbs! Oh little girl, why oh why don't you like broccoli?!

Stretch marks? So far so good...the real test will be over the coming weeks.

Belly button in or out: Flat. Totally flat.

Wardrobe situation: So first it was my jeans that were becoming inappropriate and I fixed that problem by finally hemming my maternity pants. Now, as is clearly illustrated in above picture, my tops and sweatshirts are creeping up my belly and exposing what my 9th grade Algebra teacher would consider "far too much skin for a girl my age." So, now I must give up my little tees and tanks that so cutely hugged my 5th - 7th month bump for the real deal maternity tops. Thank goodness fashion has finally caught up with the 21st century mom and I do not have to resort to my grandmother's maternity closet:

Sleep: Baby girl still keeps me up like crazy...almost as much as trips to the bathroom and leg cramps.

Best moment this week: Ooo...this one is tough since I have hardly seen the light of day with so much grant writing. I suppose getting our first baby gift in the mail from my cousin...it's really starting to feel like the birth of our daughter is right around the corner.

Movement: She is still moving around like crazy, but I can tell things are getting a little cramped in there.

Food cravings/aversions: Pound cake. pound cake. pound cake. And fresh strawberries.

What I miss: My husband! And my abs...long, long, gone. I do hope they decide to return someday.

Mood: Pretty happy most days...well, the days I have pound cake.

What I'm looking forward to: Finishing this grant, seeing Joon next week, and taking maternity pictures with my favorite photographer, Ayumi!

27 Weeks

And Joon was home for a whole week! It was so nice to finally see him and be in his arms again.  I wish I had a picture of his face when he walked off the plane and saw how much my belly had grown. Can't believe we'd been without each other for 5 weeks! He left just last night, so today has been a little tough. Seems the rainy weather matches my mood almost perfectly. Hopefully I'll be down to visit him in a couple of weeks (that is, if I can still fit behind the steering wheel). Here are some pictures from our time together and, of course, my 27 week shot :).

How far along? 27 weeks!

How is she growing: Size of an NFL Football! Go Titans!

Weight gain so far: Not sure I want to admit this, but almost 18 lbs! I think I gained 5 lbs in the last couple of weeks--thanks Joon for letting me eat all those grilled cheeses and sour patch watermelons!

Stretch marks? Nothing...yet. I really hope this belly butter keeps working as nicely as it has.

Belly button in or out: Almost out. I plan to tell my daughter that if she sees children in her future, she should resist the urge to rebelliously get her belly button pierced on her 18th birthday. Not only does it look a little funny, the stretching has made that area very sore. I really should have listened to my mother on this one. 

Wardrobe situation: Almost 100% maternity. I am still trying to squeeze into my old t-shirts, but I had to finally admit that they are no longer appropriate in public.

Sleep: Baby girl wakes up pretty frequently throughout the night. Leg cramps are still unbearable, but my obnoxiously large body pillow has been a huge help. Although, sleeping with Joon and my body pillow this past week makes it seem like there are more than two people in our bed. I'm sure that was not quite what he had in mind when he came home to visit his wife.

Best moment this week: Playing house with my husband :)

Movement: She is so active these days: kicking, punching, squirming, stretching! Tonight I rested a dinner plate on my stomach (it usually operates as a perfect table top) and she kicked it so hard my dinner nearly ended up on the floor. I can't believe how strong she is...sorry Joon, this one I think she gets from me :).

Food cravings/aversions: Nutella on whole wheat toast. I'm pretty sure I read in an academic medical journal that it's okay to eat as much Nutella as you want as long as it's on whole wheat toast.

What I miss: Still missing sushi, but with my 30th birthday celebration last week I was really missing a celebratory glass of wine. Actually, who am I kidding, I really could have gone for a whiskey on the rocks or a top shelf margarita.

Mood: Happy, sad, anxious, scared, excited--the hormones are not making this easy. Our doctor's appointment on Thursday went really well. Glucose test was normal (I no longer have to feel guilty about Nutella on whole wheat toast), her heart rate was strong and she's was measuring perfectly--maybe a little ahead :). I think she might be just as impatient to meet us as we are to meet her!

What I'm looking forward to: The next time baby girl kicks...which, I guarantee, will happen in the next few minutes. By far the best part of pregnancy. Can't wait to see Joon again...hopefully in a couple weeks.

26 Weeks

Spring is finally here! And I'm two days away from leaving my 20s behind and entering the grown-up world of the 30s...I do hear they are better than the 20s though, so I'm somewhat anxious to begin that chapter in my life. I am getting more and more excited about our daughter coming into the world, but feeling more and more unprepared at the same time. There is so much to think about in the last few months...to take or not to take a birthing class, writing a birth plan, planning for emergencies (I wound up in L & D last weekend...long story, but all ok), packing a hospital bag (I really just thought I'd show up with my toothbrush and some onsies, apparently there's a lot more involved), pre-registering at hospital, and the list goes on and on. So, in an effort to reduce the stress of "baby prep", I treated myself to a MUCH NEEDED pedicure (I shouldn't admit to this, but it's been over a month since I've even been able to touch my feet, let alone tend to them). 

How far along? 26 weeks!

How is she growing: I think she's still the size of a grilled pork banh mi, but with extra pork.

Weight gain so far: Close to 15. I find out the real number at next week's appt.

Stretch marks? None, thank you belly butter.

Belly button in or out: Still rather strange looking, but not quite either.

Wardrobe situation: So the punishment of no mint chocolate chip ice cream really worked! My pants finally made it to the tailor. No more rubber bands!

Sleep: Baby girl is waking up less during the night recently and is more active during the late afternoons. However, leg cramps and back aches have been a less pleasant replacement to her nightly nudges.

Best moment this week: Getting accepted to the UCLA Masters in Nursing program! I really hope they will allow me to defer, would hate to have to reapply. No way Daddy can be working 16 hour days and Mommy in class full time if we want baby girl to recognize us as parents. Plus, I'm not quite ready to write a "Good Dog, 'Lucas'" series. For those unfamiliar, "Good Dog, Carl" is a children's book series about a Rottweiler who gets left taking care of the baby while the mother goes out. The only line in the book something like "Look after the baby Carl, I'll be back shortly." The rest of the pages are filled with pictures of the dog and baby getting into mischief, followed by Carl cleaning the baby and the house up just in time for the mother's reappearance.

Movement: Still pretty erratic, I can't quite follow her cycle yet. Hopefully in the next few weeks. When I was in L & D last weekend, all the nurses kept talking about how active she was on the monitor. There were definitely a lot of nudges I could hear, but not feel, so she is still a little too small to feel everything.

Food cravings/aversions: Freeport bakery grandma cupcakes--so dangerous. I've been trying to resist the temptation, but once every couple of weeks, I cave. My aunt also sent me a recipe for strawberry jam and nutella crepes. Wow, I don't think I've ever tasted anything so wonderful since I've been pregnant. I am still dreaming about them a week later. Not many aversions, but my three week relationship with salad has ended. I really gave it a good run, but its time to move on...

What I miss: Sushi. And a deli sandwich.

Mood: Happy and anxious to see my husband tomorrow after almost 5 weeks! 

What I'm looking forward to: Spending a week with joon and enjoying a yummy birthday dinner of homemade Persian food and Freeport Bakery buttermilk/buttercream cake.

25 Weeks

...and two weeks shy of third trimester status :). Can't believe how quickly time has flown by. Seems only a few days ago when I walked into our bedroom at 4am with a positive pregnancy test (my impatience seems so obvious at times). "Is that really a plus sign?!" I asked my incredibly tired, weary-eyed husband. We stared at it for what seemed like hours, holding it at different angles under the light doubting what we were actually seeing. I can still remember how unbelievable it was to make it to our 12 week appointment and hear her heartbeat, now her kicks and squirms are constant reminders that she is growing and thriving everyday.

Lucas and I taking a walk by the capitol this morning. I never realized how beautiful the grounds are in March as the trees and flowers begin to bloom...it was almost like walking the yellow brick road.

How far along? 25 weeks!

How is she growing: Size of a grilled pork banh mi!

Weight gain so far: Between 12 and 13 lbs

Stretch marks? None so far. I've been better about applying the belly butter this past week. I do have to say though, my tummy skin changes colors all the time--especially around my belly button...one day it's red and blotchy, the next it looks almost purple...I think naked maternity pictures are out.

Belly button in or out: hmmm...it's slowing folding itself out as my belly expands, so everyday I see a little bit more of what the inside of my belly button really looks like. Besides being a bit creepy, I have a feeling someone squished my umbilical cord stub with a tight diaper when I was a newborn and created a rather asymmetrical, convoluted inside. I wonder who I should thank for this...

Wardrobe situation: I admit that in the picture my jeans look like the ones I've been trying to retain for the past 6 weeks, and it's true, I used the rubber-band trick today. If this says anything, I promptly changed into sweats the moment I got home. So, as I said last week...no mint chocolate chip ice cream for 2 days. This restriction will definitely find me at the tailors in no time.

Sleep: Baby girl still wakes up quite a bit throughout the night, but it's been a little more erratic this past week. Leg cramps have subsided somewhat, but with the exit of leg cramps have entered back and shoulder aches. Really miss Joon's mid-night massages.

Best moment this week: Winning a Dean's Award for my work in residency education and community engagement for the university :)! Although these ivory tower events have never really been my thing, it was nice to be recognized.

Movement: Baby girl is up most mornings when I am eating breakfast (Cherrios with blueberries and orange juice really get her squirming) and in the late afternoons to let me know she's getting hungry again. I've started to notice more kicks throughout the day when I'm moving around, so she must be getting stronger. Good to know she is practicing for soccer tryouts already.

Food cravings/aversions: Olallieberry scones with Devonshire cream--thank you Fox and Goose for indulging me this weekend :).

What I miss: BBQ tuna and Bob's roll from Mikuni (MJ, can we please go the moment I exit L & D??)

Mood: Happy and really enjoying the 2nd trimester. Glucose results in next week, hope all okay. I'm not sure I'm ready to give up mint chocolate chip ice cream and my weekly trips to Freeport Bakery.

What I'm looking forward to: Seeing Joon on March 22nd! So excited he will be joining us for my 30th and staying for a whole week!

24 Weeks

And as my grandfather pointed out, "you're now reaching the region of viability." Thanks papa. He always did have a way with words. I know I know, I skipped week 23. Trust me, I look exactly the same: big and round...I'm starting to believe its possible for me to actually turn into a roly poly. Though, my recent completion of "Metamorphosis" by Kafka may have influenced that thought somewhat. Below is my 24 week shot. Since baby girl's ears are formed, she can hear a lot of what's going on in our outside world...including music. So, I put together a little compilation for her that includes some of mommy and daddy's favorite artists...a little Counting Crows (the old stuff), Radiohead, Jay-Z, Mana (I have this unrealistic hope that via musical osmosis our baby girl will become bilingual), Simon and Garfunkel, Pink Floyd, Jay Nash, Neil Young, Cat Stevens, Lupe Fiasco, Tracy Chapman, and the list goes on. And, of course, she really kicks to "Another Brick in the Wall"...I was afraid of this. Something tells me she might be a lot like her mommy.

How far along? 24 weeks!

How is she growing: Size of a bademjan!!! (bademjan = eggplant in farsi)

Weight gain so far: Up 12 lbs

Stretch marks? None so far. But I confess I've been inconsistent this week about applying my belly butter. I hear the key is the opposite of that, so I really do need to be more on top of it. My husband used to do it for me, so maybe subconsciously I avoid it sometimes since it makes me miss him more.

Belly button in or out: still in.

Wardrobe situation: Okay, the jury is really not out on this one anymore...I MUST give up my jeans. It has now gone from "indecent exposure" to "incredibly painful and uncomfortable". If I am not in new jeans by next week, I promise to give up mint chocolate chip ice cream for 3 full days. Okay 2 full days.

Sleep: Baby girl wakes up (almost on the dot) at 4am everyday ready to take on the world. Because the kicking really wakes me up too, I end up actually being my most productive. This morning from 4 - 5am I washed all the dishes, picked up my room, and sent work emails.

Best moment this week: Getting a much needed haircut and enjoying a clean room. Thanks baby girl for keeping mommy productive!

Movement: ...and still lots of it! I love watching her gymnastics from the outside. It looks like my belly is popping a whole bag of popcorn.

Food cravings/aversions:Anything sweet, but I've been pretty good about eating healthy. Well, except for my occasional mint chocolate chip ice cream scoop. Twice a day is occasional, right?

What I miss: Spicy food and my darling joon.

Mood: Happy most days, but still get pretty sad when I think about how much I miss being held by my husband and how much he is missing out on...

What I'm looking forward to: Seeing Joon again in March and holding our baby girl in June! Oh, and turning 30! Yes, I am looking forward to being a year older...my 20s are done, I am ready for a new decade. I have a feeling it will be the best one yet :).