This is going to be a fun one. The title makes it sound like I'm miserable, huh? The truth is, I am not. I have been hustling into this new year, making changes for my businesses, planning, learning, and when I can manage it, taking power naps so I am not run ragged. But yo, this pregnancy has been tough. I will not complain. I am grateful, I am blessed, I am mostly healthy and doing well. But I am also really tired. And sore. And feeling pressure "down there" and walking like an old lady on a bad hip. I'm ready for March, friends. So ready to meet this little guy and call him by his name. We kept Lily's name a secret, which was much easier because at home we could still talk about her and use her name. Now we have a walking 4 year old parrot who will tell eeeeeeeeveryone her brother's name if she knows. So she has been coming up with her own names and telling people weekly that he'll be called:Prince James, Eugene, Eric, Harold, Sam, Max, Junior, and Flop. Basically, whatever show, movie or book she has recently enjoyed, you can be sure the male character is her baby brother's name. Gestational DiabetesA month ago, I was officially diagnosed, and it has been eye opening, to say the least. I have completely adjusted my diet to a mostly Paleo set of meals and snacks, I'm walking 20-30 minutes a day, and checking my blood sugars four times a day.Everyone keeps saying it'll be ok and that once the baby is here, it'll go away, but I am trying to keep the mindset that this is actually a really good lifestyle change for me. I realized very quickly how much garbage I ate daily without a thought. Eating veggies, fruits and protein dense foods? Not a bad change to make. It hasn't been difficult finding good things to eat, and my energy has been better since the holidays. I'm not as weary and sore as I was, and I don't feel as hefty as I was feeling around Christmas. I still have a big bump, but don't feel as large and bulky, if that makes sense. I feel like I actually have some semblance of a figure. Crazy, right?All in all, this will be a good change for our family and I hope to keep it up. We are both predisposed to diabetic complications, so now is the time to get our butts in gear and take care of ourselves the way we should!Sleep DeprivationSleep happens in small chunks, sprinkled with weird dreams and hobbling to the bathroom twice a night. I am thanking my lucky stars that Lily is a fantastic sleeper and will sleep a solid 12 hours. My biggest struggle right now is making myself go to bed, since Sean is now working nights. I don't like going to bed alone, but for the next year, this will be our routine, so I better get used to it!I got one of those giant pregnancy pillows and used it for about a week. It was kind of comfortable, but kind of not. They're weird. And it took up so much room in our tiny bed. I can make do with a throw pillow between my knees or tucked under my belly. I don't need a giant croissant pillow pushing Sean and I to the edges. Hating PantsThe subtitle here is "Disliking Winter Pregnancy" but hating pants sounded more truthful. I loved being pregnant in the summer with Lil. I could throw on a maxi dress or skirt, flip flops, and be done. And comfortable. Currently, I'm rotating between 3 pairs of leggings and one pair of jeans, attempting to layer my tops to be cold inside, hot inside, cold outside, and overdressed outside to resemble the little brother in A Christmas Story who can't put his arms down. Call me stubborn, but I'm not buying a giant winter coat to cover my belly button for the next 7 weeks, so I'm trying to make due, and praying we don't get a ton of snow and ice. As I type this it's snowing out. Blah!But Shannon - you work from home! At least you don't need to buy a new corporate maternity wardrobe! YES. Thank goodness for that. Like I said at the beginning of this post, I really can't complain. But, I still miss maxi dresses and flip flops. 32 Weeks - 7 Weeks to GoI made a to-do list of things I want/need to accomplish before Baby Boy appears, and, um, I need to get my butt in gear! I have been so otherwise occupied by Lily and getting work done that this poor kiddo hasn't gotten a fraction of the pregnancy attention that I gave Lil. But I have been enjoying the thumps and alien movements, rubbing and poking my belly, wondering who this little person will be. He is super active and I can't wait to hold him in my arms and smell his skin and dream about who he'll grow into. And I really can't wait to see if he's a mini-Lily/Sean or a mini-me!To do:Pack a hospital bag - for me, for baby, for Sean. Knowing it's a c-section, we'll be prepared for a longer stay. I have had a couple contractions that are reminding me to get this done this week.Install the infant carseat - first I need to deep clean the back seat of Cheerios and fruit snacks. Donate the piles of Lily's old clothes - this one hurts. I loved so many of her clothes!Research and make some freezer meals - Any InstantPot users out there with good recs?Wash and put away baby clothes, bottles, cloth diapersMake his quiltHang up art over cribClean out and vacuum the carGive the house a good top to bottom deep cleanAttempt some maternity self portraitsFind and purchase a baby book for him - check out Ruby Love books on Etsy Figure out if I'm forgetting anything bigThat's all for now! The days are going quickly. It went from feeling SO far away to feeling like it'll be any day now. I do feel like we're in a good place of readiness, but pray he stays put as long as he should. The best I can hope for is a healthy baby carried to term!Till next time!
