Oh, and 31 weeks!

But first, Christmas!  A fun celebration this year.  I think Baby Girl LOVES Christmas!  She was so active and playful almost all day.  People probably thought I was crazy because I was just sitting at my grandma’s house cracking up because it was so fun. =)  She and I will have to have lots of fun every year.  Because Daddy is a scrooge.

Pete was having a fun time playing with her though.  And I choose to believe that she was having a fun time playing with her daddy, too.  He had his hands on my belly for a while, and every time he gently pushed my belly, she would push right back!  Mom got to feel her kick and squirm, and Aunt Vickie got to feel a good kick, too.  So fun.

Maybe she was excited about all that food.  It makes mommy excited, for sure. =)

Baby girl also got some fun presents!  **click pictures to embiggen**

Super cute Springfield Cards caps from my parents!  (Mom said they found them on clearance before we knew it was a girl, so they got boy ones too just in case – haha.)

My parents also got her some Dr Seuss baby board books.  They said they really just got these for The Eye Book.  I should read it and see if I can learn anything that might help at work. 😉  I think they all look fun and cute.  Also some fun popsicle molds.  I had actually contemplated getting something like these for myself, so baby is going to have to share with momma here. =P

She also got some more practical things like bibs and burp cloths.  Apparently that Santa one wasn’t supposed to make it into my bag, but they didn’t want it back, either.  I think my parents are partial to the I love Grandma/Grandpa ones. =)

She also got some cute socks from her Great Aunt Vickie!

This Christmas was a lot of thinking about what next Christmas will be like.  Baby Girl will be about 10 months old by then.  She’ll be old enough to be really interactive and interested in what is going on.  She should be crawling, standing when she holds onto something/someone, gesturing, etc.  It’s going to be so fun!  Christmas will never be the same.  But in a very, very good way.

Other than Christmas, no major highlights for this week.  She’s definitely growing.  It’s harder to tell lately at what rate the belly is growing.  But it definitely, definitely is.  The easiest way for ME to gauge it at this point isn’t looking at my profile in the mirror.  It’s looking at how far I can see into my belly button.  It is very, verrrry shallow now.  I’m predicting a complete pop in the next few weeks.  Completely inside out.  Turkey timer style.  POP~!  All done!

Still no stretch marks (none pregnancy-related anyway…).  Still praying against them, but predicting I’ll get them anyway.  Most of my friends who got them got them in the last couple of weeks.  So I can’t use my mom to predict since she never got to enjoy weeks 35-40 of pregnancy.  They say nothing will really work to prevent them.  You’ll either get em or you won’t.  But God knows women all over the world will try…just in case.  I haven’t bought anything fancy.  But I’ll slather on some coconut oil or jojoba oil every night.  Because if I didn’t, and then I got the stretch marks, I’d think to myself, “Dangit, if only I’d greased that sucker up.  Then maybe this wouldn’t have happened.”  Ah, well.  Even if (when) I get them, I’ll just embrace them as a badge of motherhood.  Easier said than done?  Maybe.  But they’ll be earned.

I’m wondering if maybe I’ve started having a few Braxton Hicks contractions?  I’m not convinced.  But sometimes I feel something that isn’t painful…but definitely gets my attention.  I had been blaming it on a squirmy baby, but now I’m not sure.  It’s not what I thought it would feel like.  But there are all kinds of things about pregnancy that you can read about and talk to your friends about…and still not REALLY know anything about it.  Joints are also popping a little more sometimes, especially around my hips.

Bought the crib, crib mattress, and changing table tonight (online).  FINALLY got that crossed off the list.  I’m pretty excited.  They should arrive next week.  Considered ordering the little dresser that matches, but we’re going to check a few discount furniture stores first to see if we can find something affordable that is larger and better quality.

Cartoon baby!

31 Weeks Pregnant