27 weeks + Third Trimester!

I am officially in my third trimester and I couldn't be more excited about it! There is just something refreshing about the fact that I am in the home stretch. Sometime in the last two weeks I have really "popped" and most people actually could guess I am pregnant (if they knew me before hand). I am feeling pretty large and in charge. I am carrying this little guy pretty high, which is convenient in the fact that I have had no problems wearing all my normal jeans, but not so nice that he is already all up in my diaphragm and rib cage practicing his wrestling moves. You win some, and lose some. With all of that said, here are some updates:

Craving/Aversions: In the past two weeks I haven't really had any major cravings. There are some days that things sound good, and pizza usually always sounds good but nothing that I absolutely need. Sadly pesto and turkey still make me a little queazy, but it's not really anything to complain about. Funny enough, a week and a half ago was the first time I actually threw up this pregnancy. Let's just say I won't be eating Steak Rancheros from the taco bus anytime soon.

Books: Still nothing on my pregnancy bookshelf as of late. I am mostly (still) working on our birth plan and reading a whole lot of other non pregnancy related books. 

Exercise: I am still going strong with my daily work outs. I have noticed that my muscles seem off as of lately. I am not sure what it is exactly, but my leg muscles seem really tense all the time now. It's almost like I need a good long Classical Stretch session, but even that doesn't seem to help. It was a pregnancy side effect I wasn't expecting! When I was the TA for the Crossfit class on campus, we really emphasized doing third world squats. (If you don't know what it is, think of a 2 year old squatting down or someone going to the bathroom in a third world country. Most people in the western world squat down and come up on their toes instead of staying flat on their feet). I don't know why, but I had completely forgotten about doing them, until this morning when I was working out with my little sister. She was doing them while we were stretching and I realized that if anyone needs to be doing third world squats, it's a pregnant woman! So yes, I am adding 3rd world squats back into my routine in hopes that maybe it will help with these muscle cramps and birth :)

Concerns/Excitement: We have decided to move to Reno, and have a place to live! Sadly, I have called a few doctors there and most are pretty hesitant to take on a patient that is 35 weeks along. So, right now I am mostly concerned that I won't have a midwife or doctor to help deliver this baby. Worst case scenario, they said I would just go into the ER when I go into labor. Yes, it stresses me out a bit, but I figure it will work out. 

Baby: Our baby is the size of a green onion, weighing 2 lbs! He can open and close his eyes, suck his thumb and all of his movements are coordinated now. Apparently his brain is more sophisticated now than it was two weeks ago. All of this adds up to a very active little boy who I can feel very strongly, all the time. 

Medical School

Hey, guess what? See that dashing man, right there?

Well, he is going to MEDICAL SCHOOL!

This whole medical school process started long before I ever came into the picture- it just happened to be around the time we got married that the process really started to consume our lives. He was preparing to take the MCAT, starting his hardest pre-med classes, and saving for the ridiculously expensive process to apply to medical school. (folks, they aren't lying when they say just applying to medical school costs an arm and a leg). Let's just say, of the almost 3 years we have been wed, almost everyday has been filled with thoughts and worries about medical school. 

He took the MCAT 3 times, and applied for two years in a row. After the first mediocre MCAT score, and the first wave of rejections, I could see his heart sink, wondering if he was really cut out for this dream of his. He persevered- took the MCAT 2 more times and applied once more and finally saw his dream become a reality. He was accepted to a few medical schools, and to our surprise, we had a pretty big choice to make. Granted, this was all about the time we found out we were expecting. There was a lot of change happening in this little life of ours. 

Robert loved another school he was accepted to, TCMC in Scranton Pennsylvania. He would frequently get letters from them, and every time he did I think he would weep a little bit on the inside, just a little bit. When I say he really liked the school, I mean he was in LOVE with this school. With more thought, and prayer we decided that although it wasn't his top pick at first UNSOM (University of Nevada School of Medicine) was where we were supposed to be. It was a pretty difficult decision, but this last week we flew over to Reno to visit the campus it was a definite confirmation that this is where we were supposed to be. We are both overjoyed for our move come June, and Robert is even more excited to start medical school in August!

We will be part of the Nevada Wolf Pack!

25 weeks

Well folks, I am in my sixth month of pregnancy. I was feeling pretty cute and small, until I put on this dress and took my 25 week picture. I feel like a beached whale, and I know I will only get much bigger from here. (At this point in time I am sure everyone who has had a baby and is reading this is probably thinking "oh sister, you have no idea about what it is to feel like a beached whale!") I was looking back at my 8 and 11 week pictures, thinking how I could go and slap my little naive self for ever complaining about my body. Good news though, I can still wear all of my jeans (buttoned)! It's just the tops that prove to be difficult now. Now that I have had my pregnancy rant for the post, here are the updates:

Cravings/Aversions: I feel like a broken record, but I am still all about my morning smoothies, especially my strawberry-protien-peanut butter-post-workout smoothie. But really folks, it's delicious. Bonus, next week we go to Vegas and I can finally get a Slurpee! Bring on summer. Along with smoothies, I seem to always be up for a Subway sandwich of some sort. I am still avoiding sugar and junk foods most days of the week (and completely for the first 10 days of every month) so this little guy doesn't come out just wanting sweets. Interesting fact, I learned that the wider range of foods I eat now usually effects what our boy will be willing to eat when he arrives (i.e., a less picky eater). 

Books: I currently don't have anything on my pregnancy book shelf. I have been in line to get A Husband Coached Childbirth: The Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth but it seems to be a popular book here in Rexburg, because I have been on the library wait list for a few weeks. I have also been slowly putting together our birth plan so our birthing class teacher can review it. Tonight is our last class, and I am pretty sad it has been ending. I can not recommend the class enough! It has been the best thing for both Robert and I to help prepare. 

Exercise: Thankfully my slowly growing baby bump hasn't interfered with my work out routines at all, besides the excessive bath room breaks. I haven't had any weird pain or discomfort (besides my knee, but it's just a sign I am in dying need of new running shoes.....probably 200 miles late). The only adjustment I have had to make is the weight I use for my cross fit/olympic weight lifting. Front squats are definitely more challenging now that I have more weight on my front side than before, making balancing the bar more difficult. Today I also discovered that running puts this little boy to sleep! He seems to be having a party in my belly every hour of the day except for when I run and about 1-2 hours after. 

Concerns/Excitement: I am feeling this little man move all the time now. Anytime Robert puts his hand on my stomach little boy will kick/punch/summersault pretty hard in response. Robert likes to think of it like a high-five from the little man. 

Baby: Our little guy is the size of an ear of corn and weighs about 1.5 lbs, gaining just under a 1/2 lb per week. His brain is fully developed (it is identical to that of a newborns), and he can distinguish between my voice and Robert's voice. Fun fact, songs or noises that he hears frequently in the womb will calm him (due to recognition) when he is born! (Thank you "What to Expect When You're Expecting").