35 Week Update, PUPPS, and Playoff Baseball...

Well, as of Friday I am 35 weeks pregnant.  I only have 5 (or up to 7 depending on when I actually go into labor) weeks to go!  That seems CRAZY to me.  We have been in school now for 5 weeks.  Now, in that amount of time I am going to have a baby!  WHOA.

Overall, pregnancy has been pretty good to me.  I have had pretty much every sympotom but in mild form.  I've had heartburn off and on, but it hasn't kept me awake at night or forced me to sleep sitting up... I have had back pain, but it hasn't kept me from being able to work and stay somewhat active...

Now, however, I have officially gotten a really awful pregnancy symptom.  I have developed a fairly rare rash called P.U.P.P.S.  This stands for something I can't even pronounce, but basically it is just a rash that started on my belly and can spread to other parts of my body.  I currently have it on my belly, my upper legs, and my ANKLES!  Talk about UNCOMFORTABLE... itchy ankles is almost unbearable.  Again, though, despite having developed this annoying symptom, from what I have read online, I am not suffering as much as some people do.  School ususally keeps my mind off the itch during the day, but at night it gets worse.  I have found a really good overnight anti-itch lotion, though, so that has helped!  It's not actually making me lose sleep at night, but I generally am itchy when I wake up for other reason.  Luckily, from what my midwife has said and what I have read online, this is in no way dangerous to me or our little man, and it should clear up soon after giving birth.

Now... on to something more exciting... playoff baseball.  I've gotta admit, I am not a true baseball fan.  I like it, but I'm not diehard or anything.  However, since my family is all from Michigan, I do have a strong allegiance to the Detroit Tigers... again, I am not diehard, but I keep up with how they are doing.  Todd and I did watch bits and pieces of most of their games in the first series versus the Yankees... and it was always something I looked up the next morning since I NEVER made it through an entire game! :)  Generally, Todd is totally fine with me cheering for the Tigers, and usually he'll cheer for them...

...but now we are divided.  He's been cheering for the Rangers this post-season since his dear, sweet Braves totally self-destructed and didn't make the playoffs.  I believe the reason he has chosen to cheer for the Rangers is because they were at one time the Washington Senators... so whatever, generally I'm ok with that team winning, too.  But now the Tigers are facing the Rangers, and neither of us can support the other!  So it should be a good 7 game series!  :)

So, in honor of my grandpa Goebel and just for kicks and giggles, my 35 week pictures were done with me wearing my Tigers shirt! :)  It was a stretch (literally) but I was still able to put it on...

Good thing I mentioned this was a Tigers shirt... 'cause youcan't really tell...

Since baseball season will most likely be over when our lil' guy arrives, I figured he still needed to wear the hat. :)

Well, I hope everyone has and continues to have a great weekend!  Enjoy post-season baseball... and GO TIGERS!

Our Lil' Guy's First Baseball Game

This weekend Todd and I had quite the adventure going to a Nationals game in DC.  They were playing the Braves, and since they are Todd's favorite team, I decided to join him for a day out at the ballpark.  The weather turned out to be beautiful (we had originally planned on not going since it was supposed to rain all day) and I was comfortable in my jeans and tank top most of the day.  It was a little too hot to wear my Braves jersey during most of the game... but I had to at least sport it for some pictures!  I mean, how often am I going to have the chance to wear this really??  I bought it at a yard sale for 50 cents early in the spring, and when we decided to go to the game, I just knew I had to wear it... despite the fact that I couldn't button it! :)

Todd's signature "holding the camera out and taking our picture" pose.

The baby bump at 33 weeks.  Notice the inability of the jersey to button.

A view from our seats... they were pretty high up... Luckily there was an escalator, or I may have not made it!



The real adventure started when we made our way home on the metro.  We had driven to Vienna and from there taken the metro to the stadium.  We left the park at around 4:00 after the game and didn't make it back to the Vienna metro station until 6:30!

Our train was stopped not long after leaving the stadium.  Despite being told MANY times that we would be "moving momentarily,"  we were stuck for probably about 20-30 minutes.  Luckily, I was in a seat the whole time.  Todd had to stand, but since he's not 7 months pregnant, I don't feel too bad for him! :)

We discovered that on the new metro trains (and maybe on the old ones too, but we were on a new one) there is something under the middle section of seats that has to be "charged."  We're not sure what it was, or if it is only in one car... but a man came racing into our car, got everyone up from the seats directly beside us, and then got on his radio to say that "it has been charged."  It was a little nerve-wracking to have no idea what was going on, but luckily we got moving after not too long!  In the end, it turned out we were literally about 50 feet out of the next station.  And considering we were in one of the back cars, we're assuming the front cars were probably at the station the whole time we were stopped!  That would have been annoying.

When we pulled into the next metro station, we were all required to get off the train.  We then had to wait about 5-10 minutes for another train to come by.  This one was PACKED.  I mean, seriously!  Like when the Amazing Race goes to India packed!!!  So we decided to not even try to get on it... I was not liking the idea of being packed onto a train at 7 months pregnant for MANY stations that were between us and Vienna. 

Turns out we made a good choice... because about 5 minutes later they sent an empty train that was going to go to Vienna!  It was a new train too, and it was well air conditioned and we were both able to get a seat!  Then we just had to make our way to Vienna... which didn't take too long.

It was quite an adventure!  We had a great time and were lucky enough that our wonderful neighbors (we love you guys, Emily and Richard) could let Frosty out so she could pee pee.  In fact, they were so amazing they even took her for a walk with their little cutie dog, Carly. :)

And that, my friends, is how we spent our Saturday afternoon, evening, and into the night... Hope you all had a great weekend, too!

33 Week Update and Surprise Baby Shower...

Well, here we are...  33 weeks into my pregnancy...  Hitting the home stretch... 

Things are going well, but everyday I feel like I am growing more gigantic, more exhausted, more sore... and yet, I'm not hating it!  I really am enjoying the pregnancy experience.  I love feeling my little guy move and roll (and have the hiccups), though today they started getting a little painful. 

Though I have little to complain about, my biggest complaint is the fact that my belly is SOOOO itchy recently!  I am having to constantly slather lotion on it, and luckily that is helping keep it at bay.  But sometimes, it is nearly unbearable. 

Here is the picture from this morning.  Maybe I should not take the pictures in the morning because I feel like this doesn't look so good.  Oh well... it is what it is. 



Well the last two weeks have been busy, busy, busy!  Two weeks ago we started back up with our small group at church as well as starting childbirth classes.  So far, both have been very good!  In our small group, we're reading a book by Joseph Prince, and it looks like it's going to be excellent.  Childbirth class has been... informative, I suppose.  We're learning a lot about what the actual labor and delivery will be like.  And while it is kinda scaring me, I do feel that it's good to have a clue!  Last week we did a "game" where we had to roll dice to figure out how long we would be in early labor, active labor, and pushing...  I had a total of 29 hours in the end!!  WHOA.  Todd's reaction was... "well, there goes my birthing plan..."  You know, in his perfect brain the birth of our child is more like 2 hours long and MOST DEFINITELY not on a football Saturday or Sunday.  Can't miss a Hokies or Redskins game! :)

The highlight of our last two weeks was for sure our trip to Maryland for Jeff's (Todd's brother) birthday party.  Turns out, it was NOT a birthday party but instead a SURPRISE BABY SHOWER!!  And by surprise, I don't mean a little surprised... I mean TOTALLY surprised!   I had NO idea.  In fact, even as "surprise" was being shouted out at me, I still didn't quite comprehend that it was for me! 

Todd's mom and sister put on a beautiful shower for me full of games, gifts, great company, and GREAT food!  Many of the spouses of the ladies at the shower came and hung out/watched football with Todd and his dad and brother.  Then, when the shower was over we had a big cookout with even more great food!  (Can you tell I'm hungry a lot and am really enjoying food these days??)  We had such a great time getting to talk to family and friends! 



Just one of the delicious food items... a cupcake cake!

It was truly a great time!  Thank you to Shelly and Hannah for such a special day!  :)