Thirty Four Weeks

In pregnancy, things get more difficult as you get closer to the end. Man, oh man, I feel it. What is crazy to me, is that this week I am 34 weeks pregnant. My mom had me at 34 weeks. This is not very common and there is not a high chance that I have Bug in the next few weeks (about 12 percent of babies are born before 37 weeks, 1/4 of those births being planned due to complications in pregnancy.) But, it puts things into perspective, for sure. Since I am getting closer to the end, I have decided to make a list of all the things I will and will not miss about being pregnant. I am going to be incredibly honest. Some of the symptoms and experiences might be a little too much information. So, if you do not want to read some rather personal and potentially gross details....please, do not continue. :)

I will start with the negative so that I can end on a more positive note :)

Things I Will NOT Miss About Being Pregnant

• Sciatica. For those of you unfamiliar with this, it is a pain that radiates from your low back, down through your butt and into your legs. It is caused by my growing uterus pressing on the nerve. I have been experiencing this much longer than most do during pregnancy. My doctor actually laughed a bit when I described to her this mystery pain around 16 weeks. 
• Nausea and Vomiting. For serious, people. 
• Lack of Appetite. Because of the above, nothing ever sounds good. I get full quite quickly, and I don't enjoy eating. That is difficult for someone who really used to like food. 
• Rib Pain. It isn't so much Bug kicking my ribs, though that is rather uncomfortable. Rather, my rib cage is just very sensitive. So, if I sit a certain way, my uterus pushes on them weird, if I wear a bra for longer than 10 seconds, I want to cry because of the pressure. Honestly, even a spandex tank top is too much pressure on them. 
• Peeing!! All the time. All. The. Time. 
• Peeing my Pants. This is one of the embarrassing ones. Now, I am lucky. I have never had any TRUE accidents. But, rather, a constant unnoticeable leak. The only reason I notice is because I look at my underwear like any pregnant person, constantly afraid that the little wetness I felt might have been amniotic fluid. 
• Getting out of bed taking 5 minutes. That is All. 
• Contractions. For sure. I get them in the grocery store, I get them when I move, I get them when I bend over. I get them if I stand for longer than 10 minutes...basically. 
• Speaking of Bending Over, I am very ready to be able to do that. I can barely put on underwear anymore. 
• Nothing fitting. Not even maternity shirts cover this big old belly. I live in 3 different pants: leggings, sweats or sweat shorts. I then wear whatever of Liam's shirts look the largest. Or a couple of my old shirts I have ruined by stretching out. 
• Charley Horses in my legs. Ouch!
• Waking up every morning wondering how many more permanent (and unwelcome) marks are on my body. 
• Feeling like someone crushed my entire pelvis.

Things I Will Miss About Being Pregnant

• (Selfish Mom Alert!) Having Odin all to myself. I like not having to share.
• Safety. I got to a very content and peaceful place regarding the safety of this pregnancy. I know Odin is safe inside of me. I don't have to worry he will catch whatever that nasty kid in the grocery store has, I don't have to worry that someone is going to come in and kidnap him, ect. I will miss that contentment as I am sure I will become a complete mess when he gets out. 
• No one looking at you sideways when you go for your 3rd helping of ice cream of the day. I don't think I have actually had 3 bowls of ice cream in one day. But I know I have had 2. And I know I didn't feel guilty for more than 3 seconds. 
• Baby Hiccups. Although obnoxious some times (like when you are *just* falling asleep) but SO SO cute!
• Feeling Odin's movements in my belly in general.
• My belly. I really like it. It is the first time in my life that I feel like showing off my stomach rather than finding something to drape over it. I know that once there is no longer a baby in there, I will be even more self conscious of my stomach. 
• Being able to go out in public with no make up, unshaven legs, and potentially no bra and it being socially acceptable.
• The glow. I really feel like I have it. When I actually do spend the time putting makeup on my face and getting myself ready, I feel like I am a little prettier than I was 7 months ago. 
• Having a built in excuse not to do things I don't want to do. I don't think I have actually used it, but knowing I have it is nice. (Remember, I am being honest. LOL) 
• Having the people around me actually encourage me to do nothing and sleep as much as I possibly can.
• Enjoying folding baby's clothes. I get to sit and dream about baby without having all the responsibilities. I get to sit and stare and be excited about the baby clothes, rather than staring at the pile of laundry dreading it.
• So, basically, the anticipation. I am probably more excited than I have ever been in my entire life.
• Feeling really special, feeling like I am doing something that really matters. I have grown an entire person from basically nothing, what have YOU done since November ;)
• Being able to have sex without worrying about whether or not I will get pregnant. Once we are given the OK to get back to doing the deed, we will have to deal with that old thing again. 
• Not having a period. Duh. AND after I give birth, it will be like an extra long, horrific period. So, I will miss not having that....
• The really vivid dreams. They are actually kind of fun!
• Just sitting there, staring and touching my belly.
• Getting to experience it all with Liam. Once Odin is out, he will have his own experiences with the baby. Right now, I get to be a part of all of his experiences. 
• Having certain routines that are all about me. I know once baby is out, my everything will be about him. I think I will miss being able to take 20 minute showers, getting to take a bunch of time out to rub the pregnancy oils on my belly.
• People thinking I am fun and exciting. I just have to sit there and people like to be around me, as long as I let them touch my belly, ect. 
• Getting to be on my own schedule. I have no idea how possible getting my hair done is going to be, ect.

And now. A belly picture from last week. I had just woken up. Don't judge.