Kendra's Kampfire

Awesome

-All of Mike's hockey teammates who are rooting for us and wishing us good luck with our upcoming delivery
-Knowing that little man is fully developed and that he will be healthy if he comes at any time now

How far along? 37 Weeks

Maternity Clothes? Yep. But I was able to wear a pre-pregnancy sweater to the hockey rink this past weekend!

Stretch Marks? Just the couple small dots on my hips, but those are the only ones so far!

Best Moment this Week: All our hockey friends rubbing my belly :)

Miss Anything: Being able to partake in the pitchers of beer at our annual hockey tournament

Movement: It depends on the time of the day, some times of day he is quiet, others he is moving up a storm

Food Cravings: I craved a Mint Delight this past weekend and Mom took me out on a date for one and it was so satisfying to indulge!

Labor Signs: Just the Braxton Hicks at this point, and is becoming more and more exhausted a sign of labor? ;)

Hey everyone! I can't believe that we are coming to the END of April! That is just insane to me. What is even more insane is that means the next month is May, which is the month we are due with little man!! I can hardly believe it, for awhile I didn't think we would make it haha. 

But today I am linking up with Mel, Shay, and Sheaffer for What's Up Wednesday, so here's what we've been up to this month!

1. WHAT WE ARE EATING THIS WEEK

On Saturday, my in laws took Mike, my sister/brother in law out to a fancy steak dinner at Flemings, just because. And it was wonderful! We fed on crab cakes, filet mignon, potatoes, mac n cheese, and had a chocolate lava tower for dessert-it was heavenly! 

In terms of what I'm cooking this week, we are having stuffed shells, courtesy of the Pioneer Woman, and pulled pork sandwiches. 

2. WHAT I AM REMINISCING ABOUT

My flat tummy! Ha! I know that sounds so vain, but I honestly don't remember what it feels like to not have a gigantic belly. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my belly because that means my son is growing nice and healthy, but it seems like it's been 5 years since I could get of bed without having to be pushed by Mike. 

3. WHAT I'M LOVING

Being on maternity leave! It has been so nice to be able to catch up on some sleeps with a nap during the day, and to be able to get the small last minute things taken care of before little man gets here. So I have definitely been binge watching TV, reading books, and taking at least a nap a day, because I know in a few short weeks, those days will be no more!

4. WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO

As stated above, I have been reallllly good at relaxing lately. Besides that, Mike has been a champ getting all the last minute things ready, he put together our stroller, installed our car seats, getting the guest room completely ready, painting, basically, Mike has been up to everything lately! He is definitely my hero. 

5. WHAT I'M DREADING

Labor. Even though I know the outcome will be more than worth it, I would be lying to say that I am not terrified of it. But I keep telling myself it is only temporary, and after it's all over I will get to snuggle that little man in my arms and I will forget all about it!

6. WHAT I'M WORKING ON

No official work at the moment, because did I mention I'm on maternity leave? ;) But I am working around the house to get all the last minute things in order before we deliver. 

7. WHAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT

Meeting this little guy!!!!

8. WHAT I'M WATCHING/READING

I asked for some book recommendations so I could have some me time before the baby gets here, and the large consensus was A Man Called Ove. I'm only a few chapters in but I'm starting to realize why everyone is raving about it! In terms of TV, Survivor is still a staple in the Petrellese house, and I started watching Splitting up Together and it's a cute new show-I mean, ya can't go wrong with Hunky Oliver Hudson and the adorable Pam from the Office. 

9. WHAT I'M LISTENING TO

The Greatest Showman is still in my car CD player, and I'm not ashamed! 

10. WHAT I'M WEARING

Let's be real, folks. I'm wearing a whole lot of comfy sweats, maternity tshirts, and flip flops because none of my shoes fit me anymore haha. But I am embracing it and will hopefully be back in my normal jeans by the end of summer!

11. WHAT I'M DOING THIS WEEKEND

Every year Mike is in a hockey tournament down in San Jose. He plays with the same team so it's been kind of a tradition for us, it's one of our favorite weekends of the year. This year is obviously a bit different since I am VERY pregnant, but we are still going and are going to take it hour by hour and enjoy it!

12. WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH

Becoming a mom!!! ....I'm sensing a trend here, aren't you?...

That's about it! I hope you all have a fantastic month!!

Awesome

-Installed the car seats in both hubby and my car - so exciting!

-Knowing we will get to meet him soooon.

-I'm officially on maternity leave!

How far along? 36 Weeks

Maternity Clothes? Yep. But I was able to wear a pre-pregnancy dress to dinner the other night!

Stretch Marks? Got my first couple little dots on my left side, but I'm considering them my battle scars!

Best Moment this Week: I'm officially on maternity leave!

Miss Anything: Ordering a glass of wine while out to dinner

Movement: It's still less than normal, but I feel him occasionally :)

Food Cravings: Sushii

Labor Signs: Starting to get contractions, although they are Braxton Hicks, definitely feeling them!

Looking Forward to: My NST tomorrow so we can have more information about our possible induction

 The weeks are starting to go by faster and faster, and little man will be here before we know it-thank goodness! 

Awesome

-The adorable students in my class threw me the cutest baby shower to celebrate Baby P and I. It was so sweet, they had been spending all their recesses in the library planning it, and it was so sweet. They had games, like "don't say 'baby', the poopy diaper game, and guess what's in the bag. One student even mad a cake. To say it warmed my heart to no end would be an understatement.

-When I was out in front of the school doing after school car duty, a mom rolled down her window and said "the further along you get, the cuter you get, it definitely wasn't like that for me!" That really made me feel good since I feel like a whale at this point. 

How far along? 35 Weeks

Maternity Clothes? Heck yes! And loving them!

Stretch Marks? Got my first couple little dots on my left side, but I'm considering them my battle scars!

Best Moment this Week: My students showering me and Baby with such an adorable baby shower 

Miss Anything: Sleeping through the night without getting up to pee every hour...guess this is just a preview for what is to come!

Movement: It's starting to lessen because he's running out of room, but his foot or arm has found a home in my right ribs and when he moves this mama definitely flinches each time!

Food Cravings: This week I had a huuuuge craving for a Nations Cheeseburger

Labor Signs: The nurse who does my NSTs said that he has dropped since she saw me last week, and I am officially in full blown nesting mode...

Looking Forward to: This is my last week of work then I am officially on Maternity Leave! Wahoo!!

It was everything I could have hoped for, and all that helped out and pitched in made it the most wonderful day. From the food, to the games, to the generosity of everyone that gifted us with items for sweet Miles, it was almost overwhelming. 

On the Wednesday before the shower, Mike had to take me into Labor and Delivery because I was running a fever. They swabbed me for the flu, thinking it was just a cold, but sure enough, it came back positive. So I had been on antibiotics, and was trying me best to get as much rest as I could, because I really wanted to enjoy myself at the shower, I knew how hard everyone worked to put it together. While I wasn't feeling 100%, I quickly forgot about the flu as soon as I saw how many people were there to support us. There was just so much love in the room, and it really made me realize how many wonderful people I have in my life and how incredibly blessed we are. 

There really aren't enough thank you's to everyone who came out and showed our growing family so much love! I love you all!

Awesome

-Mike and I attended a Preparing for Childbirth Class on Saturday, and we thought it was going to be awkward, but we actually had a great time! We learned a lot and I have to admit that we giggled like little kids when we were trying different birthing positions - whoops

-Continuing to feel little man kick

-Finishing putting away all the generous baby gifts from our shower

Awkward

-Feeling like a beached whale every time I have to roll my body out of bed to use the bathroom at night - which is like 3 -4 times a night

-People saying "You look like you're going to pop-you must be due any day!" Then awkwardly telling them that I still have 5 more weeks to go...

-I am alllmost to the point where I can't bend over to pick my dog up anymore, and Mike has to help me put my shoes on

How far along? 34 Weeks

Maternity Clothes? Heck yes! And loving them!

Stretch Marks? Not yet! Fingers crossed!

Best Moment this Week: Having Spring Break to chill and relax before little man gets here 

Miss Anything: I am desperately missing turkey sandwiches, and I would kill for some sushi!

Movement: It's starting to lessen because he's running out of room, but his foot or arm has found a home in my right ribs and when he moves this mama definitely flinches each time!

Food Cravings: Not really, believe it or not

Labor Signs: Not yet! Looking at myself in the mirror, I thiiink he's starting to drop, my belly looks a little lower than normal

Looking Forward to: Going to our Newborn Care Class this week to learn all about how to care for little man! 

Holy cow people. Pregnancy is no joke. But guess what?! We are on the homestretch!!! We are finally in our Third Trimester, and we could not be any more excited! This has been such a long road, we can definitely say that we are ready for little man to be here!

To read about our First Trimester click here and our Second Trimester click here :)

But it wouldn't be a Petrellese Pregnancy without a little bumps in the road, right? The third trimester started out with our appointment for our ultrasound to check on my placenta issues. The tech did their thing, then called the doctor back in to finish up. As always, when the doctor is checking things out, everyone is quiet, so we were just waiting for some answers. Good news! My placenta moved away from my cervix, so no placenta previa-yay! And my placenta had not grown into my uterus, so no placenta acreta and no hysterectomy needed-double yay!! Mike and I looked at each other and were beaming, we were so ecstatic to receive good news! Then the doctor said she found something else. She said that our baby has what is called an umbilical cord varix. There are many different variations, but our particular varix is that the connection of the cord into his belly button is enlarged, and they are worried he wasn't getting the nutrients he needed, which increases the risk of still birth. And any mamas out there knows, when you hear the word stillbirth, it causes your heart to stop. I, no surprise, started to cry, and then the doctor assured me that this rare. They wanted me to start weekly Non Stress Tests to monitor the baby, and if at any time his heart rate isn't what they want, they will send me to Labor and Delivery, and then they will take him out immediately if needed. 

Although it was originally scary, the weekly testing has been a blessing in disguise. I get to hang out in a comfy chair and listen to little man's heartbeat for 30 minutes, and those have been some of my most cherished moments of this trimester. Of course it's always in the back of my mind to be mindful of him and his movement, just to make sure he's doing ok in there, but the weekly testing has been nice. 

Other than that, this trimester has been exciting! My work threw me an adorable baby shower, my family threw us an awesome baby shower (separate post to come), we took maternity photos (separate post to come), and we are on the home stretch of completing his nursery! I am very big, very round, and very excited!! We just cannot wait to meet this little man, and I know that all the hardships we have been through this pregnancy, will be MORE than worth it!!