32 Weeks: Measuring Small. Again.

I called it.

At my 30-week appointment with my doctor a couple of weeks ago, I was told for the first time (this pregnancy) that I was measuring a little small. At the time, I was 30 weeks but measuring only 29 centimeters (you’re supposed to measure one centimeter per week you’re pregnant, so I was a centimeter behind). All of this is not an exact science, and it’s my understanding that some OBs don’t even measure bellies anymore, but it’s still a pretty common practice. In any case, my OB still uses it as an indication of the baby’s growth. And as I’ve mentioned before, the same thing happened to me with Nora’s pregnancy, and while she was smaller than average, she was still a perfectly healthy size—6 lbs., 10 oz.—at birth.

Anyway, after my last appointment, I said in my 30-week blog post that I wouldn’t be surprised if I end up in the ultrasound room for a growth ultrasound within the next few weeks. And that is exactly what is happening.

I had another appointment today, and I was measured again. This time, I was supposed to be measuring 32 centimeters, but I was only 29.75. So I didn’t even grow a full centimeter in two weeks, and I was supposed to grow at least two. Blah. I’m not at all surprised by this, but the gap is widening a little faster than I expected. Still, I’m not really worried. I know from my pregnancy with Nora that I “hide” my babies or “carry small” and all that jazz. But I go in for my growth ultrasound to check on things on Friday morning.

32 Weeks Pregnant

It’s funny to hear that you’re “small” when you FEEL so large. I can’t breathe, people. There was one night last week when I really felt like I just could NOT fill my lungs with air. I told Michael it felt like someone was sitting on my chest—and to be fair, there probably was. ;) I can’t lie on my back anymore, at all. And when I get down on the floor, it’s really damn hard to get back up. And bending over? Oof.

I have not been letting my physical ailments become limitations, though. Why? Because I am nesting. I am definitely getting some of those psycho, “this-must-be-done-RIGHT-NOW” feelings. And although it makes me feel a little crazy, I am loving it. It is so satisfying to kick ass and take names with a big to-do list. I hope the urge to get things done continues to overpower the fatigue, aches, and pains. One of the things that just HAD to be done this past weekend? Power-washing the house and our back deck.

What, this isn’t on your list of things that need to be done before the baby is born? :) Well, it was on mine. And it involved a “power tool” of sorts, so… hell yes. Don’t mess with me.

The other thing on my list of things to attack this past weekend? The nursery. It had been the last unused room in our house. We used it for junk storage, really. There was just a whole lot of crap in there. We kept the door closed at all times, and actually very rarely had to even go in there. It had been largely untouched—all we had done when we moved in was ripped up the old nasty carpet, and removed the beaten-up closet doors.

This weekend, we managed to (mostly) clean it out. I also put two coats of primer on all of the trim, and got the first coat of paint on the walls, too. Woot woot! Of course, none of that is pictured here—these are all “before” photos. While I was painting, it all started becoming a lot more real to me that we will actually be bringing home another little person in a matter of weeks. I am painting for another baby.

Nora was amazingly cute with all of the activity going on in the room next to hers. We had the door open much of the weekend, and often times, when she’d walk by, she’d point and say, “Baby sleep in there!” She was also highly amused by just being in the room with me. She played with the bouncer, and even brought a doll in at one point, with a book, and said she was reading to the baby (really, she just sat there, flipping through the pages, “reading” to herself silently).

It is going to be so interesting to see how she handles it when we have a real baby around.

So, we are officially anticipating this baby’s arrival. Things are in motion. We’re getting stuff done.

Other than all of this, my only other comment/complaint for the time being is the peeing in the middle of the night. What.the.hell. On Saturday night, I was literally up to pee three times within the first hour I was in bed. And twice more after that. NOT COOL. I might try to start front-loading the majority of my water intake early in the day so that I get all of the peeing out of the way during the daytime, but I’m not convinced that will even work.

Oh, and after missing a week here and a week there with these posts, I just don’t know if I have it in me to do them any more often than biweekly. But we’ll see, maybe as I get further along and I have doctor’s appointments every week, I’ll be motivated to pick up the frequency. Until then, I’m just doing what I can do. :) In the meantime… new “baby pictures” on Friday!

If you missed the start of the Baby Pool, check it out and enter your guess! Also, if you entered but did not provide an e-mail address… please leave a comment below with the email address and I can add it to your entry. Otherwise, we won’t have a way to contact you if you win!