34 weeks

Pregnancy: 34 Weeks.  6 more weeks to go! 

Weight Gain:   I'm sad to report at my dr. appointment yesterday i gained 5 more pounds. EEP!  That type of weight gain really stresses me out.  I am now up a total of 26 pounds.  My midwife asked me if i have been eating lots of sweets.... "yes, yes, i have."  I know 26 pounds at 34 weeks is not that bad... but i am going to think before i put a brownie in my mouth from now on. ;)

Next appointment:   Next appt. will be at 36 weeks- Scheduled for 9/12 at 8:15am

Sleep: Been going fine, it's hard to get in and out of bed at night for those many bathroom breaks, but i make it work.  Chai sleeps on the bed with us- at my feet. She had a rude awakening when i woke up the other night and could not move... i don't think she'll be sleeping at my feet too much longer.

Gender: we shall see

Names:   Girls first name set- middle name... nope.  Boys name: nope.

Feeling/ Symptoms:  Feeling a lot of pressure in the LOW portion of my belly. I don't think it's braxton hicks or anything, but it does hurt.  Mostly after sitting for a while then getting up.  I think this is the reason why i have begun to waddle it hurts to walk for a little while till i get used to it.

Movement:  The movement is still awesome, but it's actually starting to get uncomfortable.  It's like the baby is stuck or something and pushing on everything inside of me with all of "it's" might- and it sometimes makes me jump. Still can't get over there is a baby in there... seriously.

Belly:  You see that thing up there?  HUGE. feeling huge..but i still love it.

Maternity Clothes:   The clothes i have been wearing are starting to get too small..  I am improvising.  Still only bought 2 maternity skirts throughout the whole thing.  But again, i did borrow clothes from friends. That's awesome.

Stretch Marks:  Sigh.. yes..  i might take this question off of here. I get annoyed answer it every week.  left hip- not cute.


Best Moment Last Week: Last week was real fun!  Friday- Hayley's wedding , Saturday: our 5 year wedding anniversary , Sunday was a friends' baby shower, and yesterday, Wednesday another friend Adair's baby shower!  It was really fun, there was such good food and we made onesies and bibs for their baby boy due in December!  Here we are!  Belly's and all.  (ps. i LOVE that we are preggers at the same time Adair!!) xoxoxoxo

pregger friends (i did not realize you could see through my tank and see maternity skirt) OOPS!

Nursery:    Andrew started painting the panels with the birds on them for the room.  They look so good!  can't wait to show them when they are all done.

What I Miss:  nothing specific this week. 

Looking forward to:   Tomorrow!  This weekend begins our 4th annual girls trip!  This year is very different than years before because 2 of us are pregnant (adair and i.. up there) and another friend has a 3 month old. We are going to a friend's house for a long weekend and just have a long slumber party.  We will be together and lounge, and be cozy and it'll be great. 

What the professionals are saying:

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds  and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

Baby is the size of what fruit/ Vegetable?  Cantaloupe

5 Year Anniversary

It was a busy weekend for the Chobot's.  On Saturday after the wedding- Andrew and I celebrated our FIVE Year wedding anniversary!

On our honeymoon, we talked about going back to Puerto Vallarta for our 5 year anniversary... we planned it, it was happening.  But here we are today and I am 8 months preggers.  Needless to say, we did not go back to Mexico for our 5 year anniversary- Next year.  Instead we went out to dinner, and had dessert and came home and relaxed. That is how you do a 5 year wedding anniversary 8 months pregnant, folks!

For dinner we went to Briciola  a new Italian restaurant that is BYOB and a block away from our house. We had a nice romantic table outside and the food was so good.  I ordered a SPICY pasta and shrimp dish and the waiter asked if i was "DUE" soon, because a woman had come in last week and order the same thing and gave birth that night.   I assured him i was not planning on giving birth after eating this, but i'll for sure come back if I am trying to go into labor. AKWARD.  Regardless, food was awesome, dessert was amazing- and my glass of wine that i sipped on was delightful.
Sorry, hope you aren't offended I had wine.  It was glorious and it was in public and i didn't care.  Happy Anniversary to me!

Labor inducing Freshly made pasta and shrimp

The lovely patio

Little decor.

Apparently this tiramisu is award winning. It was delightful. I love being pregnant and eating everything!

husband and red wine

Chai and my Belly

Little family shot, Chai, Andrew and baby Chobot

Even though we celebrated five years of marriage, in September we will be celebrating 12 years of being together.  I am very excited and nervous and eager and ready for this new chapter in our life with a brand new baby.  We may not know what to expect or how much our lives are about to change, but I am certain together we can and will do this and love this little baby more than we know.   Baby Chobot just kicked me to let me know we will be alright.

Love you Andrew! Happy 5 years!
xo

Hayley & Steve's Wedding

Hayley's wedding was beautiful! I told her she has a future in wedding planning after such a lovely, flawless day.   

Here's a little photo dump from mine and Andrew's camera and my phone. Of course they are out of order.  One day i'll sit down and really figure out how to put this things in order... for now, I'll add little caption to each photo.

The Girls! (and my maternity PINK dress that has already been returned...)

Me & the Bride

Amazing Champers tree

CAKE! so good...

Andrew and I

Me & Jess

It was time for TOM's

Always a photographer

Sister Maid of Honor and adorable Flower Girls

Mr & Mrs. Katz!

Exchanging Vows

First Dance

Great, Country Band- The Hoyle Brothers

Cutting of the cake.

Congratulations to the happy couple, love you guys! 

33 Weeks

Pregnancy: 33 weeks.  Count down- 7 more to go...

Weight Gain:   I don't weigh myself in between dr. appts. so- still up 21 pounds total- for all i know

Next appointment:   Next appt. will be at 34 weeks.  On Aug. 29th. (at 8:15am).

Sleep:  Welp, I'll tell you what, i am ready to sleep in a KING size bed tomorrow night at the hotel for Hayley's wedding.  I'll be sober after a wedding and i might bring my preggo pillow.  I'm looking forward to the wedding too. ha! But i am excited for a BIG bed...mine is getting smaller and smaller

Gender: we shall see

Names:   Girls first name set- middle name... nope.  Boys name: nope.

Feeling/ Symptoms:  Aching back...baby kicking my ribs, i don't know were my ribs went.  sitting at my chair at work---- NOT FUN.

Movement:  Lots and lots of movement. I love it.  I played some Paul Simon to my belly the other day, and baby really liked it. ;)

Belly:   Large and in charge- i'm officially waddling. 

Maternity Clothes:   I finally got the dress i am wearing to Hayley's wedding! It's great, and its PINK.  All the other pink dresses made me look like a fat toddler.. Cute Maternity dresses can be found, don't give up!  Pictures from the wedding coming shortly..

Stretch Marks:  Left hip a lot, makes me sad.  I think i' have to say good bye to bikini tops forever.  Can't even think about it now- but for after when i loose all my baby weight and then some!!.... bikini's are out...  Stretch marks are not cute.

Best Moment Last Week: having that dang dress fit me and look presentable!  Finding my shoes for the wedding at the goodwill, along with more baby books.  I'm telling you folks- Goodwill for CHEAP baby books.  singed up for Lamaze classes (happening in september).  Getting my oven fixed, and baking brownies.. low point.. eating them.. ha!

Nursery:    Put up the bird decals- and andrew got started on the panels that he is painting the birds on.  Pictures to come when all is finished in there. 

What I Miss:  Not going to the bathroom every 30 minutes. My back not hurting.

Looking forward to:   Still looking forward to all the same stuff..
- Wedding tomorrow!  
- My next Dr. appt.  
- Seeing Adair for her baby shower
- My 5 year anniversary!
- Girls Trip next weekend- relaxing and veggin' with my ladies.

What the professionals are saying:

This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds  and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

Baby is the size of what fruit/ Vegetable?   Pineapple

32 weeks

Pregnancy: 32 weeks.  Thanks for taking my picture Mary, in Baby Chobot's new room! ;)  I don't have really good lighting in my house- oops!  Any way, 32 weeks... that means.. EIGHT MORE WEEKS TO GO. Officially 2 months. 

Weight Gain:   Went to my midwife on Monday and I am up 3 pounds.. It's never easy to see myself gaining weight. But i know there is a baby brewing in there and it's only right that he/she grows.. there for, i must grow too.  So far weight gain - 21 pounds.  OH!  And i must say, this is one of the first times i had my appt in the later afternoon. AFTER a huge lunch... excuses, excuses..  I guess i am ok, with 21 pounds at 32 weeks....

 

Next appointment:   Next appt. will be at 34 weeks.  On Aug. 29th. (at 8:15am).  Scale don't screw me then!

Sleep:  Sleep has been good. I have gotten used to my pillow again and learned to properly maneuver it with this belly.  I love to sleep. 

Gender:  I have to say on the record I officially think it's a girl now. I know it's either one or the other, but for some reason. I am now going GIRL. I guess because i really thought BOY for so long, i just knew it would prove me wrong and be a girl.  So i'm saying girl now. 

Names:   Girls first name - SET.  Now need to find a middle name that goes well with it.  Thought we might have had a boys name... but ran it by a friend, and now i don't know. hmmmm...

Feeling/ Symptoms:  Feeling good. No Braxton Hicks or anything yet.  I'll take it. Sometimes i forget i am pregnant. Then, i see my reflection....

Movement:  Still officially KICKING my rib cage - found out baby's head is DOWN.  now, we wait...Speaking of rib cage- i used to have one right?  Where did they go? i can't feel it from the outside anymore. Anyway, baby is a real good mover.

Belly:   I love this belly.  It feels really great to let it all hang out.  Belly button still pushing out.

Maternity Clothes:   With Hayley's up coming wedding, i have tried and tried SO MANY dresses.. ordered from different places, tried on, returned.. Fancy dresses while preggers = NOT CUTE. I think i found one though.. i am waiting for the mail to arrive.... 

Stretch Marks:  Again...Sigh, yes.  Left hip. and i see them trying to creep in on my right hip.. :(

Best Moment Last Week: Best moment last week was my ultra sound!  Andrew and i walked in and it was the same tech that i had at my 20 week, and i got really nervous.  (i had a bad 20 week ultra sound) She was so much nicer this time and talked us through it and it went by quickly.  She left the room and came back in soon after saying everything looked great! The doctor didn't need to see us.  The kidney Fixed itself!  and my placenta moved into a good place.  Oh man, we we re so happy.  We celebrated with a McDonald's breakfast.  So happy and thankful that both problems fixed by themselves. And i realized if the tech is quiet and seems rude, there might be something wrong....If she is nice and smiley... YAY!

Nursery:   Did buy a cute bird decal for the wall, but haven't put it up yet. And i think Andrew is going to make some bird prints to put up above the crib, so the bird decal can go on the main wall.  Horray for an artist as a husband! He SHOULD make some art for the baby's room, right??!? ;)

What I Miss:  again, and still drinking with my friends. But i went on a boat for Hayleys bachelorette party- and just being with friends was enough.  Didn't even WANT a drink.  Weird how that works.

Looking forward to:   - I'm looking forward to, Hayley's wedding next weekend!  

- Trying on my new dumb, fancy maternity dress in hopes that it fits.
- Staying in a hotel for the wedding...hmmm. should i bring my preggo pillow??
- Next Saturday my FIVE Year wedding anniversary.  Where has the time gone?  
- Girls trip coming up!  (i keep forgetting).
- Adair coming into town!  Can't wait to see my preggo buddy! :)

What the professionals are saying:

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds  and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

Baby is the size of what fruit/ Vegetable?   Jicama... whatever that is

Hayley's Bachelorette Party

It was a success!  On Sat. we celebrated my sweet friend Hayley's bachelorette party!  With her wedding slowly approaching we got a bunch of girls together and had such a great day.  Jess, Colie and myself emailed back and forth for weeks coming up with a master plan.  And that we did.

We met at all the girls at a new bar called Estate Ultra Bar, right on the river.  Reservations were at 2pm. Before that Colie and her husband Grant and I met at the sail boat we were taking out for the day to decorate and set up the food we had catered in from Fox and Obel - a great grocery store down town.  At 2pm we headed to the bar and met- Jess were she had held down the fort and order appetizers and pitchers of Sangria.  Hayleys' four friends from Indiana were there: Kelly, Mandy, Gabby and Becky and then Mary and Margo showed up and of course Hayley.

Photos of the bar:

Hayley & Becky

the spread

so good!

Beautiful Bachelorette

L- R: Kelly, Margo, Gabby, Mandy

Gabby, Mandy, Colie

Hayley, Becky, Kelly

Then we had our first little surprise.  Question of the day was..."how are we getting from the bar to the boat?  Our answer:  we called a few cabs... Which of course was not true. We all waiting in the parking lot for:  THE LIMO we rented for the hour.  It was totes worth it, everyone was really surprised and a few girls said it was their first time in a limo

Limo Pics:

waiting for "our rides"

The secret Limo

Red Carpet!

Bride to be

She's a natural

Chuggin' the Champers in the limo- Mary, Colie & Margo

Hayley- out the window

Jess, double fistin'

My shoes

the other end of the limo

Then we headed to the sail boat!  Where we met Val who came from a test - straight from medical school- and Grant, our captain for the day.  And we were off!  We went for a sail around the harbor, then into the lake for a swim!  Me and Baby Chobot did pretty well on the boat, we got in the water to swim too, so i don't have any photos of that part, but it was fun!  I did have to lay down for a bit after the cold dip in Lake Michigan.. brrrrrrr!  But the weather was perfect.  Such a beautiful day for a sail.

Here are some photos of the boat:

hayley

Add caption

Amazing view

Bachelorette

Chicago

More champers!

Here are the rest of the photos i took.  The end of our night included:  opening hilarious and sweet presents, Surprise Fireworks!  (we didn't actually set these up, in Chicago in the summer there are fireworks every Wednesday and Saturday nights at Navy Pier)- So awesome.

Opening hilarious "video" gifts here...

Hayley and Val- looking at the camera

Blur of the group

Fireworks on the water

Then after some gals left for the evening- the boat a few spaces down had a surprise for the bride to be. The one request Hayley had was- NO STRIPPERS---  well little did we know the guys at the boat down the way didn't get this memo and Grant got one of their friends to do a little strip tease for Hayley, Colie, Me, Val, Margo and Mary.  I didn't get too many photos of this either but it was really hilarious.

Hayley, Colie, and "Captain Stripper dude"

That's the only one i got.  the "stripper" pretended to be the captain of the boat. Hilarious.

And- here's the group photos!

Group Shot!

Such a fun night!  Can't wait for the wedding.
xo