Week 33: Christmas Cheer

 

I look just about as good as I feel in the picture this week.

The Christmas season has begun and I can't believe this, but.... my shopping is actually done. We have the tree up and the lights on it, and the decorations are unpacked! We will see exactly how many ornaments Frankie allows us to put on the tree without destruction, but other than that, I have kept decorations to a minimum this year. I have so many funny nativities and so on, but for the sake of my big old pregnant belly, keeping Frankie from destroying things, and putting decorations away with a newborn, I kept it simple. 

We cut down our own tree and went to the Arboretum's Winter Lights festival, both of which were absolutely amazing.... but I paid for it with lots of contractions and exhaustion after both events. Sometimes I don't feel very huge, but then I see pictures of myself and see how giant I am and realize how very close I am to the finish line. I went to 37+5 with Frankie... if Lark is anything like her sister, I will have a newborn within the next 4 weeks. Crazy!

How far along? 33 weeks
Maternity clothes? Yes, or Daniel's shirts and sweatpants
Stretch marks? No
Ankle Watch: Shockingly, still okay visually. A little sore.
Sleep: More, please. Stuffy nose, full bladder, and VV pain keep me awake most nights.
Best moment(s) this week: Hanging up a stocking for Lark in hopes she might join us for Christmas.
Miss Anything? My body not being a trojan horse.
Movement: Lark has hiccups allllll the time. I don't remember Frankie getting them like this!
Food cravings: Whatever will just get me through the hours without heartburn or effort. Food is uninteresting.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Not really, just don't have any interest in food.
Gender: I am woman
Labor Signs: Contractions this week, maybe they were gas... but they hurt all the same. 
Pregnancy Symptoms: The rhinitis is back. I got it bad with my first trimester, and I think the change in weather (currently 30 something) has helped bring this back. I'm sleeping with a humidifier and taking several hot showers a day. All the other things are still going strong, but the back pain has eased a bit.
Belly Button in or out? It is...... shapes. That's the only way I can describe it.
Rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, with moody moments when I am in pain. 
Looking forward to: More holiday events this weekend! Frankie might even meet Santa!