29 weeks! Woot!

Frontal view of my belly at 29weeks 2 days. BRAVE, I know! See that discoloration above my belly button? that's frickin scar tissue from the damn belly button piercing! Fck! It bothers Gene more than me, but I think it's just something I have to live with now, im sure the bar won't go through anymore and Gene is on the hunt for it anyways to throw it in the trash! He just hates it that much! LOL weirdo!

At this point in your pregnancy, your baby's crown-to-rump length is approximately 10.4 inches and the total length of your baby is around 16.7 inches. Your baby weighs about 2.7 pounds and continues to grow every day. If you measure from your bellybutton, your uterus is 3.5 to 4 inches above it. Total weight gain at this point is usually between 19 and 25 pounds.

• I definitely haven't weighed myself as Nov 14th is midwife appt day and then I will see how much weight i've gained in 3 weeks
• I have been eating super sheity this week, like pop and pastries sheity...I wonder why? Not too much in the chips dept, but after I eat something im like, "I need something chocolately to cut this taste." Or if I go out, 9/10 times i'm like, "I need pop" ...i don't always give in, but the next day, it's the same requests! haha. Maybe I should just admit it's a craving? but i'm not convinced as i'm not SUPER compelled...i just like that feeling of pop down my throat! Who knows what I mean? hehe.  Sorry little baby for the chemicals i'm exposing you to!
• on a brighter note, i've been really consumed with a good calcium intake as ive heard of stories of moms..ok...1 mom... at work who had some serious bone problems and cavities as she either didn't consume enough calcium or the baby just leeched a lot of it. for the last i dont know...4 months? i've been buying chocolate milk from Safeway...honestly, their Lucerne 2% chocolate milk is soooo yummyy...it's the best one out there next to the Avalon brand (which is expensive). too bad i just realized it was 2% yesterday, as all this time i've been thinking it's 1% ...but whatever. taste so good!

Babies that are born prematurely can be very tiny. Even a baby that is only a few weeks early can be very small. Your baby will grow rapidly from now until week 36, and then at a slower rate thereafter. Generally, boys weigh more than girls at birth. The average baby's birth weight at full term is 7 to 7.5 pounds.

• I wonder how big this baby will be? again, the sheit food i'm downing really will not help my baby or the baby's weight, or my idea of returning to pre-baby weight instantly! hahaha.  I'm guessing ill have a 7.5-8lb baby...is that big?

You might notice some leakage of colostrums from your breasts around this time. Colostrums is a sticky, watery substance that provides your baby's first food if you choose to breastfeed. Milk does not come in immediately after delivery and colostrums is high in calories and enough for your baby's first few days of life. Your baby is stimulating the production of colostrums. The baby's body is ensuring that there will be a readily available food supply after delivery.

• I definitely don't have any colostrum leakage that i've noticed...but it appears like something to look forward to?! (yeah right). but ok, there may be TMI  info here, but my right areola is always itchy and dry...like this is the first time EVER i've had this issue! WTF! I have to tell myself not to scratch as i don't want my skin to start flaking, and i'm trying to moisturize it w/ either some oil or some of Lucas' Paw-Paw ointment..but I dont know. The left areola is fine, just the right! UGGHH!
• and speaking of skin, bought a baby&me nursing bra (looks more like a sports bra) from theBay as it's 95% cotton, was 40% off on sale, and that well I needed SOMETHING to stop making the skin under my boobs/bra line itch like a biatch! Seriously, it's only at work, and im sure it's because im actually sweating at work and my bigger boobs and bigger belly are just trapping the heat and moisture at that localized spot! again, it's not like i have some sort of candida infection, it feels moist, so I itch, and itch, and itch ...and it get's red and worse! haha! the new bra helps somewhat, but i've seriously resorted to using some zinc and unisalve at work to help with this issue
• OH and speaking of skin AGAIN, i've had some clusters of dry skin patches on the right side of my body only! like my right forearm, my boobs/nipple issue, my right hip...WTF! weird how it's only on one side

Your baby will continue to open and close his eyes in the womb and may be able to see silhouettes of objects or even people in the right amount of light. Your baby should be moving many times throughout the day. Some of your baby's movements will be predictable and if you notice a decrease in fetal movements, you should lie down and do a fetal kick count. You should feel your baby move approximately ten times in an hour. If you do not notice the proper amount of movements, you should contact your healthcare provider.

• i definitely know i had some sort of growth spurt this week as my belly just seems bigger, firmer, fuller, and just pregnant!
• baby's movements have been STRONG. I dont feel it as much at work as im constantly walking around, but even at brief moments of rest/sitting down, the baby is kicking and moving and shuffling lots (so haven't really been conscious of the kick counts as it's definitely been more than 6 in 2 hours)
• this week ive really noticed and actually quite enjoyed watching the pulsating and rippling of my abdomen! For those that don't know what I mean, really, it is literally pulsating and waves of ripples on your abdomen coming from the inside that you can see on the outside.  It's very extra-terrestrial but also super cool. Gene was also able to see some of the rippling, but it's hard to time such moments
• i've been poking my abdomen quite a bit to get a response. baby definitely loves my right side, but I feel some left, upper, and lower movements now...im convinced my placenta must be on my left side hence why the movements are less felt there
• some patterns of movement ive noticed: when im conscious enough in that early waking up stage, baby is already moving (but doesnt wake me up yet), when Moe bothers us in the morning and meows- baby is either already up, or is responding to Moe, whenever I lie on my left side for prolonged periods, and around the 9-11pm time
• I wish I can catch some of this rippling and pulsating on video!! i'll try in a few weeks, though i have no idea how to upload it..so what's the point right?! haha but i have posted a video from youtube that is basically what I also am feeling and seeing.  There are some CRAZY ones from 35weeks plus, but I found this one of at 24 week belly that is essentially the same as mine

just too cool

Research has shown that your baby is not only able to hear, but also able to recognize your own voice. This shows that your baby can already learn, remember and recognize.

• i haven't really been talking to the baby directly...but i talk enough in general so i think we're ok. ive also been playing lots of Elvis christmas music, maybe i should start with some Bon Jovi this week?
• had some mood swings this week..as in majorly irritated at Gene in general...i think it's one of those weeks he doesnt have to do anything but be ALIVE to be annoying LOL!
• had some throat burn with McDonalds junior chicken and fries, and another throat burn with McD's little cheeseburger and fries....no more of THAT! but again, to add to my list of sheity diets this week, I had 2 burger king whoppers (no, not at the same day) and was totally fine...baby isn't a McD's fan!
• also had some throat burn with halloween cookies...like the beigey colored ones that you use a cookie cutter on and sprinkle with colored sugar ...baby didn't like that at all
• my faint linea nigra hasn't really expanded
• belly button is wider but hasn't popped out

• HOWEVER, again with this skin issue, i think my old stretch marks are getting stretch marks. I just noticed some pin point red dots at the tip of some of the ones on my side. i'm sad about this...but accepted the facts of life enough to post a picture. Gene says he is sorry for me, but assures me he doesn't care. Boooo to stretch marks!!
• going for my last dental appointment of the year on nov 16th ...i think i should be able to tolerate that trendelenberg position ..my belly isn't that giant and overwhelming
• my current issue/obsession is figuring out the MAT Leave and vacation process at work, im seriously annoyed by it and how im not getting a quick response from the admins or at least getting some run-around response that is totally not satisfactory..fck! Right now, im planning to go off on VACATION Jan 2-Jan 31st and start my mat leave Feb 1st
• oh and FML, mild-moderate constipation is back (yes i know this is nothing to some, but something major for me haha)! ok, so i haven't been eating my cereal as much as I like, but enough that im happy with the intake (and tolerating it), but the output just isn't as awesome as before with the same intake! Ugh! I drink so much water...i don't know how people who dont drink water as much as I do cope! I don't want grape sized hemorrhoids!
• haven't bought anything for the baby, but I saw this diaper bag and thus am now 80% compelled to have it.  doing the internet research whenever im off and dilly-dallying to a bunch of stores just to get a hands on feel for it.  I really like it!  It's the skip-hop Dash bag

photo credit

How is my life changing according to babycenter?
Your baby's very active now. Your healthcare provider may ask you to spend some time each day counting kicks and will give you specific instructions on how to do this. Let your provider know if you ever notice that your baby is becoming less active. You may need a nonstress test or biophysical profile to check on your baby's condition.
Some old friends — heartburn and constipation — may take center stage now. The pregnancy hormone progesterone relaxes smooth muscle tissue throughout your body, including your gastrointestinal tract. This relaxation, coupled with the crowding in your abdomen, slows digestion. Sluggish digestion can cause gas and heartburn — especially after a big meal — and contribute to constipation.

• oh great!

Your growing uterus may also be contributing to hemorrhoids. These swollen blood vessels in your rectal area are common during pregnancy. Fortunately, they usually clear up in the weeks after giving birth.  If they're itchy or painful, try soaking in a sitz bath or applying cold compresses medicated with witch hazel to the affected area. Avoid sitting or standing for long stretches. Talk with your provider before using any over-the-counter remedies during pregnancy, and let your provider know if you have any rectal bleeding. To prevent constipation, eat a high-fiber diet, drink plenty of water, and get some regular exercise.

• i already do this! it's not a cure all!

Some women get something called "supine hypotensive syndrome" during pregnancy. This happens when lying flat on your back causes a change in heart rate and blood pressure that makes you feel dizzy until you change position. You might notice that you feel lightheaded if you stand up too quickly, too. To avoid "the spins," lie on your side rather than your back, and move slowly as you go from lying down to sitting and then standing.

• i think i've had some lightheaded spells while at work, but it lasts briefly and happens only once or twice in a 4 shift set...and i was already standing! so im not sure...probably just a glitch in perfusion