Brutal Honesty and a Bit of Bravery

As this chapter as a pregnant woman is coming to an end I thought I'd write down in one LONG post the events and statistics of my pregnancy so far.

And here's where the bravery comes in...Here's my first and ONLY bare belly picture.

I'm currently 38 weeks pregnant, 14 days left until my due date on December 27 and 16 days until my scheduled induction on December 29!

• When did we find out I was pregnant: April 16, 2009 at 3 weeks 2 days pregnant. I was supposed to wait until the 22nd to test which was mine and Matt's 3 year anniversary but I was too impatient!
• How long before we got pregnant: After 2 1/2 years of not trying but not really preventing and then 7 long months of infertility testing and treatments and medicines, finally, pregnant!
• How I told Matt: He LOVES birthday cake and since he'd already left for the day and I didn't want to tell him over the phone, I went out and got a birthday cake that said "Congratulations, you're going to be a father" And surprised him with it when he got home from work.
• How we told our parents: We got baby frames and put on them "Congratulations Grandma and Grandpa!" and just mailed them to them without any warning!
• Weight gained to date: 7 pounds
• Waist measurement :41 1/2 inches
• Any Contractions? 2 hours worth last weekend and an occasional one here and there since then but have had loads of Braxton Hicks for a month or so
  Any Stretch Marks? Some small ones on my hips and thighs but so far none on my belly (I've heard the belly ones can come after giving birth so I'll wait for those)
• Belly Button: Amazingly still an ever so slight innie!
• Best part of pregnancy: Feeling Hendrix move! He has a party in my belly several times a day and it's so cool!
• Worst part of pregnancy: PAIN! Constant, excruciating, torturous pain! Back, hip, belly, rib, you name it, it hurts.
• Complications: Morning sickness which caused me to take Zofran that went from weeks 4-13 and reappeared at week 34 and seems to be here to stay. Heart palpitations at 18 weeks, was monitored and thankfully no further action was needed. Sciatica pain that started at 14 weeks and landed me in physical therapy 3 times a week for a few months. Gestational Diabetes at 28 weeks. Thankfully through it all, Hendrix has been healthy as can be and it's just my body that's been having issues!
• Nesting: I think it kicked in around 22 weeks and hasn't stopped since. Thus the nursery has been done since 24 weeks, I've already hand made all my birth announcements (just have to add a picture and the birth specifics) all baby clothes, bottles, blankets and accessories are washed and organized, I could go on and on!
• Favorite Ultrasound: Even though I was way excited for the gender ultrasound, I think my favorite one was the NT scan at 12 weeks. It's when Hendrix started to already show his little personality and was being stubborn. He had his back to us, wouldn't turn around and proceeded to shake his little hiney at us repeatedly as if to say "Neener Neener!"
• The Name Game: Hendrix actually came to me in a dream, loved the name ever since!
• Some of the most surprising things about pregnancy: 1) I never realized the pregnant woman waddle wasn't caused by weight or size but by the actual pain of it all. 2) I've become a huge whiner! I always thought I had a high tolerance to pain but when it's for months on end, my patience wears out and I turn into a whine monster! 3) I've always had terrible body image issues and I worried how a big pregnant belly would mess with my head. I surprised myself with this one, I absolutely love rockin' the pregnant belly! 4) I've got a case of labor vanity! My latest obsession is that I don't want our first "family" photo to be of Matt, Hendrix and I with me looking like I've just been run over by a bus! So if at all possible, before I start pushing, I intend to make sure my hair and makeup are in place so that after all that hard work and pushing, I'll hopefully still look semi decent! :)