Never ending!

The stretch marks KEEP COMING.

It's gotten to the point where Mike will ask, "So, any new stretch marks today?"

REALLY? 

That's what you want to ask your hormonal pregnant wife?!

Ugh. I still love him.

Baby Got Back

And no, I'm not talking about Chloe.

I was wearing Mike's pajama bottoms because mine are getting a little snug. Apparently the problem isn't just my waistline, but my J.Lo booty. My pants ripped when I struggled to get off the couch....and just kept on ripping.

Thankfully Mike thought it was more hilarious than upsetting, since they're his pants.

I find it upsetting that he finds it hilarious.

Oh well. Chunky chicks take longer to freeze to death than skinny ones. Boo ya.

I like to move it, move it.

Mobility is starting to be a problem.

When I wake up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, I have to hook one leg around the mattress so I can haul myself out of the bed. I come back and I have to just kind of drop myself down and bounce a little until I find a comfortable position.

I haven't been eating as many cupcakes (oh Hostess, I love you) lately, so my intense struggle to breathe after going up ONE flight of stairs in the LA building must have something to do with the fact that Chloe is causing some major lung-smashing.

Basically I am depending on bouncy cushions on the couches and bed in order to get comfortable. If I get stuck in said cushion, it takes awhile to get out. Even bending down to get something creates a really awesome grunting sound...Mike tells me not to overdo it and ask for help, but let's be honest. 

I want to be independent as long as possible. 

I probably only have a few weeks left until Mike has to put on my shoes for me.

*high-pitched screaming*

I got my first stretch mark today. Or at least noticed it. 

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

I didn't think I would mind, because I've got a few little stretch marks around my hips from my growth spurts (the vertical ones, lol), but they are NOTHING compared to this!

Long, thick and PURPLE.

This is NOT okay. 

I warned Mike about it because I would probably start to cry or punch him in the face if he asked me what it is. I'm going to get more and I'm pretty sad about it. I mean, I'm already getting fat, but why can't I still have good skin? I've had people tell me that I'm glowing...

Nope. Just the excess oil in my face from both hormones and my own awesome genetics. Thanks for noticing.

I will be purchasing some skin product that claims to "diminish the appearance of stretch marks." It will probably do nothing, but I don't care. I need to at least pretend to get rid of them!

SO blessed!

Apparently I lied when I said I wouldn't take a 24 week picture.

Am I as colossal as I feel???

Rather than debate my rapid growth toward being a walrus, I want to focus on how blessed Mike and I are. We have the best family and friends anyone could ask for. Everyone has been so supportive and not one person has dwelled on anything negative. I love you guys.

Also, I want to publicly thank (geez, I sound like I'm accepting a Grammy!) (Oh man, wouldn't that be AWESOME?!) my cousin Alyse and her husband, Shawn. They have the cutest little girl, Aryn, who will soon be four and they donated lots of baby stuff to us!

I want to wait to post pictures until we have Chloe's room set up, but here is a list of the things they gave us:

-A crib

-A bouncher

-A swing

-Diaper Genie

-Glider

HOLY COW!

We won the lottery!

Mike and I have been stressing so much over how we were going to get Chloe quality stuff without having money problems and my wonderful cousin was the answer to our prayers! It's quite the advantage, being younger than most of your family when you start having kids. ;)

Thank you SO MUCH, Alyse and Shawn! And thanks to everyone else who has been helping us out by letting us use the stuff your kids grow out of. We're extremely grateful!

Zzz...

I realized today that I have to start either taking naps or going to bed by 10:00 every night.

I was driving home from school and I realized that I was driving forty-five miles an hour and some old grandma was tailing me.

The tired phase has begun!

24 Weeks

I don't have a picture for this week, but the belly hasn't grown much. My photographer thinks it's weird to take a weekly picture, but he's a guy. He doesn't understand. :)

My appointment went well today. Dr. Nance and I talked about what's going to happen once she's born. There will be pediatricians and surgeons who will assess her feet and we will move on from there. It makes me nervous that I might not be with her for awhile right after she's born, but I'm trying to focus on the blessing that the doctors can help her.

Chloe is enjoying the space under my left rib. I keep pushing her out but she wiggles her way back in. Little stinker!

She's not on my sciatic nerve as much this week, and I'm grateful. Dr. Nance gave me a sheet with a bunch of exercises I can do to help relieve the pain when she decides to party on it again.

My weight gain is right on track, my blood pressure is good and I don't waddle yet. I have a hard time being as big as I am...I feel like I should be much smaller, but Jamie keeps reminding me that I'm almost 6 months pregnant...I should show. :)

Well, I love hearing Chloe's heartbeat and I get to again on April 11, the day before my birthday!