I think I'm Pregnant.

It's just a hunch I have, but I believe now that I am actually pregnant.

No; it's not because my belly, as I'm typing, is shaking from side to side because someone other than myself has an intense case of the hiccups. It's not because nothing I own fits me. It's not because when I walk through a store eyes are immediately drawn to my midsection. Surpringly, I believe I'm pregnant for several other reasons.

It's time for a new symptoms update, folks. I gave you one at the beginning, in the middle, and now this one will close out our pregnancy. These are far less entertaining than the other sets, and if you don't want to hear me whine you should go back to whatever you were doing. There will be whining, there will be complaining, and you will probably get grossed out... this blog is not for the weak of heart.

These symptoms blogs are more for myself than you. Sorry. They're fun to look back on for me. Before I started this one, I actually read the other two and actually laughed at myself because I had no idea what was headed my way. The things I thought were bad in the beginning don't hold a candle to some of these new ones. And the funny stuff is good for me to remember as well, because it reminds me that I have enjoyed being pregnant and even with this new batch - and the whining - I'm in love with Leah and happy to get her safely to week 40, or 39, or 38.

I could give you a list of bulleted symptoms, but that would just be long, boring, and sound too much like I'm just whining... so I'll give you them all in detail. That's more fun anyways, wouldn't you say?

Let's just dive right in:

Grossest: My gums now bleed a ridiculous amount when I brush my teeth. I have always prided myself on my spectacular gums and teeth. And I had also read how swollen/bleeding gums are common in pregnancy, but I'm at the end, surely I would have had that by now, right? Well, I guess it was just waiting for me, because the last three days I have been horrified while brushing my teeth. The first day, I chalked it up to a popsicle that had eaten that I assumed has just stuck on my tongue. I disregarded the fact that the popsicle was purple and I was spitting red. The second day, I really began to question it... no popsicles to blame. Today it couldn't be ignored anymore. While brushing my teeth, I might as well have been brushing them with blood. I paused halfway through and looked at my mouth, toothpaste and all, and was absolutely horrified. Blood was pouring out of every crack in my mouth! It doesn't hurt, but it is completely alarming. My dentist actually warned me about it when I went to see him a month or so ago. Of course, he also told me I had perfect gums and teeth so I disregarded it. I'm now recalling that conversation clearly.

Most Painful: This is a toss-up between my back and my shins, but I believe I'll save the back for a different category and tell you about my permanent shin splints. I suppose it's the extra weight. You know, the 21lbs I've gained in 33 weeks and the 5lb baby I'm carrying without being able to set her down. Oh man. I have always gotten shin splints very easliy. If I walk to fast I get them. Running is almost a nightmare. But I never expected to just have shin splints from carrying extra weight. Sometimes I think my shins might just snap in half. Thankfully they haven't, yet.

Most Beneficial: The nesting. I write about this one a lot, but it definitely is the most fun and helpful for me. I am getting things cleaned out and organized that I wouldn't have done normally. And it feels so.good. I'm probably driving Kyle crazy, but I can't help myself. I guess it comes from a need to just have everything neat and perfect for this little girl coming in just 6 weeks. I also don't want to have to worry about doing anything once she's here - so I am trying my hardest to get it all done now. Most of the closets are cleaned out, most of her room is put together, and sometime soon I will start precooking and freezing meals. I don't want to live off of fast food after she's born, and I love to cook - so I'm excited to start that one. However, no one wants freezer burnt food, so I will wait a little bit longer.

Most Consistent: The back pain. Oh my goodness with the back pain. I get that she's heavy, but man. I've found there is little I can do to relieve it, too. Bummer. Stretching helps some, but if I stretch too far or for too long I end up hurting something else. It's quite a predicament. I've got scoliosis to begin with, so sometimes I wonder if that is making it worse or has any effect on it at all. I'll probably be a hunch back by the time this whole experience is over.

Most Troubling: Not being able to get a good, solid breath. Some days are worse than others for this. I guess it all depends on how she is laying. For instance yesterday, I was practically wheezing while sitting down. I was certain she had inhabited one or both of my lungs. I was huffing and puffing, meanwhile not being able to inhale deeply. There's absolutely nothing you can do for that either. Just wait it out, and thank God for the little breaths I do get to take. However, today, she is back down where she belongs and I am breathing (relatively) easy.

Biggest Change: The biggest change from the second trimester to this one is just size. My size, Leah's size, and the size of my belly. I absolutely cannot bend over with ease anymore. Sometimes I can't bend over at all. It's also pretty darn uncomfortable to sit with my legs crossed. And if I do get an opportunity to bend, and stay like that for any period of time, I get kicked until I sit back. Someone is getting very territorial of her space, Heaven forbid I cram it any. But I don't blame her. I wonder if all of her growing makes her as uncomfortable as it's making me? If so, I feel bad for her. She has no idea what's going on, or what's coming her way. I kind of think she is oblivious though, she still seems to kick and play as hard and long as she ever has.

Biggest Craving: Cereal by far wins this category. I can't get enough of it. I would honestly eat it every day and for every meal if I didn't feel bad for depriving Leah of things like fruit, meat, and vegetables. I don't know what it is about cereal that I want so badly, but it's all I think about. I eat it for breakfast, and I reward myself with a bowl after work. Sometimes, I eat it for dinner as well, but I try not to do that too much. I make sure that my snacks are extra nutritious, as well as my lunch; and dinner, if I can help not having a bowl of Lucky Charms. So I don't feel too bad about it. She is still getting a daily supply of cheese, berries, oranges, squash, tomatoes, zucchini, and of course plenty of almond milk with her cereal.

Most Annoying: My inner temperature. I am so hot! All of the time. And coming from a person who used to always be cold, this is a very bizarre change. I sleep with absolutely no covers, and still wake up most nights uncomfortably hot. Kyle now tells me when it's cold... I never thought I'd see that day. Most of the time I am in some kind of dress or skirt because pants and jeans are almost unbearable. I guess it's the fact that I'm carrying the body heat of another person around, but I did not expect her to be big enough to have an effect on me. Boy was I wrong. I fully intend on sweating my way through June.

Most Fun Thing: I know a lot of these are complaints, but I have to remind myself how much fun I have with her when she kicks, rolls, punches, and hiccups. I love watching her move. And now I can see it no matter what. She can't hide from me. She is so big and the amniotic fluid she's living in is maxed out so there's not a lot between her big body and the skin of my belly. It makes me forget all of the other stuff when I just get to sit on the couch and watch her plan and wonder just what in the world she is doing.

I'm Happiest About: The fact that my ring still fits. I rarely have signifigant swelling, and when I have had it it has come when the weather has been hot. My ankles and feet have yet to experience swelling that I can tell. I am super thankful for that. Now I'm just in a competition with myself to see how long I can keep my ring on. Water is seriously the only thing I have to thank for this. And I guess the fact that I watch my sodium like a hawk, and try not to eat out when I can help it. It's kind of a bummer denying myself McDonalds when I want it, but I would be bummed out even more if I was super swollen.

Most Disturbing: Well, it happened. I got my first stretch mark. Nooooo. I noticed it over the weekend. It's not very big, or dark, but it's there. I had Kyle thoroughly inspect it, and he gave me the final diagnosis. Rats. But I made it to 33 weeks without one, and I still only have one, so I can't complain too much. I was completely obsessed with it for a while, but I've calmed down some since I first saw it. I knew it was coming, after all, have you seen this belly of mine? There is obviously stretching going on.

I suppose that was the last tell tale sign that I am indeed pregnant. Now I believe it. We are having a baby. One that is big and still growing. I can whine and complain all I want, but we only have six more weeks to make it through and then we finally get to see her! Some days are worse than others, but I'll take all of them, even the worst of the worst because they mean Leah is one healthy, strong, and active baby - and that's really all I care about. I am determined to enjoy them, too. I might complain some, but the truth is I realize that I just have six weeks left with this little girl in my belly (and all to myself) and I want to soak it all up. I will be pregnant again someday, but not with Leah. This is our one shot together, and it has been a blast.