Showing posts with label pregnancy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pregnancy. Show all posts

Sunday, September 9, 2012

That's a Wrap!

We made it!

39 Weeks (or "The Half Day I Was 39 Weeks Pregnant")

Countdown: 0 days! Time to have a baby!! 

 

Ok, technically I was only 39 weeks pregnant for 14 hours and 33 minutes. That's when Claire came into the world :) But I still wanted to post one last picture from that morning to show just exactly how big my belly got! My next post is going to be all about the day Claire was born and the days leading up to it (I know she's what everyone wants to read about anyway ;) It's so weird to look back at this picture. I wasn't really nervous (yet!), I was just ready. It was taken right before we left for the hospital, about five hours before we met our sweet girl and our lives were forever changed.

And the final belly comparison...

W.H.O.A.

Sunday, September 2, 2012

38 Weeks

Countdown: ONE WEEK!!!


How far along? 38 weeks...this update is a little bittersweet as 38 weeks is my last full week of being pregnant! I'll get to be 39 weeks and 1 day for a few hours ;) And yes, we'll still take a picture.
Maternity clothes? same as last week- a mix, but definitely needing to wear maternity tops. Belly hangs out of others and that's just not cute! My favorites are the ones with the ruching, just covers better (kind of cups the belly rather than hanging off)
Movement? She moves all the time- feels like she's pushing around trying to make more room! I think she's having herself a little going away party and packing her bags...it's her last night in there! :) She also got the hiccups tonight (Sunday)- might be the last time I feel them before we meet her!
Cravings? Nothing this week other than the usual (SWEETS). We've been eating out a lot the past couple of weeks, so I feel like I've had such a variety of food, I've haven't had time to crave anything!
Anything make you queasy or sick? still just nauseous in the mornings and if I get a little too full
Sleep? other than getting up several times during the night to use the restroom (I think the record was five times), I sleep ok. I've had a couple nights of waking up and not being able to get back to sleep, but luckily only a couple
Best moment this week: Whew- what a week! First of all, my last day at work was Wednesday and I started my maternity leave Thursday. It was really nice to have a couple extra days to myself to work on things and rest and relax before the big day. Friday we had our last appointment and ultrasound- I'll explain more below, but I will say I am so grateful that baby looks so healthy...even if she is a little on the chubby side ;) We also had a nice "last weekend before we become parents!"= had dinner with my dad, stepmom, Laura and Annie; made it to a friend's wedding Saturday; had a good NST Sunday morning at the hospital then spent the day being lazy and doing a few last minute things around the house.
Gender: sweet girl
Labor signs? Having more contractions with pain, but still no consistent pattern
Symptoms? same ole, same ole- tired; swelling- I'm surprised my feet don't burst some days!; losing my breath easily; nausea; the urge to pee constantly...
Belly button in or out? Out! I hope it goes back after...
What I miss: not much...but I feel like I am going to miss being pregnant- being able to protect her, easily provide for her, feeling her move. However, I'm so excited to have her on the "other side" :)
Appointment Updates:  So my appointments this week were anything but uneventful! The NST Tuesday was quick and looked great. Like I said earlier, we went for our last doctor appointment and ultrasound Friday. Baby looked great- heart rate good, breathing and moving like she should be- but she was measuring "off the charts". Her estimated weight was 9lbs, 9oz. Big girl! This was quite a bit larger than we were expecting, so we had to have a big talk with the doctor about what to do- induce vs ultrasound. With her size and my frame, the fact that I haven't made progress so far,  and considering the risks of each scenario (and after a lot of tears on my part), we ultimately decided to have a c-section. I always knew an c-section was a possibility and was never opposed to having one, but it wasn't my first choice and one I had never really thought it through completely. It was also hard to make such a big decision in such a short amount of time, but we feel this is the safest, surest way to get her here. While it's surgery and little riskier for me, I feel like it's the best thing to do for her health and safety.
What I am looking forward to: meeting our baby girl TOMORROW!!
Milestones: It's time to have a baby :)

Sunday, August 26, 2012

37 Weeks

Countdown: technically 3...but for us, TWO!


How far along? 37 weeks
Maternity clothes? mixing and wearing a lot of the same stuff over and over
Movement? just rolling that little butt from side to side. I took Thursday off from work and she must have loved it! She was moving all over the place especially in the afternoon and that night. You could just see my belly moving all over the place! She was head down at our appointment that morning, so I'm just hoping that wasn't her flipping over!!
Cravings? really wanted Taco Bell this week. Gross, I know, but yum.
Anything make you queasy or sick? the mornings!
Sleep? still can't complain! Sleeping really well, but still tired regardless.
Best moment this week: officially have our induction scheduled! It's SO weird how close it is... I also loved having Thursday off this week- was able to rest, relax, AND work on nursery projects! (about time, right??)
Gender: busy little girl
Labor signs? none
Symptoms? irregular contractions; tired; swelling; losing my breath easily; nausea; the urge to pee constantly...you know, the norm :)
Belly button in or out? OUT! (and I swear it's off centered...)
What I miss: not much. I am really so grateful for such an easy pregnancy so far. Of course I could do without the constant exhaustion and puffiness, but otherwise I feel so great. I'm comfortable, I feel good, I can move around and do most things I want to- I just don't have much to complain about!
Appointment Updates:  Both appointments this week were uneventful- all looked good! At the NST, the monitor started picking up my contractions, so maybe this means they are getting stronger and actually DOING something. Ultrasound looked good, she gave them everything they were looking for pretty quickly, so we actually got done on time (for once!). She's moving, doing a great job with her breathing, and all that good stuff. Fluid levels are the same, they didn't check me so no update there. We got the call Monday that they have scheduled us to be induced on September 2nd. We will go in that night to get things started, but won't start Pitocin until mid-morning on the 3rd. I still can't believe we will meet our baby in less than 2 weeks!! But couldn't be more excited :)
What I am looking forward to: my last day of work next week and enjoying a couple of days to do whatever (aka do nothing if I so choose ;) before we meet the little lady! (that is unless she decides to come on her own, which is ok with me, too!!)
Milestones: Full term!! Woo hoo!


 
found these on our back porch when I got home the other day- sweet delivery from (almost) Aunt Laura :)

I can't believe I'm going to put this on the internet (and I hope this doesn't gross anyone out too much!), but I had to show yall this swelling!! It looks like I have little golfballs where my ankles used to be. The swelling goes right up to my toes and stops. You can even see the creases from my ankle fat rolls (especially on my right foot) from standing! Oy! Seriously, this swelling is no joke. I don't even know if I'll recognize my ankles when we meet again ;)

Sunday, August 19, 2012

36 Weeks

Countdown: FOUR weeks!
(after this week we actually know it's more like THREE weeks!)


How far along? 36 weeks
Maternity clothes? still mixing- basically 2 pairs of maternity pants, 2 pairs of regular pants (cotton/stretchy), 4 non-mat skirts, and a few dresses (1 is maternity!). Really starting to love maternity tops though- having to tug way too much on regular shirts.
Movement? rolling around, little jumps/kicks every now and then, and the hiccups 2-3 times a day!
Cravings? still nothing. Fruit always sounds good though
Anything make you queasy or sick? just having an empty stomach- feel nauseous
Sleep? sleep has been pretty decent! Waking up 3-4 times a night to pee, but can typically fall back to sleep easily
Best moment this week: good reports at our doctors appointments and discussing a possible induction date! We also got to see a good picture of her face at the ultrasound- can't believe we'll be meeting her so soon! Also enjoyed spending some time with family and friends celebrating my mom and Kelly's birthdays!
Gender: Girl : )
Labor signs? none
Symptoms? BH contractions with some cramping, but no pattern; TIRED no matter what; Swelling- from my feet to my knees. If you press on my feet or legs, it looks like a memory foam mattress! I usually have "cankles" by the end of the day most days- although my doctor said my swelling isn't too bad considering the time of year, my fluid levels, and carrying around a bigger baby; nausea; going to the bathroom about 3,207 times a day...approximately ;)
Belly button in or out?out for the duration!
What I miss: this kind of goes along with last week, but I miss my ankles! They have just about disappeared. Sometimes I can get a glimpse of them first thing in the morning, but it doesn't take long to puff up.
Appointment Updates: NST looked great. She passed her ultrasound/BPP "flying colors"- the u/s tech had to shake my belly around a little bit to wake her up and she started shaking her head back and forth and waving her hand around :) My fluid is back up a little bit, but not as high as it was a couple of weeks ago. Despite all of the contractions and cramping, I'm not dilated any yet- just practicing I suppose... Our doctor also started to discuss an induction date as she would like to deliver while both me and baby are healthy and everything looks good. We are just waiting to hear back from the hospital scheduler- we are looking at the first week of September, so most likely she will be here by the 4th!!
What I am looking forward to: enjoying spending time with J over these next couple of weeks. Also want to let this girl "cook" a big longer (I'm not tired of being pregnant or even uncomfortable, so I'm fine with her staying put as long as is safe!) and get a few more things ready for her arrival
Milestones: Hello month 9 :) And tentatively scheduling an induction date!

Sunday, August 12, 2012

35 Weeks

Countdown: 5 weeks!


How far along? 35 weeks
Maternity clothes? a mix- kind of getting tired of wearing the same things over and over, but oh well!
Movement? Just rolling and wiggling : ) Every so often I'll get a big kick that makes my whole belly jump!
Cravings? to J's disappointment, not much. He really hoped I would crave ice cream and stuff all the time so that he would have an excuse to pig out, too ; ) However, milkshakes have been sounding SO good this week!
Anything make you queasy or sick? I have been nauseous lately. Usually in the mornings or while eating
Sleep? overall I'm sleeping really well. I of course wake up to change position or use the bathroom, but I feel like when I am asleep, it's good sleep. However, I'm just tired no matter how much I sleep or don't sleep, but I still appreciate all that I get!
Best moment this week: seeing our sweet baby's face on the monitor. It was just so clear! The tech gave us a precious picture of her chin/nose/mouth. I just can't wait to meet her and kiss that sweet nose!
Gender: GIRL! (as confirmed 5 times now on ultrasound...someone isn't very modest)
Labor signs? none
Symptoms? BH contractions; tired; puffy some days, plain ole swollen others; back pain; nausea; sometimes my tailbone is sore (?)
Belly button in or out? OUT!
What I miss: being able to wear real shoes and not just flip flops!
Appointment Updates: Baby did great at her NST Monday. She was moving all around and getting that heart rate up!
Thursday's ultrasound went great as well. She checked out well on everything- moving, breathing, organs, etc- and is measuring in the 84th percentile! Whoa! Right now her estimated weight is 6lbs, 12oz. I think we're going to have a big girl ; ) The tech checked my fluid twice to be sure and got 25cm. This is still on the highest end of normal, but I was relieved to hear it wasn't measuring as high as last week. I also had my Group B Stress test this week- fun...
What I am looking forward to: we have a breastfeeding class this week that I've really been looking forward to. I'm pretty anxious about the whole breastfeeding thing since it seems to be such a challenge for most new moms, so I'm hoping it will help when the time comes! I'm also looking forward to meeting a potential pediatrician next week :)
Milestones: 35 weeks=35 (or less!) days to go!!! And started weekly doctor appointments this week

Look at her grow!

35/35 :)

Doing our Monday thing!

Monday, August 6, 2012

35/35

Today is a big day! 35 weeks pregnant=35 days to go!


Sunday, August 5, 2012

34 Weeks

Countdown: 6 weeks!



How far along? 34 weeks
Maternity clothes? Still mixing- I'd say about 20% maternity, 80% non
Movement? She rolls around or pushes against me almost constantly. It's becoming much easier to tell when she's sleeping! Every once in a while I will still get a little jab or kick, too :)
Cravings? nothing really!
Anything make you queasy or sick? nope...
Sleep? has been pretty good this week- hooray!
Best moment this week: once again...seeing her on the ultrasound! It's so fun to see her- this week she furrowed her brow and leaned her neck all the way back. We also got a shot of her little nose!! I can't believe we'll be kissing that nose soon :)
J and I found out this week that we are going to have a nephew! So that means baby E is going to have a boy cousin to boss around ;)
Gender: Girl
Labor signs? none
Symptoms? BH contractions (still not ready to put this under "labor signs'!), tired, SWELLING (ankles, feet, a little bit in my hands), back pain, nausea (it's baaaaaaaaaack!)
Belly button in or out? Out. Every once in a while she will get in a position where it goes down (flat), but most of the time it's popped! P.S. the insides of belly buttons are weird...
What I miss: not much!
Appointment Updates: Non-stress test Monday was great! At the ultrasound Thursday, baby looked perfect. However, we found out my fluid (which was already at the high end of normal) had gone up quite a bit from the previous week. High fluid levels can cause pre-term labor, so I am just taking it easy and paying attention to the frequency of contractions.So far, nothing out of the norm (not painful, inconsistent)
What I am looking forward to: getting some more work done in the nursery!
Milestones: We will have a baby NEXT MONTH! August is here and she could be anytime, too! If I were to go into labor now, they wouldn't try to stop it. She's developed enough to be ok, but of course we'd like her to keep maturing :) I'm not sure if it was the appointment Thursday or what, but suddenly I'm feeling ready for this baby! It's still hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that we having a baby, but at the same time, I'm ready for her (or as ready as I can be :)

We started training Cash with the baby doll over the weekend. So far, he's doing really well with it. Usually when I carry around a toy, he chases after me or tries to jump up for it. He hasn't been doing that with the doll- just wants to sniff it and lick it. I'm hoping this is a good sign....but we'll see when that doll becomes a real life baby and is kicking and screaming!!


A few other shots from this week...

an adorable outfit I couldn't resist for next Summer!

Surprising Meg for her 29th birthday!

a little pancakes and syrup to wake someone up for their ultrasound ;)

Monday, July 30, 2012

33 Weeks

(posting a day later than usual for last week, but 34 weeks today!)


Countdown: 7 weeks to go!! (or 49 days!)


How far along? 33 weeks
Maternity clothes? A mix. My regular wardrobe (the stuff I wear over and over) basically consists of this:
Maternity- one pair of black pants, one pair of jeans and a few short sleeve shirts
Non-maternity- a few dresses, 2 maxi skirts, 2 loose fitting black pants, and several tops (I have a few that I got one size bigger and tanks/shirts with some stretch in them. I like to pair those with open cardigans for work)
Movement? She's moving as much as she can! Sometimes her movements and stretches are a little uncomfortable, but I'm sure she's a little uncomfortable, too! I'll take all the movement we can get though. Her movements are usually pretty slow and feel kind of like a golf ball rolling under my skin- kind of weird! She also gets the hiccups almost daily :)
Cravings? fruit and sweets! Can't get enough.
Anything make you queasy or sick? still sticking to small meals, avoiding citrusy stuff and carbonated drinks
Sleep? It's ok. I have developed a little bit of a pattern- I sleep really well one night, and awful the next, then really well, then bad again. I think I get so well rested on the good nights, I can't sleep the next, and then I'm so exhausted, I have a good night's sleep that night. At least half the time I'm getting decent sleep!
Best moment this week: seeing her on the ultrasound, of course! She was covering her face with her hands, but we were actually able to make out her face a little bit- her mouth, nose, and CHEEKS. Ah! I'm just going to melt into a little puddle on the floor when we meet her :)
We had our last shower at the end of the week given by my sisters and one of my best friends, Tricia. The girls threw a beautiful shower and baby girl really racked up!! She's a lucky baby for sure :) Again, I will post pictures sometime this week!
Gender: Girl
Labor signs? none
Symptoms?  heartburn/reflux (I'm nervous to say it out loud, but it has been much better this week!), BH contractions, tired, SWELLING (just my ankles luckily), back pain- the only way to relieve it is to stand or walk around (as soon as I sit back down, it starts again) or to raise my right arm up over my head to my left shoulder- kind of hard to get things done that way though...I think it may be time for a massage! :) And having a hard time catching my breath- my lungs are quickly getting crowded and at times it almost feels like I'm suffocating...yikes.
Belly button in or out? I noticed Wednesday morning that it popped out! It still sticks out more around the top edge, but the thing is out!
What I miss: not much!
Appointment Updates (figured I should add this since we have appointments every week now): She did great for her non-stress test Monday. At the ultrasounds they check for 8 things (I'm not sure what all they are- I know it includes my fluid level and her movement), this week they had gotten everything they needed except her movements, so they had to "buzz" her a few times to get her moving! She was probably just sleeping, poor thing. I know she must get tired of us bothering her every 3 days ;) My appointment with the doctor also went well. I did find out the 39th week is the latest they will let me go and my A1c came down a little bit more to 5.5%!! 
Weekly wisdom: take things one day at a time (at least this is what I'm trying to tell myself)- my to-do lists for baby, before baby, and work are overwhelming, but I just need to realize what gets done and gets done and the rest will work itself out.And she's coming whether or not I get every box checked off ;)
What I am looking forward to: seeing our sweet girl's face :)
Milestones: Hit the 50 day (or less!) mark!

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Maternity Photos!

We had our maternity pictures done a couple weeks ago and got them back over the weekend. LOVE them!! We had our favorite photographer, Shea, take them and did them in Adams and Port Royal, TN- she shot our wedding, 1st anniversary, and now maternity. You will see many more photos by Shea once baby is here! So happy with how they turned out. Here's a little sneak peek :)

(pre pregnancy top, Anthropologie; non-maternity black pants, Target)


(black maternity dress by Liz Lange, Target)

(pre pregnancy top and cardigan, both from Anthropologie; non-maternity black pants, Target)

(Mossimo dress, Target)
If you want to see more, here's the link to the slideshow: http://byshea.zenfolio.com/p198183636/h1c509bb2#h1c509bb2

Sunday, July 22, 2012

32 Weeks

Countdown: 8 weeks!!


How far along? 32 weeks
Maternity clothes? a mix- and I will say, I wear a lot of the same stuff over and over
Movement? I can tell she is quickly running out of room. I still feel some kicks and jabs, but for the most part it feels like squirming around, stretching, or just movements back and forth (like dragging a foot or hand, or maybe even her bottom :), across my belly) And she got the hiccups a couple more times- twice in about 10 minutes Monday night and then Tuesday for almost a full 10 minutes. Poor thing!!
Cravings? fruit always sounds good and still pretty much anything sweet, although I'm trying really hard to be good! I did give in to my Rice Krispie treat craving- I had been wanting some for weeks! And I would LOVE a big ole diet coke right out of the vending machine, but still staying away from caffeine.
Anything make you queasy or sick? regular size meals have shown to not be a good idea- even if I don't feel full, I get so uncomfortable, so I'm trying to stick to small meals and snacking. Also watching out for what gives me heartburn and I'm thinking carbonated drinks might be a problem. Pre-pregnancy they used to help when I had heartburn, but now seem to cause it :(
Sleep? It's definitely getting better. I am waking up more to use the bathroom, but usually able to get back to sleep pretty quickly! However, I feel like the 3rd trimester tiredness is setting in slowly but surely....
Best moment this week: J was able to feel her hiccups Tuesday night :) And my mom got to come to the ultrasound this week- her first time getting to see baby in action! She was very cooperative. She is head down and had her back to mine (facing out toward my belly button). Still doing a great job practicing her "breathing", getting ready for that first big scream ;) We were also able to see her opening and closing her hands and touching her face- just precious! (we won't get another weigh in for a couple more weeks...that should be interesting!!), the tech told us she has hair and confirmed, yet again, she is still a girl (after 4 different u/s techs telling us she's a girl, she better be!) We also had a wonderful shower Saturday thrown by some of our best friends- they did such a great job and it was so fun to celebrate baby girl :) Don't worry, pictures to come!
Gender: Girl!
Labor signs? none
Symptoms?  heartburn/reflux, BH contractions, tired, swelling, run out of breath easily, back aches (the middle right), hunger! and an ever expanding belly! Last week it felt really tight, but I feel like it's adjusting and it hasn't been as bad this week.
Belly button in or out? the top still puckers out when standing, but the rest is flat! The whole thing slightly pops out when I'm sitting when I'm sitting
What I miss: not a whole lot...other than not having heartburn/reflux
What I am looking forward to: working on nursery projects and finishing up a few other small things in her room :)
Milestones: 8 months pregnant! WHOA!
WE HAVE A NAME! Well, we have the name we are going to call her...but not her full name. So.close.

Belly button!

Sunday, July 15, 2012

31 Weeks

Countdown: 9 weeks!!
(or as of today, 8 weeks, 1 day!)


How far along? 31 weeks
Maternity clothes? mixing maternity and non-maternity, but most of what I wear is still non-maternity. I'd say 10% maternity, 90% non.
Movement? I think squirmy would the best way to describe what I've been feeling! A little wiggle worm kicking, punching, and stretching every now and then
Cravings? fruit- especially watermelon this week!
Anything make you queasy or sick? trying to pay attention to what gives me heartburn and stay away from that- so far chocolate and orange juice are definite no's
Sleep? I still wake up pretty frequently, but luckily have had more luck with falling back to sleep- so, yay!
Best moment this week: getting to start our twice weekly appointments (it's a lot with work and all, but so worth it to hear and see our sweet baby and know how she's doing) and having our maternity pictures taken! Also had a surprise baby shower at work! I am lucky enough to work with some really great, thoughtful people and they put together a cute shower- and even had my mom and J there!
Gender: sweet squirmy girl :)
Labor signs? none
Symptoms?  heartburn/reflux, BH contractions, tired, swelling, emotional, run out of breath easily, thirsty!
Belly button in or out? getting flatter everyday. By the end of the day or when I sit down, it is 100% flat or sticking out!
What I miss: I could do without some of the symptoms, but I really have enjoyed being pregnant!
Weekly wisdom:Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.(Phil. 4:6)
What I am looking forward to: getting our maternity pictures back and going to our first class over the weekend! And I'm really excited about our guy/girl shower next weekend and getting to see several of our friends!
Milestones: all 5 of her senses are now developed and she has doubled her weight in the past 4 weeks hitting the 4 pound mark! Wow! This week my stomach/belly started feeling really tight- up until this point, I could see my belly growing, but it really didn't feel like it...it feels like it now! Guess that's what happens when you're carrying around a 4+pound baby around :)

Sunday, July 8, 2012

30 Weeks

Countown: 10 weeks to go!



How far along? 30 weeks (the size of a head of cabbage or about 15.7 inches and 3 pounds!)
Maternity clothes? Still wearing all pre-pregnancy tops (even though I may need to be more careful since the WalMart incident! I tried on a maternity top this week and it finally fits! I ended up wearing it at least 3 nights after work this week!), 2 pairs of maternity pants, and non-maternity long dresses and skirts (although I did wear one maternity dress last week!)
Movement? feeling less big kicks/jabs and more of just her moving around/rolling. We went in again for monitoring this week (the night of the 3rd) and once again, she was moving a ton (I just couldn't feel it) and her heart rate was great!
Cravings? not craving much really- fruit always sounds good and have some multiple times a day! And anything cold- ice water to shaved ice
Anything make you queasy or sick? trying my best to stay away from chocolate and anything that might potentially give me heartburn (which, let's be honest, at this point is almost everything, so I just make sure I have Rolaids with me at all times!)
Sleep? just depends on the day
Best moment this week: having the 4th of July off! :)
Gender: Girl
Labor signs? none
Symptoms?  heartburn/reflux, BH contractions, tired, swelling, emotional, improved posture! (she still loves hanging out on my right side under my ribs causing me to not be able to slouch), out of breath (I run out of breath SO quickly these days! And going up just one flight of stairs is a full workout for my lungs and my legs!), I also wake up super thirsty- not sure if it's pregnancy related or 100+ degrees everyday related...
Belly button in or out? the bottom half is pretty flat and the top is hanging in there, but definitely pokes out (which is obvious in many pictures of me from the front)
What I miss: I think this is obvious, but SLEEP! However, I would not give this up for all the sleep in the world!! And maybe the sleep deprivation won't hit me as hard since my sleep has been pretty sparse or months?!
Weekly wisdom: I still can't believe I'm growing this little person inside of me! Our bodies really are incredible. And it's really amazing how much you can care and worry about someone you've never met! (but not TOO much longer :)
What I am looking forward to: maternity pictures and a growth ultrasound next week! Also, my twice weekly appointments begin next week- non-stress tests on Mondays and growth ultrasounds on Thursdays. Really looking forward to getting to check on her twice a week until she arrives!!
Milestones: we are in the 30s!!!

Cash stopped by this week's post to say hello!

Monday, July 2, 2012

The countdown is on...

We hit 30 weeks today! 10 to go... : )


Sunday, July 1, 2012

29 Weeks



How far along? 29 weeks
Maternity clothes? Same ole...but dresses/skirts and stretchy/yoga pants are definite favorites
Movement? Movement was an issue this week. Last week, baby was very active and moving all over the place. Monday afternoon I noticed she wasn't moving as much and the movements I felt weren't as strong. After that night and Tuesday, I decided to contact my doctor's office since a decrease in movement can be a cause for alarm. I didn't want to overreact (or be "that" crazy pregnant lady), but at the same time didn't want something to be wrong and just brush it off. They had me come in Wednesday afternoon for a non-stress test where they monitor baby's heart rate for 20-30 minutes. I was really scared and worried (honestly, an emotional basket case), but she sounded perfect! Her heart rate was in the 135-140 range for the most part and it needed to go up by at least 10 when she moved, and her's was going up by 15. We could also hear when she moved, but most of them I couldn't feel. There are several possible reasons I might not have been feeling her as much, one being her position- I'm wondering if she's just in a spot where I can't feel them as much and therefore, am not able to notice them as easily. If I rest and just focus on her, I feel them. Yes, she is already showing us who is in charge!! :) Thursday evening she was very active and seems to be keeping it up (and she better or she is grounded when she makes her appearance!)
Cravings? Sprite Zero. Really anything sounds good at this point :) I even ate pizza this week! Although, "they" say she can now taste what I'm eating and it can affect her taste in the future, so I'm trying to cut down on the sweets and eating lots of fruits and veggies!
Anything make you queasy or sick? It doesn't make me queasy, but I'm pretty sure chocolate gives me heartburn, so bye bye chocolate
Sleep? some nights aren't too bad, some I lay in bed awake in the middle of the night for hours
Best moment this week: even though the reason was scary and concerning, getting to listen to our girl's heartbeat and movements for 20 minutes wasn't so bad :) Also, she got the hiccups for the first time Friday morning! This week has been pretty emotional and stressful, but getting to finally feel those hiccups made up for it a little bit : )
One more good moment this week- J got to feel her moving an elbow/knee/something across my belly
Gender: Girl
Labor signs? none (unless you count the BH contractions, but since they aren't painful yet, I'm going to leave them in the "symptom" category : )
Symptoms?  heartburn/reflux, BH contractions, tired (not sure if this is the beginning of 3rd trimester trimester sleepiness or my lack of sleep...I'm thinking more the latter), swelling (the 100+ temps seem to be getting to me- hello, 108?! A little nervous about the next couple of months- even though I'm inside all day and drinking tons of water. Even stranger, it seems like it's always my left ankle that gets more swollen?!), emotional!
Belly button in or out? same- the bottom half is pretty flat and the top is hanging in there
What I miss: nothing!
Weekly wisdom: when in doubt, get checked out!
What I am looking forward to: this should go without saying, but meeting this silly girl in about 2 1/2 months! And seeing the look on J's face when he sees her for the first time (I'm getting teary eyed just typing that- I'm not kidding when I say I've been emotional!)
Milestones: last week in the 20's!!! While this pregnancy hasn't flown by for me, I really can't believe we're days away from 30 weeks!
Hiccups!!
We also went to our first baby related "class"- we did a tour of the maternity floor (not really sure what it's called, but Labor and Delivery, Postpartum, Nursery, etc) this week. I'm really glad we went because although I knew where to go, I became a lot more familiar with the floor and now J also knows where to go (which will be good in case I'm in labor and acting like a crazy person!). When we got to the nursery, I started to walk up to the window and had to step back because I was getting choked up (e.m.o.t.i.o.n.a.l)! I took a deep breath and went back to the window to look at those sweet babies- so tiny and adorable!! We also found out more about what Vanderbilt offers, so it was time well spent!
Awkward and Awesome: Awkward- walking into WalMart and realizing my belly was peeking out from my shirt...but at least I was at WalMart, right?! Awesome- getting an AMAZING deal on a crib mattress- right, mom?! ;)
A few photos from this week:
monitoring baby's perfect little heart beat and movements
 



I purposefully never wear dresses on days I have appointments so I don't have to lift it all the way up, but of course I wore one Wednesday when I had to go in for this unexpected appointment! ha!


 Our tour Wednesday night



during the Power Point portion of our tour, we saw a familiar face! Sweet little Greyson :)

ready to welcome a new baby!


Saturday, June 23, 2012

28 weeks



How far along? 28 weeks
Maternity clothes? Same as last week. Although some shirts are definitely getting pretty snug and I don't want to stretch all of my regular clothes out!
Movement? She's moving more and more and the movements are getting stronger! She LOVES to move when I lay down in bed and is all over the place. She's also been doing more (what I think) are simultaneous kicks/punches so that I feel them on both sides of my belly- and my belly looks like it moves from side to side. I was using my belly to prop up a book and she was kicking it all over the place!
Cravings? not really. Fruit always sounds good of course :)
Anything make you queasy or sick? nope, although I haven't tried spinach and pizza in a while...
Sleep? I slept SO WELL on vacation! I'm talking sleeping until 9am or later and only getting up once to use the restroom- amazing! We stayed 5 days and I slept great every night...since we've been home I've been back to my usual ways...I think I need to go back to the beach for the duration ;) I did find a new sleep position that has helped relieve my hips- I put a pillow under my back on the right side, so I'm on my back, but angled to my left side. At least it adds a third option! :)
Best moment this week: going to the beach with J, my dad, stepmom, and sisters! It was nice to get away and just relax for a few days. And of course getting the best sleep I've had in quite a while! We (J, my mom, and I) also put her crib together, so now we just need the glider and the big pieces are done!
Gender: Girl!
Labor signs? none
Symptoms? growing belly! forgetful- for example, knowing I want to order something at a restaurant then ordering something else (?!), putting clothes in the dryer and not turning it on, along with not able think of words/make up words/losing my mind ;) heartburn/reflux, sore hips (really only when I sleep for long periods at a time, which really isn't an issue, ha!), BH contractions, lower abdomen pain (the kind no one knows what it is), sore ribs- she definitely prefers the right side of the womb and my ribs know it! I'm a little nervous...I mean, she's still so tiny!
Belly button in or out? the bottom half is pretty flat and the top is hanging in there
What I miss: the beach!
Weekly wisdom: be smart, but don't let your fears keep you from doing things! I was pretty nervous about going to the beach 8 hours away. But I talked to my doctor about it beforehand and found a nice hospital nearby (just in case! Can never be too prepared). Everything was fine and I'm so glad we went. Our next trip will involve an infant and lots more to pack...and I bet I won't be sleeping like I did this year ;) However, I can't wait to take her to the beach. We saw so many cute kids at the beach...and their bathing suits?! Adorable.
What I am looking forward to: working on her room and just enjoying these last 10-12 weeks!
Milestones: Third trimester!!!

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Two down, one to go!

I can't believe we are in the third trimester! If you think about it, the second trimester is really the longest. The first trimester you ususally don't know you're in your first trimester until at least week 5 or 6, so it ends up being about 9 weeks or less of knowing. The third trimester techincally extends to week 42 which most people don't get to. Anyway, we made it through the longest trimester, 14 full weeks! I can't believe we will meet our daughter in the next 10-12 weeks!!


This trimester:
- Baby grew from the size of a lemon (about 3.5 inches from head to rump and 1.5 ounces) to the size of a head of cauliflower (about 14.8 inches head to heel and 2.5 lbs)- that's a LOT of growing!! (and it shows!!)

- Found out we are having a sweet baby GIRL
- Finally announced the pregnancy to "everyone" ;)
- Felt definite movements week 17 and J got to feel her move week 21. Since then she's given a few others a kick as well :)
- I started "showing"! Even though I didn't feel like it at the time, I would say the bump started to become obvious week 18
- Got great reports from her ultrasounds and echo
- I chopped off 8-9 inches of hair!!
- Got a start on her nursery. We better kick it into high gear!
- Saw her swallowing and practicing her breathing (still waiting for those hiccups!) on the ultrasound and for the first time could see her kick and feel it at the same time. And of course fell in love with those adorable feet!
- Received our first baby shower invitation (I need to post a picture of it- SO cute!!)
- Even though I was nervous about it, we went to the beach at the end of week 27. Everything was fine and I'm so glad we went!

About 2 1/2 months to go...this sweet pea is going to be here before we know it!





Sunday, June 17, 2012

27 weeks



How far along? 27 weeks
(27 weeks, 6 days today and picture taken at 27 weeks, 1 day)
Maternity clothes? Still just the one pair of maternity pants and belly band. Everything else is from before- although, I don't wear many of my regular pants anymore and the pants I do wear were ones that were big on me. I stick mostly to bottoms with stretch or dresses!
Movement? I am finding she likes to hang out on my right side/under my ribs! Last week my belly was a little lopsided and you could tell she was on the right side. Sometimes its hard to lean to the right, because she's wedged herself somewhere in there!
Cravings?
fruit, candy, Cracker Barrel cornbread muffins (thanks mom!)
Anything make you queasy or sick? spinach and pizza
Sleep? sore subject :) Although, I slept GREAT Saturday night- hopefully this is a good sign for how my vacation sleep will be!
Best moment this week: most definitely our ultrasound Thursday!! Baby girl is doing great- she is swallowing (we could see her little lips opening and closing!) and practicing her breathing. Also found out she is lodged up on my right side- her head was beneath my right ribs. I knew something was keeping me from bending or leaning that way! Her estimated weight is 2lbs, 2oz which is the 67th percentile. She also has some incredibly adorable feet :) So happy for another great report!!
Gender: Girl
Labor signs?
none
Symptoms? getting hard to bend over for things; sore "chest"; my belly is definitely sticking out farther than my chest- which has not been the case for a looong time. While heating up some spaghetti sauce and testing it, a drop fell right past my chest and onto my belly! aches/pains (round ligament pain/growing pains/gas pains/who knows!); heartburn/reflux
Belly button in or out? the bottom half is starting to get pretty flat!
What I miss: not knowing what it feels like to have your cervix checked...oy!
Weekly wisdom: growing a baby can hurt! (and she's got a long way to grow!)
What I am looking forward to: GOING TO THE BEACH! Most of week 28 will be spent relaxing and laying in the water! Then we're coming home a couple days early to work on the house and her room- baby's crib came in (THANK YOU Mom/LuLu!) and we ordered the glider (THANK YOU Dad/Papa + Sarah D/Sadee!) :) It's slowly coming together!
Milestones: Last week in the 2nd trimester! WOW.

Friday, April 20, 2012

She's still a she!

Yesterday we had our mid-pregnancy ultrasound! This is typically when we would find out the gender, but of course we already knew that part :) However, we did get to confirm that she is still a she! For the rest of it, she was pretty stubborn (or maybe she's just shy). She was moving around a lot as in wiggling and squirming, but would not change position for anything. So we have to go back in a month to try to get a better view of a few things. The good news is, the parts we did get a good view of all looked great and she's measuring right on track (literally- some measurements were to the exact week and day!)- she can be stubborn all she wants, I just want her healthy! At one point the ultrasound tech even said out loud (talking to my belly/the baby) "are you going to cooperate with us today?" and it looked like she shook her head a little back in forth as if she were saying "nope!"! And since she was being a little difficult, our ultrasound was close to an hour and a half long...but that meant we were able to watch her that much longer! The time flew by for me. It was so neat to see her moving around and see her cute legs, arms, fingers and toes! They estimated she weighs about 11 ounces right now- about the weight of a can of coke! (didn't say anything about her length, but the average is about 6 inches crown to rump...however, her weight is a little above average! ha!) So we go back in four weeks to get the rest of the images we are lacking and for another growth check. That will begin my growth ultrasounds every four weeks until week 32 when I will go in twice a week, every week- one day for a non-stress test and one day for a growth ultrasound. It's crazy to think those are just around the corner!

Monday, April 16, 2012

19 Weeks



How far along? 19 weeks
Maternity clothes?  still not wearing anything maternity unless you count the belly band. However, maternity clothes are sounding better and better everyday! Dresses almost everyday are in my near future...

Movement? Yes! Still nothing profound, but I usually feel at least one little thing each day. Really cool and feels nothing like I thought it would!
Cravings? Just candy and sweets! Which is awful- I try to eat a lot of fruit instead. Or if I do have sweets, drink a lot of milk with it!
Anything make you queasy or sick? nope!
Sleep? The same- I guess this is as good as it's going to get and it's really not too bad! (because I imagine the bigger I get, the more uncomfortable I will be and getting up for the bathroom will get more frequent)
Best moment this week: pretty quiet week pregnancy wise...but I do enjoy the comments from friends and family telling me how good I look! Definitely nice to hear when you've been packing on the pounds :) Although it's normal and necessary to gain weight while pregnant, it's also crazy to see your body change so quickly!
Gender: Girl!(unless something has changed since week 16...we'll find out Thursday for sure! ;)
Labor signs? no, way too early!
Symptoms? still nauseous 1 or 2 days a week, constantly running back and forth to the bathroom to empty my bladder
Belly button in or out? in!
What I miss: ??
What I am looking forward to:  our "mid-pregnancy" ultrasound this week- confirm the gender, checking on baby's growth, and getting to see her! Also looking forward to a weekend trip to Atlanta to (hopefully) buy some pieces for the nursery!
Weekly wisdom: surround yourself with people who encourage and compliment you! Really nice!
Milestones: about halfway there and starting to show more! Just this morning I had 2 people in our office building stop me and make a comment about my belly- finally starting to look pregnant, yay!

Random...I also had a dream last night about being in labor and delivering our baby! The labor was very strange. I was at the hospital with my mom and sister, Annie. The hospital looked nothing like any hospital I've ever been in...maybe more old-timey looking mixed with a movie hospital? Anyway, J couldn't get there for some reason and everything was so fast. I was in a labor and delivery room and they did a c-section right there. The whole thing happened in like 5 minutes. Anyway, everything was fine and I got to see the baby. A little girl with lots of blonde hair! The whole thing was just so strange and I remember thinking after the labor (in the dream) what just happened? Do we have pictures? Where's J?! It was weeeeeird. But that is the second dream I've had about a little girl with blonde hair (the other was a long time ago- before our friends Chris and Emily found out they were expecting their son Finley, I had a dream about a little boy- it was Finley- with dark brown hair and a little girl with blonde curls- not sure who she was)...so I'm interested to see if we are going to be surprised with a little tow headed baby girl?!