40 Weeks

40 weeks have gone by and our official due date has arrived. I was hoping we would have our baby girl by now, but God is teaching me a lesson in being patient and trusting that he will decide when she will be born. We are getting more and more excited each day and feel ready to bring our daughter into this world. We can't wait to share the exciting news with all of our family and friends when she finally decides to grace us with her beautiful presence :) Here are my pregnancy updates and a very large belly pic for the week:

How far along? 40 weeks

Total Weight Gain? 25 pounds

Maternity Clothes? Of course! My belly is quite large these days and needs all the room I can get in my maternity clothes. I have loved my maternity wardrobe but also looking forward to wearing regular clothes again in the near future.

Stretch Marks? Nope :)

Sleep? So so. Still tired most of the time but I have had a few nights of good sleep. At this point I am so used to not sleeping great that when baby comes, I will be trained in being tired and having sleepless nights.

Best Moment this Week? I indulged in the most amazing prenatal massage on Friday... it was heavenly! I only wish I had found this massage therapist sooner because I would have had a least a couple of prenatal massages this pregnancy.

Miss Anything? As our pregnancy comes to a end (hopefully soon), I will truly miss being pregnant and this amazing journey that I have been on for the past nine months. As much as I am ready for our daughter to arrive, I will miss my belly and having her with me all the time.

Movement? Yep! She still loves to kick and move and has begun settling down lower in my belly. I can feel a lot of pressure as she has begun dropping a bit.

Food Cravings? Cheese! I still go crazy for provolone cheese and love frozen yogurt!

Anything Making you Queasy? No :)

Gender? Girl!

Labor Signs? I have had a few contractions and pains but nothing that has stayed around for longer than a few hours. I can feel my body getting ready for labor but no official signs that things are starting. Hopefully soon though...

Belly Button In or Out? It has popped out a bit more this week and is visible through some of my clothes. Maybe it is a like a turkey timer button... it will pop out completely when she is all cooked and ready :)

Wedding Rings On or Off? Off :( I am still a bit swollen in my fingers and toes.
General Mood? It depends. I have had a few rough days of really wanting her to come and not feeling like we are anywhere close to her arrival date. I have tried to soak in these last few days of peace and quiet but most of the time I just can't stop thinking about when she is going to arrive.
Symptoms? Still having lots of back pain and achy at times. I have been really trying to rest my body and take it easy these past few days.

Looking Forward To? Our daughter's birthday! Can't wait for her to make her entrance in this world and our beautiful family... she is so loved already!

Maternity Photos

I am so grateful to my best friend Laura for taking some great photos of us during a casual maternity photo session last week. She has an amazing talent and was able to send us our photos in color, black and white, and sepia. We have so many photos that we love and will cherish the memories captured on this day. Here are just a few of our favorites...

This casual photo shoot was just the first for our family of three and I look forward to years of photos in the future of us with our sweet little girl!

39 Weeks

How is it possible that our due date is just a week away?! I am in disbelief of how fast the pregnancy has gone by but also incredibly excited to meet our little girl. I am hoping for her to arrive soon because both myself and my husband are growing increasingly impatient as the days go by. We also have tons of family and friends that are anxious for her arrival and to meet our baby girl! I am hoping that this is my last weekly update for this pregnancy but also trying to manage my expectations that we could be pregnant past my due date. At this point it is probably best for me to just take one day at a time. Here are my pregnancy updates and a very pregnant belly picture for this week:

How far along? 39 weeks

Total Weight Gain? 23 pounds

Maternity Clothes? Oh yes! I am still in love with my maternity leggings and long maxi dresses. I wish I could go to work in my pajamas, but at least all of my maternity clothes are fairly comfortable.

Stretch Marks? Nope :)

Sleep? It depends. On the weekends I sleep fantastic because I allow myself to sleep as long as possible in the mornings. The weekdays are a bit tough since I have to get up for work and the days seem to drag on longer.

Best Moment this Week? Taking some great maternity photos with my husband and capturing this special time in our life. I will look back on these pictures with a smile in my heart for how precious this pregnancy has been for us and all of the memories that we have created in the past 9 months while we waited for our baby girl.

Miss Anything? I miss being comfortable and not having back pain. And I miss sushi!

Movement? Yes and still lots of it! Even though baby girl is getting bigger, I can still feel her wiggling around in my belly and pushing her feet and hands into my sides.

Food Cravings? Sweets! I made delicious Almond Biscotti this weekend to satisfy my sweets craving.

Anything Making you Queasy? Nope :)

Gender? Girl! And I just posted this past weekend about some adorable clothes and accessories that I have purchased for her to wear in the coming months :)

Labor Signs? Not really :( I am hoping that they start soon because that means we can go to the hospital and have our baby. I am sure at some point I will regret wishing for labor, but as of today I would like it to come soon!

Belly Button In or Out? Still half and half... I doubt it will change anymore before the pregnancy ends.

Wedding Rings On or Off? Off :( I tried wearing them this weekend to a friend's wedding and had a moment of panic when I couldn't get them off after wearing them for about an hour. They have been officially tucked away safely until I can wear them again in the future.
General Mood? Impatient. I am ready for baby girl to make her grand entrance into this world and find that each day feels a bit longer than the last.  
Symptoms? Constant back pain, achy feet, swollen fingers and toes, and so so tired... everyone was right when they said the last few weeks are tough and tend to linger longer than anyone wishes...

Looking Forward To? I have scheduled a prenatal massage for Friday in hopes that it might help start my labor if we haven't had her by then and hopefully it will help with my back pain and discomfort. And of course I am looking forward to our baby girl's birth date... hope it is soon!

Maternity Photos - Sneak Peak!

This afternoon we spent some time taking maternity photos and capturing some great pictures of my pregnant belly. My best friend Laura is an amazing photographer and took a ton of pictures with her digital camera and a few photos with my iPhone. She will be editing the digital photos and sending those to me soon, but in the meantime I wanted to share a sneak peak of some of the iPhone photos with the Instagram filters. Each time I alter a photo in Instagram, I am reminded of just how much I love this app! Here are a few photos and the rest I will post in the coming weeks...

one of my favorite pictures of us together - I used the Sierra filter in Instagram which gives the photo a soft glow

this belly pic collage was made using the X-pro II filter in Instagram to give the photos a deep color and black border and the Diptic app to create the collage

I can't wait to see the rest of the pictures that Laura took and I will be sure to share a few here on the blog. This time in our life feels so special and I am so grateful that we could capture a few of these memories today!

38 Weeks

Only 2 weeks till our due date and I am in shock by how fast this pregnancy went by. I have been amazed how quickly the weeks fly by and here we are just days from welcoming our baby girl into this world. I have been on a bit of an emotional roller coaster this week because each time I have a few contractions I think it may be just about time and then they go away and the waiting game goes on. We are so excited to meet our baby and I am nervous at the same time about what to expect in labor and delivery. I am doing my best to stay calm, take one day at a time, and focus on enjoying these last few days of my pregnancy. I will miss this special time in my life but can't wait to experience the joy of motherhood! Here are my pregnancy updates and a belly pic for this week:

How far along? 38 weeks

Total Weight Gain? 23 pounds

Maternity Clothes? Sure thing! I have a few maternity outfits that I love to wear and everything else is either pajamas or leggings (I am all about comfort these days!)

Stretch Marks? No and I am quite surprised. I am sticking with the lotion routine and hoping to keep the stretch marks away.

Sleep? Never enough and I LOVE to sleep. This past weekend I took advantage of not having a bunch of things planned and slept in late both days and took a few naps. I think my body is trying to soak up as much sleep as possible before baby girl arrives.

Best Moment this Week? Enjoying the last little bit of my pregnant belly and soaking in how beautiful it feels to be pregnant. I have had more self confidence during this pregnancy than ever before because the beautiful gift I am creating makes me glow... And I love my belly :)

Miss Anything? Sleeping comfortably and not having back pain. The bigger my belly gets, the more difficult it becomes to get comfortable and stay comfortable. I am convinced that I toss and turn at least 50 times each night just trying to find a comfortable position.

Movement? Yes and she is still moving like crazy! She loves to kick and wiggle and stick her hands and feet into my sides. I love feeling her move and it will always be my favorite part of this pregnancy.

Food Cravings? The food cravings are the same and I still love to chew on ice... so bad for my teeth but for some reason I love it.

Anything Making you Queasy? No and the heartburn has settled down a bit which I so appreciate.

Gender? Girl! And we can't wait to name her :)

Labor Signs? I have had a few contractions but they are pretty irregular and go away once I sit down and rest. I have been feeling a lot of pressure below my belly and some pain in my lower back when the contractions get started. The doctor reminded us this week that these are all signs of baby girl getting ready for her arrival :)

Belly Button In or Out? Not much change since last week, but I am surprised how much the skin on your belly stretches to make room for baby.

Wedding Rings On or Off? Off :( I have a bit of swelling in my fingers and toes and have given up on trying to wear my rings for awhile. 
General Mood? A bit nervous, anxious, and excited. There are so many emotions to feel right now and it can be overwhelming at times. I am amazing with how blessed I feel to be having this baby and can't wait for the day she decides to arrive! 
Symptoms? A few contractions here and there, lots of back pain, a bit of heartburn if I lay down too fast, and exhausted... so so exhausted!

Looking Forward To? Our baby girl's birthday! Can't wait to see if she will be an October baby or a November baby!

Packing the Hospital Bag

When we found out in March that we were pregnant, I thought for sure that I would be one of those pregnant women that would have the hospital bag packed months in advance. Well, that has not been the case for me. We are just about 2 weeks from our due date and I have only packed a few things for the hospital. I made a major shopping trip today to Kohl's and Target and should have our bags ready to go in the next day or so. In preparation for packing the hospital bag and what to expect as far as what I will need, want, and forget about, I did some research on Pinterest and my favorite blogs. Here are just a few places that I found some great tips, advice, and helpful hints on what to pack and what to leave at home:

• Hospital Bag Must Haves from the blog, Eat Drink Pretty: this mom had a great list of what to bring and a bunch of comments from readers (most of them moms) that offered great advice about what to focus on bringing and the many things that can be left at home. This list reminded me that we are not moving into the hospital, just staying for a few days :)
• Preparing for Baby Pinterest Board: I have several pins on this board from other moms that have shared their hospital bag packing lists. My favorite pin broke down the list of what to bring for mom, dad, and baby girl... very helpful!
• Hospital Packing List from the blog, Sweet Baby Pate: this mom's list was a bit long but had great suggestions on what to bring and a few items I hadn't thought of like a maxi dress and flip flops for me and pajamas for the hubby.

I have found that every mom to be is different on how much you want to bring to the hospital. I want to make sure I have the necessities but I also don't want to go overboard. I am only about half way packed but here are a few things that will definitely be coming with us to the hospital: 

Petunia Pickle Bottom Diaper Bag - this adorable bag will hold all of our baby girl's gear

Boppy Pillow - lots of moms have recommended bringing this to help with nursing

Pink Polka Dot Robe from Kohls - this super soft robe will be great to wear before and after delivery

Other items that I will be packing for us include comfy clothes, toiletries, chap stick, hand sanitizer, snacks, change for the vending machine, our own pillows, comfy socks, slippers, nursing bras and pads, iPhone and iPad, and of course the car seat! We plan on putting the car seat in place tomorrow and packing the rest of our bags in the next few days. I know I will feel relieved to have our things packed and I can rest assured if we forgot something that we have a bunch of excited grandparents that would run home and grab a few things for us if needed!

37 Weeks

The past week has been way too crazy! I have been really busy at work with planning an all day conference, hosted book club last Thursday, and planned a birthday party for over 25 people. Needless to say, I am exhausted and so ready for the upcoming weekend where I have absolutely nothing planned. I was able to conquer a few things around the house this past weekend and check off a few items on my to do list. Each day we get closer to my due date, I am feeling more and more ready for our baby girl's arrival. Here are my pregnancy updates and a belly pic for this week:

How far along? 37 weeks

Total Weight Gain? 22 pounds

Maternity Clothes? Yep! Wearing lots of leggings and maternity dresses and anything comfy in the evenings and on the weekends.

Stretch Marks? No, but my belly has been really itchy this week :(

Sleep? Still not great, but I did sleep in both days this weekend which felt heavenly! I have been building a pillow palace in our bed each night to help me get comfortable and support my growing belly. At times I wish I could sleep till 10am each morning, but as long as I get to bed at a decent time I am usually somewhat rested come morning.

Best Moment this Week? Being told I should model for maternity clothes! There is not a pregnant woman in this world that wouldn't want to hear a compliment like that! And I loved seeing all of our family and friends at the birthday party and sharing the last few weeks of this pregnancy with the people we love.

Miss Anything? Wine! Each time we have book club or a birthday party, I miss having a wonderful chilled glass of Moscato or Riesling Wine. I might have to splurge at the holidays on just one glass :)

Movement? Lots of it and often in my ribs. This little girl just loves to tuck her little feet under my ribs and kick. She is active most of the day and nice and quiet at nighttime. Let's hope that her movement continues like that after she is born. :) I will miss feeling the movement in my belly and will always remember that feeling as the best part of pregnancy.

Food Cravings? Still the same... cereal, cheese, frozen yogurt, and my recent favorite... anything pumpkin flavored!

Anything Making you Queasy? Nope. Just the crazy heartburn that can cause you to feel like you are going to lose your dinner... not fun at all.

Gender? Girl! I found this adorable shop on Etsy that sells the cutest felt flower headbands. I have already picked out a few that I will be ordering for baby girl!

Labor Signs? Not really. Sometimes I have Braxton Hicks contractions but they have been pretty mild the last few days. I have a feeling this baby is not coming until November (even though her parents would love to see her sooner!)

Belly Button In or Out? Still half and half. I am amazed how much that part of your skin stretches and the top part is still poking out a bit.

Wedding Rings On or Off? Off :( I had to take my rings off a few days ago after I almost couldn't get them off. My finger started to throb and turn a slight twinge of blue as I tried to squeeze my finger out of the rings. I will miss wearing them...
General Mood? Pretty good. Anxious at times for her arrival and completely relaxed at other times. I am just taking everything one day at a time until she decides to enter this world! 
Symptoms? Back pain almost all the time and exhausted. These last few weeks could start to feel really long...

Looking Forward To? I am planning on having a few casual maternity photos taken this week and still need to finish packing the hospital bag. I have a few blog posts coming up with details on the nursery, the hospital bag, and the remaining items on our baby prep to do list.

36 Weeks

Each week in October will either go by fast or painfully slow. This pregnancy has gone by so fast up until now. The first few days of this month seemed to take forever. I think I am just getting anxious and excited to meet our baby girl, so each day that I have to wait feels longer than it should. I have just about everything ready, except for a few things and can't wait till it is time to go to the hospital. We have 2 weeks left in our childbirth classes and then a tour at the hospital on the 24th. I look forward to making it through the next few weeks and then she can come whenever she is ready. I am hoping for an October baby but I know that she will enter this world when she is good and ready! :) Here are my pregnancy updates for this week:

How far along? 36 weeks

Total Weight Gain? 20 pounds

Maternity Clothes? Of course! I am getting lots of use out of my favorite maternity clothes and finding that anything that is comfortable is what I am choosing the wear. There is nothing worse than feeling huge and squeezing into clothes.

Stretch Marks? Nope ;)

Sleep? Not enough and not great. I am still waking up a few times each night and having a hard time getting up in the mornings. Napping is nice, but doesn't happen often enough throughout the week.

Best Moment this Week? Feeling the support, love, and reassurance from my husband. He has been great about reminding me that I can do this and that we are going to be great parents. I don't know what I would do without him by my side. And he has been wonderful with nightly back rubs for me :)

Miss Anything? Lots of coffee! I have to limit my intake to one cup a day and there are so many times I wish I could drink an entire pot of coffee in the morning... oh how I miss my caffeine!

Movement? Lots of it and often more on my right side. I can feel her little feet push into my sides and sometimes can feel an elbow or knee graze the inside of my belly. She is a very wiggly baby and I wonder if this will continue outside of the womb.

Food Cravings? About the same... cheese, cereal, frozen yogurt... not much else.

Anything Making you Queasy? Not really, just lots of heartburn at night.

Gender? Girl! And I love pinning adorable baby clothes on Pinterest, be sure to check out my Baby Clothes Board... so stinking cute!

Labor Signs? Not really, just having Braxton Hicks contractions a few times a day. Sometimes they can be a bit painful and other times they just tighten up my belly and cause some pressure.

Belly Button In or Out? Not much change from last week, the top part is still poking out a bit and you can see it through my clothes.

Wedding Rings On or Off? Still on but sometimes difficult to take off. I don't wear them at night and might only be able to wear them for another week or so before my fingers are just too swollen to fit the rings on. 
General Mood? It depends how tired I am. I am finding that when I am tired, I am very emotional and easily overwhelmed. The hardest part for me right now is not knowing if she will arrive tomorrow or in a month. I am such a planner, so not knowing when she will be born has been a tough adjustment for me. I am trying to focus on one day at a time, which can sometimes be frustrating for me.  
Symptoms? Lots of back pain, tired feet, and heartburn at night... oh the joys of the third trimester! :(

Looking Forward To? I am looking forward to this coming weekend and celebrating my husband's birthday a bit early. I really look forward to the weekends these days because it allows me to sleep in, relax, take naps, and just chill out. The weeks feel long when the day starts before 7am and usually doesn't wrap up until close to 9pm. Can you tell I am tired?!!

35 Weeks

With just over a month until our due date, the anticipation for our baby's arrival is building by the day. We are getting so excited to meet her and ready for all the joys and blessings that parenthood will bring us. The last few weeks have been really busy getting things ready for baby girl and I am sure the next few weeks will be just a crazy with last minute preparations and attempting to patiently wait for when she decides to arrive. Here are my pregnancy updates and a belly picture for the week:

How far along? 35 weeks

Total Weight Gain? 18 pounds

Maternity Clothes? Yes and trying to get creative with my current wardrobe options and the changing weather. I am hesitant to buy anymore clothes with just about a month to go, but I do find that with the chilly weather I have to get creative about layering tops and wearing leggings or pants on most days.

Stretch Marks? No and really hoping and wishing that it stays that way!

Sleep? Horrible. I can't seem to get enough of it and my mind is too busy at night to fall asleep quickly. I am going to try taking a few short naps throughout the week when I can and really making the commitment to be in bed by 9:30pm and sleeping till at least 6:30am. I keep telling myself that this horrible sleep is just a prep course in the months to come with a newborn...

Best Moment this Week? Putting together the car seat and stroller and thinking about bringing her home from the hospital. And I can't wait for all of the walks around the neighborhood in her sweet pink stroller :)

Miss Anything? Sleep, sleep, and restful sleep... can't say enough about missing my restful slumbers.

Movement? Oh yes... she loves to kick and move and is active the majority of the day. She loves to kick on my right side and up into my ribs. I do appreciate that she is pretty quiet at night and let's her mommy sleep :) I love being able to feel her little feet push and kick into my side... kind of a crazy feeling, but I still love it!

Food Cravings? I am still obsessed with provolone cheese and love eating Rice Krispies cereal. I am curious to see if my cravings will ever have an effect on what our baby girl likes or dislikes to eat in the future.

Anything Making you Queasy? No, but I have developed the nose of hound. I can smell just about anything from quite a distance these days.

Gender? Girl! And she has quite the closet started... way more clothes than her mommy and daddy combined!

Labor Signs? No, not yet. We have been learning lots in our childbirth classes and have started talking about how to manage my labor (whenever that time comes...)

Belly Button In or Out? The top part is poking out a little bit more than it was last week.

Wedding Rings On or Off? Still on but getting snug. I have been taking them off at night to give my ring finger a chance to rest. I hope I can wear my rings till the end of the pregnancy, but we will just have to see if my fingers continue to swell or not.
General Mood? It depends on the day... I have moments of loving being pregnant and having the energy for things to then drastically changing to a sleepy and cranky pregnant lady. I am trying to enjoy the good moods and minimize the bad moods (as best as I can). 
Symptoms? I have had some killer heartburn late at night and pretty intense back pain almost everyday. I have been trying to rest and my husband has been great about rubbing my back, but each day the pain and discomfort seems to come back. I will not miss that part of the pregnancy at all!

Looking Forward To? I will be so relieved once I am able to put away all of her clothes and baby gear in her closet/room and put the finishing touches on the nursery. I also have a few more weekends of spending time with my family visiting from Salt Lake and I always look forward to seeing them and spending time with them. 

Pregnancy Halloween Costume

I am not sure if we will have our baby before or after Halloween, but just in case she has not arrived by October 31st, I wanted to have a Halloween costume ready. I found this adorable iron on transfer on Etsy and knew it would be the perfect costume for my pregnant belly. 

 

The iron on transfer was only $20 and I found a maternity black tee shirt on Old Navy's website for $17. So for less than $40, I have the perfect costume to show off my pregnant belly and little to no fuss in getting ready for this holiday. I placed my orders tonight and can't wait to put together this tee shirt and be ready for Halloween!

Monthly Onesies for Baby Girl

Last year I saw this adorable idea on Martha Stewart for monthly onesies to capture pictures of baby during the first 12 months. I made a set of these monthly onesies (in baby boy colors) for my best friend Laura for her baby shower and had such a blast putting them together and knowing her baby boy would look adorable in them! Once I knew we were having a baby girl, I had these on my list to purchase and make before she is born. I ordered this adorable set from the Etsy shop, myliltees.

I love the color scheme of these iron on transfers and love that the set comes with large circles for onesies and then smaller circles for either a hat or a bib. I will be putting these on white onesies in the coming weeks and can't wait to take monthly pictures of our baby girl in these and watch her grow throughout the year. I plan to use the pictures in a photo collage as part of her 1st birthday party... so fun! Once I have the onesies completed, I will be sure to share pictures here on my blog... so stay tuned!

Pregnancy Cravings

With less than 6 weeks to go till our due date, I know my days of indulging in my favorite foods will be coming to an end soon. For the majority of this pregnancy, I have had just a few cravings for the same things over and over again. I joke with my husband that I could eat the same 5 or 6 things for the rest of the pregnancy and be just fine. Of course I know that this option is not the most well balanced, so I have been trying to broaden my options and eat a well rounded diet (on most days). I know that my time of enjoying these cravings and sending my husband to the store (it truly has only happened once or twice) are numbered, so you better believe I will be eating lots of my favorites in the coming weeks. Here are my absolute favorite cravings during this pregnancy:

I am obsessed with this cheese and could eat the entire package in just a few short days!

This cereal has been my go to breakfast and perfect for late night snacking!

The absolute best frozen yogurt and one of my favorite sweet treats!

This popcorn is truly addicting and the perfect crunchy and salty snack!

Pregnancy is one of the best times in life and I have been enjoying this journey... especially the cravings! I will so miss the guilt free option of indulging in these things after the baby is born...

34 Weeks

Fall has arrived and the weather has turned cool, which means our due date is approaching fast. I absolutely love the Fall season and especially love that we are having our first baby this Fall. The holidays are also approaching and I love to think about our baby girl's first Thanksgiving and Christmas and all of the memories we will create with her. With just about 6 weeks to go, there is still plenty of things to do to get ready for her arrival and plenty of time to anxiously wait. Here are my pregnancy updates and a preggo pic for this week:

How far along? 34 weeks

Total Weight Gain? 19 pounds

Maternity Clothes? All the time. The majority of my pre-pregnancy clothes have been packed away for sometime next year. I love living in my preggo leggings and anything that is comfortable and easy to move in.

Stretch Marks? Not yet, but my belly is getting bigger and bigger... I better keep the lotion routine up!

Sleep? Not great and never enough. I have found that I need to adjust my schedule and at least let myself sleep till 6:45am or even 7:00am. Just a little bit more sleep in the morning makes a world of difference for me throughout the day. And I love to nap, whenever I possibly can!

Best Moment this Week? Continuing to work on the nursery and starting to put some of her adorable baby clothes away in her closet. I love washing and folding her tiny little socks and onesies and can't wait till I can see her in her cute little outfits.

Miss Anything? I miss sushi and wine at times, but most of all I miss not having to pee 16 times a day and being able to sleep through the night.

Movement? Of course! And I have been able to feel her little feet push into my sides and ribs at times. It is kinda of strange to see her poking my belly and be able to recognize that it is a foot, but I love every bit of her movement. By far one of my favorite parts of this pregnancy!

Food Cravings? I have been obsessed with provolone cheese lately and can't seem to get enough dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream)... I also love having Rice Krispies cereal at least a few times a week.

Anything Making you Queasy? Not really... I can't stand bad smells though. I think my nose has been a bit sensitive lately.

Gender? Girl! And she has so many adorable clothes to wear from the baby shower gifts! She is going to be one stylin' girl and decked out in lots of pink :)

Labor Signs? Nope. We have started going to our childbirth classes and they are interesting for sure. A lot of the information is common sense but we have learned a few tips and strategies to keep in mind for when I go into labor. This week we learned about relaxation techniques and massage, which will both come in handy during labor.

Belly Button In or Out? Not changing much other than not really shallow and not really poking out... just kinda strange to be honest.

Wedding Rings On or Off? On and still have some wiggle room.
General Mood? Pretty good, just really tired. I never knew that the level of exhaustion could really be what it is, but I pretty much could fall asleep at any point during the day. I have been feeling a bit stressed with only having about 6 weeks to go, but also trying to keep in mind that everything doesn't have to be completely done before she arrives. 
Symptoms? Lots of pain in my ribs (from her kicking) and in my back. Still have pretty frequent heartburn and some aches and pains when I over do it.

Looking Forward To? I am trying to desperately hold onto these last weeks of pregnancy because I feel like this special time has gone by way too fast. I love being pregnant and will miss it. I am also trying to relish in the last few weeks of alone time and peace and quiet before the sleepless nights begin and the house is no longer so quiet. We are anxious to meet our baby girl, but we are also enjoying the last little bit of our alone time together.

33 Weeks

This past week has been so busy and filled with so many fun things. Between seeing my family and friends from Salt Lake for the weekend and my baby shower on Saturday, I have been really enjoying the past few days. I feel so loved and blessed by the people in my life and love seeing everyone get so excited for our baby to arrive. We have been busy working on the nursery and getting things ready in our home to accommodate all of the baby gear and the gifts we have been receiving. Here are my pregnancy updates and belly picture for this week:

How far along? 33 weeks

Total Weight Gain? 17 pounds

Maternity Clothes? You bet! I picked out some adorable dresses last week at the maternity store (the pink one in the picture above is one of them) and love how comfortable they are and they definitely show off my belly :)

Stretch Marks? Nope :) Hoping it stays this way!

Sleep? Still tired beyond belief and can't seem to get enough shut eye. I having been sleeping with lots of pillows to prop up my head and neck to avoid the dreaded late night heartburn.

Best Moment this Week? Celebrating the soon to be arrival of baby girl at my baby shower with my friends and family. It was great to celebrate with everyone and open so many fun gifts and precious outfits for our little one.

Miss Anything? I don't have much energy lately and have had to really slow down, which is hard for me to do. I also miss drinking lots of caffeine to get me through the day.

Movement? Yes and still loving it when she moves... except for when she kicks me in the ribs. She has been stretching out a lot and pushing up into my ribs quite often. Usually me standing up and helping her shift down has relieved those uncomfortable moments.

Food Cravings? Still loving cheese and sweets and my favorite ice cream (haagen dazs vanilla raspberry swirl frozen yogurt).

Anything Making you Queasy? Nope but I have found that I can't really stand much of any spice lately, so bland is better right now.

Gender? Girl!

Labor Signs? Not yet... We did start our childbirth classes this week and hoping to learn some techniques to help manage the labor and all that comes with childbirth.

Belly Button In or Out? It is kind of an innie and kind of an outie... kinda strange...

Wedding Rings On or Off? On and not quite as snug as last week. 
General Mood? Pretty good, just tired. I have been really happy lately and enjoying this time in the pregnancy, but when I get tired I often feel overwhelmed and emotional. I was so tired on Sunday night after a busy weekend that I just had to cry it out... but I felt so much better afterwards. 
Symptoms? I have been having some pretty intense back pain and uncomfortable feelings when I sit in the wrong position or lay down in an awkward position. I have also had heartburn come out of nowhere and stay for hours at a time.

Looking Forward To? I am excited to finish up the nursery, organize all of her adorable clothes and baby gear, and start planning for things like packing the hospital bag, birth announcements, and picking her take home outfit when we leave the hospital. So many fun things to spend my time on in the coming weeks!

In the next couple of weeks I will be posting more details about the nursery, tips I have been reading about packing the hospital bag, and enjoying the last few weeks of alone time with my husband. I feel like I could blink and she will be here so soon... and we still have so much to get ready!

32 Weeks

This past week has been an interesting transition for me. I have started to really feel the exhaustion of the third trimester and starting to feel huge. I am a bit worried that I may only have 8 weeks to go and starting to feel like a whale a bit sooner than I would have liked. I am one of the lucky ones where all of my weight gain is happening in my belly, but sometimes I feel like I am carrying around a giant pumpkin. I have also started to realize that in less than 2 months I will be a mommy caring for a sweet baby girl. My husband and I are so excited to meet her and our patience is definitely dwindling. Here are my pregnancy updates for the week and a picture of my huge belly!

How far along? 32 weeks

Total Weight Gain? 16 pounds

Maternity Clothes? I am all about comfort these days so anything that is too snug has gotta go. I am trying to stretch my summer wardrobe as long as I can before the weather turns cold.

Stretch Marks? Nope :)

Sleep? It's alright. Could be better but hasn't been horrible either. I have been catching a few naps on the weekends and trying to not overdo it throughout the week. I am realizing that my energy is in short supply and I must spend it wisely in the coming weeks.

Best Moment this Week? I absolutely love feeling her move and it is one of the first things I look forward to when I wake up in the morning. I love bonding with my belly and talking to her throughout the day. She is making her momma so happy!

Miss Anything? I miss not having to worry about my pregnant belly when I am putting on my shoes or attempting to move something. It still amazes me how my belly can make me feel so clumsy and sometimes out of breath.

Movement? Baby girl has been super active this week and I have felt her move from just about every corner of my belly. She loves kicking in the mornings and at night and I love feeling her wiggle around in there. I even felt her have a case of the hiccups this past weekend!

Food Cravings? I have this crazy desire to chew on ice... my dentist would cringe, but something about a huge cup of ice just makes me happy these days! :) And I still love all things dairy including cheese (love it!), milk, and ice cream!

Anything Making you Queasy? Nope!

Gender? Girl!

Labor Signs? Not really but it is starting to sink in that in the coming weeks we will be getting closer to the reality of labor. We also start our childbirth classes next week and excited to see how they go.

Belly Button In or Out? It is starting to transition to an outie. Kind of strange to see it change.

Wedding Rings On or Off? For the first time my rings are getting a bit snug on my fingers. This is either a sign of swelling or the weight gain is reaching my fingers. Either way I am going to be sad if there comes a time that I can't wear my beautiful rings. :(
General Mood? Pretty good. Really excited for the next few weeks and also a bit nervous about everything that I would like to get done before she arrives. I am much more relaxed than I thought I would be but I also have my moments of panic and nesting at times.  
Symptoms? I have been getting sore more often in my feet and back and can feel the stress on my legs when I am on my feet for too long. I still have heartburn at times and lately I have been a bit more clumsy than usual. I think the high heels need to be retired to ensure I don't have a total wipe-out.

Looking Forward To? I am really excited for my baby shower this weekend and can't wait to see all of my family and friends. It is going to be the most beautiful day to have everyone I love around me and feel the love and support for our baby girl. I am so blessed! 

I am transitioning my mind into total countdown mode in the coming weeks. I am starting to transition my brain to think about being off work, wrapping up things around the house including finishing the nursery, and soaking up the last little bit of alone time that I will have before baby arrives. I am hoping to be able to enjoy the last few weeks/months of my pregnancy, but at the same time I am so ready to meet our baby. One thing I know for sure is that I trust God to decide when it is the time for her to arrive... he knows the plan he has for us!

31 Weeks

Wow, what a busy past week and weekend it has been for us. My mom and step dad were visiting for the holiday weekend and we were busy painting the nursery, working on projects around the house, cooking a bunch of food for freezer meals, and watching a few baseball games and fireworks. Overall it was a great time, but I am a bit tired from all of the activity and excitement. I am hoping to catch some restful evenings this week to recharge my battery. Here are my pregnancy updates for the week:

How far along? 31 weeks

Total Weight Gain? 14 pounds

Maternity Clothes? Of course! And I ordered this adorable dress for my baby shower in a few weeks. I hope it fits great :)

Stretch Marks? No and using the stretch mark lotion religiously!

Sleep? Never enough. I could sleep for 10 hours each night if my bladder allowed me to. I love catching naps on the weekend and have been heading to bed by 9:30pm each night.

Best Moment this Week? We had our 30 week doctor appointment and ultrasound on Friday and it was great to see our baby girl again. She has adorable chubby cheeks and is measuring really tall (big surprise when both of her parents are 6 feet tall). The ultrasound kind of shocked me when the doctor said that she is in the 99th percentile for her height.

Miss Anything? I am having a hard time getting comfortable when I sleep and when I sit in certain positions, so I definitely miss being able to move without my preggo belly!

Movement? Yes, she stretches out a lot and sometimes I can feel her do somersaults. I still feel a few good kicks once in awhile but I think she is running out of room in my belly.

Food Cravings? I absolutely love Chick-Fil-A right now!

Anything Making you Queasy? Nope!

Gender? Girl!

Labor Signs? I had my first taste of Braxton Hicks contractions on Sunday night and they were quite painful. I was really surprised how fast they came on and glad when they subsided. I am hoping these don't come too often in the coming weeks.

Belly Button In or Out? It's still in and not changing much.

General Mood? Doing pretty good. I am amazed how fast each day flies by when you fill life with work, taking care of a home, preparing for baby girl, spending time with Michael, and trying to take care of myself. I am hoping to be able to rest the next couple of weeks instead of spending every waking moment on projects on my to-do list. Rest for me equals a better mood for sure!
Symptoms? I have been a little bit more tired at times and definitely needing to take it easy and rest when I can. I still get some pretty wicked heartburn and can be a bit itchy at times. Oh, and the Braxton Hicks contractions and back pain are not pleasant either. :(

Looking Forward To? My amazing mom, mother-in-law, and best friend are throwing me a shower in a few weeks and I can't wait to see all of my family and friends and celebrate baby girl's soon arrival with all of the people I love.

With September here and Summer almost over, I am really starting to focus on transitioning into the final months of this pregnancy and emotionally prepare myself for all that is to come. I pray each night for the guidance to stay focused on what is important and remind myself that all that really matters is the miracle growing inside of me. I look forward to the last few months of my alone time and look forward to the days and years ahead with our daughter.

Babyproofing Your Marriage

I have been reading a great book that one of my girlfriends recommended and this book is perfect for the next chapter in our lives of parenthood. This book, Babyproofing Your Marriage, is witty, charming, full of information, and down right hilarious at times. 

 

I started the book a few weeks ago and have loved every page. I like reading stories about real couples and their experiences dealing with the transition into parenthood. I have even been able to get my husband Michael to start reading along with me. If there is one thing I have consistently heard from people, it is that having a baby is hard on your marriage, no matter how strong it was before. Michael and I have had several conversations about how our relationship may change with a baby and what we plan to do to help foster a healthy and happy marriage while also assuming our new roles of Mom and Dad.

I often think back to something that my Grandpa told me many times as we were growing up and hearing stories about him and my Grandma raising their 3 kids. He would say to his kids, 'I started this journey with your mother and I am going to end it with your mother'. He was referring to the often occurrence of kids trying to pin their parents against each other and playing the good cop bad cop game. I love thinking of this quote as I know the coming years will challenge our marriage and there will be times that we need to remind ourselves to stay strong and united, because we can't have a happy and healthy family without a happy and healthy marriage. I plan on finishing this great book in a few weeks and know for sure that it will sit on my nightstand as a reference in the years to come!

30 Weeks

Wow, 30 weeks today. 3-0! I can't believe how fast this journey is going by. This past week has been full of a lot of emotion for me and I can feel the excitement building and the anticipation for our baby girl's arrival. I have been soaking up my free time since I know it will be short lived and dreaming about meeting our baby. Here are my pregnancy updates and a picture for this week:

How far along? 30 weeks

Total Weight Gain? 12.5 pounds

Maternity Clothes? All the time... I have finally retired at least a dozen of my pre-pregnancy tops that I just can't make work anymore. I still have plenty of options between the maxi dresses, the stretchy skirts, and lots of comfy maternity tops. 

Stretch Marks? Nope! :)

Sleep? Never enough. On Sunday I finally had the feeling of 3rd trimester exhaustion and I had only been up for about 3 hours when it hit. I love napping when I can and my bed time is inching closer to 9pm (which makes me feel so old!)

Best Moment this Week? Feeling the most movement yet from baby girl. She loves to do somersaults and push against me.

Miss Anything? When we were grilling on our patio this past weekend, I really missed a nice glass of wine. The weather was perfect and a glass of water was just not the same!

Movement? Lots of it and she is so strong! Some of her kicks can kind of freak me out but overall I love feeling her move and knowing she is growing strong.

Food Cravings? Not really craving much of anything. I do enjoy my usual sweet treats and love eating cereal (sometimes even for dinner).

Anything Making you Queasy? No, thank goodness!

Gender? Girl!

Labor Signs? Nope and thankful that is it not time for this yet :)

Belly Button In or Out? It's still in and pretty shallow.

General Mood? Pretty good. I have had a few emotional meltdowns but once I cry it out, I feel much better. Thank goodness I have an incredibly supportive husband to help me through my emotional ups and downs. 
Symptoms? I have been having more pain in my lower back and really have to be careful when I get up quickly after sitting for a long time. I also have experienced cramps in my calves and feet during the night and sometimes during the day... they are like the worst version of a charlie horse and take at least 10 minutes to go away.

Looking Forward To? This coming weekend we are working on the nursery and my Mom is visiting and painting the room. I can't wait to see our baby girl's room start to come together and envisioning her sleeping in her crib.

Another week has gone by and we are starting to count the weeks, days, and weekends that we have left before baby arrives. I love being pregnant and definitely don't want to rush this journey, but at the same time I just can't wait to see our baby girl and bring her home!

Pregnancy Resources

Back in early March when I took the pregnancy test, I knew there was so much information out there that I wanted to be educated and updated on. The amount of pregnancy information available from the books to the magazines to the blogs and internet can be overwhelming to say the least. There is so much information that it is nearly impossible to learn about it all before baby girl arrives. I have also been relying on my girlfriends that have had babies before to impart their wisdom to me and remind what I do need to know and what information I can forget about. There are a few websites and blogs that I have been reading in preparation for baby in addition to the babycenter app on my iPhone and the What to Expect When You're Expecting Book. Here are just a few of my favorites that have already taught me so much from breastfeeding to postpartum care to what to expect after delivery:

• Lucie's List: this woman has posted so much information about all the things that most people won't tell you or things that are far too honest to write about. I so appreciate her candid approach to labor and delivery, postpartum, and all the things to expect that you never knew you needed to anticipate. I love reading her blog and the articles she has written because it gives me great comfort in someone just saying it how it is and how it is going to be. She has also posted amazing lists of products all in one place for post delivery survival and breast care.
• Sweet Baby Pate: this blog has given me some great recommendations for products that I need to pick up before baby arrives. I love hearing about products that have worked for other moms... the best consumer research in my opinion. I know that I will be referring back to her blog for various recommendations on breastfeeding supplies and baby must haves.
• Pregnancy and Newborn Magazine: this website offers great articles on pregnancy and what to expect with a newborn. I have learned about various pregnancy stretches and exercises and  tips for things like belly itching, trouble falling asleep, and how to handle the emotional mood swings. This website also offers great reviews of baby gear and products.
• Preparing for Baby Pinterest Board: there are so many great ideas on this board that I have pinned. One of my favorites is the tips on packing the hospital bag. This board will be visited often after baby arrives and a great place to keep all those tips, tools, and recommendations from other moms in one organized place!

I plan on revisiting this post often in the coming months to remind myself of where I found all this great info. With just about 10 weeks till our due date, I still have plenty of time to research products and tips for having a newborn. I want to be as prepared as possible, but I also know that I will be blessed with incredible support from my husband, family, and friends and we will be just fine!

29 Weeks

During this past week, I have started to realize just how fast this special journey is going by. I will only be pregnant for nine short months and will have my daughter for the rest of my lifetime. This special journey to bond with this precious baby in my belly is going to be over in just a few short months and I will so miss it. Every time she moves and kicks, I am filled with joy and a slight twinge of wanting to have that feeling of connection forever. I keep reminding myself that she is the safest she will ever be in my belly and this is the only time in our lives where she is with me every moment of the day. I can't wait for her to arrive but I know that my heart will miss being pregnant... I am in total love with this time in my life! Here are my pregnancy updates for this week:

How far along? 29 weeks

Total Weight Gain? 12 pounds

Maternity Clothes? Of course! Wearing lots of maternity tops and stretchy capris and skirts. I found this adorable shirt on Etsy this past weekend and think I might have to order one :)

Stretch Marks? Not yet... I am preparing myself that these may come before the end of this pregnancy :(

Sleep? It depends. If I have a lot on my mind, then it is hard to fall asleep at night. I still love napping and sleeping in as long as possible each day I can.

Best Moment this Week? Spending time with my husband and talking about all the things we are going to teach our daughter and experience with her. We can't wait to meet her!

Miss Anything? The thing I miss the most is restful sleep. It is starting to become hard to get comfortable and hard to sleep through the night with baby pushing on my bladder :(

Movement? Yes and she is getting so much stronger. She had some major kicks on Saturday that kind of startled me... I can tell she is getting bigger and stronger :)

Food Cravings? I love green grapes and kiwis and still have a bit of a sweet tooth at times.

Anything Making you Queasy? Nope!

Gender? Girl! I am in love with these darling little girl bows from another one of my favorite Etsy shops!

Labor Signs? No way!

Belly Button In or Out? It's still in and no change since last week.

General Mood? It really just depends... I love being pregnant but don't really love the tired part or having a hard time getting comfortable. I love sharing this journey with family and friends and will never get tired of the compliments about my 'pregnancy glow' :) 
Symptoms? In the past week or so I have developed some itching at night time which is very uncomfortable. I also feel my back getting sore more easily and having to stretch and rest to help soothe it. Oh, and the heartburn still comes at times and can be wicked!

Looking Forward To? The time is going by so fast and I have a feeling that the next few months are going to be filled with checking off the to-do list, enjoying special moments like baby showers and finishing the nursery, and anticipating the day baby girl decides to arrive.

Each week that I blog about this journey is a reminder of how blessed we are and how quickly the time is going by. I don't want to rush a moment of this and hope that by training myself to live more in the moment and focus on the present will allow me to enjoy our daughter even more when she is here. Only 11 weeks to go till our due date...