36 Weeks...Wait...What?!

It's official! We're in our 9th month of pregnancy! Just four more weeks until my little girl is "scheduled" to arrive! Some people however are predicting that she'll come early, I however think she'll be late (you can vote for what you think in my poll on the right side of the blog). 

This past weekend we did a maternity shoot. We'll call this "part 1" as it was pouring the entire time. But it allowed us to get creative with our shots and locations and I love how the photos came out! One of my best friends, Hannah, took the pictures. She's so talented and I'm so lucky to have her as a friend! Here's a sneak preview of the pictures we had done:

How far along: 36 weeks! 1 month left!

Trimester: Third and final trimester!!!!! And final month!

Baby size: Watermelon - somewhere between 19 and 22 inches, over 6 lbs (probably closer to 7...who knows)

Toes: What toes? I have toes?!

Gender: BABY GIRL!

Movement: This girl still loves to move! Now it feels like my stomach is being kneaded on the inside. She is constantly on the move!

Cravings: Anything sweet and peppermint, but I guess it has to do with the season

Aversions: I tried chicken again...I nearly threw up. It was horrible. No thank you.

Nausea/Morning sickness: No more! Just tired now, and constantly out of breath. Round ligament pain, itchy and stretchy skin, heartburn, acid re-flux, some slight dizziness, and hip and back pain, but nothing to complain about :) Also, I'm beginning to experience Braxton Hicks contractions, which are getting more and more frequent.

Maternity clothes: Yes yes and yes. I love them. I'm definitely one of those women who is proud to wear my maternity pants. They're just too comfortable to pass up.

Best moment of the week: My work threw me and baby girl a shower last week and it was so special! I'm so blessed to be working with some of the sweetest people on earth! As of now, there are 4 of us pregnant (and 1 just got back from maternity leave) so it's a wash full of hormones, but I love it!

What I'm looking forward to: One more day until Christmas break! And my little brother is graduating from college this week! My little baby's all grown up and graduating college ;)

Birth Plans and Hospital Bags

I'm getting to the point where I should be getting things in order for "the big day." Less that 5 weeks until her due date, and all we have is the car seat in the car. I don't have a single bag packed, for myself or for the baby. I had lists made up, in fact, I had the list made up about a month ago, but that was about it. Here is what I have for my list:

Packing for the Baby:

• Swaddle blankets/baby blanket
• Going home outfit
• Mittens
• Nail clippers
• Vaseline
• 3 outfits (newborn and 0-3 months)
• Wipes
• Nasal aspirator
• Newborn Diapers
• Socks
• Hat

That's the list I've come up with for baby girl's bag. After our hospital tour, I've come up with a new list. The items I've crossed off are the ones that the hospital said they provided. They also provide diapers, mittens, and socks, but I decided to bring those anyway. *Baby girl's bag is officially packed and ready to go!*

Packing for Mom:

• Robe
• Slippers/flip flops
• Non-skid socks
• Camera/Camera charger
• Boppy
• Shampoo/toothbrush/toothpaste/deodorant (travel size)
• iPhone/iPhone charger
• Chapstick
• Nursing tank tops/outfits
• Snacks for Daddy
• Going home outfit
• Towels
• Pillow
• Lanolin cream
• Chocolate
• Granny panties
• Sports bras/nursing bras
• Baggy pajamas
• Tennis ball
• Laptop (maybe)
• Change for vending machines
• Pads
• Additional tote for freebies
• Cookies for nurses

This is the list for me. Too much? Probably. But as the Boy Scout saying goes: "Always be prepared." Plus, my husband is a big fan of over packing. I just think that I'd rather have everything there with me, so that I have it just in case. My bag is not packed though, nor is it close to being packed. I need to get on that though...I've been cramping a lot today, which just means we're one step closer to her being here!

source

Speaking of her getting here, people have constantly asked me about my birthing plan. All the websites and books say to make one and write it down. To "be specific" about what you want and then to have multiple copies so that everyone dealing with your delivery will know and honor your birthing plan. I've put a lot of prayer and thought into my own personal birthing plan. In the end, this is what I came up with:

Birthing Plan

•  Have a healthy baby

That's it. That's the extent of my birth plan. I would like to be able to have a natural childbirth, but seeing as I've never had a child before, I don't know how my body is going to react. I have faith that God created and equipped my body for childbirth, and that's what I'm relying on. But I'm not set on having a drug-free labor and delivery. If it's better for me and the baby, then I will have the drugs. I just want my baby here and healthy. Like I said, I would love to have a natural childbirth, and for now that is the plan...but I will do whatever it takes to get my baby here safe and sound.

35 Weeks! Getting down to the wire!

How far along: 35 weeks! Only 5 more to go! (Hyperventilating now)

Trimester: Third and final trimester!!!!!

Baby size: Honeydew melon - over 18 inches long and most likely tipping the scales at 6 lbs by now!

Toes: What toes? I have toes?!

Gender: BABY GIRL!

Movement: This girl still loves to move! Especially when music is playing! It makes me smile. I can't wait to sign her up for her first ballet class!

Cravings: I want a Chik-Fil-A peppermint milkshake and Arby's curly fries please and thank you.

Aversions: I tried chicken again...I nearly threw up. It was horrible. No thank you.

Nausea/Morning sickness: No more! Just tired now, and constantly out of breath. Round ligament pain, itchy and stretchy skin, heartburn, acid re-flux, some slight dizziness, and hip and back pain, but nothing to complain about :) Also, I'm beginning to experience Braxton Hicks contractions.

Maternity clothes: Yes yes and yes. I love them. I'm definitely one of those women who is proud to wear my maternity pants. They're just too comfortable to pass up.

Best moment of the week: We got our stroller! Is that sad that I'm super excited about it? We got a City Mini GT by Baby Jogger and I'm already in love with it!

What I'm looking forward to: I'm starting those weekly doctor's visits! That means we're really getting close! Also, Christmas is just 2 weeks away! And I'll be officially full term the week of Christmas! So much craziness!

Truer Words

were never spoken...

There are so many times that I just don't feel well. I'm tired, I'm sore, I feel like a beached whale. But despite all of that, I've never been happier. I do love being pregnant. And even though I may complain, as of right now, I'd gladly do it all over again! Of course, we'll see how I feel after labor and delivery ;) but I have a feeling that won't change my feelings on the matter. 

Due dates

Well, praise the Lord, my due date hasn't changed! We went in for our measurement ultrasound this morning to see how big my little girl is growing. I was nervous that they would change her due date or say that she needed to come earlier than we had already "planned" on (I used the word "planned" lightly as I know baby girl can come anytime from now until two weeks after her scheduled due date). But I have my heart set on her coming later than scheduled (it has to do with when and for how long I have to go back to work before summer break). So for now she's still predicted to come January 14th. 

So the hubs and I get to the appointment early this morning and head right back with the ultrasound tech. She got us set up and started looking at our little girl. Immediately we find that she is head down and in position for whenever the time may be that she decides to come to the world (YAY! Such a relief!). Then she went to measuring her. First, we discover that she has short legs...Sounds a lot like her mommy! I'm only about 5'0" maybe 5'1" and the women on my side of the family aren't much taller. So, short legs run in the family :) Then we took a look at her belly. Well, she's got a big belly. It just made me chuckle. I'm definitely okay with a chubby belly. Chubby babies are the cutest! Lastly, we looked at her head and it looks like she has a big head too! So big belly and big head (and cute chubby cheeks!). Ouch is all I could think the moment when we were told about her head measurements. The ultrasound tech continued to take measurements and then calculated everything together and everything looks great! She's measuring just a little big, about a week early, but nothing out of the ordinary! As of now she's somewhere between 5 lbs and 5 lbs 8 oz. 

This is a complete answer to prayers. I still have no idea when she'll get here, I'm just thankful that it won't be scheduled early and that she will be allowed to come when she's ready. Of course, things could always change, but for now I choose to dwell on the positive and for now...she's right on track!

33 Weeks!

I know I'm multiple weeks behind on this pregnancy update. Things have just been crazy around here. I can't really put my finger on all that's exactly gone on, I just know things have been crazy. Ever get that feeling?

How far along: 33 weeks! Only 7 more to go!

Trimester: Third and final trimester!!!!!

Baby size: Pineapple - somewhere over 17 inches and between 4 and 5 pounds, we have an ultrasound scheduled for Wednesday to see a more "accurate" reading on how big she is

Toes: What toes? I have toes?!

Gender: BABY GIRL!

Movement: This girl still loves to move! Especially when music is playing! It makes me smile. I can't wait to sign her up for her first ballet class!

Cravings: Food. Please. Food. I just need food! My sweet tooth has picked up, though it could be because there are so many yummy sweet treats that are fall-iscious. Right now I want a milkshake.

Aversions: I tried chicken again...I nearly threw up. It was horrible. No thank you.

Nausea/Morning sickness: No more! Just tired now, and constantly out of breath. Round ligament pain, itchy and stretchy skin, heartburn, acid re-flux, some slight dizziness, and hip and back pain, but nothing to complain about :) Also, I'm beginning to experience Braxton Hicks contractions.

Maternity clothes: Yes yes and yes. I love them. I'm definitely one of those women who is proud to wear my maternity pants. They're just too comfortable to pass up.

Best moment of the week: We got our Christmas tree and Christmas decorations up this week! All I could think about is how  different the next holiday season will be. I'm so excited to share all the joy and excitement with our little girl!

What I'm looking forward to: Seeing her again in just a couple of days. We have a scheduled ultrasound because I'm measuring big. I've been saying she'll be a big girl, so I'm anxious to see just how big she is!

Also, there's a new poll! People have been telling my all sorts of things about when this little girl will come. What do y'all think? Will she be early? Will she be late? Will she be right on time?

Happy Thanksgiving!

From our growing family to yours...I hope your day has been wonderful and full of family and tradition.