Maternity Pictures

On the weekend after my 35th week of pregnancy began, Hubster and I were lucky to have our dear and talented photographer friend come visit us for a lifestyle/maternity shoot.

What resulted is nothing short of amazing, and I haven't even seen them all yet.

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

All photos by the lovely Lava Alapai.

35 weeks, 3 days

Baby belly



This makes my heart smile.



I love him.

:)

This will be on our wall.

Love.

35/35

How Far Along: 35 weeks pregnant with 35 days until due date!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Up 5 lbs. from my last appointment. Not totalling up the weight gain for ya, sorry.


How big is baby: Baby is over 5 1/4 lbs and about 18 inches long, the weight of a honeydew melon. He's running out of room in my belly now!

Stretch Marks: Nope! Hoping they'll stay away *fingers crossed* Still loving my Mama Bee's Belly Balm and the fact that it keeps my belly from itching.




Maternity Clothes: Yes, almost entirely. Even some of my maternity clothes don't fit anymore and I find myself wearing the same thing all the time, so I'm thankful that I'm nearing the end.



Sleep: Sleep is no good. I can fall asleep just fine, it's the staying asleep or going back to sleep after I wake up to use the bathroom that proves to be difficult. Some nights are better than others, though.



Gender: Team Wiener!



Movement: Oh yes, non-stop it seems. Sometimes it hurts, but most of the time it's just really cool. I had a doctors appointment today and he kept moving all over the place trying to get away from the cold gel when the midwife was listening to his heartbeat :)



Food Cravings/Aversions: My marionberry pie craving was sufficed with an emergency meeting of Pie Club. Of course I had it with vanilla ice cream and it was glorious. The other thing I'm craving is taco pizza and I'm having that tonight!



Belly Button: Still an innie but incredibly shallow and weird looking. I don't think it'll pop out. <---- Same.



Symptoms: Leg and foot cramps, numb and tingly hands, difficulty sleeping, exhaustion, and getting fuller faster since baby boy is squishing my stomach. Add to this list terrible swelling in my feet. Last night we were in our Bradley class and my feet just ballooned up. Hubster said my feet looked how a latex glove looks when it's blown up, and I have to say that is a pretty accurate description. As a result, my feet almost didn't fit into my flip flops. That's bad!



What I miss: Feeling cute, and not fat. I also miss wearing real shoes and not just flip flops. There are all these cute wedges and sandals and I can't fit my sausage feet into them :(



Looking forward to: Maternity pictures on Saturday, baby shower on Sunday, and hopefully getting a lot done in baby boy's room!

My favorite husband quote/moment of the week: The latex glove comment was pretty cute, but I have to say that I loved him coming with me to my appointment this morning. We got to see baby boy and discovered that he is head down, just the way he is supposed to be, and Hubster pointed out little man's beating heart. We even got to see him practicing his breathing! It was so cool. I can't wait to see him be a daddy.


Weekly Belly Pics:

35 weeks. Yes, I'm wearing the same thing I had on last week. Nothing fits anymore!

32, 33, & 34 Weeks (I'm a slacker)

How Far Along: 34 weeks, officially!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I'm pleading the 5th.

How big is baby: Baby is nearly 5 pounds and almost 18 inches long, the size of an average cantaloupe!

Stretch Marks: Still none! I've been lotioning up the belly twice daily now in hopes that I can keep those suckers away (and hoping that, above all else, genetics will stay on my side)!



Maternity Clothes: Oh good grief, yes. Although I'm still able to wear some tops and dresses that are non-maternity, just have to buy ones that are forgiving in cut and length.

Sleep: Sleep has been horrible. When I wake up to use the bathroom, I'm lucky if I can get back to sleep. I find myself lying awake and before too long baby boy wakes up and starts his drumming session. That, coupled with the road construction they're doing in front of our house (from 11pm-5am, WTF?!), sleep is a thing of luxury that I haven't been privy to as of late.

Gender: A moving, thumping, hiccuping BOY!


Movement: Definitely. He's found my ribs, too, and enjoys digging his feet up in them. He also likes sticking his butt out so often I'll look down at my belly and it is lopsided and so weird looking. I'm loving all the movement though, even if it hurts at times.


Food Cravings/Aversions: I have been craving marionberry pie lately, but other than that I haven't really had many cravings throughout this pregnancy.

Belly Button: Still an innie but incredibly shallow and weird looking. I don't think it'll pop out.


Symptoms: Leg and foot cramps, numb and tingly hands, difficulty sleeping, exhaustion, and getting fuller faster since baby boy is squishing my stomach. While nearing the end, I can understand why so many women are just done. Pregnancy is hard on the body!

What I miss: Bending over. With feet in my ribs, not such an easy feat. Also miss my cute, little clothes. Can't wait to get back to working out and taking care of me.


Looking forward to: Getting baby boy's room done! My brother came down this past weekend and remodeled our closets for us, which was much needed to give us maximum amounts of storage and usability in our tiny home. Now I just need to finish painting the trim in his room and then we can start setting everything up! And before I get any comments, it's no-VOC paint, which means it's fume free and perfectly okay for me to be around. Plus, we still open the windows.

 

My favorite husband quote/moment of the week: Hubster has been so lovely and attentive these past few weeks by helping me to relax with massage, relaxation exercises we're learning in our Bradley classes, and helping me heave myself up and off the couch on a regular basis. Not to mention, he's been working on all his days off to get our "To Do" list done before baby boy arrives which means he's not relaxing much. I'm so lucky to have such a hard working, dedicated man to call my husband!

Weekly Belly Pics: Finally! Don't have a pic for 29 weeks, but here are 30 and 31 weeks:



32 weeks




33 weeks




34 weeks



Weeks 29, 30 & 31 (a day early)

I never realized how much I depended on my iPhone until I didn't have it anymore.

A couple of weeks ago my phone decided to crash on me. Cue the cursing and flailing of arms as I tried to breathe some life back into the poor dear, yet nothing seemed to be working. A good friend who works for Apple even tried to assist me, but nothing seemed to be working the way it should and I was getting desperate. She invited me to come over so she could look at it in person and was able to work her magic and the phone was spared (but nothing stored on the phone was recovered. Back up your stuff, people! I lost all my pictures, music, EVERYTHING because I never took the time to sync my phone. Dumb, I know). I was sooooo thankful I had my phone, though! As bad as it sounds, being without my phone for an entire day felt like I was missing an arm.

Cut to the next morning, I was going about my business, heading to work, when I stopped at a 7-11 for my daily fountain diet coke. Don't judge, it's a necessity. And a sparkly diet coke from a fountain tastes way better than a diet coke from a bottle or can, am I right?

Anyway, as I was walking into the store I dropped my phone and didn't realize it. Yes, the same phone I had just had restored and practically made out with upon realizing it was still mine. I KNOW. Pregnancy brain is real, people. So, not realizing that I'd dropped it, I got into the store, chat with the workers there, pay for my soda, and head out to my car to leave. I went to look at my phone to see what time it was and couldn't find it anywhere. I went back into the store to see if I'd brought it in with me, no dice. The store owner called it for me in case it had fallen someplace in my car that I couldn't see. Nada. At this point I'm becoming slightly frantic and the owner of the store is digging through trash, looking all over the place, trying to help me find my phone. He decides he's going to go back and look at the security cameras to see if he can spot me setting it down someplace, or to see if I had even brought it in the store with me. Genius!

After viewing the tape he says, "You had it, and then you dropped it outside the front doors. And then this woman picked it up..." Instantly I knew my phone was gone. I called my phone, it rang twice and was ANSWERED, and then the woman hung it up and turned my phone off. I was dumbfounded that someone would do such a thing, particularly because she had to have seen me drop it since she entered the store not 30 seconds after I had. And you can clearly see on the tape that she picks it up and puts it right in her purse. Who does that?! So, police were called, a report was filed, her picture is at the front counter of the 7-11 in hopes that she shows up again so they can get her license plate, and I'm still without my iPhone.

*sigh*

My cell phone company sent me a replacement phone which is extremely helpful, but it's not a smart phone. In fact, it's incredibly dumb. And anyone who has gone from a smart phone to a stupid phone knows how painful it really is, right? So, that's the long story of why I've been absent from my blog for the past couple of weeks. I used my phone to take the pics, to upload them to blogger, and without it I've just felt helpless.

Enough of the pity party though, I've gotta get back to this, we're nearing the end of this pregnancy journey! I'll fill out the survey for week 31 only, and I'll add pics of each week at some point, I promise. Here we go!



How Far Along: 31 weeks! Only 9 weeks (give or take) until we get to meet our little man. It's flown by!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained, of course. Not sure how much, but I've been pretty careful with what I put in my mouth, only giving in to the occasional craving. Am I happy with what I've gained? Of course not, but I'll lose it. I'm determined to.

How big is baby: Baby boy is about 16 inches long and weighs about 3.3 pounds, the weight of 4 navel oranges!

Stretch Marks: No thanks. None to speak of so far!


Maternity Clothes: Definitely! Bought some tanks and a dress that are non-maternity, but I'm definitely needing to get some more maternity capris and pants that aren't super heavy since we're getting into the hotter part of the year.


Sleep: It's good and it's bad, depending on the day. I'm getting up lots to pee, but falling right back to sleep. Most nights my hip has been killing me though, to the point where I'm limping and on the verge of tears. I think he's settled over onto that hip or something, it's unbearable at times.


Gender: Boy!


Movement: Oh gosh, all the time! It's so fun to watch and sometimes his movements are so strong it feels like he's going to bust through my belly lol.

Food Cravings/Aversions: Pineapple, crackers and cheese, PB&J, and still the occasional sweet treat :)


Belly Button: Still an innie!


Symptoms: Well, I failed my 1 hour glucose test and BARELY passed the 3 hour. Like, barely. The fasting draw was great, my 1 hour draw was good, failed my 2nd hour draw, and only passed the 3 hour draw by 1 point. Yikes! My midwife told me I need to watch my sugars and carbs still, and to be sure not to overindulge in junk so I don't have to try and push a huge baby out. Yes, ma'am!


What I miss: Bending over with ease, dance classes, being able to eat what I want.

Looking forward to: Our next birthing class! We started Bradley classes last week and met 3 other couples we're taking the classes with. Everyone seems really nice and super friendly, and the instructor is young and fun, easy to be around. They're every Wednesday in the evenings, so I end up missing the first part of So You Think You Can Dance. All for you, little man!

My favorite husband quote/moment of the week:  He's been so awesome about everything, from the failed glucose test to barely passing the 2nd one and having to alter my diet. He's always asking me if I've had too much salt for the day so he can think of something good for me to eat, and he asks me each day if I've done my exercises for the birthing classes. I love that he's thinking of me and helping me remember to do the things that my pregnant brain would forget otherwise. :)


Weekly Belly Pics: Finally! Don't have a pic for 29 weeks, but here are 30 and 31 weeks:

30 Weeks

31 weeks. ignore the face.

28 Weeks... Hello 3rd Trimester!

How Far Along: 28 weeks and officially in the 3rd trimester! Only 83 days left until my due date. Crazy!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Who knows? We'll find out next Friday, I guess. Hopefully all my hard work has paid off and my few splurges haven't done me in.


How big is baby: Baby weighs 2.9 lbs and is roughly 17 inches in length and about the size of a chinese cabbage (?).

Stretch Marks: No sir! Still slathering the belly up and drinking lots of water!



Maternity Clothes: Um, yes. Please.

Sleep: Great other than my hips killing me. The Hubster has been gone all week so I've had the entire bed to myself which has been nice so I can surround myself with pillows, but I can't wait until he's back :)


Gender: Team Wiener.


Movement: Non-stop pretty much! Anytime I am still or laying down he starts in. I love it!


Food Cravings/Aversions: Craving asparagus like crazy, and I've been loving PB&J sandwiches. Also, sliced up apples and peanut butter have really been hitting the spot lately. And, of course, Hershey's with almonds :) <------ Pretty much still this, but throw in pineapple and the occasional cookie, too.


Belly Button: Shallow and gross.



Symptoms: Swelling is still out of control. Peeing a ton, having more and more cravings, and being super emotional. I've been even more weepy than usual now that Hubster has been gone. I miss him.



What I miss: My husband! But he comes back tomorrow and I can't wait!


Looking forward to: Seeing Hubster, working on baby's room, and finishing the registry.

My favorite husband quote/moment of the week:  I found out that he bought baby boy a teddy bear from Scotland and has been taking pictures of the bear on statues, in castles, all over the country really. He said it's because he wants to be able to tell his son about all the places his bear has been. Make me cry, why don't you!

Weekly Belly Pics:

28 weeks

He's getting big!

27 Weeks

How Far Along: 27 weeks. One more week to the 3rd tri!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I've been working really hard this week to not gain, and I think I've done pretty well! I go back for my next appointment on the 17th and we'll see then. Cross your fingers for me!


How big is baby: Baby weighs 2.5 lbs and is roughly 16 inches in length. About the size of a head of cauliflower. Grow, baby, grow!

Stretch Marks: Noperoni! And hopefully it'll stay that way :)



Maternity Clothes: Yes, please! They're so much more comfortable that non-maternity clothes at this point. I'm still wearing and buying normal, non-maternity shirts though, so I'll have something forgiving to wear after he's born.


Sleep: Sleep is great, when I'm actually sleeping. I have zero trouble falling asleep even when I get up to go to the bathroom, but waking up to roll over hurts so bad. My hips have been screaming at me and, believe me, I hear them!


Gender: All boy, baby.


Movement: He has been moving SO, so much. It's such an awesome feeling, and I love when others can see it/feel it too. The Bestie came down and was able to see him move and feel him kick. He's pretty stingy with letting others see or feel it, so I kept on him until he gave in and showed her what was up :)

Food Cravings/Aversions: Craving asparagus like crazy, and I've been loving PB&J sandwiches. Also, sliced up apples and peanut butter have really been hitting the spot lately. And, of course, Hershey's with almonds :)

Belly Button: Shallow and dry. Ew.



Symptoms: Swelling has been out of control. Particularly on my feet, cankles, and calves. It's gross and my skin feels so tight. Also, the linea negra is getting darker.



What I miss: Bending over easily, fitting into shoes other than flip flops, my feet not hurting. And I still miss dancing like crazy.



Looking forward to: Getting his room done, and we need to do some minor construction work on the closets, too. I want to get all that done before we set anything of his up to avoid getting dust all over his things.


 

My favorite husband quote/moment of the week:  Hubster is heading to Scotland! The night before he was to leave he was talking about finding something for baby boy and all of a sudden I felt a couple quick, strong kicks. It made Hubster happy to think that our son heard him and responded :)


Weekly Belly Pics:

27 weeks

27 weeks... my view

Weeks 24, 25 & 26

Okay, so I'm a slacker.

Life these past few weeks has been busy and hectic and I just haven't had the motivation to do much blogging no matter how much I tried to convince myself otherwise. As a result I have let the ol' blog go unattended for far too long. I'm just kicking myself, too. I really wanted this to be an up to date account of this pregnancy! But, I'm cutting myself some slack because really? This blog, although well intended, in the grand scheme of things it's not on the list of Tasks I'll Neglect and Feel the Effects of Later.

So, because I can hardly remember what I did yesterday (let alone last week) I'm not going to try to rehash all the cute things The Hubster said or how my body has changed in the past 3 weeks or how much weight I've gained. Hurts my brain to even try and think about it. I did take pictures each week, though! Those will be included at the end of this week's post.

How Far Along: 26 weeks. Almost done with the 2nd trimester!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Not even going to type it out, but let's say I got the smack. down. from my midwife about what I've gained. Veggies and protein and whole grains for this girl from now on! With the occasional treat, of course.

How big is baby: From head to heel baby is the size of an english hot house cucumber (BabyCenter), measuring 14" and nearly 2 lbs.

Stretch Marks: Zero, zilch, nada. Still using the Burt's Bee's Mama Belly Balm and it helps with the itching, too. Also, drinking a ton of water to keep my skin (and baby) hydrated.



Maternity Clothes: Are pretty much a must at this point, for pants at least. Shirts I can get away with buying a size larger than I normally wear as long as they're long enough. Gonna go visit H&M next weekend to pick up some more summer clothes, though.

Sleep: Sleep is pretty good! Getting up a couple times a night to use the bathroom because of all the water I'm drinking, and my hips aren't sore every night, just some nights. Also, had my first experience with leg cramps that woke me up out of a dead sleep. On a tip from a co-worker, I've been drinking a little bit of Gatorade each day and so far (knock on wood) they haven't returned.

Gender: Team Peen!

Movement: Oh my gosh, does this kid move! One of my favorite things to do is wake up and just watch my belly jump around as he wakes up along with me. I'm starting to feel movement a little higher now, above my belly button, and he still loves kicking/punching/head butting me in the cervix. And the other day he kicked me so hard I thought I was going to pee my pants! Thank god I had just gone to the bathroom :)


Food Cravings/Aversions: Avoiding all cravings at this point and trying to find healthier choices to satisfy my sweet tooth. I bought a bunch of berries and other fruits, and a sliced up apple with a bit of peanut butter has been a yummy snack lately that fills me up and curbs the sweets craving. Loving veggies, particularly roasted asparagus and steamed zucchini and summer squash.


Belly Button: Getting flatter by the day.

Symptoms: Leg cramps, swollen feet if I'm on them too long, weight gain (arg...), and the line down the middle of my belly, the linea negra, has started to make an appearance.


What I miss: Dancing! I really miss dancing with my Push Jones ladies, and the ease of movement that came along with taking regular dance classes. I can't wait to get back in the swing of things, but in the mean time I'll stick with my pregnancy yoga on Netflix, and getting in some good walks around the dog park.

Looking forward to: Getting Little Man's room painted! I started on it, now we need to finish it so we can set up the crib we bought. I'll post pics once that's done, promise!

My favorite husband quote/moment of the week:  There have been so many moments these past few weeks. The Hubster has been so awesome with helping me stay on track with my walking and eating well, encouraging me in all the right ways and never telling me I shouldn't have something. Baby boy still quits kicking most of the time Hubster tries to feel him, and he joked that "He knows dad's around so he quits kicking his mama. He already knows better!". So cute.


Weekly Belly Pics:



24 weeks




24 weeks





25 weeks

  

25 weeks



26 weeks



26 weeks

 

23 Weeks

How Far Along: 23 weeks. Man, I gotta be more on the ball with these posts!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Not keeping track weekly, so I'll find out when I have my next appointment on the 20th. At this point, I really don't care haha!


How big is baby: From head to rump baby is the size of a  papaya (The Bump) or a large mango (BabyCenter)

Stretch Marks: Still none! Hoping it stays that way :) The belly gets itchy though.



Maternity Clothes: Oh yes. Went shopping at F21 the other day and got some non-maternity shirts and a dress that will work through the rest of this pregnancy and after. I'm glad I can find clothes that aren't maternity that I can wear, maternity clothes are expensive!


Sleep: Sleep is the same as last week. Still dealing with sore hips, even with the aid of a body pillow and other pillows jammed all around me. Learning to live with it :)


Gender: A mini-Hubster!


Movement: He's a mover and a shaker pretty much all day long!

Food Cravings/Aversions: Still craving rocky road ice cream, sweets, apples, and carbs. Love me some carbs!

Belly Button: Still shallow and kind of looks like the navel on a navel orange. I'm not used to seeing so much of my belly button haha!


Symptoms: It's getting harder and harder to get up off of the couch, sore hips and tailbone in the morning, and a sore back occasionally but usually only when I've been on my feet a ton. Oh, and swelling. It's lovely.

What I miss: My tiny waist. I was looking  at pictures from when we first found out I was pregnant and all they did was depress me. Hoping I can get my body back after this babe. No, wait. I will get my body back!


Looking forward to: Getting baby's crib hopefully soon thanks to a good friend :) Thanks, Jen! Also looking forward to registering for the lil' mister.

My favorite husband quote/moment of the week:  Every time I have him come over to feel the babe kicking, little man stops. But each time Hubster comes over to feel, even if I am laying in bed and it means him getting up to come feel, he does so and waits for a bit. He's so patient with me, and I love him so for it. Lucky girl, here!

Weekly Belly Pics:

Feeling huge!

22 Weeks

How Far Along: 22 weeks (although I'm posting super late... again. I gotta get back on schedule!)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Not keeping track weekly, so I'll find out when I have my next appointment on the 20th.

How big is baby: From head to rump baby is the size of a  spaghetti squash (BabyCenter) and weighs a pound!

Stretch Marks: Still none! Hoping it stays that way :)



Maternity Clothes: Yes, definitely pants, and most shirts are either maternity or a size larger than I normally wear. I'm still struggling to find clothes that make me feel cute and not like I had too much to eat.

Sleep: I've started dreading going to sleep in some ways. My hips hurt SO bad when I'm rolling over at night to switch sides, and they hurt all day long until about 2pm, when they start to feel somewhat normal again. Hopefully I can figure something out to help keep me a little more comfy, but I'm guessing that I'm just going to have to come to accept that it is what it is.

Gender: Little Man!


Movement: Oh, he's moving around SO much! And it is definite baby movement, too. I wake up each morning and watch my belly dance around because he's kicking away. Hubster even got to feel him kick!


Food Cravings/Aversions: Mexican food, sweets (red licorice), and fruit. Oh, and carbs :)


Belly Button: Not really much change from last week, but it's still shallow and weird looking. I wonder if it'll pop?

Symptoms: Sore hips and tailbone still, and the ever expanding waistline. Oh, and the boobs are getting bigger, too. I have cleavage!


What I miss: Waking up without hurting, looking cute in my clothes, not being short of breath after walking a little bit.

Looking forward to: SO many things. We have to get going on this kids room soon, though! I keep bringing it up, but we have been so busy on the weekends that we usually have trouble getting to the laundry and general cleaning. I'm going to have to schedule it in I guess!

 

My favorite husband quote/moment of the week:  I swear, The Hubster says and does so many thoughtful things throughout the week that I want to remember and note here, but when I sit down to fill out the weekly survey my mind goes completely blank. But what I do remember is how sweet he's been, how helpful and loving he's been. Whether it's doing the dishes so I don't have to, or rubbing my swollen feet, he's just been awesome. Love you, babe!


Weekly Belly Pics:

 

21 Weeks

How Far Along: 21 weeks (although I'm posting super late)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained another 5 lbs. The midwife said I'm right on track for weight gain though, so if she's not worried, neither am I!


How big is baby: From head to rump baby is the size of a carrot (10.5 inches long and about 3/4 of a pound!)

Stretch Marks: Still none! I inspect the belly daily for them, and later up like it's my new religion. Fingers crossed that staying hydrated, keeping my skin moisturized, and genetics will keep them at bay.



Maternity Clothes: Yes, definitely pants. Most shirts are maternity or a size larger than I used to wear though. Tried putting on a shirt that I used to wear and it was comically tight.


Sleep: Sleep is good mostly, but it's getting to be uncomfortable in the hip department. I know it's only going to get worse, so I'm focusing on the nights where hip pain is non-existent.


Gender: Little Man


Movement: Oh, he's moving around SO much! And it is definite baby movement, too. Love it!

Food Cravings/Aversions: Craving carbs, carbs, and more carbs! And pineapple. And rocky road ice cream.

Belly Button: Getting more and more shallow by the day, and I finally took the belly button ring out. It was getting to be a bit uncomfortable, and it's so weird to see the belly without it now. I've had it for the past 12 years or so!


Symptoms: Sore hips and tailbone, and swollen feet and hands at times.


What I miss: Bending over without grunting, looking cute and not just bloated. But overall, I'm enjoying my pregnancy.


Looking forward to: Working on the baby's room, registering, and picking a name. Choosing a human being's name is tough, man!

My favorite husband quote/moment of the week:  I'm not going to use this for a husband quote this week. Thursday afternoon, the day I actually hit 21 weeks, I got a phone call that my grandmother who was in the hospital wasn't doing well, and that I should get up there soon to see her. I am SO glad I left work when I did, because I was able to chat  with grandma a little bit, and she even teased me saying "You're going to be huge in August!" She passed away that evening, and I am so glad I have that last moment we shared together as one of my final memories of her. She was a remarkable woman, one who I didn't see nearly enough, but loved dearly.

Weekly Belly Pics: Just for fun, a little comparison for you... What a difference 10 weeks makes!



11 weeks, nothing to see here!



21 weeks... Hello baby!
(No belly pic this week since I was wearing a dress. I'm a lady, thank you very much)



20 Weeks - Halfway!

How Far Along: 20 weeks!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I'll find out next Friday, but truth be told, I'm not super concerned about it. Sure, I don't want to gain WAY too much, but I'm not going to stress about not eating a donut if I want one :)

How big is baby: From head to rump baby is the size of a cantaloupe (The Bump) or a banana (BabyCenter).

Stretch Marks: Nope! I had a scare the other day though, I thought for sure I saw one on my belly so I went nuts and slathered on the belly balm I've been using. I'm thinking it was just a mark from my clothes or something though, because it's not there anymore. Stay away stretchies, please!



Maternity Clothes: Yes for pants, and some tops. Most of my pre-pregnancy tops are all too short though, so I've been buying a few new ones here and there.



Sleep: Sleep has been pretty darn good, actually! I fall right asleep and only wake up to use the bathroom. Enjoying it while it lasts :)



Gender: A not very modest little boy! He had no problem flashing the goods at our ultrasound, and anytime they were trying to get a picture of anything in that area (kidneys, legs, whatever) he kept showing us the goods. So funny!



Movement: More and more, although I have an anterior placenta so, I'm told, it'll be harder for me to feel the first movements. There will be no mistaking the kicks and punches as he gets bigger and stronger though, I'm sure.


Food Cravings/Aversions: Craving food in general. Last weekend my mom, bestie, and I made Buska, our family's traditional Easter bread. Sooooo good, and totally hit the pregnancy craving spot!


Belly Button: Getting more and more shallow by the day :)



Symptoms: Sore tailbone, major round ligament pain, my belly feeling like it might rip open. Just the usual pregnancy stuff, right? ha ha!


What I miss: Not a whole lot right now, I'm really enjoying this part of pregnancy.



Looking forward to: Getting to work on baby boy's room. There is a plan in motion, people!

My favorite husband quote/moment of the week:  This has to have been when we were in the  ultrasound. We were watching the baby on the screen while they were taking all of the necessary measurements when the tech said "He won't move". And The Hubster looks at me and whispers "She said he!" Then, when she was getting ready to tell us what we were having she asked if we had any guesses and he swore up and down he saw the baby's "manhood" and that he picked up on her saying "he". It was great to see him so excited!


Weekly Belly Pics:

Ignore the sleepy face, I was so tired.

Raising A Hero

"You don't raise heroes, you raise sons.  And if you treat them like sons, they'll turn out to be heroes, even if it's just in your own eyes." 

~Walter M. Schirra, Sr.~

Friday, April 8th, 2011 will undoubtedly be one day out of many that I will never, ever forget. 


This wonderful day ranks up there with the afternoon when The Hubster asked me to be his wife with only the polar bears as witnesses, the day we stood up in front of our family and closest friends to pledge our lives to each other, the day we signed the documents that would make us "real, responsible adults" and homeowners, and the day we discovered we would be adding the title "parent" to the many titles we already possessed.


The sun was shining, a rarity of late for those of us here in the Pacific Northwest. Although the glow of the sun added little warmth to the crisp day it's energy charged us, boosting our spirits, quickening our steps and hearts, and making the day feel even more magical. As we walked hand in hand across the parking lot I knew we would be changed when we later emerged from the building to retrace our steps.


Something wonderful was about to happen.


With thumping hearts we sat waiting in the radiology department, excited and nervous for what was to come. They called my name and we bolted out of our seats. We followed the woman in the long white coat back into a warm and dimly lit room, knowing she would be the one to deliver to us the news we were so eager to discover.


I hopped up onto the table (as much as a pregnant woman can hop). She smeared warm gel over my belly, and with the touch of a wand our child's image flooded the screen.


Hands, head, eyes, feet, legs, there was so much to see! We saw a healthy heart beating strongly, all four chambers pumping away. Two distinct hemispheres of a brain. The spine and all the tiny vertebrae.


We witnessed our baby kicking and flailing teeny tiny arms, the opening and closing of a perfect little mouth, and doing everything possible to get away from that annoying ultrasound wand that surely disrupted a nap that was in progress.


But most of all...


We saw that we will have a son.


A son. I will have a little boy that will call me mom. I will be his mama. I am his mama. The Hubster is his daddy, and I can't even begin to tell you how that makes my heart grow knowing that our little baby will look up to his father and see all the wonderful things that I see.


He'll see the things that made me fall in love with him and want to have his child.
He'll know he can depend on his daddy to be there for him no matter what.
He'll know his daddy's soft spots and when to play to them.
He'll know his daddy's pride in having a son as his first child.


But, most of all, he will be loved so, so much.


Actually, he already is.

19 Weeks

How Far Along: 19 weeks. Nearly half way!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Meh, who knows. I eat well, and I don't. I'm not going to stress over it anymore, but I'm not going to go overboard either. Once the weather is a little nicer, I'll start getting out and walking more, so that'll help.

How big is baby: Head to rump, baby is the size of a mango according to What to Expect and The Bump. BabyCenter says baby is the size of a large heirloom tomato!

Stretch Marks: Nope! Still hoping I can keep those suckers away.



Maternity Clothes: Still a heck yes for the pants, and some tops too. I'm finding lots of my regular shirts are getting to be a tad short.


Sleep: Sleep has been absolutely wonderful. Still waking up once or twice to visit the bathroom, but I fall right back asleep (unless The Hubster is snoring). I'm finding that my hips aren't as sore as they were last week, so hopefully my body is getting used to me sleeping on my sides only.


Gender: We find out TOMORROW!!! What are your predictions? :)


Movement: For sure! I really feel baby moving a  lot right after I eat, or when I'm sitting really still while watching TV. They're definitely more distinguishable now, but I still have to stop what I'm doing to be sure it's what I think it is.



Food Cravings/Aversions: Still craving sweets, and citrus flavored stuff. Grapefruit soda has been hitting the spot for me lately, and downing the water has started to be a little easier, too. No food aversions so far!



Belly Button: Getting more and more shallow by the day :)


Symptoms: It's harder to get off of the couch and out of bed, that's a symptom, right? Also, round ligament pain when I move too quickly, feeling baby move more and more, itchy belly skin at times, and the boobs are growing a bit more too!


What I miss: Not a whole lot right now, I'm really enjoying this part of pregnancy.


Looking forward to: Having our ultrasound TOMORROW, finding out what we're having (hopefully!), and sharing that with our friends and family.

My favorite husband quote/moment of the week:  He is just as excited as I am (I think) to find out what gender our baby is. He's even talking about being ready to find out so we can "maybe" do some baby shopping this weekend, and this is a man who does NOT like to go shopping. *sigh* I love him.



Weekly Belly Pics:

19 weeks

18 Weeks

How Far Along: 18 weeks!


 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I'm just going to ignore this question I think :) Although, I've been doing pretty well!


How big is baby: Baby is the size of a bell pepper (Baby Center) or a sweet potato (The Bump).

Stretch Marks: Nope! Still slathering my belly daily with the Mama Bee Belly Balm from Burt's Bees. Stay away, stretchies! The belly has been super itchy lately, though, so I've been lathering up even more frequently.



Maternity Clothes: Definitely wearing maternity pants, but not rocking the tops quite yet.



Sleep: Sleep is pretty great, I can't really complain. Still waking up once or twice to go to the bathroom and/or re-adjust my sleeping position. Still dealing with achy hips and the lower back has gotten in on the game this week, too. Also, I don't know if it's my sleeping position or what, but I wake up and my ab muscles are usually screaming at me. Weird! It's not like I'm doing sit-ups in my sleep or anything :)



Gender: We'll find out on April 8th, only 9 days to go!



Movement: Yup, here and there. Can't wait until I can feel it more!




Food Cravings/Aversions: Um, 3 words for ya... Late Night Snack. The new Ben and Jerry's ice cream flavor. AMAZING!




Belly Button: Still an innie, and I still have my belly button ring in, but I can definitely tell it's not as deep as it used to be :)



Symptoms: Round ligament pain, sore lower back, hips and tail bone. And lately my abs have been aching quite a bit, so I'm assuming baby is growing like he/she is supposed to :)



What I miss: Being able to exercise regularly, sleeping on my tummy and back, and black licorice. All totally worth it though!



Looking forward to: Oh, just a little thing called an ultrasound on April 8th. That, and picking out stuff for baby's room, registering, and finding a birthing class.


 

My favorite husband quote/moment of the week:  We were talking about the baby moving, and I was telling him that as I get toward the end of the pregnancy the movements will be so strong, they'll probably hurt since being punched in the ribs probably doesn't feel too great. And Hubster's reply? "Wow, that must get really annoying! You can't even make them stop." No kidding. :)
Weekly Belly Pics: