34 weeks

How far along: 34 weeks

Gender: GIRL! Still nameless though...

Weight gain: 21 lbs 

Maternity clothes: Um, yes! 

Stretch marks: Still haven't noticed any - been using my mama belly oil I used while pregnant with Hadley. Need to be better about using every night though.

Belly button in or out: It's flat/poking out a little, and very weird :)

Sleep: Could be better, 2-4 am is my most difficult time period

Symptoms: Lower back pain, (not as pronounced this week, thankfully), trouble bending over, get out of breath easy, contractions, sore muscles, fatigue

Best moment this week: A 3 day weekend - we had so much fun visiting with our friends from Kingsport on Saturday. Their little boy Oliver (18 months) and Hadley had fun at the splash pad and then we grilled out for dinner. On Memorial Day we went to a pool party/cookout at the Mcmahans - the kids are just at the sweetest ages and it is so fun to watch them play and grow! I think the kids are going to outnumber the parents one day though :)

Miss anything: Sleeping any position I want, my figure. I feel about as big as a bus these days.

Movement: Yes! Getting a little cramped in there though. At my appointment today, baby girl is an estimated 5 lbs 1 oz! And has some hair :)  I cannot wait to put her in this adorable outfit we picked up for her over the weekend....
 

Cravings: Sweets, and peanut butter of course. We must have at least 4 kinds of ice cream/bars in the freezer.

Workouts:  I've cut back to 1-2 runs a week and doing 1-2 high incline/interval walk a week.  Still going to barre about 3-4 times a week.

 

Looking forward to: We are getting the house repainted this week - painters came this morning. So excited and little nervous to go home and see things tonight!  Also, my mom is going to help us get the nursery prepped this weekend. I am excited to get things in order for baby girl!  I really feel like the countdown in on!

 

In other news: I switched doctors - at 33 weeks - crazy I know!  I just was not feeling my current practice was very keen/supportive of my desire to VBAC. I've had sooo many girls tell me Dr. Brabson was wonderful for VBACs and all other kinds of births people might want. So I sent them an email last Monday just after lunch....the nurse called me back within 20 minutes and she was so incredibly sweet and understanding. They asked if I could come that day to meet Dr. Brabson and that it was not too late to switch.  I couldn't believe it - I went later that afternoon and I just had so much peace after meeting him and the other staff in the office. I had my 2nd visit with him today and I again felt so relieved when I left. He is just the berries, y'all! 

 

34 week bumpdate!

five on friday!

ONE
I finally made a to-do list for baby. We seriously haven't done a thing yet, and I'm 8 months pregnant!  To say I'm a bit overwhelmed is an understatement.  The time is flying this time around, can't believe we are having a baby so soon!  Here are some things on my list....

• Get out the carseat, bases, rock n'play, swing, bouncy seat, etc - clean!
• Prep the nursery (Hadley's old room)
• Wash NB and 0-3 month clothing
• Wash blankets, sheets and other linens
• Pack hospital bag
• PICK A NAME
• Buy new parts for my breast pump (and hopefully the thing still works)
• Get out all the bottles and sterilize
• Make freezer meals (more on this in #2)
• Notify pediatrician
• Attend breastfeeding class (scheduled for next week)
• Get a cute coming home outfit

TWO
I definitely want to make some meals to have on hand for when baby girl arrives. I've pinned some freezer meal recipes on Pinterest, but never actually took the plunge. Last week I was invited to a Wildtree Freezer Meal Workshop ('get your grill on' was the theme) and it was SO MUCH FUN!  You can read more about Wildtree here. It was hosted by a girl from my barre studio and she had about 12 girls attend. We purchased and prepped our meat and veggies before the party and brought our freezer bags (filled with the meat/veggies) and added all the Wildtree seasonings/spices/labels at the party. I left with 7 meals (herb grilled chicken, savory grilled tilapia, rodeo blue cheese burgers, grilled shrimp skewers, hickory grilled chicken, and Asian ginger chicken skewers). It was so easy and I'm looking forward to pulling these out this summer. I have a few more things I want to make in June and now I feel like I can actually do it!

THREE
In case I didn't have enough to do (see #1 above), we decided to repaint the interior of our house before baby girl arrives. Like, the whole enchilada, every room. Picking paint is seriously ridiculously hard.  I mean, I can't even commit to one type of ice cream lately.....



pregnancy problems - bought all 3

I have a small fortune invested in Benjamin Moore paint samples, and I've also painted random squares of paint throughout the living room, dining room, kitchen, and halls. But, we have finally picked our colors with the help of our sweet OP Jenkins friend that helped us with our furniture last year.  Painter is coming first week in June. I cannot wait!  Out with the beige/gold, and in with the greige!

 

FOUR
Hadley is getting promoted to her new classroom at Nanny's in a couple weeks. Just another reminder how quickly she is growing up.  She is 3.5 years old now, and I swear she gets sweeter every day. I asked her the other day how she got so sweet and she told me the bees made her sweet (they've been learning about bees and birds at school recently :) )  I just absolutely love her to pieces and can't imagine how I could love another little girl as much as I love her....but everyone says it just happens....your love multiplies.  I am trying to savor each hug, each bedtime story, each conversation with her right now before our family grows!

FIVE
I ran across this article on facebook last week and I was literally in tears at my desk from laughing so hard.  If you have a baby, or are expecting, you must read it. After-birth: 10 surprises from those first days after delivery

 

 

TGIF FRIENDS!

32 weeks

How far along: 32 weeks, 8 months!

Gender: GIRL! Still nameless though...

Weight gain: 20 lbs as of my appointment 3 days ago

Maternity clothes: Um, yes! 

Stretch marks: Still haven't noticed any - been using my mama belly oil I used while pregnant with Hadley. Need to be better about using every night though.

Belly button in or out: It's flat/poking out a little, and very weird :)

Sleep: Could be worse, could be better.

Symptoms: Lower back pain, trouble bending over, get out of breath easy, and some loveliness where the sun don't shine.

Best moment this week: Celebrating Mother's Day. My mom went to our church with us and then we enjoyed a delicious brunch at Cru. After Hadley's nap we took her to the splash pad and let her run wild for a while.  

Miss anything: Being comfortable and sleeping in any position I want. Would also give my right arm for a good bottle of red and a chef's platter of sushi.

Movement: Yes! Getting a little cramped in there though.

Cravings: Sweets

Workouts:  I've cut back to 2 runs a week (3ish miles each) and doing 1 high incline/interval walk a week.  Still going to barre about 3-4 times a week.

Looking forward to: I am getting so excited about our family of 4. I can't wait to introduce Hadley to her baby sister and spend 12 weeks bonding with this little blessing.

I saw this prayer on another mom-to-be's blog and it's something I've been praying for too (tweaked for our situation as I've been torn whether I should try a VBAC or schedule a repeat c-section). I long to experience a "normal" labor and delivery the old-fashioned way, but do not want to put baby girl or myself at risk if it's not safe for us.  
  Prayer for Baby Girl: 
 Dear Lord, Thank you for helping me make it this far in my pregnancy. Please help Baby Girl come at just the right time and bless my labor and delivery. I'm still deciding whether to try for a VBAC or schedule a repeat C-section. I know it is in your hands so I pray for peace in knowing you will bring our sweet girl into the world they way YOU have planned. Give the doctors and nurses wisdom to make the best decisions for us and keep us safe. Help me to be strong during delivery and trust in You. I pray that your presence would fill the room with joy as we welcome Baby Girl into the world. You are so good! Thank you, Lord. Amen.
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. - Psalm 37:7
 

32 week bumpdate!